London Fashion Week

Backstage is a sea of frantic movement. 
Scurrying feet rush across the marble floor, while arms are piled high with bundles of clothes and hurried hands are busy touching the hair and faces of the beautiful. 

Sillhouettes dash between the soft yellow light which glows from lightbulbs that fringe wide mirrors, reflecting stacks of coloured pallets of every hue, as brushes lie askew beneath them.


The murmur of voices grows louder and the room grows smaller; the excitement swelling like a flood.

I tiptoed and ducked through the chaos, snatching peeks at the sparkling dresses which flowed from the shoulders of tall women, who stood in line, at the ready. 
A clap of hands interrupted my gazed and I was swiftly shooed outside.

Beyond a mirrored wall, the atmosphere fell to silence. Anticipation, as rows of awaiting spectators sat in darkness, wide-eyed with words spoken only in a hushed whisper. 
Spotlights beamed down a concrete runway, a mere train platform in a previous life. 
The curved glass wall rose up high, supported by its metal skeleton. 
As I looked up I could see the reflection of both sides of the wall; on this side a tense and quiet darkness on the other, a twinkling humming of activity.
It was stunning. 

Within moments loud music crashed over the silence, and the bassline made the glass shudder. 
The first model stepped out, her stride strong making the chiffon fabric she wore billow behind her. 

This was the scene at Richard Nicoll Spring/Summer 11 held at the old Waterloo Station in London, and I have to say his new collection is incredible.
Inspired by minimal glamour it culminated a in series of floaty feminine chiffon pieces, with a few touches of leather: evening-wear with an edge. I find this season to be much more womanly and sophisticated than his last, also more wearable, soon to be a favourite with the celebs I'm sure.  
My own pictures above don't quite do the clothes justice: so below are some from the official website. 

For a full video of the collection check out London Fashion Week TV http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/lfw_tv_video.aspx?id=2941

Next up was Peter Pilloto, one my favourite designers, the show was held again at the old station, however this time in the cool light of the morning. Although the Richard Nicoll show was stunning in the evening, as lights and movement reflected off the glass, the morning show had more of a sense of tranquility, emphasized by the mirrored art installation that canvassed the wall behind the runway. What's more, I could appreciate the venue more in the light of day, it's sheer magnitude, vast emptiness and light made much more of an impression.

Although admittedly, I prefer his previous collections, Pilotto's signature use of print and cut are always flattering and most importantly unique. This season he's sported the glam futuristic look as structured dresses met feminine fabrics and floral prints.

The black and white photos are my favourite, as I think they capture well the atmosphere of the morning. 


Again, check out the video if you would like to see the full show: http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/lfw_tv_video.aspx?id=2944




Apologies for the lateness of this post! But hope you enjoy the pics :) x

Lanolips Review

 I have only visited Australasia a couple times in my lifetime, and I can only really remember two things.

The first is that people there love to jump off things; whether its a death defying leap off a plane, a thrill seeking drop from a bungee or bombing down a mountain on a snowboard, the southern hemisphere is renowned for its love of extreme sports.

And secondly, funnily enough as the cliche goes, there were a lot of sheep. Well ladies and gents, although the prior is of course an exhilarating contribution to the rest of the world, I must say that lo and behold their sheep are in fact their greatest export.
Well, not the sheep exactly, but their produce.
Lanolin is a 100% natural product extracted from fleece of a sheep once it has been shorn, comparable to bees wax, which also closely resembles our own skin lipids. Which makes it perfect for hydrating and repairing dry or sensitive skin. Hello Lanolips!

Lanolips is a range of ointments that are aimed at naturally repairing and moisturising the skin. Today I received their original forumla the '101 Ointment' (on the left) as well as their tinted lipbalm. First of all the packaging is super cute, and small enough to fit in my day make up bag. Thumbs up.

So Lanolips are already famous for their 101 Ointment, which is under the same umbrella as Vaseline, Lucas' Paw Paw ointment or Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour Cream, in that you can use it pretty much anywhere for dry skin in need of a bit of TLC. However all of these are petroleum based, meaning that the have a tendency to really dry our skin out if we stop using them, making us rely on the product. Ever notice that if you use vaseline on your lips they become seriously chapped if you stop using it?

Because the 101 Ointment is based on the natural wonders of Lanolin, it will replenish and nourish the skin, so that you have healthy skin whether you are wearing the product or not. Doctors love it too, seeing as it is a Medical  Grade Ointment, it can also be used on things like eczema and nappy rash.
And another thing, many of the heavy duty formulas normally carry quite a distintive smell: I have tried to like the 8 hour cream, I really have, but god does it reek. The 101 on the other hand, is conveniently ordour free.

Although the original formula is their star product, I have to say I am head over heels IN LOVE with their tinted lip balm. Armed with a 15 SPF this nectar of the gods is packed with moisturising goodness, and the colour goes on beautifully.

This one is the Rose colour, which is the most subtle out of all of them, as for a day to day balm I like it to look pretty and natural, however as pictured above they do come in darker reds and birghter corals if you prefer more of a pop.
 These have yet to make their UK appearance, but I believe they will do so in September, so keep an eye out folks!

Ins & Outs

IN:


- Burberry Sport for Women
My new favourite scent, not as sweet and fruity as I normally wear, but I find it a unique vanilla musky scent that's very womanly. I am still eagerly waiting the Lanvin Marry Me to hit shops though!

- Inception
Leo Di' Caprio does it again! As a secret die hard fan of his, I have to say I loved it. Although perhaps the hype is a teensy bit exaggerated (I preferred Shutter Island), this is definately a go see.


- FitFlops
I see them everywhere! And although they may not be super trendy, I think I may have to jump on this bandwagon, in terms of exercise, every little helps!

- Abercrombie Jeans
I went to the Abercrombie and Fitch in London for the first (and last) time yesterday in the search for some new denim. I bought two pairs that fit a treat, but spent a total of 3 hours in there! No, these were not 3 hours of leisurely browsing, but 3 hours of my life were wasted queuing...in the dark...surrounded by teens and their understandably impatient parents. Perhaps this should go in the Out section no? But anyway the jeans were great, shop - not so much.

- Jordan's Crunchy Oats with Fruit and Nuts
My new breakfast staple. Mornings would not be bearable without this. A league ahead of Special K or dare I say Crunchy Nut. Not only is it wonderfully delicious, but nutritious fibre packed oats, raisins, almonds and macadamia nuts will keep you going all the way to lunchtime.




- My new boots!!

I went to Camden Market last weekend and purchased these babies. I think they will take me into Autumn/Winter quite nicely. Also great for punking up an outfit when it gets too girly, I'm thinking floral dresses or wearing it simple with jeans and a white T.




OUT:


- Commuting
At best the tube is a tedious bore in the morning, but I have to say, the icing on the cake is a  late service, sardine-packed with office go-ers eager to get home, and a stinky armit next to your nose as you try and read the ES. Yummy.

- Trainers with office-wear
Admittedly, Fitflops aren't the most aesthetically pleasing items of footwear. However to be fair to them, they come in black, brown and even metallics in an attempt at camouflage. However only so far can tolerance be pushed. Sports trainers and pinstripes?  The criminal combo is the thing to do in New York, and slowly I see the trend creeping into London, but there is just something about it that offends me. There is a fine line between convenience and laziness people!

- August?! Already?!
Cooler evenings are marking the gradual departure of the summer, I can't believe it's almost over!

You Have Always Worn Me Well

 When I go, i think I'm gonna sew my name into all of your clothes
my girl, since you have always worn me well.
And there are too many animals on this ship, some of you i think will have to sink
but when it gets too much, you can only adjust.
 

 I'm always thinking about you
and how you always wear me well,
you can't outgrow something sewn under your skin
so I will always wear you well.

And Sunday evening always has this sense of something good about to end
I know we hold our breaths for tomorrow, and I think I'm gonna write my name
into all the books you love so well, since you can read me good my girl
yeah you can always read me well.

This is a song that I'm in love with: 

Sew My Name - Josh Pyke

I hope it makes your day as much as it always makes mine.

Lanvin - Marry me!

Oh my has it been awhile! I have been incredibly slack the past few weeks, and for this I blame going on holiday and moving down to London for the summer leaving me internet-less; however excuses are always just mere excuses and I will make it a personal aim to update more frequently.Watch this space.

Saying this, over the past few weeks I have also had plenty of time to see new places and try new things, and so hopefully there will be plenty more to write about.

But first things first! Lanvin have launched a new perfume and it is absolutely beautiful.
"Marry Me!" is a fresh floral scent with notes of white peach, bitter orange essence, freesias, white cedar, amber, musk veil, magnolia, jasmine sambac and rose petals.

Personally I have never been much of a floral fan. They tend to be quite heady, heavy and quite dated for my liking, but I've always thought they are a better match for an older suitor.

However Marry Me is quite unique in that it is much lighter than other scents, sparkling top notes to begin with that simmer down to warmer muskier notes make it a universal favourite.

As can be seem from the advert, Marry Me! is not a phrase intended as the literal commemoration of husband and wife, but more so of a flirtatious impulse said with a smile. This young and modern floral may one day become a classic and will be available on September 11 in Harvey Nics, and nationwide from the beginning of October.

Embracing Nudity!

I have been naked for the past 13 days. Stripped, bare, and gloriously liberated.
Now before I ruffle your feathers, by naked I mean foundation free. During these summer months, a full face of makeup seems somewhat theatrical, so I have opted to skip it all together and embrace my naked skin. The first four days were absolute hell; pasty, patchy and spotty I would gingerly brave the outside world. But I have to confess after the first hurdle my skin seems to have taken a great turn for the better.
Exposed to sunlight, the colour and tone of it has evened out, while due to an absence of product build up my complexion has considerably cleared up too, meaning that I no longer feel a need for foundation.
This is not to say that I have abandoned my loyal eye make-up, but I find a few dibbles of concealer here and there are all I need to put my face on everyday, and if that doesnt do it; a few swishes of bronzer don't go amiss too. And it suits my sleep in just fine.

So go ahead, give nakedness a shot. It really isn't as bad as it seems, well, prepare yourself for the pain barrier of the first four days...but once the worst is over and done with, fresh skin for the summer is quite a nice feeling.

Products I'm loving right now

Quick snippet into my lifersaver products of the minute:

Nivea Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes - I could not live without these and I buy two packs at a time. They are really gentle, I have quite sensitive skin and they work great for me as well as removing heavy duty makeup like a treat.

Bodyshop Amilka Leave-In Conditioner - I think I buy this because it smells of my childhood. I've bought it for years and it reminds me of long days by the pool and summer holidays with my family. I don't think it's a miracle product but it seems to keep my ends pretty healthy and helps to keep split ends at bay.

Bedhead Queen for a day Thickening Spray- My hair is naturally pretty thick, but this gives it quite a nice boost before hairdrying. I focus it on my roots then give the rest of my hair a quick spritz. Love the clean citrus smell too!

Garnier Skin Naturals Youthful Radiance Night Cream- I have previously ranted about the day cream version, wish I adore and will no doubt be repurchasing, but I have found that before bed I needed something a bit richer and sought out this baby. Its looovely. Smells like green tea and in the morning my skin is soft and rehydrated.

MAC Barestudy Paint pot- This is my favourite favourite item of makeup. It is a champagne coloured cream eyeshadow, and although it may sound very boring, it not only helps to brighten the eye area when used on it's own but as its so long lasting I use it as a primer under other eyeshadows to stop them creasing and add depth to the colour.

Benefit EyeBright- Again, another stealth product. It's just another highlighter but I love it! Under the brow bone and in the inner corners it really helps to lift the face and make eyes seem (surprise surprise) brighter, which is great for early mornings.

MAC Blush in Desert Rose- I feel this blush is greatly under-appreciated, living in the shadows  of Well Dressed, or Peachy Keen. It is a deep rose colour that mimics well the colour of naturally flushed cheeks. Perfect for summer fresh skin.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Spotlight Beige- Nudes are in for the summer and this one is a must. It's a browny-pink, and looks very natural but adds just enough colour to pull any look together.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Pink Blush- In contrast to the last colour, this is a bright baby pink, a barbie pink. A great pop of colour, and it adds a bit of holiday playfulness to any look.

What are you're favourite products for this month? :)

Faking It

On a sunny Sunday the temperature attempts to soar, only to be hushed by the cool breeze; silhouettes are outlined by trimmings of gold and the sky is a wash of baby blue, sprinkled with cotton clouds.
As I walk through parks and busy streets I can't help but smile a little at the beauty of summer.

But the idyllic scene is quickly spoilt by numerous flashes of orange. Streaky, sticky orange, that clings onto ankles, calves and wrists for dear life. Yes, Fake Tan is often the evil culprit of ruining any summer outfit, and decidedly it is my number one nemesis.
Walking around town it is evident that a lot of time and money is invested into hair, makeup and clothes, yet everywhere I look there is orange!
Now by no means am I a fake tan connoisseur, on the contrary, I like to use it as infrequently as possible. However I am a strong believer that if you're gonna do it, do it right, and so below I will describe several ways of achieving a pretty good tan.

The Numero Uno tip and by far THE most important thing to remember is to Exfoliate. A good bodyscrub is your best friend, in my Summer Skin post, I write about my own home recipe that works best for me. But whether you buy yours in a pot or make it in your own kitchen, exfoliating will create and even and smooth surface, which in turn will mean that the colour of the tan will go on evenly.

Another good tip, particularly if you are using anything other than gradual tanner, is not to shave/wax on the same day of application. It is best to do this 24 hours in advanced, because otherwise the tan will seep into all your open pores and you will regrettably resemble a speckled egg.


The Easier (but perhaps not as great) Method:
Using a gradual tanning moisturizer is without a doubt the easiest way to fake tan. If you are new to all this fakery, I suggest you start with this step. They are used in the same way a normal moisturiser is used, just remember to exfoliate, cover the skin evenly and wash your hands (and wrists!) when you're done, and within 24 hours you will see a difference in colour which can then be built up over several days. I prefer to do it every couple of days with a gentle scrub in between, which means that there is no excessive build up of product. There are millions of gradual tanners on the market, the Garnier one for Medium/Dark Skin is really good even if you are fair as I think the colour comes out less orange, their separate gradual tanner for the face is amazing too! Not a big fan of the Johnson's Holiday Skin, as I find it a bit gloopey and it stinks of fake tan, but each to their own.

The Fidgety (but much more natural looking) Method:
If you take your Fake Tan seriously, and are a serial user of tanning mousse/foam/spray, then this post may tell you nothing new. The importance of exfoliating is even greater when using legit fake tan as it is all the more concentrated and all your sloppy mistakes will become all the more visible. There are many many fake tans out there, normally you get what you pay for; St. Tropez or XenTan are cult favourites and are very good quality, but cost a hefty £20 a pop. I guess that doesnt really compare to the cost of a real tan on holiday! St. Tropez has a good reputation, but if you'd like to see for yourself check out their website, where you can shop for products online.
An excellent dupe of St. Tropez, is St. Moriz. This is my choice of fake tan, which is unbelievably good for the £2-£5 price tag, as it can be used on the face as well. They are available in Home Bargains, and occasionally in fancy dress/ costume make up stores. The quality is fantastic, as the tan is a nice brown, not orange, which is the result of the greenish tinge of the mousse. Don't be alarmed it doesn't come out green, but in the same way you can get green concealer to cancel out red spots, this greeny tinge will balance out any orange to make a lovely brown.  It lasts up to a week and wears off evenly (I find gradual tanners can wear off quite patchy, dirty gremlin is not a good look). There are several ways to apply it, everyone has their own preference, but I will describe what works for me. Basically, I do it limb by limb, without gloves, and with a thorough washing of the hands in between each limb. Yes it is a very long process, but I find the results to be better so the extra effort is worth it.

Step 1 - EXFOLIATE. nag nag nag nag nag....but I cannot emphasize how important this is! the better the exfoliating the better the end result will be. trust.

Step 2 - On dry skin, start at the bottom of your body and work your way up, this will prevent creases. E.g. 2 pumps on left lower leg, rub in till no streaks of product are visible, don't forget the tops of your feet, then wash hands. 2 pumps on thigh...etc... wash hands....2  pumps right lower leg...wash hands... etc etc etc....

Step 3 - The last part of my body I do are my forearms, with constant washing of the hands, splashes will streak the tan so I am careful to do this last. Also, after rubbing the tan in, I make sure to wash hands under a gentle tap, then with clean hands just rub all around the wrists  to ensure that there is no abrupt line of brown but that the tan gradual fades into the hands.

Step 4 - After you have allowed time for the tan to dry, wait at least 8 hours before showering.

Step 5 - Moisturize everyday throughout the week, this will prolong the tan you have worked so hard to achieve!

There are many videos on Youtube that illustrate this well, and probably much better than I have done, and there are also many reviews and comparisons of St. Moriz with St. Tropez.  Laura, also known as Lollipop26 on Youtube is a great beauty guru and here she does a comparison of the two as well as a little demonstration.

Freebies!

Just a quick post to inform you all that this months Glamour magazine is giving out 3 sample sized products from Benefit. Woohooooo!
- Bad Gal eyeliner
- It Stick
- Eye Bright Stick

Apparently the total retail value of them all is about £45, so get in there, as I can imagine stocks won't last very long.

 I picked up the Bad Gal eyeliner as picture, which is pretty good, quite smudgey so good for a smoked effect but maybe not so great if you're into precise lines. While purchasing this beaut I had the strength and will power to only buy one magazine, and receive only one freeby....however I think I am going to give in and go get another one...the eyebright... yes I am a weak human being. However I personally draw the line at buying all three...the third is a concealer anyway which probably won't suit my skin tone, or that is what I will try and tell myself when I am next at the newsagents. Saying this, considering they retail at £45 you could, possibly, maybe, justifying buying three identical magazines....so I say if you've got a pair then go for it!

More free goodies that are ongoing, and have been for awhile is with the purchase of two diet coke bottles you will receive a free bottle of Nails Inc polish, available at larger Boots. Most of you are probably aware of this one and if you're anything like me, you're fridge will already be stocked up with Diet coke (it looks like I am preparing for an ice age) but if not, I do believe that there are a few bottles still floating around and the polish itself is very good quality.  My favourite is London, a beautiful purple grey, it's the one on the left, but the photo doesn't do it justice, so here is what it looks like fo reall.

 

Really lovely colour. I also got the red, but seeing as it is a box standard cherry red I did not see it worthy of a swatch, however do not let that discourage you from getting it as it is a lovely staple to the collection and a really nice colour for summer.

Summer Skin for the body

I take the bus to work every morning, and as I stand in line amongst an army of suits and ties I cant help but notice the gigantic H&M poster that lavishes the side of the bus shelter. On it, are two super slim, super toned and super brown super models in their summer bikinis. My bet is that most of it is fake, or at least that's what I try to tell myself...but regardless, it makes me think that in just over a month, I too will have to brave the bikini and in the meantime, as I am unfortunately not a super model, I will try and make the best of what my mother gave me.
I believe good skin is the best beauty secret out there, no matter what size or shape you are, good skin radiates health and beauty.

My mothers skin was buttery soft, she claimed her secret was religiously moisturizing everyday from the age of 15. But seeing as I tried to follow in these footsteps, and have yet to reach the baby smooth finish line, I think good genes have a big part to play, and if like me you were cruelly left out of the good skin gene pool then keep reading.

There is no point neglecting your skin up until the moment you decide you want to wear a skirt, when you hastily slather on some body lotion and hope for the best. Your quality of skin will normally mirror your lifestyle... so if you smoke, drink too much alcohol or too little water, tan too much or eat nothing but junk, then you're not going to get that glow.
So, as boring as this sounds, you need to start from the inside then work your way out. Cut down on smoking and alcohol, down the Evian and stock up on the fruit and veggie. I promise you will notice a difference.

Once the lifestyle bit is sorted out we can attend to more practical methods. Good circulation is a key element in maintaining healthy skin and it can be accomplished in several ways, the best way is good old exercise, anything that gets your heart-rate up will help blood move round your body and in turn help be rid your skin of toxins.
Another way is something called body brushing, also known as dry brushing. Where you 'brush' your skin in round circular motions towards the heart, starting from the bottom of your body and working your way up. It is best to do it daily in the morning,before your shower - think of it as a skin wake-up call. Brushing helps to unclog pores, remove dry/dead skin, and boost cellular exchange to increase circulation; meaning that skin becomes smooth, soft and wonderfully un-wobbly. 

You will need one of these bad boys.  Upon your first encounter, it may seem a little intimidating: the bristles are quite tough and it looks like it belongs somewhere in a horse stable... but they come in all shapes and sizes, from long handles to short stubby ones, to no handle at all, to big round brushes, or thinner longer brushes. It doesn't really matter which one you decide on as long you find it relatively easy to use. Natural bristles are best as synthetic brushes can scratch and irritate the skin. Even with a natural brush dont be too harsh on yourself, don't scrub, but use gentle but firm movements.

If this all seems a little too hard-core for your liking, there are plenty more gentler ways to achieve the same velvety finish.
A personal favourite of mine is body scrub. I like to exfoliate in the shower no more than 3 times a week, using one of my own concoctions. I swear by this recipe as works far better than anything you can buy in store and it is a lot cheaper!
I mix demerara sugar (the sugar with the big granules) with olive oil, just enough so that all the sugar is covered and the oil is soaked in, but not enough to make the oil visible as a liquid. I hope that makes sense, but if not you should be able to trust your own judgment on this one.
The sugar is great at removing dead skin, also onced you've washed it off your body it also melts in a hot shower, meaning that you don't get all those pesty bits in the bath as you do with most other scrubs. Meanwhile the olive oil is incredibly moisturising, a tip I picked up during a summer in Spain, meaning that the sugar doesnt become too harsh on the skin as the oil restores some of the moisture you may have otherwise lost. Once the scrub has been properly washed off, I like to just use my shower gel as normal to get red of any excess. The results are incredible, DIY at it's best!

 If I am exfoliating in this way I find moisturizing straight after to be a bit too heavy, so I aim to moisturize every other night before bed. A thick body butter is way too rich for daytime but before bed my skin has enough night to soak it all up before I wake up in the morning. Whatever you do, do not skip on moisturizing. Even if you are not bothered to buy a brush or concoct some bizarre scrub from the Mediterranean, moisturizing is the most important albeit basic step, and missing out will leave your skin dry and thirsty.

Aside from smooth skin, the DIY body scrub is also particularly good before diving into the realms of fake tan. It gets rid of all your dry bits meaning that tan goes on smoother and streak free. Where fake tan is concerned, gradual tanning moisturisers are the easiest to get right. Even if you are very fair, use the darker/medium skin version as it will come out less orange, and we all know thats a good thing. I like to use the Garnier lotion in medium to dark. However, I do find that the orange tinge still resonates even with the best of gradual tanners and so from time to time I like to go all out and apply proper tanning mousse.
However, because that is a long and laborious process in itself, I will save the fake tan routine for another blog, so watch this space!
If through this post skin maintenance has appeared to be a great chore and hassle remember it really doesnt have to be. Eating right and drinking lots of water should solve most problems, but suggested is a couple of things that can help give your skin a boost, and besides we all love a little pamper don't we?