IF LOOKS COULD KILL.

What is the first thing you see when you look at someone? Eyes!!... We greet and then talk to the eyes. This is what reaches the inner soul. My point… they HAVE to look good!!

I have tried the lash extensions, great for a week (if done properly). You have to be very careful, friends of mine went bald with over usage. Strip eyelashes can do the same, with all the glue being applied constantly round the eyes, I learnt the hard way, although I still love these for the evening.

However, they are very hard to apply and I sometimes see girls, with what looks like, two pair of eyes, as the strip eyelashes have been applied so badly. Practise makes perfect.

To open the eyes, it’s the old faithful (for a couple of hours) eyeliner. Looks good when first applied, but when you keep having to top up through the day or night it’s a pain and horror when its smudges!!

I have recently tried a few new (to me) products. These have actually been at beauty fairs for years and are about to go on sale in ‘Fenwick’s’, ‘Yes Darling’!! Myself though, I have only just come across them.

Divaderme mascara contains no alcohol (that can make your lashes break). This will now be your best buddy for work and during the day.

For girl about town at night you use with your mascara and add…wait for it!! DIVADERME LASH EXTENDER…WOW. This is what adds the length and thickness, to give you the unbelievable flutter.

                                            EYE PERFECTION

As for your eye liner, well you can bin it now. This is introducing you to semi-permanent eyeliner that stays on for up to 36 hours.

Check list for no smudging eyeliner. Crying at weddings, christenings or parties…sorted. Round the pool on holiday…sorted. At the gym…sorted.

You can now flutter your eyes at anyone and get away with murder!

Very Important! What is your regime?

Whilst I love Fashion, clothes, shoe, handbags etc. Creams, lotions and potions are more beneficial than those jeans or shoes that will only last one of two years. Our faces are with us for life and so need care and attention. A very good friend of mine, Peter Sherlock, who knows everything there is to know about the beauty business and has spent over 20 years working within it. What this man does not know is not worth knowing.

This Friday at 5pm on Bid TV we are bringing to you a skincare range called ‘Natio’, that Peter really believes in (I take all my tips from Peter). Now, I am not someone that will stand and talk about something if I have not given it a go. I have taken samples home and I have been using this beauty regime.

FIRST IMPRESSION – Large bottles, so plenty for your money. Simple, clean and crisp packaging and they smell amazing. I remember my Nanna had unbelievable skin and she swore by Rose water and this is one of Natio’s ingredients, hooray. Rose water is brilliant for all skin types, it great for all skin types, nourishes and hydrate the skin,  as helps acne and sensitive skin .  Natio has outsold Estee Lauder in Australia, this must be good stuff!!

RESULTS – My skin has felt softer, cleaner, hydrated, refreshed and smells amazing (so much so my boyfriend commented, and that never happens).  TIP – I have been pouring a little toner in my hands and pattering all over my face and neck under moisturiser and it feels so refreshing.

CONCLUSION  - Using such great products makes you look forward and not dreading removing makeup and cleansing in the morning, taken all in all about 3 minutes morning and 4 to 5 in the evening. This is very well priced, you are not going to blow your budget, you can still spoil yourself to that handbag those shoes etc.

SO go on spoil yourself and feel great for the summer without breaking the bank.

I’ll see you this Friday the 30^th of March on BIDTV with Natio at 5pm.

ANYONE FOR TENNIS?

Spring Summer 2012 is upon us and on July the 27^th it is the start of the ‘Olympics’ in London. This has started a huge buzz, not just on the street, tv, newspapers, radio but in the fashion world. Everyone is going Sport Crazy. We don’t just wear sports wear to the gym anymore, sports wear has been part of our everyday fashion for a number of years now. The slouchy trousers, fitted t-shirts, expensive trainers, that we may wear every day and not forgetting the hoodie. Yes it maybe street fashion, but everyone has an element of this in their wardrobe.
This year however, is slightly different, it has gone from baggy to tailored, from sweatshirts to leather, zips, straps, bras, racer backs, mesh and plastics. Goodbye to masculine sport and hello to feminine or androgynous.

The shops are literaly littered and you have an array of choice out there. This was the inspiration for our second shoot at college. I know I know………I have been talking about the third shoot. Well that went well and I will reveal the photos once they have been sent through to me, but in the mean time  it’s all about sports...

The reason being, is that I couldn’t make that particular week at college due to being under the weather, and so I was deeply disappointed to miss the sports look shoot especially when I had put so much effort into sourcing the outfits. Believe me, this is definitely the hardest part, you have an idea in mind then you just cannot find what you want…arrgghhhh.

A good friend of mine who is an amazing designer had some friends that were students, they get together, doing what they call in the industry test shoots. This means a stylist, makeup artist, model and photographer come together and photograph a look to build their portfolios.
A quick phone call and the day I was missing at college was not ruined and my test shoot was in two weeks time.

The photos below were the outcome and I’m seriously chuffed.

Photographer: John Cubillan
Model: Katy Ramsey
Make-up and Hair: Abbie Glover
Stylist: Sally Jacks

First look.

Dress, shoes and socks - Topshop

Second Look.

Black dress - Primark
Shoes - Topshop

Material from Oakmount Mill in Burnley and  then we pinned it to the walls and wrapped around the model.
All chic and sleek and not a tracksuit in sight it is all glam. Lots of designers have been showing their looks on the catwalk for SS12. Alexander Wang, Victoria Beckham, Nicole Fahri and Stella McCartney to name a few.

Victoria Beckham must have been taking tips for hubby David for her looks on sport.

Stella McCartney has designed the new Team GB for the Olympics and got together with ADIDAS.

You could just add a sport touch in your shoes take a look at these from ASOS.

Remember accessories should be kept to a minimum, hair sleeked back and off the face. So on that night out you feel you are on the runway not the running track. On your marks get set GOOOOOOOO!

Who is your 'Style Icon'?

Who is your style Icon?

Two weeks ago at college we were all given our third and final editorial shoot. My hands sweating…I know it sounds stupid but I really do get nervous before finding out what our next challenge is. I think it is because I care and I want to do it to the best of my ability.

The shoot is tomorrow Wednesday the 14^th of March. We are shooting a male and female model this time. That’s two outfits and two lots of mind scrambling for me…..arrrggghhhh.

SO where do I head? You are so right, Manchester. Two to three visits trying to get the right bits and pieces. I have an idea in my head then can’t find the blooming stuff.

This shoot is about ‘Style Icons’. What is a style icon though? You will already have someone that has just sprung to mind. Someone you love and you think have the unbelievable epitome of style. You may have modelled yourself on them through your life or just stood back and admired from afar.

If you were to ask your other half or even your best friend they probably no doubt have a completely different viewpoint? There is not a right or wrong answer.

I am very nosey and I would love to know who you would choose? If you can and it does not take too much of your time leave your answers in the comments section below?

So, who have I chosen? A little weird I know but remember I have to style this for a photoshoot so I wanted to think out of the box and give myself a little bit of a character to work with.

My male is Charlie Chaplin. ‘Charlie Chaplin’ I hear you say…’What on earth are you thinking?’

Pretty Cool Hey?

Yes he is scruffy but with a slight coolness in a way. If you look at Johnny Depp now he wears the shirt and tie and hat but also in an unkept way. Style today has definitely taken a turn in this direction all you need to do is look at ‘Vivienne Westwood’ and for high street take a look at ‘All Saints’, it’s cool, hip and very arty with the supposedly look of not trying at all.

My female icon is a cross between Marilyn Monroe, Dita Von Teese, Betty Boop and Minnie Mouse. I am in love with the fifties. Out of whom I have chosen there is only one actually from the fifties….Marilyn Monroe. Dita Von Teese has great style taken for the fifties, Minnie Mouse was drawn firstly in 1928 but to me has a great sweet look that could be 1950’s and as for Betty Boop she is from the 1930’s and was looked upon as the first sex symbol on screen and when I look at her I see 1950’s….she must have been way ahead of her time. Infact, take a look at the pictures did Marilyn Monroe have Betty Boop as her style icon?

Marlyn Monroe.

Dita Von Teese

Betty Boop

Minnie Mouse.

1950s is a huge fashion trend at the moment, the Spring/Summer 12 catwalks were full of it. Some of the designers taking their inspiration from that era are; Daks, Dolce and Gabanna, Prada and Rochas.

With my outfits ready to go,……..well nearly. Still have a little customisation (that’s sticking stuff to a head band with some glue) to do for my female model. I am packed and ready to head back down to London.

I will have the photos to show you as soon as they are done.

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Anyone for Fancy Dress?

The invite flies through the letter box, all excited we open to see what the date is and whether we can attend to find out it’s a ‘FANCY DRESS’….aaarrrgggghhhhhhhhh!!!!

You will either love or loathe. Having to put something together that looks half-hearted because you could not find the pieces to fill in the missing gaps. Then there is dealing with the other half, ‘I am not going to a fancy dress’. How many times has this happened to you?

It makes it worse when you see the stars looking ultra-glam and nothing more than amazing when they have a fancy dress. Elton John’s or Jonathan Ross’s Halloween party each year is nothing short of amazing. Where or where do they get there great costumes from?

Last week at College we were introduced to the most amazing place, ‘The National Theatre Costume Hire’. Take a look at my pictures. You can hire anything from any era and I mean any era. It is phenomenal what they have on offer. As I walked up and down the many aisles of clothes, that are all in chronological order to help you, I could not help but think these clothes were the fashion of their day. They maybe costumes to us now but were once very fashionable or practical pieces of clothing…..felt very strange. How fashion can change so dramatically.

I had to pop on eof the costumes on.

One of the many aisles.

Masks on offer.

So whether, you have a themed wedding or a big birthday bash. You can call make an appointment and have the help of an assistant during your pre booked visit to help. With their historical knowledge you will knock your friends bandy. From 50 years of productions you can hire virtually anything from costumes to props.

There are other places of course that you can hire from. I am sure your local market has a stall with the cheaper versions that you obviously purchase and keep. If you have a local theatre company (Am Dram) with a wardrobe department then they will hire no doubt. I started off in theatre when I was 6 years old and I still hire from there if I need anything for a performance. These sailor outfits I hired for a big out door performance. So do check your local theatre.


2008 Manchester Mardi Gras.

‘Angels’ is also very famous in London. They have a Costumiers which in the 80s Alexander McQueen worked for and they have their cheaper fancy dress hire on ‘Shaftsbury Avenue’. The Royal Family are regular uses of Angels, Elton John and Sir Mick Jagger have been known to hire from them.

They have recieved 26 Best Costume Oscars for work that Angels has done on major international films, including Star Wars, Titanic, Lawrence Of Arabia, The Great Gatsby (the remake of this will be out later 2012 and is a big fashion look for this year calling it ‘Gatsby Glamour’), The Aviator and Memoirs of a Geisha. Also, two movies - The Queen and Marie Antoinette – featured costumes supplied by Angels these two received 2007 Oscar nominations for Achievement in Costume Design. How cool is that!

So next time that invite arrives their is no reason to dread 'You will be the bell of the ball'.

Photo's are here at last!!!!

Third week into College was our first shoot. As I have mentioned in previous blogs it was to be a piece on 1920s ‘The Gatsby Look’ that is very big in the fashion world for 2012.
These are my finished photos.

Kimono - I borrowed from a brilliant shop www.preciousatwhalley.com if you ever get the chance you have to visit. It is like an Aladdin’s cave. It is owned by Marianne and she just has the best eye for fashion and accessories……….I LOVE IT. I buy an awful lot from her and I get sooooo many comments. I have even had people buying accessories from me that I have been wearing…MAD!!!!

The head dress and ring is from ‘Joolz’ you can view her on facebook.com/just joolz - Very talented with jewellery. I have also worn a pieces of hers out and been commented on a lot to.

The Kimono was because of the texture (velvet), the design which looks like Art Deco (from the 20’s). Also they wore a lot of head pieces and I wanted this to be striking…….. so voila!!

I have spotted another beautiful kimono in either black or cream for the summer from River Island for you. Remember to wear with slimmer fitting items on your bottom half. If you go baggy both top and bottom it can make you look bigger. You don’t have to be skin tight just skim the body.

http://www.riverisland.com/Online/women/tops/smart-tops/cream-tassel-hem-kaftan-607602

London Fashion week has been this week. I bet you have had a look on line or at the hairdressers through the magazines? Yes! So have I - I had been invited to ‘Rohmer’ collection for Autumn/Winter 2012/2013 but could’t make it due to me having gastroenteritis. I know tell me about it…..I AM GUTTED!!!!!

I absolutely adore Alexander McQueen and his McQ range was beautiful well cut, great tailoring and especially the men they looked exquisite - a lot of tartan and tweed.
There is ‘NEWGEN’ sponsored by TOPSHOP that showcases new up and coming designers. I loved one particular dress from David Koma it has a 1960’s space age feel to it.

David Koma

Over all though it was Bora Aksu because of his girly look with a twist. His tights are amazing and the colours teamed with frills and bow ties. Well I have completely fallen in love, fashion is personal opinion and I think this guy is a genius.

Bora Asku

Meadham Kirchoff - Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchoff, I thought there collections where brilliant. I could see elements and I really mean elements of this in River Island, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Next. It is very very very OTT but then that is what fashion is on the Catwalk. It looked to me as though it had been inspired by the two ugly sisters in Cinderella…….Ha ha. Have a look and you will know what I mean, but I absolutely adore it.

Meadham Kirchoff

Overall though, you and I as the consumer/shopper are not ready for Autumn/Winter 2012. The summer stuff is just coming in and we are booking our holidays…YEH!!!!!

Where are the PR girls darling....Sweety sweety sweety. xxx

At College this week we were taken to ‘EXPOSURE PR’ just off Oxford Street in London.

PUBLIC RELATIONS.  A massive part of any products as this helps with Marketing and having your product either worn by a Celebrity in a Magazine or placed in an area where fingers crossed it’s going to generate sales.

We met a brilliant woman called Ceri Morris who is Showroom Manager. Boy does this company work with some amazing brands. I took some pics on my phone so I could show you.

This is Ceri Morris and I. With' Levis' behind us.

'Toy Watches'- Huge Brand.

Part of 'Claires Accessories'.

'Hunter Wellies'.

As we are learning about a stylist’s life this is one huge part of it. They must build up Relationships to be able to borrow from PR agencies. Things like clothes, shoes, accessories. This helps Stylists dress models in fantastic clothes for Photo Shoots and also helps the Companies that the PR agency are looking after appear in great Magazines. But….you have to build a relationship and be a great freelance stylist and styling for well-known magazines this takes time.

Ceri was so interesting I could have spoken to her for ages but as we were on a schedule I could only ask a few questions.

They have been the PR Company that relaunched ‘BIBA’.  They have just taken on Sainsbury’s ‘TU’ brand and GOK WAN. In fact Gok Wan’s new collection is just weeks away from going into store. He always does an amazing job. Really thinks about real women and our lumps and bumps. You really must go and check it out.

Ceri had had Matt Cardle in the showroom and The Saturdays lending or sometimes giving them brands to wear. It is called Product Placement. It hopefully means that they will then wear the items and the Paparazzi will picture them and it will appear in the papers. How many times have you seen a celeb wearing something, googled it and then if it fits in your price range bought it? I know I have. The richer and more famous you are the more free stuff you get……..ITS JUST NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!!!!

A big look this summer is Pencil skirts and River Island has some brilliant ones at the moment. One in particular I have actually bought this week, I wore it out last night and had loads of comments on it. They are very flattering, wear with your Bridget Jones Knickers (support underwear) and your laughing.

http://www.riverisland.com/Online/women/skirts/tube--pencil-skirts/black-stripe-tube-skirt-615330

Only £22. Team this with a plan blouse, Camisole or T-shirt and pair of heels and it’s a winner. I wore mine with a Black T-shirt some Black heels and some little Black lace socks. You could also go for a bold block colour like Red with your shoes. Neckerchiefs are also very on trend and that would just finish the look off. Very sexy and very 1940/50s.

Pictures coming very soon from photo shoot a couple of weeks ago.

Lots of Love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx