Horses for courses.

Friday, November 6th, 2009 | Celebrities, Fashion, Make-up, Trends | No Comments

“The best colour in the whole world, is the one that looks good, on you.” Coco Chanel

Engulfed in an abyss of fickle on-trend rules, translating seasonal looks into covetable ‘you-styles’ can make for a daunting feat. Trawling through hot new picks, runway costumes and studying Gaga (the lady of a thousand faces), I find myself squinting sideways as I vision my humble locks and average silhouette morphing into some of the outlandish styles of the moment.

A self confessed slave to the cause, I possess an array of squeaky clean soled shoes, dresses that only ever feature in bedroom bound fashion shows and what can only be described as a  make-up larder brimming with neon shadows and matching nail coats. But after attempting to finally put those floral 100 deniers to good use in light of the new ‘funky tights’ trend, I came to the realisation that there is no denying the uncomfortable truth: fashion is simply horses for courses and what may transform one into a haute couture ‘dame de la mode’, will invariably morph the most of us into a scantily clad style disaster. Bin the florals Sarah. Please.

The key? Knowing who you are and digging your heels (or flats) in while you bend the rules to you suit the beautifully unique look of you. Style is what makes us fashionable. Fashion doesn’t give us style. Experiment, on yourself (and on others), be comfortable, have confidence and ultimately, adapt trends as you see fit. If you go the other way, you’ll be on a fast track to ‘Gaga-ville’ and I imagine sporting a thousand faces real hard to maintain.

Daring divas…
All that glitters is definitely gold for Balmain this season. Transform AW09s sequin craze into a full on cat-suit if you wish, and everyone will stare in amazement at your courageous quirky audacity. When in the office, why not reduce your sparkle sensations to some shimmer-shouting eyes with Bare Escentuals Glimmer - True Gold. Couple with  some patent booties (anything up to 5″) sported inconspicuously under the desk and you’ll relish in office glamour without offending straight-laced-Susan on floor four.

Elegant dames…
Sky high waists teamed with studded Jimmy Choos (we love you H&M!) and some razor sharp shoulders will have you swanking around in 80s fabulousness. Finish with a matted scarlet pout, rounded chill nails and a perfectly tousled up-do for the on-trend Audrey Hepburn image. Try Babylish Black Conical Wand - wide Barrel for delicious curls and to hold that pose for ever, spray hair zealously with Sebastian Liquid Steel.

In love with flats…..
Missoni’s heavy knitwear is all about layering and can be uber chic for the lady of natural beauty. Have a make-under in the style of the Gucci girls and relish in gleaming and dewy skin tones. Try Yves Saint Laurent Touché Eclat Luminous Radiance to add an understated glow to your fabulous complexion (jealous much) and bask in your easy-peasy beauty that quite frankly makes the rest of us green!

Alberta Ferretti put it perfectly: “Fashion shouldn’t be a costume, your dress should be an extension of your personality.” Afterall, you don’t need a 2004 Christina Aguliera calling the office and asking for her worst dressed rep back do you?

Longing for the A-List Treatment

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 | Celebrities, Fashion, Hair, Hot Topics, Make-up, Nails, Skin Care, Trends | No Comments

These could be yours! Amongst more A-list must-haves...

Ok so if you’ve made it to the blog via our lookfantastic homepage then you would’ve already seen the amazing prize that’s on offer throughout November right?

Undeniably it’s an ultimate opportunity to steal the limelight of the A-listers as you ensemble your new designer gear, splash the cash (well ok, vouchers) on fine wine, before soaking up the romance of Paris … and then when you arrive home to some fresh flowers every month from your adoring fans (admittedly we can’t promise the fan bit) you can set to work choosing yourself some delectable handmade furniture and accessories to stylise your humble abode. Steam up the bathroom, run a bath full of bubbles and indulge in a bit of relaxation with the latest edition of Glamour. Oh and you’re not finished yet…£300 worth of goodies from the lookfantastic site are yours for the taking to make sure you look top dollar as you step into L.K. Bennett to splash the vouchers once more!

The excitement of pulling a whopping £2500 prize together was so overwhelming that it slipped our mind that we couldn’t enter it ourselves! Doh! Oh well, I guess that’s more chance for you then… x

P.s. If you are contacted next month as the lucky winner of our competition and struggle to find someone to join you on the weekend to Paris, you can always contact me via this very blog…! xx

Beauty is only skint deep

Monday, November 2nd, 2009 | Hair, Make-up, Skin Care | No Comments

Fact - purchasing a red lipstick mirrors the psychological effect of purchasing a designer dress (albeit at a snip of the price). It may not satisfy the adrenaline-fuelled exhilaration experienced in the way that spending half a month’s wages on a single item does, granted, but guilt-free smugness levels will be at an all time high, guaranteed.

Loath to kick our beauty habit, us women are constantly looking for ways to get extra value for our money. Whether it’s more Beauty Flash for your cash, more spritz for your spend or more plumping for your pound - beauty products are something we are not willing to forgo, financial crisis or not.

Compare forking out hundreds on a pair of shoes to £15 on the latest mascara and it doesn’t seem like such an indulgence at all. Work out the cost per application and the price tag seems perfectly manageable.

We’ve taken a few of our bestsellers and tallied up their Cost Per Use (CPU), proving that you can indulge in your favourite beauty treats after all…

Product: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
Cost: £25.00
Uses: 60
CPU: 41p

Product: Redken All Soft Duo
Cost: £18.55
Uses: 30
CPU: 61p

Product: Benefit BADgal Lash
Cost: £14.50
Uses: 90
CPU: 16p

Product: Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream
Cost: £75.00
Uses: 60
CPU: £1.25

Product: Neom Refresh Candle
Cost: £15.00
Uses: 20 hours
CPU: 75p per hour

Product: Kerastase Ciment Anti-Usure
Cost: £14.20
Uses: 30
CPU: 47p

Product: ghd IV Styler
Cost: £93.99
Uses: 1,500
CPU: 6p

Product: Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat N°2
Cost: £17.85
Uses: 180
CPU: 0.09p

Product: Tweezerman Slant Tweezer in Leopard Print (with a lifetime guarantee)
Cost: £20.00
Uses: 2,000
CPU: 0.01p

The power poise.

Thursday, October 29th, 2009 | Celebrities, Fashion, Hot Topics, Make-up, Nails | No Comments

Power dressing. pow.er dress.ing noun
A stylish and expensive clothing style, intended to convey the impression of assertiveness and competence. Predominantly worn by women.

Dallas basked in it, the Princess of Wales made it beautifully covetable and dear old Maggie Thatcher transformed it into the embodiment of ‘pow’. Its back, it’s a statement, it’s a point of view and ultimately it’s a point of power. This season’s trend is one of fiery force and I for one am diving in feet first.

Growing up in neon shell-suits (teamed with platform shoes) and sporting a poodle perm, my personal experience of the style ‘a-la-dynasty’ extended to watching in envy as my aunt appeared each year laden in copious amounts of plastic sequins layered over ice-pick shoulders. Luxe velvet party dresses teamed with a crimped mullet and tights so woolly her calves grew to the size of my thigh had me in bewildered awe. Yet throughout my bedroom bound Cyndi Lauper renditions and Thriller routines, I longed to use mums bottle of hairspray on my worryingly short fringe - secretly wanting to back-comb my way to Dallas glamour. Older, wiser (?) and raring to go, AW 09 has landed in my lap this month like the glacier cherry on my fashion cake. Sharp, strong lines, humongous hair, blocked bright colours, deliberately bold make-up, and fabulous amounts of crimson, chilli, and poppy rouge. Let the creations commence!

Vision Dita Von Tease harmonised with Anna Wintour and fresh, sexy Cheryl Cole. Think thick, matte 3D pouts paired with confidently rouge talons and razor sharp shoulders. Whether it’s an assertive swank around the office or a provocative schmooze to the bar, there’s no shying away this season, it’s gotta be big, it’s gotta have glamour and most of all it has got to ooze power. But hold your horses, and step away from the scarlet nail falsies; like many fashion proclamations, get it wrong and you’ll look like a 50’s ration-ista rather than an 80’s fashionista…

Pair poppy red nails and a chilli pout with monochrome tailoring or a fashion forward fuscia pink ensemble (exclusive to daring divas only!). Leighton Denny Nail Colour -  Viva La Diva is a super sassy red nail coat perfect for the bold and beautiful and works in perfect harmony with the new Duwop Private  Red Lipstick. Paying homage to the 70s colour changing lipsticks, this powerful pout perfector will effortlessly blend with your skin tone to create a provocative yet empowering ensemble. Lastly, precision is key so it’s just as well lip liners are back in town. Finale your new pout with New <ID I-Define Lip Liner - Rosie and leave the uber-glossy-glosser at home this season. Keep it bright, thick and mattified for maximum va va voom!

60s babies thought it was buried forever, but the rocking 80s is back with a vengeance to rear its ‘not so’ ugly head. Take a deep breathe…there’s no need to wince! We scraped the leg warmers and buried the neon shell suits at the back of mums attic (ready for AW10!?). Selecting only the best of the fashion beast, AW09 is your time to walk the walk and make a scarlet statement. Viva la raging rouge!

Flutter-thy lashes

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 | Make-up, Trends | 1 Comment

Believe it or not, but for fear of them crawling down my face causing much embarrassment, I only tried my first pair of falsies on a (very fun filled) hen night last month.

Too nervous to put them on myself, (please feel free to leave a comment if you have any fool proof tips on applying false lashes!) my friend stepped in to act as my very own lash saviour. Together, friend and falsies joined forces to give me the most amazing lashes! Ever! And behold, I am now addicted to them.

However, I do not feel it appropriate to wear false lashes 24/7…despite working in a fashion fuelled environment and instead opt for lashings of trusty mascara. Top of my wishlist right now is the multi-tasking, time saving Clarins Wonderperfect, the lifting bareMinerals Flawless Definition with it’s 360° fine-toothed comb and my sisters favourite Benefit BADgal lash, which make it look like you’rer wearing falsies without the risk of them falling off!

Have you had any touch-and-go beauty moments you wish to share?!

Walking in a beauty wonderland

Friday, October 16th, 2009 | Hair, Hot Topics, Make-up, Men, Nails, Skin Care, Trends | No Comments

“Now Clarins, now Cowshed, now Tigi and Darphin, on Gucci, on Prada, on Juicy and Redken…Twas the countdown to Christmas and all through the night”…to cheesy? Ok I’ll quit.

Selfridges did it with 141 days to go, Harrods with an impressive 152 and lookfantastic with a confident and swanky 75. It’s inevitable that with less than three months before the turkey-laden day, it’s very on-trend to be utterly engulfed in an array of pre-season Christmas shops. Amongst the whiskey, shoe polish and cat food (yes, there are!?) gift sets, I have succumbed to the notion that there are in fact, gift ensembles for absolutely everything. And of course, not being one to disappoint, the LF Christmas Gift Shop offers no less than something for absolutely everyone.

Avoiding January bill blues has become one of my crowning feats in recent years. Rummaging around early bird Christmas collections during mid July may be frowned upon by some, but be forewarned - my ‘I’m-so-organised-face’ is always mildly smug as I fall in after my New Years Eve finale and realise I’m proudly debt free (ish).

I  also believe there is an incredible amount to be said for shopping in your jim-jams, especially when over zealous shoppers cram into each home store like sardines. I take guiltless pleasure in lounging around, swapping my tea with (festively) large amounts of Bailey’s, and watching my gift list gradually shrink with every ‘Add to basket’ click.

With this is mind, I have scoured through the gift-set merriment that adorns the LF Christmas Shop to bring you my personal top three yuletide goodies, because let’s face it; successful gift giving is the difference between receiving an item from your wish list and being handed a pair of (possibly used) peach, velour, fleece lined slippers…one size too small. So amongst our oh-so-fabulous collections I have found these beautifying bad boys for your browsing pleasure. Come all ye spendful (and thriftful) there’s something for us all!

Tweezerman Swarovski Slant Tweezer - Devine White. As white as freshly settled snow yet packing some dazzling-blingtastic punch, these uber glam tweezers are guaranteed to impress your glamour-puss compadreys.

Cowshed Bullocks Sponge Bag. Definitely a quirky stocking filling for your raging bull. Designed to pacify and relax in a flash, he can indulge while you get on with finishing the Christmas tin of Roses. Having the purple ones all to yourself!

Burt’s Bees Polka Dot Perfect Mani-Pedi Gift Set. Give hardworking Mum the gift of pretty pieds and plush pinkies this Christmas and you’ll no longer have to wince as she prepares the turkey with bare hands!

Finally, after living through some personal (brow raising) experiences, I would just like to note that when deciding on festive donations, you’ll never go far wrong with a few self indulgent beauty aides. Men, women, young, old, everyone loves a bit (or a lot) of me time, and a complimentary preening kit will always be welcomed with open arms.

On the other hand, a brand new top of the range, ultra fast folding, super light weight, remote control, ironing board for her, will probably be met with some deflated disappointment. Possibly even a strike - ironing or otherwise. Equally, buying him the same middle of the road aftershave your dad, uncle and dentist wears will only further him comfortably into ‘predictable’ mode. Spontaneous spa trips and lavish diamond gifts- cancelled.

Calling all 40s fashionistas…

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 | Fashion, Make-up | 1 Comment

Become your very own 40s fashionista courtesy of Jemma Kidd with their autumn/winter 09 make-up class. Think Diane Kruger in Inglorious Basterds meets Ingrid Bergman (as seen at Balenciaga, Prada and DKNY’s A/W shows). Couple silk blouses, cashmere twin sets and tweed tailoring with ‘barely there’, warm rich nudes on the eye, long fluttering lashes, and shimmering glitter accents in antique gold’s for true vintage glamour. Skin is stunningly flawless with 40’s rouge on cheeks and lips. Bring this look into the 21st century by trading matte rouge for a glossy ruby finish with Jemma Kidd Stain, Flush & Gloss in Ruby Tuesday.

1 Create a defined brow by using Jemma Kidd Brow & Eye Kit. Start with the palest colour to fill in the eyebrow, adding more of the darker colours to build intensity.

2 Using Jemma Kidd Pro Precision Concealer Brush (07), apply a sweep of a natural coloured crème eyeshadow (try Jemma Kidd Firming I-Crème Duo in Silk or Jemma Kidd Firming I-Crème Duo in Tweed) across the whole lid. Finish with glitter dust in the same shade.

3 Accentuate your eyes by adding corner false lashes and finish with a coat of Jemma Kidd Extreme Magnify Mascara in Pitch.

4 Use Jemma Kidd Shape & Shade / Lip Filler in Almond to overdraw your natural lip line; for a true 40’s look, the upper lip should be more rounded and fuller, and finish with a slick of matte lipstick in a berry-brown. Try Jemma Kidd Lipstick Duo in Ingrid.

Spread your wings and flutter away!

Friday, September 25th, 2009 | Fashion, Hot Topics, Make-up, Trends | 1 Comment

With the comforting kisses of mistress-summer landing few and far between, we are fast becoming beholden to the looming autumn grind. With darker nights and dimmer days, its no wonder the entire fashion universe ruled long ago to add some promising sparkle to this dull seasonal transition. The annual deadline for all forthcoming fashion trends is launched each September with the ascendancy of London Fashion Week. 25years on and the glossies are filled with thrilling new frocks and chops. Imagine my excitement as the classic and elegant designs glide down the catwalk and I swiftly realise that in their simplistic lustre- I am left lashings of room for statement make-up!

I once described the fun a girl has in the application of make-up as comparable to pre school picture painting. Admittedly I got some bemused looks?! But I’m sure any self-respecting cosmetic junkie will agree that each application is a personal work of art and the possibilities are endless! (Golden rule: Not to mix too many colours and be sure to leave enough blank canvas for appreciation!) Just as well this season you’ll see ocular opulence cropping up in abundance, with lavish lashes and dark smoky lids. Autumn’s ‘winged-eye’ will add some von-tease to any classic couture number.

Unlike its 80’s predecessor, the smoky statement eye is now going solo, remove all traces of brazen-scarlet lipstick and let your pout bare all. Coupling this ‘extremist versus minimalist’ style with the strong lines and sharp edges of the catwalk, your alluring eyes will surely win you a few long stares. Deep plums and smoky denim replace ebony shades along with a lifting sweep of eyeliner glitter to make an uber glamorous finishing touch.

As with any dramatic style, things can quite easily slip from stunning statement to dramatically dreadful! With a fair few cracking experiences under my belt, let me give you a few invaluable tips to assist your way to smouldering siren and you can be the first to strut those lids and spread your brand new ‘wings’.

Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow in Fishnet

Kicking off the proceedings with Too Faced Eyeshadow Candy Bar in Black Liquorice, sweep a lighter grey colour over mid to top of lid, creating a soft but smoky base for you to build your masterpiece. Never start with a base-colour too dark, light layers of colour will prevent your luscious lids from sporting the ‘long, hard night’ look.

Choose either a plush plum or deep navy feature colour such as Urban Decay Deluxe Eye shadow in Fishnet, this partially smoky, partially metallic mauve will give you eyes a colourful lift whilst still remaining dark and mysterious.

Now to create the infamous ‘eye wings’ you must make the inevitable decision: Are you a liquid eye liner pro with a grip as steady as a bomb diffusing veteran? Or like the most of us, do one too many late nights and a slightly misty mirror leave your precision eye line techniques a lot to be desired? For perfect Polly, there is the classic swipe of shimmering Urban Decay Liquid Liner Oil Slick, to give you a sparkly swoop that will lift you all the way to couture status. Run a fine line over the top of your lid and outward in an upwards motion to create a ‘youthful flick’ (anything that involves the upward motion is considered youthful don’t forget!).

If you are an average steady-eddy then stick to creating your seductive wings with a dark and smoky shadow like Duwop Smoke Palette - Navy Seal in the same upward motion remembering less is always more. Well, in this case

Finale your new seductress look with The RMK Ingenious Pencil Eyeliner 02 in Deep Gray to create the lower lid statement and ultimately completing you testimony to the brand new autumn 2009 make-up style in the ‘blink of an eye’!

LF does VFS @ LFW

Monday, September 21st, 2009 | Fashion, Hot Topics, Make-up | No Comments

Mattjis van Bergen

Debuting their S/S 10 collections at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, the emerging designers at this must-see event wowed the audiences with their dynamic collections. Amongst the talent were Fashion Scout’s ‘Ones to Watch’ which included Ada Zanditon, Dean Quinn, Hermione de Paula and Marko Mitanovski. Inspiration for the shows spun from futuristic to Femma Fatale and whimsical prints to structured forms.

Marko Mitanovski

Finishing the fashion, the hair and make-up offered lots in the way of experimentalism. Backstage I caught up with Rachel Wood, make-up artist for Benefit, to find out the inspiration behind the make-up. Shimmer was high on her agenda (she urges us to put away our mattes for the time being) as were coppers, bronzers and anything with a metallic finish. Channelling the contouring trend as seen on the A/W catwalks, Rachel described this wearable make-up trend like “Spanx for the face”.

Working in tandem with the hair stylists Rachel goes for one key look for the models. At Mattjis, models were made to look like they had been swimming under water (wet lips, smudged liner, glistening skin, mascara stained on the outer edges of the eyes).

backstage at Marko Mitanovski

Recreate the look at Mattjis using Benefit’s One Hot Minute as a base and Benefit Moonbeam buffed on with a flat brush. Lipstick was bold and glossy, but precision was pared back, as the edge of the lips was dabbed with a cotton bud to blur the lip line while lashings of gloss was applied for juicy red lips. Nails were of a similar vain, according to Jessica Nails‘ Mary Tabbatha, and were kept neutral and metallic.

As for next seasons trends: Rachel foretold a played down version of the 80s power make-up we’re seeing right now. But that’s months away… so in the meantime revel in the make-up backlash.

LF hearts RMK

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 | Celebrities, Make-up | 1 Comment

Irresistible Lips B 01 Peach and M 07 Red

Since its exclusive launch at LF, all the girls in the office haven’t stopped raving about the too-cool-for-school make-up brand RMK. Like most Japanese produce, RMK is stylish, quirky and ultra trendy. What’s more, it’s packaged in uber cool chrome packaging (make-up bag kudos).

Product highs for me are definitely the lippies, in particular the Irresistible Lips (see pic). Bold, eye popping colours with feather light formulas make these lippies wearable, fun and moisturising too! In fact that goes for all of the RMK make-up. The colours aren’t for the faint hearted but they are cheeky, flirty and long lasting.

If you’re make-up mad, give it a go x