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

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!

New hair idol alert

Monday, October 26th, 2009 | Celebrities, Hair, Hot Topics | No Comments

It’s official. I have a new hair idol. She might be the obvious choice given that she makes up one quarter of the X Factor judging panel (and no I’m not talking Cheryl and her unfeasibly voluminous bouncy barnet), it’s Dannii Minogue’s ‘do I just can’t get enough of. I mean who would have ever thought a bob could be so versatile! It puts my pathetic morning fight with the blow-dryer to shame.

We’ve had 20’s bob Dannii, 80’s quiff Dannii, washer woman Minogue (she was out last night), cutesy peek-a-boo fringe Dannii, tousled bob Dannii, pony tail hair extension Dannii, hair piled high Dannii, 20’s pin curls Dannii - and these are just from the live shows!

Admittedly I wasn’t a fan of last week’s random hair extension (rat tail springs to mind), but we’re all prone to the odd bad hair day, right? Luckily adding shine as mirror-like as Dannii’s is simple with a spritz of something glassy, like Goldwell Brilliance Radiant Star Shine Spray.

Do you think Dannii manages to pull off her different looks?

Sunday best

Monday, October 19th, 2009 | Celebrities, Hot Topics | No Comments

If you’re one of the five people in the country who didn’t tune into X-Factor last night, you really need to sort out your priorities. If however you did switch over to your Sunday night ‘Factor fix to “Whit”-ness the world exclusive of our favourite diva (we’re still devastated about missing out on her tour tickets in the LF office) and Cheryl’s performance of her new single Fight For This Love, you will already know that Sunday nights have reached a new level of cool.

Despite Whitney’s minor wardrobe malfunction (luckily her presence alone was enough to divert attentions) she took to the stage like a diva to water. Cheryl followed suit, wowing audiences by performing live (energetic dance routine to boot) in a sheer all-in-one and Balmain-esque military style jacket alongside a group of honed and toned male dancers.

Do you think Cheryl’s live performance paid off?

Smell fantastic!

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 | Celebrities, Fashion, Hot Topics, Men, Trends | No Comments

Well let’s start with an apology for the recent lack of attendance!

We haven’t been neglecting you, in fact quite the opposite! For we’ve been working hard to bring you our sparkling new fragrance shop. Oh yes! The lookfantastic virtual shelves are overloaded with tantalising fragrances, seductive scents and elegant classics for both him and for her. Take a peek and lose yourself amongst the likes of Hugo Boss, Dolce & Gabbana, Jean Paul Gautier and even the Beckhams!

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

Fancy yourself as our guest blogger?

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009 | Celebrities, Fashion, Hair, Hot Topics, Make-up, Nails, Skin Care, Trends | 1 Comment

We update you daily with our latest discoveries in the world of hair and beauty but this week I thought it’d be fun to mix it up and give you a chance to join our fabulous blogging team!

I’ve got 3 sample bags full of yummy Caudalie goodies to give-away. To see yourself on this very blog here next week send me a quick email to blog@lookfantastic.com with your name, address and explain in less than 50 words why you’d make a fab guest blogger for next weeks post! We’ll choose our faves and then send our chosen ones a sample bag of Caudalie’s dry skin saviours to review in a dedicated blog post next week!

Look forward to working with you!

The lookfantastic award winners

Monday, August 3rd, 2009 | Celebrities, Hair, Hot Topics, Make-up, Men, Nails, Skin Care, Trends | No Comments

It’s a hotly anticipated day today here at LF HQ, as this morning we’ve been privy to some highly insightful and informative information which we are excited to share…. This year saw us bring you the first ever lookfantastic awards, and today we’re thrilled to announce the winners!

Breaking down the winners so you can see what ‘you’ the customers thought and voted for, as well as what our panel of experts voted for as their must-haves and what they highly commend as well as highlighting the overall category winners.

Astounded by the sheer number of votes we received and taking from our expert’s opinions, we suggest if you haven’t got the winners in your beauty bag it’s time to stock up now!

Buck the trend!

Monday, July 27th, 2009 | Celebrities, Fashion, Hair, Make-up, Nails | No Comments

So Posh has done it again, she’s wowed us with another new hairstyle! Always taking the lead in bringing us fresh, new and original hairstyles, love her or hate her you can’t take away her ability to set a must-have trend. And as a result I’m sure there are plenty of people as we speak booking themselves into the hairdressers pronto.

And on that thought of trends, you’ll be noticing that all the sales are ending and the new lines of fashion are hitting the shops as well as the new colours and latest make-up effects. Without wanting to live in the past, we’ve decided here at lf headquarters that we are not quite ready to say goodbye to the summer months and embrace the new greys and blacks. That’s why in a slight protest we are urging you to continue to rock that summer beach babe look, and opt for surfer, laid-back-chick hair and carry on revelling in the bright summer hues with a daring and bold nail colour whilst adding to your rock chick status with the barely there make-up and hot pink cheeks!

The festivals aren’t over yet, and we’ve still a whole month of the summer season, so although the new trends may be tempting, buck the trend and stay out for longer embracing that all the British summer has to offer!