I heart Mad Beauty

Don’t you just love it when you make an amazing new discovery? A lovely PR sent me some gorgeous bits from Mad Beauty, and I’m not ashamed to say I actually squealed when I opened the package. For those unaware of Mad Beauty, it’s a great website where you can pick up all your beauty essentials, from make up and nail varnish to cosmetic bags and skin care products.

They have the usual make up, skin care and accessories section, but what really makes this website really stand out is their gift section, which is just brimming with goodies perfect for Chrismukah – also great if you want to pick a little something special for yourself!

Who could resist these fab little products – lip gloss in a sparkly stiletto container, lip gloss disguised as a cocktail shaker or a wrapped up present, or how about a jam jar of strawberry jam scented body wash, complete with toast shaped sponge? Genius and irresistible if you are as big of a make-up hoarder as me!

I will post some photos of the goodies I’ve been sent, but my cameras playing silly bugger at the moment. In the meantime, I’ve put a selection of images from the website below. Get onto the website now and get some amazing pressies for your friend, sister, mum, grandma or yourself! Enjoy x

Available to buy from http://www.madbeauty.com/

Cocktail Lipbalms £2.99

MAD's Lip-o-cino lipgloss £5.99

Present for the Lips lipgloss £3.99

MAD Toast and Jam Strawberry Body Wash and Sponge £6.99

MAD's Boot-iful lips lipgloss £2.99

Glitter Stilippo lipgloss £4.99

Harry Potter and the legendary VOGUE shoot

I am a bit of a geek. I love the Harry Potter books, and, as much as they aren’t that brilliant, I do have to watch every film – and I can’t wait for Deathly Hallows part one. Now, the kids (I say kids, what are they 30 now?) aren’t exactly the best actors, and Hermione’s character does irritate me slightly…however, Emma Watson (the actress who plays Her-mione for those living under a rock) has built her street and style credit up remarkably. She’s gone from annoying, buck-toothed 11 year old, kitted out in Osh-Kosh-Bagosh to Burberry campaign starring fashionista.

It was really no surprise then to see the newly elfin-cropped starlet gracing the front cover of December’s Vogue. It was, however, a surprise to see how utterly beautiful, impeccably stylish and incredibly fresh she looked. Of course, if I had Vogue’s styling team working on me for hours, a Valentino couture dress and legendary photographer Mario Testino shooting me, I’m sure I’d look alright too!

It is so nice seeing a young British woman experimenting so freely with her style – she was bound by her Harry Potter contract (signed by a magical quill I’m sure) to not change her hair or her appearance for the entire duration of the films, so now that she is a free woman, Miss Watson has gone all out with her new style. Emma says in her Vogue interview: “For the nine years I was on Harry Potter I was contractually obliged not to cut my hair, not to tan,” she said. “All the normal things girls so, I couldn’t. So when I got the chance to change my appearance, this is what I did.”

I have to admit, I have a bit of a girl crush on the young mud blood now, it’s amazing what this crop has done for her, and the shoot is just beautiful - a bit film noir, a bit Breakfast at Tiffany’s and very Parisian chic. Have a look at the pics below and grab yourself a December Vogue – also fab as this is the first issue you can buy as an iPhone app! Groundbreaking stuff people.

All images and quotes from Vogue December 2010

Emma Watson in Decembe's Vogue - Shot by Mario Testino

LEGO Jewellery? Yes Please!

Hands up if you loved LEGO as a kid? It was all about the LEGO/Play Mobil divide in my house, but those colourful building blocks and funny little characters have never lost their appeal. Now being slightly older, LEGO has come back into my life in a more grown up fashion…kind of.

LEGO has just launched a funky limited edition ring! Designed by Lisa Taylor, this fab and stylish rings are the first pieces in the official LEGO jewellery line. The rings are sterling silver and the best part about them, their interchangeable! So, basically you choose one of two ring designs, which come in more than 15 colours – so you can style them up however you like. Taylor will also be producing 23 charms to accessorise the ring, with designs perfect for the festive season such as Christmas trees and flowers.

I really love these rings, as you know from previous entries, I have a thing about funky, quirky jewellery, and these rings set me all of a quiver…I love that you can make them individual by mixing and matching whatever colour you like, as with such a statement bit of bling on your finger, you really don’t need to bother with any other jewellery…unless of course LEGO come up with a few necklace designs!

The rings are available to buy now, exclusively at Selfridges, and retails at £50. The LEGO charms will retail from £15 - £20 each…enjoy x

LEGO® rings by Lisa Taylor £50 exclusively at Selfridges

I Heart Lanvin

My heart is all of a flutter! Lanvin is a label that I have always coveted – designer Alber Elbaz always manages to create timeless pieces that appear to flatter women of all shapes. His soft drapes and feminine folds always entice me, and I have longed to own one of his creations for ages…well…now I can…sort of! Yesterday was the first official preview of the hotly anticipated Lanvin collection for H&M.

Now, the H&M designer collaborations have always been a bit hit of miss (let us never mention the Kylie or Madonna collections again), but they do sometimes strike gold (hello Roberto Cavalli) and this collaboration with Lanvin looks set to be the best yet! The collection hits stores 23^rd November, and with prices as low as £7.99 (OK, that’s for a lipstick) to a mere £199.99 for a beautiful bejewelled coat with detachable fur collar, this is a collection that is sure to be a complete sell out.

Elbaz has really stuck to his creative roots with this collection, and each piece looks like it could have stepped right off of the catwalk. Sexy leopard print and red patent stilettos with diamante encrusted heels compliment the black and floral print styles complete with bows. The signature appliqué t-shirts have been recreated for the H&M collection for the very reasonable sum of £29.99. However, if you want to own a piece of true Lanvin, nab yourself a cocktail dress (if you’re quick enough) which are fun, flirty and fabulously feminine.

There’s also a nice little collection for the boys, including blazers, bow ties and lace up shoes, so you can get your fella a little piece of fashion gold

(or buy yourself an extra piece from the collection!)

So get yourself down to H&M on the 23^rd or, if you don’t fancy the stampede of bargain loving fashionistas, log onto http://www.hm.com/

x

Vogue's Fashion Night In

Time to get excited and get online!
Vogue is launching its first ever online fashion event Vogue’s Fashion Night In tonight, with discounts and special promotions from a whole hapr of etailers for one night only! Get the credit and debit cards ready ladies.

The event follows Vogue’s amazing successful store-based event Fashion Night Out, which took place in Oxford Street in September, and now that the weather has turned a bit nasty, having a fashion night in is the perfect way to continue the shopping success.

Vogue’s Fashion Night In is taking place right now...until midnight in fact!

A full list of online fashion retailers taking part and their oh-so generous online offers can be viewed www.vogue.com. Have a clock now and see what goodies you can come away with.

Some of the promotions and events on offer tonight include:

Topshop – Six dresses from Kate Moss collection will be available a day before launch
Asos – launch of second premium range Asos BlackNet-A-Porter - Launching party boutique
Harrods – Win ‘Ultimate Girls Night in’ party pack
Liberty – Live styling advice
Matches -Launch of Lulu Kennedy’s collection
Start London – Live video feed online from owner Brix Smith Start (you know, the slightly bonkers pixie from Gok's Fashion Fix) with top tips for this season’s trends
Kurt Geiger - 20% of on everything

So what are you waiting for? Get online and get shopping. Enjoy x

Birds of a Feather Fly Fashionably Together

Keira Knightly and Carey Mulligan at the British Film Festival

What a double dose of lady like loveliness! Although I'm not a fan of her waif appearance, I do love Miss Knightly's style, and Carey Mulligan's quirky, British, girly image, combined with her tomboyish hair, is another winner in my books! So when I saw the two stepping out together at the British Film Festival a couple of weeks ago, expectations were high as to what the glam pair would muster up.

I was not let down. Both girl's looks complimented each other beautifully - mixing an old fashioned colour palette and silhouette, with a modern twist. I absolutely love the yellow of Carey's dress, and the oh-so feminine blouse and fresh of the catwalk Rodarte skirt of Miss Knightly's just work so well together. Carey's dress is the perfect blend of trends that are hot for SS11 - mustard yellow, CHECK, pleating, CHECK, knee length skirt, CHECK!

Give the girls a round of applause, they really do look fab and proudly lead the way for aspiring British fashionistas everywhere.

Now, I can't afford (at the moment) a Proenza Schouler dress or a Rodarte skirt, let alone those YSL heels, so, if you fancy putting together a similar look for yourself, check out the below pieces for a high street inspired get the look!

Enjoy x

Keira Knightly

Carey Mulligan

Print Dress £24.99 H&M

Top £17.99 H&M

Brown leather high heel brogues £39.99 New Look

Yellow Dress £50 Topshop

Black patent high heel brogues £19.99 New Look

Black belt with gold stitching £14.99 Zara

www.topshop.com 

www.zara.com

www.newlook.com

http://www.hm.com/

Beautiful Jewels

I have a new jewellery crush. Introducing Trisori – a new jewellery brand who specialise in statement pieces, which are all handmade, making each piece not only gorgeous, but also fabulously unique! The brand is all about incorporating semi-precious stones finished with 24 carat gold plate.

Now, if you have read my previous entries, you’ll know that I am usually only a fan of wacky, bizarre jewellery – long chains with random pendants such as cameras, rabbits in top hats, robots etc, but Trisori have a really great collection, and use stones such as amethyst, garnet, citrine and peridot, giving the jewellery a magical and ethereal feel. A nice change from my random collection.

For a bit of contrast, the Hard Candy ring is a juxtaposition of urban design and glamour, and, as I love a chunky ring, is the perfect accompaniment to any outfit, no matter what kind of look your going for.

Although, if I am being biased, I must admit, my favourite piece in the whole collection is the beautifully understated “Claire” necklace (well, most things called Claire are!) The stunning green zircon stone sparkles beautifully in its gold clawed clasp. Love the chain too; you normally get a flimsy chain with such a delicate pendant, but this one has a bit of chunkiness about it, which gives it a more fashionable and directional feel.

Have a look-see at the website, prices start from £39. I’ve put some images of my fave pieces below.

http://www.trisori.com/

Claire necklace £69

Hard Candy Ring £95

Lenora bracelet £79