All I Want for Christmas...

Happy day after Boxing Day everyone!

I hope you all had the most wonderful Christmas's imaginable, and are continuing to enjoy the festive season. I had a fab Chrismakah which included a festive get together with friends at my parents house on X-mas eve, which consisted of games, food and an improvised jam session with my dad. Chrissy day was spent with my family and the hubby's family...three xmas meals, bingo, secret santas and loads of fun.

I just wanted to share with you what I was fortunate enough to get this year. My amazing boy must have paid very close attention to the blog, as he treated me to a stunning Mitzi Hobo bag from Mulberry!! I love it so much. We were then very sneaky and discovered that the bag went on sale on Boxing Day, so after returning it and re-buying it...he then treated me to an amazing Vivenne Westwood purse with the difference! I am very, very lucky! I do whole heartedly believe in investing in designer accessories, especially timeless ones, as they last you years, and I'll be keeping these gorgeous pieces for a loooooong time!

I was also lucky enough to receive from my parents and brother and sister-in-law to be a variety of amazing things which I've been hankering after for a while, including 2 spirit hood style hats from River Island (got one from each...2 is so better than 1!), CDs and DVDs, Rose by Paul Smith, a gorgeous gold metallic jumper, studded black boots and gauze and silver skirt from Zara, a black silky maxi skirt from River Island, a beautiful Benefit make-up set and an amazing kit from Soap and Glory, which has about 15 products in it!

I feel very, very fortunate to have such a wonderful family with such great taste, and I've put some piccy's of my amazing hoard below. What about you?? What did santa bring you this year? Enjoy x

amazing Mitzi bag from Mulberry

the entire stash!

Soap and Glory kit

New Kelly Clarkson album and the Other Boelyn Girl

Spirit Hood style hoods from River Island

Vivienne Westwood purse

Jumper from Zara

Paul Smith and Harajuku Lovers perfume

SKirt from Zara

Boots from Zara

Merry Christmas Everyone!

To all my wonderful and stylish readers around the world, I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy Chanukah!

No matter whether you celebrate today or not (I personally am a Jew who loves Christmas) I hope you have a wonderful day, full of love, laughter and fun...whatever you do!

I'll be back to my blogging tomorrow, but in the meantime...Merry Christmas!

Loads of love,

Claire Belle x

My friend Jacqui...another Jew with the Christmas spirit! Love the jumper Jacs!

Christmas Sparkle!

Tis the season to be sparkly!!

With the Christmas countdown falling on 2 sleeps until the big day, I thought I would share with you a few of my favourite sparkly, festive dresses. Whether you're heading out to a big party, a cosy night in with your favourite person, a girly night out, I've got the dress for you...and if you get two, you've got yourself sorted for New Years Eve as well. Bargain.

All of these beauties are from the high street (I do love a high street bargain) and some are already in sale, and hopefully, the others will be going that way as well.

So whatever you're doing this festive season, have a fabulous time! Enjoy x

Louis Vuitton's Ice Cream Pastel Heaven for SS12

The Louis Vuitton SS12 show was one of the most whimsical, beautiful and feminine of all the SS12 shows (how many fashion shows incorporate a carousel??)

Renowned photographer Steven Meisel has come together with artistic director of Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs to create the ultimate in candy perfect and ice cream dream ads for Louis Vuitton SS12. The spring summer ads, which feature two fresh, new models, Daria Strokous and Kati Nescher in an ice cream parlour, with swathes of sugar pink, bowls of ice cream sundaes and outfits so delectable, you'd think they were edible!

What do you think of these new ads? Will you be buying into the new season's pastel trend? Enjoy x

images from ftape.com

It's a Lush Christmas

You're probably well aware by now that I love the festive season. Everyone is that little bit nicer, christmas carols are sung, amazing movies on tv, time with family and friends, presents, and of course, Lush bring out their amazing Christmas range!
I am a Lush girl at heart. I worked there during my uni years and my loyalty to the fragrant shops has never strayed.

I was lucky enough to be sent a few of the Lush 2011 Christmas products to try out, and along with them, I have tried some more that I bought for myself. Here's a little review of the best of Lush this festive season...if you're looking for last minute stocking fillers, secret santas, or a little pressie for yourself, head down to your local Lush and have a gander at these fabulous goodies! Enjoy x

The Gingerbread house Bubble Bar.
By far my favourite...so far! This gorgeous little bubble bar is shaped like a gingerbread house, adorned with a snowy roof and cinnamon stick chimney. With ginger powder and ginger essential oil, this is a really warming product. There is also lemon oil and fruity notes, and it makes amazing, soft bubbles!

The Magic Wand Bubble Bar.
This is a solid version of my all time favourite Luch product, Snow Fairy shower gel. It's a cute star on a wand, which can be used several times to create sweet smelling, foamy baths. There is also a little pink ribbon and jingle bell attached, to make you feel all Christmassy!

Satsumo Santa Bath Bomb
A fizzing bath bomb in the shape of a fat little Santa, which releases the smells of mandarin, bergamot and orange flower...mmm...makes your bath orange and fizzy too!

Three Gold Rings Bubble Bar.
A luxury foaming bath of gold and vanilla, which shimmers with metallic gold. This bubble bar foams so well, and has a fragrance of vanilla and sweet orange.

Chilli Tingle Lip Balm.
A fab little lip tint which comes in a silver case. It'll tint your lips a beautiful orangey red, and contains a bit of chilli to make them tingle and warm up in the cold weather. There is also a moisturising base of jojoba oil and cocoa butter, some candelillia wax and japan wax to seal the lips and give a barrier against the winter weather and to hold that lovely colour on the lips.

Celebrate Lip balm and Tint.
A fizzing, champagne flavoured lip balm and tint. Yum! This little beauty contains almond oil, organic jojoba oil and camellia oil to moisturise your lips and keep them safe from the winter weather. It tastes amazing! No wonder, it has icing sugar, cognac oil, grapefruit oil and lemon oil. It has a pretty subtle pink tint and comes with a topping of popping candy!

I love a Cosy Hat!

Last weekend, I ventured to Rochester with a group of friends to check out their Dickens style Christmas market.

It was a freezing cold day and I wanted to wear my most snug hat, as I knew we would be out and about in the cold for a good few hours. I decided to wear one of my favourite hats (I have quite a few in various shapes and sizes) which is big, fluffy and oh so fabulous!

Of course, not everyone understands my style...and the majority of my crowd thought I was walking along with a sheep on my head. However, I was asked if my picture could be taken twice - once by an American tourist and once by a photographer from a Japanese fashion mag (my favourite kind of fashion), so ha ha...sometimes walking around with an imitation sheep on your head is cool! At least I was the warmest as well that day.

The hat is from River Island, my coat is from Topshop, my boots are from Tesco years ago, my snood is from Sahara and my bag is Jane Norman. What do you think? Are you a fan of my crazy, cosy hat? Enjoy x

p.s. I'm the one with the crazy hat...not the puzzled looking tourist!!

Belle of the Ball is Featured on Frontcover Make-Up!

Ooh I am excited!! Belle of the Ball has just had it's first major bit of promotion...well..kind of!

If you are a long time reader, you might remember about a year ago I did a post on fabulous make-up brand, Frontcover - a really cool brand which is all about showing step by step tutorials of how to create catwalk inspired make-up trends. The brand is stocked in Boots, and I am always really impressed with their presentation & quality of the make-up.

Anyway, after seeing the blog post, the brand got in contact with me and asked if they could use one of my quotes on the packaging of one of their new Christmas products. They didn't have to ask twice!!

Well, now the product is actually on sale, and my quote is loud and proud on the box! The set is called Moondust, and it is a beautiful make-up kit which Frontcover describe as: "'A collection of loose pigments and glitters in pots to create twinkly sumptuous looks.'"

Moondust contains six pots of 'irdiscent pigments' in 6 shades; Coal Hoal- a carbon black with a slight sprinkling of glitter, Coinage- a fab copper, Burnt Carrot- a rich luxurious gold, Moondance-a mystic indigo blue, Lime Lime- a vibrant lime green and Saddle Brown- a chocolatey shimmery brown. There are also two pots of glitter- Doubloon- a gold glitter and Periwinkle- a indigo glitter. The kit also contains a shadowbase eye primer which is essentially a highlight stick, creamy and shimmery, it provides the perfect base for the pigments and glitters. There is also a small applicator brush.

My quote, which reads: " believe make-up is all about having fun, and with this kit, you’ll be playing for hours creating gorgeous new sexy looks!" can be found on the back of the kit.

I'd love to hear what you think and if you might check out Frontcover yourself. The picture of my quote is pretty blurry because my blackberry camera isn't the best! Enjoy! x

Jimmy Choo's Coffee Cosy...The Perfect Gift for Stylish Coffee Lovers!

Luxury brand Jimmy Choo has developed a luxry coffee cup sleeve to compliment your coffee habit! I kid you not readers, forget about the days when you had to slip a cheap piece of cardboard around your coffee cup to prevent burning your fingers, now your fingers can enjoy a touch of luxury, thanks to Jimmy Choo! The coffee cosy consists of a stylish slip of croc-effect leather, adorned with the golden Jimmy Choo logo, which slips onto your coffee cup, giving it an instant chic finish! Coffee cosy’s come in taupe, dark brown and black leather. Gorgeous!

The perfect Christmas pressie for your favourite fashion loving coffee drinker. Enjoy x

Meryl Streep Covers US Vogue January 2012

A fabulous cover star to start off 2012 for American Vogue!

Meryl Streep, one of Hollywood's most fabulous actresses has just landed her first ever Vogue cover for the American version of the glossy publication.

The 62 year old Academy Award-winning actress posed for Annie Leibovitz for the January issue in which she appears beautifully natural and windswept in a gorgeous dove grey Carolina Herrera dress coat.

Although this is Streep's first US Vogue cover, the star has already appeared on the French edition's cover no less than 3 times...time for the rest of the Vogues out there to catch up. The cover coincides with the release of her new movie, The Iron Lady, where she plays Margaret Thatcher.

What do you think of the cover? Do you find it refreshing that an older star is gracing the cover? Enjoy x

H&M is Favourite for Fashion for Students!

It wasn’t that long ago that I was a uni student, indulging in take aways, up all night with mates, sleeping in instead of going to lectures…ahhh…I do miss those days!

Because of my uni days nostalgia, I love keeping up to date with Studentbeans.com – a website dedicated to all things studenty! The website have just announced the winners of their annual “Beanies” awards, which recognises student’s favourite brands, retailers and entertainment of 2011. The winners were voted for solely by uni students, and I was really interested to see which fashion brand they would vote as their number one!

The Beanie went to…H&M! A fabulous choice! It seems that high fashion and low prices are key for students, with most agreeing that designer collaborator, H&M, is the best fashion store of them all. I have to agree. H&M really is my favourite high street shop. I always find something and always leave wanting to buy more, and the fast turn around means that the shopping experience changes every time. In fact, I think I’m going to head there at lunch time to pick up a Christmas day outfit!

The Beanies are set to become an annual event, gauging the tastes of this important group of trendsetters.

If you want to know what other shops/restaurants/music are top of student’s lust list, here is the full list of winners:

Best restaurant - Nando's

Best bar chain - Weatherspoon

Best fashion retailer - H&M

Best magazine - Cosmopolitan

Best newspaper - The Guardian

Best app - Angry Birds

Best film - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Best programme on TV - The Big Bang Theory

Best album - Adele, 21

What do you think? Would H&M get your vote for high street favourite?

Spirit Hoods Make the Christmas Wish List

Dear Santa,

Continuing with the Christmas wish list countdown, I want to tell you about Spirit Hoods.

If you know your stuff, you might have noticed that animal inspired hats and accessories are everywhere at the moment! Cute bear hats, paw mittens and fake fox stoles. Well, I have discovered la creme de la creme!

Handmade in L.A., Spirit Hoods faux fur accessories transform the wearer into the animal spirit that best describes their personality. Take your lead from an ever expanding celebrity fan base, and pick from loyal huskies, adventurous tigers or mysterious wolves. I am completely in love with these hoods, and although they come with quite a hefty price tag, they do look worth every penny! Enjoy x

For some reason my iPad isn't letting me upload images, so to check out these amazing hoods, check out the website here.

On Today's Wish List...

Dear Santa,

I hope you don't mind me writing again but I've got something else to add to my wish list!

Yes I know I'm being a little extravagant, but I would love a Mulberry Daria Hobo bag. I have a slight obsession with British handbag label Mulberry. I think they make the most beautiful bags and wallets. Always gorgeously crafted, perfectly slouchy and perfect to carry around with you all year round. They are truly timeless and I particularly love the slouchiness and roominess of the Daria.

So Santa, if you are feeling particularly generous, one of these bad boys would be fab!

What do you think? Do you like Mulberry bags? Enjoy x

Lady Gaga Cover Star for Elle's January 2012 Issue

Lady Gaga is really earning her covers at the moment!

The latest glossy to score a Gaga cover is a magazine close to my heart (because I interned there for 6 months once upon a time!) British Elle! They've given Gaga not one...but two fab covers!

On the first cover, the Lady is wearing a stunning orange bespoke dress from Alexander McQueen and on the second, she is rocking a Green Simone Rocha mini dress...hot! Especially loving the coordinating eye gear.

The very talented Matt Irwin shot these covers, and with Gaga covering January's Vanity Fair and 4 other January covers, our favourite little monster is on a fashion roll! Enjoy x

Today's Obsession...

Dear Santa,

I have been really good this year and I hope you don't mind, but I've got my eye on a few fabulous fashion finds which I would REALLY love to receive this year...

No readers I haven't gone mental, it's just that tomorrow is the 1st December and my Christmakah wish list is finally being unveiled upon the world...so Santa, if you are in the blogosphere and you enjoy reading fashion blogs...I hope you see this! Today's obsession and top of the wish list is this gorgeous necklace by Mawi for Disney Couture. Two of my favourite things - amazing avant garde jewellery designer Mawi and the magical-ness of Disney - all wrapped up into one! yes please!

If you would like to add this little beauty to your wish list, you can find one on ASOS...or just ask Santa ;o) Enjoy x

The Lanvin Christmas Tree for Claridges has Arrived!!

You might remember a few days ago I posted the amazing news that Lanvin was to design the Claridges christmas tree this year...if not, you can read about my excitement here.

Well, the even more exciting news is that THE TREE HAS ARRIVED!!!!

The towering tree was unveiled this week, and also features a scene of signature marionettes playing out 'the Lanvin family around the tree at home'.

"We wanted to make all our Christmas dreams come true; an infusion of tradition and modernity together. That is Lanvin," explained Elbaz.

"I hope the tree brings a big heart of joy to all who work and stay at Claridge's hotel: It's my way to say a very Merry Christmas.

How cute is the mini-Alber at the top of the tree, next to the glittery Lanvin star?? Surely the xmas accessory from now on!

The tree will is on display in the Art Deco lobby until 2 January 2012. Head on over and see it for yourself at Claridge's Hotel, 49 Brook Street, London, W1K 4HR. What do you think? Will you be checking it out? Enjoy x

River Island SS12 Press Day

Yesterday I went along to the River Island SS12 press day, to see what the brand has in store for us next year! The collections were so gorgeous, it had me craving next summer already!

Well, where to start, it was a riot of colour, texture, prints, studding and more. Firstly, and most importantly, there were yummy canapés circulating, the best of which was the mini hamburger…amazing, delicious drinks including appletinis and cosmos and a good old fashioned pic’n’mix stand where guests could help themselves.

Food out of the way, the collections were split up to showcase them at their best. The majority of the pieces were bright, bold and daring, and were split into 6 main collections; Miami, Spring Break, Prairie, Ethnic, Purist and Sugar. The majority of the trends speak for themselves, but here is a little break down of my favourites:

Ethnic – tribal patterns and embroidery, loads of styles, prints and textures all mixed up with embellishment and colours to create a bold and creative mix. Personal favourites included a shaggy black and white waistcoat and a zebra print skirt…oh, and all of the accessories!!

Sugar: so sweet and feminine, this collection consisted of pastels, chiffons, floaty and sheer fabrics, all covered in applique detailing. Gorgeous pieces that you’ll love wearing.

Prairie: a kind of western inspired trend consisting of muted blues and neutrals. It’s kind of hippy and very carefree –fringed jackets, crochet and broderie anglasie… girly, chilled and begging to be worn at festivals.

I’ve put a selection of some pics taken at the event below. What do you think? Are you looking forward to seeing the new collections? Enjoy x

amazing accessories!

Jo enjoying the pick and mix

I need this!!!

 

French Martinis and French Manicures Courtesy of Chambord!

Although I am not really a big drinker, I do love a berry flavoured tipple once in a while, and when I do indulge, I love to mix it up with some Chambord, an amazingly tasty black raspberry liqueur that can be combined a hundred different ways to create various yummy cocktails. Chambord also has a strong connection to the fashion industry and often works with various events around fashion week – another reason to take note of this stylish liqueur!

I was therefore excited when I received and invite about an event being hosted by Chambord this week, enticingly called “French Martinis and French Manicures.” The name intrigued me so much that I decided I had to check it out. Very simply, this event is a girly girl’s dream. Chambord is looking to attempt the most French manicures in an hour! A record breaker that every girl would hope to get into the Guinness Book of World Records!

So here is the lowdown on this glamorous record breaking event: Chambord held this event of French martinis and French manicures at London’s swanky Haymarket hotel on Wednesday 23^rd November.

Chambord together with a team of expert beauty therapists attempted to set a record for the most French manicures to be painted in one hour! Phew! After having indulged in a beautiful French manicure, all the ladies who attended the event were to be treated even further to a French martini (or two!) – never had one before, but I can’t wait! It consists of Chambord, vodka and pineapple juice. Sounds amazing! So yesterday my model and blogger friend Tola and I went along to the event to check it out.

First of all, the hotel was amazing. Beautiful, contemporary, luxurious but not pretentious! We were greeted and shown into the room where the manicures were taking place…and it was girly heaven! Two lines of tables with about 20 girls getting French manicures done at a time. We signed up at a table and waited our turn, indulging in the gorgeous canapés and delicious French martinis – made from Chambord – as we waited. 

When it was our turn, we sat side by side and were treated to a French manicure by beauty therapists, who were absolutely lovely too! They used nailgirl products, which I have never used before, but was really happy with the results. Our nails looked neat, polished and very chic! This is my first French manicure – I always opt for colour – and I am really happy with how they look.

The night ended with a second French martini and a gorgeous free Chambord umbrella. It was such a fun night and I hope the Chambord team start working on their next event soon. Here are some snaps of the event. Enjoy x

 

The Chambord Bar Staff

Gorgeous Tola enjoying a French Martini

Let the French Manicure-athon begin!

Lovely Lucie fro Eulogy PR who organised the event

Me and Lucie...Posing of course!

More posing!

Tola getting her nails did!

The result (ignore messed up nail in the middle!!)