Thursday, 16 December 2010

Daisy Lowe and Ellie Goulding perform at Mulberry's Manchester Press Party


To celebrate the launch of its new Manchester store location, the fashion industry giant that is Mulberry, held an exclusive press party for all its honourable guests at the exciting new venue on Tuesday.
With fanciful food delights on offer- many could tuck into the British delights of fish and chips, burgers and Victoria sponges- all of which in handy miniature mouth sized portions- and washed down with a refreshing glass (or two) of Mulberry inspired cocktails.




Guests also had the opportunity to take a sneaky peak at the layout and design of the brand new and exclusive store- which came about as the result of a two year collaboration between Mulberry and Universal Design Studios to effectively reflect the brands key identity of craftsmanship, energy-saving technology and beautiful aesthetics.




The event also saw the likes of British beauty Daisy Lowe playing a highly anticipated DJ set to entertain the other guests- while singing sensation Ellie Goulding graced onlookers with a surprise live vocal performance later in the evening.



To shop Mulberry’s latest S/S 2011 collection- or to simply browse all the stunning clothes, bags and accessories they have to offer- then click here.

Monday, 13 December 2010

Lady Gaga's New M.A.C Campaign


Returning as the face of M.A.C cosmetics for the second time, the ostentatious pop star, Lady Gaga, is set to launch her latest campaign for the beauty industry giant.
After the success of her Viva Glam campaign, Ms. Gaga looks set to embrace a new face full of make-up and do the adventurous, creative brand justice- after all, she’s hardly a shy and retiring kind of girl herself is she?
Judging by the latest advert images, the Fame Monster looks utterly flawless and purely stunning surrounded by fresh water pearls and glowing beams of light- although she may resemble the iconic Virgin Mary, (you were thinking it too!) we all know there’s nothing saintly about this prerogative little star.
None the less, M.A.C have undoubtedly chosen a rightly candidate for their new range- at the end of the day, The Gaga certainly knows how to rock extravagant vibrant hues!

Thursday, 9 December 2010

Yves Saint Laurent holds Open Casting Session for New Advert Campaign


If you fancy yourself as the next Kate Moss (or even Karlie Kloss) then you’re in luck, as fashion giant Yves Saint Laurent is opening the opportunity flood gates for many a young rising starlet.
Posted on French website, Castingdujour.com, the label advertised their desire to find 130 tall, elegant and beautiful people through numerous open casting sessions this week- and the end prize....the chance to appear as an extra in their brand new ad campaign currently scheduled to shoot next week- now you can’t get much better than that!
And to add a little extra icing to the cake, YSL will be paying the lucky individuals 150 euros for their efforts- I’m rather tempted to apply, but somehow feel their judging standards are going to be pretty high!
Oh well, it’s worth trying something once, eh?

Wednesday, 8 December 2010

Naomi Campbell at the 2010 British Fashion Awards


The fashionistas were out in full force last night as London’s Savoy Hotel and Theatre played host to this year's British Fashion Awards – and boy did the stars dress to impress- but probably the most style savvy of them all had to be the stunning Naomi Campbell.

The international supermodel wore a stunning black floor length Alexander McQueen gown to last night's vent- complete with sheer skirt detailing and gorgeous emerald chest embellishment- not forgetting the initial furry shrug she donned to brave the cold British chill- finishing off the entire black on black ensemble to perfection.

The dress itself was designed by Alexander McQueen and produced under the Sarah Burton collection- allowing Naomi to pay homage to her close friend who sadly passed away in February this year- it seems his spirit will forever live on through his exquisite designs.

Picking up the Special Recognition Award on the night for 25 years of hard work and dedication to the fashion industry- Ms. Campbell certainly deserves every ounce of praise for her continuous struggle to rise to the top- after all, it hasn't been easy for the British beauty has it?

Well done to all the glamorous ladies last night- here's to a super stylish 2010- now all I can say is roll on next year.

Friday, 3 December 2010

Marie Claire launch new Beauty Genius iPhone App


Marie Claire has recently launched its first ever iPhone app- Beauty Genius- the brand new way to get all your important make-up tips and celebrity looks at the touch of a button- or a screen for that matter!
The app has all the beauty know how you’ll ever need all rolled into one- making sure you look stunning wherever you are or whatever you’re doing. And with over 60 minutes of exclusive bite-sized how-to videos showing you how to perfect the latest catwalk beauty trends- there’s plenty to keep you looking fresh, fun and bang-on-trend.
The handy make-up tips and hints will put a stop to your beauty woes- making perfecting that sultry pout or smoky eye a whole lot easier- after all, we all need some extra help from time to time.


Or if you fancy recreating your favourite celebs red carpet looks- then fear not, as the Marie Claire beauty app also features an exclusive collection of famous faces with a step by step guide on how to achieve their most desirable looks for your very own- all thanks to the renowned celebrity make-up stylist Jackie Tyson- whose worked with the likes of Sienna Miller, Katy Perry and Lily Allen I'll have you know.
So if you want the chance to enhance your skin, hair, eyes and lips this party season then this is the ultimate Beauty app that you simply can’t live without- the interactive videos and useful make-up tricks of the trade let you get the latest looks while on the move- not to mention becoming your new best friend.
The Marie Claire Beauty Genius iPhone app is available to download from the iTunes App Store for only £1.19- with regular updates soon to follow.

Thursday, 4 November 2010

Nicola Roberts at the Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women of the Year Awards


It seems fresh faced, fiery haired women are the talk of the town at the minute, and I simply can’t get enough of them either. None more so than Girls Aloud member, Nicola Roberts- after all, she is the most stylish of them all.

To praise the young starlet for her unmatchable fashion efforts, Nicola was awarded the Fashionista Award at Tuesday night’s Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women Awards for 2010- and I couldn’t think of a better title to her name.
So naturally, Nicola had to don her best glad rags for such an occasion- and boy did she do just that!
Wearing a highly haute couture Bodyamr dress- straight off the s/s 2011 catwalk- the British stunner looked effortlessly flawless.
The green oriental bodice complemented her porcelain skin and red hair to perfection, while the grey chiffon lower half of the dress broke up the bold colours in the outfit rather nicely- not to mention adding a very welcoming vintage vibe to the overall look.
Congratulations Nicola, I couldn’t think of a more deserving candidate for such an award- just keep up the good work. And yes, that means your Dainty Doll make-up range too- we pasty girls need to cover up our blemishes to!


New s/s 2011 collection at Browns


Browns' new-season press day on Tuesday, allowed me have a little sneak peek into its new collections for spring/summer 2011, and boy were the pieces something to get excited about – especially the collaboration of Club Monaco and their new line for the ultimate fashionable stop shop.

Judging by the luxurious garments draped over the rails, leopard print appears to be sticking around for yet another season – I'm beginning to think it’s never going to go away, not that I want it to, of course – the infamous print has been effectively worked into delicate dresses, lightweight jackets and naturally, evening accessories.

But I couldn’t think of a more appropriate garment for summer than a long, floaty, spotted maxi dress – I'm getting excited already – I better start saving now though if I want to own a slice of Browns' new collection for summer- oh the joys of being poor, eh?


The obvious white lace and ruffle chiffon garments are set to grace the shelves at Browns for 2011- the breezier the better, in my opinion. However, I was surprised about the fact that shearling is staying put for spring? Granted, the sheepskin only appeared on a selection of handbags in the showroom, but there’s just something about that wooly material that shouts winter-time comfort, rather than boiling hot sunshine, don't you think?

Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing how the sheepy texture will work with floral seperates next season, and if proved wrong, I shall admit defeat.


Thursday, 28 October 2010

Taylor Momsen at the Roxy


I think everyone can agree that Taylor Momsen holds the title for most dramatic style revamp in young Hollywood to date. And whilst attending the Tokidoki and Onitsuka Tiger Sneaker collaboration launch party in West Hollywood on Tuesday, her outfit certainly reinforced her dramatic bad girl makeover is here to stay- so forget the blonde haired, blue eyed, innocent actress- it's all about stockings and stilettos now I'm afraid.

I must admit, while I may have dabbled in a bit of gothic clothing when I too was younger, I am proud to say that I did it with style. Some may disagree, but when compared to Taylor's recent get-up, I think many will swiftly change their minds. No matter what your style of choice, there's a way to go about it- and looking like a stripper at only 17...is not.

The mismatch of rose lace leggings and mesh netted tank top is not a good look, although I do like the leather jacket- but then again leather is a staple for any wardrobe all year round, so she's played a safe card on that one. The patent leather buckled transformers do bring back a lot of memories for me, as I too used to own a pair exactly the same- I know... the shame- so I'm not one to judge the footwear on this occasion.

Underwear as outerwear was a huge trend for s/s 2010, but on this occasion, the young musician has taken it a step to far- I hate to say it but she looks more tacky and tasteless, than stylish and sophisticated. Gothic style doesn't necessarily mean you have to dress as crazy as possible, just look at Dita Von Teese- the woman just oozes Hollywood glamour. It's all about wearing a few key pieces, fabulous accessories, flattering make-up, and most importantly, your presence. You have to have the right attitude to pull off the braver of outfits.

So here's a little bit of advice Taylor...less is more!

Image credited to Zimbio.com

Tuesday, 26 October 2010

Britain's Next Top Model Live Exhibition


The first ever Britain’s Next Top Model Live exhibition took place this weekend at London’s impressive ExCel Centre, so with my press pass at the ready and dressed to perfection, I was ready to embrace the life of a model. And in more ways than one…

The weekend wasn’t spent entirely sipping champagne and browsing the vintage clothing stalls – oh no – I had to earn my keep and take centre stage at the Style Icon Workshop to give daily discussions on this season’s biggest trends. The editor of MyFashionLife.com, Emily O'Brien, took to the mic as the expert guest speaker and gave a confident, funny and insightful look into this season’s camel, leopard print and shearling trends. Day after day Emily brought in a crowd of fashion-hungry girls (and, occasionally, guys) while me and the other interns simply posed on stage in our outfits – oh the hardship.



In my free time I explored the wonders of fashion, beauty and music. The stalls were certainly varied, from Zandra Rhodes footwear, Jonathon Aston tights, Bourjois makeup to even teeth whitening, though I had to pass on the latter as the fear of the dentist suddenly took over me. Free makeovers and hair styling were also on offer for a bit of well-deserved pampering, (something that I definitely took advantage of) all thanks to the London College of Beauty and the world-famous stylist, Adee Phelan- who I must say, looked very trendy in his white sunglasses and tapestry of tattoos.



Musical sensations Eliza Doolittle and Diana Vickers provided the lyrical entertainment, while BNTM judge Charlie Speed left many a young girl in a flutter with his live interview on the main Kiss Open Catwalk stage. Carrying out the interview was the lovely Emma Willis, who I had the pleasure of meeting backstage (she's a lot smaller in real life, but then again most celebrities are!)


However, we all agreed that the highlight of our weekend was witnessing the amazing Chyna Whyne in action (although the Tia Maria cocktail bar came a close second.) Aside from her jaw-droppingly stunning appearance, the singer-turned-stilletto-master gave a hilarious insight into how to walk in the most highest of high heels, leaving us still singing her catchy theme song for most of the day: “When I am walking in my stilettos”… ahem, I digress.



The main event was, naturally, the live catwalk show with the finalists from the latest series of BNTM – the crowd went crazy at the sight of the naturally stunning girls. The show itself was equally impressive, too, with dance routines, fabulous fashion, comedy, music and most importantly....semi-naked male models! Trust me ladies, these guys were sculpted to perfection. However, I have to admit the best part of the show, for me, was listening to singing sensation Jessie J with her belting performance of 'Mamma knows best.' Having never heard of this artist before, I have since listened to her music a hundred times- her voice and stage presence is truly breathtaking. For a little taster of her vocal abilities just take a look below (sorry about the lighting, the stage was overly lit up) or you can watch a Youtube clip of her in action here: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jessie+j+mamma+knows+best&aq=o




Our base for the best part of the three-day event was at the Style Icon Workshop, a cute little set up that proved a main focal point for many fashion and beauty bloggers alike, including Pixiwoo with their extremely helpful sisterly makeup tips and Gemma Cartwright, the former editor-in-chief of CatwalkQueen.tv, with her handy wardrobe wearing tips.


My verdict? The weekend was a massive success and one that I was very proud to have been a part of – I just hope this exhibition is a first of many to come, so bring on next year! But before I go I just want to end this post with a snippet from the Joey Bevan fashion show, accompanied by Molly Smitten on vocals. Enjoy!