Mother's Day Gift Ideas

It is time to show your mum how much you love them. It is Mother’s day this Sunday, 3^rd April in the UK. Make your mum feel special by buying something different and that will last. Flowers are great but accessories last a lifetime. Here are some ideas for you. 

Vaishaly Cleansing Balm Review

A lot us are forever in search of clear, glowing skin, myself included. So I jumped at the chance to try out products from skin guru, Vaishaly. You may know of Vaishaly for her sought-after threading treatments that provide perfect eyebrows. Vaishaly believes ‘less is more’ meaning you do not lots of proucts to get healthy, clear skin. She has her own line of skincare, including a Cleansing Balm which I tried. 

The Best Beauty Advice

What is the best beauty advice you have heard? We all have that tip from our mum. Now you have the chance to get tips from the experts. Fashion and beauty bible, InStyle have teamed with leading department store, Selfridges, to give you a little black book of beauty secrets – Best Advice We’ve Ever Heard.

Glam case for your iPad2

Were you on the lucky people to get hold of an iPad2 this weekend? I would not normally cover a case but this is special. The appropriately named ‘Glam’ is a glossy, patent-leather case in a hot-red colour.

New Bags: Links à la Mode

I was devastated when the zipper broke on my handbag. To be fair, I had worn it to the death as I loved so much. So there was a space in my heart for a new love and I went in search of a new bag. Here’s what I found on my adventures. 

Shoes with attitude!

I am an absolute shoe-aholic. I am always on the lookout for new shoes and I recently came across Iron Fist shoes. Their shoes have the most gorgeous and unique designs. If you wear these shoes, compliments are guaranteed. 

Essex Fashion Week

OK, I admit I am a fan of The Only Way is Essex. Why? I live in Essex and I love it!!! So when I heard about Essex Fashion Week first mentioned on the show I simply had to go. It’s not all white stilettos and mini-skirts I can assure you, unless you have been to Romford and in that case you might be forgiven for thinking differently as the girls there clearly do not feel the cold. There were several brands on display and some of them were actually very good. If you do not believe me, see for yourself below. See if you can spot Nanny Pat! 

Get The Look! Elle Macpherson

Uber supermodel and Britain's Next Top Model host, Elle Macpherson was pictured on a school run in Louboutins, as you do! Of course she  looks gorgeous in her biker jeans. So here is how to get her look. 

Cocosa and Costume National Collaboration

Cocosa is an exclusive fashionista site for members only. I find that so many of the membership sites say that have the most exclusive designer brands and at closer inspection they do not deliver the brands you would like. This is not the case with Cocosa. With the likes of Alexander McQueen, Karl Lagerfield and Valentino having flash sales on the site, what’s not to love?

Smile with your eyes! Eye Makeup

They say the eyes are the window to the soul. I love dramatic eye make up and how it can change your entire look. From daytime to Hollywood glam, ladies, it’s all here. Some of the latest eye products to help you get your glam on!

New workwear pieces in stores

Work can often be hard to dress for. Smart casual? What does smart casual mean?  Here are some new pieces recently in stores which can be made smart or casual depending on how you wear it. 

GeillyGreen and The Boutique Collection Review

I love that ‘just stepped out of a salon’ look. A good hair day can change your entire look. To help you get that look, hairdresser extraordinaires, Fred Geilly and Shai Greenberg established GeillyGreen and released the Boutique collection.

Coach opens in Westfield London

So have you to been Westfield London recently? It is my idea of heaven where you can shop till you drop. Now American accessories brand, Coach, join the pack by opening their UK flagship store. 

In the store you will find luxury handbags, purses and shoes for women and men. The bags are very well-made with most of them in high quality leather and some in fabric. So no more ordering from US anymore or paying for international shipping. You can get join celebrity fans of Coach including Rachel Bilson and Jessica Alba and get your Coach bag. Here are my top picks. 

Triumph Inspiration Awards

Anyone will tell you lingerie is just as important as what you wear outside. So to inspire you, Triumph will host the 4^th Triumph Inspiration Awards on 31^st March. 20 students from London College of Fashion and De Montfort University will compete in a lingerie competition to be judged by you and a live jury of celebs. 

Students will compete first in the national final to select a UK representative then the lucky designer will compete in the Grand Final against the other national finalists. The winner will have their creation made for commercial sale by Triumph and a prize fund, of course. If last year’s creations are anything to go we are in for a treat! I had a sneak peek at the shortlist which will be on site for voting and the designs are innovative and stunning. Here’s my top 3. I love the lace. Now the only question, which of the three to vote for? Decisions, decisions.

So what can you do? Make your vote count from 18^th March by choosing your favourite at http://www.triumphinspirationawarduk.com/ by 29^th March. 

The uber glamorous supermodel, Helena Christensen, was last year’s face of the competition and here she is wearing the winning piece. The piece was amended for commercial sale on the right. How sexy is that?

After the national final, the first 125 customers from 9am on 1^st April will bag themselves a free Triumph lingerie set. 

So who will get your vote?  Tell us in the comments.

Fearne Cotton Makeup Review

Fearne Cotton is known for her style, wit and beauty. Her makeup is always immaculate with dramatic eyeliner or red lips. So to help us get her look, last year she teamed up with Boots and released a makeup range titled Fearne, exclusive to Boots. Now she’s back with a new collection featuring new products and updated colours. The lovely people at Boots gave me a chance to try out the range and look at the new collection.

First up is the set called ‘It’s all about the lips’. It comes in natural, red and a purple colour. In the set, you get a lip liner, lipgloss and lipstick all to match. I have to say the packaging is exquisite; I almost did not want to take it out of the box. Read on to see the look I created and more products from Fearne's collection...

Jimmy Choo's new tribal collection

Do you remember your first encounter with Jimmy Choo? My first encounter was watching Carrie running to stop a ferry shouting ‘I lost my Choo!’. 

Jimmy Choo does classic as well as innovate every new season. Their new tribal collection for Spring/Summer 2011 is inspired by Rio and its tropical weather. The new collection features tassels, bold colours and print. Read on to see the shoes from the collection...

Save, Spend or Splurge? Dresses

Spring is coming and it is time for a new wardrobe. Show your pins off with some of the latest dresses for going out. Get your glam on! I have dresses for every budget so take your pick.

On a budget, no problem! We have River Island’s purple origami dress for you. The origami pleats make the dress different. The belt will give you a flattering waist. Pair this with some sky high heels, maybe one of Kurt Geiger's new range? For accessories, a clutch will go perfectly. In stores now and online for £49.99.
 For more dresses, read on...

Kurt Geiger and Le Smoking range

I think we can all agree Kurt Geiger do dome of the most stylish shoes right? So when they do a new collection, I take notice. I lust after them and are often a source of daydreaming for me. Their new range, Le Smoking, is all about black and gold. The two colours complement each other well, non?

The KG by Kurt Geiger Hampstead mixes colours, textures and metal trim to make this shoe unique. The cutout detailing really stands out. Need a new pair of shoes for a night out? The Hampstead is definitely a contender. The heel is very high so do not ask me how you would dance in them but I recommend them as sitting down shoes.  Available in black and nude.Read on for more grorgous shoes...

Red Nose Day and Vivienne Westwood

Red Nose Day is coming up and you need to do your part. Every year, Comic Relief do amazing work by raising millions of pounds to tackle poverty across the world. So show your support by wearing a comic relief tee, designed by the great VivienneWestwood. 

Inspired by history, the t-shirts show iconic figures from British history. I like the Louis XIV tee showing a fashionable lady from the time of Louis XIV with conveniently placed red noses. I like the cheeky aspect it, don’t you? Other iconic figures are Queenie, Shakespeare and a punk rocker.  Look out for the elephants which are so cute! Prices range from £9.99 to £14.99, they are good value and the perfect way to show your glamorous support. Available from TK Maxx. Better hurry, they are selling out. If they are not online, go in store to pick one up.

For something a little smaller and versatile, Liberty of London have this silk scarf with the subtle red nose print. Spring is on its way so wear this on a day out around the neck to give a splash of colour. Available at TK Maxx for £12.99.

Do you have any plans to raise money for Red Nose Day? Add your event in the comments.

Benefit: Brighten things up?

We all have days where our skin is lack lustre or a bit dry. The wonderful people at Benefit have something that will put that glow back in your face and ready to face the day. Finding mr.bright is a 4-piece set with some of Benefit’s best selling items all together.

First off, we have Girl meets Pearl, one of the most popular products at Benefit. For a dewy, luminous complexion Jennifer Lopez would be proud of, twist the stick and pat on your skin for a pearly glow. It can be worn over makeup or alone. Read on for what else in this little masterpiece....

ASOS and Diet Coke want you to be a star

For online shopping, ASOS is king. I love ASOS for their variety of brands and ability to keep up to date with up and coming designers. Now they are teaming with Diet Coke to give you the chance to update your wardrobe and a chance to show your style in lights.

Look out for limited-edition Diet Coke cans and bottles, available now, marked with this season’s red-hot lips. Enter your code and you can get vouchers worth £100, £20 and £10 to spend on anything in store or £5 off your next ASOS purchase of £20 or more. So once you get your vouchers what should you spend it on? The ASOS one-shoulder pleated dress is my choice. The drapes give it an elegant look and would look fantastic on a night out. It also comes in nude and berry but the navy has my heart.

Get ready to get your glam on! ASOS and Diet Coke want you to put it to the test in Street Style Star. Upload a picture of yourself to www.asos.com/streetstylestar from now until 4th April for your chance to see yourself on the Piccadilly Sign in London for the world to see. Their will be a regional shortlist of girls strutting their stuff online from 8^th-25^th April. Then you get to vote for the top three who will get to be street style stars. There are lots of photos up already with girls showing their signature style off. Style Factor?

French Connection Spring Event

To launch the Spring collection, French Connection are having stylish parties at selected stores this Thursday. This Thursday, you can have 20% discount on all full price items. The event runs from 5.30 until 8.30 so get in there quick before the good stuff goes! There will be a complimentary bar serving Tails cocktails at selected stores so choose your location wisely. If that is not enough for you, then for purchases over £100 or more, you can get a VIP goody bag with treats from French Connection, Toni&Guy, Dermalogica and Aquapax. Now you are thinking what can I get? Here are a few ideas.

Get ready for spring with this amazing butterfly print playsuit. It’s flirty and perfect for a day out. Pair it with some wedges and you will look hot. This is most of the most flattering playsuits I have seen. The V neck complements your neckline and it is not too tight on the bottom half.

For spring we need lighter coats so why not update your wardrobe with this classic trench coat? The coat is double breasted and made of 100% cotton. The buckle fastening belt will give you a waist. I always love the fit and attention to detail from French Connection and this coat shows their quality of work off. The tabs on the sleeves give this classic trench coat a modern feel.

So now you have a few ideas for what to get on Thursday, make sure you register to get your ticket here. You know where I’ll be on Thursday. Hope to see you there!

Workwear for the new season

When it comes to workwear, it can be hard to get the balance of professional, stylish yet comfortable. Have no fear, I am here to help with some of my picks for the workplace. So if you are looking for a key piece, this is for you. Always bear what would you wear this with as there is no point buying it if it is not suitable. 

Warehouse has introduced some beautiful dresses recently but this Cowl Neck dress is the winner. Flattering to any figure and very smart for that all important meeting. This dress is definitely for the smart office and can be toned down for the daytime with a cardigan and then fully unveiled for a night on the town. Here’s the best bit, it is in the sale. Get it before it goes here!

For workwear, Next is always a go-to place for many women. They offer quality pieces at good prices. Just because it is winter, does not mean you have to wear trousers. Also, you should be preparing your spring wardrobe so here’s an addition.  A black pleated skirt to flatter all shapes. With an elasticated waistband, you have room. I see this with a silk blouse and heels to show off the legs. Perfect for the office. £28 from Next.

I believe in having a splash of colour. So to inject some warmth in to the office, Ted Baker have front ruched silk top in a hot red color. The top will flatter you as it does not cling to you. This is dry clean only so be prepared for the bill. Red, silk and ruffles, heaven! £89 from Ted Baker

Welcome to the Glam Squad!

Ever wondered how celebs look amazing all the time? Celebrities have an army of people, including stylists, make-up artists and Adobe Photoshop looking after them to make them look stunning. How are us mere mortals supposed to keep up? Well you have come to the right place. I will give you tips I have learnt over the years to help you turn heads. We will even help you to do it efficiently so you do not spend all evening doing hair and makeup. Here are my top 4 tips to being glamorous.

1.  Dress to flatter your figure, not fashion

Just because skinny jeans are in fashion does not mean it will necessarily look good on you. How many women have seen who wear a top too tight or skirt too short? Muffin top looks good on no one. To overcome this, have a few staple pieces in your wardrobe that are timeless. Bootcut jeans, long white vest and a blazer are just a few. These can all be dressed up or down to suit the occasion.

2. Accessorize!

Accessories can take a mediocre outfit and turn it into something show stopping. How can anyone not comment on this Topshop metallic showstopper? If your outfit is plain, how about a statement piece of jewellery like a extravagant necklace or big earrings? It should be something that sparkles and colourful to create that wow factor. Although, be careful to not go overboard. I love a necklace and bracelet or earrings and rings. But everything together? It all depends on how big a statement the accessories are. If they are small studs, go ahead. If you wear more than one piece of large jewellery, just be conscious not to look like a Christmas tree.
More tips after the cut....