Wednesday, 31 March 2010

Know Your Makeup

The trend for Spring/Summer? Au natural and smokey eyes a la Sienna Miller! Check out the latest video from The Fashshot Studio (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KND0O9KWC8) and have your make up brushes at the ready.

Amidst a sea of catwalk models, in high fashion and very high heels, it’s easy to forget how much goes into the makeup for a runway show. Every slick of mascara and sweep of blush is all there to enhance the designs, and we saw some very creative makeup looks at this year’s London Fashion Week.

Now The Fashshot Studio brings you behind the scenes of a professional beauty shoot, giving you the inside knowledge on the hottest make-up of the moment.

Cheryl Goes Wild For Tees

The love may have left Cheryl Cole’s life for now, but it’s ever present on her t-shirts. In true LA style the singer sported some cut off denim shorts last week with an ‘I Left My Heart in Beverly Hills’ tee from Wildfox.

It’s the word on everyone’s lips – Wildfox has risen to fashion stardom with their range of vintage inspired tees, designed for IT girls with attitude.

Celebs everywhere are going crazy for these cute and comfy knits, spreading peace and love with bows, hearts, and fun logos. From the original Love Potion t-shirts to their rock ‘n’ roll homages, you can find these gems online at Harvey Nichols.

Cheryl's style has grown from chav to chic since her early days of fame – she’s swapped her gelled locks and trucker hats for fashion savvy looks that have earned her the No.1 spot in the UK style charts.

If you love Wildfox, you’re sure to be a fan of Ad Hoc London; the little shop with a big cult following. This retro boutique is perfect for girls with fun and feisty style. Adhoc stocks Wildfox, Junk Food, Emu, and Disney Couture, as well as plentiful accessories and crazy leggings to give you a fresh and original look for less.

Shine in Satin

Never a slave to designer brands, N-Dubz's Tulisa picked out a £25 Matalan floral dress for the Brit Awards. She accessorised with a £3.50 Primark belt, proving that cheap can indeed be chic.

For the pre-Brits party, she went all retro at Bungalow 8 in a windbreaker and leggings. She may be unknowingly showing her undies, but we love the jacket she’s wearing! This nylon zipper is bang on the sports trend, and lightweight enough for Spring. Get yours at American Apparel for just £35!

The silky lightweight fabric brings a sexy and feminine edge to a casual look, and their burgundy and teal green shades are to die for!

The singer recently got involved in the Brit Class Act; a programme rewarding young talent by getting school kids involved in music, and giving them a hopeful head start in the industry. The project welcomes all music genres, from rap to opera, and is open to young people up to 19 years old.

Tap into the sports luxe craze at Uniqlo – their range of bright parkas and lame leggings are both stylish and practical!

Winter Kate by Nicole Richie


Nicole Richie – bad girl turned good, motherhood has done wonders for this mischievous socialite. Her recent design escapades have had bright reviews, bringing Nicole’s boho chic style to fans everywhere.

Her jewellery line House of Harlow 1960 raised a storm with ethnic inspired pieces, while her 'A Pea in the Pod' maternity line provided fabulous fashion for women expecting.

Now she takes the middle names of her daughter for new label Winter Kate. Inspired by peacocks and birds alike, the collection includes wraps and kimonos infused with antique lace and hippy prints.

At the London launch of her third label, she kicked things off in a short paisley dress, opaque tights and a fedora hat. She also revealed a four carat engagement ring, confirming her long awaited engagement to rocker and DJ Joel Madden. The designer has said they’re taking the wedding at their own pace.

We love Nicole’s indie look and you can get it by shopping her collection at http://www.mywardrobe.com/.

Saturday, 20 February 2010

Dita's Wiggle Dress

Model, performer and major fashion icon, Dita Von Teese attended the Ellie Saab Couture show in Paris last month in a royal blue pencil dress that showcased her style, and her assets. A little like a Roland Mouret, this dress fits right in with Dita’s off-stage retro glamour.

Dita takes her style from the 1940’s pin-up scene – a welcome change from an industry swamped by clone models. We love to see celebs with individual style, and Dita’s fabulous wardrobe follows no fad trends.

Get your own blue beauty at Oasis – this shouldered shift dress will hug your curves in the office and on the dancefloor.To complete the look, snap up these metallic platforms. Like the dress, these heels are so versatile and can be worn with any colour.

Dressed to Frill

After a tough few months, Katie Price has taken 2010 into her stride with a new husband and a positive new outlook. She may not be the biggest fashion icon, but this glamour girl has an irrepressible style that occasionally wins her props.

We prefer her more modest look – playful tees and leggings suit Katie’s bubbly stance and model figure. Promoting her own show ‘What Katie Did Next’, the mum of three poses in a ruffled silver dress – a little more covered up than we’re used to!

Call in the spring with frilled fancies, like this bandeau dress from My1stwish. A nod to the one shouldered trend and a little Carrie Bradshaw, this satin number is a bargain at £29.99! Fab fashion site OSOYOU embraces the frill trend with everything from dresses to bras.

Stripey Spice

Best known for her days in platforms and leopard print, Mel B has been honing her look (and her abs) over her past years out of our spotlight. Mel B’s Spice Girl style was all about fun and fearlessness, often the cause of some major fashion faux pas. It seems Mel’s moved on to a more classic style, bringing the best of Scary with her. Landing in London for her first appearance on the Brits stage in ten years, the Spice Girl revealed a fresh new look – and we love it!

She works a monochrome style in stripes and leggings. For Mel’s airport outfit, check out this Miss Sixty dress from Chemical. For stripes on a budget, get this bodycon version from New Look for only £12. Team with a jet black coat for the winter chill, or go cropped like Mel with this funky lookalike from Chiara .

Along with a new wardrobe, Scary Spice revealed a daring new do at The Brits, where she picked up the award for Best Performance of the Last 30 Years. Joining the likes of Rihanna, Mel took a razor to her hair, shaving the right side of her scalp with a semi-buzzcut.

Mytheresa.com

Launched in 2006, this German-born company offers top brands, emerging collections, and a whole world of styling tips to broaden your fashion prospects.

A mytheresa.com Trend Scout tells you what’s hot week by week – right now it’s Dries Van Noten and his strong ethnic prints. They’ve a fab half price Winter Sale, with a Single Sensations range where everything’s an added 10% off! There’s even a gift guide with a selection of the best pieces to indulge your generous side.

We’ve fallen in love with their fringe dress from Acne; its low back and leather detailing make it the perfect LBD for rock chicks.

The people at mytheresa really get involved with the clothes – there’s so much guidance around the site, so you can stay up to date on the latest looks and what to wear with what. Super high-res images mean you can scout every detail of their pieces and end up with something you love forever. And if it doesn’t fit? Return it for free! It’s the most stress free site we’ve seen yet.

Their designers are loved by all of Tinseltown; Gwyneth is a Preen lover, and J-Lo falls for their Roland Mouret dresses. With every top brand under the sun, you can copy any celeb’s style at mytheresa.com

Race 4 Life

Fashion and charity so often come together, and the new collection of Race for Life t-shirts proves another winning combination. For the 2010 Cancer Research UK event, choreographer Arlene Phillips, WAG Melanie Slade, and fashion designer Tracey Boyd have joined creative forces to design three limited edition styles, inspired by the spirit and energy of Race for Life.

Each putting their own personal stamp on the classic white tee, Melanie brings us a girly floral vest top, Tracey chooses bold and vibrant motifs, and Arlene adorns fitted t-shirts (and children’s ones!) with colourful footprints. The celeb trio really captures the optimism behind the cause; the designs are fresh and empowering!

All three t-shirts are now available to buy at www.raceforlife.org. Adult t-shirts and vests are £16, while Tracey’s kid versions are £12. All profits will go directly to help fund Cancer Research UK.

Will you be racing this year?

Design Your Own Love Band

Celeb girls Lara Stone & Katy Perry both started the year by flaunting their new rocks. If you’re lucky enough to be affianced – or nearing a proposal – now’s the time to plan your engagement ring. Thrilling or utterly daunting, choosing the ring is a mammoth decision – it will (hopefully) sit on your finger forever!

For those who like things ‘one of a kind’, customising your engagement ring can be a hugely fulfilling path to the perfect design. Step forward www.bluenile.co.uk – the world’s largest online diamond retailer. Diamonds are the choice of 70% of brides, and Blue Nile has all you need to create a unique and timeless piece, saving you tons of time sifting through diamonds that aren’t right for you.

Don’t fancy your skills as a jewellery designer? Blue Nile provides diamond education, and an engagement ring guide to help you make an informed decision. Once you’re swotted up, select a diamond, choose your setting and complete your ring.

Having given the procedure a test run, we must say it’s amazing to see your ring coming together. The site offers professional appraisals, free delivery, and returns within 30 days – leaving you free to fret about the wedding!

Go Bright With Your Tights

Girls everywhere can take comfort in a pair of opaque tights – always in fashion, these warming woolies mean we can show some leg on the coldest of days. The Saturdays love to go bright with their tights, and performed to rugby fans at Wembley last week in a rainbow of colours.

www.mytights.com has a selection of hosiery in all kinds of hues – like these 40denier matte opaques for £5.50! Team yours with a black trench for true Saturdays style, or go all 60’s in a block colour dress. Rochelle opted for purple – our favourite colour choice, and the most versatile shade for your winter wardrobe. We wonder if they’re the same pair she donned back in September in their video for ‘Up’?

Like her bandmates, Rochelle has a young and playful style, loving all things girly and glam. She heads to online stores like Lipsy for unique party dresses, and likes to channel her favourite designers with high street buys.

Rochelle attended the London premier of Valentine’s Day last week, band in tow, to reveal a potential love interest in none other than Marvin from JLS. The 19year old revealed they had been flirting, and sources confirm that the two singers have already been out on a few dates.

P.S - check out www.lovecolour-lovetights.com -the perfect site for new looks on a budget. From full length to footless, stirrups to stockings, this online wonder lets you shop by style, pattern, occasion, and bestsellers, so you can find a pair that you truly love.

Jamie's Valentines Look

Musician Jamie Cullum married his model fiancée Sophie Dahl last month with a white winter wedding in the English countryside. With a style that’s often overlooked, Cullum makes waves with his smouldering tracks and Broadway ballads. But a love of biker jackets and skinny ties puts this musician high in the fashion stakes.

The newlywed rocked a trendy outfit on Valentine’s Day in a checked shirt-and-blazer combo. Get the same look with this Fenchurch cowboy number for £25.30, available at www.chemicaluk.com – a fab site dedicated to music and fashion trading.

A similar site, Everything But The Music (www.ebtm.com ) is the leading online retailer for music inspired fashion. If you’re a fan of music, this site lets you copy the looks of your favourite bands. EBTM know their music and keep you up to date with who’s wearing what.

Davicore

If you fancy saving £35 on a pair of Pepe jeans, or a whopping £45 off a leather jacket, check out men’s clothing site www.davicoreclothing.com. A simple, secure and easy to use website, Davicore is full of quality designer and high street labels, and boasts the best sales in menswear!

With brands like Religion, Havaianas and Firetrap, Davicore scouts out the hottest menswear lines, as well as some up and coming names, and brings you their designs at amazing marked down prices.

I’m a huge fan of Franklin & Marshall, and Davicore’s collection of funky t-shirts and college looks are not to be missed! Save £65 off this luxury knitted cardigan; for the ultimate in jock chic.

Tons more fun than bog standard clothing sites, Davicore even has monthly competitions you can enter online; January’s prize is a £50 gift voucher. Check out the site and pick up a trendy bargain – and 10% off your first order!

The Coles Dress Up

A couple with their fair share of personal probs, Mr and Mrs Cole (almost) always deliver in the style stakes regardless of rumours thrown their way.

Attending Gary Barlow’s wedding anniversary in January, Cheryl dressed up for the New Year in a mesh panelled dress from Julien Macdonald. Deceivingly, that’s a necklace she’s donned over it– taking her outfit to another level with an embellished felt bib from Malene Birger. Laidback glamour and a tad sci-fi, Cheryl ticks all the right boxes with this look.

Don’t have the spare £2,000 knocking around? Layer this jewelled statement necklace from from Lipsy over one of Wallis’s fab colour block dresses – from £25, these body-cons are wonderful replicas of Cheryl’s own.

Boys, get Ashley’s polished formal style by pairing a shirt and waistcoat under a tuxedo blazer – a step up from the usual shirt and tie combo, this look is sexy and very sleek! Get the entire set from £180 at http://www.allsaints.com/ – with their massive range of men’s tailoring and a sale that outdoes all others, this ever popular site is perfect for copying Ashley’s look – keep it all black for the ultimate in classic cool.

Berties Brands

For fans of niche fashion buys, www.bertiesclothingshop.co.uk might be just the thing for your next style find. An extension from their boutique in Northampton, this website offers an eclectic mix of carefully chosen worldwide brands, both famed and less common. If you fancy viewing the entire collection, visit their Northampton store, otherwise browse through over 25 of their brands online.

From divine Lola Rose bracelets to rock chic coats, Berties has everything for stylish women with original style. Each brand is different, so you’re sure to find something you’ll love! Our favourites include their ethnic range of Bibi Alhaja jewellery, featuring traveller chic trinkets for boho girls, as well as of course, their superb range of Seven jeans. Any questions? Phone one of the Berties stylists who will guide you through the stock and lend a helping hand.

This one-of-a-kind store is loved by UK celebs everywhere – Caprice and Davina McCall both go for their Bernshaw evening dresses and our favourite fashion pair Fearne and Holly are avid lovers of their romantic Darling tunics. Register now and scout through the sale!

Belt Up In Studs

They were the hottest thing to hit the Sex & the City movie, and now can play a firm part in your wardrobe! If you invest in any accessory this year, make sure it’s the studded belt.
Just one can bring a subtle rock-chic edge to any look and, in Victoria Beckham’s case, really livens up an all-black outfit. Arriving at LAX airport last month, she reworked a little black dress with a wide studded belt – and looks amazing!

For waist belts like Posh’s, we say the bigger the better! http://www.asos.com/ have by far the best range of studded looks for miles, starting from £7! Wrap yours around a chunky knit and transform from frumpy to fabulous in seconds.


We also love the skinny stud belts from http://www.wallis.co.uk/; slung on the hips, these multi chain marvels make a plain top and jeans combo look remarkably couture! Get yours for under £20, and give your old boring belts a much needed break

Amanda Wakeley

Need an outfit for that special event? Be it dinner, a date or a wedding, check out Amanda Wakeley for classic clothes with a lavish edge. Selling womenswear to the chicest of ladies, this award winning designer has developed a world renowned rep for making fashion sexy in a subtle way – isn’t this how all clothes should be?

Her ultra modern site presents a line of sultry dresses, cashmere knits and covetable footwear. Her fabric knows no bounds with top quality suede, satin and sequins bringing timeless designs to life. The collection’s pricey but we believe this ruby red number to be worth the £575 price tag; draped satin with a goddess neckline makes this dress a real showstopper.

Perhaps the most fabulous part of this site is the bridal collection. Wakeley’s stunning lookbook showcases a range of dreamy and divine wedding dresses in a diverse range of styles. Vera who?
Amanda’s recent collaboration with hot Danish shoe designer Camilla Skovgaard hit Ten magazine this month, fore fronting killer heels that made shoe queens everywhere sigh. She has dressed such stars as Scarlett Johansson, Demi Moore, and Dita Von Teese, not to mention the late Princess Diana.

Wednesday, 6 January 2010

These Brits Do Us Proud

In an unlikely duet, grime stars N-Dubz team up with Mr Hudson on their latest single ‘Playing with Fire.’ The Kanye West protégé adds a touch of sophistication to the video, showcasing that ‘English Gentleman’ look that we love him for.

Hudson goes old school in a velvet tuxedo blazer –this fancy fabric’s not just for women – a winter must have, velvet can make anyone look dapper on a night out. This replica from http://www.espirit.co.uk/ is just £110.

For big kids at heart, go for Dappy’s look – known for his love of Peruvian hats, Dappy never goes without these winter warmers. Get yours at http://www.urbanexcess.com/; a site geared at London fashion, stocking these hats from £3.60!

Apart from his sleek grey blazer, we love Fazer’s blue check shirt and gilet combo – the perfect dressed down look!
http://www.burton.co.uk/ does a huge range of lookalike shirts from £10, in all fits and fabrics. Hurry now while sales last!

As for the girls, Tulisa went to http://www.lipsy.co.uk/ for her glammed up sequin dress - pick up the same one now for £95 ; perfect for prolonging the party season!

Sock it to Them!

Another year, another band of big names, has-beens and nobodies – you guessed it, Celebrity Big Brother is back! For its last series, the show we all love to hate has packed models and movie stars into the house for perhaps the most compelling cycle yet!. Vinnie Jones and Sisqo are among the famous faces, with the likes of Alex Reid and Nicola T providing this year’s eye candy. The Page 3 girl entered the house on Friday in a super cute outfit, sporting some heart print long socks under a white smock dress.

Thigh high socks are the perfect way to inject sex appeal into your look when it’s too cold to go bare. Fab worn with flats or heels, over the knee socks are the perfect extra to your mini! You can find these little wonders in a range of fun prints at http://www.stockingsdirect.co.uk/ – including similar heart stockings from £5.50! For plainer thigh-highs, http://www.asos.co.uk/ do some cute and cosy cable knit versions. Keep it modest with floaty hemlines and these will take you back to your schoolgirl days!

Post Your Gold For Cash

The price of gold has trebled in the last few years, and if you read our November feature on the Cash for Gold phenomenon, you will know that sites like http://www.postgoldforcash.com/ are an excellent way of exchanging unwanted jewellery for some welcome spending money. Fronted by TV’s Anne Diamond, http://www.postgoldforcash.com/ have already forked out £353,000 for people’s gold since their recent launch, and promise a first rate buying service, so you can be sure you don’t get ripped off.

Not much of a gold collector? The site also buys silver and platinum jewellery, perfect for the modern woman’s trinkets.

Just order a free Special Delivery pack online, send your items away in it, and they’ll call you with a quote before posting your cash, insured for up to £500.

That unwanted Christmas gift could be become your next day of retail therapy!

Sunday, 3 January 2010

King & Queen of Kooky

They’re a couple that love to push boundaries, and together make fashion statements that have us all keeping tabs. One’s a 50’s loving pin-up, the other wears smaller trousers than your little sister. Our new favourite showbiz pair Katy Perry and Russell Brand have been rocking all kinds of looks for the paps– from playful and quirky to dark and dangerous, is there anything these lovebirds can’t pull off?

We don’t often see Katy in casual, but we love this look! Miss Perry glams up her gloomy outfit with a gold Chloe Paddington bag. Peaking in popularity long ago, this padlock piece hasn’t left Katy’s arm all winter! To pick up a fab lookalike visit http://www.4itgirls.com/, an online boutique specialising in designer lookalikes for glamour on a budget. We’ve found a red version for £19!

Boys, to get Russell’s gothic rocker style, invest in skin tight jeans, waistcoats and plenty of cross necklaces. The ultimate accessory for men, get yours at
http://www.homme-rock.com/, a site offering a hot range of silver and steel cross pendants from £22.95.