doyounoah

2012 Brit Awards Fashion

2012-02-22T19:54:00.000Z

It was the 2012 Brit awards last night with all the best of UK music talent on the red carpet with their best frocks. So who looked hot and who looked a hot mess? My verdict...

Rihanna - Hot! Can this girl do no wrong in the style stakes?!

Kylie - Hot! Check out those shoes!

Adele - Hot! Great hair, great dress, though would love to see her in another colour beside black...

Fearne Cotton - hot! you can't go wrong with classic monochrome Black and white, and cute shoes too!

Jessie J - Hot Mess! Lace, red AND see-through? Sorry hunny, that is just not classy enough for an award ceremony like the Brits. Save experimental dress up for the stage NOT the red carpet.

Alexandra Burke - the hair looks good and so are the earrings but the dress? Something not quite right with this outfit so sorry Ms Burke but it's a Hot Mess from me!

Love ♥ Want ♥ Need ♥ Wedding Special

2012-02-18T20:46:00.001Z

As you well know, I am getting married next year and so I decided to dedicate this week's Love, Want, Need for a wedding accessories special!

After the bride's wedding dress the second most important thing is her shoes. Clearly.

These satin peep toes from Mui Mui are perfect heels for a bride. It doesn't take too much attention away from her dress but still won't go unnoticed.

If you're bridesmaid dress is understated and simple then there is every reason to jazz up the accessories, especially with these Ileana Makri gem drop earrings. The 18 karot rose gold diamond earrings are the perfect look for a bride whose accessories want to do the talking rather than her dress.

Every bride needs a sophisticated clutch bag to store her makeup and tissues and I think the Bottega Veneta satin knot clutch is the perfect little bag for the job.

♥

Neon Nail Crazy NYC Nail Review

2012-02-18T19:42:00.000Z

NYC Bright & Loud Nail Collection

Say goodbye to dull Winter nails and hello to vibrant colours for Spring/Summer with NYC Bright and Loud Collection!

Don’t hold back when it comes to making a statement, especially with your nails. I love nail art it’s a great way to show off your nails. And what better way to brighten up your wardrobe than with neo n nail colours. The neon nail frenzy is reaching fever pitch with celebrities like Katy Perry, Rihanna, Nikki Minaj and Lady Gaga just a few of the celebrities who have who have been spotted wearing cool nail designs and vibrant neon colours.

Katy Perry

Rihanna

Nikki Minaj

NYC, New York Color, have released the new bright and loud collection which comes in five different neon shades such as Water Street Blue and High Line Green and Spring Street (orange) available for £1.79 each at Superdrug.

I love the neon nail colors; they are fun and flirty and perfect for spring/summer season! Even if at first glance you think the colours are too bright, try them on your toes instead.

298 High Line Green & 224 Times Square

My favourites were Water Street Blue in 296, Lexington Yellow 294 and High Line Green in 298 which I used to create my nail art.

296 Water Street Blue & 294 Lexington Yellow

I used two coats and the coverage is excellent. The polishes contains intensely pigmented colour so you won’t have to apply layer upon layer of polish. It was easy to apply, no streaks, long-lasting, the colours are bright and the polish dries quickly, unlike most "fast-dry" formulas, I think NYC polish lives up to its promise.

RIP Whitney Houston

2012-02-13T20:06:00.000Z

Whitney Houston in the BodyGuard

One of the greatest singers in the world, Whitney Houston, died in a hotel room in Los Angeles in the early hours of Sunday morning.

There are reports that she was found in her bath tub, underwater and unconscious in the hotel room.

Whitney as a young artist

One of the world's best selling artists, Whitney sold more than 170 million albums and singles worldwide over the course of her career. She won two Emmy awards, six Grammy awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards and 22 American Music Awards along the way.

Whitney performing recently

But like most celebrities these days, her talent and beauty, were overshadowed by years of drug addiction and spots in and out of rehab.

Many stars left tributes on Twitter and spoke publicly at the Grammys held last night in Hollywood and Baftas in London. But the best tribute was by Barbra Streisand who said:-

"She had everything, beauty, a magnificent voice. How sad her gifts could not bring her the same happiness they brought us."

Whitney and her 18 year old daughter, Bobbi Kristina.

Whitney leaves her only child, a daughter with Bobby Brown, Bobbi Kristina.

Whitney Houston was an icon and her voice will always be remembered for years and years to come.

Rest in peace Whitney, I will always love you!

♥

My favourite Whitney album and cover - true beauty and talent that can't ever be replaced!

Diary of a Budget Bride: The Beginning

2012-02-06T20:18:00.000Z

I thought I had it all planned out. When I was a little girl, I thought all Brides got married to their Prince Charming, who whisks them off their feet, takes them to their castle, where they marry in front of their 300 guests, party all night long with drinks and food galore. Naturally. It all seems so much easier when you’re a little girl with all these ridiculous expectations to look forward to.

Groom, "If she jumps, this is going to be a problem...."

What I didn’t realise was just how much weddings cost. We’ve all heard the average wedding in the UK costs £20,000. I couldn’t quite believe it myself, until I actually became a Bride-to-be and started the unforgettable journey of planning my wedding.

"...Brain...check!"

Chair covers, favours, save-the-date cards. Does this sound alien to you? Me too! I had no idea that drinks packages included three versions of “drinks”. First there is the arrival drinks, then drinks during the meal, followed by the “toasting” drinks for the speeches. Not to mention having to make the decision of having pay bar or no pay bar?

Decisions, decisions!

Even the term “wedding breakfast” threw me. A fry up for the main wedding meal? Never! It wasn’t until I visited a wedding forum that I was kindly given the run down by sympathetic B2B (Brides-to-be duh!) of these foreign wedding terms. It’s more difficult than trying to learn another language, this is an entire different world!

Barbie Bride..Ken not included

So £20,000 is a lot of money - especially for only one day. Even though that one day is meant to be one of the most important days of your life. The pressure to have the perfect wedding is everywhere. The expectation that young girls should even know what a “wedding” is, happens in shape of the wonderful Barbie wedding “dolls”, although weirdly, Ken comes separately.

Follow Will & Kate with a low-key wedding. Less hassle.

But even last year you couldn’t get away from the media frenzy of the “Royal Wedding”. If it’s not Kate and Will shoving their perfect wedding fairytale down our throats then it’s celebrities flaunting their fabulous wedding deals in OK! and Hello magazines or reality stars like Kim Kardashian marrying their other halves in lavish weddings. Even reality shows have seen there is interest in budget weddings. Take, BBC3’s Don’t Tell the Bride. A show that gives a couple £12,000 to plan the wedding of their dreams. The catch? The groom plans everything and the bride has no say in the wedding. Ok, the couple is hardly on a budget, with £12,000. It might not be the wedding you’ve planned, nethertheless, you could still have a great wedding. Still, there is so much pressure these days that brides are forfeiting the chance to plan this special one-in-a-life-time ceremony and leaving it in the (unsafe) hands of their husbands-to-be. Now that IS desperate!

A couple from BBC3's "Don't Tell The Bride"

So once you have established a budget, and actually begin planning your wedding that’s when it hits you. That everything is so.unbelievably.expensive. Especially venues. So unbelievable, that you actually start contemplating running off to Las Vegas and getting married in the little white chapel made famous by the likes of Britney Spears etc. No stress of having to please all your guests because unlike normal weddings, the Little White Chapel you only need the bride, groom and two witnesses. So gone are the worries of catering costs, or bridesmaids dramas, or embarrassing speeches or having to deal with an annoying wedding co-ordinator. You even get the choice of having your priest dressed up as Elvis. Tempting. Not.

If it's good enough for Britney...

Of course, this is not an option for me or my husband-to-be. Fortunately or unfortunately, however you look at it, we will have to accommodate our larger than life families. Although it is yet to be decided how we do it. I will keep you posted.

So join me on my adventure as a Budget Bride as I attend wedding fairs, cake fairs, visit venues (the good, bad and ugly) and blog about my wedding dress (yes I have bought already!). It’s going to be one heck of a ride!

♥

Black Vanilla Bakery Review

2012-02-06T10:16:00.001Z

Black Vanilla

On Sunday, I popped into Black Vanilla, the new coffee and ice-cream shop in Blackheath village to try their coffee and ice cream.

Black Vanilla

The main counter displays a large selection of ice cream and frozen yogurt and I’ve heard they did good coffee which my other half was keen to try. But I was especially looking forward to trying out their cupcakes. The company follows a healthy food philosophy with 100% organic milk, no preservatives, artificial colourings, flavourings or hydrogenated fats used in any of their products. The guilt free way to indulge in cupcakes!

Black Vanilla counter with cake slices for tasters - yum!

I picked the red velvet and black bottom cupcakes. They were light and fluffy, topped with thick rich icing in the style American cupcakes I love.

They were good sized cupcakes, perfectly made. The red velvet was moist but light and the black bottom was stuffed with gooey white chocolate filling. Delicious!

Coffee beans and cupcakes!

Red velvet cupcake

Another good point was that the service was fantastic. We got chatting to the guy who was serving us in the shop who asked us about coffee and recommended the brand they use, New Zealand coffee, All Press Express, which won Time Out best coffee of the year. We even got to try this fantastic coffee and was offered a shot of Espresso, which was very tasty.

All Press Express coffee

Black Vanilla is a perfect addition to Blackheath Village and there is also a new branch that has just opened in Greenwich too so if you are ever in South East London, it is worth stopping by and trying their great coffee and of course their delicious cupcakes. If my waistline could afford it I would eat one every day!

♥

Outfit of the Day - Birthday Special!

2012-01-29T17:32:00.001Z

Peter-Pan collar shirt - Boohoo.com

Leather skirt - H&M

Shoes - Topshop

Leopard print/gold/black bangles- H&M

Birthday Girl!

Birthday celebrations continued this weekend woohoo! I managed to find a georgous sheer shirt with a twist, a leather peter pan collar from Boohoo.com. I teamed with a leather skirt with zip detail down the front from H&M. Very soft and surprisingly very comfortable too!

H&M have a range of leather skirts in stores at the moment whether you're looking for an A-line leather skirt, pleated or mini they have them all, worth checking out ;-)

H&M leather skirt with zip detail

Sheer shirt with collar and pocket detail

♥

Birthday Celebrations!

2012-01-29T17:05:00.000Z

Cocktail-hour!

January is my favourite month of the year because it's my birthday! So what better way to celebrate then a scrumptious cooked dinner by moi (no less!) for my friends in my new home?

Jellof rice, fried plaintain, BBQ chicken and cocktails was on the menu, followed by chocolate cake and cream for desert - yum!

Birthday dinner!

I love me a bargain so was thrilled with my lovely colour block skirt from River Island and matching bag from Primark- my friends know me well!

LOVE this colour block skirt!

Of course weddings and importantly wedding dresses were on the topic of discussion for the night. I couldn't have found my perfect gown without the help of my Pronovias catalog!

Admiring the wedding gowns from Pronovias - *swoon*

Birthday Girl

Fab friends, food and pressies - perfect birthday now roll on next week for the night out!

♥

Eltham Palace Wedding Fair

2012-01-29T16:23:00.001Z

Eltham Palace front entrance with wedding cars on display

Yesterday, I visited the beautiful Eltham Palace wedding fair. Hidden away in Eltham, South East London, this is definitely one of London's most unusual and exceptional venues.

If you are not blown away by the grand medieval palace, childhood home of Henry VIII then the tranquil moated gardens will undoubtedly take your breath away.

Eltham Palace Gardens

Entrance Hall

Great Hall set for dinner

Marquees

Lots of companies were at the venue from cars, florists, photographers and several caterers. I particularly liked Jellof Pot a West African caterer which had a range of delicious canapes that I am sure my guests would love to try and GemCakes who had beautiful cupcakes on display. Although it was a shame I didn't get to try one of them! :-(

Gemcakes on display!

My favourite wedding car!

Eltham Palace is a beautiful venue suited for a Princess so if you're looking for the perfect venue to marry your Prince Charming then Eltham Palace is the venue for you! ♥

GC Couture Wedding Cakes!

2011-12-20T23:42:00.000Z

Victoria cake by GC Couture

GC Couture, the team behind Cheryl Cole’s extravagant birthday cake, can add another skill to their talent as they have launched a brand new division of luxury wedding cakes.

Whether you choose cupcakes or opt for a four-tier cake for your wedding, every bride knows it’s not just the taste of a wedding cake to consider but the style and design too. GC Couture has a selection of bespoke cakes that are unique, fresh, stylish and memorable.

Diana cake

Catherine cake detail

The collection ranges from simple and classic to extravagant and decadent styles and with over 24 flavours to choose from including red velvet, chocolate and orange and fruitcake ‘without the bits’ brides will be spoilt for choice!

Mary Sinclair, founder of GC Couture, said: “The GC Couture 2012 collection has been individually and creatively designed around the style and genre of the Princesses of our time.

A lovely collection of cupcakes from GC Couture - yum!

Each cake will attract brides looking for something different: whether art deco, classic or vintage, our collection has something to catch every bride’s eye.”

The cute packaging and cake icing designs certainly caught my eye! I love the attention to detail which always makes cupcakes stand out from the rest. If you are looking for a sparkling showstopping design or pretty vintage style then you have come to the right place. Where some cupcakes fail to hit the spot, GC Couture have got it in one. I’m a sucker for decorative accents like the butterfly or star cut-outs and sprinkles, all tastefully done.

My favourite of the bunch, from (l - r) chocolate, vanilla, lemon and fruitcake "without the bits"

I adored the red velvet cupcake, which is always a favourite of mine.. But the option which I wouldn’t normally choose for a wedding was the chocolate and orange flavour. This cupcake was moist, chocolately and not overloaded with icing just how I like my cakes!

I love the decorative accents on the cupcakes like the stars, glitter and sprinkles

My fiancé is a big fan of fruit cake but I’m not such a fan of the “bits” so you can imagine my joy when I realised that GC Couture had answered my prayers and have created the cupcake “fruitcake without the bits” – perfect for fussy eaters like me and tasty too!

So now every bride can feel like a princess with these show-stopping cupcakes, guaranteed to add the wow-factor to your wedding day!

For more wedding cake styles and designs from GC Couture visit their website here.

Malia Obama Nearly As Tall As Dad!

2011-12-06T19:42:00.000Z

Malia with her sister and Dad, almost as tall as her father!

Do you remember the famous picture of President Obama, his wife and two little daughters in their family photo portrait?

The famous family portrait of the Obamas

Well they are not so "little" anymore! Malia Obama, 13, is almost as tall as her parents! At the moment, she is 5'9, her mother Michelle, 5'11 and her father the president 6'1.

The president even joke about his daughter's height during a speech last July saying, "Even though she's five-nine, she's still my baby."

Loving the blouse and those biker boots Malia!

I love these photos I found of Malia, her outfits are really cute, she is obviously well aware of the fashion trends (polka dots, biker boots, pussybow blouses) but still dressing appropriately for her age. Go Malia!

The polka dot peter pan blouse is my favourite outfit!

♥

H&M Christmas Campaign 2011

2011-12-04T22:08:00.000Z

Figures from the world of film, fashion, art and music come together with their loved ones for H&M’s Christmas season "togetherness" campaign.

The campaign, which is raising money for UNICEF, has Bryan Ferry and his son, Tara, and Jerry Hall and her daughter, Georgia May.

Bryan Ferry and his son, Tara

Jerry Hall and her daughter, Georgia May

Check out the campaign advert below!

British Fashion Awards 2011

2011-12-01T00:07:00.000Z

It was the star studded British Fashion Awards last night and there were plenty of celebs in fab outfits for the prestigious event.

Victoria Beckham, who was presented with a top honour award for Designer Brand of the Year fought back tears as she accepted the award. She wore a classic floor-length backless gown, dark eye makeup and hair pulled back in a bun.

Victoria Beckham

Kate Hudson and Stella McCartney - loved Stella's jumpsuit!

Alexa Chung in a cute Christopher Kane dress

Olivia Palermo in a ruffled knitted dress - cute!

Kate Moss in a strange knitted dress - dancehall queen meets goth?!

Abi Clancy

Kelly Brook

Victoria Beckham, Marc Jacobs and Kate Moss

BRITISH FASHION AWARDS 2011, LIST OF WINNERS:

Designer Of The Year - Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

Designer Brand - Victoria Beckham

Red Carpet Award - Stella McCartney

Accessory Designer - Charlotte Olympia

Model - Stella Tennant

British Style Award - Alexa Chung

Menswear Designer - Kim Jones

Emerging Talent Award - Accessories - Tabitha Simmons

Emerging Talent Award - Menswear - Christopher Raeburn

Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator - Sam Gainsbury

New Establishment Award - Christopher Kane

BFC Outstanding Achievement in Fashion - Paul Smith

Matthew Williamson Bridal Event

2011-11-25T03:19:00.002Z

Matthew Williamson Bridal Event

I was lucky enough to win tickets to Matthew Williamson's bridal collection event hosted by You and Your Wedding magazine.

The staff were so friendly! I loved this girl's Matthew Williamson dress, with an amazing backless drape!

I got side-tracked from the bridal dresses when I saw this sparkly number!

Guests were treated to cupcakes and cocktails and Matthew Williamson's stunning debut bridal collection and honeymoon line.

Blouse - New Look

Black skinny jeans - Topshop

Black shoe boots - New Look

Skinny belt - H&M

My sister and I at the cocktail bar, obviously!

Cocktail hour!

I loved the bridal collection! The dresses had richly embellished natural fabrics and feminine shapes which would look beautiful on any bride walking down the wedding aisle.

Asymmetric silk tulle gown embellished with feathers

The collection had a range of styles, from draped silk dresses, backless bridal dress and beaded gowns there was a dress for every bride! Although some of the more bohemian style dresses were not my favourite, I really liked the pretty bejewelled empire lines, particularly the asymmetric gowns.

My favourite was definitely the asymmetric silk cocktail feathered dress - perhaps dress number two for the evening reception?!

Asymmetric silk tulle cocktail dress with ostrich feather and ruched tulle waistband

Not only were guests treated to models showcasing the dresses but also Bobbi Brown makeover team, hairstylists and styling experts were on hand throughout the evening to offer tips and ideas for brides-to-be. There was also a bridal shoe collection, Harriet Wilde, independent footwear label by designer Ruth Shaw.

Harriet Wilde collection

I fell in love with the flower petal heel peep toes which are part of the new exclusive collection that will be launching at the end of November at Harrods.

Cake Parlour by Eve Clark - yummy!

I loved the cake displays and flowers, which gave me ideas and inspiration for my own wedding. We were also given fantastic goodie bags full of treats such as Elemis handcream, Opi nail polish and Michael Van Clarke volumising mouse.

Goody bag!

A big thanks to You and Your Wedding magazine for the invitation - it was lovely to view Matthew Williamson's collection and mingle with all the brides-to-be!

♥

Do You Know..How to Paint? Tips for Painting!

2011-11-23T20:09:00.000Z

Is this how painting is done??

The nearest thing I have ever come to painting is painting my nails, so when my boyfriend suggested we paint our home the first thought that came to my mind was *gulp* help!

Painting walls and ceilings of a room is a big job that you don’t want to get wrong. So I’ve picked up some great tips from friends, family and online DIY websites that I will share with you to get your paint job looking great:-

Before you start painting move furniture and rugs in the centre of the room and then cover with a sheet to protect from the paint and dust.

Use old rugs or linen to cover your furniture and move out of the way

Plan what you want to paint, what colours and work systematically, starting with the ceiling, then the walls and finally the woodwork and metalwork (like radiators and pipes) that way, you wont miss bits which will show up when the paint is dry.

Don't rush your decision, take time to choose a colour scheme for your room

Paint the walls by starting at the top and work down to the bottom – working from the bottom up is not only awkward but the finish is not as clean.

For the main parts of the wall use a roller! I found out the hard way and started with a paint brush which was more tricky to handle.

Use a roller!

Get the roller and roll it forwards and backwards along the top of the tray so it absorbs the paint but isn’t fully covered with paint.

If you’re painting on to freshly plastered walls, mix paint half with water in the paint tray so that the paint won’t absorb into the wall as quickly.

Use the roller to make elongated smooth vertical strokes to finish each section use up and down strokes to give the wall a smooth finish.

Go for a roller to paint interior walls

If you do prefer to use a brush don’t make my mistake and use a small brush on the main section of the wall. The bigger the brush, the more area you can cover and the quicker the job will be.

Protect EVERYWHERE - including your hair!

Paint will go everywhere - fact! So protect everything from furniture, clothes, eyes and even your hair. I wore a wooly hat and eye goggles and that did the trick!

Also watch out for running paint! Try to smooth them out as soon as they appear. If you leave a drop or run to dry, sand it down and then repaint the area after.

♥

Skating with Superdrug!

2011-11-22T22:15:00.001Z

Tower of London Ice Rink

I got in the festive spirit this evening and joined the Superdrug team at Tower of London ice rink where I got to skate, view the exclusive Superdrug winter skincare range, drink mulled wine and mingle with other beauty bloggers!

Me and the lovely bloggers, PinksweetSz and London Beauty Queen

The Tower of London, one of the most iconic landmarks in London, is the perfect location for an ice rink and I got to take in the scenes of the Tower and sip on one of my favourite Christmas treats - mulled wine!

If you are looking for Christmas present ideas or simply beauty and skincare products to get you through this winter then here are a few of my favourites from Superdrug…

There is nothing I love better than snuggling with a hot water bottle and a cup of cocoa on a cold Winter’s night so Superdrug’s Totally Lush collection is right up my street! The collection comes with a matching mug and cosy socks too. Perfect for those cold nights in!

Halloween, Bonfire night, Christmas parties and New Year’s Eve, this is definitely the season to party! False lashes are a cheap and easy way to instantly glam up a look for a night out. I love the Studio London lashes collection, which consists of four different lashes for every occasion. Go for “winged” lashes for fancy dress, “intense” lashes for a night out, “super intense” lashes if you want to stand out from the crowd or if you prefer a less dramatic look opt for the “natural” lashes instead!

♥

2011 AMA's

2011-11-21T21:02:00.000Z

The stars were out in full force for the American Music Awards show, with celebs choosing shimmering metallic outfits over bright colours and black. Check out what the celebs wore to this event:-

Selena Gomez and Justin Beiber

Taylor Swift

Jennifer Hudson

Katy Perry

Audrina Patridge

Mary J Blige

Estelle

Ellie Goulding

Versace & H&M Collaboration!

2011-11-21T00:02:00.003Z

Donatella arriving at the launch of the Versace & H&M collaboration at Regent Street store

As soon as Donatella Versace revealed that Versace and H&M would collaborate for a special high street collection, I knew that it would make history. But even I was surprised to the extent the frenzy caused because of this mega fashion collaboration. 24 hour queues and the entire collection sold out in 30 minutes!

Fashionistas and dedicated shoppers had camped outside H&M stores the night before to get a piece of the hotly anticipated collection. Queues as long as double decker buses were formed outside stores across the country. When I entered the Knightsbridge store in London, there were security guards behind a roped off section of the store - dedicated to Versace collection only.

Shoppers queue up for Versace at H&M

Items fly off the shelves in minutes!

Shoppers were allowed 15 minutes only to shop til they dropped and in an effort to stop ~~greedy~~ Ebay sellers, shoppers were not allowed to purchase more than three items each. Absolute torture for genuine shoppers who actually want to buy to wear, not just to buy and sell on for three times the price!

So what did I think of the collection? Well it was certainly vibrant! Leather, fringing, studs and PVC and I haven't even mentionned the colours!

The collection has rich tropical prints and bright tones and definitely lived up to the reputation of Donatella Versace's love of high-fashion and glamour - flamboyant dressing at its best! I wasn't keen on the tropical floral patterns which appeared on the leggings and tunic tops - a little too "rah rah" for me and reminded me of something that would be best suited for a float at the Notting Hill Carnival.

The Versace collection

The standout pieces were the black leather mini dress, the black waistcoat (purchased!) and the studded leather jacket all just amazing! But the best of all were the accessories, silk scarf, ring and bracelet were on my to-get list and I was very happy with them indeed!

Some of my favourites from the collection

I love H&M collaborations - high fashion meets high street at the fraction of the usual designer price. Versace pieces normally sell up to £6,000 but the H&M collection, released on Thursday, accessories started at only £14.99 with the most expensive item selling for £179.99. This is absolute heaven for a bargainista fashionista like me!

Silk scarf, leather bracelet and ring

Versace for H&M square silk scarf with print

Leather bracelet with metal flowers and sparkly gems

Chunky gold metal ring with flowers and gems

I just wish that the H&M website didn't crash. For shoppers who are unable to visit a store have to rely on online shopping and the H&M website really let us shoppers down. I was lucky enough to purchase one item (the waistcoat) but many people couldn't buy anything and when the;- website was finally up and running everything was sold out! Let's hope H&M sort out their web problems for the next collaboration!

♥

Kimberly Walsh Birthday Party & Cheryl Cole InStyle Cover

2011-11-20T23:08:00.000Z

Kimberly Walsh celebrates her birthday

Girls Aloud have been busy bees - this weekend Kimberly celebrated her 30th birthday party and Cheryl appears on the front cover of InStyle magazine!

Kimberly celebrated her birthday in style wearing a beautiful strapless nude prom dress, tan heels and clutch bag Her bandmate, Nicola, chose an equally stunning outfit - a leopard print corset dress, black heels and matching bag.

Nicola Roberts

Cheryl on the front cover of InStyle magazine

Whilst Cheryl was no where to be seen, she did appear on the front cover of InStyle magazine. I'm not usually a fan of her outfit choices, but I really like the styling for this shoot, simple yet chic really suits her!

I love this look!

♥

Superdrug's Simply Pure Review

2011-11-20T22:51:00.000Z

Simply Pure (available at Superdrug)

Simply Pure is the skincare collection dedicated to sensitive skin, with products that are mild, gentle, fragrance free and hypoallergenic. The whole line has been dermatologically tested and carries the BUAV leaping bunny symbol. The best part? The Simply Pure range is suitable for use by vegetarians and vegans.

I tried the Pure Calming Cleanser, a transparent runny gel designed to gently cleanse and condition sensitive skin. It contains “Soothex” the non drying formula which was very easy to apply and foamed up quickly. The cleanser is very gentle, it rinses well and there was no stinging or burning removed all my makeup with no problem.

Simply Pure range, cleanser, toner and moisturiser

Simply Pure does exactly what the label says, no fancy ingredients just a simple inoffensive cooling cleanser that doesn’t irritate sensitive skin. My worry with products that are designed for sensitive skin is that it can dry the skin leaving it feeling very tight, but in this case my skin didn’t dry out. I used the Simply Pure Moisturiser which is a SPF 15 and non-greasy - perfect for people who suffer from oily skin.

Simple Pure is not only effective and affordable but used with natural products too - well worth the try!

Rihanna at the O2! Review

2011-10-14T17:13:00.001+01:00

RiRi opening the show!

Last night I went to see the incredible Rihanna at the 02 arena and boy did she put on a show!

Queuing took hours but it's ok, it IS RiRi after all!

When I found out I saw Rihanna was coming London I made sure I booked my ticket asap - but I needn't have worried. Rihanna is set to play 10 dates at the 02 arena making it the longest run at the venue of any female artist. Good on her!

Peforming "What's My Name"

RiRi kicked off the show with "Only girl in the world" belting out all her biggest tunes from "Shut up and drive", "Please don't stop the music", "Take a bow" and some of my favourites, "What's my Name" and "So hard".

Rihanna and her dancers performing "So Hard"

Each song she performed with her troupe of male and female dancers was an elaborate stage full of props - at one stage there was even a huge pink camouflage army tank complete with smoke she was blasting into the crowd.

I rarely stand at concerts because of the fear of a.being squashed to death, b.being squashed to death and c.being squashed to death but I thought I would give it a try seeing as it WAS Rihanna after all...

And I am so glad I did because Rihanna surprised her fans, (including me!) and performed on the drumkit for a few minutes right underneath where me and my friends were standing!

Rihanna performing on the drums - right beside us!

Most of all I loved Rihanna’s stage outfits. From the denim shorts and sparkly multi-coloured bra, to the yellow floaty dress with a thigh split, Rihanna’s wardrobe for the concert didn’t disappoint.

Rihanna in her lovely canary yellow floaty dress...

So great songs, great stage and great fashion everything you would expect from a concert. Maybe I’m biased, I do love Rihanna after all but what’s there not to love? When it comes to good pop tunes, Rihanna always comes correct. In the words of Rihanna, "Go hard, or go home!"

♥

What's My Name performance

Accessorize Makeup at Superdrug

2011-10-12T21:13:00.002+01:00

Accessorize beauty range

Bloggers have been raving about Accessorize cosmetic range since in launched last year in Superdrug so I was keen to try out the beauty must-have’s that come in five unique themes to choose from.

The beauty range from Accessorize offers bronzer, blusher, nail polish, lipgloss and eyeshadow. Release your inner rebel with edgy Rock Chic, stand out from the crowd with Exotic Brights, or go cute and classic and opt for With Love. If playful glamour is your look of choice, then indulge in Illusion, or romanticise yourself with the Je t’aime collection.

Voluminising mascara

I’m a bit of a sucker for packaging, if the packaging is designed well then I’m interested! The Jet Black Mascara tube has leopard print and roses – very cute! It is definitely a volumising mascara, with a larger brush and slightly tapered edges that reach from the root of the lash to the tip for a true “rock star” glamour and volume.

Bronzing Block

The Accessorize Bronzing Block Shade powder comes in a cute little box and powder brush. The powder is a swirl of flattering shades of bronze and shimmering pink powders to create a rush of colour for your cheeks.

Icon Eye Eyeshadow

no.9 Silver Dove eyeshadow

If you’re a fan of eye shadows like me then you will love the eyeshadow – definitely my favourite from the brand. The colour transfer is good and is just as bright as it appears in the pot, something some brands lack. I used the Icon Eye Shadow no. 9 Silver Dove.

It is highly pigmented which comes up great on my dark skin and the creamy texture makes it very easy to blend too. And at £4.00 for an eyeshadow it is a worthy price for a good value product. Available at Superdrug now!

Outfit of the day

2011-10-03T00:32:00.000+01:00

On Friday it was my friend's birthday party this weekend ,we went to LayaLina Privee in Knightsbridge - a lovely restaurant and bar. What better way to celebrate to embrace my inner black swan with this fabulous black dress with feather shoulder detail.

Dress - AX Paris

Necklace - Asos

Earrings - Topshop

It was an amazing weekend for glorious weather too, today, I travelled to Brighton to see old friends...

Dress - Primark

Sunglasses - Topshop

♥

Made In Chelsea - UK's version of the Hills??

2011-09-22T23:29:00.000+01:00

Made in Chelsea cast

Now the Hills is over, I need another group of rich, beautiful, and spoilt, twenty-something group of people to watch!

Introducing, Made In Chelsea the Channel 4 reality TV soap. Set in the wealthy area of Chelsea, the show follows a group of friends in their complicated world of relationships, friendships and non-stop partying. Ah - what a life!

New characters are set to join season 2

Not all the champagne-swigging socialites are likeable though and it takes a few episodes for the "characters" to warm up to the cameras. But when they do, they are absolutely hilarious! My favourites are definitely the trio of best friends, Ollie, Binky and Cheska. Cool, laid back and always up for a laugh. Perhaps the others should take a leaf out of their books and not try too hard? Some of the cheesy one liners, try hard outfits and over the top behaviour comes across really badly on camera.

Olly

Cheska (l) and Binky (r)

So is this show set to be the UK version of the Hills? In my opinion, not quite, or rather, not yet. It's still only season 2 and remember, it took a couple of seasons for the Hills to really kick off.

I found this video of one of the girls, Milly, talking about her favourite outfits..for her dog! The funniest part is when her pugs are wearing matching scarfs and pearl earrings. Only in Chelsea!

Season 2 of Made in Chelsea is now showing on Channel 4.

Miss Angola crowned as Miss Universe

2011-09-14T23:23:00.001+01:00

Miss Angola crowned as Miss Universe

Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, was crowned Miss Universe in Brazil at the 60th annual pageant in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The 25 year old business student from the town of Benguela told reporters that she believed her smile had been the key to her victory and that her friends had always told her that her smile was able to "motivate people".

Leila wowed the judges in this evening gown

My favourite quote from Leila was when the judges asked her what, if anything, she would ever change about herself. Leila said, "Thank God I'm very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn't change a thing." What a great answer!

Leila will go on to serve as a world ambassador and raise awareness of the fight against Aids and poverty.

♥

Kate Moss & Celebs Celebrate Stella McCartney's 40th!

2011-09-14T22:55:00.000+01:00

Stella arriving at her birthday party last night

Fashion designer Stella McCartney celebrated her 40th birthday last night with a load of her celeb friends and of course her dad, Paul McCartney.

Kate Moss, Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jamie Winstone and others helped the designer celebrate in style.

Kate Moss arrived in a strapless black jumpsuit with a bow across her chest carrying a sparkly grey oversized clutch bag.

Kate Moss

The birthday girl wore a very fancy sparkly blue dress and opened toe black heels. I loved the detail of the back of her dress, especially the simple 'V' section.

Stella McCartney

Kate Hudson

What an incredible dress Kate Hudson wore?!The elegant gown is by Elie Saab and Jimmy Choo heels - probably my favourite outfit of the night.

♥

Beyonce and Solange at New York Fashion Week

2011-09-14T22:41:00.000+01:00

Beyonce and Solange pose for pictures at J Crew show

Sisters Beyonce and Solange were turned up at J Crew show at New York fashion week yesterday.

Beyonce, who recently announced she was pregnant, looked radiant in a gold sparkly dress and beige peep toe heels.

Solange, who has been spotted at several catwalk shows this week, looked stunning in a pretty pink sateen halterneck, printed purple and gold trouser and gold strappy heels.

Beyonce and Solange in the front row

Beyonce later changed into a nude strapless dress for the Vera Wang catwalk show - check out her shoes cute!

Beyonce changes outfit for the next show..that's my girl!;-)

♥

Westfield Stratford Opens!

2011-09-13T23:26:00.000+01:00

Westfield Stratford opening today!

Westfield Stratford shopping centre officially opened as Europe's largest urban shopping centre today.

Launched by US X-factor judge, Nicole Scherzinger, thousands of people queued up to snap up the special offers and discounts offered by many of the shops.

Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole performing

The 1.45bn complex houses more than 300 shops for customers to select from. And just in case a customer changes their mind, they can choose from the 70 restaurants, 14 screen cinema, three hotels, bowling alley and the UK's largest casino to visit.

Nicole Scherzinger

Kelly Brook

Pixie Geldof

This shopping centre will also provide the main access to the Olympic park for the 2012 games as well as 8,500 permanent jobs which will be created by the retail sector.

For anyone who didn't get a ticket for the Olympics, on the days of the Olympic games, large screens will broadcast the main sporting events.

I can't wait to visit the complex. The excitement of the officially opening of the shopping centre on Twitter was incredible and from the tweets and pictures people had posted, the complex looks amazing. I hope with this investment in Stratford, will focus the world's attention on what was this once a forgotten area of London and become one of London's top visitor and and leisure destinations.

♥

Victoria Beckham New Collection

2011-09-13T23:06:00.000+01:00

A dress Victoria wore out in New York from her new collection

I was eager to see Posh Spice's new collection, Victoria by Victoria Beckham, which she gave audience's a sneak preview at a private press show.

The new range will be sold at a lower price than her existing collection. Dresses range from £375 to £995.

My favourites from the collection

The stand out pieces were the bubble-hem dress she wore out with her daughter, Harper, and also the cat shift drop waist dresses.

I liked the way all the dresses fall down just above the knee. But although the drop waist style look great on the models, I'm still uncertain whether this type of style would be flattering on curvy woman's figure. Victoria's dresses have been very popular with the stars, so it will be interesting to see what celebs decide to wear her new collection this time round...

♥

Decorating your home on a budget

2011-09-12T21:59:00.000+01:00

Decoration ideas for the home

Colour schemes, flooring guides, wallpaper, blinds or curtains, sash window, gardening..the list goes on.

Who would have thought decorating a room would be so...time consuming?! Never mind an entire house! As I start a project decorating my home I will share all my tips, tricks, ideas and show you how I will be decorating my new home on a budget.

Decoration ideas for student accommodation

So let's start with all the students who are starting at Uni now or in October. Take a look at this feature article I wrote for my University magazine on how to decorate your student room on a budget. Although I wrote it a few years ago, the same rules still apply for cheap decorating ideas for your student accomodation which can seem so dull, cold and small. Please send me any tips you have too!

♥

Outfit of the day - Engagement

2011-09-12T21:42:00.001+01:00

Cardigan - Primark

Top - H&M

Leggings - H&M

Shoes - Primark

Bag - New Look

Engagement ring - Ask the hubby-to-be! ;-)

Last weekend I went for dinner and cocktails to celebrate my engagement (woohoo!) with my sisters and mum.

Unfortunately we were missing one more person, my sister who lives in New York. I can't wait until December when she returns for the Christmas holidays so we can really go out and celebrate altogether.

But in the meantime, I will continue to keep dining out in fab restaurants (Thai Square in Putney - fantastic!) and sipping on yummy cocktails until she arrives!

♥

New York Fashion Week Spring 2012

2011-09-12T21:14:00.000+01:00

My two favourite ladies, Nicki Minaj and Anna Wintour at New York fashion week!

It's spot the celeb at New York Fashion Week as stars flock to the catwalks to see the designers showcase their latest collections.

Fashion week isn't just about fashion - or didn't you know? It's about celebs wearing the best outfits and of course getting front row seats - beside Ms Anna Wintour if you're really lucky!

So when I saw this photo of Nicki Minaj, in her lime green fishnets, orange tennis skirt and sweetie inspired top smiling and chatting with Anna Wintour I couldn't help but giggle - I would've LOVED to be a fly on the wall for that conversation!

Nicki Minaj and Anna Wintour discussing designs on the catwalk

So here are my favourite outfits of New York fashion week so far...

Solange Knowles

Alexa Chung

Lindsay Lohan

Lisa Roe

Whitney Port

Angela Simmons

Rihanna Loves Leather Trousers!

2011-09-12T20:32:00.000+01:00

Rihanna spotted in leather trousers during the day

Rihanna was spotted out and about in New York yesterday wearing these leather trousers looking simple yet chic.

She teamed in checked black and white heels and a simple sweater, black shades and a gold necklace.

Then later that evening she was seen in brown leather trousers and a grey top, obviously a fan of leather!

Rihanna leaving her hotel last night

Rihanna has been chosen as the new face of Armani Jeans campaign. I'm not sure about the blonde wig, but I love the jeans and pose beside the car.

Rihanna in new Armani Jeans campaign

I can't wait to see RiRi in concert in a couple of weeks time...roll on October!

♥

Alexa Chung Harper Bazaar Shoot

2011-09-06T20:25:00.006+01:00

Alexa gracing the front cover of Harper's Bazaar

Alexa Chung is known for her fab style but even she gets bored of certain trends as she reveals in her latest interview.

Alexa in red Lavin dress

The style queen admitted she fell out of love with the trend that made her most famous, Sixties trademarks, smock dresses, flat shoes and brogues. But don't fret! She is ready to claim the Sixties style back and did this photoshoot to prove she hasn't totally fallen out of love with smock dresses just yet...

Alexa in a blue Burberry dress, ♥ the patent loafers too!

Alexa in red Prada coat..and it's those cute loafers again!

Alexa in chiffon Stella McCartney dress

Kelis at Genes for Jeans Charity Event

2011-09-06T20:18:00.001+01:00

Kelis at Genes for Jeans charity party

Singer Kelis was spotted at the Genes for Jeans charity event in Soho last night.

Kelis - how cute does her hair look?!

As usual, Kelis was wearing only an outfit she could pull off. I loved the multi-coloured embroidered jacket and the chandelier earrings. The leather laced up trousers goes well with the black and white shirt, and check out her studded boots!

Adele covers October UK Vogue

2011-09-06T20:10:00.002+01:00

Adele covers UK Vogue!

Soul singer Adele posed for Vogue's October cover and candidly talks about the media's obsession with women and weight.

The 23 year old said: "I enjoy being me, I always have done. I've seen people where it rules their lives, you know, who want to be thinner or have bigger boobs and how it wears them down. And I just don't want that in my life."

Adele embraces her fuller figure

She said: "I don’t want to see me plastered everywhere..if they offered me £10million, I’d be like f*** off. Besides if I was going to be the face of anything it should be the face of full-fat coke."

How refreshing to see photos of a celebrity that isn't stick thin, happy with their weight and still beautiful. It is so tiring seeing the same images of unhealthy looking models in magazines.

Adele in October's Vogue issue

In an industry where being size 0 and looking gaunt is celebrated and not discouraged, I think Adele is a great role model for women. We all have insecurities, even Adele, as she mentions in her Vogue interview. But she still ensures she maintains a positive self-image. She said: "I have insecurities of course, but I don’t hang out with anyone who points them out to me."

Vogue definitely deserve credit for making Adele their cover model. Let's hope they continue this trend and we see more healthy looking celebrities and model gracing the front covers of high fashion magazines.

Noemie Lenoir Vs Magazine Shoot

2011-09-03T11:53:00.000+01:00

Noemi wears beige Roberto Cavalli chiffon dress

Check out these fabulous photos of former M&S model, Noemie Lenoir magazine shoot for Vs.

The model, shot by Simon Procter, posed for a series of dramatic looks for the high fashion magazine wearing Gucci, Caalli and Louis Vuitton.

Red chiffon dress by Gucci, and red rubber boots by Louis Vuitton

My favourite is definitely the red and black tartan print wool cloak by Moschino, Lanvin hat, silk stockings by Louis Vuitton, the Burberry shoes, what a cute outfit!

My favourite outfit from the shoot!

Comfort over fashion? Victoria Beckham Back in Heels!

2011-09-03T11:45:00.000+01:00

Posh Spice with Brooklyn, David and Harper

Uh-oh, Victoria Beckham is back in her sky-scraper heels!

Dressed in a black vest top and cropped leather trousers, Posh Spice was seen wearing super high Christian Louboutin heels.

But only two weeks ago, she was spotted wearing ballet pumps due to back problems.

Posh spotted in ballet pumps - very rare!

Victoria suffered from a slipped disc during pregnancy which was exacerbated in childbirth which is why she was spotted in flats two weeks ago.

So do you think it is too early for Posh to go back to heels? Do you prefer flat pumps or sky scraper heels?

Alicia Keys, Jennifer Aniston and Demi Moore on Glamour Cover

2011-08-31T22:02:00.001+01:00

Celebrities join forces to support campaign

It's a celebrity bumper special as Jennifer Aniston, Alicia Keys and Demi Moore all grace the front cover of this month's US Glamour magazine to promote a women's cancer campaign.

Celebs on Glamour front page!

The women all wear blue jeans and white vests with natural hair and makeup. I love how natural and simple they all look!

The trio have directed a series of short films about women and breast cancer and how the disease affects women's everyday lives.

Christina Milian & Daughter Shoe Shopping

2011-08-31T21:41:00.002+01:00

Christina Milian and daughter, Violet

It seems it's never too early to learn the importance of shoes as Christina Milian proved when she took her one year old daughter, Violet, shoe shopping.

Christina and Violet

Christina, dresssed denim shorts, white shirt and red YSL tribute peep toe heels, picked out leopard print Prada trainers for Violet., which cost about £150. How adorable are those shoes and mostly importantly her tutu dress?!

Violet, her father is the Dream

Leona Lewis Looking Lovely!

2011-08-31T21:31:00.001+01:00

Leona Lewis in London

Leona Lewis is in London town to promote her new single Collide. I love her red mac and matching red lipstick and heels great combo!

I couldn't quite work out what was different about Leona, apart from getting a new stylist, which I totally approve of as recently her outfits have been on top form.

The polka dot peach skirt and tie up blouse is another cute look too.

But it wasn't until I looked closer at the picture and realised she has dyed her hair a dark brown instead of her usual honey blonde locks. What do you think of her hair new colour?

Beyonce is pregnant!

2011-08-30T00:49:00.000+01:00

Beyonce on the red carpet of VMAs

Beyonce announced she is pregnant with her first child with her husband, Jay Z, at the VMAs last night.

The superstar stole the show by clutching her visible bump and told the assembled press. "I have a suprise!" Following her performance of "Love on Top", Beyonce told the crow, "I want you to feel the love that's growing inside me." She then unbuttoned her coat and rubbed her belly to the whole world.

Beyonce after her performance ripped open her blazer and rubbed her belly

Beyonce has won 16 Grammys and has recently said she feels she has achieved enough in her career to settle down and make a family a priority.

In her interview with Piers Morgan in June, she hinted, "I always said I was going to have a baby at 30. I'm 29 now."

Jay-Z beamed from the audience as Beyonce revealed their "secret" and Kayne and the crowd congratulating the happy couple!

I am so happy for Beyonce and Jay Z and I wish them the best of luck!

♥

MTV VMAs Fashion

2011-08-30T00:40:00.000+01:00

The stars were out in full force last night to celebrate the MTV VMAs. The stylists should be praised with their efforts for the night, as there were plenty of fantastic outfits on the red carpet (phew!)

Kelly Rowland, who wore a feathered and embellished Falguni & Shane Peacock dress teamed with a pair of fierce spiked Christian Louboutin heels looked stunning!

Kelly Rowland

Jessie J arrived on the red carpet with a sparkly corset, her trademark hotpants and a matching sparkly cast studded with diamante jewels as she broke her foot off stage 11 weeks ago. I loved the fact that she refused to let her broken foot get in the way of her amazing outfit - check out the gemstones running down her thigh!

Jessie J

Britney Spears wore a black sequinned Moshino mini dress with matching peep toe boots which were definately an improvement to last year's disaster outfit at VMAs in 2007!

Britney Spears this year (yay!)

Britney in 2007 (nay!)

Zoe Saldana chose a black studded cocktail dress by Barbara Bui with a plunging V neckline and cute snakeskin shoes.

Zoe Saldana

Selena Gomez wore a stunning Julian McDonald gothic style dress. The high neck lace with lace was a winner in my books, especially teaming this dress with the gold stiletto heels. Good look!

Selena Gomez

Beyonce showed off her baby bump in a beautiful orange Lanvin gown and stunning earrings, what a lovely outfit to show off her pregnancy!

Beyonce

Katie Holmes looked great in a short Alaia dress and cute camel ankle boots, a nice change to see her wearing clothes that are more suited to her age!

Katie Holmes

♥

Kim Kardashian Gets Married!

2011-08-30T00:15:00.000+01:00

Mr and Mrs Humphries

Kim Kardashian married Kris Humphries last week but it's only now pictures of her wedding have appeared in Hello! magazine (out now).

400 guests attended Kim and Chris' wedding ceremony which is said to have cost more than £3 million.

The bride wore a stunning Vera Wang dress with a full tulle skirt, basque waist Chantilly lace applique and incredible $15 million worth of diamonds. Her sisters, Khloe and Kourtney wore matching strapless fishtail skirt Vera Wang gowns.

Although Kim's dress wasn't to my person taste, Kim looked absolutely breathtaking in her ivory custom designed strapless dress and of course the epic train was lovely.

Kourtney, Kim and Khloe

Celebrity guest included Serena Williams, Eva Longoria, former Spice Girl Mel B and Ciara among many other famous faces.

♥

Outfit of the Day Special: France

2011-08-24T22:28:00.002+01:00

Provence, South Eastern France

This Summer, I visited family in Southern France, Provence, a sophisticated city, known for its warm (but not too hot!) temperature, medieval and graceful streets, elegant mansions, architecture and festivals and operas mainly in July.

There was so much to do in the short space of time, I visited an open air opera (fantastic!) and ice cream parlour (even more fantastic!).

But more than anything, I took the opportunity to relax and take in the beautiful scenery of this delightful region of France.

At night the region looks even more beautiful...

Cardigan - Primark

Dress - River Island

Bag - Topshop

Sandals - Primark

Blouse - Primark

Denim Shorts - Boohoo

Polka dot espadrille wedges - Topshop

Floppy 70s Hat - Marks & Spencer

Sunglasses - H&M

Nails - Barry M Nail Paint Fuchsia 302

Playsuit - Primark

Hairband - H&M

The Perfect way to spend the Summer! ♥

Golden Delicious by DKNY Review

2011-08-24T20:59:00.004+01:00

DKNY perfume campaign with model Lara Stone

Golden Delicious is the new addition that has been added to the popular DKNY Be Delilcious perfume collection and now available at Superdrug!

If you’re a sucker for apple scents, then this fragrance is for you! Golden Delicious is the newest, most regal apple of the DKNY Delicious collection that radiates with a tempting sensuality.

The apple of my eye!

You can definitely smell the apple scent in this perfume, carved just like an apple, but there is also a grown-up elegance to it that is not too overwhelming for people who prefer a less obvious scent.

I tend to change my perfumes to suit my moods and most importantly the season. Golden Delicious is sheer, fresh and smooth yet musky warm scent, well suited to Autumn in a light sheer, with a hint of sensual woody teakwood and sandalwood.

Unique apple shaped bottle

I like the unique shape of the bottle and it doesn't take up too much room my work-bag. Most importantly I love that the scent combines combines the scent of apples with a sophisticated blend of exotic flowers and sensual woods.

This scent is ultimately sheer and fresh, the Casablanca lily and vanilla orchid make it light enough to wear as a fragrance for daywear but the musky warm sandalwood makes it a great choice for the evening too!

Free with Golden Delicious 50ml bottle while stocks last so hurry!

This exclusive gold clutch is the perfect accessory and comes free with any 50ml Delicious fragrance purchase (while stocks last) so don't leave it too long to purchase your bottle!

DKNY Golden Delicious Eau de Parfum 30ml bottle is now available at Superdrug priced £27.99.

♥

♥ Love Want Need ♥

2011-08-23T23:40:00.000+01:00

PU Trim Leggings - Republic

Cape blouse - Republic

Black platform shoes - Urban Outfitters

Leopard print bag - Mango

Brown platform shoes - Kurt Geiger

Look Magazine Blogger Competition #LookShowWSC

2011-08-15T15:57:00.000+01:00

Me on holiday, blogging by the pool! #blogaddict

I love blogging. I can blog anywhere about anything, though it is usually at home, in my bedroom about high street fashion.

But today I am AWOL, blogging from Provence, Topshop shades perched on the edge of my nose, M&S floppy hat shielding away the sun, sitting by the pool and taking in the beautiful views of southern France!

No matter where I am, I love reporting on fashion trends. Whether it’s in my hometown, London, or in the South of France, I can’t help but admire the way people use their unique sense of fashion to style themselves. I never leave my house without my camera or netbook just in case I happen to come across a wonderfully styled individual, whether it’s a day out shopping, at a festival, on the way to work, wherever!

Even though cities like Milan аnd Paris аrе renowned fοr thеіr fashion forward trends and fashion designers, in my opinion, the UK has arguably thе best high street fashion іn thе world. I love a good bargain and that is why my blog focuses primarily on high street fashion. I blog to update my readers on the latest fashion tips and trends, where to buy them and how to wear them. But must importantly, to show my readers hundreds of ways to dress like a star without the A-list price tag.

So why do I want to be front row at the Look Fashion Show? Yes, I would love to be there because it would be a great day out for me to meet other bloggers and share our love of fashion and blogging, but most importantly I want to write about the experience and share the trends and fashion ideas with all the Look readers. Not everyone can be lucky enough to attend this event, so it is important there are good writers there to be able to share it with the public afterwards and I think I would be perfect for this job!

The UK has some of the best high street fashion and what would be a better way then having me, Aba Noah, the self-confessed champion of high street fashion, sitting front row and reporting all the latest trends for A/W 11?! Make my dream come true and grant me this wish, you will not regret it!

♥

Outfit of the Day

2011-08-07T22:01:00.002+01:00

Sipping cocktails at my graduation dinner!

I had a lot to celebrate this weekend, as I finally graduated with a Masters in Journalism woohoo!

Dress - Zara

Shoes - Faith

I was looking for an outfit for my graduation dinner and found the perfect dress in Zara. Best of all it was on sale! (Also available in black and pillarbox red).

Miss Selfridge have some lovely jewelery at the moment. I needed some cute studs so I picked the pearl rope studs and a statement necklace which would compliment rather my outfit rather than stand-out, the gold leaf necklace was perfect! How cute is the polka dot bow hairband? I picked that up from Boots - who knew they did such cute accessories?!

Hairband - Boots

Earrings (studs) - Miss Selfridge

Necklace - Miss Selfridge

♥

L'Oreal Lip Glam Shine Fresh Lipgloss Review

2011-08-06T18:26:00.002+01:00

Me and the goodies!

I couldn’t wait to try out the new L'Oréal Glam Shine 6 Hours lip gloss which claims to shine up to 6 hours!

So how does it do that? Well, according to L'Oréal, it’s The Shine Fix™ technology that creates a resistant film over the lips to help the product stay in place for up to 6 hours.

L'Oréal Glam Shine 6 Hours Lipgloss

So let’s start with the product and what’s on offer – there’s a wide collection of shimmering shades to choose from ranging from natural nudes, beautiful browns, standout reds and huey pinks. My favourites were Fresh Fuchsia 116 and Fresh Cassis 118.

I really like the shape of the applicator, a heart shaped wand, which makes it easier to apply and picks up just the right amount of gloss.

Me wearing Fresh Cassis lipgloss 118

I loved how the gloss made my lips plump and glossy. As it stays on for hours, there was no need for constant application and I only re-applied twice throughout the day, so quite impressive!

L'Oréal also have Glam Shine Fresh lipgloss a set of vitamin C & E enriched colour pop glosses with a special plumping effect. Available in seven colours, they all have fruity names like Pomegranate, Lychee and Lemon tonic and offer ultra-wet traffic-stopping shine!

Glam Shine Fresh lipgloss

The formula has a high percentage of extreme shine oils which stay on the surface of the lips for a wet-shine look while remaining non-sticky and non-greasy. The shade developing oils provide premium adhesion to the lips and colour enhancement…for vibrant, but pure, colour shades and reflective shine.

I love Sheer Pink 171 and Aqua Grapefruit 186 which are both very sheer and give you the shine most lip glosses fail to deliver. The formula feels nice on the lips, it leaves them feeling smooth and soft.

So if you're looking for a high shine long-lasting lipgloss, and don't want a bold bright colour like the Glam Shine 6 hour lipglosses, then these are perfect for you!

♥

Outfit of the Day

2011-08-03T23:29:00.000+01:00

Blouse - Primark

Shorts - Primark

Shoes - New Look

Necklace - Asos

Workwear is so tricky to get right - especially when the weather is hot and humid like it is in London. I love these loose shorts which came with the skinny belt, perfect to wear in humid weather.

I teamed with this camel chiffon blouse matching leather camel moccasins (check out the leopard print sole!). I don't usually wear chunky jewellery but I really liked the look of this necklace.

♥

Beyonce & Kelly Rowland at Jay Z Kanye West Album Party

2011-08-02T20:52:00.000+01:00

Kelly Rowland & Beyonce

Best buddies Kelly Rowland and Beyonce were spotted looking effortlessly gorgeous at Jay Z and Kanye West's new album launch, Watch the Throne.

The say that best friends have a habit of accidentally choosing similar outfits to one and other. Well in this case Beyonce and Kelly both wore denim and grey, Kelly, jeans and a loose fitted long top and Beyonce, a grey vest and denim cut-off jeans teamed with a cute black trilby hat. Both looking fabulous! Which outfit do you prefer?

Also spotted...

Solange

Jada Pinkett-Smith

Kanye and Jay Z

♥

Ella's Bakehouse Review

2011-07-31T23:59:00.001+01:00

Lorraine Pascale - patisserie chef

I have heard so much about Lorraine Pascale, the former supermodel turned cupcake queen, when I passed her store, Ella's Bakehouse, I had to pop in and taste the most talked about cupcakes in town!

Ella's Bakehouse, Covent Garden

Ella's Bakehouse is located on the corner of Covent Garden's busy Piazza town square. There were so many cupcakes to choose from so I was spoilt for choice! In the end, I chose red velvet (chocolate sponge with red colouring and a cream cheese frosting) and brown bottom (chocolate sponge and vanilla butter cream).

Red velvet (l) brown bottom (r)

So what makes Lorraine's cupcakes so special? Used from mainly British ingredients, the sponge is light, slightly moist and fluffy made with light vanilla sugar syrup. Absolutely delicious!!!

You can buy Lorraine's best selling cook book, Baking Made Easy, here.

♥

Outfit of the day - accessories!

2011-07-31T23:13:00.002+01:00

If you're looking for shades with a little glitz and glamour then buy these studded flat top sunglasses from Topshop.

The pearl earrings are from an assortment of cute studs from New Look.

Earrings - New Look

Accessories from Topshop!

I also picked up this cute skull bow tie hairband too. From spikes to crochet, Topshop have loads of styles to choose from check out their website you'll be spoilt for choice!

♥