Parisian Chic

I have to say, I truly am surrounded by beautiful stylish women. Just the other day I was in awe of the fashionistas parading around the office. Beautiful, strong, independent women with a fashion identity all of their own.

Fashion Friday, as I like to call it, was the day of the office Christmas party and the ladies had really upped the catwalk criterion. I was particularly blown away by the stunning outfit of Lady BK.

Having recently returned from a short break in Paris, Lady BK looked ever the Parisian Aristocrat in her gorgeous white cape and sequined black beret. She had stylishly worn her cape over a cosy cashmere roll neck (and many other layers!) to keep herself warm which contrasted wonderfully with the stark white of the cape. Lady BK had also taken on board the notes about accessorising and had cleverly placed a pearly brooch on the collar of her cape which finished off the look beautifully. Worn with knee high black boots and an infectious smile, this Lady was about to take London by storm!

However, the most important and key accessory that Lady BK had that day was confidence. She stood tall and proud in her outfit and was able to carry it off with flare. This is the only way to carry off any outfit. Whether you are wearing the latest fashions from Milan or last seasons outfit from Primark, it doesn't matter because you will only truly look fabulous if you have the confidence to do so.

Stand tall, stand proud and lets all learn something from Lady BK - we are all fabulous fashionistas!

Interiors

Earlier this year, whilst sitting at home redundant waiting for a job to advertise itself on the recruitment pages, I decided to indulge in a little interior design. The flat that the handsome hubbie and I had moved into in the summer of 2008 was still "the flat that the handsome hubbie and I had moved into in the summer of 2008". The walls were still bare, the furniture was still minimalist and the decor was still neutral.

Being jobless, I decided to design and make my own soft furnishings as this would (a) make more use of the excessive amount of time on my hands and (b) would save the not so excessive pennies in my pockets. I took myself down to John Lewis' haberdashery department one fine Saturday morning armed with gift vouchers received as wedding presents. I spent hours stroking the fine materials and flicking through the samples of fabric lined up in rows like posters in a music store. I stood in awe at the beautiful colours and textures that I found myself confronted with, confused at the choices. After hours of scouring the options, I finally decided to settle on two types of fabric with which to design bright bouncy cushion covers for my dark grey sofa.

I wanted something completely different, something that had never been seen before so opted for clashing prints and colours of chartreuse (a lemon/lime green with hint of gold) and plum and magenta. The chartreuse cushions were square with bold fern prints and the plum cushions were dark with vibrant large floral damask-esque prints in magenta in a rectangular shape. The colours complemented each other and my sofa beautifully and they were completely unique.

I took my materials and cushion fillings to my mum's and with her assistance (and her sewing machine) I started making my exciting new cushion covers. I bought zips and thread and sewed until my eyes hurt. But it was so worth it as the end result not only gave me a real sense of achievement, but more importantly it gave me exclusive one off pieces for my flat. At last, I was on the way to making "the flat the handsome hubbie and I moved into in the summer of 2008" the flat that became "our home".

So imagine my horror, when earlier this week I was looking at new uploaded pictures my friends had put up on Facebook and noticed that some of our friends have copied my cushions!!! Not just the colours, but the shapes as well! Now I know they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but this is just plain cheeky!

Still, I can't help but feel a little smug. I mean I must have good taste in the first place for someone to copy it right? Judge for yourself, I would welcome your feedback...

Sniffs and Smells

Peeps,

Stay tuned. I have been asked to review the wonderful scents of the Penhaligons perfume range. Quintessentially English. Everything from the traditional to the modern can be found in their range of fragrances for men and women. I'm in the process of trialing them and will come back shortly with my thoughts.

If you want something that isn't mainstream and will make you stand out from the crowd, then watch this space...the best (and the worst) of Penhaligons smells to come!

Nx

All that glitters ain't gold

The festive season is approaching at lightening speed and sparkles, twinkles, glitters and shimmers are about to descend on us in a colossal wave. From the bright lights of Oxford Street to the cheesy smiles of TV's celebs advertising supermarket treats, we cannot escape the bling of Christmas. Magazines are telling us to shimmy in shimmer and shop windows are telling us to glam it up in glitter. Its a daunting prospect and a look to get easily wrong, so I suggest starting things simply by injecting some glam into your make-up. There's a vast array of twinkley products out there and to help you through the maze, here is a guide to my personal faves...

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick
www.bobbibrown.co.uk

I love these shimmer bricks. Probably one of their better known and more famous products, the shimmer brick is exactly what it says. A beautiful compact with five differing hues of finally milled soft sensual shimmer. Use it to had highlights to your cheekbones and brow bones by blending all shades together. Alternatively you can use it as subtle sparkle for your eyes by using the individual shades or a combination of all five. The bricks come in a variety of colours from beiges to roses.

I first fell in love with "the bricks" when I got one at Christmas one year. A limited edition gold version, it has all the shades of gold from a light white yellow frosting to a deep golden glow. I love using this over my blusher for evenings out and just can't resist using my finger to lift some shimmer from an individual shade and dab it onto my eyelids. The look is so subtle, yet so sassy!

A definite investment, I would recommend this stocking filler to everyone. Look out for the limited edition Christmas versions with metal compacts, along with the nude colour range for a day time look.

Moonbeam by Benefit
www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk

In my opinion, Benefit are the ultimate leaders in glitzy "fake-its" (as they like to call them). Their range covers such a variety of glittering products you are almost certainly spoilt for choice. I love their product Moonbeam. A liquid highlighter, this is a little pot of secret glow. A rose gold liquid that adds subtle shimmer and glow to your cheekbones, brow bone and anywhere else you may choose to wear it. It comes in a handy little pot with a brush in the lid, like nail polish, so all you need to do it slick on some stripes and blend, blend, blend.

Great for drawing attention to the exact place you want it, the application is precise and faultless. I love wearing this in a "C" shape starting from my cheekbones and going around my eye to my brow bone. Its really important to blend though or it can look a bit messy.

Also in this range is the original highlighter - Highbeam. A pink-silver version of Moonbeam, this is great for those with paler skin or if you want to move away from warm golds and to a more silver ice queen effect. I love wearing this one too, but rather than use it on my cheeks I like to wear it on the tip of my nose. Yes, that's right, on the tip of my nose. It may sound bizarre, but adding a tiny bit of shimmer to the end of your nose gives you an almost Hollywood luminescent elegance and believe me, it really does make you look polished. Try it yourself if you don't believe me!

Also great in the Benefit range is Dallas blush, Coralista blush and One Hot Minute - a rose gold shimmer powder for wherever you may choose to apply it...

MAC Mineralize
www.maccosmetics.co.uk

MAC mineralize has a great range of sparkling products for the face, cheeks and eyes. Made with the natural light reflecting properties of minerals, which we are hearing so much about these days, these products are fab for the festive season. Its really important to blend though and make sure you buff these babies up properly or you do risk looking a bit streaky.

For the holiday season, MAC have put together some limited edition gift sets containing a Mineralize eye shadow, blush and skin finish. Great for adding some glitz to your look and available in a variety of shades. I cannot wait to get my hands on one of these gift sets, so I'm off to hunt them down before everyone else does!

Elbows at the ready girls, we're going in...

Belt Up!

Accessorising is so so so important girls. That key piece of jewellrey or statement shoes can make all the difference to an outfit.

The accessory du jour, however, seems to be the belt. Once seen as a necessity for loose trousers, they are now a real fashion statement and can really add glamour to a simple outfit or brighten up a neutral pallette of basics.

I have scoured the shops for some of my favourite belts on the high street this season and here are a few of my must-have choices:

Patent Leather Cutwork Belt - Oasis
http://www.oasis-stores.com/Patent-Leather-Cutwork-Waist-Belt/Belts/oasis/fcp-product/5400079501
This belt works well as an all rounder. Wear over a brightly coloured dress to give it some evening glamour or with leggings and a tunic for that biker chick appeal.

Zebra Print Skinny Belt - Oasis
http://www.oasis-stores.com/Zebra-Jeans-Belt/Belts/oasis/fcp-product/5400078805
Looks great with jeans for a weekend look. Team with zebra print heels or matching scarf for an elegant but casual look. Alternatively do the same over plain black trousers and white shirt for a sexy office look.

Pearl Chain Belt - Topshop
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=20&viewAllFlag=false&catalogId=19551&storeId=12556&categoryId=42354&parent_category_rn=42351&productId=1368029&langId=-1
This is a more feminine and girly belt which would look great over a cream or neutral coloured shift dress. Think Jacki O or Coco Chanel. Classy and sophisticated. Great for a client event at work or a registry wedding guest outfit. Team with beautiful long gloves and dainty earrings. Best not to match with pearls round the neck though as you may end up looking like your granny.

Metallic Gold Stretch Skinny Belt - Accessorize/Monsoon
http://www.monsoon.co.uk/invt/59386981&bklist=icat,5,shop,accessorize,acczbelts,acczstretchbelts
One of my favourites, this belt would look fabulous over a black shift dress and cardi. Perfect for the office Christmas party or after work dinner dates. Wear the belt over your cardigan, as that will pull the whole look together. A word of advice though - make sure you have a waterfall kniw, i.e. the ones with longer fronts and ruffles, and not a V-neck button down cardi or the look just won't work.

And finally...
Per Una Princess Diamante Belt - Marks and Spencer
http://www.marksandspencer.com/Per-Una-Princess-Diamant%C3%A9-Belt/dp/B002MLDKYI?ie=UTF8&qid=1258121540&categoryNodeID=42967030&page=&node=43188030&sr=1-7&mnSBrand=core&rh=
I love this belt. Its glamorous and beautiful, perfect for the festive season and for nights out any day of the year. The sparkling buckle will instant glam up any outfit. Wear over a tunic in any colour, tights or leggings and strappy heels or peep toes. Alternatively, belt it over your jumper and skinny jeans for a chic casual look. Fantastic.

I'm off to M&S, lets just hope the belts included in the 1p sale!

Cold Cover-up

Yes. Its that time of year again. The rain is here in full flow, the temperature is nippier and the whole office is falling like flies. Its time for your common all garden cold. The one where you're nose looks like Rudolf's, your eyes look like a panda's and your brain feels like its melting its way out through your sinuses.

The cold is a definite beauty buster. How is a girl to look good when her face is falling apart? I am suffering from said cold at the moment and I just don't have the energy for playing "dress up" at the office. In fact, anything warm and comfortable will do right now. Cosy is key. But what about that dreadful face? Nothing can make you feel worse than looking in the mirror and seeing your pale self look back at you. Best thing to do? Cover-up.

I don't mean a paper bag over the head, but make-up. Nothing makes you feel instantly better and perky than looking good, so I always suggest making that little bit of effort to put your face on when you are under the weather. Personally, I don't have the energy for the full works so I only use four things:

1. YSL Touche eclat around the eyes. Every beauty magazine, bible, celebrity, etc raves about this product. I like it too as it hides my dark circles and makes my eyes look brighter. The manufacturers claim this is a highlighter and not a concealer, but personally I find it does the trick. I use it in number 2, rather than the standard number 1 as its better for my skintone. Also available in shade number 3 for darker skin tones, so do ask the made-up lady behind the counter to assist you.

2. Glossy black mascara on the lashes. I don't swear by any one particular mascara brand. I tend to chop and change depending on my mood. I have most recently been using Max Factor Masterpiece which is really good for getting to all your lashes in one fell swoop. I have also tried Max Factor 2000 calorie which one make-up artists I know swears by. Its good for making your lashes nice and fat. I have also heard good things about Dior Iconic. Either way, make sure you have a fresh mascara (no gloopy lumps ladies) and make sure its no older than a few months. Apparently if your brush no longer makes that "pop" sounds when you pull it out of the tube, its past its best. Bin it and buy a new one.

3. Bronzer. Any bronzer will do. Sweep it on your cheekbones and T'zone to make yourself look alive. It instantly lifts sallow skin that comes with having a cold and makes you look healthy, even if you aren't feeling healthy. But be warned: don't overdo it or you will look like an extra from Stricly Come Dancing.

4. Finally, lip balm or gloss. My lips always get dry when I have a cold as I'm constantly breathing through my mouth due to the blocked nose. I like to use Vaseline's Rose and Almond Oil Lip Therapy as its good to keep your lips moist and adds a hint of colour.

So, four easy steps to looking rosy when you are feeling blue.

Until next time, colour yourself silly girls.

Nx

Spritzing

Is it cool to drink white wine spritzers?

I was out for dinner with the handsome hubbie last weekend and noted the restaurant had a "Berry Spritzer" on the menu - a combination of white wine, lemonade and chambord. Not being a wine drinker, I thought this seemed like a good alternative and opted to try this berry infused concoction.

I was shocked. I don't have the pallete for wine at all. I could probably stretch to half a glass of red at the odd black tie event but that's my limit. Champagne is a definite no no. But have I now discovered a way to join the vino collapso crew? It was like the vineyards had opened and welcomed me into their sour topnotes bosom! This drink was fantastic. It had a hint of wine about it, with a pleasurable fizz and all those gorgeous berry smells and favours oozing through. Topped off with mint it was refreshing and lovely.

But, wait. Aren't white wine spritzers the poison of middle-aged women of the 80's? Isn't it something that should only be ordered in dark musty pubs by "glamorous" Brenda with her Southernly cleavage and leather pencil skirt?

Please, someone enlighten me. Can I order this drink in the bars and clubs of London without being looked at like a weirdo or should I only reserve it for restaurants where they still serve Babycham?

Ladies, I await your guidance...

Survival Instincts

So the latest "key season fashion" is animal print. Its actually been around for over a year in the mainstream, but this Autumn/Winter the shops have gone wild (see what I did there?) with animal identification characteristics on everything from scarves, handbags, shoes, cardigans, leggings, coats and more. There also seems to be a shift away from the usual classic colours and we're now seeing red leopard print and illuminous pink snakeskin.

Personally I'm not one for looking like a Jungle Book character and tend to steer clear of anything vaguely animal related. I do, however, have a silk leopard print scarf which I got from Oasis last summer. I bought it for a fancy dress party at London Zoo and the theme, unsurprisingly, was animals. I decided to opt for a hint of animal as I didn't want to be parading around on the tube wearing a gorilla suit, particularly as it was a tea party in the middle of the afternoon. I didn't think I would ever wear the scarf again, but rather shockingly for me it has proved to be a very useful piece in my wardrobe.

I wear the scarf round my neck, tied into a double bow to the side when wearing a black shift dress. Its a good way to liven up the basic black of our working wardrobes and tends to look quite classy when worn with your hair up. It's also good to wear as a belt with jeans when relaxing at the weekend and works equally well as a headscarf/hairband when you're trying to pretend you are uber cool on your summer holiday (massive sunglasses, over-sized handbag and chunky bangles add to the pretence of uber cool - orange skin optional).

So to bring a bit of survival instinct into your work wardrobe, why not try touches of animal print rather than plastering yourself in it to avoid the risk of looking like Pat Butcher and her other Eastender friends. Tip Number Two:

Less is More - A pair of animal print shoes teamed with a plain block colour outfit can look fabulous, follow up with matching skinny belt or echo the theme in your jewellery. Or why not get that mock croc handbag you've been drooling over to add a dash of something to your otherwise muted (albeit professional) outfit.

Now time to go hunting ladies...

Nx

Virgin Blogger

Hello and welcome to my first ever blog! It’s the first time I’ve taken the bold step of “putting myself out there” on the web – I don’t update my Facebook status and have never tweeted in my life. However, I have decided to grab life by the horns and…well…create a blog. A diary of my thoughts on life, fashion, make-up, hair, handbags, office politics, family politics, social politics, conquering the world and generally making sure we all look fabulous along the way.

I was never aware of this “talent” of mine until I started temping at a Government department and met a team of lovely ladies, self-titled “The Ladies Central Bureau of Investigations” Every morning I would receive compliments on my outfit and questions on my style. Over a period of time I became known as “the fashionable one”; one Lady Investigator (Lady BK) commenting that I could make a “sack look like Burberry”. I was encouraged by another Lady Investigator (the Baroness) to offer tips to others and start publishing those tips online. Hence I find myself here.

Now I don’t profess to know a lot about fashion or have the ability to look good in a sack. I am no Gok Wan (although I do love that man!). I am, by no means, a trendsetter or dedicated follower of fashion. I don’t do funky/grungy/rock chick/bag lady, but I do know how to pull together a decent office outfit and avoid a dinner date dress disaster. I’m all about elegant, classic, glamour (with some key latest season fashions thrown in for a bang up to date look). I know what suits me and that I think is the key to putting together any look. So ladies, here is Tip Number One:

Know your body – try and figure out what kind of shapes suit you and stick with it. For example, if you are super petite then wearing a long flowy voluminous maxi dress is only going to drown you. If you have wide hips, don’t wear an A’line skirt as it will only make you look wider. Everything is about proportion, so learn how to make yourself look proportionate in the clothes you wear.

So girls, go stand in front of the mirror for a while and figure out your figure…

In the meantime, I look forward to receiving your thoughts and comments on my new blog.

Goodbye Everybody!
Nx