Weekend

Phew, the end is in sight of the most insanely busy week.  Just before I dash off to continue the birthday celebrations (i'm really stretching this one out!), I thought I would leave you with some vintage Chanel eye candy!

Have a productive weekend guys!

McQueen Dreams...

Wow! Sarah Burton really knocked it out of the park with her latest collection for McQueen.  If anyone ever doubted her ability to keep the integrity and ingenuity of the brand that was so personal to her late friend Lee McQueen they are sure to be more convinced each season.  

Last nights show in Paris was said to be inspired by 'the rippling under bellies of mushrooms' and was truly exquisite.

Golden

Make-up Artist Peter Philips referred to the look he created for the Fendi show in Milan as "a game of textures" which it was indeed.  By opposing the strong black kohl liner on the top lash line with shiny gold leaf pressed into the eyelid all the way up and over the brow the models exuded both vintage femininity and super modern strength.  

Gold leaf is such a beautiful yet very very tricky medium to work with.  If you do decide to give something like this a go (perhaps as just a gesture and not all the way up over the brows ok, Ga Ga!), I recommend using eyelash glue that has all but dried on the skin and a very clean soft brush to lift the leaf out of the book or the pot it comes in to apply because that stuff has a life of it's own.  This look requires a very steady hand!

(How gold leaf is traditionally bought)

The product below will give you a gilt effect, not quite as golden and shiny (of course its not actual gold) but really effective all the same.  It's one of the closest things I have found to a pure gold in a make-up specific product, also perfect for body painting and for use in your hair depending on your wild ideas.  Using this is not difficult, time consuming or expensive, and this pot is only £5.00 ($8.50).

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This is the type of thing you can achieve with the Fardel water colour cream, pretty awesome huh?

This is the type of thing you could not achieve with the Fardel water colour cream, although for a purse it is very golden and very make-upy' and equally awesome don't you think? Lulu Guinness is an eccentric accessories designer known for her quirky aesthetic and you can find this here.

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And for the luxe obsessed out there or for anyone who has had a total disaster trying to recreate the Fendi magic on their eyelids, just stick it all over a batch of brownies to make them look a million dollars and eat it! (of course you have to make sure the type of leaf you bought is edible). Mmmmmm.

Just Because...

It's so grey and cold in London Town and this is so pretty and spring like.

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Lara Stone and Kate Moss in kitty ears, for LOVE magazine, Shot by Mario Testino out on February 6th.  

Bright and Breezy

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Can you believe New York fashion week has come around so quickly?

I adore Paris fashion week for its theatre and drama, I love London fashion week as it is inherently forward thinking, edgy and of course home, and I always have a soft spot for New York fashion week as you can rely on playful, wearable collections from some of the worlds greatest artists showcased in my favourite city in the world.

This season to much anticipation J. Crew debuted on the runways of NYC, with Jenna Lyons as the driving force behind a beautiful show filled with pieces I know my wardrobe is crying out for.  Bright colours and flattering stripes.  And at last, J. Crew are about to open an online retail outlet in the UK. Yes!

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Continuing the striped theme was the king of the New York fashion scene Marc Jacobs.  Not only was every garment that walked perfection but the hair and make-up was divine.  Hair swept up sleekly and make-up to match.  I just love a statement outfit paired with natural make-up I think it exudes confidence.

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If you fancy going for the simple beauty look Marc Jacobs decided upon for his show then look no further than Stila convertible colour in Gerbera.  It's creamy consistency leaves the cheeks looking fresh and dewy and its depth of pigment means it's beautiful as a lip colour also.  A quick dab of this with a light gloss over the top really brings the colour together for a cohesive look.

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And finally if you are lucky enough to live in the USA near a Target store then I do hope you have rushed there to buy up as much of the Missoni for Target collection as your budget will allow, from throw pillows to awesome chopper bikes there is something for everyone.  I hope there will be a little something left for me by the time I make it to a store!

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Festival Fever

So, for those of you who don't know this weekend in the UK is the world famous Glastonbury festival. It is a weekend (or week if you are a party monster) that so many of us look forward to every other year. This year the headline act will be the one and only Beyonce, who incidentally will be dropping in this week to the studios where I spend a huge amount of time for an interview. Exciting!

Anyway, back to the festival. What used to be a time for hippies to kick back and relax in a field listening to their favourite music, has turned into a full on runway show for every fashion savvy mud lover!

Miss Moss really killed it back in 2005 when she attended and set the fashion bar for all us future attendees really...really high!

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When she appeared in this denim short, wellington boot and beach, bed head ensemble. The uniform for Glastonbury had been well and truly established, and dedicated followers have obliged ever since. It is the one time of year where unwashed hair and a layer of three day old eyeliner is not considered gross but a total must!

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These girls are working the festival look to perfection. I love how everyone has their own unique twist on the look which is both comfortable and practical (it almost always rains!) and yet super sexy. If I were attending this year, which sadly I can't due to party wrecking work schedules, this is what I would be taking with me.

This gorgeous Alexander Wang backpack is on sale and can be found here. I think it has just the right balance of glamour and grunge and would be the perfect size to pack with these festival must haves.

1. Benefit cha cha tint - a gorgeous multiple use product in the perfect summer hue. Thats your lips and cheeks sorted.

2. Altoids - Just incase your toothbrush is a million miles away and someone lovely has caught your eye!

3. Bungee hair ties - Because by day three you may not be looking so "beachy".

4. MAC wipes - These are fantastic, I use them on every shoot as they are very effective at clean ups but keep the skin feeling fresh and moisturised. You will find a million uses for these.

5. Clinique body spray SPF25 - Remember no matter what colour or tone your skin is, the sun will still try and cause major damage, so keep moisturised and protected with a good SPF.

6. Bumble and Bumble hair powder - This is just one version of a product that needs no explanation, and for girls or guys with curly hair TRESemme have just bought out this, Yay.

7. Armani Eyes to kill mascara - It is without doubt the best mascara I have ever used and will keep your lashes looking beautiful no matter how hard you party.

8. Olympus PEN - Any camera you like (this one is just so pretty) to make sure you get tons of snaps to document your awesome, messy festival weekend with your friends!

Have an amazing time if your going please let me know how it was, and if you're not make sure you have a little festival of your own this weekend where ever you are. Enjoy!

Summer Loving

Here are just a few things happening at the moment that are rocking my world. Firstly well done YSL for at last adding four new darker shades to the legendary product Touche Eclat. This is a staple in both my kit and my personal make up bag, however many versions of this I try I always end up going back to this old favourite. Although some alternatives that I also adore are Clarins and Terry. This is a step in the right direction for the luxury make up market in terms of adding diversity to their ranges, and in my humble opinion a small step that is long overdue.

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Mulberry are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year and in honour of the occasion are releasing this beautiful book. It took almost three years to produce and is worth every moment as far as I am concerned. It is quirky yet luxurious, and I expected nothing less form the iconic British label.

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I am looking forward to a copy residing on my coffee table, what a chic welcome addition.

This image from the book is absolutely stunning, I love the prettiness and wistfulness of the colour palette and the soft glorious blooms, opposed with the guys behind the camera sporting some awesome ink and plaid.

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I have to admit that I have something of an eyewear obsession, wether for reading or hanging out in the sunshine I always have a pair or two in my bag. These by Tom Ford are incredible, not to mention the hair and make up which is perfection. I would love to add this no less fabulous but slightly toned down pair to my growing collection.

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One of the things I love about the season changes are the new collections that the make up houses put out, NARS have released this mini range which is perfect if you are going somewhere super fabulous for you summer vacation yet equally appropriate for barbeques with best friends in back yards.

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Talking of vacationing somewhere fabulous, this will be a stop on my summer trip which is now in full planning swing. With not all stops being quite so glamourous I can't wait to share the details with you, although at the moment it is still so far off and with so much yet to finalise, I will just leave you with some eye candy to help daydream of far away places (well far from London anyway).

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Spring in my Step

Spring is in the air in London, and as the season begins to blossom the work definitely starts to move outdoors. Spring lends itself perfectly to shooting in natural environments instead of studios and sets. The most comfortable footwear to have on location for me are trainers, however to make the grade they have to have an interesting edge. These sneakers are a collaboration between Nike and Liberty of London. Which coincidentally is directly across the road from where I am filming this afternoon. Uh Oh.

A Genius at Work

Bill Cunningham can only be described as the true originator of fashion documentation. His work is an endless source of inspiration for so many dedicated fashion bloggers. Relentlessly cycling the streets of New York City, he has been documenting the absolute finest and most unique the Big Apple has to offer for decades.

With London fashion week drawing to a close, my fashion fire must continue to be stoked! So, I secured tickets for the opening night of the new documentary film by Richard Press detailing his legendary life so far.

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It opens on March 16th at the Film Forum in new York City. It is going to be a few hours of calm during a busy trip across the Atlantic for myself, where I can't wait to walk you through a few of my favorite streets in New York, and, where we will also have a look at some of the finest make up stores and products to be had in the USA.