Finding fashion inspiration from unusual sources is always fun. Checking out someone else's personal style is a good way of giving you new ideas, and it's not always the obvious style gurus who lead the fashion pack.
Take, for example, my 4 year old niece. She looks cute in anything she's dressed in, and she finds her own ways to wear it too. I have this cream, knitted bobble-hat that I've always worn in the usual cutesy way, (like I'm on my way to a hiking convention...) but seeing my niece just sling it on her head all loose and floppy made me realise that it'd be a great take on the slouchy beanie. So now I always unroll the extra material and wear it with the bobble hanging down instead of perched on my head!
And the whole city shorts thing was never really me. It was too confused between smart and casual so I thought I'd never go for it. But I have a photo of my niece tottering around in my high heels (she's a natural) with her knee-length denim shorts on, and I realised that that's how I can work the trend, in denim instead of too-stiff cotton.
And when it comes to this season, she even knows her trendy sportswear. She rocked up at my house one morning ready for nursery, complete with 80s headband yanked down round her forehead because the staff had told her they were going to be doing exercises that day. Ever the fashion forward 4 year old, she wouldn't have her headband any other way.
So when you need some inspiration, you may not have to grab Vogue after all - just keep your eyes peeled for the unlikely stylist...
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Top 5 products for 'natural' beauty
A good starting point for beauty is to master your natural beauty. Everyone has something that makes them special, but these products work for every woman, (or man!) to enhance their every day looks...
1. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
Ok, so I'm cheating here by putting two products under one title... Both the original skin protectant and the intensive hand cream. The hand cream will give you beautifully supple hands, and I use it on my feet too, to undo the damage high heels have done to the soft skin there. For my feet I usually slather it on and then put on a pair of thick socks and keep them on overnight to really let the product sink in. And then I use the skin protectant for everything else! I use it as a lip balm if I don't have any with me, I rub it into my eyebrows to make sure the hairs stay in place, and to give them a nice sheen, and if something has been rubbing on my skin I pop it on there too to soothe the irritation. I love the classic white tubes.
2. Eyebrow pencil/shadow
Shaping your eyebrows is a great way of defining your face, and an eyebrow pencil/shadow can highlight that. Use a pencil to fill in your brows for a more dramatic yet natural look, and the shadow when you want a soft look. No7 at Boots (www.boots.com) do a great pencil called Amazing Eyes Pencil (around £7), or if you'd prefer to use a softer shadow to fill in your brows, try Benefit BrowZings (£21.50 - www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk). It's pricey but worth it as it comes with a shadow (available in 3 shades) to fill in your brows, a wax to keep them in shape, tiny tweezers and a little mirror so you can pluck on the go!
3. Pink blusher
Find a pink blusher to suit your skin tone, and apply it to the apples of your cheeks to give you a fresh-faced natural glow. I recommend Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush (available at Superdrug and Boots) which comes in no less than 12 shades. They retail at around £6 so you could try out a few different shades.
4. Blistex/Carmex
I love both Blistex and Carmex as lipbalms. They come in little pots or a tube, but I prefer the pots because it makes it feel like a really old-school beauty product. Balm is a great way of accentuating your natural lips by giving them a subtle sheen and keeping them looking kissable! And the extra tingle is divine. Available at most Boots stores.
5. A great blow-dry
And finally... You don't have to go to a salon for this kind of blow-dry, because it's about volume and softness, not styling. Just add some volumising mousse (try Pantene Sheer Volume Mousse) to wet hair (at the roots) and then tip your head forward and blow-dry upside down. The volume that this creates gives you a really soft, feminine look, and then you can either leave your hair natural or straighten the ends. Either way, the volume really adds to your natural beauty.
1. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
Ok, so I'm cheating here by putting two products under one title... Both the original skin protectant and the intensive hand cream. The hand cream will give you beautifully supple hands, and I use it on my feet too, to undo the damage high heels have done to the soft skin there. For my feet I usually slather it on and then put on a pair of thick socks and keep them on overnight to really let the product sink in. And then I use the skin protectant for everything else! I use it as a lip balm if I don't have any with me, I rub it into my eyebrows to make sure the hairs stay in place, and to give them a nice sheen, and if something has been rubbing on my skin I pop it on there too to soothe the irritation. I love the classic white tubes.
2. Eyebrow pencil/shadow
Shaping your eyebrows is a great way of defining your face, and an eyebrow pencil/shadow can highlight that. Use a pencil to fill in your brows for a more dramatic yet natural look, and the shadow when you want a soft look. No7 at Boots (www.boots.com) do a great pencil called Amazing Eyes Pencil (around £7), or if you'd prefer to use a softer shadow to fill in your brows, try Benefit BrowZings (£21.50 - www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk). It's pricey but worth it as it comes with a shadow (available in 3 shades) to fill in your brows, a wax to keep them in shape, tiny tweezers and a little mirror so you can pluck on the go!
3. Pink blusher
Find a pink blusher to suit your skin tone, and apply it to the apples of your cheeks to give you a fresh-faced natural glow. I recommend Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush (available at Superdrug and Boots) which comes in no less than 12 shades. They retail at around £6 so you could try out a few different shades.
4. Blistex/Carmex
I love both Blistex and Carmex as lipbalms. They come in little pots or a tube, but I prefer the pots because it makes it feel like a really old-school beauty product. Balm is a great way of accentuating your natural lips by giving them a subtle sheen and keeping them looking kissable! And the extra tingle is divine. Available at most Boots stores.
5. A great blow-dry
And finally... You don't have to go to a salon for this kind of blow-dry, because it's about volume and softness, not styling. Just add some volumising mousse (try Pantene Sheer Volume Mousse) to wet hair (at the roots) and then tip your head forward and blow-dry upside down. The volume that this creates gives you a really soft, feminine look, and then you can either leave your hair natural or straighten the ends. Either way, the volume really adds to your natural beauty.
Monday, 26 January 2009
Before I start...
Before I start blogging I want to make something clear. If you don't like my blog, don't give me any web-abuse, just don't read it. This blog is for people who enjoy reading fashion and beauty magazines like Elle and Vogue, who like reading reviews about products and hearing other people's opinions about new trends. No, it isn't the most intellectual blog but it isn't meant to be. So if you want to read it, I hope you enjoy it and give me your comments. If you don't want to read it then go and search for something about politics.
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