Archive for September, 2009

Not quite as outrageous as red, though more grown-up than your average pink: this season’s plum shades are ideal for injecting a bit of Autumnal goodness into your wardrobe.

At the moment I am totally digging all things plum. Despite not usually being 100 per cent keen on Marks & Spencer’s make up range, I recently picked up one of their lipsticks in Mulberry, only to discover that I absolutely bloody loved it. Not only does the lipstick come in a very profesh-looking silver encasing, the shade is super-long-lasting, and not so dark that it looks offensive when applied.

One of the things that is so great about lipsticks is that you can wear them in so many different ways. This means, then, that no matter what the day, time or occasion, your plum lipstick will never dare to look out of place.

So when and how to wear your plums, ladies?

1.) Stain it!

This is the best option for those who are lipstick-shy, or those who simply want to rock this look in their lunch hour without appearing too try-hard or daring. Plus, lip stains have proved popular with the likes of Thandie Newton and Keira Knightley, so how can we not try this one out?

How to apply: This works best without any kind of lip conditioning treatment underneath, so make sure your lips are ultra smooth by buffing them with a flannel first. Then, using the lipstick, make several light strokes across the bottom and top lip. Make sure only to apply a very light slither of colour. Then, using a forefinger, drag and smudge the colour across the lips to make it even. Finally, blot with a tissue and, voila, a very matt but very effective lip stain!
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2.) Gloss it!

Perfect for a glamorous evening or adding a bit of dazzle to an otherwise plain outfit, this technique will definitely draw attention to your plummy pout.

How to apply: Using a lip brush (MAC do the best brushes ever… I swear…), stroke against the lipstick until you have a neat, half-a-pea-size amount of plummy goo on the tip. Spread this plummy goo onto the centre part of the upper and lower lip and the, very carefully spread to the outer corners, ensuring you avoid achieving the clown-mouth, or Pamela-Anderson-siliconed effect. Less is more!

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3.) Just lipstick it!

For all those confident chicks out there: get out your lip liners out and apply apply apply!

How to apply: Before application, apply a dab of concealer / foundation over your lip area. This will encourage your lipstick to stay on for longer. Trust me, it works! Next, using a similar-coloured lip pencil, stroke a faint outline around your lips, being careful not to stray too far outside your natural lip line. If you want your lips to look fuller, simply apply liner slightly over the line at the point of your cupids bow and the central part of your lower lip.
Finally, fill in your lips with your plum lipstick, keeping inside the liner. Et voila, a perfect plum lipstick pout!

Question time: What are your thoughts/opinions on this season’s hottest shade? Will you be donning the plum lipstick for daywear or nights out on the town?
Also, if anyone has any other great tips for lipstick application, please let me know!

So these past couple of days have been very hectic, what with all the hustle and bustle and fussle which comes with moving house. Now that I’m more or less settled into a stable routine, I’m hoping updates around here might be a little more stable too.

One thing I’ve always loved about changing location is the fact it gives you the opportunity to sort out and totally reinvent your wardrobe, ie. in with the new, out with the old, and resurrecting those long forgotten classics that went missing many a month ago. And believe me have I been doing some resurrecting!

Whilst packing up my belongings in preparation for my return to university, I decided I needed some sort of box or tin to encapsulate my accessories. As I searched high and low for a container of the right proportions, I suddenly came across a small sandwich box filled with rubbish. Perfect. As I peeled back the lid, I grabbed a handful of this rubbish and chucked it onto the bed. It was then that it struck me that the term “rubbish” couldn’t have been any less fitting. Long, elegant strands of pearls and crystal beads laced the bedclothes in an ornate fashion; dazzling and breathtaking beneath the mid-afternoon sunlight which splayed across the room. I couldn’t believe it. My deceased grandmother’s jewellery – how could I treat these treasures with such disregard?

I have to say, my grandma must have been one trendy chick. I can’t really remember her style as she died when I was just 5 years old, but from the stories I get from my mum I always envisage her as a woman of a smart, elegant style. She even used to chase women down the street to ask them where they got their skirt from. Brilliant!

Needless to say, I’m sure she would have wanted me to continue wearing her jewellery, particularly at a time when pearls can bring such a bold statement to an outfit. I can also now understand what is so beautiful about vintage jewellery, because believe me, I couldn’t think of anything more off putting than recycling dead-people’s garments! I totally get it now though. It might be a while before you find me donning vintage lace gowns and waistcoats and what have you, but I’m not going to say never!

Question: What are your thoughts on vintage clothing/accessories? Do you have any hand-me-downs from relatives which you really love and are not ashamed to wear?

So when I first arrived in Mombasa, Kenya, I was horrified to learn that designer boutiques were more or less non-existent. Instead, the dust-laden streets teamed with second/third-hand thrift stores and cardboard cafes that screamed the words “food poisoning”. It was hell. Or so I thought.

Some days later whilst sunning my dear self on the sugary sands of Diani Beach, I spotted a local donning an exquisite leopard-print sarong and somehow the word “hell” just seemed utterly barbaric and unnecessary. After all, when it comes to fashion, inspiration lies in people, in cultures, and not so much in the designer shops themselves. Right?! Right. Not only that, but as far as I’m aware, the fashion industry owes a lot to Africa and its cheap but equally creative designs. Think wooden accessories, think tribal patterns, think sarongs and wonderfully eye-catching animal prints. I think that’s enough to justify the lack of designer boutiques. Prada, Chanel, Cavelli, Versace – who needs ‘em when you’ve got Kenya?!

In other news, the past fortnight has unleashed the opportunity for me to revel in my creative side and explore new trends I otherwise wouldn’t dare to explore. Take, for example, the Kate Moss turban. Before Kenya, I’d spotted a couple of celebrities rocking the pashmina turban with their beachwear, and somehow, I thought I’d have some superior sikh-like ability to rock the look myself. Verdict: don’t do the turban unless you’re Gandhi, Kate Moss, or represent some other deity figure.
Other trends explored by yours truly included the “bangles, bangles bangles” look, in which bangles of all materials, shapes and colours are stacked up the arm to achieve the “summer warrior goddess” look. Whilst this trend appears something wonderful in the designer pages of Vogue, I can guarantee it is something you would never want to contend with in the sticky heat of the jungle.

Of course, as we all know with failure comes success (or something like that anyway), and this most certainly applied to my safari wardrobe. The first day of safari saw me donning the notorious khaki belted dress (see left!), teamed with a locally bought safari hat (sorry, couldn’t resist…) and some not-exactly-couture Nike trainers borrowed from the mother, who insists they are very high fashion because they were bought “on Rodeo Drive, L.A.” Oh right! I was initially going to go for some flat gladiators, but the dodgy terrain definitely proved such footwear really wasn’t recommended. Plus, I didn’t fancy the idea of a Boa Constrictor snapping at my toes, ugly as they are.
The second day of the safari saw me in the same hat, the same trainers, but with a pair of denim hot pants and a zebra-print kaftan which certainly confused the poor Grevys. Not bad for 2 days in the safari I thought!

Well, it certainly is nice to be back in familiar territory, and I am now going to proceed to check out the fashion blogs and catch up on what I’ve missed. Thank you for all your previous comments and keep them coming! They are very much appreciated!

Stay tuned for more posts on ditching the make-up and vintage jewellery!