On How To Be Lovely

Hello, my name is Sabina and I am a beautyholic

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:06:00 +0000

Having obsessions is not lovely at all but having little ones it’s acceptable. 2 years ago it was about being skinny, last summer about having skin that’s too white- hence the (still) full drawer of St. Tropez tanning mousse, then there was a brief obsession for lingerie and so on. My latest preoccupation is finding the perfect beauty products. Not that such thing exist, but I have to try.

Before moving to London I used to have perfect skin. Most people claim I still do but there are some things on my face that *I* notice and that make me really angry. My girlfriends tell me that I have no clue what skin problems are and that my face is perfect. My best friend- who is a guy- says I’m crazy. And I say those blemishes need to go away and I shall not stop until I’ve won this war.

In a attempt to go to the root of the problem and find out what’s causing those nasty pimples to pop up on my face I started going to various skin clinics in London. The biggest disappointment was The Private Clinic on Harley Street where the lady looking at my skin was a complete amateur and didn’t seem to take her job very seriously. She then went on describing microdermabrasion and a glycol acid treatment after having heard from me that I have sensitive skin!

This week I’ve tested out Destination Skin and fortunately this one went better. Karen took a good look at my skin and did some scanner tests. According to her I have combination/ dehydrated, not dry skin, my skin’s texture and pores are ‘“fantastic”, no wrinkles, and no sun damage. She concluded my spots are definitely hormonal and told me that treatments and products will not banish them completely but will keep them under control. The interesting part, however, was her prescription: 7 products for my daily morning and evening routine and 3 courses of treatments including laser treatments, vitamin C facials and glycol peels. “And it all comes down to £1,750”. I nearly fell off my chair and not so much because of the price but because of what she’d previously mentioned. Let me remind you: “perfect skin texture, no sun damage, blah, blah and the products will not banish the spots.” Then why pay £1,750?

Because they make you feel like you really need all those products and those treatments. Because your skin is great but it could be even better and they obviously have the best thing for you. Although for one moment the idea of handing her my credit card crossed my mind, I mentally slapped myself, thanked her and left the place feeling rather dazed and somewhat confused. But because I am crazy, as my best friend says, I didn’t give up and came up with a plan B of my own. Good thing I kept the prescription so I could go home and start a thorough research on various products having the same ingredients as the ones she recommend, sans the ridiculous price tag.

And I have found them. And ordered them today actually. A bunch of lotions and potions that will arrive tomorrow at my office. Now, to clear something up: the products I found might not work, but they might as well “destroy” my blemishes. The point is that I’ve chosen them, I looked at all the ingredients and I didn’t simply take something that was offered to me by someone who “knows better” but who- excuse me for saying this- has far worse skin than I do.

The second part of my obsession with beauty products is a fairly recent discovery of mine which is called amodelrecommends.com. Ruth is a model who tests all sorts of beauty products and then uploads the reviews on YouTube. Simple as that, but so addictive. Because she is good, she gives great reviews and advice, she’s funny and most important- she has amazing skin. I really think her website and YouTube channels are worth checking at least for getting some great make-up tutorials. I admit that I’ve spent hours watching her videos so I have to give a little warning for you to know what to expect.

And in case you were wondering what miraculous products I’ve ordered, I though of making a list for you to have a peek. Don’t, for one moment, imagine that I don’t own any beauty products and thus I’ve decided to buy everything in sight. It’s just that I thought of doing a “spring clean” and changing pretty much everything- hence the quite impressive number of products. Bear in mind that some of them were on my wish list for a while but never got the chance to try them since there’s always something new and exciting coming up.

There will be more posts on beauty products, skincare and make-up because I’ve neglected this department lately- despite my obsession with everything beauty. Without further ado, enjoy Ruth’s blog and feel free to have a look at my list as well.

PS: Your tips are welcome, you know where to find me.

List

Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser

REN Hydra-calm Youth Defense Serum

Dermalogica Solar Defense Booster SPF 30

Clarins Hydraquench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase

Darphin Hydraskin Light Moisturizing Cream-Gel

Lierac Diopticalm

Alpha-H Micro Cleanse with 12% glycolic acid

REN F10 Smooth and Renew Peel Mask

Elemis Fresh Skin Face Mask Duo

Agera Antibacterial Peptide Cream

Bioderma Crealine H2O Micelle Solution (will stock up next week when I’m in Paris)

Guerlain Meteorites Base Perfectrice Pearls

Tom Ford Cheek Colour

(All available from lookfantastic.com/ except Guerlain and Tom Ford which you can get in Harrods)

The model and the woman

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:28:00 +0000

I really don’t like it when I see a collection designed entirely for models. And that’s what the Fall 2012 VPL collection is. Not only that knits are difficult to wear anyway, but to design knitted shorts and jumpsuits is just too much. No one can really pull such a look without having Anja Rubik’s legs.

Call these clothes cool or edgy but don’t call them flattering because they aren’t. It may come as a surprise but most of us are not that skinny- as in hole between legs skinny.

However, why should one even bother with let’s say VPL’s collection when there’s Oscar de la Renta’s absolutely fabulous one? Before I show you what I am talking about, a warning is in order: this is a must-have-it-all collection.

Monsieur Oscar makes clothes for women. Clothes that are beautiful and jewelry like- not only do they come in sapphire or ruby shades but the fabrics scream luxe as well. Sumptuous, elegant and above all so, so glamorous.

There was a mix of Russian, Marie Antoinette, 20s and Holly Golightly influences creating such a lady like melange.

There were also very modern touches- see the casual knits paired with fur and embroidered skirts or dresses.

So many mighty nighty outfits in the most gorgeous rich colours.

And those blue shades that remind me of one of the most beautiful chambers in Versailles.

A perfect little black dress.

Or a perfect little blue dress if you might.

And finally, think pink! Even a pink bride sounds promising to me.

So which one will you pick this season- the model or the woman?

Wonderful, wonderful, absolutely wonderful. Bravo, Marc! This is...

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:07:21 +0000

Wonderful, wonderful, absolutely wonderful. Bravo, Marc! This is one of the most beautiful shows in a long time and I want all of them. Why the hats, of course.

Fall 2012

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:03:52 +0000

Having peeked at New York Fashion Week’s shows so far, I can tell that I see lots of leather, colours, Asian inspired prints, very well structured shapes and a general allure of Holly Golightly circa 2012. Lovely. My favourites until now are- surprise, surprise, Thakoon and diane von Furstenberg. Voila:

It would be fait to say that I want every single piece of Thakoon’s collection.

And here goes Diane who brings us fierce, fierce looks:

Stylish people in real life- Catalina

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:37:00 +0000

Catalina is a 28 year old web entrepreneur. She describes herself as a: “pragmatic dreamer. Experimental person. Business designer. Tango dancer. Co-founder & Proud Host of Bucharest Hubb. Co-founder of Tangomeet.com. From time to time, blogger at Fashionurbia.me and Catalinarusu.me. Interested in web, entrepreneurship, metaphysics, design, painting and fashion.”

About her shopping habbits: “I used to love shopping in brick and mortar stores. It was like therapy for me. But, not anymore. It actually became the opposite. So I try to avoid them as much as possible. However, I enjoy a lot brick and mortar concept stores or small shops with strong personality, not only for the products they sell, but also for their interior design, their statement and general atmosphere. As for the online shops, they are my rescuers. And I love them for this. Besides the fact that you have instant access to products worldwide, you can enjoy a zen shopping session as well. ”

She says what inspires her is knowing the story behind a piece of clothing. “ I don’t care about its label, but about why that garment exists, what is its purpose and the purpose of its creator, what does it stand for. And I am not saying that a dress with a well known label on it can’t have a story. Recently, I stumbled upon a Belgian online concept store,http://honestby.com/, which allows transparency into the entire costing of each garment (from where the fabric was sourced, to how many hours of labour went into it). I think it’s an amazing statement. I’m also inspired by vintage clothes because of their history. It’s like a travel in time. So, I appreciate the story and the history in clothes.”

When I asked Catalina if she could define her style in a few words she told me : “I was talking this morning to my friend and I found myself saying that an inconsistent person is actually an authentic one. Invariably, if you want to provide a sense of security to people around you, you need to pretend a little bit, in a non-manipulative way of course. As we are changing all the time in our perceptions, thoughts, emotions in linear and circular ways, sometimes so fast that it might become extremely uncomfortable and difficult, even scary for those interacting with us. But then it’s also amazing when you find people that can truly bare your authenticity and not take it literally or judge you. The big luck is that with fashion is totally opposite. It’s OK to be inconsistent, changing, as we appreciate and need visual diversity. I like this definition that Tom Ford gives to style: “Style for me is someone who figures out who they are, what works on them, what they feel good in and develops their character. And the outer expression of their character is what is style.” I think fashion, actually arts in general, give us the opportunity to be inconsistent and not worry about it. Oh, too many words already. So, long story short, I like to believe I am inconsistent in my style, hence authentic.”

Talking about style icons: “For me, the classic Audrey Hepburn is stylish. I find her very sexy, and not by embracing the standards, but by being who she is. Also, I would go for Twiggy. From the contemporary models, Natalia Vodianova inspires me. I like she’s a career woman, mother, socially very much involved and, indisputably, she looks beautiful. I also find stylish, people behind all this new wave of expressing through web or non-web what they think, what they like, what they create in terms of fashion, beauty, visuals in general. And I also find amazingly stylish, women and men who despite age or context just do what they enjoy and wear what makes them feel good, and don’t care about “I should” or “It would be appropriate”. I also have a couple of women friends who inspire me very much through their style: Liudmila Matei, Diana Blinda and Manuela Plapcianu. You are one of them as well. And perhaps my most important style icon is my mother. ”

In defence of Lana Del Rey

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:54:00 +0000

Here I am, on a sunny yet cold Saturday morning listening to Lana Del Rey’s new album, something that I’ve been doing everyday for the past week or so. I am in love with her haunting songs and her weird voice. Not to mention her style. Yes, you’ve guessed well, I find Lana Del Rey very lovely indeed. I think all these rummors and bad things people keep saying about her are plain mean since what first stroke me about her was just how special she is. People claim she is a fake, she doesn’t write her own songs and that she’s had implants in her lips. To be honest, I couldn’t care less if any of those were true for several reasons: she might not be great in live concert but I wouldn’t go to one of her concerts anyway because I think her music is most suitable for being listened to at home. Second, who cares whether she writes her own songs or not as long as those songs are good? And finally, how can people be such hypocrites and still make a big deal out of this whole implants and botox thing? Think only about the fact that if many of us were pop star or jus famous we would probably have something done as well. We denigrate plastic surgery out of principle but wouldn’t we all have something changed if we could?

I never understood why people look up to singers, pop stars or actors and make role models out of them. They’re not there to teach us about morality or about how to accept ourselves as we are. They are paid to entertain us, to make us have fun and picture the story, the fantasy of a different life because we have enough of harsh reality anyway. And I think Lana Del Rey does just that very well. She’s created this ‘gangsta Nancy Sinatra’ character, sings about love in her own way and caries own with a raw version of the American dream. Why want to know if that’s the ‘real’ her or not? Perhaps many of the famous people we admire are horrible people in the privacy of their homes and if we think about it, we’re just the same. We avoid showing off our dark side or parts of us we’re not too proud about. Even Audrey Hepburn who is my epitome of loveliness had a lot of issues and not a very lovely family life at all.

Oh, and implants or not, I think Lana is really, really pretty.

Green goddess or the end of an affair

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:58:00 +0000

Since discovering Crussh I’ve been religiously drinking their juices. Especially the “green goddess” juice with a detox booster. Every morning I go there and ask for my juice although I presume that the people who work there already know what I want. Recently I’ve started doing wheatgrass shots as well. Yes, they taste absolutely disgusting but one small shot contains the equivalent nutrients to 1 and a half pounds of veggies. And that is so tempting. Even more so when I know I will not be able to survive the day without having something sweet or something “bad” and the only thing that washes the guilt away is a shot of wheatgrass.

As of today, however, I am afraid I will not be able to indulge in my green, disgusting yet oh so healthy habit since something terrible happened. I had my shot followed by a green goddess with the detox booster and a Tuscan vegetable soup for lunch and I got so sick that for one moment I thought I’ve had been actually doing tequila shots all morning. All the glorious nutrients went down the toilet after I had to run as fast as Forest Gump and fall down on my knees with my stomach in spasms. My colleagues probably think I suffer from bulimia but I certainly don’t have such problems.

I had to spend the rest of the day eating yogurt and toast in an attempt to soothe my stomach and try to avoid even thinking about wheatgrass and thus another visit to the bathroom. I couldn’t tell you for sure what caused such a bad reaction since this wasn’t the first time I had wheatgrass shots, but I can assure you there won’t be any in the future. I will stick with my greens and salads that I always have in restaurants or at home, thank you very much.

And thus, with puke we part. The moral of the story being that too much healthy stuff can make one really sick.

While waiting for spring to sprung

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:09:00 +0000

It seems like the the whole world is frozen and the piles of snow everywhere make people don’t want to leave the house and cosy up in layers and layers of knits. Yet I dream about spring and allow myself to fantasise about Prada’s creamy pastel pleats and Jil Sander’s white skirts that can certainly not be worn at the present time. However, I need to do a round-up of SS favorites and tempt you trade your slouchy jumpers for chiffon dresses and roaring 20s glitzy outfits.

First of all, I need to introduce you to the first ever edition of the Marie Claire Runway magazine. I must admit I didn’t have high expectations when picking it up but to my utter surprise, this fashion supplement is really lovely. So if you were to choose only one spring/summer trends magazine, Marie Claire is the perfect fit. It does an amazing job on trends reviews, the interviews are very good and there are also lot of inside tips, jokes and fashion secrets.

And now, the trends.

I really feel sorry for the adepts of Celine-esque black and white minimalism because SS2012 is definitely the season of candy-cotton colours. Girls can be girls again and wear pink, blue, yellow and mint with a dash of coolness a la Christopher Kane or in saccharine sweet mode as seen at Vuitton.

Pale shades were everywhere on the catwalk and I cannot tell you to find the balance when all I think about is Valentino’s sweet lace dresses.

My next favourite is the 20s Gatsby extravaganza, particularly if it comes in Gucci and Ralph Lauren who mastered the trend this season.

And because we are going back in time, let’s stop mid-century in the perfect, suburban American life so exquisitely pictured by Miuccia at Prada.

There is so much to talk about here: the americana prints, the pleats, the boxy jackets, the embroidery, the exposed midriff and the shoes, ah..the shoes. If you add a pair of exaggerated cat eye shades and a lady-like bag, you can only ask for the perfect martini, the perfect husband and the perfect house. This trend has a hint of nostalgia and sadness because it is about perfectly dolled up housewives yet it can be so much fun to play dress up without playing the part.

Next in line is the current fashion obsession for anything under the sea. I can only be very happy since the Little Mermaid was my childhood heroine and dream on about the Chanel all shimmer and sheen aquatic textures, Versace’s marine prints and McQueen’s splendid take on sea creatures.

I will deliberately leave out the sporty, tribal and crazy prints trends since they are not among my favorites, but I must mention the return of the peplum- which I adore and will wear a lot just to feel like Diana Vreeland, the wonderful textures and heavily decorated clothes, the white broderie anglaise that makes any powerful woman feel like a young girl again, the explosion of flower prints but in a brand new form and shape and finally the wonderful pyjama luxe mastered by Stella McCartney.

Without further ado, I invite you to indulge in one of the most feminine, joyful and truly beautiful seasons in the past few years and hide your jeans and black little dresses to make room for spring to bloom.

Stylish people in real life- Smaranda

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:22:00 +0000

Smaranda is 17, in her final year at high school in Bucharest.

She shops for basics at H&M, Topshop, Zara and Skate shops and gets her special dresses and shoes online. Most of them are : Vivienne Westwood, Moschino, D&G, Guess, Burberry, Ralph Lauren or Guy Laroche.

She doesn’t use fashion magazines for inspiration but looks on Tumblr and gets ideas from books.

Smaranda says she likes to dress according to her mood but doesn’t stick to one particular style. She loves eccentric outfits, jewelry and make up on occasions. “I would describe my style as being somewhat of a eccentric-girly-weird-tomboy. Oh and I am absolutely mad about high heels! The higher the better”, she told me.

She thinks Agyness Deyn, Miranda Kerr and Lady Gaga are very stylish although Gaga tends to to take it a bit to far. But if Smaranda was as rich as Lady Gaga, she would probably do the same crazy things.

Introducing 'Stylish People In Real Life'

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:58:00 +0000

After a very long absence for which I apologize, I am finally back with a lot of lovely things to share with you. But first things first. For now I would like to introduce my new column, a category of On How To Be Lovely that I have planned to launch since I started this blog. The idea behind it was to find very stylish people who stand from the crowd without starting yet another street style blog. Thus I came with a plan to look around for those people and search them mostly in virtual spaces such as Facebook, Twitter or other social platforms. If you know someone who makes the cut, or consider yourself a tres stylish gal or guy, please send me photos (or a link to your Facebook profile) and you might end up here, on my personal walk of fame. Or should I say walk of style? Without further ado, please admire the first rising star of the Stylish People In Real Life.

La creme de l'haute couture

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:17:52 +0000

Here are some of the best picks from the Spring 2012 couture shows so far.

Givenchy

Chanel

Dior

Giabattista Valli

Bouchra Jarrar

Armani Prive

More Asos candy

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:59:07 +0000

Here’s another selection of amazing pieces all perfect fits for a pre Spring dash of colour in your wardrobe. The good part, 80% of the items below are on sale. Don’t bother to do the math because I have already done it for you: it all comes to a total of approximately £600. Devil, thy name is sales.

Four lovely highlights of this weekend

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:11:00 +0000

My first weekend back in London was very self-indulgent indeed and I shall begin with the two great restaurants I had dinner at. On Saturday it was Terroirs, a perfect French resto that serves exquisite wine, delicious charcuterie and a selection of cheese that words fail to describe. Without further ado, book in advance and enjoy a parisian dinner in Covent Garden.

Today it was The Troubadour in West Brompton. Aside from the great food, what I loved about this bistro was the interior design and decorations. Small, wooden round tables with vases of roses on each, tall candles, beautiful china and wall decorations. They also have a wine shop, private room hire, live music and an art gallery to rent. Another French venue that I strongly recommend as très très lovely.

On the cultural side, it was the premiere of Shame, a movie that set my expectations very high. And I wasn’t deceived. Steve McQueen’s cinematography is pure art and this movie’s brilliance doesn’t lie in the story but in the details. The perfect soundtrack- I had no idea Bach goes so well with sex addiction, and the majestic performance that both Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan give. I admit, Shame is not easy to watch and the pace is rather annoying. But that’s the whole point, to make you angry and annoyed, to make you feel the shame and despise the characters because you cannot identify with them. The sex scenes are raw, powerful and somewhat difficult to watch but beauty is always in the eyes of the beholder.

Today it was Fog, a wonderful play at Finborough Theatre. Maybe the world has watched and heard too many stories on dysfunctional families but this one is going to make your head spin, stomach turn and heart skip a few beats. By the end of the play there were tears in my eyes and I couldn’t quite believe this superb piece of art was written by one of the actors, a young guy in his early twenties. The play is not so much about having nothing but mostly about being nothing. And this happens not by choice, but rather because those people have no choice at all. The play might make you feel uncomfortable but I enjoy being put out of my confort zone for at least a couple of hours in order to be able to experience something I am unable to identify or empathize with. So many people should watch this play before laughing at or judging those kids whose biggest dream is a plasma TV or an Audi TT. Fog is at the Finborough Theatre only until the 28th of January and I say with all my heart that this is a must see.

Quick movie fix

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:58:53 +0000

Here are 5 movies to watch in January (what else to do anyway in the most depressing month of the year?)

1. Shame

2. The Iron Lady

3. The Descendants

4. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

5. Martha Marcy May Marlene

Back on time for the January sales

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:18:35 +0000

I’m back in my beloved London and right on time for the big January sales. I generally hate the whole concept of sales and I only buy things on sale following very strict guidelines. Sometimes, however, I am willing to forget about rules such as buying basics and basics only on sale and try to actually spot some next season pieces that will make my smooth entry without leaving me broke for a month.

After a little research I’ve found some gorgeous separates on Asos and they all have ridiculously low prices. I’ll upload below my favourites but keep in mind I’ve only covered one of the S/S’12 trends (the sweet pastels), so go on and explore for other bargains.

A few more Christmasy things to do in London

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:00:31 +0000

Since I am going away for holidays tomorrow, I thought I might suggest a few more festive things to do in London for those of you who will stay here and celebrate Christmas.

Why don’t you start with an ice skating session at the Somerset House? Being presented by Tiffany’s this year, the Somerset ice rink wins by default. You could continue with a cup of real hot chocolate at Cocomaya on Connaught Street or enjoy a cup from L’Artisan duChocolat while strolling down King’s Road. Wrapped in your fur jacket or big slouchy knits you could go for a walk in Hyde Park and even try to have some fun at Winter Wonderland. As with any other Christmas fair, the place is an explosion of kitsch, but you’re aloud to indulge at least once a year.

Avoid the maddening crowds on Oxford Street and go shopping on Columbia Road or other more quite streets around Shoreditch or Marylebone HighStreet. Chances are you will find much better presents anyway. If you prefer big department stores, Fortnum & Mason is always the best option. And after an exhausting shopping morning, feel free to splurge on cinnamon buns at the Nordic Bakery in Marylebone or Soho. Finally, for same late night razzle dazzle, apply a generous layer of red lipstick and head to Claridge’s for cocktails and to admire the beautiful Christmas tree decorated by Lanvin.

As for me, I am heading to a colder place where with a little luck I shall enjoy some snow as well. However, 3 weeks is a very long time so I’d better start packing.

Au revoir :)

Karlie is super skinny. But she's a supermodel. And you're not.

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:27:37 +0000

Karlie Kloss and her already famous apparition in Vogue Italia have caused a lot of buzz around those controversial pictures. Many crazy girl posted the photos on pro-anorexia blogs and probably starved themselves even more at the sight of Karlie’s legs. I’ve been one of those girls as well. Not pro-anorexia but obsessed with being skinny. But one day I realized what a waste of time this obsession was. Don’t get me wrong, I still prefer skinny people to fat ones but I no longer prefer unhealthy over skinny. Because some time ago I got to the point where I didn’t mind being unhealthy for the sake of fitting in a SSX pair of trousers. However, I looked in the mirror and thought that I am not even a model so why try so hard to look like one when I won’t attend those parties, have a friendly chat with Karl over a glass of diet coke or be in the pages of Vogue. That doesn’t mean that I should stuff my face and “embrace my curves”, no. What it means is that I should leave the job of looking *super* skinny to the models who are paid to look like this.

Models need to be so thin because they’re blank canvases (I prefer this expression to clothes hangers) and they have to make clothes stand on the catwalk. Yes, clothes look better on skinny people but they also look great on gorgeous women. Think about most famous, young and beautiful actresses. Pretty much all of them have amazing bodies but they don’t look like models. Because they don’t have to. And unless you’re trying to become one, you don’t have to either. So it’s not the fashion magazines, the models, or the media to blame for all the girls out there who can’t grasp the difference between them and models and try so desperately to look like Karlie or Natasha Poly.

Eat healthy without dieting and try to consume a minimum of junk but if you have a slice of cake don’t throw it up the next minute. As long as it’s just one and not everyday, it’s perfectly fine. Exercise, but don’t become a slave of the gym. And most important, don’t compare your legs to those of Anja Rubik. There’s no point, really.

The harsh reality is that if you’re not in the business or intend to be, starving yourself to look like a model it’s a huge waste of time. Maybe you will get more attention but the model life style won’t come with it. And finally, your health seems like something you would easily trade for a ‘perfect’ body until you’ve lost it.

It took me quite a while to understand that this:

looks better than this:

The irony is that both Lara Stone and Karlie Kloss are super models, however, Lara looks healthier, more alive and a lot more attractive. Just my humble opinion.

The don't-take-a-hot-bath nonsense

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:43:21 +0000

We all know hot water is not good for our skin. But in winter time, there’s no other way of doing it. And if you’re going to soak in a hot, hot, bath anyway, make sure you minimize the side effects by taking extra care of your skin.

First, choose oils and creamy bath melts to run in your water in order to keep your skin moisturized. I love the Lush bath candy. They smell amazing and are made with the best ingredients. Sometimes I mix my own and pour some coconut and lavender or rose oil but throwing the Frech Kiss bubble bar in the bath is just easier.

Stay hydrated and enjoy a warm cup of water with some lemon or a cinnamon tea while in the bath. It’s better not to have a glass of red or champagne because your skin will pay for your moment of diva glamour.

Although you might think this is the worst idea ever because your skin will be really sensitive after a hot bath, this is actually the best moment to scrub your body from head to toe. Use a mix of sea salt and oils or oats and some warm milk and don’t be afraid to give yourself a really good scrub.

Finally, use a very rich lotion or even better, an oil to pamper your skin. I love the Neutrogena oil because it’s not too fragrant and it absorbs quite fast. Having said this, enjoy your bubble bath and don’t feel guilty about it. Soaking in a cookie perfumed bath is definitely healthier than eating mince pies everyday.

Party special

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:32:00 +0000

If you are a true party lady and attend all the glamourous gatherings on your social calendar, chances are that at some point you will find yourself not knowing what to wear. And this happens because we always try to wear something new, fresh and unique. Even if it’s a little black dress every time, it has to at least be a new one. Like it or not, we can’t all be Anna dello Russo. She pulls of outfits directly from the catwalk, is one step ahead and never wears a thing twice. But then again, she doesn’t have anything else to do but think of the next crazy dress to get.

You can be unique in a more subtle way and focus on details rather than whole outfits to illustrate the latest trends. And that’s where a strong personal style comes in. Look at Paloma Faith, for example. She has a signature look: her hats.

You will not see her at a party without some extravaganza going on about her head. Or Anne Hathaway’s fairytale dresses.

It might not be so in your face but it definitely is there and makes her stand from the crowd. So why not spend some time thinking of certain looks, accessories or pieces that represent you and make you feel really confident and go along those lines when composing a new party outfit. And this applies to all the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s parties as well. Don’t just wear something red or something glittery. Take something you love and you’ve always loved wearing and twist it around a particular theme. I for one am not very found of colours. I’ve just always loved and always will love black. But I also do love red lipstick. And that’s Christmasy enough, don’t you agree?

20s for New Year's

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:46:00 +0000

20s are going to be really big next season and not only in fashion. Carey Mulligan and Leonardo DiCaprio will star in Baz Luhrmann’s Great Gatsby and so I cannot think of a better way to inject some veritable glamour in your New Year’s party outfit than with a 20s inspired dress. Forget about the long pearl necklace, gloves and the flapper dress. Designers have reinvented 20s for spring/summer and there are so many options for you to work a little Daisy Buchanan influence.

Ralph Lauren based his entire collection on the 20s but other designers have also used different elements to bring that dazzling extravaganza back. Marc Jacobs was one of my favourites for his fresh spin on the flapper dress. Here are other looks from the ss2012 collections that could be useful as inspiration for your party outfit. Don’t be afraid do overdo your make-up and hair, this is about glamour after all.