The Smoky Eye, chocolate flavour.

Step.1

- Using a cleansing lotion (preferrably eye make-up remover) gently remove all traces of mascara, eyeshadow etc. from your eyes.

Step. 2

- Using Benefit 'Big Beautiful Eyes' eye contour kit, take the soft eyeshadow brush and after loading it with the pale pink shadow gently sweep the brush along the eye socket, ensuring full coverage from lash to just under the eyebrow.

Step 3.

- Blowing the remaining base eye-shadow off the soft brush, sweep it through the mocha shadow next. This shadow should be applied to the outer third of the eye socket. Creating a shaded effect when the eyes are open, from light to dark. (as below)

Step 4.

- Using the liner brush at the end of the double-ended utensil, gently lace the brush with the chocolate powder eyeliner. Next, trace a very fine line along the eyelashes both above and below, extending to the outer corner of the eye. *cat-flicks are an added touch for an evening eye!

Step 4.

- Taking a good thickening mascara, coat the top lashes (fanning outwards from the centre) and carefully coat the bottom lashes, taking care not to smudge. *My personal favourite is Masterpiece mascara by Maxfactor, lengthens lashes and it won't dent your wallet and as an added bonus, it's the make-up of make-up artists apparently!

Step 5.

- Open your eyes and carefully dot a tiny amount of white eye shadow into the corner of your eye. This trick appears to open the eye more, and leaves you with massive peepers that would leave anyone jealous.... Bambi, eat your heart out!

The Birkin: A bag or a lifestyle?

What is it that makes the Birkin so desirable? Seen slung casually over the slender arms of everyone from Victoria Beckham to new fashionista-on-the-block Olivia Palermo, this handbag is fast becoming a status symbol.

Named after British actress and style icon, Jane Birkin, this Hérmes handbag first appeared on the market in 1984 and has been immortalised in fashion history in just twenty-four years. The Birkin pricetag is not for the faint-hearted, depending on the material used it ventures into the six figure sum category. Each bag is handmade using only the finest, the most desirable being saltwater crocodile skin, and they are lined with the softest goat-skin. The small padlock attached to the front of the bag is its most noticeable embellishment. Both padlock and key are number-coded so authenticity is guaranteed. Attention to detail is the Hérmes creed. The elusiveness of this handbag is surely half of its allure.

While most women have admitted to feeling more attractive after having their hair done, one can only imagine the feeling after finally attaining a Birkin. As waiting lists can last up to two years, it is indeed a lengthy process. Maintenance of this bag is of the uptmost importance. Birkin bags, after a hard day of wandering through boutiques, can be sent to the 'spa', where they will be treated and returned to their owners in prime condition. All for a small fee of course!

The average womans handbag does indeed contain everything but the kitchen sink. Contents can include the normal lipstick, keys, wallet and assortment of homeless pens but can venture into the unknown with unwrapped sweets stuck to the lining, a needle and thread for emergencies and spare shoes for all occasions. Can the Birkin be used as a functional handbag? For me, the question is not can but should.

In my eyes, a Birkin is a treasure. It is a letter of acceptance to high society and Park Avenue. It is a timeless classic to be passed down to deserving daughters.

In short, the Birkin is so much more than a handbag.

A&F…. the model life.

Only a few short weeks ago for the very first time, I ventured through the hallowed halls (well, departments) of beloved prep-haven aka. Abercrombie & Fitch.

A&F is not just a shop, and although many retail businesses will claim this, it actually IS an experience. Every detail is thought through, layout, sizing and staff included.

Entering into the shop, you may be mistaken in thinking you haven’t removed your (presumably) designer sunglasses. Do not be alarmed fellow shoppers, this is normal. Dimmed lighting is an A&F speciality and while speculation as to why may be rife, it is my personal opinion that softer lighting is more flattering to everyone who enters *(bar the unfairly attractive staff but I shall come to that later). A clever marketing ploy it would seem, but after a quick nosy in every sectioned area it would seem that the entire store has been designed around enticing and alluring the customer.

A&F scents play a small part in their income and the fragrance is pumped through the air vents and even sprayed, YES SPRAYED, onto newly purchased clothes. Presuming that smell is indeed the most connective sense, once you inhale a lungful in the surroundings of your own home you’ll want to return to the land of A&F, where models roam free and everything is California cool.

The clothes speak for themselves. Preppy polos, brightly branded t-shirts, loud boardshorts and teeny floral sundresses, you’d be forgiven in thinking that if you stepped outside you would be greeted by the roar of the Malibu ocean and the grainy feel of sand underfoot. Reality check back to London please. The hoodies and jeans may be more climate appropriate for Blighty, but even these are a small luxury. I couldn’t resist purchasing a coral zippy top, lined with the softest fleece and bearing a small A&F emblem, I handed over my £56 without blinking. Perhaps this is where I should mention the staff…….

It is a truth widely acknowledged that … ahem, everyone that works for A&F is smokin’ hot. A half-naked model greets you at the door, abs on full display. If that isn’t good advertisement, colour me pink! Models (or staff, whichever you prefer) roam the ground floor, dance on the upper floors, help the now-mute customers and generally appease the eye of the discerning person. Fellas, fear not, there are female staff too, generally of the flaxen-haired and long-limbed variety.

While not making a radical statement with their product A&F use everything to their advantage. Fending off competition from the likes of Hollister and American Eagle, their attention to detail has paid off in spades and show they’re not going anywhere.

Oh, and the bags are pretty cute too!

The reign of Christopher Bailey and the expansion of Burberry Brit

Christopher Bailey is recognised as the saving grace of Burberry, once associated solely with check print and chavs. Upon Baileys appointment as creative director, he and Angela Ahrendts, the company CEO, set about turning the brand on its head, back to former glory.
Established in 1856 by Thomas Burberry, the signature trench coats are as sought after today as they were fifty years ago. Burberry London the ranges main line is comprised of tailored pieces, such as shirts, trousers, suits and of course trench coats- all lined with beat check. As Burberrys popularity rose the need for a younger fresher line became apparent and so, Burberry Brit was born. Seen primarily as the 'weekend casual uniform' of the Burberry London customer, the Brit ranged has a more relaxed feel. Polo shirts and classic check lined jackets are still the top sellers, while the new season skinny Shoreditch jean has shown how up to date the line remains.

On the night of May 12th 2011, 40-41 Kings St in Covent Garden officially became home to Londons first sole Burberry Brit store. This event came only weeks after a similar store was opened on New Yorks Bleecker st, showing that even though there may be a Recession, Burberry is pulling through and looking forward.
The concept behind the new store was conceived by Bailey himself customers can expect lots of cool technological elements such as video walls showcasing the talents of newly signed artists to the Burberry acoustic brand and free wi-fi connection for iPad users. This is the seventh Brit store globally and it has extra significance as being the birthplace of the label.
Bailey: 'we always said that with the Brit label once we found the right space, we'd do it.... London is our home, and the UK is our hometown'. Bailey has collected countless celebrity fans and after the last Prorsum show, everyone who was anyone had a studded trench or lambskin ribbed biker jacket. Recent faces of the line have been Emma Watson, Cara Delevingne, Lily Donaldson and Douglas Booth, some of whom were at the launch.

Although a more laid-back line compared to London or Prorsum, Brit retains a sense of British elegance and effortless style. Menswear-wise: Polo shirts come in every colour under the sun, with trademark check hiding under collars, buttons and seams. Jeans are offered in several washes, cuts and styles and their shirts come with variety of bells and whistles, including pocket detail, check undercuffs and even studded collars (from the latest lines) for the brave!
For the ladies, Brit offers a range of casual chic including perfectly cut shirt dresses, fitted trenches, jeans to flatter every shape and of course polo shirts galore.
The store will also stock a selection frangrance, sunglasses and watches.

Well, that's enough for this Burberry devotee, I'm getting the Picadilly line to Covent Garden as we speak.............

Diamonds are a girls best friend...

Diamonds are indeed a girls best friend.... alas for this girl, her budget can't quite stretch that far. Instead I must suffice with imitation sparkle and shine!

While rummaging for a specific pair of earrings and getting distracted by others I hadn't seen in some time, I decided to organise my collection; by colour and occasion naturally!

The large beaded turquoise bracelet was recently acquired from a shop in Barcelona, and the ring within is from Topshop. This jewelled combination goes with a range of outfits, especially plainer ones based on whiter tones.

The watch on the far left is by D&G and to this day I am ashamed to say I can count on one hand the amount of times I have worn it. Domenico & Stefano, I can only apologise! The silver earrings beside my watch are by Ti Sento, a Milanese based brand. Their range comes in new colours every season and they have some stunning pieces. These earrings add a chic touch to every outfit and make everything a little more polished and put together.

The coral combination on the right is by Ti Sento again. The bracelet is quite young and funky and match the earrings perfectly. These bracelets are revamped every collection and I would highly advise getting one. Both pretty and durable they're the perfect gift, for yourself or someone else! The two remaining pairs of earrings are by (you guessed it!) Ti Sento (the heavy crystal ones) and Swarovski. The crystal pair are show-stopping with an updo and a LBD, or if you're feeling dangerous, an LRD (little red dress) as per my New Years Eve outfit of 2009. Oh what a night! The last two bracelets are a plain silver ID strand and a H&M Silver and coral plait. The ID bracelet was a gift from my best friend, and is engraved (always a nice touch). H&M produced some fantastic pieces for their jewellery line in the past few months, and I have purchased one too many! I also have a version of this in brown & gold, so between the two I have every gold/silver combination covered. Preparation, preparation, preparation ladies!

Jewellery doesn't necessarily have to be the focal point of an outfit to be important. A simple LBD can be beautifully accessorised with some emerald earrings and a cocktail ring (or a Topshop version!). A little sparkle goes a long way, and let's face it, we all need a little sparkle in our lives......

L.S.D.

Second only to the LBD, the LSD (or little Summer dress) comes in many shapes, colours and styles. My recent jaunt to Barcelona filled me with fashion-foward Summer food for thought! Stepping into Zara, in the motherland, is a dangerous choice, at least for your bank account. The large store on Porte de l'Angel manages to create a different mood on each floor, specifically suited to the classic Zara customers and the younger TRF generation. My dress comes from the TRF section and was a steal at €19.90. There are three different colour patterns available for this particular high-cut. Staples such as basic vest tops, short shorts and lace dresses were in abundance and customers may find themselves spoilt for choice.

I found my shoes in a cool boutique called Haike. This brand seems to specialise in well-cut clothes made from sumptuous fabrics (my sister tried on a fabulous jade-green silk dress). While slightly pricier than the usual Mango/ Zara deals, Haike proves its worth with beautiful shapes and a vast array of accessories, including some leather shoppers which I had to be dragged away from! My shoes are a brogue style and cut from the softest suede. It was the colour which drew me to them and indeed I was delighted to find that they also come in a hot pink shade and coral too, I'm sure I'll remember this nugget of information for my return trip!

Todays outfit is finished off with a tan leather belt, a very simple accessory but when knotted, as above, it can draw extra attention to the waist and give any outfit a more unique look. My ring is from Topshop, and the jewel tones match perfectly to my jade shoes.

So, with my LSD purchased, and indeed some Little Summer Shoes to boot (!), bring on the sunshine!

The bare essentials:

Dress: Zara

Brogues: Haike

The finishing touches:

Ring: Topshop

Belt: Primark

Pink Swan

The cinematic smash hit of the year was undoubtedly Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman as the supremely talented yet troubled prima ballerina. Thanks to the Rodarte sisters the film also received acclaim for its beautiful ethereal costumes. Floaty chiffon played a starring role as the white swan, versus the hard-edged tulle tutus of the black swan.

I like to give current trends a personal twist so for todays outfit I toughened up my sugar-pink raw silk number with some burnished gold accessories including my favourite sandals and

a bargain ring from H&M (still on sale for £1!). As all make-up afficianados know, it's advisable to either let your eyes or lips be the focal feature, so with todays etheral look I opted for a smoky eye in brown, with complemented the burnished gold accessories but wasn't as harsh as many black tones would be. Finishing off my beauty combination was a pastel green nail-varnish which stood-out from the combination of nudes, golds and beiges.

The bare essentials:

Dress: Savida

Cardigan: Zara

Sandals: Burberry

The finishing touches:

Ring: H&M

Watch: Guess

Nail-varnish: Barry M in 'Mint green'

WOW shoes!

Breton stripes are always a simple way to make any look timeless. While this French staple paired with plain chinos or cigarette pants will produce a chic outfit, I prefer to team it with some leopard print and let the clashing prints speak for themselves!

Every woman should have at least one pair of WOW shoes. As with my shoes, it's the details that give each pair that extra oomph! Whether it's touches of animal print on the heels, a beautiful cut on the toes, a stacked wedge or even just a fabulous colour, WOW shoes should command attention once they enter a room....

The bare essentials:

Top: H&M

Skirt: H&M

Shoes: Rockin' Reptile

The finishing touches:

Scarf: Market stall in Spain

Satchel: Burberry

Bracelet: Ti Sento

Charlies Angel

After cutting my hair I feel that my style has adapted to fit the new crop. Being altogether more 60s and 70s inspired, I am now quite partial to a flared leg, a fitted jumper and a high waist.

Flares are universally recognised as being the most flattering cut of jean and a dark denim wash will elongate the leg. Subtle details like side pockets will balance out proportions and slim the hips. Flares have also made a catwalk comeback and are set to be the Summer jean, spotted on many fashion-forward (personally styled!) celebrities already.

A fitted top will add to that long, lean silhouette created by the dark flares. My nude jumper has an added detail of ruffled sleeves, making it that bit more feminine and very Valentino! A brown belt and matching loafers polish the look and pull it together.

To add some interest to the whole ensemble I added a brown leather studded bracelet and a snakeskin-print clutch in gold, black and chocolate brown.

The bare essentials:

Jumper: St. Tropez

Jeans: A Wear

Belt: Primark

Loafers: Topshop

The finishing touches:

Clutch: Dunnes Stores

Bracelet: Burberry