Clothes Show Live

"Fashion, fun, beauty, friends, models, goodie bags" 

What is she talking about? 
Clothes Show Live - "Be at the heart of British Fashion"

Yesterday I went for the first time, I know what you're thinking, why haven't I been until now? My friend told me I should come, so as a birthday treat, me and a couple of friends went.

The day involved picking up free goodie bags, cheap goodie bags with beauty products such as Barry M, Rimmel, Models Own etc etc... 
Magazine offers from Elle, Cosmopolitan & Company. They offered them so cheap with free goodies inside too! 
We signed up to try win competitions & for doing so received yet another goodie bag, arms getting tired now!

In between shopping we watched some small catwalk shows (leading up to the main catwalk show later) these included high street brands which were available to purchase straight away! Graduate fashion show, showing the work of fashion designers. 

Select Model Agency were at Clothes Show picking out new girls who they thought would be the next new face. They showed us who they picked last year and what the girls have achieved in the past year. They are young girls but have their parents full support. Remember.... Kate Moss started young! 
The new girls strutted their stuff down the catwalk...watch this space! 

Also at Clothes Show:
Masterclass of how to walk like a catwalk model. 
Chocolate Fondue
Champagne Bar.
Food Hall.
Graduates work such as Southampton Solent University. 



And of course... the main event, the fantastic catwalk show! Hot models woo! 

I'm told by my friend, that they do a different theme each year. I definitely picked the best year to go because I loved it and thought it was cleverly executed. Below shows you what the show involved. 

Kate Bosworth stars in Winter Wonderland - A Christmas film by Topshop

Dita Von Tesse Von Follies Lingerie Exclusive

Just a little something...

Hello!

Sorry I've not blogged for a little while, I had my graduation and celebrations.

Party season is approaching us, I wore a Lipsy dress to my graduation ball with glittery silver Kelly Brook for New Look heels. 

Anyway, I wanted to share a few things I have spotted while browsing for birthday & christmas presents. 
Check out this scarf from Topshop with reindeer names on it! Link below..

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=8293414&langId=-1&categoryId=&parent_category_rn=&searchTerm=25G64CMNT&resultCount=1&geoip=home




http://www.lipsy.co.uk/store/nightwear/lipsy-all-over-leopard-heart-robe/product-is-NW00098_100

Super cute & snuggly dressing gown.

Designer Pudsey Bear raises thousands at auction for Children in Need

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/11/16/designer-pudsey-bear-auction---sale-children-in-need

Check out the link. 

John Lewis Christmas Advert 2012 - The Journey

Music: 'Power of Love"

Jack Wills Christmas Handbook

Jack Wills Christmas Handbook arrived in the post this morning, my favourite of the handbooks is the christmas edition, it's put together well. Having fun, aspirational, traditional and so Jack Wills. 

Watch the film here on Jack Wills website:
http://www.jackwills.com/en-gb/home


Enjoy!

Victoria's Secret Show

British models Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn were the talk of Victoria's Secret Fashion Show last night, the pair made their catwalk debut for the lingerie brand. Both girls commented that they were feeling nervous backstage prior to walking in the two shows at Lexington Armory in New York. 
Joined by newcomers Hilary Rhoda, Jasmine Tookes and Jessica Hart, alongside Miranda Kerr, Alessandra Ambrosio, Candice Swanepoel, Karlie Kloss, Doutzen Kroes and Adriana Lima. 

"Oh my gosh, this day has come! I am beyond excited. Thank you Victoria's Secret for this amazing experience," Tweeted first-timer Hart. "I may not look it, but I'm extremely nervous!"

So what does it take to make it as an Angel? A "special kind of confidence", according to Ed Razek, executive producer of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. "There are too many girls and not enough positions," he added.

Alessandra Ambrosio's daughter makes modelling debut

Alessandra Ambrosio's daughter makes modelling debut as she stars alongside her mother in the autumn/winter 2012 campaign for American outerwear brand London Fog. 

Technology is fast moving...check this out fashion fans..

Introducing a new website.... imaginefashion.com - the new fashion etailer that hopes to revolutionise internet shopping by allowing users to buy from photographs of stylish window displays show in real time. 
It offers a digital interpretation of window shopping, the site enables fashion fans to view inside and outside stores from anywhere in the world, they can then click to purchase what they see! Amazing!

"Imagine Fashion Window Shopper was inspired by the evolving opportunity that the digital space provides to combine creativity with commerce, specifically in fashion and luxury." - founder Amber Gordon. 

"Luxury brands invest heavily in the art of both window installations and in-store merchandising displays. As a former fashion editor and stylist, I was able to envision a means of featuring the highly creative assets of stores around the world and provide viewers with the experience of shopping the store without actually having to be in that city." 

"Rather than spend heavily on editorial shoots, we are able to platform existing beautifully-curated windows and displays from stores and brands, and inspire viewers to shop" said Gordon. 

"It's a win-win for all - the stores and brands see the value and love the concept and have been shockingly quick to work with us. These assets are carefully guarded by luxury brands so it is enormously helpful to our effort to have their cooperation" 

Boho Online

A little boutique shop run by a lovely woman, who now sells her stock online, 
check out the link here:

http://www.boho-online.com/?utm_source=19_Gorgeous_Paris_Jewlery_at_Bohoonline&utm_medium=email&utm_term=71_http%3A%2F%2Fwww.boho-online.com&utm_campaign=19_Gorgeous_Paris_Jewlery_at_Bohoonline

Behind the scenes: Kelly Brook launches new make-up range

Kelly Brook talks about her first make- up range exclusively for New Look. Check out behind the scenes of the shoot. 

Penelope and Monica Cruz collaboration with Agent Provocateur

Penelope Cruz and her sister Monica Cruz have designed a lingerie collection in collaboration with Agent Provocateur. The L'Agent diffusion line will feature 15 styles, including a selection of bras, briefs and corsets. 

"It is so exciting for me and Monica to embark in this new adventure" - Penelope. " We have always been huge fans of Agent Provocateur and both of us are very much looking forward to this long term collaboration. We feel extremely happy to become part of this great team." 

Monica Cruz became the face of the underwear brand's autumn/winter 2012-13 ad campaign.

"Monica Cruz was sensational [in our campaign], and Penelope Cruz has always been a muse for Agent Provocateur." said Agent Provocateur's creative director, Sarah Shotton. 
"Penelope and Monica are both long-time lingerie fans and have brought a new design sensibility to the brand. Working with the Cruz sisters was a great opportunity to bring the diffusion line to life and to further strengthen the brand's relationship with them." 
 The sisters have been involved with all aspects of the collaboration - from design of the labels and hangers to sourcing vintage pieces and fabric swatches for inspiration. The partnership is expected to last a minimum of five years. 

1st August 2013 we will have to wait for the collection's worldwide release. L'Agent will be slightly more accessible than the Agent Provocateur mainline, designed for a younger audience with lower price tags. Sounds good to me!! 

Dior's Natalie Portman Mascara Ad Banned

'A Dior mascara advert, featuring actress Natalie Portman, has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after rival L'Oreal UK challenged whether the image misleadingly exaggerated the effects of the product. According to the ASA, Parfums Christian Dior said that they had received no consumer complaints for the Dior Show New Look advert and that Natalie Portman's natural lashes were retouched digitally in post-production to "separate/increase the length and curve of  a number of her lashes and to replace/fill a number of missing or damaged lashes, for a more stylised, uniform and tidy effect." 
Dior also revealed that the image was originally produced to advertise a lipstick and the decision to use it for the mascara advert came after the photograph had already been taken.
It stated that Natalie Portman was wearing mascara and eye liner but no false lashes and "did not consider that the post-prodctuion techniques went beyond the likely consumer expectations of what was achievable using the product."

However the ASA explained that; "although we noted Dior's view that the ad's text did not contain any claims regarding the lengthening of lashes, we considered that the ad's claims "Lash-multiplying effect volume and care mascara" "...an unrivalled lash creator effect" and delivers spectacular volume-multiplying effect, lash by lash", particularly in conjunction with the image of Natalie Portman's eye lashes, would be understood to mean that the mascara could lengthen the lashes, as well as separate them, increase their thickness and volume, and generally enhance lash appearance. The ASA has ruled that the advert must not appear again in its current form.' - Vogue.com

Disney Princess designer gowns for Harrods' Christmas window

Harrods' Christmas windows will be taken over by a designer Disney Princess display this year. Here is a preview of the beautiful gowns. Some of the biggest names in fashion have created their imaginings of the iconic fairy tale dresses which will grace Harrods,Knightsbridge next month. 

The display coincides with a 7,000 square-foot Disney Princess pop-up boutique on the fourth floor of the store open now. 

Ariel from Little Mermaid by Marchesa

Belle from Beauty and the Beast by Valentino 

Jasmin from Aladdin by Escada

Mulan by Missoni 

Pocahontas by Roberto Cavalli

Rapunzel by Jenny Packman

Cinderella by Versace

Aurora from Sleeping Beauty by Elie Saab

Snow White by Oscar de la Renta

Tiana from The Princess and the Frog by Ralph & Russo

Vogue Pudsey Bear

British Vogue launch Pudsey Bear to raise money for Children in Need. 

What do you think? 

Stand up to Cancer

"A twenty-one metre catwalk is erected in London's Leicester Square to raise awareness for Stand up to Cancer. The Stand of Fame features shoes donated by celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Helen Mirren and Ralph Fiennes which the public are free to try on. " - Vogue.com 

Victoria's Secret Angels Reveal Seduction secrets

Tim Walker Exhibition at Somerset House

One of my favourite inspirational photographers Tim Walker will showcase over  175 of his most inspirational pictures in a new exhibition held at Somerset House this month (already in the diary!) Entitled "Story Teller", the display supported by Mulberry will give fans (like me) a chance to see his ambitious and original imagery up close.

"It has been nearly five years since my last show and I felt I had enough work to put together a new publication and exhibition. It is a great way to reflect on the images and see how things have evolved." - Walker. 

Has has worked with the industry's biggest names, including Alexander McQueen and Alber Elbaz, capturing their personalities in unexpected and novel ways. 

"It is very difficult to make the ideas in my head come to life, but what is harder is making them look effortless."

"A genuine sense of love for the subject matter permeates through every picture in the exhibition and accompanying book. Looking back at my earlier pictures, I think that the work is very much coming from the same place. I have gone through a period of challenging myself with a complicated idea to currently challenging myself with the idea of simplicity."

His advice for aspiring photographers?

One of my favourite quotes I've read many times before.... 

"Only photograph what you love" he said. 

Exhibition is from 18th October until 27th January 2013. 

Chanel hula hoop bag

Karl Lagerfeld has explained the inspiration behind this Chanel hula hoop bag which was seen in the spring/summer 2013 show. The circular design was the talk of Lagerfeld's latest collection for the French fashion house - almost threatening to upstage those enormous wind turbines flanking the catwalk. 

"It's for the beach, you need space for the beach towel. And then you can put it into the sand and hang things on it." 

Now why didn't we think of that? Amazing, I want one haha!

Zara & Mango sizes are wrong.

A few weeks ago I went to Zara and Mango to find some smart work trousers, never thought it was going to be like this.....

I went into Zara in London first...tried on navy blue trousers size 8 (which is my normal size) they fitted but were tight. Then I tried on a black pair, same style, size 8 they felt even tighter - but they were the same style and same size?
So, I tried on another black pair of the same style and the same size as the ones before, these did not do up! What is going on? I wasn't getting peckish in between!

Gave up, the other styles didn't suit me.

Next shop..Mango, maybe I'll be more successful there?
I tried on different pairs of trousers until I found a pair that I liked the style and feel of. They were navy blue and I picked up a size 8 (my normal size) and a size 10 just in case. 
Put the size 8 on...did not do up at all! 
Ok...what about the 10 then..nope no luck, they were the same..did not do up! Are you kidding? Usually if a size 8 doesn't fit a 10 will as it's only the next size up from my usual size. 
Erm....mum, would you mind finding a size 12...
That's what I ended up with in the end..a size 12 navy blue trousers, that fit me perfectly, very comfy.

Luckily I have confidence in myself and know I am usually a size 8. At the end of the day, it's what fits not what your size is and in Zara and Mango that really is the case here! 

However, there are women especially young girls who suffer from low self-esteem or if your having a bad day this would really effect you. It may end in tears. 
What if you are a size 12 usually. What size would actually fit you in these shops? There are women out there who wouldn't like the result.

What do you think? 

Jessie J shot by Rankin for Elle UK magazine

Jessie J photographed by Rankin