Beauty Roundup | NYFW

Happy LFW everyone! We're already a week into the Fashion Week period, with New York taking to the catwalks already.  My favourite thing to do over the Fashion Week period is to scour Style.com and peruse over the beauty write ups and images. There are already some great make up trends forming, here's my top three from NYFW.  

Diane Von Furstenburg

Jason Wu

Marc by Marc Jacobs and Thakoon

1.  The Colour Pop - This A/W is set to be brighter with designers favouring brighter colours, rather than the deep, berry tones we've come so accustomed too.  At Diane Von Furstenburg, MAC make up artist Karliados kept the eyes and base neutral and added a hit of neon pink to the lips using the MAC Chromographic Pencil in Process Magenta, mixed with a lip conditioner for a semi matte finish.  At Jason Wu, the colour inspiration came from the finale dress.  The base and lips were kept bare with a sweep of cobalt over the eyes.  Wu's make up artist, Diane Kendal used an inky blue pigment to begin, blending it out into the crease before adding a purple pigment to the centre of the lid for extra dimension.  Wu has created a make up line with Lancome, due out next season, and was off course featured in the make up look.  His Le Crayon Khol in Purple Dust was used on the lash line.  Other designers such as Marc by Marc Jacobs and Thakoon also sported the trend.  

Victoria Beckham

Alexander Wang

Calvin Klein Collection and Narciso Rodriguez

2.  Barely There - The 'no make up, make up' look has been around for a while, and next season is no exception.  At Victoria Beckham, make up was kept extremely stripped back; a soft base, nude lips, a no fuss eye and naked lashes.  There is a slight darkening around the crease, giving the eye more depth.  At Alexander Wang, Diane Kendal worked her magic to create a clean and polished look.  Colour was kept from the face, only using a NARS eyeshadow in Lhasa, a steel grey shade, across the lids.  With a light hand, the eyeshadow has a barely there look but finishes the look completely.  In contrast to Beckham's washed out look, gel eyeliner and mascara was used at Wang to create a thicker lash.  Calvin Klein Collection and Narciso Rodriguez also used a barely there look.  

3.1 Phillip Lim

Vera Wang

3.  Chocolate Chops and Black Forest Gateau - Dark lips are an A/W staple.  Some make up artists have been favouring the classic berry tones, whilst others have been mixing it up, creating chocolatey lips.  At 3.1 Phillip Lim, make up artist Francelle Daly created a blank canvas with the base, focussing the look on the lips.  NARS lip liner pencil in Kenya was used to line and fill the lips before applying a NARS eyeliner in Mambo on top creating a matte milk chocolate look.  Vera Wang kept it classic with a berry toned matte lip, fresh base and naked lashes.  

Marc Jacobs, Rag & Bone and Anna Sui

Jason Wu, DVF and Alexander Wang

If you're a fan of a smokey eye or a cat eye, look to Marc Jacobs, Anna Sui and Donna Karan for intense inspiration.  If Twiggy is more your thing, take a leaf out of Rag & Bone's book and use eyeliner in the crease for the ultimate 60s look.  Natural, soft waves reigned supreme over Diane Von Furstenburg, Vera Wang and 3.1 Phillip Lim's catwalks, whilst slicked back up do's featured in Alexander Wang and Jason Wu's shows.  

Have you got a favourite look from NYFW?

Diary of an Intern

This past week I've been adjusting to waking up early and working most of the day, then coming home and wanting my bed straight away.  The work experience unit on my university course has started and I am currently working as a social media intern at a dress agency in Cobham, called Phoenix.  As a social media intern I mainly look after the networking sites (Twitter, Facebook etc), but I also blog, write up press releases and take photos of the latest and greatest stock.  If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen the various items I've been photographing.  It's been both heavenly and dangerous being surrounded by so many beautiful clothes.  

DVF, Marc Jacobs, Anya Hindmarch, Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Prada, you name it, they've got it. Everyday there's always something new and exciting added to the stock (and at ridiculously good prices too).  They get some real characters in each day.  This week I've seen girls trying on Jenny Packham dresses for their prom, a lady who 17 years ago bought her wedding outfit from us and one lady who checks tickets to see when things are due to be reduced before she buys.  

I've got three more weeks to go and I've already learnt so much, so I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next week.  

What have you all been up to this week? 

Designer Lust List: The Pink Edition

Every now and then, I find myself browsing the online designer rails, which usually ends in a basket of items, accumulating to a rather large sum of money.  Lately I've been lusting after the colour pink (more than usual).  Here are a few of the things I've been drooling over lately.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

1. DVF Mini Harper Bag; £224 - When I originally saw this bag for the first time, I knew I needed it in my possession.  It's the perfect size to take out in the evenings on Holiday and just out and about.  This would be the statement piece of your outfit, so something simple would be ideal. 

2.  Marc by Marc Jacobs Glitter Mouse Pumps; £228 - I've known about these shoes for a while, and as much as I'd like the black pair to ensure I'd wear them, there is something about these pink glittered pumps with fuchsia and rose gold detailing.  Again another statement piece, perfect for a night out if your feet can't quite hack the five inch heels for another evening.  

3. Vivienne Westwood Tiny Metal Orb Pendant; £60 - Not pink, but would go lovely over a pink cami or dress.  The orb is becoming iconic of Viv these days.  

4. Alexander McQueen Enamelled Skull Bracelet; £150 - A sweet little bangle to wear alone or mix with a gold watch and a few other pastel bracelets.  The skulls toughen up the pretty and prim blush enamel.

5. Preen Hutchinson Cutout Wool-Blend Jacket; £1,025 - Definitely an investment piece that would require a mortgage of it's very own.  Something about bright, neon pink, blazers has caught my attention lately.  Pair with a LBD, clutch and heels for a night out or a shirt and tailored trousers for eye catching office attire.  

Do you ever find yourself lusting after Designer goods?

Fashionable Phone Accessories

I know, I've been a bit absent in the past week, what with a stupid amount of work all at once but I have just finished this weeks hand in and thought I'd celebrate with a blog post! Recently I've made the decision to buy out my Blackberry contract and get the new iPhone.  

I should have gone for an iPhone when my contract was up last year but I didn't and ever since the problem (you know the one where you could use your phone for 3 days?!) I've resented my Berry.  I wont be getting the phone until January (hello student loan) and I'm hoping T Mobile will give me a good deal as I still have 9/10 months left on the current contract.  Anyway, enough with the rambling.  I have been looking at phone cases (as you do 2 months in advance...) and realised that designer accessories are not actually that expensive.  The two I've looked at are DVF (of course) and Marc by Marc Jacobs.  

DVF

£25.00

I really like this case but I wish it came in more colours and with different quote choices because Diane has some really good ones!

£38.00

I love DVFs prints, these phone cases are slightly more expensive but from a choice of 5 they are gorgeous. 

£18.00

I think I fell in love the moment I saw these... Might have to buy them as a christmas present to myself!

Marc by Marc Jacobs

£30.00

I think this will be the phone case I get.  I was really shocked at the price.  Cath Kidston cases are about £25.00 each, so for an extra fiver you get a designer case.  These come in about 4 shades but obviously pink will win for me!

£30.00

I like this design but I hate silicone cases.  I have one for my iPod Touch at the moment and it constantly falls off.  If this came in plastic I might be swayed towards it.  

£30.00

This is one of two different phone cases - Miss Marc.  The other is Mr Marc. I think she's pretty cute but I want something simple and chic.  

Marc also does some really cute affordable jewellery which thanks to FleurDeForce, I was introduced to yesterday in this video.  

What are your thoughts and where do you fall in the big Blackberry - iPhone debate?

ALSO - I will be at the Handpicked Media Social on Monday 21st - will any of you be there? It would be nice to put faces to names!

LFW virgin no more...

It was going to happen sooner or later, SS12 stole my LFW virginity.  I was pretty lucky and managed to blag my way into London Fashion Week, thanks to the girls at Push PR.  As a trainee fashion journalist, it's something of a fantasy to go to the shows and visit Somerset House, so I jumped at the chance.  University has started back up, and our first assignment was to get into LFW and then do some work based on it, I shan't bore you with that.  I knew first off that the love of my life, David Koma, AW11 collection was being exhibited at the Topshop Newgen 'shed', so I made a beeline for that once I saw it.  As well as schmoozing with bloggers, visiting the exhibitions and seeing shows, I was also spotting the 'Fash Pack'.  I spied Anna Dello Russo, Hilary Alexander, Zandra Rhodes, Jo Elvin, Brix Smith-Start and Lenny the Stylist Pug (a personal highlight, I'm now broody for a Pug).

On Monday, after watching the Burberry arrivals, I went down to see Jasper Garvida's SS12 show.  It was particularly monochrome, with a flash of disco ball glitz here and there.  

I haven't done any show blogs as I feel it's a tad overdone in the fashion bloggersphere and I don't want to regurgitate Style.com.  I will, however, at the end of the Fashion Week season do a summary of my favourite shows and what I'll be looking forward to wearing next season.  I can tell you my stand outs so far have been DVF (naturally), Ashish, Elie Tahari, David Koma (naturally) and Burberry.  

TOWIE may have won but DVF stole the show!

It was the BAFTA Television Awards last night and the most awaited category was the Youtube Audience.  Of course, The Only Way Is Essex beat the likes of Sherlock and Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.  I was most interested in the Barbie of TOWIE, Sam Faiers' dress, after she tweeted that it was by my favourite designer, Diane Von Furstenburg.  

I speculated whether she'd opt for a classic vintage DVF print or whether the dress would feature the signature Diane wrap that made her so famous in the 70s.  

In true Sam style, the dress featured a revealing V neckline and it was certainly 'vajazzling' (i'm so sorry...)  As suspected, it included in infamous DVF wrap, which Diane promises would look flattering and sexy no matter a womans shape.  The wrap tied off with a black silk ribbon and black heels, giving contrast to the snow white dress.  It certainly brings out her tan!  

(Far left) Amy wore Pia Michi, Lauren in Scala and Lydia wore a floral Dynasty number.

I think she looked the best out of all the girls, she kept it simple and elegant, where as Amy (as much as I love her) looked like she was off to a Gypsy wedding.  Well done Diane, you've made it in Essex!

What's your verdict? 

March Favourites and a cry for help.

Here we are again, another month gone.  Here are some pictures that sum up my month, what i've been watching, what i've been reading, what i've been wearing etc. 

Katy Perry feat. Kanye West

Clothing by Victor & Rolf

"absence is to love, what the wind is to fire, when it’s a small fire the wind kills it but when it’s a real fire it intensifies It, you see the thing is that the most important relationship you have in your life is with yourself, because no matter what happens you will always be with yourself” - DVF

I wish this was my make up collection...

Right, my cry for help is pretty much because I've been on the look out for Urban Decays Naked Palette (above).  I'm going shopping tomorrow and wondered if anyone knew of places that sell Urban Decay, apart from Boots and Debenhams.