Clothes show live 2012

“Step into a fashionista’s fairyland.. with retail therapy galore, pampering heaven and catwalk glamour.”

The 4 day affair at Birminghams N.E.C was a show case for all fashion lovers. My fellow fashionista Billi requested I accompany her, it being my first time at the Clothes Show Live I was not sure what I was in for. Getting to the venue was the hard part, but the worst part was  seeing how disastrously dressed everyone was (everyone to there own) so anyway, after getting through the crowd of the badly dressed fashion community  Billi and I got to the Fashion Gallery, where a sea of people stood before me grabbing a bargain from every stall we passed. It was like Camden Market meets Portobello Market, with all genres and styles of fashion, from Punk and Goth, 50s style, Vintage and high street brands. Billi was making the most of her visit while I was just observing the fashion crowds. Weaving our way through the fashion crowds we recognised some familiar faces, Abi Philips (Singer, Song writer, Actress) plays Liberty in Hollyoaks, also Alexandra Buggs from girl band Stooshe , Amy Childs and Gemma Collins from ITV’s TOWIE. After a few purchases and a tour round the clothes gallery, we wandered off to the Health and Beauty Hall, which was buzzing. Consciously i realised that Christmas is round the corner so maybe that was the buzz, but as I looked closer it was the unbelievable bargains that everyone wanted to get there hands on. Rimmel, Barry M, Sleek, were some of the stands that were offering £60 worth of make up for only £10.

The models in Formal Glamour

After a few wanders around the exhibition, Billi and My I set ourselves to go watch a fashion show. Getting a clear view not so far from the VIP we watched how the fashion show inspired by the life of  Anna Wintour, the eclectic swim wear, and street styles were showcased with amazing graphical backdrops and the best of pop today. Britains Next Top Model 2011 winner ‘Jade Thomas’ was one of the focal models throughout the catwalk, wearing showstoppers throughout the show. After a spectacular show, amazing clothes, great choreography  my clothes show experience was Fab, and hopefully shall return for 2013, better prepared.

Jade Thompson with some of the Hunks 

Versace Versense and Vanitas

An expression of the fusion between freshness and sensuality, the name Versense suggests a promise for the senses. The colour of the fragrance brings to mind a sense of nature. It evokes freedom of open spaces, the energy of revitalisation and balance of the senses. The perfume is fresh and intoxicating. It is inspired by natures elements and dedicated to confident, vital and sensual women. ”Versense perfectly represents the Versace woman. I created a fragrance to make her feel incredibly lighter. There’s something very optimistic and confident about being free, and it was that feeling that I tried to capture for Versense.” Donatella Versace elaborated on the theme.

However recently Versace have formulated their ‘couture’ fragrance perfect for this Spring. With its airy light citric fragrance, it differs from Versense, yet carries a strong characteristic from yesterdays Narciso Rodriguez best seller. Vantias. A beautiful improvisation from perfumer Dora Baghriche Arnaud; combining notes of lime, freesia, tiare, tonka bean and cedar. This certainly has everyone waiting for its official US release in mid 2012. The ad campaign was presented by what the media are calling “Baby Donatella Versace”, the young model of 16 Lindsey Wixon, has become the new face of Versace parfums.

American Apparel – Nail Lacquers

The clocks haven’t gone forward yet but it some how feels like spring, and while on a lovely day out in London I had to make my last stop of the day at American Apparel, I never looked so closely whenever I’ve browsed, but on this occasion, i saw a stack of Nail Laquers by American Apparel, the temptation got me painting each nail in every colour, and then narrowing my choice to 5 shades for this Spring I just had to take them all. The application is effortless and smooth, and coverage is rich when evenly applied and the best thing is the quick drying. This is truely a “one coat” application and not like other brands where the second coat brings out the fullest colour. Check out the full colour directory of Nail Lacquers by American Apparel at AmericanApparel.com

Dior Beauté’s ‘Be Iconic’ Campaign – Kate Moss

Could it be the that Kate Moss has become Judas to British brand Rimmel, if so that’s ‘Pout Of Order’? The longest – serving face of London base make company Rimmel, Model Kate Moss, was spotted last year during Fashion week, applying the new Dior lipstick, that had be revealed in the Paris Fashion Week 2010 for release in SS/11. Moss applying the shade ‘Charmed Pink’, has really charmed her into becoming the face of Dior Beauté’s latest campaign ‘Be Iconic’, with the full range of products to be released in SS/11. The much anticipated preview has been released for Kate’s new endorsement with Dior Beauté’s. Its gotta be the best campaign yet for Dior purely for the the title, “Be Iconic”.

MAC Viva La Glam feat Lady GaGa II

Lady GaGa has managed to feature in another tremendous endorsement with MAC  for the Viva La Glam campaign, to introduce her 2 new products. With such a refined photo featured on the ad poster Gaga has done it again! The products will have the U.S release on February 17th, and all the Pretty Little Mons†ers are gonna be cuing up for the these two little delights. On sale will be a Lipstick and a Lipgloss, in the same nude shade, this is a little shy, compared to her Viva La Glam previous release, where she showcased a hot pink, and candy pink Lipstick. International release of the GaGa line will available in March 2011.

Louboutin Manicure

Okay I think I’m slightly late with this exclusive fashion and beauty update, but I’m not gonna waste any more time. This particular new craze has hit the American fashion scene around a year ago, and it seems as if the Brit fashion scene hasn’t fully latched on to the new “Louboutin manicure’ yet? As glamorous as it sounds, its the simplicity behind the idea that makes it so innovative. Mimicking the statement red sole as an under tip colour and a lush black coat to represent the Louboutin itself. It really is a beautiful interpretation and tribute to the iconic shoe maker.

Rihanna also spotted with these Louboutin nails

Katy Perry for ‘O.P.I’

Katy Perry new album has taken the music charts by a storm since late 2010, and smashed into the new year with a number one single ‘Firework’, but this Californian girl has endorsed her love for quirkiness, to produce 4 new nail lacquers!  The Katy Perry Collection by OPI will includes 4 shades: Teenage Dream (a dreamy pink glitter), Not Like the Movies (a gun mental grey), Last Friday Night (a fierce glittery blue), and The One That Got Away (an amazing deep berry). But the breakout hit of the collection is sure to be Black Shatter, a revolutionary topcoat that creates a cracked/leopard pattern when applied over dried nail lacquer.

Love and Fragrance in the air for this Feb

February is approaching us real quick, and the only thing I think of is “Valentines Day”. Its gonna be a good one for the guys this year, cause word around fragrance town is, four new fragrances will be released by some of the best fragrance connoisseurs this Feb.  With all due respect to Paco Rabannes “Millionaire”, but its become to common, along with classics like  ”Versace – Blue Jeans” and “Davidoffs – Cool Water”.  With an array off different styles and scents, these new mens fragrances would be the alternate option for your special mister this valentines.

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With the release of Burberrys 2010  ”Burberry Sport Duo”,  they have decided to release a limited edition for men and women sub fragrance called “Burberry Sport Ice” celebrating their 1 year anniversary for Sports Duo. Burberry Sport Ice for Men (shown) features frosted ginger, citrus, ice crystals, woods, amber and musk. P.s – Guys there’s a woman’s Burberry sport ice, if your thinking on “what to get her”!!

JOOP! Splash is another new release for this February. Supermodel ‘Chad White’ being the face for Joop! Spash, wasnt afraid to bare his buff torso for the advert, and has expressed the true meaning of the ad slogan ‘Some like it Fresh” sor Joop! Spash. Joop! will launch Joop! Splash, a new fresh woody citrus fragrance for “young, sexy, urban” men, in February. Joop! Splash was developed by perfumer Louise Turner; the notes include cassowary fruit, coriander, salty sea notes (calypsone), cardamom, cedar and labdanum.

Gucci will launch Gucci Guilty Pour Homme in February. The new fragrance is the masculine counterpart to last year’s Gucci Guilty for women, and is meant for the man “who knows what he wants”. The notes for the aromatic fougere include lime, lavender, pink pepper, neroli, orange blossom, cedar and patchouli. With a racey poster ad feat model ‘Chris Evans’ who also starred in the Gucci Guilty “for her” ad, gives this fragrance that extra sex appeal, and with a luxury scent like this, you’d feel Guilty not to!

The last pick of the best is “Boss Orange” For Him, Hugo Boss will launch Boss Orange for Men in February. The new fragrance is the masculine counterpart to Boss Orange for her We saw Sienna Miller, endorsed in all the ad campaigns for Hugo Boss Orange “for her” but Hugo Boss have made the best decision, to feature actor “Orlando Bloom” as the face for their fourth coming fragrance. His Sweet, Suave and Cheeky style, has totally matched up all the requirements of the new fragrance, however according to Bloom, “BOSS Orange is a brand I immediately identified with because it has a laid back, spontaneous quality I relate to”., and couldn’t have been done better. The notes feature apple, vanilla, incense and Bubinga wood.

 

Gucci ‘Guilty’

Gucci renowned for its high profile scents has released its 2010 latest “Gucci Guilty”, having a soft spot for fragrance, and having recently purchased this little delight, its evident that after Gucci by Gucci and Gucci Flora, the house doesnt fail to impress with their latest release. Gucci Guilty has revealed itself with the dry notes of candied amber of Flower Bomb (Victor&Rolf), green notes heavier on lilac and recognisably holds heavy aromachemicals as such in a personal favourite of mine Narciso Rodriguez for Her. OK enough about what’s in the bottle, however Gucci never fail to design amazing dressing for their perfumes, so they made this particular bottle all about the women, Gucci Guilty can be seen as a fairly convincing finishing touch for the pretty woman of 2010 who will even be able to use the sleek bottle as a purse mirror to retouch her lips.