London Fashion Week-ends in style

London Fashion Week might be as tricky to get in to as a pair of size zero jeans, but this weekend its esteemed home, Somerset House, opened its door to allow all would be fashionistas the chance to experience its buzz.   

The three day London Fashion Weekend offered the style-savvy the opportunity to snap up reduced designer wares from the likes of Ghost, Twenty8Twelve, Sass and Bide and French Sole and while the Chambord bar was the epitome of restrained civility, it was a case of 'Elbows at the ready' as the bargain hungry rifled the rails in search of fabulous finds. 

If you weren't there just to shop, there were makeup artists on hand offering master classes. A super-cool catwalk show and trend presentation from presenter of the moment Zara Martin gave the fashion forward the scoop on key items to snap up as we make the full transition in to A/W10. 

The Nomad look was a key trend take out - a glorious ethnic affair that allows us to "scrap the rule book and tap in to our bohemian side." Think a colourful kaleidoscope of items dug from the depths of the wardrobe and a 'mash up of texture and pattern' worn with carefree abandon. 

Other highlights included a refresher showcase of Singapore-born designer Ashley Isham's gorgeous A/W10 collection. With his distinctive brand of glossy glamour, it's little wonder that he has dressed the likes of Lady Gaga, Kylie, Cheryl Cole and Florence Welch.

The show culminated with a sleek and sexy showcase of BodyAmr's wares. Amr's bold designs marry bright block colours with superfine feminine materials that drape the body gracefully and effortlessly, accentuating every curve.

The models sported flawless matte complexions throughout. There eyes subtly accentuated. A proud burst of vivid cerise gave plump lips the perfect colour hit. 

The scoop from Twenty8Twelve

One of the hottest tickets at this week’s London Fashion Week was undoubtedly the showing of Sienna and Savanna Miller's Twenty8Twelve Spring/Summer 2011 ready to wear collection in the cavernous Old Sorting Office on New Oxford Street.

While the surroundings were dark and industrial, the show was anything but and a stellar front row of A-listers, including Sienna's fiancé Jude Law, designer Matthew Williamson and Pixie Geldoff, were there to soak up the summer vibes at this not to be missed showcase.

The collection, which was inspired by Joni Mitchell’s album ‘Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter,’ told the story of a girl globe-trotting through Thailand to 1950s Mexico via the Nevada desert and both the clothes and the makeup had the scorch factor to tell the tale.

Backstage, in the hubbub before the show, Max Factor’s Global Creative Design Director Pat McGrath was on hand to create the eclectic summer look that sent both editors and front-row fashionistas swooning, when the models at last swept along the catwalk to Sleeper track InBetweener.

A fresh, warm skin tone, slightly darker than the model’s own, was created using Max Factor’s new Xperience Weightless Foundation.

Pat then added a sun-kissed flush to the cheekbones using Natural Minerals Bronzer.

Eyes were subtly defined using Eye Liner Pencil in Beige and lashes were then opened and volumised using another newly launched must-have from the Xperience boutique, Xperience Volumising Mascara in Brown.

For the lips, Pat created a loud and proud colour pop by mixing Colour Collections Intensely Red with Bewitching Coral. Nails made a similarly impactful statement in a hot burst of Max Colour Effects nail varnish in Red Carpet Glam.

Max Factor’s gorgeous model Emma Maclaren, who was walking in the show, commented that the look was “perfect for the season and lovely and light” a real reminder of “romantic travels and adventures.”

And thoughts of romantic travels and adventures were delivered by the catwalk collection on every front.

A paisley printed Maxi dress smacked of sun-kissed poolside jaunts, while vivid indigo shirts, paired with a tied white tee and some canary yellow printed shorts was reminiscent of a wanderer, hunting for treasures at an ethnic bazaar. Denim mini dresses exposed romantically ruffled cheese cake petticoats and a lace shift in a bright shade of sunshine gave a summery twist to evening glam.

As the Miller sisters came out to greet the clapping crowd it was clear that their eclectic brand of sophisticated boho chic had taken a big leap closer to the big time.

Meeting Manolo

I’ve never searched for the pot of gold that’s said to sit at the foot of a rainbow before, but when I saw a perfect spectrum stretching in a clear arc from Oxford Circus on Thursday, I knew where the good stuff was to be found.

Fashion’s Night Out, the annual shopping extravaganza organised in association with Vogue, was in full swing and if there was one piece of treasure I was hell-bent on scooping it was Manolo Blahnik’s pop-up shop opening at Liberty, hosted by the god of foot candy himself.

Blahnik has made a name for himself as a master of shoe design, creating art-pieces that have cosseted the feet of everyone from the late Princess Diana to Carrie in Sex and the City, but while his flagship boutique in Kensington’s Old Church street might be a stomping ground for the well heeled, he has rarely embarked on any collaborations with department stores, which makes the launch of his ‘World of Manolo’ collection for iconic store Liberty a rather fabulous first.

And it seemed that I was not the only one looking to enjoy a light dusting of Manolo magic as when I arrived at Liberty a 1000-strong queue of hungry style seekers was snaking around the block touting shoe boxes and books all looking to be signed.

Through the double doors of the Tudor emporium, standing in a perfectly cut indigo suit and amidst the throng of jostling photographers was the immaculately groomed Mr Blahnik himself, answering questions on everything from what constitutes style to the inspirations of his latest collection.

Each question was answered with equal reverie and with the kind of boyish enthusiasm that would surely melt the heart of even the most nonchalant fashionista.

But although Manolo's appearance caused a stir, it was the collection itself that prompted the most swooning. For in amongst the delicate scented candles and silk scarves designed with sumptuous Liberty prints were the shoes: Each art-piece displayed tantalisingly, combining exquisite form, yet also function - a little bit like Manolo himself.

A vintage tea party

Last week I popped in to luxury handbag specialist Radley on London’s South Molton Street, to check out its new A/W10 collection which was being showcased in a delightfully nostalgic vintage tea-party style event.


The inspiration for the sumptuous collection is the quirky world of collectors and the theme was brought to life delightfully with each new season piece nestling amongst a treasure trove of vintage memorabilia.

Antique cake stands bearing fondant iced towers of cupcakes and miniature sandwiches sat invitingly amongst the display stands.

Hostesses sporting pillar box red lips, alabaster skin and perfectly coifed tresses proffered dainty china cups filled with a deliciously fragrant choice of Proseco with jasmine or gin with earl grey tea.

And the new season pieces from the quintessentially British brand played in to autumn’s trends perfectly, with the luxurious leather bags available in an array of fall-friendly colours including aubergine, pumpkin, moss green, camel and yellow ochre.

There was a popup vintage shop with wares from pre-loved specialist Rag and Bow ready to rifle and visiting bloggers could also get their hair and makeup done by Lipstick and Curls, who specialise in vintage styling. All in all a nostalgic feast and a great start to the new season.

Style it in sepia

Summer’s carnival of colour has packed up its trunk and given way to a new sophistication for autumn: Gone is the proud loudness of look-at-me prints and the candied sweetness of sherbet shades. In their place is a luxuriously understated palette that’s dominated by an unassuming tone: Camel.

While not entirely monochromatic, a muted sweep of subtle hues rules and the look is one of understated elegance.

On the catwalks, Chloe led the way with immaculately cut Seventies- inspired trousers in shades of mink and beige, while at Chanel, super-luxe silk shirts gave a tailored take on all-things-taupe a softer finish.

And where fashion has gone, beauty has duly followed with a warm palette of honeyed toned eyes, cheeks and complexions to perfectly complement our camel crush.

There is nothing childish or girly about this look. The finish is grown up, polished and expensive with all the regal elegance of sepia photography.

Follow my tips to styling autumn’s key look:

A flawless, luminescent base ensures that this look says luxury, so begin by prepping the skin with an illuminating highlighter then apply a layer of Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation.

Tackle dark circles or any problem areas with a dab of Mastertouch Concealer.

Your complexion will still retain the last of summer’s sun kiss, but add to this with a dusting of Natural Minerals Bronzer. Apply just beneath the cheekbones for definition.

Now for the eyes: Burnished bronze and brown tones set off camel clothes to perfection and if you’re looking to turn up the glam dial, you can’t beat a smoky finish. I’m loving Max Factor’s new Smoky Eye Effect Shadow in Bronze Haze. The two-toned double-ended applicator has distinctive tips which allow you to create the perfect blend.

Once you have created the perfect smoky look, open up the eyes with two slicks of False Lash Effect Mascara in Black.

Lips should be honeyed and glossy in a rich kiss-me-quick shade. I love Vibrant Curve Effect Lipgloss in Smart

And if you’re looking for the perfect way to wear your hair with this look, invest in some large heated rollers and think big. A healthy head of soft silky waves will off-set this look to perfection.

Susie Bubble hosts a fashionista's dream event

 If you’ve ever dreamt of raiding the wardrobes of some of the most sartorially savvy figures in fashion, last Sunday, in an innocuous concrete car park near Holloway Road, a fantasy event was taking place.

Susie Bubble, queen of bloggers, and an elite crew of blogging luminaries including Save Our Shoes, Style Slicker, Geisha Rock and Frou Frouu were offering a style fix to satisfy the most committed fashion junkies: An open yard sale, in which they were selling a fantastical selection of their unwanted vintage, high street and designer wares.

Although the setting might have been more back alley than backstage, the offerings were fashion-forward enough to make the most seasoned style hunter swoon. Think trestle tables piled high with Jimmy Choo’s, Georgina Goodman’s and other delicious foot candy, plus rifle-ready rails of dresses, shirts and skirts from the likes of Eley Kishimoto and Lanvin. Other uber-cool clobber was also up for grabs, including Miss Bubble’s collection of Japanese comic books, which were being sold at a super-thrifty pound a pop.

The sale opened at 10am, with many devotees already waiting to descend on this pop-up fashion Mecca. Miss Bubble and the rest of the blogger’s stalls were so quickly ransacked that the sale ended up closing a whole two hours before schedule. And it’s not really surprising when you consider the fact that most items were tagged so gloriously cheaply – rare designer dresses and knock-out shoes were being offered for as little as £30 or less (Sigh) although Susie had forgotten to tag her items and so was merrily selling total treasures for as little as a pound.

Yumtastic selections of tasty treats were on offer to keep the bargain hunters energised, including melt in the mouth chicken satay and sausage baps. An awe-inspiringly talented illustrator was also on hand to sketch every fashionista that mulled and mingled on the scene.


And while Miss Bubble and her blogging counterparts might now be more than used to sitting on fashion week front rows and rubbing shoulders with the most influential players on the style circuit, they touted their wares with the boundless enthusiasm of the most cheery market vendors in town.

Summer brights that sizzle

If last month’s couture A/W 2010 Paris shows were all about the dark and devilish, end of summer beauty is the time for a fun fiesta of acid brights.

Throughout the working year a quick slick of mascara, a flawless base and a muted lip might be de rigueur, but when it comes to enjoying the last sun-kissed soirees of the summer, hot hues can take centre stage. It’s time to have fun and really experiment!

If you’re nervous about working colour in to your beauty routine, opt for either a loud lip or bright eyes while keeping the rest of your look pared down.

This will ensure that your make up has that zing factor, but still looks chic and stylish.

Try these two looks, which are both loud and lovely, but in very different ways.

Proud Pout

This bold lip look works fabulously well with bronzed skin, so introduce a gradual tanner in to your routine to give you a healthy glow.


Begin by applying Second Skin Foundation. The super-light formula will create a naturally flawless base.

Add a dusting of Natural Minerals Bronzer to all the places that the sun would usually kiss the skin – so the bridge of the nose, forehead, cheekbones and cupid’s bow.

Illuminate and open the eyes with a dab of Masterpiece Colour Precision Eyeshadow in Pearl, just in the inner corners.


Add a wash of Earth Spirits Eyeshadow in Pale Pebble across both lids.

Using Masterpiece Glide and Define Liquid Eyeliner, line the upper lid as close to the lash line as possible and add feline flicks at the outer corners.

Apply two coats of a lengthening mascara such as Lash Extension Effect.

Add that all important colour injection to the lips- try using Colour Collections Lipstick in Bewitching Coral.

Use a lip brush to apply the colour taking care to create an even finish and a perfect lip line.

Blot once, reapply and you’re ready to party.

Bright Eyes

This eye-catching look has real ‘wow’ factor. The face again is kept pared down, providing the perfect canvas for a splash of summer colour.

Begin by prepping the skin with Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation – for seamless skin perfection.

Give your cheekbones, forehead and cupid’s bow a dusting of Natural Minerals Bronzing Powder.

Apply a clear balm to the lips. You can ensure that they look healthy and super-soft by using a clean, dry towel to buff them slightly, removing any dry skin. Once done, apply the balm again.

Now for the eyes – this is where the fun begins!

Prep the eye with Earth Spirits Eyeshadow in Pale Pebble.

Then, use Masterpiece Colour Precision Eyeshadow in Icicle Rose to line from the inner corners to a third of the way across the eye. Continue the line with a sweep of the same product in Stardust – a delightful blue shade. Finally wing out to the outer edges using Earth Spirits Eyeshadow in Ultra Aqua.

Line beneath the lower lashes with a sultry sweep of Earth Spirits Eyeshadow in Stormy blue.

Finish with two coats of Masterpiece Max Mascara and you’ll have rainbow eyes to go.