Smart Lady

Winter is a cold month and the cold generally does nothing for our skin.  It can in fact make our faces appear a little dull and lacklustre in style.

A great foundation boasts to conquer such effects.  Choose one that boasts to moisturise the skin as well as to hide any unwanted blemishes.

Photo Ready in Natural Beige from the make-up experts boasts to provide users with a thick and creamy formula that is easy to apply.  The easy to blend base from Revlon provides even coverage with a slightly glowing finish, it is also oil free, which makes it even better!

Next up is the Airflash foundation from Dior make-up.  It is available from a range of beauty counters globally and boasts to use new technology in order to achieve a velvety soft touch, It also offers something a little advanced as it works as a spray on as appose to a cream or liquid formula!

The sheer matte foundation from Nars is also a must-have for foundation fans!

It is certainly a great investment for those that suffer from blemishes as it stays matte all day.  Another similar product comes in the form of the Eraser in 021 Nude, which is priced at £9.90 in total from Maybelline, which is available nationwide!

The product glides on in a sleek fashion and without clogging, which offers a natural and sheer finish, and appears dewy.

Foundation is a great coverage option, if you however prefer something a little lighter in formula, opt for a tinted moisturiser.  This is a great tool for a casual office look or for a day out on holiday.  Many tinted creams in fact have SPF factors included in their ingredients, which in turn means the user can cover both their beauty and safety needs at one time!

Donatella Versace is certainly renowned for her famous fashion sense and her recent collaboration with the highstreet chain H & M offered nothing less than her infamous fun fashion styles.  The leading lady in fashion recently stated that ‘fashion should be more fun’ and after seeing her latest clobber, we certainly agree!  In fact her designer pieces were fun with a capital ‘F’.

Think statement 80′s style jackets in rich hues, matching dresses in swirling patterns and if you are feeling extremely brave, matching leggings too!  The whole look screamed ‘look at me’ and any one of the items featured in her recent collaboration will certainly get you noticed!

Tie the look together with blood red lips, smoky eyes, a cinched in waist, a leather studded belt and gold cuffs!  Donatella would be proud!

The H & M collaborations with the infamous Versace brand went live in November, but we have heard rumours of a new collaboration soon!  H & M are a hit with fashionista’s nationwide as they offer affordable staples as well as designer pieces that are right on trend for the season they appear in!  They have collaborated with arrays of catwalk designers and all have so far been great success!  We can’t wait to see whom they choose next!

Hopefully these collaborations will take place soon as us girls are always looking for an excuse to update our wardrobes!  Check out your local H & M store for info on recent collaborations or alternatively shop online!  This season is all about the sequin style, so hopefully H & M have this key trend tapped for now!

So it’s nearly Christmastime and who doesn’t want to get all dressed up for that party, where he is going to be? We thought as much! And in that case, it’s time for a style overhaul! Christmas is a great time to debut a new look, and this doesn’t have to be as extreme as you might think! You could follow all our advice below, or just mix and match to suit you!

We’ll start at the top:

Hair – CHANGE YOUR COLOUR! Red and brown tones are on trend this season, and great for warming up pale skin in the cold Winter. Remember this doesn’t have to be a permanent change, in fact it is always advisable to try a semi permanent first – if you really hate the colour it will shift rapidly after a couple of washes with Head’ N’ Shoulders and Fairy Liquid.

Eyewear - Glasses wearing girlies will understand what I mean when I say what you wear (or don’t!) on your face can make a huge difference – how many of you have looked back at those awful frames from 2 years ago that were so cool…? Or look at yourself now and barely recognise your face without your glasses? Well, now’s the time to change that. Online contact lenses store, getlenses.co.uk have some great offers for first-timers and are so much cheaper than your regular high street supplier. For Christmas, why not get a trial pack, not only will your eyes pop you’ll be able to wear a sexy side swept fringe without it getting caught on the top of your frames!

For those with perfect eyesight – go the other way and try some geek-chic frames with a little black dress and killer heels.

Clothes – If a complete style swap scares the life out of you, then make one small change at a time. Start to accessorize your clothes; the details make all the difference y’know! A good trick would be to start with a plain (not necessarily black) shift dress and add a belt, scarf and plenty of bangles. Gold is as popular as ever at Christmas but just be sure not to over-do it! Try to wear just one shiny statement piece and find complimenting colours or textures for your other accessories.

Legs – Patterned tights have been popular for years now, and there’s no sign of this changing. This Winter we see a move from the ‘80’s inspired prints and flowers of the Summer to a more demure patterned black sheer option in the form of sports, stars and love hearts. ‘Fake’ stocking tights ooze style but must be worn with a knee length dress or skirt – anything shorter will just look plain tacky.

Shoes – Platforms are huge for Winter, and so much easier to walk in than regular heels. Wear a coloured pair with a black shift dress and a tiny gold belt to and work the ‘60’s look. For those who loathe the idea of heels, brogues are a great option and are available in some lovely colours at Office on the high street.

If you are wishing to invest in a new scent then look no further than the Cosmic Radiance fragrance from the singer Britney Spears.

As woman, we naturally wish to look and feel our best at all times!  However sometimes we need that little extra push to make us feel confident, empowering and super sultry!  Not too mention inspired and beautiful.

Celebrating the beautiful woman you are is a must and shouldn’t be ignored, it is also now even easier!

The new scent from Britney Spears, which is entitled Cosmic Radiance really works to bring all the above feelings to the surface.  Many woman of today’s generation are constantly on the go, have both ambitions and dreams and also a crazy hectic schedule.

This new scent is meant to create the empowerment in order to stand up and say ‘nothing will stop me!’

This is possibly due to the dreamy infusion of dazzling white flowers, citrus notes and fruits.  All of these sweet smelling scents are combines with a dash of sexy amber, sandalwood and vanilla in order to create a scent that will bring out the ultimate woman in you!

Celebrating the power of being female is a must and all woman should be able to create their own world, where they are able to shine their brightest, having both the confidence and power to be at peace with yourself at all time!

The scent itself comes in a stone and gem enthused bottle, which will look super cute on your dressing table.  The actual inspiration for this scent came from Britney’s recent European tour.  It offers a fun and fearless bold scent that is suited to woman everywhere!  Go on spritz a little on today!

Remember, remember the 5th of November! Bonfire night is the perfect excuse for donning layers of chunky knits, fur and suede to create the very latest winter style statement with online fashion retailer Ellos. Get 20% off with code 4912, while stocks last.

Begin an outfit with a statement dress. This Ellos Three-Quarter Length Sleeves Dress, £39 features a cute Alpine pattern that wouldn’t look out of place après-Ski in France. Made from a wool and Alpaca knit mix, it’s super comfortable and can be paired with both leggings and skinny jeans.

Think winter warmers and you’ll envision leggings like these. Eye-catching pattern? Check. Chunky and warm cotton? Check. Elasticated and in a range of sizes? Check! Ellos Leggings, £17 are available in grey, brown or plum. We think a grey pair worn with our knit dress is a match made in heaven.

If you’ll be standing in a muddy field for most of Bonfire night, it’s best to avoid sky high platforms. We think these Ellos Chelsea style Ankle Boots, £79 are just the ticket in keeping warm and dry but bang on trend too. They feature elasticated sides and are made from real leather with a smooth fabric lining.

To keep the cold wind at bay, think over-sized, suede and fur. This Ellos Coat, £85 gives a nod to the popular androgyny trend this season, with dropped shoulders, a large suede effect shawl collar and tiny fur details on the trims. A sudden urge to drape over the shoulders and recite lines from The Godfather will be entirely normal.

Every great outfit needs accessories, so continuing the theme of practicality, keep the heat in with this Ellos Leopard Hat, £15. No animals were harmed in the creation of this hat, but we can’t promise you won’t get envious looks when you’re wearing it out and about. This hat has a silky satin lining and comes in a longer brown fur option too, depending on how daring you feel.

Last but not least, a winter wardrobe essential is a long, chunky Ellos Scarf, £17. It comes in Blue, Ecru or Grey, so we’ve opted for Blue to complement the pattern on the knit dress. Its knitted finish looks just like your Gran’s best handiwork, so wrap it haphazardly alongside other knitwear or contrast with other textures to be the most stylish sparkler waver in the west!

Dressing for the office can be a little difficult as you need to hit a happy medium! Even if you wish to be right on trend for work, you will still need to tone it down a little in order to keep in with the office rules!

Going to skirt in a sparkly body con dress and super high heels is probably not so advisable as you may receive attention for all the wrong reasons!

However this shouldn’t mean that you abolish all things stylish!  Smart attire can still be very trendy and if you desire to wear those super new heels then do so!  Just team them with either a smart black shift dress that finishes over the knee or alternatively a pair of tailored trousers and a crisp shirt and jacket.

Tights are a great work accessory and can really add an extra edge to an outfit!  Especially when the range available today are anything but plain!  Think a cute suit teamed with opaque tights with an on trend pattern running up the backs of the tights.  Team these with patent black heels.

Summer has hit, and so has festival season. That means that sacrificing comfort for fashion has suddenly become a thing of the past – all we want this summer, in the myriad of active and sweaty situations that it presents, is to feel comfortable. With that comes the inevitable rise, as it does every year, of the t-shirt.
An ideal item of clothing, t-shirts for men and women are loose, made of light, thin fabric, and can be worn in almost any situation. Even better, most of the top manufacturers of styles like this are giving them that festival favourite feature – great slogans, patterns or musical imagery. Here are a few available online now:

From Topshop:

Urban Outfitters online and high street stores are always a good place to look for trendy and different clothes, and they have a great range of t-shirts!

A relatively unheard of company called Wildfox Couture also do some cool slogan t-shirts, and are reportedly one of Jessie J’s favourite clothing labels! The celebrity fans mean that these t-shirts have a hefty price however so you may need to save for one of these beauties!

Your home is an extremely important place in your life. Whether you live alone or with friends or family, your home is the basis of everything you do. It’s where you spend the most vulnerable part of your day, sleeping, and where you can get away from the rest of the world and be yourself. The style of your home is therefore extremely important as well because it is like an extension of your identity. You may wish to style your home in a way that reflects your personality, so that any guests or even just you yourself can look around and know that it is your special place.

The key rooms in your house where you probably spend most of your time are the bedroom and the living room. These are the rooms you want to focus on particularly to make them as comfortable as possible, perfectly suited to what you want from them. If you have a particular attachment to another room in the house where you spend a lot of time, for example the kitchen if you cook a lot or the study if you spend a lot of time working, then you may wish to focus on that room instead. Just be sure to add your personal touch to any room where you spend a lot of time. You want people to walk into the room and know that it doesn’t belong to just anyone – it belongs to you.

If you live with other people or with a large family, you can incorporate their feelings and personalities into the style of your home as well. Children’s rooms in particular should be as welcoming as possible to the child. Styling your home doesn’t end with personal rooms, however. You can also let your personality influence the style of rooms such as a guest bedroom, so think about the overall feel you want to achieve even when buying impersonal furniture such as when you buy guest beds.