Monday, 27 May 2013

Sun-kissed Skin

Glowing, golden, sun kissed skin will never go out of style; whether it's summer or winter this look is timeless.
  1.  I Applied Ambre Solaire 'No streaks mousse' to the face & body; It only takes 2 hours to dry & the finished result is a natural golden colour, perfect if you're fair skinned like us (bloody celtic heritage)!
  2. I mixed my everyday moisturiser with a pea sized amount of Benefits 'High Beam'  & applied it as a primer to give my skin a natural looking glow (You could wear this alone if you have a natural holiday tan this summer).
  3. To conceal any bags or blemishes I used Bourjois' 'healthy mix' concelear, it's light and doesn't tend to crease or clog skin. Usually a fan of Estee Lauder's 'Double Wear' I instead opted for Revlon's 'colorstay', it provides the same coverage as double wear without the matte finish.
  4. Using a bronzer brush I applied Bourjois' 'delice de poudre' bronzer to my temples, cheek bones, nose and chin as this is wear the sun would naturally hit your face (and it smells like chocolate!) I used Bourjois blusher in 'brun cuivre' on the apples of my cheeks, I love the peachy glow of this colour-perfect for summer skin. 
  5. The key to this look is keeping everything au natural so for my eyes I used a Bourjois eye palette in 'nude ingenu'; the brown and bronze colours are perfect for the look I'm trying to achieve. I simply dusted the lightest colour all over the lid blending the bronze colour toward the outside of my eye and used used the dark brown as eye-liner instead of black/kohl. Using the same dark brown I dusted the colour lightly through my eye-brows. A few coats of mascara & you're done.
  6. I left my lips completely natural using vaseline to keep them plump and glossy.
  7. To finish this look instead of dusting my face with powder I used Estee Lauder's shimmer powder in 'rose pearl' for a flawless finish.


Sunday, 26 May 2013

The French Manicure Is Back (Again)

Okay, so the French Manicure is always in fashion but this s/s season it really is back in fashion. Everyone is raving about it (including us) as it's a refreshing change from the bright candy colours & in-your-face nail art of winter.

Our personal fave is this affordable & fresh looking Essie polish in Vanity Fairest (£7.99)



Our recommendations for the perfect French Manicure...
Essie (same as above), Chanel Le Vernis in Emprise (£18) & Kure Bazaar in Milk (£15).




Saturday, 25 May 2013

Mod Dolly

Newcastle Fashion Week opened our eyes to a whole new world of bloggers who design and manufacture their own clothes. 
Independent fashion Brand Mod Dolly stood out for us with it's quirky range of hand-made, reworked and vintage pieces. Started by fellow blogger Amy He who wanted to be able to showcase her own designs using the wonderful world wide web. 

The velvet turban, hand-made, was my fave buy of the day; feeling ever so Elizabeth Taylor I love the boho style and practicality of this piece.
The white blouse is simple and chic, the embroidered detail gives it a re-worked vintage look and it is easily taken from day to night.

Mod Dolly clothes and accessories can be found both on her own website and on ASOS marketplace.


What we wore...

Kathy - Top - Mod Dolly, Jeans - Hollister (a-mazing jeans, they never go out of shape), Boots - River Island, Sunglasses - Topshop.

Bex - Turban - Mod Dolly, T-shirt - Boohoo, Flower - Stolen from Kathy's bedroom.

*If you love this check out twin bloggers Anne and the Mannequins

Wednesday, 22 May 2013

Newcastle University Media Awards

 Last week not only did we have the pleasure of attending Newcastle Fashion Week but it was also Newcastle University's Media Awards. The best part? It would have to be a toss up between Fashion winning best online section of The Courier (And our prize of several bottles of wine) & meeting the a-mazing blogger Zoe Griffin! Here's a couple pics of us with the other Fashion & Beauty writers...


What we wore...

Kathy - Dress - Zara, Belt - Topshop, Clutch - Accessorize, Heels - Zara

Bex - Dress-River Island, Belt-Primark, clutch-Mullberry, Heels-New Look

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Newcastle Fashion Week


In our opinion Newcastle has always been one of the UK's fashion capitals & now the critics  finally agree! Newcastle Fashion Week more than proved this is one of the up and coming cities in the fashion industry. With host Caryn Franklin we were more than inspired by her campaign All Walks Beyond The Catwalk (please do check it out - the latest shoot was done by our hero Rankin!!). We also got to have a bit of a spree with ASOS marketplace stalls such as Mod Dolly (who we adore & will definitely be blogging about in the near future...).


Ever wondered how you're going to make it in the big bad 'Devil Wears Prada' world of fashion? Luckily we got the exclusive insight on how to get in and what to do when you're in from a fabulous team of industry experts including the fantastic Louise Wedderburn, Company Magazine's very own editor Victoria White and representatives from ASOS market place and Motel.

We pass on to you top ten tips for your career in fashion...keep them secret, keep them safe:
  1. Develop your skills & interests so you can specialise in one area (styling, blogging, writing)
  2. It's all about experience! Apply for as much as you can, research any schemes your university may be part of which help further your future. 
  3. CV's need to stand out! This is essential; do NOT use typical phrases ('passion for fashion' is just a no go) sell yourself!
  4. They are only interested in what you can give them not what you want.
  5. Take any work experience you are given big or small.
  6. Once you get your foot in the door MAKE THE MOST OF IT!
  7. Starting a blog is key, it reflects your personality and your interests.
  8. Fashion journalism degrees are not expected or looked for but they do provide amazing contacts.
  9. Be nice- fashion is incestuous, piss one off you piss em' all off.
  10. Knock backs are to be expected; this is OK.
*Recommended readings:  'Outliers' - Malcom Gladwell & 'Get rich blogging' - Zoe Griffin 


What we wore...

Kathy - Denim Jacket - Topshop & Dress - Cooperative @ Urban Outfitters

Bex - Camel coat-Topshop, Bag-River Island, Blouse-Topshop, Tank-Top-H&M

Thursday, 16 May 2013

My Skin Saviours

I've always suffered from 'problem' skin and I've tried just about everything on the market for flawless skin, so here's my tried and tested recommended products...


Clockwise from the top left..

Benefit 'Boi-ing' Concealer - for the times when you have ran out of time for a detox and had one too many nights out, this concealer is industrial strength and will cover up pretty much anything. And this is coming from the girl who has tried almost every concealer on the market...(It's also really reasonably priced £17.50 considering it lasts ages).

Almond Oil - I'm amazed by how few people have heard about the amazing skin healing qualities of almond oil. I bought this bottle in Egypt (where it's super cheap) and have been using it under by base layer of primer ever since. My skin is now super soft and it's working really well at evening out my complexion. You can buy it on the UK market at places such as Boots or L'Occtaine

Cetaphil Cleanser - It's been raved about by Elle in their May 2013 issue but I'm going to take all the credit for this and say I had already discovered this wonder product. I use it to remove my make up (much better than make up removal wipes which are full of alcohol and actually really bad for your skin). You can also get a Cetaphil moisturiser which is fantastic here

Clinque Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Solution - The Anti-Blemish range by Clinque is one of the best skin care ranges out there. It's really gentle and doesn't include harsh chemicals like so many of the high street brands. I use this twice a day, every morning and evening to freshen up my skin which has helped my complexion incredibly. Don't be worried if you break out more than usual to begin with, this is normal and your skin will become lovely and clear very quickly!

Kathy x

Saturday, 11 May 2013

Festival Fashionistas

T in the Park
This is more of an indie-rock festival (the line up is amazing) so my look has more of a nonchalant, 'I don't care how I look, I'm here for the music' kind of feel. Dungarees are my new favourite trend this season and are great for sweaty, grimey mosh pits. This outfit screams 90's rock N roll, throw on some windsor sunglasses and I'm basically Axl Rose. 

Dungarees-Primark, T-shirt-Topshop, Shirt-vintage, shoes-converse

Glastonbury
The ultimate festival of festivals! an eclectic taste of music from indie to house to acoustic. I was feeling nostalgic thinking about Glastonbury and the bohemian style of the 70s and wanted to reflect this nostalgia threw my outfit. Stevie Nicks became my style icon for this look; she worked a classic rock N roll look with the right amount of hippy chic.



Playsuit-River Island, boots-Dorothy Perkins, jewellery- All Primark

V Festival
I love how this dress and floral headband make me look cute (I never look cute). The easy going, feminine, relaxed look of this outfit reminded me so much of one of my favourite festivals - V Fest. I obviously had to get out the generic Hunter wellies (who doesn't wear Hunters to V Fest...No one, that's who). 
Dress- Vaudeville & Burlesque, headband- Primark, necklace- present, socks- Jack Wills, wellies- Hunter

Coachella
Okay, being completely honest I've never been but I would LOVE to (If anyones up for buying me a return flight to America I'm cool with this...in fact it doesn't even have to be return). Coachella is a chic, fashion forward festival & nothing says chic quite like a oversized sun hat & silk trousers. I'm in love with this look which was inspired by Coachella regulars such as Alexa Chung & Kate Moss.


Hat- Primark, vest- Hollister, trousers- Zara, bag- Zara, heels- ASOS


Friday, 10 May 2013

Glossy Box

This morning I woke up a Glossy Box virgin, this evening I will go to sleep a fully fledged convert to the beauty box. For £10 (plus P&P) a month you get sent 5 mini luxury beauty products tailored to you and for once I feel like I've spent my money wisely...

And how can you resist something when it comes this pretty? (I'm a sucker for nice packaging).


1. So Elixir Purple Perfume by Yves Rocher France - This was a bit too strong for my liking. I prefer lighter, floral scents such as Daisy by Marc Jacobs in comparison to heavier fragrances such as Chanel No. 5. Perfume is such a personal thing though that everyone's review would be different.

2. Lipcote Lipstick Sealer - As a lipstick lover I quite frankly don't know how I've lasted so long without it. It works so well on top of MAC lipstick (my personal preference). Although make sure you don't get it in your mouth - it doesn't taste great.

3. Etre Bell Collagen & Aloe Vera Hydro Mask - I'm a face mask fanatic so I was looking forward to trying this one. It was one of the weirdest experiences putting this mask on (it's like a really wet face wipe with holes for your eyes, nose and mouth). Leave it on for 10-15 minutes, rub in the remaining liquid and enjoy it's refreshing  feel. I'll be sure to use this again.

4. Nip + Fab Mango Smoothie Body Butter - A-mazing smell. Although a little thicker than the creams I usually use, it sank into my skin quickly and left me smelling incredible. For the best results use just after a shower.

5. Illamasqua Medium Pencil in 'Torment' - Top marks for it's multi-purpose qualities (You can use it on both lips and eyes). This lovely dark pinky/red is very complementary on the lips. Long lasting & durable. Probably not something I would usually pick for myself but that's the fantastic thing about Glossy Box, you get to try stuff you wouldn't usually.

If I've managed to convince you that you can't live without a monthly beauty fix you can order your own Glossy Box, tailored to you, here.

Kathy x

Monday, 6 May 2013

Bluebird


If you're in London and looking to treat yourself (and pretend you're in Made in Chelsea...we totally didn't do that...) Bluebird is the perfect place to go for afternoon tea.
Situated on Kings Road and heavily featured on E4's Made in Chelsea (did I mention that?!) it's ridiculously posh but with a price tag we found extremely impressive.
Afternoon tea (which is delishhh) is only £18.50 per person and if you're feeling flush add a glass of Moet for £24.50 per person. 
Our only tip is note the 12.5% service charge, although it's completely worth it for the off chance of spotting a Louise and Spencer public bust up.
To book click here.

Kathy & Bex x




To Market, To Market!

I love the hustle and bustle of Camden, the eclectic mix of people, the canal...I feel so at home in the bohemian vibe of the market place and swarm of people. 
There are so many hidden gems here if you are willing to have a wander, from vintage Doc Martins, denim jackets and jewellery to the fake designer gear being flogged off by the local Del Boy. 

My top hot spots:

Bex x


I love how Covent Garden showcases a variety of original artwork, it's such an amazing place to find inspiration when you're at a dead end.
The perfect mix of high end, high street and stalls allows all budgets to enjoy the market (which can't be said for many places).
When the sun is shining Covent Garden has to be one of my favourite places.

My top hot spots:
Brasserie Blanc (with an amazing rooftop view of the market), Rokit vintage store and The Apple Market

Kathy x


(All photos taken by Bex)


Saturday, 4 May 2013

Sweet tooth...

Happen to have a sweet tooth? We found the most amazing little cake stall in the food market at Covent Garden. With the cutest presentation & extremely reasonable prices for central London we highly recommend The Red Gingham Bakery - the original mini-loaf company...


(All photos taken by Kathy)













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