Estee Lauder Orange Crush

When it comes to the latest of the Estee Lauder Pure Colour collection it was Pure Love at first sight!

I guess orange isn't everyones idea of a wearable colour especially in eyeshadow form, no matter how refreshing a shade it may be for summer.   I always felt the same ... and as much as I adore an orange lip or a peach cheek, the idea of wearing it on my eyes just seemed obscene.

That's until this week when to my surprise and excitement these 3 new limited edition shades dropped through my post box.  Created by Tom Pecheux for the Derek Lam's Spring 2011 runway show, inspired by 1960's California, Lauder have taken this bold look from the runway to real life with these 3 beautiful products.

Sugar Cube, Orange Crush and Orange Crush Gloss

Pure Colour Eyeshadow in Orange Crush (RRP £16) is an utterly stunning shade of bold, bright orange.  The pigmentation is fantastic, a lighter hand will give a subtle wash of colour that can built upon to create a slightly bolder finish.  With a slightly heavy hand, a vibrant finish can be achieved which is equally as stunning if not a little more daring.  The second shadown in the collection is Sugar Cube a shimmering white that is a fantastic highlight and blends fabulously with Orange Crush.

As above, sugar cube, orange crush and orange crush gloss

The absolute beauty and most wearable of this small but perfectly formed collection is the Pure Colour Gloss in Orange Crush (RRP £16).  This is quite a fiery orange and has a high shine finish, it's lush on the lips and lasts for hours (although its shine does fade) which is a bonus!

The minute I got this I tried to recreate a similar look to the runway creation.  I used a bold line of orange crush on the lashline and blended with sugar cube, taking sugar cube up to under the lashline as a highlight.  I used MAC blacktrack to line the eyes but I think this colour would look equally as good if not fresher without they liner.

Hideous photobooth quality but you get the idea

On the cheeks I stuck with an old favourite NARS Laguna to bronze/contour slightly and for blush,  MAC springsheen which is lovely peach shade and complemented the oranges very well.  I lined my lips lightly with a nude liner before applying Orange Crush gloss.  I'm not sure if Estee Lauder would recommend wearing the bold eye and lips at the same time but it certainly worked for me. 

Even with my red hair which I initially thought would clash with these colours, I could really make this look work and it was something different to the same old neutrals.  It's definitely a gorgeous summer look that can easily be taken into autumn.  It's especially gorgeous for us blue eyed babies out there ... the contrast between the orange and blue just makes your eyes .... POP! (there, i said it!).  Even with pale skin, these shade rocked it... I can only imagine how much more amazing they would look had I been tanned!

Anyway, it seems this collection is so exclusive it is only available at Harvey Nics in London, Manchester, Leeds and Edinburgh.  I would recommend you try and pick these gorgeous shades up if you can though - they look stunning, apply wonderfully and make a statement as bold or as subtle as you like!

Anyone else brave enough for orange eyeshadow?

x

How I make my flowers last longer

For some, this post may be teaching you to suck eggs but until a friend visited the other day and mentioned she would never have thought to do this, I thought it may be of some use to you.

As mentioned in my last post I was given a lovely bouquet of flowers.  Since my arrangement was already beautifully cut, they went straight into a large vase.  However, with any bouquet with a variety of flowers, they will likely die at different rates.  So while my bold gerberas faded away and died an untimely death, my roses, carnations and lilies were all still fighting on.

Of course it makes sense to remove the dying plants but I often find the arrangement never quite has the same charm about it.  So my solution is to split them up and place the flowers in a number of smaller arrangements in vases, teacups, glasses etc.  Often I find that my new arrangements are nicer and have more character than the original larger floral delight.

Roses in a glass incense holder

carnations in a drinking glass

It's unlikely that we have in our homes countless vases of differing shapes and sizes so it pays to be a little creative.  In this case I used a shot glass, a drinking glass and an incense jar.  Teacups, bowls, candleholders and even ashtrays can also make excellent new homes for your leftover flowers.  

Lily in a shot glass

It also means you can share the flowers throughout your home, before they would have been placed in one room.  Now I can have some in the bathroom, bedroom and my lounge instead of a full arrangement  in one room.

I find that grouping a few of the smaller arrangements together in certain areas, like my coffee table, it makes a lovely statement and refreshing pop of colour to an otherwise practical area of the home.

So, that's my wee tip for a Sunday ... Hope you are all looking forward to the bank holiday - unfortunately for me I will be working it!
x

Things making me smile this week ...

Virnaburger by Mel Ramos ... I keep this postcard above my cooker, sometimes it's there to remind me of the body I am aiming for and other times it reminds me sometimes it's okay to indulge.  The playboy bottle opener is a welcome piece of pink tat :) 

A postcard from my Krabi, Thailand.  My friend Gia is getting married here in November and she was over finalising some arrangements (she now lives in Australia).  I desperately hope I can still make it over to see her walk down the aisle.  Scrimping and saving every penny I can.  

I ordered my Three mifi on Thursday and it arrived on Saturday morning.  I am now fully hooked up to the internet after weeks of being out of the blogging, tweeting, social media loop.  I'm back baby! 

A surprise boquet of flowers on my 3rd wedding anniversary.  The other half wasn't happy with these flowers in the end, he didn't think they were very 'me'.  Regardless it still gave me butterflies when the florist dropped them off :) 

The sequinned jumpsuit, the tight bushy curls, the dark smoked eyes and pink lippy ... 

it screams D-I-S-C-O and I love it!! 

Breakfast choices... egg and soldiers, a firm favourite and a welcome change from my daily porridge.

My new bargainous tea set ... for cocktails of course ... NOT tea!!

I picked this ironing board cover up a few weeks ago but only full appreciating it now ... it was a quid from Primark but it's a mantra that's priceless.

What's making you smile this week?

x

Scottish Fashion Awards 2011

Long time readers of this blog might remember I attended last years "Oscars of Scottish Fashion" ... The Scottish Fashion Awards at Glasgow Science centre ... I posted about it here ... here ... and here.


I was lucky enough to attend last year and it was fabulous evening where i got to indulge myself mingling with fellow bloggers, journalist, fashion writers, musicians and models.  

Vogue.com's Dolly Jones, the amazing Jonathan Saunders and event founder Tessa Hartman

The event is run in association with Vogue.com with all awards voted for by an industry panel.  However this year there is a surprise twist to the awards with the Fashion Icon Award being voted for by you! 


Sponsored by Capital FM, a shortlist of nominees can be voted for online with the 4 finalists being announced before the night and the winner presented with their gong on at the evening festivities.   This is the only award at the prestigious event that is not voted by an industry panel. 


2011 Fasion Icon Nominees are:

Gerard Butler
Tilda Swinton
George Lamb
Freya Mavor 
Karen Gillan
Laura McMonagle
Sharleen Spiteri
Sam Robertson
Amy McDonald
Kelly McDonald


It's an eclectic mix of nominees and not all will be familiar or an obvious choice for the title but as Tessa Hartman founder of the event observes "with the strength of social media, there are people on there that might not be high profile but again, are highly influential in their respective fields".


Last year's host, Laura Whitmore wearing Graeme Black



It's an exciting night for Scottish Fashion and you can show your support and have your say in who wins Scottish Fashion Icon 2011 by going to www.scottishfashionawards.com and registering your vote under the Fashion Icon tab.


The awards will be held on Wednesday 15th June and by registering your vote you will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win 2 VIP After Show Party tickets! Get your gladrags ready...! 


x

iTapela, Bath Street

A few Saturdays ago I was asked to review a rather lovely little restaurant on one of my favourite Glasgow streets - Bath Street.  Of course, myself and my other half obliged (with bells on!).

iTapela has only been a resident of a Bath Street basement for a short time and lay undiscovered by me until my visit.  I usually drink in the many bars on Bath Street so it was pretty convenient to find somewhere to eat which offered up 2 of my favourite cuisines, Italian and Spanish.  With relaxed interiors paying homage to it's Spanish and Italian influences with paint splattered walls and el Toro motifs placed sporadically around the restaurant, it doesn't try too hard and has a laid back atmosphere.

Having planned on an afternoon of Tapas, we were almost a little overwhelmed at the extensive menu on offer.  We expected a fusion of Spanish and Italian but instead our menu was mainly Italian pastas, pizzas with a small selection of Tapas and Paella with their use of Scottish produce reflected in their menu description.  At first we found this somewhat confusing, a mix of identities and a very busy menu, we wondered if the food would be up to scratch with so much on offer but as they say, the proof is in the pudding.  Pardon the pun!

So here is what you really want to see ... the delights that tantalised our taste buds and lived up to the reputation of The Partners collaboration who run iTapella.

My starter: Goats cheese crostini with rocket & sun blushed tomatoes

This was delicious, it practically melted in my mouth and the flavours were amazing.  Thumbs up for presentation too :) 

The Mr's Starter:  Pan Fried Oban landed Scallops with roasted chorizo & caramelised sweet potato.
This is the first time the other half had tried scallops and his judgement on the day was it would definitely not be his last.  Also self confessed chorizo addict, he devoured this dish.

True to our word we went for a main of Tapas.  iTapella recommend 3 dishes each ... for gutsy grubbers like the Mr and I, we are usually tempted to go for a little bit more but we contained the excitement and went with the restaurants recommendation of 3 each.

Typically we went for Patatas Bravas, Calamari with Lemon and Garlic Mayo, Braised Chorizo with tomatores, potatoes and parsley, Braised Meatballs in a Rich Tomato Sauce, Chargrilled King Prawns with Garlic and Parsley Butter and for a change we threw into our Tapas selection, Pot Roast Ayrshire Lamb in rioja, tomatoes and olives.

Apart from the Calamari being a teeny bit too crispy, we were left stuffed and smiley faced.  The lamb was especially delicious and so fresh and tender.  Oh, and the meatballs .... I could have ordered 3 plates more.

You'd think after all that we wouldn't have room for dessert ...

Vanilla Cheesecake with Lemon Curd and Raspberry Sorbet for him ... 

Tiramisu for her :)

Aside the food, we were greeted by friendly staff who were attentive even when the restaurant became crowded and busy.  Nothing was too much trouble, especially when it came to the cocktail menu ... we were convinced not to leave without washing it all down with a l'il something from their vast cocktail list.  A whiskey manhattan was the Mr's chosen drink ...

By this point I couldn't fit in anymore and had to call it a day.  A truly satisfying afternoon with colourful and tantalising food, flavours and fun ... I will definitely visit again.  I am salivating just looking at the photos again!

I think this may have to become a regular feature on the blog, I never realised how fun it was to reminisce over such scrumptious delights.

You can find iTapella situated at 104 Bath Street downstairs in the basement.  Enjoy!

x

Famous Dave now available at Boots!

Fake tan junkie I am and Famous Dave is one of my favourites as I mentioned in a previous post.

I was delighted to receive an email a few weeks ago letting me know that it is now available to buy at Boots! :)
Previously you could only purchase online or at selected Debenhams stores but now you can pick it up instore at Boots which is much more convenient.

Just thought I'd let you all know as you may be eager to try it out.

x

Eco Fragrance: Tous H20

Ever felt a bit selfish and self absorbed dousing yourself in perfume, making up your face, fancifying yourself in all manner of the word when you know there are others suffering in the world?

I know I do.  Sometimes we need to remind ourselves how lucky we are living in the Western world, despite recession, we still have running water, clothes, food ... even when times are tough, we are still in a much more privileged position than countless others on this planet.

That's why I was really pleased to find out about a fragrance by Tous called H20 branded as an 'ecochic' perfume inspired by the brands jewellery collection.  The gorgeous blue gem shaped bottle is made from 25% recycled glass and was packaged by the Arco Iris Foundation, a special employment centre that helps integrate disabled people into the workplace using cardboard that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

From each bottle of TOUS H20 sold a percentage of the profit will be donated to Oxfam.  Each sale will provide 15 litres of drinking water for people around the world who need it most.

The fragrance itself has top notes of lemon and lavender and is infused with rose, ginger and woody bottom notes.  It is a delightfully fresh, clean fragrance.  It is reminiscent of Davidoff Cool Water and is a lovely day time scent. 


Tous H20 is available from Boots and comes in 30ml, 50ml and 100ml starting at £26. 


x

Wall Candy

Last week I posted my bedroom makeover and as well as freshening up my bedroom, I have been trying to give my walls a revamp.

I enjoy images of iconic beauty, architecture and advertising in particular retro/vintage photography.  As a cheap alternative to otherwise expensive wall art I usually frame posters and photos, creating something a tad different to typical Ikea prints of City landscapes.

In this instance I logged onto AllPosters.co.uk and browsed through their many galleries from Banksy to Warhol to Kandinsky.  I went with my favourite choice of iconic beautiful women.

Instead of going for the obvious images of Audrey Hepburn,  I went for a stunning print of Liz Taylor and a gorgeous print of Marilyn Monroe, one of which I had never seen before.  I also purchased a movie poster of Le Mepris poster featuring Brigitte Bardot that was featured in a previous inspiration post.

Elizabeth Taylor

Marilyn reading 

Brigitte's Le Mepris poster

I think the key to choosing a good poster is dependant on the feel of your home and whatever room it will hang in but also to choose something that is a little bit different.  Instead of the same Audrey Breakfast at Tiffany's print or Marilyn's seven year itch, choose something that is less 'typical' to the eye so that it becomes a talking point in your room.

Of course I would love to afford 'real' art in my home and it's certainly something to work towards but in the mean time I find this a cheap and effective way at dressing my walls.

What do you have hanging on your walls?

x

Cheek of the Week: NEW CID i-blush

It's not often I am gifted a product to review and I end up wearing it every single day without fail.  New CID's i-blush has got me doing just that.

I-blush is a blush/highlighter duo that comes neatly packaged in a square compact with mirror and most exciting of all LED lights so you can freshen up your make up on the go day or night.

The blush is a lovely warm pink shade with hints of gold which reminds me ever so slightly of Nars Orgasm, certainly in the same shade family at least.  The highlighter is a warm golden shade that creates a gorgeous glow that doesn't overwhelm the rest of your make up.

Warm pink blush (left) Golden highlighter (right)

What I like in particular about this product isn't just the fact that the shades suit me perfectly or apply softly with a satin like finish or that it lasts all day ... the bonus for me is that the highlighter is suitable for daytime use and is a space saving solution to something that is otherwise bulky to carry around in your bag.

I usually forego highlighter during the day as it usually lends itself on the shimmery side which I don't think is appropriate for daylight hours however a soft touch gives just the sheen you need to give a healthy daytime glow.  Highlighters generally also come housed in quite a large palette and the i-blush avoids this by teaming it up with the complementary universal pink blush therefore taking up less space in an already crowded make up bag.

If you fancy trying out the i-blush, it's available on the NEW CID website for £24.00 which I think it's quite a bargain for these 2 gorgeous products.

Has anyone else tried the i-blush?  What other New CID products do you recommend?

x

Style Crush: Taylor Tomasi-Hill

I had seen photos of Taylor Tomasi-Hill plastered all over the internet for such a long time and even had many images of her saved in my own personal inspiration file but I never knew her name or who she was until recent weeks.

The cats eye glasses are to die for and the lip colour is lush!

A fluffy leopard print stole - I want!

 Turns out Taylor Tomasi-Hill is style and accessories editor for US Marie Claire.  That's not really important to me although it does explain the countless photographs and experienced style she exudes, what I care about is how flipping brilliant she looks and how unique (or as unique as you can get these days) her look is.

Easy colour blocking with a yellow skirt and bright blue clutch

Bold colours teamed with a pinky nude clutch - works perfectly

Naturally, it was her red hair that attracted me to her look ... being a 'Redhead for Life', I adore catching sight of fellow copper tops and their sartorial choices.  Taylor's locks however, is her best kept secret, refusing to disclose who colours her hair.  

For years I have been trying to style up basic pieces through the power of accessorising.  When all else fails and I can't find something half decent to wear, I resort to jeans, heels, white vest and layers of accessories.  Depending on the accessory you can have 3 or 4 different outfits for the price of 1 and it seems that Taylor's ethos isn't too disimilar.

She styles basics (albeit designer basics I'm sure) with the finesse that only an accessories editor can.  From her Chanel bags to her Norma Kamali cat's eye glasses - which are to die for, she dresses up or down the most basic of looks.

I love Taylor's use of bold colours, leopard print and a healthy mixture between skyscraper heels and sneakers.  Her look is not for the shrinking violet but pretty inoffensive too leaving you admiring her edgy sophistication with daring choices in just the right dose.

Am I the only one late catching on to Taylor's inspirational style direction?

x

Britain's Brush: Oral B Challenge Update!

So it's been nearly 4 weeks since I originally posted about the Oral B Professional Care 500 electric toothbrush and it's time to let you know what I think.

In my original post I mentioned that 9 out of 10 people who use a power brush never go back to traditional brushing... and ya know what?  I can see why.

Using the Oral B PC500 encouraged me to brush my teeth for a full 2 minutes ... not only that when concentrating on areas of the mouth for up to 30 seconds at a time, the rotating head is doing all the hard work for you and really getting into the nooks and crannies.  Every 30 seconds the brush re-rotates itself reminding you to move onto the next quarter of your mouth.  It's the toothbrush that thinks for you.

Me, my cheeser and my Oral B PC500 :D

There are different heads that come with the brush and I particularly liked the one that is a flossing aid.  It really gets in those hard to reach areas of the mouth.

My teeth feel much smoother and look more polished using the power brush.  What was especially noticeable for me was that the teeth at the back of my mouth always felt fresh and clean.  Using a manual brush I can find it hard to reach into those areas making sure all grime is removed.  

The power brush also really helps clean in about your gums where a normal toothbrush isn't as precise or easy to manoeuvre.  The battery also lasts forever, I have only had to recharge it once this past 4 weeks which I think is amazing.

Overall my mouth feels fresher, cleaner, smoother and my teeth certainly look a little bit shinier and more dazzling.  I don't want to turn my back on traditional cleaning but the power brush is definitely what I reach for first in the mornings.

In fact, while the Oral B PC500 is on special offer I have picked up a couple as gifts for friends.  What better gift than a gorgeous pearly smile?!

Did you take part in the challenge?  How did you find it?

x

Clo Collective

A chance meeting about a year ago between a close friend and the very talented Sharon Pringle and Wendy Murray led to my discovery of Scottish fashion label Clo.  

Sharon and Wendy who are the creatives behind Clo met as students at Glasgow School of Art and decided to form their label after realising they had a shared love of architecture, colour and bold, graphic patterns.

Clo create luxe scarves in bold, eye catching designs with all their garments being printed and finished in Glasgow.  The word Clo itself is a Gaelic term which can mean both printing and cloth which says it all really.

"Much of our individual design work is derived from architecture that has inspired us in cities such as Copenhagen, Glasgow, London and Berlin, and so it seemed obvious for us to do a project together after graduation. We then realised a significant gap in the market for graphic, luxurious yet affordable scarves and so our project became our business."

Sharon and Wendy very kindly sent me a scarf and cape sample so I could see for myself the quality, beauty and appeal of their brand.  The cape was part of a collaboration with Charlotte Jenkins, Charlotte designed the cape while Clo created the wonderful lining.

I had fully intended on incorporating these items into an OOTD of the day and I did half way get there but the photos didn't come out well, so instead I can only showcase from the hanger but I am sure these gorgeous prints speak for themself.

Charlotte Jenkins Cape

A sneak peek of the wonderful Clo lining

Cadogan design

 This particular lining is called Cadogan and just like Sharon and Wendy mentioned, it is inspired by architecture using geometric patterns and bold colours.

I adore this scarf by Clo, from the splattered pattern to the Clo branding to the contrasting burgundy underside.  The scarf is a great length making it versatile so it can be used as a belt, scarf, head band.  I tried many looks with it and loved wearing as a belt as it goes with so many things, alas, no photos.  What a blogging fail I am!

If you like these designs I urge you to go and have a look at what else Clo has to offer at their website www.clocollective.com .... and as surface designers, they don't just stop and scarf and bespoke linings ... they will also be getting involved in creating patterns for rugs, ceramics and tiles.  That I cannot wait to see!!

x

My Big Fat Royal Birthday!

On Friday, while all eyes were on Kate and Wills, I was feeling a little left out as it was a big birthday for me and my limelight had been well and truly stolen ... hmmph! ;p

I started my birthday weekend at a delightful hotel and spa in the Lake District.  This was my first visit to the Lakes and it was just lovely, I definitely want to go back and explore more of it.  We stayed at the Swan Hotel and Spa, an utterly charming and gorgeous hotel with wonderful decor where shabby chic meets modern country chic.  Stags heads and horns adorned the walls as well as colourful upholstery and floral wallpapers.  It was just gorgeous.

our very cute and country room 

The hotel was covered in patriotic bunting in celebration of the Royal Wedding and they even had a special showing of it and served up afternoon tea with cake and scones.  So very British and quaint.

After a morning of drooling over the Royal Wedding .... 'that' dress was just amazing, it was the ultimate in fairytale nuptials and even had me feeling a little emotional.  All this from someone who wasn't that bothered about watching other than to check out the dress and who designed it.  Long Live McQueen!  Sarah Burton did a wonderful job.

I spent the rest of the day mountain biking which was a first for me and was as much fun as it was physically challenging for a novice like me.  It has got me pondering the purchase of my own bike as it's such a great way to keep fit.

chilling out with my first vodka of many ;) 

Hello Kitty cake... for the mature 30 year old ;) 

Later that evening it was time to chill and I was treated to plentiful champagne and cake.   Before I knew it my couple of days retreat in the Lakes was over and it was back to the big smoke for a surprise bash where friends and family had kept schtum for weeks giving me no clues as to what they had planned.
Needless to say I am tired and slightly hungover today so thought I would let you in on some of the photos from my birthday weekend and let you see what I wore to my surprise bash.

I wore a gorgeous navy strapless jumpsuit from Topshop which I bought many months ago, loving it for it's slightly 70's studio 54 vibe.  I teamed with minimal gold and brown jewellery and brown moc croc heels from Aldo (barely seen in photo below).   I finally got the chance to wear my vintage fur cape which I adore and have been dying to wear since I bought it on eBay absolutely yonks ago!  It has a gaga-esque/Dynasty look about it.

 I went for a bronzey/navy make up look, similar to what I wore at New Year.  This time I chose to wear Ardell Demi Wispies false lashes and I absoluely loved them.  They were soft enough to give a fluttery finish but had the right balance between fake and natural.  I don't want to look like I am not wearing false lashes but I also don't want them taking over my eyes like tarantulas.  Ardell lashes are made from human hair which I think helps create that softer finish that sets them apart from other false lashes.

Emma a.k.a Jessica Rabbit and I 

Stacie (who is also my hair fairy!)

Mr Party Planner and his Mrs

I now can't quite believe the recent influx of bank holidays are over and normal working life will resume as off Tuesday :( I am not sure how I will get back into a routine or how I will get over the high of royal weddings, royal birthdays and royal lazing about.

How have you spent the bank holiday weekend?  Are you ready to return to the rat race?! 

x