Form an orderly queue girls ... Ooh La Lanvin!

Ah H&M, you never fail to impress me.

Lanvin ... yup you heard me right ... the excrutiatingly expensive and super chic fashion house will be collaborating with H&M to bring what I hope will be a wonderful and an all time favourite high street collection for the brand.

H&M's collaboration with Jimmy Choo wasn't as exciting as I expected, neither was Cavalli or even Sonia Rykiel who I had high hopes ... but Lanvin ... that's exciting!!

They will bring luxe, quality and sophistication to the H&M brand?!

I simply cannot wait. Lanvin create the finest of clothes with the most beautiful detail that one can usually just ogle at on the catwalk but for once and maybe the only time in my wee life, it will actually be attainable! *Swoon*

The collection will be available in stores from November 23rd and I expect an immediate sell out.

I just don't do ebay so shall we start queuing now?

x

China Glaze Pure Torture

This was a notd from a few weeks back. I have a feeling I may have posted this shade before but I love it.

It's China Glaze in Pure Torture ... a bloody orange based red that reflects its name well. I wore this on a night to Edinburgh to see a burlesque show ... the colour certainly was befitting of the burlesque scene.

This is it with just one coat but the colour pay off is great and it lasted me a week without chipping which is fantastic for me when I am having a lazy week!

I bought this in Sally's for just under a fiver.

x

Lancome Hypnose Drama

It may be apparent by now that I am super fussy when it comes to mascara.

You see, my lashes are so so pale that I really need a bit of a wonder product to create the intensity, volume and length that I love. So far, products that have worked for me are YSL Faux Cils and Singuliar and Chanel Exceptionelle as well as Clarins Wonderlength ... there are a few others but those are the stand out products that I remember and go back to.

Back in the day I was a fan of Lancome mascaras but hadn't made a repurchase for quite some time, that is until I was reading Hele's Blog where she recommended Lancome Precious Cells mascara. Welcome back Hele! You have been missed :)

I decided to go for it and headed to my nearest Lancome counter. After asking for precious cells the SA asked what I was looking for in a mascara and advised me that precious cells probably wouldn't perform as well as I wanted ... it wouldn't give me the dramatic lashes I was after, so she recommended Lancome Hypnose Drama instead. So I purchased on the SA advice.

Now, I don't want to slate this product as I imagine it works really well on lashes that may be darker to begin with but on me it just doesn't work so well. Since my purchase I have only used it 3 times. Now that ain't so good is it?

Lancome Hypnose Drama comes with a very voluptuous brush which is what helps create the dramatic eyes but I can't help but find it just a bit too big, mis-shapen and clumsy. I find the formula very very wet therefore making it a little difficult and somewhat messy to apply. I also find it clumps then seperates making my lashes look a little bit spindly and spider like. Now don't get me wrong, I want my lashes to look fake, that is the desired effect however, i don't want lashes that look like they would snap or crumble if I touched them.

I think I may wait until the mascara has dried out slightly and try again when it is less wet. Hopefully then it will give a more smouldering but cleaner finish.

On the other hand, the bestie also uses this mascara and adores it, and admittedly it does give her great results. Her lashes are darker than mine to start with but where she lacks length and volume, Lancome Hypnose Drama assists with wonderfully.

What do you think of this product? Should I have stuck to Hele's recommendation of Lancome Precious Cells?

x

A Sparkling NOTD from KIKO

I made a few make up purchases on my recent weekend trip to Barcelona, none of which are very exciting at all. However, last time I was there I discovered Kiko which is an Italian make up brand.

Kiko is a very reasonably priced brand and although the quality of all their products is not up to par, you do find the odd gem. Almost a bit like Barry M but their packaging and branding looks more expensive and product range is much more vast, even catering to mens skincare (which my husband loves!).

Anyway, without further ado, I picked up this sparkly nailpolish for a couple of Euros. I had previously been let down by a clear glitter polish by China Glaze so was hoping this one, although a heck of a lot cheaper would return in a better quality and bling finish. And it did.

I believe the colour is shade 217 which is a silver sparkle. I was surprised at how much glitter payoff you get with this product and it's easy to layer on or as I did ... dab extra bits of sparkle on. I was also pleasantly surprised by the quick drying time. By far the quickest drying glitter polish I have used.

The finish of it is lovely, it almost looks like a sprinkling of diamantes on your nails and dries glossy ... well, as glossy as a glitter polish can be. I applied this on Saturday and today there is still very little chipping or lift off.

In the photos it's worn over the top of Nails Inc Beauchamp Place but think this will look lovely over blues and even black for a winter sparkle effect. The photos really don't do the dazzle much justice as it was much blingier in real life and received many compliments.

These polishes are so reasonably priced and despite the low cost the quality is really very good.

Anyone else tried Kiko polishes? What do you think of the quality?

x

My style ...

If there was ever an image that summed up my personal style it would be this one.

When I say style, I really am referring to the world of interiors but of course this will always reflect my day to day fashions too.

I love everything about these images .... the zebra print, the white on white while still remaining warm and a tad rustic, the minimalism, the retro Barcelona chairs (my dream is to own one ... 2 would be an absolute bonus), the coral on the high gloss coffee table, the accumulation of books in the background ....

I could go on... It's retro, chic, mimimalist, rustic, glamorous and modern all rolled into one and everything together works so perfectly without looking shabby or some form of junk shop. It's fresh, bright, sophisticated and luxe.

I pickpocketed these images from MadebyGirl's blog who in turn wrote about them on her blog as they are by photographer Paul Costello. If you are interested in interior design you really must check this blog out. Jen who writes MadebyGirl is a graphic designer and also has her own online shop selling prints.

When I eventually move again, I hope to adorn my walls with one of her prints.

x

Dell's OPI Laptop ...

I blogged about the DELL/OPI collaboration not long back ... everyone had blogged about it long before me but it only became of interest of me when my laptop started dying a slow but sure death.

Lucky old me got the chance to trial one of the Dell Mini Inspirons for a few weeks while I researched my new laptop purchase and it just happened to be from the OPI range.

To start with, the mini inspiron is cute, way cute. It's dinky, light and a little bit chubby but in a good sturdy way. It's the perfect size to fit in a handbag if you so wish, which I did ... this means blogging is easier on the go. Not that I do a lot of blogging on the go but having that option was great. I blogged in a cocktail bar ... something I would never do if i had to lump around my regular laptop.

What makes it even cuter is this particular collaboration with OPI ... I was sent the trendy OPI shade, Jade is the new black.

The battery life was the big bonus for me. Out of the 2 weeks I trialled this laptop I only charged it once and that was only to give it an extra boost 'just in case'.

I am not a techy but the Dell had applications that my poor old laptop would take a fit if it was exposed to ... like a webcam and Windows Livewriter which is great for blogging.

Just as the Dell went back to it's home, my own laptop packed in and so far it looks like Dell is the front runner for a new one. I do have a modest budget and Dell seem to be great value for money. The mini inspiron retails at around £249 with an extra £69 for the OPI customisation.

Any other laptop recommendations are welcomed :)

Holidays are coming ....

We are in the height of Summer but as I type, the rain is lashing off my lounge windows and there is a dull grey layer covering the sky. Where is our summer, Glasgow?? Where is it?



Well, I will be going abroad this year to find my sun but this means my skin will be on display so I need to make sure it's looking tip top and fuzz free.

I usually go by the old fashioned method of using a razor to de-fuzz but on my last holiday I decided to try a leg wax. I didn't like it. It was painful, sticky, intrusive (i had to listen to the therapist rant on about her 'gas' problems) and to be honest the results were not only rubbish in the sense that I was still a bit hairy afterwards but it hardly lasted a week before I had to get the shears out again.


This time I am going to venture into something that I find scarier than waxing and that's ..... EPILATION.


The word sends a shiver down my spine. I will never forget my friend Julie getting an epilator for Christmas and returning it the following week because she couldn't stand the pain. However, I do live by a 'no pain no gain' attitude and I really want to see if this works for me.

I am going to be trying out the Philips Satin Perfect epilator.






The new Philips Satin Perfect has an extra-wide head which enables it to remove more hair in one stroke, giving you long-lasting smoothness, faster. Its high performance discs are made of textured ceramic material, which gently grip and remove even finest hairs

I am hoping for a longer lasting result than waxing or shaving and a much smoother finish. I realise it may be a little uncomfortable but Philips say that this 'gently' grips and removes the hair so I am putting my faith in the brand not to disappoint.


Feel free to join me on my mission for perfectly smooth summer skin as I take you on my epilation adventures!


Any tips for using an epilator are very welcome and I hope to share my own tips with you in the coming weeks once I have fully reviewed Philips Satin Perfect.



x