Friday 27 November 2009

Everbody Needs An Education


Today I'll show you some lovely images from the delightful new film, An Education. Set in the early 60's, the story is set around sixteen year old Jenny, played by promising new comer Carey Mulligan. Jenny is interested in good books, music and all things French, yet her parents are pushing her towards Oxford. She is bored beyond belief until and a handsome - and much older! - suitor comes along, and her life is turned upside down... but I shan't spoil it for you! My personal highlight of the film was the Parisian sequence, which reminded me of a cross between A Bout De Souffle and Funny Face... wonderful, non?

Aside from an intriguing coming of age story, a witty script written by the excellent Nick Hornby and some Lula magazine-worthy imagery, it features some absoloutely beautiful costumes. Jenny transforms from a pretty school girl to an Audrey Hepburn-esque stunner before our very eyes, in brocade shift dresses and chic up-do's courtesy of the equally well-dressed, loveably dim-witted Helen. It's not just the girls, either; the gents are equally dressed to the nines. Anyway, I hope you are inspired to go and see this film, it is well worth the hype it is recieving, not just from yours truly but everyone coming out the cinema! Enjoy.











Sunday 22 November 2009

Let Them Eat Cake!


Slightly off the usual topic of conversation on my humble little blog, but I do love to bake (and eat!) cakes. So on this quiet Sunday afternoon I decided to well and truly get my bake on. These bad-boys are double chocolate chip with butter icing on top, and if I may say so myself, they were rather delicious.



Excuse the shoddy photography won't you, I don't have a camera at the moment so had to use Photobooth! Anyway, I was feeling quite proud of my creations... Until I decided to search for further baking inspiration, where I came across a myriad of cupcakes so perfectly made, beautifully coloured and painstakingly decorated, they are like mini works of art. I must definately invest in some food colouring in order to make some lovely technicolour buns. Feel free to drool over these.





Saturday 21 November 2009

Tennessee Waltz



After a rather long hiatus - sorry! - I am back with a vengeance. Well.. back with a new lovely lady of fantastic style to show you! Today's muse is Tennessee Thomas of the LA-based girl band, The Like. Whilst all three members have a most aesthetically-pleasing way of dressing, it is the fantastically named Tennessee who has really caught my eye. Rubbing shoulders with some of the best-dressed kids around, such as Alexa Chung, Mark Ronson and Zooey Deschanel, it is only fitting that she should have her own playful and charming look. She likes to team her long flowing locks with sailor-inspired pieces, envy-inducing coats and excellent hosiery galore,and the finished result is really quite wonderful. Observe..









Friday 26 June 2009

Heads Will Roll!

Sophia Coppola's spectacular biopic of Marie Antoinette divided critics, but they were unanimous on at least one thing - it was a visual masterpiece! The lavish Versailles setting, endless Laduree macaroons and specially-made Christian Louboutins create an aesthetic so pastelly-perfect it (very nearly) brings tears to my eyes. As the late, great and ill-fated Queen of France grew bored of a loveless marriage, she spends like there's no tomorrow leading to a wonderful shopping-and-cakes montage, linked here for your viewing pleasure. Here are a few lovely stills from the film to feast your eyes upon...




Unfortunately, it's not always wholly practical to flounce around in the couture dresses the Dauphin favoured, but we can certainly draw aspects of her look for the every day. The makeup worn in the 17th century court seems to be all about the rouge and lipstick, and I reckon it makes a refreshing change from focusing on your eyes! Apply petal pink blusher lavishly to the apples of your cheeks and a dark, matte cerise lipstick for a royal, Gallic look. Whilst nail varnish wasn't round back then, Marie certainly seems keen on her pastels, so I think she would adore candy colours to make her nails look like mini-macaroons. With all that spare time on her hands, she no doubt had an decadent beauty routine involving plenty of parfum. As for her royal tresses, she liked them high, powdered and extravagantly decorated. 

Barry M nail varnishes in Bright Purple, Mint Green and Pure Turquoise



Bourjois blusher in Lilas D'Or

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Perfume

Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder in White

Hair Band from Charm School Designs on Etsy



''It's not too much, is it?''

Thursday 18 June 2009

I Started Something I Couldn't Finish

I do apologise for the nearly a month-long hiatus, I have moved back home from Uni for the summer, celebrated my birthday, my sister's birthday and started a new job! So I have been rather busy.... but never fear, I'll be back to blogging as usual very soon... watch this space.

Saturday 30 May 2009

Pretty Girls Make Graves

Have you ever noticed that when magazines do beauty awards, the winners all suspiciously seem to be new products and advertising in the magazine? Call me sceptical, but how could they possibly be the reader's tried and tested all time favourites - they've only had them a week! Now I'm not a beauty expect by any means, but I've been enhancing my ol' mug for over five years now and I reckon I've got a pretty good idea what works and what doesn't. For your peace of mind, I don't want to look like a page three model but I also don't go for the no- makeup look... So here is my list of beautifiers that grace my face daily.

Bourjois 10 Hour Sleep Effect Foundation
Ahh if only I slept ten hours a day, then I'd have no need to paint my face. But I do so thankfully, there's this. It's a very thin, sheer consistancy with subtle shimmery particles that don't glitter and does look like it could feasably be your inner health, radiating from within!
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat
Again, my lack of sleep makes this badboy neccessary to make me look alive! It never looks cakey and doesn't crease, and presuming you opt for the right colour it blends in perfectly. A word of warning though; once you've had this, no bog standard under eye concealer will ever do!
Chanel Powder Compact
Very matte, finely milled, good range of colours... Ok, ok, I will admit the packaging is a massive part of why I love this so much. If I have to whip out my powder for regular touch ups, I may as well do it in style with that classic interlocking C logo. Plus it does it's job very well, and lasts for ages.
Benefit Dandelion Powder
As a milk bottle white, dark haired girl, this is THE perfect blusher. Nothing could hold a candle to it. Bordering on baby pink, it has illuminating particles and somehow looks very natural on me. Plus I have had it for about three years and have only just began to see the bottom, therefore it's definately splurging on.
Benefit High Beam
Slight pattern developing here... I love natural shimmer, Benefit and cheek makeup. Cheeks are criminally under appreciated! This little gem either carves cheekbones where you have none, or enchances a killer bone structure, depending on what your mother gave you. For a night out, I like to dot it in a C shape along my brow bones and cheekbones, and tiny dots in the inner corner of my eyes and in my cupid's bow. It's a very subtle but effective way to enhance your skin.


Rimmel Professional Liquid Eyeliner
I like to draw on a little black winged line above each eye, every day. I feel naked without them. Admittedly I have never tried any fancier brand's liquid eyeliner offerings, but then again I've never needed to. Rimmel's goes on smoothly (and easily, once you know how), stays put, but comes off withut difficulty when it comes to face-washing time. 


Rimmel Glam'eyes Mascara
I need to be honest with you here... my eyelashes are a bit crap. They never look magnificent like other girl's do. I am either cursed with average lashes or I'm missing out on some secret application tip; I'm really not sure. However, this Rimmel one is the best so far, and I've tried many a mascara, even Chanel! It's not too clumpy or heavy, the brush makes it posible to push my eyelashes up and seperate them and it doesn't smudge all down my face. A winning formula, I think.


Boots No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick in 'Angel' and Moisture Drench in 'Dare Devil'
In the book I am currently dipping my nose in, a French lady claimed that all a woman really needs is two lipsticks and a lover - a lipstick for day and night, and a lover for, well, loving. I can't assist with the latter but I can recommend two ideal candidates for your lipwear. Angel is the perfect, natural pinky-beige shade for daytime looks or if you opt for a smokey eye on the night. Dare Devil is a bold, pillarbox red with 'bluey undertones' (this is beauty jargon meaning it's not orangey red, and suits people with my colouring) perfect for nights on the razz! Simple.



Has anyone got a mascara they'd care to recommend me? What are your favourite products? Have you tried any of these, and did you like them? Questions, questions!