Taking A Break

This post in just to let you know that i will be taking a small break from my blog over the next few months to concentrate on finishing my college work. Its taking up a fair bit of my time and at the moment I feel the need to work on my course as much as possible to get the best result I can, especially since its costing me nearly £1000 to do. 

I should hopefully be back post April and then i can give this blog some much needed TLC and more regular posting. 

Until then my friends,

Emmie xo

Spring Summer 13: Beauty Trends

There are so many fun beauty trends to try this coming season it will be hard to get bored. So get excited and read on for my mini break down of the trends!

Bold lips

L-R Giles, Richard Nicholl, Missoni, Dries Van Noten

This Spring-Summer there’s 2 ways to go bold. The first of which is to wear a bold lip with very little eye make-up. Pink was the popular choice in every colour from bubble gum to magenta. Other hot picks were very dark burgundy and corals. Most will have been done by a lipstick however if you don’t like the feel or coverage of a lipstick go for a lip stain for a bright look with a weightless feel.

Bold Eyes

L-R - Anna Sui, Chanel, Chloe, Dior

Bold eye colours were one of the many eye trends at SS13 catwalks giving a bright and playful appeal to the catwalk. Colours ranged from Metallic silver and bronze to pink, blue, orange and red. Diors beauty teams even went so far as to decorate each of the models eyes with diamantes with a different pattern and colour combination. Now that’s dedication.

Enhanced Natural

L-R Giambattista Valli, Ralph Lauren, Marni, Valentino

Last Spring-Summer no make-up was a popular choice however SS13 beauty experts used make up to create a natural look that has clearly been enhanced by make-up. Two choices were made with foundation either a matte finish or light dew feel but never overly shiny. Cheeks were enhanced with a rosy blush, brows shaped but not filled; no eyeliner was used and minimal mascara.

Lower Lids

L-R Stella McCartney, Christopher Kane, Lanvin, Fendi

Your lower eye lids are going to be the most fashionable area of your face this coming season. Designers’ beauty teams were making this a clear focus point for SS13. Going with every version from natural at DVF, smoky and smudged at Christopher Kane and lined with coloured tape at Fendi.

Brown Eyed Girls

L-R House of Holland, Marc Jacobs, Roberto Cavalli, DVF

Brown was another popular eye colour choice on the catwalks. It is a softer alternative to black and if you aren’t a fan of a bright bold eye and prefer a more natural look it is a good choice to make. Did you know that brown is a great colour as you get older too as its softer than black liners so will make you look younger. I think that is what the beauty teams may have gone for, a youthful feel as spring always makes you want to feel fresh faced after the winter months because even if you go for a more dramatic eye it still looks chic.

Hope this has given you some inspiration. How will you be wearing your make-up this season?

Emmie xo

Spring Summer 13: Hair Trends

The Spring Summer season will soon be kicking in and as such to compliment your new season styling here is a breakdown of a few hair trends.

Centre Parts

L-R Bogetta Veneta, Missoni, Rochas, Roberto Cavalli

Centre partings were featured heavily on the catwalks, the time of the comb over is over! Whether you choose to wear it sleek or messy, done up or down a centre parting will be a simple way of making your hairstyle SS13 accessible with no cost and no time spent.

If you have been wearing your hair in a side part for a few years you many need to gently train your hair into its new parting. You can do this by making sure to comb in your new central part each and every time you wash your hair and dry your hair into place. Another option is to tie or pin your hair once you have done this to ensure it stays in place for longer. A little perseverance is needed but it shouldn't take long.

Nape Knots

L-R Chanel, Christian Dior, Gucci, Bogetta Veneta

The nape of your neck is now a fashion hot spot. Most if not all catwalks session stylists chose to put their buns, ponytails and knotted styles low and into the neck. While buns were still going strong the new up-do choice seems to be heading towards knotted styles as seen as Chanel and Altuzarra, placed into the hair band and pulled back into itself and covering the band over.

2 in 1 Texture

L-R 3.1 Phillip Lim, Burberry, Derek Lam, Paul Smith

Think mixing up your style for 2 in 1 texture. Wear it sleek at the root and messy at the ends. Slicked back with gel at the top and messy at the ends. Most styles worn on the catwalk had a messy texture, almost like the models had styled their own hair. up-dos were loose and dishevelled 

Side Fringe / Bangs

L-R Chloe, Moschino, Valentino, Marc Jacobs

Side fringes or bangs were prominent at fashion week, generally made by pulling models long hair across the face and pinning into place as part of a updo. This is a simple and easy way of switching up your style for a day or night without the commitment of having to grow it all out when you get bored.

Hope you have fun playing with some new styles.

Emmie xo

More Love Letters...

As its Valentines Day I thought i might share this "little" initiative with you. There is a website called More Love Letters that believes that even in this day and age everyone deserves a little love, even if you do not know them. Simple. 

Picture from idlehearts.com

Founded by Hannah Brencher, who started love letter writing back 2010 as a way to lift her spirits and the spirits of others after moving to New York by leaving love letters for random strangers to find then expanded to accepting love letter requests from the wider world. The idea is that you leave a handwritten letter around your hometown with encouraging words to lift the spirits of whomever may find it. All you need is a pen, some stationary and a good heart.

"I’ve discovered that no matter how tough we act, we all still need a love letter from time to time. That even in a world crammed tight into 140 characters and constant status updates, there is a still a great craving for the handwritten note." - Hannah

Photo Via More Love Letters

So what I'm asking is that this Valentines whether you are single, newly loved-up or in a long term relationship write a love letter to a stranger today. Leave it for your local coffee shop barista, put it on a shop shelf, in the cracks of a wall, on a park bench and bring a little joy to someone today who you have never met, and may never meet simply because the world really does need more love letters.

Get involved here!

Happy Valentines

Emmie xo

Spring Summer 13 Trends : Part 2

Following on from last weeks SS13 Trend Report here are a few more of my predictions for SS13

Trend - Shift Style Tailoring

L-R Antoni & Alison, Mary Katrantzou, PPQ, Matthew Williamson

I am a huge fan of shift dresses and tops and I feel they suit most body shapes. Length can vary to suit the wearers taste and confidence levels but most designers kept the skirt either knee or mini length. You can channel a modern 60’s vibe like at PPQ or make a shift more exciting with patterning as seen at Mary Katrantzou.

Trend - Stripes

L-R Paul Smith, PPQ, Temperley London, Zoe Jordan

Stripes were everywhere. Mixed with another print, bold, thin multi-coloured, monochrome you name it you can wear it. Stripes can be a great tool for accentuating your figure too, slimming you down or lengthening you if you need it.

Trend - Beige and Blush

L-R Burberry Prorsum, Felder Felder, J. Js Lee, Maria Grachvogel

Beige and Blush tones are perfect spring shades, light and airy but again you have to be careful which shade of these you choose. Wear with white for a perfect casual evening outfit, switch out your usual cream top for a beige one with jeans or even wear blush shoes to give the illusion of leg length.

Trend - Jackets

L-R Zoe Jordan, Topshop Unique, Preen by Thronton Bregazzi, Mulberry

Jackets are your SS13 go to cover up. Leave the cardigans at home ladies and instead opt for a lightweight jacket that nips in slightly at the waist. Tailoring is looser but still has shape, sleeves worn between mid-forearm and wrist, though is you do want a shorter length take your mid-arm length and push up to your elbows as seen at Zoe Jordan for a casual feel. 

I hope having done these reports it will help you pick out some of the trends you would like to incorporate into your wardrobe. Remember to keep your own style and not try to replicate something. Originality is key to being stylish. As I said last week these are just the trends I have noticed and are therefore by no means what will be coming in but I am looking forward to seeing if I’m right about any of them.

Which of these trends will you try? What trends do you predict for SS13?

Emmie xo

Wish List: February 13

Maybe its the cold weather we are having in the UK this winter but my wish list for February doesn't just contain clothing and accessories.

A Holiday / Vacation preferably somewhere warm - £??? 

ASOS Blouse with Drop Collar - £30.00

Mango Mesh Plunge Skater Dress - £34.99

Vera Wang Lovestruck Floral Rush Perfume - £35.00

The Little Paris Kitchen Cookbook by Rachel Khoo - £10.86

Emmie xo

Spring Summer 13 Trends : Part 1

With the sales over and the new seasons trends starting to come into the shops I’ve had a go at breaking down the SS13 London catwalks into the trends I spotted and will probably be coveting this coming season.

Sheer

L-R Christopher Kane, House Of Holland, Temperley London, Erdem

Sheer panelling seemed to be everywhere to me and I will admit I always will love it as a trend as it can carry you through seasons and add a touch of girlishness without being frilly. It can lighten up a heavy garment and if the fabric is right give you an ethereal floaty look. For SS it has been used to add length without heaviness and to give a degree of coverage to peek-a-boo styles.

Yellow

L-R Erdem, Issa London, Jenny Packham, Meadham Kirchoff

I don’t know why but yellow seemed to jump out at me on the Spring-Summer catwalks. Its bright and cheerful and came in shades between lemon sorbet to sunflower. Depending on your skin tone depends on if you can wear this shade as you could end up looking ill. If yellow is a tone you know you can’t pull off consider using it to accessorise rather than as a clothing item, this is what I will be doing.

Shorts

L-R Paul Smith, Sass and Bide, Matthew Williamson, Zoe Jackson

Always wanting to give an alternative to dresses, shorts seemed to be making a comeback but we are not talking about denim hot pants here, we are talking about city shorts. Longer and looser than hot pants making the city short easy to wear for day or night. Wear with a tank, hat and heels like at Zoe Jordan for a sporty paired down day chic or with a shirt and jacket for evening sophistication.

Monochrome

L-R Acne, Michael Van der Ham, Topshop Unique, Jasper Conran

Black and white will always be a year round staple for me. It is timeless, effortless but always seems to be the epitome of chicness and can easily be accessorised as you don’t have the worry of ill matching colours and can be brightened with a pair of shoes or bag to give some night-time glamour. Use patterns to give a pop to your outfit or go all out with a monochrome floral patterned suit for some extra pizazz!

What SS13 Trends have you noticed? Which of these Trends do you think you'll be trying?

Emmie xo