There is a clear trend in the beauty industry towards customization. Recently several customizable products have been launched. Such products offer a consumer a more personalized approach to skin care and makeup.An example at the high end of the market is Dr.Oliver Coutin’s MyBlend skin care range. MyBlend allows you by using special “boosters” (that come in syringes) to blend a product according to your skin’s current needs. Your skin feels irritated, to the rescue comes “The Soother”. Feel a bit down, “The Energizer” will bring radiance to your face. Except from customization benefits, this product has a strong let’s-play-scientists attraction. Just look at the photo!!Mass market is not legging behind and follows the customization trend! Revlon recently introduced a cus
I love this trend for many reasons. Firstly, I love wedges - from the ethnic big cork or stack heels, to the espadrilles, to the narrowest of heels. I find them way more comfortable for walking in (especially on the cobbled streets that we have so many of in Europe) and for standing in. As for the mini wedge, well I love this because it's really useful to get a bit of height for slightly longer pants, without resorting to kitten stilettoes (which I think make the leg look stumpier than ever and for some reason I find really hard to walk in). They're also great for day dresses - no extra high heel for an all-day shopping tour, but a bit of length. Like wrap dresses - I hate wearing these with flat pumps or sandals, but the mini wedge can look great with them.Yesterday I managed to get my hands on a pair of Zara's latest shoe collection - a black patent peeptoe mini-wedge with a gold heel. Sounds like a pair you'd find towards the back of your grandma's closet? Actually (I think) th
Worn correctly, satin can look luxe, glamorous, beautiful. Even cute and fresh. But it's so easy to get it wrong. It's a great material for Spring (and for Autumn/winter) - it can look and feel cool or warm. One of the main things when you're wearing it is to think about colour. It's easy to look... a bit mumsy. So keep colours fresh and young. Obviously wearing satin trim / accents is more simple, but wearing a full satin outfit can look fabulous, too, but you have to think very carefully about how well it fits, how it hangs and folds etc. Don't go overboard with cleavage when wearing satin, and keep accessories simple and to a minimum. No excess detailing. Here's Kerry Washington showing us how it's done, in that Prada skirt:Simple, chic, smart. But cute, too. Her belt and shoes work very well, and the colours and shapes are perfect.Scoring less well is Camilla Belle, in a Vera Wang:I don't like this at all - the shape is horrid, the detailing not good, the color ucky, and th
Ever since their appearance at Prada SS 07, I think everybody had an inkling that they'd take off... and they have, although so far only really among some particularly (desparate?) fashionistas. But although I've yet to see someone at my local Tesco's wearing one, I think turbans really aren't as scary as they might appear - they're easy to wear and can be very, very chic (if worn correctly - with the right clothes, by the right person). So what are you waiting for?Well, there are certainly some things to consider - you can't just throw on a pink silk turban and think, Yes, good - I'm trendy so I look great. You probably don't. Think about situation - for example, I was reading a report by a woman who'd tried a Prada turban when taking her daughter to school, and all she got was 'Mummy, take that silly pink hat off', and plenty of stares from other parents. Maybe a stylish party, or even something during the day would be better, but where fitting in is key, perhaps give turb
I've already posted about maxi skirts, but I'm sure you'll be aware that maxi dresses are really hot for summer, too. The main problem with the latter is when / how to wear them, but we'll come to that later. There are some brilliant, beautiful pieces around. Some of my favorites are at Gucci SS 07 - black with dramatic paisley prints, red and purple hints, all very flowing, very strong, very luxe. Beautiful low backs work brilliantly with the full length, too - sexy in the way that showing cleavage and a lot of leg really isn't: I suppose that all the above are actually rather easy to wear - something smart, formal. These are statement dresses. However, if you're not on a Gucci budget, things get trickier. Maxis start to look hippy-ish, vintage-looking, floral... a bit I'm-an-old-curtain-wrapped-around-you. So rule 1 is to try to avoid looking to hippy. Of course, wearing gold hoop earrings or something might actually complement the look, just don't go overboard. Here are som
Oh yes, if you thought yellow was scary, try this. Perhaps sparked by a similar trend in lipcolor earlier this year - no bubble-gum candyfloss - only the brightest, most vibrant, strongest, hottest pink will do. And, to give it an extra edge, the trendiest way to wear it is with black - Margherita Missoni wore black opaques under her dress, and Dita von Teese with a black long sleeved shirt - yes, under her dress, too. At Giambattista Valli:Carolina Herrera: Oasis: So - my opinion. To be entirely honest, I really don't like any of the above, bar, perhaps, the Herrera shirt. That's it. The darker pinks are just too strong for me as a dress - they're not too flattering, just a bit too fashiony, you know? No? Oh well. Either way, I just can't imagine wearing such dresses - but I do own a similarly-colored cardigan from Zara which I love to wear with white trousers and a white vest underneath. I also have a fuschia trench which works well with white, blue denim or grey.
Isn't Kate Moss brilliant? As soon as she's seen wearing something new for a split second, I could write a whole post about the new Kate-inspired trend that's going to follow. Anyway, one of the latest is the maxi skirt:I have to say, though, that although the skirt itself is very pretty, her effort to tone the satin down by teaming it with really casual shoes and tops doesn't appeal to me that much. Rather, I prefer these types of looks:Carolina Herrera, where there were many to be seen: Two great looks at Ralph Lauren Black Label: All three are paired with sleeveless tops, to achieve a great elongated look - either fitted or loose. If you're wearing a T or cardigan, keep it really fitted, and, of course, tops in the same colour as the skirt are even better, as above. I have a black maxi skirt which I wear with a really fitted polo shirt. Also, as seen above, I add a pretty broad hip belt - in brown with my black outfit, and brown also works really well with white, as does a s
It's getting a bit predictable, isn't it? We start thinking about summer and, oh! - look what's set to be a big trend this season? The nautical / sailor / seafaring look. Only this year, it's been excitingly renamed the riviera look, so, who knows, maybe there can be a glint of gold here and there. Despite this, to be honest I'm actually quite a fan of this style - it's very refreshing, very chic, very easy to do, and often very flattering. Of course, it's infinitely better if you're actually somewhere in the Riviera, but we can all pretend.We all know this look like the back of our crimson-manicured hand by now; there are just three main colours to think about - red, blue and white. Add a few horizontal stripes, a canvas shoe... and presto. There are a few very simple staples that we can use to get a really great sea-worthy wardrobe... but which can also be used on dry land. In wet countries.Wide-leg white linen pants (extra long) or jeans. I get mine from Versace or Armani Je
