Here Come The Pinks >>

In this glorious sunshine it’s good to take advantage of all of the additional light we get without the clouds absorbing it all as it filters it through.

Everything looks lighter in sunlight so you can afford to go a bit more ‘pop’ with your colours.

I’ve gone for a barbie-esque pink as its too bubblegum for the winter so this is it’s calling.

The lipgloss is MAC ‘cultured’.

So with all this pink I have to go plain on my outfit to really make them the feature. I wrote before about Khloe K’s black and white striped maxi dress *trend alert* (see archives) and I found this great short version in Mango (a dress) for just £23. Perfect for a friend’s dinner in town to tonight.

Enjoy the sunshine!

Tags: Confidence, plus size, Fashion, curvy, Nail varnish, lip gloss, skirt, sun shine, pink, Khloe blank and white maxi, trends

The Real British Royal Family?

You can’t write a style blog and not cover the Beckhams. Look at this gorgeous family all co-ordinated and glam at the 7th Anniversary Sports Spectacular in LA. Style Royalty. Just missing their latest edition – baby girl Harper.

What I especially like about the British Beckhams is that they get as much stick as they get carrot (estimated to be worth £190m combined in the Sunday Times Rich List). Victoria, first famous for being a Spice Girl named ‘Posh’, has been mocked by most publications at one time or another. Even David, who we treat like a war hero for his services to English Football, has had his fair share of vilification. David’s career speaks for itself.
Victoria is also now very successful again as a designer. Her collections are worn by many celebrities, style icons and are regularly featured in Vogue et al. She also received recognition from the industry at the British Fashion Award‘s.

At every turn the media here have predicted her failure. Sometimes they were right (reference Victoria’s solo singing career) but she got right back up again and on to the next project. Got to love the determination. Rumours of David playing away with his ‘kiss and tell’ assistant in Madrid must have been hugely tough. Never proved true. Probably hard for them both but I can’t help identify more with Vb as a woman.

Victoria keeps us updated of her adventures and outfits via Twitter. Cute outfit ensembles for their 3 boys:

I read, I think in Vogue, that Vb aspires to do something similar to Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop and create a ‘lifestyle’ following (cooking, style etc). She has recently been sharing her softer side on Twitter.

Now let’s be clear. Victoria is not rocking any curves. Well except the surgically enhanced pair on her tiny frame. That said, I do like her style. She seems to have classic taste aside from the neon ‘hello America’ phase *shudders*.

What I admire about Victoria the most is her motivation and commitment. It cannot be easy to be wife to a super sportsman like David. Well I don’t imagine it’s hard to love him ❤❤❤ as we all do (!) but instead that, given she started with a successful music career that dwindled, it would be easy to sit back and ride the waves his life creates. Whilst no doubt success and fame afford you some help it cannot be easy to juggle her career, 4 gorgeous children and superstar husband’s life.

Girl Power.

Tags: Fashion, motivation, review, sport, style, Victoria beckham

Review – Sex, Lies and Rinsing Guys. It’s not just the men being rinsed …

A Cartier watch madame? Recession buster = rinsing (nope not your clothes, men!).

I am a bit shocked after watching Channel 4’s Sex, Lies and Rinsing Guys. Young glamorous girls being showered with gifts from trips to NYC, Cartier watches, designer handbags and shoes. Not so strange to start with I guess, men buying gifts for women, until you hear that the women have business plans and websites to support their strategies with the men they ‘rinse’.

One of the glam girls, Jeanette a mother of 2 from Liverpool, was flown to NYC and treated to an afternoon of shopping. The ‘friend’ was clearly expecting more than a smile to say thankyou and as the show progressed she told us about arguments they had as he became increasingly frustrated. Initially she had decided he could make up for his rudeness with an expensive designer handbag. They argue again and she checked into her own hotel room.

She herself seems pretty cross that he would dare to try to control her. Earlier, she told us how she used BlackBerry messenger to hint to her ‘contacts’ about things she wanted – posting photos of things she liked – we see her pick out some neon Jimmy Choos. Jeanette is adamant that sex is not involved and she is clear up front about this.

Later we meet Danica, a model, who even had a website. She offers access to her Amazon wish list so fans could buy her any of the things she wanted – make up, tumble dryer, vacuum cleaner and, right now, a plasma TV. She estimated that she had accumulated £20,000 value items in the last 3 months primarily from her Twitter strategy. She charges £50 for a 10 minute Skype session. Danica is insistent that there is no adult content just chit chat. Expensive chit chat.

To cut to the chase, my anxiety is the lack of awareness. The women describe how they can spot these men easily now when they go ‘hunting’ in trendy bars and clubs. However looking at the show’s participants (with all due respect, they have a certain look too) and seeing them in action, I fear they too can be spotted.

Whilst their attractive shells and giggling affectionate personas are sure to hypnotise men, I suspect they too are targeted. The stronger party in any negotiation is the one who knows what the other wants and these women send pictures!

Journalists have tended to focus on how stupid the women and men involved are. Jeanette reminds us that she is not breaking any laws and that she is also studying for a degree.

The questions I go round in circles on are – who is actually being used? Is it just the men being ‘rinsed’?

Whilst I accept that you should use the tools you have (i.e. the ‘best’ looking are models etc) I cannot get comfortable that both parties are on the same page as to how these transactions work or that these are the easiest ways to manage your finances. More than anything why put yourself in potential danger or stress, like Jeanette stranded in NYC, for a handbag or a watch? Let’s hope they have long term strategies to manage their own personal recessions as their attributes change, the rinsed grow tired of the chase or as the next generation start to follow suit …

Tags: channel 4, dating, designer, gifts, men, review, rinsing, sex, Tv, women

*Trend Alert* @KhloeKardashian shows off her curves

LOVING Khloe’s bold, black and white striped maxi dress. Very simple, pretty and stylish.

Convention tells us that horizontal stripes aren’t slimming but as you know I don’t think looking great has to mean looking skinny. It’s ALL about shape!

Tip: Having the wide shapes (or pattern) at the bottom half of the dress emphasises gorgeous top half curves. Plus, I think it’s a sign of true confidence and style to just wear what you love versus what you think you should.

Find similar styles in the UK at New Look and H&M. Monsoon have some more colourful versions too. Now we just need some sunshine…

Tags: Confidence, plus size, Fashion, clothes, style, summer, maxi

It’s Friday; Embellish Your Mind Like You Would Your Outfit

My inspiration for today’s update was triggered by a suggested activity from a book about improving your writing skills. In order to describe experiences well, the author recommends that you create written ‘brain storm’ style summaries of emotions and various related words. This way, you can draw on these for inspiration and encourage more diverse language in your text.

I realised that I do this with images I love to lift my mood. Maybe we all do? I have a stash of happy / beautiful / peaceful photographs that I turn to – to simply blossom a smile. Not of people that I hold close or of important memories, just things or places and colours that I enjoy. Moments. They soothe an anxious mind, inspire a flat mood and remind me that inspiration can come from anywhere. If you were planning a cognitive renovation, like redecorating your home, this would be your colour palette and style collection to remind you of the central themes you’re hoping to furnish throughout.

What do you do to rouse a happy mood or cease an unwelcome unease?

Here is my own random collection of visual treats as a gift of inspiration to you today – embellish yourself.

A military line of shoes waiting to adorn your feet … gorgeous. Order and beauty.

Marilyn – oh Marilyn, so beautiful & curvaceous. Dreamy, girly, lovely and peaceful. Given what we know about Marilyn now, I always ponder what she’s thinking about here?

Full Roses ❤ I love a photo that makes me want to touch it. The smooth texture and the glorious smell are so memorable and inviting.

Paris architecture. So different to what I see day to day in London.

Spring & Vogue – wallowing in the grass, fluttering through the pages and absorbing the style.

Blossom. A curve that looks like it has been blow dried into place – full and peaking. An almost unnatural yet perfectly formed shape.

More Vogue. Whilst this look is unwearable for most of us, I love the detail, her skin could be fabric with the sequins sewn in, or canvas painted with those plum red lips.

A line of tequila shots that prompts an almost audible giggle in my head. This screams fun!

Cloisters. So medieval and their scale is dwarfing. Peacefulness captured in a single frame.

Home ❤

Tags: beauty, calm, Fashion, happiness, motivation, photography

The Met Ball – hits & misses

The Metropolitan Museum in New York hosts an annual benefit which is always a fashion must see.

Fashion themes this year were metallic shades and lots of black floor length ensembles. High glamour with lots of designers chaperoning their gowns.

For me, Oprah looked every inch glamour in her Oscar de la Renta gown – pictured with the designer himself. Gorgeous curves, love the block dark blue, neat waist to exaggerate her *ahem* assets and the ruffles just make you want to touch them!

Gwyneth, whilst being many a commentators top pick, I think totally missed the mark. Despite having the slimline figure to carry this off – this outfit would fit better in a night club. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should (Curve Commandment)!! I suspect she felt underdressed versus other attendees.

Jessica Alba looks very beautiful in the classic in Sophie Theallet for Gap. Very safe though. Looking kardashian-esque with her hair and make up.

Beyonce. Well … wow. Just wow! Fabulous detail and wonderful colour as the dress flares at the bottom. Certainly not a frumpy mum in Givenchy Haute Couture.

Whilst there are no curves on Cristina Ricci, I do love the oversized bow on her Thakoon dress. A bit OTT (and risks dwarfing her tiny frame) though I like that she have been a bit braver than a classic style like Jessica’s crowd pleaser gown.

Judge for yourselves:

Tags: beauty, celebrity, curves, designer, dresses, Fashion, glamour

@nextofficial Shoes Have Really Stepped up their game

Ooooooooooh! This is one of nearly 10 pairs that I’d happily ‘look after’ for Next!

£32 for this sparkly pair. Lots of jewel adorned ballet bumps and animal print loafers.

I couldn’t resist these next beauties either. I figure they’re not too outrageous but not boring either. Perfect for my trundle across London to work or with a summer dress if the activity isn’t heel friendly (though I try to avoid these!).

Tags: Fashion, shoes