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End of the Hills... (at last)

Thank god it is over. I have no quarms in saying that watching 'crap' TV (like the Hills, the City and Keeping up with the Kardashian's) is my guilty pleasure (well I don't really feel that guilty!) however the Hills has been dragged out for far too long and I am very glad it is finished. I no longer feel obliged to watch and urging for something to happen other than another cat fight or the continuing growth of Spencer's beard. I don't think I will miss it, bar Stephanie Pratts style... that I will surely miss.

On the other hand, I cannot get enough of The City, it is just so much more chic than its predecessor The Hills. Truth be told not an awful lot happens in the show, just the odd Kelly Cutrone lecture and Olivia Palermo bitchy comment/ death stare but the style and environment is just far more exciting. As for the City's character's, I am gutted to no longer watch Erin, I loved her ballsy persona. Nevertheless Whit & co make up for it and with the new addition of Brit Beauty Louise Roe, the character's just seem to be so much more interesting and actually have a job! 

Vintage Advantage.

I have expressed my frustration so many times before that I never seem to be able to find any nice vintage pieces/ or just nice clothes in the proximities of my hometown and have to travel or internet surf to find anything remotely me. However this might be about to change, I recently met a very nice lady who has 1. started to make jewellery from vintage stones and jewels and 2. has recently began to deal with vintage clothing again... JACKPOT. 

Here are a few of her jewellery creations, please leave some comments or email me your thoughts on them.

The Ultimate Beauty Guru.

I love my make up as much as any other girl but I tend to stick to tres natural looks and avoid lots of experimentation. However with my rediscovery of beauty extraordinaire Lisa Eldridge and her amazing make up tutorials I now plan on mixing it up so much more. Take a look, the videos are so inspiring and despite making me want to go an ultimate make up binge, are showing me how to properly use what already fills my make up bag.
Here are my three favourite videos; explore more (I literally spent 3 hours watching them all.)
Make up love ♥

Britain's Next Top Model.

Season 6 of BNTM is well under way and is more annoying than ever! Now hosted by Elle McPherson (although beyond gorgeous) is pretty mediocre at presenting and so monotonous to listen to. With Elle's input it seems the producers are trying to Americanise it more and more. I detest the American version, Tyra is beyond patronising, so I am pretty disappointed with the show at the moment. Nevertheless I will keep watching (and maybe just mute Elle) as the models are quite endearing this year. My favourites at the moment seem to be the red heads. I am always partial to a bit of ginge and spend most hours in the day longing to be a red head myself, so BIG UP THE REDHEADS. The Amy Adam's lookalike is my fave.

 

Couture Fashion Week

Last week Paris hosted Couture Fashion Week and it seemed that all tricks were pulled out of the bag. For me couture is all about avant-garde styles, glamour, drama and completely OTT, and although the top designers did showcase beautiful pieces it was all a little mundane for me. If it was not for Dior and Stephane Rolland couture this season would have been, if I dare to say it, slightly boring.

Chanel's Karl Lagerfield always always puts on a show and this season he did just that. Karl had a lot to live up to after March's winter wonderland theme and this A/W he topped it with a lion's head taking centre stage (apparently it is a nod to Coco Chanel's star sign). Chanel's A/W couture hints of Prussian luxury smothered in embellishment. The collection features great coats that have heavily decorated collars, cuffs and pockets, narrow silhouettes and lots of fur. The tones of the collection were nude's, taupe's and brown's which for me is a little boring. Nevertheless Lagerfield's little injection of humour remained, with the last model sporting a lion mask when coming down the runway.

Givenchy's collection this couture season was a concoction of sheer lace, heavily embroidered lace, fringing, fur, tassles, and gold metallic. The majority of the dresses followed along the line of the romantic theme (think Florence and the Machine) however had a hint of futuristic to them. Nevertheless there was one gold metallic gown that bared huge similarities to Lara Stone's (David Walliam's now wife) wedding dress. Although much more exciting than Chanel, the over use of white and the odd pieces in the collection just did not completely do it for me.

Dior. J'adore Dior. Now this collection is how couture, for me should be. The dramatic structures and use of vibrant colours captivated me; the exuberant layering and excessive frills was pure heaven. My favourites were the purple coat, the electric blue coat and the purple floral dress (See pictures below).

The biggest surprise for me was the amazing show by Stephane Rolland. I completely loved his eclectic collection of tailored cinced waist capes with leather gloves, incredibly structured black gowns and electric blue maxi dresses. (See pictures)

Thank GOD for Monochrome.

I have now embarked on my summer retail job in a jewellers and as much as I am loving having money again it is safe to say that uniforms and I do not mix. I don't think I have ever really seen (despite 'designer' efforts to create them) a oh so fashionable and above all flattering uniform. I do not have a uniform as such, just a colour code: black, white and purple. Unsurprisingly I quickly eliminated the purple element and have been sticking with the ultra classic monochrome. So if you, like me don't want to look frumpy and about 50 at work here are my top 10 work wear chic worthy pieces...

1. Work appropriate LBD

2. FASHIONABLE black trousers

3. Sheer blouse

4. Hot heels that don't kill your feet. 

5. Crisp white shirt.

6. Pencil Skirt.

7. Fantastic flats

8. Cover Up

9. That piece that can be worn out from work too.

10. Statement Jewels.

Besto Glasto.

Unfortunately I missed out on Glastonbury this year but nevertheless tuned into the live webcam's, BBC3's coverage (I had to mute the majority of the commentary, is it just me or is Jo Whiley the most annoying disc jockey to grace the air waves?) and Radio 1's live insights (again bar Jo Whiley.) The highlight performances were for me Florence (that one armed leotard was to die for), Scissor Sister's avec Kylie, Faithless, Stevie Wonder, Dizzee and Pet Shop boys.

Fashion is nowaday's as or more important and as meticulously planned as the music, it is no longer the priority to arrange your musical agenda but to arrange your festival outfit, which lets face it is often a denim hotpant/welly number. Having spent much of my nostalgia of not being at Glasto trawling through photo's of the attendee's here are my top 7 best dressed. (I know it is an odd number, but there was far too much fashion eye candy to digest)

7. Paloma Faith, ok she is tres wacky, but I cannot help but find her oversized headgear addiction and uber crazy ensembles overly endearing.

6. Will Young, probably my biggest gay crush is back in the public eye. Loving his laid back shorts and vest here, if only he were straight!

5. La Roux, personally I wouldn't wear her avant-garde jacket, however I think she deserves a fashionista nod for taking power dressing to another level.

4. Henry Holland, he has now finished the ghastly show that was 'Frock me' so my love for him is slowly returning, especially when he sports a get up like this. I like a lot HH.

3. Emma Watson seemed to be the tabloid/ paps favourite this Glasto, well who can blame them when she is wearing a Louis Vuitton corset, denim cut offs and wellies. (She should get a medal for wearing a corset in the blistering heat in my opinion.)

2. Sienna Miller, who I think should take the festival queen crown/headband from Kate Moss. Sienna for me is more boho and festival worthy, I just cannot get enough of this style queen.

1. Florence Welch, that leotard was STUNNING. I could not keep my beady eye's off of it and would desperately love to purchase one myself (however sporting it round my hometown or Birmingham would definitely not suffice, just waiting for that call from the V Fest organisers and I will definitely buy buy buy!)

Images via. Sky Showbiz.