Casting Day

On Monday I was lucky enough to be invited down to the casting day for The ClubStar Artistic Team with Babyliss in London. After walking around Kentish Town with my iPhone maps talking to me (I was a real tourist for the day) I made it to Spring Studios. Before I carry on I need to tell you about this place.

 

Spring Studios

The studios are based in Kentish Town, London which is a bit of a trek but you can always swing by Camden Town for some cheeky cocktails or shopping after you are finished. After pushing the door slightly too hard - there is a button to securely let you in for future reference - I was greeted by a really friendly chap on reception who directed me to the studios The Team were in.

 

 

 

I made my way up the stairs and towards the restaurant (standard). Wow this place is uber cool and I sat down with the group to find out how the morning had gone. I was slightly distracted by the food that was surrounding me and the who vibe is really trendy. I urge you to have a look at this place Find out more here

 

The Casting

The morning was a chance for Ben, Nathan, Liam, Sarah, Elaine and Alice to present their inspiration for the shoot with guidance from the photographer and Babyliss Team. It provided tips and advice on the selection process for models, as well as providing direction for the shoot day.

 

 

 

Then came the afternoon casting with 40 models gracing the studio for the selecting to begin. It was so busy and The Team were armed with a checklist to help them with their choices and they were joined by project leader Joseph Ferraro.

 

 

 

The models were introduced to The Team and then a photographer was on hand to take snapshots of them which were then displayed on a large TV screen. This screen allowed for everyone to see how the individual looked in photo form, as well as keeping a copy of the girls details for future reference.

 

After a:

"To the front - hair back - now to the side - hair behind the ear - face backwards and bring your hair behind you - okay now face forward - hair pulled forward"

 

 

The girl would make their way over to the table where everyone would have had a look over their portfolio. Both Joey and the Babyliss Team provided guidance on how to determine the suitability of the model for the shoot, and the portfolios gave the opportunity to see how they work in front of the camera. This was a hair shoot so the hair is massively important so lots of touching of the hair. Suddenly a fabulous model with beautiful facial features and the perfect look became a no because the hair was too fine or wasn't the length needed.

 

Casting days are long and each model is important to make sure that the right choices are made. In this case The Team were looking for 6 models and therefore over 30 would not be chosen.

 

Then came the hard part.

 

 

 

Everyone gathered around the table to convey their thoughts and opinions. I am always in awe of how they can make such a hard choice. These girls were all amazing in my eyes and now they had to choose!

 

Each of the Team had a look they wanted to create so it was also about finding the right girl for them - with the right hair!

 

What made this shoot more interesting was that the screen was able to group the girls together so you could see how they would look as an over all collection. This meant changes happened and further thought occurred.

 

 

 

I had an amazing day with my sneak preview and was really well looked after. I am really lucky to have been invited back next month for the actual shoot and I cant wait! I will be letting you all know how it goes - you hear it here first

 

LJ

xxx

 

Collection Bronzer Surprises Me

Having decided that getting married is a costly affair I have since budgeted for such items as makeup. Instead of not thinking about spending £20 on a bronzer from MAC I have since ventured into Boots to try out an alternative.

 

I had my doubts. The high pigmentation of MAC and Bobbi Brown meant that I was used to not having to apply much. However, Bobbi Browns heavy pricing meant I needed to find another solution and I was finding my MAC bronzer kept breaking. Even worse than that the most recent bronzer I bought resulted in the clear part falling out meaning that I couldn't carry it in my makeup bag. Not good MAC!

 

I have noticed many of my friends and fellow bloggers moving away from MAC Cosmetics, Nars and Bobbi Brown to try alternative cosmetics. I am a world away from my makeup bag being full of one brand and now fully embrace other ranges with price making me able to try so much more. I still have my cult favourites but I don't want to spend £16 on a lip colour when I could have 3 for that price somewhere else.

 

Think you know who the market leader is in cosmetics?

 

Go on ... have a guess!

 

Boots No 7

 

This latest edition to my makeup bag is this Collection Bronzer from Boots for just £2.99 with two options Shimmering and Matt (Hooray!)

 

 

 

There wasn't a tester available for me to try the colour first but for £2.99 I didn't worry too much.

 

Honestly, I wasn't convinced this was the way forward for me and my concern was that it wouldn't be the right colour or give me the pigmentation I wanted. I was wrong!

 

Why do I like this?

• The Price - It is a great every day product which I can afford to drop or lose if I have my clumsy hat on. Although it isn't as long lasting as MAC or Bobbi Brown I can save these for special occasions so makes it much more affordable to maintain a lovely look day in day out - more money for cake and tea!
• The finish - I like the finished look. It is easily buildable so I can reapply during the day without looking cakey. I found it went easily on my brush (Crown Brush No ...) and it was really blendable so I didn't get that dreaded bronzer line you just cant blend out
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
• The coverage - As someone who loves full coverage I am a massive fan of Studio Fix Powder and I have always raved about it. This stops me shining in photos but also finished my look perfectly however it was costing me a small fortune. As an avid fake tanner I was having to buy two options to provide a lighter and darker colour for those Mondays and Tuesdays were the tan is washing off (you know what I mean!) In my past post I mentioned how much I love this Collection Tinted Moisturiser and found that for an every day look the Studio Fix was too heavy to put over the top. Hello new bronzer.
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
   I can work this along my cheekbones and over my base to ensure it fixes it plus adds some colouring so I look like I have been in the sunshine and not hidden away making table centre pieces for the wedding
  
  
  

  
  

Over all thoughts

This is a great purchase for office days and the Tesco shop outing. It will need topping up half way through the day as the colouring wears off slightly but I am really impressed! 

(Image above is after 10 hours of wear)

Save that expensive bronzing powder for glam days and evenings and get this for your makeup bag

 

You can buy it here and at the moment if you spend over £5 on Collection makeup you get a free gift

 

LJ xxx

 

 

Your Perfect Dress from Hobbs

Three weeks ago one of my oldest and bestest friends got married in a beautiful ceremony on a lovely sunny day. She looked beautiful in her dress and I was an emotional wreck for much of the day, along with the other three bridesmaids

 

The wedding was a country affair and the dresses chosen by the bride were perfect for suiting the whole look. I wanted to share with you why I loved this dress, and why it isn't just a bridesmaid dress but a staple accessory for your wardrobe

 

The Abigale Dress is RRP £139  and comes in an array of colours which change depending on season and year.

At the moment you can purchase beautiful versions in three different blues.

If you want the extra WOW factor you can spend £30 more and go for embellishment!

 

TIP: If you are able to visit Bicester Village you can also check out HOBBS Outlet store for a bargain purchase. I recently went in for a wedding guest dress and saw a beautiful pale blue and pale pink version of the dress for under £90

 

We wore a purple coloured dress for the day and it was accessorised with beautiful nude wedges from New Look. We also had a bouquet of wild flowers and a cute hair pin to make us look even more fabulous!

 

The dress is light in weight with a sheer top half. You can see your bra straps through this so if you can go strapless. I tried the clear straps and it didn't quite work, however when I went nude you could hardly notice them.

 

It comes just under the knee so it is great for not being too revealing but showing a little bit of leg. I am going to be gracing Henley Regatta next month and require something below the knee so this is a great option. Now I just need to find the time to track down the right colour!

 

I was really impressed with the dress and although we wore it as a bridesmaid option I felt compelled to introduce it to you lovely ladies as a fab staple look. You can accessorise because of its simplicity and with so many colour choices it will suit any style.

 

For more information and where to get your hands on this click here

Pudding Face, Deddington Oxfordshire

Located in the cute village of Deddington is a well know pub specialising in pies. I know! Amazing ... well not so much if you don't like pies (but they do a few other dishes).

 

I am a big fan of pie and although my waist line suffers I have been here several times so I thought it was about time I shared with you why.

 

Pudding Face is located on the main high street in Deddington and parking is on the road. Don't panic though as even with my awful parallel parking I have never struggled to get a space. The pub isn't full of over the top decoration or big over powering dining sets but a minimalized layout focusing on the food not the fashionable shabby chic that most pubs are over doing now.

 

There are no menus to hand you so no clutter on the tables. All the food is listed on a large blackboard in the corner which lets you know the selection of pies available and any other dishes they are offering.

 

It is waitress service so no long queues at the bar. I have always had amazing service at the pub and never had long waits or problems with ordering. This is sometimes hard to find in some of the restaurants I have been too recently.

 

TIP: Every time I have been it has always been very busy so make sure you book!

 

This Sunday I met up with some friends for a Sunday lunch and recommended we go here. Although they were coming from Oxford with a new baby it is often hard to find buggy access when eating out so I suggested we book for pie. They were not disappointed. Even with a few tears the team were really lovely and we were even able to set up a little baby bed in the corner window seat .. much to the added cuteness of my friends little one!

 

What did we order:

• I had the pork, apple sauce with sage and onion stuffing pie
• The bf went for a roast
• One beef and chorizo pie
• One turkey with sage and onion stuffing pie
  
  
  

  
  

We didn't wait long for our food and it was piping hot. The best bit is the plates come out hot so no danger of our food getting cold as we witter on about the past month of our lives.

 

A huge portion of chips to share with some extra gravy and some vegetables and we were on to a winner. With your own individual dish of your chosen pie you can eat as little or as much as you want.

 

Remember: No sharing between two people and who would want to?!?

 

Condiments are on little serving stations so you can help yourself or they will bring them to you. If you want mayo with your chips, or mustard with your pie they are there so make sure you grab what you need.

 

Normally I wouldn't go in with pudding but we were there for a few hours to make sure we covered all the gossip so we did do the puddings. A blackboard is bought to the table and on its little stand you can have a look over the menu. There was at least I could have chosen but I went for the bread and butter pudding which was amazing. It came with ice cream and honestly although I ate through the fullness it was epic. We also had sticky toffee pudding and a roulade and they were all wonderful.

 

I had a late night the night before so I had a coffee too and with a cute biscuit on the side I love the finishing touches!

 

Bill requested and we got treated to a bowl of jelly babies as our goodbye sweetness. I really was full by the end.

 

At only £22 each for our whole meal I definitely introduced two newbies to the pie pub amazingness.

 

This is one of my top places for eating out so if you haven't tried it I really recommend it. For more details click here

 

LJ xxx

Bobbi Brown Does Glasses ... Well

I can often been found hanging around a Bobbi Brown counter checking out the latest colours and buying my favourite foundation. When I heard there were glasses I wasn't sure whether it would work. I mean I love the makeup but could they get this right?

 

Well, I started looking into this a little bit more and discovered that the book "Everything Eyes" devotes a chapter to the spectacle wearer and this gave me a new perspective. A Makeup Artist understands face shapes and eye shape to be able to create the perfect look with shadow and concealer so why not use this for eye wear design.

 

Bobbi Brown is a renowned Makeup Artist who is recognised worldwide. she has been adapting makeup to the individual for years so what made her decide to start designing eye wear.

 

"Being a makeup artist, I’ve always been aware of how glasses can transform the face and want to take the mystery out of how to choose the right glasses", Bobbi Brown.

 

The first beauty expert to have her own signature line of eyewear, Bobbi Brown is able to teach women how to choose frames to enhance their natural beauty and complement their own style.

 

The website allows you to use their "style guide" to select the perfect frame for you.

By selecting your face shape and skin tone the site suggests the best style for you. It is an education that lets you know if you should be wearing wayfarer or cat eyes.

 

Styles like The Maureen, The Katie and The Bobbi give the spectacles an edgy vibe and the homepage doesn't swamp you with text but simple imagery showing the models wearing the frames. It becomes about the frames and not all about the text and the price. Simple is often best.

 

With over 36 styles to choose from you could sit for ages ... and I did! I love how Bobbi Brown has used different skin tones, hair colours and face shapes with regard to the models so you can see how the frames suit the individual.

 

Tips for choosing:

• A Neutral Frame will compliment the skin tone to create a bare look
• A Nude Colour Frame will brighten the face just like a blusher would
• A Contrasting Colour Frame will strengthen and heighten the face and lips
  
  
  

  
  

 

Prices range from £70 - £200 depending on style and you can see the full range on the Bobbi Brown site here but can also be purchased on glasses.com and shopstyle.co.uk. Make the trip to Liberty's, London and you can try the full range and buy there. Perfect!

 

 

Summer Hair

 

Summer is nearly upon us (we hope) and with that comes hair trends to ensure our khaki uniformed looks is utterly complimented.

 

I have been attending lots of amazing events over the past few months and have had my ears and eyes peeled for summer 2015 trends. Here is a sneak preview of what looks we can expect to see and what looks we should be wearing.
 

 

The Half Up and Half Down
A classic look that makes wearing our hair down slightly more interesting, please it means we can easily work with a more natural look. Put the straighteners down ladies as we are going au natural!

Scraping the hair back into a pony tail might be easy but we are fashionistas so lets lead the pack rather than follow.

My top tips:
1. Accessorise
Adding a few flowers or hair rings can make the look really interesting and can make sure you enhance your look

2. Work with height
Adding a little bit of dry shampoo to the root and working your fingers through can create some height to the look. It doesn't have to tight to your scalp and it doesn't have to be sleek

3. Use your fingers
You don't have to rely on brushes and combs as your fingers can work just as good. Those little pieces of hair that might look better pulled out probably will so pull them out. The section that would look better slightly messier well use your fingers to work up the hair as a backcombing effect



 

Braiding

I love braiding in hair and I think you can make it work for any hair type or face shape. From working at Toni&Guy I was a huge fan of the full halo braiding and it worked brilliantly with the bleach in my hair as it was a great textured look. However this summer braiding just got bigger and here are some of the best

The Fishtail Braid is a firm favourite with your longer haired ladies out there and is beautiful with maxi dresses for a lovely summer day style. I really recommend pulling the plait slightly apart so as to reduce any of the clean and sleek look. Working with dry shampoo over the top of the finished look can add texture too - just don't spray too close. Us shorter haired ladies are a bit limited to this look but with so many hair pieces out there you could try one of those. I recently tried the Lauren Pope Hair Rehab Fishtail Plait and was really impressed with how easy it is to apply. Click here for details





The Plait as an Accessory
So you are in a rush and you haven't got time to wash your hair but a ponytail just wont work for today - hello plait! Simply add a plait to one side or both and you have a simple but cute finished pony. Pull out the plait if you want or leave neat depending on the occasion



Better than that you can use several braiding techniques on one style. I love combining a small plait with a rope braid. Pulling one out with a small intricate braiding technique always gets me lots of compliments so don't be afraid to play around

The Braid Aftermath
Braiding creates a beautiful crimped look to any hair it is applied to so why not work with that for a different style. At festivals I often plait my hair one day and then work with the crimping the next to create a new look without washing. Perfect (but don't forget the dry shampoo!)



 

 

The Pony
Every summer the pony makes an appearance and you can make it suit you. Sleek pony's are fabulous with bold eye makeup and you can go messy with some finger styling

 

The Sleek Pony will require a little bit of practice with regard to products. There are so many out there and a lot of them depend on your personal taste and own hair texture. I really recommend Label M Texture Wax Stick with you can melt with a hairdryer (don't get too close to the stick). Melting it slightly down can mean you can rub it between your hands and apply to the hair. Use slight pressure to make sure that it hides any stray hairs and a little bit of hairspray will ensure it stays. Don't forget to consider the hair pony itself - would a plain band work best or maybe you could add some chains?


The Messy Pony is a little easier for natural styling but grabbing a wand or tongs can help once the pony is in place.


Hide the hair band by wrapping a piece of hair around the area and then securing with a Kirby grip. The remaining hair can be curled loosely with a wand or pair of tongs and set with some spray. My hair natural curls so I sometimes wet down with water spray and sea salt spray and then leave to naturally finish drying
 

A little bit of height can add to the look and works if you have a fringe of any kind. You can create full height by back combing from the root and if you need it dry shampoo can add to this.

Alternatively you could pull sections up once the hair is secured.




 

Now we just need sunshine! For more tips and advice follow my blog

 

LJ xxx

Top Picks from New Look

Okay so before I start let me be honest, I am a bit of a loyal buyer of all things Topshop and River Island. It has become a force of habit and my wardrobe is full of shoes I have paid an extra £20 for because they say Topshop on them. Worse than that I have blisters on my feet where I have adopted the rule "if its fashionable and looks god breathe through the pain". You know that feeling when you dread walking anywhere because your feet might bleed? Bit extreme but we have all been there

 

As many of you know I am in saving mode for my wedding this year so I have curbed my spending, however it does not mean I cant still look good but for less money. Hello New Look! I admit that I don't regularly find myself in the store unless I am buying heels so this is not a bias review but a simple congrats New Look you did good so here have my money

 

If you haven't had chance to have a look at what New Look have to offer then check out my Top Picks

 

Petite Blue Denim Pinafore Was £22.99 and Now £12.99 Click Here

 This is really cute and perfect for this time of year and the summer. You can wear this with a cute stripy top underneath for those not so warm evenings, or wear it on its own for summer days (they are coming I have been told). The dress is a really soft fabric so doesn't feel stiff and it would look great with tights or bare legs. Team with a tassel bag and you are bang on trend. I am only 5ft 4in and this is the perfect length on me. They do have a tall option should you need it, and because this is in the sale there is limited sizes so make sure you don't miss out

 

White Stripe Midi Skirt Dress £24.99 Click Here

This comes in a couple of variations but I love this one. The sleeves are capped so it wont feel too hot when the sun starts shining and the fabric is really light. I love the length as it isn't too short but cutting off my legs at the mid way calf point. You know the one that makes you look shorter than you are. In my case slightly stumpy. The stripes are heading downwards too so they make you look slimmer and taller. Hooray!

 

Tan Leather Tassel Loafers £29.99 Click Here

I recently mentioned in a blog one of my top picks from Topshop was a pair of loafers for nearly £40 so these are a bargain. The Topshop ones were suede but these are leather and still only £29.99. Bargain! I love the colour. Loafers are so easy to wear, and I like the fact that they can be so versatile. Team these with a pair of blue jeans, white trousers or cigarette trousers and they will look great

 

Tan Suedette Button Front Pencil Skirt Click Here

This is so on trend! Add a tucked in shirt or a band tshirt and you are rocking this look. I love the colour and was concerned about wearing it with a tan incase I looked similar to a stick of fudge but it works. For work it looks great with black tights and for dinner bare legs. Big thumbs up New Look!

 

Blue Tribal Print Slim leg Trousers £19.99 Click here

I love the shape of this style of trouser and I think they are perfect for a casual smart look. I want to look lovely but feel comfortable and aside from wearing jeans these are a great choice. Add the loafers from earlier and nice top and you are looking hot. The design will ensure you stand out from the crowd. Top tip: white looks great with these trousers

 

Khaki Utility Shorts £17.99 Click Here

With a honeymoon coming up I need some shorts as hopefully there will be sun. Although I would love to live in my denim shorts I need to venture out of my comfort box so I spotted these. The light material means I wont get too hot and the style means I can dress them up or dress them down allowing for extra suitcase space. I don't love high waisted shorts as I feel like I have a mummy bum but the shape of these fit really nicely

 

So New Look score highly with me at the moment and I love how affordable they are too. Better than that if you are a student you get 10% off so don't forget to flash that student card if you are lucky enough to qualify for the discount

 

What do you love at the moment in the shops?

 

Lj xxx

 

 

 

Glamour Awards

Last night Londons Berkeley Square Gardens hosted the Glamour Awards recognising some very talented individuals. I love this award ceremony and everyone looked very glamorous (did you see what I did there?)

 

Here is some highlights from the event for you:

 

Claudia Winkleman hosted the event and she wore an all black ensemble and looked chic as always. Dermot O'Leary took the stage to interrupt her hosting to award her with TV Presenter of The Year for her duo with Tess Daly on Strictly Come Dancing. Very well deserved!

 

Kate Hudson wowed in her floor length dress by J. Mendel. Although it showed some skin it looked classy and arguably she was the best dressed. A hugh congratulations to her for receiving The Entrepreneur Award for Topshop legend Sir Philip Green. 

She mentioned her wonderful mother Goldie Hawn, who was also there, for all her support. I am definitely a Mummies girl so I think this is amazing

 

Fearne Cotton is a bit of a style icon to me. I love her look and she works pregnancy so well. She looked beautiful in her red Valentino dress with unique clutch. She recently left Radio One (sad day) because she is about to be a mummy to two lovely children. James Bay took to the stage to award her with Radio Personality for her work at the station. I thinks he will be really missed from the show and so this is a great recognition for all she has done

 

Rita Ora had that awkward moment we all dread - ex boyfriend is at the same event so I must look amazing and avoid bumping into him but want him to see how good I look. Phew! She was honoured with TV Personality Award or her time on The Voice. I never watched The Voice but it always striked me as a show not many watched and always heard it had low ratings. This is a great achievement for her as it recognises her not just as a singer. Luckily for Calvin Harris he was also awarded in the evening and received Man of The Year so he didn't feel left out

 

Many years ago I met an awkward Dougie backstage at Reading Festival. Trying to act all cool I bounded over to him in a slightly cider drunk state and told him how lovely I think he is. Oh god cringe! Well I still adore the man and I think him and Ellie are sickenly cute and they didn't disappoint on the night. Check out there photobooth snap!

 

 

What did you think of the awards and who did you rate or slate on the night in the fashion  stakes?

 

LJ xxx