Making The Cut: Autumn/Winter 2015 Hair Trends

So... I finally made the cut! For as long as I can remember, I have had long hair. When I say long, I mean VERY long, verging on the lengths of a Disney Princess. My long hair has always been my comfort blanket. When I had confidence issues regarding my weight, or skin I would always have my long hair to hide behind. Recently, however, the desire to chop it all off had become more overwhelming, especially as my 22nd birthday is around the corner, and I feel I am entering into a new chapter in my life, living back in London and embarking on my career. Many celebrities have been showcasing their new Autumn/ Winter shorter hair. Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Natalie Halcro, J Lo and now even Khloe Kardashian have joined the cropped hair crew. The long bob or 'lob', which is cut either blunt or with some texture, is normally worn messily and straight or with loose beachy waves. The haircut seems to be a big trend this season and I absolutely love it! I find it to be super edgy, easy to style and gives any outfit a chic and fashionable edge. 

Whilst watching the Channel E! series 'WAGS' I noted how Natalie Halcro was able to style her short hair in many different ways every week, always managing to look feminine and sexy. I decided this cut was something I wanted to at least try, after all, I think sometimes females forget that hair does actually grow back! So, without further hesitation, I messaged my amazing hair stylist Chiko with a picture to provide her with some inspiration. Even she was shocked at my request for a long bob (this coming from the girl who cried every time she got 2 inches cut off her 28 inch long hair) but she agreed and my appointment was booked. I'm not going to sugar coat it- it was a massive shock looking in the mirror when it was done, but now I couldn't be happier. I can't emphasize how much I love my cut! I have always felt I had a round face and wouldn't suit short hair but I honestly feel like this style would suit everybody! It is so much easier to take care of, and my hair is in incredible condition- not a pesky split end in sight. I am now going to try out a new hair care routine, one which involves hair masks and treatments (which I will keep you updated on) so I can maintain this healthy condition. It looks amazing both straight and curly, with a side or centre parting! To anyone who is debating whether to chop all their hair off- I would honestly recommend it! I promise you will never look back- unless it's to admire your new do!   

Hair: I get my hair cut at 'Studio Stage Door' by Chiko, where it is £34 for a wash, cut and blow dry excluding tip. The number is: 020 8883 4999

Make up: Clinique 'Even Better' Foundation, Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in 'Custard' to cover dark circles and blemishes, Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in 'Almond' to contour, MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in 'NC15' to highlight, Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit in Light/Medium- shades 'Fawn' and 'Havanna' to set dark contour, Ben Nye 'Banana' Powder to set light contour (apart from under eye), Nars 'Deep Throat' Blush, Anastasia Beverly Hills 'So Hollywood' Illuminator for strobing/ highlighting, MAC 'Spiked' Eyebrow Pencil and Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in 'Dark Brown' used for the eyebrows, MAC Paint Pot in 'Painterly', Benefit rose gold eyeshadow from their 'Big Beautiful Eyes' Kit, applied in the crease of my eyes, Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Eyeliner, Red Cherry Lashes in '110', NYX 'Nutmeg' Lipliner, MAC 'Myth' Lipstick. 

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BALMAIN X H&M

 

I don't think I can quite put into words how excited I was when I heard about H&M's new designer collaboration with Paris Fashion House: Balmain!!! The thought that I would actually be able to get my hands on something created by the genius Olivier Rousteing seemed too good to be true. My feelings of jubilation were heightened last night when I watched sections of the global runway debut live from New York on my Snapchat (it was also broadcasted live on the app 'Periscope'). The striking collaboration was announced back in May 2015, when Jourdan Dunn and Kendall Jenner were snapped wearing pieces with the man himself at the Billboard Awards. Now, the collection is a mere few weeks away from landing in H&M stores across the UK, with the official release date being the 5th of November. Above I have included my absolute favourite picks from the collection (I want the white blazer, white T and navy rope top so desperately it almost hurts!) with the newly disclosed British price list, so that you can gain an idea about the range of costs regarding different pieces. Some of the clothes do not come cheap, with the highly detailed, embroidered numbers reaching up to £400! However, I think it is definitely worth it, and I know I will be queuing with the masses on that (no doubt freezing) November morning. 

Although I loved previous collaborations, such as Alexander Wang for H&M, I have never actually taken the plunge and waited in line for anything before. I took the initiative and did some research regarding the tips and tricks used to ensure one can get their hands on a piece from the collection. I came across an article from a journalist who had queued for previous collaborations and her advice was as follows:
-If you are purchasing online, ensure you are logged in to your H&M account 30 minutes before the clothes become live, with a freshly updated password.

-If you are queuing at a store, make sure to research carefully where the collaboration will be stocked before you travel there. Arrive before 7AM and join the queue. When the H&M staff judge it long enough, they will hand out time slot bands. At this point you will be allotted a time when you can shop, which you will have to return for (be on time!). You are allowed ten minutes to shop and further time to try on. The staff will swap items for you if they are the wrong size!

I hope this has helped anyone interested in purchasing the collection, and if you have any further queries regarding the clothes and their prices follow the link below: 

     

Full Price List (Source: The Independent) 

Happy Shopping and Good Luck, I think we are going to need it!

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Louis Vuitton Series 3 Exhibition

 

Over the weekend I had the chance to visit the Louis Vuitton Series 3 Exhibition located at the Strand in London. The Exhibition allowed the public to witness firsthand the creative process behind a Louis Vuitton fashion show, specifically the Autumn/Winter 2015 collection created by their Women's Artistic Director: Nicolas Ghesquière. 

As you walk through Series 3, you begin to gain a wider insight into the different influences behind the show, starting with an almost interactive digital experience showcasing the mind of Ghesquière, whose fashion credentials include a long and incredibly successful run at Balenciaga. This room allows you to feel exactly where the creative process is first sparked- and it is pretty surreal. The room literally spins with a montage of flickering LV images on the wall, providing a glimpse into the whirlwind of inspiration Ghesquière used to embark on this collection. 

From this point, there are different rooms, some that display the processes intrinsic to developing the high end luxurious products that Louis Vuitton create, for example a futuristic black room that illustrates how the leather is cut in order to create their iconic Petite Malle, whilst another displays live artisan workers piecing them together by hand. These rooms are in contrast to the brightly lit spaces dedicated to showcasing the finished products. As you come out of the dimly lit rooms (and sometimes not lit at all so mind your step!), you are blasted with light in an all white space, filled with models holding exquisite handbags- the hard work materialised. It is almost as if Ghesquière wants your mind to work in the same way his did, focusing intensely to see through the darkness of the earlier stages (initial creativity, production and so on), leading up to the absolute clarity of the finished pieces. 

I had two favourite spaces, the first being every girls dream- a room filled with beautiful glass wardrobes displaying this Louis Vuitton collection in its entirety. I loved the layout, especially the way in which clothes were hanging and bags put neatly in their compartment (think Carrie Bradshaw's walk-in-wardrobe in a Paris apartment overlooking the Eiffel Tower). My standout piece was the enormous shaggy white fur coat, for which you would need your own personal chauffeured Bentley in order to keep clean- the height of luxury. My other favourite room involved the digital runway, spaced out to feel like you are actually at the Louis Vuitton Autumn/Winter 2015 Fashion Show, featuring life sized computerised models storming towards you. I loved this idea because it gives you a real feeling for the collection, adding another dimension in the sense that you see the fluidity of the clothes, witnessing the layering of different pieces which showcased a seventies feel (lots of leopard print, fur and chain belts). You are able to see the clothes exactly how Ghesquière intended. 

As you leave the exhibition, the idea of lighting is inverted. Where once the darkness of the rooms represented a hazy mind, the darkness of this room allows a single spotlight to illuminate the word 'mastermind', a word synonymous with Ghesquière. Overall, my experience of Series 3 was very positive. I have always loved Louis Vuitton as a brand, having had special experiences visiting its flagship store in Paris. There is something classically charming about Louis Vuitton and Ghesquière manages to capture this feeling even in his very innovative and modern work!

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Lace Up For Less

Outfit Details:

Jacket, Mango, £160

Top, Topshop, £18

Leggings, Topshop, £15

 Lace up for less this Autumn/Winter with on trend high street shoes that channel the vibes of designers like Aquazzura, Tom Ford, Hermes and Giuseppe Zanotti. Even though Autumn/Winter is upon us in the UK, these heels look perfect with jeans, a long belted coat and matching lace up top. However, if you're not feeling that adventurous you might like to try the court style lace up shoe instead (which offers a slightly warmer alternative). Right now Zara, Missguided and Asos are some of the best affordable brands that are selling their own take on these shoes, whilst Kurt Geiger have some beautiful pairs perfect for special occasions, nights out or a fancy meal. 

 Designer

'Wild Things', Aquazzura

Highstreet
Top From Left to Right: 

'Geranium', Miss KG Kurt Geiger, £90

Silvia Fringed Heels in Grey Faux Suede, Public Desire, £29.99

Wraparound Leather Sandals, ZARA, £59.99

'Giraffe', Carvela Kurt Geiger, £150

Bottom From Left to Right:

Leather High Heel Shoes with Perforated Detail, ZARA, £69.99

Parisian Lace Up High Heel Sandals, OFFICE, £75

Heartbreak Hotel Lace-up Heeled Sandals, ASOS, £45

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Mehron Celebre Pro HD Foundation

 

 Mehron Celebre Pro HD Foundation Packaging 

 

 With Flash

 Shades: Light 4 (Left), Medium Dark 1 (Right)

Without Flash

Shades: Light 4 (Left), Medium Dark 1 (Right)

 

Swatch With Flash

 Swatch Without Flash

 REVIEW
The Celebré PRO-HD Makeup Foundation by Mehron describes itself as 'an oil-free and fragrance-free cream makeup that delivers satin-smooth, buildable coverage that is non-greasy and great for all skin types'. I came across this foundation whilst watching a Youtube Video from the makeup guru Wayne Goss, who raves about this product. It was most recently used in a tutorial posted to the Kylie Jenner website by makeup artist Hrush Achemyan, and Kylie's skin looked incredibly airbrushed. 

I ordered the foundation from Amazon, as there are a lot of skin charts available in order for you to work out your shade. I estimated I was a 'Medium 1', as I googled what colour foundation I would be in the Mehron if I used MAC NC20, and this is what most people suggested. However Amazon sent me the wrong shade (#annoying), which was the Medium Dark 1. I decided as I had already swatched the foundation I would also order a very light colour in the hope that I could mix them together to create my perfect shade (or contour with the incorrect colour if all else fails). The foundation was pretty reasonable, similar to 'drugstore' prices. The first one I ordered was £6, and the second £11. I am assuming the change in price is due to the increase in demand because of the Kylie Jenner tutorial!

 

 

Skin without any foundation

Light 4 ended up being a pretty perfect match for my skin tone, but I like to go a bit warmer most of the time especially if I have fake tanned, so the addition of the darker colour worked out well. I have combination skin (some parts are very dry and some oily), which is generally clear with the occasional blemish. I used E45 Cream and Nip+Fab Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum to moisturise, and as a base for my makeup. I then used my finger to apply the foundation to my face, mostly Light 4 with a few dabs of the darker shade Medium Dark 1. I blended it all out with a beauty blender, adding extra dabs until i was happy with the coverage. Once I had achieved the look I wanted, I applied the rest of my makeup. At first, I was not crazy over the way the foundation looked after I had just applied it. However, by the time I had finished the rest of my makeup I had changed my mind. The foundation itself was very blendable, providing that airbrushed look to your skin.The texture is very creamy, so did not cling to the dry patches of my face. I would say the foundation is generally a medium coverage, but is very build-able, so you can really choose exactly how much coverage you want. The finish of the makeup is neither completely matte or completely dewy, something that I like in a foundation, as people with combination skin can often look too oily with a very dewy foundation whilst completely matte foundations often accentuate dry patches. Overall, this foundation is also long wearing - it lasted all day. The results were impressive considering the price of the product, and I was happy with the look achieved. However, I would recommend bringing some powder out with you because it does go a bit shiny.

Rating: 7/10

 Results:  (No editing, no flash, taken in natural light)

If you have any more queries regarding this look feel free to contact me!

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