TIPS - Advice From Celeb Stylist Kirsty Drury

Celebrity stylist Kirsty Drury has joined forces with Wonderbra to share her top tips for making Kylie, Rachel Stevens and Cat Deeley look their best for the party season. Don't forget to enter the Wonderbra competition to win a free bra and tickets to the Ultimate Strapless Party too.

Warehouse Christmas Collection

On buying the ultimate party dress...

• If you’re splashing the cash on your ultimate party dress you want to be able to wear it again and again. Go for an exquisitely cut dress that accentuates your body’s curves in a luxe fabric.

• It doesn’t want to be a glitzy ‘in your face’ dress, that will date after one season, as you’re going to vamp it up from party to party with on trend accessories.

• You can find relatively cheap and ‘of the moment’ jewellery, bags, tights, belts, gloves on the Great British high street that will update this dress from season to season, keeping it bang on trend and keeping the cash in your purse for more fun nights out..

Strapless Digital Print Dress £38.00

Making the most of your strapless outfits...

• Make the most of your strapless dress by getting your hands on Wonderbra’s Ultimate Strapless bra. It really is the ultimate party accessory. The new hand shaped structure means you get a great cleavage and it won’t slide down, so you can keep dancing all night.

• Layer up an assortment of glam necklaces in the same colour palette as your dress – chunky sparkly beads, ethnic metal beads, chains, diamantes, long strands of stones. Raid your jewellery box and pile them on. More is definitely more with this look.

• Oversized chandelier earrings that graze bare shoulders are sooooo sexy and look great with short hair. Long hair? A gorgeous updo is essential.

• If you’re a minimal kind of girl when it comes to jewellery then let your dress do the talking and give a nod to the party season by carrying an oversized jewelled clutch

Warehouse Christmas Collection

Ways to update last year’s dress...

• If it’s a mini dress that you’re reworking go warrior princess with OTK (over the knee) fantasy boots worn with same colour tights. Trust me, these are essential, as you really don’t want to rock that Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman look.

• If your dress is short why not start the night wearing an oversized sharp-shouldered suit jacket with it? Haven’t got one yet? Shame on you! Get yourself down to a charity store quick speed and pick up a man’s double breasted tuxedo on the cheap. The contrast of a man’s suit jacket with a saucy little slip of a dress underneath is too sexy for words.

• If you’re wanting to revive a solid coloured strapless dress add four diamante chain straps to each side of the bodice et voila you’ve got a very now Art Deco style strappy dress.

• Buy a couple of metres of velvet ribbon two-three inches wide in the same colour as your dress. Make an oversized bow and sew (or get a dressmaker to) the ends onto the bodice of your dress and you have a brand new one shoulder dress.

• If you wore that dress last year with bare legs then this year go for solid opaque tights finished off with a sexy on trend ankle boot. So cool, so modern, so now.

Now you’re party ready, grab your bag and head out of the door! For more style advice visit www.ultimatestrapless.co.uk

FASHION - Press preview at Warehouse

I popped along to have a proper look at the Warehouse Christmas collection last week and get excited girls because it's full to brimming with embellishment and sparkle with a toughened up edge. There are several long months of winter before you even have to contemplate floaty ruffles and fairytale frocks, so until then go all out embellished! The range of mini dresses, bold shouldered shifts, sparkle jackets and everything else your winter wardrobe needs, is coming soon with a few pieces already available.

Studding has been hugely popular this season and nothing proves this more than Warehouse's studded Tuxedo jacket. The press have been all over it like a rash and I've gotta say after seeing it in the flesh, I can see why. The craftsmanship is really something. Not sure I could pull off the look myself, If you like the look but need something a bit more practical, then try the studded lapel version. The studded gloves were also a definite winner.

Another detail I was loving was the chain overlay on this fab clutch bag. Not bad at £35...

DIET - Nosh Detox Verdict

Well I survived my 6 day detox compliments of Nosh. They kindly allowed me to trial the service and I've been recording my thoughts over on The Style PA at Home. Here's my verdict...

Convenience:

This service couldn't really be more convenient, especially if you work in an office like me. Food is delivered each evening for the following day and each bag or bottle is labelled and identified in your menu for that day. At the beginning of the week you get a daily time line of what you should be consuming when and there is never long between meals or snacks so it's quite easy to wait until the next bit of food. I was impressed with the freshness and quality of all the food, even though not all of it was exactly to my taste. I think it's a good idea to be clear about your likes and dislikes to get the most from the detox. Most of the meals can just be popped in the microwave, it's all been prepared for you.

Willpower:

Willpower is definitely required. Don't kid yourself into thinking that this is the quick and easy fix, it will require some determination. However, once you get over the first 3 days, it's plain sailing from there on in and actually I quite enjoyed it. You'll get much more than your 5 a day and feel better as a result. If you start the detox with a bad headache rest assured that's just your dependency on nasties found in your regular diet. My vice was caffeine but I'm so glad the detox forced me to cut down. There are a few extras you get with the food designed to help your body detox like teas, scrubs and supplements. The supplements take some getting used to... I suggest just hiding them in juice or soup.

Weight Loss:

You all want to know... how much weight did I lose? The answer is 4lb. Not bad for 6 days or willpower and yes, people can lose 4lb without resorting to a detox, but this was about more than losing a few lbs. It was more about giving myself a boost and stopping the cravings of all those foods that I eat without thinking and really shouldn't.

Other benefits:

The main benefit is that I need less now to feel satisfied. I've switched from diet coke to caffeine-free diet coke. Still not totally virtuous, but a step in the right direction. I've also not eaten a chocolate bar or sweets for 8 days. That for me is an achievement. I find myself turning to food to treat myself all the time, and I'm rarely actually hungry. Treating the body like a dustbin is not a good idea, and although I won't be giving up treats entirely, I'll be a lot more conscious about what I'm eating and whether I really need it.

Broccoli soup

Post detox Diet:

I'm sticking to cereal for breakfast, soup for lunch and then a dinner of protein, carbs and plenty of veg. I'm drinking about 2.5 litres of water a day and trying to only have one glass of caffeine-free diet coke. Let's hope this helps me build on the loss from the detox and shift a few more pounds.

STYLE - Painted Nails and Threaded Brows

I'd never had my eyebrows threaded until this week. I didn't really get it, and I suppose you don't unless you watch and see how it's done. There have been mixed reactions from people I know who've had it done. Some say it hurts like hell, and others say it is 10 times easier than plucking. My verdict is that it was a little painful, but over so much quicker than tweezing and with a better finish too. Ever since I got my fringe I've been neglecting the brows, but in future I might look into paying someone else to tidy them up for me using the threading technique.

I also got my nails painted. I chose a very dark plum/black colour. I wanted grey but they didn't have any so I reckoned this was the next best thing to go with an Autumn wardrobe.

Thanks to the lovely ladies at Warehouse for their press preview (where I managed to try out these extra perks) Stay tuned for pics of their fab Christmas collection. Think beading, studding, Warrior Princess embellishment and shoulder detailing.

NEWS - New Guardian Online Fashion Store

Guardian News & Media has today launched a new online fashion store - guardianfashionstore.co.uk – to link in with fashion editorial content from the Guardian and The Observer.

The new site's been created in partnership with LynkU.com and will enable Guardian and Observer readers to browse through over 150,000 fashion, beauty and homeware items across 2,000 brands and 300 retailers including AllSaints, Whistles, French Connection, Debenhams and Browns.

Rachel Dixon, Acting Life & Style editor for guardian.co.uk, said: "Now readers can buy the products recommended by our writers with the click of a mouse, or read about the latest trend and find the look in store in moments."

I personally see this as a wider trend within the publishing world as companies look to find more profit in their industry. The newspaper may be dwindling, but people are still materialistic and love to buy. It's just that by doing it this way, the publisher gets a cut of the money by being the middleman.

Good on them I say. We live in a digital world and the one's who embrace it will win.

FASHION - As Seen on Holly Willoughby

I love Holly Willoughby's dress sense. She always looks feminine and knows how to show off her curves. I was quite excited, as you'll imagine, to get an email about the dress Holly wore on the Xtra Factor last weekend. Remember that vibrant hued, zip detail dress? Well I know where you can get your hands on the exact dress to steal her celebrity style...

The Zip Dress - Isabella Oliver 365 - £139

Wear it with skyscraper black heels for a look that will wow in the office or on your next night out. You can forget the jewellery, this dress accessorizes itself.

COMPETITION - Wonderbra's Ultimate Strapless Party

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED

With invitations flooding in, the search for the ultimate strapless dress, the man you’ve had your eye on for months…. it can mean only one thing – the Christmas party season has arrived!

Wonderbra is literally on hand with their most wanted Ultimate Strapless bra. Its hand shaped support will give you ultimate oomph so there’s no need to worry about it letting you down - it’s been made to stay up as long as you do. I've even tried and tested it myself so I know the claims are true.

Win exclusive tickets...

Now here's the fun bit. Wonderbra giving 40 lucky girls and a friend the chance to get their hands on an Ultimate Strapless bra, and they're also offering the chance to win exclusive tickets to the 'Ultimate Strapless Party', hosted at Soho’s ‘Punk’ nightclub, an exclusive party venue and celeb hangout.

Invite only, the party will be the ultimate girls night out with ASOS putting a on catwalk show and Kirsty Drury, top stylist to the likes of Kylie, Claudia Schiffer and Cat Deeley will also be on hand to share her top tips to ensure you’re looking your best under the mistletoe this year.

For your chance to win, enter at www.ultimatestrapless.co.uk/party *

I'm hoping to be there myself, so let me know if you are a winner and I will be sure to say hello. Good luck everyone.

*Competition closes on 13 November 2009. For T&Cs please click here

DIET - The Nosh ABC Plan

Tomorrow I'll be beginning a 6 day trial of the Nosh ABC plan. It's a diet that is not heavily focused on gimmicks but uses genuinely healthy meals and snacks. Everything you need is delivered to your door in the evening all ready for the following day which makes it really convenient. This particular plan costs 38.95 per day + P&P which is quite expensive, but ideal for that extra boost when you really need it.

I don't tend to eat healthily enough do to a very busy schedule, which makes me the perfect candidate for this diet. I want to see how hard it is to stick to, whether I feel rubbish while I'm doing it and of course how much I can lose. It's the sort of thing that looks like a great idea as a kick start every six months or so, and if it works I might do it again in future.

Sample Menu: Days 1-3 (liquid until 4pm)

• Breakfast, smoothie – Nosh Breakfast Smoothie (oats, banana and soya)
• Snack, small smoothie – Rose’s Superfood Smoothie – shot of Vitamin C
• Lunch, soup – Roasted Mediterranean vegetables and lentil soup
• Snack, small smoothie – Delicious Comfort Smoothie
• Dinner, protein, carbs and salad – Bacon and pea risotto with garden fresh water cress
  

Sample menu: Days 4-6 (raw until 4pm)

• Breakfast, smoothie – Granola with soya yogurt
• Snack, small smoothie – Rose’s Superfood Smoothie – shot of Vitamin C
• Lunch, salad –Mixed vegetable salad
• Snack, nuts –Omega 3 and 6 seed mix
• Dinner, protein, carbs and salad – Chicken cassoulet and mixed greens
  

During days 1-3 the body should Rehydrate and Eliminate toxins through taking liquids till 4pm and then a balanced meal in the evening. For days 4 - 6 the body is said to Heal and Rejuvenate, by eating raw foods till 4pm and then a balanced meal in the evening.

The claimed results:

• NO Pot Belly
• Long lasting weight release
• Retraining the mind and body to eat well
• Balanced and Healed intestines and colon
• NO indigestion, flatulence, acid heartburn

I'll be tracking my daily progress on my other blog, The Style PA at Home and on Twitter. Wish me luck...

Read more:

• DIET - Nosh Detox Diary, Day 4
• DIET - Nosh Detox Diary, Day 3
• DIET - Nosh Detox Diary, Day 2
• DIET - Nosh Detox Diary, Day 1

SHOPPING - Leeds Shopping Week

I've been a bit London-centric recently, I guess I'm still excited that I finally live here... but here is a mention of a shopping event in a different part of the UK. Leeds is demonstrating its passion for all things shopping with its fourth annual Leeds Shopping Week from 15th to 25th October, 2009. It is the city’s annual shopping festival showcasing Leeds’ contemporary and cosmopolitan retail offer and highlighting all that Leeds loves about retail therapy.

For ten days, the city centre will be bustling with a unique mix of fabulous events including fashion shows, makeovers and fairs, which have been organised by retailers in the city. Best of all, most of the events are free to attend.

The festival makes a dramatic entrance on 15th October with a Las Vegas ‘Shopping Affair’ in the Victoria Quarter, with 76 stores celebrating the glamour of the 1960s. Also on the 15th, The Living Room on Greek Street is showcasing a ‘Belly Laughter Expert’ where visitors can learn how to laugh in style. On 17th October Leeds Town Hall Crypt will host a vintage arts and crafts fair. On 22nd October, The St John’s Centre is offering a ladies evening with styling from Leeds City College fashion students.

LK Bennett is hosting daily mini fashion shows throughout the festival, where guests can receive styling advice and complimentary drinks. There will also be hotel, restaurant and pampering packages available throughout the city so shoppers can shop and then drop! To celebrate the fact that Leeds Shopping Week coincides with National Chocolate Week (12th-18th October), Hotel Chocolat will be offering sampling in store during the week as well as competitions for children.

Leeds Shopping Week is also offering one lucky winner the chance to win over £2,000 worth of delightful ‘Leeds loves’ products and services, which have been donated by various retailers and businesses in the city.

For more information on Leeds Shopping Week, visit www.leedsshoppingweek.co.uk.

MAKE-UP - Girls Aloud False Lashes

I haven't worn false eyelashes for a good few years. I don't find they stay put for long enough generally, but I thought I would give them a second try. I popped into Debenhams on the way home from work and picked up the Nicola Roberts designed false lashes by Eylure. Out of the 5 Girls Aloud sets I opted for Nicola's because it is the only set that the lashes really flick out at the corner of the eye. The others are all very heavy and quite thick, and I was hoping for something slightly more natural. I already have dark eyelashes so it was just a bit of extra enhancement I was after.The lashes were very easy to apply. I cut them down slightly to ensure a good fit along my lash line and with a few seconds holding them firm they were well stuck. I got lots of compliments on them too although people weren't sure at first if they were fake, or my own eyelashes which is always a good sign. These are only £5 a set so well worth the money... I might try out some of the other Girls Aloud Lashes too. See the pics below...

False eyelash tips:

• Remove from packaging carefully, sometimes they are glued to the backing board
• Always cut the lashes down to fit your own eye
• Apply your make-up before applying lashes and top up afterwards if needed
• Use a liquid eyeliner on the top lids to cover up where the lashes have been stuck on

BEAUTY - Recommended Products

We're all after budget beauty buys that really make a difference, right? Here are some of my must-have products to keep you looking lovely without breaking the bank.

Dead Sea Magik Salt Brushing

After my recent pampering I'm making a concerted effort to do more of it at home too. The occasional salt scrub can do wonders for skin tone and appearance and I've stocked up on a few of the Dead Sea Magik Salt Brushing sachets. It's a best seller and I'll tell you why. The scrub uses dead sea salts with coconut oil and vitamin E which not only invigorate the skin they provide deep hydration too. Use it on dry skin, rubbing in a circular motion and enjoy the fab citrus scent. Regular use could see cellulite decrease and it has great detoxifying properties which are always welcome.

No. 7 Extravagant Lashes Mascara - Boots - £11.50

First thing to say is that for some reason this product is not rated very highly on the Boots website, and I just can't understand it. I nearly always buy No. 7 mascara and whenever i stray to another brand I'm disappointed. This latest launch at Boots works perfectly. The square brush is different but by no means difficult to use. You get lots of mascara on with one swipe and it's not too runny or lumpy, which are my two mascara pet peeves. Save up your points and get yourself some I say.

Barbara Daly for Tesco Oil-Free Foundation - Tesco

It took me years to find a foundation that I liked and one which matched my skin tone totally. I now always buy the Barbara Daly foundation in almond. I apply just around the eyes, chin and between the brows to tackle any unevenness in tone. The fluid is light and subtle while still covering those problem areas. They've recently revamped the packaging, added a sunscreen and ramped up the price by over £1. Luckily the formula hasn't really changed so I'll be forking out the extra quid. Far easier than starting my foundation hunt all over again.

What beauty products have you been using lately? Let us know in a comment below...

TV - Latest Strictly Come Dancing News

Catch up with all the latest news and video clips above. I always watch just wishing I could dance like them. It is definitely a guilty pleasure of mine. And with sequins being a huge trend for this season, you might even get some style inspiration too.

MAKE-UP - Twitter Ladies Reveal Favourite Lipsticks

Most women have a signature lip colour that they stick with for a while. I don't, so I was curious to see what everyone else was using. Perhaps one of them will become my own must-have shade. I asked the lovely ladies of Twitter what their favourite lipstick was right now and here is what they came up with...

• @nelehtaylor "My favourite is Black Honey by Clinique. Looks scary in the tube but is a lovely sheer berry shade."

• @Butterflyloves_ "I love My MAC Lover's Lust & Virgin Vie Siren"

• @JordanFleet "At the moment, I'm mostly wearing Avon's 'Extra Plump Lipstick' in Naked Truth"

• @lizropo310 "Chanel in naive..loves ;)"

• @PoppyD "Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Lip Protectant Stick in Blush :)"

• @katediamond "I have a couple of No7 lipsticks, but generally just wear lipgloss."

• @neverenoughshoe Ok, Bourjois Lovely Brille in Rosé Pareo - discontinued though I've found an outlet that sells them. I've bought 10! And Rimmel Moisture Renew in Diva Red. They're the ones I wear the most.

• @alexsheppard "Maxfactor, Midnight Plum."

I tried to find every shade mentioned, but was surprised how many were discontinued. I tend to like the texture of No. 7 lipsticks but am yet to find my ideal hue. I might go on a shopping hunt next weekend to find one I like.

PAMPERING - Beauty Essence in Mayfair

To spend the other half of my Wahanda voucher I decided to go for something a bit different. I looked up spas in walking distance from work on the Wahanda website.

I settled on Beauty Essence in Mayfair as they had some good treatments for a full hour and a half of pampering which was exactly what I was looking for.

I chose the Guinot aromatic body Bien Etre - Full body. This invigorating body treatment is said to tone and re-hydrate the skin using exfoliation and massage. The natural products used include an exfoliating sugar-kiwi body scrub and a blend of citrus-infused energising and toning essential oils. The best part of the session was the waist-to-knee cellulite mask treatment. After exfoliation and massage it was applied and left to firm up beneath plastic wrapping. I was expecting to have to go shower it off (which is always an inconvenience) but with this treatment, the whole thing just peels away. Much easier. My therapist even had a very nifty towel trick to enable me to roll over without being fully on display which saved my blushes.

While the mask was setting, I had a neck and shoulder massage, arm massage and foot massage. Normally I don't like people touching my feet but this was completely relaxing. If only I could be massaged every day before bed. Nothing makes you feel more ready for sleep. I was told that due to the detoxifying nature of the treatment, I should drink lots and lots of water for the following 24 hours, to help get rid of any impurities. My specialist was very soft spoken, gentle and her massage techniques were of just the right pressure. I'd recommend going to the salon if it's nearby.

My treatment cost £65 which was fair for the quality of the massage and products used. My skin definitely felt good afterward and my whole body benefited from the oils used in the massages. My only concern was the amount of time I was left to get changed and relax which must have taken a good chunk of time out of my session. I also had to wait for a good 10-15 minutes before my appointment as they were running late. Luckily it was worth the wait.

Visit my profile on Wahanda

FASHION - Get a Gossip Girl Bag

Check out Jenny in Gossip Girl above and her fierce, on-trend, studded bag. The bag is from brand Be & D who have already had several bags featured on the show. Those in the US can get one from Nordstrom.

Want to get your hands on it? You can hire a similar style for £50 per month in the UK which is more than I would really want to pay, but a whole lot less than actually buying the thing outright. Visit Fashion Hire to pick out your dream designer bags or if your budget won't allow, then find yourself a designer-inspired version from the high street.

Be & D Studded Garbo - £50 per month - Fashion Hire

BOOKS - My Current Bed Time Reading

A couple of weeks ago it was my birthday. I've not had a chance to write about presents or anything until now but had to share with everyone the two books I'm currently reading. Both were gifts from friends who know me very well indeed.

How to Be Adored by Caroline Cox

This book is different from other girly books I've read because it pulls in the thoughts and quotes from some of the most glamorous women through history. Marylin Monroe, Sophia Loren and Audrey Hepburn, not to mention some modern day superstars like Angelina Jolie and Reese Witherspoon. Everything's covered from diet and beauty tips to what cocktail to order and how to enter a room. I'm feeling inspired.

Vogue Fashion

This book looks at fashion from 1900 to the present day, approaching each decade with a chapter about the looks of the day. See old Vogue covers, satirical drawings of ridiculous fashion and photographs too. The second half of the book is an A-Z of fashion designers, something I intend to revise thoroughly.

Thanks to my lovely friends for such wonderful pressies.

DESIGNER - Emma Embery

I can't believe I got this email back in May and am only just posting about it, especially as the designs are so fabulous! Emma Embery's creations have sold to leading household names such as DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Laundry, BCBG, Liz Claiborne, Monsoon, Accessorize and Laura Ashley.

Her occasionwear items are beautiful and many of the dresses would make gorgeous alternative wedding gowns. Emma's talent for hand-embroidery is clear and this gives her pieces a real vintage feel and premium quality. She also does bespoke pieces to ensure you have an amazing dress or accessory for that special occasion. Check out some of her work below and be sure to visit her website...


All the dresses above have some sort of waist detail which really flatters the female figure. The accessories below are really delicately finished and ornate. I love the idea of the asymmetric top/shawl.

FRAGRANCE - John Richmond Launches Perfume

John Richmond has launched a fresh female fragrance. John Richmond has been designing clothes since 1982 and added menswear, eyewear, footwear, swimwear and more to his designs. This is the first time he has embarked upon a fragrance and rumour has it there will be a range of watches coming soon too.

Although it is marketed as feminine, I thought it was quite a masculine fragrance and youthful. Not really classic or elegant, but more of an everyday scent that has longevity for a lasting aroma.

Top notes are grapefruit, pear and dewberry while amber and sandalwood make up the base. Overall a fruity, floral scent but not overtly girly. There's also a bath range to compliment the fragrance. You can expect to pay around £34 for 30mls up to around £65 for 100mls. From the smell, I had expected it to be cheaper to be honest but it would make a nice gift for Christmas.

It's an exclusive for Harvey Nichols stores from 1 October.

EVENT - London Fashion Weekend

Currently in love with this bag...

Last weekend I popped along to London Fashion Weekend to see if there were any bargains to be had. Unfortunately I didn't find much to make me part with my money... don't get me wrong, there were so many lovely things, but everything was just that little bit more than I wanted to pay.

I did pick up a copy of The September Issue though, which is good news, as with all these postal strikes in London, there was no hope of anything arriving from my usual DVD store of choice, Play.com.

I fell in love with far too many handbags at the exhibition and was surprised how not one designer stall I asked wanted to be featured on the blog. None would let me take photos, perhaps for fear of me trying to copy styles or something like that. After a few rejections I kept my business cads to myself and gave up. I'll just share some pics I took on the day instead.

Luckily I did find something to spend my money on... I came home and ordered some fab knee-high boots from the Topshop website. I tried and failed to get them in Selfridges where I waited for 25 mins to be told they didn't have my size. Memo to self: don't shop for shoes in Selfridges on a Saturday.