HAIR - Mark Hill's Party Hair Tips

This party season is all about sexy unstructured hair but this can be tricky to achieve unless you know how. Super stylist Mark Hill has come to the rescue with a range of easy to achieve hints and tips for party perfect hair. He's used to being trusted with top celebrity's locks so he couldn't be more qualified.

• Sometimes shampooing and conditioning your hair before a big night out can make your hair too soft and difficult to style.  Instead, use Instant Glamour Dry shampoo which will leave your hair revived, refreshed and ready to restyle
  

• Think about what kind of look you want to go for, and what you will be wearing.  Your hair should compliment your clothes, not clash.  For instance, if your dress is off the shoulder, putting your hair up, or over to one side, can emphasise your neck or special necklace.  However, just by pulling a few loose strands down to fall on your shoulders will soften the look completely, adding a very feminine and a softer touch to the style
  

• Don’t go for a radical style or colour change on the day of your event.  Visit your hairdresser a week before, giving you a little time to play with your new look
  

• If you are having your hair styled at a salon, remember to put a buttoned or zipped top on   Many a time I have heard of people taking hours to get the perfect hairstyle, only to find they cannot get their polo-neck off!
  

• There’s only one way to wear your up-do this season and that’s seductive and tousled. Unstructured up-do’s are not only sexy but are low maintenance even when you hit the dance floor.  The looser the hair becomes, the better!

I personally love Fearne's half up side sweep for a laid back but striking, New Year's Eve look.

FASHION - Must-Have Monochrome Damask Dress

I love this dress from French Connection. Black and white is a classic favoutite of mine and with the weather outside still pretty bleak, I'm not yet ready to embrace those SS10 sorbet shades. It's perfection styled with some opaque tights and black heels. Sometimes simplicity is best. If you really feel like you need a burst of colour try a bright red or yellow clutch bag or coat. The dress is also reduced in the sale if you get in there quick enough.

Damask Dress by French Connection

I'm not the only one whose eye it caught. The people over at Look Magazine gave it a whole page in a recent feature.Love that shoulder detailing - much more visible from the angle of the shot below.

STYLE - My Christmas Gifts in Pictures

 

I love Christmas and I find it hard when people say they don't. You get presents and you get to buy things for other people. I know you can do this any time, but when it all happens at once it's that bit more exciting. Being a ripe old age of 25 you don't expect too many presents but as always I was pleasantly surprised. Here are a few of my gift highlights...

Now this got me excited... a pack of 12 coloured Sharpie markers. Colouring pens for grown ups!

 I love a good musical so my sister bought me this box set of Rodgers and Hammerstein classics.

 I am an eighties power dresser trapped in this body so it was only a matter of time until the prospect of a Filofax intrigued me. I promise this is going to make me organised!

Bed socks are a stocking staple, especially since I moved and am now responsible for my own heating bill.

Lazy Brunch may be aimed at guys but I've claimed it from my boyf as my own because there are some fab recipes in there that I can't wait to try.

I loved these studded leather gloves from Star by Julien Macdonald the first time I laid eyes on them. And now they are mine... muhahaha!

His and hers egg cups which were much needed. Now I can stop eating my boiled egg from a shot glass!

And in addition to the above I was treated to lots of other lovely things by my family and friends. Thanks to you all. I've also just gone and spent some of my Christmas pennies over at EyesLipsFace for some beauty bargains. More about those when they arrive.

THOUGHT - Product Packaging Pet Peeves

When it comes to the packagaing of the products we buy, we're all influenced, even if we think we aren't. But what happens when that packaging isn't functioning quite how it should.

The reason I bring this up is I've just got out the bath and managed to (yet again) take a chunk of skin off my knuckle while trying to do the simplest of things - open the cap of my shower gel. The brand in question is Dove and although I love their shower gel, I detest the packaging as the cap has a habit of snapping shut against your thumb when you try and open it. Most of the time this is fine, but every now and again it catches the skin and takes a chunk of skin with it. Dove... sort it out.

On the winning side of this packaging issue though is Aussie. Their 3 Minute Miracle conditioner bottle is a work of genius. There's no cap to unscrew or flip open while your hands are all soapy. All you need to do to get the product out is hold the bottle over your hand and gently squeeze. The clever keep-clean opening reacts to the pressure and then closes straight up afterwards leaving behind no mess at all. I applaud you Aussie! I also heard it from the heads of Aussie there will be some special edition bottle designs coming up in 2010 so keep your eyes out for those.

1 more thing for my rant... I wish perfume bottles were reusable. If they were, I'd fill them up with water for a refreshing scented mist. Most bottles are sealed shut making this sort of thing impossible. I appreciate that manufacturers want us to buy more perfume and also want their scent to be sealed in the best possible way to maximise its life, but would it be much to ask to make them screw top?

What are your product packaging pet peeves?

INSPIRATION - Festive Links à la Mode

Like many people, I'm taking a few days to chill out with the family and celebrate Christmas. So if you're looking for some inspiration then here are a whole lot of links to my fellow Independent Fashion Bloggers' sites. Happy reading and Merry Christmas to you all.

• Alice in Stilettos – Don’t Be Victimized By Fashion
• DailyDivaDish – New Year’s Eve Fashion: Make an entrance without breaking the bank. Includes 2 looks + DIY ideas.
• Fashion X K8 – Bringing attention to an essay of literary criticism that provides the proper vocabulary with which we can converse about a new fashion paradigm.
• Fasshonaburu – An interview with Liu Wen, the first Asian model to strut her stuff on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show catwalk.
• Idiosyncratic Style – Wham GLAM Thank You Ma’am – Indulge in a little glamour for the holidays.
• Jewelry Whore – HUGE Roundup of DIY Christmas Present Ideas! It’s not too late to make some fabulous jewelry for Christmas presents!
• kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS – You’re only a couple clicks and a few stitches away from owning your own one-of-a-kind designer piece with free patterns from SHOWstudio
• La Société de Mode – A scream of an interview with stylist Brett Bailey
• Little Miss Makeup – Bold lips: This season’s hottest makeup trend.
• M.I.S.S. – Another simple yet attractive necklace by Pandora from Acessory Source in this week’s She’s Crafty.
• Previously Owned – To celebrate the [almost there] opening of the ONLINE store Previously Owned BLOG is giving away a Royal Blue hobo!
• Retro Chick – Vintage Hair Styling with Flamingo Amy
• Style on a String – Harem Pants: Yay or Nay? And some quick tips on how to buy and wear them.
• Sugar and spice and all things nice – 10 things I like…. no, LOVE… about FANTASY SHOPPING!!
• sweetarchivia – Review of the much anticipated launch of the Rodarte for Target line by the Mulleavy sisters.
• THE COVETED – Versace Pre-Fall returns to color
• The Demoiselles – Wing Tips: Your First Time…at the Tailor
• The Fashion Planner – The Fashion Planner is excited to announce the publication of The Fashion Planner’s Guide!
• The Style PA – I review the comfy, Cable Cosy by Isabella Oliver
• The Working Wardrobe – Learning the art of layering that is both fashion-forward and office-appropriate

CELEBRITY - So Kate Hudson Can Sing...

Following on from getting Nicole's NINE hairstyle, now you can listen to Kate Hudson singing her socks off. US Magazine has been streaming part of one of the movie's tracks online. More info here.

"Kate Hudson, who joins fellow A-listers Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Fergie in Nine, the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, lends her startlingly powerful pipes to "Cinema Italiano," a new track written just for her."

Wow! I listened to this about 4 times... really can't wait to see the film now. Also featured on the soundtrack are Fergie, The Noisettes & introducing Griffith Frank. I reckon I'll be picking that CD up as a post-Xmas treat. If you can't wait you can get Kate's track now on iTunes and Amazon.

 UPDATE: I just bought it... that's the first track I've bought online for a very long time.

CELEBRITY - Rachel McAdams Vogue Cover Shoot

My new favourite actress is Rachel McAdams. Blonde or brunette she's just beautiful. The video above sees her photographed by the renowned Mario Testino for Vogue.The theme for the photo shoot is the colour red with an underwear-as-outerwear twist. I love the way they have done her hair too, wildly tousled but with an overall elegant feel. She's come a long way since Mean Girls.

Visit Vogue.com for more on Rachel's cover shoot

HAIR - Get Nicole's NINE Look

Kerry Warn, the stylist Nicole Kidman famously refers to as, ‘the best hairdresser in the world’, injects high octane glamour into the film star’s look for 2009’s highly anticipated film, NINE. I can't wait to see it, with the star-studded cast, lavish costumers and music - what's not to love?

NINE stars a stellar cast of Hollywood’s leading ladies including Nicole Kidman, Pénelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Kate Hudson and Sophia Loren and is set in 1960’s Rome, reflecting some of the era’s most iconic looks. Watch the Trailer here.

Nicole Kidman, who plays film muse Claudia Jenssen channelled the 1960’s glamour of Julie Christie in her starlet role, and it was Kerry Warn, International Creative Consultant for the John Frieda® brands, who created Nicole’s show-stopping look:

Kerry comments, "Nicole’s look in this role is pure, unadulterated glamour."  Here is how you can copy this beautiful style:

1. A smooth base is important so apply John Frieda® Frizz-Ease® Original Serum (£5.99) to damp hair before drying with a natural bristle brush.

2. Once dry, focus on the crown and spray roots with John Frieda® Luxurious Volume Thickening Blowdry Lotion (£5.49) and dry small sections with a large, round vent brush to create height and movement.

3. To create maximum lift, roll generous sections of hair around large velcro rollers and mist with John Frieda® Luxurious Volume Thickening Hairspray (£5.49). Leave to set whilst applying make up.

4. Remove the rollers and loosely brush through hair with a natural bristle brush. The key area for heightening volume is the crown, which requires extra attention and a little back combing.  Add a final gentle mist of hairspray to secure the volume in place.

5. To finish, catch the hair on either side of the face and slightly twist at the back of the head, securing with bobby pins.  Leave the rest of the hair loose and run through with your fingers to create a sexy, slightly un-done impression that gives this look a modern edge.

Find out more about John Frieda products

INTERVIEW - Shoshanna's Festive Fashion Tips

 
Celebrity fans of American label Shoshanna include Selma Blair, Taylor Swift and Nicole Richie. It's more well known for its summery dresses and bikinis, but they have a good selection of partywear too. Designer Shoshanna Gruss reveals some of her tips for the party season...

What is best to wear for your different holiday parties this year?
Family Affair:  A pretty dress with an embellished neckline or embroidery, something you can throw a cardigan over, move around and have fun in. 
Office Party:  Simple shift or sheath dress that will take you from a day at the office to the party that night, with a change shoes and accessories.
Girls Night Out:  A great strapless dress in a bold color like a violet or red is perfect.  Add a cropped leather jacket or blazer to give it some edge.

What is the must-have accessory to spice up any outfit? 
I think a statement necklace is the ultimate piece to pair with a dress for the season.  It can instantly change an outfit.

What are the key dress trends to look for this holiday season?
Bright Bold Colors, Sequin and Shin, Embellished Necklines

How do you take your daytime outfit from the office to a party?
Start with a simple dress shape, like a shift that can act as your blank canvas.  During the day keep it simple with flats and delicate jewelry.  Slip into fabulously high heels, and throw on a pair of great earrings or a vintage necklace for the office party later that evening.

How do you find the best dress for flattering your body type?
You have to find a shape that works for you and stick with it.  Try on every shape you can until you find the one you are most comfortable in and shows off your best assets.

What are some ways to up the glamour of your favorite little black dress for the holiday season?
Accessories are the best way to glam up a LBD.  You can use so many different kinds of colorful jewelry to stand out, play around and have fun with it.  Also, a bright bold lip is a great way to spice up an outfit.

What in one must-have holiday piece that can be worn for every party occasion this season?
I think the perfect dress for any occasion is a simple shift- you can wear it so many ways (from a day at the office to a party at night) and make it look like a different dress with a change of accessories.  It’s my go to dress for every holiday party this season.

What are your personal DOS and DON’TS for holiday party dressing?
NO Holiday Sweaters
DO Have Fun with Color
DON’T Be Afraid to Stand Out
DO Shop Your Closet- Mix and Match Old Pieces with New

SHOPPING - Your Own Personal Lingerie Models

 

Knickerpicker.com now features 5 female models demonstrating the fit of all the lingere on the website. Visitors to the site choose which size model tries on their selection and can control the model walking forward and backward, turning and, in the case of sports bras, even jogging to ensure the most life-like online shopping experience.

They've got a good choice of great brands including Freya, Triumph, Wonderbra, Charnos, Gossard and Panache but this new way of presenting product really stands out. Myla's Christmas campaign featured something similar, but in a more polished, less realistic way. Knicker Picker have it right with being able to see the true fit on a range of women's sizes, not just the conventional lingerie model sized woman.

And for the guys, who often find lingerie shopping a tad uncomfortable, Knicker Picker provides a helping hand finding the perfect item for the wife or girlfriend with a useful ‘Boy’s Buying Guide’.

Definitely worth a look.

WEBSITE - Fast Fashion From Shop Pulse

 So there's a new site in town, Shop Pulse. Shop Pulse is the ultimate online portal for fast-fashion. The site delivers live updates of the newest products to hit a huge range of designer and high street stores. To be honest, I've been waiting for something like this. Trawling every store you like for the newest products takes time and if someone is going to do it for me, now that can't be a bad thing.

If you don’t have much time for shopping then this site is definitely for you. The ‘Gotta have it’ pick of the five hottest items to hit stores each day is available as an RSS feed so you can get notifications direct to your desktop or even on your blackberry. I'll be adding it to my iGoogle page.

I'm also glad to see that Shop Pulse menswear will be coming in early 2010.

For the latest news, you can follow Shop Pulse on Twitter or become a fan of Shop Pulse on Facebook

CONTEST - Christmas Goodie Bag Giveaway

 

It's nearly Christmas which means it's time to think about others and spread a little festive cheer. That's why I've been collecting bits and bobs for a cool goodie bag to give away to one of my lucky readers. The swag includes:

• Alexander McQueen printed tee
  
• Aussie shampoo and conditioner
• Max Factor Lipfinity lip colour
• Nivea Glamorous Gloss
• Models Own nail polish
• Models Own eyeliner
  
• Nail file
• Cute notebook
  

The contest will run till Christmas Eve when I'll pick a winner - if I find any more goodies before then I'll throw those in too. All you need to do is become a fan of The Style PA on Facebook and then post a message on the wall that starts:

'I've been good this year by...'

Existing fans and new fans can enter but I am only able to post within the UK for this one... sorry. As I'll be back home for Christmas, I'll give my mum the honour of picking the most deserving entrant and the winner will be notified with a message via Facebook.

Good luck everyone.

UPDATE:

The lovely people from Dollipops have sent two beautifully wrapped little gifts for the goodie bag. If you want to take a look at the sort of things they sell, visit www.dollipops.co.uk

MAKE-UP - Something New, Something Old

I recently lost my make-up bag on a bus so I've been trying out some new products and rediscovering some old ones too. I took some pics of me putting my face on so you can see the results of the different products I've been using.

Face & Cheeks

Here's my new foundation and the results which I reckon are pretty good. I'm lucky that my skin is fairly evenly toned anyway, but Loreal's True Match does blend in very well and gives the impression of a great complexion. I opted for the shade vanilla rose because at this time of year my skin is very pale. To give it some colour I'm currently using some 2True bronzer in shade no. 2 and for the apples of my cheeks I brush on some of Benefit's Thrrrob blusher. My friend kindly gave hers to me after I lost mine on the bus, now that's love!

Eyeshadow

Next up is the eyeshadow. I'm wearing iridescent purple pearls today so to tie the look together I went for a purple shadow. My favourite one from No. 17 at Boots is well used, and crushed to peices. Irritating as it ends up all over everything else in my make-up drawer or bag. Please tell me I'm not the only one who has a crushed up eyeshadow they can't get rid of? I also dust a little shimmering powder shadow over the top to tone down the purple and add a bit of subtle sparkle.

Eyeliner

I always apply eyeliner next (some people do mascara first but I can't be doing with that). I've been using Models Own kohl pencil in black which I like alot. It goes on really smoothly which makes doing little flicks at the corner of your eye a breeze. I like to line the top lids and then smudge a little liner at the outer corners of the lower lashes too.

Mascara

I'm currently using two mascaras which are good at different things. I start with Benefit's BADGal lash mascara in black to thicken lashes and give that 'almost false' effect. Then I use a little of Max Factor's Lash Extension Effect mascara, again in black. This works really well to lengthen the lashes but isn't so good at thickening, so with the two I feel like I get everything. Start at the bottom of the lashes and slowly wiggle th brush up the lashes. Use on the lower lashes sparingly.

Et voilà, super quickly made up and ready to dash out the door. Just a dab of gloss on the lips and then I threw on my navy sequin blazer and was done. How does your everyday beauty make-up routine compare with mine?

STYLE - My Velvet Bow Headband

 

I love a good hair accessory and ever since I got my fringe I've been loving headbands. My new favourite is this black, velvet bow headband from J by Jasper Conran at Debenhams. I got it in the sale for about £5, reduced from £15 and I just love it. It's soft, comfortable to wear and looks great with the faux fur stole I bought the other day. The perfect touch of glamour for the festive season.

If you want to get your hands on this headband, alas, you might be out of luck. They've all sold out from what I can see - but I quite like this raspberry one too. Or ASOS have a similar headband, but it's more expensive.

P.S That photo reminds me that I really need to cut my fringe too. Better find me a hairdresser back home next week. I usually do it myself, but something's telling me it needs some professional help.

FASHION - The Comfy, Cable Knit Cosy

I've officially found it. The warmest, most comfortable cardigan in the world and with the way the weather has been, it came just at the right time.

In the pics, I'm wearing the cable cosy by Isabella Oliver 365. You might remember I featured Holly Willoughby wearing their orange zip dress recently so the brand has definitely got some celeb fans. I managed to get my hands on this cardi after the lovely peeps at Isabella Oliver asked if I'd like tot try something out for myself and I said 'of course'. I wasn't disappointed when it arrived beautifully wrapped and boxed - always nice as it make opening your parcel feel like opening a birthday present - with a free tote bag.

The cardigan is made from the softest 'extrafine' merino wool which you won't find itchy in the slightest. The cardigan is wrap around with no buttons or fastening so you can wear it open for casual style or belt it to show off your figure. For taller people this might end up being just past knee-length, but If you're short, like me, it will come down to your calves. The sleeves are super long too so roll them up like I have in this pic.

The best thing about this piece though is its versatility. Wear it belted at the waist and it's a rather stylish coatigan, throw it over your PJs on a Sunday morning and it's a luxurious dressing gown, wear it under your coat and you'll be warm all day in the snowy, winter weather. I've actually just thrown my other long cardigan in the pile for the charity shop because it just doesn't compare with the softness of this one and there's no way now that I'm going back.

 The cable cosy costs £139 and you can buy online.

SHOPPING - New Accessories Haul

I accidentally bought lots of new things... I know, I know, it's nearly Christmas but it was all rather bargainous I promise. My latest fetish is shoes. I've always been a fan (what woman isn't?) but lately it's become more of an obsession. Partly because I've found super-tall heels that are actually comfortable to wear. A tip is to always go for a shoe with a platform to take the edge off the height. Before I had to have a chunky, modest sized heel - something must have changed, either my feet have lost feeling or shoe makers have refined their designs to make something that's easier to wear for a longer period of time.

As you know, I'm a high street girl so that's where I tend to spend my pennies.The top two pairs of shoes are Red Herring at Debenhams and the black ones I picked up at the Oxford Street store - something tells me they will be my wear-with-everything pair.

Let me know what you think...

MAKE-UP - Models Own review

The lovely people at Models Own sent me a few things to try - some nail polish and eyeliners from their extensive range.

If you've not come across the brand their website is fab. Really clear and easy to shop and it's bright and colourful which always makes things nicer to browse. They also have a good blog. Head over there to get some ideas, copy the celeb looks or simply fill your basket with lovely beauty products. I was surprised by the sheer number of shades and products to choose from and all at reasonable prices too. Here is what I tried out...

Kohl eyeliner pencil in black

This eyeliner came just at the right time - after leaving my make-up bag on the bus I've needed to start rebuilding it and a new black eyeliner was on the list. This eyeliner comes with a blending tip and in built sharpener in the lid. Anything that makes my life easier is a good thing so these added features get the thumbs up from me.

The pencil itself goes on smoothly on both the upper lids and inside lower lids. I managed to get a neat line and after a day's wear it wasn't all smudged in the corners of my eyes. I'd definitely buy this. Only downside is that the blending tip didn't really give me the smudgy effects I'd expected but I'm going to work on it.

Nail polish in slate green
Nail polish in sterling silver
Nail polish in red 'n' black

Seeing as I only have one set of nails I enlisted the help of two friends to try these out with me. We all picked a colour, me in slate green (similar to that oh-so-popular Chanel jade hue), Jo in sterling silver and Dee in red 'n' black. On the first coat I thought the polish was a bit thin and wasn't sure what it would look like, but it dries really quickly allowing you to apply another coat soon after the first. After the second coat my nails looked like this... (I really need to sort my cuticles out I've since noticed)

Not bad, but definitely better once I added a third coat an hour or two later. Then I had the really solid, glossy colour that I wanted. The girls voted the re 'n' black as the best colour and as I already had a similar colour in my nail kit I let Dee take this one home with her. The silver wasn't top of our list I think because it reminds me a bit of when I used to paint my nails as a young teen.

I decided to find a use for it though and gave myself an alternative french manicure in the slate green with silver tips. Quite cool I reckon...

I've thrown a Shimmer eyeliner pencil in real gold into my festive goodie bag for someone to win and try out for themselves. Yellowy colours on my face don't work with my complexion but would look great on someone who does suit those colours.

Has anyone else tried other colours from the range? Let me know in the comments.