JEWELLERY - Disney's Alice in Wonderland Jewellery

I was a very lucky girl to be invited to watch the new Alice in Wonderland film at the Soho Hotel last week. Obviously it was to celebrate the release of the film, but almost as importantly, Disney have collaborated with Tom Binns on a special limited edition collection of jewellery inspired by the film.

Everyone seemed to have worn something a bit 'Wonderland' themed. For me it was my clock necklace picked up in a sale some time ago. Funnily enough though, it matches, almost perfectly, a pair of earrings from the Disney Couture collection... it was meant to be!

The jewellery was great and not to cutesy at all. It felt quite grown up, just like Tim Burton's version of the film I suppose. My favourite from the Tom Binns jewellery range is probably the Mad Hatter Teacup Necklace - I want it. The collection has lots of quirky details that are associated with the Alice in Wonderland story, there are keys, keyholes, teacups, hearts, hats and crowns and a whole host of other fabulous details too. Accessories online has a big selection of the range available to buy online. Check out my pictures to get a feel for the styles...

Another bonus of going was that I got to meet Gemma of Retro Chick at last and have a gossip with Reena of Fashion Daydreams and Fiona of Save our Shoes too.

And back to the film, I urge you all to go and see it. It's actually the first film I've seen in 3D since it became popular again and it was great. Also the private cinema at the Soho Hotel is fabulous so if you ever get a chance to go make a dash for it. We were handed popcorn, posh bottles of water and got to take our wine in with us. It's those little luxuries that are sure to raise a smile.

Johnny Depp was great as usual playing the Mad Hatter, but it was Helena Bonham Carter who gave the most memorable performance in my opinion. She played the Queen of Hearts in such a dark but comic way, and her over-sized head provides endless amusement. Look out for the costumes too, as Alice gets deeper in to Wonderland there is a striking dress that has a McQueen vibe. The costume designer is the Oscar-winning Colleen Atwood who has an amazing CV having worked on NINE, Edward Scissorhands, Chicago, Sleepy Hollow and Memoirs of a Geisha to name but a few.

You can tell that The White Queen character is based on Nigella Lawson, I was thinking that while I was watching. There are plenty of other famous faces/voices that you'll recognise too, it's positively a star-fest and even though it's not exactly the original storyline, the whole film makes sense and makes for gripping viewing.

Here I am along with Gemma, modelling the rather stylish 3D glasses. I don't think I've ever looked scarier...

NAILS - Butter London Review and Tips

The other day I shared with the Twitterverse how horrid and hideous my nails were. Broken, flaking and generally uncared for. Click here if you want to see how bad - Not a good look. Loads of people came back with some good tips and product recommendations and the lovely people at Strawberry and Cream sent me over a load of goodies from Butter London. They were confident I'd love them and I have to say they were correct.

The priority was giving my nails some TLC so that meant attending to those cuticles, dry skin and flaked nail edges. Here is the nail overhaul kit that was sent over. Everything I needed to get my nails back in tip-top shape.

Butter products are great because the product line is completely free from FORMALDEHYDE, TOLUENE and DBP. I love the fact that they don't offer false nail services out of principle, I've always thought they must be horrifically damaging for your nails. I'd rather have my own nails in good condition than have to keep paying for falsies to cover up ruined nails. You can find out moer about the people and idea behind the company over here.

After testing all the products out, my absolute must-have from the range is the Handbag Holiday Cuticle Oil, it smells like a Pina Colada and I'll have no trouble remembering to apply it regularly. It's also full of nourishing vitamins and costs £14.68 for a generous bottle that's sure to last you ages. I did see the difference and I'm sure with regular use this will keep my cuticles soft and manageable.

Coming in a close second to the cuticle oil is the Nail Foundation Flawless Basecoat which is a great product. Putting nail varnish straight on top of dry or flaky nails is probably the worst thing you can do. You need something that will help fill the ridges and gaps while not doing further damage. This base coat gives nails a silky matte finish which can be worn alone or under nail colours. They also say it's great for male manicures too as it's subtle and non-glossy.

I'll be using the Melt Away cuticle eliminator and Horse Power Nail Fertilizer regularly to see if they make a significant difference and I'll be sure to update this post if I've anything else to report. The cuticle eliminator seemed to work well when using the brush to get rid of any left-over bits. The nail fertilizer did sting rather a lot though so I'll have to remember to only apply that when I've got no broken skin. It may be more natural than most brands but still not the best thing to put on an open cut - ouch! I wasn't a huge fan of the banana files just because they seemed a little rough for my nails, maybe because the tips were already slightly damaged.



Overall I absolutely loved the range and thought the quality was excellent and worth the money. I'll definitely be going back to Strawberry and Cream when I need something for my nail kit. I've been eyeing up the hand creams and pedicure products too. Luckily it's only a day or two after pay day so a splurge may be on the cards.

You can Buy Butter London at Strawberry and Cream.

And just for fun I decided to get out all the nail colours I'd bought or been given lately and put them all on. It's a great way to compare the quality too. I used the Butter London Basecoat and Topcoat over them all (the glossy finish is down to that hard-wearing, yet non-toxic topcoat).

1. Models Own nail polish in 'Deep Purple' 2. Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in 'Come to bed red' 3. Models Own nail polish in 'Nude Beige' 4. e.l.f nail polish in 'Fire Coral' 5. Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in 'Rosie Lee'.


6. Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail Polish in 420 'Sunrise' 7. Max Factor Nailfinity in 223 'See Through Peach' 8. Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer Jelly Sheer Colour in 'Twee' 9. Models Own nail polish in 'Lemon Meringue' 10. Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in 'Primrose Hill Picnic'.

I was sure to give my nails a good day to bed in, I did the washing-up is hot water and did some chores to put the nails to the test and here is the verdict. Not one of the Butter London nail polishes have chipped, both the Models Own colours are slightly chipped and so is the Max Factor one. The cheap and cheerful Rimmel polish and e.l.f nail colour both remain as perfect as when I applied them too. It's hardly a scientific test, but definitely gives you an idea of which brands have staying power.

My favourite of them all was definitely the Butter London in 'Primrose Hill Picnic', a fabulously bright pink. My boyfriend liked the Jelly Sheer colour, and I'm coming round to it too although sheer nail colour isn't my favourite look as a rule. I'm not removing these yet either, so I'm probably going to get some strange looks tomorrow at work, but Pixie Lott was recently spotted with multi-coloured nails so if it's good enough for her...

Other tips for winter battered nails:

Here's what the lovely bunch on Twitter had to say about how they keep their nails looking lovely...

@Rosie_Writer says "no need to invest, I use boots basic hand and nail cream, it works wonders, keep it in your bag and use often through the day"

@Emilymskinner says "I just had the 3 week manicure at Nails Inc. It's AMAZING."

@Be_Gorgeous says "vaseline before you go to bed!"

@Sololisa says "Between manis, I coat my nails by painting them w/ @sephora cuticle oil pen. After 1-3 days they're not dry anymore."

@StyleTelevision says "Try Vaseline's Healthy Hands and Nails! It's cheap and in a tall pink bottle. Repairs cuticles and cracked skin almost"

@MouseToMinx says "Mouse to Minx recommends a holiday in the sun for good nails....!"

@Shortcouture says " for nails I use Sally Hansen Maximum Growth. Not an instant repair but nails grow strong so always in good nick."

TREND - Hey you... navy blue

Click here for product details

I'm currently quite in love with navy blue so I was glad to see a lot of it on the catwalks during fashion week and on the red carpet too. It's not just there in a 'nautical' context either, it's a fabulous shade for eveningwear and accessories and it's pretty much my 'new black'. I also think you can wear it with black for a classy combo. It suits most skin tones so will look good on almost anyone. Check out the celebs recently spotted wearing navy, it's been a big hit at the awards ceremonies...

Joely Richardson at The Baftas

Lauren Laverne at The Baftas

Nicole Richie launching her 'Winter Kate' collection

Davina McCall in Marchesa

Kate Winslet in YSL at the Golden Globe Awards

Drew Barrymore at the SAG Awards in LA

Emily Blunt looking amazing at 'The Wolfman' premiere

REVIEW - Electric Toothbrush on Trial

I'm taking part in the 21 day blogger challenge testing out the Oral B Triumph with Smart Guide 5000 electric toothbrush. This really is the daddy of electric toothbrushes sitting at the very top of the range, which also makes it one of the most recommended toothbrushes by dentists.

I recently bought my first electric toothbrush which sat right at the other end of the scale; a bargain in the sale at £15. I'm really interested to see how this one compares especially as it is ten times the price, so I'll be doing a review back here in a few weeks. I'm really inspired to get a whiter, brighter smile, especially after seeing all the celeb photos from the Golden Globes today! Thanks to Oral B for sending this over and let's see if I get any compliments on my lovely teeth this week...

Click here for more info about the Oral B Triumph 5000 toothbrush or to buy.

My verdict:

I've been using this toothbrush now for about a month and I have to say I couldn't go back. On the one or two occasions that I've used my old toothbrush the feeling just isn't the same and I find that half way through the day I want to brush my teeth again. I also noticed how the bristles of a conventional toothbrush actually irritate the gums.

The toothbrush is really easy to use and the wireless screen makes sure you've been brushing evenly and for the right amount of time. You just stick it straight onto the tiles in your bathroom, easy! The toothbrush also comes with several different heads aimed at everything your teeth and gums might need from massaging the gums to a deep clean.

Overall I'm really impressed, but would I spend £160 on a toothbrush? Probably not. That said, I'd certainly not go back to a non-electric toothbrush now. They just don't offer anywhere near the same level of cleanliness as this product does.

I'm quite looking forward to going back to my dentist now (now there's a crazy thought), last time I was there she asked if I used an electric toothbrush and I said no. It will be interesting to see if she can tell the difference.

Top benefits:

• A dentist clean feeling
• Great at removing stains
• Removes plaque
• Improves gum health

STYLE - Buying, Using, Reviewing

I feel like this last couple of weeks I've bought a million new things, reviewed masses of products and done so much. Just so you all know, I only say nice things about products I like, I wouldn't want to put my name against something that I didn't like or agree with. Here are some of the highlights...



Aveeno moisturisers

I was sent over some samples to try and have been a bit addicted to the hand cream. It's got a great non-greasy formula and isn't overly scented making it a handbag essential - and boy my hands need some care and attention right now! I'm also loving the Aveeno moisturising creamy oil because it is slick and easily absorbed, making it great for smoothing over legs for that smooth feeling. They also do thicker moisturisers but I've got so many of those in my drawer already I'll be giving one away in my next goodie bag giveaway.

Discover Aveeno moisturisers



Gillette Venus Embrace

I've been using disposable razors for years now as I hate shelling out for blades which can be really expensive. I was recently sent the new Venus Embrace from Gillette which is persuading me to invest in blades after all. It's got five blades but gives a really safe and smooth shave which was particularly noticeable when shaving across the knees and round the ankle area. It also comes with a cradle that sticks onto your bathroom tiles - a bit of a novelty but keeps it to hand when you need it. I also tried the Satin Care lavender kiss shave gel which smells lovely and makes it even easier to get a great finish. To be honest I usually make do with shower gel, but if I see it on offer I'll probably pick some up.

Check out the Gillette razor finder for your perfect shave.



Denim style shirt dress

I'm a fan of bargain fashion to update my look on a whim and Blue Inc. has a small but fashionable selection of styles. I picked out this denim style shirt dress which they sent over for me to give a whirl. I'm planning on wearing it with leggings layered over a tee with a rock vibe or belted with lace tights for a more dressed-up look. Denim is a huge trend at the moment with celebs like Alexa Chung wearing it for day and evening occasions. The almost white, faded denim look is going to be big for summer too as it's lighter and brighter.

Get yourself a denim style shirt dress.

From brooch to hair accessory

This brooch came on a jacket that I bought in the sale at River Island but it just didn't look or hang right. It's been sitting on my shelf waiting for a use and the other day I discovered one, as a hair accessory. I pinned it over the top of a messy bun and I think it gives it a bit of a flamenco feel. What do you reckon?

Let me know if you've tried any new products lately. I'm always on the lookout for recommendations...

FASHION - Nathan Jenden AW10

Firstly the setting for this show was totally cool. The old Dairy near Russell Square and the real difference was the amount of light in comparison with shows at the main tent at Somerset House.We were also quite close to the action with a 'never-ending front row' as Hilary Alexander described it on Twitter.

To me the Nathan Jenden collection didn't seem the most cohesive, although other comments I've seen would disagree. It was quite '80s with brash colours, sharp tailoring and 'wow' cocktail dresses. The animal prints and ethnic details ran through the collection yet some of the shapes reminded me of a different era entirely, something altogether more period with skirts with tiered backs and fitted jackets - a bit like Nicole Kidman's character Lady Sarah Ashley in Australia.

A couple of the dresses looked from a distance like they could have been made with sweet wrappers, bright with a shininess. Like Ashish, this collection too featured sunglasses on the models and the whole thing just felt very 'Jackie Collins novel' to me. African influences seemed to be forced together with something more oriental, in particular those gently coned hats with feather edging which were really pretty.

Some of the dresses use narrow ribbons of fabric to create a tutu, or feather skirt effect. The pale pink skirted dress and ruffled, exposed zip dress were probably my favourites and the ones I can see on a celebrity's shopping list. I also loved the fact there was a fair amount of navy blue in there... I'm planning on it being my 'new black' again come A/W.

The most memorable pieces were probably the floor-length dress with a tiger's face printed on it and the black and blue fur coat - I didn't think either of these appealed to my own sense of style but they definitely stood out.

Diane Von Furstenberg was there to support her former creative director as he focused on his own label. It also tickled me when Hilary Alexander wandered along the front row handing out jelly babies - apparently they were part of the hamper that was left in the boot of each of the cars.

FASHION - Ashish AW10

Definitely one of my favourite shows of this fashion week, Ashish showed us how to dress down our sequins with masculine pieces and super-chunky knitwear. The SS10 collection was all about nods to Europe and this time round it was back to the East.

I loved the background notes for the show which set a scene of a country called 'Ashishistan', a former soviet republic known for its beautiful women. It tells a story taking us through the different fabrics, styles and designs that make up this new collection.

I loved the cable knit effect tops which took the cricket jersey to a whole new level. The colours were beautiful, everything from yellows and vibrant oranges to purple, light blue and red. The striking sequins and bold patterns were toned down with the use of chunky knitwear, tweed tailoring, paper bag waisted trousers. It was glamorous eastern woman meets New York homeless guy and I don't actually mean that in bad way.

Fingerless gloves,l knitted beanies and messy plaited hair made sure the collection wasn't too polished or 'evening'. This is laid-back daytime dressing with sequins thrown in for good measure or if it were worn for evening occasions then we've discovered a way to make it effortless and comfortable without baring much skin. The models all wore patterned socks and manly shoes, again dressing down those fabulous matte sequins.

Another thing I loved was the black, red and white backless dress which draped beautifully over the model's body. The patterns throughout the collection were reminiscent of exotic tapestries or rugs but still with a touch of the unexpected - teddy bears!

All in all, a fabulous collection with a great story underpinning it.

I spotted Paloma Faith engrossed in the collection as the models walked by and she was wearing these 'skyline' trousers from the designer's SS10 collection. Nicola Roberts hair was truly gravity-defying as always ad she opted for a simple striped blouse and jeans as her fashion week outfit for that day.

Buy Ashish at Browns

FASHION - J Maskrey AW10

J Maskrey is a make-up artist turned fashion designer. She started using crystals in her make-up work and then took the idea further and developed a line of skin jewellery. Her website explains that this naturally progressed into a clothing range to serve as a 'backdrop' to the skin jewellery.

This show was a little different to most because it wasn't just about the clothes... the models walked really, really slowly down the catwalk - no doubt to allow the team backstage to cover the skin in jewels - but the added bonus was that it allowed me to take some really good photos, so I've included lots of them. The graceful movement of the models and elegant poses was really memorable.

There were so many wow moments, like the leopard print skin jewellery covering one model's body to the dangling jewels stuck onto nails. I'm not sure quite how, or even if, you'd wear it and it isn't something that has a huge celebrity following either, although J Maskrey has apparently worked with big names like Kate Moss and Gwen Stefani. If the skin jewellery wasn't your thing, then there were still some glittering pieces of clothing you could covet. I loved the cape with tiny crystals that caught the light. Much more subtle, but still girly and sparkly too.

The show was a bit of a spectacle with the final show piece being a double fanned, bejewelled headdress. Amazing! I don't know how it was attached securely, but the model didn't wobble once. You can shop some of the current collection online but to be honest it fell flat of my expectations coming away from the show. I had hoped for something that looked a bit classier, and instead it feels a bit tacky. I guess that should have been expected to a certain extent, it's something that works really well to add a little something extra to a photo shoot with a celeb, but as yet, we haven't fully embraced the idea in the mainstream. You can be a bit more inspired by the lookbook imagery of the current collection which showcases it against clothing in a stronger way. Here are some of the catwalk pics I took... let me know what you think.

Did you also hear that Chanel is going to start selling temporary tattoos? Perhaps this whole accessorising the skin trend is about to take off, although I know there are plenty of journalists who are far from convinced, including Hannah Betts from The Telegraph online. Take a look at them on Trendhunter. It says they launch in March so we'll soon find out what the take-up is.

I'm not rushing out to get myself some skin jewellery, but I'm slightly more open to the idea... what about you?