FASHION - Scorching Swimwear Styles

It's getting closer, and this summer I'm hoping for lots of fabulous weather - I can but dream. Time to start looking for some new swimwear, don't leave it too late ladies, all the realy good stuff can often get snapped up early.

The new La Perla Beachwear Collections are now available at the La Perla Online-Shop. From simple to statement, there are a selection of chic styles but you're looking at about £200 - £450 for a swimsuit - yikes!

From 1 May, Apartment C will be selling lingerie online. Brands include Pistol Panties (above) and The Lakes and Stars (apparently a fave of Lady Gaga, Gwynnie and SJP). There are some really fashion-forward styles to look out for. You'll be looking at over £100 for a swimsuit here... less than La Perla, but still a bit steep for the majority of us.

For something a little more affordable, head to Debenhams where you'll find designer diffusion ranges from the likes of Melissa Odabash, Jasper Conran, Henry Holland and Matthew Williamson. Interestingly a recent survey by Debenhams revealed 91% of women questioned wear a bikini abroad but over 80% of them said they would NEVER wear a bikini in the UK. Half of the women surveyed said they’d feel embarrassed about being spotted by someone they know and although 35% of women admitted to going topless abroad, 100% of women said they wouldn't go topless in the UK! Interesting stuff! If you want to feel more covered up try the skirted swimsuit above, I'm told it's selling fast.

 

While having a browse online I was enticed by these multi-coloured Seafolly bikinis. How cute are they! Holidays and sunshine deserve a splash of colour in my opinion... not too bad price-wise either. From £30 - £40 and these would last much longer than the one you've seen in Primark that's for sure!

Have you got your eye on any new swimwear?

WIN - VIP Tickets to an Exclusive Screening of ‘Agora’ With Paramount Pictures UK

Agora (cert 12A), a mesmerising story of courage and love set in Roman Egypt, at cinemas everywhere now. To celebrate its launch I am giving you the chance to win VIP tickets to the exclusive screening on May 10 at Paramount Pictures UK.

Starring Rachel Weisz, Agora tells the story of 4th century A.D. Egypt under the Roman Empire. Violent religious upheaval in the streets of Alexandria spills over into the city’s famous Library. Trapped inside its walls, the brilliant astronomer Hypatia (Rachel Weisz) and her disciples fight to save the wisdom of the Ancient World. Among them, the two men competing for her heart: the witty, privileged Orestes (Oscar Isaac) and Davus (Max Minghella), Hypatia’s young slave, who is torn between his secret love for her and the freedom he knows can be his if he chooses to join the unstoppable surge of the Christians.

One lucky winner will receive two tickets to the VIP screening at Paramount Pictures UK on May 10. One runner up will be fortunate enough to win a set of ten books from the Oxford University Press’s Very Short Introduction series which ranges from Ancient Philosophy to Agnosticism and over 250 more. For more information on the film please visit www.agoramovie.co.uk

Competition now closed
Copyright© 2010 DW STUDIOS L.L.C. and COLD SPRING PICTURES. All Rights Reserved.

NEWS - Isabella Oliver Wins a Queen's Award

Congrats to Isabella Oliver! The fashion retailer has received a distinguished award from Her Majesty The Queen. A Queen's Award is the highest honour that can be bestowed on a UK company, and it is a fantastic recognition of the hard work everyone puts in at Isabella Oliver. Selected from the International Trade category, the company has been recognised for its significant growth and dedication overseas.

The spring/summer collection is definitely worth a look too. The candy colours really get you in the mood for sunshine. I'm loving the maxi dresses that can be worn come rain or shine this season.

 The Bella Maxi Dress

 

The Rebecca Maxi Dress

FITNESS - Freebies at LA Fitness for May Bank Holiday

The sun is out and that means more of my body is going to be on display. If the first promise of sunshine and the prospect of baring all fills you with dread then this May Day Bank Holiday take yourself to your nearest LA fitness for a free, long-weekend of fitness fun (May 1st  to May 4th 2010).

LA fitness is opening its doors to non-members so everyone can take advantage of the facilities and enjoy the superb swimming pool at every Club.  As well as state of the art gym equipment, many clubs have steam rooms, saunas and beauty salons. There are also free exercise classes too. There'll also be discounts on membership if you sign up during the long weekend.

If you do decide that membership is for you then you’ll be introduced to the new LA fitness Experience. First launched in January this year by singer, songwriter and BBC’s Strictly judge Alesha Dixon – the company’s new brand ambassador, it’s designed to help members stay motivated and get into the gym more often.  Each new member is treated to a tailored ‘Kickstart’ programme based on personal fitness targets, which LA has identified fall into four key categories :  Trim.Tone.Fit.Train. I think I need all the above!

So try it out for free this May Bank Holiday, I think I'm going to. Just head to www.lafitness.co.uk to find your nearest club.

FASHION - SuperSweet Accessory Picks

Today was a fabulous day and my sister and I spent some of it looking at the most gorgeous things at the SuperSweet show room. They feature some hot brands and count the likes of Florence Welch and Paloma Faith as their clients.

There were a few things that really caught my eye. 1st up, Mafia's jewellery collection. I fell in love with the stag necklace and the roll & roll knuckle duster - I'm still trying to decide whether to buy them or not... (I really mustn't). The quality is amazing for the price, I was really surprised at the £35-ish price tags.

When it comes to shoes you've got to love Opening Ceremony. I tried on the Dusty Pink Snakeskin Heels which are a great twist on the nude shoe look that's been popular this season. I also love the bows on the pastel, tie-dye Peep Booties but I suspect that the fash-pack will be lusting after the Tan Leather Peep Booties.

Still on the subject of accessories, Rachel Goth's meticulously-crafted felt necklaces are on my wish list too or maybe I love the earrings more, I can't decide. The geometric shapes and confident colour palette make this a really cohesive little collection of beautifully-made alternative jewellery.

There's more than just accessories on the SuperSweet website though, the clothes are amazing too! I'll be following up this post with some of my favourites from the rest of the collections soon...

HAIR - Feeling Long & Luscious

I received some post today from my favourite hair brand, Aussie. As regular readers of this blog will know, I've been involved with the Aussie Angels project this past year and it's been a lot of fun with hair treats and parties too. Now it's time to learn more about our hair type and to really make the most of our locks so Aussie are on board to offer tips and products based on specific hair 'tribes'. I picked long and luscious because my hair is pretty lengthy at the moment.

Can't wait to see what else Aussie have up their sleeves, anything that makes my hair look (and smell) good is a bonus in my books. I'll be sure to let you all know what tips we come up with for long and luscious haired ladies so you can all benefit too.

MAKE-UP - The New Topshop Cosmetics Collection

On Tuesday I was invited down to the Arcadia press day to take a look at the new Topshop make-up range and what a cute collection it is too!

The first thing that stood out was the pretty polka dot and striped packaging for the main range, not to mention fabulous colours and a really wide range of essentials. The highlights for me included the crayons in sea and cosmic and the kohl in petrol. Another must-have, the 'liner' is an awesome eyeliner with a pen-like tip, a great alternative to your usual liquid liner.

For the lips it was the crayon style lipstick that made me go 'ooooh' with a fab soft texture and almost glossy finish - I'd be worried about sharpening it though. Most items are priced under £10 so they really are for anyone and I can see the teens stocking up.

In addition to the core line there is also a trend collection which will change with the fashion seasons. This range currently includes metallic nail polishes, bold eye pencils and shadows and, my personal favourite, which was a 3 way eyeshadow selection in 'Moon Dust' with the most gorgeous, shimmering pink colour. You'll be able to pick this up from late May and the range is priced from between £5 and £15.

Personally I wasn't so keen on the glitter pots but it might have been that the colours they came in weren't really for me, only pink and purple for this season. The silver and gold crayons will probably be a hit this festival season if the likes of Pixie Lott and Keisha have inspired people to paint on the metallics.

Here are a few more pics so you can start picking the bits you want...

SHOES - The Jimmy Choo Trainer Hunt

To celebrate Jimmy Choo's first trainer collection, they've done something a little bit exciting for us Londoners. Jimmy Choo has launched a city-wide treasure hunt giving you the chance to win a pair of the new trainers

Follow the elusive Jimmy Choo trainers as they make their stylish journey around London. Checking in at the coolest, hippest places around town - from the Saatchi Gallery to Shoreditch House - the trainers will update you on their whereabouts in real time. And if they check into a venue near you, you can catch them to keep them.

I'm already an avid user of Foursquare and Twitter so I reckon I've got a headstart and will definitely be keeping an eye out for an update on where the trainers are. Good luck everyone.

Get involved by following the trail...

twitter.com/CatchAChoo
facebook.com/CatchAChoo
foursquare.com/user/CatchAChoo

INTERVIEW - Tara of taralacey.com

I grabbed a virtual chat with the lady behind online designer boutique www.taralacey.com - here's what Tara had to say...

Tell us a bit about yourself?
I'm 23 years old, I graduated from London College of Fashion in June 2009 with a degree in Fashion Promotion. As soon as I graduated I started to create Tara Lacey.com, researching the market and sourcing brands. I am an open minded, ambitious person, and I genuinely want women to feel and look great in the clothes that I sell.

Why did you open your shop?
I always new I wanted to have my own business, and fashion was my first choice as I had been studying/living it since I was 13, when I started drawing fashion illustrations. I love internet shopping myself and thought it would be a great opportunity to have an online fashion boutique with brands from all over the world that cannot be found easily elsewhere. There are so many mass produced clothes and I wanted to provide unique clothes where it minimises the risk of seeing someone with the same outfit as you.

What inspires you?
Where I live is inspiring, its in the countryside and is very tranquil, magazines inspire me, my friends, family, music - anything from Laura Marling to David Guetta. I can get inspiration from anything.

If you had to wear just one other fashion designer's clothes for life, who would it be?
I love Tavan & Mitto for beautifully tailored timeless pieces. The two guys behind the label are based in Canada but were trained in Europe and their attention to detail is fantastic. I also love Nocturne for clothes that translate from day to evening. Both are little known labels but I hope that my website will introduce both labels to a wider market. I am the type of person who likes to dress up during the day, I don't just save it for the evening.

Bllk Noir dress

What are your top 3 high street stores and why?
Zara - I've always had a love for Zara, reasonably priced, great basics, smart and easy-to wear fashion, Banana Republic for well priced classics with a twist, H&M for great throwaway fashion for all ages

What has been your biggest ever bargain?
In Las Vegas I went to the Ralph Lauren outlet store and saw these gorgeous navy blue satin high waisted, flared trousers - they were marked as $600 and were in the 70% off section but I wasn't sure if they belonged there, I tried them on and knew I had to have them. When I got to the till I asked how much they were and she said $20 - so I got them. I still think they were priced incorrectly.

What is your beauty routine?
As soon as I get up I put on Estee Lauder Day Plus... I always wait half an hour before doing the rest of my make up so it is fresh and lasts longer, Make up wipes are my saviour - I really don't know what life was like before them,

What do you collect?
I collect Vogue's from all over the world for inspiration - when ever I go abroad I pick up their latest issue.

Nocturne top

Which celebrity would you love to dress and why?
Jennifer Aniston would be great as everything she wears looks effortlessly sexy, she's beautiful and proves women can look better with age. I've always wanted to dress Liv Tyler as I think she is stunning but the clothes she wears are quite demure, I would love to get her to dress a little more provocatively.

Which celebrity do you think has the best style?
In my top two are Kate Hudson (as she knows what clothes suit her body), and Gemma Arterton who sticks to solid colours and sexy elegant shapes and seems able to switch from vintage to contemporary with ease

What is your favourite trend of the moment?

Wearing underwear as outerwear - simply because its a very hard trend to carry off but when done correctly it looks amazing.

How do you turn around a bad hair day?

I always plait my hair to one side if my hair is not working for me, usually I put mousse in it first leave it for a couple of hours then when I take the plait out I have subtle waves.
 
What would you wear on a first date?

You can never go wrong with a pair of skinny black trousers - check out the Bllack Noir leather panel leggings on my website - a pair of high heels (to assess their height) a plain top - also one piece of jewellery such as a fantastic piece from designer Fiona Paxton. I have some great statement cuffs from her collection on Tara Lacey.

TV - Frock Me on T4

Will you be watching?

This short promo for Frock Me features the show's trio of presenters (fashion mag fave and TV Presenter Alexa Chung, designer of the moment Henry Holland and Radio 1 style expert Gemma Cairney) in a cheeky homage to the famous fragrance ad that featured Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Eva Herzigova.

I think Alexa is great (if a tad skinny, I have an inappropriate crush on Henry Holland and Gemma Cairney is just cool - I'll be watching!

FROCK ME WITH TK MAXX IS ON SUNDAYS FROM 25th APRIL AT 13:00 on C4.

OUTFIT - Going Dotty

Sorry for the poor pic, but I just had to show you me blending in with a shop window display... how uncool! Regardless though, I do love the outfit I was wearing, firstly the spotty jacket was a steal in Miss Selfridge's sale section at £25 instead of £50 - I posted about it at an earlier post which makes me even happier to have found it for less.

The other main item I'm wearing is from Blue Inc and it's a dress they sent over that's got me loads of compliments at work and while out wearing it. It's a denim look, belted dress with mesh at the top giving it that almost strapless look. It fit like a glove which is always nice and I felt like it was a really flattering cut which was reinforced by all those compliments. Not a bad price either at £24.99. You can get the dress here.

I'm thinking of dipping my toe into the double denim trend with this dress as the wash is so dark it would be a subtle rather than stand-out nod to the trend. Unfortunately I'm pretty certain the jacket has now sold out.

PAMPERING - Kuno Tierra Spa Treatments

I love Qype events because they allow you to discover places you never knew about before. Last week I discovered Kuno Tierra just off Regent Street. I'd been to the hairdressers upstairs before who knew there was a gorgeous spa tucked away downstairs... not me.

I booked in for reflexology and a mini facial. I've never had reflexology before and I know that a lot of people have an issue with people touching their feet. I thought I did until a masseuse incorporated foot massage into a treatment I had in the past and now I don't have an issue at all. It feels good to give your feet some attention, after all, they take your weight all day long and need to be looked after. This particular treatment was incredibly relaxing and the therapist was knowledgeable and friendly. Different pressure points were stimulated which helps tensions around the body, the main one for me being my shoulders because of carrying all my worldly possessions around in a far-too-large handbag.

A fellow Qyper's newly-painted nails

The facial I had was short but I could tell that it would be worth the money. The products used were Elemis which I use at home (when my budget stretches) so it was perfect for my skin. Other people at the event had massages which they gave rave reviews and I also watched as other girls had their nails done by the master manicurist at the spa. I flicked through her book of work and there were some really cool styles in there. Maybe next time my nails need some loving I'll take them to Kuno Tierra.

The actual setting for the spa is dark, beautifully decorated with a fabulous relaxation area with sofas to lounge on while you wait. Even the toilets smell nice! The rooms are clean, comfortable and cosy - you really feel like you could fall asleep at any moment. Heaven! I also had the chance to speak to the manager there and some of the therapists which was a nice opportunity that you rarely get by just popping into a salon for a treatment.

The location is really central and I would definitely come back for treatments in future.

OUTFIT - A Sunny Sunday in April

 

This weekend the sun shone and people everywhere walked around with smiles on their faces. It called for a dress with a fab floral print and I had just the one in mind. I was given some money to spend on Tesco's clothing website and I picked out this colourful dress - which full price was only £16... bargain!

• Dress - Tesco (£16)
• Leggings - Butterfly by Matthew Williamson at Debenhams (£20)
• Pumps - J by Jasper Conran at Debenhams
• Bracelet - Gift from my ex-boss when he went to India
• Jacket - unknown brand from a sample sale (£2)

I went off to meet a friend at Spitalfields and on the way I bumped into Reena of Fashion Daydreams and then a whole bunch of bloggers including Frankie of Swell Vintage and Fiona of Save our Shoes. I love those little coincidences. After saying hello I went off to Brick Lane for a Sunday afternoon curry while discussing flat-hunting... I'm desperately hoping to find somewhere lovely but with my budget I'm worried that won't happen. Wish me luck!

More pics...

EVENT - Chevrolet's Spark Tour

Last night Chevrolet teamed up with some of the UK’s hottest music, design and style talents to stage a live music experience like no other and I was there to watch.

Thousands applied online via the tour website www.sparkunscheduled.co.uk for a free ticket to the launch event of the Chevrolet Spark Unscheduled Tour held at the Vinyl Factory in London’s Soho. I had been to the Vinyl Factory before but this time the venue was opened up and looked much bigger. It's a great space and there's a ramp at the back which explains how they got the cars in - I did wonder!

We got to see a live preview of the Mystery Jets eagerly anticipated third album due to be released in June. You can check out a video snippet of the gig above. Everyone joined in when they did 2 Doors Down - great atmosphere although some people did take advantage of the free booze a little - vodka ran out at 9pm but luckily they did go out for supplies.

I was also there to check out WAH nails who had their very own customised Chevrolet Spark in their signature pink leopard print. My friend just about managed to get treated to a free session from one of the fashion world’s leading fingertip artists but it was just in time... a queue of 3 hours! They might have to bring more staff next time as I don't think I would have queued if I'd known how long it would take.

The first ever digital light graffiti on a car from Lumacoustics was pretty cool too. The most striking thing of all though was the Chevrolet Spark DJ car, the world’s first fully functioning car DJ booth. DJ’s on the night included MEROK Wrecking Crew, Nick Grimshaw, Jack Penate and Bullion. I could spot Nick Grimshaw's hair a mile away with his curly quiff!

Following last night’s launch event the public will be asked to vote for where they’d like the tour to go to next from a selection of cities and unique venues. Cities to choose from include Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Brighton, Edinburgh and Bristol with venues ranging from a drained swimming pool and multi-story car park to an old picture house and ferry across the Mersey. My vote's for Brighton! A ‘pop up’ gig will take place every two weeks through April to June.

Coco Summer and Robyn at the launch event.

The Chevrolet Spark Unscheduled Tour is FREE invite-only event visit - www.sparkunscheduled.co.uk for more information on how to bring the tour to your area and win an exclusive ticket.

For the latest updates follow Spark Tour on Twitter or Facebook.

NAILS - Manicure at The Chelsea Day Spa

Last week the Chelsea Day Spa invited me along to check out their fairly new nail bar and give one of their manicure's a try.

The location of the day spa is slightly tucked away from the main road and there's a fair few stairs to climb, but once inside the ambiance was lovely, with bright and inviting décor and relaxing music. The staff were friendly and helpful too, loved the relaxing music although it did make me want to fall asleep.

My therapist spent a great deal of time on my manicure, and I was especially impressed with her cuticle work - I didn't realise quite how bad they were. I opted for a natural nail colour but I was offered a variety of shades to choose from. The colour was Jessica's Creamy Caramel (436) which is the colour of Baileys. Very neutral but en vogue too since Chanel made beige and 'greige' popular again.



I felt like the staff really took their time to give me a good treatment and an enjoyable experience. I'd definitely consider coming back for other treatments in future and would recommend them. I took away a little guide to looking after your nails at home too which was a nice touch. My technician said that I had soft nails and I must admit they do tend to break and flake easily. I'll be keeping up my nail care routine between appointments to try and encourage them to grow lovely and long.

Tips:

• Trim nails about once a month with nail clippers to promote growth
• After a manicure apply top coat every couple of days to protect it
• Try and apply cuticle oil every evening
• When removing nail polish stroke from the outer edge to the centre of the nail
  

There are some launch offers available at Chelsea Day Spa until the end of April with services starting from £15. In addition to nails they also offer facials, massage, threading, waxing and more.

Visit the Chelsea Day Spa website for more info.

FASHION - New From Clothing at Tesco

It goes without saying that Tesco is a power-house retailer, but they've got their eye on boosting their presence in the world of fashion. I popped over to their press showroom to take a look at their F & F Couture range which includes two collections a year at a higher price point and using more luxurious fabrics.

Available exclusively online, the range is designed for Tesco and there is talk of them getting some other established designers on board to help... it's definitely not a new concept, Debenhams and countless high street retailers have already run with this idea but for Tesco it's a step in a different direction. Here are some pics that show the fabrics and patterns...

The other range which I'll be looking out for is the new F & F Trend collection. This is full of bright colours, patterns and Saturday night staples for the under-thirties. It's cheap as chips, and there were a couple of cool pieces like a blue leopard print dress, but again, it's not really anything that you can't already get elsewhere on the high street.

You'll be able to take a look at it for yourself from May online or in a select number of Tesco stores. Here are my favourite prints from the range...

And possibly even better than the clothes, look what was given to me at the event...

NAILS - Wah Wah Wow!

At a press event the other evening WAH Nails were on hand to pamper and prettify us bloggers. Their nail art is renowned with salons in Dalston and Topshop Oxford Circus. Leopard was the print of preference and my pink and blue combo was recommended by the fabulously talented nail artist. She was an illustrator by trade so used paints and a little paint brush to apply the design.

If you ever get the chance to stop by then do it. You won't be able to keep your eyes off your own nails. Now excuse me while I go apply another layer of top coat. I don't want this to disappear!

Check out some other WAH designs or see the price list