Happy New Year

It's five days into 2015 and I just wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year. I hope you had a fantastic Christmas and New Year.

I decided to take some time out to relax with friends and family and will be back to posting next week.

Thank you so much for all your continued support, I can't wait for you to see all the exciting things I have planned for the blog this year.

Have a great week ahead, and my hope for you this year is an amazing year, where you live with purpose and follow your dreams.

Xx

Be Beautiful in Radiant Orchid: Pantone Colour of the year 2014

The Pantone 2014 colour of the year has been announced and it's gorgeous! Meet Radiant Orchid.

Described by Pantone's executive director as "an enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones" It is such a pretty colour and I can't wait to wear in Spring/Summer.

Here is my inspiration board to show you just how pretty it is, and I'm already lusting over the three yummy products at the bottom.

1. Tom Ford's nail varnish in African Violet
2. Smashbox Photo Op Eyeshadow Trio in Vignette
3. The gorgeous Mac Heroine Lipstick which sold out but is now back in Mac stores.

Will you be trying out the colour of the year? What products are you already loving? Let me know in the comments below 

Miss BB Bag Hanger

Another quick post 

One of my pet peeves is putting my handbag on the floor, I have seen a few floors where I have thought there is no way on earth my bag is going on that floor!! and have been known to keep my bag on my lap is situations like that. 

Pretty impressive considering my handbag is almost always as heavy as a medium small piece of luggage. yes I carry everything in my bag including my kitchen sink (covers head in shame)

Anyhu whilst I was out recently at an event,  I came across this cute bag hanger from Miss BB aka Doria who writes the beauty blog MissBB . 

This bag hanger makes a cute and practical accessory to pop into your bag. It attaches to any table or flat surface and holds weight up to 10 kilos, keeping your bag close to you and off grimy floors.  To be honest when I found out that it could hold my luggage bag off the floor and not break the table at the same (my ultimate test) time I was sold.

Thankfully Doria sells them on her site blackandbeautiful .They retail for £8 and would make a fantastic little stocking filler.

Marks & Spencer Womenswear Collection Spring Summer 14

Last week I was invited to the preview of the Marks and Spencer Spring Sumer 2014 Collection.  The SS14 Womenswear collection  explores both a bold and muted colour palette with vivid prints. The styling is quite sleek with clean lines and minimal designs. 

I know I don't usually share that much fashion on here, but I thought the collection was so lovely that I wanted to share some of my favourite pieces below and get you excited for some of what you can expect to see next year. The collection consisted of five areas (see below) and should be available from February/March 2014 both online and at select M&S stores.

White Out

Simplistic, clean and effortless with sleek sports detailing; White out is a chic contraction of linear and fluid draping, reaffirming white as a bold new colour direction for summer spring.

Fashion Styling in the Woods

I'm back from my lovely trip to Portugal, and honestly, after spending this week catching up with life I definitely feel like I need another holiday! But hey ho, thats life and I can't complain too much....

Now those of you that have been with me from the start of my blog might remember my initial foray into Fashion Styling - you can read all about it in this post here , well since then I have been so blessed and have had the opportunity to style a number of shoots and have also since become a personal stylist, but more of that in another post.

So I thought I would share a few images with you guys of a recent fashion shoot that I did (I did the styling, hair and makeup) with Mr LPM, you can see more of his work here.  If you would also like to see a few sample images of my other fashion shoots, check out my Fashion Styling Page here

I need the rest of this week to catch up on everything but will be back next week with some new beauty posts that I am working on for you guys. x

Natural Hair Updo Inspirations

Happy Friday!

So my curls are back out... In anticipation of spring/summer they were asking to come out and play. The conversation went something like this

Scenario: It started with me brushing my weave

Curls: No!
Me: Sorry?
Curls: I said No!
Me: Oh hello! No what?
Curls: No more brushing and tugging, for the love of me....I've had enough!

The Woman Behind the Business: NoScrunchie

I’m at that stage in life where I am looking to push forward on all the things I love doing. One of the things I have found that just encourages and inspires me to keep following my dreams is when I speak to other women who have done just that. So I thought it would be great to start a new series called “The Woman Behind the Business” where I speak to fantastic women who have set up incredible businesses and are chasing their dreams.

My first woman in this series is non other than the very talented and beautiful Leillah Sekalala. I met Leillah a few weeks ago and I have a little confession to make, whilst we were being introduced, I wasn’t really listening and instead I was thinking OMG! I love her hair and lipstick and I really need those details (just to break it down and excuse my rudeness, she was rocking a gorgeous afro twisted look with a lovely hot pink lipstick) fast forward a few weeks later, I find out that not only does she have great style but she is also the woman behind the fantastic business concept called NoScrunchie.

NoScrunchie is an afro salon rating website, which allows you to find out what salon to go to and which salon to run a mile from.  The best bit, is that the salons are rated by people just like you. 

The Door by Ava DuVernay & Miu Miu & My Guest Post is up

Remember that guest post I told you guys about over here Wow . The one I was writing about the Weave Vs Natural debate. Well it's up on Beauty Pulse London. Check it out here Weave Vs Natural and let me know - Weave versus Natural Hair? What is your opinion?

I also came across this absolutely beautiful short film and I wanted to share. The Door, by Ava DuVernay, is the the fifth Miu Miu Women’s Tale, and is a celebration of the transformative power of feminine bonds, and a symbolic story of life change. 

Top 10 Points from WOW - Women of the World Festival

So last weekend I attended the Women of the World Festival (WOW), which was held at the Southbank Centre and which celebrates the formidable strength, and inventiveness of women.

The day was a diverse programme of events, performances, talks, debates etc. from women from around the globe

Two of the fantastic debates I attended were:

Fashion, Beauty and Style

The fashion industry contributes nearly £40bn to the UK economy, directly employing over 800,000 people. So why isn’t it taken more seriously? Why does a dress worn by Kate Middleton (Duchess of Cambridge) sell out in minutes? Can fast fashion ever be ethical?”

The speakers included Hadley Freeman from The Guardian, Natasha Pearlman – deputy editor of Elle Magazine and ethical fashion expert Amisha Ghadiali. It was chaired by June Sarpong, presenter and co-founder of the WIE Network.

And

Weave VS Natural? The Politics of Natural Hair’ “For centuries, women of colour have been told that their hair in its natural state isn’t good enough. Do we judge black women by whether or not they straighten their hair? Is the Afro still a political hairstyle? And do Michelle Obama’s bangs really matter?

Speakers included: Keysha Davis, editor of Blackhair magazine, journalist and writer Funmi Fetto, journalist Eva Simpson and blogger Natalie Clue (Beauty Pulse London). It was chaired by journalist and author Hannah Pool – I have a detailed post of this coming up soon where I am writing it as a guest post, so I will keep you posted on when it comes out.

In the meantime, I just wanted to share a brief summary of some of the key points that I took away and some images of the events and people.

Pantones Emerald Green: A beauty take

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I know it's been a while since our last chin wag, I have been giving my blog a much needed face lift! which unfortunately took longer than planned - the joys of css and html...but its nearly done now and I am rearing to go, so bring on the post.

I actually welcome the opportunity to change my mind. Who am I kidding? welcome is a serious exaggeration. Lets talk about the colour Emerald Green.

Emerald Green is one of those colours that I appreciate for the fact that’s it’s a jewel tone and if someone gave me an emerald, I would happily skip over to the biggest safe screaming I’m rich, I’m rich!

Other than that, when I think of emerald green, it conjures up images of leprechauns and green trees!

So when Pantone announced that Emerald Green was the colour for 2013, I have to admit, I was a little dismayed! They describe it as “lively, radiant and lush”, I immediately thought of a bearded leprechaun sitting on top of a tree sporting emerald gems wherever possible! What can I say? I have an active imagination – I know you thought it too!

Betty Boop for Lancome Hypnôse Star Mascara

So I'm a little late on this. I heard about it ,but just never got round to watching the video (covers face with palm). Finally did and I love it, especially Betty Boop who is just too adorable. Oh, in case you are thinking, huh, what is she talking about?! It's the Lancome Hypnôse Star Mascara advert which combines two very glamorous female stars, Canadian supermodel Daria  Werbowy and vintage icon Betty Boop. After watching the video I feel like going to put on some lashes, just to flutter them around

If like myself, you have also been living under a rock, check out the video below and  drop me a line to keep me company under the rock. It retails for £21.00

Now I'm off to wind up Mr LPM by humming Boop Boop Be Doop for the rest of the day.

#4 Chanel No.5 & Dior's The Lady Noire Affair

First I have to apologise for my mini disappearing act, it was my birthday over the weekend and I got caught up in all the birthday festivities….. but I promise i'm back now

Now I know for some of you this might be old news but there are a couple of short films out there at the moment that are really rather delish!

First there is the Chanel No.5 campaign mini-movie staring Audrey Tautou as the new face of Chanel No.5. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, it tells the story of a handsome stranger captivated by Audrey's scent, when the two meet by chance en route from Paris to Istanbul aboard the Orient Express. Have a look at the video below.



The second is Dior’s mini feature film called “The Lady Noire Affair” starring Oscar –winning French actress Marion Cotillard. Marion play a wonderfully dressed femme fatale and although its only a 6 ½ minute film, it is just such a glam murder mystery but seeing as the films other main star is Dior’s gorgeous Lady Dior bag – well it was always going to be quite fabulous. Shot in black and white, you can also expect the Eiffel Tower, gangsters, stockings, shoes, handbags and amazing clothes.

Catch the first instalment here but have a look at the further episodes that follow at www.ladydior.com/thefilm/


Enjoy and let me know what you think.




xoxo