February 26, 2012

London Fashion Week via Instagram

The excitement of a flurry of invites dropping through my letterbox. Packing a mountain of shoes, accessories and sparkly things. Off to the beautiful Savoy for the first show. A finale or forest green silks and tweedy lantern skirts at Maria Grachvogel. Taking the scenic route back to Somerset House via Trafalgar Square. Gorgeous twinkly jewels at the LFW exhibition space. An afternoon tea dance at Orla Kiely. A thousand giant padlock balloons line the entrance to the Mulberry show at Claridges. Friendly monsters and furry creatures on the runway at Mulberry. Liquid breakfast (about the only nutrition to be found at Fashion Week).

A beautifully illuminated Royal Opera House for the Matthew Williamson show. The fashion pack have so much love for Topshop and their show space (they feed us before every show). Impossible to beat show venues. The ubiquitous wall of photographers. My friend’s studded Louboutin slippers that made everyone’s feet jealous after days of wearing vertiginous heels. Secretary chic at Paul Smith. The breathtaking sunset panoramic views over London from the Jonathan Saunders venue. Oversized floral prints and a colourful, leggy finale at Jonathan Saunders.

Racing between my desk in Parliament and shows via places like this. Chamber music, chalet-chic silks and white furs at Roksanda Ilincic (surely the most pleasing way to start a weekday morning). Getting waylaid on the way to my next show by a parade of Royal Horseguards leaving Buckingham Palace (only at London Fashion Week). Watching the beauty pros do their thing as the models get primped and preened backstage before the shows. Fun, 60s nouveau at Holly Fulton. Charlotte Olympia heels to make me smile (even if my feet are grumpy about wearing heels). My fashion week essentials: oversized sunglasses (to hide the sleep deprivation) and too many jewels. Watching Australian wonderboy Dion Lee’s first London show (whilst sitting next to Kayne West. As you do…). Beautiful Somerset House is surely the most gorgeous location for Fashion Week HQ.

Do you follow Fashion Week (vicariously or in person)? What do you enjoy the most?

Love, Miss B xx

1 Comment

Filed under Fashion Week, Fashionable pursuits

Tagged as , , , , ,

February 22, 2012

London Beauty: Taylor Taylor Hair Salon

I’m often asked where my favourite salon in London is and, to be perfectly honest, I haven’t wanted to publicly disclose my secret for fear that everyone would go and then I would never be able to get an appointment. But seeing as 1) that’s just plain selfish of me; and 2) every A-lister in London now seems to go there, it really is only fair that I share.

In the interests of full disclosure, I first discovered Taylor Taylor back in 2010 when they invited me along to try a Brazillian Blowdry for Liberty London Girl (though I’ve paid for every visit since). Then, I had been trying for two years since moving to England to find a hairdresser I ‘clicked with’ (every girl knows the relationship with a good hair stylist is practically sacred), but to no avail.I was basically hooked on Taylor Taylor the moment I walked through the door (all Parisian flea market chic furniture and giant crystal chandeliers and free-flowing rose and lychee martinis), but it was, of course, the service that made me sure.

My hair is not, in its natural (ie. unstyled) state, perfect or well-behaved by any stretch. But after every single visit, it is infinitely more shiny and disciplined and flattering (they know, even when I don’t, just when I need a few more highlights or an extra inch chopped off). And the best part is that even though Taylor Taylor is super and fabulous and pretty, it is cheaper than most of those horrid hair salon chains (which means more money for flowers and shoes, yay!).

So there, I’ll share (just because I love you all). If you’re in London, do pay them a visit for a little primping and preening. I promise you won’t regret it!

Is there any other beauty product or treatment you want to hear my recommendation on? Do let me know, and I’ll try my best to oblige.

Love, Miss B xx

18 Comments

Filed under Beauty Queen, London

Tagged as , , ,

February 18, 2012

London Fashion Week: Orla Kiely AW12

Hello lovelies! I’m currently in the throes of London Fashion Week (one of my favourite times of the year), so forgive me if I seem a little aloof for the next few days. I promise it’s not you, it’s me! This is my fifth Fashion Week season, and in that time I’ve seen a lot of shows (I attend nearly every on-schedule show on the calendar). So for a show to really stand out, it must have something very special about it indeed.

Orla Kiely’s charming Autumn/Winter ’12 show yesterday evening was precisely that. Upholding her tradition of eschewing the predictable runway format, she instead entirely transformed a room within Somerset House and invited us to step inside her vision so thoroughly articulated, it was as though we were occupying an entirely different world for that brief period.

As I arrived with Charlotte, my date for the evening, we were instantly whisked back to a high school afternoon tea dance set in a golden era of years past. Gone were the ordinary audience benches, and in their place were little wooden tables laid with lace cloths, candles, champagne, tea and scones.

As a band played big band tunes, the sweetly girlish models were twirled around the room beneath a glittering mirror ball by their dapper dance partners. I’m not sure what was more darling; the darling setting or the adorable clothes. As we sat there and watched the whole scenario unfold before our eyes (we had only intended to pop in for an hour, but were so enchanted we stayed a whole hour), I fell in love with those bow-print dresses and little red shorts and golden beaded peter-pan collars (not to mention the ankle socks worn with their dancing shoes).

It must be a beautiful place inside Orla’s mind, and I love nothing more than being transported into her world each Fashion Week.

I wish I could have invited you all along, but I hope this helps to, in a way, transport you there too.

Love, Miss B xx

8 Comments

Filed under Fashion Week, Fashionable pursuits

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

February 14, 2012

Christian Louboutin’s Illustrated Artistry

Fact: I’m a shoe girl. From the moment I slipped on my first pair of ballet shoes (and felt like a sugar plum fairy) to the first pair of Marc Jacobs shoes I saved and saved and saved for, I’ve believed in the transformative powers a good pair of shoes can posses. But I’m not talking about the sort of footwear I wear every day to run around town (though they certainly have their merits), but the kind of shoes they are so beautiful, you dream about them on your way to work and buy them even if you can’t really walk in them just so you can sit them on your bookshelf, atop mantlepieces and within bell jars for all the world to see (and, on very special occasions, slip them on for your own Cinderella moment at a wonderful party).

And no one creates shoe art quite like Monsieur Christian Louboutin. Since the moment I saw a flash of that red sole on a chic Madamoiselle in Paris many years ago, I’ve been having a love affair with his creations. For here is a man who understands that sometimes, a woman just needs a silk bow on her slippers or a pair of high heels adorned with a thousand crystals to make her feel ever so slightly more wonderful.

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the brand, Christian Louboutin has designed a capsule collection (twenty styles of shoes and six bags) which pays tribute to his most iconic styles in that time. He so kindly sent me his own illustrations of some of his favourites from the collection (I did squeal a little when I opened them), so I just had to share them here with you all. So until I can afford a whole shoe wardrobe filled with his designs, I shall quite happily settle for his framed illustrations upon my walls.

Thank you Mr Louboutin for the wonderful illustrations (the most perfect birthday present a shoe girl could ask for!)

I’d love to hear about your favourite shoe stories!

Love, Miss B xx

The Christian Louboutin capsule collection will be available from an exclusive Selfridges pop-up store from 27th February, and from Louboutin stores worldwide from March. Sign up to the Louboutin Facebook page for more updates and general shoe-related loveliness. 

 

8 Comments

Filed under Fashionable pursuits

Tagged as , , , ,

February 12, 2012

London Fashion Week: Giles Spring/Summer ’12

It’s that time of year again: Fashion Week is rolling into all the fashion capitals and I am so excited to say I’ll again be taking a few days leave from the day job to go to London Fashion Week.*

To get in the spirit of things (ie. sleep deprivation and high heel torture mixed with the thrill of being at the shows beside my fashion heroes), I’ve spent the afternoon looking through all my photos from last season. Which is when I realised that despite having had the privilege to attend all my favourite London shows (Mulberry, Burberry, Erdem, Giles, Mary Katrantzou, Jonathan Saunders and Christopher Kane), I haven’t yet shared any of my photos other than on my Tumblr photo diary, which is just plain selfish of me.

Set in the looming Victorian Gothic Royal Courts of Justice, Giles’ Spring/Summer ’12 show was the kind of spectacle that beautifully blurred the distinction between fashion and theatre. From feathered silk swan lake-print gowns and laser cut silver leather skirts to show-stopping crimson concoctions and brocade ballerina dresses; these were not the kind of clothes you to be worn in any ordinary setting. Oh no, these are clothes that simply yearn to be taken to the sort of grand balls that take place in Versailles and end with fireworks, clothes to be worn to the opera by mavens who live in palatial estates, clothes to make indelible memories in.

We don’t all have the kind of life that warrants a wardrobe this triumphant (one can dream…), but that does not make Giles Deacon’s sartorial tour de force  any less wonderful. I’m not sure about you, but I’ve never been one to let reality get in the way of a beautiful vision.

Do you follow Fashion Week? Which shows are you most looking forward to this season?

Love, Miss B xx

* From this Friday 17th – Tuesday 22d, I’ll be attending all my favourite shows on the London scene. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram (iPhone) and Facebook for all my live updates!

15 Comments

Filed under Fashion Week, Fashionable pursuits

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

February 9, 2012

30 Things To Do Before I’m 30

As today is my birthday (yay for cake and candles and birthday love!), this marks the first day of the last year of my twenties.

I firmly live by the motto that life is mostly what we make it. For me, a life well lived means pursuing big dreams and placing an emphasis on daily small pleasures along the way. It saddens me greatly to hear people say “I always wanted to do X but never got around to it…” or “you’re so lucky to do that! I wish I didn’t have X holding me back so I could too”. So I say, stop dreaming and start doing.

I’m not suggesting you all go out and quit your job and move to another country tomorrow with no backup plan, but if there are dreams you genuinely want to pursue, why not start finding a way to make them happen today? If you don’t know where to begin, just put pen to paper and making a list of what it is you want; maybe that simple step will give you the motivation you need to make those dreams a reality.

For me, I’ve decided to take this milestone of being a year from entering a new decade to make a list of 30 things to do before I turn 30, and attempt to tick them all over over the next 365 days (in no particular order). Some are grand lifelong dreams, others a continuation of things I’m already enjoying, others silly and frivolous but happiness-inducing all the same. I won’t bore you with the whole list of 30, but here are 10 items on my list I’m particularly looking forward to:

1. Set in motion concrete plans to live in Paris for six months (though perhaps more realistically, one month). Rent an apartment, enrol in intensive language classes during the day, and spend the afternoons exploring and experiencing the city I’ve fantasised about forever.

2. Be able to hold an adult conversation in another language (see point 1).

3. Visit Japan during cherry blossom season.

4. Learn how to make macarons (probably my favourite food group, but I’ve always been too scared to make my own).

5. Spend a summery weekend in the glorious English Cotswolds.

6. See a Shakepeare play in Straford-upon-Avon (slightly random, but oh so wonderful).

7. Have just one more all-night party at a fantastical Cambridge May Ball (the kinds of parties so elaborate, they belong in a Fitzgerald novel).

8. Visit the Mediterranean for a delicious dose of azure waters and Vitamin D.

9. Work up the courage to begin pitching stories to the serious glossy magazines.

10. Spend at least one weekend a month properly exploring London (can you believe I’ve never been to Columbia Road?!)

What grand plans do you dream of yourself? I hope I’ve inspired at least some of you to make a few of them happen this year!

Love, Miss B xx

62 Comments

Filed under Miscellaneous musings, Personal Style

Tagged as , , , , , ,

February 6, 2012

Snow Day

We’ve been having the most unseasonably mild winter here in England, so much so that I thought Spring pastels (expect this blog to go even more crazy about gelato pastels than normal come March…) were just a couple of weeks away. Silly me, I’d completely forgotten that the weather in Britain likes to play a game of ‘hard to get’ (just to keep us on our toes) so, I really shouldn’t have been quite so surprised by a mini-blizzard in February.

But when I awoke to the sight of the rooftops of Cambridge tucked beneath a thick blanket of a foot of fluffy snow Sunday morning, I literally bounced out of bed in glee (like a small over-active child). I think I managed to get dressed, pull on my shiny Hunter wellies (that, for all these blue skies, had been sitting rather unloved in my hallway until this point), drag The Clever Boyfriend with me and fly down the stairs and out the door in two minutes flat. And oh! The joy of being the first one to make it to all that pristine fluffy snow before anyone else had awoken to trample in it!

For the next two hours, we managed to throw enough snowballs at each other and build a sparkly snowlady dressed in my jewels (I named her Esmerelda) and every other snow-related cliche that we could muster. The weather bores can say what they like, but having both grown up in Australia (where snow is nothing more than a mythical fantasy), there is still something wonderfully magical and exciting about mornings like this where it feels as though new seasonal traditions can me made. Sometimes it really is life’s most simple pleasures such as these which make for the most wonderful memories.

And the best thing about playing in the snow early on a Sunday morning? Coming in to a cosy house and whipping up a stack of pancakes and steaming mugs of hot chocolate for brunch and then spending the rest of the day tucked indoors with a fresh copy of Vogue. There’s no hibernation quite like Snow Day hibernation!

Do you have your own winter traditions? How do you hibernate on cold, wintery weekends?

Love, Miss B xx

26 Comments

Filed under Cambridge, Personal Style

Tagged as , , ,

February 5, 2012

Wardrobe Detox

Given my annual January tradition to organise areas of my life that have become rather cluttered during the previous year, countless hours the past few weekends have been spent ankle deep in piles of clothes, shoes and accessories as I sort through my whole wardrobe. My current wardrobe is so tiny that I had quite literally run out of space, and with thoughts now turning to all the fun clothes I want for Spring/Summer, I knew something had to give. And so, the great wardrobe overhaul is underway. Here are my tips for getting your own in order (do these seasonally or annually for best results):

1. Take everything out. Literally take everything out of your wardrobe, drawers and wherever else you store clothes/accessories. Give the whole space a clean with a damp cloth (so it’s free of dirt and dust) and throw in some scented sachets, bars of gorgeous-scented soap (my mother’s tip for keeping moths away and making everything smell lovely: I love orange blossom soap I bought in Morocco) and some drawer liners to protect your clothes and keep everything fresh.

2. Categorise. Start sorting through all the piles of stuff you’ve taken out (do this in sections to avoid getting overwhelmed). Sort into three categories for now: ‘definitely keep’, ‘questionable’, ‘definitely get rid of’ (anything worn out beyond repaid, too big/small, and anything unflattering that makes you miserable to wear).

3. Organise. With the things you’re ‘definitely keeping’, check that everything is clean and in good repair, then start putting them back in your wardrobe in the most organised way you can manage; that means grouping like with like, and storing things where you can find them. I stack all my shoe boxes at the bottom, sort hanging clothes by type and then colour, fold jeans, sweaters on shelves and everything else in drawers. Buy good hangers to protect your clothes (padded hangers for silk or wool items, wooden or slim plastic – never wire – for everything else).

4. Declutter. Start sorting the two remaining piles (‘questionable’ and ’get rid of’). Go through the ‘questionable’ pile piece by piece and ask: Do you actually love it? Do you wear it (if you love it but don’t wear it, start now)? Does it honestly still fit your style/lifestyle/body? Do you feel great when you put it on? If the answer is ‘no’ to any of these, move it to the ‘get rid of’ pile. Sometimes it feels great to be ruthless (call in an honest friend for help if you have trouble letting go). If anything needs to be repaired or cleaned, do it that week. Add whatever makes the cut back into your (now) organised wardrobe.

5. Purge. With the last pile, either sell or donate anything that is still in good condition to a charity or a friend you know will appreciate it. Toss or recycle anything that is worn out (no one wants your holey tshirt, no matter how much you loved it). Again, do this the same week so the piles don’t lurk in your house.

6. Maintain. You’ve got everything in order, so try your best to keep it that way (it takes the stress out of getting dressed each day). Only put things back in your wardrobe that are clean, in good condition, and that make you feel great. If you’re short on space, store clean out of season clothes in airtight tubs or suitcases until you need them again.

What are your tips for detoxing your wardrobe and keeping everything organised?

32 Comments

Filed under Fashionable pursuits

January 30, 2012

January in Pictures

Starting the New Year on an optimistic vibe. Lovely sparkly things arriving in the post (the last spoils from my December shopping binge) before putting myself on a January Shopping Ban. Continuing my quest for a rose-tinted life. Beautiful pink sunsets the silver lining to dreary grey days. Lovely lazy walks along the river in Cambridge and bike rides through the tiny cobbled streets. Weekly trips to the farmer’s market for bunches of cheery (early) spring flowers to brighten my house. A fun photoshoot in London.

In the spirit of my quest for New Year organisation, evenings were frequently spent knee-deep in clothes as I sorted my wardrobe, tubs of beauty supplies and drawers of jewellery (turning up forgotten favourite treasures in the process). Receiving my second major blog award in Cosmopolitan magazine. A shopping ban encouraged me to wear current favourite pieces in new ways. My Westminster office looking hauntingly majestic beneath foggy London skies. Celebrating Australia Day from afar. Ignoring the cold, dark days outside with blissful, indulgent wintery hibernation.

I hope you’ve all had a wonderful start to 2012!

Love, Miss B xx

P.S. As I’m so addicted to sharing little snapshots of my life via Instagram, I’ll be making these collages of my monthly adventures a regular feature every month. Sometimes things just get so hectic, it’s easier to say in pictures all the things I’ve been up to. 

26 Comments

Filed under Personal Style

January 26, 2012

Australia Day

In honour of it being Australia Day, I thought I’d celebrate the things I love (and miss) the most about that gorgeous corner of the world I call my homeland (for it is all these things, and a wealth of other memories, that have shaped who I am today):

1) Seemingless endless summers (though I don’t miss the associated sunburn, heatstroke and melting face that goes with the 40 degree days) which make it possible to waft about in white cotton dresses and eat mangoes for breakfast for months on end;

2) Hours spent collecting seashells along the whitest beaches I’ve ever come across, warm sand underfoot, and vast stretches of azure blue waters (if you do one thing before you die, make sure you sail around the Whitsundays and swim in the Great Barrier Reef);

3) The fact that our default national attitude is to be laid-back, relaxed and happy (all the sunshine and the tanned, athletic men don’t hurt with this disposition!);

4) The smell of sunscreen and nightly backyard barbeques in the evening all summer long (I don’t even like meat, but one whiff of this smell and I’m instantly transported to my childhood where meals were eaten beneath the shade of trees in our garden on balmy evenings);

5) When the sun eventually does go down in the evening, there is nothing quite as spectacular as the sight of the Southern Stars (I once went camping in the desert and vividly recall the sight of those stars stretching from horizon to horizon, brighter than anywhere I’ve ever seen them before);

6) The sounds of the beach, of the birdsong in the tropical rainforests, of thunderstorms on tin roofs and the haunting strains of a didgeridoo being played;

7) Lazy weekend trips to the beautiful, slow-of-pace wine regions for sunburnt hills, luscious green vines and wines, and unfailingly exceptional food;

8) The most majestical landscape you will ever find. I can think of few other countries that can boast fiery red deserts, tropical rainforests, seas that glint like jewels, and rolling green hills as this proud land does.Happy Australia Day to all my lovely readers Down Under! Now, I’m off to hunt for some cheese Twisties, a lamington and a Kath and Kim marathon….

Love, Miss B xx

16 Comments

Filed under Australia, Globetrotting

Tagged as , , , , ,

January 24, 2012

Paris: The Vintage Chanel and Hermes Emporium, Les Trois Marches

Regular readers will know that I rarely blog about individual stores I visit on my travels, so when I do it means it’s a very special place indeed. When I was in Paris a couple of months ago, I met one of my favourite fashion friends on the Left Bank for what turned out to be the perfect Parisian afternoon. Being the lovely girl that she is (and knowing my penchant for Chanel and gorgeous vintage jewels), she shared with me one of her Parisian secrets: Catherine B’s vintage emporium, Les Trois Marches. It may look unassuming from the outside (in true Left Bank style), but I actually gasped when I stepped inside; so good is it that I just had to share it with you all here so that you may visit it on your next trip to Paris.

Stocking nothing but vintage Chanel and Hermes, this tiny boutique (divided into two neighbouring shopfronts) is almost too good to be true for any Parisian fashion devotee. Within its walls are shelves and shelves of Hermes Kelly bags in every colour imaginable, rows upon rows of Chanel boucle jackets, towering stacks of silk scarves and windows glinting with vintage Chanel jewels (my weakness).

Gorgeous accessories aside, my favourite part of the shop was the owner herself, the wonderful Catherine B. Instantly we bonded over our mutual love for all things Chanel (despite my rather dismal French skills), and swapped stories of our respective obsessive hunts for particular pieces from our favourite collections over the years. Such is her reputation in Paris that Chanel and Hermes themselves send customers to her when they’re after a particular vintage piece (and if she doesn’t have it, she can probably find it for you), but mostly I just kept thinking that she was so interesting and brimming with joie de vivre that I could have happily listened to her storytelling all weekend.

At one point, when I gazed upon the rows of Hermes bags telling her how I dreamed of one day returning to her shop to buy my own, she slipped behind a crimson curtain into the back room and emerged a few minutes later with a rather weathered looking Birkin bag. Laughing at my confused face, she explained that this was the very first Birkin bag ever made (yes, the very same one made for and owned by Jane Birkin – it still has her initials and her manicure set inside; fellow fashion obsessives will understand how big a deal this is) and that she now owns it herself. And this is exactly why I love Catherine so much; although she collects iconic and collectible pieces, she understands that rather than them being in a fashion museum, they should continue to be worn and loved by women who will continue to treasure them as they were intended.

I won’t pretend that prices are any cheaper in here than they are in mainline Chanel or Hermes stores, but everything is in pristine condition and a collectible treasure you will keep for the rest of your life. Catherine makes it her pleasure to match items to their perfect owner, and she sent me home with this vintage Chanel military brooch to add to my collection (and which now makes me smile every time I glance at it; as much for the memories it holds of my time in Paris and Catherine’s stories as for it’s appearance).

Have you ever stumbled upon a shop somewhere in the world that was so marvellous it felt like a wonderful emporium filled with stories? I’d love to hear about it!

Love, Miss B xx

Les Trois Marches de Catherine B, 1 Rue Guisarde Paris 75006, +33 14354 7418 (Metro: Saint-Germain des Pres or Saint-Sulpice)

P.S. All images (except first and last) from Alexandra Clamart (as you all know I always try to use my own photography/illustrations on here, but in this case I was so caught up in Catherine’s shop that I failed to take more than a single photo!) 

30 Comments

Filed under Fashionable pursuits, Globetrotting

Tagged as , , , , ,

January 17, 2012

Meow! My Charlotte Olympia Kitty Heels

Regular Twitter followers will know I have a thing for small fluffy animals: baby animal videos on YouTube, other people’s dogs which I stop to talk to in the street (in that annoying baby voice people seem to reserve for babies and really tiny dogs), the bunnies who live in the hedgerows near my house which I coo at as I cycle past, tiny golden woodland animal jewels… they all make me squeal with glee like a small child/strange cat lady.

And so, because I’m mid-way through a No Shopping January* (which would simply be no fun at all to read about I’m sure), I thought I would show you my new Charlotte Olympia Kitty heels instead (much more fun than a boring old shopping diet).

Practical they are not, but I’ve loved these Kitty heels since the moment I laid eyes on them at Charlotte Olympia’s murder mystery tea party at London Fashion Week back in February of last year, and then gazed longingly at them for months and months (it was between them or the glittery Miu Mius, and the Miu Mius won in the end). I had finally accepted they weren’t to be mine when, browsing the online sales one rainy day at the end of December, I saw them: the very last pair, in a size 40, on sale. Cinderella destiny; clearly they were meant to be mine.

And that, my lovelies, is why I now have shoes that look like pets (minus the catfood/babysitting issues). They might make me look like some kind of weird cat lady when I wear them but seriously, how can  you resist those cute little golden whiskers and ears?

What do you think? Do you like your wardrobe to have a little sense of humour from time to time?

Love, Miss B xx

* I’m trying to avoid buying anything non-essential thing for all of January, and am instead trying to clear my wardrobe of all the things I don’t love/wear, cumulating in one gigantic ebay sale at the end of the month.

 

23 Comments

Filed under Fashionable pursuits, Personal Style

Tagged as , , ,

January 14, 2012

10 Ways to a More Charmed Life

I am firmly committed to the art of living life through a rose-tinted filter. Of course I do not pretend that horrible things do not happen, not that I can control every element of my life, but I find that by making the simplest of tweaks every day, life feels a whole lot more charming and wonderful. I thought I’d adapt a recent post I did for Glitter Guide (‘How to Sparkle More in 2012‘) so that I can share a few of my favourite rose-tinted fixes here.

1. Don’t save your favourite things for ‘a special occasion’. Life is the special occasion! Treat every day like a party and pile on your favourite jewels each day, wear your favourite party dress often, and spritz your favourite perfume as you rush out the door each morning.

2. Whenever you have a spare day, act as though it’s your birthday. Eat cake for breakfast, dance around the room to your favourite songs, throw a frou frou tea party or movie night for your best friends, go to your favourite places… do whatever it is that makes you smile out loud.

3. Practise random acts of kindness. Always demonstrate impeccable manners, tell a stranger in the street how great they look, leave a little note with a tip at your local cafe saying how perfectly they make their coffee, send handwritten notes on your favourite notecards, volunteer for a worthy local cause. It doesn’t really matter what it is, but doing lovely, selfless things often will make you smile on the inside.

4. Add loveliness to your home. Buy yourself flowers (they needn’t be expensive; in spring, I love nothing more than $2 bunches of daffodils and white narcissi on my windowsill), buy bed sheets that make bed time feel like a hotel stay, ensure you have a good stack of books that you don’t want to put down, light a gorgeous candle when you come home each evening, and collect treasures that evoke happy memories.

5. If you’re in wardrobe rut, make an effort to do your hair and put on your cutest heels for no particular reason at all. You’ll spend the day feeling that little bit lovelier.

6. Don’t let grey skies get you down. Treat it as an excuse to wear a poppy pink lipstick, an adorable umbrella and perhaps a shot of pastel or fuschia in your outfit (the same optimistic rules apply to bad days or frustrating situations).

7. Don’t get stuck in a grey rut; tweak your everyday routines to make the special rituals. Can’t function without your morning tea or coffee? Have it in your prettiest china instead so it feels like you’re having a tea party every single morning!

8. One day every week (without fail), go on a date with someone you love. It doesn’t need to be grand or over the top. Why not go somewhere fabulous with your best friend on pay day every single month for a single cocktail? Or get dressed up and go and see a musical you’ve been wanting to see for ages all by yourself? Or a bike ride at sunset with your loved one? Whatever it is, make time for special moments with the people you love.

9. Treasure small moments of happiness. Have breakfast in bed on Saturdays, smell every rose you pass on an evening walk, put on a movie that makes you laugh out loud, pause to watch the sky turn pink at sunset, have picnics and walk barefoot through the grass on warm summer evenings.

10. If you’re feeling uninspired, broaden your horizons. Make plans to take a trip to a city you’ve always wanted to explore, visit a new museum in your area, or go to your favourite bookstore for something wonderful to read this week. Instant inspiration!

How to you make life a little more rose-tinted each day? I’d love to hear your favourite pleasures!

Love, Miss B xx

54 Comments

Filed under Miscellaneous musings, Savvy tips & techniques

Tagged as , ,

January 11, 2012

Beauty: How to Get Your Makeup Bag in Order

In keeping with my annual January quest for organisation, it seems only appropriate to dedicate the first Beauty Wednesday post of the year to sorting out your makeup bag and beauty routine. Whilst I’ll be following my own advice on a few of these points (I’m guilty of not wearing SPF all the time and buying an obscene amount of nailpolish and pink lipstick), all are, I hope, helpful pieces of advice that we can all benefit from being reminded of from time to time.

1. Declutter your beauty supplies. Go through your makeup bag, your vanity cupboard, your handbag and wherever else you stash all your beauty products. Gather everything up in one place and sort through the entire lot (this is quite the task for me!). Automatically bin anything that is expired, looks or smells funny, or is past it’s prime (as a general guideline, this is three months for mascara, 6 months for most other gel/liquid/cream cosmetic, 1 year for most hair/body/skincare products and 1-2 years for any dry/powder products). Also toss anything that is unflattering, that you never wear (and are realistically unlikely to), or that you don’t really like. Your skin is precious, so why bother putting something on it that is unflattering or unhygenic? With whatever is left over, make sure everything is clean (wash your makeup bag and counter surfaces, wipe lipsticks with alcohol wipes, remove buildup from product bottles, etc.) and organised so you know where to find it.

2. Get your tools in order. Once you’ve sorted through everything, what is missing? Everyone should have a great set of makeup brushes & tools (I love MAC for all of these – not cheap, but they will last you years and years if you look after them) and take care of them as the first step to flawless makeup. To ensure they last (and stay hygenic), wash them once a week with warm water and a brush cleanser or baby shampoo and store them upright in a glass where you can see them (rather than shoving them in a makeup bag where they will just breed bacteria).

3. Find what is missing. Do you have 20 lipglosses but still haven’t found a foundation that disappears into your skin and stays put? Then it’s time to fill in the gaps. Hunt down some good-quality basics where you need them (if you need help, go to your favourite makeup counter and have them suggest a few to try) so that you have a complete beauty kit you are happy with. And about those 20 lipglosses? Stop buying that which you have multiples of until you’ve used up what you already have (for me, this is pale pink nail polish and countless lipsticks in almost identical shades which I seem to stockpile irrationally).

4. Master your perfect look. Perfect one makeup look that looks gorgeous on you and which you can fall back on each day (if you’ve been doing the same one for years or still don’t have the hang of one that works, go to a makeup counter to get help finding a look that is perfect for you).

5. Experiment and have fun. Once you’ve mastered your basic look, one day every week shake your routine up by trying something completely fun and unexpected to avoid getting in a rut. Always a cat eye and nude lip girl? Wear a neon pink lipstick on Friday. Always wearing red lipstick? Try a soft pink lip and bright cheeks instead.

6. Overcome your beauty sins. These are the big things we know we shouldn’t do, but do anyway out of habit. Always cleanse and moisturise properly at night (because you should only fall into bed with your makeup on once in a blue moon), stop attacking spots (because squeezing a pimple adds a whole week to the time it takes to heal), ensure you’re wearing enough SPF coverage if you’re spending any time outside (because premature ageing and sun damage is not pretty).

7. Add one thing. Every year, your beauty and skincare routines should evolve with you. If you have the exact same skincare/beauty routine you did 5 years ago, it might be worth considering a tweak here and there. In your 20s? Use a good eye cream and an anti-oxidant serum. In your 30s? Add in a nourishing face oil. In short, let your beauty regime age gracefully with you.

Which beauty resolutions will you be making this year?

Love, Miss B xx

46 Comments

Filed under Beauty Queen

Tagged as , , ,