Need inspiration? Hello Europe!

So who watched the Eurovision Song Contest? A bit of history for you: this annual singing competition started back in 1956 and has launched several big careers - ABBA won in 1974 (with 'Waterloo') and Céline Dion in 1988.

This year, 39 countries participated. They use a rather loose definition of 'Europe' - included are Russia and Azerbaijan, for example - but who cares about the politics?!

I never used to watch this - tacky! embarrassing! - and never admitted to it if I did, but I thought Norway did a great job of hosting this year's contest. And the participants were um... inspiring!

Does your guy want a bold, new look? Go for a blonde fringe - Serbia shows you how!

Look to Turkey for your next party: blinding lights and Stars Wars fashion.

Want to know how to wear this summer's blue eye make-up? Look no further, Moldova has the answer!

So that's where Lara Croft from Tomb Raider has been hanging out! In Armenia and she now sings, too.

There were also serious performers. I quite like it when they sing in their own language but most of them choose English. And this bit is embarrassing: my husband voted! As in, he actually called, and not just once but three times! (for Albania)

I don't know how they organised these but they showed huge crowds in European cities doing choreographed dances together. (Think Austin Powers.) We just thought: all this fun, excitement and joy across Europe, it's so much better than killing each other in pointless wars!

The winner was Germany: sweet 19-year old Lena with the song 'Satellite'. She was a nobody before Eurovision! And now she's a star! 

Did you watch it? What was your favourite song? Did you vote?! 

Sarah Jessica Parker Sex and the City 2 London Premiere

Last year, we loved Sarah Jessica Parker‘s iconic pale green Alexander McQueen dress and butterfly-covered Philip Treacy hat that she wore during the the Sex and the City world premiere way back in London in 2008.

This 2009, for the London premiere of Sex and the City 2, Sarah Jessica Parker went for a black silk and lace bustier archive gown from Alexander McQueen’s spring/summer 2008 line with a clutch from McQueen’s pre-fall 2010 collection and pre-fall 2008 lace shoes. To complete her stunning look, she had a black tulle cloud by Philip Treacy to compliment her sleek blonde locks.

Source: People.com

Miranda Kerr Elle US June 2010

Victoria's Secret Angel, Miranda Kerr, posed for the upcoming June 2010 issue of Elle US magazine. For the said issue, Miranda sported some of the season's hottest body-hugging fashion. Let's take a look at her fashion styles for the magazine spreads!


Left: Silk crepe leather sleeve dress from Calvin Klein Collection
Leather corset belt and leather and elastic boots from Michael Kors
Right:Cotton poplin shirt and satin shorts from Prada
Brass belt from Maison Martin Margiela


Suede top and leather belt from Ralph Lauren Collection
Sheer stockings from Falke


Washed ottoman cape and lambskin shorts from Chloe
Leather elastic boots from Michael Kors





Photo Source: Fashionising.com

Scrub your lips with Lush

Mad about Lush? Nah... been there, done that. I went through a Lush phase about two years ago and tried the bath bombs (or whatever they're called), the soaps, the massage bars, the hair products, the foot cream... you name it, all the bestsellers. I tried them for a few weeks, then gave everything away to friends. I don't like their packaging and the smells are sometimes too overpowering. Lush is not really my thing.

But never say never. I recently read about the new Mint Julips Lip Scrub. Now, I don't usually need to exfoliate my lips but the past few weeks they've not been as soft as I like them to be... so I thought I would give this a try.

Because it is a sugar scrub, and I am paranoid of having ants and other sugar-loving creepy-crawlies in the house, for my first try I stood at the kitchen sink and applied a tiny bit (you really don't need much) to my lips. I have since given it a home in the bathroom so I can scrub away in the bath or after I've washed my face in the morning or at night.

And what can I say? Wow! It's an exfoliator all right, the bits are big enough that you can really 'scrub' your lips with them. The sugar dissolves after about 20 seconds of rubbing. At this point, I'm not sure if other people lick the rest off?... but I rinse my lips with water. It leaves an oily film behind - that's the peppermint oil. The fragrance is quite nice (I'm sure many would say delicious), it reminds me of After Eight mints.

There was a pleasant tingling sensation for about three minutes after scrubbing. To finish, apply the Baume de Rose lip balm by Terry and voilà, perfect lips. Amazing scrub!

This is much better than the only other lip scrub product that I own - a limited edition thing from MAC, called Prep and Prime Microfine Lip Refinisher, that is half scrub, half lip balm. Nice idea but the black bits don't dissolve and it's not as creamy as the Lush one.

What is your favourite lip scrub?

Blog award!

Who wants to talk awards?! I'm very pleased that I have received another blog award - this is my second one. I have a lot of friends and readers to thank, and I shall start with... Mr Pineapple Man, who gave me this bright orange sunshine award! Thank you! I'm not sure it really goes with my pink and white blog background but I'm proud to display it nonetheless!

I'm so happy that my blog is off to such a good start. It's proving to be a lot of fun. Every day I can look forward to beauty, inspiration, pictures of deliciousness, product reviews... from all over the world! The best part is... the dialogue, the interaction with all of you. I'm grateful to all my lovely followers who read and comment regularly - I love to hear from you!

The rules are:
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Pass the award on to 12 bloggers.
3. Link to the nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and the link to the person from whom you received this award.

I am passing this award on to these lovely followers first (rest will follow... some other time):

exPress-o
Lipstick Rules
Loveaudrey
The Alternative Wife
The Zhush

Congratulations!

Halcyon Fashion days

love this - the fashion era of simplicity of silhouette - 1960s

high shoes in the 1920s - these look torturous

A Chanel coat cir 1920

fluting taken to extremes - effective though

interesting trend here wearing jewels on one's back ! the back detail being the main feature! feminine boyishness - flat chests a must - no cleavage encouraged - breasts were literally strapped down!!

love the composition of this shot

cool bikes - was it colder then?

those big coat collars are very chic -

languid summer frocks - Chanel - beautiful light

sweet and demure!
Sexy .... like this look! halternecks are so flattering ....

this season taking influence from the flapper style, a key layered look using light sheer and or opaque jersey fabrics that fall well and don't crease - so flattering, cool and easy to wear.

I like to see jersey sleeveless jackets with graduating short to long hems worn with jeans and high leather boots.

Getting Creative ........

This has got to be my most favorite discovery as of lately. I know you are wondering what is that in the top picture! In the picture above is a full pack of #2 yaki hair
( not the expensive stuff either).
For those who know me, know I love weave, however I don't like what comes with wearing weave.
Glue in weaves are extremely damaging to your own hair
Sew-ins are a commitment, that I can't stick too, plus I get aggravated not being able to scratch my scalp
Infusions were extremely damaging to my hair
So, recently I decided to give clip-ins a try. I went on youtube.com and learned how to make them myself.

Tools you will need:
Hair (on a track)
Curved needle or Straight needle as long as it is thin enough to get through the track
Thread that you use to do a sew-in with (sold at Beauty supply store)
Scissors
Wig clips ( sold at beauty supply 2 in a pack)
Step 1
Take the track and measure it against your head, so you can see where you want to cut it
Step 2
Thread your needle
Step 3
Take the wig clip and place it on the end of the track (wig clip pictured below)

Step 4
Take the threaded needle and sew the wig clip onto the track, the wig clip has holes at the top so you want to use those.
Depending on how long the track is, depends on how many wig clips you will use, you will only need three at the most.

Depending on how long the track is, depends on how many wig clips you will use, you will only need three at the most.
Here is a complete clip in track

(Looking a little rough, don't judge me, I did this project 1030pm on Sunday)
This is how it looked after I put the tracks in, haven't yet styled it but will post a picture later.
Stay tuned

Here is me the next day
Still have not styled the weave but I decided to wear it in a pony tail.
I love this whole concept, because as I type this I have no weave in my hair, so depending on what day of the week, I can add or take out depending on my mood.

Sex and the City 2 Fashion Style Secrets

According to Co-Costume Designers Molly Rogers and Patricia Field, they know the Sex and the City girls very well in terms of their fashion styles. They admitted that they can easily dress Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda. Maybe because they have worked together with these girls for six seasons on TV and two movies.

Let's find out the fashion style secrets of the cast of Sex and the City 2.

Miranda: Bottega Veneta dress, vintage belt, Christian Louboutin pumps, Kara Ross clutch and Alexis Bittar bracelets.
Carrie: Halston Heritage dress, Christian Louboutin heels, Solange Azagury-Partridge necklace.
Samantha: Vintage Item dress, Patricia Field mules, VBH clutch.
Charlotte: Christian Dior suit and bag, Christian Louboutin pumps.

Carrie
Emilio Pucci dress, Zac Posen belt, Marc Walsh/Leslie Chin for Rodarte cuff and Chanel bag.


Samantha
Vintage Item dress, VBH clutch, Patricia Field shoes. Vintage Item dress, VBH clutch, Patricia Field shoes.


Charlotte
Vintage blouse, Carine Gilson corset, Azzedine Alaia skirt, Jacob & Co. special order watch, Brian Atwood shoes and Jennifer Fisher necklace.


Miranda
RM by Roland Mouret dress.


Source: InStyle.com

Twiggy on Film...

Did you know that Twiggy (aca real name Lesley Hornby) stared in a Ken Russell movie based on a musical by Sandy Wilson called The Boy Friend in the 1971? During this time anything 1920s was derigueur. If one looks back at the fashions and hair of the time there was a boyish androgyny typical of the 1920s flat chested flapper style fashion premiered in the 1920s decade post the first world war, think Biba, Mary Quant and Ossie Clark. Twiggy looked exquisite in the film - the sets and costumes were inspirational, and it has a cult status now rather like Blow - up.

The music written by Sandy Wilson has simple truly catchy melodies.

The boy Friend is a tongue in cheek pastiche of the 1920's and is one of the most performed amateur dramatics musicals apparently.It was recently performed in the open air theatre in Regents park London with Ruthie Henshaw, getting rave revues. The fact that a simple band can perform the songs and that it is an innocent comedy with a love story attached with parts for a range of age groups and talents makes it very popular.

It is said that Paul McCartney of the Beatles was influenced by these lyrical songs first performed in the Players theatre in london in the 1953 and then in Broadway with Julie Andrews playing Polly in 1954. The boy friend became a huge hit well before Andrew Lloyd Webber held the British musical flag of success stateside. 'When I'm Sixty four' from Sgt Peppers is similar in sentiment to 'It's never too late to fall in Love' written by Sandy Wilson.

The film and CD can be found on Amazon.