If Winning isn't Everything... i-D Magazine

Our redheaded editorial queen Olga Sherer has done it again.  Appearing in an editorial in i-D magazine, she catches the spotlight with these edgy yet fun photos by Phillip Gay. The shoot gives us a lesson in summer attire… so we’ll be sure to put on a pair of shades, order an ice cold drink, and relax with the May issue.

Eye-Catching Shine

Elite model and face of Givenchy Beauté Denisa Dvorakova is stunning on the June Vogue Spain jewellery supplement cover. In this shot by Michelle Ferrara, Denisa truly embodies “el sexy brillante” while decked out in shining gold jewellery as well as a Donna Karan jacket and skirt. Denisa reminds us to break out the bling this summer season... in style!

Food & Fashion

Chanel SS2010

Stills photography Chris Knaggs

Erdem SS 2010

photography Chris Knaggs

Chanel SS2010

photography Chris Knaggs

Christian Dior Couture SS2010

Emilio Pucci SS2010

Etro SS2010

Stills photography chris Knaggs

Fashion and food are my two great passions. I thought it would be interesting to combine some beautiful still life images from Chris Knaggs collection with high end couture. Chris Knaggs work can be seen on food packaging in everywhere from M&S to Waitrose. yummy!

To sleep high or low?

At the moment my son (4) has boring Ikea furniture in his room and I want to replace all of that with something fun but practical. We thought he might become more enthusiastic about going to bed if it's somewhere high. And theoretically there would be more space in his room, though this is not such an issue.

I've found some cute arrangements that I really like (more images here).

I'm just not totally convinced yet. Some questions nagging me are: how dangerous is it for sleepy children to walk down those steps at night (to go to the toilet)? And the practicality of changing bedlinen? And don't they ever fall out?!

So what do you say: normal bed or one of these? Did you have something similar as a child? Or if you have children, what's your experience?

What do you think would fit best under the bed space: a desk, a reading area with a sofa (but don't kids read on their beds?) or a wardrobe?

College Girl Makeover................

Today, I wanted to feature a college student who loves fashion and makeup (my little sister Jasmine). Jasmine typically wears mascara, bronzer and lipgloss, but would like to start wearing eye shadows, but needed a little guidance on how to put it on. I wanted to give Jasmine something natural but still glamorous, so I allowed Jasmine to pick out one color of eyeshadow and then I picked out the other colors. In the above picture is the before shot.

Here is the after shot

Jasmine is wearing all MAC products:
Orb= lid, Crease= foile, outside corner= mythology, tear duct: pink freeze
Liner= Blacktracj with angled brush
Mascara= Opulash
Bronzer= Goldmine
Select Sheer Pressed Powder NW43
Lipliner= Magenta
Lipstick= Girl About Town

Jasmine loved the makeover

Looks of the Week!!!!!!!

Angela Simmons

Chanel Iman

Elle McPherson and Gwyneth Paltrow
both in Louis Vuitton

Alice Dellal
in Alexander McQueen

Sarah Jessica Parker
in Valentino

Thandie Newton

S.J.P
in Alexander McQueen

S.J.P
in Stella McCartney and Blumarine

Jennifer Lopez
in Lanvin
(Fabulous)

Emma Watson

The best: Jemma Kidd's Make-up Masterclass

In my opinion, this is one of the best make-up books out there. It is more interesting than most of Bobbi Brown's books; more colourful, useful and easier to read (no grey text) than Nars' Makeup Your Mind; and the looks are much more achievable and not nearly as complicated as the ones by Rae Morris, Kevyn Aucoin and Scott Barnes.

Jemma Kidd's Make-up Masterclass is packed with beautiful pictures AND useful information. Yes, there is a lot of text! It is a great reference book, something you will want to refer back to again and again. You will learn a lot from this. 

In the first section, Beauty Basics, it gives you tips on skincare, enhancing beauty at all ages, and seasonal make-up. So in spring/summer, put away compact foundations and switch to a tinted moisturiser or a light liquid foundation applied sparingly, use powder mineral foundation if you have oily skin, keep brows in place with hairspray, stick to a neutral eyeshadow with a slight shimmer for daytime, replace black eyeliner with brown (or a bright colour!), use cream blush (looks more natural). Those were some of the tips for a 'light, long-lasting make-up' and there's more: bold colours for eyes, spring pastels, summer nights.

One of the best things about this book is that the step-by-step guides are actually comprehensible. It's also interesting to see different finishes of eyeshadow, for example, side-by-side (sheer, glitter, loose metallic pigment, gloss, frost, matte). And find out what the top ten looks for eyes and lips are. This is all in the section Make-up Masterclass.

The fun part is Get the Look.

Daytime looks: everyday gorgeous (for every skintone: porcelain, fair, olive, deep), daytime glamour, boardroom beauty, corporate to cocktails, blushing bride and yummy mummy.

Night-time looks: after-dark beauty (porcelain, fair, light olive, dark olive, deep), foxy and fabulous, red carpet glamour, dancing queen and big date.

Holiday looks: beach babe, beach to bar, wintry and wonderful, country life and frequent flyer.

What I really like is at the very back of the book. It's called "Jemma's favourite..." for skincare products, body products, make-up and tools, organic brands and products for problem skin. The brilliant thing is, they're not necessarily products from her own line! As I mentioned in my Laura Mercier haul post, the secret brightening powder is one of Jemma's favourites! How many of these products have you tried?