Mulberry magic

Fistly, I would like to congratulate myself on giving Keira Knightley's Erdem maxi a rave review, only for LOOK and NOW magazines to both do the same this week. I'm either psychic or spot on style-wise. Also, yay me for getting my essay in on time. Oh if only I could reward myself with a delectable Mulberry Ruby Bayswater in bang-on-trend nude. On the whole, designer gear isn't really on my radar, being ever so slightly out of my price range, but since I spotted the Mulberry Alexa a few months ago I've had serious style envy. So when I saw this little beauty in LOOK just now, I'll admit to some unladylike drooling. Roomy enough for the kitchen sink, a hip shade that isn't so out there as to need recycling next season, and sported by Pixie Lott and Fearne Cotton - what more could a girl wish for? Oh yeah, a cheque for £795. Maybe now's the time to start playing the Lottery...

Share the love! Lou x

Rihanna And The Great Ankle Sock Debate: Look.co.uk

http://www.look.co.uk/fashion/rihanna-and-the-great-ankle-sock-debate

Just a quick one today - fashion has to take a backseat when you've got a 2500 word essay due in tomorrow! So what does everyone think about socks and shoes as a spring/summer 2010 trend. We've seen it on the catwalk, but then a lot of trends spotted at the shows never make it into the real world. So now a hot celeb has got in on the act, are we taking it more seriously? Answers on a postcard...

Foundation Frustration!!!

Foundation. At the risk of stating the obvious (my specialty), it's the foundation, ie. cornerstone, of your make-up. Get it right and your colours glide on beautifully and stay put all day. Get it wrong and you may hear the words 'trowel' and 'cake' muttered alongside your name on a regular basis. I personally thought I was doing all right. I'd found a foundation that was easy to apply with fingers, fragrance free for my sensitive skin, portable for retouching, and a perfect porcelain shade to match my pale (ok, pasty) complexion. This was Max Factor's Miracle Touch Foundation, priced at £11.99 at Boots. I had noticed that it took a while to make invisible on my cheeks, and that there were some flaky patches too. But when the Clinique lady in Selfridges, Birmingham, pointed out that I needed more moisture in my base, I started to wonder if I had been settling for 'better the devil you know' for too long instead of exploring some of the innovative new products on the market. My first stop on this exciting cosmetic quest was No. 7's new Lift & Luminate, priced at £15 and marketed as 'a facial in a foundation'. Hmm, I thought, it's hypoallergenic, a liquid for extra moisture, and a nice shade, so I'll give it a try. Little did I reckon on returning it a few days later, complaining that it was clammy, sticky, and irritating (and not just to my nerves). It seems this foundation lark isn't half as easy as I expected. My next product test will be Max Factor's Lasting Performance, priced at £9.45. I have my reservations about the colour, but will let you know how I get on...

Celeb Style Critique - Keira Knightley, at The Laurence Olivier Awards

Usually, for a dress to find its way before the cameras and into the gossip columns, it has to be one of the following: so low cut it's grafted on with cleavage tape, so short it could pass for a hairband, or so outrageous it makes Gaga look tame. Therefore it's refreshing to see not only that Keira picked this stunner in the fist place, but also that she's receiving rave style reviews for it. Attending The Laurence Olivier Awards this week, Keira rocked a demure yet stunning floor-length Erdem dress, leaping ahead to their next season collection. The silky black material with its fusion of red, purple and turquoise in a sensuous graphic print. A celeb style winner!

Today's Outfit - Thursday 25th March 2010

Ok, so I may have said I was going to wait for some cosmic sign that summer was on its way before I brought out my fab new spring wardrobe, but I got a bit fed up with that. So today I went to Uni in a whole outfit of new spring-wear, channelling the nude, floaty trend (with some concessions to the lack of heat atm!).

I decided to team a peach coloured tunic/dress from Topshop (I don't care if my mum asks where my trousers are, if it covers your bum it's a dress, ok?), beautifully ruffled around the neckline, with a cream, 3/4 sleeve cardi covered in small blue hearts, also Topshop. I added black tights, my new peep toe gold and cream pumps from Dorothy Perkins, a soft creamy scarf from Oasis, a cream waisted belt to give the DRESS shape, and my 'L'amore' heart earrings in pink and gold from Accessorize. Not bad if I do say so myself. Comments please!

• Topshop Knitted Heart Cardigan, £38: http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=19551&storeId=12556&categoryId=93598&parent_category_rn=93594&productId=1615941&langId=-1
• Accessorize L'amour Heart Earrings, £6: http://www.monsoon.co.uk/Earrings/L-Amour-Heart-Earrings/invt/68164370&bklist=icat,5,shop,accessorize,accessorizejewellery,accessorizeearrings
• Dorothy Perkins Cream Peep Toe Pumps, £22: http://www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?parent_category_rn=51581&beginIndex=0&top=Y&langId=-1&storeId=12552&catalogId=20552&categoryId=51584&viewTaskName=CategoryDisplayView&viewAllFlag=true
• Oasis Deco Jacquard Scarf, £20: http://www.oasis-stores.com/Deco-Jacquard-Scarf/Scarves/oasis/fcp-product/5230001904

Lou x

Trends in Transition – Spring style and how to wear it now

It’s a bizarre time of year for fashion lovers. The first spring drops have landed in stores, yet we’re still reaching for cosy hats and scarves to fight off the bitter cold. For those who can’t ignore that primal urge to shop, there’s one key item that can be styled now, yet won’t be on eBay by May – the Mac.


When it comes to stylish in-between cover ups that won’t break the bank, Topshop reigns supreme. Their Multistitch Mac Coat in Butterscotch at £75 is a delicious creamy brown, tapping perfectly into the nude palette that will carry through to summer. Wear now with jeans, nude heels and a cream scarf, swapping to a chiffon dress and tan gladiators for the warmer weather.

If the youthful elegance of Blair Waldorf is more your thing, head to Dorothy Perkins and snatch up their gorgeous Navy Pleated Mac for £60. With a ruffled collar and fine pleats, this is Upper East Side chic at its best. Fine knits with intricate beading, A-Line skirts and thick tights will see winter out, with spring florals in wallpaper prints adding colour in a few months’ time.

Finally, the crème de la crème of transitional outer wear is this ASOS Long Swing Mac at £70. The loose fit, uneven hem and buckles all rack up style points, but the deal breaker is the ice cool blue colour. Sugary pastels are a major spring/summer trend, yet this frosty shade works just as well with winter apparel. Last season’s silvery metallics mean you can wear it now without getting frostbite, whilst nautical accessories will see in spring. In fact, it’s so effortlessly hot that I’ve just added it to my online basket...

Lou x

American Apparel - Unisex Flex Fleece Zip Hoody, £36

As much as I LOVE fashion and following the latest trends, everyone has days when it would take more effort to put together a stylish outfit than to climb Everest. Or, when you're absolutely determined not to leave the house, even if an earthquake brings it down around you whilst you're snuggled up on the sofa with the complete Desperate Housewives boxset and a box of Cadburys Roses. So for days like these we all need some comfy, good quality 'loungewear' that somehow manages not to make you look like a slob. The look to aim for is those women in tracksuits you see on TV, jogging down a palm tree lined beach in Florida without breaking a sweat. In short, get yourself down to American Apparel and grab as many of their Unisex Flex Fleece Zip Hoodies as you can afford, in a rainbow of bright colours (no grey allowed). I know they're a bit pricey at £36 a pop, but the quality is amazing, and how it makes you fell to be cocooned inside one on a lazy day is worth it. I went for red, but with 20 colours on offer, you're bound to find one to suit your sunday mood. Never thought I'd be preaching about a hoody, but there you go. And somehow they still manage to look effortlessly cool. I would bet more than a few celebs have these in their casual wardrobes!

http://store.americanapparel.co.uk/f497w.html?cid=211

Lou xxx

The Body Shop - Make-up Brushes, from £7.50

If you're fed up with cheap, scratchy make-up brushes which shed more hair than a Persian cat, take a look at the fantastic range by The Body Shop:

http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/_en/_gb/catalog/list.aspx?CategoryCode=C_Makeup_BrushesandTools&ParentCatCode=C_Makeup

Starting at £7.50, this amazing collection of incredibly soft, perfectly sculpted brushes look really stylish as well as doing their job at enhancing the effect of your make-up.

My favourite is the Blusher Brush, at £11.50. If you treat yourself to a basic collection and look after them well, they'll last for ages.

Lou x

Magazine Review - LOOK 22nd March 2010

Another fashion packed edition of LOOK magazine. Here are the highlights:

• All The Dresses... - Brillint that the LOOK team have finally added high street copies so we can channel our fave stars' styles. Loving the Lipsy VIP ruffle dress at £175, a gorgeous, affordable alternative to Diane Kruger's floor length Chanel numnber.
• Where Have Nadine's Gorgeous Curves Gone? - As much as I think celebs' weights are their own personal business, Girls Aloud's Nadine Coyle did look excessively skinny when she arrived back in the UK last week. Maybe the LA lifestyle was too much pressure.
• Henry Holland Does High Street - A brillint collection from this hot designer, fittingly modelled by Pixie Geldof. My top pick is the yellow floral dress at £30 - a style steal.
• Top 10 Shoe Investment Buys - This feature gave me a serious case of shoe envy. The patent pink Giuseppe Zanotti heels are to die for, but at £480 all I can do is mutter under my breathe at my non-celeb bank balance.
• Get Next Season's Trends Now! - Interesting to see what we'll all be wearing in six months' time, but it's hard to think about autumn when I'm still searching for a glimpse of summer. I really hope they're right about the Frou-Frou trend though, it's ultra feminine and pastels are always a winner.
• How to Accessorise Spring's 4 Key Looks - Sometimes it's tricky to know how much / little to accessorise an on-trend outfit, so this feature's great for showing what goes, and how to rock military, new denim, spring dresses and boudoir.
• Break All The Rules - Sorry LOOK, there's no way on earth I'm turning up at Uni wearing bright orange 'Inner Socket Eyeshadow'. I'm pretty sure I'd be high on the gossip agenda for at least a month.

NEXT...Company magazine, April Blogging Issue.

Lou xxx

MAC Paint Pot in Painterly, £13

This amazing product was recommended to me by a member of staff in my local store. The nude beige cream dries to form an amazing base that locks eyeshadow in place all day (I promise, it actually does). On my pale skin, it's barely visible, and the effect it has for your shadow is well worth the money. BUY!

http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT21850&PRODUCT_ID=PROD74822

Size 14 is not fat!

This is one of the first articles I had published in the national student magazine 'The Sanctuary' - hope you like it! I've slimmed down a bit since then, but it's a topic that still makes me angry.

 Size 14...ok 15...is NOT Fat!


I probably shouldn’t be admitting this is print, in case my mum decides to use it as concrete evidence that I ought to be paying her rent, but my first delicious thought upon surveying my newly inflated birthday bank balance was a snobbish craving for designer denim. That elusive pair of beautifully crafted jeans that will shrink your tum and enhance your bum whilst giving you lithe pins to rival Kate Moss. Surely the woeful inadequacies of the high street’s unforgiving cuts would be magically erased by an eye-catching emblem on the back pocket and an extra hundred quid bumped onto the silk woven price tag. With such lustful fantasies in mind, I seized my unusually bulging purse and hurried to a certain designer store, the epitome of sleek sophistication and the supposed haunt of Nottingham’s high flying career girls.


Now in the interests of ground breaking journalism (nothing wrong with a healthy optimism), I am prepared to disclose that most guarded of all women’s secrets, the big cheese amongst an effortless stream of white lies such as, ‘Oh yes, I go to the gym every evening dahling!’; I, Louisa Jayne Burt, am a curvy, perfectly rounded Size 14. Or 15 on fat days. Nevertheless, according to numerous websites, I perfectly embody the average British woman. With all of the recent backlash at Size 0 catwalk models, this average seems a fairly great place to be right now. Granted, that doesn’t stop me feeling a smidgen guilty when eyeing up the deliciously tempting double chocolate cake in Costa (and inevitably giving in). But as long as I can still indulge in my love of fashion at the same time, I won’t be complaining.


Yet this is the crux of the problem. Ten minutes after entering this boutique paradise, I found myself deposited back onto the pavement, very dejected and hugely annoyed, with a large amount of steam emanating from both ears. In short, upon asking for a Size 32 waist, I was treated to a derisive glare from a perfectly polished shop assistant that screamed, ‘how dare you enter our world, fatty!’ I was then half-heartedly proffered a pair of Size 31s that had probably been festering in the stockroom since they were delivered back in the dark ages, and into which I could probably have squeezed after an aggressive course of liposuction. As if I wasn’t feeling alienated enough by this point, I was then smugly informed that there wasn’t a pair my size to be found in the whole company. Red faced and resolving to eat only rice crackers for the foreseeable future, I thus renounced my lofty designer dreams and restored my allegiance to that faithful student friend, beloved Topshop.


However, it seems this pitiful inequality doesn’t only apply to designer denim. A visit to my local branch of Topshop soon enlightened me on that matter, finding as I sadly did at least 15 pairs of Size 10s on the rail and not one 14, never mind a 16. A shop assistant further informed me that they had made repeated requests for larger sizes, which have continuously been ignored.


What I am trying to express with this angsty tirade is the urgent need for all retailers, high end and high street, to recognise that curvy girls love fashion too! Unless the current situation changes, we may soon be forced to abandon our on trend ambitions and instead frequent campus in tracksuit bottoms and our boyfriends’ oversized shirts. Furthermore, no one wants to be seen emerging from a super sized only store. Now where did I put those rice crackers...?


HOT TIP: On my travels, I found that French Connection stocked both Size 14 and 16 in a variety of styles, all extremely stylish and very well cut, giving a designer look for around half the price. Shh!

theoutnet.com - Designer Style at Bargain Prices

I'm sure I'm not the only one who could spend hours drooling over a designer handbag or pair of shoes, but can't quite justify spending the price of a small car on something that could be out of fashion before you can say Versace. So when I heard about theoutnet.com, the little sister of designer giant NET-A-PORTER.COM, created with the sole aim of selling designer womenswear and accessories at a discounted price we can all afford, I got more than a little excited. 

'As Natalie Massenet, Founder and Chairman of NET-A-PORTER explains, "Great fashion won't disappear - it will go to theOutnet and we are delighted to create a vibrant, fun and edited destination for the global sale shopper to call her own."' She's right: designer pieces are such excellent quality, and usually timeless in style, that they won't ever go out of fashion. That's not to say you should splash your cash on designer every time you want something, but certain key pieces can make an outfit extra special. Brands featured on the site include Chloe, Fendi, Missoni and Stella McCartney, with their jeans being a special hot tip.

I'm blogging about the site today because their clearance sale has just started. Check it out quick for some serious bargains, like this Zac Posen Beaded Tulle Satin Dress, reduced from £2010 to £302. Where did I put my credit card!!!

Lou xxx

Nails Inc. - AMAZING Manicure

A few weeks ago I went on a shop-till -you-drop trip to the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield (brilliant place). I was determined to get my first ever professional manicure while I was there, and as soon as I spotted the Nails Inc. station inside Debenhams, I booked myself in. The lovely manicurist, Maggie, fitted me in within 20 minitues. The manicure itself took me completely by surprise (in a very good way). After filing and shaping my nails, pushing back the cuticles, applying cuticle oil, and rubbing in hand cream, the Kensington Caviar Base Coat was applied, followed by two coats of hot pink Walton Street, and finished off with the Kensington Caviar Top Coat. The result was an extremely glossy, rock-hard, beautifully applied manicure that lasted from the tuesday until sunday, before a hot bath started to wear it off. At £17, this was a complete bargain, and gave a super professional look. Gorgeous colour too. Log on to  http://nailsinc.com/services to find your nearest store. Thanks Maggie!

Lou xxx

My Outfit - Mothers Day, 14th March 2010

My first pic of myself (cringe)! I was meant to be saving my new spring wardrobe for the nicer weather, but seeing as we were going out for a posh meal I thought I'd put on something new. Here I'm wearing a black and pink, floral print, skater dress from New Look, £25, and a pink and cream floral headband from Topshop (around £10 I think). The dress was so comfy in a light, stretchy fabric, clinging in the right places but skimming over my tummy. The 3/4 sleeves gave me more confidence and there was a cute cut-out at the back. I decided to wear the headband around my forehead, but underneath the top layer of hair, twisting my fringe back for height. Although you can't see them, I'm also wearing my new 'Parade' black, strappy sandals from Dune (a newly discovered wonder-shop) which cost £65. They looked great with black tights for now but will look equally fab with brightly painted toenails in summer. A triumph I think.

Bargain vs. Blow-Out - Lip Care

It seems lip treatments are like buses. You search far and wide to find one that actually works, with no success, and just when you're pulling your hair out two come along at once.

The first one I discovered was CLINIQUE's Superbalm lip treatment, at £10. Milky white in colour, but thick and creamy, this feels amazing on and forms a great base when sunk in for lipstick or gloss.

http://www.boots.com/en/Clinique-Superbalm-Lip-Treatment-7ml_4726/

Accordingly, I thought I was sorted for looking after my ever flaky problem lips. But at £10 a pop and in a very small tube, this is one pricey miracle. So when Simple's Kind to Lips Intensive Lip Moisturiser landed in my letter box as part of a free trial through Simple VIP Club (the first thing I've received), I faced a beauty dilemna. This treatment is clear in colour, almost like a gel, but still thick and creamy. An hour or so after application, lipgloss glides on effortlessly. I'm already a huge fan of their gentle, fragrance free skincare, and at £2.99, I can lather on as much of this product as I like without feeling guilty. Give it a try!

http://www.simple.co.uk/products/Simple-Kind-To-Lips-Intensive-Lip-Moisturiser-5g-260.aspx

Fashion buy of the day - Miss Selfridge White Alice I'm Late Vest

Buy into the current Alice in Wonderland craze with this stylish, easy to wear vest from Miss Selfridge ( a newly discovered favourite). A bargain at £20, team with skinny jeans, heels and a boyfriend style cardi for early spring chic.

http://www.missselfridge.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=true&catalogId=20555&storeId=12554&categoryId=143529&parent_category_rn=63752&productId=1635561&langId=-1&siteID=eO94P2evnB0-Dys0VkeQtPGCcxV7LsF.xg&cmpid=lshare1&siteID=TnL5HPStwNw-r7KxX1ei0lgmFMLfEUt7dg&cmpid=lshare1

Magazine Review - LOOK 15th March 2010

Morning! So, for my first magazine review, I'm going to talk about my absoloute favourite fashion mag, the weekly publication 'LOOK'. I discovered this fab magazine a couple of years ago and have bought nearly every issue since. They manage to get the right balance between celeb gossip, celeb fashion and 'normal people' fashion and beauty. 

So this week:

• 'This Week We Need': Loving the Accessorize spring drop, the mix of coral and gold on chunky jewellery really meets the tribal trend, and the ethnic beaded flip-flops are the perfect blend of casual and embellishment.
• 'All the Dresses': Reese Witherspoon looks stunning in her fuschia Vera Wang dress. Nice to be reading about her style rather than her dramatic weight loss.
• Hmm, getting a bit sick of hearing about Cheryl and Ashley Cole and the 'are they aren't they' getting back together saga. What they need is some privacy to work things out. Not too convinced by her 'talking t-shirt' choices either...
• So impressed that a top fashion mag is featuring ASOS's new Curve range for sizes 20-26. Although I wouldn't be able to wear these pieces, it's brilliant that larger women aren't being marginalised. Well done ASOS! 
• 'Multitasking Maxis': A fantastic article. I've just bought my first ever maxi dress from Miss Selfridge and can't wait to be able to wear it. Great to have some styling tips.
• 'The Six Types of Single Guy': Interesting feature. I suppose it's good to get an insight into men's minds, but do all guys fall into these categories? Could cause a lot of crossed wires.
• 'High Street Hottest': As usual, a wide selection of the High Street's best new collections. Loving Topshop's cupcake jumper.
• '85 Best Tops on the High Street': Not that impressed by their selection. The categories are spot on, but I'm sure I could have picked nicer Embroidered tops than these.
• 'Beauty Trends of the Week': Very excited about Curlformers. I've just ordered a 'Long and Wide' Starter Pack, so will keep you updated on how they work. Check out http://www.curlformers.com/ if you can't wait.

Overall, a great issue. I suppose I'm always going to find some pages irrelevant, but this issue is still value for money. Stay tuned for next week's review, as well as other mag's in the meantime.

Lou xxx

BARGAINS Galore! Star money saving newsletter

Hi folks! Today I wanted to to let you all in on a great money saving secret (shh!). If you're sick of paying full price for all the fashion and beauty products you love, as well as holidays and restaurant bills, the sign up to the MoneySavingExpert.com weekly email. The site was created by Martin Lewis (This Morning's money man) and 'is dedicated to saving you money on anything & everything by finding the best deals and beating the system'. The weekly newsletter lists all the new/top discount codes and vouchers that week.

Some of the bargains mentioned in this week's edition:

• £1 Cineworld tickets from mycitydeal.co.uk
• £3 James Brown conditioner with £2.50 Glamour Mag  & Free £10.50 Neal's Yard cream in £3.50 mag
• Numerous restaurant 2-for-1s
• £5-ish European flights with Ryanair
• Mr & Mrs Smith 2for1 boutique hotels

As well as lots of banking and credit card advice.

So sign yourself up - you could save loads of £££ on your favourite buys!

Lou xxx 

Getting started...

Wow, I never thought I'd be saying this but welcome to my very own style blog! 'Big woop' you may say, but I'm really excited about getting this started. It might take me a while to figure it all out, but here's what I hope to achieve...eventually...

• An in depth review of all the weekly and monthly fashion mags I buy, such as LOOK, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Company, and any others I can lay my hands on.
• A run down of all the latest high street fashion drops, including how the key pieces actually look on.
• An up to date summary of the current trends and how to work them in the real world.
• Fashionable peeps spotted on my travels, mostly around Nottingham and Uni.
• Celeb style choices, the highs AND the lows (and the very very lows).
• The latest buzz on the beauty scene, including the rave-worthy skin care and cosmetics miracles that flood the media - do they REALLY work?
• Finally, a photo diary of little old me and my fashion and beauty choices, including how to flatter a non-size-0 figure.

A bit ambitious? Hopefully not, when I get my head around it all.


So keep an eye on Stylespylou and let me know how I'm doing - all suggestions welcome!

Lou xxx