Catwalk Cyborgs terminate the Clothes Show! They'll be back...

Okay so what we are dealing with are cyborgs. Perfectly proportioned models in cybernetic form that are sent from the future to save the fashion world one catwalk at a time... That's the only explanation I have which can account for those amazing abs you could grate your Cathedral cheddar on and those perfect peachy bottoms strutting down that catwalk at the Clothes Show Live 2014.

Earlier this week I entered the doors of the 26th year of the world's largest fashion and beauty festival and boy did it deliver! I remember a slightly less experienced fashionista attending in 2008 and I can say that in comparison this year's Fashion Show was of epic proportions- combining awesome graphics with slick dance routines and of course jaw dropping fashion. 

After a frustrating and slightly comical morning of late friends, a delayed mini bus journey and missing the fashion show as a result of it- all worked out for the best. 

We were boosted to platinum tickets!

Yes. We were sat at the steps of the Catwalk, so close we could almost feel the perspiration and smell the Tom Ford. 

The theme of the catwalk was New York and the show opened by transporting the audience into Times Square. The opening was very DKNY and the graphic backdrops along with the chic street looks really made you feel immersed in the hustle and bustle of New York. Many of the beautiful collections were inspired by Central Park, Broadway, Wall Street, Brooklyn Street Wear, 70s Disco and even Batman's Gotham City. 

Visually, one of my favourite collections was inspired by Wall Street. For me it captured an element of what fashion is all about, wanting to reach the top and using fashion as a tool to conquer your dreams. These women were all kinds of fierce and dressed to kill, ladies of the office take note! 

The choreography was as polished as Simon Cowell's teeth and having one of the models stick his tongue out at us was just an added bonus! These models were bulletproof. 

Gotham City was of course a highlight, who knew Batman was so fashion forward? Think black caped shirts and tailored skinny trousers, this was Batman taking a day off from beating the bad guys and going on a date with his Catwoman.

Once the battle of the goodie bags had finished outside the fashion show, one of my favourite areas was the vintage quarter and ASOS market place. It really summed up this generations take on fashion at the moment and that is-no rules apply! I will post my shopping haul very soon but for now...

Stay classy :) 

The Benefits of Benefit

Hello there! So first and foremost I must apologise for leaving you all hanging for I don't know...five months? Have you ever put something off so much that it turns into a fear you can't face? Yes I'm talking about procrastination! But I'll save that for another blog...


So, we're in the midst of the glorious British Summer and that means wedding season is here! For the ladies out there (and some men) weddings propose two major questions a) How do I perfect a Kardashian smoky eye?    and b) How do I make my hair as mullerlicous as Nicole Scherzinger? Well since the majority of us aren't fortunate enough to have on hand stylists what I can let you in on are the secret weapons that are fundamental to any party look, courtesy of Benefit makeup.

Benefit they're real! Mascara, push-up liner and remover

First up is the Arnold Schwarzenegger of all eyeliners because trust me its tough, waterproof and reliable, so say 'hasta la vista baby' to your current eyeliner!






Benefit they're real! push-up liner £18.50 @ Boots

Like Jessie J once said forget about the price tag for a second because what we are dealing with is the 'first ever lash-hugging gel liner in a pen'. I was slightly sceptical at first because the eyeliner pens I've used in the past always dry up but fear not Benefit has tackled this problem! It's unique formula is gel rather than liquid so you are in control of the liner rather than the other way round. The angled AccuFlex Tip is great for artists as you can apply the eyeliner both ways giving you maximum control even for the clumsiest hand! The gel itself is jet black so apply a thin line for day wear and layer up for an intense dramatic look by night. Now, if you're used to a liquid liner the Benefit liner will be a bit unusual at first because it applies almost like a kohl pencil so you have to co-operate with the pen for it to work, but trust me it'll become your partner in crime!




I have become quite an expert of the odd feline flick or two so my advice would be to apply it in two strokes. First extend your eyeliner up and outwards from the outer edge of your eye and mirror the same underneath, joining it to make a triangle (no illuminati). Then colour the triangle in for a perfect flick! The common mistake is trying to make a perfect flick in one stroke which is a lottery involving a mass of cotton buds, and will most probably leave you looking more like The Joker than Catwoman.

Step 1, 2 and 3
With step 2 don't be scared to extend the line upwards and outwards to create an eye lift rather than downwards which can make the eye appear droopy

Left eye- Benefit they're real! Mascara and gel push-up liner

Next is The Godfather of all mascaras-its bold, striking and definitely packs a punch! You've all heard of it and if you haven't please remove yourself from the rock you've been hiding under... It's the Benefit they're real! mascara and I have to say no other mascara will make your lashes defy gravity like this one! It's basic science-Benefit have combined the perfect formula to lengthen and thicken your lashes making them sky high and fluttery, a perfect substitute for false lashes.




Application-It's not rocket science! Apply as much or as little as you like for curves Nicki Minaj would be proud of.




Benefit have also released their own 'they're real!' make-up remover which is £14.50 @Boots to effectively remove the eyeliner and mascara which can be pretty stubborn! Great when you're wearing it but not so great when you want to remove it.  I tend to use mine alongside Simple face wipes which also do the job without breaking the bank!



My make-up at an Indian wedding using the Benefit 'they're real!' eye liner and mascara alongside the coveted Benefit blusher in Coralista and Benefit primer 'the Porefessional'. For extra drama add false lashes like I have below.

Before

After- Ooosh it didn't budge at all!



After (Post dance floor hair!)

Stay classy :)



Blog no.1-Steps to success

Okay so it's 1.29am. I have just been watching what my friend described as 'men fighting naked'...come again? Fear not fellow reader I was in fact watching the latest instalment of Monday Night Raw (WWE) whilst consuming beautifully marinated chicken tikka curry and pilau rice which took painstaking  hours to produce (In the Tesco factory that is!) Surely I should have been eating something a little more nutritious you might say? Well it appears this meal may have influenced my first blog post (bizarre) but it is rather the exiting events that required me to eat it!


Earlier my heart was racing, my palms were sweating, not to mention I was pacing the corridors and generally experiencing all the symptoms of nervousness. Why? I was minutes away from auditioning for the role of presenter at my University's first EVER Hindu Society Flagship event. The event is an amazingly organised ball called 'Naina' (meaning 'eyes' in Hindi') due to happen at the end of March. Many awesome talents will be showcased on the night and I am so excited for a special performance by Panjabi MC! (Fellow bhangra head). For me I think 'eyes' symbolise worldliness and not only do they provide a window to the world they provide a window into our soul (okay I'm getting way ahead of myself!). Now, this may not be MTV but the audition (I'll get to how it went) was extremely important to me and made me realise how crucial these stepping stones are to my future success (Cue nacho cheese). It made me think why do we put ourselves into these stressful situations where we can barely carry out the simplest biological function of breathing?


That's where the outcome of my audition comes in to illustrate why. Although I may not receive the role of presenter I had the satisfaction of testing my ability and proving to myself that I am capable of co-hosting an event in front of an audience of hundreds. I am able to make the judges laugh with my witty and smart jokes (thanks Dad!). It gave me a sense of empowerment and realisation that a presenter is 'What I want to be when I am older' (baby voice).


 On a serious note I want everyone to be able to feel the kind of satisfaction that I felt. Go on and risk those nervous symptoms for the thing you desire because even if the outcome isn't necessarily 'positive', even if you don't get that University place or you don't get that job role at least you know deep within you tried your damn best and perseverance is the key to success my friend.  Importantly, you need such opportunities of judgement to make you consider whether what you thought is your dream actually is or not As they say Rome wasn't built in a day...Even now I am in a wrestling match with my eyelids but I must finish this blog for my own satisfaction. As I said, all these events are steps to our success so never give up...




It's now 2.36am and I can sleep knowing that this will help forge the path to my desired career...


Stay classy :)


(Apologies for any spelling/grammar errors, I'm so tired)