A/W 2010 fashion trends - Part 1

Just before i start i wanted to say a big congratulations to Lollipop26 for winning her Cosmo award for best beauty blog - she really is brilliant and has great words of wisdom on all things beauty related, if you get chance please check out her blog http://www.lollipop26writes.com/, and if you're reading this Laura, please more OOTD!

Right i said a little while back i would do a post about the Autumn/Winter '10 trends you should be rocking. The high-street has some fabulous designer copies so i will be showing you how you can recreate the catwalk looks on a shoe-string budget.

1. Camel
Now think back to the 70's, where everything had that sepia tone to it and the hottest colour to be wearing was brown. This season the colour palette is more sophisticated with the catwalks awash with camel. Chloe did it best with their luxurious camel coats the most sought-after piece for the fashion front row.

Zara is the best place to head for a Chloe copy, their heavy camel coats will give you serious style points and put you miles ahead of the fash-pack.

Don't just reserve the camel to coats, Next's wool trousers work well for work - if you're feeling brave go for a flare for a 70's look.

2. Leopard Print
With leopard print definitely back on your fashion radar, Bet Lynch and Pat Butcher are your icons (did anyone see Pat's blue leopard print top and coat combo in Friday's episode - working it girl!). The print of the season is not just restricted to Leopard, Mulberry's Alexa Pony skin satchel is the must-have buy. Dolce & Gabanna upped the sex factor with their models embracing the ladylike chic with corseted dresses guaranteed to be a hit with Rihanna methinks.

Also check out their Sicily bag which has been updated with the print of the season. The Sicily has been adorning the arms of Victoria Beckham and Dita Von Teese this summer so you'll be in good company.

I headed to H&M for my leopard print buys, see previous blog post Bank Holiday + Pay Day = Shop, Shop, Shop!

This jacket is a great cover-up piece ideal for the transitional season ahead. This trend is the easiest to wear, just add a few print accessories and your look is instantly updated. Hairbands, ballet pumps and scarves are great for the fashion wallflowers and extroverts alike.

3. Ladylike

Curves are definitely back in fashion with Crystal Renn and Lara Stone working up a storm on the catwalk and this trend truly embraces them. Tight bodices and full skirts emphasise the female silhouette at Louis Vuitton and noticeably lower hemlines and A-line skirts, reminiscent of Mad Men were spotted at Prada and Marc Jacobs. The 1950's power dressing is key here and your icon you ask? Christina Hendricks, take a look at the cover of this week's Grazia - if there's any a word to describe her it's buxom!

The midi skirts are becoming a firm favourite on the high-street with Mango and Zara already stocking up. This is one the trickiest trends of the season to work, it's not really a winner with me, unless you've got the long legs to carry the skirt length off steer clear to avoid looking too much like you're an extra on Last of the Summer Wine.

4. It Bags

Long ago when Wags were ruling the style show with their hair extensions, Juicy Couture trackies and day-glo tans (Alex Curran anyone?) we were all lusting over their designer handbags, remember Chloe Paddington? Yes please! Now the It bag is back with a vengeance, you should still be able to identify it from a distance by it's shape but the designer name will very much be hidden. Understated, elegant, ladylike and timeless is what's it about now. Louis Vuitton's Neo Speedy is my bag of choice, but other's include the classic Chanel 2.55 (if only!), Chloe Marcie and the aforementioned D&G Sicily.

It's going to be hard to find anything comparable on the high-street but look out for old-school doctor's bags and framed handbags. 

 

River Island £39.99

Coming up in Part 2 - Heritage - Zara's Barbour jacket, Shearling - Aviator Jackets, Pointy kitten heels.

Topshop and No7 make up buys

This is a bit of a carry on from my last post which concentrated on clothes now it's time for the make-up. A trip to Topshop means i never leave empty-handed and after spending over an hour choosing clothes, i stumbled across their make-up bag range and their buy 3 products and receive a free make-up offer - you know me a sucker for an offer!

 My make-up haul!

After reading Saskia the Style Fairy's post of Tophop's blushes i couldn't resist, I'm not usually a cream blush fan as i can never seem to apply it correctly and normally end up removing my base - not so good. I've been after a bright pink colour for cheeks that would suit my skin tone for ages and their Crushed Berry seemed perfect, a rich magenta colour which looks quite bright in the pot but when applied it becomes more sheer but you do have to build up the layers to achieve a pigmented colour.

I also picked up a coral coloured blush called Nutmeg which compliments my Rimmel Apricot Punch nails and Revlon Coral Reef lip gloss, perfect for that slightly flushed look.

I think Nutmeg will become a daily staple for an understated work look and Crushed Berry for nights out when i can vamp up my make-up. As you can see the handy compact comes with a mirror, great for on-the-go touch-ups.

Like Saskia the Style Fairy - you really struggle to capture the blushes on camera but i did my best!

Ignore my very bad split ends, my hairdresser feathered the front so now it's really noticeable when I'm in need of a cut but I'm trying to grow it!

I used a combination of both colours on the cheeks but in real life you can notice the blush - i promise.

I also picked up two make-up brushes from Topshop, Eye Shadow £4 and Eye Liner £3, i tried them out today and the Eye Shadow brush is a winner, great for blending. The Eye Liner I'm not convinced yet, the bristles were quite hard and scratched my eye lid a little but i reckon if i wash it before i use it again hopefully the bristles will become softer and it'll be easier and kinder to my lids to use.

I almost forgot the Skin Tint i bought as well! I've been using tinted bases instead of foundation for a while, sometimes i prefer the lighter coverage so i can let my face breathe a little and i find a tinted base is really all i need to even out my complexion. My favourite product is Clarins Instant Light Complexion Perfector in Champagne Shimmer (02) for 30 ml it costs £22.99 but i get a 25% discount because we sell the brand at work! Now the Clarins I've been using for about 2 years and i haven't found anything that can really compare, the texture is light and creamy and glides on the face easily to highlight and illuminate the skin - beautiful! Topshop's Skint Tint is £10 for 30ml so much cheaper but the consistency is thicker and it doesn't seem to glide on easily, it has more of a sticky texture. As i have olive skin i picked up the Medium and thought it would be fine for my skin-tone, i made the fatal error of trying it on my hand and it look good - now i know you're meant to swatch it on your jaw line but maybe i was so overwhelmed by Topshop's make-up i forgot - naughty girl! The colour i got is a little dark for me but I've mixed it with the Clarins Complexion Perfector which is lighter colour and it looks OK - so not totally a waste of money.

This is the swatch - you can see why i bought the Medium looks great colour on the hand - might use it as a body make-up product for covering the unsightly bruises after a few too many vinos!

Just to mention my mum who has black skin bought the Skin Tint in Dark and it blends really well into her skin-tone and she loves it.  My mum really struggles with make-up for her skin-tone so to find something from the Topshop range means a big thumbs-up from her - btw if anyone can recommend any products for black skin it would be much appreciated!

Overall i really like some of the products from the Topshop range - the prices are great and they have some great on-trend colours. I'm definitely impressed by the £6 blushes and will be collecting the whole collection. The packaging is very cute and modern and will appeal to young (and older) girls alike. The free make-up bag was not really that good a deal - never a good idea to have a cream/beige bag, you only end up with make-up all over it and it gets grubby very quickly, it's also very small so i might just use it for work.

On to No7 a great drugstore brand who's Creative Director is make-up legend Lisa Eldridge! I have already blogged about Boots free £5 No7 and Ruby & Millie vouchers before but with 2 vouchers burning an hole in my purse i needed to use them soon as. The first product is new and  i think only available in the larger stores, a Concealer Compact £10.25 is a trio of colours which you can blend together to create the perfect colour for your skin-tone.

I can never find a good colour match for concealer but using this trio compact makes it so easy - buy now!

The final product of the day is a new nail polish, i was after a dark red for a/w to combine with a vampy lip and Temptress is a reddish brown which i will be combining with camel tones.

Do you have any recommendations from the Topshop or No7 ranges?