Category Archives: beauty look

My magpie eye has been caught by two very different makeup collections this week; the first, a collaboration between Estee Lauder and Victoria Beckham, will be described in detail (and shown on video) in a few days’ time. But suffice to say, for now, that it is incredibly smart-looking and all of the product shades and textures are the sort of thing you’d actually want to wear rather than the sort of thing that might sit in a drawer for ten years gathering dust. A glamorous bronzer, an illuminating cream-primer, a double-ended kohl with both a soft nude shade for the waterline and a jet black for creating the perfect smudgey eye…

The other makeup collection to float my boat could not be more different: Paul & Joe’s limited edition Warner Bros range. Not actually a makeup collection, in the true sense of the phrase, but more of a “packaging collection”. If you’ve ever bought into Paul & Joe’s beauté range before then you’ll know that many of the products (lipsticks, face powders, eyeshadows) come as refills in little plastic trays (or metal tubes for the lipsticks), to be paired with the appropriate compact or casing. And the compacts and casings are so, so lovely; very pretty cardboard affairs that make you feel as though you’re about ten years old, but at the same time, manage to be rather chic. This is kitsch at its best – ribbon bows and pastel colours and lots and lots of kittens – but I love the mix-and-match vibe and the fact that you can pick your own packaging.

And now, adding to the kitten mix, the Warner Bros collection – scenes from Tom and Jerry on one set of packaging and Tweetie Pie and Sylvester on the other.

Still lots of cats, then, but I can see many people snapping these up in a kind of relived-childhood nostalgic frenzy.

Though I must say that the makeup is excellent in its own right. The lipstick I’ve photographed here (106, Guava) is a beautiful sheer peach – rather like the YSL Volupte Shine in texture, though perhaps with not quite so much pigment. An easy to wear tinted balm, really, but something you’d want to keep in your handbag and keep on applying.

Eyeshadows are soft and blendable and the trios always have good shade combinations  and the face powders are light, non-cakey and come with cute little powder puffs.

It all feels like “playtime” makeup but performs brilliantly. Prices for the refills start at £12 for a lipstick and the new Warner Bros packaging is £7 for a compact (here) and the same for the lip casing (here).

You can find the entire range at ASOS here and at BeautyBay here.

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Another week, another outfit. This one is quite wholesome and girl-next-door in comparison to last week’s Sicilian Widow black lace look! Something about it reminds me of Jennifer Aniston’s style, but perhaps it’s just the hair and sunglasses combo. The blouse is from Oasis (again – I just can’t seem to resist the cut of their shirts) and the jeans are from Ralph Lauren, I think. (They are the same fit as these, but with a rip in the knee. I’d take them without the rip, personally, the rip gets on my nerves. Though I did read that ripped jeans were “in” at the moment.)

The trainers are from UGG and are partially lined in sheepskin, which is always a nice surprise, though perhaps not in the middle of summer! The rest of the shoe is actually very lightweight – I’m so impressed with UGG shoes this year, they just seem to get everything just right in terms of comfort and wearability. The two pairs of high-heeled boots that I bought in the winter sale have had so much use and I imagine that I’ll be wearing them for many seasons to come. They are the only high boots that I can bear to stand up in for longer than a couple of hours and I can even hop on and off the tube in them.

The sunglasses (below) are from Avon. They’ve actually gone out of stock (not surprising, they are pretty cool) but are due to come back in at the end of the month, I’ll give you a nudge when they do. I’m on a bit of a “budget sunnies” roll at the moment, what with my seven quid retro ones and the tiny aviators that are good for people with tiny heads. I’m going to have to clear out a drawer in my dresser just for sunglasses at this rate; thankfully the really cheapo ones don’t come with a case so I can just chuck them in the drawer and they hardly take up any room! I have loads of silky little sunglasses pouches from previous (lost and broken) pairs, so I slip them into those to give them a modicum of protection.

Let me know what you think of the blouse; I’m really on the hunt for a nice plain white one, but I do like the heart print here. And the pale grey-blue makes the shirt seem much crisper and cleaner…

Heart Blouse: £38 here

Jeans: £110 here

UGG Trainers: they seem to have all sold out at UGG. WHY does this keep happening to me? Is it because I’m such a supreme bargain hunter? I have managed to track some down online, though – try here.

Sunglasses: available on Avonshop from end of July. I shall give you a nudge when they are back in stock.

Cockapoo Dog: HE’S MINE YOU CAN’T HAVE HIM!

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I had the privilege of attending an evening reception at 10 Downing Street this week. It was held by Samantha Cameron for the Mariposa Trust, a charity that helps parents and families who have lost a baby, whether through miscarriage, stillbirth or death in early infancy. There are four parts to the charity, the main division being Saying Goodbye, which supports people who have suffered a baby loss and also holds the remembrance services (the first in the UK) so that parents and families can grieve properly. It’s an incredibly sad thing to have to think about, but millions of people have to face this loss every single year and I think that Saying Goodbye are providing an amazing service to those who are feeling utterly devastated and alone. They reach in excess of 50,000 people globally every week – no mean feat.

I also noted with interest that there are more divisions of the charity in development – GrowingYou, which offers support and advice to women who are pregnant after a loss, and Holding Hope which supports people going through the IVF process. Again, brilliant and much-needed care for those who need guidance and reassurance in what is a very nerve-wracking and emotionally fraught time.

You can find Saying Goodbye here and the Mariposa Trust homepage here.

On a lighter note; after a very tearful speech by one of Saying Goodbye‘s ambassadors, during which both Caroline Hirons and I had to stare at the ceiling very hard so as not to burst into tears, we emerged into a beautiful blue-skied Westminster evening and had our pictures taken at the front door of Number 10. It had to be done; Mr AMR made it very clear that he would be extremely disappointed if I didn’t get a photo. So we whipped out our iPhones and abandoned any sense of dignity or professionalism and posed at Number 10, even roping Dave the policeman in for a quick snap. It was some much needed comic relief after an intense and thoughtful couple of hours.

And whilst on the subject of charity: one of my favourite clothing brands, Hush, is helping to raise funds for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer this season. 30% of sales of three specially selected items will be donated to the charity; the summer jumpsuit, the feather t-shirt (pictured above) and the gorgeous sequin dress. You can find all of the pieces online here.

The post Sunday Tittle Tattle: Mariposa, Saying Goodbye appeared first on A Model Recommends.

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