Get the RiRi Look

Rihanna recently launched her fashion collection with River Island.  A nice move by the brand considering Rihanna's outlandish, raunchy and unique fashion sense.  Some items in the collection featured the trendy camouflage prints in a t-shirt, bralet, short, skirt and even high heel sandals.

Some of the pieces are flying off the shelves very quickly such as the bralet and shorts. 

If you want to have a RiRi raunchy piece in your wardrobe, hurry up before it goes.

Photo courtesy of River Island

Anti Ageing Skin Care Therapy

 




The Facial Therapy House CO-Q10 Day Cream (SPF 25)*

   With so many skin care products in the market with complicated names, people seem to get confused and end up buying the wrong product for their skin.  We should not get confused and get carried away with new products not suited for us.  Here are some of my tips to save time, money and your skin!

1.) Determine your skin type - oily, acne prone, dry mature, sensitive, combination, etc.

2.) Set a budget - some skin care products are expensive because of the name and the type of advertising used.  Highly paid celebrities who already look good are paid thousands and even millions to promote the product.  This adds to the cost of the product as soon as it reaches the shelf.

3.) Try to understand the ingredients and what it does for the skin - you will be surprised most of the products almost contain the same thing, with just a different name and nice packaging.

4.) Packaging matters - when assessing the packaging, it should be about the beauty of the container but the convenience and hygiene.  Airtight pump containers are out in the market because they are easier to use and more hygenic.

5.) Back to nature - natural ingredients are better options. Safe and sure.  They usually last less longer than synthetically made skin care products in terms of shelf life, but bear in mind 12 months use is reasonable enough, so make sure you use them regularly.

6.) Effectivity - Products are not effective on their own. Gentle massage,  good diet and positive thinking helps make the skin healthier.

7.) Ageing - is a normal process of life. If we want to slow it down, we can use a good diet, positive outlook, gentle massage and good skin care products with sun protection, and most of all avoid over exposure to the sun!

*The Facial Therapy House CO-Q10 Day Cream is with sunscreen SPF25.  Made with natural ingredients such as organic sunflower seed oil, olive oil, macadamia oil, coconut oil, organic shea butter

Mirror on the Wall, Who is the Fairest of them all....

Skin brighteners, skin lighteners or whitening products have now been a best seller in the beauty department as more and more women all over the world want to achieve a fair, bright even skin tone.  

In the past, only a few regions such as Africa, Caribbean and the Far East use skin lighteners for a fairer skin.  It was imbued in these cultures that fair skin is beautiful skin.  The fairer the skin, the more attractive they are seen.  Recently, even the fairest skins that prefer to have a dark tan would now have to use skin lighteners to deal with sun damage, dull and uneven skin tones. 

Bobbi Brown Extra Bright Advance Serum £60

The Facial Therapy House Whitening Cream £35

La Prairie Illuminating Eye Essence £114

Estee Lauder Cyber White Brilliant Cells Milk Lotion £52

Evidens de Beaute Brightening Deep Cleansing Gel £90

Nail Trend: Goldfingers

If you think Rihanna's $5,000 gold gel manicure is exorbitant, think again.  It is probably the cheapest of the lot....  It's becoming a trend in the billionaristas cirle to have blings in their nails these days.  If you can afford it, why not?  It is art anyway. 

Rihanna's $5,000 Gold Gel Manicure

or DIY at home with this $130,000 kit

  Black Diamond Manicure $250,000

Mega-bling Iced Manicure ("Price on Application")  :D

Sheer at the SAG

Sheer will be one of the biggest trends for Spring & Summer 2013.  Sheer tops and skirts top the fashionista's shopping list.  At the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Awards 2013, sheer took the center stage in the Evening Gown category.  Here are a few of them....

Anne Hathaway

Kelly Osbourne

Jenna Fisher

Michelle Dockery

Nicole Kidman

Amanda Seyfried

Naya Rivera

Truly Trendy Tote

Why carry 2 bags when we can just have one?  All in one... as in fit all your stuff in one bag!

I have spotted a few celebs with trendy totes that really caught my attention.

It's also a must carry in the corporate world.  Check this out...

Is the Killer Heel Dead?

Next season we are going to see more mid heels than ever before. This doesn't mean the killer heels won't rise again.  Of course they are still here but let's give our legs and feet a little break from the killers.

I have spotted a few designs to top my list. And the good news is we can walk, run, hop and Gangnam with it :)  These mid-heelers are a must have....

Jimmy Choo

Louboutin

Philip Lim

Valentino

Pierre Hardy

Marc Jacobs

Photos courtesy of Net a Porter - POA

Make Me Up for 2013

Clothes?  Done ü
Shoes? Done ü
Handbag? Done ü
Accessories? Done ü
Skin Care? Done ü

Make Up?   We must have it, clear looking skin won't be as good without colour.... And what is the trend on make-up for 2013?

Bright Eyes & Matte Wine Lips

Beckham & Burberry

You might think David Beckham is the new face of Burberry - nope!

Like father, like son or maybe more like "like mother, like son".  Romeo Beckham, Victoria and David's second oldest son is the new face of Burberry's Spring Summer collection in 2013.

The 10-year old boy is no doubt a great picture of a traditional Brit kid.  Besides, Burberry is British.  He reminds me of the kid in the old brown sauce advert :)

Burberry feels Romeo represents the age between kids and teenagers who want to look smart and fashionable.

So here he is right in front of your very eyes.....

Photos courtesy of Burberry.

The Royal Maternity

Yes Fashionistas, it's all over the news.. all over the world!  Our Duchess of Cambridge is expecting.

Graphic illustrations of how the Royal Baby will look like are even there.  Will a daughter be called Diana?

Name guessing and many more.

How will the Royal Fashion Icon strut her bump with style?  Can't wait to see a true blue mum to be London Fashionista in her stylish maternity outfits.  Let's also watch out for the colours and accessories that will go with it :)

I speculate a lot of 'maternity styles' that will come our way in the next months  - not just for the expecting but also those who just want the style.

Here are some quick picks online:

Not on the High Street

Carla C.

Eva Alexander

Inhabitots

Photos courtesy of the retailers.

Amazon Premium Fashion Store: The IT Online Store

Get ready Fashionistas.... Internet shopping is becoming more and more exciting.

Amazon launched its Premiere Fashion Store online featuring brands like 7 for all Mankind, G Star, Miss Sixty, Vivienne Westwood, Paul & Joe, Nicole Farhi, French Connection and many more.

Amazon Premium Fashion Store offers these exciting brands at great prices.  No need to log in different websites and check out different carts.  It's all here now. Use safe Amazon Payments with one click of a button and shop at your own convenience - open 24 hours!

Mix and match brands and accessories conveniently and find the latest styles instantly.  Want some bargains?  Visit the outlet page - save £££ on top designer clothing, footwear and accessories!

*Screen shot courtesy of Amazon.co.uk

'Tis The Season To Be Bright & Sparkly

It’s that time of the year again fashionistas.  Time flies so fast and the gloomy streets are filled with dark daunting neutrals to match the grey skies again.

Would it be nice if we see colours?  I mean a lot of colours.  If I can oblige the public on their wardrobes, this is the season to be all bright and sparkly with our colourful coats and shiny metallic accessories.  Match with bright tights and handbags to beat the depressing weather. 

Isn’t it that grey can be matched with bright pinks, royal blues, sunshine yellows and lime greens?  Whether it be your coat, shoes or tights, this is the way to be.  Imagine a mono street with colourfully dressed people on it.  Its like a “photoshopped photoshoot”.. . artistic ... attractive... a smile generating scene.

Here are my personal picks ....

Bright & Colourful Winter

What are the colors to keep you winter warm, bright and sassy?

 A play of dark, neutral and intense shades to fancy the eye and spirit and inspire stylish mash-ups, we say.  Combine seasonal practicality with a dash of boldness by wearing a merry mix of versatile neutrals and perk-up brights.

Traditional grays and blacks are complemented this season by creamy chocolate and deep shades of khaki and olive green. These richer neutrals spice up somber and heighten the comforting nature of the winter palette.

You likewise can do no wrong by wearing jewel tones of emerald and purple. They provide that exquisite, perfectly poised note for the season. On the other side of plush are royal blue and wine red, two colors telegraphing elegance.

For a shot of bright amidst the cold, opt for youthful hues of carnation pink and orange. At Pantone, the color forecast specialist, they come in the vibrant, inviting  shades of Flambe Pink and Tangerine Tango. 

This winter’s signature orange works especially well with the misty neutrals that round out the color story-- rose and peach are the milky pastels of the moment. The contrast of veiled tones and earthy brights capture the delicate enchantment of the season.

Toned down shades of bright colors, notably mustard, are a smart winter choice, warm and calming as they are. 

Black, of course, is the default option for every winter wardrobe but contrasting it with the brights of the season certainly extends its fashion mileage. 

- Joyce Fernandez

*Photos courtesy of Gossip Girl and Jimmy Choo

ECO KNITTY WITTY by Joyce Fernandez

Give it a few more seasons and sustainable fashion will come into its own. The latest outing of Esthetica at London Fashion Week saw eco-fashion longer on design and lesser on the pieties, signaling an exciting and bankable future for ethical fashion and fair trading practices. 

The 15 designers invited by the British Fashion Council to show their sustainable fashion collections at Somerset House not only gave good green but great ideas as well. This is just what eco-minded fashion needs – design-driven excitement, not just conscience.

There was certainly a lot of interest around Jerome Lorico’s collection of knitted sheaths inspired by Inca sacrificial virgins. With intricately folded bodices, robe-like protrusions and trains, the dresses would catch the fancy of any It Girl looking for fabulosity on a night prowl. Or anyone with an eye toward high feminine seduction. 

Lorico, who designs home décor and paints as well, has a constructivist’s sensibility for shape and form. He also has an intuitive feel for sensuality. The combination makes for a fresh, innovative and exhilarating collection by any reckoning - the most frequent comment heard from buyers and press who happened by his space: “Amazing”.

There’s a bit of handcrafting here, with the bodices painstakingly folded by the designer to resemble Inca armour. But the real sustainability element is how he ingeniously combined cotton with pineapple fiber, an organic fiber used for traditional textiles in the designer’s native Philippines. 

Pineapple fiber is normally made into a special, light and airy, handcrafted fabric used for formal wear (especially for the traditional men’s formal shirt, the Barong Tagalog, check any photograph of the Philippines president at work), but has limited commercial fashion use. The production of pina fabric in the Philippines is a treasured cultural heritage and a cottage industry in a clutch of regional communities. However, like most traditional crafts, it is in danger of dying out, if the craft cannot sustain the interest of the next generation of pina weavers.

By combining cotton knit with 30 percent pineapple fiber, Lorico has hit upon the idea of how to make knitwear lighter but more heat-retentive and has found a potentially lucrative commercial application for the pineapple fiber as well.  “It improves the properties of knitwear and at the same time it offers greater income opportunities for pina-weaving communities,” he says. “I truly believe this has global potential.”

Last season, Lorico exhibited men’s knitwear using the same material as part of the global fashion showcase.