TRENDS...What's HOT?...
What's NEW?...What's COOL?
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Pashmina perfect

Trend-spotters in denial

2 March 08

Lisa Armstrong in The Times is agreat observer of trends and this week was no exception "Funny things, trends. The stylish maintain they never follow them. You could call this a bit of a trend. I can see where this reluctance comes from. Beyond teendom, a wide-eyed embrace of a packaged look handed down from a catwalk or a celebrity like a sermon from the mount can seem unsophisticated and unimaginative. Mysteriously, this abhorrence of a trend doesn't seem to impede stylish people from owning the Topshop jeans/Boffi kitchen/Ian McEwan novel of the season."

"Ask a person who doesn't follow trends about their on-trend lifestyle and they'll intimate that it's an instinctive gift – and by the way, if they are wearing a trend, they were in on it long before it went mainstream. Which is fine, because if people really didn't follow trends, most of us would still be living in primordial slime."

"But there are trends and there are trends. Some are the kind I've been dutifully noting during the past four weeks of winter shows. Noting – and then filing on a very distant shelf, because some of them are too silly even for a WAG to entertain. Others are several years old, but moderately tweaked to give them an extra season's life (half sleeves and puff sleeves, purple, ruffles, kimono-shaped coats, tulip skirts). A few have momentarily transcended the trend category to become current classics – peacoats, wide and skinny trousers, grey? "

"Then there's the trend that doesn't yet have a neat identity, but is a gradual accretion of tiny details. I think it's this kind that has been putting down roots during the shows – not so much on the catwalk, although it was evident at some labels, but among the early adopters watching. It's a mutedness that initially looks a bit like an anti-fashion movement. There's no it-shoe dominating the front row (or the second, third and eighth), no bag, not even a silhouette."

"Show time is traditionally when the fashion pack parade their latest (instinctively) fashionable purchases. But this time – nothing. Just lots of dark colours, woolly scarves (OK, cashmere and pashmina, but not in pretty pastel shades) and clothes which, even if they are new, look as though they have been knocking around for some time. You could hardly say anyone looks unkempt, but there's a discernible lack of the blow-dried hair and glossy manicures that were part of the uniform. In London, I assumed no one had got round to booking the requisite appointments. But after an equally relaxed approach to grooming in Milan and Paris there's probably something more studied going on."

"Back on the catwalks, the influential Burberry Prorsum stepped away from the blingy leather and fur territory it marched into a year ago, and returned to woolly beanies and the paintings of Lowry for inspiration; Prada produced a beautiful but sombre collection of heavy, thick dark lace, and Alberta Ferretti, a designer known for intensely detailed eveningwear, partnered her cocktail dresses with something possibly never seen before in glamorous Milanese circles after dark – long, knitted cardigans. Granted they were silky and designed to slouch in a particularly elegant way. But they were cardigans, nevertheless. It's not grunge. But it's not dressing-up time, either."

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Marian shared some of her new nail secrets and here they are-

1)     Always choose nails that are the right 'tone' for your skin – they tend towards beige or pink.

2)     If you're planning on painting over the falsies with polish-go for the ones without white tips as these are hard to cover. Marian's now tested all the major brands, and her favourites are Elegant touch and Nailene.

3)     The nail width is what gives the game away…rest each falsie on top of your own nail and pay closest attention to the sides.

4)     Before you stick the nail on, file the bottom of it as you would the top, rounding the edges off to perfectly fit your cuticle shape.

5)     File each nail to a natural length and afterwards, smooth the rough plastic edges off with a cotton bud dipped in nail varnish remover.

6)     Never wear the nails for longer than a week and never pick them off! Only use an acetone-based remover.

check out www.nougatbodytohome.com – bet you'll be addicted in no time too!


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The Sell-out Scarf…
Get in there quick if you want one!

14 Dec 07
In Grazia's latest issue there is a feature on the £295 sell-out scarf from fantastic designer Louis Vuitton. It was first featured by Grazia back in 2006, but its popularity seems to continue to grow and grow!

Currently selling on ebay for 3 times its price-tag, you will have to get in quick if you want to own this gorgeous scarf. You may even find a stray one at Accessorize or Topshop if you're lucky.



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Boost your brain power…
Some quick tips for you or your loved one, found in The Sun Newspaper today

15 Nov 07

Eat Right

A diet rich in Omega-3, found in oily fish, flaxseed and walnut, combined with plenty of fruit and veg, may lower risk of Alzheimer's disease, a recent study from the American Academy of Neurology revealed.

Lose Weight
Those overweight at 60 are twice as likely to get dementia as those with a healthy weight, according to the Alzheimer's Society.

Drink Cocoa

Killer Boots…
Check out Grazia's latest Ed for the full article!

23 Oct 07
Take a look in Grazia's latest edition and you will find (among other greats) a fab article on Boots!

From Patent to Sheepskin to the daring 'cut-out' ranges – you'll be sure to fall in love with a pair (or pairs if you're like me!)

Particular faves include some gorgeous UGGs (as shown in pic above), and a fab pair of bikers from GAP!

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National Dating Day!
DatingDirect promote @ London's waterloo

25 Sep 07

The online dating service DatingDirect.com has set up a transparent cube installation under the clock at Waterloo station, filled with single people including celebrities Bianca Gascoigne and Jeff Brazier, to promote its National Dating Day.

Passers-by are being encouraged to enter a competition to win a date with anyone from inside the installation by visiting a microsite, www.nationaldatingday.org.uk, created by TBG. Winners will take their dates to DatingDirect's party at Amika in Kensington.

You can visit the microsite to view photos of each of the cube's singles and click on the person you would like to date for a chance of winning.

It's a great bit of fun, why not take a look?

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Aston Martin
the coolest for '07
Top 20 dominated by digital technology & online media

The top 20 was dominated by the global online and digital brands, including Google in fifth, Sony PlayStation in sixth, Apple in seventh, Nintendo in ninth, eBay in 13th, iTunes in 19th and Amazon in 20th.

Other non-digital brands that performed well were Rolex in 14th, Tate Modern in 15th, which was also nominated as Britain's Coolest Place, Prada in 16th, and Green & Blacks in 18th -- the only traditional FMCG brand to make the top 20.

Cool Brands said that the report indicated that "coolness" was a quality that could not be bought.

"The results show that the brands that make the top five shun advertising and marketing, preferring to let their reputation or results precede them."

The compilers said that while "coolness" was entirely subjective, consumers were judging brands on their stylishness, innovation, originality, authenticity, desirability and uniqueness.

The judging panel included Niku Banaie, managing partner of Naked Communications, and Nicki Bidder, editor-in-chief of Dazed & Confused.

Stephen Cheliotis, chairman of the Cool Brands Council, said: "There seems to be a real divergence between aspiration and practicality but both are deemed cool, which goes to show how the needs and desires of consumers are developing."

Treggings!…
Meet the lovechild of trousers & leggings

Flat out for pumps…
As featured in Grazia's latest issue

World's Best Flip-Flops
Grazia
13 Aug 07
With a smaller more feminine base and thinner thong, Havaianas 'Slim' is a new version of the A-list's favourite footwear. Their cult following is largely thanks to a top-secret rubber recipe which makes the sandals as soft as marshmallows and highly durable.