Friday 28 June 2013

How to Rock a Concert Look

Hi there!

So I have some very exciting news today. I have recently been writing and creating looks as an Expert Fashion Blogger on an up and coming site called Dress Spy; a Fashion website with a range of exciting features! One of the main, all be it very addictive, features of the site is creating mood boards and looks from brands such as Bottica, Miss Selfridge, Mango and many more. It also allows you to search through looks from friend's, experts and the Fashion community, who you can swap ideas and inspiration with. 


What's more, it gives you the opportunity to have your looks seen and rated by those who are experts in the Fashion community, such as Fashion Buyers, Stylists, Personal Shoppers and Journalists. Meaning it's not only a lot of fun, but you have the chance to really get your looks out there. 

Of course, it is also perfect for those who are just looking for some inspiration from others. If you can't decide what to wear to that special occasion which is just around the corner, no need to worry. Merely search through looks created by others Users or Experts and add them to your wishlist, or try out different looks yourself by creating a mood board. 

Here is one of the first looks that I created on Dress Spy, and it immediately went into my own wishlist. I must have it all! (Which is made easier by the fact that they will have special offers and discounts!).
Click here to get the look.


When deciding on the perfect outfit to wear to that amazing Concert you managed to bag tickets for, it can be overwhelming. You want to dress to impress, but you also want to be comfortable enough to dance the night away. In this time of indecision, no matter what concert I am heading to, I go for a look which I know will never go out of style: the rocker look. Dating back to when Led Zeppelin and MotorHead ruled the music scene, this look is timeless and will always be appreciated. Therefore, if the look was going to be truly timeless, it had to be Black; a very flattering colour which will always look good.

This look has a sexy and rebellious quality.  This Gothic leotard with feminine lace detailing is easily complimented with these tight Black Jeans which, together, accentuate all the right curves, whilst still leaving everything to the imagination. No need to bare any flesh, this look is so striking you’ll be turning heads.

Next, leave your heels at home!  These Boots are perfect for all the dancing you’re going to be doing, whilst keeping with the chic yet grungy look that is so popular. And what better way to add to the rebellious rocker look than a Leather Jacket. Another item which is a firm staple in my wardrobe, it straight away adds that extra oomph, making the outfit truly Concert worthy.

To complete the outfit, I added a Gold pair of false flesh tunnel earrings (allowing you to look the part without committing) and a rocker pair of Sunglasses. Who says we can’t wear Sunglasses at night?! On the whole, this outfit would be perfect for any Concert, as it is adored by Pop Fans and Metal Fans alike.

Search “Concert look” in our “What to Wear” tool to view all our Concert looks. Or click here to view this look.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Catriona
x x x

Saturday 15 June 2013

Get the Sculpted look: Sleek Contour Kit

Sleek MakeUp Contour Kit in "Light" RRP £6.49



A sculpted face is often seen as a sign of beauty, defined cheekbones being sought after predominantly in more recent times following the leadership of such celebrities as Kim Kardashian. Yet, only now am I starting to see how beautifully a small amount of shading and highlighting can define and enhance your natural features.

Sleek MakeUp has beeen a well loved brand in the Beauty Community for years, so I've been itching to get my hands on their Contour Kit for a long time now, as it is one of their bestselling and most well known products. I chose the shade Light, as I have Fair skin, however they also cater for Medium and Dark skin, all of which are very flattering.



Left: Pressed Contouring Powder. Right: Highlighter.

The Pressed Contouring Powder is a soft matte Brown, which provides a subtle warmth to the skin that is very buildable, allowing your contour to be as subtle or as prominant as you wish. I myself prefer a subtle contour, which I achieve by taking an Angled Contour Brush and lightly sweeping the powder in the hollows of my cheekbones and around the edges of my temple, blending any harsh lines out. As you may have spotted in the pictures, I have somehow already managed to make a dent in the powder with my nail, but never mind, it is still only a small dent in the amount of product given! (Note to self: cut nails).

While the Pressed Powder is very good, the Highlighter by far steals the show with its amazing pigmentation which reflects light to highlight all your best features. It gives a luminosity to your skin which looks both healthy and flawless. By dusting it on the high points of your cheekbones, down the centre of the nose and under the eyebrows, it accentuates your natural beauty.

The matte, Black packaging maintains the sleek, classy and sophisticated look that the brand go for, and has a lovely smooth texture to the outside which makes it very tactile. More than this, it is also a perfect pocket size for handbags or make up bags!

So if you are looking to achieve the sculpted look, then I could not recommend Sleek Contour Kit more. Not only is it affordable, but the quality of the product lives up to all the great things that are said about it.

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend!

Catriona
x x x

Monday 10 June 2013

Striking Daytime Look featuring MAC's "Lady Danger"



Recently I have fallen head over heels in love with MAC's "Lady Danger", a vibrant, head turning Orange based Red with a gorgeous Matte finish. What first sparked my interest in purchasing this shade was hearing that the popular (and ever beautiful) Girl Group "The Saturdays" all adore it...and after using it myself I can understand why. As soon as I researched swatches, I knew it had to be mine. Unfortunately not many MAC stores stock Lady Danger, but hold your fire, it can easily be purchased online at http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/.

This Coral Red looks perfect on all skin tones, but I find that it really comes into its own on tanned skin, which it compliments beautifully. The Matte finish ensures that the shade is long wearing, and keeps the bright, almost fluorescent colour vivid the whole day, making it a perfect striking Red for everyday use. However do not be fooled, this shade is not for the faint hearted. With the incredibly opaque pigmentation it makes for a real attention grabber.

With this in mind, I just had to base this Striking Daytime Look around MAC's Lady Danger, keeping the eyes and face simple so as not to take focus away from the truly astonishing colour of the lips. 

Products used to achieve this look:

Striking Daytime Look


Get the look!
1. Prep the face: With Moisturiser, Primer and Lip balm.
2. Foundation: Apply a thin coat of foundation. We want the base to look natural, the lips will do the rest. L'Oreal True Match gives a lovely natural glow, and is inexpensive. Use your favourite concealer to cover any blemishes or dark circles. 
3. Bronzer: As I'm sure your are all aware, my favourite Bronzer is NARS Laguna. However, most shades are easily complimented by Lady Danger.
4. Eye shadow: Pick a colour that is close to your skin tone. I chose a Pink shade from my Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes Palette and used a light Brown from the same palette through the crease.
5. Liner: My favourite liner of all time is undeniably Maybelline's Eye Studio Master Precise Liner. It allows me to go as thick or thin as I like, and is easy to handle. I went for a relatively thick line, which always looks Chic with a Red Lip. I then used a subtle Plum pencil liner under the eyes.
6. Lashes: Keep it light and natural with one application. 
7. Brows: Instantly frame your face by defining your brows with a colour similar to your own brows. 
8. LIPS: If you would like to use a liner, then go for an Orange Based Red. However, this lipstick holds its own and can be used by itself when applied with a Lip Brush. 

I hope you enjoyed this daring look, I certainly enjoyed creating it and have been using it whenever I want to spice up my day. It screams confidence, and I can guarentee that you will receive plenty of compliments. This look is certain to make you a very dangerous lady!

Catriona
x x x