Welcome back to The Velvet Runway, and this Eco Natural Products Review, where I test the Natura Siberica Sculpting Face mask, a Danielle Laroche eye serum, Fito Organic Oils Natural Hair Masks and Savon de Marseille. Eco Natural Products Review: Natural Products at an affordable price If you remember, a few weeks ago, Cristina Nika …
Outfit of the day : Breaking fashion rules
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this post about “Breaking Fashion Rules“. As a midlife stylist it may be assumed that by now I would be “playing by the rules”, but as anyone who knows me will tell you, in my book “fashion rules” are meant to be broken or at the very …
New in my make-up bag: Tom Ford Plum Lush lipstick
This week, my latest beauty addition is this stunning Tom Ford Plum Lush lipstick. New in my make-up bag: Tom Ford Plum Lush lipstick Overall, this beautiful lipstick is a deep raspberry pink with cool undertones and a satin matte finish. It compliments medium to dark skin tones perfectly. Texture and ease of application I found …
Outfit of the day : Street-Style Laguna Beach
On the drive down the PCH, Laguna Beach is located about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, so it seemed to be the perfect stopping point for some photos of this outfit. Outfit of the day : Street-Style Laguna Beach * Laguna Beach is just a few kilometres from Crystal Cove State Park, where you can …
Guest post : Go Green for St Patrick’s Day
February is at a close and so is the Valentine’s Day celebration so it’s time to start thinking about the following international holiday – the world’s most favorite green festivity originating from Ireland. Yes, you’ve guessed it – it’s Saint Patrick’s Day. Read on for some ideas of how to change your beauty routine to …
Street-Style San Diego
I am so excited to be back in San Diego, as I only managed to spend two days here on my last visit, which isn’t enough to do justice to this amazing place, which is the final stop on the drive down the PCH (just before the Mexican border). Outfit of the day: Street-Style San …
Burberry Fresh Glow Highlighting Pen
So, having previously tried the Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base in nude radiance number 01 by BURBERRY, I decided to invest in the Burberry Fresh Glow Highlighting pen as well! Burberry Fresh Glow Highlighting Pen If you remember from my first beauty post, I don’t like to spend a lot of time on make-up, although …
OOTD: Maxi skirts and seals
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature about Maxi Skirts and Seals. This week-end, I went to La Jolla, where it’s pupping season, and the beaches are covered with mums and their pups. So, I wanted to share some of the cute photos of the seal pups with you, and also my maxi …
Fabulous at Forty : The skirt length debate
Welcome back to the Velvet Runway, where today I want to tackle the “great skirt length debate” : Is it acceptable to wear short skirts once you hit 40. It can be tricky finding your way through the fashion and beauty minefield at any age, but when you reach the big 4-0, it becomes positively …
New in my make-up bag: Diorific mat lipstick
Welcome back to the Velvet Runway and my review of the Diorific mat lipstick. I am really loving this limited edition Dior lipstick, which comes from Dior’s State of Gold Holiday 2015 Collection. New in my make-up bag: Diorific mat lipstick This collection has four Diorific Mat Velvet Lipsticks of which my favourite (shown here), number 750 …
How to Pack
So, having done quite a bit of travelling this year I’ve learned from my mistakes and so am writing this guide on How to pack to help you avoid my travel disasters. One time my bag was so overweight it exceeded the maximum weight allowed by so much that I had to buy a second …
Outfit of the day: Looks with lace
Following on from my previous look with a blue lace dress, and being inspired by Emily Blunt, Rach Parcell, Candice Swanepoel, Taylor Swift, Chiara Ferragni and Kristina Bazan, to name just a few of the celebrities who have been spotted in lace dresses, I have been rummaging through my wardrobe to look for a few more looks …
New in my make-up bag : Chanel eyebrow pencil
I think that my new Chanel eyebrow pencil is an appropriate addition to my make-up bag this week, as the statement brow is set to continue as a major trend in 2016. And, if that isn’t enough to persuade you of the importance of a well-shaped brow I’ve been told that it can knock years …
Outfit of the day : Blue lace dress
Outfit of the day : Blue lace dress It’s very cold here at the moment (although very bright) and so I’m freezing to death in this blue lace dress with a simple black suede jacket! How we suffer for fashion! I bought this blue lace dress in the sales at Club Monaco last year and …
YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature about my new make-up product, the YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer. Primers are the ‘in’ product these days. They do for your skin what ‘Spanx’ does for your tummy! They conceal, flatter and provide a base for your make-up, just as Spanx does for your clothes. …
Back to black
After a change to brown and gold for Christmas, I’m “back to black” for New Year’s Eve! “Women think of all colors except the absence of color. I have said that black has it all.. [Its] beauty is absolute. [It is] the perfect harmony.“ COCO CHANEL Back to black Black is elegant, chic and slimming, …
New Year in London
So, it’s nearly 2016 and here are a few ideas for what to do to celebrate New Year in London. Go shopping Some of the sales in the UK start before Christmas, but all start by Boxing Day (26th December), so if you have a few hours (or more) to spare then I can …
All that glitters : Outfit of the day
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature about “All that Glitters”. It’s that time of year when the Christmas parties are fast approaching and the thorny question of what to wear rears its ugly head. Uttering the words “party look” is enough to make some people run for cover or curl up in front …
Christmas shopping in Paris
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – except for the distinct lack of presents under the Christmas tree! In order to rectify this I rushed off for a 24 hour Christmas shopping in Paris expedition. For my guide to the best places to shop (valid all year) and the best window displays (Christmas …
Emma Hardie Midas Touch Serum
My new product this week is the Emma Hardie Midas Touch Serum. I have read rave reviews about this serum and so have been wanting to try it for a while. So, when I saw the special offer in Marks and Spencer, where if you spend £50 on Emma Hardie you received a free gift …
Little black dress : Outfit of the Day
As we approach the party season, no wardrobe is complete without a “little black dress” (or a LBD). Outfit of the day: Little black dress The Little Black Dress (LBD) never goes out of fashion and is the simplest, most foolproof way to select your outfit whether you’re going to a semi-formal, formal event or a …
Tom Ford lipstick in Wild Ginger
There is no more dramatic accessory than a perfect lip, so this week, my new product is a Tom Ford lipstick in Wild Ginger, a beautiful red colour – which is perfect with a little black dress! Tom Ford Lipstick in Wild Ginger Don’t be put off by the orange undertone in this lipstick as …
Four days in Barcelona
FOUR DAYS IN BARCELONA. Barcelona is a magical city and there is something for everyone – beaches, great shopping, museums, parks, historical landmarks, tapas and generally lots of sunshine! Although the city seems very big and spread out, it is perfectly feasible to discover on foot, particularly if you group your activities by neighbourhood, so …
New in my make-up bag : Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base by Burberry
This week, my new product is FRESH GLOW LUMINOUS FLUID BASE by BURBERRY : A Burberry runway beauty icon, this multi-use base illuminates the complexion to create the signature Burberry dewy glow. (I chose the universal shade, Nude Radiance No.01, which is suitable for any skintone, but it also exists in Golden Radiance No.02) Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base …
Ten things to do in the Algarve
Welcome back to the Velvet Runway and this article about ten things to do in the Algarve. Ten things to do in the Algarve Visit Silves Visit the old Moorish capital of the Algarve, Silves, with its 13th century cathedral (Largo da Sé) and beautiful red sandstone castle (Castelo de Silves), as well as the …
New in my make-up bag – Ambient Lighting Palette by Hourglass
I’ve decided to make “new in my make-up bag” a weekly feature – any excuse to buy new beauty products is good for me, and this week I’m featuring the Ambient Lighting Palette by Hourglass. New in my make-up bag this week This week, my new product is the 3-in-1 Ambient Lighting Palette by Hourglass, custom-made …
Where to shop, eat and drink in Los Angeles
Los Angeles’s shopping areas, restaurants and bars are as varied as its neighbourhoods and also spread out over a large area. In this guide to where to shop, eat and drink in Los Angeles I have grouped the shops and eating places by area to make it easier to plan your day. Shopping, eating and drinking …
New in my make-up bag – Ombre Blackstar by Terry
Welcome to the Velvet Runway and this review of the Ombre Blackstar by Terry. The first thing you should know about me if you’re reading this post is that I don’t like to spend a lot of time on make-up, although I do like to look as good as I can! So, any product that …
What to do and what to see in Los Angeles
Welcome to The Velvet Runway, and this feature on what to do and what to see in Los Angeles, California. I have been several times and my daughter lived here for 18 months, so I’m excited to share my recommendations with you, and I hope you find them helpful. What to do and What to …
Fall Fashion Fever
Welcome to The Velvet Runway and our first post about Fall Fashion Fever for Fall 2015. Now that summer is over and fashion month has come to an end, analysing all the trends from all of the fashion shows and translating them into something wearable in everyday life can be a source for a major …