If you have watched even a few minutes of any Gok Wan programme will be familiar with the term ‘silhouette’ and just how important it is to making yourself look and feel fantastic. Below are my top tips to creating the perfect silhouette with a bit of craftiness rather than slogging it out at the gym. Call me lazy, but when the sun is shining like it has been this week I’d much rather be in the beer garden than on the treadmill!

Tip 1: Measure Up. The media frequently publish all sorts of crazy statistics about how many women are wearing the wrong bra size but I would say it goes for all forms of underwear. How many of us try to squeeze into a size 12 pair of French knickers when we know that 14 is much closer to the mark. Get measured and make sure all of your underwear fits you properly. Whatever size you are, you should make the best of yourself and not hide behind the hope of being smaller or in some cases bustier.

Tip 2: Control. Contour control lingerie can make an amazing difference to every size and shape. Granted it’s not the most sexy thing in the world but it will be when you put a killer dress over the top of it! Marks and Spencers, Primark and Debenhams are just a few of the stockists that carry contour control underwear so go on a girly shopping spree and see just how smooth you can get those curves.

Tip 3: Water it Down. Drink at least two litres of water a day and you will improve the quality and spring of your skin all over your body. It sounds simple but hydrating your system makes a big difference to how your body looks and how you feel.

Tip 4: Heel Yourself. Heels are fantastic for elongating the leg which can completely alter the look of your pins. They don’t have to be sky high to make a difference, a nice pair of chunk-heeled court shoes can have exactly the same effect and you won’t cripple yourself trying to walk on them.

Tip 5: Belt Up. No matter how wide your waist is you will have a thinnest point and this is where the belt should go on every outfit you wear. Corset belts are ideal for pulling in a bit of a tummy and adding emphasis just where you want it so have some fun experimenting with different sizes, thicknesses and designs.

It was, quite literally, a fashion jungle out there, as designers battled it out for the best in safari wear in the Spring/Summer shows. I gasped with delight as I saw sharp lines, neutral tones and utility detailing – if this doesn’t spell out ‘city summer’ to you, what does? The shirt dress reigned supreme at Donna Karan, where our favourite summer staple was reworked in a looser fabric, whilst designers at Aquascutum and Diane von Furstenberg remained loyal to the shirt dress’s matronly beginnings, showcasing boxy, ½ length sleeves and lots and lots of riveting, but the fashion houses agreed on one thing: a heavy-duty belt, cinching it all in. This double-breasted, off-the-shoulder version by Lela Rose gives an injection of forties glamour, but probably isn’t the best choice of clothing when fleeing a lion. If stiff lapels and breast pockets are all too Carry On for you, try this silk Calvin Klein number on for size, which gives a nod to the shirt dress without being overly restrictive. (more…)

Gwyneth Paltrow’s steep climb up the success ladder has finally begun to show! The sassy blonde actress’ march back into the glamour spotlight this year has been more about her vertigo inducing stilts than her critically acclaimed comeback venture ‘the Iron Man’.

And why not!

The former girlfriend of hunky Hollywood A-lister Brad Pitt, Paltrow has long honed her fashionista identity. Rarely have even her worst critics been able to find flaw with the stuff she swished around in on the red carpet. Her comeback post motherhood however has seen a swift shift in sartorial sensibilities. All in all good ol’ Gwyn’s style has changed from Chic to SEXY!!! without so much as a hiccup.

The recent climb however has not been easy. Even the glamorous wife of Coldplay frontrunner Chris Martin has had a few knee weakening, tottering experiences atop her killer 7inches. Recently during her tumultuous publicity tour for her latest movie Paltrow hop skipped and jumped through fashion capitals such as Paris, Berlin and New York on heels that left jaws hanging. After a hectic Paris premiere even the feisty babe was left clutching onto her bodyguard while climbing down a flight of stairs on a particularly dashing piece of footwear.

So much for poise!

But it was not just the Academy Award winner’s skyscraper heels that climbed steep, the price tags they came with were no less neck breaking! Amongst the 7 breath stopping styles Gwyn posed with was a racy but feminine lace printed stiletto pumps designed by famous Italian designer Giussepe Zanotti. Each pair, his agents claim retails for no less than $900!

YIKES!

Methinks I’ll aim lower even if I crave sky high. Which isn’t a tough decision given that I have neither Gwyn’s millions nor those gorgeous calves to support my cause. What I do have however is a game plan to keep myself standing even on a seven inch.
As any red-blooded girl knows high heels isn’t an easy deal. It involves devotion, unflinching faith, tradition, tireless pursuit and most of all razor sharp skill.

Clearly the quintessential high heels aren’t for the weak hearted.

Step onto them only if you dare.

But once you do. (And you will, like it or not.) Remember to follow a few essential rules like your life depended on them. The guidelines below will keep you from that oh-so-face-reddening fall or even that pathetically unladylike tumble. Read and learn.

Tip 1: Begin small. Don’t jump the gun and climb a mountain before you can scale a molehill. Start with kitten heels and clamber up to a wedge before you promote yourself to a full-blown stiletto. Even when you do think you are ready for the real thing select an affordably comfortable sized stilt rather than a scryscraping high one. You’ll have plenty of time to swish around on killer pencil heels once you get used to walking on the more modest variety.

Tip 2: Go for stiletto pumps rather than the more flimsy, strappy backless varieties. Agreed that the latter tend to be far more fetching and uber feminine but the way I see it (and no doubt the way you’ll see it when the first backache begins to get particularly unbearable) health and life comes before sexiness. No point in twisting an ankle or dislocating your spine or even breaking your neck over looking gorgeous!

Tip 3: Practice, Practice, Practice! If there is any possibility of a relationship between math lessons and high heel walking it is probably hinged on the basis of practice. Remember to walk around your home in your dainty skyscrapers before stepping out on the streets to get used to them. Sure your brothers, fathers, husbands, kids, neighbours, neighbour’s aunt’s might see you and laugh their guts out and make you feel like a prize ass, but better to be laughed at in your own home than squirming and fumbling on the streets and being mocked at by complete strangers!

Tip 4: Learn when to wear what sort of heels. If you are attending a party where you are likely to stand around please give your feet a break and ditch the idea of wearing a seven incher! Go for a more comfortable pair of shorter heels instead. Even if you do decide to go for the killer skyscrapers, remember to avoid standing around too long. Excuse yourself once in a while and visit the rest room to take off your shoes and give your feet a bit of a massage. If you are to be dancing PLEASE practice balance techniques in your home before stepping out if you don’t want to end up with a horribly twisted ankle.

Finally. Remember not to overdo your heel routine. Even a Gwyneth Paltrow needs a holistic health massage session after a week long strutting about on heels! Stick to flats or blocks or wedges at the most for everyday work. Don’t even THINK about running about in your heels (and no don’t give me that ‘Anne-Hathaway-ran-in-her-Jimmy-Choos-in- ‘DEVIL WEARS PRADA’ look, Hollywood doesn’t figure as real life). And most importantly watch out for those stairs.

That is of course if you aren’t Mrs. Martin, in which case you’ll have a gentlemanly bodyguard politely offering you a helping hand if you trip.

But then again if you are Gwyneth Paltrow you’d hardly need a tip about scraping heights on your heels.

Fashion is going bold for Spring with bright orange being the colour of choice. At last week’s Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, the celebrities walking the ”orange” carpet looked like they’d been tangoed – but in a good way!

(more…)

Whether you’re a skinny minnie or a curvy lady, you can look great in a party dress for that special occassion. Just make sure you follow the rules to dress for your shape!

(more…)

THE NEW BLONDE FOR 2008

This season, just like the clothes on our backs, hair colour is all about being bright, bold and luxurious. Expensive looking colours are hot right now–such as honeys, golds and ice white blondes that are shiny and vibrant are set to be everywhere, this 2008.

Hair Colour Doctor and Channel 4’s Ten Years Younger hair expert, Lisa Shepherd, who’s also a massive lover of all things blonde says:

“This season is seeing a new blonde on the block! A much lighter, brighter and whiter Blonde says Lisa. “It’s very beautiful, full of shine and can work for a glamorous look (Sarah Harding) or ultimate rock chick chic (Pixie Geldof or Agyness Deyn)

I believe everyone can be blonde, but before you go tearing out a picture of Agyness asking for this colour there are things to consider first!

Blonde is without a doubt one of the most popular hair colours. There are so many shades of blonde available but not everyone manages to get it just right.

Firstly your hair needs to be healthy and in a good condition in order to take in the entire colour.

It’s also worth noting how high maintenance this hair colour is, it’s probably wise to let your hairdresser know how long you’re happy to spend on your hair and how often you want to revisit the hair salon. Then they can give you a style and type of blonde that requires the right amount of commitment from you!

During your consultation, your colourist will determine whether you should go for warm or cool tones to match your skin, this is important and will stop you from looking pale and washed out. Icy white is a very cool colour to go but we’re all aware of how brave it is. This is not a colour to try yourself at home! If you don’t want to go all the way the first time then ask your colourist for a full head of highlights using multi-tonal blondes like ice white, crystal clear and ash.

Blonde can lose its shine and turn brassy, keep it fresh by alternating your shampoo with a toner. Try Schwarzkopf Touch of Silver shampoo (£2.09, Boots), which balances brassy tones.
  Lisa’s quick tips for Blondes:

• It’s important to have regular visits to the salon to make sure your blonde is always looking its best.

• Keep your blonde looking refreshed in-between visits to the salon by using a good colour shampoo specifically for Blondes. Try Schwarzkopf Blonde me range.

• If you’ve spent years dying your hair blonde, then it’s probably prone to being dry and frizzy. Keep it looking shiny and silky with a few drops of serum everyday, I like Clynol’s illuminate smoothing shine treatment (RRP £8.75)

• If you’re finding it hard to keep up with the high maintenance that come with Blonde hair, ask your stylist to run some darker shades throughout your hair. This will make your roots look less noticeable when they start to show.

If you are looking for hair colour in Glasgow, then pop into our city centre salon for a 3D colour makeover.

Celebrities provide great style inspiration when getting ready for a new fashion season, and what are many wearing right now?? Florals!

(more…)

With so many fabulous designer dresses to go around, you wouldn’t think celebrities would feel the need to copy each other’s styles. But, sometimes they do so then comes the big question; who wore it better?!

(more…)