* Turn up the lights *

3 Jun 2015

#HMBalmaination

H&M has been a high street favourite among teens and adults for its affordable clothing mix of fashion and work wear for many years now, but more recently it has upped the stakes and is becoming known for its high fashion designer collaborations — a bit of couture for the average woman.
Since 2004, the company has collaborated with well-known greats such as Karl Lagerfeld, Beyonce, Versace, Alexander Wang and Stella McCartney to name just a few. The pieces created through these collaborations have flown off the shelves at record speeds thanks to their designer name tags but bargain prices.
And this year is set to be no different, as H&M bosses have revealed its latest collaboration will be with Balmain Paris.

Due to hit stores on November 5, the collection has been headed by Balmain designer and many models' best friend Olivier Rousteing.
About the collaboration, Olivier said: 'I want to talk to my generation; this is my main aim as a designer. H&M allows me the unique possibility of bringing everyone into the world of Balmain, get a piece of the dream and create a global #HMBalmaination — a movement of togetherness, fueled on a hashtag.
'The collaboration felt extremely natural to me. H&M is a brand that everybody connects to. It calls for unity and I am all for it.'

Ann-Sofie Johansson, creative advisor at H&M, said: 'We are excited to have Balmain as our guest designer at H&M and create a truly involving experience for everybody. With its mix of couture spirit and street wear attitude, Balmain owns a unique style, at once opulent and direct, sensual and energetic. It is also closely linked to the show business and music worlds, which adds another element of surprise.'

Olivier let the cat out of the bag about the collaboration on the red carpet at the recent Billboard Music Awards, with a little help from his friends Kendell Jenner and Jourdan Dunn who were wearing the first pieces from the collection.

14 May 2015

I'm back!!

I apologise for having been MIA for quite some time, work got in the way and left me with little time to do what I love most and post on here.
But I'm back and want you to know that normal posts will resume shortly!
Thank you to all the readers who have stuck with me!
Manths x

21 Mar 2013

H and M and Bey

THE rumour mill has been in overdrive for months, but now our suspicions have finally been confirmed... yes Beyoncé/Queen Bey/Mrs Carter is the new face of H&M.

As well as posing for the new campaign (which was shot in Barbados - poor her), she has also had a hand in helping design the new collection.

So we should expect to see a collection of glamour mixed with hip-hop elements if her own style is anything to go by.

The campaign will be used on billboards, in editorials and in adverts worldwide, promoting the collection which is due to hit stores in May.

All Hail Queen Bey!

28 Nov 2012

DIY Inspiration

I've come across all creative this season — whether its the prospect of currently buying a new house and thinking of things I could make to put in it, or whether its having no money left after buying a house to buy new clothes with and so reworking what I've got — I seem to have ideas of creative projects brimming in my head.
I have a few projects up my sleeve which I will share in due course, but in the mean time, let me share with you some DIY inspiration to get your creative juices flowing too.

21 Nov 2012

Chloe Green does it again

Her last collection of shoes featuring chunky platforms and her signature mint green sole were a hit with fashionistas, and now Chloe Green, daughter of Arcadia Tycoon Phillip Green, has done it again.
Her second collection for Topshop boasts chunky boots, studs and lace detailing and dainty flats.
The collection ranges in price from £75 up to £195.

(Photo source Dailymail.co.uk)

Some of my favourite styles include:

Ankle boots £165

Stud Venom Courts £130

Stud Lightning Platform Sandals £130

Lace Wing Ankle Boots £175 (also available in courts)

Winters Knight Wedge Boots £195

(Images from topshop.com)

You can browse the whole collection on the Topshop website. Which ones would you pick?

Manths xx

12 Oct 2012

Cosmopolitan gets curvaceous

Top marks go to Cosmopolitan (Australia) for next month's issue, featuring a shoot with plus size gorgeous model Robin Lawley.
Other magazines have done shoots with plus size models before, I know, BUT this shoot has not been ridiculously airbrushed so that she doesn't look like a normal person, she hasn't had various body parts hidden with objects and she is not covered up in copious amounts of clothing.
Nope, 6ft 2 and UK size 16 Robin is being embraced in all her glory in a body-baring bikini shoot.
After landing a major contract as the first plus-size model for Ralph Lauren last month, Robin is pictured lazing on a sunny beach modelling an array of pretty printed bikinis for the magazine's November issue. And she looks fantastic.