Topshop Makeup

The very kind people at Topshop have sent me some makeup - not just a couple of things but a whole look of products for my delectation!

For this look I used:

EYES - Uniform, a kind of Midnight Blue colour, fairly thick on application, especially when applied over foundation.

KHOL Crayon - Pewter, a little tricky to encourage onto the waterline but lasts well.

LINER - Rook, a nice stiff brush to apply this liquid liner, easy application to the upper eyelid.

MASCARA - Bitter Chocolate, not the colour I would automatically choose for combination with the other colours, but it does soften what would otherwise be a gothic look than I would go for.

POLISH Lipgloss - Truffle, a pleasing slippery rather than sticky gloss (which I prefer) in a dark damson colour, applied with the finger,  lasts well, and doesnt dry the lips.

I wore a toned-down version of this look for New Year's Eve but for this review I followed the tutorial provided by Topshop for a Smouldering look. Watch the tutorial here.

Forgive me for the use of Hipstamatic for showcasing the final results, I couldnt get my regular camera application to work! It does make things come up a bit green but you get the general idea.

I have to say I was impressed. The quality of the makeup is great, the packaging is cute and it lasts well. The colours Topshop sent me actually suit my skintone. I'd be happy using this for a photoshoot or a gig, the boyfriend loved it. We both love the nail polish NAILS in Utilitarian too, I've been wearing it since the day it arrived.

Visit the Topshop Website for the new exciting colours for spring. I know I'll be paying them a visit...

THANKS TOPSHOP!!

Straight Shooting

Sunrise on the day of the shoot was beautiful. The reason I saw the sunrise was not so beautiful! Flu and stomach cramps threatened to put a stop to proceedings, but the sight of the sunrise caused me to delay calling the shoot off. It was going to be a gorgeous day. It was worth nursing myself a bit to see if I could get well enough to proceed.

Having cautiously attempted breakfast I was contemplating cancellation once again. The sun had risen by this point and it was indeed a beautiful morning, perfect for the shoot! How frustrating that I felt so awful! It was at this point that my little dusky familiar friend Rex the Rabbit decided to get involved. He hopped over to the little table on which my breakfast plate was perched and snaffled a cotton reel that I had thoughtlessly left there on completing the red dress last night. As far as I recall, I had pushed a needle into the reel as you do and in the horror of a split second I remembered this just as Rex was troughing something down with vigour. What?? thread? Something unrelated? A NEEDLE??

I immediately freaked out and scrambled around to find the number for Animalism the vetinary surgery in St Albans. The lady on the phone was fantastic, she translated my sobbed information and asked me to bring him down immediately. The kind vet was unable to find anything in Rex's mouth or throat to my relief, but advised keeping an eye on him. 

The adrenaline produced by the incident had the useful effect of making me feel much better, so rather than cancel, I decided to do hair and makeup and see how I felt when Donato arrived to pick me up.

  
Minutes later we were on our way to Bury Dell, wearing wellies and carrying the red dress in a bin bag! It's no easy task for a photographer to shoot on location without an assistant. You have to think of everything! And there are added complication when shooting in the wilds of nature! The stream we shot in was beautifully clear, very close to it's source and energetically carrying the train of the dress down stream constantly! Despite all this the location was perfect and we got exactly what we wanted.


Am I going to show you the shots now? No I am not! I'm afraid you will have to wait for the EP before I can do that, but see below for what we ended up with ;)

  Be seeing you soon! xxx

Simply Red Hot-Head

Two days til the shoot and I am still feeling horribly viral. I don't seem to be able to rest, my body hurts too much. I went Qi Kwan Do training last night in the hope of sweating it out. Although I felt better for about half an hour, as soon as I stopped moving I felt horrible again. 

However, on the positive side, I DID feel better for an hour or so AND I have had the hair colour done for the shoot. Happy days!

Donato has been hard at work on our little prop, making it from scratch, by hand no less! Well that's dedication for you. He says this is what photography is all about for him - preparing all the details over weeks, building (or sewing in the case of my dress) things up from scratch and watching it all come together in one perfect moment in time. Works for me!

Hot Pants Wk1 - RESULTS!

With my training on hold and succumbing to one of Autumn's sneakier viruses I did not expect astounding results from my Hot Pants at week 1.

HOWEVER after locating my tape-measure once more I had to eat my cynicism! My results were as follows: 

Upper Thigh:

Left - 21.25 inches (loss of 1/4 inch)
Right - 21.5 inches (loss of 1/2 inch)

Bum/Hips: 36.75 inches (loss of 1/4 inch)

Lower waist/muffin-top area: 33 inches (no change)

Natural waist: 26.5 inches (loss of 1/2 inch)

Appearance of cellulite: Still present but definitely less apparent

It is the natural waist that has surprised me most, considering that the shorts barely reach that part of my anatomy, however the overall effect that they seem to be having is surprising!

My shoot is this Friday coming so I shall no doubt be sleeping in Hot Shorts until then! And a re-measure at 2 weeks on Monday.

Stay tuned! x

*Thanks to fotolia.com and ehow.com for the picture and advice on taking measurements.

A new location and Gear Change

What an unexpectedly productive day! After waking up with back pain that threatened to take over my brain for the day I answered the door to Donato. As I had left my laptop elsewhere absentmindedly we were unable to view his photos of the alternative location but he persauded me to come and visit it with him after popping a couple of ibuprofen!

I am so pleased I did! The five acres of wilderness he has access to provides the perfect backdrop for the dress and my little mystery prop...

After being treated to a morning coffee in Sopwell House Hotel I went home to apply my osteopath's advice and take a hot bath.

After midday Jo arrived to pick up my donation of clothes for the Gear Change charity event she is running in November. She describes the event on Facebook:

Gear change is shopping dreams come true!

All the items are £1 and are donated by you! So it's like a giant clothes swap, but we make some proceeds too. They all go to Bethesda "House of Hope" which funds Orphanges and churches in India.

This time, it's a sophisticated evening affair! There will be soooo much stock as well as pretentious canapes, seasonal drinks, hot chocs, ..maybe even champagne! Good live music and much much more!! Watch this space!!!  

Jo also revealed that there will be fashion show running at the event for which they are still looking for size 12 models. Great! I know loads of lovely girlies, so I am spreading the word. If you are interested - get in touch! I tentatively offered help with putting looks together for the Gear Change section of the fashion show as, despite being swamped with projects right now, I ADORE styling!

Special request to the organisers... pssst - save all the animal print for me!! ;P

Fancy Pants & Fancy Dress

As you will know if you are a Hot Pants enthusiast, these shorts can only be washed by hand in cold water. Following their initial baptism yesterday evening my shorts were still wet in the morning. Consequently I went out without them to school and studio today. Naughty! 

I had a phonecall during the day from my photographer Donato Cinicolo 
to say that we may need to move our shoot forward due to the seasonal conditions at our location. Help! That would mean making the dress sort of.. well now, or choosing an alternative location. It also cuts into the halfway point of my Hot Pants challenge which means, well, more cellulite will be present than planned! Nothing for it but to wear them day and night until the shoot. Well, all day at least.


Arriving home I discover they are still wet, but as I had two sports massage client appointments swiftly approaching, I thought what the hell, I'm going to get sweaty anyway! I can see why people choose to buy an extra pair as the need to wash them arises almost daily, however, I will not go to this extravagance until after the two week test period.

I use my precious spare two hours before school run to start work on the red dress and am surprised at the progress I make. I have a great deal of stitching to do but at least I know what needs doing! So I now have some pretty domesticated plans following my massage clients tonight.

Wish me luck. Now for another pint of water...

Red hot and Hot Pants...

Less than two weeks to the shoot now and I find myself strangely lacklustre. It may be that I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the task I have set myself of creating my own garment. 


I had a successful shopping trip to Jersey Vogue Fabrics in Edgeware where I purchased a 9 metre end of vivid crimson silk dupion, gorgeous fabric. Now to create the look! Fortunately I still have Maria's tailor's dummy here in my flat and she has made me a sketch and given me tips as to how to go about it. 


It's now just a case of going for it. 


One of my measures to prepare myself for the shoot has been to buy some of the acclaimed HOT PANTS (tm) from Zaggora. I have this very moment started my two week challenge and am sitting, blogging wearing them.


The moment I took them out of the package I was reminded of my neglected wetsuit. Why? because neoprene is exactly what they resemble! First I measured myself.


Upper Thigh:
left - 21.5 inches
right - 22 inches


Bum/Hips: 37 inches


Lower waist/muffin top area: 33 inches


Natural waist: 27 inches


I feel it's important to be thorough! I have already made a start with toning up thanks to two months so far of Qi Kwan Do, a martial art. I've been training 2 or three times a week and I have seen a noticeable difference in my body tone and fat coverage! However, although my saddlebags have shrunk they are certainly still there, as is the appearance of cellulite covering the whole bum and thigh area to varying degrees. This is where I feel the Hot Pants come in. I am hoping they will ramp up the effectiveness of my regular workouts and even have an effect at more sedentary times.


After squeezing them on the first thing I notice is a prickly sensation. I hope they don't give me a heat rash! I am thinking. They are quite cosy but as I look down at my tummy I am reminded of a beached whale due to the extra bulk that the shorts provide! Yes, do not make the mistake of confusing these shorts with control pants. They are not the same thing at all. They aim to provide a long-term physical improvement, not a temporary cosmetic one.


Well, lets check in on the Hot Shorts in one week, I promise to wear them at least 30 minutes a day!


Maybe I can get that lustre back after all...

Mystery Location

What can I say? It's been a while! I just want to update you on the shoot at the Mystery Location... As we were all pretty tied up it happened late Tuesday last week and boy did I realize that the weather is getting colder! The styling was simple, a little retro with a sea green bauble of a skirt from River Island. You also get a sneaky peak of my beloved Hokusai-inspired wave tattoo.

I was lucky enough to be served dinner with Antonio and Donato and enjoy the company of some very adorable cats... The final 2 locations are being shot this weekend.