Archive for the ‘London Fashion Week’ Category
Yesterday was the final day of #LFW for autumn/winter ’13 and just as things were wrapping up for another season, I managed to go behind the scenes for Fashion Scout’s FAD and Tahir Sultan shows at the beautiful Freemason’s Hall in Covent Garden, and for the fourth year running The Body Shop were proud to sponsor Fashion Scout.
I was very curious to see how the Body Shop would work in partnership with these designers. Yes, the fashionable clothes is what the scores of people queuing outside were looking forward to seeing but for me, the make-up plays a crucial part too. After all, I *am* a beauty blogger.
The Body Shop’s head make-up artist (the phenomenal) Lan Nguyen-Grealis was in charge of leading her team to create a futuristic look on the models for FAD (I wish there had been enough time to see this show), while Lan’s key make-up artist Jo Sugar took a completely opposite approach for Tahir Sultan’s collection.
Going with the brief of travelling the continent of India in the 1940s, and Tahir’s personal love of strong glamorous feminine women, Jo opted for strong eyes using the Body Shop’s Kohl Liner to represent the Indian theme, and dark red lips to illustrate the presence of the 1940s. The finished look was simple yet captivating.
Ever wondered what goes on backstage at fashion shows? It’s like organised chaos and yet it always comes together amazingly. The atmosphere for the final shows of London Fashion Week felt calmer than the previous days so it was nice to catch the tail-end.
It was also fantastic to bump into Hello Polly who was working her socks off with helping the models get ready.
Polly – would you just look at that concentration!
Later I took up a front row pew to watch Tahir Sultan’s show. I have to say his collection is full of elegant, tailored pieces which are totally wearable and easy to fall in love with.
So while I dream of a having a skinny waist, here are a few pictures of the show. Until next season…
Designer Tahir Sultan
Do not adjust your monitors, I’ve stupidly made an extremely short YouTube video as part of this post and it’s my first! I was inspired by A Beauty Junkie in London whose pro version stamps all over this one with sharp stilettos. I apologise for speaking oh so softly…I didn’t want to wake anyone up at the time of the recording! I also apologise for having ‘crazy eyes’ syndrome. I seriously applaud all video bloggers – I’m in awe of your expertly made videos.
Any way, as you may know, London Fashion Week is already underway and Toni & Guy launched their new hair care range on the eve of LFW with a top catwalk show at Somerset House with an introduction from Naomi Campbell. Sixty models showed off hair styles exhibiting the ultimate union between hair and fashion with Naomi and designer Matthew Williamson in the front row.
- a blurry shot of Ms Campbell from the iPhone
I urge you to check out Mouldy Fruit‘s post on it especially as she captured some brilliant images on the night.
- The stunning Somerset House – home to LFW
Toni & Guy have also set up an on-site salon (cleverly called the Blow-Out Bar) as a kind of pit-stop in between shows and I was kindly invited to experience a cut and blow-dry. I opted for a fringe trim and the wash and blow-dry was very welcome, particularly after battling tourists along the way to Somerset House. Thank you to Hayley for looking after me.
Are you following London Fashion Week? If so, what do you think about it?
Sheenie
*PR invite*
We may have waved goodbye to London Fashion Week but we are still basking in its fuzziness of cupcakes and butterflies from the House of Blue Eyes show.
One name familiar to our lips was Jessica Nails who were literally hands on throughout LFW, effortlessly making the models’ nails and toes sparkle and shine. In between hectic shows, the Jessica Nails team very kindly invited us to have a manicure by the current Manicurist of the Year, Heather Brown who is based at Glow Beauty salon in Wrexham in Wales, also won the accolade the previous year so we certainly felt honoured to have our hands taken care of by Heather.
I hadn’t had a manicure for about three years and my first and last experience didn’t leave me impressed. I’d also been put off by so-called manicurists who paint your nails while you’re having your hair washed at the hair salon. I just don’t deem that kind of service as a professional and thorough manicure and with nail bars springing up on every high street, it is difficult to find one which offers a decent, lasting manicure. Jessica Cosmetics have a glowing reputation for their nail polish range so I was confident that a manicure from them would be of the same high calibre.
First in line was Helen who had layered on a pink neon glitter number from Models Own, which was industrially thick. It took Heather 40 minutes to remove – sorry, scrape it off – for which Helen is deeply mortified. The full Jessica Nails manicure also included conditioning the cuticles in this deliciously sweet almond oil from their range of nail care products.
When it came to selecting colours, I chose Midnight Mist, a rich aubergine colour while Helen went for a cherry red smacker of a lacquer. Last but not least, Mizz Worthy selected a new shade from Jessica’s Daydream Spring 2010 Collection, a light duochrome-like green called Cloud Mine. The glistening manicure itself was bone dry in about an hour.
A week on and my manicure was still perfect so it is with some regret that I had to remove it. I can’t quite believe how many people noticed my nails, including straight men. This of course gave me the excuse to talk about them and unashamedly show off. It just shows what beautiful work Heather is capable of. She completely transformed my mis-shaped nails to suit my fingers; I almost don’t recognise my hands. I adore the shape and will be doing my utmost to maintain them. I also feel inclined to treat myself to a manicure. A perfect manicure does not go unnoticed as I discovered.
Sheenie
Brave Heather gets to grips with the industrial coated neon pink glitter nail polish
My amazing Jessica Nails manicure in Midnight Mist
A closer look at Heather’s fine work
It’s nearly 3am as I write this and I can’t bear to keep you in suspense any longer. I proudly present a selection of photographic memories from the House of Blue Eyes and Illamasqua’s collaboration at London Fashion Week. Let the images do the talking…
Backstage at the show
Alex Box working on her latest artwork
Johnny Blue Eyes getting tarted up
Look away now if you're easily offended...
Only at London Fashion Week
More pictures can be seen here.
