BRITISH FASHION AWARDS 2009 - WINNERS

The British Fashion Awards took place yesterday evening. The Royal Courts of Justice was turned into a sparkling crystal delight with the Awards being sponsored by Swarovski. The red carpet glittered with loose Swarovski crystals welcomed over 500 industry insiders to help conclude this years celebrations of the British Fashion Council's 25 Year Anniversary and to celebrate emerging talent.

THE 2009 WINNERS:

The Swarovski Emerging Talent Awards for Ready-to-Wear: Peter Pilotto

Designer Brand of the Year: Burberry

Model of the Year: Georgia May Jagger

London 25: Kate Moss

BFC British Collection of the Year: Christopher Kane

The Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator: Grace Coddington.

Designer of the Year: Christopher Bailey

Menswear Designer: Kim Jones (Creative Director for Dunhill.)

The Swarovski Emerging Talent Awards for Accessories: Holly Fulton

Accessory Designer: Katie Hillier

Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design: John Galliano

Check out Vogue's fabulous coverage of the Awards: Vogue Link

And read Grazia's report including who fell off of the stage: Grazia Link

Christian Louboutin Barbie Sells Outs in One Day!

I hope Santa read my previous post on Louboutin & Barbie because the Cat Burglar Barbie sold out within a day!!

If you missed out don't despair as Mr Louboutin spent a whole year with his god-daughter and has designed a series of dolls with the remaining due out in 2010. Register here on NET-A-PORTER to be updated on when the next doll is available to buy.

I wonder if it will be my birthday by then..........

Santa can I add some more dolls to my list.... LANVIN DOLLS this time...

To celebrate this year being Lanvin's 120th Anniversary, Alber Elbaz has designed seven limited edition porcelain figures to honour Jeanne Lanvin, founder of the label. Included in the collection are mother and daughter dolls inspired by the mother-daughter outfits designed by Jeanne herself.

The dolls are hand painted and are just in time for Christmas. I was at Harrods in the afternoon and they were selling very quickly.

The limited edition dolls are available to buy in-store at Harrods and online at Browns.

Browns also stock the 120th Anniversary Tote (£435.00) & Paperweights (£275).

All I want for Christmas is a Barbie, a Christian Louboutin Barbie that is...

Dear Santa,

I never liked dolls as a child. When people bought me (fake) barbie dolls I would put them in the attic and find something else to play with. I was.... a tomboy! I even got my school to change the rule that girls cannot wear trousers, because I wouldn't wear a skirt.

As a late teen, things changed. I began to wear skirts, and four years ago I even had my bedroom decorated in Laura Ashley's Rose Pink paint. Everyone was in shock. My walls used to be yellow and blue.

I have never owned a Barbie doll. And this year, please please please can you send me my first ever Barbie!! I just have to have it!

Lots of Love,
Sabina xxx

Ok, Ok, Santa doesn't exist. But Net-A-Porter.com does!!

Christian Louboutin with the Barbie shoes he created for the Barbie 50th Anniversary. They previewed during the Barbie birthday runway that was held during New York Fashion Week in February 2009.

The 'Cat Burglar' doll is a limitied edition doll created for this exciting collaboration between Barbie and Christain Louboutin. The tanned skin Barbie in a black castuit comes with a collection of 4 Louboutins, each with their own shoe box and bag. Christian Loubotin created a mass of controvery when he said he would be 'thinning' down Barbie's ankles. But whe he made the statement that  "She needed great shoes, a thinner ankle and, to me, as I’m obsessed with feet, a foot more curved,” I couldn't have agreed more as I hated Barbie's legs and feet! Louboutin Barbie comes with a stand and a copy of the Christian & Barbie journal. Buy yours now before it sells out for £100 (plus £10 postage) I WANT CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN FOR BARBIE!

VOTE SABINA FOR PRESIDENT!

I'm not really running for President... But I would love you to vote.

I was invited with the fiance to the ShortList & River Island event, a shopping event with 20% off all menswear, a band playing, free pie, tokens for beer, ShortList's Style Director on hand and a Playstation3 Stig Race thing that I can't explain because I'm not a boy! When I realised they were only serving beer, I thought great, this really isn't for me, but then as I wandered around the store whilst the fiance had already found his best buys, I saw something and decided to try it on. Et voila! I found something not only from the high street, but MENSWEAR that I really didn't want to take off. It's a Men's large and it just felt so nice, I was wearing vintage pants which were quite boy-ish anyways, but this cardigan was just super cute and cuddly. Click on the link below if you like this look and I could win vouchers to really never have to take it off! VOTE FOR THE CARDIGAN LOOK

Then I found this worn look denim shirt. I tried on a Small and it looked boring. I tried on the Large and it looked much more interesting. It was too long for the trousers I had on, so I tied it at the waist and it really cutened the outfit. With our 20% off my fiance bought it for me. (Because he knows he'll wear it too!) I got home and put it on with a pair of black leggings and a wide belt. It looked very Lady Gaga as being pulled in at the waist made the shoulders instantly bigger and created a 'skirt' at the bottom that angled out. I'll wear it as a light jacket, as a dress, as a shirt, it's full of potential! If you like this look too (or prefer it) vote vote vote. Yes we can! VOTE FOR THE DENIM SHIRT LOOK

I've always loved wearing suits with sharp tailoring and clean lines, ties, braces, cufflinks, etc but I think I will be venturing into the menswear departments for myself a bit more frequently from now on.

Check out The Benchmark Magazine for menswear and a few River Island pieces in the latest feature. Union Jack attack!!

"AS SEEN ON ASOS" Beauty & The Bloggers - Part Two

So... You've seen the products I loved from the Beauty & the Bloggers event but we decided to really test some of the products from ASOS Beauty during a shoot.

I was uber excited to receive the cute pink mini hair straighteners. I picked them up at the event to see how heavy they were but never pulled the cord out all the way... To be honest I didn't think I would need to, but lesson learnt, check everything! These straighteners are for the car! Yes bizarre I know... I emptied the packet, searched everywhere and could not find an adapter to use them normally.

My verdict: Ummm sneaky ASOS. I certainly wouldn't recommend straightening your hair whilst driving so perhaps they're good for just a quick style fix in the car before you head off to your destination. They plug in to the cigarette lighter connection and come in a heat protective pouch to put them in even if they haven't cooled down. I still can't quite my head around them, but at £10 each they have already sold out!

CHECK OUT THE PICS & THE PRODUCTS FROM OUR BEAUTY SHOOT.

CLEAN & CHIC:

The hair was loosley pinned back and sprayed very lightly with hairspray.

I WANT Tigi Hairspray

Dr:Feelgood Complexion Balm was used to give the skin a soft texture and glow

underneath the foundation and concealer.

I WANT Benefit Dr:Feelgood Complexion Balm

£19.50

The brows were given thickness and definition and

 pink eyeshadow was swept across the brow bone to highlight and add a soft shimmer.

I WANT Benefit Brows a-go-go

£26.50

Underneath the eyes were brightened

with the 'some kind-a-gorgeous foundation faker' from the Justine Case.

I personally haven't stopped using the kit since the shoot!

I WANT Benefit Justine Case

£22.50

The lipgloss was spread over the lips for a sheer and sophisticated look.
I also love the Divine, Lily Rose & Torture colours.

I WANT Illamasqua 'Rouse' Sheer Lipgloss
£12.50

This is the colour I had my nails done at the event.

I can't get enough of it.

I WANT ASOS Paint in Kate/Grey

£6.00

Barry M Alternative - Rich Grey

£3.00

THE BOLD & THE BLUETIFUL:

Hair was braided around the front, curled with ghds to create softness

and then backcombed to create a fluffy knot free afro.

Louis Vuitton's SS10 Catwalk.

It was Afro-loving all the way!

See the full collection on STYLE.COM

I WANT ghds IV Styler

£89.00

The make-up is the same as Clean & Chic except for the eyes.

The blue shadow was used to create a dramatic look but still great for the party season.

I WANT Illamasqua's 'Never' Eyeshadow

£14.00

SEXY SENORITA:

This was my favourite look on the model.

Her hair was dampened with warm water and brushed back into a ponytail.

Fudge's gel for men was used to give keep the wet look lasting.

I WANT Fudge Hair Gum - Extreme Controlling Gel

£9.00 (Was £11.00)

ASOS have a wide selection of hot red lip colours.

The model had a lipstick applied, followed by lipgloss to give that supercharged sexy look.

I WANT Illamasqua Ignite Lipstick

£14.00

I WANT Models Own 'Boudoir' Lip Gloss

£5.00

Black eyeliner was used on the top of the lids.

The make up artist left the blue eyeshadow to glimmer through underneath.

I WANT B Never Too Busy to be Beautiful Black Eyeliner

£11.75

The Kate ASOS Paint, Illamasqua Sheer lipgloss & Benefit Justincase are my favourite products. There's not long until Christmas, so either click on these looks to grab them for your Christmas parties, buy them for friends, or send a link of this page as a 'hint hint' of what you'd like for Christmas!

The ASOS Beauty range is fabulous! At their recent Press Day I had a sneak preview of the Spring Summer ASOS Paint colours. I can't wait to get my hands on some next year - or some on my hands should I say! Ha ha! Happy shopping!

With thanks to:

Model: Stephanie Demetriou

Make-Up Artist: Laura Dexter

Hair Stylist: Marianne Finnie

*Please note that prices and product details were carefully searched however such information changes constantly. Prices are subject to change and who knows, if you're lucky there might be a bargain or two to be found! The make up artist used MAC foundations and concealers. 

ASOS Beauty & the Bloggers, Part One

I was invited to ASOS's Beauty & the Bloggers Event (and while I'm not a true blooded bloginista) my first post was indeed enthused by the launch of Dolce & Gabbana cosmetics; I was immersed in the world of Beauty and loved it during my time at Traveller Conde Nast, and I regard Volt's beauty shoots as pieces of breathtaking art.

As the saying goes, 'You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take' and so after the busiest of press days I met the fiance and went along - and I'm rather glad I did!

When I first came across ASOS it was known as 'AS SEEN ON SCREEN' and I kept it as a small and guarded secret until I could no longer resist showing people my finds on the site. Since then ASOS has become one of the most successful fashion and beauty business' during the recession.

Cupcakes, Champagne, Canapes and Laudree Macaroons, with beauty products to explore, hair stylists and manicurists on hand (literally) to pamper, and a selection of the new ASOS Black line to try on. As ASOS is an online business, it makes sense they embrace the bloggers and for that I was glad I have my blog.

 

I am really overwhelmed at what ASOS has managed to achieve. I couldn't believe it when I saw Illamsqua included in the selection of products as less than a year ago the brand had just launched exclusively to Selfridges. They have a massive range of beauty labels and products available on the site with many being ASOS exclusives.

  

I absolutely adored the ASOS Paint developed by Ciate. The packaging is adorable as beauty products are as much about the 'container' as the product itself, and I especially loved the White Chocolate Nail Polish Remover (that I can no longer find on ASOS.COM - boo) and the Speed Coat Fast Drying Top Coat which as someone who has very strong and quick growing nails really was something that impressed me by how fast it really worked. £6.00 EACH.

 DuWop Iced Tea Lipsticks are translucent lip treatments with sunscreen that when applied gives a sheer cover. The flavours are: Strawberry Kiwi, White Peach, Passionfruit and my fav Black Currant.

£14.50 EACH.

The giant Urban Decay Good Karma Big Buddha Brush was soft and luxurious.

£18.75

The This Works Lips (and Eyes) Crackers are the perfect gifts for the recessionista with no need to worry about wrapping or perfect as stocking fillers if you've got a bigger budget. I instantly envisioned a Christmas dinner party with my girlfriends and having these around the table. They're so much more practical than a silver plated keyring that is sure to be forgotten or lost within a few weeks.

£8.00

Urban Decay 24/7 Super Stash Glide on Pencils are perfect to split into 8 separate gifts. Personally I'd keep them ALL for myself as they contain conditioning Vitamin E & Jojoba Oil and are the perfect handbag/clutch size.

£18.00 for set of nine

The PURE Mini Lip Gloss Set that comes in the cutest black box and will sell out quickly!

£10.00 for set of six.

I think my favourite item of the night were these Mini Straightener a bargain at only £10!!

The come in black as well, but they as beyond cute and so handy!

Snapshots:

Testing the products!

Jenny hits the catwalk with Butters the dog

Being interviewed by the lovely Stephanie

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOWLER HAT!!

It's only available online in black at the moment.

£20.00

The one downer to online shopping is that you don't get to try before you buy, and with make up that's often such an important thing if you're new to the brand or product. So upon arrival of some samples, I am going to try to test as many of the products as possible and I'll be back Part Two of Beatuy & The Bloggers - The Shoot!!

Unfortunately this cute little woof woof  is not available to buy on ASOS.COM.