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Bethanie Lunn
The Modern Girl's Guide to Fabulousness
Guide 2 Fabulousness

Fabulous Weddings: Accessories

One of the finishing touches that make a huge difference to any outfit is the accessories you choose and your wedding day is no exception.  Your wedding dress can do most of the talking but it is the headdress, jewellery and footwear that bring the look together.

Accessories are also important to your Bridesmaids.  Jewellery should be presented as a gift to your maids and not only complement their own outfit, but the Brides too.

There are a hole host of accessory brands out there – both on and off line but since it is supposed to be the biggest day of your life (next to giving birth and buying your first pair of Manolos- ha ha), it pays to get your accessories personalised to your specific requirements.

Angel’s Finery is one of the most intimately designed jewellery brands I have come across so far, with a whimsically magical feel.  The Creator, Many Louise Field offers a bespoke service to create your perfect pieces, considering everything from your wedding theme, dress style, personality and venue.

Mandy asked me to send her some images of the styles of head pieces and jewellery I most like along with pictures of my dress and those of the maids.  She carried out extensive research around my theme and, using all the information I have given her, will be producing illustrations and materials to demonstrate her ideas.

I can’t wait to see them.  This is much better than off-the-peg ‘everyone else has got one’ accessories!

www.angelsfinery.co.uk

Never forget your lippy or umbrella again

We've all done it, changed our handbag to match our outfit and in the process, forgotten the all important lip gloss / umbrella/ iPhone.  Darn it!  Well, Borne Naked handbag Liners allow you to store all of your essentials in a clear, sealable PVC pouch so you can see exactly what’s inside and simply insert it into your chosen bag rather than decanting all your bits 'n' pieces with the risk of leaving something behind. 

It pays to be prepared and equipped at all times plus I love the fact that the liners will protect the special silk lining of your gorgeous handbag.

Borne Naked Handbag Liners are available in three sizes. Small £21.00, medium £23.00, large £25.00.

Available from Quirkybags: 01508 484010 or: www.quirkybags.co.uk  

The party season gives you the perfect excuse to adorn your hair with sparkle and accessories but beyond that, a beautiful hair accessory will instantly glam up an ordinarily drab outfit and disguise a bad hair day!

Headbands, hair clips, oversized bows and Alice bands are the quick way of making you look gorgeous with minimum effort and, if you’re an avid reader you will know that I am ALL about minimum effort, maximum results when it comes to looking and feeling good.

Take a look at my pick and try them for yourself: 

(From left to right): Jennifer Behr Pink Poppy Brand, £195.00 from www.Benna.co.uksequin bow, £7.99 from River Island.  For your nearest stockist call: 02089914904 or visit </a>www.riverisland.com. Heart Headband, £40 from Freedom at Topshop. For Stockists call 01277 844 476.

Black band with diamante flower, £34.50, Animal print hair band, £14.50 (below). Both from www.preshhus.com / 01959563215

 

Hot new trend: Playful Accessories

One way to express your personality and have a bit of fun with style is by adorning playful accessories.  You simply have to visit this fabulous and fun online accessory boutique.  Brimming with a blend of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, charms and hair accessories, Temporary Secretary is my new favourite and some of my many lust-haves include this romantic 'Love Birds' gold necklace, £12.00

...and the cute and kitsch ‘Alice Tea Cup’ on a chain, £14.00

What better way to demonstrate my love of chai?

www.temporary-secretary.com

New champagne nail bar opens at Nicky Clarke, Leeds, UK

Eyebrow Specialist, Jo Pallan is super-talented and super-successful. Jo's rapidly growing beauty brand began with her threading and eyebrow shaping business at Nicky Clarke just six months ago. Now, with her booming client list of Celebrities, gorgeous ladies and now me, Jo widens her range of beauty services with her brand new  champagne Nail Bar based on the ground floor of the gorgeous <personnamew:ston>Nicky Clarke Salon, Leeds.

Services include classics such as a French Polish to the more advanced gel overlays and cutesy packages for younger girls such as the 'Mini Princess'.

I opted for a full makeover to enjoy the head to toe benefits this salon now offers starting with gel overlays – nail colour that is chip-free, smudge free and long-lasting (yes really), washed down with a glass of champagne. Weeks later, I still have colour perfect nails. 

I was then treated to a wash and blow dry by cheif tamer of tresses, Thor (I could do with a Thor of my own so I could consistently look fab), and an eyebrow shape.  Jo used a gentle tint to darken my eyebrows slightly, which added instant definition, followed by threading to define the shape further.  Often threading can be a little painful or uncomfortable but Jo Pallan is quick, highly skilled and now on my speed dial.

Prices start from £15 for a mini manicure and from £20 for an eyebrow tint. www.nickyclarke.com

For more information on gel nails - see my you tube channel for film footage of me road-testing them! http://www.youtube.com/user/BethanieLunn

Hot New Beauty Trend - Minx nails

The Park Avenue Princesses across the pond go crazy for it and now it is available here in the UK…Minx nails is an art form loved by the likes of Lady GaGa, Beyonce and Rhianna amongst others.

Minx nails are pre-made nail patterns that look like and are applied like transfers. They come in an assortment of designs to suit your style from zebra print to metallic silver.  Once you have chosen your pattern, the craft begins.  The designs are heated beneath a lamp to make them malleable and then smoothed onto your natural nails and cut to shape.

They need no drying time but can be fiddly to apply so I suggest you go to a reputable salon such as Gielly Green for the most impressive results.

They can last up to two weeks on your hands and up to six weeks on your toes.  If they start to lift or wrinkle, simply use your hairdryer to heat them up and smooth them out.

I opted for the metallic silver with a mirror-like shine – they were so dazzling I could almost see my reflection in them (now, there’s an idea!), and the amount of compliments I drew in were immense.

Dare to be different.

Information:

Gielly Green, 42-44 George Street, London, W1U 7ES

T: 020 7034 3060

W: www.giellygreen.co.uk

www.minxmynails.co.uk

Image courtesy of www.photobucket.com

My Four Fabulous Commandments

Much of feeling fabulous is in your head, but we all need a little helping hand so I show you how to perfect four areas to unleash your fabulousness.

My Four Fabulous Commandments give you the quick guide to looking and feeling your best, concentrating on Lashes and Lips, Heels and Hair. 

Commandment One: Lashes

The mind has a lot to do with permitting us to be fabulous, but when you look your best, you feel your best and since they say eyes are the windows to the soul, making your peepers pretty will leave you feeling wonderful (plus the adoring compliments you’ll get will help boost your ego)!

Up your flutter-factor with some eyelash extensions – the latest beauty craze.  Blink & Go is the fastest eyelash extension treatment out there. In just 20 minutes your eyes can be transformed by thick, luscious lashes that last for two weeks.

The Blink & Go technique starts by using a framework of 10 individual lashes placed on top of your own lashes, building up layers of more lashes for instant glam. You can choose a natural look or one that is more dramatic, the choice is yours.

You don’t need to wear mascara with these so you’ll always look extra gorgeous, even in your sleep!

If you’re after a more temporary look, shu uemura has to be my favourite brand for false eyelashes or ‘strip lashes’ overall. I adore the exclusive collections they create – turning fashion into fine art.  From gold leaf and fluffy tail lashes to translucent colours, kaleidoscopic wires and glittering diamante encrusted designs – shu uemura cater for my every mood and desire taking me from subtle siren to show-stopping seductress whenever I wish.

If you find them fiddly to apply, visit your nearest shu uemura counter for the Tokyo Lash Bar where a qualified Make-up Artist or Beauty Therapist will apply them for you. As long as you buy the lashes from shu uemura (and there are 50 styles from natural to statement), this service is complimentary time and time again!

Celebrity fans include Ugly Betty actress Becki Newton (the character Amanda) and Hayden Panettiere, and you can’t deny they have beautiful eyes.

To reap the benefits, all you need to do is apply it to the base of the eyelashes each evening (as though you were applying eyeliner) and then expect to see dramatic results after 6-8 weeks of use.

Minimum effort, maximum results!

Commandment Two: Lips

Being fabulous is also about being original, so experiment with a new lip colour.  Wearing a bold shade like red can lift your mood and boost your confidence (thanks to colour therapy), and Gwyneth Paltrow has famously said, “Beauty, to me is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick." I completely agree.

However, it is also a tricky shade to get right.  The wrong shade of red can leave you looking more drag queen than beauty queen - you have been warned.

So, how to perfect?  Firstly you need to match a red lipstick to your skin tone. If your skin has pink undertones you should stick to reds that also have a pink base.  If you're pale, lipsticks that have a touch of blue will be best for you. Richer tones like plum and cherry really suit dark and Asian skin and if you have warm yellow tones, you will best suit a red with a golden base.  It’s also key to play down the rest of your makeup for the most natural look, so opt for a natural base and keep eyes simple.  If you opt for lash extensions, this is all you will need!

The Glunge look (glam and grunge together) is a very popular look teaming dark eyes with eye-popping red lips.  It is a feminine look yet rocked up with a little edgy attitude.  Actress, Taylor Momsen is the Queen of Glunge so look to her for inspiration. So, as long as you get the shade right, there are no particular rules to make-up!

If you still need some help finding your red, choose LipInk.

LipInk Lip Colour is a semi permanent lipstick that stays put so you can have luscious looking lips minus the boring top ups and cringe-worthy lipstick-on-the-teeth moments.  The colour lasts so you can pout for hours.

You can order testers after looking at the online colour chart so you can try before you buy to ensure you get the perfect shade for you.

Commandment Three: Heels

Wearing high-heeled shoes not only makes you taller but you also feel confident, ultra-feminine and slimmer. How?  The heel elongates the calf region of the leg giving the illusion of longer legs, and consequently, slimmer ones.

Wearing your favourite heels doesn’t have to a case of ‘no pain, no gain’ with my tips…

Get Fitted

Try on different heel heights and pick the one that is most comfortable for you and ensure that you have the right size.  A size too small will hurt your feet while a bigger size is likely to make you wobble and fall so get your foot measured properly at a footwear boutique.

If you find that the High Street versions aren’t comfortable enough or generally don’t fit your feet properly, get some tailor-made shoes!

Hetty Rose produces shoes made to your personal foot measurements, re-using and re-working vintage materials in a creative and sustainable way, to create hand-made gorgeous, feminine shoes that fit…and since they are made to fit only you, your friends won’t be able to steal them!

Prepare the shoe

Too many accidents occur from women slipping over in their high heels!  Score the bottom of your shoes with a key or pair of scissors to create rifts and a rough service that make them less slippery and affords you better traction.

Protect your tootsies

Grimacing in pain at chafing shoes does not or feel sexy so if you find it tough to break-in your new pair of stiletto high heels try aids like small gel pads for the balls of the feet and heel inserts to help minimize rubbing at the back of the shoe.  Love Your Shoes has a great selection of foot saviours.  They are the best I’ve ever tried as they stay firmly in place and you can wash and reuse them.  They are so discreet, no one will know and prevention is the best cure. 

Carry Spares

Wearing high heel stilettos for a long time can result in a visit to the podiatrist, so know when enough is enough and change to a pair of flat ballet pumps that you can keep in your bag.  Many designs now fold in half so they’re small enough to keep in your clutch bag.

Perfect your posture

Walking  with ease in high heels all stems from your posture.  Without finding your centre of gravity, your weight will be distributed unevenly as you walk which affects your balance hence the common wibble.

Improve your sense of balance by standing on one leg and change.  Repeat this as many times as you like until you wibble less.  Practise makes perfect.

The added height heels give you can also cause stiff knees causing you to tilt forward and grip your thighs.  This posture is all wrong making you look sorry for yourself and causing your ankles to wobble.

To correct your posture, firstly, stand up straight, with your shoulders rolled back and down.  Point your chest to the sky to lift your rib cage and look super confident (there is a difference in sticking your breasts out as opposed to lifting your bust)! 

Engage your lower abs to strengthen your lower back.  This stabilises you and improves balance.

Finally, relax through the hips and knees to help you slide through the foot. 

Now put your sexiest foot forward…

Make them look pretty

Finally, ensure you treat your tootsies to a monthly pedicure, at home or in your favourite salon.  After being tucked away in shoes all day, they deserve a little pampering.  Keep them looking good with little effort with Bio Sculpture Gel.

The gel is applied like nail varnish in strokes and each coat is set under an ultra-violet lamp which leaves your nails strong, yet flexible.  The colour grows out as your natural nails grow longer and you can either have them refilled or removed to start again.  No chips, no smudges just long lasting colour.

Apparently, Victoria Beckham has both her fingers and toes done – well, if it’s good enough for her…

Commandment Four: Hair

We all know how a bad hair day makes us feel – naff.  Having clean, shiny and lustrous locks, whatever the length can really make a difference in boosting your self esteem.

It is very simple but having fresh hair will make you feel 100 times better and is vital for those close moments with your other half.  If you’re in a hurry or want perfect locks without having to wash and style your hair every day, then my secret weapon is Batiste Dry Shampoo, available in a range of fragrances.  It cleverly saps any grease and leaves locks bouncy and full.

With just one spray of this fine mist, your hair smells shampoo-fresh and wonderfully clean and greasy locks are a thing of the past.

Fabulous hair means healthy hair and my home-made recipe is sure to keep your barnet in tip top condition.  Mayonnaise makes a great hair conditioner!  It is not very glam but your tresses will thank you for it afterwards.

Simply massage in the mayo to your scalp (avoid your scalp if your hair gets greasy quickly) and work through the length of your hair by gently smoothing it through to the ends.  Wrap your hair in cling film or a disposable shower cap and wrap in a heated towel.  Put your towels in the tumble dryer for 10 minutes beforehand.  The heat will help the nourishing benefits penetrate the hair shaft more effectively.

As the mayo works its magic, heat a second towel and ten minutes later, replace your original towel with your newly heated one and enjoy for a further ten minutes.

A total of 20 minutes later, remove the towel and shower cap, work shampoo through your hair WITHOUT wetting it, rinse and then repeat until your hair is clean.

Silky soft locks on a budget!

Now that you’re looking and feeling terrific, throw a party for your friends, for your accomplishments or just because it’s Friday.  Having people you care about around you will improve your self esteem even more and if you believe that you are fabulous, and of course you are, then be happy about it.