Cover Girl: Natalie Portman Winter Edition of V Magazine

Shot in London by Mario Testino actress Natalie Portman features in this Winter’s edition of V Magazine. In her interview she discusses her public image,  success and why she has waited thus far in her career to do a sex scene, namely in the  upcoming film “Brothers” to be released 4th Dec where she is starring alongside actors Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal.

On maintaining her privacy: “The formative time of my public image happened before there was Facebook, Twitter, all of those gossip sites. I had my own drunken nights and dating a million people, but there wasn’t that attention then.”

12 Winter Beautifying Must-Haves

You Freshers aren’t feeling quite as fresh anymore, we have the premature  “4 month end to recession” speculation to get over and our climate is oh so dull these days. With the party season ahead some of us simply need perking up this time of year.  Here’s our essential Winter Perk list of affordable beauty treats so let’s take it from head to toe. View Gallery

The Fringed Collective

Sequin Seperates

Sequin Script Nautical Tees & Premium Sequin Waistcoat

Ooh La La

Parisian Tee With Velvet Stripes, choose from Black or Navy

Fall Trend: Back To Matte

It’s time to shelve your summer shimmer for the look of the season matte makeup. The idea needn’t sound daunting using a matte  palette doesn’t have to be dull or flat as the name may suggest, with these fabulous takes it’s easy to see why.  Here are some tips for you to tweak & perfect your matte look this season.

(Columns l-r) Decidedly Rock ‘n’ Roll – Mod at 3.1 Phillip Lim (top) & winged shading at Jean Paul Gaultier (bottom). Vintage at D&G with thirties and forties references. Retro at Chloé with a flashback of the early 80’s, bold contouring met extra voluminous curls.

Perfect Matte Skin

Your one stop beauty counter for matte foundation this Autumn should be Sleek MakeUp. From the lightest porcelain to the deepest chestnut skin tones you can find the perfect colour-match for you with Sleek’s Oil Free Créme To Powder Foundation. You’ll find The formulation is not only oil free for those troublesome skin areas but also has built in concealer helping you to save a whole step in your beauty routine. It glides on as cream and transforms into a flawless matte powder finish that is perfect for creating a truly seamless base.  Choose from 17 shades.

Muted as seen at  3.1 Phillip Lim

The Nude Lip - Lip Balm Treatment in Rain £17, NARS

Working in perfect harmony with a muted face, you can also keep nude lips matte this season. Simply apply a small amount of concealor patted over the top of the balm  &  you’ll have the desired matte finish. As well as creating the perfect muted shade, the lip treatment will leave your lips kissably moisturised.

Mod Lashes – Eylure Naturalites False Eyelashes in 040 £4.85, Superdrug

Ayako, NARS’ lead makeup artist, created the look by placing false lashes on the outer half of the bottom lash line. For a look that’s effortlessly fab and less Alex DeLarge avoid lashes with the fibres densely placed. Eyelure’s Strip Lashes in 040 are the perfect set, specifically designed for under eye use they’re lighweight & the glue provides excellent adhesion for prolonged wear.

Shakira Is Back

Colombian songstress Shakira is back & by the look of it she’s in top form with a hot sound & polished image, she’s recently graced the cover of this September’s Latina Magazine not once but thrice with three cover editions. Known & loved for her unique sound and body contortions  during performance,  Shakira fails to disappoint in the video for her electro disco groove forthcoming single She Wolf. From the first listen She Wolf has had us hooked & immediately makes you want to get up and dance. Since then we’ve discovered her Spanish version titled Loba which is even sweeter than the English one. September 21st will see the UK release of She Wolf followed by the UK scheduled release of her latest album also named She Wolf on October 5th.  View gallery

Quilted Heaven & Haute Pins

Perfect cold evening out cover up! Warning: these wet look leopard print leggings may have you running for cover. Shop Haute Pins>

Easy Tiger: Cassie X Dimepiece “9 Lives” Lookbook

Photography: Brooke Nipar

Check out these glam hot photos featuring Cassie in the  Autumn Winter 09 Lookbook ”9 Lives”  from Dimepiece designs. Earlier in summer we spoke of the coming release & collaboration featuring tees & tanks for Cassie’s Electro Love album. We knew the Co-Founding Stateside gals Ashley Jones & Laura Fama wouldn’t disappoint, these ladies serve up style ”With the intention to carve a niche in the fashion universe and create garments that express and embody female empowerment” Dimepiece.

Tough cookies or not we think the  fun design & edgy wearability of their street wear will always score highly in the jam hot stakes.

Swarovski Glam Rocks!

Get Studded

Punk Trunk The Perfect Arm Candy

A Cut Above – Female Celebs & their Undercuts

Some of these celebrities have been causing quite a stir by sporting their latest undercut hairstyles into the mainstream. Considered an acquired taste for most, these ladies aren’t afraid to show off their shorn side. In the pink corner we’ve singer Rihanna, who’s been warming us up all year for her new do with a graduated fade. With Rihanna’s 2nd album came an edgier look & she’s reached new heights after unveiling her latest do. Before Rihanna & most surprisingly was Amelle Berrabah one 3rd of UK pop act  Sugababes swapping her trademark

 side swept hair & tumbling curls. Earlier in the year to get the chop was RnB singer & former model Cassie sporting a full on shaven undercut. 

Jersey Frill Playsuits

Luxe Tafetta Full Skirt Dress

Rosette Detail Blouse

ARISE Africa Fashion Week Recap

Looking towards African materials, designs & techniques some of the worlds top fashion houses  have borrowed from Africa in creating their most recent collections. These have included Lanvin, Oscar de la Renta, Louis Vuitton & Christian Louboutin. Sifted down from Couture designers to our favourite High Street stores, we’ve followed the stream back to the river to take a closer look at some of Africa’s talented designers shining on the fashion spectrum. The inaugural ARISE Africa Fashion Week commenced on  June 12th 2009 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. A  spectacular eight-day event showcasing 50 of some of Africa’s leading designers from across the continent. Here’s a snippet of just five of the designers whom graced the event. View Gallery 

Shu Uemura Fall 09 Collection Revealed

We’re in for more ethnic decadence after Summer as Shu Uemura have revealed their make-up collection for Fall 09. As to be expected from the Japanese brand their latest line Primitribe offers potent shades, this time drawing on inspiration from stones and paintings used in tribal rituals. Any cosmetics that evoke the vibrance of summer into fall is a hit with us. Primitribe will be hitting stores in mid-August.

Ultra Ripped Skinny Jeans

We’ve  got the skinny on how to bare in your denim this summer, in our smoking hot Ultra Ripped Skinny Jeans. Available in two fab shades Stone or Acid Wash these latest Haute Pins additions are in limited supply so get your whilst stocks last!

Shop> Ultra Ripped Skinny Jeans, Haute Pins

Summer Trend: Safari Beauty

You don’t have to embark into the Serengeti to achieve one of summer’s hottest looks  Safari Beauty. Be adventurous with your makeup look as there’s no better time of the year to glow like a sun kissed goddess. A true Safari girl  likes her makeup essentials minimalistic with no minimising on glamour. We give you the essentials to achieve this look, easy for day or sultry for night. An all over bronze glow and earthen eye colour are key for this look.

Safari Beauties

Safari Eyes:

For daytime balance pale  shades of gold, copper & bronze, with sculpted bronzed cheeks. The daytime Safari look is less heavy so accentuate eyes with a light touch of mascara  & a highlighted brow.  For a fantastic evening look, blend pearlescent  shades over deep mattes for a  gilded smokey effect,  olive & gold or coppers & deep chocolate make great combinations. A highlighted brow is just as important for your evening look, accentuate further with fuller lashes and smudge deep chocolates or black towards the lash line.

 

Star Buy: SAFARI I-Divine by Sleek , under £5, available from larger Superdrug stores & all good salons. Sleek MakeUp’s latest I-Divine addition is mineral based with 12 complimentary Safari inspired shades. In true minimalist adventurous spirit they’ve combined a vibrant medley of pearlescent & matte shades that look perfect on all complexions. You’ll be hard pressed to find a palette of this quality at such an affordable price.

New Nautical

Remembering Two Icons & The Style They Left Behind

Last week saw the passing of Michael Jackson & Farah Fawcett, both artists & icons of their heyday here we reflect on their style and influence on popular culture still relevant to present day.

Michael Jackson 1958-2009

    

     

He pushed the creative bar and showed that not only with sound but with imagery you can take the audience to a new appreciation of aesthetics. The vigour with which he played across wide frames of reference is oft emulated today. 

  Farrah Fawcett 1947-2009

Hugh Hefner lovingly described Farrah Fawcett as ”The Marilyn Monroe of the 1970s”  in recent years she decidedly shunned her treasured privacy to raise awareness for Anal Cancer and actively contributed to various charities. The LA Times reports that Farrah could earn a posthumous Emmy Award for her touching documentary on her cancer battle, Farrah’s Story. 

   

   

The Texan beauty could play it both demure and unassuming to a vivacious sex kitten that sky rocketed her pinup status, so its no surprise then that some of our current hollywood blondes and fashion houses alike have taken a leaf from Farrah’s lookbook.

 

Neon Checked Satchel

Let’s Go Surfing In Velour Rompers

Velour Rompers in three cute form-fitting  styles and did we mention they are two-way wear? A halter today or bandeau tomorrow, complete with kitsch surf themed embroidered badges.

Lady Gaga’s Explosive Performance at MuchMusic Video Awards

We just couldn’t resist sharing these photos with you of Lady Gaga at Canadian ceremony MuchMusic Video Awards.  An award in itself, Gaga seems  to have topped all our female muscians thus far this year for most outrageous showmanship! View Gallery

Folded Denim Dress

Shop Vintage Luxe Folded Denim Dress>