Five Gold Rings

I saw the lovely Holly from Cosmopolitan this morning and just take a look at her hands!  Barry M's Cyan Blue nail paint plus multiple miss-matched gold rings.  LOVE.

For all her hilarious anecdotes and fashion chat follow her on twitter @HollyCooop

PS. And for those who would argue that she is sporting SIX gold rings,

two of them are linked so my festive title is totally justified!

Exact Eyeliner

Just one product - that's all it takes for me to develop an obsession.  A smokey eye ADDICT, I tried Barry M's Wink pen recently and ever since have been sporting a simple flick of black liner.  It's like a marker pen with a precise nib and glides on with such ease.

Here is my kit and a bit of a step by step guide:

Benefit High Beam

Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfecter 

Prep the eye and face with simple, flawless makeup.  This look is all about looking fresh with a slick of jet across the sockets.  Apply Benefit High Beam highlighter with your finger in a semi circle, round your brow bone and down onto your cheekbone.  Blend.  Add little touches on your inner eyes to make them look whiter and more awake.  Also, a touch down the bridge of your nose is a good trick.  All these areas are where light naturally falls on the face, so by accentuating them, you will achieve a light, glowing look.

Next, I add a touch of this Clarins Instant Light (which is actually pretty clear despite the pink appearance) in the same areas to create a dewy, slight shine.  Any balm or gloss will do for this - I just love this one because it's not sticky.  Vaseline, Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream, whatever. 

 Barry M Wink

Pull your lid taut from the outside of the eye and drawer a steady line as close to the lashes as possible.  Even a glimpse of bare lid between the line and the lashes will stand out a mile.  The line should be thin on the inside and wing out as you reach the outer eye.  This gives that much-wanted cat effect.  Any mishaps can be easily swept away with a dampish cotton bud.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers 

Eyelash curlers can transform your face - start as close to the eye as possible, squeeze and then keep gently squeezing as you move the curlers towards the tips of the lashes.  Shu Uemura are the industry's cult curlers but even Boots own work really well.  Try and buy a pair with as many replaceable pads as possible so you'd don't have to buy new curlers every time the pad splits (which it will with age).

Maybelline The Colossal Volume Express

Finally, sweep deep, black mascara across the lashes.  I'm a Maybelline mascara devotee and if, like me, you don't have particularly curly lashes naturally, and you curl and the lash goes straight the minute you apply mascara, it's because you're not using waterproof.  A waterproof mascara holds the curl in place - think of it as an equivalent  to hair spray for your lashes.  Let coats of mascara dry before you apply the next, and put more on the outer lashes to make the feline shape more apparent.  Keep an old, thoroughly washed mascara brush to separate any clumps.

Et voila x

The Big Smoke

A relatively blah Tuesday is looming.  No weekend anticipation or glamour, it's just too far away.  May I suggest that, like me, you will perk up tomorrow with a dark and sultry smokey eye?  The weather forecast's dire so our hair will look like crap by the time we reach our offices, but our sooty sockets can remain unharmed.

Pick up a postcard

I found these postcards in a Sisley store, years ago. The cards were in a concertina which I've kept ever since and the shots still look so incredible today. I love Mini's tumbling toffee curls topped with pale pink ribbon, her black come-to-bed eyes, and the laddered stockings.  

Sensational Sienna

This weekend Sienna Miller announced she is with child prompting a few raised eyebrows at the younger father, but more anticipation about upcoming boho maternity wear.  Sienna (my only blonde girl crush) has had the most stunning and emulated fashion history but I think her absolute prime was her role as unhinged Nikki in Alfie.  You  can pause any of her scenes and the still will look like a fashion shoot - that shaggy hair, those sooty eyes and the most amazing array of bohemian clothing and underwear.  So here's to Sienna...and lets hope it's a girl.