Category Archives: Life & Style

Free Styling Session With Top Celebrity Stylist

Posted on by

London Fashion Week may be over but what comes after? London Fashion Weekend. Which is just as much fun. Frost is popping down there.

If you attend then make sure you get your Free Styling Session With Top Celebrity Stylist at LONDON FASHION WEEKEND WHERE

YOU CAN HAVE A FREE PERSONALISED STYLING SESSION WITH UK’S TOP CELEBRITY STYLISTS

ShopStyle.co.uk, the UK’s leading online fashion shopping site is bringing style expertise to the London Fashion Weekend 23rd to 26th February 2012 with a pop-up styling booth hosted by leading UK stylists Rebekah Roy and Fiona Doran (aka Mrs. Jones), two of the biggest British names in celebrity styling.

London fashion stylist, Rebekah Roy is known for her work with celebrities and musicians including Kate Moss, Eliza Doolittle, Billy Idol and The Feeling. She also writes regularly for Drapers online as well as penning the influential ‘Stylist Stuff’ blog.

Fiona Doran, AKA Mrs. Jones, is the stylist that designers and celebrities turn to for outré fashion and hip styling. She has collaborated with Giles Deacon, styled looks for Rihanna, Paloma Faith, Goldfrapp and designed the now legendary hooded cat suit worn by Kylie Minogue.

Rebekah and Fiona will be on hand to offer customised style tips at the ShopStyle booth. From clothes that best suit women’s body shapes and sizes to colours that complement individual skin tone, the styling team can help you understand what garments you should be purchasing when hitting the saleroom floor.

Located in the courtyard next to the catwalk entrance, visitors can come by anytime and simply schedule in an appointment or visit the LFWE concierge booth and book your private session with these leading British stylists.

· Vodafone London Fashion Weekend 23rd – 26th February 2012 at Somerset House, London

o Friday 24th February 2012: 12pm- 9pm

o Saturday 25th February 2012: 10am-7pm

o Sunday 26th February 2012: 10am-6pm

· Consumers can purchase tickets to the weekend events online www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk

· Styling sessions with Rebekah Roy and Mrs Jones are free to consumers attending LFWE and making an appointment at the ShopStyle.co.uk Pop-Up Styling Booth or at LFWE concierge desk.

Women Become The Breadwinners.

Posted on by

In this wintry economical climate some things have changed. More women than men lost their jobs, but it also changed people’s attitudes. Women have become entrepreneurial.

Avon, the company for women has proven some of the top female Sales Leaders are not only comfortable with running their own businesses, but also with having their husbands help look after the children and even work for them.

Some of these entrepreneurial women have become the main breadwinners in their families. What’s more, they have been able to take their success to the next level, even employing members of their own family to work within their team – including their husbands. Working closely together, and sharing their private lives and careers, these unconventional ‘power couple’ partnerships appear to be a prosperous success, with men that agree to the arrangement perfectly comfortable working for their wife.

Avon Sales Leader Rebekah Testar, who is responsible for training and recruiting her own team of Representatives comments:

“I love having the opportunity to work with my husband, Tony, taking time off together when we want to, and supporting each other on a daily basis. It’s not for everyone, but like other Avon couples I know we make these unconventional partnerships work by carefully delineating the respective roles and playing to each other’s strengths.”

“From my personal experience the most successful, full-time working relationships will find ways to work together at home by creating a separate balance of power in their business relationship, resting on how much each person wants to put in.”

Avon Sales Leader, Tony Testar says:

“I don’t feel intimidated that I technically work for my wife, I’m proud to be a part of such an enterprise that we can run together. When she started working for Avon, the money opportunities, and flexible hours allowing us to holiday and spend time with the kids was certainly appealing. When Rebekah first recruited me I did have a few male friends that took the micky, now some are thinking about setting up their own Avon business.”

Grace Dawodu, 41 from Essex is an NHS community nurse but decided to become an Avon lady due to our current economic climate as a lot of people in the health sector are at risk of losing their job. Grace viewed her Avon role as more job security for her.

Grace is a Sales Leader in training. She lives with her husband who works in admin. With her job as a nurse and an Avon lady, she is now the main breadwinner. Grace used to buy from her local Avon lady but was inclined to become one with the cuts the NHS were making. Grace enjoys working for Avon for several reasons; as a community nurse , she sees her Avon role as an extension of helping others. Secondly, Grace also trained as a therapist at a domestic violence so has a personal connection with Avon’s causes.

Nadine Rowlands and Wayne Rowlands, Manchester

Nadine started her Avon business five years ago, and two years ago, she recruited her husband Wayne as part of her team. They initially started the business because they had just moved house and had a big mortgage to pay, but as time went by, it became more and more of a passion for the couple and nowadays they very much run their business as an Avon partnership. At the last count, they had 1,200 Representatives and Sales Leaders in their team, and an annual turnover of £2.5 million! This year they are on track to earn an impressive £95k.

Watermelons Book Review: Is Climate Change a Conspiracy?

Posted on by

James Delingpole is known for being controversial. He is right wing and speaks his mind. You may know of him not only because of climategate, but also due to the furore he created when he debated in Tatler magazine whether people were sending their daughters or sons to private school.

One sometimes feels he is saying things for effect, but if there is one word I would use for his new book, Watermelons, it’s “interesting”.

It takes courage to be apart from the general conscious, especially on something like climate change. A subject most people in power have stopped debating over. The environment is at the forefront of political agenda, newspapers, televisions and people’s minds. You can’t go to a supermarket without being asked if you really want a plastic bag. I try to never use them (after seeing the effect they have on animals and the ocean thanks to Greener-upon-Thames) but when you have lots of shopping and someone asks if you need a bag you just feel like asking them if you should just juggle it all home.

I don’t judge people on their political beliefs, but I feel that will stop some people reading Delingpole’s book. Some of my liberal friends were not amused I was even reviewing Delingpole’s book, but, really, who cares.

I found this book interesting. Even if you get to the end and don’t agree with Delingpole it is a fascinating read. The name ”watermelons” is Delingpole’s description of people who are red on the inside and green on the outside. In this book he is debunking the myth of anthropogenic global warming (CAGW). Delingpole has a chapter on the evidence behind his theme of the book, which is; politicians and scientists are using the myth of man-made climate change to raise our tax and control us. Delingpole is not just a crack pot conspiracy theorists. Alain De Botton is mentioned in the book, Delingpole asked him what he wanted to read in the book and he said the science, the evidence, of Delingpole’s claim. Delingpole took his friends advice and included this.

The chapter on the climategate emails is hilarious. Really funny. The scientists involved to not come across well. I will still recycle and be environmentally aware but the book has some good points. It expose hypocrisy in droves, and takes people to task.

This book is for anyone interested in the debate on climate change. Whether environmentalist or sceptic. Delingpole is educated and outspoken. Most people follow other people’s opinion rather than make up their own minds . Which is why I do think you should read this book, it is entertaining and political and sparks debate Then make up your own mind.

Watermelons: How the Environmentalists are Killing the Planet, Destroying the Economy and Stealing Your Children’s Future

Keep Sport Relief in Your Pocket!

Posted on by

Keep Sport Relief in Your Pocket!

Download the Sport Relief app today

‘Sport Relief in Your Pocket’ is the brand new FREE app for Sport Relief 2012. It’s the best way for the public to keep up-to-date, wherever they are, with all the latest news and celebrity gossip in the lead up to The Sport Relief Weekend from 23-25th March. For the first time, the Sport Relief app is available on both iphone and Android phones.

The app is star-studded and jam-packed with videos, pictures and snippets of behind the scenes celebrity news and the latest updates from the Sport Relief celebrity challenges – the perfect tool for anyone seeking a distraction from the daily demands of life.

The fun (and slightly addictive) ‘Fling-a-Face’ game is a great way to have fun and de-stress. Players try their hand at catapulting a face – their own, their mates’ or even a famous celebrity – across seventeen iconic Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile venues. Along the way, they’ll encounter hazards, obstacles, collectable stars and other objects to help or hinder their quest to feature on the coveted Sport Relief leaderboard. Miranda Hart, Gary Lineker, Vernon Kay, Colin Jackson, Dermot O’Leary and Fearne Cotton are the famous faces putting themselves forward for flinging. Other celebrities can be spotted along the way too.

Gary Lineker says: ‘My all time top game has to be the ‘Fling-a-Face’ game on the ‘Sport Relief in Your Pocket’ app. Absolutely brilliant and I’m top scorer – you never lose it!’

Other key features include a brand new ‘Inspire Me’ section aimed at getting the public motivated for Sport Relief. Look out for heart warming examples of other peoples’ fundraising efforts and inspiring stories about some of the incredible people that will benefit from the money raised this Sport Relief. The app is the best way to get the whole family excited for the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile on 25th March, at the mere click of a button.

The app also links directly to all the latest @sportrelief tweets which contain updates about where the latest Sport Relief action is happening and which celebs are tweeting about Sport Relief.

The public can link through to the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile registration page from the app and choose to enter one of the 17 flagship Miles happening across the UK on Sunday 25th March. Over one million people are expected to take part in the Mile and whether families do 1, 3 or 6 miles there’s something for people of all ages and abilities.

‘Sport Relief in Your Pocket’ is absolutely FREE and available to download from The App Store and Android Market. Find out more at sportrelief.com/mobileapp

Four Paws Seeks Face for Laboratory Animal Campaign

Posted on by

CALLING ALL BEAGLES… FOUR PAWS SEEKS FACE FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL CAMPAIGN!

All animals are wonderful and worthy of celebration, and all animals deserve a life free from pain, fear and suffering, which is why FOUR PAWS continues to campaign on behalf of laboratory (and other abused) animals.

Beagles are no exception…not only are they beautiful (inside and out), they are also the most widely used-and-abused breed of laboratory dog, partly because of their size and short hair (this facilitates vein accessibility) but partly because of their gentle and affectionate nature and great intelligence. Sadly they are also easy and relatively inexpensive to obtain from breeders.

Thousands of beagles are used worldwide in horrific experiments to test drugs and chemicals ranging from green tea to glue; tests involve repeated force-feeding or inhalation for days, months and sometimes years to induce toxic effects such as vomiting, convulsions, seizures, organ failure, paralysis and death. These beautiful dogs have also been exploited for decades in alcohol and tobacco research around the world.

Beagles (and other dogs) neither develop diseases nor respond to drugs in the same way as humans. To overcome key species differences, the disease must therefore be artificially induced, either surgically or chemically, in an attempt to provide a ‘model’ for humans. The dogs suffer not only from the disease itself, but also from the trauma of surgery or the toxic effects of other methods.

FOUR PAWS needs your help to capture the essence of what is so unique and wonderful about the beleaguered beagle. We are looking for a very special image that will be used to spearhead our laboratory animal campaign – it will be reproduced on our website and leaflets and used as part of our international campaigning work, so your beagle will become a star!

Please send us good-quality photos (preferably as an email attachment) of your beloved beagles with a note stating their name, sex, age and a little information about both their background (maybe your beagle companion has been rehomed from a laboratory?) and interests, and of course why you love him/her so much! Please don’t forget to include a brief note giving FOUR PAWS permission to reproduce the image.

Deadline for entries is 1st March, 2012, so start snapping! We can’t wait to hear from you and see photographs of your beagle best friends!

Email: marie-claire.macintosh@four-paws.org.uk
Postal address: c/o Marie-Claire Macintosh, FOUR PAWS, 32-36 Loman street,
London. SE1 0EH.

PAUL COSTELLOE MENSWEAR Spring/Summer 2012

Posted on by

Paul Costelloe was once again proud to open London Fashion Week with his Spring/Summer 2012. This season Paul Costelloe Man embraces the summer season with an eclectic combination of influences.

The SS12 season sees structured tailoring softened with romantic treatment. In using
rich fabrics and subtle tailoring, the influences of Edwardian conservatism is expertly
mixed with New Romantic frivolity and a slight hark to the seventies.

Linen is key for the collection hinting at the romanticism of the garments, in its tactile
nature and drape. Used in black and white, in cross hatched mélanges, in Changeant
jewel like tones and in three dimensional knitted constructions, linen cloth
compliments the Edwardian structure in the tailoring and introduces the lightness of
summer and a subtler silhouette.

Throughout this season’s Paul Costelloe Man collection, the tailoring is perfectly constructed yet never rigid and is complemented with soft ruffled, pleated, voluminous gauze and linen shirts. Silhouettes embody these sentiments, with trousers in slim and clean lines, or in large, full and soft shapes.

Colours for Paul Costelloe Man SS12 continue the contrasting themes, running through soft neutrals and deepest indigo to crayon brights, with highlights and lowlights in black and white.

Prose AW12

Posted on by

Most of you will be familiar with the label Prose through the collection they sold at Topshop’s flagship store in 2009. Since then, they’ve gone on to showcase their collections in Amsterdam, Paris and now London. Prose’s AW12 collection definitely fits into the mould of most of the collections we’ve seen this season. The palettes are autumnal with browns, navy blue  being heavily featured with the token splash of Mustard thrown in. The pieces themselves are sophisticated and look comfortable. Matching trouser suits and tailored coats with velvet gathered trousers, woolen jumpers and denim jackets are also incorporated. There are some unusual and organic materials incorporated into the collection providing contrast but also innovation in the way that they are threaded into the more recognisable materials. Compared to the other collections I have seen this week, this is one of those I would have no qualms about wearing as the clothes look comfortable but still have that edge which makes them look unique.

 

Keshini x

  

On A Diet? Pancakes The Dukan Way.

Posted on by

Pancake Power

On a diet? There’s no need to miss out this Shrove Tuesday or lose your resolve. Try Dr. Dukan’s Guilt-Free Galette!

If you’re watching your waistline this Pancake Day there’s no need to miss out. Dr Dukan –the man behind the plan– has created a revolutionary pancake recipe that’s fuss-free, fat-free and fast. Say hello to the Oat Bran Galette: it’s the modern day pancake that’s actually good for you!

Savoury or sweet, the Dukan Galette is a treat and a savvy solution to Shrove Tuesday. Dr. Dukan has developed a healthy pancake that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner… and not just on Pancake Day. Now that’s flipping marvellous!

Celebrate this year, with Dr Dukan’s “eat as much as you want” policy and an extensive list of over 100 approved foods to choose from. It’s the perfect way to shift those unwanted pounds without going hungry.

Oat Bran Galette Recipe
‘The Classic’
Serves 1
Ingredients
1.5 / 2 tbsp oat bran
1 egg white
1 tbsp quark
1 tbsp fromage frais

Top Tip! If you want a savoury Galette, try adding 175g of flaked tuna or smoked salmon to the beaten egg whites. For a sweet Galette, why not try adding almond extract or orange flower water. A simple store-cupboard solution!

For more information on the diet or to create your free personal weight-loss plan please visit www.dukandiet.co.uk