Tag Archives: Life & Style

Burlexe – Interview with Cast Member Dympna Messenger

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Tell us a little bit about yourself as a performer.

I was a “late starter” and came into the business after bringing up my 3 children and a stint of teaching drama in a Dagenham comprehensive. Because I hadn’t waited this long and trained this hard in order to be unemployed, on graduating I formed my own company “Time of Our Lives Music Theatre” with Keith Myers who had directed me at Drama School, sadly we lost our funding in 2008 so I am now relying on other producers to employ me and have the headaches.

How did you get involved with Burlexe?

I got involved with Burlexe by responding to an ad in Casting Call Pro, I never dreamed I get the job but so glad I did, it is so totally different to anything else I’ve ever done.

What was your impression of Burlesque prior to this?

Before this job I had no idea the Burlesque world existed! I was vaguely aware of things like Gypsy Rose Lee and Strip Tease.

What is it now?

Working with the Burlesque ladies has totally opened up my eyes to a whole style of entertainment that is the descendant of old fashioned Variety and Music Hall of which I am a big fan.

Has doing Burlexe changed you in any way?

Doing this job has been a revelation. I would love to have a discussion/debate with “women’s libbers” who disapprove of this type of thing, but my Burlesque friends tell me that they find what they do to be liberating and who am I to argue with them!

When and where is the next show?

The next show is in The Shadow Lounge, Brewer St, Soho on Wednesday 21st March at 8pm.  Frost readers are entitled to a £4 discount when they use the code burlx4ma.

Read our review of Burlexe here.

Invest in a Spot of DIY

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With the stagnant housing market showing no signs of revival, 2012 is all about home improvement.

Installing shutters is a great way to invest in your property and they not only look great, they are great insulators so can help you save on those energy bills.

Sam Tamlyn, from the California Shutter Company, has these handy tips on choosing and installing shutters:

1. Choose a Style that Works for your Room
The most popular style is the plantation shutter, which have slats that rotate open and closed to control the light levels in the room. You can also buy solid shutters for a more traditional look. Tier-on-tier gives you greater flexibility with light control and for a Continental feel go for a solid lower half and moveable slats on top.

2. Choose the Right Material
Wood remains the most popular material for shutters, but you can now choose from a whole host of other options such as MDF and plastic.

3. Design – Keep it Simple!
Look at the window frame and try to get this to match the shutter. Less is definitely more in shutter design.

4. Go Complementary
Look at the colour scheme in your room (floor, skirting board, furniture and doors). Choosing a colour that complements and accentuates these existing elements is important.
Generally lighter coloured shutters pull in more light, while darker coloured ones absorb more. So, if your room is filled with heavy furniture or a dark wood floor, a lighter coloured shutter would be more suitable for your room.

5. But Don’t Shy Away From Colour!
White shutters are extremely popular, but don’t be afraid to add a dash of colour to your room if white isn’t your thing. Neutral colours such as greys, blacks or browns also work well and have a timeless appeal. However, introducing bold and bright colours is very now, so if you’re a fashion fiend then go for a custom colour and get the WOW factor for your room.

6. Maximising Light
Shutters are a great way to control the light levels in the room, and the larger the slat, the more light will be drawn in. The contemporary 89mm slat is very popular at the moment for this very reason.

7. Opening your Shutters
When designing your shutters, think about how often you will open and close them, and how often you will tilt the slats. Generally fewer panels are more effective if you’re planning on leaving the shutters closed during the day with the slats tilted open.

8. Size
One of the best things about shutters is their flexibility, not just in terms of the design but in their size too. Shutters can be fitted to very tall windows (up to about three metres) and generally there is no maximum width. The largest shutters we have ever supplied at The California Company were a massive eight metres in width.

9. Awkward Spaces

Shutters can be made to fit any awkward spaces; from ovals to triangles to hexagons, so you can really get creative and make a feature out of that unusual window.

10. Installing your Shutters
Installing your shutters is a very simple process; you’ll only need a screwdriver and a drill. For a neat finish, we recommend applying decorators caulk.

www.thecaliforniashuttercompany.co.uk

Amoena: A Sexy Mastectomy Lingerie Company.

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If you are one of the many women who has had cancer it will have affected everything from your bank account to your social life. Frost has discovered Amoena, a sexy lingerie line for women who have had a mastectomy.

Perfect for those romantic encounters, leading mastectomy-wear specialist Amoena has unveiled a gorgeous new Parisian-inspired collection – French Touch.

Available in two ranges, Juliette and Violette, the French Touch collection is designed for women who like to wear the very best lingerie and won’t let breast surgery stand in their way.

The range combines the finest fabrics with delicate decorative touches and provocative styling, for a subtle but sexy look. It includes four mastectomy bras and a choice of briefs, thongs and lace or tummy-control shorts.

Amoena questioned 1000 breast operated women who revealed that wearing glamorous lingerie makes them feel more attractive. Over 80% confirmed that wearing glamorous lingerie is still important to them following a mastectomy.

“Following breast surgery, women still want to look good, and it’s important for them to be able to find clothes that restore their body confidence,” says Amoena marketing manager, Rhoda White.

“We’re really excited about this lovely new collection. It will appeal to all those women who love to wear luxe lingerie and it is the perfect option for some Valentine’s romance.”

French Touch can be purchased online at www.amoena-online.co.uk, by mail order on 0845 072 4027, or from the company’s showroom in Hampshire.

Asger Juel Larson’s AW12 collection

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Executed with militant efficiency, Asger Juel Larson’s AW12 collection combined raw masculinity with a nonchalant effeminate twist.

‘Lucid Disorder’ held on Wednesday 22 February 2012 reinvented the classic male suit with textured materials, two toned jacket and bottom combinations (both harem pants and thick-pleated skirts) and an attention to detail to accessories.

Almost as dark and edgy as the sumptuous surrounding of the Freemason’s Hall in Holborn, Larson’s London Fashion Week set offered predominantly statement black styles with heavy, and occasionally imperfect, fur adornment.

The emerging Danish designer’s catwalk collection suggested an experimentation of a tribal- come-trooper style – with fluffy hats, some models sporting quiver bags, double breasted jackets and others exposing their tattooed chests.

But Larsen added a modern twist with décollage detail to his jackets which were ripped to the shoulders or simply cut around the neck with no other embellishment.

In other striking designs, the models (who were styled with a frozen brow and beard) emerged wrapped in thick polo necks and Middle-Eastern head gear.

Already voted as ‘one to watch’, Larson has blurred his vision of past and future male clothing, the effect of which is vibrancy, even though his trademark style is underpinned by a gothic, lucid theme.

Cat Footwear AW 12 Martine Rose, James Long collections debut at London Fashion Week

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Cat Footwear AW 12 Martine Rose and James Long collections debut at London Fashion Week

Cat Footwear will be showcasing two highly anticipated designer collaboration collections during London Fashion Week AW 12, with emerging menswear designers Martine Rose and James Long. Both collections will be exclusively previewed during the designers NEWGEN MEN Salon and Fashion Forward shows and will draw inspiration from Cat Footwear’s workwear heritage.

This season Martine Rose will be hosting her first solo catwalk show at one of the British Fashion Councils most reputable shows NEWGEN MEN, having successfully moved up from her previous MAN show allocation. Cat Footwear are in their third season of collaborating with Martine Rose and are delighted to be supporting Martine during her debut Somerset House show, whilst collaborating with a designer who’s been described by Fantastic Man as “one of the most exciting designers working in London right now”. The AW 12 Cat x Martine capsule collection will be unveiled during her Salon show on Wednesday 22nd February.

Recently awarded the Fashion Forward prize, James Long is the first menswear designer ever to receive the accolade. Recipients of the Fashion Forward award are selected for their highly credible and innovative collections, with past winners including Christopher Kane and Giles Deacon. Cat Footwear are therefore proud to announce their support of James Long during his debut at the British Fashion Councils Fashion Forward show, whereby the highly anticipated Cat x James Long capsule footwear collection will be showcased for the first time, alongside his highly acclaimed menswear line.

Free Styling Session With Top Celebrity Stylist

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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.

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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.

FREUD SET TO DRAW IN DA VINCI LEVEL CROWDS

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Art loving ‘Exhibitionists’ scramble to get tickets to the next big show in town. Lucian Freud star still burns bright despite his death.

Demand for Lucien Freud’s Portraits exhibition, which opened on 9th February, is set to rival that of Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan, according to viagogo, Europe’s largest ticket marketplace.

The company selling the tickets, viagogo, is currently experiencing one search per minute for sold out weekend tickets to see the iconic artist’s work. The site also saw a 236 per cent spike in demand for tickets during the Lucien Freud: Painted life BBC documentary on Saturday, which profiled the life of the artist who was still working on his Portraits exhibition until his death last summer.

viagogo has identified a new breed of ‘Exhibitionists’ so desperate to get their hands on tickets to the latest art shows that they are driving demand and prices on ticket marketplaces. The most wanted shows ‘Exhibitionists’ are searching for at the moment include Freud, Hockney and Picasso, with popularity for them rivalling searches for Coldplay, JLS and Ed Sheeran.

Ed Parkinson, Director of viagogo UK said: “da Vinci was a record breaking exhibition based on ticket demand, but the critic’s glowing reviews and the current demand for Freud tickets has arguably cemented the show as next hottest ticket in town for a new breed of art loving ‘Exhibitionists’.”