Money, Money, Money, Where shall I put my Money??

I ‘m in love with this stylish and on-trend Geometric Purse. It has a clip top fastening and a zip front detail, this purse also has an inside coin purse, along with some card compartments so that you have plenty of room to keep your bits and bobs. There is also a matching bag in store if you would like your purse to match up with your hand bag. This Geometric printed purse will go with almost anything but if you want to look your best this A/W then wear a block coloured dress along with this beauty!

River Island.com
RED PRINT CLIP TOP PURSE
£17.00

 

If you love to rock the vintage look, then you’ll love this stylish light brown croc effect push-lock fold over purse. It has a zip close pocket for your spare change with multiple card and cash slots inside. Wear this purse with a cute floral printed dress or with a smart floaty shirt dress. Be sure that you look sophisticated this A/W with this purse, and at a discounted price you can’t miss out!

Urban Outfitters.com
Push Lock Purse
Was £16.00
Now £8.00

Colour Block yourself through winter with this funky three toned panelled Fiorelli Purse with a metal clasp detail. It has a wrist strap so you can wear it two ways. This trendy Colour Block purse is quite versatile so you can dress up or down with this piece and you’ll still look fabulous.

New look.com
Fiorelli Lorenzo Colour Block Purse
£34.99

If you just want to splash the cash on something expensive and designer then why don’t you purchase this stunning embossed Biba purse. The purse is black with the Biba logo embossed on the front with a gold edged detail also on the flap. This Biba purse is plain and simple, does its job and leaves you feeling empowered. Wear this with a Printed dress and you’ll have all eyes on you.

House of Frazer
Biba Metal corner embossed logo flap over purse
Now £ 69.00
Was £ 79.00

Add a bit of edge to your handbag this A/W with this Premium leather studded purse and you’ll definitely be ready for anything that comes your way. The purse is made from black premium leather and has a chunky gold zip on the front along with a cluster of gold studs and another gold zip opening at the top. This Purse looks expensive and will definitely add to any wardrobe change whether it’s a rock tee with skinny’s or with a skater dress, be sure you stand out!

Topshop.com
Premium Studded Leather Purse
Price: £30.00

Dress of the Month ~ September

My current favourite dress is definitely one that divides opinion! We had her on display at a recent wedding fayre, and of the ladies who passed by our stand, as many said they hated it as loved it!

The gown is called Rita and whilst I can see how it can be challenging to traditionalists who expect a bridal gown to look a certain way, I rarely get as excited about a dress as I did about Rita!

This gown is quirky and sexy and a real attention grabber! It features a slim a-line silhouette, a flattering belt at the waist and a sweetheart neckline, all of which have the makings of a pretty dress. But what makes this gown so unique is the fabrication – it is made up entirely of tiny 3D fabric flowers! From a distance the texture is barely detectable, but the closer you get the more you can see the petals and flower shapes.  It is so different and definitely fits the bill for girls who are looking for an unusual wedding dress.

This gown suits more athletic figures and girls with small busts.

Be warned: This is a gown that not all your guests will understand. Some might even tell you they hate it!

For more information about this dress or to try it for yourself, please contact Catherine at Cathedral Gowns (Tel: 028 4461 2532)

 

 

 

Great Hair starts with Great Foundations!

“Good Foundations start in the Shower”

As a Hairdresser/Session Stylist, I get a vast range of textures and conditions of hair through my hands and my message is always the same  – Good Foundations to all hair starts in the shower with your choice of Shampoo and Conditioner, its Critical! My favourite allegory is that your hair is a delicate fibre and if you bought an expensive dress made with delicate fibres, you wouldn’t wash it in washing-up liquid ~ the same goes with your hair !

KMS California
Moisture Repair Shampoo
Was £13.00
Now £10.32

You will be pleased to know that I have just found some great foundations for you in the form of KMS Moist Repair Shampoo and Conditioner.

The Shampoo gently cleanses the hair in a luxurious lather while at the same time revitalizing and re-hydrating its moisture levels. It cleanses the hair from root to tip with the first shampoo. In the second shampoo it injects a blend of Aloe & Vanilla which is held in the technology of the Moist Repair Range . This product fuses the latest innovations and ingredient,s inspired and extracted from nature. So the Repair and Hydration starts at the very beginning, laying the foundations for Repair and Condition to build on.

The Conditioner now starts to cement the foundations in place. Moisture Repair Conditioner will Repair and Reconstruct the damage internally, building the hair and making it stronger. Therefore, reducing breakage and damage, making hair less tangled, Moisture Rich and beautifully Glossy.

Restore the Moisture in your Hair!

The Moist Repair range is suitable for all types of hair and with the Sun, Central Heating, Dryers, Curlers and Straighteners all working against our hair, who doesn’t have some form of damage or dehydration ?

These products are light enough to be used daily and as a daily swimmer with heavily coloured hair this is my new squeeze …….. I love it !!!

These products and many more from the KMS California Range are available online at WWW.VIDALCASSOON.COM/KMS.

 

Since we LOVE to bring you good news and bargains – I’m very excited to tell you that VidalCassoon.Com now have these products on Sale with great savings! Don’t miss out on a great bargain – Pop on over and see what you can treat yourself to.

Recycled Rubber Shoes, what’s not to like?

You know how much we love Melissa Shoes here at The Beauty Cloud so we have set out some of the Top Affordable Favourites for you to swoon over below – Enjoy!

YOOX.COM
£56.00

Check out these Alice in Wonderland themed recycled rubber flat shoes. They are luxurious and velvety red flats which have a little gold stop watch detail on the toe which adds to the detail. There is also a print of the original Alice in Wonderland iconic image of Alice in the inside of the shoe which gives these cute flats a quirky look. Wear your pair with a little black dress or with a pair of skinny jeans and t-shirt for that casual look.

FLO&JOE.COM
£83.00

I just couldn’t take my eyes off these very  feminine and classy shoes designed by Jason Wu for Melissa . These are fabulous Ultra girlie pumps in a smoke Grey and black lace print peep toe style, finished off with a charming bow detail to the front. They are simply perfect for any occasion, particularly a special one. The shoes also feature a signature Jason Wu owl logo and a low 2cm concealed heel, all in delicious bubble-gum scented plastic with is almost good enough to eat!

NONNON.COM
Vivienne Westwood Melissa Shoes
Ultragirl Black/Silver Buckle
£84.00

Shoes to shine in, these unique Melissa Shoes have been designed by the remarkable Vivienne Westwood who has transferred her fun and quirky character into these Glossy black plastic peep toes with a polished look and light gold buckle detail. The inside is a plush sole for extra comfort and features the Vivienne Westwood Anglomania logo. These Peep toes can be worn with anything, dress up or down accordingly but make sure that these beauty’s get to stand out from the crowd.

NONNON.COM
Campana Melissa Shoes
Zig-Zag Gold Pump
Was £60.00
Now £40.00

These Zig-Zag Gold pump’s were created with the Campana Brother’s in Partnership with Melissa. They have designed a pair of Gold glitter plastic with a tangle effect design, featuring a low top line that supports your foot with a solid edge at the front of the toe. The inside of these golden cutie’s contains an ultra-comfortable plush insole, so that it’ll be like walking on heaven. The Melissa tag and Campana logo are also are in the inside and are placed in quite attractive position. Wear these with a long Black floaty dress or with a casual outfit, either way you’ll still look a million dollars.

Which Full-Skirt Girl Are You?

ASOS Full Skirt in Flamingo Print
Was £38 Now only £26.50

This Full skirt by ASOS Collection is very quirky and fun with its flamboyant Florida flamingo print by ASOS Collection. This Beauty has been crafted in pure cotton which means this full skirt is breathable but also warm at the same time which is a perfect combination when layering up this winter without making you feel too stuffy. This Skirt features a high-rise fitted waistband and a full, flared design with pleat detailing. Designed with a midi-length cut and an A-line fit, this is a perfect full skirt if you love to wear brightly coloured clothing with playful prints especially if you want to liven up those cold winter days. Team this skirt up with a Cute jumper or if you really want that 50’s rock n roll look then style this Full skirt up with a plain vest top and a crop cardigan.

 

ASOS Full Skirt in Mix Tex Pattern
Was £45.00 Now only £13.50

Crazy about Geometric this A/W then why not work a Geometric Printed skirt by ASOS Collection. I absolutely love this Full Skirt because it’s modern and chic and would look fabulous with a plain block coloured vest top with matching block coloured accessorizes for that more is more look this A/W. This Skirt Features a mono chrome geometric print designed with a high fitted waistband and a contrasting colour-block zip to the reverse.  How could you miss out in this trendy Full Skirt at a reduced price as well.

 

 

Full Circle Double Layer Midi Skirt
Was £75 Now only £30

You can never go wrong with a little black skirt, so why not check out this black sheer Layered midi skirt by Full Circle. The skirt is high waisted and has gathered pleats to a semi sheer, midi length skirt with a mini length underlay with a concealed zip fastening to reverse and in a sheer, floaty finish. This skirt is a work of art its different layers fit perfectly together to create this black sheer and mid length full skirt which can be styled up with a rock tee for that casual look or if you want to make this number more elegant then team this skirt up with a  black lace long top.

 

ASOS Full Skirt in Mesh
£55.00

If you just want to pamper yourself then why not treat yourself to an extra special Full skirt like this skirt by ASOS Collection. This exquisite skirt has been crafted from a semi sheer layered mesh which gives this full skirt a prom like feel which means you will defiantly feel like a princess. This Sheer layered mesh design has a high waist with a slim fitted satin waistband, a full layered mesh design with an A-line shape with a light gathering and a tiered style. This is simply divine don’t forget to get yourself on of  these charming full skirts which can either be dressed up or down depending on the occasion so you really get two skirts in one.

Why Alterations to your Wedding Dress are so Important …

Since I described in my last blog how wedding dresses are sized, I thought you might like to know more about how your wedding dress will be made to fit you perfectly. Almost every single bride I meet needs at least a minor tweak on a standard fit to make it fit close to her body and flatter her to the max. It’s very rare that a wedding dress won’t need to be altered, at the very least on the hem length. The vast majority of girls only need a little tweak to the bust-line to make it sit completely flush against her skin and to not gape or pinch, and lots of girls benefit from a little extra cinching at the waist to really showcase her curves. For the vast majority of brides and bridal boutiques the most effective way to carry out these amendments to fit are through a process called ‘Alterations’, carried out by an experienced bridal seamstress.

The reason most dresses will need these minor alterations is because they are made to standard size charts and by someone who has never seen your figure, and the handmade nature of the garment means that there will always be variations in the fit and finish as its nearly impossible to cut and sew two dresses in exactly the same way. It isn’t practical or economical to send it back and forth to the designer to make these tweaks, therefore most bridal shops will have an experiences bridal alterations specialist on hand to carry out the work in a much more efficient and effective way. It’s obviously much better for the person making the alterations to be the same person who sees you in the dress.

Some of our designers offer a made to measure couture service but as the dress will be handmade by someone who has never seen you or your figure the fit will not be exact without a calico – but this is a much more arduous and time consuming process and adds a considerable amount to the price of a gown. But even with a made-to-measure gown there is a possibility that alterations might still be required, as even an eighth of an inch difference on a seam might mean that the gown pinches or gapes. In many cases it is much more practical and less time consuming to simply order your gown in a stand size and have the fit tailored by a seamstress, only if you are a non standard fit (eg. very pear shaped) will it be worthwhile to go down the made to measure route.

Alterations are carried out quite close to your wedding day to make sure that the fit is as perfect as possible. If you are planning on losing weight for your wedding it is even more important that your alterations be carried out really close to your wedding day, as there is no point having to have your dress taken in multiple times as your figure shrinks – and your seamstress won’t be impressed at having to redo the work.

The price of alterations can vary significantly depending on who carries them out and when they are done. I’ve heard of some seamstresses charging a rush fee for last minute work. But expect to pay anywhere from £30 to £100 for a hem to be shortened – multiple layers, chiffon and lace hems are much more difficult to work with and are obviously more expensive than a straightforward single layer satin gown. Bodice work will start at around £20 and the price will depend on boning, fabric and bead-work. On average most brides pay around £70 to have their gown tailored to fit them. However, every person needs different amounts of alterations, therefore it’s not fair for a shop to set a standard price for alterations or to include them in the price of the gown – what if the bodice fits perfectly and you only need a hem – you wouldn’t be happy to pay for a job that wasn’t required.

It is really important that you take that final step and opt to have your gown tailored exactly to your body – no matter how expensive your dress, it’ll look terrible and possibly even cheap if it digs in or gapes and exposes too much of your cleavage. No bride wants her guests commenting that she should have had the dress fitted to her.  Investing in the final fit of your dress is vital and I promise you won’t regret it!

 

Enter the new Generation of Make-up with Illamasqua’s latest Autumn / Winter 2012 Collection!

Illamasqua Counter in Debenhams, Belfast

Try not to be too jealous, but I just spent the morning in Make-up heaven with Illamasqua in Belfast following the recent release of their newest Autumn / Winter 2012 Collection, ‘Generation Q’.

I love so many of the new products in this collection. The pigment in all of the products, including their Lipstick, Gloss, Eye-Shadow Palette, Liquid Liner and Blusher is perfection! There is no need to have to layer up on products to get a noticeable colour, with these products you get it first time. The new Generation Q productsare well worth a try

A collection of Pencils and Liners available from Illamasqua in Debenhams, Belfast

and shall not disappoint. Why not pop into your local Illamasqua store to try them for yourself.

Check out my video below to see what fun we got up to!

For more information on Illamasqua and their products or to find your nearest Illamasqua counter, visit them online at www.illamasqua.com