Summer Beauty WIT

I've been asked to do a WIT about my hair and make up regime which I found quite funny because it's relatively low maintenance: I almost always wear my hair in a ponytail, rarely brush it and when I put it up it's in a messy bun because I love beach/bed hair.  I think make up should take 5 minutes and look very natural- I like  a bronzed, sunkissed look with a little sheen on the cheekbones and definition in the eyes. Yet I never actually realised just how specific my make-up bag is, until I decided to list my favorite products! My make up changes slightly between summer and winter, so I thought i would show my favorite S/S everyday products and a few "special occasions" favorites.

My Summer make-up essentials:

1. St. Tropez Everyday Airbrush- great colour, simple to use. I can't bear being pale!
2. Benefit eye lash tint- I don't like mascara, especially in the summer, so I prefer to get a black-blue eyelash tint from Benefit salons (Adriana in the London Spitafield's branch is truly amazing and also waxes my eyebrows)
3. Benefit lip scrub and balm- I wear this lip balm everyday, I love it because it's completely matt and  being quite thick it stays on for ages. It comes with a lip scrub too.
4. Laura Mercier cream blush in Blaze- some days it's the only thing I wear. It gives an instant "healthy" look.
5. Essie Coral varnish- great shade for summer toes.
6. Laura Mercier bronzer in Matt Bronze- couldn't live without it, my star buy. Non yellow/orangey and the only one without sheen for a matt sun kissed look. 
7. Essie Mademoiselle varnish- for natural nails.
8. Seche Vite top coat- only the best in the world. I take it on holiday and it instantly revives an old man/pedicure. Another star buy.
9. Shu Uemura black cream eyeliner- stays on all day.
10. Bobbi Brown eye liner brush- draws a perfectly neat line.
11. Nars duo cream highlighter in Orgasm/South Beach- love love love this. Great for cheeks, eyes, lips. Star!
12. The bronzed messy hair look I love!
13. Guerlain Terracotta powder eyeshadow in Holy Smoke-  a great sheer alternative to the below.
14. Mac Quite Natural Paint Pot cream eyeshadow- I wear this almost everyday, it's a barely there matt "wash" on the eyelid.
15. My signature pony tail!

And for the evening or a special occasion I love a coral lip using Mac's  Morange lipstick and golden skin with Jemma Kidd's Show Stopper Body Glow.

Multi tasking dress (part two of two)

Same dress but casual, ready for a day of appointments and worn with leather jacket and precious accessories: jeweled flats, metallic bag and diamante bangles. 

Boden shopper Jeffrey Campbell ballerinas (similar to my Miu Miu ones)

Miu Miu leather jacket and ballerinas, Top Shop dress, HM belt, Svarowski bangles, Boden bag

Multi tasking dress (part one of two)

I'm still in exploration phase of neutrals territory and found this great dress in Top Shop (comes in 3 gorgeous powdery colours). I love a basic dress that can be dressed up or down and worn lots of different ways. In my part one of  the "multi tasking dress" I'm spending the day at the office so I'm dressing it up with jeweled wedges and buckle detail belt.

Top Shop dresses £40

Top Shop dress, Marni shoes and belt

Travel blazer (and I'm back)

When traveling, I often throw a blazer over my jeans and t-shirt plane look. I like to think that my navy Balenciaga is one of the best buys in my wardrobe. A good blazer has to fit like a glove, turn a drab outfit into a smart one and it then becomes one of the best investment that can be made.  

 J.Crew  navy blazer

Balenciaga blazer, Benetton t-shirt, Gap skinny jeans, RB flats

Evening glamour

I recently styled the Wallis A/W look book and absolutely fell in love with one of their evening dresses which I'm so lucky to wear to a garden party tonight. When it comes to evening wear I love bold bright colours and this asymmetric, scarlet, floor length chiffon dress is one to make an impression. Maxi dresses are a great summer party frock, perfect dressed down with minimal make up, flat sandals and everyday jewellery. Oh how I wish I could wear billowing chiffon everyday.. if only it were the 40's!

Wallis dress £80 available from September at www.wallis.co.uk

Stylish carry-on

I am obsessed with travelling in style- this does not mean dresses and high heels because I believe practical style, but just simple, dignified looks that are both functional and smart. Another thing I am obsessed with is travel accessories and Anya Hindmarch's range is my absolute favorite. I love her collection of trolleys, holdalls and week end bags that come with a range of labelled wash bags and travel kits. Everything is colour coordinated and makes up for the perfect organised suitcase. My idea of heaven!

Anya Hindmarch Travel essentials: 

trolley with labelled compartments, camera case, "quick fix"make up bag and "vanity case" 

Marc by Marc Jacobs sunglasses, Jospeh t-shirt, Gap skinny jeans, New Look sandals, Anya trolley, Chanel bag

Practice what I preach

I know that by now it's kind of a given that I love stripes, but in this month's Red magazine I have a page of all stripey things that are a bit unusual: from stripey belts, to bangles and wedges. And of course I'm wearing stripes myself..

Theory sweater , Current Elliott jeansm New Look sandals

White Summer

I have things in my Summer wardrobe I can't wait to take out and this Marni white dress is one of them. I bought it a year ago at the outlets in Florence and I absolutely love it. A LWD (little white dress) is an absolute summer essential- I love this no frills number that I can dress up or down accordingly. Today I accessorised with all tan  shoes, bag and belt. 

Marni dress, belt and shoes, Boden bag

And here are some similar structured dresses from the internet and on sale now

Miu Miu £365   See by Chloe £178 

Nudes

If you only buy one thing in the sales make it shades of neutrals- they are huge next season and great for summer in the city. I snatched these Top Shop suede shorts yesterday (a bargain at £65) and I'm wearing them with an old silk cami and my favorite shoes of the moment: beige patent Jimmy Choo's  (the most leg flattering and comfortable heels I have ever worn- promise) all in buttery hues of beige.

Top Shop sand pleat shorts 

A/W 2011 Chloe, Miu Miu, Marni and Alberta Ferretti

Tie dye

I was reading US Vogue last night and got inspired by Tonne Goodman wearing a stripes and tie-dye ensemble. Loved the look, so today I'm belting up a Great Plains t-shirt dress, smartening it up with my Balenciaga blazer and Marni wedges. I want to invest in more of this great summer print, so will scour through the internet in search for my favorites- watch this space through out the day...

Here's my Great Plains dress (now on sale too)

J Brand jeans, Velvet t-shirt  , Cecilia de Bucourt scarf all from mytheresa.com

Dorothy Perkins jersey maxi dress, Tory Burch bag 

Military operation: SALES

I hate sales, but it has to be said: you can find some great bargains so, with a military approach, plan in hand and  kitted with the right outfit you can be in and out with your trophies in a blink of an eye.  Here is my strategy today:

Set a target: Knightsbridge's Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Alberta Ferretti and Joseph (11am sharp)

Set a motif: Wedding bargains

Kit-up: a jacket that won't mind being thrown on the floor, a "universal" top that goes with anything you try on (jeans, trousers, skirts..), a comfy pair of trousers that you can take off easily in the changing room, a pair of no laces flat shoes and finally a hands free bag to hold on to as many hangers you can.

Look pretty: always wear a little make up, you don't want your first impression with a potential purchase to be a ugly one.

Whistles leather jacket, Gap t-shirt, HM harem trousers, RB ballerinas, Chanel chain bag

Admin day in my new Current Elliott's

Today I'm at home catching up on my admin. I'm wearing my new Current Elliot jeans from the newly launched Net a Porter Denim Boutique (I love it!).  This  style is the perfect cross between a skinny and a boyfriend: it has a perfectly fitted leg with the benefit and comfort of a slouchy waist line. I'm calling them Skoyfriends (skinny+boyfriend)! Innovative- try to believe.

Current Elliot super slouchy skinny jeans £250

Current Elliott jeans and Petit Bateau top

Date night

I'll be switching to these heels at 6pm when I'm off for dinner with my boyfriend, adding a bit of glitz to our night out. I'm taking inspiration from one of my recent shoots for Red magazine and wearing a sequin skirt with a jersey t-shirt. The July issue with my "Holiday Edit" shoot is out now and full of great packing tips.  

See the full story in July's RED Magazine

Whistles leather jacket, Cos green t-shirt, Antik Batik sequin skirt, Zara shoes