Best red lipstick of all time

I know I've done a few of these posts before but I still constantly get asked about the shade of lipstick I'm wearing and there is a new entry in my new favourites so today I thought I would give you a little update on my lipstick tray.

(as seen on me clockwise from the left)

Lipstick: MAC Lipstick Matte

Shade: Lady Danger

Price: £15.50

Buy it

Consistency: matte and I promise you it won't come off for a whole day! l highlight cracked lips.

Why I love it: it's probably my favourite lipstick of all time and the only one I have ever finished and had to re-buy. It's the most durable lipstick I own - I suggest moisturising your lips the night before as otherwise it will highlight cracked lips.

Lipstick: Bobbi Brown Luxe Lip Colour

Shade: Atomic Orange

Price: £25 

Buy it

Consistency: creamy and moisturising (I like to blot it with a tissue once I applied it to take out a bit of sheen)

Why I love it: the name says it all, it's a super bright yet very wearable shade of orange. Perfect in the summer but also in winter with white knitwear and soft greys.

Lipstick: NARS Velvet Matte Lip

Shade: Red Square

Price: £19

Buy it

Consistency: Matte but soft

Why I love it: I discovered this shade after Jenna Lyons revealed it to be her favourite shade of orange and I am now addicted to it too. It's a really good red-orange shade and I love the pencil applicator that gives me precise application all the time.

Lipstick: HOURGLASS Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick

Shade: Icon

Price: £23

Buy it

Consistency: Goes on liquid and shiny but dries super matte almost like a stain

Why I love it: It's the absolute perfect berry lip, I love it in the winter and also you apply it once and never have to worry about it again for the rest of the day, even when drinking and eating.

Easter round up

I'm off to Italy with GZ to celebrate Easter with my family, I am taking a little time off to be a good mum but before I go Petro and I have prepared a juicy ICONS Update bumper issue to take you right through to our return, and I have a few buys, beauty ideas and packing tips I wanted to share with you.

First of all, read our interview with fashion icon Yasmin Sewell. I've been mildly obsessed with her quirky style for years, every time I saw her walk past me at fashion week I couldn't help staring at her impossibly stylish yet effortless looks. I feel so lucky that she agreed to let us shoot her in her fabulous new London home, despite the fact that she had a baby less than 10 weeks ago and a 3 year old jumping around the house. On top of looking amazing she was also the loveliest person to interview and makes a fantastic addition to our "The Experts" series.

 

Then don't forget to check out my denim "Obsession" page because that's exactly what I am, obsessed with denim (and tan) at the moment. I've selected 8 brilliant buys from Boden to Stella McCartney that would make fabulous and easy additions to your wardrobe. We also focused on flares and explained why we think they are this month's "Unexpected hero".

Take a look at our "Beauty Focus" mascara review too - Petro and I tried and tested four popular brands to give you a honest opinion if they are worth the money. If you are spending an average of £15 on something, we reckoned you would want to know if they really deliver what they promise.

Also, I know I've often talked about packing rules for us grownups but what about packing your child's suitcase? I apply the same rules I do for my own edit: everything has to go with anything, that way if a cardigan gets stained with a bit of ice cream onto goes the next thing with no trouble at all. I lay everything on the floor and make sure I have little outfits planned for every occasion. Now that Greta is a little older, I'm teaching her to be responsible by carrying her own little bag (also because look how cute it is!). I bought her a Crewcuts glitter backpack which literally gets heads turning at the airport ;-)!

And finally, I am doing a mini skin detox over the holidays. I've been feeling very tired and my skin has never looked so dull, so I've established a seven day regime of plenty of sleep, lots of water,  no make up (no nail varnish on toes and nails) with Creme de la Mer applied  in the morning and Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial facial at night. One note about Creme de la Mer (yes it works), I prefer the soft cream (it's less greasy and you can wear it underneath mak up too), but I'm currently testing out the original formula that is much thicker and is much better at night if you don't want a shiny face all day. I cleanse morning and night with Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Miracle Cleanser  and I promise you that with the combination of all, I am already seeing results.

See you next week and Happy Easter!

Hit the REBOOT button and detox your wardrobe

I love anything that has to do with new beginnings, any excuse is good to reorganise my stationary drawer, tidy up my shoe cupboard and rearrange my bags. So when Petro and I were flat planning our new year issues we agreed on one thing straight away: aside from a few bargain sales buys, we don't want to buy anything at all in Jnauary but take the opportunity to make the most of what we have. At Wardrobe ICONS we are all about edited choices, owning less and buying better, so what better time than this January to hit the fashion-reboot button and take time to reorganise your wardrobes.

I've compiled a 15 step guide on how to take care, refresh and reorganise your clothes like a pro. And because you probably don't need to buy anything, we suggest you to shop in your wardrobe with a few stylish suggestions from us. I've compiled a Style Sheet with four quick, stylish ideas on how to wear the skinny jeans you already own. 

Finally, if you make one purchase this month make it a brow spruce up at Bobbi Brown to go with your newly reorganised wardrobe - or WIN it! Like our Facebook page and competition post to WIN one of FOUR prizes from Bobbi Brown, including a Brow Essentials Kit worth up to £100. 

Just click here and LIKE our page

"Organisation is the the key to success" - make this your 2015 motto! 

Christmas prep: hair cut and colour at George Northwood

The countdown to Christmas has started and amongst buying presents and packing suitcases, I was due a  a visit to my favourite hair salon: George Northwood.  I've been seeing George for my cut, and his sister Sally for my colour for two years now. I used to have really long, untreated hair, I always kept it up in a pony tail and was never really bothered by it. Shortly after Greta was born I really felt the urge to do something different with myself... and went for a drastic cut. Needless to say I never looked back.

Since cutting my hair two years ago I've been pretty much sticking to the same bob-style, but this time I asked George to give me a really "straight choppy cut", keeping the same length pretty much all the way around. 

Sally is George's sister and does my colour, I only really do that once a year because my hair tends to naturally go quite blond in the summer, but by December the benefits of the sun are long gone and I really wanted to recreate that "sun kissed" effect.

I'm not a big fan of highlights, I don't have the time or the the budget to retouch roots every couple of months so Sally gives me Baliage, which is a looks more natural and is a lot less high maintenance.

What I love about George and Sally is that they give low maintenance cuts (and colours) which last for months a time, and that most importantly I don't need to do nothing to. I don't straighten, I don't curl and I use whatever shampoo I happen to be trying that month. I simply blow dry head down and use Maui Wowie Beach Mist from Philip B.

WIT readers get a very special treatment on their first visit to George Northwood salon - just quote Wearing It Today and you will get 20% off across cuts, colours and blowdryes across all stylists.

Merry WIT Christmas

x

Photos by Eva K. Salvi

What shade of lipstick are you wearing?

 

A few weeks ago I was invited by Bobbi Brown to visit their new Covent Garden store and try on some of their products. As you know, I'm a red lipstick addict so when asked what I wanted to try on I of course said a scarlet lip. Coincidentally the shade I chose was called.. Jenna! 

Bobbi Brown created this shade for Jenna herself - I thought it was quite funny! The photos are now up on Facebook and I thought I would share them with you alongside our new page on Wardrobe ICONS entirely dedicated to mine and Petros' favourite red lipstick. So you never have to ask: "What shade of lipstick are you wearing?'.

Our favourite red shades on Wardrobe ICONS

It's Tuesday... New Issue of The ICONS Update is live!

Let's face it, we’ve had a pretty good run so far, yet winter has arrived and with it the necessity to take out your "serious" outerwear - but which are the coats worth investing in? And which ones will you buy now and wear forever? I walk into stores and feel sorry for women who have to take that decision because there is SO much out there... I am confused and I work in fashion!? Well, we have the answer. 

And if you are not in the market for a new coat, we found lots of fun accessories to update your existing one with (beanies, hats, gloves and scarves you will love).  Also read our new page called "Every ... (dot dot dot) woman should own" (this week it's all about the pregnant lady) and finally see which eyeliners (tried and tested by Petro and I)  have made our cut in our Beauty Focus page. Enjoy!

Read issue SIX of The ICONS Update now!

Wearing it Today (on my skin)

As most of you know, the last six weeks or so have been really busy for me with working night and day on my upcoming project and to make up for the lack of rest and sleep I've been relying on a few beauty products that I wanted to recommend. I have normal to combination skin, with dry areas around my eyes and, like most of you out there, have little time to faf around so I need quick, intense treatments that will deliver in an instant. Here are some of my thoughts:

AESOP hydrating cream - I use this lightweight cream in the morning under my make up and have been doing so since before the summer. I like it because it absorbs really quickly meaning I can apply bronzer or tinted moisturiser straight away. Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Hydrator 60ml £43

Philp B Salt Spray - I love this thickening hair spray and I've been recommending it since I discpvered it a year ago. It gives my hair a beachy texture and I don't have to do anything at all apart from spraying it on damp hair before I blow dry it head down. That is literally all I do. It also lasts a surprisingly long time considering I've had it since September last year. Philip B Maui Wowie Beach Mist, 150ml £22

Aurelia - When I left Red in June the beauty girls gave me an amazing beauty bag filled with the most amazing products and this Aurelia range was part of that. I hadn't heard of this brand before but since starting to use it about two weeks I have fallen completely in love with it. The Miracle Cleanser (great name too!) has a minty smell to it and when I take my make up off with it I feel like I'm at a Spa! And the under eye creams (0ne for the day, one for the night) have really helped the dryness under my eyes. Miracle Cleanser AURELIA PROBIOTIC SKINCARE £34.00

Liz Earle spray - I just love the smell and fresh feeling on this Liz Earle iconic product. I spritz it on my face after my nightly shower and before applying face oil just for the the fresh smell and instant pick me up feeling. Instant Boost™ Skin Tonic £13.50

Klorane dry shampoo - Since cutting my hair shorter I have to was my hair every other day... but sometimes I just don;t have the time! This dry shampoo buys me a day or two and also gives my hair quote a cool matte texture perfect for when I want to put my hair up in a messy bun.

Clinique body scrub - I LOVE body scrubs and this minty fresh one from Clinique has been one of my favourite for years. When I jump in the shower and use it all over I feel like I'm scrubbing away the stress of the day. It's also not super harsh so I can use it everyday and acts like a body wash too. Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator £19 200ml

Aromatherapy Associates face oil - At night I always prefer a face oil to a moisturiser, it just feels more spa like. I'm certain I overdose on it on a daily basis but I just love the feeling of face oil on tired skin after a busy day. Nourishing Face Oil AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES £42

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser - Technically not a beauty products but definitely a saviour lately with my tired looking skin. It's just the best tinted moisturiser, glides on and still lets your complexion shine through without "caking" you up. Tinted Moisturiser LAURA MERCIER 50ml £34 

REN One Minute Facial - This product is a new one I've been using, it's like a super fine face scrub that you put on dry face and then dampen up to "release the vitamin C", wait for a minute and rinse. To be honest I don't know how effective it is but the texture, smell and quickness of it makes me feel like I've just drank a vitamin C potion through my skin. Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial REN £32

If you like my hair you will like this post...

Jigsaw jacket, J.Crew Tee and skirt

Some of you might know by now that a few months after having Greta I felt my hairstyle was in need of a drastic change. It wasn't just the impracticality of having long hair, it was something more than that, it was part of an overall image change that I needed.

I had obviously heard of George Nothwood in the years: he famously works very closely with Alexa and Rosie;  I read about him on GP's Goop (one of my weekly must reads), but it was when I saw a friend's fabulous bob that I was convinced to pay him a visit. I haven't looked back since and now can't imagine ever having long hair again.

George's new hairdressing salon in London

I love the ease of my hair style, but mainly I love how modern it makes me feel. I then also discovered the talents of George's sister, Sally Northwood, who is in charge of colour and responsible for my "sun kissed" balayage which always makes me feel like I've just returned from a beach holiday. 

Sally. George's sister who heads colour

I wrote a couple of posts talking about my experience (read here and  here),  but today I have something exciting to share with you..

Last week I went for my pre-summer fix-up at his brand new salon (he recently went solo and opened the George Northwood salon in London), the space feels and looks more like a friend's sitting room than a hairdressers and I so enjoyed him taking me around to show me all the clever little things he had thought about when designing the place: there's a  networking table where you can sit and use WI-fi whilst your colour is setting, the single most comfortable wash stations I've ever sat on, and his mum comes once a week to bake treats for the customers. 

George has thought about everything and there is a hairstylist for every budget starting at £75.00 with his single handedly trained stylist (see more details and prices here). But the best news was that between one chat and another George kindly offered to do WIT exclusive discount on your first visit to the salon.

If you would like to book an appointment all you have to do is take an appointment (email and telephone number below) and
quote #witxgeorge to get 20% off your first visit. 

I hope you will enjoy and benefit from this opportunity as much as I did and if you happen to go please Tweet and your pic to me @WITblog and hashtag #witxgeorge – I would love to see the results! All of this part of the new and improved WIT and more for you, from me and my favourite brands. 

x

George Northwood
24 Wells St (on corner of Margaret St)
London
W1T 3PH

t: 02075808195
e: reservations@georgenorthwood.com
w: www.georgenorthwood.com
tw/inst: @georgenorthood

Opening Hours
Mon  closed
Tue  9am - 6pm
Wed  9am - 6pm
Thur 9am - 7pm
Fri  9am - 6pm
Sat  9am - 5pm
Sun  closed

My favourite red lipsticks

Almost every day when I post a picture of my outfit I receive an email, a tweet or a comment asking me what shade of lipstick I'm wearing. The truth is that I don't always wear the same shade, I have a selection that I choose from that goes from orange-red to a more cherry-red and which one I opt for totally depends on my outfit. So today I've decide to come clean and answer this question once and for all by revealing my "closet" of favourite lipsticks, because as with my clothes every day is a new lipstick day.. and PS. the shade I'm wearing in the pic is MAC lipstick in Lady Danger

1) Nars semi matte lipstick in Heat Wave £19.50
2) Top Shop Lips in Infrared £8.00
3) Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella £19.00
4) MAC lipstick in Lady Danger £15.00
5) Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Icon £23.00
6) Top Shop Lip Bullet in Heartbeat £8.00
7) Nars semi matte lipstick in Red Lizard £19.50

The things I'm most looking forward to wearing at LFW

London Fashion Week starts on Thursday and since I missed the last three season, I am feeling particularly excited. In the next weeks I will be covering London, Milan and Paris and I have really got to start thinking about what I'm going to wear. I take a lot of inspiration from Tommy Ton's sensational galleries on Style.com and have already started colliding ideas...

London is a mish mash of a bit of everything, I usually like to keep it quite simple and pair wardrobe staples (like my J.Crew Merino Tippi sweater in slate) with a key statement piece like a pair of shoes, top or a skirt - all topped up by a coat over the shoulder. 

I always like to wear earrings and at the moment I love anything with a deco feel. My Ray Ban's are always in my bag as are my Nars essentials. This season I am particularly excited to pull out my new MiH Phoebe jeans, the ultimate turn ups! London is perfect for dressed up denim. Here's what I've been day dreaming about what my key items could be.. 

1) Michael van der Ham Brocade-lace and cloqué top £615

2) J.Crew Deco arrowhead earrings £78

3) Oasis Tori Tencel Shirt  £35

4) The PHOEBE Jean MID RISE, SLOUCH LEG £195 

5) Ray-Ban The Wayfarer acetate sunglasses £120

6) ASOS Peplum Hem Pencil Skirt £55

7) Tabitha Simmons Lou silk-jacquard pumps £545

8) Nars lips and nails from £17

Fancy dress WIT

Happy New Year WIT readers! I've had a lovely holiday back in Italy and started the year in style dressed up as Margot from The Royal Tenembaums at our New Year's Eve "Cinematic' themed party. It was such a fun night and the theme was brilliant because you could dress as so many different things: movie characters, Oscar winners, directors ecc.. So I thought I would share some photos from the night, who knows you might be adopting the idea for your next costume party!

My husband and I decided to go as a great cinematic couple: Margot and Richie from The Royal Tenenbaums.  I'm a huge GP fan and loved her style in the movie, I didn't cut off my fingers but I did flounce a fake cigarette around all night and tried to keep a straight face in every photo.

And here we are! Complete with depressed face for every photo!

It was actually quite an easy look to recreate, I borrowed things here and there and only bought the Lacoste dress which I actually really loved and will wear again in the summer. Make up was super easy: lots and lots of black eyeliner and smudgy black eyeshadow applied with my fingers. A pink hair clip completes the look with slick straight hair and a side parting. Here's a little mood board of all the things you would need to get the Margot look.

1) Lacoste dress £35.00

2) J.Crew long cashmere gloves £68.00

3) Coast fur coat £160.00

4) ASOS Leather Tophandle Bag £65.00

5) Crewcuts rhinestones hair clips £12.50

6) Top Shop brogues £68.00

 7) Top Shop eye make up from a selection