Posts Tagged ‘debenhams’

12 August 2010: 14:31

The new ‘it’ polish of the season

Get set to pounce – the nail varnish of the season hits stores on Friday 13th August. Perfectly manicured claws will be out to grab the new Autumn/Winter 2010 must-have shade by Chanel – Paradoxal.

We’ve seen a fashionista frenzy before with Chanel’s hot nail polishes. In AW 2009 it was Particulière that flew off the shelves, then along came the gorgeous minty green Jade Rose which we’re still loving now. We’re sure that Pardoxal will cause the same buzz.

Aptly for autumn, Paradoxal is a kind of aubergine shade. It’s purple with grey tones which are hot shades for the new season. Paradoxal coloured nails will look fabulous holding on to this season’s must-have ladylike bags.

No fashionista should be without it. Hurry to House of Fraser or Boots and get your hands on Paradoxal this Friday!

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11 August 2010: 09:00

Benefit Erase Paste

Beauty Review: Benefit Erase Paste

Price: £18.50
Available from: Debenhams

What it claims to do:
Benefit erase paste. Available in three shades to suit your individual skin tone, this brightener and concealer is great for getting rid of dark circles and to highlight to give your skin a natural looking radiance. Contained in a adorable little pot, the erase paste comes with a spatula and is easy to blend and apply for great coverage.

Our reviewer says:
This is a pretty serious concealer. It really does cover up blemishes and discolouration, but you only need to apply a small amount otherwise it looks caked on. Make sure you blend it in properly too, otherwise it can accentuate those little lines around your eyes. That said, it really does the trick. My undereye area certainly looked a whole lot less dark when I used it.

It comes with a handy little spatula which makes application so much easier and more hygienic. Plus, it can be a little tricky trying to get the right amount of concealer on your finger in that little pot.

A little really does go a long way. It’s a pretty heavy duty concealer, so not necessarily for everyday usage. My small pot has lasted months and months, which is makes it all the better value for money too.

Final verdict:
If you want to hide dark circles, redness or nasty blemishes then this will do it. It’s easy to apply and one small pot last for ages. With this great concealer, no-one needs to know just how late you were out last night!

Reviewed by Pippa

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3 August 2010: 09:00

Add a splash of colour

It’s holiday time – sun, sea, blue skies. Keep that vibe going by adding a splash of summer colour to your wardrobe palette. Think blues and greens from cobalt to turquoise and every hue in between.

Going on holiday?

Bold blues and greens look great in the sunshine and will complement a golden tan. Pick out some bright, colourful pieces to mix with your basic neutrals. We spotted this bright blue River Island bikini on Coleen Rooney recently. If it’s good enough for her holiday wardrobe, it’s good enough for ours too.

 

Left to right: Amaryllis kaftan, Accessorize £30; Blue bikini, River Island top £12.99 and bottoms £9.99; Havaiana slim flip flops, Schuh £19.99

Staying home?

If you’re holiday’s behind you or you’ve decided to stay put this year, create your own holiday vibe with splashes of colour. These pieces will lift your wardrobe and see you through to next season. Enjoy them now and to spice up your more neutral Autumn/Winter palette of camel and grey.

 

From left to right: Asymettric ruffle front dress, Oasis was £50 now £30; Two tone sunglasses, Topshop £15; Teal mid-heel brogue, Office £65; Blue Prism watch, Guess Accessories £130; NailsInc nail polish in Haymarket, Debenhams £10.50

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23 July 2010: 09:00

Utility fashion

Looking for some pieces that will see you through from summer to autumn? You can’t go wrong with a few neutral items that are hot right now and will be holding strong into the new season.

Utility fashion is ideal for summer and makes a change from cute ditsy florals, bold prints and statement maxi dresses. Choose khaki and typical safari tones and team them with simple white or neutral pieces for summer cool.

Cargo pants are the trousers of choice right now. Look out for super skinnies, peg leg and hareem styles. Style them up with some hot heels - platforms, wedges or wooden sole clogs.

Left to right: Utility skinnies, Warehouse £15 now £10; Khaki peg trousers, Dorothy Perkins £28; Khaki zip back hareem pants, Topshop £35.

A simple vest, tee or classic white shirt is the ideal partner.

Left to right: Compact cotton sleeveless Tee, Uniqlo £14.99; Ecru vest, Next £16; Military vest, H! by Henry Holland at Debenhams £16

The utility trend isn’t all about cargo pants though. You’ll find a range of safari-inspired pieces around too. Whilst utility trousers are all about being relaxed and slouched, dresses and skirts  are more structured and tailored.

Left to right: Safari shirtdress, Karen Millen £165; Military skirt, Next £28; Scout dress, Cos £65.

Finish off with chunky jewellery. Gold looks great with these neutral tones.

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14 July 2010: 16:28

Style icon: Blake Lively

Looking for some style inspiration for a big occasion this summer? Our Westfield London Personal Stylist, Anna Moore reckons you should look to the stunning Gossip Girl star, Blake Lively.

Anna says: “Everyone will have at least one ‘dress up’ event this summer, whether it’s a wedding or summer ball and Blake Lively does dress up the best!”

“Blake gives good red carpet – in a Grecian style maxi dress or boyfriend blazer and skinnys. She looks super sexy in an achievable way.”

Want to steal Blake’s style? Check out these stylish maxi dresses which would be ideal for a special occasion this summer.

From left to right: Black beaded maxi dress, M&S £39.50; Zola maxi dress, Coast at Debenhams £195; Daniella drape maxi dress, was £110 now £88 at French Connection

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8 July 2010: 10:03

Benefit instant brow pencil

Beauty Review: Benefit instant brow pencil in dark

Price: £14
Available from: Debenhams, House of Fraser and Boots
What it claims to do
Creates soft, subtle, long-wearing definition in an instant.

Our reviewer says
It does absolutely what it says. I got married recently and a lot of my time was spent panicking about my stray, fairly non-existent brows. I discovered this pencil and it has transformed my eyebrows so they finally frame my face. It comes in two shades and I love that it’s a lovely soft brown and not a harsh black. My small criticism is that I have to sharpen it too often.

Final verdict
A great product and one I’ll be sticking with!

Reviewed by Susie

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30 June 2010: 16:50

Yves Saint Laurent Luxurious Mascara

Beauty Review: Yves Saint Laurent Luxurious Mascara for a False Lash Effect

Price: £21.50
Where to Buy: Debenhams

What it claims to do
Adds volume and definition without making your lashes clumpy and dull. It gives a thick, luxurious and glamorous look.

What our reviewer says
The mascara goes on like a dream, not too heavy and clumpy and leaves a thick, even, glossy coat of mascara.
The mascara lasts throughout the day without smudging and yet it’s easy to remove with eye make-up remover.

Final verdict
Absolutely the best mascara I’ve ever worn. I will be sticking with this one!

Reviewed by Sarah

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24 June 2010: 12:56

Festival chic

It’s that time of year again. Festival season is upon us. With Glastonbury this weekend and Reading/Leeds, Big Chill, Bestival, Latitude and so many more yet to come, it’s time to sort out your festival wardrobe. And now is such a good time to shop with the summer sales in full swing. You could pick up some brilliant bargains!

Right now, the sun is shining and people are smiling. Festival dressing is so much easier when it’s warm and dry. But looking good is made trickier by the camping and festival shower situation. Our advice is to aim for cool, comfy and relaxed styling.

Go for slouchy vest tops teamed with cute shorts or leggings. Add fringed or buckled ankle boots or Gladiator style flat sandals.

Festival fashion

Left to right: Denim boyfriend shorts, Uniqlo £14.99; Felicity Gladiator sandal, Schuh was £29.99 now £20; Festival print vest, Republic £16.99; Mint ticking stripe short, Miss Selfridge at House of Fraser £25; Mai fringe bootee, Office £60 now £30; Black Logan cutout T-shirt, H! by Henry Holland at Debenhams £14.

Work the prairie look with ditsy print dresses and playsuits in florals or checks. Dresses can be long or short but remember that maxis may trail in the mud. Layer it up with a cropped denim jacket, crochet cardigan or relaxed denim shirt. Layers are the secret for festival dressing, you never know when those clouds and chilly breezes are going to come along.

Left to right: Cropped denim jacket, Dorothy Perkins £42; Floral playsuit, Next £20; Paisley print maxi dress, New Look £35 now £28; Denim shirt, Oasis £38 now £20; Cream crochet cropped cardigan, Miss Selfridge at House of Fraser £32.

Embellish and accessorise! Add some sparkle to a simple vest and tee combo with an embellished waistcoat and some tribal jewellery. Load up on chunky bracelets. Top it off with your must-have hat and don’t forget your sunnies and sunscreen.

And if the weather does turn rubbish – it is Britain after all - don’t forget your parka and wellies.
Festival fashion

Left to right: Embellished waistcoat, River Island £24.99; Straw trilby, Next £5.50; Floral printed bangles, Accessorize £10; Black oversized sunglasses, Marks and Spencer £5; Batwing parka, Warehouse £55.

Need more inspiration? Steal Alexa Chung’s festival style!

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18 March 2010: 10:53

Our Top Five Spring Buys

The sun is out, the spring flowers are blooming and we’re in the mood to overhaul our wardrobe. But where to start? With so many new trends and fabulous new clothes out there, it can be hard to know what to buy, so we’re going to make that process easier for you with our top five spring must-haves!

1. A Military Cover-Up
Combat coats are back again on the fashion radar. There are so many different styles out there but as long as it’s khaki, it’s bang on trend for this season. Make sure you team your military cover-up with something super feminine though – such as a floral dress. Top-to-toe military should be left to the Territorial Army!

L-R: Parka, £49.99, River Island; Should detail coat, £85, M&S; Drawstring parka, £65, Topshop

2. A Satchel
It’s time to go back to school for this season’s must-have bag! Satchels are so cool that Mulberry have named one after the queen of cool, Alexa Chung, however, if you can’t afford the A-list price tag, the high street have lots of great alternatives.

L-R: Grey leather satchel, £45, New Look; Two-tone leather satchel, £50, Topshop; Brown satchel, £22, Accessorize

3.  Something Nude
If it isn’t flesh toned, then it just isn’t worth wearing this spring! The easiest way to wear this trend is with a dress – add black opaques until the weather warms up. If you’re not brave enough to go all nude, try an accessory such as a leg-lengthening shoe or nude bag.

L-R: Ruffle vest, £18, Dorothy Perkins; Lace-up shoe, £120, Kurt Geiger; J by Jasper Conran Clutch, £35, Debenhams; Feather dress, £150, Oasis

4.  Shorts
Skirts are still very much on the radar but ’tis the season to go short in shorts. From military inspired to pretty silk numbers, shorts are the perfect go-everywhere number. Team them with a blazer for the office or with a cami style top for a night out.

L-R: Navy shorts, £35, Warehouse; Pink shorts, £29.50, M&S; Military style shorts, £55, French Connection

5. A Mid Heel
We never thought we’d see the return of the ’90s kitten heel, but it’s back. Ditch your 5 inchers for something a little more manageable this season. Don’t stick to boring courts though – go for interesting heels, wooden soles, bright colours and quirky styles.

L-R: Wooden sandal, £40, Aldo; Stud sandal, £85, French Connection; Woven sandal, £65, Office

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10 February 2010: 13:41

We Heart Valentine’s Day!

Whether you’re all loved up or a happy single, there’s no excuse not to wear your heart on your sleeve this Valentine’s Day with the huge array of cute heart products out there.

From cute retro TopShop shorts to sweetheart knits, we can’t guarantee wearing one of these heart lovelies will ensure you true love this Valentine’s Day, but we can ensure you will look very sweet! We’ve picked out our favourites below, but don’t forget to tell us if you’ve spotted some sweet items out there that will be on your heart hit-list.

L-R: Moschino Cheap & Chic heart belt, £145, House Of Fraser; Studded bag, £40, French Connection; Heart corset shorts, £35, Topshop; Enamel earrings, £5, Accessorize; Heart peep toe shoes, £44.99, River Island

L-R: Nude crochet heart top, £15, Dorothy Perkins; Guess heart pendant, £90, Debenhams; Sequinned heart dress, £50, Oasis; Embroidered cardigan, £32, Miss Selfridge; Heart clasp bag, £25, Debenhams

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