Do you remember that vanity case that you would take everywhere with you as a child? Packed with your treasured strawberry flavoured lipstick, various collected items and possibly a Barbie with no hair? Well, while your handbag items may have changed to a M.A.C compact, your blackberry and your credit cards, if you’re anything like us the desire to keep everything in a shiny vanity case still lingers. If you’re fed up of lugging your oversized shopper around town and fancy something a little neater then look no further – this bright red leather vanity style bag from ASOS is perfect handbag material that will leave your hands free to clutch all the more shopping bags. Plus it will hold all your essentials whilst keeping them safe, as its structured shape will protect your valuables from fellow pushy shoppers. Its shiny finish and cute hand strap gives it a retro feel and will add a pop of colour to your most basic of outfits. Reduced from £55 to just £30 it’s a purchase that’s worth making and it will give you that instant feel-good-factor with its air of nostalgia. Click here to buy now!
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Revlon invites MFL to the Dorchester to test new DoubleTwist mascara
Make-up. Cakes. Champagne. Cocktails. When Revlon invited My Fashion Life and a specially selected group of fellow bloggers to London’s impeccably swish Dorchester Hotel for an exclusive sneak peek at it’s new products, there really was no way we could say no. After-all, with a crack-team of industry heavyweights behind it, Revlon has arguably been one of the most exciting brands of the year. The 76 year-old cosmetics giant has undergone something of a renaissance since its signing of former Lancôme international artistic director and renowned make-up artist, Gucci Westman in May last year.
Read MoreVictoria Beckham’s future in fashion
It’ll take more than some fame/fashion hungry thieves stealing her dresses to stop Victoria Beckham, because, in case you hadn’t noticed, she’s actually unstoppable.
Read MoreVictoria Beckham’s shoe blues
We all know how much Victoria Beckham loves her shoes, but years of wearing six inch stilettos has taken its toll on the fashion designer, as she’s left in agony and in need of an urgent operation.
Read MoreChristmas partywear at M&S
Here at My Fashion Life, we’ve decided that November is the acceptable month to start getting excited about Christmas and therefore, the sparkly partywear that will start to filter through our favourite high street stores over the coming months. Marks and Spencer were quick off the mark when they hosted their partywear press day in October, showing us all the delightful and fashionably festive things that we have to look forward to.
Read MoreStyle Compare: Skinny Jeans vs Boyfriend Jeans
Shopping for that all-new winter wardrobe can be difficult and time consuming, especially when there are so many different variations in style on offer these days. Luckily for us, the brains behind brand new website – Style Compare – have gone and made life that bit easier for us.
Read MoreTom Ford’s womenswear is coming soon
You may remember us reporting last month that Tom Ford would be making a return to womenswear… well guess what? He’s finally confirmed it. On the record. Officially. 100 %.
Read MoreNew Fragrance from Project Runway Judge Michael Kors: Very Hollywood
Glamorous. Over the top. Fabulous. That’s how American designer Michael Kors describes the star factory that is Hollywood. It’s this sexy decadence which has inspired the new fragrance. The Project Runway judge says: “
Read MoreLondon Fashion Week SS10: Maria Francesca Pepe
Today I fell in love all over again. Maria Francesca Pepe’s S/S 10 presentation, which began with screening of her film Bathing Beauties for the collection, couldn’t have started any better. The dreamy footage showcasing her designs , modelled by Portia Freeman, among others , was completely enchanting as we watched the Bathing Beauties pose by topaz pools against the backdrop of a delicate piano.
Read MoreThe recession hits Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty editrix Wilhelmina Slater’s wardrobe is the latest victim of the recession. Vanessa Williams, who plays the show’s bitchy boss has worn Rachel Roy, Giambattista Valli, Dolce & Gabbana and vintage Thierry Mugler for the show’s third season, which premiers October 9th, but said they are having to be mindful of the budget. She told WWD, “With the economic situation what it is, we scaled down in terms of the type of clothing that we’re getting. “There was a Naeem Kahn dress that went for $3,000 and they watched it and watched and by the time we got it, it was like $800. So we are being mindful of the budget and waiting for markdowns on Ugly Betty. Williams also said she’s been having a bit of deja vu wearing the vintage Mulger. “We’ve gone through a lot of stuff that is late Eighties, early Nineties, which is fantastic , a lot of stuff I used to wear when I was recording back in the day. “I would have deja vu moments of, ‘didn’t I wear this on stage already?’ Williams, who has been nominated for two Emmys, was in Dallas to help promote Dress for Success and its benefactor, Botox, which has donated $250,000 to the charity. [Images]
Read MoreSteep vs Cheap: A stunning statement
jewellery is the ultimate accessory. Whether it be in the form of those larger than life earrings or that gorgeous ring, picking those few statement pieces is a necessity. Personally I don’t think you can go wrong if you opt for a necklace, ideal for both dresses and t-shirts alike. This stunning piece from Oscar de la renta would look even more amazing (yes it is possible) in the flesh than in the picture but it should do with a whopping price tag of £805.
Read MoreGraduate Fashion Week 2009
My first day at Graduate Fashion Week, front row seats and the excitement I had been promised. With six shows to attend I had a fashion-filled day, the Universities being Epsom, Manchester, Ravensbourne, De Montfort, Somerset and Bristol. Models strutted down the catwalk to pounding music, dimmed lights and a flash of cameras as they made it to the end of the runway. There were numerous trends which continued to repeat themselves not only throughout the designers attending the same Universities but as a theme throughout the schools.
Read MoreKate Winslet loves long locks
Kate Winslet hated having short hair. The 33-year-old actress sported a chin-length, textured bob at the New York premiere of her movie ‘Hideous Kinky’ in 1999, and insists she will never repeat the look. Looking at a photo taken on the night, Kate said: ‘Bless my heart. Well, my boobs look good. Yeah, that was my short haircut – I hated it. I would never do it again. You have to do short hair. It’s like a nightmare. It’s just not flattering to my face shape – at all.’ Kate – who raises two children with husband Sam Mendes, daughter Mia, eight, and five-year-old son Joe – is happier with the fresh-faced look she boasted at the New York premiere of 2008’s ‘The Reader’, where she had flowing blonde locks and a deep tan. Kate told Allure magazine: ‘That was a damn fine look. I had just gotten back from vacation in the Turks and Caicos islands, and I was all nice and tan, and my hair had gone blonder. I don’t lie out in the sun, and I always wear a high sun factor, so it was from literally just wandering around in the sun for a week, chasing after the kids and making sure nobody drowned in the sea.’ Kate added the most important thing for her is that she is comfortable in what she chooses to wear, and is dressed appropriately for her age.
Read MoreSummer 09 Trend: Body Con
As we are all by now well aware, the eighties made a colossal comeback on the catwalks for spring/summer 09. But it is one microtrend in particular that captured the hearts of the fashion flock and A-listers alike. Yes, you guessed it: Body con. Short for “body conscious, this refers to clothing that does exactly what it says on the tin: anything from skintight mini-dresses and mini-skirts, to tight high-waisted leggings and trousers and basically any other garment that makes you, as the name suggests, very conscious of your body – conscious in the sense that you may have missed those body pump gym classes and well now can’t quite eat lunch without busting a seam.
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Johnny Blue Eyes: Bringing democracy to fashion
I’m seated at the entrance of Nandos in Shepherds Bush. This is fashion stylist, Johnny Blue Eyes’ favourite restaurant. It’s also his local. Born and bred in Shepherd’s Bush, Johnny has lived in the area all his life, although he does flit between his home town and New York. As he approaches the door I recognise him instantly. His long thick dark hair is a major giveaway. He’s wearing a hoodie paired with leather trousers, accessorized with a big buckled belt and carrying a large oversized bag. Johnny greets me so warmly that I feel immediately comfortable in his presence. At 41, he describes himself as an artist first and foremost, however his love for dressing up has played a major part in his path down the road of fashion. Johnny is perhaps better known as a stylist, in particular for his work with artists such as Beth Ditto (whom he considers to be a close friend), Ana Matronic from the Scissor Sisters, the Klaxxons and many more famous faces. At the moment, the self-confessed grafter (Johnny wakes up at 7am every morning and hits the sack at 2am) has made a move to the world of design through his label House of Blue Eyes. “The House of Blue Eyes is essentially a movement”, says Johnny passionately. “It’s very inspired by Warhol and the energy of The Factory of New York in the late sixties, early seventies with me as the sort of Warhol-esque character with all these designers and artists and performers and models who are part of that house. The fashion collection is a big room in the house but it is essentially bringing together fashion, art and music…. The House of Blue Eyes is a house of love, and hope and change.” It was the House of […]
Read MoreJust Cavalli is here to stay!
The future was not bright for Roberto Cavalli’s diffusion line Just Cavalli a few months ago. First Cavalli was forced to pull out of Milan Fashion Week due to lack of funds and then Ittierre the holding company filed for bankruptcy. Matters were made worse by Cavalli blaming Ittierre for the
Read MoreTopshop grand opening: A slice of heaven in NY!
Even amidst the economic downturn the hype around the first New York City Topshop has been enormous , and that’s almost an understatement. Blogs have been tracing every step of the highly-anticipated opening and given that the Soho mega-store was slated to open back in Fall 2008, there have been many. In addition to a number of preview events and parties taking place these last few days, a Topshop Heartschallenger Van has been roaming around the city handing out free goody bags containing Topshop certificates with values reaching as high as $500. It’s little surprise that the van has attracted mobs of people, with Topshop fans closely following its every move via a GPS tracker set-up by the retailer. Given all of this hype , and the fact that Kate Moss’ 9th Topshop collection was going to be launched in tandem with the opening — I made my way down to the Soho location (478 Broadway near Broome Street), at around 9:30am this morning. With the Kate Moss ribbon cutting ceremony not taking place till 11am, I figured that’d give me plenty of time to get my hands on some covetable goods. Little did I know that people had been lining-up since 6am.
Read MoreEau de Avril
It looks like the rock gods have spoken and they have decided that rockstars must meddle in the worlds of fashion and beauty. Only last week did we announce that
Read MoreParis Fashion Week: Valentino AW09
This was a lovely collection, nice lines, a good palette and pretty pieces. It was nice, inoffensive, wearable and classic. There wasn’t really a wow factor. It was just all very nice. Since Valentino retired the design house has been having a few issues, with a designer revolving door, the latest designer in charge is in fact a duo. Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, they had their first outing with the couture collection, so this is only their second. Well, you can certainly tell that they are verging on the edge of caution. Clearly, not wishing to rock the boat they produced a very safe collection. There were no bad outfits, and there were a few very nice ones indeed. I liked the tiered blue coat and I thought the colour scheme of jade, aqua, lemon, burgundy and camel worked nicely. The silk prints were perhaps the highlight of the show. Valentino is all about glamour and elegance and these outfits were elegant, and they had a 1950s charm to them. But they failed to captivate and were easily forgotten. They will certainly please those looking for a sleek evening gown or seasonless coat or suit. But it wasn’t a collection to get the pulse racing.
Read MoreDaisy makes commuting fashionable
Unlike the other fashion capitals of the world, London doesn’t really notice when Fashion Week is in town. I will mention to friends that I’m off to the shows or the Natural History Museum and they will respond with “oh is there something on? This is very distressing for people like myself where fashion is not about what clothes you put on, but is a way of life. So anything that brings Fashion Week out into the general psyche gets top marks from me. Because this year celebrates the British Fashion Council’s 25th birthday, lots of lovely events can be expected in celebration. One of these is a range of illustrations by fashion darling Daisy de Villeneuve, which will not hang in a gallery but will instead adorn our Oyster card holders and chests. In collaboration with Transport for London, Daisy has created some quirky illustrations that will be sold on their new online shop. Daisy’s drawings are based on passers by from her time spent on our infamous transport system. Her images have a childlike cool factor and you can see why she is loved by the fashion industry. Having worked her felt tip magic for brands including Colette, Topshop, Shanghai Tang and V&A and magazine work for Lula, Vogue and Sunday Times Style. She has also managed to fit in time to exhibit and publish two books. On the TFL-British Fashion Council collaboration Daisy says: “I was born in London & have always loved it. I find it such an inspiring town, full of creative & interesting people. There is a special energy here, from fashion and music to clubs and magazines that is truly unique to London, no doubt the reason I can never stay away too long! So yes people, Fashion Week is approaching and if […]
Read MoreWho could possibly replace Anna Wintour?
Sooner or later Anna Wintour will be dethroned. The question is, “Who will be her successor? Andre Leon Talley could do the job with his eyes closed. But he’s just one year shy of Wintour and it’s more than likely that when she leaves the building, he won’t be too far behind. Rachel Zoe perhaps? Now that would be interesting. After watching the insanely addictive, Rachel Zoe Project, there’s no doubt in my mind that Zoe lacks the authority and organization skills required to push out a monthly mag.
Read MoreCheryl Cole on Vogue. Yet another bland cover.
Right now the topic of conversation is what’s wrong with Vogue U.S. My question however, is what’s wrong with our very own Vogue? British Vogue that is. As revealed a short while ago, Cheryl Cole is the fashion bible’s latest cover girl.
Read MoreOur Gorgeous Gift Guide: For mum, sister or best friend!
Molton Brown bath & body set, £35 available at
Read MoreClothes Show Live: Celebrating 20 years in the fashion biz!
On Friday, for the first time, I ventured to Birmingham’s NEC to attend Clothes Show Live , “the world’s largest fashion and beauty event. I loved the Clothes Show growing up, and considering how much I idolised former presenter Caryn Franklin, I’m quite surprised that I’d never made it down to the annual event before.
Read MoreGo eco friendly with Oxx
It’s hard to get away from the words eco isn’t it? If David Cameron isn’t ranting about the environment then someone else (probably in The Independent) is. But don’t get me wrong; this is no bad thing. I am very much for saving the planet.
Read MoreModel.Live Episode 10: Patience is a Virtue
So Model.Live decided to do a two-part feature on Paris Fashion Week, but in actuality this episode served as a wrap-up for the entire show season. In news relating to Paris, Madeline lands a show and much to our delight, opened and closed the proceedings!
Read MoreThe Gareth Pugh Aesthetic: Can you handle it?
Is Gareth Pugh’s SS09 collection already up for public bidding? Well technically no—if it was we’d have clued you in on the juicy tidbit but glimpses of Pugh’s eldritch meets sophisticated spring line recently surfaced on RóisÃn Murphy, the one time lead singer of Moloko.
Read MoreShine in Sequins From Alexander McQueen
One of the hottest trends this season is sequins, yep, those shiny little things that adorn Las Vegas showgirls – shrinking violets need not apply. Seen everywhere from Valentino Couture to Zac Posen these light-reflecting gems add texture and glamour to any outfit. Hot off the press are these navy Pailette skinnies by
Read MoreMade for Walking: Brian Atwood Jamie Over-the-Knee Boots
Is it just us, or is winter a much more exciting season for your wardrobe. The first thing we’ll will be embracing along with the impending autumn, are knee , high boots, actually lets get the sex , factor up here , we’re talking thigh- high boots. Now we know this A/W footwear trend has been skating on the edge of the fashion radar for a few seasons now, but for A/W 08 they are going to be thrust into the shoe- of- the -season spotlight. We’re talking heels and flats, leather, suede, embellishment – the options are endless.
Read MoreTimeless Fashion: Investing in a Leather Jacket
Clothes shopping is somewhat like playing the stock market: you make a sound investment and it pays off beautifully in the long-term.
Read MoreThe Gladiator Mandal
Bernard Wilhelm Spring 2009 When the gladiator sandal sashayed down Chanel’s resort 2007 collection, a new mania was heralded. But with all this hype, fanfare and brouhaha over women and their newly beloved gladiator sandal, where do men factor in? The flurry of sprightly coloured and drab sandals Miu Miu sent out for their SS07 men’s collection paled in comparison to Chanel’s Amazon-like footwear . And as the gladiator sandal trail blazed its way into the closets of women, men were in a chasm of sorts, stuck with the fashionably faux-pas plastic flip-flop and the odd Miu Miu sandal. Fast forward to today and men can now clamour for the so-called gladiator mandal, or man-sandals, at very affordable prices too. Topman and HE by Mango carry some urbane gladiator mandals that effectively blot out the femininity that surround this style of footwear. Here are our top 3 picks.
Read MoreFrostFrench Accused Of Racial Discrimination
FrostFrench, the label founded by Sadie Frost and Jemima French has been ordered to pay out £5,000 to an ex-employee who claims she was unfairly dismissed because of her race. Aba Yankah who is of African origin was initially hired via a recruitment company last November as a temp for the company’s store in London’s Burlington Arcade. After a number of friendly calls with the stores shop manager, the sales assistant claims everything changed on her first day when they met for the first time.
Read MoreThe Sweet Smell of Summer: Burberry
The olfactory overload when entering a perfume store could send a consumer out the door screaming, well this consumer at least. Last week I decided to take the plunge and spend some time picking out a new scent for the season. The sun was shining, the flowers were bright and vibrant but everywhere I turned, one perfume after another, was the stench of the notorious grandma smell.
Read MoreColleen Mcloughlin: The Dress and the Glamour
The celebrity wedding of the year is over, and the photos are out for all us common folk to scrutinise. The dress, the flowers and the ring all go under the magnifying glass. So, what was Colleen’s dress really like and was it all that it was made out to be? I purchased the new OK! magazine this week to find out for myself. Now, it’s a bit difficult to express my opinion on her dress as Colleen actually wore two different wedding dresses on the day, but I’ll do my best…
Read MorePepe Jeans: The Andy Warhol Collection
Following in the footsteps of Levi Strauss & Co. (the first denim brand to use the Andy Warhol prints in their ‘Warhol Factory X’ denim collection a couple of years ago),
Read MoreWendybird: Fashion in motion
Getting dressed the other morning, as I twirled in my flippy little skirt and enjoyed that brief moment of bare legged joy before pulling on the black opaques and enjoying my daily dose of fashion escapism and make believe, I was reminded of “Wendybird”, the lovely film made by Ellen Von Unwerth for Erin Featherston’s A/W 06 collection.
Read MoreSweatshop shame: Banana Republic accused of promoting unfair working conditions
Banana Republic, opened its first store in the UK yesterday in Regent Street, London, amidst allegations of promoting unfair working conditions. According to the charity War on Want, workers in its Indian factory are forced to work 70 hours a week for 15p an hour, often receiving only half payments for overtime. Even worse, the Guardian claims that workers are verbally abused if they dare complain, and petty disputes often result in docked pay.
Read MoreHelp: What to Wear to a Wedding?
A friend of mine has been searching for an outfit to wear to her good friend’s wedding and as much as she loved the idea of wearing a dress, she realized that she wouldn’t be able to get much use out of the dresses she was looking at for the wedding. Instead, I advised her to go with simple, well-tailored separates that she could then wear at the office or day-to-day. Here is what I came up with:
Read MoreProject Runway Season 4 Finale: And the Winner is…
Alas! the winner of Project Runway was crowned last night. The collections that the final three designers showcased at Bryant Park were the strongest out of all of the seasons of the show thus far. Jillian, Rami and Christian all put together amazing presentations that showed off their incredible talent and their genuine passion and dedication. It was extremely moving to see the raw emotions surrounding the last challenge (Christian being unusually nervous and insecure was absolutely priceless).
Read MoreFeatures: Cute & Comfy
Most of the time, fashion is all about dressing up. There are times though when high heels, pencil skirts and pantyhose are beyond unappealing, but you still want to look cute. Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do about office dress codes, but for weekend wear just look below to find some cute but comfy items that will never be confused with sweatpants:
Read MoreDressing Up (or Down!) for Any Occasion
Getting dressed for a night out is always something of a conundrum (for me, anyway). Where am I going? Is it raining out? How far do we have to walk? Am I going to an Irish pub or something a little more swanky? These are all things that I attempt to answer before I head out the door, but I’m generally fairly successful as long as I know where I’m going. So last week, my wonderful boyfriend told me he was going to take me out for Valentine’s Day, and … and those were all the details I got.
Read MoreProject Runway Season 4: Episode 11
I can’t believe how quickly this season of Project Runway has gone by. With this week’s episode, the final contestants were chosen to make their debut at Bryant Park for Fashion Week. The challenge was to find a piece of art from the MET and to create an original garment inspired from it. It was annoying to see Rami immediately lunge towards a statue of Aphrodite because you just knew he was going to succumb to creating another draped Grecian gown. Although his lavender dress was really pretty and wearable, seeing another draped garment had absolutely no “wow factor and put him near the bottom.
Read MoreLondon Fashion Week AW08: Ashley Isham
Presenting his AW08 collection at the Royal Opera House, Ashley Isham upped the glam factor and urged us ladies to channel our inner sex kitten next season. The collections palette ranged from cobalt blue, and bright orange to purple and caramel. Snakeskin waistcoats complimented long evening dresses with plunging necklines. Edgier looks came in the form of patent leather biker jackets paired with body con dresses. Jewel brooches embellished various pieces and added a lovely final touch to some of the fitted jackets.
Read MoreSteal Vs Splurge: Topshop or YSL?
High street fashion has done it again, using designer duds as inspiration for their own more affordable, yet no less fashion-forward, lines. This time our beloved Topshop has created the Yves St Laurent Paint Splattered Tank. Although my budget dictates that I nearly always go High Street instead of high-end, in this case if money were of no concern I’d opt for the latter. The YSL piece has a better colour balance with its mixture of yellow, blue, red and purple, and splatters understated enough to make this top office-appropriate.
Read MoreFront row glamour at its finest!
Dita Von Teese, Claudia Schiffer and Victoria Beckham did their best to add a wow factor to Roland Mouret’s presentation in Paris this week. But no matter how much they posed and pouted, nothing could distract us from fantasising over their shoes. Oh, the shoes!!!
Read MoreInterviews: Aganovich
Since its conception in 2005, Aganovich.
Read MoreShopping: Alisse Messenger Bag
Messenger bags have been on our obsession radar for a while, they’re stylish, compact and a brilliant accessory when out on a date or going for an afternoon stroll. But we had yet to find one with that x-factor. That was until we discovered the Alisse messenger bag, $128, from Bolzano. Made from Italian leather, it’s available in both white and black but oozes “chic” in brown.
Read MoreFragrances: Diesel Fragrance, Fuel for Life
When you buy a fragrance what do you look for? Do you make that purchase solely for the smell or does packaging also play a part? If packaging is an important factor then you’ll automatically be sold on Diesel’s new fragrance – Fuel for Life. The bottle is covered in a cream pouch with a vintage feel. It is in a word “fabulous. But it’s no use having a perfume that looks great and smells bad. So down to the nitty-gritty, is it any good? Well firstly I was super excited to receive a sample, I’d seen the commercials and being that they were so successful my curiosity was most definitely sparked.
Read MoreReviews: Diesel Fragrance, Fuel for Life
When you buy a fragrance what do you look for? Do you make that purchase solely for the smell or does packaging also play a part? If packaging is an important factor then you’ll automatically be sold on Diesel’s new fragrance – Fuel for Life. The bottle is covered in a cream pouch with a vintage feel. It is in a word “fabulous. But it’s no use having a perfume that looks great and smells bad. So down to the nitty-gritty, is it any good? Well firstly I was super excited to receive a sample, I’d seen the commercials and being that they were so successful my curiosity was most definitely sparked.
Read MoreArticle: Hungry for Fashion
Criticizing the fashion industry for promoting an unhealthy image of beauty is nothing new. How designers are responding to these allegations is however. In 2006, the authorities at Madrid Fashion Week barred models with a body mass index of less than 18 from walking down the runway. In the U.K the British Fashion Council recently established a new rule requiring all models to obtain declarations from doctors proving that their weight is healthy. While this rule won’t be put into practice until next year, some designers are already taking action.
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