One to watch: Emily Weiss

If there are two things I love in life it’s fashion and beauty. Actually I lie – let’s make it three things. Fashion, beauty and authenticity.

Someone who's been on my radar for a while, that I’ve sneakily kept hidden up my sleeve (please forgive), is the extremely successful Emily Weiss. She is a prime example of someone who embodies all of the above.

If you haven’t yet been acquainted with this charismatic darling, she’s the founder and creative director of Into The Gloss – a site that offers not only a left-of-centre attitude towards beauty, but also details the ‘beauty lives’ of many It girls where they're able to honestly talk about their favourite makeup purchases, open up their beauty cabinets and share their grooming rituals, whether they are well-versed or a little curious to say the least.

On my morning coffee run a couple of days ago I had a few spare minutes to flip through some scattered magazines lying on a coffee table. It surprised me that Emily was featured in numerous publications for her street style over the past few fashion weeks. It really showed that she’s a force to be reckoned with, excelling at not only what lip colour shade looks best on her (I’m going to put it right out there and say it’s red!) but how to mix and match colours, textiles, prints and shapes.

Below are some of my favourite looks. Enjoy!

SS x

DVF speaks the truth...

Diane Von Furstenberg, if only you knew how relevant to me this coin pouch really is! Coffee sometime? 

SS x

How to wear the pants sartorially and socially:

Leandra, from the Manrepeller, knows how to wear flared pants with charisma to boot!

Knowing how to wear the pants is an art, both sartorially and socially! To achieve both a fashionable look in this season’s light-weight, flared varieties, which are big on 70’s sex-appeal, and to also master wearing the pants in any relationship (work, love, friendships), look below to see my five top buys with a tip on how to reign supreme in any domain...

1.       Be up front – Let your partner, boss, friend, and lover know what you want from the relationship from the very beginning. By doing so there is no miss communication and if the opposite party feels that what you want doesn’t correspond with what they are after, you can both save time and go down different paths.

Willow Pants Click to buy

2.       Work out where you draw the line – It helps to draw up an imaginary line in your head on what is cool and what’s not when you first embark into any relationship. When grey zones appear and you’re not sure how you should view an awkward situation, your moral compass will guide you.

Oscar De La Renta, Click to buy

 .       Be positive – Being someone who radiates warmth and kindness as well as having a positive disposition is always a powerful plus in any relationship. It’s especially influential for when toxic people may want to bring you down. Your optimistic side will always remind you, and that gloomy person, that petty comments hold no weight. They won’t even bother trying to pull you down.

Alice and Olivia, Click to buy

         Know what you love and hate – Having ideas already firmly cemented within your mind on what brings you happiness and what lacks appeal means that you can make quick decisions. The person who is able to decide where to go out to dinner or what movie to hire usually wears the pants because they have opinions that can turn into decisions fast.

Clover Canyon, Click to buy

       Be healthy – being happy, confident and standing up for yourself largely comes from having an overall sense of well being. I believe health is holistic, so apart from achieving the above and being mentally fit, making sure you eat a healthy variety of foods as well as take on an exercise regime is important. Being able to look in the mirror, and like the way the pants sit on you will help you feel superior in yourself, this allows you to implement healthy decision in your life, and take a more commanding position in relationships. 

Piamita, Click to buy

SS x

The sheer thought of it! Kristen Stewart in Zuhair Murad...

Too hot to handle - too cold to hold. Kristen Stewart may be an adulterer, but she sure knows how to rock a frock.

Okay, enough with the rhymes. Now down to serious, very fashionable, business.

KStew attended the Twilight Saga’s Breaking Dawn Part Two premier in LA in this ultra daring, see-through lace dress by Zuhair Murad. 

This isn’t the first time she stepped out in one of the designers creations. Remember that sheer form fitting dress; embellished with multi-coloured sequins that Kristen wore at the recent Toronto Film Festival for her other film On The Road? Twas also Zuhair Murad. It seems that the actress wears the designer well. A very fashionable pairing!

Back to this dreamy and creamy lace gown! I was actually quiet taken aback when I saw the photos emerge of Kristen in this nude tone. If someone had of asked me before seeing the image if I thought nude would work well against Kristen’s fair complexion, I would have scoffed. However, with her new glossy chocolate brown hair, a pop of colour on her lips and a cinched waist, it seems this demure tone works wonders. In fact, it actually accentuates her positive attributes listed above. The wash of cream gives Kristen a luxe almost ethereal edge.

A few fashion critics have diss’ed this latest look – but I love it. Maybe the see-through textile is too much for some. I see it as the whole point.

 

What do you guys think?

One fashionable rule Kristen has taught us today is to embrace a powerful contrast, even if that means starting with a matte base (creamy skin and fabric) and juxtaposing it against a loud lip with dark glossy hair. Can’t get much more luxe!

SS x

Delicate Jewellery By Charlotte...

Before arm parties even became popular (thanks to global fashionistas stacking bracelets on their waif wrists and taking fash-snaps for their uber-popular instafeeds), this trend had already boomed. 

No, not in London or Milan, but in tropical Asian locals, places we have quickly likened to holiday vacays, sometimes forgetting the cultural influence they have had. 

In Thailand, a wrist layered with multi-coloured cotton bracelets in a symbol of how many Buddhist monastery’s you have visited. You literally can count your blessings on both hands.

Asian culture has influenced fashion (more on that soon), beauty (think geisha inspired lips and the winged cat eye), food (Sashimi or Pad Thai anyone?) and lifestyle, (take a bow meditation, acupuncture and paper crafts).

Having ticked most Asian tourist destination off my go-to list including Japan, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos, I have come to respect the people from these culturally rich places. Anyone who has smelt the streets of Bangkok, has witnessed the hospitality in Laos, or played witness to the extreme attention to detail in Japan, would have taken some kind of inspiration back home with them...wherever that may be.

It seems that like me, Charlotte Blakeney, the designer/renowned makeup artist behind gorgeous label By Charlotte, has fell in love with our oriental neighbours too. 

She has travelled to the Maldives, Vietnam, Fiji, Bali, Thailand and the Mediterranean coastline for work, all of which have inspired her delicate jewellery line. 

The Lotus flower and Budha motifs seen throughout Charlotte’s range are a symbol of purity and new beginnings, it is central to the cultures Charlotte admires most and represents the philosophy of By Charlotte.

My favourite piece? The 33 inch long, gold necklace with both the lotus and Buddha icons. Perfect to wear all summer long, paired with anything from a whimsy maxi to distressed denim cut-offs and a simple white tee. 

Check out more of By Charlotte here 

SS x

November Love List...

It’s not unusual for me to develop obsessions.

I go through phases where I only watch a certain TV show (and talk about it to everyone), or only like wearing a certain style of clothing until I’m completely and utterly over it, or I fall in love with a beauty product and I place it on its own pedestal and continually go back for more, every single night. 

Here is my current list of things that have ‘wowed’ me. They are on high rotation. I know that phrase can only really relate to music, movies or TV, but believe me, my current facial serum can also be placed in this category, especially when you consider how many times its lid rotates off, and then back on again!

So without further ado, here is my love list:

1.      The walking Dead (TV) - Not for the mild at heart or for those with a weak stomach. I would have included myself as the type of person I wouldn’t suggest this TV show for; however I now love it! The Walking Dead is an American television drama series developed by Frank Darabont. It is based on the comic book series The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. It’s basically about a police man who wakes up to find that there has been a zombie apocalypse whilst he was in a coma. He then goes out into this new and frightening world and has to find his family and remain positive. It is gruesome but eventually you get over all the blood and guts and enjoy a really strong story line.

2.      Lisa Elderidge Youtube beauty channel – Lisa Eldridge is basically the queen of beauty. She owns that crown and it is tightly fastened to her glossy hair. She has worked magic on the faces or Keira Knightly to Kate Moss, and has contributed to many magazine beauty pages. She has a very soothing English accent, which I love, and her channel is expert but spoken in layman’s terms so that anyone can pick up some flattering makeup tips. It’s definitely worth a look.

 .      Dried figs to snack on – I’ve always loved figs, whether they are fresh or dried. I find that having a few in a container in my handbag helps me snack right. They are a good source of natural sugar so they do help if I need a bit of a sugar perk. They are also a great resource of potassium and studies have shown that they aid in reducing macular degeneration.

  .      Mukti Antioxidant Serum to sleep in – I love, love, love this serum. It has fast become my number one! This product contains fourteen oils that are rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs), which assist with skin maintenance and regeneration, including calendula, evening primrose, rosehip, gotu koka, pomegranate, tamanu, olive leaf and carrot seed, plus some divine-smelling essential oils like sandalwood and patchouli. This serum has helped with my relentless dry skin and it allows me to wake up with a glow!

5.      Grey T-shirts for everything! -  This one speaks for itself. Pair a grey tee with any skirts or shorts and your ready to head out in minimal chic style.

  .      Tory Burch fox ballet flats – How amazing are these bad boys. Seriously? You cannot get much cuter! I can’t wait to get my hands on these. They will pretty up any outfit and add some quirk-appeal.

That’s it folks! I hope you enjoyed, what’s your favourite from my list?

SS x