Get The Perfect Party Complexion In Time For Santa.

Cosmetics are critical to get you looking gorgeous but a brilliant base is equally as important, especially in the winter when skin is looking sallow and dull. Achieve a radiant, glowing complexion with 3 easy steps...

Start with a light, oil free moisturiser to leave skin soft, smooth and nourished. Then priming is important to enhance complexion and help your foundation last longer. Using a lavender shade helps to neutralise yellowness and brighten dull skin tones. For a gorgeous sheen follow with a skin illuminator to add shimmer and give skin a healthy glow.

Halo Light Moisturising Cream, 100ml, £6.99 from www.haloskincare.co.uk

No7 Colour Calming Primer in Lavender, 40 ml, £10.75 Boots

No7 Skin Illuminator, 30ml, £10.50 Boots

10 of the best men’s coats

We all know guys like to leave things to the last minute, but with the winter chill setting in it’s about time they invested in the winter jacket they’ve been meaning to buy.

We also know that all guys are different, what suits one may not suit another. Sometimes they can be just as fussy as us ladies and too right when it comes to finding the perfect coat.

Here we’ve given the boys a helping hand, picking ten of the best winter coats whilst catering for various occasions, tastes and price-ranges. Aren’t we amazing?

1. Ben Sherman black 'Buster' hooded parka jacket was £99 now £59 www.debenhams.com

2. Red Herring grey double breasted funnel neck coat £65 www.debenhams.com

3. Quicksilver blue checked bomber jacket £85 www.quiksilver.com

4. John Rocha brown double neck wool coat £118 www.debenhams.com

5. Barbour leather windcheater jacket in brown £499 www.barbour.com

6. John Lewis English Herringbone coat in brown £200 www.johnlewis.com

7. Hackett Clipper jacket £200 www.hackett.com

8. French Connection coat £140 www.frenchconnection.com

9. The North Face McMurdo Parka £222 www.webtogs.co.uk

10. Topman Duffel coat in navy £140 www.topman.com

Goodone are having a super-duper Christmas sample sale

If you said ‘good-who?’ you’re about to find out about a cool, cutting-edge brand with a mission. If you know exactly who Goodone is and what they do, you’re probably already forming a queue at their door…

Goodone is an award-winning, sustainable fashion design company; in a nutshell they design and produce one-off items of clothing made from hand-picked, locally-sourced, recycled fabrics.

The company also works with retailers and other brands, providing advice and helping them to better manage their waste. Whether faulty goods, off-cuts or old stock that won’t shift, Goodone will work its magic to ensure the items don’t end up in landfill.

Currently all clothing is designed and individually handmade in the Goodone studio in East London and HEBA women’s project, a registered charity situated in Brick Lane. Could they be more eco and ethical?

Also at the Goodone studio is where you will find the Christmas sample sale taking place on Wednesday 2nd December 3pm-10pm.

Goodone is offering a custom made service where you can choose your own combinations as well as offering big discounts on all their winter designs, including their gorgeous new knitted leggings (as seen on ASOS) and Xmas stockings.

For more information visit www.goodone.co.uk or wander down to the studio: Goodone, Studio 1B, 2-4 Southgate Road, London, N1 3JJ.

Alexander McQueen has announced the launch of a UK e-commerce site

The well-known, loved and adored British fashion house, Alexander McQueen has announced a UK e-commerce site will soon be launched. Obviously not wanting to create hypertension over when this will happen, they haven’t given us a set date so we will simply have to ‘watch this space’.

If the US site is anything to go by, we can't wait to see the goodies on offer.

Bold, stylish, controversial; we're sure the new website will offer great British style at its best. And in Sterling.

To keep updated visit www.alexandermcqueen.com.

VA VA VOOM

A-List Smile Without The Hollywood Price Tag

A trip to the dentist can be a little pricey, and although six monthly check ups are essential we can always improve our routine at home. Maintain a healthy smile to rival the gnashes of a Hollywood celeb without the price tag:

PlaqueOff is a unique seaweed supplement that can reduce plaque build up by up to 80%. From dentalproducts2u.co.uk £15.99

Pearl Drops Hollywood Smile includes a whiteness guide to compare results, get teeth 2 shades whiter in just 3 weeks with its unique micro-polishing system. £4.49 from Superdrug.com

Dentyl Alcohol Free Ultra Cleanse Mouthwash will help neutralise plaque acids and give you a deeply cleansed feeling of minty freshness for £2.49 from Supermarkets nationwide.

For a natural clean use the Dr Organic Pomegranate Toothpaste. This fruit enriched formula will give long lasting protection against plaque, tar tar and discolouration using natural antioxidants and whitening remedies. £3.99 from Holland & Barrett.

Don't move, improve: how to get the most from your home

With more and more people in the UK choosing to improve rather than move, the creativity, attention to detail and professional advice of an architect can be invaluable to the success of any renovation project. From expert advice on fittings, materials and fixtures to creative ideas on how to make the best use of space and light, their professional input can give even the most humble of projects the wow factor. But as well as their creativity architects can also offer invaluable guidance to help you through the pitfalls of the planning process and even help to manage your project to ensure that your best laid plans are turned into a reality.

However; architectural services are often seen as an expensive luxury by homeowners who are put off by the cost and confused about when to get architects involved. Many people find the prospect of approaching an architect dauntingly complex. This is mainly caused by the fact that for many people the service traditionally provided is inappropriately cumbersome and badly explained so the customer just doesn't know what they can or should expect. The standard way of using an architect is not only too cumbersome for some people but also too expensive for the project they have in mind. This is disappointing since many people would like to be able to utilise the expertise of an architect to enhance their building project but simply cannot justify the cost. But, there is an alternative in the form of Architect Your Home (www.architect-yourhome.com), a company that has revolutionised the way that people are renovating their homes.

Architect Your Home is the UK’s leading supplier of architectural services for the homeowner market with more than 45 practices nationwide. Launched in 2001 the company was founded by Hugo and Jude Tugman, who after 10 years of running their own architectural practice realised that traditional working methods didn’t always measure up to the needs of the individual homeowner. Architect Your Home has pioneered a unique pay-as-you-go menu of services. This has been specifically designed to meet the needs of a growing number of people who want expert advice from an architect or designer, but are daunted by the prospect and complexity of the traditional full service. The idea behind the company is to encourage more people to use the professional input of an architect for small domestic projects like loft conversions, extensions, or open planning.

Architect Your Home has turned architecture into a commodity that is more accessible to the consumer. The company offers the full range of architectural services from initial ideas and sketches right the way through to detailed design and project management, but rather than offering them as a complete package they have broken them down into individual components. Thanks to the company’s menu of services, people know exactly what they will be paying for and can pick and choose the services that suit them. This means that homeowners with varying budgets can get access to affordable ideas, advice and drawings in a pay-as-you-go style.

The company’s most popular services are the half-day and full-day kick start initial visit, which involves a four or seven hour site meeting. These kick start visits are the starting point of the Architect Your Home service. For £450 for the half-day visit and £750 for the full day, one of the company’s RIBA qualified architects comes to the home and discusses the project personally, before measuring and putting together sketch drawings over the kitchen table. Advice on planning and building regulations, likely costs and pitfalls, your budget and the way forward are all part of this initial session. Customers can then involve the architect for as much, or as little of the project as they want by choosing from the additional menu of services.

As well as the kick start, visits Architect Your Home also offers the full range of services you would expect from a traditional architectural practice including detailed site drawings, project management and planning applications. This gives the customer the flexibility to cherry pick only those services that they need, involving an architect in as much or as little of a project as they like. The choice is theirs.

For more information on Architect Your Home and the company’s menu of services visit www.architect-yourhome.com or call 0800 849 8505.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Design Jewellery Collection for Asprey

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have collaborated with luxury jewellers Asprey to create the serpentine-inspired Protector Collection.

The silver, jewel-encrusted pieces pay homage to the snake, which has for centuries been seen as a symbol of fertility and protection. Apparently Angelina was given a snake ring during her first pregnancy and has since felt a bond with its symbolism.

Prices start at $525 for a silver baby spoon with a curving, serpent-shaped handle and all net proceeds from sales will go to Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, which was cofounded by Jolie in 2006. The charity raises awareness and funds to educate child victims of war, conflict and natural disasters.

The limited edition collection was conceived and designed by Pitt and Jolie and has been in the works for more than a year. It will go on sale at Asprey stores in London, New York, Beverly Hills, Tokyo and Dubai later this week, according to Asprey officials.

Available from Asprey www.asprey.com.

Find fabulous dresses at French Connection

The party season is just around the corner and now is the time to grab yourself a gorgeous dress or two. We’ve not seen a collection of high-street dresses quite as pleasing as those at French Connection. They are glamorous and affordable and there are styles to suit every shape and figure.

We were so impressed we decided to pull out a five of our favourites for you to have a look at:

Spirit Catcher dress £200.00

Available in gold, white and blue this dress is completely covered in sequins for maximum impact and also features a sexy cut-out back panel.

Paintbox dress £190.00

This sequinned shift dress, with large multi-coloured dots and scoop neckline is young, fun and flirtatious; perfect for a girls night out.

Cairo dress £180.00

Perfect for the more conservative Christmas party, this dress is all black but the sequins give it that festive sparkle. The looser fit, cape top and sleeves are ideal for those who are figure conscious and would prefer to cover up the bingo wings.

Island dress £130.00

Not just any old jersey dress; with its ruched shoulder and side seams and sheer embellished chest panel, this dress is sexy yet classy. Ultimately it makes the boobs look fantastic.

Damask dress £130.00

This cap-sleeve shift dress with all-over contrast bead and embroidered pattern really makes it an eye-catching piece.

All available from French Connection www.frenchconnection.com

Friday Fashion Fun

We've got that Friday feeling, and being girls that just wanna have fun for cheap at half the price, let's have a cheeky cosmetic fashion victim fumble for only £5 for all 3! It may not be the classiest look in the joint, but it's perfect for a party look.

2true at Superdrug

50% off best selling jeans at Firetrap

Designed in London by British designers Firetrap celebrate their roots taking inspiration from the sights, sounds and flavours of London life. Cool cuts and on-trend styles are what you can expect from one of the best high-street denim brands.

Founded in 1991, Firetrap isn’t the most established jeans company out there, but that doesn’t mean they won’t stand the test of time. We love what they have to offer, from their knitwear to their shoes.

Grunge and Goth references are seen in the skintight denims, rubberized embellishments, crushed leather, chain details, studs, plaid fabrics and the unconventional use of zips which ignite the sinister mood of Firetrap AW09.

With stores in London, Leeds, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Belfast, there isn’t far to go. However you don’t have to leave your home if you don’t want to, as all of their threads are available online at http://www.firetrap.com/.

Simply enter the code DENIM50 at the checkout to receive your discount but be quick as the offer ends on Sunday 15^th November.

5 of the best knitted jumper dresses

We love the practicality of jumper dresses: one easy piece so versatile that it can be worn with flats or heels, pumps or boots, tights or trousers, day or night. The knitted versions bring much needed warmth and are the height of this season’s fashion. We’ll take 10 in every colour, shape and thread!

Mustard Slash Neck Jumper Dress £14.00

This dress features on trend batwing sleeves and the bright colour is perfect for adding a bit of zing to the winter wardrobe. At this price, you can’t go wrong!

http://www.peacocks.co.uk/

Black Reverse Seam Dress £38.00

The shape is great and the white reverse seams add quirky detail drawing the eye downwards and elongating the body. It looks so comfy, we couldn’t resist.

http://www.missselfridge.com/

Kade Dress £85.00

Metal military buttons and the pointelle knitted side panel give this dress interesting detailing that make it worth every penny.

http://www.allsaints.com/

See by Chloé Beaded sweater dress £350

This basic black wool-blend knitted sweater dress is given an 80's-inspired edge with a body-con fit and silver-tone beaded detailing making it an ideal day-into-night piece.

http://www.chloe.com/

Missoni Madreperla knitted dress £660

The brands signature print features in classic autumnal shades and the light knit is perfect for layering. The longer length makes this dress ideal for pairing with platform heels.

http://www.net-a-porter.com/

Who’s your style icon?

Do you covet Kate, adore Alexa or swoon for Stella? If so and you want your favourite stylista to go down in history, here is your chance.

At next month's British Fashion Awards, for the first time ever, it’s the public that gets to decide who should win the London 25 award. Voters can nominate their favourite style icons through the British Fashion Awards website and must choose a figure who most embodies the spirit of the capital and acts as an international ambassador for the London fashion industry.

Marking the 25^th anniversary of the British Fashion Council, the winner will be announced at the awards bash on 9 December 2009 at London's Royal Courts of Justice. There are 18 iconic industry figures to choose from, or you can nominate your own – there is still time to vote so cast yours quick and be a part of the fashion event of the year.

British Fashion Awards www.britishfashionawards.com/polls

Cardboard chic? An interesting venture…

Independent furniture and home accessories designer, Giles Miller has amazed us with his innovative use of cardboard in creating his intriguing designs.

Using a variety of techniques, Miller demonstrates the versatility of cardboard to create a range of surprisingly durable and stylist items for the home. At the young age of 26, the designer’s credentials and portfolio are impressive, his biography is littered with cities all over the world, well-known designers, galleries and brand names.

Alongside three colleagues, Miller formed the design collective ‘Farm’ which offers iconic designs, unconventional materials and a firm stance on sustainability. Miller’s designs are made in the UK from sustainable reinforced corrugated cardboard, highlighting the potential of a material that often ends up in landfill. As a whole, Farm considers materials and production methods as the root of their practice with a commitment to investigating British manufacturing techniques.

In January Farm plan to set up a temporary studio at the Design Museum as part of their residency, taking inspiration from visitors to the museum, the design community and their individual networks. As part of their stay the four designers will spend their time engaging with visitors, exchanging ideas and sharing knowledge, whilst also focussing on the promotion of British manufacturers. Applying the diverse knowledge and ideas they acquire, Farm will design and create four new pieces of work.

To find out more about the Design Museum residency, visit www.inresidence.designmuseum.org/farm/.

To find out more about Giles Miller visit http://www.gilesmiller.com/.

Keep those mitts safe and warm

Following along a similar theme to our last blog, we’re thinking about keeping our wee little ‘dannies snug and toasty. More so today in anticipation of standing out in the chilly November air to behold a sky of colours, booms and bangs. Remember, remember? It is of course the 5^th of November.

Tonight is the night when gloves come into their own, whether woolly, fingerless, pretty or practical, just make sure you’ve got yours. Get ready to write your name in sparklers and give those clothen fingers the attention they deserve!

Love the glove:

Stripe & Contrast Bow Fingerless Gloves £10

Accessorize http://www.monsoon.co.uk/

Cable Long Cut Off Gloves £14

Accessorize http://www.monsoon.co.uk/

Quilt & stud leather driver’s glove £28

Warehouse http://www.warehouse.co.uk/

Ted Baker Bow Detail Leather Glove £38

http://www.tedbaker.com/

Dents Crochet Back Driving Gloves £40

Dents http://www.asos.com/

A retro winter-warmer not to be forgotten

When I came across new accessories brand Bambi & Snowflake, I was instantly reminded of when I was small. At approximately the age of three or four, I remember carrying my muff everywhere, hiding things in it and using it to keep my mitts warm.

Whatever happened to muffs? I’m pleased to see that they haven’t been forgotten. Independent designer and founder of Bambi & Snowflake, Poppy O’Neill has revived the muff within her collection of unique, one-off accessories.

We love the Tessa Embellished Muff in Cornflower Blue, handmade and lined with faux-fleece and embellished with studs, sequins, pearls and faceted acrylic stones. For a grown up take on the muff, look no further.

Bambi & Snowflake Tessa muff, available from Etsy for $30 www.etsy.com/shop/bambiandsnowflake.