If I was a guy…

I’d certainly be taking a stroll around ‘Denim Garden’, the Trousers London pop-up shop in Seven Dials, Convent Garden.

Only open for another five days, Denim Garden features both a shop and an exhibition and is home to an installation of collaborative projects showing the work of local artists including video projects, photography and art. Artists include Mario Mendez whose recent work was seen in Italian Vogue and Sebastien Pons who has worked previously with Vivienne Westwood during fashion week (see one of his portraits below – love this one!).

Launched in 2008 Trousers London has quickly become renowned for the exclusive design and sole use of organic denim in their collections. All jeans are made from raw organic denim and each pair is given a unique ID number to make you feel very special and important, like they’ve been made especially with you in mind.

We love the cool detailing on the pockets and the slouchiness of these boy-jeans. OK we admit it; the idea of a gorgeous man in these threads is making us a little hot under the collar. Ahem.

Opening times are 10 – 7pm, Monday to Saturday and 12 – 6pm, Sundays. Check out www.trouserslondon.co.uk for information on the brand and to find out more about what’s on offer at Seven Dials visit www.sevendials.co.uk.

Fairtrade Fortnight kicks off

Yesterday was the first day of Fairtrade Fortnight, kicking off two weeks of championing all things fairly made and traded.

From 22^nd February to 7^th March the Fairtrade Foundation is adopting the theme of ‘The Big Swap’ and is trying to persuade a million and one people to swap their usual product for a Fairtrade-marked equivalent.

This might seem like a big feat but now more than 1000 products available in the UK carry the Fairtrade mark. Many food, clothing, homeware and beauty products have been given the stamp in recent years, making it so much easier to buy ethically.

Now that fairly traded items are becoming more mainstream, shoppers are realising that Fairtrade doesn’t mean compromised quality. Leading Fairtrade brands have done really well to overcome the misconception as many consumers tended to associate fair trade with ‘hippy rubbish’.

Proving that Fairtrade can be stylish, fantastic quality and desirable, here are a few of our favourite items:

Boots Extracts Honey Body Butter £7.50 (will be available in-store from Wednesday) www.boots.com

Striped resin bangle £6 www.traidcraftshop.co.uk

Rookwood Lion Tank by Emma Watson for People Tree £65 www.peopletree.co.uk

Damask Jacquard Duvet Cover £65-£95 www.johnlewis.com

Birdies t-shirt THTC £22 www.thtc.co.uk

Power Berry Facial Wash £14.50 www.nealsyardremedies.com

Fairly Dotty Knickers £12 www.lifesnotfairbutmyknickersare.com

Hotpants £25 www.topshop.com

Fruit of Love cushion cover £25 www.onevillage.org

Fairtrade Roses £37.99 www.clareflorist.co.uk

To celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight, Aura Que are also giving customers 10 per cent off all products in their Online Boutique until 7th March – this includes all sale items and the new Spring/Summer 2010 stock that will be available from 1st March 2010. They also provide free postage and packing www.auraque.com.

The promise of flawless, airbrushed skin

We’ve just found out about an exciting new way to apply foundation that promises results we’re only used to seeing on the models in magazines.

The range is called Airbase and does what it says on the tin - it uses the familiar airbrushing concept to apply make up to the skin. It’s a wonder no one thought of it before, genius!

One of the women behind the brand is Judy Naake who brought St.Tropez to our shores 15 years ago. Judy teamed up with the Oscar nominated make-up artist Anni Buchanan to create a brand which looks set to be a huge success.

Already many celebrities are fans or Airbase as it has been used by make-up artists for nearly two years. Jemma Kidd School has used it back stage, Girls Aloud make-up artist Liz Martins is amongst its fans, as are Holly Willoughby and Hermione Norris. But in March the brand is launching their ‘Home kits’ which will enable everyday folk like me and you to get in on the action.

Now it doesn’t come cheap but I’m told it’s well worth it. There are five foundations, two blushers and one bronzer all of which are £29.95 and can last for up to six months (very reasonable). However you’ll also need to buy the applicator Airbrush and mini-compressor pack with costs £134.95. The way we look at it, you’ll only need to buy the Airbrush once, so like hair-straighteners – it’s probably worth the investment.

The added benefits of the make-up itself is that it’s long lasting, heat resistant and waterproof and it contains Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Vitamin A improves elasticity and helps to reduce fine lines and Vitamin E is an anti-oxidant that helps in fighting free radicals.

The foundation has a silicone base which allows the skin to breathe, apparently without clogging pores. Combined with the airbrush that disperses the foundation in tiny particles we should have the recipe for flawless skin.

Similarly to straightening your hair however, I have heard that everyday use isn’t recommended. Using an air brush can apparently push make up deep into the skin if it’s used regularly. Something to bear in mind if you’re as excited as we are about this new gadget – nights out and special occasions only girls! Plus we can’t be beautiful all the time… can we?

Watch the video demonstration to see Airbase in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgtJhKuKyyY

www.airbasemakeup.com

Update your hair in an instant – get plaiting

Plaited hair is big this season. On the catwalk we’ve seen Alexander Wang, DSquared and Mui Mui coveting the style but all in very different ways. Tight and sleek or loose and messy – you choose.

Commenting on the trend, celebrity Lee Stafford says:

“Plaits and braids are set to be a key feature of this seasons hair trends. Keep them sleek and silky smooth or rough them up and add a bit of sexy ‘I just got out of bed’ matt texture. This is a trend that everyone can recreate in seconds and can really glam up ‘end of the day’ hair without hours of re-styling.”

At the Brit Awards, Fearne Cotton sported what has got to be the trickiest plait to achieve – the Herringbone. Here Lee Stafford shares his tips on how to recreate the look.

How to get Fearne’s herringbone red carpet look in 10 simple steps…

1. It’s really important to get as much volume and texture as possible in your hair before braiding it to stop hair from slipping, so using about a tennis ball sized amount of root lifting mousse, rough up hair from root to tip.

2. Create a side parting by drawing a fine tooth comb from crown to hairline, and arrange hair into place.

3. For more length and thickness like Fearne’s you can also add some clip in hair extensions at the nape of the neck.

4. Then pull hair over to one side, over the shoulder as if you were going to create a side pony tail.

5. Separate all of the hair that is on the side into two halves.

6. Take a very small section – a 'pinch' of hair, not a handful – from the left section of hair, and cross it over so it joins the section on the right.

7. Take another small section of hair from the right section of hair, and cross it over so it joins the section on the left.

8. Keep taking small sections and crossing them over to the opposite section. At first you may not see the herringbone effect, as you continue you will notice the herringbone pattern beginning to form. Continue until running out of hair and then tie an elastic band or wrap a bit of leather thong around the ends of the braid leaving a good two inches of loose hair at the ends to hold it.

9. This season’s braid is loose and soft so don’t worry if you have flyaway or wispy strands- in fact the messier the better!

10. Give hair a light mist of hairspray. You can also use kirby grips to secure loose strands of hair- this might be especially necessary if you have shorter layers cut into hair. Remember to use grips that are the same colour as your hair so that they are camouflaged.

www.leestafford.com

Jean Paul Gaultier teams up with Melissa

Brazilian footwear label Melissa, best known for its collaboration with Vivienne Westwood, has this morning unveiled its latest collaboration with Jean Paul Gaultier. The designer has collaborated for the second time with Melissa, creating a recyclable 10cm plastic stiletto which launches in June priced £160.

"I've worked very closely with Melissa on the development of this style - it's very sexy," Jean Paul Gaultier told Vogue.com this morning. "I'd love to see it worn with fishnet tights, so you can really max out on the transparent aspect of the plastic!"

The style - called JEAN PAUL GAULTIER X MELISSA - will be available in black, caramel, beige, lime and tangerine.

Jean Paul Gaultier first teamed up with Melissa in 1982.

The Melissa brand has been long established with approximately 50 million pairs of shoes made over the last 25 years. The rubber used to make their designs is sustainably sourced and can be recycled after use. Because most of the designs use only one material (rubber) they are much easier to recycle and there is almost zero waste from the manufacturing process.

The most unusual thing about the Melissa shoes is the smell. The rubber is injected with scents of bubblegum and sweet shops which makes for an unusual sensory sensation, not often associated with footwear. No more smelly feet!

In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Melissa has put on an exhibit in Santa Tereza in Rio, which opened to the public this week and runs until November 15^th.

www.melissaplasticdreams.com

We’ve got our eyes on…

This gorgeous jumpsuit new-in at Topshop as part of their SS10 collection by Richard Nicoll:Camels, nudes and pale greys are all over the catwalk and look set to be the key colours in the hottest spring wardrobes. This jumpsuit hits the nail on the head. And not only is the colour spot on, the mixture of body-con and boyfriend has got us lusting after this essential item.

To really get pulses racing we’d team it with candy pink lips, matching nails and a sorbet colour-of-choice clutch and heels.

We want it now! £70 www.topshop.com

How to (and not to) walk in heels

Oh dear, last night was the opening evening of New York fashion week and there’s already been a tumble. The lovely Agyness Dean fell not once, but twice, in a pair of ultra-high Burberry platform heels.

Agyness tripped on stage during the Fashion For Relief Haiti NYC 2010 collection show, organised by Naomi Campbell who famously fell during a Vivienne Westwood show in 1993. Luckily the model was able to laugh it off, so we don’t have to feel bad for her, but really if the models can’t walk in these heels how are we ever supposed to?

The old saying ‘No pain, no gain’ springs to mind: yes there is a lot to be gained from wearing high heels – they make you look longer, slimmer, sleeker, sexier – but often they can really hurt!

Posh, Kelly Osbourne, Sarah Jessica Parker – even Oprah Winfrey suffer for fashion with their common complaint of bunions. A painful problem none of us want ever to have to deal with.

So where is the happy medium? We’re not born with the natural ability to walk well in heels; it’s a skill which needs practise in order to build up the necessary ankle muscles. Whilst some of us can’t be bothered, others take it too far. Give yourself and your feet a break. Don’t live in your heels but take the time to perfect that sexy strut.

Check out this ‘how to’ guide for some failsafe tips www.wikihow.com/Walk-in-High-Heels (Ignore the bit where it says the shoes in the picture would be good, they wouldn’t, they’re hideous. Just look for the heel height as a guide).