Spice up your holiday look - DIY style

It's that time of year again- one holiday party after another, and other than a great outfit, how else can you add some sizzle to your look and stand out at the next holiday bash? Nothing can be more simple (and inexpensive) than some fun make up! Here are 3 easy ways that you can change up your look this year:

*Note - using all three of these options can cause makeup overload, my suggestion is to pick one at a time and run with it!

1. The lips say it all

Bold lip colours in every shade imaginable have been trending this year, so for the holidays take it up a notch and try a bright, bold, and rich hue. In this case, keep the rest of your makeup simple and muted, the focus here is on the lips. Don't be afraid to try a deep and dark colour, choose a shade that looks great on you and go a few shades darker.

2. Colour combo eyes

Colour blocking and combining clashing tones has been all over the runway, so do the same with your eyes! Take two contrasting hues opposite on the colour wheel, ( for example yellow and purple, blue and orange, or even red and green if you really want to be festive!) and apply the lighter colour on the inside of the lid, and the darker colour on the outside and in the crease. Don't forget to put a neutral highlighter under the brow and on the inside corners of the eye!

3. Well manicured lady

The counters are filled with hundreds of shades of nail polish, from matte, to pearly, to the new trend this year - glitter and sparkle. These polishes can get pricey though, and they rarely turn out as glitter packed as they seem! An easy way to use up that left over glitter from your high school art project, is to mix it into a bottle of your clear nail polish! Another great way is to apply a clear coat on your nails first, then quickly sprinkle on the glitter while it's wet so it will stick, then finish with another clear layer, VIOLA!

*Tip - Match the base colour with the colour of the glitter for a cleaner look.

Hope you got a little inspiration and helpful tips to take on the holidays, DIY style... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

By: Karolina Swietoniowska

For more great holiday ideas, check out Pinterest!

Christmas Gifts For The Tech Savvy Special Someone

By: Angela Cole

Christmas Day is just around the corner! Do you have all your shopping done? Me neither.

Here are some stylish (and reasonably priced) tech gifts to help out if you’re stuck for what to get the digitally advanced friend or family member.

Photo Source: www.casetagram.com

A custom smartphone or tablet case: Sites such as Casetagram, Skinit, Gelaskins, and Case Mate all provide the option to have a case made up of photos or designs of your choice. This is a gift that’s practical as well as sentimental. ($25-$40)

Photo Source: http://www.bitemyapple.co

Une Bobine: Office desks can get pretty cluttered from time to time, so why not lessen the mess with a gravity-defying desk stand for your Smartphone. Une Bobine is available in 12 or 24 inches and also works as a USB connector. ($30)

Photo Source: http://www.joeybra.com

The JoeyBra: For the girls, we all know what it’s like to not want to carry items, such as a cell phone or money, to a bar or party. So where do they end up? In our bras. Well, The JoeyBra has taken this idea to a whole new level.  The bra features a kangaroo-like pouch on the left side (underneath the armpit that can easily hold a Smartphone and other small items such as money or ID. ($20-$30)

Photo Source: http://mashable.com/2012/11/07/headphones-built-in-hoodies

INSOUND’s Showcave Sleeveless Hoodie: This innovative sweatshirt by INSOUND is not only stylish, but it comes with built-in headphones. Whether you’re working out or just relaxing, this hoodie keeps your music at an arm’s length. ($40)

What 'Ugly' Christmas Sweater?

Written by: Nicole Grisell 

 

Everybody knows about the 'ugly' Christmas sweater. Maybe you received one as a gift back in 1997? Maybe you've seen one hiding in your grandmas closet? Or maybe, you attended everybody's favorite 'ugly' Christmas sweater themed party once wearing one. Well we've got news for you - 'ugly' Christmas sweaters aren't just for your themed parties anymore. High end fashion designers are taking 'ugly' Christmas sweaters and creating a new fabulous turn on the sweater you dread wearing just to make grandma happy. 

Let's take a look!

 

Here is our first ugly sweater by 3.1 Phillip Lim. The cute reindeer on the front of this sweater adds a cute touch most Christmas sweaters fail to do. The softer beige adds a more comfortable feel to the garment, opposed to harsh red and greens we are so used to during the holiday season.

Available at Net-a-Porter.com:

Was $385 Now $269.50 

 

For our next ugly Christmas sweater, we have a Marc Jacobs red cardigan with a bit of silver embellishment. Marc Jacobs has taken a plain red cardigan and turned it into a Christmas staple. Shiny silver embellishments on the cardigan really add that Christmas sparkle to this look, and can really glam up a plain outfit into something more.

Available at Net-a-Porter.com:
Was $1,100 Now $330

 

 

 Our next ugly sweater is a little more on the pricey side, but also plays more on the Christmas tradition front. This Meadham Kirchhoff design screams Christmas decorations all over it. You will definitely be lighting up the party in this number. Paired with a black skirt, stockings and heels, this ugly sweater will no longer be embarrassing, but classy.

 

Available at Net-a-Porter.com 

s, m, lrg  

£945 

 

 

 

 

This Stella McCartney sweater has a more playful take on our favorite Christmas animal, the reindeer. Having vibrant pinks and yellows incorporated into the design, a fun and girly feel is created. You might just out shine your tree lights this year, wearing this sweater out for the holidays!

 

Available at Net-a-porter.com

xs, s, m, lrg 

£416

For our last ugly Christmas sweater, we have another favorite by 3.1 Phillip Lim. The snowflake embellishments around the neck, bring out all the character, to what could have been a plain white sweater. The icy blue tones added also create a winter wonderland feel most ugly Christmas sweaters are not capable of doing.

Available at Net-a-Porter.com

xs, s, m, lrg
£416

 

 

Here are a few more designer ugly Christmas sweaters I couldn't resist showcasing:

To shop these looks, visit Net-a-Porter.com

Fashion's Biggest Names Bring Disney to Life at Harrod's

A Tale as Old as Time.

Written by: Billy Vasilios


Guy or girl, we've all wanted to be a Disney princess, or be with a Disney princess. Needless to say, we've all been surrounded by these beautiful characters for as long as we can remember. They are apart of our culture and they are a significant part of our childhood. As children, I remember sitting in front of the television with my cousins and watching Disney movies for hours. We would even go as far as dressing up and bringing these enchanted characters to life, and on November 1st, 2012, Harrod's specialty department store did just that. They brought these princesses to life. Harrod's unveiled their Christmas windows which coincide with a 7,000 square-foot Disney pop-up boutique on the fourth floor. There is nothing more magical than walking by your department stores' Christmas windows and feeling that sparkle of warmth ignite inside of you on that cool winter night. This year, the Christmas windows have been taken over by some of fashion's biggest names, re-creating their imaginings of the iconic fairy tale dresses. Designers such as Valentino, Marchesa, Oscar de la Renta and Versace have all come together to bring our childhood to life. 

Below are a few of the window displays I love.

Cinderella by Versace

Ariel from The Little Mermaid by Marchesa




Jasmin from Aladdin by Escada

Snow White by Oscar de la Renta

 

Belle from Beauty and the Beast in Valentino

 

Rapunzel by Jenny Packham




Which window is your favourite?

Happy Christmas, and always remember, it's never too late for your own fairy tale.

Sourced from: http://www.vogue.co.uk/

Not Your Average Stocking Stuffer

By Keshia Griffiths

With Christmas around the corner, more and more people are rushing to find the perfect gift for everyone on their list. Here are some wacky gift ideas to surprise your loved ones.

1) The Camera Lens travel mug $35.95 on Amazon.com – Not everyone can afford to buy a professional lens for their camera, which run from $200-$1100. A funny gift alternative for the photographer in your life would be the Nikon travel mug.

2) iPhone cassette case $14.95 on Amazon.com – Give a blast from the past with this fun take on iPhone cases. It is the perfect stocking stuffer that may even confuse your kids.

3) Dog butt pencil sharpener $15.95 Amazon.com – A gift that will get a laugh from any student, office worker or family member. The dog bum pencil sharpener is electronic and stands in a tray to catch shavings. The funny thing about this sharpener is you have to stick your pencil in the dog’s butt, activating a sound chip making the dog bark. I’m laughing already!

4) Self-Stirring Mug $13.49 Stupid.com – Have you ever needed to stir your coffee but realized you didn't have a spoon? Never fear, the self-stirring mug is here! Now with the push of a button your mug will do all the work.

Happy Shopping Everyone!

Follow me on Twitter @KeshiaMG