the top shelf

I opened up about my beauty routine to the lovely Australian beauty website Walter Osborne. It's slightly haphazard and I don't always follow it, but it was fun to think about all the products I own (so many! I'm product obsessed even if I don't use half of them) and the stories behind them. You can read my little interview here.

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polished

I'm getting just that much closer to my dream of owning every colour from the & Other Stories nail polish range. I have a friend travelling to Europe in a few weeks and I've already put her on notice that she will be on courier duty. Who needs online shopping when you have jet-setting mates?

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&&&&&&&&

&otherstories

Predictably, I'm really excited for the launch of H&M's new high-end range & other stories (read Natalie talk about the publicity campaign, which is half the reason why I'm excited to be honest), the thrill of COS-esque creative direction and oversized sweaters is enough to leave me in raptures, but, somewhat unpredictably, it seems I'm mostly really excited by the make up. It's weird because I actually don't wear that much make up (read: any make up at all) and I don't really know anything about it but recently I've become obsessed with reading about it, with shopping for it, with knowing interesting tidbits about products to share with people I meet on the street (I told my neighbour the other day that Gwyneth Paltrow thinks you should use Avibon and she was like "um... OK" and now avoids me in the garden). It's like ever since I came back from Paris I can't stop thinking about products. It's a particularly Parisian thing - they love their creams and oils and gels and masks and they love to talk about what all these creams and oils and gels and masks do for their skin - and I got hit with a massive case of it after not one but two lengthy trips to City Pharma to pick up bits and pieces of Bioderma Crealine and Embryolisse and Avene and Caudalie for friends, family and - ultimately - myself. Who am I? I am not a make up girl. But, it would seem, I might be a beauty girl. 

Looking at pictures of the & other stories beauty range has me excited and inspired in the same way that Topshop's make up range first got me interested in beauty (all comments aside, I love the way that Topshop markets fun, affordable and playful make up). What I love about this is the focus on simple packaging and evocative marketing. The fig body cream has a big fat quote in lovely minimalistic font on it saying "musky green fig leaves swaying in the warm, evening air" which is too perfect, and make me hope that all the other products have similar branding concepts too. Who writes these? And where can I get this job? The nail polish colours are perfect. "Etam Lavender", "Jacomet Daffodil" and "Paisley Sky" are just too wonderful for words, really. And, the bottom line, really, is that it all looks great. The packaging is only half the battle. The products have to work. And from those photoshoots and look book images leaking onto screens as we speak, it definitely does. (Those hot pinks nails! Those peach-stained lips!). I want one of every nail polish and I'm going to put them in a vase in the centre of my desk and just look at them all day and never use them, ever. I blame Into the Gloss.

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sweetest thing

one and five - into the gloss // two and six - kinfolk // three and eight - laduree x lanvin by me // four and seven - Chloe S/S 2013 by Purple Diary

I may not dress like it, but I do love sweet, pretty things. At least to look at. Side fringes, rosy cheeks and a box of the prettiest, prettiest macarons ever. It's a hot weather thing. It's a Kirsten Dunst in Wimbledon thing. And it's a Laduree thing.

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bare

1 // 2 // 3

I love how Gaia Repossi wears no makeup at all. It's a look that's literally close to my heart - I wore makeup on the weekend to a country 21st and it was the first time in about 6 months that I had put on makeup. It was nice to slick on a bit of mascara and touch of highlighter on my cheeks, but I felt it didn't make that much difference. I took it off at the end of the night anyway (of course) and it all seemed a bit silly. I feel way more comfortable in my own skin, with nothing on, bare-faced and carefree.  It helps that Gaia has beautiful skin, clean and clear and full of light like a Sunday morning. When you're stripping it all back to a blank canvas it does help when that canvas is of the highest quality. But it's more than just that. It's about self confidence too. It's about being able to middle part your hair, and tuck it behind your ear, and not worry about the bags under your eyes and just be completely unconcerned about anything superficial and on the surface. It's a look that I embrace daily, with somewhat less confidence, somewhat less self-possession, somewhat less supreme fearlessness. But I'm never going to give it up. Maybe every now and then I'll pop something on for fun, the way you pop on a party dress because it makes you smile. But to be honest, nothing goes better with oatmeal sweaters and midi skirts and oversized tee shirts and tapered trousers than a bare face and a big smile. Why bother with anything else?

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hot weather likes...

When I took these pictures it was blazing hot and it was very clear that summer was rearing its ugly head but now the grey clouds have swooped in and it's raining! That's Sydney, isn't it. The worst thing is that the weather forecast is showing rain for this Friday - the day of the birthday party - I'm going to cry if it rains. Anyway. Here are some of the things that go perfectly with summer weather. 

one and two. a skincare routine. here's mine courtesy of Aesop and Grown. I got the yen for having a grown up, big-girls top shelf after reading Into the Gloss. And now, thanks to a well-timed staff incentive at david jones and a teensy bit of a windfall I have one. Rachel is so right, there's something about that tangy, zesty smell and that old-school packaging that brightens up your day. When a bright summer sun gets you out of bed early in the morning, Aesop products and grown body wash (which I first learnt about in the recent issue of RUSSH, pictured) will put a smile on your face. I've stuck to this routine so far which is really good for me! Normally I get sick and tired after a few days and revert back to cold water a la Jane Birkin.

three and four. Sonoma honey spice breakfast muesli, diptyque philosykos and a big, light wrap scarf. I really identify with the smells of figs, of cinnamon-spice and beautiful, high quality organic cotton. All three of those smells make me smile and remind me of sunny weather, whether it be my favourite perfume, my favourite breakfast or my favourite cover up. There's something so very glamorous and yet so very simple about throwing a wrap shawl on. This one is one of my favourites, it's by fouta and it's from The Corner Shop. I've recently taken to throwing it on over whatever I'm wearing, either completely wrapping it around or just draping it over my shoulders. It has the most glorious, clean, cotton smell. I've always wanted to wear a shawl a la Meryl Streep in Out of Africa, too, (which you all know I love dearly), somewhat in the manner of this. I think there's something very lovely about that tie, but I've never been able to perfect it. A shawl like that, a bowl of muesli and a spritz of philosykos. What else is there? 

five and six. Me and Ro jewellery, photographed against Vogue UK's Jane Birkin feature in the October 2011 issue. I've received some beautiful early early birthday presents recently and they are probably the best things going on in my life right now. My delicate jewellery collection is swelling dramatically and I love it! This Me and Ro tiny flower pendant is a mix of gold and silver, which I think is rather modern and very beautiful and is definitey one of my favourite things (remember my tiffany and co lock pendant?). It sits just at the base of my neck, and I've been wearing it by itself and totally simple, with this beautiful Me and Ro silver ring (another gift from the greatest of friends!). It is so thin and is adorned with a little flower. I've taken to wearing it as a memory ring on my first knuckle somewhat akin to this catbird one, or the way decade diary wears her rings. Hot weather doesn't want you to wear too much jewellery - it's too cumbersome. It prefers one or two very simple pieces and a big tee shirt and very little else. And that's fine with me!

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ps. don't forget to enter my Mimco giveaway!

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golden touch

into the gloss

No mascara, no blush, hardly any foundation - just enough to even out pigment and cover any blemishes - clean, dewy skin that glowed golden. That was the look at the Dries Van Noten show in Paris, make up by Chanel. How fantastic that there was just a hint of gold around the model's eyes and a touch of it glinting out of sleek (but not stuffy) ponytails? How beautiful that the lips had just a touch of peachy pink? How wonderful that this was a make up look that required hardly any effort, even backstage at a catwalk, and that could easily transfer itself to an everyday situation - albeit a fabulous one. Sure, you can't go wandering around with gold rims on your lower lids everyday. But on that right occasion, it could be something quite spectacular.

I think these close up candid backstage photos make me like the Dries collection even more. He always has the best styling - think wispy, real-girl hair tucked into the collars of his covetable coats - and this season is no different. It complements and offsets his collection perfectly. How else to translate trippy black and white prints from runway to reality? With make up that looks fresh from the streets.

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clean and bright

garance dore

Minimalism isn't always about clean lines, colour blocking, and sharp, sterile design. Sometimes it is about a state of mind - a style that embodies cleanliness and purity rather than overstatement and exaggeration. It doesn't mean that you have to wear Calvin Klein - but by all means, if you've got it, you better bloody well flaunt it - and it also doesn't mean you have to steer clear of brash colours and crazy prints. It just means that you have to approach them in a simple, unfussy way. 

Jil Sander said "I prefer to call it ‘pure’—minimal can be very empty". This is purity it in its utmost form; classic, oversized menswear, scraped back hair and barely there make up that sings of last nights parties. I've just bought the perfect nude lipstick - Topshop's "Mink". After faffing around at the Lancome counter wondering whether I should spend 50 dollars (50 dollars!!!) on the "Absolute Rose" that they pigment matched to Daria's lips - yes, yes, they actually did that, and it's beautiful but a little too pink, maybe? - I found one that is just right for my olive complexion. And with my Marant coat and melange of simple shirts, this outfit is well within reach. I only have to wait for winter to come around again, as being back in Australia and 35 degree heat just looking at a coat brings me out in a sweat. It's hard to adjust back to Summer after I've been in winter for so long. But hey, it's good to be back!

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happy days

Decjuba oatmeal jumper, Bassike cool grey oversized tee, Opening Ceremony trackpants

Remember when I said I loved surprise early birthday presents? Well I also love late ones. They both prolong the birthday experience to make it extra special. Yesterday I got a late birthday present from my friends at work - a gift voucher for one of my favourite stores, Mecca Cosmetica. So off I trotted today to spend all my moneys there, stocking up on travel essentials like Kiehl's cleanser, but also the things I've been meaning to buy for ages but never got around to (like hair masques and blotting papers). I'm very happy! I was at my internship today, which is going swimmingly, and I wore my new super comfy Opening Ceremony pants from the Lands End sale, and just generally wandered around the city looking like I was wearing pyjamas. Lovely!

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lashings of mascara

into the gloss

I have loved Jen Brill ever since I saw her in itsy-bitsy denim cut offs in i-D magazine way back when, a real australian making it in fashion. And she's half chinese. I thought, if she can do it - be australian and successful and half chinese - then so can I. And she also had the most perfect red-lipstick-ed pout I'd ever seen. Well, you can imagine my excitement this morning when I logged onto Into the Gloss and found that she was featured in my favourite section - Top Shelf, where we are given sneak peaks into the make up cupboards of fashion professionals. I love her neatly organised make up - tons of chanel, of course, I love that she uses an old Diptyque candle as an eyeliner holder (what an idea!), I love that she says that all she really does is use a smidge of foundation as concealer and tons of mascara - something I do. I love that she shares the secrets of her favourite red lippy (MAC Ruby Woo), and I love that she wears Chanel Beige, a perfume that I've been spritzing over myself at work the past couple of weeks. I love that she uses Cetaphil as a cleanser, I love that she has a staple beauty routine - red lips, red nails, tousled hair fresh from a bun - and I love that at night time she adds a little sparkle. She has that kind of make up effortlessness that people spend thousands of dollars trying to get with face creams and illuminating foundation and ten different kinds of eye shadow. Funny, really, that all it takes is some mascara, a red lipstick and a couple of bobby pins.

But what I love most is that Into The Gloss has shared all this with us. A little bit because now I've got a brand new list of tips and products to try out when I have a bit of spare cash in my pocket, but mostly because I do some of these things too (hello cetaphil! hello scrunching up wet hair to give it bounce). I think I love Jen Brill even more now!

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the lips have it

both pictures into the gloss

In make up, as in fashion (as in life, no doubt), there are only two options this season. With either your long dresses or your tiny tiny minis, with either your lace up wedge boots or your classic ballet flats, with either your shearling aviator jacket or your camel coat - there are two choices for your lips. One of them is tried and tested and oh so true: the classic, infallible red lipstick. Rich, sultry and the best friend of first dates the world over, the red lipstick is a staple of every woman's beauty bag. With just a lick you can go from bored to bombshell. It can be cool (think, phillip lim shorty shorts and an acne silk shirt) or collected (louis vuitton circle skirt and classy kitten heels). It can be summer (denim cut offs and a mille-feuille thin tee shirt) or winter (tweedy coat, chunky scarf and big boots).

But after years of the red lip are we ready for something else? The other option is something I am much more interested in. The new nude lip. In keeping with the natural look - tousled hair and glowing, but unadorned skin - the new colour for lips isn't really a colour at all. Maryna Linchuk in the photo above is wearing NARS Pure Matte lipstick in Tashkent, a colour that practically makes the lip disappear against the skin. I once tried this look with concealer on my lip - it looked fab but tasted horrible. NARS is a much better bet, methinks. It is so matte it's ridiculous (a touch of cream might be nice), but the effect is something fantastic. It's quite possibly the coolest thing I've done in make up since the winged cat eye-liner, this matte, beige, super super natural lip is just so damn hip. Paired with a clean face and a really smoky eye it will make a huge impact for evening, and with a tee shirt and a long skirt for day. Easy. Simple. And oh so chic. 

The choice is yours.

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into the gloss

all images from in the gloss
1: Maryna Linchuk in NARS pure matte lipstick Tashkent - soon to be my next lipstick purchase. how incredible is that beige!
2. Teen Vogue Beauty Director Eva Chen's bathroom beauty cupboard.
3. Tory Burch's Woven Designer Izzie Burch's beauty shelf
4. Make up artist Charlotte Tilbury at the Chloe Show, PFW
5. Izzie Burch's make up tray.

It's not often that i fall head over heels with a blog. Often I discover blogs that I love and steadily add to my blogroll, but it has to be something quite remarkable to get me hooked so that in one sitting I will read through entire archives and click on every link. An idea, a creed, a philosophy that catches my eye. Well, i've found it in Into the Gloss, a beauty blog that mixes the selby with a bit of garance. It aims to show beauty from the inside: from the lips of the beauty editors, the models, the make up artists, the assistants, the fashion gurus, who live their lives surrounded by this smorgasbord of beauty. It takes you into the beauty cupboards of such fabulous people as Eva Chen from Teen Vogue and Sally Singer of T Magazine, as well as delicious close ups on things like tom Ford lipsticks and NARS blush compacts. It's run by Emily Weiss - anyone remember her? "super intern" from the hills? No, just me? Wow that's really embarassingly trashtacular how I know that pop culture reference hahahaha - and it's actually quite a fascinating idea. We have a raft of fashion blogs from the inside: things like Anna Dello Russo's blog, boutiques and department stores who run their own websites, Liberty London Girl and I guess Pop's new blog format could be seen as an expose of the fashion world from an insider, but none really from the beauty side of it. It only has about 3 pages of archives, which is such a shame, I could have happily devoured much, much more, but I'll be content with what there is now, and I must say, it's quite charming to think you've stumbled upon something that, at only a couple of weeks old, is destined to become something of a cult favourite very soon.

I love the way the website is set out too, so clean and clear. There are a couple of different kinds of posts - "The face" is usually a bright young thing getting interviewed about their make up routine, "The Top Shelf" goes into a professional's home to snoop on their products, "The backstage" takes a look backstage at catwalk shows on the beauty regimes, "The Professional" talks to a make up artists in the biz about their techinque and "the review" charts new products on the horizon. Like I said earlier, it's got this Selby-esque vibe, or Tommy Ton's favourite things, zooming in on the details of the products. You get either Eva Chen's strict and neat order or Izzie Burch's ramshackle mess (personally I am for the latter). Says rather a lot about the girl, doesn't it? Chen with her slick bob and Izzie with her wild curls... The whole thing is a real joy to read and look at, even for someone who hardly ever wears foundation or make up of any kind. Stunning pictures, great articles, and a feel for what people really want to know, that is - what is the best concealer, how do people get their hair so perfectly straight and what oh what is that gorgeous red lipstick you're wearing.

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glow

the cobrasnake

One of the most wearable things about the new minimalism isn't what you would think. Not wide legged high-waisted pants, not a leather pencil skirt, not an inverted collar blazer. It's a face that is free - and I mean absolutely free, no mascara, no concealer, nothing - of make up. Except for the slightest hint of a moisturising lip balm or treatment, all the (pretty) girls this season are using Dior's facial wipes to clear away all that excess grit until all that is left is skin, skin, skin. Of course, you're allowed to cheat. Magazines have been filled with tips on how to get the "no make up" look with tons of make up. It involves things like "brightening serum" and "glowing cream" that gives your skin that youthful sheen without the teenage oily glean, it promotes things like vaseline on eyelids, carefully tweezed brows and a highlighting power to make the most of the symmetry that God gave you. Sure, all that stuff works, but for me - when going without make up is a daily occurrence severed only when dress codes (and nagging friends) forces my (lipstick wielding) hand - this look is at its most potent when there is absolutely no make up at all. When complemented with hair that is tousled and carefree - stragglers, frizz, split ends and all - sitting in a comfortable middle part, the whole thing is very simple and chic. It's tricky, difficult and absolutely uncompromising, just like minimalism. But - and here's the sweetener - just like minimalism, if you get it right, it is quite literally the sexiest, most powerful look there is. 

A woman comfortable in her own skin.

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lip service

sans artifice

I don't wear a lot of make up. I own a lot of make up, but I don't really wear that much at all. A small concession I make is glitter on my eyes (Mac reflects antique gold, super shiny and goes on a treat!) and a bit of mascara. Oh, and a healthy dose of lipstick. I LOVE lipstick. I love chalky ones, matte ones, shiny ones, sheer ones, ones with loads of colour and ones with barely a hint. I love the way it goes on, I love how a crimson lip can raise an outfit and a frosted one bring it down. I love how a deep plum makes you mysterious and a bright orange coral sends off all the right signals. I love how you can't hide behind lipstick - these are my lips. Here. Kiss. I love how you can go super modern - my friend wears black lipstick sometimes and it is something remarkable! - or very traditional with blush pinks and simple browns. 

I have heard good things about the Tom Ford lipstick collection, dropping into David Jones stores across Australia in August. They are lipstick drenched in colour ranging from a plum to the perfect nude with high shine and a moist, smooth finish. They are super luxurious - British Vogue said silk for the lips - and they are encased in an ivory and gold hardware that is so typical Tom Ford. Why do it if you can't go all out? He said that he imagined Julianne Moore's character Charlie from his film "A single Man" as the kind of woman who wears these lipsticks and scatters them across her dressing table. Clad in a feather-collared dressing gown she would smear some pink in the morning, some brown in the afternoon and some red, baby, red in the evening. Tom Ford says these are lipsticks for women - isn't everything he ever does for "women" - but I see his point. These are lipsticks for the woman who LOVES to wear lipstick, they are high-impact, takes-no-prisoners lipsticks. You can't make second guesses or mistakes wearing these lipsticks. You have to be bold, dynamic and in charge. 

I am none of those things, but perhaps with a tom ford lipstick.... won over by advertising, again! That's me!

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oranges and apples

style.com and tumblr

Yes, exams are stressful, and yes, they need to be adequately prepared for, but on Wednesday I decided to pack it all in for a day of relaxation and carefree-ness to remind me of what lies on the other side of exam weeks and that life doesn't have to be ruled by mindmaps and biro pens. My friend works at Josh Goot so first of all we stopped off there to try on the new season clothes - I am in desperate need of a new long line jersey grey trench from the Goot line, and my friend tried on the most amazing dress, a powermesh sheath in blush pink and black that hugs her curves and makes her look AMAZING. it is her dress and she needs it. Secondly we went for a spot of magazine shopping, sonoma sandwich munching and chocolate croissant devouring - all from Paddington's 5 ways strip. Then after we all went our separate ways I wandered into Mecca Cosmetica, the exclusive stockists of NARS products in Australia and my favourite make up store. After browsing for about 15 minutes I got to chatting with the make up artist and we discovered a shared passion for everything NARS, New York and nail polish. She then giddily began sharing all the new season product knowledge with me and then sat me down to do my make up "because she just had to". It was so much fun, and took my mind off study, and I left with a brand spanking new NARS velvet matte lipstick pencil in Red Square.

the vogue australia march 2010 cover with abbey-lee. they used m.a.c intermix in orange i think, but the nars red square is just as good. 

Don't let the name fool you, the lipstick is as orange as, well, an orange. Or the NEtherlands teams Jerseys. It is bright, fluro almost, and very in your face. And i love it! i have wanted a proper orange lipstick, not a blue-orange coral like I already have, but an orange, orange, ORANGE lipstick for a while. This one is perfect. It is matte and barely needs any blotting, unlike stick based lipsticks that are creamy and almost glossy in their sheen. The lip pencils are called 'velvet matte' and are just that, velvety smooth and almost stain your lips with colour, which makes them something awful to get off but look absolutely fabulous. With a bare face, a dusting of brown-based blush on my cheeks and thin flicked eyeliner with lashings of mascara (as Gemma put on me in Mecca, the genius that she is), it is the perfect foil for sun-kissed hair and skin. I know that here in Sydney we are in the throes of winter, but it just lights up my face whenever I put this colour on and reminds of warmer days. I even wore it to work yesterday, where it got excited enquiries as to where it's from, what colour it is (orange, darling), and whether I feel like it's too much colour for the day time. To which I respond - absolutely not. It's perfect.

source

I always think about painting my lips red for that vampy, mad men, sexier than thou look. But at the moment I can definitely say the best, sexiest  thing to do is to paint them orange, baby, orange. 

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true coral, be chic

One of my favourite sections of Vogue UK, although they don't always do it every month (but they should), is a feature where they write a list of ways to BE chic, BE frugal, BE adventurous (etc) with fashion - all accompanied by beautiful hand-drawn illustrations and various editorial pics. The features are often laughable - The '40 ways to be a frugal fashionista' one seemed geared towards those who don't need to save money at all, and i quote 'save money on pesky baggage charges and whittle down to carry-on only. try it out in Venice, if it falls, there's always Bottega Veneta around the corner.' Hmmm.

This month's feature is '23 ways to be chic', and they are all rather fabulous in their own way. They range from painting your nails chanel's particuliere mink to wearing your jacket like a cape, resting on your shoulders with the sleeves flapping about freely, something that I find truly charming on a woman. It reminds me of these 1930s sirens who lounged around with tweeds resting languidly on their backs. Another suggestion is to pair a simple tee shirt with a fishtailed evening skirt, swishing across the floor. Marvelous.


I would like to add my own suggestion to achieving simplicity chic. Buy a Coral lipstick - Yves Saint Laurent's Rouge Pur or Tom Ford's True Coral are good bets - and slick it on with everything. More fresh than pinks and less stifling than reds, coral is the perfect chic-lift for the new season.

Vogue suggests you sport sleeveless trenches, parkas with couture and cropped beaded boleros with boyfriend jeans to be chic this season... i would add that you slick some coral colour on your lips too. If nothing else you can say you're referencing prada's spring/summer show. And besides, who doesn't want to be chic anyway?

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all that glitters

Maybe it's because I'm yearning for post-university freedom and lots of parties, or maybe it's the child in me who still wears fairy wings and ballet slippers, but i am absolutely obsessed with glitter.

Not on clothes, though, that would be too ostentatious for my liking. But on everything else - notebook covers, highlighters, wallets, necklaces, lipstick cases, books, magazines, drink bottles... you name it, a little glitter goes a long way. And i'm not even one of those people who hates the glitter getting everywhere, the more the merrier I say.

Recently, however, I've been craving a little glitter on my clothes and on my face. A recent editorial in vogue uk december 2009 shows eyes hepped up on glitter, so thick and so sparkly a thousand fairies could get their wings just with the fluttering of one eyelash. The look is supposed to take its cues from Lily Allen and Natasha Khan (from Bat for Lashes) and champion the excess over recess(ion) look that fashion is dying for right now.

These images actually aren't the Vogue UK editorial that i was talking about, but they happen to be from Vogue UK, June and December 2008 respectively. It's clear that in December theatricality and craziness in make up seems a little more tolerated. Getting reading for the silly season means that your make up can be a little silly too. I adore this glitter idea however, toned down maybe a wee bit from Iris' crazy panda eyes, but still strong and very noticeable, with a clean face and nude lips.

Vogue UK in their current December issue warns off the prospective glitterati from wearing the make up with any sartorial accompaniment that is too strong. Feathered capes and bejewelled panties are for the editorial, it seems, on the streets you should wear glittery faces with just simple dresses and outfits.

Personally, i think glitter can work both ways. If you have the kind of beguiling personality that encourages you to slap on the glitter in the first place, then your strong-shouldered dress paired with a ruffled swing coat will go just fine with the glitter. Like all good make up it not only enhanced but compliments an outfit. That's why you can also wear glitter with a plain tee shirt and pair of pants. Suddenly your rive gauche casual cool becomes uptown party girl. Not a fairy in sight!

Glitter in clothes has also provided some fascination for me. I think margherita and Dasha (heavily pregnant and positively glowing) know the formula well. Glitter up top. I have never seen someone wear a glittery skirt or pants and pull it off. For some reason glitter works well as cardigans, jackets, tops and little dresses (Alexa Chung works a glittered cardigan a lot), but never on the bottom. Perhaps it's something about the shiny, look-at-me sensibility of glitter. Most people would rather play up their top half than their bottom half (i know that's me). As such, glitter works to draw the attention away from the bottom and up to that shiny disco ball top.

I was shopping around for my chanel ballet flats yesterday, and spent a good 40 minutes in the shop umming and aahhhing over the black on black or the black on beige pairs. I do like the black on beige objectively off my feet, and i also like them on my feet. But the rational part of my brain that says to me DONT WEAR GLITTER MAKE UP and DONT EAT THAT CROISSANT was saying DONT BUY THEM, BLACK IS MORE WEARABLE. But black is boring. I always buy black. Hmmph. I need to go back with somebody who will help me decide, but not my mum who will sniff her nose up at the price. (it's my money! ha)

Anyway, i wandered into Mecca Cosmetica to look at the Nars Make up counter and to try and replace my foundation. Since i last bought my foundation they've changed the formula, so the make up artists were desperately trying to find one that fit my face, which is very hard as my pigment is weird, a mix of australian and asian means that my skin brown very easily, but also has a pale, yellow-y undertone no matter what. While they tried different formulas with names like Barcelona and Santa Fe (i want to travel!) on my face, i looked at the glitter-y eye shadow. It was sparkling strongly, and i brushed some on my hand. It's still there now, though not a strong.

It was the kind of glitter silver of Dasha's jacket, and just the kind of make up my 9 year old self would kill to have. I want it! i need it! I can already picture all the crizazy party outfits i can make, where i'm just wearing simple black, my chanel shoes, and crazy crazy eyes. Come to me...

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