Christina Lindsay2013-05-19T21:13:19-04:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=christina-lindsayCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Christina LindsayGood old fashioned elbow grease.A Challenge for Spring: Print Trouserstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.30909122013-04-16T07:33:02-04:002013-04-17T10:53:28-04:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-lindsay/
I was tempted to buy into this trend last summer but I refrained. I tried on lots of different versions; a purple floral print on a straight leg, a gold brocade print on a black peg leg, an army camouflage on skinny jeans. None worked for me. I put it down to the print, and ended up buying nice, but somewhat predictable, navy capri pants with a tiny white polka dot - more of a safe classic, rather than a hot trend. They are a great staple (which I am looking forward to wearing should we have some spring weather), but not particularly exciting. They don't make my eyes light up or inspire me to lay in a lush jungle, surrounded by exotic flowers.
It was actually only a week ago that, after finding the perfect black trouser that fit both my waist and bottom, I discovered the trouble with printed trouser: the fit. Duh, you might think, but I was so preoccupied with finding the perfect print that I forgot about the perfect fit!
Let me explain. Print can enhance a troublesome area (for example, hips and derrière) and this can give the illusion of said troublesome area being even more troublesome. No-one needs any additional trouble, especially not in the wardrobe department. Unless the fit of the printed trousers is spot-on, the printed trouser will simply look untidy. If your lower half is your problem area, then the key to the print trouser is to focus on the cut and silhouette as opposed to the print; an outsize floral print across an expanse of ill-fitting fabric will simply look awful, whereas the same print on a well-cut trouser will instantly look neater, hugging your shape rather than adding bulk. (If you are lucky enough to have legs akin to Miranda Kerr, then you really should have stopped reading this around the second paragraph and logged on to ASOS by now, with these babies already on their way to you via speedy delivery. Less reading, more strutting).
However, with a well-designed trouser comes a price tag. When buying trend-focussed pieces, one tends to look to the more bargainous shops and, as a woman with an above average sized rear end, that was my first mistake - for me, this is a trend which requires a bit of investment and, in turn, this means that a considerable amount of time and thought should go into such a purchase.
So, after finding my perfect black trousers (no print distractions, and yet I still struggled to find good black trews, the most basic of trouser types) I realised that I needed to use the same process for buying a print trouser. I need to stop ogling and drooling over beautiful prints and look at the basic shape and type of fabric first. Only if the trousers fit properly should I pay attention to the print. It was hard enough finding the perfect black trousers, so I understand that this will be a difficult challenge - but, in the name of fashion, I am willing to take it on.
Above: Butterfly by Matthew Williamson £49 at Debenhams]]>A Challenge for Spring: Print Trouserstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.31101142013-04-16T07:33:02-04:002013-04-18T12:24:13-04:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-lindsay/
I was tempted to buy into this trend last summer but I refrained. I tried on lots of different versions; a purple floral print on a straight leg, a gold brocade print on a black peg leg, an army camouflage on skinny jeans. None worked for me. I put it down to the print, and ended up buying nice, but somewhat predictable, navy capri pants with a tiny white polka dot - more of a safe classic, rather than a hot trend. They are a great staple (which I am looking forward to wearing should we have some spring weather), but not particularly exciting. They don't make my eyes light up or inspire me to lay in a lush jungle, surrounded by exotic flowers.
It was actually only a week ago that, after finding the perfect black trouser that fit both my waist and bottom, I discovered the trouble with printed trouser: the fit. Duh, you might think, but I was so preoccupied with finding the perfect print that I forgot about the perfect fit!
Let me explain. Print can enhance a troublesome area (for example, hips and derrière) and this can give the illusion of said troublesome area being even more troublesome. No-one needs any additional trouble, especially not in the wardrobe department. Unless the fit of the printed trousers is spot-on, the printed trouser will simply look untidy. If your lower half is your problem area, then the key to the print trouser is to focus on the cut and silhouette as opposed to the print; an outsize floral print across an expanse of ill-fitting fabric will simply look awful, whereas the same print on a well-cut trouser will instantly look neater, hugging your shape rather than adding bulk. (If you are lucky enough to have legs akin to Miranda Kerr, then you really should have stopped reading this around the second paragraph and logged on to ASOS by now, with these babies already on their way to you via speedy delivery. Less reading, more strutting).
However, with a well-designed trouser comes a price tag. When buying trend-focussed pieces, one tends to look to the more bargainous shops and, as a woman with an above average sized rear end, that was my first mistake - for me, this is a trend which requires a bit of investment and, in turn, this means that a considerable amount of time and thought should go into such a purchase.
So, after finding my perfect black trousers (no print distractions, and yet I still struggled to find good black trews, the most basic of trouser types) I realised that I needed to use the same process for buying a print trouser. I need to stop ogling and drooling over beautiful prints and look at the basic shape and type of fabric first. Only if the trousers fit properly should I pay attention to the print. It was hard enough finding the perfect black trousers, so I understand that this will be a difficult challenge - but, in the name of fashion, I am willing to take it on.
Above: Butterfly by Matthew Williamson £49 at Debenhams]]>The Hazards of Social Mediatag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.29553692013-03-26T10:00:56-04:002013-04-23T05:10:50-04:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-lindsay/
I recently started writing for an online publication, which has been brilliant. When the editor asked me if I would send over a photograph of what I was wearing for their Facebook page one manic Monday, I didn't hesitate - I sent one over. It wasn't a great picture, but it showed my outfit and that was the point; sharing fun with fashion with like minded readers.
Fast forward two weeks and I finally found some time to catch up on the Facebook page and check out the outfit photo. It had 55 likes and 21 comments, most of which were negative or sarcastic. In fact, to be precise, there were just five positive comments. These included the words "lovely" and "pretty". Of course, the sarcasm and nasty comments struck harder - they always do. I think most people would agree that if they focus on the negatives more than the positives, that it's easier to believe the bad things than it is to believe the good. The negative comments I received included "wtf", "she must be freezing", "makes her hips look bigger than they are" and "lose some weight love". (For the record, the dress is a size 12). Now, out of 2,900 people who had liked the Facebook page, these few negative comments are nothing; it would have been much worse had there been 2,900 negative comments! That said, it hurt. A lot more than I would have imagined, despite having no idea who these people were and despite the number of likes being more than double the number of negative comments. Again, I focused on the handful of negative comments rather than the 55 likes.
As someone who struggles with weight (due to a worrying obsession with chocolate) and is by no means a natural sporty type, I'm forever unhappy with my body. I know that there are things I could improve on and, after 30 years of analysing my body, please believe me when I say I know my hips are of mammoth proportions and that my bum is the size of South America (on a good day). I've spent the last ten years coming to terms with my short, hourglass figure and accepting that I'll never have a petite body or a skinny frame, let alone the Cindy Crawford physique I long for. It's taken me all these years to realise I am what I am and, actually, it's not so bad - my body works, my minds works, and I have people around me who love me, with or without a butt the size of a continent. I'm lucky and I should be happy. To read these negative comments was saddening because, I thought, who are these people to say my hips are big in that dress? I know my hips are big, but I love the dress - so I'll wear it! Who are they to say I must be freezing? I know it's freezing but I'm not an idiot - I had a coat! Who is that man to tell me to lose some weight? Perhaps he ought to lose himself in a cage with a hungry lion.
My point is that people who make nasty comments via social media (or any other media) should think before they speak. They have no idea of how their comments might affect someone. Yes, I put my outfit out there to be judged, but that doesn't give anyone the right to attack me personally. The anonymity of social media gives people a false sense of security, it means that they don't have to answer to anyone, so they think that they can say what they like with no consequences or repercussions. What scares me is that this sort of thing happens to kids all the time: according to www.dosomething.org, 70% of students report seeing frequent bullying online and they are two to nine times more likely to commit suicide. I'm a grown up - I might be upset for a couple of hours, but I'll get over it - but kids are in the midst of not knowing who they are, or what they want, or how they feel. They are at the height of feeling insecure and paranoid and a few nasty comments could be enough to do some serious, sometimes fatal, damage. Eating disorders come to mind. It is isn't always a case of smudged mascara - people should be aware of their comments and that what they are saying can and will affect the human being they are publicly judging.
It is sad that society feels the need to judge one another, to pass comment on someone else's body or clothes or lifestyle choice. We are all human beings sharing the same world and we shouldn't have to worry about what someone else might think of us - we are all different and although it sounds cliche, the world would be a very dull place if we were all the same.
In all its greatness, social media also comes with a dark side. I thought I would share this story because I think it raises the issue of a serious hazard of social media. I'm a huge fan of social media, but I think that more awareness should be raised about this type of issue.
I am not sharing this story in the hope for sympathy or nice comments. I'm sharing it because I'm proud of myself and I hope my story might help someone else to focus on the good feedback as opposed to the negative.
The motto of the story? If you don't have anything nice to say....]]>Scotland's Fashion Momenttag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.22444792012-12-04T07:35:09-05:002013-02-03T05:12:01-05:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-lindsay/
The Métiers d'Art show is a celebration of specialist craftsmanship - Lagerfeld was inspired by the rich heritage of CHANEL in Scotland and so, by holding the show in Edinburgh, is celebrating the skilled craftsmanship of Scottish tweed and cashmere which are an integral and iconic part of CHANEL collections today. The Métiers d'Art show honours the ateliers of various fashion houses for costume jewellery, embroiderers, glove makers, shoe makers and milliners - so it is a fashion show with substance as well as one that will be a visual feast.
Previous dramatic locations for the show have included Paris and in Shanghai, and now Edinburgh too will go down in fashion history as one of the stunning locations for the international fashion show. Never holding back when bringing his creative visions to life, Lagerfeld's Edinburgh show is likely to be a visual spectacle; Linlithgow Palace will serve as a beautiful (if slightly eerie) backdrop with plenty of Scottish heritage to boot. (The Palace was the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots).
For CHANEL to host its Métiers show in Edinburgh is a great accolade for Scotland; with the show comes the interest of fashion lovers across the globe and international high profile figures, thus attracting attention to the city and Scotland as a whole. The Métiers d'Art show is a wonderful reminder to the fashion world (and beyond) that Scotland contributes greatly to the production of fashion not only in creative terms, but in commercial terms. Now is the time for Scotland to celebrate its culture, heritage and - of course - its future.]]>Scotland's Fashion Momenttag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.22365612012-12-04T07:35:09-05:002013-02-03T05:12:01-05:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-lindsay/
The Métiers d'Art show is a celebration of specialist craftsmanship - Lagerfeld was inspired by the rich heritage of CHANEL in Scotland and so, by holding the show in Edinburgh, is celebrating the skilled craftsmanship of Scottish tweed and cashmere which are an integral and iconic part of CHANEL collections today. The Métiers d'Art show honours the ateliers of various fashion houses for costume jewellery, embroiderers, glove makers, shoe makers and milliners - so it is a fashion show with substance as well as one that will be a visual feast.
Previous dramatic locations for the show have included Paris and in Shanghai, and now Edinburgh too will go down in fashion history as one of the stunning locations for the international fashion show. Never holding back when bringing his creative visions to life, Lagerfeld's Edinburgh show is likely to be a visual spectacle; Linlithgow Palace will serve as a beautiful (if slightly eerie) backdrop with plenty of Scottish heritage to boot. (The Palace was the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots).
For CHANEL to host its Métiers show in Edinburgh is a great accolade for Scotland; with the show comes the interest of fashion lovers across the globe and international high profile figures, thus attracting attention to the city and Scotland as a whole. The Métiers d'Art show is a wonderful reminder to the fashion world (and beyond) that Scotland contributes greatly to the production of fashion not only in creative terms, but in commercial terms. Now is the time for Scotland to celebrate its culture, heritage and - of course - its future.]]>Hayley Scanlan Launch: HS Velvet Venomtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.20755332012-11-05T07:22:49-05:002013-01-05T05:12:01-05:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-lindsay/
The invitation only event was held at Dundee's Art Gallery and Museum, The McManus, with a backdrop of iconic fashion images which are currently on display as part of the V&A Dundee's Selling Dreams: 100 Years of Fashion exhibition.
Guests arrived at The McManus to a Champagne reception, followed by a runway show - featuring models who were cast through a social media campaign - and exclusive after party.
The collection, entitled "Velvet Venom" consisted of super-tight dresses, skirts and crop tops in a striking array of prints (Hayley Scanlan's speciality is print design). Yellow snakeskin, black faux-leather mock croc and jailhouse stripes were enhanced further by the simple silhouettes and attention to detail; halter-neck tops were teamed with high waist maxi skirts, while midi pencil skirts continued the modern elegance of the collection. Studs and crystals added some glamour - the fuchsia velvet dress with cut-out shoulders and stud detail was a dress to party in - but the show-stopper was the yellow snakeskin maxi dress with puddle train and crystal embellishment.
The collection is a huge step for Hayley Scanlan, not only creatively, but commercially. HS has been developed to meet demand for her designs and, cleverly, Scanlan saw an opportunity to create a line inspired by her main label, but to make it more wearable and affordable by using simpler fabrics.
Hayley Scanlan's website went live on the evening of the HS launch and you can purchase the pieces from "Velvet Venom" online at www.hayleyscanlan.com.
I would suggest you start shopping now - HS runs a high risk of selling out.]]>The Art of Shoppingtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.19699222012-10-16T09:49:09-04:002012-12-16T05:12:02-05:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-lindsay/
I want to love art, but the thing is, art can be intimidating; there are so many dimensions to a piece of art, so many references to other artists and periods and pieces of work, that one can often feel completely out of one's depth when perusing an exhibition at an enormous, world famous gallery. It can make you feel tense when really, you just want to relax and enjoy the show. I have a fear of these terribly well-educated art people, who at any moment could ask for my opinion. Yet, if such a situation should arise, nine times out of ten, I find that curators are always keen to share their knowledge, and their passion and enthusiasm banishes any fear that I have harboured. It's a fear of the unknown, rather than a fear of art itself.
I don't often go to galleries; however, I recently visited the Espace La Vallée at La Vallée Village in Paris (part of the Chic Outlet Shopping villages throughout Europe). The Espace La Vallée gallery is located within the shopping village, meaning that it isn't a gallery just for art lovers - the location makes it easy for die-hard bargain hunters like me to stumble across this hidden gem and all its treasures. Laurence Corteggiani, Marketing Director at La Vallée Village, says of the gallery: "It is an informal, casual way for those who don't know art to enjoy art without feeling intimidated."
Corteggiani is right - two things that make Espace La Vallée inviting are a) the gallery is small - it's impossible to feel overwhelmed by the volume of art on display - and b) the staff are warm and welcoming.
The current exhibition is of the work of the legendary photographer, Norman Parkinson. Parkinson's career spanned more than sixty years and during this time he worked for top fashion magazines including Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, as well as securing the coveted position of official photographer for the British royal family. The exhibit, which is a joint venture between La Vallée Village and the Norman Parkinson Estate, is entitled Travel In Style and consists of 23 of Parkinson's photographs. These striking images combine elements of travel (from helicopter rides over New York City to the rice paddy fields of China) with fashion and style. While there are many images on show that portray stylish globetrotting, the most iconic Parkinson image, The Art of Travel, sums up the exhibition perfectly. The image is of Parkinson's wife and muse, Wenda. In a far-flung Africa, she walks towards the camera beneath the enormous propellers of a nearby aeroplane, wearing a pith helmet while carrying a ladylike handbag and a glamorous vanity case. She looks impossibly chic and it is doubtless that this image is a great source of style inspiration to women who travel. Elizabeth Smith, who manages the Norman Parkinson archives, told me that the The Art of Travel is the most requested Parkinson image of all time. She says, "His pictures were very much of the time." It is clear that Parkinson had an ability to transcend eras by injecting timeless elegance into all of his photographs; proof of this is that The Art of Travel is requested three of four times a day, despite being over 50 years old.
The photographs for Travel In Style have been expertly selected: on one dove grey wall, Jerry Hall gets set to dive in to the sea wearing a red bathing suit and matching swimming cap; on another wall, wearing a sugary pink dress, Audrey Hepburn looks coyly towards the camera from a wall of pink blooms; and, just before you leave the exhibition, you catch sight of Nene von Schlebrügge (Uma Thurman's mother) modelling a coat from one of Yves Saint Laurent's first collections for Dior, in a narrow lane in London. Each image at Espace La Vallée references the Travel In Style theme, but they each tell a very different story. It makes for fascinating viewing and I would recommend visiting with a friend, as the images stay imprinted in your mind: you will have so much to discuss while you shop for Celine, Givenchy and Marni later.
What I liked most about the gallery at Espace La Vallée is that the staff do their very best to complement the exhibitions. A playlist is developed for each show - for Travel In Style, the tracks are all 1950s New York. (For example, Frank Sinatra's Fly Me To The Moon). Real consideration is given to the individual exhibits, and for the Norman Parkinson gallery, the focus is on the photographs - each image is mounted in a simple white frame, the only additional décor being a neutral seating area and a few simple (but beautiful) white orchids. The space is non-threatening and Parkinson's photographs are easy on the eye - everyone who visits the Espace La Vallée exhibition will appreciate their beauty, art lover or not.
Travel In Style runs until 6 January 2013.]]>Selling Dreams: 100 Years of Fashion Photographytag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.19265292012-09-30T07:16:06-04:002012-11-30T05:12:02-05:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-lindsay/V&A Dundee project, the latest exhibition to come to The McManus (Dundee's Art Gallery and Museum) is Selling Dreams: 100 Years of Fashion Photography. The exhibit includes images from some of the world's most iconic and influential fashion photographers, including David Bailey, Norman Parkinson and Richard Avedon, as well as contemporary photographers such as Rankin and Corrine Day.
The title Selling Dreams, derived from an Irving Penn quote in 1984. Regarding his role at Vogue, Penn said that he was "selling dreams not clothes" - quite possibly, the perfect description of fashion photography and definitely an idea to base an exhibition on.
There are some truly breathtaking images in the Selling Dreams exhibition, some which are simply striking in content and others which compel you to stop, look and really think about the image. The exhibit is a fascinating explanation of how photography techniques developed over the past 100 years, but it is also an educational experience in terms of discovering how time and trends affected the way in which fashion and fashion photography was seen. For example, the liberal 1960s encouraged the new generation of photographers to move from the studio to the street; fashion was no longer a high-society elitism but rather, it was the girls in Mary Quant minis on the high street that inspired fashion, and thus fashion photography. It is inspiring to see how each era changed the way in which fashion was documented through photography.
Around 60 photographs are on display at The McManus, ranging from the late 1800s to the present day. The exhibition is in Dundee until 6th January 2013 and I would highly recommend anyone in the area to visit the exhibition: it is a stunning display and a must-see for everyone, regardless of whether or not you are a fan of fashion photography.]]>Harvey Nichols Edinburgh - AW12 Runway Showtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.19185652012-09-27T07:22:40-04:002012-11-27T05:12:01-05:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-lindsay/Harvey Nichols Edinburgh hosted a fashion show last night, showcasing their AW12 collections for Edinburgh's most stylish shoppers. Guests were treated to a Champagne reception before being escorted to the underground garage, which housed the runway and backstage area. The front row seats were occupied by a plethora of fashionistas: romantic goths, eccentric queens, ladylike society swans, designer-clad serial shoppers and young trend chasers, who waited patiently for the show to begin.
The lights dimmed, the music thumped, and the models took to the runway, their dip-dyed ponytails swinging dramatically with every sashay. Kevin Stewart's (Creative Director of the show) vision made it easy to see how this season's key pieces will fit into your own wardrobe - for instance, the Issey Miyake pleated skirt will work nicely with a crisp white shirt and statement necklace, two staples that should already be in every woman's wardrobe.
The show featured both menswear and womenswear; day looks and evening looks, key pieces and glamorous accessories. This season, it seems that the men and women of Edinburgh (and beyond) will be sporting Celine, Alexander McQueen, Nina Ricci, Jonathan Saunders, Armani Collezioni and Dolce with accessories by Louboutin, Chloe, Gucci and Victoria Beckham. For evening, the labels of choice are modern classics; Paul Smith London, Duchamp, Amanda Wakeley, Jenny Packham and Roland Mouret.
Whatever you need to complete your wardrobe this season, Harvey Nichols has it - and if Kevin Stewart has anything to do with it, the streets of Edinburgh will look as fabulous this winter as his underground runway did last night.]]>The Eyebrows Have Ittag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.18838712012-09-14T10:04:02-04:002012-11-14T05:12:01-05:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-lindsay/
Most women between the age of around 27 and 36 will remember the 90s trend for wire-thin eyebrows. Most of us succumbed to this trend at the time, and we're paying for it now. I had one bad experience when having my brows waxed when I was 17; the therapist made them so thin that you could barely tell I had eyebrows. Luckily, that one experience made me leave my brows alone for the next few years that followed. In my twenties, I simply plucked stray hairs away from my natural brow shape and left them be.
Others weren't so lucky; over plucking and shaping left a lot of young women with such terrible eye brows that they spend every evening applying serums, and every morning using eyebrow pencils just to give the impression of a defined brow. Others have had to resort to permanent make up tricks (such as tattooing) in order to have eyebrows at all times.
Thanks to Arizona et al, the modern brow needs serious attention. Your brows should look full, but not bushy. They should frame your face without dominating your features. Think Jennifer Connelly and Keira Knightley, not Desperate Scousewives. I knew that I wanted my brows to be more of a focal point, but after my previous Brow Scare, you can imagine how wary I was of booking myself in for an eyebrow treatment. However, earlier this year, the brow had become so now, that I simply couldn't resist it any longer and made an appointment for HD Brows. In order to avoid a repeat of the last brow appointment I made, I booked in at the award winning Zen Lifestyle in Edinburgh's Hanover Street. This was a job for serious professionals.
Zen Lifestyle is a beautifully decorated salon in Edinburgh's city centre (although, they have other salons on the outskirts of Edinburgh) with lots of clean, white surfaces and metallic accents. The staff are friendly and welcoming, but absolute professionals. They don't assume to talk to you like they are your best friend, but instead, make polite small talk while they focus on the job in hand - which was reassuring, considering it was my first experience of HD Brows.
My therapist talked me through the HD process, explaining every technique. The treatment started with a consultation and it became evident that the Zen therapists have a special talent: they listen. Which means that they find out exactly what you like and then they figure out the right shape, colour, arch, and depth to best suit your face while taking into consideration your requests. HD Brows involves tinting the brow hairs, waxing, threading and plucking. There is also a lot of grooming - combing and brushing to control unruly browns, and pencilling for any gaps you might have. Of course, depending on the state of your brows, getting the perfect end result can take a few appointments - this is investment beauty.
You'll be relieved to hear that my brows turned out very nicely and I left Zen Lifestyle a very happy lady. My brows were thicker, expertly shaped, tinted to give just that bit more definition and, with a bit of (careful) DIY plucking at stray regrowth, they lasted for almost three months.
I wanted to share my experience with you because I know how daunting a new treatment can be. To avoid any disasters without avoiding new treatments altogether, I would sincerely recommend researching your salon, talking to your therapist and making your expectations clear. I believe that paying a little extra for a good service is key to getting good results and think that Zen Lifestyle should be a first stop for any ladies looking for a new, happy beauty experience. If that means you have to make a quarterly trip to Edinburgh, then so be it.]]>A Shopper's Heaven on Earthtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.18733692012-09-11T08:14:31-04:002012-11-11T05:12:01-05:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-lindsay/
Sometimes, we go to the Covered Market in Oxford city centre, where we gush over the incredibly detailed cakes at The Cake Shop and buy fresh flowers before enjoying one of Ben's Cookies. We'll wander round the University grounds, taking photographs and Tweeting pictures of something that we find fascinating but that our followers probably think is terribly dull. We do lots of nice things when we are in Oxfordshire, but, as a serial shopper, one of the activities I enjoy most is my annual visit to Bicester Village.
Bicester Village is a designer outlet village in Bicester, Oxfordshire. Part of the collection of Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages, each Village is within reach of European cities such as Paris, Milan, Barcelona and Brussels, among others. Bicester Village has become so popular over the years that there is now a Shopping Express coach service that runs between London and Bicester for die-hard shoppers who are looking for labels for less. This is the best way to do Bicester Village - make a day of it by being dropped off at the Village doorstep for a few hour of shopping followed by lunch at Carluccio's. Once you've refuelled, shop some more before being collected at the end of a fun (and hopefully successful) day of retail therapy!
My first experience at Bicester Village was in 2006. My now mum-in-law took me round the shops in the Village, from Jigsaw to Ralph Lauren and Mulberry. It was in Mulberry that I fell in love with the It-bag of the moment, the Roxanne. I was obsessed. I didn't buy it (I couldn't afford it then, even at the discounted price) but I will always remember my first encounter with Mulberry. I was gutted to go home without the Roxanne, especially having had it snatched out of my hands by an equally obsessed woman who could afford it. Ever since that moment, I swore I would one day have a classic Mulberry leather bag all of my own, to cherish.
Fast forward six years and I have my Mulberry. In June 2010 I graduated from my part-time Masters degree at the University of Dundee and received some money from my Godparents to buy something special to mark the occasion. Two months later, on our annual Oxford trip, I found myself at the Mulberry outlet at Bicester Village, where I proudly purchased my chocolate Mulberry Bayswater - the Bicester Village price was a snip at only two thirds of the RRP. (If you plan to spend some serious cash on some serious labels, head to Bicester Village for designer bargains galore - you'll get more for your money).
Since investing in my Mulberry Bayswater, it's been true love ever since. That said, my love affair with Bicester Village continues; this summer, I purchased a soft-as-butter black DKNY hobo. Well, I needed a black handbag. Chocolate doesn't go with everything, does it?]]>Scottish Fashion Awards 2012tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.15894472012-06-13T07:11:42-04:002012-08-13T05:12:05-04:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-lindsay/ Scottish Fashion Awards were held on Monday at the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow in association with InStyle, and the fashion elite attended in their finery to honour the achievements of the fashion industry's brightest stars.
Now in its seventh year, the Scottish Fashion Awards are a permanent fixture on the official Swarovski Red Carpet Calendar, alongside The Oscars, Golden Globes and Cannes Film Festival - the fashion awards are the fashion event of the year and anyone worth their Mulberry Lana made sure they had a ticket, which in the past has attracted celebrities and fashionistas such as Samantha Cameron, Dame Shirley Bassey, Jonathan Saunders, Henry Holland, Daphne Guinness, Jenni Falconer, Louise Roe, Brix Smith-Start and Laura Whitmore.
This year, VIP guests including Made In Chelsea stars, Proudlock and Millie battled with the paparazzi on the red carpet before enjoying the Moet Champagne reception and awards ceremony, hosted by British style icon, Alexa Chung, who wore Christopher Kane. The ceremony was a very stylish nod to the talented designers, models, photographers and journalists within the Scottish fashion industry and anyone who was anyone was there to support them. Supermodel and face of Dolce & Gabbana, David Gandy, presented founder of the Scottish Fashion Awards, Tessa Hartmann with an Honorary Degree of Doctor from Glasgow Caledonian University for her relentless, international promotion of Scottish fashion. Christopher Kane received Designer of the Year and Hayley Scanlan deservedly received Young Designer of the Year following her increasing success over the past couple of years. Kane said of winning his award: "I am extremely proud and grateful to receive my award. I think that Scotland has such a wealth of great fashion talent from design through to production and the heritage is something that we should all be proud of."
Other winners included Tali Lennox (Model of the Year) and Jonathan Daniel Pryce (Scottish Fashion Photographer of the Year), while actress Karen Gillan received the coveted Style Icon award. Fashion commentator and historian, Colin McDowell was recognised for his invaluable contribution to fashion - he received the prestigious title of Fashion Ambassador - and supermodel, Stella Tennant was congratulated via video message by Mario Testino and Karl Lagerfeld for her introduction into the Scottish Hall of Fame.
The ceremony was complemented by an exclusive Swarovski runway show (brought from Paris to Scotland for one night only) and top performances from Dionne Bromfield (God-daughter of the late Amy Winehouse) and Tallia Storm. Bromfield gave an upbeat performance which got the audience out of their seats and dancing in no time, and the incredibly soulful Tallia Storm, fresh from her performance with Elton John on Sunday evening, mesmerised the crowd with her enchanting voice. Later, VIP guests enjoyed a gala dinner (smoked salmon, fillet of beef, handbag-shaped desserts) with more Moet and Belvedere vodka to fuel some particularly fierce dancing which, thankfully, did not result in any fashion dilemmas despite the army of vertiginous heels.
The Scottish Fashion Awards continue to attract a wealth of fashion industry experts (2012 judges included Fashion Director of The Telegraph, Hilary Alexander; founder of Australian Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Simon Lock; editor of Vogue.com UK, Dolly Jones; and Dean of the School of Material at Royal College of Art, Professor Wendy Dagworthy) and the prestigious event is guaranteed to remain at the forefront of the red carpet social calendar for recognising talent within the fashion industry - Scottish or otherwise.
2012 SCOTTISH FASHION AWARDS - WINNERS
1. Scottish Designer of the Year - sponsored by Instyle - CHRISTOPHER KANE
2. Scottish Young Designer of the Year - sponsored by The Scottish Fashion Council - HAYLEY SCANLAN
3. Scottish Textile Brand of the Year - sponsored by House of Fraser - DASHING TWEEDS
4. Scottish Accessory Designer of the Year - sponsored by Swarovski - WILLIAM CHAMBERS
5. Scottish Fashion Icon - sponsored by Captial FM - KAREN GILLAN
6. Scottish Communicator of the Year - sponsored by Glasgow Airport - FAYE MCLEOD
7. Scottish Model of the Year - sponsored by Radley London - TALI LENNOX
8. Scottish Retailer of the Year - sponsored by Braehead - SHHH-OOHS (Luxury Shoe Retailer Edinburgh)
9. Scottish Fashion Photographer - sponsored by The Herald and Times Group - JONATHAN DANIEL PRYCE
10. Scotland's New Face - sponsored by Smart of Glasgow - KERRY O'MAY
11. Scottish Graduate of the Year - sponsored by Marks & Spencer - JOANNE MCGILLIVARY FROM HERRIOT WATT.
12. International Designer of the Year (for use of a Scottish fabric) - sponsored by Toni & Guy - MULBERRY
13. Scottish Fashion Innovator sponsored by bareMinerals - BRIAN RENNIE - Creative Managing Director of Basler
14. Fashion Ambassador sponsored by Mercedes-Benz West of Scotland - COLIN MCDOWELL MBE (Author, fashion esteemed fashion journalist and founder of Fashion Fringe).
15. Scottish Hall of Fame 2010 - sponsored by Hartmann Media - STELLA TENNANT.
]]>Get Ready For the Scottish Fashion Awards 2012tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.15772312012-06-07T09:02:35-04:002012-08-07T05:12:03-04:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-lindsay/Scottish Fashion Awards will take place at the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow and for the first time, tickets are available to purchase so that everyone can enjoy the Scottish "fashion oscars".
I can't wait to be there and will be Tweeting live from the event, which is being hosted by style icon, Alexa Chung. The event is made up of an awards ceremony (for which nominees have already been announced), surprise music performances and an exclusive Swarovski runway show followed by a VIP after show party. The Scottish Fashion Awards is the Scottish event of the year, and anyone who has an interest in fashion, style and all things fabulous simply must be there! Previous attendees have included supermodel David Gandy, Samantha Cameron, Dame Shirley Bassey, chart-topper Paolo Nutini and MTV presenter Laura Whitmore, among many other fashionable and beautiful celebrities.
The event is brilliant fun and is always a great success, but the awards ceremony is really the most exciting part of the evening because of the recognition given to Scottish talent. Scotland has produced some of the most successful fashion designers, communicators and models on the London (and international) fashion scene and the awards ceremony is really a great way to celebrate what a wonderful source of inspiration Scotland is. Not only has Scotland given us the increasingly successful Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders, but the current emerging talent is equally as exciting - Holly Fulton, Graeme Armour and, in particular, Hayley Scanlan, are all making waves in the fashion industry. What's even more special is when Scottish talent is a success from home - designer, Hayley Scanlan lives and designs from her home in Dundee, proving that although London is a hub of fashion activity, success can be achieved from further afield - Scanlan has created outfits for Marina Diamandis of Marina and the Diamonds, Jessie J and, most recently, for X Factor winners, Little Mix.
This year, I'm excited to see who is announced as the 2012 Fashion Icon. Nominees include Karen Gillan, Tali Lennox, Emeli Sande, Gerard Butler, Tammy Kane, Tilda Swinton and Calvin Harris. Some of the judges are fashion photographer, Rankin (who won the award last year), Grazia's Style Director, Paula Reed, Dolly Jones (editor of award winning website, Vogue.com UK) and Scottish Fashion Awards founder, Tessa Hartmann. I know who I would like them to choose! Who would you like to see crowned Scottish Fashion Icon for 2012?
If you are unable to attend the Scottish Fashion Awards next week, don't panic just yet - I'll be Tweeting live from the awards ceremony and after party. Follow me for live updates via @The_Daydreamer_.
Visit Christina's blog, The Daydreamer, here.]]>Scottish Fashion Awards Announce Nomineestag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.14400652012-04-20T08:43:00-04:002012-06-20T05:12:02-04:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-lindsay/Scottish Fashion Awards announced the nominees for the prestigious awards which will be presented at the star-studded ceremony in Glasgow this June.
TV presenter and former model, Alexa Chung will host the 7th annual awards ceremony, which founded by Tessa Hartmann of Hartmann Media. Chung will present the winners with their coveted awards, which in previous years have been won by top designers Jonathan Saunders and Christopher Kane, model Tali Lennox and luxury accessories label, Bebaroque. This year's winners will receive their award in front of a VIP audience of celebrities, fashionistas and the few members of the public who will be lucky enough to get their hands on a set of tickets for THE event of the Scottish calendar. Last year, attendees included Samantha Cameron, Dame Shirley Bassey, Lulu, Henry Holland, Laura Whitmore (last year's host), male supermodel David Gandy, and Skins star, Freya Mavor.
Judges of the 2012 awards include Tessa Hartmann, Dolly Jones of Vogue.com UK, Sarah Mower of US Vogue, photographer Rankin, Paula Reed of Grazia and Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire, Trish Halpin (to name just a few) - all valued members of the fashion pack who most certainly know what they are looking for in a winner. Nominees this year include Dundee based Hayley Scanlan, Christopher Kane, Holly Fulton, Jonathan Saunders, Louise Gray, Isolated Heroes, Graeme Armour, Mulberry, Corrie Nielson, Brora, Kay Barron, Laura Craik, Alice Palmer, Hawick Cashmere and Spencer Clothing. Stay tuned to find out who wins!
The event is held at the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow. You can buy tickets from www.ticketsoup.com - tickets are priced at £35.
I will be attending the ceremony in June to bring you all the Scottish Fashion Awards news!]]>Christmas Time, Your Timetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.11599402011-12-21T07:03:10-05:002012-02-20T05:12:01-05:00Christina Lindsayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-lindsay/ Five Days to Go
Look after your pretty head!
Have a facial. If you can't splurge on a treatment a salon (I like the Skin Authority facials at the Kohler Waters Spa at the Old Course Hotel) then find a good face mask (Murad and Darphin are excellent) and apply this for around 10-15 minutes while in the privacy of your own home. Best not to have kids running around asking you if they can have a chocolate treat off the Christmas tree as this can increase stress levels and will defeat the purpose of said mask. Relax with Vogue and one of those choccies for yourself. Once face is fully rejuvenated, give your hair the same treatment; a hair mask will work wonders on tired, over styled hair. Obviously, we all like to go to the salon for a blow dry or cut and colour, but in advance of your appointment take a long, hot bath with a copy of The Help (a wonderful book) and let Daniel Galvin Junior work his magic via the Hangover Hair. It smells yummy and actually works, leaving hair soft and strong and ready to party with you. (It will also help after partying!)
Four Days to Go
Get a wax. Remove all unwanted fluff. Have your brows done and your lash extensions applied. Zen Lifestyle in Edinburgh is my favourite salon and it is here you will find the best therapists (Julie is amazing). The salon was recently shortlisted for the Professional Beauty Awards 2012. The Hanover Street salon has a beautiful interior and you'll be treated like a princess (or prince) for the duration. (With George Street just a hop away, you can find that perfect party dress once you're done).
Three Days to Go
Exfoliate and moisturise your entire body. Get your body ready for sequin mini dresses and backless jumpsuits by scrubbing, buffing and polishing your skin. For a great scrub, look no further than The Body Shop's Satsuma Body Polish (ever so festive) applied with exfoliating gloves, while to buff I like to use a loofah lathered up with Imperial Leather. To polish things off, apply a generous amount of Aveda's Replenishing Body Moisturiser all over the legs, arms, tum and bum, saving Lush's Lovely Jubblies for the décolletage and boobs. You'll feel deliciously soft!
Two Days to Go
Have a mani / pedi. I find that Shellac is the best gel polish as it is the one that least damaged my nails. Choose a rouge noir - Christmassy, but chic - but navy is also good as well as blush and nude colours. For DIY mani / pedis, Nails Inc and Leighton Denny are the best options for DIY mani / pedis - choose any of the Nails Inc products for a flawless finish (I love Black Taxi and the Mexican Lime Foot Cream) and I couldn't live without Leighton Denny's Crystal Finish Top Coat. I even apply it after a professional mani /pedi - it's that good.
One Day to Go Fake Bake. Use the mousse as it's more subtle than the lotion which is best kept for summer. Apply with gloves or a mitt to your recently buffed body and leave to work its magic overnight. If you have concerns about bed sheets, just pop some long pjs on or sleep in an old single duvet cover. Not attractive, but you'll wake up lightly bronzed and will instantly look 5lbs slimmer. Shower and rejoice. St Tropez instant mousse is also good for last minute invitations!
The Big Day
Get dressed, have your hair done, spritz some Herrera 212 VIP (because you are a VIP) or Tom Ford (adds sophisticated luxury) and open the Champers. Whether it's the office lunch, dinner with friends or Christmas Day with the family, by now you should be feeling gorgeous. You deserve to spend the prep time on yourself, well, because partying is such hard work!
Christmas is a special time of year to be spent with loved ones, enjoying good food and copious amounts of Champagne* and relaxing after a hard year at work. There's something to be said for looking and feeling fabulous in time for the New Year - if you look good, you feel good, and with that only good things can come for 2012.
