Beauty blog: Pop Art

Personally I am loving the colour blocking trend that has taken over S/S12; anything to brighten up the grey British summertime (seriously where is the sun hiding?) Why keep it just for your outfit though? Why not incorporate it into your make up as well?

Now I'm not saying that we should all be wandering around like Coco the clown but sometimes it is nice to shake it up a bit. So ditch the brown eyeshadow and pick up a turquoise or a purple instead. Slick on a fuchsia gloss, it is guaranteed to not only perk up your outfit but also your mood.

My long suffering friend and human barbie doll Albana agreed to try out the look. As a rule of thumb you should either emphasise  your eyes or lips; it is the beauty equivalent of choosing an outfit that shows either your legs or boobs! I chose a punchy pink pout for a dramatic yet young and fun look.

The bright pink 'pout paint' by Sleek (available at Superdrug) used on Albana's lips delivers a highly pigmented glossy lip with a tiny price tag to boot, perfect for a night out and a great alternative to classic red. A light sweep of turquoise eyeshadow provides an edgy contrast to the pink lips without being over the top. Keep the rest of your face natural and clash your pout with your outfit for a fashion forward approach to the trend.

For a truly catwalk inspired look clash your nail varnish as well by choosing an orange or peppermint green shade; this is definitely not for the wallflowers though as you will have no shortage of admiring stares.

Beauty blog: retro glamour

When it comes to beauty I love to experiment with different products and colours. (I am writing this post with electric blue nails and they are AWESOME.) Ever since I was a little girl I have been obsessed with make up, if there was green eyeshadow, red lipstick or glitter spray within a five mile radius I knew about it. Thankfully I have calmed down now but I still like to try out the new beauty trends in a slightly more muted way and can pick out the ones that really do not flatter me (orange lipstick anyone?) 

So I thought I would share with you within my blog; my favourite make up looks, beauty tips and new products that I have tried and here is my first, hope you enjoy!

One of the looks that I always return to is the old school glamorous Hollywood starlet; no matter how groggy you are in the morning, a slick of deep red lipstick and winged black eyeliner will instantly make you look like you have made an effort. A little dab of highlighter underneath perfectly shaped eyebrows will give the illusion of bigger eyes and of course don't forget the mascara. A neutral taupe eyeshadow and fuss free complexion lets your natural beauty shine through. It's as simple as that.

The best thing about this look is that it can be done in under five minutes and for girls on the go that is essential. The side swept tousled hair keeps it young and modern  whilst not looking too overdone. My gorgeous friend Albana let me try it out on her and I think it looks blooming lovely.

It's vintage darling

As part of my journalism degree I had to create my very own magazine, it was quite simply the best assignment EVER! Naturally I chose fashion and in particular Liverpool vintage shopping as the topic. My beautiful friend Kate agreed to model whilst I had my first taste of fashion photography, (once I had taken the lens cap off) styling and creative directing at two fantastic vintage shops; Preserved vintage and Raiders Vintage both on Renshaw street.

Vintage is such a great way to create a one off look and the great thing about these outfits are that they all cost between £30 -£40! What a bargain! 

The theme was chosen after one of my favourite books; Alice in Wonderland which was easy given the abundance of trinkets and treasures to find in the shops. 

Hope you enjoy!

Raiders vintage: This patterned silk shirt is a dead ringer for the current Zara collection and the nude shorts give the illusion of longer legs especially paired with beige boots. Couldn't resist the straw hat either; perfect festival attire.

Raiders vintage: Peach is a universally flattering shade especially for those blessed with a tan (unlike me.) This is a perfect day dress and I am rather partial to the backpack trend being a child of the 90's especially when they look this chic.

Raiders vintage: I absolutely fell in love with these boots as soon as I saw them and had they been in my size I would have definitely snapped them up, luckily they were Kate's. Denim shorts are a style staple in any girl's wardrobe and the sequined top makes it perfect for a night with the girls.

Preserved vintage: One of the big trends that has been on the fashion radar for a while now is sheer fabrics, for those who dare why not pair two sheer pieces together. The conservative styling of the shirt and skirt stop it from becoming a threat to public decency but keep it sultry. 

Preserved vintage: Spring/summer 2012 is all about the clashing prints and when it looks this good you can see why. The black top neutralises the super bright skirt making it easy to wear but still fun. This is the perfect ladylike outfit for lunch with the girls or a first date.

Poodle power

Of course my blog would not be complete without the subject of most of my photographs, my eleven year old poodle Mollie. Here she is pulling her best windswept look.

And so it begins.....

For around a year now I have been determined to set up a blog but every time I sit down to write something occurs to me; what do I have to say that other people would want to read? Yes I am your typical self deprecating, optimistic, easy going Brit, the thing is I want to be a fashion journalist. 

Let’s put it this way, when sorting out a monthly budget most people don’t include a magazine allowance and my boyfriend knows every Tuesday as ‘Look Magazine Day.’ It is fair to say that I am obsessed with writing and my favourite topic is fashion. Having studied journalism at university I now know the first rule of writing articles – find the people angle, so why should my blog be any different? (I owe it to my lecturers really!)

So I would love it if you would follow me on my journey up the ranks to working at a national fashion magazine, well that is the dream after all. I know you must wonder how I am so sure that it will happen for me; there are thousands of girls out there desperate to work at their favourite fashion magazine but as my mum will vouch for, I am as determined as a wasp trying to get out of a window, I’m not afraid to work my way up and I am not afraid of hard graft. To get where I want to be I will literally write about anything which so far has included; the lovely topic of sewage works, school fetes and grass cutting to name but a few.

What will you get from reading my blog because at the end of the day essentially I am selling my personality and interests to you, the reader? Fashion is my main passion; however cliche it sounds but music, beauty and travel are topics close to my heart as well. The main focus will be my quest to land that dream job, so expect tips and advice from internships and jobs that I do. As well as all this I will include anything that inspires me and maybe a few cheeky snaps of my outfits along the way. Oh and seriously how long does it take to find a blog name that hasn't been picked already!

Feel free to follow my twitter @abbiecoles