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Archive for January, 2010

Jan 30

NEW LAUNCH: Garnier Caffeine Anti-Dark Circles 2-in-1 Eye Roll-on

In the same family as Garnier’s iconic Caffeine Eye Roll-On, is a fantastic new product called Garnier Caffeine Anti-Dark Circles.

A cooling concealer and eye freshener, it launched in Boots this week and will be available nationwide from February 23.

The concealer/roll-on comes in two shades, fair and medium, and is Garnier’s first ever tinted eye roll-on.

Garnier’s Caffeine Eye Roll-on (below left) is the UK’s best selling eye care product, with one sold every 15 seconds…so it will be interesting to see if the tinted roll-on will have the same mass appeal.

I’ve been trialing the product for the last week and it’s really good! It contains mineral pigments, for more info see Fashionbite’s post Purity Cosmetics: Mineral make-up and the cooling roll-on applicator is soft and hydrating for the eyes. It feels much less stressful on the delicate eye area compared to dabbing on concealer- and the caffeine gives tired eyes a quick energy burst.

The coverage lasts all day as well, which is good value for a £9.99 product. If you like YSL’s Touche Eclat, you’ll love this.

fashionbite xx

Jan 28

Apple iPad: the future of magazines?

So, Apple has unveiled its most advanced techonology to date, according to big boss steve Jobs (left)…but what does this mean for the publishing world?

The iPad tablet is a large version of the iPhone, with a 10-inch screen, and allows users to surf the web, play games, read e-books, newspapers/magazines and much more. But will such technology become mainstream? Experts think so.

Amazon already sells electronic book readers, but the e-book market has not yet taken off. Michael Brook, of gadget magazine T3, told The Evening Standard: “This device could do to publishing what the iPod did for music.”

We will be able to download our favourite magazines/newspapers/books on to the iPad (or its equivalent) and use its easy-to-read screen to digest up-to-the second news. We’ll also be able to slice and dice the newspapers to our exact requirements, for example only downloading business and sport if that’s where our interests lie. Great for advertisiers who want to target a specific market. Daily newspapers will become obselete.

In my New Year’s post, 2010:what the future holds? I predicted the end of the next decade would see the death of newspapers, but it could also mean the death of magazines and books…a scary thought! Online content has been free for years, this will change. The publishing world is going through a huge upheaval, but it will come out stronger for it.

It’s exciting times! Online-only newspaper and magazines will also start to become the norm, so watch this space!

fashionbite xx

Jan 27

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GIVEAWAY: Tempestra night of indulgence

Fancy a girly night of champagne, glamour and lingerie?

Fashionbite has two pairs of tickets for an evening of decadence with Tempestra, the online lingerie boutique, to giveaway to two lucky readers.

Tempestra Presents..Private Passions is the perfect, pampering pre-Valentine’s treat for you and a friend. The night includes a champagne reception, vintage-themed lingerie fashion show, professional bra fittings, a Triumph underwear prize draw and discounted lingerie to purchase on the night.

The evening, also in association with Breast Cancer Care, will be held on Thursday February 4, 7pm to 10pm at Sunbeam Studios, London, W10.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply sign-up to fashionbite at the top right of this page for FREE and two names will be picked at random on Monday.

If you’re already signed up, just add a comment to this post with ‘Tempestra Tickets Please’ in the text body. Good Luck!

fashionbite xx

Jan 26

Rock ‘n Rose headwear for spring ’10

Make a statement this spring with oversized headwear, as seen on the catwalks at Luella and Marc by Marc Jacobs (above).

To get the look- Rock ‘n Rose, the online store which sells gorgeous re-worked vintage pieces, has launched its first range of handcrafted hairwear for spring/summer.

The price points are fantastic, ranging from £15 to £30.

So, if you’re strapped for cash post-Christmas, a statement headband will update your wardrobe without breaking the bank.

fashionbite xx

Jan 22

Asos launches plus-size range

Great news for curvy girls, ASOS has added to its ever expanding offer with the launch of a plus-size collection called ASOS Curve.

The capsule range consists of trend-led pieces including jersey, tailoring, knitwear and outerwear. Styles have been taken from Asos mainline own-label range and adapted to fit the curvier figure. The collection is available in sizes 20-26.

Every season the range will be updated with new trend-led pieces. Asos plans to expand the collection for autumn and introduce pieces designed specifically for ASOS Curve.

So, there’s no excuse not to look fab and fashionable…whatever your size.

fashionbite xx

Jan 21

Fiat goes pink for spring

Fiat 500 is due to launch a hot, new limited edition pink car- the perfect accessory to Armani’s lipgloss pink for spring/summer, see fashionbite’s New Season preview, part IV

To celebrate this sexy new runaround, the company has launched the longest ever online live streaming ad…in the form of a hot model and a pot of nail varnish. What’s more, you could be in with the chance of joining him!

David (aka the model) has been challenged to paint a white Fiat 500 pink, using nail varnish alone…and you can watch his gorgeous work in action live online at PINKMYRIDE.

To be in with a chance of joining him, doing the odd spot of painting and appearing on Fiat’s live online ad, simply enter your contact details at PINKMYRIDE.

The competition ends midday on Monday, so get your skates on.

fashionbite xx

FASHIONBITE PROMOTION

Jan 21

Net-a-porter celebrates one millionth order with £25,000 giveaway

To celebrate its one millionth order, Net-a-porter is due to launch a £25,000 giveaway at lunch time today.

All you need to do is sign up to Net-a-Porter/celebration for your chance to win this fabulous shopping spree!

The competition will run for 3 weeks and a winner will be selected at random…. so Good Luck!

To give you a taster of the gorgeous goodies you could buy with the winnings….

  • A Balmain capsule wardrobe (above)
  • A pair of Christian Louboutin shoes for every day of the month!

  • An entire Marc by Marc Jacobs wardrobe – featuring over 40 pieces (with £10,000 still left!)

  • 416 pairs of Hunter wellington boots!

    • fashionbite xx

Jan 20

Jergens launches UK exclusive

Fashionbite popped to the Jergens press launch at the Haymarket hotel this morning-only just getting round to updating…been a busy day!

Jergens, in case you haven’t heard of it, is America’s top selling bodycare range- but is still fairly new to the UK. Building on the success of its Jergens Naturals range, which it intoduced to the UK market last year, it is launching two new body moisturisers (exclusive to the UK)- Total Nourishment with Acai Berry and Cocoa Butter with Vitamin E.

I’ve tried them both- the Acai Berry is my favourite, it smells amazing and my skin felt really soft after just one use. It is also rich in antioxidants such as Acai berry and Mangosteen extract- so it must be doing some good!

The Cocoa butter is gorgeous, rich in sunflower and vitamin E, it also has a lovely tropical scent. It is silky and absorbs quickly into the skin which I like, as I find some cocoa butter products can be too rich and thick.

The Jergens Naturals range is made from almost 100% natural ingredients, so you’re not slathering chemicals on to your body every day.

However, it is a mass market product so the price points are fantastic. Available from all major supermarkets, such as Tesco,you can pick up a 200 ml tube for just £4.99. The two new UK exclusive lines will be available from February. There’s no excuse not to go organic now!

fashionbite xx

Jan 19

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Sarah Jessica Parker signs up to fashion label

Sarah Jessica Parker has been snapped up by iconic New York fashion house Halston. She will head up its secondary, more contemporary line Halston Heritage as chief creative officer. She is seen pictured (above) wearing Halston Heritage on the set of Sex and the City 2, out in May.

This is the first time SJP has put her hand to the creative development of a fashion label and if she’s anything like her on screen character, I’m sure it will be a huge success.

Halston Heritage takes designs from the brand’s archives and updates them with a modern twist, but the brilliant thing is..the price points! The white dress (pictured above) would retail for £220, much more affordable than Halston’s mainline collection, or most of Sarah’s SATC outfits!

Sarah Jessica Parker has also taken an equity stake in the fashion house, whose investors include Harvey Weinstein and Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon, and will sit on the board.

It is unclear what SJP’s stake is, but the deal is rumoured to be worth around $5 million (£3.05 million).

Sarah said: “I think this is a brand new kind of business model and it illustrates how serious I am about this position. I think it’s wonderful to feel invested in something.

You can buy Halston Heritage at Start London.

HISTORY OF HALSTON

Roy Halston Frowick was born in Iowa, where he developed an interest in sewing from his mother and began creating hats and altering clothes.

After moving to Chicago with the family, his first big break came when the Chicago Daily News ran a brief story on his fashionable hats. In 1957, he opened a shop and from then on began to use his middle name professionally.

Halston moved to New York City in late 1957, first working for milliner Lilly Daché. He soon made a name for himself and moved to become head milliner for department store Bergdorf Goodman. His claim to fame was designing the pillbox hat Jacqueline Kennedy wore to her husband’s 1961 presidential inauguration.

Halston later moved into womenswear and his brand went on to define the decadent style of the ’70′s.

Halston’s designs became synonymous with Studio 54 and the glamorous, international jet set- worn by the likes of Bianca Jagger, Liza Minnelli and Elizabeth Taylor, it oozed sez appeal with silk jumpsuits and fluid jersery dresses. This led Newsweek to name him “the premier fashion designer of all America”.

Halston mainline is now headed up by Marios Schwab, who was recently named creative director. You can buy it online at Net-a-Porter.

fashionbite xx

Jan 18

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New season preview: key looks for spring, part IV

Fashionbite brings you New Season Preview, part IV- the final installment of spring ’10 trends, as seen in Vogue.

Showcasing key designer trends for spring, Fashionbite highlights how to get catwalk-inspired looks at high street prices…

LANVIN

According to Alber Elbaz, cocktail dresses are best worn loaded with bows, belts and a beautiful clutter of trinkets.

Bring on the bling at Lanvin- and spring 2010 was no exception. Embellishment, exaggerated necklines and dramatic silouettes defined this theatrical collection.

For statement occassionwear, shop Coast for that one-off party piece.

For a more subtle look, keep your dress simple but your handbag dramatic- Debenhams has a fab range to choose from with oversized bows and ruffled embellishment.

GIORGIO ARMANI

A taffeta party top and skirt in lipgloss pink jump for joy, says Vogue.

Giorgio Armani explains “Everything is short and ends above the knee- even the evening dresses- while the colours express lightness and joie de vivre. An eccentric purity.”

Colourful and fun, Armani caputured a youthful exuberance in his spring ’10 collection, moving away from the classic elegance he is known for.

This is perfect partywear for a hedonistic summer, to get the look check out Lipsy, the favourite of many a WAG. Asos also has a great range on offer.

PRADA

Raw couture-Miuccia Prada gives her silk, beach print shorts-suit the shock treatment with rough-cut edges.

The Telegraph’s Hilary Alexander said ‘Hems and edges were raw, unfinished. Crystal belts cinched waists. There was a sporty feel to many of the ensembles, echoed in the use of stretch fabrics.

The collection also harked back to couture of the 50s, in the use of a silk cloque in a deep bottle green for a yoked, swing coat, which was rocketed into the 21st century with unfinished edges and by adding matching evening-shorts.”

For fashion inspiration, visit georgeous label Julianne, with luxurious silk camisoles and georgettes which are perfect day to nightwear, see fashionbite’s earlier post Julianne launches website.

BURBERRY PRORSUM

Christopher Bailey twists and drapes spring’s favourites – the trench coat and easy pastel dress.

Short, draped and glamorous with a palette of nude- the collection is aimed at the young.

The famous Burberry trench came in beige and rocked the military-vibe.

Military crops up elsewhere, with the likes of Maxmara- see Fashionbite’s New Season Preview, part III.

For fabulous draping on the high street, check out All Saints.

fashionbite xx

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