Skip to main content

Posts

Autumn / Winter Perfumes

Autumn / winter calls for warmer everything: clothes, food, perfumes. Here are eight of my favourite perfumes which err on the spicier, deeper side. Elizabeth I The lightest and perhaps the most unusual of the bunch, I got this perfume from Hampton Court, of all places. It is supposedly based on a perfume recipe made for my idol, Queen Elizabeth I, the recipe of which is listed on the bottle: 'take eight grains of musk and put in rose-water eight spoonfuls, three spoonfuls o Damask water and a quarter of an ounce of sugar. Boil for five hours and strain.' From that description you can tell that this is a very sweet perfume, which is rather fitting for a queen who had a notorious sweet tooth. Of course, back in the days, being able to use sugar in one's cosmetics was definitely a symbol of status of wealth. The modern take of Elizabeth I's perfume is unsurprisingly sweet, but it is also very light. I absolutely love it, and my only complaint is that it is very...
Recent posts

The Prada Saffiano Lux

This is hands-down my favourite bag ever - not in my collection, but ever. I am yet to find another bag that beats the Prada Saffiano Lux Medium Double-Zip Leather Satchel (its full name is a bit of a mouthful). Of course there are more beautiful, more expensive and more practical bags out there, but when it comes to the combination of the three, I am  pretty sure this is, and will always be, my number one choice.  There are a number of styles within the Prada Saffiano family. 'Saffiano' leather refers to a method of treating the leather by stamping, resulting in a leather that is durable, water-resistant and easy to clean. The method was said to be invented by Mario Prada himself, and Prada originally held a patent for real Saffiano leather - since then, many brands, both high end and high street, have used this method to create the signature textured look. Geniune saffiano leather is made of calf-skin, but it is also possible to have 'Saffiano-style' faux-lea...

Rosy Lips

Sometimes, a bold red lip is just not going to work: for example, at work. Still wanting to appear not-dead and sprightly, your best option is to go for a rosy pink lipstick that will add a little bit, but not too much, colour to your complexion. Pink lipsticks come in shades of berries, corals and true cool pinks, but they are versatile and largely personal. Best Packaging: Lancome & Jill Stuart  Lancome lipsticks are some of the best on the market. Pigmented, smooth and moisturising, they also have a gorgeous, instantly-recognisable scent. The best part of Lancome lipsticks for me, however, is their packaging: the one on the left has a magnetic closure; and the one on the right is a click-opening (like a pen). Lancome L'Absolu Rouge in 352 (Rose Chimere)  Lancome L'Absolu Rouge in 07 The 07 is perfect for work: slightly warm, a little brownish-pink, it is the perfect your-lips-but-better tone. Rose Chimere, on the other hand, leans cool and almo...

The Best of: Coats & Jackets

Winter is coming. It decided to come to Sydney very alarmingly and suddenly the week before last; but since then it seems to have changed its mind because for some reason the sun is shining again. However, it doesn't hurt to be prepared. Therefore, this Easter long weekend, wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt and drinking iced water, I bring you: the best of winter coats and jackets. And capes (yes, I own more than one cape, and if I can justify the spend I'd buy more. Don't ask don't judge). 1. The lightweight trench  Many people would agree that the trench coat is the ultimate coat. If I were a minimalist (as I certainly am not, but a girl can dream) this would be the single piece of outerwear I'd keep. It is beautiful and timeless; yet practical and durable. Coming in a range of cuts, lengths and fabrics, there's bound to be a trench coat to suit everyone. Sleeves rolled or sleeves down, belted or loose, the trench effortlessly switches between pro...

Eye-shadows: basic earth tones

Earth toned eye makeup are an almost fool-proof way to accentuate one's eyes. Here are a few beautifully versatile palettes which will take you from the office to dinner, from parties to holidays. Naked Palette (Urban Decay) The ultimate basic earth toned palette - the Naked palette is probably the favourite thing in my entire makeup collection. Since the original Naked 1 (a warm, bronze-toned palette, pictured), the Naked family has expanded to Naked 2 (cool toned), Naked 3 (rose-gold toned) and Naked Smokey (for nights of partying). There are also two Naked Basic palettes which are about half the size of an original Naked palette, and perfect for taking on the go. The pigmentation and versatility of these shades are truly amazing. There are a few 'dupes' at a lower price from brands such as Maybelline, L'Oreal, Cover Girl, Physicians Formula and Natio, but none of them come nearly close to the quality of the Urban Decay palettes, which are smooth, long-wearing, a...