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I love the changing seasons and the new fashions that they bring.
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Friday 22 July 2016

SUMMER SALES - BARGAINS OR BUDGET BLOWERS?

Shop windows, promotional emails and tweets - they're all inviting us to the summer sales and tempting us to spend our money. These are uncertain times for the economy and I am being cautious about how I spend my limited fashion/makeup budget. I keep reminding myself to focus on what I really, really want and need.

At the more expensive end of fashion, brands like The Kooples are making genuine reductions on their Spring/Summer collections, to make way for the new Autumn clothes. Speed is of the essence here.  If that piece that's been on your wishlist all season is on the sale rail in your size, it's likely to be snapped up at the first markdown.

High street and fast fashion shops are a different matter. With new stock coming in every week and ongoing mid-season reductions, the "really, really want pieces " are rarely in the sale right now. (You can be lucky!). 

At this time of the year, I'm wanting those desirable bikinis, swimsuits and sandals which are not usually reduced yet. I did get lucky. I had been interested in classic Birkenstock Black Madrid mules and I found a pair in my size at SOLE, reduced from the usual price of £22.95 to £15. These are single strap mules made in EVA, a light weight, waterproof material. Birkenstock sandals are designed to allow a natural rolling motion of the foot without restriction.


Black Birkenstock Madrid Mules

I always visit the Neal's Yard shops at sale time to buy one of their deliciously fragrant gift sets of bath/shower gel and body lotion. This time I opted for Rose & Geranium Shower Gel and Body Lotion (now half price at £7.50). Their larger Lavender gift set was also reduced from £20 to £10.


Neal's Yard Rose & Geranium Shower Gel and Body Lotion

A trap I have fallen into a few times in the past was buying pieces in the summer sales that appeared to be Autumn's incoming "must haves". Whilst those items were in the genre of the new trends, somehow the fabric, colour, length or shape were just not quite right for the season and I wished I'd saved my cash for the real thing.

But, I do have to mention that black, quilted bomber jacket that I bought last summer at Uniqlo, which has been a star piece in my wardrobe ever since! Uniqlo offer reductions all the year round, as well as in the current sale and their ultra light down jackets and knitwear are always a good idea. Right now, I'm hoping to see some reductions soon on extra fine Merino knitwear in dark colours.

That about wraps it up for me with the sales! The weather's warm and August will soon be here - time for some sea air and of course the August issue of French Vogue, featuring the Autumn/Winter collections!

Saturday 2 July 2016

SUMMER MAKEUP - YVES SAINT LAURENT'S "SAVAGE ESCAPE"

Now that the summer sales are on, it might seem to be a fashion limbo between the first thrill of new Spring/Summer clothes and the excitement of packing a small bag for a beach holiday.  This is not so.

The shops are displaying the Pre-fall collections and the fashion world is already hinting at the new moods for Autumn 2016.  90's styles look set to be a strong trend. Certainly, those slip dresses, inspired by Hedi Slimane's Spring/Summer 2016  "Glastonbury" collection for SAINT LAURENT, are still going to be important pieces in the Autumn.  For Autumn/Winter 2016/17, he presented a very glamorous 80's look and no doubt this will also influence the new season's fashion.

Meanwhile, despite the showery weather, it is supposed to be summer. YVES SAINT LAURENT's Summer Look 2016 makeup collection, "Savage Escape", takes its theme from the skies and scenery of a desert road trip. Beautiful pinks and dark, sparkling, metallic blues are teamed with Sahariennes Bronzing Stones. 

I chose a shiny, glossy lip gloss and a sparkly, irridescent nail polish from the collection:


YVES SAINT LAURENT LA LAQUE COUTURE in Night Escape
& GLOSS VOLUPTE in Rose Eldorado
In the photograph:

YSL Gloss Volupte in Rose Eldorado (55), a deep pink with ruby undertones, inspired by a desert sunset. 

La Laque Couture in Night Escape (72), a dark, metallic blue, like a night sky in the desert.


These lovely shades are intended to be worn with a sun-kissed complexion. Sahariennes Bronzing Stones, a powder bronzer, gives a natural bronzed glow. There are 3 shades: 01 Sunstone, 02 Fire Opal, 03 Jasper.


Fashion News:
Hedi Slimane has now, of course, left SAINT LAURENT and I am waiting, with bated breath, to hear what he is going to do next! 
In the meantime, Anthony Vaccarello has been appointed artistic director of SAINT LAURENT. I am looking forward to seeing his first collection and discovering the future direction of SAINT LAURENT.