BEATING THE BLUES WITH RAINBOW NAILS...

I don't know how it is where you are, but Zurich is suffering from schizophrenic weather conditions. It's freezing cold and stormy with random infusions of the off warm day. I feel like spring hasn't come yet. As a sun worshiper this has all left me feeling rather blue. To combat the dreary feeling I decided to paint my nails in a rainbow of bright shades. If you're in a place with rubbish weather, I suggest you do the same.

Tomorrow I'm off to Sweden and then to England. See you there. xx

GIVING IT AWAY: YSL LIPGLOSS...

Fancy getting your lips the same pinkish shade that mine are in the above photo? Well, isn't this just your lucky day then. I'm giving away one of these new YSL Baby Doll lip glosses in Rose. It goes on like a gloss but stains your lips for a long lasting colour. Thankfully I've got two so you can have one of them. Just leave a comment on this post to be entered into the giveaway. I'll pick a winner in a week.

CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH RED...

I'm usually really not into red. I think it's a bit brash and doesn't really suit me. Lately though I've taken a liking to it. Next to pale skin it brings a burst of colour that makes winter skin feel a bit more lively. I'm currently obsessed with this YSL rouge volupte lipstick. Whack it on with even the dullest of outfits and suddenly everything feels a bit more fabulous. I've also pulled out this old buffalo checked red flannel shirt from the bottom of my wardrobe - it's perfect for chilly days.

Hope you're enjoying the transition into winter. xx

NAUGHTY LITTLE MEADHAM KIRCHHOFF...

Ooooo, how cute. Look, my nails are all covered in cute little characters. Awww, isn't that sweet? They even match my book.

Ahem. I have a penchant for anything immature and child like. Honestly, the more ridiculous the better. I'm currently planning a superhero themed bathroom (much to everyone's distaste)... I swear, it's going to be awesome. The main focal point will be a clear 'KAPOW' shower curtain (I just need to find a place to make it because actually no one stocks proper superhero bathroom stuff... it's all weird creatures I've never seen before).

Anyway, as you might know Meadham Kirchhoff is all the rage in London. After their 'cute as a button' ballerina x wild dancing girl show two seasons ago I was sold for life. As much as I'd like one of their adorable little kitty t-shirts and their big batting eyes cardigan*... I can't bring myself to spend that sort of money on a T-shrt and cardigan. But, I can handle 7 quid for a pair of Nail Rocks from Topshop. Don't believe what it says on the package though, they do not last 10 days and they aren't easy to put on. It took Shini and I about an hour to get them on... and afterwards they still looked a bit like a mentally deranged child had gone mental with her stickers. I didn't really care though because they are just SO FREAKING CUTE.

p.s. I still have two of the 'naughty' ones left over because someone refused to put them on me.... they will make an appearance though Mrs Park.

Photos by the most incredibly patient woman in the world.

* hello, have you SEEN my eyelashes? Was this cardi not MADE FOR ME?

HAPPY DAY: SUMMER IS COMING...

All this talk about autumn/winter dressing has almost made me forget that summer is just around the corner. SUMMER. Yeyyy. I LOVE summer. Stick me on a beach with nothing to do and no one to see and I will literally love you forever. Now, I know that this wave of summer weather hasn't hit all of you. England, your weather sucks, I'm sorry about that. But just roll with me for a minute. The weather in Zurich has been so beautiful this past week - like English high-summer weather. To celebrate, I've been transforming my balcony into a mini-office every afternoon. My 'office' equipment consists of one beach towel, my MacBook Air, a big glass of water and... oh yeah, a pair of sunglasses. My balcony is so equipped for tanning purposes that you can lie out totally naked without fear of anyone seeing - I'm not saying I do that, I'm just saying it's possible.

Anyway, let's talk about summer beauty. This is how I break it down: skin, nails, hair, eyes.

1. Skin: don't let it get dry or burnt. Simples. Carry a miniature sized bottle of sunscreen with you, it will make you really popular - especially if you hang out around really pale people that burn at the mere mention of clear skies. Mine is Boots brand. It's nothing fancy but it works. I also freaking love Banana Boat. I'm addicted to the Aloe After Sun lotion and the Aloe After Sun gel. They are the best.

2. Nails: take care of them. Remove your polish properly and use colors that will make you happy. Essie nail polish is the best I have come across. This is simply because the colors are awesome, it goes on easily, dries fast, and doesn't chip very quickly. That's all I'm looking for in my nail polish.

3. Hair: I don't know much about hair but I do know that I got this little sample bottle of UNITE 7 Seconds Leave in Conditioner last season at LFW and I've used it almost everyday since September. It's still not empty. How is that even possible? It detangles like a charm and I spray it in my hair when it's dry to give it a bit of added texture. This sounds strange but I swear it's actually the only hair product I use.

4. Eyes: cover those bad boys up. Don't buy crappy £2 glasses from Primark. You might think they look so cool for, like, 5 minutes but they don't protect your eyes, k? These white cat-eye ones are my Mykita... they're pretty snazzy, eh?

 So commences our Beauty 101 class 'Summer Edition'. Feel free to weigh in on my regime and please tell me about any incredible products that I'm missing out on. I hate buying new beauty-related-things (as they are often crap) so would much appreciate your insightful tips...

 p.s. Hope you're having a wonderful weekend! xx

MY SUPER SECRET BEAUTY TRICKS REVEALED...

Photo by Kit Lee

I'm not kidding, from the night I arrived in London (Valentines night) to the day I left (last Friday morning) I slept MAX 4 hours a night. This isn't like me. I like to sleep... I like to sleep so much that my husband has to call me up at 11am and tell me off for not getting out of bed. 'Jennnn... this isn't natural. GET THE FREAK OUT OF BED AND DO THE DISHES WOMAN!!!' Even more disturbing? Wednesday night I didn't sleep at all (not a wink) and Thursday night I had to get a cab to Heathrow at 3am (so again, figured... there's no point in sleeping)... ZOMBIE ALERT. This is not humanly possible. This resulted in me passing out on the flight (I had an entire row to myself), waking up panicked and thinking I was on a 'fashion' plane?! Arriving in Zurich airport, being stopped by immigration and BURSTING into tears when I'm informed that it is illegal to bring samples from outside the country in... that I should have filled out a form beforehand... that I went through the wrong line... that I'm a criminal and should be deported (hah). Poor man must have took pity on me because he gave a giant Swiss-German induced sigh, looked down and said, "ok. pack it back up.' Then brought me round the back of the computer to explain EXACTLY how it works when you bring samples into the country... 'You promise you won't do this again?' he asked. Through the sobs I mustered an, 'I promise.'

So, the question begs to be asked... just exactly how did I make it through fashion week and this disturbing airport experience without a bit of smudged mascara or cracked lipstick? Well, girls (and boys), behold, my three part masterclass in makeup for the disenchanted lazy butt.

1. FAKE EYELASHES: yes, that's riiiight. I have FAKE EYELASHES. So everyday when I would get to Somerset House and someone would say, 'Weren't you at the (INSERT RANDOM PARTY) last night?' 'Ummm... yeah.' Puzzled look. 'but... you look so FRESH.' FAKE EYELASHES, FAKE EYELASHES, FAKE EYELASHES. I said it more than anything else (even more than the Instagram thing). About a year ago I got fake eye lashes for the first time. I got hooked. I got them done three times in a row... when you have them on you don't have to wear mascara (some people do but personally I think that's just silly). The ones I get are so good that when I have them I don't wear ANY eye makeup - not ever. They last for roughly 2-3 months and fall out when your normal lashes fall out. You see, because they are individually applied to every lash - the process takes an hour to an hour and a half. They are the MOST life changing beauty treatment I have ever had. No mascara, no washing your eye makeup off at night, no worrying about crying and having it smudge. Even on zero hours of sleep, I can walk around like the bees-knees because these just make you look AWAKE and ALIVE. It has revolutionized my life. I went about 8 months without them - in order to let my lashes rest up. I'll just say one thing. When they start to fall out it is TRAGIC. You'll find a lash on your pillow in the morning and rock it back and forth in your hands... DON'T LET THEM BE FALLING OUT!! Your lashes get a bit frazzled and look a bit pathetic. At that moment you have two choices: 1. tough it up and let them fall out gradually (whatever you do, DO NOT, attempt to pull them out... that would be really REALLY freaking stupid) or 2. dish out the moolah and admit your hooked. I try not to stay hooked throughout the whole year and instead just get them before big things like fashion week. Also, I've seen A LOT of shoddy eye lash jobs... don't be stupid and go somewhere cheap, you'll look like a hooker. I go to LASH LAB where Kym, the most talented lady, does mine. They are the best lashes I've seen anyone do in London and I couldn't recommend them more. These are her prices... please don't everyone rush to get them done though because she's already super freaking busy and if next time I go to London she doesn't have time to fit me in I swear I will know it's YOUR FAULT.

2. MAC LIP PRIMER: So, my friend Lucy used to always wear these incredible lipstick colors and they would always stay on for aaaages - like, literally all day. Whenever I'd be putting on lipstick I would be super self-conscious. Is it smudging? Do my lips look chapped? Is it on my teeth? Do I need to reapply? 'How's my lipstick?' I would ask about a gazillion times until finally someone would say, 'Uh. You need to reapply.' This is annoying right? That was my life until I discovered Lucy's secret: Mac Lip Primer. I ordered it just before fashion week and was so excited to get it (along with my favorite lipstick Cyber). So, this is how good it is... I'm not even exaggerating. One evening before going out I put it on with a BRIGHT stinking pink lipstick over top (you just put the primer on like chapstick and then put the lipstick over top) (the lipstick I stole from Shini, oops, it's from Topshop but I can't find it online... hmmm...). I went out the whole evening... stayed out until about 3am... had drinks/food... got home... was too exhausted to wash my face or look in the mirror so I collapsed into bed. 7am and I woke up... stumbled into the bathroom, stuck my face in some water and wiped the water off on a pristine perfectly white towel. When I looked down... there was bright pink lipstick smeared all the way across the towel. (#Oops) But honestly, how is that EVEN POSSIBLE? It literally stayed on the whole time. I'm telling you, it's insane.

3. BRONZER: I'm from California, I LOOOOVE the sun. I could spend all day everyday lying in the sun. So this is obvious, right? A brushing of bronzer if I'm feeling particularly up for it. I've been using this one from Chanel for like 5 years. It's the best. Yeah, it's Chanel so it's kind of expensive... but don't you feel fancy when you pull a Chanel compact out of your bag? I know I do.

So, there it is revealed ladies and gentleman. The super exciting secretes to my beauty regime. You may remember from such previous posts that I suck at makeup. I suck at it. I can't apply eyeliner and I always forget to moisturize. I have a huge bag of makeup sitting under my sink... most of which I NEVER use but have stupidly purchased under the pretense that it would be grrrrreat. Most of it wasn't. So, now, finally after 26 years of life I have finally gotten down a simple procedure for the makeup I like to use. If I could have them all year round it would start with eyelashes (when I have these I'm more than happy to leave the house without anything else on - uhhh... no other makeup on. don't be a sicko)... if I'm feeling a bit drab then I'll put on bronzer (and normally a bit of blush)... if I'm REALLY trying to make an impression then the lipstick comes out. At the moment my skin is pretty good... but I definitely get the occasional pimple and when that happens I FREAK OUT... which ends up leading to more pimples... which means I pathetically try to cover it up and put Charlie on 'pimple patrol.' It's really sad...

p.s. this post was WAY too long. I promise not to do this too often.

p.s.s. I'm going to the Alps tomorrow morning and won't be back until Monday night. I likely won't have internet. Just so you know.

p.s.s. I'm in the process of making some big blog changes in order to sort out the google search debacle... so if you notice anything strange just roll with it, hopefully we'll be all sorted by mid-week. Ok, that's all... have a wonderful Sunday. xx

Just cut it off...

I've never been one to readily embrace change so when I walked into Taylor Taylor a couple of weeks ago my grandiose plans to chop it all off quickly turned rather sheepish. I whipped out a photo of Jayne and said, 'like this' - only to then backtrack and reveal my uncertainty over cutting off the hair I'd spent the last two years growing out. Cue ten minutes of deliberation, during which both the hair stylist and colorist talked me through my hair type plus the pros and cons of going shorter. In the end I shoved my face into my hands and garbled an incoherent 'just do it.'

A couple hours later I emerged a blonder perkier version of my past self. Introduced to the wonders of a round brush and hair products (hello mousse) I'm never looking back. In fact, I'm already making mental plans to go back so that I can go even shorter.

Massive thank you to Taylor Taylor for the most wonderful cut and colour. There's nothing more upsetting than leaving a hair appointment feeling that you didn't receive what you asked for and the amount of time they spent, before even getting started, ensured that didn't happen. I couldn't recommend the place enough. Also, huge thank you to Kit, who trekked across London to keep me company and take these photos. Thank you, Kit.

Wearing: DAGMAR Flisa silk chiffon top, 7 for all Mankind skinny jeans, Topshop ambush boots and SAMBAG tote.

Old Shoreditch Station...

On my last day in London I had breakfast with Charlie at the Old Shoreditch Station where we were serenaded by a barista boy and watched a psychedelic surreal mural being painted onto the wall. The whole experience was only made better by the warm coffee-house vibe and the fact that you could skip right next door into No-One, a shop stocked with loads of awesome Scandinavian brands (Dagmar, Won Hundred, Cheap Monday etc etc). This was my final meal with long hair. Straight after I hopped over to Taylor Taylor where I had 9 inches cut off my manky mane. But, more on that later...

Hope you're having a great weekend! xx

Maria Grachvogel ss12

Backstage at the Maria Grachvogel ss12 show... model's were turned into sci-fi looking creatures with slicked back hair and sweeps of painterly green eyeshadow. I loved the zigzag parts created by Kenna and the ghd team - they made it look as if a lighting bolt had zapped down the middle of each model's head.

I loved the simple dress shapes and crisp colour palette of white, green, pink, and nude. The draping was gorgeous and flattering with billowing dramatic sleeves. Wishing that I lived the sort of exotic life where I can wear a white deep v-neck dress like the one below everyday...

Thank you ghd for inviting me backstage and to the show.

Please note: just a friendly reminder that, unless otherwise stated, all photos featured on this blog are my own. If you use them please credit accordingly. Thank you! x