We have some making up to do

Carine Roitfield, Google image

Smashing and boxing Carine Roitfield the MAC daddy out of the park is the US heavyweight, Smashbox for Boots. 

Sounding much like a voiceover for a movie blockbuster, which means you will forgive it as I have mentioned it, this autumn two cosmetics giants go head to head for most innovative beauty products to hit the British market.

I must commend Boots for unburdening women of the UK from watching QVC to order the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer by transferring it to its shelves and thus making it more accessible to all. But does that make it less desirable? I will admit to looking at the stand in the shop and not feeling the frisson of excitement that comes over me when a new make up line is released.

Boots Smasbox 'wish list', Google image

If the packaging did not have Smashbox written on it you may be forgiven for thinking it was a re - funk of Boots economy range Collection 2000, which by its name alone is outdated. On closer expection (of the price tag) you will find the most exciting aspect is the name, it therefore better deliver some miracles.

Ok maybe you do not need to be all kitsch and glittery pink to get people to sit up and take notice of your new concession but it does not hurt. It certainly works for aiming at the magpies of the world (i.e. me).

In the other corner of the ring is the Carine Roitfield, former editor of french Vogue and therefore the harbinger of chic and cool who has collaborated with MAC. She joins a new cult following emerging of Vogue editors who edge it up like constantly papped, Anna Dello Russo, editor of the Japan edition of the style bible.

Carine Roitfield collection for MAC, Google image

Her line is similarly black and minimalistic in uniformity with other usual MAC products however as with all of the celeb inspired ranges it is limited edition. This already helps to give a butterly fluttering. And hark there is something cute and unusual amongst the sleek lip glossies and mascaras, star transfers! Appealing to the sense of teenager in all of us when it comes to dressing up she has added tattoes that you can stick onto you face and outline with eye liner or pencil.

Ingenious! Only one slight problem is that they could be all sold out by the time I publish this post. Darn. Maybe mass produced Boots has its own charm in its ability to help out those less active fashionistas who are not the type to queue up for the new season Kate Moss collection in Topshop and prefer to buy their blusher at the checkout along with their papaya body scrub.

Ding! Ding! That is battle commences or is it the sound of my Advantage card racking up more points?

Free falling for Sky

I have had 'nough of hasbeens - no not the Swedish cool clog variety, I mean these pop stars and presenters who are regurgitated to be at the front of everything around. You cannot turn on the television nowadays without Philip Schofield at the helm and those on the wrong side of forty (Spice Girls) seemed to dominate the Olympics closing ceremony. It makes my teeth hurt.

No Doubt's new album fills me with doubts and just when I became stiffled with predictability so out of the doldrums of mediocre pop comes someone young and exciting. Sky Ferreira. Move over Del Rey who appears to have opted out of the underground circuit for the bright lights of the mainstream. Her collection for H&M has produced some more highly predictable fifties pieces for Autumn. Yawn.

Sky Ferreira at Paris Fashion Week

Ferreira's music is not try hard wacky like Grimes and not too pop to be sickly like Carly Rae Jepsen of Call Me Maybe fame. She does not also fit into the Robyn house music pop artist hybrid and therefore that makes her more appealing. She is just quite good. People like labels but sometimes you just want something to surprise you. It comes out of nowhere like finding an item of clothing in Marks and Spencers that you want to buy and wear. Suddenly it permeates your whole existence and you cannot remember a time without it. Ferreira is some such thing.

Frankenstein is in Vogue again

Frankenstein has follies with fashion. Be it on screen, on stage or in print he comes around cyclically. Now the meglomaniac doctor has unleashed his power on London Fashion Week under the guise of Christopher Kane.

Hopefully Kane will not take the overreaching option and be pecked by eagles whilst being simultaneously tied to a rock.

Daily Telegraph image

His monster appeared on t - shirts in the designer's show whilst other influences of the gothic kind ran through the detailing of the collection as a whole. Even, sometimes, oops, incongruoeusly over a pink dress.

It was as though he was playing off pretty with tough to create a selection of ghoulish masterpieces worthy of many a rock princess.

To pull off such a daring set of design couture proves how much of a stalwart he has become.

Travel a few miles for fashion girl's 9000 miles

Corey Hemingway is showcasing her artist talent in Commercial Street tonight. If you want to be inspired by some original art work check it out.

Girls on Fashion Film

Film appears to be the latest outlet for designer's new season collections. I have always been a huge fan of the two mediums intertwining: The Devil Wears Prada, Tom Ford's A Single Man and The September Issue are all classics.

I am always excited by MinkPink's films as they always keep the motifs of fun and laidback vibes paramount to the action. Clothes are made to be worn. They travel along the bumpy road of life from high points such as your first job or wedding day to the lower points of the break ups and break downs.

In the latest offering model de jour puts the 'juicy' in Juicy Couture as she kicks some chump himbo ass on the beach in some very cool A/W offerings. She is like an edgier Wonder Woman for 2012.

Clothes that reek revenge...served with a pointed stiletto boot heel. A must see.

Official MINKPINK Global Campaign 2012-01-27

I shall go to the ball

rawshoes.wordpress.com

Christian Lacoix took on sleeping beauty, Viktor & Rolf wrote their own fairy tales and now Christian Louboutin has created a glass slipper.

This is one you would not leave lying around for Prince Charming to find, made from white lace and crystal embellishment this is a limited edition shoe.

Made to coincide the re-release of Walt Disney's classic animated Cinderella this autumn they were premiered at couture week in Paris and mean any non princess's are fit to go to the ball.

Now where did I put my cleaning cloth?....