StyleLab

StyleLab has moved!

2011-02-01T21:47:00.001+01:00

That's right. I've got a brand new StyleLab blog ready for you to check out at: http://www.style-laboratory.net/ ! From now on, you'll find the latest fashion-, beauty- and lifestylenews there. I hope you'll like the new style. The website still needs some work though (especially for the old posts) but I'm working on that. I hope I'll see you soon!

www.style-laboratory.net

Jimmy Choo is coming to Antwerp!

2011-01-28T12:09:00.002+01:00

Forget Jimmy Choo for H&M, soon you'll be able to shop the real deal in Belgium because Jimmy Choo will be opening a flagshipstore in the Schuttershofstraat 17 in Antwerp! Not as cheap, but gorgeous as ever! The store will open its doors by the end of May. Better save up some extra money or put a pair on your birhday wishlist and soon you will be feeling like Carrie floating on your gorgeous new Jimmy Choo heels.

The Antwerp shopping experience keeps on getting better and better.. More and more international brands seem to find their way to our little country. I'm wondering if that recent article in the NY Times which called Antwerp "a paradise for fashionistas" has something to do with it.. Anyway, Jimmy Choo, I gladly welcome you!!

Essentiel s/s 2011 video

2011-01-19T11:31:00.001+01:00

One of my favorite Belgian brands, Essentiel, recently released a sneak peek video of their new collection for spring/summer 2011. The setting of the shoot looks great, the model is working it and the clothes are to die for! Stay tuned for images of the campaign!

Tom Ford s/s 2011

2011-01-03T18:38:00.000+01:00

Tom Ford did a good job in keeping his comeback womenswear s/s 2011 collection a secret. The main public was only able to see a little sneak peek of the collection in Vogue and through some leaked pictures in the New York Times, after an very intimate show during New York Fashion Week in September. Ford was tired of pictures of the new collections circling around the net and celebrities wearing the new designs months before actual season had even begun. Only a select group of fashion people, a couple celebs and only one photographer were invited. Luckily, Tom also made a video for those whose invite got lost in the mail..

Shoplog MAC Cham Pale

2010-12-31T16:11:00.000+01:00

A fabulous way to enter 2011 is with Cham~~paign~~ Pale. This gorgeous nude glittery collection just hit the stores today and as predicted, it's an instant hit. I was the first to enter the Ghent store this morning and there were only 2 I Get No Kick Eye Kohl Pencils left. All the others were reserved, and the phone was still ringing off the hook. Why am I not surprised? The collection is kind of neutral, but still festive because of the little glitters that's in every product. And they're subtle, perfect for a glamorous party look. I wouldn't put the whole collection on at once though, either focus on the eyes or lips to put the glitters on. Cham Pale all over would simply be a little too much. Either way, I think this is one of MAC's best collections of the year and definitely recommend it to anyone who's in for a party! Take a look at my Cham Pale buys and swatches after the jump...

Cham Pale counters at MAC Ghent:

My Cham Pale buys and swatches:

Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad

Left to right: Et Tu, Bouquet?; Caviar Dreams; Brule; Retrospeck

Nail Lacquer: Soirée

I Get No Kick Eye Kohl

Dangerous Cuvee Paint Pot

Other great buys would have been: Quiet Please Lipstick, Chilled on Ice Paint Pot, Chez Chez Lame Highlighter (I already bought the magic powder from the VV collection), Sin-tillion Lip Gelee (already have a Chanel lipgloss in the same color). A girl's gotta stick to her budget, otherwhise the whole MAC store might've been empty!

The MAC Cham Pale collection is now available in every MAC store. Go get it while you still can! I wish you all a happy new year in advance and I hope you have a blast tonight!

Opening Kiehl's in Ghent

2010-12-29T16:22:00.001+01:00

Ghent has recently added another beauty hotspot to its list. After a Kiehl's store in Antwerp and a shop-in-shop at Senteurs d'Ailleurs in Brussels, Kiehl's decided to open a new store right in the city centre of Ghent. To be honest, I never actually tried any of the Kiehl's products before, but because I heard and read a lot of great things about it, I was very excited about this opening. Especially since it's only about 50m away from my university.

So on to the opening. Before, I told Mieke (a friend of mine) about the opening and she told me she had never heard of Kiehl's before (say whut?!). So I decided it was my duty to take her with me. We received a very warm welcome by the Oona's and the new store manager of Kiehl's Ghent. It was cold outside so the hot coco with marshmallows was an instant hit for me. In fact, I'm still craving for it now. Idris Henry, the Retail & Education Manager of Kiehl's Europe, or as Marie from Oona likes to call him; 'the walking encyclopedia', was also present to teach us a little bit more about the world of Kiehl's.

Look how happy Mieke (on the left) is to be at Kiehl's.

About Kiehl's

Kiehl's was originally an apothecary in East Village, New York in 1851. Even today, each store is entirely recreated to breathe the same atmosphere like the authentic apothecary. Anywhere you go, you will find the brick wall, chandelier, sales people wearing lab coats and an artificial skeleton named Mr. Bones. The packaging of products have sort of a 'medicine' feel, also to link to the original apothecary. The products are all unisex, but they also carry a line especially for men, mainly revolving around the daily habit of shaving the face (which of course women don't have to do, thank god!).

Idris Henry (Retail & Education Manager Europe) and his buddy Mr. Bones (quite the fun couple)!

Fun fact: Mr. Bones used to be sort of a demonstration doll, to show the people where to apply the particular product. All bloggers that attended the store opening got to sign him, so be sure to check out what I wrote when you visit Kiehl's in Ghent! ;-)

A huge range of products, for each type of skin.

Kiehl's started to focus on cosmetics in the 70's and today, they are known for their science, natural organic ingrediënts and their focus of fast and visible results. The products don't have any artificial scents added to them, so what you smell are the actual ingredients of the bottle or tube. All these factors make that Kiehl's products are incredibly popular all around the world, even celebrities like Uma Thurman (Kill Bill) and Julianne Moore (Hannibal) openly declared their love for Kiehl's.

Kiehl's rankings

Top 10 best sold products in America.

Now onto the sales. What are the best sold products at Kiehl's? Well, here you have 'em. (Starting on the bottom left, going right, then again upper left to the right.) I've noticed there aren't that many differences between America and Europe. What really surprised me is that Kiehl's newest product: Midnight Recovery Concentrate (only on the market since September) has already conquered the nr 1 spot in Europe!

Top 10 best sold products in Europe.

Top 10 best sold products in Europe:

1. Midnight Recovery Concentrate
2. Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate

3. Ultra Facial Cream
4. Açaï Damage-Repairing Serum
5. Açaï Damage Correcting Moisturizer
6. Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser
7. Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-free Toner
8. Facial Fuel
9. Amino Acid Shampoo
10. Creme de Corps.

After I've learned so many new things about Kiehl's and it's products, and I was already making a wishlist in my head, I got the news that I could choose 3 products to take home with me. It was music to my ears. But how does one pick 3 products out of all these wonders? I decided to take 3 products that I could use the best, so I turned to Ibris himself for a skin consultation and decide what products would help me from a problem that seems to be popping out every time around this year thanks to stress for exams that are coming up and spending the time indoors studying.. greasy skin and even worse, acne! Eww!

This way, I could also see what the consultation at Kiehl's really is. And who would be able to explain it better than the 'walking encyclopedia' himself? So I sat down with Ibris at the consultation table and I explained him my 'situation'. After that he asked me about my daily routine; what products did I use, what base they have, in what order did I use them etc..

Ibris at the consulation table sharing his incredible Kiehl's knowledge with another blogger.

The conclusion of the consultation was that I really need to hydrate my skin more. And that I definitely need to use a sunblock! The poor guy almost got a heart attack when I told him I used a gel based on fruit acids without using sunblock. Of course I knew that, but my skin always became greasy again right after, so I stopped using it. For this he suggested to definitely choose the Ultra Light Daily UV Defense. To make the anti-acne set complete; I also chose the Blue Herbal Gel Cleanser and the Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner. The only thing that's missing is a moisturizer, but I might go back to get that when I finish my current one.

I have to say I'm not the kind of girl that blindly believes everything she's told, but I do like to try new things. With this I want to add that you should never let yourself talk into buying a product when the sales person didn't even ask you what skin type you have or ask you about your current routine because every skin is different and therefore needs different treatment. If that happens, ask for someone professional of walk away. Ahem.. now, that aside..

My mission is now to test these 3 products starting January 1st and see after one month if there are any improvements. There couldn't be a better time to test this, because now 'the situation' is at its worst. So if it works now, it will always do. I'll definitely let you know how that worked out for me, so all of you who share the same problem will know if it's worth trying! For others who have other 'situations' or just want to check Kiehl's out, don't hesitate to go and pay Kiehl's Ghent a visit and go ask for a consultation or a sample. The staff will be more than happy to help you out!

My picks plus a lovely Kiehl's tote bag and 'I love Kiehl's' mug.

Pictures, info and products thanks to the lovely Oona's, Kiehl's store manager and of course Ibris Henry!

You can find Kiehl's in the Koestraat 18 in Ghent.

http://www.kiehls.com/

Primark s/s 2011 preview

2010-12-26T18:29:00.000+01:00

The sun is shining and the snow is melting. Are the coldest winter days over, or is it just temporary? Either way, spring is around the corner and so are the new collections! Are you also curious about the lovely cheap items that Primark has in store for us? More pics, store & price info after the jump..

Look 1: Beach scene prom dress, £17, due in store end January; Patent platform, £12, in store now
Look 2: 50’s printed skirt, £16, due in store end Jan; Crochet crew jumper, £16, due in store beg. Feb; Sling back bow kitted heel, £10, due in store mid Jan
Look 3: Pocket stripe crop jumper, £10, due in store; Spotted shorts, £6, due in store mid Feb; Nautical rope wedge, £14, due in store end Feb; Stripe and pocket holdall, £6, due in store mid Feb; Red headband, £1.50, due in store beg Jan
Look 4: Vintage prom dress, £21, due in store beg. March; Floppy hat, £4, due in store mid March; Piped edge cork platform, £18, due in store beg. April

Look 5: Lace trim tee, £8, due in store end Jan; Printed cotton bow short, £5, due in store mid March; Crochet shoe boot, £14, due in store beg Jan; Floral headband £2 due in store end Dec.
Look 6: Pocket woven tee, £8, due in store end Jan; Belted spotted palazzo, £14 due in store beg March; Bow trim hat, £3, due in store end Feb; Nautical rope wedge, £14, due in store end Feb
Look 7: Shell frill sundress, £9 due in store end March; Interwoven wedge, £18 due in store end March; Retro glasses, £2 due in store end Jan; Cup shape straw bag £7 due in store end March
Look 8: Belted chiffon shirt dress, £15, due in store March; Lace up wedge, £12, due in store Feb; Mini pocket satchel, £7, due in store March

Images courtesy of Primark.

Look 9: Pocket stripe crop jumper, £10, due in store; Spotted shorts, £6, due in store mid Feb; Red headband, £1.50, due in store beg Jan

Look 10: Halter prom dress, £15, due in store beg. Feb

Look 11: Pleat skirt midi dress, £17, due in store end Feb; Floppy straw hat, £4, due in store end Feb; Patent platform, £12, in store now

Look 12: Chiffon midi, £15, due in store end Jan; Cork platform, £12, due in store end March
Look 13: Embroidered crochet cardigan, £16, due in store end Feb; Belted chiffon shirt dress, £15, due in store beg. March; Piped edge cork platform, £18 due in store beg. April; Cream socks, £1.50, due in store beg. March; Mini pocket satchel, £7, beg. March

Primark also picked up the retro trend of next season, by using typical '70s prints and cuts, nautical influences, feminine pieces and natural materials like straw and cork in its footwear. My favorites are look 8 and 12. I think it's about time I paid a visit to our (unfortunately only) Primark store in Liège.

http://www.primark.co.uk/

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2010-12-24T18:23:00.000+01:00

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of my lovely readers out there! Thanks for supporting me during this year and I hope you'll continue to do so in 2011! I'm sorry I won't be able to post as much from now on, due to my exams in January. But (!) I promise to devote all of my free time to the blog to keep you updated on what's happening in the fashion and beautybizz!

Also, some of you may already know that I'm working on a complete new website for StyleLab which will launch soon, so I will be able to provide you of a better service. And for this, I need your help! Please let me know what you like to read on the blog, what sections you like or what could be better.. Thanks!

Anyway, I hope you all have amazing holidays, I hope you get the presents you wanted, gather with the people you love, dress up, have a glass of alcohol, party, have fun, be thankful, spread some love, reflect on the year you had and look forward to the next!

xoxo

Stéphanie

Taylor Momsen is the face of John Galliano's new fragrance

2010-12-23T18:29:00.001+01:00

The Gossip Girl cast seems to be very wanted to star in campaign ads lately. After Blake Lively and Leighton Meester, we now see that Taylor Momsen is the face of John Galliano's new fragrance 'Parlez-moi d'Amour'. Earlier this year, she also did the campaign of Madonna's Material Girl line for Macy's.

Galliano came up with a backstory of Momsen's character in the campaign (from WWD):

The designer said that Momsen was a great inspiration and that he thought up a narrative “where she’s been traveling around the world gigging everywhere, going from one gig to another, and she finds herself in Berlin, stranded.” Galliano imagined that the actress-turned-rocker had no Internet access and had lost contact with everyone. “She finds herself having to pour her heart out longhand on paper to this guy that she has just fallen in love with,” he said.

Even though we can still see a lot of "Taylor" in the campaign, I like how it turned out. It's a bit more classier than the stripper-look she's pulling these days. Can't wait to find out what the fragrance smells like..

MAC Stylishly Yours

2010-12-22T20:36:00.000+01:00

If you wondered were all the color went when looking at Mac Cham Pale, then this is the collection for you. The new MAC Stylishly Yours collection is simply bursting with bright colors; pinks, reds and purples are well represented. Have a look at the collection after the break..

"Madly chic women know how to play variations on a theme to give a signature look major oomph, more modern momentum; the simplest switch-up is all that’s required. A pink lip, a lavender eye? A red lip, an orange eye? Stylishly Yours is a M∙A∙C presto-change-o colour collection to personalize the process instantly. Always flawlessly fabulous, set against the sophistication of black, work the full spectrum of passionate pinks to raging reds, in 4 Lipsticks, 4 Pigments, 4 Creme Colour Base, 2 Beauty Powders, Clear Lipglass, and don’t panic – Zoomlash and Fluidline at the ready to double dramatize how glamorous it is to be you."

Lipstick €17,50
•Style Curve - Bright violet purple (Cremesheen) (Limited Edition)
•Something New - Creamy bright blue pink (Amplified Creme) (Limited Edition)
•Neon Orange - Bright clean orange (Amplified Creme) (Permanent at the PRO store)
•Cockney - Sheer yellow red with multi-dimensional pearl (Lustre) (Permanent now) (Repromote from Euristocrats, ’09)

Lipglass €17,00
•Clear Clear (Permanent)

Pigment €21,00
•Madly Personal - Bright pink (Limited Edition)
•New Fixation - Bright fuchsia red with soft pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition)
•Follow Your Fancy - Bright coral with pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition)
•Violet - Violet with pink pearl (Frost) (Permanent)

Cream Colour Base €18,00
•Tickle Me Pink - Poppy creamy bright pink (Limited Edition)
•Movie Star - Mid-toned blue red (Limited Edition)
•Madly Magenta - Magenta purple (Permanent at PRO)
•Virgin Isle - Clean, bright coral red (Permanent)

Fluidline €17,50
•Dark Diversion - Blackened plum (Limited Edition)
•Blacktrack - Flat black (Permanent)

Beauty Powder €19,50
•Too Chic - Soft peachy cream with fine shimmer (Limited Edition)
•Play It Proper - Pastel soft pink with sparkles (Limited Edition)

Brush €21,00
•209 Angled brow brush (Permanent)

Release: December 26th (USA/Canada) and January 8th (Europe).

http://www.maccosmetics.com/

The Roitfeld story unfolds..

2010-12-21T20:39:00.000+01:00

During the weekend a lot of rumors surfaced regarding Carine Roitfeld leaving Vogue France after a career of 10 years at the magazine. Employees of Vogue are now saying that Carine didn't leave Vogue voluntarily, but that she got fired by Condé Nast. Apparently they all received an email last Friday saying Carine doesn't work at Vogue anymore.

Despite the fact that the editor-in-chief was praised a lot for her daring and innovating productions, she also got a lot of bad press last year. Balenciaga removed Roitfeld from their guestlist when she was suspected of passing their designs on to Max Mara.

And Bernard Arnault, the head of LVMH wasn't pleased with Roiteld's recent work. He thought that there were too few LVMH credits in the January issue and he found the shoot with young models with heavy make-up and dressed in designer clothing rather tasteless. He threatened to reduce the number of advertisements of the luxury group in Vogue, which of course, Condé Nast wasn't very happy about.

There's definitely more to this story. To be continued...

Wrangler s/s 2011: Worn across America

2010-12-20T14:44:00.000+01:00

Wrangler is racing through America with it's new spring/summer 2011 collection: Worn Across America. Imagine that you're only wearing one pair of jeans on your roadtrip through the United States; for men: the anti-fit Ben; and for women: the low-slim Molly. They start their journey like the dry and rinse-look Indigo. After a couple of months they feel like Just Worn. As the journey unfolds, the mustaches, patches started to fade and signs of use are starting to appear. Eventually, the jeans are rather destroyed. Wrangler has recreated the lifespan of the jeans in 4 phases, each one more worn than another.

Green is the color of this season, like a flash of the outdoors. The military theme continues in the strong Constructed jeans. The concept of strengthened denim was a huge hit with the men last year, and now has found it's way to the womens line with the new Evolved line. Popular, modern cuts; including slim Molly, the narrow Stokes and wide boyfriend Bill are again emitting power and femininity.

Another key trend is denim all over. There are cropped jeans, vintage-washed jeggings and chino's, and don't forget the super-stretch. Denim on denim continues in the pieces, with chambray patchwork as a pattern on jeans, blouses and dresses or on splits, collars and cuffs. New for women is the directional Jess, with it's high waist and super-slim pipes. Also note the Jay boyfriend-snit shorts.

Make use of accessories to really complete the look. Wrangler's belts are handmade in Italy and this season, they're edited with studs, rivets and embroidery. Bracelets and leather wallets are showing the same craftmanship. Canvas belts, shoppers and messenger bags are continuing the military theme and summer scarves in light, soft fabrics make a great finishing touch.

Images courtesy of Wrangler.

I've already set my eye on look 1 and 4. It's going to be an amazing summer! See you on the road!

http://www.wrangler-europe.com/

Carine Roitfeld is leaving Vogue France

2010-12-17T17:52:00.000+01:00

Yup, it's hard to believe, I know, but it's true. After more than 10 years, Carine Roitfeld will put an end to her carreer at Vogue, free willingly that is. In a few weeks, she will no longer be known as the editor-in-chief of Vogue France. Under her guidance the magazine grew out to be what it is today; internationally respected.

Little is known of what her plans are for the future. In fact, she told fashion journalist Cathy Horyn that she doesn't have any at the moment. She looks back on her career at Vogue as a fun time: "I got the freedom to do whatever I wanted. And I think I did a great job. But if everything is going great, it is time to start something new."

The March number will be the last edition published under her control. But what will happen after, only time will tell.. Condé Nast hasn't appointed a successor yet. I'm pretty curious about who's it going to be and how it will influence Vogue France. Either way, Carine will definitely be missed..

A sneak peek at the new Chanel it-polishes of s/s 2011

2010-12-16T20:33:00.000+01:00

I'm currently drooling over these pics of the new Chanel Le Vernis Pearl Drop, Black Pearl (worn by the model in the pic) and Pêche Nacrée for the s/s makeup collection. The polishes will be released in March. I love the whole soft romantic look of the s/s collection. *want!* Hopefully these limited editions will be available in the beauty shops, so I won't have to drive 1,30 hours to the Chanel boutique in Brussels..

Images courtesy of Chanel.

www.chanel.com

AIFW 2011 schedule

2010-12-13T20:00:00.002+01:00

January is near and that means AIFW 2011 is too! From January 26th - 30th the fourteenth edition of Amsterdam International Fashion Week will take place at the Westergasterrein in Amsterdam. Jan Taminiau will open AIFW and will be followed by various designers like Roparosa, Spijkers & Spijkers, Addy van den Krommenacker en Monique Collignon.

Have a look at the official schedule here: http://www.amsterdamfashionweek.com/official-schedule

I honestly can't wait for AIFW 2011. I saw some pretty great pieces from these designers at last AIFW (2010), so I'm pretty curious if they're going to exceed my expectations. You can find the reports on AIFW 2010 here.

http://www.amsterdamfashionweek.com/

Ici Paris XL Perfume Expert Blogging Session #1

2010-12-10T18:18:00.000+01:00

Earlier this week I was invited to attend the ICI PARIS XL Perfume Expert Blogging session. Various Belgian bloggers who are passionate about beauty were gathered in a relaxed atmosphere to discuss the perfume business and the world of Ici Paris XL. The result was a lovely evening and a whole new way of looking at perfume. Let me share with you what I've learned..

Lovely group of beauty enthusiasts.

About ICI PARIS XL

The first Ici Paris XL shop opened its doors in 1968 in Elsene (Ixelles in French). Most products were imported from Paris, which was considered a 'fragrance paradise' at the time. Therefore, the shop was named Ici Paris XL (Ici Paris à Ixelles). The purpose of the founders was to make luxury beauty products available for a broad audience. The concept was a success and now Ici Paris XL has over 200 stores in the Benelux. Typical about Ici Paris XL is their loyalty card, which gives clients a discount of 20% on almost all of their products each time they make a purchase. (I guard that card like a treasure by the way.)

Top 10 perfumes sold by Ici Paris XL in the Benelux:
1. Chanel: Coco Mademoiselle
2. Dior: J'adore
3. Thierry Mugler: Angel
4. Chanel: °5
5. Issey Miyake
6. Thierry Mugler: Alien
7. Armani Code
8. Jean Paul Gaultier
9. Givenchy Ange où démon
10. Narciso Rodriguez

Ici Paris XL divides the perfumes into 5 segments:
1. Luxury & tradition (ex. Chanel, Dior)
2. Trendy (ex. Dolce & Gabbana, Hugo Boss)
3. Casual (ex. Calvin Klein)
4. Romantic (ex. Nina Ricci)
5. Fun (ex. Puma, Mexx)

Facts about launching a perfume:

Each year, perfume houses worldwide release 500 - 1000 new fragrances. They mainly launch these in 2 periods: in September and May (around Mothers' Day). In doing this they keep a balance in women's and men's fragrances. One year they're mostly women's fragrances (like this year), the other year they will mainly release men's fragrances (which was the case in 2009 and will be the case in 2011).

Yours truly (under the left candle) taking notes like crazy while Muriel Hille from Ici Paris XL shares her world with us.

About Perfume

Dimitri Weber is a perfume specialist who worked with many famous perfume houses such as Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier and Narciso Rodriguez. He guided us through our journey of rediscovering what perfume really is. Even though I know quite a bit about the fragrance industry thanks to my internship at Coty, it really was nice to actually hear an expert talk who works at the source, say the actual initiating stage of which perfume is created. After hearing his words of wisdom, my perfume bottles will never look the same to me..

Now this is what I call a cool business card! It even smells great!

Some facts about perfume to keep in mind:

* The origin of perfume lies in Italy.

* Everyone has a different skin pH level which can cause a perfume to have a different scent. Therefore it's always better to test the fragrance on your skin when you go shopping for new fragrances.

* If you spray the fragrance on your clothing (from a certain distance, so it won't leave stains) instead of on your skin, the scent will last longer.

* A scent consists of 3 raw materials: base notes, middle (or heart) notes and top (or head) notes. Top notes are the first to be perceived after application, but they're also the first to disappear. They form a person's initial impression of a perfume and thus are very important in the selling of a perfume.

* A perfume can contain from 10 up to 100 raw materials. These can be natural or artificial.

* Thanks to a modern technology called the headspace technique, perfume experts can now artificially create every scent. They do this by manipulating the composition of the molecules of the ingredients. Some perfume houses still prefer to use natural ingredients though (Chanel for example), which makes the perfume more expensive.

* The main advantage of using artificial scents is that a lot of allergies can be avoided. Everything about a scent that can be a risk for allergies can be removed. Especially citrus scents can be of a problem here.

* Since the '80s it is forbidden to use animal ingredients in perfumes. So when you see the word 'musk' on the packaging, it's no longer originated from the anal glands of a mountain goat (it's true!), but artificially recreated (thank god!).

* 99% of the fragrances on the market contain vanilla extract (vanilla is a scent that lasts long).

* Because there are so many scents out there, the perfume experts divided them into categories: floral, citrus, fruity, oriental, wood, gourmand, etc. The scents can also be in multiple categories, for example: floral oriental.

Letting our noses do their job.

We had these delicious desserts afterwards..mmm..

Happy New Bear from Ici Paris XL!

Thanks to Oona, Ici Paris XL and Dimitri Weber.

http://www.iciparisxl.be/

MAC holds on to Lady Gaga as Viva Glam's spokesperson

2010-12-10T09:57:00.000+01:00

Earlier this year, Lady Gaga teamed up with Cyndi Lauper for MAC's 2010 Viva Glam campaign. According to WWD it was the most successful ever for the MAC Aids Fund, which has raised more than $190 million since its founding in 1994. No wonder MAC decided to ask Gaga for a second round as a spokeswoman for its Viva Glam campaign. The image above is one of the campaign shots of 2011, shot by Nick Night and styled by Nicola Formichetti. I love this soft and feminine look on her and I can't wait to see more of the campaign and collection!

Image courtesy of MAC Cosmetics.

http://www.maccosmetics.com/

Cartier Winter Tale

2010-12-09T14:33:00.002+01:00

Cartier has been using panther cubs in their campaigns for a while now, but for the new Cartier Winter Tale campaign the panther cub is the one and only the star. Be prepared for some cuteness overload!

Gifts for her:

Gifts for him:

Courtesy of Cartier.

Visit wintertale.cartier.com

Blake Lively is the new 'Chanel girl'

2010-12-08T00:04:00.001+01:00

We all know Blake Lively has been Kaiser Karl's new favorite for a while now. Lively has made her love for the brand known by regularly wearing Chanel. She also attended the Fall/Winter 2010-2011 couture shows this past July, and stopped by the opening of Chanel’s SoHo store in September. Now, rumor has it that the three-time Vogue covergirl snagged the most coveted campaign: that as the new Chanel girl.

E!'s Mark Malkin has it on good authority that the Gossip Girl star was just in Paris shooting a handbag campaign for the Kaiser. The ad campaign should run early next year.

She has pretty big shoes to fill as Karl's new favorite. Previous Chanel girls were Keira Knightley, Lilly Allen, Vanessa Paradis and Georgia May Jagger. I think she's a great choice and I honestly can't wait to see it!

H&M s/s 2011 lookbook

2010-12-07T19:22:00.000+01:00

Rock your nails

2010-12-06T16:11:00.000+01:00

After you've spent hours to find the perfect dress and make-up, it's also important not to forget to pamper your nails to really get the whole picture right. Don't worry, you won't have to spend a lot on a manicure/pedicure or be a nailart whiz to get your nails holiday-proof. The only thing you need is a pair of Nail Rock Designer Print Wraps and a hairdryer.

HOW TO NAIL ROCK:
1- Gently ease cuticle back and remove any nail polish.

2- Shape and file the nail edge.
3- Gently remove surface shine using a nail buffer or a smooth nail file.
4- Select Nail Rock Wrap nearest your Cuticle size. These can be trimmed to fit if needed.
5- Do not touch the adhesive side of the wrap that will be used on your nail.
6- Gently place at cuticle edge and apply heat from a small or travel
Hairdryer for a few seconds until the wrap begins to soften.
7- Applying firm pressure, push the wrap onto one side of the nail bed. Re-apply heat and repeat on the other side.
8- Re-apply heat and push firmly over the entire nail for a secure fit. If there is a crease; re-heat, gently lift the wrap off the nail and reapply adding further heat if necessary.

9- File off excess wrap at the end of the nail in a downward motion with a fine wooden file.

The Nail Rock has 3 Designer Series, each featuring animal, metallic or lace prints available in various colors. From cheetah spots to shiny gold, just find the perfect color that compliments your outfit, apply it and you're good to go!

Nail Rock Animal Print Designer Wraps:

You can find the Nail Rock Designer Print Wraps for €8,09/set at Asos.com

MyWardrobe.com: Party Boutique

2010-12-03T21:23:00.000+01:00

For the upcoming holidays, MyWardrobe.com has put up a selection of their finest party items and from that I've made a little selection on my own to guide you through the process of picking the perfect party outfit.

My main advice for the holidays is: try to stand out of the crowd by choosing something different than the usual LBD (little black dress). Do this by opting for a colorful dress. Reds, metallics and nudes for example, are wise options to choose from this season. Pair it with a classic black blazer like the examples above.

If you're still too clingy on your LBD, my advice is not to go black all over, but go for some accessories that add a little color to your look like the gold sequined D&G shoes or the metallic clutch. The hottest version of the LBD right now is the one with elegant embroidered lace (mostly on the back or sleeves). When you opt for this dress, make sure you keep the rest of the outfit simple since you don't want to take the attention away from it. Finally, don't be afraid to overdo it on the jewelry when your dress is rather minimalistic. Big and bold statement jewelry is the key this season, and what better night to get out your bling than new years eve, right?!

For more inspiration, check out the Party Boutique at My-Wardrobe.com

Images courtesy of My-Wardrobe.com

Steve Madden is coming to Belgium!

2010-12-02T19:04:00.001+01:00

I'm pleased to announce that the popular American footwear brand Steve Madden is finally coming to the Benelux! Steve Madden started designing shoes in 1990 and now has over 82 stores offering shoes and accessories for men, women and children. He gets inspired by rock 'n roll and urban edge to design shoes that are innovative, fun and always trendy-chic. No wonder he has countless celebrity fans like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Heidi Klum, Kate Moss and Rihanna.

And now the American retailer has announced to pamper our feet in early 2011 by opening 4 stores in the Benelux and offering the Steve Madden brand in stores like Dolcis, Invito and Shick. There are also plans to open up an online store.

Video courtesy of Steve Madden.

http://www.stevemadden.nl/

Brooklyn Flea Market

2010-12-02T17:04:00.000+01:00

Tag along to the Brooklyn Flea at former Williamsburg Savings Bank and have a look at original vintage items and the latest flea fashion.

The Brooklyn Flea is rated one of the best flea markets in NYC. Every weekend more than 100 vendors gather in the former Williamsburg Savings Bank to display their items. Join the H&M crew and get lost in the wide variety of vintage clothing, furniture, antiques, jewelry, food and art that's lined up on 3 impressive floors, including the bank's former vault. Happy shopping!

Video courtesy of H&M.

Zara evening collection

2010-12-01T22:13:00.000+01:00

For the new Evening collection, Zara did what it does best; combining effortless elegance and the hottest trends (leather, metallics, red, sequins and florals) and transform it into a wonderful holiday collection. Whether your a fan of feminine, glamorous dresses or masculine suits (which are totally Kate Moss by the way), Zara has it all. Have you decided on your party outfit yet?

Images courtesy of Zara and Inditex.

http://www.zara.com/

H&M s/s 2011 preview

2010-11-30T22:13:00.001+01:00

It's cold and dark days like these that really make me long for spring. I long for the day I can wear floaty dresses, shorts and short skirts in all kinds of bright colors again, not wondering if I forgot to bring my jacket because otherwhise I would freeze outside. I long for the day not having to cover every inch of my body to prevent myself from getting a cold, but instead walk around in a simple tee or blouse and feeling the warm touch of the sun on my skin..

It's not that I don't like winter. I love the sight of a scenery covered in snow and the whole holiday atmosphere that comes with it. I love snow on Chrismas! But face it, snow is only fun when you are a kid and get to play with it, back in the time you had no worries.. Now it's only a pain because you have to try to get from point A to B without falling (or slipping when you're driving).

So every time new images of spring collections like these come out, I know that day will come.. I only hope that day comes around soon, because I love the leather shorts look and the white dress + gilet. Something to look forward to..

Images courtesy of H&M.

http://www.hm.com/

MAC Cham Pale

2010-11-29T21:58:00.003+01:00

I'm currently not buying any MAC Tartan items, because I'm saving money for this baby, the gorgeous Cham Pale collection, releasing in the US on December 26th and in the beginning of January in Europe. Cham Pale is all about nude, champaign colors with a lot of shimmer. Which is perfect for the holidays if you want to put some make-up on without going over the top. I'm predicting this collection will create the same madness as the Disney collection, so if you want your share of Cham Pale, you better visit your nearest MAC store on the release date. Just sayin'... Take a look at the collection after the break!

"Bleached or stridently bold brows. Skin that’s under-refined yet ultra alive. A bare lip and lash. Summer’s nude face is about grooming on the verge of grunge – tough, urban and sensually androgynous. She doesn’t care a lot, but she cares enough. Think shine-enhancing textures for a skincare-effect makeup that’s hydrated and bathed in light…

Cham Pale is a cuvée colour collection that’s cause for celebration – a Champagne smash, shimmering with all the bubbly optimism and golden glow of the best that’s yet to be, in eye shadow from Brule to Et Tu, Bouquet?; Paint pots in Chilled on Ice and Let Me Pop; Lipstick in four shades, especially Quiet Please and Flustered; Lipgelée from Bubble Lounge to Straight to the Head; two Chromographic Pencils (NC15/NW20 and NW25/NC30); Eye Kohl in I Get No Kick; Kohl Power in Feline; ?Nail Lacquer? we call Very Important Platinum!; Studio Fix mascara and new ?Special Reserve Highlight Powder? in four shades ending perfectly elegantly in everyone’s favorite: Rosé Olé. All, for every skin tone. To us!"

Lipstick ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)
Flustered Frosted, pale bronze (Frost) (Limited Edition)

Quiet, Please Sheer frosty pale beige (Lustre) (Limited Edition) (Repromote from Red She Said, ’08)

Tanarama Soft pale golden beige with gold metallic shimmer (Frost) (Permanent)

Gel Sheer pale gold (Frost) (Permanent)

Lipgelees ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)
Bubble Lounge Sparkly pink peach (Limited Edition)
Straight to the Head Sparkly brown bronze (Limited Edition)
Sin-tillation Sparkly pale icy pink (Limited Edition)
Luxure Off-white with pink pearl (Limited Edition)

Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad ($36.00 U.S. / $43.00 CDN) (Limited Edition)

Brule Soft muted creamy beige (Satin) (Permanent)

Et Tu, Bouquet? Frosted pale pink gold (Frost) (Repromote: A Rose Romance, ’09)

Caviar Dreams Mid-tone frosted pewter (Frost) (Limited Edition)

Retrospeck Beached blonde (Lustre) (Permanent)

Paint Pots ($16.50 U.S. / $19.50 CDN)
Chilled on Ice Frosted white gold (Limited Edition)
Vintage Selection Frosted mid-tone peach (Limited Edition)
Dangerous Cuvee Frosted cool grey (Limited Edition)
Let Me Pop Frosted light copper (Limited Edition)

Eye Kohl ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)
I Get No Kick Metallic nude (Limited Edition) (Repromote)

Kohl Power Eye Pencil ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)
Feline Black (Limited Edition) (Repromote)

Chromagraphic Pencil ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)
NC15/NW20 Flesh tone NC15/NW20 shade (Permanent at PRO)
NW25/NC30 Flesh tone NW25/NC30 shade (Permanent at PRO)

Studio Fix Lash ($14.00 U.S. / $17.00 CDN)
Black Fix (Permanent)

Special Reserve Highlight Powder ($28.00 U.S. / $32.00 CDN)
Chez Chez Lame Soft gold with silver shimmer (Limited Edition)
Rose Ole Soft pink with gold shimmer (Limited Edition)

Nail Lacquer ($13.00 U.S. / $15.00 CDN)
Soiree Sparkly light bronze gold (Frost) (Limited Edition)
Very Important Platinum Mid-tone platinum (Frost/Metallic) (Limited Edition)

Complete Comfort Creme ($23.00) (Permanent in U.S., Limited Edition in Asia)
Calms and soothes irritated skin immediately and over time and relieves sensitive skin while diminishing the appearance of redness, irritation and blotchiness. Over time, the gentle, soothing formula helps reduce the appearance of broken capillaries and helps even out skin tone. It contains algae extracts that visibly reduce redness and blotchiness on the skin, both immediately and over time. Kukui nut oil provides moisturization and emollience, while kola seed extract acts as an anti-irritant to help soothe irritated skin. It contains wheat germ and barley extracts that help strengthen the skin’s natural lipid barrier over time. It moisturizes and softens the skin immediately and over time and improves skin tone over time. It’s derm- and ophth-tested, non-acnegenic and suitable for all skint types, including sensitive skin.

Additional Products
Fix+ Lavender (Limited Edition)
Lip Conditioner SPF 15 Lavender (Limited Edition)
Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 Lavender in Calm Mode Light neutral beige (Limited Edition)

Availability

US and Canada Launch Date – 26 December 2010

International Launch Date – January 2011

Update: the European release date has been set to 31 December!

http://www.maccosmetics.com/

Pics and info thanks to Joliette and Temptalia!

Shu Uemura holiday 2010 makeup collection

2010-11-27T22:46:00.000+01:00

For their Christmas 2010 collection, Shu Uemura teamed up with Japanese artist Aya Takano, who's known for her fantasy drawings. This collaboration is translated into a wonderful, and very cute selection of makeup items that create a very sweet holiday look.

Reindeer Kiss XXX Palette: The colors of this palette evoke a frosty winter land covered in crystalline snow that sparkles in the light. frolic in a dreamy winter wonderland where animals and humans play together in the snow. This limited edition eye & cheek palette is complete with three pressed eyeshadows, one cream eyeshadow/eye liner, a cream highlighter and a glow on blush as well as two applicator brushes.

Bowwow! Magic Queen palette: a warm-toned color palette for a peaceful holiday season. Feel relaxed, curled up in the magic queen’s cozy home that is redolent with the fresh pine scent of her enormous Christmas tree filled with luxurious décor of silver, gold and bronze. This limited edition eye & cheek palette is complete with three pressed eyeshadows, one cream eyeshadow/eye liner, a cream highlighter and a glow on blush as well as two applicator brushes.

Lip Duo Tint and Gloss: say abracadabra and cast a spell of love with this duo. enjoy the matte finish of the tint alone or add gloss for a sweet, youthful look.

°Love Apricot: apricot gloss gives a rich, sparkly shine with gold and silver glitters, while the rouge is a seductive coral beige.

°Harmony Pink: enter a world of floral harmony in this vibrant fuchsia gloss with a transparent finish, rouge in a sweet, girly pink.

Miracle Cherry Blush tint: a unique lightweight gel blush that instantly adds a natural glow to your cheeks. inspired by that distinctive blush on cheeks, elbows, and legs of Takano’s sexy-cute characters. A tint as juicy as a cherry that miraculously adds a blossoming blush to your cheeks, the sweet cherry tint glides on ultra smoothly and melts into skin for a natural-looking glow. the fresh blossoming finish lasts all day with comfort.

Peace & Harmony Mini Brush Set: gorgeous portable brushes with a triangular case for a beautiful makeup finish. the triangle-shape of the brush case represent “harmony”. The brush set includes a beautiful assortment of 4 essential brushes:

- lip brush which has soft but firm bristles to create precise lines on the lip

- shader brush for use of powder, cream and liquid eye shadow application. the long spread out bristles provide a light touch that is best for blending and building color.

- tapered blending brush is perfect for shading and blending the crease line with powder shadows.

- powder/blush brush has the ideal density for face powder and cheek color application, bronzing, as well as dusting off excess powders.

Dream Coaster Premium False Eyelashes: a dreamy pair of customizable eyelashes! with a variety of abracadabra symbol stickers enclosed, create your very own pair of eyelashes for the festive season. Premium double-layer eyelashes with 2 long white feathers that bounce at every blink. Designed to enhance the size, dewiness and sparkle of the eyes for a “doll-like” gaze.

Magical Windfalls Partial False Eyelashes: easy-to-wear, sophisticated partial lashes in black with some pieces pre-decorated with glittery and shiny magical heart and star symbols for a cute accent.

Available at Shu Uemura Belgium: Huidevettersstraat 38, 2000 Antwerp.
http://www.shuuemura.com/

BeKult conceptstore

2010-11-26T17:14:00.000+01:00

The video is in Dutch. Courtesy of Focus WTV and BeKult.

Let me introduce you to one of the most unique concept stores in my hometown, BeKult. They offer a wide range of fun, young brands like Guess, Superdry, French Connection, Fornarina, G-Star, My Brand, Ted Baker, Supertrash, Tommy Hilfiger Denim, Malice in Wonderland, Love Therapy, etc. What really makes this store unique is the whole setting and atmosphere. Watch the video and find out what I mean..

OPI Burlesque

2010-11-26T08:48:00.000+01:00

This holiday, OPI hits a high note with the release of Sony Pictures’ upcoming film Burlesque. With an all-star cast including Cher and Christina Aguilera, this musical written and directed by Steven Antin opens nationwide in theaters on December 22, 2010.

The OPI Holiday 2010 collection is the third movie collection for OPI this year. Following the success of Alice In Wonderland and Shrek Forever After, they now come with 12 glamorous colours and a whole lot of shimmer.

“OPI is thrilled to partner with Sony Pictures’ Screen Gems on this exciting movie release,” said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “The colors were modeled off the majestic glamour, over-the-top costumes and mesmerizing Cabaret that are typically seen in Burlesque performances. The resulting bright, dazzling shades are perfect for the holiday season.”

◦Simmer & Shimmer: In this glitter bit of blue
◦Show It & Glow It: If you’ve got this fuchsia glitter, flaunt it!

◦Sparkle-icious: Multi-color glitter-iciousness
◦Let Me Entertain You: Multi-talented fuchsia glimmer

◦Ali’s Big Break: This glowing red shimmer breaks through in style
◦Teas-y Does It: In this tempting burgundy shimmer

◦Bring On The Bling: A gold that glitter that’s beyond dazzling
◦Glow Up Already!: You’re ready for this glittering green
◦Extra-va-vaganza!: This orange glitter is not for the shy
◦Rising Star: Lustrous glimmering gold

◦Take The Stage: A warm orange spotlight shimmer
◦The Show Must Go On!: With this deep pink shimmer on your nails!

For stores, visit OPI Belgium.

Tom Ford for H&M?

2010-11-25T23:42:00.000+01:00

The Lanvin for H&M collection has just hit the stores, and people are already speculating who's the next designer in line to design a collection for H&M. Rumor has it that the next designer is Tom Ford, former head designer at Gucci. According to French Tribune, the limited edition collection is going to be the same edition that appeared the December-January issue of French Vogue, when Tom Ford was the guest editor.

These are pretty rough speculations if you ask me. Personally, I think it's very unlikely to happen if you consider the fact that Tom is very committed to the concept of luxury and that he has no interest in all the press attention that comes with a launch at H&M months before the official release. He really doesn't need it. He even banned the press entirely when he launched his 'Tom for womens collection', so you wouldn't see it. Second, who would want to pay a truckload of money for a dress when everyone can get the same one for a whole lot less at H&M? Exactly, no one. He would kill his own business.

Nevertheless, I do think it would be great though. This would be one of the 'bigger fish' for H&M to catch. To be an (ex) head designer at Gucci.. well, that means something! But for now to say exactly what collection is going to be copied, that seems a bit shady to me.

Source: French Tribune

Design your own Longchamp

2010-11-24T20:13:00.000+01:00

French handbagdesigner Longchamp is embracing the social media with the launch of their new application: 'Your Very Own Le Pliage' on Facebook. Just like on the website, it's now possible to customize your own Longchamp 'Le Pliage' model, just the way you want it. Creations can be shared with friends and a gallery is featured on the Longchamp Facebook page. Prices vary from 40 - 90 euro and delivery takes up to 3 weeks.

Bestseller Streetcasting

2010-11-24T17:18:00.000+01:00

Ever dreamt of being a model at a real fashion show? Then this is your shot! On Thurday January 27th 2011, Bestseller is hosting a big fashion-event for their clients, new prospects and the fashion press.

They're still looking for some male and female models to star in the fashion show. More info after the break!

What are the requirements?

They're looking for 5 women and 2 men (18-35 years old) with a minimum length of 1m75. The clothing sizes for the females are S/M (on top) and a 38 (trousers). For men it's M/L (on top), 34/34 (trousers) and 50 (costumes).

Of course the models have to be free for the fashion show on Thursday January 27th 2011, from 12h - 21h. There will also be a fitting session in mid-January, where all models should be present.

What's at stake?

Besides the unforgettable night on the catwalk of an exclusive fashion event, all winners also get a coupon of €100 to spend at the Vero Moda and Jack & Jones stores + a goodiebag with some fun items of the brands. We finish the evening with a musical performance by Selah Sue.

As if that's not enough, there will also be a talentscout from Dominique Models present at the event. Who knows they'll think of you as the next Hanne Gaby/Cesar Casier and give your professional modeling career a good kickstart!

Is modelling your dream and do you have the requirements cited above? Then apply quickly (before December 15th) by sending some recent pictures of yourself, together with your contact information, sizes and a short motivation letter to nona.bludts@bestseller.com and who knows you'll be starring in an actual fashion show!

RA Xmas Markets

2010-11-23T17:38:00.000+01:00

Conceptstore RA is hosting the second edition of the RA XMAS MARKETS where various artists will present their work from November 26th - December 24th 2010.

What to expect? Various stalls offering warm knitwear, second-hand objects, handcrafted christmas decorations, sculptures and home-made goodies.

When? From Wednesday 'til Saturday from 11h -19h, and on Sunday from 11h - 18h.

Where? RA, Kloosterstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp

Are you an artist and want to have your own stall? mail: romain@ra13.be

http://www.ra13.be/

Press days: a little preview of s/s 2011 part 5

2010-11-22T22:12:00.000+01:00

My final post on the s/s 2011 Press days is about my visit to Bestseller, home of many Scandinavian brands like Vero Moda, Only, Object, Vila, etc. Tons of joyful clothes were awaiting us there, making me urge to shop for the spring/summer season. Another thing that caught my attention was the beautiful old building the company was housed in. I could spend hours there, staring at it while trying on outfits. So anyway, onto the clothes..

The great thing about these brands is that, even though they're different, they compliment each other so you can perfectly mix and match these brands as you please. Overall, we spotted a lot of the same trends: denim on denim, ethnic, floral prints, light and transparent fabrics, military and safari styles, natural materials, retro influences, etc...

Vero Moda

http://www.veromoda.com/

Pieces

Gorgeous ethnic inspired accessories; braided belts, floral scarves and wedges in natural materials.

http://www.pieces.com/

Vila

The new Vila Luxe line is absolutely worth it if you're looking for a glamorous party dress. I even spotted an Alexander Wang lookalike (pic 3).

http://www.vila.dk/

Only

http://www.only.com/

Outfitters Nation

http://www.outfittersnation.com/

Object

http://www.objectci.com/

This post is mainly to give you an idea of what to expect next season. Later on, I will post the brands' lookbooks and discuss them in detail. So let's just enjoy the winter season as it comes, and remember, no matter how dark and rainy or snowy the upcoming months will be, you'll still have these preview images to look forward to a bright, colorful summer.

**Pictures and info (coming up later) thanks to Bestseller**

Lanvin for H&M - The "haute couture" show

2010-11-19T15:01:00.000+01:00

Lanvin reworked the clothes they designed for H&M to auction them for Unicef. Here's the video of the official fashion show in New York that was held yesterday.

Press days: a little preview of s/s 2011 part 4

2010-11-19T14:54:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I was invited to the Press days at Sumo in Brussels. The press releases weren't in yet, so I can't really say a lot about the brands at the moment, but as soon as I know more, I'll fill you in on the details. What I do know is that again we see a lot of the same trends here: a lot of denim, military, safari and retro styles with animal prints, sand colored items, light fabrics, stripes, polka dots and floral dresses.

At IKKS we see 3 main trends: military/safari with it's sand and khaki colored items and animal prints; denim because the amount of denim jackets, blouses, boyfriend and 70's jeans; and retro because of the typical retro prints: stripes, flowers and checkered pieces. Besides these 3 key trends we also see some lace, leather, metallics, waistcoats, shorts and straw hats.

http://www.ikks.com/

I.CODE by IKKS is the younger line of IKKS and covers more or less the same trends. The collection has a nice contrast though. It's kind of a mixture of boyish (straw fedora hat, a blazer and boyfriend jeans) and girly looks (floral dresses with ruches).

http://www.icodebyikks.com/

Nathan Baume again brings us gorgeous classic bags for spring/summer. The models come in really nice colors like blue, coral red, mint green and yellow. My favorite model is the one pictured above. It's a very classic model that kinds of reminds me of the Hermès Birkin bag. I love how the decoration lock is made to look like a bow.

www.nathan-baume.be/

The collection of Brussels' designer Annemie Verbeke contains a lot of bright colors, prints and stripes. I really liked the jumpsuit on the doll, especially the sleeves that reminded me of a kimono. In the back they get pulled up into a nice bow.

http://www.annemieverbeke.be/

Thomas Sabo is probably best known for his charm bracelets. I particularly love the seasonal collection he designed that was inspired by the ocean (right picture, top shelf). He also recently released his own perfume called 'Charm Club', which smells really great. Soon he'll be adding a lip gloss to the beauty collection as well.

http://www.thomassabo.com/

Exit has a wonderful selection of ballerina's in all colors of the rainbow with different embellishments: bows, jewels,.. and different fabrics: suede, leather,...

http://www.exit-and-co.be/

The Superdry formula is the same as always; sporty pieces with vintage american inspired prints in English/Japanese. I have to say, I've been following this brand for over 4 years now and I'm a true fan, but I was secretly hoping to see something new here. The spring/season collection has a lot of nice bright neon colors though.

Fun fact: according to my Japanese friend Eri, the tagline of the brand in Japanese says: be dry.

http://www.superdry.com/

A great discovery for me was the fantasy jewelry collection of Hypnochic. This young Belgian/African brand offers a lot of cute bracelets, necklaces and rings featuring peace signs, flowers, hearts and bows. The designers get their inspiration from all over the world, and that is reflected in the ethnic vibe of their collections.

http://www.hypnochic.net/

These are the first sunglasses of the brand new Trussardi eyewear line that will launch in January. Aviators and big frames are the key here.

http://www.trussardi.com/

Hoss Intropia is one of my favorite Spanish brands at the moment. The Spanish influences are clearly noticable, but the collection still better than let's say Mango, because of their excellent quality of fabrics. The vibe of the collection is overall ethnic. We see lace, prints, ruches, beads, sequins, embroidery, in short, a whole lot of embellishments.

http://www.hossintropia.com/

Le Mont St. Michel works with prints, camel, daim, knits and prints. For the winter collection, they're currently collaborating with the Belgian band Das Pop.

www.lemontsaintmichel.fr/

Robert Clergerie has some very lovely pairs of wedges. I'm not sure about those kind of boots during summer season though.

www.robertclergerie.fr/

One of my favorite Belgian brands, Essentiel, comes with a lovely selection of bright colors, floral prints, different textures,.. in short, a wonderful collection to look forward to next season. Next to Hoss Intropia, this was one of the collections that really stood out because it was different than the other things I've seen so far. This is mostly because the designers used a lot of different fabrics and weren't afraid to experiment with silhouettes. Las year, Essentiel celebrated its tenth birthday and they will soon open up a new store in Waterloo. www.essentiel.be/

**Pictures and info thanks to Sumo Int.**

Lanvin x H&M: Joe Zee's picks

2010-11-18T21:39:00.000+01:00

This week Joe Zee, creative director of american Elle magazine looks at the Lanvin for H&M collection and picks out his personal favourites.

5€ korting op shopVIP.com!

2010-11-18T21:19:00.001+01:00

In oktober konden jullie mijn stukje al lezen over de komst van de nieuwe online shopcommunity shopVIP.com. Hier kun je dagelijks geweldige koopjes doen van erg leuke merken zoals Maybelline, Calvin Klein, DEPT, Guess, enz. Wat ook nieuw is, is dat de fashion directors van shopVIP.com, Tiany Kiriloff en Bastiaan van Schaik wekelijks een modevraag beantwoorden van één van de leden op de community pagina. Daar zullen dan ook hun weblogs geplaatst worden.

Geweldig nieuws is dat ik al mijn lezers nu ook een korting van €5 kan aanbieden! Ga hiervoor naar shopvip.com en geef de code SLSHOP10 op bij de registratie. Opgelet: je kunt je nog registreren met deze code tot 31/01/2011, de korting geldt slechts tot 31/12/2010! Veel plezier met de koopjesjacht! ;-)

To my English readers: because this promotion is only for Belgian/Dutch visitors, I wrote this post in Dutch. I apologize for the inconvenience and I hope you enjoy your time on StyleLab.

Press days: a little preview of s/s 2011 part 3

2010-11-17T20:32:00.000+01:00

Here's the last PR stop of the day, Oona. Unfortunately I didn't have enough space on the memory card of my camera to take a lot of pictures (I guess I got a little carried away while taking pictures the whole day). But here's some to give you an idea of the treasures we discovered at Oona during the Press days.

The first picture is from Café Costume, a Belgian tailoring brand for men with stores in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent. You won't find a better fitting suit anywhere else.

http://www.cafecostume.com/

I fell in love with these dresses from Marc-Philippe Coudeyre. The collection is inspired by the Japanese Koi Fish. This was reflected in the use of colors and prints. He used different glamorous fabrics for one piece and some dresses had really nice details on the back. Cheap? Probably not. Gorgeous? Hell yes!

http://www.mpcoudeyre.com/

Wouldn't it be cool to have your own wall of shoes? These are from Avance and Shoe Discount. We saw a lot of nudes and black, lace booties, wedges, peeptoes and sandals. I have to say I was a bit surprised. Shoe Discount is known for their really cheap prices, but these shoes actually look really good! They seem to have adjusted their strategy by following the trends now. Avance has also a collaboration going on with designer Anne Poesen.

http://www.avanceshoes.com/

http://www.shoediscount.be/

I definitely want one of these cool headphones from Urbanears. Because of the variety of colors, they look more like an accessory than something practical. Prices vary from €30 - €60.

http://www.urbanears.com/

River Island shoes and accessories!

http://www.riverisland.com/

The barman made us some delicious Cointreaupolitan cocktails. No wonder Dita Von Teese is the face of the campaign. I think I've found my new favorite drink! Too bad I could only take a sip, because I was driving.. And it just had to happen that we got pulled over by the police on our way home. *Lucky?*

Here's how you can make it at home:

Mix in a shaker with ice: 5cl of Cointreau, 3cl of cranberry juice and 2cl of lemon juice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and enjoy!

http://www.cointreau.com/

Oh and the gorgeous red dress is from Marc-Philippe Coudeyre.

The Humanoid collection is based on a desert storm, it has a lot of soft colors and textures. I love how Humanoid always manages to combine fashion with soft, comfortable clothing. You can also order Humanoid online.

http://www.humanoid.nl/

One of my favorite Belgian jewelry studio's, Atelier 11, has come with a gorgeous collection revolving around Eden. The collection offers colorful pieces, flowers and birds of paradise.

http://www.atelierelf.com/

**Pictures and info thanks to Oona**

DIY Burberry?

2010-11-15T21:24:00.000+01:00

Attention all aspiring designers! Soon you'll be able to be your own Christopher Bailey and design your own Burberry trench coat! Burberry has revealed that they're releasing a website in early next year where you can custimise your own trench coat online, entitled Burberry Bespoke. The website will offer over 12 million available design variations, from the choice of fabric and colour of the fabric to the type of buttons and style of lining. Prices will vary according to each look.

In the meantime, 'Harry Potter' actress Emma Watson has been spotted wearing one of the first Burberry Bespoke designs, a classic beige trench with black leather sleeves. What do you think? DIY or leave it to Christopher?

Zara November Lookbook

2010-11-15T20:11:00.000+01:00

Who's up for some new Zara goodness? Discover the new November 2010 Lookbook after the break!

First up is the TRF collection. Again we see a lot of knitwear, quilted jackets with fur hoods, ankle boots, bluchers (masculine shoes), maxi skirts and baggy pants. My personal favorites are the blue button coat (worn as a cape in look 1), the blue crêpe shirt with bow (look 5) and the brown ankle boots with laces (look 8).

Next up is the Zara Woman's Lookbook. It's really all about the classic winter colours (black, white and grey) here. That, and leather, animal prints, wide heeled court shoes, double breasted jackets and leggings. I'm in love with the high neck blouse with bow (look 2). Unfortunately a lot of the pieces from these looks aren't available online (yet).

Images courtesy of Zara (Inditex).

Shop these looks online at http://www.zara.com/

Press days: a little preview of s/s 2011 part 2

2010-11-13T16:13:00.002+01:00

After we realised we lost track of time at UPR, we rushed to Making Waves. There, we recharged our batteries from parking stress with the new Zest Music For Life Smoothie (with yogurt, cranberries, blueberries, banana and apple juice). *Yum!* In the meantime, we also picked up some excellent advice from Wrangler for next season; "If it feels good, do it". And that's exactly what we're planning on doing!

Wrangler has more of those fun prints in store for us, next to lumberjack blouses, denim jackets and dresses, etc. Again, all very '70s.

http://www.wrangler.com/

Nougat has a very romantic collection, using light fabrics in pastel soft colors and some bright green and red. We also noticed ruches, fun sleeve details, floral prints and lots of knits.

www.nougatlondon.co.uk/

Trussardi is all about the military/safari trend with animal prints, sand tones and khaki. The jeans line benefits from the denim on denim trend and therefore uses a lot of blue shades.

http://www.trussardi.com/

BOO! has a great range of leather and plastic bags. The fun thing about BOO! is that with each bag, you get a pocket mirror key chain with it, of which the back is in leather that matches your bag. You never have to wonder if you forgot to take your pocket mirror with you ever again! The bags also have nice details and the right amount of pockets to organize your belongings.

http://www.boo-fashion.com/

O! is a Belgian/Turkish brand with very nice golden jewelry. The rings are simply gorgeous.

Salima Thakker

http://www.salimathakker.com/

DEPT and DEPT Denim Department's collection is full of cheerful prints (especially floral), denim, and light fabrics. The key colors are black & white, blue, red, grey and some khaki. I love that some pieces had a belt as an accessory attached to them to accentuate the waist.

http://www.deptwomen.com/

http://www.deptdenimdepartment.com/

Tara Jarmon is all about smart and comfortable pieces, colored and sexy but never provocative, embellished with details (which I loved) such as embroidery, a bow, a flower; sober cuts, in sweet and silky materials : muslin, cotton and satin.

http://www.tarajarmon.com/

Nicky Vankets has a wide range of glamorous accessories, which reminded me of Guess. For those who're looking for matching bags and shoes, Nicky's your man.

http://www.nickyvankets.com/

Rabeanco has a wide range of excellent quality leather bags in various shapes and colors. They recently opened a store in Antwerp.

http://www.rabeanco.com/

Tons and tons of Coty Prestige fragrances like Marc Jacobs (including the new Daisy and Bang), Chloé (including the new Love), Calvin Klein (including the new Beauty starring Diane Kruger) and Balenciaga (starring Charlotte Gainsbourg). Soon a Bottega Veneta fragrance will be added to that collection.

Great news is that the Calvin Klein makeup line is coming to Belgium in 2012!!

http://www.coty.com/

There were also various Lancaster products and celebrity perfumes like Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwen Stefani and Jennifer Lopez.

If you love the Harajuku Lovers characters/perfumes from Gwen Stefani, then this is your last chance. This limited edition is unfortunately the last one of this series. Love and G are floral fruity fragrances, Lil Angel is a floral transparent fragrance, Music is a floral woody fragrance and Baby is a floral Oriental fragrance.

http://www.coty.com/

There were walls full of shoes, I felt like I was standing in Carrie Bradshaw's closet! I especially loved the ones from Via Uno, a Brazilian brand. The collection was very glamorous, no wonder they are often used to appear on tv or in the Miss Belgium Beauty contest.

http://www.viauno.com/

Next up is Oona.

**Pictures and info thanks to Making Waves**

Press days: a little preview of s/s 2011

2010-11-11T20:43:00.005+01:00

Yesterday I went to Antwerp to visit some press agencies that were presenting new collections for spring/summer 2011. I didn't quite make it to every press agency on the list because there were so many beautiful things to see, smell, taste, try and feel that I lost track of time. Luckily I brought my friend, Melissa, to help me take pictures and take some notes. Let me show you a glimpse of the future after the break..

The first stop was at Unlimited PR. If we didn't have any other places to go to, I could've seriously stayed there the whole day. First of all, the whole showroom was covered this delicious scent. Later, we found the source, those delicious scent candles of L'Occitane. Second, there were 2 floors full of racks with gorgeous clothing and accessories to discover. Too bad we couldn't try anything on, but we did get the possibility to get our makeup and nails done. (So why did I wake up so early in the morning to go trough all that trouble?) Anyway, we were pampered with all kinds of food and drinks all the time, we were given a wonderful tour around the showroom, and there were professional journalists and stylists all over the place. In other words, temptation was lurking around every corner.

L'Occitane has new packaging and gift wrappings for the holidays. The gift sets with 3 hand creams or 4 bottles of shower products are a great idea to give during the holidays. One of the things that kept me around this table for so long was the lovely aroma of the scent candles, which made me believe it was Christmas already.

Fleur Chérie is a lovely scent with notes of orange blossom, cedar and musk. The scent is fresh, but not too strong. It's the perfect sensual touch for winter. The line offers hand cream, body lotion, perfume, scented candles, soap and shower gel. The collection is now available in L'Occitane boutiques and corners. The makeup line will only be available in the L'Occitane boutiques.

http://www.loccitane.com/

Rituals will be launching some new fragrances created out of natural ingredients. 5 For women and 3 for men. Also a new Body Splash was introduced.

They also updated the look of their popular incense sticks. Instead of just displaying them in the glass bottle, you will now be able to purchase a design tube made out of wood over them. The bottom will be sealed using magnets. The tube gives the whole look the elegant touch it needed.

Another new thing is the Rituals homewear collection. The fabrics are light and comfortable, wich makes the clothes perfect to come at ease when you've come home after a hard day of work. The homewear collection will be available in the Rituals shops.

http://www.rituals.com/

Here's one of my favorite makeup brands, M.A.C., presenting 2 of their upcoming collections: Cham Pale (January release) and Peacocky (February release). The makeup artist also told me they will soon open a new MAC store in the Brussels area.

The highly desired Cham Pale: Caviar Dreams eyeshadow quad featuring 4 colors: Brule; Et Tu, Bouquet?; Caviar Dreams and Retrospeck. I'll post more info on the collection later.

M.A.C.'s makeup artist working her Cham Pale magic on Melissa. The result is a natural look with a nice shimmer to lighten it up and add a little glam. Loves it!

http://www.maccosmetics.com/

Belgian brand Professionails sent one of their nail artists to show the new nail trends of this and next season. For the holidays, they released a Jewels collection, in which we see a lot of metallics like gold and silver. Shimmer is the key here. The shades of red are back (when do they ever go out of style?). They also offer various kinds of complementary nail art decoration, to make the nails look more festive. There were diamonds and shimmer stickers in all kinds of shapes to make your nails look like real pieces of art. Even some statement rings were added to make the look complete.

This collection has 2 shimmery nail polishes that look like gemstones (ruby and sapphire). They kind of reminded me of the ones from the MAC Venomous Villains collection. The third one is black, intended to use as a french manicure (nails black and the top white), which is considered to be the new trend.

The Some Like It Hot collection for next season is based on the fifties and has a lot of bright colors and shades of brown like we've seen this summer. Metallics are also still key colors next season. http://www.professionails.com/

Next up is Pepe Jeans, a lovely young brand that uses famous models to star in their campaigns like Sienna Miller, Daria Werbowy, Ashton Kutcher and Alexa Chung. Again, the brand made use of ethnic accents like animal prints, fringes, busy floral prints and lots of different colors.

Lots of cute and colorful bikinis with floral and etchnic prints. Love the red floral one with the ruches on top. These really make me long for a hot summer's day at the beach.

By the way, notice the card with the number on one of the bikinis? This means this item was chosen by a stylist to appear in a shoot for a magazine. Some pieces had lots of numbers written on them. The more numbers, the more popular it was with the stylists.

The overall look of the collection (and as it turned out, a lot of the collections we saw that day) is retro. We're going back to the seventies next season with lots of stripes, flowers and denim. The denim on denim trend is still going on here, it might be even stronger than last season. There was no escaping all those denim jackets, blouses and dresses. Also, don't put your military and safari items away, because they will still be hot next season. We saw lots of khaki and sand colors, military blouses and jackets.

http://www.pepejeans.com/

Tommy Hilfiger stays true to his roots. The classic preppy American style with lots of stripes and checkered pieces. Blazers, v-neck cable sweaters and lots of blue and red colours. And roll up those sleeves because the fun details on the inside should not be missed!

There were were also some 70's inspired pieces; floral and ethnic prints will be all over the scene.

The Denim line is aimed for a younger audience and has pieces that are fun to experiment with, like jeans with braces. Like I've said before, the nerdlook is going to be hot next season!

What really got me excited is this, the new Tommy Hilfiger fragrance, Loud. It's coming out this November and Daisy Lowe will be starring in the campaign. The bottle is shaped like an LP record and the bottle cap looks like the volume control. Of all the new parfumes I saw yesterday, this one stands out the most. If you're planning on getting just one fragrance this year, you should definitely get this one! Both for men and women, this scent is simply devine!

http://www.tommy.com/

Kipling is returning to it's roots with new versions of the nylon bag. We particularly found these two bags very interesting. The big trolley is designed specially for deejays, so it's easier for them to take their equipment and cd's with them. The bag above it is the festival bag. The name says it all. The fun bright color print is perfect for festival occasions and it has a lot of space to take everything you need with you to the concert of your favorite band. I also like the updated monkey mascotte, it really depends on the kind of bag, but it comes in steel, plastic and a plush version now.

Another thing I was excited about is seeing the new season collection of the collaboration between Kipling and the Belgian designerduo Peter Pilotto. The theme is still galactic. The milky way prints come in grey, yellow and blue and are printed on different sizes of travel bags. Again, Belgian model Anouck Lepère is starring in the campaign. Notice that the monkey mascottes on these bags are the 'old school' brown ones with the fuzzy hair.

http://www.kipling.com/

Another great discovery was Karin Nuñez de Fleurquin. This Antwerp-based jewelry designer with Peruvian roots offers an original and fun collection of jewelry. I particularly loved the necklaces with the lashes, the one with the glasses and also the one that you can actually use as a soap bubble blower. The red shoe is her trademark.

http://www.karinnunezdefleurquin.com/

Next up is the eyewear of Fendi, Jil Sander and Emilio Pucci. For the glasses, we see more of a fifties trend, with thin frames like we saw at the Prada show of this season. Very 'mademoiselle', as I like to call it. For the sunglasses, we still see big and bold frames. The new thing is, that they work with different materials. For instance, the top is matte and the bottom is sleek. The aviator trend has still not reached is endpoint. At Pucci, we see some butterfly models, inspired by the famous Tom Ford sunglasses.

http://www.marchon.com/

Here's another thing I'm enthusiastic about, the decorated scarves of Francis & Pi, a young Belgian brand created by 2 sisters. The idea behind it is to make people wear a scarf in spring/summer by attaching a jewel to it, so that the scarf serves more as an accessory than something you need to protect you from the cold. The scarves and jewels are handmade in Marocco, and that's reflected in the style, which is ethnic. The scarves and jewels are sold seperately, so you can combine them however you want. My favorite is the coral red scarf, with the flower shaped jewel that's on the yellow scarf. I can't wait until it hits the stores. http://www.francisandpi.com/

Liu Jeans has 3 main colors in their s/s collection: red, white and blue, which reminds me of the sailor theme we had this summer. They also have fun prints of famous icons like Coca-Cola or Olive Oyl from the Popeye cartoons. There were pieces with floaty chiffon, body-concious denim, heart prints, sequins or ruches which made the collection have a very girly look. I also loved the accessories that fully complemented the collection, especially the multi-chain necklace.

While Liu Jeans had a lot of sequins and embellishments, Liu Jo is more minimalistic and sticks to the good old classics in neutral and blue shades. There were some light dresses with really nice prints, knits with a silver wire, tops with elegant draping and some pieces with a touch of embroidery.

The accessories on the other hand were full of embellishments, to use as a contrast. Whether it was a handbag, a belt or a pair of shoes, they all had jewelry attached to them. It's all about the 'diamonds are a girls' best friend' at Liu Jo next season.

http://www.liujo.com/

The Scandinavian label Filippa K has a lot of light and comfortable jersey pieces in it's spring/summer collection. The color palette exists of soft, powder pink colors and dark neutrals. As a contrast, the pieces have a more masculine silhouette so it doesn't become too sugary.

http://www.filippak.com/

Maison Vandenvos is one of those labels you definitely should check out if you're looking for a romantic top or an elegant, feminine dress. For example, I loved the romantic blouse with ruches in the picture. Therefore I'm also pleased to announce they will be opening a concept store in the Huidevettersstraat in Antwerp in early Spring 2011.

http://www.vandenvos.com/

Boss Orange used a lot of thin materials to create maxi dresses, like the one in the picture. Also military inspired jackets are part of the collection. They also offer amazing shoes. I loved the buckled boots and the grey wedges. Boss will be opening a concept store in the Huidevettersstraat in Antwerp in early Spring 2011.

http://www.hugoboss.com/

Twin-Set (to the right) and the younger label Scee by Twin-Set (to the left) are two of my favorite brands for a couple of years now. They're known for their very romantic, feminine style, because they use a lot of floaty fabrics, ruches, bows and draping in their collections. And for the next season, this is no different. As you can see, the key colors are black & white, blue, red and shades of beige.

http://www.twin-set.it/

By the looks of it, the future looks bright. But that's not all of it! Next up is my second stop, Making Waves!

***Pictures and info thanks to UPR***

When in London..

2010-11-09T23:15:00.001+01:00

Want to experience London in a different way? During my trip to the capital of Britain I discovered another side of London that is perfect for sweet tooths like me. Here's two stops for when you're tired of shopping and need to recharge your batteries.

The first stop is Lola's, a cute bakery offering the best cupcakes I've ever tasted! And believe me, I've had my share of cupcakes! Their buttercream is the best and they almost look too good to eat. Just looking at these pictures again makes me want to go to London and go buy some again. Lola offers 14 different flavours in small and regular cupcake sizes. I tried the Vanilla (green topping with butterfly sprinkles in the second picture), the Chocolate (no image available) and the Rocky Road (2nd cupcake from above in the third picture). I really recommend the last one if you want to try something different, but still want to play safe. It has a great chocolate taste with some yummy marshmallows on top.

Lola's has 5 counters all over London. I visited their lovely counter in Selfridges (pic above). There were so much cute cupcakes, I thought I had arrived in a fairytale.

Cupcake images courtesy of Lola's

http://www.lolas-kitchen.co.uk/

If you're looking for a fashion experience, the Prêt-à-Portea room in The Berkeley is the place to be. When I saw H&M reporting about this, I was immediately sold. This concept is a fun way of how fashion and food can interact.

How it works:

Each season, the pastry chef from The Berkely gets invited to the fashion shows. From there, he starts working on ideas on how to create sweets that resemble the signature items from the desinger's collection. The result is a lovely tower of sweetness that, again, almost looks too good to eat!

I recommend to make reservations at least 2 weeks before you leave for London, because this thing is really popular!

Next up is your order: I have to admit I'm not that much of a tea person and I only went for the sweets, but I took the 'Wild Blossom and Berries Tea' and I enjoyed it anway. You can also order champagne if you want to. For the rest, you just get everything that's on the menu (per person), and that was simply too much to handle for me.

The menu of sweet doom. Too much sweets to handle for my tiny stomach.

The tea and sweets are presented in trendy Paul Smith china. Notice the card with my name on it ;)

First up were these sandwiches. I had absolutely no idea we were getting these. If I'd known, I wouldn't have had lunch before. My favorite one was the smoked salmon sandwich on the right.

Next up was the actual tower of sweetness. Each cake or pastry and it's origin was carefully explained by the waiter. I had pastries based on creations of Chanel, YSL, Sonia Rykiel, Anya Hindmarch, Erdem, Paul Smith, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jason Wu and Christopher Kane.

Here it is, the gorgeous mouthwatering tower of sweetness. My personal favorites were the Chanel clog cookie and the Sonia Rykiel vanilla and raspberry jam with the yellow hat.

And afterwards you get some extra random sweets to take home with you!

This was truly an amazing experience. I've never seen such original pastries in my life and I've discovered a whole new world of flavours while eating them. Also important, the service was heavenly. I felt like a real princess. All of that together makes it really worth the money and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who's planning on going to London.

The Prêt-à-Porter is reservations only and is £35 per person.
Visit The Berkeley for more info and reservations.

After you paid a visit to these locations, you'll see that there's more to London than just Mme Tussauds, the Big Ben or the London Eye. It's pastry paradise! And that coming from a Belgian girl, says a lot!

Illamasqua Nail Polish

2010-11-06T19:58:00.001+01:00

One of the things on my list that I wanted to get on my trip to London, was an Illamasqua Nail Varnish. I came across some of the colors of the English brand on the internet and I thought it was time to try something different for once, so I ended up buying 3 not-so-common colors at once: Milf, Fern and Lament.

Lament is a bright coral pink with a glossy finish. One of the more popular colors of spring/summer, so I'll definitely be using this one again next season. I used the Rituals base coat and 2 layers of the color for the picture.

Fern is a bright sky blue color, with a subtle shimmer finish. For the picture I used a Rituals base coat, 2 layers of Illamasqua Fern and the OPI Top Coat. The top coat gives the more glossy shine, in reality the color itself is more matte. It's possible some might need 3 layers to get full coverage, because the polish is very thin, unlike the ones from Chanel or OPI. This can also make them chip really easily, so it's very important to use a top coat to protect your nails.

Milf is a bright mint crème with a glossy finish. I bought this one because I wasn't able to get a hold of the Chanel Le Vernis Jade, so I was looking for a color that resembled it. I forgot to take pictures when I wore it, so I'll add them later.

I loved experimenting with these colors. It's a little different than what I'm used to, but I like how it turned out. I wouldn't recommend the Milf or Fern to wallflowers though, because well, they stand out quite a bit. It's almost impossible not to get any comments on. I really hope Illamasqua is going to cross the Canal soon. I love the colors and I can't wait to try more stuff of this brand. It's one to definitely try out when you're visiting Great-Britain. The nail polishes are £13 each and you can also get them at Asos.com

http://www.illamasqua.com/

Dutch translation:

Eén van de dingen op mijn shoplijstje die ik moest kopen tijdens mijn tripje naar Londen, was een nagellakje van Illamasqua. Ik botste al eerder online op het Engelse merk en vond dat het tijd was om eens iets anders te proberen, dus kocht ik meteen 3 ongewone kleurtjes in één keer: Milf, Fern en Lament.

Lament is een fel koraalroze kleur met een glossy finish. Het was één van de populairste kleuren van deze lente/zomer, dus zal ik deze zeker volgend seizoen opnieuw gebruiken. Voor de foto maakte ik gebruik van een Rituals base coat en 2 laagjes van de kleur.

Fern is een hemelsblauwe kleur met subtiele glitters erin verwarkt. Voor de foto maakte ik gebruik van een Rituals base coat, 2 laagjes Illamasqua Fern en een OPI top coat. De top coat zorgde voor de ietwat glossy finish, in werkelijkheid is de kleur eerder mat. Het is best mogelijk dat je 3 laagjes nodig hebt om een perfecte dekking te krijgen, want de nagellak is nogal dun in vergelijking met die van Chanel of OPI. Dit zorgt er ook voor dat de nagellak aan de randjes sneller afbreekt. Het is dus aangeraden om hierbij een top coat te gebruiken om je nagels te beschermen.

Milf is een muntgroene kleur met een glossy finish. Ik kocht deze omdat ik er niet in geslaagd was het felbegeerde Chanel Le Vernis in de kleur Jade te bemachtigen, en ik was dus op zoek naar een kleur die erop leek. Jammergenoeg ben ik vergeten om foto's te nemen toen ik deze aanhad, maar dat hebben jullie nog van me te goed.

Ik vond het geweldig om met deze kleuren te experimenteren. Het is iets heel anders dan wat ik gewoon ben, maar ik ben best tevreden met het resultaat. Ik zou muurbloempjes wel niet Milf of Fern aanbevelen, omdat ze nogal opvallen. Het is bijna onmogelijk om er geen commentaar op te krijgen. Verder hoop ik dat Illamasqua gauw het Kanaal oversteekt want ik kan niet wachten om meer producten van dit merk uit te proberen. Het is zeker de moeite waard om eens te testen als je naar Engeland gaat. De lakjes kosten £13 per stuk en je kunt ze ook bestellen via Asos.com.

Celebrity drama at H&M

2010-11-04T19:38:00.002+01:00

According to Elle, H&M won't let anyone wear the Lanvin x H&M collection before the runway show in New York on November 18. Even when worldfamous starlets like Jennifer Lopez and Madonna asked to "borrow" (read: have it before anyone else) pieces from the collection, they were simply told "no". Then why are British celebs like Roisin Murphy and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who don't have quite as much celebrity status as J. Lo or Madge, pictured wearing the dresses at London's Lanvin preview? Even some Belgian celebrities that attended the preview in Brussels were each offered to choose a piece to take home (for free) according to newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws.

On the other hand, why would any celebrity with such a high status want to get a piece from the collection? If you have that much power and money, why get a Lanvin for H&M piece, when you can easily afford the real deal? The whole point of Alber Elbaz was to be able to broaden his audience, meaning that he wanted to reach people who can't afford an original Lanvin piece. Plus, H&M doesn't need the celebrity publicity on these designer collaborations, they will sell out like hot cakes in no time anyway. If it were me I would stop whining and get my ass to the nearest Lanvin store or visit Net-a-Porter.com.

Source: Elle.com

Dutch translation:
Volgens Elle, laat H&M niemand toe om de Lanvin x H&M collectie te dragen voor de officiële catwalkshow in New York op 18 november. Zelfs toen wereldberoemde sterren als Jennifer Lopez en Madonna vroegen of ze stukken van de collectie mochten lenen (lees: ze krijgen voor de rest ze heeft), werden ze afgewimpeld. Waarom doken er dan foto's op van Britse celebrs zoals Roisin Murphy en Sophie Ellis-Bextor, die nauwelijks dezelfde celebritystatus hebben als J. Lo of Madge, waarop ze de jurken droegen op de Londense preview van Lanvin? Zelfs enkele bv's die naar de preview in Brussel gingen werden elk een stuk uit de collectie naar keuze aangeboden volgens Het Laatste Nieuws.

Langs de andere kant, waarom zou een celebrity met zo'n hoge status een stuk uit deze collectie willen? Als je toch zoveel geld en macht hebt, waarom dan een Lanvin for H&M stuk kopen, wanneer je je makkelijk een 'echte' Lanvin kunt veroorloven? Het hele doel van Alber Elbaz is juist om meer mensen te kunnen bereiken, die dit zich niet kunnen permitteren. Plus, H&M heeft voor dit soort designer samenwerkingen helemaal geen celebrity publiciteit nodig. De collectie zal ongetwijfeld als zoete broodjes over de toonbank gaan. Als het aan mij lag zou ik stoppen met zeuren en me snel naar de dichtste Lanvin winkel reppen of gewoon vanuit mijn luie stoel een bezoekje brengen aan Net-a-Porter.

Behind the scenes of Lanvin for H&M

2010-11-04T17:11:00.000+01:00

What is the Lanvin for H&M collection all about? Alber Elbaz, artistic director at Lanvin and Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor at H&M talks about the Lanvin for H&M collection.

Shanghai Street Style

2010-11-04T17:07:00.000+01:00

This week H&M is checking out the street style in Shanghai. Get inspired by the trendy Shanghai people who are mixing and matching items to create stylish outfits.

Scarlett for Mango Winter 2011 Ad Campaign

2010-11-04T15:22:00.001+01:00

They really must love Scarlett Johansson at Mango (or the sales numbers of the clothing she represents in the campaigns). Again she managed to renew her contract to star in another one of the campaigns of the Spanish retailer. At least she did a better job than Olivia.

Images courtesy of Mango.

http://www.mango.com/

23 reasons to buy Zara online

2010-11-04T15:18:00.000+01:00

I'm pleased to say as of today, the Belgians and the Dutchies are also able to shop Zara online! You are now only a click away from having the hottest trends at incredible reasonable prices delivered at your doorstep. Here's 23 reasons to get you started on shopping Zara online!

Images courtesy of Zara (Inditex).

Have fun shopping at http://www.zara.com/

Katy Perry wears Van Steenbergen

2010-11-04T00:36:00.001+01:00

In her newest music video "Firework", popstar Katy Parry is wearing a creation of the Belgian designer Tim Van Steenbergen. In the first minutes of the music video she's wearing the designers' shoulder pads that are decorated with silver beads.

"Perry saw the accessory at the Curve store in New York or Los Angeles and made her stylist get in touch with us." said the spokesperson of Tim Van Steenbergen. Here in Belgium, only the gold version of the piece will be available at the bridal shop Punt Komma in Lier.

Olivia Palermo for Mango a/w 2010

2010-11-02T18:36:00.001+01:00

Here they are, the campaign shots of the Mango holiday 2010 collection, featuring 'The City' star Olivia Palermo and her German model boyfriend Johannes Huebl.

Images courtesy of Mango.

I like the clothing but I don't like Olivia's makeup. It makes her look cold like an ice queen. Or maybe it's just because of her facial expression? I liked her work for Asos magazine better.

On working together, Olivia told Mango: “We enjoy working together, and I think photographers love to see the chemistry.”

Well, I don't see much of that either. Even though they're supposed to look like a couple, which they are in real life, they look cold and distant towards each other. Or maybe that was the whole point? Anyway, that wouldn't be the message I would want to share for the Holiday season, Mango.

http://www.mango.com/

Behind the scenes video:

StyleLab loves Lanvin for H&M!

2010-11-02T12:42:00.003+01:00

Here it is, the moment we've all been waiting for. It's time to reveal the full collection that Alber Elbaz from Lanvin has created for H&M. Are you ready to be completely blown away?

Campaign:

Photographer: David Sims

Models: Natascha Poly, Hannelore Knuts, Tati Cotliar, Simon Nessman, Jane Schmitt and Garance Dumont

Women's Lookbook:

Photographer: Stéphane Gallois

Model: Irina Lazareanu

Men's Lookbook:

Photographer: Stéphane Gallois

Model: Vincent Olivieri

Fashion show:

Houston, we have a problem. I want everything! It's a wonderful collection full of party garments that you cannot miss out on! With this, I officially confirm my camping trip outside of the H&M store! Now who's with me? See you on the 23rd!

Jessica Szohr shoot in ASOS magazine

2010-11-01T15:56:00.001+01:00

Jessica Szohr is the next celebrity in line to star on the cover of Asos magazine. People may rave about Leighton and Blake, but Jessica Szohr has some serious style credentials of her own. The 25-year-old Gossip Girl starlet modeled clothing from Rebecca Minkoff, Paul Smith and Asos at a New York City based shoot.

“At heart, I’m still a simple jeans and T-shirt kind of girl,” Jessica told the magazine. “From the show, I’d choose Jenny Humphrey’s style. It’s grungy, rock n’ roll, looks thrown together, doesn’t look super glam.”

Images courtesy of Asos.com

http://www.asos.com/

Behind the scenes video:

Leather

2010-11-01T13:33:00.003+01:00

One of my favorite trends of the season is definitely the leather look. Leather jackets make a comeback for about every year during autumn/winter, but this season the leather look is spotted all over the runways. And I'm not just talking about leather jackets. Think leather trousers, shorts, skirts, and even leather tops and dresses. While black is still the most dominant color, this season there are leathers in soft, powdery greys, rich camels and chestnut browns. If you really want to be on top this season, go for a vibrant red leather trouser as seen at Isabel Marant.

How to Wear

Now how do you get away with the leather look without looking like a s&m-fanatic? Simple, keep the rest of your outfit minimalistic and classy. This means avoiding the kinky aspects of leather by using other, softer fabrics like cotton, wool or chiffon or lace as seen at Céline to create a contrast.

A full leather outfit like the one from Bottega Veneta may look good on those models, but all that leather is simply too much on most people. If you want to create more of a rock-chick vibe, throw a simple t-shirt or top with a cool print on a pair of leather trousers and you're good to go. Or opt for a leather jacket, a skinny jeans and some leather biker boots. Again, layering with different fabrics is the key.

Finally, some examples of celebrities rocking the black leather trouser trend:

Shop online at Gap

2010-10-29T21:31:00.000+02:00

It keeps on raining webshops lately. Fashion lovers in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Spain and The Netherlands will now also be able to purchase Gap clothing online. Gap uses a delivery rate of £6 (€6,89) and delivers within 2 -3 days. Starting 2011 you will be able to shop in euros and more destinations will be added to the list.

http://www.gap.eu/

Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol 3

2010-10-28T18:28:00.000+02:00

Every holiday season Urban Decay comes with a new Book of Shadows, a goth-lite pop-up book full of the year's hottest eyeshadow colors. Volume III of the Book of Shadows has a New York-inspired theme with its 3D pop up skyscrapers and images of hip New Yorkers. The kit includes 16 eyeshadows, 2 mini sized eyeliners in Zero and Ransom (black and purple), and a travel-size version of the company's famous eyeshadow primer potion.

Book of Shadows Volume III, $54 at Urban Decay or Sephora.

Last call: Kate Moss for Topshop

2010-10-28T17:42:00.001+02:00

If you planned on getting a Kate Moss for Topshop piece, you better do it now because it will be your last chance. The upcoming and 14th collaboration with Topshop will be her last. The clothes won't be available until November 2nd, but here's a sneak peek for you!

Photos courtesy of Topshop.

Trend report s/s 2011

2010-10-27T18:54:00.000+02:00

Get a preview of the new spring/summer trends of 2011.

Chanel's new It-polish: Riva

2010-10-27T18:48:00.000+02:00

Just when you thought you had it all when you bought Les Khakis the Chanel, Peter Philips (Creative Director at Chanel Makeup) comes with another It-polish. Here it is, the newest Chanel must-have, Le Vernis Riva. This cute light blue color will be released together with the Côté d'Azur beauty collection and is as usual a limited edition.

According to Philips, the new shade is inspired by a carefree 1970's attitude. It was designed “to accompany the 70′s spirit, Peter Philips, International Director of Creation Chanel Makeup, imagined a baby blue nail polish that is reminiscent of the soft colors of Vichy.” The new nail polish will be available in Chanel boutiques from November 15th, and will cost 25€.

Images courtesy of Chanel.

Kid-Vanilla goes online

2010-10-26T21:21:00.000+02:00

Kid-Vanilla.com is a new webshop for those who love clothes with fun digital prints. Kid Vanilla is a young sportswear label by the hand of Eva Balg and is a mix of hip hop and graffiti art from the '80s. The brand also often refers to the style of artists like M.I.A. and Fafi. The collection has wide tees, tanktops, skirts, sweaters, jackets and hooded dresses, all in eclectic neon colors and fun prints on top, and is perfect for boys and girls who love to have fun and don't take themselves too seriously.

United Bamboo's 2011 Cat Calendar

2010-10-26T20:51:00.000+02:00

New York-based label United Bamboo has a very unique way of drawing attention to their clothing. They offer cat calendars to their clients. Now what is so special about that, you say? Well, they dress the felines up in cat-size versions of pieces of their Fall 2010, Resort 2011 and Spring 2011 collections. Now who can resist a cute cat in a mini fur-trimmed parka? In fact, it makes me want both.

United Bamboo is not yet showing more peaks into the calendar, but Style.com published a behind-the-scenes report that showed the following pictures of the cats that made the calendar out of 100 applicants:

Images courtesy of Style.com

Cat couture lovers can pre-order the calendar via UnitedBamboo.com

New Look offers Glee merchandise

2010-10-25T21:10:00.000+02:00

Glee fans, eat your heart out! New Look now offers Glee merchandise. The collections has tees, tote bags, alarm clocks, make up bags etc.. Not familiar with Glee? Then it's time you get started on watching it now! Glee is one of America's latest teen hit series that is now conquering Europe as well. Watch the trailer here.

Images courtesy of New Look.

Gianfranco Ferré's take on the Coke bottle

2010-10-25T20:41:00.000+02:00

Gianfranco Ferré is the latest fashion house to create some new looks for the famous Coca-Cola bottle. Tommaso and Roberto, Creative Directors of Gianfranco Ferré, designed 4 special edition bottles for the 'Tribute to Fashion' charity event of Coca-Cola Italy. Previously, the beverage brand also turned to Manolo Blahnik and Karl Lagerfeld to create limited edition bottles.

Spotted: Burberry Prorsum aviator boots for less

2010-10-24T14:14:00.000+02:00

Got your eye on those beautiful Burberry Prorsum aviator boots? I spotted almost identical copies at River Island. Just as gorgeous, only less painful for your wallet. Price online may differ from the one in the River Island shops.

Amy Winehouse teams up with Fred Perry

2010-10-23T21:05:00.000+02:00

Long-time Fred Perry fan Amy Winehouse teamed up with the brand to create her own 17-piece collection of apparel and accessories. Classic pieces – the twin-tipped M12 polo shirt, the Harrington jacket, the jumper dress – are given the full Winehouse treatment but still remain instantly recognisable.

A girly twinset has Fifties sex siren written all over it, gingham goes from homely to hot, pencil skirts become dangerously short, Capri pants find a punk-inspired edge, a mini bowling shirtdress flaunts in equal measure. Colours are predominantly black and pink. Collars are most definitely raised and ready for action. And yet for every tomboy twist there’s a deeply feminine twirl.

“I’m really excited about doing this collection with Fred Perry. We’ve been working on it for a while and it’s great to see it finally come to fruition.” – Amy Winehouse.

John Flynn, managing director of Fred Perry, said: "We have had a great relationship with Winehouse over the years as she has been a loyal fan and supporter. Amy's sense of style and attitude to music and fashion pervades through this collaboration."

Images courtesy of Fred Perry.

The collection is due to hit stores in October.

Visit the Fred Perry website for more info.

Kate Moss for Topshop a/w preview

2010-10-22T21:57:00.000+02:00

Have a look at a preview of the Kate Moss for Topshop autumn/winter 2010 collection.

Calvin Klein Jeans X ad banned for allegedly promoting rape

2010-10-22T21:42:00.004+02:00

Australia's Advertising Standards Bureau has banned a Calvin Klein X Jeans autumn/winter ad after it received 50+ complaints that the images suggest gang rape and violence. The ad shows model Lara Stone surrounded by shirtless men with her head laying in one man’s lap while another appears to be climbing over her.

Clinical psychologist and sex abuse worker Alison Grundy told the Herald Sun that the ad was "clearly intimating" gang rape. "If we continue to subject future generations of young men to great barrages of aggressive, misogynist, oversexualized, and violent imagery in pornography, movies, computer games, and advertising, we will continue to see the rates of sexual violence against women and children that continue unabated today. Or worse," she told the paper.

Since Calvin Klein's controversial billboards are often met with requests for censorship, the company decided to censor itself for Calvin Klein Jeans's Fall 2010 campaign in the USA.
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While the ad might sugges group sex or a foursome, it doesn't look violent to me at all. I just don't get that even today, images of a man being grasped by a bunch of women is considered 'hot', but when you place a woman in the centre, people see it as inappropriate. Not everything that implies group sex, neccessarily implies group rape. For all I know, the ad represents a woman's fantasy of feeling desired because of the sexy underwear she's wearing! Are the Aussies exaggerating? What do you think?

Designers for less with 'My Brand'

2010-10-22T21:08:00.001+02:00

You might have seen some pictures of celebrities in magazines wearing t-shirts with 'fake' designer logo's of Chanel, Marc Jacobs or Yves Saint Laurent on them. These are created by the Dutch label 'My Brand'. The idea behind 'MyBrand' however is not a cheap imitation of the brands they refer to with their clothing, but more of a fun way to honor them. The collection of t-shirts, tanktops, sweaters and training suits is now available in 50 shops in Belgium too. Prices vary from 59€ to €124.

http://www.shopmybrand.com/

Abercrombie & Fitch is coming to Belgium!

2010-10-21T16:30:00.001+02:00

Great news for all Abercrombie & Fitch lovers! The super popular American retailer is opening it's first Belgian shop in March 2011 in the Waterloolaan in Brussels, where chic designers like Vuitton, Chanel, Dior and Burberry have their stores. The boutique will be over 1.600 square meters and in the complete A&F high school style as we know it. I'm so looking forward to this opening! I hope they'll have some hot male models at the door too! ;-)

Sneak peak at Lanvin for H&M: part 2

2010-10-21T14:27:00.002+02:00

Another campaign shot of the Lanvin for H&M collection has been revealed! Instead of the little black dresses we've seen, these items are bursting with color! Which ones do you prefer?

Shearling

2010-10-21T14:22:00.000+02:00

Shearling or faux sheep made its comeback on the catwalk this season. Spotted on the catwalks of Burberry Prorsum, Pringle of Scotland, Céline and Reed Krakoff. The designers all took their own take on the jacket, altering the collar height and shape as they saw fit; different shapes and colours, of course; and the basic styling.

If you're into the military or aviator style, the shearling aviator jacket is the must-have of the season! As you can see, there are many possibilities in wearing a shearling jacket. Just casual with a pair of jeans, skirts over a dress, anything goes. You can even pair it with some shearling footwear and accessories (more about that later). The only thing you have to do is to be careful picking the right jacket that you'll be wearing. Do you want a big shearling collar, or maybe one with shearling cuffs as well? One with an assymetric zipper or one without sleeves? There are so many styles to choose from. You'll recognize it when you see it. I collected some of them below to give you an idea. My favorite is definitely the short black leather style of Burberry Prorsum. The quest for the perfect aviator jacket is on!