Christmas Gift Guide for HER

With Christmas right around the corner, buying presents is probably on your mind. If your anything like me, you told your self you weren't going to leave it to the last minute like all the years before. You even started your shopping early this year. But I will let you in on a secret, you will always find someone else to buy for! The struggle is real and never ending. So to make it easier for you, I have complied this gift guide for the women in your life!

JET SETTER TRAVEL ADAPTOR

I found this little device while out shopping the other day and I LOVE it and I hope this appears in my Christmas stocking. It is a universal adapter that works for all of Europe, Australia, UK and USA. I know that has my travel plans for the next few years covered!

Easy to use and compact, this universal travel adaptor is the perfect travel companion for overseas trips. Keep the adapters safe in the zip top pouch featuring a Forever New branded plate. The adaptors are compatible with the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Australia. The product comes with an instruction sheet with diagrams and explanations on how to use. The adaptors are compatible with the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Australia. The product comes with an instruction sheet with diagrams and explanations on how to use. Fabrication for the pouch: Outer – Polyurethane. Lining – Polyester. Made in China.

This can be found at any Forever New stores and retails for $24.99

VICTORIAS SECRET BOW BANDEAU BIKINI

A playful bow shows off the sweet side of this bandeau top. Designed in luxe Italian fabric for a silky-soft feel. From our exclusive Very Sexy collection of top-of-the-line push-up tops.

• Non-removable padding; medium lift
• Underwire
• Goldtone back hook closure
• Fully lined
• Imported nylon/Lycra® spandex

Silky-smooth Italian fabric makes this teeny bottom a big deal.

• Minimal back coverage
• Goldtone logo on back
• Fully lined
• Imported nylon/Lycra® spandex

This is a stunning swim suit and would be the perfect edition for any girls Christmas stocking. It is RRP US$58.50 and US$38.50

BEST WISHES LUSH GIFT SET

Best wishes, glad tidings and three bath time wonders just for you. A Christmas classic that comes back year after year. So the main reason I chose this gift set out of the hundreds that Lush offer is that this set has the most popular Christmas Lush products. I also think this is great for someone who you know loves Lush, but you're worried about buying something they already have. This set is purely Christmas based, so more than likely the receiver wont already have everything in the set!

LUXURY LUSH PUD BATH BALLISTIC
For a soothing and calming bath, this year Lush Pud has gone all luxury with colourful polka dots that float to the surface making pastel islands in the water. A relaxing bath treat made with the comforting lavender and ylang ylang scent of Twilight – perfect for a bath before bedtime.

GOLDEN WONDER BATH BALLISTIC
Drop this gold dusted gift into a warm bath and watch in wonder as golden stars burst out, dissolving in the water before your very eyes, turning the bath water a vibrant blue. The champagne-like fragrance of sweet orange oil, cognac oil and lime oil will uplift your spirits.

SNOWCAKE SOAP
A Lush classic and bestseller, a slice of Snowcake smells just like the irresistible almond marzipan on the Christmas cake. Lather up with gorgeous rose absolute, that soothes dry and stressed skin, and berry scented cassie absolute. This year’s design is an impressive gold covered wheel – so every slice will get a lustrous, golden topping!

This set is more affordable at a RRP of $19.99, So it is great for friends or parents if you dont have the biggest budget in the world.

LILLIAN STRAPLESS BEADED BELT DRESS

This glamorous couture range strapless dress is a beautiful addition to your party season wardrobe. Featuring a gorgeous floating sheer silk overlay that is pulled together by a stunning embellished self-tie belt. Fully lined and with a corseted bust and nonslip tape

I love this dress, I think it is classic and beautiful and not many women wouldn't like it, so it is a safe purchase for any men. It can be smart casual to a nice dinner or it can be very formal to a wedding. It is very rewearable, so although it can be a little pricey at $159 , really its an investment because you would wear it so frequently. ( Does anyone else tell themselves this?) This can also be found at Forever New.



M.A.C STOKE OF MIDNIGHT: HOLIDAY COLLECTION 

Coordinated corals create a night you'll remember with the limited-edition M•A•C Stroke of Midnight Lip and Cheek Bag. Featuring Lipstick in warm red layered with a gleaming, golden Lipglass, Powder Blush in shimmering peach, Slim Mirror and the 129SE Powder/Blush Brush. Packaged in a sleek black and white clutch, accented with gold piping and zip closure, lined graphic interior. Exclusively at M•A•C stores.

This set is great for women of all ages, it can be a great starter kit for a young girl or it could be a great edition to an already established collection for a more mature lady. It is a little pricey at RRP $125

KATY PERRY'S KILLER QUEEN PERFUME

The perfume, which was named after the song by Queen's Freddie Mercury, represents the kind of woman Katy strives to be in her personal life. "Freddie Mercury painted the lyrics of this woman who I wanted to be," she said. "She seemed very powerful, and she captivated a room when she walked in."

Announced as a playful, sophisticated, powerful, edgy and delicious fragrance, it reflects the rebellious spirit of the singer. Its creation is signed by Laurent Le Guernec of IFF. Top notes include wild berries, dark plum and bergamot accords. The main note of the heart is velvety red flower (Celosia), but there are also Sambac jasmine and rainbow plumeria. The base contains cashmere, patchouli and liquid praline.

The bottle is shaped like a red ruby and comes in its own golden pedestal. The fragrance is available as 15, 30, 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum with body lotion and shower gel.


I hope this helped anyone who was stuck for gift ideas for the women in their lives. Stay tuned for the male gift guide coming in a few days. 

OOTD: Afternoon by the sea

So Sydney has been having some amazing weather recently, So Daniel and I decided to capitalise on this and headed to the beach for some fun in the sun!

Welcome to Australia. Everything dangerous, even our water.  

My own Bay watch Babe

Outfit wise i kept everything really simple since it was just a casual afternoon at the beach. I always believe less is more when it comes to beach wear.

 Dress: I got from Forever 21.
Swimmers: Victorias Secret
Necklace: Tiffany and Co

We then went to get some ice cream because you can't go to the beach and not get an ice cream.

I got:
top scoop: Nutella
Second: Cookie dough
Third: Murry Mud ( Chocolate with chocolate chip)

Can you tell I love chocolate?

Fashion Haul: USA Edition

This is all the things I picked up while honeymooning in the US

Behind the Blog: Our wedding!

Here is the highly anticipated wedding video footage edited together. I hope you guys Enjoy!

How to dress for your body shape: Rectangle

It's easy to make women's dress more flattering by paying attention to the woman's figure. If you have a rectangle shape, one with no curves, you can make your dress habits flatter your figure by making the right clothing choices.

• Ladies dress items like dresses, dress pants and dressy blouses can all be worn in a way that flatters a rectangle figure. The object is to create the illusion that you have larger hips than you waist and larger breasts than you do. This can be done by the cut and the color of the dress items that you choose.

• Look for items that are tailored at the waist. The shirt, jacket or dress should nip in at the waist to create the illusion that it's your figure that has the waist. The cut of the outfit should also emphasize the bust line. A shirt or dress with an empire waist will make the bust look larger and therefore the figure curvier.

• Choose brighter colors at the bust line to break up your figure and make your bust look larger. Many shirts and dresses feature extra color or styling at the top. These can help you to instantly look curvier and less like a rectangle.

What to wear?Tapered Shirts

Choose shirts that taper in at the waist instead of shirts that are loose fitting in this area. The reason for this is that the loose-fitting shirt will hide your curves and make you look rectangular or "boxy." This is the opposite of what you want to do. By choosing a shirt that tapers in at the waist, you are using your shirt to create curves. Choose shirts that have lower neckline, as opposed to the high necklines. You can also choose shirts that have decorations around the neckline to add visual interest to the neck area.
Flared or Straight-Legged Pants

Flared or Straight-Legged Pants

Wear pants that give you shape or pants that highlight the shape you already have. For example, instead of choosing a tapered pant that will cling to your rectangular shape, choose flared or straight-legged pants. By wearing a flared or straight-legged pant, you are adding shape and definition to your lower body, from the hips all the way down to your ankles.A-Line Skirts


A-Line Skirts

Stay away from straight-line skirts, since these straight lines will cause you to look rectangular. Instead, wear A-line skirts. The A-line skirt literally flares out like the shape or the letter "A." The A-line skirt will give the appearance of shape to your lower body. Try to wear skirts that stop just above or at the knees. This will allow the curvature of your calves to show.
Tapered Jackets


Tapered Jackets

Wear a jacket that tapers in at the waist. For the length of the jacket, it should stop right below the waist. If you wear a jacket that is longer, you run the risk of the jacket covering up the curves of your hips, thus giving you a rectangular shape.

Celebrities with a rectangle body type:  

Cameron Diaz, Hilary duff, Nicole Kidman and Britney Spears 

OOTD: Casual day by the seaside

The Hubs and i decided to take a casual stroll around our local beach, so i created this very laid back and chilled outfit. Below is the outfit i chose for the day, tell me what you think and if you are a Lookbook member, give it some love!


What i am wearing:
Top: YD, it was stolen from my Husbands wardrobe!
Dress: SES
Shoes: Novo
Necklace: Tiffany & co
Bag: Collette

How to dress for your body shape: Inverted Triangle

Inverted triangle body types have a large upper half of the body and a slim lower half. They are characterized by large busts, large shoulders, wider, undefined waists, small hips and thin legs. Inverted triangles should try to accentuate their small hips and legs while drawing attention away from their large chest and shoulders.

• Choose bottoms that flare to balance out the larger upper half of the body. Skirts and pants with a flare add the illusion of size.

• Pick tops that show off thin arms to flatter this body type. Sleeveless tops and flutter sleeve tops accomplish this goal.

• Wear darker colors on top and lighter colors on the bottom. This minimizes the top half. Lighter colors also create the illusion of a larger bottom half, and creates proportion.

• Buy tops that cover the hip area. This hides the wider waist that inverted triangle body types have. It also draws the attention towards the shapely and slim legs associated with an inverted triangle body type.

• Try tops that have less detail. Details draw attention to the top, and will make an inverted triangle's top even more noticeable.

• Wear shirts with large straps. Anything strapless or with thin straps will draw attention to wide shoulders. Sleeveless tops are flattering if they don't make the shoulders appear more broad with thin straps.

Play down the top:

Tops should draw attention downward away from the shoulders.

V neck, wrap style and vertical lines in the bodice all draw attention downward.

Jackets should be narrow at the shoulders and widest at the hips.

Wear Tailored shirts and jackets.

Wear dark colored tops.

Vertical lines created with accessories will draw the attention downward

Monochromatic colors in draped styles will lengthen the body.



Play up the bottom:
Wear a belt, it will accent your waist

Choose bottoms that enhance and flatter your lower body.

Strong visual details below the waist will draw the attention downward.

Wear pants with pockets and embellishment.

Wear wide leg or boot cut pants.

Wear a full or A-line skirt.

Wear horizontal lines on the bottom half.

Add volume with thicker fabrics on the bottom with fabrics like knit, wool or tweed.

Show off those great legs with a great pair of pumps.

Stay away from shoes with straps, they will shorten your legs.

How to dress for your body shape: Apple

If you have an apple-shaped body, then your body is "top heavy," meaning you have a wide torso, broad shoulders, and a full bust, waist, and upper back. Apple-shaped bodied women also tend to have thinner arms, legs, and hips, and tend to gain weight at their waistlines. If you have an apple shaped-body, then you should be proud of your full figure and get ready to flaunt it. But if you want to show off what you've got, you need to dress appropriately. If you want to know how to reallydress to flatter your apple-shaped body, then keep reading!


Draw attention away from your middle. To dress your apple-shaped body, you'll want to take attention away from your middle, since it's already full. To draw attention away from your middle, avoid low shorts or pants, high-cut shirts, or any fabric length that cuts off below or above your middle. You'll want to distract people from your middle by directing their attention elsewhere or by creating more definition in your waistline.
You should also avoid wearing an outfit with a different pattern in the belly area. This will draw more attention to your belly.

Avoid wearing thick belts, which will draw more attention to your middle.

Avoid clingy shirts or dresses, which will also draw attention to your middle.


Emphasize your bust. If you have an apple-shaped body, then you must have a great bust, so don't be afraid to flaunt it. Showing off your bust will not only emphasize one of your most amazing features, but it will also take attention away from your middle. To emphasize your bust, you should wear v-necks, plunging necklines, or A-line dresses, to lengthen your body and draw attention to your bust.
Wear shirts or dresses that flow from under your bust, expanding at the waist.

Remember that drawing attention to your bust is different from looking top-heavy. You don't need to wear elaborate necklaces or tops with ornate patterns near the neck. You already have a great bust, so it needs no adornments.


Show off your legs. A great pair of legs often comes with the apple-shaped body. So, whether you're tall or on the shorter side, don't be afraid to show off your great legs. You can do this with a pair of short-shorts, or high heels that lengthen your body and balance out your bottom half.
Don't minimize your legs by wearing big heavy boots, leggings, or skinny jeans. This will only make your gorgeous legs look smaller.

Tops

Pay attention to the cut of your top. Whether you're wearing a top or a dress, there are a few rules for wearing a top that flatters your bust and draws attention from your waist line. Here are some types of tops to wear and some others to look out for:[2]
Wear: tops with v-necks, plunging necklines, strapless, scoop, or tops with narrow bodices. This will draw more attention to your bust and elongate your upper body.

Avoid: tops with a halter, very high necklines, decorated neckline, off-the shoulder cut, or boat neck. This will make your shoulders broader and will draw too much attention to your chest.

Pair your top with an appropriate jacket or coat. The right jacket can help camouflage your heavy midriff. You should wear a jacket that is single-breasted and doesn't have too many details. Wearing a structured jacket or coat will create curves in your chest and hips and will minimize your waist. Layering your top will help create balance for your figure. Here are some other things to try:
Tailored blazers and coats

Opened cardigans or waistcoats

A duster coat that ends above the knee

Bottoms

Wear the right pants. You'll need to show off your legs to balance out your apple-shape. Drawing attention to your legs will help add more balance to your look. Don't downplay your legs by wearing skinny jeans, leggings, or any other too-tight fabric. This will make your legs look even smaller and will make your waist look even larger as a result. Here are some other tricks to try when choosing a pair of pants for your bottom half

Avoid pants that have a lot of zippers in the front, or this will draw more attention to your middle. Try to find a pair of pants with zippers on the sides instead.

Wear pants with back pockets. This will create definition in your flatter bottom and will balance out your waist.

Wear pants that are denim, trouser cut, flared, wide-legs, or boot cut.

Wear the right skirt. A great skirt can help define your apple-shaped body. Try wearing a skirt that has a bias cut or an A-line, or flatter your figure with a full circle skirt. Avoid skirts that are tight around the waist or which fall at your natural waist. You can also wear a trumpet skirt or skirts with a hanky hem

WHICH CELEBRITIES HAVE A PEAR-SHAPED BODY?

Catherine Zeta-Jones, Liz Hurley and Drew Barrymore

                                 

Make Up Artist Review: Rachel Elizabeth

So on the 3rd of Dec 2012 Daniel and i were having our engagement photoshoot, So i had my make up done by my wedding make up artist as a trial for the wedding day. I had it done by Rachel Elizabeth.

After graduating with a High Distinction from The Art and Technology of Makeup College Sydney, Rachel went on to work as a certified artist for M.A.C. This gave her the opportunity to transform countless faces of all ages and races. It also enabled her to work with the most esteemed Australian and International makeup artists through various Public Relations events and three consecutive Rosemount Australian Fashion Weeks.

As much as she loved the fashion world, Rachel always found weddings more fulfilling and rewarding.

Getting married recently herself and being bridesmaid three times all in extremely different weather, Rachel has had invaluable insight to what the bridal party (and their hair and makeup) go through on the big day.

Combining all of this experience, Rachel can guarantee that your makeup will look and feel comfortable, fresh and polished all day and through the night.

Before:                                                                          After: 

Overall i was very impressed with her. She listened to be and asked how i usually wore my make up and then we altered it to make it more wedding appropriate.

I felt i was able to learn a few techniques i would not have normally tried. She was very gentle, my eyes did not water much ( despite them watering if its too windy)

Overall i would definitely recommend her to anyone. She was amazing, i've had my fears about make up artists before, being to orange/ not being listened to, but she matched my skin perfectly.

Let me know what you guys think of my wedding make up!

Here is the video of the OOTD i did for the photo shoot.






Link to Rachels website