I know 2020 is effectively ‘cancelled’ in many people’s mindsets, but we still have some kind of Christmas to look forward to, if you’ll be in the mood.

I know this is still August but Christmas is only 15 weeks away. Of course, money ‘s too tight to mention right now, and this is probably an obscene idea, but if you’re thinking about getting yourself or a loved one their 2020 advent calendar, then how about this from Jo Malone – everyone’s favourite scented candle queen.

Every year, beauty lovers go crazy for the luxury goodies inside Jo Malone’s advent calendar.  The 2020 Jo Malone Advent Calendar has just been unveiled and, as always, it’s full of luxurious treats.

Priced at £320, it’s designed to look like the brand’s famous London Townhouse and is sure to make a perfect gift for someone special in your life (or yourself). It will be available online at jomalone.co.uk from Thursday, October 1st for a two-week preview before launching in boutiques nationwide.

The advent calendar features 24 wonderfully-crafted drawers that open that reveal miniature versions of the brand’s bestsellers, including bath and body products as well as candles.  Inside you’ll find popular sweet-smelling goodies like the English Pear & Freesia Cologne and the Green Tomato Leaf Mini Candle, along with a few new festive surprises.

For Christmas Eve, there’s an extra-special surprise treat to help kick off your festive celebrations in style.

If you don’t want to miss out on one of the most indulgent Christmas countdowns around, then mark your diaries, as last year the much-loved calendar sold out online and in stores extremely fast.

So, I’ve returned from a “long weekend” jaunt to Ibiza – now back in London and quarantined for 14 days. However, I don’t mind, because it was totally worth it. 

We had fun at Mambos, Pikes and ate far too much delicious Spanish cuisine.

I do hope they drop this quarantine soon, because there’s nothing like a weekend break to the White Isle, especially when it’s relatively quiet. Right now, Ibiza is a bit more like Balearic wintertime but with summer temperatures.

One of the things I love most about a weekend break is travelling just with hand luggage. All you need are a pair of Havianas, sunnies and a mask – that’s it. All small enough to fit in your handbag with your wallet, phone and passport. And in the interests of luggage size, I’ve found the ultimate boho chic dress that is literally four dresses in one. 

The Disorder 4 in 1 dress by DISORDER BOUTIQUE can be worn in a multitude of different ways – perfect if you want a quick outfit change in the evening. 

On a more serious note, aware of the environmental cost of fast fashion, designer Mark Howard wanted to create a dress that you would want to wear more than once. By simply changing the way you tie the straps, you can totally alter its look.

Another important feature of the dress is the fabric, which is printed with Disorder’s own original artwork and ethically sourced in the UK. Garments are then made it in their own micro factory in Birmingham.

It ticks all my boxes. Check out more designs:

www.disorderboutique.com

Facebook/ DisorderBoutique

Instagram: DisorderBoutique

Twitter: Disorderbrand

Onto this week’s instalment, and we investigate the ultimate scientific PPE hoodie, the new RUSSIAN OCTOPUS LIP FILLER trend and Supremes’ first ever beauty product. 

In 2017, a viral trend swept the internet – ‘wavy brows’. In fact, I wrote about it back then. We witnessed beauty influencers and fans of the trend drawing on their eyebrows in a wavy pattern – often created with a little help from Face tune. Three years on, there’s a brand-new Instagram trend to match.

Though its origins are unknown, it’s believed to have been started by a Russian plastic surgeon (as many of the strangest beauty trends do, dare I say it). Coined ‘devil lips’, or ‘octopus’ lips’, the procedure is said to involve inserting filler in the outer lip to create a wave effect across both the lips.

On IG, you can easily stumble across different women sporting the lip look, usually to a “mixed” reaction from followers and other viewers. Some have compared them to blisters, others have called the trend ‘bizarre’ and ‘stupid’ or “an exotic form of herpes”. Others call it “oddly aesthetically pleasing.”

Since the trend first took off, others have followed suit, creating their own versions of ‘devil lips’ with make-up or by using Photoshop. Many believe that the latter is the only way that the people who have allegedly had lip fillers could create them.

A leading cosmetic surgeon commented: “You cannot change the anatomical shape of the lips like this. You can sharpen and contour by enhancing the vermillion border, but these ‘devil lips’ are unnatural.” She continued to explain the damage you could cause if you tried to create this look with fillers. “Filler injected inappropriately could end up in a blood vessel, causing blockages and leading to necrosis (death) of the tissue..”

So, while the trend is not easily physically do-able (for now), in an age of photoshop, face tune and face filters – as well as face-changing make-up – you too can join the devilish fun and post it on your socials without any adverse health effects.

This Supreme x Pat McGrath Red Lipstick Will Sell Out Instantly.

Legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath has partnered with skate brand Supreme. It is  Supreme’s first-ever beauty collab and I’m already a fan.

Yes, like everything else Supreme touches, this single red lipstick is sure to sell out in an instant. So may the odds be in your favour.

For starters, I don’t even know when the lippy (in the shade name “Supreme”) is going to launch. However, I do know that it’s going to be available only on SupremeNewYork.com when it does eventually go on sale.

As for details of the shade and how the collaboration came to be, I don’t know that either. The press release simply states: “No product samples and no interviews.” Because why waste digital ink describing something that will soon only be available on resale sites for quadruple the price? 

The lipstick packaging is McGrath’s signature tube with golden lips, but the body has been replaced by the red and white graphic Supreme logo. Same goes for the outer box.

This marks the first beauty product in Supreme’s 26-year history. Other notable collaborations include the infamously cancelled collection with Louis Vuitton, plus drops with Lacoste and Nike, as well as collaborations that brought the world Supreme tools, bikes, Oreos, and other various household items.

My problem is, I just don’t suit red lippy, but for all you other luscious blondes and brunettes – grab yours with your next Supreme hoodie, tee or beanie. Simply add a skateboard, and voila. Street smart.

This hoodie comes with a built-in mask

If you’re tired of wearing a DIY or cheap throwaway mask, this new hoodie offers another option: a built-in mask. It is made from a material that can (theoretically) filter out more germs than an N95 mask, and zips up into the hood—which is itself also a filter. The hoodie, available for preorder now, is the latest design from G95, a company that also makes scarves that double as air filters.

Founder Carlton Solle launched the company three years ago after getting sick on a business trip to China. A doctor informed him that high levels of air pollution might be the cause. Solle was reluctant to wear a mask, but as a regular traveller in China, he realised that he needed to protect himself. He started making scarves with built-in filtration, and then created a company to sell them to others. “It turned out there were a lot of people like me who didn’t want to wear a mask, and wanted an alternative,” he comments.

Initial customers were travellers, followed by people with health conditions like autoimmune disorders, cancer, and allergies. Others have used the products as protection from wildfire smoke. Now, Solle says, there has been a surge of interest because of the coronavirus crisis.

There is an entire halo of protection in the hood of the hoodie, wholly made from the company’s filtration material. For anyone who wants to wear something even more like a hazmat suit, the company also sells protective goggles which could be combined with the hoodie. But the built-in mask, pulled tight with a bungee at the back of the hood, is likely to be a first barrier of defence.

The company estimates that it can be washed 50 times before the filtration efficiency begins to decrease.

Welcome to a scorching Zips It Up.

The weather is insanely hot here in the UK.  From Mallorca to Ibiza to London, I can’t escape the soaring temperatures.

But we should be careful what we wish for, because it could be back to regular business next week – i.e. cold, grey and even more worth complaining about.

It’s days like these when I like to walk (boho) barefoot everywhere (ignoring dirty feet and blisters). Wouldn’t it be handy if we could do that permanently throughout summer, and when the pavement became too hot simply rock up to a vending machine and buy a pair of fold away shoes, small enough to pop into one’s bum bag?

Well, surprise surprise, welcome to ‘ROLL A SOLE’.

Cleverly designed to fit in your handbag, car or office desk, these Roll A Sole shoes neatly roll up, ready for when you can’t walk another step in uncomfortable conditions.

These would’ve been particularly handy in the ‘old days’ when we used to stagger home from the club in inappropriate shoes after hours of dancing. Remember ‘dancing’? I wish I knew about Roll-A-Sole back then – genius idea!

The company was created by American Matt Horan – who decided he was fed up of giving his girlfriend a piggy back home every time she went out in high heels. The very stylish shoes (especially their ballet pumps) come packed away in a neat little box – which includes a ‘high heel carry bag’ to put your own heels in – much classier than carrying them.

Unfortunately, the vending machines are all in Las Vegas – where the designer lives – but you can buy them right here at trusty Amazon. Totally worth it in my opinion – they’re stylish, comfortable and well made.

Onto this week’s instalment of Zips It Up, and OBVIOUSLY we discuss how to keep cool, discover a seaside fashion boutique and explore whether ‘fox-eye’ make up trend is racist.

I love quirky small independent boutiques. But they’re harder to find these days, especially in London. Yes, there aren’t many left, but if you venture out of the city and into smaller towns you’ll come across something like this, in Whitstable, Kent, the town otherwise known as ‘Notting Hill On Sea”.

Whitstable is very close to my heart, as I spent every summer in the seaside town as a child. It was where my Russian Grandmother lived.

Back then, I spent all my time on the beach and not in the shops. Clearly, that would be the other way around now. From The Hummingbird Bakery to the gorgeous ‘MARINA’ – Whitstable is happening right now big-time.

Marina is a quirky boutique in the very fashionable Harbour Street of Whitstable. They sell beautiful vibrant silk wrap dresses as well as antique silk sari dresses and each dress is unique.  Sequin dresses, sequin trousers and hats for festivals as well as quirky one-off pieces and contemporary designs too. All hats and accessories are sourced from independent designers.

There’s a men’s section too, which is very popular. Stylish silk shirts for all occasions, all looked after by Joe Kelly.

DJ Lisa Loud has been collaborating with owner Susie Swetman, marketing the wrap and sari dresses, as seen here. She’s modelling this absolutely beautiful yellow dress which is jaw dropping. She looks incredible.

You can contact Lisa on Facebook Messenger and Instagram if you wish to purchase or discuss sizes and prices etc @ DJ LISA LOUD

Check out Marina Boutique on Instagram or pop in if you’re in Whitstable this summer on your staycation. 

The mercury has soared upwards in the UK over the past week, seeing London reach 37 degrees Celsius.

In common with much of Britain, my other half  and I simply couldn’t sleep. We took turns to have cold showers and adjust the fan speed.

So how does one keep cool at night and in general during a heatwave?

If you have a cool shower and then allow the water to evaporate off your skin… It will definitely help cool you down.

A hot water bottle filled with cold water and ice helps – keep it temporarily in the freezer, but be careful about putting ice onto skin – it burns!

A cool flannel around your neck helps, plus putting sheets in the freezer, being careful not to risk any ice burns.  There are cooling gel packs and pillows available on Amazon, but surely these must warm up fairly quickly?

In other words, there is no perfect solution.

This summer, many of us are spending more time at home due to Covid-19. A lot of homes can overheat, so it’s important we continue to check on older people and those with underlying health conditions, particularly if they’re living alone and may be socially isolated.

Overall, it’s time to be nice. As grumpy as being overheated makes all of us feel!

Finally, if you can afford £250 on a portable air con unit and have somewhere to vent the pipe, then ultimately, that’s the answer. Why didn’t I buy one at the beginning of the summer?  It’s a given that if I buy one now, it’ll be the kiss of death for any further warm days!

Well it’s August 2020, but not really “August” as we generally know it. We’re past the half way mark in this, the year of chaos, with fingers firmly crossed that things can only get better.

I am currently in the Balearics, making the very most of the “summer“ and following last week’s bumper Ibiza fashion instalment of Zips It Up, there was a huge response to the IBIZA FEST WEAR feature. The piece covered a sexy collection of Ibiza inspired swimwear, straight out of the UK, which keeps us all feeling connected to the white isle.

Former model Karen Seafield built ‘Ibiza Fest Wear’ in under 5 weeks throughout the pandemic, and is now hosting a model casting to find the face of Ibiza Fest wear, in Newcastle.

Karen has teamed up with The Purple Peacock in the city, and the event will be held on the 19^th August  at 7pm. The casting will have 3 stages and models must pay a small fee of £10 to get involved prior to the night. The event will consist of a panel of 3 judges who will make the decision of who will get through to the next stages and who will have to leave. Pre-registration is essential and can be done online at www.ibizafestwear.co.uk

The entrepreneur has chosen The Red Sky Foundation as the brand’s charity to support, this charity raises money and awareness for cardiac care for babies, children and now also for adults with heart problems across the North East and beyond.

Karen has raised over £250,000 for numerous charities nationwide over the past decade and carries on doing so into the future.

Do you think you got what it takes to be the face of Ibiza Fest Wear?

More information for the Red Sky Foundation found here, https://redskyfoundation.com/.

In this week’s round up, we check out beautiful summer espadrilles, Judge Jules merchandise and funky facemasks from upcoming designer Annie Murrey.

They’re my favourite Balearic shoes ever. I wear them constatly in Ibiza and Mallorca every summer. They are crazily comfortable, the colours of the summer (which I chose personally) and they literally complete my entire boho wardrobe. You simply have to grab a pair of these super stylish summer shoes by Alice X.

Alice X shoes are fast becoming an essential part any summer wardrobe. Over the past two years, these classically styled espadrilles with a thoroughly modern colour twist have gained an underground fanbase that keeps coming back for more.  Instantly recognisable, this year’s collection includes nine different styles, including a premium leather slider, each one oozing poolside luxury. Suffice to say, these super comfy shoes are a must for any holiday, whether home or abroad.

The UK-based business is managed by design team in London, hand-producing the shoes sustainably in limited runs in its Spanish factory. Keeping things small and only selling directly to consumers via its website has proven invaluable during this difficult year. The strategy has worked, sales have doubled, and designs are already in place for SS/21.

Alice X sent me a pair of gorgeous espadrilles in my favourite summer colours, and I adore them. You can own some too – with this special discount for for Amanda Zips It Up hipster zipsters.

I spoke to the team about their collection and current sale for summer 2020.

“We love the fact that once a customer buys our shoes, they come back for more because they like them so much. They tell all their friends about us and they buy too. You can’t beat a personal recommendation and that’s what’s really helped in this very tough market. We in turn provide exceptional customer service, and we’ll do everything we can to help. It’s the only way to be”

With a summer sale in full swing, you can own a pair of eye-catching Alice X shoes at a fantastic price – buy now for this summer, or invest for next year.

As a bonus you can use the code AZIU10 for an additional 10% off all sale prices and free UK shipping.

WWW.ALICEXGLOBAL.COM