Halloween 2018

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Halloween costumes needn’t be scary anymore, they can be centred around just about any theme. But what might be this year’s top seller is definitely a shocker.  Introducing the “Sexy” Meghan Markle Royal Wedding Halloween Costume.

E-retailer Yandy—known for its steamy pop-culture Halloween ideas that frequently steer clear of the “PC” mark—is the brand behind the product officially called “Yandy American Princess Costume.”

So, if you are a fan of the new Royal Duchess then get ready to walk down the Halloween aisle in this exclusive “American Princess” outfit. It features a white minidress with an off-the-shoulder neckline, 3/4 length sleeves, a smooth bodice, a tulle veil with a large bow accent, a satin bow detail and a bejeweled tiara.

In these photos, the model is also pictured with a bouquet, a man’s blazer, and a Deal or No Deal-inspired metal case. So if the product name didn’t tell-all regarding the theme, the props should help you get the hint.

The costume retails for under £50.

As a much-needed reminder, here’s what Meghan actually looked like on her wedding day:

Here are some celebrities rocking actually half-decent decent Halloween costumes. Whatever you’re all up to at this week’s scary festivities, be in at Pikes in Ibiza, elsewhere in the Balearics, or on the streets of London, I’d love to see your pictures.

  

… a word form the Editor and Blogger Amanda

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Welcome to this week’s instalment of Amanda Zips It Up, brought to you from Ibiza and Mallorca.

As it’s school half term, we generally spend this week in October in the Balearic Islands as it’s always a lot warmer than London. It’s a quieter, more family orientated time of the year. Whilst the hotels and restaurants are starting to shut down for the winter in Ibiza, Mallorca – especially Palma – is still as buzzing and as lively as ever.

The only downside to October is the more unpredictable weather. When it rains it really pours in the Med, thankfully mixed with dashes of glorious sunshine. But what to do when it rains and outdoor options suddenly don’t seem so appealing?

We go shopping of course, and Palma boasts some world class shopping for sure. One shop in particular is always top of the to-do list – the international make-up emporium Sephora, which astonishingly doesn’t have a branch in London at all.

It sells all the very latest cult make-up ranges and I had to snap up this year’s ultimate beauty buy – Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Away Liquid Concealer – which I would suggest you try every shade of – from 1 -15.

It shaved years off me so immediately went in the basket, along with the iconic Benefit’s Lip and Cheek tint – Benetint in Posie. It’s not a look for everyone and can be a little dolly-like. But for me, I’m down with ‘youthful dewy pink cheeks’ giving me a glow without looking like I’ve been contouring in the mirror for hours on end. I know matte make up is uber cool right now, but I’m all for a bit of sheen.

I thoroughly recommend Sephora as a shopping experience in its own right if you’re ever in Palma. To top it off, after all that hard work, if you’re hungry then Palma boasts another iconic brand that mysteriously isn’t in London – US Mexican fast food giant Taco Bell. Not the healthiest of food choices, but this isn’t the typical Taco Bell that’s seen in some of the more run-down parts of America. It’s set in a beautiful open-air plaza in the heart of Palma, selling its iconic Mexican dishes under the Mediterranean sun.

Onto this week’s blog and we check out the cheeky Fendi shawl everyone is LOL’ing about, Kate Moss’ daughter Lila takes over and how to look attractive in a bulky winter coat.

Lila Moss For Marc Jacobs Beauty

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Kate’s daughter Lila Grace Moss celebrated her 16th birthday a week ago, by landing her first big beauty campaign. Following in the footsteps of her iconic mother Mossy, she is already a rising star in the fashion and beauty world.

As we live around the corner to the Moss family, I have seen Lila on a few occasions in her school uniform on her way to school. But looking at her in this campaign, you’d never guess she was still in class.

Lila, whose father is magazine editor Jefferson Hack, has been named the new face of Marc Jacobs Beauty, and the first photo from the campaign proves that she is a natural in front of the camera.

The brand revealed the news on Instagram by sharing an image of Lila modelling a bold purple cat-eye and a glossy nude lipstick.. The purple shadow makes Lila’s bright green eyes pop in the picture, which was taken by famed fashion photographer Davis Sims.

Kate has been friends with Jacobs for years, and has modelled for him many times, appearing in his catwalk shows on numerous occasions. And it seems as though that close bond has carried over to the next Moss generation. In a statement about the teenager’s new role as the face of his beauty brand, Jacobs reflected on his relationship with both Lila and her mother.

‘When I met Lila Grace for the first time in 2008,. At just six years old, Lila’s strong character, demeanor and great beauty was already very apparent.’

Jacobs commented the next time he saw Lila was in August 2011 at Kate’s wedding to her now ex-husband Jamie Hince. According to the designer, Lila’s ‘character was more dynamic and her beauty even greater.’

Kate then took Lila to the set of a Marc Jacobs shoot last July, and Jacobs admitted it was a ‘bit surreal’ to have them both in the studio.

Considering her mother is one of the most famous models in the world, it should come as no surprise that Kate has offered her daughter some helpful advice at the start of her career. ‘She’s always taught me to work hard and be polite, and to always make sure you’re comfortable with whatever you’re doing,’ Lila explained.

 

Kate’s 20-year-old sister, Lottie Moss, has also been working as a model, and she signed with Storm Management, the same agency that discovered Kate when she was 16.

Interestingly, Lottie was also discovered after being a bridesmaid at the same 2011 wedding where Marc Jacobs met Lila for the second time. At the time, a 13-year-old Lottie stole the show with her stunning appearance and remarkable similarities to Kate, and she was invited to meet agents at Storm just one week after the wedding photos were revealed.

Clinched Waists This Winter

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Summer is totally gone and it’s time to turn our attention to that most essential of seasonal staples, the winter coat. But sometimes this old favourite can create the biggest wardrobe let downs. No matter how expensive a choice, it can make you look a stone overweight or (worse still) a complete frump.

But time to buckle up: the belt is back to save the day.

Yes, the silhouette-enhancing power of the belt is something to consider this autumn/winter, as well as the bag-belt. Clinching in your waist with a belt changes everything, creating a more flattering and chic appearance.

Here’s a selection of the best belts to think about, with some inspiration from the street style set.

Loewe’s structured obi belt – it goes with everything.

Loewe Obi belt, £675 at Loewe.com.

A fringed on-the-ranch jacket requires a neat waist: make a western-themed belt the lynchpin of your urban wardrobe.

Mango cowboy belt, £15.99 at Mango.com.

Texture returns: pair a body-swamping chunky knit with a serving of ruffled florals and cinch with an equally tactile waist-enhancer.

Maison Vaincourt panther-leather-print belt, £191 at Modaoperandi.com.

The jeans-and-a-jacket combination still has mileage – just make sure you define the silhouette for leg-lengthening effect.

Isabel Marant Lonny leather belt, £140 at Net-a-porter.com.

A gently oversized blazer over a black crewneck plus woven leather belt spells pulled-together confidence.

Saint Laurent woven leather belt, £560 at Matchesfashion.com.

 

Gucci GG leather belt bag, £795 at Gucci.com.

 

Consider the rhinestone-spangled belt the smartest purchase you’ll make all season: it lends even the safest of outfits a stageworthy glamour.

Dodo Bar Or embellished leather belt, £550 at Mytheresa.com.

Lure an all-eyes-on-me embellished belt-bag from the festival field to the pavement: paired with a shearling coat and khakis, it suddenly loses its brash quality.

Topshop blue diamante bum bag, £26 at Topshop.com.

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The Fendi ‘Touch Of Fur’ Shawl

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Looking for something warm to snuggle up into this winter? I have been left tickled pink by a fur shawl launched by Fendi.

The £750 ‘Touch Of Fur Shawl’ comes in various colours but it is the nude shade that has provoked uproar.

People have pointed out that the scarf bears an uncanny resemblance to a vagina when flipped the other way round. Snaps of the shawl have been tweeted with the crudest of captions.

Parking the crude jokes, other voices on Twitter admitted to being ‘appalled’ by the use of fox fur on the scarf. Which I am too.

Despite the adverse reaction to the garment it is entirely sold out on designer website Farfetch. Fendi is one of the few remaining designer labels using real animal fur, after Peta campaigns saw dozens of designers switch to the faux variety. However, creative director Karl Lagerfeld has resisted.

The Peta UK Director commented: ‘Fendi’s ‘haute horreur’ and their hiring of Karl Lagerfeld, who dresses like an undertaker and enjoys putting corpses into his collections, is all quite shameful and pathetic.’

Lagerfeld replied: ‘It’s very easy to say no fur, no fur, no fur, but it’s an industry. Who will pay for all the unemployment of the people if you suppress the industry of the fur?

Sorry Karl, that doesn’t wash with me. But let’s end on a more light-hearted note and focus on the vagina similarities.

… A word from Amanda

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Hello Zipsters and welcome to this week’s instalment of Amanda Zips It Up.

As you read this, I will be packing for another Balearic jaunt to visit my favourite twins – Ibiza and Mallorca.

It’s always a gamble visiting the Balearic Islands at this time of the year – half term – as the weather can be more unpredictable than during June-September.

Whilst on sunnier days people have still been on the beach soaking up 26 degrees of Med sun, only this week Mallorca suffered from extreme freak-like flash floods, causing cars to be swept out to sea, as well as a loss of several lives.

This of course sparks the global warming debate, which has been an even hotter topic of conversation then normal in the media this week – besides the ‘Strictly Come Dancing Curse’, of course.

The effect of carbon fuels on the climate have long been discussed, but now the environmental impact of the fashion industry is

coming into sharp focus

.

Screened on UK TV this week was the thought-provoking documentary “Stacey Dooley Investigates Fashion’s Dirty Secrets”. In short, it’s not only global warming that is destroying Earth as we know it. The intense farming of cotton in the Middle East is drying up seas, and fabric dying is polluting rivers and destroying populations, all in the name of fashion. In the era of “disposable fashion” that’s so fast-moving that it has (in some market sectors) rendered the traditional fashion “seasons” redundant, a huge global problem has raised its (polluting) head.

I see this issue running and running.

Onto this week’s blog and we check out The Scumbro, The B12 Bum Shot and Ski Pants have returned!

Stirrup Leggings

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If ever there was a trend to truly come full circle, this is it. A circle that’s taken a full 30 years to rotate. Hands up, who remembers ‘ski pants’ from the 80s?

Well, they’re back, with designer status. And for 2018/19 they’ve had an equestrian re-labelling, as ‘Stirrup Leggings’. Because of the glaringly obvious stirrup, of course.

Gucci has just launched a range, in all the native Gucci, and if there’s anyone who can be trusted to revive the trends of decades past, it’s VB.

The former 90s Spice Girl went back a further 10 years, resurrecting a tricky fashion pairing on the streets of London – stirrup pants and pumps. And I have to say – I love it!

Exiting her flagship store in London’s upscale Dover Street area, the 44-year-old was snapped in stretchy ’80s style leggings, characterized by straps that loop around the heels to keep the pants in place, and a pair of soaring stiletto pumps with a pointed toe and black leather finish. I never expected myself to type the following words, but it’s a great look.

Let’s try our best to forget the hideous trend first launched by 80s fashion house Benneton as a genuine ‘Ski Pant’ to tuck into snow boots, circa 1985. This time around, they’re stylish and to be paired with heels. If you’re going to indulge, then treat yourself to a pair at Gucci for a mere £500. They must be tight on the full leg though – be warned – avoid bagginess.

The Scumbro Look

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How to dress like a total ‘Scumbro’

It’s the hottest trend in men’s fashion this Autumn 2018 and involves looking badly dressed in oversized and overpriced clothing.  Here’s how to ‘zip up’ looking like a Scumbro.

In the world of men’s fashion, it would seem the best dressed men are currently the worst dressed. Think back to ‘Grunge’ and team it with high-end designer prices. The louder, the baggier, the more mis-matched – the better. That’s the scumbro look.

In more detail, the look consists of wearing oversized, overpriced merchandise, a sprinkling of street wear logos and unwashed sportswear in neon and washed-out tones. An abundance of tattoos, some form of bleached or badly dyed hair and a comedy moustache are all good extras.

But you’d be mistaken for thinking it’s as simple as chucking on a load of baggy mismatched clothing. Getting this winning combo right takes blood, sweat, wads of cash and tears. The key to nailing the look is based on buying into brands that are inaccessible to most people. Supreme, Palace, Gucci, Versace and Prada are the key labels.

Close your eyes and imagine a man dressed in a Hawaiian print shirt worn over a Supreme t-shirt, a Gucci belt, a pair of camo track pants, a Nike baseball cap and a pair of the very latest Adidas limited drop trainers. If it was colder he would probably be wearing a fleece. Total ‘scumbro.’

The essence is that the wearer is supposed to look like they’ve made no effort, whilst emphasising how much effort it’s actually taken to look that bad. It’s the snobby/ugly combo that makes it the ultimate celeb fashion trend.

So where did it come from and what celebs should we blame/thank for it all?  Well, according to the men’s mags, the main perpetrators are Pete Davidson (the fiancé of singer Ariana Grande ), Jonah Hill and Shia LaBeouf.

Vanity Fair have hailed Jonah Hill as ‘king of the scumbros’, using a photograph of him wearing a hideous rainbow t-shirt, big baggy trousers and a pair of white slip-ons.

Pete Davidson

Labelled the most style-conscious scumbro because of his love for designer labels like Alexander Wang, Acne, Balenciaga and Gucci.

Shia LaBeouf

More ‘scummy’ than ‘bro’ the actor is snapped wearing a green fleece, cut off shorts, hiking boots and baseball cap.

Jonah Hill

King of the scumbros, Jonah, is rocking his new pink hair, favours labels like Dime and Paradise. Not one to shy away from colour, he’s the ‘one to watch’ if you’re looking for some inspiration, guys.

Justin Bieber

 Bieber scales new heights of scumbrodom every day. Long gone are his cherubic choir boy looks. His newly bleached frosty tip hair and porn star moustache have raised the bar.

Basically – look dirty, trampy and rough in at least a grand’s worth of clobber and you’ve just about  nailed it.

The B12 Bum Shot

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So, this week I had a B12 injection in my bum cheek. Some of you may be aware of B12 shots as a cure for the worst hangovers, with celebs queuing up for their jabs, the morning after the night before. But its powers go further. In beauty and health circles, B12 is hailed as a wonder boost for all sorts ailments.

 

Vitamin B12 deficiency or folate deficiency anaemia can cause a wide range of bad symptoms. These usually develop gradually but can worsen if the condition goes untreated.

Anaemia is where you have fewer red blood cells than normal or you have an abnormally low amount of haemoglobin in each red blood cell. General symptoms of anaemia may include fatigue, lethargy, breathlessness, feeling faint, headaches, pale skin, palpitations, tinnitus and loss of appetite.  Further symptoms of B12 deficiency include, a yellow hue to the skin, a sore and red tongue, mouth ulcers, pins and needles, irritability, depression and a general decline in your mental abilities.

The shots are recommended for those who suffer from tiredness, lethargy, feeling faint and becoming breathless as a result of the reduced amount of oxygen in the blood.

A lack of vitamin B12 is a common cause for anaemia, but many celebrities use them for a pep me up.

Kelly Brook revealed earlier this year that she is a fan of the treatment.

She told a UK magazine: ‘A vitamin B12 shot in the bum does the job! They make you feel amazing – you go from a little bit groggy to ‘ding!’ It’s probably not that sensible though…’

Victoria Beckham has also said how much she relied on the supplement during each of her pregnancies, while Chelsea Handler has made claims for the vitamin’s aphrodisiac qualities, tweeting: ‘Guess who’s getting a b12 shot for horniness?’

They join stars Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber, who also inject the shots, according to reports. And now me.

Google your nearest clinic for more info. Expect to feel alert, energised and a huge sense of well-being. Prices range from £25.

In the UK, vitamin B12 in the injectable form is available only on prescription and should be administered under the direction of a medical professional.

… a word from the Editor & Blogger

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Welcome to October.

For some of us, October is a month to forget about the summer’s rays, crank up the heating and dig out those warm clothes that we wished we’d never have to dig out again. For others (me), it’s about losing the summer pounds (the weight not the currency, that is). Whilst for others, this autumnal month means GOING SOBER FOR OCTOBER.

In aid of Macmillan Cancer Care, we are being encouraged to remain sober for the whole month of October, and to get sponsored to do so.  Easy for some.  More than difficult for others.

 

In the UK, around 29 million people drink alcohol. Staggeringly, 7.8 million of those have admitted to “binging” on booze during their heaviest drinking moments. That’s according to everyone’s favourite ‘stat providers’, the UK Office of National Statistics.

 

It’s therefore little wonder that alcohol awareness campaigns, such as Sober for October, have proved so popular in recent years. And this year’s initiative will no doubt see thousands more sign-up.

If you’re thinking of going sober for October but have no idea where to start (or how to break the news to your drinking buddies), you might find it easier to cut down more slowly and steadily with some drink-free days each week. After all, it can be mighty hard to resist peer pressure.

But why not go the whole hog, and perfect the expression “make mine a mocktail” for a whole 31 days?

The great thing about national campaigns like Sober October and Drink Free Days is that they are for everyone, creating a nationwide sense of community. Good luck!

www.gosober.org.uk

Onto this week’s instalment and we discover a new couture designer, check out the ‘Booby Doodle’ trend sweeping the nation and my beauty Editor Ask Aurora investigates the return of 80s makeup.

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