Unlike many, I have never understood the obsession with tattoos. Even less so, now that  inking your eyeballs has become a thing. Even if you go blind.

 I believe that many folk will regret some or all of their tats as they grow older. 

Nevertheless, they’re a “thing”, and his week during my fashion research, I’ve come across 5 stories about tattooing the whites of your eyes.

This particular obsessive forked out more than £30,000 on body modifications and claims she only found happiness after getting her eyeballs coloured blue – despite going temporarily blind.

She said: “My eyeballs caused me the most immense pain I’ve endured so far, but they’re worth it! “Every morning when I wake up and look at my eyeballs, it makes me happy because blue is my absolute favourite colour!”

 “I can’t even begin to describe to you what the feeling was like, the best thing I can give you is once the eyeball was penetrated with the ink, it felt like [the tattoo artist] grabbed 10 shards of glass and rubbed it in my eye.

 “If your eyeball procedure is done correctly, you’re not supposed to go blind at all. I was blind for three weeks. That was pretty brutal.”

Explaining how her love for tattoos developed, as she got older, she began to cover more of her body in ink, which now boasts a number of face tattoos and eyeball colouring. She even had her tongue split and had a silicone implant in her eye to look like a ‘pixie’.

The jury is out there – do you find this attractive or not?

It’s a no from me. The question is – will changing your body so radically make you truly happy?

I didn’t expect to be saying such a thing, but if you’ve been looking for a new pair of jeans then it’s time to pay Marks and Spencer a visit. 

Jeans can be flattering or very unflattering. The ascendancy of Topshop Skinny Jeans over Levis 501s meant we all looked slimmer in denim. As long as it was black denim, of course. Pale blue denim has long been a massive no.

In 2020: Introducing ‘Magic Jeans’ at M&S.

The Magic Jean gives you your best, most flattering fit, thanks to clever design details and innovative fabric technology. The new wardrobe staple comes in three authentic washes, black, indigo, and medium indigo, and two fits, classic skinny and a straight leg.

• Magic Jean, £39.50, Marks and Spencer  

The jeans are full of clever features for their most flattering fit yet, including innovative 360 control fabric, a no gape waistband, shaping darts to give an extra lift and a hidden front pocket for extra shape and support.

All jeans come in size 6 – 24, and will be available online and in store, priced at just £39.50.

Marks and Spencer have also moved to sourcing more sustainable cotton through partners including the Better Cotton Initiative. This means 100% off the cotton M&S uses has been ethically sourced.

There you go. I’ve recommended M&S for the first time. Will there be another?

I know that many of you are fans of music and art. Well, here’s someone who has made waves in both worlds. Davey Brown is a Newcastle-based artist who specialises in stylish, pop art portraits of music, sport and film legends. 

Davey spent time dabbling with various ideas and mediums, before settling on acrylics as his preferred choice of paint. He started off painting his favourite actors, footballers and DJs. Subjects such as Robert De Niro, Alan Shearer and Frankie Knuckles crystallised Davey’s interest in portrait art, and the rest is history.

Six exhibitions later and with a long list of clients, including a number of Premier League footballers and music stars, Davey Brown is an artist on the rise. An exhibition in Ibiza as part of the Primavera festival at Atzaro being among the highlights.

The next exhibition is already on tour, thus far reaching London, Kidderminster, Ibiza and Glasgow, after the launch in Newcastle which attracted 250 people. A host of top DJs have played at each leg.

The current exhibition is called ‘The History Of House’, featuring portraits of early US DJs such as Frankie Knuckles and Marshall Jefferson, pus the iconic clubs/parties, the whole Ibiza scene from the beginning and legendary UK DJs like Danny Rampling, Paul Oakenfold, Judge Jules and many more. Davey has a huge passion for House music, so it was only natural that he should use its icons as subject matter.

The Ibiza leg of the exhibition was held at Las Mimosas boutique hotel in San Antonio Bay, owned by Grupo Mambo. The Cafe Mambo team were right behind Davey in putting the show together – here is a BBC piece filmed at the exhibition, which was shown on the BBC national news and on BBC North East:

Davey has a further 24 UK dates added, plus more abroad including a return to Ibiza. The UK dates include the Brighton Music Conference, Clockstock, Hardwick Festival and This Is Our House. Full tour dates and venues are on Davey’s website.Despite the busy exhibition schedule, Davey is available for commissions for canvas paintings and wall murals. He is branching out into customising furniture, album covers, backdrops etc. Check out Davey’s work at www.daveybrownart.com and www.facebook.com/DaveyBrownArt

Sawasdee. That’s hello in Thai.

I’m back from Asian adventures, having visited what is now apparently a “danger zone”.

I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve been pretty nervous about this whole Coronavirus thing. Not that we were anywhere near China. But Thailand is still South East Asia, and simply walking through Bangkok airport was sinister enough, with absolutely everyone wearing face masks. Including me.

Typically, I bought one in every colour to match that day’s outfit, but obviously it’s a lot more serious than that. 2020 has certainly been a surreal year so far, with Social Media Suicide, Boris’ Brexit Bullshit and this awful virus – and it’s still only February. I’m praying that Spring and Summer bring some brighter tidings.

So, I’ve had a little (Asian) taste of Summer already, and prior to that I had to get my “beach body” ready. Which entailed diet, exercise and the obligatory Pedicure, in preparation for the mandatory flip flops.

But what happens if you don’t have time for that all important Pedi?

Are you concerned about having ugly feet this summer? If so, no worries, we’ve got you covered. 

Check this out, which I posted on my socials to HUGE response – people genuinely believed these ‘real feet slides’ actually exist. I feel compelled to properly credit the creators, since I’ve had a lot of people asking. They’re made by a group called Prosthetic Silicone Skins.

Let’s crack on with this instalment of Amanda Zips It Up as we discover beautiful fabric conditioner, learn why the “pout is out” and investigate how Primark has the official Kardashian stamp of approval.

As the world’s Queen of selfies, Kim Kardashian never has a hair out of place, and much of the time it’s thanks to her hair stylist, Andrew Fitzsimons.

And now everyone can give their hair the same treatment, as the A-list hairdresser has collaborated with Primark, to launch a budget hair care range. 

The Dublin-born stylist announced his collaboration with Primark last week, revealing he had put his “heart and soul” into creating a line that was accessible to all. Sharing the news on Instagram, he wrote: “My biggest goal was to blow the doors off the hair industry and open it up to ALL women, ALL, hair types, ALL ages at a price EVERYONE can afford.

The AF collection, which is now available in stores nationwide, includes both products and tools to ensure that you look Insta ready.

Kylie Jenner shared the products on her own Instagram Story, congratulating the stylist.

And with prices starting at just £2 you can afford to experiment. Amongst the products is the #PrimarkXAF luxurious hair oil, £3.50, which promises to give you frizz-free shine.

For anyone harbouring any doubts, Andrew revealed that he already uses the products on Kardashian hair. “Khloe is such a fun client and just loves the glam. “I use my Primark x AF Texture Spray to take her hair from flat to instant volume.”  If it’s good enough for the Kardashians….

Also happening at Primark in 2020, Brides-to-be are going wild after the store launched a bridal section, selling key wedding essentials.

Snaps of the new collection have been ‘excitedly’ shared online, featuring party accessories, lingerie and nightwear with intelligent slogans such as ‘bride to be’.

There’s a fairly decent kid’s wedding outfit section too, so that littleuns can wear the dress just for one day and spill everything down it, at only £8.

While prices haven’t been revealed for the entire range, it’s assumed that Primark will be sticking with its signature affordable deals.

If I had to narrow down my all-time favourite scents, Thierry Mugler’s Angel perfume is top of the list. A close second would be Alien, because it’s floral, it’s woody and it lasts forever.

But I go through it like water and it isn’t cheap. However, I have just heard through the grapevine that fans of this perfume have tracked down a new fabric softener which smells just like Alien.

Fans of Alien perfume say that Zolflora’s Midnight Blooms and Lenor’s Exotic Bloom smell just like the floral fragrance.

Now, I’m not one for buying fabric conditioner, because in 2020 we just chuck an all-in-one tablet into the washing machine, but this has changed my mind-set completely. Maybe my bottle of Alien will now last longer than a couple of months, provided I douse my clothes in Lenor’s Exotic Blooms.

The classic perfume Alien has amassed something of a cult following, thanks to its rich amber scent and woody, jasmine top notes. And it looks like Lenor might have been inspired by the fragrance – which has a floral base with notes of sweet amber.

Whilst a bottle of Alien will set you back the best part of £80, Lenor’s fabric softener costs just £2.99 from supermarkets – and it might just help your fragrance go a bit further.

Needless to say, shoppers are now desperate to get their hands on a bottle of the softener – which lasts up to 52 washes. 

I’m off to Tesco.

“London Fashion Week designer bans pouting on his runway – to encourage people to smile more”…

When we think of models walking down the runway, chances are you envisage a series of tall, glamorous women fiercely pouting and looking serious.

But designer Richard Quinn has knocked this on the head for his Autumn Winter 2020 collection – instructing the models to crack a smile whilst showcasing his designs.

For his London Fashion Week show, the designer teamed up with Colgate toothpaste – the official sponsor of LFW – to make his catwalk a “pout free” space.

In the run-up to the show, models had been trialling Max White Ultimate Whitening toothpaste – which I use too – surprising audience members by flashing their dazzling white smiles, instead of the traditional pouts usually seen on the catwalk.

And Richard isn’t the only one determined to turn frowns upside down. Recent Colgate research found that 40 per cent of women avoid smiling in photos, and I have to say I hate my smile too. Paradoxically, despite this stat, half of those polled said that a smile is the first thing they notice about someone.

So, get the toothpaste out, and remember this year’s biggest fashion trend is to smile. Just find your best side and angle.

T’was the week before Valentine’s, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…

Does this sound like you – no hot Valentine’s dates planned at all? What are you doing wrong? Are you wearing the wrong scent? Well, check out this story I stumbled across this week.

Before heading for a night out, any lengthy pampering routine just wouldn’t be complete without a spritz of perfume, right? Because we all assume a touch of Chanel No.5 is going to send all the right hormonal signals.

However, a scientist has given all new meaning to the term “signature scent” revealing that her “vagina juice” is her perfume of choice for an evening out on the town.

Sharing an excerpt of her new book “The Game of Desire with Refinery 29”, sexologist Shan Boodram was surprised by just how much attention her “delicious scent” attracted. The author claims to have worn her own natural scent several times over the years, and noted how people often “flock to her”.

Determined to test the theory out on other women, Shan asked three of her clients to see if coplulins –  chemicals secreted by the vagina – would also attract anyone, if used as perfume.

Shan asked the women to gather in the toilets of a bar. She wrote: “I instructed them to wash their hands, get in a cubicle and then move their finger around their vaginal opening. The goal was to get a sample from the Bartholin’s glands, which are the size of a pea but play a large role in vaginal lubrication”.

Shan then asked them to rub “a good amount of wetness” on their pulse points and around their collarbone and neck.

Sadly, Shan’s clients reported that they didn’t have much more success with men than beforehand. But while they might not ultimately have met “the one” as a result of the experiment, the sexologist was impressed that not one of the women wanted to wash off their “perfume” at the end of the night. She also claims it makes women “act in a bolder, more confident manner” which, in turn, could make them appear more attractive.

Is there any science behind it?

Wearing your vagina scent to bag a date might sound bonkers – but on a broader scientific level, pheromones have been proven to play a big part in human sexuality and attraction. 

So, there you have it, this could help, a strategy for Friday 14^th Feb.

Onto this week’s instalment of Amanda Zips It Up and we discover the new Brow Trend adopted by Gucci,investigate Stella McCartney’s advice on keeping clothes clean and tell you how logo nails are so 2020.

I get it, that eyelashes make one’s eyes “pop”. I use fake eyelashes regularly. But what I’m NOT going to do is stick them on my eyebrows.

Nevertheless, this is what fashion brands are doing to their poor models right now, for some reason. And I really don’t get it. Gucci’s Spring 2020 Catwalk Show featured just that, as the models walked the runway wearing fake lashes applied directly on top of their brows. Apparently, it was makeup artist Thomas de Kluyver’s idea.

Now, anyone with taste should utterly adore Gucci, in fact, I admire all of their work, but this is madness. Are people really so “out of ideas” that they resort to such silly “hacks”? Surely the clothes speak for themselves?

The models were all laid with lashes in a surreal and fake style. Suffice to say, some of these models simply look mad. I bet some were angry, because this is crossing the line into “weird” territory.

I’m not saying that these models look all bad. Of course not, they are gorgeous. But a tarantula on the face doesn’t look pretty to me, so I’m going to pass on trying it at home. 

Fashion is getting exhausting these days. I can’t wait for someone to use nail polish as lipstick.

Stella McCartney’s models and celebrity customers never look less than immaculately dressed. Famous fans range from the Duchess of Cambridge to supermodel Kate Moss and Oprah Winfrey. My favourite ‘smart coat’ for fancy occasions is a Stella.  

Stella has this week advised us that it is better to simply brush dirt from clothes, rather than put them in the wash, saying: “I’m not a fan of dry cleaning or any cleaning, really.” Instead, she said, when it comes to a bespoke suit, “Let the dirt dry and brush it off”.

The designer has made a name for her sustainable fashion choices, prioritising eco-friendly materials and production methods for her global brand.

Asked what she thought about dry cleaning, McCartney explained that she had learned the benefits of avoiding cleaning whilst learning her trade with the tailors on Savile Row. “Their suits are like architecture. It’s amazing,” she said of the industry. “And the rule on a bespoke suit is you do not clean it. You do not touch it. You let the dirt dry and you brush it off. I am incredibly hygienic myself, but I’m not a fan of dry cleaning or any cleaning, really.”

McCartney regularly speaks about the importance of ethical fashion, with her stores using LED lighting, sustainable wood and paper, wind power and – on Bond Street – decorative rock and moss shipped from her father Paul McCartney’s farm on the Mull of Kintyre.

Recent changes to the fashion industry, which have seen brands increasingly emphasise their eco-credentials to appeal to a new market, driven by young buyers demanding more.

Stella’s brand publicises the “Clevercare” system, which “reminds us all to consider the environment when washing, drying and taking care of our clothes”.

Its recommendations include thinking twice about washing, instead airing and brushing clothes or spot cleaning stains. Washing on a low temperature, hanging to dry outside, and ironing only when strictly necessary are also advised, along with finding an “eco or green” dry cleaner.