Parlez-moi d'amour, Taylor.

Below is the really rather beautiful video advertisement for John Galliano's new fragrance, "Parlez-moi d'amour", starring Taylor Momsen:

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While I'm on the subject of Taylor, a brief side note: Taylor was absolutely right to argue: "I think women should equally be allowed to pleasure themselves as much as men. I think that if that has any more controversy than a man talking about pleasuring himself, then there's something wrong with the world". Contrary to what the media say, this comment is completely acceptable for a girl of her age because self-experimentation typically starts long before one turns 17. Onanistic habits in young boys are widely accepted, and it should be the same for girls; the issue of whether or not they're of the age of consent, which is the media's main cause for concern, is irrelevant when it comes to self-experimentation.

Top of the list.

All I want for Christmas is this truly luscious set by Mimi Holliday:

New digital camera.

Super-excited today because, after days of delay due to the snowshine, my new digital camera  -  a Samsung ES28  -  has finally arrived (!). However, it's supposed to be a Christmas present from my parents, so I won't be able to use it till the big day, but in the meantime I can lust over the specs and the oh-so pretty colour:

Details:

• 12 megapixel
• 27mm wide angle lens
• 5x optical zoom
• 2.5" LCD screen

Can't wait to take some pictures of my Christmas purchases with this beauty, as well as a plethora of travel shots once I jet off to Vancouver for a few months.

Christmas beauty shoot (& blonde).

Here are a couple of shots from the Christmas beauty shoot I organised for my university's student newspaper:

My friend Ruth Wildman did the photography, I did the make-up / styling, and we both modelled (mainly because we failed to find any models last-minute who could do our limited time slot, whoops).

Also, as the second picture shows, I decided to go blonde a couple of weeks ago. In case anyone wants to try the same, I used two packs of Schwarzkopf Live XXL Color Absolute Platinum and Superdrug Colour Effects Wash-in Wash-out Ash Blonde. 

Oh, and I'm getting a new digital camera for Christmas, having been without one for a few months now, so expect some pretty pictures of my recent spoils very soon.

Insanely delicious, hideously unfair.

A sample from the new limited edition Myla 10th anniversary collection, composed of black satin, black feathers, Swarovski crystal detail, and finished off with a hand-made berry satin bow:

Ah-mazing.

You're welcome.

A beautiful present for you all:

I do love Lanvin.

Beauty shoot.

Just thought I'd share a shot from a beauty shoot I organised for my university's student newspaper, featuring the purple smoky eye and nude lip:

Photographer: Patrycja Marczewska

Model: Jade Greyul

Bleurgh & hello again.

Firstly, apologies for the recent lack of posting  -  it's sparse enough as it is, I know  -  but I've just been rather overwhelmed this past month with university malarkey, as well as carrying out my role as Beauty Editor at The Mancunion (my university's student newspaper). I could post for the sake of posting about meaningless rubbish that doesn't interest me, but that would be sad and contrived.

Anyway, excuses over. Now, on to the main point of this post: Lanvin. You see, I opened my Vogue newsletter today to find the first official image of the eagerly anticipated Lanvin for H&M collection. Behold the general awesomeness

Image Source: Vogue Online

Fashion dream come true.

Having attended the utterly fabulous Vogue Fashion's Night Out last night, look what I spied on the Vogue website this morning:

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/fashion/street-trends/100908-isabelle-dann--fashions-night-out.aspx

McQueen. C'est tout.

Recently, I purchased this Alexander McQueen ring  -  made of gold-tone brass, enamel, and Swarovski crystals  -   as a sort of "well-done-for-working-all-summer-and-not-killing-anybody" present to myself:

It cost too much, it was utterly frivolous, and now I won't be able to afford food for a while, but hey, that's fashion. The important thing is that I love it and will wear it for years to come, and with pretty much anything to boot. Some of the people I know hate the ring because they think it's too morbid, but the conflation of death and nature in all its beauty in the ring strikes me as a celebration of life rather than an obsession with death.

Iridescence is hot.

Today was my last day at Kabiri in Selfridges, but I haven't left the brand empty-handed. The other day, I purchased a souvenir of my time working with the brand in the form of this Fred Butler iridescent hair slide:

I just think that this is the coolest piece, as well as something that you just don't find in Topshop, which is always a plus when buying jewellery. I'll be wearing it for the Vogue Fashion's Night Out on 8th September.

Oh no.

I think I actually really need this By Malene Birger blouse, £145:

Jeez.

Lady Dragons.

Considering that I work at Selfridges, I thought it was about time I visited the much talked about Shoe Galleries. So, I went for a wander during my lunch hour and lusted over the Louboutins, cooed over the Choos, yet mantained an affection solely from afar due to currently completely unattainable price tag.

However, in the Velvet and Glass gallery, I came across the Vivienne Westwood Lady Dragon shoes, £110, in all their wondrous jellified glory. Now, my only issue is deciding between the following delicious colour combinations:

Pretty literature.

In order to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Puffin, six classics have had their covers undergo a designer makeover. My favourite is the ornate 3D cover for The Secret Garden, designed by illustrator Lauren Chid:

Other titles receiving makeovers are: Oliver Twist by artist Sir Peter Blake; James and the Giant Peach by sculptor Antony Gormley; Treasure Island by architect and sculptor Frank Gehry; Around the World in Eighty Days by architect David Adjaye; Little Women by fashion designer Orla Kiely. The books go on sale from 2nd September at £100 each. With only 1,000 copies of each title available, snap yours up swiftly.

I like masks.

Especially these Vanessa Tugendhaft bracelets, available at Kabiri:

Made from 18k yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, and set with white and black pavé diamonds, these bracelets (all the same size, despite picture discrepancy) are truly stunning. Stand-out yet subtle, unique yet classic  -  perfect combinations, surely?

Also, I have my heart set on the rose gold necklace version, complete with a single white diamond:

Somebody... pretty, pretty please?

YSL beauty bomb.

Suddenly, I have all this Yves Saint Laurent beauty love, so I'm going to condense it all into one juicy post for your viewing pleasure.

Firstly, I have found my best-ever mascara in the form of Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils in "Noir Radical", £21.50. I have achieved good results with Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara and Dior DiorShow Extase, although neither compare to this YSL baby. The formula is luxuriously thick and creamy yet doesn't clump, the colour the most intense black around, the brush sumptuous in size  -  plus the packaging is ridiculously sleek and glamorous:

 Also  -  a first for mascara, I've found  -  the product smells wonderful, a fresh and slightly citrus-y scent, very similar to that of the brand's Top Secrets Flash Radiance Skincare Brush.

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Secondly, I am now working in very close proximity to this beautiful creature in giant cardboard poster form and it pleases me greatly:

Although Karlie Kloss' face is oh-so compelling, you may also notice her nails, a French manicure painted in two colours from the new YSL "Rock and Baroque" nail collection. Unsure about how to apply such a creation? Invade the YSL beauty counter in Selfridges in London from 5th-18th August and visit their pop-up nail bar, where a beauty specialist from the brand will give you a "Rock and Baroque: manicure for £15, the cost of which is redeemable against all YSL products.

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Oh, man. Yves Saint Laurent beauty is just too beautiful.

Sale splurge.

May or may not have accidentally bought a beautifully structured lingerie set from Agent Provocateur the other day. See the top half in all its architectural glory below:

Image Source: Agent Provocateur

It was on sale! And in my size! I had to.

Scuba-dupa.

I'm jetting off to Lake Como, Italy, in September with some girlfriends, and so I'm on the lookout for a beautiful piece of swimwear. This neoprene bright blue bustier bikini by Lisa Marie Fernandez is oh-so tempting, and currently in the Net-a-Porter sale for £275 £110 and it just happens to be in my size...

... What's a girl to do?

New poll + Kabiri.

Vote away, people! I want to know all about your favourite autumn / winter '10 trends.

Also, I had my induction today for my new job working at the Kabiri concession in Selfridges. The brand  -  which sells jewellery  -  is ridiculously cool, selling a variety of individual designers from all over the world. Stocking fashion, costume, and fine jewellery, with prices that range from £20 to £70,000 (yes, that's the correct number of zeros), there's something in this place for everyone.

Paradoxal.

The new Chanel nail polish, "Paradoxal", hits beauty counters on 13th August. A dark violet / grey colour with a subtle shimmer, this shade is like a night-time version of "Particulière". Wear it with the pared-down muted chic of autumn / winter '10 to add a touch of glamour to your look.

Dior couture delight.

One of the most intriguing trends of autumn / winter '10 is the strong presence of colour usually reserved for spring / summer. The Dior a / w '10 couture show was a stunning example of such visuals, with grand designs in a rainbow of colours set against a fiery floral backdrop:

Images Source: Style.com

Fake fur reigns.

Having further familiarised myself with the autumn / winter '10 trends in this month's Vogue, I just had to make a quick post in homage to the Chanel collection. The abundance of fake fur injects this season with a serious shot of arctic old-school glamour, plus the enormous real iceberg on the runway surpassed the audience's expectations of drama from Karl Lagerfeld:

A handbag is for life.

Summer sales have started everywhere, and so I've picked out a beautiful investment-buy handbag:

Image Source: House of Fraser

This is a DKNY matte tan crocodile-print leather bowling bag, and I just think it will make the perfect every-day bag. Versatile colour, very spacious, beautiful design, and  -  considering that I have a few flights coming up  -  it will make fabulous hand luggage.

Post, anyone?

Okay, apologies for not having updated in forever, but I am super-busy right now working full-time for Harvey Nichols  -  money is necessary to live, apparently. However, I thought I'd just share a recent purchase of mine from the French Sole sale:

Image Source: French Sole

I'll dress them down during the summer with denim shorts, a sheer white tee, and bare legs; additionally, they'll be great for going out in the winter worn with black tights, body-con, and some form of embellished trophy jacket / blazer.

New frivolous lingerie (again).

I accidentally got sucked into the Asos sale the other day. Amongst other accessory steals (which I will feature later this week in some photographs of what I'm wearing), I purchased this Mimi Holliday set, £86 £41:

Image Source: Asos

This silk-enriched set really is just so delicious, and the coral and champagne colours make it wholly appropriate for the warmer seasons. Now, if only my other Mimi Holliday lust-have set would go on sale...

Image Source: Figleaves

Lookville.

Okay, so the other day, I was lucky enough to receive an official invite to Lookville.com, a social fashion networking site, membership for which is invite-only. The general aim is to help fellow users answer the following universal question: how do I look? Post pictures of what you're wearing, receive live feedback, then help other users with their own sartorial endeavours.

Sounds fun, no? Now, here's the really exciting bit: as a new member, I have been granted five invites to distribute as I please, and I want to give them to my readers (of course!). So, if you would like an invite, send me an email  -  izzy.dann@gmail.com  -  explaining why you think you deserve one.

Remember, Lookville is invite-only, so take advantage of this opportunity.

Oh wow.

One of my favourite simple pleasures in life is tea, especially the afternoon kind that involves cake, so imagine my utter delight upon spying this magnificent edible creation:

Image Source: Vogue.co.uk

What you witness here is none other than spring / summer '10 Prêt-à-Portea afternoon tea at The Berkeley, created by the hotel's pastry chef, Mourad Khiat. Designs featured include those from Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Sonia Rykiel, Jason Wu, Yves Saint Laurent, Erdem, and Christopher Kane.

The truly amazing combination that is forward fashion and cake  -  what more could one ask for?

Prêt-à-Portea is served in The Caramel Room at The Berkeley from 1-6pm every day, £35 per person (£43 including a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne; £49 per person including a glass of couture Champagne). To make a reservation for Prêt-à-Portea call 020 7235 6000.

Super-duper swimsuits.

Exams have just finished for me, automatically turning my thoughts to summer, of course. I just think that this bikini by Anika, £137, is wondrous:

Image Source: Asos

This nautical piece is perfect for a classic pool / seaside look, yet the bandeau twist top modernises the style. Also, it's super-flattering for those of us less amply endowed up top.

Embarrassing Topshop overload (again).

I am suddenly obsessed with mesh clothing  -  three Topshop items in particular, to be precise:

I think the first two would look fabulous together, and the cropped grey jumper would be perfect with distressed denim shorts and a tan on lazy summer days.

In other news, I acquired a bottle of Chanel Le Vernis in "Nouvelle Vague" the other day. Although the formula is annoying (three coats to achieve an even base), the colour is actually so beautiful in real life, contrary to my previous opinion that it wasn't all that special  - like wearing a Tiffany box on your nails, and ever-so-slightly iridescent in the sunshine.

Lipstick love: Pt. II.

A quick note on my latest lipstick lust-have: Lime Crime lipstick in "Airborne Unicorn". It's a bold lilac colour that I can't seem to find anywhere else  -  similar to M.A.C's "Lavender Whip", but that was a limited edition item that has now sold out  -  which is just the perfect summer shade. Moreover, the packaging is ridiculously cute (although probably not to some people's tastes). Pictures of the product and a swatch (not my own) are below:

Shades from left to right: Airborne Unicorn, Centrifuchsia, Cosmopop, Countessa Fluorescent.

Images Source: Temptalia

Available now from Space NK stores across the UK.

Lipstick love: Pt. I.

Recently, I've abandoned intricate eye make-up in favour of a statement lip. It started just over a week ago when I purchased one of the new Tom Ford Private Blend Lip Color lipsticks in "Black Orchid", which is named after his best-selling fragrance. There are a total of twelve shades in the range, all retailing at £35 each.

The colour is a highly pigmented dark raisin and the formula is deliciously creamy (ingredients include soja seed extract, Brazilian murumuru butter and chamomilla flower oil), offering excellent lip hydration yet also longevity. Moreover, the vanilla extract ingredient makes the lipstick smell wonderful.

Below are some web cam pictures of me wearing the shade, which should give you an idea of how the shade looks despite the questionable picture quality (also, excuse lack of precision in application  -  these pictures were taken after a night out at 3am, oops):

I thoroughly recommend this particular shade, especially considering that the sales assistant informed me that a nail polish in the same "Black Orchid" shade would be released around Christmas  -  this won't be the case for other shades in the lipstick range.

Finally, I have to mention the packaging of this product, which is really something special: the lipstick comes in an ivory cuboid-shaped tube, adorned with gold edges. The picture below featuring three of the other available shades  -  "Blush Nude", "Cherry Lush", and "Warm Sable"  -  demonstrates the product's aesthetic appeal:

Image Source: Temptalia

Skincare on a budget.

This is a guide for when you’ve somehow run out of all your expensive skincare products simultaneously and need a more frugal regime to see you through for the foreseeable future. This is currently my main skincare regime, except I've still got my Lancôme Tonique Douceur and Exfoliance Clarté as additions, although the toner can be skipped and I have an excellent recipe for a replacement facial scrub, plus one for a weekly face mask that I currently use. This whole regime is very effective yet gentle on the skin (thank the absence of alcohol).

1. Cleanser  -  Dove Beauty Cream Bar 2-Pack, £1.15.

Normal soap is too harsh to use on your face, but this bar from Dove is made from ¼ moisturising cream and is actually dermatologically recommended for facial use.

2. Moisturiser  -  Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly 225g, £2.39.

Some of you may be concerned that using this product on the face but I have problematic combination skin myself and can safely say that this product certainly doesn't break me out - on the contrary, it hydrates dry patches while offering enough moisture to oily areas, removing the need for excessive sebum production (a major cause of spots). Apply a very thin layer to the skin and gently spread across the face without rubbing in too much.

3. Exfoliator (use twice-weekly)  -   Recipe:

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• ½ cup sweet almond oil
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp. ground oatmeal
• 1 tsp. nutmeg

Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight jar for further use. Scrub face with mixture 2-3 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water, finish with a splash of cold to tighten pores, and pat dry.

4. Face mask (use weekly)  -   Recipe:

• ½ a medium ripe avocado
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 1 tbsp. plain yoghurt

Mash ingredients together using a fork until smooth. Apply liberally to a clean face and leave for 15 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water, splash with cold, pat dry.

Cocktail shorts.

Turns out I would actually quite care for some, having spotted this dusty pink silk pair from Topshop Boutique, £30 (oh dear, two Topshop posts in a row; not cool):

Image Source: Topshop

The perfect summer occasion dress.

Look no further than this lilac frilled number from Topshop Boutique, £120, as featured in the May 2010 edition of British Vogue below  -  it's couture without the hefty price tag or the back problems:

PS: Also in the magazine is the stunning Karlie Kloss. I just love this girl  -  her height, her ballerina body, her walk, her runway death stare:

Slouchy time.

Lounge wear complete with an element of style is very important to me for when I'm crawling out of bed to attend lectures and staying up till 5am writing essays. Intense comfort that still looks good (so that doesn't include my oversized baby pink university hoody) just makes education at unseemly hours so much more pleasurable. Hence I want a silk and modal t-shirt, £70, by Kain already:

Image Source: Net-a-porter

A loose yet perfectly formed fit, sheer fabric, and super-soft to touch. All three colours (black, grey and white), please?

Bad fashion day.

Urghh, so I failed to purchase anything yesterday at TheOutnet.com's birthday sale  -  I managed to get items into my basket a few times but the server just kept crashing a crazy amount and I could never get to payment, and this went on for over an hour. Bye-bye, beautiful 3.1 Phillip Lim cream high-waisted trousers.

Shortly afterwards, something horrendous happened: somehow, my dark denim shorts ended up in my delicate white wash and now my once pristine ivory Calvin Klein lace underwear set is virtually grey and looks absolutely ancient even though I've only had it for about one month.

All in all, a bad fashion day. However, I was slightly cheered around the midnight hours when I won this delightful Markus Lupfer sequined jumper on eBay, brand new with tags for about a third of the RRP:

Image Source: Markus Lupfer

Shoes, please.

I'm not a great fan of the whole luxe sportswear trend with one exception: the shoes. Quite simply, I need the fabulous Topshop and Kurt Geiger pairs (£130 and £160 respectively) featured below:

Image Source: Topshop

 

 Image Source: Kurt Geiger

Boudoir beauty.

Just thought I would share a two pieces of boudoir beauty. Firstly, I give you Dior ‘Creme de Rose’ Lip Balm SPF 10, £19:

 Image Source: Escentual

A slightly ridiculous amount to pay for a lip balm, granted, but this product really leaves lips super-soft and smells divinely of rose due to the precious damask rose essential oil ingredient. Plus the packaging is absolutely gorgeous, no? So simple, so chic, so French.

Next up is Paul and Joe Body Milk, £25. Initially striking is the beautiful box bottle the product comes in, followed by the bottle itself, complete with an ornate gold-tone top. When applied, the product has a delicate scent, absorbs quickly, and  -  enriched with avocado oil, almond oil, and honey  -   moisturises intensely.

 Image Source: Bohemia Design

PS: I have just added a new poll and would be very grateful if you could take the time to vote; the results could really help me improve this blog.