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?