Couture in the Cathedral

Held between 6^th-11^th October, Truro Trend, Truro’s annual fashion week, returned to the city. The weeklong event organised by Totally Truro is a showcase for and a celebration of the latest fashions to be gracing Truro’s high-street this season. The event organiser, Charla Symons of Totally Truro said, “Truro is the shopping destination of choice for many, so we have created this annual fashion week to celebrate this”, further adding “it is an opportunity for retailers and businesses alike to give something back to their loyal customers, and to also attract new ones through special events and promotions.” I, for one, am totally championing this event; it was great to see so many people in Cornwall with a passion for fashion. The highlight of the week was the fashion show held at Truro Cathedral on the evening of Wednesday 8^th October. After thorough planning Truro Cathedral was transformed into a runway venue which wouldn’t be out of place at London Fashion Week. The evening showcased both menswear and womenswear by Benetton, Country Casuals, Austin Reed, Viyella, Henri Lloyd, East, Jaeger, Marks and Spencer, Plum, Moss and The Vor Store.

It wasn’t just about the clothes, oh no! Hair and makeup also played a massive part in creating a cohesive and visually rich show. Hair was styled by Number 8 Hair Salon, and with approximately thirty models to coiffure it was no mean feat. Stylists had cans of hairspray on hand to combat any windswept locks (trust us to put on a fashion show on the windiest day of the week). Whilst Number 8 had control of the hair there were still thirty faces un-made-up. Well, cue the Bodyshop babes. These ladies were armed with tools and products to transform the models into superstars. Every model was primed with two of Bodyshop’s bestselling products - Instablur Primer and their famous BB Cream (both products are great - I tried them myself and I love them!) before individual eye and lip colours were selected to match both the outfits and personalities of each model.

Above - Hair was straightened, curled, plaited, pinned and sprayed by the girls at Number 8 Hairdressing Truro.

Above - a before and after shot of one of the hairdos created for the show.
         

Above - all thirty of the models had looks created by the girl in Bodyshop. Even I did some of the girls make up looks :D

Above - an action shot and finished look.

Above - one of the finished looks for the Benetton Collection.

The models themselves came from all walks of life; mothers, fathers, friends of the business owners, businessmen and women to name but a few and many had had no previous modelling experience. They were however given basic catwalk training and choreography prior to the event by Juliet Matthews from Impact Model Agency based in Truro.

With hair firmly styled and final touch ups to make up complete it was time to get into the clothes whilst the 400 strong audience collected their goody bags (full of treats and offers from participating retailers) and took to their seats before the eight o’clock start.

BBC Radio Cornwall presenter Daphne Skinnard was our gracious compère for the evening whilst the fifty strong Rock Choir provided entertainment before and during the show. Split into two halves the night showcased both casual and formal looks from all brands reaching out to a diverse market both young and old. The range of looks on show was varied, spanning the timeless styles of Marks and Spencer, Jaeger and Viyella, to modern twists on classic suiting and casual wear from Moss Bros, Austin Reed and Henri Lloyd to the high end and fashion forward collections from The Vor Store and The United Colours of Benetton. Every single one of the models looked fabulous on the stage and shone in their own unique way. To put it succinctly, there was something for everyone.

From start to finish the Cathedral was full of smiling faces, laughter and appreciation of the fashion on display. It really was a brilliant atmosphere to be immersed in. Congratulation should be given organisers and businesses involved for creating such a brilliant event - I can only imagine Truro Trend getting bigger and better in coming years and that is really very exciting. To sum up, in the words of the fashion show’s signature tune, “Rather Be” (Clean Bandit feat. Jessie Glynn) “there’s no place I’d rather be” than Truro Trend!

Till next time
R x

Hair - http://www.number8hairdressing.com/ or find them on Facebook at Number 8 Hairdressing
Make Up - http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/
All photographs - Roland Bray @ that's so roland

Truro Trend #streetstyle

I took to the streets on Wednesday to see if I could capture some of Truro's hottest street style! Sadly the weather was pretty rubbish so most people had donned waterproofs over wool and brollies over bralets but I did manage to find a few gems on my hunt around!

Holly. Jacket and Shorts - Enjoy Vintage Truro

This jacket stoof out instantly, from the bold colour blocking, to the shoulder pads and the trimming, I love everything about this jacket! It definitely brightened up the grey day!

Aline (left) layering vintage All Saints and Anon (right) hat, top, jeans and boots from TOPSHOP, coat from New Look.

Layering is always a key trend for autumn winter. Like Aline on the left you can layer lots of thinner pieces to create a look full of depth or like our blonde bombshell on the right you can have a simple outfit layered with one statement coat. Both girls look great!! 

OOTD - Rachael. Duster Coat, Check Shirt, Jeans - TOPSHOP. Shoes - H&M

I am loving Rachael's colour co-ordinated outfit. With black jeans and shoes acting as a solid base it allows the check shirt to stand out, the green duster coat adds subtle layering whilst also pulling on the green from the check and the look is tied together by the matching red lippy! LOVE IT!!

It's my plan to get some more street style snaps from now on!

Get those outfits ready peeps... I'm coming for you!

Much love

R x

#street style - Dark Craft Glamour

I've photographed Rachael for my blog before and when I saw her the other day I couldn't resist snapping her again. I loved her deliciously gothic inspired outfit.

The black dress looks great underneath the burgundy fluffy jumper (bonus points for use of texture!! she was so soft). I'm also loving the cut out leather ankle boots, I basically love black ankle boots (it's hard to go wrong with them).

Also, I am loving Rach's choice of burgundy lip colour, colour coordination at its best!

The Damned: TOPSHOP A/W 13 Makeup Collection

I know I blog a lot about TOPSHOP but I do work there so I have a first look at products!

Today I want to have a look at some of the A/W makeup collection. With Halloween a week today it is aptly named "The Damned". I love this collection and I already own a few products from it!

(I haven't had time to swatch these yet, but I hope too as soon as possible)



My favourite product is the Illuminating Face Powder - £14

Everyone should own a finishing powder and this is one of the best ones I've used.

The product has a  delicate fragrance and is beautiful smooth to the touch. To look at the product, at first glance has a shimmer to it and one may think it is a highlighter however, once buffed onto the skin with a powder brush you get no shimmer at all. The product does two things at once, it mattifies (which is great because no-one wants to be shiny) and it also gently diffuses light hitting the face for a perfectly smooth complexion. 

I'd say go and buy this, but be quick as I have a feeling this will sell out quickly!

Cheek and Eye Duo - £12

Named Bitten Cherry the cheek and duo is a lovely addition to the collection. The compact is split into two halves, one darker pink and one a frosty pale pink.

The darker colour works as a contour/blush when used on the cheeks and the lighter side working well as a highlighter. Also the two can be used on the eyelids for a frosty pink delicately smoky eye.

I've not used this product myself but I think has good potential.

Lips - £8

I have reviewed TOPSHOP lipstick before and I will again because they are great. At £8 each I think these lipsticks are a bargain for their quality. The three I've chosen to review are Wicked (left) Called Up (centre) and Ruthless (right)

Wicked is a lovely burgundy colour and comes in a creamy finish and gives long wearing moisture. This colour looks great with a clear gloss, for high shine vampiric drama.

Called Up has more purple undertones and the final colour is a beautiful berry colour. The finish of this product is again creamy, providing moisture throughout the day.

Ruthless is the most dramatic lipstick in the collection. It has a blue base and comes out a really deep almost black colour. Coming again in creamy finish this product won't dry your lips out. I say for ultimate drama apply a couple of layers and finish with a gentle dusting of translucent powder for a matte finish.

Velvet Lip - £10

A new product out there. Velvet Lip is a ultra pigmented lip cream drying to a powdery soft, ultimate matte finish. It comes in three colour Plush (middle) is a gorgeous purple colour. There is also Raven (right) which is a pure black and Velveteen Ribbons (left) a lovely deep red colour. 

These products dry very quickly so you need to apply as quickly as you can. First line the lips with a lip liner as close in colour to Velvet Lip as you can get and then get applying! It takes some practise as it's not like a normal lip colour but once you get it right it will look incredible.

Eye Gleam - £9

I've been waiting for TOPSHOP to make these and I hope they make more colours as I love them. These can be seen as a good dupe for the MAC paint pots. Eye Gleam is a mousse creamy eyeshadow. Coming at the moment in three colours Winter Frost (left) Bronze (centre) and Noir (right).

The products work great as a base for eyeshadows and as stand alone colours. They are heavily pigmented and have great lasting power. Winter Frost is a lovely pearlescent white colour, as well as an eyeshadow smooth a thin layer under the arch of the eyebrow for a cheeky highlight. Bronze does exactly what it says on the tin, a beautiful copper colour gives rich and warm tones. Noir is just amazing! The colour is a beautifully dark, a inky black colour with shimmer. It looks great in the light and creates a dramatic and sultry smoky eye. 

Matte Nails - £6

Matte nails are the most fashionable nails around at the moment. If you're going to paint your nails this A/W then try a matte nail varnish. Keeping in with the Halloween theme TOPSHOP have created a lovely range of deep, rich matte nail colours.

Brutal (left) is a gorgeous berry/purple colour. Drizzle (middle) is a purple-ly based steel grey (one of my favourites, it's so chic) and also Dress Up (right) a gorgeous red colour, get your vamp on!

Whichever shade you choose, you cannot go wrong with a matte nail.

Like I said I love this collection and I'm sure you will too! Let me know how you get on with any of these products if you go and get them!

Much love

R x

sartorially spooky: the Halloween trend

With Halloween not far away, what would autumn be without a dark and moody trend? The key is in the title, gothic, and black is (as the saying goes) the new black.  This does not mean that I suggest you all dye your hair black and wear extreme platform boots, the fashion industry has moved on to a more sophisticated take on Gothic. 

MEN: Your key item for this is the black super skinny jean. Use this as your base and then create your outfit around this. Another great piece is the black blazer; you can never fail with sharp, crisp tailoring and a black blazer will become so multi functional. You would be silly not to buy one. Why not try layering black mesh over black jersey for a gothic/sports mix? Or keep it smart but teaming a charcoal turtle neck (yes they are back) with a black blazer and tailored trouser? Or keep it grungy by teaming ripped black skinnies with a dark grey oversized sweatshirt. My top tip for this trend is to NOT treat it like a costume. Make it your own; just keep the colour palette dark.

LADIES: The key here is texture and mixing of texture. You will see everything from high shine vinyl to soft matte leathers. Also think lace and velvet. Fur and sheer netting. As with the gents the base colour here is black but there have been some cheeky pops of acid colour (mainly lime green and cerise pink) to break up the monochrome feel. One of my favourite pieces is the TOPSHOP all in one disco suit which provides a great base for layering other items. A good black coat is also going to prove to be a staple investment and I'd say for this trend why not rock a leather biker jacket - it'll keep it edgy. Think dark lipstick too, Urban Decay do a brilliant one called SHAME. It is a gorgeous deep berry colour and will work brilliantly with this trend. 

I recently took this photo of my work colleague Iona as I think this outfit is great. Iona wears the disco all in one (linked above) with a crystal blossom print t shirt and turquoise "Gwenda"stilletoes. The finishing touch for me here is the lace cat ears. It really adds some fun to the whole piece.
All - TOPSHOP

I haven't covered everything because I could ramble for ages and ages and that wouldn't be fun for anyone, but, I will try and get some more pics up as soon as I can because this trend is great!

R x

i bought new shoes

I have gone totally mad for Dr Marten shoes and boots this a/w. Yesterday I treated myself to pair of the black Dr Martens 1461 Shoe. I have wanted them for so long and I finally bit the bullet and got them. I am so happy with them. They are, (as DMs tend to be) notoriously stiff but I actually found them really comfy, they only rubbed a tiny bit and I have no blisters (yay) which is always good news!

If you are looking to grab yourself a pair here is the official Dr Martens weblink;
http://store.drmartens.co.uk/p-461-dr-martens-1461-shoe.aspx

#ootd

This is an outfit I wore a while ago but I think it fits in with my post about the heritage trend. With what has proven to be a warm autumn so far it is still acceptable to wear a short sleeve shirt out and about. I love this green plaid shirt from TOPMAN, the material is really nice and it hangs perfectly off my shoulders. I paired it with black skinnies (standard for me) and my bargain vintage Dr Marten boots (I got them for £13!)

This outfit would look great in colder months too, just layer up with a stone coloured cardigan and denim jacket! If the weather is wet (which it most likely will be soon) why not try a wax jacket or parka.

Shirt - TOPMAN

Jeans - TOPSHOP

Boots - Dr Martens

#street style

Something I really want to do more of is street style. from now on I'll be taking my camera out with me where I go and take pictures of inspiring outfits, or outfits I find interested.

To start, I want to share with you one of my work colleagues and dear friends Rachael. She always looks great and I have taken a few photos of her in the past and I think it's the right time to share my favourite with you.

I adore this outfit. It's as simple as that. The simplicity of this outfit really shines through for me. The snakeskin 3/4 sleeve shift looks great on Rachael's frame and looks great paired with black leather cut out boots (cut out leather will be big this winter). Simple gold jewellery finishes the look off perfectly.

Dress and Boots - TOPSHOP

Rachael also has her own blog; http://www.little-sister.co.uk/
Go and check it out
R x

#bloglovin

GREAT NEWS! You can now follow my on BLOGLOVIN! All you have to do is click the image on the right hand of the screen and blog you can follow me :)

go on... you know you want too.

R x

Return to Tradition

Now that summer is over, we see a turn away from the bright colours and harsh clean lines that we saw with S/S13. This trend is all about cosy warmth that you associate with winter. Time to think check shirts, Aran knitwear, boots and a big overcoat. Traditional heritage pieces and the great British outdoors influence the trend and although this suggests the countryside (which may seem dull) the trend effortlessly stylish whilst being practical for the time of year. Layering is perfect to create a look for this trend. My best suggestion would be to wear multiple thin layers rather than just one or two big ones as you can take off or add on depending on how you feel. Key pieces to look out for cable knit jumpers; stick to muted colours, like stones, burgundy’s, rusts and olives. Denim is also but think raw indigo denim or darker blues, these look amazing when worn with the brown boot. Boots are important for this trend and A/W 13 sees a thicker soled more hardwearing design. This trend will allow you to go out and enjoy what the great British outdoors in style.

As it's not too cold at the moment I haven't layered too much in this outfit. I have layered however by teaming a flannel check shirt with denim shirt. I have paired this with my staple black skinny jeans and green Dr Martin books.

This is one of my favourite trends as it's wintery and cosy so I will post more outfits/ways to wear over the next few weeks.

Check shirt - TOPMAN

Denim Shirt - Vintage Wrangler

Jeans - TOPSHOP

Shoes - Dr Martins

banish the brass

Blonde, highlighted or silver hair is the easiest of hair colours to become dull and lifeless. In order to combat this you need the help of a dear, dear friend; silver shampoo.

There are so many out there to choose from so which one do you go for? I have tried and tested a few and I want to share with you 4 that have really stood out for me!

Daddy-O by Lush

I have to admit I had never bought from Lush before but when I got given a sample of their silver shampoo I was completely bowled over. The product smelt amazing, really fruity and was a gorgeous iridescent purple colour. The tone was warm so I was unsure as to whether this would combat brassiness but it worked brilliantly. The product mixes violet pigments with the power of lemons to create a shampoo that neutralises yellow tones whilst adding superb shine. Unlike other silver shampoos I've tried this one didn’t leave my hair feeling dry and sticky once I’d rinsed it out. It is quite strong though, I tend to leave my silver shampoo in for a while but after just five minutes or so my hair had turned a pale lavender colour (which I loved) but be careful! It comes in three sizes at increasing prices; 100g for £5.25, 250g for £10.45 and 500g for £16.75 so buying the bigger size is better value for money!

Touch of Silver by Pro-Voke

This is my all time silver shampoo bargain! If I’m feeling stretched for cash mid pay month then I will buy this. Retailing at £3.09 in Boots this product is a bargain, and, it works so well! The product is a really deep violet colour, a lot bluer than the Lush competitor. This has the added bonus of neutralising more orange tones as well as the dreaded yellow! The product has a pleasant smell but is not as fruity as Daddy-O. I like leaving this product on for about 15-20 mins as it makes my hair go a gorgeous silver colour. This result is not guaranteed as everyone’s hair is different, some peoples hair will take the shampoo much better so be careful with how long you leave it for! The one downfall I've found with this product is it makes my hair feel quite dry before I condition it but once I've popped my conditioner on it’s back to normal. Unlike other brands Pro-Voke have also got an entire range of products designed for blonde, highlighted or gray hair, including hair spray and dry shampoo.

Violet Toning Shampoo by Fudge

I love this product but it is very strong! If you leave this on for too long it will give you lilac hair. The product is more of premium brand than the other two I have reviewed so uses stronger ingredients. If you want gentle toning then I would suggest mixing the product with your normal shampoo. For stronger toning use on it’s own, but again be careful how long you leave it on for. I have found it quite hard to source this product as not many places sell Fudge but I have managed to source it on Amazon for £10.38 (online price correct at time of writing) so it is more expensive but it will last you ages as it is so strong.

Fashionista by TIGI

This product has only recently been released for sale. I was told about it by my hairdresser and I was so excited. This is TIGI's first proper silver shampoo and it is overdue. This has to be my favourite out of all the silver shampoo's that I've tried. It comes out much lighter in colour to the others so at first I was unsure about how well it would tone my hair. I also noticed that it looked a bit sparkly. I proceeded to wash away. It worked up a nice lather, and smells amazing! I can't put my finger on the scent but it is incredible! You can leave this product on from between 1 and 10 minutes, I obviously left it on for 10 as I wanted the best toning results! After I washed it out my hair felt clean and soft, not like some of the other products I have used which had left my hair feeling dry and matted. I followed up with my usual conditioner and my hair felt so healthy. The colour was also better than I had expected, it had really neutralised the brassier sections of my hair and the small sparkly bits had really added shine to my hair. For £11.95 it doesn't cost much more than any of the others so if you can afford it then get it as it is so worth it. There is also a violet conditioner as well which I am hoping to trial soon!

There are of course other brands of silver shampoo out there so please feel free to leave a comment on any you have tried and tested.

I hope you may have found this post helpful. Until next time, bye!

R x

Men's Trend: Sports Luxe

Over the next few weeks I aim to give an overview of the A/W 13 trends for both men and women and include images of trend looks my friends, random people and myself have created! so, here goes...

The first trend I will address is 

Sport's Luxe

This trend is the most transitional from S/S 13 but sportswear continues to be big for A/W. Influenced by the American sports scene and street-wear of the 1990’s the look is oversized and super casual. The trend places emphasis on oversized mesh and jersey tops worn over skinny denim or joggers. The jogger has been completely revamped for the new season taking a much skinnier silhouette than its predecessors in turn making it much more wearable for 2013. A key piece for this trend is the trainer. Whatever the brand you should invest in a pair as they will see you perfectly over the season and I would’ve though into S/S 14 as well. Keep the colour palette for this trend simple; think monochrome or tonal grey, however, add fun by inserting some colour through accessories or runners.

The Look - simple sports styling created using four items. Blue short shorts are teamed with an oversized red sweatshirt. When teamed with white socks and trainers in complementary colours you achieve a simple yet fashion conscious sports look.

Oversized Sweatshirt: WILD PONY Vintage and Urban Apparel 

Sports Shorts:  WILD PONY Vintage and Urban Apparel

Trainers: TOPMAN

Socks: Model's own

Photography: Emma Griffin at Griffin Photography 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Griffin-Photography

http://www.griffin-photography.co.uk

#ootd

Had a monochrome day at work yesterday which I think is the perfect time for simple, classic styling. For this outfit I paired a crisp, white, oversized shirt with super skinny black jeans and black suede tassel slippers. For accessories I kept it simple and added a small set of collar tips!

Shirt - Vintage
Jeans - TOPSHOP
Shoes - TOPMAN
Collar Tips - TOPMAN

#ootd

Yesterday I wore this. I paired the oversized all over print cross tee with super skinny Leigh jeans and black "Vans" style shoes.

t-shirt and shoes from TOPMAN (www.topman.com)
jeans from TOPSHOP (www.topshop.com)