Royal Wedding..Fuss over Kate's Gown! Oldfield design? Not! Prince William ready to trot!

                                                     

Prince William to sport Military Uniform featuring red tunic!

(though formal morning coat suits future King)

Though the frenzied press is still knocking on doors - in a sly bold-faced effort to get the "goods" on the future Princess's much-ballyhooed wedding frock under lock-and-key out-of-sight from the world-at-large - one thing is certain.

Mike Oldfield did not whip up Kate's coming-out designer gown for the Wedding of the century!

The pressure was so great that the celebrated designer was forced to tip his hand at the 11th hour.

No chic spendiferous gown was crafted out of his studio to boast about!

In spite of the fact, Oldfield was the bookies' favorite (with odds of 1-3) to edge out the leading designers elbowing for the prestigious assignment.

Meanwhile, a curious world gazes on bemused by it all, as the final hours tick away before the big day in Jolly Old England across the pond!

Of course, it you can't land the headliner - just maybe - it's time to settle for second best.

Uh-huh!

Now, the frenzied media has focused its searing lens on the wedding party, young-and-old alike.

Kate's reluctance to spill the beans, has been a blessing in disguise for the Royal couple's minions in tow, after all.

Ladies-in-waiting, the Maids-of-honor - you name it - are stepping forward into the spotlight to model their stylish threads before the Royal heads roll at the crack-of-dawn tomorrow.

The tony elite worming their way out of the expensive woodwork are turning heads - and in the process - rustling up a lot of scuttlebutt about this 'n that.

For instance, Chelsy Davy - a high-profile South African heiress - will dazzle the lookie-loos in the packed streets outside Westminster Abbey with one of two spiffy outfits whipped up for the Royal occasion.

Although there has been quite a bit of chat about the Italian designer Albert Ferretti - who fashioned the exquisite creations - the juicy gossip around town is that Chelsy may very well end up between-the-sheets with Prince Harry (a casual boy-toy boyfriend) on his brother's night of wedded bliss.

Oh, would I like to be a fly on Harry's bedroom wall tomorrow night.

As to the outfits, well, it is rumored that the socialite will don an aqua blue green bias reverse satin short dress with a faille silk jacket of the same color in the shoulder and back.

The jet -set Diva will change into a midnight blue crepe satin gown off one shoulder with cutout detail on the back for a party in the early eve.

Word out of the Palace today is that  Camilla - step-mom to the Princes - will strut stylishly in an Anna Valentine gown; after all, Valentine designed the frock that Bowles wore to her own wedding to Prince Charles a few scant years ago.

With just a day to go, the world still knows next-to-nothing about what Prince William’s bride will wear, to mark her transition from commoner to princess.

There is a distinctive buzz in the air, though.

Some are whispering that Kate fiddled with a few fabrics at home one night - and essentially - designed the gown she is about to ceremoniously unveil to an adoring world!

It is hinted that the gown will have a Renaissance design featuring satin and lace and sure to “include" fashion flourishes and style influences indicative of the unique Emanuel wedding dress donned by Prince William’s mother Princess Diana.

“They’ve done an amazing job at keeping it secret,” gushed Darcy Miller, editorial director at Martha Stewart Weddings.

“The secrecy of the designer is making it more of an obsession” for brides and millions of royal fans everywhere," she added excitedly.

Insiders speculate that the gown will be - first and foremost - a notch above modest.

The future Princess is expected to walk the aisle in a gown that lends a graceful air to her presence - which means - the bride-to-be will avoid making too big of a splash.

Kate will not be donning anything strapless, nor will there be a titillating display of flesh, or eye-popping cleavage to provoke controversy (or scorn) on her special day.

True to tradition, she'll wear something borrowed and something blue, though.

Just wait and see!

The strongest contenders for the wedding-gown commission were Sarah Burton (creative director at the fashion house of  Alexander McQueen) and - surprise - Sophie Cranston (who worked with McQueen’s studio and Temperley) before setting up her small label "Libelula".

The wedding gown may feature pearl buttons and showcase a 10-foot sprawling train.

In a recent poll, Brits voted their thoughts on what color the gown will be, too.

A clear majority (57% ) gave the nod to ivory, while 20%  were of the mindset that Kate will jump-for-joy in white. 

Peach, I wonder!

Without doubt, there will be an exquisite hat atop her pretty head, for sure!

What do 'ya think?

By the way, Kate Middleton will have five in her wedding party which shall be comprised of sister Pippa, Lady Louise Windsor, the Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones,and three-year-olds Grace van Cutsem and Eliza Lopes.

At press time, details surrounding their wedding threads, were being slowly released.

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz

The Bachelor...pops question with dazzling bling! Drama tears at heart-strings!







Critics were wrong?

Whew!

That was quite a dazzling sparkler that Brad Womack selected for the woman of his dreams last night on the hit night-time reality show "The Bachelor".

Uh-huh!

Gosh, I got tired of waiting for Prince Charming to surprise me with some bling, so I went out bought my own.

Thank you very much!

But, when push came to shove (poor choice of words?), the handsome stud was on bended-knee, because he was definitely in the market for a bride.

Judging by the emotional drama that went down last night, it was quite evident that the Austin resident elected to go with his heart!

For a moment, it appeared that he was going to have cold feet, though.

For example, when his first choice (a blond beauty his family was obviously pulling for) read him the riot act about the responsibilities of fatherhood that lay ahead, Womack appeared to have doubts.

The drama heightened when Emily Maynard kicked herself for screwing up.

In her mind's eye, the sexy wannabe bride, felt she may have scared the suitor off.

"I always get insecure and it spoils everything," she wailed in so many words in the aftermath of one tense emotional moment.

But, love prevailed, and there was a fairy-tale Hollywood ending.

For one of the contestants, at least.

Poor Chantall (the woman who shocked the country in the season opener when she slapped Womack

"I feel so foolish," she sniffed, as the limo whisked her away, to be banished for evermore.

Brad handled the situation pretty well, though.

After noting that he was truthful about how he felt about her (which led her to believe she might have been the "one"), he softened the blow of rejection by uttering up a reality that may have been difficult to swallow nonetheless.

"My feelings are someone else were stronger," he fessed up.

A gentleman to the end, alright.

Meanwhile, congrats are in order for Brad and Emily, alright!

http://www.thetattler.biz/

Dear Boyfriend, Men ARE Useless, Love The Beauty Hall

Image courtesy of menareuseless.com

My boyfriend doesn't read my blog because, in his words, he's 'not interested in girly beauty products'. That's fine, because his political blog makes me want to pluck out my eyelashes. Well, not quite, but trust me, it's not the same as reading about the latest lipstick shades!

Anyway, last night I noticed that Men Are Useless, the genius male toiletries delivery company, are following me on Twitter and this prompted me to explain to The Boy what they do after reading about them on London Beauty Queen's blog. Now, The Boy is a professional soap boxer: he loves politics, works in policy and loves nothing more than a good rant (I'm painting a bad picture, but he is divine, I promise). "Men are useless?" he begins. "That's a ridiculous idea! When have I ever run out of anything?!" Although he will never read this, here follows a list of what my beloved has run out of, and the substitutes he has found that belong to me, normally at five times the cost of his own products:

• Boyfriend ran out of Neutrogena face scrub and replaced it with my Clinique Sparkle Skin BODY scrub (yes, you read that right: body scrub. Plus he used half a tub in five days. Half a tub on a human face, I ask you...)


• Boyfriend ran out of Head and Shoulders and continued to use my Pureology Hydrate shampoo, like you can just pop to Boots and replace it, maybe even getting it on 2 for 1 if you're lucky


• Boyfriend occasionally buys a face mask sachet from The Sanctuary. Since I bought Bliss Steep Clean, he somehow finds time for a facial every week


• Boyfriend has never before been interested in eye cream, but he sure does like to use my Espa 24hr Eye Complex

Do we see a theme here? Supermarket basics vs high end luxury: the nerve of him!!! Now, I am more than happy to share the love, but as we have a joint account for our bills and shopping, I'm seriously considering using it to buy my products, seeing as he gets so much use out of them. He may not always run out of razor blades and shower gel, but I know one boy who would certainly benefit from an upscale delivery of products from Men are Useless, possibly entitled 'Men really are interested in girly beauty products: just shut the bathroom door and don't tell anyone!' Oh, and as long as I can borrow them, too!

Best of the blogs!

Wow, the pre-birthday weekend has left me feeling exhausted! I've spent the morning in the garden with my folks, soaking up this very welcome sunshine - a rarity in Manchester. It's been a brilliant weekend and I'm really sad to be heading back to London so soon (although I know there's plenty of fun in store for me when I get there!) Happily, I've managed to catch up on all my blog reading today, so here's my round-up of things I'll be doing this week:

Using a toner: I have just discovered The Beauty Mouth blog, and am devouring (excuse the pun) the advice dished out by the lovely Caroline. She's written a fantastic post on the importance of using toners, and I am heading straight out to buy one of her recommendations. Since I've been using Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and Bliss Steep Clean, I have been getting a few breakouts, which is a little unusual for me. I'd previously put this down to my skin purging all the badness, but having read Caroline's advice, I think it may be down to the fact that I am not redressing the balance of my skin after using some fairly heavy duty cleansing products! Check out her advice here.

Eating!: I think you'll all have realised by now that I love food, and these peanut butter crispy bars from the Smitten Kitchen look like such a naughty but amazing treat. I am sure that I'll make them and quickly devour the entire tray, but surely indulgence is a key component of any birthday celebration?!

Adopting 'the claw': No, this is not a foray into wild animal care but a technique I've observed on two great blogs, involving massage with a rather witchy-looking hand! Ruth of A Model Recommends has recorded a brilliant series on general body gorgeousness, and shows off a great technique for reducing the appearance of pesky cellulite. A similar claw is demonstrated as a 'tool' for facial massage at The Beauty Mouth, so I will hopefully be pummeling myself towards a better body and brighter face this week!

Getting creative: Fee at Makeup Savvy is a wonder at creating amazing nail looks, and she's inspired me to think a little more imaginatively about my weekly at-home manicures. I love her version of the YSL French manicures and will keep you posted on what I manage to create. You should expect a lot less precision from me than you see in Fee's work!!

Finally, don't forget that I still need your recommendations for best MAC lip and eye neutrals for my shopping trip tomorrow. All you need to do is sign up to become a follower and then post your comment here for a chance to win a MAC treat! Hurry, though: only 24 hours to go!

Looking fierce while yawning...A 'How To' guide!

After the makeup and the products used. Still looking sleepy, but it's an improvement!

*Inserts match sticks under eyelids and stifles a yawn*

Good morning, all. I hope you're feeling a bit brighter than me today. I got about four hours sleep last night and my Bliss-face has been replaced by something altogether less desirable. Make up application on days like today feels extra special, as it's sole purpose is to hide and disguise what lies beneath, so I always let myself go a little more experimental with colour than I would do on a normal day. I also like to treat myself very nicely when I'm tired: so a large sushi lunch is already on the cards. This all makes being tired a lot easier (and actually maybe incentivises it somewhat!)

Now, I must point out that a dedicated blogger would probably post a 'before' makeup shot, but I am not going to do that. Why? Because my tired, pre-makeup visage is something that MI5 and the CIA are probably looking for to aid them in extracting top secret information during interrogation. Maybe not that bad, but I don't want to risk you seeing this before you've had your Cornflakes.

So what's my tiredness makeup routine? Your key words should be; conceal, brighten, define. Your base should provide coverage, but must still have a sheer/radiance enhancing component. Greyness should be covered, and your face needs definition today like no other day! Also, look to warm shades - anything that can make you look a little more healthy is always a plus.

I started with Bliss Triple Oxygen energising mask. Before I found this product, I'd never do a pre-work mask, but as this only takes five minutes, it seems crazy not to. It's also the first time I've used it when I've really needed it, and I am pleased to say, my skin looks so much brighter.

Now onto the products. I prep my skin with my usual moisturiser (at the moment Crema Nera by Armani), and then start with my number one brightening product, Benefit's Lemon-aid,a yellow concealer which is perfect for covering grey. I mix Clinique's City Block Sheer SPF 25 with the Body Shop's Tinted Glow Enhancer in 2 and apply this as my base (you can add some foundation if more coverage is needed). I top with a MAC cream concealer where needed (under eyes, around nose and chin) and we're starting to look human.

Eyes can often look heavy so it's essential that you open them up as much as possible. I use an eyelash curler, and if needed, you can line your waterline (inside your lower eyelid) with a flesh toned pencil (don't use white: it's too harsh and looks unnatural). I apply Jemma Kidd's I-Silk in Vintage and then Maybelline's The Falsies to boost my lashes.

Now for colour! MAC's Blankety lipstick topped with their Big Baby lip gloss. MAC's Mineralize Warm Soul blush on the cheeks and their brow liner in the lightest shade to bring out my very fair brows and that's it! Now you should be able to tolerate the pic, although the eyes are still a little heavy!

Hope this helps you on your sleepy days! Do you have any brightening beauty tips, and what are your favourite 'comfort' products when you're not feeling quite yourself?

State of Bliss

My boyfriend remarked last night that the display of my haul in our bedroom looked like some 'beauty version of the harvest festival display we used to have at school', which tickled me slightly! Anyway, I couldn't fight it any longer and cracked into the Bliss products this morning. I am in love.

First the Steep Clean mask (by the way, it’s currently half price at Harrods - £17.50 – and yes, I am going to stock up later!) The product has a single pump with two spouts, dispensing one blue gel and one yellow. Pump the gel and combine the two to turn the mixture green, just like your first art lesson at school. It’s then applied to your face and neck, and you relax for 15 minutes while it works its magic. And boy, is this stuff good. I rinsed the product off and was left with firm, glowing skin, and I’d say 70% of the blackheads in my t-zone had vanished. The few that were left behind were significantly smaller, looking like tiny pinpricks. This is enough to have me devoted to the good folks at Bliss for the rest of my life.

Then I used the Triple Oxygen energising mask. The product foams on your skin and is quickly absorbed where it’s needed most. Your skin is given a shot of oxygen and vitamin C – essential for radiance. 5 minutes later, and I looked like I’d spent 2hrs being primped and primed by a facialist - success! And all for the price of a single facial!

Alongside Dermalogica’s Overnight Clearing Gel (review to come), these are the fastest-acting skincare products I’ve ever used. Instant results are infinitely desirable yet not always delivered, so it’s a revelation when I find a great product that works right away. If you’re looking for an instant skin fix, head to Bliss for a chat with one of their specialists. Steep Clean is a once a week product, and the Triple Oxygen mask can be used up to three times a week, and you get a lot of product for your money - we like good value here at The Beauty Hall!

Has anyone else used any Bliss products? If so, what did you think of them? Naturally, your recommendations are all it will take to get me back there and buying more!

A major haul!

The past two days have seen a haul of such epic proportions, it's made my head spin. Meet my new happy hair and skin care products, and a few nail polishes for added gloss!

Back row from left: Bliss Triple Oxygen face mask, Pureology split end treatment, Pureology Essential Repair shampoo and conditioner, Pureology Hydrate Shinemax, Bliss Steep Clean face mask.

Front row from left: Diptyque Olene perfume, Seche Vite topcoat, Essie Tartufo, Essie I Need a Vacation, OPI Florentine Fuschia, Diptyque Vetyverio.

Front of picture: Pureology Volume Boost range.

So far, I haven't tried any of the products but expect reviews over the next few days - I'm so excited! With thanks to the lovely Laura of lollipop26 for the tip off on beautyzone2007's ebay shop for fantastic polishes at amazing prices!