Spring Into Summer...

Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 9:29 PM

... With Cabot Circus Fashion Weekender this weekend (2nd - 3rd April).

Taking place in the centre of Cabot Circus under the glass roof, I hope it isn't raining but if it is you should all stay dry, the catwalk will showcase the hottest trends from the new season collections. Bringing together the best of high street and designer brands.

Vintage has been a key theme over the past few years and spring/summer will see 70’s glamour making fashion waves. Cabot Circus will show you how to create unstructured gypsy-like silhouettes and work shimmering fabrics, chunky heels, wide-leg trousers and figure-hugging waistbands, whatever your style or budget.

The Fashion Weekender will also celebrate the return of good old-fashioned glamour, nudes and muted tones and the rock-and-roll inspired ‘cool rider’ look.

Each show will be created by stylist JP, who has worked with a host of celebrities and recording artists and currently runs his own London-based fashion consultancy. Visitors will also be able to seek out the latest hair and beauty trends with experts from Sanctuary Spa, Seanhanna and other beauty brands giving free demonstrations and taster sessions. So it will be the perfect time to discover a new look.

Discounts of up to 20 per cent will also be on offer at many of Cabot Circus’ iconic fashion stores and restaurants over the course of the Fashion Weekender and all those attending will be invited to enter a competition to win £1,000 worth of fashion!!!!! - Yes Please!!

The fashion show will run a few times over the weekender - Show Times - Saturday 2nd April - 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm and 4.30pm - Sunday 3rd April - 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm and it is a completely free event!!

Unfortunately I am unable to attend because I am visiting my family for Mother's Day but if you do get the chance to pop to Cabot Circus over the weekend it is going to be a fantastic event. The catwalk is on level 1 outside House of Fraser (I have been walking past it on my way home from work!)

Enjoy and have a lovely weekend
Best Wishes
Fashion Fantasist xx

Draw out your alter ego for the Springtime!

at 3:39 AM

In celebration of the start of Spring, we wanted to showcase some of the best shades and pieces that Illamasqua has for this season!

From soft pastels, to the bold and brash, we have every shade of the spectrum covered so your alter ego can step into Spring with style.

Poisonous Pastels...

Cream Pigment in Bedaub

Nail Varnish in Nudge

Powder Blusher in Katie

Medium Pencil in Coax

Shocking Brights...

Nail Varnish in Collide

Intense Lipgloss in Fierce

Powder Eye Shadow in Victim

Lipstick in Flare

Minimalist Nudes...

Precision Ink in Glister

Lipstick in Sonnet

Pure Pigment in Furore

MILF Mother's Day Duo & a little something special for you too...

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 10:15 AM

Within our ever-evolving range of colour-intense shades for the eyes, lips, face and body, there's the perfect Mother's Day gift just waiting for you at Illamasqua.com.

Our latest offering has been specially selected for Mother's Day. The MILF Duo, joins together two of our iconic products in one exclusive gift set.

Combining the deep purple of Intense Lipgloss in Move, with our award-winning Nail Varnish in MILF, a bright mint crème that embodies Spring in a bottle, you'll be forgiven if you can't help but keep this gift for yourself.

£22.00 Saving £4.50

Order by 12noon GMT Thursday 30th March and select UK Next Day Delivery at the checkout page, or by 12noon GMT Friday 1st April 2011 with UK Saturday Delivery to ensure your Mother's Day gift arrives in time.

For an extra special Illamasqua Mother’s Day, treat your Mum to a Transformation at any of our UK counters and we'll give you a Transformation on the house! The cost of Transformations are fully redeemable on Illamasqua products so you can even recreate the look at home. Click here for details on how to book.

Kelly Cutrone's Melbourne visit...

at 9:35 AM

After an amazing welcome for Kelly Cutrone at her book signing in Melbourne last week, Illamasqua have teamed up with one of Australia's biggest bloggers for a write-up...

What do you get when you combine an amazing cult make-up brand, a New York PR powerhouse, and the launch of a really worthy cause?

Well the biggest in-store event in Myer Melbourne's history to put in mildly. On Wednesday March 23rd, a 400 strong crowd of fans gathered at the Illamasqua counter in Myer Melbourne City, to meet the one and only Kelly Cutrone, for the signing of her book "If You Have To Cry, Go Outside" and to celebrate the Australian launch of Illamasqua's charity S.O.P.H.I.E.

Before the actual book signing I was lucky enough to meet Kelly Cutrone, author and founder of PR firm People's Revolution, along with a group of other beauty bloggers for a chat and an interview. Being a huge fan of Kelly's, you do not know how much I was absolutely squealing in delight when I heard that we would be given this opportunity. With her no BS attitude and mission to help empower women, Kelly Cutrone is someone I wholeheartedly admire.

During the interview and afterwards, signing copies of her book for us with personalized messages. Kelly had me, along with the other bloggers, completely enthralled with her charisma and confidence, yet she was so down to earth. She has an amazing wisdom about her which makes you hang onto every word she says and that's exactly what we did. She was entertaining, even going as far as putting on British accents when recounting the story of how she got involved with Illamasqua!

The Sophie Lancaster Foundation is something Kelly is proud to support as when she watched the short film about Sophie and her boyfriend Robert, it "just broke her heart". Upon viewing the film myself, it brought tears to my eyes and I'm sure many of you out there can definitely relate as well. Kelly, who is a single mother to daughter Ava, praises the work of the foundation and Sylvia Lancaster, Sophie's mother, who are trying hard to educate people about diversity and acceptance. Kelly is a strong, outspoken person and some 15 years ago even dressed similarly to Sophie, black clothes and long turquoise dreadlocks, making her a great ambassador for Illamasaqua and the S.O.P.H.I.E charity.

I'd like to thank Illamasqua and Kelly Cutrone for an amazing night. Kelly is a true rockstar and The Sophie Lancaster Foundation is a wonderful cause. I'd also like to thank all those who attended that night, and those who have shown their support by watching the short film, purchasing S.O.P.H.I.E wristbands and/or the Illamasqua Sophie eye pencil. It is only through awareness and listenting to our inner voices, that we can truly be ourselves and help Stamp Out Prejudice Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere.

Click here to check out our lovely guest writers blog

Toxic Nature...our regional teams have been inspired!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 9:26 AM

After the fabulous launch of our SS11 collection, our Illamasqua teams up and down the country have been creating some beautiful looks and adorning their counters with some very Toxic Nature themed pieces!

The collection has certainly inspired as they continue to experiment with the colours and mood behind Toxic Nature, we just had to share these shots with you...

Selfridges Birmingham counter

Debenhams Cardiff team

Selfridges Manchester counter

Debenhams Belfast make-up artists

Fenwick Newcastle team

What has had you inspired from our SS11 collection, Toxic Nature...?

Flutterby Butterfly

Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 6:09 PM

Hello Lovelies,

Sorry it has been so long!!!! As some of you may be aware I have managed to land myself an office job and am only just getting used to the Nine - Five (Thirty!) mentality. But I do have some blog posts planned to make up for my lack of posting (A whole two weeks!!!!)

I have realised that I haven't shared with you my latest wardrobe additions. They are from a few separate shopping trips but all the items slot quite nicely in to my new office work wear wardrobe.

Peach Slouchy Trouser from Miss Selfridge

Butterfly Shirt from Mango

Jumper from Miss Selfridge Sale

Pleat Trim Collar Top from Miss Selfridge - Love this detail!

H by Henry Holland Zebra Top from Debenhams

Lace Jumper - Topshop Sale

I hope you are all well and enjoying Spring. I promise to have some more blog posts soon!

Best Wishes,
Fashion Fantasist xx

London College of Fashion show - we have 2 tickets to win!

Friday, March 25, 2011 at 11:12 AM

Illamasqua have collaborated with London College of Fashion once again to showcase some of the finest talent emerging in London today…and to celebrate we have 2 must-have tickets to giveaway for their final show on Saturday 2^nd April! To enter this competition simply leave a comment in the comment space below this post as to why you’d like to be there!

With Illamasqua providing the make-up for the shows and working closely with the team, we wanted to provide you with an insight into the show and the students who will feature within it…

From LCF - The Show

‘The Show is the culmination and wonderful celebration of the determination and hard work that has been invested by students and staff from across our three disciplines of Costume, Make-up and Prosthetics, and Technical Effects.

London College of Fashion is very proud of these students’ exceptionally talented creativity and making abilities, which they have brilliantly applied in a process which has engaged their energy, enthusiasm, humour, team work, confidence, ambition, resilience, and personal development skills to bring you this Show.’