Saving money - Beauty products

My economy drive is going rather well.  Even I'm surprised as I'm such a spendthrift and I've struggled to hang onto money my entire life.  I'll do a few posts this week on how it's going in various areas.  I'm having to face up to the amount of "stuff" I already have and accept I really don't need to buy anything.
Let's start with beauty products.  I'm very lucky that I get sent amazing creams

More of my wardrobe

Photography by Paolo Roversi
I've been terrible at blogging recently.  After we all had an enforced break last week when Blogger went down I've been out a lot and found it hard to get back into.  Funny how you can break habits so quickly.
I'm doing well with not spending and I still haven't smoked, which is a miracle!  I haven't bought anything for over two weeks now which is quite something

Dior Addict and some sunglasses

Photography by David Sims
I've always been a fan of Kate and I think she looks fabulous in the new Dior Addict lipstick ad.  It was directed by Jonas Akerlund the man behind the video for Telephone by Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce.  The track in the Dior ad, All You Need Is Now was exclusively remixed by Duran Duran.

Kate wears the shade Diorkiss 573 in the new campaign.  There are 44 shades of

Yet more sequins

Photography by Emma SummertonAbbey Lee Kershaw
How fabulous is this bronze sequin catsuit?  I have an ancient gold sequin dress I wear a lot but it leaves trails of sequins everywhere I go.  The catsuit would be lethal I'm sure.  But aren't those heels something else?
During my recent Ebay binge I bought all sorts of sequinned pieces - a jacket, a top and even a pair of knickers!  I've been

In the mood for red

Photography by Andy WarholLiza Minelli
I woke up today and the sun was out.  I was looking decidedly pasty and I haven't washed my hair since Saturday evening for the Mad Men party.  The only thing for it was to put on  some slap, throw on some Batiste dry shampoo and some Clynol hair shine and something in my favourite colour - red.

Lauren Hutton
I love anything with a hood and have some

J'Adore Dior Haute Couture

Karlie Kloss opened the show
Karmen Pedaru

Melissa Tammerijn

Nimue Smit - As Marsha rightly pointed out - I love this

Lindsay Wixson - love the shoes

Laura Blokhina
Iekeliene Stange

Julia Saner


Juju Ivanyuk

Martha Streck

Caroline Brasch Nielsen

Frida Gustavsson

Maria Kashleva

Yulia Kharlaponova

Magdalena Frackowiack

Sigrid Agren

Wow!

Georgina Stojilkovic

John Galliano xxx
For

A huge thank you to Dior

Photography by Tyen
A parcel arrived this morning.  I thought it was something I'd bought on Ebay (I had a bit of an Ebay frenzy last weekend and have spent the last of my money for January on some ridiculous bits - more of which later).  To my surprise it was two new products sent by the wonderful people at Dior.  I've been feeling rather old this week and this cheered me up immensely.

I'll

Going for gold

Photography by David BaileySusie Bick and Abbey Lee Kershaw - I love this picture
No more slippers and dressing gown posts from me this week!  I have a couple more nights in before the round of Christmas parties begins with a vengeance.  I am out every night for SIX nights!   I'm not even sure I'll manage six parties in a row...
As usual I have overspent on Christmas presents, not helped by the

Loads more Christmas present ideas

This year I've asked for contributions towards a new laptop.  Sadly my eight year-old Apple G4 didn't survive until Christmas day as hoped and the poor thing finally gave up last night.  I'd better save my money as they are £1750!  I've managed to get a £400 discount due to another friend working at Apple which is a total Godsend!  I've saved £300 so far... wish me luck.
I have to admit it's

We all need a bit of colour

Photography by Richard Burbridge
I love this shoot from i-D magazine's September  2004 issue.  The make-up is by the wonderfully talented Pat McGrath.  Pat has an amazing body of work and is responsible for designing all the make-up for the Dior shows.  Pat's team are the most professional and inspiring I have ever seen in action.  I love the dramatic looks she creates.  
I don't think I could

Dior's fabulous new Christmas colours

Dior brings out something gorgeous and covetable for Christmas every year.   I've bought so many of the special edition Christmas pieces over the years, Dior keyrings full of lip balms, beautiful compacts, crystal rings that contain lipsticks - all sorts of things, the design is always fabulous and they make great little presents.
For Christmas 2010 the Dior look is all about gold and black.  

Susie Bick and Bella Freud - How we met

HOW WE MET - SUSIE BICK AND BELLA FREUD
Published on Sunday, 16 February 1997Written by Fiona Sturges
The model Susie Bick, 30, was born in Cheshire. At 14, she ran away from boarding school to New York, where she was discovered by a modeling agency.  On her return to England, at 17, she became David Bailey's muse and began making a name as a model.  She lives in north London with her dog.

Red is the colour

Milla Jovovich
I love the colour red in clothes and accessories, it's one of the few colours I wear.  Here's a random selection of red pictures.  
They are a little bit Galliano/Dior biased, but John uses red more than any other designer I can think of.  Red can be elegant, glamorous, sexy and dramatic, but never boring.

Photography by TeshCoco Rocha


Kori Richardson


Christian Dior Couture

I love headdresses

Alice Dellal in Pam Hogg



Sophie Willing in Pam Hogg


Headdress by Rebecca Raa



Stephen Jones for Christian Dior



Marlene Dietrich



Carole Lombard



Carole Lombard



Hedy Lamarr
I love all these headdresses.  I can't walk past a fabulous hat or headdress without trying it on.  I would wear any of these. 
I once went to a party dressed a  showgirl.  I loved my outfit particularly the

Christian Dior giveaway winner!

The fabulous designer and stylist Mrs Jones popped in earlier and she very kindly picked a name from the hat.  I say hat... it looked more like a mixing bowl... The very deserving winner is *drum roll*
Alison Cross from Hestia's Larder
I love Ali's blog.  She has a brilliantly dry sense of humour and never fails to make me laugh, even the title; Hestia's Larder - Burnt offerings from the altar

Christian Dior giveaway

I wanted to share some of my Christian Dior goodies with you.  If anyone would like a brand new bottle of Diorella and one of their gorgeous Dior Addict lipsticks in Rouge Sex Appeal please follow my blog and leave me a comment.  I will randomly pick someone and be in touch to post them to you xxx

Christian Dior skincare

I was delighted to be given these gorgeous Christian Dior to test.  Which I've been doing for the last six weeks.  I am obsessed with skincare products and have tried so many.  
The Capture R60/80 Nuit XP Overnight Recovery serum is wonderful.  It sinks into your skin immediately and any dryness is immediately gone.  It appears to relax any lines and makes it really soft.  I've been putting it

Christian Dior AW10-11 collection

Karlie Kloss


Maria Kashleva


Vlada Roslyakova


Sigrid Agren

Jessica Stam


Anna Selezneva


Lais Ribeiro


Kim Noorda


Vivianne Orth

Michelle Alvez



The fabulous John Galliano put on an another amazing technicolour show for Christian Dior Couture AW/10-11.  His extraordinary haute couture collection was inspired by the cliff top gardens of 'Les Rhumbs', Christian Dior's childhood home

Finding the perfect sunglasses

Photography by Karl LagerfeldAnja Rubik for Chanel, 2007
It's so hard to find the perfect sunglasses.  I haven't bought a new pair since 2008.  Usually I buy a pair every year, sometimes more because I lose them.  I spend ages trying to find my ideal glasses.  I don't mind which brand they are.  I've bought Chanel, Dior, Prada, Oliver Peoples, Cavalli, Marc Jacobs, Versace, D&G and Chloe in the