30 Days of Lippy!

Posted on by
1

Alright. I admit it. I’ve been in a bit of a lipstick rut lately. Don’t scowl at me like that! I realised this because I was sent a red lipstick by the gorgeous ladies at Sax Cosmetics on Wednesday for Kiss Goodbye to MS Day and I realised I hadn’t worn red lipstick in… ummm… months. This realisation brought me screaming to my senses and got me chatting with the lovely Kimberley of Pop Couture (who’s been in a little bit of a lipstick rut herself and is challenging herself – and others – to branch out in their lippy choices.)

This has become my standard makeup uniform. Smoky eyes and a nude lip. Don’t get me wrong… It works for me. I like it, but beauty is meant to be fun, and about experimentation! And for me usually it is, but “I’ve just been busy!” Which is absolutely no excuse. I know.

The lipstick that got me thinking. (It’s called Classic Red. I KNOW! Gorgeous right?!)

I can’t tell you how great it felt to be wearing a bright red lipstick again. I got so many compliments, so many people told me that they loved my lip colour, that I should wear bright lipstick more often, that my face was lighter and how different I looked. And so Kimberley @MissPopC and I got talking. A lot. About ways to change up our routines and force some fresh lippy into them! Suddenly more people were joining in the conversation and asking “how?” and “when?”

Being the annoyingly organised and compulsively creative person that I am, I decided to make a list. To force us to bust our lipstick ruts. Repeat after me:

I will not wear the same colour three days in a row.
I will not sit idly by while a new purchase gathers dust at the bottom of my makeup bag.
I will not “forget” that I own purple lipstick.
I will not be afraid to wear a red lip!
I will not be frightened that “orange” shades drain my face of colour!
I will try gloss, pencil, stain, shimmer, matte and two-tone!
I will wear every darn shade in my makeup drawer this June!

I am woman, hear me roar! (Oh, whoops, sorry… all the power and the chanting kind of went to my head.)

And with no further ado, I give you: 30DaysofLippy.

Join in with us by following the list, trying out each colour or style prompt and wearing something different each day. Don’t have exactly what’s on the list? Get creative, and tell us what you DO have! Post your photos on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook and tag them with #30DaysofLippy. Don’t have access to a camera? No worries, comment on this post and let me know what worked, what didn’t and what you threw out! ;)

And please let us know how the challenge is going and how you feel each day.

I’ll be updating this blog post with new pics from each day of my lipstick rut-busting June! Can’t wait to hear what you guys think.

I hope you have an amazing weekend!
Love,
Rosie xox

Find me: Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest

Trend Watch: Mint Condition

Posted on by
7

Mint Condition: (adj. idiom) 1. as new or like new 2. unused.

There’s just something so fresh about this light blue-ish green! It’s a softer, prettier shade of turquoise. Pair it with pastel pink, sunny yellow or dreamy peach for a pretty party that can’t be beat. Wear it on your nails, drape yourself in minty goodness or accessorise with a few minty pieces for a touch of fabulous.



Images: weheartit, The Modernette, Anthropologie Viscid Watch, Sabo Skirt Madonna Dress in Mint, Radha Dumra, Botkier Springtime Spritz Bag from Modcloth, Society Bride, RGB “Minty” Polish from HoneyHoney

Are you loving all things minty as much as I am? Which of these mint condition pieces inspires you most?

Love,
Rosie xxx

Find me: Pinterest // Facebook // Twitter

5 ways to combat the “blahs”

Posted on by
10

I’ve had a rough week. I’ve had a ghastly flu and been burderned with what my doctor referred to as “nuclear strength antibiotics”. You know those days when you just feel blah? Most mornings I walk out of the house feeling confident and amazing, but some days seem dull and drab before they’ve even begun. Luckily, I’ve developed a system for combatting blah, dull and drab. Here are my top 5 ways to pull yourself out of a blah day.

1. Wash and blow-dry (or straighten or curl) your hair. It will look fresh and shiny and smell amazing. Most of the time I am a dry shampoo addict and boy howdy it’s good stuff, but sometimes you just need supermodel hair. Favourite products: Moroccanoil Treatment Light $27.50 / 25ml, KMS California Free Shape Hot Flex Spray $31.95 / 200ml.


2. Fake bake it. There is nothing quite like a tan to make you feel glamorous, slim and sexy. But as we all know, real ones are terribly bad for us and so (hopefully) you’ve discovered the beauty of a faux glow. I’m a dedicated tanner in summer: I do a full scrub and application once a week, and a top-up application after a few days. In winter I’m lazier about it, but a gorgeous golden glow is sure to perk me up any day. Favourite products: Le Tan Fast Tan Mousse in Deep Bronze $12.99, Vani T Liquid Sunshine $28.95 and for those days where you can’t be bothered doing a full scrub and tan… Le Tan Flawless Legs Body Makeup is a lifesaver $17.99.


3. Be illuminating! An illuminator or highlighter is makeup’s answer to flat, dull and blah. It’s kind of like having your own personal lighting specialist follow you around every. single. second. Sweep a little across the high points of your face (that is: the bridge of your nose, tops of your cheekbones near the temple, on your forehead just above your brows and if you really feel super blah, dot a little in the inner corner of each eye – it makes your eyes look brighter -  and in your cupid’s bow, which is the hollow above your top lip.) Sneaky secret? Mix a liquid illuminator into your foundation for an all-over heavenly glow. Favourite products: Face of Australia Mineral Therapy Illuminator in Angel Mist $14.95 and M.A.C Mineralise Skin Finish in Lightscapade $47.00.

4. Wear a bright(er) lipstick. One thing that’s bound to put you in a good mood and put some colour in your face is a great bright lipstick. I’m pretty obsessed with some of the great corals out there at the moment. The great thing about coral is it’s like pink and orange had a baby together, which means it suits both warm and cool skintones! Coral is the perfect pick-me-up for mid-week. But if you’re after something a little more wow for the weekend, go for a deep fiery red or a boom-smash orange. Favourite products: Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipcolour in Coral Fire $16.95, Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Besotted $39.00 and Shop M.A.C Lipstick in Watch Me Simmer $36.00.

5. Give yourself a statement mani. There’s nothing quite like having fabulous nails. It gives you that extra bit of wow factor, it’s a conversation starter and it’s likely to get you noticed. I always get compliments when I choose a bright or unique nail colour. Plus, there’s something about having hands that look great that’s a real confidence booster. Neon yellow, bright orange, pretty pink with a glitter feature nail (like the one here) or a parade of pastel colours on your fingers (like here). Statement nails are a big blah-buster! Favourite products: Revlon Top Speed Nail Enamel in Electric and Pink Lingerie $15.95, OPI Nail Polishes in Pamplona Purple and Jade is the New Black $19.95, Sportsgirl Nail It! in Ginger $7.95, Face of Australia ProNail Enamel in Cool Cotton $6.95 and Barbados Nail Enamel in Another Daquiri Please $4.95.
Do you have a system or a great way to combat the “blahs”? Any parts of your beauty routine that instantly perk you up? Will you be trying any of my tips? Let me know!

Happy Friday!
Love,
Rosie xox

Find me: Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest x

Note: all images used above are PR shots. Layouts are my own.

MBFWA: Backstage at toi et moi (and How To Hair)

Posted on by
3

One of my favourite catwalk looks from Mercedes Benz Fashion Week was created by KMS California and the Makeup Store for toi et moi. Two hair looks alternated on the catwalk: soft, carefree, beachy and sexy waves, and a chic, slightly messy high top knot. Makeup was focused on the eyes. I was so excited to see gorgeous black winged liner (after a few shows left out liner altogether).

Makeup Director Maria Gabriel of the Makeup Store explained that the look was inspired by the toi et moi collection. “The black winged eyeliner and white shadow was the key feature of the look. The toi et moi collection really focuses on black and white, so the makeup is a reflection of that.”

Maria and her team managed to capture the essence of francophile beauty with a clean white eye shadow on the lids, white liner on the inner corners of the eyes and gorgeously dark winged liner that both elongated and widened the model’s eyes. “The eye look is sort of Twiggy meets Cleopatra,” she said. Eyes were widened even further with masses of mascara to create gorgeously lush jet black lashes.

Hair Director Stephen Seago and his team from KMS California created two amazingly wearable hair looks for the show. (And I scored details on how to get the look yourself…)

How To Get Look 1: The Top Knot
1. Prep your hair with KMS Free Shape hot flex creme (which if you don’t own, you should. I am addicted to this stuff) and Free Shape quick blow dry lotion before you start blow drying for a beautiful smooth, glossy finish.
2. Using a soft paddle brush, section out two separate pony tails, one on the crown of your head and one just in front.
3. Back comb both pony tails to create texture and apply Hair Play dry wax for hold and definition.
4. Lightly brush each pony tail to create a smooth finish.
5. Join the ponytails together, bnringing them forward towards your face and then in a clockwise motion, begin wrapping your hair around the base to create the bun.
6. Secure the bun with bobby pins and Hair Stay maximum hold hairspray.

How To Get Look 2: Sexy Tousled Waves
1. Prep your hair with KMS California Add Volume volumising spray, being sure to apply it evenly.
2. Apply Add Volume root and body lift spray for extra va-va-voom!
3. Take large vertical sections and apply Free Shape hot flex spray (soooo addicted) to the mid-lengths and ends and then use hot tongs, ensuring you tong away from your face. (Don’t forget to tong both sides of your hair in the same direction, especially at the front.)
4. Continue around to the back of your hair (mix up the direction of tonging as you go for a more natural looking finish.)
5. Lightly brush out the sections, apply Hair Play sea salt spray to finish the beachy curl look and power dry for a sexy tousled finish.

In between model makeovers, I managed to steal Hair Director Stephen Seago (of Roar Hairdressing in Melbourne) away for a quick chat about his favourite products and a few sneaky expert tips. “I love KMS California Hair Play Dry Wax. It does absolutely everything. It’s a super easy to use spray that gives a gorgeous matte finish, great hold and that beautifully ‘undone’ look that so many people crave. Spray it into towel dried hair then blow dry for a gorgeous tousled ‘I’m not even trying’ style with a great second day hair feel (without the ick factor), or even use it in dry hair to add hold and definition. It helps create texture as too!”

As the temperature drops, hair can start to look dry and flat, so I just had to ask… what’s a girl to do in winter to keep her hair looking great?

“Every six weeks, get your hair trimmed!” he said emphatically. (And yes, that means YOU too long haired people.) “You need to keep it moisturised so make sure you get regular treatments from your hair stylist as well.” For balayaged babes like me? “KMS Colour Vitality Blonde Treatment is perfect for brightening balayaged ends and all shades of blonde, while all hair colours and types can benefit from a KMS Colour Vitality Shine & Shield treatment to lock in moisture and shine. Don’t over-dry your hair, you can still blow dry, but don’t let it over-heat and don’t stretch out the length with a brush too much while you’re drying. Let it dry naturally every once in a while too. Keep it super hydrated with Silk Sheen leave in conditioner.”

Have a great weekend!
Love,
Rosie x

Find me: Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Meanwhile on Instagram…

Posted on by
2

I’ve been shopping, eating, nail-painting, backstage at fashion week, sun-worshipping, rugging up in jumpers, jackets and leg-warmers, embracing messy hair, drinking lots of coffee, flower arranging, reading, enjoying the little things and just generally making life look better in Lo-fi.


Big fan of any of these things? You might as well join me @rosemaryslade. Don’t have instagram? No worries, check out all the pics on followgram!

What have you been up to lately? (p.s. do you like my icy ombré mani? It’s my chilly-willy winter take on the pretty pastel one I did the other day.)

Love,
Rosie xox

Find me: Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Roses are Red

Posted on by
Reply

There’s a chill in the air, the leaves have started falling and the days are getting shorter. Fall is here for a little while. Are you feeling autumnal or wintery yet?


For a few days it made me sad that summer was gone, but now I’m reminded of the beauty of fall and winter. It’s making me think of snow, pale skin, rosy red lips and darker hair. I need to pull out all my tights, sweaters, scarves and gloves. Bring on the fall fashion and beauty.

I love the daydreamy, snow white-inspired aesthetic in these shots. They feel chilly, yet somehow alive. With the promise of lots of goodness, growth and beauty yet to come. (Plus look at those amazing brows!) Hope you’re all feeling inspired for fall!

Autumn is going to be full of opportunities and hard work for me… and there will be fun too, I just know it.

Rosie xox

Find me: Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest x

Images: Samantha & Kristina by Amber Gray for Marie Claire China February 2011 via fashiongonerogue.com

MBFWA 2012 Flowers for a Vagabond: Through the Darkness to the Light

Posted on by
Reply

Toby Maclean went into fashion week as ‘one to watch’ and emerged triumphant. His Summer 2012/2013 collection was unveiled in The Box at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Tuesday. The collection, titled “Desirable Darkness” took inspiration from the soft romantic styles of the 1920s and the vibrant, eclectic fashions of the 1990s, creating something completely new from the two extremes. Soft pleating and delicate beading contrast beautifully against sharp pleats and strong angles.

Flowers for a Vagabond‘s Summer 2012/2013 collection represents a striking evolution for the label. The classic tailoring and moody draping of past collections is certainly still present, but it has been re-imagined, reinvigorated and brought into the light with the addition of intense detail and luscious pops of colour.

My favourites from the collection were a stunning full length black dress, sheer from the knee with exquisite pleating in the skirt (first image above) and the rocker black zip dress (pictured second). What can I say, I love a great black piece! I was also delighted at the beautiful use of colour and soft, floaty silhouettes of the later pieces. The bright pink and brilliant yellow in particular really resounded and I can definitely see myself in a few of those pieces too.

Lots more MBFWA pics to come, stay tuned!

Love,
Rosie xox

Find me: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest x