Getting my Hollywood On...

Recently I spent a day pretending to be a Hollywood Starlet, and only had to go as far as Liverpool...!
Christine Collections is the place to check out for any Marilyn Monroe wannabe, impersonator, or even if you just wanted that amazing fancy dress costume no one else could top, and just fancied being one of the worlds biggest sex icons, she's your gal.
Working previously as a Marilyn impersonator, Christine started to make her own costumes for her day job, cutting patterns for figure hugging gowns, battling with sequins, feathers, and fringing, and learning how to create some of Hollywoods most famous gowns, she has now become one of the top makers of Marilyn dresses, dressing people all over the world in iconic gowns.

American born Christine has set up shop in Liverpool, UK, where she has started to branch out into prom dresses, bridal, and other costumes which are all recognisably inspired by movie starlets from the golden era of Hollywood.
One such venture is the reason I visited them last time I was north, a day of being styled, coiffed, and photographed in some of these amazing costumes, and it is a new service available from Christine's Collections.

When we first spoke of this service, she kindly asked me if there was any particular starlet I would like to embody on the day, and only one popped to mind.

For years people have mentioned Rita Hayworth to me, saying I reminded them so much of her, I wish I did look more like her as she is one of my favourite musical actresses, having such beauty and grace at all times.
I couldn't wait to embody one of my performing idols, after growing up watching her films, and dreaming of performing her dance numbers, and wearing her gowns, one of those wishes finally came true thanks to Christine.

Photographed by Nick Price in a studio just a short walk from Christine's studio, we started with the Rita look, the classic Gilda poster, and the film that made Rita's career.
As she is smoking in the poster, I posed with a cigarette, but it wasn't lit!
I actually managed to quite earlier this year so didn't dare tempt myself, and all smoke has been digitally added!

The next two looks we tried were so very different for me, and as you may have guessed what with Christine starting with Marilyn costumes, I got my Marilyn on...!

Nick was kind enough to take some behind the scenes photo's with my camera so I could show the outfits in full colour as well, tho I know, my hair isn't right!!
Wigs never work on me, I always have a few millimetres of my own hair poking out so we decided to go with my natural hair, and make it as similar as possible to the styles Marilyn wore with the original looks.
This is a lesser known Marilyn dress, actually from her first film at the age of 19 called Ladies of the Chorus, where she very aptly, played a burlesque dancer!
It made sense that I modelled this one!

The Final look is a more well known Marilyn number, from a much loved film, The Seven Year Itch...and no, it's not that one!!
This is the dress worn in the fantasy sequence of the film, and is a stunning number.
I felt very in character when wearing this one, if I could, this is one I would have just in case I even needed a jaw dropping stunning gown to wear, why don't we have more occasions for such things!

Okay so I'll probably never make an impersonator, so I won't give up the day job, but a girl can dream, can't she?!

This was such a fun day, and it would be perfect day for a hen do, birthday treat, or just because it's a Tuesday, so why not?!
These costumes are all available to order alongside so many more classic dresses from Christine's online store, and you can make an appointment to visit her at her workshop for any particular design you lust for.

She's done an amazing job on these costumes, and I wish I could dress up in classic hollywood style every day.
Would I stand out too much in this if I wore it to Tesco...?!

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Does Make Up really make the World Prettier?

This was a really scary video for me to make. I really hope it makes sense, and that you all enjoy!

Make up used as follows -
Face -

• Mac Pro Longwear Foundation in NW15
• Mac Pro Longwear Concealer in NC15
• Mac Archie's Girls Limited edition Blusher

Eyes -

• Urban Decay Naked Pallette No 3
• Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Thunder
• Seventeen Liquid Eyeliner in Blackest Black
• Lush Eyes Right Mascara

Lips -

• Lime Crime Velvetine in Red Velvet

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Love Ur Look at House of Fraser

Earlier this week, we were invited to the launch of Love Ur Look, an up and coming designer that will transport you back to a time of petticoats, martini's, and drive throughs.

When I received an email from Ronke about her designs with a link to her website, I had a peek and immediately fell in love with these fun, quirky designs, embodying the best of the 50's while also adding something very fresh and new to the reproduction designs I've seen popping up for the past few years.

With a different take on 50's fashion, they seem more unique and somehow more authentic while still being completely wearable, and what's best? They are also ethical, with up cycled trims and fabrics!

Love Ur Look is a one woman company, managed by Ronke Fashola and she is someone who knows exactly what she's talking about.

Running this store alongside her own professional stylist company, Stylizers.co.uk, and working as a lecturer at the London College of Fashion, she knows fashion inside and out, and has turned her hand to designing this new range of ethically made cute as anything dresses.

As well as her extensive knowledge of how to style and design, Ronke is also listening constantly to what her customers want from her designs, tweaking and working on every new range to bring out designs that suit, flatter, and are loved by everyone, and only getting better with every passing season.

Monday saw the launch of Pop at HOF, where a range of pop up shops which are all independently ran, opened their stalls on the ground floor of House of Fraser, and where these indie companies will be staying for two weeks, running from the 12th until the 26th of May.

We popped in to see Love Ur Look on their very first day of trading, and check out their adorable stall just past the perfumeries of HoF. 

Their stall caught my eye before I had even made it across the room, with such eye-catching designs they are easy to spot, and easy to choose at least five dressed you want before you actually reach the stall.

It is fantastic that House of Fraser are championing such a theme, and the evidence of the event was clear throughout the inside and outside of the store.
Hopefully other businesses will take suit in a time where people want to buy from independent smaller businesses rather than the many corporations that have taken over the high street.

Luckily for Ronke, the striped theme and pink structure matches her designs perfectly, and it looks utterly fantastic in an otherwise standard looking department store.
I met and talked to Ronke all about Love Ur Look, and the history of the company.
Launching only two years ago, it's one of the fresher companies on the reproduction style scene, and have avoided the trap of designs similar to others that I've seen before, bringing out an entirely unique collection that would be instantly recognisable as one of their items.
We had a lovely chat, but I kept being distracted....
I couldn't stop making eye contact with this particular dress, and we tried to figure out Macaroons, or cakes? Either way, delicious!

I couldn't stop going through the clothes, every design is so different, and has so many different styles too that you could fill your wardrobe without people realising that they are new designs, and not original vintage items.
We grabbed an armful of dresses, and off we went to play dress up!

Every girl loves Polka Dots, and this dress is no exception to the rule.
With it's practical and perfect atomic housewife look, I immediately fell in love with it, and I think Edd did too, maybe in the hopes I would keep the house spotless and act accordingly...!
I love any dress that comes with pockets, we don't get treated to them often enough, and the pockets on this dress are also incorporated into the design perfectly.
This is of course called the Polka Dot Tea Dress, and it's the perfect every day dress, that makes me want to dance and spin around in, and maybe I will even clean the house....!
(If I get given this in return, Edd...?!)

Next I came over all 40's cute farm owners daughter, the one that sings while she feeds the pigs, and catches the farm hands eye? Yeah, that one.
Country Gal Chic was never a look I thought I could pull off, but vintage it up a bit, and I'll happily collect the eggs and milk the cows.
Then again, maybe not...vegan thing...
I couldn't help but feel all girly in this, I'm sure I giggled more and skipped into position.
It's amazing the feeling a dress can have on you, and this Gingham number really bought out a summery happier Harrie, I just need the summer now!

Of course I had to try on the Macaroon Dress! As the fabric on this style is limited it's not going to be around for long, and is currently only available at the pop up store.
Fingers crossed more can be sourced and it'll make it into the online boutique, but if not this cut and style of dress is available in other prints.
I love the way the back buttons, it's such a lovely touch and makes it look all the more authentic.
I don't think these will last long at all in store, and be snapped up by some lucky lucky ladies!
If you can, get there quick!!

The Wiggle Dresses had a very different effect on me, going from the girl next door, to the vamp your mother told you to keep away from.
The cross front reminded me of Marilyn Monroe in Niagara and The Seven Year Itch.
I prefer the more fitted vintage styles when I go out, most of my vintage steals are more fitted numbers than circle skirts, tho I can easily appreciate both.
The sunglasses print gives a great contrast to the cut, and somehow made it seem just more interesting as a whole.

 Ronke was kind enough to gift me this amazing Rose Print Wiggle Dress, and I'm so absolutely in love with this design and print.
I felt great while wearing it, and Edd couldn't take the photo's without the occasional "oof!" so it's safe to say this has the all round thumbs up from both of us!
I want to do an outfit post in this, but I feel the need to be somewhere classical such as Paris, or Rome  to match the classic style, and unlimited sexiness this dress brings.
La Dolce Vita, now in colour!

The Last dress I tried was this City Print Dress, tho it reminds me more of a seaside town, and made me long to wear this on a hot sunny day on Brighton Beach!
You can all imagine it too, right?!
Ronke is manning the stall wearing her own designs (of course, if I could I would!) and this is the Floral Square Tea Dress.
Ronke was so lovely to talk to, we shared many laughs and got along very easily.
The colourfulness and playfulness of her designs make sense as her personality matches completely, and it was such a fun day, with some hilarious outtake photos!

Keep an eye out for Love Ur Look, as they do have pop up stores popping up all over London, and sometimes beyond! You may get to fall in love with their designs in person, but if not, there's always Online Dating!

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