Botox, moi?

Ei ole helppoa olla julkimo-kulkimo. Humalassa ei saa olla eikӓ huumeita kӓyttӓӓ ja pikkuhousutkin pitӓisi muistaa laittaa jalkaan. Eikӓ tӓmӓkӓӓn riitӓ. Twilight-stara Kristen Stewart ei saa hetken rauhaa paparazzeilta ja nyt maailman mediaa salaisesti hallitseva illuminati on pӓӓttӓnyt koulukiusata 22-vuotiaan gziljardӧӧrin hengiltӓ, koska tӓmӓ ei hymyile tarpeeksi. Kehtaakin!

Stewart ei ole yksin ilmeettӧmyydessӓӓn. Britannian ykkӧsbrӓndi Beckhamin puolikas Victoria kӓvi kuvauttamassa liikkumattoman naamaansa Wimbledonin finaalissa eilen. Huhujen mukaan Posh ei pidӓ hymystӓӓn, mutta epӓilen, ettӓ botox-neuloilla voi olla jotain tekemistӓ asian kanssa. Ja selkeӓsti Wimbledonin shokkiuutisen tulisi Vickyn sijaan olla Middletonin sisarusten meikkaustaidot. Tӓten julistan aloitetuksi kansanliikkeen, joka kieltӓytyy kategorisesti alamaisuudesta kuningattarelle, joka ei osaa edes kajaalinkӓytӧn perusteita. Kansa kapinaan! 

Koulukiusaaja-illuminatin mielestӓ Kristen Stewart ei ole tarpeeksi iloinen. 

Kansa kapinaan! Kuningatar-Kate Pippa-siskoineen joutaa meikkikouluun.

Kuuma, kuumempi, Blake Lively

Blake Lively on mahdollisesti tӓmӓn vuosikymmenen sӧpӧin, tyylikkӓin ja kadehdittavin stara. Gossip Girlin satumainen puvustus ansaitsee oman bloginsa, mutta S nӓyttӓӓ hyvӓltӓ AINA – jopa lapsuudenkuvissaan, toisin kuin esimerkiksi ruma ankanpoikanen Angelina Jolie. Ja ikӓӓn kuin tӓydellinen kroppa, tukka, vaatevarasto ja kasvojen luusto ei riittӓisi, mirkku deittailee Ryan Reynoldsia!

Viime aikoina Blake on hulmahdellut punaisilla matoilla promoamassa uutta leffaansa Savages. Trailerin perusteella tӓmӓ Oliver Stonen uusin lupailee paluuta  über-vӓkivaltaiseen “Natural Born Killers”- tyyliin ja pistӓnee Gossip Girl- staran nӓyttelijӓkyvyt koetukselle. Stone ei tosin selvӓsti edelleenkӓӓn ole saanut memoani siitӓ, ettӓ 99 prosenttia leffoista toimisi paremmin reilusti alle kahden tunnin mittaisina – Savages kestӓӓ 129 minuuttia, jonka nӓin leffaa nӓkemӓttӓ arviosin olevan noin 30 minuuttia liian kauan.

Savages on Blaken make or brake- mahdollisuus nousta oikeaan filmitӓhtisarjaan. Gossip Girlin syksyllӓ alkava kuudes tuotantokausi on sarjan viimeinen. Sitӓ odotellessa: xoxo

Virheetӧn Blake Savagesin New Yorkin ensi-illassa

ja Los Angelesin ensi-illassa.

Smells like 90s Spirit

90-luku ei ollut helppo vuosikymmen kenellekӓӓn (paitsi ehkӓ Jennifer Anistonille: Frendit? Brad Pitt? Tough life...). Maailmaa jӓrisyttivӓt globaali lama, Neuvostoliiton romahtaminen, Persianlahden sota – ja ennen kaikkea ysӓrimuoti. Flanellipaidat, neonvӓrit, pyӧrӓilyshortsit, haaremihousut ja herramunvereni fleece. Mutta jos omat ysӓrikuvat hӓvettӓvӓt, yksi ei petӓ: julkkikset tekevӓt sen nolommin. Tsekkaa jos et usko:

Se oli aikaa ennen SATC:ӓ, mutta Perrier-pullo tiesi

 minkӓ ympӓrillӓ Carrie & co:n jutut pyӧrisivӓt 

Sandra Bullock, words fail me 

2010-luvun superhottis Ryan Gosling pukeutui 90-luvulla tapettiin. Ja MC Hammer-byysiin. 
  

Ok, voi olla, ettei edes Jennifer Anistonilla ei ollut helppoa 

Tsekka lisӓӓ noloja julkkiskuvia tӓӓltӓ.

Ryan Gosling MC Hammer- housuissa. Hot or so Not?

Ryan Gosling- fanit huomio! NOT the sexiest man alive (vuosimerkkiӓ 2011) ja latinohottis Eva Mendesin BF oli vuonna 1991 kuten ihan kuka tahansa talent show- kakara. Siis ihan kuka tahansa talent show- kakara Hammer-byysoissa! Tsekkaa lapsi-Ryanin versiot biiseistӓ Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) ja When a Man Loves a Woman youtubesta, eli tӓstӓ:  

What would Madonna do?

Friends forever? 

Olettaen siis, että Her Madgesty olisi a) kaksikymppinen b) edelleen musiikillisesti oleellinen. Melko varmasti hengailisi Samantha Urbanin ja Lesley Hannin kanssa ja miettisi tosissaan, kuinka ohittaa kaksikko cooleus-asteikolla.

Urban ja Hann ovat Brooklyniläisen Friends- bändin keulahahmoja. Friends julkaisi debyyttilevynsä Manifest! tällä viikolla ja on parhaillaan Euroopan kiertueella. Ja eilisen Lontoon keikan perusteella voin kertoa, että tämä viisikko on takuuvarmasti vuoden 2012 kuumin musatulokas. Huolimatta siitä, että bändin nimi on täydellinen google-painajainen. Toisaalta: Madonna? 

TJEU:

  

My High Street Crush - COS

Christmas is just around the corner and with it, the real reason we love the holidays and the whole hullabaloo: the January sales. Starting right after Christmas we are even given a bank holiday to dedicate for shopping – how considerate!

The looming sales mean that I try to abstain from shopping around this time of the year. And it is REALLY hard, especially as my high street crush COS is just around the corner. COS is owned by H & M, but for obvious reasons they don't go around shouting about it. The clothes are good quality materials, they look and feel design but come with a high street price tag. I reckon the classic COS clothes (with a nice little scandi twist) even kind of justify as a sensible buy. And guys: it's worth checking the suits too. 

So far COS only operates in a handful of European countries so if you don’t have a store in your country, don’t forget to include it in your itinerary on next holiday. And if you live in London, go check it out. But remember, you have been warned: it can cause an addiction. 

Give me a C! Give me an O! Give me a S!
Give me a perfect dress for winter!

I want my Lanvin!

H&M is treating us with another one of their designer collaborations. With an impressive history of guest designers such as Matthew Williamson, Jimmy Choo and Sonia Rykiel, the Swedish fashion giant really knows how it’s done. And is there anything better to bring us just before the Christmas party (and present!) season than Lanvin dresses, tees, accessories and even some men’s wear?  

Designed by Lanvin's artistic director Alber Elbaz, and menswear designer Lucas Ossendrijver the line is called Lanvin <3 H&M (that’s Lanvin loves H&M to you non-facebookers). The collection will be released on 23 November, the prices start from less than a tenner (ok, that’s for lipstick, but still) and I looooove it.

Check out the collection on Vogue website, as usual H&M’s own site is a  mess... And below are my favourites. 

Trendsetting Force of Alexa

I’m usually a very reluctant trend follower. When enough people rave about a great new bar, film or band, I’m far more likely to be turned off by that than to follow the tip. I think shockingly many people like to be part of the herd and allow media to tell them what they should think is good and / or cool. I should know better. I used to be a journalist. Many of my friends are journalists. And as much as I love them, they are not super human nor aesthetic geniuses.

But as hard as I’ve tried, I can’t help but liking “the it girl of the moment” Alexa Chung. I’m not sure she’s the super friendly, down to earth, laid-back, modest girl-next-door who “doesn't make much effort with her appearance and doesn't have a beauty routine” that the glossies (and her agents) like us to think she is. But she DOES have a great style. And it IS her own. Obviously it is easier to dress well when you have got a LOT of money but the examples like Cheryl Cole have shown us that money doesn’t buy you style.  

Check out Alexa’s Today I’m Wearing blog on the Vogue website and her style gallery on the Elle.uk.

It's all about cardigans, shorts, skirts and socks with Alexa.

For the White Nights of Summer

How beautiful was the Dolce & Gabbana SS 2011 collection at Milan fashion week? Underwear as outerwear has been a trend for a good while but this collection took the concept to a new level. Tonnes of white lace and fabrics that looked like they could have been cut out of grandma's old curtains (in the best possible way) defined the collection  inspired by “sensual kind of elegance and tradition that characterises the typical trousseau of Southern Italy”. And an almost all-white collection is a clear signal of the colour we are going to wear next summer.

Not So Hot on Holiday

I’m overly excited about my upcoming holiday in Spain. Not only is the weather forecast SUN SUN SUN  when in the UK it’s misery misery misery, I’m also going to stay with a dear old friend of mine. 

Packing for your holiday is an acquired skill and something that oh so many people get oh so wrong. And according to a recent study done by  money saving website DiscountVouchers.co.uk, the tourists from Birmingham and Midlands are just the worst of them all, followed by Newcastle and Scotland. Americans were voted as having the worst fashion sense in world (Germans, Greeks and British came close), Italians the best.

The biggest fashion errors were thought to be socks with sandals and exposed beer bellies. Skimpy trunks for men, thongs for women, football shirts and logo overload were also considered to be bad taste.

I think we all agree, except that socks and sandals is one of the greatest (and comfiest!) trends of the moment. But just to make sure, I think I’ll leave them for my return to the chilly autumn. After all, the study did show that the best dressed British tourists come from East England (and Yorkshire).

Socks so chic! Prada Autumn 2010 Collection

Colour By Numbers

There’s a one thing every Finn packs with when moving abroad: a cheese slicer. Because no one does them like  Fiskars do. Sharp and easy on the eye – just right. And because we Finns are so proud of our little things, I have now got three of them, gifts from friends and family. But when there is a Colours range, who cares, keep them coming!

Princess for a Day?

I’ve never understood the traditional wedding dresses (I don’t really get the whole fuss about weddings in general to be honest, but more of that some other time). I’ve never had a dream of being a princess for a day. To dress in white, looking like you just jumped out of a Disney movie and marry your prince. The wedding gowns are useless after your wedding day, they cost a fortune and most of them really look rather dreadful.

A good friend of mine got married this summer so we went wedding dress shopping. Luckily she is my type of girl and even the sight of the Bridal Boutique at Liberty’s gave us both the chills - and not in a good way.  She found a beautiful dress in the end, the wedding was a hoot and they are now living happily ever after. 

Now I think I’ve found my fairytale. The story was told on New York Fashion Week. The Marchesa’s S/S 2011 show was full of most gorgeous, breathtaking and stunning dresses that just knocked me out. I still wouldn’t wear a wedding gown but the princess inside me was born.  

High Street Fashion Evolution

So the news is that the big high street fashion chains are going online. H & M online shop is already open for “VIP shoppers” (meaning anyone who’s subscribing their newsletter) and launches officially on the 16th. The Spanish fashion giant Zara opened its website for shopping on 2 September and Gap launched its UK site in August.

I don’t get it. Sure, I do shop online. You can find awesome bargains from websites like koodos.com or brandalley.com. It is however always a bit irritating. You can never be sure of the size, you have to wait for your orders for days, sometimes for weeks and you obviously can’t try anything on. But you’re willing to go through all this because of the amazing designer bargains you can find (and because you can do it on work time. Oh come on, we’ve all done it!).

But isn’t the whole point of the high street fashion that you can just wonder in the shop and get yourself a new outfit for a price you don’t have to feel guilty about? And you want it instantly. And you surely want to feel the material knowing the quality of the products sometimes?

Speaking of online shopping: I found a really cute Louise Amstrup dress from Koodos (they’ve got 20% off all dresses today) for under hundred quid on lunch. How fabulous is that?!

Manolo Mania

Every girl’s shoe god Manolo Blahnik teams up with Liberty. The department store is launching Manolo Blahnik's pop-up store, The World of Manolo, on the night of London Fashion Night Out next Wednesday 8th September. In addition to a line of shoes, Blahnik will design a new set of Liberty prints as well as specialty items like candles, scarves, Christmas tree decorations, cushions, shoehorns etc.

I do think that Manolos are basically works of art, and I’m not alone. The maestro will be signing shoes at his Old Church Street shop after his appearance at Liberty on the Fashion Night Out.

I wouldn’t dare to go close. After realising that I’ve got a good 30 pairs of beautiful heels in my closet (and I don't have Carrie Bradshaw's walk-in closet) but still run around mainly in comfy plimsolls, trainers and flip flops (which I own in every shape, form and colour as well), I’ve banned myself from buying ANY new heels until I wear out at least one old pair. Then again, I guess a quick visit to Liberty’s wouldn’t hurt...

It's Total Happiness

I’m seriously looking forward to the debut album by a Manchester duo Hurts. The very stylish pop band is sounding totally awesomely 80s and the guys obviously look rather luscious. And, get this, they got Kylie to sing a song on their first album!

I also think there’s something very Scandinavian in their video Wonderful Life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pYbCHNCHug&feature=related.

Hurt’s first album Happiness is out 6^th September.