I HAVE TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO ONE OF THE MOST STYLISH HOTELS IN THE WORLD THE RITZ CARLTON, BERLIN. CHIC AND EFFORTLESS. FANTASTIC ART ON THE WALLS AND FASHION INSTALLATIONS AROUND THE HOTEL. TWO AMAZING BARS. FRAGRANCE WHERE YOUR SENSE OF SMELL GUIDES YOU TO A COCKTAIL SELECTION AND THE CURTAIN CLUB WITH LIVE MUSIC AND THE MOST EXPLORATORY COCKTAIL LIST I HAVE EVER SEEN. POTS THE RESTAURANTS IS INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE. I LOVE LOVE THIS EXCITING YET RESTFUL HOTEL IN THIS MOST WONDERFUL OF CITIES.
RITZ CARLTON BERLIN
MOST STYLISH RESTAURANT
COYA IN PICADILLY IS A LONDON REGULAR HAUNT OF MINE. BUT I HAVE JUST TRIED ONE OF THEIR LEGENDARY SATURDAY ALL DAY BRUNCHES. FOR £150 PP YOU ARRIVE AT 12.30 TO ENJOY BOTTOMLESS COCKTAILS AND CANAPES IN THE PISCO BAR AND LOUNGE. A DJ ENTERTAINS. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO HEAD INTO THE RESTAURANT YOU ARE MET WITH LIVE MUSICIANS AND THE RENOWNED PERUVIAN FOOD. A COMPLETELY IMMERSIVE AND SUPREMELY COOL AND STYLISH EVENT. THE FACT THAT IT IS A SECRET DEN UNDERNEATH BUSTLING PICADILLY MAKES IT ALL THE MORE INDULGENT.
MOST STYLISH PERSON
WELL I MUST GIVE THIS TO MARISA TOMEI FOR HER EMMY OUTFIT. I WROTE ABOUT RED AND PINK WORN TOGETHER MANY YEARS AGO AFTER SARAH JESSICA PARKER WORE IT. ONE OF MY FAVOURITE COLOUR COMBINATIONS MARISA’S DRESS WAS STUNNING AND SHE WORE IT WITH APLOMB. SHOWING YOU CAN ALWAYS LOOK AMAZING AT 50 +. BEST DRESSED AT THE EMMYS THIS YEAR!
MUST HAVE BEAUTY PRODUCT
CHARLOTTE TILBURY GLOWGASM BEAUTY LIGHT WAND £29 POP IN YOUR HANDBAG TO REFRESH YOU FACE ,EYES AND LIPS INSTANTLY. AWARD WINNING. TRIED IT MYSELF THIS MONTH PERFECT TO SOFT FOCUS YOUR CHEEKBONES AS THE LIGHT CHANGES AS WE GO INTO AUTUMN. TRY IT!
STYLISH FASHION
ITS ALL ABOUT SHADES OF BEIGE RIGHT NOW. COFFEE,MOCHA AND CAPPUCCINO ARE NOT JUST FOR STARBUCKS THIS AUTUMN. LOOKS CLASSIC AND EFFORTLESS. CHOOSE THE RIGHT SHADE TO SUIT YOUR PALETTE AS DISCUSSED IN MY PREVIOUS BLOG ON COLOUR.
Jigsaw £240
JOJOS STYLELIST TIPS FOR SEPTEMBER
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A GOOD CUT AND COLOUR FOR YOUR HAIR. THE LIGHT CHANGES TO A MORE BLUE LIGHT AT THIS TIME OF YEAR SO YOUR COLOUR WILL NEED SOME NEW WARMER TONES PARTICULARLY IF YOU ARE A SPRING OR AUTUMN PALETTE.
GRAB A LOOFAH OR A BODYBRUSH GIVE YOUR BODY A GOOD SLOUGHING TO GET RID OFF ANY FADING TAN AND BOOST YOUR CIRCULATION.. THEN ADD A CUP OF CIDER VINEGAR TO YOUR BATH TO REMOVE ANY DRY SKIN CELLS LEFTOVER FROM THE SUMMER. MOISTURISE WITH SOME COCNUT OIL.
One of many things that improve as you get older is not to take the beauty industry that seriously. You understand that beauty editorial of the next batch of “must have” products are normally funded by spend on advertisement in the magazine, free products etc. I know many people in the industry and most of those beauty writers have never even tried the products and certainly not for any length of time. Of course some of these beauty buys may deserve cult status so I decided to try some at my own expense. I get so annoyed at the dreams we are sold as women and spend a lot of money on products that don’t live up to the hype. This is completely unfunded unbiased approach and I have tried each one for 6 months and the following did not work for ME and in some cases made matters worse !
Bottom Of The Class
LASH SLICK £14
Glossier’s first ever mascara. Promises to lift,curl,sculpt, lengthen and enhance the look of your natural lashes. This brand was only launched in 2018 but Vogue Magazine featured it heavily and I attended a Vogue afternoon to launch the brand to its customers. Now, I understand the brand likes the no make up , make up look that I advocate for us older women but with mascara you really do want it to make a difference. What is the point of a mascara that looks natural ? You may as well apply a little vaseline. I have naturally long lashes but I personally felt that I still had to apply several coats to make a difference on any of its promises. After so many coats my eyelashes were so brittle and hard that it had the appearance of a cheap mascara . The price was fair but then it is expensive if it does not work. Nothing still beats Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara and I have tried practically every one on the market.
PILLOW PLUMP £10
Soap and Glorys offering from Boots is well priced if you want to try it yourself. I so wanted this to work as I would love plumper lips without resorting to filler. So much so I have now tried this for a whole year in the interest of science. Claims to help increase the skins natural levels of hyaluronic acid ??? It has a real tingly feeling to trick you into thinking something is happening but alas no, no ,no. Normally menthol is the ingredient that causes the tingle. The lip gloss is very sticky and the smell is sweet and cloying quite nauseating. This product is aimed at teenagers, I feel but those in search of the miraculous claims made by this product ……..don”t bother . NO PLUMPER LIPS !
OLAPLEX No 3 £24 (100ml)
Consistently overhyped by beauty editors this ‘Hair Perfector’ probably was the worst product I have ever used. Claims that this product seeks out broken bonds in the hair (by chemical,thermal and mechanical damage) and repairs them restoring compromised hair to former glory. Well my hair started lovely and became dry and brittle after using this ‘hair perfector’. Even my hairdresser noticed but told me to carry on with the treatment for 6 months as it takes time to work but my hair just got worse and was drying it out so I abandoned this one before the 6 months is up. Have read several reviews for this product that have said exactly the same. Strange considering the claims. An expensive mistake.
VIRTUE THE POLISH £19
A leave in hair conditioner that claims to smooth hair and eliminate frizz and lock out humidity. Sorry to choose another hair product but this is one of the fastest growing parts of the beauty market with hyped up prices to match the hyped up claims. Would not normally spend £19 on a hair conditioner but as someone whose hair frizzes up at the first sight of humidity or rain really wanted to try this product much loved ……by beauty editors. Considered a cult beauty product. Oh dear it did not “tame,calm or transform” there are very mixed reviews but general consensus seems to be not to blow dry but leave to dry naturally so good for curls. But if you want a sleek smooth glossy look do not use this just use Moroccan Oil works every time on wet or dry hair ! My go to product.
COVER FX BLURRING PRIMER £30
Want “skin perfection” then give this a miss. May work on younger skins but as you know I am not a lover of primer on more mature skins but this one claims to “instantly minimise the appearance of fine lines to create a super smooth flawless airbrushed look”. No. It drew attention to my fine lines making them LESS fine . A light cc cream on its own will give you a more flawless look. Although I will point out Cover FX do use healthy vegan free ingredients they say. But pricey. Marie Claire Magazine rated this as the best primer for radiance and primer. But I disagree . Maybe for a younger oily skin this would be great but to all my followers don’t waste your money on this one.
So there you have it my fellow stylelistas I hope I have saved you some money this week. These five products are all currently high on Beauty Editors lists and consistently win awards in all the magazines. But I would encourage you to read INDEPENDENT reviews from genuine consumers like this one. Be careful you are not reading reviews sponsored by the actual Company or retailer designed to sell you these dreams in a bottle.
JOJOS STYLELIST TIP: BUY THE SMALLEST SIZE TO TRY OR EVEN ASK THE RETAILER FOR A SAMPLE SIZE. EXPENSIVE DOES NOT EQUAL EFFECTIVE ON THE CONTRARY THE CHEAPER MORE NATURAL PRODUCTS ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE. SEE PREVIOUS ARTICLE ON COCONUT OIL !
Last week I attended a fashion event at Bicester Village in conjunction with Harpers bazaar. I had intended to write today about the A/W trends but AVRIL MAIR (Group Luxury Fashion Director) and Kim Parker (Fashion and Jewellery Director) touched briefly on sustainability in the fashion Industry.
Avril Mair and Kim Parker
What I have since discovered concerned me so much that I decided to dedicate todays article about it. It led me to ask the question WHO IS TO BLAME: THEM OR US ?
WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY?
Fostering change in the systems towards great ecological integrity and social justice.
FOCUS ON FASHION
The fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world, after oil and gas. Rubber, leather and textiles make up 9% of all solid waste. Water consumption within the industry is growing substantially. More recent reports show that the fashion industry is slowing down its sustainability efforts. But is this because of an all time high demand for quick turnaround cheap fashion.
FAST FASHION
Ironically 75% of consumers indicate that sustainability in the clothing industry is important to them. But is it the consumers insatiable appetite for ‘fast fashion’ that is the real problem ? Causing the fashion industry to lose in the sustainability stakes.
Even though the industry is working to reduce its environmental footprint people are buying more and more clothes at ridiculously cheap prices. According to AVRIL MAIR we are wearing an item of clothing only up to 6 times in these current times !!!!
British consumers buy more new clothes per person than any of its European counterparts. Even the historic two annual fashion seasons have now very blurred lines with many fashion houses doing 4-6. While high street stores now do “weekly drops” to keep up with customer demand to buy disposable cheaper pieces. What is driving this I ask myself ? Desire,status,ego or just a need for excitement……or a fast fashion fix ? This fast fashion turnover of clothing (usually made from chemically laden fabric)can clog up landfill and causes 1.2billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. That is more than the emissions from international flights and shipping combined .
Throughout my Styling career I have ALWAYS emphasised the need for “style for life rather then a slave to fashion” and re positioning that focus. Concentrating on investment pieces with a couple of updates each season. Clothes that last a lifetime or at least, a long time. Planning your wardrobe not impulse buying.
Are consumers placing impossible demands on the fashion industry that it is almost impossible to improve sustainability ?
Let’s look closer………
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
WATER CONSUMPTION
It can take up to 3000 litres of water to produce one shirt. 10 000 for one pair of jeans.
Cotton production itself uses huge amounts of water . Also it is normally grown in warm dry climates where water is scarce.
WATER POLLUTION
Washing polyester releases microfibres into the water system and microscopic plastics that find their way back into the food chain. The process of dyeing clothes lead to toxic chemicals polluting the water on a massive scale.
FASHION WASTE
Consumers disposing of these non bio degradable materials into landfill has risen massively into the 1990s. But fashion waste from cutting patterns is also a major problem. Although more Companies are now adopting zero waste cutting techniques.
GAS EMISSIONS
Synthetic fibres of which fast fashion tends to be produced e.g. polyester,nylon,acrylic are all made using fossil fuels. Polluting both air and water. Carbon emissions generated by the clothing an average UK household over a year is equivalent is equivalent to driving a medium sized car 6000 miles.
SOCIAL INJUSTICE
Sustainability of course includes the workforce. Cheap clothes means cheap labour usually in very poor working conditions. Exploitation is generated by a need to cut costs and the volume required to satisfy demands. A lot of our clothes are assembled in India and China workers are paid low wages, poor health and safety conditions and degradation. Child labour is frequently used whose families dare not question the quality of their sons and daughters treatment.
Contemplating at Bicester
CONCLUSION
There is no doubt that we need to explore better technology, water consumption, produce recyclable materials and and implement better working conditions to reduce the social and environmental impact, of this giant industry worth globally £300 billion per annum. But does the real answer lie with us the consumer who is demanding quick manufacturing at low prices. Perhaps we need to persuade David Attenborough to do a programme on the fashion industry !
JOJOS STYLELIST TIP : PLAN, PLAN, PLAN. AROUND TWO SEASONS AND STICK TO IT. SHOP MINDFULLY-DO YOU NEED IT OR LOVE IT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN YOUR WARDROBE.
Making up your face has some very different rules as we get older most advice you see in magazines relate to much younger women. as a make up artist I want to give you some tried and tested hacks to create a more youthful glow. Basically it is all about gloss and glow as we get older and less is more. How do we achieve the “no make up ” make up look to make us look radiant and healthy ? Read on……….
THE BASE.
The general advice is to use primer. No no no. This creates a matt finish and tends to make Foundation sit in the crease and highlights lines and wrinkles. So no primer. I am a big advocate of using facial oil in the mornings or even an oil based cleanser. It does give a lovely dewy glow. A word on foundations do not use a matt foundation. A light base with light reflecting particles is much more flattering. A cc tinted moisturiser works well.
CONTOURING AND HIGHLIGHTING.
Now you can be the master of all you survey. I tend once again to steer away from the powders that you girls use but use the Chubby Stick from Clinique. One for contouring and one for highlighting. Cream based. Now ,like a colouring book contour on the parts you want to play down e.g. jawline, sides of nose, hollows of cheeks and highlight the parts you want to see e.g. cheekbones, centre of nose, cupids bow. Highlighting is important as you get older it really can lift a face. Choose products to suit your budget but choose a cream based one.
EYEBROWS.
Very important to define your brows. This will instantly lift your face. I am going to do an eyebrow masterclass in the coming weeks as it is so important. Eyebrows need to be a shade darker than your hair. There are many products from pencils, wax, dye, fibre thickening and stencils it is whole industry but deserves an article in its own right. But for now just make sure you have neat defined eyebrows to frame your face.
EYE MAKE UP.
You will hate me for this one. Throw the eye shadow/cream in the bin. Our eyelids wrinkle rapidly as we grow older don’t draw attention to them. I do think coloured eye shadows are ageing if you have to then go neutral. I prefer to use just an eyeglosser , Kevin Aucoin has a delicious little pot of eyeglass with a shimmer you can use this across the cheekbones and on the lips. I simply love a multi use product. But then use lashings of mascara !!!
STILL ON EYES.
This trick will make your eyes look whiter, wider and more awake. Use a white pencil to colour the inside corners of the eyes and the outside corners of the eyes. Then run the pencil along the inner rim of the eye. Watch them sparkle !! I use BENEFIT EYEBRIGHT.
LIPS.
If your lips are thinning or you are developing liplines as I have (too much kissing !! Never smoked ) then no dark or matt lipsticks. This will make your lips look thinner and can bleed into lines. Luckily its all about the nude lips. Choose a nude to suit your skin tone It can take weeks to find your perfect nude. Charlotte Tilbury has a massive choice. My personal favourite is a gloss by Tom Ford Absolute Peach but it is about to be discontinued !!!!!!! Heeelllllpppp ! if you find your perfect nude in a lipstick then I would definitely slick some clear gloss over the top to make the lips look fuller.
LIP LINERS
Now I have a secret weapon. It is a neutral lip liner , the WONDER PENCIL from NYX to prevent lips from bleeding and give definition to the lip . If you go along the outside of your lips slightly it will make them look fuller and pouty.
Two of my favourite products
FIXING SPRAY
Now I hope you are all using Fixing Spray to set your look. This must be a dewy one for more mature skins. The best on the market is probably the cheapest on the market. Barry M FLAWLESS MIST & FIX in dewy finish. Roughly about £5.95. Sets your make up and leaves skin looking dewy and refreshed all day !!
If you need a visual look at make up for more mature skins then checkout my youtube tutorial below
See more tutorials on my channel
JOJOS STYLELIST TIP: USING LESS MORE NEUTRAL COLOURS IS LESS AGEING THEN TRYING TO OVER COMPENSATE WITH BRIGHT COLOURS AND LAYERING MAKE UP.
This article is obviously my own point of view of whats hot (44 degrees !) in Vegas. Having just returned a couple of days ago and visited this sumptuous city 20 + times I do however, consider myself a bit of an expert on the place.
WHERE TO STAY
For me it has to be THE VENETIAN every time. I made a point this week of visiting the hot contenders of this Hotel and there were none. THE WYNN too tacky CAESARS too big, BELLAGIO in need of a refurbishment in fact had not changes since I last visited 15 years ago. THE COSMOPOLITAN very sleazy but great if you are in your twenties. These hotels have some great restaurants and shops ( more later) but to stay in….. no it has to be The Venetian. Still holding its glamour and all the rooms are indulgent suites with living room area and fabulous spacious bathrooms with walk in showers and grand bath tubs. The Venezia Tower offers quieter accommodation away from the main hotel and has a quieter lagoon pool with the fabulous BOUCHON on hand for brunch and lunch.
The main pool and bar areas had a complete refurbishment as you can see above seated at the ‘Tiffany blue’ bar awaiting Margaritas. This hotel provides some of the best restaurants in Vegas and the standard is incredible now in Vegas. You really do not need to leave this resort but in the best interests of this article we ventured out into the searing 44 degree heat !!
WHERE TO EAT
Well first of all lets start at THE VENETIAN with two of my favourites. CANONITA right next to the Gondolas and singing gondoliers its very romantic and you could believe you are in Venice ! With happy hours 3-6 and 6-9pm and all well drinks, wine and cocktails $5 whats not to like ?? The food is VERY good I had grilled salmon and quinoa but let myself down on the cocktails ! ( its Vegaaas )
ONCE (on-say) is a restaurant that opened just a year ago . Peruvian cuisine and great Pisco Sours. This is a quiet and moody restaurant located over in the PALAZZO side of the Venetian. Great for getting away from the hustle and bustle of Vegas. This is a particularly good recommendation as there are not very many quiet locations in Vegas. The Palazzo is perfect when you had enough of crowds and the ringing of slot machines.
TAO in the Venetian is an old favourite for Asian Cuisine although this may have now been surpassed by ZUMA located in The Cosmopolitan. Regular readers will know how much I love the Japanese fayre served up by Zuma all over the world well Vegas is no exception. The food is always consistent and the menu is standard throughout the brand. The restaurant is chic located on the third floor my advice would be to rush through the lower floors as rapidly as possible !
One of my other London favourites is now located in the Cosmopolitan and right next door to Zuma…….MILOS. Again the standard menu , gorgeous Greek food and a beautiful setting. So you have a wonderful choice here depending on your foodie feeling that evening. The cosmopolitan is a short taxi ride up the strip ($10).
However my next two discoveries are right next door to our hotel. THE WYNN. ANDREAS, super sleek all white pan Asian restaurant with a fabulous cocktail bar.
Andreas at the WYNN
SINATRAS quite close to Andreas on the ground floor was quite the opposite. Old school , Hollywood charm was transported back to the rat pack era.
Sinatras at the WYNN
Just a quick mention of two restaurants that looked interesting that we did not have time to visit. HELLS KITCHEN on the centre of the strip just outside CAESARS PALACE based on the tv show with a red and blue side of the kitchen competing. A Gorden Ramsay restaurant , looked like fun. Also located inside CAESARS PALACE ……..VANDERPUMPS COCKTAIL GARDEN. Newly launched but the queues to get in were just too long……I don’t queue ! Wanted to pay homage to Lisa though whom I have met on a number of occasions and adore her.
Wow enough eating places, we need to be in bikinis by day. Which is a neat segway into……..
WHAT TO DO IN VEGAS
There is nothing you CAN’T do in Vegas. ASK CONCIERGE. They can arrange bungee jumpimg, Grand canyon visits by helicopter/light plane/horseback. Cowboy ranches,war games, parachute jumps or for the lazy girls guide…..
SUNBATHING but go in April or October or you will need a cabana in the summer months that can cost £1000+ per day but if there is a lot of you in your party can be a perfect day . I would definitely recommend as you are very well looked after.
42 in the heat 55 in a bikini !
SPA these are very good in Vegas and gets you out of the sun for an hour or so. Every hotel has a good one the VENETIAN has the CANYON RANCH SPA close to the main pool.
CASINO of course thats why you came ? don’t be shy if you have not had a flutter before. Book a private gaming lesson all the casinos do them usually for free ! I would definitely recommend CRAPS as your money goes further and the odds of beating the house are greater than roulette or blackjack so much so UK casinos usually don’t have CRAPS tables. The excitement builds and you meet many new people as you are all playing the table together.
SHOWS we saw two shows while we were there. DIANA ROSS who was simply outstanding. It was very emotional. MATT GOSS at 1OAK at THE MIRAGE (directly opposite The Venetian) with a rat pack show which was intimate and great fun. In fact he bought the audience several tequilas. Brilliant. Both in for long runs so catch these shows if you can. Another good show at THE MIRAGE is the CIRQUE DU SOLEIL “LOVE” show (there are many CDS shows in Vegas) but this is the best one. I have seen them all over the years. There are so many shows to book it is up to your personal preference but the big names get booked up so buy before you fly !
As well as the best Theatre Vegas has the BEST SHOPPING. There are fabulous malls in the hotels but take it from me you only have to head to THE FORUM at CAESARS PALACE for all the designer things that you want but don’t need. This Mall is an experience in itself a Rome re-creation that is better than Rome itself !
Goodbye Venetian
Wow my 5 days here as left me exhausted at least i get a full 10 hours sleep on the way home as LAS VEGAS you are too busy too sleep ! VIVA LAS VEGAS !! Night Night everyone …until next time zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Courtesy of BA
JOJOS STYLE LIST TIP: PLAN YOUR SCHEDULE BEFORE YOU GO THERE REALLY IS SOOOO MUCH TO DO IN THIS CITY. DONT FORGET TO BUILD IN REST TIME.
