Blink Bar, Selfridges

Nowadays, most women 'in the know' will have cottoned on to the brilliant beauty technique that is threading, a painful but effective way of removing unwanted hair. It is used most for tidying up eyebrows and upper lips. And Blink is THE place to go for perfect threading results.

It is amazing to watch: highly skilled women hold thin laces of cotton between their mouths and hands carefully extracting hairs to create a perfect shape. It is much more effective than waxing as it is easier to remove shorter hairs, giving a cleaner job, and also pulls the hair deeper, so the hairs don't grow back as fast.

My mum was there at the start of this new fad, years ago, pampering her eyebrows with threading in a posh beauty place in Paddington, back when this was a little heard of and specialist treatment. More recently she has reverted to Blink, swearing by their experienced beauticians, and unbeatable results.

Blink has brought the technique to the masses with its brilliant brow bars that are now located in most of the big London department stores...as well as across the country. A convenient and quick way for women to quickly have their eyebrows tidied up in between shopping. Since trying the technique a few years ago I will never ever go back to waxing or plucking.

The Blink beauticians are very experienced and kind, aware that the threading can be painful on sensitive skin. In Selfridges recently I received the best eyebrow thread yet. A lovely girl called Hetal was my beautician. It was less painful than usual and the final look better than ever. My favourite thing about the Blink brow treatments is the relaxing mini massage they give at the end of the threading, maybe I'm just so relieved the painful bit is over!

Blink also provides a range of nutritious and glamorous eyebrow and lash products that help you maintain and perfect your brows on a day to day basis. I have tried the useful gel which keeps your eyebrows looking smart and in place, and the Blink pencils which come in lovely rich colours to give eyebrows a glossy and full look. The luscious lash oil is my favourite, because I wear fake eyelashes obsessively, this gentle oil adds moisture and shine while also strengthening.

£17 and 15 minutes is all it takes to achieve the best brows you have ever had. Get your brows beautified by Blink, it is so worth it. Visit website here.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 87

“Celebrate the beauty of words, the joy of writing and the art of conversation.”

Selfridges are currently honouring wonderful words, with writers-in-residence, a special collection of letter-inspired jewellery, captivating storytellers and literary themed objects and gifts.

I absolutely love clothing or accessories which use words… my ‘Milly’ version of the famous Carrie necklace is a treasured piece in my jewellery box, as are my old limited edition Luella t-shirts with slogans like ‘Daddy I want a pony!’ On my 18^th birthday I received a beautifully simple engraved silver ring from my parents quoting ‘Je vois la vie en rose’ (which loosely translates as the familiar saying ‘I see the world through rose tinted spectacles’). And inside there is a personal message, words that remind me of that important birthday.

I think Selfridges are onto a winner with the words idea. Teaming up with Tatty Devine, they have created an in-store workshop where shoppers can go along and design and customise their very own, entirely unique piece of jewellery. They’ve got everything at hand to decorate your necklace with different chains and charms in store. All the rainbow sheets of plastic are available and someone is on hand to laser cut your piece to perfection. All the jewellery findings are stored in jars attached to shelves by their lids (one twist and you can pick out just what you need). I went along and designed a Thoroughly Modern Milly necklace.

If you’d rather have a ready made piece this fabulous jewellery brand have also created an exclusive range of funky necklaces, with plastic words like ‘OMG’ and ‘Bookworm’ on them.

The Words Words Words programme continues until 1 March: visit the Selfridges website here for more information on all the literary workshops, talks and events.

The Museum of Everything, Selfridges

Number four in the Museum of Everything's series of exhibitions is currently up and running in Selfridges. With free entry, it provides a lovely break for frantic London shoppers. The red and white entrance hut looks like Santa’s Grotto and is warm and magical inside, with dimmed lighting and colourful decoration. A group of us went to visit last weekend, to be inspired and educated on the topic of Outsider Art.

This show exhibits over 200 drawings, paintings and sculptures by contemporary artists. Wild, colourful and expressive, this collection illustrates the very nature of outsider art: work that is made by self taught artists who have not come through the art educational system, supposedly creating “raw art” without any formal influences. In some cases the work demonstrates extreme mental states, unconventional ideas or elaborate fantasy worlds.

I have come across individual outsider artists before, in particular Scottie Wilson, Jack Bilbo, Genevieve Seille and Richard Nie, but never have I seen such a wide range of work shown together. The most wonderful thing for me about this work is that it is always individual and never what you expect. Outsider artists focus on their feelings and vision, rejecting any mainstream ideas or influences, and the result is often dark and revealing, sometimes quite disturbing, but also can be organic and natural, innocent and liberated.

I don’t want to tell you any more, I believe this exhibition needs to be seen and interpreted by every visitor personally.

The Museum of Everything is open in Selfridges until 25 October 2011, visit now, and see the website here.

Shu Uemura: Backstage Trends EVENT at Selfridges London, 30th Sept - 1st Oct

It is no secret that Shu Uemura is my make up brand of choice. Lush lashes, poptastic colours and the highest quality ingredients - in my opinion it is unbeatable... and the professionals think so too. If I was on a desert island, a bag of Shu goodies would be my luxury of choice, and then maybe I’d finally have the time to learn how to apply eye shadow.

My enthusiasm has intensified at the announcement of a very special Shu Uemura event taking place in Selfridges in Oxford Street... where you are invited to come along and learn all about this season’s hottest trends while being made to look and feel ravishing.

On offer will be hair styling, brow treatments, skin preparation, even a make-over... the perfect pre-party transformation. The event runs from 30^th September to 1^st October; to reserve your place call 0207 318 3962. Entrance is priced at £50, which is then fully redeemable on Shu Uemura products at the counter in Selfridges.

Make sure you’ve organised a special date for after your Shu make-over! And visit the website here to find your favourite items in advance. I can recommend the fantastic fake lashes.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 39

With London in the middle of Fashion week mania, there are endless designer temptations. Spring/Summer 2011 is truly upon us and new trends are emerging every minute. This season many designers are letting fly with vibrant colour schemes in their collections, never has it been so fashionable to clash. This is great news for me, I’ve always loved punchy colours and as much as I yearn to rock the monochrome sophisticated Hepburn look, I can’t help but gravitate towards the lively colourful items on the shop floor.

Michael Kors is an American designer best known for his sportswear ranges for women. Recently his accessories have become very desirable: classic, stylish and COLOURFUL watches and jewellery. The great thing about this week’s feature is the price – a designer MK watch, for a high street price of £179. The new chronograph watches have been featured in publications all over the place and are on sale in Selfridges for a reduced price of £150.

The strap is made from flexible, soft silicone, making it sporty and practical. With the standard big round face, this watch promises to make a statement on any wrist. With so many colours to choose from, I took about an hour deciding which one to get. Along with the purple (shown above) it is available in orange, pink, royal blue, green, yellow, black and white. I spent my birthday money on one of these watches, and so far it has been money extremely well spent - comfortable, contemporary and cool. For the sake of everyday use I eventually chose the black though I completely loved the pink and orange options too.

Buy a Michael Kors watch online here.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 37

The last ten years have seen the geeky Converse sneaker rise to international fame, featuring on some of the hottest feet around. But these are shoes not just for the stars - they are affordable, comfortable, and fashionable… and androgynous enough to be suitable for women or men. Adaptable to so many looks and ages, they are rivalled by no other footwear, not even the dreaded UGGs – you could say they are the shoe of our generation.

Most designers have had their turn at customising the classic design. Even desirable Louboutin have their own style of studded shoe that is undoubtedly derived from the Converse model. But though they try, no-one can beat the timeless original.

I always shied away from these trainers convinced they were unflattering and clunky on me. However a few months back, while browsing in the new Selfridges shoe heaven a pair of irressistably sparkly shoes caught my eye. Sequinned Converse, silver and glittering; I was captivated by them.

Needless to say I bought them, and have worn them everyday since. They don’t go unnoticed, random passers by notice my sparkly feet, and I’ve had many enquiries about them.

They aren’t easy to find but the occasional Office stocks them and they are available on their website here. Priced at £44.99, you get a lot of sequins for your money.

The classic Converse but with all the glitter, glamour and glitz a girl could need.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 18

On the 16^th September Selfridges opened their new Shoe Galleries. This emporium displays 5,000 pairs of shoes and has up to 100,000 in stock, making it the world’s biggest woman’s footwear department. The title previously belonged to the Galeries Lafayette in Paris, and before that Saks Fifth Avenue in New York.

The inspiration behind the Selfridges extravaganza came from a conversation the store's creative director, Alannah Weston had with a colleague regarding the effect shoes have on women. Following this Weston told her photographer friend, Bruce Weber the tale of her three-year-old daughter Maia’s favourite game: trying on and admiring all her mother’s shoes every morning. Weber was captivated by the story and that’s where the Shoeperhero idea all began, hence the photo above.

Shoes are an undeniably important part of a woman’s daily life: looking, choosing, ordering, comparing, buying, wearing, and wishing. More than 150 brands are represented in Selfridges, from high street names such as River Island and Topshop to the world’s top designers, like Jimmy Choo and Prada. Prices range enormously from a £25 pair of Havaianas flip-flops to £1,750 for a sensational pair of platform Balenciagas. There really is something for everyone. It is worth visiting just to see this shoe phenomenon, it is as beautiful as an art gallery.

The £10 million Shoe Galleries are said to be larger than the great Turbine Hall in Tate Modern. They are arranged into six unique ‘salons’ each with a different theme and feel. Each brand has had full creative direction of their ‘apartment’; I particularly like the Repetto mimic ballet studio and the Christian Louboutin room that recreates the designer's Paris home.

We already loved Selfridges but now there’s another reason to visit this magical London store. Dreams really do come true in the Shoe Galleries, go and find the pair that will make you feel like a princess. And remember to drop off the man before entering, you don’t want his whingeing distracting you.

Check out the Selfridges website for more info here.

The Coolest Liquer in Town

CHAMBORD: A five-star liqueur, made with 'black raspberries' and other bramble fruits, infused in aged cognac. Perfect for dressing up desserts or sweetening a cocktail.

I spent Tuesday night at The Inaugural Chambord Rendezvous, chinking glasses with only the most experienced of cocktail drinkers. The decadent party at London’s Cafe de Paris celebrated this stylish drink. I was invited along! Edith Bowman was there playing a DJ set and Claudia Winkleman was hosting. Canapes and luxurious Chambord cocktails were served throughout the night.

I had a special new frock for the occasion, a beautiful dark pink ‘hammered satin party dress’ from designer Rebecca Taylor at Harvey Nichols. And with my sparkly pink diamante eyelashes from Selfridges and face rhinestones on, I was ready to go. I realised ten minutes into the party that in fact my dress was the perfect Chambord dark raspberry colour, and quietly congratulated myself on this clever coincidence.

Chambord is used in more cocktails than you’d think, and despite the strong flavour it goes excellently with other fruity liqueurs and mixers. My favourite use for it is to colour other drinks, like making your own pink champagne! The cocktails made at this event were the winning recipes from competitions, my favourite was the fresh and fruity Belle Poire.

The cocktails were great but my favourite part of the evening was dancing the night away with my brilliant dance partner.