Fashion Archives - Fashion Voyeur

Categories: Fashion

How to Turn Heads For All The Right Reasons

We’ve all had that experience of walking down the street and noticing a perfectly put together stranger walk by. There’s nothing outlandish about their outfit, there’s no real reason for them to standout and yet everyone notices them. Whether it’s their perfectly tonal palette, their clever use of cut, or the accessories that seem to draw the eye to their best assets; some people just know how to turn heads for all the right reasons. The good news? There are some clever little ways that you can apply this to your everyday styling.

Walking Tall

You know the old adage, shoulders back, hips forward – it’s all about projection. Sure walking is a simple case of one foot in front of the other but walking tall with your shoulders back and down is a great way to make your clothes lie better. It’s how models learn to walk the runway so that clothes give a flat back line and in most fitness classes it’s how we’re taught to hold our bodies for correct alignment and lateral breathing.

Hair and Skincare

You can’t change your genetics so learn to love what you’re working with, you ain’t waking up looking like Bella Hadid tomorrow. Retinol is probably the biggest buzzword in skincare right now simply because it works. If anti-ageing is high up on your agenda the you’re going to want to look for skincare products containing this wonder ingredient; my top picks right now are Olay’s Retinol 24 £35 (choose the serum over the cream as it has a higher retinol content), and The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane £5.80 (a lot more oily in consistency).

When it comes to hair, ask your salon to show you how to blow dry or wave your hair so that you can recreate your salon style results at home.

Stand Out Threads

Generally speaking I’d say that although we think we notice a face first when someone passes us by, we’re actually more likely to notice and remember the outfit. Take that perfect safari style outfit Carrie wore to scope out her wedding venue for example. With that in mind, consider your own closet, are the items in there stale? Are they past their best? Could you do with a cull, or maybe you need a few wardrobe staples to make it a little more user friendly? If you’re looking to switch up your style then consider buying vintage, hosting a clothes swap or even looking at something alternative like a kimono from Felicity B to inject colour and print.

Make the Most of Accessories

Accessories can make or break an outfit, we all know Coco Chanel was an advocate. From a simple nameplate necklace (I never go anywhere without mine), to a braided Mulberry belt – the perfect accessory is invaluable. You also don’t have to spend a fortune on accessories, sometimes the perfect accessory is a simple beret on a transitional day, braces with denim, or in the case of J-Lo – the perfect pair of gold hoops.

Be sure to use accessories to your full advantage. These items can round off a terrific outfit, or they can be the things that catch your eye when you have to wear less standout clothing, such as when you’re focusing on warmth more than style during the chillier months. With a wardrobe of accessories, you’ll always have something to make you stand out.

Just remember, as long as you feel great about the look that you’ve put together, then it the look works and that’s all that matters in fashion and style.

Pixie

Categories: Fashion

The Perfect Ganni Seersucker Dupe Dress

Remember the Ganni Seersucker minidress that sent Instagram into a near meltdown last Summer? Well that gorgeous check pattern in its unmistakeable black and green hue is going nowhere this Summer and the puff sleeve, swing hem shape is sticking around all season. That particular Ganni dress was produced in a soft cheesecloth type fabric and I’m here to show you how you can recreate the look for a fraction of the price with 100% of the style, and some of the sustainability factor (not that Ganni is particularly known for its sustainability credentials).

Take one high street dress, I’ve always told you that it takes a half a season for the British high street to pick up on pieces at the top end of the fashion chain and turn them into pieces for consumption at the mid to bottom end of the fashion chain, that’s how this thing works. It takes Fashion Editors and journalists to spot those pieces, models and influencers to max out on them and then the high street to respond to that need after the social media responses are generated in terms of your likes and comments. Those pieces are then produced in a direct response to what you, the consumer expects, wants and needs as a forecast for the season ahead based on what was popular in the previous season – these are called micro-trends. Ok, fashion lesson over, on to the dress and this one is a doozie….

Pixie Tenenbaum wears a green and black checked minidress dupe of the Ganni Seersucker minidress at St Mary's Inn in Morpeth — Lime Green Seersucker dupe £35.00 at Topshop

It’s an almost exact replica of the fabric in terms of wearability, it’s got that same cheesecloth type feel with the banding that runs through the checks. The sleeves stay puffed up (the Ganni dress has to be re-puffed regularly if that’s the look you’re going for), and this one doesn’t have a deep v-neck which is good if you’re particularly flat chested like me. It’s empire cut so is almost a fit and flare style from the bust out, a very flattering cut on most shapes, especially given its shorter length.

We all know the Ganni Seersucker sold like hot cakes when it was reduced in the sale to £150, but this Seersucker dupe from high street giant Topshop is just £35.00 and you can buy it here, but be quick because I can’t see this one sticking around. It’s the perfect seasonal transition dress paired with opaques, a light polo neck and boots and then on its own for lazy Summer days and vacations paired with cowboy boots. Of course if you’re not sold on the empire line and puff sleeves – I get that it’s not a look for everyone – but you want in on the pattern, then Topshop also have this straight bodied version available with frill detailing on the front if this is more your thing for £39.99.

Either way, get amongst it Voyeurs, this is one with a decent amount of wearability in it.

Pixie

Categories: Fashion, North East Voyeur

Grey Goose Ice Bar at STACK Newcastle

The Ice Bar slid back into Newcastle this week for its second term at STACK, this time with a shiny new sponsor in the form of Grey Goose Vodka and making its grand entrance with a New York theme.

That’s right, everything inside has a nod to the city that never sleeps and it’s just fabulous. From the huge to the very tiny, there’s something to capture your attention for every single one of the twenty minutes you get inside and it’s all been painstakingly carved out of, or encased in ice.

We were invited along on launch day to check it out. When you arrive you sign in at a welcome cabin and you’re given vouchers dependent on which package you’ve booked – we were there for the basic entry deal, a simple entry to the Ice Bar, shot of something from the bar and a hot chocolate after leaving. After signing in you’re given gloves and a faux fur hooded cloak to keep you toasty once inside.

You enter the Ice Bar in groups which are pre-booked online so it’s never overcrowded and the numbers are controlled in order to maintain the temperature inside. Once you get in there you’re immediately faced with ice, and a lot of it. You round a corner into the bar and it opens out into what’s actually a pretty big space.

The bar itself is completely carved from ice, as are the glasses the shots are served in. The toffee Schnapps served as the drink included in the entry fee is simply divine, it’s made fresh on site each evening by the bar staff specially for the event to a recipe they “just came up with”. There’s also a non-alcoholic apple version available for kids (or adults who just fancy it) and I have it on good authority that that’s pretty amazing too.

So what can you expect to see inside the Ice Bar and is it worth going back if you visited last year? Well, yes actually. It’s better. I’d say it’s a lot better. Firstly, this time everything is tied up with a theme so it makes more sense, secondly there’s a designated seating area and it’s decked out with rugs so if you want to just sit, you can.

A friends style sofa and set piece carved entirely from ice in the Grey Goose Ice Bar at STACK Newcastle January 2020

Babe Ruth’s Baseball Bat encase in ice on display at the Grey Goose Ice Bar at STACK Newcastle in January 2020

Carrie Bradshaw’s Manolo Blahnik’s as worn in Sex and The city encased in ice in the Grey Goose Ice Bar at STACK Newcastle

The main focal point is the Friends set piece and sofa, it’s the definite Insta zone of the Ice Bar and the lighting around it is so much better than it was in there last year so make a beeline for that if you get in there this year. There’s some sporting memorabilia in there too in the form of the baseball bat with which Babe Ruth scored his first ever home run and it’s fully encased in ice.

The famous blue Manolo Blahnik pumps given to Carrie by Big in Sex and The City are in the ice too as well as some Tiffany jewellery and there’s a Yellow cab carved out of ice which looks really slick. Oh, and it just wouldn’t be NYC without Lady Liberty in there now would it?

After twenty minutes are up, and trust me you’ll be feeling it at sub zero temperatures, you’re ushered out in your group and directed to the end of the bar where you’re served hot chocolate topped with cream and marshmallows and given the option of mingling with the masses at STACK or heading to the Warm Room at the opposite end of the DJ stand to defrost fully.

Overall, it’s a fun activity, doesn’t take up a huge amount of time and doesn’t cost a fortune. Check it out while it’s here, it’s not around for long.

Pixie

TICKET PRICES

Mon-Thurs (Off Peak) / Fri-Sun (peak)

STANDARD ADULT — £10.00 off peak /£15.00 peak

Includes Entry
Jacket and Glove Hire
Ice Shot (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Hot Chocolate

PREMIUM ADULT — £15.00 off peak / £20.00 peak

Includes Entry
Jacket and Glove Hire
Ice Shot (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Hot Chocolate
Glass of Prosecco or Bottle of Beer

CHILDREN — £6.00 per child

No Under 7’s are permitted in the Ice Bar

Includes Entry
Jacket and Glove Hire
Ice Shot (non-alcoholic)
Hot Chocolate

FAMILY TICKETS — £30.00 off peak / £38.00 peak

A family booking can be made consisting of 2 adults and 2 children. More children can be added for £6.00 per child.

Includes Entry
Jacket and Glove Hire Ice Shot (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Hot Chocolate

Categories: Fashion, Fitness, North East Voyeur

Raising The Barre for The Sunshine Fund

I’m super pleased to be back at The Barre and working out again, something I really didn’t think would happen after a really bad surgical procedure in April 2019 and a botched recovery that saw the NHS hang me out to dry. Slowly but surely, with the support of Instructors who’ve allowed me to take a way more modified version of a regular barre class, I’ve been able to get some control back into my body and get some fitness back which in turn has made me a lot happier.

I’m even more thrilled to be working with them to support The Sunshine Fund, an absolutely amazing North East charity which supports children with physical and learning disabilities by providing equipment they otherwise wouldn’t have access to. Now when I say equipment, I’m talking life changing, this is equipment that’s absolutely required but not funded by the NHS, Social Services or any other organisation, things such as specialist beds, wheelchairs, trikes, IT and sensory equipment like weighted blankets. The Sunshine Fund take on the responsibility of supporting babies, children and young adults right through to their 19th birthday from all over the North East region – That’s a lot of disabled people to look after and support and with no specialist funding streams, they rely solely on donations from local businesses, organisations and actual lovely people from the North East and sometimes even further afield. If you’re reading this and want to make a donation from afar, then you can do so here: https://www.thesunshinefund.org/donate

In order to meet the needs of the disabled children they commit support to each year, they are required to raise £450,000 per year. That’s a lot of cash, a lot of work, and a lot of kindness. Personally, and this is solely my opinion it feels like a hell of a huge gap in services from the NHS and Social Services given that they are often the people who identify the need and the equipment required then put the focus on the family to go away and source it, often with a huge feeling of guilt hanging over them if they aren’t aware of wonderful charities like The Sunshine Fund who are around for this very purpose. So, they cycle is, disabled child has a need identified, a piece of equipment usually aimed at the special needs or disability market is required and The Sunshine Fund help to buy the (very expensive) equipment. Happiness restored.

An image taken from the Barre Body Campaign shot for The Barre Workout Newcastle by Jason Holcomb featuring Pixie Tenenbaum and other clients of The Barre, this image sees Instructor Natalie Catlah setting clients up for releve

On December 23rd, The Barre will be holding a special Christmas fundraiser to support The Sunshine fund. Anyone booked into a class at any time on the schedule on 23rd can come in wearing a costume, some kind of Christmas get up, your best ABBA tribute, basically anything you like, as long as you can do all of your regular class moves without popping a gusset or getting in a tangle. It’s going to be awesome, all we’re asking as that anyone taking part makes a donation to support The Sunshine Fund and please remember, you don’t have to dress up, we do respect that dressing up isn’t for everyone, you can still come along and take part in your regular workout clothes and still make a donation if you like.

Don’t barre but want to pop in and make a donation? Then come on in! You don’t have to be a member or take class to take part in the day, if you’ve ever wondered what barre is, or what it’s all about then this is the perfect opportunity to swing by for a chat. The studio itself has really evolved over the past 6 months with the addition of a treatment room for Rehabilitation and Relaxation style massage treatments, just bear in mind that if you do drop by and see a room of 20 elves, superheroes and Christmas fairies working out – you’re not hallucinating, that really happened.

Pixie

Categories: Fashion

The Best Styling Tips For A Black Tie Event

Black tie dress codes these days can be so simple for men to achieve. Hand them a basic black dinner jacket and some cut crease trousers and they’re done, to a pretty slick and acceptable standard too. They have a few choices to make when it comes to selecting a shirt and bow tie, but there’s generally minimal stress over a black tie dress code for men because the title is geared towards them, the guidelines are clear.

For women however, black tie events can be a minefield. What’s acceptable?What’s not? Who is the audience? It’s not always clear what you can wear for a black tie event and you don’t always know just how formal you can, or indeed should be going.

As a reader I’m assuming you’re a person with an interest in style and fashion and will most definitely have some sort of personal persuasion when it comes to shopping. Taking that into account as a fellow Fashion Voyeur I’m certain you’ve been in the predicament of standing in front of your closet faced with the dilemma of not wanting to arrive to whatever unknown event you’re attending wearing something that’s too casual and both look and feel out of place; but also not want to overdress.

If you do have a formal event on the horizon and you’re unsure what to wear, check out these styling tips for formal events.

Choosing The Dress

The term black tie very obviously refers to men’s dressing for formal occasions and it’s expected that they wear a black tuxedo where you see this on an invite. Think Daniel Craig in Casino Royal and you’re on the right track. Some events are more lenient these days and may permit different colours, but for the most part, it’s best to stick to black.

There are no hard and fast rules for women and black tie is open to interpretation and of course allows for a little stylistic twist. This has pros and cons as it means that choosing a dress (or a tux a la Cara Delevingne) can be tough, remember there’s a lot more choice for women on the high street and we also have a heap of vintage stores we can trawl through too of we want to tick the sustainable fashion box.

Cara Delevingne wearing a black tuxedo and top hat to Princess Eugenie’s wedding — Cara Delevingne in black tux and top hat combo

As a general (unwritten but mostly observed) rule, formal dresses and gowns for a black tie event should always be floor length. A cocktail dress can work if stipulated in the invite, and another industry tip is that it’s best to stick black – think Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s – yes, we’re still observing those age old traditions.

If the dress code states ‘Black Tie Optional”, then congratulations, you’ve just been granted your get out of jail free card and been given that extra bit of freedom when it comes to choosing an event dress. Sure, there’s still a dress code and there’ll still be eyes on you, but you definitely have some more style choices and can definitely lift that hem to cocktail length or higher if you wish. Looking for something completely different and want to make sure that nobody else in the room will be wearing the same outfit as you? Then the vintage option is on the table for you as well. Sure some vintage evening dresses are a little too extravagant for a strict black tie event, but if it’s black tie optional you should definitely consider it, after all, how many events do you get to guarantee all eyes are on you?

Julia Roberts wearing a red dress in Pretty Woman — Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman

When it comes to choosing the colour, black is the safest and if you’re bothered about that sort of thing – it’s the most flattering option. You can absolutely wear other colours but it’s generally expected that attendees stick with something classic like red or a navy, and don’t go for anything too bold. (Please be aware, I’m not giving advice here, just facts).

How To Accessorise

Once you’ve selected a dress you can turn your attention to accessories to complete your outfit. Jewellery is the obvious choice when building a formal outfit and there are a few different options. When you are wearing a formal dress, small understated pieces of jewellery are always a safe bet. Simple vintage style pendants and stud earrings are ideal for a black evening gown. If you’re looking to strike out with statement jewellery alongside your formal wear then your outfit will take more “build time” as you construct either the jewels around the dress, or the dress around the jewels – depending on which you found first, so that you don’t overcrowd your final look.

With a little direction and that all important invite, hopefully we’ll have you shining bright like a diamond at your next black tie event.

Pixie

Walking Tall

Hair and Skincare

Stand Out Threads

Make the Most of Accessories

TICKET PRICES

Follow @pixietenenbaum