Fashion Voyeur

People will stare, make it worth their while.

Categories: The Archives, The Beauty Cupboard, The Fashion Closet

Restora UK Launch Party

Last week I hotfooted it to Manchester for the UK launch of Restora – a brand new, super advanced hair treatment that promises to reverse damage and restore your tresses to silky perfection.

If you’re into hair care, you’ll know that the buzz at the moment is all about bonds, whether it’s Olaplex, Fibreplex, Smartbond or any other high tech hair treatments, the focus is on rebuilding and strengthening the bonds deep within the hair.

Manchester born brand Restora aims to grab a slice of the action with their latest haircare range which launched in the UK last week.  I headed to celeb hotspot Nicky Oliver Hairdressing in the heart of Manchester to find out whether it lives up to its claims.

We were treated to champagne on arrival and a demonstration of the product on a model with severely over processed, bleached hair.  We were invited to feel the quality of the model’s hair before and after the treatment to get a real idea of the product’s efficacy.  After shampooing with Restora shampoo, the model’s hair was coated with the Restora Protein Treatment Shot – a single use canister packed with amino acids that get to work deep within the hair shaft straight away – then covered over with a plastic cap (which comes with the product) in order to retain heat from the scalp.

Whilst the treatment was left to work, we headed upstairs to the salon floor for an exclusive DJ set by Nakia Oliver and endless canapés.  Yum.  I took advantage of the braid bar with a hidden undercut braid and actually won some pretty cute prizes for being completely awesome.  Not even jokes.

After around 40 minutes the treatment is ready to be rinsed off, the Restora conditioner is used which, as well as the shampoo, contains a diluted dosage of the protein treatment to lock in and maintain the benefits of the  protein shot.  Nicky talks us through the three year research and development process that took place with a team of chemists in order to create Restora and bring it to market.  As he talks, the model’s hair is blow dried and already it’s clear to see that the tones in her hair are brighter and shinier.

“Based on Cystine science, an essential amino acid, Restora™ Protein Treatment transforms the internal structure of hair providing stronger, healthier looking locks. The products promise to instantly turn back the clock on damaged hair, effectively tackling frizz and repairing your split ends.”

Once finished and styled, everyone in the room agrees that the hair definitely looks healthier.  It’s softer to the touch and looks brighter, but the real proof is in the feel of the hair and it’s insanely soft and smooth.

The idea is that Restora is a home use treatment with salon results which last for up to six weeks when the maintenance products are used.  Sounds pretty good right?  It’s available exclusively through the Restora website so there’s no salon upselling and it’s delivered direct to your door.  It’s pretty reasonably priced too; at £3.95 for the Protein Shampoo, £4.95 for the Protein Conditioner, and £29.95 for the Protein Treatment, it’s a small price to pay for long lasting, visible damage repair, IF you have extensive damage from bleach or overprocessing.

“I just felt these (in-salon) treatments were not taking people’s lifestyles into account, which I know is valuable to them.”  Seena Seka, Haircare Speciallst for Linco Care Ltd.

Everyone on the guest list was gifted a single protein shot along with Restora shampoo and conditioner and some other awesome goodies.  Keep it here Voyeurs as I’ll be reporting back on my own experiences with Restora pretty soon – my hair is recovering but will take any help it can get!

Pixie xo

Categories: The Archives, The Fashion Closet, The Glorious North East

Menswear Fit for a Duke

When it comes to menswear things can get a little tricky, sure it looks simple enough for a fashionista looking in but when it comes to dressing men, silhouette is key as everything is loosely based on one main aesthetic – a trouser paired with a top.

With the emergence of more and more menswear design talent through LC:M and NYFW Mens, the options for male dressing are widening however these groundbreaking shows are more about pushing boundaries than setting seasonal trends.  As much as Men’s Fashion Month is an major event in the fashion calendar, it mostly gives me inspo for my own wardrobe.

We all know that Fashionista’s move in tribes.  The key difference is that men often aren’t aware of the theory of fashion tribes, or of which tribe they fall into; whether they’re a Classic Aesthetic (jeans and tee), Sports Luxe (relaxed fit jeans / sweatpants, sports tee & sneakers), Wide Boy (skinny sweats & vest) or Urban Gentleman (tailoring with all the trimmings), it’s not usually a conscious decision.  Whether aware of it are not, men are unwittingly influenced by fashion.

You’ve seen The Devil Wears Prada, you know the theory behind the cerulean blue sweater – in a nutshell, every purchase you make on the highstreet, every throwaway notion or bargain bin selection, is directly influenced by the elite runway shows at the top of the chain.  Fashion is everywhere and influences most of your day to day decisions around clothing, makeup, accessories and shoes, right through to the way you style your home.

If you’re a guy who naturally favours suiting and consider a pocket square to be the ultimate accessory, then congratulations!  You fall into the Urban Gentleman tribe, (and there are definitely a few of you out there who follow me), it’s likely that you already know that tailoring is your best friend.  The high street can work with tailoring to a certain extent but the clue is in the name people, tailoring only achieves its MO if it’s made to fit.  Yes, I get that budget is a huge factor and can recommend some off the rack retailers for tailoring but trust me, going made to measure will change your life.

Step forward Duke Ata Bespoke.  Duke’s self titled label focuses on luxury, made to fit, with all the trappings of a modern, urban gentleman.  Everything Duke produces has flair, from the signature wide lapels and polka dots to the wide shouldered cut of his jackets, a Duke Ata Bespoke piece is recognisable by its artistry.

With a background in Blogging, Duke’s knowledge of menswear in particular led him on an eerily similar journey to mine.  Styling wedding guests and curating wardrobe overhauls for years gave him a clear idea of pieces that would work for clients.  It wasn’t long before Duke turned his hand to design himself, and ultimately, tailoring.   Inspired by classic elegance, the gentleman’s silhouette and the craftsmanship of Savile Row, Duke has developed a peculiar and recognisable style which has been forged into the Duke Ata brand.

His first collection – Vol.1 – sees classic tailoring married with an urban twist.  Duke has a penchant for unusual fabrics and is super particular about the quality, threadcount and finish – I can say that, we’re friends – basically, if it’s not perfect, it’s not Duke Ata.

The fitting service offered by Duke Ata Bespoke is a step above tailoring.  A tailor will take an existing suit model and make it fit the client (think Tim Gunn in How I Met Your Mother), with a bespoke service fabric selection, shape, cut and fit are all handcrafted to the needs and expectations of the client.  It’s a different ball game.  The cost is high, but then that’s not news.  For anyone considering something bespoke there’s a price to pay, but business is booming.

Duke’s clients tell me that there’s nothing like the feeling of putting on a Duke Ata Bespoke suit, it’s like The Emporer’s New Clothes, they fit so well that you feel like you’re wearing nothing, but you just know you look awesome.

You’ll recognise his aesthetic too, Duke recently dressed footballer Jamie O’Hara for his Celebrity Big Brother 2017 entrance, and Body Fixers Dr Esho only wears Duke Ata Bespoke.  Natty credentials indeed.  Duke doesn’t shout from the rooftops about his brand, he’s quietly confident.  Charismatic and charming, it’s no wonder his clients are fiercely loyal.

With a series of low key, invite only events around his home town of Newcastle, he let’s the pieces he creates do the talking and is quietly building momentum in both the North and in London where he takes regular fitting appointments.  When we discuss the theory of fashion tribes he agrees with me saying “I know my tribe, I stay in my lane.  I don’t try to force tailoring on to people it won’t work for, I’m particular about my clients.”  With bespoke tailoring on the rise and Tom Ford recently stating “My suit is my uniform, I feel weak in trainers”, it’s an aesthetic that more and more men (and women) are aspiring to.  Well Voyeurs, it just got a little more accessible to the Urban Gentlemen of the North East – you know who you are.

Pixie xo

For appointments email appointments@dukeata.com

Categories: The Archives, The Fashion Closet, The Glorious North East

Dress Me Luxe Launch Night

If you’re a fan of fast fashion then online boutique Dress Me Zara is a must for your Instagram feed.  Currently undergoing a relaunch as Dress Me Zee, with its fast paced style turnover and an inhouse designer ready to replicate the latest high end pieces at high street prices, this is one secret you need to know about.

The brainchild of Jessica Broomfield, a girl from the North East who started designing dresses in her bedroom long before the brand became the business it is today.  Dress Me Zee is the fresh, funky signaturen line, whilst new addition Dress Me Luxe adds high octane glamour and serious sparkle for high end, red carpet dressing.  Heavily influenced by Balmain and the Kardashian/Jenner sisters, it’s full of sparkle, tassels and body con, perfect for occasion dressing.

I went along to the pre-launch runway show at Aveika last night to see the brand new Dress Me Luxe collection, along with the best festive pieces from signature line, Dress Me Zee, proving there’s something for every budget across both collections.  The night was hosted by the gorgeous Sophie Gradon who also walked the runway, and the best bit?  A pop up shop offering showgoers the chance to snap up a piece of the action before anyone else.  (Apologies for the quality of the pictures, Aveika is notoriously difficult to photograph).

Amongst the many standout pieces were Yonce worthy double split fronted gowns in black and rose gold, and cool mini dresses with high necks and long sleeves.  Oh yes, and a super cute little harlequin playsuit with just the right amount of sparkle.

When Jessica put the event together, she told me she was keen to support charity Cancer Research UK and made the admirable decision to donate £5 from every clothing purchase made on the night, to the charity.  She made sure she came armed with enough stock in different sizes to cater for everyone and where stock wasn’t available, Jessica beams her gorgeous smile at me and says “No sweat, we’ll post it out the next day”.

I think I made six visits to the restrooms to try on dresses before settling on the first thing I tried on – typical.  A floor length black gown, aptly named ‘Midnight in Paris’.  With a double fronted thigh split and the kind of embellishment you could stare at for days.  It’s safe to say that I’ll be leaving a trail of glitter as black as my heart in my wake when I wear this beauty.  It was a tricky decision, this same dress is also available in gold and is also pretty amazing, at £59.99 I’d say it’s an absolute steal and it comes with the colour matched panties too!

The Dress Me Luxe range will be added to the Dress Me Zee website this week to complement the current collection and with next day delivery, there’s still time to pick up something unique and dramatic in time for your Christmas party to ensure all eyes are on you.  The only problem?  Narrowing it down to just one….

Pixie xo

 

Categories: The Archives, The Fashion Closet, The Glorious North East

10 Years of Hublot All Black Concept with Alan Shearer

Last night Alan Shearer took to the stage for an exclusive Q&A session to celebrate ten years of the Hublot All Black Concept at ROX Newcastle.

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As a society event calls for less quirk and more class, I opted for an Alesha Dixon for LBD party dress that I picked up from my favourite Yarm boutique, DC Couture with super uncomfortable Kurt Geiger shoes, because apparently fashion is painful.

Hosted by Sky Sports Presenter, and the voice of FIFA, Geoff Shreeves, Shearer spoke passionately about his football career, his recent CBE, and his beloved Newcastle.

A hand selected audience were treated to personal stories from throughout Shearer’s career, from THAT Gareth Southgate penalty at Euro ’96 to his heart-wrenching decision to retire from his Captaincy of the England team to continue to play league football.  With anecdotes thrown in about in team fights, Sir Bobby Robson and playing two touch in a shoe shop in fancy dress, Shearer had the audience riveted from start to finish.

But whilst anecdotes are great, and these ones really were, the reason this exclusive event took place was to celebrate 10 years of the Hublot All Black Concept.  As a Brand Ambassador for Hublot, Shearer was given free reign in the design of a signature timepiece, named the King Power Timepiece; two of which were produced to his exact specifications.  One of these sits in pride of place firmly on Shearer’s wrist, the other is up for auction for a very special cause close to the ex-footballer’s heart.

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The Alan Shearer Foundation is a charity set up by Shearer to benefit children and young adults with disabilities.  This isn’t just something Shearer has lent his name too though, he’s actively involved in the running of the The Alan Shearer Centre, the maintenance and the commissioning of new services and facilities within the unit.  It’s something he speaks briefly but passionately about.  The Foundation hosts an annual fundraiser and at the next big event in February 2017, the watch will be sold during the final hours of the live auction (you can bid on the King Power timepiece here) with bidding expected to reach upwards of £50k All of which will be ploughed back into The Alan Shearer Foundation.  Kudos Shearer.

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After the Q&A concluded, I caught up with Shearer to discuss his plans for the foundation and the type of people it aims to help.  His answer?  Anyone who needs it.  Plain and simple, the centre was set up to provide support and respite for families just like mine, who care for disabled children or young adults.  With an onsite respite unit where children can stay overnight with round the clock care, parents are given the opportunity to take a break once in a while.  The best bit?  It’s all provided free of charge.  ??

With a personal invite to visit The Alan Shearer Centre in West Denton and Shearer promising to look after me, I got a real sense that Shearer is the real deal.  That he doesn’t do this because it’s good PR, it’s because he’s fortunate enough to be in a position to make a difference, and he wants to do just that.

I had a great night partying with my girls, looking at beautiful jewellery and listening to inspiring stories from the most capped footballer in British history in his hometown.  Doesn’t get much better than that Voyeurs.

Some boy that Alan Shearer….

Pixie xo

Categories: The Archives, The Beauty Cupboard, The Fashion Closet

Millionaire Hair

You all know the struggles I’ve had with my hair and about three months ago and a course of Viviscal later, it started to show a bit of promise.  My hair has always been thick, shiny and lustrous.  It’s always been my crowning glory and I took for granted the compliments that people gave me on my super thick hair.  That is, until it all snapped off after a horrific bleaching accident.  Nutshell version:  Too much bleach = unwanted haircut.

I went from having hair that could cover my nips mermaid style, to having hair that barely covered my earlobes.  Bummer.  It’s surprising how much it actually affected me, your hair is often the first thing people notice, and it can be an armour.  But when you’re faced with an unintentional hair disaster, it knocks your confidence.

So, on my quest to grow back my thick, once beautiful hair, I tried most things, including the crazy remedies (castor oil and coffee grounds anyone?  Yum).  It seemed that my hair had gone into hibernation and then hit the snooze button.  It literally refused to grow.  I measured my root regrowth at the starting point up to this very morning and in just over 21 months, it’s grown almost an inch.  ONE. INCH.

I did however have a recent breakthrough.  I was sent a bottle of JKB Argent Millionaire Hair Mist which promised to be “The ultimate pick-me-up for dull, tired and lacklustre hair, it nourishes and transforms your locks from the inside out for incredible light reflecting, dazzling shine!”

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Everything about Millionaire Hair mist oozes quality.  From the sleek and simple packaging to the decadent, weighty glass bottle that was made to be displayed.  First of all, the product is versatile, it can be used in place of dry shampoo, as a styling aid, as a blow-dry protectant or as a detangler.

Millionaire works by penetrating the hair cuticle locking in moisture and smoothing the surface.  Unlike other hair oils that simply coat the hair, this oil works from the roots within solving your hair problems and preventing the singe you can get from using regular hair oil.  Simples.

“I tried everything other than oil to nourish my hair. It was only when my mum said in her wise way “have you ever wondered why women in the Punjab have long healthy thick hair?” The penny dropped. Its all in the oil, but I didn’t want hair that looked greasy. No way. And that’s when I began developing Millionaire Hair Mist.”  Jas Braich, Founder of JKB Argent

Because Millionaire is packed with organic ingredients, it has a shelf life of 8 months but trust me, you’ll develop and addiction and it’ll be long gone before the use by date.  The smell alone makes it worth its £35 price tag.  Founder Jas produces blends for herself, her family and friends and with a career honed in the retail pharmacy business, Jas understands what works effectively and the best way to deliver that without the use of harsh chemicals and parabens.

One of the best things I discovered whilst using Millionaire, is that my hair became more dense and thick pretty quickly.  When I looked into why this could be, it turns out that the ingredients in Millionaire are proven to slow down hair loss resulting in thicker hair.  Winning.  I used it after every wash – Jas advises that whilst occasional use is good, Millionaire is like skincare and it’s benefits are longer lasting and more visible with routine use.  With regular use, borderlining on addiction, my bottle lasted around 3 months, pretty damn good compared to high street products in the same genre.

There’s a reason Millionaire is garnering so much attention right now, with Harper’s Bazaar and Grazia naming it as one of their top picks, it’s definitely a must have item in my bathroom.  Wanna join the Millionaire Hair Movement?   Head to JKB Argent to grab a piece of the action, and with Christmas right around the corner, this would make an awesome gift.  Just saying…

Pixie xo

INGREDIENTS:

Organic aloe vera leaf juice: smoothes, creates shine, attracts and seals in moisture

Organic Blackcurrant extract: a great antioxidant that helps to combat harmful and damaging effects of the environment gives great volume

Pomegranate extract: high in antioxidants which help bring life to damaged hair

Argan oil: provides essential fatty acids oleic and lineoic that benefits dry and dehydrated hair, will restore, regenerate, reconstruct and strengthen

Sage essential oil: imparts shine, intensifies colour and nourishes

Ginger essential oil: aids in stimulating hair follicles to promote hair growth

Castor oil: high in vitamin E, minerals and proteins, omega 6 and 9, replenishes the scalps natural oil and undo some of the damage of harsh chemical hair products