Pixie Archives - Page 3 of 7

Categories: Fashion, Pixie, Uncategorized

What I Wore: As a Nod to Dior’s Prairie Girls

We’re in the midst of Winter and that means cosy sweaters, faux fur tippets and baker boy hats at every turn. Sometimes though, you find the perfect dress that just encapsulates the season. This Voyeurs, is that dress.

The best thing about this particular dress is that I spotted it and tried it on in Topshop during a Fashion Styling Challenge I was set by Intu Eldon Square. I planned on buying it right away but as our event ran late, we were moved on to the next part of the challenge before I had the chance. The next time I saw it it was in the Topshop sale and was reduced from £79.99 to £35. That’s the very definition of the best sale bargain – if it’s something you planned on buying at full price, you know for sure that you’re not acting on impulse and that you’ll definitely wear it.

Now, don’t be fooled if you’re perusing the rails of Topshop, whilst this particular dress doesn’t look much at all on the hanger, it’s a doozie when it’s on and it’s toned to perfection for Fall / Winter. Again, a sale buy that fits the current season and beyond is a good buy. It’s a super lightweight dress so I’ve stuck on a pair of fishnet tights for warmth as these were all I could find in my drawer, however I think black opaques would probably look better. I’ve dressed it with these flat studded boots from Marks and Spencer (my current favourites) to give it a nod to the Amish look that stormed the runways for next season.

Blogger Pixie Tenenbaum showcasing a prairie girl style dress with flat boots

As far as trends go, this is very much in line with the Western theme that emerged largely from the Dior Resort 2018 show so despite this particular dress having been moved to sale, you can expect to see a lot more of this style hitting the high street over the next few months as stores and high street designers pick out key runway themes to stock as translation trends. If you want to really pay homage to Maria Grazia Chiuri’s cowgirls then pair a prairie girl dress with cowboy boots for a look that’s straight off the runway and actually, pretty classic in terms of trends.

still from Dior's Cruise 2018 runway show showing prairie girl style

I’ve since worn this dress with a fine knit black polo neck sweater underneath which works equally as well and gives the whole thing a more urban vibe. Personally, if I find something I really love that fits my personality on some level then I know I’ll wear it to death – particularly if it’s a versatile piece, and this dress is definitely that.

One of the best things about finding a great dress is the simplicity of it. With just one piece, I can easily update my look and twist it up by throwing a sweater underneath or a fifties style bra on top. This one has hint of pale pink and gold in it as well as black lace-edged hoop hemming to give it structure, meaning that even when it’s windy, this clever detailing will prevent it from blowing up around your ears. Winning. Now where did I put that Stetson…..?

Pixie xo

Categories: Fashion, Pixie, Uncategorized

What I Wore: One Freezing Cold Day

We all know it’s easy to pull together a simple outfit in the Summer when it’s warm, but what about Winter when we need to think about staving off the inevitable chill? I don’t know about you, but I’m either boiling or freezing and I’m only ever the perfect temperature when I’m out of the UK. In Winter I favour a simple denim and sweater combo. This time I’ve gone for a pair of super skinny Abbott Kinney style jeans from John Lewis’ inhouse denim brand AND/OR – if you haven’t tried them yet, you really must. They’re designed by the same people as Levis and the fit is incredible, they’re on the more pricey side, but they’re better quality than any other high street offering out there and there are lots of different styles and cuts available (their relaxed fit Venice Beach jeans are also worth a punt). This look also works with a denim pinafore or long button through skirt.

An image of pixie Tenenbaum walking in front of a graffiti wall wearing an oversized red sweater and blue denim jeans. Fashion Voyeur Blog

When I’m layering up in Winter, I usually opt for a loose breton tee if I’m wearing boyfriend style jeans, or a short sleeved mens fit tee with skinnies. Under here I have my faithful Stranger Things tee from Topshop but the real showpiece is the sweater. I love wearing a ginormous sweater in Winter, particularly one with extra long sleeves and this oversized Jaded London jumper (available in Topshop) ticks both boxes. It’s indescribably cosy and always garners admiring glances from passers by, I love that it’s super bright and that it has a higher neck, without being scratchy. I often end up cutting holes in the cuffs of my sweaters so I can wear the sleeves low over my hands in lieu of gloves.

HOW TO WEAR IT

The trick to the sweater / denim combo is to a) get the proportions right, and b) make sure it’s not boring. First of all decide on your jean shape, if you opt for a skinny then you can max out on the size and colour of your sweater. Go for a ripped up looser style jean and your sweater needs to be more reserved and smaller in proportion. Think of it as the eyes vs lips rule applied to clothes.

When it comes to footwear if I’m running around during the day then I’m always in flats. You know I have a penchant for a cowboy boot but Marks and Spencer are coming up trumps with boots this season and these flat black rider boots are a dead ringer for a waaaaay more expensive Louboutin counterpart at a fraction of the price. On a budget? Primark do a tri-season shoe drop meaning that you’ll be able to pick up a pair of fast, fashion forward boots for just the right side of £20 that fit the brief.

Topped off with my trusty Marks and Spencer tifler I ‘d say this is one of my cosiest and probably favourite simple city outfits. Simples!

Pixie xo

Categories: Beauty, Pixie

The Secret to Growing in Showstopping Brows

This is the one you’ve been waiting for Voyeurs, the secret to my awesome brows…

I pick up a lot of compliments on my brows and with the hell I’ve put them through over the years they deserve every goddamn nice word they get. I was a motherplucker in the 90’s, I didn’t go to quite the same extreme as Kate moss or Pamela Anderson but I definitely veered into apostrophe territory and for some reason they ended up way shorter overall than they should have been.

Kate Moss holding her ponytail over her haid looking sideways, early 90's

90’s Kate Moss

Pamela Anderson on a beach, early 90's wearing double denim

90’s Pamela Anderson

Now if you know anything about the laws of hair then you will know this: The hair you want never grows, and the hair you don’t want grows at a rate of knots unless you intervene. Ergo, the hair on my head is never as long as I would like, my eyebrows never grew back on their own, and my bush sprouts like wildfire. In terms of growing back lost eyebrow hair, they definitely need an assist.

The arrival of Cara Delevingne on the modelling scene sparked a whole new trend for brows and changed the beauty industry completely. With her thick, grown in brows that blew the “Facial Measuring” rules out the water, suddenly a new brow shape was king and with that trend came a new division of the beauty marketplace.

Brow gels, palettes, powders, waxes and serums flooded the shelves and overnight, brows became big business. Next came the brow growth products from serums to ‘stickers’, there was a whole new range of products aimed at 90’s motherpluckers like me, claiming to be able to grow your brows back to their former glory.

Up until a few years ago my brows were thin and kinda looked ‘stuck on’, my efforts to grow them in over the years had been futile. For every small amount of growth I’d get, some trigger happy Beauty Therapist would wax or tweeze it back off despite my protesting. When you’ve waxed, tweezed and plucked for so long, you’ll know that any brow regrowth you’re lucky to see is different than it was before, it’s not uniform, the colour is different and the hair is more translucent due to damage to the follicles. I spent a small fortune on RapidBrow, from the makers of the hugely successful Rapid Lash which claimed to grow back and also darken brows with regular use, in as little as three months. Eighteen months down the line my brows showed no difference and at £37 for a tube that lasts a month, it’s a hefty investment to get nothing back from.

So I did a little research, and there’s some science behind all of this so take a seat and settle in. Why should you listen to me? because I grew back the most awesome pair of brows from pretty much nothing. Ready? Here comes the science:

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH RAPIDLASH & RAPIDBROW?

If you used the product from the beginning then you’ll know that it used to be pretty effective. Not any more. Why so? Well, RapidLash used to contain an active ingredient called isopropyl cloprostenate. It’s an ingredient which has some molecular similarities to a medical active ingredient called bimatoprost. Why am I telling you this? Bimatoprost is an ingredient used in medication for the treatment of glaucoma, after extensive medical trials it was discovered that one of the side effects of its use in an eye drop formula was that it caused eyelashes to grow longer and darker in participants. Something cosmeceutical manufacturer Allergan jumped on and harnessed in a product developed for the US aesthetics market called Latisse.

Still with me? Allergan successfully brought a case against the makers of RapidLash outlining the similarities between the molecular makeup and performance of the two ingredients and used the years and years of patient trials as evidence which detailed benefits, side effects and potential risk factors. RapidLash put forward a limited defence which contained no actual human research, all of their testing is, or had at the time, been done on animals. Case closed. RapidLash were ordered to remove isopropyl cloprostenate from all products in their line up. However, and here’s the rub for any of you still using RapidLash, despite still being marketed in the same way, RapidLash and RapidBrow are little more than expensive conditioners and serums. Ouch. Still think shelling out £41 is a good investment for a product with no active ingredient? Then consider this, RapidBrow came so much after the original RapidLash product that it never actually contained any active ingredient at all.

MIND BLOWN! SO WHAT DO I USE INSTEAD?

Well remember that potentially active ingredient Bimatoprost i told you about? It’s available in a product in the UK designed to grow lashes, but because of it’s medical licensing and cosmeceutical benefits, it must be prescribed by an aesthetic doctor or nurse. It’s not something you can just go ahead an buy on the web, but then nor do you need to be diagnosed with a medical condition to get it. Let me explain…

Lumigan is a product that’s been crafted for the UK aesthetics market and it comes in two different formats. The first is an eye drop bottle, the second is as individual eye droppers in a pack which lasts 2-3 months depending on how you use it. The intention and the way it’s marketed is for growing eyelashes and it works, my lashes were ravaged by my addiction to lash extensions and I was at one point left with none at all. Lumigan helped me grow them back quickly, however it’s also suitable for brow growth too. I use it on both my lashes and brows – obviously this means I get through more of it in a shorter space of time but trust me, it’s worth it. Apply with the brushes which come with it, leave to dry et voila. Well, not quite et voila but it doesn’t take long to see results.

SOLD! HOW CAN I GET IT?

You need to book a consultation with an aesthetic doctor or an aesthetic nurse with a prescribers license. Once they’ve checked you over for any contra-indications and given you the lowdown on how to administer the product, you’re good to go. You’ll find it marketed as Eyelash Growth Serum and the formulation and dose are the same whether you’re purchasing the product to use on brows or lashes.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

That’s a good question. Depending on which aesthetic practitioner you choose (not all of them will prescribe Lumigan as one of their products), and whether you opt for the 0.1mg/ml or 0.3mg/ml strength, it ranges from £40 – £120 and a lot of this is to do with the name of the practitioner, or the repackaging the clinic has done to make the product look prettier. My advice? If you’re serious about growing back your brows, find and buy the 0.3mg/ml product if you’re starting out & the 0.1mg/ml version for maintenance, at the cheapest provider. You’re not buying expertise with the product, you’ll administer it yourself at home and throw the packaging away. If you’re talking filler, wrinkle relaxing or any other type of aesthetic procedure which requires an injection then always choose expertise over cost but in this case, cost is king.

Personally I get mine on a private prescription from Dr Steven Land at Novellus Aesthetics in Newcastle where it retails for £65 and if it’s in stock, is dispensed the same day where it can be collected or shipped to you at your home address. Remember it’s a prescription only medication (POM) so there are guidelines with this, it requires a proper consultation with a Doctor, Steven talks through what the product is (it’s for lashes and brows as an aesthetic medicine), how to use it and what to do if you have an adverse reaction – I’ve never had one but some people using it for lashes have reported a minor change in the colour of their iris.

Lumigan 0.3mg/ml

Lumigan 0.1mg/ml

WHAT DO I DO WITH IT?

Paint it sparingly on to your brows, or the parts around the existing brow shape where you want the hair to grow and leave it to dry before putting on moisturiser or makeup. It’s that simple. Using it for your lashes? A very small amount along the lash line, any more is just waste.

HOW LONG BEFORE I LOOK LIKE CARA?

I saw a big difference to my brows within three months but everybody is different. Trials for Latisse in the US reported participants seeing results to their lashes in as little as 4 weeks. Persevere, it’s something that’s been proven to work and we all know that brows are big business that require commitment!

To complement your new brows, you’re going to need some products to keep them in check, look out for my Best Brow Products post so you can tame your face framers and be the envy of everyone you know…

Pixie xo

Categories: Lifestyle, North East, Pixie

Hadrian’s Tipi Returns to Newcastle

Hadrian’s Tipi is back in the Toon for the 2017 Christmas season! If you visited the festive Tipi on the Central Station site in Newcastle in 2016 then you’re in for a real treat this time round, it’s back on a brand new site and it’s bigger than ever!

I visited with Plankton for the official launch night and let me tell you, it’s nothing like last year! Hadrian’s Tipi can be found on the infamous old Odeon site at the bottom end of Northumberland Street, right in front of Commercial Union House. This year it comes with a whole Street Food village attached to it all lit up with festive fairy lights.

First up, access for the time being is a funny one, part of the site is still a working demolition zone so to access the tipi we had to walk down Pilgrim Street on one side and then back up the other. Plankton has been psyched about visiting the tipi for days, he’s called it the tutu and the pipi which has made things a little confusing but needless to say, when he saw it all lit up in the dark, I think he almost cried.

We were greeted on arrival with hot cider and mulled wine and before we’d taken two steps Plankton spotted a German bratwurst street food stall and his eyes lit up. We stopped to eat at a long picnic bench where the people either side were in great spirits and chatted to Plankton about his night, he told them he’d only just arrived but was planning on getting very drunk. Yes, he seriously said that. The bratwurst was good, at £5.50 it’s on the expensive side for a hotdog but in line with what you’d expect to pay for festive street food and he ate every last scrap of it so definitely worth it.

The tipi is marketed as child and pet friendly and we saw a few other families taking advantage of the large outside seated area at the back, and in the tipi itself watching the live music, as well as lots of people with dogs. We spotted my lovely pal Imogen from Newcastle fashion label Fash1 so Plankton took the opportunity to pet her adorable pet dogs by the open fire. The majority of people there were there for a night out but don’t let that put you off taking kids, we still had a great time during our visit and I’m biased of course, but the people in Newcastle are the friendliest people you’ll meet.

Launch night at Hadrian’s Tipi was busy. I took Plankton along not really knowing what to expect but the atmosphere there was great, and very festive. From the fir tree garlands inside the tipi to the decorated tipi poles, every effort has been made to ensure that it feels like Holiday season whilst you’re in there. There’s different live music on inside the tipi daily and there are wooden benches and crates to sit on and barrel table tops, if you manage to get in there early enough then be sure to grab a seat by the open fire pit to stay toasty and to create the perfect Instagram capture.

Plankton Tenenbaum drinking R Place White Hot Chocolate at Hadrian's Tipi — Plankton enjoying his White Hot Chocolate

Plankton and I wandered instead of staying static, and enjoyed trying out different foods from the street food sellers, we loved the white hot chocolate from R Place coffee and the American burgers from Fat Hippo and we’ll definitely back for more during the tipi’s 2017 stint. The new location makes it easier for families using the tipi on a weekend too, in fact it’s perfectly positioned for a hot chocolate after viewing the brand new Fenwick Christmas Window.

In or around Newcastle between now and Christmas? Then it’s definitely worth a visit if you want to amp up your festive-ness! Want to know Plankton’s views? His official review: “I thought it was going to be crap but it was actually awesome and I loved it!” Yeah, he’s got a real way with words this one…

Pixie xo

Categories: Beauty, Fashion, Pixie

SHOW BEAUTY BRAIDS BY SHOW DRY

You already know I’m a huge fan of SHOW Beauty, I could wax lyrical about the products all day long. SHOW Beauty is one of those brands that you’re either aware of because you use and love it, or admire it from afar, or you’ve never heard of it. If you fall into the latter, then let me give you the skinny: SHOW Beauty is a luxury haircare brand born out of founder Tamara Ecclestone’s love for beautiful products, scents and ingredients that really work. In a nutshell, it’s like having your cake and eating it, it’s the very best of the best and it fuses the luxury fragrance industry, with the haircare market to give a truly unique range of high quality, sulphate free hair products that leave you smelling better than Harrods Fragrance Hall.

So, you know that there’s a range of products that’s constantly being researched and expanded because you’ve obviously read my posts on the launch of Lux Volume, SHOW Beauty and the SHOW Beauty Hair fragrance right? Well, London is also home to the physical arm of the business: SHOW DRY.

SHOW DRY is the ultimate blowdry bar. Not only is it home to some of the best Hair Artistes in the business, it’s also a very cleverly thought out business that’s pitched perfectly to the needs of the client. Ecclestone frequents the salon herself and every new member of staff inducted must first blowdry Ecclestone’s hair in her signature style, as well as create a custom up do. That’s quite the test when you think Ecclestone’s hair is literally her crowning glory.

The salons themselves are uniform, the signature black and gold detailing oozes polished elegance, whilst the blush pink cuts through with a feminine edge. My regular SHOW DRY salon is in Notting Hill and they always ‘manage’ my hair for me throughout each season of London Fashion Week. I’m not too proud to say that I’ve been brought forward from second to front row because of an awesome braided up do by SHOW DRY during the FW17 show season and if that’s not a high five moment then I don’t know what is.

The SHOW DRY team live and breathe SHOW Beauty. They know the range inside out, they know the dual purposes of each product and can teach you some hacks that will change your life, like using the Moisture Conditioner as a leave in serum – seriously guys, you blew my mind with that one, cue BOOM emoji. They can prescribe the exact product from the range for your hair’s needs, but more than that, their styling skills are amazing.

When I first partnered with SHOW DRY for show season, I was coming out of a pretty grim period with my hair, remember my post on Overcoming a Hair Disaster? Well this was around the time of said hair disaster and I was very limited on what we could create with what little hair I’d been left with. Because of that, we decided to shoot for some funky braids that would conceal the damage to my hair and still showcase my awesome colour. Fast forward to the SS18 LFW season and I’ve still never actually had a blowdry by SHOW DRY (although I’ve sat next to Tamara Ecclestone whilst she’s had hers done so can vouch) and I’m back here for another braided creation.

What makes SHOW DRY different than other blowdry bars is that here, your every need is catered to. Whilst you’re in the care of the salon, you’re very well looked after. Each station has an iPad Mini with the latest magazines downloaded for you to browse, a lightning charger for your iPhone and a range of products for you to peruse. Your iPad is loaded with a menu from which you can select drinks like Prosecco or custom blend coffee, or light bites like popcorn and other sugary treats whilst you’re coiffed. The salon is both pet and child friendly too with dog bowls for your furry friend and a mini blowdry menu for your mini me.

In my case, my Stylist and I browse the internet for inspiration and find two styles that will work well on my hair and decide to mash them together to create something urban looking that will last for a couple of days. She coats my dry hair in a mixture of SHOW Beauty Finishing Oil and Moisture Conditioner to not only tame it, but to also give it some grip, and gets to work on two African / Dutch braids. Once they’re braided back, she sets about creating two braided buns at the nape and pins them securely. Within around 20 minutes we’ve got a cool, urban style pinned in position and I’m ready to hit up my first show of the day SEMIR x GREENCODE.

SHOW DRY isn’t just about the Bouncy Blowdry – which they do amazingly – they’re also able to create bespoke styles depending on what you’re up to and your own personal style. I’m working on the improving the condition of my hair right now as it’s a little delicate, it did start to thicken up again then had a bit of a dip in both length and condition after misplaced faith in a big name North East hair salon (you can read about that here), but who knows, it may even be thick enough to sport the signature blowdry next season.

Pixie xo