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4 Ways to Make Your Winter Coat More Interesting

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes wonder why I even bother to buy new winter clothes every year – after all, my coat is normally the only thing people see.

When you live in a cold climate, a winter coat is not only a sound investment, it can also be more or less an outfit in itself – especially if your lifestyle requires you to spend time outdoors every day.  For those who love clothes, this can be a little bit frustrating: I’m sure we’ve all had that moment when we’ve just put together an outfit we love, only to realise that no one’s ever going to see it, because it’s going to be covered by a coat most of the time, right? In a bid to get around this, I went through a phase of buying brightly coloured coats, hoping to make my outerwear seem a little more interesting that way. Unfortunately, I soon discovered that brightly coloured coats only really work when everything else you’re wearing is fairly neutral, and because I wasn’t keep on the idea of a hemline or shoe clashing with my coat, I’d just end up reverting back to my trusty camel and black coats – which may be a little less interesting, but which at least work with just about everything.

I do still get tired of wearing the same old coat all the time, though, so here’s are four easy ways to try to make that boring old coat a bit more fun…

01. CHANGE THE BUTTONS

One of the issues with budget outerwear is that the money you’re saving will often be apparent in little details like buttons and belts, which can sometimes look  a little cheap – or just a bit dull, really. Luckily, there’s a quick, inexpensive fix for that, and it simply involves replacing the buttons with higher quality ones: you can pick these up for not too much money on sites like eBay, or even snip them off something you no longer wear.

02. ADD A BELT

Many coats come with their own, self-tie belt, but sometimes switching it for a leather or patent one can instantly elevate the appearance of your outerwear, while experimenting with different colours is an easy way to switch things up.

03. TAKE TIPS FROM BLAIR WALDORF

Any Gossip Girl fans out there? One of the things I used to love about the fashion from the show was Blair’s coats: which were always accessorises with things like necklaces and brooches, to really turn them into an outfit in themselves. For some reason, that’s something I rarely think of doing (and I’m guessing it could get quite annoying if you’re only going to be wearing the coat in question for a short period of time, and don’t really fancy having to remove a string of pearls before taking it off…), but it’s definitely something I intend to try!

04. ADD A SCARF

It’s almost too obvious to mention, but scarves don’t JUST keep you warm in winter – they also look good, too. Experiment with different ways to tie your scarf and use it as an accessory, as well as something warm. An oversized bow or creative braid can look much more stylish than simply stuffing your scarf under your coat.

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This is the fashion advice that Kate Middleton has given Meghan Markle

 

From the editors of LOOK

We have no doubt that Kate Middleton – a seasoned royal – has been showing Meghan Markle the ropes over the past few months, with the actress explaining in her engagement interview that the Duchess of Cambridge had been ‘wonderful’.

But it seems like Kate’s advice isn’t limited to tips on etiquette and secrets for how to get on with the family, it also extends to royal fashion advice.

And on closer inspection, we can definitely tell.

While the 36-year-old Suits actress has brought a sense of millennial style to the royal family (even wearing high fashion sheer couture in her official engagement photos), if we look closely we can tell that Meghan has actually been changing her look since joining the royal fold – and it’s all down to Kate.

Following in Kate Middleton’s footsteps, Meghan has started using her wardrobe to spread an important message.

Kate predominantly wears British designers, a tribute to her home country, but when meeting international leaders or traveling overseas on royal tours, she mixes British and international designers to give a nod to both her home country and the country that she is visiting.

This advice applies to Meghan Markle more than anyone, with the actress seeming to consciously mix British and Canadian brands and designers in her outfits over the past few months to show respect to both countries.

While she’s American, Canada holds a special place in her heart due to the fact that she spent years filming Suits there.

Starting the trend at her official engagement appearance when she teamed a Parosh dress with a coat by Canadian brand, Line The Label, Meghan has been mixing designers ever since.

While visiting Nottingham with Prince Harry in December, the actress teamed her skirt and boots by British brands Joseph and Kurt Geiger with a coat by Canadian brand Package. And in Brixton earlier this week, she donned a stunning salt and pepper coat by Canadian brand, Smythe, teaming it with an M&S jumper and a pair of Burberry trousers.

Does this mean we could see a Canadian-British designer mix for the big wedding day? We’ll have to wait and see!

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New Year beauty resolutions you can stick to! – Latest In Beauty Blog

The time has come to make (and vow to stick to) our New Year resolutions. New Year, new you? Yes, we’ve heard it all before. January is the month of making many promises to ourselves, that, let’s be honest, usually end up being broken after the first week is out, BUT ladies, hear us out; this year we’re going to stick to them! Yes, that’s right, you heard it here first – we can’t go back on our word now. For 2018, team LiB are binning the usual ‘to exercise more’, ‘to shed a few pounds’ and ‘to eat less cake’ (that was never going to work) for simple, achievable beauty resolutions we’ll actually want to keep. Should be easy…. Right?

BEAUTY RESOLUTIONS: YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST

Harriet, Account Manager –  “To stop biting my nails – RANK!

Jemma, Editor & Social Media Manager – To wash my makeup brushes weekly because I can’t remember the last time I washed them – I’m gross

Ciara, Graphic Designer – To stop squeezing my spots – It’s a terrible habit

Charlotte, Commercial & Partnerships Director – To give my skin a bit more TLC…e.g. do a face mask or a deep cleanse more regularly than I currently do.

Christina, Sales Director – To learn how to apply eyeshadow!

Emma, Marketing Director – My beauty resolution is to spend more time looking after my skin: I need to stick to a proper regime with good skincare products, do twice-weekly face masks, and I plan to go for monthly facials (starting with Teresa Tarmey in January).  Roll on a glowy, makeup-free 2018!”

Nort, CEO – To use my moisturiser every day – I promise!

Jess, Junior Account Manager – To get into the habit of using primer more so my make-up stays on for longer!”

Iza, Digital Project Manager – Wash my makeup brushes because I don’t do it as often as I should and review all my makeup products/cosmetics, because I haven’t done it for long time now, so I think some will definitely need to be thrown away ?

Shivona, Customer Service Manager – My New Year beauty resolutions include drinking more water, especially at work! My skin gets quite dry and dehydrated because I don’t drink enough water – so this would be first on my list! I also need to declutter my makeup box – throw away any expired products and invest in more natural skincare/make-up products.

Sasha, Junior Business Development Manager – Stop picking my spots! and make sure to wash my makeup off!

Made a resolution to streamline or expand your beauty collection? Why not build your own beauty box?

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This K-Beauty Liquid Is Going Viral for Curing this Women’s Whiteheads

If you Google whiteheads, you’ll find almost 30 million articles, videos, and products devoted to helping you get rid of the damn things.

And it’s because unlike classic acne, which eventually pops or drains on its own, whiteheads (also known as closed comedones) are tiny, hard, flesh-colored bumps that rarely come to a head, meaning they can sit on your face for years unless you find a product that really works for your skin type, which, for some people, can take even longer.

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But one Redditor may have just found her Holy Grail product — a K-beauty toner that she says completely cleared her whiteheads after just a few months. Which, sure, don’t sound that fast, but considering these suckers are some of the most stubborn zits to treat, it’s actually pretty damn quick.

Reddit/@-salma

“Finally got rid of my closed comedones with COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid!” reads the title of the post, right next to a before-and-after photo of the user’s forehead, which has a smattering of clogged pores before treatment, next to a totally clear forehead after. “I know it probably doesn’t look too bad but it’s always annoyed me,” she continues, “I thought they’d always just be a permanent part of my face.”

Courtesy of Brand

BUY NOW: COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid, $12, amazon.com

But after smoothing on the liquid every other day for a few months, her skin rapidly cleared, thanks to the hefty dose of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) in the formula. AHAs, which include glycolic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid, are pretty much the gold standard for treating clogged pores, rough patches, and dark spots, since they literally loosen the glue between your skin cells to help them shed easier, revealing newer, brighter, happier skin.

Of course, not all AHAs are created equal, and it can take some trial and error to figure out which one agrees with your skin type. But a good place to start would be with the COSRX formula, which has 250 five-star reviews on Amazon, plus, you know, a new cult following, thanks to these insane before-and-after photos. Just remember to layer it on clean, dry skin at night and wait at least 20 minutes before applying anything else on top of it so you don’t neutralize the acids. Now excuse us, please — we have some shopping to do.

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People Have Some Pretty Intense Feelings About Nicole Kidman’s Critics’ Choice Dress

 

If there’s ever been an ideal place to wear some of the eccentric gowns created by high-end designers, Hollywood award shows are surely it. And that’s exactly what Nicole Kidman did at the 2018 Critics’ Choice Awards last night, showing her flair for the occasional unconventional dress by wearing a dramatic, quirky Valentino design.

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And from the reaction on Twitter you’d think she committed the crime of the century.

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Did no one tell these folks that the critics of the Critics’ Choice Awards don’t refer to them? Sheesh!

With its sheer hot pink fabric, silvery crystal dots, ample ruffles, and lace trim, the dress is certainly not something everyone would choose for themselves. But we happen to think she looked amazing in the unforgettable gown — and so did a few others.

Ultimately, we have a feeling Nicole doesn’t care one way or another about what people think of her dress, considering she picked up a Critics’ Choice Award — her umpteenth award for her role in Big Little Lies — last night. And it just so happens to match those crystal dots perfectly.

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Building a Multi-Seasonal Wardrobe

After an entire lifetime of shopping seasonally (So, shorts for summer, sweaters for winter, and so on and so forth), and even switching my closet around twice a year to give me better access to each season’s clothes, I’ve finally come to the conclusion that what I REALLY need is a multi-seasonal wardrobe instead.

The thing is, we don’t really get “seasons” here in the UK, do we? I mean, we do get SOME variation in weather: it’s rarely warm during the winter, for instance, although it has been known to snow in the spring. For the most part, though, I’ve had to accept that summer clothes are mostly just a waste of money for me. It’s a shame, because sundresses and sandals are my absolute favourite things to wear – it’s just that, unless I have a sunshine vacation planned, I hardly ever GET to wear them. I know, tragic, right?

Well, I’ve made my mind up: I’m not promising to swear off the sundresses completely (Even a shoeperhero has her weaknesses, after all…), but no more will I devote the largest amount of closet space to the clothes I wear least often. Instead, I’m looking to build a multi-seasonal wardrobe: one in which the majority of the pieces can be worn all year round, regardless of the season. And here’s what I’m putting in it…

LIGHTWEIGHT KNITS

I’ve learned to my cost that it’s rarely warm enough for short sleeves here – or, at least, not for me. I’m one of those people who’s permanently freezing, even on a genuinely warm day, which makes sweaters and cardigans a good year-round basic for me. I have a handful of chunky knits for when the weather’s really cold, but for the most part, I live in lightweight knits, which are fine on their own when I’m indoors, and which can be layered up with scarves, coats and long-sleeved t-shirts when its cold, or removed to reveal a camisole or tank when it’s warm.

WATERPROOF OUTERWEAR

I never leave home without a jacket or coat – not even if the sun is splitting the heavens and there’s not a cloud in the sky. I know all too well that even the driest day can quickly turn into a downpour, which is why the trusty trenchcoat really is a closet staple for me. I sometimes feel a bit embarrassed to admit it, because I know trenches are one of those items that are constantly cited as “must haves”, and which a lot of people consider boring, for that very reason, but I absolutely must have one in my closet at all times, and I don’t really care how much of a cliche that makes me.

SHORT-SLEEVED JERSEY DRESSES

Although I JUST said short-sleeves are wasted on me, I make an exception for jersey dresses: short-sleeved dresses will allow you to stay cool in summer, and throw a cardigan over them in winter, so they’ll work all year round. Or they will, with the addition of…

OPEN CARDIGANS

Waterfall-style cardigans, or other open styles were a life-saver for me (Er, not literally, of course…) during our recent wet summer. These will keep your arms warm, while still allowing you to show off whatever you’re wearing underneath: so, they’re perfect to wear over those jersey dresses mentioned above, and they also look good with jeans. Speaking of which…

JEANS / CROPPED TROUSERS

Because I’m not a big fan of tights, I’m more or less forced to be a big fan of trousers and jeans. Luckily for me, I like wearing them anyway, and find them well-suited to my work-from-home lifestyle. My preference is for ankle-length cuts, which are suitable for summer, with a pair of sandals or pumps, but which can also work in autumn and winter with a pair of high ankle boots. Which brings me to my final point…

ANKLE BOOTS

Up until the last couple of years or so, I rarely wore ankle boots, preferring knee-length or over-the-knee styles instead. A string of disappointing summers, and a new focus of multi-seasonal wardrobes, however, has made me a convert to the ankle boot – or shoe boot. They work with both dresses and trousers, and unless we get lucky with our summers, they can be worn in every season, too – or they can here in the UK!

What about you, though? Is your wardrobe a seasonal or a multi-seasonal one? What are your must-have pieces?

[P.S. The dress in the photo is Boden’s Honour dress – isn’t it gorgeous?]

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Blogger of the Month: Albertine Sarah – Latest In Beauty Blog

Here at Latest in Beauty, we love blogs and thoroughly enjoy looking through all of your fab posts, photos and feedback on our Build-Your-Own beauty boxes. The pool of LiB lovers continues to grow and that’s down to you lovely lot and our collective of beauty bloggers sharing the love and discussing product they’ve discovered through LiB. It’s so exciting when some of our favourite bloggers and influencers share their must-have Latest in Beauty discoveries, therefore each month we like to chat to one of them right here on the blog. We’d like to introduce you to the first Blogger of the Month for 2018; the gorgeous Albertine from Albertine Sarah (previously known as Dippy Writes).

Q

What’s hot on the blog right now?

A

At the moment it’s all about beauty boxes, of all shapes and sizes, and getting more bang for my reader’s bucks! My most read posts are currently about the Soap and Glory Spa of Wonder box and the Latest in Beauty x The Greatest Showman box. Both are great value for money and include amazing products, so I’m guessing that’s why people are so drawn to those posts in particular.

Q

What’s in your makeup bag for Winter?

A

A heavy-duty lip balm (either Dr Lipp or NUXE Reve De Meil), a lip scrub (Lush do great ones), a face mist (Jurlique are my faves for this) and a matte red lipstick (Stila Stay All Day liquid lipsticks are THE best)! Basically, I’m all about keeping my skin hydrated and my lips soft in the winter. And a red lip can fix anything and immediately make me feel put together.

Q

Favourite discovery from your latest LiB box?

A

It has to be the Miller Harris Rose Silence Eau de Parfum sample included in the collaborative box with The Greatest Showman. I’ve fallen head over heels for the heady rose scent and I’m planning to buy myself the biggest bottle I can once I’ve used up my sample! I’m not normally a fan of perfume samples in beauty boxes, but this one was a generous size so I could really get a feel for the fragrance before deciding to buy full-sized.

Q

What’s your favourite thing about blogging?

A

The community, hands down. I’ve met so many lovely people through blogging, and I’ve made some really great friends. Everyone is supportive and helpful, and it’s nice having people I can talk so candidly to about my blog content and how I’m working with brands. I don’t think I would enjoy blogging nearly as much as I do without the community that comes with it.

A

SEO – I just find it so boring but it really is necessary for attracting new readers! Adding no-follow links, keywords, image tags etc. can sometimes take me longer than it does to actually write the blog post and I find it really tedious! That said, it definitely has helped my blog to grow, so it’s worth doing.

Q

What’s your signature scent?

A

Ooh that’s a tricky one for me because I do love to test out new fragrances. But right now it’s Elie Saab Girl of Now which is a delicious gourmand scent.

Q

The blogger/YouTuber made me buy it:

A

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, and I am eternally grateful for the recommendation because I now can’t live without it!

Q

Beauty hacks, have you got any?

A

If you’ve got annoyingly shaky hands (like me) and struggle to get a sharp winged liner line, then medical tape is your friend. I place it following my natural lower lash line and use it to get a super sharp winged liner line. Once you’re done applying liner you just peel the tape off and go – It’s practically foolproof!

A

Oh gosh, luckily I don’t think I have many of these but I definitely get lazy with my skincare routine when I’m really busy, and it definitely shows when I do! I used to be an avid face wipe user but luckily I’ve grown out of that habit and my skin is eternally grateful.

Q

If you could curate your own beauty box, what would it contain and why?

A

This is tricky, but it would have to be a collection of the products I recommend time and time again to my blog readers, friends and family:

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish
Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist
NUXE Reve De Meil lip balm
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer
Beautyblender classic sponge
Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye mascara
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner
Max Factor Colour Elixir Honey Lacquer Lipgloss in Honey Nude

Check out Albertine’s blog and get all the inspiration from her latest selections before creating your own box! Don’t forget to share the love using #LoveLiB!

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Influencer Subculture: The Kim Kardashian Lookalikes

They are the ultimate followers.

They go under the knife, get their cheeks sculpted, foreheads frozen, noses streamlined, necks and chins contoured, lips filled and apply makeup with a precision that leaves them nothing short of a Kim Kardashian facsimile.

“Keeping Up With the Kardashians” has taken on a whole new meaning, thanks to an influencer subculture of Kardashian lookalikes that’s emerged online. This group of women, some now barely distinguishable from the real thing, have become influencers in their own right who boast anywhere from 500,000 to one million followers on Instagram.

For them, following the second eldest Kardashian sibling isn’t enough — they need to be her, or at least look just like her.
And looking like Kardashian is no longer just a very expensive hobby — it’s becoming a business.

Influencer marketing agencies claim that brands seeking influencer support for product launches or to raise awareness that can’t afford the real thing now have their pick when it comes to Kardashian-esque types. A quick search on Instagram shows that these lookalikes have worked with brands from Estée Lauder Cos. Inc.-owned Glamglow in the Middle East and MAC Cosmetics in the United Arab Emirates to Iconic London, Gerard Cosmetics and Loving Tan.
The reason

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Read More…

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Meghan Markle Just Wore a $75 Sweater

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Meghan Markle continues to wow everyone with her aspirational yet totally copyable style, as proven by the latest outfit she wore for her second official royal event on Tuesday. And it’s so affordable!

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Okay, it comes to about $2,000, but that’s affordable by royal standards — at least compared to some previous outfits. (Remember the $10,000 Christmas outfit?)

But in all seriousness, at least one of the pieces from the outfit Meghan wore to visit a South London radio station alongside her fiancé, Prince Harry, is relatively inexpensive: a $75 balloon-sleeve sweater by Marks & Spencer. Unfortunately, it sold out in a couple hours, as did the $795 beige Smythe coat she wore.

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The good news? Her wide-leg Burberry pants, Birks gold bar earrings, Sarah Flint pumps, and Sentaler reversible alpaca scarf are still available. The bad news? They’re $650, $395, $395, and $320 respectively. Oh, and the scarf is only available in gray, there are only a few left, and it won’t ship until May.

Sigh.

But if you love the look, all hope is not lost. We’ve found fantastic lookalike pieces at even more fantastic prices.

The Coat

Getty/Amazon

BUY NOW: ManxiVoo Single Button Long Coat, $20, amazon.com

The Sweater

Getty/Forever21

BUY NOW: Ribbed Balloon-Sleeve Sweater, $35, forever21.com

The Scarf

Getty/Amazon

BUY NOW: Jaky Global Cashmere Blend Reversible Scarf, $19, amazon.com

The Pants

Getty/Gap

BUY NOW: Wide-Leg Trousers, $40, gap.com

The Shoes

Getty/Amazon

BUY NOW: Bamboo Women’s Pointy-Toe Chunky Heel Pump, $27, amazon.com

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Why You Should Dress Like You’re Already Famous

 

Dress: ZARA

You know that sage piece of career advice which says you should dress for the job you want, rather than the one you have?

Lately I’ve been trying my best to apply that philosophy to all parts of my wardrobe. Because why should work be the only time we dress the part? I’m a firm believer in the idea that when you look your best, you FEEL your best, and I’d like to apply that to ALL aspects of my life, rather than only to the things I need to “dress up” for. How? By dressing for the person I WANT to be, rather than the one I am now.

That doesn’t mean I’m particularly unhappy with who I am now, I hasten to add, but I think we probably all have a slightly better version of ourselves tucked away in our heads somewhere, don’t we? (Er, don’t we?) She’s the one who wears the clothes we only WISH we could wear: who always has a clever retort to every unkind remark she’s faced with, and who’s just that little bit more organised than we ever are. She’s us, basically – but better: and she’s the person we should be dressing for.

It’s important to note here that dressing for this imaginary self isn’t the same as dressing for an imaginary LIFE – I’ve already told you what I think of THAT. No, this other self of ours isn’t made of magic: she doesn’t take holidays we can’t afford, go to places we’d never visit, or life a lifestyle that’s too much different from ours: so that means you can’t dress her in eveningwear all the time if she (you) works on a farm, say, and you can’t buy her clothes that just aren’t suitable for her (your) lifestyle: sorry about that.

What you CAN do, however, is always keep this slightly-better version of yourself in the back of your mind when you’re going shopping, or get dressed every day. Would she wear this? Does that seem like something she’d try? Your slightly-better-self, for instance, probably wouldn’t wear something that’s falling apart, or throw on that top that doesn’t suit her, just because it’s the first thing that came to hand (If she would, of course, then your work is done: you don’t need this article…): so why should you?

Since I started applying this philosophy to my wardrobe, I’ve FINALLY upgraded my lounge/sleepwear collection (Goodbye ratty old dressing gown!) and invested in some new workout gear to replace the stretched-out leggings and over-washed sweatshirts that I always hoped no one would see me in, but kept on wearing anyway, because…. I have no idea why, actually. I’m not going to claim it’s changed my life – they’re just clothes, after all – but it does make me feel better about myself, and more excited to get dressed every morning, and there’s a lot to be said for that, don’t you think?

 

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