COLOUR CHAMELEON

I am a child of the 80s and 90s and some of my happiest memories are of being in the sixth form at my Catholic Girl school where we would all huddle around the latest Elle or Vogue magazine and owww and ahhh over the Steven Miesel or Peter Lindbergh photo shoots of the Supermodels.

I loved Christy for her elegance, Helena who was exotic and beautiful, Claudia was a blond bombshell and Naomi and her attitude and legs like a colt- but my all time favourite was Linda Evangelista.

I would have loved Naomi more but I felt she was always stealing my hairstyles, because every time I had a weave or caramel streaks put in- she would have it. It scares me how obnoxious I was. It only just hit me in my early 20s that perhaps the stylists I was seeing was copying Naomi’s style and trickling it down to me. Oh to be 16 again.

Anyway, I loved Linda because she was a colour chameleon and when she transformed from blonde, brunette or red she would fully commit with a make up and wardrobe change to compliment the look. I had a picture of her taped into my metal muji filofax. I was very executive in those days.

When it comes to a colour change you can be in no better hands than Sibi at Daniel Hersheson. Sibi is a true artist, celebs flock to her and she is a very cool, lovely lady to boot. For a natural colour change, try Sibi’s Uplighting technique, which is very low maintenance (great for these credit crunch days) as she gives hair a natural sunkissed glow by adding tones such as golds, vanilla and caramel tones to the mid lengths and ends of the hair therefore – no roots. To help complete the look Lauren Hersheson the salon’s in house make up artist, can also help you transform your make up bag to complement your new look. Book an appointment today to channel your inner colour chameleon.

ROUGE G DE GUERLAIN

The amazing thing about beauty, which a lot of people don’t seem to understand is that products are toys and gadgets for grown woman to play with and feel decadent, luxurious and fabulous. As I mentioned I love film, I love the femme fatale and I loved it when Lauen Bacall said, “put your lips together and blow”. I was looking at her perfect cupid’s bow and marvelling at the fact, here was a woman and she was only 19 at the time!!! At 31, I still don’t feel that grown up and in an age where young is good and old is bad and you can see women of a certain age in Topshop trying on mini ra ra skirts, who really should know better- we are not really encouraged to be sexy, sophisticated grown up women.

However, with Guerlain’s new lipstick Rouge G de Guerlain lipstick you feel like the sensual siren you always knew was in your soul. The packaging was designed by jeweller Lorenz Baumer with a mirror built into the case, which just oozes 1940s Hollywood screen goddess and a time when girls couldn't wait to grow up.

I think there is a growing sense caused by our economic climate that we are all after things that are more precious, less throw away and luxurious with real craftsmanship. Here, Rouge G de Guerlain delivers. The formula is also nourishing and won’t dry your lips out, as it has moisturising mango butter, lip smoothing and plumping hyaluronic acid microspheres, as well as rich deep pigments. Grab one today for a lost decadence and sense of grown up glamour that is both fun and empowering.

CHANEL NO 5

Along with beauty and history one of my other passions is film. I remember pulling a sickie from primary school so I could stay home and watch epic movies such as 'Gone with the Wind', 'An American In Paris' and film noirs with Joan Crawford, Bette Davis and Lauren Bacall. I loved these women for their grit, strength and elegance. I also fell in love with the beautiful sculpted faces in black and white, which seemed hypnotic and timeless.

Chanel have also managed to keep Chanel No 5 both elegant and timeless. The fragrance was launched in 1921 and was the first perfume to use a heavy dose of aldehydes in the top note to give the perfume it’s famous sparkle along with neroli, jasmine, mayrose, ylang ylang and sandalwood and vetiver in the base notes.

Audrey Tautou has been cast as the latest reincarnation to embody the iconic Chanel No. 5 woman and has been directed by Jean- Pierre Jeunet of ‘Amelie’ and ‘A Very Long Engagement’ fame in the latest short film (a commercial just doesn’t seem to give it enough justice). The film revolves around a sensual encounter on The Orient Express night train thundering towards seductive Istanbul between Audrey and a smitten, handsome young man - with a will they won’t they get it together theme. I loved the short film the minute I saw it and it had a sense of suspense Hitchcock would be proud of with a smack of ‘From Russia with Love’ old world glamour. Check out the film on www.chaneln5.com for an affair to remember!