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Old-School Fashion: Otto Originals

02/19/2013

The old-school tie's association with the 'old boy's club' and elitism hasn't really done this traditional piece of attire any favours. The negative media portrayal of these mean that they may not be accessories that everybody would proudly want to flaunt at social affairs. However, old school ties, or OST, to abbreviate, are symbols of both the history of one's school and one's history at their school, and are something that should be treasured.

So, Otto Originals have a solution to this problem. James and Charlotte, two siblings from Bristol, have decided to create a new, more subtle fashion accessory that celebrates the OST's tradition, but reinvigorates it with a creative, modern twist. At their Costwold's studio, the skilled team at Otto Original's have come up with a way to transform one's OST into an eye-catching, one-of-a-kind belt, which uses the highest quality full-grain leather and solid brass buckles. Off-cut bracelets are also offered, and make the perfect gift for a friend or family member, at just £10. Most interestingly, Charlotte and James want each Otto Original belt/off-cut bracelet to be recognized for the exclusivity of each hand-made item, not the exclusivity of the school and therefore ensure that each and every product is made with the greatest care and attention to detail.

We love Otto Originals belts so much that we're offering a discount to all our loyal readers!

Use the code: jetset and you will get 10% off your order!

http://ottooriginals.co.uk/index.php

Keep on jet-setting!

Take a Brow, Shavata

12/29/2012

If you were to ask me which one beauty product could I not live without, it’s my brow pencil. Yep. You heard right, I like good brows. I could blame Cara Delevingne or Camilla Belle for my obsession; they have some of the greatest brows in the Jet-setting world. But what I’ve discovered since grooming my brows is just how much a difference they can make. They do after all frame tIhe eyes and since I quite like my eyes, I want to make the most out of them. Some prefer a thinner brow, which is fine, of course, but for me it’s all about thick, statement ones.

Luckily, achieving beautiful brows couldn’t be easier. There is the option to wax, but, are you crazy?! No, no, no. Waxing is not for the brows! That’s just a disaster waiting to happen. One slight mistake in wax application and you could end up with a wonky brow for quite a considerable amount of time... and no-one likes a wonky brow!

Option 2: threading. Yes, it actually is quite painful and it may, from time to time, bring tears to your eyes, but it is so worth it. The lovely ladies at Shavata in Harrods are experts at precision threading and can achieve your best brows in the blink of an eye (granted a slightly watery one).

Thankfully the results of threading last week were great but there are of course the occasional strands of pesky hair trying to destroy my brow perfection. How dare they!

The collection by Shavata is exactly what I need to maintain a groomed appearance between those eye-watering but oh-so-essential threading appointments. Their slanted tweezers couldn’t be more pain-free if they tried; I was extremely impressed using them for the first time. These stainless steel beauties grasped my hairs with accuracy and ease, and not even a hint of a tear arose. Then for an added extra ‘ahh’ I applied the aftercare gel to help soothe the skin after my pluckathon. With Aloe Vera and Arnica in, it was literally my skin saviour: brows received an instant cooling sensation and it felt so darn good. Ahhh...bliss!

Finally to achieve my bodacious brows I use both the brow perfector compact and the eyebrow pencil. These products can be used on all brow colours to help achieve full definition. Being a blonde, I can’t go too dark with my brows so I have to combine the light and medium crème shadows together to create the right colour for me. Applied simply with a mini precision brush, they smooth onto the brows effortlessly enhancing them perfectly, whilst the pencil helps fill in the gaps to really perfect the brows. I use dawn- the lighter side- whilst the dusk is ideal for you darker haired beauties.

Et Voila!

Creating beautiful brows couldn’t be simpler or more pain-free. If you don’t currently shape or fill in your brows, then I recommend you try it. I guarantee you’ll never want to be seen with naked brows again!

Shavata has over 20 Brow Studios offering the very best in brow and lash services. See www.shavata.co.uk for all their products and for Brow Studio locations nationwide.

Slanted Tweezers - £19.50
Double-Ended Pencil - £8.50
Brow Perfector Compact - £19.50
Soothing Aftercare Gel - £5.95

Claire Menary

Shavata Soothing Aftercare Gel: £5.95

The completed brows

Women's Style: New Year's Eve

12/26/2012

The Final Countdown:
New Year's Eve: the big night. The time to really celebrate and welcome in the new year. Hopefully by now you'll all have made some plans. Even I, the last minute kind, have somewhere special to attend. However, unlike previous years where I've dressed up in character (Shakira in her crazy hair days- so not a good look- I was 15, ok?) or just gone to a casual house party, this time round I'm spending it someplace fancy, and that requires me to dress fancy...

Cue my dread: my usual attire of leathers, a blouse and fur are no good! I have to actually make an effort. Oh mon dieu!

I've come to the conclusion that a dress it is. It's New Year's Ever after all: the one night to get ridiculously dressed up, go over the top, get your hair professionally blow dried, book yourself in for a spray tan, manicure... THE WORKS! That's the spirit!

Oh. I still have to find something to wear. Right!

Well, being an avid despiser of sales, the first place to start for me is certainly not out and about. Instead, I'm sitting comfortably in my PJs with the Macbook on my lap and I am about to do what my degree taught me to do well: research, research and research. Now, I could probably go through the better of the high street chains to see what they have in store but this is NYE and I want something special! I want something timeless, stylish and that really makes a statement. A good way to start 2013!

Let me take you first to BCBG Maxazria then. I've bought a number of dresses from here before; they do great occasion wear and there's always plenty of choice. Prices are usually more on the expensive side but by no means ridiculously overpriced. You know you're getting a quality dress that inevitably will get you noticed. The store on the King's Road probably has the best selection, but Harvey Nichols usually have a great concession with some of the best picks too. I spot the Loretta. A black lace embellished evening dress. Chic, classic and totally lust-worthy. This dress is a statement and a half. I'm in love. Team with a bold clutch and red lips, and oh my, HEAVEN!

Ok, so I need to stop getting ahead of myself. A girl needs options! My next stop is Aqua. Statement silhouettes and bold colours create a strong look every time. I instantly zoom in on the Voltaire Maxi Dress and it's a beauty, indeed. I can choose between a sleek black or a OTT orange version- both equally tempting, and I certainly want to try them both on. The Bergman Dress also catches my eye and comes in a number of shades too. I could quite easily go on, but it's settled. I know where I'm going, and I know what I'm looking for. Aqua don't disappoint me now, I'm coming to your Carnaby Street store pronto!

So there it is, I'm all set to conquer post-Christmas shopping, and out of everything on offer I'm sure I can find something suitable. If you're struggling with what to wear I suggest you take a peek at the websites above and gain some inspiration. Of course, be prepared and have an option B, C and D at the ready. At this time of year, you never know what stock is like. My back-up plan is a vintage Alexander McQueen navy silk dress I bought for a 6th form ball 5 years ago. Not a bad option, I know, but a girl can't help wanting something new to wear to celebrate a very exciting year ahead!

Good luck with the outfit hunt, and whatever you're doing for New Year, I hope that you bring it in with style, and of course, the obligatory flute of bubbles.

Happy New Year and keep on jet-setting!

Claire Menary

Claire Menary. Fashion Blogger.

BCBG Loretta Dress (Approx. £250.00)

Voltaire Maxi Dress (£112.00)

Bergman Dress (£110.00)

Women's Style: Date Night

12/16/2012

Being a single girl in London means there's always plenty of dating opportunities. I should know, I've had my fair share since moving here 5 months ago! And why not? It's exciting meeting new people and trying out new places to wine and dine. But with multiple dates comes a magnitude of problems: What.To.Wear.

Yes. There's nothing worse than an hour before you have to leave you're standing there in your towel believing you're going to have to cancel because you-don't-own-a-single-nice-item-of-clothing. Cue drama. Have a tantrum. Maybe cry a little.

One thing's for sure: this will not help you get dressed.

Instead, take a deep breath and listen to me. I won't tell you what to wear but I will share with you these
5 rules that will make choosing the first date outfit easier than putting on false eyelashes.

1. Keep it Simple.
Don't try be trendy: there's nothing more cringe than seeing a try-hard, and besides, men don't care what's in for AW12 or what's set to be hot for SS13. Leave the bright prints to Barbie and the studs to dates with your girlfriends. Rock the leather trousers, team with a simple white tee, a sharp blazer and some hawt heels and you're guaranteed to impress. Trust me, men love the leathers.

2. Look Effortless.
Create the perfect 'I got ready in no time' look by, well, not looking too perfect. Look like you've just thrown something on, mess up the hair, put on some red lipstick and go. That is how it's done in the fashion world dahlings!

3. Less is More.
And no, I don't mean less clothes, thank you. We're classy people here. I'm talking cosmetics. Make-up is fine but please don't paint your alter-ego with the make-up brush. Focus on the eyes or the lips, never both... unless it's Halloween, or drag night.

4. Don't Overdo it.
Never look overdone. It screams high maintenance. This isn't TOWIE folks. Point made. Next!

And finally...

5. Make An Effort.
This might sound pretty obvious, but it's something I've forgotten many times. I'm so used to wearing the same outfit day to night that I forget that sometimes it's nice to make the effort; to actually try to impress someone. So give it a go and wait for the compliments to flow.

...and if he doesn't give you a compliment? Well, you're single and in London.

Claire Menary

Mens Style: Date Night

12/04/2012

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So guys, it’s the first date. You want to make a good impression. Chat will get you so far but it’s the outfit that takes centre stage, especially where first impressions are involved. Trust me, girls judge. They make the effort and they expect to see you do the same. Now, if you’re usually a dapper gent then it probably shouldn’t be too difficult for you. Then again, how do you know what will impress the overly complex female mind? Those creatures are hard to read and hard to please.

Fear not, effort doesn’t have to be as challenging as getting out of bed on a Monday morning. In fact, it couldn’t be easier. The key is to keep it simple. Sorry it’s not more of a ground-breaking revelation, but it’s the truth. Once you’ve decided on a date location, the outfit couldn’t be easier.

Take option A: the evening drinks.

A swanky bar requires smart attire but unless you’ve come straight from work, avoid the suit. Suits are great but they lack individuality. A good shirt is essential (browse mrporter.com for a wide variety of options) but maybe leave the flamboyant patterns until you’ve really got to know one another… and she likes you despite some of your wardrobe. Once the shirt’s sorted, it’s really plain sailing. Chinos are always a hit: get a pair that are well fitted, choose subtle shades of navy or beige (I’ll even allow maroon) and you’re set. No need to look further than Zara for a smart, inexpensive pair that I promise will look good. Top it off with a good pair of shoes: Church’s leathers are always a good investment- just please leave the sock-less plimsolls at home. Pull it altogether with a smart blazer a la Paul Smith or sharp coat (a Burberry inspired trench will always be a hit) and you’ve got the perfect outfit. Simple.

Or try option B: the afternoon weekend coffee meet.

A casual, relaxed vibe calls for chilled clothing but still a cause for effort of course. Smart jeans, a tee under a jumper and quite honestly you’re onto a winner. Again Zara is a go-to for these basic pieces along with the likes of J. Crew and John Smedley for good quality knitwear. Looking good really is that easy. Even keep the stubble if you want, just loose the lumberjack inspired checked shirt, and don’t even think about a low scoop v-neck.