Rihanna's New Look at The American Music Awards

I love the curls on Rihanna! 
 [Of course, I'm bias! *wink]

What do you think? Yay/Nay?

Here's a video of her performance:



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Source: Rihanna Daily

NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos and David Paul Wedding Gown: Lifetime Promotes Lucy Liu's New Movie "Marry Me"

Catch the Couture Bouquet:

Where's the Bride: NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Demi-Couture Wedding Gown, Silk organza strapless gown with hand-beaded paillette bustier *photo courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward

To promote Lucy Liu's new Lifetime Movie: Marry Me premiering Sunday, December 12 at 9 pm et/pt , I was asked by Lifetime to send them some photos of recent Wedding Dresses from my NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Demi-Couture Collection. And although we do not have a full line of Wedding Dresses, I always have one or two special Bridal Pieces to complete each collection, so I was happy to send images of these new looks. They also asked several other Project Runway Designers--Season 2 Winner Chloe Dao, Season One's Austin Scarlett, and Season 5 Winner Leanne Marshall to name but a few.

For Spring 2011, my NIKOLAKI Co-Designer David Paul and I designed a couple of (we think) beautiful dresses for a very stylish bride. The first is a Strapless Gown featuring a Silk Chiffon Hand Beaded Bustier with a Silk Organza Raw Cut High-Low Skirt, shown here:

*photo courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward

On one of our fabulous (and favorite) models, Amanda Fields from Season 3 Project Runway. It is fully lined in taffeta and has Horsehair trim to stiffen the hem. It also has hidden side pockets!

A Mykonos Wedding: NIKOLAKI Demi-Couture Wedding Dress, hand-beaded paillettes over silk chiffon cowl-draped dress with matching capelet *photo courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward

The other Wedding Dress we submitted is this short-and-sexy number for that adventurous bride. Seen above on model Lauren Gish, it is a hand-beaded Ecru-colored mini bias-cut dress featuring a cowl-draped front and back. It also has a matching hand-beaded paillette sequin capelet. Think Mykonos Wedding...for a very rich Supermodel...or a sexy Dubai Emira!

*Click HERE to view all the wedding dresses by Project Runway Winners and Alumn as well as Wedding Gown Design Veterans such as Angel Sanchez, Oscar de la Renta, Vera Wang, and Monique Lhullier.

The beautiful Louis Vuitton tassel pouch.

layered

This rock look works wonders as multiple layers are created to add detail, print and pattern. A leapod collored shirt, leather belt, ballerina skirt, cool tee and winter coat comes together as an outfit for anybody!

  

 

Sugababes fragrances winners

Thank you all so much for entering my latest giveaway! As promised we have three winners each receiving one of the new Sugababes fragrances.

The winner of Touch is the lovely Emily Charlotte

The winner of Tease is the gorgeous  Ulaaa

The winner of Tempt is the beautiful Lyndsay 

Congratulations my darlings! Please e-mail me with your details so I can get your prizes sent out to you ASAP. xxx

Party in Purple

It's getting dark at 4pm, the streets are full of twinkling lights and Starbucks are serving Eggnog Lattes. This can only mean one thing.. I will gain three stone in the next few weeks by comfort eating, hiding indoors under a blanket and drinking copious amounts of said lattes? Yup.. it's time to get into the Christmas spirit. So to help you all along this morning I uploaded my first Christmas tutorial.


I was inspired by the L'ancome winter collection to create this look. I love the frosty combination of colours and the subtle pairing of the peach lip with the vibrant purple eye.

I also wanted to show that you don't have to purchase the products used in promotional photos and used a mix of brands including Dior, YSL, Guerlain and Benefit to recreate this L'ancome look. The key element was of course the Guerlain eyeshadow palette. I think this palette would make a beautiful gift! The only thing I dislike about it is the 'overspray' on the pink and frosty cream shadows as it's a slightly different colour to the shadow underneath... it's a little deceptive, but not really a deal breaker ;).

To start the Festive season in style and as a thank you for watching my videos Strawberrynet are also kindly offering each of my readers an exclusive *free gift* of Stila High Shine Lip Color # 14 Darby with every purchase over US$25. This would be a lovely colour for the look above, as it is neutral, but not too pale.

To receive your free gift just click here to go to the strawberrynet site and the Stila lip colour will be added automatically at checkout :).

I hope you enjoy the first of many Christmas tutorials to come! xxx

Update

Hello my lovelies!

So as you know, I had a busy time over the past few days hence the absence from blogging.  I hope you all had a great weekend!  I had a lovely time as Chris' mum and dad were visiting so we went shopping and had a couple of lovely meals.  I think I really need to get back to the gym this week and work off all the food and drink I've had over the past few days!  I was reading a magazine that said that the average woman puts on 6lbs over the festive period and I'm determined for that NOT to happen!

As I had mentioned in my last post, I went to Edinburgh on Saturday for my friend's hen night.  We went to Calistoga, a Californian restaurant for wine tasting and a meal.  I tried to pretend I was a wine buff but it soon became clear that I knew nothing about it and embarassingly, prefer the cheapest Pinio Grigio! ha ha.  The meal was lovely and it certainly lined our stomachs for the cocktails we had later on!  Cue me pulling a stupid face as I choose which cocktail I want...

I decided to just do a nice silver/grey smokey eye, keep the skin glowing and slapped on some Nars Turkish Delight.  I wore a new dress I got from H&M with my fave black Warehouse waterfall blazer (I will be doing an H&M and New Look haul post to show you guys in detail).  We ended up going to a bar which played some amazing tunes and it got us in the mood to go to a club. 

I'm not quite sure why but these types of pics showing me with my arm in the air seem to surface all the time.  I think it must be my signature drunken dance move?!  The ceiling was so low in the club, you could touch it just by raising your arms up slightly! It was absolutely mobbed and therefore it was absolutely boiling in there.  We were all dancing for quite a while and got a bit sweaty...how lovely eh! There always comes a point in a night out that you stop caring so much about how you look and just get down to having fun.  I wore really high heels that night and I fairly suffered on the walk (limp) home.  Call me stupid but no matter how many nights I spend with sore feet, I don't think I will EVER be put off wearing high heels...I just love them too much to give them up!

loves...

Mad Mondays

Travel in Rome ~ Keep the Style, Keep the Attitude!!

Day 4 and Day 5 in Rome, we continue our Journey to walk every inch of ancient Rome. Niel, Abby and Ilona are very excited whenever there are steps/stairs and big open space for them to run around, and to chase each other. ^^ 


Kids are simple, they will have fun just like that!!! 


Day 4, we went back to Piazza Navona again to visit the shops. 

Now this Kapital blazer + shorts becomes my signature look in Rome, I love it!

This shop has pretty blown-glass accessories and Murano is the special glass only made by Venice. I wish I can carry some chandelier home.... 
We are going to visit Florence in two days and hopefully we can make a trip to Venice.



 Rome designer: Patrizia Pieroni. There are only 1 store in Rome and 1 in Paris. 
That lovely frame bag is about EURO 495. 

 Missoni green/brown collar w/ zip-pull, Isabel Marrat pull over, Joie leather high-waisted shorts, black tights, DKNY socks, Kelsie lace-up wedge, brown distressed messenger.



I tried on this Vintage dark brown back bag, do you think I look "stylish"?
... but when did I carry back bag?



Do you notice that we almost buy new shoes for kids during our trips? hha... Like Mother, like kid!! ^O^



Camper Rain coats...little souvenirs for kids. 



The rain boots to the far right has rubber, leather and inside faux fur lining...how luxury! 



The very first time that we had Chinese Food in Rome. They don't have much exotic food there.... but kids love pizza and pasta so it is not a problem when it comes to meal time!


They have their school work to do everyday (school required) which I think is wonderful. They will remember their Journey better when write it down in words!!



Did you see my new boots!!? 
From ethic(I took picture the other day in previous post). 
It has gorgeous moss green + taupe leather and suede and faux fur lining inside!!
Euro $120!! Fab. 



Panthon. 



You can't miss Fontana di Trevi when you are in Rome. 

Last day/Day 5 in Rome

Like I said, cotton blazer + shorts become my fashion staple here in Rome. The weather is nice and even it is rainy and cool, you won't feel slightly chill and uncomfortable at all. Except rain sometimes do get you nerve when kids are getting tired!!

Everyone has their new THINGS on!! I have my new Gap hat, Abby has her new down coat, Ilona and Niel has their new Camper boots. 

Kids are happy as they run all over the place inside the Colosseo!!



DH and me.



Finally DH's most want visit 




Unexpected encounter.... black cat inside Colosseo!






Ethic boots, lovely color, warm lining makes them a perfect boots walking in cool and rainy day.



Santa Maria Maggiore at Esquiline Hill (this is almost another side of Rome that we haven't set our foot at.)



Chinese food again~~ :P 



Let's call it a day ... my feet are sore..... 
Piazza de Popolo!!


Stay tuned~
xoxo Rachel