Lucy Hale

So, I’ve just started watching a new TV show called Pretty Little Liars. It sounded like the kind of thing that I would like. High school setting? Check. Good looking cast? Check. Scandal and intrigue? Check. Made by The CW, ABC or HBO? Check.

Anyway, what I didn’t count on was finding a possible new style crush. Step forward Lucy Hale. You may recognise her from the cancelled series Privileged, which I enjoyed, but apparently that was just me and three other people on the planet.

In PLL she plays Aria, an ex-goth (if a pink streak in your hair counts as being a goth, apparently on ABC Family, it does) who has recently returned to her hometown of Rosewood, after her family’s year-long sabbatical in Iceland. You can fill the rest of the story in yourself by watching the series, but trust me, it’s going to be good!

Aria (gorgeous name to begin with) has a cool style. She’s all pretty dresses with over-the-knee socks, toughened up with a leather jacket and boots.

The dress that she wears in the pilot episode is a great example of typical Aria style. A great pattern in a super cute, girly cut.

But, for me, it’s always about the hair and make up. Where as the clothes are something I can lust after, hair and make up is something that I can actually (attempt to) recreate. In the show they seem to use a lot of soft pinks, mauves and browns on Hale’s eyes, with the obligatory black defining liner and luscious lashes. She has fantastic brows! I’m currently in the process of growing mine out, years of over plucking have left them a little thin, but I’m aiming for the Lucy Hale brow now. Subtle blush and pink gloss finishes the look.

What I really, really love about Lucy is her amazing hair! It’s so shiny and long and full of volume! I love the style, it’s not straight or wavy it just has movement. How do you recreate that? Is it a blow out with a round brush, set on heated or Velcro rollers, or blow dried and pinned to set a loose wave? If anyone has an answer, please let me know!

The reason I decided to watch PLL is because of this editorial from WhoWhatWear. I subscribe to their mailing list, and this was sent through. I love the styling from top-to-toe. It’s totally nailed the 60s trend, which is all about youth and vitality! My two favourite images are the leopard print jacket, I love the ponytail and (again) the eyebrows. And the pink jacket & printed tights combo, love the pose (do you call it a pose when it’s mid-air?) look how bouncy her hair is! *Swoon*

So what do you think? A style icon in the making or just another pretty face in a crowd?

Pretty Little Liars airs on Tuesdays in the US on the ABC Family network. If you’re as impatient as me, you can watch it via links from Sidereel.com.

Behind-The-Scenes

I LOVE this video. As I'm at work, I've only seen it on mute, so I hope the music is ok! But just look how cute she is! Dancing like a spoon, falling off her shoes, laughing, and having fun! The last shot of her, where she laughs after a shock gust of air, is so beautiful (pause at 1:25). I have never hidden the fact that I love Gaga, when many have critisised her, or said that she is over rated. She can count me as one of her 'Little Monsters'.

This is behind the scenes footage of the Lady Gaga/ Nick Knight cover shoot for Vanity Fair September 2010.

Then & Now

My previous post got me thinking about then and nows. These once beautiful women that have let themselves slide. They are still young, and I pray that they will pull it around and get back to their glory days!

From

To

From

To

And then you get the opposite effect, women who have seen the mess they are in and have turned their lives around in spectacular fashion!

From

To

And Now

Lets hope that the Lindsays and Britneys of the world can pull a Nicole. She has gone from drug addicted chubby sidekick of Paris Hilton, to a size zero blamed-for-an-annorexia-epedemic 'Zoe-Bot'. But now she has morphed herself into a yummy mummy, after having two babies, Harlow and Sparrow, with steady rocker boyfriend, Joel Madden. She is a best selling author with The Truth About Diamonds, the sequel to which is due out in the near future. The foundations for what could be a fashion empire have been laid, with her jewellry line, House of Harlow 1960, and a womenswear collection, Winter Kate. Alongside all this she has set up The Richie-Madden Children's Foundation, which strives to bring 'light and laughter' into the lives of children in need in the US and abroad.

Mischa

OK, so I'm going to try and keep this post as un-hurtful as possible, because everyone everywhere is slating this look from top-to-toe.

Seriously though Mischa, what has happened to you? I remember the days of The OC when you had impecible style, laid back Cali-cool - this look was perfect for you. Your hair was a gorgeous shade of blondette, always beautifully styled into casual waves or straightened with a high-gloss finish. Your make-up always fresh and glowing, highlighted by a subtle tan.

But now, the style, gloss and glow have been replaced with this:

An unflattering dress, yellow hair and clown make up on a pasty complexion. As I am in a 'be nice' mood, I am going to stop myself here, as it is unfair to kick someone when they are down. Instead, I have decided to post some images of Mischa's glory days. Remember when she used to look like this:

Siri

I have just come across what may be one of the best editorials I have ever seen. These pictures of Siri Tollerod by Miles Aldridge for Vogue Italia 2008 are gorgeous.

Firstly the colours, I love the candy pinks, dreamy blues and minty greens, the spread looks good enough to eat. I was thinking how cool it would be if they had scratch and sniff pages, these would smell like love hearts and parma violets.

Secondly, how amazing does model Siri look as Cat-Lady Barbie. She looks sweet & innocent and bat-shit crazy all at the same time. Love the contrasting candy stripe colours in her hair. When I was a blonde I always wanted an ice-cool shade with lilac pieces shot through.

Finally, it has cats! Not just any cats, but cute and fluffy tabby Ragdoll kittens! I am obsessed with Ragdoll cats, they are the cutest! When you pick them up they go all floppy, like a rag doll. I'm sad that my student house doesn't allow pets because I would be saving up right now to buy myself one.

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that this is Paris Hilton in 40 years + some chihuahua puppies?

Lady GaGa

How beautiful does Lady GaGa look on the cover of the September issue of Vanity Fair UK? She looks like a mythalogical creature, or Lady Godiva, I love it! Grey seems to be the shade to colour your hair at the moment, with model Kristen McMenamy leading the pack by sporting her natural shade. Embracing the shade hair turns when it has been over-bleached seems a natural step for GaGa, who had previously sported lilac/blonde locks (another outcome of over-dyeing).

She has been photographed by Nick Knight, with whom she is a frequent collaborator. If you haven't already seen her SHOWstudio interview, search it on YouTube, it's such a good watch for GaGa fans and followers.

The interviews in Vanity Fair always tend to be well rounded, with lots of angles covered not just the generic: 'What is your favourite shade of lipstick?' and the like. I hope this interview follows that trend. I only buy Vanity Fair occasionally, but this issue will definately find its way into my collection.

On a sidenote: Does anyone else think that Nick Knight will be a future director for one of her mini-movies? (You can't really call them music videos can you?)

WTF

Oh holy Christ, who ever decided to unleash this concept on the world (yes, hang your head in shame, Louis Walsh) needs a stern talking to.

According to Vogue.co.uk X Factor novelty act, Jedward, are to release a clothing line. Now, this is just all getting a little ridiculous isn't it? Nowadays, it seems that anyone who is no-one can 'design' a line.

The most logical way that this is going to work is Jedward putting their name to a high street line, but what male high street store would want them? I can't see Topman, River Island, Burton, or H&M wanting to collaborate with the irritating twins. One of the stores I could see being open to this would be New Look, who have a blink and you'll miss it menswear section in larger stores. They have already joined forces with the C-list likes of Lily Allen and Taylor Momsen, so I could see them lowering standards further by using the Z-list Twits for promotion.

Would you buy anything from Jedward's clothing range?