Last week I was invited to the launch of The Lash and Brow Boutique at Urban Retreat in Harvey Nichols to try out the latest in long-lasting lash enhancements and advanced brow shaping by Nouveau lashes and HD brows.

I have to admit I was a tad nervous about having my already sparse eyebrows tampered with as the treatment, which first promises a consultation, was followed by—wait for it— tinting, waxing, threading, tweezing, ‘calming’ and filing.

However Nilam Patel, HD Brow specialist informed me that the technique which boasts “beautifully tailored and easy to maintain brows” is excellent for “growing out over plucked and misshapen brows.” And after sabotaging my beautifully bushy brows in a teenage whim back in the day— when thin eyebrows where so very ‘in’— I was amazed to find my brows where now left full and defined. Hooray!

Second on the agenda was the Nouveau lash treatment; a technique which involves a set of semi permanent lash extensions being applied to individual lashes, allowing the length and volume to be increased by up to 30% for a full-on flutter effect.

A favourite among celebrities like Naomi Campbell, Nouveau Lashes are hand cut and made from non-allergenic, synthetic material. Resistant to damage from exercise and showering, they last up to two months, so ladies, we no longer need to splurge on expensive mascara to get fuller looking lashes!

For prices or questions about the treatments on offer, please contact:

Urban Retreat on 0161 828 8856

I realise that I risk being branded a ‘fuddy duddy’ for what I’m about to say, nonetheless I have to ask: What is with all of these lingerie inspired trends?  Bra tops, lace leotards, negligee’s, even BLOOMERS for Christ sake. Isn’t the purpose of underwear to be worn underneath ones clothes? Or should we stick by the saying if you’ve got it flaunt it?

I’ll admit, when I go out, I tend to expose ‘a bit of leg’ or don a low cut number—not too low cut though, I am a lady— but even I, the person who has on many occasions defied my father’s requests to go back upstairs and “PUT A JACKET ON” draw the line at sequin knickers and bra’s – I mean come on ladies, where’s the element of mystery? Are we really that desperate for male attention that we have to resort to putting it on a plate – literally? Supreme style icons of the past would be cringing in their grave if they could see the queue for Boutique on a Friday night; can you imagine Audrey Hepburn rocking up to a Hollywood bash in a swimwear inspired number? It was her elegance and classic sense of style that determined her sex appeal, not the lack of clothes.

Yet can we blame this new generation of women? Many would argue that this is just a natural transition, after all the social rules with which women used to conform to have radically changed over the past fifty years.

The media is now saturated with images of next to naked women; images which clearly influence the way in which many young women dress. In time icons like Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly have been replaced by overtly sexual celebrity figures like Pamela Anderson and Jordan, women who endorse provocative clothing. And I have to ask, by following in celebrities footsteps and dressing so risqué, are young women sending out the wrong message? Or is it just the next stage in the evolution of dress?

Well, regardless of why underwear has become ‘the new’ outerwear, I think I’ll continue to bury my bra underneath my blouse (where it belongs) and leave my audacious peers to promote the original ‘less is more’ tagline.

It’s been a tumultuous few weeks for British fashion after the tragic death of the East End boy come world renowned couturier Lee Alexander McQueen.

The loss of a true fashion maverick— a designer whose brilliantly eccentric creations and non-conformist attitude to the industry—inspired much of the talent that was showcased at Somerset House over the 6 days of London Fashion Week.

It was on Tuesday, less than a fortnight after his death, whilst waiting for the Amanda Wakeley show to begin that I was able sit and reflect on the impact of his death. As I surveyed a tribute wall, erected in his honour, the emotion in the room was palpable. I watched as people scribbled heart-rending messages, some expressing the great loss they felt, others thanking him for inspiring their own work. It was a truly poignant moment that made me realise what a huge void ‘Le Enfant Terrible’ (meaning unruly child) as he was often referred to, had left.

Come Thursday, after the catwalks had been dismantled and the last of the wandering show pamphlets had been swept away into a dusty heap, it was time for those who knew the man behind the brand, to say their final goodbyes. It was the most moving fashion procession ever held under McQueen, as his friends and family paid tribute to his legacy by wearing his creations. One attendee in particular, Daphne Guinness, made a breath-taking homage to his 2002 A/W collection. Consumed by both overwhelming grief and a wonderfully avant- garde black cape, in this instance fashion really did speak volumes.

Leaving behind his eponymous company to the Gucci Group, McQueen fans across the globe— still in a profound state of sadness— will be anxious about the future of the McQueen empire, leaving us to wonder; with the prodigy no longer at the helm, will the identity of the brand still translate? I suppose we can only hope that Alexander McQueen’s inimitable spirit and creative vision will live on through those he inspired, but until then, we wait with nervous anticipation for March 9 when McQueen’s final and most significant collection will be shown in Paris.