Selfridges AW14 Fashion Showcase

On Thursday 9th October, I headed over to Selfridges Exchange Square in Manchester for their AW14 Fashion Showcase. The event was to celebrate the new menswear destination on the first floor and the latest womenswear collections on the second floor. I was very excited for the event and as I had a plus one, I brought my mum along as she loves Selfridges and was intrigued to see what I get up to at the events I go to.

How awesome is this skirt?! I want!

I also want this gorgeous handbag!

As we arrived, we were greeted by a Champagne arrival which is always a winner. There was also a non alcoholic option - Elderflower, which I also sampled and it was delicious. We had an hour to browse the new collections before the fashion show started. My mum and I headed straight for the shoe department before browsing the new womenswear collections.

The extremely talented Jacqueline Bissett in action

My awesome illustration

It wasn't long before we spotted fashion illustrator, Jacqueline Bissett who was offering a personalised illustration to take home. She is extremely talented and created beautiful pieces of art in less than 10 minutes. My mum and I are amazed by my illustration as it really does look like me and it captures me perfectly. I'm going to display it in a black frame in my bedroom near my dressing table.

Behind the scenes!

Apologies that this is my only photo of the catwalk. I watched it from the floor above so couldn't really get good images.

At 8:30pm, it was time for the fashion show to begin. The models descended from the second floor down the escalators onto the first floor to strut their stuff around the staircase. The fashion show consisted of mens and womenswear. I had a great view as I watched it from the second floor and could still see the models walking around the stairs. Unfortunately, this meant I couldn't get any good images.

These cocktails look incredible and they tasted pretty delicious too!

Christmas is coming!

After the fashion show, a pop up bar from The Alchemist were serving cocktails and waiters were offering canapés. We had another browse through all the beautiful collections - cooing over some beautiful clothes, shoes and handbags.

Rachel x

Couture Crush Press Launch

On Thursday 11th July, I was invited to the press launch of a new brand, Couture Crush. Couture Crush have a motto - Seek Sell Switch. You can seek, sell or switch new or pre loved designer and vintage accessories including bags, sunglasses and shoes. You can seek or switch items completely free and they work with authenticate4u to ensure that all items are genuine as they operate a strict no fake goods policy. Couture Crush's philosophy is 'pass the love on and get your next fix!'

http://www.couturecrush.com/

The press launch was held at The Circle Club in Manchester. I knew a couple of people that were going but I arrived alone. Late I may add as The Circle Club is that exclusive, they decided to hide it! I was only about half an hour late. Once I was there, I presented my VIP invitation and was given a voucher for a free drink. I went downstairs to the club and headed straight for the bar. I got my cocktail and luckily spotted people that I recognised and sat with them in the 'bloggers corner'. 

Fran, Callie Rose, Fi, Amy and Me

Joanna, Fran, Callie Rose, Nic, Me and Sindy

I met some lovely girls at the event including Joanna who I had previously met at FABB Manchester. Everybody else I met for the very first time, most I have spoken to online via twitter and read their blogs so it was lovely to finally meet them. I spent most of the night sat with Amy, Fi, Callie Rose and Fran but I also met Chyaz and her sister, Steph, Nic and Sindy. 

There were lots of time for us to drink cocktails, eat cupcakes and chat to each other. Canapes were brought around and afterwards we all got asked to head towards the dance floor. When we arrived Kaley, the founder or Couture Crush, gave a speech. She told us all about Couture Crush and the reasons behind why she started it. Then there was some entertainment in the form of a girl dance act. They were very good and danced to a medley of Beyonce songs. There was a lot of booty shaking and I'm sure the boys enjoyed it a lot more! 

Afterwards we headed back to 'bloggers corner' and carried on chatting. We had a fantastic evening getting to know each other and it was a really fun evening with lots of giggles. Kaley came around to give us some goodie bags. They contained a few different samples of beauty products and I received some round sunglasses with flowers on and a butterfly bookmark (it could be a hairclip but it's quite heavy!)

I had a lovely night and I wish Kaley all the best with Couture Crush. Make sure you go check out the website www.couturecrush.com/.

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

FABB Manchester

On Saturday 6th July, I attended the FABB Event held at 2022NQ in Manchester. The event was organised by Ray and Tor. They had decided to keep everything quiet about the event so it was a surprise. I was anxious as I didn't know what to expect but I was also excited as I was meeting up with some lovely bloggers and I was curious to find out what Ray and Tor had planned for us. I met up with Frances, Hannah and Nafisah and we spent the day together. I also spoke to Danielle and Joanna for the first time, which was lovely as we had only spoke online previously. I have honestly met so many lovely people through blogging.

Photo from FABB Events 

Photo from FABB Events

At the event there were numerous beauty and fashion brands: South Beach Swimwear, Lavish Alice, Tinned Bananas, Derma V10, Eldora Lashes and La Moda. We were given the opportunity to introduce ourselves to the brands and other bloggers. There were loads of cupcakes! Since becoming a blogger, I have definitely eaten more cupcakes! They seem to think we're obsessed with them! But to be honest, who doesn't love a cupcake or two?! 

Photo from FABB Events

The first stall we went to was South Beach Swimwear. As I had previously attended their event at Frurt (see post here), I had already met Katie. It was lovely to see her again. It gave me the opportunity to look at their beautiful swimwear again and I am definitely going to purchase the Floral bikini even though I'm not going abroad this year. Who's going to stop me looking glamourous in my back garden?! 

Photo from FABB Events

Photo from FABB Events

Next to South Beach Swimwear was Lavish Alice. I had heard of the brand before but I have to admit, I haven't looked at their clothes before. They used the clever technique of attracting bloggers over to their stand with delicious cupcakes - more cupcakes! Some of their items were gorgeous. It's definitely a brand I will pay more attention to in the future,

Photo from FABB Events

Photo from FABB Events

Photo from FABB Events

Then we visited the Tinned Bananas stand. This is a brand I had never heard of until the morning of the event when they emailed all the bloggers attending the FABB event to introduce themselves, which I thought was a lovely idea. They sell swimwear as well as clothing with really cool prints. I loved the body con dresses and I definitely have my eyes on a couple! 

Photo from FABB Events

In a smaller room next door to the main room, were the brands Eldora Lashes and La Moda, who specialise in handbags and purses. Eldora Lashes have some crazy crazy lashes for extremely brave people! We all had the opportunity to choose a pair of lashes and we even had the opportunity to decorate them with gems and feathers! I refrained! 

Chiara Fashion were holding a competition on the day to win a dress. All we had to do was tweet and we were in with the chance of winning one. Towards the end of the event, a tweet came through on my phone telling me I had won! I was so lucky! Unfortunately, the dress was too big but Chiara have very kindly offered to exchange it. When I recieve it, I am planning on featuring it on my blog as it's beautiful. Who knows maybe my very first OOTD! Keep your eyes peeled. We were also very lucky and received a ring from Steel Rose.

Photo from FABB Events

We were spoilt on the day and I left with lots of goodies. So much in fact that my arms were aching the day after from carrying them all the way to the train station. I'm not complaining though, I felt like a VIP! Thank you to FABB events for all our goodies and all the brands that sponsored the event. I have listed them all at the end of the post. 

Photo from FABB Events

Photo from FABB Events

I would like to say another massive thank you to Ray and Tor for organising and putting on a FABB day! I had a great time and if you have the opportunity to go to a FABB event, I definitely recommend it.

Also a massive thank you to all the companies involved on the day and to the ones that kindly donated items for our goodie bags, we were really spoilt! 

American Soda / Amie Skincare / Apivita / Ark Clothing / Atrixo / Balance Me / Barburrito / Beauty UK / Big Ruby Tattoos / Blanx / Casetagram / Cherry Rainbow / Chiara Fashion / Derma V10 / Eldora Lashes / Enrapture Hair / Espa / Footner / Ginvera / Hair Trade / Halo Wipes / Ice Diamond Hair / Impress Nails / Jelly Baby / Jelly Button Jewellery / Kiss Lashes / La Moda / Lavish Alice / Look Fantastic / Neal and Wolf / Pearl Drops / Phil Smith / Popchips / Rock n Rose / Skinetica / South Beach Swimwear / Sparkly Nails / Steel Rose / Stylist Pick / Tinned Bananas / Urban Beauty United / Veil Cover Cream / Viridian / Vita Liberata 

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

#NorthMeetUp

On Sunday 7th April, I attended the highly anticipated #NorthMeetUp organised by Emma from EmTalks. As soon as I heard about the event, I contacted Em and I was very lucky to get a place as there were only space for 50 bloggers. The event was held at Revolution Deansgate in Manchester. It was great to see a big blogger event being organised up North. I've only been blogging since September last year but I know most events are held in London.

Image from Katie at Gold Dust

Image from Em at EmTalks

I met lots of lovely bloggers there including Katie from Gold Dust, who I had previously met briefly at the Harvey Nichols Beauty Bloggers event back in November. I also met Kelsey from Kelsey Dawn, Emma from Glossy Boutique, Bobbi from Beauty By Bobbi, Nafisah from Bamblings of Naffy, Nikki from Beauty Shaker (who gave out the fabulous Anne Semonin goodie bags and actually works where I go on holiday nearly every year! Small world!) and obviously Em as she organised it!

A lot of hard work and organisation had gone into the event. I want to say a massive thank you to Em as I had a truly fantastic day and met some amazing bloggers. We had our own private room upstairs and we all felt like VIPs. Em had arranged for eyebrow technicians, fake tanners, nail artists and make up artists to be there. There were giveaways throughout the day and I won a Neom Hand Lotion! Some amazing brands sponsored the meet up. There were talks from Xen-Tan, Glam Glow and Arbonne. I think a few more were arranged but it was very noisy and there wasn't a microphone so it was very difficult to hear.

Em had arranged with Revolution for us to have 2 for 1 cocktails and cupcakes and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts were supplied all day! We were well and truly spoilt! Seeing all the bloggers with their fancy cameras, only made me want one even more! But I have no money. I'll have to pop one on my Christmas list this year and hope Santa brings me one. I even had 'business cards' made to hand out but completely forgot to give any out! Ha!

We walked away with so many goodies. I actually struggled on the train. Luckily, it was only a short journey. It's amazing to see how many brands wanted to sponsor a North event. Em did an amazing job at organising and putting on this amazing event. Hopefully, I can attend another event she organises in the future. She definitely has a talent!

I am planning to review a lot of the products that we received in our goodie bags. Unfortunately, the weather up North doesn't allow for good photos! I think I need to invest in some daylight bulbs (I know nothing about this, please help!)

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick