Magdalene May Ball 2015

Last week the hubby and I attended the Magdalene College White Tie May Ball in Cambridge. If you have been reading my blog for a while you will see these posts pop up every two years. I love sharing these experiences with you all, especially when there is an opportunity to dress up! It’s funny to think that this year will be 10 years since we matriculated and here we are back again still feeling (and behaving) like teenagers.

Rather than going for a traditional ball gown (I wore a pretty big MaxMara number to the last one) I decided to switch it up with something a little more sleek and form fitting.

The India dress from Forever Unique was on sale in two different colours (purple version from ASOS here). However, as I wore a purple one shouldered gown (from Coast) four years ago I decided to try the emerald green. I absolutely loved the heavy embellishment on the sleeve of this dress and its overall shape.

Of course the material of these types of dresses is always quite thin so you can see every contour, making a tactical choice of underwear a must!

For makeup I did a very simple smokey eye using the Naked 3 palette from Urban Decay. I made sure that the look lasted all night by using a really long lasting foundation (Mac Studio Fix) and setting it all carefully with powder (I used a combination of MAC MSF natural and ELF Mineral Glow powder). I finished the look off with false lashes from Eyelure (Cheryl Girls Night style).

 

For hair I used the Babyliss wide barrel tong (Glamour Waves) to create large curls. I then clipped the bottom sections while getting ready to ensure they had more texture and gently curled the top section at the end so it looked smooth and sleek.

It was a wonderful night of champagne, street food, music and dancing with the Fratellis performing.

We bumped into so many alumni from our university days and it was really fun catching up with them all!

I made it from sunset to sunrise! Hopefully we will be back in 2017!!

OOTD: A little Alexander McQueen...

Many of you have messaged me to request a few more OOTD posts in addition to the myriad of stream of consciousness photos I upload on my Instagram (@NatalyaFGM). So, I thought I would start with this fun one from last year on my Birthday! Since I'm not getting any younger I thought I would put together something a little more different to celebrate turning 25... again ;p.

It all started with the dress! I spotted this Alexander McQueen envelope dress in an outlet mall near Florence of all places. Despite it being heavily discounted I needed some convincing as I didn't think it was particularly flattering (there are about 600 folds of fabric at the waist, enough to make a tent), but in the end I decided that it was a piece of art worth investing in!

A few months later I still hadn't found an occasion to wear my first Alexander McQueen purchase. It was a little too short and eye catching for a wedding and the UK was getting colder by the second!

In the meantime I had come across these fabulous Carvela Kurt Geiger Gylda lace ups that I like to think of as a grown up gladiator. With their sharp high heel and cut outs the hubby instantly got excited and offered to purchase them for my Birthday. He rarely has any opinion on shoes, other than ranting that I have far too many (which is true), but given his enthusiasm I knew these must be pretty special.

So when my Birthday finally came around at the end of October I decided that it was time to try out the two most adventurous items in my wardrobe... despite the cold and rain! As Miley so wisely put it... it's our party and we can do what we want!

Our Engagement Party and Amazing Cakes!

On the 1st of June the fiance and I hosted a much belated celebration of our engagement with our closest friends and our families. It was a wonderful evening and while I was having far too much fun catching up with everyone to take many photos I did want to share some pictures from the night and also give a special mention to some of our amazing suppliers :).

You all know I love any excuse to dress up, so while the Mr kept it pretty casual I decided to wear something a little more adventurous. I chose the Talia dress from the Hobbs limited edition Invitation collection with matching shoes. It's a nifty little corset number with a very voluminous skirt that really reminds me of the shape of Vivienne Westwood dresses, which I adore. I paired it with a white L.K Benett chiffon petal bag.

As the dress was already quite a statement I kept my hair simple by curling it with Babyliss hot rollers and brushing through the hair with a soft Denman brush to create loose, soft, shiny curls. For the makeup I went for a silver and grey smokey eye to complement the dress.

I chose the Blanchard Room of the Hollywood Arms as the venue for its amazing decor and it did not disappoint! All our guests loved it and I must say that the staff were outstanding on the night, making sure everyone had plenty of bubbles in their glasses until the early hours ;).

Since we are not getting married till next July we wanted to give our guests a little taste of what to expect next year and decided to order a cake as a sweet finishing touch to the evening. I am a huge dessert fan and loved the idea of having a cupcake cake for our guests to enjoy. After getting quotes from a few suppliers I chose the Chelsea Cake Company. Nessie was an absolute sweetheart in creating the perfect cake for us and it's just so lovely to work with someone who is incredibly passionate about their business. I highly recommend you check her website out for wedding, party or celebration cakes as she does some incredible designs using only the best organic ingredients.

Nessie also made some adorable wedding themed cookies for guests to take away with them! They were just as yummy as they look.

After the party we carried on the celebration at Embargos, although not all of our guests made it that far ;p. Fingers crossed I will be able to make the wedding go as smoothly! xxx

#Bootscamp!

Today is the day! From 1-2pm we will be chatting all things beauty at the Boots twitter party. Look out for the #bootscamp hashtag to win lots of goodies. We hope you can make it!

For hints, tricks, tips and offers to help you get out there this summer visit Boots Camp at boots.com/bootscamp. It’s tough to look great but Boots Camp can help: the place to find inspiration and advice to help you stay gorgeous and body confident this summer and it’s worth it! From make-up multi-taskers and getting luscious sun-ready hair, to keeping your holiday glow, Boots Camp is the ultimate summer destination!

Make sure you follow @perfectpolished and myself @NatalyaFGM as well as the experts. We can't wait to chat with you! xxx
 

#bootsgiveitago Wrap Up

Did you get a chance to log on to twitter and join in with the #bootsgiveitago party? I had such a fun time hosting and just wanted to do a little post to recap some of the trends we spoke about and the great tips that some of my amazing followers shared.



What are your favourite trends for Spring? Will you be trying out any of the looks we spoke about? We would love to see them on twitter, just use the hashtag #bootsgiveitago so we can see your lovely faces ;).

If you want any further information on the various trends or Boots give it a go Friday events, it’s all still live here: http://www.springsummertrends.com/

Hope you guys had fun and thank you to everyone who joined in with us! xxx

Win a Goodie Bag and Give It a Go!

Fancy winning a fabulous goodie bag from Boots and learning all about the new makeup trends this season? Then come and take part in the #Bootsgiveitago twitter party at 1 pm today. Just follow me on twitter (@NatalyaFGM) and look out for the #Bootsgiveitago hashtag! Goodie bags are being given away every 10 minutes :).

Check out all the details on how to particupate and win below:

This #bootsgiveitago Twitter Party give-away is free to enter and no purchase is necessary. It is open to residents of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including the moter, its associated, affiliated or subsidiary companies and agents or anyone profeChannel Islands and the Isle of Man), excluding employees and their families of the Prossionally connected with the promotion. Participants must be 18 years or over


Everyone who uses the hashtag #bootsgiveitago will automatically be entered into the draw to win

All winners will have used the hashtag #bootsgiveitago with either a great makeup tip, or an insight into a Spring/Summer trend. All winners must be following either @PerfectPolished or @NatalyaFGM

It is a condition of entry that all postings are subject to the terms and conditions. Submission of a posting will be taken to mean acceptance of the above rules and terms and conditions

You can open a FREE twitter account here: www.twitter.com

All entries must take place between 13:00 and 14:00 on Friday 22nd March

Winners will be notified via DM to the Twitter account they used for the party. They have 48 hours to respond and claim their goodie bag after being notified, after which time the goodie bag will be considered unclaimed and will be re-assigned using a random selection method

The Promoter may vary or amend the promotion at its absolute discretion

The Promoters accept no responsibility for technical difficulties which may result in Tweets not appearing in the Twitter stream as viewed via Twitter.com and therefore not eligible

The Promoter is Boots UK Limited. Registered office: Nottingham NG2 3A

Tweets with the Party hashtag(s) may be used in promotional materials for Boots, used on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest and other social media platforms. Participation will be taken as agreement for use of material in this way

Events may occur that render the competition itself or the awarding of a gift impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the Promoter and accordingly the Promoter may at its absolute discretion vary or amend the promotion and the entrant agrees that no liability shall attach to the Promoter as a result thereof



Hope to see you there soon! xxx



*Sponsored*

Boots Give It A Go Twitter Party

I am very excited to be able to share some fantastic news with you all today. This Friday Boots will be holding the fabulous #bootsgiveitago twitter party and have asked me to host! 

As you all know I love experimenting with makeup so I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to chat with you all about your favourite trends and share some tips! Plus, with goodie bags being given away every 10 minutes, you could win some amazing prizes to help you achieve the looks you have always wanted to create :).

If you want to take part make sure to look out for the #bootsgiveitago hashtag and follow Cat from @perfectpolished and myself @NatalyaFGM along with the lovely MUA @vanesaguallar on Friday from 1 to 2pm. I have been lucky enough to have my makeup done by the gorgeous Vanesa, who is the MUA for Seventeen, on a videoshoot during the summer so I can't wait to hear all her tips for the new season!

If you are planning on a spot of shopping on Friday you can also pop along to Boots stores to join in the events being held there! You can check out all the information about participating stores here.

I would love it if you guys could come and support! xxx

*This is a sponsored post*

Garnier No Streaks Bronzer

Over the last few days I, along with most of the nation, have been preparing for a host of festive parties. However, after being wrapped in layers for months my skin needed a little extra help to get into the holiday spirit, courtesy of Ganier's No Streaks Bronzer (in light here).

To see how to properly apply the bronzing mist you can check out the video below:

Will you be dusting off the fake tan this Christmas?

*This is a sponsored post*

Prohibition in the 1920s

Last weekend I stepped back in time to the roaring 20s at one of Prohibition's secret parties. Though the dates of these are not top secret the venues are hidden and only disclosed to ticket holders. If you haven't heard of this before, then do check their website out here. With flowing vintage cocktails served in tea cups, live bands, silent movies, casino and even a burlesque show this was definitely a fun and unusual way to spend a Saturday evening. It was fabulous!

You all know that I love to dress up and when given a theme I can never go less than all the way! Luckily, I already had this little flapper outfit hidden away in my wardrobe. The dress is a Massimo Dutti number that I have had since I was 16 (does that count as vintage?). My style has changed so much since then and I even surprised myself that I have kept it all these years. The dropped waist style is perhaps the least flattering shape of all for my figure as it highlights the widest part of the hourglass and the length shortens my legs. To accesorize I wore my Chanel pearls and various feather pieces including a broach that I made into a headpiece, a feather clutch from ASOS and green feather detailed shoes from New Look.

Even the bf grew a 2 day moustache for the occasion so I made sure we both looked perfectly 20s. I tonged my hair with the Babyliss Wave Envy (check out my review here) to add texture. I then painstakingly pinned it around the nape and folded it under my shorter layers to create a faux bob, which I am proud to say lasted through many a dip on the dance floor! 

For makeup I used lots of powder to create flawless, matte and pale skin. I then contoured the cheeks to narrow my face shape. On the eyes I used a mixture of pigments - collection 2000 teal all over,  shimmery golden green in the centre of the eyelid, matte brown to blend and create a more rounded eye shape. I also made my brows thinner and darker to create the classic strong, slimline pencil brow of the 1920s. I then added two pairs of lashes (top and bottom) to make my eyes look larger and alter their shape. I used the new Katy Perry Cool Kitty lashes (£5.95 here) on the top as they are perfectly full and not too long.

I then finished off with a strong lip, making sure to define the cupids bow. This is my slightly more modern and wearable take on flapper makeup!

Have you ever been to a 1920s themed party? What is your favourite decade? Are you tempted to attend the next Prohibition event? I believe it will be held on Saturday the 8th of September! xxx

Happy Birthday Lipcote!

The beloved classic that is Lipcote is celebrating it's 50th birthday!

Now, I must confess that I haven't worn Lipcote in about 5 years, in fact the last photo I can find is circa 2006 below ;).

I recall it working brilliantly and keeping my lipstick in place all night without any bleeding or fading, however it did dry my lips out (a lot). Having worn it all day today I am surprised to say that my lips are not as parched as I would have expected! I do think the formulation has improved, it's not as tingly as I recall and it has a pleasant new vanilla scent.

To celebrate 50 years of Lipcote the HPM bloggers were invited to a 'virtual twitter party' this evening. Personally, I thought this was a good idea as it allows those outside of London get involved without the hassle and expense of having to travel in for an event.

As I am currently sitting glamorously on my sofa in pjs I decided to make a little effort and create my own unique shade of lipstick using an array of different lip colours.

I topped my custom made shade with a thin layer of Lipcote, which gave the lipstick a satin finish.

At just £3.49 Lipcote is an affordable essential for the party season to keep your berries, plums and vintage reds in place under the mistletoe. I wouldn't recommend it for use every day as coupled with the cold weather it will make your lips dehydrated, but it's perfect for special occasions when you need your lips to be picture perfect and kiss proof all night!

Lipcote is available from selected pharmacies including Boots and Superdrug.

Are you a fan of Lipcote? Do you use any products to promote the longevity of your lipsticks? Do you have any tips for making lipstick last longer? What's your go to shade this party season? xxx

** This is a sponsored post. All views and opinions are my own, as always.**

My Birthday.. in Vivienne Westwood!

On Saturday night I celebrated my birthday in Juju with 30 of my closest friends. We had a brilliant night dancing and drinking champagne till the early hours of the morning! I was very spoilt with lots of lovely presents and couldn't be more thankful for my amazing extended family (friends).

 Rubens Print Friday Dress: Vivienne Westwood Anglomania

I knew that I wanted a very special dress for my birthday this year, so I saved up and took my time looking for something unique. I have always loved Vivienne Westwood dresses for their gorgeous feminine shape and unusual fabrics, so when I spotted this Rubens painting print dress in Harvey Nichols I skipped into the changing room straight away. As this dress is a lot more pricey than my usual purchases I did 'umm' and 'aaah' about it for a while, but in the end decided to treat myself and I am so happy with it!!

For a little bit of a glow I skipped the fake tan (for fear of it rubbing off on my dress) and opted for He-Shi's One Day Tan (£14.50) instead. This gel cream is so quick and easy to apply, dries very speedily and gives instant colour, which is perfect for that special night out when you don't want to risk any streaking, or simply don't have the time to wait for your tan to develop.

I styled my hair with the Babyliss heated rollers and backcombed at the roots to make sure the volume lasted all night. To set the hair I used Pantene Volume and Body Haispray and Tigi's Hair Bodifying Sugar Spray (which smells delicious and holds really well).

For makeup I used Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation, a heavier base that would stay put all night. I set it with MAC MSF natural and contoured with YSL's Afrique bronzing powder. On the cheeks I used a mix of MAC's Well Dressed and NARS Angelika blush and highlighted with Guerlain's Butterfly highlighter. For the lips I chose an old favourite - MAC's A Rose Romance lipstick. On my eyes I used UDPP, MAC's Reflects Antique Gold all over the lid and Espresso in the crease. I finished off with MAC's Blacktrack gel liner and the most amazing mink lashes from Velour.

These are the You Complete Me mink lashes ($29.99) from Velour and they are my new favourites! The mink hair is so lovely and smooth, and somehow looks much more natural than plastic lashes. I would also like to point out that these lashes are cruelty free - the hairs are gently brushed from live mink and sterilized to ensure that they are hypo-allergenic.

I absolutely adore their shape, with natural lashes nearer the front and longer, fuller sweeping lashes in the outer corners that give a beautiful, flirty look. These lashes are extremely well made, easy to apply and super comfortable to wear. I have also found that they are much easier to clean, so much so that they can we worn up to 25 times!

I had such a lovely birthday and am very sad that it's all over. I hope you are all having a lovely weekend!

Are you a fan of Vivienne Westwood? What is your dream party dress? What lashes are you loving at the moment? xxx

Beauty Recommended Feature

This month I was lucky enough to be featured in Beauty Recommended, P&G's fabulous online magazine!

Since October is a great time to explore your alter ego I created a special video with some tips and tricks for vamping up in the spirit of Halloween. Please check out my little feature (on page 20 here).

What are your tips for switching up your look this October? xxx

Halloween

In case you were wondering what I was for Halloween...

a playboy bunny! More accurately Bridgette (she is my favourite).

 

Guess which pumpkin I made ;).

Hope you all had a lovely Halloween weekend :) xxx