A Pre-nup Package Party at Harvey Nichols

Yesterday evening the STYLE etc. girls headed out to a Pre-nup Package Party courtesy of Harvey Nichols and Dennison Greer Solicitors.

No area was left uncovered for the blushing bride to be, with the team talking everything from dresses, lingerie and shoes to makeup, skincare and pre nup advice for the modern, savvy bride.

The Harvey Nichols team had done an amazing job at transforming their Personal Shopping space into a brides goodie box of dreams. We sipped champagne and nibbled on cupcakes whilst being treated to an exclusive preview of the latest wedding trends from Harvey Nichol's and a schooling on why pre-nups are the latest wedding must have by the on hand stylish solicitors.

With pre-nups on the rise, Harvey Nichols has created a free consultation package for the modern woman who has everything and wants to keep it that way. It provides everything a bride could need, including recommendations on everything from make-up and dress consultations to legal consultations with help from Dennison Greer Solicitors about protecting your assets, whatever your financial standing may be.

Breathtaking jewellery by Theo Fennell was on display - bridal wear and Theo Fennell; possibly the most perfect pairing since bread and butter, while the NARS make up girls were at the ready to chat bride perfect makeup and offer expert makeovers. The Dermalogica team were also on hand to offer skincare consultations and advice. Our features editor Marianne bravely sat under the dermatologists magnified lens to have her skin's fortune read, wincing and ready to be told off for her caffiene addiction, but was pleasantly suprised to hear good news about her good genes.


We left wishing we had a wedding to go to if only to justify the splurging on the amazing designer dresses aplenty!

Post by Anna J. Westerman

Celebs love Suzanne Neville at the National Television Awards 2011

If you've been following STYLE etc's blogs (and you really should be!) you may remember the first ever womenswear us fashion obsessives blogged about was top UK couture bridal label Suzanne Neville, back in November.

After first seeing the bridal wear at their new collection launch at the Suzanne Neville Wimslow store, we were immediately enamoured with the gowns intricate detailing and stunning feminine silhouettes that really celebrate a womans figure. Often a favourite of celebrities needing a killer evening dress, Suzanne Neville's designs are no stranger to the red carpet - which was true of the 2011 National Television Awards ceremony at London's O2 Arena last night.

X Factor runner up and Queen of the Jungle Stacey Solomon looked stunning rocking the ombre hair trend and a daring low cut embellished and slinky floor length Suzanne Neville number:

Holly Willoughby, who is expecting her 2nd child, also wore a black floor length Suzanne Neville gown customised to make room for her ever growing baby bump and looked every inch the yummy mummy:


For more red carpet pictures and info on who wore what go to: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1350798/National-Television-Awards-2011-Coronation-Street-beats-EastEnders-fashion-stakes.html#ixzz1CFta1FbB

Suzanne Neville's evening wear collection is now available to view in the Knightsbridge, Wilmslow and Guildford showrooms.

For more information on Suzanne's designs, visit her website at:

http://www.suzanneneville.com/

Post by Anna J. Westerman

Castlefield Gallery presents BORN AFTER 1924...

If you're in the market for some culture and inspiration be sure to visit Castlefield Gallery as they present BORN AFTER 1924, an atypical solo show by German artist Ingo Gerken.

Interpreting the contemporary legacy of the Merzbarn1 and Kurt Schwitters in the UK, Castlefield Gallery has invited Gerken to respond to Schwitters’ Merz Magazine (issue 8/9) of 1924 called Nasci2. The theme of the magazine, Nasci, meaning ‘being born’ or ‘becoming’, was co-edited with Russian Constructivist artist El Lissitzky3 forging an alliance of Dadaist and Constructivist ideals and included reproductions and texts by Vladimir Tatlin, George Braque, Man Ray, Piet Mondrian, Kazimir Malevich and Mies van der Rohe among others.

Often referring to his work as ‘activating’ art-historical contexts, Gerken is interested in the porosity of imagined and real spaces, their construction, flexibility and weight. BORN AFTER 1924 will become a group show and a site-specific manifestation of Gerken’s shifting and re-arranging of the contexts of Dada, Merz and the Nasci issue of 1924 itself. A re-edited and updated version of the historic avant-garde magazine will be published to accompany the resulting group show. The exhibition will become a physical manifestation of Gerken’s collages that will include other invited artists, from the UK and Germany as ‘articulations’ or ‘punctuations’ of his own practice. The exhibition will transform the gallery and represent a condensation of Gerken’s diverse and playful art practice drawing on some of sensibilities of Schwitters’work.

Better yet, admission is absolutely free and the gallery fully accessible!

Exhibition: BORN AFTER 1924
Artists include: Ingo Gerken and invited artists Matti Isan Blind, Madeleine Boschan, Rainer Ganahl, El Lissitzky, Antonia Low, Tim Noble & Sue Webster, Reto Pulfer, Gregor Schneider and Kurt Schwitters.
Preview: Thursday 17 February 2011, 6-9pm
Exhibition Dates: 18 February to 10 April 2011

Find it at:
Castlefield Gallery, 2 Hewitt Street, Manchester, M15 4GB
Opening Times: Wednesday to Sunday 1pm – 6pm

Telephone: 0161 832 8034
http://www.castlefieldgallery.co.uk/

The Black Swan - Get the Look

Of all the blockbuster films to be released so far this year Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan is by far the most talked about. The film centers on troubled ballerina Nina played by Natalie Portman, who struggling to let go of her anxious and uptight nature is drawn into a vortex of feathers, bleeding fingers and asphyxiating paranoia - or is she? You really have to watch it! If only to admire the breathtaking costumes designed by Rodarte.


The film is tipped for Oscar success and with a huge hype and aticipation being built around it throughout the UK before it was even released, it will surely be the catalyst for a wave of ballerina-esque trends to follow. With this in mind, STYLE etc. show you how to unleash the dark ballerina in you, through black satin and delicate lace for 'Ballerina Chic' looks for both day and night...

Day:
Project D lace and satin dress, £295.

Night:
Project D ruffle dress £265


Both dresses are available to purchase now at Harvey Nichols.

This trend focuses on dark colour hues that still incorporate ruffles and sheer floaty to allow for plenty of drama as you pirouette the night (and day) away. A perfect excuse to add yet another LBD to your wardrobe whilst letting out your more seductive and sultry side with the inner Odile in you.

Post by Anna J. Westerman

RED HOT Favourite at the Golden Globes 2011

There's never a time Hollywood's leading ladies dress to impress more than at the Golden Globes. Forget playing it safe in LBD's, this year the red carpet was awash with eye popping colour hues with peachy tones, pinks and reds seeming to be the colour of choice.

STYLE etc's particular favourite was January Jones' scorching scarlett woman look. The actress presented the award for Best Television Series Comedy or Musical wearing a Versace red fringe gown with deep v-cutout neckline, finishing the look with a Versace satin clutch, and black patent leather Versace pumps.


Reach searing temperatures and sizzle yourself by getting the look with our pick of the best red hot designer dresses available:

1.) Alexander McQueen V-neck Maxi dress, (Available from Selfridges) £1975.


2.) MATTHEW WILLIAMSON Long asymmetric strap gown, (Available from Selfridges) £1655.
3.)Julien Macdonald Drape front jersey dress red, (Available from Selfridges) £795.


4.) Coast Acapella bandeau maxi dress, (Available from Selfridges) £160.


5.) Azzaro Capricieuse crystal-embellished silk-crepe gown, (Available from Net-a-Porter) £3145.

Nothing says old Hollywood Glamour than a killer hit of red rouge.

Post by Anna J. Westerman

Kitten Heels - Back on the Prowl?

The kitten heel, defined as being a heel between one-and-a-half and two inches, was first seen throughout the Fifties - originally developed as a "training heel" for teenage girls requiring more formal attire, with higher heels being considered inappropriate for adolescents. It wasnt until screen goddess Audrey Hepburn deemed them worthy to grace her elfin feet by championing them in her most iconic film Breakfast at Tiffanys, the women in their masses hurried to follow suit and thus the trend was born.


By the Swinging Sixties and Seventies the style was outdated, severely overshadowed when compared to the zany fashions and chunky platforms and deemed far too prim and proper. The kitten heel seemed out of the race untill in 2003, King of the Stiletto Shoe - Manolo Blahnik, tried his hand at injecting life back into the old cat by adding kitten heeled shoes to his collection, stating that his famous high stilettos have been so often copied that he was inspired to create a heel at a new, shorter height. Regardless of this, the kitten heels still didnt have it easy and were frequently scorned and looked down on by the younger generation in favour of ankle shattering platforms and 6 inch heels.

Perhaps the most recent champion of the kitten heel is First Lady Michelle Obama herself, who has become some what of a style icon in her own right, bringing back sophisticated and convential dressing whilst looking glamourously chic and timeless. A fierce lover of the shorter heel, Obama is rarely photographed in anything else; a dedication from her that seems to have put kitten heels back on the map and dare we say it - firmly this time.


Love them or hate them, it seems kitten heels are slowly but surely making a comeback into the realms of what is considered "fashionably hot". Forget clutching onto your partner, friends or innocent passers-by for support to keep from toppling over in ridiculous sky scraper heels and embrace the kitten in you. Afterall, are they not infact the perfect combination between style and comfort? I for one am glad they have finally clawed their way to the top to find a firm resting place in the fashionable womans daily wardrobe.

And just incase you need any further encouragement, we bring you our 5 of the best kitten heels:

1.) L K Bennett Court Shoe, £140

2.) Alexon Bead Cluster Shoe (Available from House of Fraser) £72

3.) Dune Peep Toe Court, £65

4.) Hobbs Suede Court, £119

5.) Dune Leopard Court, £75


Post by Anna J. Westerman