Keeping it Real with Hypeed

I am a huge fan of real fashion (see this post) and a few weeks ago I stumbled across a new website/magazine which explores and defines everything I love about the concept of 'real fashion'.

Based in Paris, Hypeed is an online website and magazine whereby all the features are created and inspired by everyday people, taking snaps of themselves sporting the latest trends and of course, their own unique outfit creations. For example, a current feature is 'The Clutch Bag Trend' and readers can upload their pictures of themselves rocking their clutch bags which not only encourages a community style form of interaction but readers can also use the pictures as inspiration for their own looks.

The online community determines which contributions will be selected for the finished magazine feature (which also includes nice bite-sized editorial sections detailing the specific look or trend and some info on the selected contributions) via a scoring process. All contributions begin with an equal chance of being included in the final feature and Hypeed take into consideration both the quality of the images and the scoring to decide which contribution will be selected as the main cover and also how many contributions to include within the whole feature. This encourages people to take pride in their shots and looks and of course, be creative.

Hypeed never hires in professional models or photographers and relies solely on photo contributions to generate its content. Your points can also turn into rewards which is another little added incentive!

What Hypeed wholly embodies is the concept of real fashion by real people and there isn't a glimpse of a catwalk show in sight. Of course, designer fashion plays an incredibly valuable, vital and prominent role in the fashion industry and is what ultimately inspires and defines high street fashion, but it's also nice to see how the high street and unknown brands can be given some unique exposure.

Great style doesn't have to come with a whopping price tag, ya know!

Be sure to go and check out Hypeed (launched in Public Beta).

Image of Rainbows&Fairydust (whose fab blog you can visit here) courtesy of Hypeed

Rochas Collection PFW - Channelling the 60's

Catching up on the shows from Paris Fashion Week, the one which has definitely caught my eye is the Rochas collection. Wonderfully 1960's inspired with big bouffant hair, smokey eyes and nude lips the collection is glamorous and chic but not too overly cutesy.

The movie ‘Cactus Flower’ from 1969 and starring Goldie Hawn was the inspiration for Marco Zaninin’s third collection for Rochas and though the 60's theme is certainly the foundation of the collection, it still manages to remain unique and vivid comprising of lime greens, blues, lemons and peaches as well as pretty pink, brown and beige colour combinations in a variety of exciting materials and textures - all the pieces are very wearable and fun with ruffled collars and sleeves, animal print, cropped trousers and shift dresses.

I am a huge fan of the 60's so this look is definitely on my radar.

Image courtesy of www.teampeterstigter.com

Get Clogged

Ever since Alexa Chung was seen sporting a pair of Chanel clogs at the Chanel Couture 2010 show in Paris, they have unsurprisingly been deemed the shoe of the season. Whilst they look like they could be a little heavy for smaller pins, I have to admit they definitely add depth and a certain something teamed with a feminine nude dress and tights heading into spring.

Whilst we can't all swan about wearing Chanel, I found via my new online addiction Shop Pulse, an amazing and non budget breaking pair of studded clog mules from River Island for £44.99 in pretty beige tone with stud detailing and a buckle over the top.

I reckon these would also look amazing with a cropped pair of boyfriend style jeans.

Well, give me some plaits and just call me Helga!

Image courtesy of www.look.co.uk

Jumping on the Barry M Bandwagon

It really does got to show the power beauty bloggers have. I have to admit, I'm a cosmetic marketer's dream when it comes to pretty packaging and such like, but when some of my fave beauty gurus recommend a product, I find I'm much more inclined to dash out and buy it than if it was suggested in a high profile magazine.

I digress. So, Barry M - I'm not a complete stranger to the brand but I have never exactly been bowled over by the make-up products - nail varnish, hell yes, but the lip glosses have always seemed a little OTT for my liking and my skin tone. However, I've continually noticed that people have been raving about the 129 Barry M lip paint 'Palest Lavender' which is a pretty lilac tone that I've never even considered trying having always been a little boring when it comes to experimenting with lip colour. I have to say I love this; the colour is great for spring (though will be better with a tan - wishful thinking Laura) and the formula is creamy and non-drying. At around £4.29 it has been a worthwhile addition to my collection and something a bit different.

Image courtesy of Barry M website

America's Next Top Model Online Challenge 7 - Make-Up With a Twist!

So this week, the America's Next Top Model seventh online challenge is perfect if you like to get creative with make-up! In this week’s episode we see the models star in a cosmetics commercial and to keep the theme related, for this challenge you have to send in a head shot demonstrating your best make up artistry.

However, there is a slight twist which will really test your skills as to assess the transformation, the judges want to see a before and after shot in the same picture. You need to submit a photo whereby one side of your face is completely natural and without makeup and the other side is fully made-up - be as daring, creative, colourful and trend inspired as you wish.

Take a look at this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9Bd12r8muk to get some inspiration and insider tips from one of ASOS’s makeup artists.

Expert judges from LIVING and ASOS including Zeba Lowe – the head of styling for ASOS magazine, will choose a winner each week who will get their lucky paws on £100 worth of ASOS vouchers. Winners will also be broadcast at the end of each episode of ANTM on LIVING.

All you need to do to enter your pics is go to www.antmchallenge.com. This week's challenge closes at midnight on Wednesday 3rd March.

Don't forget to tune into the ANTM Season 13 drama, tears and glamour on Monday at 9PM on LIVING to see from the girls remaining, which model will be the next to go!

A Passion for Real Fashion

What with London Fashion Week dominating all talk of fashion over the past few days, I have to admit when reading the reviews of the new collections and emerging designers, it can sometimes become a bit of a blur. Of course, I love designer fashion in its true sense but these past few months I’ve been increasingly drawn to the style blogs and websites that promote unique everyday street fashion and I somehow find this a lot more comforting, probably because it is style that you can easily try yourself and use the looks as inspiration in a way that is attainable. That probably sounds like a really obvious thing to say but I personally find the whole concept of runway fashion a little scary; not in the sense that I don’t think I can pull it off but because it seems like a world that I just don’t really – fit into (literally probably, and personally).

There has been a lot of talk about a small percentage of fashion bloggers ruining the reputation of those fashion bloggers who really know their stuff – from the terminology to the history of the designers and most importantly, how to review a collection intelligently and correctly.

So many fashion bloggers who have attended Fashion Week have tweeted about the experience, but much more so about the celebrities they’ve met and how hung over they are from the previous night’s party. It’s so boring.

Most of my favourite fashion blogs include The Blonde Salad, The Style Diet, What I Wore, Gala Darling and Style Scrapbook to name only a handful and yes, they are majorly popular but I think because they write about their own personal style in a way that isn’t intimidating but that we can all relate to. All of these bloggers can also write about the shows at Fashion Week as good as any Fashion Editor but what grips their audience is that they are real, unique, and girls we’d all like to be mates with! They convey the real relationship between (often affordable) clothes, style and fashion with positive body image and how that is unique to every individual.

Fashion is a business yes, but it should be fun. I find it so much more inspiring when it’s a bit more....well, real and not all about parties, champagne, and getting pictured with Jodie Harsh.

ANTM Season 13 – Week 4 Online Challenge ‘Statement Accessories’

So America's Next Top Model Season 13 is in full swing and this week's online challenge (read more about the weekly challenges and competition here) is all about Statement Accessories! Ooo, this one is definitely fun :)

Accessories are a huge key trend for spring/summer and the bolder the better. It's amazing how a vibrant gold necklace, a chic statement bag or a cute pair of heels can transform an outfit and add increase its wearability factor.

Check out this video of Sophie O’Kelly, a professional stylist providing helpful insight on this season’s statement accessories as a way of prepping for the challenge..........

So all you need to do is submit your photos (full length or headshots) of how you wear this season's must-have accessories, as mentioned in the video above (kitten heels, handbags, silver cuffs, bows or golden jewellery) to their full creative potential.

This week’s challenge closes at midnight on Weds 10th Feb – and you can enter at www.antmchallenge.com. Remember, £100 worth of ASOS vouchers are up for grabs if you have what it takes in addition to the grand prize for the super stylish ultimate winner to star in their own ANTM themed photoshoot styled by ASOS, get an exclusive invite to the ASOS season preview AND bag a tailored piece from the new season’s collection. Sound good? Oh yes!

Make sure you catch up with the weekly installments (and drama!) of America's Next Top Model on Monday's at 9pm on LIVING.