eaudemoiselle De Givenchy

The newest Givenchy fragrance is decribed as ‘couture floral’ and we love it!

From the gold, black and white photographics on the box and the timeless, streamlined bottle to the exquisitely feminine scent itself, Demoiselle is created to be a ‘rose in the morning dew’. Rose, lily and orange blossom feature in the top notes, while wood, musk and ambrette hold the bottom.

£39 exclusively at John Lewis from 29th March.

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Jane Packer Mother's Day

Ok this is what my Mum is getting for Mother’s Day – Chocolates, £10 Shopping Voucher & Jane Packer Flowers all for £45 from www.wysterialane.com – not that I’m counting the pennies or anything, Mum’s are too valuable for that!

Everybody loves a designer florist, it does show a bit more thought and even though my Mum is always on a diet she will have finished the chocs while watching her favourite Brother’s & Sisters on More4 before the first ad break – sorry Mum!

Anyway hope you are treating your Mum to something nice this weekend and while you are on the site you might just find something for yourself, lots of great stylish home bits, I’m hooked – and yes they’ve even got some groovy coat hooks too.

www.janepackerdelivered.com

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Jo Malone Vanilla Anise Candle

If you think the woman that brought you into this world deserves a little treat for her efforts next Sunday, look no further as I’ve compiled a great list of gift ideas to suit all budgets. And trust me she deserves it!

Heavenly Scented:

Big Jo Malone fans here, and the new Vanilla & Anise Home Candle, inspired by floral landscape of Madasgacar would be a lovely gift for your Mum. So if you can’t afford a mother and daughter trip there, at least you can treat her to this instead.

With a gorgeous scent that blends notes of Bergamot, Neroli and Star Anise and underlying tones of Vanilla Orchid and Frangipani, this gift is sure to be a definite hit.

Limited Edition Mother's Day Cards

Designer Cards with a Cause:

Film-maker and artist, Sam Taylor-Wood, and designer Kelly Hoppen MBE have collaborated to create two limited edition Mother’s Day cards, aimed to raise awareness for the White Ribbon Alliance, a global campaign to save women and newborn babies. The cards are completely free and are for an amazingly good cause.

Download them now at www.millionmums.org.

Swash Scarves (Prices from £75)

Liberty’s Scarf Room

The Scarf Room in Liberty is a great place to go if you’ve got a budget.

With beautiful, quality scarves from their own range and designers such as Alexander McQueen, Burberry and Givenchy, you’re sure to find something to suit your Mum’s taste. My personal favourite are the scarves from Swash, a range of gorgeous silk scarves emblazoned with a number of really fun prints for Spring.

Spa Day Gift

Whisk Her Away

If your Mum’s rushed off her feet 24/7, why not get a gift that can be used whenever she wants?

www.belaqua.co.uk deal with luxury spa days and short break bookings and they have a very handy E-Voucher that can be used at 100 of Top Spas nationwide. They are available in six fixed price values ranging from £69 to £299 and a typical £69 voucher would include the use of the facilities at the spa, a massage or facial and lunch. Have a look at their website for the list of Spa’s that are available.

Gilgamesh

Mothers Eat for Free at Gilgamesh!

If you fancy treating your mum to a meal out, why not pop down to Gilgamesh in Camden.

The Pan-Asian restaurant is offering mothers their entire meal for free on Mother’s Day, whilst the others around the table can enjoy the delicious three course meal for a reasonable £30 each.

Furthermore, one lucky mum will also win a one-off masterclass with celebrated Executive Chef, Ian Pengelley. Potentially two presents in one!

Gilgamesh,
Camden View
Camden Stables Market
Chalk Farm Road
London NW1 8AH
Tel: 020 7 482 5757

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Matthew Williamson

Matthew Williamson is to design a handbag collection for Bulgari.
Matthew will collaborate on a range of bags for Spring/Summer 2011, which will be presented during Milan Fashion Week in September.
Francesco Trapani, chief executive officer of Bulgari, said the designer had been enlisted due to “the great sense of colour and design he brings to his work”.
The bags mark Bulgari’s first collaboration with a designer as the company’s accessories are currently created by a design team based in Florence. So it’s back to Italy for Matthew after spending his time there designing for the Pucci label.

Earlier this year, Williamson is venturing into menswear, following on from a successful collection with high street store H+M.

He said: “I wanted to start a menswear line of slim-fitting, luxury cashmere jumpers in a range of great colours. I know these jumpers will become season-less staples in my own wardrobe.
“Cashmere and silk printed scarves and hand-beaded T-shirts complement the line and form a solid foundation for the collection to grow next season.”

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Christian Louboutin SS10

I’m a sucker for shoes. High, flats, boots, even flipflops. As long as they can get on my feet I’m happy. But I have never been as happy as when I wear Louboutin. 

So I thought I’d share my joy at their new Spring/Summer collection. It’s got something to suit everyone’s taste; from eccentric to elegant, the range caters for all. 

My personal favourite it the slightly whacky Ulona design, with the Aztec/Art Nouveau design imprinted on the suede body and the gold straps across the arch. I think buying a pair of these shoes would increase my standard of living stats by at least a couple of percent… even if I couldn’t afford to eat afterwards. 

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Ulona – Suede Multicolour and Napp Laminato Gold

Rachel Stevens for Benefit and Flake

Last night the BATD office was lucky enough to be invited to “A Million Lips” event with Benefit and Flake, at One Marylebone in London. But to be honest there was only one thing on our minds and it involved a lot of cocoa and yellow wrapping… although cocktails and makeup did come a very close second.

We arrived to a decked out venue with makeovers, cocktails (Amaretto Sours and Chocolate Flake flavours to be precise) and a Paloma Faith-esque singer, all providing the evening’s entertainment.

They venue was lively and there was even a sprinkling of celebrity as Rachel Stevens darted through the crowds. She’s possibly the smallest person I’ve ever seen considering she was wearing the highest heels available on the legal market! But she wore her hair in a very cute high bun which we all greatly approved of.

Unfortunately we didn’t see her get up on stage and pose as a ballerina in a giant music box, but I’m sure the audience loved it.

A great evening for the promotion of Flake’s ‘A Million Lipsticks’ with Benefit by all accounts, although I’m not sure the waiters appreciated us stealing all the chocolates…

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Renee Zellweger

Who said all celebrities hate the paparazzi? Well not Renée Zellweger!

The actress, who is currently dating The Hangover star, Bradley Cooper, bought a photographer an $100 gift card after he fed her meter while she was stuck in Starbucks.

She had gone in to the coffee shop to use her laptop, but got stuck as a growing pack of Paps waited outside. An onlooker said: “One snapper noticed the meter maid was coming and her meter had expired, so he put in a coin.”

Renée was so grateful she finally came out bearing a personalised gift card for the photographer, Milton Smith.

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Heidi Klum

The stunning German supermodel shares her words of beauty wisdom, in a recent interview for a promotional video.

The video was made to coincide with her front cover appearance on America’s Marie Claire magazine, and shows her imparting her first-hand advice for bad hair days, skin care and last minute makeup.

For hair she recommends wearing a hat… so I’m glad she made up for that tip by going on to say that putting on the accessory or tying up tresses is a great way to hide any hair disasters.

She said: “I have had many hair nightmares. But it’s very easy for someone with long hair, you just put it in a bun or put a cute hat on.”

To get her flawless skin, she says simple skincare is the way forward: “My skin care routine is very easy. I wash my face religiously. When you wear a lot of make-up like I do it’s so important to really, super-clean your face so your pores are open.”

However some of us clearly don’t have the time for a ”super-clean”, so the 36-year-old suggests applying a simple, good quality tinted moisturiser to look instantly refreshed, along with a dab of eyes, lip and blush colour: “I would do eyelash curler, mascara, a nice lip stain and blush.”

I’ve tried this and don’t look anything like Heidi Klum… but it’s definitely an improvement. Although you won’t find me wearing a hat in the office, I tend to just reach for the Batiste.

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Bruce entering Lea's

Fashion and beauty has been firmly fixed in the air with all the Hollywood parties of award season. The stars have been sporting amazing outfits AND amazing skin! So, I did some digging around to find out who’s the best in skin care.

Through a friend of friend of friend, I finally found “The one!”. Lea Eigard of ‘The Eigard Method, with over twenty years in the business she’s been helping Hollywood’s’ finest like Eva Longoria to look amazing.

I tracked Lea down at her Beverly Hills spa ‘Lea’s Advanced Skin Care’, known as the place “where you can get clinical treatments in a spa facility…”

While I’m tucked up in the heated therapeutic bed, inhaling lavender mist I’m trying one of her signature facials, and it feels like heaven (especially with Rodeo Drive just blocks away).

Alright, the following is worth thousands!!!!!

Lea's Book - Lifetime Facial Fitness

Bruce:
Lea, it’s an honour; Now, how does a guy or gal have Hollywood style radiant skin?

Lea:
Start with deep cleansing enzymatic facials because the skin needs to be detoxified, and cellular regeneration and circulation.  Without these treatments the skin becomes dull, congested and loses its firmness.  Also, having these gets the skin prepared for deeper and more stimulating treatment such as: microdermabrasion, light chemical peels, LED therapy and ultra sonic treatments (the newest treatments on the market, and they’re amazing!)

Bruce:
Okay give us some new products to look out for?

Lea:
The Epicuren Discovery, (www.epicuren.com) it’s the only line that has an enzyme protein formulation that creates cellular regeneration and retardation of the ageing process. Their two new products, Phyto Placenta and Bio Peptide are on the top of the list for cell renewal and reducing deep wrinkles, helping to retain healthy youthful and glowing skin.

Bruce:
I have to ask what should us guys NOT be doing with our skin?

Lea:
Men do not like to take the time for skin care treatments, and they should!  Skin care products which are highly effective, and using sun block are a must to keep the skin in great shape!! With or with out the sun, UV Rays are no respecter of cloud coverings.

A monthly skin care treatment program is good, and ask a skin care professional about a home care regiment that is right for YOU and YOUR lifestyle. 

Ask, “What does it do?”,  “how is this beneficial for my skin?”.  For those just starting out  use a simple home care program. It’s better to do less than nothing at all! Now relax and enjoy the facial…

Bruce:
Done!

For those of you considering going under the knife, the lovely Lea has a book out called “Lifetime Facial Fitness without Plastic Surgery”, it shows you how you can use facial muscle exercises to firm and lift the face. 

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Brandied Bronze Range

Our sneak preview of Clinique’s Summer Limited Edition range, Brandied Bronze, reveals gorgeously tropical colours interspersed with muted bronze. 

We’re smitten with Colour Surge EyeShadow Palette, £22.50, for safari with a splash looks in shimmering finishes, and the gorgeous brown eye pencil, Cream Shaper for Eyes in Chocolate , £13. We’d say its a smoulder waiting to happen.

Find the range on counters from 1st of May.

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