Project Angel: Aussie Competition!

Hello all!

Here's a little competition for you to get your teeth into! Last week I received an Aussie biscuit tin containing an Aussie favourite, a TimTam chocolate bar and an invitation to enter this competition as part of Project Angel. But here's the twist, it's also an invitation for me to run a competition so that you guys have a chance to win some fabulous prizes too! All you have to do is get creative and come up with a short story that is in the spirit of Aussie. Post your entry to your blog and then make sure you let me know that it's there, by commenting below or by emailing me at stefaniegraceblog@gmail.com.

What's beyond the Mmmmm, the Aaaaah? What if Aussie were a short story? What genre would it be? Would it have a happy ending? Become an Aussie author!

Aussie will give the best contenders pride of place on Uncover Aussie, with the best one from each category (there are a few) bagging the winner an awesome prize. I will also pick a winner from my readers that decide to enter and they'll win a fantastic prize too! So far Aussie have given me a lovely box of freebies and a fab salon experience (not to mention the TimTam!), so just imagine what you could win!

So let me see what you come up with! The competition ends Monday 30th November, so my story should be up by the end of the weekend and winners will be announced after that.

Good luck - can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Stef x

A Valencian Summer in November!

This weekend, I went to Valencia in Spain with my boyfriend Mark for a lovely weekend away for our 2nd anniversary and to check out the city. After all, it will hopefully be where we'l be living next year if my masters application is accepted! In fact, even if it isn't - I want to go sooo badly!! Just look at that beach and it was November! Valencia had a mini-heatwave whilst we were there, making it one of the hottest places in Western Europe at the time. I couldn't believe our luck when we left a gloomy, wet London airport on Saturday morning and then had lunch in a Spanish plaza outside the cathedral in short sleeves and sunglasses! Such a shame that I had packed boots and had my gorgeous cream winter coat dry-cleaned for the occasion!

We visited the university (above), checked out the beach, ate paella and lots of tapas in the sunshine and sampled quite a lot of the local wine and beer. Well, somebody had to do it! I also treated myself to a new hair cut and colour beforehand - do you like it?!

Tights for £199?! Puh-lease!!

Who would spend almost £200 on a pair of tights?! Surely they'd ladder in a week? This was my first thought when the news arrived in my inbox yesterday via a Marie Claire newsletter. Wolford have introduced a pair of fashion-conscious fringed tights - would you buy them?

Anyway, I've got to run off to work but you can read the full story here. Ridiculous!

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

With so many VS models on maternity leave, we did wonder whether they'd manage to produce a fantastic show this year or whether it would be lacking in a little sparkle. We needn't have worried. Themes for the show this year were Star Trooper, All Aboard, Pink Planet, Enchanted Forest and Romantic Journey and Heidi Klum even made an amazing comeback just 4 weeks after giving birth to her little girl. She said that although she still has 20lbs to lose, she couldn't help but pop out for Victoria's Secret.

‘We came up with the idea of this girl who lands from outer space in Paris. She gets on a train that comes to a halt in Pinkland, where pink girls get on and off. Then they go into this fairy-tale forest and little lady bugs and butterflies land on them and vines grow up on their clothes. Then, there’s Tick-Tock Time; the wings in this section are based on clocks — there’s one modeled after a pocket watch with metallic feathers. And she ends up in this regal realm of princess-ness, where the wings have Swarovski jewels and peacock feathers.’

Charlotte Stockdale, the show's stylist.

On the FROW: Alexander Wang, Zac Posen and Carine Roitfield.

On the Runway: Chanel Iman, Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Miranda Kerr, Anja Rubik and Heidi Klum, plus a performance from the Black Eyed Peas!

Posh lets loose!

I love these latest pictures of Victoria Beckham. Not just because it's a bit different or because I have curly hair or even because it's VB and we all like to know what everyone's hair is going to be like in a couple of months! I love them because she looks healthy and vibrant and fun with some curls in her hair! Less serious and more like the young wife and mum that she is. And I personally want to see a lot more of this Victoria - not that I don't adore the dedicated fashionista side, but who can keep up with that?! Now all we need is a smile... just a little one Vic - come on...!

Jimmy Choo 72: You, Your Shoes and 72

When Jimmy Choo contacted me to raise awareness of their new venture, I naturally jumped at the chance. Who wouldn't? Especially when it's for such an important cause. The project is called "You, Your Shoes and 72" and aims to raise money for the launch of an important new organisation in South Africa.

In a collaboration with the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Jimmy Choo have launched a photo competition to support the launch of Project PEP, a charity collection that donates 25% of sales to the Simelela Rape Centre in South Africa. The money goes towards providing the HIV-preventative treatment PEP (which must be taken within 72 hours of exposure to HIV) and counselling to victims of rape in South Africa, which has the highest count of rape in the world. Hence the name "72" - the vital timeframe that could mean life or death for many victims.

“We are women helping women and we are proud to continue our collaboration with the compelling and urgent initiatives of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and to provide a voice for under-privileged women in South Africa. We are excited to launch this social media campaign which we believe is a fun, light-hearted way to make people aware of a very serious subject.” - Tamara Mellon, Founder & President, Jimmy Choo.

To enter the competition, simply send in a picture that symbolizes you, your shoes and 72. There are 7 pairs of shoes and 2 bags up for grabs and as it's for such a good cause, I think that you should all get snapping! I've included a few of the entries to inspire you!

For more information go to http://www.jimmychoo72.com

Cheryl's X Factor Style

When Cheryl Cole first appeared at the X Factor auditions, we knew that she had stepped it up in the style stakes. There were rumours of fellow judge Danni Minogue working on a whole new image, so surely Cheryl had to try and out-style her. Out went the wag image and in came a sleeker, more high-fashion look. In terms of practicality, some of those dresses may be a little short, but Mrs Cole definitely has the legs for it! But what do you think?! Has she managed it or do you think that she shouldn't try so hard?

Keep checking back for a blog on Danni's style transformation later this week!

A Tall Order: The 80s Trend

Silver Chevron Clutch £35 Amazona Style

It's week two of my mission to find clothing for tall women relevant to this season's trends for Amazona and this week, I am tackling the 80s. Yes, big hair, big even bigger shoulders and lots of sequins! Check out the monochrome clutch above from Amazona Style - perfect for storing your essentials on a stylish night out!

Tall Black Cowl Neck Jumpsuit £38 Dorothy Perkins

Or, even better, you can pretend that you've walked straight out of Dynasty with this amazing black jumpsuit from Dorothy Perkins' ever-faithful Tall range. Team with a pair of killer heels, a clutch just like the one above and a perm for the ultimate in 80s chic! Or try this fantastic tunic with a pair of leggings for an equally stylish look!

Tall Silver Belted Tunic £30 Dorothy Perkins

Brogues are the perfect androgynous look, yet adding heels make the look more feminine. Team with big shoulders and wide leg trousers for the perfect casual 80s sports look.

Black and White Heeled Brogues £111 Amazona Style

When we saw this in the Amazona office, we all went seriously crazy! Sequins? Check. Shoulders? Check. Body-con? Check. Suitable for tall girls? CHECK!! Topshop have reigned supreme here with this absolutely gorgeous sequin tunic. If you've got fab legs, team with heels and deniers for a sexy 80s siren look!

Tall Sequin Shoulder Pad Tunic £45 Topshop

If you're noticing a lack of colour here, don't worry - so are we! Luckily black and white monochrome was oh-so-hot in the 80s, so you're not missing out this time! Though, we do agree that it would be nice to see some brights on the tall racks soon! And, no! Plain t-shirts do not count!

This post was recently published on Amazona.

T-shirt slogans: A bit of fun or a step too far?

It seems that everyone from Alexa Chung to Katie Price has recently jumped on the T-shirt message bandwagon. But it is no longer simply an "I heart New York" classic and Frankie probably is still saying relax, but these days T-shirt graffiti has been taken up a notch.

The Jordan-Peter debacle took a turn for the tackiest when she attempted to recreate the whole "Team Jolie/Team Aniston" debate with her recent divorce with a "Team Katie" slogan. However, Peter got his own back by showing his dedication to his kids throughout the whole affair with a T-shirt that simply read: "Team Children". Good point actually, Pete!

You can declare your love anything from your favourite tipple to bingo games (check out the bingo fashion here), reveal your deepest darkest thoughts or smallest annoyances or even get more followers with your Twitter username emblazoned across your chest!

What do you think of the T-shirt slogan phenomenon? Do you think it will ever really go away? And where will it lead? I mean, Madonna declared her love for Britney on a t-shirt once and ended up kissing her live on stage! One thing that I have to say is that I don't mind a bit of fun, but broadcasting your already-very-public divorce across the press with a tacky t-shirt is probably where the line is crossed. Don't you think?!

A Tall Order: The Grunge Trend

Amazona has set me a mission: To search the high street and online retailers and to find clothing for tall women that is actually relevant to the current season trends. It seemed an easy task at first, but not any more. Tall ranges are boring. There is no denying that. They are useful if you need a longer pair of black trousers or a longer polo neck jumper, but what if you're 6ft tall and are fed up of dressing like a frigid office worker? What if you want to be cool, trendy and follow the trends? Well, I have scoured (and I mean scoured - for hours...) various well known retail websites and shopping centres, but to no avail. There is little out there. And that is hugely disappointing. But if you are 6ft, then this is probably not breaking news to you, so I have tried to pick the best options to hint towards the trends.

First up this week? The grunge trend. From Kurt Cobain to MK Olsen and Pixie Geldof, everyone loves a bit of grunge and here's Amazona's guide to rocking it out Nirvana-style for AW09:

THE T-SHIRTS:

Jersey Marl Longline Crew Neck Top With Snood Stripe Scarf £14 Next Tall

Tall black splash paint t-shirt £18 Dorothy Perkins Tall

Blah Blah top £8 New Look Tall

Tall purple gingham shirt £25 Dorothy Perkins Tall

A simple t-shirt or top is a simple way to follow a trend, and as tall ranges tend to be pretty simple, this is probably your best bet! Team a rock t-shirt or tartan shirt with some skinny jeans, biker boots and a oversized beanie for the ultimate in grunge chic!

Tall black skinny jeans £20 Dorothy Perkins Tall

35in Foil Leggings in Blue £24 New Look Tall

These foil leggings are a little daring, but pared down with some Doc Martins and a simple t-shirt, they could look pretty damn cool. And given that they are not black and boast an inside leg of 35in, they're a great find too! Add a leather jacket for a tough edge or an open men's shirt for a more dressed-down look.

Next Week: The 80s trend becomes a tall order for us over at Amazona!

This post was recently published on Amazona.

PS. Amazona Style turned 1 this week! Happy Birthday to the site dedicated to providing stylish options for taller women!! They've got all kinds of offers on over there to celebrate so go and check them out!

Klein takes on Kiribati!

Fabulous news for those of you who are, like me, big fans of Kiribati luxury swimwear as they are now available at Heidi Klein! If you happen to be looking for some winter sun - then here's the perfect excuse!!

Prices range from £135 to £175.

Heidi Klein can be found at 174 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, London W11 or 257 Pavilion Road, Sloane Square, London, SW1. Open 10am-6pm.

Cheap and Chic: Primark AW09

I'm in love with a few of the pieces at Primark this season and given my current financial status (ie. v. poor!), this budget high street chain is the perfect one stop shop for casual and work wear!

Forget Burberry! What's the point in paying over 10x this fabulous price?! Classic Trench £21.

Fabulous on trend tassel zip pointy platform shoes £19.

GOOOORGEOUSSSS!! Sequin military jacket £21.

These fab platform hiking boots are only £19 and will give any outfit an edge!

80s style snakeskin metallic clutch £6.

I am going out and buying this military style lambswool cardigan TODAY! It's only £15!

How cute is this limited edition black jacket? Even cuter now you know it's only £25!

Get French with this stylish breton style stripe tunic - £9!!

Fashion Royalty helps Prince's Rainforests!

Back in September's London Fashion Week, Fashion industry icon and enthusiastic environmentalist Dame Vivienne Westwood launched her Red Label Spring/ Summer collection with a special kind of green show. She dedicated her show to the frog in support of The Prince's Rainforests Project. A huge fibre-glass frog (standing at 70cm tall) appeared in her Red Label catwalk show on Sunday, with her models also wearing frog accessories incorporated in her designs. There were various celebs, such as Pixie Geldof, on the runway, showing their support for Westwood and the cause.

Why did she do this? Established in October 2007 by HRH The Prince of Wales, The Princes Rainforests Project develops a consensus as to how the rate of rainforest destruction might be slowed. Rainforests regulate rainfall, preserve biodiversity and, most importantly, store vast amounts of carbon. Tropical deforestation is a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions and the burning of the rainforests produces more carbon emissions per year than the entire global transport sector. Without tackling this problem it will be impossible to avoid catastrophic climate change.

To find out more about this great cause, visit www.rainforestSOS.org

Updates: Well overdue!

Hello all!

First of all, thank you so much to you all for reading my blog and leaving comments! Hello to the few new followers that I have! I'm sorry that I haven't been posting very much recently, but my life is super busy!

I got a new social media job, well internship-trial-type thing, in London! So I've had to move here (temporarily for now with many trips back up North to earn/save some money and pick things up!). I'm staying in my friend's spare room and unfortunately paying rent for the pleasure (not great for a poorly paid intern!), but I'm still trying to enjoy London life! The flat is lovely and close to where I'm working so it's easy to get to in the morning! There is no internet, which is why I'm a little cut-off, but please bear with me! I don't think I'll be able to settle though (and get furniture!) until I know more about this position. In the meantime, I'm looking for some other way of earning a little cash! Any ideas welcome! :D

So, here's what I'm doing: I'm running a blog, Facebook and Twitter for an online children's fashion company called alexandalexa.com. The blog is called TheirLittleWorld.com and features all types of things for kids and families to do in London and further afield, as well as keeping readers up to date with the latest styles, trends and collections in childrenswear! The office is fun and I'm enjoying the work and the people. I'm still writing for Amazona and RIH, so don't worry there and I'm still looking for more online things to do so if you have any offers, then let me know!

It's great to have something to do in this climate so I'm just taking each day as it comes. Hope you're all good and thanks again for reading!

Stef xxx

Wordless Wednesday

I never do this, but I'm pushed for time and I have to say that I just love this picture of Anna Wintour and her daughter at Fashion Week. I'd love to think that they were tweeting!! "Front row at..." Haha!

Are you following me on Twitter? I'm @stefaniegrace !

Project Angel: Aussie Salon Pampering

Last Saturday night was Phase 2 of Project Angel from Aussie and as one of the nominated Aussie Angels, I got to go with two friends to Adee Phelan's salon in Covent Garden. I rounded up my housemate Sophie and Elles, my friend from uni and headed off for a night of pampered bliss!

Although we arrived a little late and flustered, we were greeted with champagne and snacks and soon settled down before being whisked over to the sinks for a good hair wash and scalp massage. Then we had our hair dried and styled however we liked.

I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted. I believe the phrases "a good blow dry", "not flat to my head" and "a bit like Penelope Cruz" were thrown around before my stylist got to work with a barrel brush and rollers!

The outcome was fabulous! I was really impressed and told myself that I would have to invest in some large rollers to make sure I could do the same thing again. Or at least try! After dinner, we went out for dinner and had a lovely time chatting about the evening and showing off our new 'dos!

Thanks to Aussie and the guys and girls at uncoveraussie.co.uk who made us feel so welcomed and are doing a great job with Project Angel!

ASOS on Vogue Cover!

On the cover of Vogue UK November 2009, Georgia Jagger is wearing a £55 dress from ASOS! It's all part of the More Dash than Cash special, brought back by editor Alexandra Shulman as a result of the credit crunch last year. It's important to make fashion accessible to everyone and this is a great way of doing it!

The dress is really cute too, though a little short for me! However, add some tights or leggings and heels and it could look fantastic!

What do you guys think?

AW09: Autumn Falls

As Autumn beckons, so do the colours of the season. Deep browns, reds, oranges and beiges begin to take over our wardrobes. It's a more natural manner of dressing and much easier to pull on a cosy winter knit in the morning than pile on a neon skirt suit and lashings of kohl eyeliner.

Time to start layering. Start with luxury knits for a comfortable, stylish option to battling the cold. Hats, scarves, gloves and cardigans are perfect, not only for differing temperatures and times, but also to be bang on trend this season. If you haven't got one already, make sure that you invest in a coatigan. Coats and macs may be stylish, but cardigans are comfortable, so combining the two just seems genius! Snap one up in a neutral colour so that you can get your maximum wear out of it, before it gets too cold!

Finally, as this season is clearly about versatility, you can mix and match sumptuous fabrics such as velvet, suede and fur with leather, denim and tweed for a practical yet modern edge. Check out PPQ's offering below on the trend.

This article was recently published on Amazona.

AW09 Nails

As the winter months begin to set in follow the catwalks lead with these gorgeous new nail colours. Catwalk inspired, nails inc’s new autumn/winter collection is full of rich, berry shades for the darker months and although still a little glossy, will still look fabulous with any ensemble you put together this season.

Chanel has also been channeling warm autumnal shades with their Venice collection. Inspired by one of Coco’s favourite cities, colours include Gondola and Intermezzo and are perfect for dreaming of Italian cafés whilst sitting at your computer. The quality behind Chanel never falters, so don’t expect to have to keep topping up your colours here! The varnish should last at least a week before you need to think about reapplying.

Chanel have also led the way this season with a lot of jade on the runways. Skirt suits had a fresh, minty appeal and matching nails completed the La Parisienne look. After much demand and hype after the March AW09 show, the brand decided to release Peter Philips’ Jade lacquer to the market. The colour will be available from October in limited quantities so get queuing now to avoid disappointment! However, a softer Jade Rose varnish will also be available for those who don’t manage to snag the real thing.

Chanel's Venice-inspired Gondola polish

Another big colour for AW09 is purple and MAC have produced two beautiful colours worthy of office admiration, Cool Reserve and For Fun. The products are in high demand, so if you want them, you’re going to have to act very quickly.

Metallics are also a big trend this season, with gold and silver reigning supreme. A look that should probably be reserved for the weekend, team with lots of bling and attitude.

On a more general note, matte is back. Forget high-shine nail colours, if you’re looking to be on-trend this season in terms of your cuticles, then make sure that you purchase all of your favourite colours in a matte finish. Or, if the thought of that strikes horror into your bank balance, then try OPI Nail Envy Matte, available from HQ Hair. The clear formulation will leave your nails shine-free and oh-so-this-season.

Mikimoto Pearls: A Carrie Favourite

There used to be two types of women in this world: ones that wore pearls and ones that did not. However, the straight-laced country mansion types are no longer the only women to adorn themselves with such jewellery. In ‘Sex and the City: The Movie”, Carrie Bradshaw is wearing a strand of Mikimoto pearls whilst announcing her engagement to Big and is seen twirling the same set whilst sitting at her computer later in the film. This necklace (32inch, 8.5mm Akoya cultured pearl necklace) retails at £6,760. It is available to buy in Mikimoto stores and at various retailers worldwide.

SJP has also been seen wearing the pearls off set. So, it would seem that they are very popular amongst all types of women and not just those who play polo.