Hats Off

Summer is the season of weddings, with calendars quickly being inundated with the nuptials of happy couples. Finding a hat for these occasions can be difficult. It is lucky then that this year the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel is in collaboration with British couture milliner Emily Baxendale. Together, they have created the ‘Hats Off’ collection which is inspired by the hotel’s history, its oriental influences, and makes for apt summer wedding attire. The six hats created by this luxury brand (Emily-London) will be available in the hotel until the 27th of July 2016 in The Rosebery Lounge.

Visit the hotel to see amazing hats and eat exquisite tea cakes made by the executive Chef Patissiere Heather Kaniuk. Enjoy an array of choices from raspberry rose lychee gateau and gooseberry to mascarpone and lime tarts.

To be able to admire the bespoke collection or to have a private consultation with milliner Emily Baxendale herself, call: +44 (0) 20 7201 3828 or email via: molon-rosebery@mohg.com (afternoon tea guests recieve a 10% discount off the collection).

Style Me in Seconds

Rachel Mann Photography

A special event is popping up next week at Old Street Underground Station! This is something that all of us here at The Amazing Blog and any fashionista will be sure to attend. From April 4th to the 10th you can get a personal styling makeover by professional stylists who have dressed Victoria Beckham, Emilie Sande and Professor Green.

Rachel Mann Photography

The Style Me in Seconds pop up event is offering free styling sessions to demonstrate the uniqueness and versatility of charity shop clothing. For those of us who don’t often have the patience to rummage through rails of clothing at charity shops, this event is a great way to see the endless creative possibilities of charity shop fashion. While it might be easier to buy off the peg than to rifle through the rails, charity shops can be a treasure trove of unique and vintage pieces that can set your wardrobe apart from the rest. Professional stylists can help you experiment with new looks or add a unique twist to your existing outfits.

Rachel Mann Photography

To get a taste of what charity shops have to offer, check out the Style Me in Seconds website for more information.

Art & Makeup - Lan Nguyen-Grealis

Here at The Amazing Blog, we love experimenting with our makeup. To us, makeup is more than a simple daily routine, it’s an art. So when Art & Makeup came across our desk at the office, we all stopped in our tracks.

Art & Makeup is a stunning compilation of more than 200 images of award-winning makeup artist Lan Nguyen-Grealis’s best works. As the youngest Golden Mask award-winner for Makeup Art, Lan has created a book that showcases just how imaginative makeup can be. By drawing inspiration from painters, sculptors, and cinema, Lan transforms makeup into breath-taking artwork with the help of legendary photographers like Rankin and David Bailey. To complement the editorial works, Lan has also included step-by-step tutorials for some of the techniques used in the book, along with tips and tricks from industry professionals.

While these works definitely aren’t wearable for most people, Art & Makeup would be an amazing gift for any makeup enthusiast. We also think it would be the perfect coffee table book for charming your guests! If you want to spend an hour drooling over the gorgeous images like we have, you can pick it up here for £22.03.  

Friday Favourites - Tanning Feature

Warmer seasons are slowly starting to creep up on us, which only means one thing: serious tanning prep! Here at The Amazing Blog, we are big fans of fake tanning and believe that everyone should be a little bit bronzed. So, we have come up with a few products to get you looking tip top in time for the summer.

It’s essential to prep your skin before applying your tanning lotion, and Kissed by Mii has got you covered. By using Seriously Smoothing Exfoliator and Moisturiser, you will be prepped and ready for a streak free and even glow. Prepare your skin by first using the exfoliator. Getting rid of dead skin helps create a smooth and flawless tan while also removing any tan left over from a previous time.

After using the exfoliator, the Seriously Smoothing Moisturiser will hydrate and prime your skin for a longer lasting glow. Paying particular attention to moisturise dry areas such as elbows and knees will help you avoid uneven spots.

Your skin is now ready to receive the Effortlessly Easy Tanning Mousse - Delicately Light. This blend of red seaweed, green algae and coral seaweed, will be perfect for the first-timers. With a light and airy texture, easy to apply and very fast to dry, the mousse will give you the perfect flawless tan in 6-8 hours. We particularly love its fresh marine scent which remind us our long walk along the seafront.

To get ready for the maximum glow, check out the Seriously Smoothing Exfoliator here for £12.95, the Seriously Smoothing Moisturiser here for £13.95 and the Effortlessly Easy Tanning Mousse - Delicately Light here for £23.95.

Benefit has just created a great range to give you that enviable summer glow, and we were excited when they sent us the newest members of their bronzing line, Hoola Zero Tanlines and Dew The Hoola, launching tomorrow (March 12th)! The Hoola Zero Tanlines will give you bronzed skin for up to 12 hours, streak free! Apply all over the body for instant colour with the hands free sponge applicator. It gives you an even tan while avoiding orange hands. We also adore the subtle beachy fragrance that lightly sticks on the skin.

Once we have tanned our bodies, we can use Dew The Hoola liquid bronzer for a lightweight, natural, and shimmerless glow on the face. The liquid bronzer is perfect for year-round because of its soft-matte finish and seamless blending ability. You’ll look and smell like you’ve just returned from paradise.

 ‘Hoola your way to a beachin bod!’ Get Hoola Zero Tanlines here for only £19.50, and Dew The Hoola here for £22.50!

There is nothing worse than waking up in the morning after carefully applying your tan to find that most of it has come off on your bedsheets. With Bronzie to save the day, that can now be a thing of the past. The onesie is designed to keep and protect your fake tan; you can say goodbye to streaky legs and a stained bedsheet.

Here is how the Bronzie system works: the fabric is made from a lightweight versatile material which has been specially designed to glide over just-tanned skin. It features underarm mesh knit panels to ensure that your skin can breathe. There is a velour hood for added comfort as well as an asymmetrical zip to allow you to ease your body in and out, so you have minimal contact post tan. The Bronzie is designed to be worn everywhere: the salon, the shops, around the home, and to bed—making it the ultimate lounge wear.

Available in Gold label or Classic; look gorgeous and have a streak free tan by getting your Bronzie here for £34.99.

Mother's Day Guide

Here at The Amazing Blog, our Mums are the most important women in our lives. Every year, we try to take advantage of Mother’s Day to show our Mums just how much they mean to us. We know you’d like to do the same, so to help you out we’ve come up with a few ideas for you to show your appreciation.

South Place Brunch

Delight your mum with a three-course menu for brunch this Sunday. South Place Hotel is offering a specialty menu for Mother’s Day Brunch from 12noon - 4pm. The event features the best of British seasonal ingredients, with dishes like fillet of stone-bass, honey-glazed chicken wings, and celeriac risotto with a wild mushroom sauce. Alongside this scrumptious meal you’ll be entertained by live jazz from the Audioguide trio.

South Place is also offering a complimentary neck and shoulder massage for mums, plus a hand-picked goodie bag of treats from the hotel’s partners including Butterfly and the Bee, East Wick, and James Heeley.

The Mother’s Day Menu at 3 South Place is available for £30. Visit the website here for more information and to see the full menu.

Katherine Elizabeth Millinery Masterclass

Is your Mum the classy, fashionable type? Does she enjoy DIY projects as well? If that’s the case, Mother’s Day might be the perfect opportunity to surprise her with a voucher for a four and a half hour hat making masterclass at Katherine Elizabeth Millinery.

You and your Mum will love soaking up some of award-winning Katherine Elizabeth’s skills and techniques, and you’ll walk out with a few new headpieces as well! The classes are taught on Thursday evenings and some Wednesdays depending on availability from 4.30pm - 9pm.

See here to purchase a voucher for a Katherine Elizabeth Masterclass at a discounted price of £48.

Orchidya

We think that there is nothing better than to give our Mums an orchid plant – it is a symbol of love, luxury, beauty, and strength. Not forgetting to mention that compared to roses or cut flowers, Orchid plants will last for weeks. Try ordering some flowers from Orchidya, the only florist in the UK that’s dedicated to the exotic blooms.

Historically, orchids have been imported overseas to UK suppliers, making it difficult to create larger arrangements. However, this isn’t a problem for Orchidya, as the majority of the orchids are grown right in their glasshouse in Lincolnshire. Having this UK based supply means Orchidya is free to be more creative while being priced competitively.

If you’re interested in picking up some flowers for Mother’s Day, visit the shop in Bloomsbury or visit the online shop here.