Just when I thought it was safe to think of Spring and start looking to update my wardrobe with some of the nice bright colours that are now in the shops it is back to wearing my winter woollies. With snow on the ground you need to be practical and keep warm.

I can happily say I have had value for money from the puffa jacket I bought in October. It has hardly been off my back. Not so the longed for Radley bag I purchased just after Christmas. After only using it twice the clasp broke and I had to return it. Thankfully I have got my money back and the company I bought it from http://www.tyers.co.uk could not have been more helpful.


February is the month of love with the colour red being everywhere. I love wearing red as I find it a really cheerful colour. There is a big nautical theme this Spring with red and navy and red and black in quite a number of stores. These colour combinations are great if you have dark hair but less flattering if you have blonde hair. If you have softer colouring then go for softer reds and wear it with greys, browns or light navy otherwise the clothes will wear you.

To find out which shade of red to wear to suit your colouring check out my eBook at www.whatcaniwear.com where you will find 40 colours to suit your colouring and how best to wear them.

Go green with your accessories

If you are not comfortable wearing red try
some red accessories like this necklace on the right which costs £28 from http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com Their goods are Fair Trade and ethically produced. You will find jewellery in the gift section. Another necklace I spotted was the oyster necklace by Kazuri beads also from the same website. This costs £30. Postage and packing is free in the UK if you spend more than £15.

You can also see a fuller range of similar beads at www.kazuribeads.co.uk


How to change your handbag in less than 10 seconds

If like me you change your handbag as often as your underwear then check out the handbag liner. It is a plastic liner with 9 pockets to keep all your handbag essentials in. If you find everything disappears into a black hole then try a bright coloured liner so that your mobile phone and your keys are always in the same place whatever handbag you are using.

They come in a variety of colours and there is even a larger liner for your work
bag. They cost around £25 and you can buy them from www.flydragonfly.co.uk

Create your own wardrobe

Did you ever play with card dressing up dolls as a child? If you did I have found the perfect website for you. http://www.nn4m.com where you can put together outfits to see what they look like before buying. The clothes are all from High Street retailers and you can mix and match from different shops. This means you can have a Karen Millen top with a pair of jeans from Oasis to see how they look together. You can even choose the shoes to match.

What I am Loving this Month

At this time of year when last years holiday is a distant memory and your skin is looking very pale check the colour match of your foundation or tinted moisturiser. If you are still using the same shade that you were last autumn chances are the colour is now wrong for you.

I particularly like Clinique's Supermoisture make-up. Central heating dries out the skin so this foundation is a real treat. It costs around £19 from Clinique beauty counters.

The shade I was using was becoming far too dark for my pale winter skin so I went to the Cinique counter to find a better colour match. I have gone a few shades lighter which will take me through to around May and the warmer weather. If I find it becomes too pale I will then add some bronzer on top.

Foundation should always be a similar shade to your natural skin colour otherwise you can end up looking as if you have been tango'd.

I have also treated myself to some new make-up brushes using the numerous £5 vouchers I seem to have acquired from Boots. The Ruby & Millie range are really good and with £5 off each brush I was able to stock up.

Quote of the month

'The best colour in the whole world, is the one that looks good on you'
Coco Chanel

Don't forget to pamper your hands during this cold spell. We put lots of moisturiser on our face and body but often forget about our hands. After you have moisturised your body rub some of the cream onto your hands. Also keep some hand cream by the sink in the kitchen and by your bedside. I actually use a footcream on my hands as I just adore the smell of L'Occitane shea butter dry skin foot cream. You can buy it from Debenhams and some House of Fraser stores as well as http://www.loccitaine.com for £16.15. It may seem expensive but a little goes a long way.
Lilian

Last Updated: January 13, 2010