2012 is so last year!

A few, some experimental looks, that I stumbled across from last year :) Enjoy.

My bookshelf.

 

 Hello! 

Now as you all know I am of course a beauty addict but today I felt like deviating a bit and taking you on a tour of my bookshelf over the past few months. I want to share with you the books I've read, the next book on my list and the ones I've loved, or in some cases, not loved. 

I'm planning on seeing Great Expectations this week and whilst watching the trailer with the beautiful Jeremy Irvine I was reminded of how much I loved Now Is Good.  You can imagine how disappointed I was to find out it doesn't come out on DVD until January! I remembered that I wanted to read the book after I'd seen the film so onto Amazon I went and downloaded it to my tablet. Republished for the films released as Now Is Good, this book by Jenny Downham was originally published as Before I Die in 2007.

Before I Die follows leukaemia victim Tessa Scott on a downward spiral as she attempts to do all of the things on her bucket list before she dies. Tessa's character is a typical sixteen year old with an attitude to match and most of the comedy comes from her antics and the quick wit of the characters. 

I've really enjoyed the simplicity of this book. It's very much an internal monologue and becomes very dreamy as Tessa's condition worsens. My only slight disappointment is that I didn't read this before seeing the film. For me the adaption of this was really beautiful and funny but as it turns out there are some major differences in personality, especially in the case of Tessa's boyfriend Adam who is very different in the film version. Whilst aspects of his personality add realism in the book it doesn't always work on a romantic level. 

Summary, treat this book as a relationship study and a girls life experience, not a romance. Secondly, see the book as a separate entity to the book as they are very similar in plot but remarkable different in tone. 

Either way, both are very good and particularly inspiring. Take a look: 

So my next book, and it's awful to say I love this but if you're feeling like some Gothic fairy tales then Angela Carter is just doing her thing in her collection of short stories: The Bloody Chamber. Anyone doing A level English Literature will be familiar with the, erm, at some times blunt but flowery at the same time style that Carter uses throughout the collection. Carter is insistent that she isn't rewriting fairy tales but let's face it, these are just the Brother's Grimm all over again, except very well written. With tales inspired by Little Red Riding Hood, Bluebeard, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and a whole load of other folktales The Bloody Chamber is a somewhat gruesome take on our childhood fantasies. It's not your usual read, but if you're not afraid of a bit of gore then these are well worth a read.  

Carrying on with my slightly Gothic tastes, I always wanted to read The Woman in Black by Susan Hill so when I found out they were going to make a film I though I'd get in quick and read it before I saw it. For those who have seen the film, much like Now Is Good there are some major plot changes that I don't really care for. The novel is much more realistic and manages to hold that same suspenseful tension throughout before culminating in an almost sarcastic ending. When I brought my copy from Waterstones I splashed out on a lovely special edition (which you can see in the picture) with little sketches inside at the start of each chapter. Hill's writing style is very very eloquent and it really feels like every line counts. I couldn't put this book down. It wasn't too chilling but really made you think about karma and the afterlife. For a look at The Woman In Black (film version) for a general plot summary then here you go:

This last book is one that I'm planning on reading but haven't yet. I more want to know about your thoughts. I got The Night Circus written by Erin Morgenstern for Christmas last year and still haven't gotten around to reading it. I was intrigued by the beautiful front cover and decided I had to have it. Besides, who doesn't like a circus!

If you have read it, let me know what you thought.

Say goodbye to my bookshelf.

Tah raaa!

The Beautiful Big Screen

Hello Beauty Addicts,

I've been thinking about this post for quite a while mow, thinking, how am I going to present these looks. Should I do individual posts with tutorials? Or should I just stick with a classic show and tell. So here's how it runs. I wanted to create a post with what I have narrowed down to my favourite TV shows or movies BEAUTY wise. These shows/movies are not necessarily my favourite things to watch but they are the ones I've watched and thought, 'wow, their outfits are amazing,' or, 'I just love her make up.' Then I thought, that's all well and good but how do we make these looks real. So here's what I'll do, I'm going to do a top five and then recommend what I feel would be the fundamental product to getting that look, yes? Yes.

If you guys want to see tutorials for any of the following, let me know! Because they're all awesome.


1: The Debt.

I'm a huge sucker for a spy movie. Thanks to my Dad I've grown up on a huge action heavy diet, meaning this 1965 set remake of the 2007 film of the same name is right up my street. However for me it's Jessica Chastain's make up that steals the limelight for me. This slightly rouged lip and deep set brown eyes is just awakening all of my early 1970's love. This look it just all about the eyes, sultry and doe-eyed all at the same time. To achieve this look I'd be looking for some super smooth eye shadows which is exactly what you get in the Rimmel Glam'Eyes Eyeshadow Quad in shade Smokey Brun. This quad provided four colours from highlight to contour allowing you to adapt this smokey brown eye to your eye shape.


2: Game of Thrones.


Yeah, you guessed it. How could I not put this in here with those hairstyles! Daenerys Targaryen's (yup, without even Googling the spelling)  hair veil is surprisingly easy and can be adapted to almost every hair length. All you need is a pair of crimpers, or plaits over night, some hairspray to give Dany's waves some volume and some clear elastic hair ties. As entertaining as it would be to give you a run down of each piece of hair involved, I think I'll leave it to YouTube's very own Game of Thrones hair expert LaDollyVeta33 to show you how it's done.

Oh, and product? The hair rings she wears are quite intricate from what i can see but some regular styling hair rings are fine. I like the look of the Regal Rose ones.


3: The Tudors.

Anybody who knows me well will know that the recent Virgin Media Tudor Marthon combined with my current Tudor's study at college has got me pretty much hooked on this period of history. In the show, as beautiful as Henry Cavill is, it's difficult not to love the soft rouge but barely there make up his wife Catherine Brooke (historically Catherine Willoughby) played by the stunning Rebekah Wainwrigh. This look is all porcelain skin, thick brows and most importantly that subtle rouge lip. The perfect product that springs to mind for me is Soap & Glory Cheekmate. Let's face it, I've mentioned it before in my Seven Shades of Autumn post,and I just love the stuff. 

4: Hunted.

Guns again! But wait, hello, who is doing  Melissa George's wardrobe in this show! Kicking some serious ass as Sam Hunter we've seen Melissa in everything from swanky LBD's to a beautiful dusky pink blazer in that very first episode and I cannot get enough of her style.It's impossible to just pick one look but how about Sam's distressed denim jacket and long scarf combo? Ya know, when it looked pre-shoot out hot.

Jacket:

The Boyfriend Grunge look: Forever 21 Destroyed Denim Jacket

Female Rocker: Topshop MOTO Denim Worker Jacket

Scarf: River Island Cream Sequin

           AllSaint Warp Scarf

5: Roman Holiday.

This is going to be a quick on as you don't really need to say anything other than: LOOK AT THOSE EYEBROWS! We all know Audrey has some serious eyebrow going on in this film, and pretty much all over the place in the 50's and there's nothing like the IT Cosmetic Brow Power.  This brow pencil is retractable at one end and has a spooly brush at the other to keep your brows tip top and Audrey perfect all day.

Let me know which TV shows and movies get you style pulse going.

Bye Addicts x