February 2012 ~ TWINKLE STYLE & TRAVEL

D-Day: The Academy Awards 2012

Today is the day. The 84th Academy Awards are taking place tonight in Los Angeles at the Hollywood & Highland Center.
Intense preparations have been underway all week, and as promised, we are bringing you all the action...

The stage was set with the construction of the lighting rigs and the laying-down of that famous red carpet.

Rehearsals for the ceremony itself have also been taking place; with the venue looking dazzling inside!

The Make-Up Symposium, looking at the skilled work of the nominees in this category, took place on Friday (25th).

Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland were on hand to reveal some of the secrets behind the creation of Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

The long-awaited preview of The Governors Ball also took place last week. This is the celebration immediately following the ceremony itself.

Decor elements for this year’s Governors Ball include a tranquil yet sophisticated mix of fabrics, such as

Champagne Metallic Mesh, Charcoal Sequin Tulle, Bronze Embroidered Circle Silk, Beige Metallic Damask, Pewter Circle Ribbon Taffeta, and custom Charcoal Tufted Rhinestone. A deep red flocked damask pattern accents the whole colour palette. The attire of the servers is to be just as sophisticated.

The food these stylishly dressed servers will be dishing up has been created by celebrated chef Wolfgang Puck. This will be his 18th time serving the Academy's 1500 guests.

The 2012 menu created by Puck and Chef Matt Bencivenga embraces the social arrangement of this year’s Ball; it features more than fifty dishes, from one-bite hors d’oeuvres to small-plate entrees that will be passed throughout the evening. With visual artistry and eclectic flavors, signature favorites such as smoked salmon Oscars®, chicken pot pie with shaved black truffles, and Pastry Chef Sherry Yard’s gold-dusted chocolate Oscars will appear alongside inventive presentations such as lobster tacos with tomato and pickled Shallots, and beet salad with pistachio butter, burrata and citrus balsamic. The menu incorporates local produce and sustainable seafood, and its surprise sweets pay homage to the future of Oscar in 3D.

Whether you are tucking into it yourself, or enjoying the ceremony from home, have fun!

Photo Credits: A.M.P.A.S / Darren Decker

13 year-old Scottish singing sensation Tallia Storm has a wardrobe that most females triple her age can only dream of, and she carries it off with aplomb. She's the daughter of fashion PR guru Tessa Hartmann, and Tessa's exquisite quirky eye for style has definitely been passed down.

Whilst yet to sign a record deal, Tallia already has a huge fan base, and has been afforded opportunities that aren't offered to many! She is set to support Sir Elton John at his Falkirk concert in June (his only Scottish show); has performed at London Fashion Week, and has been nominated as a performer in the upcoming Scottish Variety Awards (as has our very own TWINKLE Magazine in the Best New Company Category)!

For information on Elton John's Falkirk Concert: www.ticketmaster.co.uk
For more information on Tallia Storm: www.talliastorm.com
To vote in the Scottish Variety Awards: www.clyde1.com/sva

Marni For H&M

Marni is the latest designer brand to collaborate with H&M; and if it is anything like the others, it will fly off the shelves. The collection will be available from 8th March in around 260 stores worldwide, as well as on-line.

Last night in Los Angeles, Drew Barrymore, Winona Ryder and Milla Jovovich were among the guests who attended a party to celebrate the launch of Marni at H&M. Held in a beautiful Hollywood residence, the event was hosted by Marni’s Founder and Creative Director, Consuelo Castiglioni, the Director of the Marni at H&M campaign, Sofia Coppola and Margareta van den Bosch, H&M´s Creative Advisor. As well as Drew, Winona and Milla, other guests arriving at the party dressed in Marni at H&M included Jessica Chastain, Freida Pinto and Andrea Riseborough.

Marni’s collection for H&M is all about freedom and experimentation, with Marni prints and colours intended to mix and match together in a playful way. Everything goes with everything, making African prints the perfect companion to Bauhaus modernity, and sporty silhouettes sitting with more feminine shapes. The collection also includes a full range of shoes, bags and charming accessories to create a total Marni look at H&M.

Event Photographer: Jason Merritt

Denim For S/S12

Denim is one of the major trends this Spring/Summer. The key though is to keep it simple and not go over-the-top. Wear either a denim blouse or denim shorts- not both.

Made In Chelsea star Caggie Dunlop has been working the denim trend for quite a while now, so take some inspiration and dive right in!...

It's All About The Oscars!

We've had the Golden Globes, the BAFTAs, the IFTAs; but now it's coming up to the biggest event in the award's season calendar- the Academy Awards aka the Oscars!

They are taking place on Sunday 26th February, and we will be 'fashion watching' the main event and all the parties before and after it. If you want to keep up-to-date with what is happening and who is wearing what, then Twinkle Magazine is the place to come.

On 16th February there is the Governor's Ball Preview in the Hollywood & Highland Center 5th floor ballroom, so we will bring you an inside look at what the famous post-Oscar's party will look like! Will it be anything like it was last year?

On 22nd February you can get one of the first looks at the red carpet as it is officially rolled out! On 25th we will bring you a look at the three Make-Up category nominees from the official Oscar's Make-Up Symposium at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Meanwhile, here are some Academy Award facts & figures to keep you entertained!...

Plus some of our 'best-dressed' picks from recent years...

SCARLETT JOHANSSON, DOLCE & GABBANA (2011)

ELIZABETH BANKS, VERSACE (2010)

MILEY CYRUS, ZUHAIR MURAD (2009)

Get Leg Ready For Valentine's Day!

Our lovely Valentine's beauty panel give you the lowdown on getting your legs ready for this special day (and for those beautiful dresses)...

Beauty businesswoman Julie Neville; founder of online health and beauty store Win Naturally, also happens to be wife of footballer Gary Neville- so she's perfectly placed to give advice on looking glamorous.

Actress, and founder and editor of this lovely magazine you are reading, Laura Pearson-Smith is passionate about beauty products and fashion, and has got red carpet-ready for many fabulous events.

Having silky smooth legs are essential says Julie Neville, who think that "it is just as important as wearing make-up and doing my hair". Julie's hair removal method of choice is waxing, and she shares her top waxing tips...

1) "Smoking, drinking alcohol and drinking caffeine makes the body more acidic and the skin more sensitive; therefore I would avoid all these on the day of waxing. Drink plenty of water and herbal tea instead to hydrate the skin".
2) "I ALWAYS do a good body scrub prior to a wax. This gets rid of dead skin cells around the pores and hair follicles; making for an easier (and less painful) exit for the hairs. It can also prevent future ingrown hairs. One of my favourites is our Nature Girl Jasmine Lime Sugar Scrub, which I then follow with the Nature Girl Jasmine Lime Body Butter. These always leave my skin glowing and silky smooth".
3) "NEVER wax sunburnt or irritated skin, cuts, warts or pimples. Not only could it be dangerous, it will also be very painful!"

We at Twinkle HQ love the cuteness of the Nature Girl products at Win Naturally. They would look great on any dressing table. The Nature Girl Jasmine Lime Sugar Scrub is available for £19.99 at www.winnaturally.com. The Jasmine Lime Body Butter is also available for £19.99 at www.winnaturally.com.

If you are a fan of waxing, you will also love Parissa's waxing strips which are convenient, effective and mess-free. The Parissa Express Leg & Body Wax Strips are available at www.amazon.co.uk for just £11.72 for 16 strips.

Laura Pearson-Smith prefers the less painful option of shaving in the bath. She keeps her legs soft and clean with E45's Junior Foaming Bath Milk: "It's simple; but it's one of the best moisturisers i've found. I love the E45 Junior Foaming Bath Milk. It's for children; but we all love a baby's skin don't we! Plus, it's perfume-free & hypoallergenic, and you can be sure that it has been extensively tested!".
Get E45's Junior Foaming Bath Milk for just £4.85 from www.boots.com.

Once your legs are fuzz-free, pop on a pair of Laura Pearson-Smith's favourite shapewear collection Lytess to keep your thighs in tip-top condition. "The shaping styles are embedded with micro-encapsulated ingredients which are released during wear. The 'intelligent' designs utilise caffeine; which helps to mobilize fat- so you lose inches just by wearing your shapewear. The sculpting collection also contains micro-encapsulated shea butter to moisturise and soften your skin too".

Laura's favourite is the Anti Cellulite Shorts, which are available for £45 from www.figleaves.com. Just don't get into any Bridget Jones situations!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Gestuz

I know we are just coming out of A/W 2011; but the fashion weeks are already in full swing introducing the fashions for A/W 2012.

Danish brand Gestuz has just shown their first catwalk collection at Copenhagen Fashion Week, and it looks amazing. It's very much a wearable day wear collection with a rock-and-roll edge; featuring lots of leather and studs. This 'tough' look is pared down by teaming with soft knits and sequin embellishments.

It's definitely a brand to watch out for over here in the UK! Watch the runway show here at Copenhagen Fashion Week TV. To find out more about Gestuz visit www.gestuz.com.

Perched on a hill, just outside the main town, the Fairmont St.Andrews hotel looks smaller than you would imagine from the outside. However, when you enter into the lobby, you'll discover it is just as large as its famous American counterparts in the Fairmont chain.

The design of the hotel echoes the US trend for wide open spaces. Corridors are wide, and the downstairs atrium is a perfect conference facility. It is luxurious like its Fairmont name commands; but also has enough touches of Scottish homeliness to make it suitably located in the small community of St.Andrews.

The largest selling point of this hotel is that it is dog-friendly, and even has a gentle resident Labrador called Smudge who greets guests as they arrive.

Canine residents staying on their Pet Perks Package are treated just as importantly as their human owners; making it a great place to share a break with your animal babies. Dogs get a bed and blanket next to their owners; plus food bowls and edible treats.

The rooms are spacious, luxurious and comfortable; and the Deluxe Sea View rooms provide amazing views of the coastline. The bathrooms also have a huge bath and walk-in shower perfect for pampering stays.

It is surprising however, that such a large hotel with so many excellent facilities does not offer free WiFi access. WiFi is available; but it is rather expensive at £6 per hour or £18 for 24 hours. Several areas of the hotel don't have mobile phone or mobile internet reception, so the need for complimentary internet access is particularly relevant in this hotel. Hopefully, it will be made available soon.

The spa in the hotel is truly a relaxing haven. Even the smallest of touches are thought about; one of these being that you are given a bottle of water in your locker when you enter. After changing into a dressing gown and slippers, you then take a seat or have a refreshment in the relaxation room prior to being called for your treatment.

We tried the Scottish Tranquil Journey Treatment, and it is more than worth the £145 that the hotel charges. During this 90-minute treatment you get a bit of everything- foot polish, followed by a full-body scrub and a full-body clay mask. As the mask sets you are encased in warm blankets whilst receiving a facial treatment. You are then asked to take a shower in the treatment room before getting into the second heated treatment bed for a full-body massage tailored to your specific stress areas. It is a wonderfully relaxing way to spend an afternoon, and will leave you smelling of a Terry's Chocolate Orange due to the luscious Kerstin products used.

Breakfasts included in packages are of the buffet variety, and the food is of an excellent quality and variety. If, however, you have a pet with you, you may prefer to eat breakfast in your room. Whilst the rest of the room service menu is very reasonably priced, an in-room breakfast is a bit on the steep side with a standard cooked breakfast for two with coffee, juice and toast costing a whopping £40.

The hotel's staff are excellent, and cannot be faulted. They are there to make sure you have everything you need during your stay, and will go out of their way to do so. It's exactly the friendly Scottish service you would want and expect from a hotel of this high a standard.

A Deluxe King Size Sea View room costs from £179 per night with a buffet breakfast. Special offers for multiple night stays are available throughout the year. For more information, visit Fairmont St.Andrews Reservations.

Swarovski Delights

We at Twinkle Magazine HQ are strategically leaving brochures from Swarovski's new collection for our husbands to catch sight of. Nothing wrong with dropping some Valentine's Day hints!

The Swing, Sing and Shine Spring/Summer 2012 collection is stunning. It's a 60s inspired tribute to vintage style. The muse is an all-American college girl who becomes a musical star, and the themes of 'Sweet Sixties' and 'In The Spotlight' tell this story. It's a very well put-together collection. Each is a covetable piece, and you'll be hard-pushed not to want to collect them all! Pastels and pinks make this a playful and romantic collection that's perfect for Valentine's Day.

Our favourite pieces are the Regency Necklace (£285 available from stores only), and the Rosette Bangle (£125 from swarovski.com).

Swarovski jewellery is available throughout the UK in dedicated Swarovski boutiques, branches of Goldsmith's Jewellers and selected department stores. To find your nearest location, visit the Swarovski Store Locator.