What We Wore for New Year's Eve 09/10

We ask our writers what they threw on for NYE.

MARLEENA

AND

JO.

This New Year's, we went out for a gorgeous meal with our parents and then went clubbing with some friends!

Marleena wore a black, floral headband from Accesorize and a glitter bodycon dress from Topshop and Jo's blue lace, low backed dress is also from Topshop.

Written by Marleena and Jo Bancroft.

How to Update Your Look for Five Pounds.

Hello meagre student budget!

So you've been shopping at Waitrose this week and have been out far too much and therefore only have five pounds left to your name. Ever the optimist you are determined to change your image with these five coins,  but how to go about it?

I plead, do not buy hairdressing scissors. It’s not worth it. 

Also, do not do what I have done with my sacred fashion money and invest in a high fashion magazine when you know deep down you will only get jealous and upset. 

But, don’t despair about looking more Primark Essentials than high fashion, I have discovered some bargain basement purchases that will make your money go further.

Blackcurrant Lips - Forget strawberries and pales, this season's lip is much darker with a gothic edge. Stars are coating their pouts with blackberry goodness. Although we would love to splash out on Armani’s lipstick for £14.50 in black plum our budget purses would be weeping in desperation at such a frivolous buy, so head to Superdrug and Barry M. Too scared to attempt dark lips? Try it on your nails instead.

Exciting tights - I know it may sound desperate, but tights can add some texture and some interest to a simple LBD day or night. Don’t go too wild with overly patterned tights, they may look nice in the packet or on that size zero Topshop manikin, but  smaller patterns make for skinnier legs. I was upset to find you cannot purchase Topshop tights for five pounds so hit Primark, we know everybody else does.

Headbands - Everyone knows the headband has entered their own league in recent years and no longer has a functional purpose but can alter your whole look. I’m not suggesting a Blue Peter moment and creating your own fashion headband but start with a simple band, and  customize it to make it your own. 

Desperate Measures - Let's be honest, who needs self respect? Feel free to tell the Estee Lauder woman in Selfridges you just want a little bottle of expensive foundation as a tester before you buy the full bottle when you have no intention of doing so and spray yourself with the most exquisite smelling perfume to make everyone believe you spend hundreds on the most expensive perfume in Harvey Nichols.

Written by Becky Moules.

Guilty Pleasures: The Night Remix

Why I Just Can’t Stop Wearing ...

In my previous article I discussed my daytime Guilty Pleasures, perfect for slobbing and hangovers, today we take it up a notch and consider those items that I just can't stop wearing on nights out.


I went home this weekend to visit the family; a highlight of my stay, aside from my parents’ witty banter, was ‘The Sunday Times’ provided at breakfast (free food and entertainment!).  Being the young hip chick I am, I nabbed the Style, and was pleasantly surprised to see the front page exclaiming “The Death of the Killer Heel”.  

Reading the article made me realise my guilty pleasure in wearing flat shoes on a night out.  I want to express how annoying it is as a girl to be expected to dress up by wearing stupidly high heels that often make you fall over before you’re even drunk.  

Thankfully, with celebs like Alexa Chung flying the flag for the ‘flatties’, it seems like it is becoming more acceptable to go out clubbing minus your heels and the consequent bunions.  The advantages of flats include a dramatic improvement in your dancing – I said ”reach (jump) for the stars!” - and an additional excuse to end your night using your spare change on some cheeky chips instead of being bundled into a taxi, alone, nursing your swollen feet.

My mom still has not got over the fact that the youth of today have no problem with having visible underwear.  I can understand her confusion as 99.9% of the time it looks ridiculous, but every so often I do enjoy flashing a cheeky bit of bra on a night out.  

Let me explain before you judge me.  I’m expressing the guilty pleasure of wearing a lacy number that reveals a flash of a nice bra, as modelled Hayden Panettiere. 

Her look is very (very!!) daring but us normal people can also pull this look off. As long as the bra is a neutral colour and matches the colour of your outfit you can avoid looking like a stripper.  Although, if wearing a white bra beware of the UV light!! 

Head bands literally burst onto the fashion scene, alongside the ‘boho’ look being pioneered by Mischa Barton and her cronies.  I am a fan and after wearing my gold headband during the day I decided it was time to ‘work it’ on a night out.  I was aware of the possibility that everything could go wrong given its elastic nature, and so spent hours attentively fixing it into place with millions of curby grips.  Although I do have quite a large head, there is no excuse for the horror I had to endure at the hands of my headband.  Shamefully the thing actually ‘popped’ off my head, hit the ceiling and fell into a crowd of sweaty students and was never to be seen again.  But they look so good ... so what if I cause an accident?

Written by Sophie Harrison.