Well I don’t know about you but I am feeling more excitement about this Six Nations campaign than I have for a while! It feels like a clean slate for England – a new squad with no baggage and a fresh young side bursting with potential.

There will be lots of people basing their expectations on what happened at the World Cup, but I don’t think any team’s performances in New Zealand will have a bearing on this Six Nations. It is all a bit unknown, what with new coaches at England, Italy and France, and the start of the next four year cycle towards 2016.

Wales have been hit with some injuries which disrupt them slightly, but expectations from their fans will remain huge as they have so many talented youngsters alongside a familiar and experienced coaching team. Ireland did not play well at the World Cup, however when I watched them play Australia in Dunedin, it was the best game in the whole competition, and with their players performing so well in the Heineken cup they will have great confidence. France, with my old mate from Phillipe St Andre at the helm, have a fairly settled side and appear a threat, however Italy have to hope they can find another gear with a new coach.

As for my beloved England, the team will have to put their catalogue of errors both on and off the field behind them, and I genuinely don’t know what we will see from this new squad. They will be a little raw and inexperienced with new captain Chris Robshaw, who has never played at Murrayfield.  The first game up will be crucial for the lads to get a decent start, and as long as they play with passion and commitment English rugby will receive a massive boost.

We all know that when Scotland are at Murrayfield they take on a whole new aura, and I can remember clearly the intimidating atmosphere they create up there. What the new guys need to do is feed off the atmosphere and direct their energy into silencing the crowd and those bagpipes! New coach Stuart Lancaster is a good guy and knows most of his players from the U21′s and Saxons, so he should be able to get the best out of them. As long as they learn and develop whatever the result, we will have taken a step forward. It is a real privilege to play for your country and test yourself against the best and I believe Stuart has selected a group of players who will give their all. For all the teams, even as a proud Englishman, I want to see us showing the rest of the World how good northern hemisphere rugby can be. For all you rugby fans out there this weekend is going to be unmissable.

Shop the Raging Bull menswear collection by Phil Vickery

Phil Vickery’s thoughts on the six nation campaign is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

It’s that girl with the beautiful skin, Rooney Mara! We can’t get enough of her timeless, ethereal appearance with her minimal make up enhancing her natural beauty.  She’s perfect for this time of year as she embraces her pale hue, warming us up with her gorgeous green eyes.  But if there’s one thing us ladies know, it can take alot of make up to look so minimal, so here’s our must haves to help you fool the crowd and recreate Rooney’s flawless finish.

First you need a great base.

The key to Rooney’s minimal look is her complexion: sheer, radiant but very, very matte. To get the perfect matte base use the Givenchy Eclat Matissime foundation. Unlike other ‘radiance’ enhancing foundations which usually contain light reflectors to create a sheer, glowing finish, which can lack in coverage, this is specifically formulated to create that radiance, but with great coverage and a matte finish. This means it’s great for oily skins too. Even out the skintone and banish dark circles and blemishes with the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealor Kit. This comes with a setting powder as well for extra coverage over more pigmented areas. In order to maintain this matte finish all day you’ll need to finish with a loose setting powder. Loose powders, like this Laura Mercier Mineral Setting powder, are perfect for enhancing a matte finish as they prevent the ‘cakiness’ which can sometimes be brought on by pressed powders.  They’re also translucent so add little colour, this means they are a great product to top up with throughout the day although open with care, loose powder all over your lap is NOT the aim here!

For the eyes

Rooney likes to keep it natural with some subtle smokiness. This Guerlain 4 shadow palette has a great range of tones to take you from day to night. You want to enhance the eye shape but not focus on it so rather than black, go for a brown, hazel or even flesh toned eye liner, this can be smudged out to create a softer line which is great for daytime, this Estee Lauder Kajal liner is perfect for this. Rooney’s lashes frame her eyes beautifully with a soft curl so use the Benefit They’re Real to kept them fluttering all day.

The Finishing Touches.

Add a flush of colour to the cheeks using a bareMinerals loose blush, try and keep it as close to the colour you would naturally go when you pinch your cheeks as possible and once again matte so no shimmer.  For the lips, you guessed it, Rooney keeps them matte. You’ll need to make sure you keep your lips as moisturised as possible to prevent those unsightly flakes we all get in the winter, this Rosebud lip salve is a great option as well as creating the perfect base for lipstick. Finish off with a sweep of lipstick in a natural hue. This Nars Pure Matte Lipstick has a gorgeous range of shades to create that perfect ‘your lips but better’ shade.

And there you have it, your guide to Rooney’s complexion perfection!

Our current beauty crush: Rooney Mara is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

Gents, there’s nothing like style with a little more substance… and Without Prejudice has just the ticket.

The contemporary British menswear label has designed an exclusive men’s suit for The Institute of Cancer Research’s Everyman Male Cancer Appeal. Featuring Everyman’s signature blue in the buttonhole stitching and lining, this contemporary suit is the chic way to raise awareness for a great cause.

Priced at £450, 10% of all proceeds will go to the Everyman appeal.

Suits will be available from House of Fraser from the beginning of February.

> See the suit at houseoffraser.co.uk

Without Prejudice Designs Suit for the Everyman Male Cancer Appeal is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

These are the new beauty rules according to the bareMinerals ‘Force of Beauty’ campaign, encouraging every woman to recognise that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and shades. This revolutionary idea is not only a first for bareMinerals, but a first for the beauty industry. bareMinerals has broken away from the traditional image of their Original SPF Foundation and have cast 5 women to be the faces of their ‘Force of Beauty’ campaign. And this wasn’t just any casting this was a blind casting! Yes this is the first time a beauty brand have ever picked their campaign leads without even seeing them!  Final decisions were based purely on answers provided about their personal passions and values. And another thing, all final images have purposefully had what would usually be viewed as ‘imperfections’ like freckles, wrinkles and laughter lines, un-retouched specifically to showcase each model’s real beauty.

Meet these Forces of Beauty!

‘This is pretty revolutionary and unheard of for a beauty company’, said Leslie Blodgett, creator of bareMinerals. ‘Let’s be honest, there was a high level of risk associated with this approach and I had no idea what to expect. What I discovered was how liberating it is to do the right thing and choose women based on their values, not the way they look. We love women and their stories and it reinforces everything we stand for, and frankly, I think the models were equally enamoured with our approach.’

Pretty attracts us, Beauty changes us.

How will you become a Force of Beauty?

Be a Force of Beauty with bareMinerals is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

Beauty addicts listen up! House of Fraser Glasgow are launching Diorshow New Look Mascara tomorrow, Saturday 28^th January! This is the ONLY store to stock it before the official launch on the 31^st so get down there first thing and grab yours!

Diorshow New Look Mascara Exclusive launch is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a good feeling about 2012. Don’t get me wrong, 2011 was brilliant, however when you’ve experienced dreary weather for the past couple of months you look to the future with a somewhat fresh anticipation.

As the January sales come to an end, the retail world welcomes breezy summer designs that are destined to brighten up the high street… so with the upcoming summer months in mind, I hopped on a train and headed to Birmingham for the Interiors UK Trade Show at the NEC.

It’s always exciting to see what’s to be expected for Spring Summer 2012. After staying in, cuddled up on the sofa throughout the icy climes, it’s nice to think about vivid summer colours, quintessentially British garden parties, and seasonal ways to update your abode.

Whilst strolling through the endless stands and product demonstrations within the exhibition centre, there were a few trends that certainly stood out.

SUMMER BRIGHTS

Bold and beautiful colour is always a key story for the warmer months, and 2012 is set to be no different. From rich chartreuse to fluorescent florals, lively shades dressed a host of home accessories. Plush cushions and various home accessories were transformed for SS12 in tropical pinks, electric blues and regal purples.

CANINE COUNTERPARTS

I’m very much a ‘dog person’, so it was great to see a little pup on practically every homeware stand. French bulldogs, dachshunds, greyhounds and pugs (who could forget that fashion favourite?!) appeared on an array of homeware pieces for a contemporary but cute look. My particular favourites had to be the sausage dog chairs (see below) and some Winston Churchill-inspired bulldog cushions that I was unable capture on film *weep*

GO RETRO

Let’s face it, you either love or hate retro homeware. Those that adore contemporary clean lines and minimalist chrome will grimace at the thought of designs inspired by a bygone era – so I recommend you look away now. Whether its sixties bubble chairs or atom-esque coat hooks, I love it all. It’s no surprise that this theme made me smile, and there were a few style spots that I just had to share…

TOP TIP: SWAP YOUR MODERN HOUSE PHONE FOR A CLASSIC DESIGN FROM THE GOOD OL’ DAYS – FORGET ABOUT PRACTICALITY AND FOCUS ON STYLE THIS SEASON.

STATEMENT GLAMOUR

Lavish gold mirrors, gleaming metallic finishes and over-the-top accents were everywhere at Interiors UK, a theme that’s a must for those with a ‘more is more’ approach to interior design. There were no magnolia walls insight, with the majority of brands opting for in-your-face visuals and accessories on a grander scale. Looking for an understated wall clock? Forget it. If this event was anything to go by, then a large silver grandfather clock is much more fitting.

HOME SWEET HOME

Vintage white finishes are popular in many households nowadays, and this story looks set to stick around for the next few seasons. Feminine French details and gently washed wood were a key focus in many of the collections I viewed, with large wardrobes and oversized chests designed in this clean, crisp style – pieces that would certainly brighten up rooms with less light.

DUST & RUST

For those that despise chintz and prefer their homeware to be a little more industrial, this theme is sure to please. ‘Gasoline’-emblazoned wall art, aging clock faces and items with plenty of wear and tear were made centre pieces in many displays in the exhibition hall. Worn, salvaged wood made wonderful dining tables, whilst chunky vegetable crates and potato sacks were reworked into useful storage and soft furnishings.

WEIRD BUT WONDERFUL

Quirky? No. Eccentric? Definitely not, but regardless of my personality, I still managed to seek out a few gems that couldn’t be ignored. Whether you love them or hate them, you have to admit these are certainly something…

My day ended with a lovely couple of hours watching upcoming homeware designers pitch their ideas to our panel of Mary Portas experts – Peter Cross, Mary Portas’ business partner, Roderick Williams, House of Fraser Homeware Director and Alex Dimitriu, House of Fraser Director of Buying (Womenswear). The winning designs will appear alongside the Mary Portas & House of Fraser collection.

Here are a few of my favourites…

Tina Crawford and her hand-sewn dolls – look there’s Mary…

Camila Prada and her bone china tableware…

Tara Willis and her ‘Helpful Hankies’…

Lianne Mellor and her tea party set, Denise Rawls and her greetings cards, and Louise Tiler and her beautiful wallpaper.

HoF HITS BRUM: INTERIORS UK AT THE BIRMINGHAM NEC is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

There’s nothing to make a girl happier at the start of the year than the prospect of a shoe wardrobe overhaul! And right now we can’t resist stocking up on boots, boots and more boots! Here’s our favourite picks from our brand of the moment, Dune.

A good pair of boots is every girls must have, especially at this time of year, we’ve all been victim to the unfortunate incident of the sodden ballet pump…hmmm squelchy! My favourites are these Dune Chelsea boots, perfect for daytime at work and a quick drink after! But if you prefer something more dressy these Dune ankle boots are fab under trousers.  I also love these Dune knee high boots over leggings paired with an oversized knitted jumper, a great way to dress up a casual outfit without too much effort on dreary days!

What are your winter shoe favs?

These boots were made for walking: New Season Dune is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

We had exclusive access to the man behind the hottest celebrity heads to find what products he can’t live without, as well as giving advice on how to achieve your perfect style.

What is the one hair rule you would advise every woman to follow, regardless of hair type?

FF: What makes a great hairstyle is shiny, healthy hair.  It is also essential that you manage the natural texture of your hair, whether it is flat or frizzy, and always make sure your hair looks like it has life.

If you could only choose one styling product to use, what would it be?

A: Fekkai Advanced Brilliant Glossing Cream as the product works on all hair types.  I call it my ‘band aid’ as it is an instant fix for the hair and, no matter what the weather, it takes the frizz away, leaving hair looking healthy and shiny.

‘I want to change up my look but have no idea where to start.’  What would be your advice to those seeking out something new?

FF: Firstly, it is important to find a stylist who will have a consultation with you before cutting or styling your hair.  Then, find a haircut or style that suits you personality and lifestyle, as well as your silhouette.

You have styled an enviable list of A list celebrities in your career, who has been your favourite to work with?  Did they have any favourite products?

FF: My favourite celebrity clients are the ones who have a great sense of their own style, and that allows them to be versatile by exploring lots of looks.  The product depends on the celebrity but most of the time it is the Fekkai Advanced Brilliant Glossing Cream, Fekkai Advanced Full Blown Volume Styling Whip or the Fekkai Coiff Bouffant Lifting and Texturising Spray Gel.

Who, in your opinion, has the most iconic hairstyle of all time?

FF: There are many, it would be impossible for me to name just one.  Some of my favourites are Grace Kelly, Anna Wintour, Jean Seberg, Steve McQueen and James Dean.  I have found that in the past, a look could last forever and that’s what makes it iconic. Today, celebrities change their style all the time to fit in with the current trends.

What are your favourite Fekkai products?

Our Exclusive Interview with Frédéric Fekkai is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

nails inc special effects manicure only £5*

Beat the winter blues and treat yourself to a nails inc special effects manicure for just £5. Choose from show stopping magnetic, crackle, glitter and neon shades. No nail should be seen without a Special Effects manicure this season and this is the perfect opportunity to try out the hottest nail colours.

This nails inc offer if available at the following stores -

Oxford Street, Vistoria, City, Guildford, Glasgow, Bluewater, Bristol, Birmingham, Metro Centre, Cardiff, Nottingham, Belfast, Maidstone, Manchester.

Please our Store Locations for contact details.

*The special effects manicure consists of a nails inc mini manicure with nails painted in magnetic, crackle, glitter or neon nail polish. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer or loyalty card. Subject to availability. Advance booking recommended. Valid until 29^th February 2012.

Can’t resist: Nails Inc offer is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

It’s time to get Naked…again!!

Yes beauty fans the wait is over, well almost over! We’ve managed to get our hands on the coveted Urban Decay Naked Palette 2 before it launches with House of Fraser in store and online, to give all you lucky things a glimpse at what’s in store.

So the question you’re all dying to know the answer to, does it live up to the hype? And with all the excitement around the first Urban Decay Naked Palette you’d well within your right to think, is this is just a gimmick? How many Urban Decay Naked palettes does one girl need?! Well, if you’re a nude loving girl like myself, the answer is definitely two!

So onto the good stuff and I shall keep you waiting no longer! Here they are side by side.

Top -  Urban Decay Naked Palette

Bottom – Urban Decay Naked 2

So at first glimpse it may not seem like there are any particularly huge differences between the two, the only obvious one being the packaging.  Urban Decay took into account feedback regarding the gripes of the original Naked Palette’s velvet packaging, most notably lint clingage, and came up with a sleek tin, which is easily portable and more robust that the first Urban Decay Naked Palette. And the best thing about the packaging? It’s got to be the huge mirror which spans the entire length and width of the palette. It also closes a lot more securely in comparison to the magnetic closure on the first Urban Decay Naked Palette so all eye shadows are well protected whilst on the move!

Now a closer look at the colours.

Top – Urban Decay Naked Palette (Left-Right) Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck, Half Baked

Bottom – Urban Decay Naked 2 (Left – Right) Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, Snakebite

Top – Urban Decay Naked Palette (left-right) Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal

Bottom – Urban Decay Naked 2 (Left-right) Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, Blackout

What you will notice about the Urban Decay Naked 2 is how much cooler the shades are compared to the first one and this is essentially the main difference between them. There’s also double the amount of matte shades with four in the Urban Decay Naked 2 compared to two in the Urban Decay Naked Palette.  The addition of the matte black shade Blackout is also great as this is perfect for shading and really getting that beautiful, sultry, smokey eye effect which nude palettes are made for.

The Extras

Top – Good Karma Shadow brush from the Urban Decay Naked Palette

Bottom – Good Karma double ended crease and shadow brush from the Urban Decay Naked 2

Another great addition to the Urban Decay Naked 2 is the Good Karma double ended crease and shadow brush which is exclusive to the palette, you won’t find it anywhere else!  The shadow brush is great for packing on those gorgeous shimmer tones while the crease brush is perfect for blending colours out to become a glittering goddess. And with an Urban Decay brush averaging at about £15+, I think this is a fab deal as you’re basically getting two!

The Urban Decay Primer Potion that came with the original Urban Decay Naked Palette has been replaced with an Urban Decay Lip Junkie lip gloss in the shade Naked, of course! This is a gorgeous mint scented gloss which feels really moisturising on the lips and gives a beautifully, subtle wash of colour which would perfectly compliment any skintone…it’s your lips but better!

So all in all it’s decided, the Urban Decay Naked Palette 2 is any make up addicts New Year essential! It perfectly compliments the colours in the original Urban Decay Naked Palette and the packaging is just irresistible.  Get your cards at the ready, the countdown is on!

The Urban Decay Naked Palette 2 is available nationwide in House of Fraser stores and at www.houseoffraser.co.uk from 6th February.

Will you be tempted to get Naked again?

Enjoy getting Naked again! with the Urban Decay Naked palette 2 is a post from: House of Fraser Blog