JORDAN DAKOTA: January 2015

Monday 26 January 2015

SS15 New Season Trends

If, like me, January has left you feeling blue, then all you'll be thinking about is Spring/Summer: warmth, bright colours and no more jumpers! With all the new season stock coming into stores, that means it's time to start buying, ready for the new season to start. Here's the ultimate guide to Spring/Summer 2015, from boho chic à la Chloé to delightful denim, there's so much choice this upcoming season.

Monochrome Stripes
You heard it, stripes are back! And in every way, shape and form. Whether they're vertical on a Altuzarra dress, or diagonal on a monochrome Alexander Wang bandeau, stripes are the pattern of the season.

Giambattista Valli / Altuzarra / Alexander Wang

The Off-The-Shoulder Dress

Do you dare to bare the shoulder? This sensual look was sported by designers such as Topshop Unique, who's designs were elegant and girly, whereas Balenciaga showcased sleek and powerful designs.

Topshop Unique / Balenciaga

That Seventies Show

#fashionflashback or what? It's time to rewind and return to the seventies: flares, fringing, suede, a higher neckline and art prints. This trend has been seen throughout the SS15 collections, making it a big one. From House of Hollands Flower Power Girl to Karen Walker's retro Festival-Goer, these looks are sure to make you feel nostalgic.

Saint Laurent / House of Holland / Tommy Hilfiger

Denim

I know what you're thinking, denim has always been a SS trend, right? Right, but this season it's all about reinvented denim: textures, colours, cuts. Denim has arrived again, but this time, it's with a twist.

Burberry / Stella McCartney / Gucci

Culottes

Are they trousers? Are they shorts? Nope, they're culottes (3/4 length flared-trouser type things). Culottes have only just recently emerged and have been featured by numerous designers ever since. These unusual styled trousers are the perfect number for your bottom half when it's too warm for jeans, but too cold for shorts. Wear culottes to widen your stride and elongate your silhouette.

Street Style

Funky Florals

It's no longer about ditsy, pastel, daisy prints, but bold, colourful florals this season. Branching out from the usual, these pieces have added edge and flare to create the perfect garden party.

Hippie Boho

This season, release your inner flower child and roam the fields in these beautiful, dreamy boho pieces. Full of effortlessness, these floaty designs are fresh and feminine. Chloé never fail to create the most perfect bohemian-styled pieces: chic and laid-back.

Chloé

Jordan x

How To Contour

Everyone knows contouring is the beauty craze at the minute. I mean, who wouldn't want a defined and sculptured face? Although it looks hard and time consuming, it really isn't and doesn't have to be! I've only been contouring since Christmas and It's really so simple. Once you get it, you've got it, easy as pie. So, here's a tutorial on how to contour. *Pre-warning* my photo's are terrible at the minute as the light in my room is pathetic and there literally isn't any natural lighting; so these will have to do for now!

First of all, moisturise, prime and apply your foundation and powder as usual. I've already done this part to save time. Next, take a concealer, one shade lighter than your skin tone, and apply it under your eyes, in a triangle shape, to eliminate dark circles. I'm using Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer. Seriously, this concealer is amazing despite the brand and being so cheap; I couldn't use anything else! I then buff it in using a Zoeva 142 Concealer Buffer Brush.

For the next stage, I'm using the darkest shade, in the bottom right hand corner, from my Zoeva Concealer Palette. (My Palette is a bit dirty I do apologise). I apply this in the areas shown in the pictures below, using the brush that comes with the palette. The colour should be applied in the following areas: under the chin/on the jawline, under the cheekbone, at each side of the bridge of the nose, in a triangle on the tip on the nose, the hairline and slightly inwards from the hairline. I then blend it all in using a Zoeva 110 Face Shape Brush.

Next, I highlight my face on the bridge of my nose, in the middle of my forehead, the bow of my lip and under my brows using the lightest shade, in the top right hand corner, also from my Zoeva Concealer Palette. Pictures showing areas which areas should be covered are below. Once again, my palette is very dirty and this shade should be white. I apply this using just a random brush, and blend it in using the 110 brush from before.

To add some extra highlight, I apply Benefit's High Beam just on my cheek bones, and blend it in using my finger.

Finally, I apply Mac's Pigment in the shade Vanilla just under my brows, using a plain eyeshadow brush, to give them some more lift.

To finish off your look, add some brown, smoky eye makeup and some nude lipstick (I'm wearing a Max Factor Lip Liner in Mauve Moment and a Mac Lipstick in Brave) and voila: a gorgeous, bronzed, contoured look! Here's my final result. As I mentioned before, the lighting in my house isn't great so you can't see the full effects of the contouring but it's so much more intense in real life, trust me! My palette is the best thing in my life. I love to contour now and I wouldn't be the same without it.

Let me know if you try out this look and how you found it!

Jordan x

Keep Calm and Co-Ordinate

Co-ordinates are so in right now, whether they're casual or evening co-ords, these pieces give your look that essence of luxe. I am still, as of yet, to invest in a co-ord but, I have been lusting over them for ages. Celebrities such as Kim K rock this look as they really accentuate her curves. What I especially love about them also, is that there's so much choice when wearing them; you can wear them together, or as separates; the opportunities are endless! So, here's my fave picks; get co-ordinating!