Oooh it's the last day of November -I can feel all those Christmas dinners and parties coming up. So first up, it's all those office and after work parties. You get off work at six and Christmas dinner is only one hour after work, so the question is how do you look festive and not stuffy? The answer is to wear tops that are dressy in a classy way. Here are some fantastic tops:

I love this Mathew Williamson sequined silk chiffon camisole top. Admittingly, it is a bit too dressy for work, but like in the photo, wear a cardigan or blazer on top to look smart. Besides, everyone in the office is going to be in such a festive and happy mood that you'll totally blend in!

This Mathew Williamson silk bead embellished top is another brilliant choice for a nice Christmas dinner. I love how it's so fancy in a flowy and playful way. Absolutely divine.

If you prefer plainer tops, this Marc by Marc Jacobs crinkled satin top will make you look sharp and shine out in this posh blue.

For a more unique look, go for something special like this willow print kimono top by Top Shop. Top Shop always makes such excellent high street, fashionable tops. The best thing about this top? You won't freeze!

So having slept through black friday last year, I was very excited about taking part in the festivities this year. I have the image of Veronica and Betty waiting ready to break into the store and charge in my head. This year for thanksgiving break I went to San Francisco, where my hotel was at the prime shopping location a block away from Saks and Macy's and above BCBG-what more does one need?

Ever wanted to sneak backstage and get a candid look as models and makeup artists prepare for a major fashion shoot

Hair Stylist Arridio Garcia styling Model Marta Morilla hair

Well, now is your chance, as we take a candid look behind the scenes of the November's Beauty & Fashion Spectacular for Impact210: The Magazine.

The fashion shoot was orchestrated by master makeup artist Mark DeHaven and top beauty & fashion photographer Helene DeLillo and featured a fabulous array of beautiful sexy, hot fashion models.

The spectacular fashion spread featured fabulous hair by Arridio Garcia, cutting-edge, colorful clothing by Orlando Peterkin and beautiful models Marta Morilla and Donna Janelle.

Model Marta Morilla pulls up skirt as Makeup Artist Mark DeHaven touches up her legs

Model Donna Janelle currently is featured in the Emerson and Mecca Femme campaigns. Some of her editorials photo spreads have been featured in Cosmopolitan, Luire and England's Drum Magazine. Donna has also worked with Jay-Z, where she walked alongside her idol Naomi Campbell in the video for “Change Clothes,” and has appeared on the T.V. show “The Starlet.”

The Beauty & Fashion Spectacular also features a beauty tip from Glenda Bailey, Editor-in-Chief of Harper’s Bazaar, and beauty brands including Pout Cosmetics, Tarte Cosmetics, Urban Decay, Face of Stockholm, Sugar Cosmetics and Hard Candy.

Model Donna Janelle in colorful halter top and wrap skirt, as Designer Orlando Peterkin makes last minute adjustments.

The sexy, glamorous shoot was photographed by Helene DeLillo, one of New York City’s top beauty and portrait photographers. Her command of color, texture and light is as inspiring as her unique and creative approach to her photography.

Powered by a passion for fashion and a desire to share her knowledge with others, she is considered a visionary in the world of digital imaging.

She recently wrote a book for Apple Computer on Photo & Digital Photography and was selected as one of the featured masters at the grand opening of Apple Computer’s flagship SOHO store in New York City.

Makeup artist Mark DeHaven, with over thirty years of experience under his belt, has seen hundreds of faces, and transformed them all into works of art.

Early on, Mark worked as a makeup artist/skin care consultant for many of the most prestigious European lines, such as Chanel, Orlane and Lancaster.

More recently, you can catch him wielding his brushes for magazines like Italian Max, People, Us and Drum UK, and for ad campaigns, CD covers, music videos and movies.

The high fashion shoot took place at the new IMPACT210, a new 5,000 square foot state of the art facility, conveniently located in SOHO, the fashion center of New York City.

IMPACT210 features both a spacious photo and casting studio, conference rooms, office space, wi-fi internet access, full service café, plasma TVs and a DJ booth, which are available for holding open calls, photo shoots, meetings, presentations and workshops.

Looking to earn some extra money for the holidays.

Well, there are a number of survey sites that pay between $1 to $20 per completed surveys and
between $20 to $200 for web site usability surveys or for participating in focus groups.

We have compiled a list of
these survey companies. None of these companies will charge you a fee for joining their survey panels.

Two years ago, I bought a pretty pink sleeveless top by Free People. At that time, Free People was still a new brand and actually, I didn't even know it was a brand. As I started to buy more clothes from Free People, I got curious and tried to find its website, but I couldn't since it didn't exist back then. About a year later (last year,) I started to notice that my favourite characters on TV were wearing clothes by Free People, and sometimes even the same clothes! It's just so exciting when that happens.

Anyways, here are some screencaps of the TV characters I adore wearing Free People:

Rory (Gilmore Girls) shows how down-to-earth students wear simple clothes but still look stylish. Tops like these are usually available at Urban Outfitters.
Summer (The OC) looks femininely boho wearing this Free People dress, (although it seems a bit too dressy for school.)
Marissa (The OC) looking effortlessly stylish as usual. The cardigan she's wearing is made of two materials and prints. Free People is fantastic at mix-matching colours and prints in a quirky yet still wearable way.

The good news is that Free People is actually affordable and it has a website now so you can get ideas of how to match outifts creatively.

Free People makes brilliant knitwear and sweaters. A lot of them are crafty and comfortable to wear. I LOVE this cardigan. The design (the flowers) and materials (pearls etc.) are so pretty and unique-looking. It's versatile in that you can wear it for a dress-proper occasion, and you can also wear it for casual, everyday wear. Fabulous huh?

Eveyone should own sweaters like this, (not necessarily in pink of course.) They're nice and comfy. I can totally picture someone wearing that when just hanging out with her friends at someone's house or getting cozy with a book at a coffee shop.

Free People clothing is sold at Urban Outfitters and department stores like selected Macys and Bloomingdales.

A few weeks ago, I suddenly realised the importance of self-pampering. I mean, life is short and I'm not going to be young forever. Ever since dying and highlighting my hair two months ago, my hair has been drier than before. And I'm absolutely freaked of split ends, so I decided that even though it was going to be costly, I deserved to get a proper hair treatment at a hair salon.

So I made a Sat afternoon appointment at the Charles Worthington London salon. The nice ladies at the salon washed my hair first and sat me down. Then they mixed a little bottle of Kerastase Resistance Concentré Vita-Ciment with a few scoops of Kerastase Nutritive Masquintense Cheveux Epais. The Concentre Vita-Ciment is an intensive, concentrated formula which replaces missing or damaged inter-cellular cement of weakened hair, (see the little green bottle shown below.)
The Kerastase Nutritive Masquintinese Cheveux Epais is this amazing intensive hair mask which restores moisture into unhealthy hair, (see orange jar above.) The salon girl applied the mixture with a brush layer by layer into my hair. Then she used a hair straightener to press through each layer of hair. The reason for this is not to straighten the hair, but to use the heat to help penetrate the chemicals into the hair.
After the salon girl washed my hair and blew dry it, I was completely AMAZED by how shiny and smooth my hair looked. My hair colour totally showed up beautifully and my friends who saw me that day all noticed the shiny hair. And most importantly, my hair felt SO healthy and rejuvinated.

I totally recommend that everyone book themselves an in-salon hair treatment a few hours before your Christmas dinners and parties. It really makes a BIG difference to how your hair looks, plus you get a professional blow-dry. As the L'oreal ads say, 'Because I'm worth it'!!

I hear it's the Thanksgiving Sales in the States today. I am so jealous of the Americans, or anyone who is in the States today. It's SO sad here at London -a lot of sales don't start until very near Christmas, or even after Christmas.

I can't believe it's already the end of November. The signs of nearing the end of the school term are showing -I haven't talked or MSNed Barneys Girl for FOUR days! That's quite a long record for us. She just finished her mid-terms and I just handed in a long essay, so we've been rather busy this week. I don't know whether to be happy that the holidays are starting soon or not. Barneys Girl is probably happily shopping in San Francisco with her mum and aunt now, and I hear The OC Season 1 calling me, so I leave you with this Shopaholic quiz, (just open in new window.) The quiz is a bit too short to be perfect, but don't you think it's rather appropriate for today?

Link to Shopaholic quiz from ElleGirl. Do come back to let us know what you are! It's all good fun. *Muah*

Remember back in March when I wrote about Asian models? Looking back, I didn't realise it would cause so much controversy -there were a lot of supporting comments but also a few racist ones. I suppose that is to be expected since there are an awful lot of narrow-minded people out there.

I was inspired to write about them when I saw a few Asian models on the FW05 catwalks. And not suprisingly, in the recent SS06 catwalks, even more Asian models were seen. Why are designers suddenly using more Asian models? I'm sure everyone knows that Chinese consumers are aplenty, rich and LOVE designer brands. LVMH and other fashion houses' continuous profit growths are mostly thanks to China, (the Chinese do love their LV and Gucci monogram bags.) And with the recent launch of Chinese Vogue and the opening of Harvey Nichols in Hong Kong, designers need Asian models to show the Chinese (and other Asians) how their clothes can be adopted into their lifestyle.

I've narrowed down to two prominent Asian models here:
Hye Park -An obvious choice. This Korean girl is a favourite Asian model of the designers on the catwalks. And most importantly, she stars in FW05 Roberto Cavalli ad along with five other models. I think she's one of the only Asian model to be featured in designer ads.

The catwalks: Donna Karan and Peter Som SS06

The catwalks: Marc by Marc Jacobs SS06 and Miu Miu FW05

Roberto Cavalli FW05 campaign

No matter your age, style or whether you love or hate it, the latest Harry Potter movie is just something everyone must see. From all reviews, it is supposedly THE best Harry Potter movie so thus far-so I was psyched. Many lame movie trailers later, the movie finally began.

Blast from the Past

Cheerleaders, Cheerleaders, Cheerleaders

Cheerleaders - Dancers

Boot Camp

The football season is in full swing and its time to find out how those sexy, hot NFL cheerleaders got their moves and groves.

Like the NFL players, the NFL cheerleaders spent the summer in training for the football season.

In one of our most popular features, we focused on summer camp for cheerleaders.

So sit back and relax as you read the full story and view the free video clips for the Boot Camp for Cheerleaders story.

Sexy, Hot Boots from Ankle to Thigh High

With the temperatures beginning to fall, its time to focus on those hot, sexy boots. From the sexy ankle high heel boots to the thigh high boots - boots are a very sexy addition to any woman wardrobe

Black Glitter 6" Stiletto Ankle Boots

These 6" stiletto high heel ankle boots are really a sexy crowd pleaser.

I just love the black glittery material, the transparent platform and the 6" stiletto high heel - wow.

Plus they have a platform to make walking in them easy.

This is one of my favorite additions to my fall fashion collection.

Velvet Knee High 7 ½" Chuncky Heel Boots

Black Snake Velvet knee high platform boots are great for wrap skirt.

Sexy 7 ½" chunky heel platform boots really helps you stand out from the crowd and the black snake velvet material goes well with just about any outfit.

The chunky heel platform boots are certain to enhance your fall outfits, while providing the great comfort of a platform boot.

Hot Pink Skintight Thigh High Boots

For those hot nights on the town or clubbing, this 6" high spike heel boots is just oozing with sensuality.

This hot pink, skintight thigh high boot is just made for the front and side wraps skirts.

Boy, I just love to cross and uncross my legs, as the skirt begins to open revealing more of this fabulous boot.

Men can't help but watch as the transparent, see through heels and platforms capture and reflect the lights.

Plus, with the comfort of a platform, you can enjoy the night -- to drawn early light.

If you are into foot fetishes - this is a foot fetish dream boot.

Need I say more?

Every season, there are trends that come in as quickly as they go out. Though not exactly what one would call timeless, they ARE however always a lot of fun to mix and match with. This season, the "passing" by bag trend are tassles add ons!

First up: tassles. They are absolutely EVERYWHERE. Most adorably brought to us by the trendsetter himself, Marc by Marc Jacobs. There is a whole collection of these tassled-up Marc by MJ bags out there.

Like poms poms to a cheerleader, these tassles is a really cute addition. Added to a simple clutch, like this one from Ted Baker, it just adds life and well. . cheerfulness to the whole bag. So now we have tassles on bags as decorations, tassles on zips

And then there are tassles on the ends of drawstring bags- by Juicy Couture (which is cute)and . .

By Anthropologie (which is not so cute). Its easy to see why this will only be a passing phase. Apart from reminding one of pom poms, it also brings up the image of curtain decorations, both as the rope holding the curtains up and the decorations hanging from the trims. Especially this one from Anthropologie, its looks like they had too much material left from the new curtains in their office and decided to use it to make bags. It really is a thin line between carrying extra curtain materials and a cute trendy bag. . .

Usually I think Juicy bags are... well, ugly and poorly designed. Seriously, only very unstylish preppy kids carry those candy-colored bags. This season, Juicy is going way out to create new accessories. And the suprising thing is that some of these designs are actually stylish!

The bags and jewelry designs have been highly improved -I see bags without 'Juicy Couture' plastered all over them; I see jewelry that can be worn with non-preppy outfits; and most importantly, I see some great accessory designs that are youthful, casual yet still chic without being tacky.
This is such a cool, everyday bag. It reminds me of Kate Spade bags but in a more casual, trendy way.

OK, so this bag is pink. Very pink. But its perfect for a casual dinner out. The golden chains are much classier than typical Juicy stuff.

This Juicy clutch is actually elegant! It still says 'Juicy' on it but in a subtle manner. I can totally picture someone wearing a dress for a nice night out holding this clutch.

Dangly sparkly horseshoe earrings. (Horseshoes are just so trendy nowaday.) Perfect with the little black dress.

Love this ring. It's like a mini belt on your fingers! And the platinum-gold color is just perfect for next year's trend!