Now that, (if you’ve read the first post), you know what I will be using this blog to talk about, I thought I’d tell you a little about myself . Maybe you could tell me a bit about yourself in the comments!

Lucy is actually my real name- everyone seems to be called that where I live But you can call me anything you want Lucy, Gossamer, person. I don’t mind! I am 18 but look around 12 according to most people- though I am getting my braces off soon which will hopefully make me seem slightly older I am currently studying at university, some pre-law subjects, French and Arabic. My dream career would be working as a human rights lawyer with refugees and orphans. I would love to live in the UK one day, in addition to travelling the world, which I have already been fortunate enough to do quite a bit of.

Some of my passions are:

-reading, heaps of genres, favourite books ever are probably Harry Potter as they were the first big books I read by myself. I really enjoy Jane Austen’s books and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre as well as ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’- a modern book that really affected me, as did the film. Generally I love biographies and history textbooks, nerd that I am.

-youtube videos (ultimate procrastination tool), some of my favourites are FleurdeForce, Tanya Burr, Ruth Crilly or AModelRecommends, Jim Chapman (and heaps more) I love the sense of community and lightheartedness in these videos and they always seem to brighten my day

-history, particularly learning about the lives of people in the past, their adversities, their traditions and their general stories.

-sport, running and swimming, I would love to get involved in triathlons but running is not my strong suit despite my attempts Sport generally helps me relax and remove myself from any stress I have. I like sport when it isn’t too competitive and angry, which is usually why I don’t go to matches with my family when everyone starts screaming haha

My ultimate passion is my family They are super awesome and kind, and even though they are quite different to me, as far as interests and hobbies, I can always talk to them. Having grown up with such an amazing support base, who were all very involved in the community; tutoring refugees, coaching local sports teams etc. I always knew how lucky I was and this sense of family is something I’d really like to pass onto those less fortunate, who don’t have a specific ‘home’ or people who they identify as their family.

I hope you feel you know a bit more about me now, please tell me about your passions and dreams in the comments. Feel free to ask me questions

I hope you all have a lovely day,

Gossamer xx

I went for these blue floral print in M/L Long.

They are perfect. I have to totally agree with Ruth. They are the perfect length, fit and cut. The material is both light and warm. The pattern is beautiful and grown up. I love these and am going to find it very hard to not live in them everyday, so basically I think I am going to need another pair whilst these are in the wash!!

Highly recommended!

I suffer from dry skin even though I constantly moisturise and try to look after my skin as best as possible. It’s a bit of a nightmare at times: if I don’t have an oily foundation then it shows up cracked and highlights any sign of dry skin I’m suffering from. I’ve gone through lots of different foundations and even with ones that are meant to be great for dry skin, I often have to make a mixture of half foundation-half moisturiser on my hand before applying.

One trick that I’ve developed over the years is mixing together tinted moisturisers and creams, to give my dry a skin a lift and the dewy look I love. For some reason, this often works a lot better than using my foundation – even with a mix of moisturiser – and it also gives good coverage, in case you were wondering about that. At the moment, my favourite mix is Shu Uemura’s Stage Performer (read Ruth Crilly of A Model Recommends review here) and Origins Vitazing. Both of these products plump up my skin, give it a flattering glow and luminosity and leave a flawless finish without being as heavy and cloggy as some foundations.

As you can see from the photograph above, my tubes are nearly finished, so I will definitely be replenishing my stocks soon! Getting the right make up and look for you is all about trying and testing. Everybody’s skin type is different and what works for some people’s dry skin won’t work for yours. Make up is a science and sometimes you’ve got to create your own formulations, as I am always doing, to get the perfect look!

Tanya Burr: Beauty & Vlog Guru

Created back in 2005 by three former employees of PayPal, YouTube has grown to become the 3^rd most visited website in the world after Google and Facebook. The popularity of the video content sharing site can be accounted for by some staggering stats. Users are uploading approximately 50 hours of content a minute and they are watching over 3 billion videos a day…and growing.

People love YouTube because it allows users to sit in front of a camera and broadcast themselves to the world.  This ability to express oneself has been famously dubbed as “vlogging”, a simplified term meaning “video blogging”. However, where this phenomenon was once a mere opinion outlet, YouTube’s advertising programme has led to vlogging becoming some people’s day job. Dozens of vloggers are now finding fame online thanks to their daily or weekly uploads of content, often attracting in excess of 300,000 subscribers.

My particular favourite YouTubers are make-up and beauty gurus such as the beautiful make-up artist Tanya Burr of pixie2woo fame, Dulce Candy known as DulceCandy87 and Ruth Crilly, amodelrecommends. These girls have their fingers quite literally in the makeup bags of the most famous and prestigious designer brands and have commandeered hundreds of thousands of YouTube subscribers with their easy tutorials and product recommendations. They interact directly with fans and share their latest uploads via Twitter and Facebook.

What interests me most is the selling power these emerging personalities have over the public. Young fans interact hourly with their YouTube heroes via social networking sites and share photos of looks they have recreated using the products. If you’re a Product Manager for a make-up brand, you want these people to be listing your goods in their “favourites of the month” video because you can be sure that there are thousands of peers in your target audience ready and willing to be told what’s hot and what’s not.

Tipp-Ex-Hunter-Shoots-A-Bear

Interaction is key; the most popular YouTubers have climbed the “most subscribed” rankings simply by engaging with their fans. It’s not uncommon for users to organize mass meet-ups in city centres where groups of YouTube users will get together and personally meet and greet their followers. They also give something back to their fans through free-to-enter promotions where they give away their favourite goodies, often inviting fans to subscribe to their channel and leave a comment beneath a video. Cleverly, I might add, this increases their network influence and the YouTuber receives a small fee per comment – so essentially the promotion pay for itself. Smart.

There’s a lesson to be learnt here as we as shopper marketeers seek out cheap, cheerful but effective methods of reaching our consumers. YouTube is free (but also has the potential to be a huge cash-cow) and has quickly become the go-to destination for reviews and how-to guides. Plus, clever viral campaigns have already shown how quickly brand interaction can spread. The Tippex “A hunter shoots a bear” campaign and Old Spice’s “The man your man could smell like” viral both come to mind, as each generated millions of global YouTube views and elevated sales. I won’t go into all of the stats but, conveniently, you can find an impressive YouTube campaign summary for each project here [Tippex] and here [Old Spice].

Brands that really want to stay in the forefront of online interaction with their audiences should consider the leverage power of YouTube and agencies should be looking for the right ways to create personalized and targeted campaigns that bring brands closer to their consumers than ever before. Some of the best content out there has been shot in an amateur, rough-and-ready style so budgets can be flexible and perhaps the PR-ability of being able to affiliate with an established YouTube guru could prove to be invaluable.

The simple fact, and the reason why vlogging is becoming so successful, is that videos are easy to share, very appealing and with a substantial following can easily influence consumers to try something new. Now, I’m off to come up with a YouTube channel concept of my own…

Yes.

Well before I went to Florida I picked up a 50ml bottle of the Bioderma Cleaners for my trip because it was like a fiver on ebay and I though for £5 if I didn’t use it all I could just throw it away. However, I did use it all. And I liked it. I liked something.

!!!!MIRACLE!!!!!!!

I’m just kidding, it’s not really a miracle. Weirdly, it did prevent me from getting spots and kept my skin so hydrated in the Florida heat. It was a life saver on the plane as well because everyone had warned me about how horrible your skin can become when flying. It’s notorious for being a make-up artists best friend and is constantly raved about on youtube which is what made me try it.

The Boiderma Crealine H20 is scentless, pretty much and could be mistake for actual H20. The product is extremely gentle and doesn’t leave any residue on your skin after use. It also makes removing mascara a dream but I’m not sure whether it’s as easy as the Chanel Demaquillant Yeux Intense because “yall know how much I lurve that.”

Overall, I had a really great experience with it and I did see a big improvement in my skin as it helped to prevent any spots that wanted to appear. It’s made to suit all skin types so even if you have highly sensitive skin, this will most likely be your best friend too.

Ruth Crilly, a model & youtuber has a great review of it over here: http://www.amodelrecommends.com/2010/12/01/bioderma-crealine-h20/

I’d recommend having a look at it because she’s used the product for years whereas I’ve only just tried it.

My normal Chanel buy is 100ml for £21.50 whereas you can get a bottle of the Bioderma brought in from France for about £15 and that’s a 500ml bottle. Therefore, with my current circumstances needing me to be savy I am going to trial the BIODERMA for a litte longer.

If you’ve tried Bioderma or having an other recommendations then please let me know!

Love!

So, I call the optometrist to order a spare box until her dad gets back and a new office assistant gets on the phone.  She can’t seem to figure out what prescription to order.  I told her to order the newest prescription.  She’s confused as to whether that was March 2011 or January 2012.  I said January.  She says that in January, they ordered the old prescription for her.  I told her that was pretty much incorrect and please not order the old prescription.

Then she asked me which prescription it was.  Was it X or was it Y? (Where X and Y are integers).  I told her I have no idea.  (I am not an optometrist and those measurements mean nothing to me.)  Usually we just order new boxes and get rid of the empties.  She said she would call back.

She calls back- and *immediately* puts me on hold!  Why not just wait until she could actually talk to me on the phone?  Anyway, she asks me again if it was prescription X or Y?  I tell her- again- I have no idea.  That’s not the kind of information I keep squirreled away in my RAM.  Maybe, I suggest, we should wait for the doctor to review her file.  Yes, she says, but he won’t be in for awhile.  That’s Ok, I’d rather not order the wrong pair.  Are you sure you don’t remember the prescription, she asks?  What if I read these prescriptions to you, would one of them strike a bell?  Maybe, I say, but not my bell.  I honestly don’t know what it is.

At this point, I’m getting a little exasperated.  She says she will call me back.  Gah!  She is beginning to sound like the information operator in a Nicholls and May skit.

Jeez, I should just schedule another appointment.  This is ridiculous.

Anyway, just wanted to share.  So, how is your day?

By the way, here’s a great pasta dish called Aubergine Siciliana from British model, Ruth Crilly.  I made it the other day.  Fantastic.  And it didn’t take a lot of time.  Enjoy.

she writes but also makes videos of herself demonstrating what can be done with her favourite products. she offers to show you her tried-and-tested tricks to being a better looking you: fake tan? check! tons of cosmetics and body products? doh! what to pack when flying or what’s really not to be left behind when camping? yes, yes! she even demonstrates on camera how she dry brushes her body for a firmer skin and better circulation!

her playful manner, british accent and tone of voice are mesmerizing to me. and i’m guessing i’m not the only one as she’s a bit famous in her home land.

so…check her out!

ps: sorry, boys! this is a girly post :)

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  If you haven’t been watching it – catch up online here: Channel 4′s This Model Life.

  A great insight into the life of a model trying to make it – it wasn’t her chosen profession, Ruth Crilly was studying law, happened to be at The Clothes Show in Birmingham (her local city) and was cornered and asked if she’d thought about it… bruised and battered and shared with the world. If you’ve considered it as a profession you must watch this programme, not only providing the climb but also a look at Erin O’Connor – now there’s a girl that works her ass off. If you considered it a glamorous profession think again.

  ]]> http://fashion-mommy.com/2011/04/05/ruth-crilly-shines-in-pavillions-shoot/ Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:11:32 +0000 fashion-mommy http://fashion-mommy.com/2011/04/05/ruth-crilly-shines-in-pavillions-shoot/ Pavillions has always been one of my favourite places in Birmingham. Less chaotic than The Bullring,  Pavillions is home to some of the most prestigious brands in fashion and beauty. LK Bennett, Laura Ashley, Monsoon, La Senza, Evans, L’Occitaine, Hobbs and M&S alhave stores in the centre,whilst new stores Wisteria Lane and Pure Halal Beauty are flying the flags for stylish independents, making  Pavillions a must-visit shopping destination.

  Stylish is certainly a word that could be applied to Ruth Crilly. The Birmingham born, international model has worked for the best photographers and designers, including David LaChapelle, Rankin and Vivienne Westwood. She was recently announced as the face of  Pavillions, and after s successful A/W photo campaign, I have now got my hands on the photographs from the S/S shoot shot by Paul Ward. And, I must say, they are beautiful.

  Using the city of Birmingham as a backdrop, including the glorious Victorian buildings and fountains of Victoria Square, Ruth is shown modelling a fab range of outfits from the likes of Hobbs, Monsoon, M&S and H&M. accessories from Azendi and Evans are used to enhance the outfits.

  

  

  

  

  

  I think this is a fabulous shoot, with a feel of those iconic final Sex in the City episodes, with Ruth as an updated Carrie Bradshaw and a rather beautiful Birmingham standing in for Paris. My favourite shot is the one featuring the red telephone boxes where Ruth carries that  stunning M&S red bag.

  For more information about Pavillions, visit the website http://www.pavilionsshopping.com

  ]]> http://barbieoftheday.wordpress.com/2010/11/12/a-model-recommended/ Fri, 12 Nov 2010 09:15:47 +0000 barbieoftheday http://barbieoftheday.wordpress.com/2010/11/12/a-model-recommended/ Today’s sexy BOTD is a recreation of a fabulous image of the stunning model Ruth Crilly. Through mutual appreciation, we have recently developed an online friendship which will hopefully transfer in reality should we ever be in the same place at the same time. Ruth has a gorgeously glamourous blog,  A Model Recommends, where she gives advice and tips on everything a top mo-doll needs to know, from fashion and beauty to travel destinations. We love it. And we love her!

  

  ]]> http://mettebassett.com/2010/09/29/my-favourite-beauty-blog-a-model-recommends/ Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:18:28 +0000 Mette Bassett http://mettebassett.com/2010/09/29/my-favourite-beauty-blog-a-model-recommends/ http://harukafujiyama.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/free-pictures-gallery-ruth-crilly/ Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:33:35 +0000 harukafujiyama http://harukafujiyama.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/free-pictures-gallery-ruth-crilly/ Download Ruth Crilly’s pictures gallery at the link below.
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