Belfast's Wall Of Colour

How fantastic is this?! Why can't my make-up case look like this and not like a bomb of powder exploded in it ...

Selfridges Trafford Gets Electric!

Fantastic news! Our Body Electrics campaign has been splashed all over the iconic Trafford centre. Check out the pics below...

Southampton Solent University Graduate Fashion Show

Rosa - PR Manager - and Spob - Head of Professional Development - made their way to Southampton Solent University for the annual Graduate Fashion Show ... see the collections and the prize giving in the video below...

Nail Varnish Competition - Update III

Another update for you all on the Nail Varnish competition - I am pleased to announce that due to the exceptional quality of entries, we have decided to pick FOUR winners!

We have spent the past two weeks testing the matched samples sent to us by our supplier [we narrowed it down to eight finalists] and everyone in the office has their favourites. I look forward to updating you all shortly on the final four winners and their matched products, but as promised - we will send to the winners first in order for them to be able to tell us what they think of their dream nail colour being made a reality!


On a relevant note, Sophy Robson has begun producing tutorials with Glossy Magazine. Watch her create her signature rainbow nails in the video below ...

Body Electrics Wins Cool Award!

Stylesight, the leading online trend forecasting service, put forward Illamasqua as one of the Cool Campaigns of 2010 for our innovative Body Electrics collection...


To see the rest of the winners [loving the Lee Stafford hair dye ad] or to browse the sight - I especially recommend checking out their image library - click here.

Bizarre Ball 2010

Illamasqua is proud to announce a collaboration with Bizarre magazine by hosting an Illamasqua Lounge at the annual Bizarre Ball on Saturday 5th June at Coronet Theatre, London SE1.

We are planning some exciting activity including a Best Alter Ego competition, which will be hosted by our very own Adam and Mika - national make-up artists at Selfridges, London. We will also be creating avant-garde looks for the like of Jodie Harsh, Immodesty Blaize and Alix Fox.

We will also have a memorial wall for Sophie Lancaster where guests of the event will be encouraged to share their thoughts. This will be donated to Sylvia Lancaster after the event for her to hang in her home.

Subscribers to Bizarre will also receive a complimentary goodie bag from Illamasqua and the chance to have their make-up done by our artists in the Illamasqua lounge.
If you want to buy tickets to this amazing event, or want to learn more about Bizarre magazine, click here.

More pics to follow on Monday 7th!

Hope Album Released In Memory of Sophie Lancaster

May 22nd saw World Goth Day and with it the release of the "Hope" Album, produced by 15 amazing international bands that have donated their tracks, with 100% of the £8 cost of the download-only album going straight to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation.

The support for this album has been incredible - click here to find out more.

HOPE” ALBUM RELEASED IN MEMORY OF SOPHIE LANCASTER
15 amazing international bands have given their tracks and we receive 100% of the £8 cost for the download only album
Please follow the link below to discover just what a treat you are in for !
By purchasing this CD, you will be helping Sylvia to deliver the educational groupworks that challenge the prejudice faced by alternatives, starting in the classroom.
This CD will help us STAMP OUT PREJUDICE HATRED & INTOLERANCE EVERYWHERE
in Sophie's memory.

Playlist:

01 - Joolz - The Prophet of Calgary
02 - Andi Sex Gang - Salamun Child
03 - Autumn Cannibals - Monument to Shame *
04 - Gene Loves Jezebel - Who Wants To Go To Heaven?
05 - The Eden House - All My Love
06 - Collide - Euphoria
07 - Alien Sex Fiend - Gotta Have It (Sliced and Diced mix)
08 - Andi Sex Gang & Marc Almond - The Hungry Years
09 - UK Decay - Battle of the Elements (club mix) **
10 - The Last Dance - Cages
11 - Anne Marie Hurst - I Have Changed **
12 - New Model Army - Dawn
13 - The Mission - She's Gone Away **
14 - Uninvited Guest - Death of an Angel *
15 - Faith and the Muse - To Be Continued

* Written for, and inspired by, the charity
** Previously unreleased

Of course, you can also purchase our best-selling Medium Pencil in 'Sophie' - the inkiest, creamiest black pencil you could dream of!

Marina and the Diamonds

Last night Rosa [PR and Press Manager] and I went along to the Marina and the Diamonds gig at the Bloomsbury theatre in London. Rosa and I are both big fans of this kooky singer Marina Diamondas - you may remember that Halimah created a look for her at the Sanderson Predicts event last Summer.

As well as the big hit I Am Not A Robot, Marina played her latest single, Mowgli's Road, with one of the strangest, most wonderful videos I have seen in a long time! Check it out below...



Tonight Spob, Rosa and I are off to Southampton Solent University to watch the fashion and beauty graduate show - really looking forward to it and I will be posting photos tomorrow!

Illamasqua Icons: New Romantics

Inspired by the Worried About A Boy TV film that was on at the weekend on BBC I thought that I would investigate the New Romantic's movement and their use of make-up for today's blog post.

New Romantiscism was a fashion movement that began with the youth of London and peaked in the 1980s. The electro pop sounds of David Bowie and his contempories were the biggest influence and the style of these icons of the era encouraged the exploration of androgyny and individuality in the club scene. The effects of this period can still be felt in popular culture today - our office especially loves a bit of Bowie blaring through the speakers!

The term New Romantic was coined by Richard James Burgess in reference to Spandau Ballet

The key clubs were Billy's in Soho and The Blitz of Covent Garden [featured heavily in the film Worried About The Boy] which was run by Steve Strange, of the band Visage. The Blitz even had it's own posse - the Blitz Kids, who would make an effort to dress as flamboyantly as possible and drawing influence from as many sources as possible such as the English romantics, Golden Hollywood, Egyptians, Glam Rock and Science Fiction movies.

Part of the Blitz legends recalls Mick Jagger attempting to get in and being refused entry by Steve Strange!

With roots in reggae, blues, glam rock and punk, the movement was a mish mash of influences. Boy George's band Culture Club - so called due to the ethnic background of each of the bands members - and his contemporaries brought androgynous dressing to an international audience and with the likes of Dead or Alive, Adam and the Ants, Bow Wow Wow, Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet also showcasing the trend for men in make-up, the London underground music scene was dramatically altered forever.


Get The Look

Face

The paler the better - the New Romantics were creatures of the night, after all! Prep a strong base to hold up to paparazzi lenses and the flash of Top Of The Pops such as Rich Liquid Foundation. Industrial strength Under Eye Concealer to hide the excesses of the previous night and Pressed Powder for a matt finish are essentials to this look.

To contour the cheekbones, I would suggest Powder Blusher in 'Storm' or a Pressed Powder a couple of tones darker than your natural skin colour. Use with Blusher Brush II that has a wonderful tapered edge for controlled contouring.

Eyes

If shaving your eye brows off doesn't appeal [or you could try bleaching them a la Lara Stone] then using an old mascara brush to comb through Rich Liquid Foundation will do the trick. Mixing Sealing Gel with a cake eye liner [try Eye Liner Cake in 'Mislead'] and get creative with the brows! Strong brows are a key part of Alex Box's work and there is nothing that defines a face as well as a deep, dark eye brow. The Sealing Gel will withstand the night's partying and will still look fabulous if you don't get around to washing it off the next day...

Apply Powder Eye Shadow in 'Sex' all over the eye - this bright white will encourage any other colours to blend together and increase the vibrancy of bright colours. Line the eyes with the Sealing Gel/ Eye Liner Cake mixture as before, flicking up at the outer corners for a feminine cat-eye. Experiment with bright colours, a staple of the New Romantic make-up kit, but remember to keep it matt! For George's above look, I think that Powder Eye Shadow in 'Feint' is a similar pinkish chocolate tone.

Lips

A gentle pink/orange tone will compliment the look but still keep it clashing and modern! Again, reach for the matt Lipsticks, such as Ignite.

Servane Gaxotte Gothic Romantic Jewellery

I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I saw these whilst browsing through Browns Focus last week. The London store on South Molton Street is a real destination; I adore the quirky, individual brands that they carry and Servane Gaxotte jewellery is my new obsession. From £365.