The View – who?

View who?

Having stuffed our faces with home-made pancakes, (yes all me!) P.S. and I grabbed a bus into town to see The View at the Academy in Dublin last night. It was a pretty chilly walk across O’Connell Bridge, but when we got there the venue was jammed so the chill was left on the doorstep. I like the Academy, most ‘intimate’ venues are poky and maybe a bit gig-worn but because this place used to be a nightclub, it’s modern and sleek, plus you get a good view from pretty much any where you stand.

Unfortunately, it’s not just a great view you’re after when you go to a gig, sound is kind of important too. Having purchased pints, which incidentally, were spilled across the bar by our tender, we found one of the many perfect spots to see the stage. It was then that I realised that there was no atmosphere. True there were the faithful moshers bouncing in the pit, but considering the full-house crowd, the mood was barely buzzing. It sounded absolutely dreadful; though seemingly in-tune, you could hardly hear the singer and the drums and one or two of the guitars were totally muffled. The keyboard and cymbals however were louder than a team of Formula 1 test drivers in Hawaiian shirts. The noise of which, crashed around the venue like a drunken student in a stolen shopping trolley. This did not a good concert make.

Now I’m not a sound technician by any stretch of the imagination, but if you are distracted by the banal chatter of girls standing five or six rows away and can hear random members of the mosh pit clapping even though you are standing at the back of the room there must be something amiss.

There were a few guitar changes and a sort of acoustic set (?) before what should have been a welcome blast of heavy-hitters. As a barrage of brash guitar noise and some shouty vocals plummeted off the stage, a few faithful fans in the crowd tried a rendition of; The View, The View, The View are on fire, the band’s signature chant. That petered out after a couple of tries because the entire room knew that even if said blaze was the candle atop a one year olds birthday cake, this performance could not be described as on fire.

As with all bands at the one* album level, the anticipation for the ‘big number’ or in this case ‘the one you know’ was tangible and kept us in our places. It came and went with a feeble cheer and a patchy crown sing-along. A number of messy tunes were rumbled out followed by the latest hit, Shock Horror. On air, a fantastically charged indie pop track. Live, in this case at least, it was the suitable finale to a poor show that saw the band walk off stage, with no encore (shame), to resounding boos from the crowd. With stories of cancelled shows due to an over indulgence of the hotel mini-bar, it seems The View aren’t on fire, they’re sitting comfortably next to their bottles of beer, in ice.

* Second album, Which Bitch, released (2^nd February 2009)

Tried & Tested Mascara

Tried & Tested…

Most impressive mascaras on the market

Mascara is to a make-up bag what the little black dress is to my wardrobe: an absolute essential that is there for every occasion. I know I am not the only woman who feels this way – even Claudia Schiffer says she would bring mascara as her desert island essential.

This summer’s lashes are long, skinny and dramatic without being clumpy and heavy. I road test five mascaras to find out how they fare…

Yves Saint Laurent – Faux Cils

BEST BIT – Thickest lashes ever and the packaging is gorgeous

PROS – One of the blackest mascaras on the market, the YSL really does make your eyelashes thick and black. It is so thick that you only need a couple of strokes to get the desired effect with no spider’s legs. It’s great if you are in a rush, as it separates the lashes whilst coating them all individually. And it smells delicious to boot. Because it is so thick, the brush gets clogged really quickly but a rinse under a hot tap about once a fortnight is all you need to clear the brush again. www.ysl.com

Ruby & Millie – Black Mascara

BEST BIT – Longest eyelashes

PROS – Lovely packaging in a slim silver tube, and the brush is what you’d imagine a make-up artist would use. The cone-shaped bristles help give the long-lash effect and it looks as though each individual lash is coated separately. Ruby and Millie also do a great eyelash comb, which is available separately but I don’t think you would need it with this product. My lashes seem to grow in all directions but even I didn’t need it! It was the hardest to remove but the fact that it stayed perfect all day more than makes up for that! www.rubyandmillie.com

Clinique – High Impact Mascara

BEST BIT – Light, nice big brush, lasts ages

PROS – This mascara gives you natural-looking, longer-length black lashes. It is more liquid in consistency than some of the others but dries quickly on application, so there are fewer smudges if you are in a rush. Is gives a great effect for everyday use and because it dries so quickly it is good on the lower lashes, as there are no clumps. It is light, which means that you can put a number of layers on to build up the bulk if you want a heavier look. It’s good for length but not so good for volume with only one coat www.clinique.com

Estee Lauder – Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara

BEST BIT – It felt like I wasn’t wearing any mascara at all and it curled my lashes really effectively

PROS – After even three coats, (I like to wear a lot of mascara) I couldn’t feel a thing, nor did I find myself looking out from underneath clumpy, spiky lashes, proving how light the mascara is. It separated out my lashes individually and created really curved lashes although I didn’t use an eyelash curler beforehand. This was definitely the best all-round mascara, giving length, definition and curl after just one coat. www.esteelauder.com

Paul & Joe – Mascara Primer Duo and Mascara Duo N

BEST BIT – Because these mascaras have different elements you can change the look to suit your mood

PROS – Boutique Parisian brand Paul & Joe has a gorgeous range of make-up in pretty antique-style packaging. The range includes two novel concept mascaras: one primes, by curling, lengthening and adding volume to your lashes, and the other separates and defines each one. These mascaras take some getting used to but with all the combinations they offer, you will definitely find a look to suit you. www.paul-joe-beaute.com

Max Factor – False Lash Effect Mascara.

Having done a ‘Tried and Tested’ mascara review I thought I was all mascara-ed out. That is until I tried this new Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara.

Firstly, it’s much larger than other mascaras I’ve tried and that’s because the brush is twice as big as other brands, so it covers all the lashes at once with its light yet effective formula.

Secondly, the first day I wore it, two people told me how long and perfectly separated my lashes looked! Now that’s a product that sells itself, and lives up to its name!

It is stunning and dramatic and exactly what you would expect from a mascara called False Lash Effect. In fact, it’s my new beauty best friend. http://www.maxfactor.co.uk

Tried & Tested Eyeliner

Tried & Tested: Liquid Eyeliner

Eyeliner is almost like the magic trick of make-up. Whichever way you wear it, either lightly licked across your lids or layered on thick, rock-chick style, eyeliner creates a stunning and dramatic finish to your eye make-up. We tested several liquid eyeliner brands to see which come up trumps …

Smashbox – Jet Set Gel Based Eyeliner

Best for – Perfect combination of liquid and pencil eyeliner

The most novel gel-based eyeliner, it comes in a funky twist-top pot with an accompanying long, slimline brush that allows the most accurate application. You can see exactly how much liner you are applying and because it is less liquid than most other brands, it goes on exactly as you intend it to. It doesn’t smudge or run but is easy to remove when you need to take it off. It feels light and you can blend it before it dries for a different look. The fact that the brush is separate is the only downside to otherwise fantastic liquid eyeliner. www.smashbox.com

Max Factor – Masterpiece Glide and Define Liquid Eyeliner

Best for – Constant flow means no dipping

This compact little product is a revolution in liquid eyeliner. The liquid is in the compartment behind the brush, which means that the perfect amount of eyeliner is constantly running through the brush. When you dip the brush of standard eyeliners, the first application can very often be overloaded and leave a blob of eyeliner on top of your lid. Max Factor has developed this applicator to prevent exactly that, enabling slick, even application from a liner that will fit into the smallest of handbags. www.maxfactor.com

Barry M – Liquid Eyeliner by Barry M

Best for – Getting celebrity style make-up looks

This is a more traditional style of eyeliner and applicator; the firm little tapered brush at the end of the applicator meant that this was the easiest to apply and you can create both thick and thin lines, depending on the look you want. The applicator holds enough liquid eyeliner to do each eye and comes in a really funky little pot that can stand on your dressing table. Barry M’s liquid eyeliner is a huge hit with the A list. Christina Aguilera says that Barry M’s cosmetics are the only way to glam up an outfit and this is true – my eyes really stood out when I used this one and it comes in loads of out-there colours. www.barrym.com

Urban Decay – Liquid Eyeliner

Best for – Shimmery metallic colours

Urban Decay, well known for its full-on colour, has revamped its liquid eyeliner. Made to look like an ink well, the new design looks gorgeous, with the colour on show. The best thing about this eyeliner is that it doubles as an eyeshadow, which means you can either use it as normal just above the lashes or apply it to the entire lid. Usually, I would only use black liquid eyeliner, but the red-brown colour that I tried is really flattering and I would definitely use it more often. What’s more, it has tempted me to use loads of different colours. www.urbandecay.com

Bourjois – Liner Pinceau in Noir

Best for – Thin, accurate lines

The long-length, slimline brush applicator means that you can accurately apply the thinnest of lines above your lashes with no mistakes. The colour lasts all day, and I have had this eyeliner for at least six months and it’s only just beginning to run out. It has kept the same consistency the entire time, making this liner a great purchase. When you apply it, you can feel that the product is a good quality one, as the colour is quite intense but it feels light on your eyelids.

Tip: When applying eyeliner, whether thick or thin, start in the middle of the lid and work outwards away from the nose. When there is less liquid on the brush, slowly work inward towards the nose, joining small strokes together to achieve the perfect slick line.

SS09 Runway Report

Recession-aware fashion houses understand that trends are hard to manage in hard times. When the chips are down, ‘recessionistas’ (those who dresses stylishly on a budget) understand that clothes can’t be the throwaway pieces that we’ve become accustomed to. They need to last until the good times roll again. Here’s the key: this season it isn’t about trends, it’s about style. The word is that although women will always buy the things they love, this season, they will buy things that they will love for a lifetime. Here are two very different styles to indulge in this season.

’40s Glamour

Luxuriant fabrics in pretty, feminine colours, combined with texture and exquisite tailoring, mean that this trend produces stylish feminine pieces that will last a lifetime. Think grandmother’s post-WWII elegance and red-lipstick chic with a modern edge. Marc Jacobs created this style with pretty silk blouses, cinched-in waists and demure yet coquettish hats. Luella did cropped blouse sleeves and trouser legs in florals and candy stripes, accessorised with cute veils and short leather gloves.

Marc Jacobs SS09 Ready to Wear

Luella SS09 Ready To Wear

Rock Star

From ’70s glam rock to goth splendour, rock goddesses have always influenced this ageless style. Hi-shine leggings in a myriad of colours teamed with classic leopard-print and fringing are the order of the day. In a nod to Aerosmith, Anna Sui teamed iridescent, metallic capes; studded gladiator sandals; and fringed scarves with tousled hair and embellished, black mini-dresses to emphasise the contrast. Balmain did drummer-boy jackets à la Michael Jackson teamed with that ’80s rock-star staple, faded ripped denim, and embellished everything from shoes and belts to dresses and trouser legs in crystals and studs.

Balmain SS09 Ready To Wear

Anna Sui SS09 Ready to Wear

Images via Style.com