Sunshine Hats

Despite the unpredictable British summer weather, we here at The Amazing Blog know the importance of having good SPF products all year round.

Based in the UK, Sunshine Hats has an extensive range of UPF50+ headwear imported directly from Australia. Not only are their hats stylish, but they all come with a Skin & Cancer Foundation Australia accreditation which ensures that each hat is 100% protected against harmful UV rays. Yes, you read that correctly, an accessory scientifically proven to protect you from the sun.

We also love how they’re crushable, washable and water friendly, making them the ideal suitcase friendly hat for your summer travels. The hats can also be tailored to each individual head with an adjustable drawstring to achieve that perfect fit. These hats are truly a summer hols essential.

We love hats with big brims, and the Hayman Big Brim is perfect to cover up those bad hair days, plus it has wire in the brim so you can make it look exactly how you want. Or the Naples Ivory hat is a more casual alternative, perfect with a sundress or with a bikini and sarong.

To view the whole range and purchase a Sunshine Hat, please go to their website. They have kid’s hats for £10, visors for £16, and the women’s hats range from £20 - £32.  

V&A Exhibition- Shoes: Pleasure and Pain

Christian Louboutin once famously said: “A shoe is not only a design, but it's a part of your body language, the way you walk. The way you're going to move is quite dictated by your shoes.” At The Amazing Blog we could not agree more.  From June this year all the way through to January 2016, the V&A will be home to a very special fashion exhibition exploring the transformative power of extreme footwear, our fascination and obsession with shoes as well as their agonising aspects.

 
In this exciting exhibition, there is an unrivalled collection of more than 200 pairs of historic and contemporary shoes from around the world. Some are as old as 2000 years and have never been seen before.  The collection includes shoes worn by high profile figures including Marilyn Monroe, Queen Victoria, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kylie Minogue and the Hon Daphne Guinness.  There is footwear for men and women by 70 named designers including Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo and Prada.

Exhibition curator, Helen Persson, said: “Shoes are one of the most telling aspects of dress. Beautiful, sculptural objects, they are also powerful indicators of gender, status, identity, taste and even sexual preference. Our choice in shoes can help project an image of who we want to be.”

In addition, the exhibition reveals the evolution of shoes and how little style, material and shape are so much more symbolic than you realise.  This exhibition is a must for any fashion lover or someone passionate about history.  You can find out more about it here.

Event - Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" 2015

London Fashion Week 2015 was a smash hit, and it got us super excited for all of the latest fashion creations we’ll get to enjoy this year. Recently at The Amazing Blog, we came across a must-see event that will keep your passion for fashion alive. The Savage Beauty by Alexander McQueen exhibit is officially coming to London after its successful run at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Savage Beauty is the first retrospective work of the late Alexander McQueen to be presented in Europe. Known for his dramatic, dark and boundary-pushing catwalk collections, the designs will be presented with the same cutting-edge staging as his runway shows.

In New York, Savage Beauty became one of the top 10 most visited exhibitions, appealing viewers beyond the normal fashion demographic. If fashion isn’t exactly your cup of tea, it’s still a worthy exhibit to check out. The New Yorker wrote, "Even if you never bother with fashion shows, go to this one." 

The exhibition is currently on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum and will run until 2nd August 2015. You can view ticket details and information here.

Frederique's Christmas Wish List

I’m the type of girl who loves to experiment with different kinds products and gadgets and companies. This is why I find working with the girls at The Amazing Blog so fun… who doesn’t love trying something new? My Christmas wish list consists of a unique bundle of a different kinds of products, ranging from as far as chargers to liquor. So without further ado, let the shopping begin!

The first thing on my Christmas list is The Kissable Charger. Nowadays, hardly anybody is able to live without their phone, myself included. I always thought to myself, why can't I have cute charger that is a little girly or that will add some sparkle? Then I came across FBG: an innovative technology company with the newest chargers, including my new love; The Kissable Charger. This charger is both cute and creative for it looks like a real Coco Chanel Lipstick. Both chic and functional, the charger is able to charge your phone for 2 to 3 hours. Buy your charger here for only £29.99, and be charged all day long.

As I’ve said before, I’m definitely a girly girl. In order to make my girly look complete, I love to wear some cute bracelets along with a watch. So you can guess how excited I was when I came across these Birambi bracelets made by two enthusiastic Dutch Girls. Being from Holland, I obviously have a soft spot for this company. Not only are they Dutch, but they’ve made a great ‘Make-your-own-bracelet’ concept that is fit for any girl like me who loves to accessorise on a regular basis. Here’s how it works: You choose a card. You select a bracelet, colour and write a personal message. And that's it. That's really all there is to it. What better gift is there than one that is personally made from the heart? Starting at €4 they are affordable as well. Visit the website to take these bracelets for a spin! 

Besides my hand jewellery, I wanted to add a little bit of sparkle to my eyebrows. So I came across the Bling Brow Kit created by Benefit Cosmetics. With the Bling Brow Kit, you can decorate your brows and light up the room with a sparkling set of Swarovski crystals. Each set comes with 52 crystals and a pair of mini tweezers. They also come in different colours including my favourites, Rose Gold and Greige. Just pull the black backing sheet off and pick up the crystals with tweezers to place them either on the skin near the brow or directly on the brow. Although I’m not one to decorate my body with jewellery, the brow crystals really enhance the appearance of your eyebrows and show off your edgy side.

You can purchase the artsy Bling Brow Kit for £19.50 at selected Benefit Brow Bars and wear them on a fun night out with the girls. All eyes will definitely be on yours. 

Not only do I love to dress up, but I also enjoy going out and grabbing a drink with my girlfriends. Recently I came across Snow Leopard Vodka, which I’ve slowly but surely fallen in love with. For starters, the bottle looks absolutely great. Additionally, 15% of the profits made go to the ‘save the leopard' charity. When I saw this stunning looking bottle of vodka, I could not resist putting it on my Christmas wish list. Cheers, take a shot and donate to a cause! You can by purchase a 70cl bottle of vodka for £36.00 RRP  at Waitrose, Harvey Nichols and Ocado.com, as well as all good independent drinks retailers OR on their website.

I've also discovered a delicious selection of chocolates from Sweet Dreams Ltd. called Choc Nibbles. We received two different flavours: Original Choc Nibbles and Toffee Crumble. The one I really loved was the Original Choc Nibbles. The taste of these tiny chocolates was just divine, and you could taste that they were made with quality chocolate. It's almost like eating real chocolate milk! Purchase chocolate at your local confectionery, convenience or discount stores, and share these delicious chocolates as a treat after your Christmas Dinner. 

Friday Favourites: Jewellery

With the New Year quickly approaching, you’ve probably begun thinking about what your New Year’s goals and resolutions will be. The Amazing Blog staff has decided that we want to take a new approach to our accessorising. So, we have compiled a list of 5 accessories that will inspire us in different ways every time we put them on.

S/S15 “IN THE CITY” by Maria Francesca Pepe

Want to wear what the celebrities wear? MFP Jewellery’s new line S/S15 “IN THE CITY” is inspired by city skylines, graphic city maps, neon city lights, combining sharp, sleek and geometric designs with symbolism and sub-culture references. Celebrities like Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Lily Allen, Rita Ora and Beyonce are huge fans of MFP, and let's be honest, we all want to wear what Queen B wears.

We absolutely love the 'DREAM' cuff. Handmade in Italy, this gold statement cuff, embellished with graffiti style font and coloured Swarovski crystals, will be a constant reminder next year to dream big and make sure you chase after what you want. Head on over to the website and get yourself this gorgeous bracelet for £289.00.

Unity by Julia Cook

If you’re looking to accessorise for a cause, check out Julia Cook’s new jewellery collection, Unity. She specifically designed the collection to raise money for St Mungo’s Broadway. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds raised will be donated to Rebuilding Shattered Lives, a charity that provides vital services to homeless women through safe housing, education, counselling, self-defence classes and training programmes.

St Mungo’s Broadway Unity Cuddles Bracelet embraces Cook’s idea that people need to support others, especially those in need. Walk into the New Year with good karma and keep it going by purchasing this beautiful bracelet for £175.00 here. 

True Rocks by Emily Bradbury and Dawn Hindle

The collaboration between Emily Bradbury of vintage Victorian punk label “Constant and True" and Dawn Hindle, founder and creative director of the globally renowned music and lifestyle brand “Ibiza Rocks,” have created a unique jewellery brand that reflects their lifestyle and influences from music, fashion and art. True Rocks is 'jewellery with attitude' that has set a trend amongst the music and fashion industry. 

We absolutely adore this deep purple enamel and rose gold revolving globe pendant with the words "The whole world revolves around love" around it. Plan some fun vacations next year and let this necklace be a reminder that you need to greet every new opportunity with love because that's what makes the world go round. Spread the love and purchase the necklace for £485.00 here.

Naked Square by Myriam Soseilos

Myriam Soseilos, the award-winning Cypriot jewellery designer and founder of the luxury jewellery brand, MyriamSOS, recently presented her new Naked Square collection, which draws its inspiration from the nuances of modern architecture coupled with the use of high-quality materials and gemstones. The vision for the range is to re-think the way that classic jewellery is viewed and presented.

Detouring from the usual circle, the L Ring provides a new perspective on the design of a ring. Purchase this ring here for £160.00 as a reminder that you need to look outside of the box (or circle in this case) and maybe you'll discover something new. Sometimes all we need is a New Year for a little change in perspective. 

Hope by Faye Marie

Have you been let down by this year's expectations? It's about time you were introduced to the new Hope collection by Faye Marie. Faye Marie's unique jewellery tells wonderful stories of the synergy between human emotions and animals. This newest collection is based upon pterippus, the flying horse. In mythology, Pegasus represents the hope of aspiring to improve all aspects of life and love, which exactly what this collection embodies. This cutting edge jewellery is an expression of what is to come rather than what has been. 

Purchase these Hope Square Studs here for £225.00 and put all of your past disappointments behind you. The New Year gives you the opportunity to start fresh, so expect more for yourself this upcoming year and do what you need to do to improve your situation. There's nothing wrong with having a little hope. 

Feeling inspired? Perfect! Let your jewellery be a statement that you are diving head first into the New Year with a new outlook on life.