Student Style Issue 1 - Dec 2012

Travel

NYE Dress To Impress Beauty Nails Contouring Winter Make-Up

Exclusive Lily Rice & Jezz Skelton Be Your Own Boss

Christmas Cocktails & Dinner Ideas Featuring Northampton

Get the Look The Best 2012 Student Confessions!

For Him & For Her Win A Forever Unique Party Dress!

Exclusive Competitions & Offers!

Who’s Hot What’s Hot Where’s Hot

Student ‘Seen’ Photos Win Stylish Rocket Dog Boots!

StudentGems Get You Hired!

December 2012 Issue One

Contents Page PAGE 2 Editors Welcome

PAGE 34 This Issue’s Chosen University City

PAGE 3 Student Contributors

PAGE 35 Northampton’s Student Seen

PAGE 4 12 Days of Christmas

PAGE 36 Hot Spots in Northampton

PAGE 8 The Success Story of Lily Rice

Page 38 Disco Party Pants

PAGE 11 Be Inspired by Lady Gaga

Page 40 Riding to Success with Mango Bikes

PAGE 12 Get the Kim Kardashian Look

Page 42 The Wintertime Gentlemen

PAGE 13 Midlands Designer Awards 2012

Page 45 Clean, Pristine and full of Sheen

PAGE 15 Get The Look and Win Stylish Rocket Dog Boots!

PAGE 46 Gent’s, be the life and sole of the party!

PAGE 48 Couples NYE Looks

PAGE 19 Get The Look With Winter Tights!

PAGE 49 Christmas the Student way PAGE 22 Girl’s Get Those Perfect NYE Heels!

PAGE 51 Santa’s Student Cocktails

PAGE 24 Nail Art with Nailedit.com PAGE 26 Put On Your Winter Face

PAGE 52 Confessions of a Uni Student (as seen on Facebook!)

PAGE 28 How to Work Contouring and Highlighting

PAGE 54 A Malaysian Odyssey

PAGE 30 Competition Time! Win a Dress from Forever Unique!

PAGE 56 Student Jobs at StudentGems PAGE 58 Have your Fashion questions answered by us!

The Editors Welcome Welcome to the very first issue of Student Style; in partnership with MyFashionShop.co.uk - Student Fashion at Student Prices.

Student Style has been created by students for students. The focus of our work is on student fashion & style that is affordable on a shoe-string budget! All our articles, interviews, hot picks, reviews and information have been carefully selected to reflect real student trends, lifestyle and interests. All our content is produced by current students and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of them for their hard work and creativity; we couldn’t have done it without you!

In this issue we have some fabulous articles on how to dress you, your other half and even your flat for the festive season.

Along with great interviews with Lily Rice and Jezz Skelton from BBC 3’s ‘Be Your Own Boss’, travel recommendations, look books, celebrity fashion inspiration articles, student confessions and much more!

Each issue we will be featuring University towns across the UK giving you access to what’s hot for local students and great product reviews. This issue we have chosen Northampton; read more about where to go, what to buy and who’s wearing what on pages 34-39.

We know how important it is to save the pennies and get a good bargain as a student, so we are always looking out for great student offers, discounts, reviews and competitions to help you save more. That’s why we have made sure to include the very best in this issue!

So grab a brew, maybe a mince pie, and have a good read! We hope you enjoy x Join in the fun and share your thoughts on our student communities Twitter you’ll be updated on bargains every day!

when you follow us on

Joanna Jaeger-Booth Graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University and Owner of MyFashionShop.co.uk

Our

Student

Contributors

We would like to give a huge thank you to all the students that contributed to our first ever issue!

The Sub Team Clara Lonsdale University of Lincoln - Magazine Layout Designer.

Articles - Rocket Dog Review, Life and Sole of the Party, New Year’s Eve Heels, The Wintertime Gentlemen.

Daisy Craydon University of Northampton – Sub editor.

Articles - Hot spots in Northampton, Disco pants review, Riding to Success with Mango Bikes.

Ali Cheng Sheffield Hallam- Magazine Illustrator.

Ellen Wray Arts University College Bournemouth - Forever Unique Dress review

Harriet Newton Sheffield Hallam University - Tights review

Article Contributors Jessica Hoyle, University of Lincoln- 12 Days of Christmas.

Vicky Smith, University of Northampton- Hot spots in Northampton, Inspired by Lily Cole.

Sophie Cotgrove, University of Bedfordshire – Inspired by Lady Gaga.

Sarah Wilkes, Sheffield Hallam University – Get the looks.

Katie Peake- Midlands Designer Awards.

Lucy Gronner – Nail Art with Nailedit.com.

Julianna Brougham – Winter Skin, Contouring and Highlighting, Clean, Pristine and full of Sheen .

Lily Taylor, University of Northampton - Northampton Student Seen.

Kimberley Barr, University of Bath- Celebrating Christmas the Student way.

Kate Ng Shu-Yi, University of Northampton -A Malaysian Odyssey.

Lorenzo Fuller, London Metropolitan University – StudentGems.

In the 12 days of Christmas MyFashionShop.co.uk gave to me…

Well what can I say, when will time slow down? Is it just me who thinks this year has flown by in just the shut of an eye.

No? Good. Well as winter is coldly coming and the Christmas stock has already hit the shops! As the festive season creeps up on us rather fast you may start to panic what to buy your loved ones this Christmas; what do you buy someone who has everything on a student budget?

Well if you are stuck for ideas, don’t be. Your prayers have been answered and the perfect gift ideas have been revealed at low prices with the guarantee of priceless smiles on Christmas morning. With these twelve tantalizing ideas you will need nothing else to make this Christmas extra special; apart from your homemade Christmas dinner of course. It may seem like another Christmas miracle but you really can buy some classy Christmas gifts on a small budget.

12 Days of Christmas

By Jessica Hoyle

To make life even simpler you can get all your gifts online at one place - MYFASHIONSHOP.CO.UK! Designed specifically for students, it is made to keep you out of the student overdraft; however perhaps not when you see all the potential presents!

On the first day of Christmas MyFashionShop.co.uk gave to me…

On the second day of Christmas MyFashionShop.co.uk gave to me…

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Two turtledoves

The Perfect Purple Party Dress

Two Toned T-shirt

Perhaps you’re shopping for your best friend, girlfriend or your stylish mum, whoever it is this dress is a saviour.

With its deep shade of purple, the figure hugging features and the beautiful layers of chiffon, this is the perfect dress to go out and party this season. At only £10, this is a real showstopper and money saver!

Purple Grecian dress

Two Stoned Starr

£10.00

T-Shirt £15.00

So maybe you’re looking for a gift for your older brother or your boyfriend, well look no further than this twotoned t-shirt. With the contrasted stripes and the detailed patch pocket, at only £15 this t-shirt is an ideal present & keeps you’re spending to a minimum but your gifts to a maximum.

On the third day of Christmas MyFashionShop.co.uk gave to me…

Three French hens Melita Rose Rings of Wisdom

‘Three in One’ Nail Art Pens.

Nail this Christmas and make it a stylish one for your best friend! From her fingers to her toes, these nail art pens can really make her nails twinkle like the Christmas tree, with both black and gold pens and the different tips for perfect DIY glam nails. At a small price of £8.00 you could even get one for yourself.

(5 Rings) £15.00 On the fifth day of Christmas MyFashionShop.co.uk gave to me…

FIVE GOLD RINGS!

Three in One Nail Art Pens £8.00

Spoil someone rotten this year and buy them this beautiful set of rings. The rings have different meanings, which are very fitting during the festive season! At only £15.00 you’d be silly not to make a purchase. So go on, get them before they all go!

On the fourth day of Christmas MyFashionShop.co.uk gave to me…

Four Colly Birds.

Flying Birds Friendship Bracelet

Ted Baker Flying duck friendship bracelet £19.00

Christmas is all about showing love and spending time with your friends and family so why not buy a Ted Baker flying bird’s friendship bracelet and show someone how much they mean to you. At only £19.00 you just can’t go wrong with the metallic shine and the adjustable strap it will fit all.

Grey ruched super soft gloves £4.00

On the sixth day of Christmas MyFashionShop.co.uk gave to me…

Six geese-a-laying Grey Ruched Gloves Make your money go further this Christmas by buying these luxurious grey knitted gloves. The design of ruching up the wrist, a simple yet effective look, can really add a perk to your gift giving.

On the seventh day of Christmas MyFashionShop.co.uk gave to me…

Seven Swans-a-Swimming A Swan White Blouse After all this thinking about others, maybe you’re wanting to treat yourself this year, after all you have been working hard studying all year and deserve a treat.

Girls: This beautiful grit swan white blouse is the perfect blouse for the 25th; just careful you don’t get gravy down it. The contrasting black collar, button stand and cuffs really add class making it look much more expensive than £20.00.

Women’s Grit Swan White Blouse £20.00

Boys: I’m sure you guys are all fans of looking the part so where is the harm in buying this festive fair aisle sweat at just a tenner. Its low shade of cream mixed with the striped grey zigzag pattern makes it ideal for this Christmas.

It’s super soft and super stylish!

On the eighth day of Christmas MyFashionShop.co.uk gave to me…

Eight maids-a-milking

Cream Zig Zag Pattern Jumper £10.00

On the ninth day of Christmas MyFashionShop.co.uk gave to me…

Nine Ladies Dancing

Maid of Honour Shoes

Ladies Dancing Shoes Bag

Pink Maid of Honour Shoes £10.00

You’d never think ten pounds could get you such a gorgeous pair of shoes! This is the beauty of MyFashionShop.co.uk; students can afford the best of fashions and still have enough money for beans at the end of the week. Why not treat someone who deserves a pink perk this Christmas with these lush Pink Maid of Honour Shoes.

Bombay

Duck Dancing Shoes Satin Bag £16.00

After all you always have your favourite pair of shoes, even if you do have hundreds, so why not buy a bag to keep them in, it can make a great unique gift this year for that special dancing queen. At only £16 you can really put the boogie back into Christmas.

On the tenth day of Christmas MyFashionShop.co.uk gave to me…

Ten Lords-a-Leaping

On the eleventh day of Christmas MyFashionShop.co.uk gave to me…

Eleven pipers piping Piped Cotton Capri

Ladies lush tights

Floral Tights £6.50

This season you need to wrap up warm but still look fashionable, that’s why these tights are perfect for the fashion conscious friend. With the sheer floral pattern they would look lush with a lovely little black dress.

Costing only £6.50 to add the edge to a simple outfit, and even make you the angel for the top of the tree. The perfect ‘stocking’ filler.

On the twelfth day of Christmas MyFashionShop.co.uk gave to me…

Looking back at the perfect blouse for Christmas day, surely you will need the perfect pair of trousers to marry it with. Take a look these Capri pants.

Stylish and sleek with added piped detail around the waistband to add the sharpness to the trousers. How can you miss out when they are just the small price of £12.00?

Black

Twelve Drummers Drumming

cotton

Drumstick Squashies

piped Capri £12.00

Last but certainly not least, the Drumstick Squashies, everyone has a sweet tooth and you can never have enough sweets at Christmas! At just £1.50 a bag you can treat everyone in the flat to a bag. They are perfect for sharing and a sweet little extra for your loved ones. They are a complete twist on the traditional selection box, so go on buy a bag or two.

So there you have it, the perfect gift ideas, from sweets to shoes. You can guarantee a very merry Christmas this year with this ideal gift list for students struggling for pennies. Spending just under £150, buying for everyone from friends to family and even a little something for yourself.

Now all you need to get is a carrot for Rudolph and a couple of mince pies

All items are available on MyFashionShop.co.uk Drumstick Squashies

Happy Christmas

£1.50

Shopping!

By Vicky Smith

Success Story of Lily Rice

BBC’s Be Your Own Boss star

Young British designers are lauded worldwide, and one new talent is bridging the gap between practical sportswear and Fashion. Reporter Vicky Smith meets Lily Rice, founder of Lexie, and star of BBC3’s Be Your Own Boss.

MANY young women will agree with me when I say that it is about time that fashion and sport became close friends.

No matter what age, keeping fit is now a part of everyday life, whether you go to work-out classes, the gym or are part of a club or team. Exercise is very much a thing of the present day for women as much as it is for men. The only problem is that not many sportswear designers cater for the younger generation.

Yes, middle aged women can choose from various shops for their sporting wear, but when it comes to late teens through to the early thirties, there really isn't much choice, especially for the fashion conscious.

Step forward 25-year-old Lily Rice, with her new sportswear brand, Lexie, to hurdle the barrier between fashion and sport.

From a young age, Lily has taken part in sporting activities such as football, boxing and running, and even completed her first half marathon in September this year. Being a sporty person, as Lily grew older she noticed a gap in the market due to the lack of sportswear that she liked, which sparked the idea for her own brand, Lexie.

Founded in May this year, Lexie is a quality women's sportswear line that is fashion-based, and affordable, for younger generations.

The first stockist of Lexie is YoungBritishDesigners.com, and Lily says that other ideal stockists would be Topshop and ASOS, because you should be able to buy sportswear in the same environment and way that you shop for your everyday clothes.

Lily began studying Art and Design at Central Saint Martin’s College in London, before moving onto a more specialised aspect of fashion at Falmouth University, where she received the only first class BA honours degree in the country for Performance Sportswear Design.

Since being a student, Lily has interned at Howies, been a performance designer for Umbro, and worked as a consultant for Adidas, who with Stella McCartney, helped to create the kit for the British Olympic team this summer.

She also took part in the BBC3 television programme Be Your Own Boss, where she was given the chance to present her sportswear designs to Richard Reed, who founded the Innocent drinks brand. She asked for support for the Lexie brand and succeeded, receiving £25,000 of funding.

Lily explained: “Since doing the show, Lexie has been my focus and will be for the foreseeable future, with much work being put into developing the brand and becoming an established company. In ten years’ time I'd love for Lexie to be the brand that girls wear for sport, and for it to just be presumed that is what you are wearing, in the same way that people say 'Oh is that from Topshop?'”

Lily has lots of exciting things to look forward to in the coming months, including the opportunity to be featured in the UK issue of Vogue (look out for her!) as well as a new programme on BBC3 beginning in January.

I think it's safe to say that we will be seeing a lot more of Lily Rice next year, especially when her range launches with YoungBritishDesigners.com.

To the budding designers and entrepreneurs reading this, Lily gives this advice: “You should try and get your work presented on a website, because it allows people to find you. If you are going to set up a website, you need to have a professional mind set and make sure it looks good, and you don't have to spend a lot of money doing that. That is how I got my first graduate job.

"Also searching out opportunities, and actually pursuing them. Even if you can't afford to go somewhere for work experience, offer to help out from where you are, maybe do some social media stuff for them. You just need to have the confidence and belief in yourself!"

Competition Time!

Follow Us @UKfashionshop Like Us @ My Fashion Shop UK For your chance to win £50 worth of MyFashionShop.co.uk vouchers!

Terms & Conditions apply. See our website for more information & full T’s and C’s. Winner will be selected at random. There will only be one winner. Competition ends Jan 2nd 2013. Best of Luck!

By Sophie Cotgrove

Be Inspired by Lady Gaga

She is an internationally famous singing sensation, who has taken the world by storm with her singing and also her fashion.

Lady Gaga is without a doubt leading the way forward in terms of quirky fashion, she is known to step out in some very unusual outfits such as the famous meat dress with matching meat shoes and hat, or the red latex dress she wore to meet the queen.

If you think back the early days of her singing career she had a quirky style, she started the trend of styling hair into a bow, which even to this day is still a very popular hair style.

And for those who don’t have enough hair to create a hair bow she wore giant material bows in her hair, which is another trend that caught on.

The high street is fast to catch on to celebrity styles and imitate them for a reasonable price, which is good news for students.

Lady Gaga also brought back the rounded sunglasses that where popular back in the 80s, she first wore them in her music video for Paparazzi.

Attached to the rounded sunglasses were a pair of Mickey Mouse ears which sparked several stores into stocking headbands with the iconic ears.

Gaga is a big fan of fish net tights and is rarely seen without them, and in recent years they are being seen out on the high street more and more.

On the day that Lady Gaga met the queen she wore the red latex dress but she also wore red glittery eye transfer stickers, since then a stream of styled eye transfers have been seen everywhere from plain colours to lace effects.

Dip dyed hair is currently extremely popular, with everyone from the public to celebrities getting on the trend. Lady Gaga started dip dying her hair yellow for the video for Telephone and since then gone on to other colours such as pink.

Heelless shoes are without a doubt an amazing invention, they do look hard to walk in but they actually aren’t. They are yet another trend started by Gaga herself, when she stepped out in a pair of Jeffrey Campbell heelless shoes.

Luckily for us Jeffrey Campbell shoes are stocked by high street store Office, though they are a little pricey but several other stores have done their own versions of the shoes for less which is kinder to the old bank balance!

There is no denying that Lady Gaga is a style icon, all over the world her style is copied and especially in Japan where she has some fans that copy her every outfit.

She has inspired others to embrace their quirky, eccentric side and that makes her an icon for many. Gaga is often criticised for her style and fashion choices, but it doesn’t stop her being herself and wearing what she chooses which makes her a role model for people everywhere.

Get the Look!

By Sarah Wilkes

Midlands Designer Awards 2012 I recently had the opportunity to take part in the annual fashion event Midlands Designer Awards which took place on the 19th October at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham. The purpose of the event is to showcase emerging fashion designers from across Birmingham and the Midlands and offer a platform for newly emerging and established designers to allow them to showcase and promote their fashion collections. The competition is such a good opportunity for aspiring young designers to get themselves out there and showcase their talent and passion for the fashion industry.

The competition gave me the opportunity to take part in another fashion show event at the beginning of September at the Birmingham Arts Festival to showcase one of my previous collections, where I gained experience of working backstage and received professional photographs of my garments, which is great to include on my CV and to include in my developing professional portfolios.

I had a few months to prepare for the competition and already I was selected as a finalist at the end of had three completed bridal dresses that I did for my final May to take part in the competition, when I submitted a written application major collection at my previous fashion course studying a about my bridal collection including fashion illustrations and fabric swatches. Foundation Degree in Fashion It was a dream come true to have been Studies at Staffordshire University. To take part in the selected as one of the 26 finalists to ‘New Fashion Talent Category’ I showcase at the awards in the ‘New needed a collection of four Fashion Talent Category’, I was garments, so over the summer I extremely pleased. designed and developed a fourth My bridal collection “Bohemian bridal gown to complete my Romantic” consisted of four dresses collection. This involved design which have been inspired by the development, pattern cutting, bohemian bride, 70’s corsets and the toiling and seeing if the uses of laces and luxury fabrics, with developing garment worked with vintage elements of lace embellished the other three dresses in my parasol accessories. My aim was to collection. The final bridal dress create a feminine romantic bridal consisted of an embellished collection that steered away from the fishtail skirt and a waist length traditional wedding dress, which would corset with lace panels and strap cater for the young fashionable bride of detailing. I hand embellished the today. edge of the trail with handmade flowers which was one of the As a current final year fashion student studying a BA (Honours) in Fashion and difficulties I came across as this Textiles at Wolverhampton University, I was extremely time consuming, but I think it was important to think that it is extremely important to include this to show my skills in put yourself out there as the fashion embellishment and capture the industry is highly competitive and you quality and detail within my really need to have the drive, the collection. Even though it took passion and the motivation to succeed me around 50 hours to complete in the fashion industry. it, it was worth it!

By Katie Peake

Photographs taken by Thom Bartley www.thombartley.com

When preparing for the competition I was invited to the Midlands Fashion Networking Soiree night, where I could network with stylists, make-up artists, photographers, models, previous competitions winners and other upcoming designers, as well as drink champagne and eat lots of delicious cupcakes! I think that networking is also a fantastic opportunity to meet new people with similar interests and would definitely recommend it to aspiring students wanting to network as a designer, stylist, make-up artist, fashion photographer, fashion blogger or writer.

As the fashion show started to grow closer my collection was completed ready for the model fittings and rehearsals at The Mailbox in Birmingham. This was very exciting and also nerve racking at the same time as it was the first time other people were going to see a sneak preview of my collection. During the fittings I got to work with the models and fashion choreographer who were making sure the models knew their order as well as poses and their catwalk pace. This was very exciting seeing the models walking up and down the Harvey Nichols catwalk, it gave me a feel for the up and coming competition and it was great to be referred to as a fashion designer.

The event its self was a fantastic experience. I got interviewed by editors from local Birmingham magazines and also a filmed interview about my collection, which was very nerve racking at the time but a good experience to talk about your work and to build up confidence in yourself.

Before the show began the nerves did really kick in but a sit down with close friends and family and a few glasses of VIP champagne definitely helped keep them hidden for the time being. When it came to the moment of seeing my collection worn by the professional models, they entered from backstage and walked ever so gracefully down the catwalk with the crowd silent and the romantic slow music playing in the background. My collection was getting photographed with a room of flashes from all directions, which made me feel really proud and that all the hard work I had put into this collection had most definitely paid off. Through the stress, the ups and downs and the setbacks when constructing my collection and all the effort I put in I was rewarded with feeling proud of my achievement. I also felt relieved that it all went smoothly and I couldn’t have asked for better models!

The talent at the awards was outstanding and it really showed that Birmingham and the Midlands does have a lot of young creative fashion talent to offer. I received amazing feedback from stylists and other fashion industry professionals who have asked if they can use my collections in photo-shoots which are currently being planned. I was so pleased to have people approaching me about my work. The competition has allowed me to make contacts with fashion industry professionals who have offered to work with me on any future collections I put together. Again as a fashion student this is important to start making those contacts, which you would also gain from work experience and fashion interns, which could possibly lead to a new door opening when you graduate.

I would recommend taking part in this event if you’re a young aspiring designer who wants show off their fashion design talents and passion for fashion itself, the event is extremely rewarding and I would like to thank the main organiser Jenny Eason and the Midlands Fashion team who have all worked very hard in helping and supporting the growth of young fashion talent.

THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING …

One of my favourite things about AW is indulging in a gorgeous pair of boots but there are so many variations that sometimes the options can be daunting; how do you decide which pair suits you best? Well look no further!

By Clara Lonsdale

I have worn the ‘Raid’ Boot from Rocket Dog, every day for a whole week, to really put them to the test, and I have to say, they passed with flying colours!

They are a very Chelsea style boot, which we all know are the must-have item for working the heritage trend this season. This pair is a leather look finish in a pull on style.

They have a lace-up front with a ruched silhouette, a rounded shaped toe, and a pull tab to the heel. They also have a small chunky heel to give you a bit of extra height, but still keep you comfy.

I really found that these boots can be worn with anything, and I mean anything! But they looked particularly fab styled with a heritage inspired tea dress; with a slouchy cardigan layered over the top and then finished with a fringe bag. Lace up boots are also a huge trend for the season, which really does make the ‘Raid’ boots perfectfor daytime and for partying!

I would consider myself to have a daring sense of style, and wearing these boots really completed my overall head to toe look.

Check out Rocketdog.co.uk for more gorgeous shoes, perfect for this year’s winter season!

Not only are they gorgeous (and at the very top of my lust list!) but they are fit to tackle the British weather to boot!

They really should be renamed “practical and ridiculously comfortable”, but that doesn’t really have the same ring to it!

When asking students in the high street, what they thought of my new footwear, all I got were positive responses ‘They are lush!’, ‘Where did you find them?’, ‘Can’t believe how cute they are for a winter boot!’, ‘Were they expensive?’ Not at all! At only £59.99, these boots are a real investment for your winter wardrobe!

So why not step into the new season in style, because we all know the right pair of boots can make an outfit, and these are certainly the pair to work cool laidback styling into countless looks.

You’ll really be casting your sartorial magic wearing these bad boys!

COMPETITION TIME! Like what you have seen and heard about the Rocket Dog Raid boots?

Then enter this competition for your chance to win a pair!

All you have to do is answer this simple question: Where did Rocket Dog originate?

Send your answer to student@myfashionshop.co.uk and you must include your first & last name, date of birth, shoe size and postal address to be in with a chance of winning.

Competition ends 21/12/2012 at midnight GMT. There will be one winner chosen at random by Rocket Dog & Student Style.

The winner will be announced on 22/12/2012. They will be notified by email.

Don’t forget to share this fantastic competition with your Facebook friends and Twitter followers so they too can be in with a chance to win!

For more competition details and full terms and conditions please see: www.MyFashionShop.co.uk

Get the Look!

This winter look is fun, quirky and on trend- perfect for the coming New Year. It features Raid Rocket dog boots tried and tested by our student writer Clara Lonsdale in ‘These Boots are made for Walking’. Lion print animal t-shirt- similar to that seen recently on Jessie J, burgundy shortsfor those who are a little more daring, Charnos tights- essential for the winter season and tried and recommended by our student writer Harriet Newton, a warm and cosy coat for the season, and this quirky gold bicycle necklace- particularly fitting after our cycling success at the Olympics this year!

By Sarah Wilkes

Ladders in my Tights It’s safe to say that no woman’s wardrobe would be complete without a staple pair of black tights, but that doesn’t mean you have to stick to the same old styles.

Experimenting with different designs can lead to many fashion discoveries, as I found with this Gipsy pair. I for one have always been a fan of ‘over-the-knee’ socks (especially in winter for that extra warmth), and these tights incorporate the knee-high appearance but in a tight form. With an opaque bottom half and slightly thinner deniers on top to create the knee high illusion, these tights are perfect to keep you warm and fashionable this winter.

I teamed them with a pair of denim shorts. Although the temperature continues to plummet it is okay to still put those summer time favourites to good us, just combine them with tights or socks. I also wore these tights with above the knee dresses, particularly the LBD because you can never go wrong with teaming that with anything.

They were comfortable and gave the illusion of knee high socks but in a more mature and sophisticated way, because I wasn’t actually exposing any leg. You could also team them with high-waisted skirts or shorts to add that extra fashion edge to an outfit.

Overall, I think these are the perfect addition to any winter outfit and will keep you looking and feeling fab this Christmas.

Get ready to drop a dress size with this wonderful creation (picture bottom right). As the majority of women will know, tights have that clever little aspect of sucking in your tummy to give the illusion of the ever-desired flat stomach, but these tights take it to a whole new level. I must warn you though; when I first tried these on I was sure the circulation in my lower body had been cut off but after walking around the house in them for a while I began to feel two sizes smaller straight away. The great thing about these tights is that with your clothes over the top, they look like any old ordinary tights but underneath, they get to work like liposuction; sucking you in until you look like model material.

By Harriet Newton

As the winter party season kicks in and you will no doubt want to show off your figure in the latest bodycon dresses, these tights are an absolute must have. I wore them under a bodycon dress to create a super-tiny waist and flat stomach and was complimented all night on my figure. They’re not for the faint hearted though as they really do squeeze you, but fashion is pain- right? And even if you don’t want to be showing off your figure, they’re great as a confidence booster to make you feel as though you have a figure to rival that of Kate Moss.

All in all I was definitely impressed by these tights and would recommend them to all women who want that amazing hourglass figure (and are willing to suffer a little bit too). They come in black and nude so they’re pretty versatile for almost every outfit. I know I’ll be picking up a couple more pairs off my Christmas wish list.

Footless tights are a great way to cover up and still be able to wear open-toed shoes, and this Jonathan Aston pair is perfect for just that. At 40 denier they give a good coverage and end just at your ankle, allowing you to wear them with open-toed heels or sandals. They essentially act as a pair of super-thin leggings, which would look great when teamed with an oversized t-shirt or tunic.

I wore them with an oversized cable knit jumper which doubles up as a dress and teamed them with rolled down kneehigh socks and chunky heeled ankle boots as the perfect seasonal outfit. I also teamed them with an oversized tunic and a pair of open toed wedges.

Personally I think they’re a signature part of any woman’s wardrobe for when full length tights just won’t suffice.

Overall, I would definitely recommend these to any woman who loves her tights, layering items on top of each other and just keeping warm but creating a fashionable finish this Christmas period.

Get the Look!

I love this outfit- It’s easy to wear, comfortable and on trend. Normally I’m not a fan of velvet, but it really suits the style of this dress and would look great paired with these block tights and simple pumps. My favourite piece from this look though has to be this amazing moustache necklace- I’m always on the lookout for jewellery that stands out and this definitely does that, I absolutely love it!

It stands out great against the deep red of the dress and yet fits perfectly with this great biker jacket which I’ve added in to give the look a bit of edge.

By Sarah Wilkes

Go Head Over Heels for ...

New Year’s Eve – Without a doubt the biggest student night of the year!

What am I doing? Where am I going?

Whose face do I kiss at midnight? And if you’re anything like I am, you leave it till it’s only a matter of days away and with that comes the usual last minute panic.

But not this year! This year we have teamed up at MyFashionShop.co.uk to ensure that you head into 2013 with a stress free, ridiculously organised almighty bang!

So let’s talk outfits, and the only place to start... the heels. Now ladies, we all know that an essential part of an outfit is the statement shoes you decide to work.

It goes without saying that if you own the right set of breath taking heels, you can get away with a more understated outfit this New Years, and I’m sure, after such a pricy Christmas, your credit card is in need for some serious TLC … well look no further!

By Clara Lonsdale

Blink Open Toe Heels £15

Kitsch Couture Peep Platform Heels £10

Miso Stud Platform Heels £20 All Over Stud Heels £47.99

Balis Suede Platform Court Heel £19.59

Verenicca Slingback Tropical Heels £35.99 Stitch Snake Suede Heels £38.99

Lipsy Snake Ankle Strap Heels £40

Happy Shoe Shopping!

Miso Colour Block Heels £40

Kitsch Couture Cut Out Block Heels £19

Nailedituk.com Nails

Illustrations by Ali Cheng

By Lucy Gronner Ever since I can remember I’ve been fashion mad with my head my passion for fashion, for the past couple of years I’ve been a huge nail art enthusiastic and, having always been quite artistic, loved the challenge of creating intricate looks on my nails.

At just 20, I’ve never really had a clear vision of what I wanted to do. After completing my A levels, I didn’t want to go to university for the sake of it, so I got a job in retail and then completed a business administration apprenticeship with a local recruitment agency. When my contract ended in August this year, I didn’t want to just go for anything and decided to try and turn my hobby in to a business.

At just 20, I’ve never really had a clear vision of what I wanted to do. After completing my A levels, I didn’t want to go to university for the sake of it, so I got a job in retail and then completed a business administration apprenticeship with a local recruitment agency. When my contract ended in August this year, I didn’t want to just go for anything and decided to try and turn my hobby in to a business.

Customer service and a quality product are key to my business succeeding. I’ve been lucky enough to receive such positive feedback about both of these points and am so excited with what the future My aim was to start a website to sell false nails with designs inspired by the latest and upcoming fashion trends. After conducting a great deal of market research, I realised that although there are painted false nails available to buy online, there were none that related to current fashion trends and I definitely wanted the nails to be thought of as a must have fashion accessory. www.nailedituk.com nails make the perfect gifts and this Christmas, instead of giving money or a voucher, give little presents that are so much more personal! On request you can even get gift personalisation with hand written tags and a note.

The nails come in small red drawstring bags, perfect for stocking fillers of even hanging on the tree! So this year, with the student loan vanishing quickly, save money and give a fabulous present to your uni flat mates or friends back home with the gift of a fashion update. Give nailedituk.com nails.

Winter Skin

By Julianna Brougham

How to achieve this seasons seductively bare but daredevil eyes with vixen lips.

This winter is all about fresh translucent skin, so leaving the layers on your body by keeping your skin coverage minimal. Let your skin breathe and glow like you’re a model walking the catwalk for Louis Vuitton. Use facial oil and base illuminators to get your base beautifully sheer, and catwalk ready.

Team your translucent skin with a vixen lip base from either: rose pink, velvet reds and oxbloods colourings. Make it matte and make it bold for extra emphasis.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm £22.50 Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Lip Stain £22.50

Go orange. Believe it or not it’s not just about the rose cheeks and red lips this winter. Orange is the new red, specifically the colour orange blush – orange eyes and lips you name it. It can look so pretty for the winter, if you do it right pick then blush a lip or a shadow never more than once- its Crayola cute.

Benefit Sugar Bomb Blush - £23.50

Get those dramatic eyes. Loving the bold geometric eyes for this A/W- get crazy and creative with kohl and team it up with a voluminous fifties bouffant.

Smokey eyes are subtle and sexy and are bound to win anybody over this year. They are soft with brown warm tones and will compliment your original eye colouring too.

Maybelline Liquid Eyeliner Pot £8 Bare Minerals Eyeshadow Duo £16.15

Perfectly plucked eyebrows. We have all been brow crazy for a while now and this it is the season of the perfectly pruned symmetrical set of brows. It’s not as easy as it sounds and I found it quite hard to achieve until I turned to what the experts were using which is a brow powder set. It fills them in naturally and clings to hairs evenly.

Benefit Brows Shaping Compact £22.50

All products and their amazing prices are at Feel Unique: www.FeelUnique.com

CONTOURING – HIGHLIGHTING AND SHADING Contouring is massive right now. It can make facial features appear smaller, larger and more flawless. All you need is a good bronzer palette and concealer- it’s amazing how these two objects can enhance your facial structure. Kim Kardashian is amongst one of the celebrities who have braved their faces to the scrutiny of the public halfway through the contouring process.

Contouring is often used with concealer and bronzer to shade the outer face, and make the bone structure appear much more emphasised. The delicate features of the face are transformed into much more noticeable features. Key gentle areas are…

The Method

2. Around and over your nose.

The face is like art- shading and colouring to enhance the beauty of a facial picture. The areas that are essential when highlighting are…

Eyes- Widen the eyes by popping a shimmer in the inner corners.

Lips- Enlarge or define lips by highlighting your cupids bow.

Eyebrows- Shape the eyebrows by putting it just under the brow and arch.

Nose- Highlight down the centre of the nose to streamline, narrow or shorten.

Cheekbones- Shape the cheekbones to make them appear more striking.

1. Concealing underneath your eyes.

3. The circumference of your lips.

4. The dip in your chin.

5. Bronzer under and along the tip of your cheekbones.

6. And your temples and forehead.

Products All you need is a good concealer and bronzer and you’re ready to go.

Illustration by Clara Lonsdale

Jane Iredale Concealer- Includes 2 great shades to contour and shadow with.

Clarins Bronzer- Which again has 2 shades to work with on highlighting and shadowing.

By Julianna Brougham

Forever Unique Dress Review

By Ellen Wray It arrived very quickly in a beautiful black box, wrapped in tissue paper with the recognisable forever unique diamond logo fastening it together. This dress is part of Forever Unique’s Selfish collection which is full of contemporary going out dresses in a range of styles The dress is a gorgeous black and gold sparkly knit body con dress with a cut out back and ladder sleeve detailing to make it one sexy dress. For my body shape the only part I felt wasn’t as flattering was the square neckline, maybe if had of been a high round neckline instead. With some sparkly dresses they can be itchy to wear, not this one. It fits like a glove shaping you in all the right places and as it’s a stretchy fit it’s super comfy to wear and also makes it a great dancing dress. Hand crafted from high quality materials you know it’s going to last...what’s not to love?

It’s a very versatile dress so I was able to put together three different outfits for different occasions easily. You can wear it again and again as it’s easy to make look different; it’s well worth the money! One tip is to get your underwear right, as its body-con seamless is best, with a cut out back wear a backless bra, or see through strap bra but as you can still often see them I felt it looked best with no bra.

Look one:

Look two:

Look three:

Team the dress with Chelsea Heeled boots, statement earrings and a clutch bag. As the dress is quite busy I’ve gone for minimalist accessories so that I don’t look like a walking Christmas tree. As for the beauty side wear hair down with a bit of body and a dark vamp lip. This is a great look for a night out clubbing.

Another perfect look for clubbing is wearing the dress with patterned flatforms, a gold pendant necklace. Top it off with a sky high bun, and dark eyes creating a party girl look with an extra edge.

Wear the dress with Dr Martens, frilly socks, a leather jacket and fur collar. Super cool and full of attitude this is a great look for a gig. Wear your hair in a slick pony and add a pop of colour with a bright coral lip.

I chose to wear this look out as I was going to a pretty dressed up night. I felt confident in the dress (you know it’s a good dress when that happens) and my friends loved it so all in all I was very happy!

The Three Looks!

Check out Foreverunique.co.uk for more beautiful pieces, perfect for the busy party season coming up.

Competition Time!

For a chance to win this reviewed item, please view the Selfish by Forever Unique AW12 collection at: http://www.foreverunique.co.uk/clothing/selfis hcollection/cat_127.html to find the answer to the following question – What is the name of the Selfish by Forever Unique dress reviewed in the above article?

Send your answer to student@myfashionshop.co.uk and you must include your first & last name, date of birth, dress size and postal address to be in with a chance of winning.

Prize dress available in size 8, 10 or 12.

Competition ends 21/12/2012 at midnight GMT. There will be one winner chosen at random by Forever Unique & Student Style.

The winner will be announced on 22/12/2012 and will be notified by email.

UK only.

Don’t forget to share this fantastic competition with your Facebook friends and Twitter followers so they too can be in with a chance to win!

For more competition details and full terms and conditions please see: www.MyFashionShop.co.uk

This issue’s featured University City is..

Northampton!

Student Seen’ing in Northampton with Lily Taylor

Hot Spots in Northampton Here we bring you the ultimate student destinations in Northampton. From the coolest places to hang-out and chill to the greatest shopping experiences.

The Royal & Derngate Theatre Always has spectacular shows on, and is the number one place for entertainment in Northampton.

The Picturedrome It is an old converted cinema, which sells grub, pints of beer, and regularly has events on including on a Monday evening a movie on the big screen.

Abington Park If you want to just escape the madness of being a student, go for a run, or just see something a bit more scenic. Then take a walk around Abbington park, and appreciate the real beauty of Northampton.

Cafe Coco Cafe Coco is situated in the town centre down the quiet walkway towards Argos. It is easy to miss this chic cafe, but once you go in you won't forget it for its vintage touch. It sells food from cupcakes to a vast selection of homemade goodies. The perfect place to take someone when visiting Northampton. You will definitely go back.

Triology Gym Now although I wouldn't normally recommend a gym. I have to mention it in my top 10 as it pretty much my second home, and with a 3 month minimum contract basis, and student fee of just ÂŁ19.95 a month which includes access to the pool, saunas, various classes and all gym equipment -you can't go wrong.

Are you being served? Are you being served is another lovely little cafe along (in my opinion) the prettiest street of Northampton- St Giles Street. You may even spot a rugby player or two in there as it is among one of the many places they can be spotted in Northampton.

Silverstone Is the heart of British motor racing. So for any student or individual who is a massive fan of Motor Racing- go go go!

Franks Steakhouse and Burger house When I first went to Franks I went with my Mum as she was treating me to a meal out (which is rare as a student).

It was the best cooked steak I had ever eaten out, and because of the popularity of the steakhouse, they opened a chain across the road called Franks Burger house which I am yet to try.

Northampton Shoe Museum If you are into shoes or just into museums, then Northampton's shoe museum is the place to visit. Northampton is famous for its shoe making industry, so why not whilst your here check out some of the exquisite shoes that the museum has in its vast collection.

By Victoria Smith and Daisy Craydon

A Most Marvellous Place to Shop A vintage shop located right on the edge of town. From clothes to furniture and cute, handmade jewellery and cushions, it has it all. There is even a 50s style hairdressers in the shop and a small cafe selling homemade cakes and tea (yummy!).

Salcey Forest Located in Hartwell, about 8 miles from Northampton town centre. It's a great place for spending the summer following all of the trails and is equally as nice in the autumn/winter months. There is a cafe with indoor/outdoor seating selling small bites to eat like soup, cakes, sandwiches, jackets, etc. I particularly like the tree top walk, although you have to be brave to go right to the top.

Buddies I have only ever found Buddies in Northampton. It is an American style diner, and you truly feel like you are in NYC when stepping into the restaurant. It sells typical greasy American food like burgers, steak and hotdogs and drinks like coke floats. There are quite a few located throughout Northampton.

Althorp House Althorp house belongs to the Spencer family, whose generations have lived there for over 500 years. The grounds are open to the public for the whole of July every year, where many people are attracted to find out more about the life of Princess Diana. The house is set in beautiful grounds, in a beautiful village where you can find small country pubs and a church.

Cromwell Cottage A beautiful pub located in Kislingbury. It is a little pricier than your average student eatery, but it is worth it. It is a typical country pub with open log fires and a menu selling good hearty food, as well as a la carte.

Wardrobe A fashion shop, in town, that sells both new and up-cycled clothes. If you want something a bit different and that everybody else doesn't have, this is the place to go. They sell men’s and women’s, and have a fine collection of vintage jewellery.

Hakamou’s A Hawaiian themed bar in the heart of town. It is quirky and sells great, reasonably priced cocktails. I like how the whole club/bar is downstairs so it's like going into a totally different world. Anyone would think you were on a tropical island somewhere. Some of the drinks are even served in coconuts!

Scrooge located just on the outskirts of town. It is a great vintage shop selling absolutely everything, so be prepared that if vintage is your thing then you could literally spend a whole day in there. The lady who owns the shop clearly has an obsession with buying old things and she definitely needs a bigger store to accommodate for all her items.

Momos located in the heart of town, it is a bar/club. It is the place where everyone goes for drinks before going on to the main club. On student nights, drinks are really cheap and the music is good. The terrace is a great place to chill, with large cushions, sofas, curtains dividing the seating areas and outdoor heating. You can even get a shisha pipe there.

Gold Disco Pants from Wardrobe I have always wanted a pair of Disco Pants, and when I purchased this extravagant Gold number people were forever questioningwhy? People don’t give the colour Gold enough recognition, and I was out to prove that Gold really is a winning colour not just on the track, but the dance floor too.

Disco Pants are considered a strictly going out item of fashion, but when you team them with a batwing, slouchy top and a pair of Vans or Converses they make the perfect dressed down outfit. Just because these pants are Gold doesn’t mean you can’t wear them into University; if anything it should make you want to wear them even more so. The Gold being such a statement colour really does make you stand out from the crowd.

Not only are these pants a fashion statement to not be reckoned with, but they are fabulous for sucking in that tummy and causing all eyes to look at your golden booty. If you don’t have the biggest bum in the world and are worried about carrying off such a tight pair of pants- worry no more. They not only suck you in amazingly, but create the illusion of a curvaceous and gold medal worthy body.

If you are hitting the town or even just going to your local pub for a few, then slip into these pants and bust a move on the dance floor or shimmer on over to that bar. All eyes will no doubt be on you, or better yet your bum. You can team these pants with a pair of classic black stilettos and a black top in order to not create too much of a colour clash. You have to remember Gold is such a striking colour; it doesn’t need to be teamed up with anything too bright. These Disco Pants are perfect with an elegant black lace top, and heels to match.

You can find these eye-catching pants in The Wardrobe Unisex Retro, situated in The Ridings Arcade in Northampton town centre for £28.00. The shop is a one off retailer, and features clothes for both females and males with quirky little buys suited for everybody.

This is the perfect little shop to get presents sorted for anybody into fashionable goodies this season. The shop is hiding in the arcade, but once you have discovered it you will be bound to return for more and more affordable treats.

Anything is possible when you’re strutting your stuff in these Golden delights.

By Daisy Craydon

BBC’s Be Your Own Boss star

Riding to Success with Jezz Skelton …

.. and his Mango Bikes!

By Daisy Craydon

Illustration by Ali Cheng

Jezz Skelton and Ben Harrison owners and founders of Mango Bikes hit the jackpot when they appeared on BBC Three’s popular programme ‘Be Your Own Boss’. They successfully won the funding of £50,000, and their company has in effect become an established, recognisable company. Some of you will not have watched their beginnings of success aired earlier this year and are probably questioning: What is Mango Bikes? What makes a bike a Mango Bike?

How did two students achieve this level of establishment? I caught up with Jezz to delve a little deeper into the successful cycle of Mango Bikes.

Where did you and Ben come up with the idea behind Mango Bikes, and what was it that really inspired you?

Basically we were at University together, and we wanted bikes that were easy to get into University on. Most bikes we looked at were dull and boring. So we basically came up with the idea of creating student bikes, at student prices.

That idea then developed into creating fashionable bikes, which we then developed into creating customised bikes.

We found a manufacture and here we are today.

You and Ben were housemates at Swansea University. Were the skills you developed whilst studying at University a big factor towards your success?

I studied Marketing at University, and we focused a lot on social media. We focus as a company mainly on social media, because it’s free. We’ve been quite successful through that method too. Ben is in his last year of studying Economics and he tends to look after the manufacturing side of the business. He’s on the ball with dollar currency, and economic climates. The things we have learnt whilst at University have been really helpful. Ben deals with the buying, and I deal with the selling.

Is friendship important in the business side of things?

Me and Ben work pretty well together. As I say we were good mates at University. Obviously we have our disagreements, but they always get resolved. I think it’s important that you just get on with your business partner, and you’re not childish about things, and can meet agreements with one another.

Mango Bikes are extremely eye-catching, colourful and stylish. What was it about this particular style of bike you felt was missing from the industry?

There are bikes that are colourful also in the market, but we market outside of the bike market. So we tend to advertise with high-end fashion magazines, and tend to avoid bike based magazines.

Stylish bikes were in the market, but not enough people knew they were there, and that’s what we have done- created awareness to stylish bikes.

How would you describe the market your company reaches out to?

Our target audience is both female, and male between the ages of 15 and 30 at present. At the moment we are selling majority of the bikes to young, male professionals. With the female market we obviously do the pink bikes, but it doesn’t sell that well. We’re trying a purple one in a couple of months’ time, and creating a specific ladies framed bike too. The female framed bikes will hopefully help us appeal to a wider female market. Most of our sales are from males at the moment, but we are trying to get the females more interested, and particularly more students.

What makes a Mango Bike a Mango Bike?

The reason we went for fixed geared bikes is because they are dead simple, there are no gears, and they hardly weigh anything. So they are perfect for students commuting and people on a budget too. The reason we ultimately went for fixed geared bikes is because if you go to the fashionable city of London, the craze of these bikes is really in at the moment.

What has the overall impact been like since being featured on Be Your Own Boss, and winning the £50,000 grant of Richard Reed?

Yeah it’s been really good. The free publicity it had to offer has been amazing, and has really kickstarted us. We managed to gain loads of contacts and a load of sales through that as well, and the brand awareness has really, really increased. Those guys have been really helpful, and they were a really good company to get involved with. It was the best thing that could have ever happened to our business.

What can we expect from Mango Bikes in the near future? Are there any exciting prospects you can share with us?

We basically plan to grow and grow as quickly as possible really. We’ve got the single speed bike at the moment, but we’re going to do a geared one next year. We are obviously releasing the ladies frame I told you about, but also releasing a kid’s version called The Mini Mango. We then want to not just sell bikes, but look into what other cool things we can offer our target market such as cool sunglasses and hats.

What is essential to attract a student to a bike in your opinion?

I think the main thing is price, but the quality has got to be there. As a student a bike is going to be used every day, all day. It’s got to look good as well.

Just to finish off on a much lighter note- how would you describe Mango Bikes in one word?

I think I’d have to just say- Cool.

The Wintertime Gentlemen But it’s not all doom and gloom...

.. at MyFashionShop.co.uk

We’ve all noticed it; it’s that time of year again where the summer (yes, apparently that’s what we had) is drawing to an end, and winter’s approaching fast!

The days are dark and wet; the nights are cold and miserable, and its times like this when you just can’t be bothered. When you just want to be lazy and pull on something simple. Obviously you really don’t want to spend your entire month’s wages, or begin breaking into your student loan because of the need for winter clothes, and then ultimately eat only baked beans for the remainder of the year.

[Year]

But all is not lost! As men, all you really need is a few key pieces to get you through the colder months, and I have selected this season’s must have pieces with the help from MyFashionShop.co.uk, to get you gents well on your way!

This is the simplest step; that coat you wore in September is probably not cut out for winter weather, so invest in a proper winter overcoat.

This cheeky Boxfresh Bary Melton Wool Duffle Coat will give you a quirky edge and is hugely practical.

A little pricy at £175, BUT you’re looking at an investment piece that will last you for years.

If you’re a little more concerned about those pennies then how about this Crafted Cotton Pea Coat, at only £65! Believe me, your wallet and sartorial status will thank you for it!

With such statement coats it really doesn't matter what you’re wearing underneath!

By Clara Lonsdale

A proper knit hat is a must, which means this Universal Works Blue Zig-Zag Bobble Hat, at £45, this coy knit will last you a lifetime.

If you’re watching those pennies then this Natural Fairisle Beanie Hat, is a steal at only £10, and will top off your outfit without break the bank!

So maybe the percentage of body heat you lose by not wearing a hat isn't as much as you were told growing up, but every bit counts when the temperature drops.

When it comes to making a decision on which boots to get for the rain, sleet and snow, you need to go for something a bit dressier, and invest in some battle ready boots this season.

These Brown leather chukka boots, are perfectly practical for the inevitable cold weather, and are a steal at only £24!

Why not treat yourself to these Ben Sherman Brown Boots, at £65, they are guaranteed to keep you one step ahead of the pack this season.

Wear this Grey Elbow Patch Vee Cardigan buttoned up underneath a suit jacket. A bargain at only £25 down from £44! Stay bang on trend whatever manly tasks you have to do.

Then layer up and go for bold with this Blue Marl Patterned Yoke Sweatshirt, on sale at £17 down from £28 and up your warmth game!

It’s essential that your winter gloves go the distance and wanting to stay warm is no excuse to bring out those puffy monsters from the dark and dingy corners of your wardrobe.

Reach for slim ones that actually allow for individual finger movements like these quilted Rammamy gloves at £49! An essential investment if ever there was one!

An essential part of your wardrobe this season is a scarf that can stand up to the elements, so this Rust Rochelle Scarf is perfect for those cold lectures and chilly nights out, and is a steal at only £10!

If you feel like flashing the cash, keep the chill at bay in this reversible Charcoal Waffle Knit Scarf, at £35!

Clean, Pristine and full of Sheen Goodbye Movember, Move in Desire of December!

The Trend Men’s skin is just as important as women’s this winter, the desired look talking over the catwalk is clean-cut chiselled, so men need to follow some important steps to keep up with the likes of a Tom Ford billboard.

The Steps A lot of men get stubble rash probably because of harsh blades dry skin or blocked pores , before shaving use a good exfoliator whilst after shaving it’s all about making sure your using a good protecting shaving balm. Step by step when your face is exfoliated and your shave is complete, exfoliate over the area again this makes sure that the pores are squeaky clean and therefore there will be no trapped dirt causing irritation or spots. To replace the moisture use a nourishing shaving balm soon after which will protect and help the skin look smooth. To banish and prevent any kinds of irritation , ingrown hair or spots use hot water on a flannel press it on the skin then work your way around the face in circular motion - the flannels towelling gets rid of any dead skin and bacteria deep within the pores and the hot water opens them allowing it to do so. Repeat the step but with cold water as this closes the pores causing the skin to be perfectly sealed, again always replace the moisture with a good moisturiser or an enriched cream. Come one men its simple easy and if you want that winter warmer woman or office crush number at that Christmas party get prepping!

The Products The green people exfoliate scrub homme £9.45 Clarins for men super hydrating moisture balm £24.30 - offer!

All above products and deals can be purchased on feel unique on the link below: http://track.webgains.com/cl ick.html?wgcampaignid=1258 71&wgprogramid=347

By Julianna Brougham

Life and Sole of the Party!

New Year’s Eve – Without a doubt the biggest student night of the year!

What am I doing? Where am I going?

Whose face do I kiss at midnight? And if you’re anything like I am, you leave it till it’s only a matter of days away and with that comes the usual last minute panic.

But not this year! This year we have teamed up at MyFashionShop.co.uk to ensure that you head into 2013 with a stress free, almighty bang!

So let’s talk outfits, and the easiest place to start... the shoes. Now gents trust me when I say that once you decide on the shoes, the outfit pretty much sorts itself out, which in the long run, saves you a lot of last minute shopping hassle!

It goes without saying that if you own the right pair of swag shoes, you can get away with not splashing the cash on an outfit and I’m sure, after such a pricy Christmas, your credit card is in need for some serious TLC … well lads, look no further!

By Clara Lonsdale

"Scout" Chino Chukka Boots £15

Jackie Kung Fu Slipper Navy Canvas £10

Tan Chukka Boots £15

Luke 1977 Caspe Hot Coral Pink Canvas Trainers £20

Hudson "BEKKER" Zip Boots £20

Frank Wright Suede Desert Boots £30

Happy Shoe Shopping!

Solano Black Hi Top Trainers £30

Tan Leather Desert Boots £38

Get the Look!

Couples get the looks this year with these must have New Year’s Eve fantastic outfits, and don’t forget to kiss at midnight!

By Sarah Wilkes

Celebrating Christmas, the Student way!

If you have no one to share the cost with or no decorations to borrow, then simply make snowflakes out of paper. You simply attach them to string and stick them to the ceiling, the walls, wherever you want to add a bit of Christmas spirit too. Use different colours and make various different shapes and sizes to make it as exciting as possible, and plus all you need is paper and staples. It’s as cheap as chips. Tinsel tends to be cheap in most supermarkets and you’ll be amazed how a load of tinsel can transform any room into a Christmas grotto. If you’re feeling fancy then whilst you’re decorating treat yourself to some pink sparkling wine with edible glitter, which can be found from almost all supermarkets.

Now for Christmas dinner everyone’s favourite part of Christmas, and most indulgent. Don’t try to do this on your own, especially if you don’t have much experience cooking. My housemate and I can cook a mean Christmas dinner between us but we wouldn’t be able to afford to if we didn’t do the following.

You can invite your friends round, and all put in a reasonable fund of £3/4. If you shop cleverly you can get everything for a very reasonable price. Last year we found a massive chicken for only £3.

Don’t push the boat out and get a Turkey as it is pricey, and takes hours upon hours of preparation. Most students will be thankful for some protein as living on carbohydrates can get quite sickening after a while.

Here are some suggestions for what to include: 7. Chicken 8. Pigs in blankets (cheaper to buy frozen) 9. Suede and carrot mash 10. Honey roasted parsnips 11. Peas 12. Broccoli 13. Mashed potato 14. Roast potato 15. Gravy And everyone’s favourite...SPROUTS!!

Ok, so they’re not everyone’s favourite but surprisingly people do eat them, and it just doesn’t seem like Christmas dinner without their presence.

You can also do mulled wine or mulled cider. Mulled cider is cheaper but they are both equally as tasty in my opinion.

By Kimberley Barr

Another year nearly over, but it not all bad...it’s time to prepare for Christmas!

Christmas is my favourite time of year and I am here to help you make the most of Christmas at University- without spending a shed load of money. Believe it or not you can still decorate the house and have Christmas dinner for very little. I am now in my third year and was lucky enough to live with the same person for the duration of my course.

The reason this is lucky is it meant we could buy decorations in first year, and split the cost. This allowed us to use them for the next couple of years, instead of diving into our purses each Christmas. If this isn’t the case for you however, then talk amongst your house mates and put together a bit of money to splurge on Christmas treats and decorations. There are so many places to look including Tesco, Asda and various other supermarkets. You can also ask around at home, as I am sure your parents will have some Christmas past times they can spare you. It’s possible someone will have an old tree or a spare one which you can put to good use.

Suggestions of how to cook:  Chicken- Stuff the chicken using a whole orange and a peeled 1hr 30mins. Once you remove it from the oven leave it to cool, and then take off the foil and sprinkle the skin with chicken OXO. Return to the oven for 15-20mins and when the skin is golden and crispy it’s ready. If you’re willing to get your hands dirty, before cooking you can mix butter, herbs and garlic and rub it under the skin- it’s delicious.  Roast potatoes- Peel and cut them to whichever size required, and boil for about 10mins whilst preheating the oil on a tray in the oven. Then once you have drained the cooked potatoes give them a shake with the lid on the pan, and add them to the preheated oil. If you want you can sprinkle garlic and herbs over the top and cook for 30-50mins. This will depend on how big you’ve cut them- so keep an eye on them and when they look nice and golden they are ready.  Gravy- Use the meat juices from the chicken or turkey, boiling water and chicken or beef gravy granules. The amount of water depends on how much you need and the amount of granules depends on the thickness you want- most prefer it thick. Add them gradually as a small amount will make it thicker than you think. If you’re feeling adventurous put some fried onions in.  Mulled wine/cider- For this you can buy premade mulled wine or what I prefer to do is buy the mulled sachets. They come in a small box and are a bit like tea bags. Pour the wine/cider into a pan over the hob adding water and sugar (it say’s how much on the box) and throw some slices of orange (for wine) or apple (for cider) in towards the end when it’s nearly ready and serve hot. If you can’t find the sachets but want to make mulled cider which is not readily available, then in a pan a 1.5l bottle would need six dessert spoons of brown sugar, four cinnamon sticks, between eight and twelve cloves, a teaspoon of cinnamon powder, half a teaspoon of nutmeg and one teaspoon of mixed spice. Leave this to boil for a minimum of 5mins. The longer you leave it the stronger the mulled flavour will be.

Everything else is pretty straight forward but if you’re unsure check online or call your parents. One thing I strongly advise before starting any cooking is to write down a time plan and do your best to stick to it.

There is no better way to cook a Christmas dinner then find a good friend to cook it alongside with!

Santa’s Cocktails Perfect cocktails to start off your Christmas parties!

Tequila Slammer Slammers are also known as shooters. The idea is that you pour the ingredients into the glass without stirring, cover the glass with one hand, then slam it on a table to mix and then drink the cocktail down in one!

Serves 1 1 measure white tequila, chilled 1 measure lemon juice Sparkling wine, chilled 1.

2.

3.

Put the tequila and lemon juice into a chilled glass.

Top up with sparkling wine.

Cover the glass with your hand and slam!

White Diamond Frappé This is a crazy combination of liqueurs, but it works well once you’ve added the lemon.

Toffee Split You should not need a

Serves 1

dessert as well, but you

¼ measure peppermint schnapps ¼ measure white crème de cacao ¼ measure anise liqueur ¼ measure lemon juice ice and crushed ice 1.

2.

Shake all the liquid ingredients over ice until frosted.

Strain into a chilled glass and add a small spoonful of crushed ice.

Flirtini

could always pour this over some ice cream!

Serves 1 2 measures Drambuie 1 measure toffee liquor, iced Crushed ice

This combination of vodka and champagne is guaranteed to brink a sparkle to the eyes and a smile to the lips – what could be more attractive?

1.

Serves 1 ¼ slice fresh pineapple, chopped ½ measure chilled Cointreau

2.

½ measure chilled vodka 1 measure chilled pineapple juice Chilled champagne or sparkling white wine, to top up 1.

2.

3.

Put the pineapple and Cointreau into a mixing glass or jug and muddle with a spoon to crush the pineapple.

Add the vodka and pineapple juice and stir well, then strain into a champagne flute.

Top up with champagne.

3.

Fill a small cocktail glass with crushed ice.

Pour on the Drambuie and pour in the toffee liqueur carefully from the side of the glass so it layers on top.

Drink immediately.

Top Wild Student Confessions by ‘Confessions of a Uni Student’ Confession #1 “Managed to pull a hot guy on Friday night. I'm not one of those girls who goes out to try and pull. If it happens, it happens. But anyway, this guy wasn't from my Uni, he was just visiting a mate, so he asked if he could come back to mine. I really wanted him, but ideally I would have wanted to go back to his. So I reluctantly said yes.

Anyway, we get pretty passionate, and head towards my flat. He presses me against my door and starts kissing me. I was getting pretty excited. Just before I opened the door, I said one thing to him... "please don't be shocked". This is why I reluctantly said yes to him coming back with me... I still play with Lego religiously...and my whole room is literally flooded with it. Anyway, he walks in, pauses, and says nothing. He then brushes past me, and starts building... I literally sit there for an hour watching him, and he doesn't once acknowledge me... Then at about 4am, he gets up, takes his structure, kisses me on the cheek, and leaves his number and goes.” #MarryMeIHaveHotWheelsToo

Confession #2 “After a one night stand, the girl fell asleep so I took her hamster and left. Hamster is alive and well, renamed it Spartacus.” #FreePet

18+ content

Confession #3

Confession #8

“I always carve a 'Z' in the girl’s bedpost after a one night stand, in the style of The Mask of Zorro. A good swordsman always leaves his mark.”

#Don'tActLikeYou'reNotImpressed

“Met a lovely girl in 'The Bop' the other night. Was a complete gent to her. She asked if I wanted to head back to hers, so of course I say yes. We make it into her room and she lies back on her bed. I leant over her and took her top off. Then I see her tattoo... It was a noughts and crosses board. After spotting it, she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a pen.

And simply says, "If you win, you can sleep with me, but if you loose, you leave". I accept this challenge, but in the heat of the moment, with all the adrenaline flowing, she remained more composed than I did, and beat me with the 3 move tactic. I simply got up, and left a beaten man.”

Confession #5

#WishSheHadAChessBoardTattooInstead

“To the drunk girl who tried it on with my boyfriend, then later threatened to hit me with your shoe. I have your shoes, they fit lovely.”

Confession #9

#HaveYouBeenMarked?

Confession #4 “Walked out of my room this morning, completely naked with a used condom still on to find my house mates parents sitting on the sofa in front of me.”

#TopshopsFinest Confession #6 “This morning I met my lecturer in the hallway.....of her own house after shagging her daughter.” #NoDegreeForMe Confession #7 “To the small blonde girl I had a one nighter with the other day… would you please kindly return the £80 you stole out of my wallet. Your phone fell down the side of my bed; I now have it and have read the texts from your ‘boyfriend’. Now kindly return the £80 for the safe return of your phone, or secondly, I could just call your boyfriend and explain the situation to him? Your choice.”

“I use a Bop-It to give me commands while I'm having a wank.” #FlickItPullItTwistItBOPIT Confession #10 “The girls and I went out for Halloween and we met these guys, one of which was dressed as Ron Burgundy from Anchorman. At the end of the night, I ended up going back to Ron Burgundy's house. He walked me up to his room and we both got into bed pretty quickly. Just as we started kissing, the door opens and in walks his three house mates, dressed up as the other Anchorman characters.

They all stood in a line at the end of the bed. One of them said, "Ron makes a girl orgasm 60% of the time, every time". They all turned around and marched out, but before closing the door, the shorter one turned around and shouted, "I love lamp!”. The door shut, Ron looked at me, "Boy that escalated quickly". #NewsTeamAssemble

#YouKnowWhoYouAre

www.facebook.com/pages/Confessions-Of-A-Uni-Student/439249686139430

A Malaysian Odyssey

By Kate Ng Shu-Yi This winter, stay out of the cold and soak up the sun while backpacking in Malaysia! Located in Southeast Asia, Malaysia is a never-ending tapestry of colour, culture and cuisine. Student Style has the ultimate guide of places to go for you: Kuala Lumpur

Penang Island

In the centre of Malaysia lies the city of Kuala Lumpur, a buzzing hive that shops all day and parties all night! Here, you'll find the Petronas Twin Towers, a national monument that is the pride and joy of Malaysian citizens everywhere.

Kuala Lumpur is renowned for being a shopping utopia with its' countless malls and markets, including the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre tower (KLCC), Sungei Wang Plaza, Low Yat Plaza, Petaling Street and Chinatown.

You'll find nearly every brand you can think of in these hot spots, as well as great sales and discounts.

Cheap accommodations can also be found within the city, so check out places like Tune Hotel or Backpacker's Travellers Inn.

Penang Island sits on the northwest coast of Malaysia, and is about 3 hours by car or bus from Kuala Lumpur. A fascinating fusion of modernity and old-time charm, Penang Island is particularly famous for food.

Everywhere you turn, you'll see restaurants claiming to serve you the best or everything.

Don't worry about the puffery though – they're all good! If you're craving some culture, take a trip to Kek Lok Si, the biggest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia. The temple is a sight to behold, with carved dragon pillars and a 30.2m-tall bronze statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. For those who are more daring, visit the Snake Temple in Sungai Kluang. Filled with smoke from burning incense and a variety of pit vipers, the Snake Temple is the only known temple of its kind. Visitors are allowed to take photographs with the snakes, so be brave and channel your inner Britney!

Photo by energysavingphotos.blogspot.com

Malacca

Tioman Island

In Malay, Malacca means 'The Historic State', and rightly so. Founded in 1377, Malacca is home to a number of historical sites, such as A'Famosa and Mount Ophir (Gunung Ledang).

A'Famosa is one of the oldest surviving European architectural remains in Asia, and used to be a sprawling settlement back when Malacca was invaded by the Portuguese. It's more than just a photo op – remember that the structure has been around since the 16th century! Put on your hiking boots for a climb up the legendary Mount Ophir, which is holds a popular Malaysian folklore that tells of a princess with magical powers and a prince who wanted her too much.

Sounds mysterious, doesn't it?

The perfect place for that teeny weeny yellow polka-dot bikini! A small island located 32km off the east coast, Tioman Island is surrounded by numerous coral reefs brimming with underwater life. The sand is white, and the waters are pristine! Scuba diving here is a musttry! Hotels and resorts here might be a bit pricey, but there are budget chalets with single rooms that start from RM40 (approximately ÂŁ8) and up. A quick warning: you may come across thick clouds of jellyfish in the water. Stings can be avoided by wearing a wetsuit, which you can rent from any of the dive shops you'll find in the area. Other than that, kick back, relax and enjoy sun-kissed skin!

A'Famosa fort. Photo by asisbiz.com

Photo by flyfarandfast.com

Redang Island

Photo by tourism.terengganu.gov.my

Locally known as Pulau Redang, this island is one of nine islands that form a marine park off the east coast of Malaysia. There are loads of snorkelling and diving opportunities here as well, but few foreigners know that Redang is also an important conservation site for sea turtles.

The number of nesting turtles declined dramatically since the mid-90's thanks to poachers, leading to conservation efforts being set up by the state government and the University-College of Science and Technology Malaysia. SEATRU (Sea Turtle Research Unit) is a successful programme that hosts on-going volunteer projects that welcome foreigners to participate. The project involves a week-long stay for a nominal fee, and volunteers gain hands-on experience in tagging and nesting research, as well as egg incubation programmes. Go on, chalk up those karma points and help save a species!

Student Jobs at StudentGems Fancy earning money while gaining valued experienced in your chosen study at University?

Nearly 35,000 students are doing just that through matchmaking site StudentGems. The site which boasts 5,500 potential employers in various fields from admin roles to web developer roles could mean that the pot noodle feasts associated with student life will soon be at an end.

I was able to speak with Sue Harrison head of StudentGems who said “StudentGems provides students the ability to find relevant work in their field that can actively help to pay the bills and make them more worthwhile employees. With students able to post examples of their work as an inventive CV on the site, employers are free to check student profiles to check that students are able to provide the necessary level of quality”.

She continues “Most jobs (on StudentGems) are done over great distances quite remotely allowing for great flexibility” making it ideal for students who have classes and other commitments. “Employers have easy access to a pool of cutting edge talent while for businesses starting out with little money students can provide a skill for less money than the norm. Students can use the website when trying to find work to make ends meet or even after graduating while looking for a more stable job”.

“Project durations vary greatly; I’ve known one to be for ten minutes while others can stretch beyond a year, companies recognise the fact that students have real skills”. Students while using the site operate as freelance workers and are solely responsible for themselves as employees making their experience all the more realistic.

The matchmaking site StudentGems was launched in 2007 “around a kitchen table” by Sue Harrison and the site covers the whole of the UK. The idea to start the company came soon after she realised how useful the student population could be while simultaneously appreciating how hard they were to locate, when trying to find a student photographer “It took a lot of tenacity to find someone but once we did the photography student was very willing to help and we ended up paying her £300 - she was very happy”.

Employers must take care to pick the suitable candidate as each agreement is solely between student and employer with StudentGems having no further involvement; Sue makes it clear that her company is “not an employment agency”.

By Lorenzo Fuller

Have your Fashion Questions Answered!

Here at Student Style we are ready to answer YOUR fashion & style questions!

We want to become THE website that’s dedicated to answering those conundrums of style that can keep a boy or girl awake at night; so ask us anything!

From what colours to wear, what prints are in this season; heels: wedge? platform? flattie?, to having to what suits my body shape ... anything!

Each issue we will have a guest Fashion student ready to give you practical, helpful and affordable answers & options!

Email all questions to student@myfashionshop.co .uk by the 28th of December, and then look out in next month’s issue for your answered queries!

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