A Week in Pictures: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Zara's Portugal Hide-Away

The Daily Mail has reported that Zara Phillips plans for building a holiday home in Portugal may not happen. Apparently Portugal's financial crisis is just catching up to the would-be builder's of Zara and Mike Tindall's 4 bedroom villa overlooking vineyards.

 Read the full article here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2134315/RICHARD-KAY-Zaras-holiday-home-hell.html

Harry and Mollie

Their names are cute together, but again, really Harry? Living up to bringing a girl like Kate home is going to be hard, no matter who the girl is, but Mollie???? I don't know why I feel so strongly about this, but I just don't know about this match...

It seems like the media is starting to gain real momentum with Harry's love life and his current rumoured flame Mollie. And he's worried that it might ruin the relationship.

Read more here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2133415/Prince-Harry-Mollie-Kings-secret-dates-revealed-secret-relationship.html

Also in Allure... "The Beauty Tips We've Learned from Kate Middleton"

And here are the ones that I'm interested in:

"Emphasize one feature". "The rule goes: eyes or lips, but never both. Middleton takes this one to heart. She rims her upper and lower lash lines with black eyeliner and piles on the mascara. The look is always striking, but never complicated—there's no smoky effect or bright shadow."

"Embrace your brows". "Middleton's strong brows are neat but full. They balance her high forehead and draw attention to her eyes. She gets them groomed regularly at Richard Ward Hair and Metrospa."

Kate is know to use Bobbi Brown's Ink liner (pictured right), probably in "Jet Black" too.

To mimic Kate's brows, find a product that works best for you. Bobbi Brown carries many options that would probably also work well. Or, consider having your brows dyed to keep your makeup routine more simple.

On another but similar topic, Kate's eye makeup looks a bit softer as of late (see the pictures below compared to earlier snaps of her) - it seems that the liner along her bottom lashes is penciled or shadowed in, rather than being drawn on in that straight line that she was criticised for applying. Also, although she seems to still rim her entire eye with khol, again the line is softer and less noticeble, perhaps because she makes it thinner than before.

However, I think, either way, she always looks great, and her face makeup makes her look classic and striking - because her best features are highlighted.

Before:

Above: Canadian Tour 2011

Spring 2011 (prior to her wedding in April)

After:

Spring 2012

It seems as though the duchess is focusing more on her eye lid more than she used to, meaning that the eyeliner lining her upper lashes is more pronounced and defined - it seems to be thicker. To balance that look she appears to then soften the lower lash line by using a soft pencil or shadow instead of her normal Bobbi Brown Ink liner.

Also, Kate seems to be using shadow on her lid - a darker matte one - more than she used to. It seemed as though she used to just rim her eye, add mascara and be done with it, but now the look has evolved and softened.

This trend seemed towards a different eye makeup look seemed to start anytime during the summer of 2011 or fall 2012. Her experimentation with this other look could be seen to start while on tour in Canada and then more so as time moved on, like when she was at at the War Horse Primiere in the late fall/early winter, as well as charity associated engagements.

Get Kate's Natural Healthy Glow with Jergens

I was just reading an article by Allure online, and I came across an older article about Kate Middleton. She and her sister, Pippa, have been noted as indulging in various forms of tanning - be it spray tans or what have you. The article in Allure suggests trying Jergens Natural Glow daily moisturizer to get your own natural looking colour. This moisturizer has an SPF of 20 and will help build a natural and healthy looking glow in just three days.

Take a look: http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/skin/2010/jergens-natural-glow-healthy-complexion-moisturizer

Here is the article in Allure: http://www.allure.com/beauty-trends/blogs/daily-beauty-reporter/2011/07/the-princess-travel-diaries-af.html

As We Move Into the Warmer Months: Dressing Like Kate in the Spring and the Summer

As we move into the warmer months of Spring and Summer I always have the same dilemma, what did I wear last year at this time??? I always find myself quite disheartened thinking about bearing my arms and my legs and fitting into my tops and shorts. Lets just say when this time of year rolls around I realize how much I love being covered up in my sweaters and jeans, which don't require me having a tan or one single toned muscle to look half decent!

However, I take comfort in the fact that not only will I eventually overcome this annual Springtime shock, but I can also look to the timeless looks of Kate Middleton's past for inspiration!

Here are some of the pictures I'm referring to:

Choose effortless options, that are classic and will see you through many Springs and Summers. Now, most of these options show Kate in jeans or other pants, which some people may wear instead of summer. However, you could opt for shorts with most of these kind of sillouhettes on top as well, or with similar short-sleeved options. But, never let your shorts get too short. They don't have to be down to the knee, or even mid-thigh (although those can be cute sometimes), but they should never be bunching as a result of being too short or too tight. Find a flattering length that works for your weight and height and you will look slimmer and be spot on with following Kate's looks.

The key with Kate, as I've always observed and said, is that she picks timeless pieces that aren't too fussy. She doesn't look like she's walking down a runway and she never looks too trendy and never imodest. She just dresses like a regualr person and looks, in her own way, stylish.

Know what works best for you and your body type and own it! Don't feel the need to give into passing trends but be yourself and you will look and feel great! Kate could wear anything, given her body type, but she chooses to look classy and elegant in classic pieces year-round.

Find a good pair of jeans, at least on in denim, and maybe invest in some white pants as well - although I find them hard to wear because you couldn't wear them all of the time, or too often without people noticing. So maybe a pair of light grey or black pants, which are out this season, would be another option, and they might be more versatile too. You can get the jeans below from GAP for $69.99 CDN.

Next, go to H&M, or any other store (like GAP) where you can find simple pieces at a great price. I was just in there and I found a somewhat loose, without being unflattering, top that would be great, and mimick some of Kate's looks above. A top like this will be great to throw on, day or night, and will be warm enough in the spring and cool enough (sometimes) in the summer. Also, pairing sleevless or t-shirts with cardigans is also a very versatile way to make sure you're classic and comfortable no matter what the weather. The top below comes in different colours, like soft peach etc. This product is only $19.99 CDN.

 I also like some of these other options, from both H&M and GAP:

Above: top by H&M. Below: tops by GAP

 With a few of these simple and pretty items you'll be ready to go! Also, check out some effortless skirts, to pair with these or other items, and dresses to throw on as well. The items below are from GAP.

The last thing you need would be shoes. Find a great pair of basic flats, maybe in black or another neutral, nudes seem to be really big right now and out everywhere. You will also need a wedge.

Check out your local shoe stores for options.

Happy shopping!

Get Your Pair of Nude Pumps: Other Options for Getting the "Sledge" Look

Once again I have found an exact piece of clothing, or accessory, of Kates on ebay.ca!

If you are looking to buy the sold out "Sledge" shoe by LK Bennet, then get on ebay and click "Buy Now"!

What's more incredible is they have them in a size 41! Of all the sizes they had this one, incredible! Here's the link: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/330711706399?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619

However, if you can't afford to shell out the money for this pair of shoes, or you don't wear a size 41, or UK 8, then do not fear, just go to Nine West.

The company has come out with five pairs of similar shoes in different colours, one being very close if not exactly the same colour as LK Bennet's "Nude" pump.

Here is a photo and a link to their site: http://www.ninewest.ca/product.asp?productid=5525

Above Left: this is LK Bennet's "Sledge" shoe in "Nude", which is currently not stocked on their website. Above Right: this is the version Nine West has come out with