Best & Worst: BAFTA's 2011

Today the 2011 BAFTA's were held at the Royal Opera House in London! The big winners of the night were 'The Kings Speech' (7 awards), 'The Social Network' (3 awards) & 'Inception' (3 awards). I wasn't too impressed with the fashion choices for this event but still quickly wanted to share my best & worst picks!

Best

From L-R:

British actress Gemma Arterton in Yves Saint Laurent. Elegant: love the bold blue bow & red lip!

American actress Emma Stone went for block colours in Lanvin, pretty!

'Chalet Girl' star Felicity Jones in vintage Chanel & Jimmy Choo shoes. Classic and cute!

Amy Adams sparkled in a design by Elie Saab.

Worst

From L-R:

Hailee Steinfeld (14 year-old) chose a black jewelled Miu Miu dress court shoes by Jimmy Choo.

It seems like people are loving this look but it's not really me and I simply don't like it...sorry!

Jennifer Lawrence chose a low-cut number by Stella McCartney. Its a stunning dress but something about it on her makes me not like it. I think the corset part of the dress just doesn't sit quite right on her plus I hate the ribbon choker, haven't seen those since the 90s (and for a reason...)!

Emma Watson in Valentino. 

Love the body of the dress and the lace but think the ruffle finish neckline is just a bit OTT. 

Harry Potter author J K Rowling in Lanvin. Unflattering...

Minnie Driver in an Alice Temperley gown. Think it looks cheap with the embellishments under the bust and that white feathery monstrosity is equally as tacky looking.

What were your best & worst picks? xoxo

March Cover Girls =

I thought I'd start a new feature on my blog covering my monthly favourite 'Cover Girls'!

I always love seeing the amazing pictures for the popular fashion/beauty magazines. Those covers always tempt me to buy the mags because they makes me want to see more & more!

So starting this first new feature here are my favourite Cover Girls for March!

Gwyneth Paltrow looks impeccable on the cover of Bazaar! Her eye makeup is just stunning! 

Plus am loving the lippy she's wearing (apparently its L'Oreal Color Riche in Freshly Rosy)! Tempted to buy it :)

Model-turned-actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (who stars in the forthcoming Transformers 3 film) on the cover of VOGUE's (UK). She looks red-hot-sexy! Sooo stunning (all make-up by YSL)

Black Swan actress Mila Kunis looks sultry on the cover of W magazine.
Love her dark smokey eyes and that red/plum dress is so gorgeous!

I saw Black Swan a few weeks ago and was just blown away by the film - definitely recommend you go and see it. It's quite freaky/scary in some parts though, so be warned :)

Keira Knightly on the cover of ELLE (UK). 

Simple but glamourous! Saw her in 'Never Let Me Go' last night. 

Pretty sad movie, a little strange story but beautiful cinematography. 

And last but not least: Lea Michele on the cover of Cosmopolitan (US). I added this one because I read that she received a lot of critism for this photo shoot as the dress is a bit revealing.
Personally I think she looks stunning & c'mon she's an adult so 'role model' or not I think she looks sexy but still sophisticated! Go girl :)

Would you all like to see this as a monhtly feature on Dutchess Roz? Let me know! xoxo

New CID Palette: Eyes, Lips & Cheeks >

Let me introduce you to a great little palette for the busy girl on the go!
I recently discovered the New CID Cosmetics Eyes, Lips & Cheeks Palette ♥
“The Eyes, Lips and Cheeks palette is your perfect make up ‘wardrobe’ to create stunning looks on the go.
Use the combination of shimmering and matte eye shadows to create a sexy smouldering look for both day or evening wear. There are also two lip colours or a lip-gloss to choose from. Finally, to complete your look, use the powder blush which will add a natural pink glow to your complexion. All contained in one palette with a mirror and applicator - what more can a girl ask for?!”
The packaging of the palette is a hardened white cardboard, meaning you probably wouldn’t want to get it soaking wet but then again I don’t think it’s going to fall apart if it accidentally got a little wet (aka in the bathroom). The palette includes: 4x Eye Shadows (3 shimmer, 1 matte), 2 lipsticks (round pans – the 2 on the left), 1 lip gloss (the 1 on the right) and a blush. What I think is great is that the Eye Shadows are generously sized at 5.4gm a piece! The set also includes a brush, but as with so many brushes supplied with palette’s – it’s nothing to rave about, no shape so I don’t bother using it! The palette then also has a little ‘drawer’ part which contains the lip colours and blush. One slight negative point on this ‘drawer’ part is that it’s not connected to the palette as such so if you hold the palette the wrong way it would just fall out. Therefore you’d have to be very careful if you were take this palette out and about with you (in your handbag for example) as the drawer could easily pop out in transit…However this could easily be fixed with a bit of tape!

Here are swatches of the Eye Shadows, Lip colours and Blush in the palette:

The shadows don’t have names but I would describe them from L-R as: cream/ivory shimmer, taupe shimmer, deep brown shimmer and a soft chocolate matte shade. It might come across as quite a neutral palette, but because of the mix of shimmers & matte you can create lovely natural looks but also more dramatic smokey eyes with the gorgeous taupe & dark brown eye shadows! The shadows are well pigmented, long lasting and very smooth to apply and blend. Have to say I was impressed! They all complement each other so beautifully which allows you to create so many looks just using this one palette. Ideal :) The lipsticks/glosses have a nice consistency and feel smooth when applied. Plus the blush gives you a cute soft pink glow which I have been wearing it a bit recently on the apples of my cheeks!

Here is a FOTD that I created with the new CID cosmetics palette. A gorgeous smouldering smokey eye!

♥ Face:
Pink Blush of the CID Eyes,Lips, Cheeks Palette

♥ Eyes:
Matte brown colour of CID Eyes,Lips, Cheeks Palette (slightly brushed into eyebrows)
Light shimmery colour of CID Eyes,Lips, Cheeks Palette (inner corner of the eye & browbone highlight)
Dark shimmery colour of CID Eyes,Lips, Cheeks Palette (rest of the lid/outer crease & lower lashline)
Medium shimmery colour of CID Eyes,Lips, Cheeks Palette (blended into inner left corner of crease)
Barry M Liquid liner in black (upper lashline)
L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara
♥ Lips:
Pink Lip colour of CID Eyes,Lips, Cheeks Palette (most right -3rd)

Overall think this palette is a fab little purchase and perfect for girls that love natural or brown smokey eyes.
You can by this palette for £24 at Debenhams, House of Fraser or online at www.newcidcosmetics.com

Plus at the moment it's on SALE at ASOS for only £12 - such a bargain. Check it out here!

Happy Hump Day %

Wishing you all a Happy Hump Day!

Some quick little updates on moi:

♥ Fitness: I am proud to say that I went to the gym last night for the first time in over 7 months! Since leaving NZ back in June I haven't really worked out at all & as much as this hasn't really effected my weight, I have felt so lazy and unfit. So I got my act together tried out the Fitness First near my work yesterday and I am happy to report that after doing 7km on the cross trainer, I can actually still walk today. Woop woop! I'm going again on Thursday to do a fun class and then I will sign up and get myself into a routine! GO ROZ GO! :p

♥ Family: I had my mama & papa (mum & dad in Dutch…) visiting me in London this weekend. We had a lovely time walking around the city, showing them my new life & home, eating loads of amazing food and soaking up some culture at museums and seeing a musical show! One of the things we did was go to the London Borough Markets. If you live in London and have never been, or are planning to visit London – I definitely recommend going here!!  The Borough Market is a wholesale & retail food market in Southwark, London (near London Bridge). It is one of the largest food markets in London and the sells a large variety of foods from all over the world. The market is a web of many trader stalls displaying and selling artisan foods, breads, patisseries, confectionary, vegetables, dairy products and the list just goes on and on! Check out some photos I took at the market below. I loved walking around and getting to taste all the delicious foods on display. Nom nom! For more information on the markets visit their website www.boroughmarket.org.uk

♥ Travel: I am so excited, because in 22 sleeps I will be leaving on an airplane to the sunshine! Me and 3 friends have booked a luxury 4 day weekend to Marrakech in Morocco for early March. A five star hotel, sunshine, cocktails and lots of Moroccan food. I just can't wait!!!! I envisage it will be a little bit like the below? JOKES ;)

♥ Birthday: It turns out I need to wish some a belated Happy Birthday….Who? My little blog!!! It was 'Dutchess Roz' one year birthday on 28 January and I completely forgot about it (woops!) I can't believe how the time has flown. I am still amazed by what this blog has become in such little time and I am so thankful to all my readers and followers to give me this extraordinary experience. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

xoxo Roz