BOOKS YOU NEED: TEXTILES

I'm not the biggest reader in the world however when I do find a book I love and enjoy I really get into it and find myself not being able to put it down. I'm starting a series called 'Books You Need' which is simply some of my favourite reads. This week I'm sharing some of my textile Bibles which is a topic very close to my heart as I love fashion and my mum has taught me to sew since I was young. The 4 books I have chosen are books that have helped me through my studies of textiles whether thats designing them, creating them or just learning about how they are created.

Reader's Digest Complete Guide To Sewing is great for showing you techniques for when making a garment, especially if you are starting from scratch without a pattern. The pictures make it really easy for you to know what you are doing and unlike some instructions is rather simple and straight forward, everything from collars to pockets, seams and zips. A great book for any budding designer as it's essential to understand how a garment is constructed before you start drawing up big ideas. 

It can be quite hard to get across what your sketches are initially showing therefore good simple sketches are essential when studying textiles. You don't want your floaty chiffon skirt to look like a puffy tulle meringue do you? Drawing figures can be challenging and getting the proportions correct, I often don't draw the hands as I find them to look terrible. However I've had this Fashion Illustration book by Maite Lafuente and Aitana Lleonart forever and its great as it just shows you the basics. An added bonus is also their opinions on the best fashion schools in the world. 

From Simple to just complicated elegance. I love this book and it was a christmas present from my best friend which makes it ten times better. Fashion Illustration by Anna Kiper goes into far more detail of how to use shadowing and the exact proportions, it is defiantly a book not for the faint hearted. It is a lot more advanced but I find the sketches to give you inspiration, a varied range of poses and I use it a lot when doing my initial and developed designs. If you're aiming to be the next Karl Lagerfeld I highly recommend this book.  

Finally on my pile is a recommendation from my textiles teacher. Textiles at the Cutting Edge, by Lesley Cresswell. When I say that I study textiles I get a lot of people ask me, what is on the exam paper? Well, in answer to that question, basically everything in this book. It is brilliant for anyone who wants to learn about the contraction of materials such as denim, or the different fibres and yields. It also mentions all the properties of natural and synthetic materials and what coatings can be applied to them. I find this the most interesting book out of them all as it gives you an insight into how much effort goes into making a garment and how important choosing the right fabric is. 

What's on your bookshelf? 

Immy xo

PRETTY IN PINK

Spring is just around the corner and it's the time to have perfectly blushed cheeks, to add some colour into that pale winter face.

(Left To Right)

Sleek blushes are the best in the drugstore or pharmacy, you get plenty of product, easy and simple packaging and best of all a mirror. However the product itself is amazing value and I would out them on par with MAC blushes. They are heavily pigmented and in my opinion stay on a good 4 hours which is longer than any other blush I have ever tried. The colour I've swatched is called 'Flamingo' and boy does it look like a flamingo pink! It looks super scary in the packaging. However, when added to the apples of your cheek it acts as a glow and makes you look very fresh faced, due to the purple undertones. A great dupe for Dior Glow Blush. and even better when you can get your hands on it for only £4.49 at Superdrug.

Going from cheap to ridiculously expensive. However, Chanel blushes are beautiful, and this is what keeps me going back to the classic brand. The cream blushes have always been a staple in my make-up collection, ever since they brought them out last year. The consistency is perfect for a cream blush. More on the powdery side however they leave a sheen without being sticky, unlike those dreaded Bobbi Brown Rouge Pots for Lips and Cheeks which feels like you have glue on your face. The glossy compacts looks beautiful displayed on your vanity and the colour is perfect for a natural beach look. The colour Revelation reveals peach undertones making your complexion look healthy, like you've just been sun kissed. Retailing at £28 from Selfridges I think they are worth it if you're looking to treat yourself.

Bobbi Brown blushes are not my favourite, I'm not going to lie. I find them a bit too powdery. But oh my god how this colour is just beautiful. Desert pink is the perfect dusky pink and out of all blusher shades dusky pinks are my favourite. They are suit my any skin tone and look so natural. When wearing a bold lip people tend to avoid a blusher but this shade can concur that problem, and is a great transitional shade from winter to spring. A reasonable price from House of Fraser at £19.

NARS. oh NARS. The best blusher award goes to NARS. Everything from the rude shade names to the beautiful sleek rubber packaging, makes me want to spend the £23 to buy one. Especially when it means I can take a trip into Space NK. Deep Throat is a peach under toned baby pink, with beautiful gold flexes of shimmer running through it to give a glow to your face. The pigmentation is amazing and they do last a good 3-4 hours without having to be topped up. I always think that lighter shades look more appealing with a tan therefore its perfect for the later months of spring going into summer.

Lastly but no means least is the benefit 'Cha Cha Tint' A cream blush which is not powdery however not sticky either, a sheen to the cheeks it is not the most pigmented from the collection however if you are scared of venturing into blushes and you don't want to be seen like a clown the tints are perfect. They add the slightest bit of colour and tint your cheeks therefore only come off when you wash your face at night. When swatched, the tint looks rather orangey which would scare anyone but when blended into the skin (which you have to be quick about) it looks a beautiful coral shade. I really think these are great value at £24.50 from Boots as you can use it on your lips and it you get plenty of product.

What shade will you be wearing?

Immy xo