Get Lippy at Debenhams

Pucker up that pout and slick on your favourite shade - it is National Lipstick Day after all.

To celebrate Debenhams are offering £5 off any lipstick you buy online today! You'll find MAC, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent and many more of your favourite beauty brands, so what are you waiting for? The only trouble you'll have is which shade to choose...

Booty Call

Looking for the perfect pair of winter boots? Problem solved!

Far sexier than the 'man repelling' DMs and heavy tread boots we're seeing everywhere this season, these monochrome lace-ups from Faith still have that sought after 90s vibe - but with the addition of a block heel and pointed toe.

I'm soled (sorry bad pun) - especially seeing as they've got 25% off at the Debenhams Blue Cross Sale this weekend!

Faith Lace-Up Ankle Boots, WERE £65 NOW £48.50 at Debenhams.

Poppy Appeal

With just a month to go until Remembrance Day it's time to pin a poppy to your lapel. Every year I buy I paper poppy to wear, but I usually manage to either lose it or crumple it within the space of a day - but at Jon Richard they've come up with a great alternative...


In support of The Royal British Legion's annual Poppy Appeal they're selling poppy cocktail rings. Embellished with red crystals, the poppy rings both look stylish and show your support for this worthy cause.

Available to buy now from jonrichard.com as well as at selected Debenhams stores nationwide, the rings have an adjustable band to fit everyone and come gift boxed - but most importantly £3.60 from the sale of each £12 ring will go straight to The Royal British Legion so they can continue their valuable work with both serving and ex-service personnel of the British Armed Forces and their families.

The Perfect Present? A Purse!

They say it's the thought that counts, but when it comes to gifting I say put a little bit more thought into it and you'll be parting with your hard earned cash to buy a present they might actually adore. Trained from an early age to pass on rather obvious hints about jewellery from Mum to Dad, I like to think I'm pretty well tuned in to what people want. So, when my sister said the lining had ripped in the Osprey purse I'd bought her for Christmas a few years ago I instantly knew shopping for her birthday present would be easy this time around - especially as she already has the handbag that matches this J by Jasper Conran purse (£25, Debenhams).

Happy Birthday Rachel - hope you like your new purse!

Charity Shop Buys

In a time of recession charity shops are a particularly popular way of getting your hands on cut price clothes - whilst making sure some of your hard earned cash goes to a good cause. But the rise of fast fashion has brought with it charity shops packed full of nothing but last season's Primark. A lot of people must now put anything of value up for grabs on ebay rather than donating their unwanted goods to charity shops, but there are still designer bargains and vintage gems to be found - you just have to be prepared to hunt around or be lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

I've recently got hold of two great buys; a Barbara Hulanicki pussy bow blouse for £2 and a Roksanda Ilincic Edition cardigan for £5.99.

Ben de Lisi Biker

The lovely people at Debenhams very kindly gave me a £50 voucher to spend in store - and after a good look around I finally settled on using it to buy this Principles by Ben de Lisi biker jacket (£65).

I love the colour contrast lapels - but zip it up and it goes back to black. Think this one's sure to become a staple. Thanks Debenhams!

Top Hats From Stephen Jones

Is the fascination with fascinators finally at an end? Ascot banned them from the Royal Enclosure last year and now Philip Treacy has branded them no more than 'headbands with feathers glued on', but with wedding season upon us once again it begs the question what headgear we'll be turning to now...

Whilst each year seems to bring an increase in wedding invitations, any excuse to buy a big hat is fine with me! Indeed, it's big, wide-brimmed hats and more substantial pillbox style fascinators that are replacing the 'feather on a headband'.

Stephen Jones, milliner to the stars, has been snapped up by Debenhams to design a fabulous range of hats - and fascinators. Here's a selection of the Top Hat collection...

Tartan Bargain

Whilst we're on the topic of tartan I'm going to throw open my wardrobe doors to share an amazing sale buy with you. I first saw this H! By Henry Holland tartan dress with faux leather sleeves at the Debenhams A/W press show and I've had my beady eyes on it ever since. I don't know why I didn't snap this one up as soon as it came in store (probably something to do with a total lack of wardrobe space) but after finding it in the sale reduced from £49 - £15 I'm glad I held off. It was the last one left on the rails and in my size - how perfect is that?! Just goes to show, good things come to those who wait.

Jenny Packham No.1

What have I got in common with Jennifer Aniston, Keira Knightley and the Duchess of Cambridge? Not a lot - but we are all big fans of Jenny Packham's romantic designs. That's why I was so excited to see the latest Designer at Debenhams...

The Jenny Packham No.1 occasionwear collection features everything you need for that summer wedding or a day at the races. Alongside the dresses, there are shoes, clutch bags, feather fascinators and of course some glittering Jenny Packham jewellery to complete the look.

Jenny Packham No.1, Brooch £25

Jenny Packham No.1, Necklace £35 

A total magpie when it comes to anything shiny, my eyes lit up with delight when I saw the latest additions at the Debenhams jewellery counter. The only problem was choosing what to buy. In the end (apologies to the very patient sales assistant) I settled on a necklace and a brooch.

Luckily my Mum was with me so I could give her some very clear hints as to birthday presents.

What I Got For Christmas...

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! Did Santa bring all you wished for? I for one am very happy with my haul. I'll certainly be warm this winter in my new French Connection leather gloves and Jasper Conran trench coat...

Sheer Brilliance

When it comes to nude hosiery it's not simply a case of one shade suits all - but that's often the only choice we get. Asian, mixed race and black women have largely been forgotten - that is until now...

In a first for the high street, Debenhams have launched a range of 'invisible' skin tone hosiery, with shades designed to suit women of all ethnicities. You'll find coffee, bronze and olive shades right through to paler beige and honey hues.

As the weather turns colder who would dare to go out with bare legs?! Debenhams' hosiery buyer, Joanna Townsend describes the range as: 'A woman's weapon to fight the onset of winter, when wearing black opaque tights is just too depressing on a golden autumn's day.' It's true! Every woman needs a good pair of skin tone tights, and priced at just £3.50, I think Debenhams are on to a winner!

Roksanda Ilincic / EDITION

Roksanda Ilincic is the latest designer to join the fold at Debenhams. It really is a winning combination - making Ilincic's effortlessly chic designs available on a high street budget! Her capsule collection for the Edition range, which showcases the latest designer talent, is available in store now alongside collections by Jonathan Saunders, Preen and Jonathan Kelsey.

Ladies in Waiting for Debenhams Dress

Admired by both men and women the world over, it's little wonder that Pippa Middleton's maid-of-honour dress has become the most sort after style for brides and bridesmaids-to-be.





















Alain Mehada, Chief Personal Shopper at Debenhams Oxford Street, revealed that they have experienced a deluge of customers wanting to emulate Pippa's 'classic' look:

'We have been inundated by customers asking if we have anything similar to the dresses worn by Kate, Pippa and the flower girls, but the ivory dress worn by Pippa is the most requested by far.'

Debenhams have responded to such unprecedented demand with a limited edition dress inspired by Pippa's, which is to go on sale later in the year.

Where the Sarah Burton ivory gown with cowl neck, cap sleeves and button-back detail is rumoured to have cost in the region of £20,000, the Debenhams homage will sell for just £170! That's what I call a rear-ly good deal (sorry, couldn't resist that one). No doubt it will be a huge hit when it arrives in store.

To help cope with the demand, customers are being invited to register their interest by sending their details to ladyinwaitinglist@debenhams.com, so that they can be notified of further developments.

Also, look out for the emerald green evening gown (£99), based on the Alice Temperley design worn by Pippa to the evening reception. Now you really can get the Middleton look on the high street!

www.debenhams.com

Christmas Comes Early

It may be 151 days 'til Christmas, but I just might have to start writing my list for Santa a little early this year. I'm feeling all festive after seeing the gorgeous gifts on display at Debenhams' Christmas press show yesterday.

With fashion, beauty, toys, accessories and homeware all showcased you can rest assured that Debenhams will have everything your family needs for a truly fabulous festive season. At the top of my wish list is a Jasper Conran handbag (pictured above right) - fingers crossed that I'll wake-up to find this beauty under my tree on Christmas morning! But who am I kidding that I'll be able to wait that long - I'll be straight out to treat myself to an early xmas pressie as soon as they hit stores in September.

I was very excited to hear that Roksanda Ilincic is the latest designer to collaborate with the high-street favourite. Fashion Eds everywhere are already raving about the black lace midi dress with plunging neckline (pictured below right). Guaranteed come Christmas every fashionista worth her salt will want to hang around the mistletoe wearing this knock-out number!

The event also saw the launch of Ruby Hammer's new range of make-up, Ruby Recommends. These are great products at really affordable prices and make perfect girly gifts. Look out for the range in store from September.

It's too soon to say Happy Christmas, so I'll leave it at Happy Shopping for now!

www.debenhams.com

You Still Cannes

The Cannes Film Festival may be over, but summer has barely arrived on these shores... and that means there's still plenty of time to channel that oh-so-chic riviera style.

One of my favourite daytime looks came courtesy of Ms Angelina Jolie. In town to promote Kung-Fu Panda 2, she attended a photo call wearing a simple belted wrap dress - perfect for the summer months.

If you fancy a bit of film star style this summer, but don't yet rank on the Hollywood rich list, you can get your hands on a very similar design on the high street. Betty Jackson.Black, available at Debenhams stores nationwide and online, have this version for £69.

H! by Henry Holland

When I first found out that Henry Holland was designing a range for Debenhams I could hardly contain my excitement. H! by Henry Holland finally hit the rails back in March, and before the sales assistants had even finished putting the stock out I had got my hands on a black and neon floral print dress with corset detailing that I had been coveting.

The A/W 10 collection has been creeping into stock over the past couple of weeks - although largely obscured by rail upon rail of blue cross sale bargains. But if, like me, you can't help but start planning your Winter wardrobe essentials before you've even had your Summer hols, here are my picks.