Updates: We Want YOU!

La Luminata is looking for budding bloggers, trendwatchers and writers to contribute to our growing online magazine.

If you have a desire to become a regular feature writer, then please send your CV, a brief description of your interests and which area you would like to cover to Carly, press@laluminata.co.uk

Photograph by Miss Aniela

Forever Fashion: Stay Fancy with Giant Dwarf

One of my favorite ways to dress up any outfit is with accessories. Sometimes all you need to go from 'mundane' to 'fancy' is a single headband. Don't believe me? Check out Giant Dwarf's Esty Shop for proof.  Giant Dwarf's hand-made, retro-inspired, large floral headbands make a statement that is both delicate and unique. Select from a variety of colours to match your mood or the occasion. All products are made from recycled and sustainable materials. These headbands are sure to add a feminine, classic look to any daytime or date night outfit. Check out Giant Dwarf's Blog for more info.

Tyler January

Lifestyle & Home: Emma Loves Retro, We Do Too!

Emmalovesretro is a UK based company specialising in recycled vintage fabrics for home decor. From covering cushions and pillows, to wall hangings, there are a variety of patterns, colours and textures to choose from. Whether you love the geometric shapes of 60s mod, psychedelic swirls of the 70s, or classic florals from the 40s/50s, there is something for everyone. International shipping is available.

Want to turn an ugly office chair into a more attractive focal point?  Emmalovesretro's vintage fabrics can also be used to reupholster furniture adding character and retro-chic appeal. Don't worry, you don't have to do it yourself, emmalovesretro takes care of it for you. Shop here for gifts, and your personal home decorating needs. For more info refer to Emmalovesretro's blog here.

Tyler January

Art & Culture: Inishturkbeg’s Annual Artist Week

Next week sees the ‘Life Vividly Lived’ exhibition at Flowers, Cork Street, London.  Each artist has been chosen as pioneers in their chosen fields and their distinctive relationship with the environment.

The pieces have been created from Inishturkbeg’s first annual artists’ week in September 2009. Inishturkbeg is a private island off the west coast of Ireland and is one of the largest in the Clew Bay.  “We think of Inishturkbeg as a parallel universe, where our experiences are intensified and our lives amplified. Each chapter is somehow super-oxygenated, with colours, sounds, smells and feelings brilliantly etched into our minds. Inishturkbeg, simply, offers everyone lucky enough to enjoy its charms, a Lungful of Life. It takes a lot of words to capture the unique spirit of Inishturkbeg. Artists’ Week is intended to do so much better than mere words”. –Nadim Sadek, Owner.

The artists displaying are; Nicola Hicks, Scarlett Hooft Graafland, Kay harwood, Shoichi Sakurai, Peter Jaques, Laura Brennan and Darren Edwards, and will be an innovative experience to see works with such individuality in their mediums, come together in one place for an outstanding show.

9th - 14th February 2010

Flowers Gallery

21 Cork St
London W1S 3LZ
T +44 (0)20 7439 7766

info@flowersgalleries.com

Neil Batho

Forever Fashion: Ba-Ba-Ba-Bird is the Word

How many of your favorite Fashion Designers produce their product lines using solar power, eco-friendly water-based dyes, and environmental responsibility? Here's a company that is sure to be a favorite and does all of those thing and more. Bird Textiles is a sustainable, ethical brand of fashion and homewares that are sure to turn heads while remaining socially conscious.

Bird clothing is unique and inspiring, with strong timeless elements of decades (and centuries) gone by, brought back to life with eco-awareness and elements of modern design. Shop in Bird's online store for homeware and fashion. Click here to view their latest collection of clothes.

"Birds are not governed by our linear interpretation of time. They move according to the flow of the seasons. Birds have the power to fly, transcend barriers, both physical and metaphorical." - Inspired by the words of Adele Nozedar, in, 'The Secret Language of Birds.'

Tyler January

Forever Fashion: Emobi, Summer Frills

Summer is just around the corner, and for those lucky enough to live in Australia, the sun is already shining. Emobi (which is a French Polynesian name meaning "birth") is an Australian, eco-friendly line of swimwear, leading the way for upcoming beach trends that this side of the globe will surely be wearing come June.

Emobi Swimwear boasts bright original prints made with environmentally-friendly water-based dyes. Their range of one and two-pieces are all incredibly stylish with a unique, retro-hip vibe, and are reasonably affordable. The "must have" look for this summer (and my favorite of this season's collection) is the frill swimsuit. Looks like its time to get ready for some serious summer splashing, while wearing an eco-friendly Emobi suit! I can't wait!

Tyler January

Health & Beauty: SAY IT WITH ROSES – LUSH TURKISH DELIGHT BODY POLISH

Over 20, 000 rose petals goes into each pot of Lush Turkish Delight Body Polish, a luxurious soap which can be used in the bath, the shower or even in a sauna, as a soothing, escapist treat for tired and irritated skin. Almond oil and cocoa butter provide the moisture, whilst the rose and jasmine reduces redness and leaves you with a fresh and wholesome scent.

Lush buy their rose oil to make this and other products from Sabat, a company based in Senir, Turkey, who employ many local people and Romany Gypsies in harvesting the roses. Sabat have opened a free primary school in the area for local and Gypsy children – the first of its kind in Turkey. Lush support this work by paying an extra twenty five euros per kilo of rose oil.

Applying the soap to dry skin was strange at first, but as soon as the fragrance hits you, it is very relaxing and feels extremely indulgent. Once the soap starts to dissolve in hot water, the scent floats around the room, and clings to your skin even when you are out of the bath and drying off. I'd recommend using Turkish Delight body polish followed by a long soak in the bath with a good book (taking care not to get the pages wet), slipping between clean organic cotton sheets and drifting off to a rose-scented dreamland of lazy summer afternoons.

Sophy Colbert

Health & Beauty: GREEN PARADISE SKINCARE

I've been using a range of Green Paradise products from Méthode Jeanne Piabert for the last two weeks, and have been very pleased with the effect that it has had on my skin. After a fortnight of cleansing milk, facial cream and bi-weekly facial masks, my skin feels soft and clear. The best thing I can say about this product however, is that I don't feel as though I need to wear nearly so much make-up, and have been happy with just a small blob of tinted moisturiser, which has done wonders for speeding up my morning routine!

Green Paradise use only natural ingredients, including white lotus, rice and water lily, and their products are good for us sensitive types as they are also fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. Reassuringly they are also free of the carcinogenic parabens which are present in a worryingly high number of everyday beauty products.

The cleanser feels refreshing going on, and removes a satisfying amount of grime, which is especially pleasing at the end of a long day. The facial cream is robust, and left my skin feeling protected and soft. The facial mask is very creamy and soothing, but unlike a lot of other masks, it is also very light which adds to the pampering, spa-treatment effect.

The whole range of products have a very simple, straightforward feel, with the added benefits of being anti-ageing and also offering protection against pollution. After a couple of weeks I feel a lot more confident about the way my skin looks and feels, and it's good to know that this effect can be achieved with all natural ingredients and no harmful chemicals.

Sophy Colbert