The Nail Files

Cara Delevingne for i-D Magazine Winter 2012
Photographed by: Angelo Pannetta 

Whipping up a new glossy mani can be fun, right? Dealing with bubbling, chipped and cracked nails… not so much. Not to mention when I sneeze and the polish on my fingernails chips, while my toenails can survive a nuclear war! If these polish perils are getting you down, let's take matters quite literally—into our own hands. These five tricks will help you to nail your next outfit. After all, what subject should be more important to you than your cuticles?

First things first— get your hands on a rapid-dry nail polish! If you've never had a professional manicure before (like me) I recommend Sally Hansen Insta-Dry, for the best price and quality combined. And it's fast drying! Don’t believe me? Here is a list of things longer than waiting for your nails to dry:

 Pacsun Summer Collection 2015

• Justin Bieber’s Chest Hair
• Kim Kardashian’s marriage to Kris Humphries
• The pause Dora the Explorer gives after asking a question
•  Minute rice
• Voldermort’s nose
•  Lindsay Lohan’s total time spent behind bars
•  Paris Hilton’s singing career

1. PRIME TIME
Priming your nails by using a base coat is a must, in order to achieve a smooth, even surface. The CND Sticky Base Coat has been crowned 'Queen' for a reason. As the name implies, Stickey dries with a tacky feel, helping your polish to stay on even longer! 

2. WITH AIR COMES CHIPS… (LITERALLY. HAVE YOU SEEN SMITH’S CHIPS RECENTLY?!)
Like when you make a batch of cupcakes and lightly tap the mold on the counter to release air bubbles, the same should be done with your nails. By tapping your nails on a solid surface, you will remove the bubbles which lead to cracked and chipped nails. 

3. LEAVE IT TO THE EXPERTS
The nail artists whose life’s work (in the form of mini masterpieces) grace the covers of Vogue and Vanity Fair, have the best advice when it comes to sealing your nails. A top coat protects your colour from chipping, cracking and falling short of your mani expectations. The experts recommend Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, which is specially formulated to form a silky, solid coating (with that salon glossy finish!)

4. THE BEST TIP OF ALL
Nails often begin to chip from the tips, so when applying the top coat, drag the polish up and over the edge

5. MAINTENANCE 
Two days later, add an additional top coat to you nails. Then continue adding a thin layer of clear polish every day after to make your nails last for weeks!


Whether I’m running out the door for work, uni, gym, soccer or New York Fashion Week (ugh, I wish), a girl-on-the-go needs perfect nails fast! Because when it comes to manicures, I prefer a hands on approach. Nailed it!

Xx

A Bucket List to Die For

We've graduated primary and secondary school together, swung off ropes into lakes, we were seventeen and dancing queens, performed Britney Spears 'Piece of Me' in front of our year level in our pyjamas. We've watched countless hours of chick flicks, roughed it in a tent from Darwin to Alice Springs and were scared skinless watching 'The Conjuring', (spending majority of the film curled up in our chairs screaming). Needless to say we hope the good times keep on coming! So with our twenties ahead and no sense between the two of us, here's our bucket list to be completed by 2025!

Jet Set Go

Michael Kors Jet Set 6 Shoes of the Season 

It's no secret that I love airports! Something about the excitement of jet setting off around the globe, buying makeup in duty-free, right down to the complimentary chocolates you get in flight. Airports are also a great place to go celeb-spotting while you wait (hint: they’re the ones attempting to go incognito with baseball caps and sunglasses, which inadvertently draws attention since normal people do not do this). Since my dad lives over the other side of the country, you’re likely to find me 40,000 feet above ground, sobbing hysterically while watching Marley & Me. I was told to shut up on the plane recently because I was weeping so much. (Sorry to the person who was sitting next to me). This was all while the guy seated 2 rows in front acted like a first class pain in the ass, requesting them to remove the rice from his prepacked fried rice. I even love the sniffer dogs at airport security, who have a great taste in perfume, and can always distinguish between my two signature fragrances; Coco Mademoiselle and Chanel no. 5.

Ariana Grande for Teen Vogue February 2014
Photographed by: Sebastian Kim

Airports also hold memories of flying back from a summer in Thailand 4 years ago, having contracted typhoid fever (again, sorry to the person who was sitting next to me). I got off the plane wearing a sequined halter top, elephant gaucho pants, with hundreds of tiny braids in my hair. An outfit that would have seen Coco Chanel turning over in her grave more than her company’s recent release of its sneaker line (see here). They say fashion is the most powerful art there is. ‘It shows the world who we are, and who we’d like to be’. Just like gaucho pants show the world I’d like to major in drum circles or overthrow the government promoting veganism and Greenpeace. I was so unwell upon arrival; that I lay in the middle of the airport floor, while air hostesses stepped over me. It wasn’t until I got home from hospital and saw 1 unread message of ‘Hey! I think I saw you at Melbourne Airport?’ that the memories came flooding back. Honestly, 4 years is not long enough ago for this to stop being embarrassing- I owned gaucho's, and that will never be erased. If this experience has taught me anything, it’s how to look fly while you fly: the rules of keeping comfortable while you travel in style! (Gaucho pants not included).

RULE #1 - KEEP CALM AND CARRY-ON 

ALWAYS pack a comfortable sweater or jacket in your carry on. Even if you’re travelling to the tropical Bora Bora, aeroplanes love to blast the air conditioning so extreme, you may question whether you caught the a flight to Alaska by mistake.

RULE #2 - SUNGLASSES ARE NOT JUST FOR A SUNNY DESTINATION

A good pair of sunglasses instantly hides the bags under your eyes from the lack of sleep you got on the plane. (Now that I think about it, I wish the bags under my eyes were Louis Vuitton!) It’s a bonus if you’re travelling somewhere warm!

RULE #3 - TIGHTS ARE NOT PANTS!

In the wise words of Blair Waldorf, leggings and tights may be comfortable, but opt for your fave pair of black skinny jeans or blue jeans instead. Next to the electric chair and the 'hotseat', economy tickets rank first as the most uncomfortable, so wear your most comfortable pair of pants!  

RULE #4 - 'BALLS ARE TO ME, WHAT PURSES ARE TO WOMEN'

A good bag is not simply a bag - we feel naked in public without it! Take a chic handbag for all your carry-on items to instantly add glam to your airport ensemble. 

RULE #5 - I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY THIS...

Airports require a bit of walking, so opt for a cute pair of ballet flats or boots, rather than your fave heels . If you do go for flats though, remember to pack a pair of socks for the flight. 

Thanks to her crazy schedule that sees her flying around the globe, Kendall Jenner has earned sky-high fashion cred for her airport ensembles. Proving it is possible to get to your destination comfortably, and look totally stylish while doing so! 

Xx

The Trials and Tribulations of Growing Up

Photographed by Arthur Elgort for Teen Vogue

As of May it has officially been 6 months since I graduated from high school! And in these last six months I've learnt a lot (how to survive on food other than toast for starters). Some of these things I wish I had known 6 months ago, and to be entirely honest, I did know them. I just didn't listen! So to all of those 1 year my junior, I'd like you to listen when I didn't. And to believe me when I tell you that every great chick flick is set in high school, and pretty soon, you won't have Cher Horowitz, Cady Heron and Blair Waldorf to show you the ropes. Instead, let me be the one to answer all your questions.Because if you've ever wished that you could see into the future, or for a magical genie to answer all of your questions, then your wish is at my command! 

Photographed by Arthur Elgort for Teen Vogue

This time last year I was in the midst of 'Mad May', trying to combat assignments and tests, and cram in as many parties as possible. I felt like I couldn't juggle one more commitment or my mind might crumble and fall like the Roman Empire. And I seriously couldn't afford that, because unlike a computer, I couldn't just 'back up' that English essay I'd memorised the night before. So when teachers and parents started pressing the issue of 'what I was going to do next year', I felt like I really didn't have time, or that I would think about it later. To all those seniors in high school, let me tell you that later never comes! While it may seem like life after high school is the last thing you want to think about after your eyes are stinging from staring at Biology practise exams all night, and your hands are shaking from all the caffeine you drank to stay awake, career options are actually pretty important. Put as much thought and effort into this as you will into your graduation dress, because after all, this is your money and you want college to be a worth while experience!

Photographed by Arthur Elgort for Teen Vogue

So now that I've got you thinking about whether you'd like to undertake a Science degree, or perhaps chemistry has become more of a chem-mystery and you have no idea what's going on, and you're counting down the days until you can burn your text book at the stake in a ceremony similar to the Salem witch trials. But let me pose something I know a lot of teens considering going to university haven't properly looked into: a gap year or TAFE! I personally took a gap year to mean "I have no idea what I want to do and can't be bothered going to uni so I'm going to take a year off to chill" or "I want to volunteer and build toilets for school children in Africa". I am neither types of those people. But a gap year doesn't have to entail sitting at home and continuing to be a check-out chick, or travelling over seas to a foreign country. It can mean taking a year to find out what you want to do, because what you choose should be something you enjoy, and not something you think will earn lots of money or you'll get good holidays. (Although they are pretty great perks!) If you are considering taking a gap year, make a list of 12 things you want to do (that's one for each month). Your list should consist of things that will challenge you and put you outside of your comfort zone, but are also achievable. If you were interested in art in year twelve; volunteer as a makeup artist for school plays and community musicals, start a blog or website displaying photos you've taken, volunteer to help paint family members or friends that are renovating their homes, apply for jobs at craft stores, audition for plays or modelling roles. It's also important for you to consider other career paths or courses you may be interested in, and not to limit yourself to things you know you like. After all, this is the year to try new things! Now onto my second proposition. If you've looked into university courses and can't seem to find one which fits, then TAFE courses are a perfectly good option as they provide a much more hands on approach. Or can act as a pathway into university course if you don't reach the requirements.

Photographed by Arthur Elgort for Teen Vogue

Finding out what you want to do doesn't have to be hard. During the ad breaks of Pretty Little Liars, Google courses, take quizzes, explore gap year options, because the answer is not going to come to you. Unfortunately, you don't get an epiphany one day and suddenly know exactly what you want to do. 

Now that all the pre-graduation stuff is out the way, I have one more thing to share. One in five university students drop out by the end of first year! That's 20%. And realistically, this means many of you will drop out or seriously consider it. Loads of first years find they hate their course, because it's not what they expected. Without your crowd of friends to back you up, no doubt you'll soon find yourself saying "I wish I was back in high school". But things get better as you finally start to recognise a few faces, and come to terms with the fact that Hollywood lied to you when they told you that uni was a way to get drunk and party 24/7. In saying that, most universities allow you 2-3 months to withdraw from the course without having to pay. So if you do feel like you've chosen a course as awful as the results of the 'Kylie Jenner lip  challenge', make sure you to take action before this date!

College is a great experience! But it's also important to remember it isn't your only option. Gap years and TAFE courses are also great alternatives. Whatever decision you make, ensure it's the right one for you and it's well thought out.

     

Want to try out a Yoga Class? "Namaste in Bed"

Courtesy of Victoria's Secret Sport

'Hi I’m Gabrielle'

'I’m vegan'

'Oh my effing God! Is that a rat… in your bag?!'

'His name is Marxism. Marx for short. I found him in Brunswick. I’m a Buddhist. Do you want a vegan brownie?'

I had a brownie at a party once. It was totally indescribable; it felt like I was flying. There wasn’t any pot in it though- it was just an insanely good brownie.

'Ummm… no thanks'

It's my first lecture at university and to be honest, I don’t know if this friendship is going to work out. I don’t watch independent foreign art house silent films at the Sundance film festival. I like ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’- sue me. And having lunch with her at the vegan café every day? I’ll leave college a militant veganista. Anaemic and proud! In fact, why not get my hair dreadlocked while I’m there?

Marx’s owner had her hair shaved on one side, with a cool pink streak running through it, and was staring down at her pineapple socks.

'This is younger twin brother by 2 minutes. Underneath his loser façade, and the part of him that hates the world, he’s actually pretty cool'

'How is it humanly possible that you’ve become even more of a bitch since becoming a Buddhist?' he said 

'I ask myself that every day'

I was staring down at my new black leather Guess flats

'I would never wear those. Did I mention I’m a vegan?'

Only 400 times

'You know what I’ve been thinking about?'

'Organic vegetables? Overthrowing the government?  Greenpeace?'

'Yes actually! How did you know?'

Oh, just a wild guess.

'And I’ve got this tattoo on my wrist. It means Namaste in Hindi. You know, because I practice yoga'

Finally!

In case you ever meet someone similar to Marx’s owner, and don’t have veganism, Buddhism or independent film festivals in common, here is your guide to becoming a dedicated yogi like myself (or faking your way through an awkward conversation 101)

My first yoga class was perhaps not my most elegant memory. For starters, the instructor had one of those really annoying 'fake calm' voices that sound like a cd

'Moving into downward dog. This pose will build inner peace and relaxation'

Really? My arms are burning and all I feel is anger and frustration

'You seem tense' she said

'Yeah-I was born that way'

Even if you consider yourself more a high intensity sports person (like me!), here are 5 basic yoga moves you can master at home!

AB WARM UP

COBRA

  THREE LEGGED DOG

   FORWARD FOLD

   HANDS TO HEART

   CRESCENT LUNGE

 TWIST

Namaste 

Debutante Ball

Photographed by: Frederico De Angelis for TeenVogue

I’m probably not the girl you imagine when you think of a debutante. I’m not the descendant of European royalty, the daughter of the French ambassador or entitled to a trust fund large enough to run a country. I’m also a feminist. And as a feminist, I was hesitant at first to ritualistically tell the world I was pretty and ready for marriage. Debutante Balls would be just another addition to the long list according to society of the ways I’m doing ‘feminism’ wrong. For starters I shave my legs, I’m not a lesbian or a vegan, I’ve never burned a bra and I know by heart every word of Eminem’s degrading rap songs—sue me. That was until I realised that dressing up for a ball doesn’t make you a bad feminist, since feminism is about empowering women to make their own choices. Yes I took part in an event that may seem anachronistic to some, but is it such a bad thing for small divisions of society to continue this tradition for one enchanted evening? This isn’t like your wedding day: cotillion only happens once in a girl’s life!  So at sixteen I traded my converse for a corsage to become part of the rich history involved in the female experience of coming of age. And I wanted it to be something out of a fairy-tale tale— like Romeo and Juliet. I know Romeo died, but he died for something compelling, and I wanted my debut to be something to die for!

For 200 years the first Debutante Balls were held at Buckingham Palace, as a way for upper class families to announce their daughters were eligible for marriage. It seems my mother facetiously suggesting that I “marry a rich husband” to solve whatever idle adolescent drama I was experiencing at the time, may not have been too far removed from the young aristocrats presented to the Queen. This continued up until 1958 when Prince Phillip announced the whole thing was “bloody daft” (I think he’d probably get along well with Grandfather, who was on to his 3^rd glass of Moët) and Princess Margaret complaining “every tart in London was getting in”. The night was followed by a whirlwind of parties, with debutantes introduced to eligible bachelors (and prevented at all costs from being swept off their feet by the 18^th century version of a ‘bad boy’ with tattoos and a motorbike).

Today, the International Debutante Ball is considered the most exclusive in the world, presenting “the luckiest young women in the world” according to the New York Observer, into high society. These are the girls written about on Page 6. They ski in Vermont and sunbathe in Santorini. Their names have been on Harvard’s acceptance list since birth, and when they come of age, designers like Ralph Lauren send personal sketches of gowns for them to choose from. There’s something so illustrious at the thought of sipping Veuve Clicquot cocktails at their invitation-only after party at the Waldorf Astoria in New York— something that does not translate AT ALL into the ‘Real Teens of Ringwood’ parties I’ve been to thus far. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not spend my Sweet Sixteenth finding out people were fraternizing on my favourite sofa. 

Classy.

Photographed by: Frederico De Angelis

Whoever said ‘money doesn’t buy happiness’ has obviously never been a debutante. I used to be a total tomboy, spending my weekends skateboarding and wearing anything that wasn’t pink, frilly or a dress. I never truly understood the bond that exists between women and shoes until I went shopping for the Ball. Since then, I have been steadily increasing my collection; enough to keep a small country afloat and second only to Imelda Marcos. On the night I was questioned by my mother on the safety of my heel height, and offered suggestions to switch to a more “sensible” pair. Um… I wear five inches or I wear nothing! I can say this because I’ve tried out “sensible” when I succumbed to inebriation, and surrendered my dignity to buying a pair of Crocs.

They say “You can never know a person until you walk a mile in their shoes”, so in making my debut into society, I wanted to be like a princess, wearing the highest, most glamorous pair imaginable. After all, if a commoner from Tasmania can become the Crown Princess of Denmark, who can argue a sixteen year old can’t dream of poufy chiffon ball gowns and tiaras that aren’t made of plastic? All I’ve ever wanted is a modern fairy-tale. Mary Donaldson has it— and everyone knows I have much better shoes! 

 

It’s easy to see Debutante Balls exactly as they appear; elegant, classy, imposing— by the mid 80’s however, girls continuing the tradition were presented not in Buckingham Palace, but in downtown London nightclubs like Wedgies. Ah! Even wearing gloves I’d still want to wash my hands. Like every regretful fashion choice made in the 80’s, debutante’s hair wasn’t just teased— it was pissed off! And the only girl caught dead wearing white was Madonna in ‘Like a Virgin’ (accessorised by a lacy lingerie bodice and ‘Boy Toy’ belt) that would have seen aristocrats retracting the photograph from Page Six faster than the Queen could yell “off with her head!”

“You have such beautiful hair Gabby!’ praised my mum. ‘It reminds me of Mia Thermopolis”

Now that I think back on that…I really hope she meant AFTER her princess transformation. As much as I wish I could say a real life debutante is far from the lame teen comedies where the girl with the frizzy hair and braces suddenly becomes the belle of the ball, this is actually a pretty good descriptor. I had my braces taken off and my thick, dark hair twisted into an elegant up-do. As the ladies lined up with glamour and poise to be formally announced, I crossed my fingers hoping that I wouldn’t trip over the yards of frothy tulle in true Jennifer Lawrence fashion. And I can successfully report that no debutantes were harmed in the making of the Ball.

“I’d like to present Gabrielle Capes, escorted by Joash Veith. Miss Capes has thrived in her position as president of the student council and youth of the year finalist. She hopes to work as a columnist for Teen Vogue or as a lawyer; that way if anyone ever gets on her bad side, she can unleash her inner Erin Brocko-bitch and haul their butt into court!”

After 12 weeks of intensive ballroom dancing lessons, wearing my gorgeous white dress and elbow length gloves, I really did feel every bit the star of my own Cinderella story. As I curtsied to the panel of esteemed guests, accompanied by my knight in shining Armani, I began to direct the movie I was starring in at the moment; the movie that is my life. 

Xx

How to get the most out of your shopping experience at Big W, Target and K-mart (or the international equivalent eg. Primark)

These retail super stores are often an absolute nightmare with limited sizes, clothes out of order and thrown in piles everywhere and anywhere, poor quality, extremely crowded and did I mention the lack of or complete ABSENCE of staff! So they don't exactly provided a joyful shopping experience for anyone. However, the prices in these stores are a students dream, with t-shirts and shoes from $5 (AU) it's no wonder they manage to maintain a steady flow of customers despite their flaws listed above. So in an effort to make your trip to K-mart/ Target an enjoyable one, I thought I'd share a little insight in how to you can improve your shopping experience and come away happy with your purchases, rather then flustered, disappointed and frustrated with that shop assistance who was ruder then Trude and Prude from 'Kath and Kim'.

1. I know it's hard but don't go in with the mentality that "everything is so cheap". It's very easy to get carried away in these shops, putting anything and everything in your shopping bag even if your not entirely in love with the item. At the time you think that the price is so good it's impossible to say no, even though you have no idea where you are going to wear a bright pink tu-tu. Instead, pick out items that you genuinely like, and can see where and what you would wear them with. This way you are more likely to come home with garments you are proud to have purchased.

2. TRY EVERYTHING ON! These super stores have terrible sizing. Just because last time a size 8 dress fitted you perfectly, doesn't mean it will this time. Sizes are constantly fluctuating and changing, and the fabric an item has been made out of can strongly influence how it fits. If you don't want to wait in line for ages to get a change room, then grab a size which seems to fit you and then try it on at home without removing the tags (the day you buy it not 3 months later), this way you can always go back and exchange it!

3. Visit in the morning. I know getting up early on a Saturday morning to go to target sounds like the worst idea ever, but trust me it'll be worth it. Most stores restock on a Friday night for the weekend, so Saturday morning will have all the new stock, clean neat shelves and all the sizes. There will also be no crowds of people around and you won't have to wait for a change room. And who says that when you get home you still can't have a big Saturday fry up for breakfast!

4. Stick to the basics. Try and avoid making any big purchases in these super stores- their clothes are cheap for a reason and it's mostly because of the poor quality. Your best spending you hard earned money elsewhere if your considering buying a coat, hand bag or something that will get a lot of wear to last you a long time. Buying things like t-shits, casual dresses, shorts, sandals and jumpers are your best bet.

5. These stores are great for when you see an item in a popular brand label store and you aren't certain if the style will suit you. Often these super stores mimic popular trends that have been successful in other shops, so if your not sure if you could rock a pair of doc martins (or alike) then try your local super store and I'm sure they'd have there equivalent for less then $20.Then if you decide you love them, you can splash your cash on a branded pair and if you hate it then it's only $20 down the drain and not hundreds.

March Favourites

As the first month of Autumn here in Australia has officially come to a close, I thought I'd celebrate the beginning of a new season and the close of another by compiling a group of things I have particularly enjoyed this last month.

 Rimmel's lasting finish matte lipstick by Kate;

As the cooler months come about, so do the darker vampy colours and often our makeup palette changes from softer pastel colours to hues of black, grey, purple and blue. So in the true spirit of autumn, I've found myself opting for a dark red lip. Rimmel's Kate Moss lipstick in the shade 107 has been fulfilling my recent dark red lip obsession as the colour is vibrant and as pigmented as any NARS lipstick. It's also very moisturising and easy to apply without leaving you with that chalky look. And to top it all off it's relatively inexpensive!  .

Rimmel's Wake me up foundation;

I know I'm a bit late to join the band wagon for this product, but I recently I discovered Rimmel's 'Wake me up foundation' and it's super easy to layer and gives you the option of a lighter or fuller coverage, without feeling heavy on the skin. It's moisturising and gives a dewy complexion, so if you prefer a more matte look then this foundation may not be for you. None the less I have fallen head over heels for this product and can picture myself re purchasing.

La Vie Est Belle;

I must say this is probably my signature fragrance. While it is pricey- it is definitely worth it if you love oriental smells. I received this as a present for Christmas and have been wearing it ever since, I know this fragrance is well loved by many and I am proud to say I am a new member of it's cult following.

CoverGirl's LashBlast Length;

If you are like me and don't tend to apply a full face of makeup everyday, and tend to stick to one or two products to enhance your natural beauty, then I'm sure you'll love this all time favourite of mine! I must admit I have been using this product since I was about 14 and have rarely ventured out of my comfort zone, but I just feel like this product does everything I need and want. However if your looking for a product to give you ridiculously long bold lashes or are aiming for a more of a 'night time look' then this product is probably not for you. If however, you are just new to makeup or want an 'all natural' look then this will serve you well!

Burt's Bee's radiance body lotion;

Embrace your inner disco and let your shimmer out. This body lotion is moisturising as it contains sunflower oil and aloe and makes your skin glow by enhancing you skin tone with mica. This lotion I must stress though is not for your face! (Don't learn that the hard way) and I recommend use for your arms and legs only. Although I've included this in my March favourites, I'm not entirely sold on the product as the fragrance is quite over powering and sometimes the shimmer can make me feel slightly ridiculous like a bedazzled Barbie doll. Overall I'd say I have enjoyed the product while it's lasted, however am unsure if I'll be re purchasing.

 Taylor Swift's 1989 album; 

Needless to say I'm pretty certain you'd had to of been living in another galaxy to not of heard a single song on this album yet. And if you live anywhere in Melbourne then you've probably heard me driving around blaring my stereo to this soundtrack. Honestly do I need to say much more  but "It’s a new soundtrack, I could dance to this beat, forevermore."

Lidnt's salted caramel balls;

If you haven't tried salted caramel yet then you are really missing out on a whole new outlook on life, well at least on chocolate. With Easter just passed I've fallen  for Lidnts 'Five moments of bliss salted caramel chocolates'. It's like heaven melting in your mouth and I ain't sorry for none of those angels melting with it.

Girl Online by Zoe Sugg;

I am totally obsessed with this book and am totally aware that my opinion is possibly very greatly influenced by the fact I am also obsessed with Zoe Sugg's beauty and lifestyle blog and youtube channels. None the less this is a great book and I have read it numerous times and devoured it in about 1 day the first time I read it.

1. Girl Online By Zoe Sugg 2. Taylor Swift 1989 album  3. Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation 4. La Vie est Belle perfume by Lancôme 5. CoverGirl Lash Blast Length 6. Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate in 107 7. Burt's Bee's Radiance body lotion 8. Lidnt's salted caramel balls 

Hanna Inspired Room: Pretty Little Liars Decor

My favourite television bedroom of the moment goes to Hanna Marin from ‘Pretty Little Liars’. It’s feminine, edgy and fashion forward— which suits her personality as Hanna is the popular and fashionable one of the group! This article will give you some inspiration into how to decorate your space similarly, and hopefully inspire you to put as much personality into your room, as your wardrobe.

Hanna’s room entwines a colour palette of; white, grey, pink and red, with a splash of yellow.  In three words her décor is; sleek, girly and fashionable, and what makes it so aesthetic is that the colours are infused throughout the entire space.  Her double bed is accentuated with a large, upholstered headboard, and her furniture is very sleek, modern and white. She has accessorised her bed with heaps of textured cushions within her colour palette. When going for the ‘Pretty Little Liars’ look, remember to include at least one pink, one red, one grey, and one yellow accented cushion (as well as floral prints). Hanna has also accessorised her space with photos and lamps, adding a personal touch to a space that already showcases her fun personality.

Hanna's interest in fashion is made obvious through her clever display of magazine clippings of all the latest clothes and shoes, presented on a dress form! You can also added some personal photos with drawing pins to extend the fashion theme.

1. IKEA Ung Dril Mirror/ 2. Tabletop Miniature Mannequins/ Horchow 'Italia' Chair

Of course Hanna would use her desk to double as a vanity! Cute storage trays hold in place all of her nail polish bottles and perfumes, while a smaller mannequin displays her jewellery. A modern glass lamp adds light, and an ornate pink mirror adds the final feminine touch to the space! I have the same mirror hanging in my room, and it requires some DIY as it only comes in black. Then just spray paint over it using a sample pot of pink paint and voila!

Hanna's space is accessorised stylishly using organisational trays to hold her nail polish and perfume bottles. I love the way that the colours in her room make you feel; happy and warm. 

1. Truffault Yellow Lamp / 2. Troveline Wallpaper / 3. Dream Cushion (Pink and Yellow)/ 4. Retro Cushion/ 5. Diane von Furstenberg Tie Die Duvet

A large print of the Eiffel tower hangs in Hanna's room, and as anyone who's anyone will tell you; Paris is the fashion capital of the world!  I would also recommend framing some fashion illustration sketches, or if you are interested in design, creating your own! As for lighting, go with a modern chandelier and a few interesting lamps to add softness. 

Pretty Little Liar's character; Hanna Marin has an enviable room, and that's no lie! If you want this same look, keep to a colour palette of grey, white, red, pink and a splash of yellow. Opt for neutral coloured walls, and if you can't have the same wallpaper, incorporate a floral or feather print in other areas such as your cushions or curtains. Mix and match heaps of different patterns and textures, and focus on fashion by adding a dress form and framed fashion illustrations. 

Xx