Shopper's Bush

This is for my London girlies, on the whole.

Today I went to the Westfield shopping centre in Shepherd's Bush. It's absolutely massive, to the point where they've surely rebuilt much of the infrastructure around S'sB, including the tube station. Very pleasant - I went in through House of Fraser which meant that I accessed the rest of the centre through a rarefied enclave of 'high end' designer shops - Dior, Miu Miu, Mulberry... splendid stuff in the manner of a quick stroll through an art gallery. I did step into Jo Malone - a store of sumptuous scents. A small bottle of cologne is around £30, which isn't too unattainable, but then you start thinking that it would be nice to blend a combination of them, in the recommended manner, to create your signature scent... a game which could become very expensive very quickly. I beat a hasty retreat - although if anyone has too much money and really wants to spend it on a grateful blogger, I thought I'd start with red roses; wild fig and cassis; and nectarine blossom and honey.

My next port of call was the MAC store. I looked in vain for MAC concessions in House of Fraser and Debenhams, until I discovered this standalone shop. It's pretty small and was absolutely rammed with shoppers. There was a security guard standing arms outstetched at the front operating a 'one out: one in' policy, which is a new one on me. MAC is all about the pro-longwear lipcolour (bombproof lipstick), and I'm taking a chance on 'Fully Charged' - a bubblegum pink which is paler in tone than I would normally wear. I hope I don't get too attached to it, because a quick rummage on the internet finding the picture above, tells me that it's been discontinued.

Despite the congestion at MAC, the rest of the centre wasn't oppressively busy - which for a Saturday, is surely amazing. I popped into Rigby and Peller to book a fitting, and got an appointment for only half an hour later. I thought I'd go to the world renowned bra experts out of curiosity really - I'm 95% sure that my 34JJ is the right size, but sometimes there's a little overspill. My fitter was lovely, but initially brought me a 36HH to try, which I didn't come close to fitting into. She conceded this, but seemed to think one cupsize would do the trick. You'll have to take my word for it - but I was busting out all over this bra! It was academic anyway - she thought I was a 36J, and Rigby and Peller don't go up to a J cup in underwired bras, although she could offer me a maternity bra or their made-to-measure service. I'm unimpressed. Back to Bravissimo for me, and I'm not sure I recommend Rigby and Peller at all.

Monsoon was as uninspiring as I expected from my season preview, except for this fabulous sixties-style frock. The photos don't really do it justice, so I'll try to explain. The bodice is a heavy cream fabric with sparkly pale gold thread running though it. Cut far too high for anyone boobalicious, the neckline is pure 1965. Then the skirt is this fantastically synthetic tangerine fabric - I used to own a vintage babydoll nightie in this fabric - it's so of its time. Then there are darling little bows at the top and bottom of the zip, also in the tangerine. So gorgeously retro - I see a couple of my mates in this frock (step forward, Alisa and Lesley). £60.

Lastly, I fell in love with the above mac in Marks and Sparks. It's £59 - which is perhaps a little steep for a raincoat, but the design is delightful for hourglass girls. Deep V neck, single breasted - both good things for flattering big boobs, then a full circle skirt to balance you out. It's cinched with a belt - which adds to the effect. A note on belted coats: the thicker the fabric, the less 'waist' you should try to define. Sadly this design stops at a size 18. I got it on, but I clearly needed a size larger, so it stayed in the shop. You can't win them all.

Bombproof Makeup

I'm not dedicated to the careful maintenance of my makeup. I like to put it on at the beginning of the day or evening, and then not give it a second thought until I wake up the next morning and take it off. In between times I want it to stay looking fresh and glam.

Here I share with you my 'tried and tested' brands for maximum longevity.

The quest for kiss proof lipstick has been a long one. I was a devotee of lipcote in my teens, even though is stings on application like lemon juice on a paper cut. It was worth it, because I was a goth - and no sacrifice was too great for black cherry lips that didn't leave myself and my paramour smeared, like bingeing vampires, after a rigorous snogging session. I dallied with lipstains, but when I next embraced lip colours, Maxfactor had created Lipfinity - a new breed of lip paint, to be rendered wearable by a silicon gloss coat. Maybelline have a similar product, and they do work, but the glosses are unpleasant and the colour ranges limited.

Then I discovered Pro Longwear Lipcolour by MAC. It isn't cheap, and many of the colours are unimaginative, but the gloss coat is gorgeous and most importantly of all, the 'Lasting Lust' shade is a perfect, versatile, classy red. On Friday I applied it at 7pm, went out, ate tapas, drank all manner of booze and talked my head off - and woke up from my hangover on Saturday lunchtime with perfect scarlet lips. £15-odd, and you'd want to buy it in person rather than online because I find the colour representation on the MAC site to be way off - but this is a truly winning lipstick. Now all they need to do is introduce some really vivid berries and pinks.

To eyes. I wear liquid eyeliner and have done almost every day since I was 16 years old, these days I wear it - retro style on the top lid only. Believe me when I recommend liquid eyeliner by blinc - and their mascara - for unbeatable longevity. My biggest problem with other brands isn't so much lack of staying power, but a grubby grey build up that comes after a few days on my upper and lower eyelids if I don't use a super-powered eye makeup remover.

With blinc there's no need; it comes off with water and light friction. It's effectively waterproof (unless you rub your eyes) and smudge proof (unless you have wet hands). When you do remove it, it doesn't dilute into greyness - it comes off in strands - which takes a little getting used to, but it means there's no grey build up. Try it. Blinc isn't widely available in stores, but on their website you can order a trial size of the eyeliner and the mascara for £2.21 each. With each trial sizer you receive a 20% discount voucher for the full size, which sells for £17.62 - thus making the trial size effectively free.

My last recommendation is for nails. Once upon a time I was prepared to spend time doing my nails every day - which seems like something someone else would do when I think about it now. At any rate, for many years I haven't been bothered because after one good rummage in my handbag, I'd end up with horrific chips. Recently, my friend Amanda recommended L'Oreal's resist and shine - and I must say: I'm impressed. Four full days without chipping. Available all over the place for £4.99, or try eBay. Branded cosmetics can often be picked up cheaply on eBay.