Let’s work from top to toe.

Hair:

No hair dryer or straighteners mixed with rain and mud equals looking like some sort of scarecrow. Not a good look. Now some festivals have boutique hairdressing tents, with the option of a fully wash and blow dry, and GHD have also infiltrated some of the big festivals, much to our delight!

If this option is not available you have a couple of choices, either use dry hair shampoo spray or get a fashionable hat to hide the horror. A trilby should do the trick.

Face:

You need to remember to bring wipes for cleansing, moisturizer and sun screen. These items are very important. Along with that a basic make-up bag: waterproof mascara, under eye concealer (for the day after the night before) and a good lip gloss. Oversized sunglasses will also hide the multitude of sins while still making you look chic.

Clothing:

Denim shorts are a festival favourite, they look great teamed with boots or sandals. Playsuits are cute and bang on trend, although navigating portaloos could be a bit tricky.

For cooler days or nights add knee socks or change into jeans. Vintage t-shirts and a few long sleeve tops are great for layering while a dress is certain to impress in the dance tent. Another essential item would be a rain mac.

Footwear:

Wellington boots are pretty much a staple of the UK festival, with Hunter Wellies being the celeb choice. You may be trudging around in mud but you can look cool doing so, with a host of colours and patterns to choose from. If the sun does decide to shine, a pair of gladiator sandals would be perfect.

Whatever the weather you can too can be a festival goddess!

We’ve all seen them, and most of us have been them, the lobsters on the beach desperate, after a long English winter, to soak up every ray of sun without a thought for the UV damage.

The problem is, after months of hardly seeing the sun, and certainly no strong sun, our skin isn’t ready for the real thing.

Those who rush to the beach or pool side immediately after disembarking from the plane and sunbathe for 5 hours straight all too often end up looking like a flaky lobster for the rest of the holiday.

Pain, blisters, difficulty moving, cancelling tours due to the discomfort are the all too common symptoms of the desperate English holiday maker. And the worst part is the tan doesn’t stick. In fact, there is no tan!!!

This seems to be something that people too often forget. If you burn badly you simply peel. It won’t miraculously turn into a tan, it’ll just be red, painful, itchy and flaky. And by the time you get home you’re either patchy or pasty white again.

So what can you do???

First of all, buy a fabulous hat and a few different strengths of sunscreen before you fly away. If you’re very fair and have been indoors since last October, start with at least factor 30, 50 would be better. Plaster yourself in it on the first day of your holiday.

On the second day move down a few factors to 25. How long you stay at this level will depend on your skin type, how long it’s been since your upper legs and tummy had a peek at the sun and how hot your holiday destination is.

Don’t move down to 10 or 15 until you’re sure you’re ok and even then, if you’re going to be lying on the beach for hours move back up to 20 or 25. Anytime you’re stationary the sun literally bakes your skin. If you’re going to the market or touring, then a lesser strength sunscreen should be fine, especially if you wear a chic, wide brimmed hat.

At the end of every day have a cool shower, carefully dry off and then moisturise everywhere. If you have burned a bit (it should only be a bit!) you should immediately apply aloe vera gel or an after sun gel or cream. Moisturising keeps your skin from peeling and effectively locks in the tan, for a little while at least.

And please, please be careful of your breasts if on a nude or topless beach. The skin there almost never (and in most people’s cases absolutely never) sees the sun and it is about as delicate as a baby’s skin. If you want to topless sunbathe smother your lovelies in the strongest factor sunscreen you have. Anyone who has experienced a boobie burn will agree that it’s not fun.

Don’t forget the hat. Your lovely headdress should stay with you anytime you go out. Your face gets more sun than any other part of your body and it is the first part of you that shows your age so spare everyone the leather lines. Stick some day cream (SPF 15 or higher) on and glue that hat to your head.

Building up a tan by carefully controlled sunscreen application is the best way to go. Teemed with a religious attitude towards moisturising, this method almost guarantees a lovely, enviable tan by the end of your holiday. No peeling, no blisters, no pain. Just lovely sun kissed skin. And your older self will thank you for the lack of sun damage.

Start with a clean shave. No matter how fashionable the clothes you’re wearing are, you’re not going to look pulled together if you’re in need of a haircut or shave. Although men’s hairstyles and facial hair choices are certainly more creative than they used to be, it’s important to project a well-groomed image. A scraggly beard is not designer stubble.

Don’t be afraid of patterns. Patterns are perfect for men’s wear for formal or casual events, if you wear them in the right way. Start small, with a patterned necktie. Or go with neutral slacks, solid blazer, solid tie, but patterned shirt. There are many different ways to work eye-catching patterns into your wardrobe without looking like a clown.

Colour is another thing you need to feel comfortable with. Try a colourful tie if you’re shy with bright’s, and keep the rest of your ensemble neutral. To look polished in a hurry, match your tie to your shirt for a stylish monochromatic look. Try deep wine, royal blue, or hunter green.

When choosing what to wear for formal occasions, stick with the classics. Suits in dark colours like black and navy are always good choices. Add interest with a bright handkerchief or vibrant tie. A formal occasion is usually not the time to try a new fashion choice! If choosing what to wear on your wedding day, follow the appropriate groom’s dress code for wedding ceremonies and reception.

Now, when choosing what to wear for casual occasions, you can be a bit more creative. One trendy idea is to make good use of layers. For a put-together look that can take you most anywhere, combine your favorite jeans with a solid or striped Oxford shirt, then top with a trendy short sleeved tee.

For more ideas, look through a menswear catalogue or fashion magazine. Many runway looks can be modified to work for real life. Get creative and find ways to incorporate today’s trends into your lifestyle. Fashion may not be on every man’s top ten list, but by understanding the basics, any man can look great in a hurry.

If you’ve got long hair, then there are a wide variety of choices available to you. Keep your length yet add bounce and structure with long layers or a razored cut. Go with an easy updo by pulling your hair into a ponytail, twisting the ponytail, then securing with a clip and tucking stray ends under the twist. For a sporty look, try two long braids. To soften the look, pull some wispy tendrils out and let them fall around your face.

For more ideas on how to style your long hair, check out some celebrity hairstyles. Great celebrity hairstyles for long-haired girls include those sported by Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet, Victoria Beckham and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Hairstyles for Short Hair

Short hair can be anything from chin-length locks to a short cut. You can go glamorous with a bouncy short bob, or playful with a razored pixie cut. Try accenting short hair with pale highlights to add interest. Long layers can help add volume to a short cut.

To get an idea about the short cut that would look great on you, why not check out celebrity hairstyles worn by stars that share your facial structure (you should be so lucky!)? Sienna Miller recently sported a kicky short cut with long layers that would look great on ladies with oval or heart shaped faces. Or go shorter and try a cut like the one Halle Berry made famous in the nineties.

Wedding Do’s

Getting ready for the big day? For wedding hairstyles, choose the one that flatters your face shape as well as your wedding dress the most.

Colouring and Highlights

Colour can also make a big difference in your style. Choose highlights that are complementary with your natural hair colour and skin tone. For cool toned brunettes, try creamy cool shades of beige and toffee. For warm toned brunettes, go for caramel highlights. Blondes can go with highlights in shades like platinum and butterscotch. Redheads can add depth and interest with ribbons of auburn and gold. You can have your stylist do your colour, or do it yourself with one of the many home hair colouring kits offered on the market today.

Hair Care Basics

Regardless of which hairstyle you choose for yourself, keep your tresses looking great with some tender loving care. All hair types can benefit from a weekly deep conditioning. Be sure to get regular trims to discourage nasty split ends, and use a clarifying shampoo once a month to remove buildup left by styling products.

One of my favourites is Beyond Retro, on Cheshire Street, many a Saturday afternoon has been well spent trawling through retro hats, shoes and dresses. I recently bought a red 50′s nightie which I’m now in love with, not for bed of course, for nights out.

On a weekend in Brighton I found some great items as well, they were begging me to take them home; of course I needed that feather covered hat with the berries on top. Odd to think that I would run from a second hand store, afraid of kooties, but join the throngs of women in trying out retro boots that have been worn by someone thirty years ago. There are countless online Vintage shops that you can peruse at your leisure, so get bookmarking.

Of course eBay has a fantastic Vintage section, from antique lace gloves to nineteen eighties neon. Popular items like 60′s mini dresses do tend to go quite high but there is still a bargain to be bagged if you can pip someone to the post. I was recently outbid on a yellow 70′s dress, and if the person that did it is reading this, then a pox on you! I could have been a contender for the next Mrs Law in that dress.

If you can’t bear the thought of trawling through vintage shops or don’t want to get addicted to eBay, there are plenty of reproduction vintage dresses and the like in high street shops. You can still look good and also be certain that your dress is not being haunted by a love bead crazed hippy.

You’ve probably given your skin a good old makeover, but now is the time to start chucking out all of last seasons half used cosmetics and give your bathroom cabinet and face an over-haul. Since the sun has gone on holiday you can’t rely on your tan and minimal make up to look great anymore. You need to look more glamorous and more polished during this season. Velvety shades are the way to go for the winter woman.

Matte understated shades such as coffee, chocolate and smoky shades for eyes and berry tones for lips and cheeks replace the fresh summer face. And YAY! Gloss is back in again and so are our beloved fruity and spicy tones of cosmetics.

Here are some tips you can use this season:

A bit of sheen on eyes can be used for a change, especially if you are using nude shades; while on lips, it can help your lips to look more voluptuous.

Matt finish foundation is better for winters, as it will stay on longer, as well as contrasting with the shimmery tones on eyes and lips.

Either your moisturizer or your foundation should have a broad-spectrum sun protection factor to block UV as the sun is still harsh in the winter time.

If you want to sport long eyelashes, you could try fake individual eyelashes that can be applied using tweezers. But even if you buy cheap lashes invest in a good glue, you dont want them blowing off down oxford street.

Sheer layers of creamy blushers can boost up your subtle makeup, but if you slightly scared of ‘guilding the lilly’, try using tints – Benifit do a gorgeous tint for cheeks and eyes.

Smokey eyes look best in winters and you can use eye shadows in cinnamon, maroons and coffee shades for a sultry effect. If you’re not keen on these shades, draw a line under your eyes with black, get a flat tipped brush and smudge metallic green through.

Though normally black mascaras make a comeback every winter season, this time it is the shades of Aubergine. Its less harsh on the eyes as black can make your peepers shrink.

A dark brown shade of waterproof mascara is a multipurpose product too. Use on lashes and eyebrows to frame your face.

Tinted lip balms in honey, blackberry and red currant tones look great in winter when teamed with matte foundations.

Don’t be afraid to keep the bronzer out, its not just for summer, but maybe tone it down so you look flushed as opposed to Essex.

Now I am a shoe lover of gargantuous proportions. From New look to Mui Mui, I don’t have a favourite brand – I just love shoes! In fact it wasn’t until I had to move house that I got found out for my addiction. When the removal men dropped one of my 15 boxes labeled ‘Scientific Equipment’ and ‘Clever Books’ and 18 little boxes slid out… not revealing more boxes like a Russian doll, but yep, you guessed it. SHOES!!

So what boots am I excited about this winter? Well, boots are still very tall this season, and by tall, I mean long up the leg, knee skimming, even over the knee is definitely in. Pirate is fading away as are over complicated boots, tassles, ties and so forth are taking a back seat, although minimal use is still ok. Cowboys, thank you Jesus, they are still here in a full force. As is wearing your boots over your jeans, which is the best trend to ever hit this side of the Atlantic with our rainy weather… No more going home with jeans sodden up to the thigh as if you’ve been on a fishing trip.

But don’t think that it’s all simplistic this season, there is a new sense of style and luxury with a retro touch that will strike the right balance between casual and classic elements. Decorative shoes are around but in a more eccentric fashion hybrid of both the arty bohemian lifestyle of the 20s and of the Woodstock generation of the 70s.

The Platforms we all swore we weren’t going to wear again and wedge heels are still a strong contender, but less brash for the slightly more reserved classy Brit look. Riding boots are still massive, as is the welly (you should still have some left over from your festival of love but chuck them out and invest in a really good pair).

Above all, don’t be a slave to fashion, get on eBay, pick up some vintage and get them re-heeled and re-soled (grips essential for not falling over stupidly on a date during the frosty seasons). Customize them yourself, wear them with leggings, legwarmers or silly woolen socks popping out the top. Just make your style your own, it works for Kate Moss, but then again, not for Helena Bohem Carter, so steer clear of the crappy jumpers and Oxfam if you’re that way inclined.

If so, then this is the one I’m going to marry. I have bought so many of their gorgeous items, my cupboards keep complaining. When this site was down over Xmas, I emailed begging for updates. OK, enough gushing.

As Seen on Screen is exactly what it says on the tin. The gorgeous clothes you see on celebrities can be yours at a fraction of the price.

They email you love letters, I mean newsletters, which if you are wise you will delete straight away so you’re not tempted by the newest and most glamorous of items as seen on the red carpet or on stars gadding about town looking ab-so-lutely and effortlessly amazing.

Not that any of us want to look like Kate or Sienna (er, well actually I do). This site is easy to use, has fab sales all the time, and is generally marvellous.

Well, it’s payback time! Shoes are calling out for blood and they want it now. It’s the return of the skyscraper heel.

Remember when spike heels came back in? They made us look leaner and sophisticated and we swore blindly that we would never wear another wedge heel. Wedges were dirty, reminded us of the spice girls, and gave us a clunky almost clumsy look. Oh, what a difference a couple of seasons makes. Wedges are firmly back in the stores and back onto our precious feet.

Chloe, Dolce and Gabbana and Donna Karan all featured wedges in their catwalk shows this season. From bright pink pvc, to natural tones and muslin straps, wedges were the finishing touch to nearly all the latest trends on the runways, whether teamed with thigh scraping minis or floaty dresses.

The great thing about wedges, besides the fact that they go with everything, is although they look clunky, they are actually easier to walk in than skinny heels. Your weight is more evenly distributed across your foot and pressure is alleviated from just being on your heel. So although they aren’t as sophisticated looking, your walk might look a little less like you really need to use the loo (that’s my high heel walk, which negates the fact that I am wearing sexy heels).

But if you promised that you weren’t going to wear wedges again, and aren’t as fickle as I am and actually mean what you say, then you’ll be seeking a wedge alternative. If you are then no sleek stilettos please, they are a definite no no no! NO!

The only way forward would be chunky-heel platforms for spring’s no-frills silhouette. The chunkier the better. Burberry, Donna Karan and Gucci had chunky heels pitter pattering down their runways in patent, pvc, duck egg blue and lizard skin. All the high street designers will be putting out copies in the shops so don’t be a wallflower when it comes to your feet this season. Make your feet feel like they are starring in the rocky horror show.

We all have things we can’t live without and it’s amazing how many of these essential items are relatively new inventions. Here are what I consider to be some of the most important beauty products of the last ten years:

Lipfinity: Lipfinity is one of the few products that actually does what it says on the tin. Lipfinity promises to stay ‘put’ for 8 hours. I’ve woken up many a Sunday morning with Lipfinity still on my lips. I originally put it on on the Saturday morning before heading off four hours of shopping, for two dinners, seven hours clubbing and a cheeky snog. And I’ve still had to brush it off with my toothbrush.

The great thing about Lipfinity is you can wear a lovely gloss over the top and not have to worry about the lipstick bleeding. I’ve been hooked since these came out six years ago and still don’t think that any other brand has quite cracked it.

Lash Architect: Forget the mascaras that paint your lashes white and then you add a second coat of black. Lash Architect is fabulous for both separation and longer lengths. Since I tried this out a couple of years ago I’ve never gone back, although pricey (you don’t get change from a tenner) this lasts longer than most mascaras that I’ve used, so it’s still value for money.

Bronzer: Can you imagine living without bronzer? Sometimes all you need is a bit of that lovely brown shimmer to make you feel delicious and you’re ready to go. The best bronzer I’ve tried is by Mac, it’s got 5 different shades of brown, so you can use it to highlight, or sculpt, or just run the brush lengthways to mix all the colours to your taste.

Leg Make up: this is a necessity for summer. Legs can look so dreadful, especially if you have broken veins, freckles, circulation spots or even ingrown hairs. Leg make up is a life changer for the summer season, and it means you don’t have to wear horrible tights with sweaty gussets.

It gives you both a lovely brown sheen and a light covering for all your blemishes. The best I think I have tried is Sally Hansen ‘Air brush Legs’. Every time I wear it I feel like a Californian beach babe.

It’s not just us mere mortals that have mandatory items. Celebs the world over have them, and probably use more than we even know existed although the gorgeous Kate Moss, when asked what she couldn’t live without, said ‘mascara and vaseline’. But for the rest of us normal heads, we’ll stick to the products that get us one step closer to looking like a super model.