If like us, you like to rock the head gear, then you’ll love Emma Fielden Millinery. A luxury designer hat brand that not only focuses on quirky and stylish pieces but is also a huge hit with celebrities from Christina Aguilera to Sophie Ellis Bextor and is often featured in fashion staples like Vogue and Elle. Not only that, she’s also created a line for Alexander McQueen.

Sassy Minx? Muchos!

Emma, your headpieces truly make a girl feel like a moviestar, but where did it all begin?
In a studio in Brixton 11 years ago, where I spent extraordinarily long happy hours playing with materials, sequins, diamante, feathers and anything shiny I could get my hands on. I’m a magpie.
 

Who/what inspires you and why?
My hero is Elsa Schiapiarelli. She started out as a milliner. Her designs are heavily influenced by surrealism, and she collaborated on many occasions with Dali. Millinery is a surrealist art in itself, displacing objects and placing them on the head. Endless possibilities.
 
What do you love about being a woman in the world?
High heels, makeup, dressing up, giggling, loving, and best of all, mothering.
 
What has been your proudest moment so far?
 The birth of my son Rocky, who constantly makes me nearly burst with pride.
 


Which top five tracks rock your world?
Roberta Flack – First Time I Saw Your Face 
Dusty Springfield – Preacher Man
The Fall - Totally Wired
Blondie-Heart of Glass
Joy Division-Love Will Tear Us Apart 
 
What are your must-have, can’t live without fashion and beauty items?
 At the moment leather or pvc trousers. I have acquired 3 pairs in the last few weeks. Beauty wise, Nivea.
 
What makes you jump-in-the-air happy?
Dancing
 
What is your life Motto?
If you can’t be good be brilliant!
 

What is your favourite piece from the current collection?
I love the mirror ball pieces. Quirky and glamorous.
 
Emma’s Sassy List: What’s your favourite?
Shop: Charity shops
Book: Wuthering Heights
Website/blog: twitter.brighton guru
Hang-out: The Beach
City: Brighton
Must-have beauty item: Moisturiser
TV prog: Beyond Belief
Food: Mashed potato
 
What does the term Sassy Minx mean to you, Emma?
Something girlish with attitude!

We like to think we’re pretty savvy when it comes to knowing what’s going on, which is why we are beyond excited to give Sassy Minxes the chance to win £200 worth of Laden goodies as well as six invites to the website opening launch party in London!
 
The Laden Showroom was launched 10 years ago and provides a platform for young talent and designers to showcase their designs and collections.  Founded in 1999 by brother and sister team Barry and Adele Laden, their vision was to create a unique, special shopping experience.  10 years on and the store has launched over 200 independent designers. The store currently stocks over 65 designers including Bonnie, Chandelier, Collect, Connected Generation, JARLO and Orion London making it the perfect one stop shop for everything from party outfits to rock chick chic. The Laden is also one of the biggest selling brands on ASOS.com.
 
This February, they will be launching a new on-line selling site www.laden.co.uk which means that styles can be delivered to your door with a click of a mouse. It’s an exciting new retail development for the brand that will take The Laden Showroom to fashion fans across the globe. Now we know that you girls love an online shop, as do we, so all you have to do to enter the competition is sign yourself up to their mailing list at www.laden.co.uk
 
See you at the PARTY! x

My gal-pal Lou-lou recently intro’d me to the joy o’ prettiness that is I Love Cutie Pie. I’m ever-so-glad she did, because it’s the most deliciously decadent home to one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces of jewellery, which are as cute as a Prada button.

All of Cutie Pie’s products are handmade with love by Miss Danielle Butler and feature vintage inspired and kitsch treasures, such as miniature teapots, cakes, bows, Alice In wonderland themed charms and French inspired trinkets, which adorn necklaces and earrings alike.

Come and join the tea party!

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You’ll love Charlotte Ward a little bit. In fact, if you’re like me, you might develop a bit of a girl crush because she’s really, really cool.

She’s an author and a journo-girl who has lived like Madonna for 3 days, tested Kate Moss’ beauty regime and has asked Philip Oliver whether he likes it with the lights on or off – all in the name of hard-hitting journalism. She’s also penned two must-read books for girlkind. Why Am I Always The One Before ‘The One?’ which detailed the horrifying truth about the ridiculous and deranged behaviour that both her and friends had displayed during their quest to find Mr Right and ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’ which is all about the highs and lows of break-ups.

Describe yourself in 5 words…
Calamitous, impulsive, sugar-addicted, neurotic, silly

 
Charlotte, SM LOVES you, you write books about rubbish boys – are they inspired by real life?
While not all boys are rubbish a fair few that are have darkened my door and definitely gone on to inspire me in my books. Likewise I’ve revealed my own bad behaviour and moments of lunacy so I think it’s fair enough!
 
Are you a full-time author-girl now, and if so, what’s a typical day in the life of Charlotte?
Get up at 8am and switch on the computer. Sit there in my pyjamas telling myself I’ll get dressed in a minute. Suddenly it’s 11am and the doorbell rings. I frantically try and change out of my nightwear into respectable daywear in the time the postman takes to climb the stairs to my flat. My fringe is sticking up like Jedward so I don’t think he’s fooled.
After actually having a shower, getting dressed (and ignoring the lure of This Morning) I look in the fridge for something to eat. Brunch consists of four ginger nut biscuits and a piece of cheese.
I do some more writing (and messing about on Twitter) until hunger gets the better of me and I leave the house around 3pm to go to the shop and buy some decent food. More writing mixed in with Facebook and gawping at what a ‘real woman’ would look like in Cheryl Cole’s dress on the Daily Mail website.
 
Your books s’far are non-fiction, any plans for fiction – please say yes!
Yes! I’m thinking about going off somewhere for a month next year to write it. I already have the concept and the characters I just need to crack on and actually write the thing.
 
You’re a journo-girl too, what mags do you write for and what do you prefer – book writing or journo-girl-ing and why?
I mainly do celebrity interviews for the Daily Mirror and Now magazine but I’ve also written for the Mail On Sunday, Heat, Grazia and Glamour to name a few. I kind of like both as boring as it sounds. At the moment I seem to be writing two to three books a year and then spending the time inbetween writing articles. I wouldn’t want to give up either so juggling the two is ideal.
 
Can you share a li’l bit about your creative process please, Charlotte – where do you write? What time of day do you write – that sort of thing…
I really can’t make up my mind where is the best place for me to write. It changes on a daily basis. Sometimes I need to be really regimented and sit at my desk, at other times I’m much better with my laptop and feet up on the sofa and occasionally when I’m really hungover or it’s ridiculously cold I just stay in bed and do it.  At other times I can’t stand being in my flat so I’ll go to Starbucks or my parents. I’d say generally my best writing bursts are first thing in the morning and at about 10pm at night.
 
What 5 tracks would be essential to a Charlotte Ward soundtrack?
This is so hard as it changes weekly but right now I’d chose these…
Alone - Heart – I went to a power ballads night recently and could be heard howling like a wild dog to this complete with pained expressions and fist clenching. I can’t help it. I love it.
Shake It – Metro Station - I really like this song and I’m not even a teenage girl. Sometimes, when it comes on the radio, I ’shake it’ in the flat. In my pyjamas. On my own. I sheepishly shut the curtains first as it’s a little bit Bridget Jones dancing on your own in your living room and I’d be mortified if the neighbours saw me.
Winter Winds – Mumford and Sons – The only word you can use to describe this song is ‘lovely’. It’s the audible equivalent of being wrapped up warm with a mug of hot chocolate in front of a log fire (or in my case an Argos electric heater) which in this weather is all I really want to do.
Single Ladies (Put a ring on it) – Beyoncé – I’ve featured this song in my latest book It’s Not Me, It’s You in the ‘Music To Bid Boys Goodbye’ section. I love the idea of newly single ladies jubilantly flexing their bare ring fingers in the faces of marriage-shirking exes – all the while pulling off some great Beyoncé booty moves.
Wild Women Do – Natalie Cole This song has been a favourite of mine since I was about 14. It’s on the Pretty Woman Soundtrack – which every girl should own.
 
What makes you jump-in-the-air happy?
The last I jumped in the air was when Jedward did Ice Ice Baby on X Factor as very sadly I’d predicted it. Hmm, probably going to the zoo or just hanging out with any kind of animals. If I hadn’t pursued a writing career I would have got a job at the zoo – ideally looking after the penguins.
 
What’s your motto for life?
Kate Moss once said, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels,” I say: “Nothing feels as good as scoffing tastes.” 
 
Charlotte’s Sassy List – what’s been your favourite…
Book: In Cold Blood – Truman Capote. I studied this for A’Level English and I could read it again and again. It’s brilliant.
City: New York – very predictable but it really is ace on so many levels.
Event: The Police – Hyde Park Calling 2008. It was their last UK gig and they played King Of Pain. Amaze!
Make-up brand: Mac. Their cover-up hides a multitude of sins although I do get quite intimidated by the harsh in-store lighting and beautifully painted staff.
Movie: High Fidelity – I love the book and John Cusack.
Album: Urban Hymns – The Verve
Quote: “I hope Charlotte has a comedy death.” My friend Isabel.
Website: www.3am.co.uk - it’s evil and funny.
 
 What does the term ‘Sassy Minx’ mean to you?
 Having an independent spirit and a great sense of fun… and the Pretty Woman soundtrack.

It’s Not Me, It’s You by Charlotte Ward is out now. Visit www.charlotteward.net for more information 

Look at these li’l treats of ear candy…Seriously, look at them, have you seen anything more fabulous? As a writer-girl who obsesses over the idea of owning a retro pink typewriter, I am officially in heart.

Where can you buy these treats? The awesome Model Citizen Clothing, that’s where.

Model Citizen Clothing is the creation of the fabu Bonnie Rue. All of her designs are inspired by her friends who actually are Model Citizens. Tough, talented and ready to take on the world, like her, they are a seriously loveable bunch. Come meet her, she’s a huge helping of awesome sauce…

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So, when I was 12, it was the opening night of the school play and as I walked out on stage, I literally landed on my bee-hind in a pretty spectacularly embarrassing way.

What did I do, you ask? Did I cry? Run off? Hell to the no. I declared; “I have arrived!” and continued reciting my lines from the stage floor. The audience laughed, the pink in my cheeks slowly subsided and everyone clapped.

What’s this all about? Well, sometimes life throws us a curveball, an awkward sitch, a not nice scenario, and at the time, it can feel icksville, but believe it or not, it can be the beginning of something awesome. I got a phone call yesterday that threw me a little. I was upset, I felt a little freaked out and I wobbled. I then rang Miss Cathy who later messaged me and I think it’s the most awesome advice any of us can follow…

“…Miss Lisa is putting on shiny pink heels… stepping out into the snow… slowly, at first, and then adding a little wiggle… then whirling around, dancing… reaching out her fingertips to catch every snowflake, every sparkle, that comes her way… go for it!
 xxx…”

No matter what life throws at you, make a quick save, hold your head up and before you know it, you’ll have flipped it into a moment to shine.

Coming soon, we have a tres fabu interview with Miss Zena, the fab creator of ME & ZENA – Jewellery for the Unruly, until then, the adorbz Miss Zena is giving away the modern version of a Magic 8 ball, the ‘Should !?’ decision making necklace, as a New Year treat for one lucky Sassy Minx!

Ever wanted to know the definitive answer to all your most important questions? Then look no further than the ME & ZENA decision maker necklace. Just ask your question, shake it around and see which side the ballbearing lands!


All you have to do to win it, is tell us what you will be saying “Yes” and “No” to in 2010 in the comment box below. Go on, you know you want to!

Competition closes: 31st January 2010

The wait is finally over.
If you loved I heart New York by our BFF, Lindsey Kelk, then you’ll be pleased to know that the next installment, I heart Hollywood is out NOW!

The book blurb: Angela Clark can’t believe her luck. She’s an English girl living in New York with a dream job at hip magazine The Look and a sexy boyfriend. Her latest assignment takes her to Hollywood to interview hot actor and fellow Brit James Jacobs.Thrown in at the deep end she heads west with best friend Jenny dreaming of Rodeo Drive and Malibu beach. Soon Angela discovers that celebrity life in Hollywood is not all glamour, gloss and sunshine. Despite his lady-killer reputation, the only person who seems genuine is James. Then a paparazzi snaps them in an uncompromising position and suddenly Angela is thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons! Can she convince all those close to her – especially her boss and her boyfriend – not to believe everything they read? And will Hollywood ever win Angela’s heart?

Miss Aimee and I stayed with Miss Lindsey on our recent trip to NY – not only does she write ace-cake books, she cooks a mean Thanksgiving turkey too – check out our holiday snaps, read about how totes fabu she is, then go buy I heart Hollywood, yep, in that order…

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So last week, between Christmas and New Year, I was slumped after midnight, on my bed, full from chocolate/cheese/crisps and catching up on some junk gossip when suddenly, my weary eyes came across the new trailer for SATC2.

Within minutes, a link was on its way over to Ms Lisa, my best girl had to know the scoop despite being in yodel-land, Austria. I cannot deny that I was also on ebay bidding on vintage turbans ready for S/S 10 after spotting Carrie in a glittery Moroccan number, despite the fact I know I will look more Old-Woman than Old-Hollywood.

The opening bars of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys New York made my stomach do butterflies, and the end line ”Sometimes you have to get away with the girls” made me do a li’l happy dance for my own friendships – I am certain I am not going to be the only one desperate for a back row ticket for this on May 28th.
 
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Ohhh, I can’t tell you how much I LOVE Miss Carla. It’s not that I don’t want to, I just literally haven’t got enough words to describe her fabulousity. I’ve never met her – although I really, really want to – yet we’ve been internet budz for over 5 years and now she’s gone and created my new favourite internet destination – Messy Carla: A Fashion Blog in A Size 16. Not only do both Carla and I get mistaken for Kimmie dolls on a daily basis, we both work our curves in a dangerous way – come meet her, you’ll fall in heart with her too!

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