I take props from the gorgeously glam girls of yester-year on a daily basis – Marilyn, Elizabeth, Joan, Audrey, Jayne – they’re my inspir-o-girls, because damn it, those girls knew what being sassy was really about, and if you don’t believe me, just ask international authority on fashion history, Caroline Cox author of the beyond bee-you-tiful book How to Be Adored: A Girl’s Guide to Hollywood Glamour.

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Unless you’ve been under a rock since April, I’m guessing you’ve heard the buzz about the new No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum, right? It’s magic in a bottle. No really, it is.

I love, love, love trying new prodz and as No7 Protect and Perfect Intense is hailed as the gold standard in skincare, I thought it would be rude and wrong not to treat my face to such an anti-ageing treat. Brimming with skin-loving good stuff, it’s got a rich texture and a super-silky feel – so far so fabulous…

Now, I pride myself on my Dita/Kelly O pale skin and avoid the sun at all times, but despite my avid wrinkle avoidance, I laugh A LOT and laughing rudely can cause fine lines, this prod has an intensive wrinkle-fighting action and d’ya know what? It only blimmin’ works. Fo’ real. I saw an improvement almost instantly – this serum brightens and re-energises skin and I got three compliments the very first day I applied it, and as a compliment collector, anything that encourages the flow of compliments my way, gets a big thumbs up from me!

£19.75 30ml – www.boots.com

Lipgloss is for girls, Lipstick is for women.

And with the days getting chillier, it won’t be long until winter is here, and the Sassy Minxes will be bringing out the reds. I often get asked, what’s the best red lipstick?Nnot because of my make-up skills, but because I’m an avid fan of matte colour block’s that make me feel all movie star glam.

And I’m not the only one; from Egyptian Goddesses to Japanese Geishas, it’s a universal symbol of beauty that has adorned the pouts of Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Bette Lynch. Cultural history aside, red lipstick is high on the agenda for Autumn/Winter 09 fashion trends, with models on the catwalks of Lanvin, Giorgio Armani and Alexander McQueen donning lips the colour of London buses.

I like coral based reds for when I’m wearing monochrome – I  channel Chanel, vampy crimsons for when I am in a darker mood and brick- red based shades to match my hourglass cocktail dresses. The standard rule is to match the red to your skin tone, cool bluey reds are for paler ladies, and warmer based rouges for olivey skins. The best advice for this year is by Terry Barber at MAC who says: ‘A blue shade of red is more formal and grown up, whereas an orange red is a little bit more undone  -  and provides a good match for tousled and unkempt hair.’ This advice embraces the rebellious attitude of a red lipstick – the kisses left like passionate marks of warpaint on lovers and champagne glasses, and words of lust, love and anger scrawled across mirrors.

Delicious and show-stopping, Nars Heat Wave, a warm bricy red,  makes an entrance at 17.00
www.narscosmetics.co.uk

Lady Danger for vampy days-it does what it says on the tin, 12.00
www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Experiment with colour at Barry M-Pillar Box red rocks and its only 3.95!
www.barrym.com

Ms Lisa’s favourite red is boudoir by bnevertoobusytobebeautiful – an amazing bluey red that brings out her big brown eyes and it’s 100% vegan too! £9.80 www.bnevertoobusytobebeautiful.co.uk

For a rosy glow, Benetint is a firm favourite with most of our glamourous gal-pals and for 22.50, it’s not only for your lips, but your cheeks too!
www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk

And now somewhere to stash all of them…..Miss L and I are in LOVE with this purse! If you didn’t read our Sassy List with the gorgeous lady behind the label, you can read it here.

www.bedcrumb.co.uk £18.50

So, girls, whats your mean red – care to share?

I am doing star-jumps of joy (in my undies, natch) as I scored a li’l face time with the queen of faux vintage lingerie and hoisery, Miss Katie Halford, the tres fabu lady behind What Katie Did.

Not only is the prettilicious What Katie Did collection available online, www.whatkatiedid.com, it can be purchased at their flagship boutique in the heart of London’s Portobello Road – damn, it’s a pretty shop! It’s like a really old fashioned corsetorium where you’ll be fitted correctly and advised by knowledgeable staff – if, like us, you’re totes retro-hearted and love, love, love pretty lingerie go visit – tell ‘em Sassy Minx sent you!

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Hola!

So, Ms L and I have taken a little time out to get inspired and drop some fun times, so I thought that it’s only fair to pass the feel-good feeling on, let you know what we’ve been doing (and buying, because c’mon, no one needs a break from shopping, right?!)

The bank holiday weekend was spent retro-stylee. We lunched at a BBQ and then went to the travelling fair with some tins of Strongbow – I know, I know, but I did pretty much co-ordinated my outfit to the can, that’s got to be a good thing hasn’t it? – and sang and danced to Lady Gaga’s new tune. Love her, or hate her we just can’t resist wanting to take a ride on her “Disco Stick”.

Our new thing du jour, is to only snog on dates as opposed to offering a full menu of service. We don ‘t know if its to do with the recession, but later on in the pub, we were speaking to lots of girls and boys who said they too are relishing a good pash-up over a drunken smash-up. It seems fitting then, that last week I was sent a gift of Urban Retreat’s Lip Service. An exfoliator, base to keep colour in, primer to moisturise and gloss to make your lips zing and I feel like I got some of the best bee-stung, kissable lips in town.

£19.50 www.beautique.com

To chill, I read the hilarious “Its Not Me, Its You” by Charlotte Ward. Punchy, straight-to the point and plenty of moments we can all relate to, although there are also a LOT of moments that made me realise my break-ups have been a walk-in-the-park in comparison – I just couldnt put it down. Break up stories don’t usually appeal to me, but hey, we’ve all been there with the Kleenex and the ice cream tub, haven’t we? Whether you’ve been scorned or not, this is a must-read.

£5.99 www.amazon.co.uk

Im off to the white isle of Ibiza next week, so I treated myself to a treat in the form of a screenstar-esque bikini from Pistol Panties. Its not often I get to feel like Brigitte Bardot in St Tropez, but this well cut bikini not only covers my derriere the way it should, its so very, very pretty that I could forgive the price tag.

www.pistolpanties.com

Finally, what with the amazing bank holiday weekend I’ve had, and the fantastic things I’ve been doing and looking forward to, this ring seems to sum it all up – I know I’ll be glancing down at it and twirling it round my finger when I’m feeling glum at work. ‘Think Of Wonderful Thoughts’ by Disney Couture. Walt might have misled us with his fairytale endings, but it’s the moments of joy, that spring from thoughts that make a girl feel the real magic.
£25.00 www.asos.com

If, like me, you’re a li’l troubled as to how particular high-street shops produce such crazy-cheap prodz, you’ll be pleased to discover MADE-BY, a not-for-profit labelling organisation for fashion brands.

It’s genius. Basically, MADE-BY works with fashion brands to improve the social and environmental aspects of their entire supply chain using a step-by-step approach – cool, huh? The blue button MADE-BY label is then used on clothing to communicate the brand’s commitment towards continuous improvement.

The awesomeness that is MADE-BY opened its stand at PURE London last weekend with the help of Harry Potter actress, Bonnie Wright and Georgia Groome, star of Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.

Both Bonnie and Georgia dig the ethical fashion and both turned out in Edun outfits, a MADE-BY partner brand. FYI: I was still very much of the impression that ethical clothing meant, expensive, not-cool clothing, turns out I was wrong x 1000. Check back soon for our TSM Ethical Fashion special.

“I’ve always been very interested in fashion,” says Bonnie, “but it’s extremely important to me that the social and environmental issues associated with the production of fashionable clothing are addressed. MADE-BY carries out really important work in transforming the fashion industry, and I am thrilled to support the organisation and help raise awareness of these ongoing issues.”

Check out more about Made-By and all the supporting brands at their website: www.made-by.nl

Meet Trish, she is the gorgeous girl behind the sweet-smelling deliciousness that is Principessa.

Not only is Principessa Italian-o inspired, and I LOVE me all things Italian-o, it has the prettiest packaging a girly-girl could wish for and the smell? Well, I know I’m meant to be good with the words and all, but when it comes to Principessa prodz, there is only one – dee-vine.

I desperately want to know what makes the prodz smell so amazing but Trish isn’t telling…

“…With Principessa, I’ve created a signature scent that is exquisitely sheer, soft, sweet, sexy, and secret; formulas that will leave your skin feeling luxuriously silky wrapped in packaging designed for the feminine and whimsical urban princess…”

Bella, bella!

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I was walking in my ‘hood yesterday in a Miami Vice meets Chanel ensemble – think stripe boat top, tulip mini and white linen jacket with gold pearl jewellery, with Ms L who was working a tattooed Heidi Seeker cardigan, black dress and pink hair foliage, when out of a passing car came “OI OI SWEETHEARTS!” Needless to say, we both laughed at this, uhm, gesture and agreed it was decidedly better than the unintelligible “AWIGHT!” that was shouted at us half-hour previously. We then broke into a Sex And The City style convo about the art of the chat-up, or to Americanise, the pick-up.

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