One of our favourite performances of the night was courtesy of Little Simz, as she sang two tracks (Introvert and Woman) from her critically acclaimed album ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’. The performance had everything from choreography, slick outfit changes and an appearance from The Crown’s Emma Corrin. Simz then went on to pick up an award for ‘Best New Artist’, in which she took her mother up for the acceptance speech, delivering one of the most heartfelt and emotional speeches of the night. 

Another rapper who stole the show was Dave, who performed with pinnacle members of the British Rap scene; Fredo, Ghetts, Meekz, Giggs. He executed his track ‘In The Fire’ with a fiery stage setup, including an electric guitar that doubled as a flamethrower. 

Earlier on in the night, Dave was awarded ‘Rap Artist’, making this his second Brit award. 

Of course, we have to mention Adele, who performed a soulful rendition of her track ‘I Drink Wine’. The 02 lit up with a sea of torch lights, with everyone enjoying seeing one of the most iconic singers of our time perform impeccably. Adele was nominated for four awards and left with three, adopting the new nickname ‘Queen Of The Brits’.

This year’s rising star, Holly Humberstone brought a delicate flavour to the night with her debut Brits performance of ‘London Is Lonely’. Her sweet vocals have us excited for what is to come in her career. 

Making the North proud, Sam Fender received the award for ‘Rock/Alternative Artist’. He then delivered a note-perfect performance of his hit ‘Seventeen Going Under’.

International awards went to Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish and SilkSonic, whilst women in music were heavily awarded in the remaining British categories, with Dua Lipa, Becky Hill and Wolf Alice being recipients. 

Although the Brits is a ceremony to acknowledge the best musical talents in our country and across the globe, there is always such an incredible array of fashion looks for us to enjoy, here is our rundown of the best looks from the night!

Joy Crookes

Maya Jama

Little Simz

Adele

Olivia Rodrigo

Holly Humberstone

Ashley Roberts

Anne Marie

Bree Runway

Gracey

Munroe Bergdorf

Words By Nadia Clasper

_{Photo Credit: Brits Instagram}

The post Women Triumph At First Ever Gender-Neutral Brits appeared first on Voir Fashion.

FKA twigs featuring Rema – jealousy

January 14th saw the release of FKA twigs’ highly anticipated album ‘CAPRISONGS’ (named perfectly for a Capricorn season release). Twigs has described this album as a ‘journey back to herself through amazing collaborators and friends’, which we feel is a joy to listen to. You can feel that twigs pushed to intertwine aspects of her life throughout this album, with voice notes and recordings of her friends’ conversations used in many songs, creating a personal experience when listening to the album in full. The record is bursting with collaborations, coming from the likes of Pa Salieu, Rema, Jorja Smith and The Weeknd. 

Adele – Oh My God 

Now, we all know this track came out with Adele’s album ‘30’ back in November, but we are a sucker for a good music video! Perhaps one of the most upbeat Adele tracks, this video accentuates the song’s euphoric feeling with a fun and artistic angle. Throughout the video, Adele is sat amongst a large group of dancers, who deliver a contemporary and modern performance using chairs as props. At the end of the video, a chair is set alight, delivering a final blow to this monumental video and song. 

Poppy Ajudha – Holiday From Reality

Sometimes, January can have you feeling all kinds of blue, leaving you wishing you were on holiday. If you’re looking for some relatability in your playlist, don’t hesitate to add this gem from Poppy Ajudha! Coming to you as a warm track bursting with soul, ‘Holiday From Reality’ is getting us ready for Ajudha’s upcoming album ‘THE POWER IN US’, to be released on March 14th. We can’t get enough of the track’s main hook;

“It’s driving me crazy, the way I’m moving lately, only thing that can save me now, I think I need a holiday from this reality” 

We feel you girl! 

Jordan Stephens (feat. Miraa May) – Big Bad Mood

Ironically called ‘Big Bad Mood’, this track has done nothing but lift our spirits since first listening on January 14th! Brought to us by Jordan Stephens (who you may remember from the iconic Rizzle Kicks), this song serves as the second teaser for his upcoming album ‘Let Me Die Inside Of You’, which we can’t wait to hear!

Abby Roberts – Paramaniac

With over 17 million TikTok followers, it’s safe to say Abby has made a name for herself in the social media world. But, she is now taking an interest in the music industry, having released her debut single ‘Paramaniac’ on January 13th. The track could easily be a backing track used on one of Abby’s relatable videos she often posts on TikTok regarding mental health, and it’s clear that the lyrics of this song have a special meaning to Abby. 

Chronicles- Cordae Featuring H.E.R. and Lil Durk

Coming as part of Cordae’s latest album ‘From a Birds Eye View’, this track delivers a chilled-out, rich R&B sound that will get you vibing along with the infectious beat. If you like what you hear, don’t forget to check out Cordae’s album! With collaborations from the likes of Lil Wayne, Eminem, Stevie Wonder and Gunna, it’s safe to say you won’t be left disappointed! 

Raveena – Rush

Delivering some culture into our playlists this month is the groundbreaking, Raveena. Released on January 14th, the track is an ode to Bollywood which takes us on a journey of a Punjabi princess travelling through space. Speaking on the track, Raveena said;

“The song was the genesis of me exploring a more intense marriage between Bollywood sounds and the pop/R&B music that I grew up on in America.” 

And, with Raveena recently signing to Warner Records, we suspect that 2022 could be a big year for the rising star. 

The Weeknd – Sacrifice

If you haven’t already listened to The Weeknd’s latest album ‘Dawn FM’, you need to! Expanding on the retro 80s influence heard in ‘Blinding Lights’, this album is sure to tick many boxers for listeners. Similarly to The Weeknd’s previous album ‘After Hours’, he commits to a character throughout the record, creating a cohesive effect to his artistry. The album also comes with a concept, in which ‘Dawn FM’ acts as a radio station to transition you to the other side. Our favourite track is ‘Sacrifice’, which encapsulates the 80s energy, paired with a creative and visually virtuosic music video.  

Katy Perry – When I’m Gone

Currently causing a stir in Vegas, we couldn’t help but include Katy’s recent release for you to check out! If you’re looking for a song to get yourself hyped up and in a good mood, ‘When I’m Gone’ is the one for you. The track sees Perry team up with Alesso to create a vibrant dance-pop style song, sure to get you up and moving!

Stromae – L’enfer 

We are so excited for Stromae’s upcoming album ‘Multitude’ on March 4th, marking over eight years since his last album! His latest track ‘L’enfer’ has given us an insight into what we could be in for, with a much more personal meaning than his previous big hits. ‘L’enfer’ sees Stromae open up on his battle with suicidal thoughts, as he sings candidly over a haunting choir and piano accompaniment. 

Words By Nadia Clasper

_{Photo Credit: Raveena_aurora Instagram}

The post Spice Up Your Playlist With The Best Music Releases in January So Far! appeared first on Voir Fashion.

The track is already breaking records across the world, as it topped the global streaming charts in a single day, and smashed the record for the highest number of streams in a day on Spotify. The gravitation the world feels towards Adele is undeniable, but none of this would be possible without the great music which is at the heart of her success.

‘Easy On Me’ is classic Adele, almost making it feel like she never left. The lyrics tell the story of leaving a relationship, and how the people closest to you may not understand why you had to end things. This vulnerability is something that the world has missed, and it is comforting having someone voice your struggles in such an eloquent and delicate way.

The music video is stripped back and emotional, in quintessential Adele fashion. Further bringing the song’s message to life through a series of black and white footage as Adele drives away from her old life, whilst subtly paying homage to a handful of her past hits throughout the video. 

Speaking on the vulnerability in ‘Easy On Me’ Adele said;

“I feel like I can’t unlock a door for my own mental health and take the key with me. I’ve got to leave it in the door for everyone else – and I’m in a strong place now where I feel like I can put that vulnerability out.”

This vulnerable side of Adele is expected to carry on throughout her upcoming album ‘30’, which will be released on the 19th of November. Having infamously shared that the album is based around divorce on an Instagram live, we already know this album will be immense, as no one is better than Adele at turning heartbreak into beautiful music. 

Recently, Adele made history after appearing simultaneously on both the British and American Vogue covers. When speaking to Vogue, Adele gave another glimpse into what we would expect from ‘30’, and how the album was written with the hope of it helping her eight year old son understand her divorce;

“I wanted to explain to him through this record, when he’s in his 20s or 30s, who I am and why I voluntarily chose to dismantle his entire life in the pursuit of my own happiness. It made him really unhappy sometimes. And that’s a real wound for me that I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to heal.”

_{Words By Nadia Clasper}

^{Photo Credit: Columbia Records}

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Well before coronavirus turned our world upside down, foundation shopping (and shade matching) was a tricky business. Different finishes, strengths of pigment, and a kaleidoscope of undertones; getting it right can feel like a maze and It has been known to challenge casual buyers and make-up professionals alike. Even YouTube icon James Charles has admitted that he has battled to find a perfect foundation match.

Finding My PERFECT Foundation Match… Finally

Relying on online swatches for the likes of eyeshadow palettes and lipsticks is (for the most part) a safe gamble but traditionally foundation shopping requires a closer inspection in- store. We’ve all done the classic trick of applying a tester swatch and running out the store to quickly catch a view of the shade in natural lighting but in a post-coronavirus world, it seems make-up testers are set to become a thing of the past. The hygiene of beauty testers has frequently been called into question and parting with them IS in the interest of public health but now, how do we go about finding our perfect shade?

Voir has you covered. Here, our hours of scrolling and hauling our way through online retailers such as Cult Beauty and Beauty Bay have allowed us to achieve expert status in the online foundation shopping department and we have some hints and tips to share.

Identifying Undertones

‘Find your undertone’ is a phrase passed around a lot in the beauty world but let’s start by explaining what an undertone actually is. An undertone is a tone/colour that underlies your skin and there are three to choose from – warm (yellow and gold), cool (pink and blue), and neutral (a mix of both warm and cool). Knowing your undertone will make the whole process of online foundation shopping much easier and convenient, many brands indicate the undertones of a foundation within the shade name, typically represented by the first letter of the undertone – W, C, or N.

There are plenty of tricks to decode which undertone you personally have. A classic example is to take a glance at the colour of your veins. Experts suggest that blue-toned veins indicate a cool tone whereas green suggests a warmer tone. Similarly, trying on gold and silver jewellery can give a helpful insight into skin undertones. If you glow in gold, then you may sway towards a warm undertone or perhaps you shine in silver in which case, cooler tones could be your perfect match. Or maybe you love both (us too!), so neutral tones are your preference.

For the most part, a good bare-faced look in the mirror in natural lighting can offer a fair indication of what your undertone is but If in doubt, selecting a neutral shade is the safest bet for creating a well-matched base.

Selecting the Right Shade

Very fair, fair, light, light medium, medium, dark, very dark – feeling overwhelmed? It’s a lot simpler than it seems and far more obvious than deciphering undertones. These are the descriptors typically used by a wide range of make-up brands and luckily, once you crack which shade you are in one brand, it’s a safe conclusion that you’ll probably be the same in another.

Websites often offer a clear description of the shades and some have even introduced photos of models corresponding to each foundation colour which enables you to easily compare your own skin to a model of a similar shade; making colour matching almost as visual as being in the physical store.

Read Reviews

Never underestimate the importance of reading reviews from fellow shoppers. While many brands will claim their foundation is the key to achieving flawless skin, customer reviews allow us to see which products are really up to scratch away from the biases of Instagram advertisements and YouTube sponsorships.

Coverage, longevity and how it feels on the skin – these are all things that are commented on in reviews and they are important qualities worth investigating before committing to an online purchase. If you are sceptical of reviews on brand sites then there are online forums such as MakeupAlley which offer a wide range of honest and fair reviews.

Take a Brand Quiz

Luckily, many brands such as Too Faced, BareMinerals and Maybelline have noticed a rise in online foundation shopping and in turn, have created clever quizzes to match their potential customers to their perfect foundation. Answering just a handful of questions on their sites will help their algorithm suggest a good foundation for your skin type, desired coverage and the ideal shade for you too. How fancy?

Explore Findation

Findation.com is a project that launched in 2012 and it is taking all the hard work out of onlinefoundation matching. Utilising their enormous database of shades, Findation allows you to enter two foundation shades that you have used and loved before from a range of brands. From there, their clever search engine can curate a list of shades from other beauty brands of a similar tone and colour that are set to match you perfectly.

Words by Yasmin Norvill

Graphics by Frances Scott

The post No Testers? No Problem – A Guide to Online Foundation Shopping appeared first on Voir Fashion.

The 2017 women’s marches brought out millions all over the world last year, most prominently in Washington where the march was more emotionally aimed at the newly elected president Trump. This year, not much has changed in terms of who the marches are aimed at, but the intention is to channel the energy for more progressive opponents in the November midterm elections.

Adwoa Aboah at the Women’s March in Washington.

Credit: @adwoaaboah Instagram

This year, many famous faces were out in force, rallying for more voices in office in support of women’s reproductive rights in retaliation to Trump’s anti-abortion stance.

Jennifer Lawrence, Cameron Diaz and Adele in solidarity.

Credit: @adele Instagram

Paris Jackson gave a speech yesterday at the march in Los Angeles.

Credit: @parisjackson Instagram

For the second year running, the crowds were blushed with shades of pink from the waves of pink ‘Pussyhats’ that have become a symbol of female solidarity in retaliation to some of Trump’s derogatory and sexist language. The cat-eared hats take the term and turn it into a word of power. The simple knitting pattern started out within a small group of women who wanted to produce an item of clothing other than a T-shirt to create real physical presence, once the pattern was online it got shared all around the world and the pink hats appeared in full force once again for this year’s march.

Crowds in force – Washington, D.C. Jan. 21, 2017

Credit: mprnews.org

Co-founder of the Pussyhat Project, Jayna Zweiman speaking to the crowds in Los Angeles.

Credit: @p_ssyhatproject Instagram

#2018

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