Antonia's Blog

Antonia is a freelance make-up artist. Whether it’s being backstage at fashion shows, working on editorial shoots or pampering brides on their special day, she relishes the variety that her job provides.

Antonia loves London from Monday to Friday and Norfolk at the weekend. She is learning French, loves her weekly Grazia fix, cooking for her friends and cherry flavour Green & Blacks chocolate. Her favourite online stores are Boots.com, BrownsFashion.com, and Spacenk.co.uk.

Warm Up For Winter...

Published on Monday 24th November 2008

Last week was definitely one of excitement. Like the other 12 million people in England I have been following the X factor religiously. This year, the addition of a small Girl Aloud has definitely pulled in the punters from the pubs and it seems each Saturday night, families, couples and singles alike can all be found in one place - that is, glued to their television screens!

So you can imagine my joy when I got a call saying I was needed on a shoot with the contestants. Whilst talking about work can sometimes bore your friends to death, this was a job everyone wanted to know about!

Despite still suffering with an awful throat, Diana really stood out from all the contestants. The poor thing spent any free minute she had (which was few and far between) sipping hot water with ginger and honey.

Diana reminded me that it always seems to be around this time of the year (when the temperature changes) that a hot drink is just what the doctor ordered. I’ve changed my regular Starbucks Skinny Cappuccino to a Yogi Detox Tea – really yummy and good for the immune system during the winter. Meanwhile, my boyfriend has been sipping on Throat Comfort Tea in an attempt to combat his reoccurring tonsillitis.

Whilst snuggling up with my boyfriend and a hot cup of tea is a warming thought, in reality I spend a lot of time outside feeling the cold. I suffer from Raynauds, which often turns my fingers, toes and lips blue, so it is imperative to wrap up warm.

But being 5ft 5, I often have trouble wearing those large knit woollies without looking like I’ve been attacked by someone with a knitting needle. They seem to completely swamp me and add ten stone - not something I’m hugely overjoyed about! So this year I’ve made a decision to invest in some particularly cosy accessories and make sure that my clothes are as warm as possible.

A thermal vest is a must have – doesn’t sound that alluring but there are some very pretty camisoles at Brora that are perfect under clothes, keeping you warm and not bulking you up. I have also purchased some Farhi long stripey gloves that warm my arms the whole way up, and my favourite piece this winter, my Brora cashmere purl beret.

With my winter warmers purchased, I now feel ready to brace the cold looking stylish and keeping warm. Whoever said one had to freeze in the name of fashion?

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