Quite often I receive emails asking me questions about fashion, style & the like, & while everyone would benefit from hearing the answers, they don’t necessarily require a huge response. Here I will endeavour to answer multiple questions at once, so if you feel like asking me something which might fit here, don’t hesitate to email me!

In these first few emails, I tackle thick ankles, long-lasting lipstick & how to make freckles look even. If you have any additional hints or tips, feel free to add them in the comments below!

“Spring’s coming (for the northern hemisphere anyway) and brings forth the question of footwear – flip flops, strappy heels, wedges, whatever. Now I have, erm, sturdy ankles, and was wondering if there were any styles of shoes that can flatter and slenderize the ankle area, or do us gals with the thick ankles just have to suck it up and live with it?”

Really, it’s all about proportion! Anything with a thin, pointy toe is a bad call; in contrast to your ankle it will make you look enormous. An ankle strap will make your leg look slightly strangulated, & a low kitten heel will make you look hefty. Avoid all of those! Your best friends are simple sandals/thongs/jandals/flip-flops (they don’t need to be rubber, elegant ones do exist, just be sure to avoid any with an ankle strap), clogs (they will give you shape) & anything chunky (this will make your ankle look delicate by comparison). You’ll also look good in a wedge mule. Good luck!

“Is it possible to get any red lipstick (bright red lipstick), which I can kiss my boyfriend with, without leaving a huge lipstick mark on his cheek? Last time he got bored because he ended up with red marks all over his face…”

I’m not a fan of those long-lasting lipsticks. In my experience they are VERY drying. My mother always used a lip sealer, which is almost like a varnish you put over your lipstick. It will keep your lipstick on all day, it is quite amazing. I don’t know what brand she uses, but I found Make Up For Ever’s Lip Plus Lipstick Sealer on Sephora which seems like it would certainly do the trick. As for red lipstick, my favourite is MAC Red by MAC Cosmetics, but I know that MAC’s Russian Red is very popular too.

“Can you recommend make-up products and tips for those of us who have freckles? I’m in my 30s and have had freckles since childhood. I don’t want to cover them up or hide them, but I would like to know how to blend them evenly with my foundation, blush, etc. Sometimes it’s hard to get an even tone to one’s skin, when it isn’t even toned to begin with. Again, I don’t want to hide or cover up my freckles, but I still want to look stylish and sophisticated. Any advice?”

Unless you want to get rid of your freckles entirely, without makeup your skintone is always going to look a bit uneven. That’s the bad news. The good news is that freckles are really cute & you can still wear sheer foundation over the top. They’ll still be there but the foundation, applied properly (after cleansing, toning, moisturising & using a primer), will make your face look radiant & healthy.