October 2015

October 26, 2015

MAC Cosmetics: Halloween YouTube Tutorials

M.A.C’s favourite time of year is upon us and that’s spooktakular news for us, because they’ve created some devilishly good makeup tutorials for us to share with you!

This year, six M.A.C Artists have designed six individual Halloween looks exclusively for M.A.C. Those seeking inspiration for their own Halloween costumes can watch these creations as they come to life, with a how-to tutorial for each look featuring the M.A.C Artists recreating the looks on themselves.

Ice Queen
Freeze them all in their tracks like an Ice Queen with a Halloween look designed by Lacie Dawn exclusively for M∙A∙C. Watch how to create the makeup magic, then go parade yourself!

Day of the Dead
Summon something sweet and sinister as a Day of the Dead sugar skull with a Halloween look designed by Marissa Jade Willinsky exclusively for M∙A∙C. Watch how to create the makeup magic, then go parade yourself!

Zombie
Go for drop-dead drama in this Zombie Halloween look designed by Matt King exclusively for M∙A∙C. Watch how to create the makeup magic, then go parade yourself!

Black Cat
Bewitch the eve as a Black Cat with a Halloween look designed by Tu Dang exclusively for M∙A∙C. Watch how to create the makeup magic, then go parade yourself!

Egyptian Goddess
Conjure up ancient glamour as an Egyptian Goddess with a Halloween look designed by Schuron Womack exclusively for M∙A∙C. Watch how to create the makeup magic, then go parade yourself!

Pop Icon
Invent your own playful spin on Pop Art with a Halloween look designed by Lyle Reimer exclusively for M∙A∙C. Watch how to create the makeup magic, then go parade yourself!

For those wanting a more intimate display of this year’s M.A.C Halloween looks, the Artists at M.A.C Pro Britomart will be showcasing and demonstrating these looks in-store for an evening of haunting Halloween artistry. All mortals welcome.

Thursday 29^th October 2015
5.00pm – 8.00pm
M.A.C Pro Britomart
Britomart, Auckland

Stay up to date with all of M.A.C’s make-up tutorials by subscribing to their You Tube channel.

Gurl Interrupted
A Girl Interrupted By Fashion, Beauty & Anything Pretty That Catches My Eye

October 26, 2015

Gurlinterrupted In Culture

Film Review: Paranormal Activity The Ghost Dimension

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension, reportedly the final entry concerning the ever-demonic Toby, and the families he haunts, kicks off with a hiss and a roar and concludes in much the same manner.

Right from the opening sequence we’re introduced to the tapes that created Katie and Kristi’s backstory issued in 2011’s prequel, Paranormal Activity 3, to fill in the gaps in the chronology. It also provide the answers we’ve long been seeking. While some may say we’ve seen the plot unveiling in previous entries, I was teetering on the edge of my seat right from the opening scene, and I remained that way throughout the entire 80 minutes of film, mesmerised by every moment unfolding before me.

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension is by far the most impressive entry in this series. It has just the right amount of humour, without crossing into the spoof-horror genre, and an authenticity that has become its trademark. The sense of urgency, anticipation and terror that made the first instalments so triumphant, has returned 10-fold (and yes, you do get answers and you do actually see the ‘paranormal activity’ we are promised).

The Ghost Dimension respects the previously set traditions, yet finds its own ideas and a way to continue on the story without ever being too repetitive. It also effortlessly furthers the ideology of a bloodline linked to the unholy force plaguing these families, while adding its own bits of independent inventiveness. Such is done in a consistently amusing manner, much in line with prior Paranormal Activity films.

Ghost Dimension is devoid of the filler that episodes in this succession of pictures were plagued with, and because of this, the movie itself is all the more magnificent. In this movie we bear witness to all that we had hoped to see in this movie’s predecessors.

The Toby saga emerges with metaphorical guns blazing, giving us the all-out endeavour that was teased at and promised in earlier efforts. It does this while simultaneously delivering more of the deliberately hidden elements of the narrative (most of it related to what happened after Paranormal Activity 3) while keeping its eye sharply focused on Toby’s newest haunt.

The story commences around two weeks short of Christmas in 2013. While looking for Xmas decorations, Ryan (the dad) finds tapes of Katie and Kristi, which were the focus of Paranormal Activity 3, and begins watching them. Almost immediately he, along with the assistance of his brother, Mike, begins to piece together why he found these video cassettes in his home. Ryan also comes to the realisation that in the video, Katie and Kristi are describing events that are now just unfolding, yet recorded twenty-five years in the past. These coincidences link up unsettlingly to that which is transpiring for him and, most eerily, his daughter, Leila. But it’s not just tapes the two brothers find, they’re also in possession of a camera that can see ghosts. I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone, so I’m going to leave the storyline descriptor at that.

What keeps this film moving is the lack of music, a benchmark of previous Paranormal Activity films, and deft editing. The art direction also adds to the palpable sense that we are watching something filmed during an actual haunting.

Ghost Dimension returns to the overall sense cast by the ground-breaking 2009 original, with the addition of the ever-elusive answers we’ve been seeking all along, and increase of thrills and heart-pounding-tension. This is like a return to its roots, which is perfect for the finale.

Check out the trailer here:

Gurl Interrupted
A Girl Interrupted By Fashion, Beauty & Anything Pretty That Catches My Eye

October 19, 2015

Gurlinterrupted In Culture

TECH REVIEW: The Apple iPhone 6s and 6s Plus

I could have ‘reviewed’ Apple’s new iPhone as soon as it came out, but I always prefer to wait until I’ve spent a decent amount of time with a new device so that you get a true, tried and tested tech review, rather than a ‘hey everyone, look what I got’ review. Which by the way, drives me insane! You can be sure you’re not getting a real review if someone is writing about something the day of or after they received or purchased a product. Aaaand, now onto the review…

Many people look at the ‘s’ model of the iPhone as a less significant release than the years Apple does a full design change, but that’s simply not the case. This year’s iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are full of new features and in fact this is probably the strongest ‘s’ model iPhone Apple has ever released. I’ve been using the iPhone 6s (and a little dabble with the 6s Plus) for quite some weeks now, so you can be sure I’m very familiar with it.

While the aesthetics of the iPhone have remained largely unchanged (apart from the addition of the stunning rose-gold colour, which I’m in love with), the way we navigate the device, the camera, photos, LTE, Wi-Fi, the processor, Touch ID, and lots more have changed dramatically.

Let’s take a look at some of my favourite iPhone 6s features…

12 Megapixel Camera and Live Photos

Apple’s new 12-Megapixel camera is more than just a higher spec camera. Apple knows that higher megapixels doesn’t necessarily mean better pictures for the average user.

In addition to increasing the megapixels of the camera, Apple also included an Apple-designed image signal processor, advanced pixel technology, and improved noise reduction. All of these things together will give you some of the best pictures that you can take on a smartphone today. In fact, just last week a friend and I were at an event together and she was asking if the iPhone 6s camera really is as great as being touted, (to find out if it was worth upgrading her older model) so we both took a photo of exactly the same thing, standing in exactly the same place. The comparison was insane! She actually couldn’t believe it. My phone was crisp, bright, pristine with eye-popping colour in all the right places. Hers, not so much; in fact not even close.

One of the things I’ve noticed in using the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus is that I can now take much better pictures in low-light situations. I’ve always found the iPhone camera to be lacking in this area, but the new one is much better. What I’ve seen so far is impressive.

Adding to all of the technological advances is a new feature called Live Photos. With Live Photos, you take a photo like you normally would, but the camera will capture 1.5 seconds before, and 1.5 seconds after the shot. When you press on the picture in your photo app, the picture plays like a movie for those few seconds. It’s really cool to see what happened directly before and after you snapped the pic. Reminds me of the super-cool newspapers in Harry Potter, with moving imagery on what appears to be a static image.

Live Photos is something else that you’ll need to get used to—if you drop the camera too quickly after taking a picture, it will capture that movement at the end of the photo. You need to keep the camera up until the ‘Live’ indicator goes off your screen. It only takes a few times to get used to doing that and then you’ll remember.

You can also turn off Live Photos if you want—it’s right on the camera screen, so it’s really easy to get to. Having used it for a while now, I can’t imagine why you would want to though.

You can share Live Photos using iMessage, iCloud Photo Sharing, or AirDrop. The Live Photos can be viewed on OS X El Capitan, Apple Watch running watchOS 2, and of course, on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. You can even set a Live Photo as your wallpaper or lock screen.

Apple’s front-facing FaceTime camera also supports Live Photos and will take much better selfies now. Not only is the camera better, but it now uses the Retina HD display as a flash for your FaceTime HD camera. Here’s how Apple describes how this works: “When you snap a selfie, a preflash detects the lighting around you. Then a True Tone flash on the display matches the ambient light for a gorgeous shot with more true-to-life colors and more natural-looking skin tones. Retina Flash is powered by an innovative technology—a custom display chip that allows the display to flash three times brighter than usual”. In other words, amazing.

4K Videos

Of course, taking photos isn’t the only thing that’s changed with the new iPhone—you can now shoot 4K video.

You can shoot at 3840 by 2160—that’s four times higher than 1080p HD video. You can even zoom in while you’re recording or playing back your 4K video. 4K video supports video stabilization, continuous autofocus, face detection, and you can take an 8MP still while recording.

It’s not hard to see the difference when you record using 4K. This is one of those features that I didn’t think I’d use a whole lot, but I definitely changed my mind.

If you plan to shoot at 4K, you have to go into Settings > Photos & Camera and turn that on. 4K is off by default. You can also now record slo-mo videos at 1080p at 120 fps—the settings for this are in the same place as the 4K settings.

Of course, if you’re planning to shoot 4K video, you’ll want to edit that video and Apple has that covered too. The new version of iMovie on the iPhone can edit and even share to YouTube at 4K resolution. The new iPhones can even edit two streams of 4K video to create effects like picture-in-picture and split screen.

3D Touch

It’s not difficult, when you look at any mobile device these days, to recognise the inefficiencies in navigation. You tap your way into an app, complete your task, and tap your way back out.

There are times when you don’t even need to look at something, say an email message, but we do because that’s the only way to see it. 3D Touch solves that problem.

3D Touch is a pressure sensitive action that allows you to “peek” and “pop” items on your phone. For example, let’s say you have a screen full of emails that you want to read. In the past, you would tap to go into the message, scan the contents, and make a decision to leave it read, change it to unread, reply, etc. Then you would move on to the next message and repeat.

With 3D Touch, I can press lightly on the message and it will open in the middle of the screen, allowing me a “peek” at what the content is. If I press a little harder, the message will “pop” open for me and I can interact with it as I normally would. If you let go of the message while it is peeking, the message goes back into the list and you can move on to the next one, without losing your place. However, if I decide I want to deal with the message right away from the peek screen, I can just swipe up and a menu appears at the bottom of the screen allowing me to Reply, Forward, Mark, Notify Me, or Move Message. All of the things I would want to do with a message can easily be accomplished from this one screen.

Peek and Pop work all over the place on iPhone. In Apple Music, you can use it to view albums and playlists; you can view Messages and texts; You can set calendar events, view flight info, view images and videos and all kinds of other things.

3D Touch is one of the handiest features that I’ve seen from Apple in a long time. It’s not just that it’s cool, it actually saves me time. It’s a new way to navigate the iPhone that’s quick, easy, and efficient.

This technology also includes Quick Actions. These are actions you can get to quickly by just pressing on an app icon. For instance, if I press on Mail, I get a menu of items including All Inboxes, VIP, Search, and New Message. Tapping one of these takes me right to that action in Mail.

A number of Apple apps have Quick Actions built-in. I found Mail, Safari, Messages, Phone, Apple Music, Calendar, Maps, Camera, Photos, Notes, App Store, FaceTime, Wallet, Find Friends, iBooks, Game Centre, Contacts, and Reminders, all have some kind of working Quick Actions.

Touch ID

Apple’s fingerprint sensor, called Touch ID, was one of my favourite features when it was released. It allowed me to quickly unlock the iPhone using my thumb print. It’s safe, secure and easy to use.

So, how do you improve on that? Make it faster, of course!

Apple made the Touch ID sensor so fast that when you tap to wake the phone up, it has already read your fingerprint and unlocks. Really, it’s that fast. In older phones, you would tap to wake the phone up, then rest your finger on the sensor—no need for that anymore. The sensor is so fast now, I’ve had to change the way I touch the phone in order to see notifications. In the past, I could tap the home button, but it wouldn’t unlock, allowing me to browse through the notifications on the lock screen.

With the new iPhone I have to use a different finger, because the phone will unlock right away. That’s not a complaint. It’s amazing how fast the new sensor is and I’m glad it works that quickly.

Design, A9, LTE, and Wi-Fi

I mentioned earlier that the design of the new iPhone remained largely unchanged, but the materials did change. Apple is now using 7000 Series aluminum—the same grade used in the aerospace industry. Apple has also strengthened the glass. Touted as the strongest smartphone glass in the industry.

The 64-bit A9 chip delivers 70 percent faster CPU performance than the A8 chip found in the iPhone 6. It also delivers 90 percent faster GPU performance. That’s a staggering performance increase in just one generation.

The new iPhone supports up to 23 LTE bands, allowing better worldwide roaming. The devices also support LTE Advanced (up to 300 Mbps). With 802.11ac with MIMO can deliver speeds up to 866 Mbps. I’ve never had many complaints about LTE or Wi-Fi speeds, but these types of improvements are always welcome.

In summary

I expected the new iPhones to deliver faster components—the ‘s’ models usually do. What I didn’t expect was the depth of everything else the iPhone delivered. Quick Actions, 3D Touch, faster Touch ID, 4K video, better photos, Live Photos—these are all things that are going to make the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus even better for me as a user.

Make the software and hardware fast and easy to use. Allow me to be efficient and get my work (or play) done quickly, and with an ease-of-use that Apple is known for. That’s what I expect and that’s what Apple delivered.

In the time that I’ve been using the new iPhones, I haven’t found anything I didn’t like or that didn’t work as it should – quite an achievement considering how much has changed.

Gurl Interrupted
A Girl Interrupted By Fashion, Beauty & Anything Pretty That Catches My Eye

October 18, 2015

Gurlinterrupted In Fashion

Scandinavian Style – Ecco Soft 7 Sneakers

I love shoes, and I don’t mean in the typical ‘oh yeah, I love shoes and fashion and stuff’, I mean I have a serious Carrie-style love affair with shoes; with a collection that boasts over 250 pairs (I told you it was no joke). Now, I’m not just all about heels or sandals – all glitz and glam, I love all shoes, and sneakers are right up there! In fact as I get older and my style changes and evolves, the more I appreciate a great pair of kicks. Heck, I used to think if I wasn’t in heels, there was something seriously wrong. Stay with me, I’m going somewhere with this…

So a few weeks back I came across some pretty damn cool kicks – Ecco Soft 7. I’m going to be completely honest, up until about a month ago, I really knew nothing about ecco shoes, but my new Soft 7’s are making me wish I hadn’t arrived so late to the ecco party! As I said earlier, I love sneakers, but what I love even more, is a pair of fresh white high-top kicks. Ecco Soft 7 sneakers ticks all the boxes (although they’re also available in black, my preference was white), they’re leather high-tops, they look damn good, and don’t even get me started on the comfort factor; like walking on memory-foam-clouds.

Everything about these sneakers is pure perfection! I love the appearance at first glance, but I also love the detailing – the curved cutaway at the heel, the icing on the cake. The leather is so damn soft I want to live in them every day, and the aesthetics of the ecco soft 7 makes them perfect to wear dressed down with shorts or trackies, yet they look fabulous with a beautiful dress or skirt.

To give you a little background about ecco shoes, (and of course my much-loved Soft 7 sneakers) they’re a global Scandinavian footwear brand. Known around the world for its technically superior shoes and the quality and production of its leather, ecco has produced its softest leather for the Soft 7. Ecco’s direct injection technology also produces more flexible and durable shoes which are also hard-wearing. The heritage leather uppers are naturally soft, light and breathable, perfect in a contemporary sneaker. The Soft 7 is available in a range of styles including men’s and women’s high and low top sneakers as well as a suede slip-on and contrasting laces version. The style will release in both black and white initially with a range of playful new colours being introduced in 2016. The Soft 7 is available in Ecco stores in Auckland and Wellington now, as well as online at www.eccoshoes.co.nz.

Gurl Interrupted
A Girl Interrupted By Fashion, Beauty & Anything Pretty That Catches My Eye

October 15, 2015

Gurlinterrupted In Beauty

La Prairie – The Skin Caviar Collection

La Prairie Skin Caviar Collection angie fredatovich nz

There’s no doubt La Prairie is the ultimate in luxury skincare. Their quest for timeless beauty knows no boundaries and their Skin Caviar collection is no exception. It’s been some weeks since I got my hands on this divine La Prairie skincare range, so I can now 100% confirm that luxury and visible results go hand-in-hand (well, I haven’t tried the foundation yet, but the moment I do, you can be sure there will be a review). The other thing about La Prairie’s Skin Caviar collection is that when you’re using it, you feel you’re pampering yourself above and beyond the normal day-to-day beauty routine; an absolute five-star beauty treatment that no doubt the rich and famous are all about!

In the 1980s, the scientists at La Prairie went in pursuit of revolutionary skincare that would represent unparalleled luxury and launch a new era in anti-aging. They began studying caviar, a symbol of prestige and opulence, scientifically renowned for its nutrients and health benefits since the 4th century B.C., and were intrigued by the sturgeon’s ability to live in the sea for more than 100 years.

As a result of scientists’ curiosity and passion, pure caviar extract has become one of the most coveted and effective anti-aging ingredients in the world. A precious luxury, rich in life-supporting minerals, vitamins, amino-acids and lipids, omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, caviar is truly one of nature’s most powerful nutrients. In fact, caviar extract has been shown to stimulate the production of collagen by skin cells, and studies indicate that an increase of collagen levels contributes to skin firming.

La Prairie has created a beautiful new addition to the Skin Caviar Collection with Skin Caviar Luxe Cream / Sheer. The lavish lifting ability of Luxe is now available in two distinct forms – Cream and Sheer – identical in effectiveness, individual in texture. The revolutionary “Luxe Cream” formula is enriched with a nourishing, firming complex that stimulates the production of collagen, as it prevents further loss.

Skin Caviar Luxe Cream / Sheer boasts a luxe, yet lightweight texture that glides effortlessly onto skin. Powered by a potent concentration of precious caviar extract and our exclusive Cellular Complex, Skin Caviar Luxe Cream / Sheer lifts and firms as it re-contours and redefines. Never before have the Skin Caviar Collection’s firming and lifting results been more legendary. Unanimously seen by women, proven by advanced instrumental analysis, confirmed by expert clinical grading. As early as four weeks in, new skin elasticity, firmness and tone are revealed. As the indulgence of using the new sheer and weightless formula continues, so do the unparalleled skin improvement results: in just 8 weeks, significant lifting in the cheek area and jaw line appears.

How to apply: After cleansing and toning, apply to face, neck and décolleté. Avoid eye area. Use over Skin Caviar Liquid Lift, Skin Caviar Crystalline Concentre or serum of choice. Use morning and evening.

Available on counter now. RRP $605.

Skin Caviar Concealer/Foundation SPF 15
As I mentioned earlier, there’s also a new Skin Caviar Concealer/Foundation SPF 15, of which is being released in November, and the moment I’ve tried and reviewed it, I will have an update for you. I’ve tried a wee sample and have to say, I’m bloody excited to try it properly when it launches. If it’s anything like their skincare, I know I’m going to love it!.

Gurl Interrupted
A Girl Interrupted By Fashion, Beauty & Anything Pretty That Catches My Eye

October 8, 2015

Gurlinterrupted In Fashion

HUFFER – Welcome To The Jungle

Huffer’s new Summer 2015 collection, ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, has dropped, and it’s spectacular! (The behind the scenes video is pretty damn cool too – you can check that out below). Stripes are rising, skirts are falling. Welcome to the jungle, punk, summer’s calling.

Huffer Summer 2015 salutes the inner-city warriors who have seen off winter’s bite. It’s time for boho, evocative pantsuits and sharp A-line silhouettes. Stripes and floral have been resuscitated while natural herringbone meets bamboo themed patterns.

Watch the behind-the-scenes video from the campaign shoot at the Huffer Basement…

Gurl Interrupted
A Girl Interrupted By Fashion, Beauty & Anything Pretty That Catches My Eye

October 4, 2015

Gurlinterrupted In Fashion

GUCCI’S CARTE DE TENDRE: Spring 2016

Gucci is currently enjoying a whole new lease of life courtesy of Alessandro Michele, who took to the helm of the label in January this year, and just like the power and enchantment of a Wes Anderson film, I am 100% enraptured by every aspect of Gucci’s Carte De Tendre, Spring 2016 showcase.

Overnight, the designer ditched the power glamazon that has ruled this particular runway until now in favour of a gentler more free-spirited creature. His men are not afraid to explore their feminine side, his women are, equally, fluid where gender is concerned. Vintage-inspired tea dresses, pussy bow blouses, androgynous tailoring and, of course, fur-lined loafers and clogs are just some of the pieces that have set sartorially discerning hearts aflutter so far.

Michele sent models sashaying down the carpeted runway in swirling sequined skirts, an abundance of ruffles and strikingly sheer blouses and dresses (see-through is emerging as a major S/S ’16 trend). The whimsically girly effect was reined in by that Gucci house signature, the weighty green and red stripe, anchoring the hemline of skirts, while pleated silk satin and leather midi skirts and black and gold designs added a level of heady opulence.

Michele’s inspiration – French philosopher Madeleine de Scudéry’s 17th-century La Carte de Tendre map – appeared printed on fantastical dresses and a pleated skirt, while models donned broad-rimmed glittery spectacles that amplified the eccentricity of Michele’s designs. It wasn’t hard to identify the It-piece of the collection – sky-high T-bar platform heels in myriad hues gave weight to the girly looks. For the boys, it was all about vibrant lace separates, embroidered with oversized floral motifs, and whimsical summer suits.

Rather than any radical about turn, a lovely evolution was the order of the day at this showing, name checking ‘Carte de Tendre’, published in 1854 by Madeleine de Scudery, described in the show notes as ‘a map of tenderness, a moving topography of desire’.