Amy Dicketts

Almost all of you have a big event coming up soon, be it a university ball, a twenty-first birthday party or a summer wedding to attend. You might be struggling with outfit ideas, or wondering how to stand out and break away from your usual look. Why not let those who have plenty of experience in this area teach you some valuable lessons? The celebrities who attended the Met Ball last week have to attend huge, glamorous events all the time, which makes them the perfect people to learn a lesson or two from about dressing for an occasion. Here are some lessons you can learn from the Met Ball, before your next big event.

Don’t try to take on all the trends at once

Whilst a nod to the most recent trends can keep your look current, don’t get carried away and try them all at once. SJP clearly did not get the memo on this one. Trying out plaid, prints or a statement head piece might be a great way to add some interest to a simple black dress. Putting them all together will make your outfit mismatched, and make you look like you are trying way too hard to be cool. Another lesson we can learn here is to make sure your dress covers your underwear. That shouldn’t really have to be a lesson, but apparently no one thought to teach Sarah.

Use gold to add glitz

Who wouldn’t like a body like a Victoria’s Secret model? A flat stomach, great boobs and flawless skin are top of most girls’ body wish-lists. But it turns out that even VS models can’t achieve the perfect body – not without the help of air brushing, anyway.

Pictures revealed by Jezebel.com show the extent to which Doutzen Kroes has been airbrushed for the VS swimsuit campaign. Whist we’ve all become used to the odd airbrushing of lines and wobbles on models in magazines, these pictures show just how much pictures are manipulated for public consumption.

Doutzen is already absolutely gorgeous, which makes us wonder why the images have been altered so much. The folds of skin around her waist and armpit have been removed to create a Barbie-smooth body. Although airbrushing is now expected in a big fashion shoot, this level of alteration should be a concern to girls everywhere. Victoria’s Secret are effectively putting images of body perfection into women’s heads that aren’t attainable. The girls subjecting themselves to punishing gym regimes to get a body like Doutzen’s probably don’t realise that despite all of her working-out she doesn’t even have that body!

This image is equally worrying in terms of the extent of manipulation going on in the photo:

This week I managed to pin down Exeter’s busiest tap-dancing rugby player Dave Wall find out how he manages to make time for all of his exploits. As well as being social sec of the rubgy club he is also the promoter of Exeter’s newest night – Chasing Tails – and performed in Footlight’s latest musical hit Copa Cabana. We don’t know how he does it!

Age: 22

Degree:  International Relations – 3rd year

Nicknames:  From first year in the rugby club it was “The Great Wall of Dave” (ironically) and at work I’m known as “Dancing Dave” for obvious reasons.

Hometown: London

What’s it like balancing your roles as club promoter, social sec, barman and starlet?

Busy! But I wouldn’t have it any other way. It certainly helps that my job, rugby socials and promoting are all at Walkabout and my boss is pretty relaxed about me dashing in and out of shifts.   Oh and I wouldn’t be able to survive without my bike and packed lunches/suppers.

Which do you enjoy most?

I couldn’t possibly say, mainly because if I only did one of them I’m sure I’d get bored without the others. But put it this way, an ideal day would involve dashing from training straight to rehearsals and then straight on to walkabout.

What is the most unforgettable thing you have witnessed as rugby social sec?

The New Year is the perfect time to start afresh with your beauty routine. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and use the same products day after day, but trying out new make up and hair care can really refresh your look. We have compiled the ultimate list of beauty resolutions for you to follow in 2013. Try out these tips to keep you looking fabulous the whole year through.

I will always use primer before foundation

Primer is one of those products that no one ever seems to know how to use or why they need to use it. However, once you get your hands on some you will wonder how you ever lived without it. On your skin it has a velvety, powder texture. It covers up your pores and minimises facial oil to provide a flawless base on which to apply foundation. Many girls make the mistake of piling on the powder to reduce shine, when in actual fact a base product that reduces oil beneath your foundation is much more effective. We recommend SmashBox’s Photo Finish Foundation Primer. It is a little pricey at £25, but you only need to use a pea size amount before applying foundation. It manages to give your skin a completely airbrushed look.The gorgeous texture goes on like a dream and you will be shine-free for the entire night, which is a pretty priceless promise! 

I will give hair powder a try