Birmingham Post

Beauty Style: Retail Therapy - Best for Babies

If you're a designer kind of gal, what's stopping your wee ones becoming label lovers too? Kiehl's-one of the most successful cult beauty companies - has long been a firm favourite of big name celebs. From Brad Pitt and Denzel Washington to Courtney Cox and Julianne Moore, the client list reads like the ultimate Hollywood who's who.

Beauty Style: Retail Therapy - Straight to the Point:

I've come to love my trusty hair straightener - it's the first thing I turn to in a frizz emergency. As someone who suffers the unflattering candyfloss look, I don't know where I'd be without its constant help. But my appliance has been pushed to one side this week with the arrival of shiny new set. The BaByliss Thermaglass Salon Straightener packs a real powerful punch - not only does it offer maximum performance, but its revolutionary design helps to minimise hair damage. Unlike ceramic one...

Beauty Style: Retail Therapy - Dates for Your Diary

It's one of the biggest dates in Birmingham's fashion calendar - Clotheshow Live returns to the NEC from December 3-8. Launched in 1989, it has become the world's largest beauty and fashion event and attracts thousands looking out for the latest trends. And each one, apparently, walks some 4.5 miles around the halls looking for bargains and celebrity spotting. This year, Walsall supermodel Erin O'Connor - who was actually discovered at the NEC show - takes on the role of Creative Director of ...

Beauty Style: Retail Therapy - Make-Up Makeover

Clinique - the originator of the famous three-step cleanse, tone and moisturise programme, has undergone a makeover on its make-up section. The familiar green packaging has been updated, replaced by sleek shiny silver, and there are a number of shiny new products contained within.

Strike a Pose

If there's one word that defines fashion photography at its best, it's Vogue. Over the course of its history, more iconic designers, clothes, models and photos have graced its pages than most fashion mags get to see in a lifetime. But behind the glossy covers and photography as fine art, there's a wealth of pictures that didn't quite make the cut. Now, some of these hidden wonders have been put together in Unseen Vogue, a collection of behind the scenes pictures and out takes which sheds new ...

Put the Boot in ; If There's One Item That Is Essential to Every Woman's Winter Wardrobe, It's a Pair of Boots. And Whatever Your Style, There's Something to Suit, As Post Style Editor Caroline Foulkes Finds Out...

A nice pair of boots is all fine and dandy, but will they get you to work through the winter snows? Well CAT's Mardy Fur boot certainly will. With its chunky sole it looks capable of handling the slippiest, slushiest streets, and stylishly so, too, with its flat sole, rounded toe and this season's obligatory strap detail. What's more, its cosy fur lining will keep you warm and dry and make your feet feel like they're at home in your slippers than tramping through crowds of Christmas shoppers....

Wine Style: On the Grapevine ; Wines From Oregon, U.S.A

North American wine is invariably associated with California, perhaps hardly surprising as it accounts for around 90 per cent of total production. There are, however, other wine-producing States and one such is Oregon, located in the Pacific North-West. Although vines were planted as long ago as 1854, the industry was virtually killed off by Prohibition. The birth of the modern wine industry can therefore be traced to the 1960s, when vineyards were planted in the Willamette Valley. With clima...

Table Talk: Grub with Glitz ; Alison Davison Mingles with the Waiting Staff in Birmingham's Latest Eatery

Prana - Birmingham's swankiest new restaurant - was originally supposed to open in September, then the grand debut was put back to the beginning of October. I thought I'd be on pretty safe ground booking for October's final week and they'd have had time to settle in but as it turned out, more delays meant we actually went along when the place was doing a 'soft launch' and before its official opening.

New Hyatts of Style ; the Hyatt's Recent Revamp has Brought One of the City's Foremost Hotels to the Cutting Edge of Contemporary Style. But If a Couple of Nights in Its Sumptuous Surroundings Just Isn't Enough for You, Jo Green Shows You How to Get the Look of Luxe at Home.

For 14 years now Birmingham's Hyatt Regency has added a touch of New York urban to the city's landscape. The landmark hotel has recently undergone a pounds 4 million makeover and upgrade of facilities to reflect the redeveloping city, and the results are dazzling. From its luxurious presidential suite to its new restaurant Aria and Bar Pravda, from meeting rooms, ballroom and public spaces to all 319 guest rooms - they have all been given a fresh contemporary look. Grey, sea green, gold and l...

Colin & Justin: Cold Feet? ; Colin & Justin How a Night On the Tiles with Paella, Porcelanosa and a Pukka Geezer Left Justin and Colin Completely Floored...

We've had paella in Barcelona, and we've had it in Madrid. We've chowed it in the Canaries and we've gorged it in Granada, But never, repeat never, have we scoffed it so heartily as we did just a few days back in Glasgow. Yup, on our last free week in Scotland - before giving in once more to the call of the South - we found ourselves on Glassford Street smack dab in the heart of the city in the new and utterly gorgeous showrooms of tile company extraordinaire Porcelanosa. But why, we hear you...

Party at Rick's Bar

This week Post Style is offering three lucky couples the chance to get into the party spirit at some of the top shows coming to Rick's Bar of the Nailcote Hall hotel in the run up to Christmas. Winners will enjoy an evening of top class entertainment at this popular Midlands venue - and each show is accompanied by a splendid meal and the chance to 'party' with the stars of the evening entertainment. The first pair of lucky winners will be guests of PS and Nailcote Hall on Sunday December 12 w...

Post People: Bbc Reception

When BBC senior figure Mal Young fell in love with the University of Birmingham's Archibald House it marked the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Fresh from its move to the Mailbox, the Corporation's Birmingham base is set to expand further with a new Drama Village at the University's Selly Oak campus. Mal travelled from London to join more than 150 faces from the worlds of drama and education for a joint University/BBC champagne reception at the inspiring Barber Institute of Fine Arts to ...

Post People: Young Directors Forum

Post People: Dodd Homes

Dodd Homes hosted the launch reception of Celebr18th, the Lichfieldbased celebration of discoveries, ideas and inventions from the 18th century. The company is currently in the process of completing the total transformation of the former Lichfield Magistrates' Court into a luxury development of 15 two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses, with prices ranging from pounds 188,950 to pounds 335,950.

Post People: Worcestershire Ambassadors Ball

A sparkling ball attended by more than 120 of the county's top business people has raised pounds 8,800 for a Worcester charity. The third annual Worcestershire Ambassadors Ball, hosted by Spring Grove House in the grounds of West Midlands Safari Park, saw the cream of the region's business community and their guests dig deep for items in a special auction - raising a recordbreaking sum for bereaved youngsters' charity The Noah's Ark Trust.

Post People: Executives Association Lunch

Sir John Bourn was guest of honour at the Midlands' branch of the Executive Association of Great Britain's October luncheon. As controller and auditor general of the United Kingdom, Sir John is responsible for overseeing the Government's books, and has also been appointed as chairman of the new Professional Oversight Board for Accountancy, following the recent review of the regulation of the profession. As head of the National Audit Office he employs 800 staff. Sir John spoke before an audien...

Post People: John Lowe & Frank Worthington Golf Day

The John Lowe and Frank Worthington Celebrity Golf Tournament took place at the West Midlands Golf Club with a gala dinner held at the Corus Hotel in Honiley near Warwick. The evening was compered by Bob Hall (BBC & Sky Sports) and the winning team was Cartier Coldstore Systems, captained by Martin Borg.

Post People: Get a-Head Cricket Day

The Get A-Head Appeal held a celebrity seven-a-side cricket tournament at Stratford upon Avon Sports Club to raise money for head and neck diseases. The event kindly sponsored by Rod Ackrill's Chase Midland plc drew large crowds of spectators and was well attended by players from Warwickshire County Cricket Club who had a player in every team. Geoff Boycott spent the day at the ground, commentating on the matches and presented the prizes to the winning team of Chase Midland captained by Tim H...

Post People: Post Weddings

Karen Hill, daughter of Doreen and John Hill, married Andrew William Powell, son of Lindy and David Powell. The ceremony took place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Best man was Mark Sumnal, Joanne Hill was Karen's bridesmaid. The reception was held at the Jury's Inn Hotel. The couple honeymooned in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria.

Culture: Here Comes the Summer ; Mike Davies Feels the Love with Pawal Pawlikowski

It's 1986. Born in Warsaw in 1957 but resident in London since he was 20, Pawel Pawlikowski, then calling himself Paul, joins the BBC. An Oxford post-grad recently returned from a teaching stint in Turin, he starts working for the Community Programme Unit. Looking for ideas, he comes across a Lancashire evangelist priest who, concerned about local Satanists, wants to erect a giant crucifix on the top of Pendle Hill. The priest never got planning permission, but, borrowing a title from a track...