With Valentines around the corner, this week’s competition comes in the form of a neat idea of gifting designer underwear.

The brainchild of a London College of Fashion designer who cut her teeth at Agent Provocateur, KnickerMail is a service that lets one send designer lingerie as a greeting card.

Each pair of handmade silk satin knickers is gift wrapped and accompanied by a hand-written card. Knickers come in four colours and its uni-size design is guaranteed to look beautiful on bums of various sizes.

The brain child of Kriss Soonik, a London-based lingerie and loungerie designer – Kriss studied at London College of Fashion and worked at Agent Provocateur for a period before focusing on her own line.

KnickerMail was originally intended as a service that men can use to surprise their better halves, but women were quick to adopt the service as well, and now almost a third of KnickerMail senders are female.

It costs $49 (about €37) to send KnickerMail, plus a delivery fee of $7 in Europe.

Competition

This week, we’ve got two Knickermail to give away to two lucky readers.  Winners can choose between orange, pink or black pairs.

To enter, simply comment below and tell us about your favourite knickers!

The Rules

Leave a comment below. You must be signed up to our newsletter to be eligible (simply enter your email in the box on the right hand side of this page) and a WhatSheWears.ie fan on Facebook ; a resident of Ireland; one comment per person; no cash alternative is possible and the competition will close at 12pm on Thursday 9 February when we will pick a winner at random.  The winners will be emailed and announced in our newsletter on 10 June.

From her bee stung lips to her haunting voice and enviable hair, there’s so much to love about new songstress about town, Lana Del Rey.

The fashion scene is vying for her attention too. With a Vogue cover under her belt, her single “Video Games” played at Emilio de la Morena’s summer show and Mulberry asked her to perform at a dinner in L.A, to celebrate their spring summer 12 collection.

And although her album “Born to Die” is already a firm favourite on our office playlist, it’s her style that we love most.

Lana’s look is kooky chic – think bright 60’s mod dresses, fringe jackets and cute button down shirts but we especially like her dress down look from her promotional tour to the BBC2 studios in London last week.

Del Rey’s biker look is focused on this Sandro Valley leather jacket, worn over a knotted t-shirt, wet look jeans and Adidas High tops.  The trainers are not only the firm fav of girlband Little Mix, but high tops are set to be a key footwear trend for 2012. Lana’s snakeskin bag added a touch of femininity to the otherwise tomboy look.

Get Lana’s biker look with the very same leather jacket from French label Sandro (pictured, available in Brown Thomas Dublin and BT2 Dundrum), wet look jeans in Zara and Adidas high-tops in Lifestyle sports (€65).

Adidas hightops Lifestyle Sports €65

When Valentine’s Day comes around, it catches some of us off guard and results in last minute shopping, so this year we’re starting February well intentioned and planning our purchases in advance.

To help, Marks and Spencers has teamed up with WhatSheWears.ie for a Valentine’s Gift Guide of treats for him and her, for all budgets.

For Him

Under €20

Sometimes a simple card with a heartfelt message fits the bill. Our go-to shop for birthdays and celebration cards has Valentine’s cards for all tastes from €2.25 , including this one (€4) where if you scratch the jelly babies, it gives off a jelly baby smell! Team it with a box of chocolates or bottle of vino and you’ll still have change out of €20 .

Cufflinks, €20 for set of 3 Cufflinks make-ith the shirt and you can add a smart finishing touch to your man’s work wear with this pair of cufflinks (pictured, €27) for .

Between €20 – €50

Shirt, €35  Pink shirts are not just for the Made in Chelsea crew. This one would look dapper under a navy blazer.

From €50

Dispatch bag, €60 There’s a man-bag for every guy at Marks and Spencers, from formal briefcases to trendy satchels. Our favourite is this dispatch bag (pictured above), perfect for laptops and in go-with everything black.

For Her

Under €20

Vintage Love Eau de Toilette, 100ml €20  Everyone woman loves getting a new perfume. This eau de toilette is a heady blend of osmanthus and orange blossom combined with precious woods and musk.

Between €20-€50

Underwear giftset, €30 Marks and Spencer’s underwear is always a big hit with Irish women of all ages. Pick up a bra or knickers or a combination of the two with this gift set (bra €24 briefs €6).  Just remember to check her undies drawer for size before you set out on your romantic mission.

From €50

Thanks to programmes such as The Great British Bake Off (the Irish version is coming to TV3 in 2012) baking has become cool again. Accessories and accompaniments range from the whimsical to the plain and M&S have everything from baking books, heart shaped cake tins, cup cake cases and cherry heart aprons to the Kirstie Allsopp range of cake stands (€27) and tea pots (€20) – a combination of any of these would make the perfect present. Call it practi-romanticism.

Make sure to become a fan of the Marks & Spencer Ireland Facebook page and keep up to date on all their latest offers and special deals.

This is a WhatSheWears.ie advertorial feature.

David Beckham’s debut underwear collection for H&M hits stores tomorrow and the shots for the campaign leave little to the imagination.

Becks and his design team worked with pieces from David’s own wardrobe, incorporating his own unique style aesthetic in order to create and build a meaningful bodywear brand from the outset. It’s why the waistband branding is minimal: instead, the signature is found in the design of the pieces themselves.

“Working with a team has always been a key part of my life and I found that to be the same when developing this range. Collectively with my design team we spent time working on the feel, fit and style to ensure the product is not only something I would wear but one which I would be proud to put my name to. I always want to challenge myself and this was such a rewarding experience for me. I’m very happy with the end result and I hope H&M’s male customers will be as excited as I am.” he said.

The collection is made up of black, white and grey cottons – the right shade of grey for a long-length vest and the perfect sleeve length for a fitted T-shirt.  There are four underpants styles – briefs, trunks, boxer briefs and woven boxers; three tops – David’s perfect T-shirt, vest and Henley; and then two bodywear styles – pyjama bottoms, and also long johns, the secret favourite undergarment of many men in the colder months!

We hope to see more of David Beckham for H&M (literally) in what is the first of many planned with the Swedish high street chain.

Prices:  range from €9.95 for briefs to €12.95 for boxers, T-shirts and vests and €24.95 for long sleeved t-shirts, pyjama bottoms and long johns.

Availability in Ireland from 2nd February: H&M Dundrum, Liffey Valley, Whitewater, South King Street, Cork and Kilkenny.

As we bid adieu to the gloomiest month of the year, let’s march forward with these three beauty must haves for 2012.

FACE

Avon Ideal Flawless Foundation €15.50

Never before have I been complimented so often on my foundation. Avon’s new Ideal Flawless doesn’t officially launch until this month but I’ve had the pleasure of a preview since November (see our interview with Avon expert Jackie Tyson here).

I’ve been an Armani Luminous Silk addict for years and have flirted with other brands, but this foundation has toppled the lot as my new number one. I gave a bottle to my sister (who has slightly drier skin than my combination complexion) to try out too and she’s received the same approving comments sans procurement.

New face of the brand Alesha Dixon said “With Avon’s Ideal Flawless, I’ve discovered a foundation that gives immaculate coverage and celebrates my natural complexion.”While Miss Dixon might be paid to say that, I can in all honesty say I couldn’t agree more.

The foundation gives brilliant coverage without looking like you dipped your face into a trough of it and it works fantastically with all types of complexions. It’s got that Holy Grail dewy finish but it somehow manages to cling on and doesn’t slide around your face as the day goes by. Plus, as it’s less than half the price of my now-retired Armani, it’s a money-saver too.

Availability: If you don’t know any of those elusive Avon ladies who sell the stuff door to door, you can track one down by phoning 01 870 6540 or visiting www.avon.ie

LIPS

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres €33

According to Google Translate this means ‘Pure Red Sewing Varnish to Lips’ and without wishing to sound too gruesome that’s pretty much what it does. Neither a gloss, nor a lipstick, this little wonder product combines the colour density of a stick with the lustrous finish of a gloss that actually stays put.

This mini magic wand is a technological breakthrough from the YSL beauty labs and manages to combine the hold of a stain with the sheen of a gloss, minus the stickiness associated with both.

If you want to get into the sciencey side, its secret ingredient is ethylcellulose, “an ultra-resistant polymer used in the agri-food sector to coat food and give it a tempting shine, blended with perfectly matched emollient oil and silicone oil, and emulsified in an aqueous base.” In layman’s terms, the result is 19 gorgeous shades of long lasting lip lacquer. These little gems launch nationwide on the 15th of February.

Availability: Yves Saint Laurent counters nationwide

EYES

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette €40

Possibly the most highly anticipated eyeshadow sequel, the Naked2 Palette from Urban Decay has finally arrived in Debenhams and is launched nationwide this month. As the follow up to the cult Naked Palette, it’s got some serious shoes to fill.

The most obvious difference with the new version is the universality of the shade selection. As a blue eyed person, cool-tones Creep and Gunmetal remained untouched at the end of my Naked Palette. This time around they’ve compiled the perfect combination of neutrals to achieve a bronzy-cream daytime look that can be easily smoked out for after-hours thanks to the addition of Blackout (an intense matte black).

So, while €40 sounds a bit steep, it works out at just €3.33 per shade, plus the kit includes a double-ended Good Karma Shadow/Crease Brush and a mini Naked Lip Junkie Lipgloss in a sheer pink. There’s a good mix of shimmers, mattes and glitters and as with the original, the pigmentation is impressive.

If you’re at a loss about which colours to use together, there’s already over 6,000 tutorials on YouTube to give you some tips. Other brownie points can be awarded for the durability of the tin case, making it more portable than the first version. In conclusion, a beauty kit must-have.

Availability: Debenhams nationwide and Debenhams.ie

-    Gillian Brett

Finally, last week payday arrived – the light at the end of the tunnel to what is the gloomiest month of the year!

And with it, an excuse for a post-work beverage to celebrate Dublin Does Fridays, a new campaign to celebrate the sociability of Dublin pubs.

The Bank on College Green in Dublin was a hive of socialites including 98FM’s Dermot and Dave, Tom Dunne and Jennifer Maguire, who all gathered to put the working week behind them with a well-deserved after-work drink with friends and colleagues.

Dublin Does Fridays runs until 30th March in pubs across the city and suburbs with an invitation to give our world-class pub scene a boost by filling it with people who are the heart and soul of Dublin.  Check it out on www.dublindoesfridays.ie

What She Ate: Nothing – eating is cheating right? OK, well maybe a sneaky bag of Tayto!

What She Drank: Red wine

Favourite outfit: Jennifer Maguire (pictured) looked HAWT in a leather dress. She will be fronting the campaign’s Snug TV on YouTube, an online show recorded in selected Dublin pubs round the city over the next nine weeks.

See who else rocked up for that Friday drink in our gallery below.

[View with PicLens]

Mango, one of our favourite Spanish brands, has announced Kate Moss as the star of its new Spring/Summer 2012 campaign at its flagship Oxford Street, London store.

The retailer has chosen the British model for its campaign image because she embodies the type of urban, independent and confident woman Mango customers can relate to.

Click on the image above to see the video footage of Kate wearing the latest new Mango Spring/Summer collection photographed by renowned photographer Terry Richardson.

The new collections has a clear 60’s influence, particularly in the dresses and has also introduced a more casual line, bringing together ethnic elements and blending them with sportswear details to give a very simple, strong urban look.

What do you think of Kate as the new Face of Mango. Do you miss Scarlett Johanssen?

Happy Friday people! We’ve added seven winter chic snaps from Dublin and Zagreb’s most street stylish to our gallery.

Check them out here

Let us know if you like their style!

All photos by the lovely Styledissection

If your detox resolutions are already dwindling, here’s some inspiration to get you back on track.

Sticking to unrealistic diets, painful gym regimes and swapping Saturday night cocktails for morning pints of discoloured water that promise to reinvigorate you, are not the best ways to get through the grimmest month of the year.

A relaxing and reviving beauty detox package is far more appealing and guarantees instant, visible results.

Or, if you’ve master the willpower to stick to your new regime, why not reward yourself with a little pampering.  Here’s a list of our top three January Detox Packages:

January Detox Packages at Fota Island Resort, Cork

This package is unique in that it helps you to get fit whilst looking fabulous. The two person package includes bed and breakfast with dinner, a VIP spa pass to their world-class destination spa and divine detoxing treatments including a seaweed balneotherapy bath, classical algae wrap and a Thai foot massage.

The fit part comes in the form of a spinning class in the stand-alone Spin Academy. While this doesn’t sound like the most relaxing of ventures, the spin studio is overlooking the rolling practice greens which are a pleasant distraction from your muscles’ post-Christmas wake up call.

The total price for a one night January Detox package at Fota Island Resort is €380 (€190 per person).

Beauty on a Budget at Treacy’s Hotel, Waterford

Those feeling dispirited at their lack of funds after Christmas can still find affordable indulgence at Spirit Health and Beauty in Waterford’s Treacy’s Hotel.

Offering the perfect pamper package of two nights bed and breakfast, a third night free, one evening meal, plus a back massage or taster facial and a thermal suite experience, this is the perfect remedy to low moods and low bank balances at just €129 pp.

The thermal suite includes a herbal lavender sauna, aromatherapy steam room, drench shower, tropical experience shower and Jacuzzi footspas. spirithealthandbeauty.com

Non-Shock Detox Brook Lodge, Wicklow

For detox virgins or those who just wish to ease themselves into the New Year’s healthy expectations, Brook Lodge in Co. Wicklow have invented the Non-Shock Detox.

Settle into your new regime with an afternoon of relaxation in the thermal suite, followed by a series of luxurious detoxing and pampering treatments including a full body exfoliation and detox wrap plus a scalp massage and lymphatic drainage back massage.

Then, start the following day as you mean to go on with an exercise class (options for all levels of fitness) followed by a healthy and hearty breakfast to kick-start your metabolism.

The Non-Shock Detox package will set you back €165 per person (hearty breakfast included).

The century old Italian runners brand Superga has upped its style creds of late having hired three of the coolest people in styleville to endorse their luxe plimsoll.

First, the Olsen twins were appointed creative directors for Superga last year. And for spring/summer 2012 they’ve launched a collection of co-branded trainers under their label The Row.

And it’s not only the States that the luxury tennis-shoe brand is conquering with style credentials.

To celebrate their 100th anniversary this year, they’ve gone even further by asking a self-confessed Superga fan, Alexa Chung, to front their SS12 ad campaign!

Chungers loves to wear them for beachside fun but also with skinny black jeans. ‘My fave are the pale pink ones’, she’s quoted as saying.

Superga already collaborated with Alexa in March of 2011 but for this summer’s collection, they’ve given her free reign to style the tennis shoe shoot how she wishes.  The result is sure to result in some upercool laid back style and the images for the campaign are due to be released later this week.

We’ll be vying for a pair of these canvas lace ups in navy, will you?

Availability in Ireland: €45-€62 + pp at Littlewoods.ie

Availability the UK from My-Wardrobe €48 + pp