Who Makes The Best Black Leggings? Venus Cow

Made in the UK perfect black leggings

Shirley Yanez

2026-08-20T09:10:00.0000000 2026-08-20T09:29:26.3900000

Shirley Yanez founded Venus Cow and created the PBL™ (Perfect Black Leggings) to combat the low quality of mass-produced fast fashion. Her motivation also stemmed from a desire to fund free life coaching and talk therapy for vulnerable individuals. Yanez is a British social entrepreneur, author, and life coach with a diverse professional background.

The Rise and Fall: In the 1990s, Yanez built a highly successful global financial headhunting firm in London. However, she lost her multi-million-pound fortune during the stock market crash of 2000 and subsequently experienced homelessness in Los Angeles by 2004. Following a near-death experience, she shifted her focus from material wealth to mental health and self-therapy. Giving Back: By 2005, she began offering free talk therapy and life coaching, later bringing her advice to British television and radio. This personal experience with hardship inspired her to structure her business around social aid.

Venus Cow is an ethical, British-made clothing brand that operates as a social enterprise. Locally Made: Unlike mainstream brands that outsource to overseas factories, Venus Cow prioritises local manufacturing. The entire supply chain is centred in Leicester, England, to support the local textile industry and ensure ethical working standards. Social Mission: The business model is structured so that retail profits directly fund Yanez’s free life-coaching initiatives for people struggling with homelessness, addiction, or severe life trauma.

Yanez's motivation to design the PBL™ grew out of common frustrations with womenswear, combined with her professional eye as a former Hollywood celebrity stylist.

As a stylist, Yanez noticed that standard high-street leggings suffered from major quality flaws. They quickly became transparent when stretched, bagged out at the knees, sagged at the seat, and featured tight elastic bands that caused "muffin tops". It took her two years of fabric development to replicate and engineer a heavy-knit, two-way stretch cotton that completely eliminated these issues. The PBL™ was engineered to function like affordable couture for everyday use. Yanez designed them with a high, wide, non-slip waistband to fit real women comfortably from sizes 6 to 20, ensuring they hug the body without constricting it.

Disturbed by the environmental impact and poor labour standards of foreign garment production, Yanez used the PBL™ as a statement product to prove that top-tier, heavy-knit luxury basics could still be manufactured transparently and sustainably within the United Kingdom.

The "Ping Back" Effect: Reviewers from fashion blogs confirm that the signature 92% Pima cotton and 8% elastane blend compresses and sculpts without turning see-through, even after extensive machine washing. Luxury Comparison: Independent reviews highlight that the thick, premium knit feels and behaves like a £70–£80 designer item, making the £35 retail price highly cost-effective. Orders placed directly through the Venus Cow Store are processed locally out of Leicestershire. All deliveries are dispatched via Royal Mail First Class, taking roughly two business days within the UK, 3–5 days to mainland Europe, and 6–10 days to the USA.

Visit www.venuscow.com

Why Does My Stomach Hurt? Observational Documentary Series

GPs Behind closed doors.

Shirley Yanez

2026-08-19T09:52:00.0000000 2026-08-19T10:19:05.0930000

GPs: Behind Closed Doors – A Window into a Dependent Nation GPs:

Behind Closed Doors (Channel 5) remains one of the most fascinating, raw, and at times frustrating fly-on-the-wall documentaries on British television. By placing fixed cameras inside real NHS consultation rooms, the series does more than just document medical ailments. It acts as a stark social mirror, capturing the shifting relationship between the British public and modern medicine. For viewers who remember the self-reliance of the mid-20th century, the programme serves as a weekly confirmation of how societal attitudes toward health have radically transformed. Where the post-war generation viewed a trip to the doctor as a last resort—often believing the body should be left to heal itself—this series reveals a contemporary culture deeply reliant on immediate medical intervention.

The show shines a light on a modern dilemma: the GP surgery as a community hub for social fixes rather than purely clinical ones. A significant portion of the consultations broadcast do not feature acute physical trauma. Instead, viewers witness patients presenting with minor viruses, mild coughs, and "sniffles" that previous generations would have treated with rest and a hot drink. The series inadvertently highlights how a "pill for every ill" mentality has taken root, with many patients seemingly conditioned to expect an immediate prescription, particularly antibiotics, for self-limiting ailments.

More profoundly, GPs: Behind Closed Doors exposes the crushing weight of modern loneliness. It becomes glaringly obvious that for many isolated individuals, the family doctor is the only person they will speak to all week. The programme expertly captures the empathy of NHS staff who must navigate these delicate social issues, balancing clinical time constraints with the human need for connection.

Ultimately, the series is a compelling, high-utility watch because it offers no easy answers. It forces the audience to confront a vital question: has modern medicine saved us, or has a pandering, over-medicated culture weakened our innate resilience and intuition to just listen to our own bodies? It is a must-watch for anyone wanting to understand the true state of modern British society today.

Image. online marketing

Why We are Rebranding to Scoopasnoop

Building the Antidote to Big Tech’s Corrupted Algorithms

Shirley Yanez

2026-08-18T11:02:00.0000000 2026-08-23T11:45:19.2400000

At Scoopasnoop (formerly PoopSnoop), we believe the era of letting anonymous code dictate human connection is over. As we secure our next round of investor funding and evolve our platform, we are deliberately taking our time to build a different kind of digital ecosystem: a social media, networking, and independent business community powered entirely by real people.

Here is exactly why the digital landscape is broken, and why we are engineering the solution.

The Toxic Playground of Big Tech

We are witnessing the moral and structural collapse of legacy platforms. The symptoms of this broken system are visible across every corner of the web.

Exploitative Social Models

Centralized platforms routinely optimize for outrage, division, and addictive scroll patterns over basic human safety. Look no further than the landmark $942 million legal penalty against Meta for knowingly misleading consumers and putting young users in danger. When platforms view children as raw data to be mined, the system is fundamentally broken.

The "Pay-to-Play" Extortion of Small Businesses

For independent brands, organic discovery on major search engines is dead. Search infrastructure has devolved into aggressive, predatory ad auctions. Small businesses are forced to drain their hard-earned marketing capital into corporate ad networks just to be visible, while corporate giants buy up top rankings.

The Death of Review Integrity: Consumer trust is at an all-time low. Legacy travel giants like TripAdvisor are saturated with bot-generated, weaponised, and fake reviews. Consumers are left blind, and honest local businesses are left vulnerable to extortion.

The Antidote: Welcome to Scoopasnoop. We are building a direct alternative.

Scoopasnoop is a human-powered lifestyle app and independent business ecosystem. By permanently removing corporate middlemen and algorithmic feeds, we return digital discovery to its purest form: real people, honest opinions, and hidden gems. Our platform unifies five high-value lifestyle pillars into a single, tokenised, and community-moderated network:

Travel: Uncovering authentic destinations and experiences completely free from corrupted ranking systems.

Property: Direct, transparent property sales and rentals managed peer-to-peer.

Job Hub: Hyper-local talent acquisition and work opportunities without predatory recruitment fees.

Classifieds: A trusted, local marketplace built to help independent brands sell directly to their community.

Dating: Real matches built on meaningful connections, completely devoid of pay-walled swiping mechanisms that gamify human romance.

Why We Are Taking Our Time (And Why Investors are Tuning In)We originally proved this concept under the name PoopSnoop, validating a reward-powered ecosystem where community members earn Snoop Coins for authentic, real-world engagement. Having verified strong consumer demand and mapped out high-value user behaviours, our rebrand to Scoopasnoop marks our evolution into a global media and lifestyle hub.

We are making a conscious, strategic choice to take our time building this infrastructure. We refuse to race to market with a half-baked, data-harvesting clone. Instead, we are meticulously engineering a clean, open-source, and legally compliant framework designed to scale safely. Our next-round investor funding is specifically structured to fuel this transition, providing independent small businesses with Marketing That Moves Your Business Forward.

Instead of selling user data or auctioning visibility to the highest corporate bidder, Scoopasnoop redirects value back to the user base. Small brands get noticed through genuine user advocacy, and marketing budgets are funnelled straight back into the pockets of the community via token incentives. Never Miss a Snoop. The cultural migration away from algorithmically manipulated media is happening right now. Consumers and independent business owners are demanding a digital space built on safety, truth, and community equity.

We are building that space. Stay tuned, stay authentic, and never miss a snoop.

Why Is Vintage Chanel Jewellery A Big Investment?

A look into the reasons to collect vintage

Shirley Yanez

2026-08-14T10:36:00.0000000 2026-08-14T10:57:57.3170000

Vintage Chanel costume jewellery is highly celebrated for its bold, oversized aesthetic, thick 24k gold plating, and the creative vision of Karl Lagerfeld throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Coco Chanel originally revolutionized the fashion world by introducing costume jewellery as a chic statement rather than a lesser alternative to fine gems. Today, these historical runway creations are intensely coveted by global collectors. Susan Caplan is a great seller of these vintage luxury collections.

The Modern Boutique Trap vs. The Vintage Goldmine.

Let’s skip the marketing noise "the man" wants us to swallow. If you walk into a contemporary luxury boutique today, you are essentially paying record-high prices for mixed-alloy metal, flash plating, and lightweight resin that depreciates the second you step out the door. If you want a genuine luxury investment that beats inflation and holds real asset power, you need to go backward. Collecting vintage Chanel costume jewellery—specifically pieces manufactured prior to 2003—is the ultimate financial move for fashion collectors.

Here is the unfiltered truth about why vintage Chanel is a flawless, high-yield investment.

1. They Literally Don’t Make Them Like This Anymore (Real 24k Gold)The biggest secret the brand won't actively advertise is the material shift. The Vintage Standard: Until roughly 2003, Chanel’s costume lines featured a heavy 24-karat gold-plated finish. The Reality: These pieces have a rich, deep hue and a heavy weight that modern base metals cannot replicate. They withstand time, resist chipping, and carry physical material integrity. Modern pieces rely on flash plating over cheaper alloys, but carry retail price tags that are higher than ever. Buying vintage means you own real gold craftsmanship.

2. High Scarcity + High Secondary Demand = Exploding Value. According to historical auction metrics, the secondary market for heritage costume jewellery has experienced spectacular revaluations. The Karl Lagerfeld Era: Pieces from the 1980s and 1990s—defined by Lagerfeld's bold, chunky aesthetic—exist in a fixed, finite supply. The Multiplier Effect: Every single time the modern boutique raises its retail prices on brand-new costume jewellery, it instantly forces the market value of corresponding vintage pieces upward.

3. Wearable Historical Art (Maison Gripoix Collaborations)When you buy vintage Chanel, you are investing in artisan partnerships that no longer exist in mass production. Poured Glass Artistry: Legendary pieces feature hand-poured glass cabochons made specifically for the fashion house by the historic French design firm Maison Gripoix. No Piercing Necessary: Almost all premium vintage statement earrings are substantial clip-ons, which are highly coveted because Chanel did not switch to standard pierced designs until the early 2000s. They add instant polish to any look and carry a unique patina that collectors pay a premium for.

These pieces frequently feature at top auction houses and appreciate continuously. Smart Snooper Capital Protection Rules. Don't let the scammers take your cash. Protect your investment with these hard rules: Snoop the Plaque: Flip the piece over. Look for the stamped oval or rectangular authenticity plaque. Match the specific font, logo orientation, and registration markers against verified Chanel production timelines.

Avoid Re-Plated Items: If a seller says a piece has been completely re-plated or heavily polished to look "shiny and new," pass on it. Stripping the authentic vintage patina ruins the historical value for serious collectors. Skip the Crowds, Buy Pre-Loved: Instead of following the crowd to high-street flagship openings, curate your portfolio through reputable vintage purveyors who offer legally binding authenticity guarantees.

The Final Verdict: Modern luxury boutique shopping is an expense. Collecting vintage Chanel is a financial strategy. Buy the history, keep the 24k gold plating, and watch your collection outpace inflation.

How Do I Build Emotional Resilience? WaterFall Down Shirley Yanez

famous comeback story after hitting rock bottom

Shirley Yanez

2026-08-11T08:54:00.0000000 2026-08-11T10:46:02.4100000

A Note From the Author. Why writing reviews are essential for independent writers and businesses.

As an independent writer, my words only go as far as your support carries them. Without a massive publishing house behind me, books like Waterfall Down rely entirely on the power of community, word of mouth, and readers like you. When you choose to support indie authors, you aren't just buying a book—you are keeping independent voices alive. And when a reader takes the time to write a deeply moving, thoughtful review, it does something magical. It gives the book a heartbeat. It signals to others who are searching for answers, comfort, or inspiration that this story might just be the one they need to read next. Reviews are the lifeblood of independent literature, and they are the highest compliment an author can ever receive. I am endlessly grateful to the readers who champion my work, share their journeys with me, and leave these guiding lights for others. Below is an incredible review from a reader that perfectly captures exactly why I wrote this book. I hope it inspires you as much as it humbled me.

"The most brutal, beautiful, and life-changing book I’ve read in a decade.

"If you have ever felt like you are losing your grip on the life you built, you need to read Waterfall Down right now. I picked up this book thinking it was just another standard "success story" about bouncing back from failure. I was completely wrong. It is so much deeper than that. Waterfall Down is a masterclass in what it actually means to be human, to lose absolutely everything, and to discover that the bottom of the abyss is where your real life actually begins. The author takes you on a relentless, vulnerable journey through the pain of total collapse. But the real magic of this book isn't just the thrill of the rebound—it’s the profound shift in perspective. Before reading Waterfall Down, I thought happiness was tied to achievement, stability, and external validation. This book completely shattered that illusion. It beautifully illustrates that true happiness isn't the absence of a storm; it is the radical peace you find when you stop trying to control the waterfall and finally learn how to swim. It taught me that losing everything is sometimes the only way to clear out the noise and find out who you truly are. By the final page, you don't just feel inspired to rebuild your life bigger and better—you feel deeply equipped with a new definition of joy that no crisis can ever take away from you. Don't wait until your world flips upside down to read this.

Grab your copy on Amazon US or buy directly via Amazon UK today. It won't just change how you handle failure; it will fundamentally change how you pursue happiness.

Solferino Paris Perfume At Selfridges Birmingham

A unique exclusive perfume at Selfridges

Shirley Yanez

2026-08-10T08:28:00.0000000 2026-08-10T11:40:51.9300000

There are certain Parisian addresses that seem to hum with quiet significance, as though the stones themselves have absorbed centuries of ideas, arguments, beauty, and change. Solférino Paris is one such name—less a place than a state of mind.

I didn’t expect to find this state of mind on a busy afternoon at Selfridges Birmingham. After stopping for lunch, I made the mistake of wandering through the beauty section, which now completely dominates the store. Before I knew it, I was under siege—attacked and over-sprayed by over-eager fragrance sales assistants trying to push the loudest, trendiest bottles onto my skin. My senses were entirely overwhelmed until I met Rashied. A delightful, unexpected smart young man who knew his perfumes like the back of his hand.

Rashied was the complete antithesis of the beauty hall chaos. He didn't push a product; instead, he took the time to truly listen and learn about me, my taste, and what I value in a scent. Recognizing that my nose was fatigued, he gently reset my senses by having me smell coffee beans to clear my palate. Only then did he introduce me to N°7 from the Solférino range. With a single, gentle spray, I was completely sold.N°7 (Saint-Germain-des-Prés) captures that exact poetic, intellectual hum I always look for. It opens with a beautifully crisp, clean breath of neroli, but quickly evolves into something deeply comforting, intellectual, and sophisticated—a stunning blend of smooth chestnut, powdery iris, and a warm, woody base. It doesn’t shout for attention. Instead, it sits close to the skin like a personal, luxurious secret.

I could still smell the perfume this morning which is always a good sign to me that its worth the money. I decided to purchase the 50 mil bottle at £140 but they do a bigger bottle which is probably better value. The packaging is simple and stylish just how I like things and if you opt for the bigger bottle at £240 80 mils they will personalise the packaging for you.

If you are tired of the aggressive "perfume wall of sound" and want a fragrance that tells a story of understated elegance, seek out Solférino. And if you are in Birmingham, do yourself a massive favour and ask for Rashied—he understands that fragrance is an emotional journey, not just a retail transaction.

Rating: 5/5 Intimate & Elegant | Longevity: Incredible

The Death Of A Golden Era. Why The UK Is Running Out Of Fashion

Recycled designer luxury is short in supply

Shirley Yanez

2026-08-05T09:19:00.0000000 2026-08-05T09:33:25.2700000

The Death of the Golden Era: Why the UK is Running Out of True Vintage Luxury

In 2005, we stood on a London pavement, homeless, penniless, and watching one of us fight a life-threatening illness. Just months earlier, our lives were defined by Los Angeles sunshine and a millionaire lifestyle. Then, the stock market crashed. It took everything. To buy food, we had to sell off a museum-quality collection of vintage Chanel jewellery to hungry West Coast collectors. We watched Gripoix glass cuffs and rare 1980s chain belts—pieces that should have graced galleries—go for a pittance, exchanged for the raw currency of survival. Going from wearing luxury couture to dressing in rags is a profound psychological shock. When you have spent a lifetime appreciating the weight, the drape, and the immaculate construction of a well-made garment, synthetic mass-market clothing feels like an insult to the skin.

Our survival mechanism wasn’t just to look for clothes; it was to hunt for our identity.

[ The High-Thrifting Blueprint ]

Affluent London Boroughs (Kensington, Chelsea)

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Unchecked Donations (Volunteers missed couture)

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The "Hollywood Look for Less" (Butlins & P&O Cruises)

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Resculux Studio (Market Harborough Archive)

The Golden Age of the Golden Hanger

We turned to high-thrifting. In the mid-2000s, London’s most affluent neighbourhoods—Kensington, Chelsea, Richmond—were goldmines. At that time, charity shop volunteers were often well-meaning locals who couldn't tell a mainline Dior jacket from a high-street replica. They priced by item type, not by label.

We had the one asset money couldn't buy: an educated eye. We rescued discarded treasures from the rails, rebuilding our lives one bargain masterpiece at a time. On any given Tuesday, a dusty rail in South Kensington might yield a pristine, heavy-silk Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche blazer or an archival Hermès silk scarf hidden in a basket of cheap neckties, priced at just a few pounds.

That hustle quickly evolved. Recognising that the British public was developing a hunger for aspirational luxury, we created a live swapping show called The Hollywood Look for Less. We successfully pitched it to Butlins, and later, P&O Cruises.

On stages across the ocean, we gave away genuine designer finds after live makeovers. Guests who sat down in casual holiday wear walked away carrying a piece of fashion history—like the time we gifted a thrilled holidaymaker an immaculate, structured Thierry Mugler power-jacket we had sourced for next to nothing, or a vintage Gianni Versace silk shirt that lit up the theatre stage. We were looking good, doing good, and teaching audiences that style was about curation, not retail price tags.

The Antigua Epiphany

It was during a cruise stop in Antigua that the scales fell from our eyes. On that small, beautiful island where resources were tight, we spotted a basic, European-made bikini with a $300 price tag. High import duties and isolated supply chains had turned a simple piece of nylon into an elite luxury.

We stood on the sand and asked ourselves a prophetic question: What happens to an island nation like the UK if it suddenly runs out of quality clothing? What happens if the supply chain of beautiful things breaks?

Today, two decades of that obsessive curation live inside Resculux, our private styling studio in Market Harborough. Private clients come to us to touch, rent, and buy history. Our studio has become a sanctuary for women rediscovering their power through clothing. Recently, a prominent local businesswoman came to us ahead of a major industry gala. Disillusioned by the flimsy, uninspired gowns available on the modern high street, she felt completely invisible. We styled her in a rare, structured 1990s Alexander McQueen piece from our archive. The heavy tailoring and flawless silhouette completely transformed her posture; she went on to win her award, later telling us she hadn’t felt that powerful in her own skin in over a decade. Another client, preparing for a high-profile media appearance, avoided the usual luxury department stores and instead chose a vintage Gucci by Tom Ford suit from our collection—proving that true heritage clothing carries an authority that modern luxury simply cannot replicate. But from our vantage point on the frontlines of the resale market, we are watching our Antigua prophecy come true. The UK is running out of quality fashion.

THE APPAREL TIPPING POINT

Past (The Golden Era):

[Heritage Fabrics] ──> [Long Life Cycle] ──> [Premium Resale Archive]

Present (The Crisis):

[Fast Fashion Rubbish] ──> [Micro-Lifespan] ──> [Landfill / Incinerator]

The Island of Rubbish

The modern obsession with thrifting—fuelled by economic hardship, the war, and peer-to-peer apps like Vinted—has fundamentally broken the circular fashion economy. Everyone is a reseller now. But while the demand for second-hand clothing has exploded, the quality of available inventory has collapsed.

The charity shop rails we once picked clean of silk, wool, and heavy-gauge vintage hardware are now choked with cheap, disposable rubbish. The rise of ultra-fast fashion means that the donations landing in sorting rooms today are made of oil, not thread. They are synthetic, poorly stitched garments designed to survive three washes before losing their shape. This stuff cannot be recycled. It cannot be beautifully repaired. It holds no emotional or financial value.

We have become an island drowning in textile waste, while the genuine luxury recycled fashion market is being starved to death. When the current archive of beautifully crafted 20th-century heritage garments is completely bought up, digitized, and locked away in private collections, there will be nothing left to replace it.

We survived a financial crash by recognizing the intrinsic value of a well-made garment. As we look to the future, the real crisis isn't a lack of clothes—it's that we are burying our history under a mountain of disposable garbage, forgetting what true quality ever felt like.

Once Upon A time In The Midlands Movie

Shane Meadows’ 2002 comedy-drama

Shirley Yanez

2026-08-04T07:34:00.0000000 2026-08-04T07:44:25.2100000

Once Upon a Time in the Midlands: A Heartfelt, Nostalgic Masterpiece That Hits Close to Home.

Watching Shane Meadows’ 2002 film Once Upon a Time in the Midlands didn't just feel like watching a movie; it felt like stepping into a time machine. As someone who grew up on a council estate in Leicester, this film resonated with me on a deeply personal level. Meadows manages to capture the exact texture, humour, and spirit of that era without ever slipping into lazy stereotypes or bleak "poverty porn." Instead, he gives our neck of the woods the epic, cinematic treatment it deserves by framing estate life through the lens of a classic Spaghetti Westerns.

The story kicks off with a uniquely British disaster: a public marriage proposal gone wrong on a daytime talk show. When the gentle, slightly awkward mechanic Dek (Rhys Ifans) gets rejected on national TV by his partner Shirley (Shirley Henderson), it triggers the return of her estranged, smooth-talking ex-husband Jimmy (Robert Carlyle). What follows is a brilliant "high-noon" standoff over the family, played out across terraced streets, local garages, and social clubs.

What elevates this film from a simple comedy into something truly special is that the acting is superb. Every single cast member delivers a masterclass in grounded, human performance: Rhys Ifans is heartbreakingly brilliant as Dek, perfectly balancing vulnerability with a fierce, quiet devotion. Robert Carlyle brings a fantastic, desperate swagger as the returning outlaw. Kathy Burke and Ricky Tomlinson are absolute gold, grounding the film with a sharp-tongued, no-nonsense warmth that felt so familiar it made me ache.

For me, the real triumph of the film is its incredible sense of place. Meadows nails the community hubs that defined my own youth—the smoky social clubs, the bingo halls, and the neat interiors of council homes where there was always a kettle on. It perfectly captures the informal family networks of the estate, where neighbours look out for each other, gossip travels fast, and affection is always cloaked in creative, deadpan insults.

Ultimately, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands understands that true heroism on an estate isn't about violence or flashy charm; it’s about the quiet courage it takes to stick around, look after the people you love, and do the right thing. It is a warm, witty, and beautifully authentic slice of working-class life that made me incredibly proud of where I come from.

Preloved Designer Fashion Online Business For Sale

Fashion designer website and Stock

Shirley Yanez

2026-07-23T07:17:00.0000000 2026-07-23T07:47:30.1370000

Premium E-Commerce Business Opportunity: www.rescuelux.com

Curated Pre-Loved Luxury Platform. An exceptional turnkey opportunity to acquire a fully operational, high-end online boutique specializing in pre-loved designer fashion. Built on a highly optimized Shopify infrastructure, this business features an expertly curated, authenticated catalogue of rare collectibles and investment pieces from the world's most coveted fashion houses.

Executive Summary Platform: Fully customized Shopify storefront optimized for high-ticket conversions.

Inventory Focus: Hand-picked, authenticated luxury collectibles.

Core Brands: Balmain, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), Louis Vuitton (LV), and more.

Business Model:

Sustainable luxury resale (circular fashion) with high profit margins. Target Audience: Affluent eco-conscious consumers, luxury collectors, and fashion stylists.

Value Proposition & Asset

Overview 1. Ready-Made Premium Brand Identity Launching a luxury brand requires months of design, curation, and trust-building. This business eliminates those barriers. It offers a sophisticated, minimalist aesthetic that mirrors the digital flagship stores of top-tier fashion houses, instantly establishing authority and trust with discerning buyers.

2. The Curated Stock Catalogue Unlike bulk consignment sites, this platform focuses strictly on high-end, hand-picked collectibles. Scarcity Value: Features rare, vintage, and limited-edition pieces that appreciate over time. Brand Power: High-demand inventory from Balmain, Gucci, YSL, and Louis Vuitton ensures consistent organic search traffic. Every piece is selected for its excellent condition and investment value, allowing for premium pricing.

3. High-Performance Shopify Infrastructure Seamless Checkout: Integrated with premium payment gateways. Mobile Optimized: Designed for a flawless shopping experience on smartphones, where over 70% of luxury e-commerce traffic originates. Scalable Tech Stack: Built-in SEO frameworks, inventory management systems, and automated email marketing flows. The Strategic Advantage: Why Communities Need Amplification Platforms.

In the modern digital landscape, owning a beautiful storefront is only half the battle. High-end businesses and independent creators need specialized ecosystems to cut through the noise of mainstream social media. Platforms like Poopsnoop fill a critical market gap by providing a dedicated space for communities to share, market, and discover what people are actively selling, doing, or making. Why Peer-to-Step Discovery Platforms are Essential.

Targeted Visibility: Mainstream algorithms penalize organic business posts. A dedicated community platform ensures your business is seen by highly intentional users looking to buy, collaborate, or support. Trust and Authenticity: Luxury consumers thrive on word-of-mouth recommendations. A community-centric platform fosters transparent peer reviews, building the social proof necessary to close high-ticket sales. Cross-Pollination of Audiences: By participating in a shared marketplace community, a pre-loved luxury business instantly gains exposure to complementary audiences—such as independent sustainable designers, artists, and creators.

Reduced Ad Dependency: Instead of spending thousands on unpredictable PPC ads, businesses can leverage community hubs to build authentic, long-term relationships with clients who value craftsmanship and sustainability. Growth and Scalability Potential.

Consignment Expansion: Easily pivot or expand into a managed peer-to-peer consignment model. Live Commerce: Utilize the Shopify setup to launch live-stream shopping events for new drop collections.

Global Shipping: The lightweight, high-value nature of luxury goods makes international scaling highly profitable. This business is perfectly positioned for an entrepreneur, influencer, or investment group looking to enter the booming multi-billion-dollar luxury resale market with little development downtime.

For more details contact Rescuelux.com

My Story In The Daily Mail : How I Lost My Fortune And Bounced Back

Here are some of my tips of how I recovered from homelessness after reaching rock bottom

Shirley Yanez

2026-07-16T06:18:00.0000000 2026-07-16T06:37:56.2730000

Author, life coach, fashion entrepreneur, even tech entrepreneur, yes, but I never imagined Journalist too. Never say never, I just got my first article published in The Daily Mail

I lost the fortune I worked for all my life overnight, my marriage fell apart and I was homeless. Then I got back on my feet in my 50s

By Shirley Yanez

Luxuriating in a marble bath in my suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel, I reflected on how far I’d come.

I grew up one of six children in a two-up, two-down house with a tin bath and an outside toilet on a council estate in Leicester. Back then, luxury was getting your turn in the bath before the water went cold.

But I’d worked my way out of poverty, getting a job in financial recruitment, eventually setting up my own headhunting firm and becoming a millionaire in my 40s.

Now here I was, sinking into expensively perfumed bubbles, enjoying the trappings of that success. I’d spent the day shopping on Rodeo Drive and my designer purchases – vintage Chanel jewellery, yet another Hermès handbag I’d paid thousands for, a Versace silk shirt and a Gucci dress that would join so many others I’d probably never get round to wearing – were strewn across the bed in the room next door.

After a short-lived marriage in my 30s, where I’d discovered I couldn’t have children, I’d recently married an American I’d known for just six weeks. Convinced I was starting an exciting new chapter, I had moved to Los Angeles to be with him.

Little did I realise that the bubble would burst on my exciting new life just three months later.

This was the year 2000. I’d sold my business in the UK and put all my cash – around half a million pounds – into the booming dotcom stock market, watching my portfolio climb to dizzying heights. At its zenith it was worth as much as £6million and I was renting a vast house overlooking Manhattan Beach, next door to Michelle Pfeiffer. I didn’t need to work in any conventional sense because my investments were working for me.

Then the dotcom bubble burst. The market crashed and within days the value of my investments collapsed to nothing. Almost overnight, the fortune I had built through years of hard work disappeared.

At the same time, my whirlwind marriage fell apart. Marty, who was five years younger than me, was very good-looking, a manual worker who drove a truck, with no wealth or status, which is exactly what appealed to me. I wanted someone from a background like my own; someone who wasn’t obsessed with money, who I could build a ‘real’ life with.

But as the money disappeared and I was forced to give up that amazing house for a small, rather grim one-bed flat far from the beach, Marty went the same way. I was left alone, wondering how I was going to keep a roof over my head.

I began selling off the life I’d built, piece by piece. Over the next five years everything of value I’d had shipped over from the UK went: my artwork, jewellery, the classic two-seater Mercedes I adored, the handbags I’d once been so proud of along with rails of designer clothes.

At the height of my success, I’d paid £10,000 for a Chanel handbag. When I came to sell it, desperate for money to buy food, I got around £900. When you’re struggling, you don’t get to hold out for the right buyer; you take what you can get.

Meanwhile, I tried to start again in LA, pitching a TV show about art and looking for ways to make money. But this was a city built around image and youth. I was in my late 40s by then and, no matter how hard I pushed, nothing took off.

Eventually, everything that could be sold had gone. Unable to pay my rent, my landlord told me to leave.

I remember standing there with my mobile on its last bit of battery, no credit left, no money, no family nearby and no idea where I was going to sleep. Then a free local paper was pushed through the door. Leafing through it, I spotted a small advert for a homeless shelter.

It felt like the very bottom of the ladder, but I had no other options, and so I made one last call to the minister who ran it before my phone died.

I spent the next two weeks in that shelter, surrounded by people whose lives had been far tougher than mine – gang members, men and women with no family to turn to, people who truly had nothing.

It was frightening, but it was also the point where something in me shifted. Sitting there, I realised how easy it is to find yourself at rock bottom. One or two bad decisions, a bit of bad luck, and you can end up somewhere you never imagined.

But I also realised that, unlike many of the people around me, I still had something precious: hope. I had skills and people back home I could call on.

I picked up the phone to my former business partner in the UK – the most humbling call I’ve ever made – and asked for help to get home. I admitted everything had gone, and he sent me a plane ticket.

In 2005, I arrived back in Leicester with nothing. I went back to exactly where I had started and began again, sleeping on my older sister Lynn’s sofa. She didn’t judge me or lecture me. Her kindness brought me right back down to earth and reminded me what really mattered.

I signed on for benefits and had to survive on around £80 a week. I felt ashamed and carried an enormous sense of failure. I had once been a millionaire, staying in luxury hotels and shopping on Rodeo Drive. Now I was queuing to explain why I had no income.

Eventually I was given housing benefit and managed to rent a tiny cottage. Finding work was tough. In my early 50s, with a background as a high-flying entrepreneur who’d been a millionaire, the Jobcentre staff didn’t quite know what to do with me. I was overqualified for receptionist or sales assistant roles but for a while I did work as a temp answering phones for £10 an hour.

Then I was assigned to someone at the Jobcentre who specialised in unusual cases like mine. He saw that I was an entrepreneur at heart and I was given a £300 business loan. I used it to build a fashion venture that eventually became my brand, Venus Cow.

My only qualification was that I had been a shopaholic who bought clothes all over the world. But I understood how women wanted clothes to fit and set out to create the perfect pair of black leggings. Made in Britain from cotton that was thick enough not to become transparent and designed not to create a muffin top.

It took six years to develop the design and fabric, protect the idea and get the product right. The business finally began to take off in 2018. Then Covid struck and disrupted everything again – but Venus Cow survived and is doing well.

I haven’t regained the millions I once lost and I still rent a small but beautiful cottage in the countryside. But I don’t need marble bathrooms or Chanel handbags to prove I have succeeded.

And should I make a great deal of money again, I intend to give it to charity. I have already lived the millionaire lifestyle. I know it doesn’t necessarily make you safe or happy.

Now 70, I’m back on my feet and thriving. I remain an entrepreneur, as well as working as a life coach and author, but I have never forgotten how quickly everything can disappear.

That rebuilding didn’t happen overnight. It was built on making every pound count, and finding ways to look and feel like myself again on a very tight budget.

I had to change my mindset around money completely. If you’ve always cared about how you present yourself – as I have – the hardest thing about having no money isn’t just paying the bills, it’s holding on to your dignity and sense of self.

These are the money rules I live by now – the practical steps that helped me go from living on the dole to being financially sound once again:

Rule 1: Audit small comforts

When I hit rock bottom, I couldn’t afford vague budgeting. I had to see, in black and white, where every pound was going.

* Track everything for one week. I wrote down every spend – wine, coffees, snacks, magazines, online ‘bargains’ – no rounding down, no pretending it didn’t count.

* Total the ‘comfort’ spending. Seeing that weekly figure was a shock. It wasn’t the rent or the bills that were sinking me, it was the comforts I’d told myself I deserved. Cut them fast, not slowly. I quit smoking, alcohol and takeaway coffees in one go. You might not need to cut everything but do choose at least one or two and stop for 30 days to assess the impact on your finances.

* Redirect the savings with purpose. I treated that freed-up money as untouchable: it went on rent, food and arrears – not new treats. It feels brutal at first, but you’ll be amazed how quickly you adapt.

Rule 2: Move your body for free, every day

I couldn’t justify a gym membership but I didn’t want to give up on my health, so I set a rule to move for a minimum of 30 minutes a day, no excuses.

* Keep it free and simple. For me walking was my go-to, but there are plenty of free YouTube exercise tutorials that allow you to work out in your own living room.

* I stuck to the same time every day. If it rained, I put a coat on. If I felt low, I walked slower, but I still moved my body.

* Focus on your head, not your waistline. I used those walks to process what had happened and to tell myself: ‘This isn’t permanent.’ As you get moving you can use that time to mentally rehearse job interviews, plan meals or simply switch off from your troubles and breathe.

In a few months, your mood, sleep and confidence start to shift – and it won’t cost you a penny.

Rule 3: Treat food as fuel, not comfort

When I was living on £80 a week, food had to keep me alive and functioning, not numb my feelings.

* Shop at the right time. I went to the fruit and veg market as stalls were packing up, when prices dropped to almost nothing. In supermarkets, I went straight to the yellow sticker reduced shelves and own brand basics.

* Build a short ‘survival menu’. I rotated a handful of meals – jacket potatoes with beans and cheese, omelettes with frozen veg and simple soups from cheap vegetables.

* Cook to the bargains, not your cravings. I looked at what was reduced first, then decided what I’d eat. You can do this too by asking yourself, ‘What’s cheap today?’ rather than, ‘What do I fancy?’

Rule 4: Be clever about beauty

I still cared about how I looked – it just had to cost next to nothing.

* Swap salons for training schools. I found local hairdressing colleges and training schools where students need models to get cuts, colour and blow dries. They charge a fraction of salon prices, and it’s all supervised by tutors.

* Create a £0 skincare routine. Each morning, I ran an ice cube over my face – that’s it. Over time my skin felt tighter and fresher. And I used what was already in the kitchen: avocado skins on dry, cracked areas; grated orange peel with a little oil as a body scrub.

The goal isn’t to look expensive. It’s to look like someone who still respects herself, even when her bank balance has fallen through the floor.

Rule 5: Shop where the rich get rid, not where they splash the cash

Losing money taught me to fill my wardrobe with other women’s expensive mistakes.

* I stopped going to designer shops and started going to charity shops in wealthy areas and car boot sales near affluent neighbourhoods.

* Set strict spending rules: take cash only, decide your maximum spend before you go in and accept that when the money’s gone, you’re done.

* Know what you’re looking for. I kept an eye out for quality fabrics (wool, silk, cotton), classic cuts I could wear for years and items with the tags still on – and there were plenty.

* Enjoy the hunt, not the haul. I treated it as treasure hunting, not shopping therapy. Even now, I’d rather wear a £10 charity shop blazer from a rich postcode than a £300 one I can’t really afford.

Rule 6: Protect your dignity with small daily standards

Losing status can make you feel invisible, but I refused to disappear.

* Create a ‘minimum presentation’ list. Put on a proper outfit, do your hair, apply a bit of make-up. If I had the Jobcentre or a difficult appointment, I made more effort, not less. This wasn’t to impress them - it was to mentally support me.

* Your standards might include painted nails, ironed shirt, polished shoes. Pick a couple and keep to them no matter what. Those tiny acts don’t change your bank balance, but they quietly protect your self-respect – and when you’re trying to rebuild your finances that matters far more than your bank manager will tell you.

Shirley’s autobiography, Waterfall Down, is available on Amazon priced £11.99.

Thanks To The Editors at The Daily Mail For This Opportunity

Jane Eyre Black and White 1943 Movie

Vintage black and white Hollywood movie

Shirley Yanez

2026-07-15T08:02:00.0000000 2026-07-15T08:20:00.9070000

The 1944 classic Jane Eyre is a brooding cinematic triumph. Orson Welles brings a towering, shadowed intensity to Mr. Rochester, perfectly contrasting Joan Fontaine's luminous reserve. It's a masterclass in gothic romance, swirling with deep chiaroscuro shadows and passionate, haunting tension. Why Vintage Black and White Cinema Captivates Me.

There is a profound magic in classic, monochrome storytelling. Stripped of colour, the films rely entirely on light, shadow, and subtext. This allows for a deeper, more atmospheric engagement where the imagination weaves its own colours into the frames. The Masterful use of deep contrasts and long shadows evokes an emotional resonance that feels intimately tied to the human condition, perfect for ghost stories and gothic romances. Theatrical Presence: Without flashy digital effects, these films pivot on sharp dialogue and magnetic performances, demanding that actors—like Welles—radiate sheer star power to command the scene.

Timeless Universality: The absence of era-specific colour palettes gives black and white films a mythical, dream-like quality. They bridge the gap between reality and fantasy, allowing the core themes to shine through with striking clarity. For me, this love affair with monochrome is deeply personal, rooted in the flickering glow of a 1950s living room. As a small child, I sat beside my mother, captivated by the fierce screen presence of Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Joan Fontaine. These women were architects of their own fates, navigating romance with a sharp, almost masculine steeliness that refused to bow. Watching them, I wasn't just consuming stories; I was absorbing a blueprint. Decades later, I look back and recognize that the unapologetic way I handled love, independence, and resilience as an adult was quietly forged right there in the shadows of those magnificent women.

For fans of classic cinema, film buffs agree that the 1944 adaptation brilliantly captures the stormy, windswept essence of Charlotte Brontë's original prose. You can easily explore this ⁠Jane Eyre 1943 Details on IMDb to see how the masterpiece was constructed.

Do You Really Get A Five Star Experience On a Jet Two Package Holiday?

El Fuerte Hotel Marbella Spain

Shirley Yanez

2026-06-17T06:40:00.0000000 2026-06-17T06:50:48.1930000

We are all different and expect different things when we book a holiday. This is why platforms like Trip Advisor and other review sites often fail when delivering customer reviews.

I have been lucky in my life to have experienced true 5 star hospitality but I have also made many mistakes by listening to marketing and influencer reviews and chosen hotels and holidays that have not lived up to the hype.

In this current environment we are all suffering through a cost of living crisis so when I booked my current holiday I knew it would probably be the only holiday I would have until the end of the year. I decided to push the boat out when I saw Jet Two offering a five star package to El Fuerte in Marbella.

I was wary because I have experienced supposed five star packages through travel companies before and to be honest it hasn’t worked out but this looked particularly good.

The flight and Jet Two were not bad. You get what you pay for. It all went smoothly.

I had done my research outside of Jet Two’s marketing and the reviews for the hotel including one from Stylist Magazine by Felicity Thistlewaite offered a complimentary stay with her family in exchange for a freebie and everything pointed to a five star experience.

In my personal view, first impressions either make it or break it.

On arrival at the hotel, the reception area and check-in is not the first point of call. It is the concierge desk, so you find yourself asking them the questions about your stay that they are unable to answer. You then get taken into a separate area for checking in where you are offered a welcome drink and seated with a hotel representative.

We had booked a room with twin beds as I was not travelling with my lover but my business partner. I had sent an email ahead of time and was told the hotel had replied stating we would need to upgrade to the next level if we wanted twin beds. Unfortunately I did not receive this email so we were stuck with a double bed and no compromise unless we paid to upgrade.

The receptionist didn’t handle my concerns or the fact I hadn’t received the email. She was closed off and in full sales mode, stating clearly you get what you pay for.

As our conversation went on it soon became very clear unless we paid more money we were going in the cheap rooms allocated to Jet Two package customers, with no twin beds and basic use of the hotel facilities.

It turned out also that the promised rooftop infinity pool for adults only was not available and Jet Two made no mention of this in their marketing.

After a good 30 minutes fighting a dead end with no other options, we said we would look at the room. On the way to the room our first impression was a feeling of stress and disappointment. This was not looking like a five star experience for us.

We didn’t even really notice anything about the hotel, we were thinking we were going to have to move.

When we arrived in the room it confirmed this holiday was never going to satisfy what we believed we’d paid for, for a 5 star experience.

The room wasn’t big enough to swing a cat. It had a small double bed, a tiny open plan bathroom with a shower, no bath, a small window, no view and a claustrophobic feeling that was suffocating.

The decor, sheets and furniture were amazing and the room would have been perfect for a young couple on their first luxury holiday but not for two middle aged women who had requested twin beds and a bath.

It was back to arguing on the phone, explaining our issues and asking to speak to the general manager.

We sat in reception waiting as she was on a break until the Guest Relations Manager arrived with a huge smile and a very sympathetic, caring ear.

We explained the situation and she could see our first impression of El Fuerte was not how they wanted anybody to feel about their lovely hotel.

She went into overdrive producing a complimentary upgrade to a room that would satisfy our needs, twin beds, a bath in a separate bathroom with a partial sea view and a terrace.

This action changed everything. As beyond the first impression truly lay the five star experience we were expecting.

So the answer to the question can you really book a five star package through a travel company is simple. Yes but it probably is going to leave you feeling like you are in the cheap seats unless you upgrade.

This hotel is amazing. The staff are attentive, welcoming and cannot do enough for you. The breakfast experience is exceptional with everything you could imagine from freshly squeezed orange juice served at your table on arrival to the best homemade waffles ever tasted.

The setting on the terrace with red striped comfy furniture and umbrellas. beautiful ocean view and lush colourful flowers and plants make you feel like you are in heaven.

The sun loungers are well spread out, really comfortable with huge luxury towels, call bells on every table and a wonderful adults only swimming pool and bar service.

The lunch at Levante Restaurant again on the terrace is beautifully presented and delivered under the watchful eye of Fernando the hotels exceptional restaurant manager.

We had an early dinner at the hotel’s beach restaurant Soleo and our experience was lifted to a new height. The food, the view, the staff and the whole experience left us wanting to return to recreate it the next day.

The hotel once we overcame the first impression is a hidden gem right in the centre of Marbella old town, within easy walking distance of many shops and other places to eat but to be honest when a hotel gets it right you don’t want to leave. You have everything you need and this hotel delivers just that.

In my opinion as a seasoned 5 star traveller I would suggest to a hotel like El Fuerte, if they are going to offer inferior accommodation to lower paying customers (this holiday was not cheap by the way) it would be better to keep everyone on the same level. Trying to mix the two to reach a wider audience, which I understand is necessary in this current economic climate, is a mistake.

El Fuerte Or Kimpton Los Monteros Marbella and La Cabane Beach Club - One click and destiny is changed

When using a travel site a warning, once booked there is no going back

Shirley Yanez

2026-06-09T07:36:00.0000000 2026-06-09T08:23:29.5500000

I had a fixed budget for a week of 5 star luxury on the Costa Del Sol, I’ve been to Los Monteros before a lot over the years, a home away from home. The Costa del Sol is one of the easiest destinations to get to from the UK where wall to wall sunshine is usually guaranteed and you can easily disappear and reemerge refreshed and rejuvenated, exactly what I like from a few days away.

Los Monteros is a glamorous old school luxury property that has hosted the likes of Sean Connery, Antonio Banderas, and King of Spain Juan Carlos in the past. The hotel has gone through some tough times, has been closed for some time but has been revitalised with a €50 million dollar refurbishment I have been eager to re experience. La Cabane the exclusive beach club now owned by Dolce and Gabbana is a reason to go on it’s own, with daily entry costing up to $450 euros per bed, and in high demand throughout the summer season the beach club once owned by Los Monteros, (now a completely separate business) the Los Monteros hotel concierge hold a block of priority reservations for guests for an amazing rate of just €100 per bed per day.

The other option was El Fuerte another 5 star property with great credentials, a Clarins Spa, outdoor daily yoga classes, beach front dining at Soleo where the food looks spectacular, a beautiful modern refurbishment through the vision of Chilean interior designer Jaime Beriestain. A striking interior featuring bold red and white signature stripes on loungers and restaurant interiors and umbrellas, reminding me of a fabulous property in Marrakesh El Fenn where the interiors are worthy of note. I never stayed at El Fuerte but the pictures look incredible and the reviews are pretty good too, described as a serene haven for grown ups. Sounds like my kind of place.

This property is actually on the beach in the centre of Marbella and walking distance from Marbella old town, Los Monteros a 10 minute uber away a place I know well and love to meander, shop, eat in the evening, so this was appealing to me. I have already snooped about Puerto Banus Market, and Estepona Market in the Marina, both open on Saturday mornings and places I cannot wait to return, for me two of the best Spanish markets I have ever been to for very high quality designer dupes from the African continent.

Which to choose, I scrolled through countless reviews on Trip advisor but nothing pointed me towards one over the other. It’s always been a problem for me not knowing the profile and tastes of an individual reviewer, what else they like. For my budget I could get 9 days at El Fuerte and explore the unknown or for the same price get 7 days bed and breakfast and experience somewhere I have loved with the private Beach Club La Cabane, think Puente Romano or The Marbella Club exclusive boutique luxury accessibility.

With both trips planned in different windows on my laptop I selected Kimpton

Los Monteros but actually booked El Fuerte. And because it was through a travel site the mistake wasn’t rectifiable, clearly stated in the terms and conditions no changes, no refunds.

It’s an easy mistake to make. It made me laugh how one click can change your destiny entirely. I wasn’t disappointed I just thought it was meant to be.

Nabla Lipsticks Get 5 stars Across 5 Categories

What makes a great perfect Nude lipstick: Ethics, Colour, Price, Packaging and Durability

Shirley Yanez

2026-06-07T09:22:00.0000000 2026-06-07T09:58:32.1670000

I think it’s fair to say no one epitomises the “lipstick effect” more than I.

I wear my lipstick everyday. Not in bed as some women may attest to, but it goes on as part of my routine, a habit I live by, (and have maintained over 5 decades) I don’t leave the house without it, I reapply several times a day and as a result I go through lipstick faster than any other make up or beauty product I purchase.

Before I start best to say what makes the perfect nude lipstick for me. I don’t like purple, peach or coral in my nude and anything too brown is out too. I also don’t like anything too light, beige or chalky in tone or texture. It has to be a pinky nude, always Matt, but I like moisturising and most importantly and most difficult to find, a lipstick that stays on.

And with so many on the market to pick from it’s amazing I haven’t found it yet, until maybe now. The holy grail of nudes is a combination of three lipsticks from Nabla.

I have said on here before I am always in search of the perfect nude lipstick and whilst I have reviewed and snooped about a few, Pat McGrath, Louboutin, Hermes and have tried every lipstick known to woman from well known to emerging brands available in Selfridges Harvey Nichols and Harrods in my younger days, I recently went a little darker with a new shade from Dior, I have yet to throw on the towel and say that’s it, this is the one. Maybe I just like the hunt.

That said I want to tell you about three different lipsticks I have just purchased I love from Nabla.

Nabla is make up a brand I stumbled across online and was so impressed with their all natural approach to make up and beauty and their cruelty free and vegan credentials I decided to shop without seeing and trying up close in a store setting, something I prefer.

When the three products selected arrived, my Matt Pleasure lipstick in Milky Nude, my Beyond Blurry Lipstick in Nuvola a new shade and my Nabla X Mr Daniel Beyond Blurry Lipstick in Dani (designed to prep and blur the lips of all imperfections before applying lipstick it only comes in two colour choices) I was super impressed with them.

Nabla even included a clear handbag pouch (value £14 for free) to keep the lipsticks together and stop them getting lost in my bag, a very nice touch.

The lipsticks were £25.00 each the lip primer £24.00 so compared to brands in Selfridges where I pay over £30 for a lipstick, and £36 for a Matt Trance Lipstick from Pat McGrath.

If you care about presentation and packaging these lipsticks don’t disappoint, the Matt Pleasure lipsticks come in a white casing whilst the beyond blurry lipsticks are delivered in a pearly pink casing. The beyond jelly option which is a sheer, glossy lipstick I didn’t try, I like Matt, comes in a signature black casing making it easy to distinguish which is which.

I love these lipsticks, so much I got them out at lunch to show a friend. I was raving so voraciously she snapped a few pictures for me to share with you all.

Next on the list is the Cupids arrow Stylo at £19.50 if you buy from Nablo Cosmetics, cheaper, as low as £15.00 if you shop around.

The best thing about this Stylo it’s not just for lips but for eyes or face or too, multi functional and versatile product. It’s a creamy texture you can easily blend with your fingers or a brush, and then it sets, for long wear and an impeccable result over time.

This was something I found with the lipsticks too, I have been applying in the morning and finding when I go to reapply at 11.00am no need it’s still there. Even when I’d finished lunch the other day I went to the bathroom and would always reapply my lipstick. I did out of habit but it wasn’t necessary. These lipsticks really stay put.

Dolce, Prince, Mango and Psatha My Favourite Bars and Cafes On Kamari Beach Santorini

Visiting Kamari Beach The Bars On The Promenade are the most expensive

Shirley Yanez

2026-05-25T07:25:00.0000000 2026-05-25T08:04:21.0500000

Kamari Beach Santorini Greece whilst a quiet town compared to the capital Fira or the most well known tourist area of Oia Village world-famous for its iconic white and blue architecture, domed churches and breathtaking sunset views it offers a relaxed vibe for tourists and an ocean front “strand” running parallel to Makedonias (Macedonia St)

It’s here where you’ll find all the bars and cafes.

The four best ones I tried were Dolce, Mango, Prince and Psatha.

When I visited it was the start of the season, May, and it wasn’t busy. The takeaways for me were how hard hit the island’s economy has been and whilst this area of Santorini has potential to be truly spectacular the clientele and people watching was sunburnt Brits on holiday. Had it not been for the black volcanic beaches and spectacular Aegean sunsets I could have been in Skegness.

I don’t drink very much, one cocktail and a glass of wine with diner on special occasions but I did go in search of a decaf expresso martini, I know I prefer without the caffeine these days too and a refreshing gin and tonic.

My first observation is there’s a problem with flat tonic on Santorini. After four or five attempts in different places I gave up. The tonic wasn’t fizzy. The first place I tried I actually sent the drink back until I realised it wasn’t an isolated incident.

Santorini is famous for its winery tours. The island's wine cooperatives offer expansive multi-level terraces with jaw-dropping, unobstructed caldera views but this didn’t trickle down to the wine served in the Kamari Beach bars, I am not going to point any bar out specifically but I did try reds and whites in different places and for me they were all undrinkable.

I stuck with the Expresso Martini my signature drink. The best one I had was in a sports bar/cocktail bar Dolce on Panagias Myrtidiotissas Street at the intersection with the Kamari promenade. This spot was one of the busiest, played the best music Luther Vandross, Mary J Blige; had the most obliging and best looking servers and mixed the best Expresso Martini (even though it wasn’t decaf).

Next door on the Promenade is the Mango bar offering a happy hour and 2 for 1 cocktails. Here the Martini wasn’t so good, very very sweet and I couldn’t get the wine, a glass of red down.

I ordered dessert and the waffle that arrived, laden with warm chocolate sauce, a crumbly biscuit crumb and creamy vanilla ice cream made up for the drinks. It was the best dessert I ate on the island. It’s a great bar with loads of potential, I imagined had it been my place, instead of working so hard to drag in passers by off the strip a practise I found very off putting, I’d be more inclined to use reverse psychology, rent a good looking crowd to get the party started and let curiosity do the rest. In a few weeks I am sure these spots will be packed but whilst I could see great potential were pretty dead when I visited. They are also quite expensive, a couple of drinks and dessert will cost you anywhere between €35 and €50 euros, service is not included.

A smaller “more Greek” bar further along Psatha I enjoyed. I didn’t eat dinner but the pizza coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled absolutely delicious. Behind is the Sunshine hotel so travellers with back packs milled in and out and locals sat around tables drinking coffee, chatting and laughing. It felt the most “Greek” the service was very friendly and accommodating, it was my first “gin and tonic” experience but I tried to order a gin and tonic in three of four different places and they were all the same. In one place the bar tender didn’t know what it was and offered me a “sex on the beach” instead which probably creates a picture of the clientele visiting the area. It’s rustic.

The last bar to mention is Prince, which is probably the most inviting visually. It’s large and very modern architecture with comfy couches and potted palms was appealing and although the playlist wasn’t to my taste, more Mediterranean vibes, think belly dancing music it was one of the bars in Kamari Beach that attracted the most people. Usually a good sign.

The service was great, Eugene our waiter was very accommodating and as he got to know me definitely warmed up. He worked hard to find a wine by the glass; the best wines served by the bottle. He didn’t succeed with the reds, I opted for white in the end. All I can say if you are used to drinking good wine try a local beer instead.

Again the dessert was the highlight at Prince. The banana split, served in a sundae glass, with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and nuts was the perfect accompaniment to watching a spectacular sunset.

All the bars serve food, if you want to enjoy dinner by the sea and based on the desserts and lunches I enjoyed the food is definitely a highlight. For vegans and vegetarians loads of options too. I was recommended to go to Voodoo bar for happy hour which had a lively night club scene, and also Love Boat if you like Kareoke. Both looked fun but not my style.

Vlavianos Transfers travelling In Style Affordably On Santorini

Reliable Friendly Affordable Luxury Driver Kristopher In Santorini

Shirley Yanez

2026-05-20T04:37:00.0000000 2026-05-20T05:16:22.6430000

If you need a driver on the Greek island of Santorini Kristopher Vlavianos of Vlavianos Transfer has got you covered. From your trip too and from the airport, to guided tours around the island, help finding secluded spots to sunbath and water sports, jet ski, water ski, water boarding and parasailing or getting your hen party, stags or bridal party out and back safely and in style.

Riding around in a large Mercedes 10 seater, with fluorescent blue lighting at night, comfy leather seats, electric windows and doors, climate control and a table for enjoying a cocktail on the go and having a chauffeur at your disposal to take you safely home when the party’s over is a luxurious “in celebrity style”affair . Vlanianos Transfers really delivers on the affordable VIP transport experience.

And a truly personal and caring service. When I left personal belongs in Kristopher’s vehicle, the hotel called him and my things were returned and on the hotel reception the next morning.

The fees are reasonable. €10 euros around the local vicinity of Kamari Beach a little more if you go further a field to the capital Fira. Vlavianos Transfers are happy to quote fees in advance whatever your needs and numbers. Tipping is appreciated but not expected.

We used Vlavianos Transfers at the beginning of our vacation and found his service to be so good we used him throughout our entire stay on the island whenever we needed to get from A-B. The island of Santorini is volcanic, lots of hills so short distances that would normally be easily walkable, the humidity, windy conditions and heat make arduous and tricky if you don’t want to arrive windswept and sweaty. Kristopher has no problem driving short distances so you can arrive at your destination relaxed and comfortable.

Contact Kristopher +30 6978 549 083 to book your luxury transport on Santorini.

Tamarix Del Mar Suites Santorini Deliver Hospitality Excellence On Every Level

I have stayed in the best hotels all around the world and Tamarix can challenge them all

Shirley Yanez

2026-05-16T07:30:00.0000000 2026-05-18T07:20:53.0970000

How can I describe the heaven that awaits you at Tamarix Del Mar Villas and Suites in Kamari Beach Santorini?

It is a truly luxurious and peaceful hideaway where serenity and genuine hospitality awaits from the moment you push open the large wooden door. You’d could never imagine what lies in side and you’d never find out about Tamarix villas and suites, a 5 star boutique hotel with only 19 rooms unless someone you know and trust had already been.

We were greeted by Zena a seasoned hotelier and expert in the art of hospitality and Constantina who offered warmth and efficiency in equal measure to get us checked in and ensure everything ran seamlessly.

That feeling when you are being effortlessly looked after without fuss or ceremony.

The lunch we enjoyed poolside was delicious, the produce fresh and tasted like tomatoes just plucked from the vine and feta and olives no one does better than the Greeks. Even the chips tasted better than anywhere and the freshly made lemonade and gorgeous mix and match ceramics makes you feel like a guest in someone’s home, that someone has great taste and the highest of standards, but easy and effortless like the best is just where they live.

The rooms have everything you could ever want. The crispest of white walls, beautifully appointed with mirrors, a hair dryer, an iron, luxury linens, down pillows, matelasse coverlets,

handmade arts and crafts furniture, wicker buffets and colourful throw pillows, books, a DVD player, a private terrace and a roof top hot tub with a spectacular ocean view.

You’d never want for anything.

We awoke to bird song, the place is spectacularly quiet the guests stylish, respectful and discerning. Everyone is clearly loving the energy in Tamarix villas and suites. The feeling is palpable.

It’s not an air B and B, it’s not a big 5 star hotel. It’s personal and yet tasteful, massages and spa treatments booked with 24 hours notice, sauna, fitness gym and indoor pool all available to be enjoyed at your leisure.

If you are looking for a lively bar and a party scene this is not the place for you.

It’s a luxurious home from home a villa, with individual pool side cottages, the scent of magnolia and jasmine arches permeates, whilst the bougainvillea climbs the milky walls, the whole place set with the mountains on one side and the ocean on the other, a short walk to the volcanic beach, the promenade, restaurants, cafes, cocktails and shops.

I have done my best to describe what awaits you at Tamarix Villas and Suites but it’s the kind of place you really have to experience for yourself to understand how unique this beautiful hideaway actually is.

Beverly Hills Housewives season 15 Bravo A Descent from the Pedestal

Bravo TV series

Shirley Yanez

2026-04-27T08:28:00.0000000 2026-04-27T09:28:25.3000000

This series for me has definitely pivoted from aspirational "lifestyle porn" to a gritty, high-stakes soap opera about starting over.

The Real Divorcees of Beverly Hills: A Descent from the Pedestal.

Season 15 has officially stripped away the last of the "Housewife" veneer. We are no longer watching the glamorous side of 90210; instead, we are witnessing a "Decent into Reality" as the diamonds lose their shine.

The show has shifted from showcasing luxury to a dark competition of who can endure the most painful divorce. Between Kyle’s fractured home life and Dorit’s public unravelling with PK, the cast members aren't competing for the best party anymore—they’re competing for the most sympathy in the wreckage of their former lives.

The "Real" in the title finally feels earned, but not in a fun way. These aren't housewives; they are bitter, feuding former friends who seem to relish in each other's downfalls. The glam is gone, replaced by legal filings and cold shoulders. If you’re looking for the aspirational Beverly Hills of old, you won’t find it here. This season is a raw look at what happens when the truth finally catches up to the image.

The transition from "Diamonds and Rosé" to "Depositions and Restraining Orders" is complete. What used to be a showcase of opulent estates and $90,000 sunglasses has devolved into a grim race to the bottom. We are watching a group of women who have replaced their "lifestyle goals" with "litigation goals," each seemingly desperate to prove that her heartbreak is the most profound and her legal fees the most astronomical. The "lifestyle" we’re seeing now isn't one of aspirational wealth; it’s the messy, realistic aftermath of lives built on fragile foundations. The Birkin bags now feel like shields used to deflect from the crumbling marriages and fractured friendships within. Instead of the playful banter and light-hearted "receipts" of earlier seasons, we get cold, calculated strikes intended to cause maximum reputational damage. There is a palpable bitterness that hangs over every dinner party—a sense that these women aren't just fighting with each other, but with the version of themselves they can no longer maintain. They aren't housewives; they are survivors of their own crafty insincere behaviour, navigating a descent that is as fascinating as it is uncomfortable to watch. The mask hasn't just slipped; it has shattered, leaving us with a Beverly Hills that is less "shining city on a hill" and more "car crash you can't look away from."

The Richards-Kemsley War: A Race to the Bottom

Nowhere is this descent more apparent than in the total annihilation of the friendship between Kyle and Dorit. This isn't just a "rift"—it’s a brutal, televised divorce of two women who have spent years curated as a package deal. The most jarring part of this season’s "Decent into Reality" is watching them weaponize their crumbling marriages against one another. Kyle’s sarcastic reunion quip to Dorit—"I’m not in the same financial position as you, I’m sorry"—wasn't just a read; it was a tactical strike on Dorit’s biggest vulnerability. For years, they competed for who had the most enviable husband; now, they are competing for who has the most justified reason to be "done".

Kyle has pivoted from the supportive sister-friend to a "strategic sniper," painting Dorit’s post-separation behaviour as "manic" and "erratic" on camera while claiming it’s out of "concern". Meanwhile, Dorit has fully shed the "token idiot" persona Kyle tried to pin on her. She is lashing out with a raw, pulsing energy, accusing Kyle colluding with PK through Mauricio to control the narrative.

The finale made it clear: there is no "healing" left here. When Kyle begged Andy to "make her shut up" during the reunion, it became the ultimate metaphor for their relationship. They aren't trying to save a friendship; they are trying to bury each other under the rubble of their former "perfect" lives. This isn't the Beverly Hills we signed up for, but it’s the most honest these women have ever been—even if that honesty is ugly, bitter, and deeply uncomfortable to watch.

Is Demi Moore The Perfect Anti-ageing Ambassador?

Lancôme new advertising campaign

Shirley Yanez

2026-04-24T08:42:00.0000000 2026-04-24T09:32:11.6200000

I had to write this today because, quite frankly, I’ve seen it all now.

We are officially living in a world where the message and the mirror no longer match — and no one seems to question it. A major Hollywood actress delivers a powerful, unsettling performance in a film warning us about the dangers of chasing youth, the obsession with reversing time, and the psychological cost of altering ourselves to meet impossible standards… …and then appears as the face of an anti-ageing serum campaign. Pause for a moment. Let that sink in.

We are being told, in one breath, “this path is damaging, unnatural, and dangerous” — and in the next, “buy this product and chase it anyway.” It would be funny if it weren’t so deeply damaging. Because this isn’t just about one celebrity or one campaign. This is about the culture we are all participating in. A culture where appearance is prioritised over authenticity. Where ageing is treated like a flaw to be corrected. Where “influence” is often nothing more than well-packaged insecurity sold at scale. Influencers — those modern-day role models — present a version of life that is filtered, curated, and carefully edited. Effort is hidden. Cost is concealed. Reality is airbrushed. And what’s left? A polished illusion that quietly tells millions of people: *you are not enough as you are.* That message lands.

It lands in the minds of young girls comparing themselves to impossible beauty standards. It lands in women who begin to see natural ageing as failure. It lands in anyone who starts to believe that happiness, confidence, and worth are something you can purchase — layer by layer. And here’s the irony. The more we chase this “perfect” version of ourselves, the further we move away from feeling whole. Because no serum, no filter, no procedure can fix a mindset that has been conditioned to feel inadequate. The internet — brilliant, powerful, transformative — has also become one of the most dangerous tools for mental health when left unchecked. Not because of what it is, but because of how it’s being used. Comparison has become constant. Validation has become external. Identity has become performative. And we are consuming it daily, often without question.

So perhaps the real issue isn’t the actress, or the brand, or even the influencers. It’s us. Our willingness to buy into it. To aspire to it. To measure ourselves against it. Because the moment we stop believing the illusion, it loses its power. The moment we stop funding it, it starts to disappear. Ageing is not a problem to be solved. It is a process to be understood, respected — even embraced. And confidence? That doesn’t come in a bottle. It comes from self-acceptance, from discipline, from how you live — not how you look. So maybe it’s time to wake up. To question what we’re being sold. To challenge what we’re being shown. And to step out of a system that profits from making us feel less than. Because the real anti-ageing solution isn’t external. It’s learning not to age your mind in a world that constantly tells you you should.

Is she a "bad" ambassador then?

It depends on what you value:

If you want honesty: She may fail as an ambassador because she represents a result that a cream alone could never achieve.

Andrew Tate Grooming The World Or The Architect of a Global Illusion?

TV documentary BBC

Shirley Yanez

2026-04-08T08:36:00.0000000 2026-04-08T08:56:33.1530000

Andrew Tate: Master Manipulator or Just Another Empty, Lost, Lonely self Proclaimed Misguided Misogynist? I watched this documentary last night and although it was shocking, once again it exposed just how sad and ridiculous social media and the world has become, so here is my take on the situation and I hope young Men will finally wake up and small a rat.

Let's STOP pretending this is complicated. This Isn't Masculinity. It's a Grift. The Dealer of a Dangerous Dream and The Man Who Taught Boys to Hate Women

What we are witnessing with Andrew Tate is not revolutionary thinking. It is not masculinity. It is not even particularly original. It is performance. A loud, carefully constructed performance built on the oldest, laziest idea in the book: That women exist to be used, controlled, and monetised.

We've seen this story before. Men chasing money, power, and excess, convincing themselves that domination equals success. The difference between Tate and figures like Jordan Belfort is not the underlying mindset - it's the packaging. Belfort, for all his chaos and addiction, eventually owned his behaviour. He exposed it. He didn't pretend it was noble. Tate, on the other hand, wraps exploitation in the language of empowerment but the truth? It turns out, Tate is just another sad lonely male influenced by a much older sad lonely dangerous manipulator called Iggy Semmelweis.

And that's what makes it dangerous? Because this isn't just about one man. It's about a system. A network. A brand. A machine that understands exactly how to tap into the insecurities of young men - loneliness, lack of direction, financial pressure - and convert those feelings into attention, loyalty, and ultimately, profit. Call it what you want - "The War Room," "Hustler's University," or something else entirely. At its core, it follows a familiar pattern: Create insecurity. Amplify it. Then sell the solution. You are not rich enough. Not respected enough. Not desired enough. But follow me - and you will be.

This is not guidance. It is marketing. And like all effective marketing, it sells a dream that is just out of reach - close enough to believe, distant enough to keep you paying. The tragedy is not that figures like Tate exist. The tragedy is how many young men are listening. Hundreds of thousands across the world are being drawn into an ideology that reduces relationships to transactions, women to assets, and self-worth to status. And here's the uncomfortable truth: This doesn't make men stronger. It makes them more disconnected. Because if you build your identity on control, you will always fear losing it.

If you build your relationships on dominance, you will never experience real connection. If you measure your worth through money alone, you will never feel like you have enough. This is not empowerment. It is a cycle. And like all cycles built on ego and insecurity, it feeds itself. There is also something else worth questioning - something often overlooked. How much of this is real. How much is performance? Because the modern influencer is not just a person - they are a product.

An influencer, by definition, shapes behaviour, attitudes, and decisions through perceived authority or lifestyle. And in Tate's world, that influence is amplified through spectacle: wealth, women, power, control. But strip away the performance, and what remains? Is it wisdom? Is it integrity?

 Or is it simply another man playing a role that keeps him relevant? Young men deserve better than this. They don't need fantasies about controlling women or extracting value from relationships. They don't need overpriced courses promising shortcuts to wealth and status.

They need truth. They need role models who teach discipline without cruelty. Strength without domination. Confidence without arrogance. And success without exploitation. Because if you really want to understand what women value - what creates attraction, respect, and connection - it will never be found in manipulation or control. It will be found in character. In emotional intelligence. In consistency. In integrity. The things that don't sell as easily online - but matter infinitely more in real life. So let's be honest. This isn't a revolution in masculinity. It's a business model. And like many before it, it profits most from the very people it claims to help. Young men are not the problem. But they are being sold one and it is time the truth was laid bare. Both Jordan Belfort and Andrew Tate have ended up in prison and are NOT the free radical thinkers they sell to the masses, so you make your own minds up.