On Saturday Peterborough Queensgate Shopping Centre held an event called Backstage Live and I headed along with my friend Sophie to cover all the action!
Free to attend, the idea of the event was to bring to Peterborough the excitement and buzz that you’d get behind the scenes at a fashion show, with fashion, beauty and hair stations set up to get shoppers catwalk ready for the Spring/Summer season.
First up we had a complimentary personal styling appointment, which had been available to prebook on the Queensgate website in the run up to the event. We’re both petite but whilst I go for classic cuts and styles Sophie is a bit more trend led, so we were given individual style tips on how we could incorporate key pieces for the season into our wardrobes.
Our stylist took us around clothes rails which featured outfits from some of my favourite stores (Oasis, River Island, Fat Face and Monsoon to name a few).
When she selected this dress from the Oasis V&A collection we had to giggle as we’d both already been eyeing it up – isn’t it a beauty? I have a wedding to go to in the summer and I think this would be perfect… although I know if I buy it now I won’t be able resist wearing it before the day!
After this we had a chat with the super lovely and bubbly Jade from Lush, who I could have listened to for hours as she was so knowledgeable on all the products.
She talked us through some of their best sellers, including giving a demo of their Ultrabland cleanser. Jeez it works a treat! You basically rub it all over your face and then gently wipe it off with a warm damp flannel or some cotton wool. It gets rid of all traces of makeup in a jiffy including stubborn swatches (beauty bloggers – you need this in your life!).
I usually avoid wearing foundation mainly because I hate the hassle of removing it all at the end of the day, so anything that makes that job easier appeals to me.
My other top pick was the Sea Spray which I tried out there and then on the stand. Jade told me that it’s great for getting rid of flyaway hairs and static, two things I suffer from every time I straighten my hair. Verdict: It smells like the beach and works a treat – sold!
Meanwhile other visitors were getting treated to a hair and beauty makeover. I’m kicking myself for not booking in now after Sophie pointed out the whole lovely selection of MAC products being used! Next time Laura…
We rested our feet for a bit listening to a style talk on how to create a capsule wardrobe, then Kai (UK Wella Hair Ambassador and the owner of PKai Salons which is where I get my haircut) gave a demo of the newest hair care innovation from System Professional. You book an appointment with your hairdresser at participating salons, answer a 10 minute questionnaire and this generates a Unique Energy Code which recommends products tailored to your specific hair needs. I was given samples to take home which I really liked, as there was no pressure to buy full sized products there and then.
The Benebabes from Benefit were at the event too, demonstrating how to get a bronzed look for the Summer. To be honest they were preaching to the converted with me as I’m already a big Benefit cosmetics fan!
Backstage Live was a great way to spend a few hours in town and has given me plenty of inspiration for the coming season, so I have to say a big thanks to Queensgate Peterborough for inviting me along. They have other events planned for later this year so look out for announcements via their website and I’ll also share the details via Twitter once I have them.
As a thank you for covering the day I was given a beautiful goody bag packed full of items from the Queensgate brands and companies who participated in the Backstage Live event. This included a whole host of samples from John Lewis, The Body Shop and Lush, as well as stationary from Paperchase and some gorgeous fairy lights from Tiger. I’m working my way through them all at the moment. (Prada Candy: omg such a gorgeous Spring fragance!)
In the goody bag there was also a voucher for lunch at the Handmade Burger Co which I’ve been dying to try ever since it opened, so we promptly headed there after the event. I’m going to be cover that and the hottest new dessert lounge in town in an upcoming post though, so keep a look out for that later this week!
Have you visited Peterborough recently? Would you attend an event like Backstage Live?
P.s: My friend Sophie has started a beautiful blog full of fitness, food and general lifestyle inspiration. Do pop over, have a read and let her know I sent you! <<Sophie Kate.co.uk>>
