Blog Posts by Nicola McCafferty

Jetting off on your summer holiday is usually one of the things we most look forward to each year.

But it seems a much-needed beach getaway has actually turned into a stressful occasion, as it's one of the events most women feel they need to transform themselves their bodies for.

More than half of British women transform themselves to get bikini ready The true extent of our bikini body fear has been revealed as the main reason British women try to transform themselves a staggering five times a year.

Over half of us attempt to give ourselves a 'body overhaul,' with special occasions being our main incentive to start a new diet and fitness regime.

Getting bikini ready was the main culprit for the change, with 60 per cent of women wanting to shape up in time for the beach.

Shedding the pounds for the perfect 'wedding body' followed closely behind, with most of us wanting to feel our best selves in those all-important pictures.

But while women attempt five body transformations a year, most men Read More »from Women overhaul their bodies FIVE times a year to get ready for bikini and wedding season

You know what it's like; you book your summer holiday and promise this WILL be the year you get in shape and hit the beach feeling like a supermodel.

But before you know it, you're jetting off to sunnier climes kicking yourself for not hitting the gym more, as now you're suffering the dreaded bikini fear.

Are you suffering with bikini fear ahead of your summer holiday?Around two million Brits will be escaping the bleak spring weather this Bank Holiday weekend and heading to a sun-kissed destination for a much-needed getaway.

Yet if you're one of the millions who'll be sat on the plane filled with dread about hitting the beach after a long winter being covered up, then don't panic if you haven't dieted or hit the gym every night.

According to body language expert Judi James, our fear of bikini season is actually down to the flawed self-perceptions we have ourselves and aren't based on reality.

In fact, many of us suffer from a "reality gap" she explains, between how we think we look and how other people actually Read More »from Why feeling great in your bikini this season is all in your body language, not a diet

Pregnant Frankie Sandford showed off her chic maternity style as she stepped out on the red carpet in London last night.

The Saturdays singer, who is expecting her first child with fiance Wayne Bridge, dazzled fans at The Hangover III premiere in a metallic silver and white printed maxi dress.

Frankie Sandford donned the Reiss Alla dress for The Hangover III premiere [Rex]With a tie-dye style effect and demure print, the 24-year-old's maxi was tailored perfectly to suit her growing baby bump thanks to the empire line waist and not-too-plunging neckline.

Frankie, who was joined at the premiere by her Saturdays bandmates Mollie King, Una Healy and Vanessa White, stole the show in the dress - which is by high street favourite, Reiss.

Named the 'Alla' dress, the silk maxi features a gecko print and comes in two colours, Frankie's pick of black and white or in block colours of shades of blue.

With a crossover back, the dress has a floaty fit and mini pleat detailing meaning it's that perfect new Read More »from Pregnant Frankie Sandford wows at The Hangover III premiere in a Reiss dress, get the look

Pippa Middleton racks up almost as many column inches as her sister Kate when it comes to her fashion choices.

Pippa Middleton used her appearance to raise some awareness for Breakthrough Breast Cancer with her dress [Rex]So we're pleased to see the Duchess of Cambridge's younger sister used her turn in the spotlight to give a worthwhile cause some of the attention last night.

The 29-year-old was the star guest at the Waitrose Summer Party - held at London's Natural History Museum - braving the chilly evening air in a pretty pastel floral dress by Tabitha Webb.

Far from being just another designer dress, Pippa's peach lace creation is actually an exclusive dress designed to raise money for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer.

Named the 'Sundance' dress, the peach sleeveless creation features a delicate white blossom print, with a nipped-in waist and lace panelling at the sleeves and the waist.

Pippa Middleton mingled with the likes of Phillip Schofield as she showed off her pretty peach blossom dress [Rex]Asymetric lace panels at the waist help create the illusion of an even smaller waistline, with a slightly tiered hemline Read More »from Pippa Middleton uses her turn in the spotlight to wear a Fashion Targets Breast Cancer dress by Tabitha Webb for Waitrose party

Kelly Brook has clearly found her style niche - and she's sticking to it.

The Celebrity Juice star has been racking up the column inches after she stepped out in yet another pretty patterned shift dress today, this time with a flattering waist peplum.

Kelly Brook stepped out in yet another stylish shift dress today [Rex]The pastel pink creation was emblazoned with a black and white print, zip detailing down the bust and cut to just above her knee - with Kelly teaming it perfectly with black strapped stilettos.

With her brunette locks in tousled waves around her shoulders and a flash of pastel pink lipstick, Kelly beamed at the cameras as she arrived at some TV studios.

But while snappers were frantically papping away at the stylish 33-year-old, we were having a eureka moment over her latest fashionable outing.

The TV star has been seen rocking a whole series of patterned shift dresses in recent months, styling out a variety of different cuts, prints and lengths.

Kelly Brook stopped snappers in their tracks in her pastel pink shift [Rex]From a black shift Read More »from Kelly Brook showcases perfect chic in another patterned shift dress, we reveal why it's our favourite trend of SS13

Melanie C may have been part of one of the most successful girl bands in British pop history, but it's another role entirely that's made her feel happier than ever.

Melanie C has gushed about her role as a mother, saying she's more fulfilled than everThe Spice Girl couldn't stop gushing about her four-year-old daughter Scarlet when we caught up for an exclusive interview, revealing her world is a "much happier place" thanks to her.

"My daughter is my constant and my priority," she told us. "She’s made the world a much happier place.

"She’s made me much more fulfilled and a happier person."

Mel sadly split from her partner of 10 years, Thomas Starr, last year so has been adjusting to life as a single mum. A role, she admits, can be tough at times.

She said: "[I have lovely] friends and family around me. And, especially when you're a single mum, it's lovely having that support network around you, because it's not always easy."

Motherhood certainly suits Mel too. Not only is she full of stories of her busy little girl, but she's previously revealed how the role has helped her

Read More »from Melanie Chisholm interview: My daughter has made the world a much happier place

Julianne Moore had all the ingredients of a perfect red carpet entrance at the Cannes Film Festival 2013.

The 52-year-old actress made her big Cannes 2013 debut in a showstopping Dior gown Marion Cotillard would have been proud of, with a black bustier top and tiered lilac skirt made of tulle over satin.

Julianne Moore had a bizarre wardrobe malfunction on the Cannes 2013 red carpet las tnight [Rex]So far so good. Until we spied one helluva wardrobe malfunction - her seriously squashed toes.

The A-list actress made us (and probably most of the crowd) at the prestigious film festival fear for her poor little toes, which were crudely poking out of her silver stilettos.

With shoes that were clearly too narrow for her feet, her toes poked uncomfortably through her straps and over the show's platform.

The Carrie actress didn't seem at all fazed by her red carpet faux pas [Rex]While we were left worrying she might accidentally trip and cause a break, Julianne on the other hand didn’t seem at all fazed by her fashion fail.

In fact the actress looked perfectly at ease on the red carpet,Read More »from Julianne Moore has us fearing for her poor little toes as she suffers a fashion faux pas at Cannes 2013

Smoking slippers were once regarded as a shoe only Hugh Hefner could get away with wearing out of the house/Playboy mansion.

In fact, Hugh's love of his comfy slippers meant the look was almost solely reserved for him and his velvet dressing gown - yet a few A-listers are proving his hold on the slipper trend is over.

Alexa Chung has been showcasing her smoking slippers with lots of looks [Rex]Fashionable stars such as Alexa Chung, Taylor Swift, Chloe Moretz and Girls' Lena Dunham are breaking all the rules by wearing slippers as outerwear, donning theirs for all manner of fashionable events.

Alexa has shown her smoking slippers FROW at Fashion Weeks; paired them with her travelling attire for chic airport landings and even worn them to designer cocktail parties.

[Smoking slippers: 15 of the best on the high street]

The model and TV presenter has so many pairs - ranging from the Hugh Hef-inspired velvet with palm motifs to chic leather with cut out fronts - we rarely see her in the same pair twice.

Popstrel Taylor has been spotted in a pair of velvet maroon slippers

Read More »from Alexa Chung proves smoking slippers are the fashion trend of the moment, we reveal how to wear