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THE NORTH WEST’S HOTTEST FREE MAGAZINE

EXCLUSIVE: Interview with the cast inside!

Pixie LottMamma Do singer chats to Gossip

G SSIP

Matt Littler and Jayne Mahon

Quirky couple back with festive ideas sure

to suit all.

Top 5 Christmas FilmsNot in the festive spirit? Why not check out our guide to Christmas movies

Gossip MusicLawson! Britain’s

biggest new boyband

Christmas gift guideStuck for ideas? Not anymore!

December 2011

FEATURES

ON THE COVER:

SAM WOOLLEY

KEEP IN TOUCH

Email: editor@gossip.uk.comfacebook/gossipmonthlytwitter: @gossipmonthly

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GET THE LOOKWhat is On Trend in Liverpool?

PIXIE LOTTWe catch up with the pop princess

GOSSIP MUSICWe catch up with the UK’s next big boyband

DESPERATE SCOUSEWIVES3 of the cast join us for drinks in the lush Hotel Indigo!

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEASWe run through the best gifts she should be receiving this Christmas

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REGULARSAlex FletcherAlex keeps us up to date of her travels this month

Radio CityClaire Simonsen tells us why she just loves this time of year

Matt and JayneThe t4 host is back with his brilliant gadgets column

Gossip Goes OutWe go to the Tracey Bell’s Boys Night, the Liverpool Santa Dash, Radio City Live & the launch of Become the Fase at Palm Sugar

Gossip BusinessWe interview interior designer Elaine Cunningham

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all and welcome to the Christmas edition of Gossip Monthly. 2011 has been a busy year here at Gossip and there is no busier time than Christmas. And with the party season

well and truly here, the crazy cats at Gossip HQ made sure we didn’t let one festive cocktail go to waste. There has been some fantastic events lately including the launch of Become The Fase, Paparazzi Events and Tracey Bell’s Boys Night – I’m personally giving it a few years before I resort to botox but it was great fun to see some local faces trying out some of Tracey’s treatments.

Desperate Scousewives has hit our screens this month – OK so it hasn’t been everyone’s cup of tea. Accusations about it giving Scousers a bad name and claims none of them are from Liverpool - we have heard it all. So at Gossip we decided to catch up with the girls ourselves and ask them how they were coping with the slack and why we should continue to tune in.

Elissa Corrigan, Sam Woolley and Jodie Lundstram invited us for a few glasses of champagne before a night out to celebrate episode one and the

girls didn’t hold back in defending the show or about criticising a Premier League footballer. Check out our exclusive interview inside.

The gorgeous Pixie Lott was in Liverpool recently so we grabbed a quick word with her after her fantastic performance at Radio City Live. James Thomas is back reviewing Christmas hit Hugo whilst also revealing our top five Christmas films.

If you have picked up your copy of Gossip and suddenly realised Christ-mas is a matter of weeks away and you have no presents then fear not! Not only are Matt and Jayne forthcoming with their festive tips, we have also compiled a gift guide to help you in your quest for love and affection from loved ones and relatives. We also have a great competition for you and your family to win a day out watching the Liverpool Empire’s Christmas show ‘White Christmas’.

Dec is well and truly an issue not to be missed so con-gratulations on getting your hands on a copy. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank you all for reading Gossip throughout 2011. Have a great Christmas and an even better New Year.

See you all in 2012!

Hi Editor’s Letter

John Harkin (Editor) editor@gossip.uk.com

© 2011 Gossip UK Ltd. All rights are reserved. Material shown is the property of Gossip UK Ltd and/or its clients and is protected by © 2010.All intellectual property rights (including without limitation any copyright and design right) belong to Gossip UK Ltd and/or its clients. Reproduction of

part or all of the content of this magazine is prohibited. Gossip UK Ltd is a trade mark of Gossip UK Ltd. Any other trademarks, registered or otherwise, remain the prop-erty of the appropriate trademark holder. Registered in England, No. 06888359. While every effort is made to ensure that the information contained within the magazine

is correct and appropriate, the publishers cannot be held responsible for any effects therefrom. Reproduction of any matter contained in the magazine is prohibited without the prior written authority of Gossip UK Ltd.

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Keeping things understated yet cool, Anthony takes inspi-ration from the daddy of cool himself - Bob Dylan. To Get Anthony’s look, all you need is a pair of Monkey Genes and a Cheap Mondays shirt. To keep the cold out, com-plete the look in a Vans coat and Bob’s your uncle!

Abby embraces the cold as she wraps up in this cosy Topshop coat and H&M hat. Keeping all her art essen-tials in this gorgeous River Island, she certainly gets an A in style!

A lover of eco fashion, she is forever recycling her clothes. In this case it is done by adding a pair of chunky socks and vintage jacket, she is a refreshing example of how to get it right without buying into trends.

Heather adds a little fun to her outfit with the cute hat and scarf combo from last years Clothes show but keeps the rest seriously stylish in her bargain £5 cut out leggings, a friends shirt and biker boots.

Anthony, 23, Cust’ Advisor Abby, 18, Art Student Emma, 23, Journ’ Student Heather, 18, Fash’ Student

Jenny, 22, Journ’ Student Rachel, 18, Fash’ Student Toni, 20, Accountancy Stu’ Sophiel, 18, Fash’ Student

Dan

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Jenny refuses to let the cold weather get her down as she sports this pretty little Pull and Bear summer dress. Keeping the chill at bay, she keeps warm in a cute Pri-mark coat and scarf, some classic opaques and a pair of jewelled New Look flats.

Rachel certainly has the right idea bringing one of this summer’s hottest trend through to winter. The River Island midi, complete with the Dorathy Perkins top, Matalan shall and River Island shoes is a winner through every season.

Toni, Influenced by dance and urban boys, she adds her own girly twist on things with her pink Primark jeans, American Apparel hoodie and Nike Air Jordan’s before finishing the look with some seriously fierce Rihanna hair!

Sophie shows us how to get the classic t-shirt and jeans combo right. Get the look with a pair of Topshop jeans and brogues, a fashion fa-vourite ‘I heart NY’ tee from Ressurection and a New Look fur coat.

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GET THE LOOK

Leggings - £22 - Topshop: These leggings have been around for quite a while but are still as popular as ever. An essential for every wardrobe, get yours at the bargain price of £22!

This month’s get the look goes to fashion student Roxanne. The simplicity of the black, together with the ever popular leopard print, finished with vintage touches gets a massive fashion two thumbs up! Here’s how to get it...

Top - £28 - Urban Outfitters: You can wear this top all year round. Whether it is on a warm sunny day with a pair of denim shorts or under your Christmas jumper, I think you’ll love it as much as I do!

Fur Collar - £10.50 - ASOS: Add a new dimension to all your coats with this must have winter accessory. Not only will it keep you warm, it will glam up any outfit.

Coat - £79.99 - Zara: Not only will this coat keep you toasty it will go with anything. Whether you’re dashing out the door in your office wear or hurrying out to a lunch date with a pair skinny jeans and a simple tee underneath, it’s a guaranteed hit!

Bag - £45 - River Island: Every girl needs at least one studded item so why not make it this. Get it on your Christmas list asap!

Shoes - £40 - Next: If you’re afraid of bold animal prints but want to give it a go, these Next loafers are perfect way to subtly introduce the print your wardrobe.

Ring - £8.50 - Topshop: Every outfit needs a little bling and this one is no exception!

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PixieGOSSIPmusic

LottShe is one of the UK’s biggest female stars with a double-platinum debut album and eight

top ten hits to date, amazing that Pixie Lott is still only 20-years-old.

Everything about this talented youngster screams superstar. Gorgeous looks? Check. Great voice? Check. Star

quality? You get where we are going with this. Catching up with Pixie at Radio City Live at Liverpool’s ECHO Arena, we still can’t quite believe that this chirpy chick has only been mainstream for just over two years.

Britney Spears was a huge inspiration.

The blonde bombshell’s career took off at just 15-years of age when music mogul L.A Reid heard her sing and immediately snapped her up to the Island Def Jam Music Group. After her debut single “Mamma Do” earned global success, Pixie fast became an overnight sensa-tion and hasn’t looked back. And Britain’s pop-princess has admit-ted some very well-known names have inspired her to reach the dizzy heights she has already climbed to. “Britney Spears was a huge inspi-ration.” Pixie revealed. “She’s got so many great songs, Born to Make You Happy, Baby One More Time, Sometimes, she’s bril-liant. “I definitely looked up to Brit-ney Spears when I was younger. As a kid all the teen sensations, Britney, Christina Aguilera I would be in awe of.” But there’s one person who Pixie doesn’t quite want to follow in the foot-steps off – US superstar Rihanna. In an interview recently, the London-born babe confessed: “I just don’t think

I’d feel comfortable doing lyrics like that (Rihanna’s). I’m just like ‘wow’ at some of her stuff. But if she’s not

writing every lyric and she’s still happy to do it, fair enough.” She went on to add, “Different artists do different things and you have to feel and look comfortable doing it. It totally suits Rihanna. She is amazing but

even if I wanted to do that, I just couldn’t.”

I don’t want to give away too much but it’s very different and the dancing we are doing is a very different style.

Besides, Pixie’s unique style is still winning over her ador-ing fans. Her new album Young, Foolish Happy has al-ready gained rave reviews and spawned the number one hit ‘All About Tonight”. Her new song ‘What Do You Take Me For” is currently doing the rounds on the radio and Pixie told Gossip the video will have a different feel to her other songs. “It’s dead dance really. Be-cause the lyrics are like surreal and more fancy than my other songs we are using some special effects so we’ve got a different feel. I don’t want to give away too much but it’s very different and the dancing we are doing is a very different style.” As our short time comes to a close, Pixie smiles and breezes

off as she poses for some mandatory photographs and within a blink of an eye, she is gone. We’re pretty sure it’s not the last we are going to see of Britain’s new pop princess.

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CELEB GET THE LOOK

This month’s celebrity get the look goes to the ever fashionable pop princess, Pixie Lott. The pint-sized pop star never fails to impress whether it be on the red carpet, hanging out backstage at a festival or just out and about shopping. With endless appearences on all the hottest best dressed lists, here’s how you too can achieve her style and stand out as a style icon.

Mac Lipstick - Russian Red - £13.50: A touch of lipstick can transform any outfit drab to glam in a matter of seconds. In this case, add a touch of MACs Russian Red

JJ Winters fringe bag - £262.00: As Christmas slowly creeps in, what better to splash out a little than with this stunning JJ Winters fringe bag. A firm favourite amongst Hollywood starlets such as Vanessa Hudgens and Lindsey Lohan, you too can release your inner celeb!

Topshop necklace - £12.50: Add a touch of bling in the form of this double ring pendant from Topshop. The simple design compliments the black and is a statement in itself. The same goes for the ring!

Black quilted leather jacket - ASOS - £120.00: Sometimes proving tricky to find the right one, a leather jacket is well worth investing in. Luckily for you, the search is over as I have found the perfect one right here. Pop it on your Christ-mas list and just wait for Santa!

Twist & Tango Maxi Dress - £76.00: Maxi dresses are probably one of the easiest pieces you can wear. They keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter (just don’t forget your leggings!) Team yours, like Pixie, with an uber cool leather jacket and a statement lip to pull off this uber cool look.

Miss Selfridge ring - £10.00

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He is the Liverpool lad who has had to come through quite a lot to realise his dreams of be-coming a musician, but with Andy Brown and his band Lawson now signed to mega-label Polydor, those dreams could finally become a reality. Amazing given just a few years ago, the 24-year-old was diagnosed with a brain tumour known as acoustic neuroma, which effects hear-ing and the facial muscles. “I was on tour with a different band at the time doing a Beatles tribute.” Recalls Andy. “We were in Manchester airport about to go to Norway and I just started getting really bad head-aches and I just collapsed in the airport.” Andy was rushed home and after initial con-sultations doctors thought he was suffering from severe congestion. Thankfully his concerned mother, who is a nurse, demanded more tests and after an MRI scan a tumour was discovered. “I was already deaf in my right ear and I just thought it was blocked but it turned out to be acoustic neuroma. “I went to a specialist in the Walton centre and met Dr David Lawson who told me we could ei-ther do radiotherapy or an operation. The opera-tion could have affected my facial features and my mum and dad were really worried but I just took it in my stride.”

The operation lasted 17 hours and Andy was hospitalized for two months. But since making a full recovery Andy has created the aptly named ‘Law-son’ with himself and band mates Joel, Adam and Ryan set to release their debut single and album in 2012. Andy added: “We got together through a social network and then a few of the lads knew each other and we just clicked. When we were deciding on a name I told the lads my story and we all agreed Lawson was a perfect name.” The lads have already toured with boyband The Wanted and this cheeky Scouser admits he can’t wait to build his own fan base. “The tour with The Wanted really gave us a taste for it, it was surreal. We played the gigs acoustic and it was a blessing in disguise as it really showed of our vocal talents. I have just heard our album for the first time recently and it sounds fantastic and I just can’t wait to get it out there.” With their own headline tour coming up in 2012 Lawson are set to become the countries next big boyband – you heard it here first!

*LAWSON will be performing at Sound Control, Manchester on the 20th of Jan 2012.

Lawson

The tour with The Wanted really gave us a taste for it, it was surreal. We played the gigs acoustic and it was a blessing in dis-guise as it really showed of our vocal talents. “ “

GOSSIPmusic

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Desperatechat exclusively to Gossip

It’s been the only thing the people of Liverpool have talked about ever since it’s debut episode aired on E4 last month. Desperate Scousewives has become the city’s hot topic – wooden, scripted and unlikeable have been the main words doing the rounds in taxis, bars and Twitter, yet more than 600,000 people tuned in to see E4’s representation of this famous city.

GOSSIPexclusive

Scousewives12

The cast are well aware of the criticism (and the lack of Liverpool locals) so I’m a little apprehensive of what mood gorgeous girls Elissa Corrigan, Sam Woolley and Jodie

Lundstram will be in when we all meet at the quirky Hotel Indigo in Chapel Street. It’s 3pm, raining and the girls rush into the colour-ful hotel lobby. They’re cold and they’re wet (good start). After the introductions the four of us finally settle down for a glass of champagne. The girls are letting their hair down this evening (the first episode has just been aired) and Gossip popped in to chat to them whilst they were being preened to perfection for a night on the town. As the trio begin to put in their rollers I nervously fire my first question; ‘It’s meant to be a show on Liverpool, so where are the locals?” Jodie is the first to answer. After a stint in London working for MAC, the blonde beauty introduced herself to the nation by stepping of the train at Lime Street and screaming “Liverpool, I’m Back!” Loud and proud she certainly is. “I understand why some people aren’t happy with the show being called Desperate Scousewives con-sidering a lot of the cast aren’t from Liverpool.” Says the 24-year-old. “If I am honest I would have preferred a few more Scousers on the show. The problem was that there wasn’t a load of great Scousers auditioning. Liverpool lads automatically think “Oh, I’m not doing that” because it isn’t manly enough and then they moan about there being no Scousers on the show. If you think you could have represented the city bet-ter then apply! “I think people have got to remember that Liv-erpool is not just full of people from the city. It’s a great compliment that people have moved here to go to university and have stayed after they have finished.” This is clearly a point the girls feel strongly about. “Liverpool has developed so much as a city,” adds Elissa (originally from Blackburn). “It’s a huge compliment to how welcoming the people are that girls like me want to stick around. I might not be a Scouser but I have lived here for the best part of eight years. I have been accepted by the city and I’d like to think of myself as an honorary Scouser. But it shows how the city has evolved.”

I think people have got to re-member that Liverpool is not just full of people from the city. It’s a great compliment that people have moved here to go to university and have stayed after they have finished

Scousewives13

Sam Woolley is the youngest of the girls. At 20-year-old and living a stone-throw away from the city, the Kate Mid-dleton look-a-like has found the criticism particularly hard to deal with, especially with taunts that she is playing up to stereotypes. “When the first episode aired and we were getting panned I did think to myself ‘is it worth it’?” Confided the brunette. “I just wanted to do something fun and have a laugh with my mates. It annoys me when people say that the show doesn’t represent Liverpool. We can’t represent every single person in the city but I’d say we represent a vast majority. “The show is all about fashion and glamour. Every weekend there is a fashion event or party in Liverpool and it is packed with a bunch of girls just like us. There are people slagging the show of who dress exactly like us, go to these parties and probably stand next to us at the bar! “We’re not going to represent everyone but at the end of the day the show is a bit of fun. Scousers are known for not taking themselves too seriously and if they took the show with a pinch of salt they might actually enjoy it.” One of the fiercest critics of the show has been QPR footballer and Liverpool-born Joey Barton. The 29-year-old labeled the cast “materialistic, fame-hungry cretins” – something that did not go down well with our ladies. “I read an interview with him the other day,” says Sam. “He was saying that all he does is put himself out there to do his job on the football pitch and shouldn’t be judged – all the cast on Scousewives are doing exactly the same thing, putting ourselves out there.

“It’s not easy when you put everything into something and then get the criticism from people like him. He knows what it is like to be judged and so he shouldn’t be passing judgement so easily on other people. Knowing Elissa personally for many years, I dread her response, especially considering she is now on her second glass of champagne! “He is hardly an up-standing man of the community,” she rages. “I mean come on, this is hardly the mayor of Liverpool talking and I really don’t know why anybody takes any notice of him. He’s an ex-con with a twitter ac-count. Who is to judge? I with thank him for one thing though, all the publicity.” It’s hard to remember with all the negative press but the whole point of the programme is to follow the trials and tribulations of some of the city’s residents. From friendships, feuds and romances – Desperate Scous-ewives doesn’t hold back. One of the most intriguing storylines is the love trian-gle between Joe McMahon (Liverpool’s answer to Mark Wright), his current fling Layla and his ex-girlfriend Elissa. The relationship between Elissa and Joe is very real. Af-ter renting a house and preparing to build a life together, the pair split after revelations that Joe had embarked on a holiday fling. “I will always have strong feelings for Joe. There are plenty of unresolved issues between us. “I hate always been compared to Lauren and Mark (TOWIE) or Caggie and Spencer (MIC ) as we are completely different. Every relationship is different, so how could I possibly compare mine to theirs?

Elissa - Beaded Batwing Dress By He Loved An Angel Boudoir Boutique £295Jodie - Gold Bandeau dress by Forever Unique Boudoir Boutique £375Sam - Jewelled bustier dress by Forever Unique Boudoir Boutique £295

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Every day I get hundreds of peo-ple sending me pictures of them getting a Scouse Brow, it’s amaz-ing! It’s all a bit of fun. I didn’t think that it would catch on like it has but it’s went global – Scouse brows are taking over the world

“ “

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All the emotions on screen with us are real. Joe was my first love, we met at Uni and we were together for years. We moved in and were in the proc-ess of setting up a life together.

“ “

Elissa - Cream collared crystal gown by Pia Michi Boudoir Boutique £275Jodie - Leopard chiffon jumpsuit by Pia Michi Boudoir Boutique £275Sam - Animal Print chiffon gown by Pia Michi Boudoir Boutique £295

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“I’d find it really hard to trust Joe again because of every-thing that has happened between us. “All the emotions on screen with us are real. Joe was my first love, we met at Uni and we were together for years. We moved in and were in the process of setting up a life together. “When I found out he had cheated on holiday I was stunned. I saw emails between him and another woman and it broke my heart. I was so angry and upset and I vowed I would never ever get back with him. “He kept trying to justify it by saying it was the last ever lads holiday he was ever going to go on before he settled down and he wanted to have fun. “I think it’s disgusting the way he treats women, es-pecially Layla. The problem is she puts up with it which makes her just as bad. “I think I am the only girl who Joe knows he can’t f**k about. He wouldn’t even try and get back with me unless he knew he could trust himself 100 per cent. If he came to me and said; ‘Elissa, I want you back’ and he was 100 per cent committed then who knows. “I would have to get to know him all over again. It has been a long time since we were together and we are differ-ent people than we were two years ago. It would be a long process but you can never say never.” In episode two, Sam has her own problems when it comes to blokes. Sharing what can only be described as a “full-on” kiss with on/off boyfriend Danny Latimer it’s the classic are they/aren’t they scenario– so what IS going on with them? “Danny is so confusing. One minute he’s really into me and the next he goes cold. I couldn’t believe it when he was pining after Debbie on the first episode. He was telling me how much he liked me and then next thing he is confessing his love for Debbie, it’s so confusing.” But

Danny might have some competition for Sam’s affections from another reality TV Star. “I love Joey Essex from TOWIE. He is beautiful but so sweet as well. Mark is the womaniser and has got around a bit too much for me but Joey is so innocent. “He doesn’t seem to have much luck with the girls and I don’t know why, he makes me laugh so much. He is a bit dozy but then so am I! His Smart Car is awesome! I’ve always wanted one. “Would I date Joey? Most definitely, he can pick me up in his car anytime he wants!” Jodie is less bothered about male drama than the oth-er two girls and is looking forward to entertaining people throughout the series. “I am really happy being single.” She giggles. “With the show and everything that is going on in my life I can’t have a boyfriend at the moment. I’d always be thinking ‘will they be happy if I do this’ and to be honest I haven’t got time for that.” In fact Jodie is far too busy with work for a man, es-pecially after revealing the “Scouse Brow”. “The Scouse Brow has been absolutely mental.” Jodie screams after checking her own brows in the mirror. “Every day I get hundreds of people sending me pictures of them getting a Scouse Brow, it’s amazing! “It’s all a bit of fun. I didn’t think that it would catch on like it has but it’s went global – Scouse brows are taking over the world.” The interview is drawing to a close and the girls have just ordered a range of cocktails from the bar. Within minutes there are guests asking for pictures, guys offer-ing to buy them drinks whilst the three giggle playfully between themselves. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if people followed the example of these ladies and stopped taking things so seriously, maybe, just maybe, you might actu-ally enjoy the show for what it is – a bit of fun!

CLOTHING: Boudoir Boutique, Cavern WalksLOCATION: Hotel Indigo, Chapel StreetPHOTOGRAPHY: Karl Axon www.karlaxon.co.ukPHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: Ryan Potter

MAKE-UP: Kelly Ensor 07870632608HAIR-STYLIST: Voodou: Jamie Stafford. Lois Molloy and Stephanie Cahill

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GOSSIP Christmas

Links of LondonHigh on my Christmas list to Santa this year is the Links of London Effer-vescence Star white Pearl bracelet, and if I have been especially good this year I really hope to get the matching necklace or the ring but I am not sure I have been that good!

GiftIdeas

Here at Gossip we have gone beyond the usual gift ideas and brought you some amazing on trend items that will make anyone’s Christmas!

Effervescence star necklace - £375

Kenneth Jay Lane Crystal Daisy Ring - £80

Effervescence Star white Pearl bracelet - £275

Effervescence Pearl Bubble Ring - £175

The Metropolis ring by Lara Bohinc - £127

benna.co.uk

DebenhamsChristmas day wouldn’t be complete without some lush smellys so what better way to smell delightful than with these two beautiful, refreshing fragrances.

Flowerbomb Eau De Parfum - £41.85

Lovestruck Eau de Parfum - £31.50

debenhams.com

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BennaIf you haven’t been yet to www.benna.co.uk, then you really are missing a treat! The site is packed full of beautiful pieces that are sure to light up any LBD this festive season. Benna has recently opened a studio on Rodney Street so if you are not the kind of girl who shops online, you can now go and play for hours with designers such as Kizmet by Milka, Monica Vinada, Mawi, Erickson Beamon, Kenneth Jay Lane and the fabulous Zoe Morgan all combined with a cheeky little Vintage Collection to add a stylist’s flair to the occasion.

FiretrapWe are loving the crave bracelet from Firetrap(£25), it’s a great way to bring a little industrial glamour to an outfit, linking chains to create that rock chick feel for any outfit, team it with Frenzy ear-rings( £20) to complete the look.

Elaine CunninghamThere is no better way to create the festive mood than with Candles, we are loving the Designers Guild Candles from Elaine Cunningham Interiors, (£33) and the Zephirine is just the most amazing fragrance that will fill your home. We also love the tea light holders that will create that fes-tive atmosphere in any room.

Mawi Aventurine Tusk Earrings - £185

Firetrap Crave bracelet - £25

Firetrap Frenzy Earrings - £20

Elaine Cunningham Guild Candles - £33

metquarter.com

elainecunninghaminteriors.com

Pull & BearGet ready for the January sales and keep your new snazzy purse safe in this stylish bag.

COLOR BLOCK SUEDE BAG - £29.99

Ultimate Indulgence - £25

Owl Hot Water Bottle - £12

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Alex’sCOLUMN

Hi all welcome back to my column. It’s been an-other busy month for me, especially with the build up to Christmas I had the pleasure of meeting Hell’s Kitchen chef Marco Pierre White. Marco was a lovely guy and his bark on that show is a lot worse than his bite. In other news I was in-vited to a charity auction by Claire House which Marco is a patron of and over £40,000 was raised on the night which was an incredible amount for the charity. My mum bid for a framed Elton John shirt for my dad as he is a massive Elton fan & to her delight she got it! To get in to the Xmas spirit you have got to go to see a panto this year. I’m really looking forward to seeing Snow White at the Royal Court starring fabulous shameless ac-tress Tina Malone & lovely friend Mr Pete Price. It’s a brilliant cast so I am looking forward to that. Why don’t you get in to the festive spirit & book some tickets 0870 787 1866. If anyone is a fan of Louis Spence you must

go & see him in Cinderella at the Palace theatre in Manchester as he is absolutely brilliant along with the rest of the cast. We did nothing but laugh from start to finish. Also visited Alder Hey Children’s

Hospital to try & bring some festive cheer to the kids on the wards to sup-port the Imagine Appeal with fellow cast member Rachael Shenton better known as Mitsee. We opened the Celebrity Bauble tree donated by Cavern Walks where the baubles were signed by a host of celebs across

the UK with a festive mes-sage written on every one . Celeb’s including Gok Wan & Mel C & many others. It’s an Xmas cam-paign so the least we could do was go along & show our support. The tree takes pride of position for the staff, pa-tients & family to see in the cafeteria. Have a brilliant

Christmas all you Gossip readers & hope 2012 is a good one.

Hi all and welcome back to my monthly column. What a great Winter it has been, especially with Christmas creeping up!

GOSSIPloves:

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Of course along with the decorations ,visits to Santa in his grotto and dragging the kids to every Christmas movie thinkable – one aspect which excites me the most is what to wear! I must admit, that I take plenty of criti-cism over my fashion sense (or lack of it), in fact, Jay Hynd who produces the Rossie & Co breakfast show has just re-coiled in horror at the thought of me advising ANYONE on what is hot to wear this party season! I’ll be honest, Christmas is the one time I can actually get away with being over the top, spangly, sparkly, using far too much glitter and actually get away with it! Most people have a Christmas party or an “event” to look forward to, you know – the one that you need the fake tan, false eyelashes, waxing – nails – eyebrows – the list goes on! I’ve been spying in lots of shop windows – and the glitzy, exciting outfits are out that just spell out C H R I S T M A S ! I know what I like and head straight for River Island, Top Shop, Bank in Liverpool One, and one of my favourite shops to hit Liverpool in a long time which arrived in January is the fabulous DESIGUAL. I can honestly say that since Liverpool One has been in Liverpool I can count on one hand the amount of times I have ventured away from our city centre to shop anywhere else – there is simply no need to! I just love all the accessories in River Island – they have great shoes and the ear rings are big, sparkly and to die for! I’m not really one for designer labels – I would rather spend money on lots of items that I can mix and match rather than a blow out on one item, I love Primark, and buy both the kids and my husband Steven loads of stuff from there. There are so many items the same as other high street stores for a quarter of the price – plus if the trend only lasts one season and does date quickly – you haven’t broken the bank to wear it. Back to Desigual – if you haven’t been there make sure you pay a visit. I would say it’s more casual than party wear, but this Spanish label will certainly make

you stand out from the crowd for all the right reasons. The guys gear is great too. There’s also a fab boutique in Ormskirk called Competitive Edge which stocks everything from casual stuff to party dresses if you want something that little bit different. I love it in there because they are honest and tell you if something isn’t right for you – plus they can tell really quickly what you like and are forever up and down to London for the latest looks. I can’t believe I have got so far in this article without mentioning the most important thing to compliment my wardrobe and to brighten up anyone’s look – and that is, of course, PINK. This is just purely selfish form me but it is very rare I wear anything without some sort of shade of pink in it. I think the key thing this season from what I’ve seen in magazines is to be bold with colours and what’s

wrong with using pink to be bold with! I’ve taken it to another level with pink highlights in my hair –

but obviously you could just buy some clip in hair pieces for a funky look – loads of

little places in Clayton Square and St Johns for things like that! I guess if you have a really special event coming up and need something more dressy than High Street –

maybe a proper party gown or prom dress, or maybe even for a New Year’s

Eve ball, when I need something I always go to a fantastic shop on Telegraph

Road in Heswall – It’s also a bridal shop – Tina Louise Brides (so you could trap your man while you’re there ha ha), its run by a mum and daughter so a real fam-ily affair, but has some fab party wear upstairs in Natallia’s boutique, and again, not at the prices you would expect for such amazing frocks! So, from Primark to River Island, from Ormskirk to Phillip Armstrong – the key to this party season really is to have fun with your fashion, if you keeping thinking of the likes of Rita Hayworth and real 50’s glamour you can’t go far wrong, and from a more personal point of view – don’t forget the PINK!!!! Xxxx MERRY CHRISTMAS from all of us at Radio City 96.7 xxxxx

Oooh – it’s almost my favOuRiTE time of year again – and becoming acceptable to start COunTing SLEEpS TO CHRiSTmaS!

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GOSSIPlatest gadget reviews

Sporty Office boyfriend? Jawbone UP, this nifty little bracelet is worn

all the time and monitors all kinds of things, such as movement, steps

taken, time sat idle - at say a computer - and sleep patterns. It’ll also ask

you about your eating habits and over time you’ll find out which foods

make you feel good/sleep better/sit still (Christmas Dinner…?) It’s all

run through an app, which the UP links into on either iPhone or Android,

very slick, very clever,very useful!...Jawbone.com/up

&

MattYes it’s Christmas, yes we’re all skint, but that puts all the more pressure on! You can’t afford to get it wrong this year, and so I and the lady have come up with a Christmas cheat sheet, Huzzah!

Trendy boyfriend? G-Star bespoke jeans. You’ll be met by a tailor who’ll take you through the whole process, picking the cut, size and even the zipper! Made from selvedge den-im, purists agree that these are the ultimate jeans! It’s the ultimate treat for the fashion forward boyfriend, and while you’re in there you may as well pick your-self up a pair right? G-Star.com

Extreme boyfriend? Easy, HD Hero 2. This camera is indestructible, can be mounted pretty much anywhere, more and more pro-fessions shoots are adding these guys in to the mix and for good reason, crystal clear optics, full HD recording to SD card and slow motion capture. It’s all there in black and white. PLUS linking two of these together you can now record 3D footage of you jump-ing off the shed roof! What’s not to love?

OK Girls, what type of boyfriend do you have, let’s see…?

Gamer Boyfriend? Steel series headsets coming in both 360 and PS3 models, these monsters will help him up his game. Featuring surround sound and comfy ear cups, they plug into the controller and will be sure to reduce those moments when the joypad gets thrown at the wall! They also feature a retractable mic for when he gets his own back, so he can mock the little SH*T! Steelserise.com

New boyfriend that you’re not quite sure isn’t a boyfriend yet, but you probably should buy him a little something in case he gets you something? Think small, classic album (Jeff Buckley Grace, or James Vincent McMorrow), or BluRay (Scrooged is out this year?) but I’d go with this wallet, it’ll last a lifetime. It says ‘I’m cool with the fact that you didn’t get me anything, but those Christian Louboutins will more than make up for your error’. www.blackbirdballard.com

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&

JayneSo this month is all about Christmas, we have decided to let you in to what the other half really wants. It’s simple, all you have to do is decide what category the love of your life fits into and bobs your uncle, and Christmas is sorted.

Glamorous Girl: Just because the love of your life is a glamorous girl doesn’t mean the perfect gift has to break the

bank (well not always). Jessica nails have come up with some fabulous nail varnishes to take us right through the winter

months. The range is called Rebel Glam with the Andrew Collinge Castle Street girls favourite being Street Swagger,

trust me this will be a perfect stocking filler for the glamorous lady in your life.

Now I may have said it before but boys you will never go wrong with a brand new, gleaming set of GHD’s. The

thing that us girls and guys can do with them are endless…. Boho curls, big curls, soft curls, waves, straight (you get the

picture). The full range plus the Scarlet collection are available at all the Andrew Collinge stores.

For The Secret Geek: Nintendo 3ds didn’t really hit the ground running, but the much awaited Mario is on his way. How can the inner geek in us all not have a soft spot for Mario. Or the Ipad 2 The perfect hand bag size gadget that you didn’t realise you needed… until your paw prints are all over it. Whether its reading this month’s Vogue or Games this is a dead cert for your secret geek of a girl….

Fashion Forward Chick: The other half of any one belonging to the fashion pack will already know that Illamasqua has opened at the Met Quarter. This fabulous store has an amazing amount of gifts to be had for the fashion forward person in your life. If you are struggling for ideas then the Midnight pout lip duo is the perfect place to start.

So hopefully I have helped you in some way, don’t worry about thanking me just read this and enjoy all your brownie points.! x

I have to put at least one thing about shoes in here or I wouldn’t be doing any of us girls justice. If in doubt then just close your eyes and think of the name ‘Louboutin’ - you may have never heard of this name but trust me your lady has. All you have to do is find out what shoe size she is and that’s it, you really can’t go wrong with this one boys.

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Gossip Goes Out!Be part of Gossip! - join our Gossip Magazine fan page on facebook

Tracey Bell Boys Night

Tracey Bell is well known for helping women bring out the best in themselves, so when the chance for a boy’s only night came about Gossip had to check it out. Greeted by a scantily clad Brazilian dancer, we were ushered downstairs to the treatment area. Whilst enjoying the free cocktail on arrival we were shown the several treatment rooms in action. Did we want to freeze our tummy fat and get a fantastic six pack? Did I want to smooth out the lines on my forehead? As tempt-ing as it was, at 24-years-old I decided against resorting to treatment just yet – the only shot I was getting was at the bar. The night itself was a huge success and who knows? Maybe after the Christmas hangover I might have to try and make myself beautiful and Tracey Bell will be the first place I start.

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Santa Dash

A sea of red and blue Santas filled the streets of Liver-pool for the annual Santa Dash which saw the real Father Christmas arrive by helicopter with two of his elves to of-ficially start the 5km fun run.A total of 7,411 people took part in the fun, beating last year’s figure of 7,312 runners.Organisers Run Liverpool hope to retain the world record which was set in Liverpool last year, but the official count for the Las Vegas Santa Dash won’t be known until later this week. Alan Rothwell race director at Run Liverpool said of the day, “It’s been a fantastic turn out and we are head to head with Las Vegas, we are counting final num-bers now it’s going to be a close competition indeed.”

Liverpool is full of glamorous people, so when we heard about a party with the most gorgeous peo-ple in the city, we had to make sure we were there. Become the Fase is a competition looking to find the new face of the North West. The winner gets a mod-eling contract and £10,000 in cash plus a bunch of other goodies. The launch night at palm sugar was a roaring success. Promoted by Desperate Scous-ewives star Amanda Harrington, we can’t wait to see who is crowned the winner in 2012.

Become The Fase launch at Palm Sugar

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COMING UP!“Liverpool’s top vintage shop Little Red Vin-tage is painting the town red in the countdown to Christmas with an exclusive late-night shop-ping party. The store on Bold Street is celebrating a successful year of supplying the city’s best dressed fashionistas with a private in-store Christmas party for regular customers and new with live music and special treats. Vintage shop owner Kate and her friendly staff will be on hand to help you discover some new treasures and enjoy a chat over some drinks and nibbles. Check out Little Red Vintage’s new stock and news of the event on their Facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/little-red-vintage

This event is limited to the first 50 people, so sign up in-store today or via email to shots@purplerevolver.com”

Radio City Live

Here at Gossip we love music. Ed Sheeran, The Wanted, JLS – we love them all! So imagine our excitement when we were invited to Radio City Live where all of the above where performing! Joined by the gorgeous Pixie Lott and N-Dubz star Dappy amongst others, it was another night to remember. Here’s to the next one!

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The Liverpool Empire is in for a White Christmas right through from 22 December until 7 January! This multi million pound festive show is the musical you’ve been dreaming of - White Christmas The Musical stars singer, actor, radio and TV pre-senter Aled Jones and international dance star of stage and screen Adam Cooper (Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Billy Elliott The Movie) . Based on the classic 1954 movie, White Christmas comes to the Liverpool Empire for just 20 performances after a smash hit run at the Sunderland Empire last year. With an ensemble of over thirty and a dynamic 17 piece orchestra, this dazzling musical is full of tap dancing,

laughter and some of the greatest songs ever written, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Musical promises to be a merry and bright theatrical experience for the whole family. In association with the Liverpool Empire, Gossip has a family ticket for this fantastic festive show to give away!

Christmas Competition

To be in with a chance of winning, send your answer to the question ‘Who wrote the song White Christmas?’ to: editor@gossip.uk.com

I’m always on a quest to look good and with my TV debut looming, I needed to look my absolute best. With this in mind, I decided to opt for freezing face Botox jabs around my eye area, to combat the early signs of crows feet. I was a little nervous at first but after I met Michelle from

‘Aesthetically You’ it was impossible not to get excited. Her enthusiasm and dedication to cosmetic medicine radiate from her as she settles you in to take a closer look at what she’s got to work with. She quickly assessed my face and decided that I would only need about half of a normal dose to prevent some of my fine lines from becoming full-blown creases in my eye area. I’ve always thought I’d be too young for Botox, I’m now 26, but Michelle explained that it’s not unreasonable for women to start using injectables as early as their twenties. My nerves soon went because, Michelle is truly an expert, instantly making me comfortable through out the 10 minute series of injections. She’s so quick and precise that she didn’t even need to numb my skin before she started. The injection sites were a little red and puffy at first, but went down after about an hour. And the results? Well, I’ve never been happier. After 10 days, I really started to notice the difference, all my lines and creases are gone without that stretched wind tunnel effect. Friends have told me I look well, but nobody could have guessed I’ve had Botox. Michelle explains that’s exactly the look you want to go for. She said: “Nobody wants to look like they’ve had specific work done, you just want to look the best you can be.” The treatment was fabulous and it definitely made me more confident about my appearance on screen... So in words of Norma Desmond “I’m ready for my close-up!”

For more details call, Aesthetically You. Telephone: 0151 427 0014

Mobile: 07749 118 000 | Email: info@aestheticallyyou.co.uk

Elissa Corrigan: Why botox was a must for my TV debut

Cast - Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz, Ben Kings-ley, Sacha Baron CohenScreenwriter - John LoganDirector – Martin ScorseseCertificate– URunning Time– 124 mins

From the man who told you to make up for your sins on the street, not in church. From the man who brought you an avenging angel protecting a child prostitute. From the man who brought you heads

in vices, the gutrenching masculinity of a raging bull and men who for as long as they can remember have always wanted to be a gangster. From Martin Scorsese, perhaps America’s greatest living filmmaker comes a film for all the family. With a U certificate. In 3D. Well you could never call him predictable. Scorsese may well have expressed his knowledge and passion of cinema with personal documentaries, but with Hugo, he has created a bonafide love letter to the medium he has dedicated his life to. And what a wonderful, beauti-ful letter it is. Set in post World War One Paris, predominantly in a large Parisian train station, orphan Hugo (Asa Butterfield) lives within the walls and clocks in the station, literally keeping the station tick-ing over. In the space he lays his head, he has a broken automaton left to him by his deceased father (played in flash-back by Jude Law). Determined to find the missing heart shaped key he hopes will fix it, he is befriended by Isabella (Chloe Moretz), and begins working for her Godfather, Papa George (Ben Kings-ley), after he catches Hugo stealing from his train station based shop. George is a quiet, sad old man, with a secret from his past he wishes to stay hidden. His secret however, is linked to the automaton, and even the birth of cinema itself. Hugo is set in beautiful snow-kissed Paris, the old town looking like an en-chanted fairy tale village. But it isn’t just the relocation from Scorsese’s New York that is noteworthy here; Hugo marks the first shoot in 3D for the Goodfellas director. And right from the wonderful opening shot, the camera flying through the train station, it is clear that he knows what he is doing with the third dimension. What is also a joy, are the showing of clips from some of the most famous examples of early cinema, played out in 3D; something that most people will have never thought possible. There are many other nods and winks that film history enthusiasts will enjoy. The famous tale of the Lum-iere Brothers’ film of a train arriving at a station, and the

crowd’s reaction to this, is recreated here. As are the mak-ing to some of George Méliès’ early examples of surrealist cinema. There is even a message about the importance of restoring old and lost examples of cinema, something Scorsese, and other filmmakers have been very vocal of. But you don’t need to be clued up on the history of pre-war cinema, and the works of the Lumiere Brothers and M é l i è s to enjoy Hugo. There are many aspects

of the picture that will delight. The two child performances, both key to the film, are excellent. Chloe Moretz continues her reputation as one of the best child actresses of her generation, her Isabella an adventure seeking sidekick to Hugo, and importantly their friendship comes across as believable and not forced. But it is Asa Butterfield who is at the heart of the film. Any orphan in cinema will almost always get some sympathy, but Hugo doesn’t wallow in his grief, he hasn’t got the time to. He has clocks to attend to, a train station inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen) to hide from, and a secret to unravel. And with it being a Scorsese film, there are some

pretty impressive technical flourishes. The opening scene has been touched on, but the standout scene is a homage to one the early films shown here, as Hugo accidently causes a train to come crashing through the station, destroying all in its path. It is as an exciting set piece as we have yet seen in 3D. There may not be enough talking animals or sing-alongs to keep the very young entertained, but this is first class family film, by a first class film director. A film that has love for cinema bursting through every frame. So, go and take your family to see the new Martin Scorsese picture this Christmas, it may be the last time in while that you’ll be able to.

GOSSIP films

GOSSIP FILMS BY JAMES THOMASReviews Hugo

Follow the Gossip Movies team on Twitter @gossipmovies

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5. Elf (2003): If Will Ferrell retired from acting tomorrow (we really hope he doesn’t!), there will be two parts he’ll always be remembered for. Ron Burgundy in the amazing Anchorman, and as Buddy the Elf, in one of the best loved Christmas films of recent years. It is the story of a human who thinks he’s an elf, and finds himself in New York (always a great location for a Christmas movie) trying to find his family and perhaps some romance with the lovely Zooey Deschanel. Genu-inely laugh at loud at times, and just try not to be at least humming along to Santa Claus is Coming To Town by the end. Elf is showing as part of FACT’s Christmas season on Thursday 22nd December at 8:45pm

4. The Nightmare before Christmas (1993): From the mind of gothic genius Tim Burton, this Christmas musical is a favourite for those who like their Xmas slightly darker! Jack Skel-lington is the king of Halloween Town, but he discovers the magical world of Christmas and wants to spread the festive message to his scary residents, but is kidnap-ping Santa the way to do it? Now let’s hear you sing “this is Halloween, this is Halloween…” The Nightmare Before Christmas is showing in 3D as part of FACT’s Christmas season from Saturday 17th December

3. Home Alone (1990): There is something oddly annoying yet adorable about Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone, and while the tale of a boy accidently left home alone by his often mean family, to fight off two idiotic burglars doesn’t automatically scream festive

favourite, everything about it works. Part of the joy comes the childhood fantasy of being to do whatever you want, with no grownups to tell you off. Mix that with some of the ingen-ious ways that Kevin fights off his two nemesis and you have a slapstick festive comedy that never fails to amuse. Home Alone is showing as part of FACT’s Christmas season on Sunday 18th December at 5:30pm

2. Die Hard (1988): Admittedly grubby vests and slick European suits aren’t the stuff of a traditional family Christmas (not in my house at least), but this 80’s classic, probably the greatest action film ever is a great yuletide mov-ie. Seriously. And why? Because when you break it down, it is about a man who will do anything to be able to spend Christmas with his family. Even if it means taking down an army of criminals. “Now I have a machine gun, ho ho ho”. Die Hard is showing as part of FACT’s Christmas season on Tuesday 20th December at 9pm

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946): Some films gain a reputation over time that isn’t quite deserved. It’s A Wonderful Life is a film that fully deserves its status, not just as the best Christmas film ever, but a genuine Hollywood classic. It has great pedigree in one of the best directors of Hollywood’s golden era in Frank Capra, and a true legend of the screen in James Stewart, who is the everyman on the verge of suicide on Christmas Eve, and needs the help of an angel to show him that he really has had a wonderful life. It’s a Wonderful Life is showing as part of FACT’s Christmas sea-son on Friday 23rd December at 8:45pm and on Christmas Eve at 3pm & 6pm

Top 5 Christmas FilmsOf all time

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GOSSIPbusiness

Big Business Interview

The

Interior designer, Elaine Cunningham celebrated the fifth birthday of her business recently, so we thought it was high time we caught up and dis-cussed soft furnishings, fabulous flooring, and find

out where she gets her inspiration. Meeting on a huge comfy sofa in the Chapel Street Elaine Cunningham Home Store, it is clear to see that Elaine is a woman who knows a thing or two about cre-ating the perfect home; you can’t help but relax in the store which has many room sets, demonstrating how you can make a space really feel like home. Elaine is drawing on 30 years in the business. Having started Classic Furnishings in Bold Street, bringing quality brands like Natuzzi to Liverpool in 1998. Long before the designer brands saw Liverpool a retail destination, in a time when Bold Street was mostly boarded up and closed for business “Launching Classic Furnishings was a huge chal-lenge, but I learned fast about what the homes of Liverpool wanted, I went on buying trips all over the world to find the products to match the market. Women in Liverpool are savvy shoppers, so it’s not all about designer ranges, it is about adding those little touches that can completely update a room with a splash of col-

our from wallpaper, cushions and candles or lighting to create a mood that can interchange with the bigger ticket items.” Elaine is modest about her achievements then and now, and only when I asked where did her customers come from, she lit up and proudly shared that her cus-tomers travel from all over the Northwest to see her, and one customer wrote in her visitors book “ this is the Harrods of the North” , you can really tell Elaine cares about her customers, “ We will spend hours with a customer helping them to find just the right wallpaper, or fabric, we have a massive library of sample books which are always being updated. I believe that interior designer makes a house a home. “ “I opened Elaine Cunningham Interiors in Aigburth five years ago, it was the next step in my ambition, and I had gone back to Hugh Bird College to study interior design. I wanted to offer a complete service, taking customers to the next level, offering a service which inspires people turn their house into a home. From creating mood boards with clients, designing a room to create a space to fit the needs of the family who will live in the space day to day, it’s a customer’s home, so it has to work for them.

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We wanted to get to know where Elaine gets her inspiration, “I am inspired by entrepreneurs like Richard Branson, Alan Sugar, my dad Hugh Doherty of course. I have been learning my trade for thirty years, travelled all over the world and I know everyone in this industry, so I am able to draw from such a wide range of inspira-tion when I am thinking about a room. I find Mary Portas inspiring but I challenge her to step outside the safety of House of Fraser and open a high street store, then she will understand how hard it can be for retailers.” Elaine recently marked the 5 years with a party at the Chapel Street store, The Big House provided the en-tertainment, with songbird Candy Payne supported by Paul Molloy (ex-Zutons), and I can observe that Elaine’s customers are so loyal to this passionate lady, who be-lieves in going the extra mile, you can tell that custom-ers come back time and time again because they trust Elaine’s no nonsense approach to home interiors. So what’s next for Elaine? “ We are currently devel-oping an online shop, the retail sector is changing so much and shoppers behaviour is changing, they take

the leg-work out of shop-ping by window shopping online and then deciding to buy, we are living busy lives, so anything we can do to reduce the need go from one retailer to anoth-er is a brilliant help. Our new neighbour in Chapel

Street, Hotel Indigo, is bringing lots of visitors from all over the UK, so we are being asked if we are part of a chain or can supply to the rest of the country and of course we can dispatch to anywhere, so the time feels right to make the investment to online.”

For more information go to www.elainecunning-haminteriors.com and register for updates when the new online store goes live or call 0845 500 5060 to book a consultation.

“We work with customers to plan a space in their home, from choosing the right wall paper, paint, window dress-ing, lighting, floor covering and furnishings that work with what you already have. I think your home reflects your personality, and getting to know a person in a con-sultation in their own home allows us to assess how a space needs to work for them. My team of designers and workmen are the best in the business, and we are able to completely project manage a job from planning through to the final dressing of a space with soft fur-nishings to give you the home of your dreams.” Five years on, Elaine has two stores; the Aigburth Road store has grown and The Elaine Cunningham Home Store, in Chapel Street in the City Centre. “The industry of interior design has undergone something of a make over, thankfully with TV programmes with the likes of Kelly Hoppen, people can see that to create a perfect living space for all of the family, takes a lit-tle planning and expert knowhow. Taking time to think about how you want to live in a space allows you to create the home that you want and more importantly that your family needs it to be.” “Because I am an interior designer, people expect my home to be ultra modern and minimal and people get quite a surprise when they visit me at home. I have created my home to be a busy family home which is welcoming and comfortable, I recently took part in an ITV show called May the Best House Win. I was delighted to win the show, because my house is very much my home and it is nice to be recognised by other people.”

Because I am an interior de-signer, people expect my home to be ultra modern and minimal and people get quite a surprise when they visit me at home

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JennieLewisWell, what a month it has been for Liverpool’s business community. With Christmas just around the

corner and the New Year in sight, businesses have been keen to see 2011 out with a bang, and indeed they have!

You may remember in my last column I talked about the launch of Liverpool Enterprise week? In a day long conference organised by Downtown in Busi-

ness, city leaders and esteemed members of the business community gathered at the Crowne Plaza for a day of posi-tive planning and reflection. Liverpool City Council leader, Joe Anderson maintained his promise to support local businesses, city Chief Exec Ged Fitzgerald implied there were measures being taken by the council to improve planning and Vision boss Max Steinberg depicted exciting plans for the city over the next ten years, suggesting a focus on north Liverpool. Commentator Toby Young stirred controversy by refut-ing Liverpool’s decision to withdraw from the Big Society, but Paul Levy, founder and chief executive of Philadelphia City Centre District reinstated optimism with a dynamic presentation on the growth they have experienced on the other side of the pond, drawing on the similarities between our two fair cities. Local entrepreneurs and business leaders shed light on their journeys in business and enterprise in a stream of insightful workshops throughout the afternoon. More information can be found on the conference in a detailed review in Downtown’s quarterly business magazine out in January. In other news, Over 400 leading businessmen and women attended the city’s ninth annual ‘Livercool’ awards, hosted by Downtown Liverpool in Business and sponsored by Horizon. Liverpool Crowne Plaza in the city centre played host and was transformed into a spectacular winter wonderland, courtesy of The Christmas Decorators. The evening was a dazzling success, and amongst the festivities, Natalie Haywood of Leaf scooped the coveted ‘Chairman’s Award’, Paul Bolton and Simon Matthews Wil-liams picked up the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ gong follow-ing the launch of Hotel Indigo, where the after party was held until the early hours; and Max Steinberg and his team at Liverpool Vision won the ‘Services to Liverpool’ award, and deservedly so. More recently, Tracey Bell Clinic on Hanover Street opened its doors to a somewhat different audience, unveil-ing a host of treatment demonstrations and products de-signed specifically for men. With cocktails from Bem Brasil, Moroccan canapé’s from Kasbah and the world’s smallest nightclub to boot, the evening was a triumph! Well done

to the team, and to Geniene Reese Business Development Consultancy who helped to deliver the event. At the start of this month, local businessman Kevin Mul-ligan launched a new discount membership initiative aimed specifically at Merseyside. The Deal Devil will offer its mem-bers high end products and experiences at a fraction of the regular retail price. With an exclusive launch at Signature Living on Bold Street, it’s expected we’ll see great things from The Deal Devil in the coming months; log onto www.thedealdevil.com Finally, Liverpool Commercial District invited members of the business community to a Christmas Reception at The Racquet Club. The evening was an opportunity for busi-nesses to hear about developments in the city’s commercial district since winning BID (Business Improvement District) status in May this year, and look ahead to plans for 2012. The update included a video depicting the exciting re-opening of Liverpool’s Castle Street earlier this year and looked ahead to ‘The Spirit of Christmas’ event later this month. St Paul’s square will come alive as choirs from around the world perform carols in front of the Christmas tree and areas around Castle Street will bustling with late night activity. Music, mulled wine and mince pies await on 15th December, it’s not to be missed! On that note, let me take this opportunity to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy and successful New Year!

GOSSIPbusiness

KEN FARRINGTON

LOUISE PLOWRIGHT

ALED JONES

ADAM COOPER

MICHAEL ROSE LTD, CHRIS MORENO & MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON PRESENT A THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH PRODUCTION

0844 871 3017*

atgtickets.com/Liverpool*

*24HRS, BOOKING FEES APPLY

22 DEC 2011 - 7 JAN 2012