Ruby Room

With the party season almost upon us, it's time to snap up a show-stopping dress. From chic Chanel-inspired LBDs to sassy sequin shifts, get set to dazzle with our rundown of the 20 best party dresses.

When your 42 year-old husband ups and leaves you for a 21 year-old law student, it's big news in a tiny upper class Devonshire village.

A reputation in tatters and a ruined woman financially, I had to find a way of earning money to keep my house, car and possessions. The debtors were on my doorstep and bailiffs were threatening to take everything I owned, it was time to pick myself up off the floor and get pro-active.

However, ever since I'd met my husband 20 years ago, I'd never had a job outside of the home. All I knew was how to starch a shirt, peel potatoes and polish silver - skills unlikely to pay my bills.

Then one night a middle aged bachelor from the village came over to console me and after one two many glasses of wine, he made his move.

I was taken aback and anger that he'd taken advantage of my vulnerable state combined with Dutch courage brought me to slap him hard across the face. But strangely, he seemed to like it.

He told me to do it again. So without thinking, I did. He laughed and flipped over onto his knees and told me to strike him across the bottom and call him a naughty boy. Which again, I did...but this time I was the one enjoying it.

Getting into the swing of it I went to the kitchen, found a spatula and ran upstairs to slip into some stilettos. Now I could really act the minx.

The next day I was devastatingly embarrassed and hungover. However, he turned up later in the evening, completely unfazed, flashed £100 in crisp notes in my face and said "I want you to do exactly what you did last night, but harder. Oh, and by the way, so does Joss at number 47."

Although I had my reservations, I surprised myself by being liberal and looking at it simply as a business proposition. When I made it clear that no actual intercourse would take place, he looked as though I'd suggested something completely bizarre, which given the circumstances I thought quite amusing.

"I don't want to have sex with you," he said "I just want you to thwack me and tell me off for being a bad boy. That's what dominatrix do."

When I heard that word I felt powerful and sexy. To hell with my reputation, I'd keep the wolf from the door by beating the beast into submission!

I now deal with around 40 clients, mostly from the village, all who've been enlisted through word of mouth. I cater for everyone from nappy and bonnet wearing policemen to the stiletto sucking bin man who likes to be told he is a dirty dog.

I just wonder if my ex husband is having as much fun with his little strumpet. Something tells me he's not...

We don't need to be told that a couple of glasses of Pinot and a good old gossip can help to ease the stresses of modern life.

But thanks to a number of new studies, science has confirmed that good friends are officially good for your health.

Most of you will probably associate black with that chic little cocktail dress or a day in the office.

But if you're soon to be wed, you might want to forget your ivory meringue as more and more brides are opting to a black wedding.

We may all be aware of pollutants in the air these days. But while we're busy choking on the car fumes and second-hand cigarette smoke, we're also ladling on the make-up, deodorant and moisturiser.

And a new study has revealed that the average woman is "host" to a whopping 515 chemicals every day.

Aside from being Blighty's most prolific celebrity blogger and a superstar songstress to boot, Lily Allen has also been busy developing more than one trademark look during her meteoric rise to fame. Check out her style evolution...

Looking for that perfect accessory to polish off your festive party look? From statement necklaces to eye-catching cocktail rings, here are the 20 best.

The angels have descended in New York City. Victoria's Secret Angels, of course!

Supermodels Alessandra Ambrosio, Miranda Kerr, Selita Ebanks, Marisa Miller and a bevy of other beauties are back for "the sexiest show on earth."

Click below to see them strut their stuff...



Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas took to the stage to perform, looking pretty angelic herself.

Wearing a daring green satin corset in keeping with the lingerie theme of the occasion, she upstaged most of the models on the runway.

Those gym workouts have certainly been paying off, judging by her super long toned legs!

Heidi Klum also made her first catwalk appearance since giving birth to a baby girl in early October.

Ruby Room's sister site StyleList got a sneak peek as the long-legged ladies glammed up backstage.

Here are the details

MAKEUP: Tom Pecheux
HAIR: Laurent Philippon
BEAUTY SNAPSHOT: Romantic Voyage

THE SCOOP: Victoria's Secret embodies sexy and there is nothing sexier than a confident woman wearing lingerie. So, for the fashion show's return to The Big Apple, the beauty professionals created looks that were sensual, yet natural.

Makeup artist Tom Pecheux was inspired by the models. "With a lot of new girls on the runway this season, I wanted to make it fresh," he said. "Nothing dramatic...extremely sexy and beautiful. When a lot of the body is showing, you don't want the face to appear made up."

Pecheux applied pink shimmer all over the face and added individual lashes to accentuate the smoky eye.

Hairstylist Laurent Philippon perfected loose waves for a style "that you would want to touch." Armed with hairspray, a curling iron and hair extensions, he added a touch of reality to this VS fantasy.

GET THE LOOK - MAKEUP: All makeup and hair by Victoria's Secret. Start with a clear and smooth face. Generously dust shimmer on eyelids, temples, cheeks and lips. Apply false eyelashes and layer on mascara. Smooth on gray eyeshadow along the eyebrow. Finish the look by coloring in pout with a peachy Lip Lacquer and pink Perfect Lipstick.

GET THE LOOK - HAIR: To recreate loose, sexy waves, add extensions for length and apply So Sexy Volumizing Mousse and Supersmooth Straightening Balm. Curl hair in alternate directions and softly comb through using a 1 inch comb. Finish with Natural Hold Hairspray.