Michelle Obama's $2,095 dress sold out

Jonathan Ernst | Reuters

First lady Michelle Obama waves as she stands between Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy (L) and Vice President Biden's wife Dr. Jill Biden (R) as they attend U.S. President Barack Obama's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in Washington, January 12, 2016.

Good luck getting your hands on Michelle Obama's State of the Union dress.

The Internet went into a flurry Tuesday night when the First Lady was spotted in a marigold Narciso Rodriguez dress, while President Barack Obama was delivering his (presumably) last address to Congress.

But frenzied shoppers were quickly disappointed, when they learned that the designer frock was sold out on Neimanmarcus.com.

The dress, which was originally priced at $2,095, was marked down to $628 on Black Friday. It was part of the designer's fall 2015 collection, which was shown on the New York runway in February

How to ask for flexible working

Tips for How to Find a Job

Tony Beshara has been recognized as the number-one placement and recruitment specialist in the U.S. by the Fordyce Letter. Tony is also the author of The Job Search Solution and has developed a system that has helped more than 100,000 people find jobs. He offers tips for how to find a job and highlights the biggest mistakes people make on their résumés:

Finding a Job

If someone started looking for a job today, there is no way of knowing how long it will take. You have to make looking for a job a job itself. It needs to be a 24-hours-a-day, seven-day-a-week, 365-days-a-year job. I've known people who have taken one year and nine months to find temporary work.

There are still jobs in healthcare, education and some in IT, but finding a job in this economy and in these fields may take some reeducation. You can't just get a teaching job if you don't have a degree. It takes a while to reinvent yourself.

There's always the opportunity of working in the temporary arena. People should be calling temporary employment firms to find light industrial jobs, or jobs that will make a minimum wage or maybe a little more. For example, if you've been an accountant your whole life, there are opportunities out there, and you might be able to find some temporary jobs.

Develop a system of looking for a job. This way, you focus on the process without having to worry about the results. Keep track of the calls you make and the interviews you get. That way you can follow up on the interviews.

Sell yourself very well in an interview. What is it that you can offer that others can't? You have to be able to sell yourself. Keep selling until you get a job offer.

You'd better have good features, advantages and benefits in your presentation on yourself. You need stories that show you're successful. It's a numbers game if you're in sales: What are you numbers? What are your results?

Most people get in cycles with going on a couple of interviews and then they stop. You can't stop. Until you have an offer, you have absolutely nothing.

People don't realize that there's no such thing as a hidden job market. You may not know about it, but it's not hidden. Finding a job is all about catching a potential employer at the right time when they need to hire someone with your skill set.

My experience in 35 years of doing this: It's not an issue of people not wanting to go to work; it's about people not knowing how to talk to people.

The most romantic beauty gifts for Valentine's Day

•  Sonia Haria,

Love is... opening a beauty treat on Valentine’s Day. There are plenty to make your other half aware of

Not that you ever need an excuse to buy products, but it is Valentine’s Day next week, so rather  than a box of chocs, how about suggesting a new beauty purchase?  There are some amazing new lipsticks out right now, and top of my list is Tom Ford’s Patent Finish Lip Color.

My favourite shade is No Vacancy, a glossy, high-voltage cherry red that stays put for hours. Bobbi Brown has also launched a red and pink collection of lipstick, gloss and nail varnish. The two Rich Color Lipsticks – popping cherry-toned Blazing Red, and a bright fuchsia, Ibiza Pink, are the perfect pairing. 

One of my favourite new fragrance collections is a collaboration between candle and perfume brand Diptyque and fashion designer Olympia Le-Tan. Named Rosaviola, the three-piece collection features a beautiful scented candle, solid perfume and scent oval. They’d all make excellent gifts.  

Also lovely is Dolce & Gabbana’s latest juice, Dolce Rosa Excelsa. The frosted flacon is topped with a red rose – romantic, huh? – and the scent is pretty, soft and wearable.

Yves Saint Laurent’s Black Opium Nuit Blanche perfume is a goodie, too. If you like the original Black Opium, you’ll love this, with top notes of white coffee and a base of white musk. Also just launched is the Gucci Bamboo Purse Spray, which is a lovely gift. The scent is classic and elegant. 

If treatments are more your thing, the luxurious Bamford Haybarn Spa in the Cotswolds is offering a Valentine’s package. This includes a Bamford Bespoke Facial and a Manicure Ritual, plus, for the boys, a Bamford Grooming Department Edition One signature treatment, combining traditional Japanese and Swedish massages, hot stone therapy, acupressure facial and reflexology. Bliss. It’s £185 for all three treatments and, as long as you book before 14 February, you can use the package at any time.  For these and more of my top picks for Valentine’s Day, read on. Mwah! 

Tom Ford Patent Finish Lip Color  in No Vacancy, £38 

This bright colour is timeless and  lasts all day.

Bobbi Brown Rich Color Lipstick in Ibiza Pink, £20 

One slick of this  is all you need  to brighten the complexion.

Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Rosa Excelsa, £54.99 for 50ml edp 

A feminine rose scent, this is fresh and appealing.

Yves Saint Laurent  Black Opium Nuit Blanche, £64 for 50ml edp 

A gorgeous  flacon with an addictive juice.

Gucci Bamboo Purse Spray, £29 

This gorgeous weighty silver casing houses  a classically beautiful scent.

Clinique From Daylight to Date Night Set, £20 

A great price for three of Clinique’s Chubby Stick lip- colour balms.

Diptyque Rosaviola Candle, £44  

A candle to savour, this smells delicious and fills any room.

Cowshed Horny Cow Seductive Bath & Body Oil, £20

A blend of rose absolute, patchouli and cinnamon.

5 of the best trainers to get you running

Reese Witherspoon out and about in Los Angeles, 19 January 2016 CREDIT: REX

•  Olivia Buxton Smith, fashion assistant 

1 FEBRUARY 2016 • 7:00AM

Agood pair of trainers are essential for running. Whilst the fashion world have embraced the concept of a trainer, if you’re actually going to exercise in them, you need to choose more wisely than just which colour will go with your new culottes. Personal trainer to Naomi Campbell and David Cameron Matt Roberts, explains that, “choosing the right shoe will help protect your body from the impact it receives when running, and limit your chances of picking up those annoying niggles and injuries. It’s important to consider what type of shoe it is that you require. Is it for road use or trail running? Do you know your biomechanics and whether you over-pronate, under-pronate or have a neutral foot contact with the ground?” Confused? Pronation is a technical term for ‘inward roll’ and will affect what type of trainer works for you. Consider whether you have flat feet, arched feet or normal: flat feel usually cause over-pronation and arched feet the reverse, so you’ll need to purchase trainers accordingly.

Other things to consider are your weight (the heavier the runner, the more support and cushioning is needed) and also fit. "Size matters. Your shoe should fit snugly around your heel, but have about a thumbs width between your big toe and the end of the shoe" says Roberts. If you’re a runner, it’s also worth analysing your technique before choosing the right trainers.  “It’s important to invest in a good pair of shoes that suits your running gait’ says Joslyn Thompson-Rule, Nike master trainer. The best way to do this is to go into a specialist store where the staff will be able to see your run and asses your gait.

The five best trainers for running  

For a good fit

Luke Copel, head physiologist and personal trainer at Speedflex , suggests New Balance. ‘Women’s feet are shaped differently to men’s as they have a narrower heel in relation to their forefoot. When wearing incorrect shoes, this can cause the heel to slip inside the shoe, leading to instability and chaffing. Choose a narrower heeled shoe, that’s wider around the forefoot to prevent the heel from slipping.’

Fresh Foam 1080, £115, New Balance

For over-pronation

Asics are a tried and tested favourite and this particular pair combine lightweight material with extra cushioning to provide extra support for all you over-pronators. Sweaty Betty have an online footprint test(which you can do from the safety of your bedroom), which is will help you identify your leg axis and the arch of your foot.

Asics Gel Nimbus 17, £140, Sweaty Betty

For stability

For stability and support Copel suggests Nike Flyknit Lunar 3. ‘Studies have shown that a woman’s foot architecture changes as their oestrogen levels fluctuate during the month. Oestrogen is a soft tissue relaxant and one that can affect a woman’s arch height. To offset this go for a shoe that has high stability with firm midsoles. Avoid too much cushioning and shoes that are highly curved.’

Flyknit Lunar 3, £140, Nike

For a barefoot feel

The new Nike RN Distance  provides runners with a barefoot feel, but is designed for long  distances. “You might want to consider a barefoot shoe to allow your foot to perform more naturally and get a greater feel for the ground” says Roberts. This particular shoe has soft, resilient foam core for cushioning, with large hexagonal flex grooves for a more natural motion, allowing your feet to move the way they were meant to.

Free RN Distance, £105, Nike

For a sleek silhouette

Adidas’s new PureBOOST X is designed with the female athlete in mind. This particular running shoe has a sleeker silhouette than some, and is a slightly more subtle option. With a bed of thousands of energy infused foam capsules, these shoes ensure the midsole (the bit between the ball of your foot and the heel) is well supported. They’re also incredibly bouncy.

PureBOOSTX  shoes, £90, Adidas

Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia Gerber lands first campaign

It seems like every day there is news of a celebrity son or daughter landing a major fashion gig. In the week that Cindy Crawford announced (and then denied) her retirement from modelling, her 14-year-old daughter Kaia Gerber has landed her first major ad campaign.

Kaia is fronting LA-based Chrome Heart's SS16 campaign and looks just like a mini Cindy. The campaign was shot in New York and sees Kaia posing with a hose pipe in a trench coat. Judging by all those curls, we imagine a hair campaign will be next.

Chrome Hearts' owner Laurie Lynn Stark, who photographed the campaign, said to CR Fashion Book: "What a privilege it has been to watch Kaia blossom into her own. Our families have been dear friends for so long so this was emotional for me—Kaia is an incredible talent, truly finding her own style as a model!”

Kaia seems serious about modelling: she's signed to IMG Models and has been shot for Vogue Italia, CR Fashion Book and Teen Vogue and starred in a Young Versace campaign when she was 10. 

So how does Cindy feel about the teen following in her footsteps? The original supermodel said to the Evening Standard about her daughter's modelling career: "When people ask me about my daughter, I feel like I could guide her in the right direction because I was able to navigate it. You can, it is doable." She added: "These girls, even as they're just beginning, they're not as pigeonholed by how other people see them. Someone like Cara [Delevingne], the reason she is so cool is she gets to be who she is on social media and have that direct relationship with fans."

Cindy Crawford and Kaia Gerber CREDIT: REX

Kaia's brother Presley also appears to be pursuing a modelling career; this month he landed a shoot in Carine Roitfeld's CR Fashion Book, where he looks like a (clean-cut) Justin Bieber look-a-like in a sharp tuxedo.

Selma Blair's transformation for 'CR Fashion Book' has reminded us of her fashion excellence

Selma Blair in CR Fashion Book 

She’s famous for playing preppy school girls in 1991 rom comCruel Intentions and 2001’s Legally Blonde, but the age-defying Selma Blair looks anything but square in the photographs captured of her shoot for CR Fashion Book.

With punk pin-up Joan Jett as the muse, magazine editor Carine Roitfeld reimagined Blair, 43, into a kohl-eyed rock chic on-the-run from lurking paparazzi. Outfits include a sheer black bodysuit, fishnet tights and an electric blue leather jacket, and a gold lamé piece concealed by the tablecloth of a restaurant.

Joan Jett in the 1970s CREDIT: REX

Vivian Kensington, her bookish foil to Reese Witherspoon’s Legally Blonde sorority queen, would shriek at the sight of them.

The magazine interview focusses on Blair’s role as Kris Jenner inAmerican Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson,  which airs on February 9. Of meeting the Kardashian matriarch, Blair notes, “I instantly really liked her. We do text and I’d like to see her more... I think she’s someone who will actually be in my life.”

Hectic schedules aside, spending time together will be tricky for the twosome as Blair confesses, “'I can’t be next to her. I look like I’m playing her mother.” Her “takeaway” from morphing into the momager is that “she is garage-kept. I am not… Kris Jenner looks so much better than me.”

Selma Blair and Kris Jenner CREDIT: REX

Recent promo stints surrounding the television series would beg to differ. The LA premiere of  American Crime Story saw her tap into the current slip dress trend with a custom-made luminous Derek Lam gown. 

Selma Blair at the American Horror Story LA premiere CREDIT: GETTY

We were sad to see the back of that Joan Jett mullet though... 

Gigi Hadid's learning to deal with the trolling that comes from dating Zayn Malik

 

Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik. CREDIT: INSTAGRAM

•  Emma Spedding 

3 FEBRUARY 2016 • 3:30PM

Gigi Hadid’s rise to fame has been the definition of meteoric; she walked in her first runway show less than two years ago and is now arguably the most sought after face in fashion. Having 12.6 million followers on Instagram has one down side: the constant trolls. 

She has opened up to Love Magazine about how her friends help her deal with her new fame: "We cope with the trolls by having each other. It’s the same thing as dating someone within the industry rather than out of the industry.  You only understand it when you’re literally experiencing it.” After leaving One Direction, Zayn Malik is quite possibly one of the most trolled people on the planet. 

Gigi Hadid backstage at fashion week with Kendall Jenner.  CREDIT:REX

Gigi continues: “When people are really harsh?  I live with my best friend from high school, but usually I’m going to call Kendall because Kendall’s the one who will always be like, 'You don’t need that, just let it go.’  And I know that if that’s working for her then it can work for me."

Gigi Hadid in 'Love Magazine.' CREDIT: PHOTOGRAPHER: CARIN BACKOFF

Gigi preaches Taylor Swift's message of 'squad comes first', explaining that she always prioritises her friends. "I think that that’s the big one.  It’s not just us, it’s a lot of women in the entertainment industry that are really supporting each other and showing that it’s less cool to be mean than it is to be nice.  I think that that’s a very unique thing to our generation.”

Kendall Jenner in 'Love Magazine' CREDIT: PHOTOGRAPHER: CARIN BACKOFF

As for her role on the catwalk, Gigi credits supermodel Naomi Campbell for helping her find her stride. "I go to her hotel and we end up practising walking in the hallway of the hotel. Italian families are coming out to watch and she’s like, "Don’t look at them, keep walking, they’re your audience." She said, "Don’t apologise, don’t do it. You are perfect the way you are. Everyone said my walk was weird too."'

In her shoot in Love Magazine Gigi wears a crop top (obviously), which is paired with an Alexander Wang denim shirt and electric blue eyeshadow. Kendall Jenner is also featured in the issue, photographed lying in bed in a bright pink wig and pink sandals by Camper.