Helen Grant - Ghostwriter

I have a habit of celebrating new chapters with a new perfume. I was given my first fragrance for my 16th birthday, a bottle of Anais Anais (a gorgeous floral by Cacherel). It made me feel fabulously grown up. When I was 16, womanhood to me was about designer perfume, grown up dresses and high heels.

Later, I wore Lou Lou (again by Cacherel). Both perfumes represented my freedom years, before the responsibilities of children. When I split from Louise’s dad, I craved a new scent to draw a line under the past. After much trial and error, I opted for Beautiful by Estee Lauder. I love the smell of fresh flowers and Beautiful is a bouquet of blooms in a  bottle. I still love it.

When Callum and Abigail were born, and I decided to focus full-time on writing, my lifestyle changed again. I was on a train from Scotland to London when I smelt the most intriguing perfume. Determined to find out what it was, I sniffed every perfume in Boots until I found it. Marilyn Monroe’s signature scent, Chanel No 5 is sophisticated, sexy and addictive.

Nowadays, I alternate between Chanel and Beautiful. I can’t imagine wanting another. Over the years, I’ve kept all the bottles of scents I wore, even the empties, so if I want to conjure up old memories all I have to do is open a drawer and nostalgia comes tumbling out.

Woo hoo, I’m loving Beyonce’s new look. I’m a big fan of curls, the bouncier the better, and Beyonce’s feisty red bouncies are hot, hot, hot. Shirley Temple eat your heart out.

If you fancy some bouncies yourself, here’s a step-by-step guide from ELLEgirl magazine to achieving big, glamorous, bouncy curls.

Hard, edgy and cool, if I buy one thing this month it will be these uber-amazing 5 inch heels. Guaranteed to overshadow any dress, these shoes have serious personality. Bring it on.

Talking of foxy, here’s a fun dressing up game to pass a few minutes. Drag and drop (some oh so last decade) fashion garments, lingerie, shoes and accessories on to the model to calculate your foxitude!

Kindness. Love. Forgiveness. When a person is genuinely caring, kind and loves with all her heart, her beauty will radiate from her eyes. Her skin will glow. Her hair will shine. She will lead from the heart. There is no truer statement than beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So many people (and scarily, so many teenagers) think the secret to beauty is working from the outside in. Here’s an example.

Breast enlargements, liposuction, teeth bleaching, face jobs and so on are okay in rare circumstances; when a person has so little confidence that her mental wellbeing would be at risk without surgery. But there’s nothing sexy about having surgery for the sole purpose of attracting attention, being the fittest girl in the room, averting attention from other women, etc.

There are plenty of ways to look and feel good without resorting to surgery. Decent skin and hair products, nice clothes and pretty lingerie, good hygeine, a healthy diet and a decent hair cut are essential, but the ultimate beauty secret is within. It’s free and everyone has access to it. Look into a person’s eyes and you’ll know instantly what type of person they are and whether they have mastered the secret. The eyes really are the windows to the soul.

I don’t know where you live, UK, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong or some remote town on a remote island, but I do know that whatever your age, size or lifestyle, you can stand out from the crowd, turn heads and win admirers. Anyone can do it, regardless of where they’re from and where they’re heading.

I’m not talking clothes, make-up and hairstyles - okay, maybe to a certain extent. What I’m really referring to is you as a person, your mannerisms, lifestyle choices and character.

Regarding appearance, if you want to be different, check out vintage, thrift and charity stores. They usually have one-off pieces that are not too way out, but will make you stand out. Choose unusual accessories. Shop in random stores and boutiques that few people have heard of. You may need to shop online if there aren’t any where you live.

Remember - no one thinks completely alike so there will be aspects of your personality that are unique without you even trying. No two people look the same either - even identical twins are not completely identical. So your genetic make-up will always be unique.

When it comes to getting to know someone, simple but unusual questions are best. What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done? If money and circumstances were no object, where in the world would you live? What was the first record you bought? How old were you when … you get the picture.

Big companies, in the name of branding, spend millions on market research to stand out from the crowd. You need to do the same but on a much smaller scale, and you don’t need to spend a fortune. Mimic the traits of successful companies. Dare to be different. Take risks. Practice your ‘customer service skills’ i.e. people skills. Be kind, courteous, helpful, reliable, professional and polite. Everything you do has an influence on someone, somewhere. Build trust. Be loyal.

Finally, make unique lifestyle choices. Organise a one-of-a-kind stag or bithday party. Re-train in a field where there’s a shortage i.e. priest, UFO specialist, nuclear medicine, ultrasonographer, belly dancer. Become a professional weight lifter. Drive an unusual car. Breed blue tits. Become known for a signature piece, such as hats, red lipstick or bow ties. The possibilities are endless.

One of a kind knickers made from rare material sourced from craft fairs worldwide.  100% silk with side bows, candy stripe, cotton floral, 1950’s style. The possibilities are endless. 

Or be a proper princess with a swarovsky crystal encrusted pair. All knickers come in an eco friendly box with tissue and bow. Take pride in the knowledge that your undies are unique.

A sugar baby has poise and grace. Turning heads, she is the infallible centre of attention. She has impeccable taste and stands out from the crowd. If this sounds like you, keep your eyes peeled for www.sugarbabyluxuries.com. Coming soon.