If You Only Buy One Thing This Week… Reiss’ floral print silk blouse.
24 Tuesday Apr 2012
24 Tuesday Apr 2012
07 Saturday Apr 2012
Make it something for the home.
Fashion is of course my first and foremost love, however interior design is a very close second. I reckon if I hadn’t been whipped up in the world of fashion (said with a mild tinge of sarcasm) I’d be working in the interiors field… or I’d be an archeologist, but that’s a whole other story. You don’t have to think about if something fits, does it make your cankles look huge, is it something you can realistically pull off at your age? It’s all inclusive. A beautiful throw is a beautiful, no matter how sizeable your calves are. In fact it’s even a great tool to hide your cankles whilst still maintaining a seductive allure.
Toast makes my heart go all a-flutter, it really does. I want to live inside the Toast catalogue – if you don’t already receive them make sure you sign up to do so on the site. (That’s not a request.) These beautiful Mimosa print bed sheets are the perfect shade of blue. Try them mixed with plain white sheets, or a shot of the mustardy yellow tone – unexpected, but great.
Good old M&S, you can’t go wrong. Their homewares department has been particularly great of late, and with the addition of the Conran range it’s gained some serious design credentials. This Conran armchair may be pricey (Yes, even with 20% off all homewares this weekend it’s still £600) but it’s a true statement. Outdoors, indoors, conservatory, corner of a bedroom… who cares, it’s pretty spectacular.
Zara Home is to interiors what Zara itself is to fashion. A great, relatively inexpensive way of making things look rather luxe. The quality’s on the money and so is the styling. Their site – www.zarahome.com – is a great place to look for inspiration, but be warned, having beds that look as luxurious as they do on the site is going to dent your bank balance. This vivid blue and white picture frame looks like it’s been created using the washed up pieces of someone’s beloved boat, and I’m a little bit in love with that.
RE is a fantastic homewares store located in the North Eastern village of Corbridge, and if you ever get the opportunity to go, do so. It’s a treasure trove of amazing wares. Thankfully for those not quite so Northernly located there’s a newly opened concession in Liberty, as well as a fully stocked online store – www.re-foundobjects.com/store – so there’s plenty opportunity for a good old browse. This giant white wooden star has little use, but what a piece it is. Imagine it on a mantle piece propped up to one side… Ah. If only I had a) a fireplace to prop it on, and b) the £75 to make said purchase.
21 Wednesday Mar 2012
These wooden wedges from Zara should be it.
Spring is officially here. By here I mean London. It might not have actually arrived where you are just yet, but we all know it’s long off. This of course means it’s time to really ditch the winter clothing you’ve been holding onto. It’s also time to spend a little bit of time making your feet, and indeed your pins, acceptable for the world to view once again.
Let’s take it in baby steps though yeah? These Zara wooden wedges require a well kept heel and a bright nail polish. The perfect way to dip your toe into spring this week.
06 Monday Feb 2012
It’s a summer of weddings. I can feel it. There’ll be plenty. And so you’re going to need a perfect dress to see you through. I know this also.
Acne‘s beautifully draped Mallory dress at Matches is that dress. Wear it for wedding number one with nothing more than a clutch and killer heels. For wedding number two try it with a large statement necklace (think Lanvin). And for wedding number three give it a sharply tailored blazer and something a little tougher on your feet.
Seriously, one dress. Three weddings. Just like…make sure the guests aren’t the same at all three. You don’t want to be ‘that’ girl.
09 Monday Jan 2012
Zara‘s Navajo print trousers should be it.
It takes a brave girl to don such a printed pant I know, and they’re not for everyone it’s true. When done well a printed trouser can look amazing, and when done wrong the results can be pretty darn cataclysmic. Try not to over do them – clashing prints is all good and well in the pages of a glossy but it rarely works in real life. Unless you’re Susie Bubble. Then it tends to work out pretty darn well.
29 Thursday Dec 2011
Tags
Gucci, If You Only Buy One Thing This Week..., Karen Millen, Marc Jacobs, Net-A-Poter, Reiss, Zara
This could be the year where it all goes right. This could be the start of it ALL. Then again it might not be, and it might end up being another really rather dull year… but let’s not take that risk.
Wear something amazing this New Year just incase the photos are something you’re going to want to proudly display. You’re no help to anyone let alone yourself in that dull little black dress you bought from Oasis four years ago. And yes, people will notice it’s coming away under your arm. Buy something amazing.
Anyone who’s anyone knows that next season is going to be chocca-block with twenties inspired pieces, and this Marc Jacobs number will see you through Spring/Summer 12 and New Year’s eve too. Don’t gild the lily though ey? Keep the jewels at a minimum and it really is best to not get too literal with your hair. Let’s leave the flapper girl costumes at home girls.
Take the little black dress up a notch with this fantastically Stella McCartney-esque Zara dress. The asymmetrical hemline needs nothing more than a simple black strappy shoe. Give it a long gold necklace or an oversized gold cuff. Picture perfect.
This little copper Karen Millen number has just the right amount of cute about it to make it perfect for the year’s biggest party. It has pockets too. I always find pockets in a cocktail dress a welcome addition. I’m not overly sure why however, but let’s go with it.
Try these sequined Reiss trousers with a killer high heel and a simple vest style top. You’ll spend the night bedecked in sequins, but still feel comfortably cool. Not a look you’ll see pictures of and regret. Promise. Or your money back. (That’s a lie. I’ll give you nothing.)
If New Year’s isn’t a reason for lamé then I don’t quite know what is quite frankly. This little Gucci top would even fit in nicely with the sequinned Reiss trousers (Oh yes. Lamé and sequins. Good times.)
And do try your very best to avoid being ‘that girl’. That would be the girl sobbing into sequins in the corner with WKD dribbling down her chin and spring rolls in her clutch. Not a good start to the year.
04 Sunday Dec 2011
Tags
Aubin & Wills, Byredo, Christmas Gift Guide, If You Only Buy One Thing This Week..., Jo Malone, Lanvin, Liberty, Marc Jacobs, Net-a-Porter, Toast
Christmas shouldn’t be a time for things you need. Well, it shouldn’t be in my eyes anyway. It should be about getting life’s little pleasures, things you might not buy yourself considering them a little too much of a luxury perhaps. So with that in mind here’s a selection of life’s best little luxuries, and if you can’t find someone delightful to give them then feel free to gift them my way.
Alber Elbaz has always had a knack of creating desirable nick-knacks, his range of Lanvin figurines selling out for the past few season’s now. This festive season Alber’s decided to give us a whole range of new collectables. My personal favourite’s the fantastically illustrated playing cards, and at £55 from Net-A-Porter they’re only just pushing into the luxury department. (That’s what I’m going to tell myself anyway, and suggest you do also.)
There are few stores that make me feel all warm and happy inside the minute I walk through the doors, and one of those is Jo Malone. Maybe it’s the luxury packaging or the beautifully simple bottles, either way it fills me glee. I’m a Lime Basil & Mandarin kind of boy myself, but the Wild Bluebell and Pomegranate Noir fragrance collections make perfect Christmas gifts. Who couldn’t want to find a Jo Malone package under their tree? Tim Walker’s beautiful photography for their Christmas campaign just makes me long to find a stack of those beautiful boxes come the 25th. Sigh.
One rule I like to live my life by is that you can actually never have enough pyjamas. Okay so it’s not exactly a rule that’s going to change your life, but it’s going to make those Saturday nights in seem much less tragic for sure. Toast’s cosy selection of pyjamas and nightwear are pretty much made for gifting. Whether they’re male or female who exactly can object to something quite so cosy? Answer me that my friend.
Absolutely anything from COS. Gift Vouchers or otherwise. Because it’s all amazing.
I never used to be a candle person at all but lately I seem to have developed a sort of obsession. Byredo’s selection are pretty fantastic, with my personal favourite being Bohemia, although Bakers’ Guild is worth a sniff too; it smells just like Grandma’s house, sweetly perfumed like teacakes being baked in a hot Aga. Amazing.
Men can be tricky to buy for and so most people resort to asking straight out what they would like, in the hope of being sent an e-mail with direct links to useless pieces of cars or bad clothing from Superdry. I’m against this tradition whole heartedly. Don’t ask what they want, instead be a bit more thoughtful and buy them something cool yet inoffensive. Like this Aubin & Wills hat. Quirky yet simple, and if he doesn’t like it then you need to have a serious word with him or find someone else to buy for.
If it’s stocking fillers you’re looking for then Net-A-Porter have really come up trumps this year. These oh-so-cute Marc Jacobs ear phones and Diane von Furstenberg iPhone 4 case wont break the bank will make it look like you actually know what you’re doing when it comes to artful present buying.
And if you’re wanting to splash on something a little more fancy for that special someone then why not look to Anya Hindmarch‘s amazing Bespoke service? There’s a huge range of products from diaries to bags but I’m opting for the black leather pouch which can be customised with any text you wish, so be inventive.
15 Tuesday Nov 2011
13 Thursday Oct 2011
06 Thursday Oct 2011
This black lace top by Sister Jane at Topshop should be it.
Perfect for buying into this season’s Louis Vuitton kinky sex inspired trend. It’s tight, sexy and finished off perfectly with a prim and proper white collar. Try it out with a tight black pencil skirt and scarily viscous shoes to get the whole trend in, otherwise just wear it with neat cropped trousers.