Life's a Wardrobe

Ooops ...

2008-09-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry guys for the lack of posting! I've been so busy recently and look likely to be for a while, although I will try to post whenever I get the chance. Whilst I have thoroughly enjoyed blogging I have found that it does tend to take up a fair bit of time! I will be back as soon as I can.

Thanks for everyones continued support!

Pretty!

2008-09-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

Since Summer is coming to an end I thought I'd post an outfit I would like to wear whilst we still maybe can!

Light pink lace trim T shirt £9.80, Debenhams / White Linen Knee Short £22, Miss Selfridge / Purple Haddy wedge sandals £30, Faith

Look of the week #7

2008-08-31T02:58:00.000-07:00

Mary-Kate Olsen was out and about this week looking lovely in her checked shirt and shades. Shirts like these are very fashionable at the moment and so easy to wear! I got a blue one yesterday from Dorothy Perkins in the sale and can't wait to wear it. Mary-Kate, and her sister, always manage to look so effortlessly good!

Checked Shirt, New Look £14

Seeing teal

2008-08-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

I've been signed up to the Warehouse newsletter for a long time now and always look forward to seeing their new pieces when I see the email in my inbox. I received the latest newsletter yesterday and was immediately drawn to their teal coloured items - a perfect colour for any skin tone or hair colour. Plus, the colour looks great with black so in winter you can wear it with tights!

Suede Bow Bag £60 / Prom Dress £70 / Backless Dress £65

Playful tops

2008-08-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

These vest tops from Topshop are so cool - they'd be perfect for a party paired with black skinny jeans and a pair of pretty pumps.

Bow Vest £22 / Bow Tie Vest £18 /Waistcoat Vest £22 / Dominoes Vest £12

Dresses

2008-08-27T01:13:00.000-07:00

Debenhams has a huge sale on right now with up to 70% off on selected items! You can always be sure to find something in Debenham's sales and I really like these dresses! I especially want the first one as I've been looking for a shirt dress to wear with skinny jeans for a long time now and the blue colour will go perfectly with some of the accessories I have such as some blue pumps I got a while ago. The detail on the last dress is great - I love the shiny red belt!

Shirt Dress £21 from £30 / Floral Print Dress £56 from £80 / Black and Ivory Dress £63 from £90

Look of the week #6

2008-08-26T03:37:00.001-07:00

Although a bit late (due to the bank holiday weekend) the look of the week goes to Chelsy Davy whilst out shopping on Friday. I really want her Ra Ra skirt! Plus, I'm always a fan of black and outfits which you can rely on to go together nicely.

Yay!

2008-08-23T01:56:00.000-07:00

I'd like to say thank you to everyone that has visited and commented! The 10,000th person to visit the site was from Singapore in Asia who quite hilariously reached my blog through Google after typing 'liposuction on shoulders to get kate moss look' (see here for my post on this).

Why I ♥ The Body Shop

2008-08-22T10:31:00.000-07:00

I've always enjoyed visiting The Body Shop. As soon as you walk inside you are instantly greeted by a lovely smell and the staff are always very friendly and helpful. The last time I went with my friends and we were all offered a free makeover! The woman that did mine advised me on which products to use and for my blue eyes said she was going to try purple eyeshadow which she was going to mix with silver. I was very apprehensive about this as I usually wear neutral eyeshadows such as browns and imagined myself looking like a clown, but when I saw the end result I was very impressed! She also used an eyebrow pencil which I don't normally use but gave my eyebrows more definition and my face felt very refreshed after the Seaweed toner and moisturiser she applied.

5 reasons to shop at The Body Shop:

On their UK website they are currently offering free delivery on all orders. This is rare as normally offers like this are only applicable on orders above a certain amount. Free delivery is often useful as it can cost a lot! Also on offer on the website is a free hand and nail treatment when you spend £25 online and there are 2 for £10 offers on a range of products

In store or on the website you can complete a questionnaire and it will tell you which skin type you have and therefore which skin range is applicable to you
Their products are ecologically and animal friendly and regularly support good causes. At the moment every purchase of a lip care product has part of the proceeds going towards Women's Aid, a project that helps women and children affected by domestic violence
This body butter is amazing! Many of their body butters have won awards, such as the Cherry Blossom one which has been recommended by Vogue, and the strawberry one which is the winner of the Sunday Times Style Best Moisturiser award. The smell is heavenly and words cannot really do it justice. The cream is so soft! You can buy it in different sizes ranging from £5 to £12.

Like with the body butter the eyeshadows are also great. The ones that I would recommend are those in the cubes (see below) as the quality is superb and you do get a lot of eyeshadow for your money! The shimmer really does help enhance your eyes. These cost £16.

Strange shoes

2008-08-21T08:58:00.001-07:00

I think these pictures speak for themselves! The first picture is of Christina deRosa at the ALMA awards and the second is of Helena Bonham Carter. Maybe space age is in?

Smart wear

2008-08-19T05:02:00.000-07:00

How nice is this dress? Lalaliuliu a.k.a. Art Geek and Fashion Freak is selling this and various other gorgeous pieces on eBay. I'm also lusting after this pussy bow blouse from Miss Selfridge for £30:

Look of the week #5

2008-08-17T09:46:00.001-07:00

Another week, another look. This look of the week goes to Keira Knightley for one of the photos from her feature in Vogue. I wasn't so keen on the cover shot but I love this one! I like how her hair looks and really want the long gloves. It would be interesting to see what the picture looked like in colour as I think a lot of it's appeal comes from the fact that it's black and white and therefore more 'vintage' looking.

Shoe love

2008-08-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

If I had these shoes I think I'd be pretty much sorted for life. Why would you need any other shoes if you had these ones? I'd wear the Satrinxia platforms for everday wear (shopping e.t.c.) and the Cavalli's for evening wear such as meals out or going to parties. I would totally colour coordinate. I wouldn't care if I couldn't walk in them because of the enormous heel and if I hobbled embarrassingly around because they would be mine and everyone would have huge shoe envy. I wouldn't even mind if my feet suffered and I was in pain; I'd just have to look down and I would be reminded that the pain was worth it. I think I'd even maybe go without food to pay the £775 price tag for them both (although, I don't think I could ever forgo Mini Chedders or Ben and Jerry's) ...

... I'm just about to go bowling ... without the Satrinxia platforms or the Cavalli's. I'll soon be wearing bowling shoes a.k.a. clown shoes.

P.S. In response to Ida's comment (from Rogue Marie) on my previous post about her apprehensiveness of black lacy tops and what to wear with them, here is my suggestion:

2008-08-14T04:07:00.000-07:00

Since it seems to be constantly raining here in the U.K., I couldn't help looking ahead to winter wear. Black is back, with lots of lace. I really want to get some lacy tights to go with my black patent shoes too. Here's some of the items I've got my eye on for this winter:

Mesh Spot Top £30, Warehouse / Sequin Batwing Dress £120, Warehouse / Black Lace Top £25, Miss Selfridge / Elle Anastasia Woollen Lacy Tights, £15.97 Sockshop.co.uk / Black Lace Clutch, £18 Dorothy Perkins

Award time

2008-08-13T05:26:00.000-07:00

I received an award! Yay! From the lovely fashionable Claudia over at Flowerprinted Mind - thank you! The rules are as follows:

1. When you received a diamond, make a post about it on your blog
2. Name the blogger from whom you got it
3. Award the diamonds to seven other bloggers
4. Link them
5. And tell them, that they got one!

The seven other bloggers that I have picked are ... drum roll please:

1. Squishybubble at Fashion Cupcakes. I love her fun outfits and cute shoes.
2. Sugar Pop at Meet the Freak. Her take on the Luella skirt was pure genius!
3. Toujours Complexe. One word - shoes.
4. Emma at Young and In Style. Her inspiration is always on target, from Jackie Kennedy to Gone With The Wind.
5. Jenny at Sidewalks are Runways. I NEED Jenny's wardrobe and Marilyn Monroe pop art. Her hair always looks amazing too!
6. Shoegal posts almost every day which is by no means easy and has just reached her 1000th post! Her beauty reviews and gorgeous outfits always make me smile.
7. Curella Says is a great blog which offers heaps of inspiration.

Look of the week #4: Mamma mia, here I go again. My my, how can I resist you?

2008-08-10T04:57:00.000-07:00

I went to see the Mamma Mia! film the other day and thoroughly enjoyed it! Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical with the singing at first but by the end I was almost humming along. My favourite part was the wedding as I just loved the wedding dress that Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) wore and those that her bridesmaids wore too. Observe:

The dresses!

Bride and groom

The dresses look practically vintage what with the all the lace! The headpiece worn with the wedding dress is great too (see second picture).

Shoulder Liposuction

2008-08-09T01:06:00.000-07:00

Thin Keira

Ok, so I can understand why women would have liposuction on say their legs, thighs, stomachs e.t.c. but on their shoulders? According to the Daily Mail (for the full article click here) surgeons based in New York have noted a rise in this type of surgery in order look like celebrities 'such as Keira Knightley and Madonna'. It can cost up to £5000 which sounds ridiculously expensive for just having your shoulders done. 'Incisions no wider than five millimetres are made in the natural creases and shadows of the shoulders. The fat is then vacuumed out with curved suction wands'. Eww! I'm far too squeamish to ever contemplate having anything done like this but do we really want shoulders like these? (I know I wouldn't) and what's more, what is the world coming to?!

Muscly Madge

Summer makeup

2008-08-08T04:43:00.001-07:00

This summer, make up is all about looking natural and pretty. This look can be easily achieved by a few key products, which once bought will last a very long time and are in no way limited to just summer time. One of the most important makeup products is blusher as it can help define cheek bones and brighten your complexion. The one thing that I couldn't live without though would probably have to be mascara! I've tried so many which have been clumpy with awkward brushes but I've finally found one I really like, Max Factor's Masterpiece Mascara. The brush is extremely lightweight and leaves your lashes looking naturally long as opposed to smothered in heavy mascara.

Body Shop Blusher £8.50 / No7 Stay Perfect Foundation Compact £12 / Max Factor Masterpiece Mascara £8.99 /Max Factor Lipinfinity Whisper £9.99. Total cost of the look: £39.48.

Cute tops from New Look!

2008-08-07T05:37:00.000-07:00

£8 and £18 respectively

Inspiration

2008-08-06T07:51:00.000-07:00

A while ago I purchased a Vogue magazine which is around 17 years old, it being the July issue of 1991. After looking through it I realised that a lot of the images are still applicable to fashion today, the classic black dress for instance, the bright swimsuit and the wooden bangles. The cover model is the gorgeous Christy Turlington. I particularly like the last two pictures I have included, which to my surprise are of Patsy Kensit! The hairstyle in the last but one photo is amazing!

2008-08-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

Despite resolving not to buy anything for a while I just couldn't resist buying this top from Miss Selfridge at the weekend. Well, it was on sale for just £7! Just little things like the buttons being in a flowered shape really make a difference. I thought it would go well with one of my favourite bags (pictured below) which I bought last year. The material is so soft and lovely looking! Plus, I can fit a lot in it!

Look of the week #3

2008-08-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

On Monday, Emma Watson attended the Cartier Polo event in a gorgeous white dress (complete with lace which will soon be huge) with black accessories consisting of a large black clutch (very fashionable at the moment) and black strappy shoes. I especially liked the way her hair was done up and the contrast of the red lipstick against the white dress worked nicely.

Spot the difference

2008-07-31T14:56:00.000-07:00

Rupert Sanderson Malone patent pumps, Net-a-Porter £310 v. Alma Court Shoe, Schuh £49.99

Christian Louboutin Balacorta patent flats , Net-a-Porter £285 v. Mossimo Deann Patent flats, Target $13.99

Sigerson Morrison Metallic ballet flats, Net-a-Porter £330 v. Changing of the guards at Athens (click for link)

What I bought yesterday

2008-07-31T07:46:00.001-07:00

Blue bag from Accessorize, £25 to £12.50/Headscarf from New Look £3/Blue Earrings from Superdrug £2.99

Chanel-esque

2008-07-29T05:47:00.000-07:00

Whilst browsing the Dorothy Perkins website I came across these lovely bags at just £10 each - a lot less than the price you'd pay for a Chanel 2.55 bag which it looks remarkably like. Similarly, this ASOS bracelet again at £10 looks just like one of the straps on the Chanel bag.

Look of the week #2

2008-07-28T05:19:00.001-07:00

I've been so busy this weekend so didn't have the chance to post on Saturday but finally here it is: Gillian Anderson at the X Files: I Want To Believe premiere in Los Angeles, last Wednesday. I just love the deep, blue colour against the silver necklaces. The neckline is very flattering too.

Ever wondered where your clothes are really from?

2008-07-25T06:58:00.000-07:00

Well, I did. When getting changed the other night and flinging my clothes down on the floor in the usual fashion (I really don't know why I do that since I then have to bend down and pick them up afterwards) I noticed the label which said 'Made in Turkey'. "What?" I said, "my H&M vest top which I picked up locally?". This made me intrigued so I raided my multicultural wardrobe and discovered that my clothes have had more air miles than me! Where are your clothes made? Have a look on the labels and comment!

Click to enlarge. Map outline from wikipedia.

My 100th post!

2008-07-22T11:57:00.000-07:00

It's a strange coincidence that my 100th post is nearly on the same day as my birthday (tomorrow!) and all I'm seeing are butterflies ...

Butterfly Print Popper Top £12 New Look / Butterfly Print Tee £10 New Look / Zimmermann Avalon strapless dress £225 Net-a-Porter / Foil Butterfly Print Long Sleeved Top £8 Matalan / Love Label butterfly print top £18 Littlewoods Direct / Cream butterfly and flower print sweat top £18 Debenhams / Zimmermann Avalon swimsuit £165.01 Net-a-Porter (LOOK AT THE SHAPE! ITS QUITE POSSIBLY THE BEST PIECE OF SWIMWEAR I HAVE EVER SEEN) / Cut Out 925 Silver Butterfly Necklace £12 Accessorize

Look of the week #1

2008-07-19T04:25:00.001-07:00

So each weekend I'm going to feature a 'Look of the week' where I show my favourite fashion related picture from that week. The first EVER look of the week goes to model Miranda Kerr who has allegedly just broken up from Orlando Bloom (Well, hello Orlando!). I'm a big fan of the colour black, as its so wearable and elegant, and Miranda's red lipstick complements it perfectly. Plus, I've always wanted to wear one of those veil things ever since I saw 101 Dalmatians when I was younger - in fact, I loved all of Cruella de Ville's outfits at the time, even down to her hair!

If I had a spare £1655.35 ...

2008-07-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

... I would buy these! So the shoes and the dress (oh! so floaty!) wouldn't go together but can you imagine the possibilities for either? And the jacket! I just love the buttons and the side pockets. The colour is great too, like the colour of the shoes are. All of the items are on sale yet they are still enormously expensive and even if I did have the money I think I'd find it hard to justify paying that amount. If I did buy them (I better buy a lottery ticket pronto) and wouldn't wear them just in case something happened, which would be so very typical. I can imagine wearing the CREAM jacket out somewhere and a car would go past and spray me with mud. I do honestly think though that I have actually fallen head over heels (!) in love with these three garments though.

Chloe Strapless pleated dress £1,099.60 from £2,749 Chloe Piped leather sandals £228.75 from £305 Burberry Marrick cropped trench £327 from £545 All via Net-a-Porter

Skirts

2008-07-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

I don't usually wear skirts as I tend to stick to either full length or cropped jeans. I have so many pairs but only seem to actually wear a few of them! However, when I saw this skirt in New Look today (£28 to £12) I just had to try it on. I wasn't sure about it at first but decided to buy it anyway, on the given that I could always take it back (N.B. Never throw away receipts!). When I got home and tried it on again with my cream Mary Jane shoes I was glad that I had bought it and look forward to wearing it for a summer event of some kind. The skirt is available online at New Look's website or in store.

Wanted

2008-07-05T03:04:00.000-07:00

Cotton Voile Trim Top, Warehouse, £15 from £22

Anna Wintour

2008-07-02T09:17:00.000-07:00

Anna Wintour's decision to wear this dress no less than three times during the last fortnight has shocked many, including me. The dress in question is a Caroline Herrera dress, custom made. But should we really be shocked? Why shouldn't she wear a dress that she likes multiple times? Although I try to wear different things as much as possible I can see why she would want to, especially if the dress is comfy and flattering (as it clearly must be). Thoughts?

Bargains!

2008-06-28T07:10:00.000-07:00

I went shopping yesterday and battled my way through the sales. Here's my haul:

Top to bottom:

1. I got these shoes, by London Rebel shoes from Fenwicks which were originally £19.95 but reduced to just ... £2!!! I had to look at the label twice as I thought I was seeing things. They look great with full length or cropped jeans. I was also drawn to them because of their neutral colour.

2. These shoes were also from Fenwicks. I got them for £7, from £15. The wedge on them makes them super comfy.

3. I got the blue scarf from Miss Selfridge for £5 which was reduced from £12. The long top was from New Look at £12 - sadly, no reduction on this one! Its a really light cotton material so it's perfect for a warm summer day.

4. I have been searching for some skinny jeans forever! I just couldn't find any that would fit right. But my search is now over. I got these also from Miss Selfridge for £35 (full price) which is quite expensive but hopefully they will last for ages.

5. I needed a new, plain white top so I went to H&M for this and paid £3.99

6. They had a sale on in HMV and I spotted this DVD. I have seen it before but a very long time ago. This was a real bargain - £3 from £13! Oh, I just noticed how tangled my headphones for my iPod are. I always seem to untangle them and the next time I see them they're tangled again!

So overall I saved £43!

Huh?

2008-06-25T05:47:00.000-07:00

I was really shocked when I saw this Paul's Boutique bag on Asos - it's so obviously designed around the Chloe Paddington Bag! There's quite a difference in price though as the bag by Paul's Boutique is £58 and the Chloe one on Net-a-Porter is a whopping £794.

Why I love Miss Selfridge

2008-06-22T01:53:00.001-07:00

a) Their prices are not too high

b) Their sales are great!!! Observe:

Emma Watson

2008-06-18T23:31:00.001-07:00

I couldn't believe it when I heard that Emma Watson is to be the new face of Chanel. Whilst I thought that Keira Knightley was great in her advert I think that it will be good to have someone younger. Apparently, they have been slowly integrating her into the brand by dressing her for events. Here she is in Chanel (I'm not sure if the last picture is but I love it anyway!):

Headbands

2008-06-15T02:31:00.001-07:00

I went shopping yesterday and was really surprised to see such an array of different headbands in almost every shop I went in.

I've always thought headbands are adorable and regulary wear them as they hold your hair off your face and look stylish at the same time. Here's my pick of the best headbands avaliable right now:

L-R: Yellow Stripe Alice Band, £4 Dorothy Perkins Bow Alice Band, £4 Dorothy Perkins Black Alice Band, £2 M & Co Mesh Bow Alice Band, £6 Accessorize Flower Alice Band £7.99 River Island

As much as I like headbands though, I don't think I'll be paying £80 for one like this by Malene Birger from Net-a-Porter. Would you?

Love this:

2008-06-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

Accessorize: Kaftan £30, Hat £18

I'm back!

2008-06-08T03:53:00.000-07:00

Doesn't time just go so quickly? Before we know it, it will be Christmas again. Anyway, in my absense I've learnt a few things:

1. Gwyneth Paltrow is COOL! I'm in love with all the outfits she's been wearing recently, especially the outfit to the Iron Man Premiere. Look at the heels! And her hair looks great too; not too overstyled but completely complimenting her outfit.

2. Ballet pumps are a new form of torture. In summer time I practically live in them so when I recently bought a new pair (navy blue and really pretty) I couldn't wait to wear them. Big mistake. Within ten minutes I noticed a slight rubbing on my heel - within an hour it was as if someone was running a cheese grater up and down my heel! It hurt so badly and I could barely even hobble! Plus, flats tend to have no base support so it can feel like you're walking on bare ground. Next time dear readers when you pick those adorable pumps off the shop's shelf, think about your feet.

3. I really want this Oasis dress that I keep seeing everywhere. It's the perfect summer dress that would equally look great with casual flats (ahem) or with heels and a clutch for a night out. The dress costs £80.

4. Johnny Depp looks different ... yet again. I have honestly never seen anyone look completely different in such short periods of time. I found my JD calender (yes, I am that sad) the other day and could not believe his style and look changes in each of the pictures. Recently, at the MTV Style awards he looked so hot! And young! And more manly! Not that I'm saying he's feminine or anything, its just that he sometimes looks a little thin or as my friend says he's a 'weedy, little man'. Here's just some pictures of his ever changing appearance:

Be back soon!

2008-04-22T09:38:00.001-07:00

Unfortunately, due to exams I do not currently have time to maintain this blog. But do not fear! Life's a Wardrobe will be back at the beginning of June. In the meantime loyal readers, stay alert against clothes like this ...

Would you ...

2008-04-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

a) pay £2,200 for this Matthew Williamson Hero beaded dress, or

b) Pay £1,250 for this Lume ruffle dress also by Matthew Wilson. Personally, I can't decide which is worse. Net-a-porter I'm disappointed in you!

On the plus side, I'm in love with these Miu Miu Stone embellished flats also on the website (albeit at a whopping £250)

The Dress

2008-04-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

Oh, lifes cruel. I finally find the perfect dress for the upcoming summer and its sold out! The dress is the 50's style dress from Kate Moss's Spring Summer Collection, in the green colour. I've hunted high and low but to no avail. I'm skeptical of eBay (the dress is priced at £45 yet I've seen one on eBay for £100+) too, especially as I never got the chance to try the dress on in the size I need. At least if you order off the website you can take it back to the store for a refund. I emailed Topshop to ask if they would be getting the dress back in stock but I got a generic email saying 'keep checking back and look in your local store'. Does anyone know if there will be a restocking of her collection? Alot of items sold out pretty quickly. Maybe it's just not meant to be ...

New top

2008-04-03T02:10:00.001-07:00

I went shopping yesterday and amongst other things, I got this top from Topshop for £18 which I plan to wear to a party next week. It looks really nice on and feels so light and comfy due to the fabric. I got some blue nail varnish to go with it too! The question is, what to wear with it? I've got some cream Mary Jane shoes but am not sure whether to wear shorts and tights, jeans, or cropped white trousers. Suggestions anyone?

Elizabeth and James

2008-04-01T01:52:00.000-07:00

I've just been looking at Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's new collection, Elizabeth and James (here) and its great! How amazing are those high waisted black trousers and the orange dress? Mary Kate and Ashley can do no wrong in my eyes. Like Alexa Chung, they really work that laid back, effortless look. It only works on certain people though - if I tried it I'd just look messy!

Kate Moss

2008-03-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

How amazing does Kate Moss look in this recent photoshoot for Vogue Paris? Her outfits very casual but looks great - I love the waistcoat with the belt. Her hair looks good too. So. Jealous. Right. Now.

Ferragamo shoes

2008-03-22T02:18:00.000-07:00

I've been searching on the internet for some of Ferragamo's gorgeous signature pumps at a reasonable price but to no avail! Ebay has even failed me. I really want some for summer as they just look so classy and wearable.

Yum!

2008-03-17T10:44:00.000-07:00

The perfect present for any female must surely be either chocolate or fashion related. Well now you can have both in one! Henry Holland has designed an Easter Egg which will be commissioned by Thorntons on Ebay next week. It even features his motto, 'Passio Factionis' or 'passion for fashion' to you and me, and his favourite colours. All on a 1kg milk chocolate egg. Ummm ...

Bows

2008-03-13T15:27:00.001-07:00

Bows are back - I've always thought they look so adorable and quirky. I'm debating over getting this top from Dorothy Perkins at £20:

On the catwalk - Oscar De La Renta and Carolina Herrera

Bloomingdale's Sweater, $78

Wanted!

2008-03-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

Benefit eye contour kit, £16

Moschino Cheap & Chic

2008-03-06T10:30:00.000-08:00

I just love their clothes (maybe not the price tag but you can dream, right? And most of their clothes on Net-a-Porter are reduced! Yay!)

(L-R) Cropped trench coat £585 to £292.50. Striped bib front top, £130 to £78. Satin spot top, £175 to £105. Floral dress, £310. All from Net-a-porter apart from the floral dress.

Seeing Stars

2008-03-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

Ever since Kate wore that Channel Star print outfit to her 34th, stars have been everywhere on clothing! Keep bang on trend with these beauties:

L-R: Star Print Dress, Topshop £45. Star Print Tea Dress, ASOS £38. Star Print Dress, ASOS £30. Navy Cardigan, Queen and Belle £508(!)

The Numbrella

2008-02-27T08:31:00.000-08:00

I've lost count of the number of times that I've had my Umbrella up and its blown inside out meaning that you get to where ever you're going and you look like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards. Well, fear no more! The Numbrella is here! The world's first hands-free umbrella which claims to never turn inside out in high winds designed by Alan Kaufman. It sounds good in theory, but I'm not sure if this look will exactly catch on. Here's why.

The Numbrella, £30.

Eco is the way forward

2008-02-24T02:19:00.000-08:00

In shops, we are increasingly seeing many organic and fairtrade garnment ranges popping up. The selection at New Look is particulary good and of a high quality. Similarly, Accessorize are starting to stock Fairtrade bags - one of which I got yesterday!

L-R: Fairtrade Birds Blossom Bag, £12 Accessorize. Fairtrade Atlas Floral Bag, £12, Accessorize. Organic Stripe Bardot, £8, New Look. Organic Bootcut Jean, £25 New look.

2008-02-18T11:16:00.000-08:00

There's no point buying gorgeous clothes if they're simply slung into the corner of your bedroom. Wardrobes can become a real feature of the room and innovative storage techniques add a quirky twist. I've found hat boxes to be really useful for storing just about anything - bags, jewellery, old photo albums. Be creative!

L-R: Provencale Wardrobe, Laura Ashley, £1575. Toulouse Wardrobe, Marks and Spencers £1,190. Reece Wardrobe, Marks and Spencers £349. Devon Wardrobe, Laura Ashley £900. Vintage Rose hangers, John Lewis, £5.

Vera Wang Dress

2008-02-15T08:24:00.000-08:00

Vera Wang
grey linen-silk abstract patterned ruched strapless dress from Bluefly, $330 (saving 40% on retail price)

P for Pearls

2008-02-13T02:32:00.000-08:00

I adore Pearls. Wear them with an LBD for a classic look, or even with a t-shirt and jeans. They just ooze feminism and charm. How do you wear yours?

Alexa Chung

2008-02-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

Lately, I've been seeing pictures of Alexa Chung everywhere and isn't she just turning into a great style icon? Her style is the effortless, even messy sometimes, style that is so hard to do right. She's presenting the new programme Vanity Lair on channel 4 on Sundays and her outfits always look so great! Here's some of my favourite outfits she's been wearing around and about:

Oh, Marc!

2008-02-06T09:11:00.001-08:00

Looking at Marc Jacob's spring 2008 collection really makes me happy and excited. The future is bright, very bright.

2008-02-02T02:06:00.000-08:00

I saw this gorgeous Ted Baker ipod case in an apple store a few months ago for £30. On the off chance, I went looking on the internet for it yesterday and its £10! Stylish and practical.

Its all about shirts and blouses

2008-01-30T09:13:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love Twiggy?

2008-01-28T09:47:00.000-08:00

I'm an avid fan of Americas Next Top Model (its the best! Where else can you find the likes of Jay Alexander and Jay Manuel? ) and its back to Living TV on February the 4th for cycle 9. Isn't it just so annoying that everyone in America gets to see it before us? During the middle of cycle 8, I went on a fashion website and as it was in America, it revealed who had won! So, this time I'm not going anywhere near other websites during airing (well ... ) Anyway, I think Twiggy's been great on the panel and shes such an icon, becoming 'The face of '66' and the high fashion mod look. However, she's not returning for cycle 10 and is going to be replaced! Booo!

Don't get me started with the huge things Tyra wears on her head!

Looking ahead to Summer

2008-01-25T06:37:00.000-08:00

Top to bottom: Jill Stuart
Lindsay cherry print dress, £295. Antik Batik
Dotis embellished tunic dress, £135. Jimmy Choo Lent strappy slingbacks,
£360.00.

Go read!

2008-01-21T11:23:00.000-08:00

I know that this post isn't strictly fashion related, but I felt too compelled not to spread the word about this fantastic book, We need to Talk about Kevin, which I just finished. The storyline is both gripping and thought provoking, following a series of letters that Eva writes to her husband as she tries to understand why her son, shortly before turning 16, killed 7 fellow students, a teacher and a cafeteria worker. The book asks the inevitable question of whether or not nature dominates nurture or vice versa. I was lucky to stumble across such a good novel, as shortly after Christmas I walked into WHSmiths and decided to buy a book at random, as I normally stick to the same kind of writing. I really urge everyone to buy this book! Go! Now!

Mary Jane

2008-01-18T00:23:00.000-08:00

I love Mary Jane shoes right now as they're so classic and elegant.

Top to bottom: Mary Jane Shoe from Topshop, £50. High instep Mary Jane shoe also from Topshop, £55. Paul Smith Patent Mary Janes, £260. Paul Smith Amelia Mary Janes, £230

Rebecca Turbow

2008-01-11T07:41:00.000-08:00

I stumbled across this site and fell in love with this checker board shirt dress - around £42.50 ($85).

P.S Where has Ugly Betty gone? I'm getting with drawl symptoms!

You know what time of year it is ...

2008-01-04T03:49:00.000-08:00

SALE TIME! Quite possibly, the best part of the Christmas holidays, although I can't say I enjoyed trawling through the racks in a shop crammed full of people the day after Boxing day. I had a great Christmas, apart from deciding to wear my best pair of shoes on New Years Eve and getting the left heel caught in a hole, causing the patent to be worn away. Thank god for the black marker pen. Two of my favourite presents I received are below:

Moshino Love perfume and an Eden filofax (practical and stylish)

But now, I'm pining for these sale items!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Mini pouch at £38.50 from £55 at flannelsfashion.com, Grid Print Tunic at £15 from £45 at Topshop, Fendi Canvas B Bag at £648 from £1,080 at Net-a-porter

Christmas

2007-12-22T09:38:00.000-08:00

I'm taking a break from posting as its Christmas (Yes!!!) but will return in the new year. Merry Christmas everyone!

Dream Christmas party outfit

2007-12-20T07:39:00.001-08:00

Marchesa strapless cocktail dress, £2,314

Chloe Elvire patent clutch bag, £505

Jimmy Choo Loren patent pumps, £345

Whose shoes?

2007-12-15T11:56:00.000-08:00

The other week I went into a shop and was looking at the shoe section. To my delight, I saw a gorgeous pair of shoes on the floor directly in front of me. I started to pick them up and got ready to try them on when I realised that there was a woman stood next to me looking puzzled at the shoes. I then realised that they were hers! I quickly left. Has anyone else got any embarrasing shop incidents that they'd like to share?

P.S Gossip Girl is coming to the UK! To ITV2 to be exact, next year. Can't wait!

Divine

2007-12-12T06:25:00.000-08:00

Dolce and Gabbana bracelet from the Glitter collection. Around £120.

My one and only ...

2007-12-07T05:42:00.000-08:00

Johnny Depp! I can't wait to see his new movie Sweeney Todd and it was recently the premiere in New York. His outfit has had mixed reviews but personally, I love it! Even with the scruffy but cute shoes and the suit kind of making him look a little short. Although, I'm not sure that anyone other than Johnny could pull it off. Images from johnnydeppweb.com

Chloe and Reese

2007-12-05T06:28:00.000-08:00

I recently discovered the site chloeandreese.com and can't get enough of their dresses! I especially like the patterened dress. The great thing about them is that they would be great for winter, teamed with tights, but still wearable in the summer.

Christopher Kane

2007-11-30T08:29:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I went shopping yesterday and stopped by the perfume counter to see what the Daisy perfume actually smelt like and yes, it was lovely but I felt like it lacked something for the £40 price tag ($80ish). However, I then noticed that sitting next to it was Vera Wang's Princess perfume. Curiosity got the better of me and I had a smell of it - Gooorgeous! Way nicer than the Daisy perfume, although the bottle isn't quite as nice. Anyway, a while ago I did a post on two Christopher Kane dresses that I thought were truly awful. But, lately I've been seeing them everywhere. Even on fellow blogs and a fashion programme on TV. So whats the verdict? Is it just me who hates them?

La Parfum

2007-11-24T04:38:00.000-08:00

Is it wrong to want to buy a perfume without even smelling it?

Crimbo

2007-11-20T12:55:00.000-08:00

I can't wait for Christmas and this Marc Jacobs small quilted leather wallet, $275, has just gone straight to the top of my list. Also, I found a sad excuse for a dress by Missoni, $7,099 which actually looks like Christmas to me - check out the tinsel/fairy lights draping.

Must have these jeans ...

2007-11-16T09:48:00.000-08:00

Need them. Now!

Topshop, £55

Grey

2007-11-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

I love wearing grey for the winter. Here's my pick of the best grey tops around:

From Top left: Hazel Ruffle Trim Cardigan, Nordstorm $98

Michael Kors Babydoll Turtleneck, Nordstorm $89.50

Cashmere Pocket Cardi, Topshop £65

Silver woven bow scoop, Miss selfridge £18

Too cute!

2007-11-09T12:31:00.000-08:00

P.S After much hype, I really don't think that the Roberto Cavalli collection for H&M is up to much. There's just a bit too much animal print for me ...

Who wore it best?

2007-11-04T01:08:00.001-07:00

2007-10-31T08:30:00.000-07:00

I'm really glad that navy nail varnish is now a must have - it looks great on. This ones from Barry M and is only £2.95 at Superdrug. Also, I really really love this Kate Moss leather bag at Topshop which is £150. This blouse is a bargin from boohoo.com at only £20! Think how great it would look with skinny jeans ...

Wow!

2007-10-23T02:59:00.001-07:00

The dress is so amazing! The auction is happening right now and ends tomorrow - the current bid is a whopping £5,500. Click here for the auction link.

The power of the Depp

2007-10-17T12:37:00.000-07:00

I was so shocked when I heard about this. Kate Moss is going to wear the dress that she wore when catching the eye of Johnny Depp (SWOON! FAINT!) to the Swarovski Fashion Rocks event! The flapper dress will then be auctioned off at London's Topshop (worth an estimated £40,000) and limited editions, only 500, costing £250 will then be in stores!!!!! Wow. I really wish I had a spare £250 right now. I can't wait to actually see her in the dress - this is the only image so far:

Why, oh why?

2007-10-14T02:18:00.000-07:00

Argh!!! After setting my hopes on a dress on the forever21 website I have just looked at shipping and realised that they don't ship to the UK! Why?!!! And the dress I want is sooo perfect for an up and coming event I'm going to and its only £5! I thought 'Ok. I can live without it' and then I saw the back and practically died.

Yes!

2007-10-12T01:47:00.000-07:00

Woo! Ugly Betty's back on our screens. I can't wait for the programme tonight. It was so sad last week with Hilda greiving over her soon to be fiance! I love seeing the setting of Mode magazine and what Amanda is wearing. I loved her outfits in these episode pictures:

Did you know?

2007-10-07T12:30:00.001-07:00

I just read on net-a-porter.com that the brand, Chloe (with an accent on the 'e') was founded by Gaby Aghion, an Egyptian born Parisian who 'chose the name for its warm and feminine appeal'. I really thought that the founder was called Chloe! And just look at this Chloe coat! Swoooon! It just looks so warm and cosy. You'll need to start playing the lottery to buy it though, unless you've got a spare £1,194.90 lying around.

C-U-T-E cute

2007-10-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

How adorable are these hats? I can just imagine how they'd look on someone really effortlessly stylish. Personally, I've been put off hats ever since I bought a cream one and it made me look very strange. However, after seeing these beauties from Miss Selfridge, I might just have to get one and experiment with it (with my fingers crossed). Just make sure if you wear one that you don't then have to take it off; hair + hat = flat hair.

Plus, none of them break the bank at just £12. Also on my current really-want-it-but-will-probably-never-get-it list is this gorgeous Rose Applique Dress. Again from Miss Selfridge and at £65. Can you just imagine how good it would look with black tights, heels and a black clutch?

And, hey! When you went outside with your new winter coat you could team a hat into the look! Something which has been puzzling me lately, is the new scarf trend. You, know the ones that look like this:

Or one that's similar but with tassels on either side. I'm just not sure if I like them. Everytime I see someone wearing one I instantly think of a cowboy and expect them to pull out a gun saying 'Stick em' up!' or 'This town isn't big enough for the both of our scarves'. Still, they seem to be popular but then so was Lycra back in the day.

Coat time!

2007-09-29T02:43:00.000-07:00

The weathers turning alot colder now. Its time to bring out your winter coats! I bought a lovely tweed coat yesterday which will hopefully serve me well in the up and coming months.

L-R: Killah Short Tweed Duffle Jacket, £145.00 Ted Baker Silk Spot Full Mini Mac £95.00 Miss Sixty Pleat Hem Double Breasted Coat, £225.00. All from asos.com!

A piece of Kate

2007-09-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

As of yet I haven't bought anything from the Kate Moss collection at Topshop (boo!). I wanted the black off-the-shoulder dress but was unable to find one as it was so popular! After browsing the site, literally two minutes ago, I've found some things that are both affordable and effortlessly stylish - just like the woman herself.

P.S Has anyone seen that picture of her recently in a £2000 vintage dress that she wore to an Awards Ceremony and then by the end of the night it was ripped to pieces?

Its Dior Couture

2007-09-23T03:12:00.000-07:00

I loved Heidi Klum's recent outfit at the Emmy Awards. Its very 'old hollywood glamour'. I also thought that the the Dior Couture 2007 collection was AMAZING especially this look (the pearls are great, ditto the dress)

What I want, what I really really want

2007-09-19T08:58:00.000-07:00

Here's the top things on my wishlist at the moment:

1. A waiscoat. I've been searching for one for what seems like AGES and I just can't seem to get one in the right material, fit and at the right price. There were some nice ones in New Look but they were Halter Neck style which I didn't like. The search continues!

2. A good mascara. This is a tricky one. I've tried so many but I've yet to find the one. At the moment I have the Memoirs of a Geisha one (I think its Max Factor) which is good but I'd like to try the new Rimmel one with the really thin brush (well, its more of a stick).

3. A winter dress. One which I can wear with tights and high patents in an oh-so-casual way when really you've spent hours getting ready. Possibly a shift dress.

4. The October edition of Teen Vogue. I got the September edition for the first time and loved it!

On the plus side, I did get some 'winter' shorts which I will wear with opaques and ballet pumps or heels.

Betty Jackson - key trends

2007-09-14T08:46:00.001-07:00

I'm a big fan of Betty Jackson - the clothes are amazing! I've been looking at her fall collection (although the second picture is from the summer collection) today and love the chunky knits, T Bar shoes, masculine tailoring and high waisted trousers.

Ugly Betty

2007-09-10T09:33:00.001-07:00

I really enjoyed the Ugly Betty series that was on Channel 4 a while ago and was really sad when the series finished but it will be back soon. Seeing the running of a fashion magazine was great and I know, it was a total copy of The Devil Wears Prada (unfashionable worker goes to a top fashion magazine yadda yadda yadda - how did they get away with it?) but you've just got to love Betty! Her clothes are weird in a cute way and that little 'B' pearl necklace she wears always makes me smile. And oh! her nephew Justin! He is hilarious! Anyway, I thought that Amanda's, the secretary, style was uber cool and so when I found this dress I just had to do a post about it. Its a Vera Wang corsage dress which you can snap up at £1,300 (no chance of 99.9% of us buying it then!) And how about these Pedro Garcia Ninette heels which are £155 to go with it?

Oh, Diane!

2007-09-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

Diane Von Furstenburg has been producing some great pieces that I would totally die to own. I've selected a few of my favourites so I can sigh at them and wonder ... what if I owned that chiffon dress? Or that gorgeous blouse? A girl can dream!

Black is the new er ... black

2007-09-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

Black is coming back with a bang! Not to sound morbid or anything, but I love the colour black on clothing because its so versatile and its slimming too. Black with embellishment on it is another huge trend and New look have some great affordable pieces. Heres my pick of the best black clothes avaliable now.

Slash Neck Tunic: £30, Topshop. Tie Neck Short Sleeve Blouse: £38, Warehouse. Modern Embellished Tunic: £65, Oasis. French Connection Swing Mac: £130, Oli.

Another drawing

2007-09-01T03:07:00.000-07:00

News

2007-08-31T02:29:00.000-07:00

I learnt a very important lesson this week - to try things on! I found a gorgeous chiffon top, held it up, thought about how much it would change my life if I bought it, and so went ahead and did just that! Then, to my horror, when I returned home and tried it on it looked awful and really didn't suit me. Yes, its sometimes annoying having to try things on in the shop and waiting for the next avaliable changing room (does anyone else think that the lighting in changing rooms is always terrible?) but its worth it! Other news is that Crocs are going to be LAUNCHING A CLOTHING LINE!!!!! When will the madness end? 'Fans of the spongy foam resin will now be able to buy shirts, shorts and skirts'. Now tell me: why would anyone be a fan of 'spongy foam resin'? On a more positive note, I'm loving this top from Asos.com. Pair it with jeans for a casual look or add a black patent belt with skinnies and heels for a night out.

I'm feeling autumnish!

2007-08-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

I went shopping today and was impressed by the array of clothes in the high street stores. Black's definitely back and embellishment is huge! I bought some lovely metallic pumps from River Island only to realise on my way home that they still had the security tag on! I had to go back and then when I walked in the alarm went off (although I still don't see how the alarm didn't sound when I initially went out of the store). The ballet pumps will look great with opaque tights which are going to be BIG this autumn and winter! H&M had some nice autumn clothes including a large selection of knitwear which resulted in me buying a blue and brown striped jumper. I was disappointed by the clothes in Topshop and on the sale racks too; I guess it's all been picked over countless times. I really want a black waistcoat - not the big kind, just one that sits below the waist. I just can't seem to find one that's in the right style at the right price tag!

Latest clothing horrors

2007-08-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

Ooo I came across a handful of horrors today which are truly shocking. First up is Jordan's dress for the launch of her new perfume 'Stunning'. The word meringue can't be used for this dress because its beyond that. I always fail to see why women choose huge puff balls for their own wedding dresses as most of the time they just look totally OTT and too fairytaleish. Jordan's dress is also very much OTT for a perfume launch - what happened to being casual?

Next up is Topshop's 'wet look wrap skirt' which is truly awful! There's absolutely no shape whatsoever and even though it costs £40, it looks cheap. I'm surprised at Topshop; I know that the 'wet look' is on the up but this skirt is definitely not! Besides, just what would you wear it with? It would certainly be hard to pull off (literally too, I'm sure! Ha ha)

There's some nice clothes on delias.com but this top is not one of them. Animal print is a tricky one - choose a few select pieces such as one top or a pair of shoes in leopard print or a small handbag and its effortlessly fashionable. But, choose a tacky top or go overboard with animal print coat, animal print top and animal print trousers (i.e. all worn at once) and you've instantly ruined its appeal for innocent passers by. This has happened to me on numerous occasions; I'll just be starting to think that animal print isn't so bad and that maybe I should go back for those shoes when bam! someone walks past head to toe in the stuff and it will put me off for another few months. Anyway, back to the top. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad without the splashes of colour ... ok, so it would. I really hate the cut of the top too and I'm sure it would do few people any favours (especially non-supermodel people who aren't size 00 and are mere mortals)

The next two disasters are from a surprise source. When I heard that Paris Hilton was launching a clothing range for Kitson Boutique I was instantly looking forward to seeing the collection. Now I wish I hadn't. Rather than looking expensive, hollywood and luxe like I thought it would, the clothes look cheap. Really cheap and tacky (although I am only juding the clothes from website pictures which admittedly, aren't the best). The material she's used (well, I say 'she' but it's probably just her name on it but still she must have seen the clothes! What about reputation?) on alot of the pieces is horrible! And as for the colours! On the yellow dress, there is absolutely no shape - even the model with her hands on her hips fails to disguise the sack like shape. It just looks so badly made ... who would pay $88 for it? (£44). The bow thing on it makes it look like wrapping paper. Don't even get me started on the 'fuchsia' top (the sleeves! Oh the sleeves!)

Crocs strike back!

2007-08-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

So I was saying how awful Crocs were but the other day curiosity got the better of me and I ventured into a Croc shop where the sales assistants were wearing their very own Crocs (vomit). However, there were a few new styles avaliable that weren't totally repulsive (although whether I would ever buy them remains to be seen). The flipflops would be acceptable on holiday and do look fairly comfy, but as for the 'Alice' shoe, wouldn't it be a bit weird wearing that type of shoe in the rubbery Croc material?