Petticoat Pirates

Just for you

2008-04-25T20:25:00.002+01:00

Don't you hate it when you just have nothing to wear, when everything you try on either doesn't fit, isn't right for the occasion or isn't 'you'- well now look no further! One of my best kept and favourite secrets is now yours.

Take a look at Style Shake http://www.styleshake.com/user/

You design the dress, they make it and in 10 working days, a brand new dress designed exclusively by and for you arrives!

Theres a whole range of fabrics from wardrobe staples like cotton to linen (a summer essential) to silk and metallic silk in a range of colours from the ever classic black, forest green, electric blue, orchid and poppy red. Once you've chosen your fabric, next up is the fun part- designing the dress. You can chose the upper body (empire, yoke, hips, waist to name a few), neckline (the newly added off the shoulder and off the shoulder gathered is so now it hurts!), sleeves, waist, lower part of the dress, as well as add trimmings and detailing like pleats and embellishment.

My newest creation is this Bottega Veneta inspired dress with bandeau neckline with stone embellishment, a fitted box pleat detailed waist with a full flared knee length skirt, all in a very wearable, very understated black cotton- all for £99! What more could I want?

http://www.styleshake.com/user/Dress.aspx?name=Dress&ID=42211

And to make it even better they even do tops!

Perfectly pale

2008-04-25T15:51:00.004+01:00

For anyone with pale skin and freckles will know finding make up that works with your skin tone and doesn't make you look like a clown or dead is hard. Well no more as the long awaited Dainty Doll range by Nicola Roberts (of girls aloud fame) has been released. This make up range created in association with Jelly Pong Pong is made exclusively for pale skinned women. The range contains foundations, concealers, eyeshadows, blushes and lip glosses. (also the packaging is adorable and I'm in love with the 'nicola doll' on the packaging- just adorable! I'd love to see this printed onto cards or notepads- it reminds me of my much loved Topshop Christmas Card selection by Julie Verhoeven )

My personal favourites are the concealer (which covers imperfections and dark circles due to its thicker consistency), foundation (the silky mousse texture goes on like a dream and has a smooth matte finish) and the eyeshadow in Honey Bronze is perfect for an '08 summer smokey eye update and looks gorgeous against pale skin. The ultra fine eye shadows are long lasting with a smooth flake free finish and each comes with a gold suede textured base to prevent smudges.

The range is available from ASOS and you can read the press release for further details here:

http://www.jellypongpong.com/whatsnew/Nicola-PressRelease.pdf

SPF make up

2008-04-25T15:09:00.003+01:00

Well after a few brief days of sun, its disappeared again but I'm assured summer is on its way and that means time to dig out or buy new sun protection. The hardest thing is how to protect yourself from the sun without compromising on style and your usual routine, so being the kind woman I am, I've found the top picks for sun protection to keep you looking your best this summer

No7 50+ Anti- Ageing Anti Dark Spot Facial Sun Protection- so I know I've posted about it before but this is my Holy Grail product (being very pale with freckles, high SPF is a must for me) and its important to wear a high SPF during summer, especially as no one wants to end up resembling a prune at 40 or worse, developing skin cancer. This cream is perfect to use on the face, neck decolletage and back of the hands and can be worn alone for dewy skin or topped with a powder for a matte make up base.

MAC Prep & Prime SPF 50 is a sun protecting primer which is a fast absorbing oil free lotion with specially formulated oil absorbing powder to help prevent oil breakthrough, helps create the perfect base for make up and is a great starting point for the rest of your face.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 is the liquid version of Macs all time classic studio fix foundation. This foundation is a medium buildable coverage product with a natural matte finish. Its also oil free and long wearing and comes in a whopping 27 shades so theres a shade for everyone!

MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 concealer is a lightweight, creamy, discreetly opaque concealer, which provides a smooth, long-wearing invisible coverage for all skin blemishes. It's water-resistant, fragrance-free and non-blemishgenic and can cover spots, blemishes, dark circles, moles, tattoos and birth marks. This is an amazing product and comes in a range of 15 shades- a must for anyone wanting sun protection and great make up.

For a more accessible and cheaper option, try Avon ANEW Beauty Age Transforming Concealer SPF 15- just because its summer, doesn't mean we wan to go completely bare faced and show the world our dark circles, so Avon have cleverly created this liquid concealer that not only disguises imperfections but helps reduce line and wrinkles and protects the skin from sun damage. It comes in a handy pen applicator although is only available in 2 shades- natural fair and natural medium- so any olive or dark skinned lovelies out there, sadly this product isn't for you!

Saying with Avon ANEW, their Beauty Age Transforming Foundation SPF 15, instantly helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles and helps protect the skin from sun exposure and further damage. Its available in 6 shades and as with all Avon products, if your not completely satisfied with your purchase, they'll exchange your item or refund the full price if you choose to return it within 90 days of delivery.

And for a powder, try Cliniques Almost Powder make up SPF 15, available in 10 shades.

For sun protection for your lips (hugely important given they don't produce oils and are vulnerable to the sun), try Carmex lip moisturiser with SPF 15. This cult lip balm now comes with added sun protection and has an immediate cooling effects on lips. If coloured lips are your thing, try Cliniques Moisture Sheer Lipstick SPF 15 or No7 Moisture Drench lipstick available in 24 shades and with SPF 15.

See now theres no excuse for not using sun protection and looking gorgeous!

Its that time of year

2008-04-25T14:39:00.005+01:00

Its that time of year when perfect, gorgeous skin comes into focus and there aren't many woman who have perfect skin- most of us need to actively work at it (and can't rely on an army of experts and re-touchers to make us look gorgeous!)

So heres my ultimate guide to gorgeous, clear skin:

Step 1- Dermalogica Anti Bac Skin wash- this is an essential for anyone with oily, skin prone skin. It contains Triclosan to help inhibit bacteria on the skin's surface and Salicylic Acid dissolves dead skin debris to leave skin looking and feeling clear.

Step 2- Clearsil Deep Cleansing Toner- this toner helps clear and prevent breakouts, whilst tightening pores. It also works really well with the Dermalogica cleanser.

Step 3- Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Protective Recovery Complex Serum- applied morning and night on clean skin, this serum can help enhance the skins natural ability to repair UV and environmental damage. It also leaves the skin glowly and radiant!

Step 4- No7 protect and repair SPF 50+ anti ageing anti dark spot facial sun protection- this 5 star rated ultra sun protection has a patented complex to help skin prevent age spots, uneven pigmentation and ageing caused by sun exposure. The cream is moisturising, yet not greasy and the perfect base for make up. It also doesn't smell very much, nor goes streaky or chalky white on contact. Alternatively try Siana Anti Wrinkle Day Cream- this reknown day cream for £1.89 from Aldi has out performed well known creams such as cult classic Creme de la mer and Olay in product tests and Aldis sell a whopping 20,000 jars a week. This day cream contains bioflavone and co-enzyme Q10 as well as vitamin C and E and spf 4. Its light yet moisturising texture sinks into the skin and leaves skin dewy and glowy- a cult classic!

Step 5- Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Recovery Complex- this lightweight serum-gel not only helps repair past damage but also prevent further damage to the delicate eye area. The gel also helps banish puffiness, dark circles and lines and wrinkles. I use this morning and eye and swear by it- its by far the best eye cream I've tried (a close second is Caudalie eye and lip contour cream)

Step 6- For a night cream, you can't beat Siana's Skin Kind nightcream from Aldi- this sister product to the re known day cream, it just as good and contains all the skin loving ingredients of the day cream with added vitamins and retinol complex to help skin regenerate while you sleep. Plus at a bargain £1.89, it leaves you free to splurge on other things!

Extra- and for those days when spots just appear without warning, try Clearsils Rapid Action Treatment Cream- this cream not only fights spots but reduces redness and used twice a day can clear up spots in 2-3 days.

And just because you can't forget the rest of you, my ultimate body lotion is Vaseline Intensive Rescue Moisture Locking Body Lotion- this hypoallergenic, fragrance free lotion moisturises the driest of skins and leaves skin feel soft and moisturised for over 24 hours. I use it every morning and my skin is still soft and gorgeous the next morning- my definite holy grail body lotion!

Purses at the ready!

2008-04-24T11:24:00.003+01:00

If you haven't been to your local Matalan store, then now is the time! The newly added Et Vous range has arrived and my oh my is it good! The prices are fantastic for clothing that wouldn't look out of place at designers stores (and are much cheaper than Topshop and you get far superior quality!). My favourites and the things I bought:

- the brown wide leg turn up sailor pants- these delicious chocolate brown wide leg pants have sailor style button pockets and fit like a dream- all for £18! I wore them the evening I bought them and got so many compliments- I plan to wear them this summer with an orange tank top, flat brown gladiator sandals and a smile!
- the black sateen pleat front trousers- these again fit really well, are very long (anyone who usually needs longer length will be able to fit in them- mine need to be altered they're that long!) and the pleat front detailing creates a gorgeous wide leg yet flattering style- £22 and is the classic wardrobe essential
- the taupe ruffle neck tank- this taupe sleeveless tank is fantastic and has origami style pleated neck with ruffles around the front and back of the top and buttons up with 3 button detailing at the back- it goes from an average top to a high end piece and is comfy and stylish
- midnight blue satin pleated top- this midnight blue satin top has an elasticated hem and pleated neckline to create a voluminous shape- the colour is divine and looks amazing with jeans and the fit is just spot on. Its also available in sunshine yellow which is the perfect summer top
- black v neck tank with pleated neckline- this throw on black tank is gorgeous, the V neck shows off a great cleavage and the pleated detailing adds interest- this one looks great dressed up and down but i'll be wearing mine with full skirts and flat sandals!

These are just a few of the fantastic buys I got (all for a measy £77) but other mentions go to the navy blue gold button shift dress (so on trend it hurts), fuchsia pink ruffle blouse and denim sailor pants- if you can get to a matalan near you, i urge you to go and see if the Et Vous range is there- you won't be disappointed!

Dress of the month

2008-04-14T14:37:00.002+01:00

This has to be my dress of the month- this La Petite Salope jersey asymmetric bubble hem dress with corsage is divine and not only that but it has a built in corset to give you an incredible hourglass shape. It even comes in two colours- nude and black, so you'll have one to wear for every occasion!

Pretty- its the name of the game!

2008-04-14T13:38:00.003+01:00

Pretty-is what I for one want to be, whether its wearing 'pretty' make up or a pretty dress- just soft feminine pretty dresses, the kind you waft into a room in on a cloud of chiffon, organza, tulle or cotton, leaving women in your wake glaring enviously and a rather unflattering shade of green.

Erin Fetherson is the go to lady for pretty clothing- the New York by way of Paris designer likes elegant whimisical dresses and likes to wear silk cotton dresses by day and night with the highest of platforms by Miu Miu (this girl has taste! look at her with her white blonde hair, milky skin and gorgeous figure- not only does her dress suit her to a T but check out those shoes!) and began by designing couture, after studying as Parsons School of Design in Paris, then honing her craft under MIL who worked in the ateliers of YSL and Lanvin and switched to ready to wear in 2005.

Her current spring/summer 08 collection is full of gorgeous dresses in neutral pastels, greys and light silvers, while her fall 08 collection is a gorgeous mix of black, velvets, florals and plums- what more could a girl want? (Selma Blair would look delicious in the grey grecian ruffle edged dress)

ITEC

2008-04-10T16:28:00.003+01:00

Well after putting on weight, I actually found I needed a bra (theres a first for everything) and so found myself walking into the first shop I saw that sold underwear (you can tell im not picky!) which happened to be La Senza, which is harbouring what could be the best bra (IMO). I'm talking about the ITEC which for those of you haven't heard is La Senzas microfibre one piece bra designed to not only look invisble under clothing but is also seam, stitch and label free.

Not one to be sway by advertising and mumbo jumbo, I thought I'd try it on and as usual put it back for not fitting right/be uncomfy/looking horrid under clothes/all of the above but 4 purchases later I'm a convert and believe me the hype is worth it!

I ended up purchasing the padded plunge ITEC bra in both black and white which has concealed underwiring and smooth moulded cups with incorporated foam padding to boost cleavage and little scallop detailing and am over the moon with them- not only do they fit perfectly, they boost the bust (which for any other A cups out there is a big deal!), are invisible under clothing (only through the thiniest of my white tank tops can you see the white bra) and are comfortable from the get go. The straps are also thin enough to not be seen when wearing camis and spaghetti strap clothing and it gives a good, even shape through clothing. Not only that but La Senza had an offer which meant £10 off the total price of both bras. I also got the ITEC in lurex pink and silver (both were half price in store), which are just as good, although I don't find the fit as good, although I suspect its due to the fact it doesn't have the little scallop edging so doesnt fit as close to the breast and give an even 'join' when boosting the bust but theyre still fantastic and I cant complain for the price I paid!!!

(sadly i look like neither of these women when wearing my bra, so therefore I add the disclaimer 'wearing this bra does not make you look like theyre sickenly attrative models')

Overall, I would recommend these bras to anyone wanting to boost their assets, while getting a smooth, invisbile look under clothing without compromising on style or comfort. A word of wording to the larger busted lady, the straps are thin so if you do need more support, a different bra might be better. The US La Senza has expanded this range so fingers crossed they'll bring it over to us as they're created the ITEC bras without underwiring and in printed versions and less 'basic' versions such as various colours, embroidered and lace versions. The range also features matching bottoms in a variety of styles that are all seam free for no VPL- perfect!

Bonjour.........

2008-04-10T15:59:00.006+01:00

I have a gulity pleasure to admit- french boudoir chic- if its french and bedroom related I'm 99% sure I'll love it, want it, need it and quite possibly obsess over it- yesterday was such a day when I was faced with an Orange Tree french style dressing table complete with mirror AND matching mirror 3 panel bedroom screen all in white with ornate style curves and gold 'aged' detailing- it was simply divine and i had to be pressed away from them! Today I'm still thinking about them and decided to look online and lo and behold I found some corkers:

From Benardout Interiors (http://http//www.benardout.co.uk) are these simply stunning beauties:

I'm imagining this first one with my assortment of glass perfumes bottles (the sort your meant to decant perfume into and use the glass topper to seductively apply your perfume to your wrists, nape of neck, bosom etc- mine are empty!) on top and a gorgeous little stool so i can sit and apply my make up in style- simply divine!

If dressing tables arent your thing, how about this 2 drawer french desk, topped off with this heavy carved mirror set into the wall above? The desk is so gorgeous I'm almost temped to ditch gthe laptop and bring back pen and paper!

These french chests are divine- the curved legs of the one of the left are a gorgeous design feature to an otherwise fairly plain shape and the heavy carved detailing on the right is just breathtaking.

And just because you cant confine french chic purely to the bedroom, this grape carved console would look fabolous in a large hall way or lounge (now I just need the new house to fit them in!)

The Lavendar Barn (http://www.thelavenderbarn.co.uk/) is full of chic french pieces including this gorgeous Chateau Louis Phillipe What Not (I'd put this is a bathroom to keep all my bits and pieces on- all decanted and put into gorgeous glass bottles and silver pots) and stunning dressing table- a huge must for me.

This Chateau lemi dune sideboard is a show stopper and is sure to be the focal point of any room, while this radiator cover will add a touch of french chic to any room without dominating it.

And finally this heavy carved armorie is divine and big enough to fit even the most generous stash of clothes (it may even fit mine!)

New In!

2008-03-15T10:29:00.004Z

After being rudely awoken by an early morning phone call and without anything to do for a few hours I decided to hit the net and look at pretty things and as always Topshop was on my port of call (I don't often buy from there but every now and again they have some great pieces- just ignore the tween stuff!)

This sequin mini skirt is very Elle MacPherson (goddess of minis and flat sandals- she wears them even in Winter!) and would look fantastic with bronzed skin, flat sandals (something simply) and a basic white t-shirt

Because I adore all things ruffley, this dress is pure indulgence for me- its red, ruffly and just looks like fun to wear! It would look amazing with thick black tights and mary janes and a black trench coat

Speaking of coats, I love this waterfall frill front belted coat- the mustard colour is very on trend and adds interest to an otherwise neutral outfit, the full skirt is just adorable especially with dress and mary janes or t bar shoes for a retro vibe. the puff sleeves are gorgeous and the frill front makes it look very designer (but alot cheaper!)

And finally are these light grey t bar heels- the light grey colour is a fantastic year round shade and the ruffle front detailing is gorgeous and will add interest to any outfit (they'd look fabulous with a black tea dress and tights- let the shoes do the talking!)

Natural face friendly make up

2008-03-12T15:27:00.012Z

Inspired by an OUSA F&B forum post, I decided to find some natural, non artifically preserved make up ranges (specifically eye make up) for anyone who suffers with allergies or just wants natural beauty products. I was surprised at the variety of products on offer and thought I'd share my favourites

Up first are products by Jane Iredale (http://www.janeiredale.com/products/eyeshadows.html). She has a wide range of products products are based on micronized minerals and are made without fillers and binders (such as talc and mineral oil) and without chemical dyes or preservatives, so its safe and even beneficial to your skin. There are a huge range of eye products available including pressed eyeshadows, eye gloss, eye primer, eye liners and mascaras.

My favourites are the PurePressed eyeshadows which resist creasing and blend beautifically- my favourite is the pecan/chocolate trio and I'd use the darker colour on the outer of the eye, mid shade on the middle of the lid and lightest on the inner corner of the lid for a gorgeous multi colour co-ordinated look. I also adore the eye gloss in green and grey silk for an alternative to the classic smokey eye, which gives a pearlescent finish and is made without synthetic dyes, fillers and chemical preservatives, making the formula safe and non-irritating to the eyes. Natural ingredients such as nourishing macadamia nut oil keeps lids hydrated throughout the day. My final pick is the cream to powder eye liner in plum plus- this is the perfect colour palette to add an '08 twist to the classic black eyeliner/smokey eyed look and will look fantastic against black lashes!

As every woman knows a good base is all important for good skin and Jane Iredale has this covered. My top favourites are the Absence base with SPF 15 to not only protect the skin from sun damage but also controls oil, shine and can help minimise the look of pores! But my ultimate product has to be the Liquid Minerals which are light-diffusing, soft-focus minerals encapsulated with ingredients that can replenish the cellular layers of the epidermis. Liquid Minerals can make the skin look more youthful, diminish the appearance of lines and wrinkles, minimize pores, even out skin tone and adheres so well there is minimal transference. Its also available in 18 shades to suit all skin tones

I also adore their concealers. The Circe/Delete under eye concealer is fantastic for not only concealing under eye circles but also treats the under eye area with Vitamin K, A, C, D and E, as well as jojoba and avocado oil. And the Active Light concealer illuminates the skin, camouflaging signs of fatigue and dark circles and contains Vitamin K, buckwheat wax, cucumber and white tea extract to help reduce puffiness, lighten dark circles, tighten the skin and boost its immunity.

So Organic (http://www.soorganic.com/product.php?productid=1113&cat=37&page=1) is also fantastic for natural, face friendly products. I love the Sante eye shadows duo in Verde (72) which is BDIH certified and are natural pressed powders, rich in certified organic jojoba and chamomile extract, olive and essential oils that nourish and feed your skin. The Sante eyeshadow pencils are also fantastic with a creamy texture with natural waxes and certified organic jojoba and chamomile extract. My favourite is Olive to compliment the Verde eyeshadow or Pearl run along the lash lines tightly to open the eyes.

Eyeliners are make up bag staples and the Sante and Logona pencils are both BDIH certified and kind to the eye. The Logona pencils are even safe enough to use on both the inside and outside of the eyelid. My favourites are Spice and Schwarz.

I also love the Sante lip gloss pens in colours to suit everyone (and perfect for everyday wear) and Trend Sensitive Lipsticks in 14 colours enriched with jojoba oil and almond and its BDIH certified.

And finally because no outfit is complete without a coat of nail polish Sante have nail polishes available in 23 colours (sadly no black!) and are Phthalate, Formaldehyde, Toulene, colour lakes and preservative free.

And just because I adore red lips, I've fallen for this Green People Company natural lipstick in red shimmer with organic coconut cupuacu and jojoba oil and a cool menthol flavour.

Boden

2008-03-11T15:32:00.010Z

Now my love of Boden is no secret- not only did they produce my gorgeous leopard print ballet pumps but also my favourite floral coat, skirt AND dress as featured in my floral post and the latest catalogue has no shortage of divine pieces to tantalise and tickle your fashion taste buds. Now I wholeheartedly urge everyone to get the catalogue/go online and browse the whole collection for yourselves, but I thought I'd give you alittle taster of what on my current wish list!

This semi fitted belted coat in Sulphur is just stunning and the perfect finishing touch to any outfits (especially those neutral palettes!) Its 100% coated PU cotton with contast print lining and is also available in canvas and denim blue and makes damp british weather a pleasure!

This retro style boyleg swimsuit is divine- the polka dot print adds even more retro glamour, while the black just screams pin up. It features removable pads (to boost the bust which I definitely need!!), adjustable halter ties (halterneck to boost the bust and show off good shoulders and decolletage), a gentle scoop back and longer leg length leg shaping- the ultimate in classic, flattering swimsuits! There are also halterneck polka dot bikini tops with matching pants, a selection of ruffle detailied swimwear and a range of contract coloured pieces including bikini tops, tankinis, bikini pants and shorts.

This fitted jersey dress with bust pleating and full inverted pleat below the bust is gorgeous and the red palm leaf print is a fantastic spring/summer piece (follow their lead and pair with red suede peep toes for a fantastic outfit). Its also available in printed blue shell and neutrals of black and brown so theres something to suit everyone! For a classic timeless look, try the black version coupled with Boden's cerise jewelled peep toe slingbacks (shown above, also available in cocoa and jade and this quote from the website says it all 'I believe they call this a statement shoe- the statement being, ‘my God I have good taste in footwear, and am fully prepared to use it’) or the Thistle cork wedges below. Sadly the man doesnt come free with your order.

These cork wedges in suede with leather lining have fully padded soles for extra comfort and the Thistle shade is fantastic with blacks to add colour to your winter wardrobe and gorgeous with spring and summer fashions. They are also available in black and cocoa to compliment your whole wardrobe and a perfect new season investment. (They're also available in sizes 3-9)

Back to coats and this contrast trim coat is pure loveliness- its semi fitted and contrasting collar, front plackets, pockets, cuffs and hem details to add extra interest to an otherwise classic style. The Mole and turquoise combo is right on the money for me (I'm imagining a black full skirt dress just peeking out beneath it with patent ballet pumps), while the ivory and cocoa is the height of sophsication and the black with white detailing is a pure classic.

This ruffle cotton dress with fitted bust and full skirt is the essential timeless classic and is fully lined for modesty. It features pintuck and ruffle detailing and comes in a range of colours from summery coral and aqua to wardrobe staples of white and mole. (sadly again man and ice cream sold seperately!)

This star burst printed top with marbled beading neckline and pleated detailing is a gorgeous summer piece and would look as good now over a long sleeve black tee as it would against bare skin in the summer sun (spf and sun permitting!)

And just because you can never have too many wardrobe staple skirts, theres this button through chino skirt in a gentle a line style available in canvas, dark olive (both perfect to channel this summers safari trend without going OTT) and dark and vintage denim (a perfect alternative to jeans!). Just add a simple t-shirt (boden have a fantastic selection),shoes of your choice and a slouchy bag and off you go!

Now this is just a small selection of the stunning Boden catalogue so instead of taking my word for it, why not pop along yourself and have a gander (and tell them petticoat pirates sent you!)

Freemans

2008-03-11T15:09:00.005Z

Now shopping through the traditional catalogues, previously huge in the 80s and 90s has fallen out of favour, but I still think there are great buys to be had from them with a little bit of elbow grease and looking past the tacky/over priced/OTT goods. With that in mind I've gone through Freemans catalogue (their sister catalogue Oli is currently very in vogue!) and here are my top picks:

These are both in my shopping basket- the charcoal belted shirt dress is a classic shape updated with puff sleeves and the colour is a fantastic alternative to black (I'll be wearing mine now with black tights and boots and gladiator sandals come summer!). These pleated city shorts are fantastic and the choice of mauve and black is just too much to bear (so I've ordered one of each!) These are a fantastic alternative to jeans (as I no longer own any, I'm looking for as many jeans alternatives as possible!), can be dressed up or down, rain or shine and for any occasion. I'm thinking thick tights, patent ballet pumps and pea coats now- flat sandals and tank tops in summer! You could also add a short belted trench in taupe or olive for a safari lead look!

Next up is this fantastic selection of dresses- the organza shift is a fantastic party dress and a twist on the classic shift, the satin jewelled dress is pure glamour and very Katherine Heigl red carpet, the purple cross fronted dress has sexy secretary written all over it and the japan print dress is a gorgeous shape with a fabulous print! The spotted tea dress with skinny belt is just retro gorgeousness and would look divine with mary janes and is a pure classic!

Finally are these wide leg navy trousers- they have a fantastic fit, a great flattering cut, a choice of colours and the navy worn wide legged is pure nautical and so now it hurts! I'll be wearing these instead of jeans with gladiator sandals and a boat neck tee in the summer and with stripey socks, mary janes and a belted cardi now!

These are just a few of the fab pieces on offer now (some are even in the sale even though their from the newly released catalogue!), with free delivery and returns- I'm very impressed!

Up next on my journey of the catalogues is Boden..........

More new thingys!

2008-03-09T19:11:00.008Z

Well today turned into an impromptu shopping trip after visiting a friend (not that I need an excuse to shop although in my defense since putting on 1.5 stone, nothing fits so I have alot of clothes to replace and even more to put on ebay!).

I bought- as well as picking up an Estee Lauder advanced repair night duo set for £40 (such a bargain!), I also bought a striped nautical style blazer, nautical striped blue and white full skirted dress with collared bust, yellow and white striped full skirted dress with collared bust and cross over straps and a patent vinyl nautical style tote with red detailing and anchor print!

Only trouble is now I'm even more unsure of what to wear to the upcoming Christening (OUSA F&B forum readers will know all about my ongoing dilemma!)- do I stick with the black fit and flare dress with mary janes and pink tote bag, or go for the H&M fit and flare striped dress with mary janes (for a vintage dolly look!) or one of the new nautical dresses with a fitted black cardi and mary janes?

New shiny things!

2008-03-08T19:16:00.006Z

Well today I had a major set back- I tried to put on what I had planned to wear only for the trousers to be too small (the drawback of putting on 1.5 stone in 6 weeks is nothing fits including my 5 pairs of Killah black skinny tsubi lookalike trousers). I then tried on my jeans I was wearing only a few days ago- same problem except this time with overhang! I then tried my much loved tsubi lookalikeys and couldn't pull them past my knees- 7 pairs of jeans/trousers gone in an instant! (If there are any size 6 and 8 lovelies who are looking for some new trews including brand new Killah trousers and wants to make me an offer/get more info- just give me an email and look out on an ebay screen near you for my clothes *under my name blue_barbiekiller*. I've got 5 pairs of Killah black jeans to list (3 brand new, all size 26), one pair of black tsubi copies (size 6), one pair of black skinny jeans (size 8) that are a dream fit and a black and grey leopard print pencil skirt with zip detailing (size 8)- if you want any piccies/details etc, you know where to find me- plug over now!

So to console myself after 4 hours, 3 choc muffins and cream and 2 servings of roast lamb with the works, I'm very full and am pretty sure nothing else will fit soon! I did however receive my Boden Mini ballet pumps- check out these babies- best design feature ever- the bow is adjustable and tightening it actually changes the shape and size of the shoe to fit all feet/ankles so if they're abit loose, just pull the cord and hey presto they fit!

And I managed to get some great new season pieces from Sainsburys (I seem to get alot of my basic staples from there- I have a plethora of their tees and highly recommend the ruched v neck 3/4 sleeve tops, fairtrade cotton crew necks and 3/4 sleeve v necks). I bought this fabulous zebra print sweater in the sale for £7.50 which is just gorgeous and adds a little bit of life to an otherwise boring outfit. Safari is a HUGE trend this spring/summer so I knew I had to have this khaki military style fit and flare shirt and just because I adore nautical and cardis, I couldn't resist this longline black and white striped belted cardi (I also picked up 2 black 3/4 sleeve V necks and 2 Khakis and everything came to a massive budget friendly £54!)

It has spread!

2008-03-06T14:42:00.003Z

Now when I joked about jumpsuits not once but twice, I really didn't expect it to go anywhere............BUT NO, the holy grail that is Net A Porter have now got a dedicated category to the damn things! Containing not 1 but 12 of them! (Ok I will admit that at least 2 of them are actually very nice and I would wear the Stella McCartney all in one, Paul & Joe Sister playsuit and the Marc by Marc Jacobs cotton playsuit with my gladiator sandals and rock it) but who would wear these:

I am shocked and sickened that Tibi, my beloved label would create this black 80's MC Hammer throwback and the Anti Batik printed number looks like an odd geometric clown suit! (And the yellow Paul & Joe jumpsuit is just gross!)

If designers could resume normal services of taste and decency soon that would be fantastic, until then could we just burn all the jumpsuits (*note Miss Lauren is not advocating or condoning pyromania or the burning of disgusting articles of clothing, which are pure crimes against fashion and women everywhere*)

Topshop Hits

2008-03-05T15:23:00.004Z

As with any self respecting fashionista, when recovering from a late night theres no better way to pick yourself up than online shopping! So with that in mind, I hopped on over to Topshop (to find the pearl & anchor necklace) and found some smashing little pieces for you and me! (see I like to share!)

Up first is this adorable zip front bow print dress- now I realise its a hard cut to carry off for most women and will therefore only suit a select few as the front zip falls directly over the stomach and the ruching detail will only highlight the stomach and hips but I thought it was super cute and worth a mention (plus I'd quite like to see a curvy girl in that to give it real sex appeal- sadly me and my straight up, straight down body cant do that so its up to the rest of you!)

Or why not go for this chiffon bow print blouse fo lady like glamour in a much more wearable style? The keyhole cut on the bust adds that hint of sexiness along with the sheer chiffon, while the collar and puff sleeves add some ladylike secretary appeal- the perfect way to walk that sexy/ladylike line and win!

Next is this Richard Nicoll dress- its just divine- the cut with the pleated skirt and frill neckline, the stripe detail, the fact its richard nicoll (he designs for Kylie and we have the same industrial sewing machine!) make it a clear cut winner! Also for anyone afraid of the length (it looks short on the monitor) just add a pair of skinny or straight cut jeans and you've got the perfect ensemble, your still perfectly on trend and saving your dignity (no one wants to be britney and show the world your vajayjay)

And because you can never have too many black dresses- check out this frill front black dress and pleat front tea dress for on trend, designer inpired pieces that you can wear from now right through summer (with sandals, oversized sun hat and bright shades of course!) and back into autumn as black dresses never go out of fashion, no matter what the magazines try and tell you!

And just because its grey and ruffled means I was bound to adore this racer back ruffle tank top- the charcoal grey is the perfect foil to summer brights (and looks amazing with every womens wardrobe staple, black), the ruffles add much needed volume to the bust for flat chested girls, while the racer back shows off your shoulders and arms in the summer. For now try throwing it over a tight fine knit scoop or round neck jumper and jeans or over a crisp white shirt and pencil skirt

As I told you a few posts back, dip dye, the new tie dye, is going to be huge this summer but to avoid looking like a gyspy throwback, try going for unusual shades such as greys, blacks and reds (and be able to wear it now and be ahead of the fashion pack) like this skirt. Its absolutely gorgeous, very different and would look fantastic now with thick tights and some mary janes and then again with flat gladiator sandals and a tank top in the summer

And for the finishing touch to any outfit try this Abalone shell ring- perfect to add a summer touch to your winter wardrobe and perfectly suited for gorgeous (fake) tanned skin in the summer!

Sailor Girl

2008-03-05T15:13:00.004Z

As you might already have gathered, I have a love of all things nautical and sailor (did anyone else see the pearl stranded necklace from Topshop with black anchor detailing- divine!) and one of my favourite bits from the recent Sweeny Todd movie was when they were at the seaside (Johnny Deep looked adorable in his all in one striped suit!), so when I spotted this dress today in between essay writing, it was an instant attraction! Not only it is blue and white striped (the ultimate in nautical chic), it has a collar (I have a thing for collared dresses especially black dresses with white peter pan collars a la Wednesday from The Adams Family), large button up front AND a bow in the back! Personally the belt shown does nothing for me, the colour is all wrong and distracts me from the dress, I'd either go unbelted or try something more subtle (maybe pick out the shades of the dress) or go completely nautical and go down the rope belt avenue! I'm imagining my trip to the seaside to eat ice cream in it already (whilst wearing my anchor necklace of course!)

(Dress available from ASOS www.asos.com)

Run away to the circus!

2008-03-05T15:00:00.005Z

I'm slowly recovering from a very fantastic, late night last night watching an amazing show put on by The Rogue Theatre company called Madame Lucindas Wonder Show (what a fantabulous name!). Heres what you need to know:

Ever Dreamt of Running Away with the Circus?

Madame Lucinda is Mother, Father, Alter Ego, Devil, Angel, and Ring Mater as she tempts, cajoles and teases those whose needs ache and wounds sting to step up into her limelight. They’ll receive all that they crave but only at a price.

Step right up... see the faces behind the make-up, the stories of those who dared to dream. With live music, mesmerising vocals, illusion, magic, side splitting comedy, ballet, whip cracking, explosive physical performance and powerful narrative. Journey through the doors of the imagination into a world of mystery, spectacle and horror. Marvel at the exquisite heartache, the torturous hilarity and breathtaking magic.

Conceived and directed by Angelina Boscarelli the show reflects her experience of travelling internationally with the circus. The show mixes circus spectacle and passion with the real, the mundane and gritty stories of the people behind the make-up.
Based on poems and text written for the Wonder Show by Anna Maria Murphy (Kneehigh Theatre (Including Tristan and Yseult, Red Shoes and The Bacchae), Radio 4 and The National Theatre) and combining Rogue’s daring style, Madame Luicnda’s Wonder Show beautifully blends the innocent with the macabre, optimism in the face of the inescapable and the real with the fantastical.

It was absolutely fantastic (the make up was a particular highlight! As was the stripey tights!), the performances were so engaging (I sat riveted for 2.5 hours and thats not usual for me!) and above all else it was fun, different and everyone raved about it (much of the interval involved people saying 'did you see that?' 'wow, did you get think that too?' 'Wasn't that bit really good'? Oh and the odd 'did you see that man's arms' but of course I'd never go to see a play and focus on the fact theres attractive people in it, at all!)

So if you get the chance to go and see it or its coming to a stage near you, I urge you to go- it'll be worth every penny (I'm even thinking of going again!) For more info or for details of where they're going to be next, check out the links below!

http://www.roguetheatre.co.uk/shows_current.php

http://www.roguetheatre.co.uk/shows_tourdates.php

Why?

2008-03-04T17:54:00.004Z

Now I get it- Chloe Sevigny's kooky and quirky and alittle bit different yadda yadda (Take MK Olsen- I love her and even when shes wearing things I wouldn't personally wear- shes working it and owning it and looking fierce and you know people are going to be copying that at home) but for the love of god, who gave her a fashion line and whos going to buy it?

Don't get me wrong, I admire someone with individuality and breaks the rules and I sometimes find myself thinking she looks good but her clothing line called 'Opening Ceremony' looks like someone threw up the 80's/Clueless wardrobe department on her! Since when did women look in their wardrobe and think 'you know what I need- floral high waisted pegged jeans and a matching too short bustier top (oh and I'll team it with leopard print heels just to offset the look)'- I for one do not! (although I am all for leopard print heels!) As for the floral bustier detail dress over a t-shirt- has she ever heard of Luella Bartley (who does it so much better!) and the sleeveless tucked in blouse with super high waisted check skirt and leopard leggings and shoes- firstly sleeveless blouses don't appeal to the majority of women (bingo wings anyone, although Chloe obviously has never heard of them judging by that picture) and for those with breasts tucking shirts in is just a no no. As for the high waist under the bust skirt, how many real women have a waist so slim they could do that and not look like a barrel or a large uni-boob (I'm a size 8 and I'm pretty sure not even I could pull off that look!) and don't even get me started on the leopard print leggings/check/knee length skirt/leopard heels look- its just WRONG

See now if they gave Selma Blair a fashion line, then we'd be talking........................and in a good way!

Vegan Make Up

2008-03-04T15:47:00.008Z

Staying with shopping with a conscience, I've thought I'd share one of my top make up brands B cosmetics, made by Lush. The 'B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful' make up range is not only suitable for vegetarians but also vegans and is strictly against animal testing, but also some of the yummiest and most appealing ranges on the market. Not only do their products come in a wide range of colours, the packaging is also gorgeous and perfect for putting on show on your dressing table!

My top picks are:

The pressed eyeshadows are available in over 30 shades and are long lasting thanks to their base of almond oil, jojoba and rice bran. They also come in shimmer and matte tones. The jewelled pots are simply stunning and refills are also available- the ultimate in environmental and animal friendly make up! My favourites are 'Boogie', 'Belize' and 'Beatrix'

The jewelled heart shape tin of the Lip creams is simply gorgeous and the contents don't disappoint! Each is made from a conditioning base of shea butter, beeswax and jojoba and each is flavoured by either rose, chocolate and orange and finished with a dusting of gold leaf. What's more their available in 20 shades and there's one to suit all skin tones and palettes. For that 60's vibe, try 'Blast' with black flicked eyeliner or follow the stars and go for bold red lips with 'B Cause'.

Take a peek at this stunning cream foundation in a stunning glass bottle with metal shaped casing. Not only does the range come in 6 shades, its made with soothing rose petals to calm the skin and rice brain oil to make it last all day! For my pale skin, 'Binky' is a must!

These divine wooden carved pots hold a wealth of gorgeous glitter- perfect for that finishing touch! Its available in ten shades including bright jewel tones perfect for summer or the classic black glitter, which I'll be using with a wet brush to create a black glitter eyeliner!

And because a girl can never have too many brushes, they've created a range of jewel encrusted brushes including the make up bag essentials of an eyeliner brush, blusher and foundation brush!

The range also does a selection of beauty, hair and shower products, as well as fragrance- there's something for everyone (and they'd make the most perfect gifts for others- or yourself- there's no better gift than self gifting!)

(All available at http://www.lush.co.uk/IndexB.aspx)

Shoe Shopping with a conscience

2008-03-04T15:33:00.006Z

Now what better excuse than buying a pair of shoes than are not only comfortable, fashionable and affordable but will also help others? Look no further than TOMS shoes- for every pair of shoes you buy, they'll donate a pair to children in need. When working for Food4Africa, the company gave away 50,000 pairs to children in South Africa, protecting them from further infection and injury to their feet (Mossy Foot is a serious problem affecting communities) and allowing them to continue to get an education and attend classes. If enough people buy TOMS shoes, they're planning to donate 100,000 pairs in Ethopia this summer!!

The summer collection is inspired by traditional Agrentinean workmen's rope-soled shoes and the TOMS espadrilles are available in a range of lightweight fabric, prints and colours

The website does not currently ship to the UK (they're working on it though!) but are available in Selfridges and online at Karmaloop and Zappos.

So girls (and guys), get shopping and lets get children in need wearing shoes!!

Mothers Day Shopping Trip

2008-03-02T19:34:00.007Z

Well what else would the woman who created such a fashion addict want to do on Mothers Day but shop? On a trip to Next of all places, I managed to buy 2 pairs of shoes, a bag and a watch- all in the space of 3 minutes of walking in the door- the sign of a true fashionista?

Anyway as always I like to share and allow others to bask in the glory that is shopping, so here's the latest additions to my bulging wardrobe:

The Mother's Day present- these elastic peep toe sandals are gorgeous and have fantastic curved heels- very designer inspired (and very comfy!)- sadly they're not mine nor in my size but they're pretty to look at!

These little beauties are my first pair of proper high heels (I have size 2 feet so my only other pair of heeled shoes are from the now deceased Ravel children's range and are Miu Miu sparkly mary janes lookalikeys) as they're from an actual 'adult' range and are black leather mary janes with buckle and stud detailing and sole reviver soles (allows for flexible, breathable soles which are cushioned for comfort- they obviously work as I've been wearing them for the past 4 hours and they're still comfy!)

This is my new bag- its a bright fuchsia patent pink tote bag with buckle detailing and stitch detailing on the strap. It also has two main compartments as well as one zipped and very pretty white and fuchsia floral lining- who knew the girl who only ever wore black accessories would buy a brightly coloured bag, 2 weekends in a row? All I need know is the Barry M liquid eyeliner in pink and my outfit is complete (I'm wearing it with my new mary janes, navy matalan trench coat, black dress and new pink bag!)

And finally a new watch to replace my much loved turquoise Next watch that has departed this world. Note the turquoise stitching on its replacement- it perfectly matches my new turquoise bag! Oh and it tells the time too but that's always secondary to what it looks like!

Next up to arrive will be my La Redoute parcel- fingers crossed it fits and you'll all get to see what other delights I've bought! (Well that and I bought a pair of leopard print ballet pumps from Boden but they haven't arrived yet!)

Barry M

2008-03-02T19:02:00.004Z

Whilst on a Mother's Day shopping trip (more on that in another post!), I popped into Boots and couldn't resist the Barry M stand (again!) and couldn't believe how much their newest product 'Glitter Liquid Eyeliner' was a deadringer for Urban Decays Heavy Metal Glitter Liners. Its even available in the same colours and in my opinion goes on and stays on much better than the UD product (and for only £4.95!). The Barry M glitter liquid eyeliner is available in 7 sparkly colours including silver, iridescent, green, blue and gold (the silver was my favourite- i'm currently wearing it!)

I also couldn't resist their liquid eyeliner which again was a deadringer for Urban Decays Liquid eyeliner, right down to shades except in a much more user friendly application (and price!). I tested the pink, purple and green liquid eyeliners and was able to achieve an even line with one go (whilst perched on tip toes to look in the mirror at boots!) and its stayed on all day and even after getting wet! The colour is as fresh as when I first applied it (none of that tired end of the day colour) and it didnt smudge or run! Its available in 7 shades from classic staples like black and coffee shimmer to modern classics like green and purple to newer jewel tones like turquiose, blue and pink and costs a very purse friendly £4.50

Urban Decay have also just released a collection of loose pigments but why not try one of the originals (besides MAC) and use one of Barry M's 64 dazzle dusts which can be used on the eyes, face or lips- my particular favourites are Charcoal, Rust. Fig, Khaki and Mushroom but with 64 shades your bound to find your favourites too and at £4.50 a pot, why not go mad and get a few!

Also being the neutrals girl I am , I couldn't help but squeal with delight at the release of their grey nail paint (the vogue colour for nails) and my absolute must to counter this spring and summers brights and their newly released navy nail paint (perfect to add the finishing touch to your nautical outfit). If none of those float your boat, why not try one of their other 49 shades (including their neon and glitter collections) all for the crazy price of £2.95! (Also try their black nail polish in place of Chanels Black Satin and save yourself £15 and treat yourself to even more Barry M products!)

(all items available at http://www.barrym.co.uk/)

My Fall '08 loves

2008-02-28T15:46:00.007Z

Well the pictures of the Fall '08 shows are slowly being posted online and I thought its only right and my duty to show you whats going to be hot next fall and show you a few of my favourite looks

First up is Balenciaga- his current floral warrior dress does nothing for me but I actually liked some of the fall 08 pieces including this dress above (note its black, a dress and has a ruffle so i was bound to love it). I adore the neckline and the fitted top which flows into a tulip skirt, the ruffle is just fabulous although personally I'd prefer the thigh split sewn up to create a much more elegant, breakfast at Tiffany's style dress!

Staying with Balenciaga is this- now nothing does too much for me here, the top is blah and I'm not overly keen on the choice of fabric for the pants but it was the cut that got me- skinny and cut at the ankle is my all time favourite cut for trousers (so much so I own 5 identical pairs of Killah black skinny ankle length trousers with side zips) and makes the legs look long and lean (and is the perfect way to show off your shoes without looking too tried hard, although be sure to get a pair that fits right otherwise you may end up looking like you've just bought too short trousers!). This is one trend I've already been rocking for the past 3 months and will continue to do so, so good to see the designers taking notes from me- i like it!

Next is this gorgeous ruched, twisted detailed olive green dress from Burberry- Burberry make some fantastic dresses (and with Agyness Deyn as their main model wants not to love!) and I thought everything was right about this one from the gorgeous colour, to the wearable shape (and i adore those bracelets, bags and shoes!).

Now our next designer was my first ever 'The jurys out post' with his candy shift dress but for fall '08 Isaac Mizrahi had some fantastic pieces including lots of bursts of colour which was great against so much of the black that was shown elsewhere (i know I'm a black obsessive but even I need colour sometimes!) First up is this fantastic sienna coloured dress with coral waist and bust detailing. I adore the full skirted style of this dress and the way the contrasting colour at the band not only draws your eye to the waist but the way the fit and full skirt makes you waist look tiny. Plus the neckline is a must for showing off a gorgeous decolletage and a fantastic piece of jewellery while the blouson sleeves make your arms look thinner (and keep you warm!) Personally I would have put this with very thick black tights to really make the colours pop (love the shoes though!)

Staying with Isaac, I adore this outfit- the full purple woolen skirt is just stunning (i want it so badly!), while the black leather belt is just the perfect contrast with the purple (without looking like a bruise) and again makes the waist look smaller when contrasted with the fullness of the skirt. My only criticism is again the tights (i don't do opaques- its thick black tights or nothing!) and I'm not overly keen on the top which reminds me of a ballet leotard- I would have gone for a scoop neck top- not overly original but its every women's staple and could have made the outfit appeal to us ordinary women. I'd also love to see this skirt in black, a red and a bold print as I think its one of the most versatile skirt shapes and one that makes women feel both feminine and sexy.

My final Isaac pick was this one above- its so un-me- the pastel colours aren't usually my think but i saw this and thought it was darling and very grease (but in a good way!). I adore the silhouette and think it just looks fabulous although maybe more of a spring outfit rather than for fall as I think adding a coat for warmth would swamp the outfit and it'd lose its shape and impact (I would adore a version of this in either all black or black and red or even black and white- just imagine how good that'd be!)

Now for a lady who I love- I adore Alice Temperley- i think shes fantastic and lovely and just amazing (plus shes a Somerset girl so I feel kinship with her!) so I had to make a few picks from her '08 show. The above dress is just gorgeous (although do ignore the blouse and boots which are horrid!)- I adore the colour and think it really perks up the winter mood (and would look fantastic with black accessories which are every women's winter staples) while the tiered tulip skirt is very fashion forward but still wearable. I would add a black cashmere or fine knit scoop neck top underneath it and some black patent ballet pumps (with thick black tights of course)

And these black leather trousers are just yummy- they're so Kate Moss and would be perfect for anyone daring enough to re-create her leather trouser/black tuxedo jacket ensemble- personally I'd just wear them with a simple white t-shirt and sweater and let the trousers do the talking (doesn't Lilly just look divine in them though and that hat really suits her! Not sure about the blouse and waistcoat though!)

(all photos courtesy of http://www.style.com/)

For the love of god why?

2008-02-28T15:43:00.005Z

When I mentioned jumpsuits in one of my earlier posts, I was joking and really didn't expect them to filter down into the more 'high street' stores but apparently they did and this is the result- feast your eyes on this monstrosity by Laundry Industry available at ASOS

Please tell me no one in their right minds would buy this- I mean it looks like a clowns costume thats gotten shrunk in the wash! And £270- just think how many pairs of jeans that is!

Lara Bohinc

2008-02-28T13:44:00.008Z

Lara Bohinc, the London based designer (http://www.larabohinc107.co.uk/) is one of my all time favourites- her pieces are instantly recognisable as her own and add instant glamour to any outfit (and they have just enough shininess for me!) and her use of plaited chain and innovative design is simply gorgeous (see her Luna eclipse necklace below for proof)

With that being said not all of us have that much money to spend on clothes, let alone accessories so I've found some jewellery in a homage to Lara Bohinc but at a fraction of the price!

ASOS have really gone all out and re-created these stunning Lara Bohinc solar eclipse bracelet and marina rosette ring. The top row of pictures are all the originals whilst those below are ASOS's homage (the asos ring is available in both silver and gold)

Next up is Accessorize with their Lux plaited bracelet which perfectly captures the essence of Lara's plaited metal detailing and intertwining design

This Topshop belt in contrasting shades of black and black snakeskin is very reminiscent of the Lara Bohinc lunar eclipse belt (shown right), albeit in a more wardrobe and purse friendly option (it also has elasticated back for comfort and ease of sizing which is even better!)

(All items http://www.asos.com/, http://www.monsoon.co.uk/icat/accessorize http://www.topshop.com/)

The jurys out yet again

2008-02-28T11:30:00.003Z

Now Viktor and Rolf are known for their unusual designs and quirky ideas but I think theyre Paris Fall 2008 catwalk collection took things just that little bit too far

Where does one wear a trench coat with 3D foam lettering and gold staples detailing or the yeti coat with WOW written on it (I'm pretty sure the wow is ironic but with these guys you just never know!) Also just think how cute the 'no' trench would have been without the foam lettering- it would have been gorgeous- also it makes her look like she has a giant concave breast which I'm not entirely sure is the best way to get you noticed? And how on earth do you get through small doorways wearing them 'dream on' trench- imagining get stuck in a tight space wearing that and having to be rescued by the emergency services! I have nothing good to say about the yeti coat- it looks like a gaint cat threw up a massive fur ball on the model! Although I am kinda loving the padded olive boots- its futuristic solider warrior to the extreme..................

Warehouse

2008-02-27T21:41:00.006Z

Now I'm not a huge lover of the high street store Warehouse- in the past I've had a few good buys including my favourite skirt (it was their full greyish colour wrap skirt a few years ago) and my favourite top (which i sadly ebayed awhile back and have regretted since so if anyone have a warehouse tiger print v neck top with flutter sleeves and tie back in a stretchy cotton and wants to sell it- contact me!) but lately I've felt everything has been too expensive and too trendy and just not me but not anymore! While online tonight, I had a peek out of curiosity and fund some divine dresses and had to share them!

Up first is this red poplin 3/4 length sleeve shirt dress- this is such a classic piece and would work well through out the year, for any occasion- for summer, I'm imagining it with my beloved gladiator sandals and through winter with thick thick black tights and patent ballet pumps *sigh*, bliss (try pairing it with the patent ballet pumps from New Look)

Next up is this floral prom dress- i posted recently about florals being huge and this prom dress ticks all the right boxes and is very Luella (and nothing is better than a homage to Luella except Luella itself)

This linen full pleat dress is just scrumptious and is very Bottega Veneta and just gorgeous for summer with sandals and a little cardigan and will remain fashionable for seasons to come (even better as it means more money for other items!) and would look fantastic with New Look's burberry style snakeskin sandals in both gladiator and heeled variety

Dip dye (the new term for tie dye) is set to be huge this summer and this dress is very Kate Moss- I can just see her wearing this with gladiator sandals (and for us mere mortals over skinny jeans!)

The return of the full skirt means alot of prom dresses and retro styling and this dress is head above the rest for its retro style and fit, great detailing and amazing feel good factor- an instant classic!

(all items http://www.warehouse.co.uk/)

Ahoy me hearties!

2008-02-27T21:17:00.006Z

As always Nautical is going to be big again this Spring/Summer (and yes for the likes of me that does mean dressing like is officially fashionable so time to don your eye patches and parrot) and as always I'm on hand to provide you with alittle style inspiration ranging from high street to alittle bit more high brow but all with a common nautical theme!

For a casual nautical style, nothing beats tops and here are a few of the alternate options to your standard stripes

Both tops are from ASOS and the one of the left is a fitted cotton top with V neck collar and bow with double button front design and a concealed zip fastening (perfect with jeans), while the other is a low cut cotton vest top with eyelet and rope detailing (pefect again with jeans or full skirts and sandals)

Another way to capture the trend is to opt for a dress- these two dresses are very different but both capture the nautical trend

This on the left is a Paul & Joe sister dress from ASOS and is a stripe silk wrap dress with frill sleeve detailing (perfect for anyone wanting to throw themselves fully into the deep end of the nautical theme), while the other is the Milly Doris V neck dress with contrast banding (this classic styling of white and navy just subtle screams 'at the yacht club' and is perfect for anyone wants a stylish, but on trend dress)

For nautical inspired skirts, then look no further than this Milly Terry Newport skirt-its a white drawstring skirt with gold eyelet and rope detailing and is th, e perfect casual skirt this summer

And a super easy way to channel this trend is the Warehouse stripe belted mac- its white with navy stripe just looks the nautical part- pair with jeans and wedges for a stunning summer look

And finally what round up of nautical fashion wouldn't be complete without the usual stripy jacket and this one from Topshop is perfect as its 'boat stripe' name implies it captures the essence of the nautical trend but is subtle enough to be able to through on over dresses and jeans alike and not feel stupid or too try hard

(Items from http://www.asos.com/, http://www.net-a-porter.com/, http://www.shopbop.com/, http://www.topshop.com/ http://www.warehouse.co.uk/

Lady Luck Rules Ok!

2008-02-27T20:54:00.005Z

Next up on my top places for fun and unusual accessories is Lady Luck Rules Ok and is the place to go for all things brightly coloured, fun and funky!

I love this Raygun enamel necklace with a mini lightning bolt on it- the black is just sparkletastic and it even has matching earrings! Unleash your inner superwoman and get those baddies!

Staying with my new Spring approach and embracing all things springy, I've found this apple acrylic ring- I'll be throwing this on with my black skinny jeans and plaid shirts and will fondly recall spring everytime i look at it...............

Ok so its not the most practical of purses, but its pink and has cherries and duckies on it! Retotastic to the max, this little number is the perfect pary purse and for all those times when you only need cash or change on you (alternatively I'd use i)t to stash all my 'feminine' goodies like tampons etc- its not pretty or fun, but its nature and it happens so why not make it mildly amusing?)

These purple glasses just instantly make me smile- I hope they do it for you too!

This cutie pie dress reminds me of a really cool 80's disco dress and I'm ashamed to admit I love it! I'm off to don my pixie boots as we speak.............

And this is the perfect summer dress to wear with your flirty heels for an ice cream by the seaside (or in my case 2 clotted cream chocolate ice creams and going bare foot)

(All items http://www.ladyluckrulesok.com/)

Shana Logic

2008-02-27T20:21:00.004Z

Now I'm the kinda girl that likes unusual jewellery- at the moment I'm wearing a diamante sparkly lightning bolt ring on one hand and a custom made Jack Skellington face ring on the other- I have a breast plate type necklace made in black plastic from Accessorise that I adore because its strange- I like my jewellery odd, unusual and very quirky (if it happens to be black, sparkly and skull like then more the better!) and so I thought a few posts I'd dedicate to my favourite stores for unusual jewellery and some of my top picks and first up is Shana Logic (formerly Pixelgirl shop)

I adore this KaraLee Designs ring with a miniature silver toned skull against a deep pink glitter background- its just so cute and sparkly (and perfectly matches my skull earrings!)

This cupcake necklace by Dollyday is just retro kitsch at its best and would amazing with a vintage 50s dress and peep toe heels- i especially love the use of mirror, rhinestones and it even has a lock and key clasp- yummy!

These Phillip Head post earrings by Individual Icons are just true hardcore awesomeness- how much do i need a pair! (I just kinda love the idea of everyone going 'oh my god, do you have screws in your ears!)

This punk heart padlock choker by Marty Flint is just divine and the heart padlock adds just an edge of girliness to the hard edge of the padlock and chunky metal chain- I've been lusting after this one for a while now!

Another Marty Flint item, this punk rhinestone padlock choker is just fabulous and I adore the rhinestones of the padlock to add that extra bit of sparkle to my outfit but still keep it not looking very girly- perfect to outset a feminine outfit!

And a few little extras

I adore this skull and polka dot hair clip by Ukiyo5- I'd wear it as a brooch though as my pixie cropped hair just doesn't do hair clips!

This Shirk Design tattoo amore headband is gorgeous and perfectly matches the Alexander Henry fabric of this tattoo print I have in black- the perfect combination to add pin up tattoo glamour to your outfit!

(all items https://shanalogic.com/index.php)

New Look

2008-02-27T14:35:00.012Z

See now I'm good but apparently I missed the fact that New Look now has an online store (i know I too am disgusted at myself!) but thanks to our divine fashionsta Sam, we are now fully aware and ready to shop! Here are a few of my current online favs:

I have a thing for bows and this pencil skirt is just fab (plus at £18 such great value even if you only wear it one season and then donate it to me)- I'm imagining it with green snakeskin heels (they have some in black court style available) or these black patent peep toe heels and a white tank top (i like the contrast between smart and casual)

I love this pleated shirt dress- it ticks almost all my boxes (if it was in plaid then it'd be perfect but we can't have everything!)- its black, its pleated, its a shirtdress (which never dates) and has a 40's vibe which I just can't get enough of- just add mary janes and watch those envious glances roll in!

This check bomber is just so me- I can just see me now wearing it with my black skinny jeans and suede ballet pumps and my new turquoise bag which I'm obsessed with- I'm almost a little teary eyed at the thought!

And just because everyone should own something leopard print is this leopard print tank top in the sale which would be perfect over a black short sleeve shirt and a pencil skirt or over a t shirt and jeans

Patent, check, brogue, check, shoeboot, check, 20s vibe, check- what more does one want from a shoe? They're the perfect shoe and combine so many trends they cant fail to impress! (a huge thank you to Sam for putting me onto these babies- if you do buy them be sure to post piccies!) Now all I need is a flapper dress and I'm all good for the 20's.........

These patent flats are a Chloe lookalike at a fraction of the price and are simply scrumptious and also come in a dark cherry red- sex in a shoe me thinks!

These patent sandals have a touch of Burberry about them and for that alone means you have to buy them, let alone the fact they're simply gorgeous!

I'm a totally gladiator sandal addict and have been for the past 3 summers and these are my ultimate as not only are they gladiator style but are black snakeskin which makes them even more covetable

This cross over bag in black snakeskin might even be better than my new turquoise bag- now if only they'd make it 10x bigger!

(All items http://www.newlook.co.uk/women/store.aspx)

Something to make you go mmmmmmmm

2008-02-25T13:39:00.013Z

Well after another bank mishap (I say mishap when actually it was just plain laziness but still it was a chance to debut my new turquoise bag), I decided to console myself with some new make up (and a Greggs chicken slice) and so popped on over to Boots.Now as someone who hasn't been to a Boots make up counter in a long time, since when did they get so much good stuff? Not only did I find make up that was a deadringer for more expensive beauty items but make up essentials for the same price as a Starbucks coffee!

Heres my top picks (and some of my actual purchases)

The Natural Collection eye shadow in Moss Shimmer (£1.69)- use this with a wet brush and apply along the lash line in place of Urban Decay's Acid Rain liquid eyeliner and save yourself over £9 or dry and instead of Urban Decay's Urb eyeshadow (I'm wearing the naturals collection eye shadow as eyeliner topped off with some 17 liquid liner- im very impressed, even though at my first attempt I looked like some sicko clown with a black fetish had attacked me)

Try 17's solo eyeshadows (£2.79) in Punky purple, Damnson, Grey and Black or Rimmel's colour rush mono eye shadow (£3.49) in Intense and Jet Black to rival Urban Decay's eyeshadows in Fishnet, Ransom, Zero and Sting.

Instead of Lancome's Juicy Tube in Cerise, try 17's Sheer Shine Lip Gloss in Strawberry Sundae (£3.79) and save yourself just under £9

Swap Korres Lip Butter in Pomengranate for 17's Lip Glaze in Secret Smile (£3.79) for almost half the price

And finally for a much cheaper take on Chanel's insanely popular, sold out Black Satin nail polish, use Barry M's classic nail polish in black (£3) and save yourself £15

Blooming hell!

2008-02-24T22:17:00.005Z

According to the runways, designers and magazines, this season is all about the florals- on dresses, skirts, jackets- you name it, they've floraled it! Even the celebs have caught on- just take Lilly Allen who was seen wearing a floral strapless dress AND a pink floral sundress all from Prada's Resort 2008 collection in the same week.

With that in mind, I thought I'd do all the hard work for you and bring you some of the current floral items available

Online and catalogue lovelies Boden have caught the floral bug and produced not one but three silk linen floral pieces. The silk linen floral dress with cap sleeves and pleated detail is tres chic, while the floral coat is a fantastic wardrobe updater- just pair with last seasons jeans and dresses and no one will notice, they'll be too busy admiring your amazing coat, while the skirt is the perfect side of prim and proper and we love it with peep toe heels for that pin up bombshell effect (I'd even go for the cardi and pearls look but I just like to throw all my eggs into one basket!)

For anyone looking for something abit more relaxed but as equally as impressive, try this Adele Laden maxi floral dress from ASOS with a sashed waist and tiered shoulders to create a shapely, romantic figure- its the perfect dress for taller ladies (think Elle MacPherson the queen of maxi dresses and pair with flat sandals for a stunning summer look)

This Topshop blouse is a gorgeous floral sheer tea blouse in black with ruched busting and an empire line waist panel and is the pefect spring time piece- it'll look fantastic wih everything from jeans to a line skirts and is fantastic for anyone wanting to try the trend in a more subtle way

These gorgeous retro delights from the Red Dress Shoppe are fantastic for anyone wanting a more vintage touch to their floral trend. This 50s style house dress is made from floral print cotton poplin has vintage button style loop closure in the bodice and a lighlty gathered pleated yoke skirt and is just mouth watering! The 'Dolly' halter top has fold over trim mini box pleat detailing around the edges and white covered buttons on the bodice and is made from cotton. This is a darling vintage style top and would look delicious with a pencil skirt to complete the vintage ensemble or a pair of skinny jeans to bring it back up to date.

Items available from: http://www.boden.co.uk/
http://www.asos.com
http://www.topshop.com
http://www.reddressshoppe.com/

Reliving my (non) youth

2008-02-24T21:43:00.006Z

For anyone living under a rock and not watching Ashes to Ashes (the topic discussed around water coolers across the nation), the 80's are apparently back (although they've been back for season upon season). With this and the fact by the time the 80s ended I was a mere 2 years old the fashion by passed me (ive yet to decide if this is good or not yet!) and well I've been felling abit left out and decided to investigate so of the 80's fashion concepts, mainly the bubble (or tulip) skirt.

It all started with me wanting to make a different style of skirt than what I usually make (full, A line, flared etc) and thought 'everyone always says how awful bubble skirts are, can I make one and pull it off' and in the name of research decided to get some inspiration from the designers (and well i dont really need much of an excuse to get on net a porter!). I was really really suprised at how many gorgeous bubble/tulip skirts there are around- I thought I'd have trouble finding one yet it looks like the designers have worked their magic on this 80s throwback! As for my tulip skirt, its currently cut and ready to be sewn (after my usual full and A line skirt that is) and will be posting it as soon as its done for the fashionistas verdict!

See by Chloe - this is my favourite and is a really wearable shape and style- this is what I'm using as the inspiration for mine although mine is a black and red plaid material (im a sucker for a plaid!)

Hanii Y - such a cute longer style with satin waistband and stragetic pleating both front and back to create a flattering and wearable tulip shape- perfect for the office

3.1 Phillip Lim - a trend wouldn't be a trend with Phillip Lim getting in on the act and giving us his interpretation and this lace bubble skirt is simply gorgeous and sits the bar high for any other designer. This is a fantastic evening piece (it also makes me want to butcher my lace shift dress to recreate it!) and sure to get people talking in a good way!

3.1 Phillip Lim - again he surpasses himself with this stunning chinese silk style bubble high waisted skirt- this is a show stopping piece and is just so yummy and gorgeous- I just can't say enough about it!

Development - this is the ultimate casual bubble skirt and bang on the nautical trend with the rope belt and grey cotton canvas twill fabric. Perfect for anyone wary of the tulip skrit trend as the pleat creates a soft shape and the fabric lends itself to a casual, everyday attire- perfect for the weekend, just add a plain white tee and your good to go!

Whatever next for my 80's fashion throwback challenge- any ideas ladies?

(All items available at http://www.net-a-porter.com/intl/Home.ice)

Tis the season to shop like its going out of fashion

2008-02-24T21:13:00.002Z

After a very successful campaign of eating everything in sight (supervised by my gp of course!) and putting on half a stone in three weeks (a grand stone in all!), my clothes have officially begun to be too tight (so much so i wriggled into a pair of jeans yesterday only to have a 5" gap between the button and the buttonhole- i spent the next hour trying to remove myself from them!) so therefore i now have the perfect excuse to go shopping!

After a short trip the nearest Mall (Cribbs Causeway if anyone is interested), a few hours of shopping and lots of snacking and eating later and I now have 2 new dresses, 2 new tops and a bag to add to my wardrobe (also as i type this im currently buying 4 pairs of jeans online!)

Strangely they're all from H&M- now im not a H&M hater, its just the store is always so cluttered and overfilling with stock that everything gets all messy and stained (or lives on the floor) and its full of 'young adults' and lots of cheap through away fashion or things that are so indecently short that they could be belts (i am allowed to say this given I am 20 and managed to look like mutton dressed as lamb!)

Well today H&M has been REBORN- there was a new layout- no clutter, no mess- everything had a place and you could actually get to the racks and they werent overflowing with stock. There was no blaring music- you could actually hear yourself speak andyou could actually try clothes on because there weren't massive queues and for once the clothes were gorgeous (i admit there were still lots of bonkers 'trend' lead bits but there was also a hell of alot of smart, yummy looking clothing!)

And so without further ado here are my new clothes (with awful photos taken by my own poor photographically skilled hands):

First, we have the wrap over ruched blue and white striped shirt- this I just grabbed on the way to the tills as an after thought- it looked cute, i thought 'why not' and I'm glad I did as I love it. The puff shoulders are adorable, the ruching on the neckline adds oomph to my tiny ta tas and makes me feel just that little but smarter and more grown up (i was wearing it with skinny jeans and black suede pointy ballets and a black top so not quite sure if i looked that grown up!)

Next is the black shirtdress with ruched panel detailing on the waistline to give the waist more emphasise (and a slimmer look) by creating volume at the bust and hips for a curvier figure- i loved this and wanted one in every colour as it just felt good on, fits gorgeously and is so comfy- the perfect sling it on and look fantastic dress!

Staying with dresses, this white and black striped shirt dress has a gathered waist giving in that cinched in tiny waist look and a flared skirt giving you shape in all the right places (which on my boyish frame isnt easy!) and its just a complete winner in my books (the pictures dont do it jsutice at all- it looks fab on- I might even try and get an 'action shot' to prove it!)

Then is a top my mum picked up for me- its a blue and white striped (spot a theme for H&M) top with button down neckline and drawcord empire line style waist that allows for a more fitted style. The sleeves (or lack of) are really interesting too as the cut adds definition to the shoulder area and highlights toned arms (i wish!)

Finally its this delicious turquoise leather bag with pleat detailing- i saw this and instantly had to have it given my wardrobe is made up of mostly blacks, indigos and greys- i just loved the pop of colour especially against something as stark as the outfit i was wearing (all blacks, navys or leaopard print!) and for £9.99 whos complaining!

Braving the rainy season

2008-02-22T22:26:00.011Z

Its the rainy season again here in the UK (when isn't it) which means in your leaving the house a good waterproof coat and brolly are a must but you dont have to compromise on style when looking for the perfect coat this season as some unlikely places have got you covered!

First up is Matalan (who for the third season in a row have offered up some fantastic pieces). They have a fantastic selection of coats with highlights including:

- a navy blue double breasted belted trench coat with gold edged buttons (for that naval, nautical feel which is huge this season) and pleated back yoke for £20 from a size 8 upwards- I actually own this coat and have worn it everyday for 2 weeks as I simply adore it (and thats from a trench coat addict who owns another two but have since put them in the back of my wardrobe as this is all I need!)

- a selection of swing jackets including black with large 3 button fastening and bracelet length sleeves with button detail £20 sizes 8 upwards

- belted trench coats in beige and coral for £20 sizes 8-20

- two 60s style coat with clean lines- available in black and a gorgeous white and black print (such a stand out piece for me!)

Next up is Sainsburys who have a fantastic showerproof black trench coat with seam detailing, a full buttoned front and was only £35- it was the ultimate classic and very 60's looking (it acutally reminded me alot fo See by chloes new season blue cocoon coat)

La Redoute also has a fantastic selection of coats and jackets in their new catalogue including:

- a Soft Grey trench coat in coated linen, cut on the hip with a pleated back yoke (available in indigo, black and white, sizes 6-18 and £55) and swing jackets in cotton twill with long pointed down cuffs, button flap pockets and inverted pleat back yoke in mouse grey, white, powder pink, black and white and in sizes 6-20 for £29.

-They also have a selection of classic double breasted style trench coats with slanted pockets, button down flap front, adjustable strap cuffs (and a knife pleat on the back of the long version) available in either the 'traditional' or hip length and in pure cotton with a water repellent treatment. The hip length is £35 whilst the longer is £39 and both are in sizes 6-22 and in grey beige, white, coffee and black.

Wallis has a trench coats available online in the sale including red, navy, stone and ivory double breasted belted collared full length trench coats (for £45 reduced from £65), a black petite trench coat and navy, ivory and blue hip length double breasted belted showerproof macs (£35 reduced from £45)

Topshop has this absolutely gorgeous swing thigh length mac in textured cotton herringbone blue for £75 and in sizes 6-16 (this is just a stunning coat and one that will never age in my opinion- if i didnt already own too many coats, I'd buy it like a shot!)

and a more casual double breasted belted trench coat with toggle fastening in charcoal grey for £55 in sizes 6-16

Deliciously Dark

2008-02-22T22:11:00.003Z

Well it couldn't last- all that colour and talk of spring- I've gone back to my dark black soul roots and have decided to share one of my best kept secrets with you. If you haven't already heard of Pearl Lowe (mother of Daisy Lowe, the model (who's father is Gavin Rossdale who's married to Gwen Stefani), ex member of Primrose Hill set, partner of danny from supergrass) make room for her on your 'must have' list. She began her design company in 2001 using lace to make curtains and table cloths but has since expanded into making clothing using lace and vintage ideas and styling and has produced some of the most exquisite and delicioulsly dark and enchanting clothing I've ever seen (and ive seen alot of deliciously dark clothing!)

Pearl herself and often her daughter Daisy can be seen wearing her creations and showing them off to their full potential, showing that her designs and creations spane generations of women and can appeal and more importantly, suit a variety of women in terms of age, body shape and beauty

Exceptional pieces for me include Peggy (a full skirt lace dress), Annie (a lace shift dress with cap sleeves and lace corsage detail), Sylvie (an empire line gathered waist dress with tie neck closure) and Iris (a frothy mini skirt lace dress with long blouson sleeves) but everything is beautiful and breathtaking in its own right (even if you only go for the pictures alone its worth it!) Theres also a range of stunning curtains and cushions to add deliciously dark influence to your decor

http://www.pearllowe.co.uk/dresses.htm

Ruffles

2008-02-22T21:15:00.009Z

All this talk of spring has got me all wistful for a little sun and for some unknown reason ruffles (if anyone can tell me why that'd be great unless its one of those 'lauren' quirks and then so be it)

Maybe its the romantic, innocent edge they lend to an outfit that makes an overtly sexy short dress look just that little bit innocent and girly (like when you coyly look at someone through your eyelashes). Maybe its the fact it can make a plain item look interesting and add so much needed texture and definition to certain areas of your body (flat chested girls like me take note!)

Maybe its just because I'm an obsessive lover of all things ruffled, pleated and gathered (well and plaid but that's another story)

Anyway here are some items full of ruffley goodness:

Karen Zambos Vintage Couture Front Ruffle Dress- this is a brand loved my Selma Blair (so you'll be in good company!) and this dress is made from 100% silk and has a solid pin tucked bib with ruffled edging

Paul & Joe Da Le Vie Ruffle Front Shirtdress- I just love the fact the ruffles make it look quite formal and 'tie' like- perfect in keeping with the shirt dress style!

Juicy Couture Cascading Ruffle Dress- This is true feminine flirty romance as its best with this silk chiffon ruffle fronted dress- I imagine this to be the perfect dress to wear going on a romantic stroll around Paris (can you tell I'm a hopeless romantic? And that I also have never been to Paris?)

Moschino Cheap & Chic Sleeveless Ruffle Dress- because a feature of ruffles just wouldn't be complete without Moschino Cheap & Chic (and i like to think just one day they'll give me freebies for mentioning them so much- i like to dream!) This dress gets extra points for not only having a fantastic ruffle front but also a lovely gathered back (2 things i love in one dress-make it in plaid and then it'd be perfect, although black is my favourite colour!) I would love to see it in the emerald green that the Moschino Cheap & Chic ruffle skirt is made in- it'd be the ultimate spring/summer dress!

(all items available at http://www.shopbop.com/)

Spring has sprung!

2008-02-22T20:57:00.004Z

Finally something to get me excited about spring and wearing something other than jeans- I present to you the Moschino cheap & chic silk ruffle skirt

This delicious creation is green silk satin ruffled and tiered on a narrow waistband with a side zip fastening- isn't it just yummy? I'm imagining it with a black t-shirt and some ballet pumps (or gladiator sandals because I currently have about 3 pairs of them in my wardrobe from last summer which I adore but didnt get a chance to wear what with the floods and all! Least if we flood again I could do it in (more) style- wellies and moschino silk skirts anyone?)

The jurys out on this one.............

2008-02-22T20:49:00.002Z

From the front a stunning candy coloured shift dress (its adorable isnt it- just imagine that on a gorgeous spring day contrasting with my pale pasty skin and freckles!)

But from the back a whole other story:

Now part of me wants to like it (part of me does like it- the weird, quirky side of me who likes bustles and bows and the way helena bohnam carter dresses so much so i actually want to be her) but the majority of me is thinking WHAT (especially when i see the price tag of £2,045) £2045 for actually making your bum (and upper back) look bigger- since when did (most) women want their bums to look bigger? Well i suppose at least if you ever need a sit down you've got a built in cushion ready and waiting for you?

Come on guys, what do you think of this Isaac Mizrahi creation: mad genuis or just mad?

Cold winter blues

2008-02-22T18:26:00.013Z

Given the current weather in the UK (grey, rainy and all round miserable) and the fact the stores are currently full of gorgeous spring and summer wear (for which its mainly too cold to wear) I thought it was time to find a few pieces to brighten up the dull cloudy days and put a smile back on my face (nothing raises a girls spirits like shopping, well almost nothing!)

To start with (and just because I'm a ballet pump addict) I've spotted these tres chic patent ballet pumps from the La Redoute (http://www.redoute.com) catalogue to brighten up any outfit and chase away the bad weather blues. They're an absolute steal at only £9, range from sizes 2-9 and come in a fabtastic 8 colours (including yellow, blue and green to name a few). They're also available in wedge and court heel versions. What more could a girl ask for (except one in every colour)?

What better to go with some new shoes that a wardrobe staple: jeans! A girl can never have too many pairs of jeans (especially when they fit like a glove) and these babies fit the bill to a T. Made by Cheap Monday, these tight grey skinny jeans have a fantastic fit, come in a wide range of sizes and are only £40. They also make skinny jeans in various other colours (available from Urban Outfitters as well as a host of other online stores)

An essential for the coming months is a summer dress and this nautical beauty is called the Bon Voyage starburst dress from the Red Dress Shoppe (http://www.reddressshoppe.com/). The cotton eyelet starburst dress is cut in a sailor style with a V neck, A line skirt with a 'sailor' style flap embroidered with 'bon voyage' and a front collar tie. The heart applique is also actually a fully functional pocket. The perfect dress to bring a smile to your face and some fun to your wardrobe and its on sale!

Staying with dresses, is this Heaven & Earth leopard empire line dress with a frilled bib and long blouson sleeves from ASOS (http://www.asos.com/) Its a show shopper in itself and needs nothing more than a smile to get heads turning!

And just because every girl wants to feel like a sex kitten, there's this stunning dress from Danger Dame (http://www.dangerdame.com/) Doesn't Veronica Varlow look positively smoking hot in this little number! Its made from a stretch leopard fabric and has black lace trim on the bust and can be worn on and off the shoulder- get ready to set some hearts abeating ladies!

All good things come to those who wait............

2008-02-22T17:24:00.009Z

I'm finally up and running and now its time for show and tell- for todays item of lust I've found these gorgeous little darlings:

These divine 'Gwen-Stefani-eat-your-heart-out' shoes are from the amazing Mod Cloth website (http://www.modcloth.com/) and are the perfect shoes for any vampy vixen (or in my case vampy vixen wannabe!)