A Sixties Birthday

Last week I celebrated/mourned turning another year older with a lovely bunch of good chums, good music and lots of monochrome and colour.

Sounds: Jake Bugg

 

It's refreshing to hear a real songwriter on the radio among all the manufactured R&B artists and shitious dub step - all hail Jake Bugg! Sadly from some of his interviews I have read he sounds like he could be a bit of an asshole, but I'm really enjoying his first record. A nod to Bob Dylan, some decent rhythms to stamp my feet to and heartfelt lyrics. I look forward to checking him out live at Glastonbury.

Getting off the freeway makes you realise how important love is...

A lesson in looking chic... Michelle Williams

Bracelets with charm: Support ShelterBox this Christmas!

Shop Topshop/ShelterBox bracelets HERE

I've been working on this campaign for a while now and so I'm so proud to see it go live this week! Instore and online now at Topshop, four disc charm bracelets (or necklaces, or bag charms - however you want to style them up!) for only £2 each, with £1 from every sale donated to international disaster relief charity ShelterBox. Find more about the amazing work that ShelterBox do HERE.

Granny-Oh

Granny's Closet: Wildfox Resort 2012/13

Yet another delicious campaign from Wildfox

Homemade

I am really enjoying making zip clutches at the moment (when I can find the time!). Here are my two latest DIYs. I will be putting up a how-to at some point soon. They're pretty easy to make and I have lots of ideas in mind for different designs. I really should buy a sewing machine soon, all this hand stitching is going to ruin my eyesight!

Beach Girls

I wish the modern generation still looked like this on the beach.

Saint Laurent

OH. MY. GOD

I have to say, of the collections I've seen from the SS13 shows, none had jumped out at, or really excited me. And then I saw Hedi Slimane's debut collection for (newly named) Saint Laurent. 

This is, for me, fashion heaven. Androgynous-tick, 70s retro-tick, a bit rock and roll-tick and not to mention all the shirts and jackets - dingdingding!!

Images from Elleuk.com

No Doubt

I really enjoyed this performance on Jonathan Ross last night. I'm a little in awe of how Gwen looks so good, not like she's ancient, but boy does she look good for her age. And I salute anyone who has two kids and still has a stomach like that. All hail Gwen!

Oh, and her hair is also divine. My hair has grown so much better since I dyed it darker so I'll definitely be experimenting more with my wide barrel waver. 

The Burberry glow

Burberry SS13

A very Autumnal make up look for a SS collection, but how beautiful was the make up at Burberry? The lip colour is to die for and I love the 'just-got-in-from-a-winter-stroll' blusher. So natural, yet really sexy. I also like to think it will be easy to achieve, if only I had Cara's bushy brows. 

I discovered exactly which products were used thanks to Kiss and Make Up TV:

Burberry make up: Sheer Glow and Fresh Glow in Earthy Blush No.07. Sheer Eyeshadow in Gold Trench No.04 and Pale Barley No.22,Eye Definer in Golden Brown No.06. Lip Velvet in Siren Red and Lip Definer in Brick Red No.05.

Big Girl's Blouse

Pink is a colour I rarely wear, for some reason I feel like I can't pull it off. Now my hair is darker I feel like I can start to tackle it. A very recent pink purchase is this blouse for £5 from Frock and Roll vintage. I love the neck tie at the top, and the cuffs. Worn here with a pink overload, woollen suit shorts from Topshop.

Style Crush: Sophia Webster

One of the best things about working on the NEWGEN project at LFW is discovering great new fashion design talent. This season I have fallen for the footwear delights from Sophia Webster, who is a new NEWGEN recipient this season. 

I didn't get to see her debut presentation, but I did swoon over her shoes at the Somerset House exhibition. From what I have seen the presentation was amazing, I'm really excited by her designs and I would love to invest in a pair of her shoes, one day!

So DIY-able, I'm inspired.

Presentation photos 'borrowed' from the lovely Susie at www.StyleBubble.co.uk

I'll be there for you

This weekend brought a special treat in the form of one of my oldest friends Sian's engagement party. The sun shone all day and we had a brilliant time, it was so good to have all the girls together again. I'm very lucky to have such lovely friends. 

I am in love with this pale pink skirt I found recently in H&M. which was a steal at only £20. It looks a lot more expensive and the lace detail is beautiful. The fabric is unusual too, it is almost like a thin felt. I really enjoyed wearing it. When the sun went down and the chill arrived I threw on my Topshop 'Garcon' jumper which I am also having a mad moment for. I fucking love it, and although I packed it as a cover up it actually felt a perfect match for the skirt. Finally, I killed my feet in my bargain Ravel shoes from eBay. 

NEWGEN SS13

1. One of my latest projects at Topshop - pick up a free bespoke print from this season's NEWGEN designers in the East Wing at Somerset House
2. Dead owls at Christopher Raeburn - LOVE IT
3. Beautiful prints from Huishan Zhang
4. Stunning cream and metallics from Simone Rocha (her NEWGEN print is particularly beautiful)
5. The reading trough
6. Sister by Sibling - knitwear has never been so fun