TLC Staycation: Soho Farmhouse with The Outnet

I have just returned from a glamorous night away from London with The Outnet at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire. I’ve wanted to stay there for ages - and WHAT an evening to have gone and seen it in all its sunset glory! WowWowWeeWow! After some afternoon yoga, and a spoiling Cowshed pedicure, we donned out finest frocks from The Outnet (I wore the Kelly green Moya Twill midi dress from Emilia Wickstead) and headed for a decadent dinner in one of the Farmhouse barns…

One of the best parts of my job, is the time I get to spend with such brilliantly unique and interesting women, many of whom have become wonderful and supportive friends who I can laugh till I cry with (or at times, vice versa!) This wonderfully fun, and Picante de la Casa fuelled, evening with these major bombshells (all also dressed head to toe by The Outnet, naturally!) was such a great start to my 2019.

I always loved me a blue eyed boy (and a scrunchie!) As well as making this necessary hair accessory purchase at Alex Eagle’s beautifully curated concept shop, The Store, I also spied these gorgeous china trinket pots by London-based artist Fee Greening… BUT WHICH ONE SHOULD I GET?!

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#HFMFashionSpin

This London Fashion Week saw Hello! Fashion Monthly partner with Land Rover to produce a series of interviews with some of their FROW faves in between shows.  With champagne and delicious on-the-move snacks (beat THAT James Corden!) the crew picked me up after the Emila Wickstead show for a chat (above) with HFM Deputy Editor Jill Wanless about my favourite designers, the impact of blogging on LFW, my love of the British High Street…

This was one of my favourite outfits over London Fashion Week. I paired a velvet mustard top and full-length forest green skirt from Charlie Brear, with some Zara Leather Mid Heel Shoes and a Leopard Print Hill and Friends' Tweency Chain Shoulder Bag, whist my friend Marissa Montgomery wore Sophia Kah. 

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Golden Globes 2015

Yessssssss… Award season has begun, which to me means the red carpet’s Battle of the Dresses is ON good people of Hollywood!  The Golden Globes, a ceremony I have always viewed as the drunken, more entertaining version of the Oscars, gives us not only an early indication of the season’s winners, but also a welcome glimpse at the latest show stopping frocks (or sparkly jumpsuits, as the case was this year).   

It is worth mentioning, before we get to the fashion nitty gritty, that the glorious Tina Fey and Amy Poehler presented the awards for the very last time on Sunday (a total travesty, someone throw even more money at them, QUICK!) Their opening monologue (below) was, once again, my serious highlight of the night… These two ladies and their on-point humour shall be greatly missed. 

Right, back to the fashuuuuun and my Best Dressed of the night… With so many of the stars dressed immaculately, but oh so predictably, at these events, I will always be drawn to the women who choose not to play it so safely (or clevagey).  No one, in my opinion, looked better at this year's Golden Globes than TLC's serial red carpet winner, Emma Stone.  Wearing a bejeweled Lanvin jumpsuit, the actress oooozed confidence and cool, with just the right amount of quirk.  Diane Kruger looked every inch the blonde and icy screen siren wearing one of my favourite designers, Emilia Wickstead.  I also adored beautiful Brit Felicity Jones’ unusual, teal Christian Dior gown, which although divided opinion, had me at hello. 

Special mentions must go to Leslie Mann for her yellow Kaufman Franco sequinned dress/green clutch combo (and for just always being the sweetest, most cute-as-a-button thing I ever did see), Sienna Miller’s stand out Miu Miu dress worn with rocky, choppy hair, and Anna Kendrick in her Cinderella by name/role, Cinderella by nature/dress, in fairytale Monique Lhuillier.

It has to be said, shiny Golden Globes may have been highly sought after by many a Hollywood hand, but the real winners were these three dapperly dressed dudes, all holding super smokin' and strikingly dressed ladies in their arms;  Benedict Cumberbatch with his fiancé Sophie Hunter (in Erdem), Joshua Jackson with long-term love Diane Kruger (in Emilia Wickstead) and Jamie Dornan with wife Amelia Warner (in another of my favourite designers, Husihan Zhang).  High five gentlemen, we salute you.

Below:  When Bad Dresses Happen to Good People.  Ohhhh… There’s always one who lets the side down… ok, perhaps five.  I met Lana Del Rey in LA once, she was LOVELY, unlike her dress on Sunday.  Rosamund Pike was scarily good in 'Gone Girl,' ironically as her cutom-made Vera Wang dress was scarily bad.  Lupita Nyong’o, who topped EVERY best dressed list last season, clearly has decided to let everyone else have a go this year, wearing this Giambattista Valli 'thing.'  Michelle Monaghan wearing a 'Throwback Thursday' to the awesome nineties… except it was a Sunday, and this Jason Wu dress was not awesome.  Kate Mara in Miu Miu. Has the 'House of Cards' actress stepped in a puddle?  Do puddles even exist in LA?!  And don’t get me started on that belt... No Kate. No. 

For the full list and details of the evening's winners see HERE

Golden Globes 2014

I look forward to the Golden Globes every year.  Like the more louche and drunk cousin of the Oscars, this ceremony provides us with an early indication of the award season’s winners and, more importantly, our first glimpse at the latest SS’14 show stopping frocks and red carpet trends… #ClothesOverShows!  My favourite three dresses were worn by (*drumroll...) Lupita Nyong'o, Cate Blanchett and Caitlin Fitzgerald.

Above:  Lupita Nyong’o...  I am a BIG fan of cape dresses and ‘12 Years a Slave’ newcomer Lupita Nyong’o looked the bomb in this dramatic Ralph Lauren gown which was reminiscent of Gwyneth Paltrow’s striking Tom Ford cape dress at the 2012 Oscars.

Above:  Cate Blanchett... As always, the graceful ‘Blue Jasmine’ actress gave us a masterclass in red carpet dressing.  Always elegant yet quirky, Cate Blanchett looked both gothic and regal in her black tulle and lace Armani Prive high-necked, backless dress. 
Starlets take note. 

Above:  Caitlin Fitzgerald...  'Masters of Sex' actress Caitlin Fitzgerald looked incredible in her gorgeous powder blue, Emilia Wickstead step hem dress.  I do wish she had styled her hair a little more in keeping with the high neckline of the dress (a slick updo would have been perfect) but I think her accessories and make up were divine.

Three major red carpet trends stood out at the 2014 Golden Globes; Red, Nude and… Bumps! Yes, amidst the crimson silks and blush tulle were several glowingly pregnant lead actresses posing for two.  I also noticed that, unlike last year’s ceremony, there were less glossy limbs and cleavages on show (perhaps a Miley backlash?!) as a welcome return to higher necklines and more demure dress lengths were favoured. 

Above:  Ladies in Red (L-R):  Lupita Nyong'o in her scene stealing Ralph Lauren cape dress and Emma Roberts in the backless scarlet Dior Couture dress she paired with navy trousers. Amy Adams looked sexier than usual in a ‘70’s inspired, two-tone burgundy/red halter-neck Valentino dress and singer Taylor Swift wore cherry-red Carolina Herrera.

Above:  Pale and Interesting (L-R): Naomi Watts wore a metallic, white gold Tom Fordcolumn dress and Margo Robbie flashed emerald green heels from under her cream Guccidress.  Zooey Deschenal looked as kooky cute as always in a glittering ivory Oscar de la Renta skirt and embellished crop top (with a daisy mani naturally!) and similaily, Sally Hawkins wore a beautifully embellished Dior ensemble.  Michelle Dockery looked every inch the lady (Mary) in strapless Oscar de la Renta.

Above:  Battle of the Bumps (L-R):  Olivia Wilde (who is expecting her first baby with Jason Sudeikis) looked bumpalicious in this body-skimming, long sleeved, emerald-green sequined dress by Gucci.  'Scandal' star Kerry Washington bumped beautifully in her, albeit quite mature, Balenciaga silk crepe gown with diamond pin designed by Alexander Wang. Drew Barrymore wore a petal-embellished Monique L’huillier bumptastic gown which I don’t think would have suited anyone else other than her.

As expected there are always a selection of dresses which cause debate and others which outright have us all united in mutual shock and horror...

Above: Marmite ('you either love it or you hate it...') L-R:  Jennifer Lawrence’s white Belle Epoque-inspired Dior (who else?!) gown with black ribbon detailing sparked a series of internet parodies (pugs in rubber tubes, kittens in coffee filters…) I don’t find the dress to be particularly inspiring but I do find her talent, attitude and punk-like hair is able to make any outfit notable.  The more I look at Emma Watson’s Dior Couture outfit the more I love it.  The actress looks modern, fresh and youthful, and even if I am in the minority, I am a big fan of this look.  Zoe Saldana consistently takes high fashion red carpet risks and once again the actress divided opinion in this this Prabal Gurung cocktail dress.

Above:  When Bad Outfits Happen to Good People (Clockwise L-R):  eece Witherspoon looked particul.... zzzzzzzzzzz... I'm sorry, wha... um, she wore a really dull dress by Calvin Klein. I was more than excited to see Julia Roberts back on the red carpet… I was however, less enthused about her outfit especially when imagining how many designers must have been clambloring to dress the supporting actress nominee.  Whhhhy oh whhhhy did she wear this peculiar, drab and unflattering Dolce & Gabbana ensemble?!  White shirts under gowns should only ever be seen on Meryl Streep (mainly because Meryl Streep is Meryl Streep and can do whatever the hell she likes... Fact).  Sandra Bullock started the awards season so well, but this Prabal Gurung colour-block gown makes the actress look a Licorice Allsort, albiet one with immacualte hair and makeup.  As Tom Ford only dresses one star per awards show, Hayden Panettiere bought (yes, actually paid for) her dress by the designer for the night... is it too late for a refund?!  Very 90's... and not in a good way.  Lena Dunham’s canary yellow Zac Posen strapless dress totally wore her and I am yet to see one picture of the actress from the night looking remotely comfortable.