An Evening with Monica Vinader and Jenny Walton

I recently attended an after hour’s dinner at Monica Vinader’s flagship store in Chelsea during London Fashion Week, to celebrate her Signature Bangle Collection and collaboration with Jenny Walton.

Global fashion icon Jenny (below), the Fashion Director of global street style blog, The Satorialist, has created six hand drawn and painted illustrations inspired by the coveted, now cult, bangles.

"I'm most looking forward to people seeing the beautiful illustrations and the fun ways we have made them come to life with videos and gifs. I also love the concept behind the project, of the different places you could wear such a beautiful bangle. It's simple but very chic, so you can easily wear it shopping with friends, stacked for an evening, or on a day trip to the beach."  Jenny Walton.

I wore Orla Kiely's Bubble Organza Sylvie Dress, the Anine Bing Havana Velvet Bag I am pretty much surgically attached to right now, and some Zara ‘go-with-EVERYTHING’ Leather Mid-Heel shoes.  My hair was inspired by the models I saw at the Emilia Wickstead show, and created at Duck & Dry.

The bangles are incredibly versatile, perfect for stacking together, and also engravable.  Using both strong, clean lines with flowing curves, the design of the bracelet, available in a wide variety of choices, is the perfect combination of both modern and feminine.

See Full Collection: HERE

TLC Loves... The Monica Vinader Signature Bangles

Signature Wide Bangle

Signature Thin Bangle

Signature Diamond Bangles

Jenny's illustrations are on display at Monica Vinader's Chelsea Boutique until October 11th.

Trend: The Cold Shoulder

I love how both designers and the high street are all flooding our Spring full of off-the-shoulder tops.  Made popular in the 1960’s by the beautiful Bridget Bardot, and now a sunny staple for TLC style faves Olivia Palermo and Alexa Chung, the iconic, Parisian shoulder-baring look is nonchalantly sexy, yet still demure and sweet. Its popularity has made way for a plethora of cut-away jumpers (my favourite being the Dias jumper by British designer Zoe Jordan), shirts, dresses and jumpsuits, in an array of prints and colour, making this flattering look so versatile and approachable for all body types. 

TLC TIP:   Invest in a good strapless bra for this particular trend (Marks and Spencer, RRP. £18.00), and make sure to apply a big, healthy, shimmering sweep of bronzer across your décolletage (Tom Ford, RRP. £48.00) to get you perfectly cold shoulder ready for Spring.  Zara and H&M have some affordably chic cut-a-ways, and you can click on the below edit for links through to my current favourite off the shoulder tops... 

Photography:  Ella Sadika

Jewellery:  Missoma  /  Monogrammed Mug:  Anthropologie  /  Amelie Jeans:  River Island

Jimmy Choo's 'Choo Hound' Launch

This summer Brazilian artist Rafael Mantesso and his Bull Terrier, Jimmy, collaborated Choo to launch ‘Choo Hound,’ a capsule collection of leather accessories featuring playful images of his Bull Terrier Jimmy. The collection included tote bags, purses, cosmetic bags and iPhone cases, not to mention the limited edition leather dog collars which sent the Lapdogs of London into a frenzy. 

To celebrate the collaboration Jimmy Choo’s Creative Director Sandra Choi, alongside Olivia Palermo, co-hosted an adorable tea party at the newly opened Ivy Chelsea Garden (now a firm favourite of mine.)  The entire garden had been transformed by the brilliantly creative Polar Black Events, with the monochrome style of the collection reflected in the setting’s aesthetic, complete with a central doggy fountain!

A traditional, yet quirky, afternoon tea was served, which included delicious iced dog-bone shaped biscuits, Slush Puppies (of course!) and paw-print lattes.  Adorable!! 

Below:  Despite many of the fashionista guests attending with their gorgeous canine counterparts, there was really only one guest of honour… internet sensation Tuna, the chiweenie (Chihuahua and Dachshund, who knew?!) from L.A with over one million Instagram followers (@tunaMeltsMyHeart) who was at the time 'summering in London!' Tuna, you really did melt our hearts… LOOK AT THAT SWEET LITTLE FACE!!

Below:  The amazing shoes and handbag I wore for the event... Swooooon!! 

TLC LOVES... JIMMY CHOO

Hello There: Chinti and Parker

Cousins Anna Singh and Rachael Wood launched Chinti and Parker in October 2009 with one clear mission: to create beautiful, ethically made garments that value style on par with substance.  Loved by all the cool cats, including Alexa Chung, Kate Bosworthand Olivia Palermo, Chinti and Parker super-soft cashmere is available in an array of block colours and fun prints which provide the building blocks for the perfect capsule winter wardrobe.  Actress, lifestyle guru and all round TLC fave Gwyneth Paltrow also recently collaborated with the label after discovering the brand on a shoot, creating two exclusive jumpers for her Goop website.  I have picked out a few of my favourite items from the current collection – effortless, beautiful jumpers and a statement neon pink pom pom scarf and bobble hat that have my name ALL over them.  I do LOVE a pom pom. 

Above (Clockwise) L-R: Bobble Scarf (Grey Marl) - RRP. £125.00, Bobble Hat (Grey and Neon Pink Bobble) - RRP. £70.00, Contrast Cuff Sweater (Oatmeal) – RRP. £295.00, Heart Pocket Cardigan (Grey) – RRP. £295.00,  Contrast Cuff Sweater (Grey) - RRP. £295.00

HAWT: Olivia Palermo in 7 For All Mankind

Hawt = A late 1940's and early 1950's acronym for "Having A Wonderful Time."
Now the word is used on the internet as slang for something reeeeally hot.

Even when hitting the streets of NYC, smoothie in hand, Olivia Palermo’s off duty, casual double denim outfit still managed to look as beautifully polished and glossy as the lady herself.  Wearing a vintage look, loose fitting 7 For All Mankind denim shirt, skinny jeans, neon camouflage flats by Pretty Loafers and so ‘of-the-moment’ festival friendly reflective-lens sunglasses, Olivia (and her permanently perfect red nails) looked HAWT!

HAWT: Olivia Palermo in Christian Dior Shoes

Hawt = A late 1940's and early 1950's acronym for "Having A Wonderful Time."
Now the word is used on the internet as slang for something reeeeally hot.

Olivia Palermo arrived at the Christian Dior A/W'13 Ready-to-Wear show during last week's Paris Fashion Week wearing these incredible heels from Dior's Spring 2013 collection.  The black leather slingbacks featured a mirrored purple cuff.

Shoe envy factor? High. 

Looking as gorgeously stylish as ever, Olivia (left) paired her shoes with a striped sleeveless Dior dress, also from their SS'13 collction, and the Felder Felder Nashville fur-trimmed wool coat.  Olivia's burgundy bag was also, of course, by Dior.  Aside from the unfortunate use of fur on her coat, Olivia's look is as flawless and perfectly polished as ever.

The Launch of Savannah by Savannah Miller

Last week I attended the intimate launch of designer Savannah Miller’s eponymous label ‘Savannah’ in London’s Fitzroy Square. The room was filled with crisp autumn leaves, sparkling champagne and a bevy of beautiful bright young things (including Irina Lazareanu and Clara Paget), all excited by Savannah’s first solo project since departing Twenty8Twelve, the label she co-created with her sister, Sienna.  The look book contains beyond gorgeous shots of the effortlessly cool Dree Hemmingway (above and below) wearing some of the 40-piece collection which is available exclusively here from Nelly.com.  The clothes are bohemian, edgy and surprisingly affordable – nothing is more expensive than £175 and I particularly like the Brinton Skirt, the Jerry Knit Jumper and I just adore the dark purple velvet Inamay Dress.  Make sure to check out all the heels and boots - they are reeeeeally rock'n'roll. 

Below:  Savannah’s sweet swallow logo was echoed in this giant bird installation, “Swallows only nest in a house of Love" explained Savannah, whilst wearing her favourite piece from the collection, the Michelle Dress, with Olivia Palermo and Matthew Williamson.

Below (Clockwise):  Kelly Eastwood with designer Savannah Miller, model Lady Mary Charteris, Savannah with actress Clara Paget and model Irina Lazareanu, bubbles with Savannah, on tip toes with model Irina Lazareanu, Savannah with Claire Eastwood.

Trend: Olive Green

If there is one person’s wardrobe I covet, it would be Olivia Palermo's. The ex-Hills star and renowned fashionista always looks enviably glossy, elegantly accessorized and perfectly put together.

Recently Olivia has been wearing a lot of olive green – recycling her olive green jeans and olive green parka in numerous ways.  Last week she was seen (left) in New York looking like an olive green dream, from top to bottom.

Olive green combines really well with most colours, but Olivia prefers to wear her jeans/parka with white or black, accessorized with ballet flats or heels (usually leopard print - girl after my own heart!) and whopper sunglasses.

I think olive green is the perfect multi-seasonal neutral and a great way to ease your way into the London 'sunshine' (... a gal can dream!)

Luckily for us, Olivia's Olive Green look is really accessible on our highstreets:

I would recommend Topshop for their Moto Leigh Jeans (RRP. £38.00) and their Army Shirt Jacket (RRP. £48.00) or the skinny jeans by Victoria Beckham for a super flattering fit.

Credit Buy - The Mulberry Harriet

Mulberry have kicked off 2012 by spoiling us with yet another beautiful bag...

After the Evelina’s short reign as the bag du jour, the Harriethas burst onto the scene and already has a gaggle of celebrity fans; Elizabeth Olsen, Olivia Palmero and Kate Bosworth have already snapped up variations of the bag, and Blake Lively (left) has been seen on the set of Gossip Girl swinging around the Harriet satchel.

Similar to 2010’s Neely, also having a lock closure and glossy leather finish, the Harriet family comes in a variety of shapes (shoulder, satchel, clutch and clutch wallet) and colours (black, navy, blush, khaki and leopard print.) 

Happy New Year... Happy New Bag? 

From £350 - £2500