Links of London's Royal Ascot Collection

In just under a week, one of the most fashionable events in the entire British social calendar commences; Royal Ascot.  Founded by Queen Anne in 1711, the four-day racing festival has become a pageantry filled national institution, one where both the horses and the elaborate hats in attendance share focus and press. 

With a strict dress code, Royal Ascot is synonymous with sartorial elegance, thus, whilst inevitably enjoying a lil’flutter on the GG’s, it’s always the elaborate hats which have my eyes on stalks each year. Underneath all the silk flowers and high-fashion head toppers however, it is just as important to make sure your jewellery is just as on point (to point).    

Luckily for the attendees, and all race aficionados in general, for the second year running, Links of London are back in the saddle as the official jewellery license holder at Royal Ascot. The much-loved British jewellers and have once more designed a stylish, racing-inspired collection that will not only complete your look, but will be treasured by its owners for many more years to come.   

Amongst the specially crafted diamond necklaces, colourful charms, and engravable cufflinks for the often-overlooked gentlemen, I decided my favourite pieces from the Links of London Ascot Collection were the Horseshoe designs.

Simple in style, with an obvious nod to horse racing, the delicate chain bracelets, pendants, rings, earrings and adjustable cuffs available in sterling silver, yellow gold vermeil and 18k rose gold, are utterly timeless.  

I’m hoping that by wearing some of this collection I will have some luck at the races, and beyond…    

Shop TLC's Look...

Hats: Jess Collett Milliner
Seville Dress: Tephi
I'm a Goddess Jumpsuit:  Bozena Jankowska
Bag: Baraboux

In collaboration with Links of London
Photography: Joseph Galvin
Hair: Taylor Taylor London
Nails: Sophie Gass

Carry On Mulberry - SS'12

What's worth getting up suuuper early for on a Sunday?

An ice cream and pink lemonade breakfast?... Kate Moss?... A diddy liddle dog in a yellow Mulberry raincoat?...

ALL of the above?!

Yup… I JUMPED out of bed yesterday morning...

Considering my friends tease me that I often look sponsored by Mulberry (I own several of their beautiful bags... purses... keyrings... and yes, an oyster card holder...) I was thrilled to receive the quirkly ice-cream wafer invitation (above) to their S/S'12 Show at this London Fashion Week.

Once opened the invitation plays vintage ice-cream van music... LOVE!

After my pink lemonade and early morning brain freeze, I stepped inside Claridge’s on Day 3 of LFW. We were immediately greeted by giant ice-cream cones (above) and hundreds of inflatable wild animal carousel balloons (below) filling the whole entrance to the ballroom.

Creative Director of Mulberry Emma Hill (below centre) said this collection was inspired by memories of the Great British summer of the seventies and a Kiss-Me-Quick chic; ‘Donkey rides on the beach, sticks of rock and the glittering lights of the pier.’

We were soon transported back to this era with a retro, classic British seaside vibe (rain macs and all!) The music (including ‘The Sun Has Got His Hat On’) and the bright neon lights around the stage helped envoke a bygone era of British holidays to Blackpool Pier and Brighton Beach leaving us all feeling very 'Carry On Camping' and 'Ooh... I say!'

The models, with their enormous hair (styled by Sam McKnight and coloured with streaks of green – a hint of chlorine perhaps?!) at first elegantly strutted down the catwalk wearing floaty dresses and pleated skirts in a series of soft sherbet and candy floss shades and bright yellows (so far, so sunny...) but this was soon interspersed with more neutral, sandy and fudgey tones with a spectrum of greens through to midnight navy.

A more relaxed and American sports look soon appeared – hooded baseball jackets and running shorts fused together with a good dose of British practicality; superfine thermals and short rain macs - well, one must always be prepared!

A montage of safari, carousal animals was used on much of the collection - zebras, giraffes and leopards all making up the new, pretty 'Plastic Animal' print.

Eventually, inspired by the neon lit piers, a sparkling succession of gem encrusted, glittering dresses led us to the finale - the magpie inside me could barely contain itself.

Last, but CERTAINLY not least, we had the ever swoonsome Mulberry bags! Alongside the Alexa, Bayswater and Lily having been reworked in bright yellow patent, quilted girly pink, lizard print, and rhinestones, we also met the new girls on the block; the Evelina and the Effie.

Above: Posh Pier Girls - Two of my favourite looks in the collection.
(L) The Long Lace Raglan Dress in Pebbled beige Crepe holding the Cookie Lily
(R) the All Over Gem Dress in Pebbled Beige Double Faced Silk holding the Lily with Patchwork Gems

Snapping the FROW Mulbabes from my seat: (L-R) Kate Moss, Kristen Stewart, Romola Garai, Hayley Atwell, Harley Vera Newton and Laura Bailey.

Some well deserved applause for Emma Hill and her team.