#MySaboStyle at the AW'15 London Fashion Week

Knowing how much the jewellers Thomas Sabo love fashion, and so seamlessly always embrace the current and developing trends, it I was thrilled to wear my favourite pieces at the AW’15 London Fashion Week.  With so much variety, from the playful to the elegant, the rockstar to the romantic, there was a collection to suit everyone’s different tastes and express their personalities. 

I am particularly into stack rings at the moment and was in heaven trying on all the different combinations available.  Men’s watches are also something that I love to wear and their rose gold ‘Rebel At Heart’ time piece (RRP. £250.00) was my first, almost immediate, choice, which coupled with two, dark 'Glam & Soul' black eternity rings (£159.00 and £275.00) made the perfect statement.  The rose gold 'Glam & Soul' eternity ring (£89.00) was so delicate and perfect for my everyday wear.  Seldom understated, all the jewellery I tried was really striking and unique and so very, very Instagram worthy (which lets face it, is now of vast importance when picking fashion week attire!) Thank you Thomas Sabo for #MySaboStyle! 

HAWT: Emma Stone in Elie Saab at the 2015 Oscars

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.

In what must be up there as one of my favourite Oscar looks of all time, TLC fave Emma Stone, nominated as Best Supporting Actress for her role in ‘Birdman,’ WOWED on the red carpet in this stunning, long-sleeve, backless, high-slit beaded Elie Saab gown.  Paired with matching green Christian Louboutin ‘Gardnera’ heels, Emma once again managed to look so fresh and current in a sea of hairspray and tulle.  Classic yet quirky, always flawless, you get one BIG red carpet high five lady!!

The EE BAFTAs with CÎROC

There is being invited to celebrate the EE BAFTAs, and then there is being asked to celebrate the EE BAFTAS with CÎROC, the well-known (and I freely admit, well loved by me!) vodka brand!   Knowing that delicious CÎROC cocktails would be a’flowing provided new levels of theatrical appreciation... January, with all it’s associated detoxing and sombre behaviour, was truly about to end, and not a minute too soon! 

Wearing a dream of a Matthew Williamson cocktail dress, with Malone Soulier shoes, a Natalie Trad clutch and Monica Vinader Baja jewellery, I headed to the STUNNING Berners Tavern, alongside Ella Catliff (La Petite Anglaise), designer Charlie May and Doina Ciobanu (The Golden Diamonds). Ella and I had not planned on being feathery, sequined sisters that night (above), but fully embraced the sparkling situation (obviously read that as, 'took lots of sparkly selfies together!') 

After a delicious meal, which was peppered with regular and exciting updates from the ceremony (#TeamEddie!), I decided that éclairs were due a massive come back... Soz macaroons.

We then headed to Grosvenor House for the official EE BAFTA after-party (no one approves more of shaking their tail feathers on a Sunday than me... especially if those tail feathers happen to be Matthew Williamson!) and several hours/CÎROC cocktails/trips to the photo booth later we eventually called it a night.

Thank you CÎROC!  For a full list of winners see HERE. 

SHOP TLC'S LOOK:

The next day I poured over the red carpet fashion from the night before and quickly decided that there was undeniably one stand out look… French actress Lea Seydoux, the latest Bond Girl, shone brightly in her sunshine marigold Prada gown (below). Just... WOW!

Special mentions definitely go to a glowing Keira Knightley in Giamnattista Valli, Laura Bailey in her high neck and full skirted Emilia Wickstead dress and to Julianne Moore, who looked red hot in Tom Ford. 

The Cambridge Satchel Company's Collaboration with Peanuts

Just HOW excited do you think I was to receive an intimate dinner invitation to celebrate The Cambridge Satchel Company’s collaboration with Peanuts?!  I mean, with every nostalgic heart cord pulled, I couldn’t have accepted this most happy and colourful invite quicker.  The fun factor at this dinner, held on the top floor of the company’s stunning six-floor flagship store in Covent Garden, always promised to be HIGH. 

The Cambridge Satchel Company, founded in 2008 around a kitchen table by fashion entrepreneur and mother Julie Deane (left), has long been a street style fave amongst ‘schlebs and bloggers alike (namely, Alexa Chung and Susie Bubble).  Following on from previous collaborations with Vivienne Westwood, Erdem and Comme des Garcons, the latest satchels and zip-pouches will feature characters from the popular US cartoon strip, all adorably seeing Woodstock (my childhood favourite!) riding the company’s famous bicycle logo.

"This collaboration is close to my heart - Snoopy has always been a favourite of mine," the lovely Julie Deane told us.  "The collection makes me smile and that's the very best way to feel about what we can offer our customers. The logo was adapted to find a special place for Woodstock - always the industrious figure in the background, I am proud to have him on our iconic bicycle!"

Above:  With Sasha Wilkins (Liberty London Girl) and Julie Dean.

Having recently been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year honours list for her services to entrepreneurship, Julie Deane hosted us at the most gorgeous and playful of tables for a delicious feast, spoiling us with gifts from the range (above) and Snoopy cookies!  The rhubarb and almond crumble with maple syrup crème fraiche should probably get it’s own special mention because… Oh… My… Sweet… Lord.

This exclusive collaboration will launch online HERE tomorrow, 19th February 2015, and in store from this Saturday 21st February. The pouches will cost £70-£90, with the satchels ranging from £140-£155.

J&M Davidson's 30th Anniversary

I recently attended the most beautiful of dinners at the Connaught in celebration of J&M Davidson's 30th anniversary.  I knew my evening was to be a special one when my invitation arrived in the form of a limited edition, silver clutch bag (which I carried on the night).  The dinner was co-hosted by John and Monique Davidson and Tanya Ling, an illustrator who has a long history with the husband and wife team. 

Tanya Ling's unique, illustrated menus and name cards were stunningly placed amongst the most elegant of Wild at Heart flowers by Nikki Tibbles. Just BEAUTIFUL!! 

John and Monique Davidson launched J&M Davidson in 1984 from their home in Chiswick.  Now a global British brand with a French twist, their constantly evolving collections include covetable handbags, handcrafted belts, clothing and knitwear, all available online or from their colourful Notting Hill store.  

SHOP TLC's LOOK:

Above L-R (Clockwise):  Louisa Preskett and Katy Wickremesinge, Bip Ling, Katie Readman with Amy Williams and Alice Naylor-Leyland, Pandora Sykes.  Below:  "But first...." with Katie Readman and Bip Ling.

Below:  Some of J&M Davidson's current collection.  I am eyeing up their Medieval Blue Carnival bag – but the canary yellow drawstring one will no doubt be a SS’15 must have!

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

Topshop's Personal Shopping Experience

I was recently asked to visit Topshop's Personal Shopping area at their Oxford Street branch for an utterly spoiling A/W'14 wee spree.  I know... My job does not suck.  I have always seen their amazing flagship store as the ultimate grown up girl's sweetie shop, and I can eeeeasily spend hours wandering aimlessly admits all the season's newest styles, frequently finding things I never EVEN knew I needed, but OBVIOUSLY cannot live without!  On this particular occasion however,  knowing I only had a one hour appointment in my more than luxurious fitting room, I had done some research and online prep, enabling me to whizz around the shop like a Topshop ninja, pinpointing the items I wanted to try on.  One of the brilliant personal shoppers was on hand back to help change any sizes for me and help search for alternative styles if the ones I chose didn't suit me.  As a result, I managed to put together three very different looks (much of which is now in the sale, so be quick!) in record time - especially for me!  

Topshop's Personal Shopping is a complimentary service offered in eight of their stores.  Various different appointments can be made, catering to your specific styling needs, and if short on time, or in dire need of a quick wardrobe update, I really recommend booking yourself one HERE. 

Which is your favourite look?  I'd be lying if I didn't say the light up trainers...!  Thank you Topshop xx

The A/W'14 Sale Edit

If the weather is looking far too miserable outside, and you've eaten too many Quality Streets and mince pies over Christmas to even contemplate heaving your way to the shops to hit the sales, fear not!  I recommend enjoying the below, edited selection of beautious bargains whilst remaining firmly curled up on the sofa, ipad and hot tea (and by hot tea I mean mulled wine, hey, 'tis STILL the season after all!)  And remember, it's not what you're spending, it's what you're saving, right?!  Those Sophia Webster heels ar literally calling to me!!  Hover over the items you like for direct links... Enjoy! 

Hello, World!

All She Wants For Christmas (in her stocking...) 2014

Regardless of your age, NOTHING beats waking up to a stocking at the end of you bed (... or in mine and my sister's case; stockings strewn across the floor, having already been opened around 4am, having stumbled back from some annual, terribly civilised Christmas drinks on the beach with friends...) If I have been a good girl this year (which, to be fair, is still under some debate), I hope to discover some of these little treats waiting for me (early!) Christmas morning... 

Hover over the items for their direct links - Enjoy! 

All She Wants For Christmas 2014

We all know that most men fear, dread and loooathe shopping, so rather than ‘accidentally’ flambéing him instead of the Christmas Pudding this year, as thanks for that last minute, delightfully flammable red underwear he left for you under the tree (“but it’s festive!”) may I suggest you help the poor fella out this year by kindly leaving this page open on his desktop…?!  Warning... If someone else doesn't buy you some goodies off this list, you'll definitely end up buying yourself some (and that's ok, right?!)

Hover over the items for their direct links... Enjoy!