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Trend Alert: Nautical but nice

  • posted August 18th, 2010
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A hoy there sailor! If you’re looking for a new trend that is both fresh and modern, yet also classically chic then look no further than the nautical aesthetic. Yes we’ve done sailor chic in our wardrobes for a while now, but what about in the home? If you want your pad to look ship shape then it’s time to cast your nets wide and embrace the current love of all things nautical.

Start with some high seas-inspired furniture. White has a clean vibe and is ideal for children’s bedrooms, so opt for this regatta chest of drawers. Keep it simple and go for a chic teak wooden table, like this Alexander Rose one. Finally pull out all the stops and invest in a cool ship’s wheel. A proper antique piece will look elegant and quirky. I adore this sixteen inch ship’s wheel for a real talking point in your house.

Alternatively, you can go the easy route and just add a fresh, by-the-seaside air to your bedroom. Invest in some airy blue and white striped bedlinen. This Conran set from John Lewis is just the ticket for a nod to the trend without going overboard!

Nautical home decor featured: Regatta chest of drawers Kids Rooms, Nautical wooden table Alexander Rose, and Ship’s wheel Midland Chandler, and Conran bed linen at John Lewis

Minimalism versus Maximalism

  • posted August 16th, 2010
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It’s the great interior debate. One person’s lavish, eclectic palace is another person’s over crowded cluttered mess. Similarly what some people see as chic, pared-down and elegant is sterile, cold and empty for a person who is on the maximalist side of the fence. Personally I love both styles, it just depends on what works best for you, your family and your home. So here’s the pros of being a sleek minimalist versus being an opulent maximalist.

MINIMALISM: The Debate FOR:

1. Your rooms will look bigger, brighter and often more expensive especially when painted in cream or neutral shades.

2. You can choose a really amazing statement piece, such as this Bergere Louis bookcase without fear of overkill.

3. Your lounge is made for a chic, timeless glass coffee table like this sleek Gustav rectangular one.

MAXIMALISM: The debate FOR

1. Your home will never look boring and it will be full of personality.

2. You can play around with texture. Try a sumptuous velvet sofa, such as this Graham and Green blue velvet one for added warmth and a luxe vibe.

3. You can add lots of colour and mix prints and patterns.

Featured home decor items: Gustav glass coffee table, Bergere Louis bookcase, and the Graham and Green velvet sofa

Style Stalker: The corset (part two)

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The most iconic and sexiest piece of clothing in history is finally getting its respect, as designers keep returning to the look and feel of the corset to inspire their collections. John Galliano is one such designer who pretty much always uses corsets in his designs, as is Jean Paul Gaultier who designed Madonna’s famous pointy bra bodice.

So to conclude our little tour through history, after the heydey of the corset in the Fifties, during the Sixties the Mary Quant aesthetic saw the corset disappear for a while. Thank goodness then for Lynda Carter’s bustier-clad Wonder Woman which rocked on the screens in the mid Seventies. In 1987 Vivienne Westwood presented her Statue of Liberty corset premiering the style as outerwear for the very first time.

The Nineties were all about Madonna wearing Gaultier’s conical creation for her Blonde Ambition tour. Her provocative performance in the sculptured corset cataplulted her into a symbol of alpha female prowess. Now it’s 2010, curves are back as the Mad Men-inspired Louis Vuitton girls wore corsets in leather, silk and even velvet. It’s certainly the season of the woman.

Corsets featured: White corset Coast, Leather corset, and Angelica corset Myla

Style Stalker: The Corset (part one)

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Welcome to the first of a series of posts looking at iconic fashion and beauty items and taking you on a little magical mystery history tour of where the item came from, how it worked for various decades and also the inspiration behind this for the designers on the international fashion catwalks from London, Paris, Milan and New York. First up the corset, from cinched-in womanly curves to vamping up your outfit, this iconic piece is certainly worth a look.

The nipped in look was hot on the catwalk as Marc Jacobs sent the models down the runway for Louis Vuitton with teeny tiny waists, full, hips and impressive cleavages. The look began in the 1930’s after the decade of the flappers in the Twenties where a flat chest, boyish body and tiny hips ruled supreme. By the mid to late thirties the trend had changed. Suddenly, everyone wanted to look like Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With The Wind whose waist was famously 16 inches.

By the Fifties, corsets had that seductive show girl and vaudeville vibe. The silver screen was full of girls like Marilyn Monroe  wearing corsets and flying the flag for glitz and glamour with lashings of sex appeal. Post-War Fiftes designers, such as Dior with his New Look,  incorporated corsets into their designs to give women the curves they were after.

Corsets featured: Cotton corset Lipsy and  Zip corset Topshop

Trend Alert: Disco Inferno

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Raise your hands in the air, rock your shoulders from side to side, strike a pose and sing after me “Disco inferno….” Yowza! I want a one-way ticket back to Seventies New York please, as everyone who is anyone is rocking a definite Studio 54 vibe at the moment. Glitter ball babes such as actresses Michelle Williams, Charlize Theron and model Chanel Iman have been demanding their 15 minutes of fame from Andy Warhol and saying it with sequins and all manner of gold lame.

Sequins and ultra retro, high-shine metallic have been around for a few seasons now but nothing works better for upping the glamour ante. Try Dorothy Perkin’s sexy silver and purple mini dress for wowing them on the dance floor. It’s not subtle but who wants to be a wall flower anyway?Alternatively go for gold with a metallic dress that is just screaming for a little Donna Summer on the ghetto blaster. For a designer option, try this amazing liquid gold Richard Nicoll mini skirt. It’s super sexy and will add some razzle dazzle to your look. Simply add some gold sandals and you’re ready to wow on the red carpet or your local dance floor. Do the hustle, girls…

Disco Inferno items featured: Purple and silver metallic mini dress Dorothy Perkins, Richard Nicoll mini skirt in liquid gold at Browns, and Gold heels Overstock

Trend Report: A/w 2010 Overview (part three)

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As Princess Jasmine sang in Disney’s Aladdin “It’s a whole new world” . She could have been talking about Autumn/Winter 2010 because in fashion terms there has been a big shake up of trends for the new season ahead and I for one am thoroughly excited. In this third part of my round-up of the coolest runway trends from the catwalks at Paris, London, Milan and New York I’m going to share some of the key looks so you can start planning your new season wardrobe from today!

1. We all love a great cocktail dress so don’t go changing your mind about that but in strict fashion terms there’s also a new option for cocktail hour – a pair of smart trousers. After models stormed the runways at Balmain, Gucci and Pucci in sleek trousers the rest of us mere mortals are sure to follow. These MaxMara black stretch cotton trousers are a great investment.

2. Fashion has fallen for the romantic qualities of lace so look out for pretty lace dresses that range from innocent to glamourously gothic. I love this beautiful blush-coloured one.

3. It was all about the sensible shoe on the runway at Chanel and Prada. Kitten heels are back so try these on-trend lace-up kitten heel boots in tan suede.

MaxMara stretch cotton trousers at Matches, Dorothy Perkins blush-coloured lace dress, and Topshop lace-up kitten heel boots

Trend Report: A/W 2010 The Overview (part two)

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Get ready for a whole new host of fashion looks as we start preparing for Autumn/Winter 2010. Trends-wise there’s plenty to choose from whether you prefer a restrained, classic vibe or something younger and sexier. The top five shows this season were Celine, Prada, Alexander McQueen, Chloe and Burberry Prorsum and you’re going to love the new trends. Here’s the second part of my trend round-up so you can stay on the pulse of the latest looks.

1. Go for elegant, restrained and throughly grown-up pieces as at Celine, Chloe and Jil Sander. Simple shapes and neutral colours are where it’s at. Start with a great pair of wide legged trousers, like these chic Marks and Spencer’s pair that will work with everything in your wardrobe.

2. It’s not about statement pieces anymore or anything too show-stopping but well made good quality fabrics in neutral colours. The key piece for next season is a beautiful camel coat. I love this belted version from House of Fraser.

3. Keep it fun though with sprinklings of leopard print, as sported by the front row VIPs at fashion weeks. This Crumpet cashmere and silk mix scarf from Harvey Nichols is the perfect early Autumn investment.

Marks and Spencer wide legged trousers, Crumpet at Harvey Nichols leopard print cashmere and silk scarf, and House of Fraser camel coat

Trend Report A/W 2010: The Overview (part one)

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Forget about summer, August is the best time of year to start planning your Autumn/Winter wardrobe and thinking about the hottest looks and coolest trends for the season ahead. After attending all the international catwalk shows in London, New York, Paris and Milan I have put together the definitive guide on everything you need to know about the new trends to stay ahead of the fashion pack. Time to take notes…

1. We’ve moved away from IT bags in the last few years but this season sees the return of ladylike glamour and with it the proper handbag. Celine did some of the best.

2. Invest in leather, from rockabilly to dominatrix there’s a look to suit you. Burberry Prorsum, Isabel Marant and The Row all showed some gorgeous pieces. Try this chic leather pencil skirt from Planet for starters.

3. Make like the fashion pack and get back into old-school music. Blue Moon by Elvis Presley was playing at the Rodarte show and I for one was loving it!

4. Breasts are back. If you’ve got them then flaunt them in ladylike and still-elegant cleavage enhancing tops, like this Roxy one.

Fall Overview A/W 2010: Leather pencil skirt Planet, Elvis Presley 50 Greatest Hits, Roxy kiss and tell top,

Gifts for grads: Pick of the best

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I am in the rather strange position this year of picking out a graduation gift for my mother. After working straight from school she has gone onto obtain a series of very high profile degrees, a masters and has now just got her Phd I am so proud of her! I also feel like a parent having to choose a graduation gift and suddenly realise how difficult it is to choose something quirky, cute and meaningful that the grad will treasure and remember their day by.

Luckily help is at hand with this hopefully useful guide. First up, I think it’s great to choose a cute token gift with just the right amount of sentimentality. This personalised graduation bear is just adorable! Add a classic present, such as this chic two tone photo frame and you have the gift-giving part nailed.

I also love the idea of this graduation memory box by Elizabeth Young Designs. In bespoke solid oak it features your name and the date of graduation, plus is filled with sweet miniatures like books and pens. You can add your own photos, souvenirs of time at university and keepsakes to treasure from the special day.

Gifts for grads featured: Personalised graduation bear, Graduation memory box by Elizabeth Young Designs, and  Graduation two tone photo frame

Spice of Life

  • posted August 8th, 2010
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Ok now lets play a game for all you wannabe masterchefs out there! Can you name the one spice that manages to add some va va voom to Mexican hot chocolate but works equally as well with a delicious roast chicken? It’s a little seasoning that manages to be both seductive, aromatic and earthy as well as being ridiculously versatile. It’s also my favourite spice. Give up yet? Well put your hands together, ladies and gentleman for cinnamon.

This gorgeous spice works as well with savory as it does with sweet, I often just mix it with cumin and pepper to transform a simple roast chicken or pork into something really special. Alternatively, add cinnamon sticks to a bowl of ice cream or homemade hot chocolate for a real family treat. If you’re trying to sell your house the smell of a cinnamon-laced apple pie would win over even the most measly home buyer.

Cinnamon tea also has proven health benefits and is especially good if you’re looking to lower your blood sugar. Plus if you want to attract a man than apparently studies show that men are more drawn to the scent of cinnamon than to the scent of a woman! Brings a new meaning to the phrase spice of life!

Featured spices and tea: Suma organic ground cinnamon, Twinings orange, mango and cinnamon tea, and Bart fair trade cinnamon sticks

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