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Dare to wear: Butterfly print dresses

butterfly-dresses

Now here’s something to get your heart all of a-flutter. Blame Kate Moss and the likes of Lily Allen and Alexa Chung at the festivals this summer, but suddenly I am heavily craving a pretty butterfly print dress to float through these hot summer days in.

When the heat is on, whether you are by the beach or smouldering in the city, a chic maxi dress with a pretty, feminine print will keep you looking and feeling cool. I love this Matthew Williamson for Debenhams one in fresh lilac and vibrant pink. It would look perfect with a tan too.

Alternatively if you’re looking for a smart frock that would work for a summer wedding or garden party, whilst still looking on-trend then this fresh butterfly print number from Oasis at John Lewis would be ideal. The clean print and subtle asymmetric neckline makes it look ultra expensive and it’s timeless enough to work for next summer too!

Matthew Williamson for Debenhams maxi dress, and Butterfly print dress Oasis at John Lewis

Fashion SOS: Dressing for your shape: Prints

print-dresses
We know fashion might be fooling us sometimes, but in the real world let’s face it, we don’t all actually look like models. Whether you’re curvy like Jennifer Lopez or Beyonce, boyish shaped like Natalie Portman and Kate Moss, petite like Kylie and Eva Longoria or pear-shaped like Liv Tyler, worry no longer there’s a look for you.  I’ve put together my multi-part guide, filled with expert stylist tips on how to wear the season’s hottest looks, without compromising on a figure-flattering shape. First up it’s this summer’s love affair with prints.  Time to love your body, just the way it is!

THE TREND: PRINT

Curvy: Go for a regular or small size all-over print that will keep the eye moving and provide camoflage. A print wrap dress is just the ticket. Add heels for a figure-flattering effect.

Petite: Geometric prints often look stronger than florals, which to be honest can look rather twee on a petite frame. Go  for a fitted dress with a short hemline, such as this cute Miss Selfridge black and white print frock.

Boyish: Go for a bold print and bright colours, such as a striking print dress in a look-at-me shade to add curves.

Pear: Stick to darker colours on your bottom half and go for a pretty print blouse to draw attention to your top half. I adore this Liberty-style print La Redoute blouse.

Print dresses featured above from upper left clockwise: East spot print wrap dress John Lewis, Miss Selfridge geometric print dress Additions Direct, Matalan Floral jersey dress, and Print blouse La Redoute

Beauty SOS: Blonde bombshell (part two)

  • posted June 25th, 2010
  • Beauty

blonde-part-2
Gorgeous, sun-kissed blonde hair is meant for long hot summer days. Think Gwyneth Paltrow looking cool, serene and impossibly glamorous in The Hamptons or Kate Moss, rocking her edgy-pretty brand of beauty in Ibiza or on a yacht. The downside? Blonde hair, especially if it is dyed or highlighted can be extra fragile in the sun and as anyone who has ever had highlights knows, that pretty, pale blonde or  glossy warm honey colour can quickly turn brassy due to a mixture of hot sun and swimming in the pool or sea when on holiday.

Here’s the second part of my indispensable guide to staying a blonde bombshell, all holiday long:

1. Boost the strength of your hair after a day on the beach by using a specially-formulated post-sun shampoo, such as Joico K-Pak Sun Therapy shampoo. I adore this brand for their moisture-rich formulas which leave parched hair looking shiny and healthy again.

2. A top session stylist trick that all the models use is to brush through a small amount of tomato ketchup through your hair if your highlights have gone orange-y or brassy or if you have swum a lot in a chlorinated pool. It really works!

3. On holiday I skip normal conditioner and use a deep conditioning mask every time I wash my hair. My hair really needs it after a day in the sun. Try a nourishing one, such as Phyto Citrus Radiance masque. Phtyo is a fab brand for taking care of dry hair.

Blonde bombshell products featured (left to right); Joico K-Pak Sun Therapy Shampoo and Phtyo Citrus Radiance Masque

Bag to Have: Alexander Wang’s Diego

alexander wang handbag
Easy tiger. Leopard print is having a bit of a moment and the accessories of the season are all taking a walk on the wild side with this on-trend print. Now leopard print can verge into Bet Lynch territory, which is why it’s always worth taking tips from style icon Kate Moss and keeping it looking a little grungy, a little bit too-cool-for-school as opposed to full-on Italian-style glamorous. Frankly, only Donatella Versace can pull that one off really.

A leopard-print bag though is the way to go this summer and for next autumn/winter. I adore designer of the moment Alexander Wang’s Diego bucket bag for adding a flash of leopard print to an all-black outfit. It’s the ultimate cool must-have bag for this summer and they’re selling out like hot cakes and so snap one up while you still can. I am almost tempted to get two!

There’s an eighties-esque drawstring opening and front pocket, plus the drawstring details doubles up as a short handle and a longer, adjustable shoulder strap. The stud detailing adds a typical Alexander Wang rock chick edge. Get ready to rumble style kittens!

Alexander Wang Diego bag £995 Browns

Festival chic: the perfect tent

  • posted May 20th, 2010
  • Home

campingtents
As festival season is nearly upon us, it’s time to start planning your festival chic wardrobe – think Kate Moss and Daisy Lowe do insouciant, laid back cool. I’m already getting out the glitter so my festival makeup look really rocks. First, however, it’s time to think practical. They’ll be no partying or swanning around in your new ensembles if you don’t have somewhere to lay your head after a hedonistic night of fun.

I’m camping for the first time this year at Leeds and lets face it, I am more of a spa girl than someone who likes to rough it. So the tent is all-important. I want comfort, practicality and a place where I won’t actually mind bedding down with my nearest and dearest!

I love this Flash Fuse tent. It’s for three people (but what a squeeze that would be!) but would be perfect for a couple. Cozy and the colour matches this season’s military trend! So fashion! It’s easy to pitch too, which frankly I need. For a group or family, this Artemis tent is ideal. It’s super roomy and has an airy feel to it. Almost spa like…

Featured tents: Flash Fuse tent Millets £69.99, Artemis 500 tent £189

Trend Alert: Gladiator sandals

gladiator-sandals
The sun is coming out this weekend apparently, despite the slightly rainy British weather. So much for all those ‘hottest spring on record’ reports then! Anyway, no doubt when we do get to catch some rays I’ll be ultra unprepared and still wearing last autumn’s plimsols. So my spring resolution is it’s time to make like the A-list and don a pair of this summer’s must have shoes – the gladiator sandal.

Stars such as Kate Moss, Naomi Watts and Daisy Lowe have been rocking this catwalk trend everywhere from the red carpet to the beach and you should be too. So to get you started here’s some of my favourites that you can snap up now online.

Firstly I adore the Damita K gladiators. The minimal strap and simple colours (the dark chocolate brown is my favourite) make them effortlessly chic. Alternatively go the whole hog with these statement sandals at Dune. Perfect for showing off tanned legs. If you’re looking to add a splash of colour, try these stunning blue patent Alexander McQueen gladiators. Time to storm the empire!

IMAGES

Gladiator sandals featured top left, clockwise: Damita K gladiators £24.88, Dune gladiators £100, Alexander McQueen blue patent gladiators £295 at Browns

Shop to watch: Browns shoes

browns-shoes
As a girl who is completely obsessed with Browns‘ beautiful and covetable selection of fashion goodies I am also a bit of a fanatic about their shoe collection. Mrs B’s  latest addition to the family-run firm’s stable of iconic multi-brand boutiques was Browns Shoes, which opened in January 2009. Erin Mullaney is the Buying Director there and her taste is simply impeccable. She launched the 12,000 foot shop and placed it just opposite Claridge’s to attract exactly the right sort of crowd (I once saw Jude Law, Kate Moss and Kristin Scott Thomas in Claridge’s bar, all on the same day, so you can imagine the sort of clientele who might be wandering across the street to take a peak at the shoes!)

There is an amazing selection for shoe fetishists from Balenciaga, Rupert Sanderson, Balmain, Lanvin, Azzedine Alaia and Jil Sander. There are contemporary offerings from Rick Owen and Acne, party shoes from Gina, as well as everything you could ever dream of from Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy and Christian Louboutin. There are men’s shoes from Dries Van Noten, and Dior Homme too that are worth a look if the man in your life loves his shoes (almost!) as much as you. In the shop on South Molton Street in London the shoes are displayed in a huge illuminated shelf on one wall, like an art installation. For easy shopping at home the website is great, so get clicking!

Shoes featured (All at Browns, clockwise from top left): Azzedine Alaia suede high heels £380, Christian Louboutin Bretelle strappy shoes £480, Rupert Sanderson patent peep toe pumps (flats) £400, Alejandro Ingelmo metallic platforms now £150, Christian Louboutin Piaf court shoe £330, and the studded Gina Gilda shoe £675,

Shop to watch: Agent Provocateur

agent-provocateur
Now Valentine’s Day may be over, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to put away the sexy undies. Agent Provocateur is the undisputed queen of sexy and still sophisticated underwear and the vintage edge plus a gorgeously covetable selection of sweet nothings makes it my first port of call for re-stocking the underwear draw.

Started in the early nineties by Serena Rees and Joseph Corre (who is the son of Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren) Agent Provocateur can be credited with bringing downright sexy and erotic lingerie out of the closet (so to speak) and into the high street. The shops are chic in black and pink, whilst the staff wear revealing pink nurses uniform to add a dose of very British, Carry On humour.

Kate Moss, Daisy Lowe and Peaches Geldof have all starred in their advertising campaigns and the range also includes some rather lovely beauty products and perfumes. The underwear has a 1940’s retro pin-up air. It’s best for lacy, sexy, flirty pieces that won’t go out of style.

All at Agent Provocateur clockwise from top left: Kiki Kimono, Diamond Dust fragrance, Love basque £185 and Pom Pom Mule


Dare to Wear: OTK boots

  • posted February 21st, 2010
  • Fashion

lace-up-boots
With everyone currently sporting the latest trend for high heeled over the knee boots, or OTK boots, from Kate Moss to Tess Daly I am having to revise my opinion of them a bit. Flat OTK boots in soft suede or even black leather have always been a great love of mine. I currently own no fewer than five pairs, which yes is a little obsessive but they work with everything and also keep you nice and snuggly warm on cold winter days. It’s the over the knee boots with heels that I sometimes have a problem with. Certainly there is a fine line between looking like you just stepped off the catwalks in Paris to appearing to have taken Julia Roberts’ character Vivienne from Pretty Woman as a role model.

I have been completely won over however by these chic and sleek Schuh over the knee boots, which are now in the sale. I adore the lace up detail, which adds a Victoriana edge. The rounded toe and graduated heel keep the look modern and so long as you don’t wear them with obviously sexy clothing, you’ll be suited and booted!

Schuh over the knee boots now £60

If it’s good enough for Kate Moss…

  • posted January 25th, 2010
  • Beauty

jamesbrown
Since their chance meeting in a Croydon salon nearly twenty years ago, hairdresser James Brown and Kate Moss have been not only best of friends but have also worked together numerous times for many glossy magazines. They were both booked to shoot their legendary Vogue cover in 1992 with photographer Corinne Day. Kate was just 17 at the time and James was only 22, the youngest hairdresser to earn the honour.

Kate has also collaborated on the much-loved haircare collection James Brown London, which aims to bring the sexy, signature products to the high street at affordable prices. As well as having just opened a salon on Wigmore Street in London, James is a regular hairdresser for Vogue and at red-carpet events. Personally, my absolute favourite product of his is the Hair Reviving Dry Shampoo. As something of a dry shampoo addict (my hair looks better two days after a I wash it, generally) it has a great smell and is ideal for creating that mussed-up, lived-in texture that looks effortlessly cool.

Featured James Brown hair products: James Brown London Hair Reviving Dry Shampoo £5.99, James Brown London Mini Richly Moisturising Shampoo £1.95, James Brown London Colour Enhancing Conditioner £5.99

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