Something a little less comfortable.

Underwear as outerwear is an ongoing trend that was rife on the catwalks this season yet again. A few designers who did it particularly well for me were; Chanel, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Christopher Kane, Louise Goldin, Mark Fast, Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang and of course, Jean Paul Gaultier (some more pictures of these can be seen in my earlier blogs.) I really love this trend probably more than any other right now because I'm always dressing fairly androgynously and stealing my boyfriend's clothes so juxtaposing that with a few bits of sexy detailing here and there really saves it from looking overly masculine. I like playing with sheer fabrics too.

Mark Fast

Marc JacobsAlexander Wang

This Jean Paul Gaultier corset is actually from his Autumn/Winter 2009 couture collection but it was just too good, I had to put it in. I just love it so much, it's amazing, wish I had one. Kylie wore it because JPG designed all the costumes for her most recent tour (love the sketch!)

JPG also did Madonna's infamous cone bras for her Blonde Ambition tour back in the 90s - oddly enough these are now making a bit of a comeback amongst the braver fashion-forward.

Love this pic of Alice Dellal from the March 2009 issue of Dazed & Confused.

It's been well-documented of late that women are buying increasingly high-end underwear, if you listen to the papers apparently this is a bid to save some money from going out and instead spice up nights spent in. I just think it's because it's more fun. As Dita von Teese says, there's nothing like knowing you have something really sexy on underneath your clothes to make you feel more confident and like you have a secret. High end favourites include Agent Provocateur http://www.agentprovocateur.com/, La Perla http://www.laperla.com/, What Katie Did http://www.whatkatiedid.com/, and for something a little more feminine, Stella McCartney http://www.stellamccartney.com/int/en/lingerie/.

Agent Provocateur

I'm getting quite into the more vintage-inspired pieces like high-waisted briefs and long-line bras, there's so much more detailing and it's just pretty (see pictures of a Topshop set worn underneath a sheer tee at the end). Kate Moss recently designed a collection of underwear for Topshop that I thought was right on the mark with simple lace sets and some more adventurous sheer patterned fabrics.

Kate Moss for Topshop.

I also love this silk ruffle set with sheer panelling that I got from Urban Outfitters recently.

Kimchi Blue.

I really loved the vintage look on Jessica Stam in a spread in the May 2008 issue of British Vogue.

So many celebrities have been photographed sporting this trend over recent seasons that it's hard not to notice. I think it's particularly fun combined with this season's focus on trench coats. Am I the only one who's been wondering what Vicky B is sporting under those Burberry Prorsum draped numbers when she's catching flights everywhere to meet David?!

This dress from Henry Holland's Spring/Summer 2009 ready-to-wear collection still sticks in my mind as a standout example of underwear as outerwear and experimenting with sheer. Love M.I.A.'s style - such an amazing maternity look haha!

I'm also still a little bit in love with this Alexander Wang dress from Spring/Summer 2009, Alice Dellal wears it well. But of course, love it or hate it, lately noone's been doing underwear as outerwear like Lady Gaga (especially on the cover of the most recent US Elle Magazine, and in Gaultier in the first picture).

I recently won a twitter competition and I received 500pounds worth of Stella McCartney lingerie! At first I really thought it was a hoax so when I got it in the post I really couldn't believe it. I absolutely love love love Stella McCartney underwear because it is so delicate and feminine and detailed and gorgeous! They sent me the most lovely selection of their latest collection in beautifully wrapped parcels.


I really loved this miniature Stella McCartney chest of drawers with a pair of gorgeous sheer briefs embroidered with a tiny flower and each day of the week. I thought it was so cute!

Now I'm just trying to get up the courage to wear this trend out in public! :)

Bodysuit, Stella McCartney. Velvet blazer, skirt, shoes; all Topshop. Socks, H&M.

Underwear, Topshop. Sheer tee, American Apparel. Shorts, Topshop. Hoody, H&M menswear. Coat, Topshop. Sheer tights, H&M. Boots, Comptoir des Cotonniers for Dr.Marten's. Jewellery, Vivienne Westwood.

More soon.

All catwalk photos from Style.com

Stealing Mary-Kate & Ashley's style; the twins lauch new website.

What better way to steal Mary-Kate and Ashley's coveted style than by buying clothes designed by the twins themselves? Last week Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's high-end line 'The Row' launched it's much-anticipated website http://therow.com/. The Row offers gorgeous high end basics in keeping with the Olsens' own unique style. Known for it's understated luxury, the line consists largely of twists on classic pieces that every girl needs in her wardrobe (like the leather trousers I'm lusting for, who doesn't need those?). They also do menswear so boyfriends take note. However, you're going to have to wait a while as online purchasing won't be available until April. For now just think of it more as a lookbook.

Here is a video Mary-Kate & Ashley made to showcase their collection two years ago when they were just launching The Row. To be honest not much has changed as they seem to focus more on colourless, seasonless staples with a bit of an edge as opposed to fashion-forward statement pieces so it seems just as relevant now as it did then.



They also have a more casual-wear focused line called 'Elizabeth and James', named after their less famous siblings. See the collection here: http://elizabethandjames.us/# I really love their Spring 2010 shoes! Particularly styles 'Chic' and 'Star'(far right of the slideshow), but actually I love most of them. And it seems that one of my other favourite fashionistas, Gossip Girl star Taylor Momsen is also a fan.

I also loved this pair of cute Elizabeth & James flats that Mary-Kate was seen wearing herself on several occasions while out and about in New York City last summer. (Actually I love everything about the first look apart from the ugly orange and purple bag at the front - want it all - the oversized black fringed bag, the oversized punk knitted jumper dress, the round statement sunglasses, love it!)

While I'm still not completely sold on the overpriced basics The Row has to offer, I think I have a new obsession in Elizabeth and James shoes, but at $350 a pop I better get saving.... More soon.

Kate Moss expands her empire.

Kate Moss has been the face of Longchamp for a few seasons now, but it was unveiled yesterday at Paris Fashion Week that she has also designed a collection of bags for the luxury brand; Kate held a party for 700 of her closest fashion friends at the Ritz to debut her range. Apparently the collection is split into three seperate concepts; Rock'n'Casual, Rock'n'Travel and Rock'n'Glam - so there's something for everyone. The bags will be available for purchase from February 11th exclusively at Longchamp's London boutique, and at Selfridges London. I'm a big fan of Kate Moss' style so I'm excited to see what she has to offer.






Always ahead of the fashion curve; Miss Moss also unveiled a new twist to her hairstyle with some visible grey streaks, very Daphne Guiness. She showed off her legs in a gorgeous lace Valentino mini and a cropped white jacket, she also toted a clutch from her own designs.

There was also much speculation about Kate's bare ring finger, as it was recently reported that long-time love Jamie Hince proposed on a trip to Mustique for a fashion shoot earlier this month, but that is yet to be confirmed by the couple. More soon.

In the mood for change.

In the spirit of my 'song of the day' artist, Madonna, I think I'm going to go for a mini-makeover for Spring as I'm starting to get a bit bored with my look (it's been the same for like 4 months now and it's starting to feel a bit stale). Tomorrow I'm going shopping for a curling iron as I'm hoping to sort my boring flat hair out with a nice kind of 1940's wave. I've never done that before but hopefully it'll work. I loved a spread that I saw in British Vogue in March 2009 with Lily Donaldson sporting this kind of romantic, war-time look.

I also particularly loved the look on the Christian Dior catwalk for Spring/Summer 2010 (always a fan of Sasha Pivovorova's look anyway).

I'm thinking I might lighten my hair up a bit for Spring too as it's practically black right now, but I think I'll let a professional handle that as I've had too many bad outcomes in the past. Just not sure whether to stick to a dark brown or go lighter. Probably lighter; if I'm going for change I think I'd definitely prefer a more dramatic change.

I feel like Spring/Summer 2010 is the season to look a bit more polished and like you've made some effort so I'm trying to be less lazy and pull my look together. I'm also hoping to find the perfect nude lipstick (one of my favourite colours for Spring) tomorrow as I'm really getting into the idea of daytime lipstick, and an altogether more glamourous look. Although I have to say after a quick look on http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/ I'm slightly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choice. I'm not usually one for wearing a lot of makeup as I was always more of a tomboy, however I'm slowly being converted - I really loved this article in this month(February 2010)'s Vogue about 'the return of makeup' which makes the whole ordeal seem somewhat more managable.

Hell, I might even try some fake eyelashes for the first time! I'll keep you posted on the results. More soon.

All catwalk photos from Style.com

Spring/Summer? It's still cold!

I realise that fashion dictates that it's Spring/Summer 2010 right now, in fact it seems it's almost over as Autumn/Winter collections are being shown around the world, but here in England it's still absolutely freezing. Lately I've basically been living in my boyfriend's chunky knits, I just can't get enough of them. That and some skinny jeans (or sheers if I'm wearing a dress), and a pair of masculine boots and I'm ready to go.

Jumper, Zara menswear. Jumper (underneath), American Apparel. Jeans (taken in to be skinnier), Topshop. Boots, Comptoir des Cotonniers for Dr.Marten's.

Jumper, Zara menswear. Jeans, Topshop. Boots, Church's.

Because of the cold weather, and the fact that my wardrobe largely consists of understated black dresses; I'm slowly coming around to the idea of statement tights. Usually I'm more one for just braving the cold and sticking with bare legs but I got myself this pair (which my boyfriend says make me look like a character out of a Batman movie - Riddler? Joker?) from Topshop recently that I really love. Not only are they fun but they're really kind of slimming as the black lines edge around the front slightly and give the illusion of slimmer legs. I've only worn them a couple times and I was very pleasantly surprised at the amount of women complimenting them (men don't know anything anyway).

Tights, Topshop.

I've been dying to get my hands on a pair of House of Holland tights but every time I go to a stockist they never seem to have the pair I want (below). They're all nice though so I may just settle for a different pair, although I was hoping for some that I haven't seen every other girl wearing (everyone seems to have the 'WANNA PARTY' ones for some reason?). According to his twitter, http://www.twitter.com/henryholland, he's just signed off on some more for next season which I'm excited to see, hopefully he'll continue to deliver.

Even in the cold weather I've never really been one for gloves (I hate letting the weather dictate my outfit), you can never operate your ipod successfully with a pair on and fingerless pairs make you look kind of like a homeless person, so when I saw this muff in an Urban Outfitters in Liverpool it was like love at first sight. I used to have one when I was 5 that was attached to my coat and let me tell you it has been sorely missed. Upon trying it on I was instantly whisked back to that magical time of feeling like Princess Anastasia, very early-1900s Russia (almost definitely not historically accurate but when you're 5 it's fun nonetheless). However, far from my elephant patterned one of the early 90s; this is a more grown up muff. The chain to hang it around your neck manages to give it a bit of edge that makes a girl proud, rather than slightly embarrassed, to wear it. The practicality, or lack thereof, of a muff is irrelevant - it both looks and feels good.

Muff, Urban Outfitters.

For Christmas my boyfriend got me the most comfortable pair of slippers in the world. I know what you're thinking - boring. But actually when I saw this 'where the wild things are'-inspired pair I was really excited (we saw Where the Wild Things Are recently and I thought it was amazing), the tiny leather claws are such a nice touch! I also love the fact that noone else will have them because they were literally the last pair left in this cute little boutique store in Liverpool Street called 'Hurwundeki' that we like. Nothing can take the wind out of your sails more than being happy with your outfit and then running into someone wearing the exact same thing (damn Topshop!).

Slippers, Hurwundeki.

So while everyone else is counting down the days until warmer weather, I'm all set.

More Soon.

It's all in the detail.

I'm really happy to see so much focus on nail varnish this season. I'm a big believer in the fact that a put-together look is all about the little details. A good manicure is so often undervalued these days, I just love the look of a fresh manicure. It can make it look like you really made an effort even though it's such a small, easy thing to do. This November 2009 article in British Vogue got it spot on about the growing trend and how it's a more cost-effective way to make a statement - the picture really showed what bold, fun colours and patterns are becoming more readily available.

These are a few of my favourite colours for spring.

White on White, Revlon.

Pink Nude, Revlon.

Tropical Temptation, Revlon.

As you can see I'm a big fan of Revlon nail varnish as it's proven itself time and time again for me, however I am also a slow convert to Barry M 'nail paints' which offer more unusual colours in a more understated matte finish. My absolute favourite nail varnish at the moment is this beautiful shade of dark grey.

Grey, NailPaint by Barry M.

If it were up to me (and I had the time) I'd change my nail varnish every day to suit my outfit. There are just so many different options to have fun with. Although every now and then I think I might still stick to classic black. Right now I'm experimenting with different styles as opposed to just painting the whole nail one colour. I'm not sure about the, apparently popular, sticker patterns (seen above in the Vogue article picture) from Minx as they feel a bit too tacky for my taste. Instead I've been taking a cue from my grandmother and going for a more classic 1940's look, you can update it by using more unusual colours to give it a bit of a modern twist. To get this look you simply don't paint the half moon at the base of your nail, and for a more polished look I added a couple layers of a clear topcoat.

One Perfect Coral, Revlon.

I just love how something so small can make such a big impact and make a look so much more well-rounded. Unpolished, unmanicured nails look scruffy; I love how something so easy to do can make it look like you've made that much more effort. Plus it's such a cost-effective trend so everyone can get in on it, I mean you can get Chanel nail varnish (personally I'd go for a beautiful nude shade for spring such as no.87 'Flamme Rose') for as little as 12pounds. Who can say no to that?

More soon.