Anyone for fancy dress?

Today sees the birthday of one of my best 'chums'.  Jenny's heritage is an eclectic blend of The Bronx, Puerto Rico and...Kent resulting in an energetic whirlwind of English wit, 'Noo Yoik' sass and Latino dance moves.  

Style wise, she favours leopard print (her nickname is Jungle Queen) and she LOVES a costume.  Here are just a few of my favourite snaps.

Happy Birthday Jen xx

 

Wednesday's child is full of woe...

...but not with hair like this.

Imagery - This Is Glamorous

Spinning Around

Bikes.  They've never really been my thing since a childhood accident  scarred me both emotionally and actually (confession - I haven't been on one since out of sheer terror) but something is happening in the world of bikes.  Cycling's gone from lycra to lovely, and suddenly EVERYONE is doing it.  So what's caused this trend?  My sources tell me it may be down to Great Britain doing so well in competetive cycling and the likes of Victoria Pendelton gracing the pages of the glossy fashion mags.  Or maybe it's those bikes introduced by our lovingly fumbling mayor.  Either way,  I'm ready to investigate.  Now, does Boris do stabilisers do you think?

Bicycle Chic

  

The Fantasy Bikes

Yep, I'd definitly go for gold. This is the Bond Girl of bikes.

Or avec basket, laden with flowers.


The Reality Bikes

I've found the perfect get the look.  Evans Cycles is the place to go for all cycling
needs whether you're a beginner or an accomplished bike geek.
Everything from all the kit to the bikes themselves.  These two from Pinnacle
are exclusive to Evans Cycles, and in my mind are the perfect 'pretty bikes'.
Almost retro looking, without all the gharish colours and branding, and most importantly with a basket for your handbag, fresh flowers, the latest copy of Vogue...

Visit stores nationwide or www.evanscycles.com

The Look

Chinti and Parker
It's gotta be a breton for Parisian bike glamour

Oasis
Team with a billowing pleated skirt for ultimate movement and road attention

Topshop
Opt for the prettiest of pants....just in case.

French Sole
Finally, finish with a French ballet pump.
I'm sorry I simply can't advocate trainers on this blog.

Imagery - They All Hate Us, Designer Squish, Twenty Ten Eighty Four, Global Cool, Confetti Style

Nothing Like A New Dress

My all time heroine Scarlet O'Hara said (cue Southern Belle accent) 'When I'm wearing a new bonnet all the figures I've ever known go right out of my head.'  And I'm the same. About dresses.  In a previous post I mentioned my love of the Kate Moss tea dress and that I needed one more to complete my collection.  Well, the ebay gods were smiling down on me and here she is.  And I love her.  In a slightly cruel manner I hacked off a good couple of inches off her hem, but she knows I did it for her own good.  

In My Bedroom

This post is long overdue.  I took you all on the journey of my move, but never showed you my new stomping ground.  After packing up my house, and mildly damaging my dad's back from all the magazine and  book carrying, I spent two solid days making my new room my own little palace.  Some painting was involved (done with a makeup brush, I'm nothing if not resourceful) and I even hung my own pictures...pfft who needs a handyman?

If you don't have budget for expensive sheets and throws, you can still make your bed look hotel-worthy.  It's all in the layering and sticking to colours in the same family.  

The White Company sheets, topped with silken quilt (sssshh Primark), topped with fur throw (ssssssshhhhhhh TK Maxx), then various cushions for a final flourish. 

My Vogue billboard prints

My tower of fashion books.  Recommended reads include the Mulberry 40th Anniversary book, Kate Moss Style, Agent Provocateur - A Celebration of Femininity, Mario Testino - Let Me In

A collection of Barry M nail paints from Coral through to Mushroom, by way of glitter

A bedside table of Vogues

Two of my favourite things - my parents wedding picture and my Diptyque Mimosa candle

  

A clunky, old, antique chest with more books, my Mario print and polaroids

Candles from Agent Provocateur

  

My mini dressing table with the mirror I got from my first Saturday job in a gift shop

Trinkets

Memories

Earn Your Stripes

Who doesn't love a breton?

  

  

Imagery - Google, All About You, All The Pretty Birds, OSO You, They All Hate Us, R Du Jour

The Ultimate Swimming Costume

I've made a discovery - Kenneth Cole swimwear.  This is the perfect swimsuit for maximum impact.  One shoulder + draping + jet black = eveningwear inspired swimwear. AND it's on sale in House of Fraser so maybe you could just about justify splurging on this PHENOMENAL necklace from Mawi to wear with it*

Check out the rest of the Kenneth Cole collection for the most fabulous bikinis embellished with flowers available in back, magenta and neon green.

Mawi

Kenneth Cole

* ok, so at over £400 maybe this is a fantasy buy!

Party Dress Poll

It's time for a vote.  My colleague Rae revealed her most recent purchases today - four dresses of varying price tags for upcoming Summer events.  She wants to pick two or three to keep to wear for the following events - a Summer work party with paparazzi, fashion types and general merriment, a wedding and a 30th birthday.  We want readers everywhere to vote for their favourite dress, giving reasons why they love them, possible accessories to pair them with, which dress for which event...you get the picture.  Comment below, all feedback very welcome!

First Contender

Topshop Boutique

A simple black silk slip.  Begging to be paired with a chunky gold chain necklace,

killer heels and bronzed skin.  Beautiful.

Second Contender

Topshop

A pleated slip dress in nude with the most fragile of spaghetti straps.  Very pretty, very vintage Halston.  

Third Contender

Dress Up Topshop

A true showstopper.  Completely coated in sequins of different

shimmering aqua tones with a low cut back and full skirt.

Forth and Final Contender

Rare at ASOS

Finally, a nude embellished dress with low V neck and back.  

The white and silver sequins make up a slightly blurred paisley pattern.  Stunning.

Happy voting.  Verdict will be announced soon xxx