It's trench time

Ah, the joys of British spring time. Rainy, sunny... oh no wait rainy,  then sunny. Argh! Yesterday I was wearing a fur coat, only to be drenched wet in the rain and boiling hot in spurs of sunshine. This made me realise that it's time for the perfect spring cover-up, the trench. Another Hall of Fame item, the trench is a wardrobe essential.  I throw it over print dresses and denim, I wear opened or belted. It always looks cool and contemporary, yet retaining it's classic appeal.

Marni navy check print trench, Mango ripped jeans, Chanel shoes, YSL Muse bag

I love this mid-thigh trench from J.Crew, it's also flattering when worn with dresses and skirts. 

Belt a coat

It's such an old trick, but it always works. I am a bit of a "belt stylist", I love them all, skinny, wide, jeweled, leather, covered in logos or simple and understated. I never feel guilty buying them, and they always come in handy. Belting coats is one of my favorite tricks, and it really does give it a brand new feel. It doesn't need to match, I like a simple leather belt on a smart gray coat or a bejeweled one over a denim jacket. Today it's a plastic links belt over vintage fur.

Vintage fur coat, Marni belt, Top Shop jeans, Zara shoes

An ode to leopard print

I love an injection of leopard print to a casual outfit, be it in a clutch, a skinny belt or a fabulous pair of shoes, especially clashed with a hint of stripe. However, animal print can be tricky, either too flashy or cheap looking, so I stay away from anything more than a great accessory. Today I am keeping it simple with skinny jeans, T-shirt and leather jacket. My ankle boots are from ASOS, and are a great high street version of the celebrated Christian Louboutin ones. 

Whistles leather jacket, Gap skinny jeans and scarf, Asos ankle boots.

Some other great finds available now

  Pretty Ballerina pumps Mulberry clutch My ASOS boots

My biggest shopping regret is not buying this amazing Jospeh leopard print coat last season.. can't bare to think about it!

Dress down Sunday

Enjoying the London sunshine in this season must-have denim jacket, ribbed leggings  and ballerinas, all topped up with a touch of Chanel 2.55. Simple and classic, this is my recipe to dress-down Sunday, ready for brunch and an art  exhibition.

Diesel denim jacket, Cos gray sweater, Zara gray leggings, R&B studded ballerinas, Chanel beige patent chain bag.

Cashmere and Vogue

Today I am spending the afternoon on the couch, wrapped in my gray cashmere Loro Piana blanket, bare foot (pedi time), with the greatest company of all: my just-landed on the doorstep copy, of US Vogue. But it hasn't all been about relaxing time,  here is the shopping result of my afternoon.. 

I have to have these sequin shorts from Cynthia Rowley

 

Next season forecast

This time of the year, I am looking at what will be in fashion next season. It is meeting after meeting, on trends forecast, as fashion editors predict what will be seen on the high streets. All this talk, has made me want to give the contemporary version of the 70's trend, a test ride.  I don't do head-to-toe looks, so yes to belted dresses with knee high boots, and no to bouncy hair a la Charlie's Angels.

Jaeger smock dress, Anya Hindmarch satchel, Sergio Rossi patent boots, Vintage belt.

One of my favorite shows with a 70's feel

Burberry A/W 2010/11

It's a busy life and it's done in ballerinas

I mentioned it yesterday, and I thought I would dedicate today's WIT to my favorite spring time shoe: ballerinas. Here are some of my all time favorites, and a brake down on where I (very specifically) shop for my essentials: simple leather, quilted patent, jeweled, metallic, skins and studded.

• Every day- Russell & Bromley's don't stretch and are very comfortable. I live in my four pairs and they last a very long time. Thier black quilted style is my favorite. Jimmy Choo do rubber soled ones, and that's a plus.
• Precious- Miu Miu have the best jeweled ones, and so worth investing on. 
• Give status to any outfit- a Chanel pair. Oh the power of that CC...
• Wouldn't know the difference between Designer and High Street- Zara.
• Chic- Tory Burch.
• One hit wonders- New Look and Primark, because sometimes I don't want to spend hundreads of pounds on a pair of pink fluorescent flats, but I still just gotta have them to go with my khaki's... 

Some of my favorite pairs, from Chanel to Primark

On the run with a favorite: black suede with gold studs from Russell & Bromely

Miu Miu leather jacket, Anya Hindmarch bag, Mango jeans, R&B ballerinas.

Meeting after meeting (and flats in the bag)

Hall of fame alert! (See WIT on the 15th March if you don't know of what I'm talking about). The wool,    A-line navy skirt- another one of my wardrobe essentials. Always feminine, never vulgar, this one is the perfect length to be worn with heels and flats. It looks great with a T-shirt or a  bejeweled top, with any style belt or colour, it can be smart and lady like or instantly cool and contemporary, when paired with a denim jacket or a statement shoe. 

Prada jeweled knit top with crystal embroidery, Zara front pleat wool skirt and black sandals.

Grown up leggings

Let's face it, I'm in my very late twenties, and I can only give leggings another few years, before I start looking inappropriate. In the mean time, I am riding the wave, and sporting my new cargo  pocket legging, and smartening it up with a classic tailored blazer. And when it comes to investing in a pair of smart leggings, the best ones are from Theory for cotton, and Joseph for wool styles.

Balenciaga blazer, Cos T-shirt, Prada boots, Top Shop leggings (in store now)

The power of a great coat

A well tailored coat can cover a multitude of fashion sins. It makes me look smart and well put-together, even on the laziest of days. This is my favorite shape, belted and with a hoodie. Once I found my silhouette, I bought the same style in black by Zara, and gray by Joseph. A classic coat is a fail-proof outfit in it's own right, and it is the ultimate investment buy. This one is made by the  master of them all, Max Mara and comes in their signature colour, camel. 

Witty mix...

At first glance, you would think I was pulling a total Chanel accessories look, but look again as here is a trick I would like to share. I like to mix a really obvious designer item together with a high street "interpretation" of the same style (you will NEVER see me with a fake). So now by association, my Dorothy Perkins mini chain bag, worn together with my genuine Chanel logo heels, suddenly looks more... authentic. Et voila!

Dorothy Perkins denim quilted mini bag £18, Chanel pumps

It's my party!

Sometimes, a girls' gotta buy a dress for no reason whatsoever, and what better occasion than my own birthday. This silk, military green shirtdress (in store now £245), is my birthday present to myself. Tonight I'm dressing it up with jeweled accessories, but it will look equally good with flats in the summer.

Theory silk dress, Prada jewelled belt, Miu Miu bangle and KG jewelled sandals

ASOS access all areas

ASOS invited 30 bloggers to rifle through the rails and try on our favorite SS items collection. Here is my favorite total look. I love these double-waist band chino's, suede lace-up shoes and cropped denim jacket. All available to buy online right now on www.asos.com

Denim Jacket £40 Shoes £50 Chino's £30

Birthday girl!

For my birthday look, it's all about these fabulous purple, satin Prada courts and glitzy earrings, paired with cool, ripped Mango jeans.

Prada fabric and crystals earrings (perhaps still to be found on Ebay)

Shoot comfort

When I'm on a shoot, comfort is a must-have pair of rolled up jeans (these fab ones are from Banana Republic). Paired with flats and a cardi, it is a practical yet stylish uniform. I added a fashion touch by belting it all up with this Marni rope belt, it was actually from my rail, but I will be buying a similar one from Uniqlo.

Gap cardigan, COS T-shirt, Banana Republic jeans, Russell & Bromley flats, Marni belt.

Behind the scenes of my Red shoot- look out for this story in the July issue!

My idea of fashion heaven: stripes + bling.

During the course of WIT, I'll label some items as "Hall of Fame", these are the absolute musts that I would literally, save from a fire. Meet the first of these: the stripey T-shirt. If there is one thing every one every woman should own, is a breton top. Any brand will do, a hint of a stripe paired with denim, rolled up chino's, a sparkly necklace or even clashing under a floral dress, just looks so right.

Cos stripey top, Whistles leather jacket, Gap trousers, Prada boots, Wallis necklace, Simo's belt.

Day out

You wouldn't necessarily think much of it, but a parka does wonders for an outfit. I can throw it over a floral dress, jeans and a Tshirt, or a sequined number and equally obtain an effortless "off-the-catwalk" look. Today I am wearing my Celine inspired parka, leggings, and my much adored, quilted Chanel biker boots.

Zara parka, Joseph wool leegings, Chanel biker boots

Celine SS10

I've seen some great similar ones from American Apparel, Top Shop and Zara

Metallic Saturday

       

Even though Saturday morning calls for comfort, I like to make it precious with a splash of gold metallic accessories; I must confess I do love a mix of casual and luxury chic. I also don't shy away from pairing brights with neutrals, as I did with this vibrant bottle green with khaki's.

Cos navy chunky scarf, Uniqlo green cashmere jumper, Zara combat trousers, Primark gold brogues, Mulberry gold clutch.

Date night in an oversize knit

Ok I'll confess it- this is a pj's look disguised under heels and good fur, but way to go because my boyfriend loved it. It helps that the chunky knit dress is from Joseph, and my slippers from Prada..

Boyfriend touch

Every so often I like to shop in my boyfriend's side of the cupboard. Sometimes it's for his jeans, with their low-slung-cool effect that makes me feel so thin, other times it's his hoodie which looks great under my blazer, and today it is his combat style belt- I love the military touch in this otherwise preppy look.

Gap denim shirt, Marni black wool skirt, Top Shop brogues, Simo's belt.

Stylist's belt trick

We all have a belt that is too long, too small, or just to large to sit on the waist. Here is a stylist's trick to tighten it as much or a as little as you like. It looks cool and casual, great to belt coats and cardigans. Just fold the belt back into the buckle as shown below- done.

Joseph gray wool dress, YSL felt belt, Zara lace up shoes.

And here is how I did it for a recent Boden shoot-

check it out on www.boden.co.uk in the outfit ideas section

Brogues Brogues Brogues!

I love brogues- they are the toughened upgrade of a ballerina, with the same comfort factor and versatility. Today I am in Primark wearing them with rolled up trousers. Below is how I styled them in my recent Red magazine shoot (April issue out now). These gorgeous blue ones are from Christian Louboutin (and on my birthday wish list), but in the mean time see below for my Primark alternative...

Above, Christian Louboutin metallic Fred £395 - Below, Primark gold brogues £8

Sunday chill out

Combat trousers are back- I like to "pretty them up" with cute ballerinas and cashmere stripes. These ones are from Zara and are in store at the moment. They are super versatile, and I would make sure you have a pair to dress up with heels and dress down with flats.

Cashmere top (similar from Brora/Zara), Zara khaki combats, Jimmy Choo red star print flats.

Pizza & Pool SATC style

Why not dress up in leopard print and heels for pizza night? I love a bit of fashion decadence that way. However, I will be dressing it down with a leather jacket and a big knit scarf.

Jesire leopard print dress, French Connection black courts.

Spring Essentials from La Redoute

La Redoute kindly asked me to pick some of my favorite S/S buys, and here they are, complete with a picture of me on holiday this winter. Stripy tops, boyfriend jeans and chino's are all on my shopping list.

www.laredoute.co.uk