The Top Five Irresistible Buys

This week I started putting together a wishlist for my a/w wardrobe on my Blackberry. That way I'll hopefully only buy things that I really want/need when I'm out shopping and stop wasting money on silly bits and pieces. Yesterday I ticked off my first item (H&M lace bunny ears - very Olsen twins) which left me feeling super organised. But after browsing through the online stores I've found some many other beautiful items I want to add to my wishlist. Something tells me this list will continue to grow and grow. These are the top five pieces I currently have my eye on:

1. Lace and bead cami, £38 at topshop.com This caught my eye as I have an endless supply of jersey tanks, striped tees and practical t-shirts but hardly any 'dressy' tops. Next time I pass a Topshop I'll definitely go in to search for this pretty cami, which I'd wear with skinny jeans and heels in the evening.
2. Pink friendship bracelet by Bex Rox, £35 at cocosa.com This Bex Roz bracelet (normally £60) goes on sale at Cocosa today and comes in a blue and yellow too. It would make a great birthday present but I'm also lusting after one as I'm a sucker for gold jewellery.
3. Wool-blend dungaree skirt by 3.1 Phillip Lim, £495 at net-a-porter.com The opening outfit for Phillip Lim's a/w 2010 collection is still one of my favourite looks of the season, and this week his dungaree skirt hit Net-A-Porter in black. If I had the funds I'd buy this and wear it with a simple white shirt.
4. Grey suede boots, £55 at asos.com I had lunch with friends yesterday and it turns out they all want a shearling jacket for fall. It's obvious the Burberry-style jacket will be everywhere this a/w but I still want desperately one. To stand out from the crowd a little bit these boots are a great buy. The shearling look but without the "on trend" tag.
5. Embroidered jumper by Erdem, £920 at brownsfashion.com Swallows are definitely having a moment and this Erdem jumper puts a new twist on Swallow prints. This is a total dream item for me, but if I did get my hands on one I'd wear it under the season's minimalistic single-breasted coat.

What is on your a/w wishlist this year? And has anything in my selection caught your eye?

images from product websites catwalk image style.com

For A Sunny Day

Giovanna Battaglia, the Fashion Director of Vogue Gioiello and Vogue Pelle is fast catching up with Anna Dello Russo as far as wardrobe inspiration goes. I'm obsessed with her look. Today I'm stuck for outfit ideas, and if I could wear anything on this sunny day it would be Giovanna's gorgeous Alaia dress and Valentino heels.

It's a beautiful, carefree look, no? And I'm so attracted to the shoes. Normally I don't fall for kitten heels, and pointed-toes aren't always my thing either, but right now I'm so into the idea of nude kitten heels. I'm looking for the perfect pair (because sadly Valentino isn't even an option) for my a/w wardrobe.

What do you think of Giovanna Battaglia's look?

image from easyfashion.blogspot.com - check it out!

Hello September Issues

You all know I'm a full on magazine geek, so for me September is like Christmas as the glossies all go supersized. The UK issues always seem to come out a week or so before the US publications, so although it's only the 2nd of August the September covers are all out in the UK.
Matthias Vriens-McGrath photographed Emily Blunt for UK ELLE this month, and she looks wonderfully vampy in Valentino lace. Over at Vanity Fair Lady Gaga was photographed by Nick Knight (the US edition has the same cover) and I am super excited for this issue. I'm not a huge Gaga fan but I adore this cover and I think it could become a bit of a collectors item too.

Vogue UK went down the predictable route and chose Kate Moss (photographed by Patrick Demarchelier) for their September issue. I love the image of Kate in the Burberry pea coat. Alexandra Shulman, UK Vogue's editor, explained to the Guardian earlier in the year why they tend to stick with Kate for September, saying:
"Kate Moss sells well for us but then we tend to play to our strengths and put her on the September cover – it's better to use your ammunition on a big issue rather than battling against a difficult seasonal situation."
And finally, fellow supermodel Gisele Bundchen covers UK UK Harper's Bazaar. I don't buy UK Harper's nearly enough so I'm going to make sure I get this issue. You can't go wrong with a bit of Gisele can you? And the Cedric Buchet photos look gorgeous.
I can't wait to see the US covers now...

Which is your favourite UK September cover?

images from thefashionspot.com

Hit and Miss of the Week: All Good

This week has been rather good in terms of the red carpet. Angelina Jolie of course started the week in that red Versace dress, and kept standards high throughout the week. Cameron Diaz made a comeback in Vionnet and Blake Lively, another red carpet pro, was also looking fabulous, slipping into a sparkly Chanel number for a New York premiere.
And even the stars that aren’t so well known for their style were also doing a good job. Jessica Biel looked fantastic in a Giambattista Valli number (red was the hot colour this week) and Lea Michele and Anna Kendrick also pulled together some interesting looks. In fact, I didn’t give anyone a miss this week. Impressive, no?

Cameron Diaz: Hit

I wasn’t the only one who felt a little disappointed at the UK premiere of Knight and Day, as Cameron went totally casual. But when she dropped into France she made sure to glam it up a little bit more for the red carpet, and is now back on top. I adore the Vionnet dress she chose for the premiere. It works on so many levels: first of all Vionnet is the label to be seen wearing, it also shows off her infamous pins, and although dressy it has that air of nonchalance about it that says “Me? Oh, I just threw this old thing on.” I love it!

Jessica Biel: Hit

I’ve never been a fan of Jessica Biel’s style, but she has definitely been making more of an effort in recent months – perhaps spurred on by Alba’s sudden makeover? This Giambattista Valli dress is an ambitious look for Jessica (does it remind anyone else of Christina Ricci’s Givenchy Superhero Met dress?), and the wild hair as seen on Isabel Lucas is a perfect fashion-forward addition. Jessica works with Christina Ehrlich, who also styles Ashley Olsen, so we know who to thank for this great look.



Lea Michele: So-So

I still haven’t found the time to start watching Glee but I have been following Lea Michele’s style and it’s obvious she intends to become a regular on the best dressed lists. So far she has made some smart choices, but none that really stand out. This Reem Acra dress is very pretty and is a great fit for her – I especially love the neckline. I do think it might be a tiny bit too grown up however, and if she’s really going to compete with fellow TV fashionistas like Leighton and Blake she needs to add and edge to her look.

Blake Lively: Hit

I was really pleased to see Blake Lively in this Chanel dress for the premiere of Chace Crawford’s latest movie, Twelve. The colour is fabulous against Blake’s tanned (and annoyingly long) legs and the sheer detailing across the stomach adds a wonderfully quirky touch. I know Blake receives a lot of stick for the amount of cleavage she tends to show on the red carpet, and while I disagree with all the hating I do think she looks better in a more demure neckline. Less is sometimes more. And on this occasion Blake looked beyond gorgeous.

Angelina Jolie: Hit

I wasn’t the only one who was excited to see Angelina Jolie in a red dress at the start of the week. But as predicted she quickly reverted back to her favourite colour: black. This L’Agence maxi is a really interesting choice for Angelina, I think. The dark colour and slight leather-look to the fabric taps into the dominatrix image she so often likes to portray, but the loose shape and soft draping is much more feminine than her usual style. It’s nice to see the softer side of Angelina and I wonder if we’ll see her in a maxi again.

Anna Kendrick: So-So

I find Anna Kendrick so likeable, and I really want her to own it on the red carpet but she’s still missing that certain something. This week she attended a premiere in LA wearing this navy Marchesa dress. I keep changing my mind about whether the dress is too short or not, but it’s fair to say it is a risky hemline – especially as the dress is strapless too. Beyond the dress I think the shoes are OK. The burst of yellow is fantastic and definitely adds an edge of Anna’s style. It’s not a great outfit but at the same time there is nothing wrong with it either. I think Anna is getting more confident on the red carpet, so hopefully next time it will be a hit!

Who do you think was the best dressed this week?

Images Newscom/Getty/famepictures/AdMedia at picapp.com

Emily

ELLE UK have given Emily Blunt a well deserved September cover and I love it. You can't go wrong with a bit of black lace for the September issue, can you? And it's great to see a new face on the cover.
I'm a big fan of Emily, not just because of The Devil Wears Prada but also Sunshine Cleaning, which I enjoyed a lot more than I expected too. I still haven't got round to watching The Young Victoria but it's on my 'must rent' list as I think Emily is a fantastic actress. I laugh just reading this line of hers from TDWP:

"I'm on this new diet. Well, I don't eat anything and when I feel like I'm about to faint I eat a cube of cheese. I'm just one stomach flu away from my goal weight."

As an ELLE subscriber I got my copy today. The newstand edition is out on August 4th. 

What do you think of Emily's ELLE cover? A good choice for September?

image by Matthias Vriens-McGrath scan thefashionspot.com

Erdem's Gift Shop Delight

I have always been able to spend money in any shop. It's a gift I am not particularly proud of, but take me to just about any shop and I am sure I can find something to buy. On school trips I always looked forward to the end of the day when we could finally visit the museum or galleries gift shop.
It comes as no surprise then that I adore the gift shop at the V&A museum. The Victoria and Albert Museum has always been my favourite museum in London and if you haven't visited their gift shop you are really missing a trick. To celebrate the upcoming exhibition Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes (opening on September 25th) fashion designer Erdem has designed a silk scarf to be sold exclusively at the V&A gift shop. Click to see full-size.

Erdem is one of my favourite designers working in the UK at the moment, his use of print and colour in unbeatable and his designs always look fantastic on the red carpet. The Narcisse scarf he's designed actually features original costume designs by Léon Bakst for the ballet Narcisse in 1911 which is a beautiful touch. "It’s wonderful to work with Bakst’s illustrations," Erdem explains. "I thought they were such a wonderfully inspiring starting point for the scarf. The Ballets Russes are so inspiring and colourful."

Thandie Newton wears an Erdem Fall 2008 dress to the 2008 GQ Men of the Year Awards

The Narcisse Scarf won't be available until September, however you can pre-order it online now HERE. I have a feeling this will piece will sell out super-fast as Erdem's fanbase continues to grow. The 90 x 90cm scarf is on the pricey end at £185, but you'll definitely stand out from all the McQueen sculls and Vuitton leopard print numbers out there.

What do you think of Erdem's creation?

image courtesy of the V&A - Thandie image Getty/Picapp.com

The Irony of the Fashion Industry

"Sometimes, I think the people who buy our clothes live in a parallel universe. Hell, we can't even afford our clothes." - Lazaro Hernandez

The lovely Proenza Schouler designer explains to Grazia's Paula Reed that the design duo can't afford a PS1 handbag either. As far as I'm concerned the PS1 is a classic (up there with the Chanel 2.55 and Balenciaga Motorcycle Bag), and it does make me feel a little better knowing the actual designers themselves can't afford one either. Life is unfair, right?

Proenza Schouler PS1 Large suede satchel