Wednesday 26 March 2014

Penelope Chilvers Press Show

Today may have been exceptionally wet and cold in London, but a small corner of Marylebone could have been mistaken for the Serengeti. Chiltern Street Studios had been transformed into an oasis for weary travellers all in aid of the A/W'14 press show - complete with life-size zebra watching over proceedings.

The Out of Africa theme for the coming season can be best seen in my favourite item of the day - Penelope Chilvers smoking slippers. Forget the sought-after palm tree style as seen on Alexa Chung, for A/W'14 it's all about the flamingo!

Monday 24 March 2014

Battle of the Biker Jackets: Baby Pink v Powder Blue

Spring has sprung and the winter coats can finally be packed away - but which of the new season's must-have jackets will be winging its way into your wardrobe for you to wear instead? For me, the front runner has to be a pastel coloured biker jacket. My black leather biker is a perennial favourite, but I might just be tempted to trade it for pretty pastel version this spring. The question is whether to go for baby pink or powder blue? Here are 4 of the best styles I've found out on the high street - but which wins out for you?

Matalan Pink PU Biker Jacket, £30
River Island Light Blue Leather Jacket, £120
Zara Pastel Faux Leather Zip Jacket, £69.99
Primark PU Pink Biker Jacket, £25

Friday 21 March 2014

Shopaholic Star Buy: Melissa Shoes

The fun thing about shopping at TK Maxx is that you never know what you might find. Hidden amidst the racks of clothes and stacks of shoes could just be the item you've been waiting for - and with a guaranteed discount! And that's exactly what happened when I sniffed out these Melissa jelly shoes today.

The heel is sturdier than you might imagine, whilst the soft rubber makes for a comfy fit - and you can forget that pungent plastic smell with Melissa shoes. These beauties smell of bubblegum! The pale pink design with black hearts is reminiscent of the 'Lady Dragon' style the brand produced for Vivienne Westwood, but these shoes were an absolute steal for £29.99 (rrp £55).

Wednesday 19 March 2014

Beyonce's Topshop Shopping Spree

Just how jealous were you when you heard Philip Green had only gone and given Beyonce the run of Topshop to help herself to whatever she liked? I'm guessing very jealous. In what turned out to be an epic 3 hour shopping spree, Bey must have had enough time to grab one of everything in store - but the highlight of her haul looks like this striped satin mini dress (£70) which she promptly popped on (after having the sleeves shortened) to shake her booty over at the Arts Club.


Monday 17 March 2014

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all you Shopaholics  over on the Emerald Isle. In my book, any man who can clear an entire country of snakes definitely deserves a pint of Guinness or two raised in his honour!

Of course, you could always celebrate by indulging in some emerald jewellery? These vintage inspired pieces by 1928 at House of Fraser are sure to make you friends go green with envy. What do you think?



Starburst Toggle Bracelet, £38

Starburst Button Earrings, £26

Friday 14 March 2014

Don't Shop, Swap!

I'm the first person to admit that I shop way too much, but I've just found a great way to a). Update my wardrobe, and b). Have a fun night with friends - all without spending any money! How? I hear you cry... by having a clothes swapping party! It's the perfect time of year to clear out the closet for a fresh start - but this time around before my cast offs got sent to the charity shop, they were passed around various friends and family members whilst we all enjoyed a glass of wine of two. One girl's trash is another girl's treasure!

My niece particularly enjoyed rifling through the piles of clothes and handing items out to whoever she thought would like them, and I came away with a dress, a sweater, two cardigans and two running tops. Not bad for a night out. It worked particularly well because there was quite a few of us - so even though there were ladies of different shapes, sizes, ages and tastes, there was still something for everyone. Whatever remained unclaimed at the end of the night then became a bumper donation for the local charity shop the next morning - everyone's a winner. I'd definitely recommend organising a swap.

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Yekka Photo Bracelets

With Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest and the rest we've never taken so many photographs - and yet most never make it out of cyberspace. But what about those extra special pics that hold important memories and take you back to an amazing moment? Well, Yekka have come up with the perfect solution...

With their personalised photo bracelets you can carry your memorable moments with you wherever you go. Simply upload 4 of your favourite photos, crop and zoom to your heart's content then order - EASY! Printed on luxurious chiffon fabric and finished with a sterling silver clasp, a truly unique bracelet is yours for just £29.99 - and UK delivery is FREE. Go on, wear your heart on your wrist!

Monday 10 March 2014

Cara Loves Me+Em's Cobalt Cashmere

Could cobalt be the colour of the season? Well Cara Delevingne definitely seems to think so, having been spotted in not one, but two cobalt blue pieces from Me+Em. First there was the brand's boyfriend jumper (£88) Instagrammed on a yoga retreat in Thailand, then came the cashmere box hoody (£198) during Paris Fashion Week.



















If wishy-washy pastels just aren't for you why not give these punchy blue pieces a try during your down time? After all, nothing says understated luxury like a cosy cashmere hoody.

Friday 7 March 2014

Join the Charity Shop Treasure Hunt

I don't know about you, but I love having a good rummage through the donations at my local charity shops. In the past I've found gems like an Aquascutum blazer and Burberry purse - but next week there is the possibility of unearthing even more designer donations than usual as the Tatler Treasure Hunt returns to Cancer Research UK charity shops. From Monday 10th March head to your local Cancer Research and see if you can bag yourself some of the top designer items that have been hidden in shops around the UK, with no item costing more than £100.



















Over £50,000 worth of items have been donated to the cause, with contributing designers include Alberta Ferretti, Anya Hindmarch, Belstaff, Bulgari, Chanel, Charlotte Olympia, Christian Dior, Christian Louboutin, Daks, Diane von Furstenburg, DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana, Emilia Wickstead, Erdem, Fendi, Hugo Boss, Jenny Packham, Jimmy Choo, Maje, Manolo Blahnik, Matthew Williamson,  Miu Miu, Moschino, Nicholas Kirkwood, Paul Smith, Ports 1961, Prada, Pringle, Ralph Lauren, Roksanda Ilincic, Roland Mouret, Rupert Sanderson, Stella McCartney, Temperley, Tod’s and Tommy Hilfiger.

Last year lucky Mina Thapa got her hands on a Mulberry bag worth over £1,000 for just £100. She said: “The day I got my lucky bag, I was just walking past the shop, decided to pop in and spotted it. I couldn’t believe my luck. The Tatler Treasure Hunt is a brilliant way of highlighting the wonderful things that can be found in the charity’s shops every day. And of course, the money raised is funding vital research, which is helping more people beat cancer.” Couldn't put it better myself, Mina! It's a brilliant idea and I'll definitely be having a look what's in store.

Wednesday 5 March 2014

Supermarket Chic from Chanel

I'll confess that I love watching old reruns of Supermarket Sweep - but mainly just to laugh at some of the contestants' outfits (please don't judge me until you've watched it), so who'd a thought Karl Lagerfeld would have been inspired to present his A/W '14 Chanel collection in what looks more than a little bit like a glorified version of the kitsch game show set?

















Social Media went crazy as Fashion Eds and bloggers entered the world of the Chanel Shopping Centre at Paris Fashion Week. The wonder of Chanel eggs probably gained more of a reaction than Cara Delevingne's sashay through the aisles sporting next season's styles. Let's face it, Chanel could put there name to anything and people would buy into it. One Tweet I saw went as far as to say they'd be willing to do more housework if only they had Chanel cleaning products to hand. I'm not sure even Chanel bleach could encourage me to take pleasure in cleaning the toilet. I'd say it's actually more of a false economy in that you would want to preserve the precious contents and just keep the bottle on display without ever actually using it. Each to their own, as they say - but as for a trolley dash in Chanel store, now that's the stuff of dreams. Next time you hear the checkout beep, think of the fun you could be having at Paris Fashion Week.

Maybe it's time for Supermarket Sweep to be revived from TV history with Karl Lagerfeld as host - just imagine how amazing that would be...

Monday 3 March 2014

Oscar Winning Dresses

So there we have it - the Oscars 2014 have flown by in a whirl of silk chiffon, but now's the time to debate who was best dressed...

Jennifer Lawrence, Lupita Nyong'o, Cate Blanchett, Amy Adams



























Cate Blanchett and Lupita Nyong'o not only won Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively, but they were also responsible for two of the best fashion moments of the night. Lupita is fast becoming one to watch on the red carpet, and her pale blue Prada princess dress definitely did not disappoint. Meanwhile, Cate collected her Oscar in a beautiful embellished gown by Armani Prive, Amy Adams looked sleek and sophisticated in her Gucci column dress and Jennifer Lawrence looked stunning in her red peplum gown - but you have to worry when this is the second year in a row she has tripped over a Dior dress. Boy I hope they're paying her well!

On a final note, the Oscars can't go by without a comment on Pharrell Williams' legs. He pushed the boundaries of awards ceremony's formal dress code by wearing Lanvin shorts with his tux jacket. I love the fact that I've seen male friends turned away from swanky cocktail bars for wearing tailored shorts, but it's fine for Pharrell to rock up to the Oscars with his legs out.