Happy Birthday Harry!

Today's the day Prince Harry turns 30. Yes, the big 3-0 - so does that mean no more inappropriate fancy dress costumes or drunken games of strip billiards? Who knows, but if you love Harry you'll love this...

Topshop have the perfect t-shirt for any wannabe princess - or if there happens to be another Harry in your heart (Mr Styles comes to mind) then it's an equally appropriate buy. Wonder if Cressida's got one of these?

My Heart Belongs to Harry T-shirt, £20 Topshop

Shopaholic Star Buy: H&M Brown Biker

Autumn may be the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, but it's also the season to tackle tricky trans-seasonal dressing. To take a coat or brave the elements in a cardi? Oh the dilemma - but my answer is always the trusty old biker jacket. That said, for A/W '14 I'm planning to mix things up a bit colour wise.

Put the black biker down and try one of the rich, autumnal hues - we're seeing yellows, oranges and browns hit the high street. Try Topshop, River Island or head to H&M where this camel coloured biker in pebbled pvc is just £34.99.

That's outerwear for autumn all sorted if you ask me!

Brangelina's Big Day

Seriously, I go away for a week and come home to find out Brad and Angelina have only gone and tied the knot!

Deep in darkest Devon without a WiFi connection, who knows what other news I've missed, but not to panic. I've soon caught up on all the wedding goss and found a picture of the stunning Versace dress.

Was there ever a doubt that Ms Jolie would choose anything other than a classically elegant white gown? I think not - but I love the fact that the veil looks like her kids have gone crazy with the crayons and scribbled all over it. As a personal touch their drawings have actually been embroidered onto it. Such a sweet idea - I wonder how many brides-to-be will be copying that one?

Tres Jolie!

I've Got My Eye on Clara's Shirt...

So Doctor Who is back - albeit without Matt Smith (boo) - but we've still got Clara's style to swoon over. No dowdy school teacher, she spent this episode running around in a really quirky shirt I couldn't take my eyes off (pun intended). Who knows what was going on inside that Dalek's brain - I was much more concerned where the wardrobe department had found this gem...

My first thought was Kenzo's latest collection, or maybe Comme des Garcons, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out it's a complete and utter bargain. It is actually from Shalex.net - and currently in the sale for just £14.99! Grab yours now before it sells out.


 
 

Choose a Coat for Lucy Worsley

Britain, Dr Lucy Worsley needs you! The TV historian du jour has put a call out on her blog inviting the public to style her for her new series. The theme is 'Tudor magnificence' and she needs two dresses and a coat - which should be reasonably priced and available on the high street.

Now Tudor fashion calls up images of lace ruffs, velvet cloaks and an abundance of pearls - but I should say brocade and a touch of faux fur would fulfil the brief without going too far down the literal dressing path - she's not asked for a fancy dress costume!

My pick would be the Rhiannon coat from Hobbs, £269. No, not particularly Tudor per se, but the sage green shade and scarf detail would look great on screen. 

Happy Birthday to ME!

Hip, hip Hooray! Today is my birthday and I'm off to The Globe to see 'King Lear' - but not before a spot of present opening...

This year there's a bit of a Vivienne Westwood theme going on and I've got a lovely red purse and matching watch. Aren't I a lucky girl?!

Burberry Blankets

Who'd have thought the humble plaid blanket would become the must-have trans-seasonal item of 2014? OK, so it's not quite so humble when it's by Burberry, woven from Scottish cashmere and comes monogramed with your initials - but it still makes for a good picnic blanket. Last seen on Clint Eastwood, you're now more likely to spot the likes of Cara Delevingne and Olivia Palermo sporting this style... but will you be next?

 

Burberry Blanket Poncho, £535

V&A Wedding Dresses: 1775 - 2014

As an early birthday treat from my sister I finally got the chance to visit the V&A's latest must-see exhibition at the weekend. Wedding Dresses: 1775 - 2014 takes you warmly by the hand and guides you through the history of the white (and not so white) wedding - starting with a very wide court mantua, which calls to mind 'here comes the bride more than 40 inches wide', and ending with more current creations by Vera Wang, Vivienne Westwood and Jenny Packham . With 70 dresses on display there are more highlights than I can mention, but I'll try.

If anything can challenge the view that once you've seen one white wedding dress, then you've seen them all it's this exhibition. There's a huge variety on display depending on the bride's personal style as well as her status before you even start to consider the zeitgeist. But that's not to say there's not a running theme when it comes to wedding dresses. The late 19th Century saw the medieval revival that has given us the princess dress - so it would appear that fairy tale meringues are not a product of the 1980s after all. The idea of looking to the past for a wedding dress has been with us longer than that.

In contrast a couple of dresses from the 1930s could have passed for much more modern creations. One in particular with wide lace sleeves and 18ft train by Norman Hartnell has more than a hint of 70s hippy chick about it.

Of course, I was expecting tiny waists from the early dresses, but what surprised me was the bridal footwear. The shoes were larger than I'd envisaged - showing the wearers had long and narrow feet.

Not every dress will have you swooning - be warned there are some shockers. A space age silver collared coat from the 60s now looks like an Austin Powers costume even though it must have been cutting-edge at the time. And then there's an embroidered dress coat and pointed gold headdress that we are told were designed by friends of the bride - one has to wonder if they remained friends afterwards!

Upstairs it's onto the celebrity dresses, with gowns borrowed from Dita von Teese, Lisa Butcher, Gwen Stefani and the Duchess of Cornwall. Camilla's Anna Valentine dress coat looked a darker shade and the gilded Philip Treacy headdress appeared smaller but no less impressive. However, for me the highlight had to be seeing Kate Moss' Galliano dress in the flesh. The detail is so intricate it took 710 hours to sew on the 120,000 sequins and the effect is stunning.

Wedding Dresses: 1775 - 2014 runs at the V&A through until 15th March 2015, so if you get chance to go I'd definitely recommend it.

Kate Moss for Topshop on Sale

We'd had a long, long wait for this collection, so who'd blame you if you went into a shopaholic frenzy when Kate Moss's latest range for Topshop finally launched? I certainly wouldn't - but please don't cry when I tell you many of the styles are now in the sale. Prices now start from as little as £20 for a paisley chiffon scarf or cute cami top. And what's more, alongside those best-selling boho kaftans and sparkly jackets is this sherbet lemon chiffon dress modelled on a vintage style worn by Ms Moss on a night out in New York back in 2003. With more than 50% off I make that more money to spend on champagne!

Kate Moss One Shoulder Chiffon Dress, WAS £85 NOW £40

Anya Hindmarch's Mini-Mart

Supermarket shopping will never be the same again. Anya Hindmarch has only gone and opened a mini-mart on Mount Street. The pop-up shop is jam packed with Anya's own brand of irreverent humour... and rumour has it you can even treat yourself to a 99 ice cream whilst you're there. Does shopping ever get better than that? I think not! Frosties and Daz have never looked so desirable...

At £1350 for a Tony the Tiger Ebury tote or £995 for a Bourbon biscuit clutch prepare to spend way more than on your average grocery shop, but to sum these bags up in two words... They'rre Grreat! Sorry, couldn't resist that one.

Your Next Swimsuit?

In amongst the bills and begging letters came a more welcome sight on my doormat today - namely a catalogue full of Next's new season offerings with a voucher for £10 off an order or £25 or more at next.co.uk - now that's nothing to sniff at, especially when I saw the impressive swimwear lines! I love this 50s style halter neck one piece. Not only is it affordable at £30 but it is available in sizes 6-22 (a much better size range than many other stores). If you prefer seperates, you can buy a bikini version in the fun floral print or mix and match with trusty black - and there's even a choice of co-ord cover-ups including a matching kimono, shorts and A-line dress. Now I just need to book a holiday somewhere nice and sunny!

Next Swimsuit, £30

Get Lippy at Debenhams

Pucker up that pout and slick on your favourite shade - it is National Lipstick Day after all.

To celebrate Debenhams are offering £5 off any lipstick you buy online today! You'll find MAC, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent and many more of your favourite beauty brands, so what are you waiting for? The only trouble you'll have is which shade to choose...

Monkey Madness

You would be forgiven for thinking Zoe Saldana was doing her bit to promote Dawn of the Planet of the Apes working the red carpet in this monkey print dress - but no. This was actually the premiere for Guardians of he Galaxy which I know involves a gun-toting talking racoon, but I'm not so sure about primates.

Anyway, back to the dress... the ruffles on this 70s style Valentino number might well be disguising a baby bump, or for that matter maybe not, but at least the quirky print can distract everyone for a while.

We've seen a fair few other animal prints of late, but nothing quite like this. Maybe the cat's no longer leading the pack, the dog's had its day and it's time for some monkey madness?

Weird or wonderful? Would you wear Zoe's monkey print dress?

Shopaholic Sale Buy: Topshop Bag

Yes, I've been splurging in the sales again - and once again it's the Topshop sale that's come up trumps. I'd had my eye on this tile print bowling bag for a few weeks before it went in the sale, so I'm really glad I held out now.

I always used to think that if you liked something in Topshop you had to buy it there and then because more often than not it would be entirely different stock out on the rails by the time the sales came around - but finding this little gem with £10 off has proven me wrong.

It's not actually part of the main summer sale, but a highlight of the 30% off Summer Essentials promotion - and that means it could shoot back up to full price any day now (so it was worth getting soaked in a thunderstorm on my way home in my book). Better get shopping if you want this bag swinging off your arm this season...

Loopy for Loom Bands

It's the summer craze that's taken the world by storm after making the leap from the schoolyard to the streets - of course I'm talking about Loom Bands! I'll confess that when my 8 year-old nephew first asked me to buy him some I didn't know what on earth he was talking about, but now it seems like the whole country has gone loopy for looms - and not just the kids. Everyone from the Duchess of Cambridge to David Beckham has been seen wearing Loom Bands, so I quickly hopped on the band wagon a couple of weeks ago and enlisted my nephew to teach me how to loom with the best of 'em. I'll tell you now it's addictive, but I'm not sure I'd ever attempt to make anything more adventurous than a bracelet - say a Loom Band dress for example - but that's just what two loom-mad  ladies from Wales have gone and done. Yes, Helen Wright and Kathryn Burnand have hit the news for making a body-con dress from more than 20,000 of the brightly coloured plastic bands - not only that but their creation has attracted a bidding frenzy, finally selling for £170,000 on eBay. Maybe I should rethink that comment about not attempting to make anything adventurous after all...

*Since writing the above I've heard that the eBay buyer has sadly pulled out of the sale, but I hope the ladies still manage to make a mint from the project they only ever hoped of making £50 profit from.

Shoes Glorious Shoes!

I love, love, love these shoes! If you ask me a good pair of flats are a girl's best friend. You don't need to totter around on uncomfortable heels when shoes like this make such a big statement. These super chic pumps with zip front detailing look like they might cost a pretty penny - but don't laugh when I tell you that you'll get change from £30 at M&S. It's true!

 

 

 

Available in half sizes it's easy to find the perfect fit and they've even been endorsed by the UK Society of Podiatrists. Insolia Flex® makes walking in flats more comfortable by ensuring your foot is correctly placed within your shoes, and improving the natural rotational movement of the ball of the foot - so they really are a treat for your feet in every way. And at just £29.50 a pair it would be rude not to buy the red ones too...

M&S Pointed Pumps, £29.50

A Peek Inside the Royal Wardrobe

Our preoccupation, better make that borderline obsession, with royal fashion is nothing new. It didn't start with Kate's Issa engagement dress, or even Diana's see-through skirt. Let's go back to Elizabeth I...

Last night Lucy Worsley gave us a whistle-stop tour of fashion at the royal court from Tudor times to the present day in BBC Four's 'Tales from the Royal Wardrobe'. My verdict? I only wish there was more to come - the subject being well worthy of a series rather than just a one-off programme! Like it or not fashion has played its part in history, giving monarchs a way of representing themselves to their subjects as well as conveying important political messages. Just take Good Queen Bess - it would have taken her over 2 hours to get dressed (with a lot of help) when one could argue she had more important state business to deal with. But it was time well spent when she made such a big impression. Her clothes were loaded with symbolism - and not just jewels to show wealth and power. There were pearls for purity, snake motifs for wisdom and then those rather creepy eyes and ears embroidered on the dress in the famous rainbow portrait as a sixteenth-century version of Big Brother's Watching You.

Fast-forward and you get the frivolity of the Cavaliers making a bad impression on the people, as did the excesses of George IV and his 28 white waistcoats plus countless shirts and cravats, and then there was Edward VIII who dressed for too 'slang' for royalty. It is the Queen who has come up with a successful and appropriate royal 'uniform' which is elegant and formal without being stiff or showy, a bright colour so that she can be picked out of a crowd, and above all, not slavishly fashionable. And there we have it - 500 years of royal fashion in 50 minutes!

It's easy to forget fashion is not always as frivolous a subject as it might first seem but this programme made a good stab at converting the 'fashion doesn't change the world' tribe. It's fair to say we can rely on Lucy for more fun historical dress-up in the future.

Fearne's Glastonbury Faux Fur - Found!

Glastonbury may have come and gone for another year, but at least we can look back over the best dressed festival-goers for a spot of style inspiration...

The unpredictable British weather makes dressing for Glasto a particularly tricky business, but one person who had the right idea was Fearne Cotton, who opted for an oversized vintage denim jacket embroidered with flowers and a fox - but it's that jumbo faux fur scarf which really caught my eye so I've been on a mission to track it down.

It turns out lucky Fearne's got her paws the Multi-Vixen scarf by Helen Moore (£120). It is actually part of the A/W'14 collection but if you just can't wait till winter 'm pleased to tell you it is now available to shop ahead of the launch as a limited edition.

Helen Moore is the go-to brand for high quality faux fur items whether you're planning a Snow Queen style winter wedding or going to Glastonbury. Lovingly hand made in the UK with exquisite attention to detail, you know you're snuggling-up in something special whether you opt for the faux fur hats and gloves, muffs and huffs, collars and cuffs, or choose from the stylish selection of scarves, shrugs and stoles .

Shopaholic Sale Buy: Topshop Top

Many of the Summer sales are already on and just begging to be shopped. Last week I made my first port of call was Topshop, after my sister had beaten me to it and been showing off all the bargains she'd bagged on the very first day of the sale. I may have been unusually slow off the mark, but I still managed to get my hands on this top - even if it meant I had to push and shove with the best of them on a busy Saturday afternoon.

This checked top looks great with jeans, but the silky material makes it smart enough to dress up with tailored trousers or a pencil skirt for work. So there you have it - versatility that will bring the cost per wear down to mere pennies!

Topshop Checked Top, WAS £32 NOW £15

Olivia Palermo's White Wedding

Wedding season is well and truly in full swing - but if you're one of those people who think that when you've seen one white wedding dress you've seen them all, think again. Olivia Palermo has only gone and changed the game.

Who'd have thought that New York's No. 1 style queen would go and get married with her hair scraped back in to a simple ponytail and wearing a cream cashmere jumper, but that's exactly what she did - and she looked absolutely fantastic doing it.

Olivia turned to Carolina Herrera to come up with a low-key take on a wedding ensemble for the secret ceremony in The Hamptons this weekend, and she ticked all the right boxes with the afore mentioned cashmere jumper paired with a billowing organza skirt - the circle hem perfectly positioned to show off those Manolo Blahniks - a pair of old favourites providing the bride's 'something blue'.

It just goes to show there's a lot to be said for keeping things simple - but if you were expecting more from Miss Palermo - or perhaps as I should now say, Mrs Heubl - apparently this is only part one of the celebrations, so we can look forward to more wedding outfits from the happy couple very soon...

Is This The Perfect Wedding Guest Dress?

Sometimes you have to search high and low for the perfect dress, but other times a lightening bolt strikes and you just know you've found 'the one' without even having to try.

When I saw this checked tea dress in the sale at M&S I didn't have to think twice about trying it on as I knew it would make the perfect wedding guest outfit with the addition of a fascinator and some heels.

Figure hugging, yet floaty in all the right places, the crepe material is well cut and gives a high quality finish. Now, I'm only 5'4'' so it is more of a midi dress on me - but I love that because it gives the dress a more vintage feel. Plus, you don't want to have the worry of whether your hemline is too short!

Everyone I know seems to be wedding planning at the moment so I know it'll get some wear on that front, but it would work just as well for a day at the races. With shoulders covered and a modest hemline it would even pass the Royal Ascot test.

M&S Checked Tea Dress, WAS £45 NOW £27

National Pink Day

It often seems like there's now a holiday to celebrate absolutely everything - whether it be Pie Week or Pancake Day, Wool Week or Wine Wednesday - barely a day goes by that doesn't have some significant association of some type or other, but I must confess I've never actually heard of National Pink Day before.

Yes, for all those ignorant souls like me who didn't have 23rd June circled on the calendar in bright pink highlighter today is National Pink Day. A day to wear pink, drink pink, think pink? I'm not completely sure, but it does provide the perfect excuse for a Legally Blonde moment. Oh, and I might just end the day by raising a cheeky glass of white zinfandel to make a toast to all things pink.

A Very Posh First Date Dress

It's the dress dilemma we'd all like to be confronted with, but have you ever wondered what Posh wore out on her first date with Becks? Remember this was back in 1997 and we're talking the Spice Girls hey day here - so maybe Victoria's favourite LBD come out for the occasion? Well the speculation can end because now we know...

Ahead of her 15th wedding anniversary Victoria Beckham shared her sartorial selection with the world via Twitter. She actually wore this orange suede mini-dress - see, I was half way there!

Whether it's more Austin Powers extra or Velma from Scooby-Doo is open to debate, but the simplicity of the 60s shift speaks volumes and I think Victoria could still pull off this look today.

The question now is what was David wearing that fateful night? Maybe he went for a splash of orange too and the couple's penchant for matchy-matchy outfits kicked-off from here on in...

Extreme Accessories

Today, as part of Adult Education Week, I went along to a free taster course called Extreme Accessories. I wasn't sure precisely what I was letting myself in for - what exactly would be extreme about crafting your own accessories? As it turns out it was all about making a statement - a statement necklace made from paper beads in this case.

Once we had learned the technique of cutting,  rolling and gluing the corrugated card to make different shapes we were let loose to first make a pair of earrings and then design a necklace for a fashion show of students' work to be held on Saturday. I opted for a topical & tropical green and yellow Brazilian flag theme, whilst my sister made a gorgeous oxblood red necklace.

I'm hooked and think I'll be making lots more of these in the future - once I invest in a glue gun that is. Why not look out for courses near you and try something different?!

Fearne's Floral Dress - Found!

If you've been wondering where you can find Fearne Cotton's cute floral skater dress, the mystery has been solved. At first I thought it might be a style from Fearne's collection for Very.co.uk - but no. Then I thought maybe it's vintage or even a super expensive luxury label - but no and again no. Here's the juice... it's actually from H&M and scrapes in at just under £30! It's also available without sleeves, but personally I like Fearne's version. With sleeves this dress will see you right through the uncertain British summertime and beyond.

Beckham for Belstaff

If David Beckham's Amazon adventure wasn't enough of a treat this week, here's even more footage of Becks on a bike - this time it's the advertising campaign for Belstaff. Enjoy...

HEMA's London Launch

Dutch store HEMA has landed in London and it promises to be a treasure trove of bargain buys. Never heard of them? Well they've got over 600 stores in 7 countries - and now a Victoria flagship is one of their number. Fun fact of the day: 1 in 3 Dutch boys buy their boxers from HEMA don't you know, but there's much more to HEMA than pants. Dubbed the 'Posh Poundland', at HEMA you'll find everything from cosmetics to kitchenware - making it the perfect place to pop in for those everyday essentials. Take the sunglasses - just £5 will get you a pair of wayfarers, aviators or bug-eye shades.

Find HEMA at Victoria Place Shopping Centre, London. This first UK branch is sure to be one of many as Kingston and Bromley follow Victoria in July.

Who Wears Short Shorts?

Bradley Cooper, that's who! Ladies of a nervous disposition should look away now. Surely this is proof (if proof was needed) that no man can pull off short shorts...

And this the man who can make a bin bag look good! Calm down - before you think it's a strange fashion statement to impress Suki, I should add that Bradley is on the set of American Sniper. All beefed-up to play Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the costume department have evidently left his shorts a little on the snug side to show off those buns of steel - but how he managed to film a training scene complete with stomach crunches and scissor kicks wearing these is beyond me!

 

Bag a Mulberry Tessie

Handbag lovers the world over have been waiting with baited breath to see what Mulberry will come up with as a more affordable line - and I'm pleased to report the Tessie collection doesn't disappoint!

Mulberry have returned to their roots with a collection of high quality leather handbags inspired by styles from their archives. That means simple saddle bags, satchels and totes similar to those produced back in the 70s, but updated for the modern Mulberry buyer with a taste for minimal, sophisticated styling.

The bags are available in black, brown and red leather finished with chic gold hardwear - embossed, of course, with the  Mulberry tree (a sure sign of a must-have if ever there was). With prices starting at £495 for the small Tessie satchel (pictured left) I'm sold! Are you?

Ashish x Topshop: Flashy or Trashy?

So Ashish for Topshop is here and is being heralded by the fashion press as the best designer/high street collab yet - but I'm not so sure.

The holiday fling themed collection is full of tongue in cheek slogan tees and towels if you're a son of a beach, or a dirty beach kinda person, but the stand-out item has to be these flashy, light-up platforms. No question they embody the whole 90s revival and would look amazing at a festival or a rave - just please don't wear them to the cinema! I recently had to sit through Rio 2 near a little girl wearing light up Lelli Kellys. Every time she excitedly kicked her feet a wave of flashing lights lit up the room. God forbid her parents find out about these...

Liberty London Collection

What could be better than striding through Soho with a Carnaby saddle bag swinging from your shoulder? If you haven't seen the new Liberty London Collection yet, you soon will. These brightly patterned bags and purses are sure to prove a hit this season.

Featuring a new version of the iconic Art Nouveau Ianthe print, pimped-up with acid-bright, clashing colours that harp back to the 1960s, I love the Carnaby Saddle Bag (£395), Maddox Crossbody Bag (£210) and Ianthe Zip Purse (£195) all pictured left. It's further evidence that Liberty can stay true to their heritage whilst striving to modernise and remain a destination store in the highly competitive luxury fashion marketplace.

Blake Lively, Queen of Cannes

OMG! These pics of Blake Lively make me miss Gossip Girl more than ever! Blake's been busy stealing the limelight from every other starlet to descend on the French Riviera for the 67th Canes Film Festival - and she hasn't even got a film to promote.

 

 

 

First came that stunning oxblood red Gucci number and since then we've seen her in shimmering Chanel couture, a Giambattista Valli mini dress and a Gucci monochrome gown worthy of a Hollywood great - and she does look a little bit like Grace Kelly with her hair in that chic chignon, don't you think?

Shopaholic Star Buy: River Island Sunglasses

 

When you step outside and the sun dazzles your eyes you know it's finally time to shop for some new sunglasses.

One of those summertime treats that combines luxury and necessity, fun and function - I always look forward to picking out a new pair. I've been keeping my peepers peeled for an affordable yet chic pair of cats eye sunglasses ever since I saw Chanel's pearl-encrusted offering last year, but now I've finally found some I love - and they're a steal at just £10! At that price you don't have to panic that someone will sit on them or a seagull will swoop down and steal them. 

River Island Cat's Eye Sunglasses, £10

Becks Swims for his Supper

On a warm, sunny day what would you like to see more than anything? How about David Beckham modelling his new swimwear range for H&M? Well your wish is my command!

The sun certainly came out on cue today - just in time for David Beckham's swimwear launch at Shoreditch House in London. Oh to be a fly on that wall - but hey, here's a pic to keep us all happy.

As for the new range, I can't quite imagine anyone pulling off a pair of white budgie smugglers (£14.99) quite like Becks, but thankfully his swimwear collection also includes some baggy board shorts (£19.99).

Boys, now you've just got to wait until 22nd May to get your hands on some Becks appeal before hitting the beach this summer...

Angelina's Killer Heels

What to wear to the Maleficent costume event at Kensington Palace? It must have been a no-brainer for Angelina Jolie with not one, but two pairs of custom-made Louboutins to choose from. The eye-catching shoes with a twisted, blood-tipped horn for a heel are inspired by Jolie's latest role as the evil Maleficent in the eagerly anticipated new Disney film based on the story of Sleeping Beauty.

Forget Captain Hook, Shere Khan and Cruella DeVille - if you ask me Maleficent was always the scariest Disney villain. If anyone deserves the moniker 'she who must not be named' it's her, not Voldemort - but that's mainly because I've never been able to pronounce Maleficent (somewhat unfortunate given the film's current prominence in the press). Maleficent is causing quite a stir in the fashion world at the moment with a tie-in MAC make-up line now on sale - but I can't quite see those horns catching on, that is unless they are used as scarily chic heels of course.

Shopaholic Star Buy: H&M Swing Top

Mooching around Selfridges, begrudgingly walking on past the queue of cashed-up people patiently waiting to get past the velvet rope and into Chanel, I found solace in H&M. I'd got a 25% off voucher with last month's Glamour, so thought I may as well spend it!

The very first thing to catch my eye was this cropped, crepe swing top with sweetheart neckline (£29.99), and needless to say reader, I bought it!

The well-cut, vintage style top doesn't at all scream 'high street', and its simplicity means it will work equally well dressed up with a skirt or dressed down with jeans. It's sure to become a staple this summer.

I thought maybe the H&M voucher I had wouldn't be valid in the Selfridges concession, but it was - and the staff were very helpful answering questions, finding items and offering styling tips to me and the fellow shoppers sheltering in Selfridges on what was a very wet evening in Oxford Street.

Beauty Review: Avon Limoncello Nail Enamel

I've found that by far the best, and easiest, way to brighten up your day is to add a little colour to your life - or just to your nails is fine. Avon's new Limoncello shade of gel finish nail enamel is like bottled sunshine - and it's been awarded 9 out of 10 by the Cosmo beauty team.

New out this month, I managed to get my hands on a bottle for the trial price of £3.50 rather than the usual £7 for 12ml. With the promise of a salon style gel finish for a fraction of the cost it would have been rude not to give it a go.

The best point about this product has to be the intense, glossy colour - the worst is that it did take 3 coats to achieve opaque coverage even though it is billed as base coat, protection, shine, colour and top coat all in one - but yellow is always one of those tricky shades. With some products 'guaranteeing' long-lasting results I only have to so much as glance at my nails for the polish to start flaking off, so I was curious how long Avon's gel polish would last. The answer? 2 days. Not bad when I'm constantly typing - tapping and bumping my nails as I go - but alas not quite as long as I'd dared to hope. That said, I would buy this product again. There are still lots more shades to try...

The Mulberry News We've Been Waiting For...

Given the choice of any luxury label my money's always on Mulberry, but recent price hikes have placed the covetable handbags well beyond the means of most but the super rich - that is until now. Yes, Mulberry are all set to slash their prices!

After pricing themselves out of the market by seeking to position the brand amongst the upper echelons of unobtainable luxury Mulberry's sales have unsurprisingly suffered, so this is their pragmatic move to boost the books. You can imagine my excitement when I heard they are going to make their bags more affordable, but don't expect bargain basement figures, or a cut in quality for that matter. The new range to be launched this summer will feature designs retailing at between £495 - £695. Now that's a lot easier to justify than the £1000+ price tags we've been seeing for styles like the Willow.

Rose & Rose Meet Matisse

I make no secret of the fact that I love Rose & Rose scarves almost as much as love wandering around art galleries  - and with a new collection designed exclusively for the Tate my two loves have been combined.

Today sees the opening of Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs - an exhibition which runs at the Tate Modern until 7th September 2014 - and inspired by Henri Matisse's bold use of block colour, Rose & Rose have designed a collection of dip dyed scarves to be sold as official merchandise. Made from a blend of wool and silk they make for a very chic souvenir - a nice change from a bookmark or fridge magnet don't you think?

The scarves are available in green, orange and purple colourways but my favourite has to be the vivid cobalt blue scarf - reminiscent of Matisse's Blue Nude. Priced at just £35 it's a fraction of the cost of Rose & Rose's similar St. Tropez cashmere design which retails for £189.

Psst... Rose & Rose have lots more for us to look forward to next season. The Out of Africa themed A/W'14press show featured a whole host of tribal/animal print scarves and wraps - as well as handbags.

Copy Kate's Nautical but Nice Look

It's not just Cara Delevingne who loves Me+Em's laid back luxury - it looks like the Duchess of Cambridge is a fan too. A master of literal dressing, what else would we expect Kate wear to a yacht race than one of the brand's nautical striped tops? The classic cobalt blue and white cotton top comes in at £48, but any copy Kates who want to get their hands on this one had better move fast - the £79.99 Zara blazer she has also been spotted wearing during the royal tour of New Zealand has already sold out - no surprises there then. If Breton stripes aren't your bag there will be plenty more outfits to see yet with Australia still to visit. Have you got a favourite Kate look from the tour so far?

Japanese Jewellery

If there's one souvenir I always like to bring home from my travels it has to be a piece of jewellery. Whether it's ethnic beads, a Bedouin necklace or a hand-braided friendship bracelet, these are the kind of keepsakes that can reveal so much about another culture or country and can be carried with you wherever you go to remind you of past adventures. Jewellery designer Clizio Ornato obviously shares my philosophy. She calls her Letters from Japan collection 'ready-to-wear travel memories'. These origami earrings, postage stamp cuffs and japanned necklaces are guaranteed to get you dreaming of far off climes - and booking flights to the orient.

























Clizio Ornato Letters from Japan collection available at Boticca

Japanese Necklace in "Yoake" Kimono Print, £102
Turquoise Origami Earrings, £46.50
Letters From Japan Cuff, £110
Silver "Yoake" Daybreak Ring in Kimono Print, £102

Shopaholic Star Buy: Matalan Boots

OK, so the shop shelves are filling up with an assortment of brightly coloured flip flops, espadrilles and jelly shoes all fighting for our attention but bide your time - there's still time for a final fling with some big old boots.

These patent Chelsea boots with heavy duty tread are just too good to miss. Walk on by and you'll regret it - especially when you see the price.

Patent Chelsea Boots, £24 Matalan

Terra Macs Make a Splash

You definitely won't dread the onslaught those inevitable April showers when you see the raincoats Terra New York have in store. In fact they're so stylish you'll be praying for rain so you can show off one of these macs! The Centre Trench Coat ($465) and Lafayette Cape ($385) pictured below are just two of my favourite designs.

Constructed from transparent Polyurethane with heat-sealed seams, they won't let a single drop of water in. At Terra they really have thought of everything possible to stop a spot of rain spoiling your day - the chic polka dot lining can even be removed so you can  make sure everyone still sees your new spring wardrobe underneath come rain or shine.

See, it's not too soon to start buying summer dresses after all...

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!

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

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).

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.

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

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.

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!