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