I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love Rachel Bilson. It is for a combination of reasons, she has pretty hair (though not right now - bad roots, maybe intentional but that doesn't make it okay), she has a huge collection of Chanel and never seems like she's trying to hard. Plus she was Summer Roberts in The O.C. and some of my favourite quotes with friends come from that show and her character ("Just explain it to him, he left. And suddenly there was a hot hot yard guy in the yard - who was hot").But now I love her because of her bag. It's the new Roberto Cavalli 'Diva' bag which will be available online and instore from November. I know we're living in "the age of austerity" and all that jazz but I think we might be seeing the rise of a new IT bag. Taylor Swift, Natalia Vodianova and Rachel all already have one, of course that may have something to do with them being at the Roberto Cavalli SS10 womanswear show - but I would've gone, you just need to ask and I would've happily taken the bag! Image thanks to Getty
I have a love affair with red hair. It stems from spider man comics, MJ was a kick ass red head and I wanted to be her. Then MJ went on to the big screen in the Spider Man trilogy and was played by Kirsten Dunst who went red for the role and the love affair continued (although frankly the less said about Spider Man 3 the better).Inside of me there is a red head waiting to be released. My brown-y/blonde locks have been through the ringer, from highlights (ages 14 - 18) dark brown (19 - 23) an unfortunate plum episode (24) and now faded red-y brown that went blonde in the sun. But really what I want and what my hair wants to is to be auburn! I'm talking Julianne Moore, Christina Hendricks, Karen Elson, Coco Rocha in her red phase!
Everytime I decide I'll leave my hair as it is, that red might not suit me (although it so would) I am confronted by more glorious red heads. This month on the front of Asos magazine is another of my girl crushes Bonnie Wright, who is the wonderful Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter films. It's not enough that her parents are jewellery designers, Wright & Teague, she also has beautiful red hair that I covet!Then inside the mag there is a great editorial with actress Emma Stone, featuring gorgeous clothes but her equally gorgeous red hair! If you don't get Asos magazine, the wonderful folk over at the site have put it up online here. I love the skirt that Emma is wearing in the below pic, ready for my autumn flirtation with skater skirts and maybe even red hair!
Images thanks to asos.com and imdb
I have just discovered a love for Mad Men and have just finished watching series two, (yeah, I know how behind I am). The styling in Mad Men is just immense, the key to detail is superb and costume designer Janie Bryant really does deserve all the credit she is getting.My favourite character is Betty Draper, I know she's neurotic and a little crazy but I love her. (The boyfriend's fave is Don - I hope that isn't an omen). I think part of the reason I love Betty is that everything appears to be perfect, her hair is always set, the dresses are always perfectly pressed and the make up in place, even if everything around her is crashing down. I on the other hand am the exact opposite, which is why I love blazers. They are my go-to wardrobe piece. I have a basic black Zara one that I throw on with everything and anything, instantly updating a look from casual to smart casual.So imagine my joy when watching series two and seeing Betty Draper in her riding gear, complete with various blazers. The tweed one in the image above is one of her more basic options. There are all sorts she wears throughout the series.
Yet even her off duty riding look (sans blazer) is immaculate. The cream coat and cashmere jumper, with just the hint of an Hermes scarf poking out under the collar - it's the casual elegance of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly that I wish I possessed.
So even though she's a little nuts I will continue to covet Betty Draper's style and maybe purchase a check blazer, like this £70 Topshop one to attempt to bring a little Betty style into my life.Images thanks to AMC
...and the floods came up, goes the song but thankfully from my forth floor flat the floods don't get that high. But if anyone was in any doubt that Summer is on it's way out and Autumn is heading our way then the rain in London today certainly did it's best to convince us.
After looking through the fall shows and the September issues there are already a few things I'm coveting. A cape is on my wish list for Autumn '10 as in Chanel's Paradoxal nail varnish, although I'm not sure I do want that one and haven't just been convinced by the Beauty Ed's out there! See Fashionista for a great article on that!
The one thing I'm certain I want though are knee high black flat boots. Every year I lust after a pair to replace my long gone Jones's ones. I think this year I may have found some in the shape of Mentor. Not a brand I'd heard much about but the fact I have been revisiting them daily on my-wardrobe obviously means love! Practical and stylish, what more could a girl want!
Image thanks to my-wardrobe.com
One of my absolute favourite things to do, is to get all the monthly glossies and go through them of a morning with a big cup of tea and some cheesy music or radio show in the background. Thanks to the internet, I no longer have to wait for the US issues to appear overpriced at my newsagent, I can simply browse on their sites and then if I really like the editorials buy them.I love James Franco. Never Been Kissed was partially responsible for this but mostly it's due to the Spiderman franchise. So when I saw this Esquire cover I was instantly smitten. Aside from the fact that it's James Franco, I can't resist a man dressed in head to toe Gucci that not only looks effortless but fits him like a glove. Well done to the stylist because there is nothing worse than a poorly fitting jacket to ruin a look.Shot by photographer Francesco Corrozinni, the inside shots are equally beautiful. If you aren't in the USA you can see them at the Esquire site.Image credit: esquire.com
I love jewellery, all types. From grungy stacked bangles, to costume jewellery to delicate little pieces that no one else could own. My love for jewellery far outweighs my budget but that doesn't stop me looking! Current favourites are Wright & Teague and Alex Monroe, both have great websites and great pieces.The main image above are Gala rings from Wright & Teague, they come in Silver (above), gold, rose gold and even platinum. I wear alot of yellow gold, which is family stuff but I like to mix it up and wear silver too. Not for me the no gold and silver together rule! I really like the silver ones and only £200 which means each ring is about £33.33 each - bargain!
Alex Monroe do amazing pieces which are much copied on the high street. I have a bit of a thing for Owls, it's a family thing, my Grandparents loved them, my mother loves them and so do I. So this Alex Monroe locket (above) is just perfect. It looks like a simple, vintage locket but open it up and there is a swinging owl! I love the 22ct gold plated version £360, but it does also come in silver.
Alex Monroe also do bespoke pieces for special occasions, so I know what I'm dreaming about for my next big birthday!Images from Wright&Teague and AlexMonroe.com
The Gossip Girl cast are currently filming season 4, which means lots of fashion goodies for us to feast our eyes on. Great filming pics over at NYmag.Normally in the fashion stakes I'm team Blair, Serena shows just slightly too much legs and boobs for the average girl! But move over Miss Waldorf because there is a new fashion crush in town (and if spoilers are to be believed a new love interest for Chuck Bass too). Clemence Posy plays the new French girl Eve and her style is as you would expect, Parisian Chic with a twist. I love the Carlos Miele Spring 2010 maxi dress she's wearing (above). It would be perfect for a summer party or even a summer wedding!Maxi dresses are everywhere on the high street at the moment. From Topshop to Asos. I found a great plain black jersey maxi in New Look, which simple though it is manages to get me compliments every time I wear it. Not bad for a girl who thought she was too short to wear maxi's!Image thanks to Splash
