Kate, Our Perfect Princess

Well i'm eating my hat as I type. All notions of Kate steering clear of the McQueen aesthetic has shocked, albeit provoked elation. Welcome Kate, our contemporary addition to the monarchy, dressed in a breathtaking ivory creation by Sarah Burton, Creative Director of Alexander McQueen. Kate projected herself as a vision of beauty, whilst retaining her signiture classic style but suprising with her choice of outlandish designer. The dress was reminiscent of Princess Grace's (once Grace Kelly), with high collar, arms enrobed in lace and ballgown silhouette. Very Kate. Very understated. Very overwhelmingly beautiful and all accessorised with the warmest of smiles. After much speculation, my bets were firmly held on Bruce Oldfield. That integral link to the history of royal dressing seemed obvious, and Mcqueen too extravangant, but Kate's choice has certainly solidifed her status and won her the deserved accolade of our modern day Princess.

Kate glows in a, quintessentially British, gown fit for our future queen

Princess Grace wears the iconic wedding dress that became synonymous with 50s elegance

This Week I Mostly Need/Want/Desire...

Quite often, my style preferences oscillate between the pretty 'proper' sloany look (loafers and chinos eceterarr), to the whimsical wonders of brands such as Marchesa, and then elements of tough luxe with stud strewn biker boots, or booties if we're going for a complete contradiction. That's the point of fashion though, right? I have consistently played with the theme of grown up chic and felt quite cosy in my loafers and blazers. However, the rebel in me is dabbling in leather jackets of late, and quite liking the care-free element to stomping around in...stompy boots.

With a new barrage of collections settling in (very nice they are too), here's my latest wants/needs/must-haves to keep me going, until I settle on a something new...boho chic? Could definitely make that one work with my hippy-appropriate tresses...

Studded Biker Boots
Jimmy Choo £719 Mytheresa.com

Rita Leather Jacket
ACNE My-Wardrobe.com £700

Baseball Jacket
Topshop £42

Ballerina Flats
Tory Burch @ Net-a-porter.com £200

Safari Jacket
Warehouse £80

Richmond Bag
Jaeger £299

Strapless Gown
Notte By Marchesa @ Net-a-porter.com £825

Double Bracelet
Balenciage @ Mytheresa.com £125

Crochet Waistcoat
Topshop £45

Croc Loafers
Miu Miu @ Mytheresa.com £325

Sandals
Miss Sixty £106

Shoe Porn...yikes!

If shoes were monsters...like a built-like-a-brick-shit-house scary pantha...These Camilla Skovgaard creations are F.I.E.R.C.E (more firece than the fiercest in fierce land! Raaaaaaaarrrrrrrgh!

Hunter gets slick

Yes, it may nearly be summer...but in these stylish Regent Hunters from Surfdome.com, i'd definitely forgive the Summer showers. Rain, rain as hard as you can...

Supermodel Crush - Giselle Bundchen

Whether she's frolicking on a carnival float in Rio or gracing her first Vogue Paris cover, she's a captivating beauty to be reckoned with...

Bag Craving

Could murder a slice of BREE from Jimmy Choo 995

Or A Peppermint Natasha From Marc By Marc Jacobs 290

A (Cadburys) Slab Of Greenwich From Michael Kors 195

A Battenberg Of A PS1 From Proenza Schouler 1085

Sky-High Shoe People

Every once in a while the 'Gaga' in me is drawn to some seriously zany footwear. Statuesque I may already be, considerably so, but this does not deter me from indulging in superfluous heelage. Kat Maconie's SS11 collection is inspired by the architectural wonder that is the Lloyds Building in the city of London and the grey panel and gold accent detailing on her loafers below are sky-scraper perfection (available at Urban Outfitters.)

I'm a big believer in accentuating one part of your outfit only. So, if you're channelling strict minimalism, or a conservative colour palette, then go all-out with some head turning heels. I have cherry-picked my favs from Urban Outfitters, Net-a-Porter and My-Wardrobe:

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

JIMMY CHOO

URBAN OUTFITTERS

URBAN OUTFITTERS

I'm no sooner brought back down to earth, with a thud (I must be a six footer) and, realistically, a pair of Balmain' sex kitten simpletons will suffice.

BALMAIN

My Casual Affair

From the epic and ridiculously cool brand collision, that is Adidas X Diesel, spawns a shoe called the Forum Mid. For a trainer, and coming from a casual-shoe débutante, it's super hot. Completely debunking the notion that my style isn't suited to anything pertaining to sports and practicality, I am quite fancying myself in a pair of these. I'm pretty certain that the leather and zip elements would integrate nicely into my stylish sartorial pursuits.

Available, in the UK, from Carnaby Street, High Street Kensington and Covent Garden Diesel Stores.

New Media

Following on from my last two snippets of sound (quality sound, in the guise of Oh Land and Herts. LOVE!) I will continue to post my favourite music vids of the moment. Fashion, interspersed with the odd fierce song, makes for a pretty spruced-up blog stream, yes? Thought so. Current music-to-my-ears is Adele - mesmerising vocals! "Someone Like yooooouuooooooo".

HURTS - Stay (Official Video)

Oh Land - Sun Of A Gun

Glossie's Shrine

My collection of Vogue magazines spans over the past five years. So that's sixty odd glossy fashion gems that I proudly possess. Although, not a huge amount, quite embarrassing actually, when you consider that the magazine's inception was waaaay back in 1892.

Still, much better than being perched on a dust infested rickety shelf unit in a sorry state, (shoot me i'm, sometimes, careless), Conde Nast is to launch a one-stop magazine hub, displaying all current Conde Nast titles. I had hoped that this would include all previous issues dating back to poignant eras, but then I guess that would be too special and, also, who would want to reveal the A.M.A.Z.I.N.G Vogue House library to a million plus mucky paws? I have, very fortunately, had the privilege of perusing the formerly mentioned (all in aid of some research for the Vogue fashion team) and it's by no means the kind of library that we're all accustomed to. It's beyond brilliant and fun - it has cavernous book shelves that glide across the floor for easy access to hard-to-reach tomes.

Conde Nast Worldwide News opens in March within the Vogue HQ in Hanover Square, London. Whether you want to browse any of the 130 current issues of Vogue, Tatler, Vanity Fair etc, play with all of Conde Nast's iPad apps or scan images and info, you can do so in the stylish setting of Vogue House. There's some serious posh people/covetable clobber watching to be done here. It's glamour on ridiculous levels...

A Chance To Delve Into the Fashion Modelling World Is Upon Us

Fans of the former fly-on-the-wall documentary Babewatch (the show that discovered Vernon Kay), about Select Model Management, take note:

Starting on 23rd February, Channel 4 brings us a new dose of opportunity to model gawk and follow the day-to-day runnings of , this time, Premier Models (the model agency responsible for stellar supermodels Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiefer, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista) in a new documentary called, quite simply, The Model Agency. Crikey O'Riley - wait I cannot...

The Future's Bright

For Spring/Summer 2011 the general consensus is to flout all previous notions of bare minimalism and usher in a season imbued with riotous colour. Jil Sander, DKNY and Aquilano Rimondi forbid us to adhere to the fashion protocol and encouraged an unabashed marrying of sprightly hues - splicing cerise with crimson, cobalt blue with acid green and igniting a fluoro frenzy. Sober your ensembles with gold accents for a jaunty decadence or complete the look with a motorbike jacket seen at Burberry and Balanciaga. It’s a tough luxe look fit for any summer soiree. A winter ensconced in chunky knits has left us yearning for the freedom and fluidity of the obligatory summer maxi dress. Diaphanous gowns dispersed throughout the collections at Dries Van Noten and Thakoon whilst Paul & Joe and Erdem Moralioglu opted for ostentatious floral prints to adorn their take on summer’s definitive trend. Not wanting to forego last season’s nude invasion? The likes of Jenny Packham, Roland Mouret and Ports 1961 have produced deftly cut garments in a palette of subdued tones, an antidote to the reigning overt colour spectrum that dominates this season’s trend line up.

Jil Sander

Loewe

Burberry

Aquilano Rimondi

Mad Men Season Four. Elated!

The beautiful cast

I am at a loose end. I am nearing the end of Season Three of my MAD MEN boxset. I remember an article in the Daily Mail, chronicling the narrative of the series, soon to grace our screens. It seemed a story concept that I must discover. A portrait of the Madison Avenue pioneers, the advertising industry in the late 50s and early 60s where frivolous spending, conspicuous drinking and smoking Lucky Strike cigarettes was prevalent. The awe inspiring sartorial pursuits of this era are unmissable. What a woman would do for Betty Draper's and Joan Holloway's closet... Then there's the ruling quest for the American Dream, which is far from reflected in the, sometimes dark, personal lives of the main characters. It's a glamorous but messed-up world and I have been hooked ever since.

But fear not my fellow MAD MEN aficionados, Season Four is to be released on Tuesday 29th March 2011. I have, seriously, been in a state of not knowing what to replace this epic TV viewing with, or rather could anything possibly compare? There's me thinking that my days of ogling, the suave, Don Draper were no more. Too excited.

Mad Men Season Four. Gasp!

Reigning Rupert's We Salute You

Rupert Sanderson has delivered a new collection of vertiginous beauties: a delectable stream of exquisite footwear with an exclusive introduction to the 140mm heel.

A unique marrying of animal skins, metallics and raw edging against a refined shoe-silhouette make these serious contenders for shoe stars.

See the rest of the collection below:

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/110107-rupert-sanderson-new-140mm-higher-h/gallery.aspx#

My current jacket lust-haves

Tibi
Plaid Peacoat 267.00


Jaeger
Zebra Jacket 135.00 (Sale)

Mulberry
Cord Trim Poacher
1350.00

Burberry Autumn/Winter 2011-2012

As a true champion, and fashion market leader, it is only right that we celebrate the super brand that is Burberry. Today sees the release of its Pre Fall 2011 collection and, in true Burberry style, it's a fashion force to be reckoned with.

Slinky Burberry vixens wore cinched trenches with rabbit fur stole-like shoulder detail and skin tight leather over knee boots. Always partial to a liberal legged trouser, I'm enthused by Christopher Kane's kick-flare accompaniments. Gem encrusted necklines, cuffs and pockets allowed for added opulence and a stylish solution to desk to dinner dressing. Faux Fur weaved it's way through the designs adding volume to linear silhouettes. All in all, a subtly sexy and sophisticated line up.

Here's my pick of the best looks from the collection:

Kate Middleton in Reiss

Sunday morning. If there was an image that was going to put a huge smile on my face, whilst I aid my G&T head, it was going to be these latest shots of the newly engaged Prince William and Kate Middleton. Both in a, never seen before, loving embrace shot by Peruvian fashion photographer Mario Testino. They look adorable, gorgeous and most importantly, relaxed, happy, secure and super in love. Although the ruling excitement, for me, is in fact that Kate is wearing my favourite brand Reiss. For me, the brand reflects Kate's understated, elegant and classic style perfectly. I wasn't enthralled with the Issa number Kate wore for the announcement of their engagement, although I didn't fail to recognise how beautiful she looked. This latest white dress, however, looks phenomenal. I'm now going to sit back and enjoy watching sales for the Reiss brand soar.

In the enduring clinch, above, Kate wears a blouse from Whistles where she once worked as as Assistant Buyer. This depiction of the royal couple is significant in that it conveys William and Kate's genuine love for one another. It's nonchalance lies in stark contrast to previous 'stiff and staged' royal couple portraits. You warm to the pair instantaneously. I love how Kate looks so proud to be in the arms of her prince charming. Genuinely pleased for our modern day prince and princess.

Just in case elves don't do cheetahs...

This Christmas, fashion folk are suggesting gifts in the form of, errrrm, baby cheetahs? Apparently they're the new accessory as seen on the cover of January's US Harper's Bazaar and cradled in the arms of Miss Donaldson. Then there's the Cartier Ad, depicting yet another kitcsh kitty, only this one's feasting on the luxury trinket boxes - he can't do that! Down boy, heal...

I, on the other hand, have gift preferences of a less CATastrophic, more accessible, nature.

O.K, maybe not accessible, just yet, but I'm in training right now for my future of fear free designer splurges.

Burberry quilted Leather Jacket £1195
Because quilting is no longer the domain of old-fashioned dressing gowns and bedspreads. I love the contradicting comfort versus biker chic appeal of this jacket. The perfect overlay for a minimalistic ensemble of a calf length tube skirt and basic tee.

Christian Louboutin Decollete 100 Jazz Pumps £375
I apologise for the re itteration of my love for these Louboutins. Classic. Chic. Smart. Sexy. I will harp on until they're mine.

Thomas Wylde I-D Bracelet Boots £1340
These bracelet laced biker boots have got to be near the top of my list. I can't stop looking at them. B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L

Lanvin Punk Lizard and Python Cuff £590
My love for reptile skin accessories will abate - over my dead body

River Island Masculine Loafer £34.99
I have waited a life time to find a pair of this exact form of loafer. Stylish, practical and affordable. I love sloany cool that's cheap.

Mulberry Tilly Bag
Me, the fashion world and his dog are waiting for Mulberry's latest creation. Forget the Roxanne, Bayswater and Alexa. Tilly is supple calf leather embossed with snake skin, gold buckles and chain straps...need I say more.

Zimmermann Ebony Rose Bikini £155
Because I need reminding that there are sunnier destinations out there, beyond all this snow and cold. This bikini top also reminds me of mermaids and how I once believed I was one with my crimped Daryl Hannah locks and lithe frame. Here's a picture to remind me of old me...