My last purchases of 2009

Bored and cold, I decided to use my time off work wisely and make some post Christmas purchases!

Browsing the endless fashion sites on sale, I decided that most of the sites were either too fussy, not fussy enough or what was on sale was utter tripe!

Problem solved - I went to Topshop and these are the lovelies which should be arriving on my beautiful doorstep tomorrow.

All at the click of a button, cosy in the warmth of my flat. No hustle or bustle, no rude sale shoppers and no really effort - if only everything in life was so easy!

Online shopping - one of my new year resolutions me thinks. x

Trendtastic

We have had an amazing year/decade of fashion so I am really excited about next year and what trends we will be following.

I have absolutely loved the fashion in recent months from head jewellery to studs and velvet, all my favourite fabrics have come back on to the radar and women can mix up the tomboy look with femininity, all in one outfit which is just how I like it.

I think this will be the theme for next year too. As we approach the new decade, I am hoping to see a lot more fun, floaty, flowery dresses/tops teamed with canvas brogues and military style boots. I am thinking across the body bags and head scarves will be back too!

I also predict metallics (Matthew Williamson) are going to be back, printed 't's, colourful trews, Danielle Scutt body tops/leotards, check print a la Kane SS10, royal blue colour, statement jewellery, long, long hair and Bridget Bardot smokey eyes.

All this talk of 2010 fashion makes me want to go shopping now - so excited!

PS Fashion ones to watch next year will be... Leigh Lezark, Kristen Stewart of Twilight fame, Georgia Jagger, Lily Allen, Holly Fulton fashion and Rihanna.

NY Resolutions

Now, I know that around this time every year, millions of people around the world are jotting down their very well meant resolutions in a little notebook which they may not look at again until the same time in 2010 (myself included) but I really want to do it differently this year.

I am bored of making resolutions which I never stick to. I want to be healthier this year and to get into good shape. I am turning 32 this year (argh - can't believe the time has gone so quick) and I want to start taking care of myself. I want to look after my soul and mind too so that I am a stronger person and ready for all the little adventures life is going to pass my way over the next few years.

Here are my top 5 resolutions:

1). GET FIT

2). DO MORE (turn off the tv and read, write, learn, be inspired)

3). SET UP A LIFE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE (NZ - career, family)

4). TAKE CARE OF ME (health, beauty, soul, brain)

5). LOVE MORE (the people in my life) and show how much they all mean to me.


I am so excited about 2010 - I think it is going to be a truly wonderful year!

Christmas is here!

I am so damn excited, it's untrue! I find this the best time of year - I love giving presents and the happy faces all around us. Everyone is always more polite and cheerful in London at Christmas.

I am pretty sure my darling boyfriend and I have done the same thing we always do and managed to get the same thing for each other. It warms my heart to know we are so on the same page!

We may not have an open fire but we have (some) snow outside, the Christmas tree decorated, the fairy lights are on and the Christmas tunes from the 50s are blaring out on itunes!

The presents are wrapped, the video message for reli's in NZ is done and all that awaits us is the big day itself. I can't wait!

Merry Christmas one and all. xx

What a Year!

2009 has been a fantastic year for fashion in my opinion. From bold, studded belts teamed with cute flower print dresses and Carrie's sexy strappy Dior shoes in Sex and the City to Alexa Chung, this year has had it all. With even more designers and models teaming up with High Street stores such as H&M and our favourite Topshop, great clothes are
becoming more and more accessible to us mere recession hit mortals.

Young and old alike are showing us how its done with many a famous mother and daughter equally cutting the mustard in the style stakes... think Yasmin and Amber Le Bon, Jerry and Georgia Jagger and, Pearl and Daisy Lowe.

With all the doom and gloom which has hit the country in the past 12 months and the cloud of pessimism hovering perilously above our heads, who can forget the little rays of sunshine such as Lara Stone which burst onto the fashion scene in a bubble of a loveliness?

It just makes me even more excited about the year to come. Something makes me think it is going to be a good one.

Sparkle Sparkles Everywhere

Nothing pleases me more than the season of goodwill. Iabsolutely adore Christmas, especially the whole lead up to the big day,the singing of carols, the kids anxiously scribbling their wish lists, the elaborate shop windows and the seriously silly sense of excitement in the crisp winter air.

Christmas is a time of giving and of goodwill to all men; a time when everyone is in a good mood, excitedly buying pressies for loved ones. It is a time for family, eating, being merry and most importantly for me, shopping. Fashion comes alive as we all go hunting like magpies for the sparkliest outfit we can find for our Christmas parties. It seems the celebs agree, as dresses here and across the pond are sparkling brightly on the red carpet this season.

Musos leading the way in the fashion stakes

Musicians have always led the way in more ways than just the music they write. Fashion often goes hand in hand with celebrities and
none more so in the music scene. Just think Blondie, Beatles, Abba,
Madonna and co. Often what they wore on stage was replicated across the world by teens and fashionable adults alike. We all like a trend to follow and it is often the people we look up to who set them.

Today, kids have even more choice of people to follow as there are far more "celebrities" now. Musicians are still leading the way though. Just take a look at these trend setters: Rihanna, Ladyhawke, Bat for Lashes, Lily Allen, Florence and the Machines, Goldfrapp and co. all flying the flag for fashionable sisterhood. Long live Frock and Roll!

Geek Chic

Geeeeeeeek! One of my favourite words yet I am still at a loss as how geek chic fashion has developed. Where did it come from? Suddenly it is cool to wear the same glasses you would have been bullied for wearing at school.

Short of having the tape around the edge of the rims, these are no different to the NHS glasses that the outcasts at school wore and yet it is fashionable to wear them even if you don't need them. Some people wear them with no lenses in - is this crazy or is it me?

Alexa Chung seems to champion the look with her wide rimmed specs and overly expensive satchel but no one can deny she does pull it off and look quite cool. Probably because she is the sort of girl who looks good wearing anything but she is not the only one to follow the trend. I know lots of people, mainly residing in the trendy East End of London, who will not step out of their trendy little loft style apartments without being kitted out head to toe in geekdom. It's kind of cool geek chic I guess and oh so spot on trend right now.

PS Talking of geeks, I am so proud of my boyfriend (self confessed geek) for how well his company is doing. Check out the company's blog at http://ubinow.net/blog/

SATC Part 2

I am soooooo excited about the second installment of Sex and The City. One of my favourties movies of all time, I can't wait to see the next one!

I love the whole fashion vibe around it and can't wait to see what trends will be set in 2010. Love it!

http://www.hbo.com/city/

Fire engine red lippy

Besides my wonderful red coat which I am hoping to get for Christmas. I am a big fan of red lipstick this winter. I am blonde but I still think the redder the better and, as long as you don't go too bold on the old eyes, you can pull it off with ease.

Probably best not to wear out if you want to smooch with your fella but wear it whilst dressed all in black with a little sparkly jacket and you are ready to P.A.R.T.Y!

Winter Warmers

Chunky knits are in. Big bad ass boyfriend cardi's are here to stay!
Just look at these lovelies being worn Stateside...

Winter and its many technicolour dreamcoats

Everyone loves to rush out and buy a new coat for winter. So, if you buy one staple for your wardrobe this festive season, make it the best and brightest coat you can find! Everyone who knows anything about fashion is wearing bold colours this season.

If you are slightly shy when it comes to colour, make it bold in other ways, whether it is an amazing fabric, a different style or bold structure, really go for it I say!
Some tweed or fake fur are good or old school thick grandad cardigans decorated with a vintage brooch, layered with a thick chunky bright scarf and a long 'T' underneath.



Leopard print is also back in fashion thanks to the likes of Kate Moss and co. Forget Vera Lynch - it's now classy short or long tailored coats for animal prints.







Whether it is toned down with a bright
chunky knit scarf, just that little pop of colour, say it loud and say it proud this winter girls.

Christmas wish list...

What I want for Christmas is... lots of things. I always say I don't want anything and try to deter friends and relatives from buying me anything but what girl doesn't secretly covet lots of little things that, should she have all the money in the world, and there were no kids starving in Africa, she would ask for...? Surprisingly, a lot of the things I lust after are summer related - perhaps because I am already thinking about my move down South next year. A lot further South...

First up is some proper ray bans. I have the fake red rimmed ones which do the job but nothing is as cool as the real deal. I am currently LOVING these turquoise numbers sported by Ashley Tisdale. All I need is some LA sunshine to go with them.

Next is a pair of cute, flat, black, ankle boots. Teamed with a little dress and black tights or skinnies would be ideal me thinks.

I have always bought Jane Norman coats. They fit me like a glove and I return
every winter for a snug fitted, high neck coat. This year I am coveting their fire engine red, textured tab-belt coat. Yum.

To go with my understated coat, I am thinking of headware and I currently love this from Accessorize. Hopefully I get it in my stocking as I have been a very good girl this year!

Places I like...

Gay Paris was the first romantic trip away with BB. Such fond memories despite the fact he was ill with food poisonening, poor thing. He bought the tickets for my 30th birthday, along with some other very thoughtful presents. He was also the first boyfriend to get my twin a present and, although we had only been dating a month at this stage, I knew then how much I was going to love him.

Beautiful Bergamo really is a sight for sore eyes. It has that old Italian charm, the one you can't find in one of Italy's main cities, which are so over run with tourists. This is how you imagine rustic Italy to be. Full of winding roads and beautiful smelling forestry; it is unkempt yet almost magical; truly wonderful, just like the local people.

If you go, make sure you stay with Mario and his lovely wife at Lavetta.
http://www.lavallettabergamo.it/eng/


Then there is Croatia. Such a beautiful place and again, quite unspoilt despite the fact hordes of tourists now flock there every year. It is best to see the islands by sea but if you get sea sick like me, then you are better off staying on land but doing small day trips.

Hvar and Dubrovnik are must sees and, don't forget to drop into Gils Bar in Dubrovnik for a cocktail or two - expensive but worth it. www.gilsdubrovnik.com

V cool.


You might not think Barcelona is a great location for a 3 day break in November; it is not much warmer than London, a lot of the shops and restaurants have closed for winter and there are only a handful of sites to see. How wrong you would be. The sun shone like a bright star in the sky and the people were as friendly as you would expect from the local Spaniards.

Favourite places there include St Joseph's Market with its brightly coloured sweets and fruit stalls, mushrooms galore and hanging hams. Animal lovers - beware of the stall selling our favourite pets - rabbits.

Prawns, live lobsters, chillies, fruit, choccies - this wonderful, eclectic and colourful market is a place where you can soak up the atmosphere, eat and drink away, all the whilse bustling Spaniards are doing their weekly shop around you.

We stayed at Confortel Auditori which is a nice, sleek hotel in walking distance from the main sites http://www.confortelhoteles.com and restaurants worth a visit are Les Quinze Nits in Plaza Real (just off La Rambla) and El Foro in Carrer de la Princesa.

Also, make sure you do the obligatory La Rambla where are all the street performers are lined up ready to show you their talents, visit the port, La Sagrada Familia (Gaudi's amazing unfinished church) and the Picasso Museum.

Final tip is hold onto your purses ladies. We did not have any trouble but have heard numerous (and I mean numerous) tales of people who have been mugged whilst over there.