LFW Street Style

Edgier than Milan, cooler than Paris and more daring than New York, London’s street style is arguably the most captivating of all the fashion cities. As always you can get as much, if not more, fashion inspiration hanging around outside the catwalk venue as on the front row. Here’s my pick of the best LFW fashionistas:

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London Fashion Week

Creative, fearless and innovative are just some of the buzzwords being touted by the media to describe this season’s London Fashion Week. Over 40 catwalk shows, as well as off-schedule shows, presentations and salons are crammed in to a whirlwind five days while an estimated 5,000 photographers are on hand to capture the trends and names set to shape this year’s fashions. With LFW, the BAFTA Film Awards and the Brit Awards all taking place this month, even the capital’s mayor Boris Johnson agrees that there is no better time to shine the spotlight on London’s creative talents.

As day four of the proceedings at Somerset House draws to a close, here is my pick of some of the best looks so far:

Vivienne Westwood Red Label

Vivienne Westwood Red Label

Sibling

Sibling

Burberry Prorsum

Burberry Prorsum

Erdem

Erdem

Jonathan Saunders

Jonathan Saunders

Matthew Williamson

Matthew Williamson

Temperley

Temperley London

Paul Smith

Paul Smith

Topshop Unique

Topshop Unique

Mary Katrantzou

Mary Katrantzou

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New York Fashion Week – My Favourite Street Style Snaps

I’m ashamed to admit that I have not been paying too much attention to New York fashion week apart from a brief glance at the Vogue.com daily updates. Now that I have belatedly caught up with some of the proceedings, it is – as per usual – the street style that has caught my eye as much (or more) as the catwalk creations. You have to hand it to them – these NYC fashionistas know how to rock a chic cold weather look. Here are some of my favourites:

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All pictures from my NYFW Pinterest board

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A Fresh Start!

Going out B&W

{My new snakeskin heels from Office had their first outing last night teamed with skinny jeans, black peplum top from H&M and wavy hair.}

Turning over a new leaf, changing old habits, starting afresh – whatever you might call it, that is what I intend to do from tomorrow. The horrible weather, a lack of motivation and a sore knee (caused by what I do not know – certainly not over exercising!) have all conspired to stop my New Year fitness regime from getting off the ground. Add to that, a diet of too much sugar, white flour and caffeine (let’s face it, what else is there to do when the rain is pouring down outside except console yourself with tea and cake?) and the result is a sluggish mama, constantly tired and lacking the energy to keep up with my three lovely but boisterous children. I’m not a great believer in fad diets or super strict regimes but cutting back on the bad stuff and adding in more healthy food as well as using my gym membership a bit more frequently would be a good start.

On a different note, I spent another three hours in a hospital waiting room today! Clemmie had scarlet fever a couple of weeks ago and today I noticed a familiar looking rash on her body – and sure enough, the doctor at the out-of-hours clinic confirmed that it has come back 😦 So it’s another ten days of antibiotics and no nursery tomorrow. Poor thing but apart from the rash she seems quite happy and there is no temperature this time.

Despite spending all that time at the hospital and being out late at a dinner party last night, I’ve surprised myself by being extremely productive this evening – the house is clean, all the washing is put away and the kids’ homework is done and their bags are packed ready for tomorrow and now I’ve even completed a blog post. It’s always easier to start the new week feeling on top of things – hopefully I can keep that focus going until next weekend!

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Wrap up Warm

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Although we are slowly but surely moving towards spring, the weather here in the UK is still very much on the wintry side. Warm coats and cosy knits are set to be the order of the day for many weeks to come and I wouldn’t be surprised if we get some snow between now and the end of February (the Swede in me will be disappointed if there is not at least one opportunity to get the sledges out!)

So while I did pledge at the end of last year not to buy any more scarves, I couldn’t resist this plaid beauty from high street fave Topshop. It may be acrylic rather than cashmere but it’s super soft and, at only £18 a snip, compared to the Burberry scarf I had been coveting. When you look at it like that, I’ve actually saved money (although to be on the safe side, don’t mention that to my husband)!

Scarf 3

 

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40 Years of the DvF Wrap Dress

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From Burberry’s trench coat to Chanel’s tweed jacked, there are a few iconic fashion pieces that can withstand the test of time and passing trends. Diane von Furstenberg’s wrap dress is one such piece – it looks as fresh today as it did when it first hit the rails four decades ago. The DvF wrap dress is the ultimate day-to-night dress that can be dressed up or down and take the wearer with ease from the boardroom to a cocktail party via a quick change of shoes and accessories.

To celebrate the 40th birthday of the dress that launched her onto the international fashion scene, Diane von Furstenberg threw a star -studded party in Los Angeles earlier this month. The party marked the opening of an exhibition entitled ‘Journey of a Dress’ which features the designer’s favourite dresses and will run at the Wilshire May Company Building in LA until April 1.  Diane is also inviting women to tell their ‘wrap story’ in words and pictures via the DvF website

I bought my first wrap dress when I started a new job at a fashion magazine 12 years ago. I still have it now and it is the perfect piece to bring out if you’re ever unsure what the dress code entails. You just can’t go wrong with a DvF wrap!

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My (rather meagre) Sales Haul

I’m old enough to remember when the January Sales used to be a big deal, warranting at least one whole day out scouring the shops for bargains. Now with high street stores discounting left, right and centre in the run-up to the festive season the post-Christmas Sales have lost some of their appeal (for me at least). As someone who is not great at Sales shopping in the first place, I usually only buy a handful of pieces (mostly online, I’m not a big fan of scouring messy Sales rails for that one elusive must-have in my size). This year I’m doing well, it’s only January 3 and already I’ve snapped up two bargains:

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These Cocorose London snakeskin ballet pumps were reduced from £85 to £38 in my local boutique O’Keefe

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And this InWear Eden glitter frill top, now £33 (reduced from £55) will be perfect for wearing with with skinny jeans and heels for a dressed up, yet relaxed, look.

As usual, I couldn’t resist buying a couple of full price pieces like this cropped slouchy yoga top from Sweaty Betty

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..and these ankle boots from H by Hudson which will help put a spring in my step when the new season rolls around.

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So, what about you? Any good bargains or are you saving your cash for next season’s collections? X

 

Aww, Santa you shouldn’t have…

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{The gifts bearing my name this year included a pair of classic short Ugg boots, the Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow palette, a Diptyque Baies scented candle, a scarf from American Vintage, Jamie Oliver’s latest cook book and a pair of slippers from The White Company.}

As we tumble headfirst into 2014, Christmas Day is already starting to feel like a distant memory. Our Christmas tree and decorations are still up but by this weekend they will be packed away again for another year. While the festive season is all about being together, enjoying each others company (well mostly anyway – Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the little arguments that seem to rear their head after the turkey has been polished off), it is always nice to find a few presents under the tree. Judging by Santa’s generosity, I must have been a very good girl this year…

Now we’re off to battle the crowds and indulge in a bit of Sales shopping as well as exchanging a couple of gifts. With less than 12 hours remaining of 2013 I wish you all a very happy New Year! X

Currently Coveting #15: The Perfect New Year’s Eve Dress

New Year's Eve dress

A dense blanket of fog has covered our part of the world all day, making driving difficult and halting some flights in and out of London. It has been cold, damp, grey and miserable so I’ve cheered myself up by looking online for the perfect New Year’s Eve dress. I don’t actually know what we’re doing for New Year yet – we have been invited to a 1920s themed party, which sounds fun, but it’s grown-ups only and finding a babysitter is proving rather tricky…

Last year we had some friends and their children over for a three-course dinner and it was one of the best New Year’s Eves I’ve had for a long time (I’m almost ashamed to admit it but since having children I’ve been known to go to bed before midnight on December 31st…) But I think that even if you’re ringing in the new year in the comfort of your own home it is nice to dress up and wear something special. I would be more than happy to step into 2014 in any of these little numbers.

{All dresses from Anthropologie. Clockwise from top left: Eclat dress, £178; Honeyed Lace dress, £178; Cabled Garonne dress, £138; Orla Kiely Oasis Hearts Dress, £348; Amalie dress, £198; Glissade dress, £128}