Majestic Gina

Aren't they just heavenly! I popped into Gina this morning to do a quick press pull (which predictably turned into 1 1/2 hours of gossip and fashion chat with pr's Angie and Lorraine), and couldn't leave without snapping a shot of these beauties. When I spied them on Lorraine's desk they took my breath away; the softest, palest, most perfect ballerina pink silk - all I could do was point and squeak 'Black Swan shoes'. Having thought long and hard about it all day, I've come to the conclusion that I heart them so very much, that if I were to be invited to the Royal wedding this year I would 100% plan my entire outfit around them....well it wouldn't be fair for Kate to be the only 'middle class' Princess in the room now would it!

Karen Millen - leave your preconceptions at the door

Now I can't lie - I haven't always been Karen Millen's biggest fan. I know it's a horribly fashion-snob-bitch thing to say, but it's always carried certain connotations for me (middle aged HR managers from Peterborough out on the raz to be precise), so I have to admit to never paying it much attention. Then a couple of months ago I popped in to their press office to do a pull for a job, and to my surprise I came out with more than one piece...and more shockingly my very own Karen Millen wish list. You see the showroom wasn't just a collection of knee length satin dresses as I'd (rather small-mindedly) expected. Yes they still had lots of easy-to-wear-pretty-but-not-life-changing party/ special event type dresses, but they also had some surprisingly pitch-perfect and of the moment glam rock-goth pieces. It just shows you - it never does to get too complacent when it comes to the British high street.

So that said, here are my 4 fave Karen Millen pieces right now - let me know if you love them too!

Who doesn't own a biker jacket nowadays? If you're that one person, then I'd seriously consider investing in this badboy. At £399 it's not cheap, but with it's hardcore shoulder studs and dainty buttons it really stands out from the crowd, and will earn you some serious fashion points.

You'd never guess, but I love a sequin skirt I do, and this one really is something special. The layers and silver bead embellishment give it a cheeky gladiator feel, which really distinguishes its high street rivals. Yes £135 is a bit of an investment, but it's ridiculously versatile - wear it with a rock tee in the day for that edgy-cool LA look, or a bit of lace at night for the full-on goth goddess look. Love, want, need.

Skinny double belts are the fashion crowds secret weapon (don't believe me - then pay a visit to the Satorialist - they're all at it). Tan and black leather with glistening black studs, this belt is incredibly chic, and at £49.95 I reckon it's a total bargain.

I don't usually like small bags (travelling light isn't one of my many talents), but for this hard case clutch embellished with matt black sequins and silver beads (£99), I'd be willing to make an exception.

All I want for Channukah....

Love Moschino - never has a brand been so appropriately named, as I do indeed majorly LOVE Moschino! Flashy, trashy, shiny, 80's brashness in all its designer glory - I feel Moschino is a brand who truly understand the heart and soul of Miss Sisi G.

And so to these gorgeous gloves. Obviously last year I was maybe just a teensy bit obsessed by a certain pair of Chanel earmuffs (which no one bothered to buy me despite numerous hints and blog posts). Not one to let a total lack of interest from others stop me in my lusting tracks, this year my winter accessory de jour are these rather hermes-zing embellished grey angora Love Moschino gloves.....HOW CUTE!

Family and friends I'm going to make this very simple. Here's the link to My-Wardrobe.com - I'll leave the rest to you....

The early bird catches the Lanvin.....I hope!

God it's cold outside! I don't know what's wrong with me these past few days but I keep forgetting just how cold it is and going out dressed for Spring (ie. flimsy culottes and little jackets!). After very nearly losing a couple of fingers to frostbite this afternoon (fingerless gloves really not cutting it), I've decided to take full advantage of my freelance status and work from under my duvet all day tomorrow!

Even the icy weather can't dampen my excitement for the Lanvin for H&M (or Lanvin HEARTS H&M as I like to call it) launch tomorrow though. Like most of the fashion world I've become slightly obsessed with this collaboration - even going so far as to call it 'The best designer/ High street collaboration EVER' in a piece I wrote for MSN (if you haven't yet read it click here).

As if the beautiful clothes and crazy sexy cool ad campaign weren't enough, last week Alber threw a massive chi chi party in NY and put on one of the most exciting, playful and beautiful catwalks I've ever seen. Everything about it is just fabulous - from Anna Dello Russo walking, to the sensational styling (having seen this I am now obsessed with wanting red polka dot and pink leopard print tights, and utterly convinced that I need the entire collection).

So sit back with a cup of hot chocolate and witness fashion at it's very best....

...Oh, and don't forget to set your alarms for the morning, as for one day only the only bird catches the Lanvin!

LANVIN FOR H&M – THE "HAUTE COUTURE" SHOW from Barracuda Film & TV on Vimeo.

No shows for the wicked!

Sadly there was no fashion fun for me today – duty called, and like a dog with a bone I went running. As I padded round the office barefoot in leggings and T (i.e. what I like to think of as my daytime pj’s) drinking copious amounts of anything caffeinated and stealing chocolate biccies off my friends desk I kept one eye on the catwalks through the power of tinternet. Here are my thoughts on LFW Day 4.



Osman
Now, this was a confused collection if ever I bumped into one. It started off with some rather nice, very wearable, Osman at his best black jersey dresses. A few looks in I was wondering whether he was going to pick up the baton from his SS10 collection which was all white, and do the all black thing this time. Sadly not though; all of a sudden the catwalk was awash with a strange dove grey and blue check. Then followed a bright coral, and shortly after a bright blue in the form of a strange pajama-esque set (and not in my leggings and T kind of way). There were also lots of loafers. Now, I don’t mind a loafer, but if we’re all gonna suffer trotting from one side of the city to the other, in the cold and rain in towering heels then I expect the models to do so too (and yes, I know I’m a big fat hypocrite because I chickened out and wore flats yesterday, but that’s not the point)! Somewhere in-between all of this there was a cute satin embellished dress, but it go lost somewhere in the sea of check and mohair. It was less of a collection, and more like a trip round H&M. If only he’d have stuck to the black.





Erdem
Erdem was undoubtedly the golden ticket today – it was the show everyone wanted to go to, and the one everyone was raving about (always the way)! When the Editors returned to the office there was talk of near tears and breathless beauty….it seemed he’d hit the fashion nail on the head. Eagerly I searched for the first pictures to appear on-line, and I can’t say I’m disappointed. Blown away would probably be a more accurate description. As I clicked through the images I could feel my heart rate rise – like ripping open presents on your birthday, one after another after another, the painfully perfect, neat, precise little dresses kept appearing as if by magic. If I were rich – I’d buy the whole collection – 30 stand-out show-stopping outfits for every occasion – weddings, garden parties, birthdays, engagements – everything would be covered! Perfection.

All I want for Christmas…

Ok - I know it's a bit early, but if I only got these scrumdidlyumptious Chanel earmuffs I swear I'd be happy till my birthday (in Feb, he he). They have come storming straight to the top of my lust-ooh-meter for two reasons.

1. I’m rather sensitive and hate it when the cold gets in my ears
2. They’re Chanel

To quote Ms M Poppins, “They’re practically perfect in every way” (the one catch obviously being the price tag, darnit)!

Still – I give them a 10/10

McQ, Minx, and the most fashionable nails ever!

And here they are - fab aren't they! I got them done today at the McQ press day and am utterly besotted. I’ve been desperate to get my nails ‘minxed’ for a couple of months now, and it was well worth the wait. Minx is the new nail craze from where else but the US of A. Basically instead of painting your nails with varnish they just apply a heated strip of film and then shape it round your nail. Not only is it super-quick and easy to do, but there’s none of that pesky waiting around for your nails to dry, they last just as long as nail varnish, and most importantly, because it’s a film you can get loads of crazy patterns and metallics, which as you know is right up my street! Sadly the McQ were specially made for the press day (how super-glam fashwan is that!) so i’m just gonna have to enjoy them while they last. I’m 100% definitely getting multi-coloured neon leopard print next time though!

Talking of leopard print I totally fell in love with this fantastic McQ denim leopard print (noticing a theme?!) biker-esque jacket at the press day. It’s properly high-end trash-tastic (the best type of trash fyi – Lanvin neon leopard print = case in point), and apparently everyone was going mad for it (although that could have just been the pr trying to be nice)! Either way I don’t care because I think it’s perfect – this picture doesn’t even do it justice (it would look much better on me than this ‘interesting’ looking model)! It’s shot straight to the top of my lust-ooh-meter this week - I’m thinking it’s scoring about a 7.5 – mmm mmm mmm indeed!

These boots were made for walking....just not on my feet

I don’t know what’s with me at the moment, but I only have eyes for boots right now, and though I do love my new Aldo’s I just can’t stop yearning for more; flat, platform, open toe, mesh – every I turn there are more boots begging me to buy them! Top of my lust-o-meter (my list of things which I love, but can’t afford or wear), scoring a stonking 9.5 are these beauties by Christopher Kane for Versus – aka. The boots which won’t love me back. Not only are they totally out of my price range at £900 (ouch!), but there’s also a waiting list (not that this really matters to me because of my first point, but thought it was worth mentioning)! The problem is I can’t move past them, and every time I go out to look for something to see me through the winter (and replace my rather battered and smelly Gap biker boots from last year which are currently soldiering on with the help of some Odour-Eaters – tres chic!), all I can think about is the perfect biker/ Chelsea combo, the soft soft shiny leather, and obviously that big old glistening rock! Nothing else even comes close. It’s like when you first fall in love all and can’t imagine ever feeling that way about anyone else again, ever. Sadly though my love costs a month and a half’s rent – rent which I can only just afford as it is. I’ve even tried justifying it at cost per wear. At £900, if I wear them every day from today all the way through to April (which let’s be honest is beyond unlikely), then they’ll still cost me £6 per wear, which isn’t really a bargain now is it?! So, it is with deep regret that I admit that this love is to remain unrequited. All I can hope now is that Toppers or ASOS feel the same as I do and create a boot ‘inspired’ by them in the next couple of weeks….I live in hope.