Autumn @ Jack

One of my favourite brands Jack Wills unveiled their Autumn Preview a couple of days ago and I thought I'd walk you through the looks, dish out a little advice on integrating new pieces into your current wardrobe, and get you as excited to buy this collection as I am!  

I love the pieces I've seen so far - the colour scheme is reminiscent of Victorian style; reflecting Jack Wills' tendency to celebrate and take inspiration from its British heritage.  The preppy brand's key colour this season adds a purple-hue to traditional oxblood shades to become Damson, and features on jeans, smart tees, dresses, playsuits and prints throughout the collection.  I'm 'pale and interesting' so the dark greys, navy and damson shades really suit my complexion.

In terms of cut, style and detail I think the Autumn collection is a little more grown-up than we've seen in previous seasons;  the delicate use of sheer fabrics, subtle polka dots and dainty floral patterns bring femininity to the androgynous cuts of jeans, shorts and boy-fit shirts.  These beautiful pieces add elegance to loungewear and casual clothing; the Marston Tee can be paired with black jeans and loafers during the day and a suede point-toe stiletto - this year's staple shoe - to carry your outfit through to the evening.  You could even add the Shelsey Cami to your workwear wardrobe; with a smart black skirt suit or cigarette trousers.

The Hamfield Crew (£49.50), Shelsey Pleat Cami (£59.50) and Marston Tee (£59.50)

 Wear with: the 'French 75' heel by Whistles, JW's own Maddison or J-Brand's 912 Skinny Jean.

Their key transitional outerwear piece moves away from the traditional rural uniform of weed, wax and quilt jackets towards the parka; the coat is often associated with an 'urban' or 'street' look (and championed by Liam Gallagher in the 1990's) and is available in navy or khaki, reflective of it's military origins.  The best thing about this coat is it's versatility - it can be thrown on over anything, and easily rolled up and popped in a bag when you don't need it til later. 

The Alwyn £98.50

 Wear with:  Contrast a sharp shirt and patent loafers with rolled-up trousers and the Alwyn parka for a slightly grungy city look.

'Kitty' by Charlotte Olympia, £465 (Selfridges)

If you're buying anything from this collection, or using it as inspiration for the rest of your Autumn wardrobe then here's a basic summary: stick to dark shades (greys, purples, reds and navy), pair  feminine tops with masculine-cut trousers, and never underestimate the power of a classic shoe.  Swap your ballet pumps for brogues and smoking slippers, and give your feet a rest in the evening because the mid-heel is back: point-toe styles in classic black patent and suedes, or wear a glitter or spiked pump for a little extra glamour.   Louboutin's 'Pigalle' is an absolute classic, as is the Whistles French 125 (/75) if you're not feeling irresponsible this month.

It isn't available in-stores yet, but my favourite piece is the Damson tweed jacket pictured below with the Bradnam short and a plain tee.  If you follow me on Twitter you'll have seen me raving about my guilty love of shorts-suits and, if anything, this little mix-and-match outfit has confirmed I've secretly been right about them all along. 

Dubarry of Ireland

As most of you guys will know, I live in the country.  Not the 'suburb zone six' sort of country, the 'narrow winding road, signal-vacuum, wake up to find escapee sheep/labradors/ponies in your garden' sort of country.

(all taken from my instagram)

In my (somewhat biased) opinion, it's really one of the most beautiful places you could hope to live -  I'm backed up here by The Guardian's Tom Dyckhoff, although he does point out there's not much to do here (could be why we spend so much time in the pub!)

Anyway, getting to the point of my blog post, Tom is right -  if you're not used to outdoorsy activities, and walking five miles to the nearest pub/shop isn't your sort of thing, you certainly won't fit in. Tweed, Barbour coats and riding boots are a staple here, and I'd like to spend a little time appreciating my favourite boots for country pursuits. 

If you're a little country kid (or a keen boat lover) you'll probably have heard of Dubarry of Ireland - they started out making moccasins and boat shoes in the 1930's and eventually moved in-land, experimenting with creating a goretex lined leather boot that could withstand the most demanding of rural environments.  I'm pretty sure they succeeded - I've worn my Galway boots through thick and thin, and three years on they're still as comfortable and sturdy as the day I bought them. 

In addition to the original leather Galway, they sell tweed boots and an apres-ski version with a built-in furry boot sock (if you're looking to replicate this with your boots, you can choose from a selection of liners online).  The 'Clare' and 'Longford' are slightly more elegant alternatives, based on the classic equestrian knee-boot, and they're a little more expensive. 

They also sell deck shoes and loafers (men's link here) for when you're not roaming the fields;  priced between £89-95, these are a little more wallet-friendly and will still last you for years.  My personal favourites are the 'Fiji' deck shoe (in brown, denim, oyster or red if you fancy buying me an early Christmas gift), but I think the classic Menorca would make a great gift for mum!  I also think the 'Commander' deck shoe would be a pretty swanky addition to the man in your life's wardrobe.

You can follow Dubarry on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, but you probably want to check their Facebook page out for few reasons: the first being that they keep posting pictures of cuties like this!

The second being that they've got a competition on at the moment where you can actually win yourself a pair of Galway boots (and some extra country goodies) by clicking here.  I'd argue to the moon and back that these boots are worth the expense (and nobody hates the word 'investment purchase' more than me), but it's is always better if it's free. 

Besides, this little guy wants you to enter.. are you really going to say no to him?

The Wardrobe Update: The LWD

I know I probably shouldn't post topics consecutively, but I thought I'd tackle one of this summer's biggest hits before the good weather runs out.  Readers, meet the Little White Dress.

We've all seen the Little Black Dress in action: immortalised by Audrey Hepburn (as Holly Golightly), the LBD has become a wardrobe staple and effortless show-stopper when it comes to making an entrance, and no fashionista's wardrobe is complete without one.   However, SS13 shows heralded a successor to this now-familiar icon, and I've picked out eight from across the high street for your convenience.. 

L-R

1. Topshop Embroidered Prom Dress (£50) -  I know I struggle for breath between criticisms when it comes to Topshop, but I can't help loving this LWD.  Seen on countless bloggers, friends and party-goers this summer so far, this dress is a super-flattering option for day to dark activities.  The V back adds a little extra elegance to this otherwise fun number. 

2. Manilla by Izanagi (£95) -  The details of this lace panel LBD earned it a place within this edit; a fashion-focused take on the fitted jersey dress, this is the perfect choice for after-work drinks in the city.  The monochromatic contrast allows you to experiment with coloured jewellery and accessories, while being simple enough to stand out without. Izanagi makes it's elegant dresses to order, but you can order online, via twitter, or watch the main man himself for daily deals.

3. Karen Millen's White Lace Stripe Dress (£175 here; on sale at £125 here) -   You don't need to be a genius to figure out why I've added this dress to the list.  Remember this?  We all know Queen B always made effort when it came to showing up boys, and I can't think of a better first-date dress than this Karen Millen number.  (NB: the original dress Blair wore to the White Party was Marc by Marc Jacobs)

4. Jersey & Chiffon Dress, H&M (£7.99 !!) -  I thought I'd give your bank balance a breather by popping this wallet-friendly number in the middle.  If you're heading to a festival, field party, to the beach or just lounging around the house waiting for the cute window-cleaner to come, this dress is an effortless casual staple.  Add a flower crown, plaited belt and wellies for festival chic or studded ankle boots for the city; with this one you can afford to experiment with all the accessories you like. 

5. Whistles 'Adrianne' Dress (£95) -  Okay so I'm not colourblind, I know this isn't white, but can you really blame me for adding it to the list?  This powder-pink neutral flatters both a tan complexion and the deathly almost-blue pallor sported by unfortunate Brits such as myself.  It's comfortably tailored and can be paired with wedges for lunch,  embroidered sandals for shopping and brogues for attitude.  Also, it has pockets.  

6. Silk & Tulle Gown by Willow @ Net A Porter (£705 from £1,175) -  If you've got a wedding, yacht party or similar fancy event to dress up for then this is the perfect formal LWD.  Not only does it cover the white, cut-out and midi trends in one beautifully made piece, Miranda Kerr was also pictured wearing a shorter turquoise version in her latest ad for Kora Organics.  Do you need more persuading?  

 9. Ted Baker 'IMOGINE' Colour Block Dress (£129) -  You're mixing the best of both worlds with this Ted Baker dress; not only is it both white and black, the drop-waist and loose style puts this dress right back in the swinging sixties (I'm really, really sorry. I can't apologise enough for that. It just came out), a style championed by Moschino's Cheap & Chic line this season.  Pair with super-cute coloured flats or nude wedges in the day and a point-toe black patent stiletto in the evening for instant retro elegance.

8. Jack Wills 'Meerbroke' Dress (£74, from £89.50) - Did you really think I'd manage an entire post without including some Jack Wills? That was naive of you.  

This flirty number also comes in bright pink (another big hit this season) and navy (you all know that, in my humble opinion, one can never go wrong with navy).  My favourite features are the racer back, modest hemline (hello 'meet the parents' scenarios) and the scalloped skirt hem; plus the lining (hello practicality) means you'll never suffer any of the inevitable wardrobe mishaps that occur from pairing bright underwear with white sundresses.

I lied. There's one more dress.

I haven't really included a naughty night-out dress here, so I'm throwing this Nastygal number (£38) into the ring. 

If you don't recognise the model then I really don't know where you've been for the last three months; this video has topped 100 million views on Youtube and has provided one of 2013's biggest conundrums:

What actually does rhyme with hug me?

I'm sorry, I've made too many bad jokes this post.  I'll make up for it by sharing my favourite cookie recipe on Thursday. 


PS:  I know we're all about white today but I'd feel too guilty keeping this from you guys and, as I've mentioned above, it's totally on trend.  I've popped it into my 'most wanted' list, but that just wasn't enough.  Designed by Jess Honey for MIC-feature-turned-fashionista (and musician) Caggie Dunlop's ISWAI project, 'The Orchid' statement skirt is the dream holiday buy this summer.  Pair it with chunky nude gladiator sandals, gold & leather jewellery and a plain white tee for instant hippie-chic; alternatively, slip on a pair of bright turquoise, silver or fluorescent yellow heels for a pop of colour at night.

 Isn't it dreamy?

Wardrobe Update: Workwear Staples

This is a long one, I'm afraid, but I've been inundated with requests for a 'working wardrobe' blog for a while now so I figured that, as I'm currently working on mine, I'd share a few tips for yours!

For me, the most important thing about your W.W is that you should look like what you are, and I don't know many graduates who can afford to rock up every day in Louboutins and Prada.  That said, it's important to mix and match expensive pieces with good quality basics that allow you enough choice to dress your outfits up or down when necessary (and ensuring that, with a quick change of jacket or blouse, you can wear your favourite skirt twice without anybody noticing).  

To start, you'll need a working week's worth of trousers, skirts and dresses.  It might seem like a lot, but if you mix and match enough then it's pretty easy to stretch these staples out across a two-week period.  These are the things I would recommend investing in: think reputable brands such as Reiss, Paul Smith, T.M. Lewin etc. or M&S for cheap, simple pieces.

All Saints (£98), Reiss (£110), Paul Smith (£189 - reduced to £94)

You can afford to experiment a little with separates by choosing a printed skirt (or dress) and cigarette trousers, for example, but I'd avoid printed trousers or too-bright colours unless you're working in an environment that allows for a lot of personal expression.  I've chosen the 'Wither' skirt by All Saints, a pair of simple tailored trousers by Reiss and a Paul Smith pique skirt (currently in the sale ladies - snap it up while you can) that I ended up leaving with yesterday because I absolutely love the navy side panels.  I'm also a fan of M&S' fishtail skirt and, at £19.50, can you really afford to say no?

If you've got a 'signature' colour or style (lace overlay, peplum detail etc.) then a dress is the ideal way to show it off, but  when it comes to skirts and dresses I'd advise you to: stick to two inches above knee level and avoid things that come with a belt (as it's usually cheap and tacky), and avoid cleavage like the devil (unless you're pairing it with a modest jacket/knit).

Theory (£125), Stella McCartney (£590), Moschino (£430), FCUK (£110)

If you favour a classic look then this Theory LBD is ideal - not to mention the fact it's almost half price in the sale.  A two-tone dress like the Moschino Cheap & Chic number I've picked is a good way to pull off the 'contrast' trend; alternatively go all the way and pair a fitted, jewel coloured number like the Stella McCartney or French Connection dresses with a black jacket and shoes.  If you're more about the accessories then try a simple, good quality jersey dress with a smart jacket (like these: 1, 2, 3) and a few well-chosen accessories.  My go-to jersey dress ('Mila' by Whistles) is sold out, but you can find similar versions across the high street (Dorothy Perkins, Reiss, ASOS) for as little as £16.

Unfortunately I couldn't find one of my most-wanted separates - if anyone has spotted a particularly gorgeous lace-overlay skirt in block colour, navy or black then please let me know!

  The main workwear trends set to continue into AW13 are colour contrast and statement detail/print separates.  Jackets are a great way to pull off the print, as you can strut into the office looking fantastic whilst retaining the freedom to quickly remove your bold piece if needed.  Blouses and shirts are the best options for monochrome and colour contrasting;  blouses in jewel shades can be found across both designer and high street boutiques, and a crisp white shirt can be super-useful in balancing out a more exciting skirt or trouser choice.  If you're not that daring then choose pieces with quirky details such as a patterned cuff or collar, or pop a printed shirt under a plain jumper.

Zara (£39.99), Whistles (£95), Theory (£300)

I've chosen a cute transitional Zara number (currently £39 from £79), the classic Sylvia Blouse by Whistles, and this gorgeous cropped peplum detail tweed jacket by Theory at My Wardrobe.  Smart 60's jackets are a super-easy way to add feminine elegance to a simple work outfit.  If you've got a fair amount of budget to play with then hit By Malene Birger (I love the anchor-print suit), Equipment or My Wardrobe, but reasonable good-quality pieces can be found in the likes of Whistles and Zara.  This season my favourite shirts come from Zara's smarter, older sister Massimo Dutti - unfortunately there aren't many of these outside London, but you can buy online and visit stores across Europe. 

MD: Tie Print (£54), Oxford (£44) and Denim & Silk (£54) shirts.

I hope I've been helpful and just not talked (or typed) your ears off!   If you've found a workwear piece you love, why not share it below on the comments section?

Summer Thai Chicken

I don't really have a proper name for this recipe, but it's one of my favourites to whip up in summer because it's quick, easy and super-healthy - at less than 300kcal per serving this baby is high in protein and low in fat, carbs and anything else you don't want inside your summer body.  

For four people you'll need: 

• four chicken breasts (maybe more if someone's greedy!)
• 3tbsp thai red curry paste; again, mine's from Waitrose but if you have a world-food shop near you it's worth a visit!
• 3tbsp chopped coriander (fresh is best, but store-cupboard coriander will do!) 
• 12oz/350g natural low fat yoghurt (you'll only need a third of this for the chicken)
• a pinch (or two) of salt to taste

for the 'dip': 

• a cucumber - you'll need around half for your 'dip' but I like a little extra on the side.
• 8oz/185g/two thirds of your remaining natural low fat yoghurt
• 1tbsp coriander

and to serve:

• salad leaves (I picked these up in a packet from Waitrose straight out of my garden, naturally) 
• lime wedges.

 A little trick I use here to avoid throwing lemons & limes away/going 'out of stock', so to speak, is freezing them.  You can always get them out at a later date (just make sure you remember a few hours before you start preparing your meal, or pour boiling water on them if you just need the juice), you can pop them in your green tea to cool it down, and they make great alternatives to ice cubes in your cocktail/Pimms jug.



To make your marinade mix a third of your yoghurt with the curry paste and coriander, season with salt, and coat your chicken well.  Pop it into a shallow oven dish, with any extra marinade, cover and leave for a while (half an hour is good, but you can leave it all day if you want). 

When the time comes, preheat your oven to 180-200C (dependent on the aggressive heating power of your kitchen appliances) and while you're waiting for that prepare your dip:  chop your cucumber (chunks are fine) and add to the remaining yoghurt, add 1tbsp of coriander and a little salt/pepper if you fancy it, and leave it in the fridge.  Retrieve your chicken and cook for 30-40 minutes, or until golden brown.

While all that's going on in the kitchen, open your bags of salad skip to your vegetable garden and carefully pick some beautiful leaves to serve on the side.  Chop your cucumber into sticks, if you're that way inclined, and lay your salad on plates if you're eating casually - if you're cooking for guests find a nice patterned serving bowl for DIY salad distribution, find a plate for the limes and cucumber sticks, and individual dipping bowls (read: empty GU pots) add a little elegance to the yoghurt dressing.

You've got some time left here to pour yourself a large glass of white wine in celebration of the fact you haven't started a fire, burned yourself or offended any of your guests yet; alternatively setting the table and indulging in small talk are equally valid options.

When your chicken is nice and golden-y fish it out of the oven (Careful! You've come so far..) and serve on plates either with your dressing, salad and limes, or on it's own.  Wait for everyone to congratulate you, pour yourself another celebratory glass of wine, and dig in.

One of my favourite things about this meal is that the ingredients are easily doubled, making it perfect for sharing;  swap the grill for a barbeque (reduce the cooking time to 20-30 minutes) and invite your best friends around for an evening on the patio, just make sure somebody else brings dessert!

If your dietary requirements mean you cannot enjoy this fantastic recipe then enjoy this vegetarian and vegan friendly party joke instead.

The Graduate

It's a good job I graduated in English, not catching.  Amelia (right) did a much better job.

Weekend in London: Day #2

One small detail I left out about my date on Friday night was that, quite inconveniently, my pump fell to pieces outside the restaurant and I was left hobbling about all evening (super attractive, I know).  With that in mind, the first thing on my agenda for Saturday morning was to acquire a pair of new shoes without encountering large groups of tourists, over-spending, lugging my bags across London, missing check-out or being late to meet Laura for lunch.. so, after meeting D for a quick breakfast before his train home, I left my bags with concierge at the hotel and made my way to Bond Street.

Shameless selfie-ing in the hotel lifts..
(top: A&F, shorts: Jack Wills, bag: Whistles)

I've long been a fan of Dune for their simple styles, long-lifetimes and reasonable prices, but I have to admit I was a little disappointed at my previous pair - which lasted six months before breaking - so I ventured over to ALDO to check out a potential new shoe-haven.  Fortunately my hunt was successful; I fell in love at first sight with their 'Fawnia' platform sandals and, given I already had several bags to cart across London, my common sense kicked in and prevented me from going mad.

My new babies! & Mummy Jennings' new patio furniture..

It was a lovely day and (unless you're counting Selfridges, which I avoided like the devil) I was pretty far from the tourist buzz part of Oxford Street so I opted for a little window-shopping in Mayfair on the lazy walk back to my hotel.

The things I would do for one of those bags!

In the afternoon Laura and I went to see the Bling Ring with her housemates (and I absolutely loved it!) before heading back to hers for a few bottles of fizz and some pizza (turns out 'student staples' and 'graduate staples' aren't too different..) before festivities were set to begin.  We had invites for the Buttoned Down Disco at KOKO in Camden, a night apparently famous for oversized balloons and facepainting - sounds like the dream, right?!

Birthday Girls do not need glasses!

Buttoned Down Disco @ KOKO, Camden

In the morning Laura was feeling pretty sorry for herself (as you should, the morning after your birthday) so we decided to run down to Angel to The Breakfast Club for a bit of lazy, indulgent Sunday brunch.  There's usually a queue here so be prepared to wait around twenty minutes to be seated, but once you get inside you'll see why:

The cafe has a real cool, hip atmosphere about it - the walls are covered in photographs and there's always infectiously-cheery music playing which, when paired with the really great (and really naughty) food, forms the ultimate hangover cure.  I opted for American pancakes with bacon and maple syrup and Laura went for a 'Huevos Rancheros', which looked like any Mexican food-lover's dream.  We washed our drinks down with a couple of fresh juices and iced coffees before I made my way home.

All in all, I love London and I can't wait to move down for good! 

Weekend in London: Day #1

It was a friend from university's birthday this weekend, her 23rd (don't tell - she's still 21 as far as you're concerned), and she was having a bit of a party so I thought I'd escape to London for a weekend.  I love the countryside, make no mistake, but it gets a little boring when your closest friends live almost an hour away, and I was starting to miss the city (and the shopping) so I booked a hotel and hopped on a train down to King's Cross. 

I had just enough time to check into my room before running to Waterloo to meet another friend, who  had travelled up from "the country" (Devon, for those of you who don't speak Deep South) and was my date for the afternoon. There'll be more on him later, but I'd like to show you around one of my favourite London hotels first - St James Court.

photo: London St James

The hotel is situated on Buckingham Gate, a stone's throw from the palace, and has this lovely courtyard (on the right) with beautiful blue tiled walls, a fountain, and outside dining - making it wonderful for summer visits.  IHG are our go-to hotel company of choice (they run Intercontinental and Crowne Plaza among others) and this is my favourite hotel in London by far.  I love the traditional decor and the narrow Victorian hallways, and there are several fantastic restaurants and cocktail bars all within the hotel and it's residences.  I'm never usually there long enough to check out the Spa at 51, but I'm determined to make time for an Anne Sémonin facial and massage during my next stay.

I ran off to meet my friend - we're going to call him D - to find he'd had a nightmare on the train.  It was far too hot for a theraputic lunch, so we settled for champagne instead.  D claimed the bottle was a gift from his friend Mary, but unfortunately I don't watch the Great British Bake Off (check me out, name dropping television shows) so I'm ashamed to admit I had no idea who he was talking about.. 

We were sent flutes and an ice bucket, which was kind of the hotel as we hadn't purchased the bottle from them, and caught up (and compared transport woes) while deciding what to do with the rest of our day.  D wanted to pop to Regent Street to check out the Gatsby Collection by Brooks Brothers so we rang them up, asked if they could squeeze him in for a fitting, and headed for the Tube.  D prefers taxis, but I'm a Londoner now (or at least I will be soon) so the Underground is my new best friend. 

Brooks Brothers did all the men's clothing for Gatsby, so you can buy almost every single item seen/worn in the film in from their collection: unfortunately it's almost all sold out, and can only be purchased from their Regent St. store or on the American website.  It wasn't all bad news - they had a sale on, and Amer (D's fitting man) was a fantastic laugh.

I couldn't get enough of these hats..

It was only after buying his prohibition stash that D realised he didn't actually know how to fix the bow-tie I'd convinced him to purchase, so Amer sat down and gave us a final lesson on his knee.. 

Among the purchases were a new pair of Church's loafers which, irresponsibly, someone had opted to wear without socks.. which worked for me because it prevented any further Bond Street shopping at all (although, retrospectively, I should have nipped into a shoe shop - I'll catch you up tomorrow) and I skipped back to my hotel in the sunshine to get ready for dinner. 

Here's a very quick instagram of my outfit: the Nadine Dress from Malene Birger's 2ND DAY collection.  It's from SS12, so you can't buy it in the shop now, however you can find it online in quite a few places.  I don't have a photograph of D, but he wore his Church's loafers with Levi's, a Jack Wills shirt and Hermès belt.

I shan't go into details regarding evening activities (and I didn't want to be rude taking photos all evening!) but we opted for dinner at the Bank restaurant within my hotel as we'd forgotten to make reservations elsewhere. I ordered a martini and the staff were kind enough to make D his favourite off-the-menu cocktail; an Old Fashioned, since you're asking. Prices were reasonable - it was fairly easy to stay under £100 - and both food and cocktails were excellent. 

Reservations here, or contact Bank Westminster directly by phone on 0207 630 6644, but if you're staying at the hotel it's relatively easy to walk straight in.  There's another restaurant in Birmingham if that's a little closer to you.

photo: Individual Restaurants, Bank Westminster

As for D, I don't know if I'll be seeing him again, but I did have a lovely evening. In the morning I headed over to Laura's flat in Islington (after a short detour via Mayfair & Hyde Park), and I'll be blogging the rest of my weekend on Thursday.

I'm going to have to apologise again about the photo quality, I'm far too forgetful when it comes to putting my camera in my handbag.

Vintage to Versace

So, as most of you may know, I spent most of my holiday-time working with the Art Deco photographer John Knight boutique on the top floor of a local Antiques centre. I've never really written about this place before, because it's my own secret Aladdin's cave of gowns, Dior and Chanel, but I've decided to stop being selfish and share a little with my readers.. 

John has photographed all over the world and is famous for his recreations of famous Pre-Raphaelite paintings but, to quote Bratz dolls, he has a real passion for fashion and so he opened Vintage to Versace in 2011 to get rid of some of his crazy collection! To give you an idea of what I mean by "crazy", here's a picture of the shop floor on arrivals day.. I'm going to apologise now for the quality of the pictures as I had to iPhone it!

See why I call it the cave?

 The reason I love this shop so much is that there's such a huge range of beautiful things - he's got pieces from 1960's RSC productions, Edwardian wedding dresses, 1950's Dior and original Louis Vuitton luggage right through to this year's Vivienne Westwood plastic cupcake-scented pumps.  I'll walk you through a few of my favourites from this week's arrivals..

See the blue coat? That's super special as it's from Christian Dior's original 'Miss Dior' collection. Usually it sits in it's own bag away from our other items, as it's so rare, but I asked very nicely and John said I could show you all.  The rest is Jimmy Choo, Moschino and Yves Saint Laurent's famous 'Tribtoo' pumps (unfortunately BOTH pars of shoes are a size 8 and I can't get them to stay on!), and there's always PLENTY of Chanel to keep me occupied:

Some of the stuff is downright weird designed for real collectors, however, like this collaboration between Jimmy Choo and Anya Hindmarch.

Who loves chewing gum?Anya Hindmarch and Tamara Mellon, apparently..

Of course my very favourite thing about helping out at Vintage to Versace happens when all the customers leave for the day.. if I've been very, very good I get to do this! 

Vintage to Versace has a Facebook page and a Twitter account where promotions, offers and fan discounts are announced.  If you can't make it into the shop and you've seen something on the page that you like, just leave a message and we'll get our best owls on the job immediately. 

The Summer of Love

As you'll remember I gave up blogging in March to concentrate on the final term of my degree.  It's all over now (I passed, don't worry - I know you were concerned), I've stopped partying and returned home to Nottinghamshire for a final stint in the countryside before moving to London in September. 

If you haven't been stalking my social media channels, let me update you on what's been going on since I handed everything in...:

There was a lot of this...

Fueled by a fair amount of this!

One of my best friends came to visit

I may have treated myself..

...more than once!

and finally, to top it all off, the girls of 42 Siward Street went to the ball!

Now I've got Instagram I'm totally addicted (and a total pain to all of my friends)

I'll be spending a few weeks in London, Paris, Milan (the last two are, unfortunately, wishful thinking) across the two months I have off before I start my new job - and I intend to keep you updated on every minute of my down-time travels (and my exciting new life).  Until Friday, however, I'll be drinking Pimms and playing ball:

Toodle pip! xo