My Monica Vinader Personalised Charm

At home, with my family, we don't really give each other presents at Christmas time, because we celebrate St Nicolas in the Netherlands instead, but I was still very spoiled and got a couple of lovely presents friends!

One of the presents I got was a gorgeous personalised silver charm by Monica Vinader. Shame on me but I'd never really heard of this brand before. Turns out that Monica, a Spanish born, UK jewellery designer is very popular amongst the celebs with an ever-growing stylish following including Cameron Diaz, Claudia Shiffer, Keira Knightly and Elle MacPherson.

"From a strong desire to wear jewellery in all the varied moments of life, Monica Vinader brings us pieces that balance elegance and luxury with practical and simple designs. Silver and 18 Carat Gold is hand set with semi precious stones, bespoke cut and faceted to showcase their personality. The jewellery reflects the designer's passion for the shapes and colours found in nature, her search for the timelessness of the simple form."

Monica Vinader is a regular these days in glossy magazines such as Vogue, Harpers, Elle and Grazia and now lucky little me owns a beautiful personalised charm by the brand!

My flatmate got me a small round pendant in sterling silver that she got engraved for me! You can wear the pendant on a necklace, bracelet or combine it with a Monica Vinader chain adding more pendants or stones as you please, this way designing your own necklace (link)

I love my 'Roxy Rocks' charm! I'm pairing it here with my Tiffany & Co bracelet!

Had you heard of Monica Vinader before? 

There are definitely a few items on her site that I'd love to make my own....

Tory Burch splurge purchase!

For a long long time now I have lusted after a pair of designer Tory Burch flats. I tried to be good and not give in but it didn't help that I kept seeing them pop up on my regular blog reads like here and here. So when I was in New York City I decided to treat myself and finally satisfy my cravings. In London a pair costs £170 and in the USA they were $195 which converts to about £120 so that's quite a saving...well that's how I justified this splurge purchase to myself ;)

 

Anyhoo here they are....aren't they just beautiful?!

I chose the Classic Reva Ballet flats in black. These iconic shoes are known for its timeless design and comfortable fit. I love the big gold logo which gives them a very chic feel that effortlessly compliments any outfit.

I got mine from Bloomingdales (link) but have since found out for you UK ladies that you can actually score yourself these lovely flats for about £125 from ShopBop online with free world wide delivery here!

 

This is me wearing my new flats out and about the other day....

The dress in this photo is one of my favourite wardrobe items at the moment. It's the Louche Rocia Digital Print Floral dress that I got from JOY a few months ago. I walked past the shop on my lunch break, spotted it on the mannequin and it was love at first sight! For only £55 (link) it had to be mine and I think it's is the perfect dress for a wedding, a garden party or even just for work to let the fun floral print brighten up my day!

 

I am definitely loving my new Tory Burch flats; classy and comfortable; now what more can a girl want....?

......maybe one in every colour? ;) xoxo

 

Spring/Summer Floral Print Trend +

Flowers are blooming all around us, including in our closets :) Roses, daffodils, daisies and orchids are a big fashion trend for Spring/Summer 2012. Floral prints have been all over the runways by designers from Prada to Dolce & Gabbana to Valentino. The floral trend is feminine and fresh, and a great look to ensure you stand out from the crowd this summer. 

You can mix up the colours to suit your mood, whether you feel like wearing bold colours such as red and blue, or more subtle colours, such as white and black. The floral trend is completely versatile, so you can adapt it to suit your personality; so don't think floral is only for girly girls or grandma's; it can also be an edgy bold look!

From the runways the floral trend has also hit the high street and I just couldn't resist picking up this floral print floaty top from ZARA a little while ago. I am not normally one for girly prints but I seem to received lots of lovely comments from people when I wear this top so I am glad I added this cute top to my summer wardrobe. Here a recent outfit of the day:

Silk sheer floral ruffle long sleeve top by ZARA

Light blue jeggings from H&M (as seen here)

I love the added shoulder ruffles on this top!

♥ My arm candy:
Watch by Michael Kors (find online at ASOS here)
Silver lucky clover bracelet (as seen here)
white crocodile bone ball bracelet (my parents bought it for me on their recent holiday to Cuba)
Gold cable bracelet with heart by Regina Pierallini (link)
Heart charm chain bracelet by Tiffany & Go
Turquoise and pink bracelets by H&M

Beige leather pump wedges by Invito (on sale now for €49.99 here)

I honestly can't enter a ZARA store at the moment without buying something!

These are some other florals items from ZARA that I have my little eye on....

♥ I absolutely ADORE the white floral blazer.......

What do you think of the floral trend; will you be adding some blossom to your wardrobe this summer?

Best & Worst: Met Gala 2012 =

The Costume Institute Gala held at the New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art is often referred to as the "fashion's Oscars"with famous faces from the big and small screens, the music industry, and the fashion world all stepping out in their finest. This year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art honours Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada in an exhibition which draws parallels between the two Italian designers. But on Monday night all eyes were on who rocked the best frocks at the launch party. Here are my personal best and worst picks of the event!

BEST

♥ Kate Bosworth in Prada. Kate’s two-tone flapper dress is just divine. 

Her effortless hair together with striking makeup make this my favourite the look of the night. 

♥ Gwyneth is showing off her amazing pins in this fun but classy short backless Prada dress.

♥ Emily Blunt looks stunning in this pink Calvin Klein dress. 

Its simplicity is very elegant plus I love the back, the colour and think it fits her like perfectly.

♥ Jessica Alba shines in this gold metallic Grecian gown by Michael Kors.

♥ Ashley Greene looks angelic in a Donna Karan Atelier white grecian dress.

♥ Emma Stone sparkled in a red satin dress with embroidered flowers made byAlber Elbaz for Lanvin.

She just looks super cute, glowing and love the fit and colour on her!

♥ Camilla Belle channels old school Hollywood glamour in Ralph Lauren. 

The dress also had a gorgeous low cut back and the dark lipstick really suits the overall look.

♥ Love January Jones in this sculptural lemon Versace gown with a vintage diamond-and turquoise necklace. 

Yellow is very in trend at the moment and January can definitely pull off this bright gown!

Backless dresses proved a popular look and these ladies definitely rocked it!

♥ Renee Zellweger goes all out in a black Pucci dress with a super-long train.

♥ Nina Dobrev in a black and silver Donna Karan Atelier

♥ Cameron Diaz sparkled in Stella McCartney

♥ Rihanna looked edgy and glamorous in crocodile dress from Tom Ford’s Autumn 2012 collection

♥ Karolina Kurkova in a sequin Rachel Zoe dress and turban.

Now onto the worst dressed of the night; to be honest there were quite a few so this is just a small selection....

WORST

♥ Coco Rocha in Givency. A bright pink pant suit…..with matching pink hair extensions and bright yellow top. What on earth was she thinking?

♥ Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte…..Booooorrrrrrrriiiinnnggggg and not red carpet appropriate!

♥Kristen Stewart, as the newest face of Balenciaga wears a dress by the fashion house by designer Nicolas Ghesquière. The dress isn't too bad but the combination with the shoes and the messy hair, fail!

♥ Eva Mendes in Prada. I love the colour but not a fan of the shape and design; its unflattering on her.

And no this is not me being jealous of her dating Ryan Gosling ;)

♥ Milla Yovovich's in Prada. Not loving the fringe and detailing on this dress.

♥ Sarah Jessica Parker in Valentino. Frumpy and check out the the matching shoes, urgh!

♥ Jessica Biel in Prada. She is such a beautiful woman and this dress is nice, but c’mon Jessica you are young and stunning! I just would have liked to seen a bit more ‘oomph’ in her look!

♥ Leighton Meester, in Marchesa. The shade, the shape, the hair, the makeup…all of it. Fail.

♥ Elizabeth Banks in Mary Katrantzou. Don’t think an explanation is required here?

♥ Alexa Chung in Marc Jacobs. 

Fashion forward and edgy but not quite the right look for an event such as the Met Ball. 

And as much as the Met Gala is a time to experiment with fashion; model Anja Rubik took experimenting to a whole new level on Monday night!

She showed up in a cream coloured satin dress by designer Anthony Vaccarello. The dress had a ridiculously hip-high split and cut-away chest holes. Maybe she was aiming for her hipbones to be an accessory. There had to be some magic tape holding that dress together to prevent a fashion mishap on the night. Some people seemed to love this look but for me it's just too much...or should I say too little? ;)

So what were your best and worst looks from the 2012 Met Ball in NYC? I'd love to hear! xoxo 

Trends: I heart coral! >

Another huge colour trend for Spring/Summer this year is coral. Designers and high street stores have all been adding lots of this shade to their collections for summer ranging from the subtlest pastel coral to a brighter neon hot pink/coral. Coral is a mix between pink and orange and also one of my all-time-favourite colours! 

I can’t think of a better way to bring some zing to your summer time wardrobe then by adding a few pieces drenched in this lovely shade. Seeing coral everywhere makes me so happy! Loving all of this....

The only problem with having my favourite colour splashed all over the shops means that everytime I see something in coral I just get a little crazy and have to buy it. Oh oh I think we have a problem! ;)

Here some coral pieces I picked up in the shops recently! 

Bright coral skinny jeans from River Island - only £20 (link)

One piece I really really wanted was a bright coral flowing maxi skirt but I looked everywhere and they were all sold out. Until I just randomly saw it in a 'last chance to buy' rack at River Island. It must have been my lucky day because it was the only one left, in my size and on sale for only £15; score!! 

I cant wait to wear this with a simple white singlet and some gold sandals ♥

A slightly more pinkish coral top with pleated shoulders from ZARA (link)

Online in the UK they seem to only have this in a light orange and white colour but in store they have it in more shades like this pretty coral one. I love the gold star button details at the back! I will wear this to work with suit or black trousers or on the weekend with dark skinny jeans for a nice day or nighttime outfit!

Maje & Sandro are two of my favourite French stores! Their clothing is a little pricey but their garments are always amazing quality and their collections just stunning. I got this dress in the Selfridges sale back in January and knew I just had to have it for summer. It looks a bit like a loose shift dress on the hanger but once on it's actually got a really nice tight fit and the low V neckline and high padded shoulders makes it short and sassy. I haven't had a chance to wear this yet but hopefully I will soon! Actually both Sandro and Maje have some gorgeous coral pieces in their current summer collection so I better avoid those shops for a little while.....

I think coral has a great blend of femininity and edginess that will works in any girl’s wardrobe! Don't be afraid to play with this trend in big doses...the more vibrant the hue, the better! As intimidating as bright corals may look, it's actually a very feminine and fresh look. For a bold look, go head-to-toe coral but if you're not ready to commit on this scale, just tone it down with neutral separates. Nude, caramel, khaki, gold and teal/turquoise go fabulously with coral; although black, white and silver are also a stylish alternative if you prefer a stronger contrast. You can also update neutral outfits you own with vivid coral accessories; a bold orange bag to brighten up your ensemble, or a coral belt or necklace to a little white dress for example makes for a chic and on trend accent!

I definitely ♥ coral. Will you be shining bright in coral this summer? xoxo

Fashion Week OOTD & Pizza East Portobello

As part of a recent impulse shopping spree (see here) I also got a lovely mint singlet. This is the item that actually drew me into the shops in the first place because I am just loving everything in this colour at the moment! Here a simple outfit of the day with my new singlet, which I wore for my day backstage at London Fashion Week, but more posts about that are to follow. 

Black skinny jeans from ZARA (link)

White basic (spaghetti strap) singlet H&M

Mint Long Vest/Singlet H&M (think it was about £6.99)

Black Jersey blazer from ZARA (link)

White Silk Skull Scarf by Alexander McQueen (as seen here)

Watch by Michael Kors (as seen here)

Necklace and bracelets by Tiffany & Co

Green mint stud earrings by H&M (as seen here)

After being in the city for Fashion week I headed back to Notting Hill where I met some friends for lunch at Pizza East on Portobello Road. This is the West London 'little sister' restaurant of the very popular original modern pizzeria in Shoreditch.  For you Londoners out there...I definitely recommend you pay this restaurant a visit! They do the most delicious pizza's and it's a great hip and buzzy place. 

Between the four of us we ordered three pizza's and they were are all UH-mazing! 

The pizza on the right is their 'Pork Belly' pizza.....which actually comes with CRACKLING!!!!

Wowzers, talk about a heart-attack meal but hey it was sooooo worth it......de-li-ci-ous :)

www.pizzaeastportobello.com 

Temperley for Twinings %

To celebrate the launch of their new and improved Earl Grey blend, iconic British tea brand Twinings has teamed up with another British icon, fashion designer Alice Temperley, to create an exclusive Temperley for Twinings print, which has been turned into a limited edition scarf!

Alice hand painted the beautiful design herself, representing the incredible journey of the original Earl Grey blend, created by Twinings in 1831, as it travelled across the oceans from China to the UK. 
This exclusive print will be featured across a range of products, starting with this gorgeous scarf! 
Below is a detail of Alice Temperley's mood board which inspired the Temperley for Twinings Print:

The scarf is simply stunning; it's huge (135cm x 135cm) it's made of 100% silk and I love the soft yet striking combinations of different blues in the print. I feel it's a very classic but modern scarf which goes with so many outfits. Plus it really seems to bring out the blue in my eyes :)

Here a recent outfit of the day with my Temperley for Twinings scarf:

Trousers: blue jeans by ZARA Basics 

Top: White Linen t-shirt by ZARA (available in different colours online)

Shoes: Metallic Ballerina's by ZARA (available online)

Watch: Michael Kors (available at ASOS)

Only 1000 of these scarves have been made so if you want to get your hands on one of these iconic scarves; you better be quick! The Temperley for Twinings scarf retails at £115 and can be purchased through the Twinings or Temperley website now! 

What do you think girls? Do you like it - I know I do! :) xoxo

My new watch!

So for almost a half a year now I have been lusting after a Michael Kors watch. My big dilemma however was, which one to get! Everyone seemed to be getting the gold big style watch and I seriously tried this on in the shops about twenty times but couldn't never quite make the step to buy one. I wanted a big chunky gold watch but then again, I don't wear a lot of gold. And it would be such a shame to buy a nice gold watch and then never really wearing it....

Hmmm so what's a girl to do?? Duh, get a silver one instead! So after months and months of checking out watches I finally decided on the Michael Kors 'White Mother of Pearl' Chronograph Watch MK5020.

Check out my new baby:

"Stainless steel bracelet and case. Stainless steel bezel with knurled texture. White mother-of-pearl dial featuring three subdials, date window and square crystal index markers"

I am seriously in love with my new watch. ♥ It's big and chunky but also a bit more girly because of the mother of pearl dial and crystal index markets! YAY am so happy with my final choice! :) What do you think? xoxo