Make your own catwalk

I fell in love with the exquisite blumarine A/W 2008 collection as soon as I

saw it. Beautiful pastel colours, stunning 3D floral detail. It's feminine, romantic,

elegant..what's not to love? I designed my own version for a leavers ball,

adapting the shape to a bustier, to suit my figure a little better.

Luckily, I had the dress made for me but you would be able to buy any dress in a shape

and colour that suits you. The flowers are hand stitched. I purchased different colours and

styles from haberdasheries and the vintage rose selection sold in Laura Ashley. To add

even more attention to detail I then sewed pearls into the flowers. I'm not sure if I will

wear the dress again soon but I will definitely treasure it more as a piece of art.

Cheating on my skinny love ♥

For years all my jeans have been skinny, skinny, skinny. It was starting to become too much of an obsession. I thought they were perfect, they go with boots in winter, heels of an evening and even converse in the day, what more could you want? Also I am quite short and needed to enhance my limbs and I was sure the skinny jean drew attention to them. Even when I saw that flares were coming back, I thought "sorry, not for me", I still have a scar on my knee from when I tripped over my bell bottomed tammy girl ones at a young and tender age. The more I ignored the coming trend the further it exploded into the shops and not just flares.. bigger than flares ..wide leg trousers, palazzo pants. It was time to try them on and immediately I was converted.

I saw a photograph of Olivia Palermo wearing the Reiss Birkin jeans

and knew they were the ones for me. I am 5ft 4 and thought

that the extra material would drown me but I love the seam that runs up the

front as it actually creates a flattering and lengthening illusion.

I love blouses and styling my hair in a center parting so have to be really

careful not to look like I  have taken a time machine back to the Seventies.

Although I love my flares, I still cannot bear to part with my old skinny love.

Have you converted yet?

Daria Werbowy

..dressed down..

..undressed..

..dressed up..

...always perfect

It's what is on the inside that counts

La Perla, £156

Elle Macpherson, £42

Carine Gilson, £520 £364

KiKi de Montparnasse, £205

KiKi de Montparnasse, £105

Carine Gilson, £390

Carine Gilson, £320

All lingerie can be purchased on net-a-porter.com, I wish they were in my basket.

The suede mac

Burberry, £995

Michael Kors, £760

Reiss, £395 £237

La Redoute, faux suede mac, £89

I am currently pining for a piece of this luxury outerwear but how practical is a

suede coat when living in Britain? As long as you can guarantee weather that is

 cold but dry, it is the perfect statement, but as this combination cannot be relied

upon, which price tag should be the maximum splurge?


TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY?

The "Carrie" skirt

This skirt has been a huge statement piece this spring / summer. When studying

its beautiful pleats and scrumptious ice cream colour it comes as no surprise

  that this Whistles item has received so much attention. With such high demand

 and publicity there have been many articles on how to wear it (see Grazia's double

 page spread below), so in true bird and bee style I fancied doing my own.

I adore pleated skirts and love the midi length, but as I am only petite I chose to

team mine with the AllSaints celestine heel, £135 reduced to £54 in the sale,

click here to buy. They are a stunning 11cm thin heel, soft oyster suede and

 extremely comfortable. I also  opted for a suede bag, to keep my accessories

 soft and feminine. My bag is the Reiss  Duke bag, £179, the biscotti colour is

 from Autumn / Winter but it is still currently available  in different colours click to view.

 My tshirt is an extremely cheap and cheerful h&m number, I picked it because it looks

 identical to a whistles tee, they are located in the basic section in most stores.

This skirt has become more popular than the creme egg, especially with brands such

as River Island doing £34.99 replicas (click to buy) instead of the £95.00 Whistles price

tag, so how are you styling yours? I'd love to hear your thoughts or send me your photos.

Whistles

River Island

no.21

Designer Alessandro Dell'Acqua named his label after

his birth date and lucky number. His collection aims to

introduce elegance and femininity into everyday wardrobes.

 

These are my three favourite looks. I love the styling 
behind this entire shoot; the low knot pony tail, the clothes,
 the mirror reflections. I adore the gold glitter heels
in the first photograph, the striking green maxi dress in
 the second and how simple yet stunning the last look is.

click here to purchase

Festivalism

'Tis the season and in due spirit I embraced my first ever festival, hoping
 to take inspiration from the wonderful rich and famous. Here are some of my
favourite festival pieces as seen on Sienna Miller, Kate Moss and Alexa Chung

I ♥ metallics, crotchet, aztec patterns and trilbys

I ♥ Sienna's Vivienne Westwood boots

I ♥ Hunter wellington boots 

I ♥ Alexa's leather, denim shorts and breton tee  

I ♥ barbour jackets

Made in Chelsea

I am not ashamed to admit that I am currently mourning the loss of Only Way is Essex
from my screen. Made in Chelsea may not provide the same laughter and enjoyment but
when it comes to their outfits, I am always eagerly awaiting to see their next pick.

Caggie Dunlop was whisked away for her birthday to Cannes for her birthday
and went out for dinner in this exquisite dress by Australian designer Zimmerman.
"THE VANISHING DRESS"

Caggie opted for the orange colour that was also worn by 
Brittany Snow (above)i'm eagerly awaiting photographs of
Caggie's stunning outfit.

Another favourite brand of the show..

Kristian Aadnevik is London-based Norwegian fashion

 designer. He he always designs show stopping dresses

 that combine feminine styles with edgy details. Cheryl Cole

 is often seen wearing his collection, can you blame her!

This is the fringed number that Cheska wore

in Made in Chelsea, truly breathtaking.