The Hot List

This week on my mind:

Sleep

Sleep is possibly the most under-rated beauty fix there is. Sleep helps prevent and lessen wrinkles, repair body tissues via the secretion of growth hormone during deep sleep and negates the effects of the stress hormone cortisol, aiding weight loss. I'll be booking my stay at the Iru Fushi Resort Sleep Spa in the Maldives...

Paul Chocolate Eclairs

Filled with chocolate-creme...

Pierre Herme Macarons

PH has finally opened a shop in London, Belgravia, this Autumn, which I MUST visit in the very near future. The macarons come in many rich and sumptuous flavours, and are considered to be the best in Paris, and now, London!

Chocolate in general...

As soon as the temperature drops and the daylight shortens, I have the urge to eat chocolate. But not just any chocolate. Dark chocolate, over 70%, and the richest milk chocolate (Hotel Chocolat 40% is particularly good, and, of course, Valrhona).


Leopard Print

It seems like the whole world is wearing leopard print - leopard scarves, leopard skirts, leopard coats. I thought I would be a bit different in this post, and share some of the leopard pieces from the spring/summer Blumarine catwalk:

It seems that leopard print is here to stay...

S/S11 Trend Report: Blue

The spring/summer catwalks were awash with a palette of colour in London and Paris fashion week, but blue stood out in abundance: from palest icy and powder blues at Roberto Cavalli and Chanel, to turquoise azure at Versace and Roland Moret and ocean and french porcelain at Pucci, designers have created a sartorial pool that I yearn to jump into!

Versace:

Roberto Cavalli:

Burberry:

Chanel St Tropez:

Roland Moret:

Emilio Pucci:

Chanel:

Happy

It's been a while since my last post, which itself was, ahem, brief, but it's something I feel strongly about, and is a huge part of my fashion ethos. Currently I am in the middle of ACA financial exams - something that is not pleasant. Only a week and a half to go now. Then I will have my life back.

Sometimes I think I must be mad. It's only just started to become colder, and the days become longer, and I'm now thinking ahead to Spring/Summer 2011. That's always been me though, willing time on, rushing on to the next thing, and well maybe that's the whole of the fashion pack.

Before I start detailing trends for next season, which I will be doing in future posts, I will share with you a few things that have caught my eye, not least the avant-garde Prada show:

See the monkeys on the top?

I love the turquoise offset by the beige in Burberry's show:

This lilac Tommy shirt-dress I particularly like:

I NEED this shade of lipstick from Jill Sander's show:

The pulled back, sleek bun I also love!

This Jill Sander dress also:

And her orange sixtie's style shift:

A few themes are already emerging, no? Off-brights and pastels, beige, belts, tropical.

The word that comes to mind now?

Happy.

Opinionation

Clothes are not just clothes. When they conjure up memories of places and people, they become much more powerful and are suddenly important.

To Buy or Not to Buy?

Investments. One can justify anything as an investment when you fall in love with it. Like these Miu Miu lilac shoes:

The ubiquitous camel coat however, I could justify, even from Gucci. When something is this classic and enduring, the expense is worth it.

The same goes for the always stylish and age-defying Chanel suit, for which I have already started saving!

I wonder though if the same can be said for the Burberry aviator jacket, heralded by many as this season's 'must-buy'.

As much as I love this jacket, I suspect that next Autumn's heroine will have become another model to adore and lust-after.

And then there are the things that are so unbelievably you, it is not fashion that is compelling you to buy them, but a sense that owning them only reinforces your own style. That is the case with this Miu Miu bag, which I WILL track down:

I'll be wearing this bag with a camel coat this Autumn and through Winter into Spring. Sometimes one person's disaster is another person's style.

Walking in Vogue

I've just returned from a trip to the Royal Deeside in Scotland, the first time back in four years. Lots of walking, bracing country air and a much-needed break from technology I love it when something becomes in vogue that I have always loved, and this is certainly true of next season's outdoorsy trend. Walking in Scotland is fulfilling, pacifying, and completely inspiring. I always seems to have my brightest thoughts and ideas when walking in the wild countryside, and nothing beats a four-hour hike around Loch Muick.

In total it's 7 miles around, but rather than tiring, I find this so energising.

I love the grey hues of this shot, and the waves of water against the shore where I was standing, which somehow emphasises the stilness of the scene.

Purple heather is everywhere on the mountains and valley.

The collections of many designers this year seem to reflect this shared interest in outdoor and country pursuits, most obvious in the heeled hiking and shearling boots on offer.

Burberry Prorsum shearling boots.

High-heel hikers by John Galliano.

Oversized tweed jacket, chunky polo-neck jumper, easy trousers and heeled hikers - perfect channeling of the Katherine Hepburn, outdoors look by Tommy Hilfiger. Bring on the crisp days, blackberry picking and apples, another season of fashion and a fresh start.

Blumarine S/S 2010

My first post - exciting! Here goes...

This time of year, I've usually long forgotten the Spring/Summer catwalk and collections, and have compiled at least two Autumn/Winter wish-lists (top of mine - shearling aviator jacket and hiking boots). I feel compelled however now to post about Blumarine, a new favourite designer of mine, and which has gotten me looking so much forward to my week in Mallorca, Port de Pollensa at the end of August.

Pink and orange, and the cut of this dress I love.

Same dress, in blue and yellow...

...and another in turquoise and pink. I love the matching bag and contrasting emerald shoes.

Another favourite colour combination, green and purple.

Finally an evening piece. I love the body-centric wrap of this dress, and the fabric around the wrist.



Summer isn't out of the picture just yet in my fashion eye!