Ring Ring

At the moment I'm coveting this ring by Daisy Knights:

I have a near mild obsession with seeking out whisper thin, subtle yet special, gold jewellery. This was sparked by a minuscule star strung bracelet I tracked down for my 20th birthday and have worn near-daily since. Then came Victorian charms from Annina Vogel on a gold necklace after seeing her inexhaustible collection featured in Vogue's secret address book. And a pair of Alex Monroe clover earrings last winter brings us up to date. It is a small collection I'll give you that, but these are treasured items, and the only jewellery I wear, save for a few bejewelled bib necklaces when a grey jumper or stripes are in need of bling.

I've often worried skulls look a little bit morbid when they're used to adorn everything from a somewhat ubiquitous scarf, clutch clasp, and particularly when brazenly emblazoned and studded and blown up to three times the normal size on a Thomas Wylde bag... I'm just not at ease with it. But, when made out of soft, nubby looking gold - in a tiny earring or necklace - I find myself warming to the idea. These little gold skulls would peep out when hair is carelessly tucked behind an ear, or wink up at me from upon my finger as I leaf through a mountain of papers at work. These pieces are little treasures - and ones I hope to add to my collection soon.

Image: Net-A-Porter.com, Daisy Knights Ring - 75

En Français

Just back from a few days in France - it was lovely, very windy, a little bit grey for most of the time, but incredibly sunny on the last day so all was not lost.

Here are a few pictures of my holiday wardrobe & essentials. Turns out I didn't pack enough!! More stripes were needed and, due to the wind, black skinny jeans & little jackets. Hopefully I'll have it all finely tuned for my next holiday!

Must have - Kiehl's, Essie, Clinique, ByRedo & Tom Ford Carys (featuring some errant curls!):

Ciao Bella!

On a lunch time stroll around H&M I happened upon this little beauty... What's this I thought? Missoni for H&M? Negative. A bemused shopper put their Missoni cover up back on an H&M hanger? No such luck. Turns out it is part of the Fashion Against Aids at H&M - which landed in selected stores recently.

I'm quietly smug about my new purchase - my smugness crept into my photo booth images I must admit! For 7.99 I consider it quite the steal :)

I always end up stroking the Missoni playsuits in Terminal 5 - thinking, knowing, they'd top my holiday look off if only I could scrape together enough coppers. The dream of the Missoni playsuit is still alive, but until my ship comes in I shall very much enjoy this worthy homage to the masters of the colourful knit. I'm faking it 'til I make it.

Dreaming of Packing My Bags

Despite the moaning I went in for in my last post, previously unforeseen circumstances have led to a total 180 turn in my seasonal feelings. Work has given me time off at the end of May and I'm off to France avec the boyfriend's family who have a lovely house there. Within a few hours of hearing the news tickets and a swimming costume were bought!I went into Topshop after work on the hunt for an actual swim suit instead of the usual bikini. Since going to University and moving to London my exercise regime has suffered. Well, not only

suffered but positively shriveled and died from being left out in the cold for so long. Hence I am not about to show off my newly acquired tummy off to the French in a bikini. It is nothing a bit of exercise won't rid of, and I'm probably being a little OTT about it all, but for now I plan to be all about the swim suit. And so I picked up this beautiful little number in Topshop on Friday evening and I love it - it's so flattering and pretty thanks to some clever ruching and delicate florals. I fancy it'll look mighty decorative on a sun lounger with some 50s-esque shades on courtesy of Tom Ford.

So with this in mind I have picked out my other must have summer pieces. My approach to Summer dressing is so different to the way I operate in the Winter. I plan out each piece carefully, attempting to assemble what can only be described as a capsule wardrobe. I think this is because I find Summer dressing so much harder - I need limited, fail safe options, otherwise I know I'll make outrageous mistakes - mistakes that will haunt me as they stare out from multiple holiday photos. My inspiration this summer is without a doubt, the beautiful Kate Bosworth, and every aspect of her flawless wardrobe. Hence my need for some Tom Ford Cary's and the Mulberry Mini Messenger to punctuate my Summer style. Add this to oodles of white cotton broderie anglaise blouses and oversized jersey and I'm (hopefully) away!

Now I just need to locate said cotton tops, black patent gladiators, nude ballet flats and statement scarf. Phew - quite the challenge.

(Images: Reiss Chinos & Denim Jacket - reiss.co.uk, Topshop Floral Swimsuit and Jumpsuit - topshop.com, Mulberry Denim Mini Messenger- mulberry.com, Tom Ford Cary's: geeksunglasses.com, Byredo Blanche - byredo.com)

Hanging On To Winter..

I have to be honest - I am a winter baby and thus, a winter dresser. I have ridiculously pale skin, it takes on a bluish hue at times, and there is no way I could maintain enough dedication to fake tan to make a healthier shade look convincing. I long to have a festival inspired look - all tousled hair and sun kissed skin all mixed in with an air of Bridget Bardot nonchalance... but sadly I'm far too straight laced.

Summer came and went recently in London, loitering for but a week or two. I found myself peering out at the sunny day- anxiously, hesitantly, leaving behind my coat, and stepping outside surrounded by an air of worry on my way to work. Was it really time to let go of my now trusty leoaprd print coat?? Was I being just a little bit mad?!

As it happens, no. It went bitterly cold again a few days later and my faux friend was back out for a trip to the Junction for brunch, teamed with my wool APC jumper, Topshop jeans and Converses. I could barely contain my excitement. I find the layers of winter just a lot easier - the coats, the jumpers the shearling lined shoes!! I'm already longing for next winter and all the Burberry-esque aviator jackets that are sure to catch my eye.

Bad news is the sun seems to be back. (I know it's good news really, it just means I have to get planning my summer wardrobe fast, ready for the big reveal!) The little Mulberry from my last post is still a big contender, mixed with lovely crisp white cotton blouses (Zara?), Reiss's lovely new sunglasses, denim shorts, Topshop kimono jackets and breton stripes. Quite possibly even a statement scarf to replace the statement coat too? Hmm... Erdem florals would do quite nicely.

Kate Bosworth At Coachella

Having spied some brilliant Coachella pictures over on the Alice Through The Looking Glass Blog (see Alice's post here), I have in a matter of nano-seconds become obsessed with Kate Bosworth's easy summer style. That lace top, those denim shorts, those boots!! Between you and I, I strongly suspect I am already the owner of those little ankle boots - I fancy they are a Maje pair, which have been my trusty companions for Autumn and Winter. I'm overjoyed to see they work beautifully with summer clothes too and

I'm looking forward to trying them out with shorts when the weather permits me to do so. (Some Londonders seem to believe this time has already come - I'm not so sure?! Perhaps I'm just not brave enough!)

The pictures have also set the wheels in motion for some pay day musings - I love Kate's Mulberry Denim Mini Messenger - the perfect little summer bag with it's scalloped edges and delicate proportions.

(images from Popsugar)

On another note...

Just tried on my new Zara shorts I purchased yesterday for a snip at 19.99! They called to me from the rail. I think they have rather a 3.1 Phillip Lim air to them, and that can only be a good thing don't you think? I'm off to take them on their first outing now for wedding wine tasting and no doubt some vegetarian fair to accompany it with the boyf and his brother and soon to be wife!

Shorts and belt - Zara, T-shirt- Topshop, Tights - Wolford