NEW IN: PETER PILOTTO FOR TARGET DRESS

So, joyfully, this happened today. My beautiful new Peter Pilotto for Target dress arrived from NET-A-PORTER. I wasted no time in trying it on and prancing around. I'm really pleased with the quality, it is fully lined and there is great movement in the skirt. I'm happily adding it to my other pieces that I'm storing up for the summer - I'm amassing quite the collection!

(Incidentally - yes that is a chicken doorstop in the background. We call him Colin and I think you'll agree he's rather photogenic.) 

If anyone else managed to secure their own little piece of Pilotto I'd love to see it in action! 

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PETER PILOTTO FOR TARGET

Peter Pilotto for Target hit NET-A-PORTER.com this morning, and I pounced. I was a little late to bag another dress I had my eye on - the printed crepe dress - but was delirious to secure this pretty flippy dress. I'm hoping it suits me because it would be the perfect special addition to my summer wardrobe. It's winging its way to me as we speak, but in the meantime, get yourself over to the collection now and add some affordable Peter Pilotto to your wardrobe! 

Printed Crepe Dress, Peter Pilotto for Target at NET-A-PORTER.com, £40. 

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LIFESTYLE: BREAKFASTS

One of my new year "resolutions" was to make more interesting, varied breakfasts. One of my birthday presents was a new blender and I have been blending up a storm. The pictures above involved spinach or kale, green apple, banana, lime, ginger and yoghurt. My current favourite combination generally features fresh berries, banana, seeds, yoghurt, ginger, agave nectar and a dash of lime. 

I also recently made Tom Kerridge's granola (with dried apricots, apple and raisins, toasted flaked almonds and sunflower seeds) and have been enjoying that as a nutritious "treat" type of breakfast with natural yoghurt. Blueberry pancakes of course remain one of the most perfect ways to break my sunday fast.

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TOPSHOP WHITE BLAZER

I'm really hankering after a white blazer at the moment. I tried this one on in Topshop, which is in stores at the moment. It reminded me of a similar Topshop one I'd seen not long ago with notch cut outs at the neck. I've taken the hunt to eBay to see if I can track that one down, and if not, this jacket will be in my basket very soon!

I'd want to wear it very simply - with a marl grey t-shirt and blue jeans. Pretty much as above!

I'm wearing: Topshop White Crop Pocket Jacket, American Apparel t-shirt, Topshop Jamie Jeans.

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BEAUTY: NEW DAILY FAVOURITES

I've added a few products to my daily routine of late, and they're worthy of a mention. 

You may or may not have picked up on the fact that I'm something of a die hard Real Housewives fan, and if there is something the Wives do well, it is an out of this world reunion show glow. In my endless quest for the perfect glow, I came across Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfector in pearl. I first saw this on Lisa Eldridge's website, and given that everything she says is gospel, I purchased it without further ado. I also got myself a No 7 foundation brush for application (also on Ms Eldridge's advice). At the moment, I mix Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser with the Becca Skin Perfector on the back of my hand and apply it with my new brush. And it's lovely. It imparts such a perfect glow - exactly what I was after. It isn't OTT, just pretty and healthy looking skin that lasts all day. Plus, SPF 25! How could it be better?? 

I've also gone through a bit of a patchy eyebrow situation of late. I noticed recently that when I'm concentrating very intensely - staring at a screen or reading a book - I stroke my left eyebrow. Yes it's very odd, and it led to a patchy brow. Not good. So, I have now tried to stop myself being such an odd bod, and whilst the brow grows back, I've investigated eyebrow pencils. Again, I stumbled across Kevin Aucoin's Precision Brow Pencil on Lisa's site - you're sensing a theme. It's a brilliant pencil for people who have never attempted to use a pencil on their brows before. I'm notoriously dreadful at such things. I'm very lucky with my eyebrows, I don't pluck them, thread them or do anything to them and they tend to look like I do maintain them. The Kevin Aucoin pencil is perfect because it adds just the right depth of colour and the handy brush on the end of the pencil ensures the product is blended and eyebrows are groomed. I wouldn't be without it now. 

Finally, make up can only go so far if your skin isn't up to par. I received a pot of Eve Lom Cleanser for Christmas and have been really enjoying using it every evening with a muslin cloth. Not only is it a gentle, effective exfoliator (it's no exaggeration to say my skin has never felt so soft and smooth post-cleansing and during the day) and also, it is a lovely, calming pre-bed step of an evening. I'd highly recommend it. 

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BICESTER VILLAGE WONDERFULNESS

On the way back from our amaaaazing weekend away in the Cotswolds, I was allowed a slight detour to Bicester Village. I say allowed, because I tried to wangle a visit on the way to the Cotswolds but was negotiated down to a visit on the way back (due in no small part I'm sure to the steely silence I inflicted on my boyfriend until he gave in). Truth be told, it was the right decision to go on a Monday rather than a Saturday - I'm sure it would have been heaving! 

I knew before I set to work that I was strictly after things I could squirrel away ready for spring/summer: ideally a clutch, swimwear/printed cover ups and a beautiful dress for holiday evenings. I failed on the swimwear and dress front, but did find a beautiful gold Anya Hindmarch woven clutch for £97 - perfect for summer evenings (and summer days too come to think of it!). Before making my purchase I visited the clutch a total of 3 times (I rarely make rash purchases these days) and nearly had a heart attack when the friendly sales person told me someone else had almost bought it (needless to say I snapped it up immediately).The reductions at Anya Hindmarch were the best I came across in the Village - bags which were originally over £1,000 were reduced to just over £200. Those perennially perfect glitter Valorie clutches were reduced to just £70.

After Anya Hindmarch, Sandro was my favourite store. This was so in spite of the heinous fact that the dressing rooms are mirror-less. Meaning you have to come out of your cubicle, not knowing what on earth you look like, and examine yourself alongside everyone else in a communal mirror. Very french apparently. Hideous. Nevertheless, I came away with the most BEAUTIFUL gold sequin jacket for £87. I've been on the lookout for the right embellished jacket for ages. They're the perfect thing to be worn with jeans or leather leggings when you're not sure how dressy an evening will be. Having a jacket like this in your wardrobe ensures you're never over or under dressed in such a situation. I'm going to keep it wrapped up until spring/summer, when it'll come out for evenings in Morocco and Canada. I can't wait! 

Last but not least - after trying on a few printed dresses in DVF (and not quite finding what I was after) I settled for a little piece of DVF print via a new iPhone cover, to replace my long-suffering one. A snip at £10. 

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NEW IN: ZARA SUNGLASSES

 As soon as I saw these sunglasses on the Zara website I knew I had to make them mine. So much so, I put myself on the waiting list so the minute they came into stock I could complete the purchase. I've started to get rather into sunglasses. I used to think I only needed one pair (granted we do only need one pair), but they are up there with my favourite accessories and so one day I just stopped in my tracks and thought "why on earth am I limiting myself to just one pair??" The rest is history, and I am working on amassing quite the collection. 
Next on my list? A pair with reflective blue lenses for spring/summer. 

I'm wearing: gold fleck sunglasses, £19.99 from Zara and Gap boyfriend cable sweater (in the sale now)

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