Bridget Jones: the big inspiration for Damaris

It is a well known fact that women fear shape wear due to their unsightly design and the Boa constrictor properties they possess. Often left in the depths of the knicker draw, they are brought out strictly for those ‘dress to impress’ moments, leaving me to wonder:

‘Why on earth would you want to wear the most hideous of underwear when trying to look and feel your best!?’

Fans of Bridget Jones rejoice! It’s time to forget dear old Bridget and her penchant for rather unfortunate looking underwear now that big knickers have just got beautiful thanks to luxury lingerie label Damaris.

The new body sculpting range has all the power of Spanx combined with signature Damaris design elements- decadent fabrics, unusual colour combinations and crystallised lace– no nude cycling shorts in sight!

Whether you opt for the classic black design of the Tutti Fruitti collection or the so-on-trend-it-hurts Lemon Drop (a pastel-neon hybrid) the new range of big knickers, long-line bra’s and bodies are guaranteed to leave clean lines under the clingiest of body cons.

www.damaris.co.uk

Me, Myself and YSL: Arty Love Ring

To set the record straight, I am not one of those girls. Not one to sit at home solo, binging on Carbs and Chocolate come February 14^th  whilst waiting for Prince Charming. No, this Valentine’s day I hit the shops and treated myself to a little bit of love in the form of YSL’s Arty ring and oh, how I love it!

I plumped for the limited edition rosy pink ring with ‘Love’, the tiny word with a very big meaning inscribed on the band which I think, makes it all the more special.

Now having fallen for the charms of this iconic and original 70’s design my plan is to collect them and wear them stacked but for now, I've taken to wearing a bold blue ring I bought in Italy alongside the Arty for a decadent statement.

Neon Newsflash

Call me crazy, but after being less than enthusiastic about acid yellow brights I went and my nails done. Thats right, you’ve guessed it neon was the order of the day- even going to great lengths to suss out if the salon owned such colours or was resigned to the chic but rather limited ballet slippers to burgundy colour palette.

A fairly tame bout of Monday madness it has to be said, but none the less, my newly lime lacquered nails caused quite a stir. The bold, bright and, I think, downright beautiful colour perked up my all black ensemble and with it, my mood.

I'll have a triple shot, no foam, sugar free, Soya Latte: A Dairy-free Fashionista

This post is for my darling friend Zara, she of ‘caramel- raisin’ complexion, completely addicted to fashion and like me, dairy intolerant.

After being mocked in a certain London bar beginning with ‘M’ for editing out the Creme-de-frais in a cocktail, avoiding any edibles described as such, seems the sensible thing to do. Luckily for us, Cafe coloured clothing and delectable beauty treats are easily found. For me, the cream of the crop includes:

(Left-Right) Burberry Trench, Yves Saint Laurent leopard scarf, Miu Miu skirt, Stella McCartney Sandals, Miu Miu dress, Marc Jacobs clutch, Miu Miu platform sandals and PS1 Tote by Proenza Schouler)

Neutrals are usually reserved for the summer months yet the rich and creamy tones of cafe au lait, cappuccino and crème caramel are ideal for updating a winter wardrobe, work well with Spring/Summer’s neon trend and are perfect for adding a freshness to February, see the flash of yellow on the iconic Burberry trench. 

And as far as beauty is concered, Laura Merciers Creme Brulee hand crème is a complete commodity. It smells divine and soothes skin against the harsh winter cold. I would choose this sweet treat over the real thing any day! 

Vaseline has also found its way into my handbag... never a fan, I always favoured pricier products, until now. Since launching a limited edition version, i've favoured the little round tin.

Read all about it: Beautiful Books

Books, I love ‘em.

One of my lifetime dreams and property buying requirements is to have space for a wall completely dedicated to beautifully bound books. I’m not talking about trashy novels, entirely the opposite. No, gorgeous coffee table books will grace the floor to ceiling shelves, perhaps with a few Penguin classics and my well thumbed copy of Breakfast at Tiffanys nestled in between the glorified picture books showing everything from food to fashion.

Currently my collection is small; an edited version of fashion, photography and illustration including books I’ve collected from charity shops, exhibitions and those I have been lucky enough to receive as gifts.

The newest edition is Pictures by Tim Walker, a supersized A-Z of all his works complete with scribbles and scrawls describing the thought process behind each shot. It is truly beautiful and a decadent read, the embodiment of escapism and ultimate inspiration.

Neon Newness: Spring/Summer 2012

For me, there is something completely captivating and lust-worthy about neon colours. When school time revision called, my note taking and mind-maps would be rainbow bright and more often than not, considerable effort would be made in making it look ‘pretty’ and less in the actual remembering of formulas and theories.  

It’s tricky to get top marks when wearing neon- it’s a lot less easy and as I result I have developed a penchant for charcoal and noir ensembles, yet I constantly romance the idea of brighter equals better. My friend for instance, with her gorgeous (self described) ‘sultana-caramel’ skin tone, pulls off acid yellow with aplomb and makes it look as easy to wear as a trusty grey jumper... and on me? Well, a radio-active member of The Simpson’s family springs to mind.

Luckily, with the Resort  and Spring/Summer collections arriving thick and fast, acid yellow is far from the only option with designers including Christopher Kane, Pucci and Michael Kors offering a punchy palette of pink, orange and lime. Whilst these colours undoubtedly require sunshine and sky high temperatures, the likes of Jimmy Choo, Tom Binns and Stella McCartney are at hand, easing into the trend with attention grabbing accessories.

At least until the dull and dismal British weather brightens up and it seems acceptable and not the least bit silly to dress as summer personified, I’ll be channelling the trend with neon nails, courtesy of Jack Wills (surprisingly good polishes) and lusting after these fluorescent fancies:  

(left to right)

Deborah Marquit acid yellow Bra, Michael Kors fuchsia poncho effect Cashmere Sweater, Stella McCartney Blood-orange Falabella Cross-body Bag, Jimmy Choo neon pink acrylic Candy Clutch, Tom Binns Fauve hand painted Swarovski crystal Necklace, Emilio Pucci neon yellow and nude printed PVC Tote, Christopher Kane tangerine lace sleeve Dress and Deborah Marquit Lime lace Knickers.

All items available at www.netaporter.com

Completely smitten with my Brora Mittens

No matter how many times the likes of Louis Vuitton, Mary Katrantzou and Richard Chai try to convince us mere mortals that Blue lipstick is the way forward, it just doesn’t do it for me. In my mind, blue lips equal cold and cold is just not a good look!

This brings me on nicely to my most recent purchase: Mittens

Escaping the cold on a chilly January day found me knee deep in Cashmere at Brora, the home of luxury Scottish Knits. Carried away by the range of cosy bed socks, classic jumpers and snugly stoles, I eventually settled for a pair of gorgeous little burgundy fingerless mittens, perfect for fighting the winter weather. A moss green and indigo take on the classic hounds-tooth design caught my attention- a fun, retro twist that is far from cutesy- a big issue with many Mittens out there!

A happy coincidence that they match my manicure (Nails Inc. Victoria) and pair perfectly with my Parka, it is undeniable that I am completely smitten with my mittens.