You're Nicked!

I made the mistake of looking at Nicholas Kirkwood shoes for the wedding. And I fell in love with this pair, which are the polar opposite of the neutral pair I had envisaged. But aren't they incredible? I would pair them with this great burgundy Chloe clutch.

Or, if I did want to go neutral (and had a spare £550) then this pair would be divine too. Sheesh, one of these days I'll miraculously come across enough money to buy such beautiful things. Right?!

(Images via Net a Porter)

Come a Cropper

One of my favourite looks of spring summer has to be the crop top and high waisted skirt. I am absolutely amazed that something has happened to make me want to get my stomach out. Seeing as I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to hide the damn thing away. But definitely good motivation to try and make my gut more revealable.

(Images via Koshka Blog)

Keen as Mustard

(Image via Reiss)

Not so long ago I hated to wear anything casual. I was 22 by the time I really met a pair of jeans I liked and since then (12 years) I have probably only owned about 4 pairs.

The idea of wearing a pair of tracky bums in the privacy of my own home, let alone in the outside world (shudder), made me wince.

But the combination of moving away from London and my encroaching middle age (hello 34th birthday three weeks away) I am not totally obsessed with looking done all the time. But I don't find casual dressing that easy. But one new discovery that fits this bill is the fitted sweatshirt. Not totally casual, and still with a certain something but easy to wear and not over dressed. I recently bought a really great pair of James Jeans and they look sweet with, what I like to call, an event sweatshirt.

So I am very excited to discover the Dijon sweatshirt from Reiss. I think this fits the bill perfectly.

Clear and Present Danger

(Image via Who, What, Wear)

I just bought a pair of perspex heeled shoes from Kurt Geiger (which sadly aren't on there website or I would happily show them off to you). They are strappy and warrior woman-like. It was love at first sight. But with such a fierce shoe what is the way to go? I suspect, like the lady above, it is a good idea to play down the va-va-voom. Oh gosh I really love them...

I Only Want You to Love Me

Oh my lord I love Miles Aldridge's photos.

(Images via Daily Telegraph/Miles Aldridge/Steven Kasher Gallery)

Walk the Line

If it was reasonable to buy a fabulous pair of sunglasses every year (this time last year I bought the Prada Baroques when I was in New York) then any of these by Karen Walker, stocked by my friends at Found Bath, would be top of the list. I particularly love the turquoise circular pair.

Grrr, must resist.

(Images via Found Bath)

Clutching at Straws

 Charlotte Olympia

I do love the perspex clutch trend started by Charlotte Olympia, but I can't be organised or neat enough for them. So for my wedding clutch I am thinking about something neutral and minimal. These are my fantasy picks.

Chloe

Balenciaga

Givenchy

Sophie Hulme

Nina Ricci

(Images via Matches)

All White Now

I love summer and white dresses. It just makes me wish I wasn't such a mucky pup because I would never be able to keep them immaculate and would inevitably spill my lunch down them on the first outing.

Hobbs

Band of Outsiders

 By Malene Birger

 Carven

Christopher Kane

Etoile Isabel Marant

La Petite S*****

Philosophy di Alberta Feretti

Stella McCartney

Valentino 

 Victoria Beckham

(Images via Hobbs, Net a Porter)

Ankle Biter

I love the look of summer dresses with ankle boots, but I feel that the tan coloured ankle boot is a bit tired and played out. Diane Kruger, one of my all time fashion crushes, shows that a darker boot can work too. Possibly because we are only at the very beginning of summer and it doesn't look too heavy yet.

(Images via Daily Telegraph, Russell & Bromley)

I am truly in love with these navy nubuck Chelsea boots from Russell & Bromley, and think they would look pretty great with dresses and trousers. But I don't have quite the same lithe pins as Ms Kruger, in fact my calf muscles are decidedly robust and muscular, so really it could just be a non-starter.

By the By

I have long been a lover of Danish brand By Malene Birger. I was lucky enough to snap up one of their dresses in a Net a Porter sale many moons ago.

So it gives me no end of joy (and no slight pangs) to see just how insanely great their current collection is.

I pretty much want the lot. Including the figure to rock this double be-striped pencil, crop top combo. Sigh!

(Images via Net a Porter)