Reese Witherspoon has been one of my favourite actresses since the universally-loved, Legally Blonde (and Sweet Home Alabama… and Walk the Line… I could go on). She’s definitely up there with Julia Roberts and Jen Aniston vying for the title of ‘America’s Sweetheart’. So it’s always a touching love story when they find the right guy (although why couldn’t it have been Jake Gyllenhaal, why??) and settle down in their country ranch with countless animals and mini-me children. Here are the pics that have been doing the rounds since her much-hyped wedding, but I am slightly confused as to why the pink-tinted Marchesa gown in People doesn’t quite match the Hello cover:

Anyway, turning to her fashion choices, I’ve always been a fan of her casual style even more than her red carpet gowns. Unlike other stars (*cough* Britney), she never ventures out unless she’s dressed to impress… whether it’s taking her children to school or attending a business meeting, she’s immaculately put together at all times. Although Reese does experiment with colour, she does tend to stick to basics when it comes to accessories… black bags and shoes are always a staple for this busy mum. All the easier for us to emulate! Here are some elegant every-day looks that Reese does so well:

{1. Thomas Pink red and white Portland top – £99 / 2. Warehouse slim leg black jeans – £35 / 3. John Lewis aviator sunglasses – £25 / 4. Oasis round dial bracelet watch – £40 / 5. Debenhams black ‘Caroline’ satchel – £28 / 6. New Look ballerina pump – £12.99}

{1. Dorothy Perkins blue pleat neck dress – £40 / 2. Max C elasticated waist belt – £4.95 / 3. Miss Selfridge plain black frame sunglasses – £10 / 4. Debenhams ‘Charm’ leather handbag – £36 / 5. Dune Tillie peep toe court shoes – £65}

{1. Warehouse long sleeved top – £10 / 2. Karen Millen grey wool city shorts – £70 / 3. Red Herring gold multi charm long necklace – £9.60 / 4. Very leather bow lock satchel – £135 / 5. Dune modern dressy shoe boot – £33}

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have some lovely things planned, especially since it’s supposed to reach the balmy heights of 19 degrees here in the UK. That’s got ‘walk along the Thames followed by lunch in a pub garden’ written all over it. I am very thankful for the fact that I will be at home this weekend and able to do something like that, instead of running around a hotel from 6am to midnight. Whoever said that working in events was glamourous has never done it… the state of my feet is testament to that. Sorry, overshare. Moving swiftly on, here are some bits and bobs that caught my eye this past week:

{D-Ring Wrap Wedge / Bow Blouse / Oversized Tillie}
I really need to stop looking at the Mulberry website. It’s really not helping anyone. I received the weekly newsletter this week informing me about all the beautiful new items in stock, and quite frankly it would have been rude not to take a look. The oversized Tillie is the prettiest thing since, well, the regular-sized Tillie… and I love the ruffles on the cornflower blue blouse. And the shoes? Don’t get me started. I can’t take it.

{Vanessa Bruno / Diane von Furstenberg / Alexander McQueen / Marc by Marc Jacobs}
Laptops aren’t the most attractive of creatures, unless you have a super-swanky notebook. Which I don’t. My laptop is prehistoric and I actually give it a little pat of thanks every time it starts up, out of sheer gratitude that it’s still alive. For Girls About Town who don’t particularly want to lug their equipment round in a masculine, bulky laptop case, then above are some alternatives, brought to you by designers who know a thing or two about style.

When people say the name Elizabeth Taylor, what do you think of? Perhaps her eight marriages, her vast jewellery collection, Cleopatra, Charlotte’s dog in SATC…? For me, her name conjures up images of the film National Velvet. For those who haven’t seen or heard of it, it’s the story of a horse-mad Velvet Brown (a 12-year-old Taylor), who wins a horse in a raffle and trains it to race in the Grand National. The horse wins the race, with Velvet as the jockey. Not the most realistic of stories, granted, but as a teenager besotted with ponies I lapped up every second. To this day it remains one of my favourite films, and in turn, I will always fondly remember Elizabeth Taylor as one of Hollywood’s true greats.

{1. Astley Clarke candy rings / 2. Accessorize vintage stacking rings / 3. Lucas Jack round stacking rings}
Usually I lean towards unfussy pieces of jewellery, but lately I’ve been lusting after a “stackable” ring… and these three in particular would make a stylish statement either with a simple outfit, or working the colour-blocking trend.

{images via prphotos & pinterest}
To round off the week we have Cameron Diaz in a very classic look, with amazing Lanvin shoes at the end of those perfect pins, promoting her new film, Bad Teacher (the one that she stars in with her ex, JT)… and a bedroom with a nautical feel that is right up my street. It’s a theme that runs through my flat, from the wooden boat on my mantlepiece, to the numerous pictures of beach scenes. Ahh, summer is so close now, and I love the randomness of hearing seagulls in Covent Garden, which transports me instantly to the coast.
I hope you have a beautiful weekend whatever you’re doing and wherever you may be…

The sun is out and it’s Friday! What’s better than that. Notice no question mark, because the answer is nothing. After a super-busy work week I can’t wait to start the wedding season (I’m at that age when every weekend involves a wedding, a hen do, a thirtieth birthday, an engagement party or something involving a new baby) with the nuptials of a very good friend, who I met at university but our friendship survived the transition to London, and ten years later it’s so exciting to see him tie the knot. A group of uni-turned-London-turned-lifelong-friends and I are travelling down from the Big Smoke to the south coast (very Four Weddings & A Funeral) to meet up in a country pub then on to the ceremony. I expect there’ll be lots of Champagne, lots of dancing to 500 Miles and Build Me Up Buttercup, and lots of laughter. Not to mention scouting out all those little details that will inspire content for {weddings you fancy}. Can’t wait. In the meantime, here’s what has recently caught my eye:

If I hadn’t made it patently obvious already, I’m head-over-heels for chandeliers. I think the only reason I want a home to call my own, rather than renting, is so I can fill it with my choice of fixtures and fittings… which in my case means vintage chandeliers. Either blended with fellow shabby chic touches or creating juxtaposition (ooh, get me!) alongside ultra-modern surroundings, they’re going to stay top of my wish list (plus a clawfoot bath) until that elusive house is mine to decorate.

Karen Millen may be grouped in with the rest of the Great British “high street”, but like French Connection, it’s not a supermarket sweep kind of place such as H&M where someone on an average salary can emerge with an armful of purchases and a purse that’s not too much lighter. The clothes are beautiful and achingly on trend at the moment but, a) they seem to be made solely for ladies no larger than a size 10, and b) their prices have the ability to make you wince and head straight for Topshop. That being said, can’t hurt to look, non?! And this sparkly number in particular caught my eye, as it’s just crying out to be worn with skinny, slightly beaten-up jeans and mega-high heels. The kind of top that can turn even the most casual of outfits into a night on the town. When’s pay day again?

I love the Keep Calm Gallery – it takes all my strength not to order everything from their website and find a place for them on my walls. One of their newest prints tells every girl what they want to hear, and I’m inclined to say, “why thank you… right back at ya”.

This collection was inspired by a necklace that jumped out at me (not literally) from a jewellery shop window… and I’ve been on the hunt ever since for similar pieces that don’t end in 3 zeros. These ones in particular are a little more than I’d spend on jewellery (or rent), but they were too pretty not to share. I don’t think I’ve ever owned a coral item of clothing, besides a t-shirt back in 1995, but it’s a colour that I would definitely accessorise with. What do you think? {1,2,3,4,5}

It doesn’t matter if they’re cows called Mary who have always dreamed of being a horse (Müller Corner commercial), cats with opposable thumbs or dogs who can talk… for some reason, animals with non-animal traits make me crease up. And even though I’ve seen Mary the cow galloping down the beach a hundred times, it makes no difference… uncontrollable laughter every time. This probably doesn’t say much for my intelligence levels, but whatever, it’s the simple things in life that amuse me. Anyway, dogs in clothes have the same effect. Especially when it looks like they have extra limbs (dogs in spider Halloween costumes = genius), like this little chap who’s ready to celebrate St Paddy’s Day next Thursday. I think it’s the expressions on their faces – totally oblivious to how comically random they look. I seriously can’t stop laughing at it. I think there’s something wrong with me.

Now, J-Hud, that’s better. I knew you had it in you! After dressing in the dark for the Oscars (as seen here), she’s gone back to chic basics at Michael Kors’ 30th anniversary dinner in Paris this week. Her hair looks gorgeous in loose waves, and the navy gown with a nude panel to add interest is simple yet stunning. The best advert for Weight Watchers I’ve ever seen. Finally, I love this living room with piles of magazines in Perspex and pops of colour against the white… and that lamp is the perfect finishing touch.
I hope you have a fantastic weekend whatever you’re doing and wherever you may be…

As featured in UK Marie Claire, April 2011

{words & images via Marie Claire}
on self-image: “I was an insecure young girl and I didn’t think I was pretty. I didn’t like my body. I really looked in the mirror and thought I was ugly because I didn’t look like the normal girl. I wanted braces, stick-straight hair and a tan. But I wouldn’t go to the tanning booth and I had trouble getting up early enough to be able to straighten my hair. It would take forever so my arms would hurt.”
on her break-up with Dominic Cooper: “I’m not going to talk about everything but because we had such a public relationship, to those who cared, I don’t mind talking about him. It was a really great part of my life. (But) never date somebody who doesn’t live in your country. It’s heartbreaking and confusing and it makes you go a bit nuts. You don’t know where they sleep at night. You start second-guessing everything.”
on her current relationship status: “I am finally OK with being alone. I think it’s important for a woman who’s been in several relationships, and who’s working a lot and is very career-driven, to be happy and content with being alone. It’s a really empowering feeling to know that you can be happy without a significant other or without a man or a woman, whoever you prefer, to count on. I’ve had a hard time with that.”
on reaching the level of Twilight fame: “Kristen Stewart is uncomfortable with it… but also, it’s like, she’s only being noticed for that and she’s been working for so long. There’s hype but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t just a little bit annoyed at the Twilight comparisons. I don’t think (Stewart’s fame) will happen to me. I don’t think about it. What if it doesn’t do well? Then I won’t have to deal with it. If it does do well? It’s different from Twilight.”

Is it just me or has it actually been the longest week in existence? I feel like I’m approaching the finishing line in a marathon… but maybe that’s to do with the cocktails I had last night at the very glamorous, brand-spanking-new and “about time too” W Hotel in London. Go for the Watermelon Martini and you won’t regret it. Anyway, I digress. Truly TGIF, and I’m looking forward to meeting up with family this weekend at one of Jamie Oliver’s restaurants, and meandering around Covent Garden (which is where I work, but have no time during the week to make the most of it). And I’ll make sure I get to the cinema to watch The King’s Speech, no excuses this time.

{images via Donna Wilson, Biscuiteers & General Pattern}
The Royal Wedding is next month! As I was merely a month old for Charles and Diana’s wedding, I’m fully on board with Wills and Kate’s big day… in fact I’d love to go to a public occasion with the wedding showing on a big screen (is this happening anywhere? I need to find out). As a bit of a wedding nut myself, I can’t wait to see all the details: her dress, her hair, the flowers. I get the sense that I’m not alone in this excitement… in female circles mostly, I suspect. The Royal Wedding bandwagon shows no signs of slowing, as the amount of memorabilia cropping up left right and centre is evidence of. Tacky? Pah! I literally want it all.

{images via H&M, Jimmy Choo, Matches, French Connection & Kurt Geiger}
What’s not to like about wedges? They’re the member of the heel family that you can wear all day without being crippled, they have the power to make your legs look gazelle-like, and, well, they’re just so purdy. I can almost smell the Ambre Solaire.

{images via pinterest}
January and February are over, and there’s no better way to celebrate their exit than to buy a bunch of fresh flowers. My kitchen now looks and smells delicious thanks to a cheery vase of tulips – Spring has sprung, and I couldn’t be happier.

As far as I’m concerned you can keep your weird Bang & Olufsen phones – they don’t even look like phones. I’m currently lusting after this vintage model that would add class to any desk.

Supergirl had the ability to fly, She-ra had He-man… and Wonder Woman had the style. So MAC cosmetics have come up with the ingenious idea to collaborate with the fictitious heroine and bring out a Pop Art-esque range of make-up. Now, I’m not the biggest make-up connoisseur, but I love the packaging. Pow! It’s so fierce.

To wrap up the week we have Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at an Oscars party wearing a spectacular Valentino gown that looks like it has been painted on her… the colour and the cut couldn’t be better, making Ms H-W another Brit bringing a touch of class to the Academy Awards. And those stairs, absolutely to die for… not a room as such, but I couldn’t resist.
I hope you have a beautiful weekend whatever you’re doing and wherever you may be…