For the past few years designer Tory Burch hasn’t really been on my radar, as much as old favourites like Marchesa, Elie Saab and Mulberry. But lately, she’s been hitting it out of the proverbial park and featuring items in her collection that are bang on my taste. Take those brown riding boots, for example. Couldn’t be more in love if I tried. And that shearling vest is perfect for the approaching season… well, it would have been fine for summer too, but I’m bored with moaning about rotten English weather. I also need more leopard in my life – subtly, of course, I’m not about to turn into Bet Lynch (Google, if not familiar). Tell me, lovely readers, whose collections are you currently lusting after?

{1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10}

Hi everyone, hope you (in the UK) enjoyed the 3-day weekend! Apologies for the lack of post yesterday, but it was a choice between working or cruising MTV and E!, and sadly the latter won out. I say “sadly”, I love days like that.
Onto today’s post and the subject of effortless style. It’s the holy grail for women everywhere, right? Some people have style, sure, but it just screams ‘try hard’ and it kinda defeats the point. Not so with Lucy Laucht, a Brit who moved to New York with just a few suitcases and no job to go to (she’s my hero), and now has an enviable career creating online campaigns for brands such as Vogue, as well as writing her own style blog. I tend to find with these ‘take pictures of yourself’ fashion blogs that although there are a lot of outfits I do lust after, there is also a decent amount that are just, well, meh. This isn’t the case with Lucy – she gets it right seemingly every time. She mixes vintage with preppy with polished with a penchant for Zara (in particular the oversized bag), and it just works. Also, her can’t-live-without item is her tan Mulberry Bayswater, which in some cultures means we’re best friends. Take a look and let me know your thoughts:

{images via Lucy Laucht}

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you’re looking forward to the weekend (3 days in the UK thanks to the Bank Holiday!) – do you have anything fun lined up? I’m off to wedding #2 tomorrow, this time in the very grand surroundings of Hampton Court Palace… a bit of a change from the Yorkshire farm of last weekend, which was amazing in itself. Really looking forward to seeing friends and re-living uni days. Although better behaved, of course, it being a royal palace and everything.
Today I have a little end of the week treat for you. Who doesn’t like to unwind after a hard week of work with a well-deserved cocktail during Happy Hour. That wasn’t a question. I’ve been noticing that cupcakes are becoming ever more creative, encompassing every flavour under the sun, thanks to my friend Pinterest. So next time you have friends over, how about coordinating cocktails and cupcakes, and being forever known as the ‘Hostess with the Mostess’. I just dribbled on my keyboard a little bit.

{Recipes: Skinny Margarita & Margarita cupcakes}

{Recipes: Spiked Blueberry Lemonade & blueberry cupcakes}

{Recipes: Peach Sangria & peach cupcakes}

{Recipes: Smores Martini & marshmallow cupcakes}

{Recipes: Grapefruit Mojito & grapefruit cupcakes}
Diane Kruger, how on earth do you do it? On anyone else the sequins, feathers and embroidered details on this Prabal Gurung creation would equal a big old mess, but of course Kruger pulls it off with aplomb. I love that word, ‘aplomb’. Anyway, she doesn’t even try! Minimal effort, immaculate result… look and learn, ladies. For my room of the week, I do like a bit of monochrome preppiness and since this living room comes complete with Hermès blanket (as lusted after here), no other contender came close:

{images via prphotos & pinterest}
I hope you have a lovely weekend whatever you’re doing and wherever you may be…

Back to my packing guide series (seen here and here) and this time we’re off on a city break, and since I get to choose it has to be NYC. I heart it, so ridiculously much. I was lucky enough to live and work there for a year back in ‘04-’05… well, I worked in Manhattan and lived in Jersey City (known for its skyline views and the fact that Fiddy Cent was shot there, but we’ll paper over the cracks). Best experience of my life and I still miss that city like I miss a person. If you do head there for a break, then I’d advise you to load up on the glam; New Yorkers are about as polished as they get, from their perfect glossy locks down to their painted toes. Flat shoes in the daytime are essential since walking is the done thing, but super high heels are de rigueur for cocktails on roof terraces. Oh and don’t forget a huge shopper to fill with all the purchases you will be powerless to resist:

{images via pinterest}

{1. Sandro printed t-shirt – £100 / 2. Dorothy Perkins mixed stone ring – £7.50 / 3. Topshop shirt dress – £30 / 4. Michael Kors rose gold watch – £219 / 5. A/wear belted shorts – £30 / 6. Essie Cute as a Button – £9.95 / 7. Steve Madden flat sandal – £34 / 8. Zara plaited shopper – £79.99 / 9. Zara butterfly ankle boot – £99.99 / 10. French Connection Samantha sequin dress – £165 / 11. Miss Selfridge colour block dress – £32 / 12. Topshop zip clutch bag – £28 / 13. Star by Julien Macdonald large sunglasses – £18.20 / 14. Marc Jacobs Daisy Hot Pink eau de parfum – £60}

Sometimes Mondays need a bit of Kate Spade goodness to make them a little more bearable, don’t you think? After spotting a much coveted KS bangle on the wrist of my sister-in-law at the weekend, I knew I had to post about them. Not only are they heart-breakingly pretty, they all have a different message engraved inside them. Love them. Whether you pile ‘em high or keep it simple with just one, your wrists will be a better place for it. And of course, you couldn’t possibly have a new bracelet without a gorgeous satchel, coin purse and sparkly shoes to keep it company. You’re welcome.

{1. Knightsbridge Scout / 2. Flash flats / 3. Cooper Square coin purse / all bangles}