Happy Friday to you all! The lovely weekend starts here, and about time too… I’ve been working my little socks off this week before I’m off on my travels next Tuesday. So much so, my usual round-up this week consists of one notion: a holiday. Even though I’ll be abroad, my trip will be a blur of airports, hotel event space, delegates and ‘to do’ lists. But, had it been an actual holiday on the agenda, then it would consist of breathtaking views, an infinity pool, a good book (trashy chick lit – I have no time for solving crimes whilst sunbathing) and zero technology. And absolutely no schedule. Apart from cocktail hour, which should always be observed.

{images via Pinterest}
And since we’re amongst friends, and I’d like to keep this fantasy alive for just a few more minutes, here is my dream capsule wardrobe, courtesy of Net-A-Porter. And if I’m going to be travelling in style, then I couldn’t possibly show up pulling a beaten-up old suitcase that has lived in my closet since 1992, so it would have to be Jimmy Choo luggage all the way:

{1. Eugenia Kim straw fedora / 2. Victoria Beckham aviator sunglasses / 3. Tibi maxi dress / 4. Juicy Couture crepe dress / 5. Jimmy Choo Terence suitcase / 6. Valentino espadrilles / 7. Missoni Mare bikini / 8. Musa t-bar sandals / 9. Monica Vinader ring / 10. Textile Elizabeth & James denim shorts / 11. Kenneth Jay Lane bangles / 12. Yves Saint Laurent raffia tote / 13. Sandro t-shirt}
Ok, back to reality (although we’re talking Cannes, so not completely) and this week’s best look goes to Penélope Cruz, who looks like a modern-day Audrey Hepburn with her hair styled like that… add a touch of Marchesa and the result is flawless. Pure movie star. And for my room of the week? Well, to stick with the theme of this post, just imagine whiling away a morning in this dreamy breakfast room, devouring fresh coffee and croissants. Sound pretty appealing?

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

So there may be a colour revolution going on at the moment, but sometimes it’s the subtle nude tones that make more of a stylish statement. Especially this Gucci bag… word of warning though, don’t look at the price:

{Gucci Bamboo crocodile shoulder bag / Anna Sui embellished tulle & lace dress / Giuseppe Zanotti flower appliqué leather sandals}

I hope you all had a lovely weekend! This week’s going to be a busy one for me, as it’s the last one in the office before heading over the pond to run an event in DC, so there’s no time for easing myself back in gently, sadly. Straight into today’s post then, and it’s all about a look that never goes out of fashion, but is having a big moment this season: lace. Erdem, Ralph Lauren, Elie Saab and D&G in particular used this fabric in abundance in their S/S11 shows, and D&G’s white lace dress has been hailed as the dress of the season. And of course there was the Duchess of Cambridge’s McQueen triumph (any excuse to include a royal wedding pic). Lace is a perfect look for summer, and although seen as very romantic and whimsical, it can be toughened up to great effect with a leather or khaki jacket (think Kate Bosworth). It doesn’t have to be just the traditional ivory lace, either… coloured lace is equally hot at the moment, and you can go for the heavier material or the more sheer, floaty version depending on your preference. Are you on board with the lace trend, or do you worry about net curtain comparisons? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts!

{images via Pinterest}

{1. Topshop nude lace bow belted dress – £85 / 2. New Look lace Peter Pan top – £19.99 / 3. Dorothy Perkins sleeveless lace dress – £26 / 4. Topshop embellished lace top – £45 / 5. Adele Marie lace pearl necklace – £42 / 6. Peacocks bead & lace dress – £22 / 7. Dorothy Perkins lace trim maxi skirt – £32 / 8. Warehouse lace shorts – £35 / 9. Wallis ivory lace zip back tee – £30 / 10. Monsoon lace crochet scarf – £16}

Welcome to the weekend! Somehow I crawled to the finishing line, and now have two days to relax and spend time with the birthday boy. My boyfriend had his actual birthday on Wednesday, but he’s adopted my fondness for having a ‘birthday week’ (one day is never enough, right?), so the celebrations continue! Do you have any exciting plans for the next couple of days?
Here is a round-up of the most stylish things that have taken my fancy this week:
The glitz, the glamour, the French Riviera, it’s all so très chic! A-listers, their entourages and mini dogs have migrated to the Côte d’Azur to the annual Film Festival, shaken out their Chanel towels on the sun loungers at the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, and embarked on 11 gruelling days of publicity, schmoozing and, well, posing. Day one, and the posing portion of proceedings was magnifique. Salma Hayek sparkled in Gucci Première, Rachel McAdams was a siren in Marchesa, Karolina Kurkova sizzled in Armani Privé and Uma Thurman was effortless in Versace. 10 more days of this? Parfait!

{images via prphotos}
Since I posted about my new favourite online boutique, Rose & Grey, I have been gazing at the images of the crates in particular, and wondering where I could find a place for them in my living room. It would be a tight squeeze, but where there’s a will there’s a way. After perusing Pinterest to see if there was anyone else who shared my crate obsession (of course there was), I realised there was a solution to the space issue: crates as table. Now all I need to do is find a new place for my current coffee table…

{images via Pinterest}
It seems that since Stella McCartney paraded fruit prints on the S/S11 catwalk, she’s opened a whole can of, er, peaches? Fruity prints are everywhere on the high street from pretty cherry dresses to zesty vest tops. It’s a veritable fruit salad!

{ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 }
I know that Louise Body’s beautiful tile wallpaper has done the rounds in the blogosphere, but I couldn’t let my Friday round-up pass without showing my favourite designs. They’re so Mediterranean, conjuring up images of outdoor kitchens, azure skies and terracotta back-drops. It’s such a simple concept, but like most things, it’s those kind of ideas that work out the best:

{available via Louise Body}
Now, if I said leather hot pants and stilettos, you’d say street walker, correct? Well, imagine those shorts are Chanel, the heels are Loubs and the girl is Rachel Bilson. The result is so glam it just shouldn’t be allowed. Bilson is a worthy winner of my ‘Look of the Week’ award, after her appearance at the Chanel Resort Collection, held at the aforementioned Hotel du Cap. She even out-glammed Blake Lively, also clad in Chanel shorts… no mean feat! As for my favourite room of the week, I saw this sofa and looked no further. The colours are sheer perfection:

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

I’ve always been a fan of Taylors; Taylor from Hanson (whom I once impersonated in a Sixth Form play, but let’s not go into how scarily similar I looked), Taylor Lautner who is pretty nifty in the Twilights, Taylor Swift who can hold a decent tune, Taylor Momsen who is… well, not on my list. So when Mulberry announced that their latest addition is called the “Taylor” I knew we were in for a treat (much like MmmBop and when Jacob takes off his shirt). She’s not cheap, in fact she’s very ladylike and certainly more refined than her cousin, Alexa. Whereas Alexa would feel quite at home in a mosh pit, Taylor would probably be far more comfortable having afternoon tea at the Wolseley. She’s available in four colours (the bright green is the stand-out for me), three sizes, and with the option of matte leather or strokeable luxe Ostrich. Oh, she’s a looker alright. Expect to see her on the arm of Fearne Cotton any day now…

{available at Mulberry}