After such a wonderful, chilled out weekend and a plethora of bank holidays, I’m not quite sure how I’m going to go back to the 5-day week routine. Grin and bear it perhaps?! Also the new series of the Apprentice – one of my absolute favourite TV shows – starts tomorrow night, so there’s always something to be positive about!
Onto today’s post and one trend that I couldn’t help but notice is gathering speed is that of preppy chic. Maybe it’s the ‘Kate Effect’, or the popularity of Glee and collegiate clothing stores such as Abercrombie and Jack Wills, but swotty attire is most definitely making its mark. 3.1 Phillip Lim, Proenza Schouler and DKNY paraded this look on the S/S11 catwalks, and the high street has fallen in line. It’s not just pashminas and pearls anymore – think nautical stripes, Oxford brogues and mongrammed blazers, and imagine you’re en route to either Henley or the Hamptons, depending on where you ‘summer’. Whatever your sloaney style, carry it off with an air of confidence, because one must always look fabulous… mustn’t one:

{images via Pinterest}

{1. French Connection Sydney v-neck jumper – £52 / 2. Jigsaw stripe ribbon straw trilby – £46 / 3. Belle and Mimi lace-up brogues – £50 / 4. Ralph Lauren white polo-dress – £158 / 5. Peacocks belted bootcut jeans – £25 / 6. Jack Wills Oldbury classic shirt – £59 / 7. Fiorelli Strawberry Lane handbag tote – £55.20 / 8. Paul’s Boutique logo blazer – £56 / 9. Jigsaw winter cotton checked scarf – £22 / 10. Jack Wills Cottersmore Breton Crew jumper – £69 / 11. L.K. Bennett Abelia leather loafers – £125 / 12. Ray-Ban wayfarers sunglasses – £115 / 13. French Connection tabby knits pleat skirt – £67 / 14. Jane Shilton topaz bag – £59 / 15. Pieces Maya stripe clutch – £28}

Happy Friday everyone! Even though it’s only been four days, this week seems to have gone on forever. But we got there and now it’s time to wind down and look forward to the weekend. Tonight I am seeing my old work crew for dinner at one of my favourite restaurants in central London (see here – worth a trip for the colourful interior alone)… then the following couple of days will be spent with a fresh batch of magazines, maybe a gym visit or two, relaxing in my spring-cleaned formally jungle-esque garden and just enjoying time at home before my trip to the States in a couple of weeks to run an event. I’d like to catch the new Kate Hudson movie, Something Borrowed, as well. Surely there’ll be a wedding involved with a title like that (otherwise that’s false advertising and I’ll demand my money back), and some kind of romantic mix-up. Sounds like a winner (haha, anyone else have the same high-brow taste in films as me?). Do you have any exciting plans?
As is now customary for a Friday, here is my weekly round-up of the trends and looks that have caught my eye:
This Chloé bag may just be the most beautiful thing that I’ve ever seen. I may not have a spare £1,325 to throw at it, but it’s not going to stop me staring. Net-a-Porter then helpfully suggested other things that I might like, and before I knew it I had a list of pink items that I would give my right arm for. Thanks N-a-P, very helpful:

{1. Chloé Marcie perforated leather tote / 2. Christian Louboutin ballerina flats / 3. Marie-Hélène de Taillac gold sapphire ring / 4. Marc by Marc Jacobs rose gold watch / 5. Emilio de la Morena silk-organza dress / 6. Valentino lace and wool-blend cardigan}
For the Royal Wedding (did I mention I watched it?!) I decorated my living room with some bunting and a commemorative tea towel acting as a flag (to add some class). The tea towel has since been removed, but the bunting is still adorning my fireplace and I’ve got no intention of removing it. It’s not even the pretty vintage variety, it’s Union Jack bunting from Clinton Cards (for non-Brits who may not know this store, it’s where you buy greeting cards for people you don’t particularly like) for Pete’s sake… but it’s still staying put. I adore bunting in whatever guise it comes in, but next time there’s an occasion for it I’d be tempted to make some myself for that home-made look:

{images via Pinterest}
My office is smack-bang in the middle of some of the best shopping in London. I have spent many a happy lunch hour in Mulberry, letting my Bayswater visit her relatives and stroking the bags, before being told politely to either buy something or leave. Dune is another shop that I pass daily on the way to grabbing some food, and I don’t know if this has always been the case (or I’m just behind the times), but Dune… got… good. Really good. These items are top of my ‘most wanted’ list… e.g. the wedge sandals have scalloped-edge bows. I rest my case:

{all products available at Dune}
Look, I’m weaning myself off the Royal Wedding slowly, ok? I can’t just go cold turkey. So here’s a picture of that scamp Prince Harry, with a puppy. Both neck and neck on the cuteness scale. (Next week: Pippa Middleton with a lion cub):

As for my stand-out fashion moment of the week, obviously there were many amazing gowns at the Met Costume Institute Gala, but aside from that, this look from one of my constant style crushes, Diane Kruger, at the Istanbul Edition Hotel Launch, just completely works for me. She doesn’t even look like she really tries – she just throws on a Roberto Cavalli number and looks incredible. It helps that Joshua Jackson is the perfect accessory. Not that I think men are accessories… oh, you know what I mean. And for my room of the week, I just really loved the colour combination in this bedroom – the mint walls are so calming, but the orange accents really packs a punch:

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

Hurrah, the fashion event of the year! Much like the Oscars but with the emphasis fully on the gowns and no one pretending they’re into the films when the only movie they’ve seen in the past year was Gnomeo & Juliet. Every A-list fashionista worth their salt seems to totter out of the woodwork in sky-high Loubs to attend the MET Costume Institute Gala, and this year’s line-up was a corker. After the triumph of The Dress (day four, still missing the wedding), the gala honoured late designer Alexander McQueen with an exhibition dedicated entirely to his designs. Unsurprisingly there was many a dedication on the red carpet too, as showcased by Gisele “it’s easy to look this good after having a baby” Bundchen and Salma Hayek. Here are my picks from the gazillions of stars in attendance… but no Posh? It’s like Christmas with no Santa. She better have a good excuse.

{images via prphotos}
Were there any stand-outs for you?

After all the excitement of Friday’s events and another blissful 4-day weekend (how are we going to go back to the regular 2-day ones now?!), it’s back to business with a look that is perfect for the upcoming wedding season. That’s right, not ready to let go quite yet. This particular trend is huge for spring and summer, and provides an incredibly ladylike yet flirty silhouette. I particularly like pleats in sheer, flowy fabrics, especially in warmer climates – and yes, I’m including the UK in that, for once! For the more trend-conscious amongst you, opt for a pleated midi skirt with a platform heel and a skinny belt. But you know what, go with whatever you feel most comfortable in; think SJP in Halston (there are plenty of great copies on the high street, such as the blue tiered dress from Miss Selfridge) or Olivia Palermo in Topshop. Being so versatile, there’s a pretty pleat for everyone:

{images via Pinterest & we heart it}

{1. Topshop Peter Pan pleat dress – £45 / 2. Dorothy Perkins pleat ruffle dress – £25 / 3. Miss Selfridge blue pleated tier dress – £42 / 4. Jaeger pleat frill dress – £250 / 5. French Connection Shelbys summer maxi dress – £155 / 6. Pied a Terre colour block dress – £78 / 7. Dorothy Perkins one shoulder pleat dress – £25 / 8. Warehouse pleated glamazon maxi dress – £90 / 9. Topshop cream embellished pleat dress – £70 / 10. Wallis green leaf print dress – £30}

{1. Miss Selfridge nude pleated skirt – £22 / 2. Alexander Wang mini skirt – £185 / 3. Therapy vintage floral skirt – £40 / 4. Monsoon Pamela pleated skirt – £50 / 5. Rare short pleated skirt – £32 / 6. Pied a Terre pleated skirt – £48 / 7. J by Jasper Conran pleat skirt – £45}

How is every one today? Feeling slightly worse for wear after celebrating an incredible day of history? I don’t blame you.
I wanted to wait until today to write a few words about the fairy tale that unfolded, as yesterday I would have been in full-out gush mode. To be honest, the wedding totally exceeded any expectations that I had. I was about a month old when Charles and Diana had their special day, and this is certainly the biggest Royal occasion that I’ve experienced in my lifetime… and it definitely didn’t disappoint.

Speculation leading up to this occasion has largely centred on the bride-to-be and her dress; what designer would Kate go for? What would the design be like? Would it have sleeves? As it turned out the answers were Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen (called it!), lace appliqué gown with an ivory satin v-neck bodice and a 9ft train, and yes. In my opinion it was absolute perfection. One commentator remarked that as nice as it was, it wasn’t a “show-stopper”. I disagree… I think it was show-stopping in its simplicity. Too many bells and whistles would have made it garish and outdated. It had all the style of its lookalike, the wedding dress of Princess Grace of Monaco, as did the wearer. So here’s the breakdown of her look:

Kate wore it beautifully, and her calmness and serenity (when underneath she must have been freaking out) were awe-inspiring. My favourite part though? That beaming smile! She was absolutely the cat that got the cream, but there wasn’t a hint of smugness… she was just a girl (standing in front of a boy – haha, I kid) who was bursting with joy to be marrying her soul mate. Who, y’know, just happens to be heir to the throne. No biggie.

In no particular order, this is what I loved about Wills’ and Kate’s big day:

Lip-readers have reported that William said the following to Kate and her father when they reached the altar: “I just thought it would be a small family affair”. Heart him.

They’re so blatantly head over heels. Warmed my cockles.

C’mon kids, you know it makes sense. Harry who looked so handsome yesterday, his cheeky face beaming with pride at his brother, and Pippa (albeit a tad enthusiastic with the Fake Bake) who was verging on upstaging her sister by being the talk of Twitter, would make quite the hot new couple. Chelsy, who?

These three ladies killed it. That is all.

Brilliant. You know that little Grace van Cutsem (William’s god-daughter) was thinking, “I was promised jelly and ice cream, I didn’t sign up for this”. On to the couple though, and the money shot. When they came out onto the balcony, I love how Kate looked genuinely overwhelmed by the thousands that had gathered for The Kiss, mouthing, “Oh wow”. The newlyweds looked so at ease with each other and, well, two kisses. They knew their audience.

David looked dashing, obvs, and Posh looked, well, posh. I think she could have gone for something a little more exciting, but it wasn’t an unmitigated disaster. Bet she said to him afterwards, “Tay-vid, we need to have ours again… they had trees, Tay-vid, TREES!”

This was a stroke of genius. By this point of the day we were firmly on Team Cambridge, but this touch (must have been the work of Harry) sent me over the delirious edge. At first I honestly didn’t really believe what I was seeing. It was like they were a couple who’d had a small country wedding and were heading off to the local pub for a cider-soaked reception. Which is what both Wills and Kate truly wanted – and have spoken openly about this – so this was the part of the day that they got to live out their wedding fantasy.

Oh Bea, why didn’t someone tell you?? Just because it’s Philip Treacy doesn’t make it right.

Another McQueen dress for Kate, and Pippa in Alice Temperley. The stylish sisters finished the day as they started it, looking utterly exquisite.
Ok, I think I’ve gone on long enough. So, over to you! What did you think? Were you as charmed as I was? Or are you glad it’s all over?!