With the release of Oscar-tipped Black Swan (for my review, see here), ballet is now having a resurgence. Many girls had a brush with the graceful pastime growing up – although I swiftly traded ballet shoes for less refined riding boots – and although it may not be something that we actively take part in anymore, there is still that fascination that compels us to go see The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty et al. The music, the costumes, the romance of it all… it’s completely captivating. Impressionist Edgar Degas was so entralled by the ballet world, that over half his works depicted dancers:

{The Rehearsal of the Ballet on Stage by Edgar Degas via AllPosters}
Taking inspiration from the outfits and themes within Black Swan, here are a few pieces to help you embrace the trend and maybe even pirouette around your living room when no one’s looking:

1. Dorothy Perkins nude shoulder sequin dress – £30
2. DSquared2 slash neck sweatshirt – £150
3. Steve Madden Fifi heels – $99.95 (approx. £62.50)
4. Manolo Blahnik Catalina heels – $418 (approx. £261)
5. Lipsy ribbon necklace – £18
6. Essie nail polish in Ballet Slippers – £9.50
7. Topshop skirt by Meadham Kirchhoff – £20
8. Hermione Harbutt Odette feather headdress – £265
9. Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Tutu eau de parfum – £74.50
10. ASOS drop earrings with feathers – £12
11. MAC lipstick in Dubonnet – £13.50
12. Rare Paprika pleated skirt – £25
13. Faster by Mark Fast cropped ballet top – £150
14. Topshop Vestry pink ballet pumps – £18
If subtlety is not your strong point and you want a full-on Swan-Queen-the-part-should-have-gone-to-me-not-Portman moment, then this OTT number by Rare could be for you. The original design by Marchesa was one step ahead of the ‘ballet chic’ game back in 2009, and Lively later pulled it off with prima ballerina aplomb (also seen here). So… the question is: are you confident enough to raise the style barre? (Yep, I went there):

{*Topshop Rare Opulence Corset Ballet Net Dress}

Sugar and spice and all things nice…

{Proenza Schouler PS1 suede satchel / Yves Saint Laurent silk strapless dress / Miu Miu perforated peep-toe pumps}

There was a lovely article in this week’s Stylist magazine (the commute home on a Tuesday night is now a pleasure thanks to this little gem) about the rise in women “crafting their own businesses”, and making a living from the homemade, such as cupcakes, ceramics and soft furnishings. It’s incredibly inspiring that so many of these entrepreneurs have taken a leap of faith in order to change their lives by using old-fashioned skills to start a business, many of them becoming hugely successful (cases in point: Cath Kidston and Emma Bridgewater who have yearly turnovers of millions).

{Cotton Reels print by Lola’s Room via Folksy}
There are a number of websites that showcase such items, full of unique creations and a far cry from the mass-produced high street market… and on which I can happily trawl for hours. Reading the Stylist article prompted me to revisit them (*sound of arm being twisted*); here are some of the arts and crafts on offer at three of these websites, all clearly handcrafted with love:

All Things Original:
1. Spring Garden Gigi Purse by Bagatelles & Co – £28
2. Twiggy Cushion by Clare Nicolson – £45
3. Knot Flower Shoe Clips by Sun Studio – £15.50
Folksy:
4. Lollypop Soap by Little Green Caravan – £1 each
5. Circus Thrills Chair by Kelly Swallow – £650
6. Camembert Dish by Caractacus Pots – £16.99
From Britain With Love:
7. Shetland Blanket by the Atlantic Blanket Company – £187.50
8. Eden Glass Jugs by Maggie Williams – from £35
9. Couture Cupcakes by Ella’s Bakery – £2.75 each
Do any of these inspire you to ‘make do and mend’?

We’re not long into 2011 and trends are being launched at us from left, right and centre. As much as I don’t think that trends should necessarily dictate how we dress or how we decorate our homes, they’re a useful indication of how high street stores will be decked out. One of the SS2011 catwalk trends that is making a splash in the interiors world is the colour blue:


There’s something incredibly soothing and tranquil about blue rooms, accents and accessories – perhaps it’s the notion of turquoise seas and cloudless azure skies (for me, anything that provokes memories of sparkling Greek islands and the bedroom from Mamma Mia has got to be a good thing):


The beauty of blue is that isn’t faddy, it’s incredibly versatile and according to which hue you use, you can set the mood accordingly. Darker tones can suggest formality or a modern touch, and brighter, more aqua blues, can add character and energy. Here is a selection of rooms guaranteed to banish the January blues (including chez Carrie Bradshaw):

Natalie Portman and Colin Firth continued to dominate the 2011 award shows, once again scooping best actress for Black Swan and best actor for The King’s Speech, respectively. The Social Network came out on top as best motion picture (drama) once more, also bagging best director and best screenplay – that’s got to be a happy bunch of geeks! Talking of geeks, or Gleeks in this case, they too had cause for celebration with Glee winning best television series (comedy or musical), and Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer winning best supporting actress and actor in a television series. For a full list of winners, click here. Other highlights of the night included Ricky Gervais cutting close to the bone with his quips (surely you know what you’re going to get when you hire him?!), and a very distinct set of trends on the red carpet:

{Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace / Catherine Zeta Jones in Monique Lhuillier / Mila Kunis in Vera Wang / Megan Fox in Armani Privé / Sandra Bullock in Jenny Packham / Scarlett Johansson in Elie Saab / Anne Hathaway in Armani Privé / Olivia Wilde in Marchesa / Dame Helen Mirren in Badgley Mischka / Claire Danes in Calvin Klein / Mandy Moore in Monique Lhuillier / Emma Stone in Calvin Klein}