I’m often find myself ‘website jumping’ – and by that I mean browsing on one site after another following each author’s recommendations (either from blogrolls or posts), and I will frequently go off on a complete tangent from where I started. I have found some of my favourite websites or blogs this way, just the same as when you wander aimlessly round a city and randomly come across a quaint, hidden corner that’s way off the beaten track.
This is how I found myself on the website of interior designer, Kelly Wearstler. I’ve seen her work many times in the press, however this was my first time on her site and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Perusing her residential and commercial portfolios was like being a kid in a sweet shop – Kelly’s designs are bold, achingly stylish and sympathetically in keeping with the architecture. She utilises, “influences in fashion, art, technology, history and travel, while paying homage to timeless notions of sophistication”, and boy, does it show. This extremely talented ‘tastemaker’ (more of an American word, but I’ll go with it for want of a better description) has many strings to her bow, and just reading through all of her different projects and areas of expertise is enough to make me feel weary! Here are a few highlights… prepare to develop a serious style crush:

{images via Kelly Wearstler}
What do you think? Are you a fan of Kelly’s work?

There’s really not much that hasn’t been said about Diane Kruger’s style, so I won’t drain on too much. I swear the woman has got some kind of fashion-savvy super power… I’ve even trawled the internet to try and find a bad outfit situation, just to see if I could. Suffice to say it was a big fat fail. It only resulted in me becoming a little bitter and taking an instant dislike to my entire wardrobe. Thing is, one of her neighbours in Paris is apparently Karl Lagerfeld (who is also her mentor), which quite frankly is just cheating:

On a positive note: you too can look like Ms Kruger! Seriously, you can! Since bright and bold colour is the trend of the moment (Jil Sander being the main culprit), I narrowed a selection of about 127 potential Diane outfits down to these three vibrant looks:

{1. Miso pleated mesh dress – £10 / 2. Dune Joe Po boot – £88 / 3. Accessorize pewter clutch bag – £16}

{1. New Look t-shirt dress – £19.99 / 2. Next red lock bag – £35 / 3. ASOS Finlay leather sandals – £12}

{1. Very woven fedora – £15 / 2. Nica Alicia handbag – £39 / 3. Dorothy Perkins nude patent Mary Jane shoes – £35 / 4. Uniqlo cashmere cardigan – £59.99 / 5. Adam crepe pencil skirt – £64.50}

* yes yes, I know…

Sarah from the hugely inspiring blog, ‘A Beach Cottage’, did what a lot of people can only dream of making a reality – she upped sticks from her life in England along with her husband and three kids, and followed the sun to a seaside town in Australia. This brave move involved much scheming and deliberation, but since their relocation Down Under, it’s clear that Sarah is enormously content with her family’s new life, as documented in her widely followed and very welcoming blog.
Sarah purchased an old beach cottage (hence the cunning name) and has lovingly transformed it room by room, and feature by feature, into… well, I’m going to be honest, my dream home… all the while detailing how she converted the interior without spending a fortune. The blog features regular DIY tutorials, so whether you’re positioned by the sea or in a high-rise flat in Peckham, you can easily achieve Sarah’s vintage-inspired coastal style. Prepare to be a tad envious… it’s like Rachel Ashwell meets Home & Away (a very stylish Home & Away. Ok, I’ll be quiet now):

{kitchen trolley / rope door stop / vintage subway sign / lantern / coastal jug / storage basket}

New York Fashion Week AW2011 passed in a blur of show-hopping, goodie bags and after-parties… I mean, I wasn’t there (lack of, er, invitation), but it’s the impression I got from the avid fash-pack tweeters. I have poured over each of the collections and have been thinking about different ways in which I can present my highlights to you without it being a mega-involved 2-page image extravaganza. I’m certainly not here to dictate what you must be wearing. I love to report on the trends that I rate and the catwalk looks that I admire… after all, there’s no point me harping on about wearing head-to-toe orange if I think it looks mildly ridiculous (just an example! Done right it can look amazing. Yes, Kate Bosworth, I’m talking about you). I promise that I will never write about, or post images of, anything that I’m not 100% passionate about. Fact.

So, with that in mind, here’s the deal: I’m going to bring you my favourite look from each of the Big Hitters, and the themes that ran through the shows. Et voilà, NYFW in a nutshell! Who needs the glamour of a front-row seat in the Bryant Park tents?! (well, come to mention it…):

{images via prphotos}
Stand-out collections for me were Jason Wu, Carolina Herrera, and our own VB (the evolution from her structured dresses was a big talking point at NYFW). There was a real mixture of trends – both dark and bright colours, a full spectrum of textures, and everything from the 20s to the 70s to modern-day. One thing’s for sure, AW2011 is not going to be dull!
Coming soon, highlights from LFW… stay tuned!

It’s Friday at last, and this weekend I’m looking forward to heading home to the country (a.k.a. my roots!), spending precious time with family and just generally relaxing after what’s been one of those work weeks when you feel like everything’s been thrown at you.
I frequently come across images/features/stories that inspire me or that bring me joy, but perhaps not enough to dedicate a whole post to… so as a new feature I will be bringing you a round-up each Friday of what’s caught my eye during the week. So here goes:

{images via Tibi, Anthropologie, BHLDN, M&S & pinterest}
1 – Whenever Olivia Palermo steps out she elicits sighs from the female population… and never more so than when she’s dressing up in Tibi’s finest, with the styling all down to her. Perfection.
2 – These bowls are listed under their dining section, but I would fill them with jewellery and odds and ends… practical and oh-so-stylish.
3 – BHLDN (pronounced “beholden”) is the newest offspring of Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters… it’s pure unadulterated eye candy, and is perfect for anyone looking to have a whimsical or vintage-style wedding.
4 – I heart Kirstie Allsopp. She makes homemade loveliness, she gushes about all things house-related the way I do, and her banter with Phil never fails to amuse me. America, you may have Martha, but we have Kirstie… and she’s miles better. As she proves with her range for M&S.
5 – Ok, so I hate the commercial side of V-Day… but the sentiment behind it? You got me, I’m a sucker for love. Understated but never insignificant acts of kindness and love are a winner in my book. And I’m lucky enough to experience them every day ♥

{images via prphotos & pinterest}
Let’s round off the week with Emily Blunt looking uber-stylish in Elie Saab for the premiere of The Adjustment Bureau in New York (very ‘ballerina chic’), and a closet that displays possessions almost like a piece of art… add a chandelier and a velvet chair, and it couldn’t get much better. What do you think of my choices?
I hope you have a wonderful weekend whatever you’re doing and wherever you may be…