One of the biggest trends for A/W is capped toe courts, which look incredibly ladylike to me. I feel like I’d want to pair them with some lace gloves and drink tea from vintage china. A metallic finish seems to be a very popular choice (Dune’s oxblood Balmorals are exquisite, I’m just not sure they’re £99 exquisite), but any colour goes. Even neon is getting in on the act. This trend is going to grow and grow on the high street, and it’s already cap-tivated me. D’you see what… yep, I think you got it.

{images via this is glamorous, pink peonies, wit & delight, atlantic-pacific & pinterest}

{1. Dune Balmoral court shoe – £99 // 2. Topshop Gabbi courts – £50 // 3. Dune Belby court – £45 // 4. Boohoo.com Kimbra heels – £20 // 5. L.K. Bennett Bruton court – £145 // 6. Dorothy Perkins nude courts – £20}

So, apparently the Burberry Orchard is the ‘It Bag’ of the season. Errrrm, no. Not only is it not as pretty as the Céline Luggage tote (if I had to be unfaithful to Mulberry)… it’s also not Mulberry. Burberry, you may have lucked out on getting the likes of Styles, Patel and Pendleton all up in your F-Row, but to me you will always be *whisper* just a little bit chavvy. It’s not your fault, I realise that, and I certainly wouldn’t turn down one of your trenches if it were forced upon me… but you’re just not Mulberry. My dear, sweet, as-British-as-fish-and-chips Mulberry. Does this make me a label snob? Probably. But can you please cast your eyes south and tell me that you’re not Team Mulberry… what with the new zigzag Alexa an’ all. And that tiger jumper.
I mean, who doesn’t want a tiger jumper?

{all products available at Mulberry}
I can’t even deal.

As featured in Marie Claire UK, November 2012

{words & images via Marie Claire}
on whether she warns boyfriends that they might end up in song: “Ha! Well… it’s not like it’s in fine print, but music is absolutely everything that I am and everything that I stand for. It’s not my fault if someone gets into a relationship with me and then cheats and I write a song about it.”
on why she has dated notorious womanizers: “I agree with everything you’re saying. I think I have to trust that you end up with the person you’re supposed to end up with, and that everything in between is there to teach you stuff. Plus it makes for great stories when you’re older.”
on having kids one day: “(My) money will be really good for sending my kids to college some day – or maybe I’ll have a few more kids than I thought. I want a bunch of them running around, minimum four. I want to wait a while, but.. the idea of pouring everything you are into another person when you become a parent has always been amazing to me.”
on obsessing about what others think of her: “At some point you have to snap yourself out of it and go, ‘You know what? Right now your level of insecurity is bordering on vain. Stop it.’ That’s when I stop myself and go, ‘Everything’s fine, your family’s healthy, life is good.’”

New season, new wish list. As I mentioned last week, I’m all about the cosy at the moment… it was such a beautiful autumnal weekend, bright and crisp and full of Christmas-is-just-around-the-corner promise. I’m literally counting down the days till I can have the first play of that Pogues song. I really am obsessed with the festive season. Anyway, back to the job in hand – here is my latest ‘Currently Craving’ list, which are so much fun to put together. I’m spending a lot of time looking at homewares at the moment (more than usual), as Tom and I have houses permanently on the brain. Do we buy? Do we rent? Where exactly do we want to be? So many questions, but one thing I know for sure is that my mood boards and I are gonna be ready.

{1. Isabel Marant wool sweater – £405 / 2. Aldo Puff bag – £40 / 3. Graham & Green Stag bookends – £79 / 4. Noir Jewelry bib necklace – £184.26 / 5. Kate Spade Hand in Hand pom pom hat – $98 / 6. Graham & Green Callas mirror – £395 / 7. Anthropologie Opalescent Bracelet – £28 / 8. Zara leopard slipper – £49.99 / 9. Ebury Home & Garden mini chandelier – £86 / 10. Essie “A-list” nail polish – £13.95 / 11. Oliver Bonas cashmere blend eyemask – £15}

#youknowyourealifestylebloggerwhen you pick out your iPhone 5 cover before you’ve even got the actual handset. I’m still on the iPhone 3 (which in the blogosphere basically means I’m in the Dark Ages), BUT free upgrade here I come… and since one’s phone is attached to one’s person at all times, it’s gotta look pretty y’all. And a chance encounter on etsy led me to Harper Gray, run by Erica Braden. Who had me at “rugby stripes”. Erica, thank you, you’re an iPhone-case-designing genius. Now all these scallops and ombre stripes and monograms are making me far too excited to think straight, so please get on your voting keypads and let me know which one I should go for. I don’t have voting keypads. A comment will suffice. Thank you kindly.

{all iPhone covers available on etsy}