London Fashion Week AW13 - Whistle Monogram Clutch

Olivia Palermo with her Monogram Personalised Whistles Clutch  (Photo:Whistles)

I've been so busy I haven't had chance to do any Fashion Week posts. So I thought I would show you my 10 favourite things from London Fashion Week AW13.

This one is something I kept spotting but couldn't find out where to buy. I never let that put me off though!

The Whistles Monogram Clutch - a zip top leather clutch that can be personalised with your initials.

I discovered that Whistles are due to launch a bag personalisation service starting tomorrow 1st March in their flagship Dover Street Store. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get mine from the Liverpool Store but luckily Whistles do free mail order AND have a 25% off code in Grazia this week. This does appear to be a lucky week.

Gloria Baume - Whistles Delilah Clutch (Photo: Whistles)

You can buy the Delilah Clutch bag in either pink or black for £95 (the clutch costs £55 without monogramming) and it takes about 2 weeks to arrive. Well if it's good enough for Olivia P, then it's good enough for me! It's also been seen on Caroline Issa and Teen Vogue Fashion Director Gloria Baume.

What do you think?

Wrap Up Warm with Alice Hannah

Brrrr!!!! It's cold outside and with only 6 days to go until Christmas I really can't face anymore Christmas shopping. I've been looking for the perfect new scarf all winter and when my friend Natalie arrived the other day wearing a massive soft scarf that almost doubled as a blanket, I had to find out where it was from...she didn't know!

Luckily, her friend Tom who got them for her also got her a pair of gloves that still had the label in. I had the answer to my perfect scarf riddle - ALICE HANNAH 

Jewel Shawl Scarf (photo by Alice Hannah)

I'd never heard of them before but it turns out they are stocked in quite a few high street shops and have a lovely website. They didn't have Natalie's scarf in their current collection but I chose the Shawl Stripe scarf and some teal cable knit gloves.

They arrived today and are super soft and cosy. If you haven't got yourself a winter scarf yet or are still looking for a present this would be perfect. 

Alice Hannah is available at Asos and even has scarfs reduced to half price at the moment. It even has some exclusive items. I particularly love the pomodoro, black and cream colour block scarf. Maybe I should get another one or maybe Santa will deliver? 

Alice also has some beautiful silk scarfs coming in 2013- stunning floral prints and lace. Now I can't wait for summer.

Spring/Summer 2013 Silk Scarf (photo by Alice Hannah)

Games Style

The Games Maker Uniform

 
I know I didn't get lots chance to post over the summer. That's because I was busy volunteering at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. I was a National Olympic and Paralympic Committee Assistant looking after Thailand.

I thought I would share with you a photo of me modeling my Games Maker uniform at the athlete's village. Designed by Stella McCartney, I have to admit I was one of the people who really hated the look of it when it was revealed.  I remember thinking, "BEIGE TROUSERS!!! OH MY GOD STELLA!!!" but I have to say that by the end of the games I loved it. There is something amazing about knowing what you are going to wear everyday that is so comfortable. The trainers were so comfy I have just got myself 2 more pairs. I almost forgot what it was like to wear normal clothes.

More than it being comfy, by the end of the games, I wondered if Stella had seen what she had done. She had made a uniform that made people talk to each other on the tube, made strangers in London stop and talk to each other about their day and even made beige trousers seem quite...well...I hate to say it but...cool!  

Inside the Athlete's Village

Meeting Oscar Pistorius at the training track - wearing my Thailand team jacket

Wrap Up Warm

Coat - Mango Perfecto Effect Coat 

Jenny on a ferry across the Mersey

It's come to that cold - not quite Christmas time of year. The time of year when you have to stick your toe out from under the duvet before you get up in a morning and start de-icing the car.  It's also the time of year that I go hunting for a new winter coat.

It's not that I need one...it's that I can't resist! They are everywhere! Then when my friend Jenny came for a visit in Liverpool last weekend I knew I had found this year's - from Mango. Jenny was rocking the perfect winter coat. I love how it's smart enough to wear for work thanks to the leather collar and cuffs and still will look good with jeans, winter boots and a big wooly scarf.

What do you think? Am I mad for getting ANOTHER winter coat? Ah well! Wrap up warm and enjoy.

Whistles Wisteria Print

Meeting the wizards in my Wisteria print trousers

Regular readers will know that Whistles is one of the brands that I LOVE! Everything from their designs to their great customer service attracts me to buy something every season.

By far my favourite pieces this spring/summer has been the Wisteria print from Whistles. Ever since their collection launched I was desperate to get my hands on a piece of the Wisteria action. I waited until Grazia released their 20% off discount code and (ahhhhemm) accidentally on purpose fell into Whistles to pick up the Wisteria dress. I have worn the dress everywhere!

It didn't stop there.

I have seen the likes of Bargainista Fashionista, Nieto Noticed and even Olivia Palermo rocking the hottest Whistles items of the year so far, The Wisteria Pyjamas. I have waited and ummed and ahhhed about whether I could put it off. To the point where Whistles had sold out of both the trousers and top in my size. Then in what I would like to call a twist of fashion fate, ASOS had one remaining pair of the trousers appear online in my size. Well, it would be rude not to buy when the fashion gods have helped me so much, wouldn't it?

So here they are, on their debut outing in London. If nothing else, at least the wizards will like them.

If you are still after a pair of the trousers or the dress then they are still available and I have even done the hard work for you in tracking them down. At the time of writing ASOS still have UK size 6 & 8 available in the trousers and most sizes in the dress and students can get 10% off. Whistles themselves can also do a stock check for you if you email enquiries@whistles.co.uk and they will do mail order. They don't have many sizes in the trousers left but St Christopher's Place did have a few left in a size 14. Also worth a call is House of Fraser Dublin Dundrum which still had size 10 and 14. Unfortunately, the top is totally sold out.



Have you got any Wisteria Print? Have you had nice comments or have people been asking why you're wearing your Pyjamas to work?

Royal Blue for Her Majesty

Well today is the day I realised I do actually have something in common with the Queen. It turns out we share the same favourite colour - Blue!

Vogue magazine has studied every outfit the Queen has worn in the last 12 months to find out the colour she likes to wear most. I love this so much. She is amazing and I think this shows just how stylish she is. This image will feature in May's Vogue.

What do you think of Her Majesty's style? 

How To...Fishtail Plait

I have wanted to be able to do a fishtail plait for AGES. Over Easter I had some time to finally learn how to do it. I taught myself how to French plait years ago but when Look Magazine's Friday Night Hair email landed in my inbox I thought it was about time.

I tried to follow their video but didn't have much luck. I found the most complicated bit where you cross the hair over really hard to see. This coupled with the fact that I was trying to do it at the back of my head was giving me neck ache. If you have a friend to practice on or some hair extensions then it really would be much easier. 



I looked around online for a better How To video that I could follow. This one makes it as easy as it can be. After watching it I finally managed my first fishtail plait! Are you any good at them? Let me know how you get on. It really is easier than French Plaits.



These instructions are also fairly easy to follow as a reminder after you have watched the video.

Source: http://www.questjen.com