Get the look: VMA Red Carpet

Take inspiration from the red carpet of this year's VMAs and find your dramatic evening look from the likes of Rita Ora, Lady Gaga plus so many more. Just top it off with the right attitude and the right chauffeur...

Black leather dress, DSquared - here

Leopard dress, Stella McCartney - here

Black sandals, River Island - here

Feather skirt, Matthew Williamson - here

Silk blouse, Helmut Lang - here

Losers weepers

Anyone who hasn't yet heard of Australian label Finders Keepers is losing out. Mentioned in a previous post (here), I have fallen head over skirt for this brand which has made a name for itself in my closet, cuddling up to my others from the likes of McQueen, Paul Smith and Tibi.

The 'You Sent Me' style that I personally went for also comes in a dress version, available here, but I decided to leave the dress as it wasn't lined as well as the skirt- buy it here and here- and I am not one for a sheer dress unless it comes with a slip.

I have never before pulled on a skirt and felt that my legs look photoshopped, until now. The cutaway hem has a slimming and leg lengthening effect which could previously only be achieved with the help of Tracy Anderson or a really good dream. Plus, paired with a simple white tee and subtle strappy heels, it is a skirt which certainly does all the talking, therefore taking away the headache of pairing together printed separates.

Now the secret is out, spread the word. You can thank me when you see yourself in the skirt and fall back in love with your legs!

Photo credits: Harvey Nichols

Review: Ciate Caviar polish

The Ciate Caviar nail polish is not only a fabulous piece of nail wear, but is iconic in reintroducing the power of nail art to many a finger and toe across the land. I decided to give it a go and see what all the hype was about.

Price...
Considering you get two bottles in one go, always with a beautiful basecoat colour, the £18 price tag isn't too tough to take. It is even possible to get said fingers on a set of eight from ebay for £35, which is very reasonable indeed.

Colour...
The pearlescent effect of the micropearls are not only unusual but in the evening really do sparkle under the ambient lighting of a restaurant or the decadence of a cocktail lounge.

Staying power...
I was not overly impressed by the stamina of the Ciate. It wasn't just the beads chipping away by the end of the weekend, but the base colour was easily peeled off as well. I would want this nail polish brand to perfect the quality of the polish itself, before getting too fancy with decorative accessories. By the end of day two, I was desperate to take it off.

Overall satisfaction...
Very little jewellery is required on one's hands when sporting the caviar finish, therefore saving you the last minute already-running-twenty-minutes-late mad rush when on your way out for the evening. It's amazing how many comments your nails can attract, never before noticed until I wore the polish. I even experimented with half-dipped nails, as well as the all-over caviar look; both of which are striking and unusual. Just make sure you sprinkle your nails over a piece of paper to save the beads from escaping all over the floor, and don't expect the caviar to remain intact for more than 48 hours. That's long enough for a weekend of frivolity and festivity, at least.

3.5/5 stars

Photo credit: iamfabulicious.blogspot

Clear thinking

I can see clearly now the rain has gone...

Well the rain may still be lingering in the true British summer fashion, but my penchant for perspex and see-through accessories is sticking. 

Take, for instance, the crystal-heeled Chanel boots from AW12/13, or the Marc by Marc Jacobs PVC cross-body bag. At first glance, you see nothing untoward or particularly striking. But then, after a double take or two, you can see just how clever the craftsmanship has led the eye to see how the finer details have been finished perfectly- whether it's the stitching, hardware or the sculpting of a heel.

Although a perspex heel has never been seen as particularly chic or possessing any kind of positive connotations (think Red Light District), Chanel managed to prove them wrong and  re-imagine the potential of see-through materials. Totally modern, totally cool. 

Charlotte Olympia's perspex clutch sold out in mere minutes at one store in Dallas, and the Hermes Birkin has been toted by the elite few in the fashion world. If that doesn't whet your taste buds, I don't know what will. 

All that can be said is that now, as designers and fashion houses are beginning to experiment with innovative and sustainable materials, it's time to rethink the possibilities of your sartorial recipe. It's not that cashmere doesn't still hold true as a staple piece... you just have to pair it with some faux leather, rubber, and maybe even some PVC.

So let's forget how quickly the rain came along and banished the heat wave, and try to see clearly now even though it's pouring. 

Photo credits: Michele Silvestro; La mode oui c'est moi

Pass on punk

Madonna at the Met Ball, May 2013

As far as my involvement in the punk trend goes, it only stretches as far as my checked bathrobe. I have never been one for punk trends, so I was not overjoyed at the prospect of an autumn-winter season filled with studs, mohawks, rips and fishnets. Again.

Although it was a big part of the new urban scene in London, and therefore plays a role in our heritage, as far as I am concerned it should be left in the history books along with bonnets and long johns.

Having said that, I do think that the August cover of British Vogue is very appealing, and I have already mentioned the lovely checkered outerwear of the Celine AW13 collection here. So although I will personally be passing on the punk and gearing more towards pink (as a personal preference), I think it can be done tastefully and in a way which emulates one's own personal style, and not that of a past generation.

Photo credit: Vogue.co.uk

Wardrobe woes

Having returned back home from my brief stint at University, it appears that the contents of my wardrobe have more than doubled... yet the capacity has remained the same.

Over the last three years I have done a whole heap of closet editing- donating my old clothes to charities and friends- but it only seems to have made a small dent in the mountain of dresses, tops, shorts and skirts which has swollen to a ridiculous number, fuelled by my shopping antics at University (I blame student discount allowances and Topshop lock-ins).

So I may have to call our local handyman to come and find a solution to my storage needs, perhaps more shelving... and to say a few prayers.

Here is just one of my wardrobes, so you can gain a feeling of the severity of the situation in which I find myself. Wish me luck!

Photo credit: Goody Two-Choos

Ladies no longer waiting

As baby mania sweeps not just this country but the world, and the first few days of Baby Cambridge are shared with us all, I thought it was very fitting that both Mum and Dad emerged wearing baby blue.

So show your support for the new parents and Prince, and wear something blue tomorrow. For all those looking to emulate Catherine's style, see some fabulous suggestions below.

Congratulations to the new family.

Uttam Boutique at House of Fraser- £50

ASOS Smock Dress at asos.com - £50

Photo credit: Vogue.co.uk