Oh! You Pretty Things

My favourite portrait ever, I reckon.

Crimson & Clover

Topshop Parisian Charms Jersey Dress

Or...

ASOS Nude Bow Dress

Or...

Urban Outfitters Lace Slip Dress

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Your favourite red lipstick

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..... Something to this affect!

The always impreccable Diane Kruger recently made me realise that nude dresses and red lips make the most lovely combination known to mankind. The nonchalant up-do and minimal accessories focuses the attention the contradicting hues even more. Genius.

How To Be Adored

I'd like to point you in the direction of a highly lovely book that I purchased a couple of months ago, and still find myself constantly referring to. 'How To Be Adored', by Caroline Cox, ought not to be judged by its slightly self help-esque title, as it reads more like a manual for classic Hollywood era beauties. As well as preaching the virtues of being lovely to all you meet, it also features advice such as how to make your voice more appealing, how to dress for your figure (from Perfect Ballerina, i.e. Audrey Hepburn, to Mae West-style Big & Beautiful) and good old fashioned relationship.

My favourite element is the tips straight from the star's mouths, as well as sneaky tips from those who worked with them, which is something you rarely find in such books. For example, how do you think Audrey Hepburn enchanced those legendary doe-eyes? Her makeup artist seperated each individual eyelash with a pin. And Marlene Dietrich aquired that unrivaled bone structure through contouring powders and - rumour has it - having her molars removed. 

I can't reccomend this book highly enough for anyone interested in old-school Hollywood glamour. Click here for a link to Amazon, where it costs a mere £6.75. (I wish I was being paid for this!)

Cosmic Dancer

Today, let's admire the wonderful stylings of trapeze artist/ model/ film-maker, Sarah Sophie Flicker. She can often seen having more fun than anyone else with her equally well-dressed friends, Zooey Deschanel, Karen Elson and Erin Fetherston, and has been featured in Lula more times than those Tabio heart-print tights. It is not hard to see why - with her milk white skin, waist length curls and a penchant for pastel, sparkling outfits - nay, costumes - she looks as though she has stepped straight of a Hans Christian Anderson tale. She also sports an enviable line in head-wear; in these photos alone she showcases a galaxy of stars, a crown of flowers and a sequinned cat mask, worn fascinater-style. Without further ado, feast your eyes upon some of her wonderful get-ups of late....

Venus In Furs

Leopards and glamour pusses have long gone hand in hand, with some even going as far as owning one as a pet, and once again, the classic print is back in the fashion spotlight. Stylish types have been sporting leopard print everything, from 5-inch Louboutins to that Agent Provocateur leotard. However, I think leopard print looks best worn as nature intended - fluffy and furry - or as saucy underwear. It is particularly effective in the form of a warm furry coat (faux, naturally) or a coquettish little hat. Note in the example below, from the previously- blogged film 'An Education', how you and your friend can craftily co-ordinate by wearing one item each!

Rosamund Pike & Carey Mulligan in 'An Education', sporting co-ordinating lovely leopard pieces. 

Audrey Hepburn keeping it minimal in a leopard print pillbox hat.

Edie Sedgwick sporting her two best-known trademarks, her faithful leopard coat and her distinctive silver 'do.

Alexa Chung having a rare old-school glamour moment with the oh-so-glamourous combination of leopard print and red lipstick.

Brigitte Bardot adding even more french flair to her Leopard trench with a jauntily-placed beret.

The divine Daisy Lowe teaming her coat and a Ghost World-style mask with great panache.

If you are looking to add a bit of leopard to your wardrobe, Topshop is stocking a particularly lovely coat and a very chic beret can be found at H&M!

You Say You Want A Resolution?

I know, I know; six days into the new year, this is rather late off the mark. I don't know about you, but I think resolutions can't REALLY begin until all the festive food is gone! Your average resolution - for example, 'this year, I must stop eating cupcakes none-stop' -  is rather depressing, which is surely getting your new year off onto a miserable start, non? So here are a few more, shall we say, frivolous little things you will have much more fun sticking to...

Start matching your lips to your nails like they used to in the good ol' days... even if they are mint green!


Kiss more! Spread the love.


Don't save your red lipstick just for the night-time.


Enjoy the most dazzling coloured cocktails for a night to remember, even if the details are a little hazy.


Take photos of everything, then stick them all down in a beautiful book. Show your future grand-kids what a wonderful wardrobe granny had.