The Coco’s Tea Party ‘Curated By…’ Edit for QVC Jewellery

May 17, 2013

To celebrate QVC’s 20th anniversary the fashion team invited me to create an edit of my favourite Spring/Summer 2013 jewellery designs. It was quite a challenge, as QVC have such wide variety of brands on their website, and you can find everything from classic hoop earrings to statement cocktail rings in their jewellery edit. I kept it simple, and picked out eight pieces I’d wear. It’s the perfect mix of everyday items (I love the rose gold link bracelet) and on-trend party pieces.

QVC Jewellery
The CTP Edit*: 1. Libertine By Giles Deacon beetle necklace // 2. Bronza Italia rose gold bracelet // 3. Ottoman Evil Eye necklace // 4. QVC starfish cocktail ring // 5. Diamonique stud earrings // 6. Butler & Wilson crystal snap bracelet // 7. Libertine By Giles Deacon scorpio earrings // 8. Butler & Wilson crystal link bracelet

The Libertine by Giles Deacon scorpio earrings are so quirky and dramatic. They’d put a completely fresh spin on a LBD. And the Butler & Wilson crystal chain link bracelet makes such a statement, I’d be shocked if you weren’t showered in compliments every time you wore it! It would look especially stylish next to a Michael Kors watch…

And if you’re ever unsure about a jewellery purchase you’re planning to make online follow this smart and simple tip: print out a life-sized image of the piece you’re about to buy and pin it to yourself to see how it looks. That way you’re able to avoid disappointment and a trip to the post office!

# Sponsored content created in collaboration with QVC  #

*products not linked will be online at QVC within the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for them.
Posted by Filed Under: Fashion, Jewellery, Shopping

The River Island Fall 2013 Collection is a Serious Trend Extravaganza

May 6, 2013

River Island AW13 1

River Island presented their Autumn/Winter 2013 collection to press, last week, and I was completely blown away by the selection of eye-catching designs on offer. The fall line-up is split into seven key trends: Mash Up, Bauhaus, Modernist, Supernova, Workhouse, Mono and Teen Spirit.

As always, there are plenty of runway-inspired looks to buy into (Supernova is very Balmain), and the mix of print, colour and texture will keep fashion daredevils happy. The collection also features some great work-wear options, which came as a surprise to me. Here I’ve pulled together a handful of my favourite looks so you can start compiling your wishlist:

River Island AW13
River Island AW13 3

I’ll be investing in the leopard print knit [above], the fabulous pointed-toe heels and the oversized orange coat [pictured after the jump]. The ‘Teen Spirit’ and ‘Supernova’ trends photograph brilliantly, so I’m sure we’ll see plenty of the designs in editorials, come September, but I’ll definitely wear bolder designs with classic wardrobe staples. See more below….

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7 Things To Do This Weekend: The Ice Cream and Bubble Bath Edition

May 3, 2013

Because I worked all of last weekend, covering the Vogue Festival, I’ve been looking forward to this weekend ever since Monday morning. I can’t wait to take some time to unwind! If you’re also in need of some relaxation then take a look at my seven stylish weekend suggestions. It’s all about indulgence, this week, from ice cream sundaes to bubble baths…

Things to do this weekend

1. See Prada’s Great Gatsby costumes… The Great Gatsby hits cinemas in less than a week, and if you’re in New York over the weekend you can see a selection of the film’s stunning costumes up close. Miuccia Prada and Catherine Martin’s designs are currently on display at the flagship Prada store, in SoHo. Get down there this weekend before the mini exhibition ends – it’s only on until May 16th.

2. Go out for ice cream… Whether there’s rain or sunshine, this weekend definitely calls for ice cream! Whilst it’s very tempting to crash out on the sofa with a tub of Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food, I think I’ll go for the more sophisticated option, and go out for an ice cream sundae with a group of girlfriends. What’s your favourite flavour?

3. Shop for a maxi dress… Every where I look right now there’s a stylish girl wearing a simple, black maxi dress. The black maxi is a total wardrobe staple, and looks cool no matter how you style it. Literally anything goes, from Converse sneakers and denim jackets to heels and statement jewellery. Jarlo’s lace swing dress [pictured] is my current favourite.

4. Organise your shoe collection… A walk-in-wardrobe is the dream, but for most of us that’s simply not an option. My collection of shoes has got completely out of control recently (although I’d still say there’s room for another pair – or four), so I’ll be spending part of the weekend organising my closet. A shoe bookshelf seems like the smartest idea, but that calls for a hellish weekend trip to Ikea… The things we do for fashion, right?

5. Try a new hair colour… I spent yesterday afternoon at the Errol Douglas hair salon, in Knightsbridge, getting a colour makeover (more on this coming soon). I’d been tempted to try a darker shade of blonde for a long time, but only just plucked up the courage to go for it. So this weekend I suggest you finally book a hair appointment, if you’ve been day dreaming about a bold new look for a while. What’s the worst that could go wrong?

6. Find the perfect pair of summer shades… Burberry have just launched their latest eyewear collection for Spring Summer 2013, Burberry Spark. It’s packed full of fabulous designs for men and women, from two-tone metallic styles to foldable aviators. If you like to buy a new pair of sunglasses every summer this line is definitely worth checking out.

7. Take a long bubble bath… The weekend is for relaxing, so why no treat yourself to a long bubble bath? My favourite bath products are Mandara Spa’s bath soak and Philosophy’s zesty Senorita Margarita bubble bath. Expensive candles – like Cire Trudon‘s eucalyptus, orange, cedar scent, pictured above – are an added bonus.

Images courtesy of Burberry, Pinterest and Warner Bros. via thefashionspot.com

The Fashion and Beauty Calendar: May 2013

May 1, 2013

Pepare yourselves for a busy four weeks, as May 2013 is packed full of exciting fashion and beauty events. Find all the details here – from the must-see new movie to the latest exclusive capsule collection…

May 2013 Miss Vogue Cover

Now… BlackBerry have just launched their latest smartphone, the Q10. The new device was exclusive to Selfridges, over the weekend, and sold out in 90 minutes. It’s now available nationwide in the UK, but there’s sure to be a waiting list on certain networks. Why all the fuss? Because the BlackBerry Q10 has a large, touchscreen and a QWERTY keyboard. The best of both worlds! I’ve been gifted a phone to review, so stay tuned for my thoughts on the Q10…

Now is also the perfect time to wear a baseball cap. Last year it was all about traditional sporty styles, but for Spring 2013 bold prints are the key look. Try H&M and River Island for bargain buys, or invest in a Ale et Ange cap [pictured] from Net-A-Porter. And, if your makeup bag could do with something new, check out MOR’s Lip Macaroon balms, which you can now find on ASOS. They’re seriously juicy, coming in flavours like Lychee, Blood Orange and Passion Flower.

May 1st… Fans of Bumble and bumble’s Surf Spray will be pleased to hear they’re expanding on the Surf product range, with their new Surf Foam Wash Shampoo and Surf Crème Rinse Conditioner. They launch today at Space NK, Selfridges and in selected Boots stores nationwide. I haven’t tried the shampoo and conditioner duo yet, but it promises “buoyant body and soft seabrezzy texture.” What more could you ask for?

May 2nd… You’ve seen Beyoncé’s H&M ads, and this month you can finally purchase the swimwear she models in the campaign. The H&M summer collection will hit stores on May 2nd. And according to Ann-Sofie Johansson, Head of Design at H&M, “Beyoncé herself had input into the design, and they are full of her own personal style.” Get shopping…

May 6th… My favourite red carpet event of the year, the Met Gala, takes place on May 6th. The theme for this year’s costume exhibition is Punk: Chaos to Couture, and Riccardo Tisci and Rooney Mara are acting as co-chairs. So, what can we expect from the red carpet? Rumour has it Kanye West will perform at the Gala, and has therefore managed to get Kim Kardashian on the guest list. Let’s just hope she doesn’t dress her baby bump in a typically punk safety pinned look! That could go very wrong indeed…

The 6th of May is also the launch date for British Vogue’s teen magazine, Miss Vogue. Cara Delevingne is the cover star, and the issue will appear as a free supplement with Vogue’s June 2013 issue – which, interestingly, is covered by the UK’s other super-star model, Kate Moss. See more at Vogue.co.uk.

May 10th & 16th… Baz Luhrmann’s remake of The Great Gatsby finally hits cinemas this month. The epic 3D feature is released on May 10th in the USA and Canada, on hits UK and Europe. It’s definitely the movie event of the year, so make sure you book tickets early! The soundtrack – which has been produced by Jay-Z and features new material from Florence + the Machine and Beyoncé – is also released this month, on May 7th.

May 22nd… If you’re a fan of Richard Nicoll make sure May 22nd is marked in your diaries! Richard is releasing an exclusive capsule collection for men and women at MATCHESFASHION.COM, and it’s packed full of must-buy minimalist pieces. “I wanted to place a real emphasis on making something timeless,” the British designer revealed. Highlights from the 13 piece collection include a two-tone leather jacket and a contrast-collar shirt. Me likey!

Shopping For: A Punchy Update on Leopard Print

April 30, 2013

leopard print
Shop the Edit: 1. Cashmere sweater by Chinti and Parker // 2. Canvas sneakers by Vans // 3. Biker jeans by A.P.C // 4. Leather pouch by Kenzo // 5. Denim jacket by Topshop // 6. White ’80s watch by Komono // 7. Printed socks by Happy Socks // 8. Contrast court shoes by Topshop

Leopard print will never go out of style. Even when fashion went through its minimalist phase the print still appeared in collections. You could call it a neutral now – as it’s use as often as black a white. However, there’s nothing minimalist of neutral about the designs above. For Spring/Summer 2013 leopard print was given a punchy update, appearing in acidic brights or forming statement pieces, like A.P.C’s attention-grabbing biker jeans.

Although I love leopard print I’ll be sticking to a subtle take on the trend, investing in key accessories. Kenzo’s patenet leather pouch is top of my wishlist, along with Topshop’s pointed-toe courts. Which leopard print pieces are you loving?

Posted by Filed Under: Fashion, Kenzo, Shopping, Topshop

7 Things To Do This Weekend: The Vogue Festival and Kenzo Edition

April 26, 2013

Like many of you based in London I’ll be spending my weekend at the second annual Vogue Festival, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday at the Southbank Centre. If you missed out on tickets I’ll be covering everything for Coco’s Tea Party, so stay tuned for updates. And, instead, you can busy yourselves with these seven stylish activities… Enjoy!

Vogue Festival Weekend

1. Follow the Vogue Festival tweets… I’ll be at the Vogue Festival all weekend, so make sure you’re following the @cocosteaparty Twitter feed, as I’ll sharing updates constantly. This year’s speakers include Victoria Beckham, Michael Kors, Donatella Versace and Net-A-Porter founder, Natalie Massenet. If you’re attending too, make sure you tweet using the official hashtag, #VogueFestival, and copy @BritishVogue in.

2. Fill your home with fresh flowers… I’m not really that fussed about flowers, but it’s impossible to walk past Liberty in London without stopping at the flower stall. If you’re out shopping this weekend make sure you pick up a bouquet or two to decorate your home.

3. Buy a pair of barely-there sandals… If you have the urge to shop for new shoes this weekend there’s only one style you should be buying: barely-there sandals. They’re being worn by everyone, this season, from Rihanna to Jennifer Lawrence. For a guilt-free fashion fix head to ASOS, where they have an entire page dedicated to barely-there sandals. The metallic, mint green heels [pictured above] are my favourites.

4. Read Gone Girl… I started reading Gillian Flynn’s thriller last weekend, and had finished it by Tuesday. It’s so good I’ve been recommending it to everyone I know. It’s about a woman who goes missing, and her husband is the main suspect. And there’s a twist – of course! Reese Witherspoon has bought the film rights and it looks as if David Fincher (The Social Network) will direct the project. So far there’s no news on who will play Nick and Amy (Reese will just act as a producer), but Jessica Chastain’s name keeps coming up on blogs and forums. Watch this space…

5. Have breakfast in bed… Breakfast in bed is the ultimate indulgence and the perfect treat for the last weekend of the month. Just try to avoid pastries, as no one wants sleep in a bed filled with croissant crumbs…

6. Watch your favourite Sex and the City episode… Sometimes the best weekends are those spent on the sofa with a marathon SATC session. Everyone has their favourite episodes (mine are A Women’s Right To Shoes, Running With Scissors and Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda) so maybe the best plan of action is to team up with your best friends and each select an episode.

7. Dress your iPad in Kenzo… Did you know Kenzo made iPad cases? Because I didn’t! But then why wouldn’t you want to dress your iPad in Kenzo tiger print?! Of couse they make them! The signature tiger T-shirts and sweaters sell out at the speed of lightning, so this is probably the next-best option. Find them at Matches for £140.

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