Greek designer Mary Katrantzou’s beautifully bold and vibrant prints, usually seen on Alexa Chung and Keira Knightley, will soon be available to us all in an exclusive capsule collection she has designed for Topshop.
Available online and in shops from 9am this Friday, the designer has said vivid flower brooches and Qing Lond Dynasty floral motif china have inspired the striking collection.
Prices start at just £40 and go up to £350 for the structured bowl-dress (left.)
Helpful Hankies
Valentine’s Day, also known by many as ‘Single People’s Awareness Day!’
Moi Self have made these hilarious Helpful Hankies juuust in case...
£8.33 each at my-wardrobe.com
Valentines Day Lust List
Many cynics would have us believe that Valentine’s Day is just another sugar-coated celebration designed by Hallmark in an annual bid to make sweethearts spend their life savings… Bar-Hearts-Bug! In fact, it is a historical celebration of Saint Valentine’s romantic martyrdom (a 3rd Century Roman priest who, after Emperor Claudius II had outlawed marriage, continued to unite young lovers and was eventually executed for doing so...) Now, around ONE BILLION Valentine’s Day cards are sent worldwide each year.
So if you innocently, by mistake, just so happen, to leave this page open on your boyfriend or husband's laptop, no one will judge... You're merely honouring a Saint.
"Without Valentine's Day, February would be... well, January."
Above: Breakthrough Fiji Bracelet (15% from this piece goes to Breakthrough Breast Cancer) £115.00 from Monica Vinader, Sexy Panties and Naughty Knickers Monroe Soft Bra, £29.17 at Austique, 1 Dozen Long Stemmed Ecuadorian Valentine's Roses, £69.00 at Only Roses, Tainted Love Set (includes their bestselling lip gloss, a multiple colourstick and a popping pink nailpolish) £44 at Nars, Chloe eau de parfum 50ml, £52.00 at Selfridges
"I fell in love with her courage, her sincerity, and her flaming self-respect, and it's these things I'd believe in even if the whole world indulged in wild suspicions that she wasn't all she should be. I love her and that's the beginning of everything."
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Left: Je t’aime Cushion, £69.50 at Jan Constantine and
Red Love Cushion, £66.50 Jan Constantine
Above: Rosa Mundi Limited Edition Scented Candle, £40 at Diptyque, Love Letters Book, £125 at Smythson, Hummingbird Love Cupcakes, £2.50 each at Hummingbird Bakery, Rose Pebble Soap, £16.00 at Daylesford Organic, Rose Duo Gift Set, £38.00 at REN
Left: Personalised Love Biscuits, £39.50 at Biscuiteers. 8 hand made, personalised , iced chocolate biscuits delivered in a Hearts Tin
"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." Charles M. Schulz
Above: Engraved Marano Clutch, £350.00 at Anya Hindmarch.
You can have the clasp of this glittery Anya Hindmarch clutch engraved - a truly memorable gift. Each Marano charmingly has a little dance card tucked into its pocket!
Above: Heart-Shaped Chopping Board, £34.99 at notonthehightstreet.com, Love Love Tea, £4.95 at Harvey Nichols, Blush Sarong (10% from this sarong goes to Coral Conservation) £45.00 from Sophia Rogge, Moët & Chandon ‘Your Love’ Rosé Champagne (includes a gold pen to write a Valentine’s message onto its pink bottle) £47.50 at The Champagne Company, Nice Dream Last Night Mug, £15.95 at Emma Bridgewater
"Love is everything it's cracked up to be... It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk everything, you risk even more."
Erica Jong
Left: Cashmere Bed Socks, £32.00 at The White Company
"If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?"
Above: Scarlet Cashmere Wristwarmers, £19 (in sale) at Brora, Naughty Cow Travel Kit (includes Lippy Cow Lip Balm, Knackered Cow Bath & Shower Gel, Wild Cow Body Lotion, Wild, Horny or Lazy Cow Satin Knickers) £26 at Cowshed, Flamingo Kiss Stripe Tee, £28.00 at Urban Outfitters, 'Rien Que Toi, Moi, Nous' Ring ('Nothing But You, Me, Us') £85.00 at Laura Lee Jewellery, Laurie Silk Chiffon Briefs, £25 (in sale) at Agent Provocateur, Vintage Red Lips Clutch, £295.00 at Lulu Guinness
And remember boys... Nothing says LOVE quite like LOUBOUTINS
Above: Some of the SS'12 Christian Louboutin collection - Swooooon!
Madonna's Lucky Star
Madonna chose to wear customised Markus Lupfer’s S/S’12 Intarsia Jumpers for the cover of her new single ‘Give Me All Your Luvin.’ The designer joked, “It's a star for a star!"
Madonna will debut the song, which features Nicki Minaj and MIA, during American idol on the 2nd February.
Left: This super soft and super pouty Markus Lupfer 'Oversized Smacker Lip Tee' is available just in time for Valentines Day....
RRP. £70.83 at Austique.
Credit Buy - Annoushka's Love Diamonds
Inspired by Russian fable and fairytale, the country’s rich colours and historical opulence, Annoushka Ducas launched her fine jewellery range in 2009.
Annoushka Doucas explains, “I have tried to remove the feeling of reverence that so often surrounds the whole experience of buying and wearing fine jewellery, I want our pieces to be worn every day; to encourage women to wear their huge, glamorous cocktail rings to a party, but also to dress up their jeans.”
I love her delicate Love Diamond Collection – in particular, the horseshoe necklace (which I have long been coveting like a little magpie) and the matching bracelet...
Austique Sample Sale
Credit Buy - The Mulberry Harriet
Mulberry have kicked off 2012 by spoiling us with yet another beautiful bag...
After the Evelina’s short reign as the bag du jour, the Harriethas burst onto the scene and already has a gaggle of celebrity fans; Elizabeth Olsen, Olivia Palmero and Kate Bosworth have already snapped up variations of the bag, and Blake Lively (left) has been seen on the set of Gossip Girl swinging around the Harriet satchel.
Similar to 2010’s Neely, also having a lock closure and glossy leather finish, the Harriet family comes in a variety of shapes (shoulder, satchel, clutch and clutch wallet) and colours (black, navy, blush, khaki and leopard print.)
Happy New Year... Happy New Bag?
From £350 - £2500
Credit Buy - Charlotte Olympia Kitty Flats
Alexa Chung spent most of the Autumn wearing these purrfect Charlotte Olympia black velvet Kitty slipper flats (above and below.)
RRP. £485.00
At last week’s British Fashion Awards Alexa picked up her second consecutive British Style Award whilst wearing this heeled version of the shoe (left.)
RRP. £545.00
Tephi Christmas Sale
I have recently heard a lot about the beautiful dresses available from Tephi, a label started in 2009, by London based designer Chessie Grievson.
Tephi dresses (from £250-£500) are romantic, elegant and timeless - and all the pieces are named after friends of Chessie's - I particularly love the 'Pheobe' (right.) The gorgeous collection can either be bought straight off the rail at their studio or, uniquely, can be tailored exactly to your tastes with their bespoke service, "it's about offering high fashion in an intimate setting where women can come and look at the product, chat about designs, and leave with a creation that is exactly to their satisfaction."
The Tephi Christmas Sale starts today...
Credit Buy - Mulberry's Evelina Hobo
Move over Alexa, Lily, Daria, Taylor, Bella, Holly, Rosie and Tillie - There's a new gorgeous Mulbabe on the scene - Evelina.
This new–season, slouchy and laid back style handbag features luxe gold hardware and a detachable shoulder strap.
Above: Camel Leopard Print Hobo RRP. £2000
Left: Fudge Glossy Buffalo Hobo RRP. £795
Love her forevelina.