Valentines Gift Guide 2014 - For Him

While I do believe (quite stongly!) Valentine’s Day should be aaaaall about us Ladies, I suppose the dear men in our lives deserve a little love-recognition also.  Below are some sliiightly more tasteful ideas that thankfully stretch far beyond the ghastly teddy bears holding ‘I Wuv You’ hearts, pink fluffy handcuffs or cheap chocolate body paint that are currently smothering our high streets.  We do still wuuuv you though…

Above (Clockwise L-R):   Herschel Grey Heritage Suede Detail Backpack (RRP. £80.00),Cevice Peruvian Kitchen Cookbook (RRP. £25.00), Garman SatNav Projector (RRP. £129.99),Poker Case of 350 Chips (RRP. £745.00), Kiehl’s Facial Fuel (RRP. £21.00) 

Above (Clockwise L-R):  Hawksmoor at Home (RRP. £25.00), Godminster Cheese Lovers Gift Box (RRP. £50.00), Prestat Banoffe Truffles (RRP. £11.50), Topshop Tan Leather Document Holder (RRP. £60.00), Nick Bronson Knitted Silk Tie (RRP. £40.00), ‘Remember That I Love You’ Shaving Mirror (RRP. £30.00)

Above:  The 'Jaipur Stripe' shirt collection by Tobias Clothing (L-R:  Jaipur Light Blue Stripe, Jaipur Blue Stripe, Jaipur Pink Stripe - all RRP.65.00) with 10% of their profit go directly to the Akanksha Foundation in India.  

Above (Clockwise L-R):  Aesop Moroccan Neroli Shaving Duet (RRP. £53.00), Wallace & Barnes Weekender at J Crew (RRP. £450.00), Zara Cermamic Jars (RRP. From £19.99), Zara’s Grey Stripes Gift Set (RRP. £84.94), Fornasetti Civette Candle (RRP. £99.00), Apple TV (RRP. £72.99), REN Multi-Tasking After Shave Balm (RRP. £20.00) 

Valentines Gift Guide 2014

Over-commericalised? Yes. Over-Sentimentalised? Yes. But, woe betide any poor fella who fails to adequately spoil the lady in their his on Valentines Day.  If your man somehow failed to see TLC’s Valentines Gift Guide last year (here) and you were presented with some, albeit quiiiiite nice, supermarket flowers and a box of Dairy Milk, you clearly need to take a more direct approach this February.  Perhaps email this webpage of flirtatious and fashionable fancies to your darling, wonderful, love-of-your-life, sweetheart alongside some mild, yet supremely accurate and detailed, threats of your choice… That ought to help.  If not, I’ve always found self-gifting particularly rewarding.  

Above:  ‘Nikki’s Fabulously Romantic Bouquet’ by Wild At Heart comprising of white anemones, pastel roses, pastel spray roses, white ranunculus and ammi.  RRP. £60.00

Anna Kendrick's Non-Super Bowl Commercial

For anything remotely sport related to interest me, especially American sport, it had better be good… Damn good.  

Newcastle Brown Ale’s commercial that was never made (confused?!) starring TLC fave Anna Kendrick was THE talk of last weekend's ‘Super Bowl Sunday’ (that’s football riiiight?!)  The Tyneside tipple launched the ‘If We Made It’ campaign, showing the 28 year old actress in a brilliant behind-the-scenes discussion/rant about a commercial that she would have been made had the brand had had the money to indeed make it.  Outta the way Tina Fey, Anna Kendrick ("the hottest girl in your improv class hot") is fast taking centre funny-stage. 

Debit Buy: Topshop 'Kiss Me' T'Shirt

Pucker Up!  Loving me a Topshop ‘Kiss Me Boxy Burnout Tee!’  (RRP. £!6.00)  
They are oh-so-soft, oh-so-cure and oh-so-appropriately ‘out there’ in the lead up toValentine's Day.  However, they should almost certainly come baring a hazard warning;  ‘Wearing this t’shirt outside the comfort of your own home may put you at risk of increased and unwarranted attention!’  Honestly, wear this t'shirt in public and prepare to feel like a walking piece of mistletoe - so pick your company wisely!

HAWT: Taylor Swift in Gucci

Hawt = A late 1940's and early 1950's acronym for "Having A Wonderful Time."
Now the word is used on the internet as slang for something reeeeally hot.

This year’s Grammy Award’s saw 22 year old singer/songwriter Taylor Swift, once again glittering on the red carpet, a look she has perfected and I am certainly not bored of.  Despite missing out on the four awards she was nominated for, Taylor’s sensational short-sleeved column Gucci dress certainly secured the singer the ‘Best Dressed’ accolade of the night.  Renown for her penchant for metallic and sparkles on the red carpet, Taylor’s gorgeous gown, accessorized with silver drop earrings and platform heels, was utterly showstopping, proving to us all; ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.'  Taylor told E!'s Ryan Seacrestthat she loved the design, "it's like chain mail, ‘it's bullet proof. It's really heavy. It's all the things you'd expect it to be - it's like a suit of armour."  Country Strong. 

 Below:  America's Golden Girl Taylor Swift in a red carpet myriad of masterful metallics...

And moving swiftly (sorry, couldn't help myself...) from HAWT to, well just damn right HOT… Did you catch power couple Beyoncé (in a sheer Nichole de Carle body suit and La Perlathong) and Jay Z's steeeeeamy PDA/rendition of ‘Drunk in Love’…

Kate Moss for Alexander McQueen SS'14

In her first campaign since turning 40, Kate Moss is the (bare)face of Alexander McQueen SS’14.  Surprisingly, given her close friendship with the label’s founder, this is the supermodel’s first campaign for the brand. Make up free with a Tilda Swinton-esq acid orange pixie cut, Steven Klein both photographed and filmed Kate wearing Sarah Burton's black gladiator leather in an eerie and haunting, yet darkly romantic, futuristic short film inspired by the voyeuristic 1960s British thriller, ‘Peeping Tom.’  Kate’s only co-star is a freaky little Barbie doll version of herself.  Otherworldly, as only to be expected. 

Chanel Haute Couture SS'14

There was not one pair of skyscraper heels in sight on the Chanel Haute Couture runway in Paris last week. Instead, Karl Lagerfeld, clearly embracing the current sports luxe and streetwear trends, dressed every single one of his 65 (mighty grateful) models in trainers. Trainers? Chanel? Yup… You heard that right.  Trainers.

These were however, not just any trainers… These were Chanel trainers.  Created byChanel’s shoe-making atelier Massaro, the luxe embroidered, metallic and bejeweled footwear were worn with candy coloured corseted gowns and shimmering, iridescent flapper-style feathered dresses. The result was a cool, yet elegant aesthetic.  I'm game.

Cara Delevingne made the perfect run(a)way bridechiller, complete with her own little page boy, Hudson Kroenig, to hold her train. 

SJP Shoes by Sarah Jessica Parker

Last September we struggled to remain composed when Sarah Jessica Parker announced she was creating a shoe collection.  

The first image to be released was of the elegant Mary-Jane style 'Diana' heels (below) which have a diagonal strap and are particularly similar to the black Manolos SJP’s ‘Sex and The City’c haracter Carrie Bradshaw picks out to wear in the ‘Urban Shoe Myth’ episode.  All the SJP shoes are crafted in Italy and this particular patent pair of stilletos will cost $395.00 (approximately which is a round £240.00). 

 SJP actually credits her shoeaholic character Carrie as igniting her interest in shoe design stating, “Carrie's love of shoes meant I got to wear literally hundreds of pairs - and the more I wore, the more I realised that they are often the starting point of the style choices we make. Sometimes in fashion, little else matters but the shoe." 

The SJP collection will also apparently include kitten heels, laced booties, flats and strappy heels and will be unveiled later this month at Nordstrom.   There is currently no UK launch date in the pipeline but the shoes will be available online for us SJP fans across the pond so we can thankfully Keep Calm and Carrie On.

Golden Globes 2014

I look forward to the Golden Globes every year.  Like the more louche and drunk cousin of the Oscars, this ceremony provides us with an early indication of the award season’s winners and, more importantly, our first glimpse at the latest SS’14 show stopping frocks and red carpet trends… #ClothesOverShows!  My favourite three dresses were worn by (*drumroll...) Lupita Nyong'o, Cate Blanchett and Caitlin Fitzgerald.

Above:  Lupita Nyong’o...  I am a BIG fan of cape dresses and ‘12 Years a Slave’ newcomer Lupita Nyong’o looked the bomb in this dramatic Ralph Lauren gown which was reminiscent of Gwyneth Paltrow’s striking Tom Ford cape dress at the 2012 Oscars.

Above:  Cate Blanchett... As always, the graceful ‘Blue Jasmine’ actress gave us a masterclass in red carpet dressing.  Always elegant yet quirky, Cate Blanchett looked both gothic and regal in her black tulle and lace Armani Prive high-necked, backless dress. 
Starlets take note. 

Above:  Caitlin Fitzgerald...  'Masters of Sex' actress Caitlin Fitzgerald looked incredible in her gorgeous powder blue, Emilia Wickstead step hem dress.  I do wish she had styled her hair a little more in keeping with the high neckline of the dress (a slick updo would have been perfect) but I think her accessories and make up were divine.

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Three major red carpet trends stood out at the 2014 Golden Globes; Red, Nude and… Bumps! Yes, amidst the crimson silks and blush tulle were several glowingly pregnant lead actresses posing for two.  I also noticed that, unlike last year’s ceremony, there were less glossy limbs and cleavages on show (perhaps a Miley backlash?!) as a welcome return to higher necklines and more demure dress lengths were favoured. 

Above:  Ladies in Red (L-R):  Lupita Nyong'o in her scene stealing Ralph Lauren cape dress and Emma Roberts in the backless scarlet Dior Couture dress she paired with navy trousers. Amy Adams looked sexier than usual in a ‘70’s inspired, two-tone burgundy/red halter-neck Valentino dress and singer Taylor Swift wore cherry-red Carolina Herrera.

Above:  Pale and Interesting (L-R): Naomi Watts wore a metallic, white gold Tom Fordcolumn dress and Margo Robbie flashed emerald green heels from under her cream Guccidress.  Zooey Deschenal looked as kooky cute as always in a glittering ivory Oscar de la Renta skirt and embellished crop top (with a daisy mani naturally!) and similaily, Sally Hawkins wore a beautifully embellished Dior ensemble.  Michelle Dockery looked every inch the lady (Mary) in strapless Oscar de la Renta.

Above:  Battle of the Bumps (L-R):  Olivia Wilde (who is expecting her first baby with Jason Sudeikis) looked bumpalicious in this body-skimming, long sleeved, emerald-green sequined dress by Gucci.  'Scandal' star Kerry Washington bumped beautifully in her, albeit quite mature, Balenciaga silk crepe gown with diamond pin designed by Alexander Wang. Drew Barrymore wore a petal-embellished Monique L’huillier bumptastic gown which I don’t think would have suited anyone else other than her.

As expected there are always a selection of dresses which cause debate and others which outright have us all united in mutual shock and horror...

Above: Marmite ('you either love it or you hate it...') L-R:  Jennifer Lawrence’s white Belle Epoque-inspired Dior (who else?!) gown with black ribbon detailing sparked a series of internet parodies (pugs in rubber tubes, kittens in coffee filters…) I don’t find the dress to be particularly inspiring but I do find her talent, attitude and punk-like hair is able to make any outfit notable.  The more I look at Emma Watson’s Dior Couture outfit the more I love it.  The actress looks modern, fresh and youthful, and even if I am in the minority, I am a big fan of this look.  Zoe Saldana consistently takes high fashion red carpet risks and once again the actress divided opinion in this this Prabal Gurung cocktail dress.

Above:  When Bad Outfits Happen to Good People (Clockwise L-R):  eece Witherspoon looked particul.... zzzzzzzzzzz... I'm sorry, wha... um, she wore a really dull dress by Calvin Klein. I was more than excited to see Julia Roberts back on the red carpet… I was however, less enthused about her outfit especially when imagining how many designers must have been clambloring to dress the supporting actress nominee.  Whhhhy oh whhhhy did she wear this peculiar, drab and unflattering Dolce & Gabbana ensemble?!  White shirts under gowns should only ever be seen on Meryl Streep (mainly because Meryl Streep is Meryl Streep and can do whatever the hell she likes... Fact).  Sandra Bullock started the awards season so well, but this Prabal Gurung colour-block gown makes the actress look a Licorice Allsort, albiet one with immacualte hair and makeup.  As Tom Ford only dresses one star per awards show, Hayden Panettiere bought (yes, actually paid for) her dress by the designer for the night... is it too late for a refund?!  Very 90's... and not in a good way.  Lena Dunham’s canary yellow Zac Posen strapless dress totally wore her and I am yet to see one picture of the actress from the night looking remotely comfortable.