Golden Globes - Health News

Drew Barrymore in Atelier Versace, probably the best dress of the night. I adore the neutral colour and the detailing, plus the shape is fantastic.

Sandra Bullock in Bottega Veneta. The colour is divine on her, and again I really like the cut of this dress. The sheer fabric on the skirt brings a really current feel to a classically cut piece, and I love the way it catches the light. I also adore how her hair has been styled here.

 

Jennifer Garner, in Atelier Versace. Gorgeous embellishment, and the vertical lines make this design feel as if it could have been taken straight from a 1920's Art Deco illustration.

Anna Kendrick, in Marchesa. Again, I adore the detailing. Marchesa dresses are the stuff of fairy tales.

Diane Kruger, in Christian Lacroix Haute Couture. Such a sensational colour on Diane, who continues a faultless run on the red carpet.

Helen Mirren, in Armani Privé. At an event where there was far too much black on the red carpet for my liking, Helen Mirren's dress was the only one to really grab my attention. The cut is so flattering on her, and the detailing saves it from being too matronly or boring.

Ginnifer Goodwin, in Vionnet. One of the only above-the-knee dresses of the evening and a beautiful cobalt blue.

Emily Blunt, in Dolce and Gabbana. Simple yet so refreshing, a breath of fresh spring colour.

The Bad: 

Marion Cotillard, in Christian Dior, Penelope Cruz in Armani Privé, Kate Hudson in Marchesa Bridal. The ladies of Nine continue to disappoint on the red carpet. I had such high hopes for them, but Marion's dress (and the horrible peek-a-boo petticoat) feels flat and I hate her hair here, Penelope looks like she should be at a funeral and Kate looks as if she's been wrapped in loo roll. Sorry ladies but all of these looks are a big disappointment!

The I'm not sure if it's Ugly yet but I really don't like it at the minute:

Zoe Saldana, in Louis Vuitton, Chloë Sevingy in Valentino. Two of my usual favourites on the red carpet so I'm really torn here. The colour of Zoe's dress is stunning on her, but I can't bring myself to love it because of the semi-shredded hem. Chloë's dress feels a little too much due to the ruffles and I think the colour really washes her out. As much as it pains me, not my favourites at this event by a long way.

So what did you think of the Golden Globes Red Carpet? Which looks were your favourites?

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To Be Adored - Health News

To Be Adored (or tba) is a label which has been on my radar for a while now, since I first became aware of their clothing after seeing it in Urban Outfitters last year. Their autumn winter collection fused school-girl chic which sophisticated scallop hem detailing and evoked a strong 60's feel, particularly in their swing coats and cardigans with contrasting buttons. Both on the red carpet and in fashion editorials last season, tba established a strong following...

Although I was sorely tempted to purchase the navy blue dress as worn by Ophelia Lovibond above, my indecision (and the fact that the dress sold out pretty much as soon as it was included in Urban Outfitters' Boutique sale) sadly meant that my wardrobe was minus a tba frock. However, having now seen the Spring/Summer collection, I am once again lusting after their beautiful pieces. Inspired by Mia Farrow and her onscreen performances (specifically in Rosemary's Baby and The Great Gatsby), the collection fuses together two of the season's key trends: nudes and metallics and feels effortlessly modern but simultaneously timeless. Here are some of my favourite pieces:

 

 

I love the combination of the romantic colour palette with the military buttons to give the shirt dress a harder edge, and the maxi dress would be perfect to wear on holiday. I may just have to treat myself this time!

To find out more about the collection and look up stockists, vist ilovetba.co.uk.

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Headband Collection - Health News

Before the snow covered the whole of the U.K in a blanket of chaos, I had intended to go shopping this week to spend my birthday money and wages. However, as it has done for much of the last month, the weather completely ruined my plans and for the last three days I've been stuck indoors. Had I managed to get out this week, I would have been on the hunt for hair accessories from Zara's Headband Collection, which launched late last year. Here are some of my favourites:

 

 

 

The full collection can be viewed at zara.com.

I am willing the snow to disappear soon, but with the lowest temperature here being recorded at -22 degrees in the Scottish Highlands last night, I'm not holding out much hope that it will! 

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Coco Before Chanel - Health News

The other weekend, I finally got round to watching Anne Fontaine's 'Coco Before Chanel' on DVD. Detailing Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel's rise from humble roots to a revolutionary of twentieth century fashion, the film is beautifully shot, with Christophe Beaucarne's cinematography effortlessly bringing the location and period into vivid life. Catherine Leterrier's costumes also lend the piece a real authenticity; the clothes which Chanel wears as she begins to experiment with fashion feel both classic and contemporary, standing as testament to her influence on modern design and her assertion that 'fashion fades, only style remains the same'. Audrey Tautou brings strength and a luminous beauty to the role of Chanel, and perfectly encapsulates her determination and passion. Although the film centres on her often stormy and ultimately tragic relationships with Étienne Balsan and Arthur Capel, we come to understand that the hardships which she endures only galvanise her further, motivating her to achieve the remarkable successes which marked her lengthy career and enabling her to establish a lasting legacy, both in terms of women's attitudes towards dressing and through her establishment of the iconic fashion house which still bears her name.

Cinematic escapism at its best.

Have you seen the film? What did you think of it?

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Influence - Health News

Browsing through my copy of Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's 'Influence' this afternoon, it dawned on me just how much they themselves have had on the fashion world, certainly towards the latter half of the last decade. As well as being regular attendees at fashion weeks and galas, the girls have established their own fashion label, 'The Row', and a diffusion line, named 'Elizabeth and James', named after their siblings. As well as making waves in the world of high fashion, Mary Kate and Ashley are frequently cited as style icons; their unique approaches to dressing have inspired many fashion followers to replicate their looks, whether it be through carrying oversized bags, experimental accessorizing or perfecting the effortless, loose waves that have become the twins' signature hairstyle. 

 

 

'Out of all of the amazing, talented, and awe-inspiring people I have been blessed to meet in this world, the connection I share with my sister influences me the most of all'

- Ashley Olsen

I am always changing my mind about whose style I prefer: the bohemian, creative looks which Mary Kate wears so well, or Ashley's sophisticated take on modern classics. Perhaps it is a measure of how influential both of them are that I find it so hard to pin down my favourite, and to exclude one in favour of the other seems horribly biased; after all, by their own admissions, each finds the other to be their biggest influence. 

Some of my personal favourite fashion moments from the Olsen twins:

Mary Kate, Vogue Italia, June 2007

 

At Jenni Kayne, Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week, Fall 2007

Mary Kate, Teen Vogue Event, April 2007

Ashley at the re-launch of MANGO's flagship store in NYC, November 2008

At the Chanel Cruise Fashion Show, May 2007

 Mary Kate, New York, April 2009

Ashley, VMan, Summer 2009

At MuchMusic, August 2009

Mary Kate in New York, February 2007

Ashley, Marie Claire, September 2007

 Mary Kate, YOU Magazine, June 2007

Ashley, Nylon, May 2007

At Chanel, Paris Fashion Week, February 2008

I just adore them both! Whose style do you admire the most? Answers on a postcard.

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A frosting filled Christmas! - Health News

The lovely cupcake connoisseurs over at LOLA's Kitchen have created a Christmas collection to make your mouth water this festive season. As well as developing a new seasonal ginger sponge, which is available along with all of LOLA's delectable existing flavours, they have been hard at work concocting some adorable cupcakes to make this Christmas even sweeter than usual. Two new cupcake collections, the 'HO HO HO' and 'Snowflake' boxes encapsulate everything that we love about Christmas. The red, green and white iced cupcakes that feature in the HO HO HO box are beautifully decorated with intricate, hand-created images of the season. The Snowflake range is frosted with white and chocolate buttercream icing, lovingly decorated with crushed candy canes, sparkling stars and, amazingly, edible glitter! These fantastic festive creations would make the perfect gift for friends, colleagues and family alike. You can even treat yourself without feeling too guilty, as all of LOLA's cupcakes are also available as 'Tinys', bite-size portions of cake-heaven which are certain to banish those festive stresses. And, for someone like me, who isn't the biggest fan of Christmas pudding, these Christmas crackers would be the perfect way to polish off Christmas dinner.

Be sure to pay a visit to LOLA's Cupcakes to indulge in some cake shaped Christmas cheer, they are available in London at Harrods Food Hall and in Selfridges, Oxford Street, where they have just opened a 'Cupcake Bar', which sounds like my idea of heaven on earth. Alternatively, visit lolas-kitchen.co.uk to order online for delivery to London postcodes or to find out more.

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Fairy Tale Vogue - Health News

Devised by Grace Coddington and photographed by Annie Leibovitz, the December issue of US Vogue features a stunning editorial inspired by New York's Metropolitan Opera and their interpretation of Hansel and Gretel. Starring Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield and Lady Gaga, the editorial showcases designs by Marc Jacobs, Dior and Balenciaga to name but three. I love narrative editorials, and the theatrical aesthetic of this shoot demonstrates perfectly the creative symbiosis which exists between fashion and the arts.

 

The affinity between fashion and the arts is celebrated in the latest issue of US Vogue, entitled The Arts Issue, featuring the stunning Cate Blanchett on the cover. To watch a behind the scenes video of the Hansel and Gretel shoot and to hear Annie and Grace's thoughts on the issue, go here.

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