Wildfox Western S/S12 Look Book - Even Cowgirls get the Blues

Every year Christmas seems to be over with more and more quickly, this year being no exception... One minute I was desperately looking forward to catching the train home at lunchtime and the next minute I'm packing up my suitcase again, this time full of iTunes and Boots vouchers. 

What better way to get through this miserable time of nothingness and endless grey days courtesy of January and February than to look forward to summer with gusto through the form of the new S/S12 look book from Wildfox.

I always deeply envious of the girls behind the brand, childhood friends Kimberly Gordon and Emily Faulstich. If you believe their bio, they spend their days 'visiting vintage shops and working out of their studio, where they spread peace and love through their design, inspired by sleepovers and fairies.'

Sounds like a very nice life to me although I'm sure if you look at their success things are now a little more hectic...

This season's collection is a nod to the Western film genre - big hair, cowboy boots, crosses, cow skulls with splashes of desert sun neon yellow, cactus cooler tangerine and the romanticism behind spaghetti westerns of the 1960s.

Find your summer inspiration below...

 

 

Wildfox is stocked at Harvey Nichols and Selfridges.

(images courtesy of wildfox)

5 Things I Liked About This Christmas

1. Still explaining parts of the plot of Love Actually to my mum, even though we've watched it every year for the last 4 years.

2. The come back of Patsy and Eddie.

3. My mum making up who gifts are from as she goes unwraps them because she can't be bothered to get her glasses and read the gift tags properly.

4. Giving presents more than receiving - the last thing I could have ever imagined aged ten.

5. Polishing off two bottles of Bollinger and one bottle of Laurent Perrier with my mum before lunch because no one else in the house drinks.

Sofa Sanity Sale Selection

For some reason unknown to even myself I ventured into town today to pick up THREE last minute Christmas presents. So unlike me to not a) buy everything online and b) not be militantly organised by September. It was not however as bad as I feared and I came back not only satisfied that I had pulled off last minute present buying without any 'that will have to do' moments but also with my sanity in tact. And he who dares wins - I also got a couple of gifts at a fraction of the price because everyone has gone steamrolling into sale.

Normally I only reserve my sale shopping for higher value items where you can make real savings (actually who am I kidding, I'm always skint) and avoid mid-range stores like the plague whilst they bring out 3 three year old stock from dusty warehouses... This year however whether you're out for a spree or hankering after a steal, there are some great pieces to be picked up and being the kind goodhearted person that I am, I have picked out the highlights for you...

Vampire Suck Tee from Urban Outfitters was £28 now £14

Sherry Dress from Motel Rocks was £38 now £17

See by Chloe Cardigan at My Wardrobe was £308 now £154

Parisan Stiletto Shoe at Miss Selfridge was £59 now £30

Sacha Maxi Dress at Boohoo was £20 now £5

Tan Saddle Bag at French Connection was £250 now £167.50

Christmas at Babington House with 40% off My Wardrobe

So this weekend we headed off to Babington House like the stereotypical Style reading Londoner's that we are, looking to escape the grey concrete and immerse ourselves in rolling green hills. That or just browse the internet and watch X-Factor in a more expensive living room than ours... And it was bliss.We could have easily stayed another day, week, month even.

My favourite part of the weekend was of course people watching - assessing who they were, if they really suited their other half, what labels they were wearing and my current fascination - what they do for a living when they aren't living it up at country spa's in Bath...and if they in fact did anything at all.

If like me, you feel like a bit of an impostor in situations like this, make your style choice from the shelves of My Wardrobe for that perfect warm cosy winter outfit that screams countryside whilst remaining stylish. And if you can't quite afford all this lot in one fell swoop, let My Wardrobe help you out with a whopping 40% off... Just enter SECRETSALE8 at the checkout.   

Theory Scotia Long Sleeve cardigan £385

J Brand Wine Skinny Zip Ankle Jodhpur £265

3.1 Phillip Lim Placket Front Sweater Sleeve Top £365

Eugenia Kim Hunter Green Lauren Velour Felt Hat £320

Ash Crosby Studded Curve Cowboy Ankle Boot £225

(images courtesy of Soho House Group) 

Stars & Stripes

 

Just my kind of thing. You've got to have something to get you through the cold dark grey months. Thank god for Stussy.

Hand Jobs by Joshua Scott

 

Has the world sitting in the palm of his hand. From fake fur to roaches, there is little that this New York based photographer can't make look alive.

One to get your hands on this Halloween.

Atelier, Couture, Sports, Jeans, Versus and now Versace H&M

The wait to see the Versace for H&M collection in full is over - the previews have finally been released and some of Tirade's favourite picks are featured below. Drawing on the heritage of the legendary fashion house, there is the iconic bright prints and bold colours. Plus, there will be homeware too!

"The collection for H&M is the essence of Versace. For the collaboration we've brought back from the archives, as well as from more recent collections, some of the icons of Versace, such as the bright prints, the Greek key and daring cuts. I can't wait to see how H&M's wide audience will make these pieces their own," says Donatella Versace.

Launching in 300 stores worldwide and online on November 17, swot up on which pieces you want to buy now or risk standing in a queue for 5 hours and missing it all! 

Just because.

Karl Lagerfeld designs second collection of Diet Coke bottles

Previously designed by Matthew Williamson and Roberto Cavalli among others, Diet Coke and Coca-Cola bottles have been getting collectable makeovers by fashion's biggest names since 2003. These bottles won't reach the selected stores until summer this year, but you'll have to get ready to pounce on these drinkable desirables before the collectors do.

Chanel's creative director is a big fan of the brand. He reportedly lost 90 pounds in 2001 by only drinking Diet Coke and eating steamed vegetables.

The designer has also been known to employ Diet Coke butlers who bring him the drink in a Lalique crystal goblet.

Lagerfeld says: 'As everybody knows, I drink Diet Coke and nothing else, night and day.'

And here is a peek of the three sitting in my kitchen…

Here Comes The Sun...

For those of you fortunate enough to be going on your holidays soon, the all too familiar bikini shop will be rearing its ugly head - filling you with a mixture of dread (because you are too fat/too skint to get into 'that' bikini) and wet your pants excitement (we will be on the plane in precisely 3 months, 2 weeks and 3 days). So here is a little tip - there are only 3 (yes 3) items you need to get NOW, to ensure your hard earned holiday goes exactly as planned and you look exactly as gorgeous as you imagined on that beach...

1. Absurdly luxurious Leopard Beach Towel from Agent Provocateur £95

2. Fantastically kitsch Rose et la Mer sunglasses from Anna-Karin Karlsson £395

3. Totally zany Chieftan Story Bandeau bikini from Mara Hoffman £140

And you're all set. Now just to book the flights.

A New Hope

The destination festival with a brand of it's own

The first Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was held in October 1999 and ever since, Coachella has been a haven of stylista's galore from bloggers to pop stars.

Acts that played this year included A-Trak, Cut Copy, Hurts, Kings of Leon, Marina and the Diamonds, Chromeo, Death From Above 1979, CSS, Duck Sauce, Duran Duran and Tinie Tempah.

Here are some of my favourite outfits from this year's fashion parade...

I'm in Miami Bitch. Where do you wish you were?

The only way is botox

Inspired by the girls botox party in last night's episode of TOWIE, I decided to highlight the benefits of a little nip here and a little a tuck there.

This morning photo's surfaced of Lisa Kudrow from Friends and her none botoxed face, who maintains that the reason she doesn't have work done is because she is "too scared". Now I am not one to point out celebrities flaws, saying they are too fat this week and too thin the next but boy can you tell the difference when you compare her to her co-stars Courtney Cox (to whom Lisa is only a year older) and Jennifer Aniston - who I am sure have both had a bit of help shall we say. Bet Lisa wishes she wasn't such a smelly scaredy cat now.

Whilst the latter are demonstrating the benefits of subtle surgery and enhancements - Chloe Sims from TOWIE is certainly not and looking all the more dreadful for it. I mean seriously someone needs to tell her beautician (who I am presuming is Amy Childs) that her eyebrows are too close together.

One thing I know is for sure - if I have the money, I am slowing down the aging process in anyway possible!

Your fashion democracy - unearthing the best fashion discoveries and style inspiration

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