A/W Inspo.

This past week I’ve been thinking more and more about my autumn/winter, and I’ve been looking around for inspiration on what key pieces I should add. As expected, net-a-porter proved to be a great place for me to source ideas, so now I’ve convinced myself to spend the next few months in miniskirts (with tights of course) and sweaters – here’s hoping I keep it up. Check out my picks below.

ALEXANDER WANG

        

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ALICE + OLIVIA

        

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ANYA HINDMARCH

        

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KENNETH JAY LANE

        

OLIVIA VON HALLE

        

See what else is new today here.

alice

xo

Black, Lace, Leopard.

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks, so todays picks are somewhat sombre, laid back and calm – I mean you can’t get any more sombre, laid back and calm than black, lace, leopard print and a dash of cosy grey, can you?

CARINE GILSON

        

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KENZO

        

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THE ROW

        

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GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI

        

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See what else is new today on net-a-porter.com, here.

alice

xo

Five Favourites Thursday.

So I know it’s been a while since you’ve seen on of these posts, and I figured that as I kind of miss writing them, you probably miss reading them (or for those of you who are fairly new to Diamonds and Pebbles, you’re probably not all familiar with the concept). What I want to try and do is; one Thursday a month, I want to share five things I’m most excited about, and what I’m currently loving. As it’s the New Year and everything, blah blah blah, I wanted to start off by sharing five things I’m most looking forward to in 2014.

MY FIRST ‘OH WOW’ PURCHASE

By this point you know of my love for the finer things in life, and so it’s only natural that one of the things I’m most looking forward to about this year is buying my very first ‘OH WOW’ vanity item. I’m not too sure what it’s going to be yet, but you can be guaranteed that I’ll be sharing it with you when I finally do decide.

        

GETTING MY FIRST CAR

Seeing as I’m in my final year at university (I’ve only got about five months or so), and moving home back home (to London) permanently is something I can properly start looking forward to, it makes sense that the time will soon come for me to get my very first car. Now again, I’m not 100% on the car, although I think I’d quite like a Vauxhall Corsa, as it’s the car I’ve been driving in and become most familiar with.

GRADUATING

I mean, how could I possibly not be looking forward to graduating? I know it’ll be bitter-sweet, but it’s one of those inevitable things that’s going to happen, so I feel like I may as well just go with the flow and welcome October with open arms!

SCANDAL AND GREY’S ANATOMY

Both winter finales’ had me FLOORED. This Christmas break it’s been something of a challenge not waking up on a Friday morning to watch the latest episodes and scream at my laptop screen, but I think I’ve managed to pull through. Is April going to leave Matthew at the altar for Avery? How exactly will Cristina leave Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital? Will Owen confess his undying love? Will papa Pope be reinstated as Command? What the huck is mama Pope up to? What the huck is going on with Quinn and Charlie? And just iwyteguHJLFIJHDOEGFYUHjqpouoeruij;syurlsijyedriu…

VEGAS??

For my 22^nd birthday I really really REALLY want to go to Las Vegas. After spending two weeks in the States last year, I’ve been dreaming about my return, and going back for my birthday seems like the perfect time to go back. I would have graduated a few weeks prior, I’d be living back at home, and Britney would still be in the throes of her Vegas residency, so duh it’s a total no-brainer.

So you’ve heard it here first guys. Watch this space and see fun things will unfold this year. Until next month, happy Thursday!

alice

xo

A Few Pieces To Cheer Me Up.

I’ve been throwing up since morning and it’s put an enormous downer on my day; not only because it’s meant I’ve spent the day on my hands and knees next to the toilet, but because it’s meant I’ve been unable to go to bench ball (something I was REALLY looking forward to :() – I guess I’ll just have to go next week. With all this drama going on, there’s only one place that can cheer me up: net-a-porter, and today’s picks do not disappoint. We start off with Dion Lee’s black and blue halter top that looks great with the matching skirt (which I haven’t included because it’s a tad too long for my liking), but would just as fab with a pair of skinny jeans. Christian Louboutin makes the list twice with a pair of sexy and classic python pumps and a pair of thigh high black suede boots. We then finish things off with L’Wren Scott’s gold number with an ultra-plush blue velvet ribbon detail (you know how much I’m loving ribbons at the moment); and a Fendi bag, cute and fabulous enough to rival the iconic Chanel 2.55.

DION LEE

        

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CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

        

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L’WREN SCOTT

        

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FENDI

        

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CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

        

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alice

xo

End Of Week Pick-Me Up.

I would have posted this yesterday but I was suffering from a Shonda induced double-whammy attack (I’m talking about the season finales of both Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal), which I won’t go into now because I think I’m still feeling the effects of it. So in some way, I guess you could say that this list kind of makes up for all the crazy head-fucks and heartbreaks Shonda and her team of incredible writers were able to do to me over the course of two hours.

MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA BY L’ATELIER D’EXERCICES

Obviously it’s not every day that you see a snow globe being sold on net-a-porter, so when you do, you know that you either buy it straight away, or if you’re like me and have a very stubborn (but imaginary) billionaire boyfriend, then you add it to your wish list and blog about it instead.

        

BAND OF OUTSIDERS

How cutesy is this tee? What I love most about it is that it adds a touch of femininity to boyfriend jeans, or when paired with a skirt and stilettos, mellows everything out. So either way it really is a win-win.

    

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SHIMMI

Shimmi is a swimwear brand new to net-a-porter and I am loving them! I can’t wait to see what else they’ll be come out with in the coming seasons.

    

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CIRE TRUDON

While I’m used to seeing Cire Trudon candles a lot over on net-a-porter, I’m not however, familiar with ‘violet and leather’ scented candles. I kid you not, that is actually the scent of this Yazbukey limited edition candle.

        

J BRAND

Lately I’ve been getting a little obsessed with boyfriend jeans. I’m not sure what’s coming over in the fashion stakes, but I have to admit that I am liking this style evolution that appears to be taking place in my fashion taste buds.

    

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JIMMY CHOO

And finally, what wish list would ever be complete without at least one pair of killer shoes to send us off happily on our way? My pick of choice this week are a glittery offering from Jimmy Choo, and we all know how much I like glitter, so obviously I couldn’t possibly resist.

    

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All in all I’d say it’s been a good week. I’m finally back home for the long four month summer, and even though it’s going to be a little crazy, I can’t wait. Let me know what you think and I hope you’re all enjoying your weekend.

alice

xo

Friday Morning Pick-Me-Up.

Yay it’s finally Friday so my weekend can officially begin. I’m not too certain how I’m going to be spending this weekend, but I imagine it’ll involve doing some actual work, watching movies and laughing with my sissy. But, before I get carried away with all that fun, here are my favourite picks from net-a-porter today. Enjoy.

MOTHER

First on the list is Mother. While the shade of these jeans are a little off, I can’t help but fall in love with them – probably because I have an inkling as to what they’d be like in real life. I think these are just the ideal addition to my denim obsession.

    

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ALICE + OLIVIA

There’s nothing like a little Alice + Olivia to get the party started this winter. The blue on this dress is so electric it literally makes me blind just looking at it. I’m not such a big fan of the back detailing, but I’m willing to let that slide because of the fabulous sparkly sequins.

    

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L’WREN SCOTT

I am such a big fan of L’Wren Scott that I even named a character in one of my stories after her. L’Wren knows how to make a classic piece, with her clean lines and perfectly graceful structure. The combination of silk organza and satin is just heavenly and I can see one of my characters gracing this little number very soon.

    

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YVES SAINT LAURENT

Another clutch for the Belle De Jour collection over at Yves Saint Laurent. While it’s a tad too gold and metallic for my liking, I really couldn’t resist.

    

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LANVIN

I’m not sure how I feel about this gold embellished clutch, but when I saw it, I knew I’d be accessorising my future looks with it. Call me a sucker for a bit of glam.

    

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MOTHER

I’m not really a big fan of textures, but I am a bit fan of Mother. You could say that my summer spent working opened my eyes to new brands and new garments to love. The wine colour is so juicy and I wish I was wearing these right now!

    

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VERSUS

Versus is slowly becoming one of my favourite brands to oogle at. This mini dress is great for the upcoming Christmas party season, with the sequins keeping the look fun and festive. Simply add a pair of thick black tights and cosy black platform booties to finish the classic look.

    

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TORY BURCH

I was quite surprised to see these on the main page, as the Reva flat is a staple in pretty much every woman’s wardrobe (but mine). Every time I see these calf hair printed flats, my heart skips a beat and I wish I owned them. Who knows, maybe someday I will 😉

    

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THE ROW

There is no denying that The Row knows how to do basics. That is, after all, where the fashion house got their start when Ashley Olsen was on the lookout for the perfect white tee. Needless to say I think she found what she was looking for. I’d get a slightly bigger sized vest and pair with a mini skirt.

    

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Let me know what you think and check out net-a-porter to see what else is new today. Happy Friday.

alice

xo

What’s New Wednesday.

A What’s New Wednesday on a Thursday, oh how funny ahaha. It was definitely easier writing about just a couple of pieces as opposed to Monday when I wrote about what felt like hundreds. One thing I love about all these unique pieces is that they really couldn’t prepare you for the winter anymore, LOVES IT.

ZERO+MARIACORNEJO

What a no-brainer, eh? This sweater is a little unpredictable with its raised A shaped triangle at the front and its large turtleneck feature. The bottle green colour also makes this bad boy a knockout, easily worn with dark jeans for a laidback look. With this, of course I’m ready for winter – bring it on!

    

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ROBERTO CAVALLI

I really like this tuxedo jacket, but I really can’t give a good reason, or any if I’m totally honest. I guess you could say that I like the tinsel? After all sparkle and glitter are two of my favourite things in life. I’m also pretty sure that you could totally dress this baby down and make it quite a casual piece. What do you think?

    

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ALICE + OLIVIA

This sequined jacket is the perfect little number if you want to go all out and have a bit of a sparkle attack. I love the gold and the shortened sleeves that make it perfect for the autumn months (whatever that is) and will add a touch of glamour in winter.

    

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THEORY

My friend has something very similar to this that she got for (more than) a fraction of the price and I’ve seen a few girls rocking a similar blouse to this in the past few days. I’m in love with the deep rich colour that reminds me of red wine, my dark shades and Barry M’s red black nail paint. I guess it also helps that I associate Theory with Olivier Theyskens, who let’s admit it, is quite a hottie – especially with his newly cropped do!

    

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Make sure you check out net-a-porter to see what else is new this week. I don’t think that today could really get any better. After a morning workshop and time spent out in the garden in the sun on the fabulously pink bench, I’m feeling good 😀 Happy Thursday.

alice

xo

Sweaters & Co.

You’ll see that more than fifty per cent of my picks from net-a-porter are indeed sweater based. You should know what I’m like, and quite frankly, if I were you, I wouldn’t expect anything less. That is unless you’re tired of seeing sweater after sweater, in which case I sincerely apologise; you can’t help what you like.

3.1 PHILIP LIM

This crazy yet oh so subtle patchwork design is exactly what attracted me to this cosy fun sweater. It’s great for spicing up an outfit, while it works perfectly if you want to go unnoticed – and it’s that precise juxtaposing nature that makes this sweater IT.

    

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AUBIN & WILLS

I got something similar from Topshop a few weeks ago, only mine was a juicy raspberry colour. Grey is definitely more my colour so of course it had be added to my wishlist, and since I’ve had a taster with my Topshop version, shorter sleeves aren’t as much of an issue for me as they used to be.

    

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JOSEPH

When I look at this I get a really sour taste in my mouth, but I can’t bring myself to stop looking at it. The four buttons on the back had the power to turn me right off, but I’m finding them quite endearing. I love the chunky knit and how flattering this sweater is for the body. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think this sweater shares some of the contradictory nature of the Philip Lim above; perfect for going incognito or having all eyes on you.

    

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AUBIN & WILLS

Let the battle of the white(ish) sweaters begin! I am all over this cable knit beauty and wish I could bring it home. I love the slight raised neck and the long sleeves. The colour somehow makes it even more desirable for winter.

    

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VINCE

I’m sure I’ve seen this around the store loads of times and I think it’s a favourite. The cutesy knitted pattern makes this sweater ultra girly and chic, and could be paired with anything. The crew neck makes this a versatile sweater meaning you could wear with just about everything in your wardrobe.

    

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JOSEPH

I know I’ve come to my decision about which white sweater is my favourite. You’ll notice that this is a cream version of the lime one from Joseph [above]. The knit is perfect and chunky enough to pull off such a delicate tone, and makes an outfit look so clean.

    

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ACNE

Coral is fast becoming one of my favourite colours to wear (probably because it’s so close to the pink family and we all know that pink is ever so darling). This particular sweater is one that I have something similar from Uniqlo (I also have it in a teal colour). An added bonus? It’s made from cashmere – LUSH.

    

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J. CREW

It’s been such a long time since I’ve featured something new by J. Crew and I couldn’t be happier by this sweater. It looks a little like the one above from Aubin & Wills, which means that of course it reminds me of my Topshop one. I love the darker grey shade and the black lining.

    

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ACNE

I don’t like the fuss on trying to find some bottoms for an outfit. I like the idea of being able to throw anything on and being good to go. This shirt by Acne is long enough, and I’m short enough to be able to pull this off as a fairly decent length dress. With a few of the top buttons undone and a new bag, I’ll be more than good to go.

    

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VICTORIA BECKHAM

I saw the bright blue version when I first started looking through the latest on net-a-porter, but I couldn’t decide whether or not I liked it enough to wishlist it. As luck would have it, scrolling down, I saw this dark-grey one (it looks brown to me) and added it straight away. This can be worn as a boxy clutch by simply sliding your arms through the handles then holding this bag from underneath.

    

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EUGENIA KIM

This super cute beanie is sold out and you can see why. The tiny ears make it fun and something a little different for those upcoming winter months. This beanie also reminds me of a pearl cat ear headband that I bought some ASOS a few weeks back. Sadly they weren’t for me (perhaps it’s time to put those extensions back in?) but I have a feeling that I could rock this beanie.

    

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See what else is new to net-a-porter this week and let me know what you think.

alice

xo

It’s a FAB FAB Friday.

Every now and again I come out with a new phrase that’ll see me through a few months of my life, before I move on to the next. This along with my need to abbreviate almost every word I use (just ask my friends) and this’ll bring us to my more recent phrase: FAB (hence the title of the post), although I have somehow elongated it to: FAB FAB – I mean, what’s better than double the fabulousness? Here are my picks for today.

 

THE ROW

I had a brief look at The Row’s knitwear collection on Wednesday, but that did not prepare for today’s luxury pieces, consisting of cashmere blended cardigans, sweaters and roll necks, in comfy navy and cream hues. I’d wear with skinny jeans, flats and the Mulberry large Lily bag for a casual and chic daytime look.

  

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KAIN

Kain is probably most known for their luxe modal and silk tees that look effortless, chic and elegant no matter how you wear it. Priced at around £75-£80 and available in a multitude of different colours, you know these are a little slice of luxury that can be easily worn with just about anything. I would wear these tees with skinny jeans, maxi skirt, mini skirt, tailored cropped pants, sweatpants (the list really does go on) for a plethora of different looks ranging from day to night, casual to dressed up, and back again.

   

 

ALICE + OLIVIA

I love a maxi skirt and only recently bought a black one that I wore for the first time a few months ago. A maxi skirt is perfect for summer, especially one made from light material, allowing for the same benefits of wearing a mini skirt whilst keeping the legs covered up (perfect if you haven’t shaved but don’t want sweating legs). Maxi skirts can also be dressed up or down and are easily accessorised. I’d team this maxi skirt with a plain loose Kain tee for a simple day look, then dress it up with a glittery sweater and clutch for nights.

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J. CREW

While this dress is more Issa than J. Crew, I still LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It is perfect for those summer nights spent dancing the night away with friends in a foreign club in the Mediterranean, or for a breezy first date. I would pair this dress with a pair of nude pumps or cork wedges.

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REBECCA TAYLOR

One of the main things I love about Rebecca Taylor is that she ALWAYS brings the sparkle (which we all know is my favourite thing). Her sequin-trimmed bouclé tweed jacket strikes a perfect balance between fun and conservative, all thanks to the twinkly sequins. The short sleeves make this the perfect outfit finisher for summer and great for warm nights all year round, around the globe. I’d wear this with skinny jeans, a tucked in loose tee and large Mulberry Lily bag.

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As always, I hope you liked it and let me know what you think. Also, check out net-a-porter to see what else is new today. Happy Friday and I hope you have a FAB FAB weekend.

 

alice

xo

Fabulous Friday

Friday. The day that everyone looks forward to, the day that everyone prays for on Monday. Nothing beats the great feeling of leaving work or school on a Friday afternoon and knowing that for the next two days you have complete freedom from work related responsibilities (that is unless you work seven days a week, in that case, too bad). To celebrate the end of the working week, here are my picks from net-a-porter.com.

The dresses:

Roksanda Ilincic. Roksanda Ilincic is known for her striking coloured silk silhouette gowns and this Falcon silk gown is NO exception. With a sexy slit and copper finish with a sapphire coloured sash, this gown is worth the entire pay check (who needs to pay their bills or eat anyway?). Perfect for making a statement and standing out in the crowd; pair with a heeled sandal or a platform court shoe.

 

Alice + Olivia. Be the heart and spark of the party with this sequined stretch-mesh mini dress from Alice + Olivia. All that glitters is DEFINITELY gold with this dress and it’ll see you through a night of fun at the hottest nightspots, or a date in a restaurant or bar. Keep it simple and let the dress shine for itself by wearing with black tights and black platform pumps or ankle boots.

 

The coat:

Rick Owens. The master of all things edgy, striking and cool has found a new way to keep women ahead of the curve with this light brown Maria double-faced cashmere coat. Wear Maria with simple ballet flats or a pair of black wedges, and leggings or jeans. Perfect for a walk in the park with friends, or keeping warm from the harsh winter months, this coat has it all and will truly be the investment piece of your LIFE.

 

Mason by Michelle Mason. Show your dark side this winter with this black oversized shearling coat. Another reason to stop eating for a month in order to save up for clothes has revealed itself with this oversized coat which is sure to offer both comfort and style for the wearer. Whether you’re wearing it with skinny jeans or leggings, this coat is perfect for those late nights home or early morning rushes to work. Flats and heels will you through while you can concentrate on giving winter the cold shoulder.

 

The rest:

Hanky Panky. Don’t let the change of season stop you from having a little Hanky Panky. Keep fun and flirtatious with these stretch-lace thongs and boy briefs, whether you’re alone or enjoying some company. With colourful sets of three and five to choose from you won’t find yourself without fun in the coming months.

            

 

Whatever you’re doing this weekend, enjoy it and on the bright side, it’ll be Friday again in seven more days 🙂

http://www.net-a-porter.com/Shop/Whats-New

 

alice

xo