Clutch It, Bring It Bag.

For those of you who grew up with an older brother who loved rap music, you’ll understand when I say that those early rap songs are pretty hard to just forget. Now you’re probably wondering what the hell rap noughties rap music has to do with net-a-porter, so let me explain. As I was going through the latest designer duds on net-a-porter this morning, I came across quite a few clothes and bags that I felt deserved their very own post, instead of being lumped together with the clothes (like I usually do). For some strange reason, while I was figuring out what to title this post, the 2006 Busta Rhymes song ‘Touch It’ popped into my head immediately and the rest as they say was history – I had my title. Now for those of you who are unfamiliar with the chorus of the song, it goes a little something like this: “touch it, bring it babe, watch it, turn it, leave it, stop, format it”. Anyway, onto the bags…

ANYA HINDMARCH

        

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KOTUR

        

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BURBERRY PRORSUM

        

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CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA

        

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MATTHEW WILLIAMSON

        

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See what else is new here and make sure you check out the song on YouTube!

alice

xo

Pink.

I’m sure we’re all more than aware that glitter is my favourite colour. However, whenever those really annoying people continue to press me about a “real” favourite colour, I always go with pink – I mean after all, who could hate the colour? Anyway, as you can probably guess, yesterday net-a-porter offered a beautiful assortment of pink picks and here they are. Stella McCartney wowed me twice with her matching coat and dress pink set (FLOTUS perfect or what? I’m thinking Jackie), that could really only be worn with each other unless you have an equally chic pink extra to wear them with. Then RED Valentino (who for today should probably be referred to as PINK Valentino) impressed me with such a cute pink mini dress that I’m looking for a cheaper alternative as we speak I type. Tory Burch rounds off the group with (what I think is my favourite of the lot) a silk jacket, great worn with jeans or a mini skirt, depending on the occasion.

STELLA MCCARTNEY

        

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STELLA MCCARTNEY

        

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RED VALENTINO

        

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TORY BURCH

        

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See what else is new here.

alice

xo

Candy Colours.

A bit of candy makes up for the dreary grey clouds outside and I have to say that the pinks and whites have done their bit in putting a smile on my face.

RED VALENTINO

I really wish this dress was a smidgen shorter, after all, we short girls need some way of making our legs look longer. Anyway, with a pair of super high heels and a little bit of hemming, this dress will look perfect for that certain evening occasion.

    

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THEORY

Okay, so I know I said I was over hating on the peplum trend, but I think I may have been a bit over presumptuous. When I stumbled upon this top I did falter a little because I wasn’t too sure about the overall shape and style of the peplum design, but after a few minutes of contemplation I pulled myself together and I think was able to get to it to work in my head. What a dream.

    

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VALENTINO

The studs on the Valentino clutch give it that understated rockability that works no matter who you are or what your personal style is. I love the little arm band being you can wear it on your wrist without having to hold it up all night, and the size of the clutch means you can literally fit anything you want inside.

    

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VALENTINO

Warning. This cute bag just screams: STUD OVERLOAD, but for some strange reason, instead of making me turn the other way, the studs are beckoning me, making me want the bag even more. Only Valentino could do that to me!

    

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Let me know what you think.

alice

xo

Monday Again.

Yes it’s Monday again and the novelty of being home and not having assignments to complete has worn off, so I’m keeping myself busy with the blog and writing. Another way I’ve been occupying my mind is by browsing through the latest on net-a-porter. Here are my favourites.

ETRO

I love cardigans like this because it means you don’t have to bother about buttons or doing it up; you simply throw it on top of anything to complete the look. This fuzzy warm red patterned cardigan from Etro reminds me of my travels in America and in spite of the Aztec designs embellishing it; it still manages to look simple.

    

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RED VALENTINO

Cardigans appear to be making the round today, but I’m not complaining. This Red Valentino is quite a departure from Etro, with its more classic and ladylike appeal, making it perfect for evenings out with friends, thrown on top of a casual look to make it appear more dressed up.

    

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SAINT LAURENT

I’m a sucker for a pair of shades, and thank god for the summer because it means it’s the season of sunglasses! While I usually go for thin rimmed sunnies, I am ALL OVER these thick rimmed ones and wish I could get my hands on them.

    

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BURBERRY SHOES & ACCESSORIES

This bag isn’t one that I’d usually go for, but there was something about that I really liked it. I can’t wait to own something like this in the future!

    

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Check out net-a-porter to see what else is new and don’t forget to check back soon.

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

Getting Ready for the Fall.

All of these are from yesterdays ‘What’s New’ on net-a-porter, and I feel they’re all getting ready for the Fall in one way or another.

MULBERRY

This is the kind of thing I am all over! It’s the perfect thing to throw over leggings and a tank for lazing around the house in, or dressing up with a mini dress for a calm night out. Other things I love about this: the large shape (it reminds me of oversized cardigans), the pattern and just the general easiness of the wrap.

    

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JOSEPH

This sweater reminds me of some I’ve seen from Carven and Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, but I feel this sweater has its own individual stamp too. The alpaca and mohair blend makes the garment soft and perfect for pairing with a simple pair of blue jeans (no matter the cut), and jazzing up with heels, or riding low with flats. Did I also mention it’s a sweater? So of course I’m already sold.

    

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VALENTINO

If I were a high fashion or luxury magazine editor, I’d lean towards something like this for events, shows and parties. I love the girliness of the dress; from the cinched in waist, to the luminous skirt and puffed shoulders.

    

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RED VALENTINO

I’m not usually one for frills and ruffles, but I’m sure I could make an exception for THIS. There is little to not love about this antique rose organza dress with contrasting black velvet belt. The length is perfect, as is the neckline and the ruffled detailing.

    

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I don’t really have much of a plan for the rest of my day, although I know there’s lots that needs doing, I’m really in no kind of rush to get started. I’m definitely feeling an easy day of writing, reading A Place of Yes, tumbling and perhaps I’ll even treat myself to a yoga session. Let me know what you think. Happy Tuesday!

alice

xo

ps. I know I’m not American but I feel that ‘the Fall’ has more of a ring to it than Autumn. What do you think?

What’s New Wednesday: Whites, Shades and Shoes.

Okay, so last Friday I professed my love for all things dark (clothing-wise at least) and while I stick by that 1000+%, I must confess that I can’t resist the odd spot of white in my wardrobe. What makes white so irresistible?  Well for starters, white is so clean and crisp and just screams SUMMER; for another thing, it can mellow out or elevate an outfit depending on what the white item may be. And what about shades and shoes? I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with sunglasses and can honestly see myself becoming a collector in a few years’ times; as for shoes, who doesn’t love a pair?

WHITES

J. CREW

A detailed but simple white top is the perfect piece for summer. Team with a pair of short shorts or a pair of beige trousers and flats.

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BIJOUX HEART

I’m not really big on jewellery, but even I have to admit that this necklace is RIDICULOUS! This simple yet dramatic piece can be worn day or night. I’d wear with an open pastel shirt tucked into a floral skirt or trousers.

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SHADES

VALENTINO

I am addicted to sunglasses! I would drop GOOD money for a pair of sunglasses, especially on my new obsession: D-framed sunglasses. Whenever I see a pair of ‘to die’ shades, I literally spasm, get tongue tied and jizz a little in my pants. I’ve been meaning to write a post about sunglasses for some time now, but every time I get started, I get distracted in seconds and end up drooling over the next pair of shades on my wishlist. Anyway, getting back to THESE! Valentino really outdo themselves with these cool kid D-frame sunglasses that go with just about anything. Throw them on to finish off any outfit and you’ll be good to go for the summer.

 

SHOES

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

Speechless does not even begin to describe the feeling when I first saw these. A mix of my favourites things: sparkle and Christian Louboutin, it was kind of a no-brainer that I would fall head-over-heels in love with these shoes. I can seriously envision myself strutting around my house naked with these bad boys, but for the sake of keeping things PG, I’d wear with a fun dress and clutch to do some serious damage on the dance floor.

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J. CREW

Every now and then it’s time to invest in a pair of ‘sensible’ shoes. And while sensible can usually mean boring, these flats from J. Crew are anything but. The black and nude keep the shoe fresh with a punch of excitement, making these the ideal wardrobe staple flat. I’d wear with leggings or skinny jeans and a simple sweater for an effortless look.

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GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI

These spiked flats are reminiscent of Christian Louboutin’s Asteroid suede and latent-leather pumps, but come into their own with their understated spikes. These flats are perfect for everyday wear and the perfect way to let out the rebel within! I’d wear with a floral skirt, a tucked in loose tee and a blazer for a casual yet cool look.

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Check out net-a-porter to see what else is new today and let me know what you think by commenting below. I’m kind of loving all of the looks this week, what about you? Happy Wednesday.

alice

xo