Little Black Bag: Kate Benjamin Clutch

Kate Benjamin clutch via Accessories Direct, Autograph by Marks and Spencer dress via PDSA charity shop, Miu Miu headband, Dorothy Perkins shoes, H&M tights, Wallis cardigan.

The Little Black Dress is a wardrobe staple that can be transformed for different occasions. I was very lucky and found this one in a charity shop and it suited me so much better than anything else I'd found for the event I first wore it to, making me one very happy shopper. Since then I've worn it to a couple more occasions and I love it.
When Accessories Direct asked me to look at some images of their lovely items and tell them my favourites I was immediately drawn to this bag. I was absolutely delighted when they emailed me back and said I could have it, my first choice, to review! The clutch has that comforting squishy factor that I love but it's also smart and sharp with the very modern clasp structure. It's versatile, elegant aesthetic reminds me very much of the LBD and I'm now calling it my Little Black Bag. 
OK so it's not actually fully black but I think this just makes it more versatile to go with more dresses. Shimmering below the lovely black lace we have a beautiful subtle pale gold fabric. The fabric manipulation is also in this stiffer layer with pleating, whilst the lace sits as a soft layer on top. It's really very cleverly done and can work with modern or classic styles to lots of occasions. I'm definitely impressed when it comes to the construction and quality of this bag.
This Kate Benjamin's black lace clutch bag has the huge bonus of being rather big without being bulky. Sometimes an occasion calls for a charming evening bag but practicality calls also. I like the fact I can fit as much junk as I need in it!
I am so, so pleased with my beautiful new bag and it's one I can foresee turning to again and again. Do you have an item you keep returning to that gives you that little extra confidence for special occasions?

I couldn't resist showing you the deer friends I made during the making of this outfit post- how I love Cannock Chase!

Bedazzled: a fashion love story

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Oh Miu Miu, how you continually dazzle me with your fabulous accessories.
On my very first stroll down Bond Street, coming back from Luella's then Brook Street store, I had some time to spare on an artistic day trip with my father. Already a fan of Miu Miu handbags, I decided to step into their little store and oh how delightful it was! I became completely besotted with a headband which was tragically sold out by the time I returned on my next trip. However, as fate would have it, many months later it crossed my path in an even nicer colour for my hair and it is all mine.
Miu Miu has more recently located to a bigger store on the street which means more loveliness! Every time I'm in London I just love to take in the prettiness. I loved this season's glittery shoes as soon as I laid eyes on the first images of AW11, and then there was the ad campaign with Hailee Steinfeld gleefully lying in a rainbow of sparkly court shoes. Oh and they are even more wonderful in person!
Above you can see two images taken of the Miu Miu shop windows near the end of November. I absolutely adore the new butterfly motif in the jewellery. And of course Miu Miu does jewels so well, including on beautiful handbag straps. Here's the latest ad campaign glittering at me in this month's Elle UK:

Returning to London this week I could not help but be called back to the little haven of sparkles. The ornate screens make such lovely backdrops for the window displays.



By now you have probably realised I am a girl obsessed by Miu Miu accessories! They make me feel all happy and snuggly inside. I would so love to tote one of the lovely handbags one day, though I will have trouble picking the perfect one!
I hope you've enjoyed the love in, I'm going to stop gushing now. I feel so much happier now my wretched Photography essay has been submitted to college today! It's worth 50% of the coursework and I have been making myself a completely and utterly stressed out bunny but now I am free to dream in sparkles once more.

The Berkeley Dress Show 2011

I had such a marvelous time as a debutante of the London Season last year, and it is wonderful now to be able to keep in touch and attend events still, meeting the lovely girls of 2011. The Berkeley Dress Show is a very different experience as a guest rather than a deb, with no day of rehearsing in skyhigh heels or anxious wait before the show! I'm remiss in not posting this sooner for which I apologise, a mixture of college and health got in the way of my blogging habits in the early months of the year, but the Berkeley Dress Show still deserves a post of its own.
The event took place at the Berkeley Hotel in aid of The Children's Trust, and saw the return of amazing Creative Director Lukas Kroulik, who I had the pleasure of working with last year. We were entertained by Isabel Suckling who opened the show with the most beautiful rendition of A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,  the spectacle of talented magician Jakub Kroulik, and The Jive Aces who provide just the sort of swing and jive music I adore.
Last year I had the pleasure of modelling a hat by Royal milliner John Boyd, and again he provided the millinery delights for the show. I am in love with the pink hat. Being me, how could I not be drawn to a large pink flower? There is always something about fabulous millinery which entrances me.


I adored the make up and hair styling designed by Mary-Lynn Ozone of the London College of Fashion. The girls looked gorgeous with acid bright pops of colour on their eyes and nails.



The debutantes modelled dresses by Hanna Marie Hutchison of HMH Couture. Her silk jersey gowns are Grecian inspired and have a delightful touch of old school glamour to them despite the modern cuts. They are high impact, sophisicated dresses, perfect for making a grand entrance. Does anyone recall the pictures of Cheryl Cole wearing one for the X Factor?




Thank you to Lukas for sending me the above photographs by Jonathon Mist.

Having a merry little Christmas, complete with handmade Hello Kitty decorations and an acid pink tree

Here are some pictures of some cute things that made up my Christmas day.
Firstly some ever so sweet bunny crackers which I bought at the local PDSA charity shop from their new products range:

Whilst I was ill recently I sat and made Hello Kitty decorations like the child I really am underneath my 18 year old facade.
I found the images online and printed them off on card. Then a hole-puncher, ribbons, glitter and gems were necessary. Here are some of the ones I added to the tree in our sitting room:

Hello Kitty wrapping paper from my parents was a most cheerful sight:

Now for the tree in my bedroom: 2ft of acid pinkness that I could not resist in Paperchase within Selfridges Birmingham despite the prospect of carrying it round all day making manouvres round stands somewhat tricky and bringing it home on the train. I continued the pink theme in Paperchase with some glittery bows, they do clash a little but I do love mixing colours unexpectedly. I then found the tinsel pom poms in Poundland and I think the little baubles were from Tesco.
This time I went for a angel theme with my handmande Hello Kitty decorations.

I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas day. :)

Internet woes and pretty dresses.

Here's what my internet thought today: 'I've been good all morning and afternoon, putting up with all this silly fashion and art research, now I'm bored. While that Florrie's having dinner I've got time to go to sleep... Oh dear, I think I overslept and now she's ready to go to bed, better perk up a bit..'
Silly, silly internet. *sighs*

Here are some recent polyvore sets of mine to get through the day.
The first (hello Luella ss09!) is the type of thing I would wear; pretty dress, booties and headband.

This is a much more sparkly one with the upcoming party season in mind.

And this is a more ladylike look for a trip to the opera or such. =)

Disclaimer: I do indeed know that the internet is inanimate.

Good night all!

Hello Prada!

I'm still pretty shattered from my hospital trip today, but I'm really looking forward to Fine Art in the morning and an afternoon shopping with a lovely friend.
Another nice thing: browsing the Flannels website, totally just to look for store locations, I happened upon some amazing stockings from ss08. There was something about that collection I really love, and the shoes were pretty amazing- my favourite pair of shoes are from the collection. So I ordered a pair of the stockings today, can't wait for them to arrive!
A little Polyvore homage to Prada; including said stockings in different colour ways. Those gorgeous shoes are currently in Selfridges (or something very similar) and the pink bag was also seen in said store. The selfridges designer floor (Birmingham) is a happy place, though I am still adjusting to the recent change! I am liking Miu Miu and Mulberrys' new sections in handbags, deffinitely two of my favourite labels for bags. :)

Fashion Collages

So browsing around some of the IFB members' blogs, I saw collages made on the website 'Polyvore' and decided to look for myself. :)

I basically wanted to work an outfit around the Paul and Joe blouse (which I love, first spotted in Tatler magazine). The shoes are those fabulous Fred Flats I was raving about a while ago. I adore the velvet Miu Miu bag, and of course I snuck in a bit of Luella with the jacket. The quirky skirt is Marc by Marc Jacobs.

This is my very favourite dress from the Erdem aw09 collection. I love the colours and I really think the shape and colours would suit me. Right, who's got £600 to spare?? ;)

Fashion Loveage

This is my fabulous Miu Miu... um, key ring thing?

It's satisfyingly chunky, but would anyone really put keys on something so gorgeous?!

Oh who cares, it's pink, it's pretty and I like it. =D