Fashion Blog: The Little Black Jacket by Chanel 2013 Continues... Milan

MILAN

APRIL 6 - APRIL 20, 2013

ROTONDA DI VIA BESANA
VIA ENRICO BESANA, 12
20122 MILAN

And Milan is just enchanting!

thelittleblackjacket.chanel.com

Fashion Blog: 2013's Sixties: Modern Day Style Outfit Choice

I wrote recently about my love of the smart, chic side of the sixties style and some perfect pieces offered by my-wardrobe.com to get a modern day sixties look. A look that would be more chic than "dressing up box". I've received a few emails and comments asking about what items I would buy and how I chose those clothing pieces.

In true investment dressing style I thought about what I would be doing this year and chose the clothes according to what I anticipate I would wear most often and items I truly loved. I thought about the year rather than just the summer months, just because I may be travelling between the UK and USA and also in both countries the summer months don't always mean sun and warmth.

As soon as I saw the Philosophy tailored shorts with the tile print in the most exquisite colours, I knew I wanted them. As I did the Tom Ford cat eye sunglasses.

Essential buys:
1. Philosophy Di Alberta Ferretti Tile Print Shorts £180.00 UK, $297.00 USA. (my-wardrobe.com)
2. Tom Ford Cat Eye Sunglasses £259 UK, $427.35 USA. In Black or Brown. (my-wardrobe.com)

Couturenet also likes:

3. This VANESSA BRUNO ATHÉ BRODERIE ANGLAISE BIKER JACKET £354.00 UK, $584.10 USA (my-wardrobe.com). It really adds something special, by day wear casual and by night add the Dinny Hall Pendant shown. This detailed well made jacket is a nice upgrade from the DKNY WHITE CABLE KNIT 3/4 SLEEVE JUMPER £162.00 UK, $267.30 USA (my-wardrobe.com).

Extra buys that really make this versatile.
3. Raoul Taupe Janine Leather Shoulder Bag £330.00 UK, $544.50 USA. (my-wardrobe.com)
4. SEE BY CHLOÉ SHOES HERA CORK WEDGE METALLIC SANDAL £275.00 UK, $453.75 USA (my-wardrobe.com).
5. DINNY HALL SMALL GOLD VERMEIL TORO DOUBLE HOOP PENDANT NECKLACE £140.00. (liberty.co.uk)

And just for fun... If I was wearing this outfit to work I would definitely want one of these 70's Wild and Wolf Trim telephones £39.95 in Turquoise on my desk from Liberty (shipping worldwide). I also spotted this retro Lomography Diana Mini SLR Camera £50, small enough to fit in a handbag on holiday and stylish enough to have everyone asking where you got it from! In true retro style the Diana Cameras have a funcion for you to switch to old style square format photographs allowing for an incredible 72 photos on a standard 35mm film.

This outfit makes me feel like I could be stepping off a yacht somewhere in St Tropez! Head scarf optional!

So thats the clothes shopping list for me, I would love to hear about your favourite pieces from the original post and why you love the clothes, as well as where you would wear them. Please drop me a line.

PS. Super offers : My-Wardrobe.com are offering £50 off when you sepd £250 or more in the Spring Summer collections for new customers (Code NEWSTYLE50). At Liberty London (online and instore) get a £30 voucher to use when you spend £150 or over.

Beauty Blog: Beauty Products That Work: Margaret Dabbs Intensive Hydrating Foot Lotion

Margaret Dabbs Intensive Hydrating Foot Lotion. Not a foot treatment to be put into the same bracket as other foot lotions and creams. This really works, you can really see this in action if you have had a long day or two on your feet in heels or if you have been on holiday. The silky lotion sinks in beautifully and the results are instant and long lasting - soft paws that look beautiful too. I like to take the time to massage the lotion in for about five minutes on each foot after a bath or shower.

Margaret Dabbs Intensive Hydrating Foot Lotion is £25.00 and available from Margaret Dabbs Sole Spa at Liberty London.

I asked the Margaret Dabbs Sole Spa to tell me more about the product and also the Intensive Treatment Foot Oil which I am going to try next, I specifically asked if the product contained natural ingredients, parabens and if it was tested on animals. The reply from Lucinda Mabbitt, the Sole Spa Manager, was extremely pleasing and comprehensive, as follows...

"Regarding your query about the Intensive Treatment Foot Oil and Intensive Hydrating Foot Lotion ingredients, I have provided you with these lists below:

Intensive Treatment Foot Oil
Isopropyl 
Myristate
Dromiceius 
(Emu) 
Oil

Ethylhexyl 
Stearate
Ethylhexyl 
Palmitate

Backhousia 
Citriodora 
(Lemon
Myrtle) Leaf
Oil
Citral
Linalool

Intensive Hydrating Foot Lotion
Aqua 
(Water)
Dromiceius 
(Emu)
 Oil
Propylene 
Glycol
Stearic 
Acid
Paraffinum 
Liquidum
Ethylhexyl 
Palmitate
Glycerin
Cetearyl
 Alcohol
Triethanolamine
Backhousia
Citriodora 
(Lemon
Myrtle )
Leaf
Oil
Disodium 
EDTA
Carbomer
Benzyl
 Alcohol
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Methylisothiazolinone
Citral
Linalool

The ingredients are listed in relations to their quantity (starting with highest).

All of our products are natural. They were originally formulated by Margaret Dabbs herself and then worked on by Pharmasists for safety and quality reasons.

The Oil and Lotion do not contain parabens and they are not tested on animals.

The Emu Oil used in our products is a natural by-product and has been used for centuries by Aboriginals in Australia, where the product originates from. Emus are a protected species and are therefore reared organically and free range. The oil is used for it's healing qualities - it is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and has the same irritant level as water when applied to the skin. It is classed as a pharmaceutical product in Australia and can be used for various different ailments. As these are used in our clinics for medical and beauty treatments they are formulated to suit all skin types, including diabetics for example.

If you have any further queries, please do let me know.

Kind regards,

Lucinda Mabbitt

Manager
Margaret Dabbs Sole Spa At Liberty
Great Marlborough Street
London
W1B 5AG"

A great product that works, natural ingredients, parabens free and not tested on animals, what more could we ask for! And the packaging is attractive too.

Time Out: Happy Valentine's Day

Time Out: Delicious Hearts To You All This Valentine's Day!

Aren't these sweet, chic and gorgeous! There's still time to pop into Fortnum's and pick up something delicious for a fuss, free chic treat.

Fortnum & Mason Chocolate Mousse in Sweetheart Set - £32
This is the perfect end to a Valentine’s Day dinner – a pair of heart-shaped ceramic pots filled with an intensely chocolatey dessert made with Valrhona chocolate. Rich, sweet and very romantic.

Made in England.
 

Fashion Blog: Luxe High Street Find: The H&M Fold Over Clutch Bag

The grab and go, carefree elegance of a fold over clutch appeals to me. It's luxe enough to add something to a smart outfit, but also edgy enough to wear with a khaki jacket. I looked at this piece online today, though it was more of a re-visit as I had spotted this bag in-store and held it firmly in my hands for a good quality check.

I would not expect this piece to stand the test of time, but with care it could complete a few outfits that require the off duty luxe of a fold over clutch for a while. The stitching is good and choice of hardware too, so it doesn't look cheap.

H&M Fold Over Clutch £12.99 UK, $17.95 USA.
Imitation leather clutch bag with a detachable metal shoulder strap, and a zip with a decorative tassel at the front. Lined. Size 20x28 cm. Available in three colour ways, I like relaxed look of the apricot/beige bag and the detailing of the croc bottom half of the black version!

Fashion Blog: Luxe High Street Find: Chic, Easy Jacket and Off Duty Pants In The Zara Sale

The Zara Sale is nearly over, it's a great time to bag a bargain with the super final reductions. Remembering of course, it's only a bargain if it fits properly and will be worn as part of your fashion lifestyle.

Earlier this season I spotted this very light jacket. It immediately reminded me of the stunning Helmut Lang pieces I had seen at Flannels and Shopbop.com.

The jacket is now in the sale reduced from £49.99 to £22.99 in the UK. I ordered it online for home delivery as I did not have the time for in-store collection which I usually favour.

It arrived beautifully folded (along with some other items that I returned) in the usual minimal but chic Zara packaging. The quality far exceeded my expectations, no visible stitching apart from on the cuffs (which were so long that after altering has left me with enough fabric for a small scarf!), the fit was excellent and the gold zipper details just enough to be cool rather than bling. A great grab and go piece. I am going to wear this as a cardigan alternative, as often a plain knit is just a bit too plain.

I also got, in a separate order, these super stylish yet comfortable lightweight Herringbone Trousers with faux leather pockets and elastic ankle cuffs Was £29.99. Now £9.99. This is the perfect off duty easy pant to wear and the ideal alternative to sweatpants (which I loath! for anything except exercise).

Lovely Zara has won my style heart again, I certainly talk about the store a lot in my posts and why not... they fill their stores with good quality pieces, with great style and have a good animal welfare policy. Worth talking about!

Fashion Blog: The Best Loyalty Cards: Liberty London

About a year and a half past Liberty launched their loyalty card.  I got one straight away, all shimmery in gold with the signature purple liberty logo and they even sent me a money off voucher as a nice surprise. It seemed like a good idea to have this fab card as I adore the gifts, unique home stuff and gorgeous stationery, whilst loving feeling totally immersed in the beautiful shop itself when I step through the doors.

But... what I didn't realise was The Liberty Loyalty Card would be one of the best loyalty cards to have. By signing up with Liberty Loyalty for free I have recieved regular worthwhile offers and sale previews. I have been so impressed by what is offered, really good money off spends (eg. £15 off when you spend £100), free money off vouchers, previews to the sales which are excellent and this week a super offer...

Play the Beauty Lottery! Spend over £65* in store or online on beauty and you will receive a beauty lottery prize worth up to £155 from one of our 30 most sought-after brands. And the best bit? Everyone’s a winner! The incredible lottery prize list includes full size products from cult brand Molecule 01, beauty editor’s favourites Diptyque Philosykos and some of our favourite candles from Frederic Malle. Plus there are make-up bag essentials from Bobbi Brown and indulgent treatments from the Margaret Dabbs Sole Spa. Terms and conditions apply.

This offer is only available if you are a Liberty Loyalty member, sign up here.

Liberty Loyalty is for use instore and online, with more generous rewards than ever before, earned every time you shop in-store or online with your Liberty Loyalty card.
- a £5 voucher when you spend £150
- a £10 voucher when you spend £250
- a £25 voucher when you spend £500
...and a further £25 voucher for every additional £500 you spend

How bad can that be!

Beauty Blog: Beauty Products That Work: Neal's Yard Remedies Beauty Sleep Concentrate

I've been itching to share my experience using Neal's Yard Remedies' aptly named Beauty Sleep Concentrate since I first tried it a few months ago, I held back a little as I wanted to see this treatment would stand the test of time. Would still be effective once my skin had gone past the honeymoon period that often occurs when trying something for the first time?

Fight the signs of ageing whilst you sleep with this luxurious feel, serum type, cream that has the lightness of whisked egg whites and disappears into the skin easily. It is so thin and light that when applied to your face at night you could easily dismiss it as there aren't any immediate results. But don't! After going to sleep unimpressed, on waking in the morning the first thing I noticed was my skin was "dewy" with a "post spa weekend" relaxed look. My skin texture was smooth too with good colour. Beauty Sleep Concentrate absolutely ranks under the banner "Beauty Products That Work".

I have used this 4 times a week since November with consistent, excellent results, after final cleansing with Rose Facial Wash, in the evening just before going to bed. Applied lightly with my finger tips over my whole face and pressed lightly into my neck and around the eyes.

Couturenet Loves Neal's Yard Remedies Beauty Sleep Concentrate because...

1. It supports skin’s night time recovery, replenishes and refreshes and helps prevent premature skin ageing all in one product. The treatment is proven to increase skin's moisture levels by up to 98% over 12 hours.

2. The cream is made from 90% organic ingredients which is perfect if you run a chemical free home and wish to keep chemicals out of your body.

3. One bottle lasts a long time as only 3-4 pumps of product are required each evening.

4. Neal's Yard Remedies is truly cruelty free. All NYR products hold the prestigious BUAV Golden Bunny logo, whilst having their efforts recognised by campaigners from PETA, FRAME and the RSPCA. Read more here...

In the past I have used Guerlain's Midnight Secret (a well known miracle, overnight skin illuminator)  and I can say that NYR Beauty Sleep Concentrate was just as good, especially as you can use it every night and wake up to noticeable results.

Neal's Yard Beauty Sleep Concentrate 30ml £31.50.
Made in England.
Shop in store or online. Delivery worldwide.

Super Offer: Neal's Yard Remedies are offering a Free Organic Rose Daily Moisture 45ml with a spend of £40 or more (online only).

Fashion Blog: Super Offer: £315 Lanvin Necklace for £63

Whilst blissfully browsing at Liberty, my eyes were drawn to this beautiful Lanvin Necklace. Was £315. Now £63. Bargain! A decadent gift for yourself or perfect present for someone special.

From the Lanvin collection. Blue glass pearl necklace wrapped in a silk tulle with ribbon ties and distressed gunmetal-tone brass bead detail.  L: 35.5cm, W: 0.5cm 

 

Liberty London

Fashion Blog: My Favourite High Street Stores

I like to buy good quality pieces of clothing. These can nearly always be found on the designer rails, but with careful inspection and fussy choosing, really lovely items can be found in some high street stores. And it's such a good feeling when you do find something this way, like you should receive an award when you open the bag at home.

My favourite high street stores for quality clothing are:

1. Zara : zara.com
For really nicely cut pieces at the right price with designs reminiscent of the designer collections. Lots of choice and regular new arrivals. The online store experience is just as pleasurable as looking around the real life boutique.

2. H&M : hm.com
Whilst you have to really have a look at the items in store to see the quality, some items are good and others not so much, there are some gems in this store. Nice leather belts, good day dresses, scarves and gloves. The fit is good too, often you can find a dress with detail and nice buttons, but you will have to re-do the hem to make it look good quality.

3. Uterque : uterque.com
A small, but perfectly put together collection of clothes you can wear every day and still look polished and pristine. The leather goods and footwear are really luxe too. A little more expensive than Zara, but the garments are made better. Good for quality knitwear. Good photographs online.

Couturenet loves...

This Uterque.com stylish pair of high heel ankle boots with buckle. Was £79.90. Now £69.90 (UK & Europe). Bovine leather ankle boots with tough rubber track sole, ideal for winter. Side zip fastener and strap with buckle detail at ankle height. With a very wearable heel height: 3.9 inches & platform: 0.6 inches.

This pair of ankle boots boasts the equestrian style of Ralph Lauren at a tenth of the price and they are so versatile to wear in the dark brown leather option.
 

And... a warm yet chic Chloe-esque Sweater also from Uterque.com. Wavy Sweater. Was £99.00. Now £64.90. This is very soft with 37% alpaca and 18% wool.

Time Out: Re-Purposing Net-A-Porter Black Boxes

I am a super organised person and I dislike waste. Hence my vigour for re-purposing these smart black Net-A-Porter.com boxes for use as Christmas decorations storage. My need for everything to be "in it's place" and "neat 'n' tidy" coerced the label maker from the drawer to make an appearance for this project too!

Brother Label Maker £14.99 from Argos.co.uk

Net-A-Porter Boxes - a delightful perk from making a purchase at net-a-porter.com

Time Out: Happy New Year

Aspen Mountain, Colorado.

Aspen Mountain, Colorado.

Aspen Mountain, Colorado.

I adore Aspen Mountain in Colorado, it's just so beautiful. It feels like you are in a very vast space, with lots of "air and sky" around you. It's difficult to experience this feeling in a town or in the countryside. It's a real therapy! The fresh air and endless skies clear your mind and revive your senses.

It looks so much like a Christmas-sy, Winter wonderland with Christmas trees brushed with snow all around. Enhanced by the way it has stayed quite cold and "blue" looking as there hasn't been hardly any sunlight. I quite like it like this!

Fashion Blog: The Net-A-Porter Sale Has Started

The net-a-porter.com sale has started today in the UK, in the USA it has been in full swing for a good few weeks now. It must be long awaited, as the site has been busy all day, I have had a few sneak peeks in-between the "busy" sign, it looks good! I am pleased that quality stores have reverted back to the traditional Boxing day sale this year rather than a pre-Christmas sale. It just seems right!

Cheap 'n' Chic Alternative...

If you're a bit short of cash after Christmas, you can send off a beloved designer handbag that requires some TLC to The Handbag Spa (part of the Furniture Clinic) where the super skilled team will refurbish your bag, remove stains, restore the handles and much more! You can even send pictures of your bag via email to receive an estimated refurbishment price.

Time Out: Simple Pre-Christmas Dinner Table Setting

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I will be on a flight. Today I am hosting a pre-Christmas dinner for a few friends. Getting a group together for chat and smiles is one of the big bonuses of the festive season, everyone feels jolly enough to make the time in their hectic schedules.

Knowing I would be here today, gone tomorrow! I wanted to set up an attractive but Christmas-sy table setting trying to use as much tableware I already had, to avoid waste of perishable items.

All I purchased for the table setting was:
1. A Bag of Fresh Cranberries £2.49
2. 6 Giant Gold Chocolate Coins @ £1.49 each
All from Waitrose.com

I strategically only used Italian glass tumblers on the table, leaving the wine glasses in the kitchen to serve wine as the guests arrived.

I used ribbon as napkin rings around starched linen napkins and garnished the "whiteness" of the plate setting with a gold bauble.

I like layering up a table setting, 1. Red raffia mat, 2, Gold Charger,  3.White bone china dinner late, 4. Porcelain heart shaped bowl all finished off with softer looking gold touches.

I decorated the desk in the dining room with a very large, chunky, porcelain bowl filled with fur cones (usually meant for the fire!) and red nutmegs.

The cake is a celebration cake ordered in advance from Waitrose.com Entertaining, Vanilla Sponge Celebration Cake 25cm £16.00 (a light sponge sandwich with a buttercream and jam centre, covered with smooth white icing). The Christmas decorations are from my store cupboard purchased a few years ago and re-used each year. The other items (Liberty snow globe, crystal jug, glass ice bucket etc. were gifts given to me in years gone by that I love and re-use each Christmas.

Giant gold chocolate coins are fun as coasters and party favours for guests to take home.
I purchased these fab hallmark crackers in the sale last year with 75% off!

The centre piece layered from the bottom up 1. A piece of slate, 2. A red raffia mat, 3. Lots of gold baubles, 4. A hurricane lamp, 5. A candle & 6. A bag of fresh cranberries.

I love to combine red and white at Christmas. This raisied white porcelain dish looks very festive with Lindor shiney red truffles in an enticing pile.

And by candlelight...

Including gold glittery elements to the table setting added a glisten here and there when the candles were lit.

I kept the food simple too, I wanted to spend time with my guests. I roasted a turkey crown - made easy by Waitrose.com - I ordered it online a couple of weeks ago, it was £23.19. Not only was the collection in-store seamless from handing over my order number to seeing the bird arrive on a tray in the lift! for me to take away, but I was overjoyed to see the turkey crown had been pre-weighed, the cooking time calculated and printed on the front, and it was supplied in a handy roasting bag! I proudly made Delia Smith's Pork, Sage & Onion Stuffing, with roast potatoes, a selection steamed vegetables and gravy of course.

Knowing that all guests would be pretty stuffed after the main course, we spent some time chatting. Then I then served a small piece of cake with coffee and cream instead of a rich Christmas pudding.

Waitrose.com