Top 5 Sunglasses – SS14

Yes, it's that time of year again! My sunglasses have taken up permanent residence in my handbag 'just in case' and the second the sun appears I dash out to the patio and spend half an hour on my sun lounger before a cloud arrives and I have to get back to work. Does anyone else who works from home do the same thing or is it just me?...

This season there's a really wide variety of styles hitting the shops and the slightly crazier ones are my favourites – bright colours, animal prints, totally unnecessary embellishment – particularly from my new sunglasses crush Anna-Karin Karlsson. I hope you enjoy my top five!

Anna-Karin Karlsson, £655

House of Holland, £180

Miu Miu, £240

Anna-Karin Karlsson, £480

The Row, £270

Top 5 winter wishlist...

I must admit I've neglected the blog a bit lately. It's mostly because I've been a busy lady but perhaps it's just further proof that I get far more excited about Halloween than I ever do about Christmas!

Anyway I thought I'd put together a little Autumn/Winter fashion Top 5 with a few of the items I've been lusting after lately. (Santa if you are reading this, give the reindeer a break and let Net-A-Porter gift wrap and deliver it all for you...) As part of the Clueless generation I can't resist a tartan mini skirt, and seeing as the sun is currently shining those Ray–Ban's could be considered essential right?!

1. Rocket tartan mini skirt, £280 Vivienne Westwood Anglomania
2. 18-karat gold necklace, £1,110 Jennifer Meyer
3. Clubmaster D-frame sunglassess, £170 Ray-Ban
4. Lottie suede sandals, £450 Jimmy Choo
5. Embellished satin clutch, £2,380 Valentino

Regular blogging will now resume and I'll be back soon with reviews from Silverstein at Underworld and Tenacious D at Shepherd's Bush Empire.

Top 5 Halloween treats!

Inspired by the Charlotte Olympia Halloween collection that I featured last week, I thought I'd put together a Halloween themed Top 5 featuring her beautiful bat print shoes. If you aren't one for a ridiculous head-to-toe Halloween costume (don't knock it 'til you've tried it...), you can still get into the festive spirit with some fabulous spider web lashes by Paperself or this stunning orange take on the classic Alexander McQueen skull scarf.

MAC even have a Halloween makeup collection by legendary special effects artist Rick Baker, featuring items such as this acrylic paint that lasts for 12 hours. Perfect for so many Halloween looks!

1. Alexander McQueen skull print scarf, £165 www.net-a-porter.com
2. Paperself small spider lashes, £10 www.paperselfstore.com
3. Charlotte Olympia desiree bat-print suede pumps, £545 www.net-a-porter.com
4. Chanel Ombre Essentielle soft touch eyeshadow in Black Star, £23 www.boots.com
5. Mac Acrylic Paint in basic red, £16 www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Bride makeup look by Rick Baker for MAC

Top 5 Sunglasses

It's that time of year again... I'm clinging desperately onto the end of summer and refusing to believe that it's almost at an end. And although bikinis and flip flops will soon be stored for another year, sunglasses are the one little vestige of summer that we can enjoy all year round – because even in England the sun still shines in winter! Occasionally.

So here is my top five: A mix of high and low-end to suit every mood and outfit, from classic Ray Bans to Top Shop's slightly outlandish cat eye (or should I say cat ear!) frames.

ONE: Pink perspex magnifique, £226 by Dita
TWO: Clubmaster half-frame acetate, £125 by Ray-Ban
THREE: Sheba eared cats eye, £20 by Topshop
FOUR: Green metal square, £16 by Topshop
FIVE: Animal print acetate, £146 by Stella McCartney

Top 5 sale items from Net-A-Porter!

I definitely have a love hate-relationship with sale shopping. I do love a good bargain, but rifling through disorganised rails of sorry looking stock whilst being elbowed by fellow shoppers is not my idea of fun. Why is sale stock always presented so badly on the high street anyway? I understand that most items are in the sale for a reason, and that I'm going to have to look bloody hard to find the sartorial needle in the haystack, but is there any need to make all the clothes look like utter crap?!

Online sale shopping is a whole different ball game, it's far more civilised. The discounted pieces are as well presented as the full price ones, and it's nice to know they haven't been trampled by a horde of bargain hunters during a Saturday afternoon stampede. You can shop from the comfort of your sofa, glass of wine in hand, and with one click your beautifully packaged purchases will be on their way.

www.net-a-porter.com

I might not have money to burn, but there is something about getting older that means you learn to shop more wisely and would rather invest in a few quality pieces than buy the entire of Primark, only to throw it away when it inevitably falls apart. So high-end sale shopping is often the answer, and you can't beat Net-A-Porter: over 300 amazing brands all in one place, currently with up to 70% off!*

Spending money on high-end items that you will rarely wear makes no sense, even when they are heavily discounted, instead I prefer to spend money on the things that I wear the most; leather jackets, ballet pumps, every day handbags and dresses that can be worn all year round. As for the crazy heels, costume jewellery and trend-led items that won't last more than a season, I'll happily head to Forever 21 instead.

It was a struggle to edit right down, but here's my Net-A-Porter sale Top 5. All of them are a bit of an indulgence but I haven't included any pieces that will completely bankrupt you, because sadly some things are just too expensive, discounted or not! There is a gorgeous black and white stripe skirt by Balmain that I would elbow all the angry shoppers in the world out of the way for, but it is £950 even after taking 40% off, so it just ain't gunna happen...

Textured leather biker jacket by Faith Connexion, £396 was £990

Leather jackets are an investment and something that no doubt I will keep buying every few years, because although I fall in love a lot, I still haven't found 'the one'. The last time I was about to part with some serious cash, I made three phone calls seeking reassurance that I was doing the right thing. And it turns out that I was, because if you wear something at least three times a week then it is clearly worth the investment. Plus leather jackets just get better with age.

Colour block bandage dress by Hérve Léger, £408 was £1360  

I love a good bodycon dress and Hérve Léger truly is the master. If I was going to spend this much on a dress I'd want to be able to wear it with heels or flats and bare legs or opaques. It needs to be just as appropriate for the office or a cocktail any time of year, and this one ticks all the boxes.

Embellished neon silk skirt by Sass & Bide, £154 was £385

Ok, so this skirt is maybe a little frivolous for an investment piece but I'm a sucker for coral and I know that I would love it for years to come. How could you fail to have a good time wearing something as fun as this?! It's another day or night piece too, so good value for money.

Wool mini dress by Red Valentino £273 was £390

I'm fairly sure my sister and I had dresses just like this when we were little, so perhaps that's why I love this nautical number so darn much. I absolutely adore Valentino dresses but they are way out of my price range, so the more affordable RED Valentino line is great, especially with an extra 30% off!

Cotton and cashmere-blend sweater by Sonia Rykiel, £162 was £270

In England a jumper is always a good investment. Unlike other parts of the world, we never pack away our entire winter wardrobe when the seasons change, because you just never know when you'll need a cosy jumper! (Remember that snow in April debacle?!) Better quality will last much longer and this one has a bit of a Charlie Brown feel to it which I love.

So that's my top 5! Head over to www.net-a-porter.com for hundreds more sale items and perhaps next time I will post my top 5 sale items from Forever 21. I'm fairly sure I can find five great pieces and still get change for £50!

*Prices correct at time of publishing

Top 5 beauty products that are worth the hype

New beauty products are launched on an almost daily basis and touted as ‘must-have’ or ‘the only thing you need’. Many are a great big waste of time and an even bigger waste of money (don’t worry, we’ve all fallen victim to a glossy ad campaign in our time…), but which ones are worthy of the bold claims? Beauty junkie Kay Hardy shares the products that are truly worth the hype.  – Sarah x

With the British weather living up to its reputation and snow flurries every five minutes, my obsession with anything ‘beauty’ has reached a new peak. Like most, cold dreary days do me no good, especially as I am convinced I’m part lizard and should always be in sunny, hot climes.

I have even started to turn food shopping into an opportunity to browse new products, sometimes forgetting the bread and milk in favour of buying a body butter or hair mask. However despite the random buying, there are some products that I will continually re-purchase because they live up to the hype and are simply worth buying.

1. NARS LAGUNA BRONZER

NARS is well known for creating high end, quality, products, and their Laguna Bronzer is my favourite. Reviews pay homage on a regular basis and after reading blog after blog about Laguna’s wonder, I took the plunge and bought my first one last year. I am now a convert and use it daily, and despite this I have only just hit pan and still have plenty more product to go. With a price tag of £26 you want the product to last, which it certainly does and is on par with other high end prices such as Benefit’s Hoola (£23.50) and Bobbi Brown’s Bronzing Powder (£27). Having tried both I can say that NARS Laguna has the edge, as it can be used for a gentle glow or contouring.

Laguna is a dark, golden powder, with a fine shimmer. It appears to have a dirt brown look about it, but is quite the opposite on skin, where a subtle, warm colour appears and the shimmer illuminates. I use it for contouring, and because of its ability to blend with highlighter (liquid, stick or powder) it creates a natural look that allows cheek bones to ‘pop’. Hurrah!

2.  MAC PREP + PRIME HIGHLIGHTER PEN

MAC's Prep + Prime Highlighter Pen is truly one of the best I've tried. I am a devoted fan of YSL's Touche Éclat but MAC's version not only highlights but conceals dark circles beautifully. After Kim Kardashian’s highlighter and contouring secrets were blogged and numerous tutorials made, it was difficult to find. It gained attention left, right and centre, which is wholeheartedly deserved.

The pen style structure and twisty top makes the product easy to dispense and distribute under the eye and on the cheek bone. The brush is soft on application, so it does not drag the delicate eye area. The creamy pink Radiant Rose highlighter covers fatigued circles and brightens the face, and it blends well in all weather conditions. It costs £17.50 and comes in three shades; Light Boost, Radiant Rose and Bright Forecast. They are worth swatching to find the colour that suits you best.

3. REVLON COLORBURST LIP BUTTERS

Every person and their dog have raved about Revlon’s ColorBurst Lip Butters. The moisturising hydrating formula combined with bright colour pay off makes them worth every penny and one of the most talked about lip products of last year.  At £7.99 each they do not do too much damage to the bank balance and come in a variety of colours. For winter Berry Smoothie is my favourite, which is a cranberry colour. Candy Apple is an orangey/red that suits any time of year and gives a pop of colour that isn't terrifying.

The only issue with the product is that because of its moisturising properties, the stick can become a little smooshed in its packaging. Nevertheless I would happily re-purchase any of the colours I already have and according to the Boots website more have been released. Brilliant!

4. URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE ORIGINAL AND NAKED PALETTE 2

These palettes have been featured in numerous favourites YouTube videos, blogged to high heaven and have sparked the whole Naked range from Urban Decay. Both palettes have twelve colours and although the Original tends to be favoured for its earthy colours, personally the metallic based Naked 2 is my preference.

The colours are extremely pigmented and have a healthy life span, and if you’re travelling these palettes are a perfect companion. They are compact and between them contain the majority of colours you will need. I've taken them on the last three holidays and not missed any of the sets that I left at home. They are the most useful eye shadow palettes that I have purchased and sit currently at £36. Considering that’s £3 per shadow, that’s a steal.

5. MAYBELLINE MASTER PRECISE INK PEN EYELINER

When purchasing an eyeliner, I think about two things; will it be precise and will it dry out? The Maybelline Eyeliner Pen is a good shape, that enables a thicker line to be drawn with ease and its fine point makes winging and delicate lines easy to do.

Having had so many eyeliners dry out, mostly high end products, I am smug that this liner lasts for quite a while (4 to 5 months) and is only £5.99 at Superdrug. The Maybelline Master Precise Eyeliner pen is proving to be such a little gem. So much so, I have already bought two in reserve. Obsessed? Perhaps.

– Kay Hardy

Top 5 Winter Wellies

Seeing as it’s been such a snowy week, it seems like a good time to offer up some practical yet pretty footwear. After all, everyone knows that it’s not snow that’s the real problem – it’s the slushy, icy mess that follows. And there really is no reason for waterproof footwear to be ugly! So whether you want designer wellies or boots on a budget, here are the five brands you need to know. 

1. HUNTER

Hunter is the go-to brand for stylish wellies, having been brought to the fashion forefront by the likes of Kate Moss at Glastonbury. Personally I love them for their narrow fit and huge range of styles – they have kept my feet dry and smug at more than one Download festival! They are understated and if you're not a welly person, you can always rely on Hunter for something that doesn't make you feel too ridiculous. They come in a huge variety of colours but I opted for black. Pictured here are my black gloss pair (on the right) and the rather fabulous Jimmy Choo versions, that neither my budget nor my conscience could stretch to.

Original black gloss, £89 www.hunter-boot.com

2. VIVIENNE WESTWOOD ANGLOMANIA & MELISSA

Vivienne Westwood & Melissa have a rather impressive way of making plastic stylish, so it is no surprise that they make a rather stylish selection of waterproof boots! These ankle boots are perfect for rainy days in the city, keeping your feet dry without you having to embrace that ‘long walk in the country’ look. They were heavily reduced on many sites and are now largely out of stock, but the black versions can currently be found on Nonnon.

Vivienne Westwood & Melissa Booties, £72 www.nonnon.co.uk

3. BURBERRY

Ever since Burberry successfully managed to detach itself from that nasty 90s chav association (God bless you Christopher Bailey!), they have returned to the height of country chic, and that iconic check has once more become stylish. These boots are a great example of what they do best, fusing classic style with a quirky twist. Gotta love that owl detail!

Aberdale wellies in black, £315, available from Selfridges www.selfridges.com

4. JOULES 

Joules is a great brand for wellies if you want something a bit stylish but without the Hunter price tag. Shades of red are generally a pretty good call and the wellies on the left are a fab coral that will brighten up the dullest of winter outfits.

A bit of humour is a great way to acknowledge the ridiculousness of wellies, and as it seems impossible to get hold of those awesome childhood frog wellies in adult sizes (believe me, I’ve looked.) I plumped for these beauties on the right. Green is a classic welly colour and the fox print is inspired!

Premium Glossy Wellies in red, currently 20% off, only £51.96

Green Fox Wellies £37.95

www.joules.com

5. GUCCI

Trust Gucci to make the most un welly-like wellies on the market. These babies are shiny, sleek and almost don’t look like wellies at all! Their brogue style is tasteful and understated and a weekend wardrobe essential, especially in this vile English weather. Thank you Gucci!

Brogue-style Wellington boots, £200, available from Net-A-Porter www.net-a-porter.com

Top 5 sartorial reasons to appreciate Autumn/Winter

Well my holiday is officially over and I must admit I have a touch of the post-holiday blues. It's never much fun coming back to reality, but for a sun-worshipper like myself, it's even harder to make the Florida to England transition at this time of year. I swear I left England at the end of summer and returned two weeks later in the depths of winter! Returning to this country's heavy rain and arctic temperatures (ok, maybe I’m exaggerating a little) has been pretty painful, so in an attempt to cheer myself up, I’ve come up with a list of my top 5 sartorial reasons to appreciate Autumn/Winter.

1. COATS

From left to right: Burberry, Alexander McQueen, Biba at House of Fraser

Particularly fur coats, or should I say faux fur coats (the real deal is neither financially or morally appropriate for me). These take up a large portion of my wardrobe space and I’m always happy when I can start wearing them again. Admittedly I’ve been called Bette Lynch for wearing my leopard print coat and asked whether I skinned the polar bear myself for wearing my white one, but I couldn’t care less! Fashion will continue to fall in and out of love with them but I remain faithful – fur coats rule. And Alabama would agree. Alternatively for the best military coats this season look to Burberry and for a classic style with a splash of colour try Alexander McQueen or Zara.

2. BOOTS

From left to right: Zara, Alexander McQueen, Dr Martens

Oh how I’ve missed my Dr Marten's over the summer, and that fabulous smug feeling I get when it rains or snows and my feet are warm and dry. I’ve been that girl wearing ballet pumps in a torrential downpour many times before, so you’ll have to allow me a little smugness. Also on the wish list this season are a pair of biker boots and some new shoe boots, of which a girl can never have too many pairs!

3. NAIL POLISH

From left to right: Chanel Extreme Shine Nail Laquer, Dior Vernis in Purple Revolution,
Yves Saint Laurent in Rough Pop Art, Nails Inc. London in Mount Street

After a happy summer of corals, pinks and oranges it’s time to return to my winter wardrobe of black, plum and classic red. There’s a bit of a goth revival going on at the moment which suits my addiction to black nail varnish perfectly. My one rule is to reapply regularly – chipped black nails just aren't appropriate once you've left school! Chanel, Dior and YSL are always good quality and up to date with the new season's most desirable colours. But I'm actually a big fan of cheaper brands such as Revlon, which always has a nice range of colours that generally only require one coat to stay chip-proof for days.

4. HOSIERY

Left to right: lordandtaylor.com, boohoo.com, Jonathan Aston, modcloth.com

The unpredictable English weather and a refusal to spend every day in jeans means that good hosiery is often a girl’s best friend, and it is something that the great British high street is actually very good at – I’m thinking Pretty Polly, Jonathan Aston and good old Topshop. If you can brave the Oxford Street store madness then the selection available is well worth the effort. Topshop are a real favourite of mine as they actually make tights in a small, medium and large rather than limiting you to just a small/medium and medium/large option like most brands. And don’t even get me started on ‘one size fits all'! It just doesn’t.

5. KNITWEAR

From left to right: Coral cut-off gloves and teal snood from Accessorize, grey beanie from oliverbonas.com

It’s quite possible that my obsession with scarves, gloves and hats stems from a job I had in Accessorize ten years ago – a discount of up to 75% meant that my wardrobe has never been filled with so many accessories as that era. Accessorize are still great for winter woolies and this season my favourites from their Winter Shop include the very cute coral bow cut off gloves pictured above and their chunky snoods.

Finally as a bonus I’m going to add sunglasses to the list. There are still opportunities to wear them in winter, even in England, and they are a nice reminder that summer will eventually roll around again. Plus I broke my own cheap sunglasses rule on holiday and brought a beautiful pair of Ray-Bans, which if I can avoid breaking or losing, will be in my wardrobe for many years to come.

So there you have it! Five very good reasons to appreciate the changing of the seasons. I may be happiest in hot climates, but having spoken to a girl in Orlando about how she never gets to buy nice coats, I must admit I would be a little sad not to have the chance to adopt autumn/winter’s finest. And anyway, there's nothing quite like a good old British winter to make you truly appreciate the sun.