A year-round easter bonnet

I bought this hat in a little coffee shop inside the Art & Culture Centre in Bangkok. 

It's hand decorated with loads of little appliqué rabbits and easter eggs etc. 

It was on sale and only cost about £8.

Bunny x

What's on at Whistles?

I looove Whistles.

The high street favourite's clothes, that are at once simple yet luxurious and playful yet chic, are just so desirable to me. 

When I wear Whistles I feel like a young woman, rather than a girl.

Since they're quite pricey, there's often things I covet but have to pop back on the rack, my debit card safely stowed in my purse. But they also have pretty impressive sales and I've picked up some beautiful things for excellent prices. 

I came away on my honeymoon with a mac, a black tee, a white vest and a leopard print tee all from Whistles. Cool, quality, easy-to-wear clothes that are perfect for travelling, but smart enough that they're still trousseau-special.

Plus I love flying the British fashion flag.

The SS13 collection has been launched and here are my favourite styles from their look book:

I don't think I'll ever get bored of the cute dress/tough jacket combo

So wearable: looks comfortable, classic b/w stripes, great ladylike shape

Perfect simplicity of the sweatshirt (beautiful detailing too) paired with the garish skirt, plus the pattern clash with the bag

Beautiful impressionist print on the trousers with what looks like a tux-stripe to match the bag's yellow

I wish my legs were long enough to wear this ankle-kissing length!

Another great trouser length in a beautiful fabric, with elegant 60s styling on top

It has to be said, I don't think much of the shoes used in the look book. Good colour, but I'm a skyscraper girl and want nothing to do with anything nearing the 'kitten'!

In some exciting news from Whistles, it's being reported that they're to host a seated show for the first time at London Fashion Week next month, where they'll showcase their AW13/14 Limited Edition 'luxury' collection. 

Can't wait to see what they've got up their sleeves, although as previously intimated I think their standard range is about my price level of luxury! 

*whispers* Let's hope some of it goes into the sale.

Bunny x

Can't repeat the past? Why of course you can

I'm a relatively new initiate into the world of The Great Gatsby, having only read the novel at the end of last year when a nice guy from Brighton called Paul let me borrow his copy on a tiny island in Indonesia.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am now really looking forward to the upcoming movie adaptation from Baz Luhrmann, the guy behind the incredible spectacles that are Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge. 

(Funny how no-one ever cites Australia, huh?)

The roaring twenties - the book is set in 1922 - made a big splash on the fashion scene and with the flapper era, Luhrmann's penchant for eye-popping visuals, and the involvement of Miuccia Prada with the costumes, the new film is sure to reflect that.

Stills and trailers have been doing the rounds for a while, showing off some of the film's sumptuous sets and clothes. Most of the attention has been on Carey Mulligan, playing Daisy Buchanan, the love interest of the titled Jay "The Great" Gatsby. She's looking flashy in bright greens and yellows, flowing kimonos, jewel-encrusted cocktail dresses and fur shrugs, a super-short blonde bob set off with pins and headbands, and positively dripping in diamonds and pearls.

Now sketches of four of Prada's 40 costume contributions have been released and they're a feast of twenties motifs like beading, organza, fur (not my cup of tea, but it is a period piece), knee-brushing boyish shapes, and rich jewel tones.

 Pretty blue layered tulle and silk with Swarovski embellishments.

 Orange organza, fish scale sequins and fur.

Drop-backed blue sequins with embroidery and beading, plus matching fur stole.

 Stunning, dramatic green gown with pearls, rhinestone and sequin fringes.

Miuccia Prada also worked with Baz Luhrmann and Leonardo DiCaprio in 1996, on Romeo + Juliet (one of my all-time favourite movies) when she designed the suit that Romeo wore for the wedding scene.

Swoon. Sob.

Catherine Martin, costume designer on The Great Gatsby and Mrs Baz Luhrmann, is quoted as saying:

"Baz and Miuccia have always connected on their shared fascination with finding modern ways of releasing classic and historical references from the shackles of the past."

And:

"We have tried to create an environment that the audience will be subconsciously familiar with, yet separated from."

So it doesn't sound like the fashion is going to be 100% historically accurate in terms of the materials and styles used, but more a way of bringing the 1920 styles up to date for a 2013 movie.

The fashion kudos for the film doesn't stop at this high-profile costume collaboration. The Telegraph has also reported that: 

"American jeweller Tiffany & Co is outfitting the cast in one-of-a-kind diamond jewels inspired by its archives [and] Ashley Olsen, one half of the stylish Olsen twins, has loaned her collection of vintage dresses to the film's fashion cause."

"[Tiffany & Co] has designed one-off platinum and diamond-encrusted rings, headpieces, bracelets and pearl necklaces inspired by its archives."

The 1974 film version of The Great Gatsby, starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, also did a pretty fabulous job of reflecting the splendor and frivolity of the period.

Although I don't think Farrow's Daisy has quite the same level of flirty, youthfulness in her wardrobe as is promised by the new adaptation.

Baz Luhrmann's bash at the literary classic is currently slated for a May release. I'll definitely be in line to see it, in the director's home country no less!

Go here to see the official trailers.

Bunny x

Red shoes, no knickers

I'm out of the country, travelling Asia and Australia with my new husband on our year-long honeymoon. But that doesn't mean I had to miss out on the post-Christmas sales right?? Especially when I've signed up for a zillion retail newsletters that keep yelling at me from my inbox about further reductions.

Obviously, I'm on a tight budget so clothes shopping isn't a priority right now. But my mum gave me a bit of money for Christmas and when I saw these little beauties during some online window shopping (screen shopping?) I couldn't resist. 

They were £60 reduced to £25 from Office and just look at how perfect! Plus the bonus with Converse All Stars is that I know I take a size 5, so even though I'm miles from home and can't try them on, these babies will be waiting patiently for my feet to slip into them when they retouch UK soil in August.

This style is sold out now, but Office still has a good selection in its sale.

Bunny x

Inspiration for chilly days

A little collection of fabulous images to inspire winter dress up.

Bright faux fur, geek chic eyewear, red lipstick.

Elaborate hair, dramatic knits, smoking without gloves.

Mannish trousers, chunky boots, cute sweaters.

Dark glossy locks, allover natural shades, shiny pleats.

Tights, socks, boots.

Monotone, texture, girly skirts.

Pussy bows, denim shirts, big jewelry.

70s styling, snakeskin, bold make-up.

Glitter, wedges, buns.

Contrasting combos, coloured tights, PVC.

Layers, woolly hats, boxy bags.

Clashing prints, messy hair, big brows.

Polka dots, tassels, twin sets.

Bunny x

THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOUR'S... LBD

Coated Lace Tutu dress by Karen Millen

A dress for a wedding: Redux

I've been away for a while - a busy summer coupled with a temporary lull in sartorial inspiration has led me to neglect my blogging - but look! I'm back. 


I've been cultivating my column on British Style Bloggers. You can see my latest offering here, where I picked the best of this year's highstreet A/W11 Lookbooks. My next treatise goes up tomorrow, so go back to BSB to check out what I'm on about this time.


Also, to support Best of the Highstreet, I've created a Flickr album, which you can view here. You see, I haven't been completely neglecting my duties! 

So, now that I've updated you on my recent activities... on with today's post.

Back in April, I got very excited about a dress I had purchased for one of the numerous weddings I've happily been invited to this year. Then, after its arrival, I tucked it away in my wardrobe for the best part of four and a half months. 

It didn't reappear until Thursday night, when I tried it on again in preparation for my cousin's wedding on Friday.

Now, I've told this story to a lot of people over the past few days and while they've all looked suitably shocked, dismayed and amused, I get the impression that at least a couple of them may have thought I was just making up excuses to go on an impromptu spree. However, I can guarantee that this really happened...

So, I try the dress on again on Thursday evening and it's see-through! Not just slightly, so that you can see my undies... you can see my belly button!! I honestly don't know how I didn't notice this quite important glitch back in the spring, but needless to say a family wedding is not the ideal showcase for such a revealing garment.

Panic sets and and I adjust my alarm clock to accommodate a morning-of-the-wedding emergency shopping trip. 

Up to the Angel I skip early on Friday and Joy comes to my rescue. I found this beautiful Louche Cosmia Jacquard Dress and ended up getting way more compliments from the other wedding guests than I think I ever would have in my cream chiffon number - even if it hadn't been transparent!

So it all worked out nicely in the end. Now I just need to get myself a slip of some sort, so the original cream dress isn't a total write-off. After all, the Christmas party season isn't a million miles away.

And how scary is that??

Bunny x