Style State

Wearing my bump loud and proud!

2012-05-18T15:32:00.001+01:00

Yes, yes, I know. Where did I disappear to again?! Well, I'm going to blame pregnancy. Because I can.

Anyway, I felt compelled to write a post this week after meeting a horrid witch of a woman, who not only upset me, but infuriated me with her words.

I am now 8 months pregnant (finally!) and have gained a fair amount of weight. Such is life. I have a healthy baby, so I will focus on my weight loss once baby arrives. This positive mental attitude took a real bashing however, when a random woman in a lift expressed her opinion to me:

"Ooh, you had better stop eating otherwise your baby is going to be too big

and will give you lots of pain!"

Just what every pregnant woman wants to hear, right?! How dare she. Having always been very conscious of my size - I was a UK size 6-8 pre-pregnancy - I really did not need to hear this.

In fact, why is it that a pregnant woman's body becomes open to public scrutiny? If I was given a baby-grow for every comment I heard on my size or every time someone randomly rubbed my tummy, my baby would be dressed for a good few years! It's not cool people.

But I'm over it and I refuse to let this woman and others like her spoil the remaining weeks of my pregnancy and take away from the excitement I am feeling. So I have embraced my extra-large bump and put together a little collection of photos.

Welcome to my maternity capsule wardrobe - all I need to keep me going through these last weeks...

AFTERNOON TEA WITH THE GIRLS
This dress has been my lifesaver throughout pregnancy. It's not a maternity dress, in fact I've been wearing it for a few years now, but it has the perfect stretching capabilities to keep me looking chic all pregnancy long. And nowadays I wrap the back ties around to my front to give my belly some extra support. Bring on the tea and scones!

Dress: Ingenue. Necklace: Mawi.

Sandals: Kg by Kurt Geiger.

DATE NIGHT
I was so in love with my leopard dress, that on my last trip to London, I snapped up this jade version. It's a size larger which gives it some extra length and is therefore perfect for those extra special nights out. In fact, last night I wore it to the ballet. Hubby liked it a lot (just don't tell him I have another one on order, arriving very soon!).

Dress: Ingenue. Necklace: Accessorize.

SUNDAY BRUNCH
This is my new fave purchase. It is ultra comfy and cooling (don't forget Hong Kong is currently reaching in to the 30s, so it is hot, hot, hot!), and is an easy way to add some sophistication to my swollen feet. Speaking of which, I don't actually wear skyscraper wedges in real pregnancy life. They just looked better in the photo ;-)

Dress: Isabella Oliver Maternity. Necklace: Mawi. Wedges: Miu Miu.

RUNNING ERRANDS
That should probably say 'waddling errands', but anyway... When I just want to throw something on and head out to the shops, I turn to my fail-safe skinny jeans and blouse combo. I am a HUGE fan of these GAP Maternity jeans. They don't look like maternity jeans, yet they give me all the support I need. And for £40/HK$480, they're pretty nice on my purse too.

Blouse: ASOS Maternity. Jeans: GAP Maternity. Pumps: Dune.

WORK LUNCH
I still have a few meetings going on, setting up work for later in the year. I can breastfeed and style, can't I?! Anyway, I like the casual chic look of this outfit and the fact that it is comfortable (not something that existed in my pre-pregnancy repertoire!).

Vest: Gap Maternity. Jacket: Topshop.

Jeans: GAP Maternity. Pumps: Dune

AN AFTERNOON BY THE SEA
Being an Island, Hong Kong has lots of seaside life. What better than a nautical little number to while away those sunny days on the coast.

Vest: H&M Maternity. Shorts: H&M Maternity. Necklace: Accessorize. Sandals: Dune.

DINNER WITH FRIENDS
Hubby and I are trying to squeeze in as many friend dates as possible, before our lives change for ever!! A shot of colour is just what my maternity capsule wardrobe needs. Once again, heels are for purely photographic (read: vanity) reasons! The great thing about this dress is that it is perfect for disguising baby tummy post-pregnancy...and for breastfeeding. Score!

Dress: ASOS Maternity.

Wedges: Christian Louboutin.

I may not have many outfits circulating at the moment, but the ones that I do have fill all my needs. And as you can see, I'm wearing my bump LOUD AND PROUD! I don't care what people think, as long as my baby comes in to this world healthy and happy. So go stuff yourself silly woman in the lift!

And to all other mums-to-be...enjoy your pregnancies. We are very lucky to be going through this magical experience!

Love Mummy-to-be Magpie xxx

Wedding dress woes...

2012-02-14T11:04:00.000+00:00

So, after 3 months of being married and roughly 92 days spent looking tearfully at my wedding dress (I know wearing any outfit more than once is a no-no, but it's just so pretty and special), I couldn't resist a little trip down memory lane.

Obviously I'm not that frivolous that I'd spend an afternoon sitting in my wedding dress sipping champagne (well, actually that is what I had planned until the cleaner cancelled), so...

...I did the hoovering...

...the washing up...

...and the ironing...

...in my wedding gown. And it felt GREAT!

Then I changed in to my dalmation print all-in-one to enjoy my champers. Well...I wouldn't want to get my wedding dress dirty would I?!

_________________________

FYI these photos were taken last September, when The Bump was still a twinkle in his/her daddy's eyes and before I'd taken delivery of any furniture. We don't actually reside in a plain white box and there's no way I'd get my dress past my hips right now!!

Back with a bump!

2012-02-03T11:00:00.000+00:00

SURPRISE! I'm back!

Yes, I've been AWOL for the past gazillion months. No excuses.

Well, actually, I have a great excuse. The main reason for my absence has been due to horrendous morning sickness. Yep...I've gone from Miss Magpie, to Mrs Magpie, to Mummy-to-be Magpie in the blink of an eye!

Now that the morning sickness has abated (FYI morning sickness does not do what it says on the label. It should be called morning-noon-night-and every-minute-inbetween sickness), I can finally enjoy life again. Seriously, it was that bad!

I'm 20 weeks down (which means 20 weeks to go) and with my bump growing by the day, my existing wardrobe is not doing me any favours. 'Slut chic' is not working so well for me right now. Surprise surprise.

With traditional maternity-wear offering me NOTHING inspiring, I've turned to the catwalk, to see what my fave designers have inadvertently designed for mummas (clearly they didn't plan it that way).

Diane von Furstenberg SS'12

The beauty of living in Hong Kong is that our winter is nearly over - nahnahnahnerner!! - so this maxi shirt dress will be the ideal pregnancy partner from now until D-Day.

Marchesa SS'12

The girls have done it again with a beautiful collection and this stunning ethereal number will have me floating my way through the rest of my pregnancy (it's more of a thud right now).

Alexander McQueen SS'12

You may not agree, but I reckon I could rock this little number with my bump. In fact, I'm not even sure you'd be able to detect my tummy behind all those ruffles. I may need a bit of extra length on it (bumps tend to raise hemlines) and perhaps I'd ditch the cap (I need some level of comfort right now), but otherwise it'll do the job just fine. Plus, red is a super lucky colour over here in HK, so it's practically made for me.

Valentino Couture SS'12

The maxi dress - a pregnant woman's best friend. And this dainty version from Valentino is now on my lust list. Once I've found a bra with the right level of support (boobs enormous, but not allowed underwire. Go figure!) it'll be perfect.

Victoria by Victoria Beckham SS'12

With 4 pregnancies under her (very skinny) belt, the Queen B must know a thing or two about maternity fashion. And I reckon she designed this whilst preggers with little Harper, because I would love to be wearing this right now.

Sadly, with a baby on the way, I've got to become a little bit more sensible, so these dresses will all remain a pipe dream for now. Unless the respective designers would like some free pregnancy advertising. I'll even wear them to pre-natal yoga. How can they refuse an offer like that?!

Luckily the sales are on in HK and fed up of hearing me moan about my shrinking wardrobe, my darling hubby took me to Lane Crawford (HK's answer to Selfridges) and bought me a wee treat...

Thank you to Ms Diane VF for making one very emotional and hormonal pregnant woman, very happy. Now I just need the occasion to wear it, but I think hubby has that under his belt too. I'm a lucky girl. I mean grown-up woman who is about to be a mum. Eeks!

Stay tuned for more pregnancy related posts coming soon (sorry - it's all I know right now!)...

Mrs Magpie: Photographer

2011-08-26T16:34:00.000+01:00

Having been inspired by my rather fabulous wedding photographer (thank you Joe Lasky) - more wedding snaps coming soon! - I decided that it was about time I learnt how to use my rather snazzy new camera.

I've made quite a talent out of looking like I know what I am doing - but like most other tourists, I'm safely snapping away in 'Auto' mode. What's the point of having a fantastic tool and not utilising it to its best ability?

Ooh, must apply same theory to my brain.

So I booked myself on to a photography course with my new HK gal pal. I haven't told you about her yet... She's getting married next year!!! It's like all my Christmas' have come at once!

Oh yes, and she's also really lovely.

Note to self: must not forget this is not my wedding and I am not her wedding planner. Must keep friend - not let post-wedding bridezilla out of the bag...

Anyway, four days of intensive photography training later and here's what I've achieved so far...

Hong Kong Harbour at ridiculous-o'clock in the morning

Changing my shutter speed to capture flying water in Hong Kong Botanical Gardens

Borrowing a long lense to shoot these caged birds (notice how you can't even see the cage!)

at Hong Kong Botanical Gardens

The HSBC building at night, contorted with my newly learned camera skills

The iconic Bank of China building...with a twist

I'd like to thank Craig Norris (link here) for all his patience with me and for his masterful teaching. As I mentioned before, my brain is not really functioning properly these days.

Hubby and I are off to Shanghai for the weekend *excited squeal*, which provides me with the perfect opportunity to work on my newly acquired skills. Poor hubby - lots of standing around for him.

Will show you the results next week.

In the mean time, I will leave you with what my photography class think of me:

How did they find out after just four days?!!

Did you know that I am married?

2011-08-15T14:27:00.001+01:00

Just in case it escaped anyone's notice, my father's girlfriend thought it wise to remind everyone that I had just got married.

Had anyone actually missed the fact that I am now a married woman, I would be shocked. Our very subtle wedding could easily have gone unnoticed. Not.

Nevertheless, I've been wearing this top ever since...

"Mrs Shah"
(and on the back, "nee Holding")

I totally love it - the only time you will ever catch me in a vest top ;-)

And, because it was tough not having a camera following us constantly, we had a quick, very cheesy, photo session at the wedding venue, before we had to bid it farewell...

(Photos courtesy of SiSiG)

Incidentally, we hadn't planned to be in matching outfits! And my beau's pink Havaianas were borrowed from me, after he lost his. I have since taken them back!

Love Mrs Magpie
xxx

The Final Wedding bash - The Pool Party

2011-08-15T13:45:00.000+01:00

After a weekend filled with celebrations and partying, you'd have thought that we'd all had our fill of fun.

Well, you'd be wrong.

We all gathered again on the Sunday morning for a post-wedding brunch and pool party. Anticipating lots of sore heads, we provided guests with a delicious buffet and plenty of hair-of-the-dog bubbly!

So much for the sore heads - we all drank the bar dry!!

Here's what went down:

Everyone cooling off in the golf-course facing infinity pool

Just before the dessert table got fully munched at Dar Ennassim restaurant, Palmeraie Golf Palace

Dress numero 1: D&G tartan maxi dress with train (it was my wedding after all)

My gorge new Miu Miu wedges - officially the most comfortable pair of shoes I have ever owned!

Dress numero 2: A Jaeger silk chiffon babydoll dress

The wedding swimsuit. Yes, I did go there.

Over-excited on my beau's shoulders. Not so excited when he proceeded to dunk me under the water.

Hanging out with the best men and ushers...

My new hubby and I striking one of our final wedding poses!

(Courtesy of Joe Lasky Photography)

So, there you have it. At about 6pm, we all reluctantly left the poolside and said our goodbyes :-(

Our wedding weekend in Marrakech had come to an end. We had the most amazing time of our lives and can not thank everyone enough for making the effort to make it so memorable for us.

I will never ever forget it. And I don't think I will ever have a weekend to compete with it.

Love Mrs Magpie

xxx

Wedding No. 3 - The White One

2011-08-03T11:01:00.001+01:00

Having managed to successfully limit my wine intake the night before (something I'm not generally skilled at), I awoke to another glorious day at Dar Sabra in Marrakech feeling on top of the world.

I could have been very melancholy were it not for the fact that I still had another wedding to go. Yep, we'd saved the best for last. Today was the white wedding. The one where I get to wear a poofy white dress and finally tell me beaux how much I love him.

After a pretty chilled day it was once again time to get ready. With my bridesmaids taking care of me I was as relaxed as relaxed can be. And before we knew it, it was our cue to go...

My gorgeous bridesmaids (just three on this day) walked out to Vivaldi's "Four Seasons: Spring" in pretty awesome (atleast that's what I think, but I did choose them) purple dip-dyed fringed flapper dresses...

That's them a little later in the evening, cooling off.

They were wearing shoes at the beginning. Promise!

Meanwhile, my dad was giving me a few final words of advice...

A treasured memory

And then it started...Pachelbel's "Canon in D" and off we went...

It was a truly special moment in my life.

I chose a bespoke lace and tulle fishtail number from the White Leaf Boutique in Brighton. It was the second wedding dress I ever tried on...and the last. I knew it was my dress from the minute I saw it...and as soon as I put it on, it was confirmed!

I teamed it with my gorgeous Christian Louboutin white lace heels and a bunch of fuchsia and baby pink Atlas roses. Ooh, and some diamond jewellery given to me by my lovely in-laws!

J'adore

Let me tell you about these shoes...
I did indeed buy them rather prematurely. Before my beau even popped the question in fact.
You see, I was at a Christian Louboutin sample sale and when I set eyes on them, I knew I had to get married in them. I had THE man - I was pretty convinced we were going to be together for ever - so I didn't think it too harmful to buy THE shoes...and three days later, he proposed. So, it all worked out rather nicely in the end.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand...

Our darling friend Matt officiated this short, intimate ceremony...

My University saviour, Sophie, read my fave extract from "The Velveteen Rabbit" by Margery Williams...

Then my beau's best gal pals, Hattie & Holly, sang the most beautiful rendition of Adele's "Make You Feel My Love"...

And finally, my lovely mummy read Kahlil Gibran's "On Marriage"...

Obvs, Joe the photographer will have a better pic of this!

Serious snaps for my amazing mum. She donned a turquoise Preen dress with Gianmarco Lorenzi skyscraper heels and vintage Dior costume jewellery. A-mazing! (more pics to come)

Once the ceremony was over...

(back of the order of events)

...everyone congregated around the pool for champagne, canapes and Frank Sinatra (music of)...

...and laughter...

...and pure hilarity...

...before heading to their tables for a yummy three course dinner, speeches and much merriment.

Joe took a brilliant pic of us...

...if only I could get my beau to be that obedient all the time!!

After dinner we moved over to the 'club' area for dancing and drinking...but first, the cutting of the cake:

A huge tower of pink macaroons, complete with giant sparklers!

The tossing of the bouquet came next...

...however there was quite a scrum and the photos did not come out very well.

Our first dance followed... Let's not go there!

And then the real party began!

It got quite hot, so some people stripped off. Seriously.

I went down a different 'cooling off' route...

...and my beau tried this...

Which was not very funny.

We kept hunger at bay with a shwarma man...

But the real stars of the night were my grandparents...who were on the dance floor until 3am!

At about 4.30am, we had to call it a night, much to everyone's dismay. But as they say, all good things must come to end :-(

Good job really, because my new hubby and I had to be up a few hours later, back in our wedding gear, for a shoot in the desert. Here's a sneak preview...

The local villagers were glued!! Haha!

All in all, a bloomin' good time was had by all...

...and there's even more to come.

Watch this space!

Love Mrs Magie

xxx

Wedding No. 2 - Bollywood dreams

2011-08-02T10:55:00.000+01:00

For Miss Magie, one wedding was just not enough.

So, a few days after our London nuptials, we flew out to Marrakech for a little bit more celebrating...with over 200 of our closest family and friends in tow.

It was a year in the planning and after bombs, protests, riots, a certain active volcano, airline strikes and the like, a pretty tense year at that. But, with everyone making it out to Marrakech safe and sound (the same can not be said for the luggage - luckily not mine!) we could finally relax and enjoy the festivities.

THE MORNING

It all kicked off on the Friday morning with our "Mandvo" ceremonies. This is where my beau and I lay the foundations of our marriage. Very strong and stable foundations. No future underpinning required.

It all took place in the lush gardens of the Palmeraie Golf Palace, where all of our guests were staying (I think some may have come to the ceremony direct from their night out!).

It was a pretty early start and having not slept a wink (it was a million times more exciting than Christmas Eve) I gave myself a good twenty minutes in which to get ready. Sticking my hair up in to a bun, whacking on some make-up and shoving on my sari, above was the outcome. This is one of my favourite wedding saris - it's so beautifully embroidered - Thank you mummy Magpie!

There was lots of praying, some crying and generally an air of excitement as the wedding festivities began.

THE EVENING

After a few hours of rest...

Actually, that's a lie...no rest for me...

The evening's festivities kicked off at 5pm at the stunning Dar Sabra boutique hotel, with my family and friends arriving first, so that they could greet my beau and his family as they arrived at the venue.

There he is, being brought in by his cousins and my parentals...

Not one for a fuss, I decided to make my entrance a little more demure:

Photo by Joe Lasky Photography

Embracing the Moroccan tradition, I was brought in on an Amari throne, heralded by trumpeteers. Discreet it was not. Fun it certainly was!

I wore a chiffon and net, sequin embroidered cream sari from Sonas Haute Couture and head dress from Rene Walrus. Sandals were Jimmy Choo. Obvs.

We'd (erm, I'd) chosen fuchsia as our colour theme, so it was only sensible to provide shelter from the sun for our guests in the way of draped pink fabric.

Placed on each chair (we were in love with these perspex Napoleon chairs) was a brightly coloured fan, made from carved wood, that we had picked up on our recent travels to Cambodia. They were even fragranced!

The ceremony took place underneath a Mandap. Once again, we went for a very subtle look:

Not.

And like all under-stated brides, I had just six bridesmaids. That's all.

Devina, Siam, Grace, Emily, Priya, Neha

Don't they look just gorgeous!

And here we are again...married now in the eyes of religion...looking rather pleased with ourselves!

Following the ceremony, we wined and fed our guests with Moroccan vino and canapes. Meanwhile I changed and my beau and I made a rather discreet entrance:

Just a few trumpets and drums. I even walked this time!

I chose another sari by Sonas Couture... It weighed a tonne, but was very sparkly so I was smitten. Natch.

Finally, we got to have a little drink and chat to our friends...all of whom had gone to amazing lengths to wear Indian clothing.

The place was a vision of colour and sparkle!

Then we sat down for dinner...

Huge fuchsia Atlas roses and lots of candles set the secene,

while tables were named after our fave places in India.

...which came complete with Moroccan entertainment: Belly dancers, musicians, ladies with trays of candles on their heads (?!), acrobats...

...and thus, the party began...

It really was our Bollywood dream come true!

Wedding No. 1 - The Registry Office

2011-07-27T16:38:00.000+01:00

Wedding No. 1? Yes, that's right. Wedding No. 1 out of 3.
Like I always say, there's no point doing something unless you are going to do it properly!

So, on Friday June 24th, my beau and I tied the knot at the ultra glamorous (!) Enfield Registry Office. Marylebone Town Hall is so last year.

It was an emotionally charged day, with tears all round. Tears of joy, I'm sure. My tears began as soon as I started walking down the aisle. With my Grandfather on one arm and my Father on the other, and with my beau waiting for me in the distance, it was really quite overwhelming.

Lucky me: Two of the greatest men the world has ever seen, standing on either side of me.

My top lip is quivering...hold it together...

I've reached the end and now my beau is the one in tears! I love this shot...

Before we knew it, we were pronounced husband and wife:

And with the blink of an eye, we were a Mr & Mrs, with everyone around congratulating us. It was one of the most surreal moments of my life. I wish I could do it all over again...in slow motion!

No wedding is complete without confetti in your eye!

See, Enfield Registry Office is really quite pretty.

The obligatory groom carrying bride photo...which all brides love. And all grooms dread!

I don't think we could look much happier!

And there you have it. Our 'official' wedding. In and out in 30 minutes. Good job there were two more to go! How other brides have just one wedding is beyond me ;-)

Now, down to the best bit. The clothes.

My handsome beau had a three-piece suit tailored in Hong Kong. It was charcoal grey with a black satin collar and was based on a Dolce suit I'd seen in a mag. The tailor did rather a good job I think.

I opted for a white column dress from Notte by Marchesa, which I teamed with gold sandals from Jimmy Choo (can be seen in pics above), and a diamond and sapphire jewellery set that was a wedding gift from my grandparents (erm, how amazing!).

And to top it off, a beautiful bunch of fuschia Peonies. My fave!

Following on from this, my beau's parents held a lunch for 120 people, followed by a reception for 500. Like I said, this was a very small wedding!

At 11pm, we set off together for our first night of marital bliss, in to the Hertforshire countryside.

Marital argument no.1.
Following bad directions in the dark is very hard. Men just don't seem to get it.

Anyway, once we finally got there we had a lovely night as Mr & Mrs. I won't show you the other outfits from the day ;-)

Next morning, it was an early start as we had to return home for the next set of events.

For my first outfit as a married woman, I chose Paris as my inspiration:

Well, sort of.

Right, bed time. 'Til tomorrow...

Mrs Magpie
xxx

Wedding preps - Magpie style

2011-07-26T16:52:00.000+01:00

Becoming a 'Mrs' is pretty hard work!

In the lead up to the wedding, there were so many things to be done - hair trials, make-up lessons, waxing appointments, nails, dress fittings, wearing in all my new heels... All of that on top of the actual organisation!

I wanted to give some much deserved credit to the people who helped me out with all of this...

HAIR

For my registry office wedding, I wanted to keep my look classic and elegant. After much hunting around, I found the man for the job at Coco in Cockfosters.

If you ever need your hair putting up, the Turkish guy who doesn't speak English (can not remember his name - oops) is a genius. I have a LOT of hair, but he managed to get it all up with little fuss (though lots of back-coming) and with no pain for me - a winning combination!

www.cocohairstudio.co.uk/

The other hairdresser I must mention, for her incredible blow dry skills is Suzy at Art Hair Gallery in Finchley Central. She's a genius when it comes to breathing life in to hair! 020 8371 0300

NAILS

Another research heavy job was my nails. I have not been blessed with good nails - in fact, all they ever do is chip, break or peel. No matter what I do to look after them, they just don't listen. So, I was forced to opt for nail extensions. I know, I know, they're not good for me, but in all honesty, my nails couldn't get much worse, so it was no big deal.

After much investigation, I decided to go with WAH - well known for their amazing nail art and not extortionate prices.

I chose acrylic extensions as they tend to be more hard wearing, and covered them with a gel top layer, to give a more natural finish (well, as natural as fake nails can ever look). True to my name, I went glittertastic. I think they turned out pretty well and were a great alternative to the done-to-death wedding French Manicure.

Give WAH a try yourself: http://wah-nails.com/

WAXING

The less said about this the better. Let's just say that the waxing lady did not know where to stop. And I'm not even talking about there (I know what you are thinking). How about this for shocking - back and belly!!

If you too want your whole body to feel like a baby's bottom, head to Shahnaz in Finchley Central, 020 8349 9911.

MAKE-UP

You may not have noticed this yet, but I'm a bit of a control freak. So, when it came to my wedding make-up, I couldn't face letting anyone else do it for me (pun intended). Instead I headed straight to Jo Reid at Blush, for her expert instructions on how to get the perfect finish.

I then spent a fortune buying lots of new make-up.

www.blush.uk.com/

SHOES

Obviously, I had a new pair of shoes for every occasion (I'll fill you in on those in the next few days), but there are a couple of pairs of golden oldies I had to include in my wedding trousseau. Two of my beautfiul Loubys were feeling very sorry for themselves and needed some serious TLC. I headed straight to Classic Shoe Repairs in Tufnell Park, where they replace your red soles, with new ones, direct from the Louboutin factory. They're not cheap, but only the best for my Loubs will do!

Classic Shoe Repairs, 020 7485 5275

So, there we have it - my little Black Book of wedding saviours!

Tomorrow...the outfits!

Love Mrs Magpie
xxx

MRS Magpie has arrived...

2011-07-26T12:07:00.000+01:00

So, there's a totally valid explanation for my whereabouts (or lack there of) over the last couple of months. Just the small matter of my wedding and our big move to Hong Kong. Nothing too life-altering or time-consuming then.

I am now a Mrs indeed. After three wedding ceremonies (I'll get to those later) and ten events (and those), I can safely say that I am definitely, 100% guaranteed a married woman. See...

Hmm...now where do I begin to tell you about our wedding? It was the best two weeks - yes, that's correct - of my life EVER. I was literally, the happiest girl on the planet. I still am!

Several events in London, including our Registry Office, were followed by a weekend in Marrakech with 205 of our closest family and friends, sharing in our Indian wedding and White wedding celebrations.

To give you a brief idea of what went on, here are some pics:

THE REGISTRY OFFICE

(photo courtesy of Hannah Barton Photography)

INDIAN "MANDVO" CEREMONY, MARRAKECH

INDIAN WEDDING CEREMONY, MARRAKECH

(Photo courtesy of Joe Lasky Photography, www.joelasky.co.uk)

WHITE WEDDING, MARRAKECH

(Photo courtesy of Joe Lasky Photography, www.joelasky.co.uk)

POST-WEDDING POOL PARTY & BRUNCH, MARRAKECH

(Photo courtesy of Joe Lasky Photography, www.joelasky.co.uk)

There you have it - a quick summary of my, I mean 'our' wedding. Over the next few days, I'll be breaking it down, so that you can experience the whole shebang for yourself: the outfits, the shoes, the settings, the details...and maybe even the tantrums!

Stay tuned for more...

In the mean time, pay a visit to Joe's (my fab photographer) blog http://joelasky.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/a-sneak-preview-of-the-hot-marrakesh-wedding-weekend/

And to www.boutiquesouk.com - Rosena & Fred are the best wedding planners you will ever find. Fact!

Love MRS Magpie

xxx

Gucci gone wrong!

2011-05-25T13:54:00.000+01:00

Is this the ugliest car ever?

Er, yes.

Sorry Gucci, but this little creation is totally chavtastic. You're doing for yourself exactly what Daniella Westbrook did for Burberry. And you know how long it took them to recover from that!

I mean, if you're aiming at the 20-something, Gucci logo wearing, Eurotrash boys (you all know who I am talking about), you've probably hit the nail on the head. Just wait for them to 'zoop' up that miniature car with super-size additions, a noisy engine and some disco lights. Just saying.

Thank God for the gorgeous Natasha Poly - not only does she hide some of that awful car, she somehow manages to add some seriously needed glamour to the ad. Still hate the car though.

Gucci: Stick to the day job. Love your clothes; hate your car.

P.S. If you're interested, this is what I'd quite like:

And if Mr Lagerfeld felt like giving me a chic (tasteful) Chanel interior then I'd be very happy!

Anna dello Russo gets Bridezilla's goat!

2011-05-18T12:24:00.000+01:00

OMG, I think I've missed some breaking news!! Did Anna dello Russo get married in Cannes?

Vogue Nippon's Editor-at-large is famed for her outlandish outfits and sartorial experimentation, but, what was she thinking when she stepped out in this. Seems that the Kate Middleton effect is more infectious than I first thought! So much for being a leader...

Wearing a bespoke Alberta Ferretti creation, Anna looked more like a bride that had lost her way, than an Editor gracing the red carpet at Cannes.

And, being just weeks away from my own nuptials, I'm seriously not impressed with Anna trying to steal the thunder of real brides.

Leave the poofy white dresses to us Anna!

Ok, rant over.

So there's about 35 days to go before my wedding extravaganza begins (eeks!) and it looks like I'm going to be bang on trend. White is a major hit this summer!! Phew.

Here's how the stars perfected the white trend at Cannes:

My lady crush of the season: Uma Thurman looks just divine in this Versace number. The dress is a vision of perfection! I totally adore the thigh slit, the layers of maribou feather and the cut-out back. I'm actually toying with the idea of applying my scissors to my wedding dress...

Showing how to wear white with class, the gorgeous Uma triumphs again. Beautiful Dolce frock!

Who says white is angelic? Rosie Huntington-Whiteley comes over all devilish in MaxMara.

I want to be Bianca Balti in this Dolce dress.

Jane Fonda is 73. Jane Fonda is wearing figure-hugging Pucci. Jane Fonda is amazing. Enough said.

Ok, so this isn't strictly white, but I just had to give style snaps to Zoe Saldana for this effort. She rocks!

And, because Bridezilla has her claws out, here's how not to wear white:

ICK!

ICKY!!

ICKIER!!!

The fancy dress boat party where we dressed up...

2011-05-10T17:16:00.000+01:00

...and no one else did.

Embarrassed? Moi? Never!

So I decided to draw even more attention to myself by pole dancing on the lower deck.

Hong Kong, so far, is going great! What a way to spend a Sunday afternoon...

Met Ball 2011: An ode to Alexander McQueen

2011-05-03T17:11:00.000+01:00

After the excitement of the Royal Wedding, it was hard to believe that we would be given another fashion feast so soon, but last night the Who's Who of fashion and film came together for the annual Met Ball bash.

This year, guests paid tribute to Alexander McQueen (RIP): A wonderful theme.

There were so many amazing outfits, I just don't know where to begin. So I'll start with the lovely ladies who wore McQueen...

Sarah Jessica Parker

Salma Hayek

Gisele Bundchen

Daphne Guinness

They all look sensational. My fave has to be Daphne Guinness - she actually looks quite silly, but only she would have the guts to wear something quite so outrageous! It doesn't look on her, quite how it looked on the catwalk earlier this year. But as a tribute to the designer, Daphne certainly get's my vote!

And for those who chose to pay tribute to McQueen in other ways, here are my top ten:

Blake Lively in Chanel

Oh gosh, I just adore this number. The figure-hugging under-layer covered in draped fabric is a stroke of pure genius.

Madonna in Stella McCartney

When Madge does it well, she really smashes it. Classic and glamorous. Lovely.

Diane Kruger in Jason Wu

I am so feeling the thigh slit at the moment and Diane makes easy work of it in this dress.

Lily Donaldson in Erdem

If you've got it, flaunt it! Not many people could pull off this lace number, but Lily looks just divine.

Jennifer Lopez in Gucci

Love the colour, love the shape, love the frill, love it ALL!

Rene Zellweger in Carolina Herrera

Rene is always loyal to Carolina. And why not? She always look fab...and just look at those legs!

Miranda Kerr in Marchesa

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. That's all I have to say.

Fergie in Marchesa

I liked this. Then I didn't. Now I do again. I think the problem was, that it is much more delicate than we are used to seeing Fergie, but she pulls it off well.

Iman in Stella McCartney

If I look this hot when I am 55, I'd be wearing this sequin jumpsuit. Iman looks superb!

Shalom Harlow in Marchesa

The dress I love. The hair I do not. The dress has so much going on, that a sleek up-do would have been a much better finish. But, the dress itself is just amazing.

Here comes the McQueen!

2011-05-03T16:15:00.000+01:00

Ok, so where have I been? This post is seriously late! Well, I've been in one of very few places in the world where the Royal Wedding did not take over every aspect of life. My beau and I have just returned from a Pre-moon in Cambodia. Pure bliss!

But, with technology as it is, there was no way I couldn't sneak a peak at what all the fuss was about. And, if I'm honest, I was a teensy-weensy bit gutted that I wasn't around to see it all in its full glory! But then we went off to see the sun set over some spectacular Angkor ruins and forgot all about it.

As always though, I just have to have my say.

First, the blushing bride...

I think there was a world-wide gasp when Kate emerged from her car. This dress is without doubt, absolutely stunning. It didn't really come as much of a surprise when it was revealed that Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen was the designer of choice. I think she did a smashing job!

Although I would probably have gone for more bling (if you can't do it when you are becoming a Princess, when can you?), I think this dress was the perfect choice for Kate. The simple elegance completely captured Kate's style. I think the decolletage is absolutely gorgeous: sexy yet understated. And the train - well, I think every girl I know dreamt of having one as long as this!

Kate's sister also looked fab! Interesting choice - a long white dress...I have certainly not been that kind!! The Middleton sisters totally rock that red carpet!

I love this snap - Kate really does look happy (and so she should, to be fair). I love a good veil and I think this one worked extremely well with her dress. I love the simplicity of her make-up too.

Kate's evening choice was somewhat less exciting. After the absence of bling earlier on in the day, I was hoping for something a bit more glam! I blame it on the cardigan - which was a rather strange choice, I must say!

The groom

When I was a little girl (well, teenager), I had a real crush on Prince William. Who didn't?! As time passed, he lost my affections (and quite a bit of hair - poor thing)... But on his wedding day, he did scrub up pretty well. No rekindling of my fondness for him, but I certainly thought he looked the part.

The mini-me's

OMG! Just so cute! Mini Kate and Williams. I wonder if these kids were really aware of the enormity of the big day? Probably not - and that's why they look like ordinary kids having fun.

The Queen of Darkness

There were no real stand outs when it came to the guests - some amazing hats, some pretty dresses, but nothing exceptional.

You can always trust VB to draw attention to herself, though. Dressed in black from head-to-toe, she looked like the Grim Reaper. Poor choice Vic.

I could have forgiven her, had she gone for bright accessories, but those killer heels and funeral-esque hat were so not right for this occasion.

Erm, also, why were they there???

A royal tribute

There's nothing quite like some tacky memorabilia, but these nails take it to a whole new level. Hilarious!

Hong Kong: I'm here!

2011-04-21T18:56:00.000+01:00

Here I am: Hong Kong island.

We landed a few days ago and all is going swimmingly so far. I have a bank account and a lovely new Iphone4 - what else could I possibly need?

With not too much to report so far, I thought I would show you my latest purchases - they all have a little story, so sit back, relax and read on...

Buberry sunglasses

At Heathrow airport on Sunday night, I was feeling more than a little sad. As I bid my family farewell, the tears started flowing. A lot. In a bid to cheer me up, my beau suggested he buy me a pair of sunglasses (I'm sure the thought crossed his mind that if he cover my eyes no one would be able to see my blood shot, tear stained eyes).

Well, it would have been rude to say no!

En route, we stopped at Kurt Geiger for a quick gander. On to Sunglasses Hut and I dived straight in, trying pretty much every pair of sunnies on. Suddenly noticing that my bag was missing (he thought I had it and vice-versa etc. etc.), we quickly re-traced our steps.

Kurt Geiger, a very panicked looking security guard and my cabin baggage. Oh dear.

Turns out that the airport was seconds away from going on red alert and evacuating the airport due to an unattended bag causing a security threat!!!

One very strong telling off later and my beau and I quickly purchased my gorge new Burberry sunnies (after that drama, I needed a disguise) and head straight to the Virgin lounge to hide.

Zara skirt & top

Before departing for Hong Kong, my beau informed me of the extortionate prices in Hong Kong and told me (& I quote) to "buy whatever you want in London, because you won't be able to afford it in Hong Kong." Well, not one to disobey, I head straight to the shops!

It took me all of about 3 seconds to bag this fuchsia mini skirt and tangerine swing top. I'm loving the uber bright colours of the season and decided that this was the perfect outfit choice for day one of flat hunting here in Hong Kong.

More to come on the flat-hunting a little later, but what I can say is that wearing a mini skirt and climbing in and out of a mini-bus all day is not a well thought out plan. Poor driver probably got an eyeful on more than one occasion!

H&M dress

Well, by now you probably know of my dislike for the High Street. I haven't stepped foot in H&M for many years, so how did I end up coming home with this today?

Well, my story starts in Knightsbridge. Harvey Nichols to be precise. I was trying on wedding lingerie (tres exciting). Whilst there I thought I may as well get my bra size measured - it's been at least ten years since I last did that! It didn't come as much surprise to me when I was told that the 32C bras I was wearing were not right for me. What did shock me was that my actual bra size is 28DD!!! WTF?!

And it turns out that 28DD is the hardest size to find. Anywhere. Having scoured London, I decided to try Hong Kong. The women here are all naturally smaller and therefore the shops must cater for my size, no?

With little luck on my first shopping trip here, I head straight to Agent Provocateur, where I was convinced I'd find something. Fail.

My final resort, and only on recommendation, was H&M! *gulps*

Turns out that 28DD doesn't exist in Hong Kong either. There's nothing below a 32.

It must have been disappointment, as before I knew it, I was queuing up to pay for this dress. I was stunned and shocked to have found something "I couldn't live without" in H&-flipping-M! Isn't it lovely? Perfect for the weather here and my forthcoming trip to Cambodia! I love. Also, don't you just love how the back is longer than the front. Such a cute touch! (Excuse the photo - my beau was pretty fed up of playing photographer by this point!).

Amazon Kindle

After much resistance - "why would I want something that pretends to be a book, when I can have the real thing?", "I'm an English Literature graduate - how could I possibly turn my back on paper books!" etc. etc. - I caved in, Whilst packing my numerous bookshelves to move out of my London pad and over to Hong Kong, I realised quite how many books I had.

They are all now sitting in storage and who knows when I will see them again. To give them the best hope of being reunited with me, I made the decision not to buy anymore. Instead, I realised the virtues of the Amazon Kindle and now...I'm hooked!!

So, that's my shopping round-up of the last few weeks. I'm sure there will be much more to come as my beau and I set up our new life in Hong Kong.

Here's to lots more fun, fabulous finds and plenty of gossip from this side of the world. Until next time...

Tragedy on the Victoria Line...

2011-04-12T00:03:00.000+01:00

One pair of high-street heels, plus the London Underground, plus a sudden stop...

...equals...

...one unrepairable pair of heels.

It's the end of an era for me and these Topshop heels - they were my fail-safe, never-ever give me a blister, go with everything heels. And now they are gone. It's a sad, sad day.

The moral of this sorry story? Don't buy shoes off the high street AND don't use public transport.

I think I can manage that just fine!

Now for the silver lining... I get to go and buy more shoes!

And on that note, sweet dreams...

Hen party shenanigans!

2011-04-05T01:05:00.000+01:00

Take one hen, two debauched weekends and one Onesie, and you'll get a rough idea of my past two weekends (and gain an understanding why I've gone AWOL again).

Yes, I've been celebrating the end of my single life, with two fantastically boozy weekends.

Weekend no. 1

My mum, Aunty Kiki and Aunty Chix whisked me off to the Alsace for a refined weekend of wine tasting and gourmet meals.

An up-do, pearls and a chilled glass of wine...the antithesis of most hens. I was very proud of myself.

Problem came after a few more of those glasses of vino...

I'm sure the residents of the beautiful 16th Century village we were staying in loved me. Not.

I blame these three...

THANK YOU GIRLS - my liver and I loved every minute of it!

Weekend No. 2

Another surprise weekend, this time planned by my gorge bridesmaids. We started with a Michael Jackson Thriller dance class at Pineapple dance studios. It was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

Obvs, being my hen-do, the girls didn't let me off the hook that easily...

There I am...the one in the silver leggings and neon pink leg warmers. Luverly!

I think you should also see this (because it is never going to happen again)...

My bridesmaids managed to get me wearing trainers in PUBLIC!! Never happened before, will never happen again. Well done girls!

Anyway, after that, the drinking resumed (did I not mention our 9am champers?!)...and it wasn't long before the sophisticated facade began to diminish (even though we were sipping cocktails at Shoreditch House and champagne tasting in Canonbury)!

My 'No hen paraphernalia' rule went out of the window!

Yes, that is a (joke) bottle of Lambrini is my hand. Class, shmarss!

My sartorial highlight came at the end of the evening...

A dalmation print Onesie, complete with L plate and bells on my ears. I have never been so excited about getting in to bed. This is, without a doubt, the most comfortable outfit I have ever owned. Who needs anything else in their wardrobe when they've got a Onesie?!

I'd like to thank this gaggle of girls for a fantabulous hen party:

Can we do it again next week?!!

Farewell Shad Pad!

2011-03-23T10:55:00.000+00:00

Ok, so I haven't exactly been honest with you recently. Perhaps I've been in denial, I don't know. But whatever the excuse, it's time to come clean.

So, my beau and I moved out of our beautiful apartment last week. After 2 years (5 1/2 for him) I bid farewell to the Shad Pad. It was an emotional week, after all, this fabulous apartment has played host to pretty much everyone we know, to some crazy dinner parties and a few rather huge parties (our engagement party probably holds the record - we got 110 of our nearest and dearest in to our living room!).

Let's play tribute to Miss Magpie and her beau's first home together...

Our living room - movie nights, pre-dinner cocktails, Miss Magpie's 'office'...What couldn't we do here?

The most used kitchen in London? The hub of Shad Pad life.

Just enough space don't you think?

Our boudoir, complete with cuddly pig (just a reminder to my beau that if he doesn't behave, I've always got something else to snuggle up to!)

My dressing room (part of) - when you grow out of this room, you know you either need to move or get rid of some stuff. I've done both!

The hot tub: If those mirror tiles could talk...well, you'd be in for a treat!

Spare room - sisters, brothers, friends, strangers...they've all had a turn

Other spare room - housing the most comfortable bed EVER, it's quite a surprise that anyway stayed awake long enough to create a baby. But that they did. Baby Rio (now 4 or 5) was conceived right there!!

Thank you for letting me indulge myself! We will miss this home terribly...but we're moving on to more exciting stuff...

...yes, dear readers, it's time for me to let you in on a rather big secret...

WE ARE MOVING FROM HERE:

TO HERE:

Can you guess what it is yet?

That's right, HONG KONG!!

Yes, we're making the rather large move to the other side of the world. In fact, my beau has been out there for 2 months and is just waiting for me to follow. I'll be heading over in 4 weeks time.

Imagine what Miss Magpie can report on from there...this is not an end, but a new beginning, and I hope that you will all follow me on my adventure? Please say yes!

See you in Hong Kong (and a bit in London before then)...

Bisoux xxx

Looking chic on the piste

2011-03-23T10:20:00.000+00:00

A few weekends ago, my beau and I hit the slopes of Chamonix for some skiing action. Since this was my second time on the piste - the first time having gone pretty well - I thought I should inject some 'cool' in to my ski look. The hotchpotch of clothing I borrowed last time was not exactly chic!

Where did I head for the very best in outdoor clothing? Luckily, my bestie's daddy owns an outdoor clothing shop and I'm not being biased, but I really wouldn't shop anywhere else! From thermals to salopettes, and gloves to goggles, he has it all.

If you want to look as 'cool' as moi (the one in the purple, though Lauren in red looks pretty hot too), head to Cover, 52-54 High St Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 5SJ, 020 8440 5775.

Introducing the fabulous Friswells...

2011-03-20T14:51:00.000+00:00

As promised, Miss Magpie is here to fill you in on all the highlights of my last month...and we all know how much I love a wedding, so let's begin right there.

My beau's bestie, James (a.k.a. Friz), popped the question to his now wife Jennie, watching the sun set on the scenic cliffs of Jersey last August. Jennie sprung in to action and before we knew it, we were watching them tie the knot!

Daddy's girl

One of my favourite moments of a wedding is the bride being walked in by her father - perhaps because I am such a daddy's girl and have always dreamed of sharing that moment with my pa. You can always guarantee a few tears welling up in my eyes! Jennie looked sensational in her voluminous white dress and poker straight bob.

The Friswells!

Friz and Jennie looked so wonderfully happy and perfect for each other, don't you think?!

Change of a dress

As a Chinese bride, Jennie would traditionally have to change 5 times during the day (that's even a shocker for me!)...but in these days of modernity, Jennie only changed a mere 3 times. This was her traditional Chinese dress (sadly, I don't have a picture of the final number). I LOVE this pale green sparkle-tastic gown. Jennie looked radiant and ultra-glam!

Poor old Friz didn't get a single outfit change - much to his relief I am sure.

To celebrate Jennie's Chinese heritage, the wedding breakfast (a 9 course feast!) took place at a Chinese restaurant in Wandsworth. I was totally loving all the attention to detail...

Personalised chopsticks as the name places = GENIUS!

Vibrant hanging lanterns

Amazing origami swans made by Jennie's sister

It was truly a remarkable day and a first for many of us. And as if all this wasn't enough, the bride and groom treated us to a choreographed tap dance for their first dance as husband and wife. It was so good, that even my beau agreed to having dancing lessons!

So, how did we dress for this fabulous occasion?

While my beau opted for the trad morning suit, I thought colour was the order of the day and decided to bring some of my Indian heritage to the occasion. This sari was given to me by my soon-to-be in-laws during my engagement. I've just had the blouse made to my exact specifications, so I was tres excited to debut it...

...I hope you like it!

Having asked permission from the bride to change my outfit (a full day in a sari is something I am yet to get used to - though I probably should, as my big day is not so far away!), I slipped in to something a little more comfortable for the evening...

...me and my nearly sister-in-law were just loving the pink!

I know you've all seen this dress before (Lanvin for H&M), but once in a while a girl has to wear a dress more than once!

CONGRATULATIONS TO MR & MRS FRISWELL!!!

Miss Magpie is back!

2011-03-18T11:14:00.000+00:00

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry! That's all I can say. It's been a crazy few weeks and Miss Magpie has been in multi-tasking hell. Sadly, one thing that had to fall by the way-side for a teeny-weeny bit was Style State. But I never stopped thinking about all my readers and I promise I'll be back on top form asap!

I will be filling you in on all my latest news and fashion fun over the next few days...but in the mean time I thought I would leave you with this fashion fabulous photo:

That's right; my beau and my grandfather wearing exactly the same outfit! There has to be something wrong with this...and since my nana has been around a lot longer than my man, I'm awarding him the style prize. My beau, on the other hand, is going to be taken on a highly intensive shopping trip very soon!

Watch out for my catch-up posts...coming very soon!

Oscars 2011: The Magpie Dress Awards

2011-02-28T11:43:00.000+00:00

Fashion Weeks, Smashion Smeeks... Who cares about the fashion of the future, when the fashion of right now was being displayed in its full glory last night at the Oscars.

Possibly the largest fashion date in the diary, the Oscars serves up the creme de la creme of the movie world and the most delectable red carpet designers in the world.

So, without further ado, here are my favourite dresses from the Oscars 2011:

Hilary Swank in Gucci Premiere

I'm not normally a huge fan of Ms Swank, but last night she stood out a mile in this gorgeous feathered gown. I adore it, totally, utterly, completely.

FYI Maribou feathers are going to huge come AW'11 so Hilary really is ahead of the trend with her layer upon layer of Ostrich feather.

Hailee Steinfeld in Marchesa

It is only slightly sickening that Hailee (unfortunate name) is just 14 years old, but kudos to the young'un. She co-designed her dress with the girls at Marchesa...and I think they all did a bloomin' good job! I think the 1950's style of this dress is incredibly pretty and perfectly youthful for such a young Oscars nominee.

Mandy Moore in Monique L'Hullier

Some may find this a little boring, but I couldn't leave Mandy off my list. She really does look gorgeous in this gown. Sequins and net are what make up the majority of this dress - such a simple idea, such an effective outcome.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein Collection

I 'umm'd' and 'ahh'd' over Gwyneth's dress choice A LOT, but in the end decided that I did like it. The molten gold is really quite eye-catching, while the simple cut of the dress tones it down. A very clever number methinks.

Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Couture

What a sophisticated choice! Cate has opted for a completely atypical Oscars dress - she's ditched feathers, sequins and lace, in favour of something much more 'fashion'. I'm a huge fan of the pastel purple and think the cut is simple stunning on her.

Mila Kunis in Elie Saab

For me, Mila can do little wrong. I love her understated Elie Saab number. The lilac is a beautiful shade and the overall look is very sophisticated. With such a small frame, layers of net would have swamped her, so I'm thankful she went for something a little less ostentatious.

Scarlett Johansson in Dolce & Gabbana

Bravo Scarlett! One of this season's hottest trends is lace and Ms Johansson has gone the whole hog by donning herself in the fabric head to toe. The risk has paid off as she totally rocks this look - plus the cut-out back is ultra sexy.

Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang

I always keep one eye out for Sandra. She always goes for classic styles and she always wows! The red of this dress is bright enough to stand strong against the red carpet and with her dark locks and fresh face, she looks the epitome of a classic beauty.

And the award for most beautiful mother-to-be goes to...

Natalie Portman in Rodarte

If I look like this when I am pregnant, I'll be one ecstatic woman. Natalie just glows in this aubergine gown. I am so pleased that she is embracing her pregnancy and not trying to hide it. Go Natalie!

Alas, not all of our A-listers scored so highly. There were, as is usual, a few fashion flops:

Jennifer Hudson in Versace

Eugh! I do not like. At all. I hate the shimmer of the dress (it cheapens it), I can't stand the frou-frou-ness of the train (sleek would have suited her much better), and the halter-neck is all wrong (her boobs look like floating devices).

Florence Welch in vintage Valentino

Florence looks like death. The pale dress, the pale skin, the un-made face and hair... This is the Oscars darling, not a Halloween party.

Michelle Williams in Chanel

I hate to be mean about Michelle and more-so, about Chanel, but this dress is just so wrong. Michelle looks incredibly top-heavy - which is amazing because she is so slight. There's also something to be said for leaving some things to the imagination...

Well, that's more than enough excitement for one Monday morning. All this glamour while I am sitting here in my 'house clothes' is leaving me feeling quite wretched. Off to the gym I go...

London Fashion Week AW'11, Day Five

2011-02-25T12:23:00.000+00:00

Day Five is finally here...hoorah! Not that I don't love Fashion Week, but five days of running around town in silly heels, drinking only champagne (water has not passed my lips, which is actually rather silly as my skin now looks like that of a teenage boy) and smiling constantly, takes its toll.

Today was a busy day, so just as well that I dressed comfortably. Not!

Vest: Primark (keeping it real)
Jacket: Vintage
Necklace: Butler & Wilson (amazing, but I actually have cuts on my neck from the weight of it!)

Trousers: Yves Saint Laurent
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Bag: Chanel

And today shows were:

MARIOS SCWHAB

I've always been a fan of Marios Schwab...and he didn't disappoint. He might have played it a little safe with an homage to all of his previous seasons, but I thought it was a great collection. There were simple, flattering dresses, statement cover-ups and great details (bondage buckles being my fave!).

I love this coat. It reminds me of the coats he sent out a few years ago - I took them all the way to the glaciers of New Zealand to shoot them for Grazia. Anyway, I want this coat please.

The dresses may be simple, but they are tailored to perfection

AQUASCUTUM

Aquascutum is all about the coats and this season there were lots of them. I really like the fact that there was a more youthful feel to the collection. I've been scribbling the same words in my notebook all week: deconstruction and reconstruction (looks like Tim Blanks at Style.com has been copying my homework because he's only gone and bloody used my ideas in his show review!), and boy was that phrase appropriate here today - take the herringbone coat with the puffy gilet attached on top as an example.

I found some of the layering a bit too much, but then, you don't have to buy a whole look. I still believe that an Aquascutum coat is an investment for life.

A sporty edge

Classic meets current

Over-layered?

Love, love, love the blue gloves with fur detail - so fun!

High-impact outerwear

ROKSANDA ILLINCIC

Just stepping in to the salon (definitely not just a room) at the Roksanda show, was like walking in to a slice of bourgoise history. Gorgeous!

After a series of more casual looks, Roksanda showed off her real strength - beautiful dresses. Slinky, sexy and red-carpet perfect, there were yelps of delight all over the place.

Thigh high slit? Check. Maribou feathers? Check. Clashing colours? Check.

Lust-factor? Check, check, check!

Trousers: The new dress?

I.N.

L.O.V.E.

MEADHAM KIRCHHOFF

Now, it's quite hard to comment on this show. It was amazing, but I couldn't possibly tell you what the clothes were like. The choreography of the models' walk was simply stunning. Rather than sending out the models one-by-one, they all marched down the catwalk together, entering, leaving, entering, leaving...and then gone. Just like that.

It must have been the shortest show ever. I was so engrossed by the march that I could barely pay any attention to what the models were actually wearing.

Uber-stylist Tamara Cincik summed it up perfectly: "Ashkenazi Salem"...I'll let you have a think about that one...

ASHISH

Well, it probably comes as no surprise that I am a HUGE fan of Ashish. A man after my own heart, he's as big a fan of sequins as I am! I loved this collection and felt he'd really come on in leaps and bounds after last season's cowboy-McDonalds efforts.

Of course the announcement that this was the final show of LFW had the audience in a fabulous mood, but we were positively skipping after the fun and lightness of Ashish's work.

A sequin tribute to Chanel - I have never felt love quite like this before!

Lilac tartan in sequins? Who'd have thought that work so well?!

A hop, skip and a jump later, I was quaffing Moet at the My-Wardrobe party at Sketch - a totally chic soiree celebrating the website's re-launch, which you can see right here.

And that, dear readers, sums up my London Fashion Week.

That's a lot of shows!