SAY IT WITH SWEATS

Me wearing: my new 'STAY CLA$$Y' sweatshirt by Illustrated People, with Banana Republic trousers and Office shoes.

Forget tees, sweatshirts are where to wear your slogans this summer, and no one’s saying it better than Illustrated People. 

The London based label’s cool mix of humorous slogans and original prints sets them apart from the rest, whilst their reasonable price tag (just £45 each) makes them fun purchases you can go to town on!
...Is it any wonder I couldn’t resist these two beauties from the summer collection, both currently available at Topshop... whilst stocks last! 

Illustrated People's 'Grandma's House' sweatshirt. 

To shop Illustrated People's sweatshirts at Topshop.com, click here. To see and shop the wider collection, click here.

THE RETURN OF THE SUMMER SCARF

Me wearing: my new shell print Louis Vuitton stole with a Marni leather jacket, Stella McCartney skirt and Michael Kors watch. 

Finally warmer weather has arrived! And it’s out with the heavy layers and in with light leather jackets and bare legs, but no switch to summer dressing would be complete without a feather weight scarf. 

This fine cashmere and silk mix stole by Louis Vuitton is the latest addition to my wardrobe and will be my season-long security blanket (I live in fear of being cold). I’ll wear it with jackets until the summer sun really kicks in and then I’ll drape it over my shoulders in the evenings. Plus its generous size means it doubles up as a sarong on beach holidays. What's not to love?

Top summer scarf tip: keep the colour/print neutral and pale so it goes with everything and doesn't look too heavy layered with jackets. 

To see and shop Louis Vuitton’s summer stole collection, click here. 

HATS OFF TO SILVER SPOON ATTIRE

Me wearing: Silver Spoon Attire's 'Valentines' hat, with a denim shirt by Diesel and my Blauer coat.

A woolly hat isn’t exactly a typical spring essential but with the temperatures creeping up at a snail’s pace, I’m still wearing my Blauer parka most of the time! 

Plus when there’s headgear like this Silver Spoon Attire beanie around we may as well embrace it! 

The beanie hat craze hit fever pitch during the show season earlier this year with off-duty models, street-style photographers and fashion press all toping off their looks with the humble urban favourite. 

American Apparel’s basic version is a great high street buy (the neon styles proving particularly popular) but it’s Silver Spoon Attire’s decorative creations that I can’t get enough of, especially the red mesh bow beanie I’m wearing above, available exclusively at Browns. 

On the reverse of the hat: a pretty net bow.

To see and shop Silver Spoon Attire’s full collection, click here. Or to buy the red beauty I’m wearing above, click here.

SUZANNAH OF NEW QUEBEC STREET

The new Suzannah boutique: 3 New Quebec Street, London W1 7RE.  

London based designer Suzannah Crabb is a celebrity favoruite with over fifteen years in the industry under belt, but despite her high profile clients her new London shop feels like an undiscovered gem!

Suzannah’s offering of vintage inspired ready-t0-wear, bespoke made-to-measure design and bridal makes her eponymous label a unique one, of which I am a big fan.

I’ve admired Suzannah’s work for quite some time and am very excited to report that she now has a boutique in central London: a stones throw from Selfridges on New Quebec Street, W1. 

I popped in to see Suzannah's new spring/summer ’13 ready-to-wear collection (gorgeous prints and beautiful ’50s and ’60s silhouettes in lemon yellow and oyster hues) but couldn’t resist a sneaky peak at the wedding dresses too, which I have to say are absolutely beautiful! I love the ‘Kaleidoscope’ white silk dress (see below), perfect for a contemporary city wedding.

Whilst I was there Suzannah altered my red silk cocktail dress (from a few seasons ago) to make it a perfect fit, it was such a luxurious experience having the designer herself fit my dress. I cannot wait to wear it now!  

SUZANNAH READY-TO-WEAR: 

Elegant silhouettes: new in at the Suzannah boutique.

Original prints: new in at the Suzannah boutique. 

SUZANNAH MADE-TO-MEASURE: 

Me and Suzannah: taking volume from the shoulders of my dress. 

Me and Suzannah: removing excess fabric from the back of my dress for a perfect fit.

SUZANNAH BRIDAL: 

The bridal suite: at Suzannah's boutique. 

Vintage Cinderella shoes: perfect for any Suzannah bride.  

SOME CURRENT SUZANNAH FAVORITES OF MINE:

From left: '50s Oriental Bloom silk dress, '50s Day Gazar dress in Watermelon Pink, '50s Pin-up dress.

From left: Corset Boudoir black dress, Bead embellished silk dress, Rock & Roll Couture dress.

           From left: Camelia lace vintage wedding gown, Kaleidoscope white silk dress, '30s wedding gown.                      

To see and shop Suzannah's latest collection, click here.

ALPHABET BUYS

Me wearing: my new Letter sweater by Chinti & Parker, with a Joie skirt and Opening Ceremony for Keds trainers.

Chinti & Parker have done it again! I’m obsessed with their easy to wear cashmere jumpers and this ‘Letter sweater,’ a new addition to my collection is cheering me up no end. 

I love the signature Chinti cream and navy colour combo. which helps create its very graphic look that is perfect for now, well let's faced it: all this horrible weather hardly inspires a head-to-toe brightly coloured ensemble. Plus who doesn’t love an initialed number?

Other letter C treats I’ve been coveting are: Annoushka's best-selling 18ct gold and diamond pendant (which I actually bought for my little sister Charlotte on her 21st birthday a few years back). And this lovely, summery initial C friendship bracelet new-in at Kabiri by Dana Levy, a total gloomy day pick-me-up! 

Mythology Alphabet C pendant by Annoushka.

Dana Levy Alphabeta C friendship bracelet at Kabiri. 

Click the links above to shop these alphabet buys.

PARIS FASHION WEEK: WHAT I WORE

Thursday (day 1) I wore: Raoul coat, sweater and jeans both by MiH Jeans, Whistles clutch,
and shoes by Jimmy Choo. 

Friday (day 2) I wore: Whistles jacket, sweater and skirt by Stella McCartney, Tory Burch
bag and my Jimmy Choo 'Agnes' stilettos again.

Saturday (day 3) I wore: MiH Jeans sweater, Habitual wax jeans, with Office shoes, and
my Whistles clutch. 

A POSTCARD FROM LONDON FASHION WEEK

Me wearing: Acne jacket, Jaeger shirt, Richard Nicoll trousers, with Zara slippers, clutching a bag by Kzeniya. Sophie wears: dress by Christopher Kane,
M&S poloneck, BLK DNM jacket, Smythson bag, with Office slippers. 

I love this action shot of fellow Grazia Fashion Ed. Sophie Ferguson Jones and I taken by photographer, and friend, Phill Taylor. We’re heading into the Anya Hindmarch show, it’s the last day of London Fashion Week and we look predictably twinny in our black slippers and biker jackets. 

To see more of Phill Taylor’s fashion week coverage, click here.