{the rachelle lust list : 19th february 2013}

Although it still mightn't feel like it, winter is finally on its way out and I'm already clearing some space in my wardrobe for some lovely spring things - and some cult classics that I'm desperate to try...

t h e  n i n t e e n t h  o f  f e b r u a r y . . .

1. Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know that monochrome (once again) is huge news for SS13, as are digital-print florals (again). I've declared love for statement jackets and their versability too many times before so  I shan't harp on again - but instead quietly buy this beautiful Topshop blazer (I first spied the pink version, which has been shit on by this one.. sorry, Mum). 

2. Spring also marks the start of me throwing my dark, matte lipsticks to one side (sorry, Diva) in favour of lighter, sheer pretty neutral hues - I'm desperate to try a YSL Rogue Volupte Lipstick which you may not believe still isnt in my makeup collection yet. How am I even sitting here, having the audacity to write about beauty you may (quite rightly) ask...

3. I'm becoming somewhat of a skincare Nazi after a bad reaction resulting in a horrible, dry and spotty face at the beginning of the year and am desperately trying to fill up any gaps I have in my current skincare routine to prevent/treat any issues as they may arise - I've heard nothing but glowing reviews about the entire Dr. Jart range, in particular the Water-Max Sleeping Mask which sounds right up my street. Watch this space.

4. I picked up this lovely little skater dress last week, Topshop do the best skater dresses on the high street - perfectly nipped in at the waist with just the right amount of flare, this is another classic monochrome piece I can see myself living in throughout the next few months.

{beauty icon : elizabeth taylor}

There was absoloutley nothing subtle about Elizabeth Taylor's beauty; ample cleavage, deep tan, huge violet eyes - and her fashion sense was just a bold. 

The 1940s and 1950s were undoubtedly her heyday, many of Elizabeth's favourite outfits are still celebrated and reinvented today; plunging necklines, bejewelled dressed, clinched waists, beautiful fur jackets and of course - diamonds galore.

The Rachelle Lust List: 4th December 2012

1. Elizabeth & James specialise in some seriously stylish one-pieces and fitted separates; these are the perfect shoes to match (£270). I need to wear these with everything in my winter wardrobe. PS. River Island have some similarly edgy styles in for a quarter of the price. 2. I'm not one to preach about constantly coordinating your undergarments; I've fallen separately in love with this Mimi Holliday Bisou Bisou lace and satin bra (£55) and this Angelique Bow Thong (£35) separately (although the matching Bisou Bisou knickers are a real treat, too). 3. The Valentino 'Va Va Voom' studded nude leather clutch is featuring in my dreams, as of late. Wow. 4. An Alexander Skull Print Silk scarf (£165) mightn't be the warmest garment on the winter-wear market, but it is perfect to layer for any day of the year. 5. Obsessed with these adorable 'His & Hers' Johnathan Adler mugs (£24)! Perfect Christmas present for newly-weds, or yourself, if you cant resist.. You can never have too many chic white mugs, right? 6. Its my turn to have a little dry/tight/winter-skin crisis, I'm craving some luxurious and natural-super-ingredients to restore things back to happy-hydrated-times; I'm terribly guilty of not using a primer, By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Primer (£41 at Space NK) looks to be the answer to my prayers. 7 & 8. Sisley are one of the most reputable names in high-end skincare, my poor face is crying out for a cocktail of their most famous face-masks, Hydra-Flash Intensive or Black Rose Cream Mask are packed full of skin softening wonders. 9. Another installment of the lazy-girls guide to baking; these Harvey Nichols Gingerbread Cookies are ready to bake, simply add eggs and butter. How cute is the packaging? They taste as good as they look. 10. This weeks lipstick craving is another Mac wonder; Rebel. No where near as dark and scary as it appears in the tube, its another Mac best seller that has somehow managed to escape my clutches. Until now. rachelle xo

The Rachelle Lust List: 27th November 2012

It might be the fact that today is pay day, it could be that I've been denying myself any extravagant purchase for so long, or that I've been so busy focusing on Christmas shopping for all my nearest and dearest that's got me lusting after crazily luxurious with equally crazy price tags this week.. 1. The ultimate winter staple, black leather, in the form of a beautiful thin-knit jumper. I love this amazing cashmere blend by Reed Krakoff, £750. This will go so well with everything. 2. Gold jewellery is an essential of mine, I have a mild obsession with 'pretty' skulls - Alexander McQueen is the combines these two aspects better than anyone else; this beautiful bracelet, £180 (and matching ring, no 8, £120) is a prime example. 3. The prettiest bra I've possibly ever seen; okay the matching briefs and suspenders aren't entirely practical.. but this is a lust list! The Selena, by Agent Provocateur (Bra, £110. Suspenders, £110. Knickers £95. 4.  I have no words for these little bits of heaven in the form of shoe-porn. If you've read the blog for a little while, there's a high chance you've heard me rave on about these amazing Christian Louboutin Alti 160 spiked patent-leather shoes. Wow. I have similar amounts of love for the Just Pick studded patent leather and PVC heels too (no 9), but they seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth as of late.. 5. A pretty little sequinned top is perfect for this time of year, with a pair of leather leggings and a blazer this Michael Kors tee, £150 is the perfect way to add some festivity into your day wear. Is festivity a word? 'Tis now.  6. Steering off my luxurious theme, I picked up this Midi dress from River Island this weekend and cant wait to wear it; I'm somewhat a midi-virgin, dismissing the style as unflattering to a lady of just 5'4, but I think with some Zara sandals and a studded leather biker it'll be perfect for a gig the boy and I are attending tonight! 7. If you're going to be prancing about in the aforementioned Agent Provocateur undies, you'll need the supermodel-smooth pins to match. Agent Provocateur Petale Noir Body Elixir (£28) is the height of sexiness. 10. I feel a little like I'm cheating on my forever-faithful Maxfactor False Lash Effect Fusion mascara even writing about its Benefit rival, "They're Real", but I've heard too many amazing reviews to not even be tempted, £18.50.Watch this space. 11. Its almost time for a new year, and a new diary. I've fallen in love with this amazing purple snakeskin offering from Smythson; making plans has never been so chic. rachelle xo

The Rachelle Lust List: 30th October | Halloween Edition

I'll use any excuse for a celebration, so why shouldn't Halloween be one, too? A party, excuse to dress up and eat too many 'spooky' sweets. Its not all plastic masks and pumpkin carving, little touches can make for a glamorous evening! 1. Any occasion that allows me to (sort of) justify buying an Alexander McQueen bracelet (£160) is a good occasion in my book. 2. If you follow me on Twitter, you'll not only have read my hungover stories, but seen me twit-pic a dozen Halloween style Krispy Kremes on Sunday evening. Just what the doctor ordered to lift the hangover-haze.. 3. There's a Shu Uemura lash for any occasion, and while I'm not keen on bats dripping from my lashes, these cute outer-corner lashes (£15) have just the right amount of sparkle to create the perfect cat-eye. 4. Alexander McQueens skull clutch receives its most dramatic makeover yet, in shaggy Mongolian fur. The accessory of all chic Halloween outfit accessories. 5. Straying mildly off-topic here, the new Miss Selfridge Project (#3) launched last week. I always love these collections, alongside biker jackets and dresses with leather galore, this black jumper (£50) is exactly the black jumper I wanted for this season. 6. Bobbi Brown have released the ultimate in smokey-eye palettes, I love the texture of the brands eyeshadows - this pretty little lot will smoke you from scary Halloween looks to festive parties. 7. When better for a vampy dark lip than Halloween? Tom Ford wins this category hands down with the infamous Black Orchid lipstick (£36). 8. Fortnum & Mason are the Charbonnel et Walker of luxury sweets, I found myself buying these Dracular's Dentures for myself... 9. A candle too pretty to burn, I never thought I'd hear myself make that statement, but this D.L & Co candle will look stunning on your mantle all year round. And its not cheap to replace at £80! 10. More irresistible festive treats are available from Williams-Sonoma, sour bats in adorable cork-topped bottles are just one of the many sugary beauties available. 11. I find skull jewellery a really easy way to add an edge to my look on a daily basis, and I adore Nicole Richie's range of earrings at House of Harlow, so it was a certain that I'd fall for these Triple Skull Stud Earrings (£34). Have you any tips to up the glamour at Halloween? rachelle xo

The Rachelle Edit: Autumn Workwear

I'll be the first to admit, even I can find myself easily falling into a trap of comfortable, warm but not particularly fashionable work wear during the colder months. One morning (this morning) I looked at myself in the mirror in despair; clad in black wide leg trousers, a black cashmere vest and blazer. With a burgundy lip, I looked half Mac-girl and half goth. And not in a good way. A quick change into a not-so-well planned outfit has actually been a triumph; high waisted shorts, a white blouse and printed coat teamed with heeled brogues and a clutch big enough to carry my daily essentials. Had I been allowed the luxury of time (and this amazing Roland Mouret coat) this is how I would have looked. Take note. Roland Mouret Printed Coat available at Net a Porter - reduced to £465, Opening Ceremony Silk Shirt £135, Tweed Shorts from an amazing Sweedish fashion site, Romwe £25, Alexander McQueen Stingray Skull Clutch £515 at Harvey Nicholls. Do you ever need some serious fashion inspiration at the turn of seasons? rachelle xo

p r e v i o u s  e d i t s  . . .

gothic glamour  |  the army jacket  |  fall 2012 - all saints  |  new in - valentino  |  winning style  |  kiss-worthy accessories  |  jil sander fall 2012  |  nineties: the new vintage  |  fifty shades of fashion  |  resort 2013: proenza schouler vs valentino  |  resort 2013: chloe vs erdem  |  summer sorbet  |  laid-back sundays  |  summer shoes at zara  |  zadig & voltaire  |  ibiza: sunlounger to superclub

The Rachelle Edit: Gothic Glamour

maybe its the time of year; colder days and darker nights, that are making me crave rich and luxurious shades of black, grey, burgundy and plum, I'm hugely inspired by the gothic-chic allure of a dark coloured injection not only into my wardrobe in the means of dramatic dresses, romantic draping and bold accessories - but charcoal chandeliers, slate walls and a particular plum shade of NARS lipstick...

I've selected my 'glam-goth' favourite  ranging from Pucci catwalk looks, dining ideas, an equally incredible £12.99 H&M blouse alongside a £5,070 Prabal Gurung one, spiked shoes and spiked bras and black glitter, lace, embellishment, silk and particularly fluffy eyelashes. This is goth chic at its finest.

What to Wear: Boyfriend Jeans

Its no secret that I'm not a huge denim wearer. I have two faithful pairs I rely on for those 'I don't know what to wear days'. But, the trans-seasonal factor of a good boyfriend jean cannot be dismissed, ladies. I've put my style-knowledge to the test and put together three 'casual' boyfriend jeans looks together with, of course, the glamorous Rachelle-reader edge.

A glamorous shaggy fur gilet (Michael Kors £820) is far more my style than a pair of jeans, but who says they cant work together? This Current/Elliot pair (£215) pass the ankle length (rule numero uno: show at least three inches of ankle to keep the look sexy) and are slim enough to wear with this baggy Acne tee (£70)  without looking drowned. I could never wear jeans without heels, especially boyfriend jeans, because simply - well, I'd feel like a boy. These burgundy Versus suede pumps (£345) teamed with the highly sought after new Mulberry tassel studded leather satchel (£995) add another dimension to the outfit.

Lust List - 13th August 2012

1. Alexander McQueen is not a brand to shy away from statement-making. It was love at first sight when I set my eyes upon this Unicorn Skull Embroidered Box Clutch, which will most probably, always be a lust at an impressive £1,435... 2. Behold, my daily go-to lip colour - Mac Angel in satin, I finished my fourth tube yesterday and the realisation has hit, I may be slightly obsessed... 3. As you probably already know, as I haven't shut up about it, I'm off for a fortnight in Phuket in a mere thirty sleeps (!!!) and I'm swimwear-searching and currently swooning over these Zimmerman styles. 4. I've previously raved about my love for  the highly-acclaimed Moroccan Oil, I cannot stop using it! I've been putting a little extra in my hair when drying it & smoothing a tiny little blob through the ends which has resulted in verrrry smooth & glossy hair. 5.   Winter buys are filtering into stores, I've fallen for this Cos coat (£175) the pastel hue is so refreshing for the winter. 6. As a gold jewellery fanatic, Alexander McQueen ring wins every time, this ring is 100% me. 7. These Christian Louboutin Just Picks need no further description. LOVE. 8. Love the idea of these surprises in the post each month, a non-beauty Glossybox! 9. Feeling incredibly sporty following the closing ceremony of the Olympics, this gold Stella McCartney necklace is as near to sporting as I get... rachel xo

What to Wear: Fit & Flare Dresses

I've previously declared my love for Victoria Beckham (perhaps more than once...), as far as I'm concerned - everything she touches, turns to gold. For example, flared dressed. Obsessed, would be an understatement, for my infatuation with this new dress-shape, the best of course produced by Mrs B herself.

Taking the tonal palette to the next level, I'm clinging onto this fresh neutral look for to see me through to the end of summer. The beautiful dress needs no further desciption, the Victoria by Victoria Beckham is a snip at  her main-line prices, but still hurts the bank balance at £740.Go matchy-matchy in Alexander McQueen pale-pink pumps (£440) and an oversized Mulberry Alexa (£925) and, why not, matching nails by Essie in the nude hue, Mademoiselle. Gold jewellery is always a must have, I wear this Michael Kors watch (£250) & Alexander McQueen bracelet just about every single day.

Inside Her Wardrobe: Suzanne Rogers

What better way to start the new Rachelle feature, Inside Her Wardrobe, than with the single most inspiring dressing room and entire high fashion collection I've ever come across; the closet of Suzanne Rogers.

A little bit of leather and a whole lot of lace. Nobody does it quite like Suzanne Rogers - a Toronto-based fashion icon who has one bloody impeccable closet. There's closets and then there's Suzanne's wardrobe - browse through these pictures as what is truly fashion porn at its finest. Behind the McQueen couture and Mary Katrantzou printed must-haves, Suzanne uses her knowledge and connections with designers to help raise funds for a range global children's charities. Saying she's a fashion aficionado just doesn't quite do her justice. And the best part? In the last two years, she's managed to raise over $1000000 for charities around the world, in her sky-high baby blue YSL pumps nonetheless. And she seems to do it all (with Birkin in hand) while raising three kids. Really.

What to Wear: Quirky Handbags

The 'mini trend' - see; clear plastic accessories, underwater prints, fetish and the like - all great in theory and on the pages of Vogue, are often too 'trendy' to incorporate in everyday life and become a real trend of the season. One mini-trend I'm finding myself seriously buying into are these quirky, printed small bags. Easier to wear than the fashionistas at Paris Couture Week (see the Prada number above) would like you to think, I've picked three favourites with simple outfits to flatter.

This 3.1 Philip Lim tote (£645) is one of the more bold bags knocking around designer stores this season, and without doubt the most novel item on my radar! I love the bag teamed with a simple, black outfit, I'm obsessed with this Burberry Prorsum Cut-Out Cashmere jumper (£895), teamed with a leather skirt like this McQ Alexander McQueen Circle Skirt (£645) you have instant effortless chic. The Valentino Studded ankle boots (£670) are just too perfect with this skirt to leave out, and a simple Mulberry Gold Plated cuff (£200) finishes the outfit.

What to Wear: Summer Holiday | Jamaica

Holidays in Jamaica are all about sun, sea and serious relaxation. The white beaches are some of the best to be found in the Caribbean and the relaxed vibe will have you transported to another frame of mind the very second you inhale that hot balmy air.

To me, Jamaican holidays are made with couples in mind and there are a ton of beautiful romantic beach side hotels ready to cater for you and your beau in every possible way. The high-fashion-girl-holiday outfits can take a back seat here and wear exactly what your comfortable in, not forgetting those sexy numbers to make your stay that much more special.

There's nowehere like the Caribbean to top up your tan. And theres no time like when you're resembling a stick of mahogany to wear bright coral. Or gold. Or both together. Take advantage of the massive UV12 rating and bake in this coral Toni Praver Ruffled Bikini (Top £105 & Bottoms £90)  teamed with all the gold accessories you can lay your hands on. This Yves Saint Laurent Arty Ring (£180) and Kenneth Jay Lane Bracelets (£105) look amazing on bronzed arms. Who can resist these Yves Saint Laurent Wedges, especially when theyre discounted from £805 to £362?... Aviators are perfect not just for holidays, but for terrace drinks on sunny London afternoons and I swear you'll wear them for years - I've had my Ray Ban pair for about four years. The lenses on these Victoria Beckham Shades are amazing (£495).

In Stores This Week: 21.05.12

Everyone needs plenty of hardworking separates in their wardrobe to throw on without a moments thought and to incorporate in tons of simple & chic outfits. When keeping my eye on what was new into stores over the last week it seems its time for everyone to start stocking up on summer separates, from Marini t-shirts to Reiss camis, theres no shortage of gorgeous tops, bottoms & everything inbetween.

Reiss Yellow Camisole (£75) I love a bright colour injection, this cami will look perfect with skinny white ankle grazers & summer sandals. Zara Colour Block Platform Heels (£49.99). EA Burns Neon Triangle Necklace (£20). J Crew Blue Suede Tote (£220) available at Net a Porter. The Kooples Print T-Shirt (£90) The Kooples are doing off duty chic like no one else at the moment, this tee is achingly cool. Helmut Lang Cotton & Leather Draped Jacket (£695). Jimmy Choo Giovanna Patent Leather Wedge Sandals (£450). Alexander McQueen Swarvoski Skull Ring (£155). Marni Printed Cotton T-Shirt (£130) at thecorner.com. Reiss "Melanie" Blue Gradient Floral Cotton Top (£59).

Rachel x

What to Wear: Sheer Delights

Although it has been making an appearance for seasons now, the catwalks have never been as dominated by sheer pieces as at the SS12 shows. One part provocative, one part ultra sophisticated - I adore sheer garments.

I find one of the easiest ways to tap into the sheer look, is with semi-sheer top. This pussy-bowed beauty from French Connection (£57) is ideal. I love to toughen up a soft, pretty look (sheer AND bows?!) with an edgy look - any skinny leather or leather effect trousers contrast so well against the white chiffon, I love these Helmut Lang rinsed leather skinny trousers (£400). The shoes, the shoes, the shoes. Oscar De La Renta Marlene Leather Pumps (£615) don't come cheap, but from the pointed toes to the monochome colouring, are perfect for this look. I'm fortunate enough to have my very own Mulberry Taylor Satchel and one of my favourite ways to wear it is with shiny leather, the brushed leather contrasts so beautifully.