{the rachelle edit : valentines day treats}

If you're of a less sentimental disposition, or don't like valentines day, then you'll most likely be sick of me bleating on about it; here and here. And here now, too. Fear not, I'm not about to launch into a deceleration of love for my boy, neither will I bore you with details of our last valentines days (although I probably would like it..) but, prepare a comprehensive gift guide to help you buy lovely gifts for your other half, drop heavy hints at what you would like them to buy you - or to treat yourself if you don't have a sweetheart to buy you nice things...

1. Nothing says 'I love you' like a beautiful pair of Louboutins you've been lusting after for what feels like an eternity, right? If you find a nice boy to supply said shoes, leave any of  his siblings details in the comment box below.. 2. Just when you think Smythson notebooks cant get any sweeter, they pull out the Valentines day "I love you because...". Awwww. 3. Charbonnel et Walker champagne truffles, a stunning bouquet of flowers and a bottle of your favourite champagne all put a spring in my step! 

{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: 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 Edit: Styling your Shorts

Even for a Northern girl; its a touch too chilly at this late stage in November to be running around in short dresses, skirts and shorts while being drenched with rain, caught in snow or blasted with gale-force winds. But - when I spied these gorgeous floaty chiffon shorts from Topshop Boutique (£45), an exception needed to be made. I love the juxtaposition of the silky shorts against a fairly thick jumper in contrasting grey marl, Rag & Bone Kintwear is always of amazing quality in timeless, flattering shapes ('Lancaster Pullover' £180). Throw on another layer in my favourite autumn hue, burgundy. This Topshop Ponte Blazer (£45) fits the bill nicely. A few simple accessories; a Danjo Gold Necklace, Proenza Schouler PS11 tote and some studded Christian Louboutin Spiked Loafers (for which I cant find a link, blame my new Louboutin app...). How would you style bare legs for the winter? rachelle xo

p r e v i o u s  e d i t s  . . .

the new essentials : ankle boots  |  the new essentials: the leather pants  |  autumn workwear  |  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

My Happy List { № 5 } : Wearing Heels

"When a woman buys a pair of shoes, she never looks at the shoe.She stands up and looks in the mirror, she looks at the breast, the ass, from the front, from the side, blah blah blah. If she likes herself, then she considers the shoe." - Christian Louboutin.

Show me a girl who doesn't love a sky-high, sexy, womanly shoe? I'm scarcely seen wearing anything else. Ever. Wearing high heels make you stand so that your legs look slimmer, your stomach is flatter, and your femininity is unstoppable. It does wonders for your stride and simply just makes everything look better. In my eyes - the higher the heel, the better you feel! First port of call for new shooz is always; Christian Louboutin, Nicholas Kirkwood, Charlotte Olympia and of course Jimmy Choo (I could go on, trust me..) and Kurt Geiger, Topshop, River Island, Zara and Office always deliver when looking to spend a little less! What are your favourite shoes? rachelle xo

r a c h e l l e ' s h a p p y l i s t . . .

finding the perfect cup of tea  |  the first coffee  |  morning cuddles  |  a thick stack of magazines  |  a good manicure 

Inside Her Wardrobe: Cat Deeley

As a young teen, I used to adore Cat Deely presenting Saturday morning tea alongside Ant & Dec in her cool clothes, pretty hair & makeup and charming British manner. While she's now moved to the other side of the pond, shes retained the same cool-girl charm, and I was so excited to stumble upon these pictures from her newly renovated abode complete with amazing details from the art, to the Jo Malone reed diffusers to Lanvin sneakers...

"I love the great British High St.: Topshop, Miss Selfridge, French Connection, Monsoon; affordable fashion at its best! This dress is a River Island number, no one here in the States believes it!"

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 - 6th August 2012

1. Same old story, a new season rolls around, Zara releases some bloody amazing shoes. Got my heart set on these Pointed Court Shoes with Straps (£49.99) & these Ankle-Strap Wedges (£69.99). 2. The highly anticipated new Victoria by Victoria Beckham has finally hit Net a Porter, this satin skater-style dress (£710) has a space in my wardrobe waiting for it... 3. I've been using Nails Inc a&e nail treatment (£12) for around a month as a base coat each time I paint my nails or when I havent the time to do a full manicure, I'll quickly throw this on. As a result, I can honestly say my nails havent been as strong so collectively as long, or moisturised and smooth in years. Amazing. 4. I get a little too excited when the new years Smythson range hits stores. Good job they arrive in August, it'll take until January to save up for this £180 croc-effect beauty. 5. As a rule, I'm not a t-shirt girl, but I'll happily make an exception for this Mary Katrantzou jersey (£255). 6. I love a pretty teddy to lounge around the house in, this Topshop strappy-lovely (£20)  is as comfortable as it is pretty. 7. I fell in love with the black version of this Christian Louboutin Marquise clutch (£875) when I first spied it in Harrods about a year ago, yet the new nude version has just fallen under my radar. The soft colour   takes an edge off the spikes, I love the idea of jumping straight to the front of the Saturday night bar que waving this beauty/weapon around... 8. No high street store does embellishment quite like All Saints. I need these sparkly shorts (£120) in my life, the jet black version are so understated. 9. Parisian patisser Pierre Hermes macaroons are available in cute London landmarks boxes for the duration of the Olympics, £33 for 16. rachel xo

What to Wear: Chanel-Inspired Jackets

The Chanel jacket is the epitome of class. Fact. Tweed, intricate stitching and phenomenal button detailing - what could be better? Karl Largerfeld once said, "Some things never go out of fashion: jeans, the white shirt, and the Chanel jacket." Introduced to the fashion world in 1954,  the Chanel jacket will forever remain a classic, and many designers and brands alike have taken note. Brands such as Zara, Topshop and Mango have released an assortment of excellent Chanel-inspired jackets & designers like Tory Burch and Alice + Olivia are playing off of the classic by creating tweed suits in fun colours like pastel blues and bubblegum pinks.  These jackets, like true classics, can be worn from work, dates, casual afternoons and nights on the town - read on to see some of my favourite jackets currently available, and how to wear them.

The intricate detail on this Rebecca Taylor Sequin-Trimmed tweed jacket (£250) makes this beauty an incredibly chic talking point, and makes for verrry quick outfit planning, it wont look better than paired with good quality basics like this Theyskens' Theory Yellow Top (£98) D&G Cotton Trousers (£88) and classic black accessories that go with anything, a small Marc by Marc Jacobs leather shoulder bag (£152) and stunning Christian Louboutin Just Picks shoes (£750).

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 | Kenya

Holidays in Kenya offer a truly diverse experience. Soft, white sandy beaches await you as do the warm blue seas of the Indian Ocean. It's not all about relaxing here though. Kenya is a melting pot of culture, scenery, and of course, wild animals. 

Whether you plan on relaxing on the shores of the ocean, wandering through the Italian-style boutiques and markets of Malindi or spending your time on safari amongst the local wildlife, I have your wardrobe covered.

This printed Derek Lam maxi dress (£1,910) channels African style, in tan-complementing shades. Team it with Yves Saint Laurent Tributes (£565) in the same hue, some gold jewellery, I love this Alex Monroe bracelet (£140) and a contemporary Jimmy Choo clutch (£995) & you're good to go from dinner and cocktails, to trips absorbing the colourful culture (although, perhaps you should stuff some more comfortable sandals in the oversized clutch...).

What to Wear: Summer Holiday | Miami

The most fashionable destination in Florida - Miami. The white sandy beaches, all-nighter-nightlife, cool rooftop pool bars and amazing restaurants make the ideal summer holiday destination.

Pink & red is definitely a "yes", in my book - especially in Miami. The retro style Zimmerman Svannah one-piece swimsuit (£250) is the perfect mix of the two hues for these unreal Christian Louboutin wedges (£545). Too good for the pool? Trust me, with the pool bars in Miami, you wont be swimming. Cover up with a sheer Diane von Furstenberg silk blouse (£122.50) and hide those hungover peepers with even-more-retro Miu Miu glitter cat-eye sunglasses (£225). The only thing left to consider is a slick of Nars sheer lipstick in Roman Holiday (£17.50).

The Rachelle Edit: Ibiza Sunlounger to Superclub

The clubbing capital of the world - Ibiza. Throughout the month of May arrives the opening nights of the islands biggest & best superclubs - this weekend welcomed Space back onto the international party circut. A sunny afternoon spent sipping on cocktails on the day beds at Blue Marlin can easily turn into dancing until dawn at Amnesia, so make sure you pack your 10kg allowace with colourful pieces that transform well & clash together in brilliantly bohemian style.

Your staples for Ibiza 2012? Bold one-pieces that slip seamlessly from day to night, wedge heels to see you from the beach to bar and big sunglasses to hide the shadows the next day. From left:

Topshop Lassie Suede Stacked Wedges (£55). Acne Capri Sandals (£260). Topshop Poppy Printed Corset (£30). Seventh Wonderland "Fiorella" Cut-Out One Piece (£170). Reiss Ziggy Playsuit (£149). Whistles Sunglasses (£50). Topshop Floral Cross-Back Suntop (£26). Topshop Rio Print One Piece (£34). Topshop High Beaded Gladiator Sandals (£30). Agent Provocateur Mazzy One Piece (£295). Finsk Chunky Wedges (£380). House of Harlow 1960 Chelsea Cat-Eye Sunglasses (£130). Christopher Kane Studded Shorts - Made to Order. Astley Clarke Blue Quartz Earrings (£150). McQ Alexander McQueen Amwell Cross Body Bag (£370). Yves Saint Laurent Arty Ring (£165). Christian Louboutin Trotilita Wedges (£425).

Rachel x

What to Wear: To My Birthday Party

 Saturday 19th May marks a very special day to me - my birthday! With just eight days to go, I should really be more prepared for the occasion than I currently am, whilst no outfits are sorted as of yet I have my eye on three very beautiful, yet very different styles.

Tosphop dresses dont get much more exquisite than this beauty. At £225 it retails at the higher end of the Dress Up for Topshop collection but the yellow silk & tuelle certainly will set you aside from the crowd - you only get one birthday each year, why not?.. Although the bodice is backless & heavily embellished these Christian Louboutin Just Picks (£750) leather, perspex & studded shoes are arguable, yet I feel suit the dress perfectly. The Diane Von Furstenberg yellow raffia clutch (£263) is an exact colour match for the lower half of the dress and is a great alternative to silver - I cannot abide metallic clutch bags! A simple pair of diamond stud earrings (a birthday present from a special someone perhaps?...) completes the look, anything more I fear I'd start to resemble a Christmas tree.

Simple, sleek & sexy - I love this look. Miles aside from the sugar sweet yellow number, this French Connection bodycon dress (£115) is a dead ringer for a Herve Leger number, for around two grand less. Whilst some may argue the bodycon shape is a little three years ago, I find this style to be incredibly flattering - I'd far rather pour my body into this than some Mumsy 'midi' style. In the words of Coco Chanel, "Fashion fades, style stays". A firm believer in wearing what suits, not being a fashion victim! The Christian Louboutin Asteroid spiked shoes (£795) and clutch bag (£650) add further sex appeal and fit the rule - a girl must wear Louboutins on her birthday!

Yes, I managed to be one of the very lucky few who happened to be at the right place, at the right time to scoop up this Mary Katrantzou for Topshop dress (£350). I'm obsessed with the labels designs, and quite frankly - whats good enough for Poppy Delevinge at the Elle Style Awards is good enough for me! I havent yet worn this dress for an occasion (other than prancing around in my mirror) so this may be the one... Paired with some simple nude or cream heels, Kurt Geiger clutch and my hair swept back this is a very strong contender for this years winner!

Which option shall I go for?

Rachel x