The Rachelle Edit: The New Essentials | Sexy Knits

Knitwear has long been a cold-weather-essential in all of our wardrobes; but this season its been given a sexy lift - thin sheer wool, sequin details, flattering stripes and bejewelled accents make the traditional jumper a little more sexy.

Besides pairing simply with your underwear to lounge around the house (or garden in this editorial with the stunning Kendra Spears..), I love teaming statement knitwear with your favourite comfy 'boyfriend' jeans and nude heels, a hip-length sweater over a mini-dress in a similar hue is entirely chic, or throwing a cosy cashmere knit over one of Dolce & Gabannas silk baroque printed silk trousers or skirts makes the perfect winter day-to-night look.

The Rachelle Trend Report: Fall 2012 | Black Leather

High on gothic glamour and rich with suggestion (rebel, vixen, dominatrix...), glossy black leather offers a sleek take on autumn's new decadent air. 

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.

The Rachelle Edit: Nineties | The New Vintage

Twenty years later, 'optimum cultural retrospection' has passed, and the fashions of the nineties are now officially vintage. Fear not, girlies, I'm not going to start preaching you into wearing Doc Martens, skater-girl-style clothing complete with gothic makeup or hundreds of weird hair clips - believe it or not, its easier than you think to incorporate the best of the 90's into your wardrobe, you probably already are without even realising it . . .

1. Printed Dresses - Not so much Gwen Stafani in her No Doubt years, more chic tailoring and cleverly designed, flattering prints from Diane Von Furstenberg (DVF Dot Print Wrap Dress £220). Like the Supers of the nineties, I'm going crazy for throw-on print dresses. 2. Silk Trousers - Team these silk D&G printed trousers (£100) with a white  t-shirt, cropped jacket and some simple sandals and you're doing the original 90210, but better. 3. Shorts Suit - A little but clueless, a little bit Carol Smillie on daytime TV, matching pastel suits are huge this summer. I adore this Topshop version. 4. Leather Jackets - Admittedly, leather jackets didn't really go anywhere. This Moschino version is reduced in the .... sale from £399 to £199, wear it over a black bodycon dress for supermodel glamour. 5. Ankle Boots - Avoid smelling like teen spirit & pair these amazing Chloe boots with florals, rather than Dr Martens with flannel. . . 

Read on for a blast from the past; inside June 1999 Vogue UK . . .

Backstage Beauty: Diane von Furstenberg SS12

A few pops of colour in the form of statement lips were obvious at the likes of Prabal Gurung & Jason Wu, yet besides the usual suspects, there has undoubtedly been a more muted makeup trend for spring - the tonal palette. The process requires the complementary and contrasting neutral shades with both cool and warm undertones - demonstrated perfectly at Diane von Furstenberg.

Makeup artist, James Kaliardos smudged about ten different shades of MAC's versatile Cream Colour Base  (£14.50) on a plastic plate/mixing tray to create custom blend pigments to suit each models skin tone. Inspired by "modern Africa", Kaliardos sculpted cheeks & with colours slightly darker than each girls complexion and added dimension to eyes by building in a lighter centre and inner corner area. 

What to Wear: Summer Denim

Living in a far from tropical British climate, I rely massively on jeans throughout the year. Unfortunately, my version of summer denim isn't quite the same as shown on she shores of Malaysia in the latest H&M summer shoot....

I adore light prints, light denim, light anything to be perfectly honest when shopping for summer attire. This Jil Sander paisley print jersey t-shirt (£200) teams perfectly with light denim cut offs, like these Ksubi hotpants (£150). Add simple, goes-with-everything sandals, my favourites are these Topshop High Gladiators (£30) and gold jewellery to complete. Voila. In thirty seconds flat.

What to Wear: Tropical Prints

One of my favourite looks from the catwalk this season are the tropical prints; in particular those from Dolce & Gabanna and Stella McCartney. Topshop has recreated the tropics-trend exceptionally well & whilst its only May, I have to admit to both a pair of printed cropped trousers & a skirt to pair with tanned thighs & a Club Topicana attitude...

Pretty. Pretty. Pretty. I have the skirt (which is sadly no longer available) in the same print as these Topshop shorts (£35). The combination of colours in the print makes it incredibly easy to pair with similarly coloured items everyone already has in their wardrobes. This J Crew cashmere jumper (£200) complements the coral tones. Add Zara nude wedges (£59.99) & Diane Von Furstenberg clutch (£320) to give a modern classic finish to the look.

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