{the rachelle edit : the first days of spring}

It may have felt like it'd never arrive, but finally I'm dressed in sleeveless clothing and if the sun stays out and the temperature in double figures - I may even take the opportunity to show my ankles tomorrow.. 

So, sitting with my office windows open - pretty floral lingerie on and a swipe of NARS body glow, these pretty little things are what spring afternoons were made for...

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.

Five Favourites: Reinvent Your Makeup Bag

Its easy to get stuck in a makeup rut, but just as easy to refresh your day-to-day look with a few key products. I've picked five new(ish) products which are amazing in their own right, and perfect to 'jazz up' your makeup bag.

Chanel Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eyeshadow in Premier Regard (£37) - Chanel’s eye shadow quads are basically the season’s key colours for beauty all in one place – and for autumn it’s all about pretty browns and pale pinks. You can’t go wrong. 

Tom Ford Lip & Cheek Stain in Tainted Love (£36) - This easy-to-use berry stain rolls onto lips and cheeks for a girlishly flushed look. I'm trying to convince myself that the multi-use product justifies the typically extortionate Tom Ford price tag... (Available from September).

Dolce & Gabbana Blush Luminous Cheek in Delight (£30.50) - A healthy, pink glow was on show at the Michael Kors, Mulberry and Dolce & Gabbana shows for autumn/winter 2012-13, and thus I suggest you make sure to have a great blush on hand for that just-in-from-the-cold look.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour (£20.50) - There’s no easier way to create a quick smoky eye than with one of these crease-resistant metallic Caviar Sticks. They glide on easily for long-lasting metallic colour, and they’re pretty much fool-proof.

Dior Diorshow Mascara (£23) - Blue mascara was the beauty focus at Stella McCartney, where models wore it layered up for maximum effect. This Dior version is as bold as they come, and curls the lashes too. rachel xo

The Rachelle Trend Report: Fall 2012 | Winter in Bloom

With their hothouse hues and perfectly cultivated patterns, winter's florals - be they single stems or hand-picked bouquets - have a dazzling, hyper-real quality.

Less feminine than summer's pretty bunch, this season's prints were dark, edgy and luxe. "Flocked fabrics and lace overlays added an air of ornateness, putting a fresh spin on the idea of flowers in winter," explained Lucinda Chambers,Vogue fashion director. Think less prissy, more powerful.

Lust List - 20th August 2012

This week, I'm craving abit of glamour. From Tom Ford burgundy lippie, to sequinned peplums and champagne flutes, this weeks Lust List has it all.

1. Tap into the inimitable glamour of the Italian design duo Dolce & Gabanna with this leapord print satin & lace underwear set, (bra £335, briefs £195). 2. After months worth of summery coral, pink and nude lipsticks I'm desperate to pick up a tube of Tom Ford Lip Colour in Black Orchid (£35). 3 . Tee's can be glamorous too, I've ordered this Etoile Isabel Marant number (£180) from Net a Porter this week and cannot wait to team it with my Zara waxed burgundy skinnies (and the Tom Ford lippy, ahem...) 4. This Zara skirt (£29.99) with a plain grey tee is just so right, if you haven't checked out Zara's new season collection you need to. Now. 5. I'm not a small bag kind of girl, but will gladly make an exception for this Box Suede Chain Bag from Topshop (£28) which will make a chic alternative to the evening clutch. 6. This Willow Body (£395) is cool, contemporary and impossibly chic. I want it on me now, with a nice pencil skirt and blazer. Mmmmm. 7. By the time I settle down on an evening, the darker nights are well and truly setting in, so its time to once again re-open my candle collection. This Jo Malone Wild Bluebell candle (£41) is amazing, but I keep getting told off by the boy for not blowing it out when I leave a room with it being so expensive.. Spoil sport. Why do men just not get it?! 8 . Whilst this Topshop Chiffon Tiered Cami (£33) isnt really my thing, it caught my eye when browsing the Topshop app, I must try it when next in store... 9. Karl Lagerfeld does pretty much everything better than everyone. Including champagne flutes (£96). 10. I've definitely over-invested in peplums this season, but this Topshop Sequin Top (£41) is too hard to resist. 11. This Pamela Love Necklace (£300) is intricate enough to wear alone, but I'd stack it with a few other bohemian necklaces from the range and a grey tee. And the aforementioned Zara skirt. Or the Willow body. I can see a pattern emerging... help. rachel xo

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 . . .

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.