The Rachelle Lust List: 20th November 2012

1. Laura Mercier bath and body products are in my eyes, second to none. The Ambre Vanilla Honey bath creme and body scrub are a combination made in heaven to transform tired winter skin to LBD ready while you relax in a bath that literally smells like heaven (£25 each). 2. I love this gift concept from Harvey Nichols, the 'Twos Company' hamper includes a bottle of brut rosé champagne and two Riedel Champagne Flutes £40. 3. Believe it or not, its the end of November and I'm still yet to fall in love with this years ultimate winter coat. I've been heavily reliant on a fur-lined Parka I found last year in Zara and on more mild days, simply running around in amazing little jackets I've collected over the years but, I think I've found a winner here from none other than New Look! For £50, its got lovely faux leather detailing, a laid-back boyfriend feel and Stella McCartney-esque cut to the neckline. 4. If you've an excitingly high bank balance and need somewhere luxurious to store all of your jewels, look no further than this stunning Smythson croc-effect leather jewellery box.. there are no words! (£2,215). 5. I've fallen in love with the Essie nail varnish formula and colour range, the most recent hue thats got me is the soft nudey/beigey shade of Jazz. This will be mine, soon. Probably the next time I pass Boots to be honest... 6. Sunglasses this good, should be worn all year round. An expertly-shaped cat-eye are the perfect size to suit any face shape - Linda Farrow Luxe do sunnies SO well (£350). 7. NARS eyeshadows are incredibly popular, with good reason. Long lasting and highly pigmented; they're some of the best - the beautiful Douceurs de Paris palette (£37) has the perfect collection of shades to compliment your peepers through any occasion. 8. Possibly the most hyped nude lipstick ever to be released ever, Tom Ford Lip Colour in Blush Nude has me drooling all the way to the counter in search of my go-to winter nude lip. Yes, there is one. rachelle xo

A New Week.. and Late Weekend Links

When the 'Happy Weekend' links don't arrive until Monday, you know its been a good weekend. Its been one of those special ones you know that you're going to look back on and smile in the years to come; live music and gin, gorgeous restaurants and a pub in the afternoon, lie-in's til noon complete with breakfast in bed and a healthy dose of lying with entwined limbs, candles and a glass of wine or two...

Hope everyone had an amazing weekend and we're all starting the week as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as I am...

A Guide To: The Boys Birthday

Buying occasion gifts for the men in our lives is notoriously difficult. I've been with my man almost four years, know him inside out and he truly knows me better than I know myself. But still; I can find it difficult choosing what to buy him each time his birthday rolls around.

Anniversaries are easy, as are little moments throughout the year when you spot something & just have to give it to them, "saw this & thought of you", but I must admit - I generally rely on the same fail-safe gifts on occasions like Christmas.

Whilst he doesn't have any hobbies I can stock up on, (unless I buy him a car - ladies if your man is a passionate sportsman or even trainspotter, think yourself lucky!) he does love whiskey. And clothes. And trips away. So I take advantage of my strengths  I can pick an outfit for him he'll adore (even if it is purely because he knows I'll love him in it) with my eyes closed, I know enough about any alcohol to see me through a gift purchase, and as you all know I adore travelling, so can plan a trip the pair of us will love.

If you follow me on twitter, luckily he doesn't use it.. you'll know I arranged a little trip to Barcelona for him this time around. Believe it or not, neither of us have been before - its a place we've always fancied but never gotten around to it, we tend to pick faraway shores and the amazing Europe breaks can get pushed aside. I also picked up a few jumpers from All Saints for him, a ton of Calvin Klein shorts and a couple of little 'stocking filler' type gifts. I've created a fail-proof collection of gifts for your boy, suitable for all gentlemen for any occasion...

The Rachelle Lust List: 8th October 2012

its been a while. a long while. such a while that I'm surprised that I was able to condense my ever-growing 'lust' folder to just 9 items in 550 pixels. 1. I've been desperate for a pair of feather-light, tight fitting yet pyjama comfortable leather leggings for a while, yet besides these horrifically expensive pair from The Olsens  horrifically expensive label, The Row. Cashing in at a scary £1,200, I may settle for these faux-leather Topshop version for a moderate £18. 2. These Valentino beauties (£695) have also been the object of my desire for some time, but as I'm (attempting) to save money and resist high-end pieces, I'll try my luck scouring Zara for a looky-likey over the next few weeks. 3. I have no words for this Illamasqua eye-shadow quad. Perfect autumnal smokey eye(£34). Coordinates incredibly with.. 6. - my newest lipstick addition, Diva by Mac (£14). The perfect matte dark lip. Should be a staple in every ladies makeup bag. A suit all dark lip in a perfect matte finish that lasts forever. 4. The Kooples is one of my favourite chic Parisienne brands, when browsing their online shop (it is bloody hard to find a shop outside of the French capital) and I've fallen in love with all of this seasons leather jackets, especially this one (£400).... 5. The only good thing about the darker nights is snuggling up tons of candles burning, I like one scented and a million tealights or vanilla escence ones lit. The Tom Ford Tuscan Leather candle was a total splurge at £50, but I love it. 7. The hype around Millie Mackintosh's new lash range has been pretty incredible, but I must say that after trying the 'Soho' lashes (£8.95) I can see why. Perfect for daytime, or for when you dont want a too full-on lash-look. 8. On holiday, I discovered that Essie may just fulfill the one-week manicure title. Whatever time of year I favour a dark, glossy nail and this shade, Wicked (£7.99), is right up my street. I applied this last Wednesday and its still wearing really, really well now. 9. I couldnt live without my Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum. Really. My love over the last few (sun soaked) weeks has been reaffirmed, I must do a full review soon, so wont keep you any longer. From £39.

What are you lusting after this week? rachelle xo

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

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!"

Lust List - 10th September 2012

1. After an unfortunate mishap with Scandinavian fashion site, Nelly, a half-out-of-stock-bikini I was finally notified of a week post-order, a last minute Topshop dash led me to this retro style high waisted bikini (£32). The waffle-textured pants finish at just the right point on the waist to give me a figure rivaling that of Audrey Hepburn and they roll down comfortably to allow optimim tanning! 2. How stunning are both covers of the UK Harper's Bazaar this month? Would it be wrong to buy both?... 3. I'm on the hunt in a big way for the perfect leather legging for winter. As much as I love these Helmut Lang troos, I'm sort of hoping to find a better prices version than the hefty £530 pricetag that comes with. If you know of any high street alternatives, please do point me in the right direction! 4. Everyones favourite street style blogger, Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist has launches his second book, 'Closer', celebrates the diversity of subjects that has made his photography so unique. Following his lens from the streets of New York to Rio de Janeiro, London, Paris and beyond, this book documents the intriguing intricacies of how we dress, creating a "rich tapestry of global style" in the process. Buy it for £20 at Net a Porter. 5. In case I havent mentioned it enough times, I'm off to Phuket tomorrow! This NARS bronzing body glow (£44) is essential to enhance my soon-to-have Asian tan. 6. How Prada are these Topshop 'Shackles' heels? Yours for a mere £68, they hit stores on Friday and are instantly selling out - get them before they go! 7. Another week, another Tom Ford beauty purchase. This time it was the high gloss Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Naivete, one slick (and a hefty £32 price tag) to dark yet wearable, super glamorous lips. 8. One of my all time favourite eyeshadows, Satin Taupe (£12), by MAC. If you havent got it, you need it. Beyond versatile. 9. I know cheap shoes are always a killer, but I cant stop contemplating this 'Gwinea' studded platform from the site Missguided. Anyone know what the shoe quality is like? For £32.99, they've got to be worth trying? 10. Ten minutes to facial-fresh skin at home, I swear by this Estee Lauder Idealist Dual Action Skin Refinisher (£36), as soon as I hit the hotel room in Thailand this will be generously applied to save my long-haul-haggered skin. rachel xo

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

Insider Insight: Caroline Issa

Caroline Issa, Fashion Director at Tank.

A look into her life, beauty secrets & hero products...

When I started working at Tank, I decided to let my hair grow out. It was a bad phase; I had this little mushroom on my head. Literally nobody saw me for my first two years at Tank because I was just like, ‘There’s no way I’m being introduced to anybody looking like this,’ until it grew out into a normal place. Now I have loads of hair, and I don’t deal with it very well. I’ve been using Super Sleek Smoothing Shampoo from Ojon; it has macadamia nut and other oils in it. And my hair stylist Angelo Seminara turned me onto this amazing organic oil, OI from Davines, which I put on when my hair is wet. And then I’ll do a bun or a braid, and slick back all the frizzies with L’Oréal Paris gel. Right now, I’m growing my hair out because I’ve decided what my September look is going to be: stick-straight and really long. When I get to New York for fashion week—because it’s really a very New York thing—I’ll get a normal New York blow dry, which you just can’t get in London—there are no blow-dry bars. And then I’ll probably cut it in October.

This is as much makeup as I can handle: mascara, eyeliner, and a red lip. I don’t have anything on my skin. Yes, I’m totally lucky, but the thing is, I’ve never smoked a cigarette in my entire life, I don’t drink huge amounts of alcohol, and I have a Chinese mother—that, I think, is my advantage. My mom does not look a day over 45, and she’s 65. Asian skin is amazing. My dad is Lebanese-Iranian, so the mix of all these crazy cultures together has been really helpful. I mean, I have a glass of wine every night, but because I’m half-Chinese I just can’t hold my alcohol very well, which means I’m a really cheap date, but I think it probably helps the skin situation.

Lust List - 2nd July 2012

1. Myself, as a long-term Bombay Sapphire gin drinker, has turned to the dark side. Vodka. Grey Goose in particular. Too easy to drink (as seen on Saturday evening...) I'm desperate to try the new Cherry Noir flavour. 2. Yves Saint Laurent have added a new ring to their collection to lust over (£180). My favourite ever liquid liner has dissapeared off the face of the earth. Since running out last week, I've bought three other L'Oreal versions - all of which I hate. If someone can find this the Carbon Gloss liner in stock somewhere, please do share! 3. Mor candles are amazing. I adore pretty teacups. This cute Mor offering is the best of both worlds; once you've used all the marshmallow scented candle, you have a beautiful teacup to enjoy. (£50.50). 4. The new Indian-inspired Chanel beauty collection launched on the 27th June, I'm desperate to pick up this golden powder highlighter and nail varnish. 5. I've had my eye on this scarf-print Zara shirt for a while now, and it did drop from my radar after several unsuccessful attempts to locate it at my local store - yet its appeared in the sale and for £29.99, I had to have it. 6. The lippie I've been reaching for most this week is Mac Speak Louder (£13.50). A cremesheen finish, the blue-toned pink is amazingly pigmented and creates a perfect, long-lasting fuchsia lip. 7. I've heard amazing things about Tom Ford Jasmin Rogue Eau De Parfum, yet its quite the investment, starting from £132...

What are you ladies lusting after this week? rachel xo

Lust List - 18th June 2012

I cannot wait for these Iver summer sandals to arrive from Nelly. A steal at just £40, they will fill the gaping 'wooden heeled cream leather strap sky-high platforms' hole in my shoe wardrobe. I am 100% Diptyque obsessed, this Violette scented candle has been burning all week (£38). After my post last week, I cannot stop thinking about Ladurée  - the epitome of delectable. Try their new cream-filled puffs. Fancy a game of tennis on the beach? Only with these Chanel racquets, darling (£1,330). Whatever adventures you get up to this week, don't leave without these Butter London refreshing foot wipes (£13). For their 75th anniversary, Ray Ban have revamped the famous aviator shades. Neeeeed. (£178). The new addition to the liquid highlighter range from Benefit, I cant wait to try Sun Beam (£18.50) to see if it lives up to its older sister High Beam. Win a set of these Marlies Dekkers Underwear simply by being a Rachelle reader, hurry - there's only one week left to enter! Tom Ford does what Tom Ford does best - perfection. The coral lipstick is the perfect summer shade.

What are you ladies lusting after this week?

Rachel x

Five Favourites: Tom Ford Beauty SS12

Tom Ford certainly knows how to make women look beautiful. Without even mentioning his expertly cut dresses in amazing fabrics, his beauty line has brought an entire new dimension to the high end of the beauty counters. SS12 brings the first seasonal beauty collection, and in the designers characteristic style - its like nothing else out this season.