{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! 

{everyone's favourite super..}

Happy Birthday to everyone's favourite super - Kate Moss. What would mark a thirty ninth anniversary of birth better than a dozen red velvet cupcakes emblazoned with pictures of Ms Moss over the years? The ladies at ITG had the right idea.

{the rachelle lust list : 14th january 2013}

The only thing good about a Monday morning is the Rachelle Lust List, no? A collection of my new favourite things - even if it is a bikini in January; of which the best thing to come of the month is the re-release of the Cadburys Creme Egg.. 

t h e  f o u r t e e n t h  o f  j a n u a r y . . .

1. One positive aspect of endless dull winter nights is being able to socially close your blinds at 4pm (the only other benefit is being able to car-sing-and-dance without inhibitions and curious looks from passing traffic) and begin burning candles in the fashion of a large church, my favourite scent at the moment is - of course - a Diptyque number, Ambre (£40 at John Lewis) Yum. 

2. Another River Island bikini to tempt me. I'm going to order this cut-out beauty and pretend I'm not sat at my desk shivering over a cup of green tea watching snow fall through the window. 

3. After about three weeks of use, I think I'm finally qualified to say I'm suitably impressed with Mac Prep & Prime 'Skin Base' primer. I have dry skin, yet my t-zone and chin often get incredibly oily throughout the day. I need a primer to keep my makeup in place all day (who can be bothered with hourly touch ups?) but also provide a silky base to keep my dry skin nourished and behaving well. This is performing very well so far; I'm not a one-product-review kinda girl but this may require a dedicated post..

{the rachelle edit: organise my year}

I always have been, and probably always will be, an organisation freak. I like lists, lots of lists, plans and a detailed agenda - a diary is of utmost importance in my Mulberry. iPhone calendars, reminders, to do lists, voice notes and schedulers come and go, but when a new year rolls around nothing sates my organisation appetite like a fancy, preferably snakeskin, organiser. So by the fourth of January and I still don't have one, I start to panic.

t h i s  y e a r s  s h o r t l i s t . . .

Smythson has been the place to go when it comes to stationery for the last 125 years, apparently. Missing 100 of those years due to not yet being born yet, I wouldn't know but presume the statement is true - seeing as three of four in this selection (1,2 & 4) are made by Smythson. Far left is the perfect desk diary, the 2013 Fashion Diary. Printed calf leather, featherlight pale blue pages with gold embossing  day-to-page, an address book and more note space than even I could fill - this doesn't come cheap at £200 and wouldn't squeeze in my bag.. but it would look perfect on my desk.

A New Month: Happy December..

"I thought that maybe we could make ginger bread houses, and eat cookie dough, and go ice skating, and even maybe hold hands!"

~ Buddy the Elf.

You know when its December when ten minutes of your morning each day is taken by scraping the ice from the windscreen of your car, each day sees you wrapped in more and more layers, your eyes are constantly on the look out for perfect Christmas presents and that perfect New Years dress, Saturdays are spent shopping for other people, Sundays wandering around Christmas markets with a coffee in one hand and glass of mulled wine in the other, there are too many parties to attend than there are nights in the calendar and of course - sharing your Hotel Chocolat Truffles for Two advent calendar with the boy...

At the Office: Desktop Delights

Love it or hate it, we all spend a huge majority of our lives at our desks, surely we should be making all of the time spent there as enjoyable as possible? A stylish desk, filled with things to inspire and help you through your working day is essential. I think a monochrome colour palette is the best place to start - its simple, chic and clean. You can add accents of a bright colour pop as your mood and the seasons change quickly, and relatively cheaply.

A quick look through any fashionistas desk will reveal just as much as what she carries in her bag; these are the day-to-day gospel products which can are consistently reliable. The iPhone (complete with a chic Marc by Marc Jacobs shell £30) used to coordinate the days schedule and tasks to uploading your latest instagram picture. A beautiful bunch of flowers, a statement-making and well-placed lamp  (like this £60 one from Zara Home) and Jo Malone (a favourite is the Pine & Eucaluptus £45) diffuser all help make the place a little more pleasant to whittle away the hours. A Diptyuque candle always helps to relax the atmosphere and soothe square-computer eyes. 

The Rachelle Lust List: 12th November 2012

1. Its all about being cosy, and while I hate wearing big thick pyjamas to bed - these cute River Island 'Dog Print' beauties make for perfect loungewear. At £30 for a set, they aren't Olivia Von Halle silk, but they are £265 cheaper.. 2. Candles are another cosy-night-in essential, Diptyque Roses is a classic (£38). 3. I love a glitter nail varnish with 'thick chunks' of glitter, Revlon do a rather good version but it appears Deborah Lippman is the genius in this field. If you've any idea where I can get my hands on a pair in the UK, please do tell! 4. I sort of fell on this Sally Hansen Teflon Tuff Nail Protector when my Mam left it lying around, I've used it as a base and top coat on my last two manicures and I swear I've had far less chipping and NO nails snap when wearing.. I've fallen in love and now realised I think its been discontinued. Really. If anyone can find any please tell me that too! 5. Coffee-table porn at its best, Vogue's new book, 'In Vogue' £45 at Net a Porter is a comprehensive history of the worlds most famous fashion magazine. 6. I'm basically re-living last night in the form of a lust list - another cosy-night-in essential are some amazing chocolates, nothing beats Charbonnel et Walker. Ever. 7. Practically drooling over these Valentino flats but not the £530 price tag.. I've seen some similar styles in Kurt Geiger, but could I be converted from a heel-worshiper for them? Unsure. 8.  I have no words for these Zara heels, but wow. These could be the new black heels I'm searching for - although I am feeling a little predictable drawn to anything sexy and sky-high with studs on... (£79.99). 9. A cute gift idea for a luxury-loving-lady (or to yourself) Jo Malone has released a lovely 'travel candle set' of three much-loved favourites; English Pear & Freesia, Roasted Chestnut & Pomegranate Noir (£60). rachelle xo

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...

Happy Halloween: Dinner Party Edition..

If fancy dress, sweets and overly crazy mid-week parties arent exactly 'up your street', why not see about throwing together an impromptu Halloween-themed dinner party? From simple yet effective black runners and napkins with long-stem candles to full-on spooky themed eats, its a little different and incredibly chic way to spend the evening..

Even if you're not prepared enough (and this post has inspired you at 11am the morning of the event) simply channel your creativity into a punch as sweet as it is strong, pick up some cobweb cupcakes from The Hummingbird Bakery and nutty toffee apples... 

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

Five Favourites: Autumn Candles

at my house, candles are always burning. Year-round. Nothing is more inviting than the warm flicker and unique scent they disperse through the entire building. As the dark nights draw in and the temperature drops, my house ends up looking like an episode of the American show, 'Hoarders' waiting to happen: pretty little glass and ceramic jars on every surface, matches strewn everywhere. The wick maintenance in and of itself has me shuffling around like a crazy cat lady, nipping away at the charred tips so they stay just ¼” long—optimal for burning and advisable to minimize smoking. I keep doubles - triples even - of the favorites, stacked in boxes just in case one should evaporate before I’d thought to restock. Of course, a nice candle also makes a lovely gift, and having a cache of the best ones means you’ll never scramble to a house warming/dinner party/office gifting empty-handed.

My current roster is made up of earthy, smoky, full-bodied scents that pretty much all fall under the umbrella of “sexy”. There are no springtime florals or sparkling citrus top notes over here between October and February. I want to feel like I’ve sunken into a silk velvet sofa in the lobby of a very chic, dimly lit French hotel, listening to groovy music that I’ve never heard of and having a glass of Pinot Noir with someone very good looking. In reality, I'll be sprawled along the sofa with some trashy TV or glossy magazine, but the candles (and a glass of wine) makes my fantasy much easier to visualise...

I've rounded up my five favourites of the past few weeks, so you can enjoy my indulgement of these mini-pleasures. 1. Catbird “Campfire” - This Brooklyn-based jewelry shop has been producing hand-poured candles in New York for a few years. Campfire is “refined and animalistic”, with notes of wood smoke, saddle leather and honey. This was a gift, and as I'm running low, I'm trying to convince the boy to take me to New York for another pot...

Happy Weekend: Nicely Neutral

once again, the beautiful time of the week known as Saturday morning is upon us! I haven't been as excited about a weekend since the boy & I took a trip to Leeds a few months back.

I'm currently enjoying every second of a luxuriously long lazy morning in bed (don't judge - its my first day off since I returned from holiday sixteen days ago.. ahem) before a relaxed afternoon shopping and lunching with the boy. Tonight will be more lively; cocktails with the best lady and her crazy student friends - I can see me lying in this same place this time tomorrow, but in the fetal position and a gin hangover...

Fashion Inspiration: Autumn & Winter Dressing | New In

cooler temperatures are ever-present in the lovely UK, and its about time I really invested some time, and money, into this years winter wardrobe. This time last month, I was en route to Thailand - with a suitcase full of plentiful planning & preparation (23kg of summer, 40 degree heat resistant clothing). Leaving the house in conditions currently around 2 degrees, I'm currently craving warm and luxurious clothing like leather and faux furs...

My shopping baskets and home deliveries during the last few weeks have ranged from sequin-sleeved parka jackets, iPhones, Diptyque and Tom Ford candles, books to snuggle up with while I burning the them and too much from Topshop, namely a pair of leather leggings and perfect fur gilet...