{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! 

{the rachelle lust list : 29th january 2013}

After last weeks somewhat sparse Lust List, I'm back in full force this week, with a list of wants as long as my boyfriends 6'4" frame. . . 

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

1. Rosé champagne is one of the things that makes me happiest in life, it may be a little OTT but my inner-super-girly-girl loves this Piper-Heidsieck (£44.95 at Selfridges) bottle.

2. A leather-sleeved jacket of some description has become somewhat of a wardrobe essential these days, All Saints have nailed the look with this draped cardigan, which will be so versatile as the weather (hopefully) warms up a little, £228.

3. Another beauty from the spring All Saints collection is this little slip dress, if you don't have one I highly recommend this - you wont stop using it as a base to layer upon come any season, £60.

4. Blame the rosé champagne but this lipstick pink Topshop blazer has me all flustered, if you've read my blog for a while you'll know I adore a statement jacket to add some much needed life to a basic ensemble (see black leather trousers and an Alexander Wang T jersey.. ahem, my daily uniform..) - I really need this jacket in my life - the fabric and cut look so much more expensive than the £40 price tag.

{& a very happy new year}

There is an age-old saying of 'leaving on a high note', 2012 is the epitome of the phrase, things only seem to get better in life as time progresses; the last three hundred and sixty five days have been a happy whirl of love and laughter and romance and travel and simply the most wonderful things I ever could hope for.

The boy & I said goodbye to the year in style; with a stunning hotel, amazing food and definitely too much champagne but best of all - spending the last few moments of the year and the very first few simply wrapped up in each other. 

Fashion Inspiration: Haute for the Holidays

Make like these fashionable lovelies and go all out on the glamour this Christmas; fur with diamonds, backless dresses with intricate embellishment, the most fabulous of blow-drys and champagne with friends..

Even if your budget doesn't quite stretch to haute couture, both Topshop and Zara have some stunning party-pieces and equally glamorous shoes to accompany - and All Saints do the best luxe leathers and faux-fur on the highstreet.

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...

Lately: Via Instagram | Feeling Festive

This time of year is my very favourite; and its best spent snuggled up on the sofa with the Christmas gift guide from Vogue, watching the best Christmas film ever, Arthur Christmas and taking pit-stops from Christmas shopping trips with Starbucks Toffee Nut Lattes...

Little treats from the boy; macarons to brighten up a morning at the desk with an essential super-strength coffee and a hand-picked selection of my favourite Charbonnel et Walker champagne truffles.. Thoughtful gifts are the best gifts.

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

"I love a glass of champagne..."

Who can argue with that? rachel xo

Places: Champagne Afternoon Tea at the Dorchester | London

Tasseled drapes and soft lighting, tufted settees and silk cushions, crisp white table cloths and silver-rimmed china, salmon pasta shell roll served with toast, lox and caviar, freshly backed scones with clotted cream, tea and delicate pastries and it's champagne afternoon tea at The Dorchester, London. Don't make a trip to London without a visit here . . .

A Guide To: Jet Lag

w h a t  i s  j e t  l a g  ? . . .

The cause of jet lag is simple. As the body crosses time zones its circadian rhythms (the internal body clock that tells us when to sleep) becomes disrupted. Deprived of exterior stimuli (light, dark or a day-to-night routine) our body clock becomes confused. As a general rule, it takes one day to recover from every hour lost or gained.

h o w  t o  c u r e  i t  ? . . .

The golden rule is to try and book a flight which allows you to sleep while it is night at your destination. That way, immediatley on arrival, you can enjoy some daylight and try to enjoy a full days activities.

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

Table for Two: Ginger, Basil & Grapefruit Spritzer

Another Sunday afternoon, another summer cocktail. Just as it should be. I adore the sharpness of basil that sort of lingers within you, this balance of the basil and ginger soda with an added citrus kick from the grapefruit juice is beyond refreshing.

y o u ' l l  n e e d  . . .

75g butter, softened

2 large grapefruit

2 cups of ice

3 cans of ginger soda

a handful of fresh basil

1/4 cup of basil simple syrup (easily made the same way all simple syrup is, but with the addition of chopped basil, not forgetting to strain before leaving to cool)

1 bottle of champagne or white wine

A Guide To: Champagne

"Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!"

~ Dom Perignon, at the moment he discovered champagne.

{a guide to:}

Champagne. A light sparkling wine made only in the champagne region of north-eastern France, is different from all other sparkling wines in the world for three major reasons:
* a wine can only be labelled as champagne if it is made in the champagne region of france

* to be called champagne, it must be made only from the pinot noir, pinot meunier, or chardonnay grapes which grow in that region
* true champagne, as opposed to other sparkling wines, gets its bubbles by undergoing the fermentation process twice: once in barrels and again in bottles.