{fashion inspiration : olivia palermo at fashion week}

I'm spending this weekend outfit planning and packing for a long weekend in Barcelona next week, and as usual, the oh-so-lovely Olivia Palermo provides fashion inspiration in spades. With all international fashion weeks all but done, I'm spoiled with piles of pictures of fashionistas showing off their favourite seasonal pieces all across the globe.

I'm obsessed with Olivia's pulled-together, luxe, glamorous and chic and unique way of pairing items truly like no one else can manage - I'll be channelling in inner fashionista in leather trousers and patent pointed stilettos on cobbled roads and oversized sunnies worn under soft loose waves..

{happy monday . . ?}

Sorry things have been a little quiet around here recently; the last few days have been a bit shaky for me, I had to have a poorly tooth removed on Friday afternoon under IV sedation (which definitely wasn't fun..) so I've been keeping my poor mouth warm at home snuggled on the sofa with a pile of blankets half watching mindless TV and half watching the snow fall . . . 

{happy weekend : ponytails & unmade beds}

More than a little excited for this weekend; although the pleasantly mild weather I mentioned last week has been predicted to be replaced with an intense 'cold snap' as the weatherman likes to call it - the boy has the weekend off too and we'll be spending the majority of it entwined in duvets and blankets, with perhaps a spot of shopping, lunch, too much wine?

The Rachelle Edit: The Best Beauty of 2012

You know me; I believe that if something isn't broke - don't fix it. This motto rings true when it comes to my skincare and makeup routine, I have favourites that consistently work for me which I've used for a number of years. It is fun to try new products and replace something which isn't doing what it used to for ya so I've made a list over the last few weeks of my very favourite products I've discovered throughout 2012..

1. We saw the launch of the new Creme de la Mer Soft Cream this year, and it is bloody amazing. All the benefits of the original version but a million times easier to work with, and more effective. 

2. Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Deep was always my go-to bronzer until one fateful day browsing the stands of Space NK, leading to the swatching of the famous NARS Laguna - and I've never looked back. The perfect tanned but never orange colour, perfect for both contouring and adding some warmth to my face all year round - its everything I ever looked for in a bronzer! 

3. Come the beginning of October, I was ready for a darker lip to embrace the colder months, Mac matte lipstick in Diva has been my the answer to my prayers. A beautiful deep lip looks so striking with creamy skin and a slick of gel liner; my lips are far from the luscious loveliness of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's, but when filled in neatly with a lip brush I definetley feel a step closer! 

4. This year is the first that I've had the pleasure to try the famous Essie Nail Polishes; I bought Peach Daiquri to wear on my toes with summer sandals and was amazed by the creamy consistency, fan-brush which applies like a dream and the incredible chip-resistant finish. No nail polish lasts like Essie. Fast-forward a few months and my finger nails are pretty much a continuous loop of (left to right) Leading Lady (a deep red with gorgeous glitter), Jazz (the perfect greigey nude), Wicked (my favourite EVER shade - it goes with everything and makes your nails look longer) and Muchi Muchi (a Kardashian-esque soft pink). 

My Happy List { № 6 } : Pamper Time

Tensions are running high, tempers are fraying and my mental state isn't as it should be after the crazy few weeks I've had at work (and a night out on a school night last night..); in approximately one hour I'll commence my night-in with a pot of my current favourite tea blend, a fresh Diptyque candle and a ton of lovely treatments to restore my hungover, dehydrated and cold-weather-beaten skin into something hopefully slightly more attractive: hair-masks, manicures and pedicures, exfoliating scrubs and a rich slathering of body butter - sometimes a little DIY TLC is all you need to pull yourself around... 

I'll get around to popping up a post on my favourite products for these lovely little nights in but not today, I'm too busy rushing through a mountain of work so I can get started! What are your fail-safe pampering rituals? rachelle xo

r a c h e l l e ' s h a p p y l i s t . . .

wearing heels  |  finding the perfect cup of tea  |  the first coffee  |  morning cuddles  |  a thick stack of magazines  |  a good manicure 

Two Beautiful Things: Lovely Lilac

After spending yesterday morning fashion-girl-lusting over the chic ensembles from Tuesday evenings Cosmo Woman of the Year Awards, my personal 'favourite look of the event award' went to the not-always-winning Kelly Osbourne. Her sleek lilac hair coordinated beautifully with her silk pastel dress, leaving me sighing over the gentle hue. Fast-forward twenty-four hours and I'm still obsessing over the shade in delicate flowers and the amazing lilac wash on Cara Delevinge's hair. Why, why wasnt I born into her body? rachelle xo

Beauty Icon: Blake Lively

Blake Lively, is bloody gorgeous. Born with quite clearly perfect genes, she shared some of her beauty secrets behind the scenes for her new million dollar campaign for the newest fragrance from fashion house Gucci - Premiere. 

What's your go-to beauty or hair look for events? "It depends. I was at a premiere in Los Angeles recently in a Zuhair Murad gown, and I could have gone two ways - a smoky eye and lighter lip with a very slicked-back, straight, long ponytail, or a Rita Hayworth look with the red, longer nails and little cat eyes. So I went for the latter because that to me was a fun, special moment. But the next day at the premiere in New York I had this beautiful Gucci mellow yellow gown, and with that I thought you could go Grecian or A Midsummer Night's Dream. So, to make it different from the night before, I thought: 'I want a high pony or I want a braid'. And I had a necklace that I was considering wearing, so I thought: 'let's wrap it around the braid because it will make it more interesting." So you decide upon the looks yourself? "I'm always designing what the hair and make-up will look like and I style myself, including the shoes, jewellery, accessories - all of it. But then I'm lucky to be in the hands of some of the most talented people who will say: 'so that's your idea, now let me actualise it in a way that's more beautiful'. Maybe it's that old classic Hollywood look, maybe it's messy Kate Moss hair or a slicked-back J-Lo ponytail. So there's no go-to, it's 'who do you want to be tonight?"

Insider Insight: Patti Wilson

Patti Wilson, Stylist.

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

“My mom is from Trinidad, and I was raised in New York—Queens. I’m into minimalism right now, so I’ve been dressing very Rad Hourani. I style his shows, so I’m totally into him, I love his aesthetic. I kind of match my beauty look to what I’m wearing, and I think the minimalist thing has creeped in. Every day I use a flat iron on my hair, and lots of Redken Glass 01 Smoothing Serum while I’m doing it. It’s expensive, but we always try and call it in or find places where it is really cheap. I wash my hair once a week with Mane ‘n Tail shampoo, and flat iron it every morning. I hate if it gets a little bit of wave, and this just seems the simplest way to manage it. I work with a lot of hairdressers for shoots, so I don’t have to go through the process of finding the right things—they just tell you what’s good.

For my skin, I use Perricone MD Cold Plasma. It’s too expensive, but it just feels good. I use it morning and night. I’m really into skincare—it’s important. I use Nars Gentle Cream Cleanser, the Balancing Toning Lotion, and then he has this brightener thing that I kind of like. I know it sounds weird, but it just makes you look really bright. It’s not really a lightener, it’s a brightener: Nars Brightening Serum. And theHydrating Moisture Cream. The jars are so massive, I told [François Nars] he has to stop. [Laughs] I’ve known him for 15 years, and I do all of his campaigns. I have been to his house in Tahiti, it’s amazing. He’s got everything, and the boat is right there…I have some soaps from Tahiti, like Tahitian coconut, which I use in the bath.

Beauty Icon: Georgia May Jagger

Georgia May Jagger. One half rock royalty, one half Texan supermodel - Georgia seriously wows the world with her famous rock-star pout and gappy front teeth.