{i'm not dead.. yet}

Well, its certainly been a few weeks, or perhaps even months too long  lovelies. After a few too many exciting and time consuming but incredibly fun adventures I'm back at the desk - which unfortunately for me looks very little like this pastel affair. I am, however; wearing a ton of jewellery as per, opting for a similar pale pastel hue on my talons and have a large cup of strong coffee by my side, nursing myself to some kind of caffinated delusion I'm recovering better than I actually am from a crazy weekend on a farm in Somerset, also known as Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts - but more on that later. Sleep first. More sleep. The boy and I haven't made it past 10pm in the last two days..  I am (slowly but surely) back in business, so expect to see a fair bit more from me in the very near future! 

rachelle xo
♥

{the rachelle edit : winter pastels}

Pastel hues are too irresistible to limit to spring and summer months; thick chunky knits and ankle grazing chinos make a refreshing change from typical pale chiffon dresses and of course, allow for year round wear.

I'm obsessed with this stunning Acne cable knit jumper (£100 at My Wardrobe), throw it over a crisp white shirt (Joseph do great basics, this sleeveless shirt is only £59 in the Coggles sale). These Topshop chinos are as warm as they are stylish - I adore the contrast between the peachy coral bottom half and aqua jumper, broken up with the clean white shirt. Accessories should probably be kept to a minimum, but a nude bag will do the trick (or if you're incredibly stylish and have a well stocked Proenza PS1 wardrobe, this coral bag will gain you extra fashion points) and the same goes for shoes - heels of course - a pointed toe nude pump would complete the outfit perfectly, or dress up the look a little with metallic Rebecca Minkoff platforms. 

Insider Insight: Aerin Lauder

Aerin Lauder, Estee Lauder Heir & Businesswoman.

If you're here reading this, there's a strong chance you've tried, if at not least heard of the release of AERIN, the high-end, highly-anticipated release of Estee Lauder's granddaughter, Aerin Lauder's, own cosmetics line. AERIN is currently exclusive to Harrods and Selfridges London (also available at their online stores for the rest of us who don't live in the capital) and features simple and high-end, high-quality essentials with a few hints of seasonal shading thrown in. I've raved about the beauty that is Aerin before and her stunning office when the new collection was just news. I stumbled across an interview with site ITG  from September, which has just made me love her more; its refreshing to hear that her first experiences with makeup are similar to many of us ladies, even if her grandmother was Estee Lauder...

"I’ve always been fairly classic, fairly traditional. Everyone always asks, ‘Did you ever rebel? Did you dye your hair blue? Did you wear black nail polish?’ I mean, of course, there have been episodes when you wear weird-colored lipstick… But generally, I think I was pretty much the way I am now. I stick with what I know, makeup-wise. Just because something is on trend doesn’t mean you have to embrace it. You can look at it and admire it, but that doesn’t mean you have to wear black nail polish or red lipstick. If you feel comfortable in what you’re wearing, you’ll look your best, and I think that’s a really important idea. Sometimes, whether it’s fashion or beauty, things are on-trend and they look beautiful on the runway, but when I apply them to myself it doesn’t look the way it should.

Beauty was always a part of my life. I always joke that I’ve been in the beauty business for 42 years, because my earliest memories are of my grandmother [Estée] putting makeup on, or spraying perfume, or mixing foundation with cream. I always wanted to be a part of the family business—I always loved it. I remember seeing piles of magazines with red tags in them, marking all the Estée Lauder ads. I didn’t know anything different because everywhere, all over her house, would be red-tagged magazines, so I just assumed they came that way. The first time I saw a magazine without tags I was like, ‘Why does it look like that?’ [Laughs] The beauty industry was always a part of my life, and I think it’s something that I just innately love because if you don’t love it, you can’t do it.

Places : Backstage | Dennis Basso spring 2013, new york

I have promised not to bombard you with fashion week looks as I eventually catch up on the catwalk action of September, but I couldn't resist sharing with you the most beautiful New York show, with ceilings painted as the sky, gilded archways and yards upon yards of silk drapery, golden chandeliers, and the most exquisite gowns, embellishments, beading and lace, an intermingling of tulle and ballerina buns. There are no other words other than magical.

The penthouse of the St. Regis is plenty fabulous without the newest and prettiest faces of New York's upper east side model agencies, decked in what is in my opinion, the best Dennis Basso collection yet. The dresses were bigger, the adornments were shinier, the fringe was fringier…. 

Fashion Inspiration: Print & Pattern

 

I may be a little late to this party, but I somehow (probably on Pinterest) managed to stumble across the seneca rising spring 2011 lookbook, and of course, fell in love with the motion of the shots, the soft colour palette and beautiful mix of prints & patterns.

At Home With: Sam Allen

Homes of interior designers are always bloody good, aren't they? Sam Allen has this incredible knack of combining bold colours & patterns and throwing them together that creates breathtakingly beautiful spaces. Okay, pink walls and ikat-print rugs mightn't inspire each of you to paint your hallway like this, but you must admire, even if it is just from afar.

The Rachelle Edit: Little Pink & Pretty Things

I'm not generally a huge wearer of pink, but who can resist being occasionally seduced by the pinkest & prettiest of pastels?

the celebration of dionysus nude necklace  |  blush teacup  |  mimi holliday by damaris bellini lace plunge bra  |  enamel ribbon detail shoes  |  petit bow bobbi  |  korres jasmine lip butter  |  diptyque 'baies' scented candle  |  asos oversized bowler [& in yellow]  |  rolex white gold and diamond lady's datejust wristwatch  |  edwardian diamond platinum tassel bow brooch

p r e v i o u s  e d i t s  . . .

new in: valentino  |  winning style  |  kiss-worthy accessories  |  jil sander fall 2012  |  nineties: the new vintage  |  fifty shades of fashion  |  resort 2013: proenza schouler vs valentino  |  resort 2013: chloe vs erdem  |  summer sorbet  |  laid-back sundays  |  summer shoes at zara  |  zadig & voltaire  |  ibiza: sunlounger to superclub

rachel xo

At Home With: Kelee Katillac

Interior designer, Kelee Katillac, dressed up each room in this 1915 Missouri Building in Kansas by installig dramatic chandeliers, beautiful custom-made and vintage pieces in chic pastel colours with decadent wood and white panels. This is a life-sized Barbie dreamhouse I need to live in. 

Happy Weekend: Fashion Inspiration | A Retro Story

Spending this Saturday morning lusting after the laid-back pace of last weekend, where I wrote this post from a high thread count Egyptian cotton covered bed in Leeds, about to embark on a days worth of shopping and searching for a champagne hangover remedy. This weekend, its back to reality and I write this post from my desk, flicking through Augusts issue of Tatler with a rather beautiful retro-inspired editorial with the equally beautiful Alice Eve, styled by Deep Kailey, featuring designs from Marni, Chanel, Prada, Dolce & Gabanna and Paul Ka. Why wasn't I born to be a fifties housewife?...

Happy Weekend: Sorbet Streets

Once again, another jam-packed week has flown by and its time to let the hair down as its my favourite day, Saturday. If you follow my twitter, you'll already know that the week has been filled with late night tapas and even later cocktails, workplace dramas, cinema visits and eventually; a long overdue early night.