{the rachelle edit : the first days of spring}

It may have felt like it'd never arrive, but finally I'm dressed in sleeveless clothing and if the sun stays out and the temperature in double figures - I may even take the opportunity to show my ankles tomorrow.. 

So, sitting with my office windows open - pretty floral lingerie on and a swipe of NARS body glow, these pretty little things are what spring afternoons were made for...

{what to wear : wardrobe staples}

Choosing an outfit every morning is a similar process to choosing the ingredients for a meal. You’ve got to be imaginative to get the best result, with the usual feeling that there’s nothing to wear even if the wardrobe is full of clothes. Think of this 'going back to basics' with your wardrobe staples as what you'd throw together to make a quick and tasty meal when the cupboard is bare.

I've created a selection of beautiful outfits with "basic ingreedients" that we all have in our wardrobes. My day to day wardrobe mainly consists of hard working basics that I can style a hundred different ways, and throw on without really thinking about. Fitted, slim trousers. A leather jacket. Chic boots. A classic black leather handbag. A beautiful jacket to pull looks together. Oversized sunglasses. We all have these, and here is a little inspiration on how to throw them together...

In the not-so-sunny UK, I rarely get the opportunity to go out without a jacket, so cover ups play a huge role in my wadrobe. The easiest to throw on with anything are black leather jackets (I adore this All Saints one) or a printed, colourful or statement jacket to add something to a simple monochrome outfit, I tried this floral printed number on in Topshop yesterday and it hasn't left my mind since. 

Shoes that are marginally comfortable are important when running around, a mid-heel boot (dying over this Acne pair) goes with everything, as does a beautiful flat sandal. 

Chunky, cosy jumpers are also essential - I recommend a good quality black number and something with a little more colour or detail as a good place to start.

Leather pants, shorts, skirts, dresses.. anything leather really always looks chic and is forming an increasingly large section of all of our favourite fashionistas wardrobe, if you haven't tried something a little unconventional yet - do it.. now - leather always earns you fashion points.

{a glamorous mix}

{the rachelle lust list : 23rd january 2013}

For once; my lust list isnt particularly extensive this week, I've my eye on a few pieces that I know will slide seamlessly into my everyday wardrobe, and I cant help but fall in love with beautiful (and horribly expensive) lingerie in anticipation of Valentines Day - but there are significantly less extravagant bells and whistles than usual, probably why I'm a little behind schedule on a Wednesday. . . 

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

1. J Crew are make the best chic and affordable separates - fact. I adore this breton-stripe jumper, always flattering, with the cute floral print collar, £100 at Net a Porter.

2. I couldnt talk about the sexiest of underwear and not talk about Agent Provocateur. The 'Love' range has been in their permanent line for what feels like years, so you know its good. At £150 for the pair - they dont come cheap, but nothing will make you feel better in the almost nude.. This range also comes in a few different colours, with suspenders and waspies also available.

3. The Spring All Saints collection is consistently a good one.  These two dresses (Black 'Jungle' Sweater Dress £125 & Pleated Silk 'Peony' Dress £175) are so wearable, I'm desperate to get my hands on them to throw on under a leather jacket and pair of Acne ankle boots on off-duty days.

{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. 

{the rachelle lust list : 7th january 2013)

Well, its been a while. A month in fact since I last shared my lusts for the week, during which things have undergone a massive shift-focus from sparkly festive nails and Christmas pyjamas - all of a sudden we're in the depths of the dark nights of January with no Christmas, festive cocktails or NYE to think about.. all we have to look forward to is the rest of this new year. Wow. So many possibilities ahead; many within my wardrobe. I'm already compiling my new-season wish-list (yes, really) and these beauties have caught my eye this week..

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

1. During December I lost my midi-virginity and I'm craving more. The longer cut allows skin-tight dresses to be flattering, sexy and subtle. This black number is a River Island bargain at a mere £22 - I can already picture it filling a void in my day-to-day wardrobe.

2. Essie Bahama Mama was a Christmas present from my Mum and in two weeks I've found myself applying it to my digits and toes three times already! The perfect dark plum shade for my already extensive black/deep red/plum nail collection. 

3. A baby pink coat is probably not an essential, neither do I expect it to last the test of time - but there's something so Jil Sander I want it anyway. River Island, £80.

{& 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. 

The Rachelle Lust List: 10th December 2012

1. Be warned - I'm well and truly into Christmas mode! Obsessing over these Equipment silk pyjamas (£465), cant think of a chicer ensemble to lounge in on Christmas morning! 2. Treated myself to a polish from the new Essie Winter 2012 collection, Leading Lady with some Boots points - a beautiful full on glitter shade, this could be the beauty to grace my nails on Christmas! Yes, there will be a chosen polish... 3. I've currently no plans to jet abroad until well into 2013, but should you be off somewhere hot over Christmas this Topshop bikini is so sexy for an amazing price, £32! 4. I've been after a new powder highlight for months, I'm a little bored of the silvery tone of Mac MSF in Soft & Gentle, I've swatched Bobbi Browns Shimmer Brick in Bronze (£32) countless times and finally took the plunge this weekend! Now to not be wasteful and finish off the MSF first... 5. Loving the colour combination and drop shape of these Marni earrings, £325. 6. & 7. How fun are these Charlotte Olympia shoes? Okay, maybe only socially acceptably worn on one day of the year but should you have heavily lined pockets and a sense of humour, why wouldnt you indulge in Christmas Pudding pumps?! 8. This Topshop playsuit is just too pretty (£50), perfect for Christmas nights out! As is no 9, the V-Back and intricate embellishment give the flattering skater style a festive lift (£65). 10. Okay, I'm still not over this hiking boot style and potentially never will be.. River Island Boots (£120). rachelle xo

The Rachelle Lust List: 4th December 2012

1. Elizabeth & James specialise in some seriously stylish one-pieces and fitted separates; these are the perfect shoes to match (£270). I need to wear these with everything in my winter wardrobe. PS. River Island have some similarly edgy styles in for a quarter of the price. 2. I'm not one to preach about constantly coordinating your undergarments; I've fallen separately in love with this Mimi Holliday Bisou Bisou lace and satin bra (£55) and this Angelique Bow Thong (£35) separately (although the matching Bisou Bisou knickers are a real treat, too). 3. The Valentino 'Va Va Voom' studded nude leather clutch is featuring in my dreams, as of late. Wow. 4. An Alexander Skull Print Silk scarf (£165) mightn't be the warmest garment on the winter-wear market, but it is perfect to layer for any day of the year. 5. Obsessed with these adorable 'His & Hers' Johnathan Adler mugs (£24)! Perfect Christmas present for newly-weds, or yourself, if you cant resist.. You can never have too many chic white mugs, right? 6. Its my turn to have a little dry/tight/winter-skin crisis, I'm craving some luxurious and natural-super-ingredients to restore things back to happy-hydrated-times; I'm terribly guilty of not using a primer, By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Primer (£41 at Space NK) looks to be the answer to my prayers. 7 & 8. Sisley are one of the most reputable names in high-end skincare, my poor face is crying out for a cocktail of their most famous face-masks, Hydra-Flash Intensive or Black Rose Cream Mask are packed full of skin softening wonders. 9. Another installment of the lazy-girls guide to baking; these Harvey Nichols Gingerbread Cookies are ready to bake, simply add eggs and butter. How cute is the packaging? They taste as good as they look. 10. This weeks lipstick craving is another Mac wonder; Rebel. No where near as dark and scary as it appears in the tube, its another Mac best seller that has somehow managed to escape my clutches. Until now. rachelle xo

The Rachelle Lust List: 27th November 2012

It might be the fact that today is pay day, it could be that I've been denying myself any extravagant purchase for so long, or that I've been so busy focusing on Christmas shopping for all my nearest and dearest that's got me lusting after crazily luxurious with equally crazy price tags this week.. 1. The ultimate winter staple, black leather, in the form of a beautiful thin-knit jumper. I love this amazing cashmere blend by Reed Krakoff, £750. This will go so well with everything. 2. Gold jewellery is an essential of mine, I have a mild obsession with 'pretty' skulls - Alexander McQueen is the combines these two aspects better than anyone else; this beautiful bracelet, £180 (and matching ring, no 8, £120) is a prime example. 3. The prettiest bra I've possibly ever seen; okay the matching briefs and suspenders aren't entirely practical.. but this is a lust list! The Selena, by Agent Provocateur (Bra, £110. Suspenders, £110. Knickers £95. 4.  I have no words for these little bits of heaven in the form of shoe-porn. If you've read the blog for a little while, there's a high chance you've heard me rave on about these amazing Christian Louboutin Alti 160 spiked patent-leather shoes. Wow. I have similar amounts of love for the Just Pick studded patent leather and PVC heels too (no 9), but they seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth as of late.. 5. A pretty little sequinned top is perfect for this time of year, with a pair of leather leggings and a blazer this Michael Kors tee, £150 is the perfect way to add some festivity into your day wear. Is festivity a word? 'Tis now.  6. Steering off my luxurious theme, I picked up this Midi dress from River Island this weekend and cant wait to wear it; I'm somewhat a midi-virgin, dismissing the style as unflattering to a lady of just 5'4, but I think with some Zara sandals and a studded leather biker it'll be perfect for a gig the boy and I are attending tonight! 7. If you're going to be prancing about in the aforementioned Agent Provocateur undies, you'll need the supermodel-smooth pins to match. Agent Provocateur Petale Noir Body Elixir (£28) is the height of sexiness. 10. I feel a little like I'm cheating on my forever-faithful Maxfactor False Lash Effect Fusion mascara even writing about its Benefit rival, "They're Real", but I've heard too many amazing reviews to not even be tempted, £18.50.Watch this space. 11. Its almost time for a new year, and a new diary. I've fallen in love with this amazing purple snakeskin offering from Smythson; making plans has never been so chic. rachelle xo

Happy Weekend: Sleepy Sunday Nights

Its been a lovely week, finished off with an equally lovely weekend. These cold nights, frosty mornings and snuggly, cosy nights in are making me feel so festive; I finally started my Christmas shopping on Friday and I'm getting horribly excited about this coming month!

Saturday morning shopping was far from ideal, forty minutes fighting with other cars to find a car parking space, wrestling through more crowds and several near-death experiences with pushchairs, running around in heeled boots with about thirteen bags isnt my idea of a fun, laid-back Saturday afternoon.. I did thankfully get the majority of the shopping in one mad-dash so I'll now be heavily reliant on online shopping; take this as a hint as it wont get any easier!

My Happy List { № 5 } : Wearing Heels

"When a woman buys a pair of shoes, she never looks at the shoe.She stands up and looks in the mirror, she looks at the breast, the ass, from the front, from the side, blah blah blah. If she likes herself, then she considers the shoe." - Christian Louboutin.

Show me a girl who doesn't love a sky-high, sexy, womanly shoe? I'm scarcely seen wearing anything else. Ever. Wearing high heels make you stand so that your legs look slimmer, your stomach is flatter, and your femininity is unstoppable. It does wonders for your stride and simply just makes everything look better. In my eyes - the higher the heel, the better you feel! First port of call for new shooz is always; Christian Louboutin, Nicholas Kirkwood, Charlotte Olympia and of course Jimmy Choo (I could go on, trust me..) and Kurt Geiger, Topshop, River Island, Zara and Office always deliver when looking to spend a little less! What are your favourite shoes? rachelle xo

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

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

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

Happy Weekend: Velvet & Floral Details

There's something about the cold weather that's consistently drawing me to warm, luxurious colours and textures; grey, mink and dusty pink in rich velvet with a little chiffon detailing.

How have your weeks been? I've been in a wistful blur from the incredible, romantic time that was last weekend where we celebrated the boys birthday with cozy nights, too much lovely food and an amazing end to the weekend at The Killers gig - and the following comedown! There's also been fireworks (in more than one respect on bonfire night..), make-ups, an evening at the races and more fireworks and most importantly - terrible things in the form of terminal illness that really put things into perspective...

The Rachelle Edit: The New Essentials | Ankle Boots

What would we wear without the essential wardrobe staple, the boot? Rocked in summer with bare legs ala the stunning Anja Rubik or completely naked ala the equally beautiful Miranda Kerr, or in the colder months with leather skinnies and oversized coats.

The boot as you may have known it has had a makeover for this season. Isabel Marant takes the lead in this boot competition as per, this season with her typical western flair creating covetable cowboy style boots with wedges or bejazzled detailing. Givenchy comes in a close second with those knee-high slouchy leather boots and the amazing, far more wearable ankle-high version. Chloe and Alexander Wang also offer some impressive styles, but the high street have produced some gems; namely Topshop, Zara and Missguided.

{read on for my full edit}...