{fashion inspiration : a certain little zebra number}

There's been a certain item of clothing on my radar for what feels like years. Constantly popping up on the most stylish girls on the street, and in my google feed. Tempting me, calling me over every time I browse through the rails in Zara. 

I never thought I'd see the day I was (literally) dreaming about a zebra print coat. I've tried it on, more than once, but cannot bring myself to part with ninety hard-earned pounds on a zebra print coat. "When would I wear it? Would I wear it?" are the questions haunting me - and the fact I've a holiday in eleven days to the Caribbean  where I definitely wont be needing a coat of any description.

..So I'll just continue to dream of this little number, probably while on a white sandy beach, and try to sweat it out of my system. 

{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.

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}...

Fashion Inspiration: Fashion Week on the Streets of Paris

five days back in the country (and counting...) I've missed the international fashion collections just about in their entirety and I'm struggling right now to scrape together enough time to sleep in a vain attempt to cure this hellish jetlag, so please forgive me fashionistas for not yet being upto speed on the sandals at Isabel Marant in Paris, or the prints at Peter Pilotto, or which well-dressed canine worked the runway at Mulberry...

one thing I have managed, is to spend probably too much time pouring over new snaps from the streets of Paris. I get as excited about these images as I do from the runway shots, seeing how the worlds fashion elite pull together looks for this season. Please, let me get over the jet lag before thinking about next season!