Holy Moly Me Oh My...

Can't stop listening to Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.

Power Couple: Mary-Kate & Ashley

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen pose for Bruce Weber in this refreshing shoot featured in Vogue's April 2011 issue. In the exclusive interview the childhood stars turned fashion icons open up to writer Sarah Mower, casting light on their relationship, lifestyle and the influences behind their clothing line The Row.

Just like the good old days, before all the drink, drugs and rehab stints.

Images via: Vogue.com

And if there's anyone who can make metal stilts and Tom Ford's polka dot pyjamas look good, it's definitely this pair.

Arizona Muse & The 'Chob' - Take Two

There she goes again with her perfectly shaped 'chob', this time modelling the Spring/Summer '11 collection for French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent. The hypnotic black and white campaign was directed by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, shot in the enviable location of Marrakech. Making her mark across Stefano Pilati's runway collections, seasonal campaigns and canvas tote bags, Muse is now deservingly known as the face of YSL.

I'm very relieved I saw this after today's trip to the hairdresser, as I no doubt would have been leaving with far less hair on my head than I do now; I'm not ready to part with my long locks just yet.

The Beauty Of Dior

For me, Autumn 2011 is going to go a little something like this:

Backstage at Dior, Autumn/Winter 2011

Images via: Jak & Jil

Elizabeth Taylor

Hollywood legend, national treasure and 20th Century icon; Elizabeth Taylor was one of the most beautiful women to have graced our screens.

                                         

                                             

R.I.P

Pigeons & Dinosaurs

The first signs of spring came out to play this weekend, and what better way to take advantage of this milder weather than with a marathon walk to The Natural History Museum?

We hit a few minor glitches as we set off, I'll spare you from said minor glitches as I'd like to erase these from my memory for good. However the two hour walk from East to West London turned out to be a pleasurable one as the memory of the vile pigeon that decided to empty its bowls on my head soon faded, and I marched on with an - all things considered, sprightly spring in my step.

We stopped off at a little cafe on Hype Park for a well needed coffee and blueberry muffin, and then finally we arrived - pretty tired to say the least. I soon forgot about my weary legs and the muscle cramps in my bottom as I was mega-excited about seeing the new Darwin Centre, the biggest expansion The Natural History Museum has seen since its move to South Kensington in 1881. The new state-of-the-art centre features crazy specimens of all different kinds of creepy-crawlies - some pretty, some not so pretty. Not only this but you can actually watch world-class scientists at work in their natural habitat so to speak, as they go about their day-to-day dissecting and genetic de-coding duties; my inner-geek was very pleased.

And of course, we didn't leave without checking out the dinosaur walk - what's not to like about dinosaurs? Especially a life-size, computer-controlled Tyrannosaurus rex complete with rumbling roaring sounds, long swishing tail and err, pretty big teeth.

Mmm Mimosa

If spring were a nail varnish it would most certainly be Chanel's new Spring/Summer '11 shade - Mimosa, set to launch next month.

I don't care how much it stains my nails, I'm getting it and I'm never taking it off.

Image via: Jesse Ross Photography

Illustrations By Sabrina Garrasi

Femininity defined.

Images via: Trendland 

Norwegian Wood

Based on Haruki Murakami's 1987 novel and scored by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood; Anh Hung Tran's adaption of Norwegian Wood is going to be a goody.

No Smoke Without Kate

As she saunters down the Louis Vuitton runway lighting up a cheeky fag on No Smoking Day, Kate Moss is desperately clinging on to that bad girl image. With her hair scrapped harshly back off her face and a pair of barely-there hotpants riding up her 37 year old bum cheeks, I have to go against the majority when I say - she wasn't looking her usual best.

I appreciate that the fetish inspired Vuitton show was celebrating the liberation of women with an anything goes message, and I'm also just as happy as the next person to see Kate out of retirement, but one look at her as she blows clouds of smoke down the runway and it's enough to make me stub out the fags for good. At the risk of sounding like a hypocrite - it's not attractive or sexy and it's really not going to do anything for your nicotine soaked skin.

There's a time and a place for bad habits.

Louis Vuitton, Autumn/Winter 2011

However, all is excused with one little look at her Spring/Summer '11 campaign for Longchamp. The three minute video directed by Alaisdar Mcellen portrays Moss at her very best as she models her third collection for the French handbag label. The dreamy, '70s inspired campaign features the Croydon model frolicking through the sun-drenched surroundings of Marrakech, whilst Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood provide the soundtrack with the 1967 B-side Sand.

All is forgiven.

Longchamp, Spring/Summer 2011 Campaign

Map It

Globes, atlases, A-Zs - I do love a good map. So when I saw this wondrous Scratch Map from Urban Outfitters I just had to get my little map loving hands on it. The idea behind this geographical delight is that you keep track of the countries you've visited by scratching away at the foil surface, revealing boldly coloured continents underneath.

Mine's looking a little sparse at the moment, but one day - once I've found my globetrotting feet, I plan on revealing a whole new world of colour beneath that gold foil, a world even Michael Palin would be proud of!

You can buy the Scratch Map online at Urban Outfitters Europe

Croatia, 2010

Arizona Muse & The 'Chob'

I can't stop looking at pictures of Arizona Muse and her long choppy bob, often referred to as the 'chob'. I'm beyond tempted to just hack all my hair off and start again, and if there's anyone who can convince me to do so then it's New Mexico's model of the moment.

To 'chob' or not to 'chob'?

Emilio Pucci, Autumn/Winter 2011

Shoot for LOVE Magazine

Vogue España, March 2011

Aurora Borealis, Norway

I hope someone takes me here one day. I'm a major geek, and can't help but be fascinated by the phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis, more commonly known as the Northern Lights. An amazing light display of luminous pinks, blues and greens is created by the collision of particles drawn together by the Earth's magnetic field, usually seen the closer you get to the North Magnetic Pole.

So yes, that means a holiday to Norway please.

Girl Crush: Clemence Poesy

French model and actress Clemence Poesy is surely set for big things. She recently appeared in Danny Boyle's 127 Hours as James Franco's girlfriend, and I'm unashamed to say I also watched her in this season's Gossip Girl where she played Chuck Bass' Parisian sweetheart. I'm not going to lie, I think I've got a bit of a 'thing' for her.
  
As the face of Chloé perfume and best friend to Karl Lagerfeld, her style is effortless and classic with an oh-so-French allure. Her combination of natural talent, innocent charm and fuss-free approach to style is sure to win her icon status in the near future. With an upcoming lead role in Philippe Ramos' Jeanne Captive - a film about the story of Joan of Arc, you can prepare to hear and see lots more from Mademmoiselle Poesy.

UO Record Club

Radiohead, 'Kid A'

At the UO head office, a handful of staff were asked to write a review on their favourite LP from the online vinyl collection. 

Here's what I had to say about Radiohead's 'Kid A'. 

'Back in 2000 Radiohead ditched their old sound in favour of something completely new, and from this came their critically acclaimed album ‘Kid A’. The dark, eerie sounds are both melodic and timeless, an album way ahead of its time. Some loved it, whilst some hated it and found it too ‘try hard’, either way the spacey and electronic sounds are sure to leave an impression on you. Stand out tracks for me are ‘Everything in its Right Place’, ‘Kid A’ and ‘Motion Picture Soundtrack’, but witness any track on the album live and you’re sure to find out why Thom Yorke is often referred to as a genius.'

You can read the rest of the reviews on the UO Facebook page, and if you see something you like you can shop the collection online at Urban Outfitters Europe

Yes Balmain

It's pretty difficult not to sit up and pay attention to Balmain, and Christophe Decarnin's Autumn/Winter '11 collection, with its crystal encrusted dresses and lamé trousers, is no exception.

If I ever decide to start dressing like a proper lady, I'm going to do it like this...just minus all the lamé.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No