FOOL'S GOLD

The statement necklace is ideal to help create an individualised fierce fashion look and is the perfect compliment to your chunky winter cable knit, high neckline or to add an edge to a crisp collared shirt.  Statement jewellery is a key trend for spring/summer 2014 - so your can keep wearing your generously sized accessories all year round, and better still, you don't have to spend a lot of money... just a few statement costume-jewellery pieces can add just the right punch of attention you need. I love layering them up to give instant luxury and high end glamour to an otherwise simple black dress. Think of them like the joyful sprinkle of hundreds and thousands on top of your ice-cream sundae, we all know when we have crossed the line into gluttony! And stacking and layering your jewellery is not only limited to hands, arms and necks... multiple ear piercings are no longer just the act of teenage rebellion and have been creeping their way into the ears of the fashion elite and runways alike….

Update your look in an instant with the hottest statement necklaces this season
Read more at http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/best/9255/10/statement-necklaces.html#dhFKUZOK24eSKETM.99

Update your look in an instant with the hottest statement necklaces this season
Read more at http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/best/9255/10/statement-necklaces.html#dhFKUZOK24eSKETM.99

LABEL LUSTING - Risqué Business

BARELY THERE: ANTHONY VACCARELLO'S READY TO WEAR SPRING 2014 COLLECTION

Would you dare to bare in one of Anthony Vaccarello's super sexy creations... if only I could I would!!!! (unfortunately for me one of his creations would set me back more than a couple of months rent). His body-conscious dresses loaded with sex appeal and ferocious femininity have rightfully earned him a high-profile following of fashion mavericks. His designs proved to be the front row pick of the day for the more daring fashion editors this season, bringing after-dark, flesh-flashing pieces out of the cocktail bar and straight into the front row!! The allure of his designs has captured the likes of Anna Dello Russo, Anja Rubik, Karlie Kloss, Gisele, Jennifer Lopez and Alice Dellal... a more varied bunch than this you couldn't find; but all flying the Vaccarello flag, modesty barely preserved!

  "Vaccarello’s obsession with flashing flesh found a new outlet in lace romper/dress hybrids that brought a youthful softness to the collection’s taut sexuality, yet the sum of the parts was Versace-esque Eighties attitude;  tie-dyed bleached denim and red leather broke up the mostly black lineup."

 The Vaccarello woman is the life and soul of the party, full of magnetism and attitude but even in fashion parties come to an end, so it will be interesting to see what this hot designer has in store for us in the future...

 

FATURDAY SATURDAY

Sometimes our guilty pleasures are, well, even more guilty and one of my all time favs has to be carrot cake. So, I thought I'd share this really simple recipe that’s guaranteed to have you coming back for more... well, when it has 'carrot' in its name it's pretty much part of your 5 five a day ;) And you certainly deserve it after baking up a sweat!!! And it’s the weekend,  jeez how many more excuses do you need...!!?

INGREDIENTS:

175g light muscovado sugar
140ml sunflower oil
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
150g grated carrots (about 3 medium sized, I tend to be very generous with this measure to make it extra carroty!)
100g raisins (I always add a bit extra)
grated zest of 1 large orange
175g self-raising flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon (I use 2)
1/2 tsp grated nutmeg (freshly grated gives the best flavour)
1 tsp vanilla essence

For the Frosting:
175g icing sugar
11/2-2 tbsp orange juice
(These measurements are as per the recipe, however I am never accurate with the icing measurements and tend to add maple syrup or honey and sometime a sprinkling of walnuts on top to finish if I'm feeling a little nutty!!)

METHOD:
1. Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4/fan 160C. Grease the base and sides of an 18cm cake tin (I prefer to use a bake oil spray as it's less messy!!)

2. Tip the sugar into a large mixing bowl, pour in the oil and add the eggs. Lightly mix with a wooden spoon. Stir in the grated carrots, raisins and orange rind.

3. Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices, then sift into the bowl. Lightly mix all the ingredients until the mixture is fairly soft and almost runny.

4. Pour the mixture in to the tin and bake for 40-45 minutes, until it feels firm and springy when you press it in the centre. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then turn it out, peel off the paper and cool on a wire rack.

5. Beat together the frosting ingredients in a small bowl until smooth, it wants to be about as runny as single cream. Set the cake on a serving plate and drizzle the icing back and forth in diagonal lines over the top, letting it drip down the sides.

6. And finally... enjoy!!!... And then find it a good hiding place for it!!! 

 
 
  

KICKS WITH TICKS

 It doesn't take long for scuffs and dirt marks to show up on what were, only a short time ago, a pair of fresh to death kicks. Sometimes you can revive their appearance with the mere swipe of a damp cloth, but when you live and die in your favourite pair like I do it’s amazing how quickly they can start looking tired and to be honest, a damp cloth just ain’t gonna cut it!!!! So if money is tight and buying a new pair is just not an option… or you just can’t bear to part with them, you can prolong their life a little longer with a bit more of an aggressive cleaning approach… the washing machine! For best results remove the laces and wash them separately or just put in new ones. I wash the shoes by themselves, on a delicate cycle at 30 degrees and use half a cup of detergent. Allow to air dry and make sure you stuff them well with newspaper, not only does this make them dry faster it also helps retain their shape. Then you’re good to go!!! But unfortunately I find this only works well once.

BEFORE AND AFTER:

 

MR BRIGHTSIDE

Skirt and top: River Island, Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell

Forget all prim preconceptions around the midi skirt, whilst the mini is sexy in a very obvious way, it is the knee-length, calf-skimming hem lines that can best accent your femininity… why flash everything when just flaunt of ankle or hint of calf can be so much more sexy. When it comes to the midi skirt I prefer to choose either a material or colour that makes it more edgy, either punked up in leather, highlighted neon brights or a fun print. If the material is especially figure hugging I prefer to pick a size a couple above what I would usually go for as I like the line of the skirt to hang from my hip in a bit more of an a-line shape as I don't like to overly accentuate my hips!!!