Who is your style icon Harriet?

Today I asked Harriet of where is Harriet? who is your style icon and why?


"My style icon might be a bit predictable but I can't help it - I just love Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl! She always looks polished and styled to perfection, I love her taste in clothes and how she knows exactly what suits her (or the costume designers do at least!)"

Style Icon: Livia Firth

Livia Firth is my new style crush! It is no secret that I have been in love with her husband for the last 15 years...!! Like hundreds of women (my grandma included!), ever since I saw Colin Firth emerge from the lake in the BBC's 1995 production of Pride and Prejudice I have been in love! And now Livia joins her husband in my affection.


Over the recent red carpet season, Livia Firth has been completing her very own "green carpet challenge" which she has been documenting in a blog for Vogue, right here.


Below you can see some of the photos from the challenge. I think she looks just as chic and stylish in her "dressed down" moments as she does on the red carpet.

Source: Vogue.co.uk

Style icon season continues next week here, with another home grown icon. If you have missed the previous style icons featured on the blog, check them out here.


Tell me, who is your style icon?

How to… get ready in half an hour

Source: Flickr

Do you ever wake up when your alarm goes off, hit the snooze button, or rather what you think is the snooze button and wake up much later with just half an hour to get out of the door to work, having actually turned the alarm off? This happens to me far more regularly than it really should. So I feel I am a sort of expert at it!
Here are my eleven simple steps to making it out of the door, looking presentable and on time!


1. Forget washing your hair, you don’t have time. Instead keep some James Brown London Scandalous Fabulously Flirty Dry Shampoo on your dressing table for the occasions. Spritz all over your hair and leave while you jump into the shower… You should only have used about two minutes for this.


2. Quickly wash in the shower. This should take no more than five minutes.


3. Brush out the dry shampoo. This is important; otherwise you may look like you are greying! Another two minutes.


4. Pin your hair up. A simple ponytail is probably most sensible as it will take the least amount of time and will look smart. However if you are feeling adventurous and not short of time, a bun will also work. This will take between two to five minutes depending on the style you decide on.


5. Brush your teeth. Very important but also very easy to forget when in a hurry. Spend two minutes on this!


6. Underwear. Make sure it’s the nicest underwear you have. It’ll instantly make you feel better. This shouldn’t take you longer than a couple of minutes.


7. Know your standby outfit. Think about it. You must have a go-to outfit for all of those times when everything else doesn’t look right. Whether it’s a little black dress (in my case) or a simple trouser and shirt combo, today is the day to fall back on this. If you don’t know what yours is, think about it now. You don’t have time to think about it the morning you over sleep! And if you do know exactly which outfit I mean, it shouldn’t take you five minutes to grab it and chuck it on.


8. Make up. You probably don’t have time for a full face. So combine tasks. Keep a tinted moisturiser to hand for mornings such as these, that way you’re killing two birds with one stone. Laura Mercier's Illuminating Tinted Moistuiser is just the thing. I’ll give you three minutes for this.


9. Curl baby, curl. Curl your eyelashes. With no time for both eye shadow and mascara, I always go for lashings of dark mascara. I think it makes me look so much more awake. V important on mornings where I have overslept! This will take another three minutes.


10. Blusher. Make sure you put some blusher on, you don’t want to look washed out this morning. Two minutes and you’re nearly there!


11. Lippy. A little colour will make your look pop! Why not try Nars Jungle Red Lipstick? It’ll only take you two minutes and then you’re good to go – in exactly 30 minutes!

Tuesday evening pic-me-up

My gorgeous boyf bought me these gorgeous tulips yesterday. Aren't I lucky?

Tuesday's Tricky Trend: Clogs

I love all things Chanel. Or at least, I did. And then they decided to put clogs on their Spring/Summer 2010 catwalk! Nooooo!!


And not just Chanel, Louis Vuitton were doing it too!


Love it? Or hate it?


Have your say. Will you be wearing this tricky trend?


Hannah Betts of the The Times says no!


If you have missed any other of the posts in this series you can find them here.

Nail art or a mess?!

I think - like everyone else - I have heard much about the fabulous nail designs of WAH nails. And after Gem Fatale's Tuesday Tip I decided to have a go at my very own version tonight.

What do you think?

I used the items below to create my masterpiece. (The right hand wasn't so easy to do!)

Nails Inc Basil St for the base. Nails Inc Brook St for the coloured bits. No7 liquid eyeliner in Black. And finally a No7 top coat to keep it all in place!

What are your thoughts on nail art? Love it? I've never been very sure but am coming round to it! Might even get adventurous and buy some summer candy shades tomorrow!!

I've been in Tenby with the boyf for the weekend and promise to put photos up tomorrow! Did you all have lovely weekends?

More soon. Love, SG

What is your top style tip HiFashion?

Sherin of HiFashion shares her top style tip with you lucky things right here:


"This is going to sound very cliched, but my tip is to always be comfortable in what you wear. There's no point wearing the latest trends if you don't feel right in them, and it's always clear when someone isn't comfortable in their clothes. If you wear something that you feel good in, you'll look so much more confident, and so much better."

The Winners of April's Giveaway...

Ishy of Crohn Ranger


and


Erika of Cafe Fashionista


*Winners are chosen at random using a random number generator at random.org


Ladies, please contact me here or on my email address (sugarandspice (dot) shopgirl (at) googlemail (dot) com) with your choice of colour and initial from Sunday Girl Accessories along with your address for your necklace.


Remember to check back soon for another exciting giveaway!

Who is your style icon Charlotte Taylor?

This week, I asked womenswear designer Charlotte Taylor, who is your style icon and why?


"I don't really have one. I think Diane Kruger desses very well but she is not my icon. I love looking at the street style of all ages and mis matching. I'm a big fan of androgynous elegance too."

You might remember I interviewed Charlotte earlier in the year before she showcased her first collection at London Fashion Week in February. If you missed it, you can read the interview with her here.


You can also find the previous posts in this series right here.

Style Icon: Grace Kelly

This week's Style Icon post coincides with last Saturday's (17 April) opening of the V&A exhibition of the same name as this post: Grace Kelly: Style Icon.

Grace Kelly was one of the most photographed women of the twentieth century. She rose to fame as an actress in the 1950s, starring in films by Hitchcock and others. Her image was cultivated by the movie industry, which fed cinema-goers' growing appetite for pictures of glamorous stars through magazines and newspapers.

She came to symbolise the classic, understated look she wore both on and off screen. Grace Kelly became known for her impeccable dress sense.

If you would like to see and learn more of this week's style icon, why not visit the V&A's exhibition? The exhibition explores, through her surviving clothes, the story of her transformation from Hollywood actress to a princess of one of Europe's oldest royal families. Examining her enduring appeal as a style icon, it features her film costumes, the much-publicised dresses made for her trousseau and wedding, and the French haute couture - a different kind of costume - that she required for her subsequent role as Princess of Monaco.

If you have missed the previous style icons featured on the blog, check them out here. 

Tell me, who is your style icon?

How to… wear a brooch

My mum recently bought me this lovely “Mon Pull” brooch from the Sonia Rykiel pour H&M collection but I have yet to wear it as I am always a little unsure when it come to brooches.
So I thought I would do a little internet research and share the results with you.


1. On a “pull”. Near the neckline of a jumper, or jumper dress, seems to be the most appropriate location for a brooch.


2. On a beret or other type of hat. It adds a little interest to an otherwise plain item.


3. On a jacket lapel. Make a plain black blazer less boring.


4. On a necklace. Apparently this is the "thing" to do.


5. On your ballerina flats. Can be pinned on the front to liven up an otherwise plain pair of pumps.


6. On a bag. My casual satchel is a little manly (perhaps because it was bought in the men’s department in Peacocks!) so I have experimented with pinning a brooch to it to make it look a little more girly.

Tuesday's Tricky Trend: Cut-outs

Love it? Or hate it?


Have your say. Will you be wearing this tricky trend?


College Fashion asks, Would you wear a cut out dress?


If you have missed any other of the posts in this series you can find them here.

It's cold up north...

This weekend was my first ever trip - in all of my 25 years and 11 months - to the north of England. I've been to Scotland many many times but have always missed the north of my fair birth country!


Very remiss of me. I loved Leeds and although I didn't have much time to see much it has made me more determined to go back.


On Saturday night I was loving the outfits that the northern lasses had put together. Unfortunately I didn't have a camera with me but to get a flavour of northern style why not check out the fabulous photos on Fashion Looks North?


My outfits for the weekend were pretty lame - as unofficial queen on the LBD, that is what I chose to wear both nights.


I did however make a rather fabulous fascinator on Saturday. It was our daytime activity. I shall post a photo as soon as I can persuade the boyf to take one!


My only complaint for the weekend was that it weren't half cold "up north"! In Cardiff they had a beautiful and warm weekend. I'm just hoping for a nice weekend next weekend.


Hope you all have a good week.


More soon. Love, SG

Sunday train journey

Here are some photos I took on the train on my way back from Leeds.


I didn't get to see much of the city but what I did, I really liked. Will have to get the boyf to take me back for a proper look in Harvey Nics!


Spent the train journey, painting my nails, reading and indulging in a little retail therapy.


How did you spend your weekend?

Monday morning pic-me-up

Source: Lady Peach

My love of penguins just grew again! I love this photo!! How cute is it?

Happy Monday!!

What is your top style tip Harriet?

This week I asked Harriet of where is Harriet? to share her top style tip with you all:


"My style tip is always dress your best, whatever the occasion! I am definitely not a fan of 'dressing down' and don't have a problem with being overstressed when everyone else is in jeans. It makes me feel better about myself, and more confident, and although initially people are suprised, when they get used to it a lot of my friends, colleagues and school mates have told me that they wish they dressed up more often. Try it - you never know what might happen!"

Any recommendations..?

I'm off to Leeds this afternoon for said hen party (see Wednesday's "How to.." post!).


Anyone have any recommendations for anything I should see?


Anywhere I should shop?!


Have a fabulous weekend, whatever you're doing.


More soon. Love, SG

Who is your style icon Sherin of HiFashion?

This week I asked Sherin of HiFashion, who is your style icon and why?


"My style icon changes a lot, but these days I'm loving everything that Nicole Richie and Rachel Bilson are wearing. Both look amazing all the time, and can easily pull off the casual chic look."

I hope you're enjoying this series. If you want to see the previous posts just check them out here.

Style Icon: Sienna Miller

After Edie Sedgwick was our style icon last week, this week's icon is Sienna Miller who played Sedgwick in The Factory.


Miller first became a fashion icon, famous for her boho chic which was copied by the fashion conscious of the nation over and over again.


Last year, Sienna won Elle's Style Icon Award for her unique, fashion forward style.


I like the way she always looks glamorous for red carpet events and still look stylish when dressed down.


If you have missed the previous style icons featured on the blog, check them out here.


Tell me, who is your style icon?

What I wore at Jamie's

Not the greatest photos, I admit. But you get the picture! (Please excuse the washing in the background!)

This was what I wore for dinner for a friend's birthday dinner. We went for a very yummy meal at Jamie's Italian. The food was divine. Particularly the desserts. And it's not over-priced either. Highly recommended.

I am wearing an H&M dress, M&S tights, New Look shoes and a Topshop clutch. Do you like?

How to... dress like Carrie Bradshaw?

This week's "How to..." is more for my own benefit! But I hope you'll find it fun too!


I am having a fashion dilemma moment. As wedding season draws near I am off on a hen weekend on Friday. Looking at the email itinerary it looks pretty tame; Italian meal on Friday night and then making fascinators on Saturday - which I am looking forward to very much and will obviously report back on here! Saturday night is where I find myself in a dilemma though. We are going out "on the town" and the theme is black and pink with a Sex and the City inspiration! (Her fiancé proposed when we were in New York!)


So the question is: what would Carrie wear?


Here are a few ideas that I have compiled:


1. Carrie is synonymous with large flower corsages.


2. And stilettos.


3. And (fake) pearls.


4. And (faux) fur.


5. And curly hair.


6. And clutches.


Also necessary for this particular outfit is:


1. "Something pink".


2. "Something black".


Now I just need to combine all of these elements to create the perfect Carrie-inspired look.


1. Take an LBD. I have more LBDs than I would care to admit so this shouldn't be a problem. But if you're stuck for one, why not try this Coast beauty from John Lewis?


2. Attach a large pink flower corsage, like this one from Topshop.


3. Rough dry hair with a diffuser and then curl random sections with curling tongs. Try Boots' diffuser hairdryer and curling tongs. Add lots of mousse for lots of volume; TRESemme 24 Hour Body Amplifying Mousse comes in a large container and is great value! I swear by TRESemme these days!


4. Add a string or two (or three, or four!!) of fake pearls. Find cheap ones in Primark, Dorothy Perkins and Topshop.


5. Shove everything you need for a night out (cards, money, keys, phone, ID and your Chanel Rouge Coco lippy) into an oversized clutch.


6. Grab a faux fur coat to keep out the cold night air and you are good to go.


Check back next week (hopefully) for a photo of my outfit.


In the meantime, which is your favourite Carrie look (below)?