Happy Halloween

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Les photographies de Karl Lagerfeld

If you happen to be in Paris today, be sure to head to La Maison Européenne de la Photographie and check out the last day of the exhibition of les photographies de Karl Lagerfeld. Mum and I did when we were in Paris last week:

Wardrobe Wake-Up: Dressing-Up Box

Autumn's most flamboyant trend is all about colour, chaos and creativity and the good news is, anything goes! So this trend isn't so much about waking up one part of your wardrobe this season but all of it. Mix-and-match anything and everything in your wardrobe for day or night:

At Alexander McQueen, brocade capes were teamed with elaborate head pieces and fierce footwear:

John Galliano added oversized bows to his models head, alongside layers of faux fur, tweed, satin and then tied it all together with a belt:

Coloured tights made a big comeback on the legs of models on the Jean Paul Gaultier catwalk:

And at Meadham Kirchhoff colours clashed and textures ruled:

Take inspiration from your favourite television heroines, Carrie Bradshaw:

And Ugly Betty:

Or even your favourite fashion bloggers, Katie, of What Katie Wore:
 

 
Or Susie, of Style Bubble:
 

 
And throw caution to the wind as you pull out all of your favourite pieces and throw them all on together. Clash colours, mix textures, layer-up.
 
One of the easiest ways to pull off the trend is to add a pair of coloured, textured or patterned tights to your outfit. Try these from Tabio:
 

 
Or these textured cable knit leggings which I am currently lusting after:
 

Do you plan to play dress-up this autumn?

The Day We Wore It Pink

Clockwise from top left: Zoe of Splodz Blogz, me (!), Sherin of HiFashion, Florrie of Intrinsically Florrie, Leia of Leia's Delights, Amanda of Forty Not Out's shoes, Maria of Frills 'n' Spills, a little lady in pink (courtesy of Forty Not Out) and Laura of Political Style's scarf.

Yesterday we - me and a few of my fav fashion bloggers - Wore It Pink for Breast Cancer Campaign. Remember to show your support for the campaign and for al of these bloggers by making a donation towards the vital research into this disease: here.

Paris: a teaser



Clockwise from top left: the Eiffel Tower by night, metro rides, ducks at le Jardin du Luxembourg, old-skool bike baskets, art deco architecture, shopping on Rue Cambon, Longchamp bags everywhere and chocolat chaud at Café de Flore.


Just a little teaser of my trip to Paris. Had an amazing time.

Wearing It Pink in Paris

This is me in my new PINK H&M jumper in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign's Wear It Pink Day, off out for a day of sightseeing in Paris.

Hope you've all had a lovely Friday.

Friend Friday #13: 10 Things You Don't Know About Me

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Greetings from Paris!

This week Katy - of Modly Chic - suggested that: "instead of questions on a specific topic [we] share 10 random facts that people might be surprised to know about you".

So I started to think about all of the things you might not know about me. Hmmm. Not so easy, it turns out. But I did it:

1. I love period dramas. Particularly BBC ones and in particular their Pride & Prejudice. I am currently addicted to ITV1's Downton Abbey.

2. I always wanted to be taller. And still do. At only 5'2" I am always the shortest of all of my friends and have always wanted to be a few inches taller.

3. I'm part-Polish. My grandfather - who we call "dziadzio" - came to Britain during WWII and, after meeting my darling nana, never left. I, however, have never been to Poland really feel I ought.

4. I am a complete gourmand (and so is the boyf!). The absolute best thing about holidays (or birthdays or weekends or anytime) is the food. Whatever else we do, we always eat well.

5. I am hugely afraid of spiders. It's not rational and I literally scream until the offending insect is removed. Same goes for wasps - but I am braver with them.

6. Baked beans on toast - despite what I said above - is my absolute favourite meal. I lived on it for four years as a student!

7. I have a secret Monica-esque messy place - for all of the stuff that doesn't have a home in my home.

8. Straightners are - in my humble opinion - THE single best invention... EVER! Until I bought my first pair I spent 19 years looking like Monica in Barbados!

9. I have a (not so) secret obsession with Friends and have seen every episode at least twice - some probably at least 10 times!!

10. I used to want to be an artist and actually painted some half decent pictures - one of which still hangs in my grandparents' living room.

Now, tell me something about you?

Friend Friday is brought to you every week by Katy of Modly Chic. You can visit her blog to read the other contributions to this week's topic or to get involved yourself.

Happy "Wear It Pink" Friday everyone!

Bloggers' Challenge: Wear It Pink

This is a scheduled post, as I am currently "Wearing It Pink" in Paris (photo to follow later today!).

Last week I challenged fellow bloggers to "Wear It Pink" for Breast Cancer Campaign in order to raise awareness and funds for vital research into treatment and cure for breast cancer.

We have all pledged to "Wear It Pink" and post out outfit photos - what else would fashion bloggers do?!


This is my "outfit". When trying to work out what to wear, I realised that I have very little in the way of pink in my wardrobe and my actual pink outfit for Paris is already packed!

Go check out the Pink outfits of my fellow bloggers: Sherin of HiFashion, Leia of Leia's Delights, Florrie of Intrinsically Florrie, Laura of Political Style, Amanda of Forty Not Out, Maria of Frills 'n' Spills and Zoe of Splodz Blogz.

If you're also taking part and Wearing It Pink, leave a comment below with a link to your post and don't forget to make a small - or large (!) - donation on the Just Giving page that I set up just for this very occasion!

Happy Pink Friday ladies, and gents!

GUEST POST: Style Icon: Jenna Lyons

This week's Style Icon comes courtesy of Shannon of The Simply Luxurious Life, a wonderful blog that I only recently discovered, that shares "a life full of luxuries, but at the same time very clean and simplistic so as not to detract from the beauty". It is a beautiful blog, filled with carefully chosen photographs and thoughtful posts. One of my favourite series on Shannon's blog has been "Why Not... Be A Modern Lady". Without further ado, I hand over to Shannon to tell us about one of her Style Icons:


President-Executive Creative Director of J.Crew, Jenna Lyons has quickly risen to the top of my list when it comes to modern style icons. For many reasons, I am continually impressed, but for merely an aesthetic one, it is her height and how confidently and femininely she owns it. At 6'0" Jenna does not shy away from wearing stiletto heels, in fact it seems, she drinks them in and allows them to assist in bringing to attention her svelte and lengthy frame. For this alone, I am in awe and inspired.

She embodies the idea of what the J.Crew brand represents, stylishly casual, with her knack for layering, love of sequins, beautiful heels and bold red lips.

Below are a collection of looks that exhibit her style, her ease and the embracement of being exactly who she is.



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 On Oprah recently (April 21, 2010), Jenna shared a few of the fashion rules she lives by that everyone could benefit from following:



• Make a statement with jewelry.


• Balance feminine pieces with tomboy accents, like a military blazer.


• Wear opposites. If you're wearing something tailored, sprinkle in some sequins.


• Mix textures—pair tweed with silk, for example.


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What do you think of Shannon's choice of Style Icon?

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

Tell me, who is your style icon?

I am also looking for bloggers who would like to write a guest post for this series, about their Style Icon, so if you would like to join Shannon as a guest blogger, please get in touch if you would like to get involved. You can find out more here.

How to... have a super scary Halloween without the super scary credit card bill

As Halloween approaches this weekend, it is probably time - or maybe even a little late - to start thinking about your costume and the party you're either off to or intend to host. But this time of year can start to get very expensive, very quickly so let me present my guide to "a recessionista's Halloween":


The costume doesn't have to excessively expensive. Remember, chances are, you'll wear it for one night in one year and then never again:

1. The Ghost. For a ghoul on the cheap, raid your mum's laundry basket for an old sheet. Cut two eye holes and you're done.

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2. The Corpse Bride. Remember that old prom dress, bridesmaid's dress or even wedding dress you have and never wear? Don the dress with some white face paint and you'll instantly become a character fit for a Tim Burton nightmare.

3. Mummy. Another option for that old sheet you have. Simply, rip it into strips and wrap around and pin with safety pins. I would advise wearing a pair of white leggings and a white tee under this as there is likely to be some "slippage". Maybe also have someone on hand to feed you, if you have tied your arms in too!

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4. The Witch. Every girl has an LBD in her wardrobe. Team it with some cobweb/fishnet tights and a cheap hat from your local gift store and you're ready to fly away on a broom.


If you are planning on hosting a Halloween party the question is, how to do this without breaking the bank:

1. Keep it simple. Go old fashioned and organise some traditional Halloween party games around the house for guests to partake in, like apple bobbing. And maybe even end the evening with ghost stories around a log fire, or in a room lit solely by candlelight. Even better if you can get your hands on a pumpkin or two and have the room lit from tealights in these.

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2. A murder mystery dinner party. If you're looking for something a little different - and perhaps more sophisticated - than a traditional Halloween party, why not grab a murder mystery dinner party? You can buy a boxset for under a tenner - like this murder mystery dinner party game from Amazon - and the rest of fairly straight forward.

3. If spending time in the house, isn't your thing, why not go trick-or-treating in your street or apartment block? Too old, I hear you cry? Rubbish!

4. Of course, if you plan to do none of the above and simply have a quiet night in, do make sure that you have got some treats in, in case someone else on your street or in your block decides not to stay in! The supermarkets always have offers on big bags of sweets - and if you don't use them all at Halloween, you can keep them for Christmas.


If you are hosting a Halloween party, I'm sure you'll be keen to make sure that you serve suitable Halloween fare for your guests:


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1. Apples. Great for bobbing but also eating. As they are, in a pie, or as toffee apples. Buy them ready made or make your own. For an easy peasy recipe, check out this one at Cupcakes and Cashmere.

2. Pumpkins. If you're already buying pumpkins to decorate your house at Halloween, you might as well use the flesh from inside them. Feed your guests on pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup or spiced pumpkin cake.

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Now all that remains is to invite your favourite people over for some frightening festivities and to have a happy Halloween.

GUEST POST: Bonjour Paris

As this post goes live, my mum and I will be taking off for a few days in the beautiful French capital. And here is the first of two guest posts from two of my favourite bloggers whilst I'm away. This one from an American Girl In Paris, Haleigh of Bardot in Blue:

Bon voyage Emily and bonjour Paris! What more could a girl wish for than a trip to the city of lights? In such a spectacular city, there is no shortage of things one has on their itinerary and between all the museums you feel obliged to see it's all to easy to miss out on what is truly great about Paris... exploring, eating, people watching, and of course shopping! When Emily told me about her upcoming trip to Paris and invited me to share with her and the rest of you some of my favorite spots, I was more than happy to share some pieces of my Paris! This is by no means an all inclusive guide, but rather specially tailored tips specially for the Sugar & Spice type girl from your friend in Paris, Bardot in Blue.

 - GOOD EATS, SWEETS, AND PICK ME UPS! -

Dèrriere, 69 Rue des Gravilliers 3eme

A charming and whimsical restaurant for the light at heart and serious about food. Feels a bit like John Malkovich invited you over to his house for dinner. Play ping pong between courses or head upstairs to the fumoir (smoking room) that has a secret entrance disguised by a mirrored wardrobe you’ll have to step through to travel there. You can even dine sitting in bed. Reservations recommended. 

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Relais de la Butte, 18 Rue Ravignan 18eme

Enjoy Montmartre without ending up at a tasteless tourist trap. On summer evenings I head up to this restaurant’s terrace to enjoy the sunset over Paris while having a glass of rosé. Once night falls I order dinner and enjoy my company and the accordion and cellists that pass by playing La Vie en Rose. The terrace cannot be reserved so arrive 45 minutes before sunset to ensure that you will be settled in and sipping some wine as the sun goes down. 

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Käramell, 15 Rue des Martyrs 9eme

Swedish candy store located at the foot of Montmartre. Chewy, soft, sweet, sour, whatever you desire, they have it. Fill up an assorted bag and burn some calories on an uphill walk to Le Sacre Coeur.  There you can eat your candies with some good company and a nice view. My sister turned me on to this little spot and it’s a great outing with a friend or date on a sunny day.

www.karamell.fr 

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Pierre Hermé, 72 Rue Bonaparte 6eme – 4 rue Cambon 1ere

I have to give my sister credit for enlightening me and introducing me to Pierre. While Laduree is the oldest and most famous of the macaron artisans, Pierre Hermé brings fine art to the macaron with his more exotic and brave flavors. Each of his fillings has a base of white chocolate ganache that makes them extra smooth and creamy. Buy a box at the one in the 6eme and savor them at the Jardin du Luxembourg or  pick some upin 1ere at enjoy them in the Tuileries. 

www.pierreherme.com 

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Mariage Frères, 30 Rue du Bourg Tibourg 4eme – 13 Rue des Grands Augustins 6eme – 250 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré 8eme

This comptoir de thé has been around since 1856, and you can surely taste that they know what they are doing. They don’t just have a menu of tea, they have a whole book (available for purchase) of the finest teas originating from all over the globe. Charming young french men in pristine white coats will show you to a table in the skylighted tea room or help you select the perfect blend to take home with you from the tea bar. I attempt to try a new flavor each time I go, but I often find myself returning to my favorites: Marco Polo, Rouge Provence, and Earl Grey Blu. 

www.mariagefreres.com 

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Laduree, 16 Rue Royale 1ere – 21 Rue Bonaparte 6eme – 75 Avenue des Champs Elysées 8eme

As touristy as it may be, Parisien business men and ladies who lunch still find themselves dining here after all this time. After nearly two years of living in Paris I still enjoy it and often find myself at one of their many locations. All things girly, French, and Marie Antoinette seem to attract me so this is certainly no wonder. Each location has its own charm but the original in the 6th with its Asian inspired tea room is the one I find most magical. If I am not having the Marie Antoinette tea with a rose religieuse patisserie, I have a rich hot chocolate. Don’t worry though, if you don’t have a sweet tooth you can get fresh salads and sandwiches with the usual espresso allongé. 

www.laduree.com

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- SHOP TILL YOU DROP! -

Fifi Chachnil, 231 Rue Saint-Honoré 1ere

The French are known the world over for their fine lingerie. Fifi Chachnil certainly lives up to all those expectations, and wildly exceeds them. Tucked away from peeakaboo window shoppers in a quite courtyard of this chic shopping street, stumbling into the boutique’s sea of pastels, frills and satin is every girly girl’s dream. Fifi is not to be missed. 

www.fifichachnil.com 

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Manoush

Manoush, 75 Rue Vieille du Temple 4eme – 16 Avenue Montaigne 8eme

The first time I came to Paris I established an instant love affair with Manoush.   In fact, each time I bring home something new my boyfriend automatically assumes it’s from Manoush.  Manoush  means gypsy in French, and the creator of the label lives in Morroco. She mixes the inspiration of her surroundings with her feminine French origins to come up with her adorable collections. While there are many locations in Paris, my local Marais Manoush is my favorite followed by their location on the ultra upscale Avenue Montaigne. J’adore! 

www.manoush.com 

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Joy, 38 Rue Roi de Sicile 4eme

Very pretty things. All things girly, light, beautiful and fun. Shop Sonia Rykiel, See by Chloe, Fred Perry and other preppy labels. Don’t miss their jewelry case filled with adorable ornaments from my favorite Bijoux de Sophie. 

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Suncoo, 52 Rue Roi de Sicile 4eme

Recently opened in the Marais, this tiny and adorable boutique has the cutest and most unique pieces. Half of the store is adorable little dresses, blouses, and heels by the brand while the other half is precious little items for the home. The style is a mix of Japanese cuteness and Parisian chic. If you are looking for something really special, and also affordable stop by Suncoo, you will love it! 

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Alexandra Sofja, 218 Boulevard Saint Germain 7eme

This little shop is magical. Imagine Mary Poppins inspired umbrellas and girlie accessories piled high for you to feast your eyes on. It’s exactly the time of incredible and unique boutique you imagine yourself stumbling upon when in Paris. Also a great place to pick up a very special souvenir. 

www.alexandrasofjer.com 

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Porte de Vanves Flea Market, Avenue Georges Lafenestre & Avenue Marc Sangnier 14eme

While it can seem hard to find a deal at a flea market these days in Paris, there are still affordable treasures to be found at the Porte de Vanves Flea Market. This is my favorite flea and many of my favorite treasures found throughout my apartment come from this market. Open Saturdays (mornings) and Sundays (all day). 

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- PLACES TO BE OR JUST TO SEE - 

Parc des Buttes Chaumont, 1 Place Armand Carrel 19eme

Some people might think Buttes Chaumont is a bit out of the way, but I personally think its worth the metro ride. I have shared afternoons in this park with many friends and my sister. My favorite memory there is from last spring when I and three friends packed up our art supplies and blankets. We sunbathed, played music, and worked on oil pastels all afternoon. There is a tall island in the middle of the lake with a lookout perched upon a rock where you can take in a panaromic view of Paris, with plenty of green hills surrounding for everyone to lounge. 

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Le Sacre Coeur, Butte du Montmartre 18eme

One of the best views in Paris. If you daydream like Amelie of living your life out on the cobble stones streets in this most charming area of Paris, wondering about the lives of other and people watching, you must spent at east an afternoon here. Definitely not to be missed. 

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Ile Saint Louis, 4eme

This is my favorite place in Paris. I spend Sunday along the river here, eating at the cafes, people watching, and dreaming of living on this island in the middle of my beloved city. Ile Saint Louis is truly the beating heart of Paris, just the way you pictured the city to be, everything you dreamed, and then some more. 

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XOXO Haleigh @ Bardot in Blue

NOTE: All the images in this post were taken by and remain the property of Bardot in Blue.