What They Wore... Glamour's Women of the Year Awards

Glamour magazines 'Women of the Year Awards' took place last night bringing together some of the UK's most stylish ladies and Hollywood stars to London's Berkeley Square Gardens to celebrate their achievements. 

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Holly Willoughby wore a flattering black peplum waist dress which showed off her enviable curves paired with sparkling jewelled T bar sandals and a matching crystal clutch and bracelet. She won the Glamour award for 'Presenter of the Year.' Fearne Cotton is one of my best dressed stars for the second time this week following her appearance on the Baftas red carpet at the weekend. She is definitely my style crush of the moment!  She was snapped looking fabulous in a pastel coloured sequin embellished dress by Theyskens Theory also with a peplum hem. She wore co-ordinating lilac heels.  Fearne took home the award for 'Radio Presenter of the Year.'

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I love Paloma Faith's retro style. Last night she chose a nude gown embellished with silver sequins and silver fringing detail by one of my favourite designers, Temperley London. Her hair was styled in loose curls and bright red nails completed her Hollywood glamour look. MTV's Laura Whitmore wore a nude gown by Rachel Gilbert. I loved the silver beading detail which made up the mermaid style pattern. She carried a cream Lulu Guinness Lips clutch. 

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Naomi Watts attended the awards alongside Donatella Versace. She wore a nude gown from Versace's Fall 2012 collection with cutaway detail and a black lace overlay. I loved the black Swarovski crystal detailing on the gown.  Lily Collins looked radiant in Alexander McQueen. She channelled Snow White in this gorgeous emerald green cocktail dress with berry red lips. She won the Glamour award for 'Breakthrough of the Year.'

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'Glee' star Lea Michele made the trip across the Atlantic for the ceremony. She stepped out in a midnight blue Zac Posen gown. Her hair was styled in a slicked back ponytail to show off her aqua earrings. She won 'Best US TV Actress of the Year.' Fresh from her appearance on 'Dancing with the Stars' in the US, Katherine Jenkins wore a digital print strapless gown from Mary Katrantzou. Paired with nude peep toe Jimmy Choo's her outfit looked perfect for summer!

Who was your best dressed at the Glamour Awards? 

What They Wore...The Television Baftas

The Television Bafta Awards took place last night at the Royal Festival Hall on London's Southbank. Celebrities were out on the red carpet in the sunshine to celebrate the best from the world of TV over the last year.

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Fearne Cotton was one of my best dressed of the evening in a vintage gold gown with a cape style back from London store Rellik paired with Nicholas Kirwood heels. She wore her hair in a retro style wavy up do and completed her glamorous look with a black and gold clutch and red lips. Metallic's were popular on the red carpet with actress Emilia Fox also opting for gold. Her belted gown with a glittering mesh top was from William Vintage. Her hair was styled in an up do to show off her statement earrings.

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Jenni Falconer looked red carpet ready in a shimmering gold floor length gown from Project D with cap sleeves. TV Presenter Zoe Hardman brought an injection of colour to the red carpet in this bright yellow Sofia Koh gown. The dress looked perfect in the London sunshine with soft tousled hair. She carried a sparkling gold clutch

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'Made In Chelsea's' Millie Mackintosh attended with her fellow MIC cast members who were nominated in the 'Reality and Constructed Factual' category. Sadly they lost out to 'The Young Apprentice.' I've recently become hooked on 'Made In Chelsea' and was hoping they'd win!  She wore a Grecian style white Lanvin dress with nude Lanvin heels and carried a matching clutch. She accessorised with a gold bangle. When I first started compiling these red carpet posts I never thought I'd be featuring the girls from 'The Only Way Is Essex' or 'Made In Chelsea' in my best dressed lists. Although there have been questionable fashion choices in the past on both reality shows I loved Millie's and Lydia's sartorial choices last night. TOWIE's Lydia Bright wore a silver floor length flowing gown by Amnesty with lace detailing. She accessorised with a silver clutch and her hair was styled in an up do with a crystal headband. 

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Former 'Coronation Street' star Katherine Kelly showed off her newly dark hair on the red carpet in this couture gown by Marina Qureshi. I loved the black chiffon fabric draped over the dress. Kelly Brook opted for this Chantilly lace dress by Jacques Azagury. It featured beaded embellishments over a nude body with a pleated and layered tulle ballerina style skirt. She wore navy and cream strappy heels and carried a navy box clutch. 

Did you watch the Baftas last night? 

Who was your best dressed? 

Hello Kitty & Liberty London for Wild and Wolf

Wild and Wolf have launched a collaboration pairing together Hello Kitty with Liberty art fabrics. I'm a big Hello Kitty fan and love Liberty's art fabrics so this is an ideal combination for me! I loved Liberty's Hello Kitty collection last year and was really pleased to discover Wild and Wolf's pairing.

The collection features mugs, dinner sets and the cutest tea cup set in a vintage style suitcase. 

Hello Kitty London Mug in a Tin - £8.95

Hello Kitty London 3 Piece Dinner Set - £19.95

Hello Kitty London Storage Cases - £19.95

My favourites designs are the 'London' pieces. They're ideal for celebrating the Jubilee and would make lovely gifts. 

View the full collection at Wild and Wolf

What do you think of the collaboration?

Steal Her Style... Kate Middleton in Matthew Williamson

Kate Middleton was snapped wearing a grey peplum dress from Matthew Williamson's pre-fall 2012 collection at the London premiere of 'Wild Cats' last month. I'm a big fan of Kate's style, she always manages to look elegant and glamorous! I loved the classic style of this dress with the subtle peplum frill and tribal inspired turquoise beaded detailing on the neckline and sleeves.

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I was just looking on the Warehouse website when I came across this dress in their sale which is a dupe of the Matthew Williamson dress Kate wore at a fraction of the price! 

Warehouse - £25

The cream shift dress has embellished gold and turquoise sleeves and a jewelled neckline similar to the Matthew Williamson dress. It was originally priced at £75 and has been reduced down to a bargain £25! It's also available in midnight blue.

It's a timeless design and would make a lovely dress for a summer party. Snap it up now before it sells out! 

What do you think of Kate's dress? 

Have you spotted any designer inspired pieces lately?

Tula SS '12

I saw a selection of Tula bags at the Yellowdoor press day last month and was really impressed by their designs. Owned by Radley, Tula offer high quality leather bags all under £150. 

Their spring/summer 2012 collection takes inspiration from glamorous starlets including Grace Kelly and Jerry Hall. They've revived their classic designs for the season with new colours, they're the perfect accessory for updating your summer wardrobe! 

Talitha - £89

I really like the shape of the 'Talitha' across body bag. The design is timeless and I love the vintage inspired turn lock fastening. 

Tuscana - £89

The 'Tuscana' flapover satchels are made from soft nappa leather. They come in a range of colours for the season and are ideal for trying out the colour blocking trend. 

Edie - £99

Bucket style and duffle bags were popular on the SS '12 catwalks with designers including 3.1 Phillip Lim showcasing the trend. The 'Edie' is made from soft tan leather and is also available in a canvas design. 

Party Bags - £49

These party bags are ideal for nights out. The line has been updated for SS '12 with hot new colours including emerald green and fuchsia.

Ostrich Work Bag -£125

Ostrich Grab Bag -£85

Ostrich leather is a popular trend this season and these Ostrich bags are my favourite styles from the collection. I love the classic shape of the Ostrich Work Bag.

Tula also designs a range of purses and leather accessories including iPad cases, phone pouches and passport covers.

Tula handbags and accessories are stocked nationwide in a range of stores including John Lewis, House of Fraser and Debenhams.

Are you a Tula fan?

Which is your favourite bag?

What's On: Yayoi Kusama At Tate Modern

When I was in London last month I visited the Tate Modern one afternoon to see the Yayoi Kusama exhibition. I've been meaning to go since it opened back in February and I'm really pleased I got chance to see it before it closes in a couple of weeks. 

The exhibition explores Kusama's life, work and friendships throughout the decades charting her struggle as a fledgling artist to her present day work. Alongside her work, letters, airline tickets, posters and news clippings tell her story.

Her paintings, sculptures and large installations reflect her experiences and capture her life. Her performance art where she encouraged people to paint polka dots on each others bodies during the free love hippie movement of the 1960's is explored, and her often phallic sculptures are on show. She began to integrate photographs of herself into her work surrounded by her beloved polka dots. Her signature polka dots are seen throughout the exhibition.

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One of my favourite displays is 'I'm Here, but Nothing' which is a darkened room covered in coloured fluorescent polka dots which shine in the dim light. It's suggested the dots could be read as Kusama's attempt to stage her past hallucinations in which she senses the physical world overtaken by repeated forms.

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The 'Infinity Mirror Room' provides a spectacular finale to the exhibition. As you walk through the infinite space the lights change colour creating a magical effect. This specially designed room is the largest of Kusama's installations. The experience offers the opportunity for the viewer to explore and be surrounded by their own image, suspending their sense of self and gaining a glimpse into the world of Kusama. 

The exhibition runs at the Tate Modern until June 5th. It's a truly fascinating look into Kusama's world and definitely worth a visit if you're in London.

Have you visited any exhibitions lately?

Matalan A/W '12 Press Day: Homeware

This is my final post from Matalan's recent autumn/winter press day. Today I'm previewing the new season's home collections. 

Whenever I visit Matalan I always try to visit their home section as well as looking at the clothes. They offer some lovely homeware pieces at great prices which is ideal if you want to give your home a new look on a budget. 

Matalan have created three new statement collections for the season

'Faded Grandeur' is my favourite of the new homeware collections for autumn/winter. The vintage inspired collection offers luxurious cushions and throws in soft lilacs and creams, wire birdcages, bell jars and floral wall art. Whitewash tones create an antique feel throughout the collection. My favourite piece is this large renaissance style mirror which I couldn't believe is only £25.00! Now to find a place I can hang it! 

The 'Rustic Charm' collection takes inspiration from wildlife as shown in these owl and stag print cushions. Faux furs and wooden textures bring a country home vibe to the collection creating the ideal environment for relaxing. I really liked these Orla Kiely inspired patterned storage jars. They'd really brighten up a kitchen worktop! 

The 'Monochrome' collection is ideal for creating a smart and chic interior. The classic black and white is carried throughout the collection in animal prints, houndstooth patterns and checks. The round leather storage boxes with houndstooth print looked really luxurious. I also really liked the LA wall canvas. Chrome finishes reflect the opulent feel of the collection. The large clocks would make great focal pieces. 

Which is your favourite homeware collection? 

Catch up with my other posts from Matalan's press day: My favourite picks from their AW '12 womenswear collection  and all the fabulous shoes and new season accessories!

Matalan A/W '12 Press Day: Shoes & Accessories

This is the second in the series looking at what's on offer at Matalan for autumn/winter. Today I'm focusing on the footwear and accessories collections I saw at their recent press day. 

The shoes had me mesmerised for ages! There were so many gorgeous styles perfect for the season. I was happy to see lots of leopard print, metallics and stud detailing! 

The metal toe capped cigarette heels in black were my favourite pair on display. They're perfect for glamming up an outfit and I know I'd wear them lots! I really loved the purple and black velvet heels with the bow detail too. There were Chelsea style boots in leopard print and a glittery black pair perfect for the season. 

Stud detailing continues through to their shoe collection for autumn/winter with studded trainers and these gorgeous nude studded heels. I really liked the leopard loafers. They looked really comfy and are a great way to wear a subtle touch of leopard print. 

There were lots of metallics too, these silver laced brogues caught my eye. The leopard print flatforms may be the ideal pair for me to venture into the world of flatforms and try out the trend. I really liked the shape of the slipper style ballet pumps. They come in a range of designs for the season including gold, snakeskin patterned and a retro floral print pair.

I'm a big fan of all the decorative necklaces and collars around at the moment. They're the perfect accessory to add a touch of glamour and transform a plainer outfit. I really liked the pretty sequin peter pan collar. The beaded black necklace is ideal for pairing with your favourite LBD and is a purse friendly £8.00!

The fox and cat satchels were popular at the press day and looked really cute. They also have leather satchels with a vintage style buckle fastening in a range of colours. The tan and black zipped tassel shopper looks ideal if you have lots to carry around during the day. I really liked the large envelope clutch, they're perfect for fitting lots in for a night out and an essential during party season! The soft black leather satchel with gold studded detailing reminded me of the popular Mulberry Alexa.

Are you a fan of Matalan's shoes?

What do you think of their new season accessories? 

Catch up with Matalan's womenswear AW '12 collection

Matalan A/W '12 Press Day: Womenswear

I recently visited Matalan's autumn/winter '12 press day. Matalan have really upped their game in the style stakes these last couple of years, their stores are full of on trend pieces mixed with great classic styles all at affordable high street prices!

There's so many lovely things to share from their A/W collection rather than bombard you with a photo overload I've decided to split it into categories over the next couple of days. First up: Womenswear! 

Matalan have a range of new key collections and pieces for autumn/winter that reflect the season's hottest trends direct off the catwalks. 

I really liked the blue glittery top paired with the jewelled peter pan collar. They have lots of gorgeous decorative collars ideal for adding to outfits that I'll feature in another post. There were also lots of lovely sparkly sequin tops that look great for party season! Glamour is injected into the new 'Cyber Jam' collection with opulent fabrics embellished with sequins and brocade. All the sparkles and sequins on display almost made me wish it was winter again.. although with the weather recently it kind of feels like it still is!  I'm a big fan of lace and the midnight blue lace top was really pretty, I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for it in store. 

I really like how the recently relaunched Et Vous range has taken staple items and styled them to create a chic minimalist look. The capsule collection features separates designed to be mixed and matched. The new line is on trend for the season with pops of colour and fine sequin detailing.

I loved this horse belt and being Matalan you know it's going to be a bargain! Adding a cute waist belt is a great way to restyle and update an older outfit and cinch in your waist to show off your figure! The 'Wildcraft' collection features pyjama style suits styled with chunky knits and added faux fur tippets. I really liked the combination of colours and textures in this outfit. 

This monochrome dress has a sports luxe vibe to it. I've always been a bit wary of how to wear the sports luxe trend without looking like I'm popping to the gym! but this stylish dress nails it. There were lots of delicate feminine styles for the season too. One of my favourite pieces was this gorgeous nude maxi skirt with layered pleated fabric. 

This cut out detail dress with sheer detailing is another great way to embrace the sports luxe trend.  Add a parka for a more casual style that would make an great festival fashion look!

These bright pink paisley jeans were proving to be a big hit at the press day. They're a great statement piece and only £22! I was pleased to see patterned trousers continue to feature throughout Matalan's A/W collection. I loved the detailing on this black and white pair with gold zips above the ankles. 

I loved the pretty brocade style detailing over the luxurious fabric of this top and skirt combination. The 'Man's World' collection explores androgynous styles and shapes through lavender shades and floral blooms. I loved the floral print cigarette pants and button up shirt, they look great together but also work well as separates and are ideal for introducing a hint of print into your wardrobe. Clean lines, contrasting collars and lapels add a feminine touch to this look.

I loved this simple white shirt adorned with eye catching gold sequins which also edge the cuffs. A white shirt is a wardrobe staple and this one provides that bit of added sparkle! It'd look great styled with some cigarette pants. Houndstooth patterns, monochrome and graphic colour pops give their '60's Gamine' collection a modern twist. If you prefer a more classic look the 'English Heritage' collection has traditional shift dresses updated for the season with leather lapels. The leather dress looked great styled with the vintage silk print scarf. 

They've got jeans in all colours of the rainbow to brighten up those winter days. One of my stand out pieces from the day was the vintage inspired white lace blouse. The lace detail and dainty buttons on it looked beautiful and at only £18 it's going straight to the top of my wish list! 

The heritage theme continued with added pops of colour in rich berry wine shades perfect for winter. I keep seeing lots of tweeds and elbow patch detailing for autumn/winter. I really liked the elbow patches on this blazer and the tweed patterns on show. 

I love fairisle prints. They're perfect for staying stylish when the cold weather hits! Matalan have a range of cute fairisle patterned jumpers and cosy cardigans in a variety of colours. The leather jacket is a classic which has been styled for the season with a fur collar. Matalan's 'Glam Gothic' collection mixes dark furs and leathers.  I was a bit fan of all the faux fur stoles that were popular last season and was pleased to see they're set to be big again this year.  

Do you shop at Matalan? 

What do you think of their autumn/winter collection?