Finishing Touches

Kate Moss = the dream. This = the reality. 

Trifle for breakfast, anyone?

Wrapped up in my Christmas jumper, with a box of Prestat red velvet truffles (also known as the best thing ever) by my side, I am ready and raring to do a little Boxing Day damage online.

ALL the sales are go (yup, that includes Zara, what are you still doing here?!) both in store and online, meaning I can spend, spend, spend without having to budge from my sofa.

"Muuuuum, I'll take my turkey, brie and cranberry rye toastie at one? Bring the Quality Street while you're at it. And the bubbly."

I wouldn't say I was the most sensible sale shopper, but I occasionally snap up a good bargain. As long as you steer clear of the trend pieces and stick to the right size, you can't go far wrong. 

Following my edit of the best party pieces, here are a few of my favourite finishing touches. From jewelled Boden flats through to red lippies fit for saints and sinners, these sale steals are far too good to resist... Much like that last mince pie.

Make Like Kate

I adore this pretty playsuit from Love- the perfect cool summer piece. It's every bit as gorgeous as Kate Moss' dress in last summer's Longchamp campaign, and paired with neutral accessories is the ultimate in daytime luxury. Love it!

Check out InLoveWithFashion for perfect jersey pieces and pretty florals! I can't get enough myself!

Mid Week Mossy

Excuse my recent lack of posts- I have been on holiday where wi-fi is beyond temperamental. My salvation has been the fact that the local newsagent stocks Grazia- THANK GOD.

However, I have put together a few little image-based pieces for you to enjoy! Hope you like!

First up is Kate in these GORGEOUS peachy trousers. Pairing with simple black pieces, Kate shows that pastel colours do not have to be saccharine sweet. These Zara slouchy trousers are just like Kate's but are so comfortable- perfect for summer sunshine!

First look at Kate in Ab Fab!

I love this little clip of Kate Moss and Stella McCartney's cameo in Ab Fab! Amazing!

Couture in The Ritz

Kate Moss in the bathroom of the Coco Chanel suite in a sugary sweet Balenciaga shift and cape.

Vogue's fashion shoots are some of the most fantastical and magical around. No expenses spared, the extravagant haute couture and jewels make these shoots a treat for the eye and the perfect way to lift your lagging spirits on a dreary weekday.

The latest Vogue shoot to catch my eye, and keep it, is this amazing Tim Walker shoot. Kate Moss frolicking around The Ritz in Paris, one last time before the iconic hotel undergoes a renovation, as styled by the fabulous Grace Coddington. The hotel is one of fashion's favourites and, as these shots show beautifully, it is a stunning building, the ultimate in luxury and refinement.

Kate is captured in a variety of glamourous poses, reclining in McQueen and standing majestically in romantic Dior, around the hotel from the decadent Hemingway bar (where Kate cites her favourite tipple as the French 76, a little vodka, sugar and lemon juice topped up with champagne, which the head bartender recreated on her wedding day) to the famed Coco Chanel suite.

The shots really are magical and are the perfect way to escape as you sit in your leggings gorging on easter eggs! That's what i'll be doing certainly! Maybe one day i'll be lucky enough to feel the breath of haute couture on my skin, but until then I can close my eyes and pretend i'm Kate!

Kate Moss in a grecian cerise Giambattista Valli couture gown

Kate Moss reclining in a frothy sky blue gown by Sarah Burton at McQueen

Kate Moss looking majestic in the finale dress from the Dior Haute Couture show

Kate Moss in the Hemingway bar wearing Alexis Mabille

Kate Moss in a girly heaven of Chanel boxes wearing Chanel Haute Couture, of course!

A magical, beautifully composed Marie Antoinette-esque shot wearing Valentino.

Nicolas Duschamp, a bellhop, balances a Roger Vivier feathered pump above his cap.

Read and see more here. 

(Images from Vogue)

Stolly, Bolly and Mossy?

Spot the difference?

I make no secret of the fact that I am Kate Moss' number one fan- I just think she is amazing. End of. Even though I may not be able to convince Kate critics, like Harriet of the lovely beauty blog Falling in London, I will always gush about how amazing Kate is! So imagine my joy on finding out that she is set to star in the latest special of 'Absolutely Fabulous'.

I dream of one day living a totally frivolous and relaxed lifestyle like Patsy and Eddy, and my boxset of the show is my go-to if ever I feel low! And now Kate is set to join the cast for a Sports Relief special which is to be aired on the 23rd of March on BBC1. I can't wait!

So if you're as much of a fan as me- feast your eyes on these amazing Ab Fab quotes from one of my favourite twitter accounts which I suggest you follow NOW!

Eddy: You cannot give these clothes to the poor! I'm sure they've got enough to contend with,without the humiliation of wearing last season!

Eddy: I've got to have a life, haven't I? I mean work should just be a little side salad, shouldn't it sweetie.

Eddy: Have you eaten something?

Patsy: No. Not since 1973

Eddy: I mean, you know what it's like, you've given up drinking before.

Patsy: The worst eight hours of my life

Eddy: What are you drinking darling?

Patsy: Oh, Chanel No.5

Eddie: "I shall drink water Pats"

Patsy: •confused look•

Eddie: "Water, we have it with whiskey."

I ♥ Love

by Shona Wallace, @SWfashion_

It is perhaps a shameful admission from a fashion journalism student, but I have only ever bought two issues of LOVE magazine. That is not to say that I do not appreciate the utter gorgeousness of the magazine, it's just that I can not always afford to buy all the magazines that I would happily spend hours poring over (curse you Thrive News and Wardour News... my bank account can't take it!)

However, if you are a devoted reader of LOVE and want to show your appreciation, why not get your hands on the limited edition issue of LOVE 7, designed by the iconic Mario Testino? Each copy of the special edition magazine, which boasts Lara Stone and Kate Moss (swoon) as cover girls, comes in a collectors box, and it really is something quite special.

Entitled "What's New Pussycat", the vivid jewel colours of the colour paired with Kate's killer cheekbones would usually have me reaching for my purse, but at £65 I may have to sit this one out. Stretching to £10 for the amazing Herself magazine was as far as it goes, i'm afraid.

However, if you want a little piece of the LOVE 7 action, this collectable is available at Condé Nast Worldwide News, Tate Modern, The NPG, Dover Street Market, 10 Corso Como in Milan and Colette in Paris.

It's just too tempting for words!

The Divine Miss Moss

by Shona Wallace, @SWfashion_

Today (ooookay, yesterday if you're nitpicking!) was Kate Moss' birthday.

Would you believe it that arguably Britain's most stunning woman is just two years shy of the big 4-0?! I can't! And I would be very grateful, if the gods of ageing are reading, that I can look as beautiful as Moss when I hit my late thirties.

The fact that i'm merely in my late teens and still nowhere near as hot as her? That's irrelevant.  

I felt that I should do a post celebrating my number one style icon's best looks to coincide with her birthday (just a few days till mine as well), and we can sit back and appreciate how much British fashion owes to this true icon of modern times!

I had to really rack my brains to find my favourite of Mossy's outfits over the years, especially without access to my loser-ish collection of Kate-based literature (Angela Buttolph's book is the best, but still resides in Edinburgh next to the Mario Testino books and the biography), but here's my pick of some classically Kate looks. How could we cope without her?

Happy Birthday Mrs. Hince! 

p.s 

I'm still hunting high and low for a size 6 Kate Moss Topshop Panther dress at a reasonable price.

If anyone can help PLEASE contact me! I adore it!

A Little Taste of SS12

So Christmas and New Years have been and gone, in typical blink-and-you'll-miss-it fashion, but there is still plenty to look forward to- mainly the brand spanking new year ahead of us!

I am hoping to give SW Fashion a bit of a 2012 facelift in the coming days, and am excited about what this year will bring what with a few potentially exciting opportunities!

But, as one of my favourite sayings goes, "cherish yesterday, dream tomorrow and live today"... (sorry to be going all mystic Meg on ya... I shan't make a habit of it!)

Anyway, SS12 is just round the corner and as the sales are flailing and only the rubbish bits and bobs remain, the new stock should start appearing like pretty little tulips in the grass (cute, eh?).

A few trend reports shall be coming soon, but here is my first flirtation with the new season- the Louis Vuitton bouffant.

My hair has become pretty shockingly dry and brittle of late, so i've been looking for a few flattering up-dos to detract from my pathetic excuse for hair. This one is a definite favourite. It is so easy, so pretty and so on trend for next season- how could you resist?!

I don't mean to blow my own trumpet, but I think my attempt at this wispy bun from the flirty Louis Vuitton show is pretty good- even if i'm not quite blessed with Kate's flawless bone structure or Ms. Rubik's annoyingly perfect features. 

And it's easy as one, two, three!

Step One: Simply spritz your hair with dry shampoo or apply a hair powder (I suggest Tigi Bed Head's new Candy Fixations range which does a hair powder called Sugar Dust that smells delicious!). This will create the perfect texture for volume and that wispy, mussed up texture. 

Step Two: Back brush your hair all over. If you have thicker hair then focus on the roots, but if your hair is very fine like mine, simply back brush it all. Once you look like you have stuck your finger in an electrical socket you are good to go! It will look horrendously messy, but brush your hair back from your face until it is smooth and gather the remainder into a ponytail or a bun and secure with either a clip or a band. 

Step Three: At this point, your hair should look tousled and volumised at the back, but smooth at the front. Then add your choice of hairband. Skinny and white/cream was the look at Louis Vuitton, but I opted for a beautiful embellished band from Anthropologie. Here's where you can really make the look your own, but if you want to keep it really on-trend go for something in a delicate pastel. Once the band is in, use your fingers to muss up the back even more and get your desired texture, then spray all over with a light hairspray.

This hairstyle is perfect with a pretty dress or blouse, but would also work for daytime to soften up an edgier look or add a new season twist to your jumper and jeans.

Let me know how it works for you, or tweet me a picture at @SWfashion_ !

Happy New Year everyone!