Wednesday... I can't believe I'm still wearing fur!

I'm not going to skirt around this: yesterday, Wednesday 15 May, I wore a furry coat... Was I ill? No. Was I trying to make a fashion statement? Again no. What is really going on is that although the calendar says we're so advanced into Spring it's almost Summer, it's been dreadfully cold. This is starting to be quite boring.

So... what do I do? Well you may recall recently I visited the Milli Millu studio for my profile photo and I saw this amazing light fur coat on Mireia, its founder... Thankfully it was featured with the designer name on one of their styling tips posts, and of course seeing as I'm more incline to buy coats than bikinis recently, I ordered it presto! It is quite simply the perfect coat for the weather we've been having in London: it's warm and furry but also super light with the interlaced chiffon layers that cut through the rabbit fur. I also love the colour, especially as I wear lots of navy these days. 

So, seeing as the coat is the main attraction of most of my outfits these days, I've been focusing a bit more on my accessories lately. I particularly love the shoes for this outfit: I'd first gotten enamored with them on the web but I'd been afraid the high back meant I'd fall out of them at the first stumble. I couldn't have been more wrong! The raised back on this stiletto means my feet feel more hugged than on any other pair of pumps I've tried. I love them. 

See below for full details: 

- Rabbit fut coat with chiffon trim, Goes (*** UPDATE here's the exact link: Rabbit stripes fur coat)

- Metallic blue trousers, from an old collection at Next

- Blouse with removable pussy bow, Iris & Ink at The Outnet

- Raised back suede navy pumps, Gianvito Rossi

- Long necklace, Chanel

- Cabas Chyc handbag, Saint Laurent

Sunday morning at Tate Modern: Lichtenstein exhibit

As our attempt at visiting the Picasso museum in Barcelona showed, sometimes visiting an art exhibit with Little Monsieur proves a bit too much for everyone... he is not 30-months old yet, so anything too serious is bound to bore the tantrum out of him. What to do? Some parents decide to park the kids with the week-end nanny to go for their cultural fix, others simply don't go. How sad. I for one have decided to take Little Monsieur along to all the exhibits his daddy and I manage to make, and if he doesn't like it, well it's hardly a big financial loss when we have to get out early to save the other visitors' enjoyment... 

Lately, London-based tots have been spoiled for choice, with the Hayward Gallery's Light Show which we visited for its closing week-end and where we had an absolute blast, and now the Lichtenstein Retrospective at the Tate Modern. 

Although this exhibit is not built for children per se, Lichtenstein's art has such an immediate and popular appeal that there were plenty of thrilled little ones around on the day we visited. Little Monsieur was particularly taken by the picture of his favourite Disney character, Mickey Mouse, as well as by the strangely-shaped sculptures. All the while, Hubby Dearest and I enjoyed seeing works that we've admired before but also learning about works we'd never seen elsewhere. No tantrums here!

Lichtenstein: A Retrospective is at the Tate Modern until May 27th 2013. Find out more here.

It's time for the Sunday fashion confession

Smoking slippers are having a bit of a moment aren't they? Actually I think they are having more than a moment... when not only Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo but also Zara, Topshop, and every other high street brand launches a whole collection you know a shoe style is here to stay. Can you remember the time when slippers were reserved for the home? Neither can I!

I for one have fallen in love with slippers about three season ago, they are a wonderful alternative to week-end ballerinas and work well in most weathers, but I'm quite particular about the styles I like. I prefer the ones which fall lower on the foot. The others are a bit too restrictive on my high in-step. Also, although I really like the idea of a studded slipper, I prefer simple suede or velvet looks... And I've been looking for a special pair for Spring for a long while, until I found these...  

These beauties are called Helene. They are made of blue suede, and were personalised with my initials (you know how much I adore a monogram...). They are made in Italy by the lovely people of SchoShoes, and come in six colours. The thread can be either silver or gold. So many options... And not a bank breaker at around €325 a pair. But what I like the most? It's how comfortable and flattering they look on the foot. Definitely a keeper!

Find out more at: http://www.schoshoes.com/. 

Friday... Attempting casual in the office

My office doesn't have a casual Friday policy, at least not in the official dress code rules. However, invariably Friday sees the fashion shift towards a more relaxed style, and suddenly denim is everywhere in the building. I personally rarely wear blue denim in the office, preferring grey or black jeans as they are not as casual, and can (almost) pass for normal trousers. But rules are meant to be bent, so once in a while I go all out on the casual Friday side...

The thing with jeans in the office is, even though it's Friday, you still have to look professional and polished... No rips please, no slouchy backside, and definitely no low waist (just imagine how mortifying it would be to bend to pick up a pen...) It's usually best to stick to a tailored look, which is why I really like these skinny straight jeans. Also, it's best to stay well away from light washes and bleached looks. If you must wear blue denim at work, opt for a dark wash for a more sophisticated and flattering look.

As the denim is already over-casual, I pay special attention to the rest of my outfit. Heels are a must: with flats I just look like I'm about to pop out to take my toddler to the playground, and trainers can easily get me confused for one of the print room guys. A little jacket still says I'm taking my day seriously, and some fun accessories like my Dori Csengeri earrings make it easy to go to drinks after work without feeling like a corporate penguin on temporary leave from her cubicle.

Mind you, this is not a look that I attempt too often, I don't want to be the girl who wears jeans on Fridays... but, from time to time, it's fun to try and pull out a casual Friday look. How about you, do you wear denim at work?

Before you go, outfit details below:
- Jeans in skinny straight cut, Lucky Brand (not available online, but try these at IDA at Donna Ida for a close look)
- Box jacket with piped seams, Second Female
- Pastel blue knit, Massimo Dutti (Spring 2012), this one by Reiss is similar
- Turquoise suede sandals, Zara
- Lindy handbag in Etoupe clémence leather, Hermès
- Earrings, Dori Csengeri

A night at the ballet: La Bayadère at the Royal Opera House

The other day, I returned to the Royal Opera House for the Royal Ballet's La Bayadère. This time, I brought Hubby Dearest along: he is not exactly a ballet aficionado, but I knew he would like this one, as it is perhaps the most opulent and diverse of classical ballets, and even the lesser ballet fans are bound to be mesmerized by Petipa's choreography.

If you've never seen La Bayadère, let me tell you a bit more: the ballet is about the doomed love story between Prince Solor and temple dancer Nikiya (the Bayadère of the title)... Both seem destined to get married and have lots of gorgeous pirouetting children together, but that's not meant to be. There's a few complications: first, the high Brahmim who wants Nikiya for himself of course, and then Solor's betrothal to Gamzatti, the beautiful daughter of the Rajah. Ok so that's for the plot.

Basically this is, in pure 19th century style, a Bollywood-like soap opera made for the ballet scene. But what a perfect made one it is... Petipa's creation is filled with splendid solos, some soul-shaking pas de deux (that scene by the temple right at the beginning is beyond romantic) and fabulous corps de ballet pieces.

Of course everyone's favourite scene is in Act 2, The Kingdom of Shades. Solor dreams about Nikiya's ghost, and it's multiplied into 24 shades. I was a bit apprehensive beforehand as this is a scene that can sometimes go horribly wrong (think wobbly arabesques, limbs askew etc), but I was positively surprised after reading some pretty dismal critics. I'm definitely thrilled we went!

La Bayadère is at the ROH until May 22, catch it quick! Book tickets here: La Bayadère at the Royal Opera House.

In great company in the Milli Millu Diary

A few weeks ago, Mireia, founder and director of Milli Millu, asked me if I was interested in having a post about me in the Milli Millu Confidential section of her website. I knew that section well, having read a number of profiles: there is a minister of Foreign Affairs, an actress, some pretty high ranking consultants, a couple of doctors, a writer. And of course a couple of far better known bloggers than I can ever dream of ever being...

And then Mireia wanted to add little old me. At first I felt a bit inadequate, but soon enough I decided to embrace this lovely opportunity and stop being my worst critic. I replied diligently to all of Mireia's questions and then proceeded to her Knightsbridge studio for the fun bit, the photo shoot!! It felt lovely to be directed and fussed about, and totally worthwhile seeing the compliments I got when the post was published.

You can read the full profile and see the picture in full here: Milli Millu Confidential - LittleS. I hope you enjoy it!

Wednesday's beauty essential: Prtty Peaushun

For months, I've waddled in misery and despaired at the arctic weather... only to be caught short with the arrival of the sun (note, I'm not saying "warm weather has arrived", since that has come, stayed two days, and is now gone). Sunny days mean shorter skirts, and obviously the return of bare legs, especially as I continue to feel very ambiguous about nude tights: I just can't seem to ever find nude tights that don't make me feel like a grandmother, a tanning freak, a sausage, or a combination of all three.

Bare legs it is then! Gread idea, of course, but in practice, after an extended winter spent packed away in opaque tights and wool trousers, my legs are looking decidedly pasty and most definitely not ready for public appearances. Is that a little vein I see at the top of my calf, yikes! They definitely need the kind of professional help only experienced make-up artists or permanent photoshop can give, and sadly I have neither.

But this isn't a new problem for me, in fact over the years I've researched possible solutions extensively. Body highlighters, primers, sparkly diva-worthy lotion, trousers all summer, staying in-doors. To be honest nothing was quite perfect. That is, until I found Prtty Peaushun. It's not a typo, the name is really spelt like this and it's pronounced "Pretty Potion".

Basically this is yet another lotion, but this one I'm entirely convinced about. For one, it's lighter and non-sticky, and the formula doesn't include any nasties such as parabens, synthetic dyes or fragrances.

What it does have is small mineral particles that shimmer rather than sparkle, think halo, not glitter, that's for the look.

Now for the feel: the lotion mixes extracts of grapefruit, green tea, avocado etc etc (quite a recipe) which condition and protect the skin to deliver a better looking skin over time. There are four shades plus one plain version, I use the medium and it's perfect. Once it's on you can't even tell, and it doesn't leave streaky residue on my clothes.

It leaves you with slightly tightened, overall better-looking limbs. Bye bye veins, stretch marks, cellulite (though of course I don't have any of these problems, ha ha), hello Summer! Apparently the lotion was initially invented by a make-up artist for red-carpet regulars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, and if it's good enough for the queen of all working yummy mummies, it's good enough for little me...

Obviously this post would be far more convincing if I put a picture here of my legs before and after Prtty Peaushun, but really I'm not that brave, but check out online, there are loads of before after pictures. Here you'll have to relie on the after pictures I'll post on skirt outfits!

Until then, you can order your own Pretty Peaushun pouch here: Prtty Peaushun Skin Tightening Body Lotion.

Sunday's cashmere and comfortable outfit for brunch

One of the more frequent comments I get from friends and followers on my office outfits is how high my heels look and how the look is good for the office but wouldn't really work (forgive the little pun!) around little ones, pets etc.

Whenever I hear these comments I think about how practical and easy my week-end outfits are, but then it's true that I have so much to do on the week-ends that I rarely take the time to capture my outfits. The other reason you don't see too many of them is because I have a bit of a Mamma uniform... it's usually jeans, a loose top, a pair of fabulous balllerinas, an easy handbag, and some cool but not spikey accessories. Not very inventive, is it?

Yesterday's outfit for our brunch outing in London's Chelsea is the perfect example of my off-duty uniform... The main point is that it's easy, practical and comfortable. I could have matched this with some fabulous heels, but the thing is Little Monsieur is at that age when he doesn't like staying in his buggy on our outings, yet he refuses to walk more than two steps, so we end up carrying him a lot. It's great for toning the arms (seriously, try hauling a 14kg toddler whilst attempting a shopping spree in Brompton Cross like I did last week, it's quite the workout!) but if wearing heels would almost certainly result in a catastrophy. I know I live in my heels, but sadly I'm no Victoria Beckham on the balancing department... or at least I don't want to try and find out!

Another regular feature of my recent week-end outfits is this fabulous lightweight cashmere jumper by Minnie Rose: I love the oversize shape, the dropped hems, and the flattering V-neck, it is the perfect warm layer you need when the weather is still hung up on pretending we're in February. This looks like it's quite good quality as well, I've been wearing it non stop and it still hasn't come up with any offending bobbles.

Next down, super practical jeans with a bit of stretch. Yes they are cream, which evidently can get dirty quite quickly if you're spending the day with your little tots, but I'm very partial to light colours in the warmer months, and I insist on collecting quite a large number of cream and white trousers, this way I can send them to the wash after just one wear.

So far, so dull, I know... However I do try to make a little effort by playing with accessories. Leopard-print ballerinas, a long necklace which is a bargain priced dead-ringer for a Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra, and of course my beloved Céline Phantom Luggage in camel. I grant you my week-end uniform is not pushing any fashion boundaries, but it's a style I feel good in, and that, for me, is the most important. How about you? Do you have a week-end uniform?

If you would like the precise outfit details, here they are:
- Cream jeans, Zara
- Navy V-neck oversized cashmere jumper, Minnie Rose at Donna Ida
- Leopard-print pony hair ballerinas, Miu Miu (Summer 2011), I found three pairs which are similar: Charlotte Olympia, ASOS, and Tod's
- Camel Luggage Phantom tote, Céline
- Mother of pearl clover necklace, Beaux Bijoux 
- Sunglasses, Coach

Monday's office style note: Stripes

Stripes were everywhere on the catwalks for the Spring 2013 collections, and as the cycle of fashion nature intended, the shop floors are now filled with stripey pieces, from monochrome to candy, to full on brights, there isn't a single label that doesn't offer stripes of some kind...

Whilst stripes in the office sounds like a brilliant idea in theory, in practice this is as much a tricky trend as wild florals or bright neons. Though you will be aiming for an effortlessly cool Riviera look or a 1960s swinging vibe, the results can vary depending on how you pick your stripes and how you style them: horizontal ones tend to add width, whilst black and white head to toe stripes can be a bit too much... Pictures of burglars and Obelix impersonators spring to mind. Mixed stripes were also quite big on the runway shows, but if you're a beginner maybe start by mixing stripes with block colours... Thread carefully!

I think the best way to start with this trend would be the accessories, for example a pair of striped pointy slingbacks (Dolce Gabbana and Manolo Blahnik have some uber-pretty ones) would add some interest to cigarette trousers and a white shirt. If you're feeling bolder, then by all means try a striped dress or a jacket. I find this works best when only one piece is striped, instead of the whole outfit. However, you don't need to shy away from colours: stripes work almost better in colour, in my opinion, offering a more youthful and fresher look than all black and white.

Whatever you do, in order to stay office appropriate, this is a style that works best when tried alone, not mixed in with other Spring 2013 trends, so I'd steer clear of mixing in a midrif baring top or a clashing flower print!

Thursday's preppy, retro and lilac

There is a small chance that Spring 2013 has just come and gone in London this week... but, as I write this post covered in cashmere once more as the cold has returned, there is some good news in this somewhat disheartening statement: I have finally become (like many Londoners who are fed up with the Winter) totally obsessed with the weather and I check weather forecasts every evening before deciding what to wear the next day, meaning I was prepared for the 'warmest day of the year'... Take a look.

Ok, this is maybe a bit pastel and all too sugary for my usual style, and the retro shapes give this a bit of a Betty Draper vibe (minus the Grace Kelly resemblance and fabulous figure). But before you ask if it was dress-up day on the trading floor, I can explain... See, Hubby Dearest has been out all week on business travel, so I decided to finally give Mad Men a try: I'd heard so much about it I was really curious, and I can honestly say I'm totally hooked. So of course the fashion of the 1960s was in my mind this week...

But also, I was itching to take out this gorgeous skirt. It's cotton and organza sheer panel design is a great high street take on the Alice Temperley runway looks, and I love its demure shape which takes the trashy right out of this see-through look.

The explanation for the lilac explosion should be quite clear from the picture above... I've gone all out with pastel nail art at my last manicure (created and applied in the comfort of my own home by the fabulous Metta at NailsByMets.com), and this is the best outfit I could think of to showcase the purple half-moons and white lace design work.

Here are some details of my outfit:
- White jacquard coat, COS
- Skirt in white cotton with organza sheer insert, Topshop
- Lilac superfine knit, COS (Summer 2012 collection)
- Lilac silk and suede sandals, by Fendi (Summer 2010), Jerome C. Rousseau has a similar look
- Crystal earrings, bought ages ago in Florence, but these ASOS ones are close

A guest post by Lattes & Juice: Spring style for the stay at home mammas

Hello hello! Today's feature is a guest post by the lovely A. at Lattes and Juice, a blog well worth adding to your reading list for all things fabulous, family and stylish. I've written a twin post for her blog, do visit to see my Top Picks for Spring 2013 in the office. Happy reading!

http://lattesandjuice.blogspot.co.uk/

I am so super excited to be doing a guest blog post for The Lilac Pages.  The Lilac Pages is definitely one of my favourite mummy blogs and I check it religiously for my fashion fix.  Little S and I live in the same hood and it’s always great to have another blogging mummy buddy close by.  Little S has got serious style and I would happily trade wardrobes with her any day!

Being a stay-at-home mom I try really hard not to lose my sense of style.  It’s so easy just to want to roll around in my pajamas all day knowing I’m going to get food and mud thrown on me simultaneously.  But to keep my sanity I need to look and feel good to make it through the day.  Here are my Top 5 Picks for this Spring that will make the mummy-on-duty super chic! 

1. Vanessa Bruno Athe Drop Waist Tunic Dress:  I am pretty much a fan of anything that Vanessa Bruno touches. This is such a fun dress in have in your wardrobe this spring.  The bright fuchsia is on trend with the neon we are seeing everywhere.  I love the shape of this dress because it is easy to dress down with a great pair of flat sandals or for a rare night out with some accessories and heels. 

2. Isabel Marant The Bekett Printed Canvas and Suede Wedge Sneakers: I have been lusting after a pair of these Isabel Marant trainers that all of the fashionistas are wearing.  They are seriously sold out everywhere and great to see them finally back in stock on Net-A-Porter.  I love the fresh white colour for the spring paired with the navy Hawaiian print.  These wedges looks super stylish while offering all of the comforts you need chasing your little ones around.

3. Proenza Schouler PS1 Medium in Citron: This was my go to bag last summer and I would love to add another to my collection.  I have it in the smaller size in a lovely coral colour that I wore crossbody and seriously wore it everywhere.  I’m loving this bold citron colour that would add a bold statement to any old outfit.  Plus if the sun isn’t shining in London this bag will make up in brightness! 

4. J. Crew Boyfriend Fatigue Jacket: I lived in this J. Crew olive jacket for the past two seasons and I’m so glad they have brought it back.  I love that it has a drawstring at the waist to give it a more feminine shape.  You can literally toss this jacket on top of any outfit to give it a cool edge.  Works really well over a girlie dress or with a simple tee and skinny jeans.  The best part is that it won’t break the bank and you will definitely get great use out of it. 

5. J Brand 811 Mid Rise Skinny Jeans in Blanc Destruct: The perfect pair of white skinnies for the spring!  Loving these J Brand mid rise jeans to support my mummy tummy while making my legs look thin.  I don’t think you can ever have too many pairs of J Brands!  The distressed style in these skinnies make the jeans just a little bit cooler.  Great for running around town with trainers, flats, or sandals and for drinks out in sky high heels. 

Thursday: work-wear meets Spring, hallelujah!

Breaking news: Spring has finally arrived and (hopefully!) settled in London... First we had a little bit of sunshine, then the temperatures started creeping slowly up, enough for me to decide it was time to pack away the Winter clothes and clean up my closet last week. It was a daunting task, only made sweeter by the joy of discovering some pieces I'd totally forgotten about, something which occurs to me everytime I switch my seasonal wardrobes, and which I try to blame on anything but early Alzheimer's!

It's also given me a fresh approach to outfits... It does help tremendously that I don't need to dress with arctic winds in mind in the morning, so here's what I put together on Thursday.

Although I said only a few days ago that it was back to basics for my style going forward, there seems to be a little streak of crazy that was left behind, judging by the mix of colours and textures in this outfit. And I'm not even talking about the super high platform sandals... not your everyday City look this one, is it? Tsk tsk...

Although I strive for a more streamlined look, the truth is I can't help myself: I love having fun with fashion... In this outfit I did try to keep a grown-up colour mix, with navy as the main attraction, but I did mix textures to add some interest: cotton tweed, metallic weave, soft calf, cool metal. After all, what's the point of fashion if you don't have a little fun with it?

Looking at these pictures, I realise that this outfit also breaks one of those classical sartorial rules for hourglass shapes: the one about sticking to darker block colours in the bottom and trying lighter or print fabrics up top... Well it might not be as flattering, but these trousers are fun and I don't think the outfit would have made the same impact if the fabrics were switched between the trousers and my little peplum jacket. What do you think?

Read below for outfit details:
- Metallic jacquard crop trousers, Boden
- Blue cotton tweed jacket with peplum detail, J.Crew
- Silk collar tee-shirt in navy, bought years ago, check out Forever 21 for something close
- Yellow and taupe chain handbag, Shanghai by Milli Millu
- Blue platform sandals, Prada Spring 2011, try these ones for a close look
- Bracelets, a mix from Cartier, RedLine, Kim Poor etc...

How to raise a jetsetting toddler: one flight at a time!

Growing up, I remember a lot of parents in our circle would travel the world, thinking nothing of leaving their children behind with nannies... Not my parents: they took my sister and me virtually everywhere with them, from Zimbabwe to Cuba, we were both incredibly lucky to be very well travelled even before we had left junior high-school.

Fast-forward to the present, I'm now a mamma of a buoyant little toddler, and though I have made a point long before he was born that I'd take him travelling as much as possible from the earliest possible age, I can see why some people don't.

If you think travelling is stressful, try taking small children along: it can transform into a unique yet very effective method of torture. Travelling with a toddler means transforming yourself into a sherpa, an marathon runner, a UN negotiator, and even a food taster (yes, the lovely people at Heathrow security will make you open and taste four out of five food containers you've brought, because if you're going to attempt an attack you'd obviously be taking a screaming toddler with you, didn't you know?)

So yes, you can opt for a travel ban (especially air travel) until your children are eighteen, but then you'd be missing out: when you're plowing through months of wintry work in London, there's nothing better than a week-end escape to one of Europe's cultural hot spots, except one with a wide-eyed child in tow. My approach? I've decided there is no reason not to travel as much as we did pre-baby, but at the same time I've significantly changed my approach to travel... Read on!

1) Check in online to get the best possible seats and save time at the airport... planning ahead will save you a lot of aggravation;

2) Assume you'll be slower: Many of us are used to zipping through airports, with little ones it's always a little slower than you're normally used to, so arrive with plenty of time to fold the pushchair at security, divide the bags into the x-ray trays, etc.;

3) Visit the lounge: Once you've passed the over-zealous security staff and had your fill of baby milk and other purées, head over to the lounge and have a sip of champagne whilst your little ones runs around, many lounges are now equipped with play areas and have more comfortable seating than elsewhere in the airport;

4) Invest in a small easy-to-fold pushchair: we've recently traded our City Mini for a MacLaren Globetrotter, it's small enough to take on board some airlines, and it will be a good resting place for your little one to have a nap on the go;

5) Layer up: Airplane temperatures tend to vary so I go for a multi-layer look, for Little Monsieur and me... and a big shawl from Hermès is the perfect va-va-voom airplane blanket;

6) Make them drink! For the flight, make sure you have bottles pre-prepared and that your little ones drink plenty, especially on the way up and the way down... it will help with the pressure on their little ears!

7) An Ipad is the jet-setting parent's best friend: my father gave Little Monsieur one a while back, and though it's quite extravagant a gift for a toddler, it's filled with kids apps and cartoon movies, and he is exceptionally calm for hours on end thanks to it (worryingly, he does tend to put "Cars" on repeat...), just make sure it's fully charged before leaving...

8) For longer holidays, consider shipping some things ahead: this means you'll have less to carrry yourself (when we went to Puglia last summer, we sent a box of nappies, baby milk, fruit compotes, pool toys etc.);

9) Find the tour bus: ok.. you've arrived... consider the local tour bus which allows you to hop on and off, this way you can visit the city at your pace and your little ones won't get tired from walking;

10) Variety is key: try to alternate between cultural visits and more children-friendly activities: we always visit the local parks, zoos and aquariums wherever we go, it ensures Little Monsieur doesn't get cranky and annoying;

11) Most important rule of my little manual, take the toys along! I take a couple of his favourite toys and his comfort toy everywhere we go, from restaurants to monasteries, it recreates a familiar environment anywhere.

So far, Little Monsieur has been to Morocco, Portugal, France, Spain, Italy, Mauritius... Check him out in the picture above visiting the Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona a couple of weeks ago! We still space our travels enough so he has a stable routine in his home in London, but he is slowly becoming used to being around and seeing new things, and we get to indulge in our love of travelling!

My monogram obsession takes over my new Ipad Mini

I have a bit of an obsession with monogrammed things... L.L. Bean totes, Goyard handbags, smoking slippers, basically so long as it has a surface, I'll get it monogrammed. Even my GlobeTrotter suitcase has my initials on!

The latest victim to this frantic personalisation obsession is my Ipad Mini. Although both Little Monsieur and Hubby Dearest have had Ipads for a while, I've only just acquired one for me, with the excuse of keeping up with the world easily when I'm travelling. Really it's to be able to shop Matches and ASOS on the move and also to sneak in a little game of Angry Birds whilst waiting miserably for a delayed flight in yet another depressing airport lounge, but don't tell Hubby!

I love my new Ipad, it's lovely and white and pretty, but it does look a bit like everyone else's... I had a look around at some cases available on different websites and everything looked rather dull and generic. That's when I had the idea of going on to Etsy, one of my must-shop destinations these days, to see if I couldn't find something that would be, well, a bit more me!

I quickly found a shop which made personnalised tech cases, basically a heaven for the geeky preppy fashionista, it's managed by the lovely Meg C., who will help you with all your monogramming tech needs.

I picked a lavender chevron with a purple monogram, obviously... So there can be no mistaking this is my Ipad! That, and of course the case is quite sturdy so it's a nice protection, at least for the back of the tablet, For the front, I'll be eagerly waiting for Marc Jacobs to issue a zipped cover for Ipad Minis, their bright-coloured Ipad covers are the cutest, don't you think?

In the meanwhile, here's a link for the case I have: Meg C. Etsy Shop: Ipad Mini Case.

Monday: Back to basics, back to neutrals

Ok here's the thing... in the last few weeks, I've been in a bit of a rut. The weather's been absolutely uncooperative, and I've had to wear my Winter clothes for far more months in a row than is usually advisable. Out of boredom, I'd stopped planning my outfits the night before a day at work, a big mistake which means every morning was suddenly a mad scramble, followed by a day of the frustration of knowing that I was wearing a sub par outfit: it's not that I care so much for fashion, but if I feel that I didn't put all my styling effort into an outfit, it fills me with dread... Then last Friday I wore a positively boring and horrible outfit (yes, mixing the two is possible, I tried and succeeded apparently) and it's as if that was the trigger I needed to wake up. Enough crazy, I needed to go back to basics and add some discipline back into my life.

First step, I de-cluttered and reorganised my walk-in closet. A mammoth task, and to top it all off I decided to take the bull by the horns and do my seasonal switch-over, a big leap of faith, I know... After two days of hard work (almost) all on my own, I had produced six bin liners worth of clothes to be split between our nanny and the charity shop round the corner, and my wardrobe suddenly seemed far fresher.

Second step: preparing and wearing outfits which didn't feel too dressed-uppy or ill-fitting. Check out the result below...

I loved re-discovering my Summer wardrobe, and I'm determined to stay in the straight and narrow when it comes to style, with only a few radical accessories here and there... Today's outfit is comfortable and classic, but despite the silk blouse and cigarette trousers it didn't feel too boring. Ok so it's all a bit beige, but this is just the shades that I chose today, I promise to make brighter choices as the sun returns to London.

The one thing I love about this outfit is my new Aquazzura sandals... they are fierce yet quite subdued in their light camel colour, and they are surprisingly easy to walk in. Now if anyone knows who makes them, please may I have them in navy?

Outfit details:
- Taupe cotton twill trousers, Et Vous (2005 collection), these ASOS ones are similar
- Silk shirt with pockets, Uterqüe
- Sandals in camel suede, Aquazzura
- Keys pendant necklace, Tiffany's, but this ASOS one is super close
- Bronze Birkin with palladium hardware, Hermès