Velvet wrap.

Fabric is the new decoration - but not as we know it. I'm not talking embellishment with crystals and studs. It's less obvious and less bling...but ultra-luxe. Whether it's a goldmine of mushroom colours and rich taupes, fiery reds and winter whites, jewel sapphires and amethysts, or slick black. Velvet is this season's  ultimate luxury - a return to elegance and a sense of relaxed glamour all around.

Just look at these runway looks - there's so many ways to incorporate velvet into your wardrobe, and it doesn't just have to be plain velvet, it can be ruched, textured, treated and printed. Another fantastic alternative look to evening dressing is to wear a velvet maxi skirt in a deep colour - It's got to be really long, with a simple silk vest or t-shirt in a subtle muted tone. If your really having difficulty - then take inspiration from today's A-listers and models who are wearing this trend in their own individual ways.

Take Gossip Girl Blake Lively - who has tapped into the trend ever so slightly with a pair of burgundy Christian Louboutin Pigalle pumps in Velvet (these are the ones I have been dreaming of...the no.1 topspot on my wishlist) complimenting her sheer lace ensemble, or Chanel Iman, an effortless take on the luxe-boho look. And of course Nicole Richie...who would of thought velvet shorts would work with leopard print and a breton stripe top?! I usually find with friends and clients, that the more you think an outfit out, the more complicated it becomes and you just feel confused about the whole thing...resulting in piles of clothes thrown all over the place in your bedroom...an empty wardrobe...and still no outfit! Sound like you...? My advice is to NOT think it out! Opt for seperates that you can slowly introduce into your wardrobe such as a velvet blazer, shoes or perhaps a velvet pouch-bag/rucksack and wear these the same way you would throw on your everyday pieces. Trust me, it will work, and you'll be bang on trend in an instant. I've gathered together the best designer and high-street buys around to help you out....

Clockwise from top left: Christian Louboutin Pigalle 120 Pumps £375

Emilio Pucci Velvet Burnout Silk Chiffon Top £400

Thakoon Devore Velvet Leopard Dress £1,620

Christian Louboutin Fred Velvet Lace-ups £380

Versus Chiffon & Velvet Mini-Dress £1,605

Lover Slouchy Velvet Pants £380

Alice by Temperley Lynnet Velvet Jacket £ 365

Versus Satin & Velvet Paneled Skater Skirt £840

Marc Jacobs Crushed Velvet Maxi-Skirt £1,570

ALL AVAILABLE AT WWW.NET-A-PORTER.COM

Clockwise from top left: River Island Dita Bow Heel £64.99

Republic Crafted One-Shouldered Velvet Dress £34.99

Office Eternal Love Velvet Knee-highs £105

Topshop Deep Red Velvet Pleat Bustier £32

Office Twilight Azure Blue Velvet Pumps £60

River Island Velvet Pouch £29.99

Topshop Velvet Laser Cut Bolero £100

Urban Outfitters Velvet Maxi Dress £50

My favourite picks from this season's velvet trend...? Anything from Antonio Berardi and Everything from Versus!

CRYSTAL RENN, TOM FORD & CARINE ROITFELD : UNDER THE KNIFE - VOGUE PARIS DEC/JAN 2010-11

Holy Shit. Just look at these images photographed by Tom Ford for the Vogue Paris Dec/Jan 2010-11 issue. The story brings Crystal Renn under the knife as a very glamourous cougar with lashings of animal print, jewel tones and flashes of sparkle, styled by Carine Roitfeld. I think the story has been told brilliantly, the undertones of desperation, simulated botox, super pumped-up lips and all with Crystal Renn looking (and working this shoot) like a true super-model. I get that she has lost a lot of weight, and she does look slimmer than ever...but doesn't she just look A-MAZING...?! I know some of you may just think this is a very odd shoot, or you may not get why such a shoot is being published in the grande publication that is Vogue - some have said that Vogue Paris is pushing the boundries too far and turning into one big mockable cliche. But if you read between the lines and look into the story, this is the reality of our fashion world today, and I think it's bloody great that truth is being told in such a creative manner...

All images courtesy of FashionScreen

Alexa's flair for vintage charm...

Here's a piece you wont want to miss out on. It's the Mawi 'Alexa Chung' necklace that Alexa has been snapped wearing on the frow to editorial shoots and high-fashion parties...this Mawi Grey Pearl necklace with sparkling Sapphire and a Pearl drop has been seen all over the world. So due to the unprecedented demand, Mawi have produced a limited run of the hugely successful Alexa Chung necklace which you can order at www.mawi.co.uk now - but be warned: these pieces are scarce so hurry if you want one...that's a very pretty pic of Alexa don't you think? Not to mention a stunning necklace.

Pony Gaga*

Had to share this with you - I was such an odd tomboy (*girl *) when I was little. I'm talking rolling around in the mud, playing with cars (I had a ridiculous amount of toy cars and still have my favourites now), sticking my friend's barbies in the mud with their legs sticking out - all whilst wearing my prettiest chiffon dress with a matching ribbon in my hair. I know. It's weird. I would beg for my mum to dress me in all my pretty dresses, knowing I was about to do something really rebelious. If there was only one other 'girlie' thing I loved other than fashion at a young age, it was my little pony. So when I came across these images...I thought, why hadn't anybody come up with this sooner?! These are the coolest ponies. Like, ever.

 Fancy a Bad Romance Pony...? Or a Pokerface Pony...?

 The Mad-Hatter Pony...or Captain Jack...?

 Theres WonderPony...or the King of all Ponies...Elvis

And of course Darling Marilyn...this one kind of scares me - it's like a cross between a pony and a cow. At least I think it is anyway.

All images courtesy of Rex Features.

Susie Bubble for GAP's Most Wanted Campaign

A huge CONGRATULATIONS are in order for Super Blogger Susie Bubble who has landed the GAP most wanted campaign on facebook - and she looks so cute! Tbh Susie looks good in just about anything and I just love her effortless style (and seriously envy her flawless skin) so it's no surprise that GAP have chosen her - and I'm very sure there will be many more campaigns Susie will be contacted for.

Kate Moss Vintage Muse

Kate Moss launched her hotly-anticipated fragrance Vintage Muse, in London on friday. I must say, the bottle looks much better than her first - an elegant bottle with a violet tint and a square-cut stopper (hmm sounds v.similar to Chanel coco madamoiselle minus the violet tint!) but it wasn't even really that that caught my attention. It was how good the blonde bombshell looked! Allbeit a rather simple outfit - the black tweed jacket, ruched skinny black pants and killer lace-up hiking boots look fantastic finished with a heavy blonde fringe and that smile. This girl exudes super coolness that I so wish I had.

Yves Saint Laurent love ballerinas

The latest essential to have is a pair of YSL Love Ballerinas. I'm not one for flats but I've got a feeling these square-toed beauties are going to find a way into my wardrobe and onto my feet. What's your favourite colour?

Raquel Zimmermann : VOGUE Brasil December 2010

I can't quite put my finger on what it is exactly that I don't like about this cover.

UNSURE...

I do, however, LOVE the January 2011 cover of VOGUE Nippon (once again) with Gisele Bundchen:

HOT
I get bored of most January covers as the majority of them are 'fresh with clean lines and a muted colour palette' BORING and DULL in my opinion! Why can't we start the new year off with an interesting cover that celebrates the glamourous and special pieces we have coming up in new season? Here's an idea: pick a super, dress her in haute and have Mario Testino (for example) take a few snaps...Voila!! A cover that will excite us with whats to come!

Cover Source:  fashionfoiegras and annadellorusso

#manicuresunday - sunday blues

It's Chanel Blue Satin today...as you can see, a healthy dose of sparkles have been added since by my sister (and make-up artist) Nina Ubhi...! What do you think of the sparkles? I heart them...but then I do like alot of sparkly things! You can check out Nina's blog at www.ninaubhibeauty.blogspot.com where you'll get inside tricks on all things beauty as well as behind the scene snaps and hot make-up trends...not to mention what sparkles she used!

Maniac

I'm no make-up artist, but I do enjoy make-up, alot. Buying it. Applying it. You know, what every darling likes to do. I like the smoky look, and I like dark lips, so I tried a new look that I've not done before using Chanel lipcolour in Maniac against a dark black blue eye. As I said, I'm no make-up artist, so theres no step by step here...but I will fill you in on the products I used and would love your feedback on the look...

The products I used are:

Foundation - Bobbi Brown Oil-free compact in Honey

Concealer - MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 in NC45

Bronzer - Guerlain Face &Body Terracotta Princess Powder

Eyeshadow Les 4 ombres in Sparkling Satins 95

Eyeshadow - MAC Mineralize duo in Sea & Sky

Eyeshadow - MAC Black Tied Velvet

Mascara - YSL Faux Lash Effect in no.1

Lipliner - Christian Dior Crayon Contours Levres in Tuile 783

Lipstick - Chanel Rouge Allure in Maniac 147

 Guerlain's Terracotta Princess Powder is so pretty and has a beautiful print in the pressed powder, it gives a warm honey glow with the tiniest specs of shimmer so it's perfect to wear in the day and can be layered for the night. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS!

 MAC Black Tied Velvet and Mineralize duo Sea & Sky - this blue is super intense and rich in pigment so start with only what you need!

What do you think of the look...anything you would of done differently...?

Love & Sparkles, Anita Darling xx

Birds of a feather

I really do admire the fun that Creative Director Alison Chow has with her brand Coco Ribbon - and the philosophy behind the brand is something I also live my life by:

"Life is too short for ordinary; it's something I’ve felt from a young age. One of my earliest memories was as a five year old insisting I wear my red-velvet dress to school when the uniform was an uninspired green-checked frock.  I remember thinking, why wouldn’t you? Our Coco Ribbon philosophy is the same.  Why not use your fine china for take-out if you please? As life speeds up lets stop to smell the roses, live well, laugh often and seek inspiration in our every day... because once you look for it, you'll find it everywhere"- Alison Chow, Coco Ribbon.

Seriously, I mean, if you buy something special, then why not make yoursef feel special by wearing/using that item everyday? Whether it's a pair of Christian Louboutins, an expensive candle, a diamond ring or a china plate. Why not use it? Why do people believe they need to keep what they have spent their hard-earned cash on, just for a 'special occasion'???? Hmmm (I've just had a seriously large case of deja vu, but I'll talk about that another time). Come on darlings...it's time we all started treating ourselves like we are special, enjoy things in life you wouldn't usually even notice, smile at the next person you walk past and if you are thinking of getting a take-out on this cold sunday evening...put some candles on, and take out those expensive china plates. Or you could just start with treating yourself to some jewellery....like me...

Coco Ribbon "Birds of a Feather"

Heres a snippet from the Coco Ribbon 'Birds of a Feather' SS'11 collection that you'll see early 2011 online - The concept behind the name you ask? Creative Director Alison Chow believes Coco Ribbon is a girl's best friend, and the beautiful souls who agreed to take part in the video, are all Alison's friends....so alot of fun was had shooting it on the day - although a generous amount of Moet was required for Dutch courage apparently!

For now, you can get hold of some fabulous Kenneth Jay Lane jewellery on the site. These are pieces which are great to add a luxe piece to your day time look or pile up for a far more glamourous evening look. My favourites:

Blue Cabachon Ring £98. Kenneth Jay Lane

 Black Butterfly Pendant £89. Kenneth Jay Lane (quite fitting for the online boutique what with all the butterflies, don't you think?)

And one of my favourite pieces:

Double Tusk Pendant £84. Kenneth Jay Lane

All available at cocoribbon.com

Fabulous shot of the finale from the Lanvin for H&M show in NY, don't you think...?

So I've decided that after much feedback, I'm going to post my '#todayimwearing' looks, on this page rather than 'Style Darlings' as much of you prefer to see it on this page. So...here are the last two posts...I haven't taken any pics for afew days, so I'll get back on track with that too! xx  

#TodayI'mWearing - Sat 20th Nov 2010

Vintage Fur. Studded Navy Knit Reiss. Jeans Nanette Lepore. Necklaces Topshop. Shoeboots Asos. Bag Tod's.



#TodayI'mWearing - Fri 19th Nov 2010

Red Leather Biker Jacket 'Isabel' Swagga & Soul. Tee She Died Of Beauty. Camel Cashmere Wrap Skort Sykes. Military Shoe Boots Eudon Choi. All available at Young British Designers.

Luxury of the Simple Life

There's an unreserved sensuality about this shoot that I just adore. The beautiful Supermodel that is Sasha Pivovarova and the very handsome Sean O'pry star in the November issue of Vogue Nippon. The editorial, shot by Alasdair McLellan and styled by creative talent George Cortina, showcases some beautiful garments including Roberto Cavalli (yes, THAT coat), Chanel Haute Couture, Valentino Haute Couture, Givenchy and Alexander McQueen. Isn't is beautiful...?

VOGUE Nippon November 2010

The Scent of ANNA DELLO RUSSO is here...

#lovelovelove Anna Dello Russo's video for her new parfum! Kanye West (a good friend of Anna's) allowed Anna to use the track Runaway from his album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (a-mazing album btw) whilst flouncing about in a Emilio Pucci gown and sexy corseted Roberto Cavalli dresses. She's also wearing Giuseppe Zanotti Swarovski choker and bracelets that have also been worn by Lady Gaga and eccentric headpieces by Alan Journo....Isn't that bottle just brilliant?! I've already made space for it on my parfum shelf.

The Scent of Anna Dello Russo will be released exclusively at yoox.com on the 3rd December

Who ate all the Tulle?

Aah I just love looking back through my archive of fashion magazines and images. It's awesome to look back at pictorials and collections from years ago and remember why you kept the images in the first place: just how creative the stylist has been, and how talented the photographer is, or how the model has worked her body in to the most amazing frame, how creative the make-up team were and how A-MAZING the designer is! Just found this Dazed & Confused pictorial in my ridiculously never-ending archive. Magdalena Frackowiak (one of my top 5 favourite models!) wearing Victor & Rolf SS'10...okay, so this one's not that old but still...just look at how brilliant these tulle explosions look. Fantastic.

Daisy Eau So Fresh : The new Marc Jacobs fragrance to be launched February 2011

Marc Jacobs is launching yet another reinterpretation of the original 'DAISY' in Feb 2011. The new fragrance 'Daisy Eau So Fresh', is a bright, floral, fruity fragrance with an exaggerated gold cap of six pink daisies that are soft to the touch finished with a burst of yellow daisies beneath. Top notes comprise ruby red grapefruit, raspberry, green leaves and pear, middle notes include violet, wild rose, apple blossom, lychee, jasmine petals and base notes comprise musks, plum and cedarwood. I'm looking forward to this one - a new addition to my spring scents...