My Lust List

Boxing Day sales have begun, 50% off signs are constantly popping up in every shop window and we are all spending more money than we would probably wish! I admit that this year I have taken things a little bit more easy in regard to going crazy bargain shopping. A few bits from Zara, a pair of jeans from J Brand, a dressing gown and that's about it really. But, if money was no object I would be splashing the cash in designer boutiques. Prada, Gucci, Fendi, Ralph Lauren, Chanel, Dior... the list is endless!  So here is my exclusive lust list, featuring my top 5 items I can only dream of sitting snugly in my wardrobe. 

A Fabulous Fendi coat

Okay, so let's not talk about the price just yet! Instead let's focus on the beautiful coat itself. If you're anti-fur then I suggest you skip straight onto the next item on my list, as this coat contains mink, shadow-fox, marble-fox, silver-fox, raccoon and goat fur. The patchwork detailing is so wonderfully put together and all the varying colours of the natural fur sit so well against each other. For me, this coat is the glam statement piece that lifts any outfit. Wearing it with boots and jeans is a great option or throwing it on in the evenings over a silk dress and sandals would look just as amazing. This particular coat has been fashion editors go to piece all season, featuring in numerous magazines worldwide, most recently in Vogue Japan under the watchful eyes of Anna Dello Russo. Fendi is famous for its fur, and this particular coat comes with a rather hefty price tag, £20,850 to be exact. Good news though, it has been reduced to only £12,510 on Matches.com! Somehow I can't justify spending all that money just yet.

A Givenchy leather jacket 

Ricardo Tisci is one of my favourite designers of all time. This year he celebrated 10 wonderful years at Givenchy under his creative direction, and the future looks increasingly bright for this visionary designer. But what I would really like from Givenchy is one of their iconic leather jackets, in a beautiful soft green colour. You really can't go wrong with Givenchy, and this jacket is a serious investment pieces. Imagine the soft nappa leather against your skin, paired with an amazing pair of blue jeans and black boots... just heaven! And of course, this being Givenchy the jacket doesn't come cheap, with Net-a-Porter selling it for £3450. Well, I'm down, what about you? 

The Philip Lim Ora boots 

It's fair to say that these boots are the shoe of the season. As soon as they appeared in the Autumn/winter 2015 catwalk show, Philip Lim's customers were literally queueing in line to purchase a pair of Oras. So what's the appeal? Well first of all, these boots aren't just your average winter riding boot. They are longer at the front and shorter at the back which is massive tick straight away, they come in a variety of amazing shades, they make your legs look longer and slimmer and they generally just look so sexy on. Kim Kardashian, Rita Ora and Chrissy Teigan can't get enough of them and neither can I! Unfortunately they are now all sold out in the UK, which is not surprising really, but I think it's pretty safe to say that after the popularity of this style Philip Lim will be sure to bring out something similar in his new collection. Well, he better! 

A Classic Celine handbag 

No serious wardrobe is complete without a Celine handbag. It's classic, sophisticated, timeless and oh so beautiful. It has long been one of the hottest and most practical designer handbags to own, with Sienna Miller, Olivia Palmero and Diane Kruger all fans of the style. It has been copied to death by the high street unfortunately, but this is bag that is Celine through and through. I would say go for classic black, but I like this bag in forest green and burgundy, and let's not get carried away with the two tone style. And the price is not too bad, bearing in mind this bag never goes on sale. £1461 is just a snip compared to the Fendi coat... 

  

A Geeky Gucci blouse 

I was a huge fan of Frida Giannini, the previous creative director of Gucci and was completely against their new head of womenswear Allesandro Michelle. However, I have warmed to the Autumn/winter 2015 collection so much that I would buy every single piece if I could! I love the lovely printed silk blouses in particular. 70s mixed with geek chic, cool but still stylish, these flouncy blouses looked amazing with knife pleated skirts and chunky loafers. Zara have really tried to capture the essence of Gucci with their current collection, mixing the rich greens, beiges and baby pinks together to create a sample of the brand. But for me, nothing beats the real thing and that Gucci blouse is high on my list of fashionable desires.

2015's Fashion Star: Gigi Hadid

2015 has definitely been the year of social media starlets blossoming into mega celebrity icons. From Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Hailey Baldwin, Bella Hadid, Brooklyn Beckham and a whole lot more, this year the younger generation has stepped into the spotlight, away from their famous family members and made a huge impact on, well basically everything!

But for me, the real star of 2015 in terms of fashion has to be Gigi Hadid. If you haven't heard of her, you must have literally been living under a rock for the past year, as this 20 year old has been making headlines again and again with her fashion week catwalk appearances, famous circle of celeb friends, scrutinizing love life and successful fashion career. She has topped best dressed lists everywhere, appeared on a number of international issues of Vogue, walked for Victoria's Secret, Marc Jacobs and DvF to name just a few, modeled for the famous Pirelli calender, became a Maybelline and Topshop ambassador and bagged herself Zayn Malik, all in 1 year. Oh yeah, and she has over 10 million followers on Instagram. Let's all toast to Gigi!

Jelena Noura 'Gigi' Hadid was born in California 1995, to Yolanda Foster (from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) and her wealthy father Mohamed Hadid. She began modelling at the tender age of 2 for Guess, but then later really focused on modelling in 2014 walking for several high profile designers. Growing up with the Jenner sisters and the Baldwins in the glitzy world of Beverly Hills, Gigi is often photographed with her tight circle of famous friends, who also include Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Karlie Kloss, as well as her younger sister Bella who has also followed Gigi into modelling. Representing the all American girl, Gigi has an amazing sense of style. I loved her look at Coachella with her white dress, headband and relaxed vibe, while her off duty model style which consists of her blonde hair scraped back into a messy bun, black leggings and an over sized coat is effortless and chic. Okay, so yes it helps that she's 5'10, slim and beautiful but she also carries fashion very well and has been well and truly accepted by the industry. 

At the Met Gala in May, Gigi dazzled in a plunging red Diane von Furstenberg dress, she chose a stunning Versace number for the Oscars after party in March and worked the paparazzi in a yellow frock at the VMA's, showing off her deep tan. Red carpet appearances just come so naturally for her. Her very revealing white gown at the AMFAR party in Cannes sparked a mini meltdown on Twitter as did her floor length dress at the American Music Awards, while her gold jumpsuit at the CFDA Awards was given the thumbs up by the fashion police, showing that conservative dressing is sometimes just as effective than just flashing the flesh. Even when out and about, Gigi always looks immaculate. She recently stepped out in an amazing camel outfit, with her mini dress, heeled shoes, sunglasses and coat, which was flung casually over her shoulders, all in the same beige shade.

On other occasions, you would probably see Gigi rushing across New York in a pair of ripped jeans and t-shirt, or maybe a sporty crop top and shorts. Maybe she inherited her fashionable genes from her mother Yolanda, also a former model, but whatever the reason when it comes to getting in right every time, Gigi has nailed it. While backstage at fashion shows, she looks comfortable and stylish in a roll neck jumper and leather leggings, make-up minimal and simple. Or even when hanging out with Lewis Hamilton at Formula 1, wearing a chic pair of white trousers and an asymmetric top, this young lady always plays it simple and scores every time. Her new cropped hair style also looks amazing, and it's only a matter of time before everyone copies her look.

So what is your favorite Gigi moment of 2015? There is definitely a lot to chose from, so I've put together some of my personal fav fashion moments, but you can be sure there will be plenty more for 2016.

Yellow, reds and oranges all work for Gigi

Pristine white adds to Gigi's year long Los Angeles glow

Out and about style

Vogue Japan: Sacred Tribes of Mont Cervin

Set in the mystic mountains of Matterhorn in Switzerland, the enchanting 'Scared Tribes of Mont Cervin' photo-shoot is absolutely stunning. I thought it appropriate to feature this particular editorial shoot as it fits in nicely with Christmas, with the vast winery landscapes, luxurious fur coats and warm layers of clothing. And of course, it is styled by my favourite fashion editor, Anna Dello Russo for the October 2015 issue of Vogue Japan, shot by Giampaulo Sgura.

Anna Selezneva features in the shoot along with Noma Han, decked out in an array of designers including Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Tom Ford, Dsquared2, Celine and Proenza Schouler. I love the styling, especially all the sumptuous layers of coats, dresses and stacks of jewellery. Dello Russo is definitely a maximalist and so the more drama the better. She always brings an element of cool to her editorials, like with the classic mirrored aviator sunglasses and jaunty bowler hats. There are action shots of Anna skiing and strolling along the snow decked Mont Cervin with Noma, not to mention the majestic German Shepherd who pops up in a couple of photos. There is a very clear tribal feel to the clothes, hence the title, with a sense of boho chic running throughout. You can imagine a jet set, ski resort fashion enthusiast jumping headfirst into these clothes with absolute ease.

With the Vogue Japan shoots, they always tell a story. Mont Cervin Palace is a luxurious hotel located in the midst of the Alps, in Zermatt. Surrounded by beautiful snow topped mountains, this resort was the perfect location for such a show stopping photo-shoot and makes you feel as though you are really there in the wilderness, wrapped in a Louis Vuitton white sheepskin coat. It's fair to say the partnership of Dello Russo and Sgura shows no signs of slowing down, especially when they keep on producing such visually stunning editorials. Take a trip through with Anna and Noma below...

Russia's First Lady - Miroslava Duma

Miroslava Duma is a street style icon. In fact I'm surprised I haven't featured her on the blog before, as her sense of fashion, style and elegance is like no others. From super cute mini dresses to sweeping Valentino maxis, charcoal grey suiting to head to toe Celine, there is literally nothing this woman can't wear. It's fair to say Miroslava is a lady who knows her Prada to her Balenciaga, with throngs of paparazzi waiting for the tiny Russian (she's only 5ft) to turn up at fashion shows in her jaw dropping, amazing outfits. She has tough competition from the likes of Italian Anna Dello Russo, but in my opinion, Ms Duma reigns supremely over them all.

For those of you who haven't heard of Miroslava, let me fill you in. Born in 1985 Surgut, Russia, Miroslava Mikheeva Duma was the daughter of a senator and had a privileged childhood in one of the most expensive regions in Russia. She began her fashion career as a writer for a number of high fashion magazines, including Russia's Harpers Bazaar, Vogue and Tatler. Even back then, her signature style and designer apparel caught the attention of street style photographers, such as Garance Dore and The Satorialist who regularly featured Duma on their blog, famously referring to Duma along with fellow Russian icons Ulyana Sergeenko, Vika Gazinskaya and Elena Perminova as the 'Russian Pack.'

But it was in 2011 that she really took fashion by storm with her online company Buro 24/7. "Its a kind of a bureau of information 24 hours, seven days a week", she explains. "It provides our readers with quality information 24/7, up to 25 updates a day, on cinema, music, art, culture, fashion, lifestyle, social life – everything." Since then, business has really taken off, propelling Duma into the spotlight everywhere she goes. With her website locally reaching 10 countries worldwide, she has become a firm fixture at fashion shows, showrooms, red carpet events and anything pretty much to do with luxury fashion really. Of course, it helps that she has an incredible wardrobe and is never seen in the same outfit twice, with go to designers being Moschino, Celine, Acne and Chanel. With her dark hair and petite features, Duma is never without a show stopping outfit. Grey fur coats paired with blue jeans and black boots, a warm woolly hat and skirt suit, an oversized pea coat with sky scraper heels, nobody could ever call Miroslava boring when it comes to her clothes.

So many colours, layers and textures rolled into one, she is the ultimate style icon. Even when she was pregnant, Miroslava never failed to disappoint (she has two children George and Anna with husband Aleksey Mikheev.) She threw on a bright red coat with a pair of strappy sandals and she was good to go. Or how about a khaki t-shirt and matching cigarette pant? Her sense of style is not provocative or over the top, in fact some could say its quite understated, but the manner in which she wears her clothes is ever so striking.

As an entrepreneur in the notoriously difficult world of fashion, Duma is an eloquent public speaker and religious attender of important fashion events. For someone so small her power in fashion is quite exceptional. Now she rubs shoulders with Ricardo Tisci, Rihanna and Olivia PalermoNo doubt her star will only rise, and her style will ever increasingly get better.

Check out Miroslava's Buro 24/7 here: http://www.buro247.co.uk/

Chanel Metiers d'Art 2016

Once a year, usually in December Chanel present their Metiers d'Art show, or in other words a resort collection. From Dubai to Dallas, Salzberg to India, Karl Lagerfeld has always pushed the boundries when it comes to his lavish Chanel settings, and this year was no different. Set in Teatro 5 in Rome, a authentic Parisian street was created in a studio which took a team 6 days to complete. It was magical and breathtaking, and lets not get started on the clothes which were extremely sexy for Chanel. Take a look through the photos and watch the show video above...

A Fashion Icon: Grace Kelly

I've seen quite a few Grace Kelly movies. Rear Window, High Society, Mogambo, To Catch a Thief, Dial M for Murder... classic films which propelled Kelly to renowned movie star status. In all of these films, and others which I didn't mention, one thing always stands out whenever Kelly is on screen - her immaculate style. Yes, you can say it's the work of her amazing stylist, but you also need charisma, elegance and beauty to wear such lovely costumes with style, and Grace Kelly was one of the most stylish women that ever lived.

Her blue, Grecian dress in To Catch a Thief, will go down in fashion film history as being one of the most famous and breathtaking dresses ever. With her blonde hair swept up upon her head, and a deep bronzed tan, Kelly looks like a goddess in that dress which cascades along the floor in layers of sweeping chiffon. The other strapless white dress she wears in the movie is equally as beautiful - photos of all the dresses mentioned are in this blog post.

Grace Kelly was considered the most beautiful woman in the world at one point, sorry Liz Taylor, and that certainly helps when it comes to fashion. Her role as Lisa Fremont in Rear Window saw Kelly wear some of the most gorgeous outfits ever. She plays Lisa, a glamorous fashion writer for Harpers Bazaar in the film, and has a wardrobe to match her stylish role, in the form of Dior silk skirts, netted box hats, slender pencil dresses and easy Capri pants that show off her slender frame. Some say that Grace wasn't a particularly good actress, and that her performances were wooden, lacked any sense of drama and was just a pretty face on screen. I disagree with that completely, as Kelly has starred in some of the most well known and recognized films of all time with her acting in them believable and authentic.

High Society is also another classic. Starring alongside Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, Grace dazzled as rich socialite Tracy Lord in this fun musical. Her wardrobe is a little more casual in this film compared to Rear Window, but she looks equally as glamorous. Kelly started off as a model in her teenage years, and so she has a certain elegance and poise which set her apart from other leading actresses at the time. In Mogambo, the romantic comedy set in Africa, compared to her co star Ava Gardner, anyone can see that Grace Kelly carries off any outfit amazingly well. Even when wearing dusty cargo pants and a simple white shirt, she does it with such style that it makes one want to dress just like her. She is a  fashion icon, and these beautiful photos prove it...

To Catch A Thief with Cary Grant

With Frank Sinatra in High Society

As Lisa Fermont in Rear Window, (above and below)