Fashions Night In

For those not paying attention Fashions Night In is happening right now. With just under 5 hours left to shop I am checking out the action.

*This is the first thing I found that I am tempted to buy.... Toy soldier cushions £20 from The Peanut Vendor. These are actually so cute, I am in love.




*Lily and Lionel are giving away a free bracelet with every order made before 8pm. Follow the link to shop www.lilyandlionel.com

*ASOS.com have just launched two new collections to get the party season started so go online to check it out.

*There is a Kate Moss exclusive from TOPSHOP.com. Dresses form her last ever Kate Moss for Topshop collection have gone on sale. I am loving this cape, though at £200 it is slightly on the pricey side.



Also loving this Tired Diamante Maxi Dress in cream. Again at £150 its more of an investment then a staple.



*If you check out vogue.com there are lots of discount codes for lots of online stores include at www.the-dressingroom.com where you can save 15% with the discount code VOGUEFNI

*For all the dreamers and rich people reading this be sure to take a peek at www.annoushka-jewellery.com The jewellery is just beautiful. I am in love with this ring....If anybody would like to lend me £2900 to buy it I would be very grateful!



*Be sure to check out www.my-wardrobe.com throughout this evening as many fashion insiders will be talking us through their wardrobes....not to be missed!

*Urban outfitters are also in on the action, offering 20% off women's coats with the discount code FNI. I am loving this Renewal Remade Trench and with the discount it is a bargain at £44.



*Also worth a look is www.wrightandteague.com Although a little pricey for a student, this Bee necklace at £250 is on my Christmas wish list.



*To see all the online retailers taking part as well as their discount codes and give aways please check out www.vogue.co.uk/fashions-night-in/participating-retailers I am going to continue writing my dream wish list and following whats happening while trying not to give into my compulsive shopping needs. Be sure to check it out.

-Rhianna.

Packing headache!

A few weeks ago I bought flights to Oslo for £5, the only catch being I can only take a hand luggage bag. At the time I thought it could be jokes but now I am actually rather concerned after seeing the size of my bag (check pictures below) and reading the November weather report (Average temperature -1c, Average low temperature -3c, Average snow fall days 9, Average sunshine hours 2) eekkk. I fly out on the 19th and fly back on the 22nd making me think the later you go the more likely it will be for snow! As well as booking flights to Oslo I got another flight for Stockholm in February where the weather is set to be more snowy, and a little colder....





... With limited packing space to say the least I am on the hunt for warm clothes that I can wear on the flight, and lots of layers to pack to keep my warm while away. This is actually going to be a challenge. I started today by trawling the shops all afternoon followed by a touch of online ogling and here are a few pieces I have on my shopping list!

Cable Over The Knee Socks £10 from TOPSHOP.



These will go perfectly over some opaque tights to add warmth with one of my wintry dresses. Plus they wont take much room in my little bag.


Knitted Chunky Stitch Cardigan £48 from TOPSHOP.



Not one for the case, this will be perfect for flying.


Waxed Duffle Coat With Quilted Lining £80 from ASOS.




I love this and not only will it keep my snugly warm but hopefully dry from any rain or snowfall.


Black Polar Bear Jumper £35 from Dorothy Perkins.



It may be too early to crack out my reindeer cardies but this polar bear jumper has got my in the wintry spirit, soo cute!


Black Super Skinny Jeans £25 from Dorothy Perkins.



These are the only jeans for me, they feel like leggings and fit perfectly plus they will look good with some chunky knitwear in the cold.


Leopard Print Earmuffs £2.99 from H&M.



These are such a bargain and will be easy to carry on my flights. Stylishly warm ears, yes please.


Flower Knit Headband £3.99 from New Look.



This is a cute alternative from a hat and will save the bad hat hair.


Pearl Trim Chunky Knit Beanie £5 from Matalan.



This is lovely and in case the head band is not enough will keep me nice a snug.


These essentials mixed with my current wardrobe will hopefully keep me snug in Oslo if I manage to wear and pack it all. Perhaps a little further shopping is in need. I'm pretty much envisioning a security alert as I look so dodgy with all my layers trundling through check in, or holding up airport security as I take my 8 layers off to go through the scanners. I have a feeling this could be one of my more interesting trips to date. Watch this space for a full report once I get back!

-Rhianna.

Fashion's Night In

I'm beginning to get really excited about vogue.com's 'Fashion's Night In' that is happening on November 1st. Following the success of Fashion's Night out in September, Vogue.com are bringing us all the best of online shopping with a "night of exciting and exclusive digital fashion events". As well as shopping, there is access to expert style advice, bespoke films and goodies bags are up for grabs. Its not all about indulging ourselves either, the night is raising money for KidsCo.which works therapeutically with vulnerable children and young people. A little less guilt from spending those last few pennies? I think so.

At the moment I am actually writing my dissertation about the use, development and future of online and digital shopping and how it may change the face of the high street. I have been busy writing theories, reading articles and industry reports, and had been beginning to bore of it, but this has actually got my quite engaged again. Its not so much the shopping but what Vogue.com is doing with it. The live event gives the shopping experience a more exciting feeling and with so many collection launches and new online retailers to discover its going to be good. Some of my favourite to look out for include; Belle and Sue., Cult Beauty, Fashion Bloodhound, Fox and Squirrel, Liberty and Think Boutique.

There is going to be something for everyone. I am planning on getting the girls round, opening some wine and spending a bit more of my student loan, ohh yess! If you haven't heard about it please visit www.vogue.co.uk to find out more. Happy shopping.

-Rhianna.

lottie loves

If you are looking for somewhere new to buy those Autumn must haves check out this site, www.lottieloves.co.uk. It was recently launched online and is full of stylish bargains. Here are a few of my favourite pieces.



Isla Heart Jumper £26



Dahlia Blue Paddington Coat £35



Lila Flying Jacket £38



Lily Fish Print Dress £20



Leila Lace Body £12



Bow Suspender Tights £8.50

To find out more about Lottie and her site please take a minute to look her up on facebook and twitter! Happy shopping.

-Rhianna.

new york new york!

Ok so I just landed back in the UK after the most amazing trip to New York City. It has been somewhere I have wanted to go for ages, and after this trip I definitely want to go back, not just for a trip but to live for a while. It is a city with so much character and I can imagine you going back time and time again and always finding something new to see or discover. It was definitely the best 21st birthday a girl could ask for, I was totally spoilt and fell in love with a beautiful city.

Here is a little diary of my time away.

Day one: After a long day travelling from home to New york via Montreal in Canada where we had a mini run in with U.S customs, we arrived in the city in the evening. We managed to find our way to our hotel using the public transport system which I was very impressed with ourselves for. We flew into LaGuardia which meant a bus ride and a subway ride followed by a mini trek with luggage in tow to get to our hotel which was by Madison Square Gardens. Once we had dropped off our bags we headed to times square for some food and tourist activities. The city that never sleeps really never does, we were up for so long and you sort of loose all sense of time. Days roll over into each other and its a weird little bubble that you live in.




Day two:

We headed downtown to the financial district to visit ground zero. There is a weird sense of stillness by the site where the twin towers stood which is weird because is is a bustling hive of activity with building work all around. As well as visiting the site, we went to the memorial museum. It had such an impact on me as some of the things in the museum show the true magnitude of what happened there. There was a plane window which was found in the rubble and a large piece of twisted iron as well as uniforms of firemen who died on 9/11 and torn clothing of people who had been there that day. Thinking of the human cost of 9/11 makes you realise the importance of the rebuilding of the world trade centre. By walking around the area you see the importance of this as the centre of a community.





After that we headed uptown to central park to take in the weather. It was such a beautiful afternoon to go for a walk in the city. Half way through Andy left me to it so he could go and watch football, typical man, but it was nice to have some time to myself to clarify my thoughts. The park itself is beautiful and changes constantly as you walk through it. Its a not to be missed part of new york! As i was walking I met some interesting characters, everyone was very friendly and it seemed like the happiest place in the city by far.



After this I met back up with Andy and we headed to the empire state building. We were hoping to be there at dusk so we could watch the sunset and the city light up but we were a little early. Still it was by far the most peaceful place in the city. To be in such a busy place and just feel calm and tranquil was such a weird sensation. The views were amazing, and you literally feel on top of the world. For anybody visiting the city for the first time this is definitely a place to go.




Following this and a little power nap we headed downtown again to little Italy to get some pizza. The restaurant we ate at was apparently where the first ever pizza parlour in new york was. The pizza was actually really good, and it was huge!! Great times.

Day Three:

My 21st birthday was going to be the best day of the trip, woken up with beautiful flowers and a birthday card telling me we were going on a shopping spree, but I got SO ill. I had the worst fever ever, and such a stiff neck/back/legs I spent the day in bed trying to sleep it off. Andy went out and would come back on check on me, it was horrible. But by the evening I was starting to feel a lot better, and was well enough to go to Broadway in the evening. Andy bought me tickets to see Mary Poppins for my birthday which was such a lovely gift and the show was really really good. After this we went for ice cream and met with a friend for drinks. It was so nice to see what the nightlife is like in different cities, and New york was definitely one of those places that has a warm evening feeling.




Day Four:

OK so we had to make up for missed time and headed straight to Soho for a spot of shopping. Its really nice to get away from the centre of the city and go to some smaller shops. Some of them are up and coming brands and some are well known but it is a nice mix of shops that give a lovely shopping experience. As well as this we went to the big department stores; Bloomingdale's, Bendles, Macy's, Bergdorf Goodman, Barnys etc. We also shopped our way along 5th avenue and hit some of the designer stores. Andy bought me a Micheal Kors gold watch which is absolutely beautiful. I also splashed some pennies and bought some Marc by Marc Jacob sunglasses. I also stocked up on summer dresses amongst other things. We literally shopped until we dropped and had to have a little nap before heading to the hard rock cafe for dinner. It was so nice to have a nice meal together. Afterwards we went for ice cream and then Andy took me on a horse a carriage ride of the city. We were planning on doing this on my birthday until I was ill so it was nice we still had time for it. Sometimes we forget that we need to take care of ourselves and this was one of those times that I got to treat myself and got spoilt too.





Day five:

On our last full day we made the most of being tourists y heading down town to go on a boat tour of the harbour and statue of liberty. It was suchhh a humid day so it was nice to be on the water and get a bit of breeze in our lives haha. It was really nice to be able to look at the city for a different view. The empire state building was amazing for this and made the city seam soo peaceful and I guess the boat tour did the same. Being put from the hustle and bustle it just looked like a bunch of still buildings, you couldn't see people or anything which was kind of creepy, kind of nice. After the tour we headed to the Chrysler building. Its supposed to have one of the best sky scraper lobbies in the city and we were not let down. It has a sort of Aztec feel to it, and was definitely worth a visit.





After a spot more shopping in Soho and a cheeky bit of gg spotting, we headed back downtown to walk across the Brooklyn bridge. Its supposed to be one of the most romantic places to watch the sunrise, but sunset was pretty amazing too. There was something so magical about that bridge that I can't quite get over. The structure of the bridge was so inspiring as were the views from it, especially with the sun going down on the city and I guess on our trip. If you go to New York, be sure to walk the bridge, it is amazing.







In our attempt to visit as much as the city as possible we headed to Chinatown for dinner. We ended up in a little Chinese restaurant which was very cute. The meals were massive and I had issues trying to identify what we were eating but it was very tasty and worth the munch. After a final trip to Times Square by evening we headed back to pack and sleep before our stupidly long trip home.

Day six:

We spent the last day shopping and trying to use up the last of our dollars. Shopping consisted mainly of Macy's. Bags, make up bags etc etc. Its kind of nice to just splash out on things and not have to think about the bills etc too. After 45 in the three story m and m shop, we had a final meal in an Irish pub in times square mainly so Andy could catch a bit more football.



Then began our log trip home. The trek to the airport followed by the worst flight of my life. An aircraft for 100 with just 15 passengers and one air hostess taking off as a massive NY storm rolled in. Worst turbulence ever, I literally screamed at one point where the plane went up and down fasten then a theme park ride. I put my head in Andy's lap and made him sing me silly songs. After an hour or so we landed in Ottawa in Canada to change flight. After dealing with customs and receiving a soaking wet suitcase we were ready to transfer to our flight home. A night flight complete with mid night dinner and morning muffin, nice. After landing back in heathrow and reporting bag damage done at Ottawa we were free to begin our trek home by train. Hours later and after watching an England world cup match we were finally home and able to relax after the best break away.



I will never forget my 21st birthday or my time in NYC. If you haven't been before you must put it on your list of trips to make. It is a place that will always mean something to me and has left me wondering, how can I top that next year?!

-Rhianna.

Hot to trot

Summer is slowly rearing its head making me very overly excited for the new seasons trends. I will certainly be hunting out some super pieces this summer to compliment my wardrobe. With the new season approaching it would only be appropriate to look at the latest trends to hit the high street and see how we can incorporate them into our lives. This is my summer 2010 trend report.

My top 10 trends for summer...

1. I am loving the idea of cycling shorts for this summer. So wrong in theory but something so lovable about them. Most of us remember them from our school days as a black, shiny, Lycra horror story, but these patterned, lace and sheer beauties could make a great alternative to leggings this summer, or work fabulously layered under short shorts. Team them simply with a long top and some sandals and you are good to go. Here are three of my favourite pairs all from Asos.

Lace Cycling shorts £28 (also available in Ivory)


Sheer Mesh Cycling shorts £48


Motel Baroque Cycling shorts £18



2. Always a lover of play suits and jumpsuits I am happy to see them make a welcome return to the stores. Whether it be a beautiful silk evening look or a casual jersey beach throw over we should all invest in at least one this summer. Dressed up with heels and a jacket, or dressed down with sandals and sunnies, get in on the action. I personally love these little numbers.

Wrap front jumpsuit £95 from Reiss


Cap sleeve playsuit £18 from boohoo.co.uk



3. Taking it to the max. The maxi dress is making a return this summer. For those of us that are not stick thin this is a welcome cover up for us this summer. Still light and airy as well as feminine maxis will be everywhere this season. They can be tricky to pull off but there is a maxi for everyone, no matter your size or height. For maximum flattery think about which colours or patterns suit your skin tone, perhaps consider a three quarter length maxi if the full length drowns you too much. Shop around for different shapes and necklines, and be brave. I will be rocking this catrionarose maxi this summer, modelled here by the beautiful Kate...

Available from catrionarose.com for £45


but I am also loving Olivia Reuben's take on the maxi available at www.oli.co.uk definitely worth a peek.


4. Pastels. Candy pinks, powder blues and just lilacs are everywhere this summer. Pastels can wash some of us out, but if you mix and match you can make them work for you. I find pastels a bit too girlie for my style, so I will be rocking them up perhaps with this tasseled leather jacket from mango. If you are really girlie, this trend will work with your look. Here is my pick of the pastel high street.

Blue ruffle skirt £12 from boohoo.co.uk


'Petal' colour dress £55.90 from Mango (also available in 'cloud' blue)


5.Ditsy floral. Dainty, cute and everywhere this is a trend for the girlie girls. Floral skirts, dresses and long tunics will make this summer feel feminine and fresh. Layer them up with girlie coloured cardigans and top with bows for the ultimate ditsy floral look. Think Luella meets Cath Kidson with a squeeze of bright. If you are not all sugar and spice and want to make this look a little less sweet, mix and match with denim jackets, or biker boots to give it a little punch. Boohoo.com is dripping in ditsy florals and with prices starting from £12, you are likely to find a real bargain.

Topshop have a beautiful corset top for £30 in a ditsy floral print, but if you are on a bit of a tight budget this one from Boohoo.com is very similar and less then half the price...

Ditsy floral corset top from Boohoo.com for just £12


6. Updated preppy. Think pinstripe, brogues, satchels and bows. Jack wills meets Zara meets Banana Republic with a twist of mulberry. I am loving this look, and it is perfect for the work place. Mix blazers with tailored shorts and silk blouses for the perfect city look. Burberry encapsulates everything this trend is but if you can't afford the high end things, here is the pick of the high street for this look.

Tan brogues £54.99 from schuh


'Mid blue adivat shoe' from Faith £60


These shoes fit with this look brilliantly.
Visit www.zara.com, www.radley.co.uk and www.banarepublic.com to shop this trend.


7. African prints and soft safari are everywhere this summer. Dora the explorer meets African princess give a beautiful international look. Simple tunic tops, printed maxis, and harem trousers can be topped with braided bangles, Sapphire beads and head wraps for a gorgeous summer look.

Topshop have a beautiful African maxi dress which sums up the international look perfectly and at £30 its a bargain. Visit www.topshop.com to get a look.

Also worth an investment is this African print dress, £28 from Asos.


Think Alexander McQueen meets high street to get the look.



8.Clean and bright and breezy white. We all remember Blair Waldorf at the white party in gossip girl in a beautiful white dress. This summer we should bear that image in mind and invest in lovely white garden party frocks for summer 2010. Unless you are a super woman, I would not recommend this for everyday wear, white is easily messed with. Keep dress for those early evening cocktail parties and mix white tops with dark bottoms to keep them as clean as possible. Whether it's romantic whites, or bright whites, let all invest this summer.

White foxy dress from Reiss £169


White trousers from Mango £49.90


White lace dress from Mango £69.90


9. Ruffles, ruffles, ruffles. Not just Luella style, but modern, artist ruffles also. Think architecture inspired ruffles, meets cute Luella garden party part ruffles and combine to the max. You don't have to go all out with this trend, as ruffles will speak for themselves, so keep it simple. I think this Miss Selfridge play suit captures this trend perfectly, as do these Luella dresses. If your not that bold, how about a simple Victoria Beckham number, there is a ruffle for everyone.

Lipsy have some beautiful ruffle dresses on their website which I recommend everyone visit, but I also love...

Reiss Katlin dress £169


Ruffle neck dress from New Look £12 also avaliable in different colours


Ruffled blouse from Matalan £16


10.Denim. Ankle length, boy fit, crop jeans, shorts, shirts, jackets, and skirts. Denim is everywhere this summer. Doubled up or single it is an easy way to give that outfit a casual touch. There are s many quirky denim items around at the moment. I am personally loving awkward length jeans with a geeky pristine fold. Traditional Levis just wont cut it any more, here is my pick of the high street.

Iggy Jeans £30 from Asos


Denim waistcoat from Boohoo.com £20


Patchwork denim short playsuit from Asos.com £35


Denim topped dress from Mango £64.90


What ever your style make this summers big trends work for you. Mix and match and shop the high street to get the best bargains out there. Try something new and remember to wear it with confidence, fashion is all about fun so don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.

-Rhianna.