One To Watch: Aqua

In the market for a scorching new party dress? Like hemlines that you could get into a whole world of trouble in? Aqua are set to be your new favourite label, then.

Now, despite getting verbally bitchslapped from my good friend So Stylistic after I told you all about Nastygal.com (apparently there are some secrets too good to share), I'm stepping into the breach once again and revealing this shit-hot line of dresses. *cowers in fear of reproach*

This Northern label have just set up shop in Soho - if you heart Preen, Wang and even Lipsy, you'll adore their Gaga-meets-Barbarella aesthetic. Expect bold colour-blocking, cutout panels and a price point that will make you look twice. These are good-time-girl dresses that scream 'It's my birthday, wanna buy me a drink?'

Now what the hell's better than that?

Guess what I'm doing today?

Dressed To Impress, Spark These Bitches' Interest

To paraphrase Biggie Smalls, I bloody love Nasty Gal.com. Thankfully, my love is purely sartorial and has nothing to do with being a filthy ho-bag.

Firstly, let me apologise to any American readers - I have a feeling posting about this may be like you trying to tell UK bloggers about this cool new site you've found called ASOS. We in Blighty, however, have yet to find out about it so I'm lifting the lid.

Stocking Wildfox, Kain and Jeffery Campbell, it's like the best selection from Urban Outfitters spliced with the edgiest bits from ASOS. Cartoon-y coloured shades, body-con florals and 80s hats that would make Boy George proud - the whole site is a well-edited homage to that dishevelled, low-fi sexy thing that Erin Wasson does so well. It's perfect for all you Wangettes, Bess and Acne fans - their slouchy zipped totes and punky leather wedges have been lovingly ripped off (very well, I might add) and given a much friendlier price tag. They also have a cherry-picked vintage section AND they ship worldwide. The cat's out of the bag, my American cousins. Sorry.

Hello Lover...

The lovely Looking Fab in Your Forties has kindly bestowed upon me the Hello Lover tag - the idea being to post your 7 favourite pairs of shoes (*gasps* only seven?). I've managed to narrow it down (just) to the following…

I bagged these gold Brian Atwood sandals at a sample sale. I spent so long trying things on in the changing room that by the time I emerged they'd taken another 50% off everything. Who says procrastination doesn't pay?

I have a bit of a soft spot for 'ugly' heels and Marni's chunky clodhoppers generally fit the bill quite nicely. Super high but super comfortable, they're two of my prerequisites in a shoe!

Now, I love all my shoes with a passion, but I think that like any great loves, you only get 2 or 3 in your life if you're lucky. And for me, these lilac suede pumps from Topshop Unique were love at first sight. The colour, the floating platform, the deconstructed heel…*sighs*. Be still my beating heart.

I'm a firm believer that new shoes cure most of life's ills. I'm also a raving Wangette. Hence why when I got back from holiday I bought these Alexander Wang mules to cheer me up. Nice, hey?

Another Marni pair that I simply couldn't live without - I think they go with everything (even though they clearly don't). They also hold a special place in my heart as they are the first pair of designer shoes that I saved up and paid for myself. *Princess alert*. They were also the subject of a bit of controversy when Next completely ripped them off and I got so outraged that I actually wrote to Marni in the manner of an angry villager. Nothing came of it, though. I think I was secretly hoping they'd congratulate my dobbing-in of Next with a free skirt or something.

These sculptural Gil Carvalho for Faith bad boys are my version of Dorothy's ruby slippers. In the infamous words of Carrie Bradshaw: 'They pinch my feet. But I love them.' Anyway, I've learnt that if you persevere with shoes that render you crippled the first few times you wear them, they generally come around.

A girl always remembers her first pair of designer heels. Generously donated (and hardly worn) by my cousin, these black Chloe Paddington boots I wore so much I actually put a hole in the sole. I always thought it was an urban myth that you could do that but, lo, I managed it well enough. I've walked more miles in these babies than should ever be walked in a pair of Chloe boots.

I've sadly forgotten one of my very favourite pairs at work (my grey patent Stella McCartney wedges) so they'll have to be featured another time. I'm also pretty appalled that I'm yet to own a single pair of Louboutins. *slaps herself* Sorry, I'm veering into brat territory.

My fantasy shoes would be a pair from Nicholas Kirkwood, Charlotte Olympia or a very chic pair of Chanel ballerina flats. What's on your dream list?

I'm tagging the following:

Sartoriology

Platform Princess

Notes on the Highstreet

It's So Stylistic

Style By Queens

I Don't Like Bananas

Knock yourselves out ladies! xx

Hip To Be Square

There are few things in life I love more than fancy dress. One of them, however, is really bloody good fancy dress. I think you'll all agree that The Boy has totally outdone me here (I'd just like to point out that this is unprecedented), and where I look like I'm in a budget high school production of Grease, he looks like he's on his way to the Enchantment Under The Sea Dance. The really frightening thing is that he found everything he's wearing below under his own roof. And gee-whizz, doesn't he look swell?

Happiness is...

having a Goodfellas family. And by that I mean the raucousness, volume and insatiable appetite for gossip and meat, not the shovel-wielding “Funny. How??” blood-splattered-skinny-tie sort. Here are a few self-indulgent snaps from last Sunday's BBQ where we all ate sheftalia and grilled halloumi fresh from the village, laughed as the kids jumped into the pool fully clothed and talked (read: shouted) all at once but understood eachother perfectly.

The Secret Garden

I’m back in London now but my heart’s still in this little corner of my cousin’s Cypriot garden…

The Sweet Life

A family visit to Cyprus is always like the best holiday that money can buy - I can totally indulge my inner brat princess and get (literally) chauffer driven from mani/pedi to mall.

Last night the entire clan went for dinner at Little Buddha in downtown Nicosia - the perfect ending to an exhausting day of doing nothing.

Dress: Alice + Olivia, Clutch: Mogil, Shoes: Brian Atwood, Rings: Maison Martin Margiela, Watch: Rolex.

Summer Safari

I love that the spring/summer catwalks have dictated that I can dress up my old holiday pal; my battered, well-travelled khaki shorts. Last time I wore them was with a black tank and a vintage belt of my dad's to trek around the breathtaking ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (I admit it - I spent at least three-quarters of the time being Lara Croft in my head. The outfit was key in this.) These babies have ridden elephants in Malaysia and dinghies in Brazil, shot AK47s in Vietnam and now photos in Cyprus. Not bad for a lowly pair of 20 quid shorts from Warehouse.

In other news, I was told this morning that the unpronoucable Icelandic volcano has started erupting again - my adorable little cousins, in a bid to ensconce me here permanently, started doing a volcano dance in the garden. There was even a sign.

'Volcano Erupt'. Pithy and to the point. I like it.

An Ode To Packing

I haven't done a 'what's in your bag?' post for a long time and, as I'm currently enjoying sunnier climes, I thought I'd combine one with a beach theme. So, here are possibly the most important components of my holiday lugagge:

Bag: Chanel, Suncream: Clarins Rapid Tanning, Passport holder: Bombay Duck, Watch: Rolex, Bracelet: Gift, Face suncrem: Shiseido Sun Protection eyecream, Bronzing Powder: Bobbi Brown, Blotting Tissues: Paul & Joe, Face Aftersun: Clarins Replenishing for Face and Decollete, Hair Protector: Redken UV protector, Digital camera: Fuji, iPod Nano, Fedora: Marks & Spencer, Scarf: Vintage: Nailvarnish: Essie, Lipgloss: Chanel, Sunglasses: Dolce & Gabbana, Bikini: Marks & Spencer

What do you always pack for the beach?

I'm on Holiday!

I'm currently on a very well deserved holiday in the Med so apologies for the lack of posts. I plan on hanging out with my cousins, getting as brown as possible and, in true Greek style, eating a disproportionate amount of meat.