There’s nothing like snow in January to make you start dreaming of sunnier climes!
The irony is that this time last month I would have embraced the snow and nestled in amongst the fire and Christmas decorations, turning up the Christmas tunes and wrapping gifts in complete contentment. Though now that it’s January, the struggle in and out of work, the lack of Starbucks Christmas cups and twinkling lights glittering against the snow just makes me wish for it to be spring already!!

The snow caused me to sit on one of the longest journeys home from work and after the first hour took to perusing my photos from 2012. Looking at them really underlined what a wonderful year it truly was and so inspired a few (slightly belated) resolutions for 2013;

1. Go back to Italy in summer. A cultural, visual, historical, creative and culinary spectacle-I love it to the hight of my heart! Prosecco overlooking the Duomo and/or a rooftop dinner across the street from the Coliseum are a definite must.

2. Make time to read more. There’s nothing more pleasurable than reading a book that has the ability to transport you to a new and unknown world. ‘ Books let us into their souls & lay open to us the secrets of our own’.
My new favourite book is The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey-one of the most beautifully written and magical books I’ve had the pleasure of reading in quite some time!

3. Continue to work in a field that I absolutely adore! Nothing inspires me more than the creative genius of the brands we sell and I cannot wait to see what the new seasons have to offer. It’s a gift to wake up excited every time a new season comes around and to watch the delight that our fashions bring to women everywhere.

4. Entertain more. There’s nothing quite like a night in with the girls to raise your spirits. This year I want to make use of my vintage china collection (one of my favourite things when I travel is to collect antique china-the beauty of my collection lies in the act that they are all so perfectly mis-matched and beautiful! I love to think which ladies in the past divulged their secrets over this same teacup!) and to hone my cooking skills. I’ve had the privilege of getting cookery lessons by The Merchant Hotel’s head chefs…..it would be plain rude not to build on this in 2013.

5. Take (way!!) more photos. I’m the worst person in the world for getting so absorbed in the moment that I forget to capture it as I go along. This year I’m definitely going to concentrate on capturing all of the joyful, strange and exotic experiences I come across as there are few memories I want to forget.

I guess all of the above can be captured in this perfectly apt quote;

Marchessa have quickly established themselves as the A-list fairy godmothers when any star wants her Cinderella moment.

Their creations are other-worldly and whimsical yet manage to be of the moment and fashion forward. I’m super excited to see who will be modelling their dresses over the coming weeks. Their Spring/Summer 2013 collections were heavily influenced by the Middle East. Think heavily beaded sari style gowns, in opulent jewel hues. Shrinkin violets need not apply.

Marchesa have consistently created some of the most memorable gowns of the last few years. I first became aware of them when Mischa Barton wore their rose-pink and gold embroidered corsage dress….im still just as in awe of this as when I saw it years ago.

The use of roses or floral in built corsages have become a signature look in their cocktail and formal dresses. Stacy Kiebler was the envy of every woman at last years Oscars in her molten gold rose stunner.

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And now they do bags!!

I’ve quickly swapped over from the festive season to Awards Season….Nothing gets me more excited than a glittering red carpet. Hollywood’s Award season is the perfect antidote to the January blues; chasing away those grey skies and empty bank accounts with lashings of lamé, swathes of chiffon and smatterings of sequins.
Sunday night saw the Golden Globes aka the official countdown to the most glamorous night of the year…..The Oscars!

The red carpet is the biggest indication of the new trends ahead for the coming season, hence why designers vie for the chance to dress the most in demand starlets-it’s a priceless platform on which to unveil their most stunning looks on the most stunning mannequins in the world.

So, for the next month, I will be focusing on all things glitz & glam Hollywood style and I couldn’t be more excited!

Jessica Alba stole the show at this years Globes in her tangerine dream of a dress, opting for a stunning statement diamond collar and contrasting red bag. The whole look is perfection, from the cut of the Oscar De La Renta gown (OMG that body!) to the perfect tangerine shade that makes her skin luminous…..only one word; WOW!

Another favourite of the night is Miranda Kerr’s deep mulberry gown. It’s both provocative and sophisticated with the slashed cut emphasising those never ending pins. Angelina, this is how to show leg!

Here are a few more of my favourite red carpet looks over the last few years:

In the red corner we have Natalie Portman’s stunning Rodarté creation, Halle Berry’s rosebud embellished Valentino dream and Nina Dobrev, breathtaking in Donna Karan. Red is renowned for getting a girl noticed, but these scene-stealers take it to new levels!

Taking it down a few notches from va-va -voom to very very prettiful, we have a few pastel choices. Charlie Theron looks like an Earth Angel in her wispy blush pink Dior, somehow achieving the impossible by managing to look positively angelic in a low-cut, thigh split gown; Ms Alba dazzles in this jewel encrusted Gucci dress and January Jones stuns in the clean lines of her cool mint Versace. These are exactly what we like to see our stars in……the best stars are those that shine brightest after all!

Wearing white on the red carpet can often verge on stepping into bridal territory, but these next two looks, give white a complete overhaul. Words cannot express how hard I fell when I fell in love with Natalie Portman’s origami inspired Givenchy cocktail gown. It’s rare to see something so unique, fun and totally fabulous. Natalie wore this over 5 years ago and yet there has never been anything quite like it since. Love!
And special recognition must be given to Eva Mendes who used her white Dior gown as a blank canvas to offset her statement diamond, turquoise and coral masterpiece. Absolute perfection.