Tune Tape Tuesdays #43

As some of you might be aware, the great Sleeping Beauty baddie Maleficent's biopic is out today. So to celebrate, I've put together a wickedly addictive collection of tunes for you to jam along to. I promise this isn't an excuse for being three days late on delivering the goods…ahem. As usual, Top Tracks are as follows:


Top Tracks

1. Once Upon A Dream - Lana Del Rey. That's right, Miss Del Rey's talents have once again been employed on a big blockbuster soundtrack. And, to be fair, I couldn't think of a better person to cover the Sleeping Beauty theme tune of Once Upon A Dream than Lana. She puts in just enough brooding sexiness to turn what was once a popular music box melody into a dark and haunting ballad. Nice work.
2. Deckchairs on the Moon - Bipolar Sunshine. I've covered a few of Bipolar Sunshine's tracks before (Drowning Butterflies and Rivers), but this new tune is by far my favourite. With vocals that continue to impress, this song will have you on track for Summer (or a rather mild Winter, in my case). Lie back and soak it up.
3. Say You'll Be There (Daniele di Martino Remix) - Mø. Mø seems to lend himself to being remixed. First, I covered Yen Sleep's remix of his track, Maiden, then MS MR's rework of Pilgrim. Now he's back with his version of the Spice Girls' 90's classic, Say You'll Be There. Guaranteed to change your view on the song forever.




Love,
Belle x

Wish List Mondays #46

Whether you're Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, or Fran Drescher in The Nanny, there's no denying that separates are big this season. For those of you unfamiliar with Fran, The Nanny was one of my most treasured 90's TV shows, and centred around a loud-mouthed New Yorker with a passion for [bad] fashion who becomes an accidental nanny to an Upper-East Side family. Unfortunately I don't think it made the leap onto British TV screens, so it had been about 12 years since I last watched an episode. Thankfully Australian television is still 12 years behind the rest of the world and still plays it on daytime. Yet, what once seemed like the most ridiculous two-pieces, are now not looking so bad, thanks to the recent resurgence in popularity of everything 90's. Take a look…

Although there's no denying how much I love Fran, I decided to go for more, shall we say, 'demure' separates for this week's Wish List. Think Audrey Hepburn 1950's Riviera chic. And as an outfit is only as good as the accessories you wear it with, I've suggested some stuff to pair it with. It's just like playing with Barbie.

1. iPad Mini in Silver, Apple Store, from $479. Up the creek without an iPad, here.
2. 'Highbury' White Heeled Sandals, ASOS, $82. White Hot, here.
3. Rapture Cat Eye Acetate Sunglasses by Le Specs, Net-a-Porter, $57. Specs Appeal, here.
4. Speckled Backpack by Hype, ASOS, $49. Don't believe it, here.
5. Marilu Woven Clutch by Sophie Anderson, Matches Fashion, $224. Dream-Woven, here.
6. Broderie Anglaise Shirt by Christopher Kane, Net-a-Porter, $877. Citizen Kane, here.
7. Arizona White Flat Sandals by Birkenstock, ASOS, $98. Raising Arizona, here. 
8. White & Gold Aztec Bangle by House of Harlow, The Iconic, $69. Go out with a bangle, here.
9. Reversible Crochet-Knit Headband by Missoni, Net-a-Porter, $99. Flip Reverse It, here.
10. Broderie Anglaise Skirt by Christopher Kane, Net-a-Porter, $806. Broderie before Hosiery, here. 
11. Medium Jet Set Centre-Stripe Travel Tote, Michael Kors, USD$298. Jet Set Go, here.
12. White Block Heel Cleated Sole Sandals by River Island, The Iconic, $110. Sole Sisters, here.
13. Olive Taupe Suede Woven Wedges, Office, £36. Don't be Suede, here.
14. England's Glory Imperial Matchbox Clutch by Anya Hindmarch, Matches Fashion, $2,181. Little Matchbox Girl, here.
15. Lady Ibiza Toquilla Straw Sunhat by Sensi Studio, Net-a-Porter, $231. Last Straw, here.


If after all that, you're still hankering for a piece of Fran's closet, I got something you might like. What can I say, I'm a people pleaser.

1. a) Jacket in Floral Print and Embellishment, ASOS, $118.
b) Shorts in Floral Print and Embellishment, ASOS, $78. 
Buy both here.
2. a) Petite Blue Leaf Print Woven Tshirt by Girls on Film, ASOS, $47. Buy it here.

b) Petite Blue Leaf Print Skort by Girls on Film, ASOS, $39. Buy it here.
3. a) Geo Cropped Boxy Shirt by Warehouse, ASOS, $69. Buy it here.
b) Geo Soft Shorts by Warehouse, ASOS, $63. Buy them here.
4. a) Cherub Mesh Sweatshirt by The Laden Showroom x Salle de la Lune, ASOS, $108.
b) Cherub Skater Skirt by The Laden Showroom x Salle de la Lune, ASOS, $108. 
Buy both here.
5. a) Striped Jumper with Contrast Band, ASOS, $47. 
b) Skirt in Striped Knit with Contrast Band, ASOS, $59. 
Buy both here.
6. a) Diamond Print Sweatshirt by The Laden Showroom x Salle de la Lune, ASOS, $108.
b) Diamond Print Skater Skirt by The Laden Showroom x Salle de la Lune, ASOS, $108. 
Buy both here.


Until next time, Fashion Friends.

Love,
Belle x

Tune Tape Tuesdays #42

The main way I communicate is through music. It's generally the first thing I bond with people over, and - judgemental as it is - how I rate them. It's always been a huge part of my life, acting as the soundtrack to every month, season, and year since I was a youngster. So it seems only fair to share with you all the music that has got me through the last few weeks, in which I've pretty much turned my whole life on its head, and relocated to Sydney. Having been over here little over a month, I can say with some confidence that Aussies are really quite the discerning listener. They take tremendous pride in top-trumping you with their latest finds, and where once I was the sole DJ at house parties, I'm now vying for the aux cable with about ten others. 

So with no further ado, and no one to compete with on my own blog (psyche!), I give you the first Tune Tape from Down Under…

Top Tracks
1. Stay With Me (Rainer + Grimm Remix) - Sam Smith. We've all heard the original on Radio 1 or Australia's Triple J equivalent by now - Sam Smith, who shot to fame on the back of Disclosure's huge single Latch has given up featuring and started soloing. With moderate success, I might add. Except he's being marketed as a younger, slightly less handsome Michael Bublé. Which is kinda whack, because he's actually pretty awesome. Instead of putting some commercial club beat on the track, Rainer & Grimm have striped back the already (in my opinion) over-produced original and just made it one hell of a happy song. Roll down the windows and head to the beach - better make the most of that 23 Degree heatwave, eh UK…
2. Cocaine Model - Zhu. Zhu's stuff has been making background waves for some months now. It's original-sounding, yet not too up itself for it to be fairly easy-listening. If the title of the track isn't enough to get your attention, the line 'It's Isabel Marant, I got everything you want' should do the trick. Pure magic. Perfect your 'House Party Head Nod' to this track.
3. Depth Over Distance (Tale Cooper Edit) - Ben Howard. I've been a big fan of Ben's ever since his first album dropped in 2011. He's recently released a studio version of Depth Over Distance which is beautifully raw and alive, which in turn has been picked up by a number of DJs. Tale Cooper's Edit of the track is sensational. Keeping relatively close to the original edit of the song, he really makes Ben's vocals and lyrics the star of the show, spotlighting them with some subtle yet evocative backing beats and loops. The ultimate track to get lost in.




That's all folks! I'll be back with more next week. Until then…

Love,
Belle x

Wish List Monday #45

While London has its Bohemians, Paris owns Minimal Chic, and New York has practically trademarked Carrie Bradshaw and Blair Waldorf, there is a different style of fashionista that pounds the sun-drenched pavements of Sydney's inner Eastern Suburbs: The Urbanite. Over the last month, I've observed these graceful creatures and well, rather admired them actually. The Urbanite seamlessly combines the 'care-less' attitude and style of Grunge with tailored androgyny only found on the catwalks of YSL and Givenchy. Women with perfectly tousled bed-hair slink past you in leather pants, an oversized Tee, chunky boots and a silk blazer, serenely sipping on a wheatgrass smoothie as their Ray Bans glint in the sunlight. Somehow, my fail-safe combo of Air Max, skinny jeans and a boyfriend jumper ain't gonna cut it no more. Well If I can't beat the bitches, I'm gonna have to join them. 

Queue the First Ever Down Under Wish List Monday… 

All Prices Shown are in Australian Dollars…because I, like, live here now.

1. Double-Faced Wool-Blend Jacket by Chloé, Net-a-Porter, $2,298. Face Off, here.
2. Cut-Out Back Stretch-Cady Dress by Alexander Wang, Net-a-Porter, $862. Cut it out, here.
3. Cameron Washed-Silk Top by Equipment, Net-a-Porter, $303. Whitewashed, here.
4. Skinny Leather Pants by Acne Studios, Net-a-Porter, $1,675. Skinny Minnie, here.
5. Cat Eye Sunglasses in Peach by Vans, ASOS, $29. Cat got the (Peaches and) Cream, here.
6. Ripped Boyfriend Jeans, Zara, $54. Rip your heart out, here.
7. Suede Fringe Shoulder Bag, ASOS, $78. On the fringe, here.
8. Leather Belt by Miu Miu, Net-a-Porter, $306. You can belt on it, here.
9. 'Keon' by Lipstik Online, The Iconic, $80. Keon on you, here.
10. Riley III by Senso, The Iconic, $259. Third time lucky, here.


Love,
Belle x

Tune Tape Tuesdays #41

So remember that shaggy-haired Scottish lad, Paolo Nutini, who had hits a few years back with Last Request and Candy? Well he's back, and has somehow transformed from gawky teen to bone fide stud muffin. Check out his newest single, Iron Sky, recorded live at Abbey Road Studios.

This week, in an attempt at an apology for my absence over the last month, I have put together the biggest Tune Tape in LBeLB history. Coming in at a massive 38 tracks and lasting nearly 3 hours, it's a comprehensive list of all things great and good happening in the world of music at the moment. Enjoy.

Top Picks
1. Midnight - Coldplay. It ain't no lie that I love Coldplay. Recently they released their track for The Hunger Games - Catching Fire Soundtrack, but in my opinion, Midnight is the far more powerful tune. Going down a more electronica-sounding route, it's a slow burner (unlike their earlier, more commercial material) but I guarantee it'll haunt you with its beautiful, restrained and subtle composition. 

2. Go Crazy (Jeezy Cover) - Paul Conrad. Born out of the Radio 1 Live Lounge (or for my Aussie viewers, Triple J's Like a Version), there seems to be a growing trend in the Indie scene of late: taking lewdly explicit HipHop tracks (usually about bitches and hoes) and magicking them in to pieces that can actually move you - like, emotionally 'n shit. First it was Florence + The Machine who did a cover of Drake & Rihanna's Take Care (which was actually a cover of Gil Scott-Heron's I'll Take Care of You, just showing off...). Then Chet Faker came out with his version of No Diggity (originally by Blackstreet). This week, I've absolutely fallen for Paul Conrad's cover of Jeezy's Go Crazy. His vocals are absolute magic, a complete contrast to the original, yet he manages to keep the gritty sexiness of Jeezy's track - with none of the smut. Play on, player.

3. Slow Down - EMBRZ. I've been listening to this song for nearly a month now. A month that has been, shall we say, a little up and down in terms of emotion and sentiment. Yet this song seems to work in every situation. On the bus to work, late at night when you're awake and feeling sorry for yourself, making dinner, entertaining friends… You name it. Try it, you won't be disappointed - it really is a cure-all.




Love,
Belle x

Wish List Mondays #44

In every women's magazine in the world, there exists a page in which a celebrity - usually the current face for a cosmetics company - dissects her makeup bag for us mere mortals to copy. Coincidently, most of the items in there are made by the cosmetics company they model for. Funny that. I don't know why, but I've always wanted to feature in one of those pages. So I thought I'd make my own dream come true and unpack my makeup bag for all to see. Who knows, perhaps they'll kick Cara Delevingne off the YSL campaign and hire me instead. Stranger things have happened. 

1. Touche Éclat in No 2 by Yves Saint Laurent, Selfridges, £25. Available here.
2. Eight Hour Cream Intensive Lip Repair Balm by Elizabeth Arden, Net-a-Porter, £20. Available here.
3. DiorBlush Cheek Creme by Christian Dior, FeelUnique.com, £24. Available here.
4. Baby Doll Mascara by Yves Saint Laurent, Selfridges, £25. Available here.
5. Bright Red Shiny Goat Makeup Case, Mulberry, £210. Available here.
6. Super Tan Instant Self Tan, ModelCo, £28. Available here.
7. Frame & Define Brow Styler by bareMinerals, ASOS, £13. Available here.
8. Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil by Rimmel London, ASOS, £3. Available here.
9. Alexa Chung for Eyeko Limited Edition 'Eye Do' Set, ASOS, £35. Available here.
10. Tinted Moisturiser in Bisque by Laura Mercier, Net-a-Porter, £33. Available here.
11. Terracotta Moisturising Bronzing Powder in 00 by Guerlain, Selfridges, £35. Available here.
12. Old Hollywood Eye Palette by Bobbi Brown, Selfridges, £59. Available here.
13. Michael Kors Women 30ml Eau de Toilette by Michael Kors, Debenhams, £38. Available here.
14. Diorific Lipstick in Dolce Vita by Christian Dior, Selfridges, £26. Available here.


Love,

Belle x

Wish List Mondays #43

So I have a confession to make. In my absence, I'm afraid I've turned into a member of society that I used to rather enjoy heaping distain upon: the Gym-Goer. Yes, somewhat of a transformation has been made, and I now frequently find myself power walking through the darkness of the early mornings to the warm, fluorescent lights of my local bodily temple. It may have been the fear of the 'Fresher 10' at work, or the guilt of indulging in a particularly 'wet' January, but I now have a whole new type of wardrobe to attract my wishful gaze. Million Dollar Baby, I may not be in practice, but surely I get points for looking the part… No?

1. Link Design Black Crew Neck Sweater, Stüssy, €69. Don't break a sweat, here.
2. Acrylic Wash Beanie Hat by Carhartt, ASOS, £20. Beanie Baby, here.
3. Women's Clima Training Hoodie, Adidas, £41. Hood Rat, here.
4. Coral Sports Bra, H&M, £10. Bra-vo, here.
5. Reversible Yoga Leggings, Sweaty Betty, £70. Flip Reverse It, here.
6. Grey Yoga Trousers, H&M, £13. Fade to Grey, here.
7. Shakedown Workout Shorts, Sweaty Betty, £39. Hey Shortie, here.
8. Slendertone Flex Max Unisex Toning Belt, Boots, £90. Belt One Out, here.
9. Pro Training Glove by Lonsdale, Sports Direct, £15. Knock Em Down, here.
10. Leather, Suede and Mesh Sneakers by MM6 Maison Martin Margiela, £260. Let's Get Mesh-y, here.
11. Pink/Charcoal Eco Yoga Mat, Sweaty Betty, £39. Yoga-ba Gaba, here.
12. Flyknit Air Max, Nike, £180. Get Some Air, here.


Over and out - this Gym Bunny's got an early start.

Love,
Belle x

Tune Tape Tuesdays #40

Tune Tape Tuesdays returns in 2014 with some cracking tracks to get you through those January blues. What with Christmas, New Year and the wet weather that forces you to pay for the bus to work, I'm betting most of you are feeling pretty skint. Well you're in luck, because most of the following tracks are available for free download (or all of them, if you know a trick or two). As I'm tired, overworked and underpaid, I'm going to make my part here as short and sweet as possible so you can skip on to the important part - aka the music.

Top Picks this Week are as follows:

1. Gold - James Vincent McMorrow. JVM is back and better than ever. Following his initial new release, Cavalier, Gold sees him return to what he does best - a beautiful track with chilling vocals and a riff from the horn section that will have you spinning in the pouring rain like a scene from a particularly clichéd romantic comedy. Don't fight it.

2. Real - Years & Years. This new band have hit it out of the park with their second single, Real. One for those of you whose dinner parties frequently turn into all of you dancing around the living room, this track will transform your evening from sophisticated to spirited in one swift step. 

3. I Got U - Duke Dumont feat. Jax Jones. Now normally I stay fairly clear of any track that features text abbreviation in its title as they more often than not turn out to be a cringe-worthy House-Pop track blaring out of a sticky-floored club at 2 in the morning. But the steel drums and summer-vibe make this track are just about cool enough to make up for it. I predict a future Soundtrack to Summer favourite.




LBeLB is back, baby - C U Next Tuesday (literally).

Love,
Belle x

Wish List Mondays #43 - Think Pink

There exists a kind of 'friend' present on everybody's Facebook; you met them once or twice at a party about 8 years ago, probably had quite a good night, and then never saw them again - apart from on your News Feed. Simply put, they are 'Somebodies That You Used To Know'. Over recent years, I've been pretty diligent about having regular clear-outs of these anomalies, but there are two boys I've never quite been able to trash. Their names are Luke and Jamie. I met them on a ski trip when I was 16. They were 15, and complete shits. But as I'm writing this, they're halfway across the Atlantic in a souped-up rowing boat, the two youngest men ever to attempt such a feat. And they're doing it in the name of Breast Cancer Care. 

Now I have to admit, I've never been one to pay much attention to friends' and acquaintances' virtual charity muggings - demanding you to sponsor their morning walk for No-One-Gives-a-Shit Aid. But these two guys, who I never really knew, are an absolute inspiration. Not only have they raised over £160,000 for Breast Cancer Care, they've also given a new face to what has previously been a relatively mature, female-centric charity. At this point, they've been at sea nearly 7 weeks, updating their Facebook Page with honest and moving posts on their gruelling endeavour. If you can, please donate whatever you can afford to their Just Giving page. You can find out a bit more about the boys and their journey through their Website.

As a small act of appreciation for the way two teenage brats morphed into inspirational young men, I'm dedicating the first Wish List of 2014 to pink, the official colour of Breast Cancer Care. 

1. 'Sophie' Pink & White Stripe Dress by Jones and Jones, Topshop, £60. Buy it here.

2. Vesper Bead-Embellished Woven Silk Top by Tory Burch, Net-a-Porter, £340. Buy it here.

3. Light Pink Cropped Jumper, River Island, £30. Buy it here.

4. Double Jewel Earrings, ASOS, £10. Buy them here.

5. Pink Wool Boyfriend Coat, Miss Selfridge, £79. Buy it here.

6. Cotton-Blend Piqué Skinny Pants by Moschino Cheap and Chic, Net-a-Porter, £255. Buy them here.

7. Classic Southampton Ladies Watch, Daniel Wellington, £129. Buy it here.

8. Check Boucle Pelmet Skirt, Topshop, £40. Buy it here.

9. Knitted Crystal Stud Jumper, Topshop, £46. Buy it here.

10. 'On Top' Light Pink Courts, Office, £65. Buy them here.

11. Miss Dior Bag in Rose Poudre Lambskin, Dior, £POA. Buy it

through here.

12. Neon Pink Low Chuck Taylors by Converse, Kurt Geiger, £35 (was £50). Buy them here.

13. Lilo Oversize Square Sunglasses, Topshop, £16. Buy them here.

Love,

Belle x

Wish List Mondays #42 - Date Night

Whether it's a blind or a double, a first or a last, or some kind of weird Tinder/eharmony/potential catfish situation, most girls get anxious over what to wear on a date. We all want to exude sex appeal, but unless you're turning up to a date at a fetish swingers club, we don't want to look slutty. We want to appear like we haven't given this outfit much thought at all, yet we want to look like we've put some effort towards looking nice. Once you've gotten your head around that, you then have to tailor your outfit towards what kind of date environment you will be experiencing: outdoor or indoor - of which the latter can be either super-smart, or "smart-cashe" (smart-casual.). I've been dating for approximately a third of my lifetime. And while this makes me no expert on 'dating' per-se, I think I've pretty much grasped the basics of a good date outfit. I've tried to cover the three main date situ's (L-R): Outdoor (think Bonfire Night or a Christmas Market), Indoor-Restaurant (food=bloating=loose fitting top), Indoor-Swanky Cocktail Bar (LBD's are so last decade; LWD's are where it's at). So with no further ado, I give you the three wardrobe outlines to your perfect date outfit. Ah, l'amour…

The Outdoor Activity Date
1. Tall Crystal Stud Jumper, Topshop, £46. Help me crystallise, here.
4. Veronica Tartan Wool Mini-Skirt by Karl Lagerfeld, Net-a-Porter, £200. Mini Monochrome, here.
6. Tall Hooded Lightweight Jacket, Topshop, £60. Blackjack(-et), here.
11. 'Aubrey2' Suede Cutout Boots, Topshop, £78. A cut above, here.
12. 100 Dernier Control-Top Tights, H&M, £8. Control freak, here.

The Restaurant Date
2. Tall Satin Cami, Topshop, £20. Red Dead Redemption, here.
5. Super Skinny Super Low Jeans, H&M, £30. Skinny Minny, here.
9. Minaudiére with Zip, Zara, £26. Zip it, here.
13. Leopard-Print Calf-Hair and PVC Pumps by Gianvito Rossi, Net-a-Porter, £520. Pump it up, here.
14. Premium Cubic Zirconia Studs, Topshop, £16. Stud muffin, here.

The 'Money no Object' Date
3. Faux Pearl-Embellished Knitted Dress by Alexander McQueen, Net-a-Porter, £1,725. (Faux) Pearls of Wisdom, here.
7. La Laque Couture Nail Polish in Rouge Pop Art by Yves Saint Laurent, Selfridges, £18. Nailed it, here.
8. Body Glow by NARS, Selfridges, £44. Rock your body (glow), here.
11. Dolce Embellished Brocade Clutch by Dolce & Gabbana, Net-a-Porter, £895. Dolce Vita, here.
15. Pinky Twist 18-Carat Gold Diamond Ring by Halleh, Net-a-Porter, £1,250. Diamonds are a girl's best friend, here.
16. High Heel Strappy Sandals, Zara, £60. Golden girl, here.


Good luck on your quests for love, lust, and everything in-between.

Love,
Belle

Wish List Monday #41

"Hey Jude, don't make it bad." If you have a window, or a roof, you might have noticed 'St Jude' the hurricane that's thundered over the UK for the last 24 hours. In times like this, there is only one thing to do. Turn up the heating, stock up on trashy movies and TV shows, and slip into some comfy clothes that won't judge you on the amount of bulk-bought chocolate you will be eating. 

1. Moon Intarsia Cashmere Pants by Chinti and Parker, Net-a-Porter, £350. Over the moon, here.
2. Polo Bear Sweater, Polo Ralph Lauren, £255. Grin and bear it, here.
3. Coco Ivory Silk Crepe de Chine Pyjama Set by Olivia von Halle, Net-a-Porter, £330. Coco Mademoiselle, here.
4. Overknee Socks, H&M, £6. Sock it to them, here.
5. Obey Record Label Cushion by Obey, Urban Outfitters, £40. Put a record on, here.
6. Soft Check Scarf, Topshop, £18. Check mate, here.
7. Trochilus Boost Printed Sneakers by Stella McCartney for Adidas, Net-a-Porter, £250. Jeepers sneakers, here.
8. Jocelin Shearling Buckle Boot by UGG Australia, Office, £160. Boot-y call, here.
9. Knitted Hat with Faux-Fur PomPom, H&M, £8. Hat trick, here.


My sympathy goes out to anyone who's property or family have been harmed by St Jude. Hurricanes suck, yo.

Love,
Belle x

Wish List Mondays #40

After a 4-month period of dust-settling and adjustment following a complete life-overhaul, it looks like Wish List Mondays is finally coming to you on...a Monday. Pretty rad, huh. Yep, it's taken me this long to finally accept the organisational responsibilities of a person who resembles an adult (yet refuses to act like one). So forgive me for boasting that I actually researched this post over the weekend, and am now fervishly writing it in my lunch hour. All I need is Dolly Parton's Nine to Five playing in the background and my Devil Wears Prada-esque mental work montage would be complete.

Let's face it. The weather's shit. Winter's coming. And you're eating too much. What better way to distract yourself from the reality of a Bridget Jones existence than with a large injection of pattern into your wardrobe. (I could actually think of better distractions, but for the sake of younger readers I'll keep my thoughts to myself for now.) Get ready, ladies, your outfits are about to trip out...

1. Heart-Print Shirt, Topshop, £32. Burberry rip-off, here.
2. Navy Check Romper Suit, Topshop, £36. Check it out, here.
3. Monochrome Jacquard Coat, Zara, £70. Jac(quard) and Jill, here.
4. Printed Scuba Skirt, H&M, £35. "Scuba party", here.
5. Knitted Rabbit Print Jumper, Topshop, £48. Hopping mad, here.
6. Juno-Striped Insect Print Silk Tshirt by Mother of Pearl, Net-a-Porter, £295. Pearl of wisdom, here.
7. Dolce Medium Ayers-Trimmed Embellished Bag by Dolce & Gabbana, Net-a-Porter, £2,560. All that glitters, here.
8. Furry Leather Plimsol with Tassels, Zara, £70. Hot fuzz, here.
9. Two-Sided Soft Scarf, Zara, £20. Two-faced, here.


And if you're feeling really indulgent, why not buy yourself a fucking crown. Here's one I want:

Gold-Plated Swarovski Crystal Crown by Dolce & Gabbana, Net-a-Porter, £2,060.

Now Sold Out. Must be a lot of princesses about.

Love,

Belle x

Tune Tape Tuesdays #37, #38 & #39

TUNE TAPE TUESDAY IS BACK! After over a month of no-show, I'm back with all the music you've missed. That's a blockbusting THREE Tune Tapes at once. That's around 70 new tracks to get your teeth into. So with no further ado, let's get cracking.

Continuing on the theme of threes, I thought this week I'd pick out three stand-out tracks from each week of missed Tune Tapes. So, y'know, I'm giving something back. Rather than go into a long ramble about WHY they're awesome, I'm just going to list them. Because a) it's a bit pretentious, and b) it's time-consuming and I'm lazy. Besides, I'm giving you a shedload of new Tunes - ain't no normal person got time fo' dat!


Tune Tape Tuesdays #37

Top Tracks
1. Satellite Stories - Campfire
2. Brodinski ft. Theophilus London - Gimme Back the Night
3. Bondax - Giving It All (Joe Goddard Remix)


Tune Tape Tuesdays #38

Top Tracks
1. Ludovico Einaudi - Walk (Phaeleh Remix)
2. Lorde - Million Dollar Bills (Easy Girl Remix)
3. Jake Bugg - Broken




Tune Tape Tuesdays #39

Top Tracks
1. The Paper Kites - St Clarity
2. Pr0files - Call Yourself a Lover
3. Lorde - Buzzcut Season




Well. That should keep you going for a while. If anyone is still having problems with loading these - Internet explorers crashing etc - then just let me know.

Love,
Belle x

Wish List Mondays #39

As Ned Stark would tell you, "Winter, is coming". And in the fashion world, that can only mean one thing: new boots. This statement is none the less true even though I work for a major shoe company. You might think that the last thing I want to write about when I get home is shoes. But you'd be so wrong. Shoes, as my accessories-obsessed Grandmother would agree, are much more than foot coverings. There's a reason women - and men, let's not be sexist - get excited by a new pair. I reckon it goes back to childhood. That visit to the shoe store, where you were faced with a wall three times the size of you, and told to pick whichever one you wanted (so long as, of course, they were practical and not too expensive). Nowadays, practicality - and in many people's case, price - is not really an issue. Which I guess technically makes the occasion of buying a new pair of shoes much more thrilling. This week, I've done your homework for you. I've sourced out a collection of boots that will *I hope* fit every 'style tribe' out there, and all weights of wallets. So without any further ado, and only a small drum-roll, here is my pick of the best boots to get you through a British winter. Roll on the mince pies and Game of Thrones box-sets.

1. The Studded Rocker Boot: 'Langdon Fizz', Clarks, £80. Tell me about it, Stud, here.
2. The Biker Boot: 'Orinoco Club', Clarks, £50. Rev your engine, here.
3. The Indie Lace-Up: Leather Boots, H&M, £60. Play the lace card, here.
4. The Dress Heel: Suede Ankle Boots by Bottega Veneta, Matches Fashion, £495. Well heeled, here.
5. The Smart Wedge: 'Lorenzo Ocean' in Black Ponyskin, Clarks, £80. Giddyup, here.
6. The 70's: Leather Knee High Boots by Chloé, Matches Fashion, £860. That 70's Show, here.
7. The Statement: Shark-Lock Leather Wedge Boots by Givenchy, Matches Fashion, £1,430. Go sharking, here.
8. The Riding Boot: 'All Out' in Black Tan Leather, Office, £110. Tally-Ho, here.


No Winter shopping spree would be complete without a coat, so here's one I'm lusting after this season:

Cream Biker-Style Coat by Red Herring, Debenhams, £80. Cat got the cream, here.


Love,
Belle x

Fashion Spotlight On: Emma Cook

I have a bit of an obsessive nature. If I like a song, I'll listen to it until I'm sick of it. If I like a food, I'll eat it every day until I can't stand the taste of it. TV Shows? I'll watch all series back-to-back (I finished 5 seasons of Breaking Bad in two weeks.). Recently, I've become a bit obsessed with a fashion designer. Like, literally fallen in love with everything she does. Her name is Emma Cook, and she's bloody brilliant.

Graduating from St Martin's College of Fashion with contemporaries such as Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen (RIP), Emma is a seasoned professional. Yet, compared to her glorified peers, she's flown relatively under the radar over the last decade; the guilty pleasure of clued up members of the 'fash pack'. But she cannot be contained! In the last few seasons, online wholesalers such as Net-a-Porter, Matches, and even ASOS have picked up her collections and flogged them to a greedy consumer. And I'm happy to say I'm one of them. Her beautiful designs, featuring digital prints in the style of Mary Karantzou or Peter Pilotto, sell for a fraction of the price. They are more playful, less serious, and immensely wearable - whether you're a teenage raver, or a 35 year old CEO. Shift Dresses, T-Shirts, Skirts, Shorts and Jackets are taken to a level you will only recreate by taking LSD; kaleidoscopic prints make your eyes feel like they've been staring at an optical illusion for too long. In a good way. You can check out her newest collection here and make a mental shopping list of pieces you'll be buying when it arrives in-store in December this year. Here are my choice picks of her Resort 2014 collection:

If you can't wait that long, don't fear. I've also made a Wish List of her pieces available to buy now - get ready for handbags at dawn, ladies, 'cause these bad boys are selling fast...

Love,
Belle x

Tune Tape Tuesdays #36

Here at LBeLB, we like to roll with the times. Which is why, if something isn't working, I try to fix it. Take Tune Tape Tuesdays. A few of you have fed back that the sheer megaload of great music I give you every week, in separate Soundclouds, slows down their Internet browser and makes y'all a sad panda. So I've taken the liberty of trying to find a solution. Instead of listing every song individually, I've put them all into a set - hopefully making running time smoother, and allowing you to play the whole Tune Tape at once (without having to click on each track when the last one ends). Let me know whether this set-up works better. As for the introductory jargon - let's do away with it for a while, and just appreciate the music on its own. If any of you really enjoy my ramblings, then drop me a line, and depending on demand, I'll pick it up again.

Happy listening.

Love,
Belle x

Wish List Mondays #38 - The Look For Less

So I know I've been absent for a while. What with putting down a deposit on my own flat (and feeling super grown-up about it), working 12-hour days, and getting back into the dating scene, I've hardly had a moment to breathe. Or more importantly: shop. Which is why this Wish List has been a couple of weeks in the making, but months in the pipeline. Remember that show a few years ago in which Gok Wan went up against some American troll of a "stylist", trying to convince the nation that he could make High Street look High-End? Well, I thought I'd have a shot at it. So this week, I've put together three looks: Casual, Work, and Party - each with one high-priced, designer bought items, the other with entirely High Street finds. If that doesn't make sense, hopefully it will once you scroll down (it's been a long week).

CASUAL
For the purpose of this article, I am going to call myself a stylist. And what does every stylist have to have? Inspiration, mon cher. Well, my inspiration behind this look is a transitional 'weekend casual' - what you might see in any British park, or shopping arcade, come the weekend. It's part-pretty, part-grunge, and 100% "now". 

DESIGNER
1. Scalloped Lace and Jersey Dress by Marc by Marc Jacobs, Net-a-Porter, £290. Buy it here.
2. Men's Chunky Ribbed Wool Cardigan by Dolce & Gabbana, Mr Porter, £650. Buy it here.
3. 'Alexa' Satchel in Deer Brown Hair Calf, Mulberry, £2,500. Buy it here.
4. 'Christi' Hidden Wedge Boots by Isabel Marant, Matches, £410. Buy them here.
5. Cashmere Cable Socks, Pringle of Scotland, £75.
TOTAL: £3,925

HIGH STREET
6. Cutwork Tea Dress, Topshop, £50. Buy it here.
7. Knitted Cardigan, H&M, £25. Buy it here.
8. 'Times Table' Leather Satchel, Clarks, £80. Buy it here.
9. 'Moonlit Cool' Leather Suede Ankle Boots, Clarks, £70. Buy them here.
10. Fairisle Socks, ASOS, £3. Buy them here.
TOTAL: £228


WORK
If you work in an office dominated by men (I work in fashion, so no such luck for me), it's all about power dressing. Shirts, tux pants, soft - yet strong - tailoring, and heels are a must. Massively intimidating black bag optional, but advised.

DESIGNER
1. Wide Leg Tuxedo Trousers by Antonio Berardi, Matches, £888. Buy them here.
2. 'Grace' Washed Silk Shirt by Equipment, Net-a-Porter, £240. Buy it here.
3. Faux Suede and Mesh Pumps by Stella McCartney, Net-a-Porter, £490. Buy them here.
4. 'Cabas Chic' Medium Leather Shopper by Saint Laurent, Net-a-Porter, £1,540.
TOTAL: £3,158

HIGH STREET
5. Suit Trousers, Mango, £20. Buy them here.
6. Silk Blouse, H&M, £40. Buy it here.
7. 'Alma Kendra' Black Suede Pump, Clarks, £55. Buy them here.
8. Leather Bag with Metal Tab, Zara, £109. Buy it here.
TOTAL: £224


PARTY
As Summer rolls to a close, and the nights start to get longer, people tend to have more parties. "Dark corners for dark deeds" and all that. Queue the LBD. It's been languishing in your cupboard for over six months, so time to give it an update with some statement heels and a gorgeous clutch - roll on midnight, Cinderella.

DESIGNER
1. Lace Mini Dress by Dolce & Gabbana, Matches, £2,060. Buy it here.
2. Blue Suede Sandals by Giuseppe Zanotti, Net-a-Porter, £450. Buy them here.
3. 'The Knot' Intrecciato Satin Clutch by Bottega Veneta, Net-a-Porter, £990. Buy it here.
TOTAL: £3,500

HIGH STREET
4. 'Rochelle' Ribbon Dress, French Connection, £180. Buy it here.
5. 'On and On' Blue Wedges, Office, £50. Buy them here.
6. Horn Clutch by Vince Camuto, Kurt Geiger, £105. Buy it here.
TOTAL: £335


I'm not Gok Wan. I'm not going to sit here and call you "gorjuz baby doll", and tell you to "work it, hunny". I know designer looks better than High Street. That's why it's more expensive. But the High Street exists for the purpose of getting the look that celebrities are wearing, for a fraction of the cost. And hey, Britain does this pretty well. In my opinion, British fashion defines itself by its High Street. Those 'most fashionable' aren't the ones you see dressed head-to-toe in Versace, Dolce, or MiuMiu. They're the ones who mix Topshop with Temperley, Primark with Prada, Gap with Gucci. And that's something to be commended. 

Love,
Belle x