Blair Waldorf Fashion Inspiration: Spotlight on Valentino

Okay, so Gossip Girl is over which means I can't look forward to seeing what Blair is wearing each week. How will I survive? Yeah, it's going to be tough, but hopefully over the years I've managed to pick up a thing or two regarding her taste. Today I wanted to focus on some gorgeous pieces from Valentino that I think Blair would whole-heartily approve of.

Valentino Lace-Bodice Organza Dress $3290 US

This is such a gorgeous feminine dress for Spring 2013. I love the delicate lace around the upper body with the elegant poof skirt and bow tying the waist in. I would probably pair this dress with a pair of dark green tights and some colour pop patent kitten heels in yellow, pink, or purple. Available to pre-order at Neiman Marcus.

Valentino Floral-Lace Point d'Esprit Dress $5790 US

Another lace dress! Yes, lace is featuring prominently this spring! You can never go wrong with monochrome and you can add literally any colour to make it pop. Dress it up or down depending on the occasion  this is such a versatile piece. Available now at Neiman Marcus.

RED Valentino Square-Neck Drop-Waist Floral Dress $795 US

I love the fitted bodice and poof skirt here. Although, I do wonder if you have cleavage what happens, it really looks like it would accommodate that, however maybe that's not a concern for everyone! Available now (along with matching cardigan) at Neiman Marcus.

RED Valentino Bow-Print Faille Dress $695 US

I love this bow-print! RED Valentino have also released a skirt and another dress (poofy skirt with spaghetti straps). I'm melting with how much I love this pattern. Available for preorder at Neiman Marcus.

RED Valentino Striped Tricotine Dress $795 US

So lovely and I also saw this somewhere in navy and black at Nordstrom which I think I love even more. Now available (with matching cardigan) at Neiman Marcus.


Well, what do you think, Blair?

Although most of these are out of my budget, sadly, you can't blame a girl for dreaming right? Besides, I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for when cheaper versions of these looks hit the high street!

Did any of these catch your eye?

Gossip Girl Blair Waldorf Makeup Inspiration: Purple Eyeshadow

Gossip Girl is almost over. It's a sad day for all. Almost as sad as most of us feel while watching season 6. (Sorry, I love GG, but this season has just been pathetic!).

Shoddy writing and ridiculous plot aside, we can still count on Blair Waldorf to inspire us in all things beautiful. Today's focus - purple eyeshadow.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking. Purple eyeshadow sounds pretty 80's. Actually the 80's seem to be back in according to every high street clothing shop at the moment, and while I don't agree with that (sorry, I'm just not a fan of the 80's look!), Blair manages to pull off purple eyeshadow without any scrunchies, oversized sweats, or flourescent spandex.

Here she is in an episode from season 6 below. Go on, click on it, it's really big and you can see those beautiful purple eyes.

They really add a pop of colour to the rest of her fairly neutral and natural looking makeup. I think that's probably the key to wearing purple eyeshadow in the now and leaving the 80's look in... well, the 80's where it belongs.

I've picked out a selection of liliac lovelies for your eyes, should you feel inspired by Blair to paint your peepers purple too.

We'll start with a bargain at £6.99. You can't beat Bourjois Paris' Little Round Pot Intense Eye Shadow in no. 4 violet. Personally, I love the Bourjois baked shadows, so pigmenty and gorgeous.

Mac eyeshadows are a staple for most women, so I'm sure you won't be surprised that this is one of the shadows I've selected. You can get this look with the vibrant Creme de Violet, described as a pink-violet with gold pearl available for £12.00 or US $15.00.

If cream eyeshadows are more your thing, than you could try Shiseido's Shimmering Cream Eye Color in Purple Dawn, available for US $25.00

And last, but not least is actually my favourite, Purple Gradation from Lunasol's Layer Bloom Eyes range. Although it's a Japanese brand, thanks to shops like Ichibankao, you can still get your hands on this product without a trip to Japan. It is a bit expensive, but it's such a lovely palette. The bottom left shadow of course is a perfect lilac shade and it's what I would use to recreate this look.(Click here to see my review and some swatches of this product.)

Are you inspired to go purple, or will you tone it down or blend it out? 

Gossip Girl Blair Waldorf Fashion Inspiration: Elegant and Preppy

It's not secret that I'm a massive fan of Blair Waldorf from the TV Programme Gossip Girl. I thought I'd share some of my favourite outfits I've seen her in on the show.

Blair has gone from prep school queen to an elegant and sophisticated young lady. She always looks glamorous and well turned out. If I could only have one mantra in my life, it would definitely be 'What Would Blair Wear?'

Blair is almost always in skirts and dresses - have seen her in shorts a couple times, and maybe trousers once in a blue moon, but never jeans or sweats. I love that about her. I love that probably because I'm a skirt and dress type gal myself. I do admit to owning tons of jeans, but honestly I hardly wear them. I find trousers and jeans never fit me exactly right, but you can always find a good fitting skirt or dress for any body type.

Anyway, let's see what Blair is wearing.

Blair in Marc Jacobs - this is one of my favourite dresses of Blair's.

Another photo of the above dress, finished off with lovely accessories.

Old skool prep - love the skirt and simple black top.

Gorgeous in white lace and beautifully accessorized with black lace tights.

Love this top!

Looking lovely in a wedding dress, although not too happy, are you, B?

Are you a Gossip Girl? Does Blair inspire you or are you more of a Serena girl?

What Would Blair Wear? Vera Wang looks lovely on Ivy in Gossip Girl

Most mornings as I get dressed for the day and stare into my closets (yes, plural...try not to hate me!) and ponder which clothes to wear that day, I ask myself 'What would Blair wear?'

Of course, I'm referring to Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl. I've made it no secret that she is my style icon. I would say she should be yours too, but we don't all need to look the same. :P

But at the moment, I'm confused. I just watched the latest episode of Gossip Girl (this hasn't aired yet in the UK, so I'll try to keep it spoiler free!) and I fell in love with a gorgeous dress. Now usually, it's Blair that's wearing what I love... but tonight, it was Ivy Dickens!

OMG. I love this dress so. much. For some reason, in my head it's a Blair Waldorf dress. Am I really imagining it? Blair didn't wear this at some point?

Oh well, either way. Wow, way to go Ivy! You look stunning and I totally want to wear your dress.

It's not really Ivy's dress, it's by Vera Wang and you can get it at Neiman Marcus for a cool $495 USD. Bargain, right?  I really shouldn't spend this much on a dress that I don't need. But I might cry if they sell out in my size!

Although Ivy rocked this dress, I was disappointed not to see Blair in something more killer. Instead she was running around with Lonely Boy. Ew. What's up with that? Isn't that storyline dead yet? Come back to us, Blair! You're missed on the Upper East Side!

Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipshine Liberte and Romance Review and Swatches

Love the packaging. Classic Chanel, what's not to love?

(left to right): Liberte and Romance

The Rouge Coco Shines were a big hit earlier last year, especially the colour, Boy. I had seen Boy and swatched in store and wasn't so sure about it. As the sales happened, and I hit duty free, curiosity got the best of me and I picked up two of these that I'll review today:

• 46 Liberte (sparkly peach pink)
• 55 Romance (cream bright pink)

I liked Liberte the best, and wasn't as impressed with Romance. It may have been a colour issue for me. Romance I bought online without swatching (impulse buy!), but Liberte I actually picked out at the Duty Free counter.

(left/bottom to right/top): Liberte and Romance

I waited a while to review these. Mostly because I tried these while I was in the US in December and January. While I was there, my lips were much drier than they usually are, so I wasn't as impressed with these 'hydrating' lipshines. :/

I have to say wearing it back in the UK, where my lips are back to their normal selves, these lipshines do feel a lot more balmy and I wouldn't say they are drying. 

I also found the colour pools in cracks! And I guess it's all in the name 'sheer lipshine' but I found it a bit too sheer and not enough shine. I guess I really just wanted a Chanel glossimer lip gloss. In fact, I think I'll stick to those. 

I don't want to give them a totally negative review, but they kind of felt like really expensive lip balm. These might be great if you like a bit of colour and have pale lips, or if you go for one of the brighter and more pigmented shades. I'm not tempted to get anymore though.

And totally not related at all...

I've pretty much watched all of the Wizards of Waverly Place! Total sadness! What to watch now!?!  I feel like there will be a big hole in my life. Luckily I still have the movie to watch. Phew!

Also been mesmerized by Gossip Girl lately. Poor Blair, seriously... but what is she thinking!?! I'm not sure I'm enjoying all the Blair and Lonely Boy action, especially when smouldering Chuck is right there! Come on! Did she hit her head *that* hard in that car accident?

Oh yes, and seriously, the most important question of the season so far: when is Dan going to get a decent hair cut?

I know I'm looking forward to Monday's new episode! How about you guys? 

Gossip Girl Blair Waldorf Fashion Inspiration: Forever 21 Black Wool Cloche Hat

I recently visited two floors of Forever 21 and found this beauty, a black wool cloche hat.

It's only $17.80 and still available online. This hat is so cute! It reminded me of a couple of cloches I've clocked Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf in. 

So Blair wouldn't be caught dead in Forever 21, but we can keep the humble origin of this hat between you and me!

I also wish they'd had this wide brimmed hat ($14.80) in stock when I visited as well, as I'm now totally lusting after this! What do you think?

Gossip Girl Blair Waldorf Fashion Inspiration: Bows and Hairbands

For those of you who know me, you know my ultimate style icon is the character of Blair Waldorf played by Leighton Meester on the US TV show Gossip Girl. I especially love her preppy looks with big bows and feminine details. She's also never seen in anything other than a dress or skirt. (I think she may have worn trousers like once!). Everything she wears just gels so much with me. I dig the tights, the skirts, the bows, the frills, and even quite a bit of her attitude (should I admit that!?)

If you had to pick one item in the wardrobe that eptimizes Blair Waldorf, it would have to be the head bands (or alice bands). Although we're now on Season 5 and Blair isn't sporting them as often, I still can't get enough of them!

I love her chocolate tresses with those bright hair bands! Nothing looks as striking against her beautiful shiny dark hair as a bright red or white bow and band. Unfortunately, I don't have dark gorgeous hair, but over the last few years have had pale blonde, dirty blonde, bright red, and dark blonde hair shades, and have always looked for colours that contrast with whatever shade I'm sporting. I found that a dark brown hair band looks amazing with pale blonde, and navy with dark blonde, black with red hair, and so on. Of course, that hasn't stopped me from wearing any colour! My personal favs are dark brown, blues, greens, and gold.

Here's some of my stash!

I can't help looking in accessory shops and picking up a headband if I see an ace one! I think they can really finish an outfit giving a polished look with minimal effort.

Still coveting Blair's hair bands? I've found a few places on Etsy that you can get dupes! (All pics below taken from Etsy pics)

 Blair's Bow II $20.00 USD

Pearl Bow Headband $10.00 USD

Gossip Girl Blair Black Velvet Bow Headband $25.00 USD







Now I'm tempted to expand my collection!