New frivolous lingerie (again).

I accidentally got sucked into the Asos sale the other day. Amongst other accessory steals (which I will feature later this week in some photographs of what I'm wearing), I purchased this Mimi Holliday set, £86 £41:

Image Source: Asos

This silk-enriched set really is just so delicious, and the coral and champagne colours make it wholly appropriate for the warmer seasons. Now, if only my other Mimi Holliday lust-have set would go on sale...

Image Source: Figleaves

Lookville.

Okay, so the other day, I was lucky enough to receive an official invite to Lookville.com, a social fashion networking site, membership for which is invite-only. The general aim is to help fellow users answer the following universal question: how do I look? Post pictures of what you're wearing, receive live feedback, then help other users with their own sartorial endeavours.

Sounds fun, no? Now, here's the really exciting bit: as a new member, I have been granted five invites to distribute as I please, and I want to give them to my readers (of course!). So, if you would like an invite, send me an email  -  izzy.dann@gmail.com  -  explaining why you think you deserve one.

Remember, Lookville is invite-only, so take advantage of this opportunity.

Oh wow.

One of my favourite simple pleasures in life is tea, especially the afternoon kind that involves cake, so imagine my utter delight upon spying this magnificent edible creation:

Image Source: Vogue.co.uk

What you witness here is none other than spring / summer '10 Prêt-à-Portea afternoon tea at The Berkeley, created by the hotel's pastry chef, Mourad Khiat. Designs featured include those from Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Sonia Rykiel, Jason Wu, Yves Saint Laurent, Erdem, and Christopher Kane.

The truly amazing combination that is forward fashion and cake  -  what more could one ask for?

Prêt-à-Portea is served in The Caramel Room at The Berkeley from 1-6pm every day, £35 per person (£43 including a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne; £49 per person including a glass of couture Champagne). To make a reservation for Prêt-à-Portea call 020 7235 6000.

Super-duper swimsuits.

Exams have just finished for me, automatically turning my thoughts to summer, of course. I just think that this bikini by Anika, £137, is wondrous:

Image Source: Asos

This nautical piece is perfect for a classic pool / seaside look, yet the bandeau twist top modernises the style. Also, it's super-flattering for those of us less amply endowed up top.

Embarrassing Topshop overload (again).

I am suddenly obsessed with mesh clothing  -  three Topshop items in particular, to be precise:

I think the first two would look fabulous together, and the cropped grey jumper would be perfect with distressed denim shorts and a tan on lazy summer days.

In other news, I acquired a bottle of Chanel Le Vernis in "Nouvelle Vague" the other day. Although the formula is annoying (three coats to achieve an even base), the colour is actually so beautiful in real life, contrary to my previous opinion that it wasn't all that special  - like wearing a Tiffany box on your nails, and ever-so-slightly iridescent in the sunshine.

Lipstick love: Pt. II.

A quick note on my latest lipstick lust-have: Lime Crime lipstick in "Airborne Unicorn". It's a bold lilac colour that I can't seem to find anywhere else  -  similar to M.A.C's "Lavender Whip", but that was a limited edition item that has now sold out  -  which is just the perfect summer shade. Moreover, the packaging is ridiculously cute (although probably not to some people's tastes). Pictures of the product and a swatch (not my own) are below:

Shades from left to right: Airborne Unicorn, Centrifuchsia, Cosmopop, Countessa Fluorescent.

Images Source: Temptalia

Available now from Space NK stores across the UK.

Lipstick love: Pt. I.

Recently, I've abandoned intricate eye make-up in favour of a statement lip. It started just over a week ago when I purchased one of the new Tom Ford Private Blend Lip Color lipsticks in "Black Orchid", which is named after his best-selling fragrance. There are a total of twelve shades in the range, all retailing at £35 each.

The colour is a highly pigmented dark raisin and the formula is deliciously creamy (ingredients include soja seed extract, Brazilian murumuru butter and chamomilla flower oil), offering excellent lip hydration yet also longevity. Moreover, the vanilla extract ingredient makes the lipstick smell wonderful.

Below are some web cam pictures of me wearing the shade, which should give you an idea of how the shade looks despite the questionable picture quality (also, excuse lack of precision in application  -  these pictures were taken after a night out at 3am, oops):

I thoroughly recommend this particular shade, especially considering that the sales assistant informed me that a nail polish in the same "Black Orchid" shade would be released around Christmas  -  this won't be the case for other shades in the lipstick range.

Finally, I have to mention the packaging of this product, which is really something special: the lipstick comes in an ivory cuboid-shaped tube, adorned with gold edges. The picture below featuring three of the other available shades  -  "Blush Nude", "Cherry Lush", and "Warm Sable"  -  demonstrates the product's aesthetic appeal:

Image Source: Temptalia