Faux Fur Collars

I do love a bit of faux fur. At work it's become a bit of a signature look of mine. I love teaming faux fur with girly dresses, lace, sequins, whatever. It adds such a cool twist!

I used to stick to gilets and hats, but this year I discovered the power of a good faux fur collar, and as such I've been stocking up! My usual haunt for a good collar is H&M, but when I was compiling my list for Santa, I discovered two collars from ASOS that I HAD to add to my collection.

I was checking out the website this evening and discovered, much to my utter delight, both collars were less than half price in the sale! So...I treated myself to both! I love them because they're such great collars, a dark, gothic green (almost black) and a gorgeous bright turquoise, which is perfect for injecting some colour into your wardrobe for winter and spring.

I'll post outfit pics of them once they arrive, but in the meantime, the images from ASOS are below.

What do you think? Are you a fan of a faux fur collar? Would you wear a brightly coloured one? Enjoy x

ASOS SS12 Trend Report

Part of my job is to evaluate and see what competitor brands are e-mailing about in their newsletters, that get sent out to their customer database. Combine that with my love of shopping, I'm signed up to a fair few of these newsletters!

For the past few weeks, I have been skimming the majority of them, as they have mainly been about sales, sales, sales, and the content has not been that exciting!

Today, all that changed when I received an e-mail from ASOS. I got very excited, as it was their seasonal trend report for SS12! Yippee! Now, as you are aware, I am far more of a fan of autumn/winter fashion, but, the catwalks for SS12 were so gorgeous, I am actually really looking forward to building a new wardrobe for the new year.

Anyway, ASOS do really fab trend reports, and have focused on key trends including; Freak Like Me, Lace Odyssey, Game On, Mermaids, Pyjama Party, Pretty Sweet, 21st Century Gatsby, Colour Blast and Total Print. You can have a looksee at the inspiration behind each trend and then shop it! The perfect cure for the January blues.

I've put a little image of the trends all together below. What do you think? Are you ready to start embracing spring's trends? Enjoy x

Click to enlarge the ASOS trends

Nails Inc Metallic Nail Polish

The other day I was out in South Molton Street and I decided to pop into the Nails Inc bar and check out some new colours to add to my ever growing nail varnish collection.

While I was browsing, the sales assistant pointed me in the direction of the metallic effect varnishes. I've heard quite a lit of hype about these varnishes but have always been a bit sceptical. However, I decided to give them a whirl, especially as £1 from every purchase goes to the Princes Trust Charity. The polishes cost £13 and you get a little booklet to see you through the process.

I went with a colour called Whitehall - a beautiful dark sea green - a colour I have never tried before. The nail varnish comes with a magnet on the lid and a little lip so that you can balance the magnet carefully over each nail. The varnish works really easily - you paint on your base coat as normal and then your first coat of the varnish. Wait for that to dry and then paint the second coat on one by one. After painting each individual nail with the second coat, you hold the magnet over each nail for about 15 seconds, and when you remove the magnet, you're left with a really cool metallic effect! Like small waves, very impressive. Do all the nails the same way, wait for them to dry and paint on your top coat.

I'm really impressed with the results and will definitely be looking to invest in the other colours in the collection.

What do you think? Have you tried this nail varnish? Enjoy x

Happy New Year

Hello my lovely readers.

I just wanted to wish you all a very happy new year!

2011 was an amazing year for me, and I have a feeling that 2012 might even top it...although it will be very difficult. I hope you all had a fabulous New Year's Eve, whatever you got up to and that the new year brings you love, joy, happiness, success and all things fabulous!

Normal blogging will now continue, now that the festivities are coming to a close :-( I've had such a great week and I so don't want to wait another year for it all to happen again.

Anyway, enjoy your first day of 2012 and here's to another year of fashion and style blogging fun!

Loads of love,

Claire Belle x

Image from Nicaragua Living

All I Want for Christmas...

Happy day after Boxing Day everyone!

I hope you all had the most wonderful Christmas's imaginable, and are continuing to enjoy the festive season. I had a fab Chrismakah which included a festive get together with friends at my parents house on X-mas eve, which consisted of games, food and an improvised jam session with my dad. Chrissy day was spent with my family and the hubby's family...three xmas meals, bingo, secret santas and loads of fun.

I just wanted to share with you what I was fortunate enough to get this year. My amazing boy must have paid very close attention to the blog, as he treated me to a stunning Mitzi Hobo bag from Mulberry!! I love it so much. We were then very sneaky and discovered that the bag went on sale on Boxing Day, so after returning it and re-buying it...he then treated me to an amazing Vivenne Westwood purse with the difference! I am very, very lucky! I do whole heartedly believe in investing in designer accessories, especially timeless ones, as they last you years, and I'll be keeping these gorgeous pieces for a loooooong time!

I was also lucky enough to receive from my parents and brother and sister-in-law to be a variety of amazing things which I've been hankering after for a while, including 2 spirit hood style hats from River Island (got one from each...2 is so better than 1!), CDs and DVDs, Rose by Paul Smith, a gorgeous gold metallic jumper, studded black boots and gauze and silver skirt from Zara, a black silky maxi skirt from River Island, a beautiful Benefit make-up set and an amazing kit from Soap and Glory, which has about 15 products in it!

I feel very, very fortunate to have such a wonderful family with such great taste, and I've put some piccy's of my amazing hoard below. What about you?? What did santa bring you this year? Enjoy x

amazing Mitzi bag from Mulberry

the entire stash!

Soap and Glory kit

New Kelly Clarkson album and the Other Boelyn Girl

Spirit Hood style hoods from River Island

Vivienne Westwood purse

Jumper from Zara

Paul Smith and Harajuku Lovers perfume

SKirt from Zara

Boots from Zara

Merry Christmas Everyone!

To all my wonderful and stylish readers around the world, I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy Chanukah!

No matter whether you celebrate today or not (I personally am a Jew who loves Christmas) I hope you have a wonderful day, full of love, laughter and fun...whatever you do!

I'll be back to my blogging tomorrow, but in the meantime...Merry Christmas!

Loads of love,

Claire Belle x

My friend Jacqui...another Jew with the Christmas spirit! Love the jumper Jacs!

Christmas Sparkle!

Tis the season to be sparkly!!

With the Christmas countdown falling on 2 sleeps until the big day, I thought I would share with you a few of my favourite sparkly, festive dresses. Whether you're heading out to a big party, a cosy night in with your favourite person, a girly night out, I've got the dress for you...and if you get two, you've got yourself sorted for New Years Eve as well. Bargain.

All of these beauties are from the high street (I do love a high street bargain) and some are already in sale, and hopefully, the others will be going that way as well.

So whatever you're doing this festive season, have a fabulous time! Enjoy x