Gisele Bündchen for H&M Swimwear '14

Gisele Bündchen for H&M Swimwear '14

Gisele Bündchen for H&M Summer '14

H&M has been my go to store for bikinis and sweet Summer-wear since my teens. Ace prices + gorgeous designs = seasonal WIN. Who could better front the H&M Summer Swimwear campaign than beach babe GLAMAZON Gisele Bündchen?! Not only does Gisele look schhhmokin' but she's showcasing a new talent - singing! - covering Blondie's infamous "Heart Of Glass" in this campaign vid. The catchy tune is produced by Bob Sinclair and available as a free download from hm.com and iTunes with all royalties from the single going to UNICEF, helping the world's most vulnerable children through education. 

Read on for more images from Gisele's stunning turn as the face of H&M Swimwear '14 . . .

Are you guys feeling the Summer vibes?

I've got my heart set on the perfect white bikini!

Have a super day all!

Love,

MB x

- This post was created in collaboration with H&M - 

Paris Nights

Paris Nights

Jacket: Comptoir des Cotoniers ℅ , T-Shirt: Comptoir des Cotoniers ℅, Jeans: ASOS, Heels: Old but LOVE these, Bag: Alice + Olivia 

Photos by the gorgeous Sandra

Is it possible to visit Paris and not to succumb to the doe eyed "this city is MAGICAL" cliché? From the crumbling to the contemporary, chic to, um, more chic, I loved every aesthetic turn in the city. 

For our evening out on Tuesday, we were treated to a meal at the Baccarat crystal museum by our hosts Comptoir des Cotoniers. I couldn't even attempt to play it cool with how insanely beautiful the museum was, or how lucky I felt to be there. 

Read on for my take on Parisienne styling . . .

Styling Notes: A classic tux, tee and ripped jeans felt right for a Parisienne evening. I often wear jeans and a luxe T-shirt for nights out. I was sceptical about expensive T-shirts for years - can they really be worth it?! Sometimes the high street gets it right - YAY for when it does! - but for the type of T-shirt which I know I can wear out in the evening, and under a smart jacket for work, I've found that premium brands can be more reliable. I love The Outnet for discounted designer tees - the best of both worlds! - and this Comptoir tee saw me through Paris and straight into the office for the rest of the week. 

Below I've put together some of the best blazers, jeans and tees around right now. All at awesome price points - all interchangeable. 

What is your favourite evening outfit? Do you guys love Paris too? 

For the rest of the week I'll be on the show, it's our last few days. I always find the end of filming disorientating, you become so used to a routine, long days and being part of a team, and then poof! it's over! I'll miss seeing our awesome production crew but I'm excited to spend more time in my new home, sorting the interiors out, and working more on the blog. I feel an Elgin Avenue redesign coming on . . . 

Love, 

MB x

Paris Photo Diary

Paris Photo Diary

salmon caesar salad and frites - my favourite combination! // beautiful botanical windows at Dior // dream apartments outside my hotel window

For those of you that follow me on Instagram, no doubt you'll already know that I've spent the past couple of days in Paris. Escaping for a fleeting visit has been the most wonderful treat, and I returned to London today buzzing with all of the beauty and artistry of the city. I have so much to catch you guys up on from what I was doing in the city, but this morning I spent a few hours wandering the City, eyes on stalks, truly feeling the energy of Paris. I've put together a little photo diary of some of my favourite moments. 

Lots more after the jump!

vibrant flowers in Jardin Des Tuileries // flying the French flag on a beautiful street // just a pigeon pit stop

flower lined streets // menus as our lunch stop London Paris // kicking my feet up in Pretty Loafers

the most perfect blue door // beautiful apartments ii // hedgerows and rooftops at Jardin Des Tuileries

peekaboo eiffel tower

the greenest promenade at Jardin Des Tuileries // Chanel courtyard 

You can see more of my adventures in Paris on my Instagram. 

I'm back to work on the show tomorrow, I am so excited we are nearing the end of the series! In the mean time I'm going to put my feet up, probably sleep from 9pm and do my nails using my fancy new gismo from Sephora! Don't you guys miss Sephora so much in the UK?! 

Have a super evening all!

Love, 

MB x

Home On The Mind

Home On The Mind

All images via my Pinterest

When I moved into my very first flat, to go to University, I remember discussing with my best friend how clothes had been usurped entirely, in our shopping consciousness, by home ware. Now that I've moved for a second time it is literally all I can think about again. Any spare cash is immediately dedicated to improvements, any spare time to tidying and building furniture - have you guys ever experienced this total brain takeover?! I guess as a student we were thrifting everything too, and didn't have a choice over the furniture which was already in our flats; now having moved to a totally unfurnished apartment it's like a whole new world has opened up, although finding second hand treasures is still one of my favourite past times. 

Right now I am on a mission to assemble my home office. In my old place I holed myself up in the kitchen/dining/spare bedroom, but now I have (in theory - although it is currently taken over by boxes) a neat little area all of my own. Working from home, feeling comfortable, inspired and focused is so important, and so I am taking on board as many inspirational images and suggestions as possible. Pinterest and I are very close right now. 

Read on for some of the office ideas and space I love…

This weekend I got to catchup with a ton of my girlfriends; seeing their beautiful faces and laughing over good food is possibly my favourite thing ever. 

For the rest of the week I'll be travelling, and we're wrapping up the filming for Rock The Look too! I am so excited to see the series unfold. 

I hope you guys all had an awesome weekend too! If you have any home office tips - I am all ears!

Have a super day and start to your weeks all!

Love, 

MB x

Let's Prep!

Let's Prep!

 Skirt: Topshop - New Season Updates, Jumper: New Look, Shirt: ASOS , Heels: Office

Photos by Lea Salomone

OK spoiler alert - this beautiful floral embellished design from Topshop is a favourite of mine and the whole styling team for Rock The Look. Not only did I wear the skirt version for my Clique magazine shoot at the beginning of the year, but our show model Jasmine wore the dress version in first episode of Rock The Look, dolling up for Lily Allen's 'red carpet' style. Unfortunately this exact style doesn't seem to be available online any more, however I am in love with this simple classic LBD style from ASOS - it's a total steal. 

If you had told me five years ago that neoprene was going to become a fashion-favourite fabric I would have seriously doubted your prediction, but neoprene has quickly ascended as one of the best fabrics for maintaing structures in silhouettes, particularly skirts. As for creases? It it the Don for packing. 

I am still in the midst of house organisation / living between multiple locations whilst we finish filming and so I am so excited to catchup with some of my best girlfriends this weekend, including wishing this pretty lady a VERY happy Birthday!

What are you guys up to? 

Have a super day and start to your weekends all!

Love, 

MB x

Personal Style With Lucinda Chambers, Amanda Harlech and Alexa Chung

Personal Style With Lucinda Chambers, Amanda Harlech and Alexa Chung

 

 Vogue's Lucinda Chambers // Photos by Darren Gerrish 

Have you ever heard of quite such a stylish line up?!

Vogue UK's fashion director (and immense personal style crush of mine) Lucinda Chambers, Amanda Harlech, long time Chanel collaborator and muse, and Alexa Chung, British fashion icon and much much copied It girl.

Ugh, I was getting giddy with excitement just thinking about what this trio would discuss on the subject of personal style at this weekend's Vogue Festival. 

L-R: Lucinda Chambers, Amanda Harlech, Alexa Chung and compère Lisa Armstrong

Read on for the low down on what did happen amongst this melting pot of style minds…

First up, what did they all wear? 

For Lucinda it was a mix of designer, high street and vintage. Her textured coat which fashion friends “thought was Celine” was in fact a charity shop find for £20, her skirt though was, yes, Celine “an investment” and her white shirt was from the high street which Lucinda had customised by fraying the cuffs “I love double sided sticky tape!”

For Amanda day time dressing meant Chanel couture from top to toe. Amanda looked breath takingly elegant and at ease, testament to the fact that this lady owns it.  

Alexa wore Marc Jacobs, and looked both ladylike and perfectly dishevelled as ever. 

Listening to Lucinda, Amanda and Alexa discuss style captivated myself and the audience. The three of them, despite their polar styles agreed that what truly makes someone stylish is a comfort within themselves, and experimentation with clothes until you find a ‘uniform’ as Alexa called it, which you are happy to fall back on day in day out. Lucinda spoke of how being able to express oneself requires us first to understand what our 'self' is. Therefore, in Lucinda's books, everyone should make mistakes and get to know themselves. Lucinda then told us of a 'lilac phase' she had, which taught her the lesson that lilac was indeed not for her. 

Alexa regaled us with tales of her battles with US TV producers ahead of her show It’s On With Alexa Chung. Not only did Alexa specify within her contract that she would have total control over her own styling and image - which you’ll be happy to hear remained authentically Alexa with ‘Kurt Cobain hair and denim overalls'; but when it came to the meeting which Alexa knew would spell the end of her show (which was cancelled after one season) she pulled out all sartorial stops thinking “these men are going to have to look a woman in the eye and say we are canceling your show” cue a pencil skirt, heels and blouse. Indeed Alexa went on to expand that when dressing she thinks of:

“ How I feel

How I want to feel

How I want others to feel about me” 

The rules to power dressing peeps. 

All three women spoke of times when they experimented with their style, Amanda in a gingham two piece as a young girl, Lucinda in a home-made petticoat as a secretary at Vogue. 

As Lucinda said, you have to “try try try everything! Do not lose your bottle.”

Amanda reinforced this notion of style bravery “you cannot care what other people think”

All women agreed that style is the opposite of fashion, it is about dissimilating trends so that you may incorporate what is right for you into your wardrobe. 

One of my favourite quotes from the whole day was from Lucinda, who said that “style is the first thing someone will notice about you after your smile.” 

I have to admit that I flit between feeling totally comfortable with my style, to weeks of being in a rut. Perhaps it is as these ladies suggest a case of trying everything, learning what suits us and sticking to what we feel best in. They all agreed on culling our wardrobes - this will definitely be the next stop for me. 

How do you guys feels about personal style? What is your day to day uniform? I want to hear it all!

Love, 

MB x

Miranda Kerr for H&M Spring '14

Miranda Kerr for H&M Spring '14

Miranda Kerr for H&M Spring 

Kick starting the weekend with Miranda Kerr? 

Pretty good going. 

H&M are known for nabbing the most gorgeous girls to front their campaigns and scoring Miranda Kerr for Spring '14 sure is keeping up the tradition. 

Before we go any further can we take a moment to watch this video.  Hello dream Hollywood hills villa! And Miranda caught mid selfie? Yep, insta-inspiration for sure. 

Read on for a look at the full H&M Spring campaign featuring the gorgeous Miranda Kerr…

I am so in love with the California vibe of the H&M Spring campaign -  the clothing, the images, the video - ugh so good. The mixup of sports-luxe with more feminine pieces is off-duty model with an LA spin. I love that leather is coming through as a trans-seasonal texture and this off the shoulder top is practically in my suitcase already. Here's to the sunshine season. 

You can shop the full H&M Spring collection here.

Are you guys already loving the new season? Is Miranda Kerr your Spring time poster girl too?

Have a super day all!

Love,

MB x

Clique Magazine

Clique Magazine

Cape: Judy Wu, Dress: Similar, Heels: Office, Bag: Alice + Olivia, Bracelet: Annie Haak, Watch: Next 

 Photos by Lea Salomone

A couple of days before moving from my old address, the awesome fashion team at Clique Magazine popped round to shoot my Style Diary. 

Whilst all of the looks got my heart beating fast, this red ensemble was hands down my favourite. I was experiencing what can only be described as Gwyneth Paltrow cape euphoria. 

You can see the whole shoot in this month's issue of Clique Magazine! Sign up to receive every issue for free here. 

Have a super day all! 

Love, 

MB x