Wearing my bump loud and proud!

Yes, yes, I know. Where did I disappear to again?! Well, I'm going to blame pregnancy. Because I can.

Anyway, I felt compelled to write a post this week after meeting a horrid witch of a woman, who not only upset me, but infuriated me with her words.

I am now 8 months pregnant (finally!) and have gained a fair amount of weight. Such is life. I have a healthy baby, so I will focus on my weight loss once baby arrives. This positive mental attitude took a real bashing however, when a random woman in a lift expressed her opinion to me:

"Ooh, you had better stop eating otherwise your baby is going to be too big 

and will give you lots of pain!"

Just what every pregnant woman wants to hear, right?! How dare she. Having always been very conscious of my size - I was a UK size 6-8 pre-pregnancy - I really did not need to hear this.

In fact, why is it that a pregnant woman's body becomes open to public scrutiny? If I was given a baby-grow for every comment I heard on my size or every time someone randomly rubbed my tummy, my baby would be dressed for a good few years! It's not cool people.

But I'm over it and I refuse to let this woman and others like her spoil the remaining weeks of my pregnancy and take away from the excitement I am feeling. So I have embraced my extra-large bump and put together a little collection of photos.

Welcome to my maternity capsule wardrobe - all I need to keep me going through these last weeks...

AFTERNOON TEA WITH THE GIRLS
This dress has been my lifesaver throughout pregnancy. It's not a maternity dress, in fact I've been wearing it for a few years now, but it has the perfect stretching capabilities to keep me looking chic all pregnancy long. And nowadays I wrap the back ties around to my front to give my belly some extra support. Bring on the tea and scones!

Dress: Ingenue. Necklace: Mawi. 

Sandals: Kg by Kurt Geiger.

DATE NIGHT
I was so in love with my leopard dress, that on my last trip to London, I snapped up this jade version. It's a size larger which gives it some extra length and is therefore perfect for those extra special nights out. In fact, last night I wore it to the ballet. Hubby liked it a lot (just don't tell him I have another one on order, arriving very soon!).

Dress: Ingenue. Necklace: Accessorize. 

SUNDAY BRUNCH
This is my new fave purchase. It is ultra comfy and cooling (don't forget Hong Kong is currently reaching in to the 30s, so it is hot, hot, hot!), and is an easy way to add some sophistication to my swollen feet. Speaking of which, I don't actually wear skyscraper wedges in real pregnancy life. They just looked better in the photo ;-)

Dress: Isabella Oliver Maternity. Necklace: Mawi. Wedges: Miu Miu.

RUNNING ERRANDS
That should probably say 'waddling errands', but anyway... When I just want to throw something on and head out to the shops, I turn to my fail-safe skinny jeans and blouse combo. I am a HUGE fan of these GAP Maternity jeans. They don't look like maternity jeans, yet they give me all the support I need. And for £40/HK$480, they're pretty nice on my purse too.

Blouse: ASOS Maternity. Jeans: GAP Maternity. Pumps: Dune.

WORK LUNCH
I still have a few meetings going on, setting up work for later in the year. I can breastfeed and style, can't I?! Anyway,  I like the casual chic look of this outfit and the fact that it is comfortable (not something that existed in my pre-pregnancy repertoire!).

 Vest: Gap Maternity. Jacket: Topshop. 

Jeans: GAP Maternity. Pumps: Dune

AN AFTERNOON BY THE SEA
Being an Island, Hong Kong has lots of seaside life. What better than a nautical little number to while away those sunny days on the coast.

Vest: H&M Maternity. Shorts: H&M Maternity. Necklace: Accessorize. Sandals: Dune.

DINNER WITH FRIENDS
Hubby and I are trying to squeeze in as many friend dates as possible, before our lives change for ever!! A shot of colour is just what my maternity capsule wardrobe needs. Once again, heels are for purely photographic (read: vanity) reasons! The great thing about this dress is that it is perfect for disguising baby tummy post-pregnancy...and for breastfeeding. Score!

Dress: ASOS Maternity. 

Wedges: Christian Louboutin.

I may not have many outfits circulating at the moment, but the ones that I do have fill all my needs. And as you can see, I'm wearing my bump LOUD AND PROUD! I don't care what people think, as long as my baby comes in to this world healthy and happy. So go stuff yourself silly woman in the lift!

And to all other mums-to-be...enjoy your pregnancies. We are very lucky to be going through this magical experience!

Love Mummy-to-be Magpie xxx

London Fashion Week AW'11, Day Four

Day Four was, thank god, a much more relaxed day. I spent the day hunting around the LFW exhibition for some fab fashion finds...oh yes, and I made a little detour to the Giles show.

Today, I went for something a little less classy than yesterday.

I teamed my Henry Holland suspender tights and D&G gold sequin string vest, with my very old H&M chunky knit, my fave Mawi necklace and my Dune thigh-high boots. I spent most of the day pulling down my skirt and pulling up my tights...I think I'm too old for this look!

GILES

Giles opted to show at the Royal Courts of Justice - having already been there the night before, it wasn't quite as spectacular as the first time round... LFW does spoil you!

The show - had I been able to see any of it, I might be able to comment. Even though I was seated in the second row, I was right at the far end and the rather dim models didn't seem to make it half way down the catwalk before turning around. Dur!

From what I could see, there was definitely an emphasis on all things Victoriana...meshed with some very current trends - i.e. double length skirts, hair (of the goat variety), bows in the hair (of the on-the-head variety)... White shirts were made to look particularly sexual, pulled back hair with pretty bows came across as rather fetishist and the booties could easily have stepped out of a Victorian brothel - oh to get in to Giles' imagination!

Oozing sexual femininity, these are all items I'd love to have hanging in my wardrobe

THE EXHIBITION

Here are the goodies I found at the London Fashion Week Exhibition:

Erickson Beamon had me drooling over this dramatic piece...

...while AKong wowed with this gorgeous collar...

...and it was love at first sight with this fur sleeved coat from Hotel Particulier...

 ...but who wouldn't love this multi-faceted cuff from Sarah Angold Studio...

...and these designs from Shao Yen are most desirable.

 

Day Four ended with an early night and cup of Options. Bliss.

Brother Gym's birthday bash

Yesterday saw my little brother turn the ripe old age of 25. Gulp! Miss Magpie is beginning to feel old.

In order to celebrate this milestone birthday, the whole family were treated to a slap-up lunch at Hibiscus - a fabulous 2 Michelin star restaurant hidden behind London's Regent Street.

My wardrobe choice for this special day was very important. With an eight course tasting menu, I needed to look chic but feel comfortable, as my waistline was bound to expand during the day!

I opted for this Anna Sui belted dress, accessorised with a pair gold snakeskin Jimmy Choos, burgundy Mawi snakeskin clutch bag and a Dsquared2 gold necklace. I really love the print and colour of the dress and since I haven't worn it in yonks, I thought it deserved an outing.

Interestingly, my little bro and Daddy Magpie went for the same look as each other:

Don't they look handsome? Perhaps a little nightclub bouncer, but only at the classiest establishment of course! Very smart.

Now to the meal. My favourite course? The amuse-bouche.

Strawberry fizz with a pineapple foam, dusted with basil and containing a popping surprise. As we swallowed the contents of the glass, like a shot, these large pineapple flavoured bubbles exploded in our mouths. Sensational!

In fact, the whole day was sensational. Happy Birthday, lil' bro.

FYI My little brother, also known as Brother Gym, is a fabulous writer, personal trainer and blogger. Check out his fantastic blog right here.

Miss Magpie runs the wedding marathon...

One weekend, two weddings, a whole lot of glam!

Wedding no.1: Louise Foster marries Andrew Nichol

When the Editor-in-Chief of Harper's Bazaar Arabia invites you to her wedding, you find the most glamorous outfit you can and you thank your lucky stars!

Once I had done that, my beau and I headed down to Rye (Sussex) for the special day. With a black tie dress code, my beau went for a very smart tuxedo (he looked ever so handsome), while I knew there was only one dress that would do for this occasion. Louise's wedding had my metallic gold, lame Vivienne Westwood number written all over it. Teamed with black pony-skin Louboutins, a chunky Mawi necklace and a croc skin Lancel clutch, I was set.

But forget about me, here's the beautiful, blushing bride:

Louise opted for a gorgeous layered mesh Carolina Herrera wedding gown, with a full sweeping train and figure-hugging bustier. A-mazing.

Then, as the lights were dimmed for the party to really get going, Louise emerged with a beautifully styled, classic up-do and without the bottom layer of her dress! She'd whipped it off to reveal this prom style number (you gotta love a 2-in-1), perfect for attacking the dance floor and...

 

...for revealing these absolutely incredible crystal studded Christian Louboutin skyscrapers. Swoon! Miss Magpie went in to overdrive when she lay her eyes on these sparkling beauts.

Speaking of Magpie-licious finds, check out this Anya Hindmarch clutch:

Sadly, this utterly divine piece of arm-candy does not belong to me, but one of the other (oh-so lucky) wedding guests. I think it may well be my idea of perfection. I hope Mr Magpie is reading this...my birthday is coming up ever so soon!!

And while I plot a way to make Anya's slice of heaven my own, here are some of the uber-glam guests I clinked glasses with:

 

Here I am with Elaine Greenshields - Grazia Middle East's Fashion and Beauty Director - who looked so effortlessly cool in her Stella McCartney sparkling jumper dress. Yes, you spotted it - she's wearing the very same dress worn by Cameron Diaz at a certain film premier recently.  Now that's a sign of approval if ever there was one!

Reema Mukhi, Harper's Bazaar Arabia's Lifestyle Editor and newly wed (remember the wedding extravaganza I attended in Beirut a couple of months ago, well that was down to Reema!), donned this super sparkling Ayesha Depala strapless mini dress. Reema wins hands down in the glistening stakes!

It's hardly surprising that Amrita has such good taste, after all Reema is her first cousin. As Reema's guest at the wedding, Amrita stood out a mile in this spectacular fuschia kaftan. The Chanel handbag also stole my heart, obvs. As a Sri Lankan Native who has just moved to our shores, I think I can speak on behalf of England when I say that we are honoured to have gained such beauty and style! Here's the front detail of the kaftan...

Divine.

Finally, I have to show you one final pic of the fabulous bride. This is the morning after the night before:

Firstly, how fresh and awake does she look?! Me on the other hand, not so much! But more important than that, is Louise's top. I love, love, love it and think I may need to get me on of them for my big day! Good find Lou.

Congrats Louise and Andrew - a glistening, glamorous affair, that had Miss Magpie drooling in sartorial heaven.

Wedding No. 2 - Paras marries Jigna

By this point in the wedding weekend, I was somewhat fatigued and my camera did not receive a full outing to capture the wealth of style that there was present here. Silly me and silly champagne the night before!

But just to give you a wee taste of the full-on glitz and glam of an Indian wedding, here you go:

Bright, vivid colours; deep, luxurious fabrics; beautifully ornate detailing; I saw it all.

After all the dressing up, all the bubbly and all the wardrobe envy, all I can think about right now are my pyjamas. I must lay my weary head on my ultra luxe silk cushion and get me some beauty sleep...

...but fear not! The wedding marathon continues on Friday, so watch this space for more matrimonial musings.

Magpie Spy 4 (x 10)

Uh-oh, Miss Magpie has been shopping again! Unfortunately this time I couldn't buy anything (do I hear sighs of relief from Mr Magpie?! I think so) as I was at the London Fashion Week Designer Exhibition, where designers, new and old, from all over come to exhibit their collections. It's a fashionista's feast of clothing, shoes and  accessories and boy did i gorge myself on the offerings.

I've had to cut this list down to my top 10 fave pieces, but trust me there were many, many more. I've got photos of everything I liked (read: want to buy) and they are neatly catalogued away (from the prying eyes of Mr Magpie) in preparation for next autumn.

Here are my absolute must-haves...

The accessories:

Erickson Beamon

Oh dear heavens above, I think this piece was made for me. Isn't it just magnificent?! It was actually made for the Ashley Isham A/W'10 show, absolutely nothing to do with me in fact. BUT I think my shoulder needs it. Shoulders have been big business over the past few seasons and this beauty is the best i've seen yet. I wouldn't expect anything less from my OTT jewellery brand of choice.

Buba

This is a fairly new label on the scene and considering how fussy I am about my arm candy (incredibly by the way), I was quite surprised that I found something I simply can't stop thinking about. I love how this clutch is totally OTT, even verging on tacky (tacky can be very good). With a simple black number, it will add just the right dose of va-va-voom!  

Heather Blake

It takes a lot to impress me when it comes to footwear. Shoes are my 'thing' and I know what I like. This pair is my 'thing'. They ooze sex appeal in absolutely the right way and the cut-out detail just cries for attention. My one wish is that the heel be a teensy bit higher - I have a preferred in-step height and these fall about 1/2cm shy, though that's no bad thing for my poor old feet. Nevertheless they are my equivalent of sartorial perfection.

Mawi

Mawi jewellery is made for magpies like myself. Every piece is a statement: a statement of sparkling gems and chunky metal work. To wear Mawi you have to be confident, because you are 100% guaranteed to attract attention. This piece is not just eye-catching, it's an outift in itself. I need to add this to my Mawi collection.

Angel Jackson

Yes, that's me. Where's a model at London Fashion Week when you need one?! Anyway, I was nearing the end of the exhibition, my Loubs were begging for a break and I thought i'd seen the best there was on offer. Then I saw this. An Angel Jackson bum bag. I've been trying to bring the bum bag back for a while, so i'm over the moon to see such a great, totally desirable brand flying the fanny pack flag. With studs and tassles galore, this is not any old bum bag. This is THE bum bag.

The clothes: 

Georgia Hardinge

I was at a stag do over the weekend (yes, girls were invited) and i'm sure the stripper was wearing something similar to this. In any case, she looked awesome and this creation is pretty high on the 'wow' scale too. There's a lot of work gone in to this and I can see it looking fantastic worn on top of a brightly coloured tube dress.

PPQ

I'm in utter astonishment that the genii at PPQ could turn a pair of velvet curtains in to this: a bustier dress complete with peplum, that I want, want, want. I know everyone already adores this uber cool brand and I jumped on to that bandwagon some time ago, but I think I love PPQ even more now. This dress is so wrong, it's right.

Felder Felder

Don't ask me when you are meant to wear this bad boy, but i'm just gaga over it (see what I did there? She's bound to love it.)?! A dusky pink, leather, frilled leotard - bet you never thought you'd hear all that in one sentence. As a piece of design, I think it is brill. In terms of practicality, there is none. But then fashion isn't meant to be practical is it.

KTZ

I'm leather crazy at the moment and the look is set to stay for A/W'10, so why not go all out and snap up this quilted, embellished, power-shoulder number? It looks like it has stepped straight off the set of an 80's music video. Even I may have to admit defeat with this one...but split up the cropped jacket and the cleavage revealing dress and you have two mighty fine separates to add to you wardrobe. I'm sold.

Pistol Panties

It was love at first sight when I spotted this sparkling at me from across the room. Pistol Panties have really excelled themselves this time and I can't imagine lounging by the pool wearing anything else (although i'll have to). Made from hundreds of Swarovski crystals, this rainbow hued cut-out swimsuit is just made for a magpie. Alas at £2000 a pop, it's definitely not made for this magpie.

There you have it, my top 10. All beautiful and perfectly formed, and one day they'll all be mine...mwahahahahahahahaha!!! 

What Miss Magpie wore next

Miss Magpie loves getting dressed up and London Fashion Week provides the perfect chance for me to put on my gladrags, look a bit 'silly' (why do boys never get 'it'?) and have a bit of fun with my wardrobe. Because some of you have been asking me to post some pics of myself (and only because you asked so nicely), here are some of my outfits from the last few days:

This look is a bit Balmain...i know it's a bit out of date...but I just love it. Wearing a really, really short skirt is a great way of elongating legs (at least that's my excuse for always wearing barely there hemlines).

Black sequin jacket - vintage; dress - Topshop; shoes - Carvela (I lusted after the real thing for a very long time before I caved in to imitation); necklace - By Malene Birger

Well i'm never one to fade in to the background and the rain was getting me down so I decided to put on my brightest, warmest dress and make a big statement. My attempt at sticking two fingers up to the rain left me dragging round a sodden dress and a pair of heels in a very sorry state. Boo!

Dress - vintage; fur jacket - vintage; necklace - Mawi; shoes - Balenciaga; Bag - Luella (R.I.P) 

                                               

Since the Ashish show took place this morning, I thought i'd pay tribute with my ever so quiet, blend-into-the-background Ashish number. Walking around the mirror filled exhibition at Somerset House I was reflecting light left, right and centre...much like an angel...or perhaps like an annoying person wearing a ridiculously OTT jacket.

Jacket - Ashish; dress - H&M; shoes - Christian Louboutin; bag - Chanel