Magpie spy 7 - Jessica Szohr

Excuse my slight absence - Miss Magpie has been very busy keeping her beady eye on the wardrobe of a certain Gossip Girl.

Jessica Szohr, a.k.a. Vanessa, hasn't really made it on to my radar until now - I was a bit annoyed with her (well, her character) when she caused Dan and Serena to split up.

Anyway, a closer investigation of her dress sense has revealed that like her alter ego, she simply oozes that kind of effortless cool that we all hope to achieve, but often don't quite manage.

Shopping in NYC recently, Jess (i'm guessing that's what her friends call her) sported this cute little outfit: white skinnies (only the bravest do dare), a pale blue denim top and a studded Rebecca Minkoff tote. But, my fave part of this look...the shoes!! Direct from our very own Topshop, these cloggy-wedgey heels are sheer fabulosity**!

Jess's black tie style also has that low-key coolness about it. A simple, yet totally on trend, LBD, this outfit has my approval written all over it. There's no way she'll go unnoticed, but she doesn't have that 'ooh, look at me, i'm famous' annoyingness about her at all. Refreshing!

Ok, this pic was taken on the set of Gossip Girl, so it's not strictly her style...but can't you imagine that it probably is. I am calling it 'understated-boho glam'. She looks so comfortable, it must be something she'd wear normally.


Obvs, her gorgeous natural beauty helps too.

Eyes peeled for more Szohr please!


** This week's Style mag promoted 'fabnosity' as the new word du jour, thanks to Lourdes Leon (yes, Madonna's 13 year old daughter). As the mid-to-late 20 something year old that I am, I just can't take my inspiration from a tween. No way. So fabulosity it is.

New York, New York!

Well, last time I wrote, I told you about the secret weekend my handsome beau had lined up for me... A lot has happened since then.

MISS MAGPIE IS GOING TO BE MRS MAGPIE!!!

My darling beau whisked me off to New York after managing to keep me in the dark about the whole thing for months. Now, I pride myself on my nosiness, so I was a little disappointed in my skills for not finding out...but I would not have wanted to spoil this for the world.

He coaxed me on to a gondola and once we set sail, got down on bended knee and asked me the question every girl dreams of being asked: "I love you so much, will you marry me?" My answer? "Er, yeh! Are you sure?" Not quite the eloquence he'd probably anticipated! Mr Gondola Man had managed to get hold of my camera (beau and gondola man had arranged this weeks back) and snapped away as my beau proposed (see above). It was total cheeserama and I loved it!

And the ring? A beautiful, glistening princess cut diamond, with a diamond encrusted platinum band. It is the most Magpie-perfect ring I have ever seen and my beau had it custom made just for me! What do you think?

Obvs as soon as I found out that we were heading to NYC - one of the great fashion capitals of the world - I was mega excited. I'd planned stylehunter pics, lots of shopping and general fashion fun to regail you all with. The proposal put a bit of a stop to that...so you'll just have to make do with my outfits!

Thankfully our hotel came complete with a walk-in wardrobe, in which I could line up my selection of heels and hang my OTT frocks.

 There was never a more perfect occasion than this to debut my new Loubs. Don't you just love them!

This was my first outfit as an engaged gal. Purchased for me by my beau in New York from a boutique in Soho, I thought it a fabulous statement maker. The ruffles proved a little difficult when sitting down but bounced back to their full glory as soon as I stood up. The perfect LBD i'd say!

For our last evening, I mustered up all my magpie powers and slipped in to this pailette number. I was probably the most over-dressed person in New York on a Sunday night - but who cares!

I have to say, having just seen SATC 2, I was super excited about getting dressed up New York stylee...but all my visions of Carrie mini-me's were not to be. Where was all the NY chicness I had seen on previous trips?!

So I now write to you as a fiance. Get ready for lots of wedding talk - don't worry, it'll be primarily dresses and shoes - and lots of audience participation!