Miss Magpie goes shopping...

As you may know it was my birthday last weekend, so Mummy Magpie thought she would welcome in my new year with a spot of shopping. Well, actually, quite a lot of shopping!

We thought we'd hit Vogues Fashion Night Out - discounts, champers and a possible celeb spotting. What's not to like?

First stop: Browns, South Molton Street

OMG - I fell head over heels in love with this beauty! All was going well, until I looked at the price tag. This is not an impulse buy...this is a real investment. One I wasn't quite ready to make on the night, but one I may consider when the sound of the wedding bells is drawing closer!

FYI its Alexander McQueen and it'll set you back a mere £930. If your bank balance is higher than mine, you can buy it here. I promise you won't regret it (how could you - it's exquisite) and if you do buy it, perhaps you can let me borrow it some time??!

I had to make a swift exit from Browns as my credit card was in severe danger of being maxed out - Browns stocks some of the most beautiful items I have ever seen.

Stop two: Butler & Wilson, South Molton Street

With sparkly jewellery fixed firmly in my mind, we moved on to Butler & Wilson. Miss Magpie was in heaven! Surrounded by so many sparkles it feels like I'd found my sartorial home.

I tried on a lot. I drank a lot of champagne (thank you B&W). I bought these:

Oh my... How I love thee. As the queen of statement jewellery, I wanted to go for something a little more grown up and refined for a change. I think I found the perfect balance of statement and elegance.

Check out the Butler & Wilson website here. I want EVERYTHING!!!

A dinner and a sleep later, the shopping continued...

Shop three: Zara

Taking heed of this season's hottest trends (and there's another post coming on that in a second), I was very excited when I saw these fab pieces.

A lovely silk leopard print top that I'll be able to wear with anything! There was no doubt in my mind when I spotted it (geddit?!), that I had to have it!

Next came a brown leather skirt. I've been looking for the perfect leather number for some time now, but didn't want to spend a fortune on one, so I was so happy to find this beaut at the purse-friendly price of £59.99. Perfect!

Check out Zara's brand spanking new website here.

A quick lunch stop

All that shopping had our tummies rumbling, so Mummy Magpie treated me to a rather fine lunch of champagne and oysters at the Selfridge's food hall. It was exquisite. Thank you!

Shop four: Dune, Selfridges

With jewellery and clothes sorted (and tummies filled), I decided that my final purchase should take care of my feet. I've been wanting a pair of thigh high boots for a while now, so when I tried these babies on in Dune, I knew they had to be mine!

They are not only totally on-trend, the ultimate statement-makers and utterly chic...they are oh-so comfortable. You don't often get all those requirements in one shoe, so I was sold instantly. And for £110, I think they are pretty bargain-tastic! Have a look at more goodies here.

And there the shopping trip ended. Sigh.

Just enough time to pop home, put my glad-rags on and meet my beau for a slap-up meal in honour of  date night and my birthday (I think I have now officially dragged it out for as long as humanly possible!).

We went for a lovely meal at the Paramount Club (at the top of the Centre Point building), so I took the opportunity to debut one of my new necklaces:

A simple little dress is all you need when you have such bling hanging around your neck!

The perfect accessory: Roseberry champagne cocktail. With rose, lychee and champagne filling the glass, my taste buds were going wild. It was so delicious I had to have two.

And the icing on the cake? A beautiful view over London at sunset.

Miss Magpie is feeling very spoiled and loved. Thank you all xxx

Help the aged!

Question: How old is Miss Magpie?

Answer: Miss Magpie is one year older than she was last week. And that's all you need to know.

Here I am, celebrating with my fabulous friends, with the obligatory paper birthday hat. I think it sets off my McQ jumpsuit no end. You'll be seeing them all over the catwalk next season, trust me.

Birthday celebration No. 1:

Cocktails at the London Cocktail Club followed by more cocktails and some food at Wahaca, Covent Garden.

Porn star martini: I know is doesn't sound very chic, but it tastes fabulous. Passion fruit, vodka, some other stuff and then a shot of Prosecco on the side. The reason for its name, and I quote, "because you can have it anyway you like." Cringe!

Just as I was finishing off my third cocktail, my bestie showed up laden with pressies! Yipee!

First came an engagement present - let's not forget that this was my last birthday as a 'Miss':

A personalised love heart towel. AMAZING!!! If you don't know about my love for cheesiness, you haven't been doing your reading properly!

Then, for my birthday surprise, she's made this cushion cover for me. I heart the fabric naturally, but am actually far more impressed with her sewing machine skills. Sisi G is a very clever girl!! Thank you!

Before we get on to the second installment, I wanted to show you why I spent the evening suffering from a terrible case of jewellery envy:

While the boys were drooling all over Neha (my cousin), I was busy eying up the gorgeous pink flowers adorning her neck. They are from Butler and Wilson, where I'm heading to pronto.


Birthday celebration No.2:

Dinner and cocktails at Beach, Blanket, Babylon in Shoreditch.

As this was the day of my actual birthday, my beau surprised (and spoiled) me with a gorgeous pressie:

Ok, I know that's a paper watch, but the real thing is winging its way over from New York. My new TAG Carrera will actually look like this:

Aren't I a lucky, lucky girl?! This watch will last me a life time, that's for sure.

Since the day started with sparkles, I thought it should end with them too, so I gave my Yves Saint Laurent black sequin trousers their debut outing:

I've been holding on to these beauts for a while, waiting for the perfect occasion to take them on their first outing. Oh, how I love thee...

There we have it. Another year bites the dust. Here's hoping the following year brings much happiness, love and a bloody brilliant wedding. Fingers crossed.

Avi and Sam tie the knot!

Miss Magpie's wedding season is not over just yet - I must be at that age!

Last weekend saw the magnificent marriage of my beautiful school friend Avital to her teen sweetheart, Sam. Don't you just love a happy ending!

Alas, my trip to Hong Kong co-oincided with Avi's big day (you have no idea how upset I was not to be there) so for once, like you, I shall have to experience it vicariously through these stunning pictures.

Choosing Tel Aviv, Israel, as the setting for their big day, the gorgeous couple danced the night away with a bevvie of sunkissed beauties, their overjoyed family and a hell of a lot of love surrounding them.

Let me present to you the absolutely gorgeously beautiful bride, Avital. Look at the train on that dress! I'm sure you'll agree she looked simply breathtaking.

How pretty is the back of the dress?! I've never seen a wedding gown quite like it - I love how beautifully symbolic the tied knot is... Well done Avi.

And the hair. The hair! So, so classic, just the way it should be. Going for a timeless up-do means you'll never have that cringe-making moment ten years down the line when fashions have changed (yes, people did actually think their '80's perms looked good!) - something I have been told over and over again recently.

That pic is just because I want to show off how absolutely beautiful my friend Avi is! Sam - you are a very lucky man!

Now for the bridesmaids...

It must be so scary to be a bridesmaid, not knowing what monstrosity you are going to have to don for the big day. Well, Avi's gorge sisters (Natasha, left and Michal, centre) and new sister-in-law (Jasmine, right) need not worry! I really love this look. It being a wedding in the sun, I think these floral maxis set the perfect tone. You look lovely girls!

Oh fiddlesticks! How upset am I that I missed this totally glam affair:

CONGRATULATIONS AVITAL AND SAM!!!

Love Miss Magpie xxx

Hong Kong hustle!

Miss Magpie's been traveling again (hence my recent absence)! This time I've been exploring the crazy city of Hong Kong.

 

Hong Kong is a hustling, bustling metropolis, full to the brim with shops, skyscrapers and sensory experiences. It really is the craziest city I have seen in a while. Shops cover most of the floorspace in HK - they are literally everywhere! Even I, a complete shopping fanatic, found it overwhelming.

To put it in to perspective... Even though Hong Kong has about seven Chanel boutiques, eager shoppers can still be seen queueing outside! They are just obsessed with shopping out there. Pure craziness.

Alas, with the UK pound being so weak (boo), I was unable to indulge in the same activities as these lucky spenders. However, I did manage to bag myself some very special bargains...

Purchase No.1: A McQ silk jumpsuit
OMG, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this gem of a jumpsuit hanging in a small HK boutique...not only is it totally gorge, but at £50, what on earth was there to think about. It's the perfect day-to-night piece and with the added bonus of a figure-forgiving peplum, it's going to be a wardrobe staple for the foreseeable future methinks.

Purchase No.2: Lanvin silk dress
I am now the proud owner of Lanvin (not so proud of the silly pose though!). Ok, so it's from Spring/Summer '09 but when it costs the grand total of £50, who cares about that! I love the vibrant colour, the luxurious thick silk and the completely ladylike and elegant shape. I think I'm growing up.

Purchase No. 3: Roberto Cavalli day-dress
Clearly I was having a huge string of luck. For the equivalent of £40, I somehow found this amazing Cavalli dress. To be fair, I did trawl through the racks of numerous shops before I found this in the deepest darkest depths of Kowloon. As for the hair - Hong Kong's humidity has a lot to answer for!

I do believe that this has been my most successful shopping spree in a very, very long time!

I was also looking forward to seeing some quirky, individual style on the streets of Hong Kong. I was very disappointed. It was all very safe: Gucci kitten heels, Louis Vuitton totes and black shift dresses. Nothing inspiring.

However, I did spy this special lady:

I know what you are thinking - not your usual candidate for a street-style snap, but this granny was literally the only person to catch my eye. I love how brave she is - combining two mad prints is risky business, but I think as a more mature lady, she can totally get away with a more eccentric style!

Let me know what you think of my new purchases...

Myleene Klass my-ass!

Now I'm not one for bad language, but I just can't help it when it comes to that silly ex-Hear'Say singer (I had to Google that by the way) - I mean, who even remembers her singing? And now she is every-bloody-where!

Apparently, she's an expert on motherhood and has the answer to everyone's clothing nightmares. Err when did she earn those rights?

And if that weren't bad enough, check this out:

Myleene TV.

Yes, you read that right. As part of M&S TV (don't even get me started on that one), Myleene Klass will be presenting 'Myleene's Makeovers', where she shares her fashion 'knowledge' with the world.

How does this girl get these jobs?

Is it not enough that she's already bagged herself the position of presenter of 'Ten Years Younger' with absolutely no styling experience whatsoever?!

I guess you have to give her kudos for getting so far. That butter-wouldn't-melt smile obviously does the trick.

Now don't get me wrong. I do think she's sweet (ish) and all that, but I'd really like to turn on the TV or look at a magazine without being bombarded with images of her. I was genuinely happy for her when she got her first M&S ad campaign...now I just wish she would go away!

Rant over.

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.

Cheryl Cole hearts Angel Jackson

How much would you love to be privy to the shopping lists of the rich and famous? Well, Miss Magpie's a lucky girl, because she's just been given a little peek!

Cheryl Cole-Tweedy-Cole has literally just pre-ordered (one day I WILL be successful enough to 'pre-order') the Angel Jackson Dynasty Tote for her Autumn/Winter wardrobe:

Pure gorgeousness! 

I've never been a big fan of Cheryl but given this juicy bit of goss and the fact that she's no longer a footballer's wife, she's been traveling somewhere gritty enough to give her malaria and was seen sans make-up recently (she's braver than me)...well she's growing on me.

As for Angel Jackson, well it's such an inherently 'cool' brand - top quality, amazingly beautiful bags that have their own identity without being in your face. They just ooze style credibility and are a wardrobe must-have for all bag fanatics.

Cheryl has chosen very well and she's sky-rocketed herself into my style books.

Now let's tease ourselves with some more arm-candy from the Angel Jackson A/W collection:

Angel Jackson Pearly Queen Satchel

Angel Jackson Lakota Drawstring tote

Head to http://angeljackson.co.uk to draw up your own wish list.

I'm in bag heaven!

Bargain-hunting, Italian style

'What happened to your Italian adventure?' I hear you cry. Well, let me tell you, through the medium of clothes, what I got up to in the beautiful village of Preggio, Umbria.

It's a tough job but someone's got to do it!

We landed at Rome airport, perhaps still a little tiddly from the wedding we had been to the day before, only to find that Hattie's (Miss Magpie's gorge gal pal) suitcase hadn't made the same journey with us. Anger, fury and then hilarity (that'll be the booze) ensued. Needless to say Hattie, with no contact lenses, underwear, clothes, make-up etc. was not a happy bunny.

Rather than hit the chic shopping strips of Rome (my suggestion obvs) the boys decided we'd find something for Hattie to wear along the two and a half hour journey to Preggio. Err, ok!

But that they did.

Queue Italy's answer to Primark, TK Maxx, Homebase, JJB Sports all under one roof. You can imagine how UN-excited I was! But low and behold, I actually found some fabulous treats thanks to uber-cheap label, Project Donna:

All I can say is 3 EUROS!!! What an amazing bargain on this animal print, mesh trilby. I am totally in love.

You may think I've customized a granny's swimming cap (you know the ones I mean) to create this bikini, but I actually bought it like this... and I quite like it. I'm a sucker for fuchsia and at a price-tag of 14 Euros, well you can't go wrong, can you!

N.B. Must remember to only wear one bikini on holiday so I don't get ridiculous tan lines. Oops!

Once the bargain hunting had started I couldn't stop, so a few days later, at a pit-stop in a not-so-pretty town near Preggio (had to stock up on the vino somewhere!) I popped in to one of those shops you'd find on London's worst high-streets. I didn't have high hopes.

But look what I found:

It was love at first sight! How Lanvin is this? Everyone needs a white blouse every now and again, so there was no hesitation in snapping this beaut up - and at 9 Euros, who'd even bother to question it? So I hurried to the till, picked up the black version en route, and left 18 Euros poorer, but with a much richer wardrobe!

So thanks must go to the luggage handlers at Gatwick airport, who lost Hattie's case, forced us to stop at dodgy looking shops and who unknowingly made my shopping week!

Oh and before you ask, Hattie did get her suitcase back a couple of days into our holiday.

And we all lived happily ever after...

Jennifer Aniston is (almost) Barbra Streisand's double!

OMG - you have to check this pic of Jennifer Aniston out:

Can you spot the difference?

Let me explain...

In this month's Harper's Bazaar, the ex-Friend's star can be seen re-enacting some of Barbra (yes, you do it do spell it like that) Streisand's most iconic poses and doesn't she look gorgeous.

Just imagine - if it weren't for the nose job she had all those years ago, she'd be a dead ringer for the Hollywood glamour queen.

Anyway, I think it is a lovely tribute to the star and listen to these lovely words from Jen:

'Barbra inspires me because there isn't anything she hasn't done that she wanted to do, especially as a female in the time when her generation was prime.'

After a long day, that's just want I need to hear to make everything I (and all of us do) worth all the effort!

Well done girls x

Drinking fashion royalty

San Pellegrino Missoni water

This is what Miss Magpie was drinking whilst sunning herself in Italy - it doesn't get much more chic than that does it?

And if I hadn't been knocking back the yummy vino bianco at the same time, I might have actually remembered to bring the bottle back with me. Doh!

I guess I'll have to go splash out (geddit?!) on another bottle this side of the continent. First person who finds me a bottle wins something 'special'. Now get hunting...

Welcoming Mr and Mrs Kirk!

Round three of Miss Magpie's wedding marathon took place last Friday and what a way to round it off!

Wedding No.3: Dan marries Shelley

Miss Magpie is becoming some what of a wedding expert - what with my own wedding in the works and having now been to countless big days - and I have to say that Dan and Shelley's big day was just gorgeous.

Let's start with the beautiful, blushing bride, Shelley. The moment a bride walks into the room is the make or break moment. When Shelley arrived at the end of the aisle, clutching her proud father's arm, the tears started flowing. She looked utterly breath taking and just so happy:

Shelley opted for a full lace, bustier gown. I've never considered wearing a lace wedding dress before, but Shelley really worked it. Not only is lace so current, but this dress also has the religious-sexy ratio nailed.

And every single detail of this gown was just so cute. Look at the buttons that run the full length of the back of the dress. Look at how delicate the lace is. Look at how beautiful Shelley's shoulders look through the sheer veil. Perfection.

I, however, did not have such a carefully thought-out outfit. Two days before the big day, I realised that I had absolutely nothing to wear. A frantic search of the internet and lunchtime dash to the shops later, this is what I opted for:

Asos.com came to my rescue (and prior to last week, I was an Asos virgin) with this tomato red half bat-winged mini-dress from Aqua. For a very purse friendly £80 I was very happy indeed. I teamed it with my glittery Louboutins and some statement jewellery. Simples!

With no hairdresser to sort out my 'do' for the wedding, I had to resort to a home-made jobbie. Several rollers, grips, clips and hairspray later, this is what I created. Add a Marc by Marc Jacobs gem clip and I was good to go. Who needs a professional, eh?!

Finally take a look at these pics for a real feel of the wedding. A blue and white colour scheme (not a scheme I have ever thought of, but actually looked gorgeous), lots of bottles of Taittinger (yum-yum!) and the sort of minimal simplicity that is oh-so chic.

 

Cheers to Dan and Shelley and their happily ever after!