Beckenham Palace Reigns

I'm sure it isn't fashionable to be an all round fan of the Beckhams from the moment they got together. Both of them were quite the young skinny spotty pair and to me it seems like only yesterday being a lover of football not so much the Spice Girls. Then they got married, had the purple themed wedding thing in either Hello or Ok! ramping up the stakes of ostentatious wedding sharing but we forgave them as Brooklyn was so cute.

Then you'd bump into them occasionally on the Kings Road on route to Sloane St pushing the pram with matching looks and invariably wearing Gucci. I suppose I grew up with their relationship as it unfolded in a way that I haven't with anyone else. Of course there were times when I thought Victoria lacked taste but I never stooped to the rumoured Tom Ford rant to his then PR office at Gucci, ordering them to stop giving 'her our clothes', only to be told 'she has bought them'. Who knows the truth of this now given Victoria through sheer focus, grit, hard work and some helpful financial backing (of her own) has climbed to the dizzy heights of designing a fashion collection - a successful one at that.





With Victoria and David you get the sense of a couple who've worked at their marriage and worked at their life. Mention the forthcoming royal wedding and I can barely suppress a yawn. However, how excited am I at the imminent blow by blow account of Victoria's pregnancy. My fondness for the Beckham's flames my interest whilst I fail to get excited by Brad and Angelina.

I'm no snob and I like the fact they've stuck through it thick and thin and ignored the gossip of the world around them. There is something in their family solidarity that seems more fashionable than citing 'the toll of working apart' for the breakdown of a marriage. I'm not advocating people staying together but the Beckham's have a hold as a couple in the same way as the Queen and Prince Phillip. And in both cases where duty and responsibility as parents might have strained them more by sticking it out during the bad times, it seems the good times shine brighter all the more for it.

It seems there is a case for making do in a relationship that tests you when the basis was built on a strong genuine love. I'll leave it to Coco's Tea Party to do the beefy stuff on what a great wardrobe the child might have if its a girl. I need to grab a tissue to wipe away a tear and have a lie down at finding my sentimental side...now where are my Tom Ford sunglasses.

Surprise designer focus

Surprise being the key word given my level of cynicism of celebs from whatever background turned designer. Granted I bought a silver maxi skirt from Kate Moss's first ever Topshop venture all those years ago. It was my one and only purchase and a very good one at that. However, I like to think that is more my discerning nature...

Which brings me on first to Victoria Beckham, (this post isn't about her) I'm a sucker for some reason I love her lines and I really like her. In that time honoured expression 'I really get her'. We couldn't be more un- alike. Moi, blonde and curvy - her, brunette and well thin as a thin thing. Which all in all is a big build up to me enthusing about Winter Kate.

If I was to say I was determined to 'hate' (petit garcon uses this word a lot of late as in 'Mummy I hate you' when I refuse him Jammy Dodgers for breakfast) the Winter Kate line designed by Nicole Richie along with her House of Harlow stuff, I'm sure I'd be in a bracket with a lot of other people.

Yet, it is 'ruddy' good as we Brits say. I like the understated flamboyance of both lines. There is a 30s/70s vibe (cliché I know) which comes through and I'm never sure if it is a hang over from the Rachel Zoe days or it is truly her own style and input. I'm going with the latter although acknowledging the former imparted 'knowledge'.

My favourite is the Dixie Tunic which flies against the force of minimalism but would turn heads without much effort. The sleeves billow out and you do need proper shoulders to carry this item otherwise the fit isn't great. All the items have lovely patterns and cuts which honestly amazes me. It all the things you would have hoped the Kate Moss collections at Topshop promised to be or would have been.

Ditsy Tunic £167 my-wardrobe

Winter Kate is also available on the 3rd floor at Selfridges, London.

Celebrity attendees at Elizabeth Emanuel

I love a celeb spot. And Elizabeth Emanuel didn't disappoint. It was pure C to Z list heaven, my favourite combination. A listers are obviously Hollywood stars with designers, models and major music peeps being B list. Is grading celebs wrong? Do you do it too!

Sinitta with her bloke, who was very protective. Sinitta wore Elizabeth Emanuel recently to the television awards and is a big fan of her work. She loved the array of dresses and expect to see her in one soon. Sinitta was very appreciative of Sonique's wonderful performance of Moon River

Karen Millen (yes the real one) talking to Nancy Dell'Olio (she was with her new man who is better looking than Sven!)

Colin Jackson (what is with my athletics theme to LFW, note to self get to gym maybe!) wearing a wonderful midnight blue velvet jacket

The gorgeous and wonderful Sonique. Her singing was fab and she was a great addition to the show

A Triumphal affair

Lets face it my blogging is all to pot. I'm still on last week. I'm not sure this styling work is conducive with my blogging. Not only am I off routine (apologise no Maxi, Midi, Mini today as no research been possible), I'm becoming unsociable due to exhaustion (sorry Sharon Rose, working and doing school runs/stuff is making me a lover of sleep).

Thankfully my all work and all mummy duties were interrupted by the Triumph Inspiration Awards 2010. Billed as kicking off London Fashion Week, the challenge around the globe for designers was based on the brief Shape Sensations. Judging the event were Matthew Williamson, Rankin and Helena Christensen. Karen Mok, Hillary Riva (British Fashion Council Development Committee) and Suzanne McKenna (Triumph Head of Global Brand Management).

I was pleased to bump into Nicky Hambleton-Jones, who is a friend and a great person to work with. Designers Felder and Felder were as lovely as ever but I feel dreadful I didn't take a photo of their mum who is uber lovely and very glam. She was also wearing a shearling flight jacket and looked very cool. Linford Christie became my NBF - he was charming, funny and had a powerful shove when trying to get your attention. He and Alexandra Burke made me take photos of them together on each of their blackberry phones. I then attempted to take yet another rubbish photo on my camera. Yes the lighting in the Old Sorting Office was very dark but seriously I need a new phone (on its way, I'm on an iphone 4 wait list) and a decent camera (hello anyone out there?!)

Enough of my 5 minutes of fun and down to the show. It was a mixed bag of fab designs, slightly blah and some bonkers numbers. But that is the great thing about design, it is subjective and there is something for everyone. My favourite, a sparkly number by a Norwegian designer didn't win - the designer Annette Bowman decided to use bits of vinyl and tape to create her shape sensation number. The second placed Spanish designer Amaya Carcamo created a wonderful body using wood, it was polished to perfection. The Triumph Inspiration Award site has lots of lovely images and videos of the evening. I'm actually on one of them thanks to my front row status! Mr MDS laughed at my faux fur caplet saying I was the only person with a shawl on. Nothing like your bloke to ruin your only moment.

Busy back stage preparing the show

Nicky Hambleton-Jones, Linford Christie and his friend who's name I've forgotten but she was super nice and fun

Nicky and a bit of Felder & Felder

The item I wanted - I thought it would be a perfect look for the beach

The board

You see my camera and photography skills need help!

Zandra does TK Maxx

If you were wondering what I was doing on Wednesday night well wonder no more. I joined lots of fab peeps at the TK Maxx new store opening on Charing Cross Road. Now I love a TK Maxx and this proved no exception. The store opening was a glam affair with canapes, champers and celebs. The store is getting super organised with a new way of merchandising stock. The Modbox are is an eclectic mix of young trendy fashion items. My personal favourite is the gold area, designer fashion. You would have caught me drooling over Stella, Pucci, Valentino and more. Hanging out with me was Dan from The Feeling (well we were rummaging together). I confessed to him that Mr MDS and I pretend to be Kate Middleton and Prince William when Fill My Little World comes on in the car. For a few minutes we are crazy Sloanes letting it all go wild! Luckily Dan thought this was hilarious and he is an absolute dear. My new bf of the night was Zandra Rhodes, she was having a good old shop and looking as wonderful as ever.

Lots of fashion bloggers were there and in one of the photos below I snapped Tor of Fabfrocks by chance in a crowd shot. Once again I forgot my camera and had to rely on blackberry.

Nice Suit, one to take home

The Dancers dressed up were fabulous

Dancers, Crowd shot and where's Tor!

Zandra puts best foot forward

How wonderful are her shoes!

Pam Hogg chatting with friend

High Street Pick of the Week

A first feature for Peacocks the rival to Primark for fashion at low prices. They have a lovely collection in store and on-line by Pearl Lowe. Yes I know I'm no lover of 'celeb' designed collections, but I've always had a soft spot for Ms Lowe's personal style and for 5 mins I could float around in this and be a reformed Primrose Hill set person

Pearl Lowe Angel Sleeved Dress £30

Purple Haze

Having recently enjoyed the splendour of a purple dress a la Kelly Rowlands at SATC premier. I was bowled over to see yet another splendind showing of this colour on Natalie Portman at Cannes. I'm not sold on the dress itself - the top half is a bit frou frou for me and it's summer why the black belt and shoes.

Purple is a jewel of a colour and it was a nearly ran last A/W but got eclipsed by all hues of grey.

I'm holding out for a purple reign this A/W when it will rightly sit majestically with black

Boo hoo Noth enough

I can't tell you enough what a fab evening it was. London town, blue skies, nice breeze and a late start oh must be a premier. Kim Cattrall looked the most gorgeous, partly because she excudes womenhood. They all looked amazing but the evening was not an A list frenzy apart from the girls themselves, the only other mentionable is Patricia Fields who to my complete joy did turn up. But no Mr Big! I really wanted to see Chris Noth.

I failed miserably in sneaky photo taking - in fairness I would have looked a) a dork and b) had it confiscated!

Gok Wan was outside trying to get interviews (amongst others) and there was a general flash frenzy for anyone vaguely 'known'. I escaped with a forlorn walk, with my plus one friend, we did take a funny pic of me with a board before we entered but I can't get it from my phone to my computer currently!

Most of the other celebs were of no interest but Kelly Rowlands (ex-Destiny's Child)looked great and was lovely, she also had plus one friend who had to step aside for the photo calls.

Just compare Kelly with a couple of Brits on right Michelle Ryan, Jenny Faulkner.

Kelly's dress was stunning. A deeper bolder purple than reflected in the photo.

Oh and the film - well Sarah Jessica Parker and the cast pleaded for secrecy, mouths buttoned etc. It is so hard for me not to be a BIG mouth!!

I wore cream cotton Primark dress, Gap's Pierre Hardy black patent platforms, silver clutch from Blommingdales, Soho ( I bought it last September when they were filiming SATC) and a pale blue pashmina with silver studs from http://www.doushala.co.uk/ (worn as scarf thing not shawl!). I knew it would be cold inside the cinema with the air con and it was.......Hardly top drawer stuff but I did tube it! I wasn't gonna waste my Blahnik's on the Bakerloo

Pure Pleasure

I don't know if it was my tipple in the Met Bar or downloading All Saint's greatest hits on to my ipod but I'm having a parka revival.

Shaznay Lewis is a much neglected female songwriter - I'd forgotton how much aural pleasure Pure Shores and Black Coffee could give. I just remembered the female feel good factor the girls - Natalie, Melanie, Nicole and Shaznay delivered. Most notable their love of glamour mixed with tomboy.

And I have to say when I choose my stiff upper east side princess look of shirt, skirt and courts it is perfectly complimented by a £35 New Look parka. It's the rolled up short sleeve vibe that sings.....

PS How's about this for an answer to a dreadful public divorce - Sir Paul McCartney on Linda

Free Spirit

There is nothing quite like running to burn off calories, keep you fit and apart from a decent pair of trainers, it costs nowt. Well, ok maybe a few bandages at times and some painkillers.

Most of all it gives you a killer pair of pins to put into some Manolo Blahniks'. And it was in Bath yesterday that I ran the Bath Half Marathon - the now home of Mr Blahnik and much like his shoes it is a fine city to run around if you could block out the cold, wind and rain that was the weather we were treated to.

Bath's Georgian splendour is well preserved and the city retains its tourist crown due to the architecture and setting. My trusty trainers did their job, no blisters or pain to my feet and that is what a good pair of shoes does too. I'm happy to save on all manner of things but shoes - no shoes have to be well crafted and my silver Manolo's are just perfect. I know I could have slipped them on my feet after my run and not suffered a bit.

And believe me after a hearty steak frite and glass of champagne in Cafe Rouge, Bath I wish I had been wearing them. As we were leaving a very handsome and tall David James (Portsmouth & England goalkeeper) was walking in. Instead of being greeted at chest level (by a gawping open mouthed person -that was just my husband) a pair of high heels would have given stature. Oh well, I hobbled out draggin' hubbie and thought Cheryl Cole was definitely fighting for the wrong bloke!