Meet The Elite: Met Gala 2014

I'm probably a bit late on the Met Gala bandwagon this year, but with so many dresses/accessories/style queens to consider, I wanted to make sure the ones I picked as my favourites really were the best! As an event it's something I've always been vaguely aware of in previous years - big dresses, anyone who is anyone all under one roof, it's fairly hard to go unnoticed - but this year was the first where I've actively gone and found out about it a bit more!

Basically. for anybody who is new to the whole concept, it's a highly exclusive annual ball held in New York to raise funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Art. With the organising committee headed by the one and only Anna Wintour, it is one of the hottest events for anything and anyone with a soft spot for fashion, as lavish ball gowns are unleashed, along with extravagant hairstyles and experimental beauty. This year's theme was 'Charles James', whom I was initially clueless about, but whom, after a wee bit of digging, it appears was the British designer responsible for creating wonderful ball gowns sculpted to fully flatter the female form. Indeed, I would say that many at this year's gala paid him great tributes, and he would have been very proud. Here are just a few of my favourites...

Suki Waterhouse - definitely the most beautiful dress of the night, in my opinion, in a "totally just wrapped myself in tutus and working it" kind of way...

Karlie Kloss, not one I've seen covered very much, but so so stunning, so I can't think why! (Ugh I feel like we should just bow down to her or something!)

Model Karolina Kurkova, stealing the show in this breathtaking ensemble, unusual, but in a totally amazing way!

Shoe designer Tabitha Simmons just made me want to live in a fairytale with this dress, with my own turreted castle and private rose garden (or something equally as cliche)...

Ooh Emma Stone, you go girl! She's always on point with her style if you ask me, and whilst I did think this was quite simple considering the occasion, I couldn't really fault it!

And for the couples?...

A clear first! I dare you to find me one girl who hasn't seen these pictures of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds and just wanted to be her already! Old school glamour will never go out of style...

A close second in the couple stakes, just for sheer class, has to be Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady, who showed that simplicity will always be in fashion!

On that note, I feel I can say that despite my insane jealousy, I have been thoroughly inspired. Admiring such outstanding designs only remind me why fashion matters! 

It's events like these, despite being extremely flashy and excessive, which can show the world once and for all that even when fashion isn't the most important thing in the news right now, when there's always something so much better or worse happening in the wider world, it's still something worth reporting and showing off-and enjoying! Whilst not everybody has the body to pull off a figure-hugging gown, or the cash to splash on a $25000 ticket for a one night event, there's no reason why we can't still revel in fashion and learn to build and love our own styles! If these people can go out in wild dresses and look drop dead gorgeous and inspiration, why shouldn't the rest of us have such fun too?!

In the words of the woman herself, Anna Wintour:

"Create your own style...let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others"

And we all know if Anna says it, it must be right in the eyes of fashion!

x

We Picnic in Pretty Places

Sometimes, it's so easy for me to get caught up in every day life, and forget that actually I live in quite a nice (for want of a better word) part of the world! But, just as quick as that fact can slip my busy mind, it also only takes one day, or one part of a day, to re-stumble across the pretty landscapes around me - for example, this Bank holiday, when we set off in search of a place to picnic.


Whilst it seems that everybody decides to embark on the great outdoors in some form or other when a bank holiday comes along - be that for a gentle stroll, an invigorating hike, or a long bike ride - personally we just wanted a bit of fresh air, a stretch of the legs, and a bit of a change of scenery.

Hopping in the car for a long drive is no problem to me, especially when we end up wandering round somewhere are attractive as we did, however it might have been even better had I not wisely brought my camera along without both it's battery (charging) and memory card (in computer) - I don't even know how I managed it! Thankfully I did manage to borrow scrounge another camera, and so, not to waste the opportunity, got clicking...

 Overall I had to say, quite simply, that I loved the whole place for it's beautiful houses, trees and cute little cafes! What more could you want from a town?

Aside from the throngs of other tourists with much the same idea as us, our wander along the river was fittingly peaceful, and even a panorama photo could hardly do it justice (plus, points for who can spot how I've creepily managed to duplicate Dad, oops!)

Of course walking around/ standing around when slightly lost, only calls for, what, a foot selfie? It sounds weird when said like that, but come on, you know fine well the ones I mean...

Impeccably styled as always (haw haw), I decided there was nothing better to wear on such a chilled excursion than a good pair of leggings, riding boots and a slobby jumper - we all have those days right?


Of course, the goal at the end of all our wanderings, the final destination, was the picnic, and oh boy, by the time we got there was my stomach growling in anticipation! We found a suitably humungous tree stump to perch our bums on, and dug in.

All washed down with a steaming hot flask of peppermint tea of course, as by then it was undoubtedly chilly!

With satisfied bellies and the beginnings of tiredness showing, we jumped in the car and head back home - even the view out the window was pleasantly scenic, as we passed by the 'Devil's Beef Tub'.

Impressive right? All in all a successful, thoroughly calm, stress-free day!
What did you get up to this Bank holiday? Is there something, like picnicking, that you like to do, maybe that makes you feel a bit like a kid again too?

x

April Adorations

For me, April has been one of those funny months, a bit up and down and around, just whizzing by! But between studying, stressing and sleeping, I've also had just about enough time to discover some new things to wear, hear, do, and generally make my day. I thought I might like to share some of these "adorations" today, as the month draws to a close and we move swiftly on into the next one (eek!) So, this month I've enjoyed (ft. dodgy editing)...

Watching:

Frozen! For sure! I know we're moving into warmer, brighter days, and I should be well past the age and stage of obsessing over Disney films, but this film is just impossible not to love! Quite simply, the songs are currently my life's soundtrack (can. not. stop. singing.), and Olaf is my new best friend. If you're having a down day, there is no better medicine!

Reading:

Asides from textbooks and revision notes (yawn) I haven't had the chance (or energy) to be reading all that much, but one beautiful book I did get to enjoy was  The Book THIEF, which was fab!

Putting on:

-Vaseline 'Spray and Go' cocoa moisturiser - does everything it says on the tin, perfect for my fellow lazies

-Benefit 'Total Moisture' face cream - so fresh, even for my driest-of-dry skin

-Marc Jacobs 'Honey' - a go-to whenever the weather looks like its picking up

Listening to (on repeat):

1. This beacon of wonderfulness, "Another Story" by Head and the Heart. It's one of those songs that can lift my spirit at any moment, and I can't see it getting old anytime soon either.

2. Or "Heartbeats" by Jose Gonzalez. You know those late night explorations of the YouTube sidebar that occasionally turn into something great? Well, this was one of them! (Also, I later realised it had been in One Tree Hill too, even better)

Wearing:
Saving up means that I haven't bought very much recently, but it also means that what I have picked up has had to be worth it! I'm loving my floral/lace kimono from Urban Outfitters, and can't wait to be able to wear it in all its glory! A more recent purchase was this black bag from Accessorize, which hasn't even had its first outing yet, but I am determined to get as much use out off as possible!

Doing:

Well, it was only for 3 days out of the months, but Future News 2014 will not be something I am likely to forget in a hurry! Meeting such a diverse group of people from around the globe, all connected by a common interest and goal, was a one in a lifetime opportunity I think, and I'm so glad to have conquered my worries and gone ahead with it!

Now that brings my favourites to an end, and I can now say that I hope May shapes up just as well as April did! What have you loved recently? And what are you looking forward to in the coming months?