Paris haul!

I didn't go too insane in Paris, meaning I didn't buy too much... but here is the round-up of all my purchases that will forever remind me of a beautiful trip. Sorry it is so so late - I really have to catch up!

Essie nail polish in Sugar Daddy & Rouge Baiser nail polish in Pastel Jaune.

I am a complete sucker for nail polishes, and these sugar sweet shades were too cute to resist.

Hand painted Vogue cover art.

I bought this by the Seine near the Notre Dame. It was perfect for me - classy, elegant, Parisian, and of course featuring Vogue!

Assorted postcards.

I picked these up all over the city on impulse, and I plan to stick them all around my room to remind me of the trip. My favourites are the show posters and the Moulin Rouge.

Perfume spritzers - Belle du Jour.

I adore anything retro glamour and was captivated by the vintage ones in the window of this Montmartre boutique. Unfortunately my budget didn't stretch that far but these reproductions still look gorgeous.

Metallic dress - Isabel Marant (second-hand).

The likelihood of me ever affording anything by Isabel Marant was absolutely minute, until I stumbled upon this in a second-hand/vintage store in the backstreets of Saint Germain. It's gorgeous, sparkling and glamorous and I love it.

Clutch bag - Cos (second-hand).

I also unearthed this in the second hand shop, and fell for the unique print and on-trend fold-over style.

Vintage bracelet.

That second hand shop really was full of treasures, and this delicately beautiful silver bracelet is possibly my favourite.

 Bralet - Brandy Melville, Home Made.

The back of this cute bralet is my favourite part, love the detail.

And that is the end of my Paris haul - see? Restrained. Although if we're honest most of my money did go on pastries and BNs... I am so so pleased with all of my purchases though, and they will be permanent reminders of a beautiful trip.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Fashion can still have principles.

If you have already read this month's Vogue, or have been paying attention to fash-world news then today's post won't be surprising or new to you. But I have just read this month's issue, and after hearing about it then reading about it I decided to dedicate a post to the amazing principles that Vogue now definitively stand for. It has long been said that fashion is a bad influence on people, especially young girls, given the idealized image of perfection that it portrays, which is why I was so pleased to read these ideas that are now supported by Vogue worldwide..

1. We will not knowingly work with models under the age of 16 or who appear to have an eating disorder. We will work with models who, in our view, are healthy and help to promote a healthy body image.

2. We will ask agents not to knowingly send us underage girls, and casting directors to check IDs when casting shoots, shows and campaigns. 

3.   We will help to structure mentoring programmes where more mature models are able to give advice and guidance to younger girls, and we will help to raise industry-wide awareness through education, as has been integral to the CFDA Health Initiative.

4. We will encourage producers to create healthy backstage working conditions, including healthy food options and a respect for privacy. We will encourage casting agents not to keep models unreasonably late.

5. We encourage designers to consider the consequences of unrealistically small sample sizes of their clothing, which limits the range of women who can be photographed in their clothes, and encourages the use of extremely thin models.

6. We will be vocal ambassadors for the message of healthy body image, both within the magazine and outside.

I was already a massive fan of Vogue, completely obsessed with the magazine and reading it religiously, but now I am even more inspired by Vogue and its editors. Not only are they now promoting healthy body image among models which will spread in to the general public, creating a healthy, inspirational image for all their readers, but they are seeking to improve conditions for models as well, and change the unrealistic sizing of designer sample clothes. I am incredibly proud of Vogue for doing this, and hope that many other magazines, modelling agencies and designers follow in their footsteps - as a huge international fashion name, their influence will hopefully permeate all the areas of fashion. Once again, well done to Vogue for being so principled.

Love and kisses, Tara xox  

You and I, we were born to die.

A new, intoxicating, overpowering obsession has been creeping up on me for a while now, and it completely overtook me this week. You might have guessed it from the title - the latest phenomenon in my life is girl-of-the-moment Lana Del Rey. Her haunting vocals on the viral hit Videogames won me over from the second I heard the track, the second single Born To Die is a dreamy, edgy masterpiece of a song that I am incredibly attached to and my high expectations for her album were met and surpassed when it finally got released on Monday. I haven't listened to anything else for 5 days, and Lana's incredible voice is now the soundtrack to my life. As well as the fact that she has an insane talent, her vintage look and mesmerising attitude make her easily the hottest new thing on the music/fashion/celeb scene.

There's a lot of hate going on for Lana though, from the constant speculation about whether she's had collagen in her lips (honestly, who cares?) to derogatory comments about her live performances, but mostly about the fact that she has created an entire persona, a character that she presents, because she has gone from Lizzie Grant to Lana Del Rey. Personally, I find it strange how people can criticise her for reinventing herself to succeed, when there is Gaga on the scene! Also, as an admittedly image-obsessed person, I love the fact that she has built up such an immaculate mystique, with a vintage pin-up image and gorgeous jazz-inspired music. One of my favourite descriptions of her character came from a magazine, that she presents herself as 'a beautiful disaster', but nobody describes Lana better than Lana herself - 'gangster Nancy Sinatra'.

I actually wish I could be Lana. Look like her, dress like her, act like her, sing like her. Since that's physically impossible, I am going to settle for style stalking her and obsessively listening to her album. Oh, and creating this little (okay long) post to see if I can inspire you with Lana too..

This week has been very Del Rey, since, the album came out on Monday and she is the cover star of this month's Vogue - and looking stunning in new season Louis Vuitton.

I absolutely love this photoshoot - it is effortlessly glamorous in a more-is-more, retro-starlet way that just epitomises Lana's character. The outfits are cute, kitsch, quirky and gorgeous - I especially want the Vuitton blouse she wears on the cover, but that's not going to happen. I'm hoping for some high street copycat pieces soon. As well as being dressed incredibly (those red heels.. swoon), Lana looks simply stunning. I honestly think she is beautiful - it is the combination of that retro-waved, burnt-orange hair, her infamous pout and her quirky personality shining through the pictures..

These next photos are more that showcase her edgy-retro style, which I long to steal. Everything she wears for her photoshoots is quirky, gorgeous and could have been made for her. She is also totally on top of the trends - 1950s styling is very du jour, you know, and Lana has been working it for months. Also, she manages to get shot in some amazing pieces from the SS'12 catwalks..

See what I mean? Insane jealousy for her wardrobe. The last shot is from the spectacular video for Born To Die (which was complete with tigers), and I think the dress looks much better on Lana, styled with her vintage siren waves and red pout, with the quirk factor being ramped up with the blue flower headpiece.

In the real world, or as close as Del Rey will ever get, she still looks incredible. When on stage she remains every inch the screen siren diva, even managing to make jeans and a hoodie look retro-fabulous. How does she do it?

Yet more flawless looks from Lana - I know we are venturing away from the parameters of "fashion" and into the realm of "obsessed with LDR" here, but I just find her image so inspiring. I will be doing my best to base at least some of my SS'12 styles on her looks, when the trends finally filter down into the high street so I can afford them! Her immaculate makeup and hair is also enviable - I foresee some serious eyeliner flicks and maybe even an attempt to force my hair into waves in the future!

Okay, now we are definitely in the world of "just posting beautiful pictures", but they are so inspiring! I am aching for fully-loaded glamour now, and even more ready to dive into SS'12's super-pretty retro-fabulous pieces. Oh Lana, you inspiration, you.

I think by now you can see exactly why I love Lana Del Rey and her admittedly fabricated image. She might not be being honest, open and true Adele-style like a lot of singers are trying to be at the moment, but she did try to make it as Lizzie Grant & it didn't happen. Besides, when the creation is this stunning I simply cannot do anything but be inspired. I told you - new obsession. I predict great things from Lana, both musically as her album is a hit worldwide, and sartorially if she continues to present herself in this vintage, playful, sexy, highly glamorous way. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

What do you think of LDR? Are you a fan like me, or are you a member of the parade of haters she seems to be gathering? Love and kisses, Tara xox