A FESTIVE WISHLIST WITH LONG TALL SALLY #ONEFORYOUONEFORME

If you have Christmas shopping to finish, and you're waking up with a post-office party hangover, the internet is here to help. Most sites will deliver your presents before Christmas, permitting you order online by Monday 21st December. One such site is Long Tall Sally, with whom I've put together this festive wish list. For the mums / best friends / sisters in your life - you can't go wrong with some cosy new pjs for Christmas - I love LTS's traditional checked pjs. Another lovely gift is a stylish pair of leather gloves that will be oh-so necessary when the January frost arrives. Of course I couldn't put together a wish list without adding a few pieces for yours truly. With size 43 feet, I am a big fan of Long Tall Sally's footwear, and have my eye on several pairs of booties on site. I'm also looking forward to a January health kick (too much indulgence already!) and would love this stylish yoga jacket. Christmas shopping never looked so easy! 

Left column top - bottom: Winter check pyjama pant, £25. Stripe ponte tunic, £45. Middle column top - bottom: Performance yoga jacket, £45. Roll neck jersey top, £20. Dazzle glitter boots, £55. Right column top - bottom: Milan leather ankle boots, £100. Leather gloves with ruching, £45. Winter check nightshirt, £30. 

SECRET SANTA GIFTS UNDER £10

At the risk of sounding like the 21st century incarnation of Dicken’s most popular character [that's Scrooge according to Penguin Books] - I can’t stand Secret Santa. I’m not sure if it’s the budget, the element of surprise or the opportunity to be comedic that throws people, but it’s this gifting formula that has thrown up some of my most bizarre festive gifts. Comedy gifts are my greatest bugbears; £10 for a momentary laugh followed by a swift trip down the charity shop seems like a big expenditure IMHO. So here's an edit of great gifts under £10 that I think would be genuinely lovely to receive. For the boozers in your life offer something more imaginative that a bottle and opt for an alcoholic pastille from Smith & Sinclair (I have sampled them and they really are strong!). For the budding chef, Leon's 'Little' cookbook collection is both aesthetically pleasing and full of useful recipes. Monogrammed gifts are the easiest way to offer something personal and Alphabet bags add an initial to just about anything. For the caffeine fiend, Keepcup's awesome website offers the opportunity to create bespoke reusable coffee cups in the recipients favourite pantone pallet (make mine mint green). So here's the under £10 edit [apart from Selfridges £15 Astro Pouch that I slipped in because it's so pretty!] 

Top row L - R: Little Leon Book: Brownies, Bars & Muffins, Oliver Bonas, £6.99. Smith and Sinclair Gin Pastilles, Harvey Nichols, £9.50. Orelia Star Hoops, Topshop, £10. Weekly Meal Planner, Kikki K, £9. Second row L - R: Jolly Ginger Biscuits, Biscuiteers, £6. Assorted Napolitan Chocolates, Fortnum & Mason, £9.50. Christmas Lip Bullet Duo, Topshop, £10.  Bespoke Keepcup, Keepcup.com, £10. Third row L - R: S Mini Tote, Alphabet Bags, £8. Astro Fragrance Pouch, Selfridges, £15. Alphabet Candle, Marks and Spencer, £3. Bottom row L - R : This Works Dream Team Set, Harvey Nichols, £10.  Marble Monogram Notebook, Studio Sarah, £6.95. Glitter Lights Socks, Topshop, £3.50. Korres Mini Showergel Collection, Birchbox, £10. 

LFF EDITS: BODEN CHRISTMAS 2015 COLLECTION

With my festive social calendar looking busier than newly single Spencer Matthews at Bodo’s Schloss on a Friday night, I’m looking for a few party pieces to add some sparkle to my seasonal wardrobe. The brief; fancy pieces that I can wear for a day in the office and tweak for a night on the tiles. My go-to source of inspiration? You might be suprised - the Boden festive catalogue - which landed on my doormat a couple of weeks ago and is filled with super-gorgeous glitter-dusted outfit inspiration. Take the brocade lace ‘Party Trousers' for example. Layer them up with a soft navy knit for day, and add a pointed court shoe and striped tee come party time. The glitter dusted Mary Janes are also super fabulous and v. Miu Miu! I’d pair them with some frayed hem jeans for that cool luxe - casual contrast. Here's an edit of my favourite styles: 

Left column top to bottom: Party Trousers, £74.25. Bow heel, £139. Pippa faux-fur coat, £199. Middle column top to bottom: Luxe lace top, £74.25. Merino off-duty jumper, £89. Sequin joggers, £66.75. Right column top to bottom: Hampton coat, £179. Glitter Mary-Janes, £99. Statement sequin skirt, £96.75. 

CHRISTMAS GIFT 2014 EDIT - PERSONALISED GIFTS

Personalised presents require that extra effort, but in return they offer a genius gifting solution. A monogrammed tote or an engraved necklace will make a thoughtful statement without breaking the bank or a fraught trip to Oxford Street. For affordable bespoke jewellery, my go-to is Anna Lou of London - I wear my monogram S necklace daily. Buying for a committed coffee consumer? [aka me - my chap and I have matching Keepcups!]  Then check out KeepCup – the first company to offer barista standard reusable cups. The best part? You can customise your KeepCup in colours of your choice, or gift a voucher to allow the recipient to choose their own – genius! Similarly, The Bathory offer the opportunity to invent your own bespoke bath soaks; I trialled the website earlier this year and it’s such a smart concept, plus the monochrome packaging is incredibly chic. A bespoke print makes the ideal choice for a new homeowner – my fellow blogger Victoria designs chic prints on request, available at her I Heart The Home Etsy store. Get your orders in this weekend to meet her Christmas delivery deadline!

Top row L- R: Reusable coffee cup, KeepCup, from £7. Monogram disc necklace, Anna Lou of London, from £54. Bespoke slipper service, Penelope Chilvers, POA. Middle row L-R: Maria Black gold plated + diamond engravable ring, Net-a-porter.com, £230. Willow monogrammed bag, Aurora Living, from £55. Wanderlust print, I Heart The Home etsy shop, £15. Bottom row L-R: Letter B tote, Alphabet Bags, £13. Customisable Nike Free Runs, Nike ID, £115. Bespoke bath soak, The Bathory, £18. 

LFF TREND ALERT: STAR PRINTS

Star prints are one of those timeless motifs (like polka dots) that never really date, but right now they are having a definite moment. It’s in the depths of winter when the days get shorter and the nights get longer, that constellation-inspired prints really come into their own and will add some much needed star-quality to otherwise drab outfits.

If your mind has turned to what you’ll be wearing over the festive season like mine, then any of the below pieces should do the sartorial trick. Snuggle up in a star print sweater  (Chinti & Parker- no.1) on Christmas day, and dazzle after dusk come cocktail hour with a suitably sparkly pair of star earrings (Kenneth Jay Lane- no.4). And unlike your average novelty festive jumper, these styles have post-Christmas mileage so you’ll get plenty of wear out of them come the New Year too.  

1. Chinti & Parker star print sweater, Matches, £350.

2. Orelia double star necklace, ASOS, £10.

3. Comme Des Garcons zip wallet, Farfetch.com, £148.71.

4. Kenneth Jay Lane star earrings, ASOS, £20.

5. Star print scarf, Jaeger, £45.

6. Shooting star trousers, Hobbs, £44.

7. Orelia star bracelet, ASOS, £10.

8. Illustrated People jumper, Topshop, £30.

9. Sonia by Sonia Rykiel strapless dress, The Outnet, £138.25.



LFF'S GUIDE TO: CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL PARTY OUTFITS 2012

So here's the second of my blogposts themed around styling your christmas party outfits. Today I am tackling cockail hour, which I have to say is one of my favourite occasions to get dressed up for. The key to getting cocktail hour fashion right is dressing for low-lighting; look for embellished, jewelled and glitter-encrusted styles that will shimmer after dark. A touch of vintage styling is also key to this look; cocktails were popularised during prohibition in the 1920s and were the preserve of the 1950s housewife, so anything a little bit vintage feels highly appropriate!

The next installment will be coming shortly...

1. Feather hem dress, Warehouse, £130.
2. Kenneth Jay Lane Swarovski crystal clip earrings, Net-a-porter, £60.  
3. Ted Baker glitter origami clutch, John Lewis, £79.
4. Hustle heeled sandals, ASOS, £35.

LFF LOVES: EMMA COOK'S FESTIVE COLLECTION FOR TOPSHOP

Topshop get some serious style kudos from me this year. First there was the inspired Unique AW12 show, then came J W Anderson’s lust-worthy collection and now TS are rounding up a stellar year with an uber-cool festive collaboration with Emma Cook.

Whimsical London fashion designer Cook has collaborated with Topshop to create a festive ‘Wonderland collection’, comprising of fashion, accessories and fun Christmas gifts. Featuring glossy wrapping paper prints, quirky animal motif tees and cute novelties, Topshop’s latest collaboration puts high-fashion into festive.

My highlight of the collection is definitely the kitsch/ chic china wear decorated with prints featuring fauna, evergreens, sequins and bows. It looks like the sort of table wear you’d find in a high-end interiors store to me; stockpile your present cupboard with it before it sells out! Here's the LFF edit of the range:

 1. Wrapping paper print dress, £140.
2. Xmas print plate, £12.
3. Fairylight print dress, £120.
4. Wrapping paper print diary,  £9.
5. Jingle bell mittens, £25.
6. Deer print tee, £30.
7. Xmas print mug, £8.
8. Reindeer names jumper, £60.

LFF LOVES THE WHISTLES AND MARKUS LUPFER COLLECTION

I've been in the full-on festive spirit since previewing the Whistles and Markus Lupfer collaboration at the St Pancras Renaissance hotel last week. As a massive fan of Markus Lupfer's work, I was super-excited to see how his playful sense of glamour would translate into a collection for the coolest high street brand around. And girls I can tell you that this meeting of fashion minds has produced one of the cutest and covetable collections of nightwear and knitwear that I have seen in a long time!

 LFF's favourites:

Click to shop

1. 100% Silk PJs, £125.

2. 'BRR' Intarsia cashmere bobble hat, £55.

3. Iphone holder, £40.

4. Knit scarf, £75.

5. Neon heart print make-up bag, £65.

Continue reading after the jump to see more pics from the event and find out which celebrity faces have got involved!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Image courtesy of  fashionillustrationgallery.com

I'm taking a few days off from Lafashionfolie blogspot over Christmas to eat, drink, be merry and listen to Last Christmas by Wham! on repeat (best song of the season, hands down).

So I just want to take this opportunity to wish all my lovely readers a very merry Christmas; and what better way to say it than with this beautiful vintage Jaeger Christmas advert drawn by one of my all-time favourite fashion illustrators René Gruau? So have a wonderful, peaceful holiday and I shall be back before the New Year!

Sophie x