1) Seemingless endless summers (though I don’t miss the associated sunburn, heatstroke and melting face that goes with the 40 degree days) which make it possible to waft about in white cotton dresses and eat mangoes for breakfast for months on end;

2) Hours spent collecting seashells along the whitest beaches I’ve ever come across, warm sand underfoot, and vast stretches of azure blue waters (if you do one thing before you die, make sure you sail around the Whitsundays and swim in the Great Barrier Reef);

3) The fact that our default national attitude is to be laid-back, relaxed and happy (all the sunshine and the tanned, athletic men don’t hurt with this disposition!);

4) The smell of sunscreen and nightly backyard barbeques in the evening all summer long (I don’t even like meat, but one whiff of this smell and I’m instantly transported to my childhood where meals were eaten beneath the shade of trees in our garden on balmy evenings);

5) When the sun eventually does go down in the evening, there is nothing quite as spectacular as the sight of the Southern Stars (I once went camping in the desert and vividly recall the sight of those stars stretching from horizon to horizon, brighter than anywhere I’ve ever seen them before);

6) The sounds of the beach, of the birdsong in the tropical rainforests, of thunderstorms on tin roofs and the haunting strains of a didgeridoo being played;

7) Lazy weekend trips to the beautiful, slow-of-pace wine regions for sunburnt hills, luscious green vines and wines, and unfailingly exceptional food;

8) The most majestical landscape you will ever find. I can think of few other countries that can boast fiery red deserts, tropical rainforests, seas that glint like jewels, and rolling green hills as this proud land does.Happy Australia Day to all my lovely readers Down Under! Now, I’m off to hunt for some cheese Twisties, a lamington and a Kath and Kim marathon….

Love, Miss B xx

Regular readers will know that I rarely blog about individual stores I visit on my travels, so when I do it means it’s a very special place indeed. When I was in Paris a couple of months ago, I met one of my favourite fashion friends on the Left Bank for what turned out to be the perfect Parisian afternoon. Being the lovely girl that she is (and knowing my penchant for Chanel and gorgeous vintage jewels), she shared with me one of her Parisian secrets: Catherine B’s vintage emporium, Les Trois Marches. It may look unassuming from the outside (in true Left Bank style), but I actually gasped when I stepped inside; so good is it that I just had to share it with you all here so that you may visit it on your next trip to Paris.

Stocking nothing but vintage Chanel and Hermes, this tiny boutique (divided into two neighbouring shopfronts) is almost too good to be true for any Parisian fashion devotee. Within its walls are shelves and shelves of Hermes Kelly bags in every colour imaginable, rows upon rows of Chanel boucle jackets, towering stacks of silk scarves and windows glinting with vintage Chanel jewels (my weakness).

Gorgeous accessories aside, my favourite part of the shop was the owner herself, the wonderful Catherine B. Instantly we bonded over our mutual love for all things Chanel (despite my rather dismal French skills), and swapped stories of our respective obsessive hunts for particular pieces from our favourite collections over the years. Such is her reputation in Paris that Chanel and Hermes themselves send customers to her when they’re after a particular vintage piece (and if she doesn’t have it, she can probably find it for you), but mostly I just kept thinking that she was so interesting and brimming with joie de vivre that I could have happily listened to her storytelling all weekend.

At one point, when I gazed upon the rows of Hermes bags telling her how I dreamed of one day returning to her shop to buy my own, she slipped behind a crimson curtain into the back room and emerged a few minutes later with a rather weathered looking Birkin bag. Laughing at my confused face, she explained that this was the very first Birkin bag ever made (yes, the very same one made for and owned by Jane Birkin – it still has her initials and her manicure set inside; fellow fashion obsessives will understand how big a deal this is) and that she now owns it herself. And this is exactly why I love Catherine so much; although she collects iconic and collectible pieces, she understands that rather than them being in a fashion museum, they should continue to be worn and loved by women who will continue to treasure them as they were intended.

I won’t pretend that prices are any cheaper in here than they are in mainline Chanel or Hermes stores, but everything is in pristine condition and a collectible treasure you will keep for the rest of your life. Catherine makes it her pleasure to match items to their perfect owner, and she sent me home with this vintage Chanel military brooch to add to my collection (and which now makes me smile every time I glance at it; as much for the memories it holds of my time in Paris and Catherine’s stories as for it’s appearance).

Have you ever stumbled upon a shop somewhere in the world that was so marvellous it felt like a wonderful emporium filled with stories? I’d love to hear about it!

Love, Miss B xx

Les Trois Marches de Catherine B, 1 Rue Guisarde Paris 75006, +33 14354 7418 (Metro: Saint-Germain des Pres or Saint-Sulpice)

P.S. All images (except first and last) from Alexandra Clamart (as you all know I always try to use my own photography/illustrations on here, but in this case I was so caught up in Catherine’s shop that I failed to take more than a single photo!) 

And so, because I’m mid-way through a No Shopping January* (which would simply be no fun at all to read about I’m sure), I thought I would show you my new Charlotte Olympia Kitty heels instead (much more fun than a boring old shopping diet).

Practical they are not, but I’ve loved these Kitty heels since the moment I laid eyes on them at Charlotte Olympia’s murder mystery tea party at London Fashion Week back in February of last year, and then gazed longingly at them for months and months (it was between them or the glittery Miu Mius, and the Miu Mius won in the end). I had finally accepted they weren’t to be mine when, browsing the online sales one rainy day at the end of December, I saw them: the very last pair, in a size 40, on sale. Cinderella destiny; clearly they were meant to be mine.

And that, my lovelies, is why I now have shoes that look like pets (minus the catfood/babysitting issues). They might make me look like some kind of weird cat lady when I wear them but seriously, how can  you resist those cute little golden whiskers and ears?

What do you think? Do you like your wardrobe to have a little sense of humour from time to time?

Love, Miss B xx

* I’m trying to avoid buying anything non-essential thing for all of January, and am instead trying to clear my wardrobe of all the things I don’t love/wear, cumulating in one gigantic ebay sale at the end of the month.

1. Don’t save your favourite things for ‘a special occasion’. Life is the special occasion! Treat every day like a party and pile on your favourite jewels each day, wear your favourite party dress often, and spritz your favourite perfume as you rush out the door each morning.

2. Whenever you have a spare day, act as though it’s your birthday. Eat cake for breakfast, dance around the room to your favourite songs, throw a frou frou tea party or movie night for your best friends, go to your favourite places… do whatever it is that makes you smile out loud.

3. Practise random acts of kindness. Always demonstrate impeccable manners, tell a stranger in the street how great they look, leave a little note with a tip at your local cafe saying how perfectly they make their coffee, send handwritten notes on your favourite notecards, volunteer for a worthy local cause. It doesn’t really matter what it is, but doing lovely, selfless things often will make you smile on the inside.

4. Add loveliness to your home. Buy yourself flowers (they needn’t be expensive; in spring, I love nothing more than $2 bunches of daffodils and white narcissi on my windowsill), buy bed sheets that make bed time feel like a hotel stay, ensure you have a good stack of books that you don’t want to put down, light a gorgeous candle when you come home each evening, and collect treasures that evoke happy memories.

5. If you’re in wardrobe rut, make an effort to do your hair and put on your cutest heels for no particular reason at all. You’ll spend the day feeling that little bit lovelier.

6. Don’t let grey skies get you down. Treat it as an excuse to wear a poppy pink lipstick, an adorable umbrella and perhaps a shot of pastel or fuschia in your outfit (the same optimistic rules apply to bad days or frustrating situations).

7. Don’t get stuck in a grey rut; tweak your everyday routines to make the special rituals. Can’t function without your morning tea or coffee? Have it in your prettiest china instead so it feels like you’re having a tea party every single morning!

8. One day every week (without fail), go on a date with someone you love. It doesn’t need to be grand or over the top. Why not go somewhere fabulous with your best friend on pay day every single month for a single cocktail? Or get dressed up and go and see a musical you’ve been wanting to see for ages all by yourself? Or a bike ride at sunset with your loved one? Whatever it is, make time for special moments with the people you love.

9. Treasure small moments of happiness. Have breakfast in bed on Saturdays, smell every rose you pass on an evening walk, put on a movie that makes you laugh out loud, pause to watch the sky turn pink at sunset, have picnics and walk barefoot through the grass on warm summer evenings.

10. If you’re feeling uninspired, broaden your horizons. Make plans to take a trip to a city you’ve always wanted to explore, visit a new museum in your area, or go to your favourite bookstore for something wonderful to read this week. Instant inspiration!

How to you make life a little more rose-tinted each day? I’d love to hear your favourite pleasures!

Love, Miss B xx

1. Declutter your beauty supplies. Go through your makeup bag, your vanity cupboard, your handbag and wherever else you stash all your beauty products. Gather everything up in one place and sort through the entire lot (this is quite the task for me!). Automatically bin anything that is expired, looks or smells funny, or is past it’s prime (as a general guideline, this is three months for mascara, 6 months for most other gel/liquid/cream cosmetic, 1 year for most hair/body/skincare products and 1-2 years for any dry/powder products). Also toss anything that is unflattering, that you never wear (and are realistically unlikely to), or that you don’t really like. Your skin is precious, so why bother putting something on it that is unflattering or unhygenic? With whatever is left over, make sure everything is clean (wash your makeup bag and counter surfaces, wipe lipsticks with alcohol wipes, remove buildup from product bottles, etc.) and organised so you know where to find it.

2. Get your tools in order. Once you’ve sorted through everything, what is missing? Everyone should have a great set of makeup brushes & tools (I love MAC for all of these – not cheap, but they will last you years and years if you look after them) and take care of them as the first step to flawless makeup. To ensure they last (and stay hygenic), wash them once a week with warm water and a brush cleanser or baby shampoo and store them upright in a glass where you can see them (rather than shoving them in a makeup bag where they will just breed bacteria).

3. Find what is missing. Do you have 20 lipglosses but still haven’t found a foundation that disappears into your skin and stays put? Then it’s time to fill in the gaps. Hunt down some good-quality basics where you need them (if you need help, go to your favourite makeup counter and have them suggest a few to try) so that you have a complete beauty kit you are happy with. And about those 20 lipglosses? Stop buying that which you have multiples of until you’ve used up what you already have (for me, this is pale pink nail polish and countless lipsticks in almost identical shades which I seem to stockpile irrationally).

4. Master your perfect look. Perfect one makeup look that looks gorgeous on you and which you can fall back on each day (if you’ve been doing the same one for years or still don’t have the hang of one that works, go to a makeup counter to get help finding a look that is perfect for you).

5. Experiment and have fun. Once you’ve mastered your basic look, one day every week shake your routine up by trying something completely fun and unexpected to avoid getting in a rut. Always a cat eye and nude lip girl? Wear a neon pink lipstick on Friday. Always wearing red lipstick? Try a soft pink lip and bright cheeks instead.

6. Overcome your beauty sins. These are the big things we know we shouldn’t do, but do anyway out of habit. Always cleanse and moisturise properly at night (because you should only fall into bed with your makeup on once in a blue moon), stop attacking spots (because squeezing a pimple adds a whole week to the time it takes to heal), ensure you’re wearing enough SPF coverage if you’re spending any time outside (because premature ageing and sun damage is not pretty).

7. Add one thing. Every year, your beauty and skincare routines should evolve with you. If you have the exact same skincare/beauty routine you did 5 years ago, it might be worth considering a tweak here and there. In your 20s? Use a good eye cream and an anti-oxidant serum. In your 30s? Add in a nourishing face oil. In short, let your beauty regime age gracefully with you.

Which beauty resolutions will you be making this year?

Love, Miss B xx

I’m not one for rigidly-restrictive resolutions, but I do like to take the opportunity of the changing year to pause, reflect on the year that has passed, and look towards how I wish the year ahead to take form. Whereas others hastily scribble these down the moment it hits New Year’s Day, I like to mull over my plans for a full week, and write my goals once one full week of the new year has passed. Continuing my tradition, these are a few of the bigger things I resolve to work on this year (I won’t bore you with my more practical little goals):

To continue to view the world through rose tinted glasses. To take the optimistic view of things, to worry less about that which I cannot control, to appreciate the small pleasures in life, and to actively seek out things which make me smile.

To be kind to my body. After a major health scare last year, I’ve vowed not to take my health for granted just because I’m young. I aim to get more sleep and work on reducing stress in my day job, eat healthily 90% of the time, get more exercise and drop a few pounds.

To actively spread loveliness. To practise random acts of kindness often, to do kind and romantic things for my loved ones, to send more hand-written thank you notes and ‘just because’ presents to make people smile, to dish out genuine smiles and spirit-boosting compliments everyday.

To make time for treasured moments. Enjoy daily ‘me’ time doing something I love, read more books, to be playful and go on picnics and lie in grassy fields watching the clouds float by in blue skies, to travel to several new places I am yet to explore.

Throughout January, I’ll share a few more of my favourite ways to get organised (from your wardrobe to your beauty cabinet) and to ensure 2012 is filled with as many charming pleasures as possible.

I’d love to hear what goals (tiny or momentous) you’re all setting for this year?

Love, Miss B xx

JANUARY

Escaping the Northern Hemisphere winter and seeing in the New Year in my homeland with loved ones, white sandy beaches, rolling vineyards, the sun on my back and as many souvenirs as my suitcase could contain. Afternoon tea and decadent chocolates in warm, sugary havens on gloomy London evenings. Fully embracing the preppy uniform after two years of living in Cambridge. Cosy hibernation indoors with piles of books, good music and pots of tea. Cambridge formals in grand college dining halls straight out of Hogwarts. Wintery weekend escapes to English manor houses.

FEBRUARY

A photo shoot for an exciting magazine feature. Birthday gifts and parties. So many of my fashion dreams coming true at Fashion Week – front rows, backstage, and everywhere in between at all my favourite shows set in the grandest of London locations. Willing the arrival of Spring.

MARCH

Winning my first major blog award as part of Red Magazine’s Red Hot Women ’20 Under 30′ Awards (a huge honour, to say the least!). Packing all my warmest clothes and shiniest belongings to be whisked off to Moscow by Mango for a whirlwind trip that fulfilled so many fantasies. A brief return home to repack my suitcases, and then it was off to Berlin with the Clever Boyfriend for grand architecture, remarkable history, flea market rummaging and cake tourism. Making new Easter traditions.

APRIL

London looking resplendent for the lovely fairytale Royal Wedding. Despite being diagnosed with a rather nasty life-threatening illness (all better now!) which forces me to slow down, the arrival of spring has me wanting to skip through fields, pick wildflowers, eat ice cream and wear nothing but pink. Walks along Southbank and climbing to the top of Primrose Hill for picnics in the sunshine with the most marvellous views of London. My first invite to Chanel HQ and some lovely new additions to my wardrobe.

MAY

Enjoying my enforced relaxation (doctor’s orders) by appreciating life’s simple pleasures: filling my home with fresh flowers from the market every week, bike rides down country lanes, blowing daffodils in the breeze, lying in fields in the sunshine watching fluffy clouds float past, picnics, a box of Laduree macarons and the taste of the first strawberries of the season. Remembering my Mother’s wisdom. A good dose of British pomp and ceremony at Trooping the Colour followed by afternoon tea at a palace. Discovering Cambridge speakeasy cocktail bars. Mulberry merriment. Bows on my toes.

JUNE

Nesting and organising my new home. Trips to the English seaside with dear friends to soak up some sunshine, build sandcastles and collect seashells. Filling my basket with flowers and going for rides on my Pashley. Long, balmy Summer evenings. Punting on the Cam. Sitting on the grass eating mangoes in the sun. Falling a little bit more in love with Cambridge, so lovely in the summertime.

JULY

Enjoying all the loveliness of summer. Playing tourist in London. Avoiding unnecessary purchases by honing my wardrobe and enjoying my beloved Chanel treasures. Sunny Saturdays in Notting Hill – treasure hunting on Portobello Road, buying great armfuls of flowers and long, lazy brunches on Westbourne Grove. Riding vespas and enjoying gorgeous Italian models at a party with Dolce and Gabbana at Net-a-Porter HQ. Outdoor picnics on the banks of the Cam on long summer evenings.

AUGUST

Glorious London weekends – stays in grand hotels, feeding the swans in St James’ Park, waving to the Queen at Buckingham Palace, sitting on striped deckchairs in the sun in Green Park, walks down Piccadilly, window shopping on Bond Street, dinner dates, going to the theatre, and having breakfast at Laduree. Pearls, pastels and the last days of summer in secret Cambridge college gardens. Reading poetry on bridges as students float down the river on punts. Making time to be peaceful and linger in blissful repose.

SEPTEMBER

Picking blackberries from the hedgerows on walks in the country. My Father’s wisdom. Filling days off work with all manner of fun activities. Fashion Week swings around again and the Spring/Summer shows are a thrill to watch – Mulberry goes to the seaside, Christopher Kane goes back to the 90s, Erdem is a vision of Great Gatsby loveliness, Giles is a tour de force in the Royal Courts of Justice, and a sea of champagne awaits after the lovely Burberry show in Kensington Gardens. Buying the glittery shoes of my dreams at Miu Miu.

OCTOBER

Taking off to New York for a glorious two weeks. Picnics in Central Park. Flea Market treasure-hunting, adorable cafes, perfect boutiques & staying with my transatlantic soul sister in Brooklyn. Strolling Soho, walking the High Line and dreaming of living in a brownstone walkup in the West Village. The bright lights of Times Square and Broadway dreams. Golden leaves, prepsters, secret societies and ivy league grandeur on a trip to Yale. Trips to galleries, window-shopping, ladies who lunch and strolling the leafy streets of the Upper East Side. Buying souvenirs and treasures that make me smile. Giving thanks for the things I treasure. Making pumpkin pies to celebrate Halloween and the arrival of autumn. Winning my second major blog award at the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards.

NOVEMBER

Enjoying the joys of autumn with a weekend Staycation in Cambridge. Showing you all what a day in my life looks like. Festive cocktails and dressups with an entire rail of couture gowns at The Outnet. Hopping on a Eurostar and having a long weekend in Paris with a dear friend. Golden light and candy floss pink sunsets over the Seine. Pastries for breakfast, galleries at lunch, and strolling the tiny streets of Montmarte. The Christmas windows at Printemps. Literary cafes, vintage shopping, bookstores and walks along the Left Bank. The Chanel mothership on Rue Cambon. Buying French perfume, boxes of macarons, scented candles, silk blouses, jewels and other lovely Parisian souvenirs.

DECEMBER

Stella McCartney’s Christmas party, complete with the cast of Absolutely Fabulous, a Beatle and a Spice Girl, tables set with gingerbread and sparkly accessories. Hot chocolate and roasting chestnuts. A wintery trip to Scotland. Ice skating beneath Edinburgh Castle and nighttime ferris wheel rides. Ghost walks. The Nutcracker. The most exciting snow day in Cambridge during an unseasonably warm winter. Glittery nails everyday. Carollers at the Palace of Westminster echoing through the hallways as I work. Wintery walks along the Thames. The Christmas lights in London. The smell of gingerbread men and Ralph Lauren holiday candles filling my house. Christmas cheer with loved ones. Dressing up for the theatre. Ringing in the new year with a tea party, cocktails and lots of glitter.

Finally, to every single person who visits here each week, leaves lovely comments and tweets, sends me touching emails, and generally is so supportive of my little passion project that is A Girl, A Style, I simply cannot thank you enough for all your support. You make me smile every single day!

So whoever and wherever you are, I wish you a healthy, happy, sparkly and joyous New Year. Here’s to a wonderful 2012!

Love, Miss B xx

Get experimenting with the adorable glitter polishes that much to our delight are everywhere at the moment (I love those by Essie, OPI and Deborah Lippmann), and just have fun – no one ever said glitter should be serious!

Here’s how to do it yourself:

1. Clean and file nails. This means shape, buff and push back cuticles. (When wearing glitter always keep nails short, neat and rounded so the look stays cute and classy and never verges into trashy territory.) Apply a clear base coat to protect your nails and give the polish a surface to adhere to.

2. Choose your colors. All you need is one of your favorite nail polish colors and a fun glittery polish to go on top. Color combinations that either match (such as pink glitter on baby pink, silver glitter on dove grey) or compliment (rainbow glitter on red or burgundy, or pastel glitter with different sorbet colors are happy combinations) look best.

3. Twinkle and shine. Apply two coats of the solid colour as a base coat (in this case I used the lovely lavender Nails Inc ‘Cambridge’ – named after the city I live/love - though any pastel will do). With your glitter polish you can either do a simple glittery topcoat (one or two coats depending on how dense you want the glitter), a dense glitter (three to four coats for a super razzle-dazzle effect – you can skip the base color if going for this look), dots, stripes, or a combination of anything that takes your fancy. To get the ombre effect I’ve done here (using Essie’s darling pink ‘A Cut Above’), remove the excess from the brush then just paint the glitter on the tips, bringing it down slightly towards the centre of the nail with whatever is left for a gradual fade effect (I did coats this way so the look was more obvious). Don’t worry about being too perfect – it will look like a lovely sprinkling of loose glitter however you paint it on.

4. Maintain. Seal with a top coat to make everything smooth (this will also make your polish last longer). If you get a few tiny chips after a day or two, the beauty of glitter polish is that you can easily patch up the area with a teeny bit of base colour and glitter topcoat without anyone noticing.

5. Remove: Several people have asked me how to remove glitter (it is notoriously stubborn, though as it does tend to last a few days more than regular polish alone, it all evens out in the end in terms of removal time), and I’ve found that filling the cap of your nailpolish remover (or a little glass dish) with remover solution and soaking each nail in there for about 30 seconds to a minute helps it just slide off.

What is your favourite quick beauty fix to help brighten grey days?

Love, Miss B xx

Although Christmas as an expat will always evoke bittersweet nostalgic memories of loved ones who are either no longer here (my darling Mama) or on the other side of the world in Australia, there is something so very exciting about a northern hemisphere Christmas. Whereas in Australia Christmas, falling in the midst of the Southern Hemisphere summer, was always celebrated with lunch and cocktails and games in the garden outside, here I can happily indulge all the Christmas traditions that, due to the heat, one simply can’t enjoy with quite the same enthusiasm in Australia.

And so I plan to spend the next few days doing the following in as high a dose as possible (in no particular order): sitting beside the fireplace with the scent of Christmas candles burning, baking gingerbread men and roasting chestnuts, eating chocolate for breakfast (because Christmas is the only time, aside from Easter, when this is permissible behaviour as a grownup), going for long walks along the Thames to avoid a state of food-induced coma, going to watch the Nutcracker and the great British pantomime with the family, wearing all the sparkles in my wardrobe, attempting to work my way through my stack of as yet unread magazines, and cramming in as many Christmas movies (the cheesier and more childlike, the better) as the family and Clever Boyfriend will possibly allow me.

So, to each and every one of you, whether you celebrate Christmas or another equally precious set of traditions, I send you love and joy and good wishes from London. I am so very grateful for all your kindness and support and sweet comments, tweets and emails which make me smile every single day of the year.

Love, Miss B xx

I love beautiful scented candles more than almost any other small luxury for the home, and this one is amongst the best I’ve ever tried. The fragrant cocktail of pine needles, redcurrants, cinnamon and juniper berries is almost indescribably lovely, and it has instantly infused me with festive joy more than any of the mince pies and Rat Pack Christmas tunes I’ve been gorging on all week. And as if by some Christmas miracle, it started snowing outside my window here in Cambridge just after I lit it. I can’t tell you how much it filled me with glee to awake this morning to the sight of a fluffy layer of white icing on the ground and a house that smelt of Christmas. How’s that for a magical holiday candle?

And because I adore you all so much and want someone else to have a little of Ralph Lauren’s holiday cheer (I can’t promise it will bring you snow, but I am sure one smell of this will make you feel instantly happy and festive), I’m going to give one of the these away.

To enter, just leave a comment here or send me an email telling me why you’d like to win. For extra brownie points (though I’m by no means going to be bossy about and insist you do anything), follow A Girl, A Style via your preferred methods (Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram (on iPhone/iPad) or Bloglovin‘), and Ralph Lauren’s Facebook page. Be sure to include your email address so that I can contact you if you win. And so that I can try my very best to get it to the winner in time for Christmas day, last entries by 11am Monday morning GMT. 

Thank you Ralph Lauren for the holiday cheer!

Love, Miss B xx

Update: Thank you to all who entered, and congratulations to Barbara on winning!

This year, Chanel have taken over the entire storefront of Printemps, that grand dame of the Parisian department stores on Boulevard Haussmann, for Christmas.

And given my adoration for all things Chanel, it was a given that a visit to the grand department store would go straight to the top of my Parisian ‘To Do’ list when I found myself in Paris the week after the unveiling of the windows.

And oh, what a fantastical vision these holiday windows are!

Within each of the 12 windows, Karl Lagerfeld has brought to life twelve miniature Chanel worlds – one for each of his favourite places (one can presume).

Some, such as those dedicated to Paris (where miniature Karl Lagerfelds swing from Parisian landmarks playing photographer extraodinaire) and Moscow (where tiny ballerinas leap and twirl and pirouette to the soundtrack of the Ballet Ruses) just invite passers-by to press their noses against the window to see the puppet show unfold. Others, like the Tokyo (Thunderbirds–esque puppets sailing past the Japanese skyscrapers in futuristic flying cars) and Los Angeles (where Pan Am pilots smooch the primping trolly dollies) will simply make you giggle out loud.

Each of the others were new manifestations of past collections, with some my favourite items brought back from the archives. There were treasures nestled beneath a giant red dragon in the Shanghai window (I could barely pull myself away from the sequinned Chanel takeaway noodle boxes, jade dragon brooches and China doll bags), an ode to glam rock Brittania (where bags were adorned with the Union Jack), Scandanavian deer merrily wearing jewels around their necks, and scenes from a grand Ventian ball (complete with fine china, glittering frog princes and a giant crystal chandelier).

So if I make one request of you all before the year is out, it is this: should you find yourself in Paris before Christmas (a happy thought in itself), then do go to Printemps, if only to press your nose against the magical Chanel windows!

Do you love Christmas windows too? Where are your favourite holiday windows this year?

Love, Miss B xx

Skincare: Skin has a rather unwelcome tendency to be dull and lifeless in winter. Give it a helping hand by sloughing away dull skin twice a week with a gentle exfoliant, switching to a slightly richer face and eye cream than you would normally use in the summer months and, if you can manage it, adding a radiance-boosting serum for day (I love Caudalie’s Vinoperfect serum) and a vitamin-packed hydrating oil or treatment for night time a couple of times a week – either alone or beneath your face cream. As is usually the case, I personally swear by Aesop for all of the above (I used to have sensitive and irritated skin in winter, but they put a stop to that), but their Damascan Rose Face Treatment and Parlsey Seed Facial Cleanser (with lactic acid which acts as a gentle exfoliant every time you use it) are particularly excellent.

Body: Yes, you may hidden beneath layers of cashmere, but parched skin is never pretty. Make exfoliation and hydration your bathroom mantra. Twice a week in the shower, scrub all over (I use either Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub or Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Body Polish squeezed on a loofah glove) then douse yourself in a rich body cream or a heavenly-scented body oil from neck to toe (I adore Lierac Huile Sensorielle). Make sure you stay hydrated the rest of the time too (I’m personally in favour of a moisturiser with a hint of self tan so that I don’t look ghostly pale, but on others this can just look unnatural, so use whatever you love).
Fragrance note: Unless you are strictly loyal to a single signature fragrance, don’t forget to change your fragrance with the seasons. I’ve just brought out my favourite cold-weather scents, Stella McCartney Parfum (I love the new floral bottles) and Diptyque L’Ombre Dan L’Eau – both deep, warm rosy florals which feel luxurious on a cold morning.

Makeup: Now is the time to switch your candy brights and sweet pastels for something with a little more oomph. I’m normally a dolly pink cheeks and nude lip kind of girl, but at the moment I’m addicted to the way a deep red lipstick (at the moment, Chanel’s Rouge Allure in 71 Fatale is my favourite – a deep burgundy red), a plum metallic shadow (Chanel’s Illusion D’Ombre mousse shadow pot in Ebloui, which makes my eyes look so green) and a warm, glowy complexion look against a dark wintery palette.

For eyes: go for plummy or bronzey metallic shadows blended all across the eyelid, or stay simple with a bold flick of liquid eyeliner and fluttery lashes. Don’t forget the waterproof mascara and eyeliner if there’s a downpour outside!
For lips: swap your candy brights or pale nudes for a deep red (don’t be shy – the effect it has on a drab grey day is addictive!). Go for lipstick over gloss, and make lip balm your best friend (wind-chapped lips are never pretty).
For cheeks: keep your complexion warm and glowy with a touch of luminescent highlighter along the cheekbones and a sweep of coral or plummy blush. If you have dry skin, you may also want to try switching from a powder blush to a cream or gel version.
For nails: Whereas in summer I was addicted to sugary pastels and neon reds, now it has to be either deep plummy shades, metallics, or glittery sparkle (which makes even the greyest day fun and twinkly). Don’t forget to keep polish neat, as chipped polish is harder to hide when you’re wearing dark burgundy.

Which seasonal beauty swaps will you be making?

Love, Miss B xx

Heavenly scented treasures from Diptyque and Annick Goutal; the obligatory mini Eiffel Towers (which I will dot around the house beside candles and atop books)

Today is an enforced lazy day (as in; breakfast at 11, a refusal to leave the house all day, and lounging around in silk pyjamas with endless pots of tea), so I’m delighting in finally unpacking my souvenirs from Paris. After a trip, it always seems to take me a full week to unpack – partly out of busyness, but also because I want to delay the gratification of having brought home new treasures from my journey abroad.

Even though I was only in Paris for a long weekend, and I didn’t set aside any time specifically for shopping, I still managed to sneak plenty of wonderful souvenirs into my Lulu Guinness case. Here are a few of my favourite Parisian momentos:

Fleur d’Oranger candle (I will re-use the porcelain holder afterwards), Marie Antoinette tea and a jewel-like box of macarons from Laduree; vintage postcard and a menu from Cafe de Flore (which I may have snuck into my bag in exchange for a large tip)

French perfumes, beauty and gorgeous scented candles: I love the beauty hall at Le Bon Marche or the tiny perfumeries around Le Marais district (I always make a point to stop by Diptyque, Annick Goutal and L’Artisan Parfumeur when I’m here). Don’t forget to visit a French pharmacy for excellent beauty products that are mostly unavailable (or significantly more expensive) elsewhere.

Gourmand delights: A trip by Laduree (for a box of macarons, a coffret of tea and a scented candle), Pierre Herme (heavenly artisanal desserts, wonderfully adventurous macaron flavours, and gorgeous jams), and the department store food halls (I always stock up on chocolate and tins of orange blossom pastilles) is a must.

Vintage treasures: Rummage around the Parisian flea markets (Le Puces is the best) or the little stalls that line the Left Bank of the Seine. This time, I collected turn of the century hand-coloured postcards (I determinedly hunt these down in each of my favourite cities), old books at Shakespeare & Co, and a vintage Chanel military badge and early No. 5 bottle.

French fashions: Most of my favourite French brands (Carven, Sandro, Maje, Isabel Marant, Petite Bateau) are naturally much cheaper  in Paris. But I also love discovering new (to me) French designers that are yet to arrive across the Channel. This time, I learned of Claudie Pierlot – an old French house that is now being led by the sisters who design for Sandro and Maje respectively. I love the French coquette -meets-each chic vibe, and picked up an adorable ivory silk peplum-waisted top which I can’t wait to wear. I also love to buy French silk lingerie (Chantal Thomass, Princesse Tam Tam and Mimi Holliday are fun), a tiny jewel (usually a brooch) from Chanel to add to my collection, and a copy of Vogue Paris at the Eurostar terminal (the funnest way to use up my Euros).

Vintage treasures, Chanel brooch, Claudie Pierlot sillk bow top and beautiful silk lingerie

What do you love to souvenir when you travel? Do you have any favourite Parisian treats?

Love, Miss B xx

All of this is making my bedtime blogging and Sunday morning lounging in bed a lot less clunky (for some reason the Clever Boyfriend is never very amused when my laptop slides of my lap and whacks him in the head), which can only be a good thing.I’d love to know what the more techy amongst you are playing with and find fun or helpful. But in the meatime, here’s my guide to the best of what I’ve come across thus far.

Miss B’s Top 10 apps (for iPhone and iPad):

Instagram – I am shamlessly addicted to Instagram (so much so that Glitter Guide listed me as one of their Top 10 People to Follow). It’s sort of like Twitter, but just for photos. I love getting glimpses into other people’s daily lives, and the cool filters make all your photos prettier (it’s what I use to make the photo collages you sometimes see on my posts).
Stella McCartney’s World – This is my favourite fashion brand app. You can watch the runway show, see behind the scenes of campaigns, play interactive fun and games that made me smile out loud, and see intimate family portraits from Linda McCartney’s photography archive (I love the ones of the Beatles in their heyday).
Elle Collections – Unlike most of the other ipad versions of magazines, this one is completely free. You can flick through the Editor’s trends and accessories picks for the season, see and watch the whole runway collections for the top shows in each city, and go behind the scenes at Fashion Week.
Mulberry - Given my love for Mulberry, of course I was going to like this. But the blog, catwalk shows and behind the scenes action are adorable.
Net-a-Porter - This site is my financial undoing, but mostly I use the app to see what’s new and read the weekly magazine and Editor’s tips.
Tweetdeck for iphone and HootSuite for ipad – The only way I use Twitter now, as it enables you to sort the people you follow into lists and categories. Super handy if you follow a zillion people like me and want to keep track of them all.
WordPress – For blogging on the go.
Asos – Shop the latest items and read the snazzy monthly magazine.
TimeOut London – I’d be a bit lost in London without Time Out; it is always filling me in on what’s happening, where to eat, where to go and what to do.
The Times – Mostly so I can read the Sunday Times Style in bed without having to leave the house to buy it when it’s cold outside.

Do you have a gadget or favourite gadget or app I should try?

Love, Miss B xx