Lady Crush

Victoria Beckham has come a loooooong way from her Spice Girls days - clad as she was in skin tight, (slightly tubby) midriff baring outfits. These days, her post-baby body is tinier than her former self, and her fashion icon status continues to rise.

VB presented her latest S/S 2012 collection at New York Fashion Week in the New York Public Library (I love her even more!) on September 11 with a one minute silence to remember 9/11/01 and with her new baby, 2 month old Harlow Seven on her knee. Amazing, right?

Here she is on arrival, in one of the dresses from her collection (also one of my personal favourites):

Compared to some of her previous offerings - and indeed the signature style she's developed for herself over time - Victoria's latest collection is less figure-hugging (without losing the clothing's ability to intensely flatter the female form) exhibiting more dropped waists and floatiness than the more structed pieces we would ordinarily come to expect from her. She is also starting to incorporate prints as she navigates slowly out of colour-blocking waters. Not that we don't love a good colour block, frankly.

As Beckham has previously admitted herself, this collection is the girliest collection she has created. And I think it suits her, don't you?

Hubba Bubba

As you know, over the weekend I spent 24 hours running after a 1 year old. Literally. She is in that phase where she crawls bloody fast, and is also learning to walk so the potential for major spills is HUGE. Thankfully there were no spills. The nappies were awful and I didn't sleep a wink as I listened out for signs of life... But we made it. Play School is truly the greatest invention ever. She sat on my lap and held my hand (ok, pinkie!)for a solid hour completely transfixed. It was honestly one of the most precious moments of my life.

But I'm not clucky. I do NOT know how my sister-in-law does it. I was bored out of my skull by hour 20. I also don't know how VB walks in those walloping great shoes with an infant in her arms.

PS: This is snapdragons' 1000th post! Cripes!

SJP - Still Fabulous

Honestly. This woman (along with Jennifer Aniston) is an inspiration for us all as we age... We can still be fabulous well past our 30s. Meanwhile.. Who feels like they're peaking in their 30s?? I do!

That Was Then, This Is Now

This is a pretty amazing post about that day.

Happy Friday: The Carer

As you all know, I have a gorgeous little niece, to whom I am godmother and babysitting slave. This weekend, I am babysitting her. All alone. For 24 hours! While her parents are in another town! OMG!

I am hoping NOT to screw things up. I am hoping that she does not pee on my foot like she did the other night (how was I to know cold tiles were a "trigger" to make her pee before a bath??), and I am hoping that I stop gagging every time I'm confronted with a pooh-y nappy. I am ALSO hoping that we can venture outdoors together for coffee with a friend. What could possibly go wrong??

Clearly I'm not suggesting the little cherub is a dog... It's just about the carer thing... Geddit?

Happy weekend - may you be unstressed, and not burdened by stinking nappies!

PS: She turned 1 on Thursday. Time flies!!!

Spanish Class

This is hilarity. At last! Models are fallible! (Let's pretend they're not pretending to be slightly gangly, dull dancers...) Watch out for Lanvin designer Alber's little cameo at the end. I'll take the black one-shouldered dress, please!

Collaborate At Will

We've probably all got some kind of designer-collaborates-with-[insert name of retail chain] in our wardrobes. As I've mentioned previously, there is something very appealing about the idea of getting closer to wearing designer gear through the cheaper channels of a collaboration with a chain.

Already pretty freakin' excellent in its offerings anyway, H&M is really leading the charge with its collaborations. Not only has it partnered with pop stars (Madonna, Kylie Minogue), but it's partnered with some pretty excellent designers also - including Lanvin, Comme Des Garcons, Viktor & Rolf, Roberto Cavalli, Stella McCartney (she's such a collab tart) and Marimekko. In November H&M will be releasing its latest set of collaborated gear - this time with Versace!

Here's a sneak peek:

Abbey Lee Kershaw is also rad. .