Black + white

Black and white, simple yet elegant. Wear a black jacket with a white skirt or the other way around, or wear black leggings with a white dress. Our Crown Princess Victoria (on picture) mixes a black scarf with a white coat for that royal elegance.

All I want for Christmas

Watching one of my favourite romantic comedies on TV - The American President. The only thing missing for a perfect Monday evening is this cashmere dress from Vince. I hope Santa reads my blog.

Available at www.mrsh.se

Gambling à la Hermès

The perfect Christmas present to a Poker loving partner? To me it seems like the best reason so far for finally learning how to play Texas Hold'em...

Buy it at www.hermes.com

When you realize that you are midlife - evidence no 1

Trendy twenty-somethings wear accessories that were hip in your own twenty-something.

Picture stolen from Emma.

Fashion for Dummies

A few advises on how to be happy with your outfit every time you get dress from Jill Martin, author of Fashion for Dummies:

1. Only wear it if you'd be psyched if the ex-boyfriend who dumped you ran into you while you were wearing it.

2. Only wear it if it makes you feel confident enough to ace a job interview.

3. Only wear it if it stand out just enough to get you noticed. While you might not want to scream, "Look at me!" in a fire engine-red dress, you don't have to wear only head-to-toe black either. Try adding some color as an accent with a scarf, or some great jewelry, or even metallic shoes or a unique bag for a change.

4. Only wear it if you're comfortable that it's exactly as you see yourself. Wearing pants when you really feel more comfortable in skirts or dresses (or vice versa) just to change up your wardrobe is not necessary. You know what you feel and look good in, and it's okay to stick with that look.

5. Only wear it if the fabric feels soft on your skin. Don't wear it if it's at all itchy because it'll distract you and make you uncomfortable all day.

6. Only wear it if it's going to keep you warm enough. Showing some skin is sexy, but in the winter, try a sexy neckline instead of bare arms.

7. Only wear it if it fits you properly. If it's too big or too small, it won't flatter your figure and you'll be trying to adjust yourself all day. Again, distracting and uncomfortable!

8. Only wear it if it doesn't make you look like you tried too hard. While it's important that everything you're wearing goes well together, you don't want to look too matchy-matchy. Avoid matching your shoes to your belt to your bag to your hair accessories.

9. Only wear it if its appropriate for the location, activity, or venue. There's no need to wear high heels to the company picnic. Not only will you look out of place, but you won't be able to participate in any of the day's events.

10. Only wear it if it represents your generation, meaning you don't look like you're wearing your mother's clothes - or your daughter's for that matter. Just because micro-minis are in for the teen set does not mean that you should necessarily follow that trend.

Today's look

Glad to see Catherine Zeta Jones in classic Hollywood glamour style.

Pretty in pink

Today I found this cutting from a fashion magazine in 2004. Five years later I still love this pink satin dress by Swedish designer Per Engsheden. I hope he will make our Crown Princess' wedding dress.

White wedding

The fall 2010 wedding collection from Temperley London, dress design in perfection.

This week's favourite

Right now I would like to colour up gloomy November with a multicoloured dress. Two favourites are the graphic printed silk dress from 3.1 Phillip Lim and the multicoloured sleeveless dress from Paul Smith Black. For the office, wear it with a black cardigan or a blazer like this one from Theory.

3.1 Phillip Lim dress available at www.net-a-porter.com and Paul Smith Black dress available at www.my-wardrobe.com

Temporary break

Sorry readers, buzy week so I need to take a break from the blog but will be back again next week.

Meanwhile, most talked about outfit in the fashion world - Daphne Guiness wearing the Alexander McQueen Alien shoes the other day. For more of Daphne's shoe outfits, check out here.

Today's look

Great way of spicing up a classic outfit with a cool biker jacket. I love it!

Today's dream outfit

"Bohemian ultra-chic"

On picture: Burberry flared jeans, Vince oversized silk blouse, Miu Miu platform sandals and ring from Yves Saint Laurent

Plastic fantastic

If you want to stay with one of the latest trends but your budget is a bit more limited than Jennifer Aniston's (Rolex Milgauss), then check out the black plastic watches from Triwa. Fun, stylish and available for around €100.

Clockwise from left: Triwa Carbon Dandy, Triwa Rose Dandy, Triwa Stealth Calibre and Triwa Carbon Gold, available at http://www.triwa.com/

Looking good in the piste

I just booked this season's first, and hopefully not last, ski trip over New Years. I would REALLY like a new ski jacket but my conscience says no (note: three different outfits are already hanging in my closet). Still I had to cruise around the web page of one of my favourite ski brands, Peak Performance. So for all of you out there looking for a new piste outfit, here are my favourites:

On picture: Women's Black Light Down Jacket, Women's Air Down Jacket and Women's Supreme Stretch Pants

Mens coats

A basic coat is a good investment for your work wardrobe. Maybe not that exciting but really wearable. I like these two from Joseph and Calvin Klein since the colours make them feminine despite the masculine cut.

Red coat from Joseph and camel coat from Calvin Klein Collection

OMG

Something for New Year's Eve? Maybe if you are Beyonce... or Tina Turner?

On picture: Hervé Léger's metal pailette-embellished bandage dress

It's all in the details

One fashion detail I really like now is the bow, as seen here on Olivia Palermo.

What, How and When?

There are a lot of books out there on how you can improve the way you dress. If you are interested in some reading, here are some books I can recommend (I have ranked them in case you wonder where to start!):

Step 1: What Not to Wear: The Rules, by Susannah Constantine and Trinny Woodall

Basic level. The authors give advice on how to dress according to your body shape, e.g. what to wear if you have big arms, short legs or no boobs.

Step 2: Who What Wear: Celebrity and Runway Style for Real Life, by Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power (the creators of the website WhoWhatWear.com)

The book gives ideas on where to look for inspiration, how to interpret runway fashion into everyday dressing and what to wear for different occasions. The author also write about which wardrobe pieces you should invest in and where you can save, and which styles that work for your particular shape.

Step 3: I Love Your Style: How to Define and Refine Your Personal Style, by Amanda Brooks

Amanda Brooks describes in detail how to go about finding your own personal style; bohemian, classic, minimal, etc.

Happy reading!

Power dressing

I watched an old episode of Dynasty the other day and started wondering whatever happened to power dressing? In the absence of Alexis Carrington in the media, it is great to see that Anna Wintour's style is almost as sharp as the 80's icon. She may be as bitchy as well, but in the documentary The September Issue she appears more like a really professional, goal oriented and focused person. A great inspiration as a business woman.

This week's favourite

I would not mind having these in my wardrobe, the Yazata patent shoes from swedish Whyred. Available at www.whyred.se

When the temperature drops

One good investment for your wardrobe is a cardigan. Use it as substitute for the suit jacket in the office, or casual with jeans. It also works great for a dinner out with a skirt or dress, especially if you live in cold places like myself...

These are some of my favourites right now:

On picture from left: Black cardigan from By Malene Birger (www.net-a-porter.com), light grey cardigan from Sonia by Sonia Rykiel (www.mrsh.se), jeweled cardigan from Tory Burch (www.net-a-porter.com) and wool sweater from Moschino (www.net-a-porter.com)