{at the office | lookbook : secret squirrel winter 12}

. . . have always adored secret squirrel's 'quiet luxury and modern unassuming style', and the new winter 12 collection, art class, is as pretty as ever, with fun geometric patterns, sexy short trenches and shades of heather grey, blush and coral, that will make mornings before the office a perfect breeze . . .

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{runway inspiration : derek lam pre-fall 2012}

. . . not often one for prints and patterns, but there is something about derek lam's current collection, with its leather skirts and golden oxfords, cotton twill blazers and herringbone coats, silks and knits and sumptuously billowy dresses, that one is hopelessly drawn . . .

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{at the office : chloé pre-fall 2012}

. . . pleated silk blouses and pretty pencil skirts, herringbone and shearling and scalloped trim -- few can match the elegant tailoring and perfect simplicity of chloé . . .









[images: vogue]

{hair inspiration | at the office : the wrapped ponytail}

. . . as you know, on busy days, often prefer elegantly no-nonsense hairstyles, such as a chignon, topknot, or classic ponytail, and this one, swept over and wrapped, is a sophisticated take on the original, and is perfectly polished for the office, or, when paired with a silk camisole trimmed in sequins, perfect for when the work is done . . .

{past hair inspiration :}

* the double knot
* the sexy bouffant
* the side chignon


{image : son jung wan spring 2012 via getty images & bellasugar via babble}

{at the office : perfectly tailored}

. . . despite all the holiday daydreaming, making it sometimes a little difficult to get things done, and between the festive plans and mid-week brunch dates, there are still a million and one things do, and so, a glittery manicure and a bite of a cupcake wrapped in gold, and it's out the door, perfectly tailored in elegant cashmere and leather accents, and of course, an always chic, yet practical doctor's bag in one hand, and a coffee in the other . . .



{images: one // two // three // four // five via & six, céline fall 2011 rtw // seaofbirds}

{style inspiration: noir & blanc}

. . . a rainy, rainy tuesday with still much to do, but happily, a houndstooth bow blouse and a high-waisted pencil skirt keeps things polished [& far from dreary] and brighten up the workday -- that, and of course, a break for coffee and a few macarons . . .

{p.s.} this week's {take me away} still to come x


{image: leighton meester, still from gossip girl via the road not taken; blouse by alexander mcqueen paired with double breasted pencil skirt}

{at the office : perfectly tailored}

. . . for this week, it's perfect mixes of soft & structured [a sleek blazer paired with billowy autumn whites, warm wools and tweeds with cool leather accents]; and classic & modern [delicate lace paired with a structured coat] . . . and whether with tousled waves or a classic ponytail, it's out the door with polish and perfect style . . .





{french model constance jablonski by photographed by catherine servel for the deco fall/winter 2011 ad campaign; makeup artist, chiho omae & stylist, catherine newell via smile & also seen at haute design}

{at the office : the classic ponytail}

. . . one of those days with a billion and one things to do and time moving far, far too quickly . . . a classic ponytail with little fuss & easy elegance kind of day . . .



{images: one // two}

{at the office: the pantsuit}

. . . and after spending the summer in billowy dresses, should think it rather lovely to spend the autumn in pantsuits, wool and tweed, and perhaps even tartan, perfectly offset by a pretty blouse and sexily tousled hair and it's all in a day's work . . .


{image: the stills via sarah at haute design}

{at the office: a python laptop case}

. . . and after searching the internets for a glamorous ipad case, my macbook air still travels around in an old foley & corinna black soft glazed leather jet set tote -- perhaps, time to pick up something new and this python laptop case [in chocolate], may be just the thing, matched, of course, with a pair of snakeskin studded valentino's . . .




{linn python laptop case via su-shi; snakeskin studded valentino's via park & cube}