muses

So what is her stylist Angie Smith’s tips for making the most out of a high-street budget? “I think that certain brands excel in specific styles. For example, if I need a great cashmere jumper, I always go to John Lewis & Partners or M&S; for tailoring, L.K.Bennett and The Kooples; for coats and skirts, I go to Jigsaw; for dresses, Whistles; for skirts, H&M; and for shoes, Kurt Geiger. For everything else—and for one-off unexpected pieces—I regularly shop Massimo Dutti, Maje, Hobbs, Next, Warehouse, Russell & Bromley, Topshop and Office.” As for outfits that always work for Holly? “She has an amazing hourglass figure, so she suits fitted, tailored shapes,” Smith shares. “All her looks have to work 360 because we never know what she’...

Whether you’re choosing to travel to Cornwall or Croatia, Greece or your best friend’s back yard, the ease of restrictions means that a vacation (or in some cases, staycation) may be on the cards this summer, after all. From bucket hats to beach bags, swimsuits to sunscreen, there are a few key items every holidaymaker needs to ensure their trip runs as smoothly as possible. And since it’s been a while since any of us have packed a suitcase, we thought we’d tap into the knowledge of six stylish women to understand the items they always take with them while travelling. Of course, as we’re often working with a weight limit, I asked for the top five essentials that always make the cut on their summer holiday packing list. For seasoned traveller Laura Nadine Herbe...

The Duchess of Cambridge’s style is often considered a little bland for the fashion crowd—too many Breton tops, coat dresses and beige patent pumps for the street style set’s liking. Given that she’s representing the royal family on an international stage, Kate Middleton needs to look polished; select classic items she tends to choose will photograph well and won’t date after several months. It’s not an easy task to tick all of these protocol boxes while also pleasing the fashion crowd. However, over the past few years, Kate has been making considerably more fashion-forward choices, favouring sharp tailoring, avoiding bold colours and experimenting with hair accessories. Rather than Queen Elizabeth–style coat dresses in primary hues, she started wearing outfit...

As far as fashionable footwear is concerned, the prominence of Birkenstock sandals is nothing new. The style has been around for years and is heralded as one of the comfiest options available.  Celebrities even tend to agree, with everyone from Katie Holmes to Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid sporting the brand’s Arizona style. With a minimalist two-strap detail and the signature Birkenstock buckle, the shoe is easy to spot when worn alongside almost any ensemble. Though, despite its status as a celebrity favourite, Birkenstock Arizonas are surprisingly both easily attainable and affordable, with the labels ‘Eva’ style starting at just  £35.  While I have personally never purchased a pair, the footwear does also come highly recommended by severa...

Over the last few years, Katie Holmes has well and truly solidified herself as one to watch in the style stakes. The actress can practically be credited for the return to the cardigan set, not to mention she has also found herself on best-dressed lists the world over.  This summer, it seems Holmes is continuing her reign as a fashionable fave, as the actress has been seen out in New York dressed in a few noteworthy looks. Proving that often less is more when it comes to summer dressing, Holmes stepped out for a walk wearing the ultimate casual ensemble of blue jeans and a plain white tee. The actress accessorised her look with Common Project sneakers, a black handbag and a printed face masks, as per regulations.  On another occasion, Holmes decided to step it ...

Emily Ratajkowski has always been quite the chameleon when it comes to personal style. One day the model will be in a figure-hugging ensemble, while the next she might play into more casual loungewear with tracksuit bottoms and an oversize hoodie. Continuing the pattern, this summer Ratajkowski has been seen a number of times on the streets of New York dressed in various outfits which highlight her versatility. From a strapless bodycon midi dress, to a neon green t-shirt dress and a patterned mini by Réalisation Par, EmRata is proving that no two days need to be the same when it comes to summer dressing. Maintaining a practical element, Ratajkowski often accessorises her looks with flat footwear and this summer it seems the model has joined the likes of Meghan Markle and Emm...

If you’re one of the 259,000 people who follow Marianne Smyth of SmythSisters, you will already be aware of the fact that the influencer has impeccable style. Often seen in outfits that contain a mixture of tailored trousers, straight-leg jeans and effortless midi dresses, Marianne has minimalist style down to an art form. Her aesthetic is sleek yet elevated, and therefore it would be very reasonable to assume much of her closet is filled with designer brands. Surprisingly, though, many of Marianne’s best looks come directly from the high street.  Whether it be a timeless black midi dress from & Other Stories or a classic linen button-down courtesy of Mango, Marianne has a talent for spotting the most expensive-looking high-street sta...

When it comes to summer clothing, knitwear is not the first thing that springs to mind. Though, if you live in the UK, it probably should be. With unpredictable weather, cooler days and grey skies as regular occurrences even in the summer months, knitwear is generally on high rotation.  Luckily, when it comes to knits and cardigans, there are plenty of options around that still manage to feel summer-appropriate, and this week, in particular, Alexa Chung has shown us three versions that are just that. As a part of her latest collection, Alexa has been sporting a few brightly coloured knits lately in vivid shades of green, blue and red. Paired with miniskirts and leather trousers, the knits still manage to feel relevant for the weather right now despit...

Since social distancing measures were put in place in the UK in late March, there seems to have been a few trending hobbies that have emerged on social media.  Initially, everyone with an Instagram account was baking banana bread, and then we all developed a collective obsession with puzzles. Though, now, with restrictions loosened, it seems we’ve moved on from indoor activities, as according to The Guardian, there has been a drastic increase in bike sales across the UK. In fact, the publication reported sales have tripled and repair shops are the busiest they’ve been in decades.  As always, Kate Moss seems to be right on trend, as the super was seen out riding a bike in the Cotswolds this week. For her leisurely outing, Moss chose to don the ultimate bike outfit...

Since social distancing measures were put in place in the UK in late March, there seems to have been a few trending hobbies that have emerged on social media.  Initially, everyone with an Instagram account was baking banana bread, and then we all developed a collective obsession with puzzles. Though, now, with restrictions loosened, it seems we’ve moved on from indoor activities, as according to The Guardian, there has been a drastic increase in bike sales across the UK. In fact, the publication reported sales have tripled and repair shops are the busiest they’ve been in decades.  As always, Kate Moss seems to be right on trend, as the super was seen out riding a bike in the Cotswolds this week. For her leisurely outing, Moss chose to don the ultimate bike outfit...

With over half a million followers, an enviably glamourous Instagram feed and a successful womenswear brand to boot, it’s fair to say Anne Laure Mais knows a thing or two about style. The French native began her career as an influencer before launching her own label, Musier Paris, in 2018. With a wardrobe that comprises timeless staples, statement pieces and a few vintage elements for good measure, Mais epitomises everything we love about French-girl style and that je ne sais quoi.  As an authority on all things fashion, we thought now would be a good time to talk to the designer about the trends she is loving for summer, as well as the wardrobe staples she can’t live without. As to be expected, Mais’s responses feature a mix of classic (vint...

French women have a reputation for being inimitably stylish. After all, why else would their clothing choices, beauty routines and haircare secrets be analysed and emulated the world over? With the new normal resulting in us all staying home more than ever before, our daily clothing choices have inevitably changed. Workwear has been replaced with loungewear, and in many instances, boots and heels have surrendered their top spots as most popular footwear, making way for flats, slides and even bare feet.  Right now, many of us are looking for a little inspiration on how to still get dressed properly while staying at home, and given their sought-after style, we thought why not turn to a few French women for some advice? We asked seven stylish Parisian women exactly what th...