1. Color Block: Should you take your cue from Burberry it’s extremely evident that classic, demure shapes (pencil skirts and blouses especially,) in block clashing colours create a look that’s grabbing and grown up all at the same time.  Pictures: Catwalk: Burberry Spring Summer 2013, pleated pink midi skirt, cobalt cami and gold bracelet from www.topshop.com, green leather pencil skirt by Sportmax and Pierre Hardy colour block heels at www.matchesfashion.com, purple silk tee by Giulieta and Thierry Lasry glasses both from www.net-a-porter.com, and B.Y.T. Mattie clutch available here.

2. Top to toe: As seen at Michal Kors and particularly at Gucci, the top to toe look (in the form of a tunic and trousers, specifically,) is a key Spring update. Work summery colors with gold accessories for a new way to do eveningwear this season. Pictures: Catwalk Spring Summer 2013, green blouse by Stella McCartney and green trousers from Michael Kors at www.net-a-porter.com, coral cotton peplum top and trousers by MSGM from www.matchesfashion.com, fuschia tunic and matching slimline trousers from Sportmax, Jimmy Choo gold sandals, earrings from www.topshop.com and Kotur Operation Smile clutch available here.

3. Swing it with a statement skirt. Following Matthew Williamson’s lead, introduce a touch of color to your top to toe look with a boho luxe mini skirt for a fabulous summery cocktail outfit. Work it with a classic silk blouse and opulent accessories, and you’ll have an evening look that’s easy to dress up or down. Pictures: Catwalk, Matthew Williamson SS13, coral silk skirt by Isabel Marant, yellow printed ruffle skirt by Marni and coral and yellow silk blouses by Equipment all from www.net-a-porter.com, deep pink peasant blouse by YSL, Thu Thu printed skirt and Vanessa Azriaga necklace from www.matchesfashion.com, Jimmy Choo tassel sandals and Kotur Margo Faille in pink available here.

Cometh the New Year, cometh the same old New Year’s resolutions. But this year, we’re really going to try and crack them. Honest. To help us on our way, we’ve tried to find less painful ways of becoming better / smarter / fitter / more rounded and well dressed women by making the process a little less painful. Call it incentivisation, call it dulling the pain a little, here’s how we’re revamping last year’s resolutions in the hope that, for once, we might actually see them through January. Well, mid January, maybe…

1. Lose 10 Lbs

In at number one (as always) on our Resolutions list, this year we shall approach the skinny task less with dragging feet than with skipping toes by downloading this high/ low intensity playlist to take us through the motions fitnessmagazine.com/beatit. We will also be doing so in a pair of Nike’s new bright sneakers. Who knows? Perhaps music and fancy shoes will work wear scales and self flagellation haven’t.

2. Get smarter

In 2013 we shall take note of the adage that information is everything, by acquiring a little bit more. We may, however, take a short cut or two.  Here’s how we’ll be learning our new languages - Memrise . Apparently it works. And here’s how we’ll be broadening our hinterland: Intelligence Squared Asia debates. What better way to acquire wisdom than to just let it wash over you. We will gen up on everything from arithmetic to Microeconomics with the help of the Khan Academy videos. Oh, and we will also read Nora Ephron’s last book, because she is our kind of wise.

3. Give back

At Kotur, we’ve launched two different clutches to make this job just that little bit easier – check out our brand new Filmaid clutch and our Operation Smile number for quality. Definitely carrot worthy for even the longest stick.

1. KOTUR for Operation Smile

This year, we teamed up with Gillian and Lydia Hearst to support Operation Smile, a charity that they are ambassadors for and I’m of the board of in Hong Kong, and that provides free surgeries to repair cleft palates, cleft lips and facial deformities for children around the globe. Our own ‘Smile’ minaudiere comes gold plated with a faceted crystal clasp and our signature brocade lining. 100% of the net proceeds for it go directly to Operation Smile. This is fashion that definitely feels good.

Kotur Smile bag, $395 from www.koturltd.com

2. Warby Parker Glasses

“Buy a pair, give a pair”

Set up by four friends, named after Jack Kerouac characters and founded on the simple ‘buy a pair, give a pair,’ principle, Warby Parker’s collection of retro inspired, effortlessly cool eyewear is where to place your smart sunglass money. Both regular eyewear and sunglasses come in easy shapes, logo free, and with the added benefit of knowing that, when you purchase your pair, someone else out there in the world who probably needs them more gets the bonus of a pair of glasses, too.

www.warbyparker.com

3. CFDA & VOGUE online auction for Sandy Relief

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, forces all over the world have mobilized to help support the relief effort. Should you wish to contribute, Vogue and the CFDA have come up with a pretty enticing way to do so. In an online auction just launched at charitybuzz.com, they have called on their friends to offer amazing prizes, all of which of you can bid on in the knowledge that the total proceeds will to go Hurricane Sandy’s relief efforts. Tickets to the 2013 Met Gala, shopping sprees with Tory Burch and Michael Kors, a year’s supply of bags from Net-a-porter, a Bruce Weber print and a week in Tommy Hilfiger’s villa in Mustique barely scratch the surface of what’s on offer here in one of the most compelling arguments we’ve ever seen to get involved and get giving.

www.charitybuzz.com

In collaboration with Operation Smile Ambassadors, actress and model Lydia Hearst and magazine editor Gillian Hearst Simonds, KOTUR has created this chic gold-plated clutch, with faceted crystal clasp and signature brocade lining, to be sold exclusively online at WWW.SHOPKOTUR.COM

“Our aim was to create a clutch that would embrace the same
optimistic and happy spirit, to bring a smile both to those who carry it and to the many children who will benefit from the proceeds”

Operation Smile will receive 100% of the net proceeds to give new smiles to children around the world, transforming their lives and restoring their hope for a better future.

KOTUR are delighted to offer complimentary shipping with the purchase of this bag.

The red carpet themed cocktail party also launched the new Holiday 2011 collection in store and was held in the super-chic new Pacific Place location.

Guests all went home with personalized snakeskin coin purses and we were able to make a significant donation to Operation Smile from the proceed of our one-night-only crystal monogramming service.

Thanks again to Harvey Nichols and to all who came along to show their support… here’s to another 5 years!