I'm refusing to be beaten by the slow arrival of summertime and instead choose to focus entirely on the all things beach and oceana inspired. I'm confident that channelling golden sands and azure waters will somehow encourage hotter climes. Seems reasonable right? 

As far as beauty beauties, topping my list this month are delicate Mediterranean blues, whether it's Rachel Rose's powder blue Peter Pan Collar Silk T, Emi Jay's Seabreeze selection of ribbon hair ties or the perfect Pepperminty shade of nail polish from Ciate. I'll be pairing them with sandy gold infused leathers from Sabrina Tach and the perfect maxi-dress accessory, the ammonite long faceted chain from Soft Gold. My last and frankly 'most-obsessed-obsession' this month is the Seahorse Stacking Ring from Mr Kate - with just the right amount of whimsy, I can't wait to layer this with By Boe Braided Leather Rings and a serious amount of tan (the latter may take some time) to make me beach ready. PS Seahorse ring coming super duper soon but get in line, I was here first....

xfiona

This D&G Striped Sundress is getting some serious red carpet love and we're feeling inspired to be-stripe our every day look. If you're not comfortable with the full on deck chair appeal, fear not, you can inject a bit of  the horizontals or verticals in your life whether it's just a mention of seersucker trim (DNTX Row Tote) or in a delicate day stripe fabric (Loup Lila Dress). If we could have just one stripe in our life, we would pick The Clutch in Ticking from DNTX - team it with skinnies and a blazer in classic colours to lift your look or clash it with contrasting stripes for a more statement style. This one makes it into our handbag closet of fame. 

xfiona 

Never mind spending hours pouring over this truly dreamy blog, I have developed a full life and style obsession with the creator of Wit & Delight, Kate Arends. With a background in graphic design, this Minneapolis based style savant has an enviable eye for curating aspirational content, from edgy interior pieces and emotive textiles, to sweet hand made stationary (my personal favourite) and what is topping her personal shopping list. Kate's pages are more than a blog, they are a guide to the sublime. Officially top of my bookmark list, this deserves to be poured over in peace whilst enjoying your morning flat white, I guarantee it will inspire your mood for the day. Truly a delight indeed. (witanddelight.com).

xfiona 

Ah March! You've always been one of my favourite months and with both my babies having their birthdays this month, I've been expecting a lot of you. Baby 1's party has been and gone, Baby 2's mini non-party (she is only 1 after all, she'll never remember it right?) is rolling around soon and in the meantime, I'm ignoring the continued winter time and projecting myself into hotter climes (flights to Ibiza are indeed booked....). 

My obsession this month is with texture. The more the better. From the raised platinum leather braiding on Sabrina Tach's Suede Aquila Crossbody Bag to the clever seer sucker style cotton of Loup's Henry Blouse, I can't get enough. I've even tracked down my new favourite texture-full earrings in these Crystal Nugget Studs from By Boe. It's true that the super soft Infinity Scarf  (Cloth & Ink) and the smudgy yellow ochre nail polish (Butter London in Bumster (quality name) are less texture and more silky smooth but I just can't resist, they make for the perfect new season look. I love this mix of neutrals and boho, it's making planning for all of the holidays I just NEED to take, very fun.....

This month, after despairing slightly due to the truly over-chilled weather conditions, lack of sunshine, and in my case, woeful hair style (I'll table that for another post...) I’m buoyed by some bright new arrivals that are helping me style myself into spring cheer despite the after mentioned downers.

First up is the Orange Icewonderland Knit from ShILIconfeTTI. I’m obsessing over this graphic print and combined with my magnetic draw to anything in heather grey, I adore this palette of soft orange and French lavender. Fit wise, this ticks all my boxes, it’s a vintage skinny shape and longer in length which gives it a modern silhouette and means it works perfectly layered over skinnies or cigarette pants and brogues.

I’m pairing this graphic lovely with the utterly timeless Grey Row Tote from DNTX. I almost don’t understand how I’ve managed in life so far without this bag since it’s immediately an every day essential to me. Hard wearing leather straps and detailing, dark grey canvas body and delicate seersucker trim brings a touch of the nautical to it. It's DNTX true love for me. 

On the magpie front, I’m going stack happy with double By Boe Charm rings paired with the slightly heavier and more statement Druzy Solitaire from FriedaSophie. I like how these different weight rings work together and the sweet heart charms on the By Boe bands gives the whole look an extra edge.

So there February, I will take your sad weather and raise you some essential accessories. I win! 

xfiona 

I find myself constantly on the hunt for a little bit of perfect when it comes to an every day and every occasion bag and by jove, this season, I think I've found it! After scouring the states, we have a new RRR love in the form of DNTX (Death and Texas). Sure, it has something of a macabre ring to it but if you think sunsets and all things cowboy equestriana rather than sadness and dust, you'll have a good idea of what inspires this line.

With a Texas native behind the collection, DNTX pieces are all hand made with love in Brooklyn New York and I am already smitten with these simple designs made from heavy waxed canvas, vegetable-tanned harness leather, and a hint of delicate seersucker trim. Think pretty-cowboy-Barbour-bag and you're nearly there. We love. My name is already on The Row Tote (mid sized perfection) wait list but I just know that before spring is out, I'll have succumbed to the Tug Tote (who doesn't carry far too much around with them every day?!) and a precious little Clutch thrown in for good travelling measure.

xfiona

I know, I know, who needs another tote bag? As a closet collector, I should be resolutely answering 'no' to that but frankly in this case, I DO!  I am completely obsessed with these oversized canvas totes - simple but wonderfully must have. Suddenly I absolutely need to have a bag which expresses my mood in a text/ FB/ twitter friendly anacronym, how on earth have I managed until now? My first purchase will be LOL since it's my general mood of preference but despite having to wiki' YOLO (sigh, does that make me old?) I'm pretty convinced this one needs to join my collection too. 

Since our shipment is very nearly winging it's way to us I'm relieved that the wait is nearly over. Finally a cute and quirky solution to my baby bag + work bag + hand bag woes all rolled into one. Joy! 

xfiona 

(Get a Grip Totes  £59 available October 2012 www.redrubyrouge.com) 

This week our little Autumn hearts are all a-flutter with the prospect of the new Shadow Box collection from Rachel Rose. After her repeat sell out summer line, we are squirrelling away a Rachel Rose piggy bank to invest in these little hand painted beauties. We'll be pairing the bold Multi Cell Day Dress with Niki Biki leggings, Isabel Marant ankle boots and a snug White + Warren cashmere boyfriend cardi. Consider us all set for the new season, Rachel's simple T-shirt shapes are fast becoming our answer to all fashion conundrums.

xfiona 

This week marks the first days in my official return to RRR-dom, to what is, in many ways baby#1 (a quieter and cleaner but no less demanding child!). 

Post baby#2  (Sammy, 2ish) and baby#3 (Edith, 4 months), it is a somewhat different horizon to my early RRR years when 7 hours sleep was de rigeur (ha!) and travelling was possible without nineteen bags, far too many snacks and an endless ‘just-in-case’ trips to the loo. Oh the glamourous life…These days, my Marketa tote is embarrassingly full of Peppa mags, Thomas the Tank Engine Pants and Babybels but somehow the kiddies are managing to co-exist and sometimes overlap. 

It’s difficult to step back from your own business but what has been lovely in the past months is how well looked after baby#1 has been. Nothing puts you in your place quite like realizing you are completely replaceable!  Whilst I’ve been combing out the locks of babies with far too much hair, and living the joys of potty training, Red Ruby Rouge has been in far more capable hands than my own and it’s me that now needs trained up to make sure I’m up to scratch. Perhaps I should go away more often *booking flights*…. 

xfiona 

Tucker Rosie Rosie Kimono Wrap.  As a major Tucker fan there's no way I could resist this most versatile of prints, it can be worn as jacket or as a top, dressed down for day or up for night. A complete must have. 

Loup Indigo Fitted Jacket. I love this lightest of denim fabric, it is such a handy jacket to have. Light enough to wear on a summer day and the perfect accompaniment to the Indigo box tee, never has double denim looked so good.

Splendid Striped boatneck dress. I've been wearing this all season, the softest cotton and the perfect stripe make this breton dress a wardrobe essential. (Tip: looks great with the Ulla Johnson skinny belt.)

Silver Cleopatra Necklace. A sale is always a perfect time to stock up on accessories and this beauty is a great choice. Understated and often admired this can be worn with any of the other sale picks and just adds that finishing touch.

Splendid Simple Leggings. These are a great buy, I'm considering getting some in both black and navy, the highest quality cotton and something you can never have too many of. 

xCaroline