Quick Bites: Dior, Christy Turlington, Alexander's Issie, Feather earrings, Buttermilk Pancakes with Walnut Topping

• Couture week has bloomed in Paris with Dior’s blossom ispired concoctions. J’adore this rapberry ripple creation that looks good enough to eat. style

• While most glossies go the summer route and celebrate the season by emblazoning idyllic locations and bikinis on their covers, Vogue Italia decided to do the opposite. Steven Meisel has photographed supermodel Christy Turlington for the cover bundled up and ready for a snow storm, in one of the pieces from the much talked about Chanel Fall 2010 runway modelinia

• A delicious reason to get out of bed in the morning — Buttermilk Pancakes with Walnut Topping. Heaven on a plate courtesy of applesandbutter.

• A rose personally chosen by the late Alexander McQueen for his friend Isabella Blow before he passed away has been launched at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. The flower, named Alexander’s Issie, was presented to Blow’s sister Julia Delves Broughton earlier today. vogue.uk

• Life would be complete with these exquisite 18-karat gold dipped feather earrings by Aurelie Bidermann. net-a-porter

Frock fantasising

Having spent my entire year’s wardrobe budget already (sob!) and furiously secreting a vast financial windfall, I am restricted to shopping inside my head. That’s right. Frock fantasising.

Actually it’s rather fun since my faux-budget is absolutely open-ended! Here are my two wish-to-God I could wear them right now outfits.  An easy-peasy frock, fab shoes, stand-out bag and minimal yet high-impact accessories.  So fantastic so FFF! 

Victoria Beckham dress, Stella McCartney satin heels, Alexander McQueen clutch, Balenciaga sunglasses net-a-porter.com, Irene Neuwirth lapis & turquoise earrings barneys.com

Stella McCartney dress, Kara by Kara Ross cuff net-a-porter.com, Kara by Kara Ross ring, Lanvin clutch barneys.com, Oliver Peoples sunglasses, Alexander McQueen heels harveynichols.com

Tip-Topper

With fashion seasons merging and more women dressing trans seasonally, the item everyone needs to own is the perfect topper.

Be it a man-style jacket, tailored blazer or luxe tux, it’s the fashion lifesaver that will take you from day-to-night and season-to-season. Slung over a fatally fab frock, it imparts that irresistable masculine-meets-feminine fashion contrast that is easy peasy and eternally chic-to-boot.

Just don’t forget the non-negotiable deal breaker; truly great shoes. Your topper is the dominant piece in this ensemble and needs another super-strong item to anchor it down. As if you need an excuse for truly fantastic shoes.

Left to right: Jennifer Aniston in Valentino frock and Alexander McQueen tuxedo jacket, Sarah Jessica Parker in Stella McCartney, Jessica Biel in Thakoon dress and jacket images via people.com, instyle.com