Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for the cinema with friends.

I have had such a fun night! Isn't it lovely how a few people getting together for a drink or two and a movie can cause such happiness? Simple evenings filled with laughter and a silly film are the best. I went to see 17 Again with a few friends, picking the film because it was the only thing we could all agree on. It was a sweet movie, you know, rather typical but lovely nonetheless.

Cinema hotdogs taste so much nicer, don't they? Especially when you're taking a bite out of a one belonging to your friend as they share your chocolates. I think the experience of just getting together, the five of us like it was tonight, and having fun just like children is really great and people don't do it as often as they should. I adore my friends more than ever tonight.

I'm really looking forward to this week. I have a date tomorrow, lovely plans for Thursday and the same again for Friday. It's nice having things all planned out, isn't it? I'll still be blogging though, don't worry!

I needed to dress casual but smart enough to sit and look pretty in a wine bar. My outfit tonight- a simple jeans/trench/clutch combo- really worked and so does this. This pretty grey cardigan is by Stella McCartney, I've added True Religion jeans and a stunning pair of heels by Fendi. Lanvin provide this pretty bracelet and this gorgeous purple crystal statement necklace. To finish off the outfit, I've gone for some studs from Dorothy Perkins and a lovely soft clutch by Marni. Hope you've had a great evening!

An evening with friends. by hollieanne featuring Lanvin bracelets

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for dinner with her mother.

My mother celebrates her birthday tomorrow. I'm clearly not going to reveal my mother's age but I've become more and more fascinated by her astonishing beauty and wonderful skin. As one ages, it's dictated that beauty becomes less of a focus but my mother looks better with age.

We went out for dinner tonight and then to the cinema (we saw 'He's just not that into you' and it is well worth every penny- loved it) and sat sharing ice-cream as we nodded our heads in agreement with the characters on the screen who were all going through some sort of melodramatic but realistic love issue in their lives.

Dinner with my mother is always odd, I always feel the need to impress and to shine despite seeing her everyday. Is it just me or does having dinner with mummy always signal a slight success or fail feeling? My mother is one of my best friends but I'll never stop having a certain driving force behind me to impress her.

I've selected a simple but pretty outfit this evening. I often find that the most simple outfits work best. LBD, black clutch and heels? More than fine! And that's just the look I've gone for here. To me, this Fendi dress is perfection as I adore the shape and the detailing of the belt. I've added a Louboutin clutch, some heels by Giuseppe Zanotti and an Alex Monroe 'love' necklace. Finally, it's colour o'clock with a bright Marc by Marc Jacobs cotton trench. Until tomorrow...



Dinner with my mother. - by hollieanne on Polyvore.com

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for an early night.

Apologies about yesterday, everyone! My blogging assistant kindly put out a note in my absence late last night. I got caught up in some family stuff and wasn't able to hit the laptop to blog. Huge apologies!

Anyway, shall we get back to today? If you've been reading my blog for the last few weeks, you'll notice how I've swapped casual Sundays to casual Saturdays and how much I'm really enjoying having a lazy day on a Saturday. Today was no different. A lie in followed by some lovely text messages from MYB and then I made brunch for the family. I spent the afternoon writing and listening to music, chatting to MYB and doing very little else- bliss!

I've been really stressed out this past week and it's only hitting me now how tired it's making me. MYB calmed my mind this evening and I made the decision that I needed some major relaxation. I've had a candle-lit bath tonight, had an lush salad for dinner and gave myself a pedicure. I'm now blogging from my bed and I'm going to watch some silly but slushy chick-flick in a moment. Happiness all round.

Outfit time! The outfit is casual and comfortable- and why not? The printed pink tee is DKNY and I've added some super skinny jeans by Cheap Monday. For me, the highlight of this outfit has to be the wonderful Nike Liberty dunks which I have craved since they first appeared on my screen one beautiful day. Accessories are super bright with some ASOS bangles, a hairband by New Look and a retro style Gola bag. Happy weekend!



Early night. - by hollieanne on Polyvore.com

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for 27 Dresses.

My Yummy Mummy I were alone today so spent the afternoon finishing off the tin of chocolates, having chips with melted peanut butter for lunch and watching 27 Dresses. It's been ages since we've done anything like that and it reminded me of all the past Saturdays we'd have when my dad was at the football match (or sleeping with some tart) or when my dad left and it was just the two of us hibernating in our utter disbelief. We must have watched Bridget Jones' Diary a million times.

I'd been wanting to see 27 Dresses for ages and it didn't disappoint. OK, so it was a typical girly film that I should be growing out of by now but I can't help love the idea of being that late 20something who has a crush on an unsuitable man and is then finally swept off her feet by a man she'd never taken any notice of in the past. Yeah, I'm a sucker and believe in the Disney fairytale but after not having the easiest romantic relations in the past 2 years or so, I cling on to hope that my darling Prince Charming will come along and marry me in the garden of our four bedroom country estate. But that's unlikely.

Despite adoring MYB, I still watch the likes of Bridget Jones and think I'll be that sad singleton in my 30s. And there's nothing wrong with that, I loved being single as much as I do being in a relationship, but I need to face the fact that the Prince Charming type blokes are only in movies and that all the hot, romantic, kind AND rich lawyers/journalists/doctors are always taken- whether I'm 19 or 39! Saying that, I have a very hot journalist of my own but one day at a time and all...

Watching 27 Dresses made me think about how many times I've been a bridesmaid. The total so far is 5. That's a lot for my age, right? I'm hoping the next time I'm a bridesmaid will be to my mother and her partner. My farther and Muffin Top? Er...no way! Even when I was 7 and was bridesmaid for an aunt, I'd have people say to me: "Always the bridesmaid and never the bride, Hollie-Anne!". It's clearly been installed in me from a young age that I'll never be a bride myself.

I have a clear stance on having children and people therefore always assume that I'll never want to get married either but that's not the case at all. When Peaches Geldof came out recently said she didn't think marriage always had to last forever (or some such), I found myself firstly disgusted but then in total agreement. I'm not saying I'll be a Joan Collins but I have to face the truth via the fact that my parents were divorced and I'm madly in love with a man who was divorced several years ago. My parents were married for nearly 20 years before they departed ways and I think that's rather beautiful and quite an achievement. People never quite realise that getting married is massively high on my agenda and is not far behind the major career success I crave. OK, so if MYB proposed now I'd totally freak out but in ten years time? Sure. And I'll be wearing an Oscar de la Renta dress and Gina heels- I've promised myself that for years.

With the theme of never being the bride, this outfit fits the bill for a pretty and modern bridesmaid. I admit, I haven't been a bridesmaid for a few years so haven't had to face the horror of disgusting dresses for a while but I never understand the need for all the bridesmaids to look revolting; sure, the bride looks better but I'd rather have super stylish bridesmaids and better looking photos, wouldn't you? Whoever asks me for my bridesmaid skills next should allow me to wear this pretty outfit- I adore the simplicity of golds and peaches. This Tomas Maier is gorgeous and would look perfect at a summer wedding and I've added gold Louboutin shoes, a Roberto Cavalli clutch and some pretty Alex Woo leaf earrings. To finish the look, a gorgeous Gabriel & Co. bracelet and pretty pearl ring.


Always the bridesmaid... by hollieanne

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for learning how to relax.

Last night went well. Just after I finished blogging, a car pulled up outside the house and drove me to the hospital. I was seen by the crisis team who spoke to me for about an hour and we made some plans and rationalised my behaviour and thoughts. I arrived home about 1230am this morning and, after chatting to the incredibly calming MYB, fell fast asleep for about eleven hours.

One thing that did come up was that I struggle with the issue of relaxing. I guess that's the manic side of things that stays permanent. Sure, I can spend a day doing nothing but watch DVDs and taking a bath but I'm always on edge.

Today I tried to do some "positive relaxing" but it really hasn't worked. I now feel stupidly lazy because I've spent the day reading magazines, watching rubbish daytime television and working on my novel. I guess even when I'm with MYB and all we're doing is lying in bed chatting or when we're going for a pretty walk in some gorgeous park I'm never that relaxed. I need to add "positive relaxing" to my 2009 resolutions.

This outfit isn't supposed to be seen out in public too much but it is pretty. The peach tank is Adidas by Stella McCartney and the silk trousers are Rick Owens. The hat and sandals are cheap and chic and available from Republic and Wet Seal respectively. If you need to go out for wine and chocolate (like I did today) then grab this Prada bag. Finally, I've added the Gucci bracelet because I feel naked without at least one piece of jewellery. MYB and I were having a chat in the pub on Thursday about how girly I am and how I despise not being feminine and this outfit proves it, I can't even relax around the house without something feminine on; I'm sure MYB appreciates that, though!


Positive relaxing. by hollieanne

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for preparing to feel sad.

My father lands tomorrow. No, he isn't flying in from some small island near South America but he is coming to visit me and I must say that I've spent all of today worrying. Still shockingly ill, I spent today working on some visual pieces and jotting down an idea for my book but it was all so overshadowed by the thought of how many jelly stings my father will force on me tomorrow.

You've seen Bridget Jones' Diary: The Edge of Reason, right? Bridget Jones et al have a friend, married and smug which is always the case, who just has to sting you. We all have one. The friend who tells you just how many degrees your new boyfriend's assistant has and that his ex-wife was a model for Gucci (zero chance in the case of MYB and I!) or that you're looking well...considering you have put on weight since your last bloke left you. Well, the jellyfish in my life happens to be my father but rather than picking at the small things with me, he throws out one big net and I'm the only one that is caught up in it. I have to listen to him go on for hours about his latest love conquest and how my life will change endlessly once I'm in love myself and that careers and friends appear dismal once faced with love. I always want to bite back and tell him I am in love but actually, my career is equally delightful!

I don't know, my father just drains me and I cannot even cope with the thought. I was hoping to rant to MYB about it all but he's two hours late in calling me and I'm too stubborn to call him. Onwards and upwards, eh?

I'd wear this outfit for a day writing at home. What would start out as feature ideas would end up in lists on how much my father annoys me and then finally a list in ways to keep calm around him tomorrow. OK, so it's freezing outside so perhaps a playsuit isn't the best option but it's fine for spending afternoons with the fire on. Throw this burnt orange cardigan on from Toast for a snuggly feeling and slip on some fringed flats if you must wear something on your feet. And if the mood takes you and you just have to pop out to the Starbucks across the road for a 4 shot mocha, throw your notebooks in this Jil Sander number. Finally, a sweet little elephant necklace from Forever21.



Preparing. by hollieanne

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for loving the end of the honeymoon period.

When you're in a relationship it can often feel like all your plans and thoughts revolve around your other half. You select times to call one another and everything else is off limits, you make plans for dinner and not even a night out with the girls will make you cancel it and you plan romantic mini breaks months in advance and make all other plans around that.

But am I right in thinking it can often feel too much? Sure, planning stuff with my bloke is great and we do get all loved-up to the point of it being sickly to others but it can sometimes feel odd, especially after being single and independent for a while.

Recently this transcended into a slight distance between my other half and I. Nothing bad, really, just a feeling of needing to make plans/call each other 45 times before we go to sleep/talk for hours. I'm still madly in love but I quite fancy slouching in my Ugg boots and having a really early night.

When you're not in a relationship you dress to attract men, when you're in a relationship you dress to impress him- so what happens when you're really comfortable in a relationship and can slob about in your M&S grey PJs? Who do you dress for then? You, of course!

I discovered that wonderful point once more where I really do just dress for me. I went to the salon today and spent 2 hours having my nails done for no other reason than wanting them done to make me happy. I wore my Ugg boots (in public!) and allowed my bloke to see me in them. I got a stain on my white top and didn't care one bit! I'm finally in that moment of comfortable and sexy and it's all for me!

So, whilst my bloke has flown off on business until tomorrow morning, I'm more than happy spending a night with lots of Ben&Jerry's, Sex And The City: The Movie and a slice of chocolate cheesecake (hips o'clock!). Maybe boring is, well, boring but it's the comfort of the secure relationship mixed with the elation of knowing your appallingly hot boyfriend finds you rather sexy in your hoodie and pajama bottoms (well, maybe cute rather than sexy!).

Today's outfit might be comfortable, it might not be the most fashion forward outfit ever seen and it may well contain two of my guilty fashion loves (Ugg boots and Louis Vuitton bags) but it isn't by half rather cute. The Proenza Schouler long sleeved tee should be a staple in every one's wardrobe (although an M&S version is clearly more affordable), a simple denim mini skirt and waistcoat add an autumn feel and the Fred Flare nerd glasses necklace is pure geek-chic.

He loves me- whatever I wear! by hollieanne