Those heavenly ‘Coco’ and ‘Diego’ bags by Alexander Wang, whose bottoms are ambushed by thick silver studs, those amazing Converse high-top boots as seen on Aggy, that beautiful Philip Lim shirt covered in the things that Alexa wore to some opening or premier. Whatever or wherever, they turn me into a complete magpie. Walking to work through the illustrated streets of Soho I often catch a glimpse of some studs one way or another. Whether tattooed through the nose of some punky old dude, or scattered across the leather of a young girl’s battered boots, or even so perfectly and symmetrically placed on that Mui Mui jewel of a bag that hangs so perfectly over some Vogue fashionista’s shoulder, studs just go with everything.

But one piece that is driving me completely mad, more than any other stud muffin, is a bag from Givenchy. Plain and black with a simple shape that works well, and just covered with lots of gold pointed studs. It is one of the most fabulous bags I have seen in a long while, although I am sure I am slightly biased by the small gold dots that glimmer from afar. Coming in two different syles, a bucket bag or a satchel, I first saw these beauties in Liberty’s and haven’t stopped thinking about them ever since. Trying to find a way to skimp on food to save on pounds is a frequent method I use to estimate my chances of becoming an owner.

Oh please! Somehow! Anybody! I am totally smitten for this stud bag, but in the meantime I guess I will be going to the bead shop around the corner from work to try and do a DIY job myself on an old leather satchel. Easy to affix and only about £4 for a decent packet of candy, I am hoping to recreate something ever better and like no other Soho stud Soho has ever seen before.

Aside from all these manicure moments I am desperate to try something new, especially as the festive season is upon us and I am normally rather anti all the Christmas glitz and glitter (Scrooge and I were separated at birth). I have heard and seen the crazy Wah nail girls and can’t bring myself to go fully jewelled just yet. So my latest  little fad comes in the shape of Minx Nails, a totally rad mani-pedi method that involves using gold foil instead of paint. It looks like your paws have been painted in the finest 24-carat gold varnish and get this, it is ready for action in just 10 minutes…. so none of that tip-toeing about with wet nails looking like a moron.

Favoured by the likes of high-class hotties such as Mrs Beckham and Beyonce, Minx nails also come in silver and because they are created using foil, they don’t chip like normal nail colours. They last from 1 - 2 weeks, long enough to see me through the Christmas party period, and even have a waterproof seal once applied so won’t stop me from altering my morning bath ritual.

Check out http://www.minxmynails.co.uk/for the full lowdown on how to get the perfect polished puddies.

But the ‘friend’ pass, if you are under 25 like me, is a real steal. For just £40 you get free access for a year to all shows in the gallery (queue-jumping too, always puts a smile on my face), as well as preview invitations, the quarterly magazine through your door and use of two secret Friends Rooms in Burlington House. Sounds too good to be true really (I promise I’m not an undercover RA promoter either). Especially for the BF as he is over 25…

Anyway, the Anish Kapoor is to die for. Such a unique exhibition that really altered my mood as I went round. Exceptional juxtaposition of contemporary against such traditional space and architecture. I won’t give away too much but it’s a must-see. Now that I am a ‘friend’ I shall be popping in and out on a regular basis, bringing along my free guests and spreading the word about one of London’s loveliest places.

So I have been making a conscious effort to add some colour to my outfits in a desperate hope to lift my mood and recently this has come in the shape of a beautiful friendship bracelet given to me by my friend Bex. She cleverly cottoned-on to the recent trend of funky friendship bracelets and created a gorgeous uber-luxe one, made from rainbow cord woven through chunky gold chain, finished off with a diamante magnetic clasp. I absolutely adore it and it certainly brightens up even the worst of these dismal dog-days. I think my friends all know what they will be getting from me this Christmas, and they are not just for girls either. I spotted the lovely Henry Holland wearing one a few weeks ago so boyfriend and brothers might even find one in their stockings!

“Tort-ally gor-jus” as Chezza Cole would say! Put orders in soon for all your best buddies - no doubt they are flying off the shelves having been featured in Style magazine. Go Bex Rox…

So when I heard that at the Vogue Fashion’s Night Out event last month, Chanel would be giving manicures at their Bond Street store, I was honestly over the moon. My idea of heaven. I imagined Karl to be there himself, carefully helping me decide between Blue Satin and Rouge Noir. And yet the reality was far from my perhaps slightly wishfully thought out fantasy. Nail artists sat patiently while girls queued up to have their nails painted in, wait for it, the new colour of the season fresh off the catwalk, JADE. I was somewhat shocked at this choice, feeling very let down by this Largerfeld’s otherwise impeccable taste. The colour seemed more fitting for the ‘Nancy’s Naughty Nail Parlour’ I sometimes pass in South London, full of inch long acrylic types and God knows what else. Each to their own of course, but Chanel, doing a pale, minty, green colour? Really?

Jade, which launches later this month in Chanel boutiques is said to have a mile long waiting list, one that my name will certainly not be on. I can’t get my head around this atrocious colour and feel it is far from the elegance and beauty of the French brand. I would happily paint my nails with spots or stripes or even in rainbow colours if necessary, but this Jade number is simply not on. Maybe I am missing some big key trend for Autumn, but as long as I have my Rouge Noir to hand, I will be happy. As far as this Jade nail varnish is concerned, I shall always remain green.

And to add to the joy of this, the first collection from the designer will be in the form of lingerie, set to be in stores this Winter. Following this will be a knitwear collection released next Febraury, just in time for that biting British thaw in Spring. As Rykiel very much stands as the unrivaled ‘queen of knits’, representing a modern and iconic style in fashion, the collection should be to-die-for.

“It is a hallmark of Sonia Rykiel to think of all women because fashion is about a certain spirit more than a question of means,” announced Nathalie Rykiel, who is president and artistic director of the company. 

Although the undies will undoubtedly be sexy as hell and the epitome of Parisian chic, the knitwear collection will be the real treat for Rykiel fans. Launching on the 20th of February 2010, the collection will also include accessories and be available for both women and girls (ages 1 - 8).  Rykiel will be the first guest to designer to branch out into underwear too. The underwear collection will be available in 1,500 stores worldwide as well as Sonia Rykiel boutiques, and the knitwear will be in 250 stores.

Mark you diaries girls: you’ve got a hot date.