Best Dressed 2014

As 2014 draws to a close it's time to take a look back over the year and shine a light on the fashion highlights of the last twelve months.

Safe to say it's been a sensational year for fashion, and as a result it's been ridiculously hard to narrow down so many incredible outfits into a measly top 10 list as I did last year. Trust me - I spent the weekend trying - but I loved too much this year so deemed it an impossible task.

Instead I've tackled this annual post a little differently, and in the process I've well and truly moved away from my singular love of monochrome and discovered I'm really starting to adore patterns. Who'd have thought this was possible this time last year?!

Film Round-Up 2014

For me, nothing beats a good film.

2014 has been a stellar year in terms of excellent movies, from the ground-breaking that took 12 years to make; to sequels that were miraculously better than their predecessors; to yet more triumphs in motion capture and more superheroes than you can shake a stick at.

Given the fact that I watch an obscene amount of films each year - and spend more time in the cinema than is probably socially acceptable - I felt it'd be worth looking back over the last year and evaluating my cinematic highs and lows, from my top 10 films of the year to mini-awards for "The Film That Was Just Genuinely Bad" to "The Film That I Wish Everyone Else Had Seen Too."

It's a varied bunch, so hopefully it'll provide a bit of inspiration going into 2015 for films I'd wholeheartedly recommend catching up on if you missed them first time round, as well as instant classics that are fully deserving of a rewatch.

Edge of Tomorrow

When I'm stuck for something to do I go to the cinema.

This summer Edge of Tomorrow was my go-to film. After seeing it for the first time and absolutely loving it, it became the film I'd go and see when there was nothing else on or I wasn't in the mood to take a risk with something new. I eventually saw it three times - all in IMAX - and each time was better than the last.

Edge of Tomorrow is released on DVD in the UK on Monday (13th October 2014), and I - for one - cannot wait to finally get my hands on it!

Primetime Emmy Awards 2014 Best Dressed

I'm concerned I'm starting to say this every year, but there's no getting away from the fact that it really does feel like we're currently in the throes of a golden age for television.

From Breaking Bad to The Good Wife, Veep to Orphan Black, Sherlock to Parks and Recreation, Downton Abbey to Game of Thrones, House of Cards to Modern Family and everything in between, there really is excellent television for every taste imaginable these days. I've always been a devout film fan and never really had much interest in the small screen, but thanks to a Netflix subscription and recently discovering the box sets available on Sky I'm starting to seriously get into television. I devoured Breaking Bad like a meth addict last summer; made my way through two series of Orange is the New Black in a fortnight after my exams finished; desperately caught up on Scandal before the start of the new series on Sky Living a few weeks ago; rewatched all of Downton Abbey after Christmas as "dissertation research"; and fell head over heels for the fictional town of Pawnee in Parks and Recreation. I'm officially addicted.

Move over cinema, my lounge is now the place to be. What a time to be alive!

Coming Soon

There's nothing I love more than a good film.

I go to the cinema between three and four times a week, and I relish the opportunity to immerse myself in another world for several hours. I'll watch anything, from low-budget indie films to IMAX blockbusters to foreign films with subtitles. The one thing my favourites have in common is that they have nothing in common: my taste is eclectic and I'm willing to try everything and anything on offer. I love both discovering new actors, directors and cinematographers to obsess over, as much as revisiting well loved series and hoping the sequels aren't too much of a disaster.

With only five months left of the year (how did that happen?!) I thought I'd put a list together of the 15 films I'm most looking forward to seeing in what's left of 2014. I'll undoubtedly see more than just the ones outlined below, but these are the ones that have stood out for me at at the moment.

Haute Couture A/W 14-15

If there's a fashion event each year I look forward to more than the annual Met Ball it's the couture fashion weeks in Paris. This week has seen a selection of the world's most prestigious designers present their couture collections for the autumn-winter 14-15 season, and as ever they did not disappoint.

Chocolate Mousse

Everyone loves chocolate mousse. 

Zoo Lates

Is there anything better than going to the zoo for your birthday?

No. The answer is unequivocally no.

I love, love, love the zoo. My knowledge of zoos stem from trips to Chester Zoo as a child, watching Madagascar so many times I can quote pretty much the whole thing and an extensive knowledge of zoo planning, building and maintenance on Zoo Tycoon. I've long been overdue a trip to the zoo, and nothing felt more appropriate an occasion than my 22nd birthday.

Zebra Cake

A few weeks ago the lovely people at Lurpak sent me a copy of London artisan baker Lily Vanilli's beautiful book, Sweet Tooth, in the hope that it would inspire my next bake.

Wimbledon Tour & Tim Henman Q&A

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love The Times.

My mum has subscribed for years and is therefore able to access all of the amazing offers, competitions and events from the team at MyTimesPlus. We've been to quite a few events, ranging from film screenings to a Downton Abbey talk with Julian Fellows and a Q&A with Miranda Hart. Living in London these past few years has proved particularly advantageous, and was especially good for this latest event.

Star Trek Into Darkness: Live in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall

Last summer, I saw Star Trek Into Darkness three times in IMAX and I'm not even ashamed to admit it.

Chocolate and Orange Portuguese Custard Tarts

I absolutely adore Edd Kimber's first book, The Boy Who Bakes, not only because it contains so many fantastic recipes but because it's visually beautiful - it looks equally at home nestled on a shelf with fellow baking books as it does on a coffee table. While flicking through last week I came across this recipe for Chocolate and Orange Portuguese Custard Tarts and instantly knew I'd have to give them a go. They're not too difficult to make and taste amazing: they'd be the perfect addition to a traditional afternoon tea or served outside after dinner on a warm summer's evening.

Courgette Tart with Roasted Tomato Coulis

Final exams and my dissertation totally took over my life for the last few months, but since they all finished last Thursday I've suddenly had a lot of time on my hands. After a couple of days filled with cinema trips, shopping and celebratory cocktails with my best friend, I escaped the city and retreated back to Cheshire to see my parents and indulge in some much needed relaxation in the countryside.

One of the first things I did after unpacking my case was to pull my favourite cook books off my shelf and go through them with a pack of post-it notes picking the recipes I simply had to attempt. I've not made many things from Paul Hollywood's How to Bake, but while looking through it this week his Courgette Tart with Roasted Tomato Coulis really stood out and it shot to the top of my list of recipes to try this week. I'm loving courgettes at the moment and wanted to try something savoury so thought this was the perfect recipe to try out first.

Cannes 2014 Best Dressed

No film festival does glamour quite like Cannes.

For twelve days the beautiful and talented descended on the French riviera for one of the most anticipated events in the film industry's calendar.

Met Ball 2014 Best Dressed

The most fashionable time of the year has arrived once again in the form of the fashion world's Oscars: the annual Met Ball. Last night saw the world's most famous and beautiful don their finery to celebrate the exhibition dedicated to couturier Charles James at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. The dress code was strictly formal and elegant, with attendees expected to adhere to Anna Wintour's pre-determined theme of 'White Tie and Decorations'. This meant gowns and gloves for the women and top hats and tails for the men: Hollywood glamour at its absolute finest.

Olivier Awards 2014 Best Dressed

I've fallen off the radar blogging-wise recently as the final few months of third year have become almost unbearable and university has completely taken over my life. If I'm not in the archives I'm in the British Library, and when I'm not hidden scrolling through microfilms at the BFI I'm frantically writing my dissertation. I've barely had the time to surface to do a #100happydays post on schedule let alone anything else, but I decided to take a weekend off before I ran out of steam and couldn't have planned it better as yesterday afternoon saw the 2014 Olivier Awards take over the Royal Opera House and Covent Garden.

Academy Awards 2014 Best Dressed

It's that time of the year again: the Oscars are back in town.

Versailles

As 2014 marks the centenary year of the First World War, it seems entirely fitting that there’s currently a significant increase in interest surrounding the conflict. The BBC’s World War One season is starting to gain traction, with documentaries and dramas either already aired or in the pipeline for the coming months. It’s not only the television that’s seizing the moment: the theatre world is joining in too. 

EE BAFTAs 2014 Best Dressed

I completely love the BAFTAs.

They're the best night in the awards season calendar for me as not only are they an excuse to fawn over a red carpet, admire the Royal Opera House and laugh with Stephen Fry, but they most importantly support and celebrate the very best of British talent in the film industry. In a market saturated with huge Hollywood hits, I love how the BAFTAs provide special recognition for homegrown excellence - seeing films like The Selfish Giant be nominated in the same categories as colossal box office successes like Gravity really is fantastic. As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing more inspiring than seeing the British film industry shine on such a global platform.

New York Fashion Week: February 2014

New York Fashion Week is currently in full swing, and the snow and arctic conditions have not deterred the world's most stylish having their fix of Ready-to-Wear A/W14-15 fashion.