Make Do Style

An affair to remember

2012-02-01T09:58:00.000Z

It is an incredible enduring story that finds itself referenced across a multitude of films, stories and news items many many years after the event. The affair of Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor and of course Wallis Simpson. My only interest in Wallis Simpson is purely to do with her personal style. I have even been tempted to see Madonna's W.E. just to have a moment of costume heaven. But a friend of mine who went for the same reason didn't last until the end so I will wait until it appears on television so I can Sky+ it and fast forward as required!

I never tire of her images although I do consider her quite loathsome although Anna Sebba's That Woman is a good read even though you think you know most of her story anyway. It is the way she wore jewellery so well, in fact exceeding well that fascinates me. It washer ability to wear ornate piece and make it look effortless. The fact she would pile it on and it would look effective and simple.

Photo: Cecil Beaton Studio archive at Sotheby's from The Telegraph

A brooch from the Sotheby's auction of the Duchess of Windsor's jewellery

When I saw this piece in the Stella and Dot design studio I drew breath as it immediately reminded me of Simpson and the 1930s. It is currently a preview of what will be the Autumn Winter 12/13 jewellery collection but for me it is a must have piece, my own little love affair. I'd better get saving those pennies or find myself a Duke of Windsor, I'm not sure Mr MDS wants to play that role!

Isis Necklace Stella and Dot £170

PS There is less expensive version which is the panther pendant and is a great everyday piece to wear.

Panther Pendant Necklace £40

High St Pick of the Week

2012-01-27T11:16:00.002Z

This is a personal selection and after my other post you'd be forgiven for thinking all I've been doing is shopping! I have made a few purchases but within my £100 budget from now until May. The budget is now spent.

The shops are still awash with sales items and the trickle of new seasons clothes is just that a trickle. Tucked away in a corner of the Oxford Street branch of Zara was this dress. I wouldn't have been in there had I not been working with a client. I like to think it was fate that found me the most palest of pink dresses. It is a colour I love and I grabbed the item and it became mine!

Dress with Draped Sleeves £45.99

Hmm

2012-01-24T10:14:00.000Z

I don't know why is all I can say. I don't know what drew my eye to this, a Versace Cruise design for H&M priced £34.99.

From the moment I saw it I loved it. I didn't go to the shop nor did I try to buy it online on the day the collection went live. The following day I was checking items online for a style event and I happened, I repeat happened to perchance upon above item. Before you could say Donatella Versace I'd clicked and paid for it and it should arrive tomorrow.

Given my propensity to ignore, lambaste and generally ignore all the hype over designer collaboration on any level, I've officially shocked myself. Of course it is true than when I heard about the Marni collaboration I was dancing in the streets. My love of Marni knows no bounds. But equally I'm not surprised that I've fallen for another Italian label's offering at H&M because I freely admit to being a faux/wannabe Italian and when I was teaching yesterday a student asked me would I choose Paris or Milan to go and see the shows. My answer was despite the fact Valentino shows in Paris it would be Milan.

I will post a picture of myself in it if it passes muster and I keep it when it arrives...to be continued...

High Street Pick of the Week

2012-01-19T11:56:00.003Z

Being busy always reflects in what can only be described as bad blogging! Truly I am super busy so the blogging suffers, apologies. However in my busy-ness I spied this number which is a perfect transition piece at a good price. Wear it now with cardigan or jacket, over tights or skinny jeans and come the warmer weather slap on some glow tan thing for legs and well ..your good to go a la the spring and summer.

Oasis Multi Fleurie Print Dress £65

Making a Statement

2012-01-17T14:26:00.000Z

Statement costume jewellery is a favourite of mine for making my budget and high end clobber look better. I always buy one piece of costume jewellery every season to give that nod to the trends and micro trends. This season is no exception and of course I'm selecting something from my Stella and Dot range.

I haven't decided yet which necklace it will be since I'm not a natural wearer of statement necklaces in the way the chief (and best) statement necklace wearer Mary Portas is. I want to be bold and go with the Indira necklace

Indira Necklace £195 Stella and Dot

It is a necklace I would wear with a stripy top, a plain top under a white shirt or with a dress. I want my statement piece to be versatile and love it enough to wear loads. I'm more likely to play it safe with this Bianca Tassel necklace

Bianca Tassel Necklace £120 Stella and Dot

What about you are you bold or bashful when it comes to choosing a statement piece?

Girlynomics

2012-01-11T07:47:00.000Z

This is the beginning of trumpeting the soon to be launched on Kindle my new book Girlynomics. I started the concept and preliminary writing back in July 2008. It was interrupted by my MA studies and it has taken me a while to polish up what was a untidy mess into a proper read. Initially I was lucky and Curtis Brown were my agents for the book but with the first crash it was hard to sell in books by unknowns and my agents real interest lay in Asian literature. Not to put a too fine a point on it I was dumped.

After my previous experience and the subsequent changes due to Kindle and iPad I finally felt motivated and inspired to pick up the Girlynomics mantel again. I've been researching and writing for over a year now and my deadline is looming - fast!

So watch this space, be prepared and the next post will be to say Girlynomics is published.

The Tin of Hope

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000Z

It isn't all baton down the hatches and credit crunch gloom in the MDS house. No! We have the Tin of Hope. The tin houses all the loose change, it lays there dormant until full upon whence it travels to the coinstar machine. I did used to go to the bank with bags but coinstar is so easy and no moody cashiers to deal with.

My tin will bring me joy. Once it is full I will be able to use the money to spend as I wish. I love the Tin of Hope.

The eBay marathon

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000Z

Five days into my blitz on my wardrobe and now my listings and I'm only halfway through it. Listing on eBay is hard work and takes a lot of time and effort. The hard part is inputting information and once upon a time I was exceedingly particular about all the clothing measurements but now I stick to the required minimum.

When writing the descriptions and how to wear the items I sort of think why am I selling this and then snap myself back into reality. I have plenty in my wardrobe to wear and I have a target for this year to pay off my credit card. All the items are in good condition and some of them are in the list as they are a little too big for me.As hard as it is I feel motivated and on course to clear the debt. Ironically I was returning a Christmas gift in Cath Kidston on Friday which isn't my favourite occupation nor my favourite shop (although I do love a bit of Cath Kidston at times) and the lovely lady who served me was at LCF and did her MA at the same time. It was a great reminder to me of achievement. I went there with nothing bar my deposit and took out a career development loan (CDL) via the Dept of Higher Education which I luckily got in 2008 as the banks collapsed because I choose to apply to the Co-operative bank. This month 2 years later I finished paying off the £2,800 they lent me to further my mind. The repayment was a manageable £124.22 per month due to the low interest rate for a CDL

Now I must tackle the credit card that paid my fares and bought my books and paid for all the sundries around my studies. I worked as well as studied but it was a big drop in income and now the petit garcon has started school plus the current climate I've never gone back to the level of earnings pre studying. It does make me appreciate that I wasn't saddled with a bigger student debt and whilst my studies were completely wonderful it does call for a lot of self sacrifice ...hence unto eBay!!

You can view the list at my ebay page And here is a selection of the items for sale (weeps, less and less now)

From top to bottom: Whistles Carrie midi skirt, Warehouse blouse, M&S dress, H&M Conscious Collection skirt, Toast shoes, Jigsaw bib necklace, Toast necklace & M&S bag

High St Pick of the Week

2012-01-07T08:27:00.001Z

It is that time of year when every purchase is a forward thinking option. It might be blustery outside but in your heart Spring is around the corner. If hope springs eternal then so must your shopping. You might be wearing thermals or heat tech garments underneath but your top layer will be more directional and bring some cheer.

I survived the magazine onslaught of S/S12 with merely a minimal wish list of a Valentino dress, a Dolce & Gabanna dress, a Louis Vuitton skirt and some Chanel sandals (sighs). Fundamentally this translates to a pale blue dress or two, a white skirt and flat black or silver sandals. When I spied this jumper in Whistles - okay I'll admit I was on a indoors washing drier dash to John Lewis after mine finally collapsed. I actually upgraded to one that could take two loads of washing. We might look like a Martian has landed in the kitchen but the joy I felt upon finding the dry well aired loads done this morning was immeasurable. I saw the Whistles jumper in a concession area on my way out and gave it the nod.

The apricot hue will work a treat as a contrast to the forthcoming pale blues and with white. Immediately you can wear it with skinny jeans or over a black dress showing your fashion forward credentials to all.

Ashleigh Reverse Stitch Jumper £110 Whistles

The Make Do Baramoter test

Do you love it?

Have you got something similar?

Do you need it?

Quality v Quantity

Unit cost per wear excellence mark - minimum of twice a week for 20 weeks = £2.75

The declutter begins

2012-01-06T07:30:00.000Z

My drive to attain less is more and clear my credit card debt has started in earnest. I culled my wardrobe and this includes designer items. It was cathartic and hard at the same time. My rational is I cannot stand items languishing idly in my wardrobe and I have just got to get rid. There is no point telling myself, any more, that I might wear that French Connection dress from 2001 again. I will never wear any of the items I'm ebaying ever again. I have neither the lifestyle, wit or priorities to store the items or keep them. It seems I need to be free of clutter. It is hard to part with items because for some unknown reason I attach emotion to them so I have to harden my ways!

A sample of my wares on eBay

Since cutting back my work and focussing on the safe deposit of the petit garcon at school on a daily basis my clothing requirements have changed. I still dress up more than most but I don't have the variety or daily need to change outfits a lot. I'm choosing to style myself in a more simple understated way (I hope!). The idea is it will be more style less fashion and ultimately a cheaper way to dress. I have always been a performer when it comes to clothes. I've never been one for a simple elegant look unless I feel like it. I don't feel I'm losing my love of clothes but I am opting out of being a fashion magpie. It was with dread I received my Vogue & Harpers subscription magazines not because I don't like them but I will succumb to the newness of it all. My head will be filled with fashion flights of fantasy but for a change I will ignore it all.

Over the next few days my eBay listing will continue and then after clothes it will be the house. The decluttering is a month long commitment - yikes!

How I did it - skiing that is...

2012-01-05T08:17:00.001Z

Let's get straight to the crunch the cost of a Christmas Ski Spree. With flights, chalet accommodation with food, ski passes, ski hire, petit garcon ski lessons and his daily lunch then our lunch plus car parking, petrol and sundries - i.e. airport food at Innsbruck due to delayed plane departure (which was great - the food that is), my best friend Imodium (I suffer with unmentionables at altitude) the cost was £3,497.50.

The first thing I did was add up the actual cost where I knew it, which was most as even ski pass prices are fixed, and then add a forecast spend. having a total figure I broke it down by the months, weeks and days between the booking and the final payment date. I had to pay a 20% deposit immediately upon booking which I took off the total. I then set about tackling our household budget. I allocated income to spend and set aside the amount each month we needed to pay by the end of September. The time frame was 8 months.

Breaking down the amount into a daily amount meant Mr MDS lost his daily coffee habit as £2.50 helped bring down the £14.57 daily cost of the holiday. I also set a limit on Christmas present spending and did it gradually. Clothes spending was out although I did have enough money to get a few things from H&M. H&M is my current level when it comes to budget. I cannot afford anything else and I'm fine with that as I wouldn't swap the views and moments for anything.

December 28th sat outside on a hotel terrace drinking hot chocolate in glorious mountain sunshine

Petit garcon enjoying his post race win celebratory ice cream on the hotel terrace

A monthly meal planner meant reduced spend on food, household items and wine all contributed to the funds. All my income went on the holiday minus my bills. I also started a declutter process which resulted in sales of Mr MDS's stuff sat in the garage. However he couldn't help himself but buy a Belstaff gilet. It was his only indulgence as we won't count his work suits and shirts, which were an absolute necessity and I did get two amazing suits from Paul Smith and Hugo Boss at knock down prices in the summer sales. In fairness I had repaired and repaired his previous suits before they were beyond redemption. I also updated his work mac which was an H&M purchase 3 years ago with new buttons from John Lewis.

We didn't need any ski gear as we had it all or could borrow from family. The petit garcon needed everything but apart from his ski jacket from John Lewis I managed to get the rest as his birthday presents in early December (handy) and off eBay or Ski Warehouse within budget.

The scrimping and saving meant no going out, no more weekly cinema excursions (the Ides of March was the hardest to resist) and plenty of book swaps with Vintage Vixen. I even saved all our change and went to the coin bank at Sainsbury and use it pay for groceries so I could allocate more food money to the holiday.

The benefits were the pleasure of saving up and this has really turned my spending habits around. We spent nothing for Christmas, no extra food in. We didn't buy each other any birthday or Christmas presents which was the wisest decision we made, not that we go mad but even a single spend of £50 saved is a good sum when you have other priorities.I did have a birthday lunch with birthday money and vouchers but again it was planned and had a fund allocated. Mr MDS is in August and a few days after his sister so he piggy backed off her 40th birthday celebration which was a lovely evening meal and then we had a his favourite a barbecue at home!

The holiday was such a joy all the effort and worry about whether it was the right thing to do was dispelled. My anxiety was based around the validity of spending money on a holiday when I had a credit card to pay off. My preference would have been to pay the card off first but I also didn't want to leave a ski trip any longer as we hadn't been for 6 years. I know the latter remark sounds dreadful given the hardships many families face but we are not particularly well off, we really do just get by and if we weren't working then it wouldn't have even been a thought let alone a reality.

I found blogs like Frugal Queen hard core helpful and motivational when necessary. This year I will finally clear and cut up the credit card. The idea of using it any more fills me with revulsion. I'm sure I'm not alone in having one for emergencies but when I used to have a monthly even weekly emergency when I was doing my MA, the amount soon built up. To date I've been treading water with my credt card but this year it will finally be gone. My next plan of action is to clear all my clothes that have languished for years in my wardrobe and also sell the petit garcon's hardly worn ski items as he is a growing lad.

Equally I will continue to supplement my income with my part time Stella & Dot work. If any one would like a trunk show then email me or phone me - my details are on my Stella & Dot webpage!

Whatever you want to achieve you can do it!

You can do it!

2012-01-03T10:26:00.001Z

Last year in January I set myself some goals. The main one was to stop the rot. The rot being the obvious health and wealth of course. It is true that living in a capitalist country produces anxiety around these two matters. They are interlinked. Wealth is the driver and wealth denotes status and then the important factor of health. If you are wealthy then you can afford to be healthy. This doesn't mean having a beautiful functioning colon or other such matters. No, this means looking healthy. Well groomed, preferably thin, a good handbag and pearly white teeth are par for the course.

My wealth and health goals were of a different nature. On the wealth side it was to lose the trappings of capitalism and the acquisition of goods. This was a hard step change to make. I am nothing but a magpie when it comes to clothes. I adore fashion and trends but I have come to a point in my life when I need to grow up over this. I substantially cut and decreased my clothing spend last year. I became happy with keeping costs low and shopping at H&M. This year I start with a new perspective and will happily avoid the shops and all manner of trappings. I will still be an avid voyeur and follower of fashion but I have more important things to attend to and will have to reuse, reuse and reuse my clothes like never before.

Health wise I still remain obsessed by what we eat. I have spent a year researching food and weight for my forthcoming book (more on this later) and feel even stronger about the need for proper eating and the ditching of processed foods. If you only buy real food you cut your overall spend and the pounds on your body. I write this post just before I tackle our January meal planner and boy is it going to be a frugal month. In fact the frugality is not just due to cash flow but a natural urge to purge and cleanse. Our excess has mainly been alcohol and yummy cheeses over the festive season.

But the best goal I set myself last year was to going skiing at Christmas en famille. Mr MDS and I had enjoed a few skiing trips before the petit garcon and as I'm a late learner and somewhat of a ski scardy cat I wanted petit garcon to be confident and an experience which wasn't all about opening presents on Christmas day. I booked it feeling foolish and excessive in lots of ways, after all we were going to Italy in the summer but as usual I worked out all the costs in advance and began saving. I took on extra work and even did a few hours lunchtime supervision at petit garcon's school to earn more but not incur costs. When you are a zone 6 commuter the cost of travel eats into freelance work! I tried selling skincare, I was truly rubbish at that and now I sell jewellery as an aside and this I am loving.

I had a weekly goal and I did it all by the end of September. I realise there are more important matters to attend to like my credit card bill but that is this years task and it won't take long as it is cheaper than a ski holiday! The importance of this post it to think big and think different in order to motivate yourself. I cannot explain the benefits of having gone away over the Christmas period or convey the pride or rather joy I felt when petit garcon won his beginners slalom race. Being outdoors every day and in the mountains was an injection of something I would never have got in any other way.

View from the top of the mountain across to Italy

Me at the top of the mountain in my gear - 10 year old salopettes from M&S and ditto Helly Hensen ski jacket bought in their discount shop at Bicester Village before it became all designer focus. Always keep ski stuff as it is all about warmth not fashion. Also everyone used to laugh at me with my ski helmet all those years ago but now almost everyone wears them. They keep your head warm and safe (er).

This woman was all about the look! I couldn't resist a sneaky snap and she didn't notice. It was some get up.

The petit garcon getting some pre race practice in!

If anyone had told me I was a spare ribs and frites kind of gal I would have laughed. Not anymore.

My next post will be how I did it in detail as I want to show how achievable anything is regardless of your circumstances. Then of course there will be lots of fashion posts to come to achieve a new season look on a very very tight budget!

Two tweets this week stuck in my mind. One by Penny Golightly about her Jump Start January focus, which you can read about on her blog as linked. The other was by Couturecoco which was simple less is more.

Season's Greetings

2011-12-22T12:09:00.004Z

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and most importantly a Prosperous New Year to you all!!

image: the Petit Garçon 2011

Looking back

2011-12-19T09:38:00.002Z

It is that time of year when people and media start the incessant look back at the year. I have no interest in looking back. I've never harboured any desire on that front. I'm a real going forward person and my moments in a year are the new seasons collections. I like the shows but it is when the drops of collections in the stores happen that gets me excited. Although these days with so many drops it is hard to get that start of a season fix as it used to be.

Never mind the changes and in some respects the lack of set times and drops has freed us all to indulge our dressing preferences and really set our own personal style. And thanks to the power of twitter I can favourite items to my hearts content. It really is a wonderful reference tool. My favourite items are an eclectic mix but if something takes my fancy I just 'favourite' it and can read in depth later. It is a great way to reference images for inspiration.

It was quite good whenThe Telegraph did a neat round up of best street style looks of 2011, although street style should be taken lightly as it was around the streets of the fashion week shows so not necessarily a high street look near you! I like these sort of looking back items.

My favourite 3 looks are below and my number one look has to be the pink suit one - love it. Do you have a favourite look?

All images The Telegraph.co.uk

Winner

2011-12-18T13:03:00.001Z

Normally I do the random generator thing to pluck a winner of any giveaway. This time the Make Do box of goodies was a giveaway based on your tips for saving money or rather making do. I read this comment by Camilla which struck a perfect blend of living within your means and making do and felt she deserved to win! I loved all your comments and am so glad we have a growing colony of peeps prepared to make do!

I've reproduced in full as I suspect your number one read in life is not the comment boxes of blogs!

"Wow! amazing box of very gorgeous goodies!! A lot of incredible tips have already been written out here - I will be using them in time! For me, I have had something of a revelation in the last 4 months. At the end of August I had a baby, Luca. Like many others, I used to travel to work, not thinking about my street or area, and basically buy whatever I wanted, when I wanted without much thought or concern. I would always make promises to budget, but something would catch my eye and, well, you can guess the rest! I used to think I deserved x, y, z. Now I am on a budget as I try to eek out my maternity leave and spend more time with the Lovely Luca Valentine. Here are my top tips:
* Think first. I use the traffic light system in my head. STOP. Do I really need it? want it? every penny helps...
*be aware. I used to spend rather willy nilly - I really really must have those leather shorts from Zara and I don't care whether they are £20 or £50 or £75. they will be mine. Now I look at what I'm spending and really think about. I try to envisage the amount.
*use the community around you. I used to have a good old community spirit in the office, but did not know anyone round here. Now I know the whole street and also lots of local people. This has been amazing and money saving; for example Gary the Gardener cleared my guttering for me with his long ladder (it's not a euphemism) while I gave him a lesson in excel - he has never been shown. We both probably saved about £65 on that one. We share magazines and newspapers up and down the street now and even bought 4 Christmas trees together to make savings. I have made friends with all the local shops who give me discounts for fruit, veg, coffee, all sorts of things that I would never have even thought about before!
*following on from the last point - things that are free are fun!!! We go to our local library for a wriggle and rhythm session once a week (previously I had considered very expensive music classes for Luca), I spend my days at the Southbank, the Science museumn, the V&A, the natural history museum - these things are all free and amazing!!!!
*think creatively with what you wear. I don't have much time, money or inclination for clothes shopping right now. Also breastfeeding is somewhat restrictive on the old wardrobe. I have actually ENJOYED re-thinking my current wardrobe this autumn rather than buying lots new. I go to charity shops and pick up weird and wonderful items to add to my existing wardrobe. items i have purchased so far have been a bow tie, a pearl necklace, a frank usher sequin top!, an old cure t-shirt, scarves etc - all to add to my current clothes.
*enjoy the here and now. It's so easy to always be wishing; wishing you had this or that, a bigger house, a second home, a fancy car and then when you get that you're still not happy and still wishing for things. Instead I feel free from all this cash transaction mentality and instead revel in the moment and the best and free things in life such as family, friends, laughing and interesting ideas and people! sounds a bit hippy? well I feel a bit evangelical about it"

Thank you Camilla and I've emailed you for your address.

High St Pick of the Week

2011-12-16T07:30:00.000Z

I beyond Christmas and New Year now. All I'm thinking of its the spring summer wardrobe. The colours to think are pale blue, red, pale pink, black, white and mellow yellow with maybe a glance at bottle green. And this handy little knit jacket is a inspired find by yours truly. Perfect for creating nonchalance and sophistication in one go. Wear with jeans, top and a statement necklace and you are good to go. For a real ladylike look team with pleated skirt - very old school.

At £29.99 it will be worth its weight in cost per wear stakes, in fact online it is currently £14.99 which made me weep but they've nearly all gone. Look for one in your local store you'll not be disappointed.

Blazer knit cardigan H&M £29.99

Fashion & Celebrity Culture book launch

2011-12-14T19:59:00.001Z

Mrs MDS loves a book launch especially in the hey days of facebook and twitter and pop up shops, a book launch seems dignified and solid. It was especially wonderful to be back in my old college. Nothing much has changed and I was relieved to find I can still get in with charm and no id card! But don't tell anyone.

En route to launch I had a sneaky peek at the Carmen - A Life in Fashion exhibition all the better for no one else being around. It really is well worth a visit and is on until the 14th of January.

I also couldn't resist sitting alone in room, in the is case the visual merchandising teaching area. I just love the classroom and being there. It is somehow detached from the humdrum of work and feels more expansive and creative.

What's not to love

In which I place myself back in student mode with a better coat - my See by Chloe pea jacket which seems very Sarah Lund these days

The book of the book launch! Fashion and Celebrity Culture. A wonderful academic but interesting blast through the gamut of celebrity culture. Most importantly a book that toasts cultural studies and is an example of teaching informing research. A must have if you are studying anything to do with Fashion or you have a keen interest in culture and celebrity culture at that. The Daily Mail would do well to serialise it! The enigmatic author is Pamela Church Gibson, who was my course director for my MA in Fashion & Film

First year MA Fashion and Film student Wei Chan from Shanghai. Wei was impeccably dressed which does not translate as my iPhone pic is so poor but I must interview her for this blog. I was taken a back that she knew me before we met due to a video I made about the course, that in Shanghai she'd watch it and been interested enough to come and study here! I also need to know where she got her shoes from.

The formidable but brilliant Agnes Rocamora who has widely researched fashion blogs so we had a big catch up on how things had changed since the days when they were a mere blip on the blogosphere. I was never late for her lecturers!

Anna the book editor from Berg the publishers

My old chum photographer Lukas Kroulik

Pamela Church Gibson & Lukas

Yours truly & Pamela - both of us are adopting the non celebrity pose. I'm gushing and Pamela is above these things! The dignified lecturer and the hapless student.

Fashion and Politics

2011-12-13T10:13:00.002Z

Although fashion and films are my first loves, politics, books and sport are my second tier of interests. Growing up in a liberal socialist household I could hardly have escaped politics, why even the paper boy once wrote 'commie' in the ice on my dad's car upon his weekly delivery of the News Statesman. He seemed to have overlooked the fact that The Times was the daily. He thought he was being a wit, I didn't speak to him for years. Which was actually a good thing because he was a lothario of the area so my steadfast ignorance of him saved me his so called charms.

In fact fashion and politics have never been easy bed fellows. On the one hand fashion adopts the politics of the street at times to make a social point ( Katharine Hammett) on the other fashion likes to be included in the main stream and upper echelons to be seen as aspirational. Youths or tribes have long adopted fashion to make a statement, mods, rockers, skinheads and punks are easy cultural instances of male fashions setting. But all this pomp and preening is still mainly fashion, the way fashion attempts to change, confront and move things on. After all fashion isn't about committees and treaties is it?

Or maybe it is but not in an obvious bureaucratic way. Fashion does have councils and bodies and these are not completely outside of the wider political machines of governments. I'm not going to go into detail but look how Mary Portas is currently working with the government regarding high streets and the most famous fashion organisation has to be the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.

But all administration aside last week David Cameron took a decision which has massive ramifications for the UK. I'm not going to discuss it in detail but it will have a big impact on fashion in the UK - mark my words. Put it another way Paris and Milan. The French are spitting over what he did and the Italians well they won't be happy. If we look at it objectively rapport and cordial relations are key to good trading conditions. Believe me I'm a freelance and only once have I ever fallen out with a company and that wasn't even of my making but they were so rude to me I decided to answer back! I know everyone has their reasons for how they react in situations and what will be will be, but what it means for fashion is probably the death knell for London Fashion Week (again). It has been riding high but Milan is not going to change its schedule now after this and the French will be pulling back the French backed labels pronto to Paris and the rest.

So cheers Mr Cameron, even the City are pretty worried but us fashionistas think you can shove your Smythson's diary up your....

image: katherinehammett.com

Giveaway

2011-12-12T07:30:00.000Z

The Make Do Style giveaway is not of course the stuff of conspicuous consumption but rather the cobblering together of freebies saved from magazines and sent or given to me, or my no longer required 'stylist's own' items that I used in shoots. Sometimes I try to make myself miss photography or commercial shoots but I don't. I,d happily do one but I will never look to do them any more. Next year I will mainly be teaching styling but more of that another time.

Back to the booty - all this week I am looking for your top tips on saving money in these hard times. How do you motivate yourselves? What does it for you? At the end of the week I will draw a winner and get the box in the post pronto...

Christmas presents repeat

2011-12-11T09:57:00.001Z

It is no secret that every year I try very hard not to spend some money with Shot Dead in the Head but invariably fail. They are my go to place for the men in my life's Chrimbo presents. This year the respective brother-in-laws are the unwitting recipients of a t-shirt and a mug. The mug for brother-in-law 2 is very naughty but right up his street. Luckily he'll be able to keep it at his mates flat where he abodes a few nights a week due to work, I'm not sure it will be welcome at home! (this is the link but I have warned you!)

Brother-in-law one is the only person I have ever met who arrived at a cottage prior to a wedding wearing a laptop on either side. He has never lived this down despite it being many years ago so plenty of geek fodder to find. I was torn between two t-shirt this one and this one but felt the latter was a bit cruel but not as cruel/funny as this one - I was crying it is so wrong but ....

And this year I succumbed to a present to myself. I love The Killing and seeing as I can't afford a Gudrun & Gudrun sweater I have consoled myself with this t-shirt!

The Killing 2 t-shirt £15 shotdeadinthehead

Don't forget my Christmas bumper Make Do Style box of goodies, posted on Friday just leave your top tips for saving money to be in with a chance to win!!

Like a bat out of hell ...to the make do box of goodies

2011-12-09T07:31:00.001Z

Where did that wind come from?! Yesterday morning at 9:07am I boarded a train on the Durham/ North Yorkshire border and boy was it blowing a gale. The train felt like it was being blown south to London by the wind. I got back to London and thought phew a bit calmer but by the evening the wind, albeit a bit gentler than up north, was blowing a gale around me again. All I can say I was glad of my Moncler duvet coat. I was as warm as toast and felt protected from the elements.

Now I'm safely back home it is on to matters of a giveaway. Not any old giveaway but a Make Do Style giveaway - a box of treats filled with collected samples, gift bag nail varnishes and old costume jewellery used on shoots - you know the bit where it says 'stylist's own'. The Mango plastic link necklace in the box appeared in an Iceland ad!!

Anyway the competition rules are easy all I want from you is to give me your top tips for saving money or tightening your belt or how you live within your means. Simples! Get on your soap box and hold forth....

Off up North, cuffed and all

2011-12-07T09:35:00.001Z

I'm very excited as today I board a train at Kings Cross and travel up north. I feel as if I've been stuck down south for an age and relish my small little excursion. I will get loads done on the train, train journeys are totally 'spiffing' for reading or writing. I get lost in the journey and feel free from the everyday.

And tonight I'll be supping mulled wine and maybe partaking of minced pies - but I have yet to develop a real liking for them, although I happily make them at Christmas and feel they are part of the festive season.One is always enough for me.

Travelling to North Yorkshire puts me in mind of Gothic tales and Wuthering Heights. I'm very much in love with this limited edition cuff from Stella and Dot and quickly snapped one up before they sold out as I had some points and discounts to use. I meant to get a replacement cover for my iPhone which they also have but seriously when I could have drama instead......

However there is a gold version of the Chantilly Lace cuff which is equally dramatic and will work for evening and in the summer months.

Chantilly Lace cuff £85 Stella & Dot

Starry Sparkly night

2011-12-06T10:02:00.001Z

Well thanks to some eejit(s) who decided to cut through the BT wires in an attempt to get copper wires I was left without internet of phone access for 56 hours! This was not good. Therefore this post is later than intended. Plus I couldn't read any blogs, browse the internet, tweet - in fact all manner of everyday nonsense I engage in. It made me bereft. However I did realise I was so new school and reliant on all things geeky. Thank goodness for my iphone and 3G. It made me wish I'd got 3G on my ipad but I know where all this geekiery gets me now.

Post no internet trauma I made a trip to Staples and purchased some good old fashioned items that had I had during internet trauma I would have been able to do some other work. The said items are a stapler and a hole punch. Simple fare but now I realise they are exceedingly useful. My project is to complete my home office in the New Year, I'm getting organised and this is scaring me.

Back to Friday night which was the point of this post. I actually went to a corporate Christmas party. We didn't stay very long as I didn't know anyone but it was really nice and I had fun whilst I was there. I wore a gorgeous Isabella Oliver 365collection sequin dress from their S/S11 collection and sparkly gold shoes. Not Miu Miu but Zara.

Not great photos taken by Mr MDS on the iphone but they'll do. My dress was party perfect as were the M&S Autograph 15 denier tights and my Zara shoes. The Zara shoes were such fun to look at. Mr MDS and I took a walk over the Hungerford footbridge and St Paul's and all the sights looked lovely. There was a Christmas market on the Southbank so we strolled around it to the sounds of Bing Crosby and Doris Day. It was actually really romantic and quite cinematic. Especially as we were dressed up to the nines. Isn't it funny how the simplest of evenings can be the best.

Mulled wine and hot roasted chestnuts completed my outfit.

Last dress a day under £100

2011-11-30T09:15:00.001Z

Did anyone see Sir Phillip Green on the news talking about closing 250 stores? As owner of the Arcadia group it is hardly surprising that BHS, Dorothy Perkins, Topshop and Wallis on the women's side won't be affected by the current economic downturn. Topshop is probably the strongest performer followed by Dorothy Perkins with BHS and Wallis undoubately languishing.

There is no doubt that retailers will look to cut costs with stores shutting, product line shrinking and staff being made redundant. Those stores with a global presence like Zara and H&M will ride it out better than most with their strong performances in emerging markets. Also Zara and H&M are in the right price bracket to weather the storm.

The fashion pack favourite Topshop is surprisingly only a small player whose has only made a small dent into other markets. It can survive off its Oxford Circus store alone I suspect but it will be interesting to see how the store fairs.

But these are future considerations so lets make the most of its current offerings to select a great party dress. I have to admit I struggled as a lot of the items were poor quality, too short and often garish. I went for a black dress. I know, cop out but really the best I could find on the basis all of the selections have been on piece and an attempt at reusing after the parties have long gone.

This Boutique dress should tick the boxes of elegant, the right length and easily work in the future on many an occasion. Why methinks it will last well into your advanced style twilight!

Silk Wrap Dress by Boutique £80 Topshop

Oh go on if it is party party garish you want I will make one other suggestion! If you are of a weak disposition when it comes to screaming fashion then look away. Just think of it as doing my bit for saving a nation's retailer.

Mesh Spot Wrap Bodycon Dress by Dress up Topshop £45

A dress a day under £100

2011-11-29T06:17:00.001Z

Often the simplest least expensive dress is the one you value the most. I bought a black long dress in my early 20s from Miss Selfridge and it lasted 15 years with a once or three times a year wear during the festive season or an unexpected formal do. It was plain as plain. Very simple just like today's pick from H&M. When it gave up the ghost or rather I knew its shelf live had passed I probably sobbed!

I don't think you can go wrong with sticking with simple, almost obvious (a black shift dress that is) when it cost £24.99. H&M are having a moment, clear collections, my favourite being the conscious collection, well organised shops, some attempt at better customer service but really not so important as good stock levels, which always makes life easier.

You won't win prizes for originality but you will feel smug and if you use the going out shoes and accessories you already have then you deserve a making do badge!

Black dress H&M £24.99