Style Crush

It isn't very often I have a style crush and in fact this one dates back to 1996 and me doing sit ups in the gym. The No Doubt 'Don't Speak' video used to play so often I felt bereft when it wasn't playing. I just wanted to look like Gwen Stefani in this dress. My hair (then) was pretty similar but I could never find the dress to recreate my style crush! Also my eyes weren't brown so I knew I wouldn't look as good....

Oh and I went down this route of Gwen and listening to 'Don't Speak' due to reading a blog post by Wendy Brandes. I lost an hour of my life staring at Rihanna's chest and then moving on to Gwen!

Right Royal to do - och aye!

Okay this is the last of a trio of vaguely linked right Royal posts due to the, pause, Royal wedding.

Of course I am referring to the rightfully royal Kingdom of Style. On behalf of Queen Michelle and Queen Marie I am ordered to give you - Kate Middleton- some useful royal advice before you join the Firm.

1. You shall make Kingdom of Style your number one blog, it is the done thing.
2. Tea will be your drink of choice.
3. Consider your subjects - do follow Queen Marie and adopt 'affordable' things like sunglasses. No need to wear labels.


4. Make like Queen Michelle and get with the underwear - 'nuff said.


5. Deer are for Christmas baubles not shooting in the Scottish Highlands.
6. If you need any proper royal referencing defer to the late Queen Mum and hoard trinkets - they will be useful in case of like father like son behaviour.
7. If one finds things too much, then instead of sulking get Metallica on the decks, a good head bang will sort it all out.
8. If you need something less high st and more unique but not designer, (subjects to consider & all that) then the Queen's can point you in the direction of a few Etsy pieces.
9. A Glasgow kiss is no way to go, in case one of the staff suggest it (you can't trust 'em).
10. If in doubt refer to point 2 - A CUP OF TEA.

All images Kingdom of Style

Thank goodness for Saturday tea parties!

I'm so glad it didn't snow on Saturday as I wouldn't have been able to make the journey from South London to the North. Gosh it was the furthest north I've been for ages. I alighted at Belsize Parkand wandered along long forgotten roads to the lovely Margaret of Penny Dreadful Vintage's home for an afternoon of tea and cakes and dressing up!

I was offered tea upon entering her veritable Aladdin's cave but opted for the delicious mulled wine. There were lots of lovely ladies popping in to enthuse and admire her selection. The petit garcon and I arrived looking like extras from a Christmas Carol singing gang from the set of Mad Men, all duffel coats and lairy jumpers plus my red jeans.

Here are a few pics to tantalise with...






But visit the post to get the full flavour of the wonderful afternoon!

Style Budget Special Week - Day 3 Thrifty ways

Money, Money, Money, this has been the epicentre of everything of late. Who has it, who owes what and how to reduce debt. Or whose hiding what in their Swiss Bank Account. Even in fashion money has driven the style status looks.

There was a time when magazines devoted a great deal of editorial to helping young women and women manage their budgets. A great place to dive into this archive of a different style of magazine is at The Women's Library

In fact today blogs have taken up the role of the help women's magazines used to give. It is the blogosphere that provides useful tips, motivation and advice for all budgets. Within the fashion blogging world there are a multitude of bloggers who ignore the trappings of luxury marketing.

I've selected some who offer an alternative way to luxury and mainstream fashion. I find them inspiring because money is not the main driver. Their style is predicated on personal values and their love of certain clothes.

First up is Vintage Vixen and this blog probably needs no introduction.


Why I love Vix and her posts is the variety of outfits and the snippets of her live. Who couldn't not love Gilbert. I once thought I saw Gilbert on the M4! Vix is resourceful, generous and lives her life as she pleases. The creativity employed in her home is also a joy. Vix is a clear example of using alternative means to live a comfortable life. She inspires me to think less of labels and more of what I truly love and find pleasure in.

Oranges and Apples is a fabulous example of the Etsy generation (is that a dreadful phase to coin? I mean well).
Not only does Franca work her magic with her knitting needles (I have a wonderful hat that kept my head warm last winter) but her husband to be is a whizz on the sewing machine. How cool is that. Oranges and Apples is a feast of colour and fun finds. Again resourcefulness is at the fore.

The next blog to enjoy is of the uber thrifty kind. Sharon Rose is the blogger de jour of charity shop finds at MyStyle - Thrifting, Fashion, Me...


If it is in Net-A-Porter, Sharon Rose will find it at her local Sue Ryder! She seeks and she finds. Not only that but Sharon Rose paid off all her debts by sticking to a budget and only buying clothes from car boot sales and charity shops.

A recent blog that has captured my imagination is Calamity Jem's Vintage Vauderville. Again it is the resourcefulness and endeavours to rework items, recycle and re create new looks with old things.

What these blogs have in common is a spirit of sharing, sharing ideas, approaches and all without guile. Their enthusiasm for second hand items translates into smart choices and good ideas.

Do you have blogs that motivate you in respect of wiser choices and ways to make your money go further particularly when it comes to fashion and style?

Conspicious Consumption on Fashions Blogs Turn On or Turn Off - Fashion Forum Fortnight

Guilty as charged having recently aired my spoils in the purchase of a decent coat for the first time ever! And I know lots of us like to parade a good designer buy. Given we live in an economy and society that prizes the obvious parading of goods whether it is the house, car, bag or shoes, I doubt we can turn off our consumer being. After all it is linked in with our innate sense of personal style. We choose how we adorn our bodies and what images we create. If we accept as fashion bloggers we love fashion and we enjoy trends, new designs and creating looks, the real question here is when does a fashion blogger go too far?

There is something endearing about young Tavi in the midst of the designer frenzy to court her, but some people think it is the manipulation of her by others.


Then who can forget the hilarious photo of Bryanboy with laptop on front row. I still think Anna Wintour retains the upper hand with her poise and dignity. She had certainly embrace fashion blogging but then she is extremely savvy when it comes to trends and keeping control. There is nothing threatening to the fashion industry by creating a blogging 'in crowd' and keeping them firmly in the grip of products.


Talking of products it is with Sea of Shoe and her mother that the accolade of conspicuous consumption must rest. Creating the X factor of fashion blogging, the idea all one has to do is post outfit after outfit of designer or vintage wares referenced by non monetary terms of 'acquired', 'curated' and 'sourced' to be an A star blogger. The repetitiveness of the posts in respect of goods does much to place the fashion blog in the position of vacuous.



Lack of discourse amongst fashion bloggers has created an imbalance of products before content. Although numerous fashion bloggers with and with no public recognition, do attempt to fill a void of helpful and useful fashion tips plus ideas not solely based on high end fashion or income. Whilst I recognise that we all want to look at goods and wares, be informed on specific fashion items but do you think this type of fashion blog is a turn on or turn off? Is it something that can be sustained? After all X factor keeps going (currently) but after 10 years Big Brother imploded and its demise was rapid. Is there a need for a new vogue of fashion blogs?

Blogging power/love/insight/kick arse

I am in the midst of series of post designed to recession proof your wardrobe. The UK is in the midst of hard times. We are facing a big squeeze and probably personal cash flow issues. I will resume Project 100 next week but yesterday and today I read two really important post for different reasons.

The first one is a personal favourite. It is the point of blogging in my view - when the establishment is challenged. I love my work within the fashion industry but sometimes the freedom of creativity is abused. Sister Wolf has worked tirelessly to expose the hideous behaviour of Terry Richardson and then Tavi posted this! Resulting in this post. All I can say is watch the blogosphere... and don't buy bikinis from H&M, ok they are cheap I'll let you off but write to them and register your disgust at them using sleazy Terry.

The second one is really really useful - it is the insight into the suffering of someone else. I once wanted to shoot some clothes in a situation that was emotionally difficult but it was deemed too subversive! It was only about break ups. I wanted the models to be in despair at the end of an relationship. Great clothes with messy make up due to tears, a drink throwing situation etc. Oh well someone else has probably done it now. I still use being 'dumped' or 'stood up' as a direction tool with emerging models who need to imagine things to change their body language or get a bit of attitude and it always makes them laugh in the end so we get the great happy shot too.

All of which is a bit flippant given the rightly serious nature of La Belette Rouge's post on living with infertility. Just take some time to read it.

Jobbing Stylist does Double Denim

Let me tell you when two stylists have a meeting cake is involved. And a rather nice slice or two from the Konditor & Cook bakery, more specifically the Chequered Raspberry and the Coffee Walnut. Yummy.

Chequered Raspberry

Coffee Walnut

We then had a press viewing to go to so it was an opportunity to have a photo in my double denim outfit. I was challenging the ubiquitous shirt/jean combo and referencing the 70s and the Runaways. And as I sat in my look du jour I was shocked by transatlantic thought travel with a mention of the Runaways by Wendy Brandes. Although I was not attempting to pretend for one minute I was a rock chic, past or present.

Cut up v.old denim jacket
M&S kick flare jeans (S/S09)
Belt from Spain
Raybans (S/S06)
Flower brooch (Handmade by Clems Daughter) pressie from friend
Topshop Cowboy boots (A/W 03)
Bag Ally Capellino for Toast (A/W 09)
Bracelet family heirloom
Bandage Stylist's own!

Jump for joy

Feeling slightly sorry for myself in a hurt paw way, I was roused from my self pity by a wonderful post by Delicious Industries I duly requested permission to use a couple of photos and 'cheat post' by shamelessly piggy backing on the post of the work of photographer Philippe Halsman.

What is there not to like about a jumping for joy Audrey Hepburn and amazingly the jumping duo of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor!

Rebel rebel you've torn your dress

I've decided I'd rather be a hot tramp and be wrong than compromise in anyway. Make Do Style was a blog born of my attempts to stop people wasting needless money on clothes they couldn't afford and make them think about the why.

It has never been a tirade against the fashion industry, because I love it but not unconditionally. I'll criticise things if they need to be examined and highlighted. Whilst everyone fawns over Burberry I still continue to remind all and sundry of the decimation of communities caused by the closing of the last of their manufacturing bases in the UK, most notably in Treorchy in South Wales where 300 hundred jobs went in an already high unemployment area. This was done to create bigger profits. I don't shop there nor take clients there. That is my choice and I don't expect anyone else to concur.

I don't wear fur nor do I want to but I'm not going to lose sleep over it or tell someone else not to. I couldn't live with myself if I did because I think the breeding of animals for fur and the way they are caged and killed is revolting. But I still love Anna Wintour and she's one heck of a fur lover.

My point is, seeing as I'm meandering towards it, is that I'm staying firmly on the outside. This blog is not for turning! I've cancelled my ad by my-wardrobe because whilst I love their offerings I truly want and need to stay a free blogger. Free in every sense of the word.

On Monday I was incensed by a throwaway sentence in a Oscar fashion resume and wrote a post based around one sentence in the piece. Well, you'd have think I called the Queen a nasty name or spoken up for Robert Mugabe given the reaction. I'm not particularly concerned with the comments but what does concern me is the fact blogging is losing it's point. The point of a blog is primarily to be someone outside of the mainstream creating discourse, community and forging new paths. It is a publishing tool that allows a voice where there wouldn't have been one and essentially is not policed - you can't be told what to write. You can be good, bad and indifferent. You can choose to post or not to post. You can have a readership of none or few or many.

However, of course in the nature of these things there are blogs which have been public successes on different levels and for different reasons. Some people blog as a job either making it their work or as part of their work. I don't. My blog is done for the joy of it. I do it because I want to and I enjoy reading other blogs and peeking into people's lives. Some blogs I discovered by chance others through recommendations or an interview. It is all a free for all and everyone can do as they please.

Except there is a need for some of us to say 'no conforming here'. I have to say it so everyone understands I will do and say as I please within reason. I'm not going to call anyone a c*** that is trademarked by Sister Wolf. It's not my style but it is hers and it's jolly good. I am always going to be free to say what I want, it is after all it is my blog. I don't care how many people read it or like it. I'll probably stop at some point, for instance if I got a job as opposed to being freelance. I don't think I could remain free and a maverick whilst having to be responsible to an employer.

Just in case there is any further need to clarify, I don't write this blog as a job, I'm not looking for a book deal, nor fame, status whatever. I have no issue with anyone who is a mainstream blogger and earns a living through it etc. Just don't tell me what to do or how to be.

Hierarchy and Humility

What is so interesting about blogging is the diversity and can do attitude of all. There are lots of different approaches, differing content and aesthetics when it comes to the fashion bloggers. What is shared is an appreciation and a love of fashion garments, because I'm not talking about fashion here in a wider context, rather the seasonal joy of the shows and the street and the adoption of designs.

What is causing me concern is the hierarchical notion of good or bad blogging. Content aside the main issue here is how fashion bloggers are being used by marketeers and the aspect of product placement, promotion or advertising.

The very charming Jane of The Small Fabric of my Life very politely discussed advertising on a post once as she was concerned by allowing advertising she'd put off people coming to her blog. She was tempted as she's going to do a post grad teaching cert and every penny helps. Believe me I can relate to this with my recent funding of my education. I accepted a my-wardrobe banner on the basis that any sales would provide me with a percentage of money. This is not a great money spinner as my-wardrobe is not the scale of internet fashion business Net-A-Porter.

This clearly puts me in the lower scales of fashion blogger hierarchy. Higher up the scale and I would have been offered the afore mentioned Net-A-Porter gig. I've been blogging since 2006, I abandoned all my posts in that year due to being scared, incompetent and avidly reading the others. In 2008 I finally plucked up courage and started Make Do Style. My blog prior to that is lost for ever as I can't remember my account details. I keep meaning to ask blogger how to get back into it as there is a lot of material in there I liked. My first blog was a story dressed up as a person living her life. It was good fun but it wasn't easy to engage with the blogging community as a fictitious character.

In 2008 bloggers began to be approach in various ways by Marketing and PR peeps or companies, so began a dance of advertorial placement. I decided not to get involved and retracted very quickly from this (after a couple of parties and some dodgy pants!) but decided to keep my banner as all funds help and if someone chooses to visit my-wardrobe that is up to them. I do post items I've selected from there from time to time but that is purely on the basis of all my selection, personal preference or for a specific look etc. I also inform of any offers very occasionally, again in the same way as I would highlight many other offers in the way that papers or magazines do. I'm actually boring myself with this explanation but that is to some extent my point - we don't need one and probably don't want to read one either. This has only come about due to a hierarchy of consumer goods being attributed value.

What is concerning me is when bloggers take the high road and explain why it is okay or not okay to write about certain companies/products/shows/whatever. Quite frankly I don't care how one bloggers moral compass/editorial decisions stack up against another as long as it doesn't involve the exploitation of children/animals/vulnerable people and isn't do with extreme right wing groups/racist organisations or drug trafficking. Shall I throw in paedophilia, Al Quaeda and money laundering to cover all bases.

Lets face it after the rape and pillage of our economies by bankers any minor product placement by fashion bloggers is hardly impacting the tax payer.

So, the crux of this must be 'value' or 'good' - it is a bit like Vogue then InStyle then Reveal, a hierarchy of publications. In newspaper terms, The Times, The Daily Express then the The Sun. Adverts in these are graded accordingly, editorial likewise and promotions. When I do styling work I know the difference in terms of worth when I call in clothes from the PRs. I also know my place in the styling hierarchy as a freelance jobbing one, someone who is no longer attached to a magazine. My best friend was a 'proper' journalist, a war reporting hazard trained BBC hack. She would laugh at us lifestyle softies. She thought anything that involved clothes, interiors, travel or restaurants was a meal ticket in every sense.

But this hierarchy thing is quite pants because particularly in the blogging world it isn't based on any fact other than perceived value or worth of a blog. Blogs gain a certain position due to content, then the ensuing publicity and so on...Many successful ones reach this status due to their previous industry work/standing/relationships etc.

My point is I think there is a lot of danger in determining what is good or bad on the internet in regard of blogging. Firstly there is the matter of freedom, people are free to do as they please. Secondly, this is fashion, which is creative, diverse and is often trail blazing in cultural terms. Finally, hierarchy is a particular British thing - the class system. A country where what school you went to is more important than the quality of your education or your own intellect. A country where how you speak defines the worth of your person. If you wear Chanel and talk like a common urchin then you'll be sniffed at. I'm always reminded how coke snorting Eastenders actress Daniella Westbrook managed to single handedly destroy the value of Burberry check. It still amuses me to this day.

Sister Wolf made laugh with her 'So What' definition of bloggers who posing in fairly ordinary daily outfits and have family photos only of interest to their friends and families. As a fashion academic this interests me no end as it is a representation of fashion as mass adoption. Sister Wolf makes me laugh a lot and is a good example of a leading blogger in terms of content and readership who is either passed over or not on the PR radar. In magazine terms she would be a best kept or insider secret.

Essentially no matter how you dress up a freebie it is a freebie. Some freebies are no better or worth more than others, it is all a matter of perspective. All material goods are a matter of subjective views. Some dream of Tiffany, others think not. Some love an it bag, others deem it beneath them. Snobbery is a treacherous road on the capitalism highway. It fuels the constant hierarchy and affords wealth more status than a life.

I think it would be good for fashion bloggers to show some humility and stop banging on about the whys and hows; the rationale of their judgement. I've been mulling over this issue for a while but AA Gill sealed it for me in Northumberland restaurant review of 'Milan' in a place called Wooler in the Sunday Times - I love his last paragraph which says it all ....

"I have often said that I don’t review rural restaurants because most of them wouldn’t last a week in Putney, and this is true of Milan. But it also showed me I need to eat my words: most Putney restaurants wouldn’t last a week in Wooler. This place serves a community with good food and an occasion. It does it without patronage, without an agenda of education or improvement or social manipulation. It offers warmth and magic and exuberance, and it’s giving local people what they want without telling them what they should have. And that is just about the most you can wish for or expect from any restaurant, be it Le Gavroche or a chip shop."

Bit of a Borrower

Due to heaps of time indoors, I've been devouring blogs and blog posts. I've realised you can almost circumnavigate the globe on a blog thread (via comments and blogrolls)- it gets a bit patch across Africa and some of South America.

I've also noted that some blogs borrow heavily from others. Now this is a tricky area as sometimes a few bloggers lift items from magazines and comment, which is no different to newspapers - many a national print journalist or a news researcher has to pull feeds from or pour over a regional paper for a local story of interest. However it is obvious that certain blogs have spawned mini me's.

When the new season adverts appear in print I'm a happy bunny, I peruse the adverts before the editorial. I love the catwalk to camera metamorphosis, although this does depend on the creative execution. But hey I straying off the point to some extent. We are probably all agreed liking similar stuff and posting our preferences is par for the course. Also a press release or PR push is similarly going to result in a few posts on the same subject(though I ignore these now).

In all there are some good reasons for content overlap and in the main it is nothing to worry about but occasionally we find thievery! Yes it does happen zur alors... so with no further delay I'm posting my pinched image of Amanda Lear from Miss Peelpants blog Get some Vintage-a-Peel.

There are two reasons for this image:
1. The hair style (I need one)
2. The outfit (I love it)

You can see the full wealth of images and the original post here!

A favour...

...essentially this is very dull but quite important (to me and a lot of others). In the midst of working, running a home, blogging and writing a dissertation I'm dealing with a pile of poo namely a planning application which is blighting the place I live in.

To cut a long story short, Epsom is a very small town on the edge of London (if I lived half a mile down the road I'd have a London phone number) and where I live the local council decided not to dismantle a very ugly water tower as part of green belt development of the old London mental hospitals. My house is across from an old wing where Ronnie Kray was committed to!

The developers told them to pull it down as it is not a listed building, nor of architectural note etc. etc. but no some worthy jobs worth thought it had some merit. We are left with a large home for pigeons and the owners London and Quadrant who bought it for a £1 (this is all true) want to add to the huge tower and make it a high rise tower block of flats.

Now I'd gladly live in a Chelsea Harbour high rise or a NYC one but Epsom is a cute town with an unsullied sky line. Myself, the neighbours and the local deer, whom we share with Cheryl Cole who lives down the road in Oxshott would like to keep it that way.

Would you - although you have no earthly interest in this matter become a follower of the Livingstone Park Action Blog just to big us up and once the whole thing is over I'll make sure the follower button is removed. You don't have to read it or ever visit again but if you could help the little people stand up to the big corporation it would be much appreciated!!

see what I mean!

http://livingstoneparkwatertower.blogspot.com

Dissertation Demands

Apologies to all as this week I will mainly be occupied with my final spurt on completing my MA in Fashion & Film dissertation. Once written I will begin a mammoth edit process. Yikes, it is all very demanding so I'm sorry if I'm neglecting your lovely blogs by not commenting. It is but a short period of time to be so neglectful...

PS Update - I'll still be posting I'm just mindful I'm not commenting or responding to comments and I have standards!!

If you go down to ...

...anywhere that sells old stock then you never know what you might find. Imagine being Lorena of My Everyday Wear and her beyond bargain Lanvin find!

images from my everyday wear

And if you are stupid enough to go down to Primark on Oxford Street on a Friday afternoon as I was you might up screaming. I'm teaching next week and needed new t-shirts of different colours which I always buy in Primark. I hang them to show trainee stylists the impact of colour (this time I will try not to wear black!). At £1.69 or £2.49 they are a complete bargain. However I have never stepped foot in the store after 10am and I have only been there about 3 time in my life.

Seriously I nearly had a panic attack because I couldn't breath. It was packed with people, clothes strewn everywhere and no way to escape. Hideous!

Bloggy Shout out!

Firstly, the lovely DisneyRollerGirl is up for an award and though I doubt she needs any introduction, she does need your fingers to do some clicking. Please click on image below and vote DisneyRollerGirl in the Dazed Digital Awards.Secondly, the peeps at my-wardrobe have a nice little fashion blog all of their own. Whilst this is wholly dedicated to their business it is nice to see the blog be a business tool of its own and is a fab quick reference tool if you need some inspiration.

I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll chop your bl**dy finger off!

When Sister Wolf observed the blogger pose de jour (hand to face pose) she uttered her outrage and decreed a No Hand to Face Pose ban.

Well in defiance or is that mockery of the ban, myself and the petit garcon decided to commit the offense in a moment of Sunday boredom.

Birthday Queen of Charity Shops.

Now I've been thoroughly enjoying Mary Portas's latest programme Mary Queen of Charity Shops on the BBC.

image from BBCi

However in bloggy world we know that the true Queen of Charity Shops is Sharon Rose so I couldn't resist a little interview for her views on Mary and charity shop shopping. Not to mention our Sharon is also a birthday girl today!

How many times a week do you frequent a charity shop?

Up to 5 times a week.

Which is your favourite local charity shop?

My Local Sue Ryder Care, which is less than 10 minutes walk away.

Which charity shop would you go and help?

One in another town, to see new faces as I'm very familiar with all the ones in my local town!!

Which do you think offers the consumer better value for money charity shop or car boot?

Boot Sales offer better bargains, especially for 50p to £3, but you do really have to rummage for them. Charity shops in my area aren't too dear and offer a wide variety at reasonable prices, generally anything from £2-£10, depending on the item.

Would you change the pricing in a charity shop(i.e. do you think too expensive or too cheap)?

I think the charity shops in my town and surrounding areas are priced just right, even for a good quality item, I rarely pay more than £8. London charity shops are expensive in my opinion, for high street items especially. I understand how Mary wanted to place expensive items in a shop for a lot more money-I'm not sure how this would work on a long term basis, especially when volunteers are unfamiliar with designer names. Items may be better off being auctioned on ebay by the charity, I know a lot of the charities work this way now.

How motivating do you think Mary Portas is?

I love her, I think she has a great attitude, but I suppose it must be hard for her when a lot of the old dears are stuck in their ways of working and methods-but she is giving it a go, much needed in some areas, I think! I really enjoyed the programme on Tuesday night, it's great because I can really see her vision and where she wants her shop to be, but there is also the other side of it regarding the volunteers and what they can do, considering they don't get paid and what's expected of them. Very interesting indeed!

If you had to work with one of the Orpington old dears who would you choose?

I love Leila, a great sense of humour!! Brenda and Graham are too set in their own ways I think!

Have you every volunteered in a charity shop?

No, I've debated it, but I've decided its just as good to buy from them and donate things regularly too. I will never say never though.

What top tip would you give to a charity shop virgin?

Expect the unexpected, be prepared to have a good rummage and stock up on key quality items, such as jeans, jackets and dresses. Oh, and always look at other items even if you're not intending to buy them. Yesterday afternoon, I went looking for costume jewellery, but because I look and scan most different items, I scored a gorgeous fluid jersey beige DKNY dress for only £4.99, which fits like a glove!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHARON-ROSE!!

Much appreciated!

Can't think why my daily life was allowed to ruin my blog life when I get little tokens such as this ...
This gift of appreciation was from the ever resourceful and effervescent Sharon Rose.

I'm truly rubbish usually at posting such niceties and not very good at passing on so to speak ...therefore I'm dealing with this promptly and going to award an old follower the talented and inspirational Delicious Industries and a new be blogger and follower Looking fab in your forties - keep it up!!

There are lots of you lovely bloggers and readers and I could bestow this award in you all but I'm in the midst of cooking Sunday lunch, fretting about my presentation to the external examiner on Wednesday about my MA dissertation proposal. Thank goodness for Style magazine for a distraction on all things clothes and make up!


PS am I the only person who feels very sorry for Susan Boyle losing last night. I did vote for her in case others didn't but Diversity were my first vote and choice, as I loved their brand of dance and performance from the off. I wanted them to win but voted for Susan as she has the loveliest of voices and has probably had the hardest week of her life. Bless her, isn't it awful when others take delight in your moments of confusion and despair. All I could think is how could you cope given you've never ever had sex and all your hormones must be going bonkers!

Bloggie Award of a fabulous nature

Returning to the fold of the blogosphere is even nicer when you get an award.



Now I have to detail three things I can't stand and three random things plus answer a question from the lovely blogger Looking Fab in your Forties who gave me this award!

Three things I can't stand:

1. People who bite their nails or chew their fingers in a cannibalistic way. I'm subjected to this on a daily basis when travelling on train/tube/bus - please desist. File your nails and sit on your hands.

2. People who chew gum with their mouth open. Again I'm subjected to this on a daily basis when travelling on train/tube/bus - please don't and actually don't chew gum at all as I recently stood in some at Waterloo and I nearly screamed!

3. Flat tyres - my poor bike is suffering a worn valve and its booked in for repairs at cycle shop on Thursday. Not being able to cycle to station is the worst thing to befall me. I don't cycle in central London as even I'm too scared, we need cycle lanes like Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

Three random things:

1. What's on your bedside table? Photo of Mr MDS, earplugs (he snores and breathes too heavily!) a biography of Leni Riefenstahl, my phone, earrings from yesterday, a hairband, a lamp, a clock and petit garcon's baby comb.

2. Last thing I bought? Well after a great talk at Central College St Martin's Innovation Centre on Fashion and Celebrity by Pamela Church Gibson last night, I fell of the high brow wagon and bought Hello and of course Grazia on the way home for a bedtime read.

3. Guilty pleasure? This year it is buying clothes. I've sold items on ebay, saved my pennies to convert to pounds and occasionally allowed an allocation of work money to buy essentials. For example I needed some jeans for my recent stint in Watford. Oh and once a month I have a wicked Wednesday and have some cake - I'm amazed how frugal times give you more pleasure than times of plenty. Why is making do so satisfying? Sure I miss a multitude of products for skin, hair and a facial I'm sure I'd faint in ecstasy if I had one now...

If you could shop online from one retailer, which one would it be?
Toast - I'm sorry it's their home ware. I can't resist the quality and indulgence, please don't let me bore you on this matter.....I'd rather go naked and lie in their towels!

In the spirit of (global)tagging I tag

Hammie
La Belette Rouge
Wendy B
Already Pretty
Skylark & Son

Fab blog award

When the lovely Sharon Rose of Sharon Rose-Vintage Fashion, Me gave me this award the other day I decided to run it asap; as of late I've been completely remiss on this sort of thing and it is such a good way of showing support to every ones blogging efforts. I have to nominate ten bloggers and I'm loathed to pick just ten but here goes, ones that Sharon didn't get to first - oh and those of you who haven't got the will or time to carry it on don't worry just have a head swell mo instead!

1. Delicious Industries - this blog provides me with lots of amazing design images and inspiration every day!

2. Disneyrollergirl - I love reading a different perspective on fashion and garments and this blog delivers great quotes of the day.

3. CocosTeaParty - fab images and so well presented, mind you I'd go and look everyday just for the banner!

4. Dressed&Pressed- how I laugh when Denrele's being funny and I never want to be on the receiving end of a dressed and pressed rant - they are the best!

5. Mahalo Fashion - I don't know how Jen does the wonderful realms of images. It is always a visual feast.

6. Tales near the Runway - by rights I shouldn't give an award to someone who can only post occasionally (for very good reasons) because if you get hooked to this blog like me it is a bad habit just waiting and waiting... but worth it!

7. Style Salvage -I've dipped into this blog on and off but of late it has become my second favourite insight on menswear after David Mills in Style magazine (gosh hope Steve doesn't think that's an insult!).

8. The Fashion Assistant and her camera - Kit is so talented and hard working, it is a joy to see a such young female talent.

9. Wee Birdy - Stylish, cute and that's just the blog!

10. Goddamit I'm Mad - Ah Sister Wolf, never a dull moment and always a surprise thought and angle what's not to like.