Looking back

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

The Make Do Style Christmas Book List

Whilst Rome and London have been burning (figuratively ref political riots) I have still failed to turn a page on my bedside read of Proust. I've read magazines and newspapers in true Proust avoidance tactics.

I though it best to line up a few old favourites and a couple of new numbers to end 2010 on a reading high and begin 2011 with a book reading habit re-established. The first three are great reads, capturing an essence of the period they were written in.

1. The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe



2. The Green Hat by Michael Arlen



3. The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks
The next two are non fiction, one of which I choose due to a need to discover more about places Dickens uses in his novels. Fashionistable inspired me to discover more about Dickens locations when we took a photo of an American over from Washington outside the Old Curiosity Shop during a project. The lovely American lady also loved the fact you could find places from the pages.



4. Dickens England by David Nicholas Wilkinson


Then there is my continued fascination and interest in the live of Marilyn Monroe. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1954) is one of my all time favourite films. Both Marilyn and Jane Russell show to great effect their comedic timing and utter brilliance as actresses. I really cannot think of any two actresses paired together now that would deliver such wonderful performances. If you haven't seen the film then make a date with it over Christmas.

5. Marilyn Monroe: Fragments edited by Buchthal & Commet

All images from Amazon.com except Street Style photograph by Fashionistable

Whilst the mice are away...

...Well not strictly mice but Mr MDS. He's hot footed it off to Wales for the Ryder cup and in honour of his disappearance I'm posting a street style photo I made him do! It is taken by the wonderful Fashionistable - who is currently snapping only the best! Poor Mr MDS he only nipped out of the office at lunchtime to say hello.

It is part of a style project for a forthcoming 'thing' and lets just say instead of the fash pack being snapped the everyday workers are getting a bit of centre stage by adding a little twist to their outfits.