Dress me!

What if you only had enough money to buy one item of clothing and you really needed it to work hard for you? My view on this is always buy a dress. Lots of you will shout but I'm not a dress person. This is most unfortunate. Go out and embrace the dress. With a dress you can layer, under or over. You can pretend it is a skirt by putting a top over it. It works well with tights, a jacket and dare I say a cardigan (note not the use of the phrase 'power cardigan')

Quite frankly a dress is not to be sniffed at. On Sunday night I saw my dream dress on Claudia Winkleman. It was black, hurrah, and it was by Isabel Marant, not so hurrah 'cos of price. Oh well. But if I were to recommend a dress in the reasonable priced mid range which is high end High Street - sorry but low and middle end won't do if you want to LOVE it and buy it to last a few seasons - then I would say Whistles would be just the ticket. Jane Shepherson the CEO of Whistles has finally got it right methinks. I have struggled with Whistles, wanting to love it but always hesitating over the offering. However it is really coming along quite nicely and offers women options for their wardrobe that exude grown upness. I'm still failing on that point but am going to try harder, let's call it work in progress.

My selection is based on all of the above and if I had a few spare pennies I would buy it. The colour is flattering to all, the lace is seductive not slutty and you can wear it day or night.

Whistles Avril Lace dress in burgundy £175 

Choose sophistication with a dash of glam!

After what seems like an age but is barely a week I find myself retrospectively examining what sort of fashion stylist I was! I think is partly due to the Christophe Decarnin departure from Balmain. Whilst his leaving isn't unexpected given he has been unwell, it also reflects a move away from the what I would call 'euro trash' style of design. I cannot honestly think of one item from Balmain I admired or coveted. My view of Balmain was it was worn by women with more money than sense and mainly those in their 50s on a yacht off the coast of Monaco. Of course I am very opinionated but this was fairly useful in gaining private clients who needed directional advice!

Private clients of a particular income and status like to be well advised and those who are younger hard working women in the banking industry from Eastern Europe and Russia need to avoid the 'euro trash' stereotyping. And of course they are young women so don't want to become grande dames of the Aramani or Lauren school of style - yet.

American fashion house Milly has been a god send in respect of bearing the perfect blend of Park Lane Princess with some flair and at a decent price. Okay we are not talking much change out of £300 or £500 here for an item but in comparison to some the items are eminently affordable and have that key factor - longevity.

Just in case you think Milly is all work and no play well here are a few images from the Spring/Summer 11 collection to inspire you will I go off and write a film script....

Leave your scruffs behind!

When did scruffs become the default manner for dress? Am I the only person who dresses up to go to the supermarket? When does dress down go to far?

I'm using an old picture of Coleen Rooney but this is her legacy to the nation or so it seems when I set foot in supermarkets. They seem awash with tracksuit things and crocs.


Like her or not Sarah Jessica Parker knows how to do dress down even though I can guess she's not going to the supermarket. When she does uggs or flat the rest is pretty much the same on top, showing effort is made.



You know when your scruffs have taken over you life when

1. The only items you put on your feet are pull ons with fur lining or slip ons and we are not talking ballet pumps here!

2. You think zips are only for hoodies

3. You think scrunchies get a bad press

4. Those pyjama type bottoms are so comfy

5. You think buttons are hard to do up

I'm sure none of you MDS readers are culprits of the Vicky Pollard/Coleen Rooney/Jordan variety of trackie loving wearing but just in case... next time make sure you are wearing proper clothes when you go to the supermarket:-

1. Proper trousers/jeans - check

2. A nice top - check

3. A bit of detail, necklace, sunnies or scarf - check

4. A jacket or coat - check

5 Shoes that require zipping or lacing up or put on with a shoe horn - check

6. A shopping tote - check

Same theme, old advice

My collection of books are quite simple if one was to set about cataloguing them. Literature, Cinema, Fashion being the main ones with Cookery, Nutrition and a smattering of Interior Design. All my non fiction books are biographies on fashion or film stars. Of course I have a few Rough Guides, Time Out or Style City books, but I'm a creature of habit when it comes to reading. So much so my parents recently bought me a biography of Kaye Webb the founder of the Puffin Club who was probably quite influential on a number of young readers. I suppose what I'm trying to say is my habits remain similar in all areas of my life. (Actually, I thought this was going to be a to the point post but it isn't - get a cup of tea now!)

I'm very much a keeping it simple and keeping order when it comes to my wardrobe. I get totally overwhelmed if I have too much. I'm not really a hoarder, although I always keep any designer purchases. I regret having a cavalier attitude to some designer pieces I once had which I lost, gave away or misplaced. Lesson learnt. High St stuff I really ease come easy go about although I only buy when I need to replace worn items, so I repeat the same things. I do have the odd moment of frivolity. I was recently tagged for a reveal but I was too busy to do it so I'm incorporating the gist of it but ensuring you get more in-depth analysis (more tea).

My style icons remain the same regardless of anything and they are:-
Françoise Hardy
Audrey Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Grace Kelly
Ali McGraw
Nico

all 3 images are of Françoise Hardy

With the exception of Hardy they all have a cinematic element (although Françoise appeared in a few films). And they all had their own style despite the requirement for performance. If I was to translate the inspiration into films it would run:-
Funny Face
The Philedelpihia Story (the original High Society with Cary Grant, if you haven't seen it you must)
To Catch a Thief
Love Story
La Dolce Vita

There are other films which I find wonderful visual feast when it comes to clothes and most of these are before the 1980s (with the exception of Uma Thruman in Pulp Fiction), including Antonioni's L'Eclisse. The interesting element is how what you love/admire determines what you buy.

When it comes to style books one of my favourites is Genevieve Antoine Dariaux's A Guide to Elegance first published in 1964. She was a director at Nina Ricci for many years and I suppose her views and advice is that quintessential French take on fashion. I read her book many years ago before it was republished in 2003 as part of research for a fashion shoot with style advice. It was probably about the same time I discovered Françoise Hardy because no doubt the style director told me to get some images. In my youth I thought I was the ONLY person to have discovered Nico because none of my peers were into her.

As a young willing junior fashion assistant I became tutored in the art of the capsule wardrobe, the basic wardrobe for building your style and a devotee of quality versus quantity. I still can't cope with quantity although I'm getting better at it.

Genevieve had a view on the budget wardrobe and the ideal wardrobe. The budget wardrobe gave you your starting block and the ideal wardrobe equipped you with outfits for any time of the day and instructed you on what to wear at certain times.

This is her starting list for the winter budget wardrobe to see you through any occasion:

• 1 coat in a bright colour - for example, red
• 1 matching skirt
• 1 sweater in a complimentary colour - for example, beige or brown
• 1 black skirt
• 1 black sweater
• 1 silk sweater, black or white with a pretty neckline
• 1 pair of black high heeled pumps
• 1 pair of flat brown shoes for the country
• 1 black leather handbag
• 1 pearl necklace

Then when it comes to the winter ideal wardrobe her direction is fearless! I'll give you what you should wear first thing in the morning:-

"9 A.M Tweed skirts in the brown autumn shades and harmonizing sweaters (the British are peerless in this realm), worn under a good coat, well cut. Brown shoes with medium heels and a capacious brown alligator bag (A really elegant women never wears black in the morning)."

What is interesting is her old advice regarding budget, the idea if you haven't got the money spend on good items and have a plan for your long term wardrobe. I'm sure most of us don't do this. The idea of having a place where you will be in respect of your clothes seems contrary to the whims of fashion. However, if you can establish your preferences, what inspires you to create your own style then perhaps building a good wardrobe for you lifestyle and creative views is achievable on any budget.

[Both extracts are from A Guide to Elegance]

The green poncho goes on its travels

Up I got bright and early Thursday morning to go to Belfast. It was a bit nippy and I selected the green poncho as my accessory to keep the chill off. After all I was flying Aer Lingus and going to Belfast.

Sat in the Aer Lingus lounge

Day 4 of capsule wardrobe outfit is ASOS jumpsuit, Zara flats, Jigsaw belt, Hussain Chalayan tank worn under jumpsuit, Topshop necklace and Chanel sunglasses.

Queen Marie told me that I'd love Belfast and it was just like Glasgow. I've not been to Glasgow properly but I feel I know it inside out due to my father's artwork from his time at the Glasgow School of Art.

Belfast building very reminiscent of architecture in Glasgow

Belfast is a lovely city and so friendly. I got the airport bus in and on the way out. The driver said when myself and Tara the makeup artist got on the bus on Friday morning, 'I's took yous into town.' (That is my best attempt at writing a Belfast accent). I'd asked him on Thursday morning to give us a shout when we got to City Hall and he did. We have never been made so welcome by so many people. We couldn't go anywhere without dispensing makeup and styling advice. We loved that people asked us what we did and then when they found out they were straight in there for advice. Tara is a font of all knowledge and so I'm going to pencil her in for a post on her top makeup tips and products.

The event went really well and all the women who came from all ages were lovely. Having abandoned my attempt to get the women of the UK to feel the Fashion Force on jumpsuits, I set about underwear as outerwear. I've completely sold the maxi dress to one and all but I still want more risk taking. However the underwear as outerwear was another Fashion Force special that met with slight horror, sweaty foreheads and made for much sucking in of stomachs.

Day 4 capsule wardrobe evening wear for event. Topshop jumpsuit, Pierre Hardy for Gap shoes, Reiss belt and I threw on a grey kimono Topshop item from my clothes rail when I realised I had tan marks on my back from swimming outdoors.

Feeling the maxi love

The lovely Topshop body suit that was spurned

My best discovery in Belfast apart from how nice it is and the friendly people was PoppoGoblin on Alfred St. We were staying at the Premier Inn (oh the glamour of it all) despite working at the Radisson and right next door was one of the best café's in the world. Gorgeous juices, smoothies and coffee plus wonderful fresh sandwiches and soups. On Thursday lunchtime I had a cream cheese and salmon bagel with an Iron Boost juice, consisting of beetroot, ginger,apple, carrot and spinach.

On Friday morning I passed on the Premier Inn breakfast and nipped into PoppoGoblin. What a feast greeted my eyes! The lovely owner (whose name I forgot to ask) only bakes fresh scones in the morning. I choose the blueberry and white chocolate one over the raspberry and honey offering. I selected "The Cure" as my morning smoothie, loadsa berries, banana, yogurt and fresh orange juice. I'm not saying I was hungover but I had quaffed a few glasses of vino.

Then I was kindly given the nicest Americano coffee by said owner who loves his café and also plays great music there as he also dj's. Yummy Belfast!

Poppogoblin on Alfred St, the chairs match my green poncho

Good grief Gok is selling crisps now!

My smoothie being prepared

Oh my, look what I spied

The perfect breakfast

The blueberry & white chocolate scone in all its glory

Me time

It seems that everyone wants your time and actually today everyone wants your vote! But election fever aside next Wednesday 12 May at One Marylebone, London the countrywide tour of Find Your Me Spot kicks off.

Angela Griffiths is fronting the campaign to get women to think about setting aside some time away from the kids and household chores to add some va va vroom back into their lives. Angela is somewhat the flavour of the month with Angela & Friends and stylists Helen Boyle and Brix Start Smith dispensing fashion advice. Now you can add me to the mix plus the lovely Isobel Kershaw NHJ's head stylist

We will be part of team on hand to give you hot style tips, make up advice, confidence sessions ('flirting') and contraceptive advice - yes no unnecessary stress needed. All the events are free and I will be in Sheffield, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Manchester if you'd like to pop along.
All details are at www.findyourmespot.com and bring your friends to relax and have some me time.

Make it White Make it Bright

When the sun shines again (for those of us in the UK shrouded in murky grey skies) then one item in your wardrobe you can make do a lot with for the S/S 10 season is a white shirt. If you lack said garment then go get one!


The main difference is you should go for a bit of detail either in the fabric, the cut or the addition of a ruffle or a bow. Wear with denim shorts, khaki rolled up trousers or a skirt and you are good to go.

DVF Matador blouse £255 Matches

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania square blouse £198 my-wardrobe

Vanessa Bruno Athe cotton & sheer silk-blend blouse £115 Net-A-Porter

Full button blouse £85 Reiss

Thought of the week - Creativity

The hardest element of teaching as opposed to just doing one's job is imparting confidence and knowledge in equal measures. When I teach trainee stylists I am always aware of the nurturing aspect of talent with need to know foundation that helps talent flourish. The point being a blend of creativity and common sense goes a long way.

I love the fact one of the trainee stylists is an organised turn up on time type. She managed to bag a styling job with Joanna Sykes, as the booked stylist she was assisting was late and they needed to press on. On the spot promotion!

One element of the styling course is colour. It is on this matter I am the least prescriptive. To keep it brief, there are no rules, when it comes to colour use your eye, experiment and add lipstick if you feel a bit drained. Reference nature for inspiration, flora is fab for experimentation. Reference fashion history and have fun. There is always a shade of a specific colour to suit you and skin tone which is yellow based for everyone always changes in different lights. Light reflects and refracts and in differing ways depending on the time of day and time of year.

You see the moment one engages with logic and reason the creativity begins to falter. I think there are enough rules in life to get bogged down with, I prefer the anything goes approach when it comes to colour and clothes.

D&G shirt
Reiss Skirt
Wolford purple tights
Topshop gold cuff bracelets
Pierre Hardy for Gap shoes not in picture!

Stylish things for free

1. Sit up straight! This is good old fashioned advice that means whatever you are wearing will wear well with a straight back and some deportment.

2. Attitude. Here's some more good old fashioned advice from Valentino relating to style and a beautiful woman "She is cool, calm and collected. She knows where she's going and the quickest way to get there. Beauty has nothing to do with perfect features. It's an attitude." From Valentino Garavani: First Name in Fashion - I love this book but at nearly a £800 it is just as well I can go to Central St Martins College to look at it.

3. A Gratitude Journal. An illuminating well being special edition in the Weekend Guardian magazine covered a look at what makes us happy. -Weekend columnist Oliver Burkeman looks at what we have learned from the positive psychology movement in the last 10 years – and confesses to keeping what psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky calls a "gratitude journal", listing all the little things for which he feels thankful. "Naturally, I am hugely embarrassed to admit this," he says. "The awkward truth, though, is that keeping a gratitude journal has made a detectable and sustained difference to my state of mind."

What I've learned about Swine Flu

1. The system in place for dealing with swine flu is actually quite rubbish. Okay given that it is a pandemic and the NHS couldn't deal with everyone that either has or suspects they have it, it is still a bit rubbish. You have two front line options, visit a website that tells you the symptoms or listen to a phone message via a 0800 number that tells you the symptoms. Basically we are in the realms of self diagnosis as the symptoms are quite broad. Then once you've self diagnosed yourself but still need to know what to do - as in can I get a tamiflu thing or do I just put up and shut up, you then re-phone your GP who has to call you back. You could be the 25th person in a panic that day so don't expect niceties or sympathy. The best you can hope for is are you alive, can you breath then stick with the misery until it passes.

2. Wear flat shoes - you get very dizzy and quite confused. Your balance isn't great, they don't really talk about this element of swine flu. I'm guessing if you are a pig then four legs are better than two.

3. Drink lots of fluid - really really drink tons of water or squash and my new friend vitamin water. Vitamin water is probably a pointless indulgence but it feels like a great substitute for tamiflu stuff and sympathy see 1.

4. Drink coke - this is particularly helpful for the tummy/bottom troubles you may encounter. If you have ever considered Alli diet pills then get swine flu first and then you will get over thinking about choosing Alli. Put it this way, if you saw SATC the movie and remember Charlotte's unfortunate incident, then swine flu can cause this sort of thing as does Alli. It is avoidable by sheer will and the skin of your teeth. Coke helps in the battle.

5. Aches and pains - your head hurts, your arms hurt, your legs hurt. To alleviate this you are recommended paracetamol. I say make like a pig, go round on all fours, it stops you falling over and takes your mind off the pain for a moment.

6. Rest - once you start it is hard to stop bed rest as the fatigue is quite chronic. It is worth showering and dressing in the morning just to make the effort and then get up now and again. It makes you feel human and less swine like.

7. Have water by your bed at night - you will cough a lot in the night because your throat will produce flem. In fact you will get a sore throat. The cough is the driest most pointless cough you have ever had.

8. Eat - you will actually eat like a pig. Your body needs calories to fight this virus and you won't lose your appetite. This is why they say it is a mild flu in most cases. Believe me it is not that mild an illneses, though I accept it is a milder form of flu and not as serious as avian flu, you feel like poo and if you are very unlucky you will smell like poo too.

9. Make a film - don't let anyone tell you you can't make a film when you've got swine flu.

No!! I've been You Tubed!!

My first entry onto You Tube - yikes! Where's my make up, hair and styling team hey!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3F5thH37co


Now I know how hard it is to do presenting! I had my arms twisted to do this as part of my styling stint in Watford and I just had to do it on the hoof....

Dear M&S

I think you need my help. I'm sure you might assert that on principle I'm just another opinionated stylist, however, I would like to assert back that this isn't the case. Currently, after many successful years in fashion journalism, marketing and as a freelance stylist (who isn't!) I'm undertaking an MA in Fashion and Film at the London College of Fashion.

My view is that you need to undertake a radical rethink and over haul of your womenswear offerings. I have struggled over the last few years to attire one single female client in anything other than your pants - waist clinchers and tummy tuck ones to be precise, oh and some great claret tights last season. BTW we are talking 40+ peeps here, I'm taking my 50+ lot to Kew and elsewhere to reconnect them with style, they all felt tired and dull.

With what do I find fault, I'm not going to list it all but here is a selection:-

1. Overstocking on the shop floor, this is with regards to the rails, the multitude of them on the floor and the fact you can't see things. Yesterday with one item, product code T572433A - a Perfect Military Pocket Knee length skirt with belt to be precise, I had to struggle with a multitude of skirts all hung on one rail intended for 15 to swish nicely at best. There were about twenty size 10s in amongst a few other sizes. This is unnecessary and immediately puts the customer or stylist in a sweat as they grapple to stop the items falling on the floor, as you bump behind into the adjoining equally overstocked rail and then stick your right and left elbow into the others.

Please go for a stroll around Selfridges 2nd floor, enjoy the stroll, the ability to view items and browse. Note how items are hung and think about how you could achieve the same.

2. Bring back the square jumper/tshirt things - even Primark has these and yes they do get untidy but you don't have to overfill them and restocking and keeping things tidy would reconnect the sales assistants with the customer and save them pulling rails around in a random fashion. I'm not advocating old style but a new interpretations of an old classic presentation retail style.

3. Less is more - please scale down Limited Collection, Autograph and Per Una (actually I'd love you to get rid of Per Una but that will happen naturally), in fact scale down everything. There is too much volume. Have better processes that improve production on lines selling well and an ability to deliver what the customers want, think Topshop. Topshop deliver a line of basics that only vary occasionally, in colour or a minor style tweak. Then they add the rest. You do basics too but they are not quite right, not clearly defined except on the knickers front. don't just go to Topshop, go to Zara too. Look at their cardigans and jumpers folded on the shelves. Do this for UK women and get a template that is trendy but for the over 35 year body - it'll be a winner.

4. Do a line that are style classics, do not mess with these, get the cut, cloth and colour right and exploit this gap in the market. Get the body standard deviation right too based on post twenty something (see above). I know that you might think that your new Perfect offering is doing this but. The above mentioned product is quite nice but you are delivering an old school Next offering mainly in polyester and it isn't going to be a winner - but you can come back to me and tell me I'm wrong with your amazing sales results.

5. I give you a favourite dress of mine. It is simple, well made and has lovely beading detail. It wasn't expensive and not many were made. It isn't an amazing design but it works as a dignified understated LBD when the moment requires one. It is an Autograph New York number - and I bought it because the Autograph section was attended to by a lovely lady who knew her stock, customers and loved her job. In the last 5 years all I have bought from M&S apart from food occassionally are some pants, a pair of ballet pumps on sale and some pirate socks for my 3 year old - and goodness you are actually delivering some clothes for children I can buy again, great Spiderman pants!

Here is my lovely dress. Please ask me to come in to be a consultant for a 6 month period - I will make you millions and save you during the hard times - failing hiring me get some A list designers in again and ditch the F listers you seem to think will make do, well they won't.

Wintour goes nuclear with make do & mend

Dear Kate

Thank you for your recent communication. I am pleased to confirm I took on board your minimal packing advice for my European trip and found it easy to work the same dress 3 times in a week. I aired my Caroline Herrera in Milan, London and Paris.

It was much easier to make my assistant carry on my hand luggage then wait an interminable time at those dreadful carousels. You were absolutely right to pick out the shoes and jewellery changes. The cardigan was equally indispensable, one for your top 50 I believe.

One does feel I've done my bit to highlight the joy of a little shift change in the disposableness of clothing. I think you might have something with this make do style matter.

Yours sincerely (and affectionately)

Anna

PS you only knew I was joking when I added affectionately - didn't ya?

How to make a style shift – pre part 1!

Lanvin A/W 08

The hardest thing for anyone to do is evaluating their own look and the clothes they currently have. The barriers to making a change are pretty common,

• Haven't got any money
• Will people notice and think I look stupid
• How can I justify changing my wardrobe when I've got all these clothes
  

The trouble is we've all got more clothes than ever before and because of this we don't wear them out. In the past people had fewer items and wore what they had until (after a few darns & repairs) they were worn out. If you were wealthy you had them stored but you still had a few basics with seasonal extras. Now, with collections, cruise, pre cruise and items for Red/Breast Cancer, looks last for a nano second.

It is a bold decision not to be constantly seduced by the latest look and take an overall style view. Sometimes inspiration strikes and sometimes you have to take a long hard look in the mirror and ask is it working? Do I want to project this image? What would I like to see in my wardrobe of a morning?

I've been very 1930's/1940's for an absolute age, all modern takes not a recreation exactly on a daily basis. The 1970s look is an extension of this time in both cut and layering. But, suddenly I knew I had to make a leap of faith and cut a new direction. I don't know exactly how to define my new look is it left bank/artisan intellectual/Marni – who knows. It is pared down and more utilitarian – out with colour and in with more muted tones – a base of grey, black, white and navy with injections of colour by lipstick, costume jewellery, the odd item of clothing and perhaps shoes.

It is all in its infancy so it will be interesting to develop. All I've done is take out the frills and girlie stuff leaving me with a framework to add to. I'm not going out tomorrow and spending a fortune – I can't. But bit by bit I'll add an item and make all my future purchase decisions on my new style direction. I've already got my wide leg jeans from Uniqlo and although they only cost £24.99, I'll wear them this summer and get some new trousers in the autumn when some kind retailer will pay homage to both Balenciaga and Lanvin.

Be creative – compile a lookbook in style.com, I've just added a new one entitled Style Epiphany.

If I lost all my clothes tomorrow I know what my basic requirements are:- White shirt, White t-shirt, Black Dress, Skirt, Pair of jeans, Black trousers, Good leather belt, Pair of high heels, Knee high leather boots, Plimsolls – think white lace ups or converse, Cashmere round neck jumper, Necklace, Black Dinner Jacket.

You can decide your own basics list and base your wardrobe clearout on it and then add bit by bit your new look items. Don't forget any old things can be useful for gym, holiday/vacation clothes, walking, cleaning in the house.

Be brave.

Smugness

There is nothing like a trawl through the Daily Mail to cheer you up. A paper full of sniping at rich and poor alike. The paper has no fewer than 6 Facebook groups dedicated to taking the mickey of said daily. My favourite is their current obsession with Zac Goldsmith. Take a peek at this latest article on his supposed womanising ways.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=406989&in_page_id=1879

It all makes me glad of my blissful unexposed lifestyle. Who cares what I'm doing or what I'm wearing. I can potter about at the allotment, shop for a client and make a loaf or two without a second thought. I actually am really not interested in the life of Mr Goldsmith but the surmising and commentary on him is fascinating because it is so sniffy and pompous. It seems the Daily Mail are hellbent on destroying people's marriages whilst equally condemning those who stray/divorce.

I'm sure Zac Goldsmith's only vice is being a bit of a posh, rich cheesecloth loving homemade bread maker who encourages people to think about the environment.

I don't listen to the wealthy and loaded - it's to easy to preach when you've got a health bank balance. Far harder to strive for better things while balancing the household budget. I, as a poor cheesecloth loving homemade bread maker can't be bothered to tell people what to do unless it concerns their wardrobe and shopping habits - then I'm particularly bossy and come across as a bit Daily Mail.

Creative influence

So far this year has been about practical influence - getting one's house in order. A fresh and frugal start to the year. What with an allotment and baking bread a reader of this blog could be forgiven that I'm more likely to be found sporting dirt under nails than Chanel's White Satin on them. Actually, today I'm wearing Blue Satin, with a dusting of Azur (#465) for added sparkle in these dreary days of January.

Trawling through the magazines and some shop stock checks, I'm finding my creative fix hard going with the exception of nail polish experimentation. I'm wanting to embrace S/S 08 but in reality I'm not sure there is much to really embrace. I will as usual plumb for a 1930's/1970's influence whatever this season's new name for this reworked and reworked trend is. Call it Miami, Riviera or Studio 54 - it all boils down to a few key items, wide leg trews, stripe number, hooped earrings, a white sac or tote/basket, bejewelled thonged flats and some great shades. The two main inspirational interpretations this season are Atonement (ref that dress) and Charlie Girl (ref 1970s perfume ad). With the re-emergence of Halston as a brand you choose hippy chic, out of Africa prints, Japanese influence and surrealism (strange prints) to be radical.

Happily this season leaves you with lots of choice with colour, (yellow to beige to lilac for starters) fabric (sheer and flowing) and the odd splash of florals as a nod to the knowing (pleats a la sportswear might be a step too far, more P&O Cruise than Great Gatsby). You can choose gold and try some prints (think Marni esque) as if Jackie O wafting through Capri/St Tropez/Greek Island.


I like to think of myself as a modern tomboy with a penchant for lady like elegance, this would render me fairly conservative and predictable if it wasn't for some inner Patricia Field given to statements and ensembles which are more am dram at times than sartorial statement. I am probably the only person I know who this season would wear a floral jumpsuit/all in one without a care in the world - and last season I was muted by several friends as the person most likely to wear the Prada turban, either hoovering or shopping at the greengrocers. Yet I've been hard pressed to get back my fashion mojo which I need to sharpish for work!

I've been living off my wits and have had only one trusted friend for shopping/outfit debates - that is until the world of blogging opened before my very eyes. Oh joy the day of discovering Mrs Fashion, useful tips from Flashy Shades and detail and information of Style Bubble. They provide me with food for thought and have woken me from my slumber of seeds and yeast to galvanise me.

Today was out with the old -a few worn items and a check on my trusty spring, summer items packed away so carefully in September. A few key items will update the lot and with the right sunglasses choice, thank you Erin, some healthy views of Susie-Bubble and the darn delights of Mrs F I'm feeling quite chipper about it all...now if only I could find the perfect dress.....