Making a Statement

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?

Style inspiration for summer

The graphic boldness of black and white had been languishing in the style stakes of late but this summer expect to see more looks and outfits which pair black with white and vice versa!

One of the best examples of how to combine black on white was the costume Audrey Hepburn wore to Ascot in the film My Fair Lady (1964). Cecil Beaton designed the costumes and the Ascot outfit is stunning.

I've noticed a few designers being inspired by this creation with garments they've designed for the high street.

Principles by Ben De Lisi dress £35 (not in store yet)

I'm going to be mixing up the black and white when summer arrives - how about you?

Make Do Countryfile

The moment I left the house at 6:45am I reverted to me. I was a single gal and on a road trip. Normally any travel is en famille or for styling work. But on Saturday I had the car all to myself and I was on the way for a weekend in Somerset.

First stop on my adventure the Little Chef Popham. It is the first time I've set foot in one since my days of driving to Aberystwyth and stopping off at the Little Chef in Builth Wells. Of course I wouldn't be stopping off here if it weren't for Heston Blumenthal's intervention and redesign of the menu and interior. Handily the mirrored back wall provided me with a substitute wardrobe mirror in my bedroom!


I wore my French Connection flared jeans, a Dolce & Gabbana patterned silk shirt with my knitted poncho from an evening market stall in the Travesti area of Rome.


I settled down with my Guardian ordered a black coffee and orange juice and waited for the arrival of my bacon sarnie - my treat of the year. Although having not eaten one for years I can't say would be hurrying back to eat one again. The bacon was very good but the white bread was more sliced manufactured than proper bloomer. I had to ask for brown sauce as the offered condiments, probably according to Heston, were tomato ketchup or mayonnaise. I'm strictly a brown sauce girl or tommie k at a push.
The sleeve detail of the Dolce & Gabbana shirt ( a TK Maxx find years ago) I thought the red was very jolly inside as the decor was so light and airy. Normally the red clashed dreadfully with the dullness of the usual Little Chef offering.

It was a pleasant 40 minutes or so spent reading and having breakfast on my own and I would do it again. But I had to get back on the A303. I was driving along enjoying the views and the fact it was so much nicer driving on an A road than a motorway. I though that A roads were the new black of the road travelling season especially when I chanced upon Stonehenge. I was amazed. So much so I took a detour off my route to go to Stonehenge car park and take a peek through the fence. I'd actually never seen or been to Stonehenge before.

My view of Stonehenge, the first sight of it on the hill from the A303 travelling south was spectacular. It was actually freezing at 8:30am and I was amused greatly by the fact someone was playing bongos and chanting inside the circle. Apart from myself there were 4 others, 2 of whom were Polish men who live in Liverpool on route to Southhampton. I know this because I asked them to take a photo of me. The photograph was so bad after I showed my friends I deleted it. My eyes were closed and my cheeks were at their chipmunk best, I looked like a 12 year old Polish girl on a school trip!


When I finally got in to deepest darkest Somerset on the Dorset border I joyfully saw sheep. I couldn't stop on the A303 to take the jumping lambs so when I hit a lane I thought I'd nip out and snap a photo because it felt so spring like and I was at one with the countryside. Actually the sheep and her lamb looked very disdainfully at me and if they were speaking plain English I think the translation might of been 'go away'.

'Hasn't she gone yet!'

Upon arrival at The Queens Arms I dumped my bag in my room, nabbed the lovely Jelly Tots and settled down with the girls to catch up on all their tales. We set off at 11:30am for our planned hike across the hills to the next village. Our destination was another pub and at 1:40pm we arrived for lunch.

Outside the pub was an amazing well decorated retro looking large shed. Where a Mr Harold F. Miles provides three services of carpentry, decorating and funeral directing. Harold is your man if you want a well crafted nicely painted coffin. I was suitable impressed with his ability to turn his hand to a few tasks, I immediately felt quite comfortable with my forthcoming patchwork quilt of dabbling in things and realised 'doing things' is the new way rather than a fixed job spec. Of course the building on its own didn't look as good without a model in the frame so Claire happily obliged as my country model in a Bond girl-esque pose.

Some of us decided to do another walk back to the Queens Arms which started off nicely enough but culminated with a big hill climb.

The stylish stylist Isobel Kershaw does nothing by halves and 'just because I'm in the country it doesn't mean standards have to slip and I'll wear wellies ' so that explains the muddy high heeled boots she stomped around in for miles.

I actually decided to try the barefoot walking thing as we ascended the hill. I've been intrigued by it for ages after reading about a barefoot shepherdess in Cumbria. I took off my socks and wellies and did it. It was utterly amazing. Isobel has a photo of me doing it which I haven't got yet but I will return to this subject again.

The climb was steep and the views across Somerset were exhilarating.

More sheep! I'd forgotten how much I liked them. I remember getting put off liking sheep when there was that dreadful Shaun the Sheep phase.

The Queens Arms is happy to supply you with a whole pig should you be so inclined.


I will miss the real fire.


And the sight of a very thoughtful hospitality, particularly the Sunday morning help yourself to a Bloody Mary with fresh horseradish to grate in to it!

Pleated and defeated

About six years ago I bought a pleated skirt from H&M that I loved. I wore it loads and swore I'd never part with it. It was a proper to the knee black full pleated skirt. Then I had the petit garcon and when I tried on my pleated skirt apres maternity clothes I sort of didn't like the way it accentuated my hips. In a fit of pique I either sold it on ebay or gave it to charity.

I miss that skirt and I'm continually searching for its replacement. And boy was it cheap at £24.99.

What I want is my old skirt, I don't want it longer than the knee or a much shorter version. In my mind on the knee or very slightly above is the perfect pitch for the pleats.

This number is nearly there from Topshop. I have two issues, one is that it might be too long and the second is the fact I'm on a style challenge so a high street purchase is out of the question.

Black pleated Midi skirt £38 Topshop

As they say oh...drat!

Simples

Everyone is following fast on the Phoebe Philo factor. Now ASOS never scared to bandwagon anything, thank goodness, are hot on her heels. Literally, or should that be figuratively, they are tugging at her leather skirt with ASOS WHITE.

A line dedicated to the shrine of minimalism (for minimalism read Philo) and a nod to every favourite fashion editors trend. Don't say what, say get me x, y and z in the bag now!

ASOS WHITE Silk Organza High Collar Blouse £60

Fashion Blogging forum Fortnight

Over the next two weeks this blog is turned over to research - yes exciting stuff! I will be asking you lot to give your views on a whole host of fashion, magazines, celebrity and blogging matters. Do take part even if it is only a one line comment. Your views and the dialogue it creates will form a snapshot of social history.

Microtrend?

Espadrilles seem to be offering men an alternative shoe of the summer despite the main trend being the deck shoes. They were worn by both men and women decades ago but of late mainly women have carried them on well outside of Catalan. I say Catalan because I always associate them with Barcelona and my favourite shop La Manual Alpargatera.

This image is from the inside of La Manual Alpargatera

I've nearly run out of my many pairs with these two pairs being left, a traditional flat pair and a lovely small wedge with a ribbon tie up.

Will you be wearing espadrilles this summer or do you know a guy who will be?

ASOS Men's suede espadrilles £25

High Street pick of the week

I give you the scenario - 3 stylists in a room critiquing a wannabee stylist on her choice of item. It was so a winner because all three of us instead of talking through and evaluating the whole outfit , were, where are they from and how much do they cost? This was after earlier dissing(can't believe I'm using this word) harem pants, in the sense they are quite difficult to wear, so, we were agog at this offering by Warehouse which offers a water downed harem, combined with an almost structured tailored trousers meets a pair of shorts and it works!





Recycled Silk Hareem Pant £60 Warehouse

Colour loves colour!

I say the above to my personal style students all the time even though I'm usually teaching them all in black - note to self wear colour!

One of my favourite magazines is Saturday's Guardian Weekend. And last Saturday Jess Cartner-Morley nearly broke my resolve to stay squeaky clean on the spending front!

The skirt is from Tommy Hillfiger, shoes from Russell & Bromley (£175), top from Salvatore Ferragmo (£132) and cardigan by Miu Miu (£195)

PS note to sub editors - stop using the future's orange ref anything orange coloured. Crikey it's been 14 years now since Orange branded the UK with the futures bright the futures Orange and every sub has exhausted it! Howz about 'there's no skirting the issue'!

If I were a rich girl...

I'd be shopping at Prada and Lanvin for my summer collection! My UK Vogue dropped through the door - it's on subscription via my business account and for the first time in ages I was glad of it for it's S/S09 runway selection. I'd forgotten all about the looks and as I tend to just reference blogs I'd not given style.com a whirl in ages. I loved the Prada and Lanvin collections which now look just peachy perfect for the coming spring/summer we hope to have! On the subject of British Vogue, it needs a shake up! The front cover with Cheryl Cole would be fab if it looked like her, but lovely as she is, what is she doing on and in Vogue mmm.




all images style.com

Smile through consumption crisis

I have to confess to rather neglecting my Fashion & Film blog and if I could find the extra time I'd be going to the gym instead as I need to! However, yesterday one of my lectures delivers a great insight into female transformation as portrayed by Hollywood.

I'm not going to give away too much seeing as our visiting lecturer has a book coming out about it sometime soon, I feel obliged to wait and go into more depth then!

But one film example we looked at played out the double whammy of transformation and consumption comprehensively in the opening sequence - Thoroughly Modern Millie Now I love this film despite it's 1960s interpretation of 1920s costumes. It is a totally uplifting, fun film. Interestingly musicals as a genre have remained very few and far between since the lifting of the Hays Code.

But back to the opening sequence...Julie Andrews as Millie undertakes a walk, a walk along a street that results in a complete transformation of her look. she loses her curls, long frock coat, big hat and lace up boots to become a flapper complete with cloche hat, bobbed hair, long beads and short dress. At each step of her transformation Millie appears from the relevant places, hairdressers, dress shop etc extremely happy until she spies something else that is missing. She loses the smile on her face and her walk slows down as the realisation of not having it quite right dawns upon her.

And there we have it the perfect juxtaposition of looking good and never being completely satisfied...there is always something else. This is pure consumption. We are caught up in the consumption process and that's why we are never quite satisfied. Always looking for the perfect handbag, lipstick or dress that will make us complete.

Trend consumption

It's official I'm so pooooorly with the most hideous cough that makes me sound like I have consumption! Not to mention my voice which is barely there, all though the girls in Jospeh said it sounded sexy and Spanish.

I'm going to write this blog, comment on as many blogs as I can muster and then join oblivion for a few days to regain my good health.....So I'm continuing with a bit of a discourse on trends in relation to fashion. Now there were a few comment on trends and how you need a trend fix which I completely agree with. I think I should have put 'multiple trends' in the sentence 'only buy things you love rather than get caught up in trend fever'.

The trouble with trend fever is you sort of get sold a trend or feel compelled to adopt a trend to conform. I've been a sponge to cultural studies as part of my MA. I have to attend a unit called 'Approaches to Contemporary Fashion' and this week we study Barthes and semiotics. I won't go into it in great detail but distill the relevant points with regard to my advocacy of slow fashion.

The bit we all forget about fashion (garments, furniture, art) in society is that it is all about marketing. Because in fairness if you produce something you want it to sell. Trends in fashion get constructed, visual pictures of fashion garments and editorial with descriptive words sells us fashion. For example you might see a picture of a dress and think it is nice but an editorial piece might refer to it as a dress for dinner and you then contextualise that image in reference to wearing it for only a dinner date. Same with clothes labelled for summer, holiday, winter, skiing etc.

Barthes would argue that signs, have significance that becomes constructed by society and his argument extends to mass culture as manipulating people. He later revisited his work on Mythologies and gave more credit to the reader of signs choosing how they engage with text/image.

Where is all this going .....well when it comes to making do, you have to be quite brave, quite an individual to step out of mass consumption and the creation of trends which have a short shelf life. It is particularly hard when if you love fashion, adopting a trend gives you a reference for the now. But it is important not to get caught up in trends too easily as you will consume more than you need, so do fall for and enjoy a trend that captures your imagination but don't let trends consume your individuality.

And on that note, I'm ignoring marketing ploys to remedy my cold, all those over priced sachets and reverting to a make do hot toddy. Well I can boil the kettle, squeeze a lemon in and add a wee dram of whiskey from the bottle that sits in the cupboard gathering dust. I'll save my pennies to indulge a fashion trend thank you very much!

Blogosphere enters my head during lecture

Isn't it funny how worlds collide? During my 'approaches to contemporary fashion' lecture yesterday, I learnt something amazing which sort of answers a discussion posed by Skylark and Son in a recent post. Now, it could be argued that I knew this already but if I did I'd would not have been able to put it into context.

The lovely Skylark raised the issue of dualism by debating how to dress as an individual but also to 'fit in' with where she will be living. Dualism denotes a state of two parts, so movement and stillness, production and consumption, feminine and masculine. In fashion and society we constantly look for reconciliation between like and difference. Individuals are caught between dualism and trying to resolve this. Fashion is about being different and 'like'. the like, is a trend, being now, whilst different is individual expression with fashion. Fashion, the same clothes in context of trends (and I'm not talking hot looks, high fashion but similar style) allows us all to be in society, and yet fashion is always renewing and changing - this moves us forward.

The dualism of the individual taste versus societies taste (and value) is the hardest bit when you want to be and are being creative. Wearing items that are slightly autre exposes you and sets you apart except if you are surrounded by others equally autre.

Gosh lots to explore, this was just the tip and as the Marxists say - the dominant culture is that decided by the dominant people in society.

Fan Capellino classic

(front row bloggers at LFweekend show)

The London Fashion Weekend is a mixed bag when it comes to sample sales and other bits and bobs. Undoubtedly it is a great day out and if you save your pennies there are some great bargains to be had.

Being the penniless student I did part with £10 on a Melissa Odabash black long sleeve tee with a collar and button down, plus two pockets. The material and quality is fantastic and I wish I'd bought one in white too.

However my discovery du jour was a forgotten love Ally Capellino. How could I have forgotten this! I realise I've been so caught up in the head lights of fast fashion and top trends that old favs have been relegated to the Vauxhall Conference League (non Brits this is football league a far few rungs behind the Premiership- again of no use really if you know nothing or care not for football!). I need to compile a list of staple stores to give me some slow loving items rather than lusty moments.

Which fits in neatly with my new cause - SLOW FASHION, remember you heard it here first!

In the world of food there has been a return of sorts to the 'old ways'. It started with a bit of organic veg, moved on to free range pigs and has ended up with a country awash with Farmers Markets and a return to eating proper food, stuff you've gathered your ingredients for and cooked.

The slow food movement is concerned with local produced and banishing fast convenient food.
The health benefits are enormous and lots of other things too.
So what's the link? Well it made me think fashion needed to think like this too. I'm not advocating the end of trends, new designs, direction and the shows, heaven forbid! Not all fast food impacts are bad news, for goodness sake where would we be without the convenience of take away coffee. Fashion is about creativity and new adventures and that's not just the cut but the fabric. BUT, would it hurt to reclaim an element of staples, a few basic items, some classic cuts that remain whilst all around changes. Some foundation pieces that represent the designers cut and ethos but deliver not for a season but for a few years. Take these Chanel tights...



....I would love for them to remain as a Chanel staple. Does this reduce their cache? Does it impact on the Chanel brand or its value? I don't know but as a consumer I need some certainty in my wardrobe as well as the latest must have. Is that too much to ask?

I got to thinking...

(Sorry for faux Carrie title, thanks Coco!) ...but is the credit crunch such a a bad thing? I'm not talking about hard times here or the impact of rising prices on people's spending power - that's a whole other area.

I'm more concerned with the impact on design. If we become more selective in our purchases due to available funds will we be looking for more inspiration or playing it safe? Will designers go for glory to create demand or will they worry about the bottom line and risk taking?

The coming shows might give us an indication of what's to come. And if the designers don't deliver will the street take charge and set the pace? What do you think?

Favourtie things...

Cricket. My confession to a private passion is cricket. I've always loved cricket and I even badgered my way into the boys cricket team at school. I wasn't allowed to play in competition matches just friendlies.

My favourite occupation is a day at the Oval watching Surrey play and when I can get them test match tickets. Suddenly this closet and covert indulgence is being pushed to the fore with a resurgence in cricket clothing, more specifically cricket jumpers.

With the release of Brideshead Revisited in the States this weekend expect a keen interest in cable knits and fair isle numbers. For girls that want one now then pop into John Lewis childrens wear and get a reasonably priced one to customise.

For the genuine fashion number try Ralph Lauren, Gant or cricket specialist wear in sports shops or on line.

Fashion Focus - part 1

After my delightful day out in Brighton to discuss fonts and design for all of 5 mins, it was back to hard work. Yesterday I set about a full on fashion focus to get me back in the swing of things. I'm definitely suffering from holiday malaise, that's the trouble with being freelance you need a proper work environment to shake you out of your bubble.

Anyway I planned a day of retail research - what stock is in etc. I did a thorough rekkie of M&S which I'll report on tomorrow. Then later on I attended Elle Magazine's How to Spot a Trend event at the Barbican, again I'll do a write up over the weekend.

Given that many of you bloggers have ben highlighting or publishing photos of a little jeans trend, namely Katie Holmes and Rachel Bilson, to name a couple, wearing rolled up boyfriend jeans. Well I though I ought to give it a whirl. In the name of the street and experimnetation I braved my cycle, the overground, the tube, the crowds of Oxford Street and the watchful gaze of four fashion journos. Now I didn't have a penny/cent to go out and buy a pair so I grabbed Mr Make Do&Mend's jeans handily with a knee hole due to being worn. Bearing in mind I've mentioned a few times they are too big for him then they were a tad large for me, but when has ridicule prevented me from boldly going.... anyway I decided I would just do it.

In fact I was technically channeling the original 80s vanguard of this look - Bananarama - no sniggering Observationmode! In reality my boyfriend rolled up jeans were also bordering on harem pants, plus a tad too high waisted! They didn't have an sleekness you'd get from a fitted pair but the vibe was the same.

I paired the jeans with a See by Chloe top and a studded belt. On my feet a pair of Pierre Hardy's designer shoe for Gap. With a sense of foreboding I set forth into the fashion highway - the street. I did adopt a 'you say anything about my jeans and you're toast' attitude.

Against the sea of gladiator sandals, summer dresses, leggings, tights, shorts and short skirts teemed with check shirts - I was the only jeans crusader from Selfridges to Urban Outfitters. A brief sojourn into the London College of Fashion took me away from the crowds and a safe environment. I braved Topshop and got a willing person to take a pic of me in the fashion tourist mecca - in fact Alex Gerard (nee Curran) WAG to Steven Gerard was in with friend. I have to say the WAG look is so outdated - or was that just me being sooo fashion forward. Anyway bet you any money she'll be papped in rolled up boyfriend jeans soon.

Catching the tube to the Barbican at rush hour I did notice lots of women of all ages checking the jeans out - either in horror or wonderment, it is such a departure from skinnies. As I walked to the front of the talk, the Elle team couldn't have missed me, god only knows what they thought!

Would I wear them again - well I've broken in the look, officially! But honestly I need some proper fitting ones. The tip is to lose the exaggerated -ness of the 80s when there were no boyfriend jeans for women - just your boyfriends and get a good fitted pair. Oh and maybe wait a month or two because trail blazing ain't for wimps.

Here's the evidence (warning laughter is a probability!)

Late bloomers

If you think florals are just for the sunshine then think again.

A big trend for A/W 08 is the winter garden. Good news for those who
need to get more unit cost per wear out of your summer florals. Just team
with black and add feathers to complete the look.

Aquascutum, image: style.com

Gucci, image: style.com

Be prepared for trend bombardment

It's the time of year when catwalk reports will abound and some of us will be drawn into the world of trend bombardment. Resistance is futile or is it!

I've done my homework, checked my funds and sorted my wardrobe (I have a cute Chanel resort bag to list on ebay but isn't happening, I'll spare you the ebay rant). I viewed and appraised the catwalk collections and all the wonderful blogs.

Two things spring to mind immediately. I lack some colour for my winter wardrobe. It truly is a sea of grey and black, plus two green items! Dior, has persuaded me that I am in need of purple and red.

D&G have resurrected the headscarf to great effect but I've always worn them and thankfully my preferred option of tied round head is looking a goer this season without looking like I'm going out for a grouse shoot. I'm passing on tartan and plaid - sorry it never features in my life except for discreet blue watch neck scarf (for grouse shoots - joking) which has now been borrowed by my 2 year old. It looks more fetching on a little boy when wearing pea coat.

From Balenciaga to Prada the nod to all women to embrace a blouse is something I can't resist and am whole heatedly embracing - can't wait! Vuitton have made much use of costume jewellery and in the absence of any real direction and the wonderful array of jewellery worn by Mary Portas (Mary, queen of Shops) this is a winning choice.

The rest well, lace not sure yet and winter white in London on the tube - forget it!

There is one clear trend that I'm happy to be bombarded with - flat shoes.

images: style.com, kurt geiger

Over gladiators

There is a lovely piece by Observationmode on gladiator sandals. Upon which my comment was basically done them, over them and am resurrecting my Jack Rogers Navajo gold sandals. They are a bit tatty but a buff polish will sort that out.

You can only get them in the USA, I think someone briefly stocked them in London a few years ago.

I wasn't being mean about gladiators as for years, in fact every year I've worn a pair but when my beloved ones of the last few years wore out I decided not to replace them with any of this years choice. I don't think you can survive a summer without flats so check out Observationmode for a comprehensive choice of both flats and heels.

Jack Rogers Navajo sandals image www.navajosandals.com