Does your underwear determine your style?

I got to thinking that, is what you wear under your clothes, as defining as the image you portray to the world? Only a few weeks ago a friend remarked how she didn't understand why people didn't have matching underwear.

I nearly choked on my calamari and muttered something incomprehensible, gesticulating my mouth was full. I used the nodding head and wide eyes in agreement look to disguise my bra and pants were of the non matching kind.

In my world a proper fitting bra is paramount and yes, at times, I do wear black pants with black bra, white pants to white bra etc. However, they are not necessarily a matching set and I'll quite happily wear any colour knickers with my bras. My pants draw consists of one purple pair of pants that match my recently purchased purple bra, the rest are a white, black, flesh, red, blue, pink mix of boy shorts. I love boy short/camisole knicker cut. They are all mostly pretty with lace or lacy in design. I love cotton and tend to buy them in M&S.

I do think that I fall into the Amy Winehouse/Patricia Field camp when it comes to underwear - ok now someone is going to tell me Ms Field wouldn't be seen dead without her matching pure silk undies - ditto for Amy. Basically I prefer my bras to pants. I worry about bras and like to wear brightly coloured ones that show - hence purple number - with the right outfit.

When it comes to underwear I'm a tomboy that occasionally plays tiger. How about you?

Enrollment day!

I was very happy last Thursday when the London College of Fashion offered me a place on their MA in Fashion and Film.

After graduating many moons ago I swore I wouldn't even undertake a course in basket weaving but my resolve broke and a few short courses and evening classes later I got my act together and submitted my application form for the MA course.

Today is enrollment day for me and open day for many others. I hope that Mrs Fashion occassionally still reads blogs as it was her invaluable advice that helped me make my choice!

Tired old moi

Doing a round trip of 525 miles in the name of fashion ain't much fun. In fact myself and the make up artist eating at Burger King at 7pm at a service station on the M6 on midsummer's night isn't and hasn't ever been on my top 10 list of things to do. The fashion assistant was a good girl and ate a perfectly respectable M&S pasta salad. The make up artist and I also did M&S but only the Percy Pigs!

Today I'm snuggling up on the settee and reading yesterdays Guardian and todays Sunday Times - phew! And don't tell anyone that I ate at Burger King.

Tagged:Seven Songs for Spring

Disney Roller Girl tagged me good and proper to reveal my 7 songs for Spring.

This set me off on a You Tube dallience of which downloading videos and uploading to my blog proved to be a techno step to overcome. I choose not to ransack my iPod for my top seven as my selection of Amy Winhouse, Mark Ronson, Kayne West, Stereophonics, All Saints have sat there unchallenged due to complete laziness.

The choices by Disney Roller Girl set me off an trip down memory lane and also nearly a tear as I had to part with my LPs and singles during our move from Bristol to London. Downsizing and clearing out were the top issues at the time- agh!

Still here's mine, eclectic and diverse

Hong Kong Garden: Siouxsie and the Banshees

Should I stay or should I go: The Clash

Down in the tube station at Midnight: The Jam

Unfinished Symphony: Massive Attack

I try: Macy Gray

Could it be Magic: Take That

Say what you want: Texas ( I choose the vid for pure Sharleen Spiteri oggling - she is just the coolest!)

Now all I have to do is upload them to iPod and continue the spirit and rules of the game as dictated and therefore request 7 fellow bloggers to list their 7 songs for spring.

http://sharonrosepixie.blogspot.com/

http://thefashionassistant.wordpress.com/

http://squareoldsoul.blogspot.com/

http://www.mudonmyteadress.blogspot.com/

http://cupcakesandcashmere.com/

http://everybodysaysdont.blogspot.com/

http://deliciousindustries.blogspot.com/

Sales are upon us!

It is starting with a little trickle but will fully blossom next week.
High Street stores such as H&M already have a few rails
On-line, Matches have already begun their sale, with new designer items being added daily all of next week.
Selfridges begins on this weekend.

Normally, I caution sales as too much stock is stuff that no one wanted ..with the exception of bags, jewellary and shoes. BUT, this time, oh there are veritable bargains to be had. There are some lovely duster coats in the DKNY concession at Selfridges currently retailing at £380, come Sunday 22nd they'll be down.

Do your research, work out your budget. Put on comfy flats and take a bottle of water. Have fun!

Grown up choices

Now if I'd been a smarter shopper this year and planned my wardrobe better then I would be whooping for joy and parting with my hard earned pennies for this little number.

DKNY Pleated cummerbund dress £210

The Net-a- Porter description is pure grown up delight 'Navy instantly gives an air of elegance and combined with the intricate pleating and cummerbund this is a classy cocktail dress that can be pared down with sandals for a chic grown-up day look. Exchange the cummerbund for a belt to add color.'

If I had the funds to purchase this dress then I wouldn't be sharing with you!

This would fall into the 50 essential wardrobe buys probably under the category of day dress or understated evening dress for gallery opening invitation (as if!)

Ascot Attire

For those of you who are off to Ascot, no doubt you've been alerted to the enclosure dress code - see Disney Roller Girl

Your best option to look good and refrain from recent modern shows of distaste is to chanel either these lovely ladies sitting pretty in 1960 or my three stylish gals in my blog banner.

image: Vogue ArtGroup photographer Henry Clarke

Little beuts!

Much as I love my high heels, I've always been a bit of a flats girl.
(see Observationmode poll)
I found these little beauties a few years ago in a boutique in Copenhagen. I've actually never wore them but I feel as if their moment of glory is nigh.

I'm hoping for a glamorous dinner date or an invite to some supper and cocktails number.


Now I have a quite chic shortish black dress (a veritable £29.99 bargin from H&M), which provides the perfect background for adornements, I'm going to go out loud and proud in these.

I'll just have to make sure I do a great fake tan number not to let the shoes down.

PS - it's a mirror image, I've not got ridiculous wonkey legs or weirdy feet, though my toes are quite fugly so they appreciate a shoe of this style.

Perfect pins at any cost?

If I were a man, I reckon I'd be a leg man. I just love a perfect set of pins. The sort of legs that really look good in dresses and skirts. Think Elle McPherson or Giscelle. Good thighs, toned and shapely, long slim calves and defined ankles. You have to know the shape of your legs so you can wear the right skirt, (although pencil works on many levels for all) and get your leggings postioned in the right place for showing off your legs. Then there are shoes, got to make sure ankles look good in them etc... I could go on.

I'm not a leg sizeist, just admire good legs, that was until I saw the Prada Resort/Cruise collection. It is a gorgeous little collection that is pure Miuccia Prada. You know she wants to or wears every little item - it is her expression of self and it is delightful. The clothes, the jewellary and the shoes need no thought. It is a simple well structured collection for women. Yet... why has she selected models whose legs remind me of being 9 years old. I had sparrows legs as a child and the knobbliest knees to boot. It was ok as a 9 year old and yes it was a shock at 15 to get thighs but believe me I wouldn't trade my female thighs for that of a sparrow.

I have to say I was appalled when I saw this shot because this models calves are thicker than her thighs. I don't believe for one minute these legs haven't been produced by some starvation programme but that's all I'll say on the matter.

I loved the black shoes throughout the Prada collection. Two quite similar pairs of which I spotted in M&S in the Autograph Weekend and Autograph section. Now, M&S shoes ar not crafted by Italians but they are certainly a make do option.

This mid heel pointed court retails at £39.50 - someone please explain the 50p.

It actual looks good on and flatters the foot.

The next pair are shown in nudeish colour but are available in black.

These are clever little numbers borrowing a trick from the Italians of nice shock absorbers on the sole.

Autograph Weekend Bow detail Driving Pumps £35 - the title is very Cruise/Resort - get these little critters now in black for S/S2009.

Purse string perfect

Whilst I'm not quite brave enough to abstain from spending any money on clothing for a period of time i.e. one year or six months, I do set budgets. The budget for clothes etc. this month is zero, as it is for next month. This is due to an overspend last month. If I have an overspend that means something went on the credit card so I must pay it off first.

I'm quite miserly with my credit card it has a limit of £1000, and the only reason it isn't lower is because they won't do less than the limit I have. I'd have to go on some credit card which was for people who couldn't be trusted with their money due to bad debts, (hello - why do you think low limits are good!) and pay very high monthly interest.

On my wish list is a new bikini top and a pair of fit flops (yes I know style wise hideous, but it might help to keep pin perfect, I figured they'd useful for in betwen places and nursery jaunts).

In a complete grown up fashion I've hidden my credit card (well hubbie has) until then end of the month. I've allocatted myself some cash for the next few weeks and have a zip purse which has enough room for coins and notes - no cards.