Do you have your invite to intimate fashion elitism?

Two years ago I wrote an essay about Sofia Coppola. In my research I found her swapping whose attention she had at a young age according to who was in fashion and what she was promoting. Once she mentioned Yves San Laurant another time it was a significant film person and without re-reading my essay I can't recall who it was.

I got the sense that Sofia and Marc Jacob were driven by mentionitis and discovering and admiring obscure music/artists/anything. Always the referencing to something/someone was key.

Then I read an article in the New York Times which hints at a new way of exuding exclusivity and an elitist view. This time the reference has a retrospective feel of recreating the past in all its elitist best. The masses can enjoy a youtube video afterwards. If Tom Ford is setting a new benchmark then expect a more selective viewing panel at more shows in the future.



Whilst I actually feel for fashion editors and buyers who on occasion have been sidelined by fashion bloggers and the advent of more front row celebs - I suspect that the mass marketing of designers and luxury goods has created a need to raise the bar and they have had a hand in that with unquestioning fashion editorial.

Does this bar mean that more deep breaths will be required for those not invited to certain shows? Will the public have rich heiresses or rich anyone shoved down our throats as attendees?

All that I do know is that the changes are coming and these are about redefining fashion and taste.

As Sister Wolf perceptively tweeted 'What good is fashion if EVERYONE can have it.'

Style Yourself Gorgeous

My friend uber personal stylist Isobel Kershaw is running a one day Style Yourself Gorgeous on Friday the 11th of March in a Covent Garden location.

There is a 20% discount until the 14th of February, the full cost is £250 so that is a make do saving of £50!

It will be a great way to become your very own top notch personal stylist - go with a friend to have fun day out.

In which the petit garcon does good for blogging

Despite his misgivings of his mama wearing a turban the petit garcon did his very 5 year old best to take photos of me.

I wanted to show off the gorgeous housecoat Vintage Vixen sent to me last week. I love it! It won't make me a better home maker but a more stylish one. The housecoat just cried out for a turban.

So after picking up the younger MDS from school we got the required photographs - albeit a bit wobbly!

the lipstick is Runway Rouge by Arbonne
(feel free to email me about any Arbonne information/products)

I'm ruined

What with the indomitable and wonderful Mary Portas with Channel 4's Secret Shopper (9pm Wednesday's) and my style challenge, (yes I know I fell off the wagon but more of that in another post) suddenly the high street is ruined for me.

Yesterday after my interview for an arts magazine, full of joie de vivre as the French say or hwyl as we Welsh say, I plunged into first John Lewis (mainly to use their toliets) and then Zara. Now I can't knock John Lewis on their service, though occasionally it borders in to arrogance or patronising, but they can never seem to get their fashion buying really spot on. It is better and the layout in Oxford St is 100 times better than before but the sight of all those clothes still depressed me and the shoe area seems to have gone backwards in its stock. But I love their tights section and other accessories downstairs and the rest of their store but the fashion bit leaves me cold and stressed!

When Sharon and I went mental in Knightsbridge, okay maybe only I did, I saw a lovely polka dot top in Zara but I'd already blown the budget. I thought I thought I would return and try it on. Of course I picked up some other items to try as well. The whole experience was hideous.In part, my body shape is changing as I get older so I can't blame the sizing issue on Zara but the cuts differ wildly so you never know what to go for. You are only allowed six items to take in (I had 9) and they can't hold them for you so you can swap them in and out. I managed to change very quickly , put things on and swap over to the items on the rail ready to go back into the shop. This is where they put your items so if the person clearing up the rail is swift and organised you are stuffed. In short the other items were ill fitting, poor quality and the polka top was ok.

I then had to queue for ages as they only had two people on the five tills and both were dealing with returns/exchange stuff. Not a word of apology, no eye contact, talking to colleague and so I refused a Zara bag and put the top in my own bag.

I realised that I can not be bothered to go through that again. I've had it with high street shopping. I admit I'm used to shopping for my clients in Selfridges, Harrods, Harvey Nicks, Bond St and Browns but most of their items are out of my price range, although where they are not I will choose to shop their first and the lovely Fenwicks. I get my designer fixes from TK Maxx (where I expect nothing ref customer serivce and they are always really nice) and the Outnet.

Which is why online shopping is a better fit and more fun. No hassle other than returns and companies like ASOS make this a doodle now. And especially when you can get what you want - behold my £12 ASOS turban!!


I love it!! Excuse the poor photo taking with my iphone. I truly need a photographer at my beck and call. Although I'm dreading seeing yesterday's photo shoot of me.

My other delivery was a rug which I'd ordered with some Christmas vouchers I was given. It is so soft and fluffy the petit garcon is in rug heaven, he declared the arrival of the rug 'really exciting' and has been found on it every since!




And I'm ruining my little boy with fab ice lollies!

Normal service will resume...

Well as normal as I can get that is. It has been a right hectic few weeks and I can see light at the end of the tunnel. Soon I will be doing a big push on finishing the film script meanwhile I have to juggle styling, fashion copy deadlines and pushing skincare and cosmetics. Not to mention the petit garcon.

Last week due to writing I mainly looked liked a pile of jumpers with legs poking out. I went in to a rationing policy due to the gas and electricity bill, deciding it was better to work in layers rather than waste another penny on heating in the day. There is nothing worse than looking like a bag lady in your home.



As I started the week on a low I thought why raise the standards, go mad instead. So with all copy filed by Thursday night I needed a swim on Friday after the school run. I spent the day annoying people with my Welsh flag miniskirt. It was a great talking point for good or bad and proof that what you wear does count.


Obviously the next day after suffering defeat in Cardiff (not me personally but the Welsh rugby team) at the hands of England, I had to carry on with my life in England so in a steadfast fashion I focussed on budgetary matters. I set about planning our meals for the month and then worked out our shopping list for the month. This was a brilliant move as it saved pounds and still allowed a cheeky bottle of champagne in the trolley for Valentines night. This is the evening I give in to Mr MDS and join him in a steak. Feeling a mix of organised and batty due to full on birds nest hair, I channelled Helen Bonham-Carter (it seems quite topical) for my shop. I shoved up my hair any old how, added red lipstick and decided on a Kate Moss for Topshop maxi skirt rather than skinny jeans to go with sensible attire on top. I felt I broke out of the supermarket run look and intend to dress up even more the next time.



My best read of the week was the Vogue interview with Miuccia Prada written by Lisa Armstrong. I'm glad now I've still got a Vogue subscription on the basis of this interview. I decided that Lisa Armstrong, Katie Grand, Miuccia Prada and Hilary Alexander would be my dream dinner party guests if the Guardian Weekend were to ask. My worst read was The White Company catalogue. I realised that apart from putting the petit garcon in decent pyjamas in all other respect my domestic life was wanting. I long for that housekeeper look order that eludes me.



Today, I'm of to be interviewed on my specialist subject fashion and film. And I promise I will focus back on style matters rather than me, as I shape the blog back in to ...well, shape. Bit like my endeavours with my fat hips.

High Street Pick of the Week - The 2011 Style File

The wedge is an essential for a stylish wardrobe and is a key ingredient to any 1930s or 1970s pastiche or hommage.

It has been a long held wish of mine to own a Chloe pair - a girl has to dream!


This season the wedge takes on flatter form -some are calling it the 'flatform' but to you and me it is a wedge with a newish twist.

In lieu of a lottery win Mrs MDS is rather taken with these from Office - no picture folks due to silly website not allowing image saving nor having all their pieces on PRShots. Oh well - so click this link to take a peek. Let me know what you think! And do you have any favourites.

Where is London's most iconic film location?

When you think of a film and London, what location springs to mind?


Mrs MDS asks because on Monday she is being interviewed about fashion and film for a magazine and she is racking her brains for the best location for a photo! As well as tearing her hair out on what to wear...

images: copyright Kate Battick
usage rights: please credit as still from 'Dress Up' 2009 Kate Battrick

I wanna look like this

I've been flat out with deadlines and have lived in a pair of jeans, a thick jumper over a vest and a pashmina wrapped round my neck. We got the gas and electricity bills this week and I've gone cold turkey on the heating during the day as I tip tap on my laptop. I truly wish I could rise phoenix like in a stylish manner as any one of these favourites of mine!

Let's Dance

Ah good news! After a sterling effort by fashion bloggers the lovely Jennine Jacob of The Coveted has a smile back on her face after being advised of a graceful resolution.

I'm sure Jennine is skipping and dancing with glee, but in lieu of her efforts or mine I give you the petit garcon and his dancing upon hearing the news to Brazilian music in Nando's! (The piri piri salt on chips is a gulity pleasure of mine).

Bring on the colour

Yippee January is behind us, not long now until the daffodils come out to let us know Spring is on the way.

It seems Lanvin are friends of daffodils too with these eye popping (and price popping!) numbers.

Lanvin silk halterneck top £620 Matches

Lanvin gathered drape dress £1200 from Matches