Thought for the week - quality v quantity part 2

Thank you for your contributions to this debate - which as ever are inconclusive! I mean this in a positive way because in one sense the phrase 'what is one man's pleasure is another man's poison' is as applicable for fashion as anything. The good thing is we do as we please to a certain extent. We take what we believe to fit into out lives and apply accordingly or even just do as we please.

So, this week I'm going to ask you for your top five items that you would spend serious money on - the things of quality you would buy to keep forever.

High Street Pick of the Week - Christmas gift ideas

I don't mean to encourage anyone to drink but I can't recommend the wonderful writing on wines and other drink by Victoria Moore,enough. After many years of reading and trying her recommendations - she has a column every Saturday in the Guardian Weekend, I can vouch and attest for her wonderful palette. Her £8.99 book available from Toast is a worthy contender for a Christmas gift. Not fashion but hey what's fashion without the occasional tipple.

Just as I finish my dissertation...

...yes, yes, bar the final few bits of proofing and the typesetting offer from the marvellous Delicious Industries, I done it!! 'That Red Dress Moment - Hollywood’s continuing love affair with the red dress, the ultimate motif for narrative change and character revelation' is complete.

Having 'nailed it' I decided to indulge in browsing and imagine my surprise when The Times current fashion slide show happens to be the red dress.
This Vionnet number is my favourite. I saw the model in a red dress on another blog (don't remember which one as my mind is on halt mode) and didn't even register the fact as the discussion was how lovely the female model is ... and she is.

30% off everything at my-wardrobe

Hot off the press and in to my inbox is the news that my-wardrobe are having a...

SPECIAL WEEKEND OFFER: 30% OFF, INCLUDING ALL BRANDS

We are doing a special weekend treat and offering a 30% discount on all our brands only excluding sales items.

So now is the time to get shopping Partydresses and Christmas Presents, spread the love!

The code is MWFF, just enter it in at checkout for a 30% off, Enjoy!

And this is in lieu of any bloggy thoughts I might have although I've nearly finished the dissertation, only abstract and acknowledgements to go!!

Ugly Betty's Claire Meade

Whatever Ugly Betty season we are watching on Channel 4, we will be behind the States.

However I'm lovin' Claire Mead's outfits. I cannot find a photo of my favourite outfit but am sharing these. Patricia Field is doing a great job, far better than she did on the SATC movie.

images from ABC.com

Awards

I was very lucky to receive three awards from Wife in the City the other day.
This is very nice and also it gets me out of the hole which is proper posting (only a week to go on the MA front, I've got no library fines so fingers crossed I'll get a Masters).
I will be fully focused again after 4th December.





The over the top award has a question list to answer

1. Your hair: wavy bed head (not by choice) shoulder length

2. Your favourite food: Spaghetti Bolognese

3. Your dream from last night: Rewording the conclusion to my dissertation.

4. Your favourite drink: Dirty Martini

5. What room are you in: kitchen

6. What is your hobby: forgotten due to dissertation

7. What is your fear: being bitten by a snake

8. Where do you want to be in 6 years: Surbiton - I'm deadly serious!

9. Where were you last night: At home typing amendments!

10. Muffins: Blueberry

11. Last thing you did: Revise dissertation

12. What are you wearing: probably dressing gown and pj's I've lost the will/ability to dress
13. Your TV: X Factor, Ugly Betty

14. Vehicle: My Pashley bicycle

15. Your favourite store: Selfridges & Oasis
16. Your favourite colour: Red

17. When's the last time you laughed: All the time all though currently this might be due to despair or my grammar

18. When's the last time you cried: Currently I'm bereft of tears just experiencing tension!
19. Your best friend: Mr MDS and Mrs Miggins (not her real name!)

20. Favourite place to eat: Balthazar, NYC

I'm sure I'm meant to pass this on but I'm befuddled with words like hegemony...so help yourself!

Roast update!

Roast have apologised for our experience and offered a £50 voucher for lunch and dinner. I'm letting Mr MDS be the decision maker on this one so I expect he'll be booking a table faster than you can say roast!

Thought for the week - quality v quantity part 1

Over the next few weeks I would like to debate this issue on the blog and today's post is just to kick the debate off.

There are two elements to the quality v quantity rationale. One is obviously it is deemed to be better to have a wardrobe of quality items that will last you years rather than lots and lots of cheaper disposable items. The quality angle is now perceived as more environmentally favourable adding weight to the debate of less is more.

However the other aspect of this debate is that of wealth and class - does the quality debate denote status/breeding(class)/intelligence versus the masses/lack of breeding/ignorance.

When you buy an item of quality do you feel superior style/fashion wise?

Market Trading

Don't worry I'm not going to be spouting hedge funds and derivatives at you. In fact this is taster of an interview to come, I'll be tackling it after ...well you know!

I was forced on Saturday to nip to the bike shop after some idiot stole my back bike light which is worth all of £6 and managed to break the child seat for petit garcon which costs £71. The poor boy had to go on his scooter, whilst I pushed my bike and I promised him some new pyjamas - Ben 10 ones. He did try to negotiate Caffe Nero too but I told him to choose between pyjamas or Caffe Nero. He choose pyjamas but I still lost out as I also bought him some Scooby Doo slippers.

The bonus was as we walked to and fro from the bike stands, our thorough fare M&S was doling out free samples of champagne and biscuit tin selections. Two thimblefuls of champagne later for moi and biscuit each way for the boy made me stop and browse the market stalls outside M&S.

The stall I'm fascinated with is a mix of faux fur, second hand coats, denim and sheepskins. I asked the lady who runs the stall if I could do a proper interview with her as I realised designers, retailers, the internet, pop up shops and vintage/second hand shops all get a look in but not market trading. I'm curious to find out more....the stall is at Wimbledon every Sunday, Epsom every Saturday and Kempton Races and somewhere else in the week, which has escaped my memory as I quickly asked her (don't know the persons name yet) before the garcon scooted off.

High Street Pick of the Week - Christmas gift ideas

In the run up to Christmas, I'll select potential gifts for friends and family from the high street or where necessary the internet too.

I'm starting with my favourite internet site for t-shirts for the man in your life, brother, dad etc.
The Shot Dead in the Head site possibly has some of the funniest t-shirts around but in good designs and very good quality cotton without costing a fortune. This is the key, t-shirts are rubbish unless well executed. Plus t-shirts are great for guys they need them for the weekend!
Whatever they are into then there is a tee for them. The football stand t- shirt collections are a subtle way of advertising your team without resorting to a replica top!

They've just introduce The Wire to the tv and film section.

One of the selection of music tees