Monday, 13 September 2010
Maxi,Midi,Mini - pendant purchases
Invariably the necklaces I really like are completely out of budget. Which is always a real shame as a good bit of jewellery can often enhance a look without much effort. Pendants always add a bit of nonchalance to a look. They suggest creativity even if you haven't got a creative bone in your body. Of course the rich pickings on Net-A-Porter suggest more creative bucks than your Topshop purchase. But at least with Topshop you can wear your pendant with attitude and your bank balance intact.
Sunday, 12 September 2010
What a dear
Last year I made no attempt to disguise my disdain for all digital prints of animals on t-shirts. The guerilla et al made me wince.
However in a glorious stroll across Richmond Park, with the sun shining and the young stags frolicking amongst the bracken and fern I wanted some deer action.
My favourite stocking filler presents and decorations at home are anything to do deer. My favourite place to fulfil my deer needs is Caravan in Redcliffe St, Shorditch. Emily, the owner is a fiend at sourcing lots of dear deer items. The shop is a wonderful browse but on-line there is always something lovely to add to a wish list, like this deer hook for £17.50
The trouble with looking around for presents for the impending 'C' season is I always seem to find things that Santa might want to bring me. This time I've tipped into an animal print tee but I assure you it is a million miles away from those I stuck my nose up at!
However in a glorious stroll across Richmond Park, with the sun shining and the young stags frolicking amongst the bracken and fern I wanted some deer action.
My favourite stocking filler presents and decorations at home are anything to do deer. My favourite place to fulfil my deer needs is Caravan in Redcliffe St, Shorditch. Emily, the owner is a fiend at sourcing lots of dear deer items. The shop is a wonderful browse but on-line there is always something lovely to add to a wish list, like this deer hook for £17.50
The trouble with looking around for presents for the impending 'C' season is I always seem to find things that Santa might want to bring me. This time I've tipped into an animal print tee but I assure you it is a million miles away from those I stuck my nose up at!
Saturday, 11 September 2010
High Street Pick of the Week
Officially I'm obsessed. I don't think I've ever had anything feathery not even a boa - though I am troubled at night by the chance I might have worn just one feather earring in my ear once upon a time.
Anyway back to the love... the feather clutch love. Simply just love 'em.
Anyway back to the love... the feather clutch love. Simply just love 'em.
Friday, 10 September 2010
Bye Bye BB
Will miss Davina and her wonderful wardrobe of black clothes. Love the fact she wore a red dress, and a sparkly on at that, for the final ever Big Brother.
Lets the Shows begin
And we are off....yes it starts in New York, fleetingly in London, then Milan and ends in Paris.
First up on Style.com was a Organic by John Patrick. Sweet and cute but dull is the edited, edited version. Actually they wrote a lot better than that, in the way you can dress up fashion show review copy.
It will be a never ending whirl of posts and pics for the next few weeks on the fashion blogosphere but for now I give you your new spring Sunday best. Then you won't moan when the big name shows looks are plastered everywhere, you be glad of the detail and spectacle!
dress: Organic by John Patrick image: Style.com
First up on Style.com was a Organic by John Patrick. Sweet and cute but dull is the edited, edited version. Actually they wrote a lot better than that, in the way you can dress up fashion show review copy.
It will be a never ending whirl of posts and pics for the next few weeks on the fashion blogosphere but for now I give you your new spring Sunday best. Then you won't moan when the big name shows looks are plastered everywhere, you be glad of the detail and spectacle!
dress: Organic by John Patrick image: Style.com
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Sharing the Nigella love
I'm not slacking on brain power but yesterday was full on with school run, writing (me) and tennis lessons (petit garcon). And after I read the comments I was struck by the 'curvy' girl lament. I say the same thing time and time again it is all about proportions and the need to find 'products' i.e. garments that suit your body shape and that includes body and leg length. I will do some more research and dispense more advice on what, why and where.
Meanwhile I give you Nigella in all her glory...
Meanwhile I give you Nigella in all her glory...
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Something I threw on...
I'm often asked about what to wear based on a more womanly shape. In some respect retailers are beginning to do something about it and let's be clear I'm not talking about size, I'm talking about shape. For too long the debate has been about size and weight. In truth neither are the issue, it is how you dress to suit you. One of my dearest friends who is renowned sports instructor - I don't like to say fitness as it doesn't cover her superior knowledge - always makes me laugh because if you get all bored with your clothes her answer is to say 'lose weight clothes always look better on then'.
In part this is true, mainly because fashion is all about the sinewy. Yet the supermodels aka Helen Christian, Cindy Crawford etc where all quite Amazonian. Tall with breasts, hips and bums. Sometimes I do get quite shocked when a 16 year old model confides that someone suggested she should lose weight. All because her legs were deemed a bit big around the top of the thigh. Luckily she was just looking for me to agree with her because it was a complete nonsense. She has a good head on her and wants to get her A levels before committing further to modelling.
But mainly it is our decision making in buying clothes that is more problematic than shape. I will agree that sizing of clothes is an issue when it comes to cut and availability. Other than designer clothes (believe me haute couture and sometimes ready to wear will do any size for the right price) high street cuts can be a minefield to negotiate.
You know the scenario, you've had kids, you are juggling home/work/school/activities/social life and the thought of shopping for clothes fills you with dread.
What you need is a dose of Nigella. I make no apologies of my love of Nigella. She is the most beautiful woman I've ever met in real life and I've met a bevvy of beauties. Her beauty is there on the outside but shines from the inside as well. I could gush for hours.
Portrait of Nigella Lawson by Jillian Edelstein. Exhibted in and available in postcard form as above from Roast Restaurant
My other dearest friend and godmother to the petit garcon worked at the BBC and always remarked of Nigella 'she's a big girl'. When I met her I couldn't comprehend why she'd been described in such a way. Compared to my friend, yes Nigella is taller, wider and fuller, but whilst the rest of the TV broadcasters lot often look like lollipops on sticks, she looked all woman.
Nigella wore, what is now deemed the Mad Men-esque look before Matthew Weiner had even written the first word. My only beef with her has been that denim jacket someone made her wear for one of her cooking series. And if I might be so bold, methinks Sophie Dahl has tried to emulate the look in her conversion to cookery.
Put simply the Nigella look is formulaic.
Good dress and nice shoes. If good dress is shift style then add good cardigan. Make sure your hair is wonderfully groomed and well maintained, plus flawless skin with enough make up to enhance. Maybe one piece or two of fine jewellery.
The essential ingredient is hair - as it is with Anna Wintour. For Anna Wintour read Nigella Lawson but on a smaller scale.
This is the classic Nigella look and truly it is timeless. You just have to know it is what suits best, and ignore trends (again ditto Anna). Confidence is 9/10ths of the law in clothes wearing!
Essential item the cardigan in merino wool or cashmere. Have in different colours and slightly differing cuts.
Essential item, the shift dress. Again have in differing cuts, an a-line version is a must. Never any longer than knee length. Black is an easy option but colour and print work wonders too.
Jaeger sleeveless jersey dress £125
In part this is true, mainly because fashion is all about the sinewy. Yet the supermodels aka Helen Christian, Cindy Crawford etc where all quite Amazonian. Tall with breasts, hips and bums. Sometimes I do get quite shocked when a 16 year old model confides that someone suggested she should lose weight. All because her legs were deemed a bit big around the top of the thigh. Luckily she was just looking for me to agree with her because it was a complete nonsense. She has a good head on her and wants to get her A levels before committing further to modelling.
But mainly it is our decision making in buying clothes that is more problematic than shape. I will agree that sizing of clothes is an issue when it comes to cut and availability. Other than designer clothes (believe me haute couture and sometimes ready to wear will do any size for the right price) high street cuts can be a minefield to negotiate.
You know the scenario, you've had kids, you are juggling home/work/school/activities/social life and the thought of shopping for clothes fills you with dread.
What you need is a dose of Nigella. I make no apologies of my love of Nigella. She is the most beautiful woman I've ever met in real life and I've met a bevvy of beauties. Her beauty is there on the outside but shines from the inside as well. I could gush for hours.
Portrait of Nigella Lawson by Jillian Edelstein. Exhibted in and available in postcard form as above from Roast Restaurant
My other dearest friend and godmother to the petit garcon worked at the BBC and always remarked of Nigella 'she's a big girl'. When I met her I couldn't comprehend why she'd been described in such a way. Compared to my friend, yes Nigella is taller, wider and fuller, but whilst the rest of the TV broadcasters lot often look like lollipops on sticks, she looked all woman.
Nigella wore, what is now deemed the Mad Men-esque look before Matthew Weiner had even written the first word. My only beef with her has been that denim jacket someone made her wear for one of her cooking series. And if I might be so bold, methinks Sophie Dahl has tried to emulate the look in her conversion to cookery.
Put simply the Nigella look is formulaic.
Good dress and nice shoes. If good dress is shift style then add good cardigan. Make sure your hair is wonderfully groomed and well maintained, plus flawless skin with enough make up to enhance. Maybe one piece or two of fine jewellery.
The essential ingredient is hair - as it is with Anna Wintour. For Anna Wintour read Nigella Lawson but on a smaller scale.
This is the classic Nigella look and truly it is timeless. You just have to know it is what suits best, and ignore trends (again ditto Anna). Confidence is 9/10ths of the law in clothes wearing!
Essential item the cardigan in merino wool or cashmere. Have in different colours and slightly differing cuts.
Essential item, the shift dress. Again have in differing cuts, an a-line version is a must. Never any longer than knee length. Black is an easy option but colour and print work wonders too.
Jaeger sleeveless jersey dress £125Essential item number 3, a good shoe. For evening and occasions wear a good court shoe. For day and weekend substitute with knee length boots or flat pumps/courts. Even at night some sexy suede knee length boots would look fab. Make sure they are tight and well made. Cute not clumpy.
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Why I won't be going to Fashion Night Out
I wrote a Fashion Night Out piece for an on-line 'zine a few months ago and I was really looking forward to it. It was such fun last year why would I not want to schlep around the West End again in search of champagne and canapes. My Liberty Manolo Blahnik pop up shop invite sits at the top of the pile and I really did intend to go for a Chanel manicure in a new limited edition Khaki.However a year on my carefree nature seems a world away. This is the first week of petit garcon going to school. Yes my little baby is now a young school boy! Last week I still thought I'd be hotfooting it out to Liberty, I even began to make arrangements 'to meet'. Then the BBC brought Mad Men forward and so that hits the HD screen at 10pm. I stilled continued to think I'd rush back to sit down and view the new series by 10pm, I couldn't bare not to wait any longer.
But after only two days of taking him to school I cannot bear to leave him even to the capable hands of Mr MDS. I'm too focused on him being completely settled and a proper home from school routine until bed at 7pm.
Forgive me Mr Blahnik and the rest I couldn't possibly leave such a bundle of joy. I'm sure you won't miss me but I would be missing my little boy.
But after only two days of taking him to school I cannot bear to leave him even to the capable hands of Mr MDS. I'm too focused on him being completely settled and a proper home from school routine until bed at 7pm.
Forgive me Mr Blahnik and the rest I couldn't possibly leave such a bundle of joy. I'm sure you won't miss me but I would be missing my little boy.
Interview outfit on a budget
What with Messers Cameron and Clegg pulling on the purse strings and those interviews getting harder to grab, a good interview look for the more traditional and professional sectors is a must. Then comes problemo deux, what to buy without wasting too much money.
Bearing in mind preferences, I've gone with a trouser/blouse combination or a dress look. The look is based on a pair of shoes from M&S, because these are so reasonably priced. I've kept the rest of the items as low as possible and offered readily available supermarket options if possible as a really budget option. The benefit of this outfit is, it is for your interviews only but if you nail the interview then it becomes your work outfit, job done!
Your choice of shoes affect how you style the selection of dresses. If you go with the court shoe then choose a cardigan with the shift dress and the snake print ones will lend more towards a jacket. I'll provide some options after the dress choices.
The supermarket alternative is from Tesco and it is a F&F tailored dress available in grey or black at an introductory offer of £22.
If you would prefer a colour then go for this M&S one in green at £45
If you prefer the snake print high heels with a shift dress then keep the look edgy with this Rivet detail cardi from ASOS at £30
Or this kimono style jacket from Topshop £45
I know it is a print but it has texture and will set you apart from the crowd. The real problem is when you look to buy a jacket under say £50, they can really look cheap. The grade of material says cheap. So, better to feel confident in something that looks the business but a bit more flamboyant than cheap tat.
If you going all Mad Men on me and grabbing those courts then a nice short proper cardi will do the trick. At £18 these two below from Dorothy Perkins offer great value and the choice just depends on personal preference! But go for a black one with a coloured shift dress.
Then the trousers ...
If you go with the snake skin heels then wear with ASOS twist front blouse £32 available in 3 colours but I would only choose the oyster or green for an interview.
With the courts I would wear the trousers with a boxy double breasted jacket like this blue mix one from ...yep.. M&S at £35 wear done up with a cami underneath. Add a brooch to liven it up.
Hard as I tried, lots of the supermarket items were lacking but there is no harm in looking when you are doing your groceries. I saw good pencil skirts in Sainsbury from £5 to £15 (shocking I know but needs must). All the above are for guidance to keep you focused on a simple but effective look. You will need a small bag too. Keep it neat like this one again from M&S but you could find something similar in a charity shop if you want to keep the cost down.
Bearing in mind preferences, I've gone with a trouser/blouse combination or a dress look. The look is based on a pair of shoes from M&S, because these are so reasonably priced. I've kept the rest of the items as low as possible and offered readily available supermarket options if possible as a really budget option. The benefit of this outfit is, it is for your interviews only but if you nail the interview then it becomes your work outfit, job done!
Your choice of shoes affect how you style the selection of dresses. If you go with the court shoe then choose a cardigan with the shift dress and the snake print ones will lend more towards a jacket. I'll provide some options after the dress choices.
The supermarket alternative is from Tesco and it is a F&F tailored dress available in grey or black at an introductory offer of £22.
If you would prefer a colour then go for this M&S one in green at £45
If you prefer the snake print high heels with a shift dress then keep the look edgy with this Rivet detail cardi from ASOS at £30
Or this kimono style jacket from Topshop £45
I know it is a print but it has texture and will set you apart from the crowd. The real problem is when you look to buy a jacket under say £50, they can really look cheap. The grade of material says cheap. So, better to feel confident in something that looks the business but a bit more flamboyant than cheap tat.If you going all Mad Men on me and grabbing those courts then a nice short proper cardi will do the trick. At £18 these two below from Dorothy Perkins offer great value and the choice just depends on personal preference! But go for a black one with a coloured shift dress.
Then the trousers ...
If you go with the snake skin heels then wear with ASOS twist front blouse £32 available in 3 colours but I would only choose the oyster or green for an interview.
With the courts I would wear the trousers with a boxy double breasted jacket like this blue mix one from ...yep.. M&S at £35 wear done up with a cami underneath. Add a brooch to liven it up.
Hard as I tried, lots of the supermarket items were lacking but there is no harm in looking when you are doing your groceries. I saw good pencil skirts in Sainsbury from £5 to £15 (shocking I know but needs must). All the above are for guidance to keep you focused on a simple but effective look. You will need a small bag too. Keep it neat like this one again from M&S but you could find something similar in a charity shop if you want to keep the cost down.
Monday, 6 September 2010
Maxi,Midi,Mini - let there be lace
You've got the a-line/leather skirt (tick). You've got the right length, this season Celine-esque trousers (tick) and you're reusing your white shirt. But maybe you fancy another top to keep the Celine love in going strong. Oh well then it is a lace top.
For the max effect go grab yourself some Celine in Harvey Nicks, Harrods, Selfridges, Dover Street Market or in the House of Fraser at Westfield. It will set you back some £729 (gulp).
Then in the mid range and very reasonable it is too, this lacey delight from Reiss at £65.
Finally if your budget is stretched then for £39.50 the M&S Limited Collection is giving you this neat number.
Although even though they were using the same model for all their photos it wouldn't have hurt to have put her hair back in a sleek side or back to nape bun...and have lost the pointless necklace for this one shot. Just saying so you know.
For the max effect go grab yourself some Celine in Harvey Nicks, Harrods, Selfridges, Dover Street Market or in the House of Fraser at Westfield. It will set you back some £729 (gulp).
Then in the mid range and very reasonable it is too, this lacey delight from Reiss at £65.
Finally if your budget is stretched then for £39.50 the M&S Limited Collection is giving you this neat number.
Although even though they were using the same model for all their photos it wouldn't have hurt to have put her hair back in a sleek side or back to nape bun...and have lost the pointless necklace for this one shot. Just saying so you know.
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