Wednesday 15 June 2011

That's P, as in Phoebe


It's hard to feel inspired right now, since my life seems to be revolving around exams. Phoebe Philo's resort collection for Celine, however, remedied that. It is just about the only thing in the last couple of weeks that lit my proverbial fire. Floated my boat. Got my juices flowing. You choose your favourite metaphor. It seemed to synthesise all the thoughts that have been floating around in my head for the last few weeks - pink, white, monochrome, flatforms, sheer things, velvet, pointed shoes, shiny things. The accessories were killer - I would do unspeakable things for those gold flatforms. While it has the same polished and 'fashion-y' Celine aesthetic that has become so popular, I couldn't help but feel there was more than a little bit of English eccentricity thrown into the mix, which feels refreshing after a few seasons of things that are all very 'good taste'. After all, our girl Phoebs hails from this green and pleasant land, and you can't deny your roots. Plus, it would have to be an Englishman who pioneered going out in your pyjamas.

Monday 13 June 2011

Grunge, isn't that some shade of greenish orange?

eBay

What I'd quite like to be wearing this summer. I'm never normally attracted to cut-off denim skirts, let alone white ones, yet I have two in my 'Watching' folder on eBay. And I want to pair them with a white t-shirt. I believe it's referred to by medical professionals as Liz Hurley Syndrome. Happens to the best of us when the sun comes out.

Sunday 12 June 2011

Bootylicious

I have been searching high and low for the last two years for the perfect pair of black boots. I'm not looking for a fling, I want the real thing, my boot soulmate. And like the perfect man, the perfect pair of boots has a list as long as your arm of necessary attributes.

5'11" Denim-wearing brunette seeks boots, for walking, dancing and high-kicking. Would like to meet:
Black leather, NO exceptions; suede acceptable, patent definately not. Ankle height, preferably no elastic panels and no statement zips or embellishing. Plain in nature, no laces, buckles or fastenings. Slightly 90s if possible, round-square toe preferred but is willing to meet alternatives. Heel vital - chunky, stilettos not welcome here, although not too high. Ideally will allow daytime weraring but ability to lend themselves to a night out is welcomed. Must withstand clumsy nature of wearer and English weather.


So, okay, I think I might have found my soul-boot.

Dr Marten 8240 eBay

Okay, they mightn't look like much to you, but my heart skipped a beat when I saw them. You know when something is just exactly what you have been searching for? And then I saw the size. Two sizes too small. Lady Fate is a sadist, dangling the perfect pair of boots in front of my eyes, only to take them away. Every time I look in the mirror now I imagine how these boots would look with what I am wearing, meaning that all my other shoes are now not quite good enough. So now, not only do I not have these boots, all my other shoes are inadequate. Thanks eBay, I have no shoes.

Wednesday 8 June 2011

Sentimental

Second-hand dress / Topshop bag

In case you hadn't already picked up on it, I am a sucker for sentimental items. Anything with a story or any kind of personal meaning I can't help but fall a little bit in love with. Unconditional love. And like unconditional love, one fails to see the faults in the object of  their affection. While I recognise that it cost very little and there is something not quite right about the tacky plastic and fluorescent yellow colour of this bag, it doesn't stop me from treasuring it just as much as my classic and very expensive 2.55. It was bought for me by my parents as a birthday present when I was around ten, and it was the first 'grown-up' piece of clothing I owned. It was Topshop! That was a huge deal back then. I wore it to the pantomime that Christmas, with the same pride as I would wear a Chanel couture gown to the Russian Ballet in Paris today. While it is currently having a 'moment', what with the reign of the 60s last season and colour clashing this summer, I will still love it for years to come, even when fashion doesn't.

Things I've done recently:
Revised - lots, listened to the Grease soundtrack and Patrick Wolf on repeat, bought a Holga 135, finished my book (High Fidelity, if you gave a crap), wished that I knew Nick Grimshaw (forget French or Italian men, I'm a sucker for a Lancashire accent), got my first haircut in 10 months, pined for some Dr Marten 1461s, got outbid on some really nice stuff on eBay, wished I was a Roitfeld.

Friday 3 June 2011

Summer summer summertime

Asos sunglasses / American Apparel shirt / Casio watch / Levi shorts via Dad

British summer time brings about a number of inevitabilities. Pimms. Threatened hosepipe bans. Andy Murray losing at Wimbledon. Most of all, you can be sure that the British will use even the slightest glimmer of sun to get out their shortest shorts, flip-flops and bikinis. I can't deny my heritage, so naturally I used the sunniest day we've had in a while as an excuse to don 'holiday clothes' and sit around whining about how unbearably hot it is, even though I'd be surprised if the mercury even hit the mid-20s.

Here is me looking like a scruffy urchin after languishing in the back garden all day. I hadn't intended to take pictures tonight, but the way the light fell across my webcam was just too pretty to walk away from. Unfortunately there will be no more garden-languishing for me this weekend since I'm working both tomorrow and Sunday, but I hope the weather is lovely for you for whatever you have planned this weekend!

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Is that a sparkle in your eye?

johannaochjennifer shoes and socks / Prada Menswear A/W '11 / Miu Miu A/W '11 / eBay / Prada Menswear A/W '11 / Marc Jacobs A/W '11 (all style.com)

As I have previously mentioned, my obsession du jour is glitter. Not really on anything specific, just glitter. I recently read an article in the Telegraph on Good Taste (whose poster girls were Anna Wintour, Coco Chanel) vs. Bad Taste (Anna Dello Russo, who else?), which sort of inspired my Summer of Glitter. The article was not intended to criticise the fashion choice of anyone, the Good Taste Bad Taste concept was defined by the timelessness of the clothing involved. Breton tops, I'd hedge my bets that we'll still be wearing them in 50 years, fruits of the forest headdresses, not so much... I'd been stuck in a bit of a fashion rut before reading that article. While my views on motion sickness inducing stripes or banana earrings remain unchanged, sometimes we all need a little reminder to stop overthinking things and wear the stuff we like. And, whether it is tasteful or not, right now I want to roll around in a big old paddling pool full of glitter. Or failing that, a little pair of silver sparkly sunglasses would be the cherry headdress on my cake of an outfit. I particularly liked it at the Prada Menswear show (more men should wear glitter, don't you agree?), paired with camel jackets. Sorta makes it a bit classy. The same way that a hooker is classy if you put her in a trench coat...

What's your favourite 'tacky' thing to wear?

This will be my last wordy post for a little while, exams and whatnot. My life currently revolves around studying economic theories, watching Family Guy and eating buttercream, so my posts are likely to be less of my stream of conciousness ramblings until the end of June.