The Suburbs

Vogue Italia, source

Will I ever get tired of beehives and fluffy knits set against a backdrop of American suburbs? Unlikely.

Our Era

All images Our Era

Isn't it inherently human to want what other people have? I'm sure this started as some kind of primeval need to acquire the best resources for oneself, but in the age of the Internet it just fans the flames of the-grass-is-always-greener envy. I wish I was blessed with naturally wavy hair and olive skin to the same extent that, I'm sure, others desire my naturally straight, frizz-free locks and milky complexion. While we're wishing for stuff that won't ever happen, I also wish that, instead of my haphazard and geeky English style sensibilities, I had a Scandinavian approach to getting dressed - embodied by Johanna och Jennifer. Not only do Johanna and Jennifer look impossibly cool in their huge bomber jackets, clompy boots and beanies, they manage to dress for the weather, a task that consistently eludes me. They have just opened their own online store, Our Era. These images are taken from the lookbook of their latest venture and provide more stalkspiration for Scandophiles (?) like me. 

Love letter

United Colors of Bennetton jumper, eBay

A lot of the clothes I want have been selling out recently. I am going to blame these travesties on the recent Mecury retrograde. Most definitely not my own indecision. Weeks on, I am still grieving from being outbid on this out-of-this-world 'B for Beth' jumper. Perfect for aiding seminar tutors with no memory for names, spelling things with others in letterman clothes and for generally pretending that its still okay that I dress like a toddler. I will sob myself to sleep until I can find someone willing to knit me an identical one.

Snug life

Acne 'Meg' shoes / Haider Ackerman polo neck / 3.1 Phillip Lim leather skirt / Topshop faux fur coat

The polo neck is the single warmest and comfiest garment I have ever had the pleasure to put on my back. I am thinking of devoting an entire future post - no scratch that, blog - to them and their myriad wonderful functions. Love bite cover? Sure, if that's what you need, they don't ask questions. If you like to be toasty a polo neck is your best friend. And in winter everyone needs a toasty jumper to turn to on a cold, dark morning. Dressing in extreme temperatures is often dressing solely for practicality; as my boyfriend says, very hypocritically, the fashion police don't operate under 8 and above 22 degrees Celsius. While this may or may not be true, who doesn't want a lovely coat to make leaving your duvet slightly more bearable? I especially like this Topshop one - at present it's as close to a Meadham Kirchhoff I will get and it would contrast great with a cosy knitted polo neck, and my own personal wardrobe staple, a leather skirt. Snug as a bug in a rug!

Drizzle kicks

Vogue Netherlands November 2012 source

In the past few days it has suddenly felt a lot like winter. I wish I could identify with the winter-wonderland images that keep cropping up all over the place in the run-up to Christmas, but, living in the North West, the leaves are not crisp, the trees do not sparkle with frost nor has there been so much as a fleck of snow. Instead, winter brings dark evenings and biting cold, accompanied by an icy Irish Sea wind. And lashings of rain, how could I forget the rain? Vogue Netherlands, however, shows a more realistic depiction of the Great British Weather. It also provides the perfect backdrop for showing the cosiest clothes of the season; I'd like to think that a good cosy road-test is the survival of a Northern winter. Quilting, cable knits and maybe my favourite Celine outfit ever: I wish I could look this good walking my dog up and down Southport beach.

Nymph hair

Balenciaga s/s '13, via Vogue Italia

Don't expect the abundance of Balenciaga posts to stop any time soon, since the more I look at the most recent Balenciaga collection the more I fall in love, particularly with the details. The chunky, knuckleduster-like rings and delicate necklaces, all in gold, block-heeled lace-ups, hand-held vanity case bags and the whimsical nymph-like hair bands. The models' effortless yet elegant hair is providing some much needed hairspiration.

Teenage goth

Topshop Boutique open back dress / Topshop spike leather choker / Obligatory chunky 90s-style boots, Tumblr / Meadham Kirchhoff Monster bag

I have suddenly been overcome by an overwhelming urge to wear a spike choker. Naturally with it's teenage goth partner-in-crime, the chunky, buckled boot, perfect for angsty teenage stomping around.