Double Velvet

Don't ask, I have no idea why my arms brought the crazy when I took these pictures... 

Dress - Alexa Chung for Madewell 

Tights - Marks & Spencer 

Slippers - Zara

Taking Inspiration from Tommy Ton

Tommy Ton from Jak & Jil is probably my favourite street style photographer when it comes to the fashion shows. It's the detail that gets me - the multiple bracelets on a wrist, the heels with great socks, the clashing prints - it really is just the clothes that do the talking, often you don't know who is in the image, the clothes and accessories do the talking. This image from New York captured me. Of course, I would LOVE a pair of fabulous pink tailored paints, but in reality I know I may look stupid. I can, however, play with buttoning up my shirt to the very top. I should probably have tucked in my shirt, but what can I say, I was having a fat day. 

Photo by Tommy Ton from Style.com

Shirt - Topshop 

Necklace - ??? but probably New Look or Topshop 

Skirt - Whistles 

Tights - Marks & Spencer

Shoes, top images - Chanel 

Shoes, bottom images - Bloch 

Coat - eBay 

Bag - Chanel 

Prada Platform Brogues & Dressing As A Man

I am on 'the waiting list' for a pair of Prada brogues - the brown and orange ones, with less of platform than featured on the catwalk. Maddeningly the black and white are available to buy now, but not the brown. If these do not arrive when they say they will, I think tantrums will be likely. I am actually physically anxious about this, people. 

If, when, I get my mitts (or feet, more accurately) on them, I will be channelling Paul Smith A/W11 - women doing menswear AS AN ART FORM. 

Matching

About two weeks after I bought these two pieces in Whistles late last Summer, I came across the fabulous Susie Bubble wearing the same ensemble, with her usual creative flair. Since then I haven't even bothered taking them out of my closet, I just get depressed at my lack of fabulousness. I love how Susie (see below) wears them hoicked up super high on her waist to give them more hang around her ankles and the metal over bra is amazing, but as with all these blogger harnesses and the like a thing to admire from afar rather than ever attempt due to bust issues. On reflection I should probably pair these separates with heels, next time, I guess and I want a top knot. Big sigh. 

Shirt - Whistles 

Trousers - Whistles 

Ballet Pumps - Chanel 

Photo - Susie Bubble from Style Bubble

More Cos Play

I can't explain how fabulous this dress makes me feel. It's like I turn into the human equivalent of summer, it really makes you feel like a little girl in your favourite frock at a family BBQ. I really want to wear it with bare legs, but in this country that might be quite a while yet. I think in the meantime I might have to pick up some white opaque tights along the way. 

p.s. - I saw a girl with THE brown and orange Prada brogues today in Cos (yup, I lurked, didn't buy). Sweet mother of God, they are awesome in ways I hadn't fully comprehended. That girl is lucky I didn't wrestle her to the ground and steal them, because I soooooo wanted to. 

Dress - Cos 

Tights - Marks & Spencer

Boots - New Look 

Cos Play

As a shop Cos has always attracted me. Cohesive grown up collections, great windows, divine choice in furniture and stores you want to be in. But I've never bought anything in them. Ever. Until yesterday. 

To be honest, I don't think you'll be able to get me out now. The pricing has always slightly put me off - I like to pay £30 - £45 for a dress from Topshop or H&M or spend £150 and get it from Whistles or a designer sale. The £70+ price points of Cos have always put me off as being slightly too expensive and slightly too 'uniform' or conceptual in cut or fabric. 

But I've seen some stonking stuff in the windows as I've walked or run by in the last week and thought I'd go for an in-depth look. This dress was only £45, a bargain I think for the construction (high quality side zip, pleating and elongated waist detail) and the material is great quality too. All I can think is, what other amazing things have I missed over the last few years? Damn. 

Dress - Cos 

Tights - Marks & Spencer 

Shoes - T.K.Maxx 

Bag - Chanel from eBay about 6 years ago

Martin Margiela Boots

A slobby day outfit dressed up a bit with what I consider to be one of the most amazing boot designs on the planet. These are probably my favourite pairs of shoes of all time - there's something about the aged brown that gets darker at the toe, the shape of the heel and the leather slits that make these pretty much 100% perfect. 

I knew as soon as I saw these in Barneys, that if they had them in my size, I would be going home several hundred dollars poorer. 

Sweater - Topshop 

Bra top - K Mart

Leggings - Topshop Unique 

Boots - Martin Margiela 

Zara Snakeskin Shift Dress

Zara is great at knocking out little silk shifts for under £40. I'm not entirely sure the cut of this one is up there with the best of them, but I do love a bit of snakeskin. 

Jacket - Zara

Dress - Zara

Tights - Marks & Spencer

Boots - Maloles

Fashion Stripper Shoes

There's something so overwhelmingly ugly about these Alexander Wang shoes - the proportions are pure stripper and the toe strap makes your feet look odd, but whatever. For £60 in the Liberty sale they were a fun addition to my shoe collection. All I have to do now is perfect the super fashion frump look to wear with them so I don't get mistaken for a lady of the night. 

Shirt - American Apparel  

Jeans - Uniqlo 

Shoes - Alexander Wang

An ode to T.K.Maxx

When I first discovered T.K.Maxx it was love at first sight. As a charity shopper since pretty much birth (thanks Mum!), the concept of hunting for stuff is ingrained in my shopping DNA, so the trawl that is finding gems in T.K.Maxx is no biggie for me. Growing up I got used to not just wanting and buying something, but the concept of waiting for it too. I might have wanted cowboy boots at 17, but I had to wait until 21 until I found a pair for sale in a charity shop. 

I'll admit now I am very lucky to be able to spread my purchasing power out somewhat more - Liberty, Topshop, Zara, Whistles...but the need for a good rummage and the thrill of the chase I still hold dear. 

Many people I know don't like to shop at T.K.Maxx. They dislike the unorganized mess, the time it takes to hunt things down and the plethora of random brands that no one has ever heard of. Well, their loss is my gain, quite frankly. T.K.Maxx, I salute you (although your changing rooms are often totally gross and your staff tend to be pretty grumpy in the Lewisham and Hammersmith branches and downright rude in Taunton). 

Top - American Apparel 

Skirt - no name from T.K.Maxx

Tights - Marks & Spencer

Shoes - no name from T.K.Maxx

Bag - Pucci from T.K.Maxx

Bangles - Assad Mounser

Richard Nicoll Print Top

I self vetoed the sock / shoe combo yesterday before I left the house. I thought it was too 'man repelling' for my own good. Quite frankly, who gives a shit? I changed into pumps instead with bare feet and was utterly FREEZING all day. The first outfit may scare off half of the population, but it would have left me in the relative comfort of a normal body temperature, which in book is always the more favourable situation. Live and learn, live and learn. 

Jumper - Marks & Spencer

Top - Richard Nicoll

Trousers - Topshop 

Pop socks (pics 1&4) - H&M

Boots (pics 1&4) - Topshop 

Shoes (pics 5&6) - Christian Louboutin