GRUNGE

The leather jacket / hoodie combo makes me feel like I should be an extra in a 90's chick flick like Reality Bites or Singles, although I think I would have plumped for an actual granny slip underneath rather than a proper dress, in an attempt to become Courtney Love and somehow worm my way towards Kurt. 

Leather jacket - Topshop 

Hoodie - American Apparel 

Dress - Whistles 

Tights - M&S

Boots - Opening Ceremony 

SHOE TALK

I bought these Melissa shoes in a charity shop a couple of years ago for a tenner. I would never pay full price as I must admit I'm not sold on Melissa as a concept. The plastic shoe looks nice with clean fluid lines, but the smell turns my stomach and unlike leather they have no give which means they tend to slightly cripple you and cut into your feet (and they have single handedly made searching for Vivienne Westwood shoes on eBay a real bore of traipsing through listing after listing of Vivienne Westwood for Melissa shoes). Grrr. But still, last week was warm and open toes shoes were on the menu. However, when it actually came to walking any distance and going out they were swiftly replaced by Louboutin Matatales mini wedges, which I personally think are his most underrated shoe design - classic, easy to walk in and make the foot look fabulous (IMHO).

T shirt - Palace Skateboards 

Trousers - J Brand 

Shoes - Melissa from Charity Shop 

Jacket - Whistles 

Shoes - Christian Louboutin 

Animal bangles - Kenneth Jay Lane & Topshop

On The Attack

A ring shaped like a meat tenderiser. Thank you Topshop for allowing me to indulge in my love of big jewellery and feel safe from attackers at the same time.

Apologies for the not so flattering picture of my bottom - it's all in the aid of trying to demonstrate the back detail of the sweater. 

Sweater - H&M

Top - American Apparel 

Trousers - Zara

Socks - Topshop 

Boots - Giuseppe Zanotti 

Ring - Topshop

Food

I've just returned from New York. Although I'm posting pictures of food, ironically I got sick out there and spent two days feeling quite ill and rather out of it. But these were meals consumed before the onset of illness. 

Dessert choices at Bell, Book & Candle 

Brunch at Sarabeth's 

ISSA DRESS

I've been having a wardrobe clear out and whilst I cannot say I am following Anna Dello Russo's Top 10 Rules To Clean Your Closet, I am trying in my own way. I bought this Issa dress many moons ago in the Selfridges Sale (2006 I suspect) for £90, reduced from £380. How do I know that? I STILL HAVE THE PRICE TAG ON. Yup, this bargain hasn't been worn because the sleeves are super tight, and fat forearms aren't something I possess. I wonder what the designer of Issa was thinking of when she thought cutting off circulation was chic? Maybe wearing it will stretch them? Or perhaps this dress might have a little trip to be altered, because I am unable to practice the dark arts of altering clothes. 

Anyways, what with the Royal Wedding approaching and Issa being Kate Middleton's label of choice, I thought I'd have a little dress up in homage. Although I added expensive slut shoes, which she would never wear, because then she would not be marriage material. I think that's why I prefer Chelsea Davy. 

Dress - Issa 

Shoes - Charlotte Olympia 

Cuff - Charity Shop

COLOUR AND PATTERN INSPIRATION

I normally throw the kitchen sink at my outfits, but I love how these women (and Joanna Hillman x 2) add that one amazing item. I am on the lookout for standout pieces that do the talking, so the rest doesn't have to. 

Top to bottom photo credits (some of these are random image culls from ages ago, please let me know if it's your photo and I will gladly add the source) - Joanna Hillman credit unknown, Karla's Closet, Hanneli, Stop It Right Now, Joanna Hillman again perhaps Tommy Ton for Style.com?, unknown from Chictopia. 

OJ

I bought this mint condition vintage 1960's cardigan / jacket last year in charity shop during the heat of summer. From these pictures it's hard to get across just how heavy the wool is, but needless to say even trying it on in the shop brought me out in buckets of sweat. It's just right for this time of year, however. The colour (which my Mum complained was too garish at the time) is also bang on for the spring / summer colour blocking trend. 

Cardigan - Charity Shop 

Top - American Apparel 

Trousers - Zara

Wedges - Zara 

A LAZY GUIDE TO JEWELLERY

I found this amazing ring in River Island for £12. I'm not a ring stacking girl, I much prefer one massive piece rather than several dainty rings, probably because I'm lazy and you don't have to put much thought into what goes where if all you're doing is popping on a great big hulking thing. 

Top - Zara

Jeans - Zara

Socks - Topshop 

Shoes - Topshop 

Ring - River Island 

Scarves - American Apparel 

VELVET SLIPPERS FROM STUBBS & WOOTTON

Spring. The time of year when I can start wearing flats without socks. And yet again my attention turns to velvet slippers. These babies just aren't getting old for me - the twin associations of age and extreme wealth make them an item I love playing with. 

The Row went for velvet slippers with masculine tailoring. Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen are clearly doing something rights, because any outfit on the catwalk that brings to mind Frida Kahlo is okay by me. I love how luxe and powerful this look is. If women dressed like this we would totally rule the world. 

And then Tommy Ton for Style.com - the crested velvet slipper - we're getting into old English families who 'keep' houses rather than own them. But I'm common as muck, so this isn't an option for me. 

So thank you Man Repeller, for reminding me that anything the UK can do, the USA can do, if not better, then really bloody different. Sod crests in the New World. We're going to put men with maracas on ours. We're filthy rich with a sense of humour. 

I'd never heard of Stubbs & Wootton - we don't have it in the UK, and a quick glance at the website convinced me that if I went into any one of the physical stores in the US I may be tempted to a go a bit Michael Douglas on the average clientele, but you have to admit they do a nice line in tapestry / velvet slippers...

Jane Black 

Clover Black 

Bee Black

Nite n Day  - my personal favourites

Crest Black 

All nice, huh? 

But then to stop me in my tracks and remind me just why I hate obnoxious rich collegiate types, and why I shouldn't buy velvet slippers even if I think I'm subverting them by taking them out of context, Stubbs & Wootton have thrown these into the works. The most singularly unpleasant pair of shoes I have ever seen, worn by people who must truly be the biggest assholes on the planet. 

College 

Images - Style.com, Tommy Ton for Style.com, Man Repeller, Stubbs & Wootton 

My 500th Blog Post

This is my 500th post on this blog. When I first started blogging it was curiosity that got me. I read so many blogs and wanted to know how easy it was to do from a technical point of view. So, I just blogged about my day, the restaurant I'd eaten in last night, the great things I didn't buy on eBay...

Then one day, bored and unemployed, I began experimenting with my camera and realised that if I placed it on a certain point on my window ledge I could get a full body shot of my outfit. I began snapping away, documenting what I wore and I found it fun. It helped me to think more critically about what I was wearing - was it flattering? Was I being lazy and wearing the same outfit again day after day? Could I dig through my clothes and find something I'd never posted before? In short, it spurred me on to start actually wearing the many clothes I'd buy and then not wear, or wear within the four walls of my house and never to be seen human eyes. 

The other added bonus to blogging was it helped me get over a phobia I'd had for years - being photographed. From the ages of 13 to about 30 there must be only a handful of pictures of me, because I hated my photo. I know for the most part I photograph terribly and am not a naturally photogenic person, but through taking photos of myself everyday I have learnt to be less self critical about my appearance and become more confident in the way I look (apart from cropping pictures and enhancing the light I rarely touch the pictures up - unless it's the bags under my eyes, which have become my replacement paranoia and the subject of much spending on eye creams). 

So, that's been my blogging experience so far - small lessons - but for me a sea change in both my attitude towards dressing and myself.  

Top - American Apparel 

Jeans - Uniqlo 

Shoes - Marni 

Clothes Story

I've had this Victorian orphan dress for years, and, okay, it's not particularly flattering, but is comfy and it does make me feel like a Victorian orphan - in a good, literally way, rather than a literal way. I feel like I should be out selling fruit and veg in Covent Garden Market and sharing bawdy banter and possibly being rescued by a rich aristocratic gent wot teaches me to speak proper. Hasn't happened yet, though. 

Jacket - Whistles 

Dress - Urban Outfitters

Tights - Marks & Spencer 

Boots - Urban Outfitters