PALE AND INTERESTING

Making the most of the warm days to wear a light colour palette. Isn't it funny how the weather totally changes what hues feel appropriate?

Lace top - American Apparel 

Trousers - Zara

Shoes - Bloch 

SUMMERTIME AND THE DRESSING AIN'T EASY

It's 70 degrees in London and absolutely gorgeous. In the space of a week it's gone from winter to what is essentially summer and whilst it is lovely, you can tell it's got people in a sartorial spin. There are plenty of women still in heavy opaque tights, boots and even coats, hats and scarfs (I think by default). Then there are the troopers - out in sun dresses the second the sun started to shine, bare legs (and mostly the foresight to slap on a bit of fake tan or tinted moisturiser), sandals and a pedicure. For me it's a chance to put the ankle swinging trousers back into rotation now socks are no longer called for. 

My legs aren't really in a fit condition for any hemline above the knee, pasty, in need of some tlc and also asking for me to not walk into anymore sharp corners for a while (or perhaps to just remove the wooden box in my bedroom I keep on walking into). My other added problem with dressing for this weather are shoe choices. With just over a week until the London Marathon I cannot risk any blisters, and for me the first few times you wear sandals and flip flops out after 5 months in boots always end up with the utilisation of a number of plasters. I also can't wear any heel height at all before I run. So ballet pumps it is. Thank god I stocked up on Bloch ballet pumps in Melbourne last year. Who knew they would be so useful right about now? 

Cardigan - Uniqlo 

T shirt - Topshop 

Trousers - Zara

Pumps - Bloch 

Gold bangles - Gogo Phillip from Topshop 

Faux ivory bangles - H&M

Clutch - Prada

Do the high heel shuffle

The real reason celebrities and front row fashion types flaunt their bare legs even when it's freezing? It's nigh on IMPOSSIBLE to keep mules, courts or any manner of super high heel on when you have tights or socks on. It doesn't seem functional to freeze, but it sure as heel means you can still rock a killer heel and not have to shuffle (as I did for these pictures and all I was doing was walking from one room to the landing). I changed into flats and added a heavy coat to avoid looking too prim when I went out. 

I bought these Alex Wang mules in the dying days of the Liberty sale for £60. How nuts is that? Considering that's pretty much the price paid for a pair of heels in Topshop these days, I count that as a bonafide bargain. 

Dress - H&M

Belt - H&M

Tights - Tabio 

Mules - Alexander Wang 

Ballet Pumps - Bloch

Coat -Army Surplus from eBay 

Bag - Vivienne Westwood 

Lighten Up

It has been milder over the past couple of days...a sure sign that winter is almost over and summer is within reach. It's such a relief to be able to wear lighter fabrics for the first time in about 5 months. I bought these trousers in H&M before Christmas but they were too flimsy to wear without freezing to death. I dug them out first chance I got yesterday, but there a slight problem - they are pretty tight. My legs are probably the skinniest part of me, however all this running has made them more muscly and they are *quite* tight on the calf right about now, which is a first for me. At least they only cost £20. 

Top - Topshop 

Vest - Topshop 

Trousers - H&M 

Pumps - Bloch 

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 

What A Difference A Day Makes...

No matter what I start the day in, it's always changed into something else by the evening. As a teenager I would make 3 or 4 entire outfit changes a day, now I just swap over pieces, adding or removing as the mood takes me. 

1st pic 

Top - APC 

Trousers - Zara

Shoes - H&M

2nd, 3rd, 4th pic 

Top - H&M

Scarf - River Island 

Trousers - Zara

Shoes - Bloch

5th, 6th, 7th pic 

Top - H&M

Hat - From my Auntie Reine's closet 

Shoes - Zara

Spot The Fake

I would never buy a fake from a street stall or market (or kid myself into thinking I'd bought a genuine LV handbag on eBay for £40), but when I see obvious fakes in charity shops I sometimes can't help but buy them. 

One of my dream expectations in life is to one day find a Birkin in a charity shop (I can remember reading a piece back in the 90's on a society wife in US Vogue who found two, yes TWO for $80 each in a thrift store, which is more than a bit unfair, a) because she found two and b) because she was married to a billionaire. 

Well, I have yet to find a Birkin - but I did find this fake Hermes Constance - that could in now way be confused with the real deal, but hey, and then last week at a village fete I picked up this fake Chanel for £1. 

Top - American Apparel 

Trousers - ASOS

Ballet Pumps - Bloch

Fake Chanel bag (top) - Village Fete 

Fake Hermes bag (bottom) - Charity shop in Newcastle

Q: Who broke the photocopier? A: Alpha 60

The Liberty sale marked their stock down with up to 75% off last week, so I thought I should pay a visit. I had a great time in the changing rooms, trying on all sorts of delicious creations - Isabel Marant dresses, Josh Goot psychedelic print shifts and a beautiful Christopher Kane S/S 10 dress. I wasn't THAT taken with the S/S collection - the whole candy gingham thing isn't really me, but the dress in person was just so light and summery I had to try it on. Even with 75% off it was still over £700, so unless I have a bloody swanky upcoming do to go to, it just ain't happening. 

Anyway, after trying on masses I thought I decided what I was going to buy...but then I saw this Alpha 60 photo print silk dress, and immediately I knew that it was the one thing that I could buy and know I would wear over and over again. 

Dress - Alpha 60 

Shoes - Bloch 

Watch - Chanel 

The Human Zebra - Sass & Bide Stripe Trousers

When I was in Australia I was most taken with these Sass & Bide Vie trousers. They reminded me of dodgy 1980's graphic muscle man pants, the kind that you see on men of a certain age in places that time forgot. I've always had a perverse love of this style of trouser - comfy, eye catching and if not flattering then at least not harem poo pant bad (not all harem pants are bad, it's just the ones that have the crotch at knee height that make me thing there's a poo in there somewhere, childish, I know). 

Anyway, yesterday I came across a clashing black and white stripe tee and I immediately thought of these trousers. Together they are slouch heaven. 

Top - H&M 

Trousers - Sass & Bide Vie 

Shoes - Bloch