INSPIRATION

Bright nails and lashings of silver. 5 inch and up is my current inspiration - her hands are super cool (I should add this...the rest of her is too).

All images from 5 inch and up

BITCHING AND JUNKFOOD

A couple of weeks ago I went to the launch of the summer collection by Bitching & Junkfood at Urban Outfitters in Spitalfields. I am assuming that the collection in question was Remade by Bitching & Junkfood but I'm afraid I couldn't tell you because whilst the shop was wall to wall hipsters, an actual PR or a simple press release about the product was nowhere to be seen. It was so cool that nobody seemed to be working. You always know somewhere's cool when even the people who are paid to work there find the whole thing rather demeaning and decide to essentially opt out. 

The evening turned out to be one of those nights when you realise you are getting on a bit, and that whilst it's a shock to the system, you don't mind quite as much as you thought you would. I don't dress like a career woman, but neither do I dress like an 18 year old any more and I think Urban Outfitters for me now is a place for up and coming Brit and Australia designers rather than mass market fashion items. Besides, I don't think that my 32 years could quite pull off a pair of rejigged denim hotpants, but if I was to chose I think I would go for the studded version, I think they could just about work if I was in a massive grump as a nice warning to everyone. 

Perhaps I felt too old because, in fact, I am? After all, I am now old enough that MY CHILDHOOD is now being sold as retro t shirts, as witnessed by this Nirvana number...  

WEAR YOUR COLLECTION

Like many women who trawl blogs all day, I have amassed a HUGE collection of images culled over the years, downloaded onto memory cards or uploaded to flickr each time I finish another freelance contract. 

My images are filed - editorials, home, food, dogs etc, but one folder always gives me a pang of guilt that I'm not more creative - my DIY inspiration folder. This image in particular gets me every time I see it. I have loads of brooches, mostly due to a lifetime of shopping in charity shops, so technically I could this (or something similar), but I always forget to when the laundry / bills / boozing piles up instead. My blog is a much my own personal file as anything else, so hopefully this post will spur me into action. 

Photo - Beckerman Bite Plate 

DENIM SHORTS INSPIRATION

Cut off, turn up, high waisted, hip huggers, shredded...I just want the weather to improve so I can wear denim shorts. I am mostly loving the pairing casual denim shorts with nudes and dusky colours with a nod to tailoring, but not averse to LA from LA's and The Haute Pursuits rock interpretations either. 

Hanneli

lafromlasblog

Vanessa from The Haute Pursuit 

Christine Centenera - photo by ? 

Aphrodite's Lair 

Alexa Chung at a Mulberry launch party in 2010 - photo ?

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. 

COLOUR INSPIRATION

Photo - All The Pretty Birds

Photo - Princessesisi

Photo - Garance Dore

Photo - by Tommy Ton for Style.com 

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 

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

Sartorial Jump For Joy

I've been in New York for a long weekend. Dressing for snowy weather is hard. The grit and salt trash your shoes so it's sensible to opt for waterproof or heavy duty footwear. You get cold so you want to wear many layers as possible and preferably lots of wool. I end up looking like a bulky farmer when everyone else manages to appear chic instead. 

I have been trying to use The Sartorialist as my guide. 

How perfect is this photo?

Mixed messages

My mind is whirring with inspiration but I can't seem to pull off the outfit I know I want to wear yet. When I do you can be sure it will be a combination of leopard print, silk and military fabric / print. I might print these pictures out and blu tak them to my wardrobe door so I don't forget what I'm aiming for. 

Dries Van Noten detail from A/W 2010 from style.com 

Tommy Ton from style.com 

Chomy, The Culture Cynic - love her blog, she's always got the best outfits going on. 

Tommy Ton from style.com