MARKUS LUPFER JUMPER

Markus Lupfer is right up my street. It is quite clear that I could never say 'No' to a jumper with a sequin pattern of a cat and dog in a Christmas style wreath, right?

Jumper - Markus Lupfer

Trousers - J Brand 

Boots - Giuseppe Zanotti 

GIRL HAIR

As my hair has grown longer I have made friends with my GHDs in a big way. There is so much hair it really needs taming. 

I've never been one for really long hair, I was a massive tom boy as a child and my teens and twenties were spent cutting it super short and then growing it out to chin length, before cutting it super short once again. After years of never really understanding how people grew their hair so long my hairdresser gave me some advice...stop cutting it! Sounds so simple but I needed to hear it from a professional. Even she admitted that her hair never gets as long as she wants it if she cuts it as more always comes off that you're anticipating. It's been 9 months now, so I figure get to a year and then I'll go for a trim. 

Jumper - River Island 

Trousers - J Brand 

Trainers - Aldo 

Boots - Galleries Lafayette 

J Brand Stretch Leather Skinny Pants...

...are the holy grail of leather trousers. I have never tried a pair of leather trousers on that fit so perfectly and were so comfortable. It had to be done, bank balance be damned. 

Jumper - Whistles 

T shirt - Topshop

Trousers - J Brand 

Shoes - Chanel 

Bracelets - ASOS & Forever 21

COLD WEATHER DRESSING

The weather has finally started to feel like winter here in London and that calls for tactical layering. 

It's something I suck at because, being bigger on top than on the bottom, layering (especially with bulky wool) makes me look mahoosive. I envy women like Susie from Style Bubble because she can layer until the cows come home and still look vaguely normal. I would look like a bag lady shielding myself from an Alaskan storm if I attempted her looks and I am totally jealous of her freedom when it comes to fashion because of it. 

I am currently trying to layer with thin knits and thicker cardies but I'm basically crossing my fingers and wishing it was summer. I am NOT a winter dresser.  

Jumper - Whistles 

Cardigan - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Belt - Charity shop 

Jeans - J Brand 

Boots - Carvela 

THE NEVER-ENDING WOE OF TOO MANY SHOES

Last year passed by so quickly that I have been somewhat taken unawares by the start of 2012. I haven't had time to make any resolutions or plan out any major events in the upcoming months but some organisation needs to happen soon otherwise my life will descend into chaos. 

A case in point is these shoes. I wore this outfit before Christmas and these shoes became my new 'favourite'. Then, over the last two weeks I FORGOT I OWNED THEM. Really. I went into Topshop on Saturday and thought "Wow, those shoes look great..." before remembering I had a pair. And why can't I remember I have them? A) I have too many and B) I can't SEE them because they are all in boxes. So enough is enough. A wardrobe thinning is inevitable in the next couple of weeks as is a reworking of my present shoe storage system (of lack of it). 

Oh, and this necklace? It was new on that day and I decapitated it within hours. I am the jewellery killer. 

Top - APC 

Necklace - H&M

Trousers - J Brand 

Socks - Tabio 

Shoes - Topshop

GIRAFFE JUMPER

I've been gone for what feels like ages. After finishing work for a month break I was relishing the chance to do all sorts of things but instead the lurgy I'd been battling for the last week of employment came back with a vengeance and I've been incapacitated for the best part of a week and half. BORING. 

All I have to show for my time is lots of used tissues (and the red, dry nose modelled in these pictures), empty Sudafed packets and a renewed ability to watch Law & Order: SVU repeats...oh, and this new jumper. 

Jumper - River Island 

Jeans - J Brand 

Boots - H by Hudson

NEON NIKES

I was on the hunt for bright trainers after spying a girl wearing a pair of florescent Nikes in New York last month (I say spying, it was more like walking into a door in a state of extreme shoe lust) but either the colour was wrong or the style wasn't right. During a late night depression filled trawl of the internet I stumbled across the Nike iD site and my dreams were answered. Why have I never got my trainers made to my specifications before? It's such a perfect service, they arrived in about 3 1/2 weeks and you can even get them personalised. Sold. 

Jumper - Whistles 

Trousers - J Brand 

Socks - Tabio 

Shoes - Nike iD

GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI THIGH HIGH BOOTS

My blue sparkly cuban heeled Giuseppe Zanotti ankle boots are probably my shoe of the year. Nabbed in the Barneys sale back in Jan / Feb at the beginning of the year, they have become my go to boot. Comfortable enough to spend all day on your feet, sleek enough to feel dressed up and with the right amount of disco to put a spring in your step. 

When I saw a similar boot, thigh high with an identical heel and foot shape, on Yoox.com I knew I had to have them. Thigh high could be a bit street walker but with a 1 and half inch heel they don't feel that way. In fact I managed to go out on Saturday night in these and only had my friend notice I was wearing them after about 2 hours they are so under the radar. 

Jumper - Zara

Jeans - J Brand 

Boots - Giuseppe Zanotti 

INHERITED DRESSING

My Dad always complains that my Mum's default dressing setting is a striped top. It seems to run in the family. 

1 & 2 

Jumper - Zara Man

Jeans - Topshop 

Boots - Marc by Marc Jacobs

3 & 4

Top - American Apparel 

Trousers - J Brand 

Shoes - Chanel 

CAMO OVERLOAD

I picked up this camo army shirt from a thrift store for $5 last weekend as I thought it would just the right amount of camo loverload to my new favourite shirt  - this fabulous Equipment number that I bought from The Outnet last month. Add a thermal Uniqlo heat tech top and I'm ready for Winter. And yes, my humungous camo padded coat I scored from eBay last year. I said overload and I meant it. 

Jacket - Thrift shop 

Shirt - Equipment from The Outnet

Trousers - J Brand 

Boots - Vivienne Westwood 

COS RUFF STRIPE TOP

The ruff on this pretty standard navy and white stripe t shirt / Breton top take it from the ordinary to a star item in my wardrobe. I was worried that the pleats wouldn't wash well and I'd spend hours trying to iron them very, very poorly (I'm not a good ironer) but happily they spring right back into shape. Could you reissue this top in different colourways please, Cos?

Top - Cos 

Jeans - J Brand 

Boots - Maloles 

Bangle - Cos