CRITICAL MASS

My outfits have all been pretty basic recently. I've definitely lost the art of dressing up. I think it's partly I've been so busy and also...whisper it...I'm getting fat. I've not been looking after myself (virtually no running or gym and living on takeouts and peanut M&Ms) and it's got to the point where I feel decidedly uncomfortable in my own skin. It's not Channel 4 documentary stuff yet but all my clothes feel slightly ill fitting and my favourite dresses are pulling more across the bust. If I know you in real life and turn down the chance for many drinks or dinner at Bodeans for about the next month you know why - hopefully I won't end up as bad as my Marathon hermit life earlier this year. 

Top - Cos 

Jeans - Topshop 

Socks - Topshop 

Shoes - H by Hudson from Liberty 

Shirt - Equipment 

Vest - Topshop 

Trousers - J Brand 

Bag - Chanel 

Necklace - Grainger Market, Newcastle 

Top - American Apparel 

Belt - Charity Shop 

Shorts - Uniqlo 

Tights - M&S

Shoes - Chanel 

BARBOUR OUTLET SHOP

On Wednesday I went to the Barbour Outlet in Bede, near to where my Mum grew up, and I was allowed a quick 15 minutes to check it out. I picked up this Barbour coat with a Liberty lining although I'm assuming it was a sample as it was at a bargain price. If you're ever up Newcastle way and you're quite partial to a sensible outdoor coat I can wholeheartedly recommend you make a stop at the Barbour Outlet shop. 

Jacket - Barbour x Liberty London

T shirt - Topshop 

Trousers - Zara 

Socks - Topshop 

Shoes - Paul Smith Men Only 

SURFACE TO AIR TAPESTRY SLIPPERS

Slippers. 

If you read this blog you know I've been a bit obsessed by them for some time. From Tom Ford's extortionate £1,000 pair to the plethora of choice Stubbs & Wootton offer, I have been tempted by them, but ultimately thwarted (either by price, long waiting times for bespoke pairs, or in the case of Stubbs & Wootton, closed on a Sunday). 

When I saw these tapestry slippers in Liberty it was a no brainer. Surface to Air are rapidly becoming one of my favourite shoe brands, offering the most comfortable wedges imaginable and distinctive designs, but I hadn't seen these before. 

They are utterly perfect in every way and will allow me to glance at my feet and pretend I am Agatha Christie on a dig with Max Mallowan somewhere in Mesopotamia (although the website claims it is an Aztec motif...mere details...). 

T shirt - Urban Outfitters 

Trousers - J Brand 

Slippers - Surface to Air 

Manolo Blahnik at Liberty

I've got a new camera, which means I've been experimenting. These are my latest shoe purchases - Manolo's from the Liberty sale. The print pair are a Liberty exclusive using a vintage Liberty library print, the others are from his main line collection and totally fabulous - a cross between a court jester and village fayre. 

Manolo's feature heavily in Detamar Blow's biography of Issie Blow, which I got given for Christmas and finished reading the other day. It's quite an annoying account. It's very poorly written - if that's what private education does for one then bring on the state schools quite frankly. Detmar is the world's biggest name dropper, and it's hard to feel sorry for insanely privileged people that spend their whole time complaining about having no money whilst living fabulous lives full of travel, bespoke clothes, helicopters, yachts and houses where architects are involved and win awards. I know, I know, there's mental illness aplenty, but Detmar really pushed the limit and made everyone sound remarkably unappealing. Thanks Det! Reading books like this remind me why I have no wish to be part of that set (and why I would NEVER be accepted in the first place). 

Alpha 60 Rhino Print Top

I've said how much I love me some animal print. Usually it's leopard, tiger, snakeskin or crocodile...so the chance of having a rhino print top was a total no brainer. Alpha 60 is an Australian brand that I've mentioned before, thanks to a fabulous shift dress I picked up in the Liberty sale over the summer. I really like their unusual eye for prints on super slinky silk, which gives the feeling of really dressing up without having to sacrifice your sense of humour - just my cup of tea.  

Silk print top - Alpha 60 from Liberty 

Trousers - Zara

Wedge boots - Primark 

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 

Fantasy Shoe of The Week - ASOS

...and I say it's a fantasy because, even though they cost a mere £55 in the sale... *drumroll* I HAVE BEEN NAUGHTY IN LIBERTY (why am I always naughty in Liberty? Why never Selfridges or Harvey Nicks?).


If you want them, or even better, you want to give them to me, get them here from the lovely ASOS. Go on, you know you want to. I can see them being a summer staple. And having spent last night trawling Soho in Gap's Pierre Hardy wooden heeled sandals from last year (charity shop purchase for £10 only a week after they came out - bonus) I can say with mild authority that they'd be pretty comfortable to walk in. 

Assad Mounser @ Liberty

A few weeks ago, armed with a Liberty voucher and an intent to spend, I came across a new to the store jewellery collection by a New Yorker named Assad Mounser. Her work is big, bold and not for the faint hearted. It says something and people hear - I've got more comments about this piece that pretty much any other item of jewellery I own. I love how chunky the metal is and that you can take off the safety pins to wear as brooches and then mix and match the bangles as you see fit, or wear it as a whole piece. This is how multi tasking should be done. 

If you want to take a look at the rest of her stuff then I suggest you visit her site and then her blog ...and if you are in the UK then Liberty is the place to shop for her work (of course). 

Tee Shirt - Topman 

Trousers - Whistles 

Shoes - Topshop 

Bangles - Assad Mounser 

Bag - Charity shop

Alexander McQueen 'Event' Dresses

Meeting my dear friend Maggie last week at Liberty I had some time to window shop. On display was a gorgeous feather print full length gown by Alexander McQueen. It was a thing of the beauty and the kind of dress that I might even consider laying down a couple of grand for for a really special occasion if I was 1) about 3 inches taller and 2) about 20 lbs lighter. I just can't see the point of presenting good clothes badly.

In reality I think the full feather olive dress McQueen dress would suit my body shape more, although I'd still need to hit the gym something serious to do it justice. Sadly as this was over 5 grand IN THE SALE I think it's safe to say I'll be sticking to Topshop, Zara and Whistles for my party dresses.

Topshop, Liberty & Fortnum and Mason

I took a step in the right direction this weekend with a few stocking fillers during the two minor outings I took (the weather was so disgusting it was not the time for endurance shopping).


So, some SCP goodies, F&M beauties (I've never really ventured above the food hall, turns out I was stupid not to) and Play.com bargains. I can't write what the stocking fillers are in case family members read this, but I couldn't resist a cake tin in Fortnum that rocks. Will post a pic of the beautiful results later. It really is to die for.


On Saturday any thoughts of buying something for myself was pooh poohed by my Mother, who disliked EVERYTHING I took a shine to - from these shoes by Topshop to the Eames elephant in Liberty.


Oh well, I suppose Christmas is on the way! And I'm meant to be on this shoe diet.

Liberty - The Store That Makes Me Happy!

Last night I got round to opening a big mound of post. Bills, Boden catalogues (they send millions, why?) and a Liberty voucher!

Yes, I have £150 to spend in Liberty's. Admittedly I had to spend mind boggling amounts on sofas, wishbone chairs and lights to get it, but still, I have £150!

Already my little old brain is scanning the back-log of wants, greed and lust associated with Liberty's. What will I buy? Argh!

Current thinking - outrageous small luxury gifts blow out for family and friends (luxury candles, designer nik naks, beautiful notebooks), a designer piece like a Christopher Kane t-shirt that at £200 I normally JUST CAN'T JUSTIFY, but maybe for effectively £50 I could, the world's most indulgent set of Christmas decorations (to partner the ones I have already).

Liberty's Christmas Shop - the only weakness of the weekend

I think I did well this weekend. Why? Because I did not buy a pair of shoes! Woo hoo. Go me. Punches air with fist!

In fact, the only things I bought were Christmas decorations from Liberty's (I was like a kid in there, it is just divine, actually not like a kid, because kids tend not to have enough money to buy 50 quids worth of decorations) and a heat tech thermal top from Uniqlo because people, it is getting cold out there.

I do quite like the Christmas period. I get a bit stressed about the pointless gift giving which feels like giving for givings sake and I know it will ALL go to Charity shops in the New Year(you know - uncles, aunts, cousins etc) but I love the decorative side of things. It's about the only time left when everyone seems to put a real effort into their home - Christmas trees, table centre pieces, table cloths. The whole shebang. And now I can start doing the same with my lovely Liberty decorations (and some random charity shops one I got for 99p).

p.s. Apologies for the crappy picture, I'll take some proper snaps with my camera tonight - especially the dog decoration. So cute! So not cheap!

Anthropologie, Regent Street: The Verdict

I took my first trip to Anthropologie yesterday. I must admit to having mixed feelings. I've always loved the New York store, and bought a few knits, dresses, pieces of jewellery etc. The torture was always the homewares section - how do you take the delicious china and tablewares home on a plane without damage or extreme packing skills?

So, the arrival of Anthropologie was greeted with some excitement. The shop itself looks great. It's stunning, with wide open spaces, the wall of living plants, the merchandise has been well displayed and the stock for the most part seems beautiful (I'm more of a plain clothes person, so many of the shabby chic items and patterned dresses don't do it for me).

But...and there is a but...the price! Oh my, it is expensive. Why would I spend £178 on a dress, when I could buy a Topshop one for £40 or a designer one from Liberty for £350? And even a plain jersey cardie with a bit of ruching on it was £88! You could buy something similar in M&S for £22. It really was gut wrenchingly pricey.

The gorgeous stuff for me was the homewares and nicknacks, but with jigsaws at £150+ and handmade Christmas decorations starting at £14, this little shopper will be sticking to her charity shops for her beautiful one off pieces that actually ARE vintage rather than aged at a cost.

Pictures:
Green Uglies (my Mum's term, not a technical one) - various charity shops & ebay

Doggy Jigsaw - Newcastle charity shop, £2.99 (beat THAT Anthropologie)

Freida Kahlo Bottle - random folk art fair in New Mexico thanks to Mum & Dad

Fantasy Shopping

I had to take it easy on Saturday because I was running the Royal Parks half marathon the next day. I started with a four hour Import and Export course, which was very informative. I think it's going to give me the confidence to start my own buisness. The whole idea of importing before got me up in a cold sweat, but having someone explain the ins and outs makes everything so much clearer.


After the course I went to Liberty's, which had a 20% off day for card members. But try as I might I couldn't bring myself to spend. Perhaps it was the thought of running for charity the next day that made me queasy, or the prospect of actually starting a business that made me money shy. Or maybe it was just that the only thing I truly took a shine to was an Hermes scarf that cost £668! It was a work of art. But even I cannot bring myself to spend close to £700 on art. So it stayed in Liberty's despite the sales woman's best attempt to reason as to why it was a steal.


I went to River Island instead and bought tights. Ha!


Edit: 9 months down the line and turning down the opportunity to own that scarf was one I regret. I haven't bought a scarf since, because as Prince would say, "Nothing compares 2 u".