FEARNE'S PINK HAIR

Is it wrong that I'm a bit in love with Fearne Cotton in this picture? She doesn't usually do it for me but eek, girl crush. 

Perfect hair and spot on makeup. It makes me want to go blonde and pink, which I'm sure is so not a good idea...such is the power of a great photo. 

WOMEN IN LOVE - HAIR INSPIRATION

I finally got round to watching the BBC4 adaptation of Women in Love last week and, typical me, the main thing I took from it was hair inspiration. You see, Rosamund Pike was giving good hair (or more likely the hair stylist was). I loved the casual, slightly undone but very elegant bunches tied behind the ear. 

My attempts at it totally suck, because I am the most inept person when it comes to hair styling, but I still quite like it. Subtly different, but different nonetheless. 

Top - Topshop 

Trousers - J Brand 

Shoes - Prada

Hair Decisions

I have prattled on at least once before about just how much Beyonce's Bettie Page hairstyle rocks my world. At present I am debating a fringe once more. Sadly, I don't think I could ever pull off the 1950's pin up girl mixed with 80's / 90's ragga muffin, but a girl's got to have an aim in life. 

Gwen Stefani - Nylon

Probably in my top three magazine covers of all time - this Nylon issue came out some time in 2000, I can remember obsessing over this particular issue all summer, and in particular wanting to have pink hair and wear red lipstick. But instead I decided to get a buzz cut. I've still got magazine it tucked away somewhere, when I have some time I'm going to find it and plunder the editorials. 

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). 

Zara Skater Dress

Okay, so this may be THE Christmas dress. 

Source - Style.com 

It's woollen, so a bit on the warm side, but how could I not love it regardless? It reminds me of both the Givenchy A/W10 collection (above left) and the Christopher Kane for Versus A/W10 offerings (above right). I think for actual Christmas parties I would pair it with black tights or possibly bare legs if feeling brave, but to take some snaps I wanted to play around with the colour.

Skater Dress - Zara

Tights - back of my sock drawer

Shoes - Givenchy 

I know the pink tights make the look more kooky chic but I'm feeling more than a smidge inspired by this ensemble from B.Jones (below). The colours have been floating through my little brain all week and in my opinion this outfit is as perfect as perfect could be. 

Source - B.Jones

Green Flash

Leather jacket - Topshop 

Sheer & Velvet T-Shirt - Topshop 

Vest - Topshop 

Trousers  & Belt - Zara

Socks - Topshop

Sandals - Zara

I know the sandals / peep toe shoes look with socks it not for everyone, but I love it. Okay, so hardly the greatest trend for rainy London town when your socks get soaked and you walk around feeling soggy all day, but when it's fine out it's always nice to use some of the shoes that usually get forgotten about over winter. My favourite shoes 'n' socks wearer at the moment (did you even know that was a category at the Katy Fashion Oscars, neither did I until right now) is mode d'amour. A masterclass, right? 

The Jaws of Death

I know I'd probably never wear it, but I am in love with the studded aviator cap from Topshop. It's what Amelia Earhart would wear if she found alive and well today, possibly shacking up with the hot young things out in Australia who are about to film Mad Max once again (remake? sequel?). Yup, it's awesome (the hat, not the film). 

Photo from Topshop.com 

Friday Inspiration

Like the rest of the world, I love Garance Dore's blog and her photos of the amazing and stylish women she meets. This is probably my favourite of all time. Hair, bomber jacket, leather pants (I die) and shoes. All perfect. 

Photo from Garance Dore 

Chloe

In less than 3 weeks I will be in Tuscany sitting by the pool at our house reading books and drinking cocktails at 6pm exactly. The delightful Chloe Sevigny will be my holiday inspiration. 

Retro Bathing

This is my Grandma back in the late 1950's. How amazing does she look? And how fierce is her suit?


Like most women I am still searching for the perfect bathing suit / bikini. As someone with a 'bit up top' those string triangle thingies are totally useless. I need some construction. Hence my gravitating towards a 50's /60's style with boning and support - sadly despite the craze for Mad Men on telly, this look still hasn't filtered to most high street brands...


Pic - my Grandad. 

Emmanuelle Alt & my Parisian Dreams

I love Emmanuelle Alt's work for Paris Vogue. This is one of my favourite editorials ever and was blu tacked to my kitchen cupboards of my old flat for 4 years ('Toute Allure' from 2005 I think photographed by Terry Richardson) - how badly does this make you want to be in Paris? The next time I hop onto the Eurostar I'm making sure these are the kind of looks that have inspired my packing.

Recently for the fashion styling course I'm doing I looked back through all the old editorials I've ripped out over the years and realised that I'd been obsessed with Emmanuelle for ages without joining the dots. In the late 90's she worked for 20ans a French magazine that I always bought when I crossed the Channel, and lo and behold, it was her work even then that I was cutting and keeping for inspiration - I'll post those later...