Follicly Challenged

I don't know how people plait their own hair, make elaborate quiffs or part it evenly. Anything I try looks rubbish and falls out after about 10 minutes. The only two things that have worked for for me were 1) the Bjork style hair knots all over the head when I was growing out my short hair and 2) a grey jersey almost African style head wrap that I wore constantly for about two years. Other than that it really is wash and go...

I'd love to be dexterous enough to do good things with my hair, then I could play with fierce looks like the one above, or even just give myself a proper blow dry (I get bored after about 3 minutes and give up). 

Jog On

After yesterday's post about jersey it seemed only natural to roll out of bed this morning into a pair. Well, that and I managed to walk into a cabinet. I have a big cut on my knee and the only plasters I have featured either a deer, Elmo or pirates - so no shorts unless I want to get mistaken for a 5 year old. 

I love the pattern on this jacket. I wish it were a blouse, because I think I'd get more wear out of it. It's so thin that the arm of your t-shirt or shirt gets bunched up really easily and spoils the line, which means I can only pair it with about 10% of my wardrobe. 

Jacket - Topshop 

T-Shirt - Acne 

Track Pants - Zara 

Shoes - Pierre Hardy for Gap (but from a Charity Shop for under a tenner)

Run For It!

Alexander Wang elevated the humble jersey sweatpant and top to fashion items this year. 


I'm not complaining, it was about time companies out there starting offering jersey basics once again. My faithful Uniqlo grey slightly shrunken sweatshirts that I bought in, ooooh...2001 were fraying at the seams and had gone a bit stiff from over washing, but until recently there had been nowhere to get a decent replacement.


Now I am spoilt. Gap have had some great offerings, American Apparel do a grey thermal legging that looks wonderful on, Bonds out in Australia centred an entire campaign around a new style of trackie dak and Whistles did some luxe wool mix bottoms in a harem style that are super comfy but do little to flatter the behind.  


As a woman who likes comfort the jersey thing is a trend I will be persevering with through Autumn - and these are the images that are currently rocking my world...

The luxe take - Vionnet with YSL shoes (yes please to both)

Image from Net A Porter 

Andi from Stylescrapbook - I love how tight these are on the calves - perfect!

Vanessa from The Haute Pursuit with an enviably amazing stomach to boot. 

Camille from Childhood Flames - she is so understated and chic. It's hard to believe she's just in her teens.

Acne sweatpants courtesy of mode d'amour  - I love the pairing of the pants with loafers and tucking in the shirt. 

Feline Groovy

Sometimes I think I should be working for The Sun with titles like that. 


Anyway, to try and cheer myself up I thought I'd post some pics of my mini H&M haul on Friday afternoon. I don't think I'll be doing any outfit posts for the next day or two, seeing as I have no hot water and there will be plumbers all over the shop. 

This shirt was only £7.99 - has anyone else noticed that H&M prices seems to be getting steadily cheaper? I swear the clothes are almost the same price now as they were when I was but a 14 or 15 year old buying white PVC A-line button down skirts for 7 quid (really,I know it was the early 90's, but WHAT was I thinking?).

The other thing that caught my eye were these cage ankle boots, also £7.99. For that price I just had to have them. They remind me slightly of the Opening Ceremony shoes with the zip down the front. I love the leopard print and the lowish wedge heel. I bought these and then pretty much ran out of the shop in case someone realised that they'd priced them incorrectly, 'cause just under 8 quid is nuts, right?

T-shirt - H&M

Shorts - Whistles 

Belt - Charity Shop

Shoes - H&M

Dries Van Noten - Clothes Designed For Me

I go through many designer crushes, but often the looks that I love are ones that aren't very 'me'. As much as I love Moschino, I'm not very bling, and whilst I adore Vivienne Westwood in reality there's a bit too much tit for everyday life. So many fashion items are things that I know that I could neither pull off nor be truly comfortable in. 

One exception is Dries Van Noten. The colours, fabric clashes, proportions, silhouette - it's all in keeping with my style. Before Koh Samui on Monmouth Street closed down (RIP) I managed to bag a couple of Dries jumpers for about £80 each (usual price around £400 - £600) which I am always scared of wearing because they are a) cashmere and b) I have moths, so c) I know I will get holes in them if I take them out of their protective bags. But I should. I promise myself here and now I shall wear them this coming Autumn. 

I will use the whole of the Dries Van Noten A/W collection as my wardrobe inspiration come September - I think I already have a lot of it covered (baggy tops, tailored trousers) but top of the list for new acquisitions are painterly prints and a REALLY GOOD COAT. 

P.s. my model obsession at the moment is Tati Cotilar, pictured above all in black. Designers & mag editors please note - I need to see more of this splendid woman. 

All photos from Style.com 

Therapy Post - Home Disasters

Please excuse the off topic post, but just like Dr Watson was advised in Sherlock on BBC1, I am using this blog as therapy. 


Today seems to be the icing on the cake of a pretty down weekend. Yes, there is nothing like an early Monday morning discovery of your boiler leaking, electrics fuzzing away and the recent kitchen redecoration from a previous disaster totally damaged. I will be in need of decoration once again it seems (not to mention an overhaul of the plumbing that will cost squillions). 


So, how to make a positive? Well, this may be just the excuse to put up some wallpaper somewhere. I came across this image from the Sanderson collection in Vogue Living Australia.

Tell me that is not utterly gorgeous. Go on, try. I will not listen to you, because you are wrong. 


I am in love with the print, but it might be girly for me and not in keeping with the colours I have going on (Farrow & Ball heritage greens / creams and light browns), although I do have a punked up version of the Ercol love seat in the picture, so maybe I could de romance it...? I have to find a way to use it. 


Anyway, this picture drew me away from my usual Cole & Son wallpaper crushes and I've been investigating what else Sanderson could do for me that is in keeping with my house. I love the Sicilian lions - as an ex archaeologist they appeal to me greatly. The tulip print has me going over all Nancy Mitford, and the swallows are just so delicate I think they could give some air and movement to a hallway. So all in all promising, very promising...

All pictures from Sanderson website http://www.sanderson-uk.com/  

Me + Fashion = Something Damaged, Sooner or Later

I made a quick 5 minutes YSL tribute t-shirt last night. It's a good thing I didn't spend too long on it as within 5 minutes of taking these photos there was apricot jam all over it from a complicated manoeuvre involving carrying (second) breakfast, the papers and a cup of tea up my stairs. 

Still, at least my new t-shirt got to see the National Portrait Gallery this morning. I went to see the Camille Silvy exhibition. Very interesting, but all the pictures were super small - not good for my tired eyes that were protesting by the end of it. 

T-Shirt - Homemade YSL Tribute 

Cardigan - Whistles 

Trousers - Zara 

Shoes - Christian Louboutin