Martin Margiela Boots

A slobby day outfit dressed up a bit with what I consider to be one of the most amazing boot designs on the planet. These are probably my favourite pairs of shoes of all time - there's something about the aged brown that gets darker at the toe, the shape of the heel and the leather slits that make these pretty much 100% perfect. 

I knew as soon as I saw these in Barneys, that if they had them in my size, I would be going home several hundred dollars poorer. 

Sweater - Topshop 

Bra top - K Mart

Leggings - Topshop Unique 

Boots - Martin Margiela 

Barneys & Me

It's a bottom half Barneys clean sweep (well, apart from the socks) today thanks to the weekend in New York. Despite the snow I did some shopping, and as it was Barneys, quite a lot of window shopping too (Alaia dresses for $4,000 a pop, amazing Celine leather trimmed dresses, sigh). 

These boots were in the Barneys sale - I think they're practical, others may have snorted at such a suggestion, but knowing the type of designer shoe I often buy (sky high, impossible to walk in) these qualify as pretty normal for me. The bling is totally OTT, but I love walking around as a human disco ball. 

And thanks to Barneys Coop I am now a total convert to J Brand. I previously pooh poohed them, partly because everyone and their Aunty were wearing Houlihans last year and partly because at £245 on Net a Porter it's quite a lot of cash to part with for trousers. These cost about £100 less in the US than they do here in the UK, they're the new motorcycle style and they are amazing. The cotton twill is soft, luxurious and fabulously comfy, and the fit is great. I am already book marking which pair to get next. 

Hoodie  - River Island 

T shirt - Christopher Kane

Trousers - J Brand 

Socks - Topshop

Boots - Giuseppe Zanotti

Thrift Shopping In New York - Chanel and other stuff

I've just returned from a long weekend in New York. For the first time EVER (okay, in about 5 years) I didn't buy a pair of shoes in Barney's. This is partly because of the two pairs of shoes I really wanted one cost about $2,000 (Givenchy, stiletto heeled boots that I know I would never wear out) and the other pair weren't in my size. 

But never mind. Whilst the shoe gods my not have been on my side the charity shop gods were (or should I say thrift shop gods?).

I bought tons of crazy stuff in a Housing Works on Crosby Street for a dollar an item, including a Christian Dior skirt and in a Housing Works on the Upper East Side where they were having a 50% off rainy day special (because by heck was it raining), I found a Chanel jacket. Brand new with tags. And it fitted. And did I mention it was half off? Chanel jackets usually cost £1,500 and up, so I think I got a bargain. Add to that a Dries Van Noten skirt for $25 and you have an extremely happy charity shopper. 

Pet Fashion Hates

On the whole I love fashion. I like the process of dressing up, becoming a character, or at least imbuing yourself with new qualities thanks to a garment or accessories. It's fun. But there are elements that I really dislike...

1) The One-Up-Man-Ship - we've all experienced it, the way women will give one another the glance up and down, assessing outfits, competing to be 'better', whatever 'better' is (thinner, richer, chicer, grungier etc). I especially hate this at fashion events, I really don't know how people in the business deal with it.

2) The Cost - I can understand why some pieces cost the earth, they are literally works of art. But when jeans are priced at £250 I have a hard time swallowing it. I remember once standing in the changing rooms of Barney's trying on very expensive denims when I realised that the fit of my £10 Primark ones were better, and they felt nicer. Even when I subscribed to the glory days of expensive jeans I would still only buy them from T.K.Maxx six months down the line. Now I wear only Uniqlo and Topshop jeans.

3) One shouldered anythings - I don't know why, it makes me feel a bit queasy aesthetically.

4) The Exclusivity - you walk into a shop. The assistants glare at you. Or worse still, ignore you. You are not their kind of customer. When this happens (and boy does it happen, especially in Chanel in my younger days) I walk the f**k out and make a point of blowing my money somewhere else.

Phew. Grumpy today.

Alexander Wang - The Lust Continues

Being one of those people that is slightly too fat (it's sad but true that a British 12 with tits is considered 'fat' but that's fashion for you) for normal designer clothes, it's always been the accessories that have got me going.

Am loving the new offerings from Alexander Wang, particularly the American football as handbag. I wonder if they'll be in stock next time I go to Barneys? Coming to think of it, I wonder when I'll next go to Barneys?

Oh, and I forgot to say, the shoes ain't too shabby either! I love the little slither of perspex on the heel *faints*.