25/11/2009




My friend asked me to style him for our impending ball today, much to his girlfriend’s dismay - he later confided he detested the wallet she’d brought him (and had enlisted his sister to ‘buy’ him one, I say ‘buy’ because he’d actually previously picked it out himself!)

It’s no longer a strange phenomenon for guys to care about their appearance, in fact it’s readily applauded in a society where many (middle-aged) men remain grossly attached to their worn-in jeans and tucked-in shirts. I speak from experience - many of my male friends adore shopping and are keen to hop in the car with me when I announce I’m ‘popping into town’. Even my Dad knows who Marc Jacobs is. Is this not a complete metamorphosis from the unwilling males who previously detested mulling around high streets and shopping centres? If so, what’s triggered this change?

It seems men are no longer immune to the glossies - images of perfectly preened, toned, and stylish men sit on the front of every male magazine from GQ right through to Esquire. The phenomenon is unsurprising really given the impact seemingly perfect female models have on the female readers of vogue and such. Men’s attitudes to this bombardment of perfection are in fact much healthier. Whilst a women thinks she ought to diet to look perfect in those Tsubi skinny jeans, a man will not hesitate to squeeze into the skinny-fit tee Jude Law’s recently been spotted in, regardless of his physique. Men seem to realise that these unachievable standards are just that - unachievable, they therefore shrug and get on with life. Looking good to a man is relatively simple and does not require lotions, potions, and bottles of Evian. Men can literally have their cake and eat it, or rather buy their Prada and wear it. Women however, would rather have an exquisite - not to mention expensive dress - in a size too small for them, sat rotting in the back of their wardrobe acting as ‘inspiration’, than give in and buy the dress in their actual size.

Put simply, the modern woman has much to learn from the modern man, we females do not always have one up on the men in the fashion stakes. Our attitude should not be focused on improving our bodies, but rather on improving our style. Arguably some men really ought not to be wearing skinny fit t-shirts, but then women ought not be dieting to extremes. Fashion was made to be enjoyed, not a form of sadism. Love it for what it is, fun, exciting and fickle.

11/11/2009


Working in a fashion store, I’m bombarded by women who believe their body blemishes are of a greater magnitude than the rest of mankind; this is of course simply not the case. It sadly comes as no surprise when you consider the mountains of glossies backhandedly persuading ‘curvy girls’ to cover up and berating ‘busty babes’ for wearing V-necks; explaining that what they believe to be sultry, is in fact slutty. With all these fashion minefields it’s no wonder our society consists of women conditioned to fear their own cleavage. I served one customer today who was simply aghast when her bosom was displayed in a stunning scooped-neck silk dress; she then proceeded to burst into fits of giggles before purchasing more conservative attire.

I am just as concerned with the women whose delusions feature on the other side of the scale. One customer, after trying on a top that was far too snug, had the pluck to pointedly tell me that “this large must have been labelled incorrectly” and demanded another, which to her surprise – and admittedly my delight – was even smaller than the first.

Then there are the women who flounce through the doors in skirts clearly snatched from their teen's wardrobe, with tops that exhibit their ample bellies. These are women who ask for a size ten but proceed to divulge that they’d been a little optimistic and opt for two sizes larger. These are women for whom I have more compassion. Mentally stuck in the days when their ‘perfect figures’ would allow them to wriggle into a pair of size 8 jeans with ease, these lovely ladies have yet to realise that whist they may be slightly more shapely than in their heyday, they still have great figures and just require a little help (and a liberal dosage of pride-swallowing) to display them. After all, sizing-labels can be cut out, thrown away, and never mentioned again. A too tight top will go down in history, archived by whispering colleagues whose malevolence knows no bounds.

As we ease out of autumn and creep into winter, it’s even more crucial to win the sizing-game. Although struggling into a coat in a size too small will induce feelings of ecstasy on the day of purchase; it won’t post-christmas when you’re desperate to layer your cashmere Chloe knit over a Topshop vest and slide your cover-up on top. Instead you’ll be hissing and wishing you’d bought a larger size, instead of investing in a coat that looks as though it belongs to your younger (and slimmer) sister.

The point of this post isn’t to make you feel bad about your body, nor is it intended to make you feel superior because you don’t suffer from too-small-syndrome. Instead, flaunt the bits you like, hide the bits you know you should, and stop letting magazines solely dictate what you should wear…leave that to the mirror.



Thousands of fashionistas are devastated at the cessation of trading at Luella HQ. The brand announced this morning that they were forced to discontinue trading due to the withdrawal of major investment. Luella - famed for pretty print dresses, floral blouses and impeccable bags - is far from the only brand to have fallen prey to the recession - other labels, notably Lacroix, Coco Ribbon and several other high-street brands have been subjected to similar financial crises.

I no longer know which designer will quell my handbag habit, but hope that a new backer swoops in and rescues the brand with suitable immediacy. It will be a sad day if the S/S 10 collection (particularly this stunning heart cut-out LBD) fails to go into production.


R.I.P Luella (do a Dirty Den and come back to us).

04/11/2009



Pale pinks, nudes, and washed-out greys scream ballerina chic. Admittedly, this tee/skinny jean combo would look great teamed with a boatman shoe or studded flat; instead I've added black leather accessories with gold hardware to toughen the look. The Gian Marco Lorenzi boots encapsulate several of this season's footwear trends into one mighty boot - studs, fringing, platform. Overkill? Possibly.

This patent Luella Gisele tote is at the top of my Christmas list. I already own this and have used it to death. Luella designs my favourite bags, particularly the Gisele series; slightly less conspicuous than the Mulberry Bayswater they are classic without being too classic.

Waistcoat - River Island £24.99
T-shirt - Kain £80
Jeans - Sass & Bide £185
Boots - Gian Marco Lorenzi £779
Bag - Luella £450
Bracelet Asos £12

What's scribbled at the top of your wish list?

01/11/2009




Fashion. One of the numerous obsessions that we females - and ever increasingly males - are devoting our time and money to. Although I disassociate fashion from style, the latter is something that evades some people, despite access to copious glossy magazines, television programmes, and t'internet. This blog is simply an account of the things I adore, after all, I spend the majority of my time - when I'm not studying (I mention this to appease my Father who believes my life consists of little more than stalking fashion), working, or with friends - looking at clothes, shopping for shoes and browsing cosmetic stores. I am not aiming to report trends, nor am I any sort of fashion authority. Instead it's more of an inspiration scrapbook, a montage of my loves.