My brain is on holiday thinking of this

This is hopefully just a momentary brain freeze, rather then a permanent inability to think of anything substantial to post about.
Just a mish - mash of wardrobe concerning thoughts at the moment, that can't be sorted into nice neat words. Right now I'm thinking slouchy, a little bit masculine in parts, a touch of sparkle here and there, blazers, a few 80s - isms, slightly undone, its all relative. Main inspiration? Those darn cool a/w Topshop ads. I like the very English - ness of the bus as a backdrop.

(PS. Tis finally clicky. Three cheers for me...I'm rather terrible at technology!)

little red riding hood, style icon?

My lasting image of The Duchess, starring one Miss. Knightley, was a picture - postcard image of said actress in a satin - embossed cape. Indeed, after seeing the garment in question, I spent the rest of the movie envisioning such a majestic item and the sort of life- scenarios it would expect - flinging on floor - sweeping cape, the hood shielding my face from the elements, the enormous expanse of material flapping and billowing as I mount a snowy - white horse - OK, so my imagination ran away with me, but pretending to be Arwen from the Lord of the Rings is often a fun way to while away a few hours and it is not a coincidence that she too was fervent cape wearer. Bringing myself back down to earth or in this case demounting myself from that wily beast - my imagination -, I started thinking and incidentally, capes, capes and more capes seems to sum up those thoughts. Although the grand cloak rather then cape was the initial inspiration, 60's style cape coats are probably more appropriate for everyday lifestyle. For a nighttime affair, Kate Moss's lace cape or 20's flapper cape make a nice change from a blazer.

How fantastic is that Balmain cape? A short cape with a hood would have been considered a mythical item but this image proves otherwise. Grace Kelly works the more Little Red Riding Hood style of cape whereas Audrey Hepburn does 'nun chic'. That Pucci cloak is a nauseating piece of work but undoubtedly fun to fling on. Marianne Faithful's cape is exactly what I have in mind, dramatic but utterly wearable too.

OK, firstly, yes that is Cory Kennedy in the corner and no, I'm not a fan of her either but I just happened to stumble upon this image of her wearing..yes..a cape. It appears, that now the cape is actually quite a favourite with hipsters, Mary Kate did after all only don one about a week ago and those captured by Facehunter love them. I wish I could have got my hands on the black lace cape that Kate Moss did for her Topshop range last winter and as we are in the spirit of wishing things, who wouldn't love the glitzy/medieval -'Robin Hood goes to Vegas'-cape Lily Cole wore for that Vogue shoot?

Girl in Checked Shirt

To a certain extent, this is the outfit post to correspond with my post "Lives in a house, a very big house in the Country", which was I must admit several weeks ago but better late then never, eh?!

The idea of doing this outfit post however, opened up a whole other can of worms concerning the following of trends. I'm going to make this short and sweet as my last post was erring on the side of 'teenage strop'. The initial idea for this outfit sprung from my admiration of Dolce and Gabbana's a/w collection, which incidentally is interesting in its self as usually I'm not too bothered about Dolce and Gabbana, as well as D & G's collection and also from my obsession with the 'Girl in the Checked Shirt and Leopard print Skirt' in D & G's Pre - Fall ad campaign. However, in admitting that, does it make me a shame - faced trend follower who should be pelted with issues of avant garde fashion magazines in the street or someone who merely liked a collection and used it as a font of inspiration? You see although I dearly hope its the latter, I know there will be someone tutting to themselves clucking 'Trend Whore! Trend Whore!". If there is so be it. I loved Dolce's aesthetic especially and the very English combination of industrial - city meets Grandma in the country inspiration. When that sort of combination fits so well anyway into my style (I rather enjoy a old - fashioned, vintage look), why should I apologise for it?

The skirt(Mango) has served me well for several years now, through Russo - romance to my beloved 40s to a bit of mix and match. The neck scarf was a find in Italy. The grandmother element of it makes me very happy indeed. The boots I have had with too long and the shirt is from Topshop. The trench makes it a little bit more outdoorsy.

The beret(above) was a gift.

The choice in the no choice

Two days ago, I was faced with a decision, certainly not a remarkable decision but a decision none the less. It was five - ish on a busy Saturday evening in the city. My shopping list was concise, a few bits and pieces for school but more importantly: a magazine. For what seemed like the first time, although it surely could not have been, I was faced with the ultimatum, Elle UK or Vogue UK. Elle boasted the lovely, quirky - cool, without being too annoyingly 'hip', girl of the mo' absolutely Alexa Chung. I was enticed certainly. Vogue, on the other hand had the utterly passe Kate Moss. Kate Moss in someways is certainly not utterly passe, she can still pull out a good outfit from time to time(nothing as good though as her looks of yore, just look at the previous post) but as a cover girl in 2008? Yawn! To add to that the cover, was not even interesting. Kate Moss, her same - old, same - old expression - teeth - bearing pout -, an aqua green background. I was hardly enamoured. Somehow I ended up buying the Vogue anyway despite knowing that it wasn't going to be much good and I was right but just because out of routine I always do.


Most British blogs agree that Vogue UK isn't up to much. I have felt in the past, that was slightly unfair, Vogue has after all given me plenty of pretty editorials - that Sophie Dahl as Debbie Harry shoot I am obsessed with, that stunning haute couture shoot last winter shot by Corinne Day(left), Gemma Ward styled by Camille Bidault-Waddington in theatre surroundings , Karen Elson dolled up in couture, quite literally with china doll makeup, last issue's English country - chic affair - but while they have been beautiful and memorable, many have just failed to ignite any excitement in me. Just bland. Pictures you would flick past in a minute. Vogue UK likes things of a nonthreatening nature - established figures - that would be Moss, pretty but not exactly fascinating models - Lily Donaldson please stand up ( is it just me or is she in almost every edition, boring the nation?) and safe depictions of the season's trends. British Vogue also likes a bit of grandeur this means dark, 'sultry', luxe shoots with beads, gold and satin which actually translates into a tedious editorial surely only appealing to women well into the prime of life. Vogue still considers Kate to be at the edge of fashion and although, they took a step in the right direction featuring Karen Elson as its cover star prior to Kate(right), Vogue UK is not keeping up with the younguns.

Next week, I will buy Elle and will I be enamoured thus? Um...probably not. Unfortunately, Elle has had to deal with my criticism far longer then Vogue has had to do so. Whereas Vogue is never considered an entire waste of money, the articles are long and elegantly written, although sometimes a little twee with stories of rich beyond words elderly women, it generally is a good read if you want something almost old - world. Elle on the other hand is absolute hit and miss. Sometimes it can turn up the goods and deliver an issue of excellence and other times, well it misses the mark all together, rendering me bored after twenty minutes. The last edition of Elle featuring Mary Kate Olsen was a good one although did anyone else find Mary Kate's interview as about as exciting as watching the kettle to boil. The accompanying shots(left) were too clean lined, too simple for me and honestly, as someone pointed out to me recently why do they(The Olsens) act as though they are 'queens of cool' when a lot of what they do, admittedly more Ashley then MK, is a run a merchandise empire for tweenies? That's a whole other story though because in fairness, I do value their exciting contribution to the celeb fashion world immensely. Perhaps this will be a reasonably good one too, anyone like to shed light on the issue?

However, the crux of the situation is this, I can rant all I want about Britain's rival fashion magazines but I'll just have to make do because that's all that is on offer here. I live outside a small city where Vogue and Elle is about as fashionable as it gets. My recent attempt to get POP recently turned out to be a disaster, running, rain, sold out. I was nothing short of fuming as I had been given the heads up that is was on sale in said shop but as things turn out they must have only been selling about three copies. So what's the conclusion you may say, I'm not sure there is one, this is just an good old - fashioned rant although come to think of it, it might be MOVE!

Dress - up Box

Ever wondered what it would be like if you could have a dressing up box filled with whatever goodies you wanted. If I was actually to imagine, this is what it might look like although I admit I would take a little more advantage of the unlimited possibilities of the imagination and cram it with a few 1930s goddess gowns and some modern day haute couture as well. This is just a little taster of what clouds over my mind when I should be paying attention in class...but that's a whole other story.
This is just a selfish post really as I'm not bringing anything new to the fore here, (my picks are all rather terribly obvious if you read this blog frequently, indeed, many have been posted here before) just making pretty collages of outfits that I consider dreamy.

Scarlett Johansson is certainly no style icon of mine but this has to be one of the prettiest gowns I had seen in recent years. You all know to well that I am a sucker for vintage inspired looks and the 1940s is in my top three of favourite fashion decades, so for me this dress ticks all the right boxes. I love the modest elegance, the girly sash, the femme fatale lips, that add that all important 40s' vampish finish and that cute as pie diamond butterfly clip.

I am cringing to be honest, as I post this collage. "Winner of the most frequently posted dress on any one blog award" has got to go to Alexa in Luella on She's in Vogue. Seriously, though, how could I not have an imaginary dress - up box without this scrumptious, tiered delight. The perfect prom dress.
The obvious choice from Rear Window is of course that extraordinary, Cinderella white and black confection but for some reason, this is the more subtle, less dramatic ensemble that comes to mind when I think of the film. That white halter has to be one of the most perfectly constructed understated garments, that green suit looks effortlessly sophisticated yet almost casual and Grace teaches a masterclass in accessorising.

Although I love Carrie's style in Sex and the City, I find a large proportion of her outfits, despite initial swooning, seem to evaporate from my mind - I find them impossible to recall (for that reason you will probably not never see a 'Carrie's style, related post here!). This, however, along with some of her gowns from the final Parisian episodes do happen (perhaps, come to think of it because I have seen these later episodes far more frequently then some of the earlier ones) to stick. This is perhaps my favourite. Imagine frolicking about the house wearing that Balenciaga, polka - dot dress, you just can't get more dress up!

Was I the only person who thought this was actually a genius look?! Quite probably but fashion is subject to clash of opinions. These were the days when Sienna outshone her contemporaries with her red carpet looks and made the headlines because of her daring fashion sense rather then her troublesome personal life. Perhaps this was a little...how do I put it....eh..'Look at me' but sense then such garments have been cropping up all over the place. Regardless, I love the 60s'/Edie vibe to this look and actually, leaving out the under garment for a moment, that jumper is rather terrific.

Well if a girl is going to have a dress up box, well she has to have a wedding dress. I have shunned the enormous meringues of cinematic/fashion history and have instead opted for Funny Face's simple, knee length wedding dress. If you're going to be prancing about in Sienna's above look one day, you should be all elegant and Audrey the next.

I am having a little obsession with Madonna's Susan look at late. The glitzy jacket, kitsch bow in the hair and Wayfarers are my idea of brilliance and fashion bound together. I know I mentioned 30s' gowns earlier but scatch that I want some 80s instead!

I am not lying when I say this is one of my favourite shoots ever. I love Debbie Harry's Blondie look anyway but make it all nice and sleek and designer, is, perhaps, dare I say it even better. Blazers, berets, slouchy sweaters, Wayfarers, animal print, rainbow makeup, oh yes, there is a heaven.

This picture isn't entirely accurate actually as to be honest all those outfits, those spangly frivolous things, in The Great Gatsby, are the makings of a truly fun dress - up box. Mia Farrow does look fantastic in this flapper - by - day look. The pearls and 'do and that little brooch on the edge of her neck scarf make it a keeper.

I have noticed on numerous blogs a sailor - girl dress obsession. Nautical is one of the fashion world's greatest trend rehash but somehow the traditional, Popeye sailor look is ever popular. And I'm not complaining, kitsch is generally cool. Cassie's sailor dress from Skins was the most popular driving force behind the look of late but as I had never watched the show, Debbie Harry's 1979 version has me 'Ahoy- ing' in agreement, that one needs a vintage sailor dress.

"Where worries melt like chimneys tops and....Kat wears this Chanel dress." Yes, somewhere over the rainbow, I am wearing this dress.

I don't think this outfit has ever quite ever left my mind. Once again this ticks all the right boxes for me. Over the top - yes, sparkly midnight blue - yes, vintage - yes, flamboyant glam - rock style - yes, cute flapper bag - yes, Kate donning curly hair reminiscent of my own - yes. Ok, that might not be the criteria I always use, but it works in this scenario.

What outfits would you cram an imaginary dress - up box with?