I heart autumn collections

This month Vogue and Harpers Bazaar are showcasing the Autumn collections, all shown at the various spring fashion weeks. Now gloriously collated in styles and trends. And I am sooooooo looking forward to them dribbling down to the high street.

Some of the editors credit our 'era of austerity' as influencing the paired down looks created by the fashion houses. Minimalism, strong tailoring, pretty feminine fabrics and long lines. I love it ! The A/W 2010/2011 collections are so wearable, flattering but still modern.


A few of my favs -


Restraint - Stella McCartney and Pheobe Philo do this so well.


I love this look 'grunge glamour' - elegant but relaxed and loose. Effortless and oh so chic No cocktail dresses this year for Christmas parties !

For a masterclass,see Dries van noten.



I love this trouser shape and length. Very 70's and sharp but so flattering.



And bags - no slouchy leather. Really smart. This is an autumn styling I can get on board with !





And finally, after trying to find the perfect work portfolio / clutch, just like Miranda used to work, the designers get them out....



What do you think ?

Perfect company for lazing in the summer heat

Why can't I be you

It's difficult to call yourself a fan of Gaga, especially when she chops and changes so ruddy often, it's hard to keep up. I think I was a little too in love with the 'Telephone' package , so colourful and fun - whereas this new offering is just a little too much for me.



Is it just me or is this just some kind of video montage, an ode to Madonna through the ages?

So far I have noted Like a Prayer, Material Girl, Vogue, Express Yourself, Open up your heart, 4 Minutes and a smidge of Frozen. And that's all before even mentioning how Gaga's 'Alejandro' sounds like a cheap and nasty rip off of 'La Isla Bonita' (I mean who uses foreign accents in pop music anymore, I thought that ended with Geri's 'Mi Chico Latino'?) the beginning is a complete take off of Evita, and the gun bra...hello did some one say John Paul Gaultier?

Ok so yes I have followed Madonna through the ages, I may not like her as a person but god she's had some hits, and Gaga is a star in her own right but what are you doing woman? No, step away from the Madonna Greatest Hits Collection VHS that you have obviously been playing and just get on with being your own version of great.

Now for some Madonna, need you ask why?



xxxx

I'll get over you, I know I will (maybe)

Well I went into Benefit in Convent Garden today to pick up for usual quarterly supply of foundation/concealer that I have been an avid fan of for the past 3 years (I can't believe I have been faithful for that many years) and to my horror they no longer sell it!
I knew this day would come, I was dumb struck, so much so I allowed the grumpy shop assistant to attempt to cover up my right ballooning shiner of a spot with 'industrial strength concealer' and then continue to talk for ten minutes solid about said unwanted face furniture - way to make me feel good about myself woman.
She told me to stop eating cheese as well as chocolate, told me my use of waterproof mascara was likely to make my lashes fall out and rounded off her pitch by telling me if I spent 60 quid I could get some free straighteners which tend to overheat and burn you......Yet I still walked out with a bagful of new products, guilty and confused.
I did make her laugh by telling her I was off to buy myself a lump of cheese, this felt like quite the reward.
I just want to know what to do, with so many products to choose from and so much variation in price, how on earth do I decide what to pick? I can't afford to do trials and am loathe to sit at more make-up counters whilst the assistant discusses the shine content of my skin.
I found out today my friend uses 3 layers of 3 different foundations to create her dewy glow - WHO HAS THE TIME FOR THAT?
That's it, I give up - I vow to go naked skinned, think of the cash I'll save!

Foundation - I'll get over you, I know I will.



xxx

Bootiful colours

Design sponge is a fabulous daily blog and website with guest bloggers, sneek peaks into peoples houses, recipes, DIY and crafty projects, all sorts. It always has something interesting to look at. However, the new guest blogger in my mind has truly surpassed herself. Lauren Willhite from Color (US) Collective loves colours so much, that she collects images and splits up the colours and records the palettes. This is truly scrapbook heaven for me. Her actual blog is even better.





also, the sneek peak on Design Sponge from Karen Barlow today is so lovely.....

Ageless Style

Vogues new issue is brilliant ! I have devoured it already. It's their annual 'ageless' issue and the whole thing is great with a special feature on the supermodel. This picture started the phenomenon;



and this video made the same girls into supermodels.



(there is a better clearer version of this on utube but no code to get it !!)

I love Naomi at the beginning of this video. oh it makes me want to do big hair and make up (I've got the big curves - ahem

And now for something a little different...

I really want to see this!

When I saw it advertised at the beginning of 'Planet Terror', I along with many others thought it was an elaborate fake of a trailer but no no no, Machete is due out this summer - fantastic!

xxxx

It's show time !

The biggest show (ok flower show) on earth has come to town and I've surprised myself how exciting it is. I was getting a bit blase about it this year, that was until I stepped on site to set up our humble trade stand at the Chelsea Flower Show.

It's a real priviledge to waltz in freely whilst the show is being set up. Its organised chaos and I was thrilled to be amongst it. There is a real buzz - sunny weather helps, plants everywhere and the fresh smell of compost ! This is what Chelsea looks like just 2 days before it opens !






As per, there are lots of purple iries (sure winner to flower at this time of year) and green foilage but I am giving you the offical sistermash Chelsea Preview - multi stemmed trees, purple foilage and a touch of the exotic can be seem right across the gardens. I always find it fascinating how designers are all influenced to come up with the similar themes year on year. It is the same in other creative disciplines - in the fashion industry you will oft see the same ideas and themes down the catwalk. How does this happen ? Sorry, I digress, finally, there was more lush abundance of frothy flowers like champagne bubbles across the gardens. I wonder whether this is a back lash against our asutere times. Previous years, gardens have felt more disciplined and restrinaed than what I saw this year. I am still thinking about this, will develop my ideas as the week progresses and will let you know.....

Its going to be a long week !

Flapper phase

So I'm going to a 1920s themed cocktail party on Saturday so I have the usual dressing up conundrum of trying to find somewhere decent to wear that won't cost me the earth. My normal answer is to make something but I'm yet to find some decent, reasonable sewing shops here - I know its London so there must be, I just need to dedicate a day to doing a bit of a hunt down!

But anyway, as usual I digress, whilst hunting for inspiration for my costume I came across some gorgeous 1920s inspired photographs, the Jazz age just screams style doesn't it!

And a little something related that always brings a smile to my face! They're just having so much fun! Beautiful! Enjoy xxx

Nibble nation

Apart from eating food, there is nothing I like more than reading about food. Nige as you know is my big love nosh hero. He actually like eating. Yes ! And when he writes you can taste what he is describing. dribble.

So, how pleased was I to find this blog - Recipe Rifle Esther is (newly) married to a food critic, and there are lovely insights into this world. The last few posts are about the wedding etc still good, but scroll back down a bit - she tries cooking all sorts of stuff (so you don't have to make the same mistakes !!) and writes in a very funny sharp witted way.

I really like this blog.

Tik tok

Words escape me

So the other day there was a girl in the office wearing the most amazing silk cropped trousers. I complimented her as you do and waited for that vital exchange, the insider's tip-off; where she nabbed the fabulous garb, frozen for fear she will utter that familiar and disappointing word - "Vintage". But all I got was a thank you.
I heard a colleague do exactly the same, and again just the thank you.
Am I stupid to assume we deserved answers, isn't it just the art of this kind of conversation; you give to receive and all that. Yes the compliment was deserved they were gorgeous trousers. But ladies can't be greedy, even if it was a charity shop bargain aren't we are all happy to revel in one woman's success and applaud the bargain, secretly noting the outlet for future hunting?
Perhaps the girl in question just wanted to keep the shopper's paradise to herself, I like to think she was perhaps embarrassed by their 'humble' beginnings, or was she simply being naive? Why wouldn't she tell me? Perhaps I should have just asked...lesson in subtlety learnt! So instead I intended to take it upon myself to scour the net to find a similar pair so I could dribble over the screen and hope you understand my pain - but there really should be a website for this kind of thing as my hunt has been most unproductive! This pair is the only thing that comes close...
Except they're Dries Van Norton, £355.00 and far, far too 'busy' to be the pair in question...god her tight lipped reaction has given me rage! I need a release...this will do.


xxxx

Calling up the promise land

The BBC have certainly got some tricks up their sleeves as we leap into May, certainly for nostalgic cravers like moi! Their original mammoth drama project designed to span decades past was scrapped in favour of raking up the 80s - excellent!

So what's on the menu? Well there's something for everyone - A Boy George biopic featuring Gavin & Stacey's Matthew Horne as Culture Club's drummer and George's secret love interest; Jon Moss. A Welsh drama focused on life under Thatcher set with a backdrop of the Royal Wedding of Charles & Diana. And (yes there is more) an adaptation of Martin Amis' dark comedy Money with Shaun of the Dead's Nick Frost in the driving seat and Jerry Hall riding shotgun. Needless to say I'm excited, it's good to be reminded that we actually pay our licence fee for a reason; to get some decent gritty viewing rather than re-runs of Come Dine with me (my Sunday early evening guilty pleasure...I can literally waste hours).

So, rather neatly tying in...this week (and the week before and the...) I have been mostly listening to the Human League. My current fave was released in 1990, but still - the intro, all the hair... still reeks of the 80s. Enjoy xxx (even the boy knows all the words now, goddammit its catchy!)

Monday morning wiggle

I have been busy. Yes siree. The important stuff has been overlooked (like blogging) and I have had to work. humph. The next 6 weeks are looking even more busy with Chelsea and big projects to see through and the boy is revising. So I thought we needed a bit of motivation this morning by the way of one my my fav choones.
Enjoy.

(Check out Stevies fingers dancing across the keyboard - amazing !)



oh and last night we watched 'Kick Ass' I was jubious I admit but it was brilliant !! Really good film, maybe one the best I have seen for a while !

Pull up to the bumper baby

There was an excellent Grace Jones interview in the Guardian magazine on Saturday. I have such mixed feelings towards the woman, she is undoubtedly an icon on so many levels but I can't help feeling somewhat put off by her. The aggression and outright sexuality can be a little hard to swallow, so it was refreshing to read an interview where she came across as just a bit of an opinionated party girl. I guess you need to have balls to succeed in the music industry, to be renowned and talked about for so many decades, you need to have a strong sense of character and Grace Jones is more than just memorable. She reads like a bit of a whirlwind but now I feel better acquainted with her and equipped to really appreciate her style.
I also loved how the journalist tried to hint at a touch of animosity between Jones and Lady Gaga. Really, she just doesn't care and has always been famed for telling it how it is but I bet Gaga will be more than a little down heartened to read what Jones has got to say about her...

But now, moving away from the pop playground politics to a little musical starlet; Ellie Goulding. I thought she was pretty pants when I saw her banging a drum (like she really meant it) on the Brit Awards Nomination party but I have since developed quite a liking for her (lordy I am fickle). There is something resolutely chipmunk (as in the cartoon) about her voice and the album keeps reminding me of Fivestar's Silk & Steel, although I'm not entirely sure why. Dominic Burn off of the Chris Moyles show coyly described her as having an amazing voice, and I'd have to agree. I also like the way she says 'love' in this song.



xxxx

And you still don't think it is worth watching Glee ?

Isn't spring supposed to make you feel energised ?

I may have been trying to do too much, following my excitement of the days lengthening and warmer weather. The garden is not making the progress I wanted, I am getting little help from the boys - they mostly are doing this -

However, the house is looking nice, and we are getting some lovely light in, in the morning which is so nice after the dark winter.

All my new plants are bursting with growth and they are still sitting in pots !! My roses are bundled up together - I must get out there ! But when ?

So much to do ! So little time !

That's crazy

Sister, so here's a picture of me making a cake, in my housewife florals but minus the heels! I don't know if it's something to do with the time of year or if it's my age but I am currently very distracted by those tasks I used to joke about and brush off as 'middle aged'. Sunday was gardening with the boy (Spring onions, salad leaves & beans planted) and today was perfecting a peppered Poussin with a creamy mushroom sauce - it was delicious thanks. And then there's obviously politics, The Stylist offered their next 'cut out and keep' installment of party politics today, this time with the Conservatives and I also came across Vote Match a painless quiz that compiles your views on current issues to decide which team you really cheer for - thankfully I unveiled no big surprise, but what will you come up with?
And what other better way to gain maturity and awareness than to beef up my knowledge of language. Yesterday's Dictionary.com word of the day was 'neologism' meaning a new word or expression. So how else am I to educate myself and witness a bit of neoglogism than to head to
Urban Dictionary and get on top of all the lingo spouted by those pretty young thangs. Fave new words & phrases include Stealth-call, Bootyism, Stall waiting and that's crazy...I guess you will just have to look them up to find out why!
xxxxxxx

Friday i'm in love

A Friday Treat for you - the extended SATC 2 Trailer! Aidan is back? WTF! Oh Lordy I love Aidan, hunky as hell, EYE CANDY ALERT - what about Big, how is it all going to unfold, I just don't know, so many questions, I don't think I need to tell you that I'm excited! (Hence all the block capitals)....
So anyway, calmed myself down a little now, and from one hunk to another - Dhruv! Yes I sat down last night to 2 hours of glorious Food Heaven, and happily saw Drhuv sail to victory. And handily The Evening Standard satisfied my need for more by tying up the tale with a neat little bow in this article in yesterday's paper - I actually gasped out loud when I saw him on the cover, so proud!
Last night I not only entertained the idea of sampling new culinary delights, but inspired by Masterchef, me and the boy took the plunge and purchased some scallops! Wowee, I hear you say - well this is a big thing for me since the only fish I ever used to eat came in batter. Now I've notched up prawns and tuna steaks on my list of fishy loves, scallops surely will follow! Poached in a delicious milky Thai green curry (which I basically made...with the help of some paste) the first bite was a little fishy (the off-putter for me, silly as it may be) but there after there was just this lovely soft melt-in-the-mouth consistency that slipped down very well indeed. I'm all hyped to try more...perhaps this tomato & Chorizo accompaniment will be next on the list. The beautiful thing about them is they're so quick to cook.
Perfect and light for the sunshine, talking of sunshine I was walking along the Thames to this earlier. Doesn't sunshine just bring such joy and such over excitement, not quite ready for breaking out the sandals yet, but fingers crossed!



xxxxx

Good puppies

Sister, I thought I would start to introduce you to my working world. After talking to you at the weekend, I realised the other day that you have no idea where I work or what I see everyday, so I am starting with these chaps........



awwwwwwhhhhhhh these are the doggies we work with every day. They are the pets of the lady that knows everything here (also known as 118-kate to the lads) - wizzie (aka wops / old tart / scrag bag / princess) is on the left and the boss lady, think about 8/9ish and Dash is on the right, only just turned 2 and still very much an overexcited puppy. He is also know as dish dash and stupid dog.

They are lovely and often come through to my desk for a treat / cuddle / sniff around - dash especially loves cuddling. They really make it here, when its stressful you can find them to do a trick for a treat or wrestle the rope knot thing with them, or go for a quick walk around the fields for fresh air. Which is what I am going to do now !

BTW they have got their paws on my knee as they do that for a treat !! awwwwwww

xxxxx