I left my heart in California

Today's post is a very selfish post.  I have spent all day moping around the house in a hoody, eating and feeling very sorry for myself...who knows why, but i'm repeatedly told that it happens to the best of us!  Naturally I turned to the wonderful world of fashion blogs in an attempt to cheer myself up, and one girl in particular has managed to put something closely resembling a smile on my face - Shea Marie of Cheyenne meets Chanel.  Shea Marie embodies the typical California girl, something which I constantly aspire to achieve, and I am totally in love with her style (and her hair!!).  Today I was particularly moved by her little white dresses (nearly always from LF Stores - I need to move to America ASAP), often paired with black tights and jackets - a look that takes me back to my very first blog entry!

Here is a selection of Shea Marie's looks that have made my day 100 times better - amazing how fashion can do that to me.  Enjoy the beautiful photographs; I hope they inspire you too!

Images courtesy of http://www.cheyennemeetschanel.com/

And just because it wouldn't be me without denim shorts and a leather jacket...

So if like me you're having a bad clothes day, always remember, in the words of Shea Marie herself...'what's the fun if you don't feel fabulous everywhere you go?!'

xo xo

Mad for plaid

I've been searching for the perfect plaid shirt for quite a while now.  When I was in London on Thursday, no way was I walking down South Molton Street without having a look in Zadig & Voltaire.  This was where I found the shirt in the picture below.  There are so many things right with it.  The colours and print are exactly what i'm looking for; it was warmer and more comfortable than they generally tend to be; and there was a different print on the inside which you could show off by rolling up the sleeves - a feature that I always tend to love.  There was just one thing completely wrong with it - it's far too fitted.  I tried it on in the largest size and even then it was on the snug side.  When it comes to plaid shirts, the baggier the better.  You've got to look like you've casually thrown on something belonging to your boyfriend - so much cooler and so much more versatile.

This beauty below is from Etoile Isabel Marant.  Although it's hard to tell from a picture, I suspect that it suffers from the same flaw as the one from Z&V (Net a Porter describe it as a 'fitted style'...).  

Chiara Ferrangi is once again spot on with this trend.  She has the perfect shirt, and wearing it open over a white T-shirt with a leather jacket works brilliantly.  I think Abercrombie & Fitch's mens department might just be my answer!  And don't even get me started on her Stella McCartney bag...so good it deserves it's own post!

Photographs courtesy of http://www.theblondesalad.com/

xo xo

Alice's Wonderland

So on Thursday Irina and I headed down to the wonderful Notting Hill for an Alice by Temperley sample sale.  I had never experienced the joys of sample sale shopping before, and it was so much fun!  I felt like a child in a sweet shop!  We literally just grabbed pretty much anything that we liked in our respective sizes and spent hours trying clothes on with the other women in the open changing rooms.  It was the perfect opportunity to see all of the beautiful designs.  As you can probably imagine, my collection consisted of purely black and white items, and so Irina forced me to try on something a little different.  I agreed to sample a floor length gown (!!!)...I remain unconvinced.

The pictures below are of my new tuxedo shirt/dress that I picked up at the sale.  I had to try it on four or five times before I persuaded myself to buy it, but people seemed to think it looked good, and I think it's really different and cool.  There are so many different ways to wear it - as a long shirt with tights and heels (with denim shorts hidden underneath as it's pretty see-through); messily tucked into denim shorts; with a cropped leather jacket; with black skinny trousers and skyscraper heels...and the list goes on!  Such a versatile yet classic piece.  I'm excited to start wearing it!

After this we went to a Rupert Sanderson sample sale, and although we arrived too late to find anything good in our (very popular) size, the sheer number of shoes took my breath away!

Until tomorrow bitches

xo xo

A breath of fresh air?

Ever since my post berating florals i've been racking my brain to think of a way to turn this into a new and exciting trend.  I saw this picture from Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2011 in this week's Grazia and it really caught my eye.  Even though i'm not overly keen on the uneven length, I think the clash created through the use of three completely contrasting floral prints makes this a very interesting design, and this technique might well be the answer to my question of how to bring florals into 2011.  Try it!  When we're properly into spring, I certainly will be!

On a completely different note, I returned home from Oxford last night and so when my sister gets back from Paris next weekend I will finally be able to start posting some proper outfit photos!  

xo xo

P.S. My friend Irina and I hit an Alice by Temperley sample sale in Notting Hill on Thursday...come back tomorrow to see my photos and thoughts on that!!  

Lagerfeld + Lively = Lovely

Introducing Blake Lively, the official ambassador of Chanel's new Mademoiselle handbag line.  Does it get any better than this?!  Definitely not.  I worship Blake Lively and I worship Karl Lagerfeld, so when the two came together...well I practically did my happy dance around the room.  She's gorgeous, the bags are gorgeous (Mum and Dad, if you're reading this...) and it's quite simply a match made in heaven.  

Seeing as today is kind of Gossip Girl related...

You know you love me 

xo xo 

Diamonds on the soles of her shoes

Nothing can lift my mood like a good pair of shoes.  Four years ago I would never have even dreamed of wearing ankle boots - I used to think that only the ridiculously long-legged could get away with them.  But oh how the times have changed!!  It wouldn't be exaggerating to say that I live in these Urban Outfitters beauties; I do pretty much everything aside from sleep in them.  The brown wooden base works so well with the black suede, and I love the way that they take me from an average 5'8 to a cool 6ft.  I can't stand anything resembling a stiletto heel at the moment, and so the chunky heel and platform suit my current style perfectly.  They give me the walk that comes with wearing heels, but with the bonus of the comfort that we usually experience only while wearing flats.  When i'm in these shoes, i'm happy.  

I wouldn't say i'm getting bored of them, but we all know how important a bit of variety is when it comes to shoes.  I have a few pairs of knee high boots, but they just feel all wrong this season (apart from my biker boots and Hunter wellies of course).  Way too Kate Middleton.  I recently stumbled across this AMAZING pair of Ash biker boots.  Absolute perfection.  Yet another thing to add to my wish list.  

From a girl with major shoe envy... xo xo

The naked truth

Do you ever wake up with the urge to go out and try on as many clothes as possible, even when you have absolutely no money?  Well that's exactly what happened to me this morning.  It's a beautiful day and I took it as the perfect opportunity to walk into town and try on everything that i've been eyeing up over the past few weeks.  

I'm having a bit of a nude/dusky pink moment these days.  I don't actually own anything in this colour...yet...and so that was a big focus for me today.  

The nude

This jumper is from Jigsaw and costs £75.  It's difficult to tell from these pictures (i'm back home in a week, where I will have access to a REAL CAMERA!!!!!) but at the time I thought it was maybe a bit too pink.  Looking back on the pictures, it's unbelievably cute and I think it probably makes my wish list.  

I've had my eye on this top, also from Jigsaw (£99), for a number of weeks now. The pictures really don't do it justice.  It's perfect with denim shorts and ankle boots, and I loved it with my leather jacket and scarf as well.  The material (silk) and floaty shape work so well with the colour, and it's one of those tops that's ideal for contrasting with some edgier items (leather and biker boots).  I will almost definitely be investing in this soon!  

I've been wanting a pair of nude heels forever.  I tried these on in Office (£70) but I wasn't exactly taken by them.  I think i'm looking for something with an open toe and a much chunkier heel.  

I'd love a floaty nude dress that I can wear both during the day and in the evening; this one is from Zara. I thought it had potential on the hanger but i'm really not a fan at all.  It's too long and I don't like the straps.  I've actually designed my own, so if all else fails I can just have one made!

I'm currently on Weight Watchers and aim to be at my goal weight in time for my birthday in May.  I have about a stone left to lose, and i'm not comfortable wearing trousers just yet, but I loved these (Zara - £25.99) so tried them on anyway!  

...and the not so nude

This is the Jigsaw top that I love but in a different colour ('slate blue').  I like this one a lot as well, but seeing as it's £99 a go, I'll probably just get the nude.  

Absolutely love this cardigan from Jigsaw (£99).  I thought it was a take on army camouflage print, but apparently it's intended to be a 'blurred floral print'.  Quite glad about this - if I buy it i'll be doing a slightly different take on floral (see my earlier post...).

I can only say good things about this Zara dress (£49.99).  I love snakeskin almost as much as leopard print.  I think it'd look even better with a thin belt at the waist.  

I have such a thing for slogan tees.  I only need one word to sum up this one from Topshop - AMAZING.

And these are just my High Street finds...i'm having to physically stop myself from clicking on Net a Porter in my bookmark bar!  Oh well, not long until the next instalment of the student loan...

Namaste bitches xo xo 

P.S. I realise this post seems to indicate that i've already forgotten my promise to inject some bright block colours into my life.  Do not fear, I bought some bright neon pink underwear from Topshop on my travels this morning...we all have to start somewhere, right?!