Packs a Punch

(Image via Deadly Ponies)

For the last year I have been loving my Deadly Ponies bag that I bought from my good friends at Found in Bath. (It is like the one above but a delicious burgundy colour.) However, in Bath I don't tend to lug around lots of stuff. Now that I am considering moving back to London I need to rethink things slightly. Because in London I like to walk. I like to avoid public transport as much as possible and that means Shanks' pony. You know, the plates of meat... Erm, you know, walking.

Old woman that I am I seem to have aches and pains most days so adding the strain of a bag slung over my shoulder while I pound the pavements doesn't exactly appeal. So the solution?

A backpack.

I have been using one for the last couple of weeks and it does mean that I can heft my stuff around in relative comfort. I would like to stress that I take it off when on public transport and endeavour not to make any sudden moves and knock people over with it. Both of which are a major bug bear of mine. But the bag I have been using also travelled with my around South East Asia. IE. it is very functional but not so pretty.

Soo, oops! I guess I'll just have to have something new. The good news is that Lady Fashion is having a serious flirtation with back packs at the mo, so there are stylish treats to be had.

Now I just need to decide whether I want stylish but mostly functional/practical/comfortable or be superficial and go for something that looks beautiful and stylish and will work with my look, particularly a more corporate look that will probably be necessary, and hope that function is also catered to.

Here are some of my options. What do you think, form or function?

3.1 Philip Lim

Alexander McQueen

Christopher Kane

Fjallraven

Herschel

 Jerome Dreyfuss

Longchamp

 Marc by Marc Jacobs

Proenza Schouler

(Images via Found, Net a Porter, Selfridges)

Face Off

(Images via Chris Lobina/Sky Living) 

Lord knows I love a modelling programme. I don't know what it is, I can't get enough of them even though they are exquisitely trashy.

I hadn't managed to catch any of the UK version of The Face but they repeated the first few episodes yesterday and boy, they were stonkers. 

For one thing Naomi Campbell is so impossibly mean. 

Obviously being the most famous model the show is all about her. This seems somewhat unfair on the other mentors. Admittedly I haven't heard of Caroline Winberg but Erin O'Connor is certainly no slouch.  While the format for XXX's Next Top Model means that you get to know more about the contestants, The Face's mentors get much more attention, particularly Ms Naomi "I'm in a ming" Campbell.

It is definitely interesting seeing how the mentors manage the shoots, but I'm not sure I necessarily want to see them so much and the rookies actually modelling so little. Even after having seen four episodes I don't think I know which of the girls are particularly strong. The only ones who have made much of an impression have done so less because of their ability and more because of the scraps. While that supposedly makes for good tv it is only interesting for a very limited period, surely.

My highlight so far is the lovely Erin O'Connor. She's just very nice and seems to care about the job in hand. While Naomi is all stomping around throwing fits and intimidating everyone she seems more concerned about people's wellbeing than sensationalism. So she'll probably be out after this series because people are far more interested in diva histrionics. And that's a shame.

Cut and Run

Balenciaga

When the cut-out and be-buckled Balenciaga came out (was it last winter?) I thought they were hideous.

But with time and exposure to them (or the same style at any road) in real life situations I am starting to really like them.

A major influence was a young lady I have been working with who was wearing them with dresses and looking really super feminine but tough, which is a style of dressing I have an awful lot of time for.

Jil Sander

I have to say I'm tempted.

KG Kurt Geiger

Not having loads of money at the moment is kind of a blessing because I really can't buy anything. So I can fantasise, mull things over without having to commit to a particular look. While I suspect I would never be brave enough to wear these, in my head I'm wearing the hell out of them and looking pretty awesome at the same time, thank you very much.

If some money ever trickles in sufficiently to fund a shopping trip I'll see if I am still so enamoured.

Topshop

(Images via Matchesfashion.com, Kurt Geiger, Topshop, Net a Porter) 

Tartan Army

(Image via Asos, look by Emma Hill at EJ Style)

The grunge look has been showing its face now for a few seasons but it feels as though it is really going to hit home this season. Now I was 11 when grunge started to form. I loved Nirvana, I lived in DMs and plaid shirts.

But I think there is definitely something to the theory that you should not revisit trends that you loved when they first came out.

And I was going to stick to that until I saw this dress in Zara. It is tartan and florals, which is a combination I love, but it also gives a nod to the nightwear trend. I think it is lovely. I might have to go there.

What about you? Tempted to go grunge? 

Stop Gap

Oh Gap, how the mighty have fallen. In my teenage years you were the coolest shop and now you are just past it and maybe just a station on the basics express.

So I was pleased on walking by today to see some new colourful treats that suggest you are putting up a fight rather than just lying down and waiting to die.

 More of this please. I am even quite tempted by this purple bobble hat.

(Images via Gap)

Best in Show

10. Dree Hemingway

OK, so the US Vogue best dressed list. What do we think?

With the exception of the fact that as a Brit I haven't heard of three of the young ladies (9, 8, 5) and I am scarcely aware of another (10) I am pretty impressed by the choices. They are definitely young women who are fresh and adventurous and are bringing something exciting with their wardrobe  choices.

I salute them.

What about you? Like the choices or loathe them?

 9. Kimberly Chandler

 8. Lily Kwong

 

 

7. Kristen Stewart

6. Solange Knowles

5. Lauren Santo Domingo

 

4. Zoe Saldana

 3. Leelee Sobieski

 2. Rooney Mara

(Images via Vogue)

1. Emma Stone

Blow Your Cover

(Image via Style.com)

Talking of all in ones I also have a massive crush on Topshop Unique's velvet dungarees. I loved dungarees when I was younger and spent as much time as possible in them. But age and experience have turned my heart from them, but as soon as I saw this pair I knew the love wasn't dead, it was just hibernating. I just had to wait patiently for them to be resurrected by those fashion people in the know, declaring them desirable once again and I could step gladly from the shadows and stand up proudly and declare "I love dungarees and I'm proud!". I would so like to do that, but I think my thighs might have other plans...

One(sie) is the Loneliest Number

 

The onsie for adults seems a little tragic. Just look at poor little Joey Essex here. And I think this proves one thing for certain, the onesie should never be worn out of doors.

 

 



 

But in contrast look how utterly fabulous Rihanna looks in hers.

 

 

And it is starting to get really cold at night, and the thought of being all cocooned at night makes me feel all toasty and sleepy just thinking about it. No one would have to see, right?

Plus I probably wouldn't go for a novelty one, just some nice stripes like Ri-Ri. That would be ok, wouldn't it? Oh please say yes...

(Images via River Island, Topshop)

Night Owl

I am looking for a top to go out in, one that I can wear with my heavenly new cropped black cigarette pants and a sexy pair of black heels, a la Kristen Stewart. One that it is a little saucy while avoiding the streetwalker vibe.

What do you think about this? Quite sweet? Or a bit cheap looking? Satin, you know? It is a tricky beast. Might hot foot it now and try it on...

(Images via River Island)

True Colours

(Image via Picturing England)

I am going to the paralympics on Saturday. I am super excited. And while I most certainly will not be draping myself in the Union Jack I do having a leaning towards sporting the red white and blue in a subtle way.

Burns Baby Burns

Good old Bradley, hero of the London Olympics and resurrector of the sidie.

Love it.

How about you? Would you be horrified or secretly delighted if your fella started sporting a pair? I think I'd be into it as long as they didn't look like carpet remnants like George Best's.

(Images via Bradley Wiggins and the 20 best celebrity sideburns through history at The Telegraph)