It's a Dirty Job, But Somebody's Got To Do It

Why oh why do you have to see beautiful things at the wrong time? I have an interview tomorrow and had planned to wear something (gasp!) that I already own. Of course I had a panic about it and a furious urge to buy something new, so I had a quick shifty around the shops this evening. I didn't find anything I liked more for the interview than what I already have, but I did spy this.

Toast is an interesting shop, some of their cuts and patterns are just not me at all but there are a couple of pieces in every collection that I would sell my first born for.

I rather suspect I have found said item for this season. This skirt is so incredibly beautiful there are no words. They had styled in with the cashmere top above, which is a bold move. And a bold move I rather like. Logic and common sense would dictate playing things down by pairing such a statement skirt with something less showy, like black. But not Toast, love 'em, they've gone all the way with plum? magenta? What would you call it? Other than heaven, that is. Let's not muck about. The combination was enough to stop me in my tracks and I fear that I will have to own both pieces come what may.

Just as I was starting to think that my patterned days were behind me in deference to a more muted, minimal wardrobe POW! this happened. I have to say, I don't mind a bit.

(Images via Toast)

The Ties that Bind

(Image via Net a Porter)

Is it just me or does this Miu Miu skirt look as though it has been fashioned from school boys' ties?

The Bottom Line

 Antonio Berardi

The humble skirt. Doesn't seem to get shouted about in comparison with trousers and dresses. But I am very tempted to champion in for my work Christmas do. It would be the ideal way to wear a statement item which doesn't shout about it too much, particularly as my party isn't going to be very fancy (dress wise at least).

Rock one of these with black knitwear or a simple white vest...? Or at least a high street version... I think it could be a winning look.

 Burberry Prorsum

 Carven

 Carven

 Christopher Kane

 Clements Ribeiro

 Creatures of the Wind

 DKNY

 Erdem

 Isabel Marant

 Kenzo

 

 

 La Petite S*****

 Marc by Marc Jacobs

 Marc Jacobs

 Markus Lupfer

 Mary Katrantzou

 McQ Alexander McQueen

 Miu Miu

 Paul & Joe

 Peter Pilotto

 

 

 Rochas

Vanessa Bruno Athe

 

(Images via Net a Porter)

Tucked Right Up

In my lunch break just now a woman of around my mother's age rushed up to me in the street a little way from my office, firmly patted me on the shoulder and gasped "your skirt..."

I smiled, graciously, waiting for her to follow it up with "... is fabulous", "...really suits you", you get my drift. It might sound terribly full of myself, but I do get complemented every now and then on my clothes, and sometimes even on my eyelashes (they are quite lustrous), so I was utterly ready to receive a praiseful tidbit.

What I was not prepared for, but what was actually delivered, was "...is tucked up!" in a stage whisper.

The colour drained from my face, I drastically pawed at the offending article, hoiking it out of my undercrackers as fast my desperately grabbing hand could manage, and asked, horrified "was there much showing?"

(Image via someecards)

 

She reassured me that there wasn't (but was she just being kind?) and said that she hoped someone would do the same for her. I could have fallen into her arms with gratitude for her damage limitation. But as she went on her way, happy in her knowledge that a she had done a good turn for a damsel in distress, I found myself frozen to the spot with dispair. There was a line of traffic on the road, did they see? did they all know what had happened? were they staring at me, enjoying my humiliation and waiting to see if I would crack? (oops, no pun intended) was I sure that everything was now covered up? were my cellulitey thighs offending the nation? did I have nice knickers on? would I ever be able to show my face again? had any of my colleagues seen?

I could feel an ugly blush spread over my face. I stopped to look in my bag, trying to make a plan. Run back to work to hide my head in shame or put my head up and go about my lunchtime business as if it was nothing? Flashing my pants, you say? Oh! It was nothing!

Well, I didn't quite manage that, it has to be said, but I did go and get something for lunch, my hand darting back constantly, ensuring that the buttocks were definitely under wraps. Stressful was not the word.

Surely that has to be one of the worst sartorial nightmares. Has anything like that ever happened to you? Let it all out, it's cathartic, I promise, we can share our pain together... Like I did my pants.

Mullet Over

(Image via Ladybird Blog)

OK, we've all had our fun, now can we just put down the mullet dress and skirt and try to pretend it never happened?

I'm talking particularly to the ladies wearing them on a night out with really chunky innapropriate footwear. Yuck.

About the Size of it

(Image via Topshop)

I have more or less given up on Topshop. It seems that no matter how many items are wedged onto a single rail none of them will ever be my size.

A size 12 is scarce, size 14 non-existent and 16 merely a myth.

I thought this skirt was pretty but not, apparently, for big girls. You would barely believe that this country has an obesity problem for all the size 6.

But I have been suitably reminded of my frustrations and won't venture back any time soon.

Back to Black

 American Apparel

Contrary as you no doubt now know I am, I want to be wearing quite a lot of black this summer. And black trousers are the devil's raiment because they are just so tedious. So a black skirt it will have to be.

But I hate shopping when I have a very specific thing in mind because you can never find it, can you?

And a longish, but not trip-abably long plain black skirt seems to be particularly evasive. Mullet skirts, slits up to heaven, sheer panels, voluminous? All well and good. But something nice and easy in a good weight jersey? Not so easy to find.

These skirts might all do the trick. I just have to see if I can pin one down and make it work.

Asos

Cheap Monday

James Perse

Kain

Oak

Rare

Rick Owens

Topshop

(Images via Asos, Net a Porter, Topshop)

Skirts for Perks

Acne

It has been a shocking week. I have been up to my eye balls. So apologies for my lack of posts. Lets perk ourselves up with some lovely skirts. And the weekend. Ah, that's better.

Alexander McQueen

Altuzarra

 Balenciaga

Carven

Dolce & Gabbana

Erdem

Giambattista Valli

Girl, by Band of Outsiders

Hobbs

Isabel Marant

Jigsaw

L'Agence

Lela Rose

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Meadham Kirchoff

Miu Miu

Nina Ricci

Oasis

 Paul and Joe Sister

Preen Line

 Preen

Proenza Schouler

See by Chloe

Sonia Rykiel

Suno

Theyskens Theory

Topshop

Warehouse

Zimmermann

(Images via Matches, Net a Porter)