Lapis of Luxury

(Via Essie)

That's the name of this nail polish. Who can resist a pun-titled product? I'm a sucker for 'em. It is also the colour that I am sporting on my nails. Pretty isn't it? But definitely fashion forward, ie. scary.

I think I did well with the outfit on my date. Approachable but feminine and attractive. But once the conversation got going and I started to gesticulate wildly (I can get a bit animated once I'm nattering away and in my element) I realised that the poor man was following my fingers with each flail, a look of increasing horror on his face. I had the feeling I had lost his full attention. Or at least my face and voice had. He was staring, staring, staring at my nails, and not in a happy way.

Not one to avoid an awkward situation I cooed "Oh, are you looking at my nails? Aren't they silly?" to which he responded in a slightly traumatised way "they're very - blue." Quite.


(Via A Girl, A Style)

All I could think was at least I hadn't gone for Chanel's Mimosa which I received for my birthday, because I think that might have really scared him. Poor lamb.

Jump the Gun

(Via Whistles)

So would it be totally obnoxious to wear a jumpsuit with my new hat to a wedding? Or would it be Joan Collins fabulous?

A Good Man/Job is Hard to Find

(Via http://pollylinography.wordpress.com/)

OK, so what are the two scariest things to dress for?

Umm, a first date, maybe?

A job interview?

I have both. On consecutive days. [Gulp!]

But it's ok. I've been advised. By our very own Hayley. Well, for the date at any road. Don't wear anything fashion forward. Very good advice. Boys don't like that kind of thing, do they? And if they do, they probably aren't the kind of boy for you. Naaaayamsaaayn?

And as usual, play up the waist. Which of course is the first thing you learn on the first day of your dressing Lucinda undergrad rookies course.

So I'm wearing a floaty little mini and unthreatening navy sweater. It's not going to get me stopped my a street fashion blogger that's for damn sure, but it might ensure that I don't freak out my date. Not quite yet anyway.

As for the interview? I think the dress that had very stylish New York girls gasping "Ow my gawd, I love her dress" last week might well tick the right sartorial boxes. You know, the asymmetrical All Saints one? It is statement-y but navy and reasonably reserved and I feel super comfortable in it. Then some serious cinching at the waist, and either the librarian or my grey heeled Billi Bi boots, if you recall, if I am going a bit more renegade.

I'll let you know how I get on. But right now I must fly. I have a date. With a man. In a pub. Wish me luck...!

Daisy, Daisy, Give Me Your Answer Do

Oh, isn't Daisy Lowe just an utter, utter confection?



She and her curves make the thought of braving the world in my swimmers marginally less terrifying.



What is terrifying, however, is that the swimwear she has designed might nearly get me to go and look in Peacocks.


(Via Daily Telegraph)

But don't worry, I'll go and lie in a darkened room for a while and I'm sure the urge will pass.

Chock-a-Block

But if the block heel is going to be part of the autumnal mix, then maybe it won't hurt quite so much.



I want this Marc by Marc Jacobs boot baaaaaaaaad. They'd be cute on me, right?!


(Via Net a Porter)

And Bally! Who knew they had become quite so cool? Oh, ok, quieten down! Maybe I'm just a bit slow on the uptake. But I'm feeling a pretty bad craving coming on. Hmmmmmm!

Six Degrees of Separation

If there is one thing to be said about me it is that I was born to rock a dress harder than any other kind of clothing item, thing... erm, so my point is...


WWWWWAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Because apparently next season it is all about separates. I can barely stand it. What am I going to do?

A Bird in the Hand

(Via Holy Moly)

This isn't strictly clothes related, except maybe that Timberlake has thoughtfully fashioned a bra out of his hands to protect Mila Kunis's modesty... TENUOUS LINK ALERT... clutching at straws...

But I just feel I need to express that the trousersnake is a total and utter skeeve. Wouldn't you agree?

Sheesh, just look at that look of pure degenerate pleasure on his face. Mila! Deck him!

Put the Boot in

(Via Net a Porter)

So the weather got rubbish. Inevitably. And I saw girls walking in to work in pea coats and knee high boots. Which I think is a bit excessive, it was still warm enough to venture out without a coat at lunch. And then Net a Porter sent me their new in email where these boots were shown. Cute, aren't they? But seriously, it's the beginning of June, can we just have summer first? Even if it is a little grey?

Thinking Cap(sule)

I have too many clothes. I know this. I know that I probably could have put down a deposit on a flat (although in London, maybe not) with the amount that I have spent on shoes and clothes and handbags.

I'm not particularly proud of this.

Especially when I struggle with the amount of stuff I own on an almost daily basis. I'm the kind of girl who can only ever be tidy if everything has its own home. If it doesn't it will invariably end up on the floor. Up until the moment that I go completely insane and swear that I'm going to throw it all out. This weekend was one such moment and I was pretty brutal, and took a full bag to Sue Ryder. But it was probably less than 1% of the wardrobe's total.

But the concept of the capsule wardrobe is one that is utterly lost on me. Classics? Neutral colours? One of everything?! The idea that everything has to work with everything else? Aaaarrrrggghhhhh!!!!

But honestly, where I find myself currently, something's got to change. I read an article a few weeks ago about reducing your wardrobe to 20 items. I counted my dresses (admittedly the item of clothing I wear above and beyond any other) and I have over 40. And if I counted my leggings, vests, t shirts, shirts, trousers, jeans, skirts, jumpers, coats, jackets I would be very surprised if it came to less than 200. That's a lot of clothing, no? In fact, one might say, far too much.

So I'm going to give myself a project and sort this out. But I like variety, I don't have a signature style per se. I suppose feminine, cinched-waist and slightly quirky would be as close as I could come to summing it up. I don't want to be pigeon-holed, stuck with one look, but I also need to stop drowning under a sea of pretty, pretty clothes.

I'm sure there is a way to have statement pieces that aren't boring and neutral and classic but maybe a smaller number of them than I currently have.

Mission number 1: Only buy clothes that I really love.

Mission number 2: Be super strict on getting rid of things that I don't really love. Or don't really wear.

It's going to be tough, I have no doubt, but the time has come.

Bar None

(Via Holy Moly)

Do you remember when Marilyn Manson dumped Dita von Teese for Evan Rachel Wood and then she started dressing exactly like Dita?



It might just be me, but I feel like Blake Lively might be employing the same trick. Don't you think there is a passing resemblance to Bar Refaeli and the dress she wore at Cannes a couple of weeks ago?

Or maybe Leo just has a very specific type. (If we are paying attention to gossip about what goes on on yachts...)

Franca-phile

(Via Daily Mail)

So everyone talks about how there should be plus-sized models in magazines and on the catwalk but usually when it does happen it is a gimmick and not the norm.

So congratulations to Franca Sozzani, the editor of Vogue Italia, for having three stunningly beautiful curvaceous models in their smalls on the cover. I love her and her realistic attitude to how women look.

Miamour

My utterly delightful friend Mia is a fan of comfortable shoes. But she is also a fan of looking utterly fabulous. This is a combination that pleases me as it is a direction that I am hoping to move in. And you know what her secret is? Clarks.

Yes, you heard me right, Clarks. Home of the sensible shoe is now also home of the fabulous shoe. Truly! I mean it! Would I lie to you?


(Via Clarks)

And she has these, in the cognac (which is a much more fabulous way to say beige, isn't it?) which I love. They are super comfortable, not too high, really flattering on the ankle with the low strap and will go with everything. I dragged her all round NY trying to find them. But look they have them in the old country too. What joy!

I know I should probably get the cognac too as they are much more practical, but look how pretty they are in raspberry. Because, after all, if they are comfortable and sensible then I need for some part of the equation to be utterly frivolous. This is me writing, obviously.

I've Got a Crush on You

Oh New York! How I love you! You delivered the most perfect hat to me. It is wide-brimmed to protect my lily white flesh from the cruel sun, it is fold and crushable, so I can pack it for the wedding I'm going to in South Africa, and it is elegant, so that I can pretend that it is all about looks not practicality. Yay! Thank you to the San Diego Hat Company. You've made me a very happy lady.

Start Spreading the News

I'm leavin' today

I want to be a part of it, New York, New York


These vagabond shoes are longing to stray

Right through the very heart of it, New York, New York



I wanna wake up in a city that doesn't sleep

And find I'm king of the hill, top of the heap



These little town blues are melting away

I'll make a brand new start of it, in old New York

If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere

It's up to you , New York, New York


Oops! Sorry, got a bit carried away. So, I'm off to Noo Yoik tomorrow and will be back on Wednesday. See you then!

Those Who Cannes, Do

Here are some of my favourite outfits from Cannes.

Enjoy!


























(Via Daily Telegraph and Go Fug Yourself)