Diamonds are forever.....

.....as are memories, and here is a distant memory from a time long past - London Fashion Week ss10/11!  This was a glimpse of Marina (of Marina and the Diamonds), before I had ever heard her fabulous music!  The clashing combo of colours ensures that this is an outfit that people will notice - and being noticed is a definite speciality of the British designer Ashish!

And may I just say that while the whole 'black-lipstick-thing' never really seemed to get off the ground, I think it looks really cool!  But alas, while I completely love this look, I never quite had the balls to actually attempt it myself??

xxo

Spotted at the bar....

Ahhhh - nothing accessories an outfit like......a nice pint!

So here we have two of the British national obsessions in one shot  - beer and mobile phones!

xxo

Tiger tiger.....

Tiger tiger burning bright
Printed on fabric, a charming sight! ;-)

Sometimes I need a little reminder of what a bad poet I am that prints can be unusual, imaginative or illustrative.... 

And what better reminder could there be than a bright, colourful and striking picture-print of a tiger - my chinese horoscope sign!! 
Tigers are fearless, bold and fabulous -  just like the woman who dons such an eye-catching article...

xxo

Canon Couture

I was at London Fashion Week this year, and while you may have read that this or that was the latest 'must-have' accessory - for example the backpack - I can assure you that there was but ONE thing that stood out head and shoulders above all the rest.......the camera.

The silky webbed strap was generally seen in either a black, white & red, or a striking gold and black combination, and could be worn casually over one shoulder or around the neck; slung across the body, or casually wound around the wrist; low on the hip or higher, (like Paul McCartney's guitar).  Logos and brand names have pride of place, and while black is the most frequent colour, there were also plenty of retro silver options, alongside a smaller, more colourful compact range.  As with all accessory trends there were plenty who went for over the top large, with enormous lenses in a fashionable grey stripe, but I have to say that, as with heavy padlocks on a Chloe bag, I see repetitive strain-type-injuries for those that tote these monstrosities around for too long!

Oh - and as with many other accessories, Hermes has come up with a pretty covetable offering!

xxo

WTF....

Now, from the sublime - to the 
ridiculous.....

Why?  That is pretty much all I could say when I saw this!  Now, it is rare for me to be truly speechless -  but on this occasion I was somewhat lost for 
words!

I havelearned over the years that it's unwise to say I'll NEVER do  something:

I said it about flares.......wound up loving my new JBrand flares**.  
I said it about skinny jeans.......you couldn't pry my skinny jeans from my cold, dead fingers.  
I said "never" about wedges........I tower over all my friends in my new blue wedges.
I said it about harem pants.......well...ok, I still haven't embraced them!

But believe mewhen I say that it is HIGHLY UNLIKELY that I will ever, EVER, submerse any part of myself in a tank full of fish, & sit calmly while they nibble all over my body!

(Watch this space.....)

xxo

** I can even clearly recall saying, at about age 5, that I would never, ever wear jeans!!!!  I now struggle daily with the conundrum of where to store my extensive jean collection, & at least once every year I become consumed with the  fruitless  un-ending search for the perfect pair!

Chanel dreaming....

Aaaaaaaaaah!  What can I say?  I'm in love - with a DRESS!  A beautiful, blue, Chanel dress!

This Chanel is a little piece of heaven really.  The floaty net fabric, the muted dusty lavender tone, the empire line, the delicate beading - it is a true classic.  Indeed, I was really struck by how ultimately timeless it is.   You wouldn't be at all surprised to see this dress in a faded photo from the 1900's, the 1920's, the 1950's..... 

There is always some debate in New Zealand as to what the rules are when dressing for an event, and deciphering the dress code maze is not really our forte as a nation.  Indeed, as a country we are notorious for our under-dressing (& I don't mean our stylish lingerie!!!) - jeans to opening night of the ballet anyone?  I can clearly recall my childhood dismay upon glimpsing the informal outfits on display when I attended my first ever opening night at Wellingtons Opera House.  I yearned for Chanel - I got blue denim! 

Of course, I think it is highly unlikely that I will ever be fortunate enough to own, or even wear a dress such as this, but....well.... a girl can always dream, right?  Sighhhhhhhhhhh..........

xxo

Scarf envy

You know....I have something to admit -

To this day I have never quite managed to figure out how to tie my scarf with the same casual class, sartorial style or insouciant air that so many women I see manage to achieve.  It is a major frustration for me, but I take comfort from the rare article I come across in magazines that attempt to teach this art to their readers - this must mean I'm not alone, yes??

So, here goes:  My name's Michele, & I'm a scarf-dyslexic. :-(

xxo

(Oh, and if I'm not mistaken, this is the fabulous model Ruby Aldridge....)

Costume characters....

When we are little we love to dress up.  I remember wistfully the large wooden 'Dressing Up' box upstairs in my grandmothers house - the way I would dive in head first, emerging minutes later as a "Medieval queen", a "fairy princess" or a "victorian lady" - (even, on occasion, as "my mother at her school ball").  One of the [many] sad aspects of aging seems to be that we lose that playful desire to dress up outrageously, (save for those special occasions when we deem it acceptable, ie. Halloween)....

.......or some of us do!  Thankfully there have always been those amongst us who retain this youthful sense of style in their daily sartorial choices - the Marchesa Casati's, the Isabella Blow's and the Anna Dello Russo's.

I love the couple above, not only for the gorgeous colour but for their sense of fun!  To me, they look as though they have just stepped from the pages of Oliver Twist, or some such novel - a modern day Artful Dodger and Nancy.

So I think why not employ more fashion fun on a daily basis - we only live once after all....

Hmmmm - I think I feel a New Years Resolution coming on......

xxo

Prick up your ears....

Looking around me on the streets this autumn one thing stuck out above all others - ears!  Many of the hats I spied this autumn had them!  Now, hats are something of a fashion passion of mine - always have been, & I have remained loyal to them whether "on" trend or off!  But I must admit that for the past few winters I have become a bit lazy with my choices......it has been either a beanie or trilby exclusive affair.  So while I have to admit (sigh) that I may just fall outside the age bracket for pulling this style off, I wholeheartedly embrace it as a concept!!  

It is always wonderful to see someone having FUN with what they wear - not taking it all too seriously!  

xxo

Street Style

The first one I saw was in Paris this summer.  It caught my eye, & I took a photo, but thought nothing of it. Then, in London's Soho, while sailing under the Pillars of Hercules, I looked up & found myself staring at a familiar image - another mosaic 'Space Invader'!!  Curiouser & curiouser!

And THEN, the other night while out & about (read: quite drunk), I witnessed yet another invasion!! 

 Coz that's what these are!  It turns out, according to Google, that they are all the work of a Parisian Street Artist named 'Invader', who has been invading cities all around the world with his tiled creations since around 1998!  He has even "invaded" the letters of the Hollywood sign!

Now that's what I call street style!

xxo

Chalk Farm Road, London

I've said it before & I'll say it again - winter has some sartorial merit!

I think it's also worth noting that I'm seeing more & more black lipstick this year too......first at London Fashion Week on Marina (of Marina & The Diamonds), now looking pretty cool in Camden.  I am personally looking forward to the new black YSL lippy that will be coming out soon, alongside a white one.  These are to layer over your existing colour to either lighten or darken it - how clever is that then? 

xxo

Autumnal thoughts...

One of the great things about Autumn has to be that the fabulous overcoats can come out of the back of the wardrobe where they have patiently waited out the summer months......  Everyone looks great in a coat - particularly the men!

xxo

Halloween's on the way....

Halloween's coming;  let the costume shopping commence!

xxo

On the subject of colour...

While I'm talking about colour, I must say that one thing has really struck me lately.....  Colour is gorgeous!  I have always been a purely "black" gal - open my wardrobe and you will see lots of black sitting alongside more black, punctuated with subtle tones of......black!  But I have to admit that this colour thing is worth a look.  When wandering the streets it is, more often than not, colour which catches the eye - and more important than that, it is colour that brings a smile!  So, to colour or not to colour?

xo 

Shocking Pink - Oxford Circus, London....

In a season where we seem to be faced with a sea of camel coloured capes, this was a sight to behold....and a happy one at that!  Refreshing, yes? 

xo

Warm & Wooly, London

It's very difficult to know where to go after images of the gorgeous Rihanna - so I have decided that right down is the only way......to an image I took while rather inebriated at a fabulous London establishment.  I looked over and saw this warm winter wooly, and while being from New Zealand made the sheepish print appeal, in fact I think it is the length that really appeals to me.  To my enormous chagrin, with my body shape I can't really wear shorter tops, but I think they look wonderful!  It's a look that really brings to mind those spunky WWII gals with their newly acquired sartorial freedom.....or the American rockabilly?  Either way, this was a fabulous choice for an autumnal evening in one of Soho's many drinking holes, and with the simple black pants, she wears it well! 

xo

Rihanna, Topshop London

Camel Boots, Covent Garden, London

Up until now I have been pretty much a strictly black shoe gal, but lately, something has altered.  I am starting to see the possibilities in other colours for footwear.  And the shade that has captured my eye this season?  Well camel of course!
xo

Soho Blues, London

Shorts in autumn, London