Fashion Must Haves

Jippie - it is a new season and new fashion to get excited about. Here are my current wish list items - but take note my wish list is an ever changing thing... that's what makes it so fun!

www.asos.com

First of all, a good watch is a must have. I will admit I have a little bit of collection but one thing still missing is a chunky gold male version in ideally rose gold. Soft but masculine, fresh yet warm - I think this Michael Kors version is fantastic for just this purpose. And the collection is so vaste that there will be something for everyone. I am sure.

www.asos.com

The white shirt. You can really take this to the limited - fitted, boyfriend, slouchy, pleated, rouched, wide and so on and so on. A crisp white shirt can add a bit of the unexpected to any outfit or just straighten it out. I love that there a store dedicted to just this - the white shirt (think Anne Fontaine) but you can do you white shirt hunting at any fashion spot worth its name and reputation. The photo featured here is from Asos and I am in love plus for that price... whats to think about!

www.asos.com

Ladies - please - please - please go out and buy a pencil skirt! It suits us all - curvy, straight, tall, slim, boyish and this season there are so many versions to choose from. Granted the example above is a little risky (mind you thay have a green one online too think Jenny Lyons with a white shirt) but with jersey alternatives, or zipper feature versions there will for sure be one that suits you. I love them so I have already have 3 and even my curviness am loving this sequin one with a white shirt.

www.asos.com

Hello 70's... The other silhouette I adore this season is this flowly midi dress perfect with boots and Farrah Fawcett hair and a smile. I love this for a colour splash truly a gem to have in my closet.

www.asos.com

And tell me about it stud... I love a good shoe and spikey, studded ones are almost too good to be true. I am looking for the right pair to combine funky, with classy and just love the view of this pair...

Now you may be noticing a trend here... my love of ASOS and true they have a huge collection of brands, ship easily abroad (anywhere really) and do brilliant takes on today's fashion what's not to love...

So what is it about Weddings?

So I will admit it I am nervous - in fact shaking in my boots (if it were winter & I was wearing boots). I have a wedding to attend in 3 weeks time and I am no where near as firm, toned and lovely as I would like to be. PANIC!!!

So I have to get on the programme double time, super quick. Now if anyone knows of a miracle product that will not only make me skinny and toned but also 20 centimeters taller - call me!

Should that all fail I will have to do it myself but alert to all friends I will be grumpy at the lack of carbs and worse my much needed rescue after a horrific work week a glass of wine. But what has to be done has to be done.

But why - why the sudden panic. I am not the one getting married all eyes will not be on me. So why the worry. Is it that a wedding it normal girl's version of the Met Ball? An event to impress or is it the worry that people will gossip and judge which tends to be human nature at a big gathering? Or is the worry of being in a large group and being referred to as the funny fat one? Or maybe the knowledge that whatever you look like will be captured on film for others to enjoy for years to come. Right not sure how these thoughts are helping me right now. Well there's no time to dwell in sadness but rather to kick my Texas size bum in gear and improve things so that even with some toning, weight loss and fake tan I can master the idea of faking it until you make it.

My question is do we all stress this much about weddings? I mean I have only touched on the superficial aspects but then there is the fun of family weddings when people ask you - so dear why arent you married yet? Anyone special in your life? These family members could just as easily be complete strangers because they hardly know the true me so it is rather odd to open up to them. So back to the idea of faking it until you make it. I have a great slendering maxi dress for the party and a lovely reception outfit that will just be appropriate so all in all I think I can pull it off and just to sure there is still enough me to give me a secret extra confidence for the day itself.

So for now - try to get sleek, slim and sexy with some secret confidence - fingers crossed all goes to plan...

Dressing for the weather - can or should you ever go back?

In keeping with my spring confusion I have since embraced bare legs and springs hot colours although colour blocking is still on my list of things to try... the weather here has been stunning. Glorious sunshine, warmth, and best of all - spring's range of natural colours has come out and then it happened.

Out of no where - cold, chilly nights, cool mornings and then today on my way to work I spotted them. The people that have resorted back to fall coats. Wools coats in dark wintery colours. Even shock horror winter boots.

So there I am in my nude midi dress, bare legs, ballerina's in tote thinking to myself did I open the door to a different world. I wasnt freezing and there were no goose bumps in sight so how can it be that there is just a difference in our style of dress. Ok granted cool thresholds lie differently - I reference in this the North of England where no matter what the weather less is better (shockingly so) but this is just odd.

I guess the mystery will have to remain until my way back but I did just see a friend on Facebook write that it snowed in Sweden so maybe these individuals were en route to colder climates? Just a thought...

b-etiquette

With last weekend being just a scorcher everyone was out and about to catch a few rays but what is it about beach weather that brings everyone to throw all ideas of reasonable dress sense out the window and just walk around like a fool.

I think beach wear requires a certain etiquette (b-etiquette) and I can understand why certain beach spots set a dress code. So here are a few points to take into consideration. 1) never ever forget to cover up. Dont walk the boulevard without a cover-up - it screams trashy and looking for a cover-up is the perfect excuse to look for those ueber cute summer dresses or sequin kaftans plus if you are doing it just to rock that amazing body you have just think that a little clothing adds to mystery and flaunts what you've got 2) a little preparation can go a long, long way dont overdose on the fake tan orange is never flattering but a glow will make summer colours brighter and boost your confidence but do think about gloves, scrubs and moisturizer 3) that brings me to the other point here dont go for a colour that matches your skin colour at that time a bright white t with bright white translucent skin not the most flattering of ton sur ton colour schemes 4) striving for the no lines tan can be tricky and at best of times less than lady-like so use common sense if you wouldnt want to be caught on page 3 like that than probably best to embrace a little tan line and finally 5) wear sunscreen love your skin and take time to be golden not chestnut

Dare to Bare - chilly right?



Have you ever noticed how so many of the fashionista photographed at the various Fashion Weeks around the world are predominantly featured with bare legs. I just dont get it! Are all these fashionista privy to the same unique gene that Northern English girls possess? RESPECT. It has to be said.

Oliva Palermo (source: http://oliviapalermofashion.blogspot.com/)

I am not the fan of  nude/skin-coloured tights but I do think that bare legs look more sexy especially as a curvy girl I am all for leg lengthening and slimming so nude heels are a real DO for me. For me there are two options - black opaque tights with black heels or nude and I mean bare legs. I have very eager to wearing my caged black heels that just look so much funkier with bare legs so I have been patiently checked the weather hoping for a little sign of warmer weather that would allow me to bring out the bad boys of caged heels. Jippie the excitement spring brings.

Nevertheless I still have to wonder how the ladies of fashion do it. They have no layering natural or fabric to buffer against the cold and yet they attend these events with the bightest of smiles and no shivering. So I remaing super curious to understand how it works. In the meantime I guess I will just have to hold out for warmer weather...

Dare to Wear - the red dress

There are in my opinion some outfit choices that require more courage shall we say - the red dress is my mind is one of those choices.

The red dress is amazing and this awards season there have been spectacular red dresses on the red carpet but that isn't the real world. I am convinced that Valentino can make the every woman feel stunning, sexy and strong but we dont all have the Valentino budget. To me the red dress asks for attention. It creates drama, and excudes feminity but that also means you need to feel confident to pull the colour off.

Recently I saw this every day version of a Victoria Beckham type dress (source http://www.asos.com/). Lovely, wearable and affordable but do I have the confidence to pull it off? I don't know.

When wearing a colour that commands so much attention you have to be able to handle it. Feel good in your own skin. But when you pull the dress on - an amazing moment occurs - you pull yourself together, stand taller, feel slimmer, act smarter. Could it all be in the dress? I truly begin to feel brave as though it is my war gear and I am for the first time armed to take on the world. It would appear that the power the red dress has to outside world it also has on the person themself. I read recently that studies (or maybe just the one) have shown that a woman in a red dress is twices more likely to be asked out than other women around. My initial reaction to this news was - of course - but how short was the dress and how low cut? Is it really related to colour or a combination of factors. See if I feel better about myself in my dress maybe this is class-effect of the red dress and if all are in a good place surely these women will glow from within and therefore be more attractive and open to conversation. Perhaps I should take all this out to the world and test it out. Any volunteers? Maybe in time I might crack the idea if it is just the dress, the colour, the cut or the girl inside. So ladies - do you dare to wear the red dress?

My Fashion Words

I read in a magazine a little while back an article about 'The three fashion words' (source Red Magazine UK). Basically it is about finding the three words that describe your own fashion sense...

So I got thinking 3 words isn't alot to define your being. Ok maybe I am taking it a bit too far. But it is my take on what I try to dress like but also what I hope people see when they see me. Funny how we women dress for each other not men (well expect the few that are maybe in older professions) - and its not about competition it is far more about recognition, credit where credit is due.

Anyway my words. I decided to go with:

• stylish: not trendy but more in tune than in for every fashion trend coming my way
• accessorized: it adds individuality, personality and for the all black uniform it adds - shocker - colour
• fun: unfortunately I am not elegant I should be at my freaking age but no I am me a little lost in creavity so I want to have fun with fashion not be rigid with rules or matching ideas. That doesnt mean I am going to wear two different shoes (Helena not me) but it does mean I would choose the neon dress from this season because they are fun and make me smile. See dressing for me to make me feel better about myself.

Sit Down to Dinner Shoes

Every girl has them...

The too fabulous for words shoes that make you feel like a film star, model, rock star - you pick, but one small flaw you cant actually go anywhere in them. Not because they dont easily suit a variety of situation oh no because the pain to walk in them is out of this world. My sister and I call them our 'sit down to dinner' shoes. All you can expect from them is to look insane from the house to the taxi - taxi to the restaurant and your table- maybe one powder room visit allowed and then teeth grinding, jaw clenching trying to muster up a smile back to the taxi and a sighhhhh of relief to get home.

I know admit I do the 2000 take on the 80's trainer to work thing. I wear my ballet slippers to and from work. And thank the world that I do because the sprint I have to make this morning and this evening to catch the train home would have otherwise been impossible. But I can not live with out my 'sit down to dinner' shoes. I need the glamour in my life - the thrill of the shoe, the height that I get, the way my posture improves and equally does my self confidence. Ahhh who would have thought they could pack all that in a size 37 - UK 4 - US 7. Thank you. I will always choice beauty before sensiblity.

Long live the 'Sit down to Dinner' shoe!

Curvy Girl Rules

Rule #1: I am a little tea pot short and...

So lengthen things

Today I am wearing:

and I always go for the black opaque tights with black heels... creates the impression of longer, slimmer, leaner oh my! All good things!

And my ultimate favourite necklace from my grandmother - heavy sterling silver and I think it's funky!