Ch-ch-ch-changes

I haven’t posted in a while, this isn’t because I’m lazy – well isn't entirely down to my laziness – but because I’m stuck. When I started this blog I was freelancing (that’s what I called it, certain people in my life - Father, the boyfriend - liked to call it being unemployed). Regardless of the label I was spending the majority of my time thinking about fashion rather than actually surrounding myself with it. So the blog was a way to keep my hand in. However recently I have found fashion inspiration somewhat lacking, my job (actual job – all members of the family circle agree on this) is thinking, talking and writing about fashion. And as all social smokers eventually find out, too much of a good thing is bad for the lungs.

So this post heralds a blog change. I’ll still post about fashion because to be honest most things I want, like and think about are fashion based, but I will also post about other things. If you readers out there (all 3 of you who I probably saw at the pub on Saturday) are upset by this I’m sorry, but not that sorry because frankly there are a billion other, much better and more regularly updated fashion blogs out there so go read them. But do come back here to read my thoughts on all manner of things, from wine to politics, to holidays and Beyonce.

But as I am not one to leave the masses wanting, here are my current favourite fashion blogs –

Richgirlsss – An Aussie based, bit of everything fashion blog. This is a new find for me but I'm already a big fan of her style and inspiration.

Garance Dore – This is a bit of a blog classic, on every best blog list there is. She appeals to my desire to be French and fabulous.

Tuula Vintage – Another Aussie blog. This one is more of a personal style blog, her style is slightly edgier than my dream style but she has great hair and cool photos.

Fashion Me Now – This is a London based fashion girl, with a great eye and very cool personal style (though she doesn’t post that many pictures of herself).

Notting Hill Girl – An Aussie living in West London, not exactly a rare phenomenon but one of the best blog about it I know. This is part personal style blog, part general inspiration.

The Sartorialist – If you haven’t heard of this blog then shame on you and your blogging knowledge, it’s like proper famous. So famous people are kinda over it but I still think it’s pretty.

Vanessa Jackman – Great blog for “fashion snaps” but with words. Plenty of pretty to be found.

We the People – Street style fashion blog based in Sydney. Love seeing the fashion on the other side of the world but also because I would quite like to live out there as I have mentioned before.

Il etait une fois – Another Aussie blog, I know this is becoming a bit of a trend but what can I say, I like their style.

And finally, it’s not fashion but I am obsessed by this blog…

The Beauty Department – A beauty blog, from Lauren Conrad (yep her of MTV reality show fame) and her hair and make up team. It has great hints and tips and makes it look easy.

Illustration by Garance Dore

Hair Hair

Sometimes I want things I can't have. This happens quite often when I see a celebrity or model with a new haircut. I start to convince myself I want that too. I almost get as far as booking an appointment before I remember that I look about 18 and my face is the same shape as the moon so a pixie crop on me will make me look like a 12 year old choir boy. Or that part of my charm is my inherent laziness so anything that requires effort (like a choppy bob) is a waste of time because effort is something I refuse to put in.

Doesn't mean I can't look at the pretty though and think, I want her hair.

Images thanks to Instyle.co.uk and Dianna Agron tumblr

Happy Birthday to me...

It is very nearly my birthday.

I am not a birthday person, I enjoy the presents (as any shallow, object obsessed person does) but I hate the focus. I hate it being all about me; my birthday, my day, my decisions. The irony is on any other day I adore it being about me and am prone to throw a strop if it isn't.

This birthday I am particularly dreading. It has been brought to my attention that I am in fact not getting any younger and this birthday will not only add a year to my life but will push me into the next box on official forms. My last birthday whilst not as "nothing" as I thought it would be, was not as bad for me as it was for some of my friends. I dealt with last year in quite a grown up fashion, however on this birthday, despite it being a school night I fully intend to get drunk and possible cry about my wasted youth.

There are a few things that might make my birthday more bearable....

A Daisy Knights chakra bracelet (available at my wardrobe).

Laduree macaroons.

Vintage cocktail glasses, a cocktail shaker and a bottle of Noilly Pratt (all part of my quest for the perfect Martini).

Angus & Julia Stone to serenade me, specifically with And The Boys (but I'm not fussy), if they aren't available then it'd be great if Adele could pop round with tickets for her London dates.

Images thanks to Laduree, Daisy Knights, Google. Videos thanks to youtube.com

Festival fever

Glastonbury 2010

I am not really into festivals, as I recently told a friend I am more a box of wine/picnic blanket type concert goer than the camping in the rain/getting sweaty in the mosh pit festival goer. This might be because although in the UK we have arguably the most famous festival, Glastonbury. We also have famously temperamental (read: crap) weather and as the idea of being rained on for 4 days appeals to me as much a root canal without anaesthetic, I've never been that into the idea of festivals.

There are two exceptions to this though, every year I think how much I would love to go to SXSW in Austin, Texas and Coachella in California. SXSW is mostly to do with my desire to go to Austin, Texas. Plus it is a total multi-media festival with music and film projects and lots of up-coming artists.

Coachella is on at the moment and this year the line up sounds particularly awesome, Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire, Kanye West, Mumford & Sons, Nas and Ellie Goulding to name a (random) few. Also from a superficial perspective (surprisng I know!) the fashion at Coachella is always worth a look. I don't know if it's because it's the artist that play or because of the location being so close to L.A but the A-list always turn out in their well dressed masses.

The MVP's so far on my list are the usual suspects - Kate Bosworth and Diane Kruger. I have made no secret of my love for Kate, I think she always looks great. I love her short shorts with high tops. Very California cool.

Diane (accessorising with the lovely Josh Jackson - and gentlemen take note this is how to do summer dressing; no skinny jeans, no cut off shorts, just a classic white shirt and straight leg slightly washed out jeans) manages to look great working the perfect summer combo of a nude maxi skirt and plain vest.

So maybe I am re-thinking my anti festival stance or maybe I just want to be somewhere sunny listening to cool music and looking fabulous.

Pictures with thanks to Just Jared

Advance Australia Fair...

Palm beach, Sydney, NSW

Sometimes I think I would quite like to live in Australia. This can be because the weather is that certain shade of London grey or because I've seen a particularly good episode of Home and Away (judge me all you want but you know you can still sing the entire theme tune, or the Neighbours one if that was more your bag). Other times it can be for a reason as simple as wanting cool clothes by Aussie brands that aren't stocked in the UK.

SS11 - look 39 (aka, my dream bikini)

My latest Aussie love is a brand called LOVER. I first noticed this brand in NYLON when they had a really cool bikini. My relationship with bikini's is much like my relationship with running - in my head I picture one thing, in reality it is quite another, so finding a bikini I like is quite a complicated thing. This also explains why I have about ten different styles of bikini, but only wear the same black H&M one from a billion years ago. Anyway, the bikini's by Lover are the reason I found the collection - the SS11 ones are so cute with Ikat prints and loads of different styles.

SS11 - look 19

But luckily for me, it's not just the bikini's that are great, the entire collection is gorgeous. It's called a Dance for One and is off duty dancer style, albeit more dancer cool than Black Swan crazy. I can't decide on my favourite piece, I love the shorts from look 33, the slouchy silk shirt from look 19, the nude jacket/blazer from look 27 (I have already mentioned my love of blazers here), I am also lusting after the palazzo pants look 22 - sadly I'm too short to wear them, but I think my absolute favourite most wanted piece is the shirt dress (in the pic above). And that's not even mentioning the silk shorts with lace hem or the peg trousers, or the lace dresses or the playsuits!

Whilst the lovely people at net-a-porter do stock some pieces they don't stock the whole collection. So obviously the only sensible thing is to move to Australia, where I can buy what I want when I want.

Oh and just because....

AW11 - the wish list begins

Chanel AW11 - Abbey Lee wearing a gorgeous jacket (that I want, obviously)

I haven’t blogged in a while, I could pretend that this is because I am no longer shallow and ruled by what I want (not true) or I could pretend that it is because I am very busy and important now (equally not true). There is no real reason, I just haven’t. However I am back now and in the spirit of IWWYH – there are lots of things I want.

I'd like these...

Right now I want the Chanel biker boots from the AW11 collection. I am not really a Chanel girl (other than bikes, bags and boots) but if I was I would be the type that wears impeccable coats and suits, not frayed jeans, which is why I was not so keen on SS11. However with AW11 Uncle Karl has made me want to wear Chanel again, yes it is a bit grungy but it is grungy with a French twist meaning everything is actually worth a fortune and paired with the right thing would look elegant and timeless.

or these.

Although I loved the quilted jumpsuit, I could and would never wear it. I also loved the coats and jackets but the boots are what have stuck in my mind. The reason I want the boots is due to my love affair with biker boots, I have a pair (Pierre Hardy for Gap from 3 years ago) that I adore. I adore them so much that I wear them all the time, with anything and now they are in dire need of some TLC from the cobbler. But I can’t stand to take them to be repaired because then I would not be able to wear them, so I need a replacement. Enter Chanel. Yes, they aren’t on sale yet, and no, I couldn’t afford them when they do become available. But a girl can dream, and dream of Chanel, I shall.

Tee for you?

Slogan tees are one of those things that I love but don't wear because I'm not really a t-shirt wearer. However I might have to change my mind, thanks to Erin O'Connor and Kate Halfpenny. They have done a great range of slogan tees (and canvas bags). My fave is the one above, She Died Of Beauty, which is what their great website is called too (go here). The other slogans are equally cool and have already been spotted on Coleen Rooney (don't let that put you off) and Rihanna.

Oh and incase the cute website, great model shots (feat. Erin - well if one half of your team is a super model, why the hell not!) and the catchy slogans weren't enough to convince you, they are all ethically made. So at only £40.00 what more could you want!

Images thanks to www.shediedofbeauty.com