My two cents...

So Lana Del Rey is going to join the illustrious ranks of women who have handbags named after them, with today's announcement that for AW12 Mulberry have created a new bag called the Del Rey. Now I am not one of Del Rey's detractors, maybe she is authentic, maybe she is more manufactured than the Spice Girls - who cares. Her songs are catchy (in the interest of full disclosure, I'm listening to her album as I write this), her look is clearly influential with everyone from British Vogue, to Karl Largerfeld talking about her, but a bag named after her already... really?!


It was mid last year that the internet starting buzzing with talk of a "new voice". I suppose it was inevitable after the untimely death of Amy Winehouse that the media would look for a new female to fit into the box earmarked Retro and Controversial. The backlash began as quickly as the hype had started and by the time Del Rey released Video Games almost everyone in the Western world had already heard it and formed an opinion on it. 


As I have already said, I like her but even I'm taken back with how quickly my industry has embraced her. Del Rey featured on the cover of British Vogue's March issue - one of the two biggest issues of the year, Mulberry have named a handbag after her. She's yet to score a big ad campaign, but that is surely in the near future with Mulberry being a front runner and Prada the fan favourite.


In less than a year, Lana Del Rey has gone from internet whisper to Vogue cover star. So where from here? I hope she tips the odds, makes good catchy albums that resonate and become summer soundtracks but I fear that we are setting her up for ultimate failure. But for the fashion houses, she will continue to be a commercial success - the Del Rey bag (below) is lovely, a vintage shape, made with soft leather, even I am contemplating buying it (just need to find a spare £900). I only worry that the bag's success will be longer lasting the girl who inspired it.

Disclaimer: Images do not belong to me.

Music Monday

It's the first Monday of the New Year, a time for detox and resolutions. I am doing neither of those. I find both to be a waste of time, particularly in January, which is by far the bleakest month of the year. I am all about positivity this year, 2012 is the year my ship will come in. So here is a Monday tune for the new year. I am addicted to this song after hearing it on a BBC drama advert, so I thought i would share. Granted it isn't particularly up-lifiting, but it doesn't make me feel sad either. Shelter by Birdy (original by The XX - also worth a listen).

All I Want For Christmas is...

I love Christmas. It is without a doubt my favourite celebration of the whole entire year. I wait 365 days just for Boxing day, which is the best day simply because you get to eat cold cuts, jacket potatoes, green salad, then cheese and all whilst drinking lots of red wine. I love everything about Christmas, the singing, the food, the wine, the weather (as long as it is cold and crisp not rainy and mild), the films, the festive tv, the festive adverts, champagne for breakfast and port for supper. I love everything except the giving and receiving of gifts.


I appreciate that this is weird, that I am missing the point of a capitalist Christmas. I'm not saying I don't want anything, having nothing to unwrap on Christmas would make me kinda sad but it doesn't need to be big or fancy. This isn't me pledging my allegiance to the hemp-wearing-hippy society, believe me I still like stuff and I still love presents, particularly shiny things. I just can't cope with the Christmas pressure.


Any other time of the year, without fail, I can list about 10 things I want just off the top of my head - this ranges from the uber expensive (hello Celine bag) to the not so expensive (hi there hair brush). Yet come December, specifically Christmas and I get stuck. The expensive is too expensive to ask for on a whim (yes, you, Jonathan Saunders jumper) and the rest seems silly. It's like a Christmas related performance anxiety, the more that is asked of me the less I deliver.


Before you think me too shallow, there is nothing more I love than a good book or even better a voucher. So it is not about the "item" itself, more the pressure attached to it.


The only solutions I have come up with so fat are not give gifts at all on Christmas, which goes against all of my most materialistic beliefs, or to create a year long wish list and add to it every time I see something I want or like. Then come Christmas family, friends and secret admirers could just consult the list.


Ohh I like the second option... Givenchy, Celine, Chanel, Oh my!

Picture with thanks to google. Not mine.

Out Into The World

So I don't update very often, as anyone who ever swings by here will know. I have decided this needs to change and like most people I need an incentive, in this case... the world (or you know more than my boyfriend and friends who read this). So I have joined bloglovin' in the hopes that people might actually stumble across this blog might make me update with regularity!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Also, since I am pimping myself out (so to speak) check out my tumblr, oh-darlingheart for all the prettyness that I don't want to put words with.

Heinz Variety

Isla Fisher in Confessions of a Shopaholic

After about 5 years of thinking about it and 18 months of talking about it, I finally did it. I dyed my hair red (well I paid someone to do it, I'm not a total fool). So now I am officially a red-head. The comments have been positive, ranging from "oh have you dyed your hair" to "It looks so pretty" - though of course no one is going to flat out tell me my hair looks crap. The colour itself is not a problem, I like it, it's what I wanted so all good. The problem is, I don't know how to dress as a red-head.

I've tried getting inspiration by looking to my fave red heads; Emma Stone, Isla Fisher, Bonnie Wright, Julianne Moore but it isn't much help. They all look great on the red carpet but their personal day-to-day style is not my thing. Although I wouldn't say no to Bonnie's jewellery and Emma's (alleged) boyfriend. Generally my style is a bit of a mix of things. The aim is to be french chic meets park avenue prep with a hint of Aussie laid back surf style on any and all beach holidays and long sunny days. The reality is casual separates (dictated by budget and what I can steal from the boyfriend) with occasional attempts at girly/pretty. None of this works with red hair.  

I am in a style crisis. I knew how to dress as a dirty blonde, hair colour people not character – get your minds out of the gutter. I even knew how to dress as a brunette but a casual red head, it is not going well. Suggestions would be very welcome. 

I want, doesn't get

Jonathan Saunders SS12 - I will have this in the peach or green colour-way in case you are interested.

One of the problems with working in fashion is that you become a bit complacent and can start to take things for granted. For example, the other day flowers were sent to the office as a congratulations for our birthday issue and someone on the team (oh fine, it was me) complained that flowers were lovely and all but you have to find a vase or get someone to take them home, so actually they're a hassle and cake would've been better. So far, so un-grateful.

Also we go to press days to look at all the new season items, all the while compiling a mental wishlist (mine currently reads: Jonathan Saunders jumper, Valentino bag, paint and snakeskin effect Louboutin's). 

Often at these press days you get gifts, a lot of these gift get re-gifted to family and friends. I personally give mine out as Christmas presents, but I'm honest about it and actually I think my mother appreciates them more because she knows they are free, rather than me spending my hard earned cash on gifts. Occasionally we get given vouchers for money off, this then turns into conversations like this:

"Everything on this site/shop is sooo expensive."

"I know."

"I almost wish they hadn't given us a voucher because it's making me want to buy things that I can't afford."

Once more, un-grateful. It's like the saddest little princess crying tears in her Chanel couture gown. 

I like to imagine all industries are the same. Michelin star chefs, craving beans on toast because the idea of eating yet another meal with a Velouté of something makes them fed up. Sound engineers who want to go home and listen to the today program instead of the latest offering from Coldplay. Or racing drivers who occasionally wish they could take the bus so they don't have to drive. Yeah, that last one isn't likely but you get the idea. 

We all get complacent, so I think we should organise an annual job-perk swap. Chefs could swap with bankers, sound engineers with fashion folk. I'm not proposing a job swap, the country is in enough of a mess as it is without me taking the helm at HSBC but maybe we could have a day where we all get each the perks of someone else's job.

If for no other reason than it might make us all appreciate ours a little more.

5 weeks 'til Christmas but thinking about Summer

It is November, which in the real world means jumpers, thoughts of Christmas and red wine by the fire. In the fashion world it means SS12 and Trends. Ask any fashion assistant and they will tell you the most dreaded part of show season is not the ticket requests (which is a pure form of hell) or the shows themselves, but weeks later when it comes to creating trend reports. They are exactly what they sound like, a report about the trends. You go on style.com look at ALL of the shows and put different looks from different designers into trends. I have just done this. In case you care next season you will be wearing, white, candy colours, sport luxe and fifties styles - though hopefully not all at once.

The good thing about the trend report is I get to look at my favourite shows, see my favourite designers and generally invest time in the pretty. My top 5 for SS12 are the usual suspects, but as the saying goes "if it ain't broke..."

Givenchy

I don't know what Mr Tisci has for breakfast, but I would certainly like some. His shows are always so well crafted and beautiful. I've always wanted to be a mermaid and I would gladly be an urban one based on his vision.

3.1 Phillip Lim

I have multiple versions of my grown up self and this is one of them. Crisp tailoring, soft colours - the perfect summer look.

Preen

Every season they get it right and every season I want it all. That dress is my perfect go to dress, or would be if I could be trusted to wear white.

Jonathan Saunders

LFW may be stuck in between two financial power players, but Jonny proves season after season why he deserves his fashion place. I am already dreaming about owning this jumper (and if the waiting list is anything to go by, so are the rest of the London fashion scene).

Stella McCartney

It is my life long ambition to go to work in my PJ's and if I was wearing Stella no one could say I wasn't work appropriate. Win Win.