Favourite new blogs

• olsensanonymous- if you're as much a fan of Mary-Kate and Ashley's grunge chic style as I am.
• lefashionimage- for great shots from high-fashion editorial spreads worldwide past and present.
• telegraph fashion- up to date fashion news and tips from acclaimed fashion editor Hilary Alexander.
• fashiontoast- stunning photography and styling.
• nataliehartleywears- styling tips from Sunday Times supplement columnist and now Senior  Fashion Editor at InStyle.
• andrewsrevolution- the daily stylings of Kelly Cutrone's right hand man.
• theblondesalad- the daily stylings of a student blogger in Milan

Some of my favourite pieces of art in Paris

Inspiration...

I went on a little google images search and found some more amazing and inspirational photos of Kate Lanphear's iconic style. A mix of monochrome sharp tailoring with a distinct glam-rock edge, this look is unique, strong, high-fashion but still entirely wearable and attractive. I love that with the slight changes of style two aspects remain constant- her shot of peroxide asymmetric fringe and her abundance of rings and cuffs. I'd love to know if there's a story behind each piece...

Wishes, wishes, wishes

On my rounds of fashion blog browsing this morning I came across these amazing shots of Kate Lanphear (Style director of US Elle) on jak&jil. Not only does Kate Lanphear have impeccable glam grunge/rock style but she was sporting some seriously hardcore wrist and finger jewellery which I am in awe of.

Since my last ever student loan happily added multiple figures to my bank balance I have spent many an hour browsing through internet shopping sites and contemplating what I could spend my money on (obviously the option of just saving my money or spending it on academically useful items did not occur to me. I am a shopping addict)

The first things which sprung up on the wish-list were obviously hand-bags, closely followed by shoes. All items would use up my loan in one or two goes, so not exactly a conscientious use of government provided funds.

First wishlist item is the Chloe Marcie large leather hobo bag. It is sold out on net-a-porter thank god. Crisis averted.

Next is the Miu Miu large Vitello leather tote- another practical but timeless leather handbag.

Then there's the Miu Miu satin platform pumps. Generally anything Miu Miu would be fantastic, I loved everything from the S/S collection.

bryanboy tweeted this pic of a gorgeous sequined Miu Miu bag earlier today- I AM IN LOVE.

But unfortunately as I shall be entering the real adult world of jobs, rent and responsibilities in less than a month I really need to improve my management of my finances and learn to stop spending my money on unnecessary material goods. I may really want a Chloe/Miu Miu handbag and feel that it would complete my life/wardrobe but the sad fact is that isn't true. It is a startling possibility that at some point in the future I may have to choose between handbags and food, and sadly (as I quite like to eat) the food (or bills) will win.

For now I shall make wish lists of more affordable, Kate Lanphear inspired, items like these seriously cool and yet affordable bracelets from ASOS:

Shakespeare gets depressed too...

I came across this sonnet as I was revising today, it is quoted by T.S.Eliot in his poem 'Ash Wednesday'.

SONNET 29

When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

That's how Sue 'C's it...

For those of you British fans of Glee who are 'glee'fully anticipating the Madonna episode this coming Monday then here is a little taster of how epic you can expect it to be...

Retail Therapy

The last few months (well really since last September) have been incredibly stressful and tiring. Being a final year joint honours student requires so much more work than I ever anticipated, and because I am an arts student (joint English and At History) there is SSOO much reading to do! It never ends! But with each day I crawl closer and closer to the end of the tunnel, to the beaming light that is graduation and the real world. May 15th. That is when it is all over. 3 weeks from today.
So, like any stressed out female with a shopping addiction I have been assuaging my mental turmoil by purchasing totally unnecessary items of clothing online. The technology revolution is fantastic in so many ways but catastrophically destructive to your bank account when you can buy anything and everything at the click of a button. My most recent sites of expenditure have been Amazon (for fashion books and DVD box-sets-just got Generation Kill which is very thought provoking), Itunes (for episodes of Lost which I insist on buying so I can appreciate the silver fox that is Jack Shepherd/Matthew Fox) and Topshop (need I say more?).

You can't really appreciate the dusky pink, almost mushroom, sheen of this silk blouse in this quick snap which I took on my iphone. This is my first item of clothing which shall form the basis of the Spring soft tailoring pastels/neutrals look. I have yet to experiment with styling options because it hasn't been warm enough yet and I've mostly been throwing on a daily uniform of denim (jeans/shorts/skirt) and tshirts/plaid shirts for library study sessions. When you spend up to 8 hours straight sitting on your arse staring at books you want to be wearing something comfy!!

It arrived!! My dusty grey Topshop backpack!! The details online never mentioned that it was faux-leather which came as a nice surprise-it is super super soft. I think this shall definitely be my flight bag for my next vacation (which is likely to never happen as neither myself nor my friends have any money to go travelling!) In the event that I end up spending the Summer, post-graduation, on an epic job hunt then I shall use this bag for London day trips-there's so many exhibitions that I want to see!!

Now, another reason for my added stress-levels recently was the abundance of photo albums popping up on facebook of all my friends' travels (they had 3 year courses so graduated last year). If I have to be subject to another 'me lounging in my bikini on the beach in Aus' or 'me posing infront of a temple/church/building/other monument showing just how cultural I am' photo I shall definitely have to submit to some self-destructive behaviour and deactivate my facebook account. My envy just will not cope.

On the plus side, there are those wonderful people who go travelling whilst I cannot and bring me back gifts!! Oh how I love thee America. The land of Victoria's Secret and exponentially massive shopping malls. My parents and younger brother just got back from a trip to Miami and my mom sent me this pics of the stuff she picked up for me:

Victoria's Secret pjs and underwear. 'Here comes trouble' indeed.

Gap girls mini boxers. Super cute.

Adidas Originals sneakers. The ones that Whitney Port wears whilst trampolining in the newest ad.

I AM IN LOVE. These super bright, sparkly delights shall be treasured.

Vanity. Desire. Obsession.

Aside from my undying love for the sheer chiffon and tulle romance of the Valentino S/S RTW and Couture collections one of my other major obsessions was the hard-edged metal detailing of Gucci. The contorted posture of the models in the advertising campaigns, alongside the unusual upward tilt of the camera angle, reinforces the bionic, futuristic and yet still sexy appeal of the clothes and accessories.

I love the metal skeletal detailing on the bodice of the dress but what I really love are the shoes. Shockingly high, these heels are dramatic and subversive, not for the girly or faint hearted, and certainly not for those fashion lovers who are following the magazines' dictates to embrace lower heels or flats. The extreme height and futuristic detailing of these shoes make them dramatic and exceptionally sexy.

Many celebrities have already begun to embrace Gucci sandals on the red carpet proving just how fashion forward and, oddly, how versatile these sandals are.

Leigh Lezark, one of my favourite models (and  DJs), teams a pair of grey Gucci 'Sigrid' heels with her traditional style of all black. The harness detail of the shoes compliments the metallic sculptural neck piece and adds interest and edge to an otherwise streamlined and 'safe' outfit. As always her jet black bob is razor sharp and glossy.

Rumer Willis pairs her black 'Sigrid' heels with a Jill Stuart asymmetric dress. Aside from her desperate need of a little colour this is a flattering and stylish look for Rumer. I like that her black painted toenails are a continuous part of the gothic, hard edged look. A brighter colour would look out of place.

Jennifer Lopez returns, post-baby, to the fashion scene looking positively glowing! This look really surprised me because I couldn't imagine the 'Sigrid' heels working with a soft fabric but the cowl neck rose grey of this dress with contrasting grey tie belt looks fabulous. I think Jen's beautiful olive skin really makes this look, anyone with a paler skin-tone would look washed out.

Gemma Arterton has received a lot of criticism from the British press about her looks and her acting abilities but I think that she silences all critics in this strong, confident but edgy look. The fitted dress with geometric net inserts is also Gucci Spring 2010 and the sandals are the 'Daryl' platforms-not as dramatic or futuristic as the 'Sigrid' style but still just as dark and seductive. The perfect black cage sandals.

Shades of gold and leopard-print

Girls look like boys look like girls

As I was checking out today's library trends-plaid shirts and oversized jumpers-it got me thinking about cross-functional fashion. Gone are the days when womenswear and menswear were two completely distinct categories; in today's society of increased acceptance and toleration I would like to think that the social stigma of wearing clothes designated for the opposite sex has disappeared or at least lessened considerably. Admittedly women wearing men's clothes has a slightly different signified meaning than when men wear women's clothes, it is further evidence that contrary to our belief that we may live in a completely liberal society this is not yet completely true. A woman in trousers used to be a feminist statement asserting a strong belief in gender equality. Today, although this political statement may not be so resonant, a woman wearing trousers (and I'm excluding jeans from this argument) is still an emblem of defiance-we no longer need to wear prissy dresses or flouncy skirts to emphasise our status as women, or accede to our given status as the inferior sex whose place is within the household making and caring for babies. Women can dress however they like.
Nevertheless, much as I would like to think that our choice of clothing is sometimes more than just aesthetic, I don't think that within the confines of student-ville the adoption of 'men's' clothing is a particularly intellectually influenced choice. Put simply, guys clothes are just far more comfortable than girls- they are not designed to create a certain body shape or reveal a particular body area in its most flattering aspect-they are easy, not try-hard. Then there is the obvious positive point that if you have stolen your menswear item from an actual guy it has that amazing smell that is a seriously appealing mix of men's aftershave and natural boy scent. As these items are typically oversized (unless you are dating someone with a case of manorexia or boylemia- read this in the May issue of Company mag) they are baggy, not self-consciously clingy meaning that you can just throw them on over anything, with anything and run out the door. It's the natural look, the non-contrived 'I just rolled out of bed' style.
If you are going to step out and purchase some men's clothing then this is what I recommend:
For casuals-

• Primark jumpers: V-neck, super soft and only about £4. Great to throw on with any denim item or just with joggers if you're slobbing.
• Quicksilver/O'Neil/Billabong: colourful and cosy hoodies.
• Nike/Addidas: boys hi-tops. Way more cool than their colourful/sparkly girls counterparts
• Topman: tshirts galore. Stupid slogans, band logos, cartoons or just plain.
• Uniqlo: basics like v-neck cap sleeve or long sleeve T's. Also have a great range of all different coloured unisex cardigans and jumpers.

If you're going for a more tailored/smart boy look-

• Zara Mens or Topman: boyfriend cut blazers- not just the fake women's ones- these are actually long enough for those of us who are taller than 5ft6. Just make sure you don't get one with too broad shoulder otherwise you will look like you're doing the walk of shame.
• For shirts pretty much all high-street stores sell good versions, just avoid Primark for this, the shoddiness of their material makes their shirts only good for ripping up at Halloween.
• Topman has some great mens trilbys too.

Reflections on Library fashion

The end of term is always a particularly painful time of year. Unfortunately in my case this is made ten times worse due to the fact that I am now a fourth year student revising for finals. There is absolutely no way to get through this awful period of time but to buckle down, get your head stuck in a book, drink copious amounts of coffee and console yourself with girly film nights which primarily consist of group moping and whining about how awful life is.

During a particularly painful six hour straight stint of revision in the library, in which time I managed to cover ten years of French revolutionary history, I consoled myself by people watching. My favourite pastime and method of procrastination when facebook and chatting are not allowed. In a protracted bout of observation over these six hours I noticed three very distinct trends in girls style.

Firstly:

The I HEART NY tshirt. 

Now, either a large amount of students spent their Easter break vacationing when they should have been revising (in which case I am extraordinarily jealous) or everyone is experiencing a renewed fascination with the Big Apple due to the recent release of the SATC 2 extended trailer. I would like to believe the latter. I may in fact join the multitude and purchase one myself along with an I HEART Paris tshirt. My other favourite city.

Most girls were working this t-shirt in a typically casual fashion with either skinny jeans, jeggings or denim shorts. Either way it seems that pairing this t-shirt with denim is the best way to work the look. One girl had paired hers with a hooded Missoni-esque patterned cardigan which looked particularly nice.

Secondly, and related to the tourist/traveller vibe of the above is:

An array of wrist/arm adornments. I say adornments because this trend is obviously not just an aesthetic one or a display of jewellery. It seems that the teenage trend of keeping on your music festival wristbands for as long as physically (hygienically) possible has extended into young adulthood. The wrist area has become the new canvas for celebrating your international travel and festival credentials. The range of bracelets, bangles and wristbands currently adorning students' arms is testament to the places they've visited, the sights they've seen and the band's they've heard, and I think that's fantastic. 

Another similar trend seems to be catching on and that is the return of friendship bracelets- not in the really pathetic and placatory manner in which you wore them when you were twelve to designate that you and 'Katie' really were the bestest of best friends- but to symbolise that you and a friend went on an adventure together. You both endured the horrific porta-loos of Reading festival, the mud of Glastonbury, the jungles of South America or the deserts of Africa. It is a signifier of an experience shared.

The last trend is not one which I shall be consciously emulating any time soon:

The preppy shirt. Returns.

The longtime staple item of the Sloane has returned to the mainstream. Of student fashion anyway.

Many, many, many girls in Birmingham library can be seen working the Jack Wills (left) or Ralph Lauren (right) shirt. I'm not sure if it is a mark of status or of aspiration but either way the striped shirt is back. Thank god it is not being worn (in most cases) by people with the requisite jumper tied across the chest. Most girls are working this shirt in a decidedly more casual way-often worn oversized rather than fitted so it is long enough to wear as a dress/tunic with just leggings/jeggings.

I recently purchased a plain white linen shirt from Topshop (which I discovered upon paying was actually a beach wear item!) which I will probably wear with leggings and gladiator flats come actual Summer but I think that is the closest that I shall get to this particular 'trend'.

The light in the eye grown dim, shall duly flame again

Last Thursday my girlfriends and I made a group trip to the cinema to see Dear John. Unless you have a penchant for really bad romance films I would not advise seeing it. Put bluntly it is a poor man's Notebook. Despite what could potentially have been an interesting storyline about a long distance relationship during a war, and a contemporary one which is therefore much more interesting and controversial, it is both bland and badly acted. I haven't read the book, by Nicholas Sparks, so I don't know if the script was just a bad interpretation of the original text but it just lacked any real sense of connection between the lead actors. In spite of his previous filmography, which is mostly teen based dance flicks, Channing Tatum delivered a good performance (obviously aided by his exceptionally well defined set of abs and broad shoulders) but surprisingly the film was let down by Amanda Seigfried who seemed stiff and unresponsive to the emotional tenor of the fictional situation. 

The one good point about the film is that it reminded just how romantic and emotionally engaging The Notebook is.  Not only is the relationship between the lead actors actually believable and emotive but the tone of the film is beautiful, from the panoramic scenery, the soundtrack, the beautiful architecture of the house that Noah builds and the underlying thread of literary narrative. As an English student I love when books, art and particularly poetry are referenced in film, and the Notebook has an incredibly poignant and moving scene when Noah is reading aloud a Walt Whitman poem to his father and Allie:

Continuities (1891)

Nothing is ever really lost, or can be lost,

No birth, identity, form—no object of the world.

Nor life, nor force, nor any visible thing;

Appearance must not foil, nor shifted sphere confuse thy brain.

Ample are time and space—ample the fields of Nature.

The body, sluggish, aged, cold—the embers left from earlier           fires,

The light in the eye grown dim, shall duly flame again;

The sun now low in the west rises for mornings and for noons           continual;

To frozen clods ever the spring's invisible law returns,

With grass and flowers and summer fruits and corn.

The Notebook also features a timeless classic from Billie Holiday- 'I'll be seeing you'

I wanna do bad things with you...

You would have to have been living in a cave to not have noticed the current obsession our western culture has with vampires. From film and TV to books, the undead are everywhere. The Twilight saga continues this summer with Eclipse, amongst many other prospective vampire/supernatural based films, The Vampire Diaries has developed a steady following for its first season and my personal favourite True Blood will be returning to our screens too with season three. I could wax lyrical about the numerous joys of True Blood, not least of which is my current guy crush Alexander Skarsgaard, but this post is about vamp style. A lot of the vampires in True Blood have what I would call the typical child of the night look. Dark tones- black, midnight blue, ivy green with the occasional flash of blood red- and a lot of leather. I'm definitely not complaining.

But last night I was watching Season Two online and reached episode 11 (Frenzy) and 12 (Beyond Here Lies Nothin') where Evan Rachel Wood plays the Vampire Queen of Louisiana, Sophie-Anne Leclerq. I won't bother to give a extensive critique of her acting, the adjectives wooden and unconvincing will suffice, but her wardrobe and set were definitely worth praise.

Sophie-Anne's 'Day Room' features beautiful architecture and furnishings, especially the chandeliers and chaise lounge. 

The wardrobe was definitely a step up from the casual sexy goth look of the other vamp characters. Sophie-Anne's wardrobe was glamorous, decadent and reminiscent of pure old Hollywood glamour. A lot of white and cream with statement jewellery. The hairstyling was sort of '40s gentle wave, a more glossy Florence Welch style, and the make-up was very Dita von Teese- porcelain skin, heavily lined eyes (top only) and dark crimson lips.

I was inspired by the look to create my own mood board, hope you like it!

Details from far left: Vivienne Westwood Gold Label Opuntia corseted gown, Vionnet draped silk dress, Christian Louboutin studio 120 peep toe pumps, Christian Louboutin Margi Diams 120 sandals, La Perla Mohini knot embellished swimsuit, Dicha Bella earrings, Oscar de la Renta Antique 22k gold plated earrings, Anita Ko diamond encrusted panther ring, Solange Azagury-Partridge Ballcrusher 18k gold and pearl ring, Agent Provocateur Martinee Kimono and Thelma bodysuit.