Do you have to run away to find yourself?

Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir of her year of self discovery is primed to be the feel good tale of the Autumn/Winter season. The book has already sold over ten million copies and the film adaptation, starring rom-com queen Julia Roberts, looks set to be a major hit with women worldwide, despite lackluster early reviews. As the skies darken early, and grey clouds and soggy drizzle become daily occurrences of the colder months, everyone is increasingly melancholy and despondent.  My friends and I have already noted the decline in office morale and the onset of SAD as tans fade away and winter warmers are brought out from storage. 

In the context of the grey British winter Gilbert’s tale is a shot of UV light, most concentrated and startlingly bright. If you’ve read the book it is easy to see how criticism of cheesiness and silly femininity will plague reviews of the film. After all, this is the story of a woman who (as well as searching for spiritual enlightenment) indulges in carefree carb eating (shock horror!), lusts after an Italian stallion, and falls in love with a romantic (and apparently incredibly attentive....) Brazilian. Despite the depression suffered after a messy divorce and a passionately destructive rebound relationship Gilbert does get her happy ending-and a heart warming, smile inducing almost cringe-worthily perfect one at that.

The romantic thread of the storyline is not, however, what interests or provokes me. The crux of the story’s moral is what grabs my attention. Gilbert’s journey of self discovery is as much physical as spiritual. The self awareness of worldly understanding she achieves gradually arises along the course of an astonishing twelve month travel expedition across Italy, India and Indonesia. Not only does Gilbert become totally immersed in the culture of three separate countries, but she has some of the most renowned and skillful spiritual leaders of these areas direct her studies. Surely if we were all able to spend three months in an ashram (or three months tasting the delights of Italian cuisine whilst learning a new language from a handsome native) we would all be relaxed, stress-free and at ease.

Instead, most of us are stuck in crowded Western cities, living hectic lives and juggling work, play, friends and family. We don't have the luxury of extended periods of solitude and self reflection. 

However, I don't want you to get the impression that I believe Eat.Pray.Love to be endorsing a journey of spiritual discovery which can ONLY be found a million miles away from home. I have watched and read several interviews with the author in which she acknowledges that an experience such as hers is an extremely special and uncommon one. Irrespective of the fact that Gilbert's journey is essentially unachievable for most, due to restraints of time and/or money, the basic tenets of her spiritual or inner journey (yes, I know it sounds corny) are easily replicable. 

You don't have to live abroad to learn a new language. You don't have to spend three months stuffing yourself with the best Italian cuisine to learn that when you stop counting calories and scrutinising nutritional values your food becomes more enjoyable. (I read an article recently which argued that when you stop regimenting your eating habits and start listening to yourself-eating when you are hungry, stopping when you are full, satisfying certain cravings-you are happier and healthier.)You don't have to move away from home to find new friends. You don't have to be in an isolated religious building to speak to God or find inner peace. You don't have to befriend an old wise man to feel needed or helpful. You most certainly do not have to holiday in a tropical paradise to meet a foreign man and/or fall in love.

At any place and at any time you are capable of bettering yourself and improving your quality of life.

I plan on taking classes to learn French so that when (yes, WHEN) I go to the couture shows in Paris later in life I can speak the language.

I plan on joining a local running/aerobics/dance club to get fit and meet new people.

I plan on finding a nearby library so that I can read the classics to my heart's content without breaking the bank buying books.

I plan on learning more about Buddhism because it seems like a nurturing, loving and beautiful religion.

I plan on hosting my first proper dinner party to entertain old friends and new.

What are you going to do?

Knob-head

I usually only tie my hair right back in a top knot when I'm washing my face or haven't had time to do something more interesting.  But it appears that the slightly messy, dishevelled top knot/knob look has become a hair styling trend in Shoreditch. As I walk to work I  pass countless girls rocking this look with panache. Admittedly a lot of them have model-esque chiselled jawlines and jutting cheek bones so they can carry off such a bare-faced look with ease whereas I look like an unkempt tramp or an overly polished sloane ranger. For a lot of these girls I'm assuming that this seemingly casual style took a lot of careful grooming to achieve-especially as it's become the look du jour on the night-club scene. 

So, as you can tell from the MK Olsen image above, the hobo-chic look shows no sign of fading out. 90s grunge is in and remains a key trend for A/W alongside its counterpart of Mad Men inspired femininity. Sadly for me, with my newly cut off hairstyle (which I'm HATING by the way), I can't join in. I'll live vicariously through you long haired ladies.

Light me up

 I downloaded the debut album by The Pretty Reckless, 'Light me up'.

Haters out there may have countless negative comments to make about Taylor Momsen's appearance. But if you step back from personal preferences of dress and just listen to the music I'm fairly confident that only a tiny minority will disagree with the overwhelmingly positive reviews. The album is a powerful mix of raw rock songs with a few moody ballads. Momsen's raspy voice, which is ten times more mature than her sixteen years, lilts out in a vulnerable ascent from soft whisperings to strong, throaty screams to the strum of her bandmates' guitars. A few of the lyrics may be a tad contrived in places but on the whole it is a collection of enjoyable and skilfully produced songs.

My personal favourites are 'Just Tonight', 'Factory Girl', 'Everybody wants something from me' and opener 'My Medicine'.

If you are doubting the capabilities of Momsen's voice then watch/listen to these acoustic performances:

The One

Yes, Freja is the girl of the moment. The androgynously beautiful apogee of tomboy chic. The tattooed rebel of indeterminate sexuality who stomps the catwalk with such an understated aura of calm assurance that one cannot help but be attracted to her.

This is a stunning photograph taken by Tommy Ton of Jak and Jil.

It captures the effortless simplicity and sensuality of fall make-up. 

Matte porcelain skin and wine-stained lips.

Elegance incarnate.

New Talent

As mentioned previously, one of the perks of my new job is getting to meet creative minds and be introduced to new talent.
One designer I've come across is Derek Lawlor, a knitwear specialist who hand makes his garments using an innovative technique of weaving cord of different thickness and textures in a monochromatic colour scheme. His pieces are definitely a bit dark and gothic in their strong silhouette but they are also strangely romantic, soft and fragile. They're the kind of pieces which you can't adequately describe in words because they don't fit in with any conventional labels of 'top', 'skirt', 'dress'. They're almost like sculptures. See for yourself.

Check out his website: dereklawlor

Paradise Found- still life in my new home.