What's love got to do with it?

Whether you want to believe it or not, the festive season is well and truly nigh, and depending on who you are, that can conjure up a host of different images: a massive tree with gifts scattered at its base, the smell of cinnamon in the air everywhere you go, chestnuts roasting on an open fire (the lyrics, I'm not 100% sure I even know what a chestnut looks like...) or a couple hand-in-hand skating at an outdoor rink. Now the last one either gives you warm butterfly feelings as you know in the upcoming months that will be you, or it fills you with dread because you will once again have to make up a Bridget Jones like excuse at the Christmas party when your drunk uncle asks "still no boyfriend then poppet?" Having spoken with a few of my single friends, I asked them if they are bothered being footloose and fancy free during the season of goodwill. Most say they are too busy to be that upset, but do admit things like looking at pretty festive lights, snuggling in front of a roaring fire or having to face the entire family is just that little bit harder when alone at Christmas. And so enters extensive pre-Xmas Tinder usage.... not only are most of my friends using it (don't worry I wont out you) but they are giving out their green hearts at such a speed, you would think the Grinch has changed his mind and is now in the Valentine's Day game....

For those of you who have yet to succumb to the iPhone and don't watch the television or read any newspapers, Tinder is a phone app that allows you to see other (seemingly) single people in your area and literally like them if you think they are cute or bin them, never to be seen again, if you don't. If you both think the other is attractive, Tinder matches you and you can start chatting, if one of you doesn't, you aren't matched and no-one's feelings get hurt. Having been a keen spectator of my friends using this app and living vicariously through their dates, I have often been the one they turn-to to ask the ultimate question - what do I wear?

On a first date, an event that if procured through Tinder has been based on but 4 photographs, choice of attire is of the utmost importance. As I watched a friend try to sell me on a skirt she wanted to wear by re-living the moment in Bridesmaids where Annie tries to make them buy the cheaper dress - "It's a great colour, it's a great length, it's fun, you can twirl, you can move in it, you can spread your legs apart" - I remind her there will be no twirling or leg spreading and therefore it is not the right skirt for her. So when she says "well what IS the right thing for me" I began to think about what one should wear on a first date, and came up with a few suggestions below:

Top: At the moment I am partial to a jumper, shirt combo. Luckily, Comptoir des Cotonniers have done this gorgeous one with a detachable collar for £120. I know this may seem a little preppy, but I LOVE thin cashmere jumpers and skirts worn together. I think it gives that Zooey Deschanel look we are all trying to achieve. And this particular one would look stunning with the skirt below...
Pieris Jumper, Comptoir des Cotonniers, £120

Skirt: On a first date you want to appear feminine, NOT trashy. Skirts are a must for me for any occasion that involves a little extra effort. Leave a little to the imagination; nothing too short or too tight unless you never want to see this guy again. Wide, full skirts are flattering to all shapes and sizes, just tailor how big the flair and the length depending on your height. I love this one from Topshop because the colour is gorj and it hits just below the knee.
Heavy Crepe Full Skirt, Topshop, £60.

 

Shoes: Not too high so that you end up being taller than him, but not too low that you don't give off the max potential of your pins. Personally I don't think you can go wrong with a stand out court shoe. I would wear the below from Office with the outfit selected - so chic.

Razzle Cobalt Blue Suede, Office, £55

 

 

Bag: I always get asked, do you take a clutch or your proper bag. I would suggest large clutch, because then it could be either and doesn't make you look like you tried too hard or not hard enough. I like this one from Accessorize because it matches the shoes and I think that's cute...as does the Queen and she has impeccable taste!!

Leopard Print Clutch, Accessorize, £45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jewellery: Choose a statement piece and run with it - don't go all big ring, big necklace, big earrings because you may get mistaken for Mr T. I love this statement necklace from Banana Republic, which will look fab under a collar of a shirt, against an LBD or on plain top.

Turquoise Statement Necklace, Banana Republic, £75

 

 

 

And as for perfume, Chanel No. 5 always.... Was there really any question?

 

I leave you with a few tips from a previous post about how to read into what one liners in a profile actual mean and how a photo can speak a thousand words.... Be careful now, there is a potential date at stake!

 

One Liners:
"I like going out with friends" = Heavy drinker
"Some college" = dropout
"I like to go to the gym 7 days a week" = Delusional/Fat/Liar/Obsessed with mirror image of self
"Musician" = Stoner
"I like to walk everywhere" = Cant afford a car
"My friends say I am a good laugh" = Your friends use you to buy rounds
"I am training to be a doctor/physicist/dolphin trainer..." - Girls dig that right?

Photos:
Photo of you in your bedroom - I have just taken this right now
Photo of you drunk - I have a drinking problem and think its cool to show you
No top on (boys...) and face not showing in profile - I look like the back end of a donkey but hope my cheese grater abs make you forget that
Posing - I think I'm Christina Aguilera/Tom Cruise
You with your ex - This is what I am looking for/I haven't always been single
You with a child - Dude been on too many dates

 

Remember, there are only 66 days until Christmas...

Dress Like Victoria Beckham ....but by spending a lot less cash and eating a lot more burgers.

Hello!

How is everyone?? I took a little break from blogging because working is hard and I was tired when I got home...welcome to the real world right? But I am back and ready to annoy you all again. I had a wonderful birthday filled with friendship and love. I received a camera so I can take pictures of stuff I think is cool. To start with, I bought a few random pieces of clothing and will show you them!!

Top left is a really colourful tribal skirt!! It was from New Look and I believe was about £15. It looks so cute with a white sheer shirt or a champagne coloured sheer shirt tucked in!! Loads of gold jewellery and tan wedges??? Oh, go on then. The maxi skirt is a gorgeous orange and is from none other than my love - Tesco. £12 I think and the quality is wonderful. I wore this with a yellow and white polka dot top and brown ballet flats. Finally the two little things underneath are a black and (although it looks salmon) neon pink boob bandeau!! These are a god send!! I may be a little slow on the uptake, but finally I have arrived at the boob bandeau platform. I LOVE sheer shirts with bras showing underneath...so sexy. BUT, some of us have slightly larger...assets.... than others and a bra on show could be a little terrifying. So instead invest in a couple of these (£2.99 from New Look). They can also be worn under baggy vest tops and things with low armholes. So cute under white sheer shirts though. Just adds that pop of colour needed!!

Also I bought a dress from the H&M Concious Collection. It was a bargain at £14.99 and is made of Lyocell - an eco-friendly manufactured fibre. The collection is really cute so if you havent looked yet...well what are you waiting for?!!!!

I made a completely ridiculous birthday list of things I would never hope to get: Louboutins, Chloe bag, Burberry trench, Louis Vuitton luggage. You know, the staples. It made me think. Am I going to go through life wishing I owned all the designer things I want, get really depressed that I dont have them and spend a substantially amount of money...and shame...eating and crying into a Terry's Chocolate Orange?? NO!!! Well hopefully not. Instead I have been looking up high street copies of all the things I want and dear friends, I will share them with you. Here are my favourites...

(Left) Matalan £14 vs (Right) Stella McCartney £955.

Mirror print is so in right now - Stella does the cutest pair of trousers and a top to go with this as well....

(L) Asda £8 vs (R) Victoria, Victoria Beckham £950 (Net-A-Porter).

Another great print, with just a slight variation in price...ahem. Bring a whole new meaning to crazy cat lady.

(L) Topshop £28 studded slippers vs (R) Louboutin (Net-A-Porter) £635.

Everyone has studded everything. Dont get left behind as the only one who doesnt go off when walking through the metal detector at the airport.

(Top) ASOS £35 vs (Bottom) Jil Sander £1,540

The ASOS trousers HAVE to be mine. I will buy them and I will love them more than anything. Like Kate Moss said - nothing tastes as good as paisley print feels...or something along those lines.

(Top) Zara £39.99 vs the oh so lovely (Bottom) Mary Katrantzou £1,105

I am her greatest fan and I would give the earth to have a piece of her clothing (literally it costs the earth) BUT you can find a whole host of Mary-a-likes at Zara. So look there and try not to cry too much when you walk past the neighbour you have that grows pretty flowers that remind you of MK's SS12 collection. Sigh. You will be mine, oh yes, you will be mine.

And those are my favs at the moment. Look hard enough and you can always find a good look-alike. Its all about being a ruthless...and penniless (boo) shopper. I will bring you more as and when I discover them.

Some tidbits for today before I go:

- In A/W look out for metal toed heels and pumps a la Chanel as these are an extension of the lady-like trend happening at the moment.

- Also look out for heels with see through sides as Beyonce was pictured wearing. These were in a few years ago and I had a gorge pair from New Look, which of course I gave away thinking they would never come back into fashion again. Alas, even I make mistakes.

- Tulisa was voted FHMs sexiest woman... think of this what you may, but she has taken a lot on the chin recently....

- Preen, Jenny Packham (pretty much 50% of Kate Middleton's wardrobe is by JP) and Roksanda Illincic (Colleen Rooney was seen wearing their 'it' dress of the season to the horse racing - it was hot pink and had massive sleeves) have all either done recently or are about to launch collections for Debenhams. They join the likes of Matthew Williamson who has been there for a good while now. Remember that collections such as these sell out quickly so keep your eyes peeled. They are not as heavily advertised as collaborations with H&M etc, so you have to do your research. Or wait for me to tell you and then buy me a gift as a thank you!!

- Tomorrow is voting day!! Remember to make sure you vote for someone you care about or not at all!! Dont just guess as we could end up with some nut job!! Remember fashion is only as pretty as the prime minister's wife that wears it...

Hope you all have had a good day!

Night xx

XOXO Gloucester Girl.....See what I did there!!!

Hello Beautiful Bloggers!!

I have a favour to ask you - follow me on www.blogloving.com and that way every time I write a new blog you will be notified. There is a button on the left hand side of my blog that says bloglovin - just press it and it will show you the way....

Sorry I never write, phone, send flowers, I have been so very busy...what a corker of an excuse heh!! I love the fact that if I go a few days without blogging more than one person says to me "are you not blogging anymore then" as though it is the crime of the century. I'm sure Colonel Sanders - who comes up on Google before Colonel Gaddafi; what can I say, we like our chicken in our wraps not in our dictators - wasn't judged every time he ate something besides wings (fictional character or not). So I should not be judged when I decide sleeping is more important than blogging - no, you are right, I am a big failure and I apologise. I MUST keep blogging to be fresh and in the forefront of all your busy minds, for as Coco Chanel said "In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different"...and keep blogging. Alas, I must confess I have put this blog off for it is the dreaded X (see witty heading...) and you and I both know I will cheat my way through this like a 5 year old playing a board game. Once I have finished this A-Z, in just 3 blogs time (including this one, i'm not bad with numbers as well as a cheat) I will need to move onto some other topic - preferably fashion based - so if anyone has any suggestions feel free to let me know them through my Twitter @BeckyAdelay.

I have heard a few of you enjoy this section, so here are some more weird things seen on the tube:
- Man so very drunk that he fell asleep in between every stop and therefore had to check the wall for the stops each time he woke up - it was at 8pm this evening and he was wearing a suit....
- One teenage guy rapping as his two friends looked on and made that "hahaaaaaaa" noise
- Guy carrying a sausage dog - SO CUTE!!!!!
- Woman having a FULL ON domestic with partner using words that your grandmother would happily see drowned in a sack with any song that isn't by Barry Manilow
- Fashion Attacks - girl in what she hoped was street chic, but unfortunately looked like the 60s and Austin Reed had had a love-child and said child had thrown up on her. Woman in ALL purple (did I not get the memo about dressing like Violet from Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.... I mean post blueberry incident obvi). Man wearing enough denim to make even Pat Sharpe wet himself. More rouge on a woman's cheeks than would be allowed in even Shagaluf. Dog hoodie....as in a dog in a hoodie, not a man dressed like Lassie.

Now I have put it off long enough, so here it is....cut me some slack people.

X

Fashion Trend: eXpose yourself. Now WAIT!!! I have no interest in you running up to me dressed in a way that even girls at Aintree would find a little OTT (or not being dressed as it were). I am talking about the gorge things in the shops at the moment that show skin in a way it isn't usually shown. For example: cut outs showing slices of skin, maxi skirts where part of the skirt is sheer, a slit in a skirt (BACK AWAY ANGELINA) or just a sheer arm on an opaque blouse. Spring has definitely descended upon us in the last week, but it is still not warm enough to get our legs or arms out. Instead use this trend to get those pins that you have been working hard at a gym on with that whole 1 time that you went the day after NYE ... and keep warm at the same time!


Zara Pleated Skirt £29.99
http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/uk/en/zara-S2012/189504/704540/ASYMMETRIC%2BFINE%2BPLEATED%2BSKIRT

Warehouse Black Mesh Maxi £28
http://www.warehouse.co.uk/mesh-two-layer-skirt/Skirts/warehouse/fcp-product/308296

Topshop Cut Out Shirt (Back view, so cute!) £32
http://www.topshop.com

Fashion Item: eXtreme jewellery. Now I am basically doing this because I recently found out that everyone's secret favourite store, Irregular Choice (it's the store that business women look at and think I wish I could think up a reason to wear a pair of shoes from here) sell other things beside shoes. For those of you hermits who haven't heard of it, they sell the most exquisite and delicious shoes that unless you are in fashion or have a foot fetish, would never be able to explain. For example see this lovely shoe, aptly named, Mayhem. They do some normal-ish shoes, but why buy those when you can have something with flames, wings or kitties on it?? That is not the point of this story though. They do even wilder jewellery. I LOVE when people look at my jewellery; it shows you have real style if someone compliments you for it, because a shop window can put together an outfit for you, but you have to choose the necklace. IC has everything from burger earrings (great for the 50s Americana trend at the moment), through to sparkly skull rings. Whatever it is, if you are too nervous to wear something crazy in the body of your outfit, put it on your finger and rock it like Beyonce. Here are a couple of my favs from the website (all from http://www.irregularchoice.com/shop/womens/view_all/)

Mayhem - Irregular Choice £89

With Sprinkles £4.99

Neptune £45 (whimsical take on Claddagh ring)


Glug Glug £39 (Great for Aquatic Trend)

Store or Label: 'eXit Through The Gift Shop'. I am using this Banksy phrase as a way to say, shop the unusual!!! Banksy takes art and twists, manipulates and basically spray paints over it to make it individual and beautiful. This is the message I am sending to you, be different! Shop at markets, charity shops, trunk shows, swap with friends and make your own clothes. In a world where fashion is ever changing, be your own guru and make a splash. You can pick up the most outrageous bargains at street markets and charity stores, so look there first then customise to your heart's content. Fashion isn't about wearing what every girl in the magazine is wearing, it is about feeling beautiful and being confident.... just don't spray paint a train tunnel on your Nana's wall. She might say she likes Banksy, but it is only because she thought you said Bassey....as in Shirley.

Celebrity or Designer: Xena Warrior Princess. I can hear you laughing, but you think of all the other people with a name that begins with X!!! Now I am not expecting you to go round with a short blonde girl that may or may not be your girlfriend, I mean channel Xena by wearing loads of leather!! It is all over the A/W12 catwalks. This time though leather is in different styles than just the jacket. Wear it in the form of a liquid leather dress, have a chunk of your shift made of leather or rock a leather top. Leather leggings can be worn this A/W again, so luckily that wasn't a waste of £90.... Just be careful with that weird outfit you wore that time you thought you looked like Halle Berry in Catwomen, but were more Ross in friends. Baby powder at the ready, small friend on hand and just time left to go out and beat up some ale drinking swine. Ahhh Xena, you are our hero.

Night love bugs!
Becky xx

Severus Snape - A mean professor or the head of the snake fashion brigade??

Hello!!

So, I feel the first thing I should mention is that we are officially one week from Cheltenham Ladies Day!!!!! Who is excited???!!! Naturally I am. If you haven't already checked it out, I wrote a Ladies Day fashion blog for www.jpfestival.com (find it at http://www.jpfestival.com/p/festival-fashion.html). I will also be writing a further blog for them after the races to let you know what I thought of the fashions on the day, so make sure you read that too! Jpfestival is a great website to go to for tips for the entire week.

So today, just three days in, I believe I officially became a Londoner. You want to know why I have decided this? Because I painted my nails on the tube today. I have seen a whole manner of things people have done on the tube, from putting full make-up on, including mascara (ladies, the face we make when we put mascara on is NOT attractive, so don't do it in front of the entire District Line...) to eating an whole baguette.... Lets just break that down for a second sir. If you are eating this Homer Simpson sandwich and holding the pole on the tube, what do you think is going to end up being digested? Ham and cheese deliciousness or the bajillion germs from the hands of every person who has touched the pole before you? Now I'm thinking I would rather have the face of a surprised squirrel applying mascara than get a disease the likes of which has not even been seen in the Jeremy Kyle green room. But the point is my friends, those of us that can carry out the most difficult of tasks on the tube are seen as winners, the cream of the crop, the top of the food chain etc. In a few hundred years we will have evolved a third leg which will flap out behind us and keep us steady on the tube, but for now, we just all wobble and stand on people and constantly say "oops, sorry" or on the other side "ow, hey!!" Just think, even the scariest of bosses, meanest of bullies and most perfect of girls (who we hate) have all likely spent at least 3 minutes (average time between stations) in the armpit of a woman who loves not washing, pressed up against the guy who thinks it is ok to leave his fly open or my favourite, sat next to the teenage boy who is still going through that Slipknot phase....at full volume in your ear. Why did they make iPods so loud? We are all mere mortals and therefore we all have to ride the tube....luckily my nails are all the better for it.

Fabulous things to be told:
- The nail varnish mentioned above is Chanel's Peridot. It is a green/gold colour and fabulous. Purchase it and watch everything you touch become gold.....just dont touch the pole on the tube. It is more gold than green, so be aware the green isnt the main focus - if possible it kind of makes it even more gold than usual.
- Who knew the girl singing on the David Guetta song 'Titanium' was Sia????? If you did and didnt tell me you are bad friends. I thought it was Fergie so took an instant dislike to it - showing my fickle side. Whatevs im in fashion. On the other hand I am catching up with it now!!
- The Royal English Ballet is doing a ballet version of Alice in Wonderland....BEST. THING. EVER. Tickets are sold out. SADDEST. DAY. EVER. If anyone has a spare ticket I will jump at it like Kanye West did to Taylor Swift on that fateful day.... But there will be less drunken ramblings and bad music....
- Marni at H and M launches tomorrow, so set your alarm clocks.

Moving on to that oh so sexy...

S

Fashion Trend: Snakeskin accessories! Now, I am not a huge fan of animal print because it is VERY hard to wear without looking like Kat from Eastenders "You aint my muvvaaaa" - no but she's also not a giant leopard either, so why does she dress like one? BUT, anyone who is anyone is wearing snakeskin accessories. Not clothing, just accessories. This will be fleeting no doubt so rock it while you can. Get a massive tote in this print, or a wedge or belt and then strut your stuff. Or slither if you are feeling in the mood. Here are the best accessories I found, for a range of budgets. Marc by Marc Jacobs items from http://www.net-a-porter.com/Shop/Designers/Marc_by_Marc_Jacobs/All
Lanvin items from http://www.matchesfashion.com/fcp/product/Matches-Fashion/womens_lanvin/lanvin-LAN-C-PIHERL-accessories-NATURAL/56415.
Topshop shoes from http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogNavigationSearchResultCmd?catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&langId=-1&viewAllFlag=false&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=331499&parent_categoryId=208492&beginIndex=1&pageSize=20&intcmpid=W_SUPERCAT_LEFTNAV_SHOES_UK_WK1_VIEW_ALL

Gator Snake Heeled Court Shoes - Topshop
£50

Koko Soft Leather Ballet Pump - Topshop
£40

Gaby Printed Python Bag - Lanvin
£1,360

Tate Medium Snake Print Nylon Tote - Marc by Marc Jacobs
Net-a-Porter £160

Water Snake Belt - Lanvin
£435

Lizard Print (close enough!!) iPhone cover
Marc by Marc Jacobs
Net-a-porter
£30

Fashion Item: Shirt-dress. Surprisingly a huge hit with all the fashion magazines at the moment. They are super easy to wear as well. I have a ton of these from past years in my wardrobe (mostly from H and M, so look there!) but they are so simple to wear and can be dressed up or down. I am craving this one from Daks S/S12 collection (not yet available). For a shorter, more colourful and less expensive idea, look at Sparkle and Fade from Urban Outfitters who have quite a few. Loving this dark turquoise one for £58.

http://shoponline.daks.com/SS12-Lookbook.aspx

http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/sparkle-+amp-fade-tassel-tie-shirt-dress/invt/5130462171292/?htxt=NhJ%2FZUjfbGtCugmb0U7DveL8vX3alETqfX%2F8nJK2OsKlErEJ%2FoaL13B5sB%2BO9ry71FAiyNYKQOFC%0AF1Fb1z2ZqA%3D%3D

Store or Label: shopbop.com!! Dare I say this is my favourite of the online stores? It has more designers than I even knew existed....more perhaps than net-a-porter even. There is really nothing to say but look for yourself. There doesnt seem to be anything missing from this site - and the girl in the shopbop adverts in the fashion mags is wearing items from one of the BFC/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists - so you know they are up to date. I know this because I am in love with the belt she is wearing - it is a rope belt. Hello sailor. I have chosen, in the spirit of the aforementioned snakeskin post to share with you an Elie Tahari bag from the site - a sssssssnip at just £196.79 (I crack myself up) http://www.shopbop.com/felicity-clutch-elie-tahari/vp/v=1/845524441931569.htm?folderID=2534374302107411&fm=browse-brand-shopbysize&colorId=38146. If you need something and net-a-porter doesn't have it, come here - or just browse anyway - there are some good deals, offers for spending over $100 and inviting a friend to purchase, so you may as well have a sssssssneak peak....!!!

Felicity Clutch - Elie Tahari
Shopbop.com

Celebrity or Designer: Stefano Pilati has officially been replaced by Hedi Slimane as creative director of Yves Saint Laurent. Those of you following this fashion season will have seen Pilati's final collection walk down the runway at Paris Fashion Week just a few days ago. Personally I thought it was an elegant line with a dark edge - most likely the best way to show a bitter sweet ending. Slimane was Menswear director for Yves Saint Laurent for a few years, so already knows his way around their cutting table, but it will be interested to see what new ideas he comes up with moving directly from Jil Sander back to YSL. Pilati's final show was a mix of leather, chainmail and black cloth printed with calla lilies - showing his signature power female side (but we are all gentle flowers underneath!!) - an absolutely stunning collection and worth a look at http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/autumn-winter-2012/ready-to-wear/yves-saint-laurent#/image/8. Pilati is a great talent and im sure will be snapped up by someone else. Good luck to you sir!!

Night Night!!
Becky xx

Nigella please may I borrow a cup of organic sexy sugar?

Bonjour!

It has been a lifetime or longer since we last spoke - or I spoke and you listened. But here I am, returned to your arms...or eyes... ever ready to bring you what I see as the most important information available - mostly about me. I have a legitimate excuse for not writing for a few days - I have been busier than Santa at Christmas due to the HUGE move to London!! I moved into a beautiful place on Sunday - I say moved, I actually mean borrowed for a month, but that doesn't sound very romantic. I want you to conjure up images of me cycling down a London Notting Hill style highstreet in the sunshine wearing a 50s housewife floral dress, toting fresh bread and a newspaper in my basket....not me lugging more suitcases than an Easyjet air stewardess does when the passengers revolt due to the fact that they were expecting to go to Ibiza but have been dropped in Aberdeen because thats what you get when you use a cut price airline... Anyway, the first leg of my 3 month adventure seems to be a success!! I really like the place i'm staying....which has nothing to do with the fact Colin Firth lives four streets from me, Nigella lives one and I am living under a FOXY Olympic gold rower. No, I haven't crawled under his bed, I merely mean he is in the flat above me. If you hear drilling it is not me trying to create a peep hole. No, I like it here because the people are fancy and the tube is two minutes away. Also, for my Minnesota friends, the place I am living reminds me of Grand Ave - it is filled with boutiques, cute restaurants and quirky stores. I would love to live here in the future, but the people down the road from me (not Nigella or the Firths) have a red convertible Ferrari as their runaround car....so I think my pockets are going to need to get a LOT deeper - we are talking all the way to my wannabe Jimmy Choos. OR I need to find myself a rich dude - please please do not inundate me with requests, I am unable to reply with everything else going on. Just turn up and propose. Talking of proposals, what happened to the way the builders in London used to talk to you? It used to be all rough and ready "alriiiiiiight luv, looking for a real man?", now an actual London builder today said to me "excuse me but you are absolutely stunning" - umm sir if I wanted false niceties I would join e-Harmony, as it is I would quite like the satisfaction of the entire road hearing you would give your wife up for me, so please go back to being the terrifying lout I expect.

This weekend I am fully prepared to go out and see the local sights (and builders) whilst also catching up with the most wonderful of the people I have previously lost to this wonderful city. Also the internship is going well, thank you for asking. All I can say is that I am in the settling in stage and there is A LOT of soup consumed in the office. And with that cream of tomato tip off, we move onto the highly anticipated...

R

Fashion Trend: Retro America - For some reason stars, stripes and flaming Grease-like heels stormed the runway this season and we kind of love it! I will save you my usual Prada pictures because you have seen the above mentioned heels and the car motif outfits a million times somewhere in my blog, but they are the essence of what the trend is. Remember what Sandy and her friends were wearing on 'ohhh those summmmaaaah niiiiiihhhiiiiiigggghhttttssss'? well add a modern twist and join in. Don't wear as much gel as Danny though, i'm pretty sure that is illegal in most countries. Instead just wear tiny denim shorts with printed boob bands, rocker tees or red leather jackets. Wear fashion sneakers with printed dresses and novelty belts. Wear cute sweaters with star spangled tops! Just get crazy and wave at Uncle Sam while you are doing it. Soul Cal at Republic knows where it is at and understands our bank balance!! All images and items from http://www.republic.co.uk/women/kids-in-america/?q_pageSize=12&viewAll1=true&q_pageNum=1&viewAll1=true


Fashion Item: Raincoat - Cath Kidston. April is speedily approaching and this will bring even more showers than have already been ruining our hair. So it is time to purchase a raincoat! Gone are the days when your mother used to send you in a plain black one because that is all school regulations would allow. Now we are adults and we love prints!! Cath Kidston is the queen of the print, so we look to her for guidance - and she does not fail us. Not only can we buy our raincoat from there, but we remember most of her stuff is waterproof - YAAAAAAAY! We shop til we are poor, but dry. Bliss. Here are my two online favs and at £35 they are a bargain. Both from http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/c-90-jackets.aspx

Spot Raincoat
£35

Victoria Rose Raincoat
£35

Store or Label: Rachel Zoe - as per usual I am cheating and not really going by the guidelines I set, but whatevs. Rachel Zoe, for those of you lovely people who have never heard of her before, is the American Gok Wan and Trinny/Susannah rolled into one tiny bodied, huge sunglass wearing, celebrity eating, fashion monster. She is THE stylist to be dressed by for ANY event. She knows which designers are in this season and which will be lining the shelves at Nordstrom Rack before the runways have been polished and the models have eaten their 'six weeks til showtime' apple. If she tells you to wear it, you wear it. If she hates it and you are wearing it, you are automatically stricken from every fashion event from here to the opening of even the smallest boutique in NYC. If she likes it, her catch phrase "I. Die" is the only thing you need to hear to know you will have zero stock left on net-a-porter. Do what I do, which is hate her for being a big know-it-all queen of fabulousness with a size -2 body and a never a strand out of place hair-do and then cus you can't beat her - join her. The Zoe Report is a daily e-mail sent to you with the must have item in fashion that she has picked out for the day. She does fashion, beauty and accessory e-mails so sign up for all of them. Some days it is high street stuff, some days even Kate Middleton would have trouble finding enough pennies to buy the stuff. Sign up, it's free and you wont regret it! This way I am giving you the opportunity to shop hundreds of stores and not just one beginning with R!!  I. Die!!! http://www.thezoereport.com/

Celebrity or Designer: "Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo?" Depending at your age and knowledge base you will either be giving me intellectual credit for reciting Shakespeare or you will be giving me street cred for knowing one of the members of So Solid Crew - of which I believe there is only 1/100th left. I am in fact on this occasion referring to the well-known romantic of Shakespearian times - and YES we are allowing him to be a celebrity for this section. Because designer giants Topshop have made a faux pas that would cause even the most uneducated to blush.... for they brought out a t-shirt with the above quote on it, cited the genius who wrote it, but alas....spelt his name wrong. The t-shirt went on sale and shoppers were the ones who pointed out the mistakes. Heads will no doubt roll even though they have cut the 'Shakespere' off the t-shirt and now sell it as a short tee. Alas poor Sir Green, we knew him well.

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/892306-topshop-mocked-for-misspelling-shakespeare-on-new-t-shirt

Night!
Becky xx

"I know you can be overwhelmed and you can be underwhelmed...but can you ever just be whelmed? I think you can in Europe?"

Hello friends! Do you remember me?? I was that girl who blogged many moons ago....oh wait, no it was two days ago that my last post was published....well how has so much happened??!!!! I must of course apologise to those of you who have checked my blog in the last two days to see if I have posted something new.... I haven't. The problem is I seem to have 19,000 things to do before the London move on Sunday and only 4 days to do them in - blogging has had to be put on the back burner. But, here I am, your ready and willing, if not dog tired (all the better to go with my houndstooth leggings....bazinga!) blogging servant. Oh and PS - I am not JUST whelmed, whatever the rest of Europe is saying....

What have I been doing in the past two days you ask? A host of things from seeing the fam to deciding upon my first week's wardrobe. I have gone with (sorry the pics are pretty underwhelming, but you get the general idea - it all looks better on!):



Outfit One Shoelace Belt

Outfit One Boy Belt

Outfit One: Orange H&M dress worn with black Marc Jacobs blazer, with River Island boy belt, lots of gold jewellery, black tights and (still to be found) snakeskin wedges. As you can see the dress already has a shoelace belt which I am planning to either wear as a headband OR tie round my wrist and add a brooch to make a weird bracelet.

Outfit Two: Safari style cream button down shirt dress from New Look with cream, green and pink H&M blazer. Possible brown skinny belt or above mentioned one. Lots of gold jewellery - no clue on shoes... This is the one outfit that really does not photo well - it looks super cute on, but I do think a statement/colourful necklace/shoe/bag/belt needs to be incorporated.

Outfit Two (Needs Colour?)

Outfit Three

Outfit Three: Blue and white sheer shirt with gold buttons from Primark tucked into blue and white horse motif - with orange belt - skirt from H&M. Gold jewellery (you can see a tiny bit of a Mr T theme here...) and PERHAPS orange heels - Im not sure if that is too matchy matchy...

Outfit Four

Outfit Four: Coral sheer shirt from Primark with my large houndstooth printed leggings from H&M. Shoes for this outfit are tricky - maybe just black granddad shoes with tassel?? They need to be simple due to the trouser madness....



Outfit Five

Outfit Five: Black and cream polka dot dress from Primark with cream lace jacket from Heartbreaker (store in America) - Nanette Lepore grey bag?

What do we think of these choices? As you can see shoes and jewellery haven't really been considered yet. So now you can see 1/10th of what I have been doing in the last two days - creating a blue, white, cream and orange capsule collection! What I haven't been doing is continuing my alphabet!! So I carry on with the letter that has haunted me since I began....




Q (What I can get out of it....)

Fashion Item: Quilted Bags. We have all LUSTED over the Chanel quilted bags - if you are shaking your head now you are lying to yourself.... So I thought I would put quilted bags here and then show you the real thing versus a few cheaper options. These bags are perfect to style up 'jeans and a tee worn with blazer to coffee' look and also have on more than one occasion been worn with evening outfits to show your classy lady side. So without further interruption...

Chanel Classic Quilted Bag
Between £300 (for a thimble sized one) and .......your mortgage??
Photo from DailyMail.co.uk archives

The Lulu Guinness version is still expensive BUT you are getting a large bag for the price of the small Chanel - she does it in a range of colours and to be honest it looks very similar. I love Lulu G for her crazy bags but these classic ones are also beautiful; you remember Lulu G is known for good craftmanship and not just a bag that looks like a pillar box. Pauls Boutique does one in their style - very large bag for the money you are paying and has the added PB quirks. The Topshop one is fashion forward - animal print and satin as opposed to leather. It is small, but cheap enough that you can buy more than one style quilted bag... Both Topshop ones from http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogNavigationSearchResultCmd?catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&langId=-1&viewAllFlag=false&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208548&parent_categoryId=204484&beginIndex=1&pageSize=20#catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&langId=-1&viewAllFlag=false&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208548&parent_categoryId=204484&beginIndex=1&pageSize=200

Lulu Guinness Mink Quilted Lips Lrg Leather £325 http://www.luluguinness.com/ProductPage.aspx?productId=LULU-0190-050-279-916



Lulu Guinness Mink Quilted Lips Lrg Leather

£325

http://www.luluguinness.com/ProductPage.aspx?productId=LULU-0190-050-279-916

Pauls Boutique Quilted Padlock Bag
£66
Available at Topshop



Satin Cross Body Quilted Bag
£28
Topshop

Store or Label: Mary Quant - for most people this brings up the image of the first mini dresses and bob cuts in the 60s....and to be honest not a lot in her collection has changed. And that my friends is why I love it!! She has tons of bright colours, sixties throwbacks and cute minis, so if you are feeling free spirited look no further than her 2012 collection. You have to mail order anything you want from her London store, but I think it is worth it! She is not one to shy away from colour or print, so take a look if you are feeling like you want to be noticed this summer! http://www.maryquant.co.uk/

Due to Q being horrific I am not going to bore you with stupid things like "QUALITY" as my trend because we all know we have that Primark dress from 2007 that is falling apart but that we refuse to give away because we love it. Yes, buy quality if you can afford it and on the otherside of things make sure if you are paying a large sum of money that you are getting good quality. Remember though that fast fashion cannot be bought at a low price and be that well made - it is a sad fact but true. Just check for scuffs, threads, holes, runs, things coming off and general shoddy workmanship and then avoid these products. Buy what makes you happy and be happy with what you buy. And that my friends, is all I have to say on the letter Q........

Peace xx