In Chicago they dye the river green. In Gloucester a lone man pretends to talk in an Irish accent whilst drinking Guinness...

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all you little leprechauns out there! And Happy Mother's Day for tomorrow for all you scrummy mummys.

I have come home for the weekend, to tell my mother I appreciate her, to enjoy my friend's birthday and just to generally cause havoc with a group of friends I have not seen in a long time. All in all shaping up to be a good weekend. A few more weird things for you to enjoy that happened on the tube this week:

• People have apparently moved back in time and no longer listen to iPods. Instead a man on the tube played the guitar and I sat directly opposite (this is true) a guy practising for an opera...
• A lot of people pray on the tube - all religions
• People make this 'SIGGGGGHHHHH' noise when a pregnant woman/old person/the infirm etc get on the tube and they have to get up to let them sit down - oh social conventions, you lovely little blighters - the best part is when you can see their brain trying to work out whether she is pregnant or just carrying a little extra weight
• Having to listen to loud phone calls about: 1 - why you hate your boyfriend and are breaking up with him, 2 - why you hate your job and will be leaving, 3 - how you have always thought your Spanish teacher looks like Sophia Vergara, 4 - tell your friend how you want to punch so and so in the face and will do so this weekend ... ever the classy city London
• People eating: McDonalds, sandwiches, an ENTIRE pizza, soup!!!!!!
• Realising foreign people don't care what they do in front of English people - most likely because they will never do anything to top the ridiculous things on the tube that we do. On Friday a HUGE, white guy was literally coughing like he had the plague. The Indian couple across the tube from him wrap scarves around their faces and start waving the air in front of them....HILARIOUS!! We are too polite to do things like draw attention to something someone else is doing, but we will cough everywhere, shout on the phone, eat obnoxious food on the tube and generally be gross... once again, way to be classy London.

W

£19.99
(www.faux.uk.com)

£59.99
(www.faux.uk.com)

Fashion Trend: Wild!! By this I mean fur!! Now, I am leaving you to make your own choice about whether to wear real or faux, but you can get some great fake stuff for a fraction of the price! The A/W12 catwalks saw fur: collars, stoles, jackets, cloaks, trim, handbags, boots, gloves, hats....EVERYTHING!! This was also a great theme at Cheltenham Ladies Day (remember you can still read my report of the day at www.jpfestival.com). Pick up something this season, wear it until summer then rock it, knowing you bought it cheaper this S/S, in A/W!! Remember, it's always better to be where the wild things are!! Found a GREAT website www.faux.uk.com which sells anything faux fur you could ever want and it is all SO cheap!!



River Island £100
http://www.riverisland.com/Online/women/coats--jackets/leather--non-leather-jackets/black-faux-fur-collar-fallaway-jacket-613118

Fashion Item: Wedge - It is coming to spring so we want to leave the clunky footwear of the winter behind. The only problem is, it is still a trend very much in full swing. My suggestion is that you turn to the mighty wedge!!! It is clunky, but summery! You can carry off any trend with a wedge that you are afraid to try in a full outfit, EG: Snakeskin, pastels, heavily embellished etc. Also, you can buy cute pairs from everyone from Matalan through to Mulberry so you can find one to suit your budget! Here are some cute ones:

Maddox Shoe - LK Bennett £175
http://www.lkbennett.com/shoes/courts/CCMADDOX687SNAKE

Princess Wedge Schuh £68
http://www.schuh.co.uk/womens-multi-schuh-princess-wedge-glitter/1137259960

Floral Wedge - New Look £27.99
http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/shoes/multi-coloured-floral-print-wedges_247426899


Store or Label: Winter Kate by Nicole Richie - If you haven't seen any of her stuff yet, you MUST look at it before you judge. It is in no way the same creepy stuff she wore running round America with Paris Hilton in The Simple Life show. It is floaty, boho and free spirited. There was a sheer floaty jacket that she did a few years back which I am STILL kicking myself about not buying. Her pieces are the sort of stuff you see on other people and have to ask where they are from; the company is still not so well known in this country, so you can buy something and feel quite safe in the knowledge you wont see anyone else wearing it. I love the separates because you can always guarantee they will be the statement piece of your outfit. Also I think the name of the brand is the cutest thing ever...

Winter Kate Dress S/S12
http://winterkate.com/

Winter Kate Jumpsuit £346
www.winterkate.co.uk

Designer or Celebrity: Madonna - No I have not suddenly lost all ability to understand letters. What I really mean is W.E the movie that Madonna co-produced and wrote. I know it came out months ago and is not released until 4th June on DVD etc, but I have to talk about it here. For those of you who didn't go because you don't like Madge - well I can understand because I wasn't sure to begin with. But, it would be a waste if you didn't see it at some point. The acting is stupendous and the costumes are even better. It is a film about the romance between Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson and how much they had to give up to be together. Described as one of the most tragic love stories ever, there is not even a hint of cone bras or wearing too much make-up over 50... It instead ties in well with the princess/vintage trend circulating at the moment because Wallis Simpson was never known for her beauty, but always remembered for her style. Take tips from her and her future counterpart in the film, Wally, by wearing black shifts with big cream pearls, drip in diamonds and sequins and finish your ensemble with a vintage hair do. We may not all be as beautiful as the royals but Wallis proved we can all be as stylish. Also - My Week With Marilyn came out this week - fabulous costumes, fabulous storyline, Michelle Williams is to die for and Eddie Redmayne is a sight for sore eyes!! Buy it and watch it 9,000 times before W.E comes out.

Have a good weekend!!
Becky xx

I love men, but not as much as I love my Louis!!

Afternoon Bloggers,

For those of you, who like me, are unemployed, you know that the most excruciating part of this lifestyle is the boredom. People think sitting at home watching "My Mum Is Actually My Grandfather" or "My Brother Is Under The Delusion He Is Eminem and Has Impregnated Everyone Within An 8 Mile Radius" on Jeremy Kyle all day everyday is a break - but it isnt. It merely reminds you that the people on the television may be ...unconventional...in their ways, but at least they are getting paid to be so.

So, what does one do when she has all this time on her hands? Movies!! My friend Kate and I can usually be found on an Orange Wednesday pooling our resources - she is also part of our job hunt crew -  watching a film. Together Kate and I rather resemble David Dickinson, as I relish a bargain and she shares her colouring with a Satsuma. I joke, she has been known to resemble a cross of Audrey Hepburn and Zooey Deschanel....see K, it's not all horrible! Anyway... last week we found ourselves enjoying the delights of W.E. Now, if you are not going to see this movie because you dont like the fact it is written and directed by Madonna, PLEASE reconsider. It would be the same injustice as if we didnt eat chocolate because we knew it would make us fat - not acceptable. The movie is poignant, moving and there is not a cone bra in sight. In fact, the costuming in this piece is rather beautiful. There is one line in the movie where Wallis Simpson admits she is neither beautiful, nor clever but that she dresses better than any woman she knows and that if everyone in the room looks at her when she enters, she knows she will have made Edward proud. For those of you who dont know W.E is the movie about Wallis Simpson and her marriage to Prince Edward. It has been deemed one of the most tragic love-stories of all time.

Wallis confessing that she dressed to make her husband proud makes me think. Throughout history there has often been the misconception that women dress to please the other sex. This is not true. Yes, Audrey Hepburn may have worn that long black sheath to impress her sugar daddy in jail and yes Marilyn Monroe may have worn a white dress that happened to become the thing of men's dreams, but who really has the control here? As is shown in that well known scene in The Devil Wears Prada where a cerulean belt becomes the starring actress, there is never a moment when most of us women do not calculate to the point of perfection what we will be wearing and why. Style is not a thing only some women have - if you wear only jeans and a t-shirt, then that is your style. Those who deny they follow trends, are merely making their own. Fashion for women is all empowering. It is one thing that men will trail behind us in. They may make more money as the CEO,  but we will we be the one turning heads as their assistant CEO in the new to die for McCartney trouser suit; cut so perfectly to our body shape you almost feel it rude to look at us.

Everyday I wear a dress, or jeans, or sweatpants, or a t-shirt or a cardigan, but it is my choice. If a woman walks into a room and everyone stares at her, she should not be worried if her husband is proud, but more is she portraying the seductress, business woman, best friend or daughter that she wants to be seen as in this outfit? So if today you want to look classy like Wallis or you want to look businessy in pearls like the Iron Lady, make sure you remember to be proud of your beloved partners, but to be proud of your Prada more.

Becky xx