Currently coveting crochet!

I am unsure as to where this current obsession has developed but i can't seem to deny the allure of the crochet! all that remains is to select how badly this desire will dent my bank balance.

where has all the lippy gone...

... a desperate plea for a return to gorgeous smackers!

Although i have always been an advocate for beautifully lacquered lips my distress at the current lack of lipstick wearers has been recently compounded by it's extensive usage in film/tv and on the catwalk. Keira Knightley looked sublime in 'Atonement', where there was not a scene lacking lipstick and in the recent Stephen Poliakoff drama, 'Capturing Mary', Ruth Wilson looked divine in sumptuous late fifties gowns and matt, bright lips.





Equally exciting for me were the lips seen on models in aut/winter '07-'08 Christian Dior, channelling a modern take on '40s style.

Why, then, when lovely lips (sorry for the revolting adjectives) and by this i mean lipstick, preferably matt but glossy finish equally good when used in the right time and place, not lipgloss, are to be seen everywhere are they not seen everywhere on our streets? Lipstick used to be a woman's first line of defence, a prerequisite for glamour, now its largely seen (especially, i've found, by men) as an example of 'trying too hard', that dreaded element of modern style. therefore, when dousing my lips i try to get into a mindset of the 1920's-late '50s woman, seeing it as more elementary to style than the modern make-up mindset allows.

knitting needles to the ready!

Although not very competent at knitting i'm thinking a massiiiiiive scarf like those seen at Giles are within my ability.

I also like the smaller knit of this woman's long scarf, taken from the sartorialist.

leather up for winter

Christopher Kane was no doubt nervous about the reception his latest offering, autumn/winter collection '07-08, would receive. After wowing the world with his spring/summer '07 collection, which boasted an impeccable merging of colours with body contouring mini dresses and frills, all waited with baited breath to see if he could deliver again.

(below: s/s '07)

Luckily for us, Christopher Kane is not a man to disappoint. His autumn/winter collection brings his micro dresses into winter with leather, crystals and velvet.

(below: some highlights of a/w '07-08)

Absolutely love the two dresses above in particular. Not too sure about the two below, however, a little too Chloe for winter for my liking but still enjoy the sumptuous wintry feel he's created.

(below: Chloe s/s '07 & right Christopher Kane a/w '07-8)

This season i would like ...

... these sun glasses from Biba.

Big Trousers

So, still stuck in my summer rut and rather thinking that, with this current weather, i may as well go straight into my autumn wardrobe i have found a few old delights at the depths of my wardrobe. One such item is a formerly much beloved pair of harem pants. Bought three years ago (i think) as my Christmas dinner outfit the said trousers were since been worn for a variety of occasions - including, unfortunately, fancy dress - but were then relegated to the back of my drawers. Marc Jacobs' s/s '07 collection saw many balloon type, voluminous trousers in grey, beige and cream tones. This woman - off Facehunter.blogspot.com - successfully pulls off the trousers in a sophisticated, layered fashion in more neutral tones.

Unfortunately, i do not do layering (i am trying but a slightly chubby 5ft 3" frame just doesn't yell "layer me", i just end up looking like a snow ball, rolling down the hill gathering more snow) and am far too young for a neutral pallet. Therefore, I'm far more likely to rock my harem pants in truly eighties inspired fashion, like this woman from hel-looks.com below. I apologise now.

This season i would like ...

... shoes with a perspex heel.

Despite my better judgement (which is saying i'll look like a cheap American bar tender/table dancer, though maybe this is part of the appeal) i feel a perspex heel, killer high of course, would sufficiently jazz up my weary wardrobe.

The spring/summer '07 collections were littered with perspex heels and not just from those designers peddling the 'futuristic' look.

(Above: Marc Jabobs, Channel, Emilio Pucci.

Below: Alexander McQueen, Lanvin.)

Of course, having a limited budget the below options are more likely. Which, it has to be said, has deterred me a little. In the process of moving from the catwalk to the high street more than the usual amount of style has been lost with these shoes. Also, though it seemed rather daring and modern when i saw the designer models, by the time the trend had trickled through to high street versions i can actually afford, the whole effect seemd totally naff and i felt myself the quintessential fashion victim. That said, id still happily wear the marc jacobs pair above if given £300.

(Above: Asos, Dune)