In the buff

Everywhere you look there are articles popping up about Chanel's sell out nail hue Particuliere. A gorgeous minky taupe colour, classic and subtle and the polar opposite to the severe midnight ink and gothic rose tones that were the fashion of fingertips last winter. When looking for the perfect nude shoes or dress, I always fixate on this mushroomy colour, and Chanel have gone and thrust it into the limelight in the form of a nail laquer. As much as I loved the Jade of the SS10 Chanel catwalks, there is only so much mileage you can get out of a green nailpolish, and as serene as it is, there isn't an abundance of looks that work alongside 'mint green'. Chanel's Particuliere is one step closer to melting into any ensemble, a minky milky taupe paint, the kind of colour you'd get if you left milk and white chocolate buttons together to mingle in the sun.

But for even more wearability, tis the season to go nude. Not to be mistaken with the french manicure or a peachy tint, this colour is so inconspicuous it could almost be classed as a 'non' colour. Duo personality shade, it has the ability to be both delicately feminine whilst slightly creepy. The closer the colour to your skin tone, the better the nude hue - think those freaky mannequin hands, where fingers and nails blend into one - and you've pretty much got it.  

Finding the right shade is key. I absolutely adored the Essie nailpolish, Jazz that I spotted on my friend last week. However, when it came to trying it on, it made my hand look like it belonged in a morgue. So make sure it compliments your skin tone.

Nail laquer is fast becoming the quick fashion fix for the immediate wardrobe update, minus the guilty price tag. Whoever gets to come up with the quirky names for nailpolish must have a lot of fun - Tea with the Queen, Minky Muffs, Pillow Talk and Baby Breath are to name but a few that I have come across whilst writing this post. It must be like playing pick and mix with your favourite words. Possibly almost as fun as Ben and Jerry must have thinking up those creamed ice flavours, the ultimate in cool jobs.

Aviator jackets and the death of the cupcake

Apparently, as stated by Sunday Times Style last week, cupcakes are SO last season, and the stylish new kid on the block is the macaroon. If purchasing the below from Lola's Kitchen makes me unfashionable, then I reckon I can live with that.

However, sometimes I wish things didnt make it 'in fashion.' 'In fashion' then leads to accessible, which results in overexposure...and then 'no longer fashionable.' With macaroons, the very nature of their exclusivity is what makes them so special. To be fair, being born in Paris, they were always going to be chic. But the fact that you have to hunt them down to purchase the beautiful little treats from Laduree and Pierre Herme gives them that je ne sais quoi edge. As soon as they are announced 'on trend and in fashion' its just a downward spiral before they lose their 'untouchable' status. (Bear with me, this post does relate to fashion eventually.) Take the cupcake. Carrie featured eating a cupcake in an episode of Sex in the City. Soon after, England cottoned on to the US cupcake craze and Hummingbird Bakery and Lola's Kitchen were born. With their rainbow piped icing sprinkled with crystilised rose petals, freeze dried strawberries and glitter, they are every girls eyegasmic food. Sure enough, everyone jumped onto the band wagon, and all of a sudden you could get cupcakes from Tesco Express. And then the magic was gone.

I have yet to fulfil my dream of visiting every Laduree tea room around the world. Ok, so far I have only crossed Paris off the list, but since visiting Paris, I have made it my silent mission to visit the Laduree tea rooms in Tokyo, Monaco, London and Switzerland. However, if macaroons become available from your Sainsburys Local, this fairytale mission will have to be aborted.

My fashion link relates to the Burberry AW10 collection. I have been a long time lover of shearling, trying to find a brown distressed leather jacket with a shearling collar trim and cuffs.They are difficult to source and unless you can find an oversized vintage men's version, they come with a hefty price tag. Acne have pretty much my ideal, but at £750 a pop, its always been a no go. Then, this season, Burberry decides to take inspiration from the two World Wars and unleash the aviator jacket. With its HUGE oversize collar and sheepskin detailing, it is 100% spot on.

However, in the back of my mind all I can think is - you b*stards - now every high street and its mother will be racing to see who can get the trend onto the shop floor the fastest. The accessory that I have lusted after for years all of a sudden becomes everyone's A/W must have, before I even had a chance to own/wear it! 

  

Walk like you mean it, strut like you don't care

Sitting in the sunshine on Carnaby Street following coffee with freelance stylist Tanja Martin who's been giving me tips and advice on how to go about getting into the styling industry. What ive learnt? That I am about to embark on the poorest and most knackering years of my life....working for free to gain respect and experience whilst spending every spare waking minute waitressing/working behind a bar to pay any necessary bills. In other words pretty much working around the clock in pursuit of the end goal. However, a good friend of mine once told me that nothing worth having ever came easily...so im not about to give up just yet. yling clearly comes with its highs and lows, and her toughest styling assignment to date? creating, a high end men's underwear shoot without making it look, how do I put this...... 'too gay' (!)

Mooched around the concessions floor in Topshop's flagship and discovered a cool brand Quontum. Specializes in extreme cutout body con, featuring a high volume injection of chiffon. As is standard with taking photos of pieces that I love in stores, I had the usual interrogation. Luckily they weren't a jobsworth, and said I didnt look like the sort who would rip off someone else's designs (whatever that looks like?!) This turned into a half hour conversation discovering that the guy's mother was the designer and owner of Quontum, and there may be potential creative oppertunities with her. The dress would look awesome with black suede platform ankle boots/pair of bondage strap sandals, bare legs and a dirty South American tan.

Had an interview with GQ Style for a possible internship whilst they create the next biannual issue. Nightmare last night trying to decide what to wear. Dressing to impress a top men's style magazine is a whole different ball park. In the end I went with a black chiffon mini dress, paired down with a dove grey boyfriend jacket, faithful leaopard print scarf which always adds punch, statement bangles and studded oversize clutch. I was asked to describe the look that I would bring to the magazine if I were to style a shoot.....something I probably should have put more thought into. Thinking on my feet I opted for 'classic with an alternative twist, distressed dapper' which he seemed to like the sound of.
Leaving Vogue House that afternoon following the interview I discovered, low and behold, smack bang next door - my good friend, Itsu :-)

Oh and im using my All Saints gift card case as my new oyser card holder. Much more understated than the yellow plastic tat National Rail offer.

oh reckless abandon, like no ones watching you

It has been an age since my last post, with easter, mothers day, cutting the umblical chord on my Maverick Publicity fashion pr role and winter turning to spring taking place. Finding time to post has been impossible. This makes me sad. Unlike being given my daily itsu frozen yoghurt on the house....Sometimes it pays to have a predictable lunchtime routine.

I had no idea there were so many cherry blossom trees near my parents' home. With the arrival of spring a) I can now legitimately wear peep toe boots without being interrogated by strangers if my toes are numb, b) notice cherry blossom trees seem to have popped up everywhere bringing the beauty of japanese spring time to the suburbs of the outskirts of London. I am totally envious of my friend who has just jetted off for a fortnight in Tokyo. We were discussing the delights of Japanese cuisine....oddly enough sushi didnt get a look in, instead, how you can get sweet potato in every shape and form, ranging from cakes and crisps, to flavoured kitkats and freshly baked as a snack from the 99 yen store. My adoration for sweet potato is part of the reason why I believe Japan is where I belong ;)

Cherry blossoms

As a leaving present from my fashion pr job, I was given an All Saints gift card - my love for the brand is clearly no secret. The present was just a prime example of how attention to detail can transform something from ordinary to extraordinary. The gift card came in a material covered hard back holder with the All Saints logo and personal message inside, so I can now use it to carry around my oyster card. It's almost a present in itself! Saying goodbye to the office where I have worked for the last three and a half years, was slightly daunting, but sometimes you have to put yourself out there to get anywhere. Here's hoping.

My biggest worry is finding a new frozen yoghurt supplier. I wish there was an Itsu on every street corner!