For Emma, Forever ago

Go find another lover;

To bring a-to string along

With all your lies

You're still very loveable

I toured the light

So many foreign roads

For emma, forever ago

Bon Iver. When I found out he had written an album For Emma, Forever ago, naturally I had to listen to it. When your name is featured in the title, you can be forgiven for romanticising that, if I had once upon a time been in love with a song writer, they too would have written a similar song about me ;-) Off the top of my head, I dont believe I ever have; until then, this will suffice.

The hotter it gets, the less imagination I have for putting anything together. This is probably as straight forward as it gets. Varying shades of cream, biscuit and taupe. Still having a love affair with my mink skirt, think its time to opt for a new look...

click click snap

Obligatory sequins, black kohl eyeliner and killer heeled shoe boots. Could you bear to stay in if you looked this good? Mood intoxicating beats playing at full volume inspiring self belief for the night ahead. Strut. Ninety percent of the secret to looking good is the confidence and light you omit, the other ten is the luck of the gene draw. Kate Moss certainly got her fair share in the good looks lottery.

We laugh until we think we'll die

So I took a detour whilst trying to find the pub in knightsbridge where we watched the masacre of the England football team. Having arrived already half an hour late, I figured missing another 15 mins of the game wouldn’t hurt. And so I found the sliver of the skirt you can see - £2.99. Full price. A pretty productive detour.

Body con skirts are a wardrobe essential. This dusky pink colour acts as a perfect inconspicuous accompaniment when you want something that just blends with the rest of the outfit. Black can be too harsh and white body con I find too club tropicana, best left to holidays in Marbella. The tops -

1. the only piece ive ever bought from the Kate Moss at Topshop range, because of it’s red indian echos. It was also available as a dress, but me being me, figured I could buy it five sizes too big and it would pass as a dress. Not this time. Que body con skirt - useful for coverage, when tops don’t quite make it to ‘dress’ status.

2. a top with the face of a red indian? Sold. The only draw back - the face on your top being cooler than the person wearing it ;-) Summer always unleashes my inner squaw, so many pocahontas inspired posts to come. For those who enjoy getting lost in the spirit of cowboys and indians – this awesome mood lifter and where the post title comes from, will instantly transport you to the wild west. 'Home' by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

Braided hair. Minus the feathers. Shame

Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor

This itsy bitsy teenie weenie sailorgirl second skin dress, clings to the body like no man's busines. It takes a washboard stomach to pull this off on its own, but on its own it's a cross between a gymnast's leotard (with skirt bottom) and tart - neither label do I aspire to aquire.

Therefore, plus an oversize camisole and you're a bit less mutton and a little bit more lamb. I have a huge collection of camisoles, I loved the underwear as outerwear trend long before SS10 said 'do it.' With camisoles in a size 16/L, they're loose fitting and have a romantic bedtime charm about them. This black cami is ideal for throwing over the top of tiny dresses, making them instantly wearable without having to feel body hugging self conscious. Underneath, who knows, I could have the tummy of shakira... ;-)

Talk about it somewhere only we know

With so many black and white posts it was time to add a bit of colour. Then I got side tracked by nude shoes mounting up on my bedroom floor.

All five inch plus heel, stacked platform sole and that mink/mushroom/taupe colour im always talking about. 

Sunshine footwear for the vertically challenged, or as I prefer to call us, little people.

Castles in the sky sit stranded vandalized

All my favourite things of the moment, laid out on the bed. Monochrome eat your heart out. I really need to start injecting some colour into my life. Narcisco Rodriguez For Her reminds me of all the happy memories of last summer. I would love to know the psychology behind how a scent can transport your entire being back to a memory, when for a second you literally feel like you have travelled through time.

Talking of triangle bras in my last post, this has got to be a pretty impressive find. From the previously mentioned H&M, this bralet is completely out of character for them. In fact my new boss thought it was a purchase by Marlies Dekkers... Despite being from the lingerie section, I bought it to wear over the top of plain white tees, dresses or kimono tops to add a twist.

I will make no comment about how the front zip fastening is great for detail as well as being pracical. Perfect for after dark ;-)

Don't go to sleep, it's such a bitter form of refuge

Every wardrobe should consist of fool proof building blocks. In my opinion that's underwear. It's no secret that I would rather go without a bra than wear an underwired one. I hate the feeling of the wire on my ribs, and the bulk it adds under clothing. So I choose triangle bras and bikini tops all year round. H&M in Barcelona have the best triangle underwear selection on a budget, and every time I go, I stock up on lingerie. I still have sets I have yet to wear. 

I also don't believe in wearing underwear you wouldn't want to be seen in. So no tshirt bras and ugly granny pants. 

I'm definitely a big fan of the 'body', so im glad they've come back. The best ones are cut with a really low back - ultra versatile so you can wear them under anything. 

I'm still trying to find the perfect white logo vest. One you could wear to bed and roll out the house the next day wearing and still look effortlessly cool. That has to be the ultimate in lazy dressing. I have so many white vests, yet none of them have that 'can't live without' stamp.

Is there still magic in the midnight sun

I've never seen the sky argue with itself over whether it's day or night. Surreal experience walking back from the gym last night at 10. The sky was still bright blue (as if noon) yet the moon was out, whilst street lamps were on, naturally because it was less than two hours to midnight.

The colours of dusk matched the tribal print dress - or should I say 'top', I wore yesterday. Originally kneelength and frumpy, I hacked it in half. Despite the number of dresses I mutilate, I still never seem to get this right, which is why so many of my dresses hover dangerously between decent and indecent. Wearing boy shorts underneath, I tell myself it doesnt really matter.

I havent worn these boots since New Year's. Yesterday I remembered why. It is literally like walking on a pair of stilts, which is fine...as long as you dont plan on going anywhere fast.

Jelly and ice cream

Some days, you wake up wanting to dress for comfort above anything else. I know i've written about both the oversize floral and the granny cardi before, but worn together, it's almost like wearing your pyjamas and duvet at the same time. Pefect for inconspicuous days when a hoodie just wouldn't cut it in the office. 

As for the jelly shot, purely because it looked pretty sitting on my desk in the sunlight. Ideal for mid morning hunger pangs. NOT as a substitue to lunch or dinner as I used to be well known for doing!

Saw Cinderella in a party dress

I have a habit of taking clothing out of it's natural habitat and wearing it other than just for the occasion it was probably designed. Take this dress. Clearly party wear - put it with an oversized slouch tshirt, it instantly dresses it down. Hair - not in its usual back combed, extension clipped state, but in a messy top not (which is apparently the new 'do') almost makes this 'look' day wear. I say almost. It's still pretty dressed up for day time, but what better way to start the week than pumping a little party spririt into your Monday. Never a bad thing.

N.B ...always check what your outfit looks like when the light is behind you. Having usually worn this dress after dark ive never noticed that its actually, um, see-through. It also has a tendancy to molt glitter
everywhere. Not appropriate attire for illicit affairs ;)

Sun down Friday night uptown city lights

Shock factor - pitch black eye powder and so much glitter you see disco balls when you blink. Black oil slick leather, sequins, broken mirrored pieces, crushed beading, silver metal, studs and bumble and bumbled surf sprayed matte messy hair.

Modern day rock chick, chic rock.

Saw this piece today that is way too much of a showstopper to be confined to the beach. Encompassing the aforementioned and all that I love, I have visions of this cut out swimsuit teamed with a high waisted flared mini and distressed platformed heels, sooty eyes and a messy quiff. Fingerless leather gloves optional, perfect night time attire for dancing till breakfast o clock. Photos to be posted shortly..

Asylum

My sister can either read my mind, or has an impressive sister intuition. Walking to the train station together this morning, she commented that she liked my 'Edward Scissor Hand' shoes. It wouldn't have been weird, had I not started writing the below post the day before....

These have to be my favourite boots I own. Like a straight jacket for the foot, these shoe boots can make any boring outfit look interesting. When I bought them, they completely struck me as something that Edward Scissor Hands would fashion, the only thing missing is the addition of a few blades.

The bondage factor has a tendancy to attract unwanted attention from builders/white van drivers, but aside from that, they are perfect. I would love to wear them with bare legs, but due to the mid calf cut, this should only be attempted by twig like limbs - imagine the cast of the Nightmare Before Xmas.

That's another Tim Burton creation. and I mentioned his wife in my first ever post.  Perhaps he is my unlikely style inspiration.

The stars lean down to kiss you

Apparently my eye colour changes depending on the weather. I get a lot of people asking me what the colour of my eyes are, so here's a picture, as I have no idea how to put it into words. A mixture of my mother's Japanese almost black eyes, and my father's english blue/grey equals the above. Bizarre.
My sister just read this post and said it sounded like I thought I was a character from the Twilight saga re. colour changing eyes. The changing colour is true, but is purely dependent on the amount of light present - just to clarify; no, I don't believe im a vampire.

Shadows whisper sounds of nothing

This blog pretty much sums up the erratic nature of the British Summer. One minute you're in a sleeveless dress and bare legs, the next you're bundled up like it's the middle of winter. Keeps us on our toes I guess. I find wearing your entire wardrobe works best, that way you can add or abstract pieces as and when needed throughout the day ;-) The leather leggings remind me of when my friend used to call me aubergine thighs - because that's pretty much exactly what they look like in leather leggings. I doubt they would taste as good in a moussaka though.

Due to heavy showers, I spent my lunch hour hidden away in the creepiest Pret i've ever come across rather than sitting in the sunshine. Partly due to taking lunch at 3.30pm when all normal people are back at work, I had the enirety of the dimly lit basement to myself, leaving me to read a back issue of Vogue and enjoy my tub (yes all 500g worth) of soya yoghurt in peace. I seem to have developed an addiction to soya - yoghurt, milk, cheese, tofu, edemame beans, the lot.

I also managed to swap my All Saints ring for a new one after it broke at a bbq - I am now only allowed to wear it on 'special' occasions. Despite its tough exterior, it's actually very delicate. Proof that looks can be deceptive.

Sweet dreams till sun beams find you

Cerulean blue, endless ocean sky

Playground of unknown, infinity of dreams

You know when the sun shines so bright it bounces off every surface straight into your eyes, making you dizzy with distorted vision? That was what it was like today. The sunshine was intense, but there is something euphorically uplifting about waking up to a clear blue sky, and feeling the sun kiss your skin as you leave the house. It makes you want to embrace cool and airy dressing, anything that catches the breeze and brings the temperature down. Brownie points for those spotted today wearing chiffon and floaty silk.
Although a visible bra is usually a big no no, this isnt just any old bra - this is a Damaris bra :-)

Until you were gone

Never a truer word spoken.
Maxi dresses are making a big come back this season, this time round in slogan tshirt form. No need to wear your heart on your sleeve anymore, your clothing can do it for you.
Not sure how well a maxi dress works on a 5 ft frame, but who cares. A lot of silverware, flip flops, quirky shades and big hair. Et voila.