People watching at Paddington
I am not a fan of pink suits. Although, it's nice to see some colour in the otherwise black parade of clothes at the minute. Regardless of my cravings for colour though I still think this is ugly. Pepto bismol anyone? Plus skirts that length are generally pretty unflattering.
The invisible mac.
These boots are giving me the willies. They look they they should be worn by an evil villain. The toe is too pointy and the heel is too spiky.
I like these shoes.
Everyone has an eco friendly extra bag these days, I would be lost and trying to lug around way too many spare things that don't fit in my normal bag if I didn't have mine.
Bare legs, long boots, short skirt. Not hot.
You don't see long coats that often, especially not camel ones. Maybe it's because they show creases so badly?
Turquoise outerwear and big earphones.
Green ballet flats and ripped up tights.
This lady is totally rocking that trench.
But, it always looks funny when people wear ridiculously high heels and try to cart around massive pieces of luggage.
Very cool little fold down bike, and plaid shirts with puffy vests.
Too tight tights.
If your tights start to stretch across your thighs so that they become sheer and a different colour than the rest of your leg... you know they are too tight.
Okay ladies? Let this be a lesson: beware of too tight tights.
And don't even get me started on that skirt.
Not necessary.
I'm not entirely sure why this situation is happening, for a lot of reasons.
Leopard print trilby. Multi-coloured hair. For her own sake I really hope those are extensions or attached to her hat. Polka dot scarf.
Less offensive is the combination of the aforementioned with a figure hugging red dress. Which, by the way, can I just say I have a real problem with dresses that have built in belts. See how it has little red loops at the waist with a built in (probably plastic) black belt. I just hate that, it always looks tacky. I may be the only person which has a problem with that though...
stripes...
asian girls always seem to be so stylish in their own individual and quirky kind of way. they really can wear the most random and bizarre things, and strangely get away with it. i know i am massively generalizing here... but nevertheless, i do think it's true. so when i stumbled across this website (http://www.yesstyle.com/en/home.html) - full of cute japanese girls in insanely reasonably priced clothes - i was kind of a sucker. i've really been craving some new striped tops recently. i think it has got something to do with a subconscious inkling, that's been harboring away within me for the past month, after i saw these photos on the sartorialist in october.
http:www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com
http://www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com
Basically, stripes are just wonderful - and I've had a serious craving for them lately.
So, when I saw these two tops - both which are under a tenner, I really couldn't resist.
I have no idea what they are going to be like. They are being shipped from Japan and only come in one size. Are they going to be tiny? Oh, I really hope not.
Anyway, keep your fingers crossed for me. Hopefully they will be fabulous... and, if nothing else they really just look so comfy.
p.s. i may slightly resemble a christmas candy cane in the second one - and i'm actually very excited about that.
i can't help it, i want fur.
I know PETA are against it, but is wanting fur really so bad?
I just do. I can't deny it anymore.
The Oxford uniform.
Puffy gilet, short denim skirt, leggings, ugg boots....
This is the most typical outfit on anyone aged 15-22 in this town. Everybody wears it, all the time.
I am so over it.
Think anyone will notice...?
Men in London tend to fit into two categories: business men, or the young student type. The second category gets away with wearing whatever they want. But, business men normally follow a certain set of rules... you know: suits, shiny shoes, briefcases, metal watches, cuff links.
Normally. But not today. When I noticed the shiny rubber crocs in front of me waiting for their morning coffee I was surprised to see that they were on the feet of a well dressed grey pinstripe suit. That's odd, I thought. I wonder if he'll get away with that in the office?
I don't know if he was lucky enough to make it through his whole day in his plastic gardening shoes or not, but I do know that I understand wanting to wear socially unacceptable things in public every now and again.
If I had my way I would keep my snowflake flannel pjs on all day!
And I know my mom has been known to wear her slippers out in public (although that is not entirely premeditated). But, every now and again you need little comforts to make it through the day... even if that comes in the tiny form of wearing crocs with your business suit on a Thursday morning (sometimes the weekend just can't come around quick enough, right?).
So, what would you wear if you had your way?
Err, cute little girl...?
I just can't help but feel a bit at odds with this picture.
Aren't pink bows meant to be placed on the heads of cute little five year olds girls...?
Mono-colour...
I'm just curious... at what age does one decide dressing entirely in one colour is a good idea?
I know it can be a good idea, but it's not a good idea in this instance.
Even the shoes are maroon... surely that is a bit overboard?
I just can't help but wonder if her entire wardrobe is full of hangers that have jackets and trousers in identical colours (green, navy, maroon, lavender, yellow...) with matching loafers underneath? If so that surely would be a sight to see. If there were a matching underwear drawer it would be even better!
The 'leg warmer' look...
Neutral and toned down with fringed boots and a sweater dress.
Full on eighties neon.
The Verdict
I don't really get the whole 'leg warmers' look. I get the whole eighties revival... grunge, leather, denim, all Alice Delal-esque and Alexander Wang 'model-off-duty'. It's cool.
Leg warmers though? They aren't practical. They aren't flattering. They make your leg look like it's cut into little multi-coloured segments. Long socks are cool, they can poke out from under your boots, that's fine. But, putting some ridiculous bit of tubing around the bottom half of your calf is just pointless, and ugly.
Redemption?
Unless your a ballerina - bin them.
Lady in red (shoes)...
I saw this lady from across the road.
'Wowza,' I thought, 'those are some seriously red shoes.'
Where is she going in those red shoes? She looks pretty conservatively dressed from the ankles up, she even has a little brown leather bag. Maybe she didn't realize she put on those shoes this morning? What kind of job do you work at in the city of Westminster that lets you wear red patent platform heels? And on a Thursday morning? I'm still a bit perplexed by this woman's red shoes, and I'm still a bit curious where she is off to at 9am in such a pair of shoes...
the september issue...
I know I am a bit late on the whole 'September Issue' craze. I finally got around to watching it tonight, and really liked it. It's slightly painful at times - that grimace that seems to be almost permanently strewn across the 'popes' face. Nevertheless, Anna Wintour is hilarious and truly entertaining to watch. I love that she is described as not being accessible to people she doesn't need to be accessible to. It's really interesting to watch her talk about how her siblings are all involved in jobs that are more 'meaningful' than her own, and to see her daughter who refuses to be involved in the self-absorbed world of fashion and rather wants to be a lawyer (even though in one scene she is sat next to Karl Lagerfeld laughing and looking at jackets... best of both worlds, eh love?).
Grace Coddington has been heralded as the true talent behind the magazine since the movies release. She really is amazing. Lovely to watch. She's entirely different on camera than Anna. She seems to stop and sink in her surroundings, saying that she doesn't close her eyes in the car to make sure she doesn't miss any inspirational moments. Her photos are beautiful, and the pain she expresses in having her hard work whittled out of the magazine only to be replaced by celebrity images is touching. It makes me want to be more passionate about the endeavors I undertake.
My favourite moments in the film:
'My eyes are starving for beauty.' - Andre Leon Talley
'How can she think we're leaving these out?... That's the craziest thing I've heard' - Grace
44 minutes in: Grace walks by rails full of feathered garments that people are gawking over and coughs (signaling that even though feathers may be beautiful they aren't all that practical)
Anna telling the photographer that jumps in the shoot that he needs to go the gym
Grace telling him he doesn't & stopping them from airbrushing out his tummy
'It looks good on the rack...?'
I started getting and keeping American Vogue September issues in 2005. I somehow missed the 2009 edition. Apparently it was pretty low selling. But, nevertheless I only just realized I didn't get it the other day. I am a bit disappointed that I've got a gap in my collection.
Photographer whose belly Anna was unhappy about
American Vogue September 2007
I wish my tea breaks were a little more like this...
American Vogue September 2007
Compilation of Grace's modeling days
Photo courtesy of http://modelina.com
Perfect shoes...
I have fallen in love with these new Toms suede shoes.
If you haven't had a pair of these puppies, you really should, they are the comfiest little things. And, now they are making them in suede with fluffy warm lining?! I have been dreaming about such a thing - the comfort of my cotton ones but with the warmth that can see me through the Fall... they seriously read my mind! These are perfection.
And, how great are these? The 'Veronica Slouch' boot by Frye - I think they are also pretty perfect, and how useful? Oh, I would wear you everyday...
Alas, there are far too many beautiful things in the world and not nearly enough money for them all... I know it's only October but, Santa can you hear my cries?
Mis-matched and a little miserable...
The Verdict
Really? Really?
Guys, come on now. I feel like we need to go over some ground rules for ugg boots. Let me start by saying that I have them too - so I am not vehemently opposed to them. I love mine.
But, if its warm enough to have bare legs, then you don't need to wear ugg boots. Got it? Okay, enough now - I don't want to see this sin happening again.
Second, seriously what is up with that skirt? It looks like somebody took a bunch of napkins and sewed them together in some sort of ragged fashion.
And, lets top if off with a white fleece zip up... yah, because that will bring the look together.
Redemption
I really just see three options here:
1. Keep the fleece and stay at home on your sofa (if you have swine flu).
2. Keep the skirt but put on a fitted jumper/roll neck tucked in with some black tights and heels. That skirt is way too full for flats... you need some height, love. Alright, and you've got tiny little pins poking out there so lets make the most of them.
3. Keep the boots but tone down the rest of the outfit - like jeans and a jumper. I get wearing ugg boots as a transitional item (ie. from the bus to your work) - but honestly, if you are lugging around a whole other outfit (in this case a top/shoes) in your manky M&S black bag then its time to step it up... because this really isn't acceptable. How would she feel if she ran into her ex right about now?
As a side note - how dreary is this photo? It's all grey. And the poor thing is walking with her head down (maybe in search of pennies, i get it, it's the recession after all). But honestly, we should all take a bit more pride in ourselves and walk with our heads held high... I've been inspired by the new Joan Collins show about glamour (as cheesy as it may be) - we've got to up the antE ladies.