Mixing Metals?

I bought this lovely bow ring last week, I sort of wanted it in silver but there it was in gold and I couldn't say no.

The thing is I wear a silver ring and two bracelets on my right hand which I never take off and up until about a year ago, I thought mixing metals was ~bad luck~ or something. But now I just can't resist gold, it just looks better in some cases? So I will continue to wear my gold ring on my left, my gold Alex Monroe Hummingbird around my neck and my silver jewellery on my right hand.

And just hope I don't get 7 years bad luck.


Daily Jewels

SNOW DAY!

If you've been on facebook in the last half an hour you probably realise that it's snowing in London! In October. This is far from ordinary. Above is the scene from my bedroom window.
My current facebook status reads:

Natalie figures she's not wearing her new suede boots tomorrow after all.4 minutes ago

Suede boots are probably not snow day attire. Suede boots with 3.5 inch heels, definitely not. Incidently when my flatmate ran into my room and told me to look out of my window, I was trying to get on BBC Weather to see if I would be able to wear said boots tomorrow. It is not abnormal for me to check the weather the day/week before an occasion, I am definitely an outfit planner and lay out-er. Is this what everyone does or is it just me?!

Luckily the 'crisis' has been averted, I have found a replacement outfit to wear tomorrow as I turn 20 something again and it goes with sensible boots suitable for snow. BUT having just checked BBC Weather again, there is a big sunshine next to 9am tomorrow. There is hope for the suede boots yet. I blame global warming.

HONOURABLE MENTION

Steph told me this was going to happen long before I saw it however when I saw it in print in black and white, I still could not stop the smile from spreading across my face. It was all I could do to stop myself from tapping the person next to me in Borders saying "Hey look at this, that's my best mate's website mentionned by The Ting Tings! In Elle Magazine!"



If you haven't logged on to NEET Magazine yet, then seriously, where have you been? NEET is all about grassroots creativity, it's full of stylish people, great photography and links to some brilliant independent designers. All stylishly pulled together by the fabulous Stephanie J. In fact it's thanks to the September issue that I found this fab etsy seller of vinyl wall art. I have saved a space for the the cuckoo clock on my bedroom wall.



Click now!

ALL OVER SEQUINS ALL OVER AGAIN

I reorganised my Style.com lookbooks yesterday (this is what being off work does to a person) and came across this image from Chanel S/S 2007! I love this 'casual glam' look, the opulent sequins juxtaposed with the casual plaid top half. (Not to mention the legs! Oh Carmen Kass how I would love your legs).
I am now obsessed with getting my hands on some sequin shorts to wear with my new boots and check shirt. I do not need to remind you of my sequin obsession (sequin bow, sequin trainers anyone?)



I've since come across these from Topshop which are exactly what I had in mind, but it appears they're out of stock. Help! I'm now convinced that this is what I need for the perfect day-to-night outfit for next Friday (work related drinks party straight from the office).

With tights, opaque tights, obviously.

PLEASE MISTER POSTMAN

I love that these days you can shop so easily without even leaving the house. Sometimes I wonder if I didn't have to go to the shops for work would I ever go? I love the anticipation of receiving a package and the ceremonious unwrapping and trying on.
ASOS kindly refunded me full postage my next day delivery which did not arrive on time and thankfully turned up yesterday.



When I first started wearing my bow headband it felt a little OTT, but after a couple of wears I started hankering for a bigger bow. Just as well I ordered this sequin bow because my headband was an unlucky casualty of my trip home to my parents. It is likely to become my new favourite accessory, I can't resist sequins during the day. Maybe in a month or so I will be ready to super size my bows á la Johnny Loves Rosie?



Even more exciting than the ASOS package, I ordered the moccasin-meets-ankle-boot from Topshop on Monday, choosing Royal Mail over next day delivery and saving that all important pound (credit crunch, every penny counts etc). It arrived this morning! I didn't open the package for a full 30 minutes because I was worried they might be ugly. They aren't. In fact they are far more beautiful then I could have hoped for and the heels measure in at a not too alarming 3.5".
They're the kind of boots that you leave alone in a room and you return to find people trying them on (true story). I can't wait to try them with my lace leggings, more pics to follow I'm sure.

OCTOBER WISH LIST

I'm an obessive list maker. Current lists in work:
1. What to buy people for Christmas
2. Present ideas for my Sister's 18th (next March, I'm trying to be prepared)
3. The ever present "things to do"
4. The Shopping List also known as The Wish List because it usually contains more things than I can afford

I have a love/hate relationship with Polyvore, mostly hate, but it has its uses.



Last week I was obsessing about moccasins and ankle boots and this week the two have combined to make the perfect boots, which are currently on their way to me from Topshop via royal mail. I hope they're not too high. After ditching two short boyfriends in succession, I love a heel but much more than 3 inches and I feel like I'm towering over everyone.

Also coveting this month anything in the current Heaven & Earth collection, a boyfriend blazer of some description, a winter coat, A.P.C checks, Black Rats (which I am obsessively checking ASOS for twice a day) and that Peter Jensen hat.

NYLON!

Is it me or has Nylon been disappearing from our (British) shelves lately? Yesterday I wandered into my parents local Whsmith looking for the fashion section and throwing a glance over to the Arts and Crafts section, I was surprised to spot two copies of Nylon sandwiched between Wallpaper* and Popular Patchwork Magazine! True story. Maybe that's why I haven't been able to find it?



It's true that Nylon isn't what it was, but I can't complain about this issue which includes some of my favourite ladies Zooey, Daisy and Alexa! (I could definitely have done without the pages of Cory and Peaches though. I watched Peaches' show on MTV last night, then I watched the repeat 3 hours later. It was like a car crash, I couldn't tear myself away from the sheer awfulness).

Speaking of Alexa, the Life in a Day article in The Times left me completely confused. She is taking the piss right?

MUM'S WARDROBE

A year ago my parents moved house and it was time for my Mum to finally face the suitcases of clothes she had been storing in the loft for a "rainy day". My sister got a cream cable knit jumper dress, but I only had eyes for this oversized checked flannel shirt. Rumour has it my Mum wore this while she was pregnant. A suspect paint splatter on the left sleeve also suggests that before relegation to the suitcase in the loft, this particular garment belonged with other old clothes only suitable for doing the decorating in.
My Mum came to visit me in my flat not so long ago and when I opened the door to her wearing the shirt, she burst out laughing. However, with a softness that can only be created by dozens of wears and washes and a traceable history that only comes with hand-me-downs, it still remains one of my favourites.

BLOG LOVIN'

Since becoming a blog obsessive I've discovered these great sites where you can follow all your favourite blogs in one place. Now you can follow my blog with bloglovin'.

CREDIT CRUNCHING - THE SHOPPING BAN

Working in fashion I have seemingly unlimited access to sample sales, discounts and freebies and as a result my bulging wardrobe had been getting out of control. It wasn’t so much a space issue – you know that quote about feeling loneliest in a room full of people – that’s how I was feeling about clothes or perhaps how my clothes were feeling about each other?! I’d pull out one thing and amongst the vast array of choices in my wardrobe, I couldn’t find anything else to build an outfit with. It was then that I decided I needed to consolidate. I self imposed a shopping ban to last a month or longer, as long as I could handle. Today, whilst browsing Chictopia.com I stumbled on this post recommending the very same, inspiring me to share my experience.
Ok I buckled within the month (I blame the sample sale), however the final tally of my purchases and acquisitions across 5 weeks, came to £19. Two dresses, two tops, one skirt and a brooch. Pretty good for someone who probably spends in excess of £30 at least per week when you average it out. And I felt better for it, I rediscovered items in my wardrobe I’d forgotten about, I found a way of wearing things I’d gotten bored of that made me excited about them again. And most importantly I saved loads of money with which I booked a trip to Paris. A trip which my pre-shopping ban self would have turned down, saying “I can’t afford it”.

LOVE COLOUR, LOVE TIGHTS!

The sun might be shining and the sky may be blue, but there is a distinct chill in the the air. The gloves are out, it is officially Autumn. And in Autumn my thoughts turn to hosiery. I was once spotted at 50 paces on a grey day by a friend whose vision was almost completely obscured by her umbrella - unable to see much more than my calves, she identified me by my pillar box red tights.

This morning this site dropped into my inbox recommended to me by a friend (who knows me too well?) - Love Colour - Love Tights.com is easy to use, you can filter by colour, pattern and style (full length, footless, stirrup, stockings..) to find the hosiery you are looking for, from literally hundreds of choices.

I'm still mourning the loss of my ribbed hot pink pair (above) from Topshop last year (ladders which no amount of nail varnish could prevent from stretching from my knees to my ankles).

PATRICIA FIELD FOR...M&S?

When I saw that Patricia Field was designing a range for M&S I silently hoped it would be more inspiring than her last high street collaboration. I love what she did for Sex and the City, Devil Wears Prada et al and browsing the collection online today, it is clear where the inspiration from this line has come from. A studded belt, a white dress with a corsage? Yet another version of those Dior sandals? It is all a bit too familiar, but I suppose it makes commerical sense.

The real surprise of the range is this - M&S selling an allover sequin catsuit? Now that is something to get excited about!

BY HAND, BY PEOPLE TREE

A couple of weeks ago, our amiable post room guy dropped a copy of this book on my desk without a word of explanation. I put it in my bag and forgot about it until later that evening when I came across it looking for my keys.

By Hand written by People Tree founder Safia Minney (which you can buy here for just £5) states the case for supporting ethical fashion and organic handwoven cotton. With beautiful photography and interviews with garment workers, farmers and jewellery makers in Africa and Asia, it is truly an inspiring read. I can’t honestly say that I am going to abandon the high street completely for Fairtrade products but it certainly made me stop and think (as well as leaving me with an unhealthy obsession with the beautiful jewellery by Sam Ubhi).

Read it, the book explains itself better than I ever could and it may just change the way you think about fashion.