too much style

Every once in a while all the planets seem to converge and I find myself surrounded by too much style. It's a bit like sampling chocolate: you just get dizzy & can't think straight. That's what was happening to me on Sunday when, jet lagged, Mr. Dot & I stopped into the V&A to relax & see some Renaissance sculpture, stop by the tea room & eat cakes. That's when we met Renaissance Man, Erina with her Bob, and several others I haven't even shown you yet.

As a result, I didn't bother to stop this girl, just took a quick shot. It's only now, on closer inspection, I'm noticing she's got this suede helmet with primary coloured insets, a matching quilted bag, a fur gilet which she might have customized herself with that belt (if so: brilliant! That's the thing I tend to hate about gilets: how they can make one so boxy in the mid section). And THEN, she put it over a matching taupe chunky jumper, then added a black pencil skirt, tights, boots.. this girl is interesting. If anyone knows who she is, please ask her if it's okay to post this. Frankly, I'd just like to see what else she's got up her sleeve, style wise.



Just having myself a little fun here.. I liked this girl's simple style and her sleep pony tail. Shot @ the same place, the entrance hall to the V&A: but embellished with photography from my night fishing with my man series (from my other blog, eternal summer). Okay, night night, chickadees!

santa baby

An assortment of quick snaps shot within minutes on Picadilly, near the Ritz and the Wolseley, and in this case, Pret a Manger. I loved the whole fur gilet/black stud bootie vibe but by the time I realised what a great look it was, I was further down the road. In fact I didn't even notice the feather effect on her skirt til I uploaded the shot. So please; if you recognise this girl, please ask her to get in touch. Thanks.



There's a great perfume shop called Santa Maria Novella (shown here on Picadilly, but they're also on Walton Street in London, and scattered round the world, like at least in NY & LA which to some people, is the whole world). The original, tho, is and was a fabulously secret wonderful place in Florence, near the Duomo.



My husband, Mr. Dot, had read about it in a Hannibal Lector book, actually, and wanted to go there so badly because the description sounded so fab. We were roaming round the hot streets, totally lost, he melted chocolate gelato all over his wonderful mustard linen jacket, and when we finally found it, tucked away and completely anonymous, it was every bit as wonderful and mysterious a place as we could imagine. Perhaps more. (I even took photos, but it's really not allowed, so you'll just have to go there yourself to see).

Speaking of Santa, I know I posted this a long time ago, and there are just so many versions of Santa Baby sung over the years, but this one, the original by Eartha Kitt, still remains my favourite:



Okay, enough from me for now. OOps, perhaps not. Me, me, me in my current uniform: Motel faux leopard coat, black jumper, tee, American Apparel thermal leggings, and black riding boots. Isn't it weird: it seems we've had Christmas decorations and such around us for ages, and now suddenly, it's just days away. My how time flies.



p.s. Thank you to auburn not red for figuring out that Poppy Scott was my 500th follower. I can't seem to reach her, so Poppy, please get in touch so I can send you a gift. Failing that, Auburn, you're the most likely recipient, altho Leah, you might just get one, too! Trying to think of just the right gift tho..

fur real: polite english girls, with a twist

Laura, before the John Rocha show, in another must-have item this season: a fur gilet (& a bowler, what a lovely combination, worn with red lipstick in a smile!). I love that her gilet is by John Rocha and that she wore it for his show. That seems to me the essence of good manners, to compliment a designer by wearing his or her clothes. And English girls do have the manners thing down to a tea! : )

. . . . . . .

UPDATE: I stand corrected. An Anonymous Source has informed me that Laura is actually Irish. And yet, still, most polite!

Dee of Dream Sequins wrote: 'I do think it's great manners to wear something by the designer to his/her show. In some cases, it's not possible to afford something by the designer (in my case) or it's just hard to plan a day with about 5 shows with one hodge podge outfit in mind... :)' which is a really interesting concept: I wonder if anyone I've seen & shot has actually done that? Pieced together a look using the various designers they were seeing that day. Alternatively, finding cheaper looks that channel the designer's work. Homages. I did notice that on the day of Christopher Kane's show, a few girls were sporting his Topshop crocodile dress. Here's another lovely gilet, as I work my way through the endless sea of shots: (I love both their looks, actually).