style icon: sam cam, in my jacket

Ah, that Sam Cam: Britain's First Lady of Style. This photo ran in the Evening Standard their first day in Number Ten, and I realised: crikey, that's MY Topshop Sequin Motorcylce Jacket!

I first noticed That Jacket last spring, and posted about it in June. I know the first rule of being a Style Icon is 'Stick to your own style' and this was so not mine, but maybe that was the draw. Besides, I was new to the blogging world and getting sucked into the vortex of want. (That's when Mr. Dot first started telling me rule number one, which applies to drug dealers as well as bloggers: DON'T DO YOUR OWN DRUGS.)



Still... that want couldn't go away. The jacket was out of stock, it came back in, I became obsessed about it ('it's back!').. it culminated with a public scene in the High Street Kensington Topshop branch, tears and tantrums, something about mutton dressed as lamb, Mr. Dot storming out, someone's boyfriend, overhearing, kindly commenting that it was none of his business, but he thought it looked rather good on me.

(There's a story behind these tights, of course: it's all here: 'don't shoot me, I'm only the photographer.')



There was a happy ending: Mr. Dot & I made up, and The Jacket is mine. I still don't feel it's his favourite look for me, and to be honest, it's not really my style, but I love it all the same. Like a beloved child that is not one's own, but you've gone thru a great ordeal to adopt, it has become part of the family.

Now, seeing Dave & Sam Cam so smiley in this photo, I'm wondering.. was there ever a slight raised eyebrow? A sentence that began with 'you're not going out in..'? I wonder: do style icons ever get into argy bargies with their men over their attire?



With the current V&A show on Grace Kelly, and constant speculation on who is the new 'style icon', I'm curious:

What you feel constitutes a style icon? Is it a question of constant reinvention, like Madonna? Or staying true to one style? Is it about wearing only designer clothes? Or, like Michelle Obama, is it the courage to wear J. Crew catalogue with the same grace (and pride) as Jason Wu?

I feel another survey coming on (sidebar, top right); if you'd like to add a write-in, long as they're living and their husband is currently in office (or, better yet, they are), please add them to a comment. Does anyone know what high street brands Carla favours?

Just curious: are there any items of clothes that nearly cost you your relationship? Or am I the only one?

leap of faith

Last night Mr. Dot & I were sitting down to a nice dinner of M&S chicken kiev and his food on the planet, roast potatoes made the way he likes them, nice and crispy.. next thing we know all HELL is breaking loose on the UK news.

I realise this is a global blog and I know that even in America this isn't that unusual (I called my Mom when David & Sam Cam were going in to see the Queen, asked her to turn on one of her half a dozen televisions, then hung up on her) but for us here in London, it was.. EPIC.





Anyone in America old enough to remember OJ in the White Bronco? That's what it was like: national newscasters watching helicopter footage of Gordon Brown & his family in a black Jag, speculating out loud about 'he's turning down Pall Mall, if he turns right on such & such a street he's going to see the Queen RIGHT NOW'. This was totally off the script, everyone was making it up as they went along. We were all texting each other like 'ARE YOU WATCHING THIS?? IT'S SO WEIRD!!"



Oh! The photos. Right. I met Toni, of the brilliant blog Fashion Cloud, last Thursday @ the Sketchbook Talk I did with Jen the Style Crusader, and we just instantly became friends. In fact I shot thesethe moment I met her.

So last night, as this was all unfolding, Toni & I started tweeting, we were so on the same page. I had this image of the Queen and Prince Phillip sitting down to THEIR supper, on trays, in front of the telly, about to watch Coronation Street, when - sod's law - the doorbell rings & there's Gordon. And then, a few minutes later, there's Dave. Not to mention that back @ No. 10, some poor staff member was frantically changing the sheets in the master bedroom.



I know we shouldn't talk about politics, religion, or money, but my money is on this New Conservative government - supported by the LIberal Democrats - being a real shot in the arm for Britain. I'm willing to take that leap of faith.

It might sound contradictory to be pro Obama in America and pro Cameron in the UK, but, hey, they're both Blue parties. I've always been more of a Blue girl than Red, frankly. I found Gordon Brown's departing words moving and dignified, and I wish him and his family well.

But Sam Cam does seems like such a girl's girl. I'd be her friend. She looked like a deer in the headlights in front of all that press, but thank god her hair was washed and shiny, and she was doing pretty well with her blue maternity dress & killer heels. She gets my vote. And so does Toni, who also said she's a 'bad jumper', and yet she took that chance, that leap of faith, and elevated clear off the ground. In killer heels as well.

(speaking of JUMP: just got sent this fabulous link to Inside Out (Topshop) from the fabulous Clare of The Eff Memoirs. Thanks Clare! xo )

Bless you all, each one of you, for your honest and supportive and wonderful comments. So what's new in your part of the world?

Toni is wearing:
T-shirt: Filles à papa • Cardigan: Zara Men (stolen from the bf) • Jeans: H&M • OTK leather boots: Zara • Bag: NEXT • Silver cuff: gifted by Philippe Audibert

the politics of style

Last Thursday I was dashing thru Covent Garden when I saw a cute scruffy guy out of the corner of my eye. I almost approached him to ask to shoot him, but thought, nah, no time, cute guys are like buses, there will be another one coming along soon anyway.

It's a good thing I didn't, or I'd have missed this girl. Our conversation went along the lines of 'You've got great style, can I shoot you?' 'Thank you, that's funny, people are always asking to shoot me.' In the quick seconds I took these two shots, a big guy who couldn't have been more opposite to Eliza Doolittle, came up to us with a big but rather sad bouquet of daffodils which he was offering to sell us (in Covent Garden! How My Fair Lady!) and we politely declined. I really wanted to stay in touch with her again but couldn't find my pen - and didn't want to be late - so I gave her my card. I think her name was Dana.

Never heard from her again. No idea what she was wearing, apart from, according to my calculations, a polka dot dress of some description.



Yesterday was an amazing time @ Sketchbook and I can't wait to upload & post about it. Thank you all who showed up. As Jen said: (and I paraphrase) it's all about showing up.

I'm really tired - was up all night watching the elections. Even tho I can't vote here, I'm fascinated by how different it is to American voting. I was thinking last night 'do I post about my feelings about politics? Is that allowed on a fashion blog?' but I've discovered other people are, so I guess it is.

My feelings: I'm glad Cameron seems to have won. Call me superficial, but I'd like to see Sam Cam as first lady: she was rocking the maternity look the other day, in really high heels. I feel leaders SHOULD be charming, charismatic, and stylish. It goes back to caveman days: we want out leaders clever enough, and agile enough, to kill the lions and bring home the bacon. We want to look up to leaders, that's why we call them leaders.

I don't care what people say, or however many followers I lose: I love Obama, and campaigned for him, but I respect people's right to feel differently. I love the fact that we live in a free world, where every vote counts (and how weird - and embarrassing - that there were people who couldn't vote. Disaster). I feel the countries that ARE free have a responsibility to help protect citizens of nations who aren't. According to the talented photographer and blogger, Vanessa of the monday issue, in Australia it's mandatory to vote. I find that fascinating, in a weird way.

I feel it's all about choice, and change. Can't wrap my head around this 'hung Parliament' thing and that's probably not good, but at least, we've got a breath of fresh air. And Sam does make some lovely bags! I loved the part where an MP named Khan won and people chanted 'Yes we Khan'. I thought they were saying Yes We Can with a British accent.

Bit chatty this morning but there you go. And there I go. How are YOU feeling this morning?

. . .

p.s. Thank you to Clare (the Eff Memoirs) and Olivia Isabella (unionolivia) for identifying her dress as Topshop. I'm amazed, frankly, as somehow her look came across to me in that quick instant as 'vintage'.

And while we're at it: thank you all for being Frank! ; )