don't panic

Back when I lived in NY, I used to share a studio (separate from my apartment), an entire loft floor in Chelsea, with five other artists, all guys, mostly named Bill. So they all went by their surnames. Patrick Demarchelier was upstairs: we'd often hear the crashing sound of what we could only assume were supermodels flying thru the air and landing with a thud. McGuire, one of the Bills, had his Three Point Theory to get thru life:

1. Don't panic.
2. There are always other options.
3. Ha!!! Forgot number three. But the first two usually get me by in life. Or have, so far.

Yesterday, at the pool, I deliberately didn't bring my camera, (wanted a day off), and all I saw everywhere was polka dots. On the towels. On grown women's bikinis. On children's swimsuits. Even, driving home thru Barnes, on a beautiful blonde mother and her three daughters. She was wearing a red polka dot sundress, they were all in polka dots.

It was like a sign.



Thank you for your lovely comments. It looks like the bank stuff will be sorted out, and we're having a great weekend. We're pretty resilient, Mr. Dot and I. Like supermodels, we always land on our feet.

Ashanti of Adorngirl wrote a brilliant comment about faith, followed by a lovely story by The Photodiarist (comments on 'you've got to have friends'). But yesterday we went to the pool outside town and had a glorious day, surrounded by happy friendly people, living their lives. I swam and I swam some more. And today, although the weather could go either way, we're going back.

What what will I be wearing? My favourite, itsy bitsy, turquoise polka dot bikini. Of course. Last season, Itzhak Mizrahi for Target, which my beautiful, wonderful mom bought me on a visit to West Palm Beach. I wish the Paul Vance video wasn't disabled, but please click here, it's fab. Or, the original Connie Francis version:



And I want to add: our bank is Citibank, and they're brilliant. They caught it within 24 hours, possibly much sooner, and shut our account down. Hats off to them, truly.

The funny thing is, knowing that we can't use credit (i.e. debit) card but still have a good amount of cash, we're having really fun spending minimum money this weekend. So far our cash outlays have been: splitting a bbq chicken sandwich @ the pool (including coffee for me, crisps & diet Coke for Mr. Dot), under £10. One Daily Telegraph, a loaf of good Paul's bread, a bottle of wine, a dvd: about £15. The pool is free, we get direct debited for the gym club. We've got enough petrol in the car (I hope). And we've got each other, and one very, very cute cat. What more can you want in this world?

we are all connected: six degrees of kevin bacon

This is a collaborative post. Let me try to explain.



While we were in Florida, I finally got to meet my 'blog-friends': '-h', of Pret a Porter P, and Stephanie, of Style Odyssey (more about that later). We'd all never met before, and were such instant friends. I didn't want it to end. Then, we went to a fabulous event that Stephanie, who is a brilliant artist, told us about: ('hollywood glamour').



After a day at the beach, I had changed in the car into a little black sequin number from Topshop, and the moment I saw Stephanie, I just fell in love with her outfit. She was describing how she made it: 'you buy three Hanes wife-beater tees...' and said that she got the idea from another blogger, 'childhood flames' (do it yourself tees). I've bought my three-Hanes packet at Target, and am about to make my own. The core of the concept is you shred one tee and layer it over another.

I can't tell you how excited I am about this look: soon as I post this, while watching Antiques Roadshow, I plan to take scissor in hand, take a deep breath, and start shredding. This is all I want to wear for spring & summer: clouds of ethereal white, and palest pastels. I'm starting now: just extra layers.



Stephanie's accessorised her outfit with a necklace from.. well, here's her post on it.



I love Stephanie's style: she's such a pixie.. you know Kevin Bacon's wife, Kyra Sedgwick? The Closer? She's a bit like that with her warmth and humour and generous heart and honey coated, slightly southern drawl. I feel like we've always been friends, and always will.



And these are shot by Stephanie: her delightful friend, Jenny (their friendship formed through their husbands, sailors & boat guys), with me & Mr. Dot. Story of my life: he's in focus, and I'm a blur.



And this is my hand, shot by Stephanie on our blogger lunch in Boca. Our aesthetic is so similar, although our styles are individually our own. And wait til you see '-h's. It's uncanny: it's like we're all drawn together by something that's hard to describe. A zest for life, certainly, but more than that: we all see beauty in something similarly quirky, and indescribable. Or maybe we're just six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon.

Stephanie's DIY 'Hanes' dress: one small or medium white Hanes wife-beater tee, shredded as per childhood flames' do it yourself tees instructions. Layered over one XL Hanes wife-beater tee, a white long sleeve tissue tee by James Perse, and leggings by American Apparel. Boots by Fiorentini + Baker, from Barney's website.