purple reign

For this week's FBFF (Fashion Beauty Friend Friday) questions, the topic is how we go about choosing an outfit. So I'm illustrating it with a little photo shoot I did last Sunday with my old man, Mr. D. I feel this is a perfect example of not really getting it right. Last summer while on holiday with my friend Annie & her cool sons in the Dominican Republic, I got inspired by the colours during lunch at the beach in the rain. I wanted to wear forest green and luminescent shades of purple and navy, so I built this ensemble around that lunch. In my head.




But as Mr. D pointed out, somehow I ended up looking like someone's mad Gran. Still, since Tabio so kindly gifted me my choice of two pair of tights that really cover my whole wardrobe this winter - one in purple, the other in beige - the least I could do is post these shots here, if for no other reason than to show you what not to wear.

Jury's out: what do you think? Tell the truth: I can take it. And besides, soon as we took the shots, I ran inside and changed.



My FBFF questions:

1. How do you determine what you will wear that day?
The process is similar to how I cook: I'm usually in the mood for something, and I kind of have this idea in my head.. then I see what ingredients I've got handy in the closet or refrigerator, and whip it together. Like with my cooking, it's not always successful. But I rarely starve, or walk out naked.



2. Do you plan outfits out in advance for a whole week, month, weekend?
Oh, god, no. Absolutely not. Does anyone? If so, I'd like to meet her (or him) and shake their hand.

3. Do you have any specific way of tracking outfits and items already worn so you don't repeat?
Haha, no, but I remember as a teenager, we all had these little diaries. I'd cram so much information into these tiny white square in a really fine point pen. The girl who could go the longest without repeating won, obviously (my rotation goal was about three weeks). But then again, I did grow up on Long Island, so that should explain a lot. I will often meet a friend a few weeks after I've seen then and realise I'm wearing the exact same 'outfit' I wore the last time I saw them. These days, I dress primarily for comfort and mainly wear the same pair of nude H&M riding pant style leggings.



4. How do you discover new combinations of items in your closet? (Trial try-ons? Hanging items together?)
Like a musician, I start composing in my head: it's an 'organic process'. I usually don't try things on, just feel in the mood for something. Sometimes I can't find a key ingredient and have to take everything off but usually I'll just substitute something else. I hate that feeling of being out across town and being stuck all day in the wrong outfit, but there are worse things to happen in life.

I was fascinated recently during our recent a sleepless sleepover with Shini, Kit and Jen, to watch their getting dressed process: Kit in particular did that stylist thing of wrapping a belt, say, around a dress on a hanger, or holding something up together. I probably should to that, but I don't.



5. To streamline the process for 2011 what is one new thing you can do to cut down your dressing time?
Well as I get dressed really fast (I'd make a great fireman), I don't know how to cut the time down. (And that still doesn't explain why I'm often late: probably because I'm not as good at time management online). I'd love in 2011 if we redid our home and I had a really really fabulous closet/wardrobe/storage system, because my closet is actually divided in two rooms and the thing under the bed, and sod's law, I have to look in all three til I find what I want. My organisation system is totally crap. But even with the most wonderful storage system, I still don't know if that would help me get out the door on time. I suppose giving away my laptop would help speed things up.



I am wearing: vintage fifties faux fur jacket, Claude Montana purple leather biker's jacket a British friend gave me in the 80s in NY in lieu of the $100 she owed me, thrift shop skirt I bought 10 years ago for £1 and haven't worn yet (should I? I can't decide), very very old v neck navy jumper, oversized navy AA sheer shirt (which has zero bulk factor), forest green leather backpack by Coach that I bought before I got married and got put on restricted spending, SNOOD which was the most thoughtful Christmas gift from Jennifer, by Jigsaw, necklaces I made myself, sunglasses by Fabris Lane, vintage shoes by Prada, and my warm luscious tights, thank you TABIO.

Thank you Katy Rose of Modly Chic for hosting FBFF. You spark off the most interesting conversations. Oh and if you want to read a hilarious and accurate depiction of the getting dressed process, run don't walk to today's post on the Style Crusader.

girl a la mode: charlie may

When the alarm went off on Tuesday morning at 6:00, at Shini's really cool loft in East London, after our girls sleepless sleepover, I really, really didn't want to go to St. Pancreas for the ungodly hour of 8:00 a.m. for the Next event. I mean, I really, really didn't want to go.

But if I hadn't, I wouldn't have got to know my new friend Charlie May, GIRL A LA MODE. And I wouldn't met the other lovely people I did. And I always know: when in doubt, show up. Or you'll be kicking yourself after.





Charlie is so cool. In that way that's modest about the right things, and quietly confident, too. I asked what she wants to be when she grows up and she said a designer. And she's working for someone she clearly enjoys working for: Thomas Tait (above). She just lights up when she talks about him. Isn't his work amazing? And I love his face. You can read more about him in the New York Times article here, or in this Elle piece.



The thing that is so extraordinary is how, in the chaos that we were styling our outfits - Jazmine said, as we rushed past each other, it was like being on some mad shopping spree but we don't keep the clothes - and somehow Charlie managed to layer and style hers to make it edgy. When I had asked her to describe her style earlier she gave me a few designers' examples but I feel her styling, using the given, in her case, of the white Don Johnson circa Miami Vice jacket, was the clearest answer. It's quite subtle and sophisticated, how she arranged the elements, don't you think?



When we were on the coach, leaving Next HQ, I sat with Charlie. As we reached the train station everyone just hopped off but I was struggling with my bags, including that silly giant flowered bag containing the blanket that I didn't even end up needing. Charlie took one look over her shoulder and saw me floundering and just without thinking hoisted it over her shoulder. Once an intern.. she just instinctively knows how to assist in whatever form that takes. And you just know that she's the kind of human being that, when she's this famous designer, everyone will be clamouring over each other to work for her. And I can say 'I knew her when.' Can't you just see that name on the BFC catwalk list? 'Oh I love that look, it's so Charlie May S/S 2012'. But meanwhile, cupcakes, we've got Thomas Tait to look forward to.

Have a lovely weekend everyone! Off to see Major Bobby: he sounded much brighter this morning, so fingers crossed. Thanks for your kind thoughts: you are all the loveliest of flowers, truly. xoxo

all the lovely flowers

Have you ever been so tired you can't even spell the simplest of words? That's how I'm feeling - it's suddenly hit me. We took the 8:15 a.m. train yesterday to Leicester, to Next HQ, for the most wonderful blogger's event, having had a girl's sleepover at Shini's place with Kit and Jen and we stayed up all night (more about that coming up in future posts: I just can't seem to write anything that makes sense right now.



I can't explain the rules because the tiredness has just set in, but they were very deserved winners. (We all had to style our own outfits - these aren't the outfits they styled, this is them in their civilian attire).

There will be more posts, and better posts. You have my word. But right now, we've had the film 2001 out from LoveFilms for ages and if we don't watch the end tonight, I've threatened Mr. Dot that he can't choose any more films. And I've just squandered all this time uploading and painstakingly creating folders for every day of the month of January, even tho each date was clearly labelled December. I don't dare operate heavy machinery. I can't even show you all the photos I want to, but I have allowed myself one shot, of the pudding (my favourite, sticky toffee) and the lovely roses, in a room filled with stylish English roses.. and a few from other countries, too.





The winners from left to right are: Sandra of 5 inches and up, Shini of Park & Cube, Emma of FashionBite, Daniella of the F Blog, and Jennifer, aka the Style Crusader. Frances (of Happy Because) and I were sitting at the table with Shini, Sandra, Jen and Daniella when the winners were called, thus making us the only two losers at the table, but she pointed out that it was mathematically impossible that we'd all win. Besides, everyone that showed up yesterday was a winner. All you lovely flowers.

Big thank you to Jenny and Katie at Jam, and Emma and Helen and everyone else at Next who made this so amazing. More coming up.

(and p.s. sorry: I should have clarified: this was just what they wore to the event: the actual outfits they designed - the winning outfits - coming up in future posts, so stay tuned, you lovely bloggeristas!) xox