gwyneth goes green

This cold rainy spell we're having in England right now means that streetstyle wise, everything is dark and dull. I'm seeing a lot of black. But when I met my friend Gwyneth just before we left for Hay, I loved how by throwing a pure green jacket on over a pair of ripped jeans - and pairing it a pair of big 70s sunglasses (I left my nearly identical pair at our friends' Guill and Miche's house over the weekend), a great scarf, and Prada bag - the green just instantly makes it spring like.

I can't say what I'd like to about the colour green any better than what Roz wrote ('simple pleasures'). It's spot on, brilliant. The symbolic multi layered meanings - and the emotions behind - any given colour. Green with envy. Green as temptation. Going green. Being green. We've become almost holier than thou about caring about the planet (Mr. Dot and I were laughing the other day- we want to start going round saying F*** the Planet. What has the Planet ever done for us? Just announce to people we've just met 'I don't care about the Planet). So in that context, Green would mean Good.



There is also SOOOO much I could say about envy, especially envy amongst women. I was having such a great talk with my (beautiful) new chum Reid Peppard about that. I felt the world was probably divided, amongst the female population, between girls' girls, and the envious bitches. The bitches dominating about 60/40 split. She paused for a beat and said 'probably more like 70/30' but we decided that's because of the 10% who pose as girls girls: wolverines in sheeps' clothing.

I could see why people would envy Gwyneth: she's gorgeous, of course, and happy, and loves her boyfriend, and loves her work (she's done a bit of modelling) and basically loves her life, has great friends, etc etc. AND she's really nice, and smart. All of which makes me happy for her, and happy to be her friend. And I've got to run out this minute so I'll shut up now. Rain forecast for the weekend: great time to see a film. I recommend Last Night. Kiera Knightly, also of Atonement, and no doubt, an object of countless women's envy, which brings this post full circle.

being green

Dotted at the Duke of York Plaza, near Sloane Square: Elizabeth & her boyfriend. We love the long green scarf (another colour, besides mustard and hot pink, that we expect to see used creatively this spring), and the great white jumper that matches her brilliant smile. Her denim cut-offs are great over black tights with her long legs & cool burgundy boots. We're seeing a lot of interesting versions of shorts with tights & boots - great way to ease into spring.
Update: Elizabeth has just told me: the Boyfriend's name is Richard, she's Danish & works in conservation - so the green theme is a bit of serendipity. Her jumper is from Camden Town but she can't remember where she got the boots - she fell in love with them when she was out buying Christmas presents. Lucky she's got a tall boyfriend to match.


Also at the Duke of York Plaza: Emma. She's a doctor. A real doctor. Now, for those of you who don't live in a country with a National Health Service, even doctors - ESPECIALLY doctors - have to shop smart these days. 

Emma's fur trimmed green jacket is from Zara, shoes from Topshop, grey cardigan from H&M. We love the NHS: where else in the world would you find such cool, stylish doctors?