A CHRISTMASSY LIST

It's not like me to let nigh on 5 days of December pass by before uploading my Christmas list to le blog. But I've been hideously busy with work and squeezing in a trip to The Pig in the New Forest for my boyfriend's birthday (it was blooming INCREDIBLE. For a spot on review head over to Milly's blog). I have been neglecting my Christmas and birthday montage for far too long. Yes that's right, Christmas and birthday within three days of each other. Pretty darn tough on the joint-present side.

 

Anywho, I digress. Here is my festive montage in all its glory!



 The recurring theme this year seems to be a desperation for cashmere and Jo Malone. I suppose something about this time of year makes me want to stockpile cashmere like a mad person and smell darn good doing it. 

I'm hoping to don the grey cashmere Whistles dress and beautiful jewelled ASOS earrings on Christmas day. Can you think of anything more comfortable?

The Reiss dress found its way on to the montage because this year I'm heading to Scotland for New Year's Eve and would love a party dress befitting the occasion. I've seen this fellow in store and it is uber cool whilst looking something like a wrapped present. I love it.

 

One member of the montage doesn't require much explanation. I would ruddy LOVE to revel in a little Marant for my 25th birthday bash - hint hint to the man in my life!

 

I always enjoy flannel nightwear post-Christmas and this grey check night shirt from The White Company is just the ticket. Unlike most nightshirts it is not ridiculously short. It's what I like to think of as a cosy length rather than a sort of attempt-to-be-sexy length. That's not what I look for in my flannel nightwear. Heavens no. When not in my nightshirt, I'd like to be lounging in front of the Downton Christmas special wearing the navy cashmere Cos joggers.

 

This year I'd also like to get more serious about hair care. I won't lie - after seeing the brilliant Bumble & Bumble video recording the Man Repeller's quest for french hair I had to get my hands on this pomade. So much so that my boyfriend's sister in law in America kindly got hold of it for me and it'll be winging its way to me in time for my birthday. A Parlux hairdryer would also be a dream addition - I've heard only good things and would be ridiculously excited to call this my own. Not to mention at the moment I currently haul a humongous hairdryer around and this compact Parlux one would open up precious suitcase inches for other things.

 

Outrageous  aspirational gifts aside, I always love adding to the old DVD collection and after reading a (admittedly rather a trashy chick-lit) novel about Meryl Streep films this summer, I'm anxious to see Heartburn (I've just finished the book) and Kramer vs Kramer. I also recently discovered Natalie Duncan on Weekend Wogan (I love radio 2 - don't knock it it's my thing) and am eager to add her album to my collection.

You may or may not know, depending on whether you follow my nattering on twitter, but I'm a quiet, closet, behind closed door fan of the Real Housewives. Specifically OC and NY if you're curious. Partial to a bit of Beverly Hills too though. Given this, and my new found love for Carole Radziwill, I'm keen to read her New York Times Bestseller: 'What Remains'. You can probably tell I'm not a literary snob - I just like to read what I'm drawn to and that can range from aforementioned chick lit to serious reads the likes of which one wouldn't be ashamed to bring up at a party. (My sister has been known to say I only read things with cupcakes on the cover. My reputation has never recovered).

 

Last but not least, I'd be overjoyed to receive a Garance Dore poster. I just know it would look brilliant framed in my flat - there is something so lovely about this caped girl.

 

I hope you're enjoying compiling your Christmas lists and enjoying the joys of December in general. It really is the best time of year in my humble opinon.

 

X

PARKA AND STRIPES

Just a quick outfit post from yesterday - Cos orange and stripe top, Topshop Jamie jeans and Isabel Marant Dicker boots.

Gap parka added for the London chill!

Not overly sure why I struck such a dainty pose, my apologies - but what can one do. 

I also recently sprinted out and purchased Chanel Pirate nail varnish after Emmy of Selective Memory's recommendation! It's rather lovely and my new favourite red shade.

x

MY CLASSIC 10

About a zillion years ago... (yes I have been absent for too long) Miss Sophie so kindly tagged me to put forward my classic 10, following her own brilliant post which you can see here.  I have at last got my act together and have tried to put forwards the 10 elements that I rely upon in my wardrobe, and paint the clearest picture of my closet.

Perfumes on my dressing table - the essential finishing touch to every outfit! Diptyque, Jo Malone and Byredo

I have an addiction to the perfect grey tees - and search high and low for them. These are a mix of American Apparel and Reiss

Stripey tees - must haves. I have a zillion more, but these three are my favourites: APC and Petit Bateau

I am powerless when faced with anything with an elbow patch attached. Just so easy, so nonchalant, so cool. These are COS and Zara

I'm very loyal to Topshop jeans. If they're good enough for Emmanuelle Alt, they're perfect for me. These are my new obsession - the 7/8ths style, cut perfectly at the ankle. So chic. I have black, blue and pink

I love these kimono style silk jackets for a dash of colour and a lovely vintage feel. Thrown over anything they just work perfectly

These need no introduction nor explanations: my beloved Isabel Marant Dicker boots

Beaten up but enduringly perfect. I can't imagine ever stopping buying Converses,  enjoying them particularly with my 7/8ths jeans at the mo!

Essie nail varnishes, all variations on the same shade of colour, pinks to classic reds. I mostly stick to a red shade, but if I feel in need of a jazzing up change, I veer towards a shocking pink. I'm rarely ever without painted nails

Pinkish to red lipsticks (noticing a pattern here?!): Chanel & Nars. Lipsticks are rather a new thing for me, but I'm learning to utilise them as an accessory more and more often these days


It has been an interesting challenge, because I found as I tried to put my 10 together I had to keep thinking about possible elements - they didn't all spring forwards with ease. This is, I suppose, both a positive and a negative thing. Positive, in that I didn't come up with millions of pieces and categories to have to whittle down to 10, so my wardrobe and my approach to dressing is not overcrowded. Negative, in that there were bits that I always mark out as key components of the kind of wardrobes I have long admired, and I found out, with a bit of surprise, that not at all of these were present or well represented in my wardrobe. I think namely these come in the form of those prefect few dresses, non-jean trousers (something crisp, yet effortless), more delicate gold jewellery and friendship style bracelets piled up on your arm, and the perfect white tee. (Between you and I, I think I might have stumbled across it today - will feed back about that anon!) I also need to up the ante on my ballet flats. I have LOADS, but I'm keen to invest in some high quality fellows - French Sole, Repetto or... Chanel?! Ha.


Overall though I feel these photographs and glimpses into my wardrobe sum me up very well. I love simplicity (simple tops, classic and chic footwear) combined with dashes of the unexpected - a colourful lip, a patterned silk jacket, all set against a groomed back drop. Shiny, effortless hair, a flick of eyeliner, clear skin (whenever possible!) and a subtle, lovely perfume. That's the aim anyway!