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I have been busy amassing my autumn/winter wardrobe. My shopping style has changed a tad according to my new found student-hood (again!). It's tough but the student discount sweetens the bitter financial pill.

When all is said and done I shop a lot less and plan a lot more. This is all well and good - BUT - it has made me an uber hesitant shopper. If shopping were a driving test I'd fail repeatedly. My hand darts back and forwards to the rail, I walk purposefully towards the till before slowly retreating, my breathing becomes strained, my eyes dart left and right. I then walk straight out of the the door (putting the item back first of course, what d'ya take me for). 

After months of the aforementioned behaviour, I have actually managed to complete a few journeys to the till and now proudly have the carefully selected items below hanging or siting in my wardrobe as we speak. Primed and ready to go. 

- Etoile Isabel Marant Monty jacket: a delightful autumnal cardi-jacket which will step in where my spring/summer Haca jacket has performed so perfectly.

- Topshop coats nattered about here and here

- Topshop wooly hat

- JW Anderson Bat jumper - I LOVE THIS!! Milly of Milly Fell Into The Wardrobe's glee upon bagging hers was all the encouragement I needed.

- Reiss Grey Sweatshirt (Mine is actually a Gap one in the sale. Hugely useful and inspired by Laura at Wearing It Today)

- Topshop Faux-Leather skinny trousers

- Topshop Denim dress

- Nike Free Running trainers - I'm very, very excited about these. Ever since Leandra of Man Repeller mused about wearing these with leather trousers and a pea coat I practically had to be restrained. This idea sounds so perfect to me and I can't wait to try it out.

- Isabel Marant Bazil sneakers - these will truly come into their own come Autumn. I plan to wear them with denim and dresses. They're just achingly cool. 

- I've been after an evil eye necklace for aaages. This one is Aamaya by Priyanka, but I found a beautiful tiny one on Etsy. It's been a pretty permanent fixture since it arrived with the postman. 

Despite my new shopping habits being a little tricky, I do think they make for a better wardrobe overall. Each thing I buy, I love. Rare mistakes are quickly ebayed and expenses recouped! 

 I also have my eye on these three little fellows - I've been on the look out for more evening things on account of the fact my 'drobe is sadly lacking in this department! And lovely heels for £16 aren't to be sniffed at. Wouldn't you agree?

Topshop full skirt, Matalan heels, ASOS clutch

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WHAT I WORE

I wore this little ensemble yesterday evening (the first vaguely summery evening all week! The rain is back today natch). We popped round the corner to a lovely pub near our flat for drinks and supper. I hit up the prosecco as I do all too often these days... and then we shared a darn delicious scallop starter before I tucked into sausages and mash washed down with a glass of rioja. Fun was had by all.

A sudden movement there made me lose my hand for a sec... Never fear, all is well.

I wore a Whistles blouse, Topshop 7/8ths jeans, Isabel Marant Dicker boots, Annina Vogel charm necklace and Essie Clam Bake upon my nails. 

This Whistles blouse is a relatively new acquisition - it wandered into my life during a post-exam season mini-spree. I'd been living in an attractive rotating combination of leggings/jogging bottoms/totes/big jumpers for well over a month and to break back into proper dressing was an utter joy. [Note to self: Amass a more attractive range of lounging clothes.] 

I was still mopping my eyes as I'm wont to do when an exam is over, and was by then well into my standard deep and multi dimensional coping strategies for when the news I'd failed by epic proportions was delivered a few weeks later. But it is a testament to the strength of my stylish spirit that I was (between gulps and through bleary eyes) able to clearly spot and decisively pick up this blouse (and another like it) and steer myself to the changing room and onwards to the till in some sort of detached trance. I also advised the mother in no uncertain terms about buying herself a lovely pair of deep red Russell and Bromley ballet pumps to go with her navy chinos. My devotion to lovely things knows no bounds. 

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P.S. Perhaps at this point I should clarify - I did manage to pass all my exams (phew) and so the coping strategies/plans of skipping the country and hitching lifts across the Australian outback with nothing but my wits to guide me are on hold until next summer.)

NEW THREADS

Me trotting around by the fridge at home (where else?) in my new Isabel Marant Etoile Haca jacket. 

I LOVE this little fellow. It's brilliantly quilted. It's cut so perfectly at the wrist. It has just the right narrowness in the arms. It even has a slight biker vibe from the side. Oh it's divine I tell you. I've been enjoying wearing it enormously (as you can see...)

Wearing: Topshop black Jamie jeans and white neppy tee, ancient Converses and Essie varnish in Clam Bake.

I'd had my beady eye on this lovely jacket for quite some time but hesitated initially. I was worried it might be a one-season-wonder. My dawdling of course ensured I missed my chance - it promptly sold out. Even the good people at Matches gently tried to encourage me to let the jacket go - it had sold out everywhere. 


Naturally, therefore, I took it as a sign when one day I was milling around their website and magically my size appeared. And I'm really pleased I took the plunge - it's so special and will only grow more so as time passes. Sometimes it's the best thing to take a little more time over a piece you think you love. Let it go, let the hype die down and then see if you still feel it's you. I always have a fluttering heart about many a thing I see on glossy pages, but it's learning to separate such passing whims from true love that is the key. I'm getting better at it in my ripe old age! 


Incidentally, I wore it last night to the theatre as part of a different ensemble from that above, and a friend said it reminded her of something, she wasn't sure what. I've decided it reminded her of far flung travels morphed with of-the-moment effortless cool. At home anywhere and always ready for an adventure. I'm sure she'd agree. :)


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HOLIDAY TIME

It's that time of year again - hurrah! The coral nail varnish is out, the exfoliating, buffing and moisturising has begun in earnest, and I'm getting a little over excited about my impending trip to the mecca that is Heathrow Terminal 5 (you think I'm joking, I'm not. I love it. I already know what my airport outfit is.) 

I'm off on holiday in but a few days, and as per, have been crafting and re-crafting my 'what to pack' list. 

I really like having a clear list of things to bring so that a) I know what to pack (duh) and b) so that when I'm on holiday I don't have outfit panics and can glide from one darn fine outfit to the next. This is mostly for evening and day trips, because realistically much of my time is spent with my nose in a book by the pool, much to my boyfriend's chagrin. He's a pool games and bike rides sort of a fellow...

We're off to the same place in France that we've been early-"summering" at for a few years now with his parentals (Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse). I only need one or two evening outfits, most evenings are spent in what I hope resembles a sort of effortlessly stylish comfort - navy mariners and cream light cable knits for when a chill is in the air; white cotton blouses and cut-off denim shorts or jeans. 

My summer packing elements remain much the same as last year and form the foundations of my holiday wardrobe. Basic tees, pretty blouses, denim cut offs, one pieces and bikinis, fine gold jewellery, simple neutral sandals, black havaianas and converses, a favourite perfume or two (mine are Jo Malone Wild Bluebell for day and Pomegranate Noir for evening). 

I've always favoured white cotton blouses for Spring and Summer, and I recently came across these two little fellows in Whistles - they're everything I ever wanted from white cotton blouses and more. I stumbled across them in a post-exams haze, so glad am I that even with my befuddled brain their brilliance still shone out from amongst the rails. 

Whistles blouses - perfecto. 

I've fallen pretty hard for Topshop's new Neppy tees. Have you seen them? Yes they have that strange curved hem that hangs a little too low at the back, but they are so good. I've been wearing them so often. Some would say too often. I highly recommend. 

  

As well as the usual basics I think it's really nice to have a few bits and pieces that you feel are really special and you look forward to wearing whilst you're away. My new hero bits and pieces for this holiday include my delumptious Isabel Marant blue jacket, red frill Topshop shift dress and simple black Topshop blouse with lace panels. 

I'm very excited, and will be taking photos to share on Le Blog in no time at all! 
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ISABEL MARANT FOR SALE

Just a quick post to let you know about an Etoile Isabel Marant jacket I put on eBay yesterday. I bought it only a few days ago - and was very excited about it arriving, but it is not the perfect fit on me sadly and I have to be strict with myself and continue the search and save my pennies!

To view the listing, just click here.

COPY CAT

Two photos which have stuck in my head over the past few weeks:

Léa of Ballad of a Thin Girl via Vanessa Jackman

Via Dead Fleurette via lexpress.fr

I think the majority of my sense of style most probably comes from others. It is a strange thing to admit I suppose and reading that sentence back I've decided it warrants more exploration.

I do have a sense of style, and personal style too - I'm sure of that. Yet I take most of my inspiration from people whose style I admire; on blogs, on the street, at work and so on. I know without a doubt the things I like and don't like, the pieces I am drawn to instantly, and likewise, those I'll never want to wear, and yet, and yet... more often that not, the starting point for my style comes from others. 

How I admire those rare creatures who are stylish down to the bone - who take note of, but require no sartorial cues. Theirs is a skill that is innate, not imitated. It is ageless, timeless, seasonless and (though a clumsy word) fashionless. I think they are rarer breed than we all might think. 

With this in mind I think the best way to explain it is that whilst my personal style is at the core of how I dress - it is mailable and open to influence from a sudden inspiration. I may see an image, a cut of trouser, a colourful collar, and these details appeal to a facet of my sense of style - they become something I want to incorporate into my style because it feels me, or perhaps even who I aspire to be? 

It doesn't have to be classed as an imitation then, but perhaps more as an incorporation. This could all be rambling nonsense, a verbose cloak for what is essentially lack of originality and copy-cat style - but I don't think so. It's an openness to timeless striking style that appeals to such a degree that you let it come along with you and become, for however long (a season or a lifetime), a part of you. I am still hugely picky and over the years can be won over less and less by hype and fast fashion (I still have my weaknesses: the PS11 being one, but let's cough conveniently over that).

This is all utterly wonderful, but I suppose in this admission to open minded style, one has to steer clear of that tricky road where upon you lose yourself and dress up as another person altogether.  

I don't think I'll go down that fateful road - I'd be all to aware I was only ever an impostor. :)

On that note, when I have duly explained myself, the two beautiful gals in the photos above have made me long for that elusive IM boucle jacket and those enduringly chic Chanel ballet flats. I am inspired by them, and that, as they say, is that.





What do you think? Does pure personal style exist or are we all ultimately influenced by those around us, whether we choose to be or not? How much do you take your cues from those you admire?

KATE BOSWORTH

After seeing these two pictures of Kate Bosworth, I am resigned to re-focus my efforts on more minimalist dressing. She does it so incredibly, inspiringly well:

I also have two other aims... A PS11 and Isabel Marant Dicker boots. Will Net-A-Porter get the boots back in stock?! If not I've tracked down a pair in Australia. 

As for the PS11? That will have to wait until funds allow! I have finally accepted that the Mulberry Alexa is not for me. I bought it after my Shimmy bit the dust and as Mulberry couldn't repair it they gave me vouchers to replace the bag. This was during the height of Alexa-gate and, I admit, caught up in the excitement and the thrill of securing one from only the second delivery, I bought one. It wasn't one of those considered, saved for and lusted after purchases that leads to a bag for life. And, with aforementioned funds being as they are, it seems silly not to sell it on to a deserving home via eBay. If all goes to my optimistic plan, the extra dollar made from the sale will go towards this little beaut. One day. 

Pictures from: Outfit Identifier and Cool Spotters