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. 

X

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. :)


X

LE MOME BIJOU

How lovely is this jewellery by Le Mome Bijou? Pretty lovely. I am a girl that does not mind wearing a bit of life advice upon my wrist or around my neck. I'm not a screaming slogan sort of a girl though (heavens no) so it has to be subtle, not in your face. Such bits and pieces would rub shoulders with my everyday jewellery, part-hidden and largely unnoticed except for a flash of colour here and there.  But they can still quietly reassure and remind and maybe, sometimes, even inspire.  

These subtle little treasures come with an array of sayings and sweet nothings dangling from them: 

"Je vois le vie en rose" 

"I've got you under my skin", "Life is a journey, not a destination" 

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift"

... to name but a few. 

These lovely bracelets are available from Matches (where incidentally all the images are from too). 

X

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! 
X

THINGS I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT OF LATE...

All the sunny weather we've been having of late has found me yearning for all things summer-coloured. The above is but a small sample of the kind of thing I'm rather keen to get my hands on at the moment to take away on holiday next week.

Outfit posts and holiday packing montages to follow, it's been TOO long! 

X

COLLAGE-O-TASTIC

No, this collage doesn't quite live up to its billing, but I fancied doing a little update and trying out my new collage-creating-wonder-app. I'm really rather pleased with my first foray into the medium - I thought people must spend hours lining up and cropping their photographs and don't mind admitting I was pretty jealous of their determination and skill set. Turns out... 69p will do it and it's a piece of cake. (Would you look at those borders!)

A mini-glimpse of things that have been keeping me busy (other than revision text books): my new Mango (read: in my head Marant-esque (indulge me)) purchases - a baseball tee and cream knit, both of which I love. My latest obsession: DIY friendship bracelets alongside my Topshop gold spike bracelet, and finally, me looking rather pleased with myself atop a tree stump in Richmond Park wearing my trusty Gap parka and black Hunter wellington boots. 

Be warned - there might be one or two more of these collage fellows. They just look so chic!

X

SHHHHH...

Doesn't everyone wish university libraries were all dark shiny wood panelling and individual low-lit table lamps sparsely populated by only the most studious of students? Or is it just me?

Before I go entirely off topic and wax lyrical about the finer points of library fittings and fixtures... I'm posting just to let you know that sadly I shall be more or less surgically attached to my desk until mid-May. (By the by, It would be jolly lovely if the desks I were to be attached to looked like the picture above. I've only ever inhabited the 1970s concrete creatvity-crushers. :))

So, I shall be back, focused and to the point with new Spring outfit posts (it's getting warm at last!!), wishful-thinking outfit montages, beauty products that have earned their place in the cabinet of dreams and so on. I'll still be spending precious sanity restoring moments reading all of your blogs - living vicariously through you, your outfits and new purchases. See you soon! 

p.s. Now I've gone to the effort of writing this I BET i will not be able to resist the temptation of a post or two between now and May. I'm fickle that way. 

X