SALE!

Admittedly I wasn't aware - or for that matter even noticed - that there are sales on christmas eve? But during a last minute trip into town with Lucy, I stumbled over a blouse I have been hunting for. A delicate peter pan collar on a beige with black spots blouse caught my eye on a blog a few weeks ago but it was no where to be seen. Until today, when I discovered it hiding at the back of some chunky knit cardigans opposite the crammed sale racks. I should point out that my local Topshop is a pitiful state no bigger than a size 16 dress, it requires the patience and manners of all shoppers (doesn't stop people bringing there 4 kids and a pram in) Although it was 2 sizes too big and was lacking the button at the back, I bought it. And I most definitely love it! 


Seeing as Santa is on his way, I attempted to make home-made mince pies but its turned out to be more of a tart? 
Never the less, Merry Christmas 


xxxxx 

jingle bells..

BT’s ignorance towards people who live in more remote areas is partly to blame for my absence, that and the rush and buzz of the Christmas season. I am a lover of Christmas and everything that goes with it, even the tacky adverts from Argos and the supermarkets that pop up on TV every 5 minutes! Lazy days spent wrapping gifts and baking festive goodies to Christmas songs just epitomizes Christmas for me. Street lights to the radio, the dentist waiting room to the local Chinese take away, the petrol station to your Gran’s living room; everything is touched by the festive season in some way.


It makes perfect sense for fashion to be ahead of time releasing the August issue of Vogue in July etc. It’s always helpful having a forecast of items to keep your eye open for up until December. But in December I’m then flicking through New Year’s resolutions of the editing staff at Glamour before my Turkey is even dead. I personally prefer to hide the January issue of vogue under my bed and enjoy the spirit of Christmas.

On that note, I’m off to record some more films on the Sky Movies Christmas Channel and plan what I’m going to wear over the next few days.

Merry Christmas one and all

Xx

British Fashion Awards

After one of those lessons where you want to yawn the minute the teacher turns their back, I am more than happy to be tucked up in the common room chatting away about the recent and much talked about British Fashion Awards 2010; a celebration of the success of British designers, creators and models made London's Savoy the place to be on Tuesday night.

Gone but never forgotten, Alexander McQueen rightfully won outstanding achievement in Fashion Design after previously scooping up Designer of the Year award four times. The opening ceremony was the premier of Nick Knights tribute to McQueen. Like many have already said,  Lee Alexander McQueen will forever be known as the most influential designer of his time.

As well as presenting an award and revealing an edgy new bob, Alexa Chung picked up the British Style award. Mulberry were named brand of the year and the beautiful Lara Stone won the model award. After emerging as the face of Calvin Klein and appearing in perfume ads for DKNY and Prada, don't loose sweat if you haven't made it to the orthadontist - gaps are in.

When Elle describe an event as "old school stunning, like the inside of a wedgewood teapot at Christmas" it makes me just a little jealous to think I missed out.

Such is life, Have a nice day

bright star

It was the love of Keats’s life that sparked my interest today. Fanny Brawne; a feisty character with a passion for clothes and designing. The film of Keats’s life sees Fanny question his sighting of any other girl in a triple pleated mushroom collar and makes it known to him in their first meeting that each of her skirts have individual hand stitched designs. Ms. Brawne was spotted regularly throughout the film in outrageous hats & a personal favourite of mine, an oversized collar on a sheer blouse worn with a pinafore. Putting aside her love for style, her undying love for Keats’s was naturally done in an eccentrically cool way: cutting all of her hair off, donning black for three years after his death even though she wasn’t married and refusing to remove his mother’s ring even during her marriage. Despite the other inspiring women from around her time, Fanny Brawne and her outspoken opinions make her a strong favourite from the 1800’s.

Back to 2010 and before my fingers fall off with the cold, feel free to download It’s Me It’s You from itunes – it all goes to Barnardos charity.

Happy Tuesday xx

chitty chitty bang bang

The fires burning away, my mum’s cooking chicken that smells delicious now but will more than likely taste quite the opposite later, and I'm home until the almost knee-deep snow thaws to let me escape down the hill.
I'm stuck on the couch (yet again) watching chitty chitty bang bang in my oversized grandad-style jumper that I bought a few weeks ago. Anybody else still petrified of the child catcher? 
I did manage to build an impressive snowman with Liam & Flick. As well as quickly discovering you can only be so stylish when it's -1345 degrees outside, I’m not really one for the cold.
Anyway, I'll leave you on a happy Sunday note with a few snaps of my day. Luckily for you there’s none of me dressed in my shocking snow attire. 

Be Happy
xx

Lanvin turns highstreet

H&M have arrived again with another opportunity for the everyday girl to grab a taste of something with a little more excitement in one of their 200 selected stores worldwide. The first woman waited outside H&M on Regent Street at 10pm on Monday just for a single Lanvin for H&M dress for her daughter, pretty impressive dedication on behalf of the mother. The preview of the collection held few days ago in New York was a quirky affair with a poodle & Pixie Geldof gracing the runway as names such as Vivienne Westwood looked on. A collection of playful pieces, perfect for the party season and in my opinion, quite Carrie Bradshaw-esque. Cocktail dresses, jewellery, and lipstick all available at just a fraction of the Lanvin price. The creative director Alber Elbaz entered the project expecting 4-5 meetings but instead endured 40-50 and reckons that this collection isn’t just an expensive H&M piece but a bargain of Lanvin. Hot on H&M’s Lanvin heels are Gap who have collaborated with Valentino to be revealed this Saturday in the London flagship store – but that doesn’t have quite the same spark if you ask me.

Have a nice day

xx

genius

There aren’t enough words for how much I would love to sit front row at a fashion show, preferably not one show casing New look & Dorothy Perkins for the local guides in a hall that’s also used for five-a-sides and gymnastics.

Chanel however, is a different story. Paris Fashion week in 2008 saw Karl Lagerfeld mount a carousel filled with over sized Chanel classics from quilted bags to pearls. I’m almost sure that at that point all I knew of Chanel was that Lauren Conrad was always wearing nice expensive bags by Chanel on that new program & she was pretty cool working for teen vogue so surely Chanel is just cool in general? Then my oldest brother let me in on the secret that vogue was a good magazine to read if I really liked fashion. And so the fascination began. The magic of incorporating an up and down runway with a carousel... Who ever came up with that had a pretty decent imagination. Spring Summer 10 pulled an equally exciting show described by vogue: “Chanel’s version of a roll in the hay was a pretty stylish affair.” A catwalk turned barn saw Lily Allen rise from under the ground to sing in the middle of it all. If Prince is impressed, I’m sure I can be too.

love jane.

xx