Capsule Wardrobes & Day Dressing

Now, as much as a I love a dress, a heel and a touch of the ridiculous, I also love a warm coat and a good pair of jeans. As Leonardo da Vinci once said 'Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication' (Apparently?! Thank you famousquote.com) and I am inclined to agree when it comes to dressing for down time. But I do find it hard.

Give me a black tie party or a wedding and I feel confident that I will choose the right outfit. Tell me I've got a pub lunch on Sunday followed by a walk in Wormwood Scrubs Park and I break out in a cold sweat. I've never been able to dress for the day very well. I once had a job in a furniture shop and was taken to the stock room by my manager who instructed me to stop dressing like I was going to a party. In another job at a private members club in Mayfair, I was told to tone down on the dresses because I looked like I had ideas above my station. 

I thought I looked fine.

The 'Capsule Wardrobe' was a term coined in the 70's for the modern woman who ideally needs about 10 essential but simple items of clothing that work together in order to have something to wear for every occasion. 

I have such schizophrenic tastes, therefore am not a Capsule Wardrobe kind of person but recently have been trying to grow up a bit and go for a few classic purchases rather than say, a Francesca Couture dress (guilty). I've concluded that a white shirt, jeans, ballet shoes, leather jacket, utilitarian coat, a selection of jumpers in muted tones and some classic sunglasses with simple gold jewellery should get me through these weird weather weeks so that day dressing is a walk in the park. Maybe not Wormwood Scrubs though. 

Don't be silly.

                      

                  

I am wearing:

White Boyfriend Shirt from ASOS

Leigh Jeans from Topshop

Chanel Ballet Flats (best things I've ever bought)

My mums cashmere jumper

Acne Rita Leather Jacket (another of the best things I have ever bought)

Ray Ban Wayfarers and Aviators here

Guernsey Jumper similar here

Hooded Jacket from Zara

Cholet Handbag from Anya Hindmarch

Selection of jumpers from ASOS (mens section) Zara & Topshop

White Boyfriend T-Shirt from ASOS

Supergas from ASOS

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Space Oddity

Sorry! Having said it's all about The Great Gatsby, it's actually all about David Bowie no?

The AMAZING exhibition at the V&A (beg, borrow or steal a ticket)...the INCREDIBLE documentary on the BBC...he's everywhere. In a good way. Opening the May edition of Vogues 'More Dash Than Cash' I was thrilled to see a feature on metallics and Burberry's SS13 collection. At first I thought it would be hard to do a bit of a Ziggy Stardust salute without looking a bit like an space oddity myself, but on second thoughts what with all the holographic, body-con, cut-out and metallic (Oh you) pretty things around at the moment it would be silly not to give a nod to Bowie's sartorial splendour while he's on trend. Ground control to a Major shopping spree I'd say. Sorry.

                 

If on the other hand you like something a little more subtle, maybe one of these will add some stardust to your ensemble: 

Headband from Topshop

Earrings from ASOS

Cosmic Sneakers from Nasty Gal

Lunatic Clutch from Charlotte Olympia

Glitter Clutch from Mawi

Starburst Ring by Kenneth Jay Lane

Wind Swept Wing Glasses by Jeremy Scott for Linda Farrow

If this absolutely isn't your vibe but you like a bit of Ziggy, then take your protein pills and put your helmet on and get yourself down to the Non Stop Party Shop and get one of these:

Or get your scissors out and get snipping...

Cut-out Dress from Topshop

Gem Shoes from Miu Miu

Gem Drop Earrings from ASOS

Bowie Paper Doll Book from here

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Candy Colours for Spring

Last year I saw a photo in Vogue of a lady called Elena Perminova, part of 'the Russian set' who not only managed to win the genetic lottery (ex-model) but also the actual lottery (billionaire husband) and has the most phenomenal wardrobe of clothes...check her out here.  There she was, resplendent in a lilac coat and peach hat. It was a refreshing choice of Love Heart/Parma Violet colours, mixed with a bit of whimsy - my ideal outfit. Her style mixes high fashion,which looks cool but occasionally veers over to the slightly bonkers. A winning combination! I cut out the picture and kept it in my diary thinking that I probably wouldn't ever get my mitts on the Chloe coat or Maison Michel hat (or for that matter an ex-KGB billionaire husband) but maybe somewhere down the line I could use the colours in one of my outfits. 

 While dressing recently for a wedding I recalled the picture in Vogue and decided to use the pale candy colours of my Zimmerman Splatter dress,  ASOS Mongolian jacket and Anya Hindmarch Apple Bag. Apart from a few big bird comments, I really enjoyed this; mostly for the palate of colours and fluttery feathers. It finally felt like Spring! 

                 

Silk Splatter Dress from Zimmerman

Mongolian Fur Jacket ASOS

Apple Bag from Anya Hindmarch

Starburst Ring by Kenneth Jay Lane

Gold Shoes from Miu Miu

             

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Grace Gatsby - Theyskens Theory Bubble Dress

“In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.” 

It's all about The Great Gatsby isn't it? Unless you've been living under a rock you will be aware of Baz Luhrmanns much anticipated take on F. Scott Fitzgeralds famous novel which will be hitting cinema screens in not too long at all. Apart from the obvious things to get excited about (Leonardo Dicaprio anyone?) I am mostly looking forward to seeing Miuccia Pradas' costume designs (quite a concise article about it in Vogue here). No doubt the clothes will play their very own role - if you know the book you will remember that Fitzgerald uses sartorial imagery and garment colours to symbolise elements of the characters and their traits. Yah!

As the story unfolds we discover all that glitters is not gold - but that the clothes were really pretty great.

I still fantasise about owning Daisy Buchanan's wardrobe. It's hard to do a take on 20's clothes these days without looking like you're going to a prohibition swing night. An iridescent, heavily sequinned drop waist that shimmers in the light, a bit of glitter and a tassel or two is the recipe for a bit of modern day Gatsby-esque glamour. This Theyskens Theory Bubble dress is what I think Daisy Buchanan would flap around in if she lived in the year 2013. Paired with coral tassel earrings from Jenny Jenny and a pair of gold T-bar glitter shoes from Miu Miu. I'll be wearing it tonight, Martini in hand, draped over a piano. Or Gold Hatted, bouncing around near my beautiful laundrette more like...

Bubble Dress by Theyskens Theory

Coral Tassel Earrings by Jenny Jenny

Gold Shoes by Miu Miu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN183rJltNM

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Californian Dreaming

I can't handle this weather any more. As I stare out the window at the April snow blizzard (?!), the only thing to do is dream about my impending trip to Los Angeles. I'm already sorting out my wardrobe in preparation but I intend to channel the 50's Hollywood look. I've started with this high waisted bikini from Topshop and a bit of red lipstick. It's enough to make anyone feel cheerier and keep dreaming. In the words of that guy in Pretty Woman: Everybody comes to Hollywood got a dream. What's your dream? What's your dream? Hey mister? Hey, what's your dream?

I'm dreaming of blue skies...

Purple Grape Bikini from Topshop

Superga Chambray Plimpsolls from ASOS

Metal Topped Sunglasses from ASOS

Nevis Embroidered Straw Bag from Anya Hindmarch 

Nars Jungle Red Lipstick from ASOS

Gold Hoops by Gogo Philip from ASOS

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Spring? Nope it's still Winter...

Apparently it has been the coldest March in 66 years - colder than December, January and February. I have had enough of black tights. I stocked up back in November and am damned if I am buying any more. This Easter weekend there was a brief opportunity for a bare ankle (chilly!) but I balanced it out with a warm coat, cashmere hat and colourful new Zara trainers which put a spring in my step instead (sorry)...then headed to Pizza East on Portobello Road. I reckon if you're warm everywhere else you look like you know what you're doing, not mad and not prematurely dressing for Spring. What's that?

White Coat from Blonde Fox Vinage

Leigh Jeans from Topshop

Cashmere Beanie from Marks and Spencer

Floyd Purse from Anya Hindmarch

Trainers from Zara

Cotton Bag courtesy of Premiere Classe in Paris

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