Say No To Normcore! Wear Some Colour.

“The best colour in the whole world, is the one that looks good, on you!” 

― Coco Chanel

The other day someone I see quite a lot said to me that they had only ever seen me wear black and about 5% of my wardrobe! Granted the longest, darkest months of the year have been draaagging on but I insisted it simply wasn't true.

Then it occurred to me that actually, as soon as the clocks go back I turn to a uniform of  grey, black and at a push, navy. To me colour is for Summer. For work wear it just feels easier and smarter to wear dark clothes even though my boss said that black ages me. Thanks!

I was also made aware of  'Normcore' (defintion here) which is the new word for a trend that is sweeping the streets  - 'a notion of dressing in a nondescript and utterly conventional way' as a backlash to the fashionistas trying out-look each other. A palette cleanser one might say. I do understand the desire to dress in streamlined simple shapes and tones but too much of it can be a bit snoresome and not very jolly.  So with a hint of Spring in the air and the changing of the clocks on the horizon, I decided to make a concerted effort to dress in colour. To my delight we had that mini heatwave which made it all a lot easier and helped in consigning tights to the back of the drawer.

Not only did I do this as a personal challenge but it was also a protest. The purpose of this exercise was two fold: Firstly to prove that black is not the only colour I wear. Secondly to demonstrate (to myself ) that I do actually wear more than 5% of my wardrobe. My flat consists of  rails of clothes that never see the light of day, taking up what little space I have. (I often lie awake at night worrying that I will become the old lady who lived in her shoe.......s, and unworn clothes.) So I decided to try out a few things that had been lurking in the back of my wardrobe because I couldn't find the right occasion for them,or to be totally honest, I had forgotten I own. Naughty. 

Inspired by the new faces-in-places Prada campaign - a riot of colour, textures and patterns, I bid au revoir to Norma and Norman Normcore and turned towards the technicolor. It wasn't easy waking up in the pitch black and wearing a bright orange suit but I did it and it made me feel a lot happier about dismal old Winter.

 Try it! You'll like it.

The Prada Campaign

Inspiration from my Instagram feed

Just looking at these outfits makes me never want to wear black again.

First day out of the darkness....

Fur Effect Coat from Scotch & Soda

I've realised the key is TROUSERS! Who knew?! And non-black shoes. This immediately takes black tights out of the equation.

Silk Trousers from Calla

Embellished Jumper from Topshop 

Ring from Accessorize

So I had to get the tights out. I usually feel a bit iffy about black tights with pale clothes - I just think it looks weird but as there is black in the background of the fabric it looks alright.

Orange Suit from Zara

Jewels

My Carven Bomber Jacket which reminds me of a scarab beetle

Pucci-esque Vintage Dress from Found & Vision on Golbourne Road & Clutch from Shrimps

Colourful jewellery and bits and bobs helped keep my mission on course.

Tartan Scarf from TRAID (£1!!)  & Snake Clutch from ASOS

Creepy or lovely?  Hand Earrings from Butler & Wilson

Cocktail Ring from ASOS

Heart T-Shirt from Les Prairies de Paris

Then it got all hot. So I got my legs out.

Topshop Embroidered Dress & Marseille Ballet Flats from French Sole

Coat Inspiration from Kate Moss

Leopard Coat & Printed Dress from Topshop who are ON FIRE at the moment.

Then it got all cold again so I put them away.

Thakoon Addition Silk Jumpsuit

Ainea Fur Effect Coat & Russell & Bromley Flats

So it's back to permanently chilly now and I've thrown away all my black tights which in hindsight was probably a bit premature. All my trousers are in the wash and I'm cold! Nothing a holiday to Barbados can't sort out though...hurrah!

But more on that next time...

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Holidays

Craig & Karl for Le Specs
Earrings and Bangle - Aurelie Bidermann
Raffia Clutch - Anya Hindmarch
Straw Boater - Missoni
Floral Skirt and Camisole - Topshop
Snakeprint Esapdrilles - Prism
Leaf Print Bikini - Topshop
Bamboo Tote - Charlotte Olympia

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Grace Wore - An Obituary For Some Of My Favourite Clothes

I write this with a heavy heart. My original post was going to be about what I wore to a wedding in Switzerland last weekend - not madly exciting but still - just a couple of outfits I had put together for a magical moment in the snow. I had intended to document what I wore but ended up having SO much fun (and a SO much Gluhwein) that this was the extent of the photographs:
Well done.

 Thanks to some thieving gypsies this post is now a lament for clothes I have loved and lost.

Due to baggage restrictions each item of clothing had been carefully thought through and considered. There was no space for anything I didn't like. I thought it was the perfect occasion to wear a few things that I don't often get the opportunity to. SO I took all my favourite clothes. Of course I did. 

 Unfortunately also due to baggage restrictions my clothes got a lift back to London in a car which was broken in to on Sunday evening and my bursting suit bag was swiped along with various things that hold huge sentimental value.

I felt a bit guilty for feeling so bereft about material goods, for as we all know there are much more important things in life, but it's strange how one has an emotional attachment to clothes. Certain pieces can trigger recollections and happy thoughts - I have a peach coloured tie dye dress (sounds monstrous!) which I wore nearly every day during the funnest summer of my life and I can't bring myself to wear it ever again because I don't want it to remind me of anything else. It's now scrunched up in the back of a drawer at my parents house making all the other clothes jealous. 

I have a library of occasions and outfits in my mind and have always remembered life events by what I was wearing rather than what I was doing. There is a lovely book by Justine Picardie called 'My Mothers Wedding Dress: The Life and Afterlife of Clothes' which was one of the things that inspired me to start writing. A memoir in which she relays stories behind particular bits of clothing and how evocative they can be of a time, place or person.  It is funny how something so seemingly trivial or ephemeral as clothes and fashion can mean so much and hold so many memories. Some of my most precious possessions are items of clothing or jewellery left to me. It's never the financial value but more the sentimental one. 

Chinese Vintage Beaded Coat

 This was my Mums vintage coat which would probably be the one thing I would rescue from my wardrobe in a fire. (It's probably now been burnt anyway sob sob.) It was exquisitely embroidered with scenes from a Chinese water garden with little bridges, dragons and men in hats. It weighed a ton and always reminded me of the photo of Diana Vreeland in her New York apartment - I used to wear it with heavy white bracelets as a homage to her. I miss it so!

Feather Cape(s) from Malene Birger

 I remember seeing this Chanel dress in a magazine once upon a time, not so long ago and consequently ended up with a feather OBSESSION. My mother said it was a wonder there are any birds left in the sky. Very greedily I had not one but two feather capes. One was a gift and the other was a gift...to myself.

Cape #1 - My Birthday Suit 

I had the best night EVER wearing this along with my Zimmerman Splatter dress (it's the design, not red wine)

Cape #2

This rather depressing photo below (the first practice shot on my iPad) is the only one I have of cape number 2 (which I also mentioned here).  The blue dress underneath the feathers was a vintage pastel two-tone Jean Varon dress which was also nicked. A beauty. A very light silk with a thin veil of net petticoat and pistachio bodice with straps. I had visions of wearing it barefoot,running through a field, flowers in my hair tra la laaaaa. Now that's not going to happen. 

The Dream Dress

A wonderful dress from a mysterious company called Rare Opulence. Trawling through the ground floor of some strange shop it appeared like a ruby in the rubble -  complete genius...it was a copy of the Gucci Fall 2011 gown. The most magical thing to wear. It had a ruched top and lengths of silk chiffon with fluttery pink petal sleeve-lets. It had a very fun last hurrah at the wedding. So that's nice.

This is the last known photograph of me in it - teaching the younger generation how to use disposable cameras.

After lots of effing and blinding I called the council to see if anything had turned up and the computer-says-no-lady told me with (I detected a hint of glee in her voice) that the H&F rubbish isn't sifted through but instead piled onto BARGES, sent down the Thames and BURNT. Which is exactly what happened to my mothers cat when it was run over.

So on the off chance that you happen to come across any opportunist skanks dressed to the nines in feathers and fur or see something glittering in a flowerbed around Kempson Road in Fulham, please holla. 

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Spring Wish List

Anya Hindmarch Crisp Packet Clutch

By Malene Birger Silk Scarf

ASOS 3D Earrings

By Malene Birger Satin Trim Coat

Aperlai Metallic Mules 

Eugenia Kim Sylvie Headband

Kotur Margo Floral Tulle Clutch

Topshop Embroidered Satin Shift

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Grace Swears By

I think I'm suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. I'm concerned about getting rickets what with the Vitamin D deficiency. The only thing that appeals at the moment is either a holiday or staying in bed all day wearing a onesie, eating biscuits. 

Since I have a job to hold down I thought I would not do the biscuit/onsesie thing. So with a clean slate and self improvement on the mind I  prescribed myself a bottle of fake tan and sought solace in some little things that would automatically make me feel better about January.

SMYTHSON DIARY

The best. Nothing like a new diary to list resolutions (like 'Blog at least once a week'...pah!!)...to-do lists and to get planning. In this glorious mustardy, canary-y yellow it's like a beacon of light in the bottom of my handbag especially in grey old January...pages of promise. It's definitely a large expense to foot at the start of the year but if you think about it as cost per compliment it's TOTALLY FINE....

FOUNTAIN - LA MOLECULE DE BEAUTE

This stuff is very peculiar. I can only describe it as tasting like what I imagine rat poison would taste like. However it contains something called Resveratrol which is the beauty molecule found in Japanese knot-weed and red wine. Sadly it tastes the exact opposite of red wine. I can't quite identify what has happened over the last month I have been taking it but my friend said I looked about 5 years old and my skin feels....tighter?! I mean obviously I don't want to reverse my ageing so much that I look 5 but you know...There's also the 'Youth' version which tastes like Ginger flavoured phlegm. I'll get back to you on that one. I've only managed to hold down one teaspoon so far. But do try the other one - it does super things.

ASOS COSTUME JEWELLERY

The last thing I want to do is buy clothes in January once Christmas has left me looking like an oversized cocktail sausage. So to get a quick fix of buying something cheerful that I don't have to squeeeze in to I headed to ASOS and purchased some of their insane and insanely good costume jewellery. I typed in words like 'jewel', 'cocktail' and 'oversized' to the search mechanism. The most bonkers stuff tends to end up in the sales too which is great so it's cheap cheap cheap. Type in 'UFO'. Yup! I have those earrings! The other good place to check out is The Outnet - especially the pieces by Kenneth Jay Lane.

ANYTHING THAT WORKS ITS MAGIC OVERNIGHT

Aesop Rosemary Leaf hand cream and Rosehip Lip Cream, This Works Deep Sleep Stress Less (I have mentioned the wonders of this stuff before here) and Christian Dior Abricot Crème for nails. It's quite a lurid orange which is a bit disastrous when in contact with clean white sheets but it works wonders on brittle nails that aren't dealing well with the ravages of time and weather. I've also been putting some on my lips but I'm not sure that's right so maybe don't do that.

FLOWERS

Simple I know...but I defy anyone not to feel a bit cheerier with bunches of  colourful blooms around them.   

PHYLIA DE M.

I read about this in an article by India Knight in the Style magazine last year who raved about it so much that a frenzy was whipped up and it completely sold out. Just as I had started to resemble a scarecrow and my poor hair had been frazzled to a crisp, I managed to get my paws on the magic potion. It's a three step situation (Clean, Condition and Connect) and sometimes I can't be bothered but after a bit of consistent use my wintry, lacklustre and stringy hair is looking definitely less mop like and a lot more swishy.

NEW UNDIES

Nothing is more depressing than having to put on underwear that matches the colour of the rain clouds. I've thrown out all my grey-in-the-wash bits I've had since forever and replaced them with these! They make you feel REALLY happy in the morning before putting your armour on. Try Topshop here and the Agent Provocateur collaboration with Penelope and Monica Cruz here which is half the price of the main range and just as good, if not better.

CANYON JUICERY

The recent festivities left me feeling like a minced pie having done things like consume chocolate coins for breakfast ten days in a row. SO with a plan to turn things around quickly I tried to jump on the green juice bandwagon that is sweeping the world. I bought a blender and some eye-wateringly disgusting supplements. After a particularly bad kale and chia seed smoothie experiment, I wandered to Joseph on Westbourne Grove where they have a Canyon Juicery shop within the shop. These are cold pressed, gag-free juices made for any ailment you may have and are completely delicious. They deliver too so when I'm sitting at work eating cake, one quick call and I can undo the damage by swigging on this! That's how it works right? The Good Green made me feel very virtuous and the Sweet Potato one tastes like nice things.

CHARLOTTE'S MAGIC CREAM

How can you resist anything that says on the box 'The magic dew of youth and luminosity in a jar'?! - especially when the skin on my face looks like a worn out sock. This cream from the make up maestro Charlotte Tilbury is a truly lovely product that transforms your skin in seconds, smells rather nice and has really substantial, quite old-fashioned packaging that is reminiscent of Hollywood dressing-tables.

When the cupboard is bare - financially speaking - I think its good to spend what little money you have on things that bring immediate joy and comfort. A bunch of flowers for your bedroom, bright underwear, a new scent*, colourful trainers to incentivise you into actually doing some exercise, a diary to make to do lists....all these things are a lovely way to pick you up and see January as the start of something wonderful.

*I have rediscovered Apres L'Ondee (After The Downpour - how apt) by Guerlain. I first wore this when I was 17 purely because Linda Radlett the heroine in The Pursuit Of Love did. I thought it was the most glamorous thing. It is completely delicious and has clearly stood the test of time. And look how lovely the bottle is.

UFO earrings from ASOS

Apres L'Ondee by Guerlain

Dior Creme de Rose Lip Cream

Underwear by L'Agent by AP

Essie Nail Polish

Follow Your Dreams Notebook by Smythson

Asics Gel-Noosa Trainers

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Some Like It Hot When It's Cold

"I like to feel blonde all over"

- Marilyn Monroe

In the depths of  my memory palace I have a special place for people wearing white fur coats...I am magnetically drawn to them. It could have been Marilyn Monroe who triggered it. Back in 1999 when I was running wild, I bribed my parents into allowing me to take a day off school to go to the Christie's view in London before all her clothes and personal effects were auctioned off. I was there the with my nose up against the window from the second it opened and was there when the doors were closed - I was nearly forcibly removed. I spent the day forensically examining her driving licence, notebooks, film scripts, clothes...but in particular the furs.The obsession had begun with being blonde and wearing white fur coats.

From that day forth I turned my back on a life of truancy and instead decided my existence would  revolve around a bottle of peroxide (my hair took a very dim view of that eventually) eyelash glue and scouting out fur. These days I'm more of a brunette so I find the best way to channel Marilyn is to wear white and fluffy in coat form - it's such a lovely feeling and does wonders for the complexion in the grey of Winter. (Monroe famously wore white near her face to reflect the light - it works!). On a dreary old day a bit of white fur is just the thing to keep you toasty (ALWAYS vintage, never new)...as long as it's not raining. I have often been caught out by a passing shower and had to do the wet dog look/smell all day. So make sure you have an umbrella or some Febreze handy. The other rule when wearing white fur is to forgo red lipstick or lacquer on your lips...any red lipstick contact with the collar and you end up looking like you've been involved in the Saint Valentines Massacre. The latter will make you feel like you've got the actual fuzzy end of the lollipop.

Just as I was deciding on what winter coat would see me through until early March/April I saw this image of Rita Hayworth in all her glory on my Instagram feed from the super wonderful Another Magazine.Well that was that...I'm not very good at practical and before I knew it, I was bidding on more white fur coats on eBay. Argh!

I am currently on white coat No. 5. Coats 1 to 4  have been left in various locations and taxis around London (never retrieved) or eaten by naughty moths. The following are ones I've loved and lost or have been consigned to the pet graveyard section of my wardrobe:

This eBay classic saved me a fortune on heating. I look a bit trampy here.

This gilet was bought from Portobello market...my absolute favourite... but sadly it hasn't dealt very
well with the ravages of time.

Another eBay find. They said it came from a smoke free, pet free home. But I think they were lying.
I think they were keeping moths as pets.

Besides Marilyn, I take my inspiration for wrapping up for Winter from the following:

Lara in Dr. Zhivago - she knew what she was doing when the temperature dropped below zero.

Kate Moss. Just lovely.

Edie Bouvier Beale of Grey Gardens fame. Check out the infamous documentary. The aunt and cousin of Jackie Kennedy living out their years in a decaying house in East Hampton, New York. Fascinating. Their style in particular.

If you have the ick about real fur or fancy a bit of colour in your life then there is AMAZING faux stuff out there. I would suggest checking out Unreal Fur which is super cool. A new company who is totally on my radar is Shrimps. I am OBSESSED. Just get on their joyful website. Or buy their pieces from Avenue 32. I've started with their Vincent Clutch but am saving for a coat. Topshop has lots of great furry things at the moment too.

My Vincent Clutch from Shrimps

 

Green Hat from Topshop

Fur Tippet from Charlotte Simone

 Earmuffs from Uniqlo

Yellow Faux Fur Coat from Topshop

White Coat from Unreal Fur

Wilma Coat from Shrimps

Grayson Clutch from Shrimps

Monster Fur Bag from Fendi

Vincent Clutch from Shrimps

This is completely nothing to do with anything but for the movie buffs amongst you, you'll know this is the final line from Some Like It Hot (best final line of any movie). I saw these Hugo Guinness t-shirts for J. Crew which are now on my shopping list.

So I turned out to be the highest bidder on this wonderful coat. Here it is, keeping me warm along with my favourite leather trainers from Common Projects and Sophie Hulme handbag. I am ready for a cold front!

 Right, pass the peroxide.

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