It's a boy!

Apologies for the absence of a blog post on Friday. You see, the thing is, I had quite an important appointment that kind of took over my whole day: my 20-week pregnancy scan. Not only did we discover - total relief - that our baby is healthy, but we also found out that we're having a little boy! Ok, so this does mean that I can't hand down any of my shoes, bags, blazers (not yet, anyway...), but, no fear, as I've already been checking out baby boy-flavoured outfits and there are some seriously stylish offerings out there. So, if you'll allow me to indulge myself for a few minutes... (Altogether now: ahhhhhh)

Printed shirt, £14.40, Mamas & Papas

Rebel bodysuit, £9.50, Gap

Outfits, Mini Boden

Stripe boat Tshirt, £14, The Little White Company

Megabucks wardrobes

I'm guessing Grazia magazine has been reading It's a Look this week (they're big fans), as this week's issue also has a wardrobe-related feature about billionaire Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone's daughter Petra. Now Petra, 22, has a walk-in wardrobe that resembles a designer boutique, filled as it is with labels such as Balmain and Versace, with drawers bursting with La Perla smalls and even gold (probably) shelves heaving with Louboutins. So grand is her clothing collection that Petra actually has to keep her eveningwear separate, in a dressing room next door. And all this in a modest little Chelsea pad valued at a cool £56m.

Picture: Mel Yates/Grazia

Thing is, if I had that much money, I might be tempted to do a little more than the obvious spotlit shoe display cabinet, climate-controlled dressing room, customised Birkin shelves and what have you. I mean, come on, Petra, have a little imagination here. Surely electronic revolving shoe shelves, which rotate from flats to heels with the flick of a button. Or sliding clothes racks that glide smoothly along runners to the daywear/eveningwear selection depending on your choice.

Or how about a touch-screen keypad of options on the front of the wardrobe, so you can select the event you're dressing for, your mood, what sort of activities you'll be doing that day, etc, then your IW (Intelligent Wardrobe) will compute the perfect outfit for said event, complete with appropriate footwear and a choice of accessories.

And why not really go to town and have plasma screen TVs on the walls inside your dressing room, showing back-to-back episodes of Sex And The City? And hire a wardrobe mistress to pop by regularly whisk away items that need mending/cleaning/repairing. Ooh, and expensive, flattering mirrors (complete with figure- and skintone-enhancing lighting), which show you from every angle, on voice command, and even offer you compliments with varying levels of adulation, depending on your positivity levels. Thus, when the mirror asks 'And how are we feeling this morning?' and you sulkily huff 'Hmm. Fat day', the mirror will vocally assess your reflection with gems such as 'That colour is so you. Have you lost weight?' While if you're feeling pretty good about yourself, the mirror will hold back with a simple 'Good to go, gorgeous'. Well, one doesn't want to get complacent.

So don't hold back, trust-fund socialites and mega-celebs, put some creative thought into it and go all out with those closets of joy. If only to provide us normal-wardrobed ladies with something to really drool over. When you've enough cash in the bank to buy Chanel on a daily basis and probably wear Cartier's finest to the gym, you'd be letting us down if you didn't, to be quite honest.

Just how much would you love your husband if he had this designed for you? Lucky, lucky Carrie...

DIY wardrobe workout

As this week is turning itself into wardrobe week on the blog, I thought I'd give you a few insider stylist tips to help you care for your closet. This is assuming all the talk of rubber hangers, folding templates and drawer liners has got you going, and you're already dreaming of your very own Mariah-esque (keep dreaming) super-organised wardrobe. You could, of course, be yawning away into your uncoordinated Tshirt pile and wondering what all the fuss is about. But I'm guessing if you're a fan of this blog, you might want to read on. Seriously, just reading it makes you feel all virtuous and organised. Kind of.

• Closet detox: Take all your clothes out, put into piles of 'throw out/give to charity', 'amend/repair/dry-clean' and 'keep', then sort them into seasons and store away the clothes you won't be wearing for months in zip-up plastic garment bags or fabric clothing covers so air can circulate (the whole vacuum-pack thing just adds creases you will never get out). Store heavy items and coats on wooden hangers so they don't lose their shape. For more precious garments, such as vintage and designer clothes, wrap and fold each item in acid-free paper (try John Lewis) to stop dyes running and protect delicate fabrics and detailing, then keep them in a storage box. 
• Spring clean: Now it's time to get down and dirty, wiping down your wardrobe and drawers with a cloth and non-bleaching spray, such as Cif or Dettol's surface cleaner. Once dry, prevent any smells building up in your wardrobe by placing a few fabric conditioning sheets around, or sachets of lavender (moths hate lavender. Mind you, if it reminds you of your granny, you might want to stick to wooden anti-moth balls or the Bounce sheets. Smelling like a granny isn't always the best pulling tactic).
• Start organising: Now you've stored away the season you're not wearing and given your wardrobe a  clean, you can start decanting this season's clothes back into your newly cleaned wardrobe, utilising non-slip hangers, folding templates, boot inserts, whatever takes your fancy (again, see Practical Princess and Total Wardrobe Care for amazing wardobe organising tools). Also worth checking out are storage solutions from places like The Holding Company and Muji, as well as pretty and stylish options - canvas garment boxes, trunks, printed garment bags - from Cath Kidston and The White Company.
• Find your sorting style: How you organise your clothes is quite a personal thing, and depends on your lifestyle, the type of clothes you are, how anal you are... But you could pick from the following options: sort into shirts, tops, trousers, jeans, skirts, dresses and jackets, with Ts, camis, vests, leggings and sweaters folded neatly into piles on shelves or in drawers; hang clothes in outfit combinations for the week so you don't have to think about what to wear each morning; colour coordinate, keeping similar and tonal colours together so you end up with a spectrum of pleasing shades; keep everyday/casual/work clothes on one side and evening-wear/going out clothes on the other.
• Create outfits: Take pics of yourself wearing outfits you feel fab in and upload them onto a document you can print out and stick to the inside of your wardrobe door or in a drawer, so that you can access it easily for 'What the hell shall I wear?' days. Also, if you have a smart phone, check out the nifty outfit-generator apps such as Closet Lite and Stylebook, where you can upload photos of your clothes and categorise them, planning what to wear, seeing what goes with what. If you're not so handy with the uploading stuff, just write a list of outfit combinations with a humble biro and keep that handy instead, just like Posh does. Maybe.

 
 
 

Closet of dreams

While I'm on the subject of bespoke wardrobes, you've got to hand it to Mariah Carey for having the ultimate. Twelve thousand square feet in her Manhattan pad is dedicated to the diva's clothing and accessories. And it's climate controlled - probably because she doesn't want any, er, air damage coming to her vast shoe collection: "I have about 1,000 pairs of shoes. but lots are in storage," she told me (ha ha, not really. Mariah and I are like that, obvz, but this spread and the quote came from Instyle.com, rather than a girlie chat on the phone between me and MC herself). 

 

Mariah's wardobe includes design features such as gold leaf and bleached-wood floors, and is arranged by colour, material and event-specific outfits. I mean look at the shoe department, sorry, section alone! Just think how amazing the new baby's wardrobe will be. Sigh, maybe she'll adopt me...

Mariah Carey's walk-in/live-in closet

Thanks to Instyle.com

Wardrobe zen

Over the last couple of weekends, I've been doing a lot of household organisation, as we're hoping to get our flat on the market soon. We've been packing lots of clutter into boxes ready for storage, so the place looks tidier for viewings, and I've been sorting through stacks of paperwork, throwing away old or unwanted items and categorising to make it neater and more accessible. Well, if you apply this principle to your clothing as well as your admin, it's even more satisfying (I'm doing a mini-sort while I store things). There's nothing like an organised wardrobe to make you feel at peace with the world (or is that just for those with OCD tendencies like myself?).

Just imagine opening those wardrobe doors to be faced with clothes that hang neatly and freely; perfectly folded piles of jumpers; shoes beautifully displayed in their pairs and within easy reach, and maybe even jewellery and accessories hanging on padded velvet hangers or showcased on well-proportioned shelves. And drawers with scented liners and dividers for all your lingerie, and a section especially for belts, and a scarf organiser... Ok, running away with myself there, but you get the picture. Doesn't it make you feel zen just imagining it?

Well, I think we owe it to ourselves to make our lives easier and more satisfying by decluttering and reorganising our wardrobe space. Whatever suits your life - storing away last season's clothes and only having this season's on display; hanging your clothes in complete outfits ready to throw on every day; colour-coordinating - do what works for you. Throw out anything you haven't worn in a year or looks tatty, amend hanging hems or anything that needs taking up or dry-cleaning, rewash and iron everything and hang it all on proper hangers - not necessarily the padded ones, as they take up too much space, but wooden ones rather than those horrible freebie wire ones that add extra shoulders to your garments and get all tangled up and make you want to throw a wobbly.

And once you've organised your clothing, you might want to look at investing in a few items that'll make your wardrobe work a little bit harder for you (and will make all your friends jealous as they'll all want a fabulously ordered wardrobe, too). Take a look at the following websites for some inspiration. Personally, I have my eye on the folding template (total OCD joy), rubber hangers (no slipping), boot inserts, drawer dividers and shoe-label software from Practical Princess, and am currently working down the extensive repairs and alterations list offered by Total Wardrobe Care and mentally ticking off all the items I own that need some TLC. Oh, and in my dreams, I'm already designing my Manhattan Closet ready for our new house (see below). Happy sorting, ladies.

Practical Princess (www.practicalprincess.com) - wardrobe organisation services, tips and products

Total Wardrobe Care (www.totalwardrobecare.co.uk) - wardrobe organisation, clothing care and repairs

Buyboxesonline.co.uk - find shoe boxes to store all those Louboutins, £21.52 for 15 boxes

Manhattan Closets (www.manhattanclosets.co.uk) - have your very own bespoke or walk-in Carrie-style American concept wardrobe system designed just for you

Red week: part 5

As red week draws to a close, I'm starting to run out of items in the required shade. But no fear! Red lippy is here! And a slick of glossy red lipstick likes nothing more than a chic, black backdrop to shine out against, hence my monotone outfit today of knitted LBD, black tights and shoes. For my lipstick, I've chosen Max Factor Lipfinity in 120 Hot, which involves applying the durable shade, allowing it to dry, then moisturising with a balm that comes with it. This two-step process ensures the colour stays on all day, and all you need to do is top up with the balm regularly, to stop the shade drying out and fading (Lipfinity is also anti-transfer, so prevents you leaving a big kiss mark on anyone's cheek).

It's simple, it's chic, and the flash of hot red stops me blending into the background in my safe black option. Plus, it makes me feel quite eveningy (it's a word...), so I may have Hubby take me out for a mocktail or two after work. Happy Friday everyone!

Publish Post

Dress, Primark; tights, Topshop; wedges, Primark

Max Factor Lipfinity in Hot

Red week: part 4

For this morning's dose of red, I'm bringing it into my outfit in the form of a neat orangey-red cardi over a long camel vest (such a perfect colour combo, as I'm sure you're bored of me saying). So now my neutral outfit has been brightened up a treat. Also, wearing a shorter cardi over a longline top gives me more definition around my waist - something I could really do with right now (check out the bump!). And as it's quite a lightweight outfit, I'm staying warm with a long-sleeved black T underneath and some snuggly Uggs. Ah, comfort and colour makes for a happy Thursday.

Cardi, New Look; vest, free with Marie Claire!; leggings, Topshop; boots, Uggs

Red week: part 3

Middle of the week joy! And it's cold out there this morning, so as I was thinking about a warm coat, my red oversized-collar charity-shop find came straight to mind. As my bump starts to grow, I'll have to start leaving buttons undone at the bottom until I get to the point where the poppers probably won't do up at all, but for now it's perfect. And I do like an oversized/funnel collar that you can hide your chin behind when it's draughty.

I love a red coat, because in a sea of safe blacks and greys, it really stands out, and just feels more dressy somehow. And if you're still not sure about wearing such a daring colour, trying it with your coat means you only have to wear it twice a day, to test the waters. I guarantee it will bring more colour to your face and will add a dash of cheer to your journey to work.

Coat, Gap (from charity shop); thigh-high boots, Asos

Red week: part 2

Today I'm wearing a nice, simple stripy top and skinnies combo (which is actually a bit of a gamble, as I've found that at many magazines I freelance for, many opt for stripy-top Tuesday. Must be the need for something simple and stylish that doesn't take up too much brain power for the second day of the week). We'll see today whether I've inadvertently turned myself into an office clone.

The easiest, chicest shoe to wear with a stripy top and skinnies combo is the ballet pump, as it's got a taste of the Left-Bank about it, and as today's pump is a patent red one, in keeping with this week's theme, I've also added a dash of Riviera to my look. Which is obviously where I'd prefer to be today. So if a red dress or top is a bit too full-on for your taste, dabble in the scarlet seas with your accessories instead. Just gives your whole look a pop of interest I think. And, come on, red shoes? They always have a little feel of Dorothy about them, don't they?

Top, River Island; cardi, Primark; jeans, Dorothy Perkins; pumps, Barratts

Red week!

After the phenomenal success of Leopard week (nothing like overselling yourself of a Monday morning), I thought I'd do another theme week based on one of my other favourite wardrobe staples - the colour red. Appropriately, I'm blending the two themes by kicking off with a combination of red with leopard today. As I've mentioned before, red and leopard go together beautifully, as do red and camel (which I'll be showcasing later in the week).

Red is just such an uplifting, vibrant colour, and teams well with denim, nautical stripes, black, white, grey, navy, polka dots... It's also associated with winning, strength, positivity and passion, so pick the hue that works for you - I love everything from pillar-box red to ravishing scarlet - and work it. Warning: this colour is not for wall flowers. It's all about making a statement.

Knitted dress, Primark; scarf, Avon; tights, Topshop; boots, Dune

Rainy day lessons learned

So, ladies, what have we learned this week in order that we stay dry, stylish and comfortable in the wet weather? 

1. How to avoid hat hair, by carrying dry shampoo with us, utilising the bathroom hand drier or being wise with our choice of hairdo.
2. That wearing appropriate footwear is key. For the ultimate in stylish practicality, choose a glam welly. But at the very least, avoid ballet pumps (the sole is too thin and they're too open, meaning they'll soak up all moisture and leave the underside of your foot wet, or, should you stumble blindly into a puddle, your entire foot will be submerged and sopping for the rest of the day). Also forget about wearing open toes, suede, Uggs (the soles have zero grip and you'll slide around like Todd Carty on Dancing On Ice) and pale leather, which will soak up the rain and discolour.
3. That a pretty brolly can cheer up a grey day, but a hardwearing brolly that will stay strong in harsh weather is a bad-hair-phobe's best friend. Also, we learned to observe brolly etiquette on the street and public transport, and that it's important to allow one's brolly to dry out fully, so as not to smell like a wet dog.
4. How to protect a leather handbag from getting ruined in the rain and how best to rescue it should it accidentally be subject to a downpour.

Valuable seasonal lessons indeed. And might I also throw in another couple of tips, while I think of them - forget about wearing what my friend refers to as 'festival jeans' in rainy weather. This is the pair that's slightly too long on the leg and drags on the ground slightly, leaving a casually frayed hem at the back where they scuff on the ground. These jeans will soak up rainwater on your way to work, all the way up to your knees if you're unlucky. Then you have to become a contortionist in the loos as you try to hoist your leg up towards the hand drier. Skinny jeans tucked into long boots or ankle-length pairs are far more suitable for rain wearage.

Ooh, and one last thought - you might want to choose carefully where you shop when the heavens open. Buy anything from a store that uses recyclable paper bags (yes, Primark, that includes you), and that bag will instantly disintegrate when wet, so you'll be left shoving your £3 shoes and uber-haul of accessories (you know there's no way you'll be leaving with just the one cocktail ring when they're only £1) into your already-groaning-at-the-seams handbag.

Stay dry out there.

Picture: Worldwidehippies.com

Raindrops are falling on my head: part 4

If you happen to have a penchant for expensive leather handbags (I, too, have a penchant but, alas, not the budget), you might get a bit panicky in serious downpours in case your pride and joy gets a soaking. In fact, even a splash of droplets from your umbrella can cause rain damage to a good-quality leather bag, so it's worth knowing how to care for it in this weather.

Protect your leather handbag from the rain in 3 easy steps:

1. Buy a leather cleaner and a leather conditioner/moisturiser. The store you bought the bag from will sell these products, or you can find them online, usually from companies like Betterware (try their Leather Handbag And Shoe Cleaner) or Collonil, which is actually recommended on the Mulberry website (also find it on Amazon). When you first buy the bag, use a soft, clean, dry cloth to apply the cleaner (squirt the product onto the cloth rather than directly onto the bag) then, once fully dry, rub in the conditioner.
2. Invest in a water-repellant spray, such as Scotchgard Clothing & Leather Protector from 3M (or check that the one you were forced into buying when you bought your leather boots can be used on bags too). After the leather conditioner has absorbed and dried, protect your bag with the spray, applying with continuous sweeping movements to avoid staining. WARNING: you might want to try a small spot on the bottom of the bag first, especially if the leather is a light shade, in case the spray slightly darkens the colour.
3. Should you get caught in a downpour and you are - horror of horrors - sans brolly, don't panic, as your wet bag can still be saved. When you get to your destination, empty it out and allow it to dry in a warm, air-conditioned room (don't be tempted to put it near a heat source or use a hairdryer on it). The next day, rub the leather conditioner all over it to make it supple again then, once dry, apply the water-repellant spray once more. Hopefully, if you've done this the first time, your bag shouldn't be in too bad a condition from the downpour, as the spray should make the raindrops roll off rather than absorb.

If you can't be arsed to go through with the leather-care palaver, though, might I recommend sticking to your Primark tote until the rain dies down and saving your Mulberry/Prada/Marc Jacobs for dry days (like you should have done with those suede shoes you ruined).

Look after these lovelies…

Mulberry Mitzy Hobo

Jimmy Choo Saba

Chloé Marcie

Raindrops are falling on my head: part 3

Today's installment is about the British handbag staple - the humble brolly. I'm never without mine, due to a severe phobia of bad hair days. But there are a few rules one ought to follow when it comes to umbrella usage, I find:

• Never ever throw away/lose the little tubular 'sock' it comes with. When you're on a crowded train, the last thing you want is your sopping brolly getting pressed against your leg or dripping on your foot (or, indeed, risking the wrath of other commuters by pressing sopping brolly against their leg or foot). Keep hold of that sock so you can store the wet brolly out of the way until you get to your destination. Failing that, carry a small plastic bag to put it in.
• Don't forget your brolly's in its little holder or wrapped up in its little velcro belt once you get to work/home and leave it soaking and festering for hours. The smell of a brolly that hasn't been left to dry properly is gag-inducing. Similar to wet dog, I find. Make sure you open it out to air it in the hallway or next to your desk (it's up to you: superstition or wet-dog smell. Your choice).
• Observe brolly etiquette on the street: when passing someone walking towards you who also has their umbrella up, tilt, lift or manoeuvre your brolly out of their way (hopefully they will politely do the same. If not, feel free to grumble at them).
• Choose a brolly that fits with your priorities. If all you want is something convenient and light/small enough to fit in your bag, by all means go for the compact, foldaway 'telescopic' ones. But if you'd rather have the reassurance of a brolly that doesn't turn inside out or bend out of all recognition at the mere hint of a gust of wind, perhaps go for a full-length option or a more sturdy automatic, which still folds part way up but is a little heavier and less teeny. Then laugh gaily at the sweary person battling with an inside out brolly on the pavement beside you as you saunter by with your own durable number.

 If it wasn't for not wanting to irk every other pedestrian having to duck out of my way on a crowded pavement, I'd choose a golfing umbrella every time, as they're big enough to keep all of you dry, including your handbag (I hate it when the edge of your handbag creeps out from beneath the canopy and gets wet). But I also have a soft spot for beautiful brollies, despite knowing practicality should come first. However, I decided to show you a few gorgeous little numbers from Umbrellaheaven.com, including some sturdy options, and the site handily lets you know how windproof each brolly is by way of a star rating (also see the original Raindrops are falling on my head… post). There's nothing like a little ray of sunshine to brighten up a rainy day.

Heart, £19.75

Gianfranco Ferre, £64.95

Windproof automatic, £14.75

Tiffany Butterfly, £28.50

Gerbera, £28.50

Lisbeth Dahl Pagoda (I have this in silvery grey, it's really lightweight), £17.95

All available from Umbrellaheaven.com

Raindrops are falling on my head: part 2

Day two of my rainy day style tips and I'm thinking about footwear. Certain shoes are obviously out of bounds when it's pouring down - open toes, anything suede, ballet pumps with thin soles that let the water in and Uggs, which slide around on wet surfaces like ice skates. If you really want to be practical and stay dry, the obvious choice is the welly boot. But if you are going to go down gumboot territory, perhaps think about these points:

• Go stylish (obvz). Wellies aren't always the most glamorous choice of footwear, so turn up the style dial by going for a nice print or bright colour or even a patent pair. All the better, get a pair of those fabulous Wedge Wellies I mentioned a while back in Glam wellies so you're not slapping along flat-footed through the puddles. 

Candy Girl Flex, £45, Wedge Welly

Cath Kidston at Asos, £20

Original Metallic, £79, Hunter

• Think about your hosiery - boot socks are generally longer, thicker and more durable than your day-to-day kind, so they stop your wellies slopping around on your feet. For ultra-snuggliness with a dash of style, opt for fleece welly socks that fold over the top like Hunter's fleece welly socks, £16.

Hunter fleece welly socks, £16

• Finally - don't forget to take a pair of shoes to change into when you get to the office. Even with a more glamorous option, your boss might not take kindly to you stomping around the office in wellies, and they're more of an outdoor look than something you want to team with officewear. Plus, they get quite hot once you're indoors. 

Rachel Bilson styles out the rain in Jimmy Choo for Hunter wellies. Now that's the way to do it!

Raindrops are falling on my head: part 1

Well it's been a bit rainy recently, and I shouldn't complain, as I was getting fed up with the snow, to be honest, so at least it's milder. But rain comes with its own sartorial problems, and you have to follow a few rules if you don't want to end up entering the office like a drowned rat of a morning. So I thought I'd take the opportunity this week to cover a few rainy day style basics, today focusing on hat hair, in case, like me, you like to sport a stylish piece of headwear (see Hat weather).

When it's rainy and blowy out there, a hat can be a good option if you don't want to be dragging around a sopping brolly that blows inside out at the mere hint of a breeze. However, as stylish as sporting a hat can be, the resulting hat hair when you take it off is less so. Therefore, I recommend the following tricks when donning a titfer:

Penelope Cruz braves the rain in a stylish trilby

1. Always carry a can of dry shampoo in your bag. After removing your hat, a quick spritz through the roots and a run-through with your fingers while shaking your head upside down should regain volume and rid your barnet of flatness and dents. Alternatively, spray some through the roots before putting your hat on then just massage it in after the hat comes off to bring the volume back.
2. If dry shampoo isn't to hand, dampen your hair in the loos then do a quick root blow-dry with fingers or a brush underneath the hand drier (check for said hand drier before wetting your hair, though...).
3. Think about your hairstyle: if you're wearing your hair down, a centre parting will get flattened against the sides of your head under your hat, so wear your hair parted to the side (you can always change your parting once you take your hat off). But if you don't want to worry about restyling at all once the hat comes off, a good 'do is wearing braids pinned up onto your head like a head band. As the plaits sit close to your head, they won't be flattened by your hat. It's also a big look for SS11.

Batiste dry shampoo spray

Braids at Emanuel Ungaro SS11

 Pictures: Barcroft Media, Vogue.co.uk

When clothes go bad

As I was putting away some washing last night (one of my least favourite things to do, alongside hanging up socks to dry - dulldulldull), I realised there were quite a few things about clothes that annoy me. So I thought I'd share them with you, in the hope that maybe there are other people out there who get disproportionately irritated by similar ridiculous, totally trivial things:

Clothing that's out to get me

• Coats without hooks with which to hang them up - where are they supposed to go? There's no room in my wardrobe and no space in my hallway for a fancy coat stand.
• Skinny jeans that are too big at the waist and gape at the back. The smaller size won't go over my thighs and wearing a belt just makes the waistband bunch up. Annoying.
• Tights that start to inch their way down your crotch as you walk along the street, leaving you with three options: grin and bear it until you get to a place where you can discreetly pull them up; waddle along uncomfortably with such an awkward gait and frustrated grimace that you scare small children; or throw dignity to the wind and hoik up your hosiery in full public glare like some mad old granny.
• Leggings that bag at the knee after you've sat down in them more than once, making you appear to have oversized kneecaps. Attractive.
• Sweaters that bobble under the armpits due to arm-chafing. Looks like you're cultivating a crop of miniature fur balls.
• Coats that are ever-so-slightly too tight on the arms, so that the sleeves of your top are always forced uncomfortably up under your armpits every time you put said coat on - ooh, and while I'm at it, thin-knit cardigans with the same problem: sleeves too fitted so that the top you're wearing underneath rolls up and leaves a big bulge underneath. Hate.

• Any item with a detail - buttons, bows, belts, ruching - at the back of it that's positioned just in the wrong place, so that it digs into your spine every time you lean against the back of a chair. Didn't they do a test run?
• Skirts that twist around during the day, so that the seam/zip/back split ends up at the front and makes you look like a crazy woman who got dressed in the dark.
• Trousers that are ever so slightly too tapered at the ankle. They look great when you're walking around, but once you decide to stand up from a sitting position, they cling to your mid calf like a needy toddler, so that you are forced to bend over and pull them back into place. Every. Time. You. Stand. Up. Argh...
• Long necklaces that decide to slide secretly to one side during the day, neatly lassoing one breast and thus demanding everyone's attention is drawn solely to that area: 'AND HERE IS MY LEFT BREAST, EVERYONE!'

Ah, that's better. Right, enough complaining, it is Friday after all. Back next week!

Bump watch

I'm starting to struggle a little with my existing wardrobe now that my baby bump's starting to get bigger. It kind of takes you unaware, and all of a sudden the trousers that fit you two weeks ago don't do up at all and you're stuck in your bedroom with minutes to spare before heading to work, panicking about what the hell you're going to wear. Or at least I have been this week. So far, I've been coping with stretchy jersey dresses (top marks to Primark's stretchy knitted dresses in a variety of colours for £12 a pop - I'm wearing my stripy one below), not-too-tight leggings and jeans given an extra bit of waistline stretch with a sneaky hairband wrapped around the top button. This seems to be reaching its limit though, and I think it's time to start purchasing some proper maternity items, rather than cheating and being uncomfortable. Also, maternity clothes are cut to fit around your bump and still flatter the rest of your figure, whereas just wearing something loose from my current wardrobe often makes me look wide and feel hideous.

So, maternity-wear shopping it is! Otherwise you'll really not want me to post any more pics up on here, as I'll just be wearing man shirts/maxi dresses/my dressing gown every day.

Dressing round the bump:

Dress, Primark; maternity tights, Topshop; scarf, Avon; boots, Ugg

Sweater, Zara; trousers, H&M; scarf, Missoni; loafers, Primark

Happy 2011!

Ok, so I know this morning was a bit of a shock to the system, getting up in the dark again, stumbling around, silently (or not so silently) burning with resentment at the world and all its unfairness... But I trust we all had a lovely Christmas and New Year's Eve? And are we all now feverishly planning our first holiday of 2011 in order to have something to look forward to and get us through the gloom of January?!

Well, even though the last thing you're probably interested right now is style-related topics when you probably slung on the comfiest outfit you could bear this morning in order to get through the day, I am now back and will indeed attempt to put together some aesthetically pleasing outfits for you to critique each week. Mind you, saying that, I may be providing less posts per week than last year, as I'm trying to get cracking with a new project, but I'll do my best, faithful readers (not such an easy task with the growing bump!). And in the meantime, why don't you cheer yourselves up with a picture of me at a fab house party on New Year's Eve wearing a silly hat: