Trend saturation

As much as I’m loving the majority of this season’s fashion trends, it gets a bit much when I’m on my way to work and walk past three women in fluffy gilets, a handful of shearling-trim ankle boots and a swathe of aviator jackets, and every other person seems to be sporting a camel something or other. It’s enough to make you sick of the sight of AW10 already, and it’s only just begun!

Not that I’m saying I don’t like these trends – this season’s fashion forecast works so well with the chilly weather, that anything fluffy or shearling-lined seems not just damn well appropriate, but practically obligatory.

Nor am I saying that I don’t advocate following fashion (hello? I just bought a camel cape for heaven's sake), it’s just that I sometimes get a bit bored when I see so many clones all about me. I’ve often walked away from something I really love in a clothes shop, purely because I know loads of other people will love it too, and then we’ll all be walking around looking like identikit versions of each other. Sometimes I’ll ‘give a nod’ to a trend rather than going the whole hog – for instance carrying a shearling-trim bag rather than going for the aviator jacket (seriously, when you work on women’s fashion magazines, you have to really think about what you’re wearing so as not to enter the office wearing exactly the same as every other woman in there).

What I'm saying is, if people are going to dip their toe into a major, popular trend of the season, I think they need to be careful how they wear it so as not to totally lose all sense of individuality. That’s the thing about fashion, really – you don’t have to be stylish to be a follower of fashion. Style is about taking something – fashion-forward or not – and putting your own stamp on it, wearing it your way. Yes, buy one of the latest directional pieces, but give it a spin, wear it differently to how it’s worn in all the magazines, or customise it somehow. For instance, belt your faux-fur gilet with a bright print silk scarf rather than the skinny belt it came with; team your camel coat with hot pink gloves or a slick of red lippy; try belting your aviator jacket for a different silhouette. And then, as the X Factor judges are fond of repeating proudly to their wannabes, ‘You’ve made it your own’. 

 The designers who kicked it all off…

Burberry Prorsum's shearling-lined aviator

D&G's faux fur

Camel at Michael Kors

Photos: Vogue.com

Style salute

Could it be any colder today? It's brass monkeys out there! And talking of brass (spurious link coming up...), I was feeling a military look this morning, so teamed my khaki Houlihan-esque skinny combats (Primark – total style steal! Don't they look like J Brands??) with my navy woollen V-neck sweater from Zara with button trim up from the wrists. Actually, the sweater has a bit of a school-uniform feel to it too, so it would also work a treat in a preppy outfit. If I was going for the full look, I could pop a military-style hat on, such as the one below. But I'm not one for overkill. And anyway, I'd just washed my hair. Hat hair is sooo not a good look.

Sweater, Zara; skinny combats, Primark; boots, Peacocks

Hat, New Look

Small person style steal

It occurred to me after yesterday's post that I need not be envious of the small people and their wardrobe options, as there are plenty of fun, lighthearted choices out there in big person land. And, should I ever come over all nostalgic for those easy days as a 10-year-old, or simply desperate for an item of clothing to bring me joy just for the sake of its sillyness, I could go out and buy one of the following, then wear with pride while chewing away on a Drumstick lolly. And humming the theme tune to Thundercats.

£35, Cath Kidston

£80, Tatty Devine

£69, Vivien of Holloway

£38, Cath Kidston

£16, Topshop

£12, Topshop

Small person style envy

We live round the corner from a play centre and creche, and they have kids' parties virtually every day of the week, which means I constantly see gleeful small people trotting past, victoriously grasping shiny balloons and gussied up in all their partywear finery. Not only is this quite a cute display, but I've found myself remembering how fab it was when I was five and got to wear glitter, sequins, feathers and bows – and sometimes just to the supermarket. Remember back in the day when you refused to wear anything but your favourite wellies, even in high summer? Or when you insisted upon taking your fairy wand to school, or how weekends weren't complete unless you were wearing a Mickey Mouse tracksuit while watching Disney Club?

The main thing that got me flashbacking to the good old days was seeing a curly-haired four year old this weekend wearing the most AMAZING pink sequinned hi-top trainers I've ever seen. I was so jealous, and I started yearning for all my favourite items of yesteryear - my polka dot Swatch watch, my red patent Clark's Magic Step shoes, my Kylie Tshirt, my lurid green foil-panelled party skirt and matching tights with diamante detail at the ankle.

Ah, if only, just for one day, we could forget looking stylish, on trend and coordinated and go out head to toe in whatever brought a great big, stupid grin to our faces. Even if that did involve wearing a red coat by its hood, and running around Tesco like a superhero in our glittery wellies...

 

 

 

Top to bottom: Brandon trainers; Swatch watch; Wings from Fairynanaland.com; Tutu from H&M Kids; Wand from Party Store

Subconscious hoarding

Now, I'm well aware that I'm a shoe hoarder. I have never been able to limit myself to a capsule footwear collection, preferring instead to just cram every available space in the spare room with wedges, boots, courts, kitten heels, platforms, peep-toes... I seriously have a shoe for every outfit eventuality, and yet this does not stop me from wanting more. There's something about footwear that sets my heart all of a flutter, and there's no comparable feeling to buying a new pair. No top, dress or bag has the same effect on me.

The worst thing about this is that, in my continual need to buy another pair, I have grown an unhealthy obsession with cheap shoes, delighting in a trip to Primarni or New Look or M&S, where you can pick up a Billy bargain of a shoe in your lunch hour (or, in my case, come home complete with FIVE shiny new pairs, as I did one particularly heady, shameful moment that became known among my friends as The Day Of Five Pairs). I'm sure there'll be people out there shrieking in horror at the moral/ecological/false-economical crimes I'm committing here, but there it is. I am a Shoe-a-holic.

And so it came as a bit of a surprise to discover recently that I am also, it appears, a bit of a coat hoarder. I am vaguely aware that perhaps I own one or two more coats than is strictly necessary (this has been brought to my attention on numerous occasions by my husband, bemoaning how impossible it is to enter our spare room for all the jackets hanging on the back of the door preventing it from opening fully). But coats are surely more of a health & safety thing, in that they are necessary to keep you warm, so as far as I'm concerned, they don't really count. But I wasn't aware just how many of these functional items I am actually in possession of, not, that is, until I found myself buying another one last week. Now how did that happen? I'll tell you how it happened. Purchase Justification, that's how. 

There I was in Topshop, window shopping, ahem... When, lo, I was all at once standing in front of the most gorgeous camel cape in the entire world. Funnel neck, military buttons, big pockets... My pulse quickened and I had one of those moments where you have to force yourself to saunter casually over towards an item you Must. Have. Now - so as not to appear to be too fussed with it, because that wouldn't be cool. Also, horror of horrors, by rushing over to your feted item, your excitement could potentially prompt an otherwise indifferent bystander to suddenly take an interest in it themselves! So when I finally had the cape in my greedy little mitts, my head was inundated with Purchase Justification:

1. Camel is SUCH a big colour this season (on trend)

2. Classic shape will be in fashion for years (investment)

3. Capes offer room to grow should I get pregnant in future (practical)

4. Funnel neck means no scarf needed (multitasking)

5. Smart enough for evening as well as daytime (versatile)

6. Thick enough to keep me warm but thin enough to wear in spring, too (transseasonal)

7. Easy to wear open when stepping from train to tube to escalator (London-appropriate)

I mean, it's a wonder I haven't bought one before now, because it's quite clear that this camel cape is an essential item in my wardrobe! In fact it makes me feel slightly nauseous that I might have gone through the whole season without owning one. So anyway, where was I? Oh yes, subconscious hoarding. Erm...  Did I tell you about my new cape?

Cape, Topshop

Shorts day to night: part two

Woohoo, just back from my fantabulous burlesque class and had a fabulous evening as usual, wiggling, grinding, shimmying and posturing like a good'un. And now the moment you've all been waiting for: the transformation of my shorts from day into night. So with a twist of my shirt tails, a slip of black opaques, a risky red dancing shoe and a slick of scarlet lippy, I was ready for action. I do love a good ta-da moment.

Strike a burlesque pose? Oh, go on then

With the divine Polly Rae (come on, we couldn't not pout!)

 Celebritease burlesque dance class, Pineapple Studios, London, www.pineapple.uk.com

Catch Polly Rae and her Hurly Burly Girlies at the next show, www.hurlyburlyuk.comwww.hurlyburlyuk.com

Shorts day to night: part one

Tonight, I'm hotfooting it into Covent Garden for a burlesque lesson with the fabulous Polly Rae at the famous Pineapple Studios. I need a quick turnaround after work, and therefore decided it would be easier to work with a daytime look that I can turn quickly into a nighttime look. So I'm starting out with my faux leather shorts, made work-friendly with thick grey woollen tights and a white shirt worn smartly, and a long chunky knit brown cardi over the top.

Later I shall transform, Superman-style, into Burlesque Girl! Or at the very least into someone dressed in an outfit that's suitable for shaking my thing in and also has a sassy edge (as is only fit when you're going to be shimmying away with one of burlesque's finest). In order to do this, I will be changing tights, ditching the cardi, slipping into fabulous patent heels and wearing my shirt differently. I may even add a sultry red lip, depending on how foxy I'm feeling...

Nipple tassels optional.

Cardi, New Look; shirt, M&S; shorts, Next; tights and wedges, Primark