style crush: Solange

Long story short: I'm back from France and with me I've brought a stack of French magazines (including my much loved Jalouse) and a new style crush. Enter Solange...

I have to admit, whilst the fashion world has been in love with her for a while, I remained unconvinced. I've always loved her ever-so-slightly-famous sister Beyoncé (more for her music and stage presence than her outfits...), and never thought much of Solange, in terms of dressing or talent or otherwise.

I'll eat my words now. My love for her has kind of crept up on me, but this editorial completely sealed the deal, so-to-speak. Her print mixing is amazing, and a complete inspiration to the new approach I'm trying to take towards dressing (more colour and prints, less black). She has Beyoncé's beauty, but with an edginess and quiet confidence that I would love to emulate. So, Solange, je t'aime!

Pictures: French Glamour, Julliet 2012 // Collages by me.

clear burberry rain-mac: encore

Just a little update on the Burberry rain mac I posted about and compared to something one might find in a Primark bargain bin.

Found this in an issue of Jalouse Magazine I bought in France and subsequently forgot about... I love how it has been made to look kind of mystical and mysterious by some clever blurring and hazing (which is not because my scanner is shockingly bad).
And of course, because I'm a girl, my thought process did something like this:

mysterious = hard to get = amazing = must be mine!

So... Apologies Christopher Bailey, I take back the bargain bin comment! Unfortunately for me though, I still can't afford it. Maybe Primark will come out with a knock off? A girl can dream!

Photo scanned by me from Jalouse Magazine.

a ramble on denim shirts

So, as pretty much everyone is aware, after a long period of being forgotten in  the 90's, the denim shirt made a pretty fierce comeback a while ago: so much so that I think that around 90% of the world's population (probably) has one hanging/folded in their wardrobe (I have 2). And why not? I mean, it goes with pretty much everything, when worn in they are extremely comfortable and now, it is considered somewhat fashionable.

I definitely counted myself as a denim shirt lover, despite a slight aversion to jeans. In my second year at University, I think my uniform of black opaques, black body-con dress and over-sized denim shirt became - for want of a better word - slightly infamous. I became somewhat obsessed with snubbing brands like Topshop (who were selling denim shirts for around £30; I dread to think how much designers sold them for), by finding denim shirts in charity shops: I bought both of mine for £3: a Levi's and a Wrangler which would have cost at least 10X the price when new.

But lately, I don't know... I guess I haven't felt the love. I feel like the denim shirt has been so overdone that I pass over any look styled with a denim shirt. It's almost too accessible. Too generic. Before long I had  retired mine to the the back of the wardrobe without even realising.

But then... the above picture... quite simple styling but wow, an outfit styled with a denim shirt was my favourite out of an editorial! This never happens anymore, especially as some parts of the look are simple, and in my mind, quite commonly paired with a denim shirt (the black trousers, brown belt...). I tend to prefer a bit of the unexpected in an editorial.
There is just something, however, that feels remarkably fresh... I think it makes a big difference that the shirt isn't the focal point... The outfit doesn't say 'wearing a denim shirt = fashionable'. I guess it just has the kind of understated cool that I am constantly trying to achieve!

It also helps that the trousers are fringed and I have serious hair envy for the model! But seriously... denim shirts? Am I about to dig mine out again? I don't know. There also seems to be a slight return of denim on the catwalk for S/S 12, but nothing has really grabbed me. Maybe if I owned that Poncho/Blanket.

Shot taken from French Grazia and (as ever) scanned by me. I picked up loads of French magazines on my trip so expect more from them! Also, thanks to those who wished me well: I had a great time! And also thanks for all the sweet comments on my previous posts, you're all so nice!

tune for Tuesday

This is my happy song, and today I am 'très heureux'.


Lots of reasons to be happy right now: got a new job today (nothing exciting, but better than my current), I'm going to Edinburgh this weekend, I'm now going to France in September (again...) and I ordered a hat of ASOS that I've wanted for agesssssssssssssss... and it was in the sale. Score.


More soon! X

France = Listening to music by the river; hot, drunken nights in Bordeaux, wine, picnics in vineyards; prettily lit bars; cucumber cocktails (amazing); sitting on the street watching buskers; chateaux visits in 42 degree heat; searching for the coolest bit of shade; rum; grande cafe au lait avec pain au chocolat (hang over cure); final walks along the river and, of course, friends to shares these moments with.

Wow, it's July already? Time seems to be moving at a pace that is unfathomable to me right now.

Last week, I went to France for 5 days, which was my third visit in 6 weeks. A little insane, but I love it. I don't really know where I'm going in my life right now, but going to France reminds me that there's more to life than career pressure, peer pressure and the need to conform to standards set by a multitude of different people. Going to France reminds me (selfishly), that I'm young, I have time, and life is way more than a career. It's okay to sit back, and appreciate what I do know... which isn't a lot at the moment! I think too many people (especially graduates) feel the need to settle into a career immediately; but why? Life should be fun, and I'm only 21... now is not the time to settle... now is the time to be reckless and explore life (and the world) so that when I do finally work out what I want to do, I'll be ready for it.

Didn't mean for this post to get quite this heavy... nevertheless, J'adore la France (if you hadn't guessed...).

I guess this post is more of a reminder to my future-self that there is more. to. life.

à bientôt! X