let's talk about sheer, baby

Image: TANK Magazine, Issue 7

So, I bought a new dress. Actually if I'm being honest, since I last spoke about my wardrobe (specifically), I've bought about fifty dresses* but who's counting really?

But, specifically, there's a single dress that we're talking about today. I would love to show you said dress but unfortunately it doesn't appear to be on the Topshop website so you're going to have to create a visual from the following description: it's black, it's short, it's strappy, it drops down a bit at the back and it has one big frill on the bottom hem.

Oh, and it's sheer.

Dun, dun, dunnnnnnn. It's sheer. And now we're to the point - what does one wear with a sheer item? This is something I struggle with more frequently than I'd care to admit. All because I can't seem to find anything appropriate to wear underneath it. Nothing ever feels quite 'right' to me. So, just to highlight my point, here's an item-by-item breakdown of things that could be worn under my sheer dress, but can't.

1. Nude Underwear: nude underwear looks like granny underwear (90% of the time). And with the strappy nature of the dress coupled with the level of sheer-ness going on, you'd be able to see it. Which is not the point of nude underwear, in my opinion.

2. Nothing: I don't have a supermodel body, so only having my birthday suit on underneath would not do any justice to my beautiful new dress. 'Nuff said.

3. American Apparel Bodysuit: The whole "visibility" thing again.

4. Slip-dress/Dress: The most likely option... but double straps isn't a look I personally like - it's a last resort for me!

5. A top: This wasn't a look I'd personally think of, but I had the conversation that inspired this post with the girl at the till in Topshop, and she suggested this, which I think is a good idea on how to style the dress for different occassions, but I wouldn't want to do this everytime I wore it!

So why did I buy the dress? Well, as ever, I couldn't not buy the dress. It's so essentially me in all it's black-short-floatyness that leaving it on the rail would have tormented me to the point where I'd end up paying double the amount for a used version of the same dress on ebay (this has happened before).

I still haven't come to a conclusion on this matter, and this is more of a question post, so I'd love to hear your thoughts! Do you guys have a fail-safe something that you wear with sheer items? Or do you just go for it? Let me know!

*slight exagerration
 

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"TWS"

I touched on the subject of 'The White Shirt' in this post, but since then they've been on my mind almost constantly (along with fish and crystals, apparently). I'm beginning to think it's almost genetic to gravitate towards The White Shirt; my Mum lives in them (her current favourites are H&M). Actually, I'm surprised that since it's such a 'classic item', it hasn't been honored with an abbreviation similar to that of the LBD. And if I have to explain what an LBD is then I don't know where you've been but it's something little and black and dress-like. I think, however, that TWS doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

Anyway, I digress... earlier, as if to prove that the TWS (no? Okay) is probably the most wearble item in the world - to myself more than anyone - I spent the past half hour on Polyvore and tested out 'The White Shirt' worn with a few trends that seem to be floating about at the moment.

Outfit One: Prints

Shirt: D&G // Skirt: Topshop // Sunglasses: Illesteva Le Steel // Bow Tie: Zara 

Shoes: Charlotte Olympia // Clutch: Pucci

Outfit Two: Sport-Luxe

Shirt: As Before // Leather Backpack: Theory // Cap: Monki // Wedge Trainers: ASOS 

Watch: ToyWatch // Shorts:Kelly Birgin @ Net-A-Porter.com

Outfit Three: Pastel

Shirt: As Before // Small Zip Bag: Paul Smith // Jacket: Thierry Mugler// Shoes: Charlotte Olympia 

Trousers: Paul Smith // Chain Collar: Topshop

Just as a little after-thought; as much as I think The White Shirt is something that can be worn with anything, to any occasion, I personally won't be wearing one to any occassion that includes any of the following: spaghetti sauce, black coffee, mud, blood, leaking pens, children, dark-haired animals... etc. etc. I think you get the idea, I'm clumsy.

By the way, as well as being able to follow me on Twitter and Tumblr, you can now like Polway on Facebook!

on summer dressing

Let me just put this out there: I prefer Winter to Summer. I like layers and fur (faux) and boots. I like hot chocolate and duvets. I like tea and biscuits. The reason I don't like Summer so much? Summer is too hot for all these things.

This might come as a bit of a shock after my post from last week, but let me explain: at this point almost every year I get nostalgic for the activities of summers past, and think about all wonderful outfits I'm going to wear. This carries on until the hot weather actually arrives (although usually only for a few days in Britain) and I panic and curse myself for not having anything to wear, and then panic shop and buy a black maxi dress.

So today, while thinking about what to blog about, I realised; my inability to dress for summer is through a lack of preparation. Or put in simpler terms, the fact that I never plan for a summer wardrobe.  Well not one that I feel comfortable wearing (lets face it, I'm never going to look like Alexa Chung in denim cut offs).When the summer months start looming I carry on buying items that work for me in the cooler weather (sequins, leather, layers etcetc) because I'm stupid it's all I know. Consequently, I overheat and complain.

This isn't going to happen this year! This year I am going to be prepared, and find a way to make my wardrobe summer appropriate! So, without further adieu, here is the start of my 'Summer Wardrobe Conversion Therapy':

Outfit One

Cropped Tee: Alice and Olivia // Clutch: Lulu Guinness // Printed Maxi Skirt:Zimmerman @ Matches // Necklace: Kate Spade //  Belt: Paul Smith @ ASOS // Sandals: Topshop

The Idea: Re-using what I've already got.

The Reality: I already have similar items to this in my wardrobe (though I can't tell you what I wouldn't do for the skirt. Seriously.), so this is just a case of reworking the maxi skirt with less layers and summer accessories. Also a good example of how to rework winter (read: black/darker) accessories into summer. Because I do love my black.

Outfit Two

T-shirt: Rag and Bone // Shorts: Levis // Kimono: H&M // Sunglasses: Linda Farrow 

Bag: Marc Jacobs // Platform Brogues: Topshop

The Idea: Making getting my legs out less scary.

The Reality: Realistically, I don't think my denim cutoff dreams are ever going to cease, so this is all about finding a thin layer to wear over the cutoffs to conceal anything I'm not quite ready to bare, which due to the aforementionedtea and biscuits is pretty much everything at the moment. Note to self: running is your friend.

That's all for now; a step in  the right direction. After all, isn't life so much more appealing when you're dressed for the occassion?

Topshop 214 Magazine

Now, I'm gonna start by saying that I generally don't see myself as someone who is a slave to a particular brand. Despite having preferences, there isn't any one particular brand I would deem as a favourite and you'll never really see me in an outfit that's entirely from one highstreet shop.

Having said this (and I realise that I'm going back on myself a little here...) Topshop is the one brand/high street shop that if someone had a gun to my head, I would probably pick as my favourite.* It just fits my style aesthetic pretty damn well.

Alors... Needless to say when Topshop released their 214 magazine as a guide to the new season, I was pretty very excited, although slightly skeptical, as sometimes these freebie Magazines come across as exactly what they are: one big advertisement.

In my opinion, 214 Magazine cleverly avoids this, despite at it's heart being nothing more than a lookbook. The editorials are slick; the articles are insightful; the content is what people want (even though they may not realise: Hello Kaya Scodelario, I'd forgotten about you). They dig under the aesthetic and take a look at things that influence personal style. It's just generally well thought out and accessible to everyone.

So, without further adieu here are my favourite bits:

The perfect lip colour on the cover

 Taken from an article on vintage. Love.

The (somewhat) forgotten Kaya Scodelario (sorry!). 

Final page of print.

And just one more thing: I love it when magazines include pages such as the one above, because I think that it's easy to forget just how much work goes into a fashion show. I read these stats to a friend on the train (who isn't quite as interested in fashion) and she could hardly believe it. My reply was something along the lines of if this is what goes into a Topshop fashion show... imagine the stats for a Chanel show. Insane.

This also leads me a random conversation I had with a Maths student (bear with me) in Manchester last week. With the rise of blogging, street style and the high street, fashion is becoming so trend driven that it is at times, entirely disposable. With this being the case, at the rate this is happening it scares me that fashion could move away from being like pieces of art (I'm talking more at the designer end now), to being like a painted postcard an elderly aunt may send you from a random cruise destination. I.e. After a while you throw it away with minimal regret and consequently forget about it. This may seem extreme, but it's sad to think, right?*

Anyway, I've rambled enough for today. Happy Friday everyone!

Images, as ever, scanned by me. Taken from Topshops A/W '11 214 Magazine. Free in-store.

*I'm excluding designer from this, to nip another ramble in the bud before it starts!
*Yes I really did have this conversation with a Maths student. Doing a Masters nonetheless.

another note on denim shirts

This post may or may not contain [further] evidence that I'm falling back in love with the denim shirt...

Photo: Tumblr

I guess that's the beauty of fashion. Constant change, reassessment of style, trends and in this case, items I thought had been resigned to the back of my wardrobe.

On a side note... as much as I love Tumblr, it makes me kind of sad that the origins of some images (such as the one above) are lost to people like me, that need to cite them. Although, I'm sure I'll live!

a ramble on tattoos

Getting a tattoo is something that I've been considering since I was eighteen. Unlike my urge for getting one, however, ideas of what I would actually ink myself with are sporadic at best. And not in a 'maybe I should get more than one' kind of way. I mean, if I had actually gone and gotten a sparrow on my ankle at eighteen like I had wanted,  I would probably be saving up for laser surgery right now!

Despite my reluctance to take the plunge, I can't deny that it makes me happy knowing that tattoos are much less taboo now than they were even a few years ago. Not so long ago models with tattoos would struggle to be hired, now Freja Beha, with her twelve tattoos, is one of the fashion world's preferred models. Her tattoos add to her and make her stand out; without them, would she be as successful?

Around the time I realised a tattoo was something I wanted (admittedly whilst travelling... cliché much?) UK Vogue actually printed an article on the subject, which started an argument in my mind that has lasted the three years since I read it. I have managed to find a write up of due to some nifty 'googling'. Find it here.*

Needless to say I'm on the fence. I think some tattoos are beautiful, some... well... aren't. I think they're a great and unique way to showcase individuality (rather like a permanent way of 'dressing for your personality'... a permanent accessory if you like), but as it states in the Vogue article... there's something refreshing about virgin skin. But then scars are beautiful and show where a person has been and displays a personality quirk that may have otherwise remained hidden. But then even without 'meaning' they can look sooooooo cute like in the above picture, which I saw and promptly thought 'who wouldn't want a giraffe tattoo... I'm gonna pencil me an appointment right now!'  

Do you see my problem here? I'm too indecisive. 

After moving on from Sparrows to wanting some writing, I'm currently wanting something Hummingbird related on my thigh. This has been my number one tattoo area since seeing Zana's (of Garbage Dress) tattoo (here). I think placement is everything. Would a giraffe tattoo look anywhere near as good if it was on an arm? No, it wouldn't.

So in rapid conclusion, I guess it's something I'll do eventually... I'm always asking people about their tattoos (do you guys have any?) and discussing potential designs/placements/meanings. Until then I guess I'll just enjoy my virgin skin.

 

Image scanned by me, taken from Jalouse Magazine.

*I actually still have the article... tried to find the original article online but couldn't. If anyone's really bothered I could probably scan it!

the single girl vs. the [fashion] world

I think the fashion world is trying to tell me something.

It all started when I bought 'The Pick Me Up' Issue of i-D Magazine, which, in essence, contained a glossary of pick up lines that may have been better off left in the nineties. Although the pictures/clothes make up for it in abundance.

See evidence:

At the time I thought nothing of it. I'm happily single, so i-D magazine thrusting pick-up lines in my face didn't really faze me despite the rather cute guy in the third picture/throughout the entire issue. Until last night, when during a visit to a Chinese restaurant I received a fortune cookie which read:

'A new romance is on the horizon'

Or something to that effect.
Then, as it was a Wednesday (look at me knowing my days of the week...), I checked YouTube to see whether Jenna Marbles had a new Vlog, and she did, on (you guessed it)... PICK UP LINES.
Evidence:

So, that's it, the world apparently wants me to quit my single semi-repelling ways (I'm not quite a Man Repeller, love Leandra though!), and settle up with some a random man that I'm meant to find by using one of the following:

'Do you like raisins? Well, how about a date then?'

' Life without you is like a broken pencil... Pointless.'

Or my personal favourite:

'Let's make like fabric conditioner and snuggle'

Sorry, but unless it's Justin Bartha/Ed Westwick/Patrick Dempsey/Alexander Skarsgard, I'm just not interested, no matter how appealing the thought of having someone on call to take outfit pictures is. Just kidding, if my outfits were actually that interesting I'd buy a tripod.

Images and pick up lines stolen and scanned from i-D Magazine.

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