If wishes were horses...

It's the first day of December and by rights you should be receiving your first hit of the legendary December Daily Outfits but since the entire weekend was taken up with yet another packing and moving session, it's going to be a little late. This is the third time I've moved this year and I'm starting to feel a need to put down roots but I am nowhere near getting to housing nirvana yet.

If only I could find one of those genies to grant me three wishes... First on my list would be a lovely, spacious, light and airy house with a live in cleaner. Then I'd make one of those trick wishes, like: "Oh gracious genie, I wish for a wish a day for the rest of my life, kthxbai!"

And my third wish would be for something frivolous and fabulous, like this beautiful purple, ribbon-bow wristwatch from BCBGMaxAzria. Has a watch ever been more gorgeous? And at £100 it's actually affordable. While I'm waiting for that genie, it's up to you Santa. Go on, make my wish come true.

Love x Love +Beryll

When I got these photos through from accessories designer Sigmar Berg of +Beryll, it was like he had been reading my mind. Or, possibly, my blog!

I just love the hard edged, spare beauty of these pieces. It's all organic - leather, metal - and utilitarian.

If I had a few hundred pounds to spare I would definitely grab one these:


Holster bag - perfect for cycling on those days when you don't need an entire rucksack. I picked up a similar bag at a charity store in Newcastle for £1. It's all leather and touch wearing and i can just sling it over my shoulder and go.

Asphalt boots - I practically live in my New Look Army boots at the moment. They're comfy and tough and go with everything. So I know these boots would be a good buy that I could wear to death.

Leather cuffs, silver rings, chunky brushed silver necklace. This is the way I like my jewelry, simple, tough, chunky, easy to wear. Luckily, Topman and H&M men's provide cheaper alternatives. Still wouldn't say no to one of those rings!

And my favourite piece of all - dog tags (more war motifs!). What I particularly like about these is that they come in four different colours - red for love, silver for hope, gold for trust and black for faith. I like the black ones - natch - and faith is personally very apt for me right now.

I want it now! Topshop rainbow brief case, £35

I have long held the opinion that no matter how much you may like what you do for a living, some days work is just... work. And it's a non-stop, angsty, stressy slog that starts the moment you leave the house and join the general flow of drones until you get back home again. It's doubly annoying in the winter when you have to get out of your bed in darkness and return in darkness. So depressing.

So yay! for springtime and also this lovely rainbow brief case, which should bring on an instant personal ray of sunshine that'll combat any work related dreariness with it's cheerful, colourful presence.

So bright and colourful is it, that I am convinced it was actually made in a factory in the mythical land of Oz. Could it have magic powers to immediately make you bolder, brainier and more loving of your fellow man? Who cares? It's gorge.

I want it now! Liberty of London Bug Shirt

Bug-ger me! Now normally, I hate bugs. They are evil. Think about it: they have flappy, buzzy wings and they mostly bite and they have hive minds - all the better to club together on some balmy night and smother us all in our sleep... OH LORD, THE BUGS ARE COMING. THE BUGS!

It's the one thing I hate about summer, all those creepy crawlies mistaking your fascinator for a flower and trying to pollinate you; wasps buzzing around with an evil glint in their big shiny eyes... Yeuch!

Which is why I can't believe that I am actually genuinely liking this bug shirt. It's a great alternative to the ubiquitous floral look and even though it's got cockroaches and beatles and all sorts on it, they all look so colourful and cheerful and friendly that they can't possibly be scary.

Unless... they've been planted there by an evil bug genius who plans awaken them all from their summer shirt slumber some balmy night and make them smother us all to death in our sleep...

Okay. Must watch less scary movies.

The shirt's from Liberty of London, and if you've got a spare £175 left lying around - as we all, no doubt, do - it'll be the talking point of your summer. Unless the bugs get you first...

I want it now! See by Chloe knit dress, £100 (sale) @Browns

It's true what they say: "age ain't nothin' but a number." What "they" don't necessarily tell you is that the flipside to looking young and beautiful for longer (like me) is that it kinda turns you into a big kid.

Which should be okay, but it's not because you are not a big kid. You are a grown up with reponsibilities and duties, and you just need to grow up already and start taking life a bit more seriously before you die!

Or so I've heard.

One of these supposed functions of being a grown up is to buy grown up clothes, which means not throwing away the housing deposit on one trip to Primark but instead saving for a wear forever "investment piece" (AKA blow the entire month's rent on a dress you'll wear once and then toss to the back of your wardrobe as long as it's designer). Which is why I have resolved to buy one grown up, investment piece before I die.

There's never been a better the time to do it, while stunned retailers everywhere declare silly season on their merchandise in order to shift as much as possible before the financially crippled masses stop buying altogether. Basically, designer clothing is going for dirt cheap these days, so why not "invest" now?

However, being the big kid I am, I still can't help gravitating towards the primary coloured, fun-looking, one-season-wonder fare. Like this dress:

It's gorgeous and totally unsuitable as an investment piece. In other words, it's perfect, I'll take it.

I want it now! ASOS Petite floral dress, £38

Oh, to be petite! Now those are words I never thought would pass my lips. That is, until I saw this beautiful floral, tulip skirted dress available from the ASOS Petite range.

I know we should all be floral-ed out by now but if ever a dress could be made to count on the "winter florals" list, this would be it. This makes a welcome change from the LBD and the shiny and sequinned stuff that will - sure as eggs is eggs - be creeping it's way onto High Street shop floors like a tinselly rash.

This dress has cocktail chic and, worn with either a sheer tee or black polo-neck and opaques (and platform heels), will be something different for your winter party wardrobe. Added bonus, you'll be able to wear it next summer too.

Suddenly I rue the day I got so tall and am currently envious of all pint-sized people.

How come the boys are getting all the good stuff?

I have a well-documented issue with coveting stuff that's meant for boys, especially accessories. But really I have to say that this skater statement necklace from Topman has no business belonging to a boy.

Look at it...

Topman skater necklace, £10

It's perfect for me.

I want it now! Maison Martin Margiela zip leather leggings at Browns, £735

Thanks to the swift sell out of the highly coveted Topshop leggings in August, we already know about the awesome power of the leather legging. The Topshop ones are cute but these ones right here? Are the Daddy. As if being merely skin-tight leather wasn't enough, check out the zip detail - looks great from the front in that sort of v-collar high-waist but those zips also go all the way round and down the back. Sex-ay!

If I had £735 to spare, I would, of course, buy them. Maybe a I should start a Maison Martin Margiela zip leather leggings fund? All donations thankfully received.

I want it now - Warehouse lace cape, £22

It's the perfect accompaniment to that lacy, goth-ey, witch-ey, look that we are all destined to be into come A/W. Very versatile.

You could pop it over a tight black t-shirt and skinnies and totally rock out. It would look equally good with an LBD and has the power to add a little more to that same ol' skirt n' top combo.

All that, and just £22? Gimme!

Head case

You may have noticed that I'm developing a massive obsession with head gear (or has that ship already sailed right over the edge of that bit of the map marked "ere be dragons"?)

Anyhoo, some more head candy for ya (well, for me really, but I can share!):
Mini beret fascinator, Coast at ASOS
Feather Alice band, Warehouse
Rope Alice band, Topshop
Corsage head bands both at Urban Outfitters

If you're at all interested and not already bored witless by my new obsession, check in tomorrow for my DIY doily head piece (has to be seen to be believed).

Bow Wow!

You could probably slap a bow on anything these days and I'd instantly find it more appealing. Such is the power of the subliminal bow messaging that I've been receiving all summer. It would go a long way to explaining why I find these lovelies totally irresistible (click on images to enlarge):

Big bow Alice bands and bow shoes, Topshop
PVC bow hair pins, Urban Outfitters
Clip on bow with veil, ASOS

But I have no excuses for my growing collection of "Bowrabilia":Silver Mary Jane, New Look
clip on PVC bows, Topshop
Bow ties, thrifted
Bow belt, thrifted

Or the fact that I have recently made a bow Alice band of my own with not one, but two wonky bows:DIY Alice band

Flapperlicious!

This gorgeous corsage headband, £14 from Warehouse, will look great with a pretty flapper style dress and could also work with your trendy new Goth chic wardrobe for A/W 2008. But more importantly, it could be totally "Gok-ed"*. You just need a length of stretchy lace and an old corsage. One for my DIY list.

*From Gok Wan (seen virtually everywhere at the mo and consequently getting slightly irritating). The DIY style god, is currently making my head buzz with all the alterations he's doing to high street garments to make them individual and irresistible.

I want it now! Faith heart clutch, £30

When I think accessories on the high street, Faith isn't a brand that immediately comes to mind. But recently, I've seen them edging more and more into my conciousness (at least that bit of my consciousness that sees something bright shiny and covetable and goes "oooh!") when I think I might need a little cheap outfit pick-me-up.

They are by no means there yet with a ready stock of "lovies" (to quote Susie Bubble) but every so often they come up with the goods. This gorgeous bag is a good example.

Love that shiny red and the heart shaped, hard frame. The shape also looks nice a robust - like you might be able to fit in more than a credit card and a small mobile phone - and not cheap and flat. And, thoughtfully, they've provided a nice long chain handle.

My only quibble is, seeing as it's not made of leather, can the £30 price tag really be justified? In these financially times, I'm thinking: not. Still, nice to look at.

Also comes in black, for those of you who don't share my penchant for brights.

I want it now! Eucalyptus spot dress, £65 at Oli

Fashion doomsayers are predicting that the end is nigh for pretty dresses. I say, stuff that and take a look at this beauty. Black and white polkadots and bright red sash give this variation on the prom dress extra staying power.

Add to that an adjustable hem that can be tied up for extra pouff or let down for a more demure look and the versatility box is ticked. It' s strapless so you can team it with pristine white tee for a casual touch or wear with a statement choker for added glamour.

Perfect and just in time for the wedding season.

I want it now - H&M harem pants, £19.99

I'm starting to develop a very bad harem pant habit. I probably already have too many but I wouldn't mind adding this pair to my collection.

Yes, with that low, low, crotch drop and the drainpipe tightness in the leg, they're bordering on bizzare. The model just about manages to pull them off, so God only knows what they'd look like on someone relatively normal.

Having said that, it's their bizzare-ness that makes them so attractive. They would look brilliant with a simple cotton vest, some high heeled, strappy sandals and layers of beads. The price isn't bad either...

Where am I going? Why to the nearest H&M, naturally. I have a feeling these won't be around for long.

Image credit: H&M Magazine

I want it now! Warehouse full floral skirt, £40

I was just beginning to get a little bit bored with ditsy here, ditsy there, ditsy, ditsy everywhere... So it's great timing on the part of Warehouse to offer up this pretty little gem.

Just flowery enough to be good looking without being overpowering and the colours in the pattern compliment the white background perfectly. You can almost see yourself billowing about in it at a summer picnic like some sort of ethereal creature, can't you?

A brilliant summer buy.

I want it now! Warehouse black tiered underskirt, £25

I'm all about the pouffy skirts. The pouffier, the better. To up that volume, you've gotta have an underskirt or two handy.

If, unlike me, you can't be bothered to make an underskirt from scratch, then be on the alert for this tiered lovely from Warehouse. Make your pouffy skirts and prom dresses even pouffier or be daring and wear it alone with big pants or leggings.

Word of warning: Warehouse hasn't indicated a length on the website (duh!), so it might be worth trying in store before you buy.

Want more? See more

I want it now! H&M printed mac, £19.99

Okay, what can I say about this coat other than it's a yummy, shiny, red and blue and loud as loud can be. That is why I want it.

When the storm clouds come a knockin' not only do I want to be caught in the rain in something that will provide half decent water-proofing, but I also want something suitable for skipping in the wet and dancing in puddles. Or something that at least makes me feel like doing it.

Basically this is a coat that would take all the misery out of the weather and imbue the wearer with instant gaiety. All that for less than £20? What's not to like?

A girl's got to accept her limitations

Y'all know me; I'm an an adventurous sort of dresser. I think nothing of tossing on the layers, clashing up the colours, pouffing up the skirts and juzzing up the vintage threads. I know this.

But I also know that no matter how much I may covet and adore this pretty, navy blue, chiffon blouse, with the adorable capelet neck from Topshop - which, incidentally, has been reduced from £40 to £20 and is still available in my size - I won't be buying it.

Why? You cry. It's not like I can't afford it and I have freely confessed my love for said garment, so there must be a simple answer. And that answer is: with my broad shoulders and big chest this blouse will do absolutely nothing for me. I know this without even trying it on. There is no point wasting my time wishing otherwise. Sometimes a girl's just got accept her limitations.

Ah, me! *dramatic, heavy sigh*

Shoe Lurve - Kg peeptoe shboots, £90 at ASOS

Even though I initially only saw them side on, it was lurve at first sight with these quirky/gorgeous Kg by Kurt Geiger shoes.

I have now looked at them from every angle, and with the neon "go-faster" stripes, the cutout and peeptoe detail, the triangular heel and the shboot shape, I have to admit that, like Mary Poppins, they are practically perfect in everyway. I must have a pair as soon as is humanly possible.

I know at least one other person who would agree with me... Queen Michelle!