Spring awakening

I love musical theatre. I love it for all the reasons that people who hate musicals hate musicals - the spontaneous bursting into song, the dance routines, the costumes, Andrew Lloyd-Webber (okay, maybe not).

My love of musicals is the reason why I will still pick the old fashioned Disney 2d animations over those whizzy new Pixar ones anyday. If ain't got a singing Genie or Satyr then it's just not Disney, dammit! I am so glad to see that Disney has returned to it's roots with The Frog Prince and I can't wait to see it. My love of musicals is why I fell in love with Glee.

Anyway, this isn't a post about Disney. It's not even a post about musicals. It's a post about a musical, specifically Spring Awakening. I went to see it last year at the Lyric Hammersmith and it was A-mazing. I laughed, I cried, I ooh-ed, I aah-ed. The music was fantastic, the story was poignant but mostly I loved the costumes. The boy's costumes. They all dressed like this:

This is how I want to dress. Forever. The guy up there is Moritz. He was my favourite character in Spring Awakening because he got to sing all the kick-ass rock songs. And then he killed himself. Smell the teen angst! I have this postcard on my wall and everytime I look at it I want to go in search of knickerbockers and a fitted blazer.

This is how I would interpret the look:
It's all a bit Janelle Monae. Love this girl. Check out this vid:

They're exclusive, I'm excited

Okay, I'm excited. I'm frequently excited so no news there but ask me why. Why am I excited? Well I'm excited because I've been invited to the fashion press preview of Vonrosen. They're sending a car and everything!

Vonrosen is new label from Berlin launching soon in the UK, that is so exclusive you can't look at their online shop without a password. As far as I can tell from the limited views on the website, the clothes are superluxe, neutral, paired down classics. They only sell online and they only sell to people they chose to sell to.
It's an interesting concept, this level exclusivity, especially in the current economic climate. It's either sheer genius or doomed to failure. Still you have to admire the detail that has been paid to marketing the product from the password protected online shop to the carefully thought out packaging (which has already won two red dot design awards) to the personalisation of clothing with an oval insignia, hand engraved with each customer’s monogram.

Of course, it could all be a case of smoke being blown up my nether regions but with all this mystery, intruigue and suspense, I am hooked. I can't wait to see what it's all about.

Black dog

I've been thinking about my decison to change my style up and start working a mostly black wardrobe. Upon reflection, it's no coincidence that my once chaotic, loud, colourful clothing choices have been pared down to neutral. Has it got something to do with my mood these days or is all that grey turning me into a miserable old bag?

It's weird how reinvention not only affects you but the people around you as well. So drastic is my style change that someone at work actually pulled me aside to ask if I was in mourning or something bad had happened. Which on the one hand made me feel like: "shut up, I don't dress for your amusement" but on the other hand was like: "Interesting...". If you believe that the clothes we wear are an expression of ourselves - either who we are or how we wish to be perceived - then suddenly pulling out the widow's weeds might have a deeper meaning for me than I originally thought.

The past year and a half has been a little difficult for me. I won't go into details, but there have been a lot of significant endings and I'm thinking my radical style change has been on some level an attempt to deal with things. Somehow, right now it's important for me to go back to neutrality. But I like to believe it's a place of calm and simplicity rather than just darkness.

I spent most of my late 20s in a sort of functional depression where I was cut off from the rest of the world and I don't want to go there again. So part of my style now is definitely about feeling the need to be fierce, to get girded up, to go into warrior mode. Everything is hard edged and off kilter. Everything is armour. I am prepared for war.

It's not all gloom and doom. I have made many new friends and re-acquianted myself with some old ones. I am picking up on the things that are really important to me and the things that I really want to do that I have somehow stopped myself from doing or put on hold. Yeah, some of it's difficult and in flux but actually life is good. I'm not in mourning at all, what I am doing is taking stock. I am coming back to myself at my most essential so that I can become a more authentic me.

Some of that change might become apparent on this blog. I might have to shut it down altogether. I haven't really made up my mind yet. It depends on who I end up finding at the end of all this. Things might be quiet around here for a while (or maybe, simply different), but I am still here, so when you drop by, say Hi.

Image courtesy of elsh at Redbubble

I know I've been away too long...

I've been really busy. Cutting my hair(!) and putting on make up.

I've gone from this:

L'il miss bushy hair

To this:Ms Moody Chops, to you!

But mostly I've been mega busy with the day job. And with life.

The best thing about the new hair is that it fits in perfectly with my new style. I'm all about the dark right now - studs, sturdy boots and black, black, black.
I'll be writing all about it. When I get a free minute that isn't taken up with work and sweet oblivion.

Designalike: New Look Vs Sass & Bide

The Sass & Bide Black Rats leggings have been a major hit with leggings fans this year. Such was the strength of the instant love for this product that they had to double the original pre-order rate. They've been selling out everywhere ever since.

The original Sass & Bide Black Rats

So, I suppose it was only a matter of time before someone on the High Street took a punt on some decent copies. New Look, have actually managed to get a non-too-shabby cheap alternative into stores.

Separated at Birth: New Look "ruched treggings"

I only wonder how long it's going to take S&B to cry foul. Better get 'em before New Look are forced to trash 'em all pending a lawsuit then.

What do you think: New Look "ruched treggings", viable alternative to S&B Black Rats or rank rip-off? Would you buy them?

Lost weekend, too

So, Friday shopping. I had a 20 per cent off shopping voucher from New Look burning a hole in my pocket, so I decided to venture to the flagship store after work. First off, it's looking much better in there lately and the wall of shoes was looking mighty comely.

I was tempted by a pair of platform gladiator sandals and some 3-strap Mary Jane's but in the end I plumped for some black suede platform boots. They've got a lovely shape and I like the suede texture but I'm pretty sure those spindly heels will be wrecked in no time and , I know they're lace-ups but I would have appreciated a zip to making wearing them a little less time consuming. Ah well...Also picked up a Giles Deacon purple plaid shirt from the men's section. It's big, soft and flannely. Perfect.

Since I could see its shining sign and open doors from across the road, I also took a look in Primark this foolhardy "quick pop-in" lasted several hours and ended in my buying at least 3 outfits worth of tat.

Stripes and Tartan Belt, Topshop
Boots, New Look
The rest, Primark

Lumber-rock?Boots and plaid shirt, New Look
The rest, Primark

Acceptable in the 80sShoes, Shellys
Bow tie, thrifted
The rest (including preposterous ankle warmers- how old do I think I am??) Primark

Been there, done that

I thought this armour dress by Hannah Marshall that I spied on Amelie Boutique looked rather familiar...

Then I realised why. Remember this? Note the similarities?
I'm saying nothing until I've talked to my lawyers. Heh!

Swarming with studs

Do you ever have those moments when you notice something for the first time and then it seems to be everywhere? Like red cars. Or Christmas novelty ties. Well yesterday, I slept blissfully unaware of studs and awoke this morning to studs everywhere. They're on shoes, on boots, on jackets, on bags... Everywhere I look it's studallover.

I like studded black accessories in particular because they can really toughen an otherwise girly outfit. Ideal for breathing new life into your summer dress.

Belt, Oli Fusion; bowling bag, Oli; tassled bag, River Island; clutch, Star by Julien MacDonald; patent bag, French Connection

Just throw your dress over a black poloneck and shiny leggings and add any or a combo of these studded lovelies and suddenly you are so punk.

Tassled boots, River Island; knee boots, Full Circle; Shboots, Peacocks;

flats, Miss Selfridge; courts, All Saints

Alternatively wear one of those studded dresses with simple accessories and a boyfriend cardigan and see how fresh it looks.

Shorts, Topshop; sequin dress, Warehouse; biker jacket, Monsoon; bomber jacket, Lipsy; black dress, River Island

Hand in glove

Last year, I had a pretty serious long glove fetish that lead to me possibly owning about 10 different pairs of long gloves in different finishes, materials and colours. Which is probably the only reason that I can't bring myself to add these zipped elbow gloves from Urban Outfitters (£38) to my collection.

If, unlike me, you are yet to get yourself a good pair of long leather gloves, you can do no better for this price. I've seen them in the flesh and they are gorgeous.


You could wear them with a baggy chunky sweater with the sleeves pulled up and some skinnies/leggings and pixie boots for a retro 8os look. Chunky knit, Red Herring at Debenhams; studded boots, Schuh; wet look leggings, Topshop

Or you could do the urban warrior thing with edgy trousers, killer heels and sleeveless structured top or faux fur/puffer gilet. Trousers, Commes des Garcons for H&M; Gilet, M&S; platform boots, Topshop; quilted leather waistcoat, Thomas Wylde

Or you could use them to goth up a glam little black dress with some patent black Doc Martens Beaded and featherd LBD, Warehouse; Pewter boots, Doc Martens

Or you could just wear them with your jimjams, while drinking cocoa in front of the tv before bed. Just for the feel... That's what I'd do. Jammies and pom pom slippers, Topshop

Finding style in Solace

Last night, I finally saw Quantum of Solace, the new James Bond film. As usual, it was rollicking good fun, although sometimes I thought the action was just a bit too fast and adrenaline-action-ey. But you know that an action film is good - at least this is my take on it - when the baddie is dispatched in the most satisfactory manner. I won't give the ending away by telling you how, but it was definitely satisfactory.

"But," I hear you cry, "this a fashion blog. Why are we talking about James Bond?" Well it's because of the image below, a still from the movie, where 007 and his sidekick have just come out of the other side of a bit of roller-coaster ride (again, trying not to give anything away).
I was tranfixed by this particular scene because it says so much about women and style and fashion without saying a word:

1. A good little black dress will work for you anywhere, even if you're trudging barefoot through the desert after being chased down by bad guys
2. High heeled shoes may look pretty, and make you look taller and your legs look longer, but when it comes to the crunch you'll always be the most comfortable in bare feet
3. In the right black dress, your heels really won't matter at all (of course, it helps if you also have a killer body)
4. Sometimes, it looks pretty badass when you're walking barefoot and holding your spikey heels in your hand like a loaded weapon
5. Spikey heels are a loaded weapon

So, what do you think? Am I right or just making it up as I go along?

Hard shoulders

Fueled by my ongoing obsession with the structured silhouette, I set about turning a common or garden variety sweater (I forgot to take before pictures so you're just going to have to take my word for it) into this (click on images to enlarge):I cut the tired old sequinned sweetheart neckline into a scoop. Then I cut some felt up into circles, which went on the arms. Cut off bra cups added some structure and the padded wonder-bra cups went into that.

I tried it on with my All Saints military harem pants, mongolian neck wrap and some shiny peeptoe shboots, and felt very urban warrior princes but in a nice way:
But when I put on my stomping, military lace-ups, I came over all queer:I wanted to smash something but decided it would be safer to pull faces instead:Grrr-AH!

Oba my my my!

I'm not ashamed to say that I'm one of life's cry babies. I cry at weddings, watching movies, reading novels, even at a particularly poignant movement in a song. So, it's not surprising that when I heard the news that Barack Obama was to be the next President of the United States, I bawled like a baby. Then I read his speech and I cried again.

I was on holiday in California two years ago when he first declared his interest in running for president. I remember thinking "Who is this guy who's just appeared out of nowhere?" and cynically wondering how long it would take the Clinton machine to chew him up and spit him out. How wrong was I and how glad am I that I was wrong?

Since then I've kept an eye out for all the Obama goings on. It hasn't been hard. The British Press has been as intrigued by him as I've been from the beginning. He is an impressive man and what he has achieved today has been equally impressive.

Because even more than winning the highest office in one of the most influential countries in the world, he seems to have worked a magic over America that I wouldn't have thought possible. He has made America likeable again and he has made Americans, collectively, like the hero in a feel good movie. And I am rooting for that hero like never before.

When he made his historical "Yes We Can" speech today, I thought of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, I thought of all the slaves that lost their lives in the crossing and those who survived into even greater pain and drudgery.

I thought all the heroes everywhere and the power of the human spirit to effect change. And I made a vow to myself that I would try my hardest in my own life to follow this great example by making things happen for myself that I wanted to happen because it can be done. You just have to not be discouraged. To be calm and focussed and ready.

I'm hoping that others, especially those who feel disaffected and hopeless will be similarly inspired to step the hell up and out.

Well done America. You did good this time.

My love is thigh high

My little obsession with those Antonio Berardi boots continues apace . Well, not really the boots but that whole tight, black, thigh-high thing. Which means, whenever I come across a pair of black shiny thigh-high boots online, I have to immediately bookmark them.

Luckily, I already have a pair of serviceable over-the-knees (to use the fashion term) that I've owned for years and purchased for a whopping £70 at the time. It was a lot of money then and I had to pay for them one at a time at £35 per boot, over the course of 2 months. I've more than had my money's worth since then, so I guess that's another reason to buy quality over quickly.

Anyway, that's all a bit of ramble since all I really want to do is share my latest fab finds in OTKs to suit every budget.

Gorgeous, platformed and ever-so-slightly over-embellished, these leather beauties are from River Island, £149. Not exactly expensive for a good pair of leather boots but sincerely, if I had that amount to spend I'd be going for...

These from Gianna Moliani, available on Yoox, £118. They're properly shiny and have a nice comfortable block heel, which probably means I'd wear them more often and for longer. They also look like they'd sit really high on the thigh and not just over the knee. A bonus. Thigh cleavage is so not a good look!

These are my favourites and the cheapest at £25.99 from a new site called My1stWish, that was brought to my attention recently. I wouldn't vouch for the quality or the fit (I'm still waiting for samples to try out). Although they look like they're made from latex, the site description doesn't say what material they're made of either but they're shiny and they look tight on the model. I love the look of the platform. It's got a good shape to it and I like that's it's round toe-ed rather than pointed. For the amount, they're probably worth a try.

Beautiful freak

I'd wanted to blog about the kinky-as-all-getout, Antonio Berardi heel-less, PVC, thigh-high boots for a while now. But because I could find no readily available pictures that did not involve a certain Mrs Beckham (indeed no available comment that did not involve a certain Mrs Beckham), I'd been stalling.

I'll give VB her props here. She has probably brought Berardi's awesome shoe skills to the attention of the world. But I wasn't quite loving how she wore them. Without those boots that outfit would look pretty lame.

Good thing then that I came across this photoshoot in Telegraph Fashion magazine featuring Irina Lazareanu looking like some sort of futuristic kinky urban goth ninja warrior goddess in those boots. Because, if I had a few thousand pounds to spend on heel-less fripperies, this is how I would wear them. (Click on images to enlarge)

How cool is this leather jumpsuit by Maison Martin Margiela (below)?

Undeterred by the thought of never being able to get my hands on these liqourice lovelies, or actually being able to wear them without falling over, I've been thinking of that whole look and how it may be achieved on a budget wardrobe. I made a shopping list. I reckon you would need:

• Black PVC/lame leggings
• Seriously high platform shoes/knee high boots
• A great deconstructed top
• An even greater quirky, directional leather jacket
• Some serious Grrr attititude (got that one)
  

I've been surfing around the internet looking for said pieces and soon as I get the full compliment, I'll put an outfit together. And just to make things a little more interesting, I'm going to delve into my wardrobe once again to see if I can pull something together without spending anything. All that, coming soon...

Image credits:
Beckham image via Stylefrizz.com
All other images from Telegraph Fashion magazine Autumn Winter 2008

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.

Her dark materials

I love the way that the right accessories make an outfit come together just so. While raiding around in Style Narnia (AKA my wardrobe) looking for some glam goth inspiration, I also came across quite a few little lovelies to go with. Actually, make that, that A LOT. I have boxes full of this stuff.

It's practically all cheap and all from either H&M or Diva at Miss Selfridges - who do the best cheap jewellery on the high street. The little voodoo doll, is a little souvinir from a trip to New York a few years back. It's just there to add atmos, although I am seriously considering turning it into some sort of head piece... Wouldn't that be awesome?

(Click on all images to enlarge)

Chunky rings: green heart, thrifted; rectangular metal, blue stone and snake ring, H&M; red apple ring, Diva at Miss Sellies

Others: Multi strand black bead choker and long length black bead necklace (I usually wear them layered for extra drama), diamante studded bangle, black elbow length glove and fascinator, all H&M!

Brooches: red heart, thrifted and painted; black spider, H&M
Necklaces and neck pieces: Beaded and buttoned, felt neck piece, DIY; chunky crucifix, thrifted and customised with black velvet ribbon; skull pendant, H&M; heart shaped locket, Diva at Miss Sellies, Hematite choker, gift
Bangles and bracelets: purple pearl and stone bracelet, House of Fraser; hand painted black bangle, thrifted

Close up of heart-shaped locket - isn't it gorgeous?