Doing it white

I am not a huge fan of white clothing. It seems to be the preserve of those impossibly chic people who call white shirts a "staple" and holiday on yachts. Besides, and despite what the many washing powder adverts would have you believe, it's hard to keep whites white.

In other words, white clothing is a faff and I try to steer well clear of it. So I can't believe in the past week I have bought not one, but two white items of clothing. The first, is a white long-sleeved t-shirt in the Zara sales. It's the shape that drew me to it - sort of slouchy up top and fitted towards the bottom - a great shape for wearing with big slouchy trousers.

The other item is a pristine white TM Lewin shirt, thrifted for £1. I like the long tail at the back and the fact that it has holes for cuff links. I used to collect cuff links when I was younger and still into my Drag King look but I have no idea where all that stuff has ended up, so I had to make some new ones out of metallic elastic and mismatched metal buttons to wear it.
As I mentioned, I've also been getting my DIY on with with a beautiful grey cashmere sweater, that I cropped, altered the neckline and shortened the sleeves. It's now a crop sweater with matching snood. It looks particularly good with both the white shirt and t-shirt.


Click on any image to enlarge.

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.

First rule of DIY: start with the small stuff

Success! I got round to finishing my DIY ruff project.

In the end it didn't take that long at all. Most of the work was carefully unpicking the ruffle at the buttom of the child's dress.

Then I measured and sewed in ruffles to fit round my neck, added some black grossgrain ribbon from my bag of bits and pieces, and here's the result (click on images to enlarge):
I think it came out alright, although it's not as bouffy as I would've liked. But it it transformed my plain black and white, floral, sleeveless top:
And the great thing is, if I wear it back to front it looks like a little capelet with a natty bow.

Shoe Lurve - Shellys wedge canvas pumps, £35 at Barrats

I hate white shoes. I have managed by some strange osmosis to imbibe that whole Essex-gel, not-after-labor-day, thing which means that white shoes are now complete anathema.

I also find pointy-toed shoes a bit difficult. For the most part, that extra inch-age makes my great, big, gallumphing feet look even more like boats that usual.

Add to these, the fact that I have hated high-heeled tennis shoes, ever since I saw an image of the inimitable (and I mean that in the worst possible way) Victoria Beckham wearing a pair by Dries Van Norten for the actual playing of a sport.

Why, then, do I find these funky wedge canvass shoes from Shellys so damned attractive? I'll tell you.

Although they are white, they remind me of the Dries Van Nortens that I loved so much and couldn't get my hands on. I love that edgy wedge, sooo much.

And I think with a bit of fabric paint and a few hours' DIY, I could transform them into pretty, arty, paint-splattered darlings like these Jenny Ayayo shoes (left, last seen on Style Bubble). They are also an astoundingly cheap £35. Fantastic!

Only one problem though... I fear they may already have sold out. Ho-frickin-hum.

Outfit of the week 11/04/08

Because I'm totally obsessed with harem pants (or hareem pants as Topshop like to call them. God only knows why. *sigh*) at the moment, I fell in love with these drape jersey slacks from Religion as soon as I layed eyes on them. They're sort of chic-er version of harem pants or a sort of cross between harem pants and jodhpurs... whatever. They are a true thing of beauty.

With a pair of trousers like this, I guess the thing would be to wear with a a pared down unfussy top but I actually think they can take a bit of drama. So I'm doing the opposite and pairing them with big frills and a fitted shirt, the frills are supposed just peek out from underneath that exaggerated neckline. What makes it work is that both shirts are fitted and also the quite formal, rakishness of it all.

Add to the mix these gorgeous, chunky, wooden heeled shoes, a clutch bag and chunky ring and I think it all comes together as quite a nice little party outfit.

Response to this outfit (such as it was) was a 50/50 split. 50 per cent of you thought the outfit had rakish good looks and the other 50 per cent felt there may have been a surfiet of frou frou. Either way, thanks for rating!

Click on image to enlarge

Trousers, £52, Religion at Urban Outfitters
Frill-neck Blouse, $24.80, Forever 21
Fitted black shirt with exaggerated collar, £65, All Saints
Shoes, £70, Office
Clutch, £10, Red Herring at Debenhams
Chunky ring, £6, Dorothy Perkins

Outfit of the week - 01/02/08

This week I'm back on back on Oli again. They have some quite interesting offerings in their spring collection. I spied this JJ Park skirt and blouse combo while surfing recently and, seeing as I am in the middle of what can only be termed as ruffle lust, it caught my eye immediately. I love the pleated bodice and the cute floral applique detailing (this is a subtle way to do the floral trend if your not into colourful blooms everywhere) on the blouse. And the skirt just makes me swoon with pleasure.

I suppose this is sort of a party outfit, really. At the very least I'd call it smart. I hardly ever do monochrome (what can I say, I'm a colourful chick!) When I do, I tend to stick to the tried and tested formula of black and white + a touch of red = good to go. So I wanted to play around with that a bit. So I've added these adorable tan shoes and a multi-striped bag to add some less predictable interest.

71 per cent of you rated this outfit a cute Do and 28 per cent of you thought it was a bit boring.



Click on image to enlarge

JJ Park pleated rosette blouse, £60
JJ Park ruffled tiered skirt, £65 both at Oli
Office floral vamp t-bar, £55
Aldo multi-coloured stripey bag, £20
Accessorize ribbed opaquue tights, £8

White out

It's the holiday season, it's actually hot enough outside to venture out without a scarf and the winter boots are now doing time at the back of the closet. Finally we can shake out those skirts and dresses and dare to bare our flesh in shorts.

This is also the the season of white... well... everything, really. From mini to maxi dresses, shorts to slacks to skirts, everything will come in white. Word of advice: no head to toe white please - it's just way too much of a good thing. Break it up with blacks, brights or neutrals (brown, beige and putty grey look great with white).

It's a cover up
Totally impractical and just as covetable, the white summer coat, coming to a store near you.



From far left: H&M lightweight summer mac, £39.99; River Island summer coat, £79.99

White skimpies

Got great legs and toned arms? You can flaunt them all over the shop with sexy mini dresses and shorts.


Clockwise from far right: Reiss cotton mini dress, £59; Miss Selfridge linen shorts, £25; Sisley sleeveless shirt, £37





Lady in white
Get all lady-like with pretty skirts and vintage inspired lace tops.



Clockwise from bottom: H&M jersey cotton skirt, £9.99; Wallis crochet vest and vintage lace top, £30 and £35

Got it covered
Not keen on showing those legs? Try maxi dresses or wide-legged trousers. Hide thighs under long shorts (contradiction, I know) and elongate your legs with platform sandals as high as you can wear.

Clockwise from top: New Look trousers, £28; H&M synthetic maxi dress, £39.99; FCUK maxi dress, £110; Topshop pleat-front linen shorts, £22