India calling

Yes, I've been a bad girl this week and have gone a little bit AWOL. But I'm back now and very very excited about the Queen's Diamond Jubileeeeeeeeeee!

At this very second though I am really yearning for a return trip to India. I went to Rajasthan a couple of years ago and fell in love with the place. I'm desperado to visit the south now, all the way from Goa to Kolkata. One day (sigh). In the mean time this little purchase made yesterday keeps my dream alive.

It's so fresh and bright, and the damask-like pattern is sooooooooo very Rajasthan. For me it's the Nehru collar that really takes the biscuit (eating a chocolate digestive as we speak in fact).

Although the high collar is somewhat conservative the shirt has a humungous slit up each side which flashes a substantial amount of torso as you saunter by. In that case maybe I shouldn't have any more biscuits hahahaha.

This week's "must have" Ezine for lovers of vintage clothing

Your wardrobe can't be without the little black blazer. Perfect for every season, trend and outfit.

Silk route update

Hi again guys. Do you remember that post I did a while ago about two dainty silk shirts I had bought and my misgivings about silk ever being anything but impractical to wear? Well, I thought I'd update you - and the news is that I haven't even worn them yet hahahahaha. It's partly because I don't think I have happened upon the right place or event but it's also because I can't be bothered to hand wash them. Lazy I know.

Feeling regal

Hello "clubbers". That's my name for my followers hahahaha.

Well this is my latest purchase. A true classic.

The round neck sits high and elegantly on the collar bone. The dress carefully follows the contour of your body and then kicks out just below the waist. It's a nice conservative length sitting just above the knee which is always a good length of dress to have in the wardrobe. Then let me come to the sleeves. They make me feel really quite regal. Maybe it's the gold and red combination.

Not only that, they are a wonderfully refreshing bell cut. You don't see that very often nowadays. That's the joy of vintage I suppose.

I now need to get my special someone to take me out for a bit of posh nosh so I can parade around in it. It is the Queen's diamond jubilee year after all!

Nowness

I have just signed up to LVMH's nowness.com. You've probably all been signed up for ages as I'm usually quite slow on the uptake lol. Anyway, I got there in the end. I love it. Loads of articles, short films, photos of everything in the world of culture.

They send you a daily email so you are sure to get your fix. So yesterday for example I got an email extolling the virtues of Wanny Di Filippo (founder of Il Bisonte, leather goods company) with a link to a short film of about him. He has a very interesting take on fashion and life.

On the site they also love to use the word 'love' as much as I do. Hahahaha

Sign up! http://www.nowness.com/?icid=overlay_home

Indian summer

Have just gotten back from a truly lovely stroll in the park, Kensington Palace Gardens to be exact. Firstly they have recently re-opened the gardens immediately around the palace so the grass is lovely and new. There's no way I'd sit on it otherwise. I then walked to the Serpentine and on my way back I was walking behind this beautifully attired woman. Her sari was divine and perfect for the weather. She looked so elegant and poised.

Thank goodness my iPhone was on silent whilst I "papped" her. No doubt she would have thought me slightly strange. 

Passion for peplums

Just following up on the weekly Ezine featuring a gorgeous peplum dress, I just have to say how fabulous peplums are. So flattering. If you've got a bit of a pop belly then a peplum will hide it. If you've got a bit of a boyish figure then a peplum solves that problem quick-time but adding the illusion of curvy hips. Other that that it is just a great statement silhouette. Definitely a "must have" for your wardrobe.

Peplum perfect

Here is this week's "must have" Ezine for lovers of vintage clothing.

That red sole

Had a great night last night. Went to the Christian Louboutin exhibition at the Design Museum. You must all go. If you're like me and you love shoes then you'll be in heaven. If you're some sort of freak and you don't salivate for shoes then this exhibition will convert you. I wanted to try them all on. Even when there was a big fat 'do not touch' sign by the shoe I had to really restrain myself. Although I do have to say that hearing the price points did kind of dampen my excitement. Maybe I'll find some vintage ones hahahahaha. I should be so lucky.

Do I look like a clown?

I can hear you laughing out loud. No wonder as this blazer is VERY loud but I can't get enough of it. It's silk and so intricately well made. Yes I'll probably look like a crazy clown when wearing it but that's a risk I'm prepared to take. This legend of a jacket is silk, impeccably finished and lined, and is like nothing I have ever seen.

The pink in the pattern is obviously calling out to my pink lipstick lol.

And guess what? It's a men's jacket. I think its original owner must have been quite diminutive in stature as it fits me in a wonderful 'boyfriend cut' way on the arms and waist. The shoulders are just a touch too wide though. Just a touch. I have been debating whether to get them tailored. I was talking about it with my Nana, who was a fabulous seamstress in her day, and she thinks it's fine as it is. I think I'll get a few more opinions before I decide as it won't be cheap to get it tailored. But you know what, I REALLY love this statement blazer so I think it's worth the investment.

This week's "must have" Ezine for lovers of vintage clothing

The art of branding

Have just gotten back from a little outing to the Museum of Brands. It was really interesting and took you on a journey through the history of branding from the early 1900's until the present day. I definitely recommend it.

Spring's most wanted

I have decided that each season I will name one of my finds as "most wanted". Now let me just premise this by letting you know that since I might be a very slight vintage shopaholic, there is likely to be more than one "most wanted" per season :-). So this next find is my Spring's "most wanted" as of today. Ok?

I went out last night with my gorgeous friend to a night called Soul'd Out. It's a fab club night created and run by another gorgeous friend of mine. Check it out on facebook for next time round.

A party like this warranted a hot outfit and I think I delivered. Even if I do say so myself! Again the 80s reign with this white jacket. Isn't it perfection? Most definitely a "most wanted" item.

It's also very on trend which I wont't complain about. Loads of monochrome on the catwalk and high street.

In fact my jacket, which I found last week but because I've been off the radar a little didn't have a chance to tell you about, reminds me of that quintessential Bianca Jagger look.

Wow, what a look. If I can just find either some white wide leg suit trousers or contrastingly, a pair of white cigarette pants my look would be complete. However, I think I worked my jacket well last night with a trusty pair of rugged blue jeans (not forgetting my white stilletos. I'm so happy to be wearing them again).

What I simply adore is the black sequinning. Reminds me of a wave cresting.

The only complaint I have about this jacket is the paranoia it induces. I was wearing my much mentioned pink lippy and was terrified of getting any on the jacket. I'm not sure how exactly I would do that but hey, when I'm dancing, anything is possible. My arms flail and the music takes over. Luckily, I managed to hold things down and my jacket survived to live another day.

Black velvet...if you please

When I saw this I knew it had to be mine

This is what they mean when they say something is a classic. Forget fashion and trends. I'm talking about style and this style of jacket will always be a winner. I of course found it down Portobello lol. Where else!

Along with the cut being bang on, it's the scalloped edges that just kill me. So sweet.

You have to be wary when buying vintage velvet because it's so easy for the pile to get damaged but this little gem seems as if it was made yesterday. There isn't a thread out of place.

This is the kind of jacket that you take on holiday to Thailand and get copied in a million different colours and fabrics. In fact, that's exactly what I'm going to do when I go at the end of the year hehehehe. Get your orders in ladies.

This black beauty is so gorgeous it has its own soundtrack. Seriously. When I slipped it on the song 'Black Velvet' sung by Alannah Myles was on repeat in my head. Her raspy, rock voice seemed to make things move in slow motion as I turned left and right to get a glimpse of the jacket from all angles in the mirror. It hugged me in all the right places and looked just as divine done up or left open. Yes, I'm a bit over the top. A jacket with a soundtrack? Hahahahaha. But give it a try. Here's the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uS870zCCAwM

Let your imagination run wild. Enjoy.

The silk route

We all love silk. It's smooth and luxurious but by George it's a pain to care for. I love wearing it but I hate cleaning it. You wear it once and you have to clean it, normally at the dry cleaners. Or is that just me?!!! Unless it's a gorgeous dress to wear at a wedding or a special top you wear for job interviews silk is a pain and should be reserved for special one off occasions. It's totally impractical for everyday use. Of course none of this applies if you have oodles of cash to fritter away at the dry cleaners or a maid to hand wash your silks daily. Unfortunately neither of the above applies to me. However, despite this I have invested in two nice little silk vintage shirts. I thought I'd have a go and commit to giving silk another chance to prove me wrong in the practicallity stakes. So I purchased these two. One cream...

...and one green. I'm loving the embroidery. Very prim and proper. Not at all like me hahahahaha.

I'll keep you posted on my progress. I really do hope that they don't end up relegated to the bottom of the linen basket for eternity waiting to be hand washed. I'm not banking on it though.

OH KNOW. I was just about to sign off but have just remembered the ironing. It's one of my least favourite activities and I try to avoid it at all costs. Trust silk to be such a mega effort to iron. The iron can't be too hot or you singe a whole through the delicate silk but because the iron isn't that hot it of course takes ages to iron the damn shirt. This exercise was doomed from the start!

This week's "must have" Ezine for lovers of vintage clothing

Getting shirty

Brown isn't normally a colour I go for unless we're talking about a jacket, belt of pair of shoes but this vintage shirt was a must. I bought it last week but haven't had a chance to share it with you. The brown is the perfect background for the fresh blue and pink accents. The whole pattern kind of reminds me of paisley or even the PJ trend that seems to be popular right now. Either way it's gorgeous and will look perfect buttoned up right to the top with my ever present pink lipstick and my tortoise shell frame glasses. Actually, it will also look B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L-L with my new vintage pink leather jacket that I was raving about before. All I need now is a nice pair of powder pink jeans or maybe some sky blue ones...something to look for on my next vintage crusade.

Pink leather at the Beach

I have been a very bad girl and have not been around much this week so I have LOADS to catch you up on. Where do I start? Well, last Saturday I went out for a drink and a boogie at Beach Blanket Babylon with one of my best friends. We were both suitably attired in animal print (lol); my friend in a lovely black and cream leopard print dress and me in some lycra, python print trousers. I got them a couple of years ago from Arrogant Cat and they are not only python print but pastel pink and black python print. Now, if you're already cringing at the thought of them then hold on because I have more! I paired my pretty pantalon with a black top, grey shoes(because grey and pink are so nice together) and this amazing pastel pink leather jacket. Yeah, you heard me! A pink leather jacket. A full length, trench, pink leather jacket.

This is truly a unique find and I was so excited when I pulled it out of the tightly packed clothes rail. To be honest it's a teeny weeny tad too big but because you can pull it in at the waist so nicely it still works beautifully. The back is so flattering the way it fans out at the waist and over the hips.

So I imagine that you're thinking that this isn't the most practical of purchases and you'd be right. It's great now because pastels and sorbet tones are bang on for this spring summer but what about next year? However sometimes something is so beautiful that you just have to have it. Also, lets all be honest here, pastels might not be 'a la mode' this time next year but I guarantee they will be back around on the fashion roundabout the year after that.