Overkill

I don't want to get too festive & be bored with it by mid-December. I don't want to save it all for the 3 days either. Saying all that, I am tempted to watch my box sets but just watch the Christmas episodes. These would include:

The Royale Family
Newlyweds - Nick & Jessica
The Big Bang Theory
Friends
The O.C
Glee maybe?

I don't think any of the Sex and the City box sets had Christmas episodes?! I can't remember any. The first movie had a Christmas but not the series. I have a shocking memory though.

Festive films:

Sleepless in Seattle
Love Actually
The Holiday
Home Alone 1 & 2
Sex and the City Movie 1
Santa Claus the Movie
Elf
Arthur Christmas
Miracle on 34th Street
Harry Potter 1-8

Today we watched Arthur Christmas. Sunday evening Fred Claus was on. Last Sunday it was Home Alone :) next Sunday Ch4 are putting Miracle on 34th Street on.

Going to buy our advent calendars tomorrow, Cadburys of course. Trying to hold off on eating mince pies until 1st December but I've started on the Christmas films I might as well eat a mince pie. When the Christmas songs first started in the shops I'd go into Boots as often as possible just to hear them! It's officially December on Saturday so maybe the Christmas songs will start on the radio.

It's lovely feeling festive. Going to make the most of it this year.

Today I wore..

After a Zumba workout, dog walk & shower, I finally dressed for the rest of the day. I chose colour to cheer up the weather & as a pick me up for my mood.

Blue v-neck sweater - Zara
Grey & white striped tee - French Connection
Dark denim cut off skirt - Oasis
Multicoloured striped scarf - Gap
Orange wooly hat - Warehouse

The finished look reminded me of a vintage Christmas Gap advert. Warm & comfortable for an afternoon of blogging & watching Arthur Christmas.

I know it's super late but..

Here are my Halloween costumes from this year.

Party no1: Louise's 26th birthday (Saturday before Halloween)

I decided on Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family after trailing through Google images. I fancied wearing a wig too (I'm blonde-ish) I had just returned a dress that would of been perfect for the Wednesday costume so had to go back for that. With a wig ordered & the dress bought, I experimented with make-up ideas deciding on pale foundation, black & white eyeliners (things I already had in my make-up bag).

On the night of the party my sister Emma helped plait the wig into two plaited bunches & pin it to my hair. I smudged black eyeliner under my eyes to emphasise the dark bags and paled my lips out with foundation. Finishing touches to the look were black opaque tights & shiny black patent brogues.

It was fun to dress up & I enjoyed the preparation of the costume. Originally I bought the dress for work uniform but found it was too short. It might be cute on a night out though with bare, tanned legs or floral fishnets?! We will see.

Party no2: Jess' 26th birthday
(Saturday after Halloween)

At the previous party I was the only person not to do a painted face! Although my Wednesday Addams costume was fab I felt the odd one out.

For Jess' party I decided on a skeleton. I bought black & white face paint & googled skeleton ideas. I was inspired by a girl's outfit I saw at the last party. White shirt, black blazer, black skinny trousers and to top it off, a black bow tie. Sexy look. I replaced the pants for black opaque tights & a black mesh tutu skirt I had made for a friend's hen night.

On the night of the party I was so excited to wear the outfit! I pulled my blonde-ish hair into a flicky ponytail so the face paint would be the main focus. It took a few costs to get the white as bright as I wanted and had a couple of false starts with the skeleton mouth but when I'd finished it looked great.

I was really pleases with the finished look but at the party would you know it, I was the only person with a painted face! Typical. I felt like I had a face mask on that was cracking & tight. Facial expressions were difficult! But to touch it felt normal.

Only after the party did I realise how similar the outfit & make-up was to Lady Gaga in the Born This Way video, a song I love.

Dressing up really was a lot of fun, maybe I'll do it again next year.

My must-see fashion films

Devil Wears Prada – I read the book first and loved it.  Author Lauren Weisberger is a former assistant of US Vogue Editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.  From her year in the position, Weisberger was inspired to pen a novel on her experiences working for Wintour.  The film adaptation is wonderful, full of comedy, catwalks and cattiness from inside the fashion world.  With a first class cast including Anne Hathaway as leading lady Andy, Meryl Streep in the role of boss from hell Miranda Priestly, stylist Nigel played by Stanley Tucci and the introduction of Emily Blunt as first assistant Emily. The story revolves around Andy, an aspiring writer with little to no interest in fashion who ends up working at Runway (basically Vogue) which she sees as her gateway to the world of journalism.  The film follows her transformation from clumsy care-free Andy to stylish stress-head Andrea.  The transformation allows the audience to glimpse some amazing outfits and with guest appearances from model and presenter Heidi Klum and designer Valentino the film feels like a true portrayal of the fashion industry.  Renowned costume designer Patricia Field was responsible for one of the most beautiful, colour wardrobe of any film I have seen so far.  Who would expect any less? The original author of the novel Lauren Weisberger plays a none-speaking role in the film as the nanny to Miranda Priestly’s twins.

4/5

From this..

..to this.

Confessions of a Shopaholic – Once again I read the book first.  I love to read and if I can, I like to read the book before I see the film.  As I read further into the series, I started to love the main character Rebecca, who author Sophie Kinsella makes so likeable.  Girly girl Rebecca Bloomwood loves shopping, shopping for anything!  She has debts and bills and a busting wardrobe to prove it.  With the bank manager very interested to track her down, the film follows her attempts to avoid him and the debt she has accumulated.  Surprisingly, Rebecca is a financial journalist who clearly does not practise what she preachers.  Along the way her elaborate excuses and lies get out of hand and she could lose significant relationships if she carries on the way she is.  The character’s ultimate goal is to write for fashion magazine Alette and Rebecca will go to any lengths to do that.  The film is full of colourful fashion and the beautiful Isla Fisher, who plays leading lady Rebecca, makes all the outfits look even more powerful against her pale skin and copper hair.  Once again the amazingly talented Patricia Field held the position of costume designer for the Devil Wears Prada film.  Personally, I prefer the storyline within the book series.  It is more relatable to me as it is set in Britain, whereas the films are American, as are the films characters.  The books are funnier too, especially the relationship between Rebecca and her parents and the additional characters that pop up in the continuing book series. 

3/5

Clueless – This is a great 90s film about a popular teenager living in Beverley Hills. The film follows Cher Horowitz’ high school life experiences with her friends and step-brother.  There is plenty of fashion, parties, relationships and some bad driving. As superficial as Cher may initially seem, her innocence and caring nature comes through whether it is setting up lonely teachers, giving make-overs and doing charity work her intentions are all good.  Her moving closet and computer programme to help her put her outfits together give great entertainment for fashionistas watching as do the competitive high school fashion outfit wars day to day.  Pay particular attention to how the girls style their PE outfits.  Costume designer Mona May was responsible for the grunge 90s feel to some characters’ outfits and Cher’s unique fashion leader looks.

4.5/5

Sex and the City – The Movie  1+2 – Carrying on from the end of the TV series, the first movie catches up with Carrie and her friends a few years later.  Carrie and Mr. Big are to be married and you can imagine the wedding gown amongst all the other fabulous fashion statements made throughout this film especially with four leading ladies and Patricia Field as the film’s stylist.  An unfortunate comment slips out at an inopportune moment which leads Carrie jilted on her wedding day.  Her friends rally round her and insist on attending her honeymoon with her to get away from New York.  This exotic trip gives the audience the wonderful fashion show that is their holiday wardrobes, as does the second film.  Samantha whisks the girls to Abu Dhabi on an all expenses paid trip.  The styling is out of this world; Patricia Field has the most perfect attention to detail and forward thinking when it comes to fashion.  For me, these films, along with the TV series are a source of inspiration for putting outfits together and accessorising.

5/5

Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Set in New York in the early 60s, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a classic film starring style icon Audrey Hepburn.  Leading lady Miss Holly Golightly works the party scene pocketing $50 bills from rich men for the powder room.  She is a beautiful brunette with a glamorous style.  She is popular with many men who are driven wild by her flippancy.  Holly is a troubled type who finds her escape at Tiffany’s.  Her flat has never been made a home by Holly’s unwillingness to unpack and her pet cat remains unnamed.  When a new neighbour moves into the building Holly develops a friendship with writer Paul Varjak as they have similarities in their lives and he reminds her of her brother Fred who is away at war.  Holly interests Paul, her life, her personality and spends more time with her and uncovers the real person beneath the glamorous exterior.  With the most famous black dress and pearls outfit at the start of the film, you would not be disappointed with the outfits throughout the rest of the film including classic Burberry Mac in the final scenes.  Designer Givenchy dressed Audrey Hepburn for Breakfast at Tiffany’s as he did for the majority of her career and personal life.  Hepburn was Givenchy’s muse.  A must see fashion film.

3.5/5

What to wear this Christmas . .

As it is nearing the party season now is a great time to start picking up a few great pieces to see you through December and over the New Year.  I have suggestions suitable for all ages and tastes and as a personal shopper I get to see all the gorgeous garments as soon as they arrive in stores.  It is such a great time of year for dressing up and wearing something special.  It is your opportunity to wear a little black dress, sequins and glitter and a faux fur coat.  Alongside these, I have noticed five key trends emerging for this winter. 

Lace – This feminine fabric shows a little skin through the print of the lace creating a sheer effect, this can look very pretty whilst being practical on those winter nights out if worn in a sleeve to take the edge off the cold and cover pale winter skin.  Pair it with a chunky, modern necklace for contrast and a tailored trouser to mix the delicate, vintage style fabric with a masculine edge.  If you are not keen on wearing separates on a night out, there are many lace dresses on the high street at the moment, which are the easiest way to wear lace.  Once the dress is on you can just add simple accessories for a classic look.

Lace top – Dorothy Perkins £28

Gold – For the upcoming party season, I have my eyes pealed for the perfect party dress and this year I am swapping the little black dress for the little gold dress.  I first saw a great gold dress with black lace detail last month and since then I keep spotting gold styles everywhere.  Rather than just using gold as an accessory this winter, why not have the colour as the main feature of your outfit? Let the gold do the talking and pair it with a neutral colour like charcoal or black.  Gold and raspberry work really well together, as do gold a deep purple.  When done right, gold can look glamorous and elegant which is perfect for over the Christmas and New Year period.

Gold skirt – Whistles £125

Leather – Whether you opt for a traditional leather jacket or something a little different this winter, leather is a great addition to any outfit.  Why not try a leather skirt, one option being a ladylike pencil skirt but when it is made from leather it really gives it an edge. Then there is a 60s style mini-skirt in leather and skater style short leather skirt, either way just tuck a good quality t-shirt in, a sheer blouse or the on-trend look of a jumper and leather skirt.  If you are daring swap the skirt for leather trousers!  If you would rather stick to a dress you will be able to find a numerous styles on the high street.  Mostly this season I have seen leather dresses with jersey panels which make them fit better and more comfortably than all leather.  Wear with caution! Keep in mind how warm leather can make you feel!

Leather dress – Reiss £295

Velvet – There is something very festive to me about velvet.  It is definitely a fabric you save for the Autumn/Winter period as it is too heavy to wear any other time.  If you are investing in a velvet jacket or bag I would suggest sticking to a classic colour that you can wear with a variety of prints and colours.  However, if you are going for a more on-trend piece you could have fun colour-wise.  A velvet jacket in a dark colour, such as navy or black can look just as great worn over a little dress as with some fabulous trousers and a slim fitting blouse.

Velvet jacket – Next £65

Baroque – Carrying on from being one of the Spring/Summer 2012 trends, baroque has now taken a darker, more romantic if not gothic feel compared to the colourful Versace like intricate mix of chains and floral detailing.  Think textured fabrics and subtle prints on trousers and jackets worn as a suit or separately.  There are plenty of opulent jacquard dresses available in variety of colours this season.  There are many ways to wear this trend.  You could wear a baroque print on a t-shirt with dark jeans in the day or a jewel coloured baroque printed dress on a night out.  The choice is varied which makes this a particularly accessible trend.

The wonderful thing about the above trends is that they can be mixed and worn together to create new outfits so each piece can be worn numerous times eg layer the velvet jacket over a baroque dress or a lace top. Wear a dress with a gold baroque print, two birds with one stone.  Also you can dress down some of the trends and key pieces if you know how eg wear a long sleeved, lace top with beautiful wool trousers or a gold, fine knit jumper with a dark jeans to make the pieces suitable for day to night.

Baroque dress – Oasis £75

What I'm watching. . .

I've been off work this week and have tried to relax at home for a part of it. Alongside pottering around the house, writing and reading, I have been enjoying watching tv. Below are some if the shows I'm currently enjoying.

Frasier - I have recently discovered the classic comedy. I love the posh banter between brothers Frasier and Nialls. Their father Martin and his live-in British masseuse Daphne have a wonderful on-screen comic pairing. I don't manage to catch it everyday but when I do I really enjoy following the storyline & filling in the pieces from what I have missed.

Everybody Loves Raymond - an lost but a goody. Another American show that I am only recently catching. The show is on in the morning as I am getting ready for work so I have it on in the background. I love watching comedies. What a great way to start your day by having watching something that raises a smile or a giggle. The show follows the lives of Raymond, his wife Deborah and their family. Entertaining mishaps happen especially with Raymond's parents and brother living across the street. The conversations between Raymond's father Frank and mother named Marie are brilliant, they make the show for me.

Big Bang Theory - Series 6 starts in the UK tonight looking forward to watching. I must catch an episode or two everyday either on E4 or my series 1-4 box set. Sheldon is my favourite but each character is funny in their own way. It will inevitably come to an end and I do think the first 3 series were the funniest.

Kirsty's Vintage Home - I like Kirsty Allsopp and enjoy her inspirational creative shows. I like watching craft shows and learning new ideas for make it yourself whether it is for home, self or presents.

I'm back

I find technology frustrating when it's slow, unresponsive & not straightforward. I am smart, follow instructions, think logically and have common sense. When none of these things ensure the outcome I want I feel frustrated. I have an ancient laptop & a touchscreen phone.

All the above will be obstacles if I want to blog regularly however I'm going to give it a go. Again.

Update on myself. I am now 25 years old. I am currently working as a personal shopper for a department store in Liverpool. Previously I worked as a visual merchandiser. I am now keen to work on my fashion writing skills. This blog will be an outlet for my thoughts and a way to develop my writing style. I would like to build a portfolio of entries as evidence to present to newspapers, magazines and websites to achieve paid writing work .

Some entries will be article like, some will be street style spots. I plan to use a variety of writing styles and formats to demonstrate different skills and ideas.

Stay tuned.