Ring ding-a-ling

I went and did it! After lusting after beautiful rings like this for what seemed like IONS...

... I sneaked into a wonderful vintage shop in Stokey while out househunting this morning and brought a clatter of pretty, bright and pearlescent rings to scatter over my fingers like an old cat lady.

Ali G, take that!

[Image: Fashion Canvas]

Maverick

"I just love how Atlanta always combines colors, prints and textures in an outfit and makes it look so put together without trying too hard." {Francheska, Fashion Canvas} My sentiments exactly. I loooove this style!

I have a dress just like this leopard print one that I wore for new year's eve... Perhaps it's a little too ridiculously short for day time, but worn with a denim jacket, leather boots and a slew of bejewelled accessories at night, this could be the start of a beautiful relationship. (And hey, I’ll still look like a scruff bag but then at least then there will be a reason behind it!)

Ps. Party last night was ace, although I barely made it. Not even a free bar of champagne is appealing after 13 hours of constant brain whirring. Booo. (Although I did get my bum papped when I walked in! Ha. They were looking for Jamie Campbell Bower...)

[Images: Cobrasnake/Fashion Canvas]

Embellish

Unless you've been living in a hole for the last six months or so, you'll have seen embellishments everywhere this season. From sequins and studs to badges, chain mail, zips, lace paneling, glitter, appliqué and more, it’s almost a glutton-fest for your fingers to touch all this textile-icious finery. I love fashion ornaments like no other – in fact, my friend’s often call me a magpie as every time I flick through a vintage jumble rail or pour my way through the heaving throng of Oxford Street’s Topshop, I am instinctively drawn to the glitteriest or most textured garment I can find. (I think it’s because I adore thrifty, mix-match style and I’m a sucker for an original find – plus I loooove mixing different textures and colours together.)

But now, without even meaning to, I seem to be moving away from the twinkly, 3D trend I once championed. My oh-so-garish 80’s sequin cocktail jacket, which I wore at every opportunity when I first got it (not kidding), has been cutting a lonely figure in the bottom of my wardrobe since the end of summer. And my pretty, flapper-style sequin beret? The same fate has bestowed it. But why…?? I think I just get bored of things. (And far too easily in my opinion, especially due to the state of my bank balance.)
But by discarding some of my former favourite pieces, this does not mean it's the end - but a new beginning. HURRAH! Beautiful embellishments are still on the agenda, but in a subtler way – less feminine and more grunge. Think Kurt Cobain mixed with Sienna Miller and you’re on the right track. I’m doing away with brightly coloured, full-length sequin panels and introducing delicate embroidery, dirty gold studs and clusters of chunky, jewel coloured rings. Deeeeelightful!
Ps. There's a whole webpage dedicated to rock chic jewellery on Asos at the moment... enjoy! http://www.asos.com/Women/Ctas/Rock-Chic-Jewellery/Cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=9530&affId=1257

[Knight cat, fashion canvas, tfs]

Minus 40

I am becoming increasingly aware that this cold weather – the one that renders me utterly useless, with a slow brain, chilblains on my fingers, and numb, puffy toes, and forces me to rush home to shiver in bed with a hot water bottle at SEVEN PM EVERY SINGLE NIGHT so I don’t freeze to death – is here to stay. And, instead of surrendering to its evil blasts of frigid, frost-bitten air, I am going to fight it. And, damn it, I am going to fight it in style!

Having not yet started my Christmas shopping – save from half my boyfriend’s present, which if I hadn’t already got I would probably have night sweats wondering where, when, and how I’m ever going to get a hold of it in such a short time – I am going to bitch it like a dream this weekend. East London, North London, hell even a little bit of Portobello Road in the West is going to get a thorough seeing to from my cash card. And hopefully, at the same time as shopping for my nearest and dearest, I’ll be able to find a selection of pretty vintage coats, faux furs and gloriously cossssy accessories to keep me warm and snug through the wintery months – even when the trees and houses are shattering in into clouds of ice-dust around me in the minus 40 degrees temperature*.

Here are my favourite looks for winter…

* Slight exaggeration. I am a wimp when it comes to the cold.

You can’t go wrong with a lumberjack shirt and leather combo

Monochrome makes this faux fur chubby look even more outrageously covetable!

Go wild with leopard print a la Kate Moss, Alexa, Mary-Kate…

Scarlet woman: A shock of colour in the fluffiest wool

Butter soft leather + metal studs +vintage badge embellishments = divine

[Drip book, the fashion spot, fashion canvas, Terry Gates]