What I'm Reading This Week

Wishing Myself a Merry Christmas

Topshop gave its staff two vouchers for 30% discount to spend this Christmas. It's only 5% more than the standard staff discount so 'charitable' is hardly the word that springs to mind, however it makes me feel as though I have to make the most of the opportunity. I've picked out the following items as my absolute favourites and I've made up my mind that I simply have to have the skirt, the blouse and the shoes. Unfortunately my store doesn't have the skirt in the colour I want and the blouse and shoes haven't arrived yet as far as I'm aware. The vouchers run out on the 4th December so I haven't got long! I'm just desperately hoping now that they arrive before I go to London for the weekend, although I guess that means I could always raid the Oxford Street megastore if I absolutely can't find them. The shoes are possibly the cutest things I have ever seen in my life.

I'm currently curled up festering in my bed, feeling like utter shite with streaming eyes, a razorblade throat and oozing, aching sinuses. Luckily my seminar tomorrow has been cancelled as my tutor is opening a conference in Barcelona, so I'll be able to take it easy and have another bed day. It's quite depressing that the rest of the UK has snow and, instead, Manchester opts for minus four temperatures and black ice. What's the weather doing where you are?

Topshop Uniform Winter 2010

One of the perks of working for Topshop is the 'business wear' allocation four times a year. As I only work part-time and have an eight hour contract, I am entitled to three items at sixty percent off. Here's what I chose this Winter...

1.

Part of me felt I ought to maximise the effects of my discount and invest in some really classic pieces that would see me through season after season. I felt as though I should be buying at least one leather skirt or pair of shorts but got to the point in the fitting room where I couldn't tell if I actually liked them or whether I was completely indoctrinated by the glossy magazines forever drumming in their essentiality. I decided instead on these velvet shorts, which remind me of the ones Alexa Chung did for Madewell only in navy and brown. They're by Topshop's Premium range, limited in number and appear to have sold out already on the website, hence my own picture. The only trouble with them is that the size 8 were extremely short and clingy and skimpy and the size 10 a little on the baggy boyish side, however I knew I simply wouldn't wear them enough if I didn't feel comfortable in them and so will have to make do with them flapping frumpily around my thighs for the next couple of months.

2.

This was the last piece I bought - I spotted it on my way into work and instantly swooped it up in my size. It's so classic - the Breton will never go out of fashion - and I love the sixties' shape and quirky pocket details. I can't wait to wear it with some mustard yellow tights or with bare legs, cute ankle socks and cream mary janes in the summer. It's still in stock and you can buy it here for £38.

3.

This dress took me by surprise. It's not the sort of thing I usually go for at all but there was something about the fringe detailing, which you can't really see properly in this picture at all, reminded me of seventies' rock and roll and Kate Moss and Glastonbury. It's beautifully flattering on and, although - again - I'm not a fan of bodycon, it's so elegant with its scooped back and long sleeves. The real drama unveils when you stretch out your arms! It's also £38 and still available to buy here.

Let me know what you think of my choices and roll on February for the next batch!

All That Glitters

Vintage GAY PRINCESS Sheer Black Knee High Pop Socks - One Size


Vintage AGNETHA Sheer 1970s Cropped Blouse


Vintage LEVI STRAUSS Denim Cut Offs


Vintage AGYNESS Sheer Black T-Shirt with Velvet Panel



Vintage ALL THAT GLITTERS Gold Dancing Shoes



Vintage PEWTER 1940s/1950s Silk Evening Bag

Sparkling pieces now in the shop. Get ready to dazzle seventies' style!

Literary Look #7

Green Velvet

Velvet Hair Bow: Charity Shop

Cream Silk Blouse: Second Hand Shop

Black Velvet Ribbon: eBay

Red Dress: Boutique in China

Cream Tights: Primark

Brown Leather Booties: Cow Vintage

Gloves and Scarf: Accessorize

Coat: Charity Shop

I'm not a big fan of winter dressing at all but, because Jian Wei was here this weekend and was willing to weild a camera, I managed to capture this outfit which summarises the whole season for me. The velvet bow was originally a bow tie I bought, along with a navy one and a burnt orange one, at a closing down charity shop for 99p each. I ordered some barettes from eBay and the rest is history, so they say. I bought the boots yesterday from Cow, they were £22 and unfortunately one of the furry trimmings is balding in places but they fit me perfectly and I fell in love with them madly and truly.

Manchester Christmas Markets

Manchester is just magical at Christmas. Nothing could possibly induce as much festivity as visiting the Christmas market which arrives directly from Europe complete with Dutch humour and German salesmanship. Jian Wei left with an entire bag of assorted wurst, he simply couldn't resist the generosity of the ten pound deal. Nor could he resist a leather satchel. I enjoyed warm French macaroons and a praline hot chocolate: words cannot describe the bliss.

Pretty Polly Nylons

How lovely are these vintage inspired tights by Pretty Polly? With no pun intended, I think they'd make the perfect stocking fillers - who wouldn't be thrilled with a pair of these!

Literary Look #6 - Hadley Hemingway by Kennedy Holmes

"The most influential book I've ever read by Ernest Hemingway is A Moveable Feast which chronicles his time in Paris during the 1930s with his first wife Hadley Hemingway. This particular Hemingway book is fiercely auto-biographical and his descriptions of spontaneous, rugged, and beautiful Hadley have always fascinated me. I imagine she was the kind of gal who did exactly what she wanted. She could drink a man under the table, but still she was still first and foremost a lady. This outfit is the kind of thing I could see her wearing to meet her girlfriends at a late lunch at Les Deux Magots."

This Literary Look was guest styled by the stunning Kennedy Holmes of Lay Me In Some Tall Grass Let Me Do My Thing. If you're interested in guest styling a look please drop me a line!

Vintage Shopping in Holt

Old, old pictures from the Summer I've only just managed to retrieve from Jian Wei's laptop. Holt is a small town on the Norfolk coast and it's one of our favourite places to day trip to due its high concentration of antique shops and vintage boutiques. It also has an amazing self-styled 'posh' Bed and Breakfast/delicatessant/cafe/restaurant called Byford's which you can check out here.

(All pictures by me.)