In Praise of the Parka

Fashion born of necessity? Perhaps. It’s that awkward time of year when it’s too warm to wear a woolly coat but too chilly to got out with just a cardi. Who wants to wear their tired old winter coat anymore anyway? A cotton parka is the perfect cover-up for right now. They were all over the catwalk at the SS10 shows proving they're not just for boot camp anymore. Aquascutum put them over maxi skirts and dresses.



Emma Cook’s frilly dresses are the perfect contrast for her charcoal parka.


Future Classics’ parka concealed a racy catsuit.


I was sceptical at first but when I tried one on with a girly dress I was sold. I’ll be wearing my army green cotton parka over jeans, dresses, leggings and minis.
Here are a few ways to wear the old-is-new-again military parka.

How to make a parka work for you by museonawire featuring Alexander McQueen

Items in this set:
Cream Ditsy Printed Lace Dress, 39 GBP
Stripe Ra Ra Dress, 35 GBP
Parka cotton coat, $340
Drawstring Parka Jacket, $135
Cotton Washed Parka, $125

The Sailor Dress is Here to Stay!

Sonia Rykiel has revived the Sailor Dress. This buzz over this dress is humming all over the planet. It's official, the Nautical/Sailor look is here to stay.

Sonia Rykiel Sailor Dress by museonawire featuring Azzedine Alaia shoes

Items in this set:
Sonia By Sonia Rykiel Sailor Stripe Knit Dress, $355
Sonia by Sonia Rykiel | Sonia By Sonia Rykiel Sailor Stripe Knit Dress..., 350 EUR
Azzedine alaia shoes, 900 GBP
Betsey Johnson 'Pirate' Stretch Ring, $40
stock.xchng - window ship (stock photo by ruilousao)

It's safe to say the Nautical style is a classic now rather than a trend.

The luxury brands have a lot to offer on the nautical theme…

Nautical on the Catwalk by museonawire featuring L.A.M.B. shoes

Items in this set:
Naomi Harper Blue Knitted Sailor Dress, 260 GBP
Markus Lupfer Hello Sailor mini T-shirt dress, $170
Blue Stripe Sweater, 190 GBP
KIND BTV-FJ RED/WHITE WOOL -, 235 GBP
L.A.M.B. Zed Sandal - Nude, $300

But the highstreet could teach them a thing or two…

Nautical on the Highstreet by museonawire featuring TopShop

Items in this set:
Sailor Dress by Annie Greenabelle**, $110
Striped Hook And Eye Cardigan, $60
Smocked Side Top, $17
Striped Skirt - Skirts - New Look, 25 GBP
Harajuku Lovers Label Wedge - Navy, $60

And finally, because every outfit looks better with a hat...
this adorable nautical navy straw hat can be found at Hatastic's shop on Folksy.com

The Wonders of the Waterfall Waistcoat

This time of year we all want to get out our Spring clothes and shed the heavy winter garments that have been weighing us down. Unfortunately there's still a chill in the air. Thankfully though, there are a few key pieces that will rescue us. Tonight, I'm focusing on the versatile waterfall waistcoat. There are so many ways to wear it and if, like me, you're still carrying around a bit of winter insulation, they do a great job at concealment.

A stylish new waistcoat can breathe new life into an ordinary t-shirt and when you layer more than one, a long sleeve under a short sleeve or 2 tank tops - a tight one under a loose embellished one, you get a bang-on-trend multi-dimensional look. Team with a cozy snood or scarf and skinny jeans or leggings, throw on a lightweight cotton parka and you'll be laughing in the face of stubborn Old Man Winter.

The Wonders of the Waterfall Waistcoat by museonawire featuring TopShop

Items in this set:
Map Print Silk Smock Dress, £60
Waterflower Floral Smock Dress, £45
Smocked-back cotton-jersey dress, £40
Sheer Cowl Tank Heather Grey, 795 SEK
BEADED TANK TOP, 170 GBP

Spring is in the Air!

I can smell it in the breeze, Winter has packed its bags and is walking out the door. What an unruly master he's been this year! Finally, the crocuses and daffodils have danced up into our world. Everything's feeling the change and I can't wait a minute longer to shed the wool and adorn myself in Spring colours. This time of year always reminds me of the shopping trips my mother and I took to find the perfect Easter outfit. A new frock, shoes, hat, gloves, patent shoes, tights, and a slip all had to be sourced. I still am driven by the "new dress for Easter" urge. There are so many pretty frocks on the racks right now and Topshop has once again taken all my Easter dress funds. I went for the off-the-shoulder 'Flute' dress in lilac and the crocheted cardigan along with the cream punch-out belt. I've got tights, taupe platforms and nude flats at the ready but the grey boots I've ordered from River Island (similar to the ones below), slouchy knee socks and a long cardigan will dress it down for more casual days.

EASTER IDEAS by museonawire featuring TopShop

Items in this set:
Flute One Shoulder Dress, £45
Petite Rose Smock Dress, £45
Sunflower Embroidered Dress, £40
Petite Crochet Cropped Cardi, £35
Printed Lace Floral Tights, £15

Don't you think flats look better with a bit of bling? Shoe clips are ingenious little things that can make a pair of £5 ballet flats look like they stepped off the catwalk. If you can, make your own, there are a million possibilities. You can use two matching brooches or "Anywhere Clips" by Tarina Tarantino, clip earrings, silk flowers and bows, so many things! You'll need to modify them with special clips to make them secure and comfortable. Clips can be found here (USA) for $1 each:
http://www.beadstudio.com/catalog.php?p=9578

and here (UK) where you can get 100 for £9.66!
http://www.lightfindings.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=3_42&products_id=346

Here are some ideas to get you going...

Shoe Clips by museonawire featuring Michael Kors shoes

Have a wonderful time finding your perfect Easter dress!

You're So Vain

Carly Simon's hit, You're So Vain, has been on everyone's lips since Thursday when speculation as to its intended audience was once again brought to the fore. Apparently, the hubbub is all over a sample-artist’s finding of a whispered “David” recorded backwards. However he also found two other whispered words, one recognisable as “Warren” and the other unintelligible. With the upcoming March 1st UK release date of a remastered 'Never Been Gone,' the album which contained the famed lyrics, I have to ask, does this sound more like an accidental discovery or a coy marketing tactic? Either way, Carly could hit the charts again!

This back-masked "David," it has been claimed, is record producer David Geffen, pictured below 2nd from left, sporting a curly shock of hair and what appears to be a jaunty lanyard, singing along with Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Cass Elliot, & Ned Doheny in Venice, California on Easter Sunday, 1972.

Bets are out on if he'll confess to being the gavotting, apricot scarf-wearing man about town who brought her only clouds in her coffee. Until someone does, the mystery of the muse of one of the world’s best-loved songs remains pleasantly cloudy. So, rest easy gentlemen, it may yet be you.

In honour of Carly’s friend with a penchant for apricot, I've pulled together some of the most fruitilicious offerings available at the moment.

This beautiful naturally-dyed silk apricot scarf is calling my name.

www.etsy.com/shop/colorsprouts


Cherished Vintage Cashmere Rose Scarf
www.etsy.com/shop/cherishedvintage


Chanel Cambon Bag


Prada Messenger Bag
(bag shown is a $227 copy from www.Handbagboots.com )

Pastel apricot shades keep perfect company with the wonderful nudes that are very plentiful right now. I for one am thankful. I love wearing the colours in this spectrum and there's a variation to flatter any skin tone.

Topshop's Silk Dress, £45

Topshop’s Heart Ruche Clutch Bag, £25

Anthropologie's Picture Show Dress £203

While, like a setting sun on a desert, hotter and riper perhaps more persimmon than apricot hues accompany taupes and khakis beautifully. This fabulous mood-lifting colour will brighten your day whether used sparingly or in larger doses like this bright head-to-toe ensemble from Future Classics’ SS10 Collection and this sweet princess-line lovely from Issa’s AW 10/11 Collection. My favourite gloves come in this shade as well.



"Leather Half Glove 5 Color" from Ebay seller: esourcinggate

If you’re having trouble finding the perfect apricot scarf, make your own with Urban Gypz’s hand-painted wools.

www.etsy.com/shop/urbangypz

I love this knitted neck cosy from Mountain Mama Jody...

www.etsy.com/shop/mountainmamajody

...and this more elaborate neck-piece with apricot shaded roses by Evgene.

www.etsy.com/shop/evgene

Morning Glory Teahouse's choker adds a feminine touch.

www.etsy.com/shop/morninggloryteahouse

Better yet, put on your favourite Carly Simon tune, open a box of chocolate covered apricots, and enjoy the memories.

www.prestat.co.uk/chocolates/apricots_in_chocolate