A Favourite Brand

We all have out favourite brands don't we?

One of my all time favourites is 'By Malene Birger'. Without fail these clothes always make me feel elegant and sophisticated without taking away the fun.

Below are some of my favourite pieces from their new season (how could anyone resist!).

I am head over heels in love with the leather braces, the boots and of course the dresses (i do love to waft). The only problem with the dresses would be which one to choose - orange being my favourite colour the second image is of course out in front at the moment.

Sigh, i could be on the website all day http://shop.bymalenebirger.com/?partner=5371&lang=en&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=search&gclid=CNH-0vK2xqwCFcQf4QodKhZSqw

                                        


                       

All about the new

How many of us find a style that suits us and then stick with it as a tried and tested formula?

I'm one of those people. Until i hit my thirties i didn't really do style, i picked clothes that looked good on the hanger without much thought as to how they would work with existing pieces in my wardrobe or with my body shape. In short, it was totally hit and miss.

Fortunately i had an epiphany and started choosing clothes that firstly worked on my body shape, flattered my skin tone and which complemented other pieces i already owned.

Fast forward a few years and I've settled on a couple of styles that I think work well. I still have the odd moment where people raise an eyebrow or try to hide a smirk but those moments are now fairly rare.

The problem is, all this careful selecting and analysing has meant I'm faced with new questions. Am i stuck in a rut? Am i missing pieces that would work even better?

Working in retail has shown me that sticking to what you know and like isn't always best. I always try to offer something new (without going totally overboard) when i have a customer looking for an outfit. A new colour, an accessory they haven't tried before or a different cut.

I would love it if someone did this for me. In the New Year i might just book myself in with a personal shopper to see what new perspective a stranger can offer. It also got me thinking, if I gave my friends and family total freedom to pick out a capsule wardrobe for me what would they pick? Maybe that's an exercise worth doing in itself!

What do you do to keep your style evolving or are you happy sticking to what you know?

I leave you with some style icons that in my book always got it right

                                                                                                         (courtesy of revolutionmyspace.com)

(courtesy of the Telegraph)

(courtesy of bitch-in-style.blogspot.com)

What rocks your Gothika?

Fancy dress aside i've noticed a lot of people embracing the gothic look recently. From classic to grunge there seems to be a distinct move back to the dark side.

Personally speaking I prefer the Parisian take of elegantly structured lace over body skimming corset dresses but I have been known to dabble in the 'fell off a back of a coffin' look. I wont embarrass myself by sharing the photos here though, they belong in a locked box!

Here are some of the dresses that rock my Gothika this season

Mary Portas (via House of Fraser)

French Connection

French Connection

and here are some that definitely don't

(image courtesy of Wikipedia)

(image courtesy of Hot Gothic Stuff.com)

Things that make me smile

There are so many things that make me smile, from the ordinary to the extraordinary it's all in there. I adore good graffiti, i love watching birds (sometimes watching us) and other animals, seeing familiar shapes in unexpected objects, good food, a great brew, colourful characters and the list goes on

What makes you smile? Is it one thing in particular or like me, are there many things that make the list.

Here are a few of the things that made me smile recently, i would love to hear what made you smile today

A thing of beauty

Isn't it strange the things that can make us smile.

On my usual bus route into work i pass a large cemetry. It has rows and rows of grey weathered headstones and broken angels standing guard over their sleeping charges.

Usually, such places would have a hush of the sombre about them but this one is different. In the hands of the angels are bright red flowers. I don't know if this is the work of one person or a trend that simply caught on but the effect is really quite magical. I haven't figured out why it makes me smile, maybe it's because it symbolises hope, love, faith or something different altogether. All i know is it genuinely touches me and gives my spirit a lift.

I think I am cured

It seems that working in retail does something to you. I believe i have been well and truly cured of my shopping addiction.

Don't get me wrong, i still like to shop but being around clothes everyday means you really edit out the best bits. Who would have thought it, me without a bag on my arm every week!

Despite my revised shopping habits i still have a huge crush on these Karen Millen boots

Just think of them paired with some skinny jeans and a simple white/ neutral tank. Heaven!

Kuyuchi

Dickens And Jones (Via House of Fraser)

And for the bling.......the options are endless

http://www.farfetch.com/shopping/women/cat-jewellery/christophe-lemaire-wood-necklace-item-10109828.aspx?cur=GBP

Holy Fulton

Mary Portas at House of Fraser

Whirlwind

It's been such a whirlwind moving from Oxfordshire to Bournemouth, I'm only just starting to feel like i can catch up with myself!

The job at HOF is going well and the flat is coming together (photos to be posted when it's all finished). I even think I'm even cured of my shopping addiction! There's something about dressing other people that makes you less inclined to make purchases yourself. I'm not complaining.

So in the last 7 weeks or so I've been battling with the local housing benefit system (it's still not worked itself out but that's a whole stress you don't need me to bore you with), and getting stuck into my new job.

Getting to know the local area has been great. I've sampled some local Turkish food (totally scrummy)

Dipped my toes in the sea and been amused by the different characters that come out, human and animal alike.

Enjoyed wonderful visitors (friends and family).

Re-visited Fired Earth for a spot more painting

Explored Christchurch

Been amused by local window displays

Enjoyed too many coffees

and enjoyed the local art

Moving here was definitely the right thing to do, just having the sea so close works wonders for the soul and the hustle and bustle of the town is great for a bit of inspiration.

Now.... time to go and catch up on all your blog posts!