I realised that this summer there has not been a day I have left my front door without something hanging from a chain around my neck.  Necklaces can look sweet and delicate but I love how clean and simple a pendant can look and how it can pull an outfit together.  They are so easy to get hold of and I don’t believe  you need to spend a lot of money to get something special – you can find them everywhere.   The only thing to avoid is cheap-looking chains.  The next one on my wishlist is this charmingly sweet heart locket from vintage-inspired jewellery maker, zarataylor.co.uk

In recent weeks Miss Selfridge has fast become my go-to place for a fix of something pretty in nudes, pinks, creams and lace.  I seem to find something each time I visit, which is great for my wardrobe but not so great for my wallet.  At the moment I am in love with bows, frills, hearts and pleats.   With the current mediocre weather, a delicate palette of nudes and pinks feels right – a reluctant farewell to Summer - I’m not yet ready to accept that in less than a months time I’ll be looking around at coats and boots ready for the click of seasons.

My latest haul got me some lovely pieces in said colours, my favourite being the pink bow dress and the cream broderie cami-dress.  And I’ll always be happy with a sweet little cardigan.  I’m always impressed with the authentic looking vintage-style rings and necklaces in there too.  More of the same, thanks, Miss S. x

I never thought that Parisian fashion house Chanel would have much in common with my local off-licence but guess what?  They both sell temporary tattoos.

The Chanel version is sold to a waiting list of label-loving, fashion hungry women and the latter is sold in-between sheets of pink bubblegum to the kids on bikes at the end of the street.

The Chanel version retails for around £60 for 3 sheets of transfers and consists of pearls, chains, and delicate little birds.  Well now River Island have brought out their own example consisting of pearls, chains, and er, delicate little birds.  The main difference of course is the Chanel set contains the interlocking ‘C’ logo, natch.

I’m tempted to get myself a set of the River Island ones just to have the 5-minute novelty of seeing a tattoo on my own skin.  I’m pretty certain I won’t ever get a real tattoo as one of my gripes is that apart from preferring flesh, practically thinking, there is no design which is going to feel right with every outfit, mood or style.  So the idea of an interchangeable tattoo in the name of fashion, is, I think, actually quite good.

In this case though it leaves me with an unusual quandary.  I wonder which would look cheaper on the skin – the Chanel logo or the £5 River Island example?  Because if we’re honest, to look as though you have chosen to burn a designer logo into your skin you’d have to either be pitifully insecure or be supremely able to pull off such a thing with a huge helping of irony.

Recently I have noticed something of a fashion epidemic, quite literally sweeping the streets of Britain.  A growing number of women I see out and about the town, doing the food shop, filling up the car, in the queue at the post office, paying bills in the bank…all seem to be wearing a maxi dress.  Why?  Was an announcement put out which I missed?

Presumably the memo also stated that they must be worn with the obligatory cropped denim jacket and ethnic looking jewellery.  Chunky beads.  Big wooden necklaces.  Just another detail I’ve noticed in this curious phenomenon of late.

Don’t get me wrong, not all maxi dresses offend me, too much.  I think they have their place (preferably a summer evening somewhere hot with a summer cocktail being the only accessory required) but here in cloudy Britain I can’t help but feel like they look completely out of place.  At best there is just something a bit too wedding-day about them.  Well what’s wrong with that?  Because the thing about weddings is that in general they require a uniform which looks ridiculous out of the context they are intended for.  Especially when that context is dragging a shopping trolley over a damp and grubby car park, trying not to catch the billowing, tropical-flower printed fabric in the wheels.

Context aside, are they even really that kind to the female form?  They are all over the shops, taking over the magazines, convincing women they are wearable and flattering (which we all know is a nicer way of saying ‘slimming’).  But perhaps I am just missing the trick.  I don’t think so, but I do find it confusing; they make people look like they could be 6 months pregnant.  Now, there is not a thing wrong with looking 6 months pregnant.  I’m just not convinced why you would want to aspire to emulate that look on a regular basis.

Well I think it is safe to say I won’t be one of the maxi-devotees this summer.  In fact, I am off to buy myself a mini-dress in defiance.  Apparently they are the next big thing.

I am undecided on how I feel about a clear trench coat.  This one is from Topshop, at £55.  There are occasions when you have a great outfit on only to have to cover it all up when you leave the house because of trivial issues like warmth and keeping dry.  At least if the coat is see-through, you get to show off your outfit, which is always going to be a good thing.

On the other hand, the foggy plastic (which I imagine would get rather hot and uncomfortable very quickly) is going to distort the clothes underneath so you wouldn’t get the desired effect anyway.  I like the black piping, I like the shape, but it’s a shame they have left such visible pockets on this example.  Perhaps we can do without transparent outerwear after all, and just take along an umbrella.

Have you ever wished your wedges had an inbuilt ventilation system say in the form of perforated red plastic? No? Really? Neither have I.

If you wake up one morning and you do get that compulsion to incorporate a drawstring bag into your outfit, could I please, for the love of everything stylish, beg you not to do it on your feet

For some reason, can’t think why, all sizes are still available on the River Island website and in theory they can be yours for £30.

I’d also like to just point out that River Island have actually got pretty decent shoes aswell, probably the best on the high street in terms of diversity in style..it’s just that sometimes that diversity ends up with an example like these.

When I first saw these Miu Miu sparrow print diamanté embellished shoes back in Spring, I thought they were appallingly cute. (Even if pink satin, diamonds and ankle straps does at first make for a slightly queasy feeling) I love the unexpected contrast with the print/diamantés/70′s platform vibe.

So I was pretty excited to spot this delightful interpretation on the high-street (albeit a little less chic but definitely more purse-friendly) courtesy of River Island. The difference? A cherry print, a peep-toe and a few hundred pounds. I’m still going to have to get myself a pair, no question, got no choice. Can’t talk myself out of it. These shoes are made of dreams.

Matalan has always made me feel a little bit sad. Devoid of soul, originality and excitement, the cold harsh supermarket lighting and the bored sales assistants all make for a completely uninspiring shopping experience.

There is no seduction, no temptation, and frustratingly, no small sizes (don’t expect to find your size if you are a 6 or 8 as it would appear Matalan only order 2 per store).

I keep getting leaflets through my door letting me know I should ‘Expect More’ at Matalan but all it seems to be is more of the same.

For some people, eBay clothes bring with it some negative connotations. Musty, old, worn out, cheap clothing. But if you’re selective, it couldn’t be further from it. I love the fact you can find things that you aren’t likely to see on 10 other people each time you go shopping. It’s also ironic that you usually also end up paying over the odd’s for certain items because of their desirability. It’s you against the rest of the country.

Kate Moss Topshop Range

Today was the 12th time that I have gone online to check the Kate Moss collection at Topshop. The 12th time! I don’t see how the popularity in this line continues to grow, but if the astronomical rate at which the clothes sell out is anything to go by, it’s not looking like it’s about to slow down.

I remember sitting at my computer at 2am one Spring day in 2007, waiting for the first collection to become available. I bought a belt, a couple of vest tops and a liquorice stripe dress (the belt and dress still cherished to this day). However, by the time this, the 12th collection has come around, for me, the whole concept has lost all it’s exclusivity and excitement . Over the years, and we are talking years, designs have gotten lazier, prints have gotten duller and less imaginative yet the prices remain above the normal Topshop rate for not-so-superior quality threads.

It is quite obvious that the only thing which justifies such a frenzy on the Topshop floor is the girl herself. Kate has appeal. She is 4 years away from 40, yet she dresses like a 17 year old and manages somehow to look better than an actual 17 year old. She carries off the whole ‘I just threw it on’ thing so well, keeping it classic yet still sexy and youthful. So this is how I struggle to believe Kate really had any input in the last few collections. The first 2 collections had some heirloom-worthy pieces which will remain on many a ‘must have’ eBayers list (I’m still tracking down the one-shoulder white dobby-print dress, pictured). But the current collection leaves me able to see through the hype and not see a great deal else. All overpriced floaty-unwearable-impractical yet still generic nonsense and not one flicker of excitement.

People will continue to flock to Topshop to see whatever Kate’s name is attached to, because that is her pull, and it is why they will continue to churn out these clothes. An arty photo-shoot and average clothes is a winning formula for the moment. I just can’t see them getting away with it for much longer.