Ripped…

Although my office has a fairly relaxed dress code, I think I would be pushing my luck if I walked in with a pair of distressed jeans, but this does mean they make the perfect weekend uniform for me. I know holes and rips in jeans are nothing new but I do believe we have entered an age where you buy damaged clothes… on purpose! It seems nuts but I guess that’s just one of the crazy things we do in the name of fashion? As with most denim trends, I am a firm fan of this trend (although I think it’s possible for you to take it too far – try to stay hobo-chic rather than chic-hobo)! I am particularly drawn to contrasting outfits that pair smart items such as killer heels or simple flats, sharp blazers and tailored shirts with pale distressed denim.

Enjoy some denim inspiration to take us into the weekend…

 

A little bit of shop envy…

When I was younger, I used to love trips to a particular South African department store. I hated leaving so much so that I used to dream about hiding in a tent in the ‘outdoors’ section, waiting for closing time and then having free reign of the store throughout the night to do exactly what I want (namely eat as much chocolate as I could stomach, try out all the fun gym equipment and then take a nap in ‘beds and bedding’). Even as an adult, I am still tempted by this idea, especially with stores like the San Francisco based boutique called BellJar. There is nothing I love more than an Aladdin's cave filled with eclectic, interesting, brightly coloured knick-knacks expertly grouped and beautifully displayed. The BellJar caught my attention for all these reasons, along with the fact that there seems to be so much variety in the stock. I also love that not only does owner Sasha Darling have a fabulous name and heaps of talent, but she is uber-stylish to boot! 

What do you think? Would you happily spend the night in this shop?

All images via

Starry nights…

I woke up on Monday morning with thoughts of camping. I contemplated totally blowing off work, packing the car, loading it up with treats and hitting the open road. I wanted the peace, I wanted the quiet, I wanted the crisp fresh air of autumn. I picked a spot in my mind – on the banks of a stream and the edge of a dense forest, just close enough to smell the familiar wet, dense air but also far enough to catch the last of the sun’s heat. I pictured a day of hiking and canoeing, followed by huddling around a camp fire, warming our feet, enjoying dinner and wine and then being lulled to sleep by the sound of nature. And like the fool I am, I went to work instead!

Have you ever blown off work and done anything on a whim? Just lived in the moment?

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Flower power

I’m having a day where I am just not good with words. Most days I can sit here and waffle on and on about nothing in particular, but then I have days when I sit here and stare at the screen for the better half of an hour, not being able to think of a single thing to write. Thank goodness for random pictures of flowers…

All images via Wishful Thinking

You and me at the sea…

This just in – autumn has arrived here in London! After a long and gruelling battle, I am proud and relieved to announce that I finally won the Great Heating Battle of 2012 ie the right to turn the heating on before October (does anyone else have to fight with their significant other to get the heat turned on? I guess men don’t feel the cold so easily)? Anyways, summer is firmly over so I will be posting as much summer content as possible to hang on to the memories… including plenty of beach houses! This particular beach house in Sussex may not be located on a powder sand, azure water, tropical paradise but it makes up for that with oodles of character and charm. As much as I would love to spend a balmy summers day lazing on the deck, I could equally see myself hunkering down in front of the fireplace with a thick mist outside and the sound of the sea in the background.

Like?

Images via

Geeky Spectacles….

I’ve got a confession. I have fallen for the geek glasses. As a rule of thumb, I don’t usually follow trends that I know my future kids will laugh at when they look at old photos of me (and I think geeky glasses might just fall into this category). But I am due for new lenses this weekend and I couldn’t help but gravitate towards the thick, black-framed and oversized glasses. Versatile and stylish but will they date quickly?

How about you? Do you wear glasses? What do you think of this trend?