What rules you?

Often, when reading interviews about 'fashion people' the inevitable question arises: what are your style rules? Sometimes they are wise words, sometimes they are not. The problem with me and rules, is that I will decide, 'oh, yes what excellent rules to live by' and then promptly, accidentally, forget about them. But there are a few rules (found on Details magazine 'Rules of Style') that are worthy of remembering, scrawling on a scrap of paper, repeating to oneself, even if they aren't explicitly followed. The ones that I like the most are less style rules and more suggestions for living a life well led or ones that simply make me laugh.

I love the back. A beautiful back makes a beautiful front. When you slouch, think about what happens to your front. You have to keep your back in the right position. This is where your spirit lies. Yohji Yamamoto

Classic simplicity always works. Tom Ford

Cheesy music makes a party. Donna Summer or Madonna—that stuff gets people on the dance floor. Then you have to have junk food, done well, because that’s what everyone really wants. Micheal Kors

I’m a big fan of old Shetland sweaters. Anything with a hole or two in it, I feel that it’s worn and loved. Marc Jacobs

The biggest mistake a person can make when dressing is following other people’s advice. It’s up to them. Even if they end up badly dressed, if they're happy, it’s okay. Kean Etro

Style is a question of charm, not nationality. Veronique Nichanian

It’s sad that the cell phone is replacing the watch as a time-telling device. Thom Browne

Cigarettes are a vile, dirty habit. Joints, on the other hand, are perfectly acceptable. Scott Sternberg

Trying to talk with your clothes is passive-aggressive. Rick Owens

And after listing 9 rather good rules, Rick Owens ends with the only rule never to be forgotten:

It's funny—whenever someone talks about rules, I just want to break them. I recoil from the whole idea of rules.

Birthday Wishes and Ramblings

Hello there.

It's been quite a while, hasn't it? The longest I've ever gone without posting on this thing. Life has gone back to before this whole shabang got started - spending my days waking up early, sitting at the computer, but instead of working through my Google Reader, thinking up posts or wandering around various fashion sites, I've been devastatingly single-minded. Study study study. Write write write. But the end is semi-nigh, another month until exams are over but then they are over forever, and that will be amazing.

Anyway, this shall be a somewhat indulgent post (as all are, really) that is serving more as a list for a few interested parties (hi mom!). Hmm, so yes, my birthday is somewhat around the corner. Last year it was spent eating cake and studying and this year will be much of the same - but the cake is so good, I don't mind. I've been nagged as to what I want, and while normally I am pretty good at producing lists for those who want them, this year, I find I don't really want anything. But apparently that isn't very helpful, so I had to think up afew things I wouldn't mind receiving and here they be:

Marais Espadrille Wedge
I've been in love with these bad boys for a while now. I struggle when it comes to summer because I feel I have less shoe options. My hallway overflows with boots and all sort of winter shoes, but summer? Not so much. I fancy these, but perhaps in red...

Aurel Schmidt for Opening Ceremony Donut Tee
This is mostly because I love donuts and have been craving an American Donut for a while now. I didn't realize there was such a thing, until I tasted donuts in this fair country and realized that no, they are not the same. And while that may be good for my waistline, it saddens me a little bit when I am dying for a Boston Cream.

Ray-Ban Aviators
These were the first sunglasses I ever spent more than $10 on. I had them, loved them, cared for them for about 5 years and now they have mysteriously vanish. Another precious thing that somehow disappeared from life and is probably lying in a London gutter. Tear.

American Apparel Nail Polish in Peacock (l) and Coney Island (r)
Dusty blue and almost-saccharine-pink. Yum. It really bums me out that they don't sell these in the stores in London. They do ship them though, but the shipping is the same cost as the polish, and my little brain just cannot justify it.

Books: The Selby by Todd Selby or Appetite by Nigel Slater
Books! I love receiving books, adding to the precarious piles in my room. Interior eye candy from Mr Selby and a cookbook by Nigel Slater. I love to cook, but haven't been doing any new experimenting recently for lack of time. With my degree ending, I'd like to get back to the things I love...which leads me to my last possible prezzie request:

Mom, you know your old Canon? I still want it. I'd like to get myself back on the photographing wagon this summer as well.

And that's that.

Sorry guys, that's all I could muster after a month of absence, a me-me-me list! I still doubt there will be much regularity in posting until the end of May, but who knows...I can't study all the time, right?

Inside & Out

I suppose I should be less of a curmudgeon and embrace the cold, both inside my flat and out. For lounging, I imagine cozy long knits, sweater upon sweater, and a Pendleton blanket to snuggle up in with a good book. For venturing out, it's best to wear appropriate shoes to ward off the cold and the slush, sheer blouses insulated by thick knits and a proper shearling coat (I was this close to convincing my mom to give me hers while home, guys - this close!). I hate gloves (they make me feel criminal) so fingerless will have to do, but with a good cuppa coffee to keep the tips warm. I can feel the flush of warmth in my cheeks as I type...

Summer To-Dos

I'm spending my summer working at a mindless job to pay the bills ("Bloomsbury Fitness, how can I help?" -- is my summer catchphrase), and generally not taking life too seriously. Heavy thoughts about the future (with only one year left of law) could damper my summer, but I figure that can all wait until September.

Rather I am concentrating on doing nothing special, but with a very specific to-do list of the nothing specials that I shall be doing:

* Find a guitar and/or ukulele before the summer is out, perhaps begin to learn to play (not being too ambitious is key to checking things off the list)
* Continue building, and reading, my collection of used Agatha Christie novels (a seemingly easy task, but she did write 80 novels, people)
* Get further on my 'films-to-see' list which is ever-growing, next up: Klute and Dans Paris
* Reorganize my closet, empty out all that I do not need/wear/doesn't fit and give to charity and/or sell on etsy/ebay
*Spend as much time as possible outside in all of London's parks - a picnic in a new park each weekend perhaps...
* Explore more of England outside of London: Brighton, Liverpool, Lake Country...I've been here two freakin' years and haven't been outside the city except to go to the Continent. I am ashamed.

That's all I can think of for now. I'm a list gal. I love making lists. Anyone else have a list for summer fun....or is that too persnickety for summer?