They Say It Better

Happy Christmas y'all.

Salmon in Winter

I don't know about elsewhere in the world, but here in London it is freezing outside. Skipped autumn, straight to winter. Or perhaps my internal thermometer is just maladjusted seeing as I am currently dealing with my first cold of the season. Anyway, point being, that when the weather gets cold, everyone's wardrobe seems to get grim. Black black navy black ooh slate gray black. Hence why I appreciate Totokaelo's styling in their Fall/Winter Looks, with the unexpected splashes of salmon (courtesy of A.P.C). Vibrant pink when it's cold outside...why not? Matches my cheeks.

That being said, the below outfit is much more my style, but not because of the black. Rather my eye covets that kinda-ugly-colour but-I-love-it cardigan. What is that colour called? Rust, perhaps. And those leggings. Well. They had me at hello.

Colour Therapy

A burst of colour for another grey grey day. It was sunny on Sunday and it was perfect. Now it's back to dim skies and a foggy air.

While I don't really wear bright colours nor am I constantly doused in black, today I'm going to find and wear the most obnoxiously loud, brightly coloured item of clothing in my wardrobe to shake away the winter day blues.

(US Vogue editorial discovered here)

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...

It's Cold...

so cold that my flight back to London was canceled. C'est la effin' vie.

small comforts

I think I might be under house arrest. Informally, of course, but the combination of fucking cold rainy weather and the burden of deadlines has made venturing outside a rare occasion. But there are little things, small indulgences that are getting me through the increasingly shorter days. I'll make it through by staring idly at my new you-study-so-hard-you-deserve-them boots, consuming dubious amounts of coffee and homemade fudge (that travelled all the way across the Atlantic just for me), and adding some Christmas cheer to the house in the form of a mini poinsettia, the lovely poisonous plant of the holiday season. No cabin fever here...as long as I don't confuse the flower for the fudge, I'll be all set.

Oh Boy, Oi Polloi

For me, one of the joys of being a lass is comfortably wandering into the men's section of a store and being able to purchase something in sizes ranging from xxs to l with no qualms. I think it is a bit of a luxury to be able to wear men's clothing so freely... not that men cannot wear women's clothing, but I imagine the fit must be harder, at the very least. I quite like men's clothing, especially in terms of basics, sweaters, cardigans and the like, which is why I squealed in delight when I stumbled across Oi Polloi, an online boutique "for men" -- which just translates to online boutique of "oversized wonderfulness for me." I feel a bit bad stealing from the boys, when it's hard for them to do the same, but with goods like these, it's hard not to.

head to toe

This winter, I'm thinking of monochromatics and longer lengths. If I have to be completely covered up, might as well go all the way, with dresses and skirts that skim the ice cold ground.

tie me up or let me loose

This shirt was on sale for like $0 and had to be mine. It's a part of Oak Nyc's bondage collaboration series....I don't know what I like about it, the bondage element or the fact that she's screaming, but it's like all my frustrations can be expressed in a shirt. Plus, I'm not gonna lie, I feel kinda bad ass wearing it... :)

You down with OTT?

I found this vintage slip on eBay a while back when I was on a hunt for those '50s dressing gowns, a consequence of watching L.A. Confidential. This is nothing of the kind, but it had the perfect amount of sheerness so as not to offend propriety yet still seem delicate. Going out in something so light meant the need for some heavy-duty outerwear, enter this faux-fur delight from topshop. I topped it with my cloche, and felt a little bit like one of those eccentric old ladies you see on Advanced Style. A little over-the-top, but appropriately so.

Pile it on/Bring it on

These looks, with all their layers, almost makes me okay with 2 more months of winter. Almost.

Found here.

Velvet-knees

I got some velvet pants a couple of months ago (somewhat trepidatiously) because I wasn't sure if I would actually wear them. Turns out, its pure velvet love. I wear them all the time -- and because I always forget not to cross my legs -- they are beginning to wear at the knees. The consequence of velvet-on-velvet action? I'll take it.

Oh Mr. Sun, Sun...Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me! (PLEASE)

The sun came out today! For a wee bit.

Blech, being back in dreary old London makes me miss the States a wee bit more...I can handle the cold, but its the grey sky that bums me out. Here its mild, with grey. There its freezing, with blue...sky that is. Win some, lose some. These pictures make me dream of summer, hopefully London will actually have one this year.

I Stand. Corrected.

Yay, I was finally able to whip out my favorite (and only) sale purchase from this December...an A.P.C. plaid dress complete with peter pan collar and the essential pockets, all the better to shove my hands in and keep warm my dears... (I rarely find myself liking a dress without them nowadays).

Now if only I could do something about my posture...I tend to stand feet inverted, and while attempting to stand straight, almost toppled over, finishing with a cheeky grin. Graceful, I am not.

Until next year...

Snow's coming down again, these shoes are officially impractical for the evening, but it's the last night of 2008 and impracticality is a must. Happy New Year's y'all!

The Penniless Loafer

So all the snow has melted, and it kind of looks like late fall outside...but turns out, outside is freezing - as I learned when I took a little walk down my street with very little on. I was taking my new (old) penny loafers out for their first jaunt, but didn't make it very far. Though, I do live in a cul-de-sac, so really I wouldn't have gone that far anyway.

I got my shoes off of etsy -- a lucky find, since most online vintage shoe purchases end in tears and depression , but these are practically perfect in every way...all they need is some pennies, which I am strangely bereft of. Penniless, in shoe and in life, is how it will have to be for now.

silver lines in the snow

A bevy of winterness has been thrown at me this past week. Ice Storm - check. Powerless - check. Power returns then pipe burst, causing leak that causes ceiling in living room to cave in slightly and take down the christmas tree - check. Snow storm - check. Snow storm part deux - check. SIGH. After a while, I gave up even trying to venture outside the house and settled for fun things to do indoors. Such as redecorating the christmas tree, making graham cracker houses/village, drinking hot cocoa and decapitating snowmen cookies. Winter's a cold-hearted bitch. But at least the chocolate's warm and the snow's purty.

(EDIT: I finally figured out how to enlarge images in blogger, so I fixed that up and the pictures are as big as my skinny borders will allow. Not much bigger, but good enough. Hurrah.)

Jack Frost Nipping

I love Christmas. I really truly do. Decorating the tree, listening to cheesy music and watching the classics on TBS. And baking. Must not forget all the wonderful food that I gorge on at Christmas time. I cannot believe there are only 11 days left, but an advent calendar does not lie. So far this holiday season, I've...

Decorated a 3ft plastic tree aka my English Christmas tree. (A real pine one awaits me, 3000 miles from this one).

Baked shortbread cookies (with toblerone in the middle!)
And (already!) received the best gift ever. My fellow got me (and I opened early since I won't be seeing him) a 1920 edition of Alice in Wonderland, complete with amazing illustrations and that perfect used book smell.

Now if only it would snow...though from what I hear, I'll be getting plenty of that when I get home.

Those were the days

Oh, to frolic on the beach, blazer and all. Only 6 more months...tick tock.

ps. Amazing sunglasses, eh?

Paint it Black

It's winter, it's cold, but I cannot be buying a flurry of new layers to wrap my body in...so I grabbed my favorite maxi dress from the summer and threw on a fuzzy sweater, a hat and some boots. With such seasonal recycling, I feel less guilt about owning so many summer dresses and more importantly...warmth at last!