Paris is burning

So a week on Monday I am off to Paris for three nights with my mum. I have never been before but my mum lived there for a year, as au pair, in her teens and always promised to take me. I cannot wait! For me Paris is synonomous with everything glamorous!

I have been trying to figure out what to pack for my trip. I need a travel outfit, three evening outfits and three day outfits. So this afternoon I searched google for, 'what to wear in Paris'. The search came back with a LOT of options. And from these I have compiled my own list for 'must haves' in gay Paris!

1. Black - slimming, classic, goes with everything. Parisian women wear a lot of black, apparently.

2. Scarves - are the perfect accessory. Wear around your neck, hair, tied to your handbag.

3. Jeans are a no, as are trainers. And leave the sports wear (joggers etc) at home.

4. Smart but comfortable shoes are a must as there'll be a lot of walking!

5. Hair and make up can be as neutral as you want!

Chanel in my mind sums up Parisian style perfectly. Below are pictures from the Spring/Summer 2009 collection.

I love the monocrome 'colour' scheme. I love the second dress in from the left.

Whilst searching for these pics I came across that one below. Now, that would be an incredible gift. Please! Anyone!!

Hope you enjoy the photos.

More soon, love, SG

My current obsession

Emma Watson seems to be EVERYWHERE at the moment. In every magazine there is her face staring back at you from its glossy pages. Even if there isn't an article about fashion's new sweetheart there are the Burberry adverts which might are say are fairly fabulous!

But there is one particular photo of Miss Watson that keeps catching my eye. It is of the actress at the LA premiere of The Tale of Despereaux in a gorgoeus deep blue William Tempest body con cocktail dress (see below). I am actually in love with this dress. Now, will my sister make me one similar...?

I'll write more soon, love, SG

My first trip into town...

Last night I made my first trip into town since the beginning of my shopping ban. Pete needed new shirts for work and wanted some company/a female view! It wasn't as hard as I expected. I was good though and didn't go into Topshop or Zara and because it was raining and I had my umbrella up I hardly noticed as I passed them! When we went into Next and M&S we headed straight for the men's departments.

Almost a week down, only another 23 to go!!

Today is the official start of the summer at work which means that the heat is off a little, at last! So I am going to try to force myself to the library at uni tomorrow to start in earnest the research of my masters' dissertation which I have been putting off for the last six months! I only have six months until the deadline now so I suppose I had better make use of the time I used to spend shopping and start studying again!

Now I just have to figure out a suitable outfit for the library... It needs to be comfortable and yet a little bit cool at the same time!

I'll keep you posted, love, SG

Shaken, not stired

This was my outfit for cocktails with a girlfriend last night.

I am wearing a white vest by Topshop, harem pants by Topshop (a recent sale bargain), royal blue New Look heels, an H&M leather belt, a corsage I received as a present, a couple of pearl necklaces from Dorothy Perkins, an H&M floral locket and a Topshop watch pendant.

There is hope!

I just just read a couple of articles on the blog, Already Pretty, whose author Sally McGraw has just completed a six month shopping ban with success!

Sweepstake

Apparently my work colleagues already think that my self-imposed six month shopping ban is some sort of a joke and have decided to start a sweepstake! Below is a copy of the email which is being circulated!

Emily reckons she's given up shopping for 6 months.

I don't believe her. So let's do a sweepstake on when she'll give in and go shopping:

Pop your name next to when you think:

Week 1 -
Week 2 -
Week 3 -
Week 4 -
Week 5 -
Week 6 -
Week 7 -
Week 8 -
Week 9 -
Week 10 -
Week 11 -
Week 12 -
Week 13 -
Week 14 -
Week 15 -
Week 16 -
Week 17 -
Week 18 -
Week 19 -
Week 20 -
Week 21 -
Week 22 -
Week 23 -
Week 24 -

Well, I will prove them all WRONG!

The perfect work skirt

This is my work look. It's a smart casual cool look!

I'm wearing a Topshop bargain skirt, Primark tee, DP pearls, an H&M floral locket, my thrift store M&S blazer and Topshop pumps.

I'll write more again soon, love, SG

Day 3 of the Big Shopping Ban

Terrible. I keep wanting to look at Topshop.com or ASOS.com or any other clothing website! But I can't. On Day 3 I must have a little more resolve! (Although at the start of a long week at work that can be difficult).

Has anyone used t-shirt tranfers? And if so, with any success? I have been thinking that I might re-vamp a couple of t-shirts in my wardrobe and go down this route. I also have fabric pens but am not sure how good these will be either. Must ponder some more!

Off to torture myself some more!

Will write again soon, love, SG (or should that be non-SG?!)

Wine tasting masterclass

This is me after a day in sun and an hour's wine tasting masterclass at lunchtime!

The boyf and I went for a wander into the Bay (in Cardiff!) to check out the International Food and Drink Festival that has taken up camp for the weekend. It is called the International Food and Drink Festival, however I saw little evidence of produce from outside of Wales! But there was much to try and buy. We sampled the delights of Welsh Organic Beef and Lamb burgers (the boyf on the beef and me on the lamb - mine was universally declared the better choice!). We then went for an hour's wine tasting masterclass, where we learnt about grape varieties, fermenting processes, bodies and much much more! We tasted five different wines, two reds, two whites and rose. My preferred wine from the five was a Sauvignon Blanc and the boyf's a Carbenet Sauvignon.

Then we spent some time listening to the band playing in the bandstand - and bopping along a bit whilst enjoying a beer (the boyf) and Pimms (me) and ice cream (also me).

And the whole time the sun shone down on us! Lovely.

I am wearing: a promo tee from H&M for the Matthew Williamson range launch, a pendant necklace I got in my GFW goodie bag, an H&M belt my dad bought me years ago and a pair of Topshop jeans (from my recent shopping frenzy which induced the ban!).

Hope you've had a good weekend,

I'll write again soon, love, SG

No more shopping...??

After much thought I have decided that the idea of a six month self-imposed shopping ban might not actually be such a bad idea. There are a few reasons for coming to this decision to punish myself in this insane manner;

1. to save money - the boyf and I have discussed saving for a deposit for a house and I still need to finish learning to drive before I'm 30!!

2. I am fed up with being told that I "have too many clothes"!!

3. I am intrigued as to what is actually in my wardrobe - the stats say that most women only wear about 10% of what they own, so maybe I can start wearing some of the remaining 90% of mine!!

There will, of course, be a couple of exceptions to the rule;

1. tights/socks/knickers - essentials!

2. maybe also, plain tees, but only when the ones I currently own are beyond use!

3. I may also beg/borrow/steal items when necessary and customise too - or rather get my little sister to customise or make me new things!! (Please!)

So there it is, I really am going to attempt to do this - eek! :S

I'll write again soon, love, SG

What Katie Wore

I am completely addicted to the blog, What Katie Wore. I love the whole idea behind the blog - basically, Katie told her boyfriend, Joe, that he wasn't romantic enough so he decided to start a blog charting Katie's style for a whole year! And Katie's style is awesome!! I go back every day now to get my fix of Katie fabulous-ness!!

I did suggest to the boyf that he do something romantic (in a similar vain) but no! Apparently he hasn't a romantic bone in this body!!

Whilst I carry on trying to pursuade the boyf that he could be more romantic, check out Katie's style!

I'll write more soon, love, SG

My First Ever Comment!!

So yesterday I had my first ever comment!! How exciting?! I didn't think anyone would actually read my blog, let alone think it was any good! So, thank you, Kirstie! :) xx

Dedicated follower of fashion, 1930s-style

My grandma sent me this cutting - apparently she thinks it could be me! But it does have a serious point to make... By shopping I am merely keeping all those shop assistants in work! How could I live with myself if I was to give up shopping?!

Six months without shopping...??!!

I have just read an interesting blog, Dream Time Tea, about giving up clothes shopping for six months! I think that this is something which my boyfriend and my mother would both agree I need to do as I am constantly hearing that I have "too many clothes"!!! And after my shopping splurge over the past 10 days, they are probably right. But as noble an idea it is I know that I would quickly cave and end up inTopshop buying up half of the shop! Do you remember that scene at the end of Chocolat when the priest breaks in to the chocolate shop and gorges on the window display? It would be as desperate and grotesque as that!

But I will give a moments thought to maybe not buying anymore clothes/shoes/bags/jewellery for the next month.... But then even that makes me want to dash to the shops immediately!!

Oh dear, I have a problem!!


I'll write again soon, love, SG

Any given Sunday...

This is me chilling out at the weekend, after a night of ceilidh dancing, sangria drinking and hog roast eating at my friend's parents' house the night before!

I am on the balcony which is in our bedroom and am wearing a Topshop Target Breast Cancer tee, Topshop leggings, pink satin Topshop pumps and M&S sunnies!

I'll write again soon, love, SG

Date night!

Here is what I wore for 2-4-1 cocktails and tapas with the boyf tonight at Pica Pica!

In this pic I am wearing, a Topshop tunic (£28), M&S thrift store blazer with an earring from Graduate Fashion Week added as a brooch, Primark leggings and Topshop pink satin pumps (£15).

Hope you have all had a lovely evening - I certainly have!

I'll write again soon, love, SG

Topshop Style

I am officially a Topshop girl!! Everything I am wearing today is from Topshop and has been bought in the last week! Eek!

I had my Style Advisor session last week and it was a lot of fun! Loved the whole set up with the separate changing rooms and till and the free champagne (and water) on offer. It was also nice to let my Style Advisor to go off and do the shopping!! But that's as far as it was a good service. I think for someone who knows their style and is pretty confident at dressing it maybe does not provide much guidance on that point. It was fun though and I certainly got a few cute outfits out of it. Next time though I think I will make sure to take a friend with me! I was also lucky that the sale started on Thursday and as a result I got some very good bargains!

So here is what I bought (and I promise there will be photos on here VERY soon!):

A striped flower-patterned short lantern skirt (£18 from £32!)

A grey jersey origami skirt with a black waistband (£12 from £20)

A pair of washed black smart harem pants (£7 from £35)

A pair of pink satin pumps (£15 from £25)

A pair of black fringed ankle boots (£15 from £30)

A LUSH over-sized target breast cancer tee (£10 from £22)

A cropped navy and white striped (nautical themed) tee (£16)

A pale grey tunic for summer evenings out (£28)

Set of 4 bangles - 1 large and 3 thin (£6 from £12)

A long pendant with a hinged fish (£5 from £10)

Oh dear! That is a pretty long list there!! But it consists of a few outfits which are very cute so all good! :)

I'm off out for 2-4-1 cocktails with the boyf tonight but will do my best to upload photos tomorrow!

I'll write again soon, love, SG