Grey sky thinking

I almost forgot. I got my nails 'done' at Nails Inc last weekend. My lovely mother sent me a voucher to get them done for £5 (usually £17). It entitled me to a shape and polish.


I chose their grey colour - Thames - as I don't have a grey in my nail polish collection. I love it!


They did an undercoat and topcoat and dried very quickly. I had them done on Sunday and as yet (touch wood!) they have not chipped.


The service was excellent. I have only been to a Nails Inc nail bar once before and admit I wasn't very impressed but this time has definitely changed my mind. Would certainly recommend them and use them again.

What do you think of the colour? I think I may have to treat myself to a bottle!

Style Icon: Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

2009 was the year of the ""political wife".


Carla Bruni-Sarkozy was one of those making a fashion statement everywhere she went. Of course, being a former model helps somewhat. But there is no denying her style. An Italian French First Lady was always going to show up her counterparts.


On her visit to the UK at the beginning of 2008, Carla's entire outfit (third photo from the left), from the 1960s pillbox hat to her grey wool coat and black leather gloves, was designed by the French couture house, Dior – a diplomatic choice, given that it is headed by the English designer, John Galliano.


Today's style icon continues the French theme of January but (cleverly!) introduces a new political theme for the next few weeks! Check back for next week's political style icon. If you have missed the previous style icons featured on the blog, check them out here.


Tell me, who is your style icon?

My very first blogger award: Beautiful Blogger Award

The lovely Rachel at Polka Dot Stripes has awarded me the Beautiful Blogger Award!!

Now all I have to do is:

• 
  
  
  
  Thank the person who nominated me - THANK YOU so so much sweets!
  
  
• Copy the award and put it in your blog - done.
• Link to the person who nominated you - check out Rachel at Polka Dot Stripes!
• List 7 interesting things about yourself (you don’t have to include photos, but feel free to if you want!)
• Nominate bloggers for the award.
• Link to each of the nominees.

Ok. 7 interesting things about myself:


1. I am addicted to Aussie soaps - Neighbours and Home & Away. I get most upset if I'm not home in time to catch the latest episode.


2. I have studied politics since I was 18 (I am now 25) and I think that I might finally have had enough.


3. If I could live anywhere it would be Italy. Nowhere else in the world holds my imagination and heart quite like it.


4. I am a very protective older sister. Although my little sister might see it as bullying, I view it as caring!


5. My favourite colour changes from week to week, or even day to day. Right now it is purple.


6. I am the most disorganised person ever to be given a job as a PA!!


7. I would be perfectly happy if everything in my wardrobe was black. It would all go together, afterall.


I have found it difficult to nominate people for this award. Obviously I can't nominate Rachel, because she nominated me but I want to say that her blog always cheers me up! :)


I am also can't really nominate Amy, because she nominated Rachel (are you keeping up?!) but again her blog is so lovely.


So instead, this award goes to (drum roll, please!):


Harriet, of Where Is Harriet? Your blog is beautifully laid out, you always look elegant and effortless in your outfit posts and your Lazy Sunday Links are always such a treat. Keep up the good work lady! :)


Erika of Cafe Fashionista. I only discovered this blog recently but I LOVE it! It is such a happy lovely place to lose yourself.


From a happy smiley Shopgirl, xx

Je vais à Paris!!!!!

I might not have studied much last night but I did book flights to Paris in May. I know it is a looooong way off but I am so excited anyway.


I visited the French capital for the first time last summer, after years of dreaming of it. And I immediately fell in love with its beauty and magic.


Anyway, less than four months to wait! I leave Friday 14 May!!!


And now only 8 days until the dissertation has to be handed in and I am freeeeeee!!


More soon. Love, SG

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Rachel: Thank you for the good luck wishes. The dissertation is examining the perception of the relationship between the media and public participation in politics by the political class. I have no idea either!!

Polka Dot Stripes: Does Charlotte sound lovely? Wishing her all the very best for LFW!!!

Ella: Love Alexa's style and didn't really know much about Jane Birkin but love her's now too and totally see the similarities!

Kayleigh Ann: Good luck on your move. Checked out the blog - v cute. Will definitely check back. Yep, also can't wait to see what Charlotte's been working on!

KC: She was cute as a button, no?!

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New girl on the block!

Charlotte Taylor is a womenswear designer who is launching her fashion label - CHARLOTTE TAYLOR - at London Fashion Week in less than a month's time. Since October she has been documenting her progress as she puts her Autumn/Winter 2010 collection together on her blog. Here, she tells me about what and who inspires her, her love of carrot cake and many other things!

MY VERY FIRST FASHION MEMORY IS... my pink dress. It was so over the top. Some horrible 80's meringue creation but I loved it. I was dressed for much of my childhood in my brothers' hand-me-down rugby shirts so it was a sweet blessing every time an occasion popped up to don the pink meringue and strut my stuff in front of the other kids' less puffy creations. Magic.



MY GREATEST INSPIRATION IS... old stuff. Anything with a history or a story to. My obsession started with my grandmother, whose face in itself was art - a maze of lines, I was completely fascinated. I ended up studying it within my art a-levels and with that my grannie "crush" began. It has since progressed onto the general elderly population, old cars, historic buildings, traditions, ancient cults etc. I like a good story, one that is not all fairytales and sugar coated cakes.

MY FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WORLD IS... 5am: mid-summer, Isle of Wight, sunrise, clear skies, flat water, wakeboarding at priory bay, flask of tea, fresh fruit and silence = heaven on earth.


 THE THING I LIKE MOST ABOUT MY APPEARANCE IS... that it resembles my parents. I am seriously proud to be their daughter. They rock.

MY CLOSET IS... mostly fancy dress. I am on Facebook and I was looking through my photos the other day- it took me until after the 100th photo to find one of me in normal clothes. I have a problem.


I OWN SO MANY... random figurines. The creepier the better. My favourites are: dancing donkey aka Burt and door stop frog aka Jim.


 YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS... but I am accident prone. I never slow down in time and have broken my wrist thrice running into walls. I also rugby tackled a guy in a club in France once who kindly moved out the way as I was in the midst of a full charge, revealing my new opposition, a wall... I lost. badly. I still have the bump on my head 8 years later.


 MY MOST FABULOUS MOMENT... will be when I launch my new womenswear label in February 2010 at London Fashion Week at the Freemasons' Hall with Vauxhall Fashion Scout!

 THE PERSON THAT CHANGED ME IS... my dad. He went to heaven earlier this year for 3 minutes before he was brought back to life. He had a heart attack whilst driving and his survival story is a miracle. He had a police car behind him and one in front. They got to him within 3 minutes and did CPR on him for 20 minutes with no reaction until the ambulance arrived. On the 3rd attempt the zappers worked and his heart started again. We were not aware that you can keep someone alive in this way for so long and I don't think many people are. We owe those police officers everything. Dad was in hospital for over a month and has now made a full recovery. We are all much stronger people as a result.


 MY STYLE ICON IS... anyone over 70 and Audrey Hepburn.


 MY HOME IS... the Isle of Wight. this was reluctantly at first. A proud Lancashire lass I was devastated when my folks told me about their move. The day I finished school the van pulled out the drive and we headed south. I was so against the idea I tried to convince them that they were stupid because the island would sink soon because of global warming! Although I moved straight to London and have lived there ever since my recent relocation, the island is now very much my home. I am hooked and can totally understand why people are reluctant to leave. It is super special.


HOW DID I EVER LIVE WITHOUT... tea, carrot cake and the internet.


Good luck Charlotte! Hopefully we'll catch up with Charlotte again after her LFW experience!


Love, SG xx

Be Happy - Go Shopping!

Sorry for a distinct lack of posts recently. I am currently learning the hard way that leaving things to the last minute does not pay off!! By 'things', I mean my masters dissertation! I have just under two weeks to finish my 20 000 word thesis!! Current word count: about 8 000!!! Agh!!!


Anyway, I did just about manage to write my (now monthly) column for British Style Bloggers. I didn't quite manage to post it but the lovely Amy did for me - so you can read it here.


I will be back in business very very soon. In the meantime, think of me!


More soon. Love, SG

Style Icon: Brigitte Bardot

Another style icon. Another French woman. Another era. Brigitte Bardot.


She is the very symbol of free spiritedness, breaking free of the restrictions that had seen women rarely out of structured clothing, heels and a hat.


Bardot regularly wore ballet pumps, loose, tousled hair and short dresses to show off her famously perfect legs and made the bikini famous with an appearance on the beach in Cannes in 1953.


Save for her cat's eye make-up and a glossy pout, her face was bare.


If you have missed the previous style icons featured on the blog, check them out here.


Tell me, who is your style icon?

10 things I like... about heels - by Hannah!!

When deciding to write a flats vs heels post I knew that I could easily write in favour of flats but that, while I can see perfectly well the beauty in a pair of high heels, I wasn't sure I was the right person to write in their favour. I know that Hannah was.


So here are Hannah's 10 things I like about heels!!


1. They lengthen your legs and make you feel slimmer.


2. Makes me feel more glamorous.


3. They're very girlie.


4. They can improve your posture - they make you stand up straight (no need for books on your head!).


5. They get you in the mood for partying!!


6. They come in all shapes and heels sizes - stilettos/wedges/kitten and boots/sandals/courts/shoe boots!


7. There are so many many gorgeous designs!


8. Shoes like Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo are iconic!


9. Carrie Bradshaw would never been seen dead in flats, so why should any woman?!


10. Did I mention how BEAUTIFUL they are?!!

10 things I like... about flats

I am a flats girl. There's no denying it. I can't walk in heels. Despite my attempts last year to learn to!


I love shoes - shoes are my problem. If I see a beautiful pair of shoes - flats or heels - in the sales in my size, I HAVE to have them!


But while heels languish - unworn - in boxes on top of my wardobe, I live in my flatties. I wear pair of flat shoes death. Literally. My mum used to have to secretly throw away old digusting pairs when I wasn't looking! And I have a box FULL of old flats that I can't bear to part with in the bottom of my wardrobe!


Here, I am going to tell you all of the things - or 10 things - I like - although love might be more appropriate here - most about flats.


1. They are comfortable. This had to be number one because no matter what anyone argues, they can't argue against that!


2. They go with everything. Skinny jeans, boyfriend jeans, leggings, skirts, dresses, harem pants, smart pants, cargo pants... I could go on and on and on and on!!!!


3. They come in all shapes and sizes and colours and styles. There are ballet pumps (my fav), canvas pumps, brogues, jazz shoes, pointed, rounded, boots, sandals... Again, I could go on!


4. They work just as well for work, the weekend and partying. You can get jewelled ones, plain ones, patterned ones, print ones, sparkly ones... Allsorts!!


5. They are - usually - reasonably priced. This is something which appeals to someone with an addiction like mine! I often manage to pick up a cute pair in the sales for a tenner - sometimes even less!


6. You can walk far in them. On a night out or a shopping trip I would much rather have my trusty flats on. For traipsing around the shops there is nothing better. And for a walk home after a night of dancing when the queue for the taxis is around the block they are invaluable.


7. They make your feet look longer! For some people - I understand - this might not be an advantage. For those "blessed" with little feet, it is. Particularly if you for a pointed style - which I love!


8. They are the perfect holiday shoe. On the beach or wandering around little backstreets in Italy (*dreaming*), they make the perfect foot attire!


9. Did I mention how cute they are?!!!


10. And how COMFORTABLE?!!!!!! You won't end up breaking your ankle - or worse - as a result of your shoes, if you're in flatties!

It's true what they say...

"shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist"!!


In Confessions of a Shopaholic - which could be my life story (!!) - Rebecca Bloomwood says,


"When I shop the world gets better, the world is better; and then it's not anymore and I have to do it again."


So today, I made my world better.


With my dissertation deadline looming, the stress levels are definitely rising. But instead of spending my lunch hour wisely, i.e. reading notes, I spent it shopping!!


Not only did I shop, I nabbed a couple of rather yummy bargains.


A gorgeous purple bobble hat - just what I was looking for - of course! And two beautiful belts that were very bargainous!! All from Dorothy Perkins accessories sale - which I highly recommend. (Photos to follow very soon)


I should probably take this opportunity to apologise for any lack of posts in the next two weeks due to the dreaded dissertation.


Much love, SG

Flats vs heels: the age old battle of the shoes!

I am a perennial flat shoe wearer. I should make that clear from the start.


But I adore high heels. They always look so beautiful and glamorous and sexy. I just can't walk in heels. No matter how hard I try.


In the following series of posts I will tell you the "10 things I like about flats" and Hannah - who I styled back in November - will tell us the "10 things she likes about heels".


Here, I will give a brief history of the heel. That beautiful - yet frightening - creation!


The battle of heel heights is one that goes back many decades. It came to a head last summer when a British firm banned women from wearing high heels at work and was quickly vindicated in their decision by a quote from Trade Union bosses saying, "High-heeled shoes should be banned from the workplace because they are sexist and pose a health and safety hazard". In spite of the seemingly patronising comments, just days later Selfridges announced that sales of flat shoes were up by 20%. Not only that, designers - such as Christopher Kane - were seen using flatties in the catwalks.


Flats are back in vogue ladies!


Despite their longevity, flats are not alone in having been around for many centuries. I decided to have a read and find out when the high heel was "invented". Well, I have discovered that it was as early as 1533, when the diminutive Italian wife of Henry II, King of France, Queen Catherine de' Medici, commissioned a cobbler to fashion her a pair of heels, both for fashion, and to suggest greater height for her wedding.


It is a subject which has divided - and continues to divide - women around the world. I won't give too much of the arguments in favour of either as that would be spoiling the later posts. But, tell me, which do you prefer?


Flats or heels?

Thank you

There has been much written on various blogs since the festive season about the "lost" art of writing thank you cards. I remember as a child how writing my thank you cards after Christmas and my birthday was a ritual that was drummed into me. As I have grown-up (sort of!) and flown the nest I have realised that it is polite to say "thank you", particularly when someone has given you a lovely gift. And I also know how much I love to receive something in the past that is not a bill so imagine that others feel the same joy at receiving a card.


Anyway, I digress. The art of saying "thank you" - whether it be in person, in the shape of a card or even, in this day and age, by text message is something that I believe is quite simply, the right thing to do.


I have said thank you to all of my readers before and all of you lovely people who leave me lovely comments that make me smile. Indeed I even wrote my New Years' Resolutions for this blog. Well, I have another to add. After reading Notes by Naive, I realised that it is not only polite to say thank you for the lovely comments I get but that it would be even better to reply to them.


So, 6. I will try my best to reply to comments, in subsequent posts.


I shall start as I mean to go on.

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polkadotstripes: It does seem like an odd choice but he is wonderful in the part - I think!

Rachel: No, I have always been to afraid to read the book - the film spooks me too much. But maybe I will try it. Just as soon as I finish my dissertation!

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I hope you're all having a more fun Sunday than me. I am studying. Again. I feel like all I have done recently is study and I still don't have enough to show for it!

More soon. Love, SG

The Phantom of the Opera

There are not many films that make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and tears well up in my eyes. But then there are not many films so beautiful as The Phantom of the Opera.


The haunting music brings the whole film to life.


It is horrifying and enchanting all at once. The Phantom, whilst being grotesque is also a fascinating creature who intrigues and mystifies.


I watched the film again tonight and fell in love with it and the music all over again, as it was the first time I had seen it.


And Gerard Butler is the Phantom?! This always confuses me. He plays it so well and yet, it is nothing like any other role he has ever played.


The Parisian cemetary reminds of la Cimetière du Père-Lachaise that I visited last summer when in the French capital with mum. Like the film, it is enchanting and yet a little unnerving nonetheless.


If you haven't seen it already, I wholly recommend it.

Style Icon: Jane Birkin

I am having a French fashion moment.


Another style icon and another French woman from another era. Jane Birkin.


Yes, she of the Hermes bag fame! Who could fail to be anything but stylish when the most stylish French handbag designer makes a bag just for you!


She is also the style icon of Alexa Chung and let's face it, that's a stamp of approval in the 21st century.


I love her free spirited style. And the wicker basket she carried everywhere! Kooky and yet, somehow, chic.


Lovely.


If you have missed the previous style icons featured on the blog, check them out here.


Tell me, who is your style icon?

365 project: still going... just!

In case you were wondering, I am just about keeping up with my 365 project! Life has just been cold and boringly full of study recently. Hopefully February will be more exciting!

My Parisienne Lookbook!

Using the Topshop Lookbook as my inspiration I thought I would put together my own Parisienne Lookbook, from my wardrobe!


I'd love to know what you think of the looks. (Apologies that they are a little out of focus - I had to use the tripod tonight!)

#1 - Gap tee, Topshop skirt and New Look shoes; #2 - Topshop tee, Topshop harem pants and New Look pants; #3 - Topshop tunic, Topshop leggings and Topshop pumps; and #4 - Gap trench, Topshop leggings and Topshop pumps.


More soon. Love, SG

What Emily Wore!

Every day for the last year Katie Mackay's boyfriend, Joe Sinclair has been photographing his girlfriend's outfit and posting it on their blog, What Katie Wore.


Indeed WKW was my inspiration for starting a blog, back last year.


Sunday (10 January) was Day 365.


The blog was only supposed to be for a year but due to overwhelming popularity and support Joe and Katie have decided to carry on.


Katie is having a week off though and instead readers of the blog were asked to send in photos of what they wear to go up on the site. So I did.


Check out today's instalment on What Katie Wore for my outfit. So exciting!!

Monday Morning Pic-Me-Up: Topshop PARISIENNE Lookbook

The Spring Summer 2010 Collections have arrived at Topshop. At last!


There are four collections: Parisienne, Saloon, Meadow and Downtown.


I am in love with the PARISIENNE Collection. Topshop describes the collection below:

"Flirty, feminine and fun, fashion has always been in love with stripes, polka dots and pearls, so get ready to fall head over heels for Parisienne glamour with flouncy dresses, boucle jackets, embroidered tess and playful accessories that have the perfect dose of ladylike cool."

These are the photos from the Lookbook:

I love the cut-out trousers in the bottom left pic and the socks in the bottom right and the pumps in the top left!! And everything really!!!!


I have a Topshop voucher from the in laws for Christmas. Off for some fantasy shopping...

Instant fun!

For anyone who hadn't noticed, I'm a camera geek. I am by no means an expert or anything close to being one, but I love old cameras.


This extends to old Polaroid cameras. I found the one below in a charity shop about six months ago for a few pounds. It didn't come with any film so I had no idea if it would work. Once I took it home and started to look for film on the internet I discovered just how difficult and expensive it is to get your hands on any. But I persevered. I love the colours of polaroid photos and I love the instant gratification of taking the photo and having it in your hand moments later. I also love watching it appear. Alright, I LOVE POLAROID. There, I said it.

In my search for new film I came across the Impossible Project: having acquired Polaroid's old equipment and factory they "aim to re-start production of analog INTEGRAL FILM for vintage Polaroid cameras in 2010". According to an article in last month's WIRED magazine, black and white Polaroid film should be available again very soon. I really hope it is.


On Friday night I went out for dinner for a friend's birthday and decided to take my Polaroid camera. The film is not cheap and there are only 10 shots in a film. I had had this film lying around for some time and decided that I couldn't just hold on to it, if I was going to spend the money I should at least use it!


This is what I ended up wearing - the photo is now living on our fridge, next to the gorgeous black and white New York calender from the in laws!

I am wearing New Look black jumper dress, silver flower DP necklace, Debenhams blue tights and DP ankle boots.

Here are a couple of other photos from the evening and some other Polaroids I found:

I found a Sharpie pen was great for writing on the bottom. They make such a good souvenir of a special occasion. I think.

For more Polaroid photos, check out Polanoid.