Feeling Furry

I found this amazing coat in a charity shop this past weekend. It's keeps me so warm, is a divine shade of red wine, and was a really good price. Needless to say, I've been wearing it loads since Saturday!

I wore this outfit for a bit of Christmas shopping. My sheer vest hasn't been worn recently, so I went all out and layered it over a sparkly grey vest, with my antique lace collar and a necklace on top. The butterflies in my hair I've owned for years and years, since I was a little girl. I don't exactly wear pale pink a lot, so it's nice to get the chance to wear them, as they tone in nicely with my vest.

Vintage coat, vintage boots, bag (Luella), antique lace collar, skirt (Topshop), grey vest (Warehouse), sheer vest (Topshop)

Superior Lace

Lace is pretty enough as it is, but add in a sprinkle of autumnal colours, and you get some pretty badass superior lace. I've had this lace vest a couple of months now, and I can't believe it's taken me so long to get it on the blog. It was the perfect layering piece this past autumn. Whilst I fell for the colours/pattern instantly, it took me a little longer to grow to love the flared peplum....but I can now see it's appeal, as it adds a certain folky charm.

Vintage jacket, vintage blazer, gloves (M&S), shoes (Office), bag (Luella), vest (Topshop), lace vest (Topshop), belt (gift)

Feeling Manly

image from style.com

The image above is from the aw07 Luella show, and shows the jacket I came very close to buying not so long ago. It was half price, in my size and had been a piece I'd coveted for a while. Well, I'm certainly glad I didn't whip out the plastic to buy it, because last week I found an exact replica of it in the Topshop sale, for £5. FIVE POUNDS! Imagine how gutted I would have been had I bought the Luella one, and then found the Topshop one at a fraction of the cost. It really is near identical: black and grey box checked velvet material, double breasted, black lapels. If I were Luella Bartley, I'd actually be really pissed off at such blatent stealing. But, I'm not her, so I'll forget it and delight in my new purchase.

So, fresh from looking at all the menswear being displayed in Milan, I myself attempted a more masculine look today (aside from the body-con skirt, obviously), and wore my bargain jacket for the first time. I went for all the typical things a girl goes for when doing the 'masculine' look, you know, basically it has to feature tailoring, so a waistcoat, blazer and shirt are a must. The trench gives me extra man points. I'm sure all the immaculately dressed men around the world would shudder at my poor attempt, but I had fun anyway! I'm so glad the velvet-ness of the jacket enabled me to get away with my lightweight trench, as I'd forgotten how nice it is to wear. As long as I kept moving, it was warm enough for me not to freeze.

Trench (Zara), jacket (Topshop), boots (Blay), gloves (M&S), scarf (Tootal), waistcoat (New Look), shirt (Topshop), skirt (Topshop).

I like big heels and I cannot lie

Yesterdays look was kind of fussy, so I've pared down the look today, for something more simple. I wore this outfit whilst shopping, the fruits of which you will no doubt see in this coming weeks posts. It occured to me whilst dressing that the outfit is a bit of a miss-match, the only thing making it coherent being the colours used throughout: the blazer adds a masculine touch; the red top gives off a 50's sweater girl vibe; and the shoes...well, lets be honest, wouldn't look out of place in a strip club. But it was good fun to wear, I seem to be enjoying the pairing of black and red with grey recently. The shoes I bought a week or so ago. I simply cannot resist a massive heel, plus I really have a thing for lace up shoes AND shoes which have holes in them, thus allowing different colours underneath to come through. Urgh I can't wait to wear them out more, I love teetering about in big heels. The jumper I got ages ago, and have hardly worn, but I wanted something red to wear today, and it does have an awfully pretty, wintery sparkle party around the neckline. I should wear it more often, I just need to figure out how to get it into more outfits.

Coat (Therapy), gloves (Jarrolds), bag (Luella), socks (lovecolour-lovetights.com), vintage blazer, trousers (H&M), black top (H&M), red top (M&S), shoes (Office).

Feeling kinda 70's

It must be a combination of the hat, the glasses and the particular shade of tan of my blazer, because I am feeling quite 70's today, which is not a decade I normally feel inspired by. The whole outfit was built around the shoes. I wouldn't normally mix tan and grey, (I guess its a bit like me fearing the mixture gold and silver, its just wrong!) but these shoes are too special to not love, and I can forgive them for mixing the two colours. My dress is mega cute, but crinkles beyond belief in within 30 seconds of wear. It's got a sort of pinny vibe, with the short length, the waist ties and the ruffly straps. I'm not ashamed to admit I feel a bit like a bit of a 'sexy French maid' prancing about in the dress. Although today its less sexy, more Cagney and Lacey.

Grey coat (Therapy), hat (Accessorize), handbag (Luella), shoes (Miu Miu), vintage blazer, roll neck (H&M), dress (asos.com).