NEW YEAR, NEW JOB

Well hi there, and a happy new year to you, my lovely readers!

I've been a bit AWOL the last few weeks, haven't I? While other (more ORGANISED) bloggers were furiously bashing out glossy gift guides and seasonal party-wear posts in their thousands, I was buried deep, DEEP in a festive food-and-booze-induced coma that I'm only NOW dragging myself out of like a grumpy muthabear after hibernation. YAWWWWWWN!

In case anyone is interested, my Christmas was simultaneously both quiet AND boozy, spent at my aunts pulling crackers, eating FAR too many pigs-in-blankets and quaffing copious amounts of expensive gin. HICCUP. New Year was much less quiet and MUCH more boozy, spent at a house party in Clydebank playing drinking games till I eventually passed out. Thumbs up all round really!

HOWEVER, as you may have guessed from this title, I am starting 2013 with a NEW JOB. As a Communications Executive for big fat company no less! Cue lots of excitement and more than a BIT of trepidation as it slowly dawns on me that not only will I have to act the part on a daily basis, I'll have to LOOK IT as well...

Where I work just now the dress code is super casual, meaning that virtually anything goes. Naturally I opt for comfort and practicality on a daily basis which doesn't tend to differ vastly from my out-of-hours style, except I maybe tone down my inner goff slightly (but I'm definitely becoming a lazy dresser in my old age). At this new place though, as far as I could tell from my interviews anyway, the dress code is SMART. Which is fine, and is probably the NORM, except I've never had to dress like a grown up smart before, and to be perfectly honest it's WAY outside my comfort zone.

But I'm nothing if not up for a challenge so today I had a wee browse round some online shops in preparation for a day of SMART CLAITHES SHOPPING on Saturday. Here's what I liked...

COS

Cos turned out to be my favourite stop for minimal dresses. These are just a selection but to be honest I'd happily wear any of the ones featured on the website. That top left velvet number might be a bit much for work but I LOVE it, and same with the mustardy marl-knit jumper dress... Honestly, it's so difficult to find a quality jumper dress that has a waistband! As bottom-heavy gal (REPPIN THE PEARS) it's a VITAL component as anything without one looks sack-like and shapeless, gaping unattractively at my middle and clinging to my bum. Which doesn't exactly scream PROFESHUNAL, does it?

HOBBS

I was also pleasantly surprised by the NW3 range at Hobbs, especially for prints. Click to enlarge, but yeah, those ARE ducks on that red dress, AND WHAT?! I'm a fan of a ZANEY print at the best of times and nothing says, "hey, I'm a fun-loving, wacky communications exec" like a crazy-but-classy duck print, right? RIGHT?!

TED BAKER

Ted Baker also surprised me in all-round goodness, especially that velvet blazer and 60s black and white dress, and my mind's definitely been changed about the brand after that quick swatch online. I'm not sure what I expected if I'm honest, maybe something a little bit naff? I've been in to the Ted Baker store in Prince's Square twice in my puff, (once to hurry through to the mall out of the rain and once to help shop for a friends boyfriend) so I am about as unfamiliar with their style as it's possible to be, but I'll be sure not to overlook them again.

WHISTLES

Probably not a huge shock for most, but I found Whistles best for the slightly more casual end of the work-wear spectrum. I have a couple of silk t-shirts and tunics from Zara which remind me of the type of thing on offer at Whistles and it's a classic look that can't help but be smart and chic without really trying. And let's face it, anything that requires minimal effort is a winner with me!

I've not included places like Zara or Next or wherever else because I'm just ASSUMING (rightly or wrongly?) that they'll be obvious places to hit for smart staples, plus I wanted to push myself to have a look at shops I wouldn't normally. But yeah, can you tell I'm massively out of my element here? I'm sure once I start trying things on I'll get the hang of things I like and don't like, and it is a WEE bit exciting, contemplating a whole new weekday wardrobe - sort of like playing dress up. I just hope I manage to strike the balance between matronly and tacky... It's an issue.

Finally, in the spirit of getting ones SHIZ together, I have to add a picture of  this wee GEM I've just placed an order for...

This, folks, is Moleskine's limited edition Le Petit Prince 2013 daily diary and it's a BEAUT! The eagle-eyed among you may notice the significance given the name of this here blog... Swoon!

Yeah, so that's that.

I'm not sure what this change will mean for Forty Four Sunsets. *sadface*  I tend to do a lot of blogging on my lunch breaks here, but I've a feeling that kind of thing won't be possible at the new place and I've already got list upon list of things to do with my new-found EVENINGS and WEEKENDS (no more mental shifts for me - hurrah!) including joining a gym - DO NOT LAUGH - and possibly doing a part-time night course at college or something, maybe in creative writing? Or maybe something bonkers like basket weaving - just because I can! Plus, yi know, generally having a life again. So it could be difficult to fit in posts for a while, at least until I find my feet. 

But stick with me, I promise I won't abandon FFS! I mean, where else will I get to indulge in my love for CAPS LOCK AND RAMBLING AND RANTING ON FOR FAR TOO BLOODY LONG FOR NO REASON TO VIRTUALLY NO ONE AT ALL and linking obscure YouTube clips and weird Google images furtively into text that may or may not have anything to do with the point I'm making etc...?

I've been at this too long, can you tell? Time to wrap it up. Hope you all had a BONZER festive season and let's all make 2013 OUR YEAR, yeah? Yeah. Cool.

COS AND MONKI

This week both Cos and Monki online shops went live. Trust me to be totally skinted until the 15th! Nightmare!

Doesn't stop me compiling a wee wishlist for both shops though, right?


Cos Wishlist:

Monki Wishlist:

Although I was initially more excited for the Monki shop finally going live, I have to say that I've been really impressed by Cos' offerings - especially the knitwear and coats. I'd love to say that Cos' grown-up, European, minimal style totally suits me, but to be honest I don't think it really does. But browsing their shop this morning for hours made me wish it did. TRES CHIC!

Just for a giraffe, here's the latest episode of Monki TV - a cute we series about bloggers and creative folk's personal style. Oh, and I've chucked in the Cos AW11 lookbook video too for good measure. Enjoy.

on Monki.

RECENT PURCHASES AND WHISTLES WISHLIST

So, I've been at it again - spending money like there's no tomorrow y'all!

I don't feel too bad though, as most of the clothes currently residing in the worlds largest ironing pile in my front room, or bursting out my drawers (always enjoy writing 'bursting out ma drawers!') are totally autumnal yo, and really unsuitable for the season ahead.

 - I say AHEAD because regardless of the fact it's allegedly almost June, summer has yet to arrive here in sodden, windy and decidedly chilly Glesga.

Anyway, hopefully the weather will gie itsel' a shake sometime soon, so with that in mind here's a wee peek at a couple of new summery purchases:

 Urban Outfitters t-shirt

Just cos I DO enjoy a slouchy t-shirt with a random word in French emblazoned on the front - and who doesn't! Seriously though -  a recent reccy of my tops situation showed I have vastly more shirts and blouses than I do casual t-shirts and the like so REALLY, if you think about it, I kind of HAD to get it didn't I...? 

Urban Outfitters striped maxi skirt

Still loving and living in stripes at the moment. I've been looking for a stripey maxi skirt for ages but can never seem to find one that fits just right. I bought this and the top online so haven't tried them on but fingers crossed this one does the job - really hoping the waistband is tight enough to sit right on my waist as I'm such a short arse it'll no-doubt drown me otherwise.

I'm imagining wearing both this and the t-shirt together, with some oversized black sunglasses, the Alexander Wang Rocco bag and some chunky black sandals like those in the pic. Summer perfection, no?

Zara floral kimono

OK, OK, last thing I really need is yet another blouse, but this is such a vibrant shade of yellow in real life I couldn't really resist. I wore it to the GCU fashion show which I was filming on Thursday night and it was so comfy and pretty, and went perfectly with my coral Rimmel lippy. I'm going to Venice for a holiday in September and can't wait to wear this wafting around on a gondola sipping prosecco and stuff, pure classy like...

Whistles Wishlist

I was Tweeting recently about how I never usually tend to shop in Whistles or Cos or Reiss, but actually the calibre of clothing - both in terms of quality and fashion-forwardness -  going on is super high, perhaps expectedly so considering these stores fall under the higher end of the highstreet. In other words they are EXPENSIVE!

I was doing some more assisting for the Sunday Herald fashion department last week, and we went to pick up a few items from Whistles in Princes Square - which is where I fell in love with the following:

Turquoise lace dress

Rather hilariously I have been invited to attend the Royal Garden Party at Holyrood Palace in July, as my Dad is a Justice of the Peace and was selected to bring an unmarried daughter aged 17-25, and BINGO that's me! An absolute lolocaust, right? I mean, I can only presume it's so as to try and match me up with some kind of Duke or Lord or summat! SCORE! Anyhoo, obviously this means SWANKY NEW DRESS, and this would be perfection!

Nowhere else have I seen Christopher Kane's fluorescent lace of SS11 translated so well. I love the length, colour, belt and panelling neck detail in particular, and yet again keep imagining it with that coral lipstick. Sigh. Shame it's £275 odd quid.

Coral knitted cropped sweater

I'm really in need of some summer knitwear, as ridiculous as that sounds! Like I mentioned, it's still cold enough to feel a chill without a jacket, but I don't always want to wear a jacket if the sun's shining so this would be perfect. AND it's cropped so would work with my high-waisted leather shorts or even the stripey UO maxi skirt. Plus it's coral and I'm definitely more than a little obsessed with coral at the moment, in case you haven't noticed!

Striped jersey maxi dress

Another one for Venice I reckon. Very Jill Sander esq, it's voluminous without being overwhelming and all I'd need with this would be some big sunnies, a wide-brimmed hat and sandals. Chic to the max.

Orange loveheart bikini

Love this orange heart print to death - Whistles do it in a more traditional bikini and swimsuit, but I'd definitely opt for this high-waisted retro version. I much prefer a bikini with an underwired cup as I just don't trust those stringy buggers not to ping off at any moment...

So there you have it, whaddya reckon bloggies? Seen any must-have summer buys in the shops recently?

Let me know!