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!

MEADHAM KIRCHOFF FOR TOPSHOP

I usually hate posting about the same thing I've seen on other blogs as it feels like cheating a bit, plus I guess it must be be pretty boring for folk to read the same blogpost over and over and over...

But in this case I'm making an exception!

Get a load of the new SS11 Meadham Kirchoff collection for Topshop! I originally saw these photos yesterday over at Coco's Tea Party (seriously, that girl is always one step ahead for fashion news!) and then again at Kingdom of Style, and since then I've had the images stuck in my mind...

Over the last few weeks I've been coveting pictures on my desktop of anything 90s/tie-dye/denim/acid rave/grungy-inspired (catchy!) and this collection is pretty much the combined sartorial smorgasbord of all these cool vibes I've been feeling.

I can't begin to describe how much I love this collection, so I won't even try. Just look...

*sigh* I could look at them forever!

Loving the pieces individually, but they really come alive through the amazing styling.

Layering the sheer floaty pieces over breton-striped tops and leggings gives a gorgeous contrast in texture. It's a bold look, but even if you didn't want to copy this idea exactly, you could take inspiration could by simply mixing up florals and stripes. And there's that dip-dyed hair again...

I have to confess, it's making me wish I'd stuck with my long locks and got the ends bleached and then dyed a cool blue or purple... Uhhhft.

Anyway, yeah. Safe to say I adore this.

The collection has already landed at larger Topshop stores, but be warned - it is pricey! As for what's available online, THIS will be my first purchase:

Thoughts?

Oh, and finally, I'll be boycotting today's Grand National because I disagree with horse racing. Having grown up riding horses as a child, I can't bear to watch races where the horses are whipped, pushed to the edge of physicality and sadly often die (either literally on the course or shortly after). I'd encourage you guys to have a read at these two articles before placing a bet or watching it on Telly.

Article 1

Article 2

Peace :)

EDIT: Two horses died in yesterday's Grand National - Ornais, who broke his neck after falling at the fourth fence, and Dooney's Gate who broke his back after attempting to jump notorious Becher's Brook. The Aintree crowd and TV audience of millions watched the horror unfold and there has since been controversy in the press over the commentators' comments describing the bodies of the dead horses as "obstacles."

Even the winner, Ballabriggs, had to be rushed off the field immediately after the race to be treated for extreme dehydration and his jockey has been banned for using his whip with "excessive frequency."

Of the 40 horses who began the race, only 19 completed the course successfully. There has now been 20 deaths at the Grand National since 2000.

I don't think I even need to comment on how disgusting, shocking and abhorrent this is.

TWENTY8TWELVE SS11 LOOKBOOK

Twenty8Twelve is the womenswear brand of London actress-come-it-girl(woman?) Sienna Miller and her designer sister Savannah. I've been aware of it since its launch in 2007, but I have to confess to not really taking much notice. So far I've always felt the clothes seemed to embody the fact that Sienna Miller's just a bit BLAH isn't she?

Nothing personal man, but I HATED Factory Girl so much that I think maybe part of my can't really forgive her for the heinous monstrosity - even though she is pure gorgeous.

Anyway, with Twenty8Twelve I always felt there was never enough DRAMA involved. Too boho, casual relaxi-wear for me, I'm afraid.

However, I *THINK* my mind might have been at least partly changed after seeing some of the shots from their latest SS11 lookbook.

Apparently the line was inspired by Navajo and vintage 40s prints the sisters found in English thrift stores and antique fairs. Hmmmmm....

I dunno, I can't really decide what I think about this:

Loving that gilet. As for the rest? Nah, not so much.

Is that like some sort of red apron thing over the top of the dress? Whatever the hell it is, it's adding weight to that tiny model's hips, so God help the rest of us. Pretty much TAKE IT OFF and you've improved it tenfold.

Bleached denim = win, Short shorts = win, Swagger = win. Basically an overall win.

More bleached denim is a good thing, I reckon it's going to be everywhere this summer, but what's with the skirt? No, no, no, no, no.

Love this dress, love the length and love the contrast with the open-toed chunky black shoes, but it looks very All Saints, no? Extremely similar to the famous Aztec dress of Lourdes-at-the-Oscars fame.

Beautiful. Beautiful model, styling and choice of background. BUT does anyone else think look like it could have been lifted from the Topshop website? Just me?

Hate to say it, but it looks cheap and nasty. Don't like the strappy shoes in this context either. Not to sound like a pretentious knob but this dress and the earlier skirt of the same print make me feel like I don't understand the concept of the line - I just don't get it. Feels REALLY out of place? I mean, I guess it kind of looks a bit like 40s underwear sort of, if you squint, but the styling (hair and shoes) is kinda grungy and laidback which clashes, and not in a good way. It's a fail for me.

Yawn. I'm not even looking at the jacket or the skirt because I am so preoccupied with Sienna's roots and weirdly deformed left knee... Never a good sign for the clothes...

Ah, now THIS I like. Loving her swag, the shirt and gilet, and even the shoes here work fairly well, though I'd have liked to have seen more imagination and maybe some fringing on the gilet? Still, this is a banging look overall.

It's a shame these photos aren't the best quality because I'd have liked to have seen the print up-close, but from far away it looks gorgeous whatever it is. Can't make out for sure, but this looks like a playsuit and if so BOTH THUMBS UP! Love it. Would have perhaps given the model a brighter lip, but I like that her hair is up and again the shoes contrast really well with the pastel softness of the garment.

Love the top, but not sure about the shorts. And the first thing I'd be doing here is taking that belt off - it feels unnecessary and the colour is all wrong. And there's that weird knee again...

HMMM bit of a mixed bag, no? I definitely DO love some of these looks/pieces, but others look like they could be straight out of All Saints, and the studio shots against a block-coloured background - while I think they work in some shots - are almost IDENTICAL to the Topshop SS11 lookbook (dare-I-say-it, perhaps even not as good or as polished).

So, overall I think they've overshot the mark here. The plain coloured backgrounds and enclosed-studio shoot means that the models have to work much harder to convey the theme, and with an alledgedly vintage/Navajo Indian inspiration meant to be communicated via the clothes, I think a location shoot with props or a lazy meadow at dusk would have worked much better. Perhaps that kind of thing was too obvious, but in this case the pieces are individually too weak to really pack as much of a punch as they should within the lacklustre setting.

Ultimately though, It's a wearable collection with a nice chilled vibe, perfect for the highstreet this summer, and easily replicated.
Agree?


WOW that all got a bit ABSTRACT, MAN, didn't it? Jeeze, wish I could turn this much contemplation and analysis to my advanced reporting and writing assignment...

LUSTING FOR SUNNIES

I can't stop trawling the Net a Porter site for new delights - it's a form of self harm, SERIOUSLY!

I only actually have £60 left to spend of my £5,000 win, and I am reeeeeely struggling to find something I actually want for that. I had decided that I could be doing with some new accessories, but I'm afraid a Marc Jacobs iPhone cover (practically the only thing for £60 on the entire site) just DOESN'T get me going the same way that bags/shoes/jewellery/sunglasses do.

Ah sunglasses. When it comes to sunnies, I like mine BIG and BLACK...

*AHEM*

Here, Abbey, geeze yer specs?

Check out my favourites from Net a Porter - don't they make you lust hard after a beer garden in the sunshine?

 The Row - favourites. Everything about these is right.

Persol

Alexander Wang - OK, so not black but whatevs. Still effin cool.

Linda Farrow - croc skin. Mutha-luvin croc skin!

Right summer, I'm ready for ya. Hurry up and arrive already!

OH, AND ALSO, my very talented photographer friend Nadine Yardley wants me to model for her tomorrow... LOLOCAUST! If you know me, you'll know my extreme discomfort at having my photo taken in any kind of posed manner (remember I tried doing outfit posts? Yeah, that went well.........).

However, hopefully with loads of editing it won't even really look like me. This is the sort of thing she's going for:

Photo byVictoria Zeoli for Dazed and Confused

I'll let you guys know how it goes, and possibly post the result in due course. Wish me luck trying to pose for her - I'm thinking a cheeky mid-afternoon zinfandel will help...

x

URBAN OUTFITTERS - SPRING PREVIEW

Firstly...

click to enlarge

Who's all coming then?? I definitely will be - can't resist a cheeky discount! Last time I just popped in to Urban Outfitters I dropped a cool £95 in less than an hour... OOPSIE! So, yes, anything to lessen similar financial follies gets the thumbs up from me.

PLUS the folks at the Glasgow Film Festival are putting on a short film and photography exhibition in store until the 25th Feb, so get yerselves down, ken? Banging.

In other UO-related news, today I was very kindly sent some preview pics of Urban Outfitters' new Spring Summer stock - 20 hot new looks in all. As expected Urban have hit the nail on the head for SS11 - did we really expect less from them? Especially loving the Coop Designs' graphic zebra prints, Carin Wester's Acne-inspired maxi dresses and WHYRED's Wang-inspired white suit. The menswear looks are also really sharp. Here's my favourites for your enjoyment:

Available instore and online soon - keep your eyes peeled!

Thoughts?

 

NO TIME

..to post a proper review of BAFTA fashion (Alba, Swinton, Stone, HBC and that wee girl from True Grit all getting thumbs up tho, non?), OR to savor any of NYFW's pickings... YET...

But just enough time to post some fierce pics of my new shoe porn du jour.

What the hell's happened to me??? These are as Rainbow Brite, candy-cute, pre-pubescent and girly as they come but I WANT, I WANT, I WANT!!

These beauts come courtest of Etsy's Jamesrowlandshop whom I've posted about before in an Etsy Spotlight.

Honest to God, I'm a little disturbed myself at the wacky direction this recent penchant for colour is heading..............

You like??


PS thanks for all your comments on previous posts, guys! I ususally try to comment back on the original post (if I have time) but I hate the way Blogger doesn't alert you to follow-up comments, so if you ask a question or whatever and are expecting an answer I'll normally try and give on on the original post innit... Otherwise if you just email me at my hotmail (link at top) I'll defo respond. Dunno if that whole schpiel was a bit dorky or whatevs...