Coming Full Circle With Clarks

For people of a certain vintage their earliest shopping memories as a toddler would be visiting the local branch of Clarks. Placing ones foot on the wooden sizing chart, the shop assistant poking the end of ones shoe to feel whether you would have room to grow, even the sweet smell of fresh leather that lingered on your fingers for what seemed like an eternity. However, during my adolescent years I actually abandoned this fantastic staple, an exile that lasted nearly 15 years!. As a pre pubescent, like many young scallywags, I wanted trainers not shoes and Clarks at the time got you absolutely no respect in the playground. They had no ERS system or torsion bar, let alone an air bag. It appeared that I had left Clarks behind.

However entering the workplace eventually changes the most diehard of rebels and for the last five years or so I have found great pleasure in the Clarks Originals range. Despite admiring both the iconic desert boot (worn by the Smiths and many a trendy upstart today) and the Wallabee (for all those floppy haired mancs) my chosen Clarks style has always been the Desert Trek, unlike the desert boot it has no heel and feels right at the end of my jeans, or when necessary smart trousers. I will always live in trainers, but a pair of Desert Treks will gain you just the right level of respect from all peers and still look sharp.

A recent trip to my local Clarks shop though has introduced me to a new player. Flat soled, rich dark leather and delicate stitching. This new design (model name unknown) has eased into ones life and given me a strong gentlemanly swagger. The attention to detail is impeccable and will no doubt suit many a lo-fi dandy.

To look at more of Clarks Originals visit their website now

Safari at the Seaside

Leopard Print not just for Bette Lynch!

As I drew the curtains this morning I was delighted to see that it was a beautiful sunny, spring like day and I thought what better way to spend this day than on Brighton beach with my wild friends! There must have been something in the air as we all turned up in our finest leopard print attire...which gave me a perfect opportunity to snap some oddly posed, cheese worthy shots of our animal print wardrobes!



It got me to thinking how far the leopard print fashion statement has come in the last few decades. I remember as a young girl being horrified to find out my mum had just bought a tight leopard print skirt, and consequently swearing that I would never, not ever where anything remotely leopard or any other animal for that matter! However the days of lovable characters such as Coronation Streets Bette Lynch and Eastenders Pat Butcher are over and nowadays leopard print can look pretty hot! From scarves to underwear, fur coats to Uggs, leopard print is everywhere, and it is very acceptable!



It is true some celebrities are still giving it a bad name, Miss Price or should I say Mrs Reid has been known to step out in a shocking outfit or two, but fear not there are those who rock it, my favourite Fearne owns some rather amazing Office Leopard Print Minky Linky boots! I am not ashamed to admit that I have over the last few years accumulated quite a few key leopard items, and I hope to do so until I get too old for it and my unborn children look on at me in utter disgrace!



Long Live Leopard Print!

Miss Skirt x

The best skin is Sheepskin

Can you believe it’s still cold? Usually by now I’m jauntily placing a light Jacket over my shoulder in a leisurely yet elegant fashion so I think this has been my coldest winter I’ve ever experienced. Quite a feat considering I’ve lived through 29 of them. This also may explain why I only seem to be writing about coats at the moment, a topic I’m starting to feel quite knowledgeable in. However, a long winter means that there is a need to keep space on the hallway pegs as It’s essential for any self respecting young man to keep not only a variety of warm winter offerings, but also a fresh range of outer wear. A sheep skin coat is therefore not a bad way to go and is something that I have recently added to my collection, well that’s a slight lie as I did have one until it was mauled by clothes moths last summer(always invest in some Moth assassinating material). I actually picked up this beauty from a charity shop for the grand sum of £7.99! it keeps me warm ,makes me feel like the legend himself; John Motson and also has a genuine feel of Del Boy sophistication. Who said elegance needs to be expensive, though you may find yourself frequenting the dogs on a Saturday night.
The Warm Shirt x

Say YES to Thigh highs!

Shake it, stride it, and stir it up in sexy Thigh high socks!

Girls it’s time to dust of those pins, they’ve been in hibernation way too long and with the days finally getting longer and the weather attempting to get warmer there are no excuses, get those legs out! Like most of us the thought of getting the legs out after a few months of winter isn’t the most exciting prospect! I’d like to say I keep them in top condition all year round but alas I do not. So after a couple of hours pampering my legs are smooth and soft again and ready to be dressed up in the finest thigh high attire!

My thigh journey hasn’t been smooth sailing, at first I felt like a weird school kid/hooker but after some tactful pondering I turned those feelings around, now I feel sexy, youthful and confident! My eyes have been opened, there is no going back, thigh highs are the future! They make me feel taller, slimmer and more attractive to all I meet! My advice to all those out there who are thigh high virgins get stuck in, maybe start with something a bit subtle maybe some knee highs, building up to all out bright colours, crazy patterns, suspender belts and if you’re feeling fruity some fishnets!

Here are the links to a few of my favourites, my current wish list will defo include some from the Susie Bick and Bella Freud collection, soon to be available on net-a-porter.com.

mytights.com

americanapparel.co.uk

Wear them with pride!!

Miss Skirt

Ba Ba Barbour Ann

The Barbour coat in all of it’s various cuts and styles has cleverly dipped in and out of fashion ever since it's creation. As a young lad I can remember both my father and my granddad wearing barbour coats. My granddad, a keen North Yorkshire fly fisherman, swore by his and often told a tale of finding one in a river. My father who is a direct result of the the 1960’s mod culture, had his purely for fashionable reasons, selling his on during the late eighties at a profit to a friend who at the time was acting as a non violent part time casual (a sub culture they proved to be popular in). Looking at this history, It has come as no surprise that I am now in my third winter wearing a Barbour.

I love my wax jacket having picked it up second hand off a guy in Camden for about 45 quid. It keeps me dry, gentrified to the extent that I sometimes feel like a country squire and also has huge practical pockets, where one can keep many important accessories safe, ranging from sandwiches, spanners and flash units – everything a man should ever need. You can buy them brand new from many places, not a bad investment as it will last you a lifetime, however picking them up second hand is also a good way to go, should you want to add a bit of country into your urban life at an easier cost. Barbour and Sons even offer a repair service which will spruce up any tired looking Bedale or Beaufort so it is really worth dipping into ones pockets and investing.



For more information please visit Barbour now
The Shirtx

Flutter By!

Do you suffer from stumpy eye lashes? Does your boyfriend have longer lashes than you?! Girls if this sounds like you then go out and purchase yourself some awesome lash lengtheners!

I remember when I was 13 buying some Spectacular silver fake eyelashes..it was new years and I was young and wild, so why not?! Anyway they looked awful, the glue made my eyelids itchy, and they were definitely not reusable, but times, they are a changing!

A few months ago I unwillingly turned 25, and to celebrate this fantastic occasion I bought some fake eyelashes. They were to my surprise really quick and easy to put on, and oh my they looked amazing! I felt like a new woman, I wasn’t gonna let my age get me down I felt young again! For the next few months I was addicted to fake lashes..I think I bought all the of the Girls Aloud range (Nicolas lashes were my fave, but she is not my fave Girls Aloud that would have to be Kimberley for numerous reasons which I will not go into now..!) I also purchased quite a few different eyelure ones, boots own and I even splashed out on Shu Uemura (£15 and they apply them for you, they were amazing!)

I try to spread the fake lashes phenomenon where ever I go, and encourage all girls out there needing an ego boost to get some, slap em on and flutter on by! You’ll look great I’m sure.

Miss Skirt

Zoltar The Magnificent - not only makes you big, but also keeps you dry

When I was a child I could never understand the point of Umbrellas. I actually enjoyed feeling the heavy drops of rain hit the top of my head with the splashes slowly trickling down my cheek. In fact I still couldn't see the point of them as a young man in my early twenties - who needed to worry about such an unusual accessory when you had a hood?

However as I steadily approach the completion of my third decade, I find that my tastes mature and objects that initially seemed unnecessary can sometimes fill my life with sheer Joy. Zoltar The Magnificent is perhaps the best example of this. Many of you will probably be familiar with this chaps magical powers in the legendary 80's film Big, transforming a short pre pubescent lad into a fresh faced Tom Hanks. Zoltar The Magnificent it seems has many other skills and has been producing some pretty exciting cloth aimed for the modern dandy and words cannot simply describe my excitement when I was presented with one of their fine Umbrellas. Garishly bright and plastered with their signature skull pattern it's left me wanting rainy days. It even has a wooden handle which gives the whole thing an heir of perfect street nobility. By all accounts they have been extremely popular and sadly like most good things have only been made in limited supplies so go and visit their store without delay if you'd like to get your hands on one.



The dry Shirt x