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Cool things: 1. Julia Robert's armpit hair (and on the subject of her armhair, loved this short piece over at The Guardian) 2. I've been thinking about Marabou for a while (see these vintage slippers from Etsy or Cary Grant in Bringing Up Baby) and craving wearing some fluffy shoes with some slim blue jeans and a big ole jumper. 3. The women over at Cooler. I hadn't realised what a little goldmine the website for the womens surfing magazine is until Michelle from Cheapskate Chic mentioned it. 4. Portrait of Wolfgang Tillmans from Fantastic Man, June 2010. 5. Brigitte Bardot parachuting in this video.

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Frankie Rayder, fantastically baggy-trousered in this Stevie Dance styled editorial for Oyster Magazine/ That silhouette! Polo necks and oversized shell jumpers worn with cone-shaped skirts at Balenciaga AW12/ Suits you! Matchy on top and below from the Wren Summer 2012 lookbook/ Issue 4 of Hot and Cool Magazine is here! Advance copies currently available at Dover Street Market, available online soon.. (I'll give you a heads up when)

2 things

1. Red Stripe Kitchen by Martha Rosler. 2. Image  of the ultimate Parka hood from Stevie Dance's blog. 

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1. 'Interior with a Tall Plant' painting by Paul Winstanley/ 2. New Yorkers crossing the Brooklyn Bridge during the Transit Strike of 1980, via The New York Times/ 3. Plastic Cut Cuff from Weekday/ 4. Kirsten Dunst shot by Yelena Yemchuk in Vogue Italia February 2012/ 5. Can we just take a minute and appreciate the absolute brilliance of this photograph of Rihanna with Kate Moss and Stella McCartney? I love it so much and though I'm not that big on her music (bar 'the hits') I've been absolutely loving Rihanna's style over the last 6 months. You could easily replace Stella for Aliyah back in the 90s and it would look completely legitimate./ 6. Marques Almeida SS12 shoes. I saw these in Opening Ceremony over the weekend and really wanted to try them on but needed the loo too much so had to dash. Boo! / 7. Shot from the 'Dubbing in the Back Yard' spread shot by Jason Hughes for b. store's b Magazine FW11 / 8. A hulking plate of French toast I devoured this weekend. The toast itself wasn't as tasty as it may look, but I appreciated eating off a sunshine yellow plate on a sunny Saturday morning. 

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(Image sources: 1. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.)

Currently on my mind: Jeeps! I always used to go on 'gas guzzling' tirades when I was younger and still don't dig the idea of wasting vast amounts of petrol for the purpose of car vanity but all of a sudden I really rather like jeeps. It's a combination of seeing nice battered black Wranglers zipping around Amherst driven by men with sheepskin denim jackets and nice dogs, watching The Descendants and that photography of girl crush Lulu Kennedy sitting on her own jeep.

Dazed and Confused March 2012. Frida Aasen, a monkey with his goolies on show and the cover line "2012: IF IT'S NOT EXCITING, YOU'RE NOT DOING IT PROPERLY." I like. (Incidentally, if 2012  hasn't been all that exciting for you, hold tight. Don't take this as an attack on your demeanour; It is winter after all. Things usually get better when your face stops being the same colour as the sole of a ghosts foot. I'm saying this because that face is mine, right now.)

Meadham Kirchoff SS12 nail art. Put your hands up if you missed out on the Topshop x Meadham Kirchoff nail art? Yessir, me too. Here's to friends with steady hands and friday nights with candy coloured nail varnish splayed in front of the television.

Alexa Chung's Fashion Week nails. When you've mastered and tired of the Meadham Kirchoff prettiness, try out these evil eye designs, a la Alexa. Slightly more grown up but that may also be because they subliminaly say 'I've got my eye on you.'

Sherry Younge. I found out about Sherry Younge because I've been getting really into her husband Adrian Younge's productions and music. Sherry is a stylist at The Artform Studio, a record store-cum-vintage hair studio-arts collective hangout in Los Angeles and always wears amazing vintage frames and sixties dos. I also highly recommend you add Adrian Younge on Facebook as he posts absolutely brilliant songs everyday (From Donald Byrd to his own mixes) Basically they're an all-round stylish musical couple with heaps of fantastic taste between them.

Nipples in vest tops. That liberating moment of the day when you've taken your bra off and you're brushing your teeth in a vest and a pair of knickers and feeling pretty good. That moment should be an all-day long thing. (Photograph, Chloe Sevigny by Christian Witkin, 1997)

Jamaica daydreaming. When I told my Aunt that I've just booked a trip for Jamaica she sent me an email with the line "I'm thinking of you wearing something cool and floaty that shows off your endless cafe au lait tanned legs, barefoot in the warm, white sand, nibbling on jerked red snapper, sipping a rum cocktail/icey cold Red Stripe, reggae beats pulsating lazily in the ganja-scented night air." Holla idealistic daydreaming! She wrote it to be taken with a massive pinch of salt, naturally, but I'm blithely ignoring any notion that this won't be the exact template for my holiday and dreaming of ice cold Red Stripe all the same. (This is a brilliant Red Stripe advert from 2002.)

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Clockwise from top left: Baseball cap and long jacket, Emelie Johansson shot by The Sartorialist/ The object of my current desire: Nike Air Vortex Vintage/ New (and until now) unpublished photographs of Kate Moss shot in 1994 for Vibe Magazine-read more here/ Really love this Ophyr ring set by Estelle Deve after seeing them worn by the brilliant Fashion Polish/ Young Steven Spielberg via Marshall Matlock/ Street Bauble 'Oui' ring/ The Surf Lodge in Montauk, shot by Vanessa Jackman/ The lovely shoes of this girl shot by Mr Newton.

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On my mind: Peeking PVC skirts and dreary days in Hawaii.

If there is one thing that Winter is really great for, it is it's ability to take a mildly obscene item of clothing, add an obligatory pairing of woolly tights (hello high count dernier), some choice knitwear and instantly tone down the previous sex appeal of the object simply with the necessity of keeping warm. This girl snapped by Mr Newton presents a summery take on the idea with her sliver of pvc, but swap the bare legs, throw on a mohair jumper, (and keep those fantastic cat eye sunglasses) and it would be perfect.

Also occupying a small corner of my brain: Hawaii. Maybe it's connected to the fact that I can't stop thinking about pineapples (yes), but I think it's mostly because of these photographs taken by Erin from Calivintage which make me wish firstly that I own a drivers license and secondly a white jeep for cruising around the gawping at the waves. 

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Things on my mind: Stella McCartney Spring 2012-the tea towel patterns, the matching of sunglasses to dresses, the Mark Zuckerberg-style footwear and the chilled out baggy trousers. Transparent footwear: see these Clear Jelly Mules from eBay or a silver heeled variation at Phillip Lim 3.1 Spring 2012 (minus the model's bloody toes-ouch!) The May Peace Prevail on Earth editorial via Through A Glass Darkly, and if that takes your fancy it's worth having a look at some of the other editorials on the same site (like Here And There With Celine)

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Brigitte Bardot having a whale of a time/ Chloe Sevigny in Harper's and Queen, October 2003/ nice workspace/ Underwear on the Staten Island Ferry, Araks Lookbook/ Angora Jumpers in general (this one is by J.W. Anderson)/ Socks and sandals, Rochas Resort 2012.

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Things I've been crushing on: Men's Sunspel jumper, perfect worn baggy over a cord skirt/ Turned Out/ Isabel's awesome snakeskin blouse/ I'm really hung up on Zoe and Morgan's Love Lasso ring/Navy lace bra bought from Topshop last week/ Abby's sweater top/ Me with Kate's triumphant Red Velvet cake last week in Stroud.

And on repeat is Lost and Found by Steve Mason..

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A young Jurassic Park reading Alexa Chung/ 1940s Chinatown, New York by Charles Cushman/ I don't want a kiss, I don't want a Krispee Kreme, all I want in the world is this Faux Fur Faun (say that three times fast) top by Perks + Mini. Sorry Bambi! / in the Cos changing rooms wearing the t-shirt that I bought/ Girls Say Yes to Boys Who Say No! Baez Sisters Vietnam draft resistance poster/ Hailee Steinfeld chowing down on some especially appealing pizza (still has nothing on the Deer top in the lust stakes, though..) in the current Miu Miu campaign.

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Anouke Lepere's cheeky smile in this old Prada advert/ Herbert Terry Anglepoise lamps, just bought myself a different model from eBay for my new place in Manchester and I can't stop smiling and switching it on and off/ Kylie from Nice and Shiny's amazing new hair. See also her Keith Haring 'Free South Africa' poster/ James Dean, best known for this lifelong dedication to standing in really nicely decorated rooms/ can't stop hankering after these tops designed by Anywho's Ingrid Munch in collaboration with Copenhagen label Nørgaard Paa Strøget. They're inspired by Mondrian and the fantastic 80s aerobics mash-up video for 'Round and Round' by Ariel Pink. Boo, shall have to keep dreaming as they are only available instore in Copenhagen/ vintage Vivienne Westwood Gold Label jumper which has distinct Missoni vibes about it.

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Some things on my mind: Mismatched nails in the style of Chloe Dennis (one of the subjects on Anne Bernecker's blog). Which on closer inspection is actually a bit of a red herring as instead of having painted one hand set of nails baby blue and the other a gentle peach as I had first thought, one of the hands has been completely chipped with a few tell-tale flakes left on the nails. Girl after my own heart! Only because this is a refreshing sign of laziness that I recognise in myself. Still, I digress because painting my nails baby blue and peach is exactly what I will do.

Maja Casablancas' feast of mussels, king prawns and white wine. If one day I woke up as Maja Casablancas, after the initial confusion I think I'd be able to live with the Freaky Friday turn of events because this girl seems to have it so right with her nice little apartment in Oslo, natural handsome-ness and regular delicious dinners with friends. My 20 year love affair with food continues to blossom as I just booked myself onto a bread-making workshop next month which I am very excited about. I spent part of today sneakily reading The River Cottage Handbook dedicated to Bread in a bookshop and learning about the pros and cons of dried vs fresh yeast and the possibility of using mineral instead of tap water.

Orange lipstick is an ongoing interest but after returning from traveling with much blonder hair (thanks to the sunshine..and John Freida's Sheer Blonde Lightening shampoo and spray) and a nice tan it seems the most suitable and un-barbieish lipstick option for the Summer. I may just have to put my money where my mouth is and buy MAC's famous Morange shade but for now the quest for something cheaper and just as satisfying continues.

The fantastic Bauhaus Archiv in Berlin. (thank you to Jess for the suggestion)

Old computers in a shop window on Kastanienallee in Berlin.

The all-white poloneck and shorts outfit from a nice spread in the July issue of French Elle.

Chloe Sevigny's change of colour. Although I will always regard her as a true blonde at heart, I think this is a good look. She is so associated with her blonde hair, and whether or not it was for a film role I think it's healthy to push yourself out of your comfort zone when it comes to hair. In my experience you're usually glad after a change, it's rare I've regretted doing something different. It is also interesting to note how people respond differently when you have a different hair colour. I remember reading a silly little feature in US Ellegirl that surveyed the different reactions a journalist got from men when she went from blonde to brunette to redhead, and although (crucially!) I can't remember what the results were I certainly think there is some weight to the theory of different initial behaviour towards the different hair colours. It's quite possible I'm overanalysing or projecting but since going blonde I feel like strangers find me more approachable. I shall continue to observe for the sake of this theory.

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clockwise from top middle: ponyskin coat, kasia struss in the prada lookbook fw10, cross-body bag (eleanore from ytligheter), koss portapro headphones, two-tone orange handbag from zara, lovely sunglasses via hardcore unicorn, pleated school skirt.

things on my mind: 

blonde, blonde hair a la kasia struss. a combination of impending summer and itchy feet has left me craving a big change and dying my hair blonde. I'd really love to have the same caramel colour as when I was younger, before my eyebrows darkened and became two large giveaway barriers.

techy headphones. I noticed a girl wearing these headphones on the bus the other morning and she looked so chilled and in her own world as she looked out of the window that she reminded me of Scarlett Johansson in Lost in Translation. I quickly asked her the brand name and she told me 'Koss Portapro'. 

cross-body bags. (not to be confused with body bags..rather less morbid) remember back in 2006 when the way you wore your it-bag was just as crucial as the bag itself? the 'resting in the crook of your elbow' model carry look became the order of the day but I much prefer the unfussy 'cross-body' way-leaves your hands free and arms un-achey. see the supercool eleanore from ytligheter. also jen brill. and alexa chung.

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apartment envy via carlota santamaria / natalia vodianova / bill withers / camouflage tee shirt / wonderful orange nail, white wedge combination via this girl at hoy fashion / same apartment as 1st source.

PHEW life is tedious at the moment. the last week has been spent mostly in the library with just as much yo-yo-ing between successful outfits and loss of mojo as between my desk and the vegetarian cafe for cake and coffee refuelling. cooking a big ole lebanese feast last night and watching the 'still bill' bill withers documentary tonight have provided some respite though. also on my mind (as someone who is always late on the uptake with current music) is the 'new' beyonce song which in a climate of slutwalks and multiple rape gaffs feels like a much needed girl power filled comeback anthem and is on repeat. the (unlikely) fantasy of teaching myself some beyonce choreography (like this) for a big end of exams dance-off release is lingering at the back of my brain, just behind the memorised facts about reaganomics and the new deal agencies. really can't wait to have studying over and to reimmerse myself into wearing outfits that don't need to be dictated by library comfort and aisle side fashion parades as i'm quickly learning that study periods at university equate to the 'real life' equivalent of fashion week.

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i'm in the mood for summer, eating peaches, wearing knickers in the garden, reading this book and this book in the sunshine, wearing cats eye glasses like these, regretting not buying the now sold-out chiara 5 sandals from swear, channelling heathermary jackson and the araks lookbook.

denim and plastic

 On my mind: Sleeveless tops and halternecks, clear framed sunglasses, Prada SS10, Lisa Corneliusson's plastic Cheap Monday heels, Clarks Originals white Kestrals, A-line denim skirts, skirts with splits, button down denim skirts, clear plastic heels, silver nail varnish (Topshop), Stella McCartney SS10, Freja at Derek Lam SS10.

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Margaret Howell's East Anglia seaside house/ varsity top worn by Mel from Two Breads, Please?/ simple lunches and weather warm enough to take bare feet outside/ I have newly found adoration for Frede and her blog www.fredesblog.dk / Richard Diebenkorn Ocean Park #14/ cool little bracelets made by Frede in the style of Proenza Schouler.

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minji kim on closet visit/ lovely cats eye sunglasses and portfolio clutch, both from topshop/ alisa on trendy crew/ a particularly satisfying bagel I made myself the other week/ emi kameoka's glittery nails/ absolute foot perfection! (via urban outfitters blog)- my mum has a pair of sandals like this, and I'm after some for summer too. maybe in an ideal world lots of different coloured pairs for coordinating with painted toenails..?

I don't think 'Happy April Fools' is really the right expression, but April 1st feels like a special day, one step closer to 'real' Spring so have a lovely day and weekend!

EDIT: I meant to recommend this little DIY nail video which is very sweet and makes ventures into all things glittery nail related look very easy.

spring mood

Devon Aoki, i-d Magazine September 1998/ Sophie Lowe in Russh Magazine 2009/ Laetitia Casta gardening in her knickers/ reading in the sun/ Angela Lindvall, Zoo Magazine Spring 2011/ The McCartneys/ Tracey Emin at the Sea/ basket shoppers and lunchdates via This is Naive/ blossom in Angus, Scotland/ slitted skirts at Christopher Kane SS10/ old Fjallraven backpack.

It's here, it's here! I went for a run in Platts Fields park yesterday and there is was, that thick syrupy smell of blossom filling the air, interrupted occasionally by wafts of BBQs smoke from groups of picnicing people. And as somebody with an freakishly sensitive sense of smell one of my favourite spring/summer signifiers greeted me as I walked to the supermarket after dark last night, the smell of a summer night when the whiff of warm tarmac after a day of blazing sun is noticeable. Ahhh. I think the changing of seasons will always excite people. Or maybe it's a family thing- I got a letter from my Granny this week describing the pleasure she's been getting each morning after moving her little wicker armchair into a spot by the front door that gets hit every day by a stream of sunshine- sounds like a lovely way to start the day. Apologies for such overenthusiastic Spring appreciation, time to buckle down and stop grinning out of the window..