style notes for the guys

1. collection of north american national park handkerchiefs, own photograph
2. bill murray
3. ryan mcginley by chad moore
4. alex davis at sam johnson's bookstore on venice boulevard, LA, own photograph
5. african safari, life magazine
6. gordon brown in 1999 by murdo maccloud
7. jack nicholson
8. vince vaughan in thumbsucker



click here for the last 'style notes for guys'.

case study: bosworth street style

Let us all stop and gawp at Kate Bosworth's shirt. Note the absence of that stuffy office short stiffness. It's flannel like in it's quality; that well worn softness that is also found in loved childhood toys after years worth of being tucked under an arm. See the way it hangs so lightly and deliciously. Also note the overhang at the back; a fortunate feature to protect against those risky coxis baring moments. And most of all, most of all let us together wring our hands with joy at it's most perfect shade of caramel tan.

Thank you and goodnight.

natalia

image source unknown

young natalia vodianova

tuesday the 11th of may

news item

Most of the time I'm too impatient to give my nails sufficient coats when varnishing them. Why sit blowing of wet nails when the world is filled with ways in which to use my fingers? I could be leafing through a book or kneading dough or...boxing. Which explains both why they usually chip so easily (not the boxing and kneading, that was all theoretical) as well as my sense of delight at the result of the new Topshop varnish. The coating process took approximately 12 hours. Punctuated by sleep, breakfast, a shower and a blogging session. Nothing like multitasking.

And so I give my verdict. The camel looks absolutely lovely but really is subtle and not all that noticeable because of it's general fleshy tone. The lilac has probably received more in the way of satisfied coos (from me, that is) but then again this is for the purely shallow fact that it's more eyecatching.

In other news, I rediscovered my mystery lipstick. I discovered it last summer in a denim jacket pocket and have two possible theories; either that it once belonged to my Mother or to some stranger that once owned the jacket (I forget the circumstances of the discovery.) The last couple of days have been spent have a massive spring clean of my room and upon finding it again I decided to be brave (and risk possible stranger induced coldsores?) and try it on. The shade is lovely, a kind of dark rust colour. Not exactly the Blackberry shade I've has on my mind recently but perhaps more summer appropriate and most importantly free!

On the subject of Blackberry lippie I left a comment on Sarah's facebook wall asking her to help me find something suitable. (She really is the encyclopedia where make up is concerned) She recommends Illamasqua which is a stain-like gloss. The deep purple shade (called 'Move') is really quite intimidating looking and I'm not really a lover of gloss but if I can locate some I'll certainly give it a try. Sarah has the red version, herself so it can't be bad. In the mean time may go and drawl through the cheapy make up at Boots for a lippie option..

pink and red

givenchy fall/winter 2010.

three things

three things that I bought today:
+dr bronner's peppermine magic soap
+topshop nail polish in parma violet
+topshop nail polish in nice 'n' neutral

bish bash bosh, done.

Today saw my first trip back to Topshop since traveling. I had to officially leave in order to go to America but was assured by the manager that I could get my job back. So after a fortnight or so of lie ins, much blogging (as you may have noticed), and the start of raised eyebrows from my Mother I popped in to declare myself available for as many shifts as possible. I hung out in the staff room for a good half an hour or so chatting with the girls, catching up with the gossip (we're all a very tight knit group on my floor) and somehow learning along the way that if you eat 7 bananas in one day you will die of potassium poisoning (I'll take that one with a pinch of salt..). Made me realise that although not having to work is lovely, I really do miss them all. Also popped into American Apparel hoping to see Geordie Sophie but alas it must have been her day off. Never mind, I left with a mini bottle of peppermint magic soap after getting used to it in America. Everyone we stayed with seemed to own a bottle. (hmm, maybe Couchsurfing and Dr Bronner have a secret tie..) The busy bottles really take bathroom reading to the next level.

clarks, you say?

pictures: alexa chung; the fashion spot, the lovely siri of ringo, have a banana! shot by mr newton

On my mind at the moment are strappy leather sandals. Jesus sandals if you will, with not a sniff of complicated 'strappage' a la The Gladiator. The kind of sandal that would most likely provoke a surprised and proud rejoice of 'Oh, they look sensible!' from one's Mother.

This is the holy grail of sandals, it stands out amongst it's contemporaries as the reliable sandal. After years of summer long flings with other flaky models, this will withstand bike rides, trips to the beach and more importantly every day adventures without withering at the sole and splitting in two. I can't take another regretful shake of the head from the men at Timpsons, the air of finality as you look down at your limp summer shoes in a sad broken pile is too much.

This Summer I shall make like they did in the good old days. Before we bought from shops (like my beloved Topshop) that apparently know little about hardy construction where footwear is concerned. And this all means buying some 'proper' shoes which in turn leads me to Clarks. Yes, Clarks. The Shoe Shop which (regardless of marketing makeover attempts) shall always be the kind of Old Aunt of the high street. Faithfully tucked away in market towns or old corners of shopping centres across the UK, their simply sensible style is just what I fancy and I'm not lying when I say this applies to their aesthetic too.

I shall leave you with a view of both the Kestral's (above) and the Gwyneth Susie's* (below) to win you over as well as your (for those of you from the UK) prior memories of 'proper' shoe fittings in Clarks as a youngster and a sense of their 'workmanship.' (*see, does the sheer prospect of wearing shoes with names like this not fill you with the urge to lead a Clarks-friendly lifestyle of cream teas and trips to the Bingo!?)

staten island ferry

me on the staten island ferry, march by joanna thompson

just a quick note to say, I got a little behind with answering Formspring questions while I was away but am now all up to date. so if you have any questions (about me recent US trip, about Chloe Sevigny, how to subscribe to Apartamento magazine, how to wear camel colours..) then feel free to ask away. Equally, you may be completely sick and bored of Formspring, though I know that I (with my nosey ways..) find it strangely compelling and you may be the same.

have a lovely Sunday!

http://www.formspring.me/dconfusion

camel

It's incredible, I never fail to be baffled by the rate at which a trend circles across the blogosphere. And Camel colour (though of course the shade has been popping up on catwalks over the past two seasons..) is no exception, spreading faster than imaginary swine flu. On that note, here are some current hot picks in our chosen shade du jour.

1. camel swing coat from etsy
2. camel shorts from etsy
3. chloe sevigny at art opening, 2007
4. nail varnish in 'nice 'n' neutral' by topshop
5. 'a man in a cafe' by juan gris
6. photograph by garance dore
7. camel cardigan from etsy
8. suede camel sandals from etsy