My Style Scrapbook

As the temperature starts to rise (not that it ever really dropped in London) I'm starting to think about what I want to wear this spring summer.

Normally I rip out pictures from magazines that inspire me. This year it's different because I have so many inspirational garments hanging on rails around me. But I've gone a little further afield to international designers and (shock horror) the High Street.

I'm really feeling the tunic dress for this season. Having never stepped into Monsoon in my life, I might just take a look at their website after seeing this lovely bright tunic (source: Grazia Magazine). It makes a welcome change from the grey/black of my winter wardrobe and screams confidence and merriment. This Alessandro Dell'Aqua animal print coat is just calling to me too (source: Dazed and Confused February 2007).

Not having the legs of a supermodel I'd wear them with opaque tights until it gets too hot and then with relaxed fit white linen shorts.

Better Bangs

From mid last year whenever I saw a picture of a glossy brunette with a sharp fringe I wanted one. I dreamt about it and wished I could go from natural looking long blonde hair to something a bit edgy for my career change into fashion.

Even my hair stylists refused to cut a fringe and dye it brown saying that it wouldn't suit me and I'd regret it. I wished that I'd listened to him...

The result is me seen here with the lovely designer Hannah Marshall (on the right) at London Fashion Week in September. I look truely frightful. Even my partner found it disgusting! Luckily the fringe is growing out now and the th dark brown is fading back to a natural mousey blondey/brown.

Even now when I see this picture from the February 2007 of Dazed and Confused I think hmmm maybe it wouldn't be so bad? Then I look at this photo of me here and remind myself No No No!!!

Lunch with Tina Gaudoin, Roland Mouret, Jonathan Saunders and Todd Lynn

It's official - I'm the happiest girl in London right now! I bid and won a lunch with Tina Gaudoin (The Times style director), Roland Mouret, Jonathan Saunders and Todd Lynn in The Times Red Cross charity auction.

Now the general problems when invited out to lunch, what to talk about, how to make a positive impression and help the cause of new British designers. And let's not forget what to wear??

I'm open to suggestions on all of the above. Is there an issue in British fashion you would like discussed? And what should I wear?

Personal style dilemmas

Seeing these normally well dressed women in the most recent InStyle magazine (UK version, Feb 07) brought home the importance of defining your personal style. InStyle seemed to think that Jemima, Sienna and Mischa all looked good in these outfits, but I think they're not being true to their style and as a result look wrong. Jemima in generally elegant and sleek but she looks completely wrong in this Wheels & Dollbaby dress which would look great on a Hoxtonite type with a blunt fringe. Ditto for the other two.

But personal style is really difficult to define. I'm going through this dilemma right now. When I worked in corporate offices of a large fund manager in Belgravia I worked that look well with elegant suits, pencil skirts, pussycat bows and very high heels. Now I work in East London in fashion, wear ballet pumps and jeans everyday and I'm completely lost. The suits have long ago been sold on ebay, and now I just don't know what to wear - despite having some of the most beautiful clothes hanging around me (although I guess I should sell them and not keep them all for myself...).

My old boot cut deniums look very out of place during my coffee break and meetings at Coffee@ but I'm a bit too well thighed for skinnies. The main problem is that I haven't given myself time to really think about my personal, now more casual style and what it is I want to wear that fits in with my new life and most importantly, looks good. I know what I'll be doing this weekend. I'll welcome any help!

Organics are not just for breakfast

I know this blog is about fashion, but lately I've been as concerned about what I'm putting on my face as I am about what I put in my mouth. We eat organic food, drink filtered water and get our oxygen fix at the Selfridges oxygen bar (is that there anymore?), but what about our skin, hair and nails? They absorb the chemicals that you put on them and today many pharmaceuticals are delivered via the skin.

Six months ago I developed an irritation to my usual beauty products which was probably caused by the stress of starting a new business! I looked like a teenager, spots though, not lack of wrinkles unfortunately, it was terrible. I went straight to the beauty section at Harrods and asked for the best of everything they had. After clocking up the ££ on my Amex, I left with a large bag of products. None of it worked and one product actually burnt my skin!

I've started using Miessence just this month, a completely pure chemical free and organic range of beauty products and so far my skin is much better. My hair looks much shinier too and I love the smell of the body lotion. Now hopefully it irons out wrinkles too...

What a brilliant idea! YourOni

No more ruining the bottom of your Birkin on dirty pub floors. The Oni fits on the edge of the table keeping your bag high and dry so you can keep an eye on it.

I met with founder of the company, Suzanne, to see the Oni for myself. It's quite amazing how it balances on the table and can hold so much weight! Even my over stuffed maxi-bag was held up high with ease.

Your Oni will be coming soon to Brittique.com in a number of styles including an extra beautiful bejewelled design exclusively for us!