The Staples: 2013

As 2013 is drawing to a close at midnight, I thought I'd have a little look back over the things I've found myself wearing again and again this year - some are more than twelves months old, some are newer purchases, and some in the above picture are a variation of the version I actually own, but the idea is still there! I've tried to vaguely organise it into categories so let's give it a go.

Trousers - This one is easy - it's generally been Topshop Leighs (in various shades) which are in my opinion, perfect. They're quite thin which means they're incredibly comfortable, but don't go baggy around the knees or fall down - never a good look and one I find myself battling with on many an occasion. I'm all about the separates for an evening out and when it's not my black Leighs, it's some form of leather look trouser/coated jean. Unfortunately my favourite pair from River Island met a less than ideal end involving my knee and the pavement, but they have since been replaced and balance has been restored in the world!

Skirt - No surprise - leather. It's definitely replaced my love of the black bodycon in Uni days and if you want to hear more of my obsession then see this post. No dresses will be being mentioned because unless it's a particular occasion, I always opt for separates...I'm just very fussy when it comes to picking the perfect one. Wish me luck on my annual work party hunt!

Tops - I had to include a standard vest top as I wear these a lot in summer and most days in winter under jumpers. In terms of evening wear, again no surprise, it's been all about a cami - this greyish purple Topshop number has to be my favourite, but I also picked it up in a few different colours (I have a problem).  In the warmer months I tend to go for a slouchy tee and as soon as it gets a bit more chilly I live in knitwear - I could have filled a whole board with my favourite jumpers but I reigned it in and went for this grey mohair New Look knit which has been a firm favourite throughout winter.

Coats & jackets - I have worn this black blazer to death. It's my go-to going out jacket and I also have it in a cream colour which is lovely in spring and summer. I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to being cold so this is good because it's nice and light and not a massive pain to carry if I get a bit too toasty when I inevitably get into my 'I am Beyoncé' state of mind. A leather jacket has been a staple in my wardrobe for quite some time and gets plenty of lovin' throughout the year. In terms of winter coats I've chosen two more recent purchases - I love the biker shape of this black coat from Dorothy Perkins and it's totally in my comfort zone, but I also couldn't resist the unique colour of the Zara duffel. It's so unlike anything else I have but I've really been enjoying wearing it to add a bit of a variation to my outfit as I usually stay within the territory of neutrals and monochrome!

Bags - Again, this was easy. My everyday bag has usually been a standard black handbag and my evening bag is a variation of this black shoulder bag from Next (mine is just plain leather rather than two-tone). They are such a nice size and easy to chuck on over your shoulder rather than having to bother carrying it around - I'm lazy, ok? And again, I may have repurchased in a nice light cream shade (just watch the sticky drink spillages with that one...).

Shoes - Boots, heels, flat sandals and occasionally ballet flats. I can't get enough of heeled boots - for shorties like me it's an added bonus that you can gain a bit of height and add some length to your legs! I've chosen this charcoal suede pair from M&S and a recent addition to my wardrobe - a super tall black pair which are good for smart/casual occasions. In terms of heels, I usually opt for a huge platform to save my poor, dying feet and again, make me look a bit taller than a twelve-year-old. Talking about dead feet, something I didn't include in the image above is my battered converse, which also get cracked out when I'm giving my toes a little rest.

Jewellery - This gold mini Casio has not left my wrist all year and a standard chunky, gold chain has been a favourite for jazzing up a simple jumper of t-shirt. Again, no prizes for guessing that a statement necklace would be making an appearance - I've loved throwing on something with a bit of colour or embellishment to brighten up what tends to be an all black/grey/neutral ensemble, and this Accessorize necklace is my new fave. Finally, I've chucked in a couple of midi rings because it's a trend I've been totally on board with - these ones from River Island were only two quid too so why the hell not, eh?

This little rundown has been a helpful exercise for a couple of reasons: it's made me have a think about some things which I could definitely send to a charity shop seeing as they haven't made an appearance in the last twelve months and it's also made me think I should probably make an effort to wear a bit more colour and crack out a dress more than 3 times a year...let's see how that fares in 2014. Happy New Year!

A Late Christmas Present

So, there we have it, Christmas is well and truly over. We watched Home Alone, we played board games and we ate...boy did we eat. 2014 is just around the corner - we're working our way through the leftovers and making preparations for the New Year. Chances are you're received all your presents (unless you count those bought by yourself, for yourself...sales are dangerous), but, from me to you, one last piece of festive magic: a beautiful live session from Justin Vernon and Sean Carey of Bon Iver. With just two grand pianos (and one majestic pink hoodie), they create five unique and soul-numbingly perfect interpretations. Get ready to have yo' mind blown.

You're welcome - and don't say I never get you anything. 

Christmas Cookies

I've been promising to make some kind of tasty treat for my team at work ever since they bought me a wonderful selection of baking goodies for my birthday in September. It's taken a couple of months but I've finally got around to it (woops...bad friend, sorry!) - I did consider the cupcake option, but we're a team of cookie lovers so when I saw this post on Anna's blog, I couldn't resist attempting mini Christmas puds of my own. They're just too cute.

I actually used her original chocolate cookie recipe and then went a bit cray with the decoration - I may have been mildly possessed by some kind of obsessive icing perfectionist. After they'd been half-dipped in white chocolate (because there definitely isn't enough chocolate in them already...), I cut some holly leaves out of ready-made green icing and popped them on whilst the chocolate was still setting to create something which half resembled a little pudding. I then piped on a few red berries using some of those little icing tubes you can buy at the supermarket and this was the finished result! 

One thing I would say is if you wanted to use this kind of green icing too, try to keep it fairly cool when you're working with it - I was cutting the leaves out free hand and by the end, a couple of them were starting to tear and stretch a bit as the icing warmed up and became softer, which was really annoying. The obsessive icing perfectionist in me was not a happy bunny and this may have resulted in some unnecessary carnage when the unsuccessful attempts were squashed into a ball of failure and ended up in the bin, but I suppose that's just the way the cookie crumbles (no pun intended). In fact, if I were you, I'd find some kind of holly-leaf shaped cutter to save your frustration - either that or just don't stress if it's not expertly done, they're only gonna end up being scoffed down in about 2 minutes flat anyway. 

Having sampled one or two cookies myself (gotta check they're not going to poison anyone right?), I can vouch for their classic 'crunchy on the outside, gooey in the middle' texture. I have to say, they taste pretty damn good and it seems that everyone else agreed - they went down a storm! A really quick and easy biscuit recipe (props to Anna) and perfect as a festive treat or whipped up minus the decoration any time you find yourself with a cookie craving.

Merry Christmas!

Festive Fingertips

I'm a big fan of the whole 'accent nail' thing - not only does it look really effective but it also means that you can try something a bit different without having to do it on every single fingernail, which is good if it's slightly tricky or ends up looking a bit rubbish and requires a speedy removal. For this combination I used Essie's Wicked (which I actually picked up as a possible replacement for my favourite Accessorize polish mentioned in this post - I just can't find it in store anymore!) and then some sliver glitter which is part of this Andrea Fulerton set. I was given the set as a present by a friend who is well aware of my polish obsession and really enjoy using it - it's perfect for a bit of festive sparkle at this time of year. It's also very easy to use - just paint on the clear polish, hold the little tube of your desired colour above your nail and give it a little squeeze to release the glitter. I then like to press the glitter really gently to make sure it's sticking to the polish, leave it for a couple of seconds, tap off the excess and paint over it again with the clear polish to seal. A quick tip - I tend to just paint over the very end of the nail where the glitter is otherwise I find it can end up being smudged all over my nail so it looks more like a top coat - I'm yet to master the full on graduated effect thing!

I've had the glitter on for over a week now and it's yet to budge so I'm hoping it will stick around until Christmas day without me having to touch it up - pretty good going when the ends of my nails are usually starting to chip after about 3 days. If you fancy something a little bit special for the festive season but want to keep it low maintenance, this sort of thing is an ideal option.

The Kindle Reading List

I have a really bad habit of starting to read books and not finishing them. I always have about three on the go at once and this isn't really helped by having a Kindle. Don't get me wrong, I do love it, but the ease of buying a book whilst you're sat at home and having it instantly at your fingertips just adds fuel to the fire! I definitely don't need any more books in my life, I've got enough to last me for years already but I can't resist a wander into Waterstones to see what takes my fancy and having a Kindle is like having a 24hr bookshop on your doorstep.

At any one time I'm usually working my way through a couple of books picked off my shelves as well as at least one on my paperwhite. Unfortunately, I can neglect the Kindle at times - it tends to get more of my attention when I'm travelling somewhere or when I want to buy a book for a bit less than the physical copy! However, having just made an impulse buy of John Williams' Stoner after hearing about it on Estée's vlog and then reading a shedload of rave reviews, I thought now would be a good time to go back through a few of the purchases on my Kindle and give it a bit of Christmas lovin'.

A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin - An obvious choice and one which doesn't really need any explanation. If you enjoy the TV show but haven't read the first book then you definitely should! I'm part way through the second one at the moment but got really into the programme and watched the whole of season 2 in about a week so unfortunately, A Clash of Kings is another which has inadvertently fallen into the 'started but not finished' category! I'm terrible.

The Shining - Stephen King - This was one which was on some kind of super cheap deal on Amazon - they're so good for feeding my addiction! I've never really read a horror novel before but I'm a big fan of the film so I thought this was a good place to start. Some of the changes to the plot were a bit of a shock, but I find that always tends to happen when you see a film before you read the book and you can understand why they did change some aspects for the screen version. I think you definitely get more of an insight into the characters of Jack's wife and son in the book and the way the tension builds and builds until the culmination at the end is brilliantly done. It really is a good old fashioned page-turner.

Les Misérables - Victor Hugo - I grew up loving the musical and used to sit and re-watch the tenth anniversary concert (featuring a very sweaty Michael Ball...nice) over and over again when I was younger. When the film came out last year it was the final straw which spurred me on to read the book - the paper copy is intimidatingly huge so I thought I could cheat myself into it by getting the digital version...unfortunately this is another I haven't got around to reading BUT I will one day. Promise.

Boulle's Jewels: The Business of Life - Francis Boulle - Yes, that's Francis off Made in Chelsea. Bit worrying when one of the only books on my Kindle which I've got through start to finish is a little book of boulleisms. I can't help it, I just love me some MIC (and before you say anything I know it isn't real but neither's Harry Potter so who cares). Francis hasn't really been in it so much for the past couple of series but when it started, he was very much portrayed as a business man to rival Lord Sugar and this is a tongue in cheek look at how he became the 'entrepreneur' he is today. This is good bit of light relief which is super quick to read and perfect to whizz through on your Christmas break! All I need now is Mark Francis to bring out a book of memoirs and I'll be satisfied. 

So it seems that the A Song of Ice and Fire series, Les Mis and my new purchase Stoner all deserve a bit of attention over the Christmas period when I'm zonked out on the sofa and the thought of moving for anything other than the last mince pie is inconceivable...but that's alongside any new books I get for Christmas and the five million that are strewn on my bedside table too. I think I can take two things from this: 1) I need to try and limit myself to one book at a time to have any hope of finishing them before I get distracted and 2) I should probably reconsider where MIC sits in my life priorities...

Clutch Copy

When it comes to a good clutch, I don't think you can get much better than Whistles. They do a wide range of of colours, textures and sizes and the simplicity of the design is right up my street. I always think they would look so stylish for a night out - they're literally just a regular pouch with a zip top and little Whistles logo. On a recent shopping trip, I walked past the Whistles shop (which I usually bypass because it always looks intimidatingly quiet/fancy) and thought why not, I'll pop in and have a look at what they have on offer...what's the worst that could happen? Well, I was instantly drawn to this little black number - a shiny croc print rectangle of beauty with small gold lettering. What I wasn't quite prepared for was the sixty quid price tag. Now I know they are real leather and you're paying for the quality and all that, but, and maybe this is just me being boringly practical, there's not even a zip-up pocket inside. I don't know about you, but I like that little bit of extra security when I'm probably going to end up slightly less cautious with the bag's contents than usual after a few drinks! Safe to say I picked my jaw up off the floor, exited the shop with a heavy heart and heavy purse, dreaming of the day when I would be sophisticated and rich enough to justify purchasing a Whistles clutch. 

I then strolled into Forever 21 not really expecting to find anything and, low and behold, I stumbled across the bag pictured above. Now I know it's not a carbon copy but it's not totally dissimilar to the Whistles alternative - gold zip top: check, size match: check, pouch style with minimal decoration: check! And guess what, you've even got yourself an inside pocket. The best bit is the price - at just short of £9 you could get it in every colour and still have 30 quid left at the end of it. It might not be real leather, but it will probably end up covered in sugary cocktail goodness anyway so being able to wipe it clean is a plus for me! I don't fancy paying £51 for a brand logo, especially when 9 times out of 10, I'm lazy and opt for a bag with a strap on a night out anyway. This little steal is absolutely perfect to have on hand when I fancy going strap free and its status as one of my slightly roomier offerings means that the 'fugly purse' usually reserved for evenings out can be replaced by my everyday option should I so desire. Forever 21, you have excelled yourself!

The Final Cut #2: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Next to face the final cut is all round nice guy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I remember watching him in Third Rock From the Sun back in the day and never would I have predicted that, fast forward 17 years (yes it's been SEVENTEEN YEARS since it started), he'd be featuring as one of my favourite actors. You know how these child star stories tend to go: one way (cough...Lohan) or another ('whatever happened to...?'), but old JGL hasn't fallen to the wayside yet and won't be any time soon! Now before we start I have to get one confession out of the way - call me controversial but 10 Things I Hate About You isn't going to feature in my top 5. Don't get me wrong, I do like it, but just not enough. We're talking JGL of the last four years or so - let's get started...

5. 50/50 (2011) - Be prepared - you'll laugh, but you will definitely cry too. This is a tear-jerker. Make sure you don't do what I did and watch this on your own (bad move) otherwise you may find yourself an inconsolable, sobbing mess, but it's only because JGL's performance is SO good. He plays a young guy who's diagnosed with cancer with a 50% chance of survival - a serious topic treated with care and touches of humour in all the right places. And did I mention his lovely little friendship with Seth Rogan? Can you deal with that combination?! It's almost too much. I vote they re-make Knocked Up and replace Katherine Heigl with JGL.

4. Inception (2010) - I know, I know, that old chestnut. Sorry to repeat myself but it had to be done. After my love of 500 Days of Summer had been firmly cemented (more of that later), this was the film that showed me that JGL could be versatile, and boy do I love me some action-packed Levitt. Bringing us on to...

3. Looper (2012) -  Again, a film boasting a wonderful combination, this time JGL alongside Bruce Willis. Here he plays an assassin hired to kill people who are sent back in time. Again, like Inception, we're talking layers and it definitely took me a bit of time to wrap my mind around it, but I like a good brain teaser. Here's a tip: press pause, take a minute to get over the makeup intended to make him resemble a young Brucey (Willis, not Forsyth), press play and concentrate. It's not one to watch when you're about to fall asleep on the sofa, but definitely worth your attention. 

2. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) -  First thing's first: let's talk about Tom Hardy’s bizarre and somewhat comedic voice. It's weird, you can’t deny it - he sounds a bit like Brian Blessed…everything is very pantomime villain. But give it a few minutes and you're used to it. The film has a great balance between visually stunning, fast-paced action and aspects of the story line focussed around Bruce Wayne’s personal life but for me, the twists were the icing on the cake. I just did not see them coming. Maybe I’m a bit slow, but nonetheless I made an actual noise of surprise. Add JGL to the mix as a young police officer with more than loose links to Batman and you've got yourself a winner! Basically, you get my drift, it's brilliant. 

1. 500 Days of Summer (2009) - This is not only in my top 5 JGL films, but definitely gets a spot in my top 5 of all time. I've seen it on more occasions than I care to admit and could probably recite most of the script, if that was ever a skill that would come in handy. It's a love story, but not your usual soppy romance where you can predict everything that's going to happen. It's melancholic and painful but at the same time genuinely really funny and don't even get me started on the soundtrack! This is where my adoration of Gordon-Levitt all started and is probably the reason behind my somewhat irrational dislike of Zoey Deschanel - no-one breaks JGL's heart and gets away with it (can you tell I have trouble separating actors from their characters?).  

So that's it, my rundown of films featuring Joseph Gordon-Levitt - we go from time-travelling hit man to love-sick romantic and all with impeccable acting skills. JGL, I salute you!

Vamped-up Lips & Fingertips

Accessorize is not necessarily a brand that automatically springs to mind when I'm having one of my five daily daydreams about beauty items. Bags and jewellery, yes, and fair isle knit gloves, definitely, but make up not so much. I imagine this is the case for a lot of people, but having said that, I do consider them a bit of an unsung hero of the nail colour world. The quality is excellent and at four quid a pop, they're very reasonably priced. This nail polish in Blackberry is my absolute favourite to wear in autumn and winter, and when you consider it in the of context my disgustingly extensive collection, that fact speaks for itself. It's the most flawless deep, rich burgundy shade which teeters on the edge of black in some lights and leaves a glossy, sleek finish - my go-to option when I'm donning dark tips and the only polish I've ever set my sights on repurchasing.

A dark lip is also a favourite at this time of year and Revlon's Black Cherry is nothing short of perfection! One swipe of this lipstick instantly adds a moody, gothic twist to your makeup and it's a really simple way to take you from day to night for those post-office Christmas events. The only thing with these sorts of darker lip colours is that I do find myself a bit wary of smudging them around my mouth and looking like I've face-planted a black forrest gateau, but luckily that's never been a problem so far. This lipstick is easy to wear blotted on as a more sheer stain or built up to create a full on vintage vixen effect.

This pairing goes together like mulled wine and mince pies AND their names rhyme too (kinda)....coincidence? I think not. This is a duo made to complement one another and achieves the ultimate vamped-up combo.

The Perfect Albums for Winter

The real title of this post should probably be something like 'Albums I like to listen to in the winter...or actually any time of the year (especially ma boi, Ben)', but that doesn't really have the same ring to it. Off we go:

1. Every Kingdom - Ben Howard - I'd go so far as to say this is the only album I have consistently listened to since its release. I’m cursed with a short attention span and usually go through bursts of playing things to death before I get bored and move on to the next, but there’s something about this record that just keeps me coming back. I absolutely, wholeheartedly love it - so much so that I spent a magical evening with the man himself in a Blackpool ballroom (unfortunately, it didn't consist of a one-on-one rehearsal of the Argentine tango). He was amazingly good live, plus he seems like if you took him home to your mum for a cuppa and a custard cream, it would take about fifteen minutes before she'd love him more than she loves you. I know that’s not one of the traditional criteria for assessing musical worth, but still, it helps. I'll stop talking about him now, promise. 

2. Early in the Morning - James Vincent McMorrow - Things I love about JVM: 1) He's incredibly talented, 2) he has an impressive beard, 3) he's Irish. This is the perfect album to listen to when it's one of those frosty but sunny days and you fancy freezing your butt off on a bit of a wander through some kind of field/woodland area. Is it just me that plans a soundtrack for every occasion...? 

3. Bon Iver - Bon Iver - If you read this post about their show I went to last year, you will know all about my love of Bon Iver. Again, this is something I listen to no matter what season we're in, but I just feel like it lends itself to winter particularly well - I dunno if it's just me, but it makes me think of snow, log cabins and Scandinavia. Weird, but true. Oh, and of course Justin Vernon is a man whose power stems from his facial hair, much like another bearded fellow who pops up all over the place at this time of the year rocking an incredibly pimped-up red velvet suit. 

So if there's one thing you can deduce from this little list it's that beard + guitar = good wintery music (unless you're Ben, in which case the beard isn't necessary).  

The Staples #3: Embellished Knit

Topshop jumper / Zara coat / Topshop jacquard skirt / H&M leather look skirt / Topshop jeans / Office leather boots / Office heels / Asos bag / Accessorize box clutch / Daniel Wellington watch / H&M ribbed knit hat

As with all the items I'd file under the 'staples' category, the great thing about a piece of knitwear with a bit of embellishment lies in its flexibility -  dress it down with causal boots and a beanie for a stylish daytime look or dress it up for festive drinks by pairing it with a chic skirt in a contrasting fabric. We all know that extra layer of warmth is going to be much appreciated now that we're heading towards sub-zero temperatures and on evenings when you're fed up of relying on a beer jacket (or Amaretto anorak as I like to call it), a jumper with added sparkle is key for keeping toasty. The deep plum shade of this Topshop number is very seasonal and the crystal stud neckline adds a little somethin' somethin' whilst keeping things simple, subtle & elegant. On a scale of solitary sequin to Kim K's rock, this particular jumper plants itself firmly on middle ground and is the perfect way to ease yourself in to the tinsel-filled party season!

The Travel Edit

At the moment, the weather has been pretty uninspiring. We've had a dreary week or so - that awkward in between stage where it's not quite crisp and frosty, not particularly sunny and all in all, a bit on the damp side. I for one have been wishing I could do a Made in Chelsea, hop on a (private) plane and jet off to some new surroundings. If you're lucky enough to have a December break planned, I thought I'd share a practical recommendation for a useful set of guides, but if not, I've come across another book to give you an opportunity to escape without losing your job (if like me you have zero holiday days left) and/or forking out too much dolla'.

The practical: Lonely Planet Pocket Paris & Lonely Planet Discover Barcelona - I'm sure everyone knows this already, but when it comes to travel guides, the Lonely Planet cannot be beaten. Here I've got a pocket guide and full-sized option - the pocket guide is great for carrying around with you, it covers all the top sights, offers day plans and is crammed full of insider tips. The fatter option is essentially the same but just in more detail, perfect if you've got time to do some in depth research before you go. They both have plenty of maps and local information as well as picking out highlights and 'best ofs', but are set out in a slightly different way and on a different scale. What's brilliant about these books is that you can be sure any of their recommendations will live up to expectations, which is especially useful when it comes to food (my favourite bit...).

The slightly less practical: Paris by Julian Green - I picked this up on a whim last month partly because I'm building up a good collection of the Penguin modern classics and partly because I was feeling nostalgic for my trip to Paris (and the macaroons). The bit that really sold me was its description as a 'meditation on getting lost and wasting time' because a) my sense of direction is shocking and b) I'm pretty good at procrastinating and would be even better at it in Paris. I thought it would be nice way to re-live some aspects of my visit and more than anything, interesting to see how some of the sights I saw were described by someone who really knew the city and walked its streets decades ago. I also really liked that you have the original text as well as the English translation written on opposite pages, just in case, yano, I ever decide to dust off my GCSE and somehow become miraculously fluent in French. It's written in a very lyrical way, with shed loads of imagery, poetic flair and all that jazz - the perfect way to place yourself on the streets of Paris without having to fork out for a plane ticket.