Oh No! Awards season!!!

Yes, I know fashion is subjective, and we all beat to a different drum but do we really have to applaud a dress that has more in common with Miss Amazing Smile or Miss Beautiful contestants and not what becomes an actress most. Does wearing a skintight sequined fishtail dress say what an awesome actor you are and that you are ready for your close-up? The darling of the moment, Lupita Nyong'o wore a red cape dress by Ralph Lauren oh-so-similar to the white cape dress worn by Gwyneth Paltrow a while ago. And what? Was this her break-out moment? Only a handful of women to my eyes looked good. Julia Roberts (a shirt under a dress, "how radical!!!!!" Really?) by Dolce & Gabbana looked great. Emma Watson and Jennifer Lawrence both in Raf Simons for Dior looked simply stunning and very current. And... (I'm thinking, don't rush me). No - can't think of anyone else.

And then we have the shoes, and poor old Emma Thompson - tipsy and unable to walk in her ridiculous Christian Laboutin. Given that all the dresses are lent, please tell me that Christian Laboutin is not the only shoe designer available. He of the awful stripper double-platform monstrosities with red soles. Why? Surely there are other shoe designers that can be worn? I must state now I have never owned, or wanted to own, a pair of his shoes and I'm proud of that fact. Trust me - there are some wonderful shoe designers out there and he's not one of them. All of you (like myself, who love to wear high heels) know that nothing gives the game away quicker than a face trying to hide painful feet. Honestly Hollywood, these are not the shoes for you. Please find someone else. Even though some of the dresses are so long. You never see the shoes - move on.

And the jewels. My favourite quote was made by Julian Fellowes (yes, Downton Abbey creator - it always seeps in). He was at an awards ceremony a while ago and he claimed his wife was the only woman there to be wearing her own jewels (how refreshing).

Just a thought - what if all the actresses there had to wear one of their own dresses, or to put it another way had to pay for their clothes? I wonder... ...

Enjoy the Show!

Miss Marple "really"

About a week ago I said to a fashionable friend that I felt Miss Marple (she , super sleuth detective on TV ) was having a moment in fashion. My friend just laughed! are you kidding me? that awful dowdy old fashioned frumpy dressing? Yes I said, not in the literal sense but a more softer feminine way of dressing.      I didn't tell you of my thoughts then (her reaction made me unsure ),maybe I had got it wrong!but this morning my American Vogue thumped on my hall floor and there in black and white  the doyen of AVAnna Wintour  in her"Letter from the Editor" of the forties dress crossing all age divides. Friends I was right all along. (I wont wait next time I promise )

Something about it is now, and I like it. No more of that stupid body con dressing and exposing copious amounts of flesh!who said tight and vulgar  was so it!!!!!. Always a suggestion is more appealing than a blatant obvious offering.

"The Age of Innocence" that most wonderful film by Martin Scorsese staring Michelle Pfeiffer and Daniel Day Lewis . It was set in an earlier time but it certainly proves my point, and the greatest fashion editor of our age Grace Coddington ,of American Vogue  definitely understands my point !

Miss Marple dressing is all around us,the full trousers the long sleeved blouses. Dresses, pleated skirts all below the knee. This is the new new! Enjoy the coverup and liberation it brings.

Happy dressing.

Travelling Light"ish"

Welcome to 2014 .Did you happen to see the holiday installment of "Downton Abbey"? I'm sure a lot of you did. The way they used to travel. Trunks and Trunks and proper sized suitcases and lots of them.

And now! Well dear friends here's the quandary. We all buy clothes (to be more precise Outfits!,with shoes handbags belts and jewelry) and yet the sight of a large suitcase can make most grown men cry never mind the airline (not all) charges.

What are we supposed to do,leave all our wonderful clothes at home ?(I don't think so!) and try to manage in one of those small wheeled cases?My handbag holds more than that.

No dear friends something has to be done.

Dear fashion editors ,please will you stop promoting "The week away in one small case" fashion page. What with shoes, toiletry's and clothes I don't think its possible! The arguments packing would cause (with my last husband!) He like a lot of men, could pack for two weeks in a paper bag!!! I (PACKING NOT MY THING!!! )I could take 16 pairs of shoes for 14 days .Well swimsuits are all different colors shapes and  different shoes are a must!!! (EXCESSIVE ) me never! its not like I take 16 handbags, 4 or 5 will do. So sell us the clothes ,but let us enjoy them on holiday as well.

Happy Packing .