North, South, East, West

It's been so long since my last blog and so much has happened that editing out the good from the bad may take some time! So I hope you're not in a rush...

Looking back at my notes, I realise that this blog took shape weeks ago. I was commenting on the similarity between high and low fashion. But I really feel we should discuss the North, South, East, West style divide. Having just been back in my home city of Leeds for two weeks I was well placed to see what people were wearing. Very, very little colour was seen. Black seems to still rule the day and a very casual uniform is still acceptable attire. I visited a "Designer Fashion Shop" and the rails were full of 95% black and the other 5% - grey bits, a couple of white blouses, one blue and one red dress. Oh, and I think a printed jumper! And wait, I'm thinking... No, that's it! I tried on a pair of Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham) Boyfriend jeans. Not bad, good shape, soft and they had stretch but I couldn't part with my money. I'm thinking - we'll see...

The hysterical thing was that the owner was trying to persuade me that ripped jeans were definitely the way to go (not for me or my age). I think not. Never mind that "Everyone in Paris is wearing them". She told me this as if this information would make me part with my money. Mutton dressed as Lamb! 16/61...

A few months ago, I spent at least 2 and a half hours in the Harrods jeans department trying on various styles, and was looked after by an exceptional salesman and still I walked away with nothing. Am I Jean resistant? Then, on my way back to London, I went to Bicester Shopping Village and on the 3 October women were still wearing open-toed sandals with no sense of irony or a pedicure in sight! OK, yes it was warm but really?! My second cousin and I were, quite frankly, horrified!

Back in London, a charity fashion show and lunch on Monday. I wore my divine red coat-dress with a cerise skirt underneath and winter-orange shoes (yes, there is a vast difference between Spring and Summer orange and Autumn and Winter orange). To me, Black looked like the staff and truly one woman, in an adorable black Dior dress, did actually resemble the waiting staff. And then there was the Fashion (I use this term very loosely) Show. They used Real Women as models, which I must say was an extremely brave move on the part of the Real Women, and I now think I look pretty good in swimwear - thank you! Because seeing other real women in bikinis in a nightclub with extremely unforgiving lighting takes guts. Never mind watching it!

So, the "Fashion" was from a shop in Stanmore. Less has never been more for them! Animal print, studs, sequins, roushing, leather, lace, applique flowers, all in one outfit? Really!? My super-stylish lunch companion exclaimed, "Francine! Don't look!"

So there you have it. Never mind the different tribal dress codes. I've witnessed that crossing a room can take you from American Vogue to Hello Magazine and, dear friends, the other side of the room really did love the clothes which must be applauded. We raised significant funds for a very good charity. On reflection, maybe an abstract print bodycon mini-dress is the way to go?

Anyone know how to program Stanmore into my SatNav?

Happy Shopping!