A few Blogs ago I spoke about Fast Fashion (or being able to buy whilst at the show). In my life I saw the show months ago and as you know the collections started to arrive recently.
I was invited to a cocktail party to view Cruise. Some of the pieces were beautiful, but nothing tempted me. Last year, I bought Cruise in November, although I did wear the outfit many times in my dressing room I had to wait until March to actually venture out of the house in said outfit. Now, what did come to mind as I looked through the new American Vogue, was pre-fall. In technical terms that's three collections back but there were things I'd rather buy for now than what I'm supposed to be buying. So you see buying from the show would have be a waste of time for me. Here's the dilemma though - if I don't buy Cruise now by the time I do want to - will it be gone in my size? Hmmm... I'm stuck.
When did dressing like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman become acceptable attire for women over 50 at a charity dinner? Good question... Yes, I know it is - but what is the answer? Well, it seems Now. Really? Yes, really. I saw it with my own eyes! Why are bright and attractive women deciding to dress in this manner? So, we have the over-tight ripped jeans, clinging bodycon dresses, slashed necks to the waist and now thigh-high boots with miniskirts... I suppose the next thing to look for will be totally-see through blouses.
Is it a sign of insecurity in the female firmament, or is it a power play?
To be continued...
Monday, 17 November 2014
In Search of The Truth, part 2: Mean Girls
Well, it was made in Hollywood by Americans and they, at the moment, seem to be the purveyors of the title. Maybe it's our stiff upper lip or just our manners. Our American girlfriends seem to have no such filter where decency, decorum or manners are concerned. Is it a chip on the shoulder, or not being British and living in a foreign land with foreign customs? Or maybe I'm just being kind...
Monday, 10 November 2014
In search of the truth
Isn't it sad that what seems to be the Nadir of light entertainment on television is people (generally women) having a go at each other. From my beloved Downton to TOWIE to The Kardashians to The Real Houswives of Every Major American City. All I can see is people being bitchy - sticking the knife into each other's backs, which makes very unpleasant viewing. What is it about us, that we find this awfulness entertaining? The film that sums this up perfectly is of course, Mean Girls. Is it a fundamental difference between men and women, because to me men seem to be less inclined to behave like this. Over the next four weeks, I have a diary full of very social events where I will be watching this phenomenon to see if it's only on TV or really true in my real life. I think you and I already know the answer to that question, but I'm going to keep a very open mind (in search of the truth).
F
xx
F
xx
Once Upon a Time
Once upon a time, in a land far far away, there was a beautiful young Princess called Francine. Francine had a thing for a designer called Azzedine Alaïa (I said it was a long time ago). For a party that our Princess was invited to, she bought an outfit by said designer comprising of skirt and top - both black and the skirt with laces up the side (you remember Addicted To Love, by Robert Palmer) the backing band wore similar outfits - yes you remember. I said it was a long time ago...
Fast forward to Modern Times (last week). Our Princess just tried on a black skirt with laces up the side... Am I starring in my own fairy story? Or am I part of the Goldfish Bowl of Fashion? Swimming round and round, forgetting the very thing we just saw and every time we see it again, thinking it's new?
As the temperature dropped last week. I actually wore tights (be they very small fishnets). I have not worn tights for a very long time. Recently in The Times, there was an article about women who never, even in the coldest climes, ever wear tights, but have perfectly polished pins. I also subscribe to the no-tight look with lightly-tanned legs - nothing in my opinion looks better. Sometimes my Leg Colourist (not me, I hasten to add. I did try to do it myself once and let's say my ankles and heels looked radioactive. It looked like I'd sprayed them streaky day-glo orange, and at that time fake tans stank! How did I try to cover this oversight? Well, my ex-husband thought my legs looked like I'd been Tango'ed. Smell, what smell? Never mind the fact that as orange as my legs were, the rest of my body was white. And the next morning, my bedsheets were also orange! I tried to convince him that his glasses needed checking). Well, the colour is sometimes a bit too tanned, but it fades. I just wonder - I wore knee-high black socks for the last two years and I'm not interested in ankle socks in winter, with a skirt, on me. And, well, is there really nothing else? I remember when, a few years ago, I bought some Shin Shine (yes, Shin Shine). My first husband could not either believe it or understand the necessity for this cosmetic must-have. But I swear by it and still use it today.
I can't now remember where but very recently I saw, in a fashion spread, a dress for over £30,000... Really? I can think of so many things to say and jokes to crack, but I think I'll leave you to ponder on that nugget of news. Remember, if you have a dressing rooim big enough, keep what you're wearing now and (provided you're the same size in 30 years time) you can wear it again!
Happy Shopping!
x
Fast forward to Modern Times (last week). Our Princess just tried on a black skirt with laces up the side... Am I starring in my own fairy story? Or am I part of the Goldfish Bowl of Fashion? Swimming round and round, forgetting the very thing we just saw and every time we see it again, thinking it's new?
As the temperature dropped last week. I actually wore tights (be they very small fishnets). I have not worn tights for a very long time. Recently in The Times, there was an article about women who never, even in the coldest climes, ever wear tights, but have perfectly polished pins. I also subscribe to the no-tight look with lightly-tanned legs - nothing in my opinion looks better. Sometimes my Leg Colourist (not me, I hasten to add. I did try to do it myself once and let's say my ankles and heels looked radioactive. It looked like I'd sprayed them streaky day-glo orange, and at that time fake tans stank! How did I try to cover this oversight? Well, my ex-husband thought my legs looked like I'd been Tango'ed. Smell, what smell? Never mind the fact that as orange as my legs were, the rest of my body was white. And the next morning, my bedsheets were also orange! I tried to convince him that his glasses needed checking). Well, the colour is sometimes a bit too tanned, but it fades. I just wonder - I wore knee-high black socks for the last two years and I'm not interested in ankle socks in winter, with a skirt, on me. And, well, is there really nothing else? I remember when, a few years ago, I bought some Shin Shine (yes, Shin Shine). My first husband could not either believe it or understand the necessity for this cosmetic must-have. But I swear by it and still use it today.
I can't now remember where but very recently I saw, in a fashion spread, a dress for over £30,000... Really? I can think of so many things to say and jokes to crack, but I think I'll leave you to ponder on that nugget of news. Remember, if you have a dressing rooim big enough, keep what you're wearing now and (provided you're the same size in 30 years time) you can wear it again!
Happy Shopping!
x
Monday, 3 November 2014
Can a Leopard Change it's Spots?
Now, those of you that are regular readers will know that this Blog is generally full of my shopping life, opinions and feelings, but not much of my private life. In this installment, I will veer a little off course...
I went to a huge communal lunch, the like of which I have not been to since my childhood. Which brings me to my title - am I the same person I was as a child? Or does Life and Experience change us? My feeling today as I sat with my closest friends was one of happiness and I must say, even with my past experiences, I felt in a very familiar place and behaved accordingly. So my feelings on "Give me the boy and I will show you the Man" are 100% true. But, by being the same person, can we put Life's experiences to good use? Yes, I believe we can. And why is that? Because I've learned that you can never really change anyone, and that if it's not right it won't suddenly become right. You have to either accept that or let it go and move on. And, if you remember me talking a few Blogs back about power, who has it and how to use it - well, this is Power. Power to understand yourself and not to turn a blind eye to your first instinct, is the truest form of power. This way, we won't be surprised or shocked at others actions (like I was).
So, this Leopard hasn't changed her spots and probably neither have you. But here's hoping that we all remember to remember what we've learned as we go from day to day.
F
XX
I went to a huge communal lunch, the like of which I have not been to since my childhood. Which brings me to my title - am I the same person I was as a child? Or does Life and Experience change us? My feeling today as I sat with my closest friends was one of happiness and I must say, even with my past experiences, I felt in a very familiar place and behaved accordingly. So my feelings on "Give me the boy and I will show you the Man" are 100% true. But, by being the same person, can we put Life's experiences to good use? Yes, I believe we can. And why is that? Because I've learned that you can never really change anyone, and that if it's not right it won't suddenly become right. You have to either accept that or let it go and move on. And, if you remember me talking a few Blogs back about power, who has it and how to use it - well, this is Power. Power to understand yourself and not to turn a blind eye to your first instinct, is the truest form of power. This way, we won't be surprised or shocked at others actions (like I was).
So, this Leopard hasn't changed her spots and probably neither have you. But here's hoping that we all remember to remember what we've learned as we go from day to day.
F
XX
You'll Regret It!
This is not the usual way I would start my Blog, but it would be remiss of me to not include this as it was a huge part of my life recently. "You'll regret it" - is this not an extremely aggressive and menacing statement?
Yes.
Well, I'm glad you agree with me because it was said to me very recently when I declined an advance. What were you going to do? Bully me into submission? It just keeps playing over and over in my head. "You'll regret it... You'll regret it..." Actually No, I won't. But it's the arrogance, conceit and threat of this statement that upset me. The person responsible for this, as you would imagine, is no longer part of my life. But it just makes me wonder- how does anyone think it's acceptable to say this? I was so upset by this that it threw my whole week out. But now, my equilibrium has been regained and lots to tell...
How much is too much? I went to a sample sale. Two floors full of clothes, four rooms packed with tops, dresses, jackets, furs, shoes, bags - totally overwhelmed me! You'll be happy to hear I bought nothing. Why did I go? Out of curiosity. Was a little gem going to slip by me? No. It wasn't. But, as you already know, there were no gems (for me). Just lots of unloved stock that was of no use. And although under huge pressure from the sales assistant - one showed me a short BodyCon dress... (do I want to look like Kim Kardashian-West? Ha ha - we all know the answer to that). They did have a few gowns (with a small "g"). They looked like the outcasts from a cross between Strictly Come Dancing and a Soap Wedding in OK Magazine (you get the picture).
I saw with my own eyes, in November 2014, women of all ages were doing their best KKW impersonations and I know that like me, you are aghast, but I kid you not. A question I've touched on lightly in a previous blog - let me refresh your memory. Once upon a time, in conversation with a friend I stumbled onto something. It started by commenting on the state of the clothing worn (or not) by women in a very fashionable Private Members Club. Let's call it "Fast Fashion". That means that anyone looking at the women could very speedily see all that was on offer. Tight tight tight. Short short short. Yes - you guessed it - BodyCon dresses and heels that come with their own pole. In this age of speed in all things, have we succumbed to instant gratification in all aspects of life? When I look at the Fashion Magazines, I see no sight of this style of dress and yet - there it is. Everything out, nothing left to the imagination. This obviousness in all things seems to have a life of it's own, if I'm to believe what I saw. I hope that this tiny microcosm is not to be taken seriously. Otherwise what is the purpose of Fashion? Because what I saw is truly a very sad indictment of life.
I met Valentino at an event last week. My friend asked me how old I thought he was. I guessed early 80s, although as I pointed out, his body may be, but his face was probably 4 or 5 years old. Well, we laughed. So remember - never mind 16-61 (16 from the back, 61 from the front) let's try to make our faces slightly more realistic. Laughter is always the youth elixir worth striving for.
Happy Shopping!
PS: Cruise is in.
Yes.
Well, I'm glad you agree with me because it was said to me very recently when I declined an advance. What were you going to do? Bully me into submission? It just keeps playing over and over in my head. "You'll regret it... You'll regret it..." Actually No, I won't. But it's the arrogance, conceit and threat of this statement that upset me. The person responsible for this, as you would imagine, is no longer part of my life. But it just makes me wonder- how does anyone think it's acceptable to say this? I was so upset by this that it threw my whole week out. But now, my equilibrium has been regained and lots to tell...
How much is too much? I went to a sample sale. Two floors full of clothes, four rooms packed with tops, dresses, jackets, furs, shoes, bags - totally overwhelmed me! You'll be happy to hear I bought nothing. Why did I go? Out of curiosity. Was a little gem going to slip by me? No. It wasn't. But, as you already know, there were no gems (for me). Just lots of unloved stock that was of no use. And although under huge pressure from the sales assistant - one showed me a short BodyCon dress... (do I want to look like Kim Kardashian-West? Ha ha - we all know the answer to that). They did have a few gowns (with a small "g"). They looked like the outcasts from a cross between Strictly Come Dancing and a Soap Wedding in OK Magazine (you get the picture).
I saw with my own eyes, in November 2014, women of all ages were doing their best KKW impersonations and I know that like me, you are aghast, but I kid you not. A question I've touched on lightly in a previous blog - let me refresh your memory. Once upon a time, in conversation with a friend I stumbled onto something. It started by commenting on the state of the clothing worn (or not) by women in a very fashionable Private Members Club. Let's call it "Fast Fashion". That means that anyone looking at the women could very speedily see all that was on offer. Tight tight tight. Short short short. Yes - you guessed it - BodyCon dresses and heels that come with their own pole. In this age of speed in all things, have we succumbed to instant gratification in all aspects of life? When I look at the Fashion Magazines, I see no sight of this style of dress and yet - there it is. Everything out, nothing left to the imagination. This obviousness in all things seems to have a life of it's own, if I'm to believe what I saw. I hope that this tiny microcosm is not to be taken seriously. Otherwise what is the purpose of Fashion? Because what I saw is truly a very sad indictment of life.
I met Valentino at an event last week. My friend asked me how old I thought he was. I guessed early 80s, although as I pointed out, his body may be, but his face was probably 4 or 5 years old. Well, we laughed. So remember - never mind 16-61 (16 from the back, 61 from the front) let's try to make our faces slightly more realistic. Laughter is always the youth elixir worth striving for.
Happy Shopping!
PS: Cruise is in.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)