Curved and extremely user-friendly

What a week! Momentous (of sorts...) I bought a pair of boyfriend jeans by “Citizens of Humanity” from Square One in St Johns Wood High Street. “Finally!" I hear you cry. Not before I shlepped down to Knightsbridge to "Feathers" to try on the Japanese denim I saw some months ago. Told you I'm a slow mover (in some things). Laugh? I never thought I'd stop! What was more amusing was that the assistant in Feathers thought I looked good. No I didn’t. I looked like mutton dressed as lamb. But that's history. Now I have my boyfriend jeans. I even took some of my high heels in to try with before I bought them. Funny what I obsess about...

I saw a picture of myself in a newspaper today (no, I'm not telling you which one). No more sleeveless tops for me! At least, not the one I was photographed in. I looked like a wrestler and I've stopped body pump so my arms aren't so muscly. Still I looked… well, let's just say not my best. But it could be because Michele (my hairdresser) is still away.

Just looked at English Vogue . Hmmmm... not bad. Not bad at all! But then so is Harpers this month. What's going on? Finally they're starting to listen to me! Clothes for real women and even an article on Pink (and you know I've been on about Pink for ages) so at last sense is prevailing.

Three very interesting visits took place this week. In order of event, a visit was made to the newest thing in work environments. The “Second Home” an office space made out of an old carpet factory in E1, designed by SelgasCano, who are the designers of this year’s Serpentine Gallery Pavilion. Curved and extremely user-friendly. A drinks party, then a tour of their premises. This is definitely the way forward - mixing Banking with Film-makers with IT and Fashion, all living together in the hope of lots of cross-pollination. A couple of days later I found myself on an art tour of Fitzrovia with Outset. Our last stop - the Wellcome Collection on Euston Road. This was a tour of their latest exhibition "The Institute of Sexology.” It basically looks at the interdisciplinary study and classification of human sexuality. I didn't know that Hugh Hefner (he of Playboy magazine and empire) did a thesis at the University of Illinois on Masters & Johnson. Did you?

Which leads us onto a slight detour. It's my own fault - I was flicking through the hundreds of Sky channels and I hit on E! Entertainment (as you do) and who was poured into a flesh-coloured rubber dress? There's no prize for this - you all guessed correctly - KKW! In one corner we have YSL's pre-fall advertising being pulled, as the model is thought to be too skinny and here we have a women supposed to be three-months pregnant in something you might find in an S&M dungeon, wearing a mask and carrying a whip. And let's talk about her size - I think she does actually more harm than the skinny models. Possibly the only part of her body that is not manufactured in the plastic surgeons office is the child she's carrying (and let's just leave that with an open verdict). What does this say about our society today? Maybe it's all tied into Playboy and curves, except we've seen it all before with her and actually the fact that she’s pregnant. Why doesn’t somebody suggest that she take a different route and tell her that Dolce & Gabbana do a very good look for Mother-and-Child?...

Back on track - I took the tube with a friend to Canary Wharf. Again we went on an Art tour and stayed for a drink and light supper. I found it totally fascinating. In one of the squares there was a cycle race, a bit like a very mini Tour de France. The speed these cyclists went at! And the photographers! And the crowds! The one thing I found amazing was not just the art but the cleanliness of the Wharf - it was a bit like Monaco only smaller. All this and only 10 stops directly from St Johns Wood tube.

Gucci just showed their pre-fall 2016 in New York under the watchful eye of newly-appointed designer Alessandro Michele. I've talked to you before about the trouble Gucci is in and this to me is the perfect way forward. His designs are part Wes Anderson, part Grandma's dressing-up box. Eclectic and feminine all at once. Loved the styling, but worrying about fur flats (first seen at Celine in 2012). Will we stylish women embrace Gucci’s new look? I liked it...

Before I finish - more jeans news. The first pair I bought on Friday stretched so much in one night that by the end of the evening I could take them off without opening the fly!! So swapped them for 2 sizes smaller. Wearing them as we speak. Truly not my favourite look at the moment on me but I now have them, so will wear them this week at least! I’m probably 18 months too late. (Never mind dolly, no one will tell...)

I do think I look a little younger in them. Or that could be my spray tan. I think (between you and I) that's the key. Pale gold skin trumps pale blue jeans!

Happy Shopping

F  XX

A lesson in curves