Chuck's Miscellany

Saturday Night Beatz

2012-02-11T10:43:00.000-08:00

Putting my make up on a Saturday night...

Have a good one!

Chuck x

New Love: Will Davidson

2012-02-10T06:19:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it is wonderful to be the last person to know about something. Yes, it is great to watch an artist/musician/trend grow from the very beginning - to latch onto something tiny and shiny and new and gather fresh fragments of awesome as they develop over the months and years. You can nurture and support them and that is brilliant and special and I love it. But you know what is also great? Stumbling across someone with an existing body of work! They’ve developed their style and their style is amazing and there is plenty of it. Oh, the greedy greedy pleasure…

That is basically how I feel about Will Davidson, a (fashion) photographer who I have only just become aware of. He has worked a lot for Oyster and Russh, as well as Muse and Harper’s and Dazed. I don’t know how I missed him but I did and now I get to trawl back through all of his past work and, let me tell you, it is some good shit.

Muse Magazine, Winter11

Model: Lindsey Wixson

Photographer: Will Davidson

Styling: Sara Moonves

Hair: Shay Ashual / Makeup: Pep Gay

See more here.

Seriously, his portraits… Crazy beautiful.

Oyster, #96

Model: Daisy Lowe

Photographer: Will Davidson

Styling: Stevie Dance

Hair: Chi Wong / Makeup: Hiromi Ueda

See more here.

Things I Love: i) He works with great people - Daisy, Lindsey, Stevie, Jessica. Maybe he had nothing to do with that but I think it reflects well.

Things I Love: ii) He seems to have a tonal eye. Does that make any sense? To me it is something more complex and subtle than just an ability to use ‘colour’. The tones in these pictures are just perfect.

Harper’s Bazaar Au, March12

Model: Marloes Horst

Photographer: Will Davidson

Styling: Jillian Davison

Hair: Alan White / Makeup: Kellie Stratton

See more here.

Things I Love: iii) How he so beautifully captures movement and the physicality of bodies.

Dazed & Confused, Feb11

Models: Ming Xi & Hyoni Kang

Photographer: Will Davidson

Styling: Joanna Sclenzka

See more here.

Yeah, I've run out of constructive things to say, I just couldn't not post these pictures.

Russh, #39

Model: Jessica Stam

Photographer: Will Davidson

Styling: Stevie Dance

See more here.

Things I do not Love: His bio. Yes, I want to know that he was David Bailey's right hand man for five years. No, I don't want to know that Bailey was wowed by 'his talent, youthful good looks and charm'. It makes him sound heinous. Similarly I don't want to be told 'Davidson’s oeuvre now finds itself in a peerless state' even if I might agree. Yuck.

But otherwise, beautiful, perfect, heavenly. Off to do some more archive rummaging now.

Chuck x

Sunday Roses

2012-02-06T15:31:00.000-08:00

I wanted to post this yesterday but our internet was busted. It isn't being very reliable at the moment. This irritates me until R starts fondly reminiscing about dial up and I howl and cradle my dysfunctional broadband router. (Kind of).

Roses - £12.99 reduced to £1.49. The joy! Two inches off the stems and plenty of fresh water and they have perked right up.

Yesterday was simultaneously peaceful and efficient. Sundays are good days. I watched the grey London skies roll by and admired the snow from the warm comfort of a blanket. I also read lots of excellent articles; I've enjoyed both Molly Fischer's piece on ladyblogging and the multiple responses to it, especially The Beheld's; Jill Lepore's brilliant and lengthy New Yorker article on Planned Parenthood (American attitudes to abortion freak me the hell out); Caitlin Flanagan's amazingly open-minded analysis of teenage girls' love of Twilight; Anne Helen Petersen's post on why Channing Tatum is her favourite doofus. Omg, he was a stripper! And there is a video! Who knew!?! Just to, you know, lower the tone a trifle.

Any good articles you can recommend? Ages ago I remember Jo (a cup of) discussing the idea of an articles reading group, like a book group. I don't think it ever got off the ground though which is a pity because I think it sounds like am excellent idea. Fancy it?

In other news, I've finally gone and got a Twitter account. I haven't really got the hang of it yet and I don't know if I'm going to use it for much more than following other people but if you want to help me settle in I can be found here.

Chuck x

Hotty McScorchio

2012-02-04T12:38:00.000-08:00

Basically this is just an homage to Ava Gardner and her overwhelming loveliness in The Barefoot Contessa. She is crazy beautiful/crazy hot. The film is a bit rambling but it is very atmospheric and, as mentioned, Ava G is SCORCHIO. Every shot of her is heaven. She had a gripping life too - Anne Helen Peterson has written one of her great Scandals of Classic Hollywood articles on Gardner.

I mean, look at her...

The woman is a dream. I love Bogart too - he is so dour and brooding. Together they are the Beauty & the Prune!

Oh and the settings. Nightclubs in Madrid, the red carpet, Hollywood parties, yachts, the upper-class European party circuit, Italy. And the clothes! Gowns and stoles and wiggle skirts and high waisted shorts and wedding dresses and collared dresses with tiny waists and flamenco skirts. And the jewels. And that swimming costume! Definitely need one of those.

I also need a little mint convertible. That shouldn't be a problem, right?

The other women are pretty sizzling too.

'Oh hey, I'm Ava Gardner. Someone is just carving a sculpture of me. No biggie.'

Goddess.

Chuck x

Zen and the Art of Home Hair-Dying

2012-02-01T11:35:00.000-08:00

It all started in Camden when I was 13 (as is often the way). Stargazer. 'Lurid Fuchsia'. Cheap plastic gloves. Dying my hair in the garden so I didn't stain the bathroom. I still stained the towels - sorry, Muv. It was addictive. I had only intended to dye the tips (yeah, early 00s grunge kids were way ahead of the fashion curve) but then I put in streaks and then I gave in and dyed the whole thing. And it was awesome and I thought I looked awesome and, even now, I maintain its general awesomeness. I loved having pink hair. It made me feel unimaginably cool. Much to my disappointment it had all washed out within a week. The high and the awareness of the transformative power of hair dye stayed with me though.

Since then I have been highlighter orange, varying shades of brunette and a dark and glorious ginger. The latter was my favourite and the only one I repeated. I kept the henna up for about eighteen months and there were many things I loved about it. I used the amusingly named Lush Caca Rouge Mama henna and it smelt wonderful, during dying and for weeks after, and it left my hair in amazing condition with a bright but (relatively) natural colour. I still have half a block in my bathroom cabinet. BUT I haven't re-dyed my hair in months and months because, geez, it's a hassle. You have to grate it and then mix it up and then it is very runny and it goes everywhere and then I found that I had to leave it to soak in for 2-6 hours while my head was wrapped in clingfilm, which is neither comfortable nor attractive... I just haven't had the time or the energy to deal with that since I graduated. I feel tired just thinking about it.

Unfortunately that left me with some rather odd looking roots. They could have been worse but misc/mousy on ginger is kind of weird, particularly when your hair is up and you have a ginger bun sitting on top of your head! So when the opportunity to do an easy dye came along I thought, why not? Half an hour on a Saturday, bathroom un-ruined, you're done! I used John Frieda Precision Foam Colour and it was crazy easy and not that toxic. Seriously, after henna chemical dyes are such a relief. And my hair is soft and shiny, more so than usual, if slightly less so than post-henna. And so quick, so easy! (Clearly still feeling a bit overwhelmed by the ease of it all).

Admittedly the colour was a bit of a surprise. I wasn't expecting quite such vibrant purple tones from 'Medium Copper Brown'. I like my hair colour to like it at least could be natural (except when it is fuchsia) but, oh well. Lots of people seem to like this kind of colour - it must be quite popular. And purple was my absolute favourite colour aged 2-5 years old. Maybe it will illuminate a new aspect of my wardrobe. Being a brunette makes me want to wear bright and dark pinks, being a ginger makes me want to wear green, who knows what purple will bring? You've really just got to roll with it. That is my top tip for home hair-dying (as well as Vaseline on your ears and along your hairline). It will grow out or fade out and if necessary you can re-dye it but maybe see where it takes you. It might be somewhere unexpected.

Chuck x

Youth Influences

2012-01-29T08:09:00.000-08:00

I wrote this maybe a year ago and found it again the other day. The fashion references are a little out of date (ah, how time flies in the fashion bubble) but the rest is still relevant to me so I thought I would post it. Mostly it is just full of fond memories. Anyway...

I presume it was fairly early on in my childhood that my mother decidedshe needed to pick her battles. I was born wilful and she can’t have had theenergy or the inclination to fight them all. As such, while I grew into an A-gradestudent and escaped adolescence sans baby or drug addiction, I have never had atidy bedroom and I have always been allowed to dress myself. As well as beingwilful I was a ‘creative’ child and I liked to express that creativitysartorially. I scorned Petit Bateau, Breton tees, baby chinos and burgundysmock coats. No French enfant chic for me. I favoured table cloths, tea cosiesand clothes pegs. The clothes pegs were essential both for holding my tablecloth gown together and for decorating my tea cosy hat. Even aged four I knewthat it was all in the accessories.

The greatest indulger of my youthful fashion fancies was my maternalgrandmother. I was grandchild No. 14 (seven more followed me) and she hasalways claimed that this constant flux of children and stroppy teenagers kepther young. Certainly she was gloriously blasé about what I chose to wearwhenever I came to visit. I have fond memories of stomping to the playgroundwith her wearing nothing but my pants, pink jelly shoes, an enormous pile ofher necklaces and a bath hat. I presume that we got some funny looks on our waybut Granny and I were unfazed by these narrow-minded doubters.

I guess you could have called me avant-garde. I liked to push boundaries.Specifically, I liked to push the boundaries of my mother’s good taste. Iinstantly recognised the clothes that she wouldn’t like and wore themconstantly. A cruel family friend gave me a bright orange velour t-shirt and a purplechenille polo neck for my sixth birthday. As my mother recoiled in horror Ifell violently in love. I liked to wear them together, luridly clashing thecolours and clearly pre-empting Gucci’s recent collections [SS11]. I knew how tocolour-block as a child and I look forward to dressing in orange and purple(and blue and green and pink) again this summer even if I pass on thequestionable and rather sweaty fabrics. I will be taking Raf Simons and FridaGiannini’s spring shows as my contemporary references but I will also be alittle bit inspired by my six year old self who knew that you shouldn’t beafraid of colour.

As I grew older my style became more conscious but I don’t think I everlooked ‘normal’. When I was thirteen I moved to a school where I didn’t whollyidentify with my peers. I made friends and had fun but I was wary of becoming‘one of them’. They maintained a strict social uniform of Miss Sixty jeans,pastel lacy vests and cashmere cardigans. I found the uniformity of tasteunnerving and restrictive and I rebelled against it. Flicking through oldphotos I am happy to admit that I looked a fright but I am also proud of myteenage self and her determination to remain true to her slightly derangedaesthetic. One exemplary picture shows me standing amongst a group of myfriends who all look pretty and ladylike while I look as mad as a bag full ofcats. I am grinning from ear to ear and sporting a lurid, Hawaiian printt-shirt; a ruffled, pink polka-dot mini skirt; neon fishnet socks and lots of homemadeplastic jewellery. That was pretty much me from 13-15. Marc Jacobs polka dots,check. Topshop Hawaiians, check. Christopher Kane neons, check. I just had theingenuity to combine those looks! I wasn’t following any particular trend orgenre (clearly) but I was using fashion to differentiate myself and to feelhappy and comfortable. My clothes let me feel that I could be true to myself inwhat seemed an alien environment.

My mother bought my clothes back then and she went along with my whimspartially because she is a pacifist and partially, I think, because she was awarethat for many people, myself included, fashion is an important component ofidentity. Wearing what I want helps me to feel like myself and to be the personI want to be. And if that person is unusual so be it. Nowadays, as I feel moresettled in myself, my style has relaxed. I still don’t see the appeal oflooking the same as everybody else but I don’t burn to stand apart. I simply domy own thing and wear the clothes that I find beautiful, interesting orinspiring, just like my child self did. Sometimes I’m ‘on trend’, sometimes I’mnot. Sometimes my mother approves, sometimes she still sighs ruefully.

So there you go. Happy Sunday afternoon.

Chuck x

Image Vomit

2012-01-28T06:39:00.000-08:00

So yeah, I'm going a bit Tumblr on your asses today. Many images. Still some text though. Occasionally I dabble with the idea of starting a Tumblr account but then I remember that I like to ramble. Tumblr isn't a platform particularly suited to the verbose. I likez the words. I didn't want to narrow my Favourite Friday Fings down to five this week though. I've seen lots of things I've liked/enjoyed in the last seven days and they all deserve a little bit of space in my wee corner of the internet. Basically, here are some good things.

Magdalena Velevska's name is new to me but I'm enjoying her AW12 collection. There is more than a hint of Tisci/Givenchy which I always find irresistible! Via Oracle Fox.

Continuing on something of a neon theme, this neoprene dress is super cute. I mean, drop waist and ruffles ain't going to do me any favours but I can imagine it looking great on other people. Three Floor have lots of other interesting things too. I had come across them before but never paid much attention to them until one of my friends remarked on their price point. I had assumed they were quite expensive, one of those 'mid-price' (£300+) labels, but actually they fall somewhere between Topshop and Whistles. The yellow dress is £68 which I don't think is bad at all. I'm almost definitely going to buy something from them if I ever have any money/they do a good sale.

I want something big and sparkly to jazz up my beloved collection of grey marl and stripes. This glass crystal necklace is exactly the kind of thing I have in mind.

Also from Etsy, this scarf by Pauper Voile is lovely. When it comes to aesthetically pleasing motifs, swallows and grandiose cathedral architecture have got to be some of the best. I also really like the gorgeous Blake/Rilke scarf which I first saw over at Mallory's.

This Schott Perfecto x Pendleton is crazy good. I know less than nothing about the collaboration but I want to see more! Via That Kind of Woman.

I was blow away afresh by Phoebe English's work when I read Susie Bubble's post on her this week. These lookbook images are jaw-dropping and such beautiful behind the scenes pictures... I insist that you read the post.

I read an excellent review of J. Edgar and W. E. on the New Statesman website. Very funny.

More Honor Pre-Fall 2012 just because I love it.

This necklace is the Vamoose just, you know, playing around. Man, I wish my idles plays looked like that! I really hope this makes it to her shop because it is so simple and rough but gorgeous. Once again it would look great with a nice bit of grey marl. Everything looks great with grey marl...

I am thrilled by the return of MasterChef! Idiotic tv but I love it. So much food! This Buttery Biscuit Base video/track makes me laugh every time I watch it (must be on my fifteenth replay by now). Also, WARNING, it is ridiculously catchy - I've had it stuck in my head fairly consistently for the last fortnight. Funny Big Pudding Face.

So there you go. Many good things all for your delectation. I hope you have great weekends.

Chuck x

IRL and Not So Much

2012-01-25T14:10:00.000-08:00

In real life, apart from battling with January blues and overwhelming multitasking, I've interviewed another of my favourite bloggers for the Oh Comely website. This time it is the brilliant Ismay Ozga. Her blog Two Two Oh Four is a consistent delight. It is always inspiring and quiet and beautiful. Oh yeah, and she is an illustrator, photographer and jewellery designer. I keep getting excited when I see Paper & Chain jewellery on places like Elleuk.com! Basically I think she is awesome. Read the interview here.

Jil Sander Pre-Fall 2012

In my imaginary/internet life I have been feeling nostalgic about school. This is all Raf Simons' fault. I was thrilled to leave school but the images for his pre-fall collection are very seductive. Enough about them is familiar that I can glorify my memories into comparative snapshots of intellectual, collegiate, lady bliss. There was certainly a lot of lounging around with the gal pals, plenty of books and navy and cuddles and even the odd wood-paneled room. We were definitely not this stylish though. We were very scruffy - lots of ripped tights, muddy shoes and unbrushed hair. Also, pjs, hoodies and slippers. We were a natty bunch! Those were comfy days though, whatever else they were not...

Chuck x

Note to Self

2012-01-24T15:18:00.000-08:00

Man, life is full of challenges and disappointments at the moment. Clearly 2012 is going to be character building (that's a polite way to put it anyway). Luckily there is safety in numbers and comfort in beauty. It is reassuring to see that lots bloggers are having shitty Januaries. Not that I want anyone to have a shitty January but it is good to know that you are not alone! And Matthew Kavan Brook's beautiful and affordable prints are a lovely, salient reminder to appreciate the good things around you. I should carry one of these around with me. Via the consistently inspiring Miss Moss.

Sorry that things have been a bit brief/incoherent/mopey here of late. At least some of that should ease up from this weekend.

How is your January shaping up?

Chuck x

Coats and Colour Combinations

2012-01-22T14:46:00.000-08:00

via The Guardian

Jonathan Saunders has started designing menswear. Unsurprisingly it is awesome. I'm not sure if the boyf is ready to wear this but I am definitely ready to steal it. Bomber jackets are everywhere at the moment. They don't generally do it for me but these are rather smart. I particularly fancy the brown and navy on burgundy number. Brown, burgundy and pale pale peach - who da thunk? Love the unexpected colour combinations and print clashes. Classic shapes made interesting. Beautiful trousers. Great fabrics. Bottom right coat.

I seem to have lost the ability to speak in full sentences. Oh well. The collection is relatively self-explanatory.

Good night.

Chuck x

Five Favourite Friday Fings

2012-01-21T03:57:00.000-08:00

I haven't done one of these in over a month! Crazy how time flies. Also, our internet has been down for the last two days which was very frustrating. There were things I wanted to blog about and I've probably forgotten about them now... To give them credit TalkTalk were actually quite helpful when I got round to calling them. BAD bad hold music though. Painful stuff for first thing on a Saturday morning.

Clockwise from top left:

1. I have been meaning to blog about Honor's Pre-fall 2012 collection for a long time. The tab has been sitting on my browser looking at me accusingly for the best part of a month. Since apparently I haven't got round to actually doing it though I thought I would bung them up on here as a I sign of good will. I fully intend to come back to them. It is a lovely collection - there are some very pretty dresses but also some great separates and coats that I could definitely live in. This pink and red combo is frickin' awesome. It sets your teeth in the best possible way. I just need a really poppy red top so I can imitate this. High possibility it might scare people but it would be worth it. Check out the rest of the collection (if you haven't seen it already) on Fashionista.

2. Willis Earl Beal will send you a drawing if you write to him. As he gets more popular he is going to be kept pretty busy, I imagine. I would like a nice drawing. Until I have enough free time to right though I will just content myself with his beautiful song Evening's Kiss.

3. Kate Arend's post on how to throw a proper pity party was one of the best things I read on the interwebz this week. She recommends that you embrace pity as a stepping stone to acceptance. If you are going to wallow then do it properly and with appropriate time limits. Book in an evening with a your bestie, hire a weepy video, find some topnotch knitwear, bring chocolate, ice cream and plenty of alcohol and enjoy yourself. Sounds like a good night to me.

4. I loved these Madewell x Le Minor dip-dyed Bretons when they were full price. I love them even more now they are less than half price. $105 to $49.99... I'm having serious thoughts about the black/green one. [Edit - they don't deliver to the UK. Boo.]

5. These Dieppa Restrepo gold Oxfords are lovely. Look at the hearts and the rose gold tones... They'd look great with everything, right? Adorbz. Originally admired at Ventricular Projects.

Happy weekend. Things to do now! Blog love.

Chuck x

Some Clothes I've Worn

2012-01-16T15:34:00.000-08:00

1. Scarf:H&M - Jumper:Whistles - Cords:Uniqlo - Boots:TS

2. Scarf:Accessorize - Jumper:H&M - Belt:Beyond Retro - Skirt:AA - Boots:TS

3. Cardi:Land's End (best ever) - Tshirt:UO - Leather skirt:eBay - Loafers:eBay

4. Scarf:Accessorize - Jacket:TS - Skirt:eBay - Boots:TS

Yeah, another lazy post! Partially this is just an excuse to show off my new Topshop boots (pics 2 and 4). They have been my only sales buy and they were unintentional but glorious. I steered clear of most of the sales because I have zero moneyz but accidentally wandered into TS a while ago and these were sitting there alone and in my size batting their metaphorical eyelashes at me. They were so beautiful and so beautifully reduced and I couldn't not buy them. I've worn them at least four days every week since I bought them. I don't even feel guilty about buying them (I feel guilty about buying most things at the moment, including but not limited to food, travel cards, occasional drinks at the pub...) because they so perfectly filled a gaping hole in my shoe wardrobe - winter work shoes. My brogues are falling apart, my other boots are too scruffy and my feet get cold in my loafers. The trainer collection that I amassed at uni is going largely unworn and party shoes aren't the answer.

The above outfits are my versions of work clothes. I've worked at a whole bunch of places in the last couple of months - places that require entire, separate work wardrobes and places where I can wear my scruffy student clothes. Some of these places require a middle ground though. Suits and stilettos don't fly but neither do jeans and trainers. I've been working on ways to smarten up my actual, living wardrobe. I don't want to wear my boring 'office' clothes but I do want to look relatively professional. It is a question of seeing what is transferable - what can be made smart, how I can sneak my personal tweaks into grown up clothes. I'm quite enjoying it really. The boots have definitely helped! I must try to wear less black though...

How do you incorporate your real clothes into your work clothes? Or do you like to keep them separate?

Chuck x

Sleight of Hand

2012-01-15T14:15:00.000-08:00

KT Smail

Tired. Stressed. Frazzled. Possible lingering winter illness? Still, it is good to be busy. I don't have much inspiration left for here though which makes me sad. Possibly I only have a finite amount? Possibly I just need to be more organised? We shall see, I suppose.

In the meantime, allow me to distract you with the work of Scottish illustrator KT Smail. She draws 'tragic girls with broken hearts, faraway lovers and dusty dresses'. Dreamy, yes? I want to drift into her world for a few weeks or hours and feel refreshed. Also, I want proper eyebrows. Not much I can about that though. They always look weird when I try and draw them on...

Anyway, I hope you've had a good weekend.

Chuck x

Aural Love

2012-01-12T15:34:00.000-08:00

Great video. Great cover. Great song. LOVE this.

I suggest you listen to it on repeat until those around you get so bored of it that they thump you.

In other news, I now have 'threaded comments'. I know. Big woop. Not that I asked for them but maybe they'll be good? Here's hoping they don't break my blog again. Apologies to anyone who tried to leave me comments earlier today. Please come back and share your thoughts, I don't want to miss a single one.

Edit: Although threaded comments are now working in Chrome and Safari (I can't vouch for Firefox), Internet Explorer is still playing up. My suggestion is that IE readers change browsers because Chrome is great but in case you aren't willing to adapt your habits for little old me (fair enough, I suppose...) I have changed to pop up comments. Apparently that is a way around the issue but I don't really care for them. Lots of people seem to like them though. Any thoughts?

Time to hit re-play now.

...Ah...

Chuck x

Look Here

2012-01-11T14:55:00.000-08:00

Pedro Lourenço Pre-Fall 2012 via Fashionising vs. Gorgeous Street Gal via Stylelist

Two different but lovely looks. Equally ladylike. Lots of things I admire about both - the bold ombré, the sleek and collarless coat, the shiny shiny sunglasses, the thick grey tights, the ankle straps, the stripes, the dream skirt, the gentle palette and the sweet take on the trench... They make me want to try 'lady style' again. It is something I struggle with though, I am simultaneously too scruffy and too womanly. My body has no straight lines so sleek, clean cuts bulge ominously. Frustratingly lots of the pretty, ladylike looks only work on slim gals. I guess there is a distinction between girly clothes and womanly clothes. The beautiful Pedro Lourenço coat would be a disastre on me! Also, I'd button it up wrong and stuff things in the pockets and chuck it over my chair and it would get all rumpled and inelegant. As is often the case, street style might prove a more realistic inspiration. A little less neat, a little bit more casual. This is something I could maybe try? The coat is a touch too twee for me but the skirt is fantastic. Seriously, I love that colour - it's not cornflower, it's something else... Pale Powder, Parma Grey, Dix Blue maybe? I might try and get my pretty on some time. Only a little bit but girly nonetheless.

What do you think about girly, pretty 'lady style'? Does it make you feel delightful or vaguely uncomfortable?

Chuck x

The Sunday Book: The Marriage Plot - Jeffrey Eugenides

2012-01-09T15:46:00.000-08:00

You know how when you look forward to something for aaages it will inevitably be a little bit disappointing? Even if it turns out to be awesome it will rarely be as good as in your head? Well, this wasn't like that. I read Middlesex when I was about 17 so I have been looking forward to his next novel for, say, five years. That is time to build up quite a head of excitement. Still, I was prepared for his new book not to meet my hyperactive expectations and I was prepared for it not to be as good Middlesex; I was not prepared for it to be rubbish. That was a shock.

It was a shock that I had been braced for by a slew of poor reviews but the startling mediocrity of The Marriage Plot still hit me like a cold fish across the face. Preparation vs. expectation is not a fair fight. It wasn't just a bit of disappointment; it was a lot of disappointment. I don't know why he did this to be. I believed in him, I wrote my dissertation on him and then this... Eugh.

Just to clarify, this isn't the worst book I've ever read, nowhere near. Eugenides is still a master of narrative and the story zips along and draws you in. I bombed through it after Christmas and I'm sure plenty of people will think it is fine. I can't imagine that anyone will think it is great but some/most will, I imagine, find it unobjectionable. Not me though, I object. I'm willing to admit that for all its brilliance Middlesex is flawed, particularly in respect to gender and sexuality. But, for me, its brilliance, its imagination, its ambition and its narrative drive, far outweighed its flaws. The Marriage Plot is all flaw, no brilliance though and so much that was politically dubious about the previous novel seems to have been magnified ten fold by the ten years it took Eugenides to write this book.

Gosh, he comes across as a douchebag. Mitchell, one of the two male components of the central love triangle, is so blatantly and narcissistically a portrait of the artist as a young man that it makes me want to bang my head against a wall until I pass out. He is a nerdy (check), Detroit born (check), Greek-American (check) student at Brown (check) who spends the majority of the book resenting the hell out of the female lead for having the gall not to love him. How dare she?? Women always choose the bad guy, gah, aren't we typical? We want brawn over brain because we are shallow and sex crazed but don't worry because we shall be punished for enjoying sex. And, when the bad guy inevitably reveals his badness (by, say, having a massive mental breakdown - bastard) we won't even see it though, we shall cry and run back to our parents because our love is superficial and we are useless and weak and pathetic!

Yeah, the gender politics got up my nose a bit... Madeline is just such a wet blanket. She barely makes any positive decisions in the book, she is carried along by those around her [SPOILERS]; she writes the thesis her tutor tells her to, she takes the class the cool kids take, she follows Leonard to Cape Cod, she calls her mother when he disappears in Europe, she sits there like a pudding when he leaves and doesn't even try to call him despite the fact that he is clearly unwell. They don't even get a divorce - they get an annulment organised by Madeline's father. This passivity is admired and occasionally criticised but never questioned. It is very frustrating as is the way that Eugenides seems to think that an ability to quote complex feminist theorists entitles him to be as sexist as he likes. He sneers at Luce Irigaray and Hélène Cixous and their passionate female students. He disdains attempts to re-think the all-male cannon but positions himself as the enlightened man. Feminism is apparently invalidated by its fundamentalists. Eugh eugh eugh.

There is actually some interesting mental illness and religion stuff going on in the novel but I was and am too riled by the gender bidnez to be able to discuss it intelligently and give it the time/space/energy such topics deserve. Please can someone else write about them? Also, because I'm tired from my rant, can someone please call him on the whole marriage plot thing and the epic failure that was his attempt at the genre? If you are going to place yourself alongside Austen you'd better bring it. Eugenides did not bring it - it was not brung. All mouth, no trousers.

Clearly this book left a sour taste in my mouth so I can't recommend that you read it. But... I do want to discuss the book with people. I don't have a seminar group to work this stuff out with any more. So if anyone has read this then please tell me what you think, of the book, of my take, of the theory. We can disagree, it will be awesome. Let's talk.

Chuck x

IRL and Not So Much

2012-01-07T02:39:00.000-08:00

In real life, apart from just eating lots of pitta bread and hummus, I've recently been working with Oh Comely magazine. My love of the magazine goes back a long way - you can read more about it here . If you haven't come across it I would highly recommend it (obviously). It is beautiful and awesome and I'm not just saying that. Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I got to interview the lovely Charlie May of Girl a la Mode for the Oh Comely blog. She was/is a delight and if you are a fan I would suggest that you check out the interview asap.

Acne Pre-fall 2012

In not real life, in my imaginative life, I'm wearing lots of Acne pre-fall and looking ace. Seriously, a cracking collection only made better by the lookbook styling. I like that it is clean and feminine but not girly. I don't feel that comfortable being über ladylike... Admittedly the full skirt is something that I would admire on other people rather wear/be able to wear myself but everything else would fit into my wardrobe immediately and very nicely. Sure, they'd be slumming it amongst all my eBay and sales purchases but maybe they would enjoy the adventure. Clothes of Acne pf12, come and visit me and stay forever. Trundle your fabric-y way out of shops and wardrobes and into my life. I will love you indefinitely.

(So I'm clearly going a little bit mad. Have a great weekend.)

Chuck x

Vague Consolation

2012-01-05T16:10:00.000-08:00

So life has already come along and taken a big dump on 2012. Typical. So much for being the year of awesome. I have been comforting myself by consuming impressive quantities of pitta bread and hummus and ogling beautiful Givenchy coats. You've got to take your kicks where you can find them...

Blissful Givenchy coats. I mean, are these not a selection of the most perfect coats you've seen in a long time?

(On a more positive note, 2012 The Year of Yes is still on. I have bravely said yes to at least three new things. Fingers crossed)

Chuck x

Hypocrisy in Action

2012-01-03T08:50:00.000-08:00

I've never done a 'What's in my Bag' post before because, frankly, I think they're ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy perving on other bloggers' handbag contents as much as the next person. There is a weird, voyeuristic interest to them. I particularly enjoy the people who claim to only need a bottle of perfume, a coin purse and a fountain pen. They must be lying, surely you can't live like that? Maybe you can, my mind boggles. But seriously, who wants to see what is in my bag? 'No one,' is the answer. Nobody is interested - true story fact.

Having said all that... I'm going to show you what is in my bag! Surprise! I was having brunch with one of my friends at the weekend and she wanted to borrow my phone - cue handbag search. The preliminary search didn't yield anything so I ended up emptying my entire bag all over our table. Ultimately it was an abortive exercise (the damn thing was in my jacket pocket) but the women at the table next to us seemed so impressed/bemused that it all felt worth while. I thought I might as well let you share in their joy/fear...

Clockwise from handbag (more or less):

2 x lipstick, 2 x lipgloss: I have two 'lip pockets' in my handbag. One always contains the Revlon lipstick and lipgloss either/both of which are my go to discreet lip options and the other normally contains two more vibrant choices. Today we have an orange-y tomato gloss from Topshop and a classic red from No. 7.
Marc Jacobs heart mirror, very battered.
Jeffrey Eugenides' new novel, The Marriage Plot: this is a hulking great hardback but I got it for Christmas and I've been looking forward to reading it for ages so it is currently taking up an unhelpfully large percentage of my bag.
Beloved iPod, quite battered.
Wallet, very battered: would quite like to replace this but it will remain in service until it falls apart.
Whistles cashmere mittens: a present from my sister for breaking a pair of boots that I lent her. I didn't really like them anyway and the mittens are blissful so this was a win for me.
Handcream.
Nail varnish: doesn't match the colour I'm wearing at the moment or my previous two or three colours - will be removed shortly if I remember.
Heart-shaped headphone splitter: I always think this will come in handy but it hasn't yet...
Ephemera: extra large hair clip, kirby grips, pins from a recent up do, button (don't know what garment this originally came from), perfume sample (unmarked - can't remember what it is), drugs (aspirins and anti-histamines), receipts, business card, coupon for tea.
USB card thing.
Oil blotting sheets: another thing that I always think will come in handy but hasn't.
Cruddy phone because I break/lose phones a lot.
Harmonica: a present from R in my stocking. I LOVE it, my family already hate it. I can't play it per se but I have big Bob Dylan dreams and I'm really enjoying making loud, atonal noises on it for now.
Oyster card, young persons railcard, about four months worth of old train tickets.
This year's Moleskin diary.
A posh A-Z of London so I can find my way around sans smart phone.
My current notebook: a rather smart Petit Prince one.
Biro, Sharpie (always useful), Benefit concealer (rubbish - don't recommend).
Rosebud Salve: a thoroughly superior lip balm.
Silly Putty: much more useful and enjoyable than either the headphone splitter or the oil blotting sheets.

Other occasional handbag visitors: a disposable camera that never seems to get finished and/or my actual camera, some kind of mint or gum, sweets and other food sorts, another pair of my favourite gloves, lone to do lists, nail files, sunglasses, uncomfortable earrings, yet more lipsticks.

You enjoyed that, right? Now I just need to cram it all back into my magic bag. It has been remarked on more than one occasion that my bag has the impressive Tardis/Mary Poppins quality of being much bigger on the inside. Hence why I like it obviously.

Good, clean, narcissistic fun.

Chuck x

Resolute and Passionate

2012-01-02T05:02:00.000-08:00

“Heaven preserve me from littleness and pleasantness and smoothness. Give me great glaring vices, and great glaring virtues, but preserve me from the neat little neutral ambiguities. Be wicked, be brave, be drunk, be reckless, be dissolute, be despotic, be a suffragette, be anything you like, but for pity’s sake be it to the top of your bent. Live fully, live passionately, live disastrously. Let’s live, you and I, as none have ever lived before.”

- Violet Trefusis to Vita Sackville-West, October 25, 1918

An admirable sentiment to begin the year with via Philo*Sofia. Words to ponder and live by (at least a little bit).

Chuck x

Janus

2012-01-01T13:47:00.000-08:00

Looking back and looking forward...

Some of my favourite clothes and outfits from 2011

September; March; December

September; March; October

October; October; March

Some of my favourite books of 2011

The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton; Wait for Me! - Deborah Devonshire

Mr Chartwell - Rebecca Hunt; Possession - A. S. Byatt

Some of my favourite things I've cooked in 2011

Mushroom Ragout on Flatbread; Swedish Visiting Cake

Perfect Brownies; Aubergine and Lemon Risotto

Sourdough; Sweet and Salty Super Mega Chocolate Cake

Chocolate, Hazelnut and Walnut Cake; Mejadra

My general impression of 2011 is that it has been fine. Damning with faint praise really. It hasn't been bad but it hasn't been brilliant. There has been a lot of hard work, disappointments and some interesting new experiences. I have high hopes for 2012 though, let us say. Do or die. I think 2012 has definite potential... My main resolution for next year is to say yes more. 2012 is going to be the year of yes!

Despite slightly bitching up 2011 I can't help but grin when I look back at these photos. There have been lots of good things this year - fashion, fiction, friends and frolics. I've been to Bologna with the fam, Rome with the boyf and Edinburgh with my friends. I've eaten delicious food and read wonderful books and I've moved to London. These are the lovely things that make up life. Hopefully there will be even more of them in the future.

Here's to 2012.

Chuck x

A Slightly Irish Christmas

2011-12-30T10:54:00.000-08:00

Well, not really. A bit of family heritage and some Guinness though. I love Guinness, at least I love it aesthetically. The taste doesn't do much for me. I'm not really a beer/lager/stout/ale kind of gal. I wish I was. I made valiant efforts in my teens to force myself to enjoy it but no luck. I find the idea of a cold beer on a hot day appealing but then I drink it and eugh. That said, I've grown to really enjoy red wine as I have aged so maybe I just need another stab at the whole beer thing...

Anyway, Guinness, gorgeous. Its thick, rich, dark body and its contrasting creamy head... Beautiful. (I know this sounds quite sexual but it's true, what can you do?). I don't want to drink the stuff but I do admire it and it is amazing to cook with. It takes your stews to a whole other level of deliciousness - so rich and dark. I have been meaning to try and make a Guinness and chocolate cake for ages and Christmas seemed an appropriate time. I don't like Christmas cake (aren't I being fussy today!?) and I wanted a rich, wintry cake alternative and this seemed just right. Guinness and chocolate is a notorious combination. The Guinness adds depth and darkness to the chocolate, moisture to the cake and counteracts any excessive sweetness. Awesome.

Attractively styled with sockets in the background - baked goods must be kept on top of the toaster to be sure that they are out of the puppy dog's reach in our house. That and I'm lazy and we were about to eat it.

I used a Nigella recipe that basically calls for bags of everything - 400g sugar and an entire block of butter! What you might expect from Nigella really. I'm not her biggest fan but this is a good recipe and my only amendments/comments relate to the icing and the cooking time. Nige says 45mins-1hr and my cake took a solid 1hr15mins. Temperature in our oven can be unpredictable but it is a massive cake and 45mins seems optimistic in any oven. She also puts 125ml of double cream in her icing. I'm all for double cream and approve of its addition to almost everything but here I question it. I added probably less than 40ml and that did lighten and smooth out the cream cheese icing and make it extra-spreadable but I felt that even that much cream had begun to make the icing quite greasy. I love cream cheese icing and I like mine to taste of cream cheese and I felt that the cream was beginning to make it taste a bit lardy. I'd suggest that you add the cream to taste rather than just whacking the whole 125ml in. Also, a note on the cream cheese: always use Philadelphia full fat in baking! I know it is more expensive and less 'healthy' but the own brand/lo-fat cream cheeses are always all watery and they split when you try and whisk them and they bake horribly and they are just bad. I speak from unpleasant experience.

Result: Excellent. The cake was amazing still a tiny bit warm from the oven. You have to let it cool before you ice it but it is a massive brick of cake so it insulates the middle really well. It was moist and dense and dark. This isn't an airy, fluffy wisp of cake but that isn't what you want in our freezing dining room where we often have to wear coats. This is a hearty, warming cake. The icing marries beautifully with the cake bulk. I thought the Guinness added a slight, strange banana-y taste but no one else agreed and, as my sister pointed out, it has been a loooooong time since I ate a banana so what would I know. [Bananas rank highly on my least favourite food list - behind smoked salmon and cauliflower but above a whole raft of other things]. You only need a small piece of cake and it is a very large cake so it is a relief to be able to say that it ages well. I think most cakes are rubbish by Day 2 but this one is still going strong on Day 5 (?). It has compacted slightly and become denser and almost pudding-y. Also, the imaginary banana smell seems to have gone which is good news for me.

What do you think? Intriguing, yes?

Chuck x

Comfort and Lies

2011-12-29T00:59:00.000-08:00

I lied when I said that I wanted to wear Jenni Kayne's pre-fall collection right now. It was unintentional - I thought I did want to wear it. I do want to wear it generally but, it turns out, just not now now. At the moment all I want to wear is a giant fleece onesie. Unfortunately (or not), I don't own a onesie or anything made of fleece. I have always been relatively happy/proud of this but now I am miffed. I resent the fact that I'm having to get dressed in actual clothes and leave the house and be polite and pleasant and helpful and do things when all I want is to be watching films on the sofa in my mythical giant fleece onesie. To try and reconcile this I have been wearing my comfiest clothes to work, style be damned! It turns out that my clothes aren't that comfy though. They might be comfier than they are fashionable and they might be comfier than most fashion people's wardrobes - I don't wear heels on a daily basis and I love jumpers - but they aren't comfy in comparison to a giant fleece onesie. I have backed myself into a corner where I have three pairs of skinny black jeans that aren't quite right or quite comfortable enough. There is something a bit wrong with all of them but obviously I can't buy any more since I already have three pairs... This bra pinches a bit and that skirt is too tightly waisted and that dress requires perfect posture and those trousers give me cold ankles and that top always rides up a bit... Hurrumph. I love a lot of my clothes but right now they are pissing me off! I just want to be a lovely, warm, comfy sloth and they are standing between me and that goal. Unhappy.

Vogue Russia via FGR

Photographer: Ben Toms

Model: Meghan Collison

Stylist: Katie Shillingford

This beautiful Vogue Russia shoot is the exact opposite of what I want to be wearing right now. It is all perfect, upright, structured 50s loveliness. This shoot sneers at comfort and I love it. I'm not going to be imitating it any time before New Year but a girl is entitled to be stylistically schizophrenic, is she not?

What are you wearing right now? Onesies or waspies?

Chuck x

The Interim

2011-12-27T14:27:00.000-08:00

What I would like to be wearing in this lazy period between Christmas and New Year. Slouchy, nonchalant, eazy cool clothes. If only I was living somewhere slightly warmer. Then I would lounge just so...

Jenni Kayne pre-fall 2012 via Because I'm Addicted

I hope you had lovely Christmas and are wallowing in festive food and drink and family hangovers.

Chuck x

'Twas the Night before Christmas...

2011-12-24T10:49:00.000-08:00

R and I made each other stockings this year. I have to say that I'm pretty proud of my effort. His is lovely too although it involved fewer Transformers (which I am a-OK with). I do worry that he is turning me into a new kind of geek. But then I look at the Christmas Optimus I created and I am impressed. I mean, he is firing snowflakes and glitter and his bell tinkles joyfully. Festive pats on the back to both of us.

I hope you all have a brilliant Christmas and enjoy the holidays!

Chuck x

P.S. Congratulations to all of you who got the pun. I'm so cool.

In Tearing Haste: Letters between Deborah Devonshire & Patrick Leigh Fermor

2011-12-23T09:25:00.000-08:00

(I knew there was an excellent reason to come home for the holidays - my Muv has a compatible charger! Oh yeah, and I love them... Of course.)

I love Debo as a writer. I know that Nancy was 'the writer', the French Lady Writer in fact, and that she teased Debo for never having read a book in her life and called her Nine for her apparent mental age. Still, I love Debo as a writer. Her style isn't literary but it is so nippy and vigorous and full of life. It has such pizazz!

She is just the same in her letters and her 50 year+ correspondence with Patrick Leigh Fermor is a joy to read. Even though In Tearing Haste is just an edited selection it still makes me want to wallow in their friendship. In 1956 Debo invited Paddy to Lismore and they remained penpals until Paddy died aged 96 in June. *Pause to weep - I'm devastated for Debo that she lost Paddy since her husband and all of her six siblings predeceased her. It must be awful to lose all your contemporaries. Family is lovely but it's not the same. I have a new sympathy for my wonderful maternal grandmother.*

There are gaps in the letters, for childbirth and travelling, mourning and real world meetings, but nonetheless they are a remarkably full record of half a century of friendship. Luckily, for us if not for them, Debo and Paddy were often separated by whole countries and sometimes continents at a time when international calls were unreliable and expensive. Debo was at Chatsworth or Lismore in Ireland or in France with Nancy or America with the Kennedies or the Tarmac board. Paddy lived in Greece for most of his life after fighting in Crete in WW2 but he was also a great traveller, adventuring around Europe and the world. They had to write and they kept most of the letters.

They both have had such crazy, amazing lives that this book would probably be a good read if both letter writers favoured finger painted monosyllables. Luckily they're both charming and delightful. Debo has flair and Paddy writes beautifully and eloquently. His letters are poetic, longer and more thorough. He also drew lovely pictures and postcards - my favourite being 'Y no Gnus (gnus pictured)?'. He had a wonderful sense of humour and when Debo asked him for some suggestions for titles for a false bookcase he sent her two pages worth of ideas, including 'The Cats Revenge by Claude Balls'. That is the kind of joke that goes down a treat in my fam. Might be whipping that out over Christmas...

Anyway, this book probably isn't your way into a giant Debo/Mitford love in if you are a newbie - it definitely helps to have some biographical background if you want to get the most out of it. However, if you already know your way around the six sisters and the Cavendishes, this is a lovely read and something to aspire to in life.

Chuck x

Man Down

2011-12-20T15:33:00.000-08:00

Apparently my laptop isn't feeling the festive spirit. Rather, my charger isn't. It is dead as a door nail. Until I can MacGyver some kind of solution/face buying and shipping my third charger in the last twelve months/get an unexpected technological present under the tree, it is going to be pretty quiet around here.

In case I can't get it fixed I hope y'all have a merry Christmas!

Chuck x

Five Favourite Friday Fings

2011-12-17T15:36:00.000-08:00

1. Queen Victoria collage t-shirt from Your Eyes Lie.

2. Mouthwash art by Steve Bishop via Present & Correct blog.

3. Amazing Triceratops necklace from Emma Franklin.

4. Bow ring from Need Supply Co.

5. The Nutcracker is Christmas. In honour - mad water glass playing.

Feeling succinct tonight.

Chuck x

Screw You, Highstreet

2011-12-14T15:03:00.000-08:00

One down!

I trawled Topshop and I browsed Warehouse. I ordered three dresses online from Asos and and another from Warehouse (online sale + voucher code). All deliveries were returned and no store purchases were made. The few things I liked and that fitted/suited me were out of my price range and the things that were in my price range were bad. Why is there so much nasty polyester out and about? I know that Lanvin did a polyester collection but I remain unconvinced. Maybe expensive polyester doesn't give you electric shocks? Cheap (but overpriced) polyester certainly isn't an alluring thing. Also, lots of designers, at least on the high street, seem to forget that women often have breasts. One particular dress seemed to have been designed in two dimensions - it was 'woman' shaped when laid flat but it took no account of forward female projection. Boobs go forward people, think about it!

Anyway, despite all my high street trauma, I've found my party dress. 50% of my dress hunt nailed. A ne'er an overpriced, poor quality, scratchy nightmare in sight. Thank you, ebay. The best/only way to get good quality clothes on a tight budget. This dress is from Antipodium, the material is soft and heavy, the fit is beautiful is beautiful and forgiving. It makes me feel awesome but in a comfortable way. And it was £20 inc. PP. Hell, yeah. My Kurt Geiger killer heels were ebay too. I love you ebay. You're my friend.

Only my everyday-dress to go now. Ebay here I come...

Chuck x

One Wishes You Festive Tidings

2011-12-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

This is another Bust Craftacular post; another new (to me) artist. I'm counting myself lucky - as a relative London youngster lots of things are still new to me. It is hard to believe that it has been six months. Occasionally it feels like I have been here battling tourists and public transport frustrations forever but, for the most part, it feels like I've been here all of five minutes. Definitely not fully settled in yet. That has its perks though and the thrill of the new is one of them. I enjoyed the Bust craft fair (in my own grouchy, poverty stricken way) but I don't know if I'll feel the need to go back next year. I've been to a couple of craft type fairs in the last few months and, lovely as they are, they can get a tad repetitive. There is a very funny post on Yes I Like That about the limited ideas and motifs that artists are falling back on at the moment - primarily moustaches but also tea cups, foxes, bunting, cats etc. So true! I've managed to dodge most of those but only because she somehow forgot to add royal regalia and puppies...

There is a reason these things are so popular though, the latter two in particular are like crack to me. I'm whole heartedly a dog person. Not that I have anything against cats, besides a virulent allergy, I just love dogs. We're on the same mental level. All dogs are beautiful to me (apart from those hairless ones, they freak me out) and I struggle to walk past them. It was initially the corgis that caught my eye at Alice Gabb's stand. If I was grown up enough to be sending Christmas cards these are the ones that I would send. There is a strange lull in Christmas card sending in one's life, I have found. I sent many many Christmas cards as a child, cards to all my many youthful friends and all the children I liked in my year and children that I had to write Christmas cards to for form's sake, and I envisage sending many many Christmas cards when I am settled and mature and I have access to an unlimited number of stamps. Right now cards seem impossibly organised and sensible. Has anyone else found that?

Alice Gabb's work does make me want to write more letters and post more things though. Her telegrams for formal informalities and letters for the regal writer are encouragement for the laziest of correspondents (viz me). I am often struck by the desire to be a better letter writer - they are just the loveliest things. Alice's letter sets coincided with In Tearing Haste: Letters between Deborah Devonshire and Patrick Leigh Fermor which is a fab book that demonstrates two very different but charming schools of letter writing. Will write a mini review at some point because it was so sweet. They corresponded for over fifty years despite the existence of telephones and the advent of email. If they can do it why can't I? Don't even get me started on Paddy's recent death, it is too sad for Debo...

I am clearly struggling to stay on topic today. Alice Gabb - her work is beautiful and so is her letter writing mission. So are her British lavender candles in teacups. Cliched? Perhaps. Delightful? Absolutely. I have such a soft spot for kitsch, particularly royal kitsch. It isn't political, it is aesthetic - I love the iconographic naffness of it all. I basically want everything that she makes.

I'm going to go now because I must be productive and less ineloquent.

Chuck x

Baubly

2011-12-09T14:44:00.000-08:00

Look! Look at them! LOOK AT MY DOG BAUBLES. Are they not glorious?? They are the key to my baby bauble collection. It shall grow big and strong over the years but for now it is small but perfectly formed. These were an early Christmas present from R's parents (I've opened my first present - eek!) and I adore them. My Muv said that these prove that they're really getting to know me - they clearly understand that I am the only person in the world who would LOVE these so wholeheartedly. Obviously everyone should think these puppies are awesome but, weirdly, I suspect some people won't get them.

I have absolutely no idea where these bad boys came from. I can't even imagine such a shop. Will endeavor to find out though. Enquiring minds want to know.

Chuck x

P.S. Glad to hear that my picture size is working out - let me know if you have any problems in the future.

Festive Fare, Part One of Many

2011-12-07T14:50:00.001-08:00

Christmas Pie - Mushroom, potato & cheese pie from the Pieminister cookbook

Man, I'm getting so excited about Christmas this year. R and I bought our tree last weekend. First time I've ever bought a Christmas tree. Very grown up (also, very expensive - who knew?). We've begun our bauble collection that will hopefully grow over the years. More on that later. I have paper chain plans for this weekend. Mostly though, it's all about the food. There are so many Christmas-y things I want to cook and eat. Also, normal things that I want to make Christmas-y. I'm going to be getting a lot of use out of my mini Christmas tree cutter...

Practical question about image size, do my pictures work for you? I've been realising that my laptop might have an abnormally large screen. All my images look normal/moderate on my screen but turns out they look a bit awkward on the boyf's screen and you can barely see them on an iPad... How are they on your computer/reader? Is there a way to set pictures so that they'll auto-size to individual browsers? I'm not a natural at the whole technology thing!

Chuck x

Five Favourite Friday Fings

2011-12-05T14:13:00.001-08:00

So these posts are going up increasingly late... The logical thing to do, perhaps, might just be to delay last week's Friday Fings until this Friday. Where is the fun in that though? I want to put them up now and it is my blog so ner ner di ner ner. This is the joy of a blog - you answer to no one! There are no responsibilities or repercussions for lateness. Well, kind of. Obviously I don't want to disappoint you, my delightful and delicious readers, but I don't think you really care about when you get your Fings. (Do you?).

Anyway.

1. I really really enjoyed the interview with Ben Gorham on Into the Gloss. He is the founder of Byredo and the interview is a big juicy one. I particularly like the way that Emily Weiss doesn't rely on a Q&A format, which I can find rather grating. Instead you get a beautifully curated, continuous flow of thought and story. And what an interesting man. I felt inspired by this. I want to go away and make creative, thoughtful perfume! (Or at least go and sniff some Byredo perfumes). If you are interested in perfumes I can't recommend this enough.

2. Runway shows of the 1990s. Seen at Cat Party (always amazing), this Tumblr is fascinating. I like seeing what still looks fresh and exciting, what I still want to wear, what I can incorporate into my sartorial life. I haven't really bought into the automatic 90s revival that has been going on of late but this makes me reconsider my scepticism. And the supers look so young and fresh faced!

3. Possibly Sister Jane has been around for ages. Sometimes I lose track of those high street level small brands. They're stocked on Topshop and Asos so maybe they're quite well known. New to me though. They have a lot of nice, slightly tweaked everyday wear. The above dress is my favourite - the zig zag collar reminds me of Louis Vuitton. Also, love the model/make-up. Still enjoying a strong, dark lip.

4. I'm going to start regularly including fave pieces of longer writing. Obviously I like looking at pretty pictures on the interwebz as much as anyone but sometimes it is good to engage other parts of your brain. The interwebz is a big place and there is lots of great writing on it that goes under-appreciated (at least by me). That said, this article has got a lot of luvvin. Kate Bolick's (hee hee - I'm so immature) article critiquing outdated attitudes towards marriage in the Atlantic magazine got excerpted somewhere else but I think it is worth reading in its entirety. Funny, considered, thought-provoking. Do it. I'm also excited about reading through the Atlantic's back catalogue - it looks like they have some cracking gender/sexuality articles. Expect to see more.

5. The idea of pre-made Christmas stockings freak me out. They can be hideously impersonal and I would be most affronted if the boyf/fam bought me one rather than making me one. [I am a BIG stocking fan btw - best part of Christmas? Certainly better than presents.] Backpedaling momentarily though, I love these Of a Kind holiday grab bags and I want the men's and women's. What lovely contents - independent, interesting, gorgeous goodies. Still, no substitute for my actual stocking, R/fam. No getting lazy, just get some ideas...

What has piqued your interest of late?

Chuck x

Recent Eats

2011-12-03T15:11:00.001-08:00

I've been really enjoying the Pieminister cook book of late. Admittedly, I do love Pieminister in a big way. I sadly miss testing all their different flavours and licking their enamel plates in the original Stokes Croft shop... Personal bias aside, it is a lovely book and I would definitely recommend it (and I say this as a person with a lot of cook books, many of them mediocre). So far I have made the cheese, mushroom and potato pie (top left) and the Fantaffy pie (bottom right) and both have been excellent. I even made the pastry for the Fantaffy pie which is full of delicious things like leeks and toasted hazelnuts and Caerphilly. A top notch vegetarian pie if anyone is looking for exciting veggie options for the festive season.

Also of note, R made Julia Child's legendary beef bourguignon and it was amazing. It blew our socks off. I Heart Julia. This is a powerful ol' stew and it is a lot of work but it is totally awesome and exactly what you need on a cold winter night. Served with rather nontraditional but delicious rosemary wedges and garlic kale. YUM. Casual food-wise I have re-made similar red wine and tomato pasta sauces a bunch of times in the last few weeks. I don't follow a recipe and I have a rubbish memory so I couldn't say exactly what is in them, they probably differ slightly each time, but they are bang on. They consistently involve bog standard tomato sauce ingredients plus fresh cherry tomatoes/sundried tomatoes + generous amounts of red wine and lots of reduction time. It makes for an intensely rich and tomato-y sauce that is powerful enough to be eaten without cheese, which is good because I keep forgetting to buy any Parmesan...

Anyway. Any good eats of late?

Chuck x

Scorchio

2011-12-02T14:03:00.001-08:00

Silver screen goddess dress c/o Warehouse

I tried this dress on today and it is it. It is hot shit. Dipped at the front and down low at the back. Necklace collar. Thigh split, fitted waist, falling pleats. The maxi, the shape, the draping and the particular shade of red make it vair sophis rather than trashy. It fitted like a glove and made me feel decadent and glamorous. I would glide and lounge and be all kinds of golden age film fabulous in it. It is £80 and I have nowhere to wear it but I love it. Love. It makes me feel like a different person. Ah, the transforming power of fashion.

Mega thumbs up.

Chuck x

On Consumerism and Dream Scarves

2011-11-30T13:33:00.001-08:00

I went to the Bust magazine Christmas Craftacular on Sunday. It was a big, festive craft fair in Bethnal Green's York Hall full of independent crafters, top choons and DIY workshops. It was busy and jolly and full of beautiful things. It was generally lovely but... it turns out shopping events aren't much fun when there is no possibility of shopping. I purposefully didn't take any money with me because I knew that I couldn't spend any and I didn't want to be tempted. This seemed sensible until I arrived and saw all the niceness. I mean, I guess it was still sensible since I can't really afford frivolous crafty loveliness but it felt rubbish. I've often been shopping and not bought anything but there is normally at least the possibility of buying something and this time there wasn't and it rather sucked the fun out of the whole enterprise. I'm worried that this makes me disgustingly materialistic and unable to enjoy myself without consuming products and spending money like a filthy cog in the capitalist machine... Or maybe it is just difficult to enjoy events where you know you can't take part in the event? Like how you would miss out on the fun of a pool party if you couldn't swim. I'm hoping it is the latter because the former is hardly very flattering. Do you know what I'm talking about? I wonder if it is just me.

The positive thing I took away from the craft fair was a bunch of new makers, artists and designers that I might not otherwise have discovered. Perhaps I was just viewing it from the wrong perspective. I'm planning to share a couple of my new fancies over the next few days/weeks. The first of these is Cleo Ferin Mercury, purveyors of printed scarves, collars and handkerchiefs. All of Cleo and Chris's prints are great and their animal scarves are hilarious but my heart beats for their 100% silk icon scarves. Beyoncé? Brigitte? Liz as Cleo? Love! The Liz Taylor scarf would go very well with Topshop SS12 but I think Brigitte would be my first choice. So sweet and innocent - all sixties and South of France...

c/o Cleo Ferin Mercury

And, ultimately, it doesn't matter that I can't afford them. I'm glad I got to admire and fondle them. I'm glad I know they are out there and being awesome. I know that somebody will be enjoying them and they will be leading merry lives. I don't need to buy them. I don't think.

Chuck x

The Hunt Begins

2011-11-28T11:49:00.001-08:00

I'm on the hunt for the mythical dress. I suspect it is like the Questing Beast and I shall chase it forever and ever without catching it. Some people seem to find this dress easily but it's not like that for me. It's a long and exhausting pursuit. The dress I'm talking about is the smart-casual, dress down for day, dress up for evening, correct for every occasion, perfect dress. I know that sounds like a lot to ask but some people own them so they clearly exist. Also, I think part of my brain is being sucked in by the onslaught of inevitable 'Sparkly Christmas Party Dresses' articles that are going around like a rash at the moment. Not that I have ever been or am ever likely to go to a party where a neon, glittery, lacy, mini bodycon dress is the appropriate attire but I like the idea of a Christmas party dress. In my head it should be elegant but luscious, chic but a little bit sexy, interesting and luxurious. I'm keen on the idea of the idea of black, navy and red; thick velvet, crepe and real lace. I don't want to go above the knee, I could go either way on sleeves. Mostly I don't want it to be tacky. I don't see how that should be too much to ask but looking at the high street it seems impossible sometimes.

Basically I want a new dress, possibly two, a casual, dress-up-able dress and my version of a Christmas party dress. I am not wearing any dresses at the moment and that makes me sad. I do have a few dresses but I haven't worn any of them in ages because they don't feel right. My vintage dresses are beautiful but they are too busty and too feminine and the very fitted waists aren't comfortable enough for all day wear. The rest are a handful of ancient jersey dresses that don't really feel relevant to how I dress/want to dress any more. So, I popped into my local (admittedly limited) Topshop to have a look round and a little try on...

1. The One that Made Me Look Bulky Pt. I. Also, the One that Failed to Live Up to My Expectations - I'd seen this one on the TS website and been intrigued by the idea of burgundy velvet but in reality it was too short, too stretchy, too cheap looking. The velvet was disappointingly short and it generally looked naff on me.

2. The One that Made Me Look Bulky Pt. II. Also, the One that Made Me Look like a Deranged 8 Year Old. Seriously, so bad. The cream was so unkind, the polyester was so unkind, the dress just made me look awful. Simultaneously underage and pregnant - a cruel and impressive combination. There is a kind of girl that is going to look very sweet in this but it is not for womanly bodies. I was feeling quite low at this point in the excursion.

3. The One that Surprised Me. You say bright orange-red leopard print, I say bad, but I actually quite liked this. It has a certain pizzazz! There is something Joanie about it. It is definitely more of a statement than I'm used to making though!

4. The One that Made Me Look Bulky Pt. III. Also, the One that Looks like a Nighty. This is one of my most stylish lady friends' go-to dress. She wears it a lot and it is just exactly what one would wish for from a day dress. It looks awesome on her. This is proof in a nutshell that works brilliantly on someone doesn't work brilliantly on everyone. Sadly, not good.

5. The One that I Really Liked. It wasn't perfect on the chest and I would prefer it to be longer but it is red, the crepe-y material is nice and the beading is surprisingly heavy and lovely. It is a sign how over-priced TS has become recently that I was pleasantly shocked that this was 'only' £85. Obviously I can't afford to buy it at £85 but I would have guessed £120 (which is ridiculous but hardly unheard of in TS). Hopeful.

6. The One that Made Me Feel like a Vamp. Very tight, black, thigh high split! I tried it on out of curiosity and actually quite enjoyed prancing around the changing room in it. I took a few profile pictures that were very bad on my poor tummy but that hasn't stopped me slyly liking it. It is just so excessive. Team with sexy heels and a strong lip/smokey eye and you would knock 'em dead! Leg-wear is tricky though, any normal tights expose what B calls your 'whore line' (as seen on me). Might have to be bare legs which isn't very winter-y. Even with a thigh split I can't quite resist the practical.

Also, do you like the way that I have 'modeled' all these dresses with my Vans? Very classy, I am. Have you seen any good dresses? I'm planning to max out the blogosphere for inspiration. Attractive, interesting and affordable - these are my watch word. What is your daily dress and your Christmas party dress?

Chuck x

Five Favourite Friday Fings

2011-11-26T14:25:00.001-08:00

1. I have had Azealia Banks' 212 stuck in my head on loop since I read Bethan Holt's post on FEAL on Thursday. Seriously, who would have thought that a very filthy song about the joys of oral sex could be so catchy? Gosh, she has an amazingly potty mouth. I love it. I have a little bit of a girl crush... Adorable musical theatre geek cum bad ass filthpot. A mass of contradictions and top choon(s - hopefully).

2. Look, pretty. I want this to be my winter events outfit. It is from French label Gat Rimon who produce much relaxed loveliness. This is it though. Long sleeves, navy, unexpected skin, naked back, olive, leather opera gloves... My love of leather opera gloves seems to be fairly constant. Maybe I should invest? Seen at Greedy Girl.

3. Susie turned me on to the Because beauty videos. Super cute and super quick, full of great music and inspiring make up tips. I want to try Susie's metallic panda eyes. And Erin's tomato lip. And the Tina Chow look... Basically all of them.

4. Pizza sleeping bag! No elaboration needed. Fondly reminds me of the Great Sleeping Bear. Via Rachel at Fur Coat.

5. Making the most of my Elle UK Kurt Geiger voucher. I very nearly bought this for real money and now I have got it for freesies! Deeply satisfactory.

I hope y'all having great weekends!

Chuck x

The New Ethical

2011-11-24T14:53:00.001-08:00

Man, this week has been busier than I was expecting. I want to get some real content up on here but it will have to wait a little longer. In the meantime I will distract you with pretty pictures (again) - this is becoming a worrying, lazy habit of mine... Luckily, pretty ethics are involved here too. I recently discovered Maiyet; a new NY label with real ethical credentials. The founder is a human rights lawyer who is focused on creating a sustainable, socially responsible business. This isn't the standard hemp and recycled sacking you often see in eco/ethical clothing though, this is desirable, casual but glamorous high fashion. This is less surprising when you read about his fashion team who have worked for, among others, Boy by Band of Outsiders, Calvin Klein, Celine and The Row, according to Elle. Their website is very slick too and features the first collection beautifully shot on the beautiful Daria.

The founders of Maiyet have sourced craftsmen and artisans from all over the world to help produce their collection. These small teams and families will be helped to develop into sustainable businesses. Maiyet have committed to ploughing a share of profit back into training and growth. They are supporting positive projects - Style.com tells of 'an Ahmedabadi studio that stabilizes its community by employing both Hindus and Muslims'. I also wonder, because this is fashion/crafts (embroidery, beading, printing fabrics), whether there is a female bias to the people they are helping. There is lots of interesting information about on how, if you invest in women and small female businesses via things like micro loans, there is a comparatively large increase in standards of living. For more on micro loans see here.

It is the best of both worlds really because I actively want to buy/wear these clothes. I particularly like their maxi silhouettes - great colours, simple, elegant, comfy, swooshy. I love this kind of thing. Also, a little bit of me totally thinks I'll look like Daria if I were to have these clothes. There is realistic for you. Obviously I can't buy these clothes because they are a whole bunch of ways out of my price range but it makes me happy that some people probably will buy them.

Snaps to Maiyet.

Chuck x

Dangerous Florals

2011-11-21T13:53:00.001-08:00

I was vaguely surprised to see that I hadn't posted about Hermione de Paula before. I basically expect all the thoughts that flits through my brain to end up on here and then I'm baffled when they don't. Maybe they could but that would be a lot of work - my brain is a busy place (sometimes). Anyway, I'm a big fan of de Paula, hence the surprise. She is a print maestro and I do love a good print. They are more defined than most of the prints I have been fetishising recently but the detail is intriguing and there is a darkness to them that I find irresistible. Her SS12 collection 'Darlingtonia's Obsession' is named after the carnivorous Cobra Lily - flowers and death entwined. Exotic birds dart amongst the blooms and vines curl like bondage. At the same time there is a soft, floatiness to the fabrics and cuts... Something for everyone!

SS12 - Darlingtonia's Obsession

The above trouser/shirt combo is particularly amazing. It reminds me of the similar Celine Resort 2012 look. Matchy matchy floral goodness. It would look so bonkers in my real life but I want to recreate it! I want some thoughtful florals generally.

AW12 - Memoirs of Rose

This is from an earlier collection but I had to include it because it is so lovely. Photo, dress, styling - love. I'll be interested to see where de Paula's designs go next. I'll be keeping better tabs on her this time. Brain/blog synch! Wouldn't that be excellent?

Chuck x

Knock it Back

2011-11-20T03:30:00.001-08:00

I was so overexcited to rediscover KnockBack recently. KnockBack, by the way, is the magazine for 'women who aren't silly bitches on diets'. They are the anti-Cosmo. You are sold already, right? I read the first issue a few years ago but then kind of lost touch with them. They don't have a particularly regular print schedule so that is quite easy to do. The upside of the irregular printing is that they only put out an issue when they have something to say. No filler here. After reading a copy of the Well Dressed issue I immediately rushed to their shop and ordered the latest issue - the Hardcore issue. This actually came out in June so any real (hardcore) KB fans will be disgusted at how behind the times I am but everyone else should go and buy their copies immediately because it doesn't age. It isn't like trying to read a Grazia from June, quality content doesn't age. Highlights include a seventeen year old's response to porn, an avoiding pregnancy snakes and ladders game and Marie Berry's great article about the Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (donate here). This issue is more grown up than earlier issues but it is still snort-tea-out-of-your-nose hilarious. Buy it now.

Ahaha, the 'Are you a dick?' quiz is so funny. Buy it already.

Chuck x

Five Favourite Friday Fings

2011-11-18T05:58:00.001-08:00

1. How sweet are these mini light-bulb vases? I saw them on Tumblr, I'm not sure of the original source, but they are super cute. Part of me thinks they would be really easy to make. Quite a lot of me foresees shattered light-bulbs all over my carpet though... What do you think? Also, you would need old-fashioned light bulbs - mercury poisoning wouldn't be a good look. Beautiful, minimal flowers too.

2. I'm always on the lookout for great, affordable prints and this Random Objects lion poster ticks every box. $18! (I know). Gorgeous black and white photo. Of a yawning/yowling lion (zodiac affinity or just plain adorable?). Useful, affirming but not tacky-as-hell quote. Done. I know I saw this one over at Mallory's but I can't remember where - they are too many lovely things going on there!

3. Flying squirrel scarf? Yes, please. Charlotte Linton's prints are random and awesome. That is all.

4. Lady loving. I've only recently discovered Tiger Beatdown and I'm sad that I didn't know about it sooner. Sady Doyle is a big ol' piece of excellent - angry and eloquent. I've also rediscovered KnockBack (more on that later). It is so invigorating to read some kickass women's writing. Why not start with her recent post on gendered internet abuse...

5. Ally has great taste. Emma Gleason has mad skillz. The above is from her graduate collection! It is so simple but so right - casual but interesting, odd but not bizarre, simple but not bland. Great cuts, great styling, great model. Stripes and colours, berry and lemon. Yum. I can't wait to see what she does next. I already want to wear most of what she has made.

Sometimes it is nice to take a step back. Get away from the internet, blogging and other blogs, as much as I love them. Away from TV and job hunting. Just take a little break and ignore it all for a while. It is so restful. I feel positively peaceful.

Chuck x

November Style

2011-11-15T00:23:00.001-08:00

I wonder who styles Zara's lookbooks. I wonder if it is an individual or a team, whether it is done in-house or out. Google isn't being particularly revealing. Not that it matters - I'm just curious. Whoever they are, they're doing an excellent job.

Zara November 11 Women's Lookbook

Kasia Strauss looks beautiful, the clothes look beautiful, I have a bit of a problem with those naff biker boots but you can't have it all. There is some top print clashing and J. Crew-esque mixed up ladylike-ness. Also, I have been wanting an interestingly printed watercolour maxi for aaaages... If I had to pick just one look though it has to be the androgyny. That long coat, loose trousers and simple shirt are just perfick.

If my November looked like this I would be very happy.

Chuck x

The Sunday Book: Possession - A. S. Byatt

2011-11-13T13:08:00.001-08:00

Brilliant and interesting fiction ahoy!

Any British readers here will be aware of the massive hoo-ha (now how do you spell that?) that kicked off over this year's Booker shortlist. Critics savaged the judges for favouring 'readability' over literary excellence. I haven't read any of the shortlist - oops - so I can't comment on them but it was interesting to read a previous Booker prize winner. The 1990 Booker prize winner in fact. [I just checked the archive and I have actually read the 2009 and 1989 winners as well - 2009 awesome, 1989 not my cup of tea.] I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this single book could kick the whole of the 2011 list's arse. It is stunning.

A. S. Byatt's Possession is a piece of brilliance. It is magnificently deep without being pretentious, academic without being dry, poetic without being impenetrable, theoretical without being plot-less... There is loads of lovely plot. I love plot. Some people believe that is philistine but I would raise them Shakespeare. Willy Shakes loves a nice bit of plot. So there. Anyway, Possession is a double story - the story of contemporary academics discovering the story of two Victorian poets. Byatt's Victorians are so rounded, such complete characters that I actually had to google them to check they weren't real. Not only has Byatt written back stories and dialogue for Christabel LaMotte and Randolph Henry Ash she has written dramatic monologues, poems, letters and short stories. She has even written modern academic essays on their work. It blows my mind.

It would be easy, given this, for the Victorians to be the dominant force within this novel or romance as Byatt very specifically terms it but she balances the stories expertly. I possibly even preferred the modern story line - the apparently useless Roland Michell and the glacially beautiful Maud Bailey. The competitive world of academia is unexpectedly gripping and suspense filled! Academics slugging it out for scraps of art and history, discovering new mysteries that overturn theory, secrets and scandal, literary detectives, sneaking around in the dead of night... It is awesome. I don't remember it being like that when I was dabbling in academia but then Byatt isn't talking undergraduates, these are professional academics. Clearly it gets more exciting.

I don't think that you need any marked interest in academia or Victorian literature but maybe it helps. I did really enjoy being briefly re-emerged in that world and reading what feels like very real Victorian poetry. I think the romance and adventure and unbelievable writing will grip everyone though. Did I mention that it is a brilliant book? You should definitely pick it up if you haven't read it. If you have read it, leave a comment or email me and we can get all excited about how great it is.

Chuck x

Struggling to Explain Irony

2011-11-11T07:05:00.001-08:00

Isn't it excellent when, among all your many many repetitive promotional emails, you see something that actually makes you grin? The Net-a-Porter exclusive holiday jumper collection did that to me. I'm sure many of you got it too but I couldn't resist whacking it up here. I mean, look at all that crazily expensive, totally amazing, ugly crap!

The boyf came home the other day completely baffled. He had seen a guy in a reindeer sweater. He didn't get it. Levels of bafflement increased exponentially though when I tried to explain that ugly Christmas jumpers were actually so hot right now. He couldn't wrap his head around it at all. I don't blame him - fashion is so weird sometimes. Case in point:

A brilliant contemporary designer has made an ugly jumper.
That ugly jumper costs a mind bending £1040.
I want that jumper for it is amazing.

Where is the logic in that? This is such a great festive promotion though. I love it and I want to embrace it in all its snuggly, cuddly, ugly glory. Good stuff.

Chuck x

Loaf 3

2011-11-09T13:26:00.000-08:00

Check out that strata! Sexy, yes? Managed to do away with the giant cavern hole this time round - added more flour and it totally worked. Weirdly, the mixture seemed wetter and more difficult to work with. No idea why. Anyone know? I slightly under-cooked Loaf 2 so the crust wasn't all that it could be and the centre was slightly too moist. Overcompensated this time by over-cooking it and slightly burning the outside but I think I'd rather err on that side. Things I have learnt about sourdough - you can't really judge whether it is sufficiently cooked by crust colour. It may look golden and delicious but it could be a big sloppy mess in the middle. Listen to your cookbook, it knows better than you, and over-bake. Next thing I need to learn - how to make my sourdough taller. Just because I'm curious. I wonder if Albert (my starter) isn't energetic enough. Might try and perk him up by force of will. Did any of you start a starter?

N.B. Loaf 3 is seen styled (ha!) with Courgette and Fennel soup made by loverly boyf. Soup/stew/pie season is upon us. Possibly the best thing about winter, along with knitwear.

Chuck x

Misdirection

2011-11-08T15:17:00.000-08:00

I learnt a lot from 10 Things I Hate about You...

Look at all these pretty pictures. They were taken by Rockie Nolan, the beautiful Texan lady in the third picture, and can be further admired on her lovely blog and flickr. I'm having a bit of a flickr moment right now. Aren't they gorgeous and feminine? I want to drift around in them.

And what do you know? You didn't even notice that I don't have anything to say for myself! And I didn't have to flash my boobs or anything...

Chuck x

Five Favourite Friday Fings

2011-11-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

(a little bit late)

1. How amazing are Elizabeth's latest Stella McCartney nails? She has crazy nail skillz. Also of note are her recent Christopher Kane aqua gel nails, her Versus and her Miu Miu inspired nails - see them all here. I definitely need to make more of an effort with my nails. She also makes fab Proenza Schouler inspired bracelets. Some people have all the talent.

2. I can't remember whose blog I saw this cuff on (sorry) but I love it. So simple and unisex but still beautiful. This, among a couple of hundred other favourites, is definitely going on my To Buy When I Have A Proper Paid Job list. I could happily wear it every day.

3. This was definitely Mallory. Seriously, eek! I LOVE this chocolate duvet set. R has banned it from our bed (I know, no taste) which is a tragedy but also possibly for the best since it would set my poor, beleaguered bank account back $265 AUD. Darn...

4. I know this COS collar is everywhere at the moment but, particularly after seeing it on Rachel, I just can't resist re-posting it. It is so perfect. Look at that lovely bib. Reminds me of the father in the Disney Peter Pan. Anyone else see that? I really think this would be a useful addition to my wardrobe - I do have a fine jumper collection - but €35 isn't really an option at the mo. I do have Christmas on the brain though so perhaps this could go on my gift list?

5. Occasionally I get sucked back into the glamorous world of Lisa Eldridge. This is one of those times. I watched a whole bunch this weekend but the one that struck me most was this beautiful liquid liner look. I'm planning on trying it in purple but I am blatantly just going to make a big mess. That should be fun though!

Hope y'all had a great weekend.

Chuck x

Love, Cake and Heston

2011-11-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

I have always enjoyed Heston Blumenthal's flights of fancy on the tellybox. Sometimes they look delicious, mostly they look bizarre but they always look intriguing. Now, though, he has gained my love! Or rather the solicitous staff at his new restaurant Dinner have gained my love. They are so delightful... Vaguely intimidating, sure, but delightful. R and I went to Dinner at the Mandarin Oriental yesterday for our anniversary and they wow-ed us. For an extra special occasion we treated ourselves to the set price lunch, which is just about affordable, and spent a few hours enjoying the park side view and eating lovely food. I had a lemon and goat's curd salad, ham hock with the most delicious cabbage and popcorn crackling and caramel coated, light-as-air, raspberry and coconut cake with raspberry and coconut sorbet. Nothing scandalous, simply excellent. Deliciousness levels climbed throughout the meal - the starter (imo) was a bit hit and miss but the pudding was sublime. I couldn't stop oohing and aahing at it. I managed to make it last about half an hour.

And then, after pudding, look what we were presented with...

Earl-grey infused chocolate fondant with a carraway biscuit

AWW!! The maitre d' also congratulated us on our anniversary. So sweet. This is all because one of the waiters, when accompanying me to the loo (weird, right? or is that just me?), was making small talk about whether we were here for an occasion and I casually mentioned our anniversary. Ah, the attention to detail. It melts my heart! I'm fairly sure I blushed. It is these little things that really make a meal. It was so adorable. We had a fab time although that could have been the excellent company...

Have a great Bonfire Night.

Chuck x

New Dream Coat

2011-11-04T14:41:00.000-07:00

I saw this coat in Topman today and tried it on and it is so lovely. It is made from this beautiful, colour flecked Harris tweed. It has such a sweet little collar, hidden buttons and huge, deep pockets. Proper man pockets, not like those decorative ones you get on women's coats or, god forbid, pocket-less jackets! You can fit stuff in them and everything. I tried a Medium and it was just the right size over a jumper with the sleeves rolled up. It also reminded me of this A.P.C. number. Maybe it was because my hair was looking particularly ginger today and I was wearing a classic red lipstick but it looked mega awesome. Ladylike but masculine, elegant but comfortable - perfectly balanced. The only problem? It is £250...

Also, what do you think about this being menswear? The collar is as girly as anything I own but I guess there isn't anything wrong with men in girly clothes. Or maybe the material of the coat overrides the collar? Whatever. Love.

Chuck x

Tea I've Tried

2011-11-03T02:28:00.000-07:00

I've read some really good stuff on the internet in the last few days. New blogs and new writers (new to me anyway) who are doing excellent things. Lapin de Lune's aesthetic is lovely and Chelsea Fagan's writing is hilarious. Bit of a girl crush on both the quality and the quantity of her content. The obvious response to this is write a slightly random, short and frivolous review of my new favourite teas. I know, I know, but the heart wants to write what the heart wants to write. What can I do? My heart is full of tea...

PG Tips - the Fresh One / Pukka - Morning Time

The London Tea Company - White tea, elderflower and apricot

First up, PG Tips, for some reason I have a bag full of samples of this. Don't know why. They have a new range of teas - the Fresh one, the Strong one and the Delicate one. The names walk the fine line between informative and annoying, personally I think they veer towards the annoying but that is just me. The blurb says, 'Pressed within hours of picking to give a uniquely clean, smooth, golden and fresh-tasting tea'. I think smooth and golden may be a bit of a stretch but actually... *drum roll* ...they do make a really good cup of tea. Not the ground breaking conclusion you were expecting? Tough luck. This is nice tea. It doesn't taste substantially different from any other cup of builder's tea, it just tastes better. You can make a good, strong cup of tea without any bitterness or unpleasant after taste. I had four or five cups yesterday and enjoyed them all a great deal. I think I'm actually going to buy some of this, with my money and everything (this may also be influenced by the fact that I have, approximately, 19 vouchers for it, anyone want one?).

Next stop, Pukka. I have a fond place in my heart for Pukka because, despite the slightly silly name, they make interesting but delicious herbal teas and they started in Bristol. Excuse me while I wallow briefly in nostalgia... There we go, shook it off. Morning Time tea contains 'Fairtrade superior rooibos leaf (70%), honeybush leaf (10%), licorice root, red ginseng (whole root) (5%), roasted black maca root'. Don't know what that last thing is but it tastes nice. One to try if you are a redbush fan like myself. Gentle, slightly sweet, won't strip paint. Just what you need sometimes. Warning - for some reason I found the last mouthful of each cup a bit gross. Possibly this tea doesn't work on a slightly cooler level, possibly it is too strong down there. I don't know. Chuck it.

And finally, the London Tea Company. The place that I've just finished interning at had a killer tea cupboard and that is where I first tried this. Realistically it isn't something I'm going to be buying for myself anytime soon because it is (just looked it up) £3.99 for 15 teabags and that feels pretty steep to me. It is delicious though. I get very, perhaps unreasonably, angry at herbal and fruit teas that don't taste of anything/don't taste of what they claim too. It is no good looking and smelling all delicious, stoopid tea, you won't fool me! I know that really you just taste of warm wee. Not this one though. Blissfully fragrant and apricot-y. And apparently it is 'created for your skin' which is a positive sounding but miraculously unspecific claim. Warning - because this has tea proper in it beware overbrewing. Do not leave the tea bag in, it will ruin your expensive tea.

So there you go. No minimal beauty, comedy or social commentary but some very sound tea suggestions. Also, while I've got you here, has anyone tried the truly disgusting sounding Twinings Cherry & Cinnamon tea?? I'm intrigued because it sounds so awful but there is absolutely no way that I'm buying it. Instead I am going to go make myself a cup of tea. Have worked up quite an appetite...

Chuck x

Wooooooo

2011-10-31T16:24:00.000-07:00

Now I'm not really a Halloween gal but this is both cute and edible - i.e. two of my favourite things. I still think iced biscuits are massively overrated as a baked good but I'll eat most things given the opportunity and this wasn't bad. And it is all festive. Major seasonal props. I hope all the Halloween fans out there have had lots of spooky fun.

Boo!

Chuck x

Some Clothes I've Worn

2011-10-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

Yeah, black trousers are definitely my safe place. They are just so blissfully versatile and they remove the whole colour coordination thing (more or less). It is difficult to find the perfect pair though. In terms of jeans types, my Levi's are a little too low cut (my kidneys like to be lovely and warm), my Uniqlo jeans are falling apart after less than a year and my new Uniqlo cords, which are lovely, do rule out a lot of textural combos. I'm nowhere on smart black trousers. The material needs to be right (not itchy, not stretchy, not shiny), the cut needs to be right (slim, not skinny), the details need to be right (proper pockets, ankle hems, ideally cuffed). I just haven't found anything suitable on the high street. One of my lovely lady friends has a great pair from the Kooples but that isn't really an option right now...

Anyone seen anything?

Chuck x

Recent Eats

2011-10-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

The pearl barley + good stuff is actually a loose variation one of Joy's recipes for farro salad. Farro is sadly not so supermarket available but pearl barley is one of my favourite things so I wacked it in there. Also, my new favourite thing to do with pearl barley is to cook a bunch of it and pop it in some tupperware in the fridge for whenever I need it. I Heart Easy Fridge Food. The above is quick and comforting and sweet and carby and relatively healthy - just what I need when I'm eating alone.

The most delicious thing in this post is the least appetising looking though. The mega awesome leftovers tagine was frickin' awesome. I haven't given up meat completely yet - my new stance is that when I eat it I will eat it as respectfully as possible. We bought the best quality/welfare lamb joint we could afford for Sunday lunch with friends (which was totally delicious, thanks Chef R) and relished it and then maximised the leftovers. I don't like cold, leftover lamb but smother it in spice and stew it for a few hours and it is excellent. The lamb fed six on Sunday and then with a lot of padding out (hey there chickpeas and sweet potatoes) the tagine did four more servings. And every single meal that bit of lamb made was scrumptious. In my books that is respect. Thanks lambikin.

I made up the recipe from an amalgam of about eight internet sources and my personal inclinations and it was so good that I wrote it down to share with y'awl. Notes - every tagine recipe I read is all like blah blah blah apricots but I'm not crazy about big ole chunks of fruit in my savory food so I substituted sweet potato for sweetness. If are a fruit/meat pervert then knock yourself out but maybe scale back to standard potatoes.

Ingredients:

3-4 garlic cloves, chopped finely
1-2 onions, chopped finely
1 thumb (the weird standard measurement) of ginger, grated
Coriander seeds
Cumin seeds
Cinnamon
Turmeric
Paprika
Harissa
Honey
1 generous squirt tomato puree
1 can tinned tomatoes (400g)
1 can chickpeas (400g), drained
2-3 sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into medium sized pieces
Roasted lamb shoulder, cut into bite size chunks

I don't think this recipe is particularly pedantic - spice it however you fancy with any appropriate spices you can get your grubby little mitts on.

Recipe:

Heat some oil in a large saucepan or cassoulet and cook the onion, garlic, ginger and spices until soft.
Add the lamb, potato, tomato, puree and honey.
Stew for a while, say an hour and a half. If it is looking thin then you can take the lid off for a while but otherwise leave it to do its bidnez.
Stir in the chickpeas a couple of minutes before serving.
Bam! Sweet, sticky, spicy tagine with lots of melty lamb and chickpea goodness.

This was one of those times where winging it worked - yey for those times!

What good things have you eaten recently? Do you have a favourite leftovers recipe? I'm always intrigued to hear new ones although I have a substantial pile of cookbooks to browse through at the moment... Weekend bliss here I come.

Chuck x

Loaf 2

2011-10-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

Just as awesome but slightly better. I remembered the salt this time - win!

I'm not up to Malin Elmlid's Bread Exchange levels yet but maybe I'll get there eventually. Any sourdough experts out there? If so, can you help me? How do I avoid that one especially cavernous hole? Obviously it is authentic and home-made and I love it but it would be easier to spread peanut butter on without the big hole...

For those of you who were interested, I would recommend Dan Lepard's sourdough starter method which you can find here. Because it uses extra agents (live yoghurt & raisins) that purists would probably turn their noses up at it is fairly idiot proof. See me, for example. Come back in a week and let me know how your little buddy is doing. Mine is called Albert and it is love. I'm going to go feed him right now.

Chuck x

At the End of my Legs

2011-10-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

It makes me happy to look down on these. They are all the things I like. Blissfully comfy but totally awesome shoes (they have spongy, padded soles!). Warm, dry feet. Lace ups. Chunky socks. Grey. Ribbed knits. Grubby black denim. Rolled cuffs. I LOVE cuffs and rolled hems - I am all about them. I think it harks back to my misspent youth. Did anyone else go through that mega flare phase when they were 11-13? It was a massive thing at my school - denim and fluorescent cords with each hem about a metre wide. They had to go over your shoes and, gosh, they got disgusting. Because they kept behind trodden on they got all dirty and frayed. You would trail grubby strands of trouser. Worst of all though, they acted as straws to rain water and puddles, metres and metres of soft fabric soaking up all the liquid in sight. I remember one particularly unpleasant incident when we went on a school trip to London and it rained all day and the streets were slick with dutty London town water and my (bright pink cord flared) trousers sucked up water past my knees. PAST MY KNEES. It was so disgusting. Short, skinny jeans were a revelation to me. Dry legs! I never want to wear trousers past the ankle again. I wonder if I will change my mind - fashion makes people fickle but I just can't picture it.

What do you want to see when you look down?

Chuck x

New to Me

2011-10-23T04:02:00.000-07:00

Teatum Jones c/o Young Shields

L: Gallery 4 available on Asos Marketplace

R: Aminaka Wilmont c/o The Style Crusader

These are three of my favourite new (new to me) designers from the latest round of fashion shows. Well, I'm not sure if Gallery 4 showed anywhere but I found them at about the same time. Also, forget about New York, Paris or Milan, these are all London/UK based. That is an accident on my part although it probably stands to illustrate the way that London is a hotbed for young talent (hello - yours truly!). I'm always interested to see new designers and their work, particularly so if they tick my aesthetic boxes, as these do. It is exciting to find people/designers/collections that mesh with your personal taste and push you to think about the clothes you wear on a daily basis.

Obviously none of these designers are very outré. And they have some striking similarities... What can I say? I like what I like and I like:

Muted tones and pastels that aren't really pastels - dove grey, washed out nude, oyster, soft but steely blue, heather, very pale peach.
Soft, draping fabrics - silk, worn chiffons and georgettes, the occasional touch of satin, buckets of fluid jersey. I want things to hang and float and drift and swoosh.
Interesting, abstract prints - watercolours, splatters, dark and messed about photographics, collages of familiar images that you can't quite recognise. As much as I love Mary Katrantzou's hyper real digital prints, and I do love them, they wouldn't slide very smoothly into my existing wardrobe.
Maxis - see 'Drape and Swoosh' as per above.
Pockets - fairly self-explanatory, I hate being without pockets.

The above designers all feature aspects of my Favourites List but they also go beyond it. Catherine Teatum and Rob Jones encourage me to be romantic and to reconsider a little my opinion on tailoring. When tailoring is this soft, fluid and comfortable looking there might be room for it in my life. Maki Aminaka and Marcus Wilmont show me that florals don't have to be sweet, chintzy or girly - they can be armour! Louise Rhodes and Amy Moreton remind me that I need to stop cutting my muted tones with black and brave an all pastel outfit. Also, why don't I own a beautiful, printed maxi when they consistently one of my favourite things?? Oh yes, because the high street don't seem to make them. This might be an item worth saving up for...

What do you think? What are the things you look for over and over again? How do you think about your wardrobe?

Chuck x

Something To Be Really Proud Of

2011-10-21T14:51:00.000-07:00

In the meantime...

My First Sourdough.

Not 100% perfect but absolutely 100% awesome.

Something from nothing (almost).

Chuck x

Thinkings

2011-10-20T14:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog,

I would like you to be better. I'm just trying to work out how right now.

All the best,

Chuck x

Chris de Burgh All Over this Town

2011-10-17T15:21:00.000-07:00

So this is unexpected... I have never never been a red kind of gal. I've historically steered well clear because lots of shades violently wash me out. And there are all those connotations of being a lady in red (See Chris de Burgh, Exhibit A). Red is sex and power and divas and Golden Age goddesses, all of which I admire and none of which I identify myself with. And yet, look what's happened to my wardrobe. Look at all that red! It has crept in while I've had my back turned. I've always had red lipstick and I bought the red heels in a fit of passion when I was 17 (and have worn them consistently since then - good buy, 17 year old me). I hadn't thought of the scarf as red, it is tomato-y orange, until I saw it in the context of my ruby hoard. The rest has miraculously appeared in the last few months.

Scarf - old H&M / Vest - Cos (ebay) / Heels - old Topshop

Suede Skirt - Topshop (ebay) / / Trousers - Asos (ebay) / Espadrilles - Majorcan supermarket (€3!)

'Love' Beret - Chatham Girl (awesome birthday present!)

I blame Acne and Charles Anastase and also maybe Dr Martens. And all the delicious wine tones that are out and about at the moment - burgundy, bordeaux and port. Surprisingly forgiving on pasty English skin. So rich and decadent. Now I'm going to have to re-assess my character... Darn it!

Have you embraced any new and unexpected colours recently?

Chuck x

Some Clothes that I've Worn - More Lo-Fi Lovin'

2011-10-15T13:54:00.000-07:00

So I still haven't cleaned my mirror... One day I will. One day I will also stop pulling weird faces in photos. That day is not today though. It probably won't be tomorrow either. Eventually perhaps. When I am old and wrinkly. Although what is the point of being old and wrinkly if you don't get to pull weird faces? When I am old I shall wear purple etc. Purple doesn't seem very crazy these days. When I am old I shall rock Advanced Style. Much more fun.

Chuck x

Five Favourite Friday Fings

2011-10-14T15:48:00.000-07:00

1. Look at Fever and Few's mad new kitten scarf! So bonkers, so good. I really think that could be my catchphrase. It is certainly one of my key aesthetic mantras. Just looking at this scarf cracks me up - he is so fat and stately, it is so saccharine and ironic, it would make such an excellent scarf. I love everything about it.

2. The boyf described Lindsey Thornburg's Darby dress as 'elemental' which is surprisingly apt. A unexpected shot of insight! I really like the sense of fire and air in the print - pretty and interesting but not shouty. It also looks like it would be a joy to wear; soft, drapey, swooshy and comfortable. That could be my alternative catchphrase. Seen at the ever inspiring Honey Kennedy.

3. I'm sure most of you will have seen these Ancient Greek Sandals on StyleBubble but I thought I would put them up here too because they really resonated with me. I wonder if there is a way to say 'resonate' without sounding like a dweeb? My eyeballs just bonded with their simplicity, natural colours and interesting, artisan details. I wish it was summer (and I had a bigger budget) so I could wear them every single day. I can't imagine getting bored of these.

4. How cute is baby Leo?? For the most part I have sat out the current big 90s fashion re-run. Not because I dislike it on others but simply because I don't have the energy to commit to it myself. It all seems so recent - I've only just been there, I don't need to do it again yet. This hilarious (so bonkers, so good) Stylist's Own Romeo maxi dress is almost enough to make me reconsider though. Like almost everyone I have a soft spot for Romeo + Juliet. The sound track, the costumes, the setting, the attractive cast members, oh yeah, the Shakespeare. This dress takes me back to my emotion-drenched youf.

5. Puppies. That is all. I nearly bought Hanna Melin's dog print at the Renegade Craft Fair last weekend but unfortunately I didn't have any cash. Will have to admire it across the internet instead. All of the dogs.

Happy weekend y'all. I'm mega excited about the big fat sleep I'm about to have. It's going to be so goooood. You might think I'm uncool but you would be wrong!

Chuck x

New Favourite Pun Alert

2011-10-13T02:05:00.000-07:00

I'm currently compiling a post about tea towels. I know where my (tea) towel is, right? Anyway, that will be an in depth and thorough analysis of my love for the tea towel and will feature an impressive array of tea towels from around the world. [Warning - these claims may or may not be wildly overreaching]. However, I have just found my new favourite website and I must tell you about it immediately. The original post will just have to wait. It is *drum roll please* To Dry For - a site entirely dedicated to designer tea towels. Check out the pun! I love a pun. And when they say designer tea towels they don't mean branded, logo-y things, they mean all of your favourite illustrators! Julia Pott, Donna Wilson, Dear Colleen, Gemma Correll, Keep Calm...

Look, it is a TEA Rex! / Country print / Bake Me

Family Favourites / Amsterdam / Geometry of Pasta / Drop Scones not Bombs

Wine print / Triceratops print / Dry your Dishes on my Beard

Awesome!

Chuck x

Draw in Endless Light

2011-10-10T15:10:00.000-07:00

Draw in Light SS12. Perfection as ever. Consistently one of my favourite collections. I just want to wear everything they create. I've said it all before. Beautiful beautiful beautiful. Pastels and darks, soft shapes and interesting lengths, perfect prints - watercolour sweeps and shadows and, this season, maps. Be still my beating heart.

Chuck x

Chocolate, Hazelnut and Walnut Cake

2011-10-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

Look what the cake monster turned into! From an ugly (if delicious looking) duckling into a swan...

Lesson learned: if your cake tin looks like it might overflow as it goes into the oven then it probably will overflow. Don't be lazy, scrape it into a bigger tin.

Oops. So Nigel Slater's Chocolate and Hazelnut Cake should have been a bit bigger. If you are going to use a 23cm tin as specified then make sure it is a good and deep one. This cake suits deep anyway. It is so rich and hearty and delicious. It is also super easy to make - it's amazingness is reliant only on great quality ingredients. As long as you have them then this cake is pretty much guaranteed to be awesome. The recipe only calls for hazelnuts but it is walnut season at home and I think they're fricking delish. They go all sweet and caramelised in the cake... Drool. Basically this is just a big pile of chocolatey, nutty goodness. You could probably throw in any of your nuts of choice if you are feeling crazy like me. Chop everything very roughly so you get big, hearty chunks.

Ingredients:

4 eggs
250g butter
250g sugar - I mixed golden caster and dark demerara, just make sure it isn't all white.
250g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
250g dark plain chocolate, roughly chopped
100g hazelnuts, roughly chopped (Nige uses 200g and no walnuts).
100g walnuts, roughly chopped

Note - Nige also uses a small espresso (about 3 tbsp) in his recipe. The first time I made this cake I left it out because I don't like coffee in my baking. I've read since that you don't taste the coffee as such but that it helps enhance the flavour of the chocolate. I would have tried it this time around but I didn't have any coffee.

Either way the cake tastes great without it and I just added an equivalent amount of milk for a bit of extra liquid.

Recipe:

Grease and line your large tin. Preheat the oven to 180oC.
Beat the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy.
Beat the eggs in one at a time.
[Stir in the espresso if you're using it.]
Fold in the flour and baking powder.
Mix in the 3/4 of the chocolate and nuts.
Pour the cake mixture into the tin and sprinkle with the remaining chocolate and nuts.
Now Nige says bake for 80 minutes but my cake was done in 45-50mins. However long it takes for a knife to come out clean.
Allow it to cool a little and then devour.

Eaten with homemade Blackberry and Apple Ice Cream. Foraged walnuts and foraged blackberries. Free and super natural food is the best! So satisfactory to make something out of nothing.

Chuck x

Five Favourite Friday Fings

2011-10-07T16:09:00.000-07:00

1. This dress from Honor's SS12 collection took my breath away a little bit. The star is the absent collar obviously but also check out the swoosh and flow, the gentle colour and great shoes, the quiet loveliness of it all. A pastel maxi and brogues - bring it! This also looks like it should be a more flattering alternative to the peter pan collar which I love but isn't kind on the ol' bust. Anyway, perfectly delightful. Admire more of the collection at the line sheet, it is super sweet.

2. Ahaha, love Lassie and love this 'bitches n hoes' t-shirt from Gordon Holden. Very silly. Seen at The Coquette.

3. These embroidered vintage photos by artist Stacey Page are beautiful and surreal. I wouldn't have the balls to risk the pictures but I'm glad that she did. Page's work is yet another fascinating and lovely discovery for me from Izmay Ozga's blog - one of my favourites.

4. This geek chic shoot by Jackie Dixon of Show Me Your Wardrobe is just a bit great. Jumpers and shirts and odd trousers and weird hair and clunky shoes... So many of the best things! (So many of the things I like). It all feels very British. I love the nonchalant attitude and the excellent styling by Gemma Hayward.

5. Tricia of ventricular projects reminded me of the In God We Trust 'really fucking cute' necklace. I have long term love for them although I would go for the 'crazy sexy cool' one myself because I am crazy sexy cool, you know. I can't remember why I didn't buy one first time round since they are only $50. Maybe they don't ship to the UK? I didn't really do my research. If they do ship internationally I would also like the bitty heart ring. Lots of jewellery for me.

Do you have any exciting plans for the weekend? My plans extend to eating lots of cake. That is as far as it has got at the moment. Not that that isn't an awesome plan obviously! This week seems to have sapped me of coherence. Oh dear. Bed now. Night y'all.

Chuck x

Easy, Breezy Teezies

2011-10-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

c/o Zoe Karssen

I've been trying to work out whether you can legitimately compare upmarket t-shirts and drug store make up in a mutually complimentary way. I suspect not. These Zoe Karssen tees are easy, breezy and beautiful in their own casual kind of way but that still doesn't make them the Covergirls of the t-shirt world. I don't think. Oh well, it was worth a try. All I was really trying to say is that they are nice t-shirts and I want them. Perfectly soft and slouchy, drapey and delicious, grey marl and navy, Debbie Harry and nihilistic romance. What is not to like? No, they aren't breaking new sartorial boundaries but you'd just throw them on and look reliably awesome.

And think how comfortable they would be. Mmm, comfort...

Chuck x

Cake Monster

2011-10-06T05:59:00.000-07:00

A sneak preview...

Chuck x

High Street Dress Up

2011-10-05T12:26:00.000-07:00

I don't actually hit the high street very often. I read magazines, I admire blogger buys and I browse stores online but I don't go out and hit the ol' bricks and mortar shops all that much. You have to get there, they're always noisy and overheated, there are lots of horrid people... I just don't enjoy it as much as I used to. I remember, back in the day, when the idea of a day spent out shopping was thrilling. Not so anymore! Still, once in a while, it is fun to go in person and test fabrics and play dress up and try on a whole bunch of stuff.

Metallics, polka dots, cableknits, neon, pleats and brocade.

I didn't actually buy anything though! A) I'm well broke and I'm putting myself on a major budget and B) the more you use ebay the harder it is to buy full price high street clothes. The quality so rarely warrants the price. I was severely tempted by the Dotty P skirt which is pleated and covered in little stars. Warehouse also has a great selection of jumpers at the moment and you know how much I like a nice jumpy!

The middle jumper is faux Rodarte and the right hand jumper is faux Marant but I really like the first one. It might come onto ebay eventually...

Chuck x

The National Museum of Scotland

2011-10-03T08:35:00.000-07:00

I just realised that I never posted my pictures from the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. This is obviously a massive oversight on my behalf because it is a really lovely museum. Recently renovated, a beautiful building full of exciting things. A superlative example of museumry (totally a word). Definitely go and explore if you are in the vicinitens, although, warning, it will bring out the child in you. We all got quite over excited...

That is all.

Chuck x

The Sunday Book: Coming Home - Rosamunde Pilcher

2011-10-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

As you can see, this is a well loved book. Yellowing, well thumbed pages, crinkly sections from bath reading, battered edges, the gold rubbing off the cover... I can't imagine that it was new when the glorious VB got her hands on it. It has probably been read every couple of years since it was published in 1995. She certainly read it a whole bunch of times before she lent it to me and I'm so thrilled that she lent it to me. Have you ever had a book that you totally loved, instinctively, emotionally and nostalgically? A book that you loved despite the fact that you knew that it wasn't technically, academically a 'good' book? A book that you didn't want to tell people about or lend to people in case they didn't get it, in case they laughed and thought it was stupid, and that tarnished its loveliness to you? I've certainly got a couple and so does VB; Rosamunde Pilcher's Coming Home is one of her special books. Hence it was big and brave of her to lend it to me.

Luckily (phew!) I loved it too. It is such a lovely book - all warm and comforting and chocolaty. Sure, there are those who will argue about the nutritional value but more important is how delicious it is and how good it makes you feel. Lots of old favourites; 1930s, boarding schools, expats and the colonies, glamorous second families with mothers in maribou and handsome, dashing sons, horses and coastlines, Cornwall, young love, betrayal, WW2, Wrens and pilots, the Blitz, loss and heartbreak, Ceylon, death and reunions, sisters, romantic realisations, peace, innocent young girls maturing into beautiful, thoughtful young women... It is heart-warming and gripping, there is buckets of plot and adventure and the characters, particularly the heroine, Judith, are delightful.

A big, warm, emotional hug of a book. Hence being photographed with chocolate - millionaire's shortbread no less, that is how delicious the book is. Also, I bought a whole tray of millionaire's shortbread from Waitrose reduced from £2.39 to £0.10!! In fact, I bought three trays. Today's major achievement. We suspect that there is a rogue reducer in our local shop because last week we scored many packets of crumpets for 10p each too. It is simultaneously a wondrous miracle and no real surprise that I can't fit into any of my clothes at the moment...

Chuck x

P.S. Thanks VB! Love you.

Jewellery Cont.

2011-10-01T15:40:00.000-07:00

Talking about jewellery...

I came across Ros Millar's jewellery on display yesterday and thought it rather lovely. Black oxidised silver and rose gold. Beautiful, organic shapes and diamond/studs - an interesting take on something that has been rather overdone recently. Her rings are cast in cuttlebones which I think is wonderful. It is such an ancient and brilliantly simple technique. Simple in theory, obviously, not simple in practice to make beautiful, wearable jewellery. The cuttlebone casting I did when I was thirteen certainly didn't look anything like Millar's! I just want to wear a couple of her rings subtly stacked. Not shouty but quiet and fascinating.

Chuck x

For the Love of Lysts

2011-09-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

I love lists. Love 'em. Can't get enough. I like to make To Do lists, To Read lists, To Cook lists, To Buy lists, To See lists. I like shopping lists and Top 5 Songs To Dance in My Pants To lists and when things get busy I like to make a priority list of my lists. Unsurprisingly then, Lyst appealed to me. Now I can have a nice, interactive fashion lyst to add to my list of lists. You can search by designer or item and then you can hoard them all! All the pretty things shall be mine... As discussed in a previous post on Polyvore I have some vaguely obsessive compulsive tendencies when it comes to scrapbooking and Lyst is fuel to the fire. Many many spare moments spent browsing all the fashion loveliness (procrastinating). All my favourite things in one, graphically clear place - look at my lovely lyst! Isn't it beautiful? Don't I have excellent taste??

Such good taste, I know right? If you are unconvinced by my personal taste (loser) then you can admire Navaz/Disneyrollergirl's list or Claire/Young Shield's too. Lyst also sends you emails when your items go on sale which is probably never going to be useful for all the Givenchy/Miu Miu/Nicholas Kirkwood I've got on there but should be handy for my favourite Topshop/Asos/Zara pieces.

Mostly though, I have awesome taste and I really love jumpers. I also have a little widget down there on the left so you can be constantly updated on my great taste even here. I should totally get a business card printed with 'CM, Tastemaker'. That would be mega sensible...

Chuck x

Sabina Kasper

2011-09-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

c/o Sabina Kasper

I want jewellery please. Lots of it! Actually, that's not true. I would like a couple of beautiful pieces to wear regularly. My everyday jewellery 'wardrobe', as it were, is quite limited. All the gold colour has rubbed off the chain of my go to necklace and it looks all grotty. That will teach me to buy cheap metals. Tricky to get hold of a simple, thin, short-ish real gold chain to replace it with though. Any suggestions?

Aside from that small, practical purchase I would also like more or less everything Sabina Kasper has ever made. Or just one or two pieces. Even that would perk up my jewellery box immeasurably! She just makes beautiful, interesting jewellery - velour coated chunky chains, paint splashed tourmalines, grey diamonds, sprinklings of fine chains, delicately decorated Tahitian pearls, amethyst with doves... One statement piece and one slim line, delicate piece? Done. Apparently she is stocked by Liberty and Dover Street Market in the UK but I can't find any online stockists so I have no gage on prices. Will just have to pop to Liberty in person and have a look/try them all on and run away wearing them and cackling loudly.

Aren't they shockingly lovely?

Chuck x

Some Clothes that I've Worn 'n' Stuff

2011-09-25T15:35:00.000-07:00

Catchy title, right? Yet another sign that I'm not really destined to be a personal style blogger. That and my lack of internet USP, my inconsistencies of taste and the fact that I haven't done one of these in something like six months. What can I say, life has got in the way.

Also, my photo quality... I know, they are rubbish but they get the basic point across (I hope). I thought that back when I bought my new and very lovely camera there would be a massive leap in the quality of these photos but it turns out that my crap old camera was the least of my problems. The real issue is that I hate being the focus of a photo which means I have very little patience with my picture taking. I feel instantly uncomfortable and awkward and I want to get the whole process over with as soon as possible and so I rush through it clumsily. It is a good day when I manage to take three pictures before I get too twitchy which doesn't give me much to work with. I don't have the time, literally or emotionally, to be faffing around with trying to position my camera and rushing around for auto-timers. The longer I have to pose the more uncomfortable the photo looks. A poseur I may be but a poser I am not! Similarly, editing means spending excess time looking at myself looking awkward so I like to skip that too. Anyway, hence the lo-fi pictures. I'm consistently interested in other people's daily style choices though so I thought I would share these nonetheless. No judgement here?

Other things to be noted from these pictures, i) I need to Windolene that mirror pretty badly, ii) I really need to finish unpacking and tidy the hell up! Such a scruffpot. My poor mother.

Chuck x

Ice Cream Dream

2011-09-24T13:22:00.000-07:00

Blackberry + White Peach and Lavender / Gianduia + Pistachio

Bellini + Raspberry & Sage + Chocolate Truffle / Whiskey + Basil Liqueur

Caramel + Valrhona Chocolate / White Chocolate and Basil + Yellow Plum + Chocolate

Mango + Peach and Pine Nuts

Oh yes. We know how to enjoy ourselves. Perfect weather, copious amounts of pizza, obscene amounts of ice cream. I always find city breaks a bit stressful (particularly when your pre-booked and part paid for accommodation falls through and certain butt heads leave you high and dry and homeless - grrr...) but this was a joy. My head is buzzing with ice cream ideas - so many wonderful flavours, such interesting combinations, oh the smooth and cold and creamy deliciousness of it all! I'm dying to go home home and abuse my Madre's cruddy old ice cream maker and try to recreate one of these. I couldn't possibly pick favourites but top of my to make list are bellini, Valrhona chocolate and peach and pine nuts. Jaw-droppingly good.

If you are going to Rome please bookmark these places:

Gelateria del Teatro - for brilliant, inspired and slightly dotty flavour combinations.
Ciampini - for impeccably smooth, creamy textures and heavenly fruit ice creams (not sorbets).
Il Gelato di San Crispino - for small but perfectly formed ice creams and impeccable quality of ingredients.

Also, check this out...

Pizzarium - not to be missed. My mouth is watering just remembering it.

I mourn the loss of Italian fast food already.

Chuck x

Away with You

2011-09-20T14:11:00.000-07:00

I'm off to Rome for a couple of days tomorrow. I was going to be hyper organised and write some scheduled posts but I got sucked into reading food and travel blogs and adding pizzerias and gelaterias to my list of places to visit. I'm going to have to eat 3 pizzas and 4 ice creams a day to get through it! If you are heading to Rome anytime soon I would suggest Parla Food. I can't verify the deliciousness of her recommendations but they look amazing. I'm so excited - they are going to have to roll me onto the plane home!

To reconcile yourself to my absence (hard I know) may I direct you towards Kris Atomic's LFW photo site. It is totally utterly gorgeous. Wonderful pictures, possibly the best fashion week pictures I've ever seen? That seems like a big claim. They definitely have to be in the top five though.

Enjoy the rest of the week.

Chuck x

Show Highlight

2011-09-19T14:38:00.000-07:00

c/o Style.com

One of my favourite photos from the runways so far. Suzanne Clements just looks wonderful. All over, matchy prints in a casual, comfortable, nonchalant way. Super cute.

Chuck x

The Sunday Book: The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas - Gertrude Stein

2011-09-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

This is an odd little book. Odd and lovely. It made up part of my holiday reading and it suited the scorching sun. The title, The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, might lead you to suppose that is is an autobiography. It isn't. Well, it kind of is. It is Alice's autobiography in that it is her story in her supposed voice but it is written by Gertrude Stein and focuses predominantly on Alice and Stein's life together and Stein's life prior to their meeting. This sounds rather narcissistic on Stein's part but it doesn't come off like that, it feels sweet and loving and teasing. Stein thought that Alice should write an autobiography but Alice kept putting it off and putting it off and being busy so eventually Stein just wrote it for her. Alice B. Toklas, btw, was Gertrude Stein's more or less lifetime companion; they met in 1907, Alice moved into Stein's Paris flat in 1910 and the pair lived and traveled together until Stein's death in 1946. I'm assuming, and yes, I know I know, this can be dangerous and anachronistic, that they were lovers but the gentle loveliness of the book didn't encourage me to pry into the matter. This isn't a loud-mouthed, attention seeking, bare-all ghostwritten celebrity autobiography in the style of today (Debo's memoirs and others obviously excepted), it doesn't really discuss Stein and Toklas's personal life but rather focuses on their social life and their friends and the birth of modern art that they were at the heart of.

If you are interested in art, literature or history I would suggest you pick up this book. That seems like a pretty wide sweep of people but Stein and Toklas lived in Europe through two world wars, driving French hospital supplies through WW1. They nurtured young unknown artists, buying the early works of Picasso, Matisse, Cezanne, Renoir, Braque, Rousseau, Bonnard, Juan Gris... Picasso was a particularly close friend and painted Stein in 1906. They held friendly, open salons and exhibitions and dinners where the best and brightest gathered to debate the burning issues of the day. They lived in and loved early twentieth century Paris but they also traveled extensively around the French countryside, Italy, Spain and Majorca. They were friends with Ford Maddox Ford, Edith Sitwell and Hemingway and Stein's work had a huge impact on modernist literature. Embarrassingly I have never read any of her other work but she comes up again and again as an influence, a critic and a thinker.

Stein's reputation as an intellectual may feel off putting and I've heard that most of her other work is fairly heavy going but Alice B. Toklas is lovely to read. It takes a little while to get used to the author-imitating-lover-talking-about-author thing and the voice and manner of speaking is quite distinctive but you really get the sense that this is how Alice talks and communicates. After so many years together Stein must have known her verbal idiosyncrasies backwards and it comes through beautifully and Alice is someone you want in your life. Because this is life the book isn't plot heavy but the writing is a pleasure and it is ridiculously rich in characters and atmosphere. Delightful and delicious.

Chuck x

Five Favourite Friday Fings

2011-09-17T04:21:00.000-07:00

1. Cary Grant and George Clooney... Are there two better looking men? *Daydream* George Chamoun's celebrity collages, Iconatomy, examine the continuity of social perceptions of beauty while offering up some serious eye candy. Modern and Golden Age movie stars are morphed into enormous piles of double deliciousness - Angelina/Liz Taylor, Natalie Portman/Audrey, R-Pattz/James Dean, Scarlett/Marilyn. Beautiful and interesting, seen at Annika Bakkstrom's blog.

2. This Stella McCartney seems to be like Marmite - you either love it or you hate it. Like Marmite I love it. I also love this fab illustration by Vic Riches, aka The Scribbler. It is always exciting to discover new fashion illustrators and Vic's loose lines and generous use of colour are fun and infectious. As seen at Scientist Chic.

3. Ulyana Sergeenko's first collection has been all over the internet but I think it is so great that I just have to put it up in my little virtual corner too. 1950s glamour, dark and twisted fairy tales, Russian heritage. It isn't revolutionary but it is very very lovely and I want to wear pretty much all of it all the time. First seen at Absolute Sunday.

4. I would really like some good quality Chelsea boots for this winter and I'm thinking that short jodhpur boots like these from Regent Equestrian might be the answer? They come in a very fetching oxblood colour although they also do black. They are £80 which is pretty much the same/less than most high street boots and I feel the quality has to be better. Might see if I can try some on.

5. I can't remember where I saw this 'Loved' ring but I just think it is touchingly adorable and I want it. It would make a sweet engagement ring too. Or a birthday present. Or just an any time present. Anyone want to buy me a present?

Chuck x

Recent Eats

2011-09-14T14:43:00.000-07:00

The mejadra and the aubergine and lemon risotto are both Yotam Ottolenghi for the Guardian. Mejadra is a spicy, fragranced rice and lentil dish piled high with delicate, crispy fried onions. It was mega delicious with lots of yoghurt, pitta and salad. Lemon and aubergine are another perfect combination. I have been trying to eat more vegetarian food recently for various reasons and Ottolenghi's New Vegetarian column is a great resource for exciting recipes where you don't notice the lack of meat. So many interesting and complex flavours. I'm not a quorn/tofu gal so I'm going to be keeping my eyes open for gripping non-meat alternatives.

Vegetarians out there, what are your favourite meals?

Chuck x

Unfortunate Hat Maths

2011-09-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

I really want a hat (a good, solid, wide-brimmed fedora) + Accessorize has two very smart, wide-brimmed fedoras in fetching purple and teal + I have an Accessorize voucher that I have been struggling to spend = Happy times all round?

No! Because One Size fits none. M/L is generally insufficient as a hat sizing option for me, One Size was never going to happen. Nonetheless, I spent twenty minutes wandering around an Accessorize trying to persuade myself that hats didn't actually need to fit on your head and they totally still look good perched unsteadily atop it. Not true.

So, here you are, my small headed sisters. Enjoy these smart and reasonably priced hats. I will continue on in my quest to find a suitably giant hat and to spend my voucher... Woe is hatless me.

Chuck x

Chuck's Miscellany

Saturday Night Beatz

New Love: Will Davidson

Sunday Roses

Hotty McScorchio

Zen and the Art of Home Hair-Dying

Youth Influences

Image Vomit

IRL and Not So Much

Note to Self

Coats and Colour Combinations

Five Favourite Friday Fings

Some Clothes I've Worn

Sleight of Hand

Aural Love

Look Here

The Sunday Book: The Marriage Plot - Jeffrey Eugenides

IRL and Not So Much

Vague Consolation

Hypocrisy in Action

Resolute and Passionate

Janus

A Slightly Irish Christmas

Comfort and Lies

The Interim

'Twas the Night before Christmas...

In Tearing Haste: Letters between Deborah Devonshire & Patrick Leigh Fermor

Man Down

Five Favourite Friday Fings

Screw You, Highstreet

One Wishes You Festive Tidings

Baubly

Festive Fare, Part One of Many

Five Favourite Friday Fings

Recent Eats

Scorchio

On Consumerism and Dream Scarves

The Hunt Begins

Five Favourite Friday Fings

The New Ethical

Dangerous Florals

Knock it Back

Five Favourite Friday Fings

November Style

The Sunday Book: Possession - A. S. Byatt

Struggling to Explain Irony

Loaf 3

Misdirection

Five Favourite Friday Fings

Love, Cake and Heston

New Dream Coat

Tea I've Tried

Wooooooo

Some Clothes I've Worn

Recent Eats

Loaf 2

At the End of my Legs

New to Me

Something To Be Really Proud Of

Thinkings

Chris de Burgh All Over this Town

Some Clothes that I've Worn - More Lo-Fi Lovin'

Five Favourite Friday Fings

New Favourite *Pun Alert*

Draw in Endless Light

Chocolate, Hazelnut and Walnut Cake

Five Favourite Friday Fings

Easy, Breezy Teezies

Cake Monster

High Street Dress Up

The National Museum of Scotland

The Sunday Book: Coming Home - Rosamunde Pilcher

Jewellery Cont.

For the Love of Lysts

Sabina Kasper

Some Clothes that I've Worn 'n' Stuff

Ice Cream Dream

Away with You

Show Highlight

The Sunday Book: The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas - Gertrude Stein

New Favourite Pun Alert