My first White Christmas!

Happy Christmas!



I'm off to midnight mass, in the freezing cold.

London love

Living in a foreign country is pretty awesome, though around Christmas time I do miss home, my family and my soon to be doggy mama, Scarlett.

To offset this, I've made a list of all the rad things that I love about London, and the UK.

- Broadway Markets
I think I've blogged about this before though seriously, if you are coming to London, head here for an authentic market experience. It's set along a little street in London Fields, giving it a charming village feel. Some of my favourite things are the yummy Climpson and Sons coffee (with the Aussie's behind the counter, which beckons the question, where do I know the Climpson chick from?! She's worked in Surry Hills before, though it's really bothering me), the Vege stall with their 'Heavenly Halloumi' burgers which are ta-sty, and the scattered couple of vintagey stalls that are a bit of a bargain. Smaller, less crowds, yummy food and cool Londoner's- do it.

- Hyde Park
I love this park, for all of its glory. It's huge, picturesque, doggy friendly, and full of seasonal goodness. In Autumn, leaves coat the greenery; in Winter, frost covers the ground; Summer brings the picnicer's, and Spring brings the bulbs and colour. I love to walk through Hyde Park, though I do avoid the Serpentine- the geese are scary!


- The Gastro Pubs
The UK is known for its pubs, and there is reason why. They're warm, intimate, serve lovely seasonal food and, you can take your puppies into them! My local is as good as any restaurant, making it an easy choice on a night out. And the thing is, all are welcome unlike many at home where you stick to certain places, because they're a certain way. Plus, my alcohol threshold has gone up since schooners were replaced with pints.

- Quirky shops
Ok, I couldn't not mention it, although they've become less important with the popularity of online shopping. When I first got here in 2005, it was all about Topshop, the High Priestess of Oxford St. It's a one stop shop, though the crowds make it monotonous. Some alternatives to Oxford St include, Brick Lane Up Markets (Sunday), Upper St Islington (for one off boutiques and homewares) and High St Kensington (similiar to Oxford St, though far less crowds).

- Come Dine With Me
Channel 4 spoils me with this programme, based on 4 strangers hosting a dinner party for each other over the course of the week. Hit and miss food, akward conversations, drunken antics and bitchy comments make this show super watchable.

- Proximity
...to the rest of Europe, making travel easier, cheaper and more plentiful.

Sessun

My brother-in-law came to visit on the weekend and lovely as he and my sister are, he hid a special Christmas present for me in the room where he was staying.

After he texted me and dared me to discover the present, I was somewhat dubious- surely he wants me to climb three flights of stairs to discover nothing? Joker.

But there it was, a gift voucher for Urban Outfitters!

It was such a lovely gesture, afterall my family are so far away and even though we do presents, they're not expected and are given humbly and simply.

I'll probs spend the voucher during the sales though really, what's the harm in looking early?

In the Oxford St branch, I wandered upstairs to the boutique, aiming to seek out Karen Walker gear. Instead, French label Sessun saw me gawk, with their South American/APC influenced tunic shirts and dresses. Luckily, you can buy them online and avoid gross Oxford St Christmas caos. Double woop.

Here is my wish list.

Sessun Fine Wool Tunic Shirt

£120.00

Loose fit tunic shirt by Sessun has pintuck design at round neckline with button placket front and long cord tassel feature; finished with 3/4 length sleeves and gold thread stretch detailing.

Sessun Long Sleeve Shirt Dress

£100.00

Get smart in this collarless cotton checked pull on dress from Sessun with button placket front.

 Sessun Check '70s Gillet Lining

£120.00

Starve off the cold and look well dressed doing it in this checked wool mix gilet from Sessun complete with shearling lining and leather toggle front fastening.

Cracks

I missed this at the London Film Festival and am loathe to miss it during its theatrical release.

Set in the 30s, Eva Green plays a school mistress at an elite English boarding school. With the arrival of a new pupil, secrets are unravelled and darkness presents itself.



It seems, right up my alley.

TED

Have you discovered TED yet??

Comparisons

I feel so horribly inadequate. I know I'm only young and there is a lot more life to live, though comparisons are inevitable and Lord above, do I compare.

As I watch TV, I'm comparing myself to Kirstie Allsopp, right now. She's a bit amazing in my eyes, and has achieved so much at 35 years. I know she's had a small helping hand, what with her lineage and being deemed 'The Honourable' from birth, though she truly has achieved. TV career, amazing style, home, family etc etc. She also has a kitchen to die for!

I think I need to cast aside this emotional immaturity and grow up. It's a hard pill to swallow when you realise you are falling behind and you not being taken seriously is due to your own shortcomings. My answer is to always educate yourself further, be it through a school or a course; to better one's mind is to be one's self.

There are so many options, which contributes to a intolerance of life. I need a bravery coat to jump in at the deep end. Or a therapist. Oh such indulgence!

When I grow up, I want to be Kirstie.

Flash Trash

Just look at this lady, how cute is she?!

At 18, she is the founder of UK online store Flash Trash and is on my list of ladies that are on my radar.

Amber Atherton has seemingly lived a life of a lady twice her age, having been a model and lived abroad. It seems her experience and exposure to the design industry fuelled her desire to have longevity in such a fickle world, thus she created Flash Trash.

In its own word, Flash Trash "attempt(s) to give unique jewellery designers a platform to display their creativity and sell their pieces online to savvy, fashion forward consumers." Yes, the last couple of words are really in italics.

The site comprises of lovely little pieces that span all budgets. Most designers are unknown to most of us, though this represents better value for money!

Here are some of my picks.


Dans Le Jardin Ring

Price £8.00


Tanya Davison, Black Pearl + Gold Coin necklace
Price £197.00


Alice in Wonderland Bracelet

Price £26.00

Can't get this out of my head

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first
Beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth
I have to go, I have to go
Your hair was long when we first met

Samson went back to bed
Not much hair left on his head
He ate a slice of wonder bread and went right back to bed
And history books forgot about us and the bible didn't mention us
And the bible didn't mention us, not even once

Samson went back to bed
Not much hair left on his head
Ate a slice of wonderbread and went right back to bed
Oh, we couldn't bring the columns down
Yeah we couldn't destroy a single one
And history books forgot about us
And the bible didn't mention us, not even once

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first

Samson- Regina Spektor

Interspersed with Talitha Getty

Samson came to my bed
Told me that my hair was red
Told me I was beautiful and came into my bed
Oh I cut his hair myself one night
A pair of dull scissors in the yellow light
And he told me that I'd done alright
And kissed me 'til the mornin' light, the mornin' light
And he kissed me 'til the mornin' lightYou are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first
Beneath the stars came fallin' on our heads
But they're just old light, they're just old light
Your hair was long when we first met

Mad (about) Men

Who amongst us are watching Mad Men?

I have to say I had become absorbed by it, watching all three seasons in the same amount of months. I love the sexual power of the female characters, and the irony that it is their gender that renders them powerless.

Also noteworthy is the style, the elegance, all reflective of the time. When Don Draper snaps at a fellow elevator passenger who is still wearing his hat in the presence of a lady, my jealously jumps. Manners seem to be memories.
So I await season 4 in anticipation like no other TV series. What part will Joanie play in the new agency? Has Roger's affections transferred so early on in his marriage? What of Betty's soon to be acquired freedom? And Don, oh sort yourself out.

All I want for Christmas...

Robin cushion by Donna Wilson100% lambswool, knitted in Scotland.

Available in 3 colourways: brown with red robin, mustard with a bluebird and lilac with a green bird!Just beautiful and I can just image it sitting on my bed, tweeting away.

40cm x 40cm
Price £65.00

In Good Company Oiva plate by Marimekko
Design by Sami Ruotsalainen

The collection includes five cups, three bowls, three plates, a tea pot. I love the beautiful turquoise colour- I can just see my dressed table now, the pale pink peonies contrasting against the setting.

Available through the Finnish Design Shop.
Price on application.

Henry Dreyfuss 1950's Princess Phone in Baby Pink

I would be sitting on my bed, talking to 'Bud' or 'Chip', twirling the cord around my finger and popping my gum.

Available through PMC Telecom.

Price £29.35

Miu Miu Leather studded tote

I drool over this bag, it's such such a statement piece.

Of course, it would probably put my shoulder out after I fill it with copious amounts of let's face it, junk. Doesn't stop me from lusting.

Available through Net-A-Porter

Price £920

New York City

February 2010 sees me head across the pond and land in New York City.

Although not my first visit (more on that in a sec), NYC will be seen through fresh eyes because I'll be going there to meet up with my family. My sister is doing her med internship there, and my mum will be heading out to experience the US for the first time. Oh, how we will laugh.

I was there in August 2003, off the back of a 2-month Summer camp 'experience' in Ohio. I did little research, instead carried myself around for 10 days, happy to go where the tourist track took me. Although I could see its merits, NYC didn't wow me like it should have and by the end of my stay, I was desperate to leave and get off the island of Manhattan- I felt claustrophobic.

This time around it shall be different. Along with taking my mum around (although she isn't one for museums et al,) I'll be perusing more relevant things like food halls, one of a kind clothes stores, music history venues and film sets. I want to see my NYC, not the NYC sold to overweight package deal tourists from Kentucky or Bristol.

So, having said that and on the eve of me constructing a bespoke NYC google map, if there is anyone out there reading this and has anything to offer, please drop me a comment. It will be much appreciated.

V Magazine. Summer 2009. Mario Testino

V Magazine swimwear fashion editorial, by Mario Testino.

Featuring Lara Stone, Raquel Zimmermann, Natalia Vodianova, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Isabeli Fontana, Gisele Bundchen, Eva Herzigova, Erin Wasson, Claudia Schiffer, Catherine McNeil, Carolyn Murphy, Doutzen Kroes, Carmen Kass, Daria Werbowy, Anna Selezneva, and Angela Lindvall.

Amazing. Beautiful.

Who's your favourite?

It's controversial, though I think it has to be Daria.

Drink! Shop! Do!

Ah, Cocktails? Bitch and Stitch? Cakes!!

Hysteria aside, this is more exciting than Christmas. Inspired silly season fun- enjoy!

Ebay vintage guide

I think it's quite normal to confess that not so long ago, I had an ebay problem. It would be part of my internet routine, and became as normal as checking my email or social networking accounts. Bidding on something, eventually winning was not the attraction (although I can see how it could be for so many people), it was the pull of a virtual op-shop, dutifully laid out for my enjoyment.

Vintage clothes shopping is one of my hobbies and I would estimate that a good 40% of my wardrobe was pre-worn at the time of purchase. I'm not afraid of vintage as some are, instead I like to imagine the history and stories that could be told if the little garment had a voice.

Ebay provides and feeds my vintage love and is never further than a few clicks away. For all the places I have lived, I have a few faithful sellers that are convient and close by. Here are some that deserve to be shared.

MakiMaki Vintage

The model may be tiny, rendering it hard for one to imagine themselves in Maki's gear, though what gear it is! Careful, this store is not a secret so bids do run high.

MouseVox Vintage

Affordable, classic and not-so-classic. Always has really clear measurements and accurate photos.

Venus in Vintage

It began here, and I loyally check in from time to time to see her wares. Not always fully stocked, though when she does it's generally pretty, girly and won't break the bank. She also packages up the goods in tissue paper and sends gorgeous hand written notes.

Tin Roof Vintage

Whilst Tin Roof have some amazing things, the long auction periods and inevitable high bidding prices are a little off putting. Still, when you have the cash and want something you'll love, come here.

Mama Stone Vintage

Options to bid or buy it now on some sexy, sweet and stuffy clothes.

There are loads more, like California Vintage Connect, Mill St Vintage and Meat Market Vintage though I don't want to fuel an obsession.

Real Love

With Regina Spektor on the horizon, my mind is cast to a cover that takes my breath away.

I pray that she sings this on Friday.

Pondering the Pond

How I wish I were in Sydney, to find the Pond.

Yes I do.