Driving a Wedge

Miranda Kerr and Julianne Moore in the Marant Beekket high-tops

Do you ever have those moments when you feel you've lost the plot ever so slightly? That is the feeling I get when I start thinking about wedge trainers.  Are they fugly or are they fine? How often would I actually wear them? Then what on earth would I wear them with?  I saw a very chic lady wearing the Isabel Marant ones at Paris Art Fair last September..OF COURSE it was in Paris and she was wearing them with skinny jeans and a fitted coat and look effortless and...well.. Parisian...but could I carry them off? (If anyone would like to donate a pair of Marant trainers to me so I can try this out, then do please email.)


Thanks to Marant, the hi-top is back. And this time it's got a wedge.  The high street has jumped head first into the act and the 'ultimate sports luxe shoe' is set to continue in popularity.  The reason I think it's popular is because it appeals to lazy people like me who find proper heels too much of a trial.  I've already embraced the high-top and am a fan of the wedge..so why not the wedge trainer?  Elle tells us that the wedge trainer is "perfect for adding edge to a pair of skinnies or a leather skirt teamed with opaque's right now, they'll be just as covetable with a denim mini-dress come Spring."  Well Elle, I think this is true if you have legs like Bambi for for mere mortals you might end up looking like the lesser known eighth dwarf, Stumpy.  Anything that cuts you off at the ankle can be dangerous. Apparently my black Yarra desert boots can fall into the wedge-trainer category and I've banged on ALOT about how wonderful they are but to me..they ain't trainers.


Here is a selection I've pulled...thoughts?x

Navy leather and rubber from Topshop

Nude leather from See by Chloe

Tan suede from Aldo..I'm kind of leaning towards these..if any

Navy suede from Ash

And finally, a selection from Isabel Marant..I can't deny that I do have a penchant for the black ones. Donations welcome.

I heart Autumn - Part 1

My heart sings at the prospect of it getting cooler, the beautiful leaves, crisp mornings and excuse to stay in eating mashed potato and watching period dramas. In reality I know that getting up in the dark and leaving work in the dark, lots of rain and the inevitable snowball of busy-ness before Christmas will grate but for now, all I can think about it clothes, woolly tights and snug boots.

Here are my Autumn purchases so far...As an avid collector of French Sole pumps in every colour and pattern, flats were not high on the priority list for me. I already have leopard, black patent quilted, cream quilt with a black toe blah blah blah. Also..when the weather gets really bad, wear my navy blue Hunters and carry flats in my bag to work.  When I saw these though, I couldn't resist..

Standard black in velvet with pom-poms...what's not to love?

This next purchase I am THRILLED over. Regular readers of this blog might remember my post on the phenomenon of the Isabel Marant boot.  Whether you like the Dicker, the Forbes or the Bidou, the same principles in design were there. Beige suede, an almost Cuban heel, slightly slouchy and perfect with an array of outfits.  Well I found ANOTHER perfect pair. Every time I have worn them I have received so many compliments and I didn't have to sell a kidney to get them.  Thank you ASOS.

As anyone who travels on the London Underground knows..layering is key and the perfect t-shirt is hard to find. Topshop has come up trumps this season and if I could, I would bulk buy in multiples. In their Boutique range I bought an over sized black slash-neck with 3/4 length sleeves in a cotton and cashmere mix and a white low v neck.  Lastly I splashed out a crepe, navy v neck tee from Ghost.  Because of the fabric, it has worked well on more formal occasions with some dressy accessories as well as during the day.

This dress is perfect for work and maybe even the weekend too..I loved the fine wool, ever so slightly textured fabric that you can't see in the picture.  The built in Obi belt that you can pull it as tight as you like and the neckline is so elegant.  It came in red too but unsurprisingly..I bought it in black.

I'm still on the hunt for the perfect knit..if anyone has found a lovely one in navy, burgundy or grey, please let me know. In the meantime, here are my fantasy purchases....

Acne Twisted Wool sweater

Anders Alpaca waffle knit by Isabel Marant..£345!

Stella McCartney in a stunning blood orange..a snip at  £510

Beautiful navy wool, cocoon cut from Stella again..£520.

Next time..the absolute Autumn/ Winter essential..a new coat! Happy Monday all. x

Magical Autumnal shot by Tim Walker

Comfort eating (and dressing)

Duvet and Ice cream..sometimes it's the way forward.

My goodness, what a long gap from posting!  I had a smashing holiday but came back to some rather distressing family news and a mountain of work which has rather buried me recently.  You know sometimes when horrid things have happened or you've been really busy and suddenly you get some time to yourself and all you want to do is bury yourself in your bed with a hot chocolate/ red wine drip, a bowl of cheese and mashed potato and the box set of the West Wing?  Well I did that and then I sort of did that via clothes.

Comfort clothes for me are ancient blue jim jams from Primani and a stolen sweater from the Boy. In Yorkshire, they are pair of red flannel checked bottoms and a grey Harvard hoodie that should be owned by someone who is about 6 foot tall and 4 foot wide.  Not exactly hot stuff I can hear you thinking dear readers.

Something else that I find comforting though (when I actually manage to leave the house) is shopping.  Obviously not crazy Summer sales shopping, elbowing tourists in the face down Oxford Street, more pottering around a quiet town and happening upon a few purchases that seem to come out of nowhere and make me happy.  This is exactly what happened to me last weekend and what's more they are classics, things I'll wear again and again and I wasn't even looking for them.

H and M Conscious Cotton Collection

This is a stunner at £19.99 from Huh and Muh, reminds me of a gorgeous peasant top that Chloe did a few seasons ago..it also doesn't make me look a buxom milkmaid, always a winner.  Then came the real bargain..

....these lovely tailored shorts from Isabel Marant.  They are in a lovely dark grey linen blend and have flattering back pockets and a cute elasticated waistband.  Perfect for work or the weekend..and they were £69 as oppose to £217 full price. BOOM!

And finally, not something I often post about but a joint passion with fashion and books...is cooking (and eating). The wonderful Liberty London Girl frequently puts up recipes she has tested and enjoyed, so I thought, why not share a few with you. I gave up carbs before Marrakesh....(bonkers I know but after all, this was a serious pool/ bikini holiday) so when I got back, naturally all I wanted to do was stuff my face full of bread, rice, pasta and tatties and this is one of my all time favourite recipes by the domestic goddess herself.  In her own words, here is Nigella with her Lemon Risotto.....*

Because we all look like this when eating pasta...

This is comfort food on so many levels. For one, risotto has to be one of the most comforting things to eat ever. What's more, although everyone goes on about the finicketiness and crucial fine-tuning involved, I find risotto immensely comforting to make: in times of strain, mindless repetitive activity - in this case, 20 minutes of stirring - can really help. What you don't want to do is make risotto for large numbers of people, which is why I've indicated that this serves two.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 shallots
• 1 stick of celery
• 60g unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 300g risotto rice, preferably Vialone Nano
• 1 litre vegetable stock (I use Marigold stock powder)
• Zest and juice of 1/2 unwaxed lemon
• Needles from 2 small sprigs of fresh rosemary, finely chopped
• 1 egg yolk 
• 60ml (4 tablespoons) grated parmesan, plus more to sprinkle
  
  60ml (4 tablespoons) double cream
  
  Maldon salt to taste
• Good grating pepper, preferably white
• METHOD
  Serves: 2.
• 1. Put the shallots and celery into a Magimix and blitz until they are a finely chopped mush.
  2. Heat half the butter, the oil and the shallot and celery mixture in a wide saucepan, and cook to soften the mixture for about 5 minutes, making sure it doesn't catch. Mix in the rice, stirring to give it a good coating of oil and butter. Meanwhile, heat the stock in another saucepan and keep it at simmering point.
  3. Pour a ladleful of the stock into the rice and keep stirring until the stock is absorbed. Then add another ladleful and stir again. Continue doing this until the rice is al dente. You may not need all of the stock, equally, you may need to add hot water from the kettle.
  4. Mix the lemon zest and the rosemary into the risotto, and in a small bowl beat the egg yolk, lemon juice, parmesan, cream and pepper.
  5. When the risotto is ready - when the rice is no longer chalky, but still has some bite - take it off the heat and add the bowl of eggy, lemony mixture, and the remaining butter and salt to taste. Serve with more grated parmesan if you wish, check the seasoning and dive in.  *Between you and I, I often put add piles of rocket on top with a drizzle of garlic oil to garnish and double as a salad..and if you have carnivores, a handful of king prawns is a treat as well!xx
     
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Looky Likey

So I know that many fashion bloggers have been expostulating over the lust-inducing item(s) that are a pair of Isabel Marant boots.  They're suede, they're ever so slightly slouchy, they give you that certain je ne sais quoi. They're also super double duper expensive..oh and they're suede which means a little bit vulnerable in British weather even with oodles of protectant and a rubber sole.  There is the Bidou boot...

And my personal favourite, the Forbes boot, which has a slightly Western vibe to it..

So I fell for them and pondered over the purchase. I am all for investment purchases, let me state that right now. My Chanel and Mulberry handbags are prize possessions, my beautiful navy Hobbs coat and my tweed jacket, my beaded Chloe dress that I only wear once in a blue moon because I love it so much I'm actually scared to take it to the dry cleaners, my French Sole pumps. I have no qualms on spending items that will last (physically), are dateless and classic.  These boots tick every category except one, they will not physically go the distance. They will scuff, they will wear out, the soles/ heels will need replacing, they will watermark. I couldn't pay nearly £400 for that.  Ms Bosworth on the other hand, totally can and for once, we see a celebrity who has a pair of favourite boots that she wears all the time despite the gazillions of others in her wardrobe..

This, in fact was at The Kings Speech premiere a couple of weeks ago, I really love that skirt too!

..So I thought, what the heck! I'll go for it, I love them! They look great with everything..apart from maybe that weird pink croquet dress in the second picture across at the top (re-think that look Kate) but I still ain't forking out that amount of dough for them. Fashion Gods, help me out.

..And they did. They may not be an exact replica but my goodness do they look super on and all for the bargain price of £70.  Topshop. You did it again.  Now I just need to find that grey skirt....Happy Friday all X