In Pursuit of Magic – Style & Then Some does New York City

My first impression of New York was “What are these people thinking, blocking out the sun with their stupid skyscrapers?”

That was on my first day in Manhattan, stood on Lexington Avenue facing the Waldorf Astoria hotel and with a nice view of the Art Deco Chrysler Building if I craned my neck and looked downtown.

I hadn’t realised that apart from Central Park and pockets of open space like the Rockefeller Plaza and the steps of the New York Public Library, Manhattan was … shady. NYC is still seen as the capital of the western world, if not the whole world, and it’s partly because of its mammoth, manmade skyline. OK the tallest buildings on earth might be elsewhere (the Burf Khalifa etc) yet only New York has the clout to pull its commanding presence off.

That said, scuttling past buildings so tall they blocked out the sun for well, whole blocks felt weirdly unnatural to me at first.

A couple of days later, I could appreciate that just as I’d get no work done in a Mediterranean country, New York’s peculiar atmosphere of sun and shade motivates everyone to get great things done. Everyday. Then have a bike ride and picnic in the park on the weekend.

5 of the Best: These Jazz Age shoes will have you Charlestoning in no time

Ankle strap? Check. Peep toe? Oh yes. Stiletto heel? And how.

Right now, the high street has got some high heels on offer that are so retro style-y that they wouldn’t look totally out of place on a dance floor in the 1920′s. Maybe it’s the Great Gatsby effect – Baz Luhrman’s remake is out in less than a month now – or maybe it’s an offshoot of the nineties ankle strap heels trend, but whatever the reason, I sure do like them. The open-toe style and manageable heel height make them a decent investment for wedding season, because let’s face it, a strappy sandal goes with almost anything, plus you just know you’re going to end up doing the Macarena with your Nan/little cousin/unidentified drunk relative at midnight so you may as well get your dancing shoes on. Here are five of my top picks.

The Perfect Prehistoric Love: How to Rock The Dino Trend

Maybe it’s an underlying psychological need of mine to regress back to a time where my dinosaur shaped crayons were the most important thing in my life, but for this reason or another I seem to be drawn to anything and everything shaped like T-Rex and friends in the fashion world right now.

With Land Before Time inspired tees in abundance thanks to Tee & Cake via Topshop (this brand have supplied me with some of my favorite t-shirts ever over the years) I have pulled out a couple which I think are particularly key to the ‘dino-craze’ and relatively affordable for all…

RAAAAAR! Tyrannosaurus Rex Tee £20

Science College Tee £22

I also came across this little gem courtesy of Babbletees.  Anyone else think Droma looks a tad camp?

If you would rather give wearing your Dinosaur literally on your sleeve a miss though, and would prefer to declare your love of the prehistoric a little more demurely, how about check out this bargain of a ring I picked up at H&M for £2.99:

Yes his eyes sparkle with Diamantes!

Next week…SHARKS!

Izabel London | I heart this label

This heart-covered jumper led me to discover Izabel London, an affordable new high street fashion label.

I was first introduced to Izabel London when I was catching up with Jaclyn in the Task PR show room just before London Fashion Week in February. On that grey afternoon I took home a slouchy blue boat-neck knitted sweater from the brand, which was covered in black felt and lace hearts. Since debuting it at fashion week the jumper has fast become a favourite of mine, worn either layered over my favourite Uniqlo flannel shirts, of which I have many, or on its own with black jeans and boots for work. It’s proven particularly useful since the temperature has hovered stubbornly around the zero every day since Spring claimed to have started. See, here I am wearing it at Caravan, home of the soon to be blogged about best brunch I’ve had in ages.

So who is Izabel London? Well, for starters it’s a brand rather than a person. The label started as a best-selling concession stocked in Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins and House of Fraser before launching online in September last year. Aiming for affordability combined with trend-led style, you won’t find much on the site over £40. You can’t get my heart-covered jumper any more, but here are my top three picks from the current Izabel London online offering.

Drop waist check dress, £26

I like the flapper-meets-school girl feel of this cute day dress.

Collarless metallic thread jacket, £20

The boucle-like texture of this cropped jacket gives it more than a hint of Chanel.

Dogtooth trousers by Stella, £21

A sharp pair of Sixties style tapered trousers with gold zip details on the hem.

In praise of independent bike shops

A recent visit to two very different bike repair shops has left me ruminating on the indie vs chain store debate.

My bike, as much as I love it, is very old and often in need of repair. Not that I mind – I  think the ancient frame and rickety wheels act as a theft deterrent in this bike crime-ridden city (according to TFL, 50 bicycles are stolen in London everyday). But it does mean a lot of visits to the bike repair shop.

Until about a year ago I used to frequent Dial A Bike, the tiny workshop squashed between the market stalls of Strutton Ground off Victoria Street. It was a one-man-band set up, well-priced and I liked supporting an independent trader. But when Dial A Bike sadly closed, I was forced to go to Evans Cycles on Vauxhall Bridge Road.

I probably went to Evans about half a dozen times over a year, and at first it seemed OK, although the prices were noticeably higher that Dial A Bike. But after the seriously unsatisfactory service I received on my last visit I won’t be going back.

The problem was with my back wheel. The tyre seemed to be rubbing against the frame so badly that you could hear the friction and it got to the point where I couldn’t turn the pedals. I took my bike down to Evans on my lunch break and handed it over to a guy who took it downstairs to the workshop and reappeared five minutes later saying everything was fixed and there would be no charge. So far so good right? Well, no. I got back on my bike outside and the problem was still there.

I returned to Evans after work and left, ten minutes later, dumbfounded by the lazy, inattentive approach I had witnessed. There was a different guy on the shop floor this time. I explained the problem and he said he thought the mud guard was rubbing against the tyre, but he couldn’t really work out where. He said the wheel was old and could do with replacing, then he started looking at the chain, saying it was a bit loose.

Now, I’m now bicycle expert, but it was clear the issue here was nothing to do with the chain. Finally, he suggested I could ‘mess about’ with the rods that connect the mud guards to the wheel and see if I could fix it myself. Now I’m no business expert either, but I thought the point of a bike repair shop was to repair bikes? This guy, whose manner could at best be described as laid back, seemed like he couldn’t care less about whether he repaired it or not. I was quite baffled, and I decided to get a second opinion.

Boy, am I glad I did, because my experience at Balfe’s Bikes in Kennington was spectacular in comparison. I took my bike in to the shop on Kennington Road and a friendly chap (I think from this page it was Tom) hoisted it up and said he thought there was a problem with the axle. I left it there and he called later to say indeed there was, the axle had fallen apart inside (bear with me on the technical details here) and to check I was OK with the £25 charge for a replacement. He also called back shortly after to say it was all done and ready to pick up. I gave it a test run after doing so and it seemed the tire was still rubbing slightly. No problem, said Tom, see how it goes and if it looks like the mud guard needs replacing too come back and we’ll do that and won’t charge you for the labour. I did just that (it cost £34.99) and now my bike is good as new – well, old, really. So not only did Evans leave me feeling distinctly unsatisfied, they also lost out on £60 of my custom.

What’s the moral of the story here? That independent bike shops are always better than big name branches? Well, obviously, not always. Clearly, in this customer service contest Balfe’s obliterated Evans, but I don’t think it’s inaccurate to say this is a common finding in the indie versus chain store debate (Evans Cycles has 48 branches, Balfe’s has three). I’d wager there are many different reasons why smaller retailers of all kinds – from bakeries to bike shops – tend to offer a more pleasant shopping experience. Maybe it’s because they’re more keenly aware of the value of word of mouth, knowing that building up a trusted reputation breeds customer loyalty. Maybe it’s because, in contrast, huge chains tend to have a more target-driven culture which leads to lower employee satisfaction and higher staff turnover. I can only speculate in this case, but I definitely know where I’ll be heading when my old but beloved bike is next in need of attention.

What do you think? Have you ever had a similar experience? Do independent shops always offer better customer service? Leave a comment below.

Caligna: the fragrance to flirt with

Caligna, the new perfume from L’Artisan Parfumeur, wants to transport you to the aromatic fields of Southern France.

I always find it a bit strange when something like an item of clothing or a fragrance is described as flirty. I mean, can a blouse really be considered flirty, just because it’s got a pouting lipstick print on it? But in the case of Caligna, the new women’s eau de parfum from iconic French house L’Artisan Parfumeur, such a description is entirely appropriate, because Caligna translates as ‘to flirt’ or ‘to court’ in Provencal dialect.

The fragrance, available to buy in early April, is the latest launch in the Grasse Collection, which saw L’Artisan Parfumeur return to the grass roots of perfumery (pun sneakily intended) with scented candles and leather gloves. Caligna is intended to evoke the pastoral plains of Grasse, a region that rests between the mountains and the Mediterranean in the South of France. It’s also the place where Dora Baghriche-Arnaud, the ‘nose’ behind the scent, grew up, as she told me at the launch event in the basement of the label’s bijoux Covent Garden shop.

Baghriche-Arnaud based the scent around three main ‘accords’ or notes. Presenting me with samples of each, she explained how she married the fresh, pine-like tang of clary sage, a plant native to Grasse, with creamy fig and sugary jasmine marmalade accords. It evokes ‘a lightness of being with laughter echoing into the distance,’ according to the press spiel. I don’t know about that, but I do know that, getting a whiff of my tester again, I smell a rich and complex concoction, like a sticky dessert wine. If you like fragrances that smell almost good enough to eat, you’ll love the raisin-y goodness of Caligna. And since they say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, you may well find it does the flirting for you.

Caligna, £95 for 100ml, will be available from early April from the L’Artisan Parmfumeur website.

5 of the best: Vertical stripe skirts

Five stripey skirts to slip into for Spring.

Stripes were a major trend on the Spring/Summer 2013 catwalks, from de la Renta to Dior, and now that the spring collections are in shops it’s clear the high street has followed suit. Want to try the trend without looking like Beetlejuice, or a Newcastle United supporter? If so, a vertically striped skirt is a good way to go. I’ve got a high-waisted stretchy black and white striped skirt that I got from vintage store Beyond Retro a couple of years ago and I’ve worn it to death ever since. As long as you pick a style to suit your shape (i.e. go for a mini if you’re petite and knee-length if you’re long of leg) then a striped skirt can be really flattering - they’re certainly far more forgiving than horizontal stripes. Here are five vertical stripe skirts to buy online now.

1. Stripe Zip Back Mini Skirt, £9.99, Internacionale

2. Fallona Monochrome Striped Pencil Skirt, £15.99, Missguided

3. Jane Norman Striped Pencil Skirt, £ 28, House of Fraser

4. White Stripe Pencil Skirt, £32, Topshop

5. House of Holland Striped Tube Skirt, £88, Asos

Giles Deacon Goes Libertine (Not inspired by Pete Doherty)

Katie and I spent last night at the Ivy.  I know, I know, sounds like we live lives full of canapés and car service, wearing curb to cab heels sometimes, doesn’t it? Well guess what! My night of glamour was put in rather stark contrast when I ran for the number 8 bus home.  But what were we doing there, you might ask?  Well, it was actually all in aid of potentially meeting one of Britain’s most renowned designers, Mr Giles Deacon.  Now I’ve been a fan of Giles ever since Pinterest made private pin boards where I could stash all my Abbey Clancy wedding dress images so we thought we would go and check out what the craic was regarding his new collaboration with QVC.  Yes, you read right.  The duo have joined forces to create a designer jewellery range and rumour is Giles will even be appearing on the shopping channel this week (according to a little tweety bird I heard). 

The collection itself is entitled ‘Libertine’ and thankfully was not inspired by Pete Doherty, but encapsulates quirky design which goes against the grain of the mainstream, using bold colours and unusual elements to create pieces that talk:

Oh yeah, and we weren’t sure if this ^^^ was Miranda Kerr’s twin?  Either way she could pull off a Morticia Adams dress so well it made me jelly.  The collection seems overall extremely fresh and right up the Style & Then Some’s (jewellery) street.  With the trend for original and talking-point jewellery still going strong, it’s a no brainer that this designer collaboration will do well.  With prices starting at £14 to £70, it won’t break your bank manager’s heart too much either.

(He said he wouldn’t make my wedding dress)

At last! My blazer collection is complete

With the recent acquisition of a black one-button blazer from Next, I can now rest easy, knowing I have a blazer for every day of the week.

I only got into blazers (or tailored jackets or suit jackets or whatever else you want to call them) relatively recently. My first purchase (aside from an ill-fitting black Primark number that I only ever wore to job interviews five years ago) was a beautiful slim-cut burgundy blazer from Zara. At £59.99, it was a fair bit more than I usually spend on a single item of clothing, but it was a dead ringer for one I’d seen on the Gucci menswear catwalk, and it got me snapped at London Fashion Week a lot, so there was that.

That was in September 2011. Since then I’ve been gradually building up my blazer arsenal. On a fashion blogger event shopping spree at Forever 21 I picked up two of the same style in white and royal blue, plus a little cropped beige jacket that’s very useful in the summer. Last year, I got what would become my most ubiquitous blazer, a slightly tuxedo-style black button-less jacket that caught my eye when Kate Moss modelled it on the side of a bus for Mango.

As useful as that Mango jacket was, I couldn’t help but feel there was a black hole in my blazer battalion. This month, however, I filled that hole, with this little beauty:

I had a Next gift voucher to use* and chose this jacket (£35) from their Tailored range. While I wasn’t particularly excited about it at the time of purchase, within a week this had become my Most Very Favourite Blazer (a coveted title amongst my garments, to be sure) and I’ve worn it so many times since I’ve lost count. It’s a great sharp cut, slightly oversized (but not so much that it could be tarnished with that over-used ‘boyfriend’ moniker) and a classic one-button, three-pocket style. It’s also a nice mid-weight fabric – thick enough to wear with a check flannel shirt in winter or a boat neck t-shirt in summer. Quite frankly, I love it, and I’m not sure how I got dressed for work without it. Well, actually, I do: I picked one of my many other blazers. But right now, this one’s my fave.

*full disclosure: I was sent a Next gift voucher by a PR, to use in exchange for a review of a product.

5 of the best: Silk shirts

The silk shirt. It’s been through some tough times hasn’t it, trend-wise? Remember those wide-collared shiny Seventies throwbacks that everyone wore with black bootcut trousers in the Nineties for example? But with the advent of the Peter Pan collared shirt as a staple over the last couple of years, the silk shirt has had a bit of a resurgence, in a much chicer guise. Here are five sweet silk shirts to slip into your wardrobe.

1. Whistles excels at this sort of thing. The Polly Foulard print blouse (£60, reduced from £110) can be paired with its counterpart trousers for the full-on pajama look, or tucked into a high-waisted skater skirt for something a bit more girly.

2. Seeing as they’re made of a rare commodity, silk shirts aren’t ever going to be cheap, but this H&M silk blouse, at £39.99, is about as affordable as you’re going to get. It’s a gorgeous saturated shade, somewhere between tangerine and mustard, that will go beautifully with indigo skinny jeans.

3. NYC designer Alexander Wang knows a thing or two about making monochrome sexy (check out his last catwalk collection if you don’t believe me) and this white diaphanous T by Alexander Wang shirt (£99, reduced from £220) is no exception. Wear it bra-less if you dare.

4. At first glance this Topshop Boutique black silk shirt (£65) looks a bit severe, until you spot the cheeky cutouts on the neck and back. You could still wear it to work with a blazer on top and no one would be any the wiser.

5. There’s something so much cooler, and way less fussy, about a plain white shirt when it’s silk rather than cotton. This Jaeger washed silk shirt (£99, reduced from £140 at John Lewis) has got cute contrast buttons and rolled up sleeves that give it a neat preppy feel.

Move over Cambridge Satchel Co, Golden Lane have made possibly the best satchel ever

The Golden Lane Duo Satchel bag is the centrepiece of the first ever women’s collection from noted men’s accessories designers Chris & Tibor.

You’ll have to forgive me for that hyperbolic headline. I usually despise any article that proclaims something as perfect, or the BEST EVA or some other obviously exaggerated superlative, especially if it’s about fashion. But in this case, I’m pretty bowled over, so I think it’s justified.

When I clapped eyes on the three beauties dangling, seemingly floating in midair, in the photo on the Business of Fashion spotlight email last Thursday, I experienced that particular kind of wide-eyed, increased heart rate excitement that the first glimpse of an exceedingly covetable consumer product elicits.

The product in question is a Golden Lane Duo Satchel, one of the Spring/Summer collection from Chris Liu and Tibor Matyas, who started out as luxury men’s accessories brand Chris & Tibor. Now, they’ve branched out to cater for ladies too, and the result is their signature leather satchel, available in a range of colours.

Why is a Golden Lane satchel so good?

First off, it’s big enough to cart around all the stuff a modern woman needs on a day to day basis, but is cleverly designed with dual pockets to compartmentalise all that ephemera efficiently. The long and short handles make it easy to wear across the body (when you’re running for the bus/on your bike/carrying a bunch of coffees) or over the shoulder (in cramped Tube cars when pick pockets are on the loose). But most of all, it looks so darn good. The shape is classic enough that it won’t go out of style any time soon, but unusual enough that it doesn’t look like it’s trying to be a Birkin or some other much-copied designer handbag. Plus, there’s a colour for everyone: as well as classic black and ivory there are sugary pastels, punchy aqua tones and shiny metallic colourways in the Spring collection, all in the signature Golden Lane design.

Those handy design features weren’t just an accident either. Liu and Matyas did lots of consumer research on their prototypes, discovering that 85 per cent agreed the Golden Lane satchel was a practical bag. The only problem, in my view, is the price. Starting at about £400, the Golden Lane satchel is in a decidedly luxury price bracket. While it’s nothing compared to the astronomical heights of a $34,000 Row backpack, for example, it’s still probably more than I spend on clothes in a year (I’m very frugal for a fashion blogger you see).

So for now I’ll have to pop the Golden Lane satchel on my ‘when I’m rich’ mental wishlist (admit it, you’ve got one too.) The brand will be showing at the exhibition at London Fashion Week, so I’ll definitely be going along to gaze adoringly at and gently fondle a sample in the flesh.

Visit www.goldenlanebag.com or follow @GoldenLaneBag.

5 of the best: Snow boots

There’s more snow forecast in the UK in the coming weeks and the pavements are still covered in slush and ice, so now’s a great time to invest in a pair of sturdy snow boots.

We’ve rounded up five pairs of high street winter boots that will provide maximum foot warmth and minimum risk of a bone-breaking fall. They may not be pretty, but they sure are comfy. Plus, with some sales still on they start at less than £30 a pop.

1. Teig black patent snow boots, £26.99 (were £60), Aldo

Waterproof, with a slip-resistant heel, a nice bit of faux fur trim and a practical ankle height – these boots are seriously good value for money.

2. Neeve Ella GTX brown snow boots, £64.99 (were £130), Clarks

Using Gore-tex fabric and something called Active Air cushioning, these boots are way more high-tech than their sensible brown suede exterior suggests. The waxed finish means they’re hard-wearing too.

3. Black nylon Moon Boot, £79.99, New Look

Some people might shudder at the sight of these, the winter equivalent of the Ugg. But given the choice between a Moon Boot and a pair of soaked Converse on a sub-zero day and I know which I’d choose.

4. Helly Hansen Iskoras snow boots, £130, John Lewis

If The Killing’s Sara Lund wanted a pair of boots to go with her iconic jumper, I think she’s choose these. Not only do they have a suitably Scandinavian sheepskin upper, they’re sturdy enough to chase after murderers in.

5. Valenme Snow Flake Bootie, £169, Topshop

OK, admittedly these boots aren’t the best for braving snow-covered roads and freezing temperatures, mainly because they’re made of wool, but look! The little snowflake! Isn’t it cute?

Wardrobe maintenance: the kaizen approach

I know I’ve said before that New Year is not the best time to start afresh despite all the probiotic yoghurt and fitness commercials telling us differently.  However in the spirit of Kaizen (a Japanese philosophy advocating the need for continuous improvement), the process of de-cluttering  shouldn’t be sporadic and overwhelming, a mini tweak can reinvigorate and get you out of your predictable jeans/boots/umbrella outfit rut.

I’ve found having limited space has been conducive to keeping volume under control and facilitates a more practical outlook.  Back in pre-London days my Cheltenham flat was, in hindsight, the size of a football field; I had a walk-in wardrobe and owned a museum-quantity of clothes (although perhaps not museum-worthy).  Some might think this uber space was a tiny bit luxurious, but give me portion controlled storage any day.  The more space available, the more you’ll fill it.  Morning outfit panics were trebly stressful and looking back, my ensembles lacked some coordination amidst the sheer clothing mass.

We’re familiar with the stats that suggest we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time and this is a good place to start when calibrating your wardrobe.  You’ll notice the 20% core is the practical, comfortable, flattering stuff – this is where you need to expand.  Obviously occasion and seasonal items are justified (I don’t believe in being as ruthless as binning anything you’ve failed to wear in the last 3 months) as you can’t attend weddings in gym trainers and an ‘interview’ skirt.

To avoid bulking up on the 80% portion of the wardrobe which lies dormant, avoid impulse purchases, sales (pur-lease don’t get up at 4am to queue at NEXT with an IKEA sized holdall), anything too trend-driven and shoes you can’t walk in.  Furthermore don’t buy countless dry-clean items and definitely don’t buy the wrong size with a half-hearted pledge to  diet or finally buy that sewing machine.

Try and buy fewer items throughout the year but trade-up to a better quality.  Brands such as Kain, Alexander Wang and J.Crew do great everyday collections.  Having said that, Uniqlo and COS are amazing high street alternatives.   I’m not encouraging a bland wardrobe full of endless jeans and white t-shirts but I have been known to rebuy flattering blazers or perfect-fit waxed jeggings to see me through on uninspired days.  You can always puncture the uniform look with interesting shoes and accessories.

Attempt to buy multitasking garments which will work for work and weekends and  do an approximate’ cost per wear’ sum in your head prior to purchase. 

In a similar Kaizen vein, avoid doing a massive shop each season (unless you’re loaded) as it not only sounds like a mountainous task but you’re likely to make myopic purchase decisions.

Shop little and often to keep your wardrobe interesting, relevant and flattering.

5 of the Best: Winter Blazers

If there’s one item of clothing I have come to love in the last year or so, it is the blazer. My winter workday uniform now consists of black skinny jeans, a Uniqlo Heattech top and a blazer. Shopping in the January sales, I plugged a gap in my blazer collection by picking up a navy wool (OK, faux wool) one-button blazer in H&M. It’s great because it’s that bit warmer than your standard jacket and it was a major bargain at €12.95. I got mine at home in Holland but unfortunately it’s not on the H&M UK website. Instead, here are five more winter blazers you might like. Even better, most of them are still on sale.

1. River Island Brown Check Contrast Collar Blazer, £20 (was £40)

2. Topshop Ponte Boyfriend Blazer, £40

3. Zara Velvet Blazer, £59.99 (was £89.99)

4. NW3 Tweed School Boy Blazer, £111 (was £159) from Asos

5. See By Chloe Wool-blend Tweed Blazer, £192.50 (was £385) from Net-a-Porter

Ring-a-ding-ding, is Primark the new Fast Jewellery King?

Every woman loves jewellery.  Or perhaps every female I have ever met.  There might be the odd few who could argue against me, but, just like the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot, they remain nothing more than a myth.  For many, forgetting to put on your favourite bracelet or ring before you leave the house can send you spiralling into a world of panic, and result in phantom itches and pangs of uncertainty all day.  I for one just feel lost without at least three rings on at any one time.  And coupled with my inability to afford Pamela Love, Elizabeth & James or Dannijo adornments as yet, the High Street is where I purchase the majority of my oversized, ‘man-reppelling’ trinkets.

My latest finds are actually courtesy of the new flagship Primark store on Oxford Street (otherwise dubbed ‘Posh Primark’).  Just think of it like when you buy a new car, all shiny and clean.  Give it a few weeks and there are chocolate stains and coke bottles rolling around on the floor.  The staff is, in fact, rather friendly and polite, and I even caught two making friends on the 3^rd floor (awwwww).  No doubt their spirits will be crushed soon enough though.  But anyway!  I managed to bag me this ‘gold’ knuckle ring and this Black stoned beast for a couple of quid combined.  Now I am more than aware these will last me approximately 3 weeks tops before they start turning my flesh a putrid green, but for that price I can replace them.  My problem is that I bought the second one (carbon copy) in Topshop last year for £6.  Clearly from the same distribution company, but it does make my blood boil that Topshop get away with such price inflation.  Never again will I purchase jewellery from Topshop, and instead put my savings towards getting one step closer to the Pamela Love counter at Liberty’s…

I have an addiction, Sir! Sampling The Finest Designer Sales Courtesy of Cocosa

Recently, I have developed somewhat of a new-found addiction. An addiction that if I don’t take immediate steps to control, could potentially become a major problem. However, until that time comes and I’m found crying in to a cut price Lulu Guinness tote, I am rather enjoying my new love of scouting out sample sales in and around London.
So when Style & Then Some received an exclusive press invite to the first ever pop-up store by the online e-tailer Cocosa, of course I headed over there to dig for buried treasure. In case you are unaware of Cocosa, the online store, which has been live and flourishing since 2008 and its initial launch as a private members only shopping site (oh la la!) prides itself as a luxury online sales site. It is also incidentally as of last year, owned by former Mr.Harrods, Mohamed Al Fayed.

In the words of Ciara, ‘My goodies’.

Now, I am learning fast that you have to be smart about sample sale shopping, and wisely sacrificed an extra half hour in bed to be one of the first through the doors at the temporary bricks and mortar Cocosa. And lucky for me, I struck gold (albeit gold-plated). Now, if you are a regular reader of S&TS you might have noticed my obsession with the American jewellery brand Dannijo, and basically all semi-precious, over the top costume jewellery I can get my hands on. So when I eagle-eye spied an original Dannijo necklace on the Sample sale table, it didn’t leave my tight grip until I was fully paid up and out the door. Not only this, but I also snatched up this gorgeous Kara Ross bangle that I believe is doing to me what that damned ring did to Gollum. I just can’t stop staring at my precious…

A tad much? Nah! It’s Dannijo!

Hello my precious!

The Cocosa pop-up store is still open until Friday, so if your lucky there might be some bargains left to be had. Not only did they have an array of designer clothing for men and women such as Givenchy, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Vivienne Westwood and Muubaa, but also bags, shoes and jewellery at actual affordable prices. So if you are feeling lucky, head down to the Oui rooms t 40 Eastcastle Street, London from 8AM-8PM. Good luck!

One look four ways: Current Elliot snakeskin print jeans

I used to think that snakeskin was only for accessories. For shiny coats and Birkins that cost more than a car. That was until I got to road test a pair of Current Elliot skinny jeans from online designer boutique The Editeur. In a pale canvas snakeskin print, the Ankle Skinny, as it’s called, is a surprisingly versatile jean, as I discovered when Helen and I took to the streets of London to make like the Sartorialist and snap these babies in their natural habitat. Here they are, styled up in a quartet of looks.

Double denim

Call it ironic if you want, but sometimes two doses of denim in one outfit just works. A sharp black blazer keeps this look on the right side of casual.

Current Elliot jeans, The Editeur; blazer, Mango; denim shirt, Forever21; clog sandals, Topshop.

Neutrals and neon

Take as many variations on neutral as you want then add one zingy bright neon piece to set it all off.

Jeans, as before; jumper, shoes and jacket, Forever21.

Crop it like it’s hot

Make like a modern day ranch hand with jeans tucked into cowboy boots and a crop top. The nineties are back in vogue you know, so a low rise is totally acceptable – draw the line at bootcuts though.

Jeans, as before; jumper, H&M; boots, vintage.

Animal magnetism

Nothing says fierce quite like a giant feline-faced top. Pair it with snakeskin print for a outfit to take on the concrete jungle. Miaow, hiss etc.

Jeans, as before; top and boots H&M.

What’s gone wrong for Marks and Spencer?

It was recently reported that the definitive British high street stalwart, Marks and Spencer is experiencing its worst sales figures in the last three years, falling an unnerving 2.8% compared to 2011. So where has good old Marks and Sparks been going wrong?

Maybe old is the operative word? Although M&S have acknowledged many different factors contributing to this latest disappointment – such as poor buying choices and this terrible weather we have all been suffering through lately – could they be missing something?

I conducted my own mini survey this week in light of these revelations where I asked around ten of my closest girlfriends – ranging from their early to late twenties – about their personal opinions on Marks and Spark’s women’s clothing. The general consensus was that it’s a shop for older women where collections can sometimes border on frumpy but you can be lucky on the odd occasion.

Marks and Spencer has been celebrated for its ability to appeal to different generations which is true, up to a point. During a recent trip there with my sixty-something (although she claims fifty-something) mother I realised that once she had successfully satisfied my Grandmother’s comfy beige slacks fix, she, true to form, began to peruse the Per Una aisles. Whereas the only fix I was looking to satisfy was that of a Percy Pig persuasion.

In a bid to appeal to a younger generation of shoppers by featuring various glamourous celebrities and models including Myleene Klass and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in their ad campaigns, is there a chance team M and S have maybe taken their eye off the ball somewhat when it comes to their staple demographic? This tends to be around forty-plus (thirty-five plus at a push) but realistically – and having recently glanced around there myself – it’s probably closer to the fifty-plus bracket. I must admit, I do find it hard to believe that the likes of Rosie, another twenty-something like myself, would shop there off her own bat.

It would be a great shame to lose this British institution but hopefully it will never come to this and the company reports it is doing really well in other areas. Although we  are evidently not all rushing out to stock up on their latest summer fashions, Marks and Spencer has become indispensable for plenty of other reasons – from their underwear to home furnishings, and of course their food, even for work clothes sometimes. Could this be a case of a business spreading itself too thinly in a bid to stay afloat during these (here comes that horrendously overused phrase again) troubled financial times? Should they concentrate on upping their design game for the older generation?

Forever 21 is heading up north

The US retailer will open its first store in Manchester’s Trafford Centre this weekend.

When Forever 21 opened its Oxford Street store last year, shoppers in London got pretty darn excited. I know that for certain because the amount of hits Helen’s blog post about the opening got – the traffic stats don’t lie people! A year later and business is still booming, with three London stores now trading and the sixth jewel in Forever 21′s UK crown (in addition to Birmingham and Dublin locations) due to open in Manchester this week. The 20,000 square foot retail behemoth will open it’s doors on Saturday 21st July at 10am, but listen up Mancunians, I’d get there earlier if I were you – the first 300 customers in line will receive free gift cards to spend in store or online.

To celebrate the new store up north, the lovely folks at Forever 21 took a group of five Manchester-based fashion bloggers and I to visit the Oxford Street flagship last Saturday for a taste of what’s in store for the Trafford Centre. Having not ventured into Forever 21 since I did my Christmas shopping last year I was pleasantly surprised by how calm and collected an experience I had in comparison. But then Oxford Street in December is basically like the apocalypse isn’t it?

Anyway, I picked up some great items: a cream fitted blazer (I’ve wanted one for aaages); a very authentic looking distressed denim shirt (‘Are you going to the rodeo?’ asked my bitchiest gay friend when I wore it the next day); and an adorable white jumper with a moustache on it (I’m hoping that by wearing it I can attract a man with a moustache. I’m all about the facial hair you see.) But probably the very favourite thing I took home was a little gold whistle pendant necklace. The great thing is, it actually works when you blow it. Do you know how much fun you can have on a night out with a whistle? After Saturday night I can tell you the answer is: a lot.

I’m sure I’ll be showing you some of my Forever 21 finds in subsequent #TodayImWearing blog posts. Stay tuned as well for a style post featuring my fellow bloggers Penny, Katie, Sarah and Emma and their outfits – as you can imagine, they were a super stylish lot.

Forever 21 opens at the Trafford Centre, Manchester on Saturday 21st July 2012. Visit the Forever 21 UK website.

Do you know what this weather calls for? Shuella, the umbrella for shoes

File them under ‘inventions you never knew you couldn’t live without.’ These are not just wellies, they’re Shuella.

When I first heard about Shuella, the self-proclaimed antidote to rain-ruined shoes, I scoffed. I might even have LOLed. Who on earth would bother with such a ridiculous contraption?

But then the summer arrived in London.

The summer that brought us officially the wettest June on record, the reversed hosepipe ban and the most rain since that scene in Forrest Gump with all the different kinds of rain. But it’s also really schizophrenic weather. Just yesterday, I set off on my bike for work, bare of leg and free of care, in the little black canvas Mary Janes I wear to death every summer, with the sun beaming down (it lasted all of about 40 minutes). By the time I got home at the end of the day, my MJs and I were thoroughly rain-drenched as the day’s five-hour allocation of torrential rain had just set in.

Now I’m thinking whoever’s behind Shuella should be awarded the Nobel Prize for Fashion (I can’t believe this category doesn’t exist either) and I want a pair in every colour to slip on whenever the heavens open. Then I wouldn’t have to keep lugging round spare shoes all the time, swapping from heels to flats just to walk to the tube and risking trench foot every time I walk out the door. ‘SHUELLA’S are easy to put on and strong enough to walk in with a slip free sole. I’ve also included a cloth to wipe off any excess water before you fold them up and put them back in their convenient pouch,’ explains designer Rebecca Miller. She’s thought of everything! (Except grammar, because I’m really not sure there should be an apostrophe in Shuellas.)

Anyway, want some Shuellas of your own? You can order them from the US Shuella website for $47.45 (about £31) including P&P or you can get them on this UK website for a bargainous £8 but they’re currently out of stock.