turbantastic

Style Bubble did a lovely post on the wearability of the Topshop turban, where she looks, well, rather normal. This inspired me to go back to the topshop website and think about investing. Too late! They've all sold out, and we're left with Prada ones instead. No thanks.

random highlights

teenfashionista has done it again. Something tells me she is a girl of a willowy shape, since today she's advocating layering dresses with more dresses and skirts. Not something I would have thought off, but potentially interesting.

In another interesting move, american apparel are trying to convince us that they can be smart with their new shoot on the front cover. AmAp, everything looks smart in black and white - you're not fooling anyone.

And finally, iamfashion have a piece on playsuits. I own one already, and love it so much that I can definitely see myself getting another, this time in a kind of slouchy black. To be honest, my whole wardrobe really revolves around a life I don't lead that moves from beach to coffee to general lazing in the sun. And we don't even have sun here.

after the drought came the rain...

After being strong for at least two weeks and not making any purchases whatsoever, I broke yesterday and got a whole raft of stuff that will mostly be being returned this weekend. Anyway, once a tidal wave is started, it just doesn't stop. So I've been making a list of stuff I simply must purchase this week.

1. Wayfarers. Yes yes yes. In fact, right after I finish this post, I'm going to do it.
2. Highlighter powder. I favour Stila for this kind of stuff, but there might be a good one slightly cheaper from someone like maybelline or l'oreal. Anyway, a shimmer silver colour is great for lifting your face and making you seem bright and wide-awake.
3. Grown up sandals. Essential for work. I've knackered my silver ballet flats, and need a change.
4. Neon pink bra for flashing under a white vest. It might match my nails. I posted on this earlier - an easy way to do da nu rave.
5. This cute rain jacket. Because this summer has rained too much already, so if I purchase a snazzy jacket, it is sure to stop.
6. New bag. I fancy this one from asos. My bags are currently knackered and dying a slow death. Actually, I'm really lusting after grown up bags from Mulberry, or a Chanel 2.55, but this is more in my price range.

I don't think that's too bad. I mean, I do get paid in a few days, which is highly necessary.

retail therapy

So, today was a very exciting day, with an impromptu wisdom tooth extraction, followed by a bit of a "keep me hanging" career chat at work, which left me a bit depressed. So, being depressed led me to the shops, where I picked up a silk patchwork dress from Miss Selfridge, which I'm thinking will be good for a summer wedding I'm off to in July, and boots, jeans, and a couple of tops from Topshop. I'm not done on my need to purchase, and I've got my eye on a couple more things online, but hopefully I'll manage to restrain myself. The crochet tunic top is particularly cool.

ahead of the times, behind the times

This month's UK Glamour has its usual "high street" story, which, also as usual, has gone for a 70s Americana feel. However, the first picture has the most beautiful cherry print strapless sundress from Miss Selfridge. However, that dress was actually in the shop about a month ago, and now is nowhere to be found. I'm used to fashion spreads being a couple of months ahead of the game, but this is the first time I've actually spotted them behind. My only hope is that it comes back in, because the dress itself is absolutely gorgeous. If only I could get a pic.

Marissa and Summer, where have you gone?

The lovely teenfashionista has a great post on Nanette Lepore, after feeling nostalgic for the OC. Ah, I feel her pain. Every so often I do miss the inspirations that Marissa and Summer used to add to my wardrobe. Preppy, but sort of, well, edgy isn't quite the right word, but never too "together". Because no one wants to be together. Personal favourites were Marissa's fondness for gorgeous dresses teamed with hoodies. The girls wore a lot of shorts, not like now, when shorts are cool, but more A&F/American Eagle high school shorts, which I most definitely live in the wrong country to get away with. I actually do believe that my wardrobe styling is so much better for a warm climate - I am destined to leave these cold British Isles for the sake of better dressing.

widgets for girls

Today's Topshop story comes right from the front page and onto your desktop. Topshop have developed fantastic widgets that sit on your desktop and deliver today's "most wanted" and a click to buy service. I can imagine this creating a whole lot more impulse buys, and other fashion retailers will be following suit. Has Amazon developed one of these with their top 10s (even by genre or keyword) - this looks like a great shopping tool. Now topshop just needs to figure out the whole "outfit suggestions" piece for each item, and they will be sorted.

give it up for the brits

Most of the fashion blogs that I read on a regular basis are American in origin, like most blogs in general (yes, I know, I'm ignoring the masses that are chinese and other non-English languages, but if we except those..). I adore fashionista, teen fashionista (a trend, no?), and painfully hip, but I also have a real soft spot in my heart for catwalk queen, with its hip to the high street vibe. Today it features a fab dress from Warehouse, and the cutest madras checked pumps from topshop in a great beach or city outfit. Fantastic.

stylin in the summer

Every summer has its fantastic trends - crazy things that we will wonder why on earth we were doing them. Well, basically, like any fashion season. I stole these ones from the Observer Woman magazine and added my own thoughts. Better start making a list of things I quite simply must buy.

Brazil
I wish. Have always wanted to go there, think it will be quite some time before work and bank manager agree that it is a good idea. Keep dreaming.

Luggage on Wheels
They say its all about Marc Jacobs making the wheelie-suitcase cool, I say its all about the fact that you have to check in bags now, so you might as well take as much as you possibly can. Though really, no one should be flying anymore, and we should all be taking the train to France, the boat to the Netherlands, or heading up to Scotland or down to Devon.

No Passport Covers
I always thought these were a waste of time, and am pleased that everyone else has caught up with my authentically battered passport. Mine even has weird stickers all over it from various visas/flights/etc. It seems as soon as one person sticks a sticker on your passport, everyone else thinks its a free for all.

CSS' Sao Paulo Style
Follow in the Brazilian band's footsteps with weird fringes and skin tight denim dungarees. Kinda reminds me of the nu-rave stuff we have already going on, which is pretty unforgiving on anyone who isn't size 6. Ie, really anyone.

Ray Ban Wayfarers
Oh please, we all knew this was going to be big. Still, am fully supportive and have been hunting on ebay for some working with my budget. My dad has a pair from the first time around, but he is surprisingly keen to hold onto them. Maybe its the first time he has officially been in style for a while...

Bikinis are OUT
And bring in the bizarre cut out swimsuit things. No no no. Nothing can make my curvy stomach look worse than additional muffin tops. Stay away unless you are truly toned. And fancy weird suntan lines.

Slogan T Shirts
See, Observer Woman thinks they are in. Fashionista is obsessed with House of Holland. And I just think blah. Can't say I'll be getting involved.

No more "Faux Ethnic Chiffon Cover-ups with Beading
According to OW, its far too Liz Hurley. So so so agree - for me it looks way to Marks and Spencer meets Maldives, and not in a good way. They say get a t-shirt dress, I say head to American Apparel quick smart lady-girls.

Say No to Convincing Tans
I thoroughly support the fake look, only because I'm not going away this summer at all. A real one looks better, but we don't want to resemble Rachel Zoe in years to come, do we?

Airport Novels
They reference something called First Among Sequels, which I aint never heard off. Can't say I love love airport novels - the closest my brain gets to switching off in Marian Keyes. But I do have to say nothing quite tops a great summer read. Personal favourites recently? In the Country of Men, by Hisham Matar, Half of A Yellow Sun, by Chimamamanda Ngozi Adichie, and This Book Will Change Your Life, by A. M. Homes.

City Pools
Now this one I so agree with. I would love access to a city pool, or even if Edinburgh had one, but I just don't think it does. (Cue a google on it later tonight). They namecheck a couple in London, New York and LA, but that doesn't really help me, does it?

Kareoke
Basically because they want it to. I second that. But really, what everyone loves in summer is beer gardens with jugs of Pimms. Drunk on a Tuesday? Oops.

Badminton is the New Tennis
Eh? But you can't play it outside. And its not exactly hardcore to hit a shuttlecock. I mean, it's called a shuttlecock! Not en accord ici.

Daniel Craig's Bulge is Not A Good Thing
Because of the unwanted imitators. Not that I should see many men in tight blue shorts this far north.

Ibiza's Over
And has been for years. Get with the programme people!

Parasols
Apparently Kirtie Allsopp likes them. Great for her. For me, I can't even handle an umbrella without gouging several holes in my head and others losing eyes around me. I'll pass.

Shelter Island
Never heard of it, but apparently the "New Hamptons". Great for them, irrelevant for me.

Cornettos
I've been saying this for years!!! Strawberry is the best flavour. Will most likely always be my favourite summer ice cream, though a magnum certainly has a sense of decadence to it.

Diet Coke Isn't Going to Hit the Spot
They say because the new guys in the ad isn't that hot, and San Pellegrino Limonata is much fancier. Agree the second, couldn't care less about the first, and will still continue to drink DC, even if it is eating away my enamel and causing me to lose bone density etc etc etc.

Bra Wars
Apparently we should all be flashing our fancy coloured bras. Since I posted on neon underwear a few weeks ago, I'm feeling all smug. And will definitely be getting with this trend. Nothing cooler than a bright white tank, some denim and a flash of colour. Plus, it's an easy way to handle nu-rave.

Blogging Is Out
We shouldn't be indoors being snarky. I have to agree. My posts do drop dramatically when the sun is out and barbeques are to be had. Not a full-blown stop, but definitely a cutback. Like a diet.

Magazine Freebie Beach Bags Suck
Agreed. Didn't really warrant an post, did it?

Popeye Tattoos
Apparently a good thing, thanks to Amy Winehouse. People, a tattoo is for life, not just for 07!!!

Bottle Water is so Wrong
Agreed. This will get you Reduce and Reuse points people!

Jelly Sandals
Primark are selling out of their £3 number, Topshop have them in stacks, and fashionista was debating them last week. Personally, they remind me of being 3 and look like they'll give horrible blisters, but you know, if that's what you want to do, feel free. I just know I won't.

Heatworld.com
From the makers of Heat. Rivalry to Perez.

Liquid Sunshine
Clinque's Up-lighting Liquid. Apparently way better than bronzer. Personally, I'm going to go for something from Stila. I tend to not be so good with anything shiny and liquid.

Lurid Nails
Oh, I'm so on-trend with this. They recommend Barry M, I'm wearing a Barry M candy pink I posted about last week. Love this trend as long as you ladies stay away from green. That somehow makes me queasy.



So there you have it - a failsafe guide for being coo-el this summer. And not a mention of high-waisted jeans in sight.

bzzzzzzz

I've just added a buzzfeed widget to my blog. I first came across buzzfeed whenever my blog hits jumped massively, thanks to being randomly featured on the front page of the site about a month ago. I checked the site out, and have to admit, wasn't that impressed. The stories it was picking up were quite old, and it just wasn't working for me. I checked it out again today, and was pleasantly surprised - it was picking up newer stuff, like Posh Spice's lack of pants this week, and seemed to have a better tracking system. Hence my widget adding. And who knows, maybe I'll benefit once again from the traffic generation.

oh the shape we're in

I am an avid reader of teenfashionista, but I have to admit to being a little disappointed by her recent post on skinny starlets. I think the point that she was trying to make, and maybe I'm missing it a little, so I'd be grateful if she cleared it up, was that a lot of skinny celebs don't have eating disorders, but the fabulousness of fashion does act as an incentive to stay off the ice cream. That I could certainly believe if girls today weren't soooo skinny. Whenever you see a girl who is called curvy on screen, and they are tiny in real life, you can only worry about what the skinny girls really look like. And yes, I know that some people are naturally size 0, but surely that natural tendency for success, acting talent, beauty, and being a size 0 doesn't always go hand in hand. Some of these girls are working really hard to look like that; it is a full-time job of not eating, eating only prescribed meals from a nutritionist, and having a personal trainer come and beat you up afterward. And then, still, potentially not fitting into a sample size. I don't think it's a case nof simply laying off the ice cream. Believe me, I've tried! And yes, catwalk models have a huge part to play in this, as sample sizes get smaller and smaller. Even Kate Moss doesn't look as skinny as she did, compared to the wave of ultra-thin girls.

But, maybe, the strength of the size 0 wave is weakening, even if poster girl for all things curvy Drew Barrymore is a shadow of her former self. As Observer Woman featured today on its cover, some women are getting bigger. Two fabulous size 16 girls were modelling swimsuits in their shoot. The girls were absolutely beautiful, though resembling the average size 16 girl, I'm not so sure. All creamy smooth flesh, not a touch of cellulite or lump. Still, it was a beautiful shoot, and in the commentary, it noted the rise of beauties such as Lily Allen, Billie Piper, and Beth Ditto. Since I'm pretty sure that Lily and Billie are both about a size 10, I'm not about to say they're curvaceous, although Elle magazine would, I would definitely celebrate their beauty and aspire to it. Continue this celebration of womanhood, of nature at its finest, and above all, of beauty.

I am addicted (american apparel)

I know that I blog a lot about Topshop, but my actual obsession is with american apparel. Maybe it's because we don't have one in Scotland, maybe it's my love of anything American, maybe its my approval of a "vertically integrated" manufacturing, or maybe it is just blind infatuation, but I love it. I must have been to 10 different stores when I was in New York (hell, they are as ubiquitious as starbucks), and I got a range of t-shirts, sweat pants, stuff. Amateur A-squared. The real cool stuff is the edgy - how did a t-shirt company manage to become to "clubland", so edgy, so gay, so lame, so fashion? I'm sure that using a "youthful" cut has helped - my sizing with them ranges from M in girls t shirts, to xl in shorts - definitely not one for ego-hugging. Plus, their grubby porn advertising is just fabulous, although very not safe for work. I want I want I want. Their UK ordering is shit and over-priced - I'm actually going to order and have it posted to Israel and then here. Random or what. But just check out the dresses, the pants, the hoodies. Personal fave? The silver dress with the blue hoodie over it. Black eyeliner, tons of attitude, and I am set.

In honour of my fabulous pink nails mentioned earlier today, check out this fantastic pants! If you don't want to commit whole-heartedly to the neon trend, then check out the underwear line from topshop. If you're feeling really daring, a pink or green bra poking out under a white wife-beater will look pretty damn cool.

topshop for charity

Topshop are advocating we all hold charity fashion sales to raise money for the national domestic violence hotlines across the UK. Get together with some friends and sell your clothes, raise money for charity, and get 20% off in Topshop. And if you can't arrange your own, they are holding market events in York, London, Manchester, and Brighton. Shame there aren't any Scottish events, but maybe I'll get together with some friends and see if we can make this happen.

Ugly Betty Lovin

As Ugly Betty draws to a close in the UK, I have to admit my favourite character by far is the wonderful fag hag Amanda. So chic, so carb-addicted, so bitchy, so brill. And Catwalk Queen have a great piece on how us mere mortals can dress in her super skinny dresses and sky high heels. We too can be over-glamourous receptionists.

nu-rave nails

I saw a great beauty spread in last month's glamour of the perfect pink nail varnish - not fuschia, not baby pink, but a perfect, almost candy-flouro colour. Very neon, nu-rave on trend, and I fell in love instantly. Come on, I can't exactly go putting lime green eye shadow on my eyes, can I? Anyway, the colour popped up again on a Fashionista Street Style piece, and yesterday I trailed high and low in Edinburgh to find me the perfect colour. Most were either too fuschia or too coral, but I finally found the perfect one - Barry M's 279. I'll try and get a pic up later to demonstrate the true perfection of this colour. Oh, and my boyfriend hates it. A sure sign of a fashion victory.

fit me up

Like most young women, I have a love-hate relationship with exercise. I love the effect (hello toned stomach), but hate the effort/pain/boredom that is associated with it. I've also had a complicated relationship with exercise since I can be terminally lazy (I am currently going to my $100/month gym about once a month), but was extremely fit as a teenager (30 hours of sports will do that for ya), and have done crazy ass fitness things, like trekking to base camp Everest. So it is a highs and lows relationship, and since I've tasted the highs, I am too lazy to work back up to get them, and want instant instant results. And what fools us into giving us instant results? Technology. Hence the reason why I'm thinking about ordering me a pair of FitFlops, the MBT-esque fit flop that claims to tone your calves, thighs and bum as you walk. They are currently sold out across the UK, but can be back ordered via sweaty betty and other fine online sports establishments. Even more tempting is the whole iPod/Nike workout pack, which combines my need for a new trainer with a need for a new iPod. I first came across this in New York last September, but was put off back the fact that the running tops were those second skin ones (ew, no thanks. It's bad enough being beetroot and sweaty whilst I run, never mind showing off my "curves"), but an armband will solve that problem. The only is that I live in Edinburgh, the land of the hill, and running outside is a helluva an effort, and I usually stick to the gym (which is itself a nice walk uphill!). Still, a fresh air run is much better for you, and being spurred on by your "power song" might be worth it.

do your bit for charidee

Everyone loves a bit of charity, and I've already mentioned Project Red today, but even more reason to, since Gap and Converse have created a pair of Project Red shoes to wear with your pretty summer dresses or skinny jeans. Go on, get a pair at Gap.com. Thanks to style bakery for the tip.

styletastic

Last week I took my sister on a trip to the Topshop Style Adviser in Glasgow. Topshop Style Advisers are professionally trained stylists (mine had a degree in fashion and had worked in buying before becoming a style adviser) who serve as a professional shopper for you. It is such a great service! The girls were highly excitable and lots of fun - we were offered water, tea, or champagne before we started, before wandering around and picking up random stuff to try on. You have a small room with a sofa and a couple of huge changing rooms to try things on in, and then, once you are all shopped out (an hour and a half of pure fashion craziness), you finish your champagne whilst everything is gift wrapped and you don't even have to queue. And guess what? The service is completely free! Kate and I were looking for what to do with high-waisted silliness, and were convinced that high waisted jeans with cute tops were a good idea, and that high waisted shorts would also work as well. Having got home, I'm not necessarily convinced (or as Kate said, she has too many novelty jeans with her white ones and her red ones as well), and felt a bit like I had just stepped out of the seventies, so took the jeans back, safe in the knowledge that if a style adviser couldn't convince me they were a good idea, they really weren't. My high waisted shorts are still in the bag - I'm just not sure I'm brave enough to wear them. They do give waist and flatten my stomach, but they are still a little weird on the eye. The funky draped dress is just good for being different, though being strapless, it does give me that weird muffin top around the boobs (how does one get rid of that with strapless tops?). It'll be good for going out and drinking weird cocktails at Tigerlily. As for the shoes, although I think they are slightly orthaedic, they are genius and brilliant as well. Gorgeous. And although I returned the jeans, it was a fabulous day's shopping, and everyone should give it a go. Even my mum's convinced.

out of africa

I'm sure it is the high level of attention that Africa has been receiving in the media recently - Last King of Scotland, Blood Diamond, memoirs of boy soldiers from Dave Eggers and others, the heightened awareness of the conflict in the Sudan - but I've noticed that http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.giffashion has also been taking on African influence. Since I'm off to Ghana later this year to volunteer, I can't help but love this look. And yes, I don't know how to put fashion and the so frequent stories of misery that we hear from the many conflict, arid, drought-riven countries of the sub-continent, apart from Project Red, but I just can't help but notice the synergy. Today I read two amazing stories in The Observer coming out of Africa - one about the corruption of US aid that serves to do more for farmers in Iowa than it does for the citizens of Malawi, and another about a group of Nigerian women who are immune to HIV. And if that doesn't fascinate you, then just feast your eyes on this fabulous dresses from Topshop's Zanzibar collection. I actually got the longer sleeved one, since the sleeveless dress is actually a touch too long for my legs. Tights and ballet flats until the weather gets good, and then gladiator sandals and chunky bracelets. Topshop have a fabulous guide to their Zanzibar collection that is really worth checking out as well, if you need a little inspiration.