teenage kicks

I saw a very stylish teenager wearing this dress from Topshop the other day, and I really want it. However, a couple of things are holding me back, and not just my bank balance.

1. She was a size 8; I am a size 12. Something tells me that will make a difference between "fun" and "pregnant".
2. She teamed it with white jeans and a cute grey, antiquey cardigan. Effortless. Me and white jeans are never going to happen.
3. Teenagers just have great style. I don't think I'll be able to get back to that.

Having said all that, I keep thinking maybe I can team it with the grey jeans I don't own, or my big brown belt, and get away with it. It just looks so much fun!! Please?

kate moss topshop.com further problems

First, I receive an email that my order is not being fulfilled. Then, I visit the website and I see that the stuff I ordered is available. Confused? Just a little. Not sure what is going on with the technical team, but I know I'm not the only one this is happening too. I haven't ordered again, unsurprisingly.

I'm news!!!

I dropped the lovely Faran at Fashionista.com a note about my topshop woes, and she made me into a post. I'm almost famous!

Will these non-apology emails from topshop drive up ebay prices further? Most likely, despite most shops saying stock will be flying back in again.

topshop.com falls apart under pressure

After encouraging shoppers to use topshop.com as alternative to braving the stores for the new Kate Moss collection, the website completely fell apart under pressure from shoppers at 4am this morning. Whilst I was using it, the site crashed an innumerable number of times, although this was relieved when new shoppers were banned from loading it up. However, much more annoyingly, the orders that my flatmate and I put through have just come up as cancelled, due to "factors beyond the control" of the administrators of topshop.com. Just how is not being able to match up warehousing and shopping baskets beyond the control of the online shopping team? The team behind topshop.com are going to have some serious questions to answer as this demonstrates that quite simply, their technology solution was not up to customer demand. If I was Philip Green, I'd be pissed. Because, quite frankly, he's going to have a lot of pissed off people on his hands.

kate middleblah

So, Kate Middleton is rumoured to be heading off to New York to do something with Tom Ford. I wish I could be happy for her, I really do. I mean, it must suck to have given up your dreams for your bloke, and then breaking up with him, but it just doesn't seem right that someone so dull should get such a job. Then again, maybe she does love fashion, she was just not allowed to have any character as princess in waiting.

fantastically 20s

Thanks to The Fashion-y Blog for pointing out this beautiful headband availably from Etsy. Absolutely divine. I'll have to think about what to do with my crap hair (I have the worst, much rubbish hair ever, worthy of its own, "how bad is my hair" post), before making the purchase.

bizarre stylin

This skirt is from Topshop, and you can buy it from my local shop. It looks ghastly. However, I saw it in a magazine recently being styled so cool that it actually made me lust after it. However, my head doesn't hold that sort of image in my head so long, so now I can't remember how to make it cool. I'm guessing another skirt might need to go on top of it. And definitely no leggings. Some brown leather heels maybe to tone it down. And none of those 80s slogan t-shirts. People keep trying to sell them, but I've actually yet to see anyone wear one. Thank goodness.

(Though I did hear of one that said "who's to thank for socialite rank?" that tempted me a little.)

topshop sale

The Edinburgh Topshop had a "3 days to go sign" in the window, counting down to Kate Moss day. Inside though, everything's on sale. I'm guessing they are going to dump the sale stuff for the 3hrs that Moss-ness will be on sale. It's all available on the website, so check out some good 2-for-1 bargains. I have to admit that I just am horrendous at sale shopping. It just isn't in me - the lack of patience at riffling through racks, the sense of "everyone else's rejects", and the sheer dubious-ness of most of the stuff. Which all should contribute to an extreme sense of achievement when you find a gem, but frankly, I have rarely had that. It's the same reason that I don't get along well with H&M.

How Sassy Changed My Life | FabSugar

FabSugar have a review of a new book, "How Sassy Changed My Life", which is a behind the scenes look at how the magazine was created and developed. I remember being about 14, and it was the first time I had been to the US, and I picked up a copy of Sassy magazine. It was a complete adoration, and straightaway I bullied my dad into getting me an overpriced American subscription. Actually, he was very game about it; maybe he was impressed by the feminist approach and the lack of "how to kiss your boyfriend better" articles. I've actually just bought a subscription to Jane magazine as I figured that it would be cheaper than getting to train to Borders in Glasgow to pick it up, since its the only place which stocks it. My favourite things? The random asides that accompany the photos in fashion shoots. A little irreverence never hurt anybody.

dress me a dozen ways

StyleBakery has a post on a dress worn by Jordin Sparks on American Idol (ok, being British, I have no idea who she is). The dress is fabulous - draped and flattering, and even better, multifunctional. It happily switches from a halter dress to strapless, and apparently a dozen other ways. Check it out at Benny and Shaw.

decorate your arms

Bracelets, I'm sure are going to be big this season. I have a feeling. That, and I've seen some gorgeous ones. Normally, I just wear myself a beautiful Links of London sweetie bracelet, but I may have to temporarily ditch it for some of these beauties. All these are from Accessorize.

i wish i was more stylish

I wrote a post a few days ago about not being stylish or cool. Amber at Painfully Hip has written an ode to style and picked up some great people and sites online where the participants are genuinely, wonderfully truly stylish. These people wouldn't care about the Kate Moss Topshop collection. And you know? I really wish I didn't. I really wish I didn't read style magazines and instead I spent my days wandering around charity shops and vintage places with my great eye and my ability to accesorise (because baby, it is all in the accessories), but unfortunately, I can't. It's just not in me, I'm just too influenced, too blah. It's why, although my love for clothes and style is undending, I doubt that I'll ever be able to actually work in fashion. It's disappointing, but at some point, we all have to give up on our dreams. And at least I can keep earning enough to keep getting my clothing fix on a fairly regular basis. As a wise young man once told me, it's compromises that keeps the world going along.

topshop hype

As if Topshop wasn't hyping its Kate Moss collection enough, today it issued guidelines for queueing and shopping come 1st May. "Security will be on hand" etc etc. Other points of note is that hardcore queuers will get water and snacks to keep them going. Aw, too kind! Fashionista picked up on a rumour that Kate herself is going to model the collection in the window of the Oxford Circus. Frankly, its all getting a bit much and I'm feeling a bit jaded. Although I've promised to get up at stupid o'clock to get my sister a leather jacket as a reward for her medicine finals.

coming to terms to not being cool

Catwalk Queen, a new personal favourite, has a nice little post by Gemma Cartwritihg about not being cool. I can empathise. Sometimes I try. When I do, I look crap. Luckily Gemma has gotten over trying and just wears stuff that looks nice on her. At some point, I hope I will reach this point. In the meantime, I'm trying to convince myself that playsuits are a good idea.

Also, check out the cherry sundress look the girls over there put together. Lush.

Top 50 Fashion Blogs i

Fashion IQ has put together a list of the top 50 fashion blogs in the us based on traffic. This time next year, I'll be there! (That's my goal anyway. Everyone's gotta dream.)

hipcandy

I have a new fave read - HipCandy. Unfortunately, I have to read the site on an rss reader, because everytime I go there, my poor ancient ibook crashes. However, Chanel puts up great posts including new trends (hello wide legged denim), and celeb style. I'm not the only one who thinks HipCandy's great - its just been voted into the top 50 US Fashion Blogs. Congratulations!

makeup wishlist

I'm not the greatest at wearing makeup, being far too lazy to actually remember to put it on. I am getting older (25 and counting!), so I had better start soon. I have been thinking about it more and more, and so have put together my ultimate beauty wishlist for the moment. Hopefully I'll be able to come back and check it off.

1. Stila Shimmer Powder in silver shade as highlighter - highlighter is the hidden saviour of making a gal look fab
2. Nars Blush in Orgasm - blush makes everyone look fantastic
3. MAC lipstick in Sandy B - a gorgeous peachy shade
4. Stila lipstick in Louise - slight glossy, natural shade
5. Nars eyeshadow in Night I think - okay, not sure on the exact name of the shade, but the black one with a slight shimmer for doing ultimate sexy smokey eye.

Sooo, with it being two-for-one on the dollar, and it be a crime not to fly to New York straight away and spend spend spend, I need to find an American beauty sight that ships internationally. I've not got my fingers crossed.

biatchy post

I hate Avril Lavigne. There are few people that I genuinely cannot stand, but she is one. It's her general "like me, because I'm Canadian", to her "don't like me, I'm a teenager", and "I'm just real, sweet, me" fakeness. And she's dull!! She was on the wonderful Charlotte Church Show, which everyone goes on to swear and be funny, and all she did was hug her knee, look vulnerable, and giggle. Please!!! Show some personality. And now Go Fug Yourself: The Best Damn Fug highlights just how awful and stuck in a time warp that Avril is. And it made me feel good.

The Measure catches up

I am an avid reader of The Guardian, and I'm not sure I'd be able to make it through a Saturday without reading The Measure, the fashion team's round-up on what's hot and what's not. Of course, it's hilariously contradictory, slating celeb fashion ranges whilst featuring Kate Moss's collection on a previous page, and things that were hot last week are frequently not this week. Anyway, I was both delighted and disappointed to see that they had noticed Kirsten Dunst's horrendous mustard tights, only about three weeks after I wrote about it via Go Fug Yourself. Keep up people!

gorgeous bicycle print

I've been in my flat for 9 months now, and still have nothing on the walls, which might actually be a crime. However, I absolutely adore this bicycle print from nydampress at Etsy. Etsy for me is a total addiction, but I've not yet bought anything. I'd love to start making cards and selling them there. The only thing is, I do wonder about the sales potential - I sometimes think that it is a site for crafters, by crafters, and if I can craft, why would I buy it? But people do.