IsabelleOC

My Wardobe style challenge: Lucy Hutchings necklace

Isabelle — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:55:41 +0000

Lucy Hutchings makes fantastic jewellery, so the ‘challenge’ part was minimal. The lovely My Wardrobe peeps lent me a Forrest & Bob fine knit vest top, but the necklace ended up looking so good over black that I teamed it with a simple t-shirt and charity shop maxi skirt. I’m also wearing the uwabaki my mum got me from Japan. They’re the simple plimsolls school kids wear indoors, I’m kind of obsessed with them so it’s just as well my she brought back two pairs, merci maman!

Back to the necklace, it’s a gorgeous black pearl finish, with Lucy’s trademark cage. The black pearl gives a bit of drama, but actually it’s simple enough to sling on with any outfit to add a bit of class. I’m really loving pieces like this, when you feel like you need to step up a bit and look a bit more ‘done’. It’s only £81 from My Wardrobe, which is fairly reasonable and bumps it up to 3rd place on the favesies list… stay tuned for more pieces!

Tag, you’re it!

Isabelle — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:15:50 +0000

Caroline, No passed on the Beautiful Blogger Award, in which you have to list seven things about yourself. I’m really bad at these things, and about 2 months too late, but Caroline is back from the US now, so here are the Top Seven Things You Never Knew About Me. Click here to see Caroline’s top 7.

Me and my sister have a secret snorting sound we make when something is shit, you can’t hear it unless you’d find yourself standing right next to one of us. Very useful for discreetly calling bullshit on someone.

At Brownies I suggested the summer parade should have a Second World War theme and we could listen to Glenn Miller and pretend to be orphans. Needless to say it wasn’t picked (they went for Hawaiian, Bo-ring!), and no, I didn’t have any friends at Brownies.

I can do a mean ‘Regulate’ on the ol’ karaoke. Chords, strings we brings, melody. G-Funk, where rhythm is life and life is rhythm.

I’ve worn a hearing aid for a few years after an operation. It’s really annoying when people look at you like you might have learning difficulties (cheers woman in Streatham Tesco!), and when tube drivers hock up phlegm doing their neverending announcements. But, A Very Good Thing is when you cross eyes with a child or an awkward teenager (do un-awkward teenagers exist?) who also wears a hearing aid, and you do a little smile to each other. It’s all about the kids man!

When I was at Catwalk Queen I had a You Tube fan who made me a video love poem.

I was probably the UK’s biggest Reef fan. Don’t ask me why but I had all their singles (signed, obvs), and knew EVERYTHING about them, including their starsigns. This was kind of before the internet so mad props to my research skills/ayyeeee to my stalker skills. Thankfully I’m over that and have a semi-decent taste in music now, still remember all the words tho.

I won best-dressed class of 2000.

I’m tagging some bloggers, on a pure level of noseyness: Enchanted Hunters, Canned Fashion, Chuck’s Miscellany and some of my IRL BFFS: Furcoat No Knickers, Samand (even though I know everything about her ever), Ephemera Emporium

My Wardrobe style challenge: Current Elliott Captains

Isabelle — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:13:12 +0000

Next up in the My Wardrobe style challenge is Current Elliott’s Captain trousers, the looser alternative to the Houlihans I wore last week. They’re a trad chino colour and come pre-rolled for maximum casual chic. I teamed these with a stripy top, patent belt, mustard Kate Kanzier lace-ups and a trusty Uniqlo cardie. Going on the glance-ometer these were pretty popular, the proportions make them look really cute.

I don’t usually wear slouchy trews, or even harems that much, but these were so relaxed and a joy to wear. If I’m totally honest with you I’m getting little bit weirded out posting so many outfit pics of myself, but thanks for all the delicious comments. If you spy a funny expression on my face it’s because my darling sister was trying to take pictures of my crotch, classy. I thought I’d leave you with one of the outtakes from our photo sesh.

My Wardrobe style challenge: Sonia by Sonia Rykiel pom pom jumper

Isabelle — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:23:35 +0000

Next up is the Sonia by Sonia Rykiel pom pom corsage jumper, it’s a whimsical, fun piece that got loads of comments, there wasn’t really anyone who didn’t like it. Can you blame them? There’s nothing like some pom poms to put a smile on your face and this jumper’s got me careering towards the nearest haberdashers to get myself kitted out. It’s £216 from My Wardrobe, and the 3rd item in my My Wardrobe Style Challenge so far.

Usually I’d wear something like this in quite a classic way, with jeans and lace-ups, or a pair of tailored shorts but I wanted to do something a bit more interesting and who hasn’t been inspired by the Prada, Marc jacobs and Louis Vuitton catwalks of late? The ’60s/’50s look has been bubbling around in my head for a while, and so I dug out a beautiful vintage skirt that I’ve had for a while for a homespun take on the look. Worn with some pretty pink lace-ups that were a bargainous five pounds from TRAID in Sheperd’s Bush it’s the perfect combination of prim and quirky. If I wasn’t such a lazy fool I’d team it with flicky eyeliner and a backbrushed barnet. The jumper is really closing in on the Moschino coat as the fave piece so far, I’ve got a fair few outfits still to put up so keem ‘em peeled.

This is also the debut of the Outside Hallway! Where some people tried to break in a mere 2 days ago! Woo, topical. They didn’t succeed btw, FU burglars.

Marianne Breslauer

Isabelle — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:41:30 +0000

I came across Marianne Breslauer’s pics on the brilliant Weimar Art blog, I love the naturalistic photography. Knitted swimsuits, who’d a thought that I wanted one of those, but I definitely do now. What could be better than hanging out with your femibuds having a fa-ag and shooting the breeze?

My Wardrobe style challenge: Love Moschino coat

Isabelle — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:17:02 +0000

Onwards with the My Wardrobe style challenge! Outfit #2, Love Moschino Oversized Zip Honeycomb Coat. Readers, I loved this piece, a rich navy coat with gold poppers and zip, with a ’50s Balenciaga-style cocoon shape. What’s not to love? I wore it on a nice evening out for a meal with the rents, the sis, the boyf, the bff and her boyf, gotta share the love sometimes. In case you’re wondering I had buttermilk fried turkey and salt cod lasagne, it was delicious.

I just teamed it with some trusty jeans, a white tee and nice effnic style necklace and lace-up suede boots. This coat, which so far has earnt the place of favesies in the style challenge, is just the kind of thing you can sling on and instantly look (and feel) special. It’s £477 from My Wardrobe, so if you see me in the street chuck some pennies my way, ta! I also included some still shots to show you just how delish this coat is, I am a bit of a coat herder though. Sam said I have four coats I can legitimately get rid of so this one can take its place. I can only think of three.

Also, I am aware that I’m wearing Timber-skates, but I just really love them. Pretty much everyone I’ve shown them to has done a little screwy face and gone ‘mmyeah, I mean I’m sure you’ll make them look good’ but I can’t let that stop me, also crepe soles are ♥♥♥ because they’re so comfy!

Who spiked the punch?!

Isabelle — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 12:25:39 +0000

I found this pic on one of my favourite lol-sites Sorry I Missed Your Party (*NSFW*) which is always good for a laugh. Right now I’m feeling a little more like snoozy boozy on the sideboard but the reason I’m bringing this pic to your attention is the laydees. Check the bouffant hair and the oh-so slim silhouette, and OBVS the spiky sharp kitten heels. I might tape it to the fridge as a reminder to be a little more sharp this season.

River Island stocked at Selfridges for LFW

Isabelle — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 08:49:49 +0000

News comes today that Selfridges is hosting a selection of River Island’s AW shoe collection, the launch of which will coincide with fashion week. It’s a further blurring of high street and high fashion, and seems somewhat inevitable after the slew of designer collaborations we’ve had over the last decade.

The shoes will be available at Selfridges from the 16th Spetember and retail prices will be between £50 – £140. Good news for me, it means I can get my much-loved Artisan du Chocolat Salted Caramels at the same time.

My Wardrobe style challenge: J Brand Houlihans

Isabelle — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:08:33 +0000

This isn’t going to be the most eloquent of posts as I’m kind of suffering after an unexpected amount of wine, doh. I’ve been taking part in a style challenge with My Wardrobe, who’ve kindly lent me a week’s worth of fantastic clothes. Along with Laura from Fabsugar I’ve been trying out some of their AW pieces, which is just the thing I need to kickstart me into autumn mode as I’m still dragging my heels and hoping for an Indian Summer. Yeah right, puck you weather.

The first thing I tried on were the J Brand Houlihans, the skinny cargo pant that’s been on every fashion addicts’ wishlist since Spring. I teamed them with some charity shop sandals & belt, and a sample sale tee. Trying on the luxe trousers the first thing I noticed is how soft they are! Stroking my legs all day, I deffo looked like a bit of a loon. They’re really tight around the calf, but not so around the hip, which makes for a surprisingly comfortable combo. Little details like the rusted buttons make you realise these ain’t your average skinny combats, the centre back seam is really butts-taculous. The side pockets are also made to be flattering, with a gentle slope that slims the thighs. I really enjoyed wearing these and got a weird sense of enjoyment from the odd oh-em-gee those are Houlihans sidelong glances. Nothing like a pair of It trousers to get a little head-turn action on the Bakerloo line.

Check out Laura’s outfit at Fabsugar, she’s been giving the Captains a run for their money, oh and walking a tiny chihuahua at the same time, yeeep.

Oh and mad props go to @paulaanton for patiently taking a bajillion pics of me, ta!

AW ain’t so bad, No 6 Clogs lookbook

Isabelle — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:30:32 +0000

When it comes to fashion I am the opposite of an early adopter, I like to tentatively watch from the wings, until I make a purchase when everyone else has moved onto the next thing. I’m not really sure why I can’t cut the charity shop apronstrings but new trends get me all coy. In school disco terms it’s the equivalent of standing on the sidelines all night, giving secret psychic lust eyes to the boy you fancy, then waiting for the last song to bust out some scary dance moves that clear the dance floor.

Which is shorthand for ‘I never got on the clogs trend’. I like them, I’m just bad at making decisions. And I’m also on the brink of doing the shoe-scary dance move of getting winter clogs. See! I like clogs too, I’m like you! Uh, oh. Ok.

Blame the no6 A/W lookbook, it’s so full of winter cloggy goodness, I mean, thigh high leather clogs wtf?

The lookbook also reminds me that you can still have japes in winter. Summer japes might involve lo-ong parties and amazing day trips, but there’s no reason to let the fun end. I know I’m telling myself more than anyone else, but how can anything bad happen in studded clogs?

No6 Store