In an unusually restrained Christmas feast of present-giving, where our actual feast actually defeated my several brothers and our 10 guests, I managed to tick off a record-breaking NO presents from wishlist.  A staggering feat of perversity, for I definitely sent out my list – with easy-click links – several weeks ago, and I know that none of the purchasers enjoy shopping at all, so why they would opt to go off-piste is something of a mystery…

Well, it’s over for another year, and I am taking off to family-free countryside in Cornwall.  Dressed in old wool and jewelless…

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Do I have enough shoes, jeans… black trousers!!?!  Oh no oh no… I can feel some last minute panic shopping coming on.  Which is sort of not the point, but… I think I have to go!

In the spirit of Christmas Eve, among the many, many things that I have on my list of wishes (aside obviously from peace in the middle east and a climate change deal) are: an Alex Monroe bumblebee necklace, anything in cashmere from Jil Sander’s Uniqlo collection J+, the September Issue dvd, the Coco before Chanel dvd, and the Kate Moss style book.  Fingers crossed…

Drama on the list of the best dressed as Kate Moss is relegated to number 10 by fashion’s bible, Vogue. Alexa is deserving of the top of the list – not least because of her shameless idolatry of fashion – see her appearances in ‘How to look good naked’ – always on the side of the designers. Also, I think she always looks very cool.

I have to admit I’m also relieved to see that Agnes Deyn, who was rarely off the lists of best dressed this year, is not on this one as her clothes – and more specifically her combinations of clothes – baffle me.

1 Alexa Chung, TV presenter
2 Audrey Tautou, actress
3 Sarah Jessica Parker, actress Read more »

Oh my god – love, love, LOVE this trailer!

My revolutionary approach to motivation for ‘My Challenge’ is going to take both reward and punishment elements.

I think that I will save in the region of £3000 if I manage not to buy any clothes this year.  And, I would like to do more travelling and learn how to take a vaguely acceptable photograph… so if I make it through 12months I will buy myself a good digital SLR camera.  By my careful reckonings I should still be up £2400.

The punishment part – if I slip at all: then I will have to run 1km for every pound that I spend illicitly.  Yikes.

My other tactics involve distraction and visualisation.  I am signing up to travel and photography e-newsletters to balance out my inbox.  I will endeavour to channel my clothing sightings into blogging rather than my wardrobe; maybe if I can be more creative elsewhere I won’t feel obliged to buy another pair of leggings.  Or so the philosophy seems to go on ‘Shopaholics’ and I’m willing to try anything.

I actually have a suspicion that fancy dress may cause me the most difficulty.

11 more days to change my mind!

But I’m back and looking at a daunting challenge.  So daunting and unlikely that I feel the need to render it public.  I am quite scared.  Let me explain.

I have a massive wardrobe.  In a very small flat.  In addition to chests of drawers, shelves and boxes FULL of clothes, shoes, sportswear and underwear.  In the event of an emergency I could be confined to my flat and have enough sartorial stash to cloth myself afresh everyday for, well I haven’t actually calculated, but a pretty long time – especially if my (self-imposed) dress code for many of those days was black-tie.

I spend hours lingering over the lush pages of netaporter.com, mywardrobe.com, luxemail, and towards the end of the month, ebay.  I work agonisingly close to Oxford St and the siren call of Banana Republic, Cos, H&M, TopShop… oof I can’t go on without actually going shopping.

My inbox is assaulted hourly with tempting purveyors of fine cashmere, jewels, loungewear, cruise wear, beachwear, skiwear and secret sales.  There is barely a moment that passes when I am not able to click directly through to my newest, previously unknown, heart’s desire.

The point, therefore, is my challenge for 2010.  To re-adjust my materialistic aspect.  To admire the beautiful things without bankrupting myself in their unnecessary pursuit.  To attain worthy goals and spend time pursuing new… er, pursuits.  So, to finally get around to actually typing it out, I am going to aim to go 12 WHOLE MONTHS WITHOUT BUYING ANY NEW CLOTHES, SHOES OR BAGS.

Gasp.

I know!

Can it be done??

I know I’m going to have to set myself a reward if I can achieve this staggering feat.  I believe it will be travel related.  I will be thinking about it over the next few days…  If anybody has any suggestions, words of encouragement or tips please do let me know!

Loving my new ToyWatch with giant oversized mother of pearl face.

Also, looking forward to the new By Malene Birger collection.

My look for the End of Winter (and I’ve decided it’s all downhill from here), is flat, knee-length riding style boots, leather skirt and neck-tie blouses.

And, as soon as payday hits I’ll be stocking up on All Saints tailoring.

Happy New Year!

This week I faced my first red carpet at the premiere of Daniel Craig’s new World War II movie, Defiance, and… it was the coldest night of the year.  So having spent all weekend searching the sales for a passably glamourous dress for gracing Bond’s movie (even if it wasn’t actually a Bond movie) – all that was on show was my heaviest winter coat.  Thankfully from last year’s sale, and Chloe, it was passable, but hardly the look one aspires to when pretending to hang out with the stars.

Great, great movie by the way.

I seem to have failed in my mission to acquire tickets for the Latitude festival so Bill Bailey may well have to go on without me, travesty though that seems.  On the other hand, I have picked up tickets to the Goodwood Festival of Speed…

My friend (a boy) thinks this is amazing and wants to go on his motorbike.  I am less convinced especially as it would involve taking a day off (it’s tomorrow).  Hmm, tricky (and ungrateful I realise).  Lewis Hamilton, James Bond cars and the prospect of ice cream in the sun do seem quite tempting…so in reality it may all hinge – this is English summer after all – on the weather.

What one wears to such an event (especially given the helmet situation) I am yet to consider.