Barbour-ella

Barbour's wax jackets are as much of a British institution as tea. Perfect country apparel...

His and hers Barbours

When I moved to London, car-less, I decided I needed a light (thick fleece + tube journeys = not cool, literally) cover-up and Barbour's quilted trench was my cover-up of choice. This style was modellled on a 40s Barbour design, and I always feel very smart (and so so comfy) when wearing it.

Of course, I always steal my boyfriend's wax Barbour (see above) when I'm feeling a bit slouchier:

Sorry for the brief hiatus, by the way - I've been in between London, Norfolk and Wiltshire, where I've been enjoying Mama's home-cooked delights:

Chicken and leek pie, chilli brocolli and chive potatoes...yum.

FRANCOPHILIA

Is it totally weird that I've already made a trip to Kiehls in an attempt to recreate Julia Restoin-Roitfeld's bathroom cupboards? Her chic NY apartment was photographed by The Selby (best idea ever), which I saw after the wonderful Knight Cat linked to the feature.

Vogue UK completely indulged my love for JRR with their seriously sexy feature on her this month - I'm in the blogger majority here when I say, what an amazing issue, right?! Natalia looked hot, although as my seemingly well-trained boyfriend noted, the air brushing was fairly extreme and that real women don't look like that. On second thoughts, maybe he was after something...

Speaking of Kiehls and the boyfriend, I bought him some Facial Fuel last year and have been stealing some ever since - it's totally grease-free (and consequently not great for night time moisturising but a good day fix).

Give Me Them Bright Lights Long Nights

Topshop glasses and sweater

DVF blouse

Vintage leather skirt

Wolford tights

? Shoes

Me doing my best Olivia Palermo impression. I'll admit it - I watch The City and the only reason I do is because of Olivia. OK, so she employed a publicist to publicise whatever it is she actually does but those immaculate curls! (cruelly deemed sausages by those at tfs but incentive enough to run out and buy curling tongs ASAP for me - see above) her vast DVF collection! her glowy skin! She's certainly no fashion pioneer, but she possesses that kind of immaculate grooming that I always wonder at.

I can't say I tried. On Friday, after several years of salon fear, I booked in with the wonderful Marcus Allen at Urban Retreat, who allayed my hair worries immediately and gave me a great cut, followed by THE MOST AMAZING BLOWDRY OF MY LIFE. He's really an artist. (And this has nothing even to do with a press discount - I didn't ask for one but simply went as a frightened gal - not journalist - who needed her split ends tended to.)

I recommend him wholeheartedly, although I loathe to do so because really I want to keep him all to myself (and the other well-groomed ladies who frequent Urban Retreat - wondered who all those Italian beauties with the bouncing blowdries wandering about Knightsbridge were? That's them.).

Horizontal Stripes

After wearing my stripey H&M dress to a very bobbly death, I decided to invest in more stripes. They're just so chic, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE white and navy together. I've had these white skinnies for YEARS - they're just Topshop and a bit too chunky for my liking (cheap denim, eh?). Which reminds me, I've been meaning to pay a visit to Trilogy, to pick up some new J Brands OR ~fashion cliché~ the Current/Elliott ripped up Boyfriends.

The sensible little hummunculus that lurks somewhere beneath my hideously expensive blouse is telling me that the £40 Gap versions are just as good, but there's just something about those strategically placed and now oh-so-familiar rips.

Back to the main point - my new Zara sweater. I bought a size bigger because wearing a slightly baggy striped jumper and white jeans makes me feel like I'm going sailing or something, but not manning the decks, because in this statement necklace that would be slightly impractical.

Zara sweater, Topshop jeans, necklace & ballet pumps

Great Lengths

Cos dress

Pierre Hardy for Gap shoes (from last year)

Hermes Twilly as usual

Press days in the west end are dangerous because you end up 'popping' into Cos and coming out with a maxi dress... My only justification is that it was a planned purchase, but my mother always says that's no excuse. She's probably right.

I love how it looks with my Pierre Hardy for Gap wedges from last year - makes me feel rather tall, which I don't feel very often. The dress itself is scandalously translucent, so I invested in a slip-type thing from M&S, which makes me feel about 65.

I haven't taken it off for two days solid. Yesterday I added a loose, sheer sweater and a long chain of pearls for a romantic picnic and today with a long grey cardigan, homemade necklace and metallic sandals to visit Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Dogs peeing everywhere + maxi dress and open toes is NOT a good idea.

As for the press days, I am seriously excited about Jaeger London for next season - amazing glass shard statement necklaces and luxe fur coats... totally gorge.

PANTSUIT

Zara trousers

Zara jacket

Zara blouse

? Gladiator sandals

Topshop sequinned clutch

LK Bennett Lorenal bag
Salvatore Ferragamo Varina pumps

Stella McCartney for RND t-shirt

Topshop ballet pumps

I love love love the Zara in Duke of York Square off King's Road (despite the staggeringly rude shop assistants). They always have such a good selection and the styling is infinitely better than any other Zara I've been into. In a dreamy haze of peach and cream it was then that I put these trousers and silk blouse onto my credit card and was on the 22 bus before I even knew what had happened.

The most exciting thing of all is that they match my blazer! Pantsuit here I come (somehow the more British 'trouser suit' conjures up images of nylon suits and stretchy shirts...shudder).

If you squint reeeally hard, it could be Stella, right?

MY FAVOURITE COAT

H&M Coat

Missoni Scarf

Topshop Jeans

? Shoes

I picked up this coat in the last Autumn - umming and aahing because the pod shape means you can't lift your arms very high at all (not conducive to tube travel), but I decided to keep it and I am so glad I did. It's a great light cover-up and looks great with flared jeans, where most coat lengths look awkward. Plus the sleeve length means you can show off a great cuff or my daily staple, an Hermes twilly, and my bag can still nicely in the crook of my arm. It reminds me of this coat from Sonia Rykiel AW08: