I love the idea of
multi-tasking. However, when faced with the reality, I have to concede to being
extremely bad at it. I am much faster doing just one thing at a time.
Imagine the little dance I did then when I discovered this triple-whammy. Not only can I add a simple, stylish tee to my wardrobe, I am also supporting the rebuilding of the still-ruined
Haiti island, and in order to facilitate the delivery of said t-shirt, I get to
have lunch with a very hardworking, fundraising genius, I mean, friend of
mine.
Melissa Gilchrist Higgins is a lovely, Scottish ex-PR
manager living in Dubai, and the brains behind Frontline Fashion. Her aim is to raise non-profit funds to support the orphanage her work to date has helped build, and to continue to show support to the people and namely, children, of Haiti. Another disaster zone
which has slipped away from mainstream news, and consequently, our minds.
It’s a
truly wonderful venture and as I really can’t give it enough credit here, check
out her amazing website… www.frontlinefashion.com
My personal favourites are the t-shirts... an edgy alternative to a plain tee.
It was my first time in Sao Paulo, first time in Brasil and first
time in South America altogether, so last week I was supremely
excited to get myself out of bed, and into a brand new city to explore.
As with most first-time destinations, my ideas of Brasil were clouded
with stereotypes. From music videos, magazines and the like, you get the idea
that the girls are going to be beautiful, and the people are going to be
dancing on the street wearing green, yellow and blue. From newspapers and
movies, you imagine that on every turn your life will transform into a Denzel
Washington ‘Man on Fire’-style kidnap thriller. In an interview regarding Sao Paulo,
artist Tracey Emin recently said of the city’s crime-rate issues, “you can’t
wear a f*&king watch”. And I’d have to agree. I mean, I literally had to
scope the place out every time I wanted to whip out my camera for a quick shot.
I deliberately dressed down and my mobile phone stayed out of sight for the
entire trip having been pre-warned of venturing alone by hotel staff, crew,
locals… so, pretty much everyone then.
The constant apprehension of one’s own safety somewhat tarnishes
what is an otherwise pleasant place with people who seem to hold no airs and
graces, and who are refreshingly down-to-earth compared to Dubai.
Getting into town involved a train/metro connection and then I was
slap-bang in the middle of Republica (pronounced Hepublica, apparently). I
found myself mixing with market shoppers, rasta-style Marley fans and tons of
post-high-school types discovering themselves with the help of too much sun and
Cachaça.
Whilst doing what sightseeing I could, I tried to soak up some of
the atmosphere and style of the city, without
looking like a complete tourist. The half Lebanese-half Scottish mix helps but
my hilarious attempts at Portuguese might have betrayed my true identity – “tudo
bem!”
The somehow continental feel of the streets was splashed with sticky
sun and old/new architecture combines the city’s history alongside its recent
developments. A Miami-like palm-lined approach leads to the Sao Paulo Cathedral
Sé Metropolitana. It stands majestically in front of a square filled with a
cocktail of cultures and calamities; beggars, Brasilians and tourists alike
flock to say their prayers.
I scanned said square, hoping to find some blogworthy street style a
la Sao Paulo, but I found myself struggling somewhat. There was way too much
lycra, lots of 90s throwback tributees and too-tight t-shirts were pressing their
way around too many tanned Paulistas. Colour was everywhere, but not in that cool
I'm-a-hot-blooded-Latino way I was hoping for. It was more of a
brightest-thing-in-my-wardrobe-caught-my-eye-this-morning look.
Despite my slight disappointment, I kept a lookout for any surprises
that might just be waiting to feature in The Trolley Dolly’s World Catwalk… and
then I bumped into Sabrina with her lovely friend Rodrigo (pronounced Hodrigo)
and with the help of Rodrigo’s translation, I got to know that there definitely
is some street style in Sao Paulo, but of course I was in the wrong area for
it. Oh well, there’s always next time.
Sabrina’s outfit caught my eye with its accessorised simplicity. In contrast with the world’s recent fashion weeks, I love her ready-to-wear realness – printed tee
tucked into a belted maxi skirt. It’s a look I really should work harder to pull
off as it’s perfect for Dubai. Add to that bright red nails, lots of eyeliner
and quirky accessories. Don’t you just love it? I do.
Let’s be honest,
who doesn't love a good nosy through the
blog world every now and then? From those who drive you mad with their
ever-expanding designer collections, to the experts who are brimming with
beauty advice and then there’s the rest… Home décor, baking, brunching, DIY,
man repelling… you name it, the blogosphere’s got the lot. And so, that leads
me to the initiation of The Sunday Stalker… where every other Sunday I spill
which brilliant bloggers I’ve been stalking over the weekend.
I’m going to
start with my daily go-tos. These are the blogs that, quite simply, give me
great pleasure to read and I’m sure you’ll know them. If not, don’t say I
didn’t warn you… addiction awaits.
That means “outfitting oneself in a sartorially
offensive mode that may result in repelling members of the opposite sex”
according to Leandra Medine,
author of The Man Repeller, lady with an impeccable eye for a shoe, and funny girl indulging a seriously
admirable sense of humour.
Honestly, I cannot thank this centre-parted divulger
of fashion genius enough, for all the hours of entertainment I’ve enjoyed at
the hands of her witty, refreshing online dialogue. If you fancy knowing best
how to wear an overall, work a full white outfit, or any other known faux pas
with panache, head on over. You will
love this blog. It’s just not normal not to.
I’ve learned so much from my constant
travelling in all the corners of the world. I’ve seen so many beautiful sights,
I know my way around the major airports with my eyes shut, I can (usually) find
a yummy meal wherever I land, and I can say hello and thank you in over 15
languages.
But of all the lessons learned, possibly
the most valuable is realising my self-confidence is the most important travel
companion I could ever take with me.
I find this particularly true when I set off
along the city streets in search of stylish ladies for The Trolley Dolly’s
World Catwalk street style feature. Without my self-confidence, I would falter
at the thought of approaching the tres fashionable, explaining my little
blogging project and taking pictures in the middle of busy streets in some of
the world’s biggest cities.
As I stomped Sydney’s sidewalks in the
baking Aussie sun, I felt that self-confidence replaced by an irritating nervousness
that sometimes creeps up on me. Enter my silly fear of chatting to people I
don't know and the shyness I feel asking to take their picture for a blog
called The Trolley Dolly.
But, like a passing cloud of smoke, I
wafted the apprehension away, replaced it with a somewhat forced self-confidence
and carried on regardless.
I’m so glad I did, as I went on to meet
three of the nicest and friendliest of my World Catwalkers.
First of all I spotted sisters Amanda and
Carol from Brazil. The two put me to shame in their bright, summery outfits (compared
to my black trouser/white vest/black All Stars combo).
I became a denim shirt convert after spying
Amanda’s clever layering trick and if I thought I could pull off a little
tropical jumpsuit, I would be considering that too!
I have a love/hate relationship with this particular trip.
It’s a weeklong adventure which takes me to Bangkok for a day, followed by
three days in Sydney and another day in Bangkok on the way back to Dubai.
I love the destinations.
I hate packing for two different
continents and trying to leave enough room for potential shopping ;)
So here’s what happens when you try to pack for two
different climates, two different continents and two different plans, without
overloading my poor, beaten Samsonite. Did someone say capsule wardrobe?
Day 1 – Bangkok
Sightseeing… a trip to the floating market at Damnoensaduak demands
flats (Havaianas), easy tee (H&M) + wear-anywhere jeans (H&M). And a camera, duh.
Day 2 – Sydney
For me, a casual maxi dress (Topshop) together with gladiator sandals (Old Navy) is perfect for a
wee spot of shopping along George Street in Sydney, working 'laid-back chic' or, in other
words, I couldn’t be assed thinking of a whole outfit so I threw a maxi dress in the suitcase :)
Weekend shopping in Robinsons Galleria
Mall, Manila, seems to demand a uniform of the giggling Filipinas. The uniform goes a little something like this: colourful t-shirt, shorts/leggings, flat pumps. And so I set about finding
those who wore it best...
One of my favourite outfits came from Jean
Pedreno, who did biker on the bottom with simple black shorts and boots, then
switched it up with girly sunglasses and a blast of pink on top. Filipinas
(from my observations in Manila, and in Dubai) tend to dress simply, keeping
accessories to a minimum and applying Coco Chanel's tactic of taking one thing off before leaving the house. Jean proves that the
latest arm-party craze isn’t a must and opts for sunnies and a watch instead…
I confess that I didn’t do my research before I set off for
Copenhagen (nothing new there then). I had a rough plan to visit the famous
Tivoli Gardens, the world's second oldest amusement park (apparently), and, quite
frankly, that was about it.
To be honest, sometimes it’s nice to enter a city with no
preconceptions, no expectations and then be pleasantly surprised (I had a
similar experience in Hong Kong – read about it here…). Copenhagen achieves the
impossible in its ability to be beautiful, even in the rain. The falling drops
simply bring out a moody, almost magical atmosphere in this calm Scandinavian
haven.
As far as my World Catwalk is concerned, I was intrigued by
the street fashion in Copenhagen because it seemed to be a little different from
most other cities. Like the odd wacky-fashion kid in class, or that one in the office (face it, you know who I'm talking about), she’s the one who shocks you by stepping in with
interesting combinations that are unexpected and a tad weird, but on the whole,
enviably cool.
On my first walk around the city, I took in the sights of
the Tivoli Gardens, and for the most part I didn’t spot too many stylistas
amongst all the touristas. What I did
notice though, was a recurring theme of very yummy mummies! I’m sorry, but I
draw the line at tearing Mother away from Baby whilst I snap their style but I
will report that the streets of Copenhagen were full of svelte, stylish, poised
mums, pushing prams in heeled boots and swishing big bouncy blonde hair around
– making me feel a bit frumpy yet simultaneously inspired. Hats off to glam
mums everywhere – I’m sure it’s not as easy as you all make it look!
I stopped for dinner in the superb Nimb Brasserie, a restaurant
on the border of Tivoli Gardens. It was there I spied Seul Ki, from Korea, who
was looking perfectly quirky in her printed tea dress with dainty collar and plimsolls.
I’m not sure how anyone achieves skin as luminous and perfectly porcelain as
Seul Ki’s, but regardless of the mechanics as to how, this amazing combination of flawless skin and floral print, is
refreshingly simple yet stylish.
One of those paintings where you can’t
quite figure out what it’s supposed to be, but you like it anyway… its many
colours, textures and fabulous patterns draw you in and make you forget that you’re
supposed to be figuring it out in the first place.
Just a brief walk along the dusty streets
is an experience in itself here in the country’s capital.
Buses whiz past packed with people
squeezing their bodies out of the windows to catch the breeze.
Women in bright, patterned clothes carry
everything and anything on their
heads and talk / chat / run / argue / carry children at the same time.
Stalls selling barbequed plantain serve up
this delicious cross between potato and banana and wrap it in pages torn from a jotter, so you don’t burn your fingers…
People laugh loudly, talk loudly, and love
to make jokes.
People make things, make music, make fun…
It really is a jolly place from where I’m
standing. But then that’s perhaps a silly statement, as most places seem pretty
jolly from where I’m standing in my little red hat, with my manicured nails as
The Trolley Dolly!
I was reading a pro-tourism publication
here in Accra, Ghana and I was inspired by what was said of the nation’s
unfailing belief that ‘tomorrow will be better than today’. I like love
this hopeful, resilient sentiment.
As you pass all the brightness of the
city’s building success, you see the real meaning of this statement when your
pretty picture is scratched by the image of real poverty. One man leads his
blind mother amongst the heaving smoky traffic, another sits in a wheelchair at
a traffic signal, with a big smile, missing his legs. And children with no
shoes come to the windows of your car, putting their hands to their mouths,
asking for any spare Cedis (Ghanaian currency).
As I walked amongst this bizarre network,
it didn’t really cross my mind that this might pose as a backdrop for one of my
World Catwalk features. Even if I wanted to take a few pictures, most of the
women here are suspicious of the camera and I’m not about to start a row in the
middle of downtown Accra. Would you?!
To my surprise, as I
went in search of a restaurant, two stylish ladies walked onto my World Catwalk
radar.
Without thinking, I casually walked ran over and introduced The
Trolley Dolly, explaining that their cool style had caught my eye. To my
further surprise, they were from London, and yes, they wouldn’t mind me
featuring their outfits in World Catwalk… job done.
Natalie was keeping up with the bright
theme that skips through Accra by teaming a multicoloured print tee with super
fresh turquoise skinny jeans, rolled up to reveal a bright beaded anklet. Top
marks for the Raybans and sweet pink lipstick. And the holiday hat is the cherry
on the cake!
Despite Bangkok regularly cropping up on my schedule, it has taken me several months to gear myself up for a ‘World Catwalk Bangkok’. Partly due to the fact that when I imagine explaining my little blog to anyone whose English isn’t close to perfect, I give myself a migraine, and also partly (read mostly) because most of my time there is spent on a massage couch.
This time I ‘sacrificed’ some of my massage time and went sightseeing - shock!
I took in the little streets that line the higgledy-piggledy edges of the Chao Phraya river, hopped on a boat to take a short cruise and marvelled at the beauty and shimmering detail involved in The Grand Palace. I had a fabulous day exploring the well-tromped tourist trail.
Not only did I exhaust my poor camera with all the wonderful sights en route, but I also had the chance to catch some very stylish daytrippers. I can’t really judge the style of the Bangkok fashion pack from this kind of outing so in future I will try to make it to Siam Square (apparently the place to be for fashionable-people-spotting) and report back on my observations...
In the meantime, these three street styles stood out in the crowded capital.
First on my camera roll was the beautifully chic, perfectly put-together Praewpilin who was taking a walk with her man. And to be honest I can’t think of a better outfit for a day soaking up Bangkok’s history and culture with your other half.
By choosing a simple white tee, Praewpilin starts with a blank canvas for her striped ankle-skimmimg flares and sleek grey bag. Minimal accessories allow shiny hair to take centre stage and she’s even achieved the unachievable – a panama hat that doesn’t look try-hard. Perfection!
The next stylish street walker to cross my radar was the delightful Guo Junyao from China.
To describe London's style is as if to ask Kim Kardashian to stop taking pictures of herself and posting them all over the internet. That is to say, it's entirely impossible.
There are a truck-load of perfectly-fitting adjectives that spring to mind and with London being home to so many nationalities, backgrounds and cultural sects, you really do have a whole world of fashion contained within one citysphere.
London's answer to Burj Khalifa...?
The capital city lives, breathes, perspires style. The 'London Look' (as coined by Rimmel/Kate Moss) is unique. Daring. Chic. Futuristic. Eclectic. Punk. Classy. Multicultural. Traditional. Evolving. Retrospective. Exciting. Involved. So many contradicting terms, so many individual takes on the meaning of what it is to be fashionable.
That is why this post is likely to be the first of many World Catwalk features from London... Every time I visit (on average, once a month), I always see so many well-dressed candidates for the World Catwalk crown so you can expect more of the below. Hope you enjoy!
Gushing complete... The real reason I came to London was in fact to lunch with my dear friend Helly (who also happens to feature below, she is one of THE most stylish people I know), and I had no intention of (read: no time for) doing shots for my regular 'World Catwalk' post. However, upon getting lost somewhere between London Bridge Station and Bermondsey Street, these street style darlings crossed my radar...
Sairah's outfit was the first thing I saw upon stepping onto the train platform. The floral scarf caught my eye with its playful fringing and summery splashes of coral and turquoise. With a (clearly very on trend) denim jacket and flowing maxi dress, this is an example of modest hijab worn with both pride and panache. Sairah, your style is simply gorgeous!
Gorgeous colours, and amazing skin - great combination!
I never like to start anything with an apology, but... Sorry this is a day late. I've been busy studying and training for a new chapter in my lovely airhead, sorry, of course I mean, airhostess career... Business class awaits! Currently my brain is close to melting point, so full of posh cheeses, wines and cocktails I feel like my grey matter is equivalent to a rather tipsy afternoon tea. And my poor hands are tired from taking notes on chauffeur driven transfers, fabulous seats and possibly the most amazing lounge service I can imagine. If only it was all for me... Oh well. One can dream! And what better way to start today's post than with a dream. For me, it's a little dream of luxury, and the finer things (read: better salary!). Even though sometimes, the roughest diamonds are the most beautiful and true happiness can stem from the most unexpected sources. Amen.
Now that that's out of the way, let's get shallow! The above really has not much to do with the following outfits. In saying that, these street style posts are providing me some happiness from some unexpected sources so I guess there's the tenuous link...
Before I do any more fashion rambling, I'd just like to say a huge thank you to my lovely little group of followers. As a blogger who is new to the scene, it's so nice to see genuine interest from other talented bloggers from all over the globe, and I didn't realise my writing could lead to an exciting network of hopefully will-be friends. You guys are the best - thanks!
And now, to the rambling. This is the last post in my trilogy of World Catwalk: Destination Sydney street styles. I hope you have enjoyed the previous entries and if you're intrigued or missed out, you can click on the 'World Catwalk' tab at the top of this page, or simply click HERE for Part 1 or HERE for Part 2.
Today starts with Amel, originally French-Algerian, who is sporting one of my favourite looks of the year. The colour blocked blazer. These things aren't called blazers for nothing - I like the fact the word 'blaze' is in there because that's exactly what this hot peppery pink does. It shines! And makes an otherwise understated outfit something modern and exciting. I also love Amel's luxurious jewellery statements which are not too bling for a daytime get-up, but shiny enough to show a bit of it-girl cool. Trés jolie, ma cherie!
What a blazer... what a backdrop! I love Sydney's amazing architecture... and the handbag too!
As I mentioned HERE my day of street style hunting was a lot more fun than I thought it might be despite the rain, and I discovered so many stylish girls, hence why this is the first World Catwalk post I've split up to allow full street style digestion. Oh yes.
To continue with showcasing some of said looks, here are the lovely ladies who allowed me to snap them for The Trolley Dolly, this lovely little creative space blog of mine...
On the lower ground floor of Westfield shopping centre, there lies a scattering of painfully cool vintage stalls, boutiques and find-weird-stuff-here businesses that sell one-off wardrobe updates, interesting interiors and generally too much stuff for me to ship home in my suitcase. Booo. However, it's not all bad... the place was so full of stylish people I genuinely didn't have time to snap them all! Two of these stylish people were Michelle and Julie. I chose to feature Michelle (LEFT) and Julie (RIGHT) because this pair of shopping friends looked so relaxed and comfortable in their outfits that it added an extra element to the look. Blazer, platforms, velvet, studs, socks-with-shoes, knits... these girls cleared out the fashion cupboard with their list of trends and then they go and act all surprised when I stop to tell them how great they look! Modesty, too?! That's not very Anna Wintour now is it? It really was a pleasure chatting to these lovely girls! Michelle's blazer is so stylish the way the colour is slightly masculine with the shorts. I also love the combination of grey socks and purple shoes. Genius! Julie's eye-catching blue velvet skirt reminded me of the Olsens and their/my love for nods to distant decades. I on the other hand, am not quite smart enough to imagine it with a striped knit (original thinking points go to Julie).
Style with a smile... Michelle (left) and Julie (right) look great!
So this is the weather I was expecting... (which came a day later!)
And this was the day World Catwalk happened - umbrellas at the ready!
I had almost given up on the idea of walking around Sydney, camera tucked away in my little baggie, and umbrella clutched close. I really was another raindrop-in-my-eye away from turning around and just marching right back down Pitt Street. Back to the cosy Marriott bed with all its varieties of pillow, fluffy duvet appeal and hot tea (with lots of sugar please).
After a 9 hour overnight flight from Bangkok, I really had to use all the power of my tired little mind to force myself onto the high street on the hunt for stylish Sydneyettes.
I performed my old trick of assuming things about a city. Assuming that, as it is a rainy day, no-one will have bothered their behinds to dress stylishly or perhaps even have bothered to venture out at all… I personally can think of many more exciting things to do than slosh my way round sodden streets on a Sunday morning… Really must stop thinking about those Marriott pillows – this is not healthy!
And once again, my assumptions were proved wrong by hoards of shoppers all piling in and out of the collection of shopping centres and department stores that busy one end of Pitt Street in central Sydney. These little retreats from the rain provided the perfect backdrop for my World Catwalk activity. And I’ve never had such an easy day of it!
Could I stick my neck out and say that Sydney is home to some of the world’s best street style? Well, according to The Trolley Dolly that is… and I’ve not yet set Mr Nikon (yes, I have named my camera) free in London, Paris or New York. But really, this was an individualist fashion-fest with some of the coolest girls I’ve seen.
You know, I didn’t get the feeling that these girls were wearing their clothes by way of grabbing attention/scoring points. The general vibe was more, “hey, I pulled this cool skirt out of my closet this morning, and I teamed it with the next thing that I happened to lay my hands on.”
Relaxed, cool, upbeat and friendly – Sydney girls.
Unleashing my inner geek, I took some notes whilst taking my snaps. Just a jumbled scribble of popular themes, micro-trends if you will, that popped up most commonly. So here’s my example of perfect handwriting. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
I was tired... is that a good enough excuse for 'INDIVIDUAL' and 'INDIVIDUALIST'?
And so to the part I always take longest to get to (sorry folks) – the stylish people!
I’ve actually decided to split this story over a couple of blog posts as there are quite a few to show you all!
Today sees the last of my seven looks created with just one top! I hope you've enjoyed this mini-series... sometimes it's fun to see what you can create from your own wardrobe, knowing there's no post-retail guilt trip to come. It's all very well throwing money around with designers and buying up every new collection from Zara and H&M but it's nice to know how to 'recycle' a piece without looking like you only need one coathanger for your entire closet.
And finally, here are looks 6 and 7 - let me know if you like them! :)
LOOK 6
Goodie two-shoes
Cardi, Primark | Jeans, Salsa Jewellery, Barcelona street stall / talented Spanish man :)
[Wear it for... a family do | lunch with the 'rents | shisha date] [Style it: neckline under your arms creating the illusion of a strapless top - and then you can decide whether you'd like to tie the sleeves in a bow in the middle of your back, or tuck them inside the neckline. If you're not wearing a cardi, I think the bow would look better. Just a thought.]
LOOK 7
Slimline
I personally love this look with black jeans, as I think it would look too complicated with another colour - but leather-effect leggings (and very big hair) could also look very rock n roll :)
I like the look of these skinny jeans tucked into the shoes. It's a little bit edgier and shows off the bright orange suede.
[Wear it for... a date | work (with a coloured blazer) | dinner somewhere posh (how about a sequinned blazer this time?)]
[Style it: one arm in, one arm out. The unused sleeve is then brought around your back and under your bust to create a sort of belt and the end is neatly tucked away under the exposed arm.]
And that's that - 1 top, 7 ways! Let me know which little ensemble you liked best - I'm tied between Look 3 and Look 7... what do you think?
Welcome to the second part of my little one-top-trilogy, using just one ingeniously versatile black top from Salsa Jeans and a limited wardrobe selection... click here to view Part 1 if you want all the details! I hope you like my ideas, pretty much slapdashedly put-together one sunny afternoon when I was feeling a wee bit creative... I think my personal favourite is LOOK 3 - which one do you like best?
LOOK 3
Attention to detail
Top, Salsa Jeans | Jeans, Salsa Jeans | Shoes, Zara
I'm having a moment with these a.ma.zing Zara shoes - bought in Madrid for 29 euros, I love shopping Mango and Zara in Spain!
[Wear it for... a first date | rooftop cocktails | posh bbq] [Style it: Simply place the elasticated neckline under your arms to start with, and then drape the sleeves from the either side at the front to the back of your neck, where you can secure them with a pin, or with a simple knot. I kept accessories to a minimum, and just brought out my big earrings (always a winner).]
I discovered Salsa Jeans in Dubai. The Portuguese brand is one I'd never heard of whilst living in Scotland and although we have the likes of Bershka, Mango and other delightful European imports, I must have somehow missed the Salsa boat. It's possibly a stroke of luck that I was oblivious for so long, from the point of view of my poor, abused credit card... but I am now officially a BIG fan.
This however, is not a post on how much I adore their famous insta-figurefixing jeans (that's to come later). It is instead the first of three posts about one very versatile top from Salsa which slunk off the hanger and into my wardrobe after I discovered how inspired its design is.
The top has been made to produce 5 different looks (according to the tag), and I have put together the following 7 looks... using different styling so that each one is different to the other. One top providing an outfit for each day of the week - can't be bad! I've also limited myself to only a few accessories, one jacket and two pairs of shoes, plus basic bottoms (blue/black jeans & leggings), to show how simply changing the top can totally change the outfit!
Enlisting the help of Mum (clearly a natural with the camera!), we shot this in Scotland and I do hope you like my little floral backgrounds in line with the latest trend floating around this season...
These outfits are entirely my own style so I apologise in advance for the great expanse of black that you'll see . I do love black... But I thought a wee splish-splash of orange shoes and blue denim would be enough to brighten it all up!
If you're interested in trying this idea, you might not find the top as I bought it a couple of months ago, however, any loose-fit, stretch top with a wide neck will work. Enjoy - here's PART 1!
LOOK 1
Dolly in black
I road-tested this outfit coming from Dubai to Glasgow - full flight, sitting next to fidgeting mother with 6 month-er, and it passed the comfort test with flying colours... And this bag was a lovely £12 from Primark. Yes. That is my smug, just-got-a-bargain face... How did you guess?
Leggings, Topshop | Boots, (very last last laaaast season) Zara | Jacket, Zara
[Wear it: work | casual business lunch | air travel] [Style it: this look uses the top, as is, with both sleeves, and the elasticated lower part extended over the leggings slightly. No-one wants to see anyone else's butt in leggings, sorry!]
LOOK 2
City safari
Jeans, Salsa | Earrings, Aldo | Scarf, Mum's
Note - for all those with no waist (like moi), invent one with this double trick... Tie a skinny scarf at the narrowest point of the jacket (where it nips in at the waist), not the narrowest point of your torso.
I love leopard and peacock together - it's my safari in the city :)
[Wear it: lunch with the girls | date night | coffee with a client] [Style it: for this, i pushed the sleeves inside the elasticated neckline and then pulled the neckline up under my arms so it holds the top as a strapless number.
I added a scarf to break up all that black but if you're short, this won't work so well with flat boots, so I'd suggest (nude) heels instead.]
Hope you've enjoyed the picture-fest that is Part 1, more to come tomorrow!
Let me know what you think of these different looks :)
By way of an introduction to a new regular feature, 'The Playlist', where I show you what’s playing on my iPod every now and then, I thought I would combine a personal post with this new one :)
Life as an air hostess comes with many ups - amazing travel, disposable income, permanent sunshine (thank you Dubai) and a whole host (sorry) of other perks... However, inevitably, that glamorous life also comes with its downs. One of which being that I can't pop over to Mum's place whenever I feel like it for a cup of tea and a slice of carrot, walnut and banana loaf (the latest in our long line of cake favourites).
This 'playlist' reminds me of Mum, brings back great memories and somehow gives me goosebumps - it's funny how music really can transport you back to an exact spot on an exact day. I don't know if any of these songs mean anything to you, but each song has captured an image or association with my mum, hence why it's being featured here, with love.
Spandau Ballet, True
Al Green, anything – but especially Let’s Stay Together and Tired Of Being Alone
Blondie, Atomic
Fleetwood Mac, Everywhere and Dreams
Michael Jackson, Remember The Time
Queen, Who Wants To Live Forever
Police, So Lonely
Cyndi Lauper, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
The Beach Boys, God Only Knows
Rihanna, Only Girl (In The World)
Charlie Rich, Most Beautiful Girl
Stevie Wonder, Superstition
Oh what the heck, let me turn this post into an ‘Ode to Mothers’. I know Mothers Day was a few months ago (in the UK) and only a few weeks ago in the States, but she is my real-life heroine, and a daily (not once-yearly) inspiration to do good.
Inspired by a lovely post not so long ago on The Decorista (see her post HERE) I have unearthed a few beautiful ‘throwback’ photographs of my gorgeous mum (and some pics of her gorgeous mum…) and I’d like to share them with you, my gorgeous readers...
Mum at 14, wearing Mary Quant and her very of-the-time Dr Scholes sandals… I wasn’t nearly that stylish at 24, never mind 14!
In the ‘60s of course, wearing her favourite velvet mini skirt – looking very model-y and channelling Austin Powers. Yeah baby yeah… :)
Grandma with Mum on the beach in Broughty Ferry (Scotland) I love the composition of this photo and the way it’s so natural, even though it’s posed. Circa 1959
This picture is one of my favourites. It has retro written all over it. From the gorgeous pearls on my gran and the swish side-parting on my grandpa, to the cute crockery (extra points for the milk jug, Granny)… I just love it.
I love looking through old photos, and listening to old albums…
Who are your favourite old-school bands/singers? And do you have any old (or new) photos of your mum that you’d like to share? Send me a link to your blog or Instagram, I’d love to see!
This time, World Catwalk has taken a trip to Scotland… one of my two homes (the other being Beirut) and a place of many different looks.
I figured it would be a fun experiment to chronicle Scottish style through my stylish friends.
Generally speaking, I love and I loathe Scottish (and British) style in equal measure as we can get it so right, and then round the next corner, so wrong.
I know that can be said for any nation. But what I’m talking about isn’t the no-clue-no-care getting it wrong, but in fact the trying-so-hard-to-get-it-right-I-got-it-wrong, getting it wrong.
Did that make any sense?
Well, it did to me.
I am not, nor have ever claimed to be, a stylist or fashion knowitall. I do, however, realise my own sense of ‘cringe’ upon seeing a nice pair of shorts teamed with the wrong tights/sandals/sequins combination (in the middle of the pouring rain no less), or a horribly neon tracksuit with equally horrible matching neon trainers/headband/handbag look (seen it). In all fairness, I am also the first to point to the stylish girl on the other side of the street and say how brilliantly put-together her outfit is, or how cute her boots are (more often than not). I think I am developing a rather if not altogether unhealthy obsession with other people’s boots. Hey ho.
The average Scottish girl’s style is, dare I say it, largely magazine fed, celebrity-inspired, cunningly created on the high street with online shopping buys adding a little individualist flare to each outfit. From the hair to the nails, to the enterprising use of leggings, these girls read magazines and they know how to work a bit of Vivienne Westwood into their H&M/Urban Outfitters collab. Glasgow is also clearly home to the world’s largest collection of painfully-cool Korean, Chinese and Japanese students, who know how to don quirky shoes, amazing skirts and where-on-earth-did-you-get-those accessories.
Hats off to my Scottish girls though, as I would say they are some of the world’s best at effortlessly dressing up skinny jeans and despite (or perhaps because of) the weather, religiously maintaining their fake tanning regime! Yeah!
