Good jeans, bad jeans and everything in between..

There is nothing which infuriates me more than shopping for jeans. It's not something I ever look forward to doing. To be honest, they're not something I ever really plan on buying. Usually I only go out to buy them when I absolutely HAVE to. And don't get me wrong, it's not because I don't like jeans. I do as much as the next person, I just don't wear them all the time so I tend to rely on a pair that probably could've done with being replaced months before I realise they have a tear in them...

What it really boils down to though, is the fact they're a pain in the arse to buy. I know what I like, (skinny usually low rise, sometimes a little higher but nothing too high waisted), so you'd think it wouldn't be such an arduous task.. However every time I find myself in need of new ones, the hunt for a semi-decent pair feels equivalent to some kind of Holy Grail style quest.

I'm 5'4", which means I'm just that little bit too tall to be classed as petite, somewhere between an 8-10, usually depending on the shop, and pretty much an hourglass shape. And jeans shopping is one of the single most demoralising things I can shop for. Sometimes they're too long making me feel too short. Or they're just a little too tight. Or not quite tight enough on my calfs and ankles. Or a bit of a strange cut that makes me look like a balloon animal contorted into an odd shape.. (like the pair I just ordered that I thought would be great). I don't understand why there isn't just an easy way to find a decent pair. I'm confident it's not just me, and most of my friends seem to be equally as bitter about finding that one great pair of jeans that will put an end to all the hunting around.. so I'm assuming you lot are in the same boat! And by sheer coincidence after spending the last few weeks moaning to Justine about my search, the nice folks at Warehouse got in touch to ask how I'd like to help out my readers by giving away a customised pair of their distressed boyfriend skinny jeans. So even if I can't solve my own denim-related drama, I may be able to help out one of you...



The customised pieces are all handcrafted and one of a kind, so they'll not be available to buy. Right now I have one pair in a UK size 10 to gift to one of you lot. The boyfriend cut is something that I've toyed around with for a while now. I understand why they're flattering but I've never been a huge fan of anything too baggy. One of the reasons why I avoided the whole palazzo pants trend is a little like my feelings towards maxi dresses, I appreciate them on other people but for whatever reason they just don't work on me. Boyfriend jeans went into the same category but lately my curiosity has been reignited by the skinny boyfriend jeans favoured by the ultra chic Blair of Atlantic Pacific. They're flattering without being totally shapeless and making you look untidy and slimming without being so tight they cut off your circulation. I've got this pair from Warehouse in a size 10 to giveaway so if you'd like to get your hands on a pair....

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Back to basics: bretons, bright red and battered leather bags

Being loaded with cold, depressed by the rain and after a few bouts of bad luck; this weekend has left me wanting to curl up underneath the covers and hide. When things aren't going your way and you're feeling a little under the weather, it's hard to find the motivation to drag yourself out of the house. Let alone put together a nice outfit for a shopping trip! Since we're now in May, I've started to brave getting my legs out. And even on days where the weather isn't cooperating, I'm refusing to go back into tights until there's at least snow on the ground. Because it rained most of yesterday, I decided to compromise with a pair of cropped trousers. Bretons with black trousers and jeans are pretty much obligatory uniform for when I'm not in the mood to figure out what to wear. In an attempt to perk myself up a little (and distract from my swollen eyes and the redness of my nose), I decided to add to my little Parisian ensemble with some bright red ballet pumps and lipstick. There is a slight difference though: Paris is beautiful in the rain, Newcastle not so much.

top, trousers & ballet pumps: Topshop, necklace: Accessorize, satchel: vintage


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Blogging for Boutique at Fenwick

As those of you from the North East will already be well aware, Newcastle Fashion Week is back with all kinds of fun-filled events. Tonight I was lucky enough to be invited along to Fenwick for a blogger event at Boutique. For those of you who aren't familiar with Fenwick, Boutique is a section that's all about fast fashion. They offer high fashion and cutting edge trends without a hefty price tag, allowing you to constantly adapt your look without causing a serious dent in your bank balance. Whether you're looking for a Celine inspired handbag (see above - not bad for only £35!), or neon heels..

As those of you who know me, or read my blog frequently will have learned, I'm not really one for keeping up with trends. I go for pretty classic shapes, and I know what styles suit me and what doesn't work so well. I'm more of a late fifties/early sixties throwback; from the shapes to hem lengths, to the blunt fringe worn over heavy black eyeliner and pale lips. I'm much more comfortable in a shift mini dress or breton top, cigarette pants and ballet pumps, than a pair of Litas with spikes long enough to give someone tetanus. Call me old fashioned if you like.

What I really like about Boutique though is that they stock a range of on-trend and classic pieces, including lines like French Connection (always a favourite!) and Vero Moda,(which I always find to be really good for basics - and I had my eye on a great striped jumper but really how many does a girl need?) This evening, I was invited along with some fellow North East bloggers to have a rummage around Boutique and create an outfit to be photographed as part of Newcastle Fashion Week. Very kindly the folks at Fenwick gave us £50 to put towards purchasing our outfit so of course no one could wait to start shopping!



After much rummaging around, and a lot of gossiping with Justine, Anna and Fen, I finally headed to the changing room with armfuls of clothes.. from maroon skinny jeans, leather jackets and breton tops, to slinky boatneck tunics and striped swing dresses. A lot of the pieces I chose were the kind of garments I'd buy ordinarily. I didn't really see the point in creating a look that I wouldn't actually wear! Having found a couple of French Connection pieces, including this navy and cream county cotton striped dress and Athena biker jacket, I wanted to try and find some eye-catching accessories and shoes! As I'd wandered in, I'd noticed a pair of neon heels (nice neon though, not that weird day-glow neon that makes you look radioactive in photos) in an orangey red colour that worked really well with the navy of the dress.. so all I needed was to stumble on the perfect bag! Boutique at Fenwick is the kind of place that's perfect to go if you're looking for a statement bag but don't want to blow too much on something that may go out of season quickly, or if you're on the hunt for a piece inspired by catwalk favourites. Like most of the female population, I've been lusting after Celine Smile bags for too long, but the price point sets the bags very firmly out of my budget for the foreseeable future. So of course, I couldn't resist selecting a Celine-inspired bag to complement my outfit.



Although it was playing it safe, opting for styles I knew would suit me, I thought adding the bright accessories gave what would be a pretty basic leather jacket and dress, a little more of an edge. I really love the shape of this dress though - it's the perfect light knit that you can wear during the summer or winter. And because it's such a simple shape, it's really easy to dress up with heels but would equally as good when thrown on with a pair of white plimsolls. I decided to snap it up tonight after convincing myself that it would also be a great dress for work! Since Precept isn't exactly a corporate workplace, I would feel a bit daft wearing anything too formal, so I like to try and get a balance of looking nicely presented for clients without straying into the polyester-laden realms of business dress. This little striped number offers a great balance of looking quite smart without being too dressy. As for the leather jacket, I was really tempted to splash out and get that too when I first spotted it. Until I read the label and realised it was polyurethane... there's something about synthetic leather that I really can't get away with - I like to keep clothes for a long time and while PU is cheaper, it doesn't have the same lasting quality as real leather. Plus I love the way leather ages and gains more character; PU just starts to peel and look a bit grotty. So the hunt for the perfect leather jacket continues.. Still I left Boutique at Fenwick tonight with a big smile on my face, a new dress and a pretty awesome goody bag (more of that later though.. I'm a bit too tired to go into the details.) Huge thanks to Anna, Matt and Sophie from Fenwick's Marketing Department, and of course the lovely Justine for inviting me along!

Gingham, Garden Kitchen and really good cocktails...

With the excitement of the long weekend, I got a little too distracted having fun to blog.. but I guess now's a good as time as ever to catch up. First and foremost, these are my new favourite trousers. A bit of an impulse purchase after browsing Uniqlo (thanks to Fen's last post); my mother looked at me like I had lost my mind when I announced that I had ordered a pair of these light green gingham trousers. I'm not even really sure why I had my heart set on them - since I'm not the biggest fan of green clothes - but something about them reminded me of Jean Seberg in Bonjour Tristesse and I decided I had to have them. And as soon as they arrived, I fell in love. They are literally the perfect cut for my shape (and stretchy enough to compensate for me actually having an arse unlike some of Topshop's cuts). Being 5 ft 4, I find that a lot of trousers and jeans are just a little bit too long - I'm not quite short enough to be classed as petite, so inevitably I ended up with my jeans folded over or bunched up at my ankle. I'm not sure if these are supposed to be slightly cropped but they've worked out as the perfect length for my legs. And they look cute with Superga's (next on my list..) So under the influence of Justine, I was convinced to order three more pairs in different colours... Of course under the justification that they're wardrobe staples and at £9.90 a pop, they're hardly breaking the bank. In fact, I've almost convinced myself that since I'd (probably) have spent £30 on just one pair, it makes perfect sense to have three pairs for the same price. But in different colours. Anyway, back to the whole point of this post..

At the weekend, I was invited back to Garden Kitchen to review their summer menu. I've visited Garden Kitchen on a couple of occasions but the last time was back in November when I reviewed the Garden Kitchen Picnics, a quirky smorgasbord of classic picnic favourites served on a miniature picnic bench. With its kitsch collection of furniture and rustic feel, Garden Kitchen is one of those places were you feel instantly at home. There's a very relaxed feel to the place, and with it conveniently places in the middle of Eldon Square Gardens, plenty of opportunity for people watching.

Since I had already tried out (and loved) the Picnic last time, me and Cata decided to opt for something a little bit different from the new menu so I chose the asparagus and brie tart with olive tapenade, red onion and tomato salad (£6.95), and Cata opted for the salmon and mackerel fishcakes with avocado relish (£8.95). Since it was the start of the bank holiday, it seemed only right to treat ourselves to cocktails so I ordered Held in Preserve, a delicious jam jar cocktail of blackberry jam, Chambord, rum and cranberry juice; while Cata selected the Strawberry Blonde Mojito, a traditional mojito with fresh strawberries, strawberry liqueur and ginger beer.



As we were waiting for our main courses to arrive, and as the girls on the table beside us started tucking into two of the Garden Picnics, I was beginning to regret we hadn't opted for one.. but when our dishes arrived - accompanied with a portion of skinny fries- I quickly changed my mind. I'm not a huge fan of pastry but since The Grazer's Distinctly British Supperclub, I've been really craving pies and pastry dishes. What I hate though is when pastry is too thick or too flakey- but I'm pleased to say I wasn't disappointed with the tart. The base was a light (slightly) flakey pastry that worked well with the melted brie and rich olive tapenade. Since we both wanted to try each others, we decided to just half the two dishes between us. Which I was pleased about because as soon as Cata's fishcakes had arrived, I was suffering from major food envy! I've only just started to get into fishcakes - some weird block I had as a kid has made me avoid eating crabsticks, fishcakes and beetroot until fairly recently, so I feel a little like I'm making up for wasted time. As fishcakes go, I'm hardly an expert but these were light and fluffy with a slight zest of lemon. The avocado relish really complemented the flavours too, and it wasn't long before we'd both cleared our plates.



Compared to the giant picnics, the plates had looked a little small when they first arrived, but deceivingly so, because by the time we had finished we both felt stuffed! Although after our meal I thought my stomach may actually burst, Claire, the manager, came over to ask if we'd like desert, I couldn't resist. And since I knew the majority of cakes are supplied by the lovely Pet Lamb Patisserie ladies, I thought it'd be rude not to try and make room! We ordered coffee, carrot cake (made by the Pet Lamb girls), a deliciously fluffy sponge with just the right amount of cream cheese topping, and a richly indulgent chocolate brownie (made by the Garden Kitchen chefs). Just the right amount of naughtiness.





top: Laura Ashley, trousers: Uniqlo, ballet pumps: Topshop

Commodity x Ferroconcrete

When I was at work the other day Mark, one of Precept's designers, stumbled on Commodity on September Issue's blog. I couldn't resist sharing not only their branding but also their innovative model for a new kind of perfume business: one that removes the pouting models and flashy bottles, and strips everything back to the scent with clean, minimalistic design. And as soon as I saw the packaging for the women's perfume, I couldn't help but be reminded of Tom Ford's orignal white and gold lipstick cases.



As a brand, Commodity reminds me of Tom Ford in a number of ways. Primarily because I think it has that same elegant simplistic design that emulates confidence and doesn't need gimmicks to sell itself. The concept behind the brand is equally as intelligent. It's a perfume company that aims to help you find a fragrance that works with you; as opposed to selling you a heavy musk that overpowers anyone who steps within a mile radius of you.

Their clever service offers 'scent tailoring', where you specify the kind of scents which you prefer and they send you a sample of the fragrances they think you'll like. You then pick the fragrances you like the best and they send you full size bottles. With unpretentious and simple names like wool, paper, gin and book, the scents are designed to be able to reflect your lifestyle and each are suited to different occasions. So whether you're heading out for breakfast and just want to dab on a light fragrance, or spritzing yourself before heading out for the night, you know that there's a smell tailored perfectly to your tastes that works for the time of day you need it to.

From the classically chic packaging to the simple but effective adverts, I'm sold.

Fifth Avenue, 5am: Audrey Hepburn and the making of Breakfast atTiffany's

I must have been about 14 the first time I ever watched Breakfast at Tiffany's. It was playing one Sunday afternoon and can remember my Mam settling down with me on the sofa to watch it. She had already assured me that I was going to love it. Before I knew it, the film credits were rolling and my love affair with Audrey Hepburn films and classic cinema had began.. From her classic black, Givenchy dress, huge sunglasses to her nonchalant attitude, I had never encountered a character like Holly Golightly. Almost ten years later, and after watching the film countless times, Breakfast at Tiffany's still remains one of my favourite films. And Holly Golightly remains a raw and powerful characters that works her way under your skin.



A couple of weeks ago Aurum Press sent me a copy of Sam Wasson's Fifth Avenue, 5am: Audrey Hepburn and the making of Breakfast at Tiffany's, a New York Times bestseller that offers a behind-the-scenes account of the making of this iconic film. Being already a huge Audrey Hepburn fan, and having read a couple of biographies which touched upon her time on the set of Breakfast at Tiffany's, I wasn't sure how much more this book deeper this booked would delve, but I was looking forward to being whisked into 1960s New York and the glamour of Hollywood's golden age.

What I hadn't expected when I first received the book was a fresh perspective on the making of the film, from the troubles encountered by Paramount with Capote's already notorious novella, an insight into the writer himself and his creation of Holly Golightly, to observations on the themes George Axelrod introduced throughout the screenplay, and of course the shooting itself. I literally could not put the book down. It's filled with fascinating anecdotes from the famous names associated with the film's production, and offering a rare glimpse into what life was like on set.



It recounts all kinds of colourful remembrances about some of Hollywood's greats and their creative processes throughout the production of Breakfast at Tiffany's. From Blake Edwards' methods of directing to how Mancini constructed Moon River as a piece of music perfectly tailored to Audrey's not so spectacular vocal range, and Johnny Mercer dreamed up the perfect lyrics to make it a haunting lullaby from Holly's southern roots. From how Givenchy transformed the character of Holly Golightly into a style icon with that little black dress.

'The little black dress was easy to emulate: any young woman in 1961 could make one or even afford to buy one (and did they ever). Of course, they didn't all get Givenchy's LBD but that didn't matter; because of its simplicity, any little black dress would do the trick - as millions would soon see, that was the beauty of it. What's more, its simplicity wasn't just pragmatic, it was an assertion of self. Pure understatement radiates confidence - individual personality as opposed to a prefab femininity. "I don't need to embellish to be commanding," it says, "I don't need a fashion megaphone to make myself heard. I just need to be me." It's what Audrey Hepburn had been doing since Roman Holiday, but here she added a touch of girl-on-the-go. This was New York City.'

Whether you're a fan of Capote's novella or the not so closely adapted film, Fifth Avenue, 5am, captures a moment in cinematic history; tracing the development of one of the era's most fascinating female character from print to moving picture. Demonstrating how some clever minds at Paramount introduced a character notoriously associated with sexual liberty and made her a household name. Not such a small feat in a time before second-wave feminism, where Hollywood compartmentalised women as saints or seductresses, who were to be married or inevitably punished for their promiscuity.



Moving, funny, heartbreaking and inspiring, Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of those haunting films that ends with a Hollywood kiss, but doesn't quite allow the audience the satisfaction of knowing these two characters will stay together. But maybe that's because despite the changes to the script, and the carefully considered character manipulations to ensure the screenplay would be approved, Capote's Holly Golightly is still there in essence. And she's too much of a multi-faceted and complex character for a generic 'happily ever after' ending. She's a nonconformist, an independent woman living alone in a time where sexual freedom was frowned upon and a life a domesticity wasn't optional. Just like she claims, she's a wild thing. And I think what empowers her at the end of Breakfast at Tiffany's (and overcomes George Peppard's horrific acting) is that you don't really believe that she is ready to settle. Or at least I know I don't.

Breakfast at Tiffany's, bright red lips and my first brownie since bootcamp

This is one of those posts that I was supposed to post yesterday. It wasn't that I didn't want to write. I did, it's just that everything else seemed to get in the way. I found myself spending all weekend procrastinating about the things I wanted to do. I’m pleased to say that since the brilliant (but slightly traumatic and definitely painful) experience at bootcamp the other weekend, brownies are back in my life. And I don’t even feel slightly guilty about it. Ok, maybe I do a little bit, but only slightly. And at least I haven't had McDonalds.. yet.

It's been a pretty hectic week and with a couple of nice events to attend, (including one at Malmaison where I found myself seduced into a new pair of Raybans while sipping on strawberries and prosecco..) I felt exhausted by the time it got to the weekend. So as you can imagine, I wanted nothing better than to spend a couple of days lounging around and losing myself in a good book. Having been sent a copy of Fifth Avenue, 5am: Audrey Hepburn and the making of Breakfast at Tiffanys, the other week by the nice folks at Aurum Press, I’d started the book on the way down to Norfolk and hadn't had a chance to pick it back up since. This weekend though I got the chance to totally immerse myself in 1960s New York. I don't want to say too much about the book now because I'm going to be posting a full review tomorrow to do it justice. I will say though it's a fascinating read for any fans of Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote, or of course Audrey Hepburn.

Since delving into the chic world of Holly Golightly, I’ve been feeling a little more inspired to introduce a little more glamour into my everyday look with this bright red lipstick and vintage diamante necklace (which seems to go perfectly with every outfit). Usually I prefer paler shades of lipstick but I love this matte red from the Kate Moss range for Rimmel.. I’m by no means a beauty expert but it seems to stay on well throughout the day (and despite infinite cups of tea I drink) with minimal bleed. I’m still not quite sure if I’m a total convert though. Lightly coloured lips are a lot less maintenance. And I don’t look as though I’ve murdered someone if I forget I’m wearing it and accidentally wipe my mouth..

On a different note, I'm pleased to announce the winner of my Sol Republic giveaway is Meg from Kind of Lovely! Thanks to everyone who entered :)