Pucci, Pucci, Pucci, Pucci

Ahaa-ahaa-aaaa
Do ya, do ya, do ya, do ya
Ahaa-ahaa-aaaa
Know what ya doing, doing to me?
Ahaa-ahaa-aaaa
Pucci, Pucci, Pucci, Pucci
Ahaa-ahaa-aaaa

Remember when the Kaiser Chiefs were cool? Remember when Pucci was cool? Nuh-huh, me neither.

Still, I was vaguely interested when I heard about the new Pucci Sunglasses collection. Some of the range is a bit too obviously Pucci (go figure) for my liking. But then I saw these, which I think could be fantastic on the right person (man or woman). Granted, they could also look disgusting on the wrong person. And, although I envisioned my sunglasses for this season being round and quite Elton John like or maybe even narrow and rectangular like YSL next season, I am thinking about reconsidering. Because, sometimes, you just have face facts. When you go looking for something specific you can NEVER find it. The best buys always crop up where you’d least expect it. And I would have bet my bottom dollar that place wouldn’t have been Pucci.

Edith

The death of the ‘IT Bag’ means I may finally be able to afford one…

Thanks to Oxfam. Pray tell you say?

Well, if reports are true, luxury bag sales will soon be slowing (Mintel recently forecast an 18 per cent fall in handbag sales, which has been the fastest-growing accessories sector of recent years). People are like soooo over them. When I say people, I of course do not include myself in this generalisation. Because the only people that are actually over them are the people who can afford them. Rich bastardos!

Which is wear Oxfam comes in. You see they are having a ‘handbag bonanza’ (read on-line sale). It starts at 12noon on the 6th June and ends on the 8th of June. If rumours are to be believed there are over 400 second-hand handbags for sale with prices starting at £5.99. Now of course, there are bound to be some well dodge pieces that need treating with the same caution you would a landmine (this is charity, after all), BUT I have been assured that designer labels such as Mulberry and top end brands like Russell & Bromley and Knomo are also included.

Intrigued? I know I am. Only time will tell if it going to live up to my massively over-inflated expectations (come on Prada, cooommmmmeeeeee on Prada. If there is a Prada bag in the ‘bonanza’ and I can afford it, I swear a little bit of wee might come out!).

In the mean time, if you need something to keep you out of fashion mischief, Oxfam launch their new on-line store tomorrow (28th May). It will have over 75,000 items (YES, 75,000!) in stock, which not only includes ‘vintage’ but items from the boutique collection. So, with a few clicks you can help tackle world poverty and global warming. It’s EBAY meets Oprah! Pure frickin genius.

Edith

Weddings. And what to wear to them.

Ohhhh, it’s coming to that time of year again. Save-the-date cards are landing on the mat and blogs all around the world are telling you what to wear to weddings. Well, Some Like It Fashion is no exception, we are *jumping* on that bandwagon. Hell yeah! Make room!

I’m going to be honest with you though, this wedding malarkey fills me with panic. Not because of the event itself of course. What is not to like about weddings? A girl in a pretty dress, several in comically awful ones, free food, plenty of booze, cheesy music and dads dancing. Seriously, what is not to like? No no no no NO. The reason I get anxious is not because of the event, but the amount of time, money and energy that I will be required to spend leading up to the ‘big day’. Very few weddings happen locally, so you need to organise travel, accommodation and in my case, a cat sitter. Then there is the gift, which means going to look at the register (inevitably too late so you end up buying the shittiest combination of gifts ever, something like 4 teaspoons, 2 glass tumblers and 2 hand towels). And then finally, after all that – what in the name of sweet Jesus are you going to wear?

These days of course, there is an added complication to think about as well. We are required to interpret invites as if we were Mystic Meg to figure out how to dress appropriately (The Coveted cover this excellently btw) for the occasion. As you know wedding attire etiquette is not what it once was. There was a time when we knew what was expected of us: dress, heels, hat, gloves and a smart handbag and the men wore ties (not just around their heads like Rambo at the end of the night). But this is often deemed a little OTT these days. The new ‘dress down’ policy offers more flexibility with outfits, but that’s not always a good thing. It does mean we can be a little bit more ‘fashion’, but we have to be careful not to compete with the bride for attention and remember that food, drink and dancing is going to impact on our appearance at the end of the night. And to make matters worse, there is a VERY strong chance that as you and your outfit descend into drunkenville the whole thing will be documented on facebook. Allowances for this must be made.

So, what to wear? WHAT TO WEAR? If you don’t want to blend into the bland ocean of Monsoon dresses at this summer’s weddings, but at the same time need a little inspiration, decide which shopper you are and then read on, my friend:

1. I have time to search for the cheapest suitable outfit possible, ideally one that I can return should the hem somehow mysteriously fall down after being worn only once…
2. I have time to search for an outfit and a bit of dosh, but it needs to be something I will wear again afterwards.
3. I just want to throw money at the problem and make it go away!

1: I have time to search for the cheapest suitable outfit possible, ideally one that I can return should the hem somehow mysteriously fall down after being worn only once…

With the exception of the cuff and headband, this outfit is entirely high street and therefore quite bargainous. I ain’t going to lie to you, you could find cheaper if you are brave enough to tackle a Primark. I ain’t. This Luella style yellow dress is from Red Herring and can be purchased in Debenhams. Team this with a boyfriend style blazer, simple stud earrings and black shoes so that is doesn’t seem twee (those pictured are from Topshop). Because the dress is so froufrou, the accessories need to be simple. An in your face fascinator (the norm for most wedding guests) would be too much, so an Alice band is the perfect solution. This one is Miu Miu and you can buy it on-line from Start boutique in London. Finally, a flash of contrasting colour is added in the form of a purple cuff by Fendi from Net-a-Porter. Obviously, there are high street versions of this Alice band and bracelet, so if the piggy bank is empty, check out Accessorize or even New Look for an abundance of options.

Tip: do not be tempted to go too matchy-matchy. You are not posh spice! (Are you? Please be reading this, Vicky, pleaaaase). Break up a colour scheme by adding a small flash of a contrasting colour.

2: I have time to search for an outfit and a bit of dosh, but it needs to be something I will wear again afterwards.

This outfit is a refreshing change to what you see at most weddings as women tend to veer away from trousers. Don’t be put off, it is completely appropriate. These pieces work fantastically as separates and will be great additions to your wardrobe. The silk top is David Szeto and is available from Matches. He’s a pricey piece, but the lobster print is beautiful and unique. The black high waisted trousers are from Debenhams and will transport you effortlessly from the ceremony to dinner to dancing. The shoes are from Reiss and the earrings are Urban Outfitters, they will work with so many other outfits in addition to this it’s ridiculous. The soft peach hue of the Vanessa Bruno demi- sheer jacket compliments the printed top and the bright blue bag by Topshop makes the whole outfit pop giving it a ‘fashion’ edge.

Tip: Go easy on the jewellery. You are not in the A-Team. Earrings, a necklace, a bracelet and a ring is far too much. Go for a two at the most. If the neckline is quite busy (like above) chose earrings over a necklace.

3: I just want to throw money at the problem and make it go away!

If you want to do all of your purchasing on the interwebby and have a credit card burning a hole in your pocket, this is the perfect outfit for you. Everything (bar the silk flowers) is from Net-a-Porter. This orange dress by Vanessa Bruno is a beautiful tone and perfect for summer shin-digs. The cut is tres flattering (and it will be comfortable even after a 3 course meal and knee slides on the dance floor). The fabric of the dress is almost casual, so team it with a nice tailored jacket like this one from Vivienne Westwood to smarten it up. Simple black shoes like these from Marc Jacobs and this black clutch from Christian Louboutin tie the whole look together. A bit of bling in the form of a long Vivienne Westwood orb compliments perfectly. Finally, some silk flowers in the hair are a lovely alternative to a hat. These two are from V V Rouleaux and can be pinned into hair, or, if your hair is short, stitch them onto a piece of ribbon and tie around your head as you would a head scarf.

TIP: Spend more money on accessories, they won’t date as fast and it is true what they say: they do make cheaper clothes look expensive.

So, there you have it. Dressing for weddings, in (quite a large) facebook worthy nutshell.

Edith

Mischa Barton’s handbag range. BLUERRRGGGGHHHHH!

And again. BLUERRRRGHHHHHH!

Do we need any further proof that Mischa Barton really does need a stylist and has no taste of which to speak of herself?

“With the distinctive flowerette logo [Misha's bags] are sure to be at the top of every fashionista’s wish list” the press release says.

Yes, yes. That’s right. They are at the top of my list of things to wipe my arse with. Still, with prices ranging from £20 – £170 I may have to stick with Andrex.

What’s this?! ANOTHER metal briefcase? Can I interest in you a rather nice manbag instead?

Lately, I have been very disturbed by the amount of metal briefcases I have seen on the streets of London. At first I thought it was a fluke, a coincidence. But now I am starting to draw parallels with my car (an old British racing green mini). On first buying this car (or as my dad likes to call it ‘that heap of rusty shit you like to call a car’) I remember thinking that you hardly ever see old minis on the road. WRONG! They are everywhere. I have come to realise that once something is on your radar, you start noticing them where you didn’t before. And this, dear God is what I think happened with metal briefcases.

Up until a few weeks ago I was going about my normal life, safe and content in the knowledge that men carried their belongings in either their pockets, a rucksack, or some kind of man bag. However, over the past two weeks I have seen no less that five (yes that’s FIVE) metal briefcases. Two (yes TWO) yesterday. That quantifies a trend to me. And I ask you. WHYYYYYYY?

I just don’t believe that there are that many professional assassins living in my local area. But that is one of only four reasons to carry a metal briefcase:

1. You are a deadly hired assassin on a mission to kill someone who has wronged someone you don’t know. Your case contains a piece and a silencer.
2. You are about to or have just picked up a drop of £50,000 in used notes.
3. You are a mad scientist and you are carrying an antidote to some deadly virus that could wipe out the world in 5.3 seconds. The case is handcuffed to you.
4. You are on a desert island and you found it amongst the wreckage (please be aware that it will contain one of the three options above though).

There are NO other reasons for carrying a metal briefcase. None. So, on the unspeakable off chance that I have stumbled upon some growing street trend here, I am going to try and nip it in the bud. If you see ANYONE carrying a metal briefcase (which you will, now I have brought it to your attention) and you can rule out with quite certainty that they are not from categories 1-4 above, then please, I beg of you, pass on this gospel: METAL BRIEFCASES ARE WRONG. THIS IS NOT THE 80S. SEEK TO REPLACE IT IMMEDIATELY. If time rich but cash poor, click on ASOS and browse. Feeling a little bit more extravagant? Then shimmy on down to Reiss. Wanna blow the budget and whack it on a credit card? Then get thy arse to Mulberry! Whatever you do, just throw that frickin metal briefcase in the bin and set fire to it (unless it is stuffed with £50,000 worth of used notes, in which case you should probably give it to me…)

Edith

Remember the Chanel Bicycle…? Oh, and summer scarves.

Oh how the Chanel bike made me want to cycle. I considered selling a family member into the slave trade to purchase said bike (I won’t disclose which person from my family because that would be in bad taste). I planned whole outfits around the great love affair this bicycle and I were going to star in. Alas though, it was not to be and I locked my feelings into a tiny box and shoved them under the bed, never to be seen or heard of again. Or so I thought, until this…

Comptoir Des Cotonniers are launching their own bicycle range this summer! And it is even better than Chanel’s because it includes a tandem bike (£1284). My dreams are suddenly being resurrected, only this time I’m taking the fella with me and my cat Dave in the basket. ROAD TRIP!

This of course means I now need to purchase the season’s much appraised accessory ‘the summer scarf‘. What biking outfit would be complete without it? I’ve been holding out so far, but I can picture it vividly, billowing in the breeze majestically while we pedal down a lavender scented country road. Orrrr, it smacking the fella in the face repeatedly while drivers *shake* their fists in anger at us on Oxford Street. Both options work for me, and mean no end to my summer fun. If I can hold out till payday, I am hankering for this one from Hermes *dribble*, although realistically it will be a trip to All Saints (I know, I know, but their accessories are really rather good these days) for this one.

So there you have it, summer scarves and tandem bikes, 2008 summer must-haves.

Edith

How to… Shop in a charity shop (and not look like a hobo)

We’ve all been lulled into our local charity shop under the guise of eco-shopping and the promise of finding a real vintage treat. A sixties dress? A 70s jacket? An 80s jumpsuit? The excitement! It doesn’t happen. The scouts for retro shops nearly always buy them before they are even on the shop floor, fuckers.*

Fear not though, there are treats to be had that you will find in even the most dire of charity shops. You know, the ones you walk into and just think “WHY AM I HERE, SWEET JESUS?”. Seriously! Here’s a list of 6 things to look out for:

1. Mens shirts: Every second hand place has a multitude of these bad boys. Avoid anything that isn’t 100% cotton and check to make sure there are no pit stains and dirt on the collar. These look great worn belted over short skirts for that St Trinian vibe and tucked into jeans teamed with a blazer for that androgenous look. Expect to pay between £3 – £6.

2. Mens formal accessories: Don’t head out of the men’s department just yet, it’s a great place to pick up things that add an element of fun to your wardrobe. Look for ties, braces and cummerbunds. All of these, when teamed with the right thing look great. Think about a bright tie with a fitted shirt: a perfect work look. Braces with jeans and trainers: casual weekend frolicks. A clashing colour cummerbund with a t-shirt and heels: an evening out. The important thing to remember here is that these things must be in good condition. As eye-catching items, if they don’t look smart, your whole look will be perceived as scruffy. Prices range from £0.50 – £5.00

3. Womens tailored jackets: You can pick up some real gems in the jacket and coat section of a charity shop. People tend to tire of these items long before they are ready for the rag-bag. Be sure to check the linings, especially near the armholes. Make sure buttonholes and zips are secure. Classic colours like navy are always a wise purchase but when shopping second-hand you can afford to be more adventurous and go for something in hot pink. You get what you pay for here, so be prepared to part with up to £30.

4. Costume Jewellery: Most of my jewellery has been amassed from places like the Salvation Army, Cancer Research and Scope. You can find amazing statement necklaces, brooches and often vintage clip-on earrings and watches from the 50s and 60s. Clip-ons are making a come back so these are definitely worth looking out for. Usually, prices start at around £1 for earrings and go up to £10 for a watch.

5. Silk Scarves: Rummage around in the scarf bin, often you can find some pretty pieces, that if not Hermes certainly looks like it. Pounce on anything 100% silk. Square shaped scarfs are great to recreate this season’s looks. Hold them to the light to check for any flaws and to make sure they are not fraying. For a silk scarf you will be looking at paying around £4.

6. Hats: Old laydees tend to donate them (especially the pillar-box variety, which is hot hot hot right now) and they cost a fraction of the price they do new. Great for the wedding season which is almost upon us. A run of the mill pillar-box should be around the £2.50 mark but expect to pay up to £7 for something a bit jazzy.

Things to avoid, pants (euuuwwww, need I say more?), shoes (nearly always scuffed and stretched) and t-shirts (often washed out and mis-shapen).

Finally, before I send you on your way (via Oxfam of course), remember when going charity shopping, take your old bras for donation. Because one woman’s trash is another woman’s over the shoulder boulder holder.

Edith

* with the exception of traid, some of their stores specialise in vintage fashion and usually have an excellent retro stock.

Please note that prices are rough guides and will vary from area to area.

A serious campaign for the mandatory wearing of odd socks

All of this campaign talk has got me in a bit of a tizz. I’ve watched the news reports, I’ve read the articles, and I’ve even taken the online test to see for whom I should be voting. And, after finally deciding whose box to check, I got to thinking about something very important that our fellow politicians seems to have forgotten about.

Oh sure, you can talk about your policies for crime, congestion charges, bendy buses, council tax, blah blah blah until you are blue in the face. But what about the issues that people really care about? What about quality of life? What about fun?

So, I give you a policy as amusing as some of the candidates themselves…

*Drum roll*

A CAMPAIGN FOR ODD SOCKS! At least once a week every person is required to openly wear odd socks.

OK, I can sense I am losing you, but please stay with me a little while longer as I explain. Think of it like this, not only do odd socks look kinda cool, but also when you wear them you feel cheeky, happy and sociable. And, they improve your efficiency. How so, you ask? Well, think of the amount of time you save by not having to:
a. Pair socks out of the washing machine. Or
b. Try to locate matching socks out of your underwear drawer.

Scientists have actually calculated that over a lifetime you can save 1000 hours of time by wearing odd socks. Errrr, that was a lie, but I sincerely reckon that if they did do such a calculation the figure would be in the vicinity of what I just quoted.

And so there you have it; a vote for odd socks is a vote for a friendlier, happier, more integrated and efficient society. Make it your personal political policy from now on.

Edith