Trousers That Make Me Think of Wine

All of a sudden spring is well and truly here - with the lighter evenings and radiant days it has officially sprung. In my eyes though, it didn’t evolve with a subtle rise in temperature or give warning with a dip in the evening chill. Instead, spring jabbed me on the shoulder and when I span around, shouted BOO in my face.

Argh, I’m not ready. I need to have a panic-pedi. My legs are milky white and in no way ready for public viewing. I’m still sorting the jumpers from the jeans of my autumn/winter wardrobe, let alone the spring/summer one. The latter is currently wedged into a couple of vacuum-sealed storage bags under the spare bed (the ones that no matter how tightly you seal the little bugger a hiss of air will still seep out) and needs a cull.

On the streets, plastered over Instagram and popping out of fashion magazines though the S/S trends are out in full force, and I absolutely love all of them - like pastel and khaki hues , those amazing Paperbag-waist tapered twill trousers by Stella McCartney and flirty off-the shoulder tops in gingham, the super check of the summer. Despite its surprise arrival, spring is by far my favourite season. The promise of the new, of rejuvenation and even personal transformation should you so wish. Time to reveal shoulder, leg and ankle which have been concealed under hosiery and baggy jeans and act out your own dress rehearsal, ready for the main performance; summer. The block colour palettes are dreamy, the fabrics are swishy and light and soft florals and statement sleeves are ready for weddings, race meets and al-fresco dining.

There’s a real sense of everything flowering, but for me there’s a real sense that I hate everything in my wardrobe. I’m still wearing ankle boots as (*see panic-pedi*) I’m not ready to brave cold toes in sandals or chilly heels in mules. I want frills and puff sleeves, but I’m still playing it safe in long-sleeved tops. I need inspiration…

These statement trousers from The Finery might just save the day.  When I clapped my eyes on them in the concession section in John Lewis the other day on a very rare shopping trip and gently ran my hands over their soft viscose fabric, I was momentarily overwhelmed. I hadn’t had that reaction about clothes for a while. They are called Argent Contrast Panel Trousers in Lilac Vines Print (is it me or does Lilac Vines sound like wine?) and I love them.

With side pockets, a high waist and contrast hems, not to mention a bold but beautiful print, they are too floaty for the office, too in-your-face for the Toy Library and I’m struggling to picture where I might wear them but, right now, I don’t care.

I am revelling in the sheer beauty of them and have literally just impulse-bought them, gulp, and snapped down my laptop lid before I had time to change my mind.

In your face, spring. Let’s do this.

BORN AT DAWN: FOCUSED, EFFORTLESS, PERSONAL STYLE.

I’m an adopted East Londoner, having lived in Walthamstow since 2008 (when I announced to my long-suffering husband, then-boyfriend, that I would be moving in with him for two weeks until I found my own place and NOT A WEEK MORE).

Fortunately for me, I never left and eight years later I’m still rinsing the life out of E17 and discovering exciting new things. Spaces including The William Morris Gallery, Central Parade and The Mill E17 have created a hub for creative thinking and working, and with the continued expansion and redevelopment it looks like the innovation just keeps on coming.

I thought I knew the ‘Stow quite well but I didn’t realise just how many creatively-minded folk actually hung out here. By the power of Instagram and my love of all things sartorial, I recently stumbled across womenswear website BORN AT DAWN and was excited to discover that (a) its founder, Lucy Knights (@magpie_fashion), is based in Walthamstow after migrating from the North of England (b) there were so many things about her style, her creative outlook and the impressive way she balances motherhood, work and general life that I could relate / aspire to and (c) the concept and thinking behind the brand is right up my street.

So what is BORN AT DAWN? It’s a multi-brand e-commerce website launching in early 2017 that promises to offer rising fashion and accessible luxury. With the current deluge of womenswear websites available - but with differing and sometimes questionable price, quality and style - BORN AT DAWN heralds the beginning of a new way to shop.

There’s lots of things that made Lucy’s brand stand out for me and piqued my interest in its launch next year…

• It will be focused. As a busy working parent herself with limited time but a desire to be on trend, Lucy knows all about the importance of maximising the time available to you. So BORN AT DAWN will be carefully curated to ensure only desirable, must-have items are stocked and align with women’s busy lifestyles.

• It will be effortless and represent go-to, easy to wear pieces that we all want hanging proudly in our wardrobe. Lucy promises to hunt down pieces that are beautiful but versatile, and also allow us to glide effortlessly from day to night - always a winner. The collection promises items that can be worn ten times or more which in turn helps to decrease the cost per wear and justify the investment. Plus, they’ll match many of the staples most women already have lurking in their closets -  a huge bonus.

• It will be personal. Lucy is offering a personal shopping element to the collection (available in selected areas) where customers will have the opportunity to book an evening to view the collection and receive expert saying advice, and host a trunk show in the luxury of their own home with friends round for a ‘Born at Dawn Night In’. (I hear prosecco corks popping).

Lucy has spent the majority of her career specialising in luxury fashion retail, and having worked with Harrods on their womenswear sales and strategy prior to conceiving BORN AT DAWN, it’s safe to say she’s an authority on all things elegant.

So it comes as no surprise that one of the most exciting elements of BORN AT DAWN is the range of brands that feature as part of the collection, many of which are Scandinavian and French inspired and so naturally exude that timeless, effortless look.

Brands include Samsoe & Samsoe, Selected Femme and Mads Norgaard and the very cool Maison Scotch - based in Amsterdam and known for scouring the globe to discover unique pieces - which has me particularly animated. Eager shoppers can expect beautiful shirts, soft sweatshirts, easy embroidered kaftans and summer dresses when the brand launches for SS17. Also, 2NDDAY, the Danish progressive womenswear label whose foundation is denim, leather and tailoring and part of the Day Birger et Mikkelsen group features as part of the BORN AT DAWN collection for SS17 and will offer special leather pieces, jumpsuits and perfect boyfriend jeans. Simply heavenly.

BORN AT DAWN and what it stands for spoke to me on many levels. I've reached a point where in my *ahem* mid-late 30s, I seem to be busier than ever and juggling a huge mound of stuff. This doesn’t mean my enthusiasm for fashion has dissipated, quite the opposite, but I simply don’t have time to embark on long shopping trips or spend hours browsing loads of websites. Sometimes, I’m lucky if I can have a wee.

I still want to be on trend but sometimes outfits need to be versatile as I mostly have a wriggly, dribbly baby attached to me and dash around at full pelt. I’ve always had a preference for the experimental and as I’ve got older and wiser my sartorial choices are (hopefully) a little more refined. I’ve never been a fan of the over-done look and favour a minimalist, clean aesthetic that labels like The Finery London and & Other Stories offer, or Jenna Lyons and those super cool Scandi girls radiate. Crucially, on a maternity leave budget I need mid-range prices but with undiluted quality and need to feel that by dipping into my savings to buy the odd piece it’s at a price and quality I can justify.

Lucy explained that the brand's woman is “…a strong, down to earth, creative, social individual. She is confident, accomplished and successfully balances the many different roles she has in her life”. It’s like someone has tapped into my brain and discovered what I’m aspiring to be.

BORN AT DAWN and Lucy’s vision could not have come at a better time for me. My little baby boy is now six months old and whilst he keeps me completely on my toes, I think I’m...gulp...ready to fully embrace fashion again. Yes! Bloggers like Dress Like A Mum and Mother Pukka have realised that many new Mums, like myself, struggle with their identify after having children and are striving to change the bad reputation of Mum dressing. The struggle is real - I’ve lost my nerve and am stuck in a uniform of feeding-functional, easy-to-fling on garb but I'm starting to rebel.

So, here’s to the power of creativity and accessible luxury. Wishing you all the best Lucy and I can’t wait to experience BORN AT DAWN when it launches next year.

I’m excited to dress like me again.

BORN AT DAWN LAUNCHES IN FEBRUARY 2017

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Oh Highcliffe! (Contemporary Bed and Breakfast, Falmouth)

Most people who know me (and if you've had a chance to peruse my About Me page) will know I’m a brazen London devotee.

This city courses through my veins. I fall a teeny bit more in love every day in a giddy, pubescent kind of fashion. Oh, the history, the people, the sights, the sounds, the smells (OK, at a push) and the pumping non-stop, 24-hour-accessibility of it all! Swoon. 

But even the most passionate of lovers needs a break every now and then to stop things getting staid. Often I hear myself think 'God, I'm knackered with city life! I need to get off for a bit!’ So, the other weekend me, hubby and bump did just that; we hopped off the revolving London ride and headed to Falmouth on the South coast of Cornwall for a long weekend of salty sea air and much needed R&R. 

After working late the evening before, a 6-hour car journey at first light, an exhaustion of Spotify playlists ('no more Madonna!') and yet another wee break it's safe to say we were a little tightly coiled upon arrival. So arriving at Highcliffe Bed and Breakfast to, genuinely, the warmest welcome I've ever been given was just the tonic. 

Owners Simon and Vanessa and their lovely daughter pulled up outside the guest house at the same time as us; and no matter it was before official checking-in hours or that they were enjoying a family Friday afternoon. We were greeted like habitués rather than too-early strangers. Friendly chat ensued, help with bags dished out and we were gently ushered into the warm sanctuary of their contemporary B&B. Setting the scene for an absolutely incredible weekend. 

I cannot recommend Highcliffe enough and here's why in no apparent order.

Firstly, the bedroom. A long weekend provides an advantageous head start to Saturday and, for me, guilt-free permission to laze about and do exactly what you wouldn't usually do on a Friday. Watch Netflix at 4pm with a hot chocolate (in lieu of wine)? Why the heck not. Ideally you need a great room to do this, like sumptuous Room 8…

Room 8 is a premium super king double delight at the top of the guest house. It is snug but not poky and tastefully decorated with subtle touches of sunny yellow that seared through the cold February rain outside. Stylish and plentiful lighting illuminated all the features and the giant bed with Egyptian cotton linen was so comfortable I fell into a deep slumber each night - completely unheard of in recent weeks. Everything was cleverly thought out - handy bottle opener (woefully unused; I miss PROSECCO *sob*) hot water bottle tucked away in drawer, yellow and grey cashmere blanket casually draped over a chair if it got too chilly (it didn't), generous bathrobes and ample spotlit wardrobe space for people who pack a week's worth of clothes for a weekend.

The sparkling ensuite bathroom hosted a curved, roll top slipper bath and fleecy white towels and was kitted out with Orla Kiely products. I had to be pried out of the powerful shower each time, usually with food as bait (see below). The harbour view from the Velux bathroom window was a joy each morning. Unfortunately we chose to visit Falmouth at the same time as #stormimogen, who raged outside fiercely. It really didn't matter, the hatches were battened down and we were tucked up in a chic bolt hole - Imogen and her tantrums were no bother to us. Besides, we managed to wedge in a Gyllyngvase Beach walk or two over the weekend, as well as a swim and a massage at the local spa, so everything was not lost.

Secondly, the decor. Highcliffe's guest and dining room are simply gorgeous. The owners, although only ever a buzz away and always conveniently around just when you needed them, live downstairs. With your own key, guests can come and go as you please. Vanessa had previously worked for a well-known glossy interior magazine and Simon held a top role in Media, and this is reflected in the sophisticated and high-standard interior design and well-finished furniture.

There's motion-activated lighting when you're too sleepy to flick a switch and striking modern colour schemes. They've done a great job of ensuring it is personal and welcoming rather than identikit. The guest lounge is beautifully furnished and stocked with back catalogues of fashion (hello, Vogue), travel and lifestyle magazines – for which I am a complete sucker. In my head, Suitcase magazine (a magazine that embraces the eclectic and adventurous appetite of a generation of creatives and entrepreneurs) is a visual representation of my every day life. Sadly, and realistically, it is not. There are lovely little touches; a table with sweets for adults, an honesty tuck box bursting with bars of Green and Black's Chocolate, Tunnocks Teacakes and Tyrrell's Crisps for midnight feasts. The dining room is kitted out with beautiful homeware from Willow and Stone, with a shop just down the road on Arwenack Street.

Thirdly, the food. There's an age-old saying that when you're preggers you eat for two. That weekend I possibly ate for four. The breakfast is a delicious feast. Think crunchy homemade granola and seeds, thick Greek natural yoghurt, delicious natural cereals, chilled juices. Fresh fruit and hot, buttery toast and a vast choice of condiments (including Vegemite! Streuth! A hangover from my Sydney days and one antipodean habit I've been unable to break, sorry Marmite). Unlimited pots of Cornish Tea's Smuggler's Brew and locally supported coffee. That's before you've tackled the Full English (veggie and non-)or the daily special, which during our stay included garlic-smoked field mushrooms and sautéed spinach with a poached egg on door-stop granary toast. I'm not kidding, I would literally crawl up the stairs to Room 8 on my hands and knees after a 3-course breakfast. I would love to blame the bump and the mild vertical ascent but it wasn't, it was just me being a great big greedy guts. 

Fourthly, the proprietors. All the fancy pants stuff is marvellous and don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the glitz. But with style you must have substance and when paying to stay away from home, to be made to feel you're a wanted guest. Simon and Vanessa genuinely want to ensure you have a really, really great stay and pull out all the stops without making it feel forced. Nothing was too much trouble. Their warmth and ebullience also filters through to their breakfast crew who were incredibly friendly and chipper. Simon's encyclopaedic knowledge of Falmouth, it's charming local gems, restaurants and characters was invaluable and everyone spoke so highly of them. The Wheelhouse, Hunkydory Restaurant and Bar and Beerwolf Books were highlights, sadly we didn't make it to Dolly's Tea Room and Wine Bar but this provides a perfectly valid excuse to return.  

Alas, I have one grumble.

Time went way, way too quickly. Being comfortably ensconced at Highcliffe for some inexplicable reason means that time passes at double the normal speed. In a flash, we were on the A39 homeward bound, driving through Storm Imogen and feeling a bit sorry for ourselves. It's back to the grindstone now and Highcliffe is but a distant memory, but every now and then I allow myself to imagine being tucked up in contemporary Room 8 with a cup of Cornish brew, a well-worn Du Maurier and the prospect of both a Highcliffe breakfast and a glorious Falmouth day ahead.

Until next time...

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Monki-ing Around

The other weekend. There I was, happily pootling about, catching up on the new Alabama Shakes album and returning a gigantic pile of clean washing to its rightful wardrobe when a startling realisation hit me mid-hang.

Someone's nicked all my plain clothes and replaced them with a great big jumble of print and colour!

That someone being me of course. Bar a sprinkling of denim, a smattering of faux leather, generally speaking my wardrobe is a riot of print, deck chair stripes and elaborate designs. When I'm searching in haste for day-job-appropriate or in need of a basic top to fling on with a jazzy skirt, pronto, I'm clutching the closet doors and shaking my head in puzzlement. I'm battling through a cacophony of colour. I'm looking for a plain white tee that's not there.

It's entirely my fault. I'm a sucker for a bold, beautiful print and a lover of vintage patterns and blooming floral bouquets. Often I get the urge to make like the experimental street styling girls and work a print clash with swagger - but bottle it at the front door because (a) I'm a great big scaredy cat and (b) there's a fine line between chic and clown.

All that confessed, I greatly admire women who sail through life in a minimal grey Sandro tee. Those clever girls who purposefully build capsule wardrobes based on stripped back white, navy and black separates from Cos. That use nothing more than a colour pop accessory, a killer heel, or a citrus clutch to make a sensational impact.

A recent Stylist magazine offered some welcome advice in their New-Season Update. 'Stock up on crew necks to wear with wide-leg trousers or a suede skirt', they recommended, and I nodded to myself and thought, yes. Yes you're right. It's time to get minimal. I shall take your advice (and ignore the vibrant trouser from Stella McCartney leaping off the page. Which to be fair at £485 a pop wasn't too difficult). I will cleanse my colour palette with a slouchy tee or two. I'll chuck on a taupe coat in a nonchalant manner. Hell, I'll condense all my stuff into a navy backpack if that's what it takes! This is the year I become MINIMAL and unembellished.

Then cheeky Monki reopened on Canarby Street after a refurb and all thoughts of minimalism went out the window. 

My eye was turned once again by a flirty print. I fell in love with Swedish womenswear brand Monki a couple of years ago. They've been in London for three years now and Monki is the cheeky sibling in a family of other cool brands including two of my high street faves, Cos and & Other Stories and the formidable Cheap Monday.

The products are excellently priced and unique and fresh. Monki doesn't take itself seriously but maintains credibility with forward thinking yet wearable fashion. It's a festival chicks haven, but working girls will succeed too with perseverance; trousers and shirts offer Scandanavian minimalism with edge. Smart with a cheeky wink.

Monki runs the gamut from clothes, underwear and accessories and all in a rainbow of colours. The newly added denim area brings fresh blue ideas in dungaree, jeans, jumpsuit and dress form. The sunnies come in 25 different designs so I hear - from classic wayfarers to kooky cats' eyes - so if you're feeling gluttonous you can knock yourself out and get a few.

Monki is one of the shops where, on arrival, I roll up my sleeves, inhale a deep breath and take my time to scour every.single.item thus ensuring no potential gems are overlooked. Don't take it personally, but I quite like going on my own. Absorbing the colours and styles that whizz past my eyes, slowly gathering a load on my weighed-down arm to take into the changing rooms and secure in the comfort that anything I buy won't shatter my bank account to smithereens.

One of my favourite dresses ever is from Monki - a long-sleeved patterned creation that accompanied me to Latitude Festival in 2014. It proved versatile for the roasting hot/freezing cold combo that England loves to chuck at us all in one day thus making it REALLY EASY TO DRESS FOR (NOT). I found it also went well with glitter and beer and withheld some tipsy dancing in fairy light illuminated woods and being bashed into while hanging out of the overspilling comedy tent.

My most recent Monki haul included the Rinda Shirt, the Beata Blouse and the eye-catching Moa Shirt Dress.

So, on reflection, maybe it's not so bad to be a bit barmy in print. Putting the smile back into fashion with something a bit more flamboyant.

Let this brilliant brand be your sartorial guide, and have some fun along the way. Maybe you'll also find yourself bewitched by some Monki magic...

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*Oh, Monki does plain stuff too. It's terrific.

A Sentence A Day - 12 April 2015

In 2015 I will be writing a Sentence a Day. You can read more about why here.

Today is the 12 April 2015.

Question:

Whose style do you admire?

Answer:

Without question, Taylor Tomasi Hill; street style star, former magazine editor and creator of TTH Blooms - if I could dress like this every single day of my life I would be content.

Sorry, can't make it. I have an appointment with me.

Running along the Southbank the other night after work, huffing and puffing and careering in and out of PEOPLE THAT HAVE TIME TO DAWDLE I clapped my eyes on something that nearly stopped me in my tracks.

A chic woman in a quilted puffer jacket (v. J Crew) was sat outside the BFI's Riverfront Bar, sipping slowly from a steaming great mug of coffee while reading a book under the warm red glow of an outdoor heater.

Nothing unusual about this you say and I agree. Yet, I couldn't take my eyes off her and a pang of mild envy smacked me round the chops without warning.

This malaise had nothing to do with not being able to feel my face thanks to an icy side wind coming off the Thames. Nor that my tatty Berghaus beanie made me resemble Badly Drawn Boy rather than a glowing goddess as we're supposed to look when exercising. No, this was because said lady was sat there doing absolutely nothing. Diddly squat. Nada. No phone, no companion, no evidence of work of any sort. Just her, a book and a hot beverage (and a great coat). There may even have been a cake. She was the antithesis of me; a picture of total and selfless relaxation.

As I trotted on towards the Hungerford Bridge and got stuck behind an overzealous tourist with a selfie stick, I mulled this over in my cold head. When was the last time I actually sat in a café and read something for leisure, rather than obligation? Stopped for longer than ten minutes to focus on one single thing, with no laptop, interruptions or iPhone and just savoured the pure, unadulterated enjoyment of reading?

I couldn't for the life of me remember. This troubled me.

Back in 2007 when I lived in Australia and first arrived as a pasty, scared thing and knew not a soul apart from my sister (I eventually dropped the fear but sadly the pallor never left) I would hang out in bookshops and various eateries in the early few days before city working. Just me, a Lonely Planet and a dog-eared book. I would gulp local coffee and read feverishly, stopping only to scribble some profound nonsense in a travel journal and have a nose at what was going on around me. I would eat whatever I felt like (*I'll have your finest flapjack and a plate of halloumi please*) and leave only when I couldn't make a tap water stretch any further or my bum had gone completely numb. A Jack Johnson soundtrack usually tinkled in the background, he being the epitome of repose.

Later independent travel provided further magic moments to pause in between destinations, seek out a second-hand bookshop and spend any leftover beer money on a battered but well-loved edition. As a result I was quite well-read and had a renewed sense of acuity and calmness. I'd meet the most interesting people when I least expected it. Luckily, Billy No Mates soon got some mates but I'd still disappear every now and then on my own.

Sigh. Which plonks me back down to Earth onto the arctic Southbank, the chilled lady and me squishing in an evening run. Clearly, when you're travelling / on your holidays you have a ton more free time on your hands. In those carefree days, I was sans responsibility, a busy job or an other half and my bestest mates were miles away. I could lounge about in hostels, chat to randoms and enjoy the benefit of wearing 'outdoor clothing' from Millets without fear of bumping into someone I knew. Just me, hanging out with me.

So the puffer lady got my brain ticking and ponder. Ahem, in a very Carrie Bradshaw way *typed words appear on screen*: Why couldn't we carve out some free time from our frantic schedules every now and then and gift it to ourselves? You know, take a breath and escape the chaos. Spend a bit of time doing exactly what we want, not what we have to. Enrich our souls and quiet our minds and... *thud*. That was the sound of a sleep-deprived parent throwing a Peppa Pig book at my head.

Ok, ok I hear you. The reality is there IS no spare time, barely time to pee let alone nibble on a flapjack and peruse a classic Hemingway. Life is so jam-packed and full these days, with crammed professional and personal schedules that there's hardly time to breathe. Free time is appallingly infinitesimal. But isn't it time we invested for the sake of our health and frazzled brains? Make an appointment with ourselves?

How about we all try this experiment together: Put a meeting in our diaries, half an hour here and there, just for ourselves and and stick to the commitment. Adjust this plan to fit to our individual circumstances - perhaps half hour when the kids are in bed to flop on the sofa and read, maybe escape the desk and Regain your Lunch Break as recommended by Stylist or get up with the larks and sneak out when your bed companion's still snoozing and go out for a stroll - just you, your iPod and your inner thoughts. Let's all report back on our findings.

My friend Vicki recently shared with me a beautiful phrase - dolce far niente which, roughly translated, means the 'sweetness of doing nothing'. What a gorgeous concept. Puffer lady had perfected her 'niente'. Mine's a bit rusty, but I've blocked out some time a few Sunday's away to experience the dolce of reading The Goldfinch, sat woefully on my bedside table unread since Crimbo, in a new brunch place round the corner. It should keep me grounded, power me through the bad stuff that life has chucked our way recently and reenact that wonderful sense of liberty I once experienced in Sydney, San Diego, Auckland, Hobart, Lima - right here in London.

So lovely friends, please accept my apologies the next time I decline a vino, a lunch or another adventure around town which you know I'm always up for - I have an appointment with me.

Next time you walk along the Southbank, take a look. It might be me there under the glow of a heater with my nose in a book.

In a better hat I hope.

Simone Rocha

There are a ton of fashion designers I admire from afar, keeping up to speed with their latest collections, style forecasts and general élan through the medium of magazines, Twitter and savvy bloggers.

For me, Simone Rocha is definitely up there with the best of them.

Admiration from afar, of course, as sadly her collections are a galaxy away from my tightly managed Fashion budget (from which funds are currently being used for Moving Into New Gaff and Being a Grown Up budget).

The AW14-15 Ruffled stretch-scuba Straight-leg Pants are beautiful (oh go on then, throw in the matching top and you've got a deal) but at £925 a pop, that means missing mortgage payment, goodbye food, no duly paid tax to Waltham Forest Council, no Netflix. No nothing.

Frivolous me says, 'Pah, go for it! What are you worried about? HSBC will definitely be sympathetic if you miss one payment and I bet they don't reeeaaally mean it when they say 'Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage'. Besides, you'll look fancy and will stay completely dry in water'.

Realistic me says, 'Oh, get over yourself. Get yourself down to COS where you belong. Besides you're always hungry and you're part way through Season 2 of Orange is the New Black and will therefore be bereft if you chuck in Netflix'.

See, it's always a conflict. So for now it's back to wistfully perusing vogue.co.uk and scrutinising simone.rocha.com to get my Rocha fix. I have been curious about the designer for a few years now and a certified Rocha fan girl since her SS13 show at London Fashion Week where she showcased one of the strongest trends - great big splashes of punchy neon in yellow and pink.

Her designs have stayed firmly on my wish list ever since and even more so in September 2013, when Cara Delevingne popped from the pages of British Vogue in the Pink Lady feature. Captured by Walter Pfeiffer in a variety of blush toned pieces, Francesca Burns wrapped Cara in Rocha's bubble gum Candy Mesh Coat from the AW13-14 collection which I lusted over all season (and settled begrudgingly for the Zara imitation). Lovely all the same, but no Rocha.

So who is Simone Rocha? Born in Dublin in 1986 to the hugely successful designer John Rocha CBE and his wife Odette, style was always going to be in her DNA. She graduated with a BA in Fashion from The National College of Art and Design in Dublin and then in 2010 from the acclaimed Fashion MA course at Central Saint Martin's College in London. She showed her MA collection as part of the CSMC show at London Fashion Week in February 2010, showcasing her SS and AW11 collections with Fashion East. Further achievements soon racked up with the presentation of her SS12 collection as a solo catwalk show at London Fashion Week in September 2011. Her AW and SS13 collections were shown at Somerset House during London Fashion Week to critical acclaim and she won the 'Emerging Talent Award - Womenswear' at the British Fashion Awards in 2013.

In the past, her signature look has included mannish, oversized tailoring and crochet and lace and she is synonymous with brogues that receive her unique treatment. I love the youthful, feminine yet tomboyish allure of her designs that have a definite edge; there's nothing saccharine about her sweetness. Her AW14-15 collection had an Elizabethan influence with ample proportions and contrasting fabrics, and showcased a fresh, cool aesthetic with her own specially developed house tartan.

Oh to swan about in Simone. How fierce it would be to rock a Rocha. Clad top to toe in Simone Rocha is the woman I wish to be; coolly serene, keeping it firmly together in minimal masterpieces with sharpness and interest. Rocha's designer's profile on the London Fashion Week 2014 website cites the ideal client as 'A woman who wants to wear beautiful things.” That's me, Simone, that's me!

OK, so I'm not there yet; I realise the Simone Rocha woman would not have hastily superglued together the broken strap of her Top Shop Chunky Platform Sandals before scooting madly out the door for work, only to hear the ping of the strap a mere two minutes later as they fell apart with a too-enthusiastic power walk to the station. The Simone Rocha woman certainly would not have continued to wear them all through the working day and then dancing into the boozy Shoreditch night, walking with a noticeable limp and removing a lot of skin from their ankle in the process. No way.

The Simone Rocha woman would have popped on some gold metallic textured-leather brogues or chain-embellished calf hair point-toe flats and cast those broken sandals aside with aplomb.

There's clearly work to do. For now, Simone remains an impasse for me; no progress can be made in this matter as quite frankly there ain't nothing going on but the mortgage. Besides, I have radiator valves to fork out for. Yep, that's right. Radiator. Valves.

So instead, I will keep admiring. I will keep poring over the photos and clucking with admiration at the S/S15 collection described by Vogue as 'fashion poetry' with its nude mesh, bodices with fluff and red flowers (fluff!) and translating the Rocha look into something a bit more accessible for the time being.

Because I absolutely adore fashion.

Because it makes me very, very  content to do so.

  References:

1. 22 March 2010 – www.independent.co.uk – Daddy's Girl: Simone Rocha
2. London Fashion Week 2014 - Designer's Profile
3. Vogue.co.uk - Simone Rocha

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Coachella - Early festival fashion forecast

The desert dust may have settled, but with UK festival season warming up nicely on the sidelines … I still have Coachella on my mind

Coachella, the Valley Music and Arts festival held annually in the Colorado desert, informs my festival fashion choices.

Paying close attention to what the cool girls and boys are wearing at Coachella is the equivalent of an early fashion forecast - the heads up for what's on the style horizon, something to chew over for a few weeks and inspiration for your own custom-built festival wardrobe.

Jazz FM's Love Supreme Festival is first up on my summer festival programme. Described by The Guardian as 'the British jazz world’s Glastonbury', Love Supreme combines a class jazz, funk, soul, fusion and blues bill with a modern, green field boutique experience and top class DJs. This year's line up includes De La Soul, Gregory Porter, Soul II Soul and Incognito and if last year's inaugural festival is anything to go by then my confident prediction is that it will be epic. Cannot. Wait.

Festivals have many awesome components. Essentially, amazing live music you can dance to without abandon, singing in cheery unison with the crowd. Cold beer and cider in plastic cups that goes down just a little too easily. Quite good food, especially with veggie and street food options. Mates you know and love and new weekend mates you make.

For me, without question though, Festivals are about FASHION. A fantastic platform to express yourself and experiment with new looks - after all, it's a festival, not work, and you have sartorial free rein. For the past few years I have meticulously researched, planned and plotted my festival outfits, accessories and makeup weeks in advance. Sometimes, it's worked. Other times, I've looked like a plonker and I'll spare you the photos. But, it's intrinsic and I take influence from a variety of sources: Kate Moss, Stevie Nicks, Grace Potter, Kate Bosworth and Solange to name a few.

Here's what I learnt from Coachella this year...

 1. Denim cut offs and white look good together, especially with a print belt. Probably best for the beginning of the day though, and take a stylish layer for warmth and spillage-cover up later on when the sun goes down. We do not live in the desert and we'll have a beer rather than a water, thanks.

2. Any type of scuffed boot - be it Cowboy or Chunky Lace Up - is great and guaranteed mud / water / stamped-on-foot proof. However, utilitarian practical flats, chunky 'fuglies' and sliders have emerged as a covetable alternative. If it's good enough for my other favourite Kate then I'm willing to give it a try.

3. Tartan is not going anywhere soon and Jared Leto wears it well, casually pared with ombre hair and clash-print trousers. Gingham is summer's alternative to tartan and looks particularly good in sugary shades of lilac and pink or vibrant red. A roughed up battered leather jacket and boots will help it avoid looking too saccharine or that you're off to see the wizard.

4. 90s-cool is showing no signs of abating which is music to my ears. Chokers and vintage T-shirts make interesting additions to your festival wardrobe. See Francis Bean looking effortlessly cool circa 1993.

5. Fringed leather whether in jacket or bag form looks great with shorts, dresses and bared legs. Reference: Poppy Delevingne at her envy-inducing hen do at Coachella (oh to be part of the #Popchella crew) or my favourite Kate in her Kate Moss x Topshop version.

6. Coordinated top and bottom sets provide a great alternative to the trusted festival dress or playsuit. It is a look I have coveted for months and is fun and stylish. What Would Beyonce Do? She'd wear a matching top and bottom set from Topshop Boutique, of course.

7. Let your inner tomboy loose in understated sports chic. Possibly my favourite look to emerge from this year's Coachella and channelled effortlessly by Zoe Kravitz. It looks chic, understated and insouciant. You: 'oh, this old thing?' Reality: spending hours deciding exactly which shade, length and fit of tank dress will work with those boots. They'll never know.

8. Kimono coats made an appearance. Floaty, fringed and printed they look great with denim or clashed with a print. Helpfully, they can be squished into a bag and popped on later when it gets a bit nippy. I'm still partial to a slogan sweatshirt but may just dabble on one of the festival nights to mix things up a bit.

9. White lace looks pretty lovely, and accessorised with simple jewellery is uncomplicated but still striking. Same rules apply, keep it interesting with sliders (see 2), leather (see 5.) and plenty of jewellery.

10. Never ever underestimate the power of a great dress. Especially one with an unusual print, that covers you up tastefully but still makes heads turn. Vintage is always a winner as there's less chance of outfit clash.

So, ladies, the fashion forecast is looking very fine indeed at this stage.

Coachella provides a great source of inspiration, a covetable look-book and a chance to see what the cool Californians are wearing. Now it's time to turn what you've seen on its head...English-style.

Good luck with your research.

Jazz FM's Love Supreme Festival takes place from 4-6 July 2014 at Glynde Place in Sussex.

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Reference: Coachella Street Style - Style.com