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In 2015 I will be writing a Sentence a Day. You can read more about why here.
Today is the 7 February 2015.
Question:
When was the last time you were ill?
Answer:
I was very poorly over Christmas and New Year but, touch wood, I haven't been ill since which is fortunate, as I am the world's worst person at being out of action - ask my husband.
In 2015 I will be writing a Sentence a Day. You can read more about why here.
Today is the 6 February 2015.
Question:
What did you eat for breakfast today?
Answer:
A bowl of Grape Nuts (ob-sessed) with Total 0% Fat Greek Yogurt, pomegranate and milled flaxseed scattered on the top and a small piece of granary toast with Vegemite (sorry Marmite, my eye was turned when I lived in Australia and we embarked on an affair that has lasted the test of time - can we still be friends?); all washed down with a cup of almost-black decaf tea.
In 2015 I will be writing a Sentence a Day. You can read more about why here.
Today is the 5 February 2015.
Question:
When was the last time you received a letter from a loved one?
Answer:
Sadly, I honestly can't remember but I did receive a thank you card from my lovely friend Karen this week and seeing a hand-written envelope on the doormat is always a treat.
As the years roll by and I ricochet towards my, ahem, more advanced 30s, it is time to face facts that some high street shops just aren't age-appropriate.
Don't get me wrong, and to use the first example that springs to mind, Topshop will always hold a dear place in my heart. I still get a little giddy when I descend the escalators at the flagship store in Oxford-Circus-hell and mildly panic at all the goods ripe for the picking, but, Kendall Jenner I am not and in my early twenties I no longer am.
More recently I find my eye drawn to a beautiful top and then on closer inspection release it is smaller than my bag. Skirts have been discarded on sight because I know the slightest movement will cause bum-cheek exposure, and quite frankly no one needs to see that. You'll find me instead poking about downstairs in the concessions area (Oh My Love is a fav), drooling over the Topshop Boutique delectables, or perusing my most favourite section, Topshop Edited. Here, it's calmer and a provides a haven from the baying O-Street crowds and I feel at home here. There's wearable colours (oh, hi navy) that don't scrimp on style, STATEMENT PIECES (my wardrobe loves a statement piece, I'll tell you) and specially selected items that offer something a little bit more subversive.
However, despite my age and reservations about neon laser-cut crop tops, I am not ready to be carted off to some of the more 'sedate' high street shops. I won't name names as that's a little bit mean and I'm very much a champion of the British high street; but they are the kind of places where they generally cater for professional women in their 30's-50's, the price tag is extortionate but the goods leave a lot to be desired in the style stakes if you catch my drift.
Therefore, this can create a bit of a problem when you need (want) a wardrobe overhaul, fancy a treat, have blown your Net-a-Porter budget on christ knows what as there sure as hell is nothing to show for it but you realise there's nowhere really to go. At times I feel I'm stuck in fashion no-woman's land.
Then The Finery London was brought to my attention and my fashion dilemmas were answered. Hallelujah.
Any label founded by a team of former Topshop and ASOS big players was always going to be a winning fashion formula, but the pieces I have seen so far are even better than I imagined would come from such a style-fusion.
Described as 'luxurious, concept-driven design at a genuinely affordable price point' and 'a combination of contemporary-modern with a more vintage, feminine feel' by Brand Director Caren Dowie, the designs are utterly covetable and the look feels grown up and chic without a whiff or dowdiness, swagger not stuffiness; up there with my other high street favourites COS and & Other Stories in terms of affordable, sophisti-cool fashion. Pieces that have the 'forever' feel rather than fair weather trends that come and go.
The debut collection presents some lovely pieces; the Hemming Satin Trapeze Dress in dusty pink satin, the Sumner Striped Shirt with in a semi-sheer fabric provides a subtle but classy 'reveal and conceal' look, proving that sensual doesn't always have to mean flashy.
Emilia Wickstead recently said she loves women to dress where 'sex appeal can come from wearing something fitted without showing off so much skin' and as someone who has always remained firmly in the 'boobs or legs, never both' camp, The Finery London does sexy in classy way. A kind of I'm-in-my-30s-and-fabulous way.
So far, I've ordered the Capella Funnel Neck Tee in Ivory and the Corruna High Waisted Trousers in Pink and I await their arrival with an excited anticipation.
I fell in love with the Knox Camofleur Print Cami Dress at first sight, but alas, someone else in my size must have got their greedy mitts on it and they've run out. I emailed The Finery London Care Team to enquire when it would be in again, and I was super impressed when I got a reply (at 1.43 am no less, they must be shattered) to say it will be in stock again towards the end of the month. Hurry up the end of the month, I have a party to go to.
So, ladies (all the ladies) of a certain age who love great fashion and aren't ready to pack it all in just yet, but don't want to flash your bum cheeks, you'll do worse than heading to The Finery London.
I can't wait to be age-appropriate in my new finery.
In 2015 I will be writing a Sentence a Day. You can read more about why here.
Today is the 4 February 2015.
Question:
What's on your calendar for tomorrow?
Answer:
By day, interviews, meetings and squishing work into the gaps and then drinks with friends by evening.
Sadly, it does not involve laying in bed with a hot water bottle, drinking copious cups of tea, catching up on fashion magazines and Netflix and a steady stream of peanut butter on toast. Oi, who switched my calendar?!
In 2015 I will be writing a Sentence a Day. You can read more about why here.
Today is the 3 February 2015.
Question:
What was the last film you watched?
Answer:
Locke - Tom Hardy and a powerful performance in a car; nothing else needed.
In 2015 I will be writing a Sentence a Day. You can read more about why here.
Today is the 2 February 2015.
Question:
Which famous living person would you like to have dinner with?
Answer:
Grace Dent - journalist, author, broadcaster and food critic extraordinaire; she'd blag us a table at the so-hot-it-hurts hot new hot place in hipsterville this week (avoiding queuing / smug rejection by an 18-year-old with a clipboard) and we'd get smashed on champagne and stuffed on something with hummus and cause all kinds of mischief; I imagine my stomach'd hurt from laughing - as it does when I read Grace and Flavour - and we'd sod about and reminisce about the 90s, and I'd take a cab all the way home and flip off my shoes, and quite possibly leave them in it, and best of all the Evening Standard would pick up the tab (probably).
In 2015 I will be writing a Sentence a Day. You can read more about why here.
Today is the 1 February 2015.
Question:
What is worrying you?
Answer:
Hmmm, where to start... I'm such a worry wart; well right now the fact that so many of us walk while looking at our phones risking an accident and overlooking nature, that people mindlessly gape at their phones rather than reading a book on public transport and that the proliferation of selfies is turning us all into narcissist fools.
The other day a follow customer in Topps Tiles Boutique in Islington (big shout out) took a number of selfies while the sales guy was downstairs getting samples. I could only watch in horrified fascination as she proceeded to pose and pout unashamedly and look like a complete wally. Selfies in Topps! What did she hashtag? #tiles #grout #tileface ? The mind boggles.
