Jo Malone: Sometimes more is more… December 13, 2006

I love Jo Malone’s perfumes. Traditionally made but with a twist and an occassional edge. I think I found one when I tried Black Vetyver Cafe cologne last time I was flying. I alway stop by in the shop in Terminal 3. (I have been wearing Pomegranate Noir Cologne for a few months now and although I haven’t tired of it, I wouldn’t mind something new. )

I like it even after a few hours on my skin so on my next flight, last Saturday, I had a good reason to visit the shop again. This time I found the fragrance a bit too heavy and spicy, although still wonderful. The shop assistant suggested I try straighforward Vetyver, which seemed a bit too traditional for my taste. Then she suggested blending the two. This worked perfectly and created a complex fragrance that works during the day as well as in the evening. I loved it instantly. So now I have two small(ish) bottles of perfume, both amazing on their own and combined I have my own ‘personalised’ fragrance. This is as good as it gets in retail.

I love this scarf December 13, 2006

I’m not even a scarf person, but I’d have this. Maybe I could make a cushion or something out of two of them. (Or, more likely, get my fiancé’s mother to make the cushion for me.)

Betsey Johnson Parfum December 12, 2006

I spotted this during a meeting with a PR company in New York yesterday. I might just buy it for the bottle and the box. No idea what it smells like, as I was too transfixed by its appearance, but it has:

top notes of juicy pear, tangerine, grapefruit and black currant; a heart of freesia, lily of the valley and apple, and a drydown of cedarwood, sandalwood, praline, amber and musk.

Okay, then. Worse comes to worst, I’ve got a nice air freshener in a weird, gorgeous bottle.

Zoe D frayed with lace blazer December 11, 2006

I really loved this on the hanger, though it was clearly way too short for me. All day, I’ve been thinking about how I wish it had been made for someone tall. Now, having seen what it looks like on the Amazon model, I’m wondering what I ever saw in it. It’s kind of like spotting a former crush on the arm of a homely girl, I guess.

eBay’s finest hour December 10, 2006

Jackie is a woman of detail. She picked up on my throw-away remark about my shoes being the only floral pattern I own and posted a picture of me wearing a top that I can’t deny as being flowery.  So I need to do two things – try to remember all the pictures Jackie has taken of me over the last few years and explain why I am seen in an orange girly top with red applique flowers. Of the two challenges, the latter will be easier.

I got these tops (orange and cream) two summers ago on eBay. One of my favourite designers, Joseph, has a shop in Fulham road. They had a range of these summery and, I admit, girly tops in the window and every time I went past I looked them them longingly. I never bothered to go in and try one on as at a price of £165 it was too much to risk. (Huge risk as once I try something on and it looks perfect, the price considerations dwindle. So, my advice, don’t try anything you really really like until you are sure you can buy it.)

I liked them because of their feminine style, beautiful fabric and rich colours. 

I was into eBay at the time and out of curiousity typed the designer into search. Lo and behold I found someone selling new ones at $55 a piece! And that is, the dear reader, how I came to posses two non-black, floral patterned tops in my otherwise edgy and dark wardrobe.

I usually wear the tops with a dark blue (almost black) Armani suit, very light fabric, but still sharply cut. I love the contrast and feel very comfortable in it. The white top goes well with white trousers, especially during hot summer.  

Amaryllis in the kitchen December 10, 2006

These have been distractingly beautiful in our kitchen all week. Now I am travelling in New York, this picture is serving as a virtual bouquet, something to cheer up a rather minimalist hotel room. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. (Thanks to Alec for helping me identify these!)

Cowboy washcloth set December 9, 2006

This is how freaking selfish I am: I bought this hyper-cute cowboy handmade washcloth set yesterday, from Etsy artisan hugsandkisses, intending to give it to my little nephew as one of his Christmas gifts. But the more I look at it and think about it, the more I want to keep them for myself. I won’t, because I wouldn’t want to get my mascara all over such precious things, but the thought has crossed my mind, several times.

From the same seller, I got this equally sweet toile handmade washcloth set for my niece. I love me some toile, but the uniqueness of the cowboy print was emanating a louder siren song. Both are a great deal at $9 per set of three.

Rare flora December 8, 2006

While Adriana says her black-and-floral shoes are “probably” the only item she owns which have flowers, I have photo evidence to the contrary…

(And I know this top has a cream-coloured twin, and that it was a designer bargain. Please fill us in, Miss Adriana.)

Pretty new bracelet December 8, 2006

It’s kind of delicate and Swiss, and was a steal at £1.99. I got it yesterday from Oxfam in Temple Fortune, London (the prices of which are a lot more reasonable than every other Oxfam shop I have checked out).

Shoes with flowers(!) December 8, 2006

Jackie has summed me up rather well and girly wasn’t in the description. So I thought that my first post should feature probably the only item I own that does have flowers. And pink flowers no less.

I got these for my birthday a while ago and found them in one of my regular charity shop haunts in the Chelsea area of London, in Fulham Road (£18). I have worn them a few times and they really work well. As I almost always wear black, they do brighten up an otherwise austere outfit and give it a new twist. Without compromising my ‘edgy’ credentials, of course.