WHAT THE HECK?!

It's hot outside. 

I, for one, am unprepared.

I haven't made the transition from spectacles to contact lenses yet. Sunglasses are safe in my drawer. A squint is permanently on my face.

How short is too short for March time?

Can I still carry the sock/sandal trend on? I'm not ready for full on feet out mode yet. 

Will people laugh if I wear tights? Or is it more ridiculous to go bare legged? 

(I'm currently in search of my beach legs)

Will my outfit suffice when the uncontrollable need for me to get my coffee fix strikes, and I break from a casual stroll into a shifty looking speed walk? (Upper lip sweat can be hidden by a big schlunk of coffee foam but actual damp armpits and/or back sweat is another matter and therefore just not an option.)

(The 'coffee-run' outfit)

How thick or thin a knit is necessary? Is one necessary? Cardigan or jumper? In fact I'm having a poncho moment right now. 

On the plus side, I can clog dance my way around in my good ol' wedges all day long - or maybe barefoot when the arch ache kicks in.

Maybe a bikini top instead of a bra is a tad too far. Maybe not, depends on how far away laundry day is - See 'Sweetest thing'.

(Time to sort your bikini line out)

Picnic time? Can I face the ants yet?

Lighter locks? Check. Beach waves perfected? To be confirmed at a later date.

Is shoulder exposure still considered chic? In a slight off the shoulder way, not a stereotypical British beach, complete with protruding tummy and weird sunburn lines, way.

(Beach-goers where I'm from don't quite look like this…)

Are people still buying those overpriced Havaianas that I need to own. Like. Right. Now.

Can you drive a convertible with the roof down without the unintentional, 'I'm an arsehole' tagline being attached to you by every bitter non-convertible owner? Jury's out on that one. 

(Well that's one way to carpool)

My 'happy' playlist to match the sunny weather is non-existent right now. I guess it's bye bye 'The XX' and hello some annoying Euro-trash nonsense. 

If warmer weather is supposed to lighten the mood and inspire everyone to be happy, smile at strangers and fart fairy dust; is the season of sarcasm over? If so, I might as well go into hibernation, like, right now.

(Heaven)

I have so many questions and so few answers. 

In the grey British Isles, can we ever be truly ready for these unseasonable seasonal changes? 

Does anyone actually have separate wardrobes for Winter and Summer nowadays? Even if you wanted to be this organised, is it even possible with the weather being this sporadic? 

It might not seem like it but I think I've just convinced myself into excitement. I might even have ice-cream for breakfast in the morning sun tomorrow, but then again I might need to dig out my raincoat - or snow suit for that matter. 

It's tricky not being in as close contact with Mother Nature as I'd like. I imagine her to be hilarious, but in that smart kinda way, and I think we might bond over our sarcastic inclinations. However, until we have reached BFF status, the weather lady will have to suffice. So it looks like blind faith is the new trend du jour.  

Watch this space.

  

(None of the above photos are my own and I do not take any credit for them. If you know the origin of any of them, then please let me know and I will cite accordingly)

SHOPPING WITH THE BOYFRIEND

Now, this isn't a brag post. I'm not going to list the 'delights' of being one half of a twosome, with the cherry on the top being that 'gee we just love doing eeeverryythingg together.' No. On the contrary. Maybe I should have called this 'Survival' or a 'Step-by-step guide to the interiors of every fitting room in South Wales' (FYI River Island has 560 ceiling tiles and Urban Outfitters has the best array of bits to distract a bored mind - or throw at him to encourage speed.) 

(Taking clothes-sharing to a whole other level. Image from LeLove)

I'm a big fan of shopping solo. I'm also a big fan of shopping with a partner. I mean, hey, I'm just generally a huge fan of shopping. But shopping with someone else can be tricky. You have to take into account their agenda, where do they want to shop, what do they need to buy. Your shopping trip is no longer all about you, nope, today is all about we. Let the chaos begin. 

Anytime you put two people into an unstable situation, a reaction is inevitable. This is the same with the average shopping trip. It might be busy, it might be quiet, traffic might be heavy, the weather could be bad, the list goes on. Add this to the inherent minefield that shopping with your beloved is and you could find yourself secluded and saddled down alone with all of your shopping bags. To help prevent or at least prepare you for this, here's my 'Top 10 List' for shopping with the boyfriend.

1) Have you thought this through? 

Like really? 

If you answered 'yes' to both of these then proceed on your date. Surviving your first shopping trip with no major issues/injuries is the sign of a match made fo' life. 

2) Be realistic 

It's probably not the best idea to drag your bloke around when you have a very specific yet undiscovered look in mind. Going from shop to shop in search of the elusive polka dot/reversible/convertible dress to pant-suit with added heat technology, is likely to result in heavy sighing, feet dragging and a running commentary on the new and undiscovered levels of boredom the human mind can be driven to. So maybe leave the 'must have' item, that you dreamt up last night, for a day of trawling on your own. Trust me; you, him and probably your feet, will thank me for it.

3)Get an early start on the day.

There are two reasons for this. 

1- An early start means a longer shopping day. Duh!
2- Leaving early means that you have more time to get organised, avoid the mad scrabble out of the house, bypass any traffic and decrease your risk of getting vertigo from having to travel to the top floor of those annoying spiral carparks. Sounds like a win win to me. 

(Save the snoozing for the return journey. Image via LeLove)

4) Food!

This point needs to be in bold and underlined. Sometimes we forget to eat. It happens to us all. But don't make this one of those days. You need food to give you energy so that you're able to think straight. Believe me I've got a drawer full of questionable clothing bought when I've been under the influence of hunger induced delusion. But this isn't the only reason. As this post would suggest, I have a boyfriend, and this boyfriend of mine likes to eat. A LOT. There has been more near-miss tantrums caused by hunger than I think he'd care I admit. It's a misconceived idea that women carry huge handbags around purely for fashion credentials. Oh no. It's so that we can lug around all the food necessary to keep our guys quiet. My bag is like a double agent, fashion on the outside, pantry on the inside. 

5) Patience

I feel like a phoney giving advice about this one because this in particular is the one I struggle with the most. You see I take shopping very seriously. I enter a shop. I assess the layout. I proceed to plan the most efficient route around -usually in an anti-clockwise direction. I buy/don't buy something and then I leave. Trying on anything is left strictly to the confines of my home, thank you very much. 

However, for my boyfriend, he loves nothing better than to get his kit off in as many different venues as possible, trying on everything that catches his eye. He'd even try socks on if he could. I think this comes down to the inherent and inexplicable difference between men and women. For a guy: you walk in, pick something up, try it on, if it fits you buy it, if it doesn't you don't buy it. The End. And on you plod with your day. For a girl on the other hand it's a whole different story. Firstly there's the major issue of actually finding something or some things, which then leads to the fitting room (AKA the hate chamber) where you curtain yourself off into a little box of scrutiny. Usually the item looks shit and I walk away feeling bad about myself. Day ruined. 

Two things to take away from this:
1) I need chill out with my fitting room fear.
2) Maybe I could stop the foot tapping and look on the positive side: the more he tries on, the more choosey he'll be about what he buys, thus meaning that he'll be available to carry my bags. Perfect.

In all seriousness, waiting may be annoying but think of it as a small respite on an otherwise non-stop day. Maybe make a rule, anything over ten minutes and he has to buy coffee; or get a slap in the face. I'll leave it up to your discretion as to which one will be more effective. Each to their own and all that.

6) Comfort

Shopping is a test of endurance, a sport almost. I'm not suggesting it feature in the next Olympics (if it does one day feature, remember you heard it here first) but you'd be surprised how much ground you actually cover when you're on a mission, so comfortable shoes are vital. That goes for boys too. My boyfriend was once saved by my stash of blister plasters. Be warned, trainers and sock-less feet are not a good combo. If you want to wear heels to go out shopping then stomp away, you could wear dolly shoes and they'd be the most painful thing you've ever put your feet into. It's not the heel height, its the comfort level. As much as your partner loves you, I doubt they'd be willing to piggy back you around for the whole day, but by all means test it out. 

(That's one way to keep your feet from hurting. Photo by Alice Point via Cocorosa)

7) Think carefully

Are you sure you want to ask that question? Really sure?

There's the obviously dangerous questions like: "do I look fat in this?" (Definitely proceed with care for this one!) But there's also the more subtle questions that on the surface seem harmless, however, underlies a world of trouble. Here's the scenario: boyfriend picks up top and turns to you and says, "what do you think of this?" Pause. Think carefully. He might actually want your opinion and value what you have to say. On the other hand he might completely ignore your opinion, buy the top and forever after he'll know that you hate it, this is something that will haunt you every time he wears it. My advice for both these scenarios is this: You might not like the item, but they do, so keep that to yourself. What you should focus on is whether the item looks good on them. Does it suit them? Is it flattering? Everybody's different, what you like, someone else might not and vice versa. Make your points constructive. No one wants to be offended. 

8) Pay attention

Shopping trips give you a close up insight into a person's likes and dislikes. So pay attention and you'll never be stuck for a gift idea again!

9) Don't over dress

This is kind of a follow up to point number 6. It's easy to look out of the window and dress accordingly. However, retail land has its own climate completely. Wear thin layers that can easily be stripped on and off and keep bulky items to a minimum. No one wants to get a sweat on mid shopping haul. Plus if you find it a little nippy just buy yourself a cover up. Getting yourself all hot and bothered is something guys will have no sympathy for - I mean how many guys do you see braving the arctic conditions in just a vest. However when it comes to shopping I'd say to take a leaf out of their book. Just this once though. 

10) Lastly, ENJOY!! 


Clothes are great, but what's even greater is having someone who's willing to traipse around store to store with you, when really they'd rather be watching the rugby, or paint dry.

(Smiling together, heels still on feet and I'm gonna assume they're both well-fed. All things that amount to a successful shopping trip. Photo via Karla's Closet)

Now go off into that shopping emporium and live out my wise words of advice (*said in the voice of The Genie from Aladdin*) 

PART DEUX

So here's the next part to my Rodarte ramblings...

After the less than stellar (in my opinion) last few collections, Rodarte was due a come back and boy did they do just that. S/S 10 featured amazonian like women, powerful, strong and utterly mesmerising. The layers, the panelling, the cross-hatching, asymmetrical, slashed at the body, the incongruous variety of fabrics, tattoos and tie dye!! 

(Who knew Death Valley and this slasher style could look so chic?)

And the good times just keep on rolling, right into A/W 10-11 it would seem. A collection of perfect haphazardness. The contrast of the delicate florals against the thick knits that snaked around models' bodies made it all the more wearable. Wrap skirts, plaid, structured shoulders, fringing, feathers, layered socks, and a skirt/trouser combo. 

(Masterclass in layering)

The usual multi-hyphenated list of references was replaced with the idea of the 'ancient coast' in S/S 11, streamlining the collection with a new found sophistication. The clothing presented was practical and creative, allowing it to be worn not just admired. 

  (Striking patterns plus modern shapes equal a beautifully subtle, futuristic collection) 

My faith started to waver after the A/W 12 (it was such a snore I thought I'd bypass it), that is until I saw S/S 12. Oh boy did the girls deliver! There was somewhat of a 1950s silhouette complete with nipped in waist and fluted skirt, structured dresses with peplum detail and manipulated layers of intersected fabrics. The colour palette erred on the Aladdin, with strong echoes of Egyptian costume, but I'm okay with that. Accompanying this rich collection was the playful use of Vincent Van Gogh's infamous sunflower paintings, printed atop tiers of floating silk and chiffon, with the shows final pieces featuring his work 'Starry Night'. The sisters made the well-known and recognisable seem completely new and intriguingly rare.

(Capturing the sunshine and the moonlight in this collection of dramatic contrasts)

A/W 12-13 saw something incredible: orange and black shirked their halloweeny connotations in favour of a chic yet playful take on femininity. But this was nothing compared to what was to come. S/S 13 was a show of contrasts, a sequinned mini with a boxy sweater, laced leather pants with a geometric tee, dramatic floor length skirts with a heavily patterned top. And a review would not be complete without a mention of the leather jacket, a piece that screamed 'bad ass' with its occultish print and dramatic fringing. 

(A/W 12-13 Making orange cool)

(S/S 13 my little leather jacket looks rather sorry for itself in comparison to these)

A/W 13-14 was a pile up of references, ranging from, as Vogue's Jessica Bumpus lists: "it was grunge and it was gothic, Nineties and theatrical, skate culture, LA surfers, fairy princesses and Eighties street kids". I couldn't have summed it up better myself and with no surprise I bloody loved it all. So inventive, so creative, so fucking insane!! 

(So much tie-dye so little time to save up for said tie-dye. Sigh…)

That is until S/S 14 which just confused me. A little bit Versace, if Donatella woke up one morning and decided to 'get down with the kids'. I never thought I'd write hot pants in the same sentence as Rodarte but alas we'll call this their experimental phase.

(Definite elements that I like but on the whole it's a jumble of 80s Kylie Minogue, 'Pretty Woman' street walker garb and what I imagine Vegas sportswear would be)

And that brings us bang up-to-date with their A/W 14 collection. I'll start with the beret - in my opinion, the epitome of chic, coupled with the kooky wide frame glasses, created a real vision of bookish cool. The wider legged trousers offered a real casual sophistication to the ensembles which was only enhanced by the long length vests, and read this, SHOULDER-LESS coats. The idea of a coat without shoulders may baffle some but I find the new shape utterly enthralling. And this is only made more so by the quality street colour palette of these creations. I don't want to ignore the Star Wars prints but like I said before I have no knowledge/interest of the films whatsoever, however after seeing the Mulleavy's dresses I might have to change this! 

   

And that ends my recap of Rodarte delights. I hope you've enjoyed reading as much as I have writing. I can't wait to see what the duo produce next. Adieu!

All photos from Vogue.com

RODARTE: PART 1

My first encounter with Rodarte (and by encounter I mean through the pages of a magazine) was way back in 2005 when the Mulleavy sisters first concocted a gothic mix of cobweb spun knit dresses, creating a collection that merged Japanese horror movies with an ethereal tenderness; a creative contradiction that has been carried on throughout their design career. 

(SS 08 my favourite looks in my favourite colour)

The initial aesthetic of the Mulleavy sisters both enthralled and just plain confused me. On first sight my inner monologue went a little like this: 'It's so pretty and weirdly practical in a, 'it's already full of holes so lets wear it everywhere' kinda way. But then again it'll probably catch on EVERYTHING. OOO but so pretty…' As you can see not once in my tooing and froing did the question of expense pop into my head. What did occur to me was how I could explain this whole new fashion favourite to my father. Knitted separates full of holes? I can see his brain exploding at the nonsensical and feeble explanation I'd offer up to him. 

Part ballerina, part warrior princess, with a pinch of the otherworldly, and a futuristic twist, all with its roots firmly set in the folkloric. The Mulleavy sisters magically encompass all of this without ever seeming superfluous. (It was difficult enough writing up that list, let alone channelling it in new and exciting collections every season!) 

Check out Vogue's timeline of the sister's collections right from the beginning. Seriously it's worth a look, but seen as you're already here, you might as well peruse my little recap of Rodarte throughout the years.

(AW 06/07)

From the strikingly sexy AW 06/07 collection, focusing on a very feminine silhouette in a seductively rich palette of deep crimson, blackest black and plush cream, to the voluminous ensembles of their SS 07 show, that encompassed both a simplicity and a decadence emphatic of their unique vision. The focus centred on the overcoat in their AW 07 collection, sending statement dress coats in opulent metallics down the runway, only to take a sexier turn in their SS 08 show. 

(SS 08)

The Mulleavy's description of the SS08 collection as being "about anime and the story of the tourist child/ vampire hunter" is enough in itself to make this my favourite Rodarte collection EVER. And the clothes are pretty great too. Despite Lauren David Peten's rather biting review, likening the sheer torso-ed cocktail dresses to a mishmash of Tonya Harding and Bjork, and ending with the advice: "they might want to keep the cartoonish, faerie princess trimmings to a minimum when designing for grown-up women who reside in the real world", I fully applaud the frothy dresses, pastel hues, shiny trousers and the romantic swathes of fabric that seductively  drape around the body. Plus the last three dresses remind me of clouds and candy floss. I love candy floss.

(AW 09 A gothic mix of blood stained layers)

AW 09 riffed on the same shredded crochet/knit thing emblematic of the sister's aesthetic, this time updated with a Japanese horror twist. The red streaked (or blood stained) gossamer dresses were a little too literal looking for me but damn the pairing of those cobwebby tights and killer Louboutin fetish spikes were insane - in a good way. 

(THOSE shoes)

SS 09 was a concoction of references: skeletons, X-rays, star wars and the colours of the cosmos culminating in a surprisingly boring collection. Only on closer inspection could the true detail be appreciated. We'll ignore this one. NEXT!   
   

(SS 09 Not my fav!)

One word; Frankenstein. I'll leave that sink in. AW 09/10 saw a kinda makeshift approach to designing, including hand-marbled leather, silver lame, metallic linen, loopy knits and glittery bits and bobs. (I'm going to ignore the murky coloured boots in favour of its black counter part.)  

(AW 09/10 Killer boots)

And here I take a pause. Oogle over these pictures for a bit and check back for Part 2 soon. 

(All of the above pictures are taken from Vogue and I claim no rights over them.)