Happy New Year!

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education To you all! Hope you're having great celebrations, bringing in the New Year in style. J and I will be dining at Naan in Bariloche. Hopefully it'll live up to the good recommendations it's had.

See you in 2010 :)

Marie Xx

And we're off!

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education Tonight J and I fly to Argentina. For a mere 16 hours we will be airbound heading across the Atlantic to a far away land. Hopefully there it'll be warm, sunny, exciting and relaxing.

The e-mails have been very quiet for the last few days and I have enjoyed feeling like I'm relaxing ready to go away. We had a mad dash to get the house in order and all the packing done and now when this is posted we shall (hopefully) be taking off above London. Here's also hoping that Heathrow wasn't too hideous to get through.

Hope everyone has been enjoying their time off and are looking forward to their New Years Eve celebrations! xx

Happy Christmas one and all!

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education Well here we are on Christmas Eve, and how time has flown. So I shall keep this short and sweet. To start a most lovely Mandarin Duck I found in St James park yesterday. I just love these ducks, so pretty and proud.


And to finish these winter leaves, no snow yesterday but it was cold! And the leaves had that lovely lovely frosting.
Anyhoo, all the best for your Christmas breaks. Enjoy, eat, drink and be merry! Xx

Time marching on

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education I cannot believe it's almost Christmas already. This time last year I was at home with my parents and sisters and meeting my little nephew for the first time. I was so excited about my impending wedding and concerned about the size of my waist.

This year I am at work until the last possible point. Very excited about our upcoming Argentina trip and still concerned about the size of my expanding waist. Someone said yesterday that apparently it is common to put on 1 stone in your first year of marriage. Something it seems I am giving a good shot at.

However for now I shan't concern myself with such trivial matters!

For the days are now beginning to get longer, there's a new year marching inwards, full of hopes and dreams. And memories of the year just past to store away.

I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank you all for reading and following my words and thoughts. It means the world to me to get comments and exchange thoughts with you all. And of course I love reading your blogs too and 'getting to know you'. Hopefully we can continue this too in the new year!

Tweet, tweet - at long last

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education So I've finally bitten the bullet and decided to join Twitter. It's been a long time coming I know, and I'm not sure why I've resisted so long but I am now going to give it a shot. I can be found at Wifeinthecity if you are interested. But to be honest it'll take me a little while to get used to it so apologies but it is incredibly boring at the moment.

Therefore if you are on Twitter can you either find me and let me know so I can follow you or leave your username in the comments and I will find you so I can follow you. And of course if you'd like to follow me I'd be delighted :)

See you over there!

M x

MORE JOSEPH SS10!

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education Posted by the Fashion Editor at Large

It's taken me a while to get back to Joseph SS10 part II. A while that has been taken up by an exciting POP magazine commission, and getting my new logo installed as well as widening the visual register of the blog(thanks hapsical you are the best fashion blog geek ever). This is proper progress, and I have been jumping around the living room in a mental kind of hyper joy while my dog Walter looks at me wondering what the hell is going on, while outside thick snow is falling..

I have been having personal wardrobe issues with fashion of late. I don't feel that many designers are catering directly to me/my generation - me and Kate Moss, Stella Mc, Gwyneth Paltrow are of the age group in question.

So I'm pleased that Joseph is making waves in my head. I'm connecting its relaxed sexy urban look with luxe basics labels like Helmut Lang and rebuilding my idea of what fashion is for me, and how I can communicate who I am in a way that feels right with my clothes.

So here are the rest of my Joseph hot picks for Spring 2010 part one is here.
6.






I'm really into Lame for SS10. Joanna Sykes for her Sykes label has done the best silver Lame suit for spring 2010. These trousers are fab. Who knew the harem pant thing would become so mainstream? Olivier Theyskens was a pioneer when he introduced the drop crotch pant at Nina Ricci for AW2008.


7.                                                       

In terms of everyday fashionable legwear the noughties were dominated by skinny jeans, and then by leggings. So it follows that as we depart the decade the two should have become one. The great thing about a jean/legging is that though body-hugging, the garment won't require a crappy rendition of the Single Ladies video dance to squeeze into them. For Spring 2010 jean/leggings will be a staple, and these are damn good ones. As are the those by James Jeans which my colleagues on the fashion team at Grazia are obsessed with.

8.

This woven leather jumper is just what I would wear if I had toned, fit body and was working from my condo on Venice Beach overlooking the ocean. I would take my lunch break and rollerblade up and down the boardwalk. I would wear a bra underneath though.


9.

Charles Anastase is a Parisian designer on the London scene. I like his aesthetic - and I LOVE his fashion illustrations, so am delighted Joseph collaborated with him on this T as well as a few other designs.


That's it on my Joseph own label examination for SS10. My next Joseph investigation will be to reveal which Givenchy and Haider Ackermann looks they have bought for the new season; writing that post will be a form of self-torture.


Want more? Then head to Joseph where they've got Charles Anastase at home on Joseph TV and an Isabel Marant interview.

THE GUY WITH THE FASHION WORLD IN HIS HANDS

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education Posted by the Fashion Junior at Large

We all adore fashion photography, myself and the Fashion Editor at Large are obsessed - we are currently toying with the idea of being Number One Fans and heading to Selfridges today at 5pm to get Nick Knight to sign his latest book for us. But on another note, lately I have developed a new fixation on fashion illustration. Possibly because, once upon a time, I used to draw and write in equal measure. Then, when I was about 16, the journalist in me came to the fore and I haven't so much as looked at a pencil since.

Anyway, this revival of my interest in fashion drawing was piqued whilst watching a friend of mine put her under-graduate design portfolio together - complete with disgustingly gorgeous and detailed sketches of her graduate fashion collection. This has lead to my somewhat belated discovery of London bred illustrator Blue Logan, the nephew of Andrew "Miss World" Logan!!




Mr Logan an ex-model (who the Fashion Editor at Large met, on the very day he was photographed on above at the Red Bull Fashion Factory) just finished exhibiting at Art Basel in Miami. Go Blue!

 
I want these fashion playing cards on my bedroom wall. Like now. Please?


The PPQ Crowd. Loving Pixie's heart framed glasses.


 A portrait of Diane Pernet clad in trademark black.



Blue Logan portrait with thanks to Weknowwhatyoudidlastnight.com

Why oh why BA

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education My holiday is on the precipice of being ruined. Our flights are booked with British Airways and yesterday was the overwhelming vote to strike over the holiday period when we're supposed to be flying to Buenos Aires. For sure strike while I'm there, rendering it impossible for me to return. But before I've even got there?!

And here I'm going to be controversial, but I think they're greedy, chancing wotsits who think striking for two weeks will obviously be a good thing for a company which lost £300m in the first half of the year. Eeejits. They already get paid more than any other cabin crew! Grrrr...

Here's hoping Willie Walsh can sort this out and get me to Argentina on time!

THE MAN WHO CAN

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education

Butterfly Head by Neil Watson

I just totally adore my Fashion Editor at Large logo created by the very talented graphic designer/photographer/artist Neil Watson. I met him through my girlfriend (he works at her company Yellowdoor). This is the latest of many things we have worked on together. In the recent past we created the Matches seasonal catwalk brochures together often times toiling until 3am in our mutual pursuit of graphic design perfection. Love ya Neil!

My favourite picture from the BFA's

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education

I laugh every time I see this photo I took of Antonio Berardi and the ever sociable Gianluca Longo of ES Magazine at the British Fashion Awards on December 9th 2009

And on to the next one...

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education Last night was fun. The skating was pretty, although not on my behalf, more wobbly there but it's beautiful skating around at Somerset House as the light fades. My only complaint would be that there are a few too many people on the rink but you can't win them all!

Then glammed up we went off to Orso. No photos yet I'm afraid, a colleague was taking them and didn't bring in her camera today. But when I have pictures that are shareable I promise I shall share. Our meal was lovely, Orso is a very good restaurant with great service, good food and lovely wines to choose from. Expensive, but then I wasn't paying this time :) Plus it's quite a cosy restaurant so one I would recommend for an intimate dinner with a loved one.

I left at the right time, drunk but not awfully so, happily drunk shall we put it. Got home on the bus to a very drunk J. This morning neither of us were so pretty!

And tonight we are celebrating Christmas with our friends. It shall be another night of revelry which I'm not sure my body can cope with but we'll see.

Hopefully your Friday has been more productive than mine. Although one final tip, Itsu Detox Zinger is just the best thing when you have a hangover, ginger lime and apple all in a lovely drink. Yummy!

Have lovely wintery weekends. M x

It's party time!

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education Tonight is our work Xmas do. We're going skating at Somerset House and then off for dinner. I've never done the outside skating in London thing so hopefully it'll be good fun, sure it will. And then for dinner the theme was glam so I have purchased myself a new dress from French Connection. More on that later, hopefully accompanied by pictures!

Let's see how I feel tomorrow...

ABOUT LAST NIGHT.....AT THE BRITISH FASHION AWARDS!

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education Posted by the Fashion Editor at Large


I promised I would post a picture of me in my Sophia Kokosalaki dress (look 20 AW09), and who better to pose with for it than the fab Ms Kokosalaski herself. Sophia is such an amazing designer, and Caren Downie of ASOS.com, Harriet Quick of Vogue and Bridget Cosgrave of Matches all looked sensational in their Sophia K. Sorry for the grainy quality of the picture, but Sarah Mower took this shot and I think I had the camera on the wrong settings!!! Thanks though Sarah.  It was an eventful evening (see winners list on the fabulous GraziaDaily).

My toe is still throbbing from when Mandi Lennard accidentally stepped back on it wearing spike heeled Lanvin boots while taking the below photo of Victoria Beckham and her friend and protector Natalie Lewis. But the distant throb in my foot - I'm calling it my toe hangover - is as nothing compared to what Karen Elson will be feeling this morning.

















The delectable supermodel flown in from Nashville to present Grace Coddington with her Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator actually fell off the stage in the process of walking onto it. A drop of about seven feet. It was such a shocking moment, the noise of 1000 or so people clattering and chattering stilled to silence as we all imaginged the next award would go to an unsuspecting Paramedic. But she picked herself up to a standing ovation and later it was confirmed following a visit to St Thomas's hospital that she has a sprained thumb.























Get well soon Karen. Oh and by the way she was truly the most beautiful woman present last night. Eva H, Claudia S and Kate Mossy were all there but Karen was beyond radiant. After seeing her I want to wear a red dress!

See Mandi's Colette blog here.
Picture credits:
Melanie Rickey & Sophia Kokosalalki: Fashion Editor at Large
Victoria Beckham and Natalie Lewis: Mandi Lennard
Karen Elson: Dave Bennett

Kai Mayfair - Review

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education As a follow up to my last post I thought I should tell you about Kai. We went there because I had won a voucher for it in a raffle and we like to go to nice restaurants to celebrate our anniversary. So this year it worked out as Kai. The restaurant is nicely decorated, somehow it still feels Chinese but obivously upmarket. We had a big table which was kind of separate from the rest, although in some ways that was good.

We figured since we had the voucher that we didn't need to worry too much about how much we spent, so J had soft shelled crab for his starter and I had steamed scallop and king prawn. Our starters were both lovely. They came out at different times but this was fine as we had been warned. And both were dishes you wouldn't cook yourself at home, which always makes the restaurant experience feel more worthwhile.

Then on to our mains, I had beef in a pepper sauce and J lamb. If I'm honest I was not so impressed with our mains. My beef's sauce tasted a little shop bought and wasn't great and J's lamb just wasn't much of anything.

I then figured I would push the boat out and have a pudding. I had the 'not to be missed' pudding which involved pumpkin cream, something I should have been wary of from the start. Again, nice enough but not amazing. Especially for the price.

Which takes me to my next point, this place is expensive, starters start at around £15 and go upwards and upwards. Mains are of course more expensive. Now I don't mind expensive when I feel like it's worth it. And I think our starters were, but for the mains and pudding I felt less happy with the amount it cost. Although I knew the ingredients were of good quality for that much I expected something more amazing.

However the service was superb, very nice staff, nice atmosphere.

So in summary I don't think I'd recommend it, I think it's just a little too expensive for what we had. If you really want to go and spend lots of money then have the starters and avoid the pudding I had and you'll probably have a lovely dinner!

A REALLY DETAILED LOOK at JOSEPH SS10!

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education

Posted by the Fashion Editor at Large

One of the pleasures of NOT going to the press day of a label, is catching up on it all afterwards. The boon of off-pisting a press day appointment, is that one generally meets with a PR who has time on his or her hands, and can give feedback on how the collection went down with the press. Most pleasingly of all, the PR is not suffering from smile-muscle rigamortis locked in the upturned position.

So it was when I taxied to meet Imogen Crosby at Jospeh a week or two after the Joseph press day at their Brompton Road HQ. We had tea, chatted, wandered around the showroom ooh-ing and aahing and I took my time to really take in the changes in the brand and what Joseph is up to.

As I have said in an earlier post, the Joseph at Westbourne Grove near my Maida Vale base is something of a palace of design for me. I go in to try on Haider Ackermann and Givenchy (and cry that I cannot afford it), and then wander downstairs in the store to purchase some Joseph own label which, thanks to relatively new Japanese owners and a new design team in the shape of Alain Snege - ex-Collette - and Louise Trotter - ex-Jigsaw/Gap/Calvin Klein - I like a lot.

So without further ado, I present my edit of Joseph SS10.
1.



This jacket is light and elegant yet its weighted down by chains to keep it in shape making it a perfect spring/summer jacket. It's very fashiony. A move on from the cropped jackets we have all been wearing, but still with the look of that. It will be good to wear with very short items (as shown), and really tight things like treggings of jean-leggings which will be the fashion staple of the year in 2010.

2.

These shoes are by Tiffany Tuttle, the daughter of the former US Ambassador to England. Her label is called LD Tuttle, and Tiffany has collaborated with Joseph to create these shoe/boot/sandals for SS10. What I like about them is that they're tough chic for everyday wear. The heel is not too high, and we all know it's about a lower heel for SS10.  I remember meeting Tiffany Tuttle for a coffee in Maida Vale once; she is a former dancer and cool and edgy in that Rick Owens L.A way. After our breakfast she told me she wanted to take a walk to Regents Park, little did I know that meant she was heading home to the biggest house on the Park!
3.



These leggings are real Python. Also in the Python area is a stunning sleeveless biker jacket. The khaki jacket is noteworthy becasue khaki cotton drill will be the denim of SS10. What I mean to say is it will be the fall-back hard-wearing fabric of choice for the fashion set. As we say in the trade - its a look!

 4.

These khaki's are by customised Alonzo Ester and shape up to be another of Joseph's collaborations for SS10. He has also created a studded parka. In his day job Mr Ester is a stylist and creative director and worked with Madonna during her Rhinestone period. I'm STILL wearing my Gap khaki's from two years ago, and in my mind I have replaced them with these already!

5.


I know this looks like a lovely short sexy very tight black dress, and it is. But having seen it in the flesh I can share with you that it incorporates sheer panels both through the arms and in swathes across the upper body thus giving it a fashion edge that is totally SS10.


MORE SOON ...Going out with my good friend Caren Downie fashion director of ASOS tonight and got to get ready...

SMACK MY STITCH UP

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education
Posted by the Fashion Junior at Large


                               Their promotional poster is as M.I.Y as it gets


                Childhood friends Kristie and Coralie


The Fashion Editor at Large went to the Hidden Art fair last week at Brick Lane, and told me about how she bumped into Coralie and Kristie who run M.I.Y workshops appealing to young, creative (or just skint) types who want to make their own Christmas cards, jewellery, cross-stitch...whatever.Well, I did my graduation project/magazine on the M.I.Y movement, as the FEAL well knows, and am definitely of a mind that, for my generation, creativity begins at home.
What really set my pulse racing when I heard more about these two art graduates, is that they are not just popping up unpredictably at art fairs and the like, they have opened an M.I.Y bar!!! in Kings Cross and running themed nights called the likes of "Smack My Stitch Up".

So on Saturday the Fashion Junior at Large trudged through the rain to Kings Cross to attend "Kristie abd Coralie’s Christmas Cooler", and make stuff. Situated in a building that was once home to a gay bathhouse and more recently a sex shop (apparently the sex shop is still operating out of the basement, but the glitter covered door which links the two businesses is firmly locked) Coralie and Kristie, two childhood friends, have the quaintest most wholesome enterprise you can imagine.

It’s M.I.Y meets cocktail hour, held in a softly lit room with marvellously mismatched furniture. Crafty jewellery, home furnishings (Like Rescued and Revived’s ‘divorce cushion’ as Coralie refers to it – emblazoned with the message ‘I’m sorry. I overestimated forever. Goodbye’) and pick ‘n mix sweets stud the walls. Groups of girls (and some men as well) sat around enjoying mulled wine and cake whilst contentedly making Christmas cards with Pritt stick, glitter and bits of ribbon.  Admittedly this was early in the evening, later it was more of a party atmosphere.






















Head down and focus on making those unique Christmas Cards!

The box of craft materials supplied by the girls is full of wonderful and bizarre bits and bobs, and I end up covering my Christmas card to the b/f in animal stickers and a My Little Pony ribbon (I hope he likes it!?!). It was fun fun fun, and the good news is the girls are hoping to stay open into the New Year, continuing events like ‘Bring and Bling’, and ‘Stitch and Bitch’. If you get a chance, GO!!!

The M.I.Y workshops will run from 10-13th and 17th-20th December, from Midday to Midnight at 9 Caledonian Road, N1 9DX.
Check out the website: http://www.kristieandcoralies.com/

THINGS IN MY HEAD TODAY

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education Posted by the Fashion Editor at Large

1. What I'm going to wear tomorrrow night to the British Fashion Awards. I think it will be this by Sophia Kokosalaki:



































I love it. It is so chic. But I'm in a quandry about showing skin. I think I have to. Skin is sexy. My g/f thinks black tights will be chic.

2) It's been over a week since my last confession... I mean blog. When one does have an untended blog growing virtual tumbleweed in the blogosphere, it is a stressful feeling. Especially when there are plentiful stories and posts to share and no time to release them. So now a stack of ideas filling two pages in my "Fashion Editor at Large" notebook are queueing up to depart my mind like buses waiting to leave a garage.

The reason for this long blank is that I have not yet mastered how to fulfil multitude journalistic commitments to Grazia and others while also blogging. The pre-xmas rush is always as stressful as it gets - talk about cortisol overdose, or in my case my cortisol stash is fast depleting. In the last week I have completed the Best Dressed 2009 tome for G's mega-stacked double-issue published on the 22nd December. I love doing the best dressed list, it is extremely intense and detailed but also fascinating how what we look for in a fashion icon changes so much in the space of a year. I think you will be blown away by our choices and omissions.

Clearly by the time January comes along and my new logo/ blog design are up and running, my special blog email address is delivering what I need, and the fashion junior at large and me are in place at our new office this kind of behaviour will be TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. In the spirit of us still being limey amateurs and newbies to the scene, I'm even letting the ridiculously beautiful Fashion Junior at Large swan off for the next three days on a modelling job with Rankin, but of course I made her promise to blog daily to share her experiences. 

A long long time ago...

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education J and I met and I didn't like him. And then we met again and we got talking and I thought now here's a nice intelligent kind of chap who likes food and wine. And we got to know each other. On November 1st 2002 we kissed. And on December 4th 2002 we 'officially' became a couple. Yes my dear readers, 7 years ago to the day J and I got together.

It wasn't a fairytale coming together, I was lying on his bed in halls musing to myself that since we were acting like a couple we might just as well be one. And from thenceforce we were M&J.

I originally went into the relationship thinking, why not? I'd never really had a proper boyfriend before and just wanted to know what it was like. And here was someone who strangely enough was willing to be my boyfriend, who I liked. So off we went. I never imagined that seven years down the line we'd be married. I thought it would last a few months, I'd go through my first break-up and move on stronger and ready for the next person. But it didn't work like that. The days passed, they turned into months, then years and we were still together, still happy with each other. Still happy in our relationship. We've never broken up and got back together. We've never really been close to breaking up. And truth be told I'm not sure how we've got this far without big hiccups, little ones of course, but nothing big.

So tonight we shall be dining at Kai, to celebrate this time spent together. And to toast to the next seven years. And I shall be thinking about how we can make the next seven as wonderful as the last seven.

So here's to relationships and love, because today I feel like it. Happy weekend's to you all. M xxx

Kazakhstan Part II

Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education, Shop Clothes Online, Radiology Information Social Work and Education I think I may have promised more on Kazkahstan so here goes. We stayed in the Radisson in Astana, a five star hotel (lucky us) which was huge and lovely. My room was on the 12th floor and the first thing I thought when I walked into it was how huge the bed was. I tried showing in the photo below it's size, truly you could have fitted three people in there, should you want to. You might also notice my travel companion keeping the bed warm. As hotel rooms go it was good, well equipped, underfloor heating in the bathroom, giant shower, good TV, coffee and tea facilities and even an iron and ironing board. So I was fairly impressed. Plus going back to the bed, it was soooo comfortable.

So then I thought I'd share another view from my room, the space in Kazakhstan was one thing which really struck me. It's just on another scale. As the 9th largest country in the world with a population of around 15m the population density is vastly different to the UK. And you can see this in the cities, with huge roads and big buildings. Beyond the city is the steppe. A flat landscape which goes as far as the eye can see, without coming across anything else. Also because the city is relatively much smaller the sky is darker and bigger. You can really see the stars, feel free and look up in wonder.

On a lighter note the hotel had their Christmas decorations up when we arrived. I couldn't help but pose with the life sized bears they had in reception. My mama would hate these bears, papa probably would like them. And me I stroked them whenever I walked past, hello bear!

I have some more city pictures to share. Another post soon hopefully!