AUTUMN: DAY TWENTY SIX

DAY TWENTY SIX: Gold nail varnish, MY Maybelline


Sometimes, you stumble across something so good that you don't want to share it but I figure that it would be downright mean of me NOT to share this discovery. A few weeks ago, when I was running around like a headless chicken getting ready for another wedding, I suddenly decided that my outfit would not be complete without a metallic nail.


However, I've always found metallic nails notoriously tricky - they're either super watery or so gritty that your nails feel thick and lumpen. This one is neither - two thin coats produce a beautiful shimmery effect that looks almost like Minx. I added one layer of Ciate top coat and my nails have survived a week of moving without chipping. Two sparkly thumbs up!

AUTUMN: DAY TWENTY FIVE

DAY TWENTY FOUR: Blue and green palm print sweater, Versace x H&M

So, unless you've been living under a rock for the last few months, you'll no doubt be aware of the Versace X H&M collaboration that has been whipping the fashion world into a veritable neon leopard print frenzy for the last few months. Originally, I really wasn't that fussed - sure it's great but I draw the line at having to queue overnight to get my hands on a dress. It just so happened that I was in town yesterday morning for a breakfast meeting and on my way to run another errand, I thought I would nip in to a few stores and see how the collection looked.

I didn't even bother with the flagship on Regent Street, having seen the queues that snaked down and round the corner to the Courthouse Hotel. Instead I headed to the store opposite Bond Street tube station, which was also ridiculous - clothes flung everywhere, queues and I swear I saw two girls wrestling over something sequined.

Giving up, I headed to Selfridges where the queues were much smaller and you didn't even need a wrist band to get into the menswear section which worked well for me - the tills were also located there so in order to pay, you had to make the passage through, where inevitably a lot of women changed their minds about their purchases and flung stuff back onto the rails so I got some pretty decent pieces of womenswear - expect them to drop on the blog over the next few days in some way, shape or form.

Saying that, this sweater is actually from the menswear collection - I had planned on wearing it as a dress but since it's ever so slightly too short, I teamed it with my neon pink Boutique by Jaeger skirt for a real Miami vibe.

Just call me Donatella.

Worn with: Pink neon skirt, Boutique by Jaeger; pink neon belt, Marks & Spencer; Gold chain, Vintage; Gold brogues, Office.

AUTUMN: DAY TWENTY FOUR

DAY TWENTY FOUR: Afghan knitted scarf, Weardale Cottage Crafts

One of the side effects of working in fashion is that you're always wishing your life away on seasons. When you're looking at summer dresses during September or coats in February, it does funny things to your head and as such, you end up planning your wardrobe six months in advance. Or at least, I do. When I saw the House of Holland show back in February, I immediately fell in love with the oversized Afghan knit scarves and began investigating where on earth I could get one since there was no way I could afford the price attached to the ones I'd fallen in love with. Originally, I'd thought about buying two blankets and stitching them together so I started hunting on eBay. I came across Weardale Cottage Crafts, a small family-run business that sell their hand-knitted blankets through eBay and a plan was hatched. I emailed them, giving a rough explanation that I was after a blanket sized scarf and after a bit of back and forth, I'd commissioned my scarf, which arrived in time for Fashion Week. 

Of course, then we had our weird Indian summer so I haven't been able to wear it as much (except for when I've worn it as a shawl/poncho type combination) but with the recent cold snap, my scarf is finally getting the wear it deserves!

Worn with: grey sweatshirt, Petit Bateau; Sunglasses, Ray-Ban.

AUTUMN: DAY TWENTY THREE

DAY TWENTY THREE: Wool and leather sle­eve poncho, H&M

I don’t know what I was thinking putting on a wool poncho the day that our department had to move our fashion cupboard, I really don’t. However, I was so excited to have finally got my hands on it that I think I would’ve worn it even if it was 30˚C. I’ve been after it ever since Jackie Dixon of Show Me Your Wardrobe appeared in The Daily during LFW wearing it. I have stalked various branches until the other day, early for an appointment, I ducked into the giant Regent Street flagship – lo and behold, there it was, just one size small left. Hurrah!

So, while it was a sad day saying goodbye to our cupboard, at least I got a little joy from my purchase.

Worn with: denim shorts, Zara; Studded toe boots, Stuart Weitzman; Breton tee, Day Birger et Mikkelson

AUTUMN: DAY TWENTY TWO

DAY TWENTY TWO: Black parka, Vince

This whole season has, bar a few days, been unseasonably warm so you may find yourself wondering why on earth I'm dressed as an Eskimo. Well, last night I was doing a night shoot on location, styling a story outdoors right by the River Thames where it was FREEZING cold. I got some strange looks when I was coming into work in my arctic coat but I think I was the only person on the shoot who didn't really feel the cold anywhere other than their face.

Back when I was a costume assistant many, many moons ago on films, I got pretty used to standing around in muddy fields for hours at a time, often at night and that time has taught me that even the mildest days in winter will not translate to mild nights. Thanks to that experience, I have a veritable wardrobe of shoot coats with deep pockets and big hoods to keep me warm. This one from Vince is definitely my favourite due to the HUGE hood which means I can have my hair tied back underneath it. All too often hoods on these kinds of jackets do not provide enough space for my overly-large cranium, let alone the thatch of hair that I have that needs to be tied back on these occasions.

Anyway - awesome coat, awesome shoot. More details nearer the publication time.

Worn with: Zig-zag scarf, Barbour; Grey skinny jeans, Miss Selfridge; Grey sheepskin boots, Emu.