Style Icon: Jackie Kennedy

She is undoubtedly the original First Lady of Fashion.

The wife of the 35th President of the United States, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassiss.

Both Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni have been compared to Jackie Kennedy however neither has managed to capture her innate sense of style.

Courturier and family friend Oleg Cassini was chosen to design the First Lady's wardrobe, a decision which proved pivotal, as all eyes fell on Jackie and she and the President toured the world.

Tragically widowed at the tender age of 34, Jackie Kennedy's style extended beyond the White House as she continued to be a style inspiration to women all over the world for decades afterwards.

If you have missed the previous style icons featured on the blog, check them out here.


Tell me, who is your style icon?

DISCOUNT TIME LADIES (AND GENTS)!!!

To claim your 10% off any orders at Temporary:Secretary enter the code SUGARANDSPICE at the checkout.


Temporary: Secretary have some absolutely gorgeous items and I know I'll be taking full advantage of the discount - something my bank balance will not thank me for, but whatever!!


Why not celebrate the release of Alice in Wonderland later this year with this gorgeous necklace?
 

Or what about this relevant necklace?
 

And this for your sweetheart, gents?

T&C's
- 10% off all items - including sales items
- Offer excludes P&P which will remain £2.95 for UK shoppers
- Offer can be used worldwide, both UK and international readers are welcome to use the discount
- Discount code is valid for 14 days


Come back next week for more great offers for all of you lovelies!

Penguins are officially my favourite animal...

After watching 50 First Dates (not for the first time) on TV one evening recently I fell in love (again) with penguins. I mean, how cute are they? The way they walk - waddle - gets me every time!


You might remember that I interviewed budding womenswear designer, Charlotte Taylor, earlier this year. So I was only too please to see Charlotte Taylor's first collection - entitled Harold and Barbara - which she launched at London Fashion Week this month.


Charlotte cites, as her inspirations, "trashy grannies, penguins, old soap operas, movies and the eccentric".


The collection - which is the first for the Charlotte Taylor label - is grown-up and yet captures an element of fun. It is made up of flirty, floaty dresses and flowing, hooded capes which look both tailored and warm. The contrast between the tweed and silk is inspired!


Here are a few of my favourite photos from the Lookbook:

I love the cape in the first photo (top left) and obviously the dress in the final photo (bottom right) but would love just to be able to get my hands on one of the penguin print scarves (worn as a handband in the photo, bottom left).


To see more of Charlotte's collection, check out her blog here.


Which is your favourite piece?


I'd also like to take this opportunity to say, congratulations to Charlotte! Sorry I couldn't make it to London but do hope that all went well!


More soon. Love, SG

Monday Morning Pic-Me-Up: Sonia Rykiel pour H&M

Saturday saw the launch of the Sonia Rykiel pour H&M collection.

I had my mum to stay this weekend so we thought we'd take a leisurely stroll into town on Saturday and obviously stopped at H&M on the way.

There were some absolutely gorgeous things in the collection and I could have bought loads but was really good and just bought the jumper below. Isn't it so very French chic? I love it!

Oh yes, and my fringe that you've not seen yet! What do you think?


I hope you all had lovely weekends. More soon. Love, SG

How to... shop till you drop and still "be green":

Clearly I was ahead of the times...


Earlier this month Dame Vivienne Westwood urged BBC Radio London listeners to stop shopping for six months in order to avoid unnecessary waste.


London Mayor Boris Johnson has launched his climate change for London campaign with a number of stars, including Westwood, lending their voices and support to the cause.


Well, Dame Vivienne and Mr Johnson, I'm one step ahead of you - I already gave up shopping for six months! It was not easy. But it is certainly possible. You can read about how I got on here.


If you don't think you can manage six months, or, like me, have done your six months of no shopping, what next? It's all very well not buying anything for half a year but what about the other half of the year. Do you suddenly forget all of those noble 'green' reasons you gave up shopping in the first place? (NB - not sure my reasons were ever very noble or green but whatever - I did it!)


Well, you can still shop and "be green". I think.


Dame Vivienne Westwood advises that people shouldn't buy clothes unless they absolutely had to and that then that shoppers should only invest in quality pieces that would last.


That's the first step. Only buy what you absolutely need. This might be a little restricting, particularly in the beginning. So why not allow yourself one frivolous piece a month whilst you wean yourself off the shopping bug. That way you have to really think about what you buy and will hopefully choose something you really want, as opposed to something you think you want or want for that moment!


You should also - obviously - be allowed to replace items. Say your favourite, much loved and, therefore, much worn pair of jeans develops a hole in crotch, say, you have my permission to buy a new pair! But if, say, I button falls off a shirt or a dress, sew it back on! I've even been known to sew up holes in the toes of tights, particularly the pretty patterned ones I own. (I just make sure not to wear them with peep toes!!)


I don't know many women who feel that they have everything they "need" in their wardrobes. So, if this is you, make a list of the absolute essentials that you feel your wardrobe is lacking and when you go shopping, take this with you. This should then act as a guide.


Of course, charity shops and vintage shops are - technically - ethical. But that doesn't mean you should go mad. If you don't absolutely love the item, don't buy it for the sake of it or just because it is "green" to do so. It won't be if it just ends up sitting in your wardrobe until your next clear-out! Plus, there might be someone else looking for that exact piece who will love and wear it.


In summary (because I think I have waffled on a bit here!):


Ask yourself these questions when you're considering buying a "new" item:


Do I need it?


Do I love it?


Will it go with the other items in my wardrobe? (If you have to buy new shoes etc to wear it, don't buy it!)


Will it last? (I.e. is it well made and will it still work next season?)


If you answer yes to all of these - go on, treat yourself!!


For further reading, check out Style Eye's post and Vogue's article.


In other reading, for the weekend, why not check out twentyteneightyfour's post “It’s not about fashion, it’s about style.” Which might also help you to realise that it's not all about the latest fashions.

And the winners are...

*Drum roll, please*


The Glamourous Grad Student


Claire of A View From Here


And...


Hannah (Steele)


I will be contacting winners for their choice of size and colour and an address to send the shoes to but if you are one of the winners and you see this before I do, please send me those details and I'll get them sent out asap!!


Well done!


And for everyone who didn't win this time, watch out for another giveaway coming to you very very soon!


Love, SG

Links à la Mode: 18 February 2010

 

Style vs Fashion

Edited by Retro Chick


With the Fashion Week season in full swing and Fashion Pulse Daily live blogging from the IFB conference it can be easy to forget that there are other things going on in the world, where real women are shopping and dressing for real occasions.


There were actually surprisingly few Fashion Week oriented posts submitted this week. Possibly the Fashion Week attendees are still too busy to partake in Links á la Mode, but what I did find was a lot of posts focused on fashion, style and image in the real world. A Typical Atypical calls for a low fashion revolution and Idiosyncratic Style urges you to bring out your cocktail frocks for every day. Meanwhile, in the body image arena Intrinsically Florrie learns to love her specs, Sugar & Spice discusses tanning and Mariels Castle weighs in (see what I did there?) on the body size debate.


It would be impossible to leave this weeks links without mentioning the untimely and incredibly sad death of Alexander McQueen. There were posts submitted on this issue but I made the decision not to include them, not because they were bad, but because I felt that if I included one persons post I would need to include them all. There has been so much personal reflection on the life and designs of this amazing man in the fashion blogging world that to choose a small selection seemed impossible. If you would like to read these posts then, as ever, the full list of submissions is available in the forums.

Links à la Mode: February 18th

• A Typical Atypical – What girls really want to read about, and why fashion bloggers are changing the face of fashion
• Bonne Vie – Cultural Appropriation vs Cultural Inspiration: What you borrow from another culture when it comes to wardrobe should be thoughtful
• Confessions of a Fashion Editor – Dear New Look; it’s over!
• Eternal Masquerade – Covering the Parallels Between Our Current Winter Wonderland and Under the Sea Fashions
• Fashion Pulse Daily – Fashion Pulse Daily blogs live from the Future of Fashion Blogging panel during IFB’s Evolving influence conference this week!
• Hot Beauty Health – Ready for Spring? Here are 9 Big Beauty Trends for Spring 2010!
• Idiosyncratic Style – Fashion Dare – Let your party frocks come out and play!
• Intrinsically Florrie – Making a spectacle of oneself: learning to love glasses and finding the right pair
• Mariels Castle – It’s not about been skinny or fat its about being healthy!
• Retro Chick – Love, Lust & Burlesque with the Bridewell Collective
• SFindiefashion.com – Spring comes early to Golden Gate Park. Showcase of spring 2010 looks from San Francisco designers.
• Stacie Blair – Show your Olympic spirit with fashionable gear from Aritzia!
• Style Eyes – The dilemma of a fashion blogger and why I’m taking Dame Vivienne Westwoods advice to stop shopping
• Style Symmetry – Fashion Blogger Interview Kingdom of Style’s Queen Michelle
• Sugar and spice and all things nice – Discussing the dangers of tanning and why the only safe tan is one from a bottle!!
• The Clothing Menu – interview with independent jewelry and clothing designer, Norwegian Wood
• The Fashion Planner – The Fashion Planner is hosting an eUndies.com Giveaway!
• The Very Subjective – very subjective (and therefore – very true) observations about style do’s and do not’s.
• Thread Style – Heel-wearing fashionistas also can be feminists.
• twentyteneightyfour – My thoughts on style vs fashion and how our appetite for fashion blogs is part of our quest for style
• ventures of jenn – The Great Vintage Debate: the ‘price’ of vintage both within and outside of the western world and what it really means.

On days like this... I wish I was in London!

Cardiff is a capital city, why can't we have the same fun as London?

Check out the fun you can have if you're in London over the weekend. Highly recommend popping into Topshop's flagship store on Oxford Circus to join in the fun and games!

There's even a how to blog workshop taking place!

I've been hearing lots of good things about WAH nails recently and now, here they are, at Topshop's 'LFW week of fun' (as I am now calling it!!).

I love these nails below. They do some pretty amazing designs but to be honest I think they look great on some people but I'm never sure I really pull them off, so tend to go for more subdued designs. You can check out more of their designs on their blog, here.

If anyone is in London this weekend, for LFW or any other reason, have a good one!


More soon. Much love, SG

Style Icon: Michelle Obama

The world's eyes were on her husband following his historic win at the polls in the American Presidential election in 2008 but Michelle Obama is no wallflower and has certainly not hidden behind her husband's shadow.


She never gets it wrong, whether it is a Presidential Ball, the school run or a state visit.


If you have missed the previous style icons featured on the blog, check them out here.


Tell me, who is your style icon?

Come Out To Play...?

Playsuits.


I have never really been much of a fan, if I'm honest. Some people manage to pull them off but they never really appealed to me.


Until now.


I spotted this little beauty on the Dorothy Perkins site earlier today. I love it and think it would be perfect for a summer picnic or even for work with a pair of smart pumps.

Having discovered that I do like playsuits afterall I decided to have a quick look for any others that I might like. I found two others:

This one from Topshop:

And this one from asos:

What are your thoughts/feelings on playsuits?


More soon. Love, SG

Fashion icon and Body Image Season

It is not even lunchtime and I have posted my monthly column for British Style Bloggers.


You can read all about it here!


Tell me what you think?

Lemon and sugar

Nothing else quite tastes so good.

What are you having on your pancakes today?

It might not be Smythsons...

So yesterday I had a little splurge in Paperchase. I love that shop! Here are my purchases; a diary (to create a scrapbook journal), heart stickers and two pens (write in said diary!).

Stationary shopping is always so much fun.

And I thought I would also show the sunglasses case that I bought during a little shopping trip on Saturday. A bargainous £5 from Topshop! Vg.

La belle Paris

Yesterday - whilst also being Valentine's Day - was three months until I go to Paris!!!!


I am so very excited.


I went to Paris for the first time last summer and loved it. So when the opportunity to go again arose, I jumped at it.


By way of explanation. When I lived in Italy, my roommate - Cecile - was a girl from Strasbourg. We were like sisters by the end of the experience but the distance makes it difficult to see each other very often. I last saw her when I was in Strasbourg for a week during my internship at the European Parliament in Brussels in 2007. We decided that it had been too long so I suggested Paris! We will be joined by another friend - Steph - who was in Italy with us. Steph actually lives in the UK, so I see Steph every few months. In fact, I saw her yesterday - as fate would have it. We celebrated Valentine's Day together with a beautifully romantic walk at dusk over the barrage in Cardiff Bay - arm-in-arm. (Photos to follow!)


I can't wait to see the beautiful city again and this time, to take my beloved camera with me.


In my research for the trip I came across a couple of blogs which I thought I would share with you:


God, I love Paris - is written by an American girl now living in the French capital.


Paris Daily Photo - features a photo a day of the city - surprisingly! But they are always beautiful and inspiring. Love.


Paris Breakfasts - another American in Paris - this one is obsessed with macarons - I love it!!


I have no idea what we will do for our 48 hours in the city. As I have already been once and made the effort to do all of the tourist things, I don't feel the pressure to rush around this time. Cecile has been to Paris often, so it will be nice to go with someone who knows the place a little.


I will try to put together a Guide to Paris on a Shoestring for the blog when I return. Which I will accompany with some photos from the trip!


For now, any tips, hints or recommendations that you have would be greatly appreciated!!


Merci beaucoup!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is celebrated simply in our house. With a card and a kiss. (I did also get a lovely bottle of perfume - thank you very much!!)


Speaking of kisses, I just happened upon a lovely series of photographs by Brian Harris, entitled, Kiss. Brian Harris has been a professional photographer for many decades and his portfolio contains a huge variety of subjects, from graves and whisky campaigns to Eastern Europe and embracing couples.


I thought that the photo below was perfect for Valentine's Day:

Kiss in Paris, Brian Harris

You can check out more photographs by Brian Harris, including the other photos in this series, here. (A quick thank you to Brian for his permission to post this beautiful photo on my blog)

Happy Valentine's Day blog readers.

Much love, SG

PS Remember to enter my first giveaway for your chance to win one of three pairs of Butterfly Twists!!

"I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address"

There is something about brand new stationary that is so delightful. This afternoon I took a fantasy shopping trip to Smythson. I dream that one day I might be able to afford some personalised correspondence cards from Smythson. The dream would be Name-Engraved Correspondence Cards with a stiletto motif on a white card with blue ink. How gorgeous is the motif (below)? However, a set of 50 cards would cost me £354.00. Ouch.

But the personalised cards aren't the only thing on my fantasy shopping list today. When money is no object, why stop there, afterall!?


The 'Happiness Is Shopping' pocket notebook is, of course, a must:

And what about the topically named 'Recessionista' pocket notebook?

Maybe the Red Stiletto Shoe Motif ready-to-write Correspondence Cards are more affordable at £30 for 10:

Naturally, if anyone wants to spoil me...!!!


Hope you're all having a fabulous weekend. I've just watched in amazement at Wales have won their Six Nations match against Scotland in the Welsh capital!


More soon. Love, SG

To Spring: 10 things I like about... Spring!

O thou with dewy locks, who lookest down

Through the clear windows of the morning, turn

Thine angel eyes upon our western isle,

Which in full choir hails thy approach, O Spring!

The hills tell one another, and the listening

Valleys hear; all our longing eyes are turn’d

Up to thy bright pavilions: issue forth

And let thy holy feet visit our clime!

Come o’er the eastern hills, and let our winds

Kiss thy perfumèd garments; let us taste

Thy morn and evening breath; scatter thy pearls

Upon our lovesick land that mourns for thee.

O deck her forth with thy fair fingers; pour

Thy soft kisses on her bosom; and put

Thy golden crown upon her languish’d head,

Whose modest tresses are bound up for thee.

(William Blake, 1783)

I am fed up with the cold weather now. Snow is fun but relentless cold is tiring after a while. I'm bored of tights and boots and knitwear.

I thought I would put together the 10 things I am looking forward to most about Spring in the hope that it might make me feel a bit better.

1. Warmer weather. Obviously.

2. Longer days. Lighter evenings.

3. No need for hats and scarves and gloves (and tights).

4. Pancake Day (next week!!) and Easter eggs!

5. New spring summer collections which make me dream of summer holidays.

6. My birthday is approaching!

7. Blooming flowers and blossoms.

8. The beautiful light. Perfect for amazing photographs.

9. Another Sex and the City film is in the offing!!

10. Summer will soon follow spring.

What are you looking forward to about spring?

Links à la Mode: 11 February 2010

Check out The Fashion Planner's post which tells you How to Make Naughty Granny Panties for Valentine’s Day!

The Anti-Fashion Week

Edited by Dramatis Personae


That isn’t to say that I’m against Fashion Week… but more that this week’s Links á la Mode just really isn’t focused on it. With amazing interviews from kaKofoniesOfsi(gh)lens, Fashion in My Eyes, and Eternal Masquerade to great features on vintage clothing from Retro Chick and Unfunded, there’s as much fabulousness on off the catwalk as on.


Maybe it’s bitterness that I’ll be missing out on NYFW for the 3rd season in a row or maybe it’s my gentle heart preventing you all from Fashion Week burnout too soon…which it is, I’ll never tell.


Note from Editor : Please be sure to check out the IFB Conference at NYFW : Evolving Influence

Links à la Mode: February 11th

• 39thandbroadway.com: – How Designers Really View Their Customers
• A Typical Atypical: – I chat about how hard it must be to love fashion and be blind, and I question whether there ought to be a charity dedicated to helping people feel good about how they look even if they can’t see it in the mirror.
• Cafe Fashionista: – Style Secrets: Symbol of Style. A how-to on creating your very own trademark/signature look.
• dramatis personae – How to Pack for Mardi Gras!
• Eternal Masquerade: – Interview with young designer, and Teen Vogue/CFDA/Target scholarship winner, Jennifer Huang.
• Fab Blab: – Even after all these years, we continue to differentiate between dark and fair. How does this affect the fashion industry adversely?
• Fashion Cents: – Seven Style Basics that EVERYONE should know! Make sure you are not committing these style “sins.”
• fashion in my eyes: – Fashion is supposed to be fun! Interview with designer Arina Varga
• Haute World: – A Mad Tea Party? An exclusive look at how 9 luxury designers interpret Alice in Wonderland for French department store Printemps.
• Instant Vintage: – Blood, Sweat & T-Shirts: Learning the true cost of that cheap and chic outfit you just scored.
• kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS: – Interview with Anna Osterlund of Ravishing Mad
• Model Max: – Are ‘respectable’ fashion writers insecure with ‘upstart amateur’ fashion bloggers?
• Oranges and Apples: – Is fashion oppressive or fun? some belated thoughts on Tanya Gold hating fashion
• Rags to Reverie: – Vivienne Westwood showed that fashion forwardness could be inspired by the past
• Retro Chick: – Top tips to on the spot dating of Vintage Clothes
• THE COVETED: – Devil’s Advocate : blogging and corporate seeding
• The Fashion Planner: – DIY: How to Make Naughty Granny Panties for Valentine’s Day!
• the musings of ondo lady: – Back in 2006 Slave to Fashion, a three part documentary was aired on Channel 4 which took a really good look at the fashion industry.The aim was to make sense of the multi billion industry which everyone from the media to consumers seemed to be obsessed w
• The Recessionista: – an hour ago Rebecca Taylor & Milly: Fashion Week Inspiration
• Unfunded: – Photos and thoughts from the Vintage Fashion Expo in Santa Monica, CA.

Alexander McQueen, RIP

There's not much to say that hasn't already been written. So instead, I thought I would post some photos from McQueen's Spring Summer 2010 collection which was shown at Paris Fashion Week last year.

His collection told the story of women morphing into creatures of the deep as the seas slowly reclaimed planet earth. For me, they are a mystical mix between Alice in Wonderland and Pan's Labyrinth.

Style Icon: Sarah Brown

Gone is the frumpy housewife of old and in its place is a fashion savvy woman who has learnt to dress for her figure and educated herself on designers to boot. The tranformation of the Prime Minister's wife, Sarah Brown, has certainly catapulted her into the style stakes.


I admit that I am not Sarah Brown's biggest fan but I do admit that the makeover has been quite remarkable. And good for her.


Sarah shows women across the UK that they can look good if they find the clothes to suit. Indeed she looks absolutely radiant - and stunning - in the Erdem dress she wore to introduce her husband at the Labour Party Conference last autumn (top right).


She also looked positively glamorous when presenting David Tennant his award at the National Television Awards (top left with Mr Tennant!).


If you have missed the previous style icons featured on the blog, check them out here.


Tell me, who is your style icon?

A Tan To Die For

Fashion has a lot to answer for. Once upon a time a tan was deemed common but today it is seen as the height of fashion for many young women. But at what cost?
There has been a tremendous amount of press coverage recently over the dangers of the use of sunbeds and a number of campaigns to encourage young women to think twice before stepping into the booth for a quick fix.


I am as pale as pale can be. And I never really go brown in the summer. And I hate it. Or I did. For years I wished I could tan better in the summer. I won't lie, I thought about using a sunbed on numerous ocassions but never actually had the guts to do so. (My mum would've killed me!) But I know many people who have used sunbeds. And it's an addictive habit. When I have managed to get a tan in the summer it has been a real confidence boost and the minute that it starts to fade I start to crave the colour again.


We are told again and again that "the only safe tan is the one from a bottle". Well, I have used plenty of bottles of fake tan but when you have the option of a quick fix on a bed as opposed to the labourous task of applying fake tan and running the risk of streaks, I know which one I would rather! (I have had many streak experiences!!)


According to a debate in the Welsh Assembly today (yes, I am a geek!!), the fashion industry encourages young women to aspire to a tan. I'm not so sure. I think a celebrity culture has certainly made a tan the norm and indeed the ideal for many young women but the fashion industry themselves do not use tanned models, indeed I would argue that if you look at catwalk models they are often pale skinned beauties.


Even if the fashion industry is not to blame they do perhaps hold the key to changing the trend.


It is great that Nicola - off of Girls Aloud - has joined the campaign to ban the use of sunbeds for under 18s but we need more young women in the public eye to take the lead. It's all very well for one women to stand up and say that a tan is not fashionable but magazines are still filled with photographs of bronzed beauties.


Of course, whilst the white look might not be "fashionable", surely the tangoed look is no more attractive!? I found this photo on the Daily Mail's site - which do you prefer?

Heat magazine has launched its Dazzle Don't Frazzle campaign which is suppoerted by Nicola Roberts. (Join the facebook group here). Check out Polka Dot Stripe Rachel's post on this here.


And what of fake tans? Well I admit that I do sometimes find myself slapping on the orange stuff!! Whilst I can bare with the whiteness of my arms and face, my legs - after a winter of hiding in tights - are such a bright white that you would need sunglasses to look at them!!! So I have been known to use a little fake tan on my legs in the summer months.


So this year, I will do my bit for you ladies and will in the coming months spend some time testing various fake tan brands and will let you know which work and which don't! Look out for these reviews.