One of the latest Gap ads, featuring Julia Restoin Roitfeld in a short-sleeved peacoat, prompted me to say a few words in honor of the short-sleeved...or no-sleeved...jacket. Not just a summer whim this little trooper works the entire year through (thanks to judicious application of the long sleeve under short sleeve theory which, I admit, I am addicted to...see evidence below) and doesn't get the credit it deserves. And so, ladies (and potentially gentlemen), I ask you to raise your glasses in a toast to the s-s/n-s jacket...hip, hip, hooray!

I have a feeling that the title of this post may result in hits from some random Googlers who aren't looking for jewelry...but I can't resist a Max Beerbohm quote...and I may have a similar lack of resistance when it comes to this scattered boule necklace. I get a very old lady vibe from this piece...but not the creepy cat loving type...more the "I've lived an incredibly lush life, I still wear fabulous clothes, and yes, I will have another martini" kind. Or, to be more precise, it makes me think of my grandmother...is there any better reason to get one?

Anytime I'm in one of those melancholy moods...or as Holly Golightly put it, having a touch of the "mean reds"...I'll listen to The Best of Chet Baker Sings...not because I know it will pep me up but because if you're going to be depressed you may as well wallow in it...and few things will tug at the heartstrings as much as Mr. Baker singing 'The Thrill Is Gone' or 'There Will Never Be Another You'.

Which is why I was interested to see the t-shirt that Paul Smith had designed for the re-release of the Bruce Weber movie "Let's Get Lost" (which documents Baker's life). It's not really my style (and therefore not a potential purchase) but I was mystified by the accompanying text..."Not available to US customers due to customs shipping restrictions". Is anyone else confused...this is a t-shirt...what possible customs rules can it violate? Are they scared that anyone touching the package will develop 'jazz hands'?

Apologies to anyone who, as we creep into August, is officially fed up with gladiator sandals. What can I say, I have issues...and one of them is that I'm besotted by the glads. The latest variation of which are these suede numbers from Free People...they're a hybrid of two of my favorites (the ballet flat and the aforementioned glad)...and are therefore nigh on irresistible.

Title quote by Mark Twain

You know those random catalogs that land in your mailbox...the ones that you never signed up for and are therefore unsure of why you’re actually receiving them (apart from the advertiser’s urge to kill more trees)? Well, for me, Boden is one such catalog. Perfectly ‘nice’ clothing but a little too “suburban mom doing the school run” for my tastes. Yet for the last six months it has appeared in my mailbox with disturbing regularity.

The other day I was a little bored (okay, I admit it...it was the only piece of mail in the mailbox) so I took a flick through the pages to see if anything interesting was lurking amidst the polka dot blazers and color-blocked skirts...

As it turns out I discovered not one, but two, pieces that caused a flutter of interest. First up, their waxed cotton biker jacket which bears a strong resemblance to the Belstaff jacket that I bought a while ago (only considerably cheaper). Item number two, a black denim shirtdress...one of those basics which I've had trouble tracking down in the right cut/cloth/length...from the photograph my search could be at an end.

Of course, this means that I'll now feel the need to go through every unrequested catalog that hits my mailbox in case I miss something...

The title quote is by Hedda Hopper for anyone who's interested...

Sadly I don't speak Japanese so I have no idea what the rationale is behind these animal cut-outs...they appear to be placeholders for a bookcase but, unless you were working your way alphabetically through the works of John Creasey (the man did, after all, publish over 600 books), I'm not sure why you'd need a placeholder for an entire book...pages, yes...books, not so much. They are, however, incredibly cute so perhaps they don't need to be the most functional item in the world...

I have to admit to being intrigued by the lace that Miuccia Prada presented for this Fall...my only concerns being modesty and the potential for hypothermia. So, in the name of research...okay, to be honest, in the name of "I love window shopping"...I went in search of some non-Prada options.

Probably the best deals that I found are the white lace skirt and dress by Peter Jensen. They were Spring/Summer stock and are currently heavily reduced...the dress from $875 to $137.50 and the skirt from $692 to $340. I have to admit that the dress would be mine if it weren't for the fact that the only size left is a small...darn it!

If white lace is too sixties...or bridal...or sixties bridal...you may like the Dolce & Gabbana black lace skirt from one of my favorite vintage stores, Vagabond NYC...or Kova and T's lace leggings. And for anyone worried about the intrinsically see-through quality of lace being used in anything that they'd actually wear I'm including Martin Margiela's PVC wallet in the line-up.

All of which, naturally, leads me to the question...will you be leaping into lace this Fall? And, if so, to what extent...via the medium of accessories or in clothing form?

Even though the heat index is hovering around the hundred degree mark now I know that, eventually, some cooler weather will arrive and I'll be able to get a little more...diversity...in my day-to-day wardrobe. Maybe I'm alone in this but by this point in the summer I generally feel that I have worn most of my summer clothes to an alarming degree and am now ready for a change...and some layers. Thoughts about winter have led me to leopard...and now gold...which, somewhat disturbingly, suggests Bet Lynch from Coronation Street circa 1994...something which should make me stop and question my sanity but...I can't seem to help myself. So now I'm on the lookout for something big-ish and bold-ish in the bracelet line. Initial explorations tracked down Mawi's link cuff with metallic ribbon...but it's a little too shiny...I was hoping for a more subtle gold or brass finish. And so, the search continues...

“A newspaper reported that I spent $30,000 a year buying Paris clothes and that women hate me for it. I couldn't spend that much unless I wore sable underwear.” - Jackie Kennedy

Do you ever feel that the rug was (metaphorically) pulled out from under you? That something that you considered to be pretty much set in stone has now changed and (potentially) you're the last to know?

Well, it just happened to me. As I looked at my Macy's statement...a bill for basically the only thing that I buy there, Calvin Klein bras...I noticed that the line item said "Innerwear". Innerwear? Surely, I thought, that's some kind of corporate typo and they really meant to say underwear...but no, apparently innerwear is a legitimate word. And, according to an online dictionary that I rushed over to, it means "clothing, such as lingerie, designed to be worn next to the skin". Confusingly, when I look up underwear on the same site I get "clothes worn next to the skin, beneath one's outer clothing".

So, if I read this correctly, innerwear is something that has been created to be worn in direct contact with your flesh while underwear is something that you randomly thought "I wonder what this would feel like if I wore it under everything else?"

So now I'm wondering, did I miss something that the whole world knew eons ago? Have I been using the word underwear for years without realizing that I was committing a verbal faux pas? Were people sniggering as I walked away and saying, "poor girl, doesn't know her inner from her under"?

From the Splendicity Community, comes this week's best in Beauty, Fashion and Shopping. Check out the very splendid best!

BEAUTY

NY Spender remembers all of her past anti-frizz products and raves about her newest one.

Beauty and Fashion Tech looks at everything you need for a perfect brow from Anastasia Beverly Hills

Viva Woman finds out the types of Vitamin C in skincare products and what works for our skin.

Beauty Bento Box offers her first impressions on the OLAY White Radiance Foaming Cleanser.

My Women Stuff discusses what are chemical sunscreens and physical sunscreens.

Beauty Blogging Junkie shows you how you can channel a Mad Men character at various price points.

Cinnamon Kitten forsakes her M.A.C. brushes for a few weeks to try out a couple of eco-friendly ecoTools.

Beauty Match has a video review: Should you buy Cover Girl Lash Blast or Maybelline Collosal Mascara?

Beauty Secrets Revealed is Giving Away AminoGenesis Anti-aging Skin Care Products Worth $119

SHOPPING

Shopalicious wants to share the wonderful jewelry concoctions of Amy of the B-Line, chemistry teacher by day, jewelry designer for fun!

ShopDiary loves the scent of Hermèssence Vétiver Tonka.

Laya's EYE has fallen in love with the prettiest cupcake wrappers she has ever seen.

Shoe Blitz talks about the hottest shoe trends for fall.

Glamour Gift Guide loves the look of Lori Bonn jewelry, including coordinating necklaces, bracelets and more.

FASHION

Style...a work in progress is looking forward to a Gothic-Victorian-cowgirl style Fall and tells us about it when she says "Real cowboys never run, they just ride away"

Style Manila invites all to support the Style Manila Page on Facebook!

Tops 2 Bottoms shares some shirred and bubble style ideas for your work wear.


Just A Formality talks about trends in bridal shoes.

First off, I really need to learn not to make definitive statements...at least ones that are fashion related...mainly because that tricky little swine called fate has a funny way of creeping up on you with racks of clothing that you swore you'd never wear but that suddenly seem appealing.

Case in point, for years now I have been telling myself that "I am not an animal print kind of girl" but now...now I'm feeling definite urges to run wild. Whether it's a by-product of watching My Name Is Barbra on a continuous loop...or a shot of the re-jigged interior of Dover Street Market...or the combined effort of these jackets from Heimstone and See by Chloe...I'm not sure. All I know is it's going to take some effort to keep from taking a walk on the wild side...

Last time I mentioned one of Natalia Brilli's pieces I was lusting over a headband with leather wings...just the thing for the neo-Grecian girl about town. Now, much as I still love her signature wrapped leather pieces, I'm fascinated by her latest offering...her burnt offering for those of you pun-inclined (because the wooden beads have, in fact, been burnt...and then attached to a leather strap). There's something so alluring about this kind of distressed beauty...its very ruin takes it out of the realm of the generic...and it calls to my inner pyro (the girl who wanted to learn how to join the circus and be a fire-eater).

Even though it is in actuality one piece (i.e. a dress) there's something about this sequined topped and silk skirted number from the London based husband and wife team behind the label Pyrus that suggests an experiment with a children's flip-book...the thought that somewhere there is the top of a lilac prom dress waiting to be re-united with its lower half...and presumably a suitably "flapper in camouflage" bottom in search of it's long-lost top. But it's that very juxtaposition though that makes this so strangely desirable...

As I downloaded yet another scanned page from an editorial in a search for some autumnal inspiration...this time Carla Bruni looking very tousled in a trench from the September issue of Vanity Fair...I realized that I hardly ever actually buy fashion magazines anymore. Not that it's a conscious decision, you understand...I don't have a specific agenda to save money or trees (though the cost of some foreign magazines is becoming disturbing)...it's more that as I stand in Barnes and Noble, flipping through the pages of that month's offerings, I rarely seem to be able to find a magazine that has enough interesting content to make the purchase worthwhile.

I can't decide if magazines truly are a little lacklustre at the moment or I'm living proof that the aphorism that "there's no such thing as a new idea" is true and I've bought so many 'zines in years gone by that I am now essentially reading regurgitated themes and advice. All I know is that, thanks to forums like The Fashion Spot where kindly souls scan editorials from magazines, there's no real necessity for me to buy...though a part of me misses the excitement of curling up on a Sunday afternoon with a crisp, new magazine...

A big thank you to Stylefrizz for tagging me with a Premio Award...which, inexplicably, made me think of a variation of the Phil Collins' song (Pre-pre-premio)...hence the title.

Of course, this means that now it's my turn to hand out the award to some blogs that I enjoy. So, here goes (in random order)...

The Search For Chic disneyrollergirl Smaggle Style Pandora Style Bubble The cherry blossom girl

And now, so that no Phil Collins fans feel gypped by the title...meine damen und herren, mesdames et messieurs, ladies and gentlemen...Mr. Phil Collins...

WARNING: Apparently this was voted one of the 50 worst videos of all time...which is probably valid unless you happen to enjoy numerous sightings of the 80's British mullet in one of its native habitats...

It's a whimsical way to start the week but I couldn't resist posting a picture of this puff-sleeved Mr. Rabbit t-shirt from See By Chloé...in a way it reminds me of the illustrations that Sir John Tenniel did for the first edition of Alice in Wonderland...all of his animals seemed to have such an aristocratic air and this shirt continues that theme...

When I wrote about my sudden lust for a pair of white leather and faux python cowboy boots I mentioned that I considered it an aberration, style-wise. Now, after ogling this image from Nicole Farhi's Fall/Winter ad campaign, I'm wondering if it was indeed a deviation or if I'm being irresistibly driven towards a Western motif this winter.

Admittedly this isn't what you typically think of when you consider the genre...it's more Gothic Victorian cowgirl than Roy Rogers' girlfriend...or maybe Roy's girl on her way to a funeral, after a few too many drinks the night before...

“Though we eat little flesh and drink no wine, Yet let's be merry; we'll have tea and toast; Custards for supper, and an endless host Of syllabubs and jellies and mince-pies, And other such ladylike luxuries” - Percy Bysshe Shelley

I think I could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times that I've eaten jelly since I was a child...and, truth be told, even then I didn't indulge on a regular basis. Entering adulthood, and moving to the US, didn't cause a change in my habits...especially since, no matter what Bill Cosby says, Jello is depressing...forcing jelly into a two inch plastic cup is the culinary equivalent of caging a wild animal, cruel and unusual punishment.

And so things stood, until I came across Bompas & Parr (aka The Jellymongers) and their quest to take jelly moulds to an artistic zenith last seen during Victorian times. Which means that, if the fancy takes you, you can order one of their bespoke tinned copper moulds in whatever shape you desire...I'm thinking jelly hand grenades or mice might make for an interesting end to a dinner party...or you can bid for one of 12 lots in their Article 25 Auction. Each lot comprises of a one-off photograph of one of the jellies designed for the Architectural Jelly Design Competition (who knew?), signed by the architect, design material and one of the jelly moulds. Though I'm keen on St.Paul's...and the jelly version of Foster + Partners Wobbly Bridge...my heart goes out to Barajas Airport which is large enough to feed you and 249 of your closest friends (maybe 240 if a couple of them are piggy and want more than one jelly aeroplane).

It's not quite 'having you cake and eating it' but it's darned close.

Two things that I'm not keen on doing...buying things at full price when the season is well under way...and putting my name on a list for something so far in advance that by the time my object of desire is available I've forgotten that I did so...but, here we are, and I've done both those things. "What caused this aberration?", you ask. Well...I'm almost embarrassed to say...because it was a pair of FitFlops. Not, I hasten to add, for their workout properties (theoretically they are 'engineered to tone and trim your legs as you walk') but because I fell (heavily) for the sexy/orthopedic look of their Aurelia gladiators. Of course, if they do work some kind of leg toning miracle during the remainder of summer I won't complain...

It's a guilty pleasure but I'm a huge fan of Japanese candy...not just for the flavors and packaging...but for the toys that you can sometimes snag as part of the deal (yes, I am way past the stage where I should want a toy with my sweets but what can you do?). When I was living in London I managed to start a collection of Hello Kitty keychains and was dismayed when my favorite one fell off the bag it had been attached to and was lost for evermore.

All of which, as you probably guessed, is a preamble to try and explain why I am lusting over these Kittys bedecked in designs from the Christian Dior Fall/Winter collection. Just the thing to jazz up your cell phone and, theoretically at least, if they did fall off it would be inside your bag...which should make a search and rescue mission slightly more successful.

I've been thinking a lot about scarves recently...partly due to a long-standing preoccupation with them...and also because of a couple of scarf-related items which have caught my eye...

Item #1, The Telegraph ran an article on the babushka meets Grace Kelly headscarves which were littering the Fall/Winter collections. Much as I love this look on Grace Kelly...or any other heroine from that period, especially if worn while being driven around in an open sports car...it's not for me...any time I try it the overall vibe is more cleaning lady than soignee sophisticate.

Still, if you're dying to give it a go The Telegraph has put together some pictures to show you how...though as this is probably the easiest way to tie a scarf I'm not sure that they're entirely necessary. They are good for a giggle though...as an example I've included my favorite picture from the set which gives the impression that the model is being attacked by someone using an Hermes scarf. Still, I suppose there are worse ways to go...

Random item #2 is this Alexander McQueen scarf that I noticed on Net-a-Porter. On the plus side, it does look beautiful and is hand-embroidered. On the minus, it resembles the Indian wall hangings that you see at some markets, except that it's $5,590 and they're usually about $10...

The only thing more alarming than the price is the fact it's sold out (insert query about "aren't we in a recession?" here).

The lovely people at Ekoh, a new eco-conscious online boutique, are offering readers of this blog a 20% discount...just click on the link and enter Splendidcity when it comes time to check-out.

Personally I'm considering some Baggu bags...because I may not be the most environmentally friendly person on the planet but one of the few things that I do actually manage to do is bring my own bags when I go grocery shopping...something from the Caudalie Vinotherapie range...a spritz of their Beauty Elixir is so refreshing on a warm day plus, narcissistically, how can you feel bad when you're dousing yourself with 'beauty elixir'?...and possibly Dr. Hauschka's Body Care Kit...I've been hearing a lot of good things about this range and really wanted to give it a try.

Actually, there's a slew of other things that I'd buy if I wasn't trying to be good at the moment...which, once again, proves that the meaning of "good" is open to interpretation...

They say that inspiration hits in the unlikeliest of places. I can attest to that as, midway to an "almost faint" (when you don't actually pass out but come pretty darn close) I spotted a portion of what I later discovered was the Poverty Medley from My Name Is Barbra (Streisand's first television special from 1965)...I can't quite decide which affliction is worse...that I have the occasional fainting spell...or that I could still think "nice dress" whilst in the midst of one...

But it was pretty hard to ignore the (still very modern) combination of leopard coat, leather dress, and shoots (the shoe/boot hybrid). When I watched the entire clip via YouTube today I was stunned by the number of lustworthy outfits there were...okay, not the white fur knickerbockers...but most of the other ensembles had me sighing and longing for some '60's, co-ordinated, I am woman, hear me roar' outfits...

Normally I'm not much of a fan of cowboy boots...unless you're an actual cowboy something generally feels a little 'off'...like a vegetarian going to an all-you-can-eat steak restaurant. But, in the long tradition of "never say never because you know you're just tempting fate to come up behind you and yell 'boo'", I find myself visiting (and re-visiting) these Jeffrey Campbell boots. The icing on this particular cake is that not only are they cowboy boots...they're white cowboy boots with faux python detailing...it's layers of madness on top of madness...so why can't I stop checking them out?

I tend to dislike issues of magazines that try to inform their readers what to wear at age 30...or 40...or 50... The idea that personal style can be reduced down to a calculation of what is deemed appropriate based on your age group is ludicrous, and exceedingly dated. The latest incarnation of this type of editorial (and the one that started this rant) appears in the August issue of US Vogue...the "age" issue...with editorials for each decade from the 20's to the 50's based upon the personal look of one of Vogue's stylists (though there's a bit of bait-and-switch going on as Tabitha Simmons who is the inspiration for the "20's" images is actually in her late thirties).

Apart from the suggestions for women in their fifties, which are so depressingly dull that it gives one very little to look forward to, the overwhelming impression that the reader gets is one of confusion...without the accompanying numerical indicators it would be difficult to decide which picture falls under which age group. But, if this is the case, why categorize them this way in the first place? Surely the very fact that it is difficult to look at them and say "this is the skirt that Vogue says should be worn by a 42 year old woman" shows how completely unnecessary this type of article is...

* today's quote, for those of you who are curious, is by Aldous Huxley...unfortunately Blogger has a limitation on title length which I often feel the urge to break.

From the Splendicity Community, comes this week's best in Beauty, Fashion and Shopping. Check out the very splendid best!

FASHION

Tops 2 Bottoms gets some styling inspiration from Military-inspired waistcoats.

Style Manila invites readers to say hi to makers of fabulous dresses.

Style...a work in progress asks what four words you'd use to describe your style?

Lucy of the chic tee-shirt line Rose La Biche answers some questions about her design life for Indie Style File

Her Accessories has been scoping out the Fall handbag previews and like what she sees!

Vote for your favorite celebrity look of the week over at CelebLOOK.

Just A Formality loves this silk and satin champagne gown from Tadashi.

SHOPPING

Bullitt (the cat) over at NY Spender has found a great deal: skinny jeans for only $39.00!

Shopalicious is tickled pink by a cute chemise for $23.90, and invites you try your chance to win a $25 certificate from Oh Cheri!

ShopDiary is craving for Eairth, an edgy yet sustainable clothing line.

Check out this Chloe suede ankle boot with an open back at Shoe Blitz.

Glamour Gift Guide adores this L.A.M.B. ombre patent tote in glossy red.

BEAUTY

Beauty and Fashion Tech tells you how to kill calluses and soften your feet with AB Skin Care Happy Feet.

Beauty Secrets Revealed is giving away 6 Bestselling Skin Care e-books.

Viva Woman finds out if your sunscreens can double up as moisturizers.

Beauty Bento Box experiments on a couple of Dove hair care products formulated for coloured or treated hair.

Looking for a eco-friendly way to dry your hair? All That & a tries the new Barbar eco 800 hair dryer and loves it!

Krizia from Beauty Match talks to Dr. Paul Cohen about Skincare cosmetic rejuvenation treatments for men over 35.

The Mineral Makeup Blog features a review about the newly reformulated, talc and paraben free Alison Raffaele Mineral Concealer

Cinnamon Kitten checks out the colourful and popular Danish cosmetics line - Gosh Cosmetics - now available in Canada!

If you've ever had a yen to see your design on a t-shirt this could be your moment. Actually, to be more specific, this could be your 3 million yen moment...as that's the grand prize in this year's Uniqlo UT Grand Prix competition.

Now in its fifth year, the "T-shirt Design Olympics" as they call it is open to everyone...any age...and any nationality. The application process runs through September 21st and will be followed by two rounds of evaluations, culminating in the announcement of a winner in the spring of 2009.

Last year's competition ended in April of this year when the winner was announced at a fashion show held in a special site that was set-up in Tokyo Midtown (some of the finalists t-shirts are shown below).

On their website Uniqlo says, “A t-shirt is more than just a t-shirt. It’s an expression of who you are. Where you’ve been. What you love.” So grab the chance to show the world who you are...good luck!

Laddering tights...a skill that I personally excel at...possibly due to my insistence on wearing skirts at the most inopportune times...moving furniture, crawling around on my hands and knees. And yet, strangely, each time it happens I'm freshly surprised that my hosiery looks like it's been attacked by killer moths...it must be a similar affliction to the child who continues to believe in Santa Claus long after evidence has proved he doesn't exist... Luckily I, along with Alexander Wang and Rodarte, like the distressed look (though not necessarily when it happens to a brand new pair of DKNY's). Which is probably why I find myself drawn towards Topshop's laddered t-shirt...perhaps the rips will appear more purposeful if they're part of an overall motif...

The Kate Spade e-mail that dropped into my inbox was intriguing enough for me to click through...not, I hasten to add because of the Carrie Bradshaw-esque flower brooch...but because of the pale, boxy bag that the model was carrying. A little bit mod, and a little bit classic it looked like one of those bags that would take its personality from the rest of your outfit...as opposed to overwhelming the outfit with its own (not that I don't love a devastatingly overpowering bag every now and then). The only downside (apart from the fact that I have an irrational dislike of Kate Spade bags simply because you see them everywhere) is the color. I know myself too well to buy a porcelain colored bag. In fact, I guarantee than within a couple of days it would be less 'porcelain' and more 'sink full of dirty dishes'. Oh, the curse of being a klutz...

A trip to the museum...a room full of totem poles...dark...brooding...and leaving me with an urge for something heavy and wooden and carved. Whether for the house...or to adorn myself...I'm unsure...

"For me, the most important thing is more about the attitude and having a kind of elegance that is natural."

"People often speak about me as being the representative of the French girl on the street," explains Marant. "It's true that my aim was to dress up everyday girls who want to feel pretty, but don't want to feel overly sexy or over-dressed — a girl who's a bit casual, cozy chic."

The quotes above were taken from a virtual tour of Paris that designer Isabel Marant put together for Elle's website. I posted them here because, as I read them, I found myself nodding in agreement as they perfectly (and succinctly) sum up what I aspire to outfit-wise...pretty, casual, cozy, chic...done, yet un-done, at the same time. All of which got me wondering...if you had to describe your style objectives in four words, what would they be?

Things that I officially do not need:

1) a golden, beaded harness (even if it is by Alexander McQueen)

Things that I would wear with everything...we're talking dresses, t-shirts, even pj's here:

1) (you guessed it) a golden, beaded harness

Which means that there is (yet another) addition to my DIY list...at this rate I will be sewing for most of the rest of the summer...once I manage to source the perfect beads and sequins for this little project.

Every so often I get the urge to do something "pretty" with the unruly mop which constitutes my hair. It is, however, generally a rare and rather fleeting feeling...which means that I should probably get a grip on myself and not splurge on one of Paris jeweler, Adeline Cacheux's sterling silver "Bijou de tete"...

So, even though it is incredibly pretty (in a satisfyingly punk sort of way)...and probably a great morale booster during potential 'bad hair days'...it will be staying in Paris. Which doesn't mean that I'll necessarily be bijouless in the tete department. I'm thinking some chain necklaces that I don't wear anymore...a little elastic...and I may have a passable homage to the real thing.

I don't know what it says...for life in general...or my sanity in particular...that a stylized view of Britain...in the form of the "To The Manor Born" editorial from the August issue of Vogue Nippon...can invoke waves of nostalgia. And yet, here we are. And a virtual flip through the images made me yearn for a pint in a pub, overcast skies, and the inherent grimness of what Billy Bragg sang about in "Northern Industrial Town". Even Balenciaga's frontally slashed skirt was included in the halo of rose-tintedness...despite my personal belief that almost everyone is going to look like they've got chunky thighs in that little number.

The sorry state of the dollar though means no trips to the UK are in my immediate future so I'll just have to content myself with these pictures...and thoughts of silk scarves, ladylike skirts, and pointy shoes (once the weather becomes a little less Hades-like).