Say no to skinnies

Staying with the floaty vibe that it seems will be dominating our spring summer wardrobes its clear that the focus is shifting from stomach supporting industrial leather wide belts to flimsy skinnies. Now I have come to love the sturdy feel of a good wide waist cincher and am not ready to give that up for a thin leather strip that will leave anyone who's not a Lily Donaldson type with unsightly bulges. So a good compromise while erring on the side of fashion caution? An in betweeny not thick not thin just right. Topshop do some great vintage and gladiator inspired styles to keep everything looking sleek and svelte.

Laundry Day aka Less is More

I think I've single handedly solved the never having anything to wear quandry women worldwide owe me :). It all started last week when due to a combination of factors- a renewed interest in Bette Middler movies I watched Beaches and Outrageous Fortune in the same week and ang a growing obession with gadget blogs don't ask it's a whole other frontier I managed to push all thoughts of doing my laundry into the farthest recesses of my mind until I kid you not I was literally down to 8 clean garments. But then something fantastic happened. Because I had less choice I started dressing better. Adding a funky belt here and putting together unusual quirky combinations that I wouldn't have in my most psychadelic moments dared had my trusty failsafe's been hanging up in my wardrobe. So all this time there I was thinking I had nothing to wear when in actuality I had too much and it was clouding my style chi.

And it's done wonders for my style cred the look was basically tight black Seven jeans, dove grey pointed ballet flats with a bow at the front, and a cute biscuit coloured short Warehouse puff sleeved blouse cinched in with a wide Topshop navy stretchy belt. Add an oversized slouchy bag (mine's from Whistles) and I was on fire! Several compliments later and after spotting a co-worker who's one of those women who seems surgically attached to her 4 inch stilettos in a pair of leopard print pointed flats with a bow at the front - she was only fooling herself if she thought I hadn't noticed the copycat-I knew I wasonto something good!

I don't know how long it'll last as I caved in and did my laundry over the weekend so I'm once again faced with lots of different bits and getting dressed in the morning has reverted back to a full 45 minute bout of umming and ahhing but it's good to know that when in doubt less is indeed more.

"What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet" - Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare

Buying a ticket for the latest Will Smith blockbuster "I Am Legend" got me thinking abput the power of a great title or name. Smith is someone who knows this all too well. All of his recent movies have punchy names that are are instantly captivating and emanate a certain gravitas. When you think 'Independence Day' images of overwhelming acts of patrotism spring to mind, 'Men In Black' - secret service and undercover security measures, I, Robot - advanced technology meets human being in some bizarre Blade Runner -esque twinning. So you see my point names can conjure up an idea in people's minds before anything concrete is presented. They're a perfect starting point. And it's the same for fashion. I was reading about US based sister design due Rodarte the other day and so love their clothes - very Grecian and sexy - but there is something about the name of the label that almost doesn't work. Mostly because they say Rodarte I think Rodent. Their only saving grace is that it does sound semi Italian and therefore retains an iota of sexiness.

A great label name is simple and usually made up of one or two syllables you can picture inflated into big brassy gold letters hanging at the top of a New York skyscraper. Gucci, Dior, Versace, Chloe, Balenciaga, Marchesa, and Chanel all make the cut.

Conversely a not so great name is something hum drum and a bit too ordinary. I must admit I'm not feeling the label name Tod's. They do some great bags and shoes but the name just lacks that cachet there's no drama to it.

But of course shakespeare was right. A Chanel blazer or Topshop dress by any other name would look as great it just wouldn't sound as cool.