Merry Christmas from Dolly!

The Queens speech is all well and good, but this year I thought I'd share with you a message from the Queen of glitter and excess - Dolly Parton. So much more than just a singer, Dolly is a true inspiration in so many ways - a beautiful woman with a beautiful heart. I heart Dolly forever.

Hunting out vintage treasures with Tamara

Merry Christmas one and all! Yes I'm a day late, but as we're all still stuffing ourselves with turkey and Christmas cake I think it's acceptable!

On Thursday I went for (what I thought was) an innocent coffee in Camden with Tamara. I should have known it wouldn't just be a quick caffeine boost and catch-up though, and 6 hours later I found myself wearily trudging back from Camden, unable to feel my toes, and laden with shopping bags containing a whole new vintage wardrobe! Typical! Yes - Tamara is singly the best and worst person to ever go shopping with (or just vaguely near shops with). Best - in that she'll give you great advice. Worst - in that you'll definitely end up buying something....trust me, you just will.

Obviously I totally love my new purchases - I hope you will too!

Yes - I know, it's ANOTHER vintage maxi dress! What can I say - I just love the glamour and elegance of the maxi silhouette, and it feels so special to wear something that was made-to-measure by hand (even if it wasn't originally made for me!) and not in some distant sweatshop. Anyway, this one was a total bargain at a mere £19.95 in the Sue Ryder Charity shop.

The charity shop also threw up this cardi - a total classic, and sure to become a wardrobe staple. At £7.95 it really wasn't worth thinking about. Great shape, great glitter - total winner.

By the time we ventured deep into the depths of The Stables I was absolutely determined that I wasn't going to buy one more single thing. I wasn't even looking, promise. Then this turban jumped out at me, and although I tried my bestist to resist Tamara was insistent that I at least try it on...and the game was over. The colour - the deep dreamy luscious teal. The smooth sumptuous twirling velvet, and the unusual side knot feature....it had to be mine. At £30 it was my most expensive purchase....and although I don't like to play favourites, I have to admit I love it the most.

So there you have it - proof that there are still some bargains to be bagged in Camden...if you're shopping with the right pair of eyes that is!

Building a grown-up wardrobe: Part 1

Recently I've been thinking more and more about building a grown-up wardrobe. To me this means stopping the Primark binges and spontaneous high-street splurges, and instead carefully and calculatedly (yes, it's a word!) buying more expensive, better quality, stand-out love-forever pieces which I'll still want to wear in 20 years time.

Regular readers may have noticed that there haven't been any posts about things I've brought recently, and that's because since going freelance, I've hardly brought any clothes at all. My amazing uncharacteristic restraint has really spurred me on to want to start buying more sensibly, and today I think I may have found my first grown-up-cherish-for-a-lifetime purchase.

As soon as I saw this silk rose print Alexander McQueen cape I was overcome with a desire to buy it. At £455 it's not cheap, but it's out of my 4-figure reach either. I'm not saying that I'm going to buy it immediately, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. For one, I can hardly think of anything it wouldn't go with (within reason obvs). You could dress it down like Matches have done here, or wear it to spice up an LBD. It's striking bold pattern transcends trends and time, and would always be as beautiful and fascinating as it is today. As far as investment pieces go, it's already ticking all the boxes, and that's before you even begin to consider the cultural significance of this piece being designed by Sarah Burton in the year following Lee McQueen's death. Yes, this could very well be the first piece in my hero wardrobe.

Getting in the closet

OMGG, it's like the second post of the day - WTF? My second post today was meant to be about ethical fashion (bleurgh), but then the Queen of Fabulous (and my long-time idol), Joan Rivers, tweeted this link and I just had to share it with you.

Watch live streaming video from Bluefly at livestream.com

I have to be honest - I'm not really sure who Bluefly are, or quite what they're selling, BUT anyone who takes me to heaven via the wardrobes of some well known faces and every luxury brand you could think of, is my friend. Listen out for some top moments including Joan Rivers, 'If you take yourself too seriously you're an idiot - that's why I hate Victoria Beckham', and Nicky Hilton, 'I'm so happy my sister doesn't get vintage'. Totes amazels!

p.s. it's on a weird livestream thing, so keep watching till you get back round to where you started - promise it's worth it - trust me, I know a Dr....

Princess Emily's spangletastic birthday

On Saturday night I did something I rarely do, and ventured in to central London. In general the West end on a Saturday night is not my scene; badly dressed tourists, and badly behaved locals don't make for a very happy Siam, but seeing as it was my very good friend Emily's 30th birthday party I thought I'd better suck it up. Obviously once I was out - safely nestled in the bosom of The Bureau club, a couple of drinks to the wind and flailing round the dancefloor to a disco classic, I wondered what I'd been making all the fuss about.

Emily aka. Princess spanglepants was the quintessential birthday girl in her floor-sweeping Kate Moss for Toppers sequin- festooned dress (and trademark red lippie).

And proving that she can never be upstaged, no matter how fierce the competition, here she is striking a pose-and-a-half with her bestie and partner in (many) crimes, the infamous Mr Sam Dowler (who much to his horror I nicknamed Buttons for the night).

Last but not least here's the ever-charming Jamie - my friend Anna's boyf - who I thought looked rather dashing in a grey tweed tie and matching cardie. Subtle yet chic....now that's something I don't say often.

Karen Millen - leave your preconceptions at the door

Now I can't lie - I haven't always been Karen Millen's biggest fan. I know it's a horribly fashion-snob-bitch thing to say, but it's always carried certain connotations for me (middle aged HR managers from Peterborough out on the raz to be precise), so I have to admit to never paying it much attention. Then a couple of months ago I popped in to their press office to do a pull for a job, and to my surprise I came out with more than one piece...and more shockingly my very own Karen Millen wish list. You see the showroom wasn't just a collection of knee length satin dresses as I'd (rather small-mindedly) expected. Yes they still had lots of easy-to-wear-pretty-but-not-life-changing party/ special event type dresses, but they also had some surprisingly pitch-perfect and of the moment glam rock-goth pieces. It just shows you - it never does to get too complacent when it comes to the British high street.

So that said, here are my 4 fave Karen Millen pieces right now - let me know if you love them too!

Who doesn't own a biker jacket nowadays? If you're that one person, then I'd seriously consider investing in this badboy. At £399 it's not cheap, but with it's hardcore shoulder studs and dainty buttons it really stands out from the crowd, and will earn you some serious fashion points.

You'd never guess, but I love a sequin skirt I do, and this one really is something special. The layers and silver bead embellishment give it a cheeky gladiator feel, which really distinguishes its high street rivals. Yes £135 is a bit of an investment, but it's ridiculously versatile - wear it with a rock tee in the day for that edgy-cool LA look, or a bit of lace at night for the full-on goth goddess look. Love, want, need.

Skinny double belts are the fashion crowds secret weapon (don't believe me - then pay a visit to the Satorialist - they're all at it). Tan and black leather with glistening black studs, this belt is incredibly chic, and at £49.95 I reckon it's a total bargain.

I don't usually like small bags (travelling light isn't one of my many talents), but for this hard case clutch embellished with matt black sequins and silver beads (£99), I'd be willing to make an exception.

My ultimate Channukah wish list…

What with the mars bar fiasco last night, I thought it was time to do something I never usually do, and make a Channukah list. Usually I shy away from lists – to-do lists, wedding lists, and especially Channukah/Christmas/ Birthday lists. I love a good surprise present, and hate the idea of being one of those people who is so self-absorbed and controlling that they feel the need to dictate to people what they can buy them. Having said that, my waistline is not going to appreciate another 7 Mars bars, so for my tummies sake I’m stepping in!

So, in no particular order, here are my top 7 dream presents for the rest of Channukah 2010:

Number 7: No – it’s really not just a t-shirt! This is sexy lingerie masquerading as a t-shirt D&G stylee, and I really would wear it ALL THE TIME! I’ve wanted this for months and moths now, and have been very very restrained in not buying it. Therefore I feel I now deserve it and will be most upset if I don’t own it by the end of the week. FACT.

Number 6: As predicted this summer, now I'm a freelancer I'm spending a truly obscene amount of time in my pj’s. I first saw these at the Selfridges Christmas press day in July, and hardly a day has gone by where I haven't wished they were mine. So despite their price tag (somewhere round the er £800 mark), these Ashish pyjamas are really a necessity, not a luxury. In fact, I even reckon I’d be able to claim the tax back on them!

Number 5: Yes, I may already own a pair of Duo boots, but I desperately need another pair. You see I love my Duo boots more than I knew I could love any boots ever. Not only are they beautifully made and fit like a glove (or like a boot should!), but every time I wear them I get gazillions of compliments, and no matter what I wear with them I always look super-chic, smart and generally glorious! So, yes I may already own this pair, but I need the ones above too, so there!

Number 4: I’m having a bit of a statement tights moment right now, and although I have more than a couple of pairs I’m clumsy and ladder them all within days. Bebaroque really take the whole statement tight thing to a whole different level though, and these Carla ones are my absolute faves. So I’d really love to add to my little collection!

Number 3: Ok, so I know this might sound weird, but for the past couple of years I’ve become slightly obsessed with trying to find the perfect Christmas jumper. Ideally I was hoping for something second hand and hand knitted by someone's Granny, but after months of trawling charity shops with no luck, I’ve found this brand spanking shiny new number by Louche - a snip at £42, which would do me just fine for now!

Number 2: I love jewellery – it’s my ‘thing’, but since going freelance I’ve been really good and not really brought any. I’ve been thinking about it long and hard, and what I’d really like the most is an armour ring. I know there are lots and lots of amazing young jewellery designers out there creating incredibly beautiful things, but in this case this Topshop version is just what I’m after.

Number 1: Why is it that no matter how many bags you have you could always do with just one more. Right now what I’m really needing (yes needing), a brilliant black every date tote. After much consideration I have decided that Angel Jackson's black Lakota tote is 110% what I'm after. Please Santa (aka. Friends and family) please!!

A White Channukah

Happy Channukah! It's still a bit early to know if we're going to have a white Christmas yet, but at least it's turned out to be a white Channukah (even if this really isn't the same at all, as there was never a song called White Channukah...). Anyway. This year Channukah's come early. So early in fact that no one in the Family G household realised it started tonight until I looked it up yesterday afternoon! With half a day to buy presents (and it's supposed to be 8 pressies each), and everyone working full time (ish in my case) presents were a bit on the sparse side tonight. When I say sparse I mean it....I was given an unwrapped Mars bar my Mum had squirrelled in a draw. Not exactly what I'd been hoping/wishing/ visualising for...still at least we have another 7 nights to get it right....fingers crossed!