Everyone needs a 1960s evening coat. Right?

Yes, I’ve been at it again, accidentally purchasing utterly impractical pieces of vintage clothing.  What can I say, I just can’t help myself. It’s an addiction…an illness…and I fear it’s terminal.  This time I found myself buying this rather fabulous 1960s pink and gold lame evening coat (I say coat, but really it’s more of a coatlet as it isn’t lined, only has ¾ length sleeves and the only fastening is a neck tie) in Portabello market.  I was only meant to be out for a stroll.  No, it’s not the most practical of pieces; however what it lacks in practicality it more than makes up for in flamboyance and style, and at £40 I just couldn’t say no.  So there                                    

It's CHRIIIIIIISTMAS!

Ok it's not, it's actually 10th Feb, but there's snow on the ground and I've just scored a hat-trick of the most fan-tacky-tastic Christmas jumpers imaginable, so you can understand my confusion!

As regular readers will know I've been on the hunt for the perfect vintage Christmas jumper for a couple of years now - see. I've been looking for so long, that if I'm honest I was beginning to give up hope, and I certainly never thought I'd find them in a Jewish charity shop in February! I'd always imagined that my perfect Christmas jumper would be a traditional red and white Scandinavian affair, but then I imagined that anything as spectacular as jumper 1 and cardigan 2 existed! Jumper 3 is just in case I'm having an uncharacteristically low-key day. Let's be honest, it's unlikely, but miracles do happen!

LFW SS12: 5 sides of Si

So I thought I'd share my rather schizophrenic SS12 LFW wardrobe with you. Because I'm a control-freak stress-head and LFW is always crazy busy, I try to pre-plan my outfits in the days before. As the saying goes, 'the best laid plans of mice and men, often go awry', and as so much of how I dress is to do with how I'm feeling, it's hardly surprising that by day 2 I'm basically dressing off-schedule (in the case of Day 2 this season so off-schedule that I'm slightly embarrassed to show you what I concocted)!

As usual all feedback welcome!

Si x

Day 1: My 'easy breazy let a pretty dress do the talking' look

Dress: Zara

Jacket: Zara

Shoes: Dune

Belt: Karen Millen

Day 2: My 'last minute for one day only Liz Taylor in a Kaftan meets provincial art teacher' look

Kaftan: H&M

Slip: M&S

Shirt: Vintage

Bag: Love Moschino

Wedges: Office

Day 3: My 'Little Miss Prim wannabe-Moschino' look

Dress: Zara

Jumper: Toi et Moi

Belt: My sisters

Shoes: KG Kurt Geiger

Bag: Love Moschino

Earrings: Dannijo

Day 4: My 'playful twist on the classic jeans and a shirt' look

Jeans: J Brand

Shirt: Vintage from Italy

Belt: Charity shop find

Jacket: Charity shop find

Boots: Kurt Geiger

Sunglasses: Ermanno Scervino

Bag: Love Moschino

Day 5: My 'fashion can be fun/ I'm knackered/ fuck heels' look

Dress: Zara

Belt: Vintage Jaeger

Socks: American apparel

Trainers: Nike

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!