Quantum Physics and Fashion = Super fun!

Friends,

Any religion that gets you to pony up thirteen quid for string is going to attract celebrities. They love ancient spirituality and they love accessories. Rabbi Solomon ibn Gabirol (1021 - 1058) knew it was win-win and so do Zac Posen, Jill Stuart and Calvin Klein. Y'see, Scientology has tired of Lohan, Spears and their ilk and they're coming for our children. To this end, Posen, Stuart and Klien have authorised their creations to be worn in "Seven," an awesome neato-keen Scientologist comic! You know - for kids!

New York Magazine reports that "headband wearing socialite" Denise Wohl (jeepers, there's a epithet to treasure, huh?) noticed “There’s nothing [in the Kabbalah book market]for the most important age group of all: 7-to-17-year-olds,” A onetime letterer at Marvel Comics, Wohl enlisted former Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter to create a series about seven characters, one from each continent, who are mysteriously brought together in Manhattan because they share a higher consciousness—“They use more brainpower than the rest of us,” Wohl explains—and have mastered quantum physics, astrophysics and fashion.

Ah, to be young, multi-ethnic and with Kabbalistic superpowers. The girl in the peachy dress is reportedly based on Leelee Sobieski. Her power is to give all the other girls in the team porno breasts and lesbian haircuts.

Take note: Our Lord Madonna decrees that this spring we'll be saving the world in earth tones!
Jumping Jehozafat!

Calvin Klein (S/S 08)

Zac Posen (S/S 08)

Jill Stuart (S/S 08)

Wow, I feel dirty. Perez Hilton dirty.

It feels good.

Your pal,
Becky.

Weeny-tiny New Year Vogue

Hello friends,

Eva Green came through my letter-box this morning. It was a cheering thing, her all decked in new season Prada and whatnot. Trouble is, she was looking a bit slim for my liking though of course I don't blame her. Movie stars are beyond reproach in all matters - the US court system has proved this time and again. Nah, it ain't Eva Green's fault her issue is so slender - this wussy New Years edition of Vogue comes in at 201 pages and a featherweight 500g/1lb 40z.

This is disastrous news in a world where a successful fashion magazine needs enough advert-stuffed heft to make it uncomfortable to read in the bath and robust enough to kill an average rodent at close-range. As is always the case, Conde Nast shot its editorial wad on the Christmas issue (Sienna Miller - super sparkly) and all that's left for new years is the leftovers from the "Glamourous One-Name Models and their Glamourous Lives" photoseries (Dec was Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Lily Cole and Sasha Pivovarova and for Jan we get Agyness Deyn, Lily Donaldson and Lily Cole *again*). No real articles of note - "Can you Buy Sleep?" *that's* your cover line, Vogue? Well, yeah. Apparently I can buy sleep for £3.70 at all good newsagents and a bog standard year's round-up.

Still, at least we get some Gallic pouting. Look at that lovely sulky gothy French face. Eva Green is one of my favourite event dressers. She is invariably styled like a haute couture crazy cat lady and I love her tenderly for that.

-- at the BAFTAs in Dior with awesome witch hair.

Still, this cover is a little disappointment. I super dig the Prada floral action but the pose is so Hollywood generic and she looks, frankly, a little uncomfortable. I think this shot from her photoshot is easily the one in which she looks most at ease and it's also a genuine departure from the glam-goth thing that magazine stylists usually do for her.

She's got a naughty 50s farm girl thing going on that everyone can enjoy. That is, until I get the cease and desist order from the publishers. Like pixellated scans could even come close to a magazine copy. I'm not ashamed to admit that I get a little Proustian rush when my copy galumphs on the doormat, whether it's a vintage issue or not. Today, my copy smells of faded Flowerbomb, expensive paper and spilt tea. Surely surely surely February will reward our ongoing special relationship.

Also, can I have this?

Louise Gray, my snotty tissues and small change would never be so stylishly held but for a garment such as this. Plus, pink - am I right?

I'm right.

Your pal,
Becky.

Rocking the Regency Look

Those of you who read this blog regularly (or who can just scroll down a few inches) will know that I have just read a rather wonderful book about the fashions of Marie Antionette, and it's really has been influencing my fashion decisions over the past couple of days. I've been feeling floral patterns, busoms, and lots and lots of hair. Behold my normal hair:

This is normal, not unattractive hair. Blonde, fringed, sensible straight hair. In fact, normally I rather like it. But since finishing the book things have gone crazy. Sensible hair isnt good enough: I wanted flamboyant elabourate crazy hair. Hair that would attract the attention of a French king perhaps. Behold my hair now:






With the help of willpower and a rather expensive bumble and bumble texturiser my hair is a giant frizzy mess. And although it looks neither sleek or sophisticated I rather love it. Time to throw away those straighteners and invest in some pretty hairslides I think. Maybe some of these:






Beaded daisy and feather slide. Accessorize. £15

Oval Stone clips. Asos.com £5.00

For this week at least, big hair is my new black. Vive le revolution!!!!

One special thing

Hello. I am called Becky and I am the new contributor to this here e-lectronic fashion publication. Before we hit the main theme of this post,here are three pictures to approximate how I roll fashion-wise. It's best we're up front, you and I.

I chose these photos for a reason, internet friend. Not only does my hair look awesome in each but these images illustrate a dearly held fashion-related belief: the theory of the one special thing. Left to right: the pirate hook belt, the peacock feather and the turban.

When I was in my late teens, I realised suddenly that I wasn't in fact Chloe Sevigny. The flaxen hair, the groovy innate style, the Dolce connections....nope, nope and decidely nope.

Damn her black American heart. However, if you download and file 'the Sev' (I call her 'the Sev) as carefully as I do, you start to notice that when she styles herself (this is crucial - because magazine stylists tend to PILE shit on her) she adheres to the 'one special thing' rule. She always has one glorious and surprising detail that lifts the heart of fashion nerds everywhere. This is a fashion imperative we can all follow. The outfit above is made by the slightly dowdy nude bra contrasted with the floozy sexiness of the sheer blue blouse. Frowsy gold.

The scorpion belt. The scorpion belt. The scorpion belt. The outfit is gold by itself but injecting a decorative arthropod into the mix is the little touch of genius. The one special thing rule is so easy to follow and is easy to fit into the most mind-numbing of daily routines. Of course the internet makes sourcing said special incredibly easy. Here are some of my suggestions of accessories that lift the soul:

A bright vintage cape (from ebay.co.uk)



An angora turban
(£15 from Topshop)


Insects lodged in spheres of glass
(J. W. Andersen S/S 08, price on application, boyo.
http://www.j-w-anderson.com/)

Radiolaria bracelet necklace from
http://n-e-r-v-o-u-s.com
$75/$85

A Photoshop, an anguished expression and a lobster.
(Lobster from Cheeky Tiki of ebay.co.uk
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/CheekyTiki)

You see? It couldn't be simpler. The dowdiest of outfits are suddenly fit to flounce out the door if you add a little bit of magic. Just contact your inner Dali/homeless lady for details.

Your pal,
Becky.

One special thing

Hello. I am called Becky and I am the new contributor to this here e-lectronic fashion publication. Before we hit the main theme of this post,here are three pictures to approximate how I roll fashion-wise. It's best we're up front, you and I.





I chose these photos for a reason, internet friend. Not only does my hair look awesome in each but these images illustrate a dearly held fashion-related belief: the theory of the one special thing. Left to right: the pirate hook belt, the peacock feather and the turban.

When I was in my late teens, I realised suddenly that I wasn't in fact Chloe Sevigny. The flaxen hair, the groovy innate style, the Dolce connections....nope, nope and decidely nope.

Damn her black American heart. However, if you download and file 'the Sev' (I call her 'the Sev) as carefully as I do, you start to notice that when she styles herself (this is crucial - because magazine stylists tend to PILE shit on her) she adheres to the 'one special thing' rule. She always has one glorious and surprising detail that lifts the heart of fashion nerds everywhere. This is a fashion imperative we can all follow. The outfit above is made by the slightly dowdy nude bra contrasted with the floozy sexiness of the sheer blue blouse. Frowsy gold.

The scorpion belt. The scorpion belt. The scorpion belt. The outfit is gold by itself but injecting a decorative arthropod into the mix is the little touch of genius. The one special thing rule is so easy to follow and is easy to fit into the most mind-numbing of daily routines. Of course the internet makes sourcing said special incredibly easy. Here are some of my suggestions of accessories that lift the soul:

A bright vintage cape (from ebay.co.uk)



An angora turban
(£15 from Topshop)


Insects lodged in spheres of glass
(J. W. Andersen S/S 08, price on application, boyo.
http://www.j-w-anderson.com/)

Radiolaria bracelet/necklace from

Dresses, Books, and Books about Dresses.......

I’ve always hated the phrase ‘Chick lit’. Originally I think it was intended to make reading women authors the new ‘rock n roll’ but to me all it does is tie up women into a ball off fluffy confused unintelligent material that conforms to the cliché of what women read and write. And anyway, there’s nothing wrong with the old rock n roll. To be engulfed in a genre which is dominated by your gender and not your material (it’s always Chick before Lit) is scary and overbearing. Women are pigeon-holed in a way that just doesn’t happen to men: how often do you hear anyone use the phrase ‘Dick Lit’? As a female writer you don’t just represent yourself: you represent everyone who doesn’t have a penis.



Similarly condemned as an awkward subsector of ‘Chick Lit’ (kind of like Chick Lit’s uncomfortable socially unaware cousins) are books about fashion. They are rarely reviewed; treated like Prince Phillips indiscretions and never discussed in polite company; dismissed as frivolous, picture heavy tomes of insignificance for vapid girls. What makes things even worse is that sometimes, more than sometimes, it’s true. That extra half inch by Victoria Beckham anyone? Perhaps if she actually lost that extra half inch she’d disappear, leaving only a pair of Louboutin stilettos and a cloud of make up. Maybe she could take everyone that bought the book with her. We can only hope.



Fashion is my passion (I’m a poet and I know it) but that doesn’t mean I want to read about how Trinny and Susannah would dress my body. (And no, I don’t want to be called pear shaped!) Those two creatures are constantly on the bestsellers list with their hardbacks full of insults and bad advice, and it gives fashion publications a bad name. Scouring through my local Waterstone’s (or any other reputable book store,of course!) for something fashion related and yet not mind-numbing to read, I was beginning to despair that fashion had finally forsaken me. And then I discovered Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution by Caroline Weber.



Don’t worry, this isn’t about to turn into a condescending book review (It was supposed to be another of my famous rants) but this book does represent everything a good fashion tome should be. Intelligent, historically grounded, interesting and beautiful! The book focuses on what the Queen wore from the day she left Austria to the day she put her head on the block. The attention to detail is a wonderful surprise with fabric, texture and pattern described in almost reconstructable detail. Her love of fashion and dressing up and dressing down and, well, dressing, is opulently documented and lusciously illustrated- Masked balls, high hair, faux country girl clothes: enough unintentional style tips to ‘do’ regency glam for a month!



Weber demonstrates that Marie Antoinette’s fashion obsession was for the sake of self assertion, and her unique point of view on the rise and fall of an original style icon is intelligent, well researched and exciting to read. She also asks some pretty key questions: Was Marie Antoinette more than elaborate dresses and very white powder? (The answer by the way is Yes) and do clothes make a woman? (I know the answer is no but secretly want it to be yes!). Maybe ask me next week once by brocade coat has arrived and I’ve perfected the high hair and powder look!

Dear Santa, If you're reading......

...............then I really, really, really want this coat for Christmas. It's available from Next for just £75. I love the Leopard print pattern and the swing style and the jewel embellishment on the sleeves make it a perfect party cover up or a great way to dress up a simple casual black top.

I've been a very good girl this year: I'm nice to my boyfriend and I don't leave all my clothes on the floor (just most of them) I promise I will update my blog more regularly, and spend less money on clothes (and more on sensible things) I will also leave you a mince pie and a carrot for Rudolph.

Thank you!

Tor xxxxx

What i'm buying this weekend......

Ok, so maybe i'm a little too excited about this, but this weekend I am hitting the highstreet!

The Unsexiest Woman Alive??

Are these people crazy??

Sarah Jessica Parker has recently been voted the unsexiest women alive in an online poll. Obviously polls like this are downright ridiculous in the first place, but how horrible it must feel to have to wake up in the morning and read something like that! I find it hard enough to get dressed and feel slim(ish) pretty(enough) and ready to face the world without that kind of condemnation; God knows how she got out of bed this morning!

Sarah Jessica Parker might not be blonde and busty with a button nose and a perma-tan, but not looking like Jessica Simpson doesn't make you unsexy. SJP is unconventionally beautiful (which is much better than merely pretty), stupidly stylish and a sucessful independant mother and multi-millionairess. And you know what? If she managed to achieve all that without conforming to a stupid surveys idea of what "sexy" is, then that makes her an even more amazing role model as far as i'm concerned.

God bless SJP! May she always stay the same!

Winter Warmers.........

With Christmas fast approaching (I know I keep saying it but it's true) and Bonfire night upon us, it's time to find that perfect 'i'm all snug and warm but still look amazing' coat. You know the one: warm, practical, flattering, fashion focused, and impossible to find! This season everyone is talking about bright colours, volume, and military details. With that in mind, i've scoured the highstreet and here's my pick of 3 of the best winter coats

1) Bubble hem coat. River Island. £69.99

2) Tangerine Puffsleeve trapeze coat. Oasis. £90.0
3) Frilly trenchcoat. Topshop. £150.00

STYLE TIPS: Curver ladies should aviod the bubble hem as this trendy look is only really suitable for skinny minnie's. It would look great teamed with a teadress and opaque tights. The orange trapeze coat is perfect for the more statueque, and would look stunning teamed with skinny jeans and heeled shoe boots. The frilly trench is by far my favourite of the 3. It would look great on any figure, and is very Vivienne Westwood-esque in it's stylish attention to detail.

But hey, don't just listen to me though. When i went out to buy my winter coat I ignored all my own advice and came home with this monstrousity instead:

And you know what? I love it! And when it comes to finding the style that suits you (be it shoe, coat, or dress) that's all that matter!