09. 11. 09

A Girl Wants...

Christmas to come early.

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Now, I have never been a christmas fanatic - cold nights, cold days, dry skin, chapped lips, sad hair...urrgh. Anyway, for some reason, i'm feeling strangely festive (you may or may not have noticed) and I am steadily veering off on a mince pie come mulled wine tangent. Is this dangerous? I'm not entirely sure...
I just can't wait to have the affirmative that christmas has come. The gareish wreaths on front doors, the log fires, the smell of Glade spiced apple candles (classy, I know), the lights, the plastic snowmen and the sound of people saying, "well you know its Christmas when the Coca-Cola advert comes on t.v."
Somewhat more childishly I can't wait to have the affirmative that it is now ok to write my christmas list. Yes, I know I'm no longer of christmas list 'age', but that doesn't mean I'm not of christmas list calibre. Let's be honest, it's nice to get presents at christmas but it's even nicer when you know what you're getting. You pick a sizeable present from under the tree, screw up your face and say "gosh, now what could this be!?" - thanks to former christmas list, you know full well that this present has the perfect consistency to be that Matthew Williamson shift you expressed a shamefully unignorable interest in and have had your "buy-me" eye on for...too long. Oh and the little rip in the wrapping? Completely accidental of course. It glints under the fairy lights and shows a sneaky bit of beading and just perhaps the corner of the Matthew Williamson label. Confirmation! Isn't it wonderful how feigning suprise is half the fun when you know the suprise to feign? After all, the delightful horror of my Grandma's "reindeer-series" knitted vest tops (I think last year was Prancer?!) truly fills my "genuine" suprise void.

07. 11. 09

A Girl Wants...

To bring back the dinner party.

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Is it just me or are dinner parties on a downward trajectory? The dinner party has been a practicing function for centuries, probably even millenia. I mean, Fred and Wilma held their fair share of dinner parties and they were prehistoric. Why is it that today, fun can only be had outside of the house? Clubs, bars, restaurants, cinemas...don't get me wrong, I enjoy them too, but I think the dinner party is in a crisis of facing extinction.
Is there not something incredibly charming about blue soup a la Bridget Jones, or mashed potato that failed to mash, or home made pies that lose their status of "pie" somewhere between entering and exiting the oven? I think the dinner party is the ultimate expression of individuality and you can be assured that no other will be the same. There is also something hugely relieving about knowing your clientelle. You open the door and welcome faces that you actually want to see rather being confronted by your ex boyfriend in a dingy club, who never did understand the meaning of moderation...yes you dated that.
Anyway, I say, long live the dinner party! It's an excuse to indulge in excellent company, a nice glass of red and moreish home-made puddings. At least that's the illusion my guests are under. After all, if Marks and Spencer's won't tell, who really needs to know.

05. 11. 09

A Girl Wants...

To have a personal masseuse.

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It has been a long, tiring day. You arrive home and open your front door and instead of being greeted by the manic flash of your answer machine or a suspiciously thick stack of letters (aka bill reminders) which have been accumulating beside your manically flashing answer machine, you are welcomed by the wave of a professional hand and a waft of aromatherapy oil: your own personal masseuse...yes!
Now this masseuse is no ordinary masseuse. This is the masseuse of all masseuses; the ultimate masseuse. Masseuse Parfait. Masseuse Parfait doesn't talk to you whilst you are having your massage (as some feel so inclined to do). Masseuse Parfait doesn't tug at your body like a demonic four year old, pulling the limbs off Barbie for fun. Masseuse Parfait has toenails which are a pleasure to inspect, after all, when you're staring at the floor, there's nothing worse than coming face to face with toes of the fungal variety. And Masseuse Parfait has hands like liquid gold. Ah yes, there's nothing better than dozing off under the watchful eye and soothing hand of Masseuse Parfait. What's even better is that MP doesn't stop until you say so, and if you never say so, then MP never stops.
You get the picture... Masseuse Parfaits all round?

04. 11. 09

A Girl Wants...

To be wrapped in feathers and rolled in glitter.

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I'm just feeling festive. At the moment, I can't seem to get enough of feathers and sparkle. Is that just me being ridiculously girly? Who knows. I've always been somewhat of a romantic when it comes to fashion...
Roses, crushed satin, ballet shoes, posies, netting, froth, diamonds, gold links, pearls, flower garlands.

03. 11. 09

A Girl Wants...

An office job. Yes you did read that right.

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As I'm trudging my way towards the end of my university degree, my thoughts are turning towards the big, wide world of work. With the recession, jobs in magazine journalism are scarce. It doesn't bode well, does it?
All I have ever wanted is to work within four walls. In my dream office, I arrive at 9.30 and leave at 6. I have my own desk, my own MAC and my own potted plant. The air around me resonates with action, deadline and drive. I get to write all day, boss an intern around (serious pay back!) and drink skinny lattes, no cream. I meet with colleagues for lunch - one of those nouveau health places, with granary bread and hemp seeds. I attend meetings and spring board my ideas and then, on the way out, I briefly catch up with a female colleague. Female colleague tells me that Ginger Nuts and the lady down on reception were caught kissing in the lift by the courier on the basement floor. I smile and laugh because for some reason, office gossip is always more juicy than gossip in the real world, especially when it involves Ginger Nuts...

01. 11. 09

A Girl Wants...

To fly first class. Always.

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Back in the 1920s, flying was a real luxury. It was a treat to cruise in tin birds and brush cheeks with the clouds. So why today is flying accompanied with a sigh and a rolling of eyes and a big, big bottle of moisturiser? I think flying should still be a pleasure. Whilst air-stewards and stewardesses try their best, how come they never stop that petulant child digging their heels into the back of your seat and kicking creases into your new cashmere jumper? Why do they insist on making your seats so compact that you feel compelled to wear those anti DVT socks (I'm pretty sure that stands for Deathly Vile Trash). Said socks are of course made from nylon and I blame them entirely for the static hair I seem to have aquired by touchdown.
So, I say bring back first class for the masses! Flying is supposed to be enjoyable and I'm pretty sure that with a fully reclinable chair I could once again learn to enjoy cruising at altitude. Besides, with first class leg room, I could actually wear my 6 inchers on the plane without my knees being under my chin.

31. 10. 09

A Girl Wants...

Her own private collection of Christophe Josse's couture dresses.

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These pieces are truly exquisite. This summer I completely fell for the whole Futuristic come Naturistic come Wet-Behind-The-Ears look. Does that make any sense? I mean looking, smelling and dressing as if you have been dipped in a dewy balm and then flown ten lightyears into the future. Innocent and vulnerable in one light yet obscure and other-worldly in another.
Anyway, I feel that Christophe Josse has projected this naturistic/futuristic look into his A/W 09 collection - and I love it. After all, key looks might end with seasons, but when it comes to futurism, we're living, wearing and designing it every day.

30. 10. 09

A Girl Wants...

More people to start wearing Juliette Has A Gun - Lady Vengeance. Possibly the sexiest scent ever.

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I discovered this fragrance about two summers ago whilst interning. Definitely the highlight of my call-ins. Lady Vengeance and Miss Charming are both gorgeous scents with underlying tones of Morrocan Rose, Patchouli and Vanilla. Sounds like it could be a sweet note too far but both are very wearable. Lady Vengeance has got to be my favourite - it has a devilish disobedience about it. I like my scents to say something about who I am, its all very well wearing Mother Dearest's Chanel No. 5 simply because it is "Classic", but what has Classic got to say for itself when you start smelling like an old woman with holes in the back of her stockings and a hair net secured with an off taupe scrunchy?
That's no put down to Chanel No.5 and I can't deny that it claimed its seat in scent heaven as soon as it was produced in 1921, but if you want a perfume that turns heads and provokes smiles, then Lady Vengeance is more than appropriate, after all, naughty is supposed to be nice - isn't it?

29. 10. 09

A Girl Wants...

An Elie Saab inspired christmas.

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A christmas with frost, icicles and snow. Is that too much to ask? Perhaps it is. But in the land of fashion, weather is no restriction. Since when did comfort compromise couture?
The Elie Saab A/W 09 collection glistened with winter whites and silvers. Beaded bodies and feathered jackets added a romantic edge to classic pieces.
Maybe if it doesn't snow we can all wear Elie Saab instead - it might mean sacrificing our extremities to the chill of Jack Frost, but it would make christmas perfect.

29. 10. 09

A Girl Wants...

Centre partings to make a comeback.

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Centre parted hippy fringes, dishevelled centre cut crops and chignons with a centre bias...I love them all and want to see more people sporting them on the streets of England!
When someone says centre parting, the mass response is, "But that would never suit my face" or "Centre partings are for geeks". In all fairness, the Geek has done the centre parting no favours. Traditionally envisaged with acne and braces, the Geek's battle with beauty is only emphasised by the centre parting sprouting somewhat repulsively from greasy roots and a flaky scalp.
BUT! this isn't how it has to be.
Centre partings are gorgeous when done right. With a bit of volume at the root, the days of lank cheek slapping hair flanks are long gone. Even better, centre partings actually suit a plethora of face shapes and, just for the record, circular faces look adorable with a longer cut, chunky fringe and long locks to subtly lengthen the face and extend the neck.