Ksubi superb

I got back from a few days at my sister's beach house in Forster today and hit the shops in Paddington with a vengeance! Oh joy! As I've wined about before, I never shop in London as I'm always too skint but I've been saving my pennies to splash out in Sydney. A Scanlan & Theodore voucher from Mum and a Manning Cartel voucher from my sister Merilyn also helped lubricate proceedings! This is the Ksubi store on Glenmore Road - it is awesome and after being chastised a week ago for attempting to take photos at the Bondi store I was chuffed when the staff here totally ignored me. I could really use a new pair of jeans but I decided my hard earned cash could be put to better use (and I had splurged on an amazing Acne dress ten minutes prior! I love, love, love it!) Anyway, check out the store, and Paddo in general, if you're ever in town and if you live here ignore this as you've clearly been frequenting it for years! P.S. The boyf arrives tomorrow. Yay! x

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! You know I said I was ecstatic about my looming hair appointment and was pondering Alexa Chung's do? Well I went for it and here, in a slightly unclear photo is the result, not that you care I'm sure! But I'm digging it. It looks far more healthy shorter - I'd say about four inches were swept up off the floor. You can also get a taste of Australia in the photo with my sister's backyard reflected in the window. Anyway, I hope, whether it is freezing cold or baking hot outside you have a lovely Xmas day - and obviously get some killer presents! It's all about the presents! Ho ho ho! P.S. Note how I have cleverly hidden my third degree sunburn? x

Last night a t-shirt saved my life

In October I bought two of these great t-shirts from the Spitalfields market in East London. I have worn them to death over the past two months, as my friends can testify. I probably stink. But, since getting hideously sunburnt down at Bondi on Monday like the Brit I've become, they have been invaluable in covering up my blotchy, uneven lobsterness - hoorah! Hopefully I can progress on to the myriad of singlet tops and summer dresses I brought with me shortly although right now I still feel like I'm on fire. I am such an idiot - I think after being away so long I underestimated the strength of the Australian sun and that damn hole in the ozone layer! Anyway, despite the model looking a bit smelly, the fabric of these t-shirts is so soft which makes them so comfortable to wear and I think the designs are really cool. I have the Vogue one above, in the girls size obviously, and one with lots of different makes of cameras all over it. The brand is Yohan Kim and he also stocks at the backyard market off Brick Lane but if you're not in London he might just send you some in the post if you ask really nicely! Actually I've just realised you can buy online. Whoop! (If you're a member of my family, wait and see what Santa brings you first!!) P.S. Sydney is rocking my world! x

I heart Sydney!

You must have crossed your fingers for me because despite the snow my plane wasn't even delayed, so for that I thank you! The 24 hour flight was as good as it could've been although even the best case scenario is and will always be a nightmare! But I am now in the glorious Sydney and man, was it worth it! My darling sisters picked me up from the airport at 7am, very hungover, brandishing the 'welcome home Helen' banner they decided to make me late last night after a million bottles of wine - bless! Then we headed to my favourite haunt Skinny Dip in Bondi for breaky and home via a local beauty salon for impromptu manis and pedis - oh yeah!!! Above is my beautiful four month old niece Audrey with my sister, her mummy, Rosie. I met her for the first time today and have fallen in love!! P.S. Will post cool pics asap, I promise. Thanks for reading, now I'm going for a swim! I LOVE SYDNEY! x

ARGH!!

There is a very distinct possibility that my flight to Australia will be cancelled due to heavy snowfall. AAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! It will almost certainly be delayed as various airports have been closed already this morning. Let's all keep our fingers crossed I make it out tonight, yeah? Thanks, that'd be nice. Hopefully next time I post I'll be in sunny Sydney. Damn snow! x

Summer sun

This is one of my favourite Garance Dore photos. I think what she's wearing would be my ideal outfit to while away the hours in the summer sun. It's so simple but I love the scarf and the casual way she's rolled up her sleeves - if only I had her bod! Speaking of summer sun, I'm heading to Sydney tomorrow where my three beautiful sisters, two of whom I haven't seen for two whole years, will be waiting for me. The rest of the family are flying over from Perth on Christmas eve. I really can't believe my trip is finally here. It feels as though I've been counting down forever. I will try to take as many photos as I can while I'm in Australia so this blog is not just a wishlist of all the clothes I want - I know that can be fairly boring. I should get a chance to post tomorrow as I don't leave until the evening but then I'll be on the wing for 24 hours in a capsule of boredom - boo!! x 

Taking tea

On Saturday, my lovely friend Jade and her boy Chris had some friends around for 'high tea' in honour of them packing up their lives and moving to Paris in the new year. The spread was incredible! Jade's carrot cake, above, was especially tasty while Chris' egg and cress sandwiches were also a roaring success - and very posh with their crusts cut off! Jade, who looked the part pulling trays of cupcakes out of the oven in a Stepford Wives-inspired floral minidress and heels, is taking up a job at bilingual broadcaster France 24 and Chris, a graphic designer, has talked his boss into transferring him to the firm's Paris office - result! I'm going to miss you guys but with the good ol' Eurostar I'll be on your sofa every second weekend. He he!! P.S. Jade where can I get your dress? Actually, don't think you'll need it in Paris, can I have it?! x

Olsens stalk-athon

I have a minor obsession with Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. It hasn't quite developed into a girl crush, like with Alexa Chung or Garance Dore, I just think they always look really cool. So you can imagine my excitement when I came across Olsens Anonymous, a blog dedicated entirely to the twins' style. Ok, so it is a very stalkery blog which I generally wouldn't condone but what the hell?! I figure they have cash coming out their ears so my heart doesn't exactly bleed for them. I'll stalk them all I like. If you too lust after everything they're wearing and if their shoe collection makes your eyes water like it does mine then you should check it out. It does baffle me how they can actually wear most of those shoes though - have you seen how high they are??!! Let me know, are you an Olsen lover or hater? x

Anish Kapoor

It's been a busy last weekend in London for a while! I kicked it off by going to see Anish Kapoor's exhibition at the Royal Academy with Nicola on Friday night. It was the final day (typical of me, but at least I made it this time) so the queue was massive. But we got through it by sipping a vat of mulled wine each and singing along to carols courtesy of the neighbouring choir. Anyway, I'd never seen much of Kapoor's work before but the whole thing blew me away. He uses a lot of wax, clay, mirror and fibreglass to build crazy sculptures. His most renowned piece from this exhibition would probably be a canon which is loaded every 10-20 minutes and then fired dramatically by a pouty amateur actor in a boiler suit to splatter a container full of deep red wax against the gallery wall. As we were there at the end of the run, there were mounds of this beautifully coloured wax all over the place from the past two months' worth of canon shots (far more than in the photo above). Some had hit the back wall, some had fallen closer to the canon but the shapes made by the splattering of wax were brilliant and the overall experience was (forgive me) a blast! Must say I'm glad not to be the one cleaning it up though! Go see him if you ever get the chance. x

Snap, crackle, pop

I know the socks with sandals thing is generally a no-no but despite that I really love this look. I can't get enough of these low slung cuffed trousers at the moment and the shearling gilet is also fabulous but it's the colour pop of the yellow clutch that I adore!! Have a great weekend everyone. x

Give it the boot

While we're on the topic of Cos boots (mine have sadly sold out which doubly sux because I was actually planning on buying them this time despite the cost and ankle-breaking potential), I was seriously considering getting my boyfriend this fantastic mens pair for Christmas. He's not your typical trendy who would work this look by rolling up or loosely tucking his jeans in to show them off (he is also not a fan of me attempting to dress him!) His style is more subtle. So it is probably for the best that they were also sold out. But aren't they lovely? I used to think mens clothes were boring but I think me making a habit of raiding James' wardrobe has given me a greater appreciation of the quality designs that are out there for the fellas. The following images from Another Man Magazine work this look well I think. I accept there is a fine line between cool cat and arrogant asshole but if you stay on the right side of the line I think it's rad. A friend at work coined the look as "workman chic" or "urban terrorist". P.S. James and I aren't together for Xmas so we're going to buy each other gifts in the Sydney sales - whoop!! x

Dresses to die for (oh and a jacket and pants)

My friend Tess was picking my brains the other day about where she could find a great party dress to wear to the multitude of weddings she has on the horizon, that would not break the bank - a common dilemma among the female of the species. I pondered for a moment then a light bulb switched on in my head. A couple of months back Stylebubble, one of the scores of fashion blogs I stalk daily, flagged up this really great label Eight London for dresses you would want to wear again and again. Above are a few from the collection. I think they’re pretty new and don’t know if they stock anywhere as they ask you to email them the design you’re interested in and your size and then send it to you I assume. But their dresses are rad, not too expensive and definitely ones I’d want to wear again and again. I particularly love the gold one! No, I haven’t bought it yet as I’m poor (there is a theme to this blog, me telling you about stuff I’m drooling over but will probably never buy!) but if you’ve got some parties to show your face at get in there, I say. P.S. Saw a very cool lady in my Cos wedges (that I didn't get) this morning. Boo hoo. x

Warning: nudie rudies

Ryan McGinley likes a bit of nakedness. The model turned photographer has spent the past few years traipsing across America taking pictures of his spectacularly attractive, and invariably butt-naked, mates in massive, often unexplored caves and other lovely natural spaces. McGinley recently exhibited his latest collection of photographs at the Alison Jacques Gallery in London and, despite it being about two streets away from my office, I was too lazy to get there. Damn. Oh well, Morel books has published the images from the exhibition and he has loads on his website. McGinley is also heading to Athens next year to showcase his work. Anyone fancy it? x

Ooh la la

I had a fantastic but fleeting weekend in Paris with my ladies Leah, Nicola and Tanya and miraculously the weather wasn’t anywhere near as bad as it was supposed to be. Early December is a great time to go. It is so Christmassy you can’t help but get in the festive frame of mind. Everyone knows the French are more stylish than the British, and the Australians, but the Christmas lights in Paris particularly kicked ass! While us Londoners have glowing advertisements for the latest, invariably awful, holiday film starring Jim Carrey, the Parisians have gob-smackingly beautiful chandeliers lighting up the streets. We laughed a lot, particularly when Leah's usually impeccable French failed us as we were ordering dinner on Saturday night, resulting in three out of four of us accidentally choosing fried intestines. I nearly gagged when Leah finally twigged and while Tanya gave a stellar effort and continued eating, half of her so-called sausage ended up on the floor. Yuck! I can still taste it! So I made it to Colette, a gorgeous clothes shop, which is ridiculously out of my price range. It was as fantastic as I expected although it was uncomfortably full as it was late Saturday afternoon so we didn’t hang around for long. I didn’t make it to Acne unfortunately as I got us all lost. Oh well, there’s one in Sydney so I’ll go in A WEEK AND A HALF!!! Sorry, the weather is just so dreadful right now I can’t help but think about 35 degree heat!! Below are some idiots we came across near the Tour Eiffel.

Another Alexa photo by Garance

As I've said before, I love these two chicky babes! Off to Paris now, have a great weekend. Bonne journée! x

A toothy issue

How cool is this bracelet! What bracelet, you say? There's just some old dentures in a glass? Well, you're mistaken. This is one of the fabulous designs by up and coming Swedish jewellery designer Martin Tallvid and I want it! Now!! The 23 year old Stockholmer started sketching a while back then he met a candlestick designer on holiday who helped him kick-start his label Mattin. "He helped me to make my sketches into little things. Later on this ended up becoming necklaces and bracelets." At the moment, Tallvid doesn't sell his jewellery in London - sorry to disappoint you all - although he's coming to town in the summer to scope for potential stockists. And by then he'll have a brand new collection to tout. Check out his website at www.mattin.se for details. "Everything around me inspires me" he says.