Man up

Over the recent seasons I have observed and been involved in a clothing role reversal.
Are we possibly on the brink of a revolution?

Males out there - I will trade one of my dresses for one of your jeans and tee combo!

Maybe this is a bit of a ridiculas notion. And yet, at the same time it is not so absurd. While us girls slip comfortably into baggy jeans and shirts, men's t-shirts seem to be getting tighter and tighter. Thanks to Topman our boys are limited to a uniform of skin hugging V necks and blood halting skinnies. On a recent shopping spree, my boyfriend came speeding back to me after separating for Topshop and Topman exclaiming 'the shops want to turn me into a woman.' But I had to agree. It was a solemn shopping day for him.

It is an entertaining idea, but I seriously doubt we are going to ever witness men readily striding in skirts like they do in check shirts which have bred over them. Yet, on the other side of the story, we women are continually dressing more like men. I, myself am guilty of following this inversion trend. But my question is - do we wear the clothes better?

I'll digress...

Since women decided to dress feminine and more like women, they then began to dress more like men. But then for equality, and now for the right to be fashionable. Think power suits with chin stroking shoulders. My own man wardrobe has been growing gradually. First with the boyfriend blazer, then the boyfriend jeans and more recently my shopping habits have even spread to the men's section. Not male style for women, but actual male clothes for women.

The latest male edition to my wardrobe is the baseball jacket. I have never been a great fan of the American sports style. Bright, electric hues adorn the football fields thrashing around in a heat of athleticism. It just seems so big, butch and brash. But then I found this gem in the male section of Primark.

My new baseball.

My love affair with this jacket began with this photograph in the July Issue of Vogue. This ageless issue celebrates style at any age and here is model Edie Campbell pictured in a red and black leather baseball jacket. She looks so effortlessly cool, admitting 'not bothering works a lot better.' She wears clothes that are 'on loan from her boyfriend.' Is this the answer to wardrobe worries? Can we just wear what our fellow males do to get that 'i just threw this on' feel that they do everyday when we can spend hours tweaking a look to try and achieve the same.

Edie in all her casual chic with playful ears by Topshop.

I will be routing this easy, casual style with my new jacket. I'll admit its not quite as cool as Edie's but at a mere £10 I was quite proud of my find. The fact that I found it in the men's section doesn't matter. Its broad manly shape adds to the relaxed look but requires some tiny, tiny shorts to balance it out a la Edie.

Lets take a look at some other yummy jackets...

Once again from the men's section, this American College Baseball jacket in a rich Burgandy caught my eye. With contrasting panelling in similar colours to my own baby. My boyfriend asked if he could pull off this of jacket. I had to say no. It would take some guy with style tomake this work. But when it comes to us girls - this would be easy!
http://www.asos.com/American-College/American-College-Burgandy-Baseball-Jacket/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1143995&SearchQuery=baseball%20jacket&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Burgandy

Now looking at a woman's wear take on this style. Not as Americanised. Not as heavy weight. It doesn't have that 'off the man' feel. Although check out the suede paneling - gorge!
http://www.asos.com/Asos/Asos-Suede-Front-Baseball-Jacket/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1030075&SearchQuery=baseball%20jacket&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=GreyBrown

Take a look at this Isabel Marant Jacket, a feminine take on the male style jacket. Simple, clean lines and beautiful leather sleeves. It flows out elegantly, ridding the 'from a man' style. This is an example of not when men's clothes look better on women, but when our tailoring of their clothes just looks better.
http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/77171?resType=single&keywords=baseball%20jacket

Now we are very accustomed to borrowing the odd hoody from our male friends for ease, but recently I have been toying with the idea of wearing men's boxers. No, not for weird sexual reasons and not those tight, bright novelty types. But some luxury ample ones would be perfect to layer under a long loose jumper, just peeping out the bottom. I don't know if I would ever have the 'balls' to actually wear these in public. They could be the answer to at-home sexy casual attire.

But for now, until I find the right ones these alternatives will satisfy my wonder...

These boxer-esque shorts from Topshop are great and practical (they have pockets). The rose tye dye effect is great to keep pushing the grunge trend.
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=20&viewAllFlag=false&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&categoryId=209768&parent_category_rn=208529&productId=1773625&langId=-1

Then I came across these VPL Deltois shorts. Take note of the boxer style panelling with seam detail but floaty feminine and fabulous. Again mens style but better!
http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/99226

Ever since I witnessed a breath taking fashion moment during an episode of Sex and the City the idea of running around in a mans shirt seems irresistible. Cinched with a simple belt, this look is so simple and yet so chic. I even found myself sifting through my boyfriend's ever so minimal wardrobe in search of the perfect shirt. The response I got wasn't so fairytale; 'no -that's my interview shirt!' But I will not be deterred, as it was confirmed by one of my good male friends that we girls do look better in a man's shirt then men do.

But is there a way it which we will not have to beg, borrow and steal anymore?

Meet Equipment...
A line of menswear style women's shirts, revived for Spring/ Summer 2010 - excellent!

A beautiful crisp white shirt by Equipment with large breast pockets . Teamed with cut off high waisted denim shorts. Pure casual shirting wonder.

Double D

I have a confession to make. I am addicted to denim.

At last count I have nine pairs of jeans, three pairs of denim shorts (with my eyes on a new high waisted Levis pair as I type), and two denim jackets (one with and one without sleeves). Last summer, denim even spread upwards in the form of my bleached shirt. This summer it has infected my top wardrobe again with the arrival of a slouch tee from Topshop, a refreshing variation on the ever so popular denim shirt. Its sleeves and pockets ripped off leaving a contrasting patch against the main acid wash. It is the latest edition to my breeding denim family.

My denim family is forever expanding (darker in real life)

I just can't help it. We are inseparable. But why have a got an obsession for denim?

I can remember my first proper pair of jeans. Ones that I bought myself and weren't just hand-me-downs from various cousins. They were dark indigo with a dramatic flair, embellished by silver stars. I always remember these jeans infamously as the 'what was I thinking' jeans. But after all, every seven year old girl was wearing the flair. Now, twelve years on, along with many other fashionistas, the skinny jean is my trusty denim outlet. My favorite pair? The acid washed skinny denims by Topshop that have been my most worn for a couple of years. So much so, they have a rather large hole between the back pocket and the waistband. They are weathered, beaten and ripped: or loved dearly I would call it. Evidence that the perfect pair do exist. The denim fabric is the epitome of casual cool and practicality. On those days where all other fashion fails you and you yearn for a new wardrobe, trusty jeans will always be there to pick up the pieces. Nothing looks better than a good tight pair.

But being a denim devotee, I am still unsure about the supposed fashion faux pas of head to toe denim. Is it too much of a good thing? Or something that is not channeled enough? I remember countless discussions between friends as to a persons choice to adorn this questionable look, but we never quite come to a conclusion. This season Chloe wanted us to embrace our inner ranch worker with slouchy denim shirts teamed with long jeans each sporting contrasting patching similar to my Topshop piece. It was casual and utterly chic, not at all wrong. The two pieces separated by a thin leather belt and accompanied by a brown leather bag. It looked so effortless, as if the woman was just returning home from tending to her horses. But could I imagine myself wearing this double denim ensemble in North Cornwall? I still wasn't convinced.

Chloe, from the S/S 10 collection

Dolce and Gabbana's take on this trend didn't help my ploy to conversion: denim jacket paired with denim skirt. When you imagine this combo in your head it reeks of a cutesy little girl and would be disastrous to anyone over ten years old. However, D&G tried to ease in this look by layering and decorating the pieces with black lace, diverting the eye so the two denims look less double denim and more delicious denim. But again I don't think I could pull this look off. It is more suitable on the catwalk. Yes I could look into buying lace samples from my local fabric shop and converting my existing denim pieces but I'm sure I would just end up looking like a lamp! Plus I have never been very favourable to the denim skirt since I said goodbye to my last at aged thirteen. I am much more of a shorts person. After all you don't have to worry about the positioning of ones legs.

But then, one day my attitude to the double D's began to fade. I was inspired by my neighbour, a person I would never have expected to admire clothes on, but I was. She did head to toe. High waisted jeans, slightly baggy, accompanied by a tucked in denim shirt while allowing some to billow over to hide and conceal a thin leather belt. She looked amazing, as if she had just walked of the pages of my Vogue trend round up, minus the long white hair. Who said you can't wear denim past a certain age?

Alexa in denim galore!

So there I was. It was double D-day. My first outing in nothing but. I stepped out in my high waisted denim shorts with a light denim shirt, both Topshop. I added a thin leather belt to break it up and some aviator sunnies to hide behind. I felt strange, slightly conscious of what I was wearing yet at the same time oddly cool. As cool as Alexa Chung looks in her Vogue shoot, a photograph that inspired my ensemble. 'Yes I am wearing double denim, and I like it!' I felt like shouting. But it ain't easy, it has to be thought about. Don't just chuck on every denim thing you own. Keep it simple and different. This is the rule that must be obeyed to make it OK. Choose two contrasting denim hues so it doesn't look too matching and I wore shorts to make it less head to toe. I like it, but I didn't want to make it too obvious on my double debut.

My new denim look slouch tee will be perfect to continue my relationship with this trend. Its dark blue colour will be a great contrast to my bleached shorts and thus a perfect partnership to finish my summer with.

Looking forward to next season, of its understated chic. Alas there is no strong outlet for denim amongst the neutral capes, coats and outdoorsy styles. But I will not stop wearing it I'm sure. You cannot ignore a love this strong: my lovely friend denim.

Nail it!

I often browse fashion blogs, posting sites and online stores to find an idea for a new look. A new way of styling my existing clothes: a sort of recycling you could say. But very often I am without the beautiful clothes in the shoots and without anything slightly similar. And without extensive funds. So I am back, stuck looking at my wardrobe day after day waiting for inspiration. Even when I am not planning on leaving the house, I still struggle. I just still want to feel glam, even though there is no one to appreciate it.

It is hard when you live so remotely. There is just no one to appreciate good fashion. My Dad laughs at my beloved ripped jeans, while sporting a sorry look on his face. 'You should take those jeans back, they're broken', I can remember him saying while I tried to ignore him.

But back to my problem. Its great when you can find an easy and cheap way to update your style. Take nail polish for instance. Last winter my friend and I lusted, green with envy, after Karl Lagerfeld's collection for Chanel in which a jade green hue accompanied the clothes on models and mannequins nails. So much so we wrote an article about it and our other musings on varnish. In our fashion brains, grey was the new black and pale jade green the must do colour. When I catch a glimpse of my tainted talons I feel a twinge of glamour, knowing that the flash of colour running through my hair looks so chic.

So imagine my excitement when I spied a new shade in the Topshop press images. This icy shade makes a such statement against the summer accessories that I made it my mission to find an equivalent. There amongst the summery colours in Boots was the one I was looking for. Mint Choc Chip by Barry M. Although it wasn't straight forward. I had to venture to a larger shopping area to find this quirky shade.


The first time I painted in this shade was before a gig, having had to wait a few days until I finished my weeks shifts at work. Chipped nail vanish just isn't the same after all. It looked so strong when I placed my hands near the black chiffon blouse I was wearing to see Calvin Harris: I can remember looking up at my hands as I danced and seeing shots of the icy colour. The blue is so different: the antidote to the hot weather. It felt so refreshing amongst the usual reds and pinks that so many nails are plastered with, and that I am guilty of. I'm glad I got some colour on before the winter comes, when glossy naturals will be on my nails instead.

I do wonder what my Dad thought of my quirky colour style update?

Is it time to cover up yet?

Before we know it the new season will be upon us. It is hard to think about what I will be wearing in a few months when now the sun still occasionally shines while I bask in aviator sunnies and short shorts. Alas it will soon be time to cover my sun kissed legs and pull on jumpers, presently dormant in the bottom of my wardrobe. But as I flick through the a/w Vogue round up, I can envisage the dream key items that will get me through the cold and dark coming months.

A cape will fall loosely around my shoulders as I walk to class. Not too showy, just minimalist and youthful. But enough to shield me from the rain that will no doubt plague our winter days. I do hope the high street will have the answer to Carolina Harrera's camel cape, so I can cosy up in warm hues.

Carolina Harrera camels up

Topshop camel cape

The most promising lead I have found is this Topshop minimalist creation above, embellished with an understated military look without taking away the loose casual feel. Topshop follows the way of the catwalk, with many designers abandoning their sleeves and allowing them to hang freely; the answer to easy throw on elegance. My eye will definitely be looking out for this towards the colder months.

If I can let go of my favorite jeans and leggings winter uniform I could imagine my legs wrapped in loose and fluid fabric in the form of trousers swishing away. But I am not convinced yet. We wear skinnies and leggings to compliment our assets. Why swamp our gorgeous pins? If you are not ready to ready to let go of the tight; go for the grown up skinny of the winter. The cigarette trouser.

Mulberry's cigarettes in a rich caramel hue

According to designers our girls are heading to outside adventures this winter, and if we are encased in layers of white stuff as of last January we will definitely be kitted out for it. The catwalks were array with large knits, autumnal colours, sheepskin, furs and luxurious tweeds. The staple item for this look is the shearling jacket, the best in blacks and caramels with sheep's wool trimming. Below is one of my favorites by Reed Krakoff. Its its simple oversized style captures the essence of this trend paired with a large knit.

Reed Krakoff goes to the country

I will be looking for my own twist on this, starting with the charity shops to try and find the real thing: used, weathered and beaten is after all the inspiration for the trend, taking my country gal roots to the city. Before I find this treasure, I will work this trend with these cable knit grey tights. Thigh high and a fabulous way to nurse shorts into this winters wardrobe.

Be knit-tastic this winter!

But is all this a bit too soon? Are we ready to say goodbye to the summer yet? I'm not. This in between stage is always hard to fill. Yet Vogue has come to the rescue, pointing me towards a pre-season trend. I have already expressed my boredom of the maxi, so look a few inches north and welcome the midi. Show a bit of leg with these middle length skirts instead of the cover-alls we are so used to.

Midi lengths opted for by these designers

Inspired by this new hemline, I bought a simple tubular grey marl maxi skirt from ASOS. Yes it is grey, but you can't argue when it looks so look. It is so versatile with its colour and shape. The grey allows easy styling, as anything goes. The maxi length means I can wear the skirt high up my body to then team with crops, or short length jumpers. The shorter length allows me to accessorise with flats, or my army/worker style boots for a tough edge to the mumsie style skirt. Or I can go glam on this simple piece with my new heels and various jewellery to spice it up. We may not be ready to cover up completely yet but this baby will be perfect for the rest of the summers evenings and the not so sunny days.

Easily dressed down with the boots!

This skirt is a great way to ease me into the winter, but with all these gorgeous coats and capes that will cover the high street walls, it may not be a problem.

Maxed Out?

The maxi dress has been the must have item for this summer. Championed by every shop on the high street for women of all ages. I see them everywhere from the beach to nights out even at gigs. Maxi at gigs, is that wise? Nothing feels more glamorous then when you walk into a room dressed in one of these floor length babies, even if in the tight ones you have to waddle a bit.

But when they are everywhere, I want something different. So where next from the maxi?

Styling is the key for a new take on maxi length. Designers for a/w 10 have unearthed a new trend of collaborating knitwear with evening elegance. Sometimes tight sometimes slouchy, sweaters were layered over sweeping floor length skirts. The deep opulent hues of purples, blues and reds worked the best, continuing to the floor with the skirts always looking glam whether with billowing volume from Louis Vutton or loose and flowing like from Dolce and Gabbana. But instead of investing in a new skirt when I student funds, I am experimenting with layering my existing knitwear with my existing maxi dress. I cheap way to update my maxi look by wrapping up in winter warms. Just make sure the skirt half looks glam.

Dries Van Noten in the Vogue catwalk report caught my eye with a variation on this trend. Layering a very slouchy almost t-shirt shaped sweat over a rich purple skirt with a subtle darker print infused. This designer had the more youthful look of the page of the supplement, so I thought layering a t-shirt over a maxi dress or skirt may allow this trend to sweep into daytime casual.


I can imagine myself meeting my girl friends for lunch wearing a long skirt and rocking a tee. I think I would want my skirt to be loose and flowing in a bleached purple and I would layer over my Amplified Rolling stones t-shirt or maybe one of my more oversized tees from the men's section in Primark would work better, lending towards the large knits of the catwalk.


Definitely day time chic!

No! Maybe

I very often buy small, easy on the purse strings items from Topshop: usually t-shirts or occasionally I feel the need to top up my perfect jeans account. I rarely buy anything big; as in the dresses or the amazing shoes. Sadly I just don't have the money.

Yet I found myself behind the purple curtains of the changing rooms during the ruled routine of poses, saying no to an item that I would usually snap up. Front, side, back: the poses when on and so did my opinion.

I had been looking for the perfect crop top for a while, even before the Isle of Wight festival. This one was good, reasonably priced at £14 (not forgetting that all important student discount), washed black with acid pink spelling out 'New York.' Perfect for my New York/ Sex and the City continuing obsession and very 80s. I'm sure Carrie would approve of this T.

But still I found myself saying no. Am I really out of my wardrobe filling ways already? I thought it would take a lot more weening than this. The shorts were harder to say no to, their retro high waist and rough leg holes: so taunting. 'Rosanna, they are not Levis: you want Levis' I eventually said to myself as I reluctantly placed them back amongst the shorts.

Thinking I had escaped the Topshop trap, I then found myself in the shoe section, lusting after something that I would not usually even contemplate because of the price.



I immediately tried on these Topshop Seanna clogs without thinking. I took one look in the mirror and quickly took them off for fear I would be too tempted. I rarely try on heels because I know I hardly ever wear them and they are so expensive. So why this pair? Have I become more of an investment buyer like I wanted? Or is this just an excuse to justify buying them?

So why do I like these so much? I first remember seeing Chanels spring clogs from which these above and many other designs like them where born from in the March 2010 Vogue. There were on the toes of Alexa Chung accompanying her denim feature. I fell in with their statement black and studded appearance against the soft blues and indigo's of the shoot.


These Topshop copyclogs are the perfect highstreet answer to Chanel, but when thinking about why I like them I found more reasons for why I shouldn't. Firstly, just the name, clog, doesn't sound that chic and when discussing these shoes with a friend: just the mention of this word made her nose wrinkle. Similar to Crocs; its just not good. As I look at them more I can see a resemblance to a pair of flat clog-esc shoes that my Mum has owned for years. I have never been that sure about them but they are excellent as a quick slip on pair to just pop outside in.

Yet after all these negatives, I still want the shoes. The studs add the youthful touch to the grown up appearance and punch away that mumsie feel. A pair of grown up heels to pair with my new wardrobe ethic? Possibly.

Just one more bit of grey!

I must walk before I can run around New York in the highest of heels. These small heeled babies will break me into my future Sex and the City lifestyle (without breaking my ankles).

Yes they are grey, but that means they will go with everything. Investment buy!

I can picture the grey tinies now, accompanying my future perfect jumpsuit, strutting myself along the street a la Carrie.

Back to Black

After sorting through my clothes, my wardrobe now slightly smaller and less compact. I surveyed the array of my organisation, t-shirts, dresses, jackets. But I noticed that the predominant colours of my wardrobe are blacks and greys. I have so many! Countless times before shopping trips, I vowed to not indulge in my apparent favorite cool shades, but alas it obviously fails.

During a recent shopping spree, I noticed that other women embrace my passion for blacks and greys, then I noticed that every woman around me was sporting some kind of grey or black ensemble. Some head to toe, some combining it with more colourful items, but mainly doused in dreary colours. Its the height of summer, where is the colour? But then, looking down at my own attire, in the middle of BOOTS, I realised that I had succumbed to this dark infection. I was looking at my tight black leggings, layered over with a simple grey marl dress with a darker grey open zipped hoodie for ease. Even my shoes were grey, but with a coppery tint that has grown with wear. My nails; the only thing colourful about my look, a slightly chipped girly rose hue.

'But grey is cool,' I thought to myself during the moment in BOOTS. The steely greys, softened in sports luxe by Alexander Wang caught my eye this season. Even though described as 'investment pieces' I can't afford them just yet even after rationing my purchases of random Primark crap. Although I do own a pair of long grey athletic socks which I should really wear more often.



What is it about black and grey that is so irresistible to us? For me black is the essence of chic, strong against my pale complexion and light blond hair. No other colour is sexier, think Catwoman!

However, on a recent night out, middle aged women in their uniform of black trousers and a low black tops as clubbing gear, grinding to a cheesy disco was almost enough to cure my addiction. While witnessing this cringe-worthy display, I looked at my own gear. The same grey marl dress and shoes, but dressed up with a super colour blazer. I was glad I did not opt for my blacks that night. I felt poised and confident in my one of a kind jacket. Bring back some colour I say!