And That's What You Missed...On GLEE!

I love Glee just as much as the next person, and sometimes, maybe a little bit more. Whilst singing along to the spectacular Madonna epsisode this week, I realised that in all honesty, it's not the High School Musical style numbers or Sue Sylvester's one liners that really capture my attention. My viewing loyalty is ensured by the vision of cute co-ordination that is Miss Emma Pilsbury, played by actress Jayma Mays.

Aside from her immaculately flicked 'do and eyes big enough to drown a cheerleader in, Emma's workwear outfits take girly sweetness to a whole new level. She is single-handedly re-inventing the pussy bow blouse and increasing sales of pencil skirts worldwide. Although her outfits are adorable, there is always something about them that stops them being silly - a quirky piece of jewellery or some vintage style shoes.

They also manage to be subtly kitsch, which seems like a contradiction in terms, but she knows exactly how big a well placed owl brooch should be, or how far to push a colour clash, to avoid an outfit becoming cartoony.


Her definitive sense of style seems to symbolise her character - it is an excellent piece of costume design from the Glee team. The more anxious and OCD Emma is feeling, the more extreme her level of perfection becomes. Mostly, her childlike sense of co-ordination and use of colour makes her look small, fragile and doll-like, tying in with her need to both protect herself and be protected, perhaps by her loverlover Mr Schuh.

Psychoanalysis aside, I can never wait for the next episode to see what new delights Miss Pilsbury's wardrobe has in store. Apparently I am not alone, and there is even a whole blog (presumably with a somewhat limited lifespan) dedicated to 'What would Emma Pilsbury wear?' http://wwepw.blogspot.com/ . It mainly concerns itself with where to buy Emma-esque fashions, but I think most girls will already have some of the elements of her style in their own wardrobe, and it is just a case of knowing how to give an outfit some Glee.

Emma pulls off a cashmere twinset like nobody else, and she frequently sports one of my favourite knitwear based labels, Milly of New York - see http://www.millyny.com/. I first stumbled across this delectable, preppy-with-a-vintage-twist brand not on Net-a-Porter.com or Vogue (although both are big fans) but in the designer boutique at the end of my road in Sussex. Country women may not always have the best sense of style, but they sure have money to burn! Milly doesn't come cheap (£200+ for a cardi) but I have featured some of her items in shoots and the quality is amazing. I stood in front of the shop window and admired a piece from the A/W 09 collection, a black cardigan and shift dress combo both trimmed with gold chains, in a very Chanel circa 1986 kinda way.

One day I will have workwear like that. At the moment I am struggling stop myself wearing highly inappropriate things to my place of employment, especially when it is nice and sunny. I don't think estate agents understand vintage t-shirts, rockabilly dresses and boys cardigans, so please, somebody give me a job where I can dress up to my hearts' content? Please?

In the meantime, I will continue to aspire to levels of Pilsbury greatness. She is a workwear legend, with not a pair of black trousers or 'city shorts' (no-one ever really wears them, do they?) in sight. And that, dear readers, is just how Glitterbird C's it.

GL

PS Sue Sylvester's tracksuits and smokey eye combo was also truly inspiring this week. I <3 that bitch.

Cherry Blossom - A 'Ronseal' Kinda Post

So, I know there is another somewhat ubiqitous blogger who has cornered the market on cherry blossom, however I took these photos last year and thought I would share them with you. Before any photography geeks get in touch - I can say that because I am an amateur geek - I know that they are not technically perfect, but they are very pretty.

Cherry Blossom has been my favourite flower since I was very little, and I always try and bring branches indoors, only for the blooms to die within 10 seconds. These trees are just up the round from my house, outside a quaint Sussex church, and I think the clergy were highly amused by the gymnastics I employed to get the right angle for the shot. I used to have a small cherry blossom tree outside my bedroom window and I always felt better when it was in full-flowering glory.

The flowers are often featured on all things Oriental, which has long been one of my favourite design styles. A trip to New York in 2004 saw me buy up half a Chinese supermarket - I came back with a beautiful blue and white butterfly kimono, parasols and lanterns, which probably made a nice change from knock off Prada and Calvin for the Customs team at JFK. When I eventually, in some parallel universe, own my own house, I will definitely be using Oriental elements to adorn my abode - cherry blossom fabrics and delicate, printed paper parasols provide a feminine touch that isn't sickly-sweet girly. The blossoms themselves are meant to symbolise female beauty in tattoo folklore, so they are a popular body adornment too!

In my opinion, the transient, fleeting nature of the blossoms only makes them more special. One just of wind and it's as though a wedding party has gone mental with some confetti - and I have to wait another whole year for the flowers to come back.

GL

Snow White De-Lite

Warning - Contains Pictures of Ladies Not Wearing Very Much

Some of you will know me from my student days, and consequently will be aware of my lingerie obsession. This led to the creation of Bombshell, a very, very girly and retro lingerie/lifestyle magazine that I created for my final major project (oh for the days when deadlines were my only concern *sigh*)

My intention was to continue Bombshell as a magazine and blog project after university, however I discovered that most other people are not as fanatical about pretty undergarments as I am, and therefore my potential readership was not financially viable. Nevertheless, I continue to be inspired by both new, up-and-coming lingerie designers as well as the established brands like Myla, Coco de Mer and Agent P. I like to keep up to date with the latest advances in lingerie design, especially when it comes to sizing - but before I get on my high horse, that is a whole other blog post, for another day!

I tend to not get so excited about things like glow-in-the-dark bras from Ozzie brand Luminglow (I thought it was always sunny over there? might be useful in a gloomy British winter, but not exactly classy.) Usually I veer towards the vintage glamour of brands such as What Katy Did and Ophelia Fancy, the latter of which really cannot be beaten on originality, quality and attention to detail - see www.opheliafancy.com for details, including BEA-YOOO-TIFULL promo shoots by DarkDaze photography.

Another brand that has recently captured my attention is Gilda and Pearl, also handmade loveliness by designer Diane Houston. Her emphasis on luxury fabrics and decadent use of delicate lace make for some seriously delightful pieces - I love them even more knowing that she takes most of her inspiration from the screen sirens of the 30s and 40s. Who wouldn't want to look like a femme fatale straight out of film noir? I have long been a believer that lingerie is more essential to our self esteem than a lot of women realise - and I am not just launching into a Trinny and Susannah style rant about the correct bra size. Fantastic, wonderfully designed lingerie fashioned from the best fabrics will make a woman look more gorgeous than any evening dress she wears over them. The Gilda and Pearl collections are on just the right side of 'wearable' delicates - pretty enough to be special, but still functional! Even better, one of the sets is called 'How to Marry a Millionaire' after my favourite Marilyn movie - unfortunately it is only missing the accompanying instruction manual! I also particularly liked the 'Snow White' set:


For more information about stockists etc, go here www.gildapearl.co.uk

The white delights of the picture above bring me swiftly to my second topic of the day - the stereotypical colour schemes of lingerie. I am getting fed up of watching seasonal displays in shop windows - M&S and La Senza seem to forget any colours other than pastels exist from March to May, after which we will be bombarded with fluro brights for the summer months! Yikes!

Someone needs to send an urgent memo to lingerie designers everywhere, explaining that just like with clothes, different women suit different colours of underwear. It took me years to realise that black isn't always best, and that you have to find your own style, just like your outerwear. I may be preaching to the converted, but I do worry for the female population being subconciously deluded into thinking they look great, when they are simply being fed a sexual stereotype. White isn't just for bridalwear, red isn't always a guaranteed success, and pastels have secret power. As with all aspects in life, my advice would always be to go your own way with lingerie - and to avoid Ann Summers even if your life depended on it!

Geeky Girls...

...stay in on Friday Nights and watch NYLON TV video interviews with My Chemical Romance. *sigh*

To Clegg Or To Clog?

Fashionistas may not be aware that there are TV shows on Sky other than America's Next Top Model and Pineapple Dance Studios. Although these shows, especially Pineapple, are ESSENTIAL viewing (Life without Louie Spence is now inconceivable, but more on that later) there are other, more pressing matters at hand.

I am currently deciding who to vote for in the upcoming election, along with the rest of my friends who thankfully seem to be taking this event seriously. I remember being so proud last time around as I cast my first ever vote - even though a lot of my peers didn't bother, because at the end of day voting is a little bit geeky. The decision was fairly easy last time - I voted for whoever was going to reduce/abolish tuition fees for students, because I was going into my first year of Uni. Now I am not so sure - and the live televised debates have been a massive help. Obviously, you are voting for the party policies, not the person, but it would be nice to have faith in the next PM, and seeing them squirm under pressure on live TV is definitely a test of character!

So with a fortnight to go and another debate to watch, I'm sure I will have decided by May 6th. In the meantime, I will be debating that other most pressing issue - to clog or not to clog. Since Mr Lagerfeld declared that the clunky Dutch footwear was officially back, fashionistas have been deciding whether to laugh or cry, and indeed whether to brave wearing the ankle-breaking footwear. I last sported a pair of beige leather clogs (niiiice) along with denim dungarees and a floral body (hold on, they are back 'in' too!) circa 1997 ish, before I was overtaken by Spicemania and would only wear platform jelly shoes.

I distinctly remember pestering my parents for some clogs, and when they relented I immediately put them on, only to find that cobbled pavements were not the premier surface to test run my new wooden footwear. Wobbling around and gripping on with my toes for dear life, these heavy shoes were unlike anything I had ever experienced, and the consequent bruises and scabs from self-inflicted kicks to the ankle were enough to put me off for life! You can imagine my horror, therefore, when I saw the Chanel twiglets galloping down the runway wearing heeled clogs and looking as happy as new born Bambis (does anyone even know the plural of Bambi? Is is Bambies? One of life's unsolved mysteries I guess.)

The chunky wooden heel does make the clog mark II far less orthapaedic/dental nurses uniform-alike, but at the end of the day, they are still clogs. If your legs are much bigger than a toothpick you are going to look like a hooved animal, so before you strut into Schuh for a Chanel rip off, don't say I didn't warn you. Yes, Alexa looked cool wearing hers on the cover of VOGUE, but this is Alexa Chung people. She would look cool if Karl himself vomited up all over her and declared it 'sooo this season.'

As for that other Nineties shoe revival, I refuse to even comment on kitten heels. THE MOST POINTLESS SHOE EVER INVENTED! Calm, calm, deep breaths.

I promise the next blog won't be about shoes, but I felt this was a serious issue that needed to be addressed. As for the election, without stating which box this Glitterbird will be crossing on voting day, all I will say is this; I agree with Nick.

GL

Please ignore this post - boring admin shiz for geeky bloggers!

UZBTDK48U8FQ

The Newest, Shiniest and Best Magazine Around

Warning: Contains flagrant self publicity!

Tuesday night saw the launch of Velour, the newest magazine to hit the shelves, and I am very proud to say that I was one of the contributing writers for this inspiring project. It is a truly impressive publication, helmed by our incredible Editor/Art Director Robert de Niet. Rob is an obsessive magazine collector and designer, and that is evident in the amazing quality of the magazine!

If you are interested in reading something a little bit different, with exciting, quirky features about unusual subjects and incredible fashion shoots, then Velour is the magazine for you. Blood sweat and tears have been poured into this project, created by industry professionals like Paul Tierney, Kelly Bowerbank and James Anderson, as well as fledgling writers such as myself and my uni colleagues. Subscription is £12 per year and you can pick up copies in RD Franks and other independent magazine shops.

The launch was held at the super-swanky Century club, which is one of those places so ridiculously cool it doesn't even have a sign on the door. Nestled between the takeaways and shady joints of Shaftesbury Avenue, this club is a four-storey haven of sophisticated glamour. A gourmet restaurant, stylish bar and suprise on the fourth floor make this a seriously exclusive venue, that I very much hope to frequent again.

Anyway, I am bursting with pride over this latest project, especially because most of us have done it in our spare time, in between full time jobs. In true Malcom Maclaren-esque punk spirit, if you want something exciting and creative to happen, you have to get off your bum and D.I.Y! The title on my CV now reads, 'Secretary by Day, Journalist by Night' and that seems to be the way the creative industry is headed. I don't care how tired I am, as long as I can work for publications like Velour in every spare minute I have got. Bring on the next issue!

GL

www.velourmagazine.com
info@velourmagazine.com
www.centuryclub.co.uk

A Small Toot Of The Trumpet

Not to be a fashion know-all, but a few of you may remember that several weeks ago I posted about this summer's essential headwear, the boater, in my post;

http://glitterbird.blogspot.com/2010/03/summer-trend-report-schoolgirl-chic-and.html

So you can imagine my suprise and delight that the lovely ladies of Elle are on the same wavelength, as I came across their essential items for this week;


They have picked out a very sweet straw boater by Kate Straw at Liberty, £95. It is gorgeous, but it is also noticeably similar to my vintage boater picked up at the Angels Sale for£5! Ah, I do love a bargain...and will love it even more knowing that I have the fashionable support of Elle when I stroll down the street wearing my boater hat.

GL

"My Shoes Are Better Than Yours, So Ner Ner Ne Ner Ner."

Well blow me down and call me John Travolta, but Jimmy Choo have only gone and made light up disco heels! They are so cool they have been labelled with the highest accolade, the Hadley Freeman-coined 'fashion singular' - just being referred to as the Jimmy Choo 'Zap'. As if women everywhere needed even the smallest of excuses to covet some ridiculously overpriced/wear once a year/utterly irresistable footwear. Not that I think I would actually wear these luminous creations, but they would be pretty cool to bust some moves in (or to just...look at)

What I love most about these £1600 babies (yeouch!) are;

a) They encapsulate the 90s revival, mainly because they look like they are made of plastic jelly 'shag bands' that we would pile up on our wrists - just because we liked them, not because of the shag factor, don't worry!
b)They are ridiculous, plain and simple.
c) The light up heels are also a massive 90s throwback, and these shoes are basically a grown up version of the flashing heel trainers we all pestered our Mums for back in the day. You know, the ones with red flashing lights that would sparkle across the playground for the first few weeks, the envy of all and sundry, before getting brown and muddy like the humble Green Flashes and plimsolls the rest of us wore, their dim red glow the only reminder that their owners were indeed more indulged than you.

I can't remember whether I had some of them or not, but I do remember really, really wanting them. Maybe my shoe obsession was formed in the Clarks childrens shoes department, gazing up at the flashing wonders to distract myself from the scary foot measuring machine that I always thought was going to crush my foot! (Was anyone else seriously traumatised by that?)

Actually, thinking about it school shoes were a major bone of contention in my household, becuase my Mum could never understand the essential nature of having Kickers - there's a blast from the past for you - instead of generic black leather numbers. I remember she bowed under the pressure to allow Mary Janes rather than lace ups, which was a proud moment in my school fashion life, but would never allow me the holy grail of all school shoes; the Clarks special limited edition 'Magic Shoes' with a special key that unlocked a secret compartment in the sole. I cannot remember what the point of this was, just that wearing them would instantly transform me into the veritable Cinderella/Paris Hilton/Queen Bee of the schoolyard, as shown in the old school advert;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLj4cz3VmZg

I never got them though. Perhaps that is why I make up for it now, as my shoe collection threatens to swamp my flat!!

I can't help it, there is always just one more pair that I really need to complete my wardrobe...as if that is ever going to happen.

GL

PS I won't give you stockist details because that would be cruel - they sold out in nano seconds and the waiting list is quite simply terrifying!

In The Words Of Gaga... Show Me Your Teeth

Help! I need a sugardaddy/really well paid job ASAP, because I have fallen in love with a young Dominic Jones, or at least his wonderful jewellery designs. I know I am about a year behind with this fashion spot, because I first spied his creations on the beautifully spindly fingers of Florence Welch as she performed at Reading Festival 2009. The chunky, spiky designs come in a range of yellow and pink gold, which is clinging to it's title of 'Most Fashionable Precious Metal' for the moment, although silver and white gold will soon be making a comeback along with this years 90s revival. (You heard it here first.)

In the meantime, my trinket box will maintain it's Midas touch, and top of my wishlist is this delectable fang necklace by Mr Jones. Besides the fact that I am a massive vampire fan (sorry, I probably haven't mentioned that enough) I adore the edgy, anarchistic feel to this piece, plus the fact that the fangs aren't too 'perfect' and could almost be a set of real knashers dipped in gold. I can visualise wearing this necklace with just about every outfit in my wardrobe! It is subtle enough that you won't look like you are dating Crocodile Dundee, but also provides a welcome change from the cutesy charms that have adorned our necks for so long. I love a bit of kitsch sweetness as much as the next gal, but I would happily take something unique over cute any day of the week.

According to his website, Dominic graduated from the Sir John Cass School of Art and Design, and has since gone on to launch his jewellery line, with designer boutiques Matches and Browns quick to snap up the latest collections. Browns describe Jones as part of the London 'club kid' set (are people still using that phrase?!) and his designs are championed by model and friend Alice Dellal, who is a perennial promoter of the punk aesthetic. His winning combination of irreverance and eye for the original could mean that he will take his place within the ranks of legendary jewellery designers, so watch this space...

In the meantime, if anyone does has a spare 400 squid and would like to treat their favourite fashion blogger, then feel free. Otherwise I might just come and get you with another of my favourite pieces from the collection:
Only joking!

GL

All You Need Is A Camera...And Some Naked Friends

Warning: Probably Not Suitable For Work - Unless You Work Somewhere Really Cool Where They 'Get' Art.

Sean R, 2010

It is not often that an artist's work literally stops me in my tracks, with two notable exceptions; Turner Prize winner Richard Wright and his wall of gold leaf patterns, and the current golden boy of photography, Ryan McGinley.

I was vaguely aware of the latter having flicked through VICE magazine whenever I get a chance, and knew about his friendship with artist Dash Snow who died last year from a heroin overdose. Previous to that, these two New York kids had been partying, exploring and causing a bit of a fuss in the international art scene. At the tender age of 32, he has already acheived critical acclaim and unlike other photographers, has made the switch between portraiture, art and commercial fashion work without, it seems, too much bother.

The effortless joy and exuberance that explodes out of his images is astounding - even if the subject seems relatively calm, the photos are so strong that they are three dimensional and burning with energy. Having spent a long time photographing Dash at work and play, he has continued to use mainly friends and 'non models' as subjects, selecting people from festival crowds for their attitude, rather than their look. He honed his people watching skills as a skateboarder, and now his camera lens seems to be an extension of his curious, excitable eyes (his subjects look like they are having too much fun climbing trees, kissing, or jumping into rivers, all usually naked, than to worry about where McGinley is pointing his camera!)

I believe what draws me to his work the most is the obvious motivation behind his work, which as he describes it, is to capture 'a sense of carefree optimism that you don't really get when you're older, a sense that anything is possible' (as he told the Guardian in 2010). That is what I am talking about McGinley! If I could capture that feeling and bottle it I would make millions. A sense of hope is the most precious thing any of us has got, and at the moment, it is running through my veins. We have to hold on to a sense of possibility, because without it, we will be limp lettuces with no prospects, no enthusiasm and no ambition. And that would be a very sorry state of affairs.

So for now, it times of dire depression, I will turn to Ryan's photographs for a slice of that youthful 'can-do' attitude. His latest exhibition is slightly out of my reach, happening in NYC at the moment, under the title 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere' and featuring 150 of his best studio portraits (see pic above) Most of the subjects are naked, as in most of his work, so if you want to check out the images online you might want to do it at home!

Otherwise the happy snapper has published a series of books featuring his amazing imagery, the most recent being Moonmilk, which portrays nude subjects in landscape locations, but with hyperreal colouring which makes them appear otherworldly. Some of my favourite images are from the series he produced while travelling round America with a busload of friends. They capture summer, freedom, love and youth like nothing I have ever seen before. Move over Cindy Sherman and Diane Arbus - I think I just found my new favourite photographer.

GL

PS If you want to see more, try www.ryanmcginley.com or this very funny blog: http://fuckyeahryanmcginley.tumblr.com/

Dakota (Hair) 2004

(All images copyright Ryan McGinley, obviously!)

Be Your Own Hero

I had high hopes for Drew Barrymore's directorial debut, having been a fan of hers since the Never Been Kissed days - I even loved Charlie's Angels for all it's cheesy, girl power glory (I went to the cinema on my own because none of my friends would watch it with me.) So when I went to see Whip It last night I was intrigued to see how the girl would convert her on-screen exuberence into behind the scenes intelligence - and so she did. With bells on.

Whip It blew me away, rocked my socks, blew my mind, and all those other movie buff cliches. I flipping loved it! Just the right side of heartwarming, it was a classic coming of age, learning-to-accept-your-mother and falling-for-the-bad-boy story, but with none of the glamourous gloss of other Hollywood teen flicks. Barrymore and leading lady Ellen Page provided the perfect indie 'edge' needed to stop it being cheesy, but the characters were hilarious and the movie no less inspiring. Based around the story of a small town girl running away to join the free spirited Texas Hurl Scouts, a women's roller derby team causing mayhem in the city of Austin, the movie was full of female empowerment, first love, family issues and a healthy dose of competition. As I have mentioned in previous posts Austin, Texas is on my list of places to visit and Whip It only increased my desire to go there - it seems to be a place where the punk spirit is alive and kicking and there is a genuine love of all things alternative.

I had the vaguest of inklings about the sport of roller derby from my time working at Collectif (rockabilly fashions for retro gals! www.collectif.co.uk) because some of my colleagues regularly went up to London for bouts and training sessions, often coming back with the most enormous bruises! I didn't really understand it having never seen a derbt taking place, but the movie last night was basically a Roller Derby 101 - including the social scene attached to this aggressive, entertaining sport. I love the combination of skating, dressing up and hurling punches - it seems like my perfect sport! What is also truly brilliant is that it is about not being afraid of anything, taking risks, working as a team and inspiring others. Now I just have to improve my god-awful sense of balance, eliminate my fear of falling and find myself a bonafide Rollergirl name... a friend suggested Derby Barbie, but I reckon if I went out on the track with that embroidered on my shirt I would be eating the floor before the first whistle. Any suggestions?

Perfectly Coiffed

Now that the first rays of sun have poked through the clouds, my thoughts immediately turn to upcoming summer events, even if they are still 4 months away! Don't worry, this is not going to be another article listing 'festival essentials' - if I read one more magazine feature telling me to take Batiste dry shampoo and wet wipes to a festival I think I might scream.

The main highlight of my summer so far is the Goodwood Vintage Festival, debuting this year, and curated by Wayne Hemingway. My local papers were full of pics of Lily Allen launching the event in a prom dress circa her style 3 years ago, but I will overlook that, along with the fact that she is opening a vintage shop with her sister.

I am thrilled to the core about the chance to go to a festival that offers all of my favourite things; vintage fashion, old school rock n'roll, burlesque, dancing and some British summertime fun. There is too much going on during this packed 3 day event, so have a ganders for yourself at:

http://www.vintageatgoodwood.com/home.aspx

Obviously, the outfit for the day is going to be paramount, so I have already started thinking about it. A wardrobe full of vintage and retro frocks should ensure that I don't need to purchase anything new (should, but probably won't) so my main concern for the festival is my hair. Split endy, straw-like and fluffy just ain't gonna cut it amongst the vintage belles at this ball, so I think the heated rollers will need to come out in force. When I have the time and inclination, I do enjoy trying to fix myself a vintage coiffure, and have emulated everyone from Judy Garland, Marilyn and Dita during a bored Sunday afternoon. There is a certain knack to getting hair this perfect, so I know serious man hours will be needed to prepare for the August fest.

The best example of a 1930s silent movie star 'do' I have ever seen on a real woman was that of the manageress of Agent Provocateur in Soho, who I cornered for a hair chat during the work Christmas Party. She looked divine in a slinky floor length leopard gown and a cascade of angelic waves, so I asked her for her secret. Apparently she sleeps in rollers every night, and lives alone with just a cat for company. Ah, the things we sacrifice to look good!

Some useful tips and tutorials are available at www.queensofvintage.com, the online resource for all things pin-up. It is all very well doing a D.I.Y. job, but often the results just aren't Hollywood enough for my liking. If I don't manage to pull of a Betty Draper bouffant in time, thankfully help is at hand from Nina's Vintage Hair Salon, normally based in London, but who will be trekking down in to the Sussex countryside with their industrial sized hairspray cans and a decades worth of hairpins, ready to create the retro style of your choice. Having always wanted to pop in to the salon, I think this will be the perfect opportunity to get the wave of my dreams, and here's hoping I'll come out looking like this...


Hey, a girl can dream!

GL

God Bless America

Those around me will vouch for my obsession with everything American. Boys, cars, bands - I love everything US of A!

It may be a throwback to many Sunday afternoons watching Grease, but I imagined being a teenager would be a riot of colour, satin bomber jackets, sock hops and boys driving around in very, very cool cars. Of course, this is England, and the closest I ever got to a sock hop were some excruciatingly painful school discos. But the admiration for everything 50s retro has stuck with me to adulthood, and manifested itself in my vintage wardrobe, a penchant for red lipstick and peroxide, and an an unshakeable desire to visit the States.
I crave the long open roads, dusty towns and neon lights, as well as the white picket fences, rodeos and concrete jungles. It is a case of seeing with my own eyes what this huge country is really like, not just what I see in the movies. Having also grown up on a diet of Never Been Kissed, Legally Blonde and 10 Things I Hate About You, I imagine all US schools to be picture perfect, pillared buildings with ivy growing over the front entrance and kids swarming around on the front lawn. Weirdly, my one experience visiting an American high school in Long Island proved that this is in fact true, including the white pillars and pupils with identikit perfect teeth!

Suburban fashion in America is about as far away from English eccentricity as you can get - for as far as the eye could see, everyone was wearing chic leisurewear and Ralph polo shirts (Admittedly, I was in a very wealthy town where the average first car was a Lexus). A friend of the girl I was staying with saw me walking along alone in a bright hippy skirt and t shirt, and immediately swerved his Jeep over to offer me a ride - he knew I was 'the English girl!'

But I have only had limited time in a few areas of the Promised Land - a week skiing in Boston, two trips to NYC and a week with my girlfriend in Long Island (she took me to the Hamptons, but I didn't see Paris Hilton, and I couldn't even afford water from the beachside diner) So as a face yet another month in the dreary, recession gripped UK, my thoughts have turned to running away from it all and having a little adventure. There are so many cities in the USA that I would love to experience first hand; Austin, Los Angeles, Washington, New Orleans, Memphis, Dallas...the list goes on. But how the heck am I going to fit it all in? And methinks I am going to need an awful lot of dollars to get me from New York to Hollywood and back on a plane (if I ever want to come home...)
In the mean time, I will have to indulge my Yankee fantasies through this summer's Americana fashion trend, as depicted perfectly in this month's VOGUE. Bomber jackets, pale denim, and preppy geek chic seem to be on everyone's mind at the moment, and now I just need the location to go with the outfits!

(Image courtesy UK Vogue, at http://www.styleite.com/media/karlie-kloss-photos-vogue/ )

On a similar note, All American Gal Jessica Simpson has appeared makeup and Photoshop free on the cover of Marie Claire. I really applaud her for this, because she has taken enough unnecessary flak over the last few years about her appearance, and to put herself in the firing line for more is a brave move. However, she looks cute, fresh faced and gorgeous, proving that those enviable American genes do have their benefits!


(Image courtesy Marie Claire)

GL

The Rise of the VILFs

(No caption needed)

No, I didn't make it up, a quick thinking copywriter over at True Blood HQ has coined the term 'VILF' - no explanation needed - for their new advertising campaign. Personally, I think it is pretty snappy, and indicative of the times we are living in; all that is needed on a billboard is four little letters, and everyone gets the gist.

Vampires really are the ruling species at the moment - everywhere you turn, they are closing in on movie and television screens, and in the reading material of teenage (and not so teenage) girls everywhere. Not that I am complaining. *Cue a massive sigh from my collective friends, who knew I was just waiting for an excuse to go all vamp-tastic*

I have been holding back for a while, but no longer can I hide the blood-sucking monster lover I have become. I am OBSESSED. Twilight, True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, bring it all on. A few days ago, as I walked up the road to my house, I actually caught myself feeling all warm and fuzzy at the thought of losing myself in an hour of Vampire Diaries fantasy. It is getting ridiculous. Blame Stephanie Meyer for what I now call 'the Edward effect', which I experienced last year and through extensive research, realised that it affects girls worldwide. 'The Edward Effect' causes female Twilight readers/movie watchers to start measuring every man (including their partners) against Edward Cullen, generally finding them dissatisfactory, and going off in a week-long petulant sulk. It is also not uncommon for females to actually end long term relationships, becuase any love they thought they had experienced did in fact pale in comparison to that of Edward and Bella. The only flaw with this situation being the fact that Edward is the creation of another woman's fantasy - so of course he is going to be pretty darn perfect. To the few men who have read this far - I am not making this up, be afraid. Very afraid.

As a fall out to said 'effect', I found myself searching for any kind of vampire fix to fulfil my craving for the dangerous yet wonderfully romantic creatures (and before you start shouting at the screen, yes I know they are not real, and no I do not care a jot.) My search led me to the wonders of Stefan Salvatore, the extremely/boderline plaigarised Edward-esque character in the Vampire Diaries, and the Southern goodness of True Blood. The former is a lovechild of Buffy and Twilight, and is extremely watchable in a cute n' cheesy American way, whereas True Blood is just...rude. There is no other word for it. It's vamp porn with one liners and bad guys,
pretty much.

(Forget acting, the boy knows how to wear a vest)

Regardless, I have filled my days with vampire dreams and I am very happy, thank you very much. They are the perfect outlet for a hopeless romantic like myself. I know I am one of a brainwashed generation, but I am having too much fun to care.

If I decided to take my obsession to a whole new level then Dr Sam George of the University of Hertfordshire has come up with the perfect solution. She is organising 'Open Graves, Open Minds: Vampires and the Undead in Modern Culture' - an English Literature conference focusing on all things vampire. As well as promoting a forthcoming MA course in vampire literature, The motivation behind the weekend is an attempt to reclaim the fanged ones back to British culture, which is arguably where it all began.

The world's most famous vampires originated from the minds of English authors, and Dr George believes that this is the right time to enlighten her already vamp-obsessed students to the wealth of literature that originally started the craze. Vampires have so long been used as a metaphor in fiction that there are endless resources and opinions on the subject, and lecturers from all over the UK will be speaking at the conference, on topics such as "Sullied Blood, Semen, and Skin: Vampires and the Spectre of Miscegenation" and "Who Ordered the Hamburger with Aids?: Blood Anxiety in True Blood". Throw in the ketchup-themed catering, and all in all this sounds like my perfect weekend. Literature, overly analytical discussion and vampires - it doesn't get better than that.

Phoenix From The Sick Bed (And Other Bird Related Topics)

I am sorry for abandoning you, blog readers. I know that excuses are meaningless, so I say only this; although Adam thought that the subject of my illness would suffice as a blog post, I thought perhaps not. My readers have higher expectations that I must strive to meet, and an 800 word post about the interminable cycle of being sick, then waiting to be sick again, just wouldn't cut the mustard, so to speak.

So that was my Bank Holiday Weekend, as I am referring to the last few days. I am not religious, in fact some would say anti-religious, so I point blank refuse to enter into too many 'Easter' traditions, for fear of being hypocritical. Every year I request that my family give me no eggs. Literally, the week before I walk around squeaking 'No Eggs! No Eggs! Do Not Give Me Chocolate' to anyone that will listen, and every year, my family ignore me. That is why I love them. However my aversion to an Easter Egg somewhat waned when presented with a scrumptious (sorry, there is no other word for it) white chocolate egg with freeze dried summer fruits squished onto it. Good one Tesco Finest! My latest tactic is to leave said egg at my parents house so that I cannot eat it in one fell swoop, and to give me another excuse to pop over and see the fam. Although it better still be there next time I go round...

Anyway, the only Easter traditions I go in for are as follows;

1. The little yellow chicks that are everywhere. I used to be a bit obsessed with the fluffy creatures and went round 'rescuing' them from newsagents and cake decorating shops. Also, if you haven't read this book, you are missing out.
2. Dressing up, in that 'family get together so must put on nice frock' kinda way.
3. As a twenty-something, the excuse to go out on a SUNDAY night and not worry about work the next day. I stayed in and Hoovered in the end, but it was nice to know that I could have gone out, if I had wanted to.
4. Did I mention the chicks?

With regards to point #2, I am a small child when it comes to any particularly seasonal/festive occasion, and I am prone to a 'themed' outfit, without realising it. The picture above perfectly illustrates what happens to me on an Easter Weekend - my head is full of fluffy bunnies, pastel nail varnish, eggs and the ubiquitous chicks, so I end up dressed, it is safe to say, like a cupcake. I can't help it! A childhood deprived of ready made Disney store costumes meant that I have always relished the joy of dressing up, and making my own outfits from old net curtains, tablecloths, bin bags and sellotape (I hadn't discovered sewing yet.) This foible has stuck with me through to old age, and I need the very slightest of excuse to don a cartoonish themed outfit. Come October, I will be all plum lipstick, leather and lace, and at Christmas you know I'll be there in red velvet. If you think I am eccentric, blame my Mum for not allowing me in the Disney Store at Watford Shopping Centre. Or rather thank her, because where else would you find an outfit like this walking round Tesco?