After saying to a friend that a far-flung destination warranted more than a two week visit, I realised I need to push through the student approach to travelling. As much as I wish I were a lets-jack-it-all-in kind of girl, work will always be that necessity I have to plan around. How dully predictable…

So, incorporating the work factor means 2012 will be the year of the city break. Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, Krakow have been target destinations for a while and I’ve had little excuse for not swiping up a cheap deal and hot-footing it for a weekend of culture.

The obligatory mad dash for sun will be taking me to either Kalkan in Turkey, Bali (after reading Eat Pray Love too many times) or Morocco/Madeira Island. I’m desperate to visit Japan, Peru and New Zealand but only after many more months of high street-free spending. Watch this space…

Sites I’m using for inspiration are: Gogobot (the Twitter-like social site for trip planning), The Cool Hunter (guide to all things, well, cool), Lonely Planet (best for research and info) and the HiP Paris Blog (divine pictures and ideas – lovelovelove).

Images courtesy of Lonely Planet (Amsterdam) /Inzumi (Bali) / MedicalTourism (Paris) / Kalkan Turkey (Kalkan)

Deborah Lippmann’s Boom Boom Pow (with 24 karat glitter flecks no less) has been on my covet list for long enough. Gently gooped upon a black or pale pink lacquer base (Essie’s Mademoiselle mimics my ‘true’ nail tone), this is my idea of a party nail.

Happy New Year all…love and luck for 2012! x

With the world’s worst poker face and ridiculously over-the-top Yueltide generosity I’m more enthusiastic watching others open gifts than opening my own. So to save any disappointment tomorrow (not that there will be – I basically just wanted to buy this) I’m pre-empting Saint Nic’s talents – should he cruise past the chimney, be too pissed or be giving me coal – by purchasing this utterly ravishing leather lapelled coat from The Kooples. Half the original price in their sale, it’s been tempting me with cyber-Siren calls ever since I spotted it. I’ve already tried it on, so I know it will complete my very Merry Christmas.

Sorry Santa Baby, I’ve definitely outdone you this time.

Happy Holidays!

As vices go this does not make me the coolest cat in town – I’ve reconciled myself with that fact. Nothing de-fuzzes my brain than a good spruce. Add my inability to throw anything away and we have a bit of a vicious circle. Keith Richards modelled his life on this kind of out of control debauchery and hedonism. This I am sure of.

While this crazed hoarding and tidying complies to most aspects of my life (my poor flatmate bears my ridiculousness like a champ), the beauty department has gone by the by. During a mid-week cleaning frenzy I found six (6?!) overflowing makeup bags and two baskets full of beauty products stowed away for scrounging through, as and when I need something. Seeing as my day to day makeup is comprised of about 4 things, I don’t really know how I’ve let it get so out of control.

Which is why the neat freak inside me squeaked with delight at this Muji organiser. I get major cupboard envy from blog Into The Gloss which goes into the bathrooms of makeup artists and models revealing their orderly paradises of Chanel, NARS and Bobbi Brown.

And so…

This is how God intended makeup to be, colour categorised, shiny and sub-divided according to use.

Damn, I LOVE IT.

Sadly this only accommodates about 2 out of the 6 bags, but it’s a good start.

A do-it-yourself cafe, you sit on school-style benches amidst piles of cakey goodness, homemade peanut butter and literally the best muesli in the world. It’s wonderfully informal and the ultimate breakfast haven.

So here’s a little something for the weekend. If like me you are a francophile through and through, and stripes are a fundamental part of your wardrobe then here are three ways to wear them. Enjoy my glutton for punishment.

1 Topshop Wool Peacoat - A.P.C Pullover with Wide Stripes - Topshop Faux Leather Seven Eights Trousers - Bloch Two-Tone Flats

2 McQ Green Hooded Parka - Topshop Breton Striped Top - Topshop Ankle Grazer Skinny Jeans - Isabel Marant Dicker Boots

3 Étoile Isabel Marant Atea Double Breasted Peacoat – Rag & Bone Putney Dress – Stella McCartney Belt Studded Waist Belt – Topshop Ambush Boots

Like most Saturdays it started with coffee. At Monmouth, in Bermondsy, where we’d been to investigate Borough Market usurper Maltby Street Market. Unlike the tourist hub of it’s nearby competitor, Maltby was spread along several streets with select dairy, vegetable and treat producers filling the original warehouses. No pushing and shoving, just quiet shoppers lazing on the pavement with a lunchtime pint.

We walked from Bermondsy to central, almost all the way along the Thames path – relishing the last of the sunshine (so they always say. I blame the weather presenters for my pessimistic outlook) and enjoying the peace.

Stopped for lunch at Spud, in the back streets of Covent Garden – if you’re in the mood for some carby goodness I’d definitely recommend it.

In the evening we went to Swiss Cottage for supper in just the most amazing house – a different world but captivating nonetheless. Debbie Harry was a favourite.

And the morning after antidote was lovingly prepared thus and worked wonders. Counting down the days to do it all over again. Oh the biggest achievement of the weekend was discovering Instagram – can’t you tell?!

And as ever I have reached late October with no knitwear to call my own. When knitwear should be those lasting, indulgent wardrobe essentials, my offerings have always been slightly below par and usually holey. I fully intend on correcting this wrong tomorrow by purchasing this beautifully autumnal, Isabel Marant-harking jumper from Toast.

This weekend I’ll be combining it with trusty black skinnies, new favourite Topshop boots, fedora and this ring from Marie Francesca Pepe that I can’t stop thinking about.
I think these clothes will be very happy together.

No one wants to accidentally flash someone (well some people do but that’s another subject). Taking a tumble stepping off the bus and displaying underwear that’s for your eyes only, to twenty or so onlookers, peering like bats at the calamity below, is less than desirable. Never happened to me of course.

I can’t say I’m over the moon for the trend for miniskirts veiled in floor-length sheer fabric; most of which don’t cover that much of your modesty and easily get trapped in doors, but this Gryphon NY number is doing it with a bit more class than the rest.

A rich navy dress masks the heavily sequinned skirt, peeping out from underneath. Sophisticated, modern and daring, this one dress that I would certainly condone flashing someone in.