Sunday, 6 June 2010

THE LIGHT STUFF


How incredible is this cluster chandelier from interior wizards James Plumb? I spotted one similar at Hostem, a hip men's clothing store in Shoreditch, and after a little delving discovered that most of the beautiful decor in the shop (quirky industrial lighting, an incredible ladder made from a banana tree) was courtesy of this design duo. I dream of high ceilings and a curved staircase to make the most of this vintage masterpiece.

Friday, 4 June 2010

SALAD DAYS


The sun is beating down. The Glamour office is like a furnace. But I'm not complaining. I have a weekend of barbeques, birthday dinners and basking in the heat ahead. This Jamie Oliver salad of courgette, mint, chilli and lemon ticks my 'no carbs' boxes and is light, delicious and beyond simple. I'll serve it with chicken hot off the coals and a long cocktail of vodka, lemonade, mint and lime from this month's Olive magazine.

HEY SHORTY




After a quick lunchtime dip into American Apparel I am seriously lusting after their retro-inspired shorts. For the last three seasons I have been rocking shorts. Shorts with heels, with flats, with fine knit sweaters, with gauzy blouses. They are easier to wear than little skirts (less knicker-flashing potential) and have a more charming tomboy edge too. Obviously the length is an issue, luckily the Glamour office is such a stylish place that showing a bit too much leg is not a sackable offence so long as you still look chic. Still I make sure mine hit at mid-thigh and my gams are tanned. These offerings scream Marilyn to me. Too much sex appeal to be ignored!

SHADY LADY




Check out these cats eye shades I snapped up for a mere £1 at a sample sale today! So fun and fabulously vintage. To be worn with my black bikini and scarlet lips.

Wednesday, 2 June 2010

TO JACKIE OR TO MARILYN?



It’s the countdown to the biggest event on my social calendar – The GLAMOUR Awards. It takes us six months of planning and many tears and tantrums (only some of them mine) to make this a night to remember. We fly the A-list over from Hollywood and charm London’s glitterati with gallons of free champagne. Of course in the midst of all this celebrityness, there is one mammoth question: WHAT TO WEAR??? Each year I’m faced with this dilemma. Of course I don’t want to out-glam the stars (a floor-length spangly number is seriously desperate), but with a motto of “never knowingly underdressed” I don’t like to play it too safe either. On top of this I also flit between the two sides of my character – do I go classic and demure a la Jackie or release my inner vixen as a homage to Marilyn? A charming, flirty skirt or a dress so tight it has to be peeled off later? Here are some of my former choices (navy Philip Lim 3:1 and fuchsia pink Michael Kors). Any suggestions gratefully received…

PLEASE SIR, CAN I HAVE SOME MORE?


How much weight can a person realistically lose in a week? Fifteen pounds would be perfect, ten would be bliss, hey, I’d even take five. In a bid to be svelte by next Tuesday (hey I’d even take two), I, and the rest of the Glamour office, are miserably abstaining from all things delicious. We toyed with the Gwyneth Paltrow’s Iron Man diet, but all that juiced kale sounded too hideous for words. Instead I’m cutting out alcohol, sugar and carbs and making the gym my second home for the next seven days. I’m also buying Spanx and getting a spray tan from James Read at the Sanderson, who always tells me “if you can’t tone it, tan it.” In a week, I will be a goddess.

POPPY POWER


My garden is in full bloom. Okay, there are a lot of weeds too. And the lawn could do with a mow. But poppies people! Poppies!

Tuesday, 1 June 2010

GOOD GIRL GONE BAD


I’d like this Orla Kiely dress please. It ticks so many of my style boxes – a dash of retro, a nod to navy, beautiful pleating, patent belt. Unlike these geek chic girls, I’d make this more Marilyn than Jackie by wearing it snug, with the belt cinched tight to make the most of my assets. I’d throw on skyscraper heels, backcomb my hair and paint my lips poker red. A little sweet. A lot sexy.

SOME LIKE IT HOT


Oh to be smothered head to toe in Nars Monoi Body Glow II. The heady oil, which is infused with coconut and Tiare flower (a Tahitian gardenia), solidifies if it gets too cool. The only way to warm it back to its molten form? Body heat. The perfect excuse to get naked – and a little steamy…

CUSHION THE BLOW


This was my favourite thing about Sex and the City 2 – the cushion that Carrie and Big had in their New York apartment. I’ve been coveting this Paul Smith Birdie Blossom number for months, although sadly my writer’s salary won’t stretch as far as Carrie’s. It’s sold out now (the power of a blockbuster eh?), but there are still may other truly nest-worthy options on the Paul Smith website.