"I'm holding out for a hero 'till the end of the night...."

Bonjour mes amies, hope you are all having an immense week. I am finally able to press pause on the hectic craziness that has been my week so far. My birthday however, was absolutely wonderful, and I got starstruck when I saw legendary sixities supermodel Twiggy, who is in my 'J'adore' column, whilst I was going to the theatre to see Les Misérables, which was absolument incroyable). Anyways now I am a fully fledged 18 year old adult and am awaiting the arrival of my first wrinkle and grey hair (any day now), I have just enough breathing space to be able to write you a lovely long post.

It's an issue we've discussed a few times on the blog and I'm sure we undoubtedly will again because it is the elephant in the fashionably decorated room that just will.not.go.away. regardless of how much we all want it to. And believe me, we want it to. To be perfectly honest darlings, I hate talking and hearing about it and I'm bored of the whole thing, i'm sure you are too which is why I rarely post anything about it. But every once in a while I read or hear something that still provokes a strong enough reaction in me to want to rant to you guys. Case in point, an online article on British Fashion Magazine Grazia's website about comments French blogger extraordinaire Garance Doré made regarding the use of plus size models in the industry.

You can see the full article here but the gist of it is the journalist criticizing Garance (right) as being "more unpalatable than an ill-fitting kaftan top with her rigid views" over these comments she made to an Austrailian magazine:

"I think it's too much and almost naive of the fashion industry, because it would be nice in a few years that the idea of different body shapes is normal, but right now it's not quite there yet."

"It should not be such a big deal to show women with different bodies, but sometimes it's treated like a bit of joke, or for shock, like the plus sized models on the runway (Mark Fast) in the UK fashion week". 

"It's not such a good thing to show plus size because it's not really physically healthy and not always flattering to fashion."

You may see something completely different and agree with the writer but personally I don't have that much of a problem with what she said. At all. Not only is she entitled to her opinion, but she does have a point; being overweight, (which is often what the plus sized models that are used are, rather than just being curvy and healthy) is just as unhealthy as the underweight norm in the industry, and sad as it is, most clothes do look better on the runway on 'clothes hanger' models. And whilst I think it may have come out a little more insenstive than intended (she is French after all), I do see where she is coming from on her other points as well.

A few months ago when I did a post about V Magazine's 'Size Issue' (right) where they used only plus-sized models, the overwhelming majority of you agreed with me that it was nothing more than a gimmick that wouldn't change anything and that rather than being a compliment was actually offensive to curvy girls everywhere.

I also don't think Garance has anything against curvier girls as the journalist insinuates she does, "Really Garance, no one is going to make you put fat girls in your work, and as for all the others, they’re not doing you any harm are they?" I just think she is being realistic, brutally honest and incredibly aware of the workings of the industry she loves. If only the same could be said for Naomi.

The hypocrisy of the journalist Naomi Atwood is shocking; slating Garance Doré in one article for saying plus size models don't always work in fashion, which if we're honest is (not always but often) true, and in another article, Marc Jacobs - Size Hero?, which I almost wrote about but (just about) restrained myself, she's praising Marc Jacobs (the love of my life who can do absolutely no wrong) for using much larger girls on his catwalk and congratulating him for being a trendsetter who is championing the return of big girls with curves. Um. Is it just me who doesn't see any curves in the photos she used (below) to demonstrate her point? Marc is undeniably a style hero, that's a given, but a 'Size Hero', as his biggest fan even i'm not so sure...

These pictures to me, if anything, confirm exactly what Garance was saying. Yes, it will be nice even normal to one day have many different body-types in the industry, but we're not there yet, and we won't be for a very very very long time. We're moving at a glacial pace and such a huge change that is so crucial to an industry based on superficial, external beauty, simply cannot, or more to the point, will not be rushed. And the sooner the industry is honest about it's prejudices and reluctance as Garance was, the sooner change will occur.

So what do you think darlings, does Garance have a point or are you pro-Plus at all costs?

Stay safe and chic mes chéries,

English Rose x

♥ "She's the last of the English Roses..." ♥

Bonjour mes amies, hope you are all super. I'm crazy busy at the moment so it seemed like the perfect time to do another outfit post. Yesterday I wore one of my favourite tops that I got from Forever 21 in New York last summer. Its a salmon pink number with diamanté buttons in pink casing on the front and sleeves, a cream ruffle at the front and a black lace bow. Its really girly and chic and its so lovely and soft (I love soft clothes). I paired it with my black jeans, pearl hairband, black leather bag, cream and gold over-sized ring and black leather shoe-boots (all of which you've seen before - sorry, i'll mix it up a bit more soon I promise!!) Unfortunately I think it was one of those cases of looking better in real life than photographs (story of my life darlings) but even though it didn't quite translate how I hoped, I think you get the idea:

*Oh and just to explain why I'm laughing in the first photo and my hair looks weird; some creepy old guy was wolf whistling at me while I was taking the photographs and so I fake laughed (read, nervous laugh) to get him to leave me alone and then there was a huge gust of wind which made my flat-as-a-pancake hair, which I was so proud of, take flight. Typical. (the hair, not the wolf-whistling)

Hope you all have an immense weekend!

Stay safe and chic mes chéries,

English Rose x

♥ "They tried to make me go to rehab and I said no, no, no..." ♥

Bonjour mes amies, hope you are all having an immense week. I told you all last week that I was going to use the weekend to make the switch from Autumn/Winter to Spring/Summer wardrobe. And I did. To describe the experience as an ordeal would be nothing short of an understatement. It was sartorial hell. Making the switch taught me some very valuable lessons:

1) I have a lot of incredibly beautiful clothes
2) I have way too many incredibly beautiful clothes
3) No really, I have way too many incredibly beautiful clothes
4) I have more clothes than any teenager should, no matter how much they love fashion
5) I have more clothes than any human should, no matter how much they love fashion
6) Shopping on a budget (read teenager) apparently makes no difference to how many beautiful clothes you have
7) It's quite possible that I could clothe an entire naked nation (does one exist?) with my wardrobe
8) I could probably wear one outfit in my wardrobe every day for the rest of my life adolescence without wearing the same outfit twice
9) There really is such a thing as too much of a good thing

Okay I might be being just a tad dramatic and exaggerating ever so slightly (you know me darlings), my wardrobe may still have space but I do have a hell of a lot of clothes, way more than any of my friends who are literally a gazillion times richer (but admittedly way less fashion-obsessed) than I am. I'll never forget the shock I felt going round to one of my good friends houses whose parents are multi-millionaires and seeing about 25 items of (designer) clothing in her entire wardrobe. You'd need to put a '1' infront of that figure for my own closet. And none of it is designer.

Making the switch this weekend was a lesson and a half. To be perfectly honest darlings, I was shocked, stressed and more than a little ashamed. Don't get me wrong, i'm not addicted or anything (before you stage an intervention and call up shopaholics annonymous on my behalf). Neither am I mocking real shopping addiction which is a very real, serious issue for a lot of people.

I'm just like a fashion magpie. My purchases are spread out and I only get something that is truly magnificent. It's just that because I appreciate and adore the beauty in fashion and clothes when I see spectacular clothes that I know would suit my shape and style perfectly I want them. The mass of clothes is the culmination of half a decade, not one weekend, of purchases. My problem is not that my closet is full of stuff I don't actually want or would never wear, it's full of more beautful stuff than I could possibly wear at the moment.

Hopefully one day my reality will match the awesomeness of my wardrobe but at seventeen I don't really have much use for Red-Carpet worthy dresses. Of which I have about 20 if you were wondering. So although I gave the odd thing that didn't fit or that I no longer liked to charity, I want to keep mostly everything in my wardrobe as I love them all and will absolutely wear them all. I just need to wait a bit for life to play catch up. So I'm hitting pause.

I can't quite believe i'm writing this but darlings, from today, i'm placing myself on a self-imposed, 2 month shopping ban. Little steps are the most successful so I'll start with two months and see how it goes. Obviously I will still buy books, magazines, dvd's etc and accessories are still okay (one can never have too many over-sized rings) but I'm going to make the most of what I have right now and love the clothes i've already got. I hope it will help me put not just my wardrobe but my life into perspective. I'm going to track my progress on the blog and you have to help me if I feel I might relapse okay? I can do this, right guys?

...right guys?

....

..

.

Do you think i'll last the two months darlings? Have any of you been on a self-imposed shopping ban? More importantly were you successful and did it help?

Wish me luck!

Stay safe and chic mes chéries,
English Rose x

♥...Simplistichic...?

Bonjour mes amies, hope you are all immense. I wanted to get your fabulous opinions on a fashion trend that has given me more than a little food for thought:

Minimalism, utility, utlitarian chic, back-to-basics; whatever you want to call it less is undeniably the new more. The fashion powers that be have decided that oversized accessories, frills, feathers and look-at-me style is trés passé and instead simple, chic, understated, elegant staple pieces are what every fashion darling  should have in her wardrobe not just this season but forever.

You all know my style is incredibly ecclectic and I can switch, and often do, between understated and overstated chic on a daily basis. However I tend to fall more on the 'exhibitionist' side and admittedly love the confidence and attention that an overtly stylish outfit gives me. I've never been a shrinking violet, believing to my very core the words of that wise guru Paris Hilton "Life's too short to blend in."

There's nothing worse to me than blending in, not being noticed, being part of the wallpaper of life. I need to people to know I was here and one of the ways I do that is through fashion. Therefore, while i've always admired people who are comfortable not to stand out, happy to blend in, that's usually all it is; admiration. Kind of like loving your friend's dress even though you'd never wear it yourself, but you still appreciate how stylish it is. Herein lies the paradox. My nature is at odds with my outlook.

You all know I am a complete Francophille and nothing defines quintessential 'chic' French style, which is the envy of women the world over, better than simplicity. French women know that the coveted 'je-ne-sais-quoi' lies with the person, not the outfit. Iconic French brands such as Comptoir des Cottoniers, Merci, Chanel, Isabel Marant and Petit Bateau are all about understated, refined chic sans the bold colours, prints and accesories that I often veer towards.

My dilemma further increases with the knowledge that my two all-time style icons, whose style I admire more than anyone on the planet; Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel were both pioneers and original Queens of the simple, minimalist look. Audrey Hepburn was famed for her simple black polo neck and loafers and iconic LBD, whilst no one is under any allusion as to where good old Coco stood on the matter:

• "The woman should wear the clothes, the clothes should not wear the woman"
• "Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman."
• "Elegance does not consist of putting on a new dress. "
• "Look for the woman in the dress. If there is no woman, there is no dress."
  
• "When accessorising, always take the last item you put on, off."

The division of females into overstated and understated style is as old as time and follows each generation. Like Coco and Audrey in their time, a new generation of modern-day simplistichic heroines are asserting their low-key authority over their embellished (yet just as stylish) peers. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's fashion line 'The Row' is the very definition of minimalism, whilst queen of cool Phoebe Philo has recently revolutionised Céline with her chic, back-to-basic fashion. Fashionistas all over the world it would seem, are shunning the frills and accessories in favour of a return to their sartorial roots.

And it's not just in the glossy magazines that simplicity is making its triumphant return. 'Minimalism' and 'Utility' were the phrases of the recent fashion weeks with Chloé, Helmut Lang, Jil Sander, Narcisso Roderiguez, Lanvin, Valentino, Ann Demeulemeester and Calvin Klein all seeing a huge surge in interest thanks to the sophisticated simplicity they sent shuffling down the runway.

I think the matter comes down to confidence, or a lack of on both sides. On the one hand it can be said that those who favour the simple look are more comfortable and confident in their own skin and don't need other's attention or approval whilst those who crave attention through what they wear are more insecure.

I think there's some truth to that but on the other hand, the opposite can be true. It takes a lot of confidence to turn heads and not care what people think and sometimes its easier if you aren't confident to stay in the background away from attention of both the negative and positive kind. In the end, confidence is about the person, not their style and you can find equally stylish and equally confident (or insecure) exhibitionists and minimalists.

So what do you think darlings, should we follow Coco's advice and "take the off the last accessory you put on" ? Is it a matter of self-confidence or does it all just boil down to personal style and taste? Which look do you prefer?

Hope you all have an immense weekend,

Stay safe and chic mes chéries,
English Rose x

"I don't shine, if you don't shine..."

Bonjour mes amies, hope you all had a wonderful Easter and have worked off all that chocolate! It's well into April and Spring has finally come to the UK. You all know i'm more than just A Little Bit Dramatic but for quite possibly the first time in my life i'm not exaggerating when I say this has been the longest, coldest winter on record. It's been enough to make me consider many times, usually when i'm freezing in heels at a bus stop in the pouring rain, leaving my beloved city (at least for the winter) and moving to L.A.


Almost as if Londontown could hear my secret sun-worshipping ultimatum and decided it couldn't possibly bear to lose me; the sun came out and I decided to stay (as if I needed that much convincing). On the bloggerversary post I asked what you wanted more of and the general feedback was more articles and debates but also more outfit posts. Well darlings, far be it from me to deny my amazing public, so expect to see a lot more of my wardrobe. I'm planning to make the shift from Autmn/Winter to Spring/Summer this weekend and you'll be glad to know that not only is my summer wardrobe WAY better and varied than my winter one, but outfit posts are a hell of a lot easier to do when it's not -4 degrees and raining.

So here it is, the first of many to come. I decided to wear my gorgeous grey and white Victorian-inspired jumper and patent monochrome heels and juxtapose them (you can tell I do English) with my favourite faded skinny jeans to give it a bit of an edge and make it less 'prim and proper'. A pearl hairband, oversized ring oversized sunnies (when am I ever without them?) and my black leather handbag from Urban Outfitters and I was good to go:

Stay safe and chic mes chéries,

English Rose x

"I could write a sonnet, about your Easter Bonnet, and of the girl i'm taking to the Easter Parade..."

Bonjour mes amies and Happy Easter! Whether you celebrate its proper meaning or not, Easter is a time for new beginnings, relaxation and hope. Easter to me means being curled up on the sofa, munching toasted home-made hot cross buns whilst watching Easter Parade (my favourite ever movie, I watch it every year on Easter Sunday without fail and hope to carry on the tradition when I have my own kids). For me, it has all the ingredients for a perfect movie:

Musical? Check
Amazing Soundtrack? Check
Incredible Dance Routines? Check
Old Hollywood Movie? Check
Fred Astaire? Check
Judy Garland? Check
Romance? Check
Humour? Check
Happy Ending? Check

If you haven't seen it, (what are you waiting for?! If musicals and/or Old Hollywood movies are your thing then watch it, you won't be disappointed) it follows the story of small town performer Hannah Brown (Judy Garland) who strikes lucky when she is 'discovered' by Don Hughes (Fred Astaire), a performing legend who, to get revenge on his old partner and lover (the incredible Ann Miller) who jilted him in search of the 'Big Time', just happens to be in search of a new dance partner. The first 'transformation' movie of its time, he promises to turn her from a nobody into a somebody all before the Easter Parade next year. But it's not as easy or straightforward as it seems, especially when personal feelings get in the way (don't they always?)...

Although I may not be entirely happy with the final pairings (who can turn down a guy who serenades you by saying "I'm just a fella//A fella with an umbrella//Looking for a girl who saved her love for a rainy day..""), I will never get bored of it and know all the songs off by heart, I may have even downloaded them all onto my Ipod (what can I say? I love my showtunes...)

I adore them all but my favourite songs are:

Fella With An Umbrella
It Only Happens When I Dance With You
We're A Couple Of Swells (hands down, the best performance number in a musical ever)
and of course...
Easter Parade

I may still be looking for my 'Fella With An Umbrella' but one thing I do know is that that's how I'm going to be spending my Easter. So darlings, how will you be spending yours? With family? Eating your body-weight in chocolate? Whatever you do have a good one and most importantly...

Stay safe and chic mes chéries,
English Rose x

♥ Happy Half-Birthday To Me! ♥

Bonjour mes amies, spring has finally sprung and the beginning of this new month means that two birthdays are around the corner. Not only am I turning the big one-eight in real life in a few weeks (April is when legends were born) but the blog is officially six months old (I'm practically a blogging veteran)

As some of you know, I started the blog to get out of a rut and a very difficult time in my life and had no idea (although I hoped) that one person somewhere would read it let alone the thousands of views from all over the world it gets each week, which I still can't quite believe. The thrill that comes with each new comment or follower just does not get old over time.

You've all helped me more than you know with your wonderful kindness and support. It's an honour to be a part of the blogging community and I consider you all to be my dear, superstylish virtual friends. I'm an incredibly private and closed person and it's weird because not only has the blog given me more confidence and made me let me guard down a bit, but I feel like I put a part of the real, inner me into each post on the blog that I keep hidden from the rest of the world and so in a strange way, even though I've never met you, you guys know the 'real me' more than people I have known for years.

So to celebrate six months of hardcore blogging, even though they are all special and memorable, I thought i'd look back over my personal favourite outfits and blog posts.


Some of my favourite posts:


Tom Ford
Size Issue
Blair Waldorf
Coco Chanel
New York
Pretty
Geek Chic
Interview
Sales Purchases

Like I said, this blog could not have made it to six months without you guys and hopefully it will see many more half-birthdays. As important as it is to look back, it's also neccessary to look forward and I'd very much like your input on the next six months of blogging. What are your favourite things about the blog? Do you want to see more outfit posts or more debates and articles? I know some of you find the writing posts a bit long (and don't read them, I can always tell when I've spent hours talking about an issue I feel strongly about only for someone to comment on the 'great photo'!) but personally I think they are what makes the blog different and varied but it's up to you. Is there anything I don't do that you would like to see? Do tell.

If I don't say it enough, your continued virtual-love and support means the world to me and it's been a pleasure to get to know each and every one of you and your lovely blogs over the past 180+ days - I literally cannot remember what I ever did without it!

So thankyou for enjoying reading the blog as much as I enjoy writing it. We all live in different corners of the globe making a mass-celebration almost impossible but by all means darlings, wherever you are, have a party to celebrate the blogger-versary on me.


Oh and before I forget, you all have fabulous taste in music but unfortunately I could only have a limited number of winners for my giveaway so congratulations to:

J'aime
Vicki
Pippa
Natasha

 I'll be in touch darlings to find out emails and send you the details you need =]


Stay safe and chic mes chéries,

English Rose x