Big Trousers

So, still stuck in my summer rut and rather thinking that, with this current weather, i may as well go straight into my autumn wardrobe i have found a few old delights at the depths of my wardrobe. One such item is a formerly much beloved pair of harem pants. Bought three years ago (i think) as my Christmas dinner outfit the said trousers were since been worn for a variety of occasions - including, unfortunately, fancy dress - but were then relegated to the back of my drawers. Marc Jacobs' s/s '07 collection saw many balloon type, voluminous trousers in grey, beige and cream tones. This woman - off Facehunter.blogspot.com - successfully pulls off the trousers in a sophisticated, layered fashion in more neutral tones.

Unfortunately, i do not do layering (i am trying but a slightly chubby 5ft 3" frame just doesn't yell "layer me", i just end up looking like a snow ball, rolling down the hill gathering more snow) and am far too young for a neutral pallet. Therefore, I'm far more likely to rock my harem pants in truly eighties inspired fashion, like this woman from hel-looks.com below. I apologise now.

This season i would like ...

... shoes with a perspex heel.

Despite my better judgement (which is saying i'll look like a cheap American bar tender/table dancer, though maybe this is part of the appeal) i feel a perspex heel, killer high of course, would sufficiently jazz up my weary wardrobe.

The spring/summer '07 collections were littered with perspex heels and not just from those designers peddling the 'futuristic' look.

(Above: Marc Jabobs, Channel, Emilio Pucci.

Below: Alexander McQueen, Lanvin.)

Of course, having a limited budget the below options are more likely. Which, it has to be said, has deterred me a little. In the process of moving from the catwalk to the high street more than the usual amount of style has been lost with these shoes. Also, though it seemed rather daring and modern when i saw the designer models, by the time the trend had trickled through to high street versions i can actually afford, the whole effect seemd totally naff and i felt myself the quintessential fashion victim. That said, id still happily wear the marc jacobs pair above if given £300.

(Above: Asos, Dune)

an english summer ...

Summer, in my wardrobe, is unfortunately less easy, breezy, languid days and more a tornado of destructive events. Each year i despair that the bringing of scorching days and warmer, fuzzy nights (ok maybe only some of the time, but still getting the mind set here) seems to bring a total lack of style for me. Don't get me wrong, my winter wardrobe is distinctly lacking in the comprehensive style front, but it does not create a total melt-down of the style spirit, as summer does. For this reason i declare each year that this summer will be different, that i will attempt to construct attractive and stylish outfits - even if this does mean buying a whole new wardrobe of clothes. Yet each year i open the wardrobe and, faced with the same problems, dissolve into a fit of tears, try on and throw around each item of clothing and despair that my only gorgeous outfit (a vintage Laura Ashley summer dress) makes me look like a shot-putter due to the 1 stone weight gain i seem unable to prevent over winter!

This year, then, will be different. Well, only to a certain extent seeing as i have already gone through the first stages of anguish - clothes throwing, tears, fear of weight gain - so the difference is confined to affirmative action. Plans to; lose a stone, effectively wear the clothes i already have by careful accessorising and the purchase of three, sure fire summer looks are now underway.