next then...

FINALLY THEN, MY NEXT CHRISTMAS BLOGGER CHALLENGE DRAWS TO A CLOSE, AND THAT MEANS ONLY ONE THING. (THE NEXT SALE?...NO) CHRISTMAS!!

I'M NOT ALL THAT EXCITED YET, BUT I'M GOING TO SPEND TODAY GETTING FESTIVE; I'M MAKING MINCE PIES, I'M WATCHING MIRACLE ON 34th STREET, AND FINALLY I'LL BE HANGING MY STOCKING ALL IN PREPARATION FOR SANTA. OKAY, MAYBE I AM GETTING QUITE EXCITED NOW...

(SOMETHING TO BRING ME BACK DOWN TO EARTH THOUGH, DID I TELL YOU THAT I'M WORKING THE OPENING SHIFT OF THE SALE? THAT'S RIGHT. MONDAY, 5AM. 5. A. M; WHICH LOSERS ACTUALLY GO FOR A SHOP AT THAT TIME. THE TYPE OF LOSERS WHO ARE DRAGGING ME OUT OF BED AT MEASLY 3.30AM, THAT'S WHO.)

 



FIRST DIBS IN THE SALE THOUGH.  
OFFICIAL POST-XMAS WISHLIST (drumroll please...)

1. TRAPPER, 2. LEATHER T-SHIRT, £115 3. BOOTS, £50 4. BOW, £12 5. LEATHER TROUSERS, £120 6. CLUTCH, £25 7. SKIRT, £28 8. CHAIN CAPELET, £20

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM NEXT.CO.UK 
TRUE LOVE...PLEASE.. XO

would you believe?

WOULD YOU BELIEVE ALL OF THESE SHOES ARE FROM NEXT? I LOVE THEM. ALL... 

MY NEXT BLOGGER CHALLENGE IS DRAWING TO A CLOSE AS THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS ARE ALMOST OVER. YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ON MY SHIFTS, AND HOPEFULLY, IT'S IMPROVED YOUR IMPRESSION OF NEXT. I'M RATHER IMPRESSED I HONESTLY AM, THE SHOES ABOVE...LUSH.

PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO NEXT VIA MY LINKS IN THE VARIOUS POSTS AND DIRECT SOME TRAFFIC. THANKS GUYSS. (WWW.NEXT.CO.UK)

afraid of change?

HAVING REACHED THE BOTTOM OF YET ANOTHER BOTTLE OF BVLGARI, I VENTURED OUT AMIDST THE CHRISTMAS CROWDS IN SEARCH OF SOMETHING NEW. I ADOPTED THE BVLGARI SCENT AS MY OWN FROM MY SISTER, WHO RAVED ABOUT IT FOR LONGTIMES BEFORE BUYING IT AND CONSEQUENTLY BUYING ME ONE TOO. I'M NOW OBSESSED, AND LITERALLY CANNOT GET ENOUGH; WHAT'S MORE, IT SEEMS TO HAVE GROWN SYNONYMOUS WITH ME AMONGST MY FRIENDS WHO, WHEN ASSESSING WHOSE THE LOST OBJECTS ARE IN OUR HOUSE CAN TAKE A QUICK SNIFF AND SIMPLY DROP IT IN MY ROOM ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 

REGARDLESS, I FIGURED NEW YEAR, NEW SCENT (UNDOUBTEDLY INFLUENCED SOMEWHAT BY THE COMMERCIAL CHRISTMAS DRIVEL, FORCING ME INTO  BUYING NEW GIFT SETS AND BODY LOTIONS AND ALL SORTS OF SWEETLY SMELLING POTIONS.) ANYWAY, DODGING NIGHTMARE CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS AND NARROWLY ESCAPING THE GRASP OF VARIOUS BEAUTY COUNTER ASSISTANTS, I REACHED THE PERFUME ISLE AND FOUND MYSELF SWAMPED WITH DECISIONS AND BOTTLE SIZES AND ALL OTHER DIFFICULTIES MEN FACE AT THESE TIMES OF CRISIS PRESENT BUYING. (AND THIS WAS BUYING FOR MYSELF; I PITY YOU MALES...) DID YOU KNOW PERFUME CAME IN DIFFERENT TONES? CALL ME A NOVICE BUT I DEFINITELY DID NOT.

HAVING SPENT FAR TOO LONG DELIBERATING OVER MY OPTIONS, BE IT CHIC WITH CHLOE, NOVELTY BOTTLES FROM MARC JACOBS, OR PERSUING MY BEST FRIEND'S OBSESSION WITH CHANEL, I FOUND MYSELF SUBCONSCIOUSLY WALTZING OUT OF THE SHOP, BAG IN HAND, PURSE DENTED AND A NEW BOTTLE OF BVLGARI TO TAKE PRIDE OF PLACE ON MY BEDSHELF COME DECEMBER 25TH. 

I'M NOT SURE WHETHER CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DOES HONESTLY JUST SEND YOU MINDLESS, OR I'M JUST AFRAID OF CHANGE?

so, on the 8th day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...

BVLGARI AMETHYSTE- my favourite.

 WHO KNEW YOU COULD GET PERFUMES AND ALL SORTS AT WWW.NEXT.CO.UK

PS. HOW ON EARTH DOES ONE SPELL 8th?

on the 9th DAY :)

ON THE 9th DAY OF CHRISTMAS I GAVE TO MY TRUE LOVE (OR WELL, BEST FRIEND) ...AS REQUESTED, AN INSIGHT IN TO MEN'S KNITWEAR:

 BECAUSE WHO DOESN'T LOVE A GUY IN A CHRISTMAS JUMPER.

 LEFT-TO-RIGHT; 1. £32, 2. £32, 3. £50 4. £40, 5. £45, 6. £45

AND SOME FAIRISLE EXTRAS...

1. £10 2. £16, 3. £10, 4. £10

ALL AVAILABLE AT  WWW.NEXT.CO.UK

 

 

a new face. a pretty one at that.

WELL, SHE MIGHT NOT BE ALL THAT NEW, BUT SHE'S A NEW DISCOVERY TO ME. NAME: ANNE SOPHIE MONRAD. INFORMATION YOU'RE JUST DYING TO KNOW: BLONDE, GREEN EYES, GERMAN. WHERE HAVE YOU PROBABLY (NOT) SEEN HER? WUNDERKIND, Z MAGAZINE, VARIOUS CATWALKS SHOWS INCLUDING TOPSHOP UNIQUE SS11. OR, MISTOOK HER FOR GEMMA WARD LIKE I DID.

THE EDITORIAL BELOW, SHOT BY MARKUS PRITZI WAS ONE I USED AS INSPIRATION FOR MY RECENT DESIGN PROJECT. THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE  HONESTLY BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT'S THE STYING THAT GETS ME. THE POWER OF THE LIPS IS INCREDIBLY STRIKING AND THAT DROPPED SHOULDERED KNIT, WELL QUITE FRANKLY I NEED. TEAMED WITH THOSE, WHAT ARE THEY BOOTS? WELLIES? LATEX SOCKS? REGARDLESS, CO-OOL.
(fashiongonerogue.com)  (fashionmodeldirectory.com)

HAD IT ON THE BRAINS WHILST AT WORK AND STUMBLED ACROSS THIS. WHILST PICKING OUT POTENTIAL UNIFORM. RECOGNISE? WELL THEY'RE HELLA-SIMILAR.

CARDIGAN, £35. JUMPER, £30. NEXT

7 sygnets

HAVING SPENT THE DAY ENTERTAINING A BABY, AND SPENDING MY WORK SHIFT IN KIDSWEAR, I FEEL A CHILDREN'S POST IS MOST APT FOR TODAY.

 

FIRST UP, HOW CUTE IS THIS! >

i really wish i hadn't grown out 'Christmas'. Sure, presents are still exciting and the whole festive season remains filled with jolly pleasures, but it's not a dot on my childhood. I'm talking stocking on my bed and pillow sacks full downstairs, coal on the carpets and fingerprints left on my Christmas list, mince pie for Santa and carrots for Rudolf, Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, snowmen making and gingerbread house creating, and even the good old days of school discos and party-rings based parties.

Despite having grown out of Christmas, i can't help but melt at the sight of baby-Christmas-grows and tiny Santa suits. 

ALL WWW.NEXT.CO.UK

SO, TRUE LOVE, I'LL HAVE THE FULL-SIZED ELF SUIT PLEASE. (AND I PROMISE I'LL WEAR IT ON CHRISTMAS DAY)

ANYWAY, I'M OFF TO COLOUR CODE MY CHRISTMAS LIST FOR SANTA. X

5 golden party rings

HAVE YOU GOT YOUR CHRISTMAS DRESS SORTED? I HAVE.

AND MY SISTER'S...
1. Lipsy dress, £45 2. earrings, £10 3. cuff, £12 4. clutch, £25 5. boots, £50 6. Lipsy dress, £60 7. jacket, £70 8. clutch, £30 9. clogs, £55. ALL WWW.NEXT.CO.UK
 

 

AND I REALLY THINK ONE OF YOU SHOULD GET THIS 
(because it's just lovely really. true love gifts days 5 and 6, check.)


XXX

4 calling birds please

WITH ALL THIS CHRISTMAS TALK OF CHICKENS AND TURKEYS, I CAN'T SEEM TO GET BIRDS OFF THE BRAIN. NOTHING IS FLUTTERING UP MY VEGETARIAN-APPETITE, BUT STYLE-WISE I'M HUNGRY FOR SOME FEATHERY GOODNESS.

I'M COVETING A FEATHER HEADPIECE, BUT HAVING NOT SETTLED ON THE PERFECT ONE, A CAPE WILL SUFFICE FOR NOW.

so, on the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... 

this lovely feathery cape

£25, Next

3 french hens

on the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...




 

ACTUALLY SCRAP THAT, WHAT IS ALL THIS TRUE LOVE NONSENSE? I DON'T HAVE A TRUE LOVE, HENCE HE'S NOT SHOWERING ME WITH GIFTS AND GOODIES AND FRENCH HENS ALIKE. THAT SOUNDS FAR TOO TRADITIONAL FOR ME; INSTEAD, I'M SPENDING THE FESTIVE SEASON WITH A GROWING CRUSH ON AN UNATTAINABLE GUY, SELF-INDULGING TO EXCESS IN URBAN OUTFITTERS AND DEVOURING FAR TOO MUCH STUFFING AND BROCCOLI. T'IS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY AFTER ALL :)

IF HOWEVER MY "TRUE LOVE" WAS TO MATERIALISE...

1. coat, £80 2. jumper, £32 3. shirt, £45 4. jeans, £38 5. trapper, £10
6. boots, £75 7. gloves, £10 8. hat, £14 9. coat, £55  10. knit, £42 11. shirt, £36 12. jeans, £45 13. bag, £40 14. boots, £75 15. jeans, £25 16. t-shirt, £6 17. trapper, £16 18. jumper, £40 19. jacket, £64 20. bag, £70 21. gloves, £10 22. boots, £50

ALL WWW.NEXT.CO.UK  

SO IT'S GOOD REALLY, BECAUSE THINK HOW MUCH MONEY I'M SAVING.

(MENSWEAR DOES GO A LITTLE UNNOTICED ON MY BLOG, SO HERE'S TO YOU GUYS; get some lovely newness here)

on the second day of christmas.

ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME...

INSPIRED BY DAY OF MY MARY-KATE STYLE STALKING, I'VE MADE UP MY PERFECT OUTFIT WHICH I COMPLETELY THINK SHE WOULD WEAR.

BLACK AND GREY: DELIGHTFUL.

MIDI TULLE SKIRT: FLATTERING

THOSE WEDGES: JEFFREY CAMPBELL? WRONG 

1. headband, £12

2. tux, £60

3. top, £22

4. skirt, £28

5. wedges, £95

6. bag, £30

...all from NEXT (amazed?)

THESE WILL ALL BE MINE BY THE END OF TOMORROW'S SHIFT I TELL YOU THAT. DAMN HAVING TO GO TO WORK TO SPEND MONEY.

  

get more at www.next.co.uk

CHRISTMAS TRAIL

I'M HOME, AND IT'S QUIET AS ANTICIPATED. NICE TO BE BACK WITH LE FAMILLE, THOUGH BROTHERLY-BICKERING AND SISTERLY-SQUABBLING IS INEVITABLY JUST ON THE HORIZON (especially with the mass-snowfall giving me cabin fever, and it's only day 1).

FORTUNATELY I HAVE A NEW JOB TO KEEP ME BUSY AND DISTRACTED. I'M TEMPING AT NEXT OVER THE HOLIDAYS WHICH SHOULD BE GOOD- EXTRA PENNIES FOR THE SALES AND OF COURSE EXPERIENCE FOR THE ALL IMPORTANT CV (currently in the process of applying for my internship, and anything and everything is a helping hand). 

NOW I'M THE FIRST TO ADMIT, I UNDERESTIMATED NEXT; I FIGURED IT WAS THE ONE-STOP SHOP FOR MUMMIES AS THE HIGH-STREET CAPITAL OF CASUALWEAR, BUT OH, I WAS WRONG. RECENT REBRANDING, BACKING FROM VOGUE AND SPLIT COLLECTIONS HAVE MADE IT SO MUCH MORE STYLISH. I'M NOW COVETTING MANY ITEMS FOR MY OWN WARDROBE, AND FORSEE MY WAGES HASTILY RETREATING STRAIGHT BACK TO THE CASH TILL.

(i don't know why i'm so stunned really, i've been a major fan of their print press for ages, though figured they'd just put a good light on mediocre collections. I was so wrong.)
 

(www.next.co.uk)


SO, I'VE BEEN SET A CHALLENGE, A CHRISTMAS BLOGGING CHALLENGE LETS SAY. NOW, YOU ALL KNOW THE SONG "TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS"- A CLASSIC RIGHT? WELL, CONSIDER THIS A MODERN TAKE ON SAID TRADITION. FOR THE RUN UP TO CHRISTMAS, I'M GOING TO BLOG  (TWICE A DAY AS I'VE ALREADY MISSED THE FIRST 6 DAYS OF TWELVE) AND LET YOU KNOW MY FAVOURITE PIECES, OUTFITS AND IMAGES FROM MY SHIFTS AT NEXT. I'M QUITE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT I COME UP WITH REALLY; I DO HOPE YOU FOLLOW ME ON MY LITTLE FESTIVE TRAIL...


AND PS. YES, I KNOW THE 'OFFICIAL' TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS RUN FROM THE 25TH ONWARDS, BUT BLOGGING ABOUT CHRISTMAS AFTER CHRISTMAS IS JUST SILLY. COME DECEMBER 26TH, EXPECT ONLY SS11 COVERAGE AND IMAGES.


 



SO, SING ALONG PLEASE. ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO MEEEEE.... 

THESE LOVELY LOVELY SHOE BOOTS. (or 'shboots' if it was my sister giving them to me)

£50, NEXT -real leather too! 

(FYI, I'm a 7)

check out more super-chic shoes here 

NEXT STEP.

OH, HOW I DO WANT THAT SWIMSUIT. ♥ 

BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT- THE POINT IS, HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE PHOTOS. SERIOUSLY THOUGH. THE AD CAMPAIGNS AND PHOTOSHOOTS FOR NEXT ARE SWELL. HELPED RATHER BY THE BEAUTIFUL, OH SO BEAUTIFUL MODELS!

THESE ONES, SO SUMMERY.

I LOVE THEM
(WENT IN TO NEXT A LA WEEKEND ACTUALLY- NOTED: SOME B-E-A-UTIFUL CLOGS!!)

SO, MOOCHING ONLINE- FOUND SOMETHING OF INTEREST. 

YOU KNOW I JUST ENTERED THAT FROCK ME STYLE COMPETITION- WELL, EVIDENTLY I DIDN'T WIN (i'll just add in that i did come second though, and the winner- well you couldn't even see her outfit. definately a popularity contest haha! regardless, there was unfortunately no second place prize. bitter much?)

WELL ANYWAY, NEXT HAVE JUST LAUNCHED SOMETHING QUITE SIMILAR. BUT MAYBE A BIT COOLER: A MODEL COMPETITION- perfect for the oh so many fashionista bloggers! and what is the prize i hear you cry? well, a hefty £2000 to splurge at NEXT, AND a photoshoot, AND a special introduction to Select Model Management -i.e. the herald  of Lily Donaldson, Natasha Poly, Agyness Deyn. 

NEED I SAY MORE?

SO, YEAH- CHECK IT OUT HERE
 

(P.S. ENDS JULY 6TH- HURRY HURRY. THE TOP 100 MOST VOTED ENTRIES ARE SHORTLISTED, AND INVITED TO A GLAMOROUS PARTY LONDON STYLE. AS IF THIS ISN'T COOL ENOUGH CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO TO SEE WHAT SOME OF THE SHORTLISTEES HAVE DONE.

I WOULD ENTER, I JUST REALLY CAN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE FROM MY FACEBOOK FRIENDS! BUT YOU GUYS, GET ON IT.