what I wore

What I wore today: new asos top (which, factlovers, on the website was neither as obscenely short nor see-through as in real life. hey ho, I quite like a little sheerness every now and then) and my faithful topshop cords (let's face it, I never take them off.)

man about town

I don't think it's possible to watch this video for Man About Town magazine without a grin gradually spreading across your face. 'It's All In The Game' by Ricky Nelson is the kind of musical accompanyment that makes me wish I'd grown up in 1950s small-town america so I could spend the weekends dancing The Twist or sitting with my legs dangling from a pier with a cold coke in my hand and frilly socks on my feet, and generally be like one of the teenagers in The Last Picture Show or Footloose. Thanks to Danielle (the cleverclogs behind the Vice Love Blogging videos) who posted this on facebook.

PS, the video makes for a good game of 'spot the difference'. I was so mesmerised by the skateboard I didn't notice until the second or third view!..

discotheque confusion on facebook

Just so you know, you can now follow Discotheque Confusion on Facebook. Links to new posts will appear on your feed as soon as I update as well as the odd music recommendation (today is Elle by Sebastian Tellier) and links to anything else that seems of interest (blogs, nice jumpers 'off internet', good articles, maybe even a crap joke..) I've finally jumped on the bandwagon after dithering over it for a while, and followed suit after Disney Roller Girl and Coco's Tea Party.

Do comment and give your input, it's another place to have a good old community gush over the things all the things occupying our brains. (Thats aesthetics/arts wise as oppossed to agony aunt territory..)

Discotheque Confusion on Facebook

mood

clockwise from left: david bowie badges from his australian 'Low' tour/ steve mcqueen, 1963/ mathilda riccardi at closet visit, / julian schulman residence 1957/ topshop boutique knitted pants / clogs worn with thick knit socks, sartorialist/ dossing indoors, wearing tights and knickers ala turnedout.tv /

Hmm, bare chests and bare legs. It's not a very seasonally appropriate moodboard is it? Looking through some photos from Summer 2010 earlier I found myself pining after the sunshine so I can wander with my legs out, let the sun warm my hair a nice strawberry blonde and sleep with warm air coming through the window. Very premature wishes indeed given we're two weeks into January but I'm assuming they are the sublimal reasons behind these spring geared pictures. Clearly haven't quite let go of the winter though; this picture from The Sartorialist has heightened my need for some nice thick marl socks to wear with my clogs which I shall dig out of my cupboard before I return back to Manchester this week.

Tonight I've listened to Low by David Bowie about 4 times continuously. He is probably my favourite musician but because of his huge back catalogue of work there are still so many albums for me to discover. I grew up on Ziggy Stardust and Hunky Dory, but I've seriously fallen in love with Low, too. Completely different from the former two but very much suited to my current mood. Produced by Brian Eno and with a very Tilda Swinton-esque front cover.

I Saw You Standing

Tapping into the same idea behind blogs like Style Like U, 'I Saw You Standing' over at Platform Magazine takes short films of people on the street documenting their outfits and showing us the kind of details-rings on fingers, their make-up, colour of shoelaces- that may otherwise go unnoticed in a single photograph. I really like this idea, it epitomises what I love about street style and the sense of personality that comes with it and I'd love to see more short videos like this. My typically British nature makes me a little embarrassed on the behalf of the poor souls though, having to stand completely still and slightly awkwardly while the camera zooms in on their faces. This is completely me projecting my own fears!

I Saw You Standing at Platform Magazine.

lesley arfin/chloe sevigny/oc

Some Monday afternoon reading for you. (a metaphorical blogging biscuit break if you will, when the shock to the system of being back to work after the weekend has sunk in..) As part of her latest Opening Ceremony collaboration Chloe Sevigny has designed 6 staple dresses, each available in 5 different prints and each named after one of her best girlfriends. What a lovely little touch. My favourite, since seeing the preview of the collection back in May has been the Lesley (quite appropriate given my love for it's namesake Lesley Arfin) a flattering number with two scallop-edged breast pockets which in my eyes would be a perfect fit for a dusty Western female protagonist (think something along the lines of Sissey Spacek in Badlands). You can choose from gingham, leopard, polkadot, paisley, or a small floral. Nothing like the concept of pick and mix to pull my heartstrings and open my wallet.

Opening Ceremony have interviewed Lesley for their blog, and have asked her New Years resolutions and if which items she'd steal from Chloe Sevigny's closet given the chance.. Read it here.

EDIT: To those of you that have asked, the collection is out on January 15th.

Inside Style - New Year's Resolutions

Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magazine - January 6th

"Don't Shop" - Prescott, AZ - Brand New Films' Flickrstream
Photo credit: Jeff Daverma

New Year’s resolutions. I never make them; if only to manage my own expectations. The way I see it is if I don’t go there, no one gets hurt. 

Why vow to curb my shopping habit when it obviously contributes to economic growth? Is there merit in swapping skinny jeans for tracksuit bottoms other than to sprawl on the sofa? And someone please explain the virtue of avoiding the sales.

 In fact, of the ill-advised fifty per cent of guilt trippers that make resolutions, ninety per cent of them fail. If I were a betting gal, I’d keep those shekels in my pocket. O.K. Let’s be honest, I’d put them towards a new pair of shoes.

My sister tells me it would do no harm to peep my head from my jumper and smell the IMF coffee. “Saving would be an idea,” she suggested. In our New York patois, that suggestion comes with a head tilt, sharp voice inflection and mildly threatening raised eyebrow.

“But I am,” I offered weakly. “I’m buying less; just better.” In fashion speak that translates as: I’m spending the same amount only I have less to show for it.

“You could try,” she suggested, “if only to prove me wrong.” Damn! The gauntlet had been thrown down. Two would have made a nice set of gloves but that’s another figure of speech.

Now I have no choice but to demonstrate that I am not fashion’s victim.  My sister suggested a budget. I suggested the government had already given us a steep one. The raised eyebrow made its reappearance.

“It’s about breaking up goals into attainable chunks,” advised my de facto elder. “Roll it out month by month. Once you see those savings grow...”

“...I’ll want to buy a Pauric Sweeney python bag!” I blurted. The thought of it alone made me weak.  So shiny; so pretty.

And with that, the wise (albeit exasperated) woman left me to my own devices. “Let’s hope it’s roomy,” she advised. “You might be living in it soon.”

Ouch. She had a point. My powers of restraint (along with my bank balance) needed a makeover.  Feigning ‘luxe minimalism’ wouldn’t do. I needed to go cold turkey which is why I’m eating Christmas leftovers with the door locked. The next time you see me may well be s/s 12.  Austerity – never a good look.

Photo credit: Jeff Daverman. Click here for 'Brave New Films' Flickr photostream.