can we stay here forever?

Merry Christmas x

christmas grotto

The last couple of weeks have passed in a blur of Christmas parties, Christmas drinks, champagne for champagne's sake and Russian restaurants (with minimal food and maximal vodka). I don’t remember the festive period ever being quite so full on but it means the days are flying by and it won’t be long til I get to go home for a few days rest before New Year’s.

On Sunday I paid a visit to Towner and Hoxton’s Christmas grotto; a veritable feast for the eyes. I’m developing quite an obsession with taxidermy. Just looking at so far. Not owning or making... I probably wouldn’t ever do that. Probably.

i resolve to be much chicer

Getting in there early with my New Year's resolutions. And with the help of my new Blanche in The Brambles head-warmer I might just be able to keep this one (at least until Spring). I'm having a serious love affair with this piece, and it's just crying out to be accompanied by red lipstick and lots of gold jewellery. The best thing? It doubles as an equally-chic neck warmer.

Akiss Paraskevopoulos: Mad Skills

With or without retouching, these pictures are amazing. As it happens these shots of model Saulyna Menulyna by Akiss Paraskevopoulos haven’t been retouched at all. Mad skills. All images from Fashionising.com.

The Style Disco Guide to Gifting

I am widely regarded as an exceedingly good gift buyer. When I mentioned this to a friend recently, she said: “oh, me too!”

“What did you get me last Christmas?” I reminded her.

“Um....." She couldn't remember.

"A build it yourself robot...?" I prompted.

“But it’s fun!” she replied. “Yes, it is fun” I replied “For a 6 year old boy. Am I a 6 year old boy?”

I may have the underdeveloped physique of a 6 year old boy but last time I checked I was a 25 year old female who lives in London and writes a style blog.

Said robot is still sitting in his box, albeit in tiny little pieces (although not so tiny that the intended recipient might choke on them when he opens the box on Christmas morning and puts them in his mouth) with the step-by-step, large print instructions on how to build him folded neatly inside.

If you’re going to get me something stupid for the sake of giving me a present, I’d rather you got me nothing: I’ll like you better for it as I won’t feel irritated every time I see the unopened box of bath time teabags (yes that’s right: tea bags that go in your bathwater. Could there ever be anything less chic in the history of un-chic things?). It will only clutter my very tiny living space for the couple of months it will take for my guilt at being a horrible ungrateful person to diminish enough for me to stamp on it so that it fits into my very tiny bin.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve hated my own birthdays (I was never a very good actress) and loved those of my siblings, parents and best friends. There is nothing better than seeing the look on someone’s face when they are genuinely surprised and delighted with something you’ve given them. When I gave my little sister 2 tickets to see MGMT (her first ever gig) on her 16th Birthday she screamed and then promptly burst into tears. Likewise, most of the things I receive from her are so thoughtful they have me blubbing (though secretly of course, behind the Christmas tree).

Let’s be honest, no one really wants to receive anything they need for Christmas. Even if they say all they want is a new pair of gardening gloves, they are lying. There are always far too many horribly practical (and practically horrible) gifts that get given by my family on December 25th. Last year my Dad gave us all torches. I live in London! We have streetlights here! Although I did love that present just for the sheer laziness of buying every one’s present in the hardware store whilst he was topping up his supply of raw plugs, or whatever it is that Dads do.

So, down to the nitty gritty. If you stick to this simple guide you can’t go wrong. Trust me: i’m a blogger.

When you have a gift in mind, ask yourself these very important questions:

1. Is it something 'practical?' if the answer is no, proceed. If the answer is yes, ask yourself:

1a. is it insanely great? If the answer is yes, proceed. If the answer is no, start over.

2. Is the recipient likely to already own it, or something similar? No? You may proceed. Yes? Please start over.

3. Is it something the recipient would buy for themselves? Now, here you may be thinking that ‘YES’ is the desired a answer. Wrong! If it is something they would likely buy for themselves then what is the point in getting it for them as a gift? So, if the answer is yes, then start over. If the answer is no, then proceed.

And finally...

4. Will they love it?

That may seem like the most obvious one of all but I think it’s the one that probably gets overlooked, when really, that’s all good gifting comes down to. Unless you hate the person you are buying a gift for. In which case see The Style Disco Guide to Ruining Someone’s Life. Just kidding. That one’s not ready yet.

If you’re at a loss as to where to even start your Christmas Shopping, here’s some fabulous gift suggestions. What's more, they won’t leave you penniless.

Get her...



Handmade wolf ring, £53, get it here



Minty Mouse leggings, £29.28, get them here



A Dana Levy bracelet, from £25, get one here



6 Dashing Lassie Eye Shadows, £29.50, get them here



This Is For You book by Rob Ryan, £7.85, get it here



Cross necklace, £16, get it here

Get him...



Lomo Fisheye, £35, get it here



Hello sign, £27.33, get it here



Max print, £6.50, get it here



Fair Isle Cardigan, £30 - £185, get one here, or here, or knit one yourself!

And my personal favourite...



Anybody Can Be Cool, But Awesome Takes Practice book, £7,60, get it here

lucy draws pictures

My very talented sister has done an illustration from the photo of me in my Russian hat from my previous post.
Please visit her at her blog here if you get a second, where you can see more of her amazing illustrations.

winter starts

Minnie Mouse: at an 'America' themed birthday party of a friend. I've always wanted a reason to dress as Minnie Mouse.

Last weekend: we went to Berlin, my favourite European city after London. Lots of drinking hot cider in amazing bars and dancing at Panorama Bar where our friends were playing.

My amazing (and very necessary) Russian hat - as I write this it's about minus 4 outside and there's a good few inches of snow on the ground. Even though winter has me perpetually ill, I'm still a sucker for waking up to snow on the ground - especially this side of Christmas when it's still exciting.