new country syndrome

I'm feeling a bit down the last couple of days. Albert flew back to Germany, from where he has diagnosed me with "new country syndrome." Even though I'm not completely new here, I'd say that's accurate. The first few days anywhere (alone) are so disorienting and lonely. And boring. I need to force some structure on my days. I'm in Barcelona to do research for my dissertation for a month. The problem with research is the self-motivation, or, even more than that, knowing what to do in the first place.

Anyway, I still have a few pictures from London: these are from last Sunday, when Raquel and I went to the Battersea Car Boot sale. We scored several bargains for a pound or two each. My favourite was this green cardigan, which was a very happy purchase, as it was frickin' cold and windy that day! I never have enough cardigans, and most of the ones I do don't keep me warm, so this pure wool number in a neutral colour is perfect.



This necklace was my second piece from Les Jumelles, (I wear the first one all the time) and I'm not best impressed with this one. It originally had a charm of the ruby slippers attached, but they were banging relentlessly against the locket so I took them off. Seriously, if you're jewellery makers you should think of these sorts of things. In general it's kind of cheap and crappy, but I'm wearing it a bit more now that it's summer.

skirt: Spank (Vancouver boutique), shirt: Paul and Joe Sister (free with a magazine!) cardigan: Car Boot Sale, scarf: charity shop, necklace: Less Jumelles, shoes: ebay, bag: via mom

epic weekend!

I don't tend to post a lot of party pictures, mainly because low light and a drunkish photographer (guilty, guilty) don't necessarily make for a lot of kodak moments. But my first weekend based (back) in Barcelona was completely epic, so it deserves a look-in. I could post pictures of me looking vacantly romantic in pink, and I will later, but I was a bit of a sleep deprived greaseball for most of the last forty-eight hours, and that was obviously more fun. ; D





On Friday I went to Primavera Sound, a big music festival that happens in late spring every year. I basically landed from London, dropped my suitcases, and rushed over there, trying to get in to see Sufjan Stevens. It was impossible, since the bastard was playing a closed arena and I was pretty mad. Elitist son ^$ @ $%*%^. Sorry. I love Sufjan, I saw him in 2004 and again in 2005, but closed concerts have no place in a festival. Rant over. Anyway, then I was on my own for 6 hours until Albert landed, so I wandered around, drank beer and saw all sorts of acts, from M. Ward to some country singer to The Fiery Furnaces to The National. I'd never heard of the last group until now, but they were awwwwwesome. I was in a happy anthemic dancy coma.



Anyway, Albert arrived, we saw Belle and Sebastian, some electronic thing, I ate a "jam and liquor" crepe, we drank Jaegermeister and then Pulp played and I literally fell asleep on my feet as I'd been on the road for 20 hours, but Jarvis Cocker was awesome and dedicated "Common People" to all the peaceful protesters in Plaça Catalunya who had been attacked by police earlier that day. We finally got home at 4 in the morning, which is pretty reasonable by Barcelona standards, but I guess I'm old now.



On Saturday, Barcelona beat ManU in the Champions League final! I felt a bit traitorous supporting Barça, since my dad's a life long ManU supporter, but really, the better team won. After watching the game with some friends from Manchester (sorry, guys) we dropped in to Plaça Catalunya, where the party of the year was happening. Every car was beeping it's horn full blast, and everyone in the city was out with their Barça flags. Albert commented that "since the Catalan national team isn't allowed to compete, this is our version of winning the World Cup." Anyway, I'm sure most of you tuned out a while ago, but I love football! This time we got home at a very respectable 3 am.


A family affair


Hehe, don't show my dad this picture!



Thanks for bearing with me! Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for bed!

messing about in boats

Although this looks like another bucolic day in the park, Raquel and I actually went to the Sherlock Holmes museum this day. We didn't go in (although I don't know why because I would have lovvvvved it, I have loved Sherlock Holmes since I was twelve) but we ogled the outside of the building (never mind that 221 Baker St. never actually existed) and toddled around the gift shop. And then moved over to Regent's Park, which was just around the corner, and where is was a beautiful afternoon, except for an occasional very chilly wind. England just doesn't 'get' summer sometimes.

I'm currently in packing purgatory. I'm relocating, at least temporarily to Barcelona on Friday, and packing is hell as usual. I never have problems packing for short trips and usually just travel with my mini carry on suitcase. But oh. my. god. I hate looking at all my stuff and wondering how on earth I've acquired so much in however long it's been, and trying to gauge without a scale whether my suitcase will be overweight, and if so, how overweight, and who should I leave my extra sweaters with in the meantime and when are they home and how will I get the *&%&%^^# box to them... this is the unglamorous side of living abroad, peeps.

So I'll leave you with some more park pictures...







dress: Topshop via ebay, shoes: ancient Victorias, bag: via Mom, cardigan and scarf: borrowed from Raquel

Photos of me by Raquel

swinging my satchel

I'm none too sure what I think of this look, actually. While it includes many things I like right now (headscarves, knotted shirts, socks), I can't help but feel a bit costumey, and like I'm a bit too old for this. It was fine for chilling in South London, but when my dissertation supervisor emailled me with an hour's warning to say he had time to see me after all, and I tore into the centre and arrived like a panting schoolgirl in his office--well, I felt somewhat absurd, even sans headscarf which I had the presence of mind to take off. I actually think that without the blouse or the satchel, this would be a perfectly cute 60s styled look, however.

What do you think? Where do you draw the line between outfit and costume?



dress: Beacon's Closet, little boy's shirt: charity shop, shoes: ebay, socks: stolen from Urban Outfitters ; ), cardigan: Current, satchel and headscarf are Raquel's

Photos by Raquel

how i long to look this summer part 2

the sartorialist and nadinoo


steven alan


it girl rag doll

I've been tumblr-ing lately. I started it a few months ago but didn't use it much and was determined not to be one of those people who is addicted to it... but I am anyway. In fact, I think tumblr has been amazing for helping me see exactly what it is I like. Which, for summer seems to be yellow (no surprises), simple, simple simple dresses (which I don't have and therefore am coveting but will not be buying--why does simplicity come with such a large price tag?). I'm also pretty partial to John Lennon sunglasses, shoes that I could chill with Picasso in, and infectious happiness of all kinds.

You can find my tumblr here, if you're interested, and I'm also now on twitter, although I'm a bit clueless and unimpressed with twitter. ; )


rckshw on flickr


It Girl, Rag Doll and Pushing Daisies (I'm watching Pushing Daisies again--really one of the best shows ever to be unfairly cancelled)


Yehyeh Grace

old hollywood

If all goes according to plan, at the time this posts I should be presenting on my dissertation topic, and answering such delightful questions as "how would you define public space?" Given that I can't even think of a title for this post at the moment, it promises to be a good time.

Anyway, more pictures from last weekend in Bonn. Sigh, life was so peaceful then... mostly because I was procrastinating. This outfit is mostly from the same charity shop, and illustrates a point, sort of. I know a lot of people, to streamline their closet, like to determine a colour scheme for themselves, and only buy items that fit into it. I've toyed with this idea, as simplifying is always an attractive concept, but this outfit just shows why it wouldn't work for me. The skirt would have made the cut, since half my wardrobe seems to be red or orange, but the mint ice cream belt? Or the blouse... what colour is that anyway? Wimpy peach? Anaemic salmon? Not one of my go-to colours for sure. But now it's one of my go to blouses. Even anaemic salmon deserves a chance! Although I'll try not to resort to that argument tomorrow maybe....





On a slightly saner note, I love the "Ava Gardner on vacation" way these photos turned out. By the ever-talented Albert, as usual.

skirt, blouse and belt: charity shop, shoes: Fly London, sunglasses: H&M

low-key

I just spent a lovely relaxing weekend in Bonn. It rained a bit, but I didn't mind since I find that rain makes it acceptable to spend most of Saturday in your pyjamas, taking naps at 2 pm and reading. I'm the type who, if I sleep in past 9:30 on the weekend, is then in a black mood for several hours thinking of the wasted time. So napping to the sound of rain pattering against the window was highly unusual and just perfect.

Albert is renting an attic room in a flat, and I love sitting on the sofa looking out at the sky. I've always wanted to live in an attic, it appeals to the Victorian orphan in me, and this one fits the bill, except for some really nasty nudes the landlady saw fit to decorate with. Including an enormous paper maché one right outside the door that is pretty dangerous on night-time fridge-raiding rambles.

Anyway, these pictures were taken after all the napping, when we popped out to the local Beer Garden on the Rhine (I love life in this town). I took my new favourite dress for a spin, although it's not showing to its full potential underneath the sweater. Still, there will be several more occasions to bring it out when the weather heats up.





Photos by Albert

dress and sweater: charity shops, necklace: Les Jumelles, bag: Middlesex University fundraiser, espadrilles: Primark

urban beach

Okay, this outfit only goes to prove two things: I should iron occasionally, and I should not try to take pictures at 1 pm. But anyway, it doesn't much matter, because this is only what I wore to the beach! Now, London, being on a river rather than the ocean, is not exactly famed for its beaches. But in recent years, there's been a trend within Europe towards "urban beaches;" that is, cities that don't have them, fake them. In the case of London, this essentially means a large sandbox sitting next to the Thames on Southbank. But who's complaining? It's running in Tandem with the Festival of Britain, which means there are also colourful beach huts, performers, bars, fish and chips wagons, opportunities to sponsor an Albatross...in short, there's lots of fun to be had! A friend of mine from my course is doing her dissertation on urban beaches, which means she gets to spend the summer sitting in the sandbox doing "research." Man...

So, we got off the tube at Embankment and crossed the river


The huts each have an exhibition inside: my favourite one included jars full of sand from many different beaches around the UK, along with some fun trivia about those beaches.


The "beach!"


I know you're not supposed to take pictures of people's children but a) I think that's ridiculous and a sign of the extreme paranoia of our culture and should be fought tooth and nail and b) this isn't a child: she's a fashionista. She also had on awesome red floral sunglasses


I buried my feet, and gazed at the bunting, which, like 95% of bloggers, I am obsessed with at the moment


And generally enjoyed reading my Sunday Observer in the glorious sunshine and occasional sandy wind of London in the summertime!


Pictures of me by Raquel, who I'm currently staying with!

dress and scarf: charity shop, shoes: ancient Victorias, bag: from this event

send in the clowns

So, now that heads have presumably rolled at Google HQ, I'm back to my colourful, gallivanting ways! These pictures were taken in Bonn, and actually, I'm back in Bonn for the weekend, but since my blog doesn't start to pretend to be up-to-date, you won't see evidence of that immediately. : )

I find myself at a rare loss for words, so let's sum this up with circus = awesome, except in Mexico where they kept something like 8 tigers locked up in a cage together all day long, which was not cool. But the Germans have better regulations about these things, so I felt no qualms whatsoever about exploiting the excellent background that set up camp a block from our hotel. Also, be warned, it's about to turn into the summer of the headscarf around here.





Photos by Albert

jeans: Warehouse, blouse: Desigual (gift), headscarf: vintage, bag: hand me down, shoes: Steve Madden via ebay

striking a pose

So... I'm sure all my fellow personal style bloggers have had those days, and those photoshoots. Suddenly your location seems less magical, your outfit unremarkable, and there's a small cluster of Germans watching you curiously and intently from about 10 feet away. Well, maybe the last one has limited application. To cut a long story short, I was feeling shy.

So clearly the only solution was to take Albert's advice when he said "models don't look shy. They don't try and look pleasant for the camera. You should make some crazy model faces." Yesh. So all I'm saying is, don't judge me! On the plus side, I felt way better, and my uninvited audience eventually left, scratching their heads.







Photos by Albert (who couldn't keep a straight face in his own "model poses"). Everything I'm wearing is second hand in one way or another