BED...

This is one of my favourite images from Charlotte Gainsbourg's French Vogue edit. They used it for the single cover for the track "everything I cannot see" apparently.

I swear Vogue Paris is in league with the tobacco industry. Every issue is full of people looking soigné (or in Charlotte's case bedheaded) smoking a ciggie. Tsk tsk.

My current location and hairstyle are roughly the same as Charlotte's - sans cancer stick naturally.

Ah, Sunday...

(pic: Kate Barry)

I HAVE NO WORDS...

It was just the best Arabian adventure.
Some pictures are here.

Want . to . go . back . to . Oman...

I'M OFF!

I must wish you all a Merry Christmas before I leave for an internet free adventure - which is both exciting (because I've never been anywhere near this region of the world before, or away for Christmas) and a bit nerve wracking (because I don't really want to get stoned to death for a minor accidental infraction of a law I'm not familiar with.) But hey, it'll be sunny! And sandy. And so, so, different.

I'll be back with photos before the new year.

Christmas kisses from Lola who is slightly wary of her new babysitter but has no concept of time, so she will hopefully think I've just been out for a very long walk.

GINGHAM AND GINGERNUTS...

This is what happens when you try to make Christmas ginger biscuits and buy a Tova shirt at the same time. These gingernut biscuits shall henceforth and forever be known as Tova biscuits.

I was sitting there with my dough covered finger hitting refresh for about twenty minutes either side of the shop update time until I noticed that where the sold items had previously said 19, they now said 23. Yep, the shirts sold out before I even saw them go in the shop. I have no idea how that happened, maybe when I looked away for a sec to stir in the golden syrup. Those have got to be the most popular shirts in blogland - but I don't mind wanting the same thing as everyone else on this occasion. It would be quite cool if you bumped into someone else wearing one. They'd almost certainly be another blogeuse - it'd be like a cool secret club. Alas, this is not a club I have been able to join. Ah well, my shopping luck has been almost too good lately so I gracefully accept defeat.

So, back to the Tova biscuits. I cut them ,or should I say it, up into sort of crazy paving shaped pieces and they turned out OK.

Then I made about three more batches and eventually learned that a teeny tiny ball of dough on the baking tray spreads out to make an enormous biscuit. The recipe is from the Rose Bakery (love that place) cookbook Breakfast, Lunch, Tea and it's for Hot Gingernut Biscuits (P.150).
But it's the packaging of them to give to friends I enjoy doing the most. Wouldn't Martha be proud? I really think she would.

p.s. the recipe is here

UNDERMINING THE WHOLE "I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CLOTHES" THING...

S: So is that your new navy coat?

Me: No, it's at home.

S: But that coat's navy. Why do you need another one?

Me: Well, you see this one is for when it's not that cold and the new one is for when it's really cold.

S: Exactly how many navy coats have you got?

Me: Er, counting...about...five?

S: So you need one coat for when it's sunny but cold, with a slight northwesterly wind, a different one for when it's sunny but just a bit warmer with the chance of drizzle and so on.

Me: I'm so glad we understand each other.

GRIDSKIPPY CHRISTMAS...

I keep forgetting to mention what I've been doing over at Gridskipper.

As you know I am something of an expert on Christmas shopping, having a large extended family for which at the last count I had to buy THIRTY FIVE presents for. (Due to a cunning master plan put into practise last year, of point blank refusing to do the shopping for the first time in fifteen years, thus making others realise the ridiculousness of it all; we have slashed the present giving (and receiving) and guess what? No one really minded and Christmas feels just as Christmassy, if not more so now. And I have more time to buy better gifts. And less achy arms.)

But, what to do with all this knowledge of gift buying?

I have helpfully compiled a guide of places to buy cool Christmas (sorry - Holiday*) pressies for under £50 in London; which if I do say so myself is...well I'm pleased with it anyway.

Then, somewhat linked in my mind at least, there's a guide to London's Cosy (Cozy*) Drinking Dens where I shall be resting my weary legs by the open fire supping a pint of Guinness and eating packet after packet of salt & vinegar crisps as I survey my loot of just TEN presents this year. Ten, pah! Easy.

*I use US English on Gridskipper...confusing for my brain!

WINTRY...

Frost, crisp air, sky changing colour, hats, mittens, mulled wine.
I like it.

I also like expired polaroid film...

OH NO!...

Kaaaachung! That is the sound of yet another US interiors magazine biting the dust. Since the US seems to be a pretty accurate barometer of reading habits, any British folk who don't read anything online, never not ever and there's plenty of 'em believe me, had better start getting in the habit of scrolling. It will happen here eventually too. (Personally I have saved many trees and have read about far more interesting things since my conversion to the ways of the interwebs.)

That was a digression. What I was going to say is that if anyone in the US wants to do a magazine swap with me before Blueprint dies next month, (that is the Martha Stewart Omnimedia published Blueprint not the British architecture mag) drop me an email at lolaisbeauty(AT)hotmail(DOT)co(DOT)uk. I think the final issue will be Jan/Feb.

Blueprint has been really hard to get hold of here and the couple of issues I had I really liked - appealed to the perfectionist in me, what can I say - I care. I'd also like to swap for a current issue of Domino. So let me know: British Elle Decoration, Living Etc, whatever - I have loads of back issues of those as well so I'd be willing to swap two oldies for a newie of Blueprint or Domino or something.

I am suddenly transported back to the times of Michael J. Fox Back to the Future sticker swaps.

EDIT: Thanks to a commenter I discovered that though they stopped stocking Blueprint in Borders Oxford Street after the first two issues - they do have it in Tottenham Court Road Borders. And guess what? I went, I saw, I didn't like the Christmas issue! Sorry Blueprint, I'll buy the last one of you in January I promise.

VIENNA IN PICTURES...

My first impression of Vienna was a bit like this:

I don't know about you, but all that Verboten business compels me to stand on the wrong side of the escalator and ride my bike in the pedestrian lane.

Luckily, after a bit of this:

and numerous courses of this:

Oh, and a slice of this:

Things seemed much better. Oh, and we displeased the authorities by rushing into the museum twenty minutes before closing to see this:

 There were also trams. And beer. And the first opera I've ever loved/stayed awake through.

HELLO. MY ARM HURTS BUT DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR ME...

...because the injury is due to carrying too many clothes at the Mulberry press sale yesterday. Whoo. It's way too dark today to take pictures but I got the coat I wanted, (£995 on Net-a-Porter) for cheap! Also a bluebell print button down chiffon dress (for those Stevie Nicks moments), print bow blouse (love that word), a super long scarf, little tan leather gloves, a pale pink knit, a bag (supposed to be a manbag) but would perfectly fit a MacBook which I'd be able to buy if I hadn't just blown the Mac fund at the Mulberry press sale. Oh, and a couple of Christmas pressies I can't mention.

Quelle fun day. Thank you, thank you, nice lady for inviting me, you know who you are. You know when you were little and you'd wake up on Christmas morning really early because you were so excited and you knew you were going to get loads of presents? Well yesterday was the adult version of that, sponsored by Visa.

Oh, the dedication. I got up at six am to meet my partner in shopping for a sustaining breakfast. She, meanwhile, had got up at FOUR AM for the journey to London. While I waited for her at the Wolseley I read the Guardian, as you know I find it imperative to keep up with current world affairs. Oh, OK it was because it came with Louise Bourgeois designed giftwrap. Instead of reading the paper I looked at the pretty pictures in Charlotte Gainsbourg's guest edited French Vogue (which I like very much, perhaps even more so than Sofia's).

Eggs Benedict, plenty of coffee then a casual stroll to Mulberry to find an enormous queue snaking up the stairs. Once inside everyone made a beeline for the bags and something in my mind whispered, "The coat" so I ran off to find the coats and there it was, just one and in my size. I love good fashion karma. 'Twas a bit of a bunfight, but in a manageable, friendly way and we were very happy with our bargain loot.

A bit more shopping, open sandwiches in Liberty's tea room, (so civilised! except I kept spilling mine all over the table) could.not.carry.bags.any.more. My Cinderella shopping companion had to go as well so I went home to drop off the bags, on to an appointment then BACK to Liberty to meet C for the card holder evening (ginger cocktails, room to move and 20% off). I bought a few stocking fillers but not much else. Shopped out you see.

WHY DON'T YOU...?

...is of course the title of Diana Vreeland's famous Harper's Bazaar column in which she invited readers to wash their child's hair in champagne or to turn an old ermine wrap in to a bathrobe.

It was also the name of a kids TV programme in the 1980s; the title song of which went "Why don't you, why don't you, just switch off your TV set and do something less boring instead" which always struck me as a strange sentiment at the beginning of a TV programme. Maybe that's why it's not on anymore.

If you're in London this weekend why don't you:

* Go to the Cheshire Street and Friends Christmas shopping evening on Friday. I went last year, I think I blogged about it - yep. Mulled wine, mince pies and good design make a lovely combination. Shelf have got some new Shinzi Katoh stuff (pictured) which I get very excited about.

* Go to the Open Studios at Cockpit Arts in Deptford this weekend. On Gridskipper this week I profiled some of the designer-makers showing at the Open Studios, which is on all weekend. Again, I went last year and got loads of inspiration and a few gorgeous, unique Christmas presents - you end up doing that one for you, one for me thing. You can read my piece on it here or browse all the designer-makers and artists at Cockpit Arts here.

* Be in a film with Jude Law on Friday. When I went to see The Darjeeling Limited at the cinema, before Hotel Chevalier (the Wes A. short before the main film) they showed another short with Jude Law buying some fish from Applebee's at a deserted Borough Market, then standing outside and kind of wandering round. The film was quite arresting once all the females in the cinema had stopped muttering about Jude Law being a smarmy git. (Not that he was acting a smarmy git kind of role.) All I got from the short was that it was something to do with Tate Modern and then it said Friday, 30 November 11.30am. That's all. Well after a bit of investigation it turns out that if you go to Borough on Friday at 11.30am (and I'm usually there around then) they're going to re-enact the whole thing with whoever turns up. Clever marketing eh? I'm quite intrigued as I don't know how they're going to be able to film effectively just before Friday lunch time with tons of people spilling out of The Market Porter pub and masses of people visiting the market; as well as the additional people who've come along because of the film and oh, all right then, possibly the Jude Law factor.

DV image
Jude image

NORTH BY NORTHWEST...

I'll have what she's wearing.
Accessory wise I'd keep the hat, gloves and clutch.
The gun would perhaps be overkill...

And Cary Grant - best wearer of suits in cinema.
Swoon.

SUPERFUN...

*Being spontaneously invited to a Thanksgiving dinner held by real live US citizens (I couldn't go because I'd planned my whole day to the minute)...

*Making squash soup on Thanksgiving that included honey, sesame seeds, lime juice and cumin seeds in the ingredient list. Nice, if a little like a hot toddy...

*The idea of putting "Or You Better Watch Out" at the end of invoices after the bit about paying within 30 days...

*Getting fresh daily bread, yummy cheeses and superior wine all direct from France from the new French owned deli round the corner. It's just like being in Paris - what, did they read my mind? J'aaadooore gentrification...

*Catching my reflection and seeing that while I bumble on about clothes all the time, I've been repeatedly going out in public (and at night) dressed in old, baggy comfortable slobwear. My nails are now painted, my wardrobe re-organised. Bad knackered yet oh so comfy Ugg boots, keep away!

DECISION/INDECISION...

Well, that is funny. Impatient moi went ahead and ordered the Morning Glory Slate (before I got any of your comments!) Then I woke up this morning thinking how really, the print I'd imagined was something like this Eley Kishimoto print which you can't buy just as a fabric:

And how the colour of the coat looks best against fuschia. So I started browsing Volksfaden again and finally decided on this:

A quickly dashed email was sent to try and change the order before they cut the cloth, making it non returnable. Then, browsing Volksfagen again, which is the perfect relaxing activity to distract one from the pile of almost toppling over papers in front of one, I saw this:

Blue eyelashes, oh my...not for the coat, but...

I realised I cannot choose anything because I like them all and it really is such a good way to spend the day avoiding work, as is blogging, hence the blogging frenzy this week. So. I decided to accept my fate. And the nice lady from Volksfagen emailed me back to say that not only had she cut the fabric, she had already posted it to me. So I can attest to the amazing efficiency of the company and I'm sure it will look fine. I'll just have to order some 50cm lengths of my fave prints to satisfy this craving. That or be sent to a home for the textileally insane.

EVERY CLOUD...

I've been looking everywhere for some cute printed fabric to re- line my old "relegated to dog walking even though I don't have a dog" coat. I was thinking Liberty print but they're a bit expensive to use for lining, ditto Marimekko. And all the cool online fabric places are either in the US or Japan. Stumped was I. So what perfect timing that Jenny posted about Volksfaden fabrics. They're 100% cotton and ship from Germany. The prices are very reasonable (to someone used to paying pounds in London. Maybe the prices are just normal.) The Volksfaden website is very groovy and makes me think of all the things I could do with some good patterned fabric. So now I just have to choose one. They have some lovely Japanesey prints and I was thinking of going for something really mismatching and bold but in a (hopefully) good way. Notice I'm not showing you the coat as it is now. This is mostly because if anyone I know sees it they will think I am insane to still be wearing it after all these years. But you'll see, you'll see...

I've narrowed it down to three (the coat is steel grey/blue)

The Morning Glory Slate would "go" the best, but I really like Chestnuts Lichen and Chestnut Branch Eggplant too.

Eenie meenie minie mo...

THANKS*GIVING...

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrate it. It's such a warm, fuzzy, good holiday that I've decided to celebrate it tomorrow as well. Yep - just me, the cat and America. This year Thanksgiving falls on an anniversary that is hard for me not to mark with anything other than bleak sadness. Hi-jacking the energy of Thanksgiving and actually giving thanks will make it much easier I hope. A slice of pumpkin pie won't hurt either...

{my photo ©}

P.S...

I am talking a load of pants over at Gridskipper. Frankly darling, I am now so enamoured of this lingerie range that I would consider throwing out all my highly sentimental items of lingerie if only someone would buy me this orchid print robe...

FAVOURITES...

I sense the time is near. My very favourite baggy denim trousers that I've been wearing for god knows how many years are finally on their last legs ('scuse the pun). It is quite possible that the next time I wear them on a blustery day, a small gust will render me trouserless, standing in the street in my knickers, shoes and socks with wispy threads of soft denim flying into the ether around me. The trousers are now at the height of soft slubby perfection, but the moment perfection was achieved, the danger of them disintegrating increased. They have reached their peak and now must, like all things, decay. I can't even remember where I bought them - it was somewhere cheap and high streety - maybe Mango. I've looked high and low for a replacement but nothing can match them. Funny how my favourites are not expensive "special" pieces but ordinary utility clothes that just happen to fit, be useful and look exactly right.

Because I only buy things I really, really like, I expect my clothes to last forever. I get weirdly attached to items of clothing - the ones I end up wearing all the time. The Miu Miu coat I've had for ten years with the shredded lining will not be chucked out, it will be re-lined in cute printed cotton. If I can salvage something from having to be replaced then I'm happy, since there is no perfect replacement. I don't know if it's an English thing - certainly not a modern English thing but a throwback to the old make do and mend culture. I know people think I'm very strange for being like this, especially since I like clothes and fashion so much, but I hate to have an excess of stuff I don't need or like. When I make a mistake and buy something not quite right which gets left hanging unworn I get rid of it.

Looking through my wardrobe there's no clear theme, no clear criteria for what makes something perfect. It's not really a fashion thing, more to do with the fit and the cut and the quality. Which doesn't necessarily mean expensive - my favourite T - shirt is from H&M, not The Row. T-shirts aside, I lean towards the Italian way of shopping where you try stuff on and the tailor alters it so that it's just right. I get things altered or alter them myself quite often; but there's something I never knew about until A introduced me to a tailor at one of the shops in Venice. Despite having worked for big Italian fashion houses I'd never realised that the sarta (tailor) would also alter the look of something you buy to make it suit your style. Bloody hell, it's hard enough to get a pair of trousers taken up in London. And in Italy it's of course a free service.

Anyhoo all this to say that these cheapo denim trews were in fact a cornerstone of my wardrobe and now it all makes sense why I got so upset about my bag getting ruined at the dry cleaners, or why I was fully miffed at my Comptoir des Cotonniers coat only lasting one winter before it went all bobbly. Clothes that really work don't come along every day and excuse me coming over all Trinny and Susannah but it seems to me that this is the way to structure a wardrobe: forget about "Apple shapes with big boobs must wear empire line dresses" and "Are you a skittle or a brick shape?"

So, my winter cornerstones are:
Vintage military navy heavy wool trench coat (age: 60, adopted:10 years ago)..
Teal blue H&M T-shirt.. (age: 5)..
Massive Anna Corinna leather tote (will cry when it dies) (age: 1)..
APC wide leg navy corduroy worker trousers (age: 6 months)..
Stella McCartney for H&M black silk tuxedo skirt (age: 2)..
Beige cashmere APC sweater (age: 2 months)..
Stripy Marni cashmere sweater that I hardly ever wear anymore so it'll last forever (age: 6)..
1940s blouse top with little puffed 3/4 length sleeves (age: 60 ish, adopted: 6 months ago)..
Lyell 1940s style blouse top with little puffed 3/4 length sleeves (age: 1)..
Rutzou blue/grey plaid top (age: 3)..
Vintage plaid shirt (age: ?, adopted 1 year ago)..
2 pairs Miu Miu black wool trousers (age: 10)
White leather Converse (age: 4)..
Nubbly blue wrap long cardi bought in Florence (age: 12)..
Bruuns Bazaar metallic brown/bronze cardi and scarf and Naja Lauf satin kimono dress from trip to Copenhagen (age: 4)..
Soon to be R.I.P. denim trousers (age 12?)..
Long burgundy leather gloves (age 1)..
Vanessa Bruno navy wool button down dress (age 2)..

Sounds really boring, eh? Well at any one time or another I am usually wearing at least one of these items. Hmmm, lots of navy. Only one thing bought new this season (APC sweater). And that military coat goes through phases. Some winters I don't wear it at all but it's perfect for now - although it has always vaguely emitted an odour of curry powder.

What are your favourites/cornerstones and how long have you had them?

TO BALANCE PREVIOUS RANTING ...

Alternatively: Well, make me miss Paris why dontcha...

"...they're not comfortable at all and I don't wear them, but I love them..."
"When you ride a bike you use only the toes, so you can wear heels as high as you want..."

(no direct link, click on "Marais-Go-Round" to watch)

COMING UP....

The Dec/Jan issue of Paris Vogue guest edited by Charlotte Gainsbourg will be out on 29 November...

Tonight there's a FREE screening of This Is England at The Prince Charles Cinema...

The Darjeeling Limited will be released in the UK on 23 November. I've been waiting so long...have you seen the Wes Anderson short Hotel Chevalier with Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman? I watched it online a while ago but it looks like it's been removed. You can now only see it screened before The Darjeeling Limited or watch the 13 minute short in 4 parts on Youtube ...

On Gridskipper today (Beaujolais Nouveau Day) I encourage the drinking of wine for breakfast. Oh, you already were...