"the girls in their summer clothes pass me by"

Hello, hello. I'm back. In case you'd forgotten who I am (and let's face it, I wouldn't blame you), I'm apparently the worst blogger in the entire world. Just a quick note to say many thanks to the people who have still taken the time to check the blog over the past few months. I could give you a billion excuses but really, I just think your patience is commendable - I'd have given up on me long ago.

One of the many reasons I've been horribly absent is that I've been on holiday. The Mister and I made a somewhat last minute decision to stay at Le Meridien Hotel & Spa 5* resort in St. Julian's, Malta, and it was just perfect - here are a few pictures. I see this as a sort of last hooray for summer style, as Autumn has reared its actually-not-very-ugly head here in the UK. (Think conkers and falling leaves, as opposed to grey skies and drizzle, which I'm sure are just waiting in the wings for now.)

Frolicking in St. Julian's bay, wearing Topshop on Topshop
(forgive me o fashion father, for I have sinned.)

Faux-vintage bathing chic, courtesy of H&M
(robe) & New Look (bathing suit).

St. Julian's bay.
Streetlights and railings and quaint Mediterranean charm.

I don't know who Basil is, but I'll always
appreciate thoughtful street art.

Balluta Bay.
I really recommend the restaurant left of the arches - Barracuda.

The view from our balcony.
Just beautiful.

Me clambering over rocks in a much less ladylike manner than
the pictures suggest, at the blue lagoon, Gozo.

The bay. It was just so pretty,
I couldn't stop taking pictures.

The phenomenal blue lagoon.
I've never seen water so perfectly clear.

Other than that, the Summer just seems to have passed me by. I've had a very busy few months - I finished the second year of my degree, passed my exams, turned 21, went to Paris for the first time since moving there as an eighteen-year-old and whilst there, saw my first ever opera, and moved to Singapore and then moved back (a long, not-very-interesting story about graduation, job prospects, finances, etcetera etcetera). Later this week I'm going back to Leeds for my final year.

So, I guess my final request for this post is that you stay posted for more posts on all of the above. And in turn I promise to not use the word 'post' so much.

Ciao for now,
Charlotte

Rule Britannia

I think it's super-duper important to support homegrown talent. This is relevant to all the arts - music, theatre, film, literature, the list goes on. The future of the arts in Britain looks like it might be somewhat compromised at the moment, but I'm not here to get political. I'm here to say I love fashion from all over the world, but I'm especially proud of British style. Historically, Britain is associated with both prim and proper elegance and raucous, anarchic movements and the style here tends to reflect these traditional yet forward-thinking values, much as it does in places like Tokyo.

Young British Designers is, unsurprisingly, a wonderful website that showcases the best of emerging British designers and raises the awareness and availability of these brands. Such a great idea.

Visit the website here, and follow them on twitter here. They're great to follow if you're at all interested in fashion, and actually run by real people and not weird advertising-bots.

But for now, here are a few of my absolute favourite items from the site. (These were admittedly tough to choose - sorry there's so many.)

  

Studio Nicholson Cortina Indigo Jacket, £299

Olivia Rubin Bubble Hemmed Georgette Jacket, £154

Jena.Theo Blue 3D Silk Jacket, £720 £350

  

David Longshaw Silk Feathered Embellished Dress, £450

Minna Tara Dress, £300 £175

Jenna Gibson Cream, Peach & Blue Shirly Dress, £950

  

Kirsty Ward Peach Short Layered Dress with Cut Out Panels, £375

Kirsty Ward Peach Pleat Fronted Trousers, £399

Simeon Farrar Silk Feather Skirt with Paint, £257 £110

  

Irwin & Jordan Harry Vest, £110

Irwin & Jordan Georgie Lace T-shirt, £225

Irwin & Jordan Navy Lace Billy Mini Skirt, £230

 

Ada Zanditon Dark Denim Merulina Shorts, £190

Sykes Black Leather Wrap Skort, £499 £249

LP.BG Mini A-Line Skirt in 100% Wool, £320 £130

  

Olivia Rubin Brick T-shirt, £81 £45

Viking Wong Baseball T-shirt, £69 £39

Viking Wong Bold Shouldered Tailored Jacket, £695 £295

  

Sophie Gittins Navy Mabel Shoes, £536 £336

Lislie Yeung Chantilly Lace Pump, £385

Sophie Gittins Mint Orient, £350

They also stock the already-infamous She Died of Beauty t-shirts and totes, featuring slogans like 'she died of beauty/individuality/love/perfection/kisses'. They're incredible and edgy and whimsical and tongue-in-cheek and so very, very British.


...and only £40.

Snap one up here. Don't say I never treat you, readers.



These aren't all the most affordable items if you're on a budget, but when you're owning a piece of fashion history, paying a small amount more than you would for a high street piece is more than worth it.

I'm not sure I can do YBD the justice they deserve, so here's a link to their 'about' page. Please take a minute to have a look at the site and see which pieces you love for yourself. I guarantee there'll be quite a few.

Ciao for now,
Charlotte


[All images from www.youngbritishdesigners.com]

Domo Arigato for the Gelato

The perfect tasty accompaniment to all those sorbet shades I've been incessantly blogging about? 

Proper Italian ice-cream of course.

The last few days I have been craving Summer and craving ice-cream from Gelato Mio in London's St. John's Wood. Or any gelato available in Venice, but that's slightly less accessible right now.

So, when, last Summer, I couldn't emulate my ice-cream-eating-atop-the-Rialto-bridge of the previous Summer, this is where I went:

Image from viewlondon.co.uk

Not usual for me to do a food post but when a girl needs ice-cream, she needs ice-cream.

And p.s. the lovely Italian gentlemen there are partial to offering the odd free scoop to customers who behave very nicely.

For more information on Gelato Mio, visit their website.

Ciao for now,

(unusually appropriate)

Charlotte

Maxi-mise your Potential

I'm not really much of a maxi-dress person. I always thought I was too short for them, but then I figured if Rachel Bilson can look good in them, why can't I? She is my height after all. Although unfortunately for me, that's where any physical similarity ends.

I  already owned one maxi, a traditional 100% silk one that I bought in Bali but it's not something I wear often.

So lately I splashed out on this maxi from Topshop. A couple of years ago I saw a picture of Naomi Campbell wearing a similar one (also from Topshop), but to my dismay, I could not find it anywhere. When I saw this, first online, and then in store, I just had to try it on. And then I just had to buy it.

Rose Print Sleeveless Maxi Dress
£75
Topshop

Maxi dresses are great because they hide all manner of sins, and I can just imagine wandering around somewhere hot and lovely wearing this, sandals, and a braided hair style.

So I guess the moral is: this Summer, take your fashion to great lengths and maxi-mise your potential.

Ciao for now,
Charlotte

It's not over until the fat lady sings

I just ordered my first ever opera tickets. They're a birthday present for my mother.

My beautiful Mummy, aged about 21, in her nurse's outfit and rocking the bowl-cut.

(Excuse the quality of the picture; it's a photo of a photo)

I also got her some silver jewellery and a pretty scarf, but her main present was our tickets to see Cosi fan Tutte at the Paris Opera in July.

I've never been to the opera before so I'm super-excited about choosing what to wear; I'll keep you posted on that. It will also mark my first return to Paris since living there. 


We'll be travelling there by Eurostar and I'm currently looking for good deals on nice boutique hotels.


And of course, the Palais Garnier (where we're seeing the opera) is absolutely stunning.

Here's a few pictures I've been scrolling through for hours in my state of ridiculous excitement; they're a bit tiny so click here for a virtual tour.

     

    

Images from www.operadeparis.fr

Ciao for now,

Charlotte

Faded Seaside Glamour

So, some of you may remember that a few aeons ago I went to visit my Nana in Blackpool.

I just wanted to share some of the other pictures I took on my BlackBerry (once again, RIP old friend) of my trip. If you've never been, it's a very strange place. I feel so connected to it because of my childhood memories but it's definitely not still the elegant place where my Nana used to go ballroom dancing in the Tower Ballroom. It's got it's own charm though, I promise. And obviously, being Lancashire, the people are the best. (Biased? Me? Noooo.) I think the phrase 'faded seaside glamour' is perfect to describe lovely Blackpool.

My Nana actually lives in Lytham St. Annes, just down the road and she lives right on the seafront, so pictures at the beach are taken right next to her apartment complex.

And of course...

If you ever get the chance to visit, do!

And, as usual, all these pictures are my own but you're welcome to use them if you link back to this site (http://anyonelivedin.blogspot.com).

For more information on Blackpool and the surrounding areas, visit this site.

Ciao for now,
Charlotte