Clutched to My Heart

I want this enormous multi-coloured clutch bag.



Portfolio clutch by Asos, £33


It's leather, it's pretty, and it's big enough for all my crap. Plus, it's reduced from £55 to £33 in the sale. What more could you ask for?

Super-Bright Loafers: The Ultimate Neon Librarian Shoe?

As much as I love my little brown loafers, I am very much into all the super-bright footwear that's around at the moment. I came across a particularly gorgeous neon pink pair in Topshop at the weekend (see below), but colourful flats are cropping up all over the place right now.

• Pink Tassel Brogues by Topshop, £30

• Leather Tassel Loafers by Asos, £50

• Bow Loafer Flats by Schuh, £65

• Suede Loafers by Topshop, £28 

• Coral Canvas Loafer by Office, £30

I think what I like best about these shoes is the juxtaposition between their neat, scholastic shape and their jolly festive colour schemes. There is a real sense of a joyful disjunction between function and frivolity here, and I love it. I'm sure all five pairs would prove a valuable edition to my wardrobe; coupled with some contrasting coloured tights, they would fit in perfectly with my current 'Revenge of the Neon Nerd' look. 

Indeed, I did come perilously close to buying that pink Topshop pair - £30 is so cheap for something so beautiful! - but I was already buying a coat, a spotted dress, and some austere black wedge-heeled boots, and the shopper's guilt would have been too much. Plus, I already have a perfectly functional pair of non-garish loafers and some purple lace-up brogues; all of my sartorial bases are pretty much covered without the addition of these lovelies. Nonetheless, should anybody out there be looking to get me a PhD viva present, I can assure you that the neon pink pair in a size 6 would go down a storm!

The Love Bug

Earlier in the week, I promised you a post on insect-themed jewellery, and today is the day that I deliver! Below is a list of my top five pieces. A couple of them stray a little toward cutesy, I'll admit, but I think that the creepy crawly element keeps them just the right side of the line. My favourite? Well, I love the Gogo Philip scarab necklace (less chunky in real life, and very hip for Spring 2012), but the winner for me has to be the Topshop bug earrings. I love their detailed wings and iridescent shimmer. Long live creepy jewellery!

• Bug Pendent by New Look, £4.99

•  Bee Ring by Topshop, £15

•  Gogo Philip Scarab Necklace from Asos, £16

• Bee Studs by New Look, £4.99 (part of a set)

• Bug Studs by Topshop, £5.00

I dress like a nerd, but I did get the grades

My vibe was more librarian than neon today - an old pair of taupe paperbag waist trousers from Zara, a burgundy Asos polo neck, and some nerdy, tortoiseshell-framed glasses. I finished the look with the ultimate geek chic accessory, too - a PhD thesis. Yes, after approximately three years and two weeks of exhausting, frustrating, and massively fulfilling doctoral research, I today handed in my magnum opus. Winner!

Besides the all-important thesis, I accessorized my look with some little brown loafers (£14 from Peacocks!) and a fruity Kenneth Jay Lane necklace. I am still waiting for somebody to look at this piece and say 'Nice pear.' Come on people! It's a Carry On gag waiting to happen! 

Right now, however, this outfit is in a heap in the corner, and I'm slumped on the couch in a fleecy onesie. I was up until 6 o'clock this morning proof reading my work, and I only managed to get about three hours sleep before I was up and on the train to uni. Now it's most definitely my bed time. I just hope I don't have nightmares about my Viva...

Print on Demand

I'm loving the images coming in from New York Fashion Week 2011. I am particularly mesmerised by all the gorgeous prints - pattern and colour galore! It's right up my street. Check out these images from the Vogue website:

Derek Lam Spring 2012

Preen Spring 2012

DVF Spring 2012

I particularly love the Preen collection, with its pixelated pastels, lacy details, and miniaturized peplums. My absolute favourite so far, though, has to be Thakoon. The blazing brights, insistent prints, and gorgeous gold-tipped booties blow my mind, whilst the sugared almond hair is dreamy and delicious.

I'm less keen on the cowboy-style hats and some of the cross-body sari details, but there is a lot of this that I would just love to wear. It would certainly cheer up a long day in the library! I am particularly inspired by the extravagant, exploded paisley print which crops up throughout the collection, often placed in juxtaposition with other lavish fabric choices. 

It's given me some great ideas to try out with my new Asos shirt (pictured below). I've been working it with brown suede shorts, grey tights and Chelsea boots, but I think it's time to draw inspiration from Thakoon and pair it with something a little bit bolder. Bring on the Spring 2012 print clash!