Weekend wandering and outfits.

Home again this weekend - it's rare for me to go back so often but I've been needing the familial bonding. Yesterday we took in a nearby house and gardens (Duckett's Grove) and today we went to Dunmore East in Waterford and hit up the beach there as well as three others. It's been a weekend of wandering the countryside, eating and exploring places you're probably not meant to.

Today I was a wee bit of a hippy in a billowing Savida peasant blouse and crochet kimono-style jacket over black River Island leggings with brown Clark's gladiator sandals. Later, as the evening became cool, I swapped out the crochet for a more solid oversized black Savida cardigan. Yesterday, I wore a draped navy Primark blazer over my Isabel Marant x H&M top with white Paul Smith jeans and my Next skate shoes. Both days I had my trusty Topshop shades and vintage navy leather bag.

The funny thing is, I thought I was finally old and mature enough to wear white pants yesterday...I ended up climbing a grassy tower of a castle...obvs...and now they're covered in stains.

What is my life?

 

The Wide-Eyed and Blind Best of 2013.

There is little rhyme or reason to this list, just a love for everything on it.

Best Fragrance: L'Occitane Cherry Blossom.

It's the girliest scent I've owned in easily a decade but, boy, is it beautiful. LOVE.

Best Beauty Product: L'oreal Manga Eyes - Purple

Not so practical or natural looking but oh-so adorable. The most fun product I've bought in a long time.

Best collection: Stella McCartney AW 2013-14. 

She never disappoints. Particularly I loved the masculine shapes and fabrics, clean lines and continuation of something understated in a year when even Ms Philo nodded her head at something other than minimalism.

Best Buy: My Isabel Marant x H&M pants. 

Hands down. They're so comfy and lovely. Technically they were a gift from my siblings but meh, technicalities.

Here they are behind the tank which was a close second for this category.

Best New TV Series: The Originals/Once Upon a Time in Wonderland/Reign.

So, I bitched out and chose three. It was too hard to pick just one winner! The Originals is up there because I'm such a TVD fan and the spin-off wonderfully didn't let me down. I also have a wee bit of a thing for Phoebe Tonkin. And I'm a sucker for tales of redemption so I'm holding out hope for Klaus - although, he'd better not become too tame...

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland surprised me. I love Alice's character so much and to see the whole Damsel in Distress thing turned on its head is awesome.

And, Reign. How could I forget Reign? The costumes, the love story, the soap opera notes.....it's just perfect.

Best Album: Night Time, My Time by Sky Ferreira

I was waiting on this album and it held up. First album in ages that has been both a fave and danceable - all good things.

PS They're just boobs, world, get over it.

Best Track: Lift me Up by Mree

Repeat much? So, so beautiful.

Best Movie: Much Ado About Nothing/Before Midnight.

Joss and a fantastic third installment - what's not to love?

Best Book: Dracula.

Yes, I finally got around to reading it. And I was finally old enough not to be too freaked out (much). Bonus points for my edition being a reproduction of the original. So much nicer than gaudy, modern editions.

Best Editorial: Arizona Muse for Vogue Russia by Tom Craig, June 2013

So effortless and lovely.

Best Model: Arizona Muse.

Runner-up for Best Hair and one of my favourite models for a while now. She's defo having a moment.

Best Dressed: Mary Queen of Scots.

She may be a stylised version of the past and a character in a tv show but DAMN.

Best Hair: Freja Beha Erichsen

Sigh. Everything I want in hair. I've been banned by many people in my life from cutting my hair though....

H&M pour Isabel Marant pour moi!

Ahhh! So, here are the two pieces I bought plus the lovely bag they came in. If you haven't guessed, I was  utterly excited! Upon approaching the shop, I began to skip and smile delightedly. I grabbed my pieces - this tank and these joggers. The pants, embarrassingly, are for an eleven to twelve year old...but they were half the price of the adult ones so I guess being short has its upsides! When I went to the counter, the woman next to me had bought over a grand worth of Marant garments. I was pretty jealous but I was way more excited about my purchases worth one twentieth of hers - I think I'll keep my enthusiasm over her wealth! The rest of my day ran so smoothly and, it sounds stupid but I attribute it to starting the day off so well...

ARGHHHH. EXCITEMENT.

Isabel Marant - We know what you can do...is there anything you can't?

On my birthday, the images of the H&M collaboration with Isabel Marant that I'd been waiting so long for were released. Two days later the S/S show walked the runway. Hot damn! I want it all. Seriously. The collab gets you much of the staples of Isabel Marant brand whereas the show presents the next step.

Isabel Marant for H&M - My picks by fitzpac on Polyvore

The beautiful blazer in the show, however, is very similar to one in the collab, making current pieces more accessible to your average Jane.

The show is what you would expect: easy, boho, cool-girl chic. A mix of fabrics and girly frills with more tailored, perfectly on-point jackets. And though it's nothing unexpected, it's so what everyone wants that we're okay with that. Some designers shock and awe. Others consistently impress.

Can I order a slice of Parisian rock and roll cool?

Want, want, want.

(Images via vogue.co.uk)