Selfridges Designer Boards.

I'm so ungraceful.

Like, seriously. Yet, I can rollerblade and ice skate pret-ty well. But, for some reason, I've never gotten the hang of skateboards. It upsets me more than you will ever know.

Sigh.

...anywaaayyy....I still want to learn. And Selfridges' line of Designer boards is just the inspo I needed. May just have to go visit all my friends in London (why you keep stealing everyone I love?) specifically to buy one. I'm particularly partial to the Yohji Yamamoto and the Stella McCartney.

Anyone wanna join my gang? (Yes, I'll be forming a gang. Of youths. On skateboards no less. Be afraid.)

Prices start at £75. (Links below - click the mini-boards)

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....

Clutching at awesomeness.

How great is this clutch? I bought it to go with my grad outfit. Ah, grad outfits - what an ordeal! The perfect dress didn't materialise - I could find nothing minimal, black/white/both (dress code) and not overly girly. Then I thought about jumpsuits but fit and material got in the way. In the end I just went with my favourite skinny pants from Zara, a vintage cream blazer which is a real show-stopper and an opaque cami from Topshop. As I'd only bought a new top for the occasion, I decided to treat myself to a solid accessory as well. This Topshop bag is so perfect - neutral enough to go with anything yet shiny and awesome enough to be a pop. And also a nod to pieces by designers such as Stella McCartney. 

I thought I'd do a wee shoot with it to showcase its loveliness for y'all. What do you think?

June Photo Diary.

Because sometimes words are hard. So, take a second and just look at some photos.

Stellar.

She's done it again.

The Stella McCartney Pre A/W 2013-14 has me excited for next winter...and this one isn't even over yet.

But, seriously, it's kind of a blockbuster of a collection. First of all, I'm loving the shots which aren't always super-exciting for pre collections. But the combination of fun, cute model and plain but textured and visually interesting background is great. And then there are the clothes themselves.

It's almost like a checklist of things I love: ankle boots; chunky, wearable heels; navy; black; burgundy; camel; bombers; mannish coats; capes; a touch of androgyny; elegant silhouettes; and last, but not least, ultra-cool, uber-modern styling.

Love it.

(All images from vogue.co.uk)

Iconic pieces of the decade so far.

Okay...so I know we're only on our third year of this decade but I was thinking of pieces that have really affected me in the last few years and there were some massive stand-outs. Here are my Most Iconic Pieces of the Decade so Far:

5. Isabel Marant Sneaker Wedges:

So many tried and failed to combine runners and heels (I'm looking at you, Ash). This year's crop got them so right and while Marant wasn't alone in this, the label's version were probably the most lusted over. High street influence was huge and the "secret" height boost went down particularly well with Irish girls who can always do with a few more inches.

4. Stella McCartney.

...is not a piece but a person and label...obviously. In the last couple of years, however, she has produced items in almost every collection that have become "it" pieces for the season and which saw large-scale high street replication. I can't narrow it down any further so here are my favourites:

vogue.co.uk

vogue.co.uk

vogue.co.uk

vogue.co.uk - I WANT SO BAD.

3. The Alexa.

Mulberry's 2010 bag became the one to have and launched a craze for satchels that hasn't yet died down. I actually have on of these which makes the pangs for the other items on this list less painful, now that I think about it.

mulberry.com

2. The Alexander Wang Sweater Dress.

This is one of the first pieces that I was genuinely upset to be unable to attain. I still pine for it. The same show that featured this piece is probably also the root of the fishtail plait craze which lingers.

vogue.co.uk

1. Alexander McQueen's insanely beautiful last collection.

Particularly the first piece. Kind of the root of the opulence and baroque trends but years ahead as per. Still one of the most beautiful collections I've ever seen. Just try to tell that this isn't art.

vogue.co.uk