Party dresses...

Reiss is my very favourite clothes shop, it's a shame that I can't afford a damn thing from there and I just destroyed the only item of clothing I've ever bought from them - a perfect pair of wide leg, grey linen-esque trousers that I've worn and loved for 7 years and that I hoped would survive at least another 7, or until they don't fit me any more, which I bought for £15, reduced from £100. Seven damn years before I put them in the wash at 60 degrees instead of 40. Fuck.

I nearly bought my wedding dress from Reiss, and then I nearly bought a second wedding dress from Reiss and then I nearly bought a 'it's the week of the wedding and I need something beautiful to wear' dress from Reiss and now the buggers are tempting me to buy a 'it's nearly Christmas and although I never go to parties I need a party dress' dress...

Despite having expensive taste I manage to exert an admirable level of control over what I actually buy (which is very little these days). For which I think I deserve a reward, say.... a deliciously fruffly (feather shapes + ruffles = fruffles) black silk dress....

All dresses from....Reiss and all pictures link to the delight in question.

Because...

...I want a dog (any dog, even a stupid one) and it's nice to be reminded of a day when my head wasn't full of snot nor were my boobs inexplicably damp.

A little something from the day after the wedding, when The Boy and I got all dressed up and went to play in the gardens.

Photo by The Boy

Things I need....

1. Directions to your favourite photographer's websites - I am finally making one and I need inspiration.

2. A cure for the flu - I have an interesting strain, the most distressing symptom of which is waking up at 7.30am with extremely sweaty boobs. Now I know you don't want to know that I have sweaty boobs but it's perplexing me so much I really felt that I had to share this symptom with anyone who will listen and as I can't get off the sofa and I have a captive audience at my mercy it is you unfortunate bastards who will be privy to the information. Make of it what you will.

3. A puppy.

4. Or a small owl. I'd really like a small owl.

(For those who are not owl aware, this one is the size of a small guinea pig. And you might want to turn off the volume, the people who filmed this are really quite annoying.)

I would appreciate it if you could help me with any of the above. Ta. You will be repaid in snotty hankies, the only currency in which I'm rich. Or love and gratitude, I have those too. Take your pick.

I can't decide...

I can't decide if this is gorgeous or if it looks like an unfortunate incident in a feather and glue factory...

Bijou by Elizabeth Filmore.

A little something missing...

So, those who have been following my bridal adventures may have noticed a little something missing from my wedding attire...

The controversial bird cage veil that I loved and The Boy, well The Boy did not, but that I was going to wear anyway because I loved it and it made me smile never made it to the wedding. About a week before the big day I'd had enough with playing bride, dressing up wasn't fun any more and I just wanted to feel like myself. The veil was fun, but it wasn't me. I don't wear veils, brides wear veils but I didn't want to be a Bride any more, I just wanted to be me, marrying the man that I love, in a wedding dress.

In planning the wedding it seemed that becoming a Bride for the day was pretty much a given and as such I had to do the things that turn a normal woman into a Bride - white dress, veil, bouquet, bridesmaids, lacy undies, expensive make up. It seemed that being me wasn't enough, that a woman without all that crap isn't special enough to get married and a week before the wedding I couldn't take it any more. So the veil was ditched and honestly, I was so happy without it. When I looked in the mirror I looked like myself. Sure there was a wedding dress, and a bouquet and two pretty minions with flowers to do my every bidding and that was enough to make me Bride, but those things actually made me a little uncomfortable and I wished that I felt a little more myself, a little less Weddingy. Me in a veil would just have taken the Wedding Game a little too far.

Playing Bride was fun for a while, but I didn't want to play on my wedding day. I was tired of dress up, I just wanted to be me, marrying him. Which as it turns out was quite special enough for both of us.

That's not to say I don't love a veil on other women, veils can be utterly fabulous and if you're comfortable playing Bride then I absolutely say go for it. Even if just for the reason that veils make for the best photos!


Photo by Lillian and Leonard and via the blog.

The love for The Shoes....

It started with this photo which I found when a lovely lady sent me a link to her lovely blog...

It continued with this dress...

(which with a sprinkle of magic turned into this dress...)

And all hope was lost when I saw these...

Then these tickled my sense of humour...

And these my sense of style...

This melted my heart...

And this filled me with wanderlust...

And when I saw these I knew I had been lucky enough to glimpse a heaven it was unlikely I would ever touch...

And then I dropped dead. For the love of shoes and other ridiculously gorgeous things.


All of these images were taken by the very talented Marie Labbancz and came via her blog, Art of Love.