Style statements

The Surprisingly Covetable Wardrobe of Lily Allen

jumpsuits, lily allen

It takes a lot for me to be impressed by some modern starlet in some modern outfits, but Lily Allen has apparently been out and about wearing a lot of covetable pieces lately. I’ve been a bit behind since before Christmas, mind you I’m usually 30-40 years behind anyway, and have been attempting to catch up lately. Nothing really impressed me until I saw Lily in the cream jacket (wantwantwant). Then my friend said she’d seen a photo of her in a jumpsuit I would just adore (even my non-vintage friends know me all too well…..”hmmm, a jumpsuit, better tell Liz!”).

Then I did a bit of searching and found the lovely blue chiffon number AND the awesomely 80s-esque black mini with some seriously avant garde styling. Team all this with a super cute haircut and well done make-up and you’ve got a mini style icon in the making. I’d be more impressed if they turned out to be vintage, but they’re probably repros. Sigh. Well, you can’t have everything can you?

I’m still no fan of her casual gear, but I’m going to ignore that for now…..

Another pair of scrumptious shoes I can’t wear…..

1970s, platforms, Things I wish I owned

Actually I’m not even sure I could wear them if they were my size. I’ve tottered around in some mighty platforms in my time, but none so mighty as these. They’re completely adorable though, in a messed up goth-y glam rock Minnie Mouse kind of way, and I love the little feature at the front where the platform sole is rounded so you can rock forward a little. A cute detail which makes it marginally easier to walk in them, but I would still need a taxi driver and sedan chair on tap if I had any hope of not falling over.
Size 3 is just obscenely enviably tiny. Buy them. Teeter around your house in them and just enjoy having tiny feet and gorgeous shoes!

Some eBay Picks

1970s, emma peel, eye candy, platforms, Things I wish I owned

Damn my big feet and head…..here are a couple of fabulous pieces which will never fit me but I would kill to own. Please buy and enjoy them!

I always become obsessed with hats in the winter. Sadly I only have a handful (and only two vintage) because I have quite a large head. Graduation day was entertaining I can tell you. I will post my two beloved hats at some point, a floppy felt number in aubergine with teardrop cut outs (very Biba) and a green suede Emma Peel hat by Edward Mann (who actually made the Emma Peel hats, so it’s a proper one too!!). If you ever see a great vintage hat with an inner measurement of about 23-24″, then give me a shout! I’ll probably want it! This one, the seller tells me, is a slightly stretchy 20″. But I’m not sure it could be 3-4″ stretchy!!

Peacocks and Wainwrights…

1970s, british boutique movement, janice wainwright, peacocks, website listings

Some may be negatively superstitious about Peacock feathers, but I prefer to take the more positive superstitions on board where Peacocks and their feathers are regarded as protectors and have mystical powers to benefit the soul.

Seems Janice Wainwright had the same opinion. I knew the woman was a genius!


Exquisitely embroidered and appliquéd, this skirt suit by British Boutique legend Janice Wainwright is one of the most stunning examples of her work I’ve ever had the pleasure of handling. The back of the jacket is entirely smothered in the gorgeous peacock and its plumage, with a handful of flowers and leaves surrounding it.

The rest of the outfit might as well be a potato sack because really the focus of the ensemble is this back. But luckily, Janice was in the habit of creating stunningly tailored and very wearable suits – of which this is one of the best! I love the fact that the optional belt for the jacket is embroidered to match, with the peacock feathers at each end. Iconic and of the highest quality, a classic and a collectable in one fell swoop! Available over at Vintage-a-Peel.

Fashion Icon of the Moment: Perri Lister

1980s, Duran Duran, fashion icon of the moment, new romantic, perri lister

One time Hot Gossip dancer, member of Steve Strange’s Visage, long term girlfriend of Billy Idol and the gyrating topless blonde in The Chauffeur video, Perri Lister is an absolute icon of all that was fabulous about the early Eighties.

With those huge, feline eyes always made-up beautifully to the hilt and her angular but still feminine figure…oh, and that insanely frothy, madly coloured hair, she is the very essence of the New Romantic ethos.

No mere arm candy was she though. As well as being a talented dancer, she co-wrote many of Billy’s biggest hits and provided vocals for him, for Visage and for her own short-lived group, Boomerang.

She’s also still completely beautiful and seemingly hasn’t aged a bit since her Eighties heyday. Perri, we salute you…and request personal make-up lessons immediately!

The Chauffeur. Lack of Durans are slightly made-up-for by fabulously evocative and stylish video (and Perri of course!)

On Italian TV with Visage performing Fade To Grey

Tribute to Yves Saint Laurent in Shoe Form

1970s, personal collection, platforms, shoes, yves saint laurent

By way of a little tribute, here are two of my favourite pairs of shoes….both by YSL.


Firstly the [faux I think] snakeskin peeptoes I wore to the Sex and the City film, coincidentally on the night he passed away.



Secondly, the black patent peeptoes with red platform soles and heels. Which I wore with my black and red striped Biba dress to the Scissor Sisters gig last summer.