Nam, Nam VIETNAM!!!

OMG Vietnamese me up in every way, because I have done it, gone for it, booked it, mapped it, going there... two weeks in East Asia! That’s right gang I am seeking new climes and new adventures in Vietnam. Just me, my passport, and large quanities of Deet. (FYI its apparently the bestest bite remedy spray evvvvver! We shall see!)

An unseen, unimaginable world for me to tear up on sleeper train, bike, bus and foot. I’m literally shaking with excitement! Flying in to Ho Chi Minh City and making my way up to Hanoi soaking up as much culture, cuisine and terrain as possible. Look out world!

Scrapbook at the ready, I have already looked into areas that I want to venture: Hoi An, Halong Bay, Nha Trang, temples, markets and perfume pagodas. Listing everything to sort beforehand as well as to see/ do/ try/ buy whilst out there is pretty hectic. BUT WORTH EVERY SECOND! 

So I have applied for, and now received my Vietnamese Visa from the embassy in Kensington, for those who didn’t know, like moi, you need one to travel there. You can find out all the deets here: www.vietnamembassy.org.uk CHECK got mine:

 Plus I have already looked into the vaccinations I should probably get sorted (This site is really helpful: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk) and had my first rounds of Hep A and B, and my latest Tetanus. YOUCH and CHECK. Now I have an impressive pain threshold but jeeeeeez, be prepared for dead arm for atleast an ENTIRE afternoon.  

Bought my Lonely Planet guide as well as a Rough Guide (cos I’m edgy), got a huuuuuuge map on my bedroom door...waking up to that is INSTANT CHEEK TO CHEEK GRINNING ACTION. ..and I am bugging every fella/ filly I know who has done the stint themselves for all the best advice. This will blatantly be followed by many a post before I jet set/ possibly during and for a long time after. *Life altering stuff is this globe wandering...I hope.

All up in my Mode...

No gent I know would even consider TRYING out let alone pull off working it, working it, WORKING IT in prints like the below specimens. Maybe because real guys don't look like this!! Not my type at all, far too...erm what's the word? Ah yes IMMACULATE!

 Plus if I did run into say, this dude in the yellow cruising down Tottenham Court Road this would be my dilemma: one, he can fashion together an outfit beyond my realms, two: he is all kinds of loaded flaunting all kinds of Versace, three: has blatantly somehow lost his way from catwalk comforts and his smooth coated, air brushed lady/man friend, and four: might just be hallucinating again.  I fall for the less intimidating geek chic look: you know the one, effortless quirky meets mismatched shades, texture, marks and a hint of musk...sorry that is musky. A hot Where's Wally type.

That said, Mode have collaborated with designers, editors, photographers and pin sharp stylists to fix up this third  and very FINE fashion edition. Adrian Clark calls it 'moments of fabulosity' and whilst such will cost you shmoosers a 'six-figure budget' (and then some) the looks are all up in my Mode!!

Embrace these edits; the lavish or layed back look because presentation, comfort and PRINT are what's going on this summer.  Look at these stunning patterns by Hermes, they are incredible:

 In addition to the Hermes tribute, the Mode team have also clocked in time with a young rockabilly. Lasso you Mr Claflin (unbeknown to me before now) in your rodeo gear (although he does say 'motherfunker' in interview...). Very Jonny Cash slash Elvis no? So would! Well he is also deemed to be trending this year on screen, on our fashion pages and actually on every agenda.

 My what silky drawstrings you guys have too! Loving the texture and why not go all out on a Roberto Cavalli purple print pyjama suit!!??

BUT

...torso shmorso, because socks and sandals will never be a good look fellas...Flash visions of odd Uncle dress code slash European male tourist clutching at tube map. * Palp: so, so wrong.

Dent digs the London tribes...

If you have not done so already then read Grace Dent's article in last week's ES magazine titled ‘Which tribe do you belong to’ The London cliques that Dent draws up are too in tune it’s uncanny, seriously nail on the stereotype head! 

 The pivotal details are everything and after glancing through each type for my own tag line title, I re-read to digest the deets on each. Whilst I could not bring this fleet together, mainly because I’m clearly not down with the kids slash ‘Hackney high-rollers’,  Dent's satirical spin is an example of her journalistic finesse.

 It’s scrutiny at its absolute best because as a reader I immediately recognise the components of these new fangled cliques, as will you. I read this article amidst slurps, spills and actual outcries of 'so true!!!’ in my local coffee hub. The ‘plums’ and ‘Proust’ line almost had me on the floor!

What the F do I know slash care (in a nice way) about yummy mummy matters?! Yes, I have come across the odd lactivating ladies lunch, which has not only ruined my own but also ear witnessed the all important 'baby Pilates’ and cashmere thrills and spills chat. What happened to hand me downs and a walk in the park? 

Likewise, I am streets apart from the ‘W11 literati’, not even remotely close to home owning, visiting Twat Boutique or do I have any burning desire to photograph my food...eats, shoots, leaves no?!

Buuuuut I do spy the odd self categorisation here and there: totally agreed that spare time should be spent ‘scouring eBay and the Blitz warehouse for bygone bargains’. Yes ‘the devil is in the detail’ and maybe I do kinda (defo) want to be a in the ‘Twitter-loving Londoncentric columnist’ groupy, columns being devised:

wearing a hoodie over a nightie, surrounded by coffee cups, expense receipts and dying plants...[only to] leave the house, if it’s for the matzo ball soup at Mishkin’s or gin at The Delaunay.

This was so me writing my dissertation! Fact of the matter is that these are undoubtedly a movement of 'peoples' swaggering central’s pavements right now. Is this down to society's psychotic celebrity obsession #WellJel? An inherent wealth that falls into smug laps? Or an ever present class divide that leaves the likes of Florenta ‘silent, nocturnal and habitually unacknowledged’?

Muma may I just say...

In light of International Women’s Day last week, and not just for the imminent Mothering Sunday (damned if I'll be sold into another commercial money making enterprise...aside from Christmas and Easter, oh and I do heart Valentines...doh) am I dedicating this entry to my Ma. Because she is my undisputed champion. The constant in my little universe, my clingon who carries on loving and wowing me through everything...Hands down, my First lady.

 

Yes, for all the mandatory reasons (vile moments of adolescence, break ups, scraps and sickness...the endless list) but really for being the one person who still knows me more than I know myself. When flailing she is there waving, reassuring me and I feel safe knowing that she will never see me drowning. 

Yes, yes it has been known for us daughter types to do the brush off thing and race ahead into an all consuming, independent city life:  “Seriously mum we spoke just last week”, “Oh yeah that happened ages ago”, “Errrm maybe the following weekend...?”  But when it comes to it, Mum you are always there in my head and heart behind every conscious move, decision, outfit, recipe, novel, trip, pitch, panic and glitch. Completely completing me.

You have given me Sinatra, Enid Blighton, JFK, etiquette and expectation, a savvy eye for a bargain, a ferocious steer on the road, a pride in myself and my approach to life, The Way We Were, poetry, Compton Abbas, interiors, Austin, Constantine Bay,  The L Shaped Room...and ‘love, love, love in all the world’.

What's more is that as I clamber through my twenties I realise that I am becoming more and more like you Muv, something that I willingly accept and encourage because I think you're pretty f***ing fabulous. The crunch in my peanut butter, the HOT milk in my Americano...my MUST HAVE.

ATLINW

xxx

Mother of all jeans...and leggings!

Holy double-vented comfort, stark, chic SEXY leg wear ladies! I am in love with the MOTHER of all jeans; this pair is my latest lust slash MUST MUST GET ME SOME (that is, get me some monies to pay the dollar bill which would cost me both pins to wangle: $250).  

The style is called The Looker, the colour is called ‘A Day in Paradise’ (it’s all in the name, I am SOLD!)  and they are part of the MOTHER collection by denim vets Tim Kaeding and Lela Tillem. Only these will do for my summer wardrobe this year. Please, please magic me up a pair somehow, somebody...I could go on but I’ll let you have a little look...

 

MOTHER says ‘Our idea was to create a brand that captured the excitement of our own newfangled denims.’ Revolve Clothing say ‘Expect your favorite styles reinvented along with bell bottoms and not-too-skinny skinnies.’

Whilst I am really not loving the AZTEC look, nor do it wear the pastel shades paraded on the catwalk well, I am completely feeling the loud print trousers. Bold, bright, neon styles to work with flats and a white tee, or to sex up with some shmokin’ eyes and a few inches underfoot. Have a look at some of my favs, I have these gold ones from H&M and they work like a charm.

 

Gold skinnies from H&M £24.99

 MOSCHINO Pattern trouser £311.00

GIANNI VERSACE VINTAGE printed trouser, see farfetch from House Of Liza
London, United Kingdom: £428

 

Versace for H&M, Trousers, £39.99

 

Hawaiian Print Trousers by Stella McCartney at Selfridges Top of Form£665.00

Red Fashion Mutant – trousers €274.99

  ALEXANDER MCQUEEN pattern leggings see farfetch Al Duca d'Aosta Mestre, Italy: £328 

JUNYA WATANABE COMME DES GARÇONS Leather trouser, see farfetch from L’Eclaireur Paris, France

These looks are also fabulous, especially the pale blue print trousers. I am on board the big, quirky, STATEMENT print band wagon for sure. So long as it bypasses the over done, cheap, chavvy animal print look. Also if its floral, for me its got to be 'out there' so as to escape the mumsy/ monsoon/ Lispsy pot holes.

 I'd happily wear the below for the rest of my days, LOVE IT ALL >>>

Awrite ma wee hen

Edinburgh bound! Oh what a treat- a city getaway for a couple a days! Now a post on all things Scottish is such a cliché, but that said I do love me some tartan (never a fashion fail) and a whole lorra shortbread!

This post is to voice my Edinburgh experience (no accent attempts because mine just don't cut it: so I'm Gonnae no' dae that!) Oh the picturesque landscapes and architecture, the history and a view of distant highlands...lots to see, do and soak up.

 It was beautiful...truly. And whilst the experience was a little Pampers crazed due to our baby central staying point (friends who have babies and marriage do change there’s no de-crying denying it...of course they would and I will too, but I’m still a spring chicken slash baby who can 9-5 as well as 5-9!). Thank F for the Gamay vino on tap * a real winner * plus it was fabulous to see familiar faces and happy families.

So we did the medieval Old Town and the Georgian New Town by visiting the Castle, the Royal Mile and then George Street, Princes Street and the National Portrait Gallery in the three days there. And whilst it was warm and sunny...oh not the people, no not so much. I had to refrain from soccer punching- almost every bastard bus driver I came in to close proximity with...not short changed just ''DON'T GIVE CHANGE'' (or directions apparently). My ramblings met quite a grumpy collective actually, which initially laughable became a little tiresome. Where is the Scottish charm? Has it really been doused by tourism in these city streets?

The abundance of AMAZING hotels (gawped at from outside of), restaurants, bars, cobbled streets are all worth a ganders and a mill around slash getting a round in. It was super busy as with any city centre, so my two cents worth says book a long weekend and fly over. With some cheap and cheerful easyjet flights you can be there in just over an hour no probs. Guid Luck!