Uggh!!  It's winter.  So instead of saying "ugg" perhaps it's time to start wearing them!!

I'm sure I'm not alone in not liking winter one little bit. But, it is a good time to stock up on essential winter wear.  Can you be fashionable AND cold?  Methinks so....

Winter Essentials:

Polar fleece blanket

Winter Essential #1: Polar fleece blanket
Perfect for putting over your knees in the car during those chilly early mornings.  Use them on the couch, on your bed for extra warmth, the possibilities are endless!

Ugg Boots

 
Winter Essential #2: Ugg Boots
Keep your toes toasty with fleecy uggs this winter.  Comfy for wearing around the house and getting cosy in front of the fire.


For some extra style points, get the Jimmy Choo Ugg

Jimmy Choo Ugg

American Eagle Outfitters Wool Coat

Winter Essential #3: Woollen Coat
If you are wandering around the place and it's 5 degrees outside, it's woollen coat time. I predict a resurgence of wool this year...

Wool scarf

And last but not least, Winter Essential #4:  Wool scarf
Protect your neck and ears from the cold with a warm and stylish scarf.  Top off your look with warmth and style!

technorati tags: wool, winter, scarf, jimmy choo, ugg, ugg boot, wool coat, fashion, accessories, style, polar fleece, polar fleece

According to Yahoo Style Trends, 2011 has some interesting INs and OUTs.


So, without further ado, here's what is IN and OUT for the coming year:

 

Vampires - OUT

Well there's a relief. I always thought of vampires as nasty things for slaying with wooden stakes, not as eligible bachelors, but that's just me.  The point is, nobody has got it right since the Buffy TV series.  It had everything, vampires, Hellmouth, nerds, librarians and awkward nerdy and charming exchanges.  It seems that the latest Twilight movies and vampire TV shows in their own heavy handed and lacklustre way have elevated vampires to a desirable status.  The point is, vampires aren't really that attractive.  They don't tan (no beach trips), they drink blood (so dinner is right out of the question), they are always at risk of turning you into one of them, and they get a bit messy when they go out for a bite with their friends.

Communal Tables - OUT
Well yippee with maple syrup on it!!  I could never stand communal tables.  It was always a stupid idea.  I remember having to endure my own birthday party sharing a table with a bunch of noisy eating crusties because the restaurant "doesn't take bookings man, everyone shares the tables".

Well bollocks to that.  If I pay to go to a restaurant, I want a table for one, two or a group.  That is, people that I actually want to share a table with.  People I actually know and like.  The idea of eating food next to complete strangers with questionable table manners is my idea of hell.  I'd rather get take away or cook something myself until the restaurants can get it together to work out that people don't actually want to share a massive bench with strangers.  If I wanted that I'd go to a mess hall.

Austerity Weddings (ie. Kate and Will) - IN
I'm not sure I can count this $40 million "do" as "Austere".  Perhaps the article was being ironic?  Maybe it's more austere than $50 million...  

Anyway, if you as a slightly less royal person, want to get married, why pay a ridiculous amount like $30,000?  Can't you think of better things on which to spend your money?

Option 1:
1 big poncy day, lots of toasters and glassware and a highly pressurised (you HAVE to have a perfect time) holiday.  And leftovers bits from the $500 cake.  A large bottomless hole in your savings account or credit card.

Option 2:
A set of Callaway golf clubs, relaxed holiday, simple registry do.  Money in the bank.  Gee, let me think now...

photo courtesy of kelsey_lovefusionphoto

Ballerina Fashion - a'la "Black Swan" - IN
Pulled back hairdos, tu-tus and lots of makeup.  Hmmm.
Little does he know it, but I think there's a weirdo guy in Fitzroy who hangs around Brunswick street that's about to become extremely fashionable.

If this takes off, the whole of Melbourne will be like going out for a ciggy at College of the Arts or the National Theatre.  I hope that distinctive dancer's walk doesn't take off as well, it kind of looks like Charlie Chaplin on Ritalin.  That is, if Charlie Chaplin got rid of his walking stick, was really thin and wore his hair in a bun. 




SaveSaveSave's IN and OUT for 2011:

IN

Ferrets
Carmen Miranda fruit hats
Protective padding for vague people who text and drive or walk across busy streets
Leaves
Skin
No nail polish and short fingernails
Roses
Salt crystal and lava lamps
Queens of the Stone Age
Rock N' Roll in general



OUT


Stamps
Flat pack furniture
Australian/American/whatever Idol
Highlighter pens
Grass
Holidays in Ibiza
Guy Sebastian
Dance Clubs
Auto Correct
LOL, BFF, OMG

technorati tags: black swan, ballet, style, in, out, 2011, trends, fashion, accessories, the new black, queens ofthe stone age, rock n roll, charlie chaplin, carmen miranda, kate, william, wedding

I have decided to base this weeks' finds on a theme - a piece of music called "L'amour est un bouquet de violettes" or "Love is a bouquet of violets"

I saw the title for this music in a French film I recently watched on SBS called "The Colonel".  Here is a brief description of the plot from Gonz30 at IMDb: 

A "Reformed Colonel" is found dead in Paris, a couple of decades after Algeria's struggle for independence was won from France. Lieutenant Galois is assigned the investigation of this murder. She receives the diary of Lieutenent Guy Rossi who served under The Colonel in Algeria in 1956, and has been reported as missing in action since 1957. The revelations found in Rossi's diary go far beyond The Colonel's actions in Algeria, and give an insight on how dirty Algeria's War for Independence really was. Written by Gonz30  - Source: IMDb

L'amour est un bouquet de violettes

The Colonel (Mon Colonel)

The film's subject has nothing to do with my romantic musings.  BUT... The title of this song listed in the credits of the film suddenly conjured up images of Paris, images of shades of purple, flowers and well... Love.

So without further ado, here are my picks for this weeks' theme: for lovers of purple and purple lovers(?):

"L'amour est un bouquet de violettes"

 Etsy hotpinkchick's violet hairpin design.

Etsy wildgingersilk's Cobalt Blue and Violet Silk Wrap

Etsy envisage's Violet Rose Locket

Perfect for keeping a tiny pic of your loved one (*sigh*) - See, Tiny pic isn't just an image hosting website!!


And last but not least, it's not French, but it's purple.  In keeping with the "war film" theme, this poster was made in 1939 by the British Government around the start of World War II.  I love this message that still speaks to us today:

Keep Calm and Carry On

The poster was designed as a motivational tool to keep people calm when the Germans finally invaded.  As this did not eventuate, this lovely poster has been hidden away, not really seen by the general public at that time.  "Freedom is In Peril" and "Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory" were predecessors to this wonderfully reassuring poster.  It really is hard to imaging the extent of what they people had to endure during that time.  The bombs, the rubble, the hiding under the kitchen table or in the basement, the rationing of food.  We can draw a lot of strength from our ancestors and how they coped in those days.  It makes me grateful for how lucky we are right now.  Be grateful for those flowers on your table, for the clear skies at night, for the food in your pantry.  And the message still lives:  Keep Calm and Carry On.

I think I'll do just that.  And put on a nice cup of tea....

technorati tags: keep calm and carry on, purple, violet, France, French, Romance, locket, scarf, silk, moncolonel, the colonel,