If someone asked you to describe fashion, what would you say? Do you think of Vogue, catwalk shows and umpteen super-cool fashion bloggers? Do you love the latest Prada menswear collection, faithfully follow trends, or utterly detest being told what to wear? When talking about clothing, many people assume that the umbrella term fashion refers... Continue Reading →
It might sounds a bit strange to ask how a fabric handles, as this is usually a question reserved for sporty motorised vehicles. However, the definition is pretty much the same in both cases - "To behave or perform in a particular way when handled" - and refers to how the object feels. Handle is... Continue Reading →
As this year began, I headed to New York with Mr Topper to celebrate our anniversary and my birthday, to visit the lovely Rachael Gray, and also to spend a while getting to know the city a bit better. We holidayed there in 2008 and, despite doing only tourist-friendly things, absolutely loved it. This time... Continue Reading →
Sometimes it's good to wait. A few months ago I tried on a skirt in John Lewis and it was pretty much perfect for me. A wide waistband that sat on the natural waist, a full skirt, carefully placed patch pockets and beautiful button detailing down the back. It was the sort of wool mix... Continue Reading →
What do feminists look like? You never know when you might need to spot one, so I thought I'd put together a handy guide to assist with recognition. We can be any gender, race, shape or size but never forget one very important thing: Feminists always dress in a practical way. A feminist's heels are... Continue Reading →
My office is close to Oxford Circus and so sometimes the lure is just too great. I know that, thanks to Philip Green, Topshop is now seen as a bit of a beacon of corporate evil, but in my teenage years that store was the reason we came to London. I spent many a happy... Continue Reading →
I've always had a reasonably sustainable attitude towards fashion. Not because of a selfless desire to protect the world's resources, but more because, well... it's fun. As a child, I was introduced to the concept of second-hand clothes via 'hand-me-down' garments. As the older sister I didn't receive many, but the thrill of seeing a... Continue Reading →
Blogging is still very much a hobby for me, and so it's always exciting when I get an email from someone I've never met telling me that they love Rarely Wears Lipstick. It's even more exciting when the email is from someone offering me free stuff. OK, so you might think that an email saying... Continue Reading →
I've never been one for Primark bargains. It's mostly an ethical choice - how can they sell clothing so cheaply? - but it's also one of value. If I impulse buy cheap clothing, it will often be that same stuff which annoys me when it goes with nothing and starts cluttering up my wardrobe. I... Continue Reading →
Much as I love blogs where glamorous folk post photographs of what they're wearing, most of the time I lose interest after a while because they are more about following fashion than simply wearing clothes. Every day seems to be like something out of the pages of a style magazine for these people and it... Continue Reading →