You know what gets my goat?

...Unacceptable office attire. I'm not talking here about mini skirts or crop tops. I am talking about something worse. Something more offensive. More detrimental to the feminist movement than topless darts. I'm talking crap Polyester 'suits'. Be it trouser or skirt. Usually grey. Sometimes black. Hey, sometimes checked or striped. Bootlegged. Fishtailed. Whatever, I abhor them.  They are the definition of 'blah'. Though fictional, this conversation in class 80s powerhouse movie Working Girl sums it up completely.

Jack Trainer: You're the first woman I've seen in one of these things that dresses like a woman, not like a woman thinks a man would dress if he was a woman.
Tess McGill: Thank you I guess.

You don't need to dress like a man to get ahead in business. Equally you don't need to dress like a slut. I wear trousers but i also like wearing skirts and dresses.  If i feel i look too girly i try and edge it out with ankle boots or a sharp up do. Some women might like wearing aforementioned 'suits' but in my opinion, (and after all isn't that exactly what blogs are for?) they fall into the neither use nor ornament category as in they're neither comfortable or pretty.

For perfectly blah examples of this, see The Apprentice. Ruth Badger, Debra Barr, Kate Walsh, and they are just the memorable ones. I work in PR for a male dominated financial services environment but do try out as many new looks as i feel appropriate. Others may question the appropriateness of my outfits but i am confident in my professional ability and happily married so i dress purely for me. What i like and feel comfortable and confident in. Not to progress my career or boost my sex appeal. I regularly browse the blogs to see other examples of this being done well. My favourites include Audrey http://www.befrassy.com/ (Parisian chic at its most contemporary) Morven http://morven-catsandrockingchairs.blogspot.com/ Antonia http://thirty-days.co.uk/  and even even though it's not her usual contemporary casual style, India Rose has spoken about the shape her working look would take - (SEE BELOW)

IMAGE CARE OF http://indiaroseblog.blogspot.com/

I feel those in a fashion or female dominated industry have more of a free reign so i do feel slightly less creative than some of the blogs i've mentioned, like the less fashionable relative. But would urge the trouser suit brigade, next time you have an important meeting or job interview, mix it up a little. Hit the blogs or even Sex and the City reruns. The closest i have come to a trouser suit in recent years is a blazer, cropped cigarette pants and a vintage tee a'la Carrie on her date with Berger in Season 6. Why there is a Yes in Polyester, I'll never know...x Talia

the simple things...

Our usual alarm clock failed us down this morning (8.15am lie in? call yourself a toddler?) so as I'm sure is the case with women across the country, when in a hurry - LBD.  Or in my case and more office appropriate - MSBD (medium sized black dress). Jersey Swing dress - ASOS.

In the absense of a wake-up call, I also missed out on a morning hair wash so hairstyle today is sponsored by Batiste. After going for the mid length hair, my only concern was the logistics of my old stalwart, the messy high bun. I have discovered the only way to achieve this, without said bun resembling a singular Bjork knot, is with the help of my old friend the hair donut (as previously seen in styles such as the side bun). It somehow keeps it all up there in less of a messy fashion than i'm accustomed to but I'm learning us mid length girls will take an updo any way we can get.

Anyhoo teamed this with a chunky statement necklace from Primarni and New Look ankle boots recently acquired with a little help from vouchers codes.
 

Didn't think this would work in a collage and knowing what i'm like once i get through the door at home, thought i'd snacth the chance to take pics at work so scuse the surroundings of the disabled toilet...x Talia

Size 16 shirt fitting a 32B - Really New Look?

After getting my regular voucher fix, I noticed New Look had a 20% day and have had my eye on this shirt for a while. I love light sheer shirts but with winter drawing in and skin drawing pastey they do kinda wash me out so I love that with this, it's always black where skin hits shirt (black peter pan collar and black cuffs).


They only had size 16 left and although i'm usually a size 12, I thought what the heck (heart 1 -head 0). Well turns out going for the double cream rather than the half fat creme fraiche in last night's salmon pasta may have been a wise move as I've grown overnight and the 16 actually fits really nicely. As it's a nice, loose fit, I teamed it with skinnie black Zara trews and some patent peeptoe staples.

Am also well into my matt gold drop earrings at the mo and my GlassesDirect Mai Tai's as standard...x Talia

Intro...

After joining Twitter and getting pretty addicted to lots of blogs and tweets about fashion and generally just getting dressed, i thought I'd add my two cents to the mix, or two pence as it should be said in my native British tongue.


A small smidgen about me in case you empathize. I love reading blogs and scanning lookbook but as a mother and a 9-5 working girl (of the Tess McGill rather than the Belle du Jour variety) I love many of the looks i see but am under no illusion that after one child and not much of a gym routine, my time to emulate those looks are gone. I do however take inspiration from them in my own little way and thought I'd put finger to mouse in the hope of adding to the inspiration for women like me...x Talia