Welcome to Blondelle

I have always been a bit of a wall-flower even at Christmas when you are supposed to dress all bright and sparkly for parties. So, much to my horror, the fashion houses suddenly started bringing out a multitude of gold and sparkly numbers for this years winter season. It all started with Mulberry and  Oscar de la Renta showcasing  their lastest ball gowns. Long, elegant and striking, they are a strong contrast to the designs at Balmain and  Stella McCartney which seemed to represent tree decorations more than evening wear. “You’re never too old to shine, even if it’s just a pinch of stardust,” says Vogue fashion director Lucinda Chambers, but when is enough enough? And surely there are more subtle ways to wear this trend?

I suggest if you really want to wear elements of this fashion then start off with accessories which can brighten up an outfit immediately. With an LBD, wear metallic heels that give contrast to the plain black. Or wear a large sparkly ring, all easy ways of taking aspects of this style without going the whole way. I also found, whilst searching for a more wearable alternative, metallic tops and shirts with cute bow collars and  buttons. This, is what I can do. Not too fussy and can take you from day to night without much effort. If none of these alternatives tempt you, then it might be easier to find make up that works well with a neutral outfit.

So if, like me, you simply cannot bring yourself to go all the way with the metallic evening trend, then wear the absulute minimum with black or neutral pieces to avoid the feeling of stepping out like a Christmas tree fairy.

I read blogs for the same reasons as everyone else: I’m nosy. My favourite bloggers are those that seemingly use their blogs as a diary platform- they share their views, preferences and, of course, photos and we, as their ‘followers’, get an insight into the life of a perfect stranger. The problem then, lies with boundaries. I have always been intrigued by the idea of having my own fashion blog but have always dismissed the idea because I dislike the idea of anyone and everyone knowing so much about me just by entering my blog. Whilst the idea of creating a platform for my thoughts and inspirations appeals to me, adding photos of myself and making myself so easily identifiable does not.

For this reason then, I intend to feature all the things I like and dislike without featuring myself in such clothes. Aside from my hope to remain relatively in the shadows…I am also very aware that whilst I can pull off some of the latest ‘trends’- more often than not, I look ridiculous. Of course, this is not to say that others do! In this blog I hope to share my appreciation for all of my varying style ‘likes’ without favouring any one in particular and in turn, I hope to meet many like minded bloggers with which I can share my ideas with.

I am also really looking forward to covering, and subsequently hopefully discussing, matters surrounding fashion because lets face it- its never JUST about the clothes. Its about the people in them, those that made them and, of course, the opinionated among us who enjoy offering up our views on all of the above.

So- to kick things off I thought I would dive in head first and go for the Gaga. More specifically, her recent outfit choice for the Children in Need Rocks Manchester Concert stage here in the UK on which she began in a rather understated (for Gaga atleast) ’50s style backless black outfit, black gloves, pearls, red lipstick and Marilyn Monroe-esque curls before opting to shed a few layers and reveal …well…a thong and fishnets. Such then caused the inevitable murmurings about what is and what is not appropriate stage attire for this type of event. Well?

Like most, I was a little taken aback when she initially turned her back on the stage and gave us all a generous eyeful of her derriere but I can’t say I was offended, nor is this the most shocking of outfits I have seen on TV pre-watershed. In fact, I’m not altogether sure how JLo’s more recent America Music Award’s outfit differs- particularly given the way in which this particular derriere self promotes.

With a few exceptions (mainly Gaga) there is difference between what is acceptable on-stage and what is acceptable off-stage. If there is a time and a place for diamonte covered catsuits and glorified underwear it is probably the stage (and perhaps the bedroom!) I can appreciate an outfit whilst also accepting that when placed in any other scenario it would be utterly ridiculous…and I like that. I like the pantomime, the ‘dress-up’, of it all.