The jamie jean

Jeans | Topshop. Coat | ASOS. Trainers | Nike. Hoodie | Razors (Boyfriends)
Ask any man or women and I'm sure they will say jean shopping is probably the hardest shopping task (besides bra shopping - that's just a whole other ball game.) Whether you're tall, average or petite sized, there's something incredibly difficult about finding the right pair. Sometimes you can search the high street for hours and not find a jean that suits your height, shape and size. Come on retailers, its 2016 - Is it really that difficult to create that perfect pair of jeans that fit? Unfortunately it is and I'd say I currently only own one pair of jeans that fit, don't fall down when I walk and are not too short. Behold, the Black Jamie Jean from Topshop - (featured above.) These came to me on an after work shopping trip when I'd tried on everything in the shop and felt totally deflated and shit (we all have those shopping days). I thought they called it retail therapy- sometimes I leave needing therapy (slightly dramatic) or at least a glass of wine. But once you finally find a great pair of fitting jeans the fun really does begin, so far I've teamed these with heels and a blouse for dancing, trainers and hoodies for casual/lazy/hangover days and with anything else that creates that in-between look. I often wonder if I should have bought two pairs but then the high street has far too many other goodies to enjoy, don't you think?

The new and improved Playboy

Last week saw Playboy launch its first non nudie issues since its first publication in 1953. I'm sure there's many individuals around the globe that may be outraged by this. Even Playboys German publisher Flanders retorted 'are you kidding?'

The magazine has recently seen plummeting sales that have averaged 600,000 copies per month, have in mind in its hey day (1972) the publication sold a whooping 7.2m copies globally per month. I'm guessing it was time to take drastic action - even Hugh Hefner the 89 year old editor-in-chief said 'the time is right'. Let's be honest, a magazine with nude women on the cover seems rather dated for 2016, let's face it a few mouse clicks on your computer can pull up any adult content required, regardless of sexual preference or gender. 

I'm not going to judge the women who have graced the covers for decades because as women we are fine to do with our bodies what we please. But I will say women don't need to show their tits to look amazing - as the new playboy cover of the March issue shows us (its snapchat and selfie star Sarah Mc Daniels.) She quips 'we are much more relaxed with our bodies and images of ourselves. This is very intimate'. 

Maybe now picking up your monthly issue of playboy (now placed with the 'normal' mags, yes - it will now take pride of shelf with vogue and Conde Nast Traveller) won't be so embarrassing, gone is the time of having to reach to the top shelf and peel back the plastic whilst nearby shoppers watch. 

I'm guessing the creators of playboy are hoping this re-design will bring a new audience to the magazine and the latter should make that easier. 

It's not only the cover that's had a overhaul - new columnists have joined the magazine and for the first time in the history of playboy, a woman will write the sex Column 

All this talk of playboy has got me thinking about being exposed and comfortable - I know personally I'm not ready for bikini season just yet! Clothed - I'm just about okay with. Hopefully my techno friend/app 'my fitness pal' has me somewhere towards that goal. But really on a day to day basis how many of us are actually okay with being nude? Or even semi- clothed? I've only just realised there's no cubicles in the changing rooms at the gym. Instead of being given the option of whether to change in front of strangers or behind the privacy of a curtain, you are presented with a communal bench and a locker! Going topless on the beach if you're past a C cup (like me) feels like a no go area but for those who dare - why not. Is this to tan those white bits or is it about something else all together? Self-esteem, confidence, not giving a shit, egotistic? Who knows? Maybe this is where the saying 'if you've got it flaunt it' works best. 

As for the future of no nudie playboys, I'm sure the creators and Hugh are wanting to see the newly re-invented magazine carry on influencing and entertaining individuals for the next few decades and if not at least they didn't go down without trying. 

Image Source - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail

Five t-shirts and three dresses later

Dress, Coat and Boots | Topshop

It was only yesterday when my sister proceeded to ask me if I have bought anything new that I realised in the last two weeks I added two new striped pieces to my wardrobe. One being this striped dress that has me slightly resembling the Hamburgular from 1990s McDonald's ads and the other being a frilled number from Zara, which I'm sure will be making an appearance on the blog in the near future. 

This Friday in the office was named French Friday. We donned stripes and berets and enjoyed cossaints, jam and Brie. I instantly knew dressing for these newly named Fridays would be easy (last Friday was pleather Friday) due to the amount of striped t-shirts I own (5 to be precise and this doesn't include the 3 dresses hanging in my closet) 

There's just something that draws me to stripes. Most of my wardrobe is devoid of any other prints - I prefer plains. I'm guessing stripes just add a side to my plainer pieces, kinda like adding garlic bread to pasta (yes I'm all about the carbs - in moderation of course.)

Once loved

 Most Friday nights in my house involve YouTube and red wine and that's what brought me to write this post.

Once loved albums - there's so many........some I'm particularly embarrassed to admit. You know the ones you loved when you were thirteen and danced round your bedroom too. The ones you play to your new boyfriend when your eighteen and think your really cool. He tells you he loves Eminem so you play him a remix of Eminem and Vanilla Ice (*cringing as I write this), only years later did he tell me how much he hated this! We now laugh a lot at this! 

But I'm talking about the ones that were great ten years ago and still are. The ones that still sound great and never get bored of. 

The Kooks - inside in/inside out

This was probably the first indie album I ever loved from beginning to end( especially Eddies Gun and Jackie Big Tits) The mid 2000's brought something new to the charts and the Kooks was just what it needed. 

Florence - Lungs

This may not be ten years old but I love love love this album. Florence has so much passion in her voice and  every song makes you want to kick of your heels and dance. If you don't have this album I suggest you download it immediately. 

Artic Monkeys - whatever people say I am, that's what I'm not

This was definitely the best album they have ever done, every song is so catchy and has never dated. I even had don't you look good on the dance floor as my ring tone back when this was released. 

The Streets - Original Pirate Material 

To be totally honest I think most of the streets albums are fantastic but this one which was released way back in 2002 is fantastic. still to this day not many British artists can do what Mike Skinner has done and that's create something so raw and so honest but with a great beat. I've seen him live twice (once in Ibiza *see attached photo) and he was absolutely amazing.

 The Streets Mike Skinner, Ibiza Rocks 2011.

EDITORIAL

I've been meaning to post this amazing piece of styling from The Sunday Times style magazine for some weeks now.

Miu Miu, clashing prints and luxurious textures - enough said!

P.S. Happy New Year's Eve and a big big thank you to all who have visited, read and commented on my blog this year, I am super grateful to every single one of you. Love Faye