Up, up and away…

Hello lovelies! As I hinted last week, I’m off on a new adventure tomorrow.

The Clever Boyfriend and I are flying across the pond for 2 weeks. I’m thrilled to say I’ll be returning to Washington D.C. (where I lived for several happy months a few years ago). I can’t wait to revisit my old stomping grounds: the magnificent corridors of power on Capitol Hill; the Smithsonian Museums on the Mall; the brilliant boutiques and flea markets of Georgetown (home to Kennedys and preppy collegiate kids); the leafy mansion-lined streets of Dupont Circle; and the buzzy multicultural neighbourhood of Adams Morgan. But I’m excited for new discoveries too!

After that, it’s off to New York, New York! Though I am slightly worried I don’t have enough spectacular shoes to have my own Carrie Bradshaw moments. Every time the Clever Boyfriend walks past my case, he frowns and says: ‘are you going to put any actual clothes in there?’ (it’s contents at that stage having consisted mostly of innapropriate footwear, several kilos of jewelry, and more cosmetics than I need). In order to avoid any tension before we even set foot on the tarmac (he knows that he’ll be the one who ends up lugging my suitcase), I’ve had to be very sensible and put myself on a strict holiday shoe diet. How dull…

So apologies in advance, but I fear my internet access will be patchy while I’m away. I’ll instead sun myself in Central Park and ensure I have plenty of lovely treats to share with you all upon my return in two weeks time.

Have you ever been to New York or Washington? Do you have any favourite things I must try? And what sort of things would you most like to hear about when I return (ie. things I find, things I buy or discover, travel tips, etc.)?

Until then,

Love Miss B xx

Style Icon of the Month: Anna Dello Russo

While there is certainly no shortage of colourful characters in the world of fashion, there is one woman who stands out amongst the rest: Anna Dello Russo. Editor at Large and Creative Consultant to Vogue Nippon, Anna defies categorisation, trends, and expectations; she is a sartorial force in a niche all of her own.

I’m always trying to tell the Clever Boyfriend that fashion design isn’t just a frivolous obsession with what we wear; it is wearable art. Indeed, I could never wear a Givenchy couture gown in my daily life, but this doesn’t mean I can’t fantasise about such things.

Well Anna is the embodiment of such fantasies. Her yoga-chiseled body is her blank canvas, and each day she paints herself in a new work of sartorial art.

If ever there were a real-life Carrie Bradshaw, surely Anna would be her – I mean, the woman has confessed to owning 4,000 pairs of shoes! While not classically beautiful, she is always gorgeous (she has the kind of look that is more attractive to women than men). And whether it be a fuschia pink Dolce & Gabbana yetti fur coat, an extreme-shoulder Balmain blazer, or a girlishly frothy frock, she has the body and the confidence to pull off whatever she likes. She’s the kind of woman that can wear something the rest of us would never have considered, but as soon as we see it on her, it’s all we want.

It’s only appropriate I let the woman’s shoes have the final word.

P.S. I’ve had lovely emails from several of you saying you especially enjoy my semi-regular features (Want of the Week, Essential Tips, Sunday trends, etc.). With this in mind, I’ll make these features more regular, while launching a few newer ones as well. Icon of the Month will now alternate with Girl Crush of the Month.But do tell me dear readers: what else would you like to see more of on A Girl, A Style? Your wish is my command.

Love, Miss B xx

* First and last image from Jak and Jil. Other images via Style.com, the Sartorialist, and unknown.

In the bag

Call me a voyeur if you will, but I love peeking inside other women’s bags, wardrobes, and jewelry boxes – things which, I think, always say a lot about the owner. As for our bags, we women carry so many things with us each day that in a way, besides being a fabulous accessory, our bags become our little portable homes.

Most of my bags seems to be heavy to begin with (a combination of luxurious leather and heavy hardware), but add to that the fact that I like having a lot with me, and my handbags seem to weigh several kilograms each day (much to the detriment of my already terrible back). I don’t have tennis elbow; I have Marc Jacobs shoulder!

Here are some of the daily essentials I carry about with me (in this case, in a Marc Jacobs Stam bag in putty). Clockwise from top: sunglasses (Chloe) or umbrella, weather dependent; map of London for all my exploring (I love to walk everywhere); ipod (I’m terribly old fashioned and still don’t have an iphone) to escape into my own little world; violet mints or gum; rose moist wipes (to remove the London grime), MAC tinted lip balm/lipstick and an assortment of makeup essentials; miscellaneous jewels (I always have spare rings, necklaces, brooches and hair clips floating around); facial spray and perfume (Annick Goutal); purse (Marc Jacobs); keys (Mimco keyring); Moleskine sketchbook to jot down my various thoughts, whims and drawings; books (at the moment Time Out guide to New York and one on counter-terrorism); mirror (Anna Sui); and always a camera and bottle of water.

When I write it all down, that sounds like a lot! Is this normal?

What essentials do you carry with you at all times? Do you love peeking inside people’s bags and wardrobes?

Love, Miss B xx