‘WEAR ME’: Fashions Return To Wonderland

Throughout this last week of methodology drudgery, there has been a somewhat random quandary distracting my seriously badly behaved attention span. It was not what type of morally and hygienically challenged, socially inept person would appear on the much anticipated 1000th episode of Jeremy Kyle. No, this was a far more pressing issue that revolved solely (haha) and extremely seriously (obviously) on whether to sock, or not to sock? It was clear as I left the house for a Friday night date boldly sporting a pair of darling H&M floral socks perfectly visible through my suitably high, chunky heeled sandals that the answer was a resounding hell yeah.

For a while now nothing has pleased me more than the Alice In Wonderland inspired, ultra feminine styles that have bound like spring lambs into our wardrobes; giving even the most stolid female the refreshing desire to host a La Durée inspired tea party. Think ice cream pastels, ankle socks, sheer, draping material, rosy cheeks, a devilish smile and of course, ‘EAT ME’ Hummingbird cupcakes with Royal Albert bone china tea cups and saucers to match. As someone who still buys the cutesy beady hair clips from Accessories Angels (the erm...kids section), you can imagine, there is nothing that pleases me more than the entire fashion world realising the joy of embracing ones inner 10 year old.

The problem that I feel many of us will have with this trend is how far it can realistically be taken before people begin to shout ‘freak’ at you as you pirouette past them in Bloch point shoes, a Carrie inspired tutu, dame Edna pearls, a Princess Di tiara and Lady GaGa on t’other end of a Pinkberry wanting her obligatory tea cup back. Lest we forget, 10 years old - we are not (sorry girls). There is a limit as to how many of the floral cycling shorts, lace ankle socks and dungaree creations (see the WHOLE of Topshop for more details) we can wear without becoming a seriously misinformed problem to our nearest and dearest.

Unsurprisingly, it was the Andrew Lloyd Webber of the fashion editorial; Mario Testino, who provided me with the much needed grown-up inspiration that would prevent me from throwing the dummy out of the pram over how to pull off this potentially difficult trend. His ‘Girls Allowed’ shoot for a recent Vogue (think more draping pearls, ethereal curly locks and heavenly pastel shades than painful vocals, fake tan and cheating husbands), portrayed the kind of peaceful, otherworldly empowered serenity that can be achieved through this trend. The model wore silky bunny ears, high-necked lace, bold coral necklaces and ruffled layered skirts, yet the serious heel height combined with a deep and glinting eye suggested perfectly that there is far more to this look than candy floss sweetness and a ditsy smile.

This stunning collection of photographic genius taught me that this trend is absolutely NOT about revealing to the world ones inner Suri Cruise envies. Accessories must be intricate, make up minimal and heels high as the clouds you appear to have drifted down from. It is about embracing confident femininity that is light hearted, not politically charged. There is a respectable and well earned time and place for androgyny and boyish trends. We need look no further than the alternative trends this season to see that fashion is about diversity. But Spring/Summer for me this year will be about capturing the wonderland that is being offered and enjoying the moments in which I am allowed to be as sophisticatedly girly as I choose.

So, despite the fact that not for the first time, I managed to utterly bemuse Daniel, (who kindly reminded me that socks and sandal combos are ‘like...bad in fashion’), not for a while have I actually enjoyed an outfit as much as this and I would honestly and earnestly advise people to give it a go. Embrace the lace, the sheer fabrics, the pastels, the pearls, the jewels and the fresh faced appearance. Definitely host a tea party and ABSOLUTELY re-read Alice In Wonderland. It’s been a long, bitter winter and I can think of no better way to thaw out and put back the sorely missed spring in our steps than embracing fashion at its most fantastic and frivolous. After all, in the immortal words of the charming Alice ‘it’ll be a comfort – never to grow into an old woman’.

Do The Clothes Maketh The Woman?

Cheryl Cole (or Chezza as she has been so affectionately dubbed by myself and fellow witty friends), is the marmite celebrity of the moment x She has experienced a dazzling success, fuelled by a wicked concoction of big hair, a cracking smile, killer heels, a dusting of sequins and just a pinch (or 3) of bloody good luck x

This Girls Aloud sweetheart has undertaken a whirlwind journey from chavvy to chic (mostly) leaping from the coveted front cover of Vogue, to our Saturday night TV screens, to the hearts of the nation, with her totally endearing ‘heart-on-sleeve’ attitude x But in the words of my less convinced housemate, there are still people out there (perhaps with better memories...or maybe better hearing) groaning ‘I just don’t get it’ x

Lest we forget, this is a woman once better renowned for baseball cap, belly out, bathroom brawls than style, sophistication and a wardrobe many young women would give their right AND left arms for x This leads me to ponder upon what has provoked such a change in public opinion x Particularly in her current hour of need, when the majority of the public seem, rightly so, to be fully behind our Chezza x

So, how has she really swept many an unsuspecting man, woman and child off their feet at a pint sized 5ft 3?!? x Do we just all suffer from the selective memory condition that I frequently berate my father for, or has something more magical happened....something that even makes us pretend to our ears that the noise we are hearing is in fact a catchy, lovable tune rather than a struggling Geordie cat? X I really do believe that it is indeed a kind of magic, more specifically, a kind of fashion magic x

The last few years have seen our Chez transform from fashion disaster to fashion diva, even getting rid of the signature hair extensions and working a fashion forward edgier style x Outfit after glorious outfit has captivated audiences, transforming many a non-believer into not only a believer, but a diehard fan, buying the album because ‘you know, it’s really well produced’ and clicking unashamedly on the ‘Cheryl Cole’ tab on ASOS.com x fine, there have been some horrible omissions on Cheryl’s Starlight Express to fashion goddess (see Alexander McQueen 26th birthday dress) that remind us, much like the lovely ‘Mrs Cole’ tattoo on her neck, that perhaps there is still an inner chav waiting to bubble to the surface x but there has also been the fun Hervé Leger bodycons, the daring David Koma X-factor black and silver fan number, and the enviable Rupert Sanderson heels that she is rarely far away from x perhaps this is also why we love her x she is essentially a heartbreakingly normal lass who has the same taste in bad men and worse wardrobe choices, that we have undeniably all been guilty of at some point x

So there we have it, the utter magic of a perfect (well, nearly) wardrobe x the type of magic that makes us forget that Chez was once in court for attacking a toilet attendant, loved nothing better than a baseball cap, timberlands and combats and even makes us leave 10minutes late for our Saturday nights out risking flat hair and faded make up just to see what she’s wearing x I have no qualms in saying that if it were a dodgy fringe and bare belly that remained her look of choice, she would not be the darling that she is today x in Cheryl’s case then, the clothes have truly madeth the woman x through the magic of fashion we have seen her develop and mature into a woman whose songs we want to dance to, whose opinions we want to hear and whose wardrobe we seek to emulate x and as for all you non believers, I must just say one final thing...Come on girls....because she’s worth it. :) x