You have got to love...

'any-night out' sequinned jackets. They'll inject a bit of glamour into any outfit, occasion or photo.

Both the above are from Coco Ribbon (£545)

Mine (in detail above) is from a vintage treasure trove in Leeds. I had to have it because I had never seen sideways sequins before and because I can pretty much wear it with any colour.

Victorian Obsessions

The circus is in town.

The town: London, Monmouth Street to be exact. At super-luxurious lingerie store Coco de Mer they are stocking a collaborative label called Circus Child - a playful, made-to-measure collection which takes it's inspiration from iconic circus costumes. At just under £1000 a piece it's (rather appropriately) more of look don't touch collection but it very much homes in on our continuing obsession with all things Victorian: burlesque, the circus, the spectacular.

At these prices, this is firmly a fantasy post so, in for a penny, in for a pound... imagine yourself as Dita von Teese wearing these and working the look whilst strutting round the Big Top. Have fun!

...And a post on the circus wouldn't be the same without a picture of a Bearded Lady...

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

Helpdesk: Beautiful and the Damned

Say for example, you are going to a party. This month. Theme: Beautiful and The Damned. Here's a mood board and source directory to put your mind at ease if you are struggling with what to wear...

In the book of the same name, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote about the excesses of life in the Jazz Age. This period conjures up images of casually strewn furs and swaying beads; winking sequins and long silhouettes. Shimmying tassles and feather fans. Kate Moss' thirtieth had the same theme and she was a beauty in blue sequins from vintage specialist Atelier Mayer (below).

First off, don't panic, the high street is glimmering with perfect drop-waist dresses so there's no need to go for the original. Below are some ideas...

Topshop: £120

All Saints: Bex dress £75
Biba (House of Fraser): £195

Biba (House of Fraser): £155

There are also accessories aplenty to accesorize shop around for headbands, beaded bags and marabous. The best I have found were at topshop and Claire's Accessories. See you on the 27th.