OBRIGADO

According to A Recent Survey*, it takes an average of two days and seventeen hours before you completely relax on holiday; but I distinctly remember the feeling around twenty-two hours into mine when I was lay on the beach with my chin in the sand, somewhere in that grey area between awake and asleep, and I felt relaxed. Completely and utterly. Holidays as a young adult were great: getting away from your parents and going crazy on the free shots provided by the neon bars who just want your nubile faces in the hope it'll attract further punters. But holidaying as a proper adult is different, and I felt it acutely this time. It was about reaching the point where my mind was full of nothing, except figuring out six degrees of random film stars, what to eat for lunch (at 4pm) and whether I would randomly bump into Paul Rudd around the Algarve. See, where did that thought even come from? From my brain being in an almost meditative state. My mind, when unoccupied, goes to Paul Rudd. Of course. What else?

Now I'm back, full of ideas and enthusiasm to do things other than sit in front of a computer. I want to eat fresh food, read interesting things, have friends over for dinner, sit outside, go for coffee. The trick is to keep tight hold of the enthusiasm even as the holiday tan - or in my case, freckles - starts to fade.

By the way.. funny how you take so much to wear on holiday and only end up wearing the same things, isn't it? It always happens. This time it was these funny little moccasin boots I got from a charity shop which I'd never even worn before, but turned out to be the ideal beach-to-bar (apologies for the Grazia-ism, but it's true) shoe.

Also, we managed to adopt a cat for the duration of our stay. He was adorable but also sat outside our apartment door at 5am screaming to come in. It could only happen to us.


I'm wearing:
a myriad of Wildfox, Evil Twin and Minkpink, plus some vintage,
charity shop, Miss Selfridge, Topshop, French Connection & Patrizia Pepe.





















* I don't like not referencing this Recent Survey, but I got the information from Zest magazine who didn't cite the source either. So we'll just have to believe.

EDITEURS AT LARGE

What seems like a long time ago now, but was probably only about April, a plan was masterminded. Initially by fellow Manchester blogger Clare and boutique owner Adam, but many - including myself - got roped in to help out along the way. A party, just for fashion bloggers, with the opportunity to get a pro picture in The éditeur's designer duds. Throw in cupcakes, champagne, and a cracking goodie bag into the mix and you surely have the key to every fashion bloggers' heart.

Last Thursday was the big night, and we crammed in The éditeur's shop to consume said cupcakes and champagne. We worried that nobody would turn up, that too many would turn up, and that nobody would get along - but it seems our worries were unfounded, as everyone was super friendly, and were eager to cast off their clothes and slip into something a little more luxe. Even I was impressed with the goodie bag, despite the hints along the way - Wolford tights, a ChloBo bracelet, and a hairpiece made especially by hat designer Laura Apsit Livens.

My chosen outfits were a Patrizia Pepe ski jacket & slip dress (a kind of riot grrl/early J. Lo mash-up) and a Michael Kors cape & slinky dress (so new they're not even on the website yet). I was a little bit in love with both looks - I was especially surprised at the dreamy fit of the Michael Kors pieces, having always assumed he was more of a TV personality than a real designer - and I'm so impressed with the photos, I almost look like a REAL MODEL. Just not quite as tall, or thin.. or, well, model-like.  I had to be prized out of my outfit at the end of the evening, as most of us did. I've featured the lovely ladies dressed in all their finest below; click on the photo to be taken to their blog.

Big, big thanks must go to the lovely team at The editeur, Clare for getting me involved in helping to organise the event, and all the bloggers who attended. I had a fabulous time! Cheers, and here's to the next one.