Wish List Mondays #34 - Do It Like A Dude.

After having packed up, and moved, my vast collection of clothes four times in the last month, I've realised that I have more Men's items in my wardrobe than Women's. Before anyone comments, this is not because I'm the kind of girl that steals the clothes left behind at the end of 'liaisons' (hi Mum), nor do I don a fake beard and stuff a pair of socks down my pants to pretend I'm a guy. The simple fact is: Men's clothes are simply more comfortable. They last longer because they're usually better quality, they're roomy so you can eat as much as you want, and you can pretend like your "boyfriend" gave them to you (when really you just bought it for yourself.). In Winter, there's nothing better than snuggling into an big man's jumper and curling up on the sofa. In summer, I like to wear men's shirts - as beach coverups, pyjamas, light jackets...they're probably the most versatile item I own. In light of my love for androgynous, or unisex, fashion, I've decided to devote a whole Summer Wish List to getting the ideal mix of feminine/masculine. So do it like a brother, or do it like a dude, here comes Wish List #34...

1. Short Sweatshirt Dress, H&M, £20. I just wanna make you sweat, here.
2. Cream Studded Bow Trim Straw Boater, River Island, £16. Pick the short straw, here.
3. Men's Kitsuné Jersey Mariniere, Petit Bateau, £42 (Sale Price). Jersey shore, here.
4. Sky Washed Oxford Slim Fit Shirt, Charles Tyrwhitt, £25 (Sale Price). Reach for the sky, here.
5. 152 Series Rose Gold-Plated Steel Watch by Uniform Wares, Mr Porter, £220. Man of Steel, here.
6. Signet Ring by Laura Lee, ASOS, £150. Put a ring on it, here.
7. Beige Shorts, H&M, £13. Who wears short shorts, here.
8. MOTO Vintage Boyfriend Tapered Jeans, Topshop, £42. Billy's jeans, here.
9. Le Pliage Medium Travel Bag in Graphite by Longchamp, Selfridges, £63. Travel my way, here.
10. 'Hamble Oak' Brogues in Nude, Clarks, £40 (Sale Price). Rogue in a brogue, here.
11. 'High Vamp' Loafers, Topshop, £50. Loaf around, here.


Love,
Belle x

Wish List Mondays #25 - Men's Summer Fashion Special

First up, I'm not going crazy - I have realised that the weekend is over and today is, in fact, Tuesday. Unfortunately my day yesterday was spent travelling from one side of the country to another, then one end to the other. Anyone who is intimate with the British Rail system knows that Wifi on trains is an expensive nightmare, and because I'm a stingy student, I didn't get round to getting a post up. So...apologies. Consequently, Wish List Mondays this week is now on a Tuesday, and Tune Tape Tuesdays will now be on Wednesday. Confused? Great. Let's start.

This weekend I spent with some guy friends. Staying in a house full of men has its downsides; mainly the lack of conditioner in the shower, and the inability to borrow makeup when you've forgotten it (which I did, and paid the price of looking like an extra from Night of the Living Dead for the entire weekend). But it's also got its upsides, particularly when said gentlemen happen to be, well, rather inspiringly trendy, actually. It got me thinking that Wish List Mondays has been a bit sexist and selfish of late, concentrating on fashion for women and emulating the 'It-Girls' of the moment. In light of this, I felt that I owe the male readers of this blog a Wish List. But not just any Wish List, oh no. I thought I might be so bold as to point some of you guys/lads/comrades in the right direction in terms of what looks good in the Summer. Because - and I'm only being honest - this season seems to bring out the worst fashion failures. I know that "for now these hot days the mad blood is stirring", but that is no excuse for some of these regular atrocities made when the temperature starts to soar:

• Walking topless anywhere other than a pool or beach. You're not going to get a tan standing inside Primark.
• Shorts below the knee. If you're going to show some leg, you need to fully commit.
• Side note: socks are not acceptable with shorts unless you want to look like a German tourist c.1985.
• Flip Flops. Espadrilles all the way.
• Low-Cut Tshirts. Offensive, in all senses of the word.
• Finally, please refrain from wearing anything which has a logo like this:

While some of you guys out there may find it a little bit patronising that some chick is telling them what not to wear, let's face it, you're not gonna get any 'Summer Luvin' looking like the above. Trust me. So sit back, relax, and let me show you What Women Want. 

Summer in the City

1. Bandana Detail T-Shirt by Ragged Priest, Topman, £28. Buy it here.
2. Rascals College Logo Sweatshirt, Urban Outfitters, £79. Buy it here.
3. Two-Tone Denim Shirt by Native Youth, Coggles, £45. Buy it here.
4. Chino Shorts by Adidas, EndClothing, £45. Buy them here.
5. Adidas Match Play Trainers in Bliss & White Vapour, EndClothing, £65. Buy them here.
6. Skinny Jeans by Bellfield Koyote, Topman, £35. Buy them here.
7. Foldable Aviator Sunglasses by Carrera, ASOS, £110. Buy them here.
8. Summer Flannel Long-Sleeved Shirt in Red/Grey, Scotch & Soda, €99. Buy it here.
9. Straw Hat, Scotch & Soda, €45. Buy it here.
10. Espadrilles in Classical Blue Tropical by Toms, Office, £42. Buy them here.
11. Bendable Bracelet by Chamula, EndClothing, £55. Buy it here.
12. 'Ask the Missus' Brogue, Office, £70. Buy them here.

Weekend Away

1. Multicoloured Polo by Maison Kitsuné, EndClothing, £135. Buy it here.

2. Slim-Fit Cotton Blazer by Maison Martin Margiela, Mr Porter, £735. Buy it here.

3. Slim-Fit Chino, Scotch & Soda, €109. Buy them here.

4. Bonded Hooded Parka by Junya Matanabe MAN, EndClothing, £1,010. Buy it here.

5. Lenox Sunglasses by Illesteva, EndClothing, £229. Buy them here.

6. Navy Suede Shoes by Paul Smith, Coggles, £155. Buy them here.

7. Canvas Travel Bag by Comme des Garçons, EndClothing, £245. Buy it here.

Peace out, partners.

Love,

Belle x

That Does Impress Me Much

One of my most popular posts - as listed in that nifty little widget on the side - is Unlikely People I Find Attractive. Now, while many have described my 'type' of man as, let's say, unconventional, I'm not a complete freak and wouldn't pass up Ryan Gosling for David Cameron at a Full Moon Party (what an image). So, for a bit of fun on a Wednesday night (social life's looking a bit bleak at the moment), I thought I'd put together a little list of things that 'tickle my fancy', if you will. Also it gives me an excuse - as if I needed one - to look up hot guys on google images for 'future reference'...if you catch my drift. Right, before this gets awkward, here are the Top 10 Things That Impress Me Much. 

1. Designer Stubble

I, perhaps fortunately, cannot grow facial hair - at least none as spectacular as a man's. Therefore, I find it quite impressive when a guy manages to grow some. Here are some examples of what I would describe as some top quality beards; 'chinspiration', if you like.

Jamie Dornan: The Vulnerable Beard

Ryan Gosling: The Strong Beard

David Gandy: The Sophisticated Man-Beard

2. Bone Structure

Call me strange, but I'm an absolute sucker for a good pair of cheekbones. They're pretty much arrows to the mouth, which in my books, makes them like 'sex lines' for the face (more on that later). Here are some great examples:

I do not know this beautiful man's name, but if anyone does, please give him my number.

Ian Somerhalder

Ben Allen

3. Smoking

Yes, it's bad for you. Yes, you might taste like an ashtray. But as one of my favourite men of all time said in his movie Rebel Without A Cause, "live fast, die young" - and if you look this good doing it, it's worth it, right?

Hayden Christenson

Leonardo Di Caprio

James Dean

4. Tattoos

Because everyone likes a bad boy, and I enjoy hearing the stories that go with them. They also make for a great conversation starter, in case you ever need one: "Oh my god, I love your tattoo! Do you have any other ones?" Bingo. 

Jamie Campbell-Bower

David Beckham

Bradley Soileau

5. Arms

Maybe it's been engrained in us through years of living in caves, but I defy you to find me a woman who finds chicken arms attractive in a man. Men are not supposed to be dainty. If they were, then we'd pretty much all be lesbians. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it. Just don't buy me any tickets to a 'gun show', please.

Marky Mark Wahlberg

Gerard Butler

Ryan Gosling

6. Sex Lines

Ok, time to get intimate. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about and gents - if you don't, just look at these pictures.

Linus Gustin

Jamie Dornan

Christiano Ronaldo

7. Hands

I cannot explain it, not even through the use of photos. But you have got to have good, strong, manly hands. Hands that look like they could win a tug-of-war, rather than play the piano. Grr. HANDS.

8. Smile

It's got to make me smile, so it better be a good one. With a hint of cheekiness, if you please. Take a cue from these guys:

Harry Styles - I don't care if he's underage.

Leonardo Di Caprio - and you wonder how he got Rose to pose naked for him...

Jake Gyllenhaal

9. Eyes

I have very normal, very boring, brown eyes. I like guys who have a little spice - green, grey, blue, I really don't care, as long as they can undress me with them. Too much? Let's just look at some pictures then.

Peter O'Toole

Jude Law

Jared Leto

10. Humour

...which annoyingly, you can't really capture in a photograph. But it is something that first attracts me to a guy - forget all the physical features, if you can make me laugh, then you're 99% of the way there my friend. 

I hope the man-porn has spiced up your otherwise uneventful Wednesday night, ladies. Gents...some food for thought, I guess. Just don't think about swapping teams; the gay community's far too good-looking already.

Love,

Belle x