DO YOU WANT TO BE SKINNY, OR DO YOU WANT A BOYFRIEND?

For the past few months or so I've had a disturbing thought each time I venture into the question, what should I be wearing on my lower half. As a major part of life and dressing I feel it’s a worry with cause for concern, maybe not as much as say the state of the economy or you know, my failure as a post-grad but clearly enough for me to spend a couple of hours (at the very least) investigating its results. So why you ask, am I having such trouble? Why not throw on a pair of skinny jeans and be done with it, well there-in lies the problem. You see I am here today to discuss the fact that we might currently be witnessing the death of the skinny jean. It certainly seems to be looking that way and if this in fact happens to be true then I feel I need some sort of debate or at the very least some reassurance, it sure would be embarrassing to miss that memo!

Since my days as a 6^th former, when we all swooned with envy over Kate Moss and her impeccable skinny jean worthy pins, the skinny jean has reigned supreme. Its popularity soared and arrogantly left behind its poor, less fortunate denim relatives. I mean, yeah there has always been an alternative and occasionally back in the skinny loving heyday we were all inclined to throw on a wide leg or the distant memory that is the boot cut once in a while, if only to give our poor calf’s a break, but really the majority of us were wearing skinnies the majority of the time. To sum, they were popular, get it?

It would seem, in more recent weeks or months or maybe even longer depending on just how cool you are, the skinny has taken a backseat making way for an array of alternatives to take center stage. The major 90’s revival and rise in unisex dressing has favoured styles like the boyfriend jean, but this season there is more than just one main contender. With the fash-pack and celebs rocking said boyfriend styles, ankle crops and dungarees, the hipsters in town be sporting the high waist-ed and the Mom Jean (apparently so cool Topshop have created their own namesake.) I’m more in favour of the former lot TBH, simply because they are much more flattering, albeit it’s hard to look like anything but a 5 year old or an oompa loompa in a pair of dungarees. With that said though, I'm still not sure if I'm quite ready to wave goodbye to my skinnies? To conclude this never ending rant I’m set to solve my problem the way I approach most of life’s inconveniences (thanks to a piece of advice once given by my good friend Rachael) in the form of a pros and cons list.

Pros of Skinny Jeans	Cons of Skinny Jeans
They go with pretty much everything.	If you put on an extra pound in your skinny jeans, it looks like 10.
You can get away with wearing flats, heels, trainers – maybe not flip flops but 3 out of 4 aint bad!	The pockets are just too tight to even be deemed sensible. I mean who can really fit their mitts in there to have a good rummage around? (What I really mean is who can really fit their mitts in there to do that cool, hipster ‘hands in my pockets like I just don’t care’ pose) FYI, in the skinny alternatives, there’s plenty of room for hand action!
They've been around so long; the perfect pair actually does exist.	The zipper has a mind of its own, tending to come to life in the most inappropriate of places.
I own like 500 pairs!	Two words: Camel Toe!

Pros of Alternatives	Cons of Alternatives
They’re a lot more r-o-o-m-y	I’m yet to come to grips with the ‘Mom’ Jean. Partly because of it’s unfortunate name but mostly because it makes my arse look like its 7 miles long!
They offer more versatility than the skinny jean ever could	Dungarees do restrict certain toilet activity – especially after a few!
I could probably just get a pair from my mum and save a few quid.

                                                                                                                       

So after that unnecessary grid/list making and a few hours prancing around in a couple of pairs of jeans my conclusion is maybe the skinny jean will never die but it’s certainly on its way down. My investment in the once staple trouser is saddened to hear this and so despite me already having three different types of denim in my online shopping cart, I just don’t know if I’m quite ready to bin(ny) my skinny(s)

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I'm wearing: Left: T-Shirt: All Saints//Skinny Jeans: Primark//Shoes: Zara - sorry about the Angelina leg, just really wanted to show off my amazing shoes! 

Right: Coat: Zara//Cami: Charity Shop//Boyfriend Jeans: Cheap Monday//Shoes: Primark

(Image quality is probably the worst ever, the reason being my designated photo-taker is out of London)

Images: Topshop//That is the shit I do like Tumblr

MUSIC (OR NOT IN THIS CASE) TO MY EARS

Last night I was lucky enough to bag tickets to ELLE's exclusive ELLESessions gig at the cool Apartment 58. Due to a multitude of reasons, namely everyone bailed and I was an idiot and didn't go alone, I missed it therefore forfeiting my chance to see the super duper talented Jetta and Bebe Black perform. Embarrassingly I'd never heard any of their music before so had a quick listen before the gig and unsurprisingly they were both amazing. After a barrage of tweets from gig-goers - post gig, declaring just how amazing they actually were I realised I was a douche and should have gone! Anyway, the reason for this tale? Well, just because I missed out, why should you? They are two extremely talented women and if you're not already listening to them, you should be. Open your lug's to this...you're welcome ;)

HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW

I understand that the majority of my posts recently have either touched on or completely centered on the peculiar weather behaviour, I therefore understand that said posting could become somewhat tiresome and monotonous but hey, I’m having a good time so on I go. This week's weather report is centered largely around my moaning regarding the incessant climate change over the last few weeks. Rather than purely complaining without delivering any valid conclusion however, this week I have produced some sort of solution to my tedious problem(s). Aside from the fact that yes it’s getting warmer and yes, of course this is music to my ears – albeit the sun shines when it’s cold and the warmth can only be felt through a cover of cloud but hallelujah, finally we are getting somewhere. The problem now lies with the fact that my hair and I feel I'm not alone in my dilemma, is not made for this un-deciding weather. Rain, snow, sun and wind all in the space of a month - it just can't deal and so luckily for my hair but not so lucky for my purse I've invested in some 'Brit's with unfortunate hair' essentials. Of course it's not only us Brit's who need to take note of this, if you too suffer from the incurable, but treatable illness then I feel for you, I really do but fear not I come bearing gifts.

Whether your hair is flat, frizzy, lifeless, greasy, dry or all of the above then here are some life hair saving treatments to get you through.

1.   Bumble & Bumble Sea Surf Spray – Everyone has now heard of this amazing sea surf spray by Californian brand Bumble & Bumble so I don’t even need to big it up. If you don’t own it, you should!

2.   Bumble & Bumble Shampoo & Conditioner – The brand that brought us the above spray have now launched a collection of shampoo and conditioners. I've yet to try them but with reviews boasting reviews of “buoyant body and soft, sea breezy texture” what could go wrong?

3.   Lee Stafford Dehumidifier Spray – I don’t know how I’d live my life without this product. If like me your hair after an intense blow dry and straightening sesh still turns limp, frizzy and ‘wavy’ the second you step out into damp or humid air, then you NEED this in your life too!

4.   VO5 ‘Plump it Up’Volumising Mousse – There are thousands of them out there but this one is a reasonable price and still does the trick.

5.   Batiste Dry Shampoo inTropical – We all know and love Batiste dry shampoo, but I couldn’t not include it. Now in a handy hand-bag size, there really is no excuse to have greasy hair!

6.   Toppik Hair Building Fibres – I use this product for my unfortunate double crown inherited from my generous mother, thanks! If you suffer from the same, have thinning hair or simply want your hair to look a little fuller then I highly recommend this.

7.   Moroccan Hair Oil – Hair care’s newest fad but you know what, it really does work.

8.   Label M Resurrection Style Dust – Adds volume to even the flattest of hair and now comes in brown, especially for us Brunettes.

N.B I am aware of the irrelevance of my post title, but I just couldn't resist.

Images Courtesy of Respective Retailers