Every year I have the same New Years resolution, usually revolving around eating better and exercising more, but 2011 provided a few pretty big changes in my life, so I thought 2012 should have new ones.

 1. Blogging

I’ll be the first to admit that blogging fell by the side in 2011, so much has been going on that I thought I couldn’t find the time, when I was probably just being a bit lazy. So, whilst I’m not exactly a lady of leisure I will put more effort into getting posts up more often. Also, when I look back, I feel that 90579786 uni projects definitely had some negative impact on my writing, soz, promise that I’ll never sound like I’m writing a report EVER AGAIN!

2. Cycling

Right now I have a helmet, tools and guides, just not an actual bike yet. I was given bike money for Christmas (thought people stopped getting bikes for Christmas at about the age of 8, didn’t you?), however I’m taking my time to find a really good one at a fair price, oh yes, how sensible of me! By the summer I’m hoping I’ll be Elle Macpherson that day I saw her cycling around Notting Hill, probably not.

3. Higher heels

Over the years my heel wearing ability has become something to be ashamed of, going from working a 9 hour shift at Harrods in 6 inches when I was feeling it, to working at Poste Mistress barely lasting the day in anything other than flats. During the summer a few pairs of platform sandals found their way into my wardrobe, and by winter both pairs of my everyday boots featured high chunky heels. Since I now have a “proper” job, and I spend a lot of the day sitting, I’m hoping 2012 will be the year that I can aim higher with my heels.

4. Hair

My hair is finally getting to a good length and thickness since the last time I thought it would be a brilliant idea to get a sophisticated bob, but I’ve slipped back into the old style of polka straight hair with a blunt cut fringe which I’ve had since my indie kid college days. Whilst visiting my mum over Christmas I mentioned how much I love Pasty’s hair in Ab Fab (not just her hair, the woman is my idol), and she managed to whip mine into a perfect beehive within a few minutes, making my final resolution to take full advantage of my growing hair, if anybody can recommend some gorgeous but not too difficult styles, please do!

Hopefully these are resolutions I can actually stick to, and I’ll go into 2013 as a ridiculously high heel wearing, dutch bike riding, blogger with ever changing hairstyles, or something along those lines. I can dream right?

What resolutions has everybody else made? Broken them yet?

I came across the Fourth & Main journal at work (incase you’ve ever wondered what my day job is *you probably haven’t* it sometimes involves coming up with ideas for branded content) and whilst I’ve seen lots of papers and magazines for fashion brands, this one just seemed to take it a step further, and not only because it looks more like a book than a Sunday rag insert.

The 125 page journal focuses on emerging talent in art, film, music, photography and journalism, creating compelling stories that you want to read rather than just dedicating it to pictures of their clothes, which have their own little section, The Collection. Although saying that, from what I’ve seen, the photography is pretty spectacular. Now I just need to get my hands on a paper copy!

Oh wowz, I appear to have come over all ladylike. Ok, maybe that is a slight exaggeration, but I’ve recently found my footwear interests turning to sensible height court shoes, as opposed to either flat loafers or skyscraper heels. I think it goes back to last weekend, when a mix of A LOT of cheap alcohol, an inviting looking stage and standard 6 inch platforms saw me nearly break my ankle several times in one night. This made me forgo mahoooosive heels for my graduation two days later in favour of 3 inch black courts, for fear of falling on my face on stage.

I have since dug out the courts I have purchased over the past year, and to be honest haven’t worn, to try and mix in with my AW wardrobe. Yes, they do look pretty cute paired with a fur coat and wool tights. Yes, they do make high waisted skinny jeans dressier when I’m going out from work. And yes, the chances of breaking my neck/ankle/dignity are significantly lowered. BUT, they’re really not that comfortable, the lack of cushioning and pointy toes manage to kill my feet off by the end of the day, which is  the main reason I avoided them in the past, and they don’t do any particlar wonders for the derriere either.

Will I still wear them despite the pain? Whilst I’m going through this little ladylike shoe phase, yes. Here are a few high street pairs I’ve been eyeing up…

Dotty Bow Court Topshop £60

Green Triangle Heel Court New Look £25

Dries Van Noten Look-a-likes-at-less-than-half-the-price Kurt Geiger £120

Plain Purple Suede Court Office £58

Black Glittery Court Dorothy Perkins £32

Being constantly poor sucks, doesn’t it? Ok, I don’t live in poverty, but there are a lot of beautiful, often shiny, things that I NEED in my life, and I haven’t recently found the time to rob a bank. But it’s doesn’t hurt to look, long for or lust after these perfect garments does it? It doesn’t matter that my heart breaks a little bit when I know I will never own them does it? Alright, I’m actually a little bit in love with these clothes, so I’m going to start putting together a little Christmas list and hope that santa is feeling seriously generous this year…

I usually try and give a whole lot of info on the brands I post about, but that’s proving a little difficult with The Ragged Priest, so I’ll tell you what I know.

a) I’ve been stalking their reworked vintage pieces on eBay for agesss

b) I just found out they had a website too, and they’re stocked at Topshop

c) There is no way to describe their knitwear other than absolutely BEAUTIFUL

d) I’m pretty sure they’re from Essex

e) Their blog is pretty good too

Hmmm, five facts, that wasn’t too bad. Here are some of the lookbook pics I’ve been lusting over…

Ok ok, another late one. A few weeks ago now the lovely girls at Chase PR held a fab breakfast for Storm watches. However, whilst the watches were as gorgeous as always, no new news there, it was the bags which really caught my eye. Huge oversized clutches in luxury leathers, big enough to fit everything you need in, carry around at work all day then take for drinks in the evening. There is some serious bag love going on here, they both might have just made it to the top of my Christmas list!

After a month or so of spending my newly free Saturdays lying in bed/nursing a hangover/attempting to sort out my life and because a friend asked me to go, I finally made it up there and picked up some bargains, which I thought I’d share. I would have taken pics of myself wearing them but, when have you seen pictures of me on here? Do you even know what I look like? Well, actually pretty normal, except I’m not sure if I like my new ginger hair, and if I put this post off any longer it’ll never get finished.

Cobalt Blue Peg Leg Jumpsuit, £22, Beyond Retro

Polka Dot Shift Dress, £15, Absolute Vintage

Polka Dot Shirt (Does actually look good on), £10, Vintage Basement

Bag, £22, Absolute Vintage

Specs, £10, a market. (Obvs having my lens put in at Specsavers, I don’t where clear frame glasses, I’m not a dick.)

Pina Colada in a pineapple, £4.

N.B. I also got a lovely purple playsuit from The Vintage Store, but I’m in the process of altering it so I haven’t taken a picture. However, have to give the guys there a thank you for looking for my favourite Ray Bans (left them in some shoes apparently, and I really needed my face hiding) whilst I carried on shopping else where, heroes.

Ooops sorry, I forgot to post this when I first got it, another quick one as I’m off for a much needed drink. Just check out this video from SGC N-Y-C. If you’re eager to work the texture trend, partial to a bit of leather and have a panache for looking a little grungy then you might want to hide your credit card.