ANTW Advent Calendar, Day 13 : Pop Up and Surrender

Posted: December 13, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Wear | Tags: james lavelle, unkle | Leave a comment

There are pop up shops popping up all over the place at the moment and here’s an online pop up which ends at midnight tonight.

Surrender, the clothing label from James Lavelle and Unkle, recently launched the Surrender Store for a limited time only, selling clothing “unearthed from way back in the Surrender Arts era.

Your chance to own a piece ends at midnight tonight – 13th December – and then it will disappear forever….

Surrender Varsity Jacket, £120

Bizarre Girls T-Shirt, £15

ANTW Advent Calendar, Day 3 : Christmas Tree Decorating

Posted: December 3, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Wear | Leave a comment

I’ve always been quite the purest when it comes to Christmas tree decorations. I’m a white lights and ribbons kind of girl. I do like a bauble but with small children, cats and an over-excited dog, they wouldn’t last a minute in this house so I like to keep it simple. However, in recent years I have given in to a few well chosen decorations of the hanging variety which, thanks to my Mum, have made their way in to the Christmas shoe box to be used over again.

They arrive in the post usually around mid November and for the past couple of years, have been bought from the Mothership (Peter Jones). They always manage to appeal to both me and the children and there are only ever a few which is just how I like them.

The past years offerings have come courtesy of Birchcraft Design and are really lovely. The first year we had Father Christmas, a tree and a few of his reindeer and the second year brought more reindeer but this time in white. They’re wooden which means they last, unless they get chewed…but that depends on how many animals you live with. You can also buy them directly from their website so I’ve linked the images straight to the online store.

Father Christmas and Reindeer

Reindeer, set of 6, £7

This year Peter Jones / John Lewis lost out to Ikea and a pack of four red cardboard reindeer which I love and promptly went online and ordered a few more. They also have packs of Christmas figures which include Father and Mother Christmas and 4 Christmas elves for £1.79. Be silly not to really.

Reindeer, £1.99

The best thing about these kinds of decorations is they can be used all over the house, not just the tree. They can be hung from garlands or wreaths or used to make presents look even more tempting….although that means giving them away.

Rugby Ralph Lauren Tweed Run – Lessons In Tweed

Posted: November 23, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Do, Absolutely Nothing To Watch, Absolutely Nothing To Wear | Leave a comment

Tweed and bicycles are surely a match made in fashionable exercise heaven. This weekend sees the first Ralph Lauren Tweed Run to take to the London streets and celebrates the opening of the RL RUGBY UK flagship store – a veritable tweed emporium.

My brilliant friend Jenny Dyson and her PENCIL team have made a short film, Lessons In Tweed, which is a must watch for anyone even considering taking part and even those who aren’t.

The Ralph Lauren Tweed Run will take place in London, this Saturday 26th November and there are still places available so register HERE

Absolutely Nothing To Make or Buy : A Homemade Home…..unfinished

Posted: October 26, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Buy, Absolutely Nothing To Make, Absolutely Nothing To Wear | Leave a comment

Yes, I’ll enjoy doing some needlework in front of the fire during the cold Winter months. I should have this done in time for Christmas if I do a little bit every night. That was 3 years ago and I’ve done a despairing one line of said Emily Peacock Kiss tapestry and it now sits in a bag on a shelf near the sofa laughing at me. But still I’m determined, and strangely convinced, that I will finish it. One day. Just as soon as I work out the instructions and manage to stay awake past 9pm.

KISS Tapestry by Emily Peacock

I like making things but for some reason I still haven’t learned that I’m not nearly as good as I hope I am and that these crafty things take far more patience than I will ever have. I blame Kirsty and Cath Kidston and all those women I hate to like. I don’t want to be one of them, I’m too busy doing other busy, modern woman about the countryside sort of things.

So, as I get ready for another episode of Kirsty’s Homemade Britain which I shall watch whilst lounging comfortably on the piles of envelope cushions which litter my sofa (they’re addictively easy to make once you get the hang of it) I’ve found something else I want to have a go at. These advent calendar kits from Cox and Cox not only look lovely in the pictures but I reckon they’ll look even lovelier when hanging on the wall and my children will think I’m the best Christmas Mum in the world. My husband says I’ll never finish them and he’s seen a chocolate Lego calendar which they’ll like much more. He’s probably right but I’m going to give it a go. I’ll just try the one – they can share, they’ll like that. Who’d want a chocolate advent calendar all made and ready to go, when they can have a half-finished, homemade one filled with whatever I can find lying around the house the night before. No contest surely.

Advent Calendar Kit from Cox and Cox

Three whole weeks doing Absolutely Nothing….

Posted: October 23, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Wear | Leave a comment

Absolutely Nothing but COS by Mel Moss

Absolutely Nothing To Talk About with Jenny Dyson by Mel Moss

Absolutely Nothing To Buy : Blankets and Throws by Samantha Taylor

Absolutely Nothing To Talk About with Alison Edmond by Mel Moss

Absolutely Nothing To Wear : Stripes by Mel Moss

Absolutely Nothing To Buy : The Perfect Card by Mel Moss

Absolutely Nothing To Cook : Pimp Up Your Pies by Cafe Salvation

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Absolutely Nothing To Wear : Stripes

Posted: October 16, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Wear | Leave a comment

I was never really in to stripes for myself until quite recently. I have always been in to stripes for my boys. They just seem to suit them from end to end. Stripes have always been notoriously unflattering, they widen everything – I’m talking horizontal here, vertical is a whole different story and needs to be approached with extra caution. My children were both tiny babies and giant toddlers but regardless I wrapped them both in as many straight lines as I could get my hands on. The stripe – for adult or child – has to be right though and it’s worth investing a bit of time and money in to finding the ones which really do work.

When it comes to the children I am a Polarn O Pyret addict. They do a stripe better than any other I know. From leggings – which I absolutely swear by for little boys – to long sleeved tees, all in ones, socks, hats and pants, they are the very very best. They have lasted me through two incredibly active boy babies and are still going strong.

Polarn O Pyret - the best stripes for kids

So, after years of telling me that stripes made his “eyes go funny”, my husband recently came back from New York with bundles of stripey offerings for both me and the children. I hadn’t asked for anything apart from a denim shirt from Levis – which he found and is perfect – but I did mention that J.Crew might be worth a visit if he did feel ~~guilty for leaving me for 10 days~~ that I might need anything else. That was as much direction as he was given and blimey did he do well. I am now the proud owner of 4 of the very best J.Crew stripey tops I never even knew existed. Each one a little bit different in colour or style and very well considered indeed. I would never have been this generous on myself. I’m in stripe heaven and I may be here for some time.

So to end this rather self satisfied post about stripes you might be pleased to know that J.Crew have a UK online store now which is very good news for wardrobes everywhere. And there seems to be a bit of a sale on at the moment so definitely worth a look.

Just found this one on J.Crew UK - in the sale. It's lovely.

I Hate My Collection : A fashion film by Oleg Mitrofanov

Posted: October 14, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Wear | Leave a comment

Central Saint Martins, the best 4 (college) years of my life. Wish I could go back and do it all over again.

Steve Jobs 1955 – 2011

Posted: October 6, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Wear | Leave a comment

Absolutely Nothing But COS

Posted: October 5, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Wear | Leave a comment

I’m very aware it’s been a little quiet here lately but I’m playing single parent for a few days and rather than turn this blog in to yet another version of Mumsnet, I’m being selective in my posting. So for now I have one very important thing to share and that’s the joy that a delivery from COS can bring. Their online store went live last week and it was just about the best fashion moment since I moved to the countryside. Naturally I went online immediately and found something I knew would keep me happy and comfortable during a week of solitude and school runs.

Grey Hooded Sweatshirt from COS

There’s not a huge amount to choose from online yet but I’m hoping that will change. There is, however, the brilliant navy blue dress which I went on and on about in my post about ankle socks.