J'adore le 1960's.

With my impending trip to the capital city of romance becoming ever closer, I am recently finding myself more and more wishing I was Carey Mulligan in An Education. Not only is she one of my women of the moment (see last post), An Education is also one of my favourite films of recent years, combining traditional 1960's chic with Parisian culture and the vulnerability of a young girl swept off her feet by an older man. Although the dream-like bubble of Jenny's exciting lifestyle does eventually come crashing back down to reality, An Education gives both an escape from the monotony of one's everyday life with a much-needed reality check in the end, making it the perfect viewing for dreamers like myself, who regularly dream of escaping away from everyday regularity in order to experience and travel the world. No matter how you jazz it up, the reality is that a 30 year old man seducing a 16 year old girl is never right, however just as Jenny was seduced by the high life, I was too. As a result, I fell for Jenny, I fell for An Education, and I fell even more head over heels with the 1960's.

Part of An Education's appeal for me is the 1960's setting. A huge fan of all things vintage, the 1960's is one of my favourite decades; with style still maintaining the classic and traditional Hepburn-esque look of the 1950's with the emergence of the somewhat freer mini-skirts and shift dresses alike. I love the classic cars of the '60's and I love old bicycles, and I think, in reality, if there was ever a previous decade which I would like to have been alive in, it would definitely have been the 60's.

And although this wish is somewhat impossible to fulfil, all is not lost. With the vintage trend becoming ever more popular over the past couple of years, original 1960's pieces are now easier than ever to find, especially with the likes of Ebay, which delightfully gives you access to vintage from all over the world. The high street is taking note, and vintage replica's are found in everywhere from Topshop to New Look, the former producing beautiful Chanel-esque boucle jackets that would not have looked out of place in '60's Paris. Fashion is one never-ending cycle, and new trends are only ever developed, transformed versions of former trends from previous eras, meaning that 1960's style was in in the '60's, and is now, and probably will be in another fifty years time. So although I will never be able to live Jenny's lifestyle in the actual '60's, I can still pretend and dream, with original one-off vintage items and '60's-esque items being so readily available to me.

Satchels galore.

 Luckily, the Cambridge Satchel Company offers the classic 1960's schoolgirl staple.

Holly Golightly.

 These Dior cat-eye sunglasses are bang on '60's style:

Also available in tortoiseshell (my fave sunglass print).

Lomography provide original '60's looking camera's that produce gorgeous-looking photographs, on film of course.

Lomography Diana Dreamer. How divine.

If you want a classic mac to go with your classic car, then Burberry is your only answer.

Emma Watson, looking quite the babe in her Burberry with a 60's pixie crop.

And for accessories??

1. Vintage Patent Leather Handbag; 2. Dior Cat Eye Sunglasses; 3. Chanel No.5; 4. Vintage Cigarette Lighter; 5. Antique Camel-Back Settee; 6. Vintage Lamp; 7. English Coffee Pot; 8. Nordstrom Keyhole Gloves; 9. Armitron Black and Gold Watch.

In the end, of course, Jenny had to go back to her Penguin Classics and leave the Chanel behind. Luckily for me I can watch An Education again, and again, and again. And I, like Jenny, will be seduced by the high life and the 1960's again. And again. And again...

Beg, borrow or steal...

Having watched the Sex and the City movie for what must be the millionth time last night, I was reminded of a website that I had been meaning to blog about since the beginning of time. Or thereabouts, anyway...

The concept behind Beg, Borrow or Steal, the online rental website for designer goods, is genius. It allows us mere mortals to sport that quilted Chanel, or that Hermes Birkin, without the full designer price tag. This means that designer beauty is not just reserved for the Carrie Bradshaw's or the Victoria Beckham's of the world. For a snippet of the price, that vintage Chanel (pictured above) can be yours, albeit temporarily.

Since birth, I have wanted a black quilted Chanel. But nearing two thousand sheets in price, it has thus far been a distant dream, just like the Mulberry Bayswater I've had my eye on ever since I spotted it in Harrods, and thus fell head over bag in love. As a young woman with somewhat expensive taste for staple items, Beg, Borrow or Steal has given me the opportunity to experience the joy of having the Chanel number on my arm, without having to sell myself for my bag fund.

This Hermes Birkin Gold Vachette is available to rent from Beg, Borrow or Steal for £1,190 per week, or £3,500 per month. One of the more expensive bags, but nevertheless, still a snippet of the RRP price tag.
This amazing Carlos Falchi Magazine tote is the perfect accessory to any outfit. Rent it from Beg, Borrow or Steal for a snippet at £43 per week, or £125 per month.

I have wanted this quilted Chanel ever since I saw it draped over Agyness Deyn's arm. It is pretty much me in bag form, combining two of my great loves: Chanel and British patriotism. The union jack, along with leopard print, is one of my all time favourite prints, and my love for the Queen is endless. I'm VERY tempted to rent this for Christmas time, at a snip of £66 per week or £195 for the month. I have a Topshop version of this bag, which I loved but it broke, and so I feel it would be the perfect excuse! And what with the royal wedding announcement (I am planning my London trip to wave my union jack as we speak), I feel it's very contextual. Any excuse Grace....

However, it seems that us mere mortals can have the Cinderella treatment too, with www.cinderella-me.co.uk bringing us Louboutins and Jimmy Choo's to give our tootsies the star treatment. With Louboutins costing over 400 sheets for a basic pair, cinderella-me is a wonderful concept. Let's face it, we all crave those ruby red soles that give a glimpse of femme fetale on a grey day.

These gorgeous Louboutins are the perfect leg lengthener, and that peep-toe is oh-so sexy. And for £85 per week from cinderella-me, what's not to love!? They're the first heels on my wish list.
Bang on trend with that milky nude shade, these Alexander McQueen shoes are perfectly understated. The inner platform adds a bit of height (which is a winner with me, standing tall at just 5'3...) and I love the colour. For £55 per week, they're positively bargainous. You couldn't even buy a pair of Topshop heels for that! Love them. Long live McQueen.
I HEART these Gucci shoe-boots. The peep toes stop them being prim, and then navy and cream contrast detail give them a very Chanel feel to them. Audrey Tautou eat your heart out!

My conclusion?? Whereas I originally anticipated waiting a lifetime to get a vintage quilted Chanel on my arm and a pair of Louboutins on my feet, it seems these rental websites will allow me to do that a bit sooner than I thought. Which can only be a good thing, surely?! When funds allow, I will make my desired purchase and get some of these babies for myself, but until then, I plan on renting my pocket money away to bring a little luxury to my early twenties. Hello Christmas list.