It’s December – finally! – and my Christmas present for you guys starts already now. You see, in Norway we have a very strong tradition of Christmas/advent calendars, so I thought I’d treat you all to a new post every single day from now until the 24th (in Norway the main celebration is on the 24th, not the 25th). I have lots of goodies planned, but I thought I’d start with something wonderful and sparkly – just like Christmas itself.

Most people seem to think that diamonds – be it real or fake – are for Princesses, engagement rings and very special occasions only. I respectfully disagree, and think we should all listen to Marilyn: diamonds are a girl’s best friend. The trick is simply to know what to wear with them to make them work practically every day.

For everyday sparkle

♮The more dressed up your diamonds are, the more casual the rest of you should be. This applies to both hair, makeup and clothing. My favourite way of wearing my chandelier earrings is with opaque tights, denim cutoffs, worn-out leather boots and layered tops. Diamonds with sweatpants looks a bit odd, though, so think simple-but-pulled-toghether-casualness, not the I-just-want-to-crawl-back-into-bed-and-sleep-look.

♮Earrings or rings are the easiest to pull off on an ordinary Monday. If you’re brave enough for a necklace (like the one pictured above), layer it with even more necklaces, such as common chains or plain pendants. Sounds weird to add more to keep it from looking overwhelming, but trust me, it works. Just pick thin, rather simple necklaces to avoid looking like a Christmas tree.

♮If you’re wearing earrings, sweep your hair up in one of those messy updos or a bedhead beehive. Braids are also good, as long as you mess them up. As you’ve probably realized the key word for the hair is “messy”, as diamonds and complicated hairstyles can make it look like you’ve tried too hard, like it isn’t effortless. And we want to look like we even sleep wearing diamonds, don’t we, girls?

♮What you’re wearing is important, but how you hold yourself matters, too. If shiny sparkly things make you feel constricted or uncomfortable, it won’t look good. Wear them at home to get used to them, and give it some time – if you’re not usually an earring kind of gal, it will take more time getting used to the feeling. When you’re ready to go public, remember that it should always feel like you’re wearing the diamonds, not the other way around.

♮

PS:  Thank you, thank you, thank you to Madeleine for recommending my blog, I am honoured! I have so many new readers today I am simply overwhelmed.

And to you newbies: Welcome! I do hope you’ll stick around?

A while ago I wrote a post about my obsessive listmaking, and Cindy commented and told me how she also likes to cut out pictures from magazines and put them into their own “inspiration book”. I remembered this when I passed by my favourite bookstore the other day, and two minutes later I left the store with a fresh start. You see, I started a project like this sometime in high schoolm but it didn’t turn out very good (I cut out almost everything in the magazine, which means I could have simply kept the magazine as it was), and it had black pages. Maybe it’s because I started reading blogs and realized I can’t stand (visually, at least) blogs with black backgrounds, but I decided I needed something with white pages. Thus begins my newest project (no, I’m not like Lorelai, Cookie, I will finish this one!): to go through all my fashion magazines and be merciless. Whatever survives the process shall be prettily pasted into my new inspiration book (which has a red cover, in tribute to Bridget Jones, naturally). Are Cindy and I slightly crazy, or do you other fashionistas do this, too?

If I were a guy, I would probably wish to be like Chuck Bass. As I like to think fashion is in my blood rather than just in my… female parts, I would probably be a fashionable enough guy to watch Gossip Girl with my girlfriend – pretending it was only to make her happy, but secretly try to work out what makes said Bass a gentleman of such impeccable style.

After a couple of seasons of GG, I would have seen a lot of different sides to Chuck, and thus also excellent examples of suitable attire for different occasions. Still, there are some basic guidelines that stylist Eric Daman seem to follow no matter what, just to make sure Chuck is still, well, Chuck (a small digression: notice how when you say “Chuck” a lot, it suddenly starts to sound really weird? If I were a guy, I hope my name would have been something along the lines of Jonatan – as in that wonderful book. Right, now back to Chuck).

The most important message seems to be pay attention to details. Sure, a guy could rebel against conventions and wear something like this, this or this, but for most guys out there that would probably be pushing it a bit too far. You see, the great thing about Chuck’s style is precisely that even though it’s utterly stylish and creative to boot, it’s still wearable. Good examples of interesting details could be an unusual collar; unexpected use of colour, either by subtle accessories or by donning a whole suit in an attention-seeking colour; or cuts and shapes that deviate just enough from the run-of-the-mill attire to make it more unique. If I were a guy, these items would be right on top of my to-buy-list because of their clever details:

Every guy should own a blazer – and the dark trimmings on this one keeps it from looking like all the other blazers out there.

A double row of buttons easily transforms a simple t-shirt into something more intriguing. I also like that the buttons go further down than what’s common with button-ups.

Chuck seems to wear brogues a lot, and for good reason – they can update any look from simply “okay” to “wow” (but wearing more trendy sneakers with a rather traditional kind of suit can also look great).

This vest does not only offer an (often much-needed) splash of colour, but it also has an eye-catching back.

Paying attention to details is not only useful when it comes to clothing, but also concerning accessories. Now, I know a lot of guys are practically allergic to accessories, but it doesn’t have to be a huge deal. Most of them are functional as well as decorative, and there’s nothing wrong with showing that you have a personality either.

I’ve always preferred bow ties to the ordinary kind (and Chuck seems to agree, by the way!). A light grey bow tie with a white shirt… in my opinion, there is nothing better.

Braces would be a classic if combined with a shirt and a bow tie, but a male me would probably just wear them with a plain white t-shirt. And not just for special occasions, but for regular Mondays and Thursdays.

If I could change one thing about the guys at my school, it’s those plastic shopping bags they use to carry around their music equipment. No, it doesn’t look cool in a James Dean-I-don’t-care kind of way, it just looks sloppy. The male me would own a messenger bag or satchel in a neutral colour that goes with absolutely everything.

Guys – never underestimate the power of a hat. I have yet to find a girl who doesn’t get weak in the knees just by the thought of a hat-wearing man. This trilby is perfect for that relaxed, everyday look, whereas…

… nothing beats a top hat for special occasions (and the higher, the better, if you ask me).

If you are not a tech geek who keeps track of his schedule with a cellphone of some sort, a moleskine weekly planner will make sure you remember important appointments. While being late might be considered fashionable, forgetting something entirely is quite unforgivable.

For the brave ones out there, you can now find Chuck-inspired attire in many highstreet shops, Topman being the front runner. I was mysteriously attracted to their brightly coloured suits (sooo Chuck!)…

… and scarves (which we all know is Chuck’s trademark accessory).

Still, the most important thing to being a stylish guy – and I can’t stress this enough – is how you act. If I were a guy, I would…

♣ … make sure I smelled good. The easiest thing in the world to do, but still so many guys underestimate this it is practically ridiculous. Bring a friend (preferably a female one) if you need help to choose – I guarantee she will feel flattered for at least a month.

♣ … have good manners. You only have to remember the three most basic things: say “please” and “thank you”, and open doors for the gals. If you really want to make an impression, every girl (except my weird sister Cookie, it seems) will be charmed by receiving flowers (unless she is insanely allergic to that specific kind, that is – just do a tiny bit of research to make sure), and a compliment can completely make someones day.

♣ … do something with my life, so I wasn’t just a pretty face. Read a book, watch a movie, learn something. Even Chuck himself would be boring if he wasn’t such a brilliant bastard.

Posted in Fashionable persons, Gossip Girl, Menswear, Shopping, Style Guides

In my limited, small-town experience, menswear always seemed a bit boring. Most shops would carry subtle variations of basically the same pieces of clothing, and male accessories were usually non-existent, or limited to black sweatbands for workout and an anonymous tie for formal events. A few brave ones attempted earrings of various sparkly materials, or pointed boots in, say, red leather, but to me the result usually looked forced and a little half-hearted (though they did earn half a point for making an effort, at least).

My opinion of menswear as a tad boring remained the same – even though I only became more and more interested in fashion as I grew up – until the one day I finally gave in to public pressure and started watching Gossip Girl. Sure, the intrigues can be mildly interesting, and some of Blair’s dresses had me drooling for hours, but what fascinated me the most was love-him-or-hate-him Chuck Bass. Oh, and not the character himself (most of the time, at least – I am only human!). What caught my attention was his wardrobe.

As I introduced Gossip Girl to my younger sister, we would repeatedly turn to each other during an episode and exclaim: “How can a guy wear that and not look ridiculous/feminine?” For those of you who have yet to dive into the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite, let me inform you that silk robes, brightly coloured suits, hair that definitely took more than 30 seconds to style, shirts in various pastel shades and a blazer with sparkles have been involved. During the show there have been lots of attempts to get under Chuck’s skin, but I couldn’t help but wonder about the secrets to his impeccable style.

As I am mature enough to realize that GG is, in fact, a TV show and not reality, I decided to find out who should really get the credit for Chuck’s fashion sense – the stylist for the show. Cue Wikipedia and Google. The show’s stylist is named Eric Daman, and I found some very interesting quotes of his about our favourite bad boy:

After watching both seasons twice now, I think I might have cracked a few of Damans strategies for dressing the mysterious Bass – and I indend to tell you about them in my next post. Well, a girl can’t sit in front of a computer all day, can she?

PS: I did take the time to create a link to Lost In A Spotless Wardrobe under “SHOP” over my header. Just in case you hadn’t dropped by yet and wondered where to find it…

Tonight my sister, Miriam, bought this fabulous dress at the H&M webshop:

Yes, I was the one who persuaded her to buy it, simply because it will look elegant for many years to come (because of the classic colours and cut), and will fit her like a glove (she’s a dancer – do I need to say more?). Since I’m still sick and can’t sleep at night, I thought I might come up with some ideas for different ways for Miriam to wear it for various occasions. And what better tool could I use than dear old Polyvore? But before we hit the outfits, it might be good for you to know that my sister is about 1.60 m tall, is petite, but hourglass-shaped, is going to study acting next year and is a photographer on the side. She’s myopic, like me, and she happens to look a lot like Alexis Bledel, with big, blue-grey-green eyes and gorgeous chocolate brown hair. There – let’s get to it, shall we?

DRESSED-UP DAY LOOK

This is a combination where the dress isn’t necessarily the main focal point, but merely a great base upon which the rest of the outfit is built. A splash of colour keeps it from becoming boring, and a sweet hairstyle makes sure it looks young and sweet. The belt creates a waist (much needed with cardigans like these!), and I added some slightly eccentric glasses to give it some personality. This look would be perfect for going to see a movie, or maybe the occasional visit to a café with friends, don’t you think?

SIMPLE & CHIC

This is a more simple look, perfect for those chilly autumn days we have a lot of in Norway. Basics such as the trenchcoat and lace-up boots are classic for a reason, though I think it’s nice to add some personal touches (such as the zipper gloves, the messenger bag and the glasses) to make sure the look still says something about your personal taste. The blue scarf is practical when it’s cold outside, of course, but also happens to have the exact same colour as the eyes of both Alexis and Miriam.

THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

As I mentioned above my sister is also a photographer, and next week she’s going to be a wedding photographer. I think this would be great for that occasion, since it’s slightly anonymous and simple, but also dressed-up enough to fit in at a wedding. A long necklace would have looked lovely, but might become annoying while taking pictures, as might jangling bracelets. The finishing touches are therefore a coral nail polish (I do love a splash of colour), a casio watch (practical as well as decorative), and a large bag to hold all the photography accessories. Smoky eyes and straightened hair keeps it sharp and gives it a mysterious edge (which is never a bad thing).

LET’S BE FABULOUS

“We didn’t know exactly what the nomad vampires would wear, but Catherine wanted a kind of rock-and-roll look for them, and she also had the idea that these were killers who collected trophies.”

Wendy Chuck in Twilight – the Illustrated Movie Companion.

I’ve always had a weakness for the bad guys (particularly in the movies… trust me, I’d pick Sylar over Nathan any time). They get the better songs in Disney movies, can be blissfully imperfect and are usually better dressed. The only negative thing about bad guys in general is that their appearance can sometimes be a bit predictable. You know – dark, tight clothes, lots of leather and dark eye makeup. Which is precicely why I’m amazed by Twilight’s nomad vampires.

Very much different from the usual gloomy, colourless villain-uniform, their clothes have tons of personality, seem to be almost randomly combined and also look worn. Another thing that makes their styling concept so brilliant: not only do the bad vampires look, well, cool (sorry for the unimaginative choice of word), but the clothes also make their behaviour seem even more evil. Nobody would expect pure evil from someone wearing a soft, fluffy white fur that would not look out of place on a little bunny. Not until they’d seen Twilight, at least.

Sorry, I’ll stop gushing now. Instead let me tell you my way of achieving a rockstar-vampire look all on your own. Of course, you could simply go hunting for items that closely resemble the ones worn in the movie, but what would be the fun in that? Firstly, it might become quite expensive; second, it might end up looking like a costume; and third, you’d have to be incredibly patient, both to find the very best items, but also while waiting for them to arrive by mail (since you probably wouldn’t find a complete replica of all their items in your local mall). Instead, you might continue reading this post, and achieve that nomad vampire look in your own way.

A GOOD START:

♣ Look for clothes with a slight vintage feel, or perhaps simply items you’ve worn so much that it shows – though in a classy way, not with weird stains that won’t come off.

♣ Pick natural fabrics such as leather, silk, cotton, denim and fur (whether faux or real I’ll leave to you). Synthetic fabrics such as polyester or lycra would not age gracefully, and would therefore not be very practical for a vampire who whishes his/her favourite item to last a couple of decades. 

♣ Do the unexpected! Combine pieces regardless of decade or ethnicity - just look at Laurent’s combination of dreads, a brocade waistcoat and 70’s leather jacket! There is no reason why a victorian shirt couldn’t look great with leather pants, as long as you…

♣ … keep the silhouette in mind. All our rockstar vampires seem to lean heavily on the 70’s silhouette, which looks long and lean. Imagine Victoria in that final scene wearing not that long slinky number, but a cute little dress with a 50’s cut. Not quite the same, is it?

♣ Go easy on the accessories, and wear pieces that have a story, that mean something to you. Hopefully it won’t be trophies of people you’ve eaten, but perhaps a vintage piece you found in some hidden shop, or something you inherited from a family member. Accessories with a history will look much more like you than something you just bought because it was trendy.

♣ See if you can avoid black, or at least black leather. Instead go for various earth shades – in Twilight the good vampires tend to wear cool, pale colours, whereas the bad ones dress in warmer, brownish pieces. A splash of colour (”Kiss me, I’m Irish“, right?) can keep it from looking dull.

FOR THAT LITTLE EXTRA…

♣ Confidence, darlings! No point trying to convince the crowd (or yourself!) that you’re a scary vampire if you look insecure or like you don’t like attention. Our evil vampires are proud, sexy and slightly cocky – which might be easier if you know you look aboslutely irresistible, and also happen to be pretty much invincible, but give it a go even if you are only a mere mortal… I can keep a secret, nobody will have to know.

♣ Put on the perfect soundtrack. To achieve that slightly-evil, slightly-sexy mood, merely put on Blue Foundation’s Eyes On Fire. Works for me every time, though anything by Muse is also wonderful for getting the energy up. The right music can also insert a little something in your walk, which is oh, so essential as we don’t have our own magic carpet to walk on.

♣ Perfection is boring. Messy hair, a glimpse of a bra or clothes with visible wear can be wonderful stylistic elements, but don’t forget that this also applies to your behaviour. Sure, the vampires have an undeniable grace, but the main point is that they don’t fuzz over tiny errors. It’s all right to freak out a little if you’ve got a tracker coming after your mortal girlfriend, I suppose, but the evil ones seem prety much carefree and nonchalant. Who knows, you might even find it liberating not to worry all the time…

♣ Work with what you’ve got. If you happen to be tall, blonde and muscular, well, good for you, but I think everyone can manage an evil vampire look. It’s really more about showing your personal taste and making a lasting impression, than about having a certain appearance.

Pardon for my absence, darlings – my baby (also known as MacBook) was away on a little holiday with my boyfriend. It was so stressed the plastic had actually cracked in some places, but it has returned now, as good as new. I have a lot of (in my opinion) great posts planned, but for now you’ll have to do with getting to know me a little better – I was tagged by the ever-so-lovely Ariella from Pearls In Your Hair. So without further ado:

What is your current obsession? Various aspects of grooming, such as discovering new ways to style my hair, or how to fix my nails. I blame the approaching summer, which means less clothing and more… Airam.

What is your weirdest obsession? Image-googling varios celebrities (mostly Christina Ricci, Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman) and saving the pictures on my baby. If you looked at my image-folder without knowing me, you’d probably think I was a little… yes, obsessed.

What are you wearing today? A floral-patterned, black&white dress with a fifties cut, the black and shiny jacket from Gina Tricot, lacy underwear and ancle socks.

What’s for dinner? We just had some sort of grilled meat, potato salad, green salad and sparkling water outside on the lawn. And bananas stuffed with chocolate, packed in silver foil and grilled, for dessert. Now I can barely walk.

What’s the last thing you bought? Dinner. The last fashionable thing was a tartan pencil skirt – I’ll show you guys soon!

What are you listening to right now? The sound of Boyfriend trying to hook up a film projector he borrowed from the library at school – he’s experimenting with creating a small cinema in his room (quite nerdy, and really fascinating).

What do you think about the person who tagged you? She’s got such a lovely, feminine style that’s very inspirational, and does some great work when it comes to picking and combining colours.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be? London. Not only because I love the city, the language, the shopping, but also because it would enable me to travel pretty much anywhere without a lot of fuss (living in the Northern part of Norway makes you long for that, I promise!).

What’s your must have piece for summer? Heels. I can’t really wear them in the winter because of the weather, so this summer I intend to go a little crazy.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? To the Park Hyatt Hotel in Tokyo, and lounge around in my pink wig while pretending to be Scarlett Johansson in Lost In Translation.

Which language do you want to learn? I’d love to brush up my French to make it fluent, and learn Italian properly (I only know a couple of phrases), but recently I’ve found myself wishing I knew Spanish, too. I’ve got a lot of work to do, don’t I? *laughs*

What’s your favourite quote? “I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion, not for men.” Marlene Dietrich.Who do you want to meet right now?

Who do you want to meet right now? Frida Kahlo (if she could be alive for the encounter, of course). She could teach me so much.

What is your favourite colour? Red for lipstick, black for sheer items, yellow for blue days and deep blue for the sky.

What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet? The shiny jacket I’m currently wearing. If something happens to it, I’ll just have to live the rest of my life naked, I think.

What is your dream job? Being a professional artist, touring the world with my band. And writing the occasional article for Costume (a Norwegian fashion magazine).

What’s your favourite magazine? Costume – it’s the only Norwegian magazine that writes solely about fashion, not about celebrity gossip, true-stories-from-ordinary-people’s-lives or how-to-drop-ten-pounds-in-two-weeks. Nothing compares.

If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on? A new microphone. And fabulous underwear.

What do you consider a fashion faux pas? Too dark foundation, and using short tunics with only sheer tights beneath it (I’m sorry, honey, but that’s not a dress!).

Do you admire anyone’s style? Yes, and you can find most of them in my (newly updated!) list-of the-mont-page. Though I wouldn’t say no to Scarlett Johansson or Gwen Stefani’s wardrobe, either.

Describe your personal style? A little bit rock, with a touch of pop, a sprinkle of soundtracks and a splash of cabaret. In both my music and my way of dressing, if you were wondering…

What are you going to do after this? Watch “Let the Right One In” on Boyfriends just-made cinema. I’ve got a thing for vampire movies, and the book was fantastic!

What are your favourite movies? Lost In Translation. Moulin Rouge. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Léon. V for Vendetta. Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Sweeney Todd. Twilight (got a post coming up about that, by the way…). Black Snake Moan. Dancer In the Dark. Edward Scissorhands. Finding Neverland. Frida Kahlo. Mirrormask. The Man Who Cried. Sin City (see, of you put periods between them, the list doesn’t seem so long).

What’s your favourite fruit? Strawberries? No, wait , that’s defined as a berry, not a fruit, right? Oranges, then.

What inspires you? Movies, music, touches, drawings, dancing, people, the weather, my sisters (I’ll send you that belt soon, Cookie, if you want to. It saved my evening!).

Give us three styling tips that always work for you: Red lipstick. Messy hair in a high bun. A dress that’s so fantastic it doesn’t need anything else.

What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)? I’ll either wear a combination I’ve worn several times and know I’ll feel comfortable in, or I’ll wear a combination so strange I know I’ll get some sceptical glances that day. I think it’s my way of saying “I don’t care! Screw you, world!” (Pardon my french, you sensitive readers, but sometimes a brutal word is needed.)

…

The rules are: Respond and rework – answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, and add one more question of your own. Then tag eight other people. I’m lazy, so I’ll only tag five (but don’t you guys feel even more special?): Nothing Elegant, Bittelitt Britt, re:gine, Miimosa and Stian.

Some days ago I had to get up at 6.30 a.m. because of a couple of doctor’s appointments. I sat on a hot, crowded bus for half an hour, then got run through a weird machine at the hospital, then just managed to catch a bus back to my second appointment that day.

By that time I felt sorry enough for myself that I decided to splurge on a magazine (despite my shopping ban, yes), and my happiness was great indeed when I discovered Lola. No, I hadn’t actually read it before, but from my wanderings around the world of fashion blogs I knew that I had missed out on something. I fliped through it quickly, and realized that not only did I like absolutely everything I’d seen – I adored it. It was mine for the staggering price of 159,- NOK (€18 or $24) – but it was very much worth it. I’m now left do decide: shall I cut out the editorials and put them on my walls, or leave the magazine in its pristine state?

While I contemplate that, you guys can entertain yourself with my newest Polyvores, all inspired by various spreads from my Lola.

Every year brings a lot of travelling possibilities: Easter, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and the Summer Holidays, in addition to all the other breaks from school/studying/work that vary from country to country. Travelling is wonderfully fun, but before the actual journey can begin comes the packing… which, for many of us, is a nightmare. It used to be like that for me too, but after some years of travels of very different kinds, I’ve found a strategy that always seem to work for me:

First off, we have THE BASE. These are items you always want to bring with you, no matter where you are going or for how long (you might want to bring more of some items if you’ll be gone long, though). My base consists of; bras, usually one black padded and one white underwire; one pair of knickers for each day I’m gone (I try to match the colours with the bras); a couple of thin tank tops in neutral colours and quality fabrics; black tights; sunglasses; one (rather large) bag in a simple colour and shape, to match every possible outfit; a favourite necklace; Rosebud’s Minted Rose Balm; something to read (usually a book or a really thick magazine, as I’m a fast reader). It looks something like this:

THE BASE

The next thing I usually pack is toiletries. I usually start with the things I need, then add the ones I want; contacts and glasses (I’m very myopic!); toothbrush and -paste; deodorant; Chanel no5 (the ony perfume I like); shampoo and conditioner (the Sexed-Up ones from Tigi can do miracles! I’ll never use anything else again); Vichy Pureté Thermale Cleansing Solution, which works as a makeup-remover, skin tonic and general cleanser at once; Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, which is a little expensive, but is very much worth it; the hair thickening foam from Define (a Scandinavian brand), which gives me curls without having to make any more effort than scrunching it in towel-dried hair;  a glass nail file; a tweezer; a rat-tail comb; bobby pins; pencil sharpener and black eyeliner; a bright red lipstick from Maybelline; Max Factor Masterpiece mascara; and mineral foundation and blush.

TOILETRIES

These are the toiletries I have to bring; if I have more free space, I usually add more make-up or hair products/accessories. Below I’ve made some suggestions for packing for specific types of travels, and included some tips based on personal experience. Hopefully they’ll make your packing experience easier, and thus, your holiday more pleasant!

BEACH GIRL

♥ An extra pair of sunglasses might save you from a frantic shopping trip if you lose/break your first pair.

♥ Two pairs of bikinis might be a good idea, and if they match, you’ll have even more options.

♥ Bring a bag in a light colour – anything dark will fry the content if left in the sun. Trust me when I way that melted lipsticks are a MESS.

♥ Keep accessoires to a minimum, as they’re likely to feel constricting in the heat, and might turn weird shades of green if sprayed with salt water from bathing. Just bring one, very fabulous piece.

♥ Open-toe sandals prevents you from walking around with sand in your shoes the rest of the vacation.

HAPPY CAMPER

♥ DON’T bring shoes with laces if you’ll be living in a tent. The lacing and un-lacing will not only make you seriously annoyed, but might also make you miss half the fun.

♥ Layers are key. Yes, we’ve all heard this, but it’s even more important if you’ll be at the mercy of the weather.

♥ Since accessories might get lost or ruined (and be the cause of some weird looks from less fashionable campers), let the clothes do the talking with patterns, fabrics and cuts. Just make sure it doesn’t wrinkle too easily.

♥ Makeup on a camping trip can also be a bother, so choose clothes in colours that suit you. This will minimize the need for makeup, as the right colours make you look good practically no matter what.

♥ Bad hairdays don’t exist if you’ve brought a cap or hat – and there are always plenty of bad hairdays when camping, trust me.

THE SHOPOHOLIC