JUDGING A BOOK... THE THOUGHTFUL DRESSER by Linda Grant

it's not often that leopard gets a look in on the cover of a book, but linda grant's latest 'the thoughtful dresser' (published by virago in march), is a collection of essays about style and clothes from a lady who operates outside fashion: this is the interesting choice of book jacket. a kate spade (i think)leopard handbag is the striking image of the ensemble - chosen, to paraphase a chapter in the book, becuase grant's mother believed that a handbag MAKES an outfit. grant inherited her mum's collection of bags and lives by the same outfit-rule. a receommended read.

LES CHATS vs LES SERPENTS: Carine Roitfeld, oui

'You know, I think as you get older, the snake is more chic than the leopard.' [carine roitfeld de PARIS VOGUE on prints and aging in the guardian this week] i was reminded, on reading the interview, of the incredible balmain fall08 gown she wore at cannes last year: a dangerously slit skirt, fabric smeared across the torso like a butcher's bloody apron, all pinned together into a mirrored, silvery dagger point at the waist...now in her mid-50s, her legendary balmain outing exemplified the cross-generational appeal of the leopard (the dress is actually modelled here by her son's girlf). she might not still be repping for the spotted print, having moved on to the snake-scales (according to jess cartner-morley's tête à tête) but i'm thankful as ever for the inspiration: merci beaucoup Carine.

PRETTY UP MY CLAWS BABY!

image: http://sugarrockcatwalk.blogspot.com

Erin at SUGARROCKCATWALK shows how to DIY leopard-print nails in a step by step photoguide on the blog. TOTAL INSPIRATION for my bday party outfit tomorrow night for which I'm wearing no print whatsoever - I'm thinking electric blue base and black spots, but might need to find an extra hour in my getting-ready-schedule. CLAWS.

leopard in a leotard, literally

image: mine of course

whoa i spotted this katy "KITTY" perry cover for company magazine in the-opposite-of-glamorous-somewhere-in-oxfordshire-service-station-off-the-m4 on sunday afternoon. this is purrrrfect-perry (omg, stop me): semi-naked, smiley, girl-next-door, showing off and generally making it look acceptable to wear your after-dark undies as everyday outwear. sadly the source of this FIERCE bodysuit is not creditted inside, but i'm trying to find out where it came from. DO NOT put them away KATY KITTY.

A PAWS, PLEASE: footwear to wear

hey there gals, it's that time of year when one has to choose some new summer shoes because the ones one bought last year are rotten/beyond repair/out of fashion. what's on offer for the leopard lover? i've found 2 pairs to consider...

option 1 (left): littlewoods (don't laugh) rope t-bar wedges, just £30! bargain. but aren't they like, [invoking scarjo in GHOST WORLD], little old lady shoes? yup, almost. VERDICT: the height says YES and the print is right, but the ruched toe-front says NO.

option 2 (right): office helena gladiator sandal, £40 - SOLD OUT. but i did buy these a couple of weeks ago. and then sent them back. the straps are made of a rough faux-fur and that trying to be authentic but missing the point beige leopard splodge-print that doesn't hit the spot. oops.

so what's a grrrl to do? go barefoot? wear flipflops? nope, until i find the right ones, i'm padding about in my leopard converse...