I've moved on...
...to a different domain. Why, what were you thinking? The truth is, I just woke up one day and decided it's time for a change—a metamorphosis, if you will; or, in layman's terms, if Britney can shave her head, then maybe so can I? Nevertheless, it's been a rather handsome 10 years of talking to you, and thank you for putting up with all my moodswings and terrible dad jokes. Fear not! The hormonal imbalance and jokes are more terrible on CUBICLE, see you there.

H! by Henry Holland for Debenhams AW10 Preview

Half-arsed fashion blogger: Hi, I went to H! for Debenhams collection preview two weeks ago and met Henry Holland, it was like so nice! Look at my new shoes! Like, you can’t see them but they’re lovely! 

Food blogger: The canapés perfectly entertained my taste buds and the orange juice was most definitely high-end – ‘with pulp’. Very impressed it did not leave dregs at the bottom of the glass.

Celebrity blogger: Henry Holland oMG he was sipping Lemsip while infecting everyone in the room with his ‘fashion flu’, talk about an exclusive goodie-bag!

Tech blogger: There was a PC in the corner. Not. impressed.

Interior design blogger: Amy from Wolf Whistle blog was talking about seeing Henry’s mother’s house on ELLE. That was about the most interesting subject we discussed. Leaving the building, I had a strong urge to give Debenhams a bit of a store makeover. Naked Greek goddess statues in the foyer should bring good feng shui….

Fashion trend blogger: It’s Back to School ladies – Tartan skirts and khaki shorts with braces, jersey basics, varsity jackets, quirky knitwear… this season reflected Henry’s personal style. Best value for money was a purple faux fur coat that gave Chanel’s AW10 faux fur a run for their money, but a little hiccup was the camel coat, so perfect in theory, but felt like soggy cardboard.

Full-arsed fashion blogger (that is me): Thank you Laura for inviting me down, thank you Henry for being such a star popping in even with your cold. I’m going to be honest and say that only a few pieces in the collection tickle my fancy (velvet stripe dress/khaki shorts) but I’m more than certain it’s just something wrong with me having no <em>fun</em> bone while everyone else who can do the salsa will love the collection.

Bra set courtesy of B by Ted Baker for Debenhams

Can the boys go out and play with lawn sprinkler while the women talk about body lumps? Thanks!

Ladies, I’ve had a life-changing experience today. No, I didn’t go to Seven Sisters again with rotten eggs; I was invited to view the B by Ted Baker lingerie range in Debenhams and to have a bra fitting. My history of ‘bra fitting’ had been allowing shop assistants eyeball my chest and be given a bra that mysteriously didn’t fit so well. Naturally I thought it was the bra, because eyeballing is such a scientifically-proven effective way of measurement, no? Turns out that all my bras were two sizes bigger and one cup smaller than my actual size. So basically my entire adult life (avec boobs) I’ve had some cotton/polyester contraption around the chest that was sort of relevant to its function. But now my lumps have a home.

The collection ranges from traditional bra sets to silk cotton loungewear, great quality for pricetags that range from £10.50 to £49.50. I personally preferred the simpler ones with no pattern, because no matter how and where, butterflies will always always remain the symbol of tackiness for me. Also I strongly recommend the free bra fitting service in Debenhams for anyone wondering why you can tie a knot with your bra over your chest.

Cardigan – DIY Uniqlo, Top – Uniqlo, Jeans – H! by Henry Holland for Debenhams, Shoes – Zara, Laptop Bag – Samsonite, Bracelet – COS

The best and worst thing about coming back home to Warsaw is that I can pick up exactly where I left off 6 months ago – the same roadworks that still jam the intersection to dad’s restaurant, my car with its front wheels in the garden grass as I last parked it… Even the snow shovel from January is still leaning outside the garage door. The fact that nothing seems to change is haven but at the same time I feel that it robs the satisfaction of being away from something for a long period of time. It’s as if the act of taking everything off except my wig, bra and panties at the security gate was for no cause, or standing an awkward minute too long at the check-in desk waiting for the man to realize how politically uninformed he is to ask whether we are from North or South Korea was an awkward minute wasted.

One thing that does seem to change though, is the increasing number of wrinkles on my parents face each time I visit – I wouldn’t mind taking the gun out of my wig or telling the man that we’re from West Korea if it means I could give the pleasure of giving the folks a visit.

Top: Natalie from Canned Fashion & friend with cool hair whose name I forgot after ODing on cupcakes. Le sorz!
Left: Giraffe Print leggings

Ran off with: military/balmain-esque skinny jeans and maxi-length Tristan & Isolde + military dress

I’m with you when I say I won’t walk into Debenhams if not equipped with sunglasses and large hat, or an auntie. Exaggerating as always, but I believe needing that aunt character is not anything bad by all means – not every retail store needs to please youthsters and fashion skivvies. If there’s a good reason to go in, I’ll go in. If H Holland collaborated with Jane Norman then I probably won’t pretend I’m only desperately popping in to ask for directions to the nearest post office. The collaboration was the season’s trend pieces with Henry Holland quirk sprinkled over it, the random giraffe print on the leggings or pink checkered lining being prime examples. Maybe it’s good I waited (unintentially) 2 weeks since the visit because it seems that now some pieces are on sale! They’ve been so kind to offer bloggers to take home 2 pieces that day and the military-esque skinny jeans have since been my second skin. They’re happily tumbling at 30°c in the wash now.