Dixons Ice Cream

Dixon's ice cream is a Huddersfield delicassee. Everyone has heard of it, everybody loves it. Even in winter you can queue out the door in their Lockwood store to get your two scoops in a waffle cone with juice. A visit home isn't complete without a trip to Dixon's.

Dixon's Milk Ices... A Huddersfield institution

The ice cream has a really distinctive taste because they use evaporated milk.

Lockwood

Tote Bags

I love a good tote bag. They fit everything and if you buy the right ones they can be really stylish. Living in zone 3 I often can't be bothered going home to change before going out on an eve so I throw everything into my big Reiss bag and i'm set.

Some of my favorites...

Celine, black pony skin with leather lining and trim.

Another offering by Celine

A little bit more obtainable, leather tote by Zara

Etro, pony skin... I do love a bit of pony.

Anya Hindmarchs' leather and canvas tote. Love this range of occasion specific bags, this one is for dry cleaning but she also makes them for ballet kit, homework and dirty washing.

Marc by Marc Jacobs- I saw someone with this bag on the tube and just thought, wow that bag looks useful.

Leather and wool tote by classic American brand Pendleton, £258- Love the use of traditional Mexican fabric and print.

Celine

Celine is rapidly becoming my label of choice since Phoebe Philo took control of the brand last year. Here are some of the reasons why...

Leather cape teamed with jeans and stripe top.

Simple white lace top

The feather skirt has been 'done' alot in recent seasons but I love how Celine team this waste fitting skirt with a simple long sleeve top and green shoes (would also look great with black patent pumps).

A great coat and jumper dress combo.... I want these pieces in my life!

Ankle boots to be teamed with Prada's wool socks and jumper dress.

Pony fur tote. Fits everything, can be taken everywhere.

Coats

Winter can't come fast enough....

Double collared sherling, Burberry Prorsum

Navy military, Love the big collar. Burberry Prorsum again... 

And again....

And again.... I heart Burberry Prorsum!

Navy high collared jacket by Celine

The shoulders on this coat by Celine adds a modern edge to a traditional style.

Double breasted and double collared tweed coat by Prada. This collection is seemingly inspired by 1950s librarians...

 

Prada

Skirt coat, Prada. There isn't enough of this style of coat around!

A bit of beading, Prada

Vintage Dresses

Most of my dresses are vintage. I love foraging in vintage markets and shops looking for them. I think one of the most important things to look for in a vintage dress is fabulous fabric. The fabric is the first thing I register when I see a dress and then I look to the style of the dress. Alot of vintage dresses are that funny mid calf length but don't let that put you off, it is relatively cheap to have a dress taken up and it can transform the dress from being slightly drab to AMAZING.

Some of my best finds...

Lanvin Maxi dress, New York

Whimsical puff sleeve dress, Manchester. This dress was maxi when I got it but I think it works much better as a mini, as a maxi it was too much of a look. I wear this one with black Prada ankle boots and socks. Hair in a bun.

My newest purchase from Portobello Market (Ladbroke Grove end). This one was that funny mid calf length when I got it, love it short. I'm really looking forward to wearing this with black YSL tribute too pumps (when I get them) and black tights in winter.

When I found this Valentino dress it had long sleeves which made it very 80s... I got the sleeves shortened (my mum used the left over fabric to cover a head band). I teamed it with purple YSL pumps and my trusty Dior (Willie Wonka) sunglasses for a couple of weddings last year.

Pie

10 different pies, 10 different gravies, 10 different types of mash= Good times! I love taking trips to the Duke of Norfolk pub in Hove when i'm in Brighton. It's £7.95 for any gravy, mash and pie combo you desire and it is super TASTY.

If you're ever on a trip to Brighton, go.

Pie Puns... The Pieminister

Spinach, goats cheese and sweet potatoes pie with garlic mash and red onion gravy.

Keep Calm and Eat More Pies... Agreed.

The Hat-Trick

'Do you sleep in your hat?'- This is a question I am asked all too often. The answer is of course no, (it would be far too awkward) but some days when i'm sleeping is the only time when a hat is not on my head. It's not that I don't like my hair (although hats have helped me through some bad hair cuts and generally BAD hair days), I just really like hats! I have been a dedicated hat wearer for as long as I can remember; russian hats, berets and wool hats in winter and straw fedoras and boaters in summer. I am trying to cut down on my hat wear but it's hard, some days I put a hat on unintentionally and leave the house unaware i'm wearing one until someone says 'nice hat'. I am definitely a hat addict, 'My name is Makeda and I have a problem...'.

Hats, Hats, Hats...

This deer stalker hat is rarely far from my head in winter, I love hats with flaps that can be clipped up or worn over your ears. I have a black fur Russian Hat but considering I had it on for most of last winter I have no good pictures of me wearing it...

The Camden panama

The wide brimmed straw boater. I love wearing this hat, it makes me feel like i'm in 

The Sound of Music.

My Latest summer fancy...

A fair trade fedora from Parachuti

Although not strictly a hat I do like to wear my hair tied up in Hermes scarves.

The Mortar Board, a one time wear. I liked the tassel.

Bring back armor!!!

Trench Coats

With the weather taking a funny turn over the last week i've found myself thinking about my autumn wardrobe. I think everybody's (men and women) wardrobe should contain a good trench coat. I know it's an obvious thing to say but they are sooo useful and a guilt free purchase because they never fall out of favor. The perfect trench coat is for all seasons; they can be worn on rainy summer days without their lining and layered with sweaters on cold winter days. I am particularly partial to the ones with quilted and shearling linings that can be removed, normally attached by a series of little buttons. Oh and I prefer if they're double breasted, although single breasted tend to look better on women with large bosom and men with large tummies.

Here are some ideas...

Burberry is of course the most celebrated trench coat maker, knocking new designs out every season. The Burberry Prorsum coats are expensive but they also have their Thomas Burberry line which is more affordable.

Mens trench by Brooks Brothers. Love the black fleece lining. 

I'm not sure how I feel about the plaid inserts on this trench by Topshop (£195) but I love the shape of this one. Love the idea of having inside pleats, it adds in elements of the swing coat; a twist on the classic trench which tends to be more structured. 

Love button backs

High military collar, NW3 by Hobbs £199

I had to add a picture of this cashmere collar that can be buttoned onto your coats collar, nice!

Brooks Brothers $35