A Good Investment

Every decision we make in life is an investment into our future. Whether it be buying a house or even choosing what to have for dinner, we are pre-empting what will be best for us at some point in the near or distant future. When our financial situation is less than desirable, (which, if you’re in fashion, it probably is) we quickly learn to prioritise, we make allocations and allowances – buying those shoes means I won’t eat for three days, going on that night out means I can’t go on that one, we ask ourselves “Is it worth it?”. When life gives us boundaries, we make the best of our options, we decide what would ultimately be best for us.

The same goes, or at least should go, for love. We have to be wise with our investments. I often get criticised for not ‘living in the moment’ people tell me all the time to not let the future worry or concern me, I’m young, I’ve got my whole life ahead of me, the world is (apparently) my oyster, so why trouble myself in questioning whether the person I’m dating, is my lobster?* Why not enjoy it for what it is, when it is?

My argument remains the same. Why get preoccupied in something that has a sell by date? Why get caught up in a relationship that’s doomed from that start, one that you can already see the end of? When starting a new relationship, isn’t being blissfully unaware of how long it’ll last or where it will take you, half the fun?

In a conversation about an ex of mine, a friend said “Yeah he’s fabulous now, fun, seemingly care-free, but he isn’t a good investment”. Until very recently I never fully understood what they meant by that, now I realise. Living for the moment can only be a temporary state of mind, no matter how secure someone may seem now, there will come a time when there will be a sudden realisation of their lack of achievements, friends, prospects, or whatever they have considered to be ‘accomplishments’ actually amounting to... very little. The people they consider to be friends aren’t actually very good to them at all. Surely these worry-free creatures must stop and think “Where is all this going?” Maybe even once or twice? At some point in life we will all have responsibilities.

Consider the lifestyle you see yourself with in the future, does the other person in your life fit in to this lifestyle? Could they ever be a part of it?

When choosing someone to share your life with, even if only for a short while, we must ensure that we will as good for them as they will be for us. I’m not saying we need to be concerned about the future, we don’t need that nibbling away at the back of our minds, living for the moment afterall is refreshing and liberating. What I am saying is when you invest feelings in a new relationship, be wary that your stocks won’t plummet. This isn’t about getting something out of a relationship, or using someone for personal gain, it’s about emotional security. Knowing that you’re not wasting your time.

On one hand I want to urge you all to not waste your time on something that doesn’t seem like a worthwhile investment just because it seems “fun while it lasts” but on the other hand I want to tell you not to let the future pre-occupy your mind and distract you from what’s important right now. If you concentrate on the future too much, the present can pass you by and you may miss some unbelievable opportunities.

I wish I was one of these people that coasted through life and has the “Whatever happens, happens” outlook, but I just think about things too much. Maybe that’s what I should try. I should relax. Jump at every chance I get and not over-think situations. Throw caution to the wind. It seems to work for everyone else. I’m not that kind of person.... but maybe I could be...

* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyvRjF0NBeM

Frost Bite and Respite

Hello everybody, Jack's back.

I do apologise for my (longer than expected) absence, I can't believe this is my first blog post in over a month! With university, house hunting (then eventually finding and moving in to a new flat without internet access) and then Christmas, I've been somewhat distracted.

I'm currently writing this from the living room of my parent's house, the house I was brought up in. In front of a roaring log fire (that I started - snaps for me!) and looking over the glistening snow-covered valley, it's apparently the coldest it's been here since 1982 and we had the coldest Christmas Day on record. It's pretty ridiculous. It's slowly becoming my goal in life to never see a winter and to just follow the sun around the world... or just move to LA. Having said that, I always find it comforting and humbling to come back here. A place to gather my thoughts, slow down and get some perspective on life. The perfect time and place to start writing again and to concentrate on myself!

Needless to say, I am throwing myself back into the blogosphere with lots of new material coming your way (mostly lifestyle posts as being out of the fashion loop for quite some time, I've got some catching up to do!)

I hope you've all had a spectacular Christmas and are all looking forward to New Year. Stay tuned for more regular updates. Lovelovelove.

Creative Outlet

Looks like I've found another outlet for the crazy in my head.

I now also have Tumblr. It's brand new so keep an eye on it -

http://romanticallyjack.tumblr.com/

Carey and the Olsens

I don't consider myself to be much of a celebrity reporter, but you can't argue with Carey Mulligan in Chanel couture at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards.

The 25 year-old British actress (who seems to have come from nowhere) has designers tripping over their hemlines to get her to wear their clothes, and although I don't know if she has a huge team of stylists behind her, but her taste and style seem to be impeccable. There's something very Parisian chic about her attitude and yet she still evokes the true laid-back effortlessness that I (perhaps with slight bias) consider to be quintessentially British. It has also been reported that during that she broke down in tears during the awards ceremony after receiving a phone call from Baz Luhrmann awarding her the role of Daisy Buchanan in his upcoming adaptation of the literary classic 'The Great Gatsby'.

And of course, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards could never be blogged about without the mention of my favourite twins who were also in attendance -

- they never fail me.

Images of Carey Mulligan courtesy of JustJared.buzznet.com

Tom Ford Womenswear

I melted in awe and squealed with excitement when a friend showed me VOGUE's sneak peak at Tom Ford's Spring/Summer 2011 womenswear collection (his first independent womenswear collection). The decadence, the elegance, the glamour! I'm already excited to see more of the fringing and the tailoring, there's a strong powerful 70s aesthetic but still maintaining Ford's modern edge. I'm bursting to see more!

It's official - he is unstoppable. Is there anything he can't do?

When I know more and when I have seen more, I will blog more. So stay tuned!

Brands You May Have Missed

I've recently gone back to this season's runway shows to see any I may have missed or to check out brands I've never heard of before. First of these brands is by German-born American designer Robert Geller. His menswear debuted at New York Fashion Week three years ago and it seems he gone from strength to strength and is starting to find his voice. I love the shades of deep red used in the above looks and the silky sheen of the shorts (which move amazingly by the way, they flow and bounce and look so effortlessly slung on). The coat in the same deep red is also a favourite item of mine, and definitely a colour I'll be looking for this season.

The leather gilet was also a stand-out piece for me, as was the men's jumpsuit, a daring, risky garment but the Geller shows how it can be worn correctly and stylishly whilst still retaining a masculine edge and not looking like a unitard.

Another interesting detail of the collection was the use of crumpled-effect leather cummerbunds. In a range of colours these add an extra detail and some extra interest to an outfit and is an interesting take on the everyday belt. I would like one in a dark grey please!

Loden Dager (above) was another brand I came across, again it featured a leather gilet which is even more evidence that I should have one in my wardrobe (or more temptation for me to get one at least). I also liked the mixed greens in the look above right, designer Oliver Helden commented that the tailoring this season were in "Ice cream colours" , I assume the look above would be pistachio? I adore the long, well-fitted jacket and the short shorts, and the colour scheme adds and extra unexpected flair to the outfit, I'm all for a coloured blazer.

The final brand I considered worth mentioning was Band of Outsiders. The looks above were my favourites from the Fall 2010 collection. I fell instantly in love with the shearling jacket, complete with an enormous head-encompassing hood...cosy. I also enjoyed the laid-back slouchy feeling I got from the collection. It looked effortlessly cool and unpretentious. It was a new, refreshing take on preppy, college and/or resort wear. Their womenswear is also definitely worth looking at, and although I felt the mens Spring/Summer 2011 collection wasn't quite as good as the collection that preceded it, I predict that this brand's commercial success is imminent.