Hunting High & Low: "It’s not the toes," said Piglet, "so much as the ears."

In my case, it's not the ears, so much as the fingers. I rarely feel the cold anywhere except in my hands, which, come winter with its super fun combo of biting winds, low temperatures and icicles raining from the sky, makes my hands do an impression of a James Bond film: COLD-FINGERRRRRRRRRR!

Thank heavens then, for hand fashions: no glove, no love, as I believe the old saying goes. (Or as Mitch Leery once memorably said, "no hat, no glove".)

Not only will gloves keep your fingers toasty warm, but they're in fashion every season, unlike legwarmers, which are ridiculously practical, deliciously warm, but only occasionally trendy. There's also a myriad of options for covering your fingers (not even including anything dirty):

• The Original: a woollen glove.
• The Hobo: a woollen fingerless glove.
• The Kaiser: a leather fingerless glove.
• The Cruella DeVille: a long satin glove worn with cocktail rings on top.
• The Ralph Wiggum: woollen mittens.
• The Hybrid: a woollen, fingerless glove with an optional mitten-top.
• The Assassin: a regular leather glove.
• The You-Will-Get-Bullied: your choice of glove or mitten cunningly accessorised with a long ribbon threaded through the arms of your coat, so as not to lose them.

...and so on. Here's a selection of TFFF's favourites, in all sorts of styles, all available online: let your fingers do the walking!


SMITTEN KITTEN (under $20): Green knitted glove with button, by Topshop; Teal jersey glove with bow detail, by Miss Selfridge; Purple angora mitten with cord, by Urban Outfitters; Fingerless cashmere glove, by COS; Patchwork crochet fingerless glove, by Monsoon Accessorize.
ALL YOU NEED IS GLOVE ($30 to $85): Gold metallic leather fingerless glove, by Topshop; Purple leather glove with buckle, by Urban Outfitters; Cashmere-lined brown leather glove, by LL Bean; Hot pink leather glove with poppers, by Oasis; Twisted Twee 'Lovers' glove set, at Not On The High Street.
WOULDN’T IT BE GLOVELY? ($100 or more): Marc by Marc Jacobs woollen ruched 'Jolie' glove, at E Luxury; Raspberry leather 'Classic' glove, by Liberty; Moschino Cheap & Chic suede glove with charm, at Net-a-Porter; Burberry Prorsum leather gauntlet glove, at Net-a-Porter; Coffee python and lambskin driving mitten or iced coffee python and lambskin driving mitten, price on application, by Causse Gantier (Karl Lagerfeld’s glove manufacturer of choice!).

Next time...hats! and scarves!

Hunting High & Low : Lace Up Oxford Heels

Lace up high heeled oxfords are my accessory obsession for fall. Perhaps its just my prep school past creeping up but there is something so appealing about a good oxford. They're familiar, cute and they go with everything from jeans to skirts. Add on a high heel and you get a girlish take on a traditionally masculine staple. It seems like every other shoe maker is coming out with their own unique take on this trend. Here are a few options from affordable to extravagant.


UNDER $100 | Maroon Patent Oxfords $89 - Steve Madden | Metallic Silver Oxfords $34 - Delia's | Tartan Oxfords $89 - Steve Madden
$100 - $250 | Black Patent Oxfords $280 - Stuart Weisman | Grey Suede Oxfords - Circa Joan & David | Black & White Spectator Pumps - Betsey Johnson $230
$250 & Up | Two-tone Oxfords $450 - Marc by Marc Jacobs | Black & Gold Patent Oxfords $695 - Christian Louboutin | Spectator Pumps $575 - Bally
I love those little silver booties from Delia's they're so cute and cheap. Granted, silver shoes aren't the most practical fashion item but at that price practicality just goes out the window. For a bigger splurge I've been wanting those Bally's so badly. They keep popping up in editorials and catching my eye - they remind me so much of spats. I may just have to treat myself...

Anyone else digging this trend? I think these will look so great paired with jeans - can't wait to start wearing them.

Hunting High & Low: Grab & Go Clutches

I adore oversized purses. There may be nothing on earth that I like more than a bag that lets me cart around all my worldly goods without looking like a hobo. A giant bag can be a lifesaver because for some of us (read: me) there is no such thing as non-essential item. Last week I discovered that I had seven different lip glosses stuffed into the bottom of my purse. Do I really need seven glosses all at once?

Yes. Of course I do but there are times when one must downsize. Every so often a girl gets tired of dragging everything around with her. Sure a bag can fit your whole life but with everything else we have to deal with daily do you really want to? Sometimes you only need the basics and after months of walking around with purses large enough to be considered luggage I am officially ready for clutches.

A good clutch should be large enough to fit your day to day essentials but since its handheld it should also be small enough to avoid being uncomfortable. The F/W runways were laden with oversized clutch options which look great but can be a little tricky to handle especially once you take out the tissue paper and stuff them with your goodies. After you decide on a size that's right for you anything goes. Chose something neutral or go all out with wild colors and patterns, here we present a variety of options from inexpensive to super luxe.



UNDER 100 : Jeweled Clutch $48 - Steve Madden | Black Striped Clutch $48 - Urban Outfitters, Seersucker Clutch $38 - Amici | Gold Folder Clutch $95 - Ohna Elrich | White Patent Clutch $39 - Nine West

100 -300 : Embroidered Clutch $198 - BCBG Max Azria | Yellow Braided Clutch $295 - Lauren Merkin | Black Python Clutch $150 - Rafe | Black Floral Clutch $195 - Kate Spade | Gunmetal Clutch $195 - Lorelai

300 & UP : Peacock Embroidered Clutch $325 - Isabella Fiore| Croc Pin Clutch - Marc Jacobs (boutiques only) | Blue Suede Clutch $895 - Jimmy Choo | Red Quilted Clutch $1125 - Chanel (boutiques only) | White Quilted Clutch $395 - Marc Jacobs


Personally I'm itching to get my hands on that Isabella Fiore with the peacock feather embroidery. Its just the sort of thing I can see myself wearing and it can go from day to evening which is always a plus for a girl on the go. Is anyone else eager for the new clutches or are larger than life bags still going strong?

Hunting High and Low: Cocktail Rings

Although I am best known for my snobbery, bitchitude and unmitigated hatred of most people, I am in fact a softee at heart, and there are many things I love. Like, love love love skip through the daisies sing songs epic love.

Among these things are: cocktails, mostly because of their alcohol content, and gesticulating wildly to make my point, because my voice isn't very loud so I use my hands as my own personal back-up band. Usually I try not to combine the two, because gesticulating wildly whilst holding a cocktail usually ends up with the cocktail accidentally thrown in someone's face, and if I'm going to be hurling drinks in people's faces, I want to make the most of it and not be doing it accidentally. (Ideally you want to wear matte red lipstick and hurl a dirty martini, combine this with a killer exit line and a spin on your high-heels as you storm out for maximum effect.)

There is one thing that combines cocktails (sort of) and adult jazz hands, and that's this summer's biggest jewellery trend, the cocktail ring. Cocktail rings are big, hefty, heavy bad-boys of the jewellery world. They are not for simpering girls or thin, pale fingers: your hand has to bear a lot of weight for these rings. They're a woman's ring, requiring gravitas, money and panache.

They're especially good for the following: hailing taxis - the jewels will glint in the sun and the driver has to slow down for the glare! Smoking - lifting your hand up to smoke shows off that giant bauble on your finger. Result! Punching a cheating cad in the face - the faceted jewel should leave a nice welt. Etc.

The key to cocktail rings is not subtlety: this isn't pretty, girly, floral la la la jewellery. It's bold, brassy, knock-em-dead knuckleduster jewellery. The sort of rings you imagine adorn the hands of sexy divorcees in dodgy soap operas. Look out for gold, oversized gems, tiger and snake motifs, etc.

Here are TFFF's picks for the best cocktail rings, whatever your budget:


Top row (L-R): Banana Republic, Urban Outfitters, Topshop. Second row (L-R): CK Calvin Klein, Lalique, Lola Rose. Third row (L-R): Hannah Martin, Lara Bohinc, Roberto Cavalli.

I won it in a bubblegum machine: $15 - $35
Cabochon enamel ring $34.00 from Banana Republic
Tiger eyes ring $16.00 from Urban Outfitters
Ball (heh) ring approx. $17.00 from Topshop

My divorce lawyer is excellent: $100 - $275
Orange eternity ring approx. $109 by CK Calvin Klein from John Lewis
Green cabochon ring approx. $275.00 from Lalique
Silver 'pom pom' ring approx. $109.00 from Lola Rose

My name is Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan: $300+
Gold eagle ring approx. $5000 by Hannah Martin from Nina and Lola
Liberace ring approx. $300 by Lara Bohinc from Browns
Green serpent ring approx. $500 by Roberto Cavalli from Net-a-Porter

My favourite is the gorgeous cabochon by Lalique - it's available in more colours than Angelina Jolie's family: green, pink, clear, black, lagoon blue, turquoise, moss, seafoam, lilac, red and orange. If I didn't think it would be tacky, I'd wear one on every finger. Who am I kidding? I'd do that ESPECIALLY if I thought it'd be tacky. C'mon.

At the cheaper end, I really do love that Topshop ring - I think it's unusual yet chic, and despite the thrifty pricetag it doesn't look cheap or nasty. I'd wear the tiger ring (Urban Outfitters has a GREAT selection of wacky, unusual costume cocktail rings) to a metal bar.

Hunting High & Low: Shirts 'n' Blouses

I said in a previous post I'm not a classic dresser. But professionalism abounds, so instead of hunting high and low for, say, the ten best tacky plastic bangles, I have instead searched for shirts and blouses. Which I would love to wear myself if I didn't already know I'd drop chocolate ice-cream all over them.

Still, a good, crisp white shirt is a must for corporate interviews, for dressing up a great jean, or for wearing with nothing but your underpants as you prance about in a sunlit room having a Sunday morning slow-motion pillow fight with your lover.*

*Scene taken from cheesy film and not anyone's real-life. Sadly.

In our continuing feature, Hunting High & Low, we bring you the best shirts and blouses, for all budgets.

Budget Conscious? $20 - $60


Camisaco; Gap; Nexx

The white shirt from Camisaco has double-buttoned cuffs and is available in up to a 52" bust.

This shirt from Gap has a cute drawstring detail and button tabs, and is available in sizes up to XXL.

This Nexx shirt has a cute waist-defining sash and is available up to a US 18.

Splashing the Cash-ing? $60 - $150


Day Birger et Mikkelsen; Karen Kane; Fashionista.

This Day Birger et Mikkelsen features a very now crochet bib, and is available up to a 38" waist.

Not a shirt-shirt but this Karen Kane number is great for your girly days. Available in three plus-sizes, I love the embroidery detail.

This tunic-style shirt by Fashionista is a chic twist on a classic, available in four sizes, up to a US 14.

Got a Platinum Amex? $150+


Chloe, Anne Klein New York, Ralph Lauren Woman

What girl doesn't love Chloe? Le sigh. Love the broderie anglaise and round collar. Available up to a 41" waist.

I love the pin-tuck pleats on this Anne Klein shirt, which is available up to size Plus 24W.

Sure, it's navy...but I couldn't get through ten items without throwing in a little colour, and navy is both a classic and my favourite, so there! From Ralph Lauren's plus size Woman line, sizes 14-22.

Budget Conscious? $20-$60:
Not on the High Street - White shirt approx. $40
The Gap - Drawstring shirt $24.99
Nexx - Tie-front shirt, Nordstrom $58

Splashing the Cash-ing? $60-$150:
Day Birger et Mikkelsen - Cotton shirt approx. $150
Karen Kane - Embroidered blouse, Nordstrom $124
Fashionista - Tunic blouse, Bluefly $108

Got a Platinum Amex? $150+
Chloe - Broderie anglaise blouse, Net-a-Porter approx. $1,400
Anne Klein New York - Pleat front blouse, Nordstrom $215
Ralph Lauren - Navy ruffle blouse $159

Sigh... I want them all, but I know they'll get dirty. Still, if I could afford the Chloe, I could probably afford a dry-cleaner!

Hunting High & Low: Spring Flats

Shoes. Shoes. Shoes. OMG Shoes. Nothing is better than a great pair of shoes and when the weather gets warm I live in ballet flats. They've become part of my uniform and a good pair of flats is more useful than a swiss army knife, you can dress them up, you can dress them down and you can walk a mile in them without any trouble. Such things are priceless, especially come springtime when one wants nothing more than to shake off those snow boots and show off their pedicure in the cutest shoes they can find. This season ballet flats are going to be everywhere in an array of eyecatching colors and prints that just beg to be worn. In our new feature Hunting High & Low we tackle the trend for all budgets with shoes ranging from under $50 to over $200 there is something for everyone in search of that perfect spring pair.




Budget Conscious? $10 - 50:
Urban Outfitters - Pretty Little Ballet flats $20
Gap - Patent flats $30
Cars - Polka dot flats $14

In Search of a Little Splurge? $100 - 200:
London Sole - Green suede flats $100
Corso Como - Yellow cut out flats $135
All Black - Biege & gold flat $130

Sky's The Limit? $200 & Up:
Miu Miu - Silver jeweled flats $485
Sigersson Morrison - Red flats $348
Pierre Hardy - Leopard flats $625


Personally I'm jonesing for that yellow pair and those Gap patents. Wouldn't mind those Miu Miu's either... The Hardy's are cute but too rich for my blood! Anyone else in love with any of springs flats?