It's been far too long since the last sneaker post, but there's still one whole day left of 2008 so just time to ram in one more for good cheer.

OMG CHERRY PRINT!!! SKULLS!!! NEWT FROM HOLLYOAKS!!!

Cherry Dunks from Nike, available in... 2009. I would hazard a guess at Spring, wouldn't you? I'm sure Sneaker Freaker will have a date nearer the time, seeing as that's where I spied them. They're also available in ~tan~.

Notice something different about these Dunks? They're the new Skinny Dunks -- made with the laydeez in mind. Not this lady -- I have ankles the size of a fat elephant. Anyway, they're essentially the same as an original Dunk, but the designers worked with ACTUAL WOMEN to adjust the fit to better work with the female body. How kind!

"We don't have to reinvent the wheel" says Nike Design Director Jesse Levya, "when you look at the shoe, it's the Dunk, the icon, nothing more nothing less... It's less bulky, because of the special last we used. Nike design is all about listening to the athlete. In this case we listened to the female athlete who wants to rock the pop culture icon that complements her foot and form without sacrificing any elements or aesthetic of the original Dunk silhouette."

So now you know. Thanks Sneaker Freaker for your wise words, as ever.

Remember the epic tale of my black lace dress? Of course you do, you're an avid reader. On the off chance you missed it, here's a recap. Black lace dress of dreams in Topshop. I resented the cost and assumed I could find a vintage version elsewhere. I searched high and low. I couldn't. I gave in. Reader, I bought it.

First things first. The dress is going well. I wore it three times over the ~festive~ period, which is a little excessive. It wears and washes well, and although it's a bit short, worn with a slip is fine.

Next things next. I got back to London yesterday and today braved the cold to head up East and do some shopping. Feeling slightly flash with the cash following my work quiz winnings, I headed straight to the 'nice' bit of Beyond Retro.That's the bit that doesn't try and pass C&A off as vintage. Note to Beyond Retro; I love you, but we need to talk. I get that most of your customers are 18, but some of us remember Clockhouse, and do not deem it an aspirational retro brand.

The first thing I picked up was, as I'm sure you've predicted by now, a black lace prom dress. It fits like a glove (sticks out in five places, lol) and at £35 was a whole ten pound note cheaper than the TS number. Oh, and perhaps most importantly, it's Oscar De La Renta. Actually, it's Oscar De La Renta Studio, but let's not quibble. Oscar De La Renta Studio is (admittedly) a diffusion line from the 80s/90s but who cares. It used to be called Miss O, so I hear, and I guess maybe it's the line that is now known as 'O'. I'm not a label-nerd so I'm not fussed, just interested in getting a date. It has all the goodness of a designer line but at an achievable price. It's exquisitely made -- boned, pristinely lined, taped seams etc... and the lace is first rate -- none of that TS polyester business. I guess if it was runway Oscar, it would never have made it into Beyond Retro.

I'm kinda sad about the TS dress, but I'm sure it'll still get plenty of wear. The new dress needs dry-cleaning, so for nights out with pint spillage I think Topshop will be preferable. For ~nice~ events, it'll have to be the new one.

To conclude; I realise that this post without pictures is like Blace Lace without Alan Barton but my camera can't handle the dark. Tomorrow I'll take some, I assure you. For now, have a picture of Black Lace. Remind yourself of the glory that is Ossett, West Yorkshire's finest band.

PS Did you know Black Lace didn't even write Agadoo? Or the Superman song. Basically, they're shit. But you didn't need me to tell you that now, did you?

Wool and the Gang win instant brownie points for having the best name of all time (although it bothers me that 'wool' doesn't exactly rhyme with 'kool'). They win further (and more relevant) brownie points for making cool knitwear and patterns from top quality Peruvian wool. Read all about the exciting wool here!



Find a cute garment, buy the set, make it. Or, if you're really lazy, just buy the garment readymade. I love the photography on the site -- not what you'd anticipate from a knitting site, despite the ~progression~ knitwear's made. Another project for my mum's knitting circle.

If Mischa Barton's headband line isn't doing it for you, check out these cute headpieces from THELMA by Thelma Bjork Jonsdottir. I guessed she was Icelandic from the -dottir suffix, and a quick a-Googlin' confirms that she studied at the Iceland Academy of the Arts. She then attended Studio Berçot in Paris where she completed her professional training in haute couture with a diploma from Ecole Lesage.

The THELMA label was launched in 2005, and specialises in headpieces and embroidery. As she says; "When looking through old magazines and books on fashion, I was completely bewitched by the thought of headpieces. What my grandmother taught me became an inspiration, and I have kept on working from there..."

Deep. Anyway, her headpieces are really cute, and not too expensive for a one-off. Check them at Birkiland.

The best thing about writing about capes is the hilarious puns on offer to you. Ho hum. Anyway, American Apparel's long-awaited (by those that long-await these kind of things) cape is finally here, and tomorrow I'ma go check it out in store. I found the vintage cape of my dreams in Sheffield, but it reached my ankles which is not the look I'm going for, or entirely practical.

This one is £54 which seems somewhat overpriced, but I imagine it will be suitably comfortable and will probably be available in a smorgasbord of colours in a month's time. We shall see how it looks tomorrow, but somehow I doubt I'll be picking it up. Check it out online here.