Friday Frocks #145 - Why won't you come over here, we've got a city to love

Dress - Topshop

Hairclips - Primark

I'm absolutely infatuated by this dress, so it's frustrating that it doesn't photograph well. Can you just take my word for it that it's awesome? It's black, shot through with narrow vertical golden lines flecked with red. It's shimmery and sparkly and wonderful. This is a better picture, but it was the next day and I'm all hungover and sleep deprived.



I actually tried it on in Topshop in New York, but decided that I needed the next size up and decided that no big deal, I'd just get it in England - Sarah found it right after I tried it on, so I assumed it wasn't going to be hard to find. Except when I got back, I'd missed the boat. It wasn't online, and the only ones I found in-store were pesky size 6s. I got everyone to look for me, even contacted Topshop's customer service but it was starting to look like I'd never find it and I basically gave up hope. Then I was in my local Outfit store - which is always rather a goldmine - and there it was, in my size, waiting for me... and half price, to boot. Pretty wonderful, eh?



Wearing it to New Year's was a must, so I dutifully got all glammed up. It might be surprising, but this is the first time I've lasted all night in red lipstick. I've applied it countless times - even photographed it for blog posts - but at the last minute I've taken it off. It's never quite felt ME. When I got ready though, it just felt like it was the final piece of the puzzle for the outfit. I'd followed this tutorial with my new Naked 3 palette, and was inspired by this post of Lily's to do my hair - so overall, it was a fairly retro look. Red lipstick just fit, somehow. Also, I think this Sephora lip stain (recommended by Carrie) is just so much more wearable than the MAC lipstick I usually try and wear... I'm regretting only buying one in NYC as it's not available in the UK!



We had a wine and cheese party, which was excellent. As well as vast amounts of exciting cheeses, we made this incredible baked camembert variation and pretty much died and went to cheesy heaven. The good thing with eating that much cheese is that it protects you against getting horrifically drunk (and hungover) - the bad thing is that you never feel great after eating that much cheese. I mean, does one really need a baked camembert AND a fondue? (The answer is always yes)



I crawled into my bed at 5.30am after a great evening of eating, drinking and chatting and honestly, felt like crap for the rest of the week. But it was worth it.