1) I am verging on obsessed with Vogue Italia‘s Steven Meisel gifs. Abbey Lee is here looking like a bonafide badass and you can see three more here – roll on the March issue when we can see the shoot they come from.

2) Rookie has done a really good round-up of the most stylish characters from John Waters films. It’s amazing.

3) Teen Vogue has rounded up the best show soundtracks from New York Fashion Week and made a Spotify playlist of them. Awesome!

4) Pictures of Chloe Sevigny at basketball matches.

5) Matt Ufford set himself the challenge of patting each of the 185 different breeds at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. And why not?

6) Tonight the V&A’s Friday  Lates programme is themed Bright Young Things! Held in honour of the Cecil Beaton exhibition, the event promises a theatrical production of Vile Bodies, balloon-infused portrait-taking, jazz music and a very bright young people-esque scavenger hunt. Scream! I’ll be there. Will you?

1. The Topshop Unique Spring/Summer 2012 Cleopatra-themed collection has landed. SCREAM! First two pieces I’m after are here and here but I’m really waiting for all those long pink skirts with gold all-seeing-eye prints to appear.

2. If you’re heading to the US any time soon, the newly-launched Refinery 29 shopping guide is worth a look. A few old favourites and lots of new places to discover on this visual treat of a list.

3. This deco dress by Gucci is probably one of the most photographed pieces of the season, but I’ve not seen any editorials yet that have entirely done it justice. So thanks, Vogue Italia, for going the predictable route and making this amazing fringed beast look as fantastic as it should. A cross between Tina Turner and Josephine Baker in terms of movement, innit?

4. Everyone’s bananas about Charlotte Olympia’s Kitty flats but her Pre-Fall 2012 collection offers something a little more GOFF in the form of these spiderweb flats. I am obsessed with the little bejewelled spider, although I have my doubts about how long it would remain intact.

5. New York Fashion Week has started, then. I think the ASOS Fashion Week in 60 Seconds page is utterly, utterly fantastic. I used it in a meeting this week, that’s how good I think it is.

6. Zara’s shoe game is really on point this season. These are just three styles that are currently haunting my brain. Cheap shoes are never a good idea, but the heart wants what it wants, eh? You can buy these ones here, here and here.

1) It’s been a bumper week of magazine-purchasing for me, with ELLE Collections and the new ELLE Decor top of my WH Smith wishlist. I had no idea Marie Claire were bringing out their own seasonal trend round-up, but picked up Runway anyway because it looked pretty neat and had a dog on the cover. It’s dead good, loads of nice features and some really clever, imaginative spreads. My favourite, obviously, is the Gatsby page above – I love a collage at the best of times and when that collage features flapper-ish gear, more’s the better. Buy it, I really recommend it.

2) Daphne Guinness has put her 5th Ave apartment up for sale. There’s nothing I like more than nosing around at celebrity real estate and although there aren’t many pictures of Daphne’s place, it’s enough to whet my appetite. It’s only £14million! Check it out here.

3) This morning Ellen tweeted these meme movie posters. I don’t know if this is old news, but I hadn’t seen them. These are a couple of my favourites, but you can see the whole the series here.  I want oh my god, trampoline! next.

4) Last night Harriet and I stepped well and truly out of our comfort zones with a night of cocktails at the opening of the new venture from Gaucho, Galante. It’s not often I find myself in Sloane Square out of choice, but we had a top night out and the cocktails were legit the best I’ve ever had. So delicious and the tasting platter was pretty decent too. It’s inspired by one of the world’s most famous bartenders, Santiago ‘Pichin’ Policastro, who shook up [lol] 1930s Argentina with his magical drinks and charming persona.  The bar is a beautiful homage to art deco, all the waiters are handsome and dressed in white tuxedos and while it’s definitely on the pricey side, it’s worth it for a treat. I rate the Bon Voyage.

5) London Underground expert, Annie Mole (!!), has chosen her favourite tube station clocks! Fascinating stuff.

6) Banana Republic is launching another Mad Men range! This time around, costume designer, Janie Bryant, has been inspired by the show’s country club scenes – SWOON! That means lots of capris and cardigans for the Bettys and sweater vests and polo shirts for the Dons. It launches on March 1st – 24 days before season five airs.

1. Right so, I was watching a documentary about the history of music halls on BBC4 and naturally they started talking about Wilton’s in East London. A quick look at the calendar informed me that this April they’re putting on a production of The Great Gatsby. It sounds fucking brill – you can get tickets and find out more here and I’d advise booking ASAP because that venue, that production, and those prices…

2. I really enjoyed this interview with Lloyd Johnson on the Guardian and eagerly anticipate the return of La Rocka! this summer. There’s a little exhibition on of some of his work at the Chelsea Space – if you’re into menswear, rock and roll and London subcultures, I guess you should go.

3. This vintage Chanel waistcoat is incredible. It’s also very expensive.

4. The BBC has been really good this week. As well as the music hall documentary, I really strongly suggest you watch The Rules of Drinking which documents the country’s interest in booze – from ye olde days when beer was more hygienic than water and most toddlers had a couple of pints a day, to the GLORIOUS 1920s and war years, ending up with binge-drink Britain… which, uh, actually they argue isn’t all that bad. Definitely a good watch. You can see it here!

5. ASOS has got the world’s most perfect sunglasses in. I’d buy ‘em, ASAP - and while you’re at it, best read Jess Cartner-Morley’s article on hot rod pastels to get you in the mood for wearing them.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so thankful for a Friday in my life – this first week of January seems to have been a total bastard for myself and everyone I know, both personally and professionally. Still, onwards and upwards – we’ve got the first working week over and that’s something.

1) If you’re not at work this afternoon, say goodbye to Christmas in style at the Geffrye Museum’s annual burning of the holly and the ivy. There’s singing and story-telling and mulled wine, if you can handle it. Sadly it’s on from 4-5pm, but if you’re sciving work you should go.

2) Alternatively, let Iso inspire you and make galette des rois to celebrate Epiphany Frenchy-style. You can find out how to make it and more about the festival here!

3) Phooey! Entertain yourself for all of five minutes with some 1940s yearbook slang on the always-amazing Teenage blog.

4) Make a date in your diary: on January 19th bookings re-open for a night in London’s most amazing hotel – the boat on top of Queen Elizabeth Hall. Living Architecture’s latest project is sold out until June, but you’ll soon be able to buy a night in the second half of the year at this awesome location. I’m proper excited about the prospect of a night aboard the ship (you get the whole thing to yourself, btw) – find out more and prepare to book here!

5) I took a considered approach to sale shopping this year, buying better but less – I think. The See by Chloe cat jumper that I’ve been obsessed with most of the year went down to £80 from £220 (!!) at Urban Outfitters and with £30 credit for something I’d returned it didn’t seem too much of a flash purchase.

I also got this Maria Francesca Pepe pearl and stud ring, down to £63 from £100 at good old ASOS. It’s still available and I fully love it – excellent buy.

6) Oh, and it’s annual stocktake time at London Zoo which means pictures of animals being counted. Yay!

1) Well, it took some finding but I managed to get there eventually. You can listen to the whole of PG Wodehouse’s 1927 Christmas Classic, Jeeves and the Yuletide Spirit online here. What a ruddy treat! It’s read by Julian Rhind-Tutt, as an added bonus.

2) Tis the season for boozing and if you’re still in London you can combine history, Christmas and delicious ale with Time Out‘s Charles Dickens-themed pub walk. It includes a few of my ol’ favourites and if the pictures are to be believed, one pub includes a cat in a ruff.

3) I’ve spent most of this week lying down in various warm places reading. It’s a known fact that short stories and anthologies are best in these situations, as a full belly, booze-addled brain, central heating and a reclining position generally lead to snoozing. I’ve been working through Fitzgerald’s On Booze writings mainly, leading to the discovery of one of his favourite cocktails.

If you want to get warmly drunk, the Seelbach cocktail might do the trick. In The Great Gatsby, a venue inspired by the Seelbach Hotel is the backdrop to Tom and Daisy’s wedding – this is the real hotel’s signature, which disappeared in the 80 years following the prohibition. Potent.

30ml bourbon
15ml Cointreau
7 dashes angostura bitters
7 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
15ml champagne

Pour the bourbon into a champagne flute then add the Cointreau and bitters. Top with champagne. Imbibe.

By the way, bitters are important kit if you like your booze. You can get them in any decent supermarket but The Bitter Truth also do a snazzy selection if you like your alcohol to look as good as it tastes.

4) Being in Sheffield is tops, largely because there’s so much amazing ale. Kelham Island Brewery is one of our faves and their -Rider selection is always worth a sniff. For Christmas, I’m looking forward to tackling Sleigh Rider which contains crystal malt. Oooh.

5) Oh and… Sheffield is also great for vintage shopping as we all know. These Christmas jumpers may or may not have come home with today.

{Pic from Vogue December 1920 via SighsandWhispers}

1) Isabelle’s Christmas playlist is even better than mine. Listen to it!

2) This montage of sloths is the best animal-related thing I’ve seen this week.

3) How to Turn Down a Drink at Christmas. Should probably have read that before the office party transcended into a game of I Have Never last night.

4) I hadn’t visited the Andrew WK store for a while, but following his one-man fashion show this week I was reminded of how much good stuff it contained. I’ll take the Party Til You Puke shirt.

5) Finally got to go to Mishkins with Isabelle, Laura, Harriet and Emily. Here’s a tip for you; take a Monday off and get pissed at lunchtime with your mates on champagne cocktails, using burgers and macaroni cheese to soak up some of the damage. I thought it was brilliant and have just made two bookings for Christmas sooo… [Pic = theirs]

6) So now I have a new food dream. The Balcon at St James – charcuterie and champagne in surroundings inspired by Coco Chanel’s deco apartment. Uhm dreamy.

1) London’s art deco gem, Eltham Palace, is holding a Christmas carol concert on Thursday. I’m looking for a date. Interested?

2) BBC4′s All American series has been a right old treat. The latest documentary I watched was America On a Plate: The Story of the Diner. Covering architecture, art and food it’s genuinely a great watch – even if Stephen Smith is an odd man. On the iPlayer now.

3) Time Out told me that it was ten years ago today that London’s biggest museums ditched their entrance fees. In celebration, why not go and enjoy some culture this weekend? I Decided Not to Save the World at the Tate Modern; German Romantic Prints at the British Museum; Images of Nature at the Natural History Museum; 50 Years of Private Eye at the V&A

4) I was fully expecting to hate the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park – my last visit filled me with rage and I hate children, crowds and really the general public, so you know… Pleasant surprise then to have the best time of my FREAKIN life! I mainly stayed within the Bavarian Village though, where beer and schnitzel flows free. May have had something to do with it. [Pic via Londondeer]

5) If you want to do some imaginative Christmas shopping this weekend, the East London Design Show is on, as is London Craft Guerilla at Vestry House Museum; Design Den at the Barbican; Dazzle at the National Theatre; Bad Santa’s Grotto at Graffik and you can also catch Designers & Makers at Somerset House.

1) Prince: A Purple Reign is on tonight! What is Friday night for if not watching music documentaries on BBC4? It’s on at 9pm and I’m pretty certain it will be amazing. Find out more here.

2) You can get 20% off at Selfridge’s until Sunday if you print off this voucher and show it at the till. It also works online so you have no excuse not to spend some money this weekend eh?

3) I need a pizza sleeping bag. What a shame it’s a veggie pizza

4) We finally went to MeatLiquor! Nothing says Thanksgiving like eating wings, cheeseburgers, onion rings and fries. And drinking palomas. We got there at 6 and there was no queue, although by the time we left there was. It’s so huge inside though, I can’t imagine anyone having to wait too long. Also, once you’ve eaten you probably just want to go home and lie down and recover so there’s not much hanging around. So nice to have amazing burgers and cocktails in spitting distance of Oxford Circus! [Picture from my guru, Helen of Food Stories].

5) I sometimes feel like the only person in the world that doesn’t like patterned tights. After today, these Blackjack ones from Jonathan Aston might have changed that though. Basically, anything with a hint of Vegas works for me.

6) I’m trying to hold back from talking too much about Christmas… yet. But I did want to share these glass balloon dog decorations I got at Paperchase because they’re fucking awesome. Look at ‘em! Presently part of the annual Paperchase 3 for 2 decoration bonanza, which I fall for everytime.