It's rare that I commit to starting a new content series, but this is one I think I will actually be able to enjoy doing. TGIPD (thank god it's pay day) serves to help us all remember the pieces we saw a week ago when we barely had enough money to get the bus home, and window shopping felt like a punishable offence. Why is it that during these testing times we spot the things we really want to be buying? And then when we have the money (at least until the rent leaves our accounts) there doesn't seem to be anything worth splurging on? So, I've been listing up all the must haves for last fortnight to share with you...

First and foremost this denim dress from Warehouse! I've been pining for it ever since press days and now the time has come - yay! Next, I go through a love/hate relationship with Topshop. We fell out a couple of years ago when the store only catered for people like Rihanna, but I feel like it's becoming more trustworthy and caters better to my needs at the moment. I mean, can we discuss these shoes? They're genius - not to mention these. Other favourites include this striped top and this Victoriana-ish shirt (so flattering for anyone with a waist far better than their stomach).

Some other bits I've found are this fedora and suede skirt from Reiss, and ever since I saw Petro in this Stella McCartney jumpsuit last month I've been on the hunt for something similar. So far I've found this incredibly discounted Alice Temperley piece which is firmly on the wishlist. Last but not least, having seen friend's promote Banana Republic recently I've taken a refreshed look at the brand. These simple cargo pants are perfect weekend wear...

Last week I posted this top from Marks and Spencer on my Instagram, more to show off a new blow dry from Duck and Dry than anything else. I don't really make habit of putting iPhone selfies on the blog, but so many of you have asked about it I thought I'd just use the same photo rather than shooting it all over again...

I usually save off the shoulder tops for holidays, but I've decided I'm making an exception. As a tip, go a size down if you buy this particular one as there is a lot of fabric to play with - and Marks and Spencer tends to be quite a generous fit anyway... They can be a little bit "man repeller" - the boyfriend did not understand this outfit at all, although he did later say he really liked the fact I wasn't wearing a bra (more fool him, I was obviously wearing a strapless one - this one - men are idiots).

black lace top, alice and olivia / striped top, Ganni / denim top, Free People / patterned top, Free People / dark denim top, ASOS / red top, Reiss

As we really don't care what boys think, here are some other options for off the shoulder tops that I've tracked down. First up, the ultimate "when I get paid quite a bit" must have from Alice and Olivia here - I meeeeean who doesn't want to dress up as Frieda Pinto and ride around India on a donkey in this little beauty? This striped Ganni top is gorgeous for weekends, and brands like Free People are equally good for "down days" with pieces like this and this. ASOS have some good finds, like this denim one. And lastly, this one from Reiss is a brilliant one if you're looking for something a little smarter.

I'm going to say something that might rock the boat a little bit: I absolutely hate London Fashion Week. It brings out the ugliest part of blogging; the need for one-upmanship. People who are ordinarily lovely suddenly turn into piranhas over invites - and not just whether you've got one, but where you're sitting, and who you're sitting with. Then there are the events, the dinners and who you're meeting with between shows. It's ridiculous as the reality is no blogger is going to be front row at the shows that really matter unless they're sleeping with all of One Direction - and as yet that hasn't happened. Then there all the brands loosely bidding in for their piece of the pie (their involvement rarely fits), and the infuriated editors who just can't understand why you would ever let a blogger attend anything. Overall, it's a headache.

I popped in for a few hours on Friday and that was enough for me...

The other funny thing that happens is the "peacocks" coming out to play... Girls who usually spend their Monday to Friday in boyfriend jeans and sweaters suddenly feel the need to do "a Joey" and put on every item from their (or Chandler's) wardrobe at once, and backcomb their hair into oblivion. I, almost in protest, put on what I always wear - as did Anneli who took these pics. I didn't get asked to have my photo taken, which actually made me feel quite smug as I didn't fall into the category of "The Tryhards"(which isn't always the case, but most of the time - at least if you're standing outside the venue wearing a rainbow and holding your phone seductively).

If you can't see the product feed of all the items in my outfit above, disable your ad blocker or use the following links: shearling jacket, Iris and Ink at The OutNet / breton shirt, Saint James at J Crew / shirt, Hobbs at John Lewis / leather trousers, Marks and Spencer / bracelets, mainly Astley Clarke / sunglasses, Max and Co / boots, Jimmy Choo / bag, L.K Bennett London

I hope you all have wonderful weeks, and may your coffee be strong and your Monday be short!

Photos by Anneli Bush on her super wizard Olympus Pen

If someone had told me I'd still be keeping up with the blog five years after I'd started it, I'd have laughed. I don't think I've ever done anything for five years before... Somehow, by some miracle, here we are. Five years ago today, as I lay in bed unwell and stumbled through the London Fashion Week articles, I realised I didn't have a clue what any of it meant. LFW, RTW, AW11... it was all complete Mandarin to me... So I started a blog to help myself figure it all out...

I can vividly remember joining Twitter and being very excited about my 20th follower (who as it turned out, became a great friend, Sarah), and embarrassingly recollect spell checking "chic" because I thought it ended in "que" (this coming from someone who studied English and speaks fairly decent French..!). I didn't put myself on the blog for 18 months, until I was persuaded to do so by friends Briony, Sarah and Dearne. I remember that being somewhat of a turning point... I still to this day find it fascinating that some of you find my ramblings in any way interesting. The blog has never, and will never, become the core business in my life. It's far more of a cathartic creative exercise - somewhere I can say what I like, do what I like and pose like an idiot in the street. 

I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who reads the blog, and supports it. Putting yourself on the internet most definitely has it's ups and downs and having a fantastic group of friends who have a great "you only live once" mentality, a thirst for a terrible PR bulletin, and an equal appetite for gin and tonics at 3pm on a Wednesday "just because" does keep you going at times...  And to my sister, thank you for being an unpaid copy editor for the last five years. I'm sure you will be sending me an email within the hour with at least ten suggested revisions...

Lastly, to the girl who came up to me last May at Clapham Junction station and told me how much she loved the blog and (probably more pressingly) my dog - I can't thank you enough for doing so. I'd actually just come to the end of the worst day in history and was about to go home, cuddle up with said dog and close down South Molton St Style altogether. I'm very glad I didn't and your words definitely leant me in the other direction... Whoever you are, thank you!

Here's to the next five years!