NAT-ALLEY

See what I did there? My name is NatALIE and I am in an ALLEY. I know, I know. I'm a self-style cliché and no wordplay can make that better.

This is what I wore on this decidedly shivery Wednesday. I'm still enjoying my Etoile Isabel Marant peacoat from last year - it's not sexy In Any Way but it's so thick and big and cosy. My new favourite thing in the ENTIRE WORLD is my Samantha Wills Diamond Dancer ring - it fits my Go Big or Go Home motto nicely. As does my massive bun - and no, I'm not wearing a hair donut, that's my real hair. It impressed my colleagues today.

Wearing: Etoile Isabel Marant coat, my mum's blouse, Isabel Marant bouclé jacket, Vero Moda jeans, Isabel Marant sneakers, Samantha Wills ring, Miss Sporty nail polish in Pop Fiction, YSL Rouge Pur Couture lipstick in Morange.

(Photographs by Danielle McCann.)

LOVE WANT NEED: HELLO DOLLY

On my pursuit to create the perfect Crimbo wish list, I happened upon these curious and wonderful ragdolls by Giles. I'm all for a designer dolly (give me an Erdem dog or Louboutin Barbie any day), especially when she comes with hair so bounteous and eyelashes so...fluttery. And check their little mismatched shoes! So Helena Bonham Carter.

They're £500 a pop. Santa, I'll have all four.




(Ragdolls available here, if you are Santa or happen to have a spare half-grand lying around.)

SASSOON COMPETITION WINNER

Grace Kendrick, you have won a cut, colour and treatment at a Sassoon salon, plus a Sassoon Professional Christmas gift box - enjoy!

Thank you to everyone who entered. If you weren't lucky this time, don't fear - more competitions coming soon...

(The winner was picked using this random winner generator.)

MATCHY MATCHY

If you can't wear a matching neon hat and scarf on a rainy weekend strolling along the docks, when can you?

On a practical note, the hat and scarf came in useful when my boyfriend and I were waiting on the hard shoulder for the highway patrol this weekend, en route to Portsmouth. A lorry hit the car and spun us around one and a half times across the motorway. At one point I was FACING oncoming traffic. By some miracle, we ended up on the hard shoulder (and weren't hit while we were spinning as there was a random lull in traffic) and nearly us nor car were hurt, just very, very shaken.

On the plus side, once we got to Portsmouth I got to bust out my mum's metallic party dress from the eighties, complete with shoulder pads, hair scrunchie (velvet, natch), and side pony for the eighties party we'd travelled for. Nothing like a strong, eighties-themed drink (Malibu and coke, if you must know) to calm one's nerves.

(Next hat and scarf, Zara jumper, Urban Outfitters parka, Proenza Schouler PS1, vintage leather shorts, Aldo boots.)

LAST CHANCE TO ENTER

You only have a few more hours to enter my competition to win a cut, colour and treatment (plus goodies) at your nearest Sassoon salon. It closes at midnight GMT tonight (Saturday 24th November) so hurry!

Enter here.

MY CHRISTMAS WISH LIST

'Tis the season for my annual MAHOOSIVE Christmas wish list. As my dad says, 'I want doesn't get' but I figure it can't hurt, right? I realise there's a pattern emerging... PINK, LOTS OF PINK. I didn't realise my style leanings had been so coloured (literally, lolz) by social conditioning. What can I say, I LIKE PINK AND I DON'T CARE. And gold, too. Mmm gold.

1. Miu Miu dress - It's on sale on theOutnet and I am sorely tempted.
2. ASOS sunglasses - Like the Miu Mius but a snip of the price.
3. Marc by Marc Jacobs iPad case - This is at the top of my wish list. I'd need an iPad, too.
4. Cartier Tank Anglaise watch - Yeah right.
5. Delfina Delettrez earring - I love DD's jewellery. A single earring? Why not.
6. C Wonder 'N' monogram decorative plate - I wish C Wonder would open shop here in the UK.
7. Kurt Geiger shoes -I'm a little obsessed with sixties-style pointed flats at the moment.
8. Pugs Might Fly wall art - Pugs! 'Nough said.
9. Jennifer Meyer studs - I'd wear these guys on one lobe. 'Cause I'm cool like that.
10. Miu Miu trousers - My legs and I want these SO BAD it hurts.
11. Brooke Gregson Aries necklace - Love a bit of astrological personalisation, yo.
12. Rosie Sugden beanie - Neon pink beanie with a pom pom - need I say any more?
13. Exotic shorthair kitten - Yep, I still want one. I already have two collars. True story.
14. Solange Azagury Partridge rings - I'd swap a limb for these. Not my finger though, that'd be silly.
15. Miu Miu sneakers - I didn't know I'd need sneakers with CRYSTALS 'til Miu Miu made 'em.
16. Proenza Schouler gold PS11 - Shiny.
17. Valentino Rockstud flats - Another pair o' pointed flats I've been coveting for a while.

For my definitive wish list (nope, this one isn't quite definitive enough), check out Canned Fashion on Facebook, where I have posted about a million more greedy requests to Santa.

PRINCESS COAT

This is what I like to call my princess coat. It's by Aquascutum and I found it for next to nothing at a charity shop in Cirencester - to date, one of my best charity shop purchases ever. I wore it at my parents' last weekend with my new favourite jeans by Vero Moda. They're called the Wonder Jeggings, and let me tell you, they ARE a wonder. Plus Kain t-shirt and Isabel Marant kicks, natch.

(Vintage Aquascutum coat, Kain t-shirt, Vero Moda jeans, Isabel Marant Betty sneakers.)

SHEERLUXE'S BLOGGER TO FOLLOW

Thank you to SheerLuxe for featuring me as their Blogger to Follow! I love the site, not least because I used to work there.

See the feature here.

RED & GREEN

Red and green should not be reserved for the festive season - a mantra of mine you can see in action over at Stylists Muse. The lovely Ava snapped me outside the Mulberry show in September.

(I am wearing an Urban Outfitters parka, Zara trousers, Céline t-shirt and MAC Ruby Woo lipstick.)

Photo credit: Stylists Muse

WELCOME BACK, MINI HUGHES

My baby brother Chris is back from Kenya!!! We spent the weekend with my parents for some much-need siblinging. I couldn't be more excited, as you can see. He is coming to stay with me in London, so this isn't the last you've seen of Team Hughes.

Welcome back Mini Hughes!

(I am wearing vintage jacket, Zara skirt and Topshop ballet flats, Chris is wearing Cheap Monday jeans, Kurt Geiger desert boots, Topman jumper and hat.)


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't forget to enter my competition to win a cut, colour and treatment (plus goodies) at a Sassoon salon near you! Click here for more details.

SPECS APPEAL

On Wednesday, Olivia and I popped by the Linda Farrow SS13 press day to try on some cool specs. It was SPECtacular...

Above, I fell in love with these Oscar de la Renta x Linda Farrow cat eyes. I love me a cat eye.









Boyz.



Olivia and her friend Lars modelling some Jeremy Scott goggles.




Oh, and my jumper matched the roses. A happy coincidence.

LOVE WANT NEED: CAPED CRUSADER

Maybe it's the chill in the air, or maybe it's because right now I'm feeling like I'm needing to be a superwoman (so busy it's hard to get to bed before midnight these days... but I'm not complaining), but I've got a major hankering for a cape.

I'm a bit (OK, a lot) obsessed with this tuxedo-style from Max Studio. It would look great with a big chunky turtleneck, skinny jeans and Chelsea boots for trekking around London during the day, but equally, I love how it's styled in the lookbook - with a silk blouse - for evening.

GIMME.

ON-DUTY DRESSING

As a freelancer, my days are spent at home, in meetings, in transit and often, in the offices of my clients. What to wear can cause quite the conundrum, especially with creative offices. This is my latest go-to on-duty outfit. A statement sweater + leather skinnies + trusty Dorothy Perkins boots  = less outfit stress, more time in bed. And that can only be a good thing, right?

Also, note the double fuzz. IMHO, there can never be too much mohair.

How many of you work creative jobs? And what do YOU wear?

(Wearing H&M coat and jumper, Zara skinnies and Dorothy Perkins boots.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't forget to enter my competition to win a cut, colour and treatment (plus goodies) at a Sassoon salon near you! Click here for more details.

SHOESDAY: WHAT A STUD

It's Shoesday! Which means a lovely pair o' shoes. I took this snap at Christian Louboutin's SS13 press day a couple of weeks ago. No photos of the new collection allowed (but take my word for it, you will LOVE), but I simply had to photograph Louboutin Susie's amazing studded loafers. AREN'T THEY AMAZING.

They're hot property and sold out at most places but a couple of sizes are available at Christian Louboutin and NET-A-PORTER.

NEW CHOOS

A very overdue post about my very pink and very fluffy evening at Jimmy Choo a few weeks ago, to celebrate the brand's latest collaboration with artist Rob Pruitt. My invite had arrived a couple of weeks before, containing a panda paper lantern and a zebra-print card and it was love at first sight. Here's what happened and of course, what I wore. (Above: me and the gorgeous Michelle Bobb-Parris gettin' our photo booth on. Yes, I was caught a little off-guard in the first photo...)



I felt it was only right to wear a lot of pink and cartoon shapes, in the fruitsy spirit of Rob Pruitt. So I wore Selected Femme trackpants (similar here), Isabel Marant Willow sneakers, Reiss silk tee, H&M pink coat, ASOS jacket (underneath) and Miu Miu sequined bag of dreams. Thanks to Reem and Natalya Kanj for snapping this for me - love those girls.



Cherries floating in champagne. Me likey.



PANDA SUSHI! There are no words.



It's pink and it's fluffy and I LIKE IT. Get 'em here.



More Pruitt for Choo swag. (Available here.)



And last but not least, the real VIP guest - Thumbelina, Peony Lim's GORGEOUS sausage dog, who was just having a casual snooze.

Oh and you have to watch the accompanying video, illustrated and animated by Jo Ratcliffe. LOVE.



Rob Pruitt for Jimmy Choo is available at NET-A-PORTER and Jimmy Choo.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't forget to enter my competition to win a cut, colour and treatment (plus goodies) at a Sassoon salon near you! Click here for more details.

NEXT FASHION LOCK-IN

I don't know about you, but whenever I drive past shops late at night I wonder what it would be like if they let you in - only you - for a private shopping session. No crowds, just glorious, glorious, clothes. My dreams came true on Wednesday when Next invited me and a few other bloggers along for a night of champagne and shopping. Here are some photos from the night....



The night started with Bellinis and mini hamburgers at Aprés bar, where I had the pleasure of finally meeting Lucy (we've known each other *online* for nearly ten years! Crazy) who was as beautiful and lovely *IRL* as I expected her to be. I also got to see other blogger buddies including Abi, Sheree and Lucy.



We then strolled down to Next's flagship store on Bond Street, where the cutest red carpet and champagne were awaiting our arrival...



We were given special tags with our blog names on to hook over the pieces we loved. See our favourites here.



I left with some delicious Next swag (including some printed trews, a neon pink bobble hat and scarf and some amazing floral pumps), which I will blog soon.

Thank you Next for the most fabulous evening!

WIN A SASSOON CUT, COLOUR & TREATMENT

It's competition time! I have partnered up with the lovely folks over at Sassoon to offer one lucky Canned Fashion reader a complimentary haircut, colour and treatment at their closest Sassoon salon - just in time for the festive period! The winner will also receive a limited edition Sassoon Professional Christmas gift box for at-home preening. The prize is worth £250.

And the fabulous part is that the competition is open to those of you in the UK, US and Germany - or in fact anywhere in the world if you are able to hotfoot to a Sassoon salon in one of the aforementioned countries.

Having had my hair cut and coloured in the Sassoon salon on Kings Road only a few weeks ago (see the post here), I am so excited to be able to pass the hair baton on.

How to enter:

1. Like Canned Fashion on Facebook

2. Like Sassoon on Facebook

3. Leave a comment below with your name, country and email address.

You have two weeks to enter... good luck!

And now for those all important T&Cs...
Valid Monday to Sunday from 17th November until 31st January 2013. This competition entitles you to a cut and/or colour service PLUS a bespoke treatment recommended by your stylist.  Appointments subject to availability with selected stylists. Offer is not transferable. Competition closes at midnight GMT on Saturday 1st December 2012. The winner will be picked at random by Canned Fashion and announced on 3rd December 2012.

LOVE WANT NEED: FANGTASTIC

If you've seen the Google doodle today, you'll know that today would have been Dracula author Bram Stoker's 165th birthday. Is it fashion fate that before I knew this, I was deliberating whether or not to buy this Markus Lupfer vampire knit? I like to think so.

Available at London-Boutiques.com

NEW STATIONERY

I know I'm not alone when I say there's nothing I love more than new stationery. My latest loves? Monogrammed notecards from Etsy, pretty notebooks (pink is Moleskine and leopard is H&M) and a Rilakkuma iPhone case from eBay.