The Apartment (1960)

...Is one of my favourite films to watch as the nights draw in. It's set in New York, during the colder months of the year, in the 1960s.

The mise-en-scene is beautiful, there's the city itself, the cool office with its rows and rows of type-writers and the (pre-war) apartment itself; high ceilings, pretty archways, a separate kitchen and a tiny table with just two chairs. Also, I love most films from this era which involve Jack Lemmon because he's awesome.

The script is funny and so quotable - a work of genius -

Baxter: 'The mirror, it's broken..'
Fran: 'Yes, I know, I like it that way.. it makes me look the way I feel..'

Perfect melancholia, without any hint of tragedy or heartbreak. A reallly brilliant film

Birthday Stuff (my sisters, not mine)

It was my sisters birthday last week. I got her a cookbook (a gift I seem to give a lot..I also bought Second Hand Junkie one for her birthday..) So long as the person is vaguely interested in cooking, I think they make good presents.

I made cupcakes for my sisters birthday as well - they were 'Lady Grey' (as in the tea) cupcakes, and the recipe will appear on Girls who Like to Gorge soon.


And, Second Hand Junkie 's present: (my mum also got me a copy of that cookbook, 'Relish' I flick through it all the time.. it's one of my favourites..)

Supper Club

I treated myself to a couple of new books the other day.

The Supper Club is a book I've been wanting for a while now after reading about it on India Knight's blog. It's written by Mrs Marmite Lover - a home restaurant pioneer based in London.

The recipes are mostly suited to dinner parties and entertaining - although there are a few dishes which could quite happily be made for a weekday supper with the family. No doubt you will see some of recipes pop up on Girls Who Like to Gorge soon - especially the coconut Dahl, Butternut Squash and Blue Cheese Risott, Gratin Dauphinoise with Smoke Salmon and Marmite Cheese on Smoked Haddock - I could go on.

Inside the book there is lots of advice on setting up a home restaurant - which does sound very stressful; but great fun. I don't think it would go down well in my family home, however I had already conjured a few dream locations in my mind; there's my aunties house in the Norfolk countryside (with a huge kitchin and cosy dining room) and an old haunted house in Norwich where an old romance used to reside.

I should probably get the supper party part down before I start dreaming about starting a supper club - a girl can dream..

Alexa Chung for Madewell

Because how could I not have posted this awesome video before, and because the weather's nice, and because the collection is awesome, and because the song is lovely - ohhh... and lots of other reasons. Enjoy!

Leopard Print..

I have never really been all the interested in the stuff, until now.

I've been dreaming of certain 60s style incarnations of leopard print. I can pinpoint the blame to one infamous pair of boots - the Alexa Chung for Madewell ones (they're now sold out)

New Look have a pair of pretty cool ones too - I was tempted to buy them over the weekend as they have been reduced to the shockingly low price point of £19.99. I am still wondering whether I should buy them as I can't help but be suspicious of a pair of boots that low in price - I have to ask myself why are they priced so low - they're probably uncomfortable / badly made / both?
Does anyone out there own these boots / any reviews?



Oh, and I would also really like a leopard print skirt.. to wear with a thick jumper like these ladies, cool huh?


(The photos are linked - apart from the last one which I found and am told it's a recent Marie Claire photoshoot, I would love to see the rest of the pics from the shoot if anyone has any links.. )

Autumn, welcome..

As today is the 21st September, it is officially the first day of Autumn.

I am so looking forward to it all. I love Autumn, for me it's smokey nights, bonfires, dark make-up, baked potatoes and lots and lots of nostaglia.

I like it when the nights beging to draw in and that crisp light in the morning and dewy cobwebs. It reminds me of back to school and curling up on the sofa in front of the television, awaiting all the excitement of the months ahead..

There's a World Out There..

I got back from a wonderful time in Spain at the weekend. It was a very relaxed trip. The mornings were spent exploring neighbouring old towns and the afternoons were spent swimming in the sea and hanging out at the beach.

I had almost forgotten how much I love Spain. One of the best things has to be the cafe culture and the social aspect of it all. People sit for hours in cafes talking away as friends (and strangers) seem to drift in and out of conversations and nursing a beer at 11am is perfectly acceptable; so much of the day is dedicated to social time. For the locals, 2am is the normal bedtime as evening meals begin late and drift into the small hours as there is so much gossiping to do. In high summer 6am bedtimes are taken without the blink of an eye. Undoubtedly the best fun in the world.

Having not gone on holiday in so long, I almost forgot that there's a world out there. I had bypassed travel in order to save money. I forgot how important and grounding it can be. Certainly a very important past-time which is good for expanding the mind.