Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for lolita.

I finally bought the iconic book that is 'Lolita' by Vladimir Nabokov. I knew it would be a difficult read and I knew it would be a rather odd read but, around twenty pages in, I am also finding the book appallingly beautiful. The use of language is extraordinary and I am truly captivated.

I sat in Starbucks with the book and was surrounded by a group of yummy mothers who were having a baby group of sorts and, when I sat in the only available chair and opened up Lolita, I felt a little strange. I discussed the very matter of the slightly odd feeling of reading Lolita and my male friend, a literary lover, said he'd feel he'd be frowned up were he to read it despite it being a classic.

Personally, whether the subject matter is peculiar or not, Vladmiri Nabokov's writing is spectacular.

I'm dressing for a sunny day reading! I've gone for a plain scoop neck tee from Wet Seal, a blue flower necklace by Forever21 and some (almost!) matching earrings from Topshop. The main piece to this outfit is, of course, the See by Chloé skirt which is so pretty! I'm finished off with some Puma trainers and a gorgeous leather bag from Topshop.


Lolita. - by hollieanne on Polyvore.com

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for Sims2.

It's clearly Geek Sunday! I've spent this evening playing Sims2 for the first time in years and it's proven lots of fun. Perhaps that very statement makes me a big geek but I care not, Sims2 is going to provide a welcome distraction for essays and will fill the hours on days off when I really should be catching up on said essays.

Apart from being the biggest geek in the world, I've spent today shopping for anything to help me learn the beautiful Italian language and I've managed to buy a few books and a CD which should get me off to a flying start. I also had a quick peek through a lot of high street stores today and found nothing- not a thing. Surely I'm not bored of S/S09 yet?

Anyway, I hope you lot have had a great weekend and thanks to the few people who have dropped me messages and e-mails to say congratulations/well done on this week, it means a lot.

The outfit featured is geeky but chic- the type of thing I'd wear for a Saturday shopping trip with MYB or perhaps just round the house on a Sunday afternoon. The tee and printed body-con skirt are Topshop, the earrings and ring are available from Juicy Couture and the flats are by Bloch. But it's this bag that is the love for me- Yves Saint Laurent. This bag is £720 of pure love and lust- the colour, the sexiness, the simplicity....everything a girl needs in life!


Sims2. - by hollieanne on Polyvore.com

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for critiquing the critique.

Having been in the journalism trade for some time now, I've come to realise that- unless stated- criticism is never personal but always constructive. You develop a thick skin in this industry and rejection becomes your new best friend. You brush it off and get on with it, change bits of an article to fit the bill, find a new source and scrap a million ideas you thought were world changing. Hey, that's just the way it goes.

But upon returning to education, I was looking forward to getting to grips with questioning the lecturer's marking and self analysing work. Rather than accepting things and doing as my editor tells me, I was looking forward to saying "Well, actually, I think...".

So today I got my "personal essay" back for my HEFC English Language course. I'd wrote about an event in my life which will change me forever, an event I'm still recovering from but an event which is so profound that I can detach myself from it and write it as if it were a film script. I was elated with the first draft and handed it in two weeks before the due date as I was promised it would be marked early and I could work my way towards a first.

Hmm, I got the essay back today and what a fuss it caused. Magazine titles need to go in italics? Sure. I used an apostrophe wrong? Sorry! But an attack on my past? Er, no thanks.

Yup, my teacher actually implied that I am possibly rather stressed and I need to take it easy and not question the marks. And what did I do? Well, I said that- for ethical reasons- I didn't want to lie in my autobiographical piece even if it did get me a distinction. Hmm, walking on eggshells are we? It's called having the balls not to mumble "OK" and totter off and be an unethical writer.

Dressing For is today about being sharp, smart and a little bit of a rebel.

Miss Selfridge have done this wonderful grey check skirt that could easily be a designer piece with a huge price-tag, add on a quirky and super cheap Paris tee from Wet Seal and then throw over a wonderfully odd Fred Flare cardigan for that inner protester. The beret of my dreams and Aldo gloves give a chic feel and the La Garçonne shoe boots are perfect for sashaying down the corridor with attitude. Finally, an amazing John Galliano newspaper bag that reminds me of my media roots.


Critique. by hollieanne