Looking ahead to spring

This time of year is usually all about the sales, but in my experience these are usually best avoided. Most of the things that are actually worth getting either never made it to sale, or are not reduced by very much anyway. In the past I've succumbed, and I did manage to get a pair of Viktor and Rolf heels at a fairly reasonable discount - but it was still a massive splurge. Unless you have something really specific in mind that you know has gone to sale, I always think it's more fulfilling to look forward to the next season rather than the dregs of Autumn/Winter.

The grey dress from ASOS is a nice little transitional piece - it's not overly summery so will do well with a jacket and tights in the colder months, then with bare legs when the mercury shoots up a bit. The clutch would actually also be great now, in the party season - neon is tricky but the cut-out pattern is an impressive piece from a high street retailer.

The monochrome aspect of the second image wasn't intentional, but I like it, and clearly my concession to springtime involves no colour but rather a switch from white to black. Those snakeskin heels tick the 'height-you-might-actually-be-able-to-walk-in' box, and the splash of python also makes them a bit less prim than they would otherwise be. The midi-skirt on the right would be a great springtime purchase teamed with a grey t-shirt. (All Topshop).

Christmas presents for me

In the mad seasonal gift-buying scrum, I still have to steel myself to shop for others and not myself. This year, my resolve has been weak, and I found myself bagging two clutch bags and a t-shirt from H&M, and a pair of shoes I've been after ever since I saw them in an Another magazine editorial (they're from Aldo, who have been stepping up their game recently). I think when handing over my card to purchases items for myself rather than my nearest and dearest, I justified it by reasoning that of course, I do need something new to wear for New Year's Eve, conveniently forgetting that as of posting this, I still have NO PLANS for the night of the 31st December. At this stage, it's looking quite likely that it'll just be me and the cat at home together watching the fireworks on TV and then Jools Holland.

Aborted haircut idea.

Whilst watching the Wong Kar Wai film Fallen Angels the other day, I decided that I should get a 90s haircut in the style of the partner in the film. Remember when fringes were choppy and really long, hanging over the eyes so that you couldn't see? Oh yeah...that's probably why I shouldn't get a 90s haircut like that- I really need to be able to see. But Michelle Reis does look kind of cool when she's smoking and has to tip her head back to see under her fringe. Ah, forget it, I hate whispy bits of hair in my eyes more than anything. And I certianly don't want to have to revert to clipping it back like she does in the film because that looks rubbish. Abort.

B is for Bathtime.

We actually finished 'B is for Bathtime' over a month ago, I just never posted it. We struggled with lighting when taking the photos because it was nearing the end of the day and there just wasn't enough natural light. So it all looks a bit dark and too moody for a cutesy, 50s style bathroom. I still like it though. Lauren put way more work into this than I did so she should get most of the credit. Isn't that floss just SO SWEET! 'C is for...' coming soon!

I'm thinking...

Found this on one of my favourite blogs, Vanillascented, and it started me thinking (again) about getting another tattoo. I really like simple wrist and finger tattoos but good ones are so few and far between. So into this one - although it's probably pretty lame to simply copy someone else's.

Dressing for the occasion.

My latest issue of 'Worn' arrived the other day so I took the opportunity lent to me by a couple of days off work to snuggle up and read through it with a cup of tea and a slice of parkin. I found one article in particular to be really interesting. Stegelmann wrote about her wedding and the obstacles she faced in finding a dress in the run up to the big day. She didn't want a traditional one (she wasn't having a traditional fancy pants wedding) but she found it difficult to be happpy with whatever she was finding. In the end she wears a really lovely, vintage, yellow silk wiggle dress. But what she learns about dressing is far more interesting than the actual outfit chosen. Here is a little paragraph that I really appreciate

"From religious leaders to garbage collectors, we all have outfits for everything we do. Our clothes help establish our place in the world. I hadn't wanted to care about what I deemed to be the superficial trappings of a wedding....I'd only considered what the wedding meant to me, to us. But, like so many other rituals, a wedding is for the guests. It lets the people who love us gather, celebrate, and acknowledge a change in circumstance. In some weird way, it holds the same significance as a funeral. We are pack animals and we celebrate (and mourn) together. And whether we're in white or black or yellow printed silk, dressing for the occasion shows respect and a willingness to participate. You don't have to look the same as everyone else, but you have to mean it."

She goes on to describe her brother overheating in his "buttoned shirt and necktie", her editors new gold shoes that had given her such blisters that "she'd actually left bloodstains on the heels" and her own narrow cut dress made her hop up and down the lawn but "there we were, breathless and blistered and grinning like idiots".

Isn't that such a sweet and truthful observation?! The number of times I didn't put any effort into my outfit choice and would wear my day to day clothes for special occasions now makes me cringe. My Mum still doesn't like what I wear, but at least now she appreciates that I put effort into the outfit and therefore that makes her happy. It's not about fitting in, it's about making the effort. I think that's the reason I always cry in teen films when a young person makes the effort of getting ready for an event and ends up getting crushed becuase teenagers don't always make the effort so it's that much more special when they do (massive generalisation there!). Classic examples are...

Ross in Friends getting dressed up to take Rachel to the prom when her date doesn't show up, but then he does show up and Ross is left behind....

That bit in Never Been Kissed when Drew Barrymore is all dressed up in her hideous pink monstrosity and thinks she's going to the prom with the cool guy but it's all a big joke and....oh....god....I cry EVERY time (not that I have watched this film more than twice).

Leather Rucksack

My new schoolbag arrived today. It's big and leather and will carry all the things I need on a regular basis, like laptop and books. Took me ages to find a nice leather rucksack that looked like it was strong enough to carry all that - eventually found it here.

Grown up Lolita.

Here are the results of a lovely shoot I took part in the other week titled "Grown up Lolita". I had just finished reading Lolita and also watching the 1962 film and thought that it would be interesting to play around with what she would look like a few years later. She's a girl who I imagine would grow up to know exactly how to wiggle her hips and pout over her shoulder at admiring male glances. Conversely I don't think she would ever lose her childish attitude to life (many debates could ensue regarding her stolen childhood and loss of innocence to Humbert Humbert but I don't need to go into that now). So with this in mind I paired clashing patterns, a t-shirt with a pencil skirt, a dress with frilly cotton socks- Lolita is getting dressed in grown up clothes but then stumbling and throwing on her usual comfort items. A pretty major source of inspiration were the videos for Lana Del Ray. She had the little girl, bit trashy, big hair, half grown up look I wanted to go for. I hope that sort of makes sense! I need to thank everyone on the shoot because it was such a lovely day and everyone was wonderful to work with. Each person brought out amazing ideas for every shot and I think we collaborated really well.

Photography: Christine Kreiselmaier
Model: Sydney Lima
Hair and Make-up: Jodie Hazlewood
Styling: Isabella Sumner
Styling assistant: Katie Tillyer
Photography assistant: Iona Vrabie

Walk in London Fields.

My new dress matches the colour of the leaves so perfectly right now so I decided to wear it on a little walk to London Fields today with my friend Lauren. Although it looked cold out, it was actually pretty warm, so my Topshop coat with a H&M faux fur collar attatched was enough to keep me warm. I also dug out my favourite New Look clog boots for the occasion.



We stopped off in Hub, a brilliant little shop off Broadway Market and I fell in love with all the Won Hundred and YMC printed tops and dresses. Do I have a new obsession- printed silks? Yes, I think so.

Fashion 156

I've been a bad blogger recently, but I have a good excuse. I've started interning at online fashion mag Fashion156 (check out their daily blog for me posting up interesting stuff about artists, photographers, designers and illustrators) and that combined with uni and work has eaten up most of my time. So because my boyfriend has borrowed my camera I can't do a proper post, but instead I thought I'd show you the sort of thing that Fashion156 do in their editorials, to give you an idea of what I'll be helping out with!

This one is from the current issue, the Cult issue, and has a sort of puritanical/Amish feel to it. I think the styling is fantastic and I love that they use loads of graduate and new designers so you get some really unusual pieces, often mixed with vintage and more established labels. This shoot also incorporates lots of my current favourite things like white collars, middle partings and leather harnesses. 

They've done it again.

Second week in a row I am obsessed with the Guardian fashion pages. Definitely going to get in on that grey spotted skirt and the green trousers from ASOS- great items without the massive price tags. If I could I would get the black DVF mesh top and the Marc Jacobs dress too, but as the cost would be higher than double my monthly rent I am going to have to give them a miss.

Good week Guardian.

I was totally impressed by the fashiony bits in the guardian this Saturday. Loving the make up on this model. I always get a bit obsessed with purple lipstick as soon as the weather turns colder. I might try the clear skin/naked eyes with lipstick thing after seeing these images. Cool brushed up brows too.









These black and white themed images were also featured in the magazine. I really like the long, billowy, black waistcoat- might actually have to get my hands on one of them. Perfect for autumn cycling. I may even risk wearing a white polo neck under it (Polo necks terrify me. They cling EVERYWHERE. In my opinion you might as well be naked or in a wetsuit.)





I'm not a massive fan of the 4th look. It's a bit bulky and looks clumsy; grey shoes would've made a world of difference. But I DO love the mix of speckled greys.

guardian exits stage left.

*applause*

Fiasco Youth Issue.

I assisted on a couple of shoots for Fiasco magazine recently working with the lovely Ali McNally. She has so much fun with the clothes and found some amazing pieces. On the first day poor Daniel was made to wear loads of glitter and sequined clothing yet he took it all in his stride (and I reckon he quite enjoyed it in the end!). Here is a link if you want to read the whole magazine.













The second day was all about shooting different youth subcultures. Here are the photos from that day.











This last shot was put together entirely by me (wahey!). I borrowed the bow tie off my good friend Gareth and the glasses were given to me years ago by a family friend who is an optician. They are actually NHS glasses from the 80s- she was amazed that I wanted them! The jeans that Jamie is wearing in the Grungy look are also mine. I now have famous clothes!

All the models were amazing, as were the photographer, make up artists and of course Ali. Here is a final shot that we did of Amaya- she looked too pretty for me not to include it in the post.

A parcel from Norway

 

A package arrived for me last week from my friend Ada in Oslo. I told her about the Weekday shoes I wanted, and how they were on sale, and she got them for me! Thank you Ada!