Love, Lust & Pixie Dust.

Hey new followers :)

2011-01-09T22:46:00.000Z

Just noticed a bunch of you lovelies started following my blog on here, unfortunately I don't write on it much anymore! Partly because I find Blogger's interface really annoying and hard to use, and partly because I'm studying Fashion at university right now which takes up a LOT of time and effort!

Anyway, I have a Tumblr - who doesn't, right? - so follow me if you love gorgeous inspiration pictures of fashion, tattoos, cuteness and beautiful things!

http://superbecky.tumblr.com

Love Becky! xxxxxxx

I ♥ Nikes!

2010-07-18T12:38:00.000+01:00

My awesome new shoes.

Love:

The colour! Luminous yellow and turquoise and silver are the way to go.
The comfort! I've been wearing them non-stop the last few weeks, since it's wayy too hot for boots, and flats are killer to walk/run around in, especially if you find yourself involved in an impromptu game of Duck Duck Goose.
The price! Originally £60 but I got them on sale for a rather fantastic £25 at the outlet mall in Gloucester Docks. Where they also sell bags of creme eggs for £2 when it's not even Easter. It's an incredible place, I know.

Can't really pick anything about them I dislike..the only thing is that you need to try a couple pairs on, as the sizing is weird. I'm a UK 8-9 in most shoes, but these are a 7 and they still have plenty of room left. Lovelovelove them, can't find many shoes that are cool and pretty enough for wearing in summer, yet won't mutilate your feet after a few hours wear.

What are your favourite shoes so far this summer?

I've also changed the comments to Disqus, since regular Blogger/Google comments are pretty temperamental in Firefox browsers. Plus you can choose to be alerted by email whenever someone replies to your comments..better than constantly having to check the site, right?

Update! ♥ & a return from the dead.

2010-07-04T12:33:00.003+01:00

It is WONDERFUL to be back and posting again! I would send my apologies for the slightly prolonged break, but it has made me realise that all bloggers need some time off from their writing schedule to sort things other things out in their lives, otherwise content would be compromised, which is something I'd really rather not want to happen!

I plan to keep my following posts shorter and non-scheduled, though I'm sure I shall revive them in the near future. I've realised that I need to keep myself and all aspects of my life scrupulously organised and start planning things out so that I can schedule time for writing rather than force myself to hurriedly type a compromised piece.

Here are a few photos from my time away:

Summer!

In Wales somewhere sitting on my car!

Messy hair!

Happy nape piercing

Sad nape piercing. The incorrect curved bar was removed shortly after this since it was causing a very painful buildup of scar tissue on one side. I had it taken out a few weeks ago and my friend Kyle is taking me to get it redone with a silver staple bar (the right kind!)..can't wait to have it back! ♥

And before I go, an outfit post from yesterday:

POF: Lovely warm weather and a party night in with amazing films!
Necklace: Tarina Tarantino
Top: Primark!
Belt: No idea
Shorts: Topshop
Tights: Primark

I have some INCREDIBLE new luminous Nike hi-tops I wore with this..pictures to come!

Although I've still been following all my favourite blogs..What was YOUR favourite thing about the last few months?

Mini-Break :)

2010-05-05T17:50:00.002+01:00

Just a post to say I'm taking a short break from my blog at the moment - regular readers will have noticed I haven't posted for a while and there are good reasons, I promise! I miss making outfit posts as I haven't been feeling terribly stylish at all lately - mostly because I've not been able to wear things like necklaces, scarves or jackets/shirts with collars in ages because of my neck having problems healing up, which is no fun at all! Also with the last few weeks of school and a suddenly busy schedule of events and various things to do, it seems like I haven't had a spare second of time in which to write. I don't want to compromise my blog content because of these, or have to force myself to write when I don't feel I have enough to write about.

I shall resume my regular posting schedule in the near future; here are some links if you wish to contact me:

Email: racotterell@hotmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/beckyalyssa
Formspring (questions): http://www.formspring.me/superbeckyy

Question Time!

2010-04-13T18:40:00.002+01:00

So the other day I got a Formspring account and I'm loving the completely random and hilarious questions I've already had from friends.

So..ask me something!

http://www.formspring.me/superbeckyy

Ask anonymously or leave your name, ask about fashion and style, about me or just about anything else you can think of..bonus points if it makes me smile!

Any particularly interesting and relevant ones I'll post here :)

Regular posts are still rather intermittent but I shall be sure to keep updating as regularly as I can at the moment!

More Proof That I Spend Too Much Money On Awesome Things.

2010-04-07T18:42:00.002+01:00

What I bought yesterday:

New gig bag from River Island

Proper GaGa glasses ♥

David & Goliath t-shirt from TK Maxx..I can't resist an awesome t-shirt

Dress from TK Maxx

Top from Zara

Shirt from Zara

The sequinned epaulettes pretty much made it for me

New soft plaid shirt from Primark

Skirt suspiciously similar to the ones in American Apparel but for a tiny fraction of the price

Boosh tour DVD to go with my Vince Noir-esque 80%20 boots!

Still haven't got round to playing it, but I can't wait! Saving it for an extra-boring day.

What I Wore Today: 07/04/10

2010-04-07T17:47:00.003+01:00

Hello, Sunshine.

Even though I'm not so much into the whole springtime and beauty of nature thing, today was BEAUTIFUL. I snapped a super-quick picture of what I was wearing before I left (check out my divinely retro sleeping bag in the background):

POF: Not doing a lot on a sunny day
Shirt: Zara (more pics to come..I kinda love it!)
Tee: Mighty Boosh tour
Sunglasses: Primark (more pics to come tooo, these are lush)
Watch: Tokidoki
Bag: Urban Outfitters
Belt: Lowlife
Shorts: Topshop
Tights: Primark
Boots: DMs.

What I Wore Today: 06/04/10

2010-04-07T11:35:00.002+01:00

Point of Fashion: Going out to buy lovely things :)
Hoodie: Hollister
Vest: New Look
Thermal: Primark
Shorts: Primark
Tights: Primark
Boots [not pictured]: Fryes

It was actually pretty cold so I'm glad I wore the thermal top! I can't wear scarves or big necklaces for a while because I recently got my nape pierced, which is a shame as I love scarves and big necklaces.

What I Wore Today: 30/03/10

2010-03-30T16:56:00.002+01:00

POF: Lazy day at school with friends.
Cardigan: River Island
Tee: All Saints
Necklace: All Saints
Playsuit: Miss Selfridge
Tights: Primark
Boots: DMs ♥

Relax, I'm still alive! I'm sad to not be updating this blog quite as much as I should at the moment due to various things going on in my life at the moment - it happens, right? I'm going to keep updating whenever I can, just that regular features might be delayed for a bit as I don't get to be online and write content quite as much as I'd like to right now. Hopefully things will be back to normal soon enough so I can get writing again and start posting some of my favourite new ideas as soon as possible. Thanks so much for continuing to read and follow my blog through my semi-absence, it really does mean a lot!

TFT #14

2010-03-11T20:29:00.003Z

Welcome to a brand new Thursday which means a fabulous, brand new edition of TFT! Check out what I've found this week...

Accessorize Mosaic Tile Bangle - £8

Although I'm not a massive fan of the new world prints/tribal redux trends, I can admit that some of the colours around for the coming summer are luscious! Imagine armfuls of colourful bangles like these...

Inspired: March Edition!

2010-03-05T18:07:00.004Z

Welcome to the brand-new, fabulously fresh edition of Inspired for March! The last month has been pretty hectic for all of us, involving having my memory stick of lovely Eye Candy images stolen for one, so even more reason to be positively inspired by the beautiful, fun and fantastic things in life.

Ideas for March:

1. Pick one thing you've always wanted to do and plan to do it this summer. The regular season for summer break is still a few months away; even so, we should still plan early! Whether you've dreamt of camping out at Reading festival with your best friends, watching the sun set from the top of the Empire State building or meeting your best online buddies face-to-face on the other side of the world, make sure you do it in 2010! Book plane tickets, plan routes, make meeting plans..why not go for it?

2. Pick key pieces for your SS10 wardrobe if you haven't already. The evenings are getting lighter, my rabbit is getting friskier and the amount of ice on my car in the morning is decreasing each day..proper spring weather is nearly here! Last month it seemed ludicrous that SS pieces were appearing in shops already, but by this time next month we won't be needing our super-chunky winter coats anymore. If you're unfamiliar with some of the newest SS10 styles, go out this weekend for a browse around the high street - there's some seriously lovely stuff out there this year!

3. Bake yourself a tray of cupcakes to last the rest of the week. Forget picking up a slab of Dairy Milk every time you need a break..make your own beautiful customised cupcakes! I'm a huge fan of cupcakery myself - my favourites ones are the shamelessly indulgent Rocky Road and the luxurious red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. Yum. Hand them out to friends, take them to work/school..they really do make life more fun!

4. Take a half hour to browse your nearest bookstore. I'm always looking for brand new books to read..I get through them too quickly! The biggest problem is finding new authors which genuinely interest me. You've probably heard it before, but reading helps us to relax as well as unconsciously expanding our vocabulary and levels of literacy..so no excuses really! Take some time out to wander around a bookstore and pick up anything which catches your eye.

5. Clean out your makeup bag. Especially if you're the kind of person who changes their makeup every season. Refresh your look and get rid of anything which is expired. Here's a guide to how long you should keep each type of product - eye infections are not fun!

6. If you don't know how to use a sewing machine, learn! Since I went to private school for most of my life I never learned how to sew by hand, let alone how to use a machine. It's the most useful skill ever, seriously! You can fix ripped seams, customise plain items and resize baggy tees. Get a friend to teach you, or take a class in it - there's plenty around if you look online and I guarantee that everyone there is really friendly. Do it!

7. Don't hesitate to call up an old friend, even if you haven't talked to them in years. Chances are they'll be ecstatic to hear from you, so go for it! Talk about what you've been up to, giggle about the past and make plans to meet up this summer. I'm ridiculously excited to meet up with some friends I haven't seen in ages..I heard they got taller!

8. Sort through your SS09 wardrobe pieces. Even though I've mentioned buying brand new clothes for summer, your old ones should still be perfect to wear again this year if you've been shopping wisely. Air and wash your favourite summery tops and skirts, and don't forget to organise your winter scarves, jumpers and coats for when you won't need them.

[unknown artist]

[unknown artist]

What's inspiring YOU this month?

TFT #13

2010-03-04T19:17:00.002Z

I hope you're having a great week so far! Here's my newest find for Thursday Fashion Therapy.

GirlProps Lolita Heart Shaped Glasses - $9.99 [approx £6.50]

With the warmer weather and sunshine soon to be on their way, why not celebrate with a brand-new, fabulous pair of sunglasses? I'm a huge fan of gorgeous glasses myself and hearts are my favourite.

What I Wore Today: 04/03/10

2010-03-04T19:09:00.003Z

Point of Fashion: Schoool! & pretending it's spring when it's still freezing outside.
Cardigan: River Island
Top: New Look
Necklace: All Saints
Belt: Unbranded
Jeans: Topshop
Socks: Topshop
[Boots: Fryes]

Inspired for the month of March is on its way very shortly; though my memory stick with all my inspiration pictures on has been stolen, so excuse the wait! ♥

What I Wore Today: 02/03/10

2010-03-02T20:47:00.002Z

Point Of Fashion: New skirt :)
Cardigan: River Island
Scarf: Camden
Tee: Pac Sun. I need some plain vests to wear with pretty skirts, I don't think the tee works as well as I'd hoped.
Belt: Oldd
Skirt: H&M
Tights & Leggings: H&M..tights and leggings together make it ok to wear super-short skirts, haha.
Boots: White knee-high DMs, not pictured as they'd got muddy from photographing.

New Purchases. ♥

2010-03-02T20:16:00.004Z

Apologies for the lack in regular posts lately, I haven't been feeling too great. However I feel better today so entries are back!

I went out to Bristol yesterday, intending to take photos for my Photography exam, but it's very difficult to resist when there are so many lovely shops with so few people in on a Monday morning. Plus the weather's quickly getting warmer and I need more lovely clothes for summer!

Onto the new buys...

Long tee from New Look.
Awesome for layering, especially with my fabulously big belt around the middle. Plus since all the newest styles are oversized, I can happily buy a size 8 or 10 and still have it fit. :) good times!

Silence & Noise Dress.
I needed a dress to wear with everything since I have school most days of the week up until May (scary that I'm finishing so soon!), so ensuring everything is super-versatile is essential. It's also really light & would look great with some ridiculously colourful patterned tights.

Hollister hoodie (again!)
My excuse is their luscious softness and great quality, as well as the fact that I got this one for £15 on clearance! They're perfect for staying late at the beach or in town in the summer, as they're warm but don't look out of place at all with a summery outfit.

H&M Skirt
I didn't think this skirt looked too exciting on the hanger, but it really does look better on! Normally black clothing is pretty insufferable in the hot weather, but the material's light enough to get away with wearing it in the summer.

Cute underwear!
My friend and I are having a minor competition as to who has the cutest underwear: so far I face competition from Pac-Man man pants. Then I saw these rainbow ruffly things and knew that whatever he gets, I have him beaten.

Have you started planning your summer wardrobe yet?

TFT #12!

2010-02-18T19:23:00.003Z

Butterfly Plastic Bangle - £4.99

Mix up your summer accessories with a super-pretty butterfly bangle from Urban Outfitters - pile your arms high with different colours, textures and prints of fabulous wrist candy. Plus this beauty's on sale right down to a generous £4.99..not bad!

What I Wore Yesterday: 18/02/10

2010-02-18T16:39:00.002Z

hello silly expression.

POF: cold, boring day.
Hoodie: Hollister (soft!)
Panda Hat: River Island
Jeans: Topshop
Boots: Purple DMs

Recent Buys ♥

2010-02-14T18:15:00.003Z

Lately has been spent indulging in some completely necessary gorgeous items..seems like I can't resist cute and pretty things! And you can't exactly say no when they're cheap.

Topshop heart necklace in support of Radical Self Love month! Bought second-hand on Ebay for £1.76 plus P&P. Cuteness indeed.

Also Topshop and also bought on Ebay second-hand, think I paid around £6 for it. It's a super-on-trend matte black - I've seen so many gold and silver ones, but not black!

If you like to have massive shops to yourself in order to try on funky accessories and trendy clothing, I highly recommend visiting Hereford on a weekday morning - the place was deserted! And considering the generous '20% off one item' promotion which H&M have been running lately, it's a great excuse to invest in some unashamedly ostentacious accessories like this netted bow headband I managed to get on Friday. Unfortunately the pink faux-suede lining of my handbag has rubbed off on it so it's covered in tiny pink fluffy bits!

THE Panda Hat! Ok, I admit it, I caved. But it's so cute and warm! I've been wearing it pretty much non-stop since I bought it.

Velvet leggings from H&M, again bought at reduced price with the promotional discount. I don't know what I'm going to wear with these, but they're fantastic.

Two scarves from A-Wear which I plan to wear together: one is lacy and the other has tiny hippie-ish bobbles along the edges. Not what I'd usually pick, but I have plans for them. :)

Among the more mundane purchases, I also bought some M&S socks with a leftover gift card, plus a free bamboo flannel from the Body Shop with a promotional Telegraph voucher! I have to admit that it was an excellent deal.

What've you bought this week?

New Blazer ♥

2010-02-13T19:02:00.002Z

FINALLY got the blazer I'd been lusting after for months! ♥

It's an Aeropostale blazer, funnily enough! I managed to get it for a great price on Ebay US, despite excessive customs charges, and it fits wonderfully - Ebay is such a gamble but once in a while you can get some truly fantastic pieces.

What I Wore Today: 09/02/10

2010-02-09T17:41:00.002Z

POF: schoool - being yelled at by teachers and lengthy bantering with lovely friends :)
Jacket: Topshop [sale!]
Scarf: Per Una - kind of threw it on, so ignore the disheveled look. I also bought my nan the same one in fuschia so we have matching grandmother-and-grandaughter scarves :)
Necklace: Miss Selfridge
Jumper: Hello Kitty at H&M
Playsuit: Topshop
Tights: H&M
Shoes: Primark! I couldn't get my boots on due to wearing thick knit tights, thermal leggings and extra-thick socks all at the same time. It's cold, you know.

River Island Order..♥

2010-02-09T17:26:00.002Z

One thing which has delighted me recently amidst the gloom and despair of recent happenings is the fact that some of the most recent collections from River Island have been absolutely jaw-droppingly excellent. As in rush-around-in-a-mad-frenzy-for-your-credit-card excellent before ordering amazing pieces you probably shouldn't buy but can't resist anyway. I had originally planned to enforce my nan's cunning plan in shopping - buy everything you love and take back everything you can't realistically afford - but I really can't see myself taking any of these back.

Amazing hooded cardigan that was almost sold out; unfortunately there were only sizes 6-10 left. I went for a size 10 and it's a little on the small side, but you can't exactly turn something you fall in love with down, can you?

THE jacket, with the fabulous fringed scarf. Such a lovely scarf.

Front detail!

I also kind of want some of the incredible shoes they have, though I should probably wait until I get a job or something so I can afford them.

SS10 Mood Board

2010-02-07T19:42:00.004Z

As previously mentioned, the new trends for spring and summer of 2010 look to be absolutely divine. Cream, florals, lace and ruffles give a subtle Victoriana touch to many of the latest high street collections, making everything delightfully feminine yet comfortable, perfect for summer picnics, beach days and adventures. I'm loving the light, delicate fabrics and creams with pinks..so pretty!

Summer '10 Style Love by Superbeckyy featuring TopShop

What are your favourite pieces and styles for SS10? Style tips, anyone? What will YOU be wearing?

Inspired: February Edition

2010-02-02T14:16:00.002Z

image from here.

February is one of the strangest months of them all: Valentine's day - love it or hate it, with end-of-year school preparations (so sad! aahh) and spring collections everywhere..yet it's still pouring with rain outside?! February is one of those unfortunately dreary months, so it's more important than ever to keep ourselves feeling positive and inspired. Here are the Inspired tips for this month:

1. Catch up with The Playgirl's Guide To Radical Self-Love at iCiNG. There hasn't been a better month to get back in touch with the most gorgeous, amazing, talented person in your life - yourself. Be your own Valentine every day: keep checking Gala's blog for the latest in tips for achieving ultimate self-love and self-adoration.

2. Take advantage of all the heart-shaped Valentine's-exclusive goodies around. Heart-shaped lollipops, the cheesiest greeting cards, yummy chocolate covered strawberries..stock up now! My favourite Valentine's items have been a black chunky biro with coloured hearts all over and a glittery red gel pen with sequin hearts floating inside. So pretty!

3. Book your tickets to London Fashion Weekend before they sell out. I wanted to go last time but sadly couldn't make it..therefore I need to go this year! I have to admit I haven't been before, but it's the next best thing to the industry-only LFW shows so it's got to be amazing. You can't say no to up to 70% off of some of the gorgeous items on offer.

4. Redecorate your room. Especially if February's left you feeling a little rubbish, something as small as a new piece of art or a new set of patterned sheets can give your bedroom a fresh facelift. Check out ourbedrooms @ Livejournal for fantastic room decorations belonging to beautiful people around the world.

5. Go swimming. It's probably too cold to go back into the sea yet, but swimming can be so relaxing: exercise is great for helping to think things over as well as enabling your body to look and feel amazing. Visit an indoor pool on a weekday morning to avoid crowds and screaming children.

6. Invest in some second-hand books. Use Amazon to check similar authors of your favourite titles and seek out their novels on Ebay or your favourite charity shop.

7. Plan an extra-long holiday for this summer. Summer seems so far away, yet it can seem horribly daunting if you have several months ahead of doing relatively nothing, so why not plan to stay in your favourite country, state or city for a few weeks (or months)? Personally I'm not a fan of the traditional 10-day holiday as everything always seems so rushed - stay with a friend or family member and take time to enjoy the life around you in a whole different part of the world.

8. Buy Valentine's cards for your best friends. Even if you're looking to be single this V-day, no-one says you can't spread the Valentine's love between friends as well as partners and write some extra-special cards for your friends as well as your crush - let them know how much you appreciate them!

9. Plan an extravagant dinner at your favourite restaurant. Whether you're into lobster or Subway, ask a friend out one night for a delightfully over-the-top evening out at your favourite eatery. Even if you're just having pizza, it's a fun excuse to dress stunningly and catch up with someone.

Adding to my usual ideas list for my Inspired segment, I wanted to share some gorgeous images I've compiled over the month. I hope you enjoy! Click the image for a link to the source.

Share your inspiring tips!

What I Wore Today: 26/1/10

2010-01-26T18:13:00.003Z

POF: Singing loudly to Tim Minchin Youtube videos whilst getting ready for going into school late
Hoodie: Forever 21 back in the day..it's so fabulously gangsta with gold studs and crazy detail on the back
Tee: Chiodos gig
Necklace: Miss Selfridge
Belt: Harajuku Lovers at Pac Sun
Skirt: Topshop..thoughts on this? Topshop have a denim miniskirt every season, but people don't really wear them anymore. Figured as since shorts aren't allowed at school, I could reinvent it as a decent substitute.
Tights: H&M
Boots: Doc Martens! ♥ I figured I can wear them with skirts as my legs are super-long anyways.

In case you've ever wondered what the back of my head looks like. The back of the hoodie has a giant eagle on it in a lighter colour with small gold studs all over and the word 'Royalty' above it in tattoo lettering. I love it. :)

TFT #11!

2010-01-21T21:04:00.004Z

Welcome to the 11th edition of the wonderful TFT, bringing pieces of fashion love and joy to your computer screens, each featured piece costing under a mere £10.

Topshop Large Heart Opaque Tights - £10

Hearts, hearts and more hearts! I'm seeing gorgeous hearts everywhere lately, from shorts to jewelry to shoes and I'll never be able to have enough. Show your adoration for the majestic heart by adorning your lovely legs with them. Patterned tights and heart shapes are two of the best current trends, so update a basic look with some lusciously lovely tights.

My Style Icon: Audrey Kitching

2010-01-10T13:59:00.004Z

All images can be found both here and here.

I have wanted to do a 'My Style Icon' series for literally ages, chronicling the amazingly inspiring looks of some of the most lusciously lovely celebrities around. Singers, models, actresses, artists, you name it - there are people out there with some seriously killer style who constantly inspire us to try out some fabulously fashion-forward looks such as bedazzling our schoolbag, investing in a pair of PVC stripper boots or adorning our hair with feathers (what, you haven't done it too?!). This is unlikely to be a scheduled 'slot' in my blogging schedule, simply a post of eye candy and inspiration whenever the inspiration hits me. It's been great fun to plan, so I promise you there'll be more on the way soon!

Audrey is one of my top personal style icons, as her style is a fantastic mish-mash of unashamedly in-your-face statement pieces mixed with a splash of hot pink and infused with raw Hollywood glamour and vintage rock&roll attitude straight from the 80s. She's a pretty controversial character too - if fellow bloggers and internet-creepers aren't putting her down for her split with Panic At The Disco band member Brendon Urie, her "trashy" former shoots (aptly named 'Trashylife') with modelling partner Zui Suicide or verbally attacking her influence on the 'scene' style in recent years, they're criticising her look, even though she has one of the most stunning, visually overwhelming styles I've seen out there.

Channelling Audrey's Look

Audrey Kitching Style by Superbeckyy featuring Carvela shoes

Converting my Polyvore addiction into something constructive, I created a mini Audrey collection inspired by her looks in the last few years along with some tips on interpreting a similar look yourself.

Key styles:

- Animal prints: coloured or in natural tones. Audrey's been seen in shoes, scarves and other accessories covered in zebra, leopard and giraffe patterns. Tie a silk zebra patterned scarf around your head, or put a leopard print cardigan over your shoulders to add instant straight-out-of-the-safari chic to any plain outfit. However real animal furs are a definite no: animals belong hanging out in their natural homes, not in your wardrobe!

- Pink overload: Along with her candy pink locks, Audrey's closet is literally dripping with accessories and garments in shades of princess pink. Bring out your hyper-girlie side with a pink wrist cuff or hair ribbon and if in doubt, add more.

- Layered necklaces: A central trend in recent seasons, layer silver chains and pendants piled high to achieve glamourous yet casual rock&roll style.

- Leather: Whether it be leather boots, leather hats or Gaga-esque motorcycle gloves, leather clothes and acccessories inject sexy 80s glamour into any look, casual and smart.

- Dark smoky eyes: In or out of the studio, Audrey is rarely seen without lined lids and sexy, smoky lashes, relentlessly glamourous and over-the-top even for everyday styles. Be generous with volumising mascara and slick liquid liner for rock chic at any occasion.

- Romantic hearts, ruffles and feathers: Contrasting with her more edgy, masculine pieces, Audrey pairs her leather, studs and band tees with luxurious feathers, lavish ruffles and an array of unusual heart-shaped pieces including glasses, clutches and brooches.

Where to shop:

- Vintage stores: well-worn band tees, buttery soft leather jackets and authentic military pieces can frequently be found in your local vintage boutiques. Bring new life to previously-loved garments and invest in fabulously unique one-off pieces to show off with pride.

- Costume shops: Go here for the unashamedly ostentacious pieces that are simply too exciting to be found in regular high street stores: these places are absolute eye-candy for any self-proclaimed fashionista. Metallic cowboy boots? Oversizes glasses? Furry hats? Incorporate these into your everyday looks for some serious stand-out-from-the-crowd style.

- Cheap high street chains: I know I constantly protest about overspending at places such as Primark and New Look due to their below-average quality, if you're looking for trendy pieces that'll only be in style for a few weeks, or constructing a specialist party outfit you'll only wear once, get those pieces here. Remember to reuse the material or recycle the garments as soon as they start to fall apart.

Style Tips

Only eat pretty food. Red velvet cake, lavender cupcakes, candyfloss and Smarties aren't only delicious, they make great accessories. Complement your style with a sweet treat to reflect your gorgeously sweet personality.

Dye your hair a sumptuous candy colour. Or at least add some clip-in extensions in your favourite colours for a less permanent interpretation of the look. Audrey's hair is indeed her crowning glory, and yours should be too.

Experiment with outrageously-coloured makeup. Forget boring neutrals: the bolder and brighter shades win every time. Check out Limecrime and Urban Decay for the most dangerously bright in alternative beauty.

Carry a bunny ear headband in your bag. You never know when it'll come in useful.

When it comes to hair, bigger is better. Bed Head blow dry lotion as well as natural extensions and short, choppy layers are fantastic ways to achieve big, beautiful hair even if you don't have much to work with. Fuller hair also flatters your facial features, especially if you are a fellow owner of a bumpy nose.

Embrace designer glamour. McQueen, Chanel, Vivienne Westwood..they're all absolutely awe-inspiring beauties with breathtaking designs. Even if you can't afford original pieces, use inspiration from their collections to influence your own wardrobe.

Watch out for more of my style icons coming this way soon! But first I'd like to know...
Who is YOUR style icon?

TFT #10

2010-01-07T21:10:00.002Z

Etsy Heart Fingerless Gloves [Pattern] - $4, approx £2.50

Why not make the most of the cold days and nights inside and craft yourself some gorgeously cosy fingerless gloves? No-one can have enough of them, in my opinion - they keep your hands fabulously cosy whilst being able to write/pick things up/glue photographs (too much Photography work lately I think!). Clothes and accessories you make yourself make them 10x more fun to wear, so make yourself something beautiful to keep warm!

Inspired: January Edition

2010-01-05T13:43:00.004Z

image from here.

1. Motivate yourself to keep your resolutions. Buy some heart-shaped sticky notes and write your resolutions on them in purple/pink/sparkly ink. Stick them around your room or workspace so you won't forget to keep them.

2. Buy yourself the best planner you can afford. Keep yourself organised in 2010! If you favour the January to December planner, don't be afraid to pay a little extra for one with a luxurious cover, page dividers, extra compartments or any other features you find particularly useful - you'll be much more likely to make good use of it. Personally I prefer the academic year planner as I always have so much schoolwork going on, so stick with what you know you'll get the most effective use out of.

3. Invest in some super-cosy thermal socks and underwear. Seriously - it's cold out there! Especially if you have horrible circulation like me: I was genuinely considering wearing my duvet to school yesterday. Topshop do a thermal vest here which doesn't actually look too much like something your grandma would wear. Also, thermal leggings, anyone?

4. Declutter your workspace. A top priority if one of your resolutions was to be more organised this year. I can't recommend a thorough declutter enough - it helps to both cut down on stress and clear your head. Make sure all your essentials are easy to access and store and that your surfaces are clean and dust-free - you'd be amazed at how much a clear workspace boosts productivity.

5. Ensure any work and payments from '09 are seen to. Don't get caught out by any leftover projects or payments you're still behind on from last year. Schedule some time (at least an hour) to get your work finished and that you've paid back any friends you've borrowed money from, or unpaid bills and fees you're probably going to forget about.

6. Discover the next big band of 2010. I often mention this, I know - but discovering a new favourite band, performer or artist who I adore always excites me. Take an evening this month to see a band playing at your local venue, especially if you're feeling a little stressed or down about the wintery season. January tours like the K! Tour showcase some of the hottest new bands from last year who are guaranteed to be huge in 2010, so why not check them out?

7. Write thank-you cards for all your Christmas presents. Your parents probably nagged you about them when you were younger, but even if you hated a certain gift, it's pretty impolite to not at least say thank you for it! Sure, your Auntie Carol from Inverness probably didn't know you're not keen on authentic sheepskin gilets with matching gloves, but she tried her hardest (and you can always sell/exchange gifts you're not happy with!). I know most people who read this are very lovely and polite already and probably don't need reminding, but thank you cards are such a joy to receive. This design from Paperchase is shiny and awesome.

8. Clear up any leftover Christmas debris - it's bad luck otherwise! Today is the last day you're 'allowed' to have your Christmas decorations up before the rumoured bad luck! It's one of the saddest times of year when it's time to get rid of the tree and gorgeous lights, but having leftover gifts and pine needles hanging around the living room will just make you feel low. If you're still high on festive love, why not get some pretty fairy lights to decorate your home with?

9. Take advantage of New Year sales and special offers. You've probably already seen my haul from the Boxing Day sales, but many special offers and discounts still continue well into January, especially further discounts on holiday items. If you're going shopping this weekend, see what you can find!

10. Start looking at key pieces for your Spring wardrobe if you haven't already. It's a little early to get the Spring pieces out already, considering most of the country is still under several feet of snow, but many stores are already stocking their Spring collections. Sequins, florals and polkadots look set to continue into our 2010 wardrobes with pale, summery shades and a touch of uber-feminine glamour.

What's your favourite thing about this month?

What I Wore - 04/01/10 [1st Day Of School]

2010-01-04T17:35:00.003Z

POF: Basic, warm-as-possible outfit for attempting to shield self from Arctic conditions with lovely new jacket + disorganised layers
Jacket: Topshop!
Tees/Tops: FSAS, Primark
Jeans: Topshop
Lovely socks: H&M

I'm after some snowboots (not Uggs, of course!) and more thermal layers for the next couple of months as I was still completely frozen today, even with a scarf and gloves..where are you, summer?!

Style Resolutions 2010

2010-01-01T16:19:00.002Z

New year, new decade, new start..everyone's talking about making new year resolutions, but what are your style resolutions to adhere to over the next 12 months? After all, like fashion on the runway, our style constantly reinvents itself and evolves throughout our life, being reincarnated in more wonderful, awe-inspiring and fabulous forms over time. Do you dress differently from how you did last year? How about the last two, three, five years? This is another great reason why New Year is the perfect time to reflect on our lives simultaneously and where we want ourselves to be next time the 01/01 bomb rolls around again.

My Style Resolutions

1. Colour abundance! Lately I've noticed that everything I've bought recently has been plain and either black or grey. I'm glad to finally have that versatility in my wardrobe, but a small amount of colour is never a bad thing! It's hard to pick appropriate colours to go with my hair colour (currently orange with small amounts of blonde and brown), but I'm going to go for beautiful and exciting colour regardless.

2. Girlify to the extreme. When I was younger, I was dressed in ugly pinafores and stiff long skirts as well as horrendous summer school dresses which I absolutely despised; no wonder I resolved to wear nothing but jeans for about 12 years whenever I wasn't in school. It's enough reason to make anyone hate skirts and dresses! However recently, I adore both and have started buying more skirts and dresses than ever. It's often difficult to find pieces like these which suit one's shape perfectly, though it's definitely something which needs to happen this year! I want gorgeous, girly dresses and fabulously voluminous skirts which look completely stunning.

3. Experiment without fear. Trying on different styles is a huge part of constructing a new look - even if you think something will look horrible on you, try it anyway: you may just find your favourite new piece of clothing. I'm still getting used to taking chances with new styles, but once you do it, you'll never regret it! I've found some lovely things in the past year that I've taken the risk to try despite not liking it on the hanger, and I shall continue this to find even more beautiful pieces.

What are your style resolutions for the New Year?

Boxing Day Bargains, Oh How I Love Thee...

2009-12-30T17:55:00.003Z

It's true, sales have been starting so much earlier now than ever! You've all heard the crazy stories of the chaos resulting from this year's post-Christmas reductions...

- Panel falls on Selfridges shoppers in Manchester

- Riots in Gucci..what?!

- And even more craziness!

Luckily Bristol wasn't quite this bad, though there was still a fair amount of shoving and crazy queues!

Here is my comparitively small Topshop haul:

Grey jersey blazer, reduced from £45 to £25, a great plain alternative to my other blazers which are all patterned

Black wool biker jacket, reduced from £65 to £30. I was rather distraught when these had all sold out on the website, though they had plenty in the store.

Topshop is definitely the place to go for sale bargains, as most of their items are a bit too expensive at full price and the discounts are always generous. Plus they seem to reduce all their winter and party season stock, not just the stuff that isn't selling.

Post your sale bargains!

Almighty Trends of the '00s

2009-12-20T21:26:00.005Z

What are your favourite and least favourite trends of the last decade?

I found the slideshow 'The Short-Lived Trends of the Decade' at NYmag.com via Gala Darling's blog - definitely worth a look for the pure nostalgia factor.

It made me consider all the weird, wonderful and completely questionable trends cropping up in the last decade. Will the 00s, or 'noughties' as this decade is becoming more commonly known, be iconic for fashion in years to come, or will we merely be regarded as 'the decade of crappy recycled trends'? Every decade in the 20th century has its own distinctive trends - what will ours be? Skinny jeans? Waist cinchers? Ugg boots? Or merely a demented mishmash of just about every ironic trend and pretty thing before us?

Here are my favourite from NY Magazine's great slideshow (all images from here) and ways on how these looks were/can be worn:

1. Saggy, Baggy Jeans: '01-'07
A relic of all our troubled childhoods in regard to style, hopefully the sinful saggies won't rear their ugly faces for a while yet to come.
Worn with: Blink 182/Sum 41/New Found Glory t-shirt and/or an extremely loose hoodie, guys and girls alike. These could be paired with chokers, studded cuffs, skate shoes and greasy, unkempt hair. Oh early noughties, how we won't miss you.

2. Uggs, Teen Truckers & Gymwear everywhere but the gym: '03-'06
The stranglehold that teen celebrities and MTV stars had over fashion in the early to mid-00s was really quite worrying. Can anything good, looks-wise, be said about any of these looks? Looking on the bright side, hopefully we won't see them again anytime soon.
Maybe it's just the troubled style situation in the depths of South-West England lately, but Uggs are still very much around every season, fake and genuine alike. Logically, shouldn't these have vanished by now? I've yet to see them being worn well.
Worn with: Von Dutch vests, heavily logo'd apparel, badly bleached hair and a gym bag casually slung over the shoulder, even if you've never set foot in a gym in your life.

3. The Almighty Skinny-Fit Jean: '07-?
I don't see skinny jeans going down in the trend stakes anytime soon. Best flattering the taller and slim-legged, they're sure to be around for a while to come - I just don't see us readjusting to flares and saggies anytime soon! This classic style has been produced in many washes, shades and hues - what's your favourite pair?
Worn with: Tees, minidresses, coats, jackets, boots, flats, rocker looks, girly looks..just about anything you can pull out of your wardrobe.

4. Neon Revival: '08-?
Neon just wasn't meant to be, in my opinion: it was too much, too soon. Neon was actually only cool for about a week or two, but places like Blue Banana are still selling entire outfits in eye-burning neons. These days I only see it worn by middle-school punks (yes, our school district enjoys americanising everything..we even have yellow buses!) and for ironic '80s parties.
Worn with: Other shades of neon in highlighter yellow, pink, green and orange. Tutus, tees, tights and shoes must co-ordinate or else clashing may ensue. At least you won't get run over, right?

5. Ripped Skinnies & General Pantslessness: '09-?
Ripped skinnies, in my opinion, can look great when done right: cut horizontally with a sharp razor and worn with a more classier, grown-up ensemble rather than the aforementioned middle-school punk look.
Pantslessness, on the other hand, I have few words for. Just: don't. At least it gets us many laughs at the unfortunate chocha-related mishaps in Winona's hilarious blog.
Worn with: Ripped skinny jeans: blazers, smart tops, studded heels and gunmetal-coloured items of beauty. Pantslessness: please don't try this at home, you have been warned.

6. Tough-Girl Chic: '09-?
Still going strong, this super-shiny, smart yet sexy look is still prominent on the rails of the top trend-loving stores such as Topshop, River Island and Dorothy Perkins and looks set to continue its reign over fashion for a while yet. One of my definite favourites!
Worn with: Girly pieces: playing with contrast between the two different looks is always fun.

There are so many more trends and disasters worthy of commentary - don't forget to let me know your favourites!

Dear Readers: Don't worry about lack of updates over the next couple of weeks - Christmas is sure to keep me busy! I'll be back blogging again in the New Year, but if you want to contact me or send me lovely messages I'll still be checking my email at racotterell@hotmail.com over the holidays. Have a delightful Christmas and New Year, beautiful people! ♥

In search of the perfect coat...

2009-12-14T20:21:00.003Z

Anyone residing in the fair British Isles as of late will be fully aware of the icy Arctic blast currently sweeping across the country..and it's absolutely freezing!

Some of us pile on half our wardrobe to keep warm, but the slightly more stylish way of keeping warm in the chillier weather is to invest in a truly gorgeous, classic coat. And if you haven't already, now is surely the best time to get one.

After getting out my beautiful coats I wore just about every day last winter, I was shocked to find that they are now much too big for me; I don't know if I've lost weight, or if I've simply got used to wearing clothes that fit me better. Whatever it is, I'm feeling a bit stuck and a mere jumper or two doesn't seem to be enough to fill them out.

After searching the internet far and wide, I've come up with five favourites which I really wouldn't mind having.

1.
Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Jacket - £481
I've been lusting over this style for what seems like forever - the colours and shape are gorgeous. Also similar to Becky Bloomwood's amazing coat in the 'Confessions Of A Shopaholic' film..who wouldn't want to channel Becky's super-cute style?

2.
Topshop Short Double Breasted Coat - £60
Simple yet classic and would go with just about everything, even jeans. I prefer the grey rather than the black as it looks more sophisticated. Despite being from Topshop, its neutral colour and simple cut mean you can stop worrying about wearing the same coat as five other people in your class. Sure, it'll be everywhere soon enough, but it can be mixed up so easily it's hard to go wrong.

3.
Patrizia Pepe Black Pea Coat - £328
Another classic style, this one is unashamedly grown-up but can easily be dressed down with jeans and a pretty scarf. Suits just about every age, so no need to worry about 'growing out' of your style with this key piece.

4.
Alexander McQueen Houndstooth Folded Jacket - ~£1500
Who doesn't love a bit of McQueen, really? This probably wouldn't do much for keeping me warm, but the extravagant cut is so wonderfully unusual that I really wouldn't mind it.

5.
Full Circle Wrap Over Blanket Coat - £180
Belted coats seem to be irresistable - ultra-feminine and sexy when hardly baring any flesh at all whilst being smart enough for work and school. Such a beautiful hemline too..I want this!

What's your must-have coat this winter?

TFT #9

2009-12-10T21:38:00.002Z

Topshop Knot Stitch Palmwarmers - £8

I want some of these for Christmas! They look wonderfully warm - these days I'm always shivering in the icy winter winds with nasty dry skin and cracked knuckles from the cold - not a good look for sure. These look perfect for keeping my poor hands warm! Plus the grey means they'll go with almost anything.

New All Saints Buys!

2009-12-03T18:20:00.003Z

I haven't been feeling too great the last week or so, though I'll be back posting regularly very soon!

Last week I received two gorgeous items from All Saints purchased during their 20% off days..what's better than a discount on your current favourite website?

All Saints Pious L/S Top
Although now sold out on the website, this top is perfect for layering and the material is luxuriously fine - much more touchable than other plain layering tees! The only problem is the sizing: I bought a size 14 after just about being able to fit into a size 14 dress of theirs; unfortunately the top fits more like an 18 as it just drowns me! It doesn't seem to have shrunk after being washed, but I think I can just about pull it off with a jacket over the top to hide the bagginess. If all else fails, I could always wear it as a minidress!

All Saints Ditzy Ezra Skirt
In love with this skirt! The price is a bit over-the-top, though it doesn't detract too much from its beauty. The print is slightly bolder than in the photos, being a brownish-beige and vermilion red. The shape is particularly unusual even when compared to their other hitch hem skirts, as it is shortest at the sides and longest at the front, as well as ultra-pretty worn at the waist. I have a size 8 in another of their skirts, though I (thankfully) chose a 10 in this one just to be on the safe side.

Although the sizing seems to be a bit sporadical between pieces, the finer materials and cuts are of almost designer quality, especially evident when compared with other high street offerings. The styles are wonderfully unique yet blend in with just about any style..so perfect! I can't wait to get more.

What I Wore Today: 25/11/09

2009-11-25T18:28:00.004Z

photography by my lovely photog buddy Rachel!

Jacket: Miss Selfridge
Dress: Miss Selfridge
Tee: Old I Am Ghost tour tee cut up
Tights: Primark
Boots: Fryes
POF: Adoring Miss Selfridge's new stuff and trying to avoid the gloom from this horrible weather!

I've noticed that many people are completely against calf-length boots with skirts/dresses: personally I think it depends on the boot as well as height of the wearer. Love my Fryes though. ♥

10 Fabulous Gifts for Stylish People

2009-11-24T14:44:00.003Z

I cannot believe it's nearly Christmas again. Are you ready for it this year, or will you be rushing around madly the night before making gifts out of cereal boxes and parcel tape? Probably not the best idea.

One of the best things about Christmas is the increase in the number of gorgeous, cute gifts available online, therefore I have compiled a list of 10 super-fabulous gifts for anyone else who loves to give pretty things as much as I do.

1.

B 'Ding Dong!' Gift Set - £49.50

B products are some of the most sumptuously glittery, luxurious treats around, so why not treat someone who's been extra-nice to you this year? This is like a mini treasure trove for makeup lovers. In addition, they're closing down soon (sadness!) so stockpiling your favourite B products is a must before their gold sparkly doors are closed.

2.

Decoupage Bangles - DIY them yourself!

A great way to create a more personal yet fun accessory. Decoupage a plain bangle with magazine cutouts, wrapping paper or even newspaper looks good - such a wonderfully versatile gift!

3.

FredFlare Sprinkle Heart Ring - $11/~£7

Possibly the cutest, most mouth-watering ring in existence. Usually I try to avoid giving people jewellery as a gift as it's much more of a personal item, but this is much too cute for anyone to pass up.

4.

Lomography Fisheye Print Ryan Camera - £45

Being a photography student I get to spend hours playing around with interesting and fun lenses/cameras and the fisheye ones have got to be my favourite: everything looks cooler in fisheye form. A fabulous grown-up toy in pretty, limited edition casing.

5.

Matt & Nat Hendrix Vegan Handbag - £90

Shamelessly rock & roll, one of the vegan-loving Matt & Nat's newest handbags is a perfectly versatile accessory for both day and evening use. This particular bag is made from 4 recycled bottles - can you believe it? I can attest to their durability and general lusciousness as I own the extremely useful Camden bag in magenta. Did I mention it's also available in pink?

6.

Next Union Jack Clutch Bag - £25
Next is a rather unexpected choice when it comes to pretty things, but I'm sure you'll agree with me on this one. A perfect evening clutch, covering two of the best trends in recent months - sequins and the Union Jack. Super-versatile as the greys mean it will go with just about anything.

7.

Parisian Toiletry Bag - £13.50

Probably the prettiest method of storing your makeup and beauty products that there is out there. Great for travelling as well as looking beautiful on your bathroom countertop, this beats toting your cosmetics around in freezer bags.

8.

2010 Calendar - £12

From the same place as the above item, the irresistable Lapin and Me, this is one of the most adorable little desk calendars I've seen. Forget boring office-issued editions, this super-sweet 3D desk piece will be sure to brighten up your workspace all year round.

9.

Topshop Multi Space Dye Palmwarmers - £8

These look absolutely PERFECT for cold times at the bus stop and walking/shivering around town. I'm in love with the bright colours and unusual shape next to the masses of gloves out there - these look like a must-have essential for anyone this winter.

10.

Warwick Avenue Crystal Nail Polish - £15

Anyone who tells you that things don't look 100x better covered in sparkly crystals is lying. A perfect way to add extra glamour to your makeup bag and look like a celebrity whilst painting your nails. Why isn't everything encrusted with sparkles?

What's your favourite item from this list? What are you asking for this year?

TFT #8

2009-11-19T21:34:00.002Z

FredFlare Bookworm Bookmarks - $7 (~£4)

Everything at FredFlare.com makes me literally wow with excitement. If you are an avid reader like myself, you'll probably have half a dozen different bookmarks consisting of till receipts, paperclips, schoolwork, etc. These cute phrase bookmarks are wonderfully unique, stylish and modern as well as marking your page without causing any damage to your book or other miscellanous property you may happen to stash between the pages in frantic moments.

Playsuit Love <3

2009-11-17T22:27:00.003Z

I bought this gorgeous Topshop playsuit a while ago, but had no idea how to make it suitable for casual wear, or whether it would suit me. But I kind of had to have it.

This:

How I wore it:

[excuse the just-got-out-of-bed hair]
I wore an old Bring Me The Horizon tee with the neckline cut out over the top and with the old black semi-opaque tights underneath so I could wear it for school. Plus it looks like a skirt, so no getting in trouble for wearing 'bad' shorts, haha.

How do you/would you wear playsuits?

Miss Selfridge Buys

2009-11-15T20:12:00.002Z

Lately I have been addicted to some of the rather fabulous Miss Selfridge pieces - their general appeal really has stepped up in the last couple of seasons thanks to some rather lovely irresistable pieces.

Yesterday I bought this:

I managed to run into an old primary school friend of mine who was working in the fitting rooms due to getting a rather fun job; turns out we're both applying for the same uni courses! Scary but rad, no? Anyway, I spied this beauty and had to try it on despite having aversions to the following aspects: jersey bodycon-style fits (not great for jelly bellies in denial like me!), low neckline, very short hemline and low back.
Turns out it's not a bodycon fit at all despite its appearance on the rack: it has a kind of hidden pleat coming from the waist skimming over the stomach which nicely hides any excess chub and looks good with both darker tights and worn as a long top with shorts underneath. Great for school worn with tights and boots, as it's a dress (no shorts allowed!). The neckline doesn't come up quite so low when worn; however the back is lower..I can easily hide this with a blazer or jacket. Additionally, I got away with buying a size 12 to fit better to my waist rather than a 14..how's that for a self-esteem boost?!

This week I got what I thought was a beret from the Miss Selfridge website using my free shipping code..how wrong I was! It's one of those long droopy hats that looks great on some people, but makes me look like an estranged member of the Seven Dwarfs..shame really, as the soft knit texture is wonderful. Needless to say, I'm returning it as it is absolutely huuge.
I also picked up a copy of Teen Vogue which I'd spotted in WHSmith, since it gave me an instant happy flashback to days of holidaying in the US with a copy of the magazine in my backpack. Good times indeed! Is 18 too old for teen magazines?

Since I hadn't bought anything for a while previously, I was delighted to finally be able to spend some of my long-saved cash on awesome stuff.

TFT #7

2009-11-12T21:47:00.002Z

Crime Scene Scarf - £9.99

This edition probably would have been more appropriate for the week of Halloween in case anyone wished to dress up as a crime scene, though how awesome would it be to have one for everyday wear?

Inspired: November Edition

2009-11-09T16:52:00.003Z

gorgeous photo from here.

Welcome to the second edition of Inspired, fuelling you with ideas and motivation for an unusually chilly November.

1. Organise your winter wardrobe. It's about time you sorted out all your scarves, hats, coats and other winter paraphernalia. Take down those boxes, rearrange those draws and sort through those hooks - does it still fit in with your current style? Is it clean? Does it still fit well? If not, take the appropriate action and get sorting!

2. Treat yourself. October and November are when some of us, especially those with SAD, feel our lowest. Make yourself some hot chocolate, buy yourself a brand new umbrella, make plans to see a local band (why are all the best gigs in the middle of winter again?). Darker nights and colder weather shouldn't be able to bring you down, so why let it?

3. Choose a brand new winter coat. Although we probably have at least one coat that's lasted for the last few winters impeccably, it's always fun to experiment with new trends, or pick out a new piece that's completely different from our others, but which we love just the same. I tend to end up buying a few new coats every season - doesn't it make sense, particularly as you'll be wearing it nearly every day this winter? Click here for inspiration!

4. Start choosing Christmas presents now! The high street is already bustling with eager Christmas shoppers: beat the December rush and grab the most coveted gifts for family and friends before someone else does. If you're completely stuck for ideas, Amazon or Lush are good places to start! Don't be left in a panic on Christmas Eve and just go for it - you have just over 6 weeks left!

5. Pick charity Christmas cards to send to friends and family. Be extra-generous this year and buy Christmas cards which donate a percentage of the profits to your favourite charity. I already have these adorable cards which donate 10% of the proceeds to the Pets at Home charity to help abandoned pets. These cards from Topshop are also super-cute!

6. Discover your new favourite band. As previously mentioned, October and November offer the best gigs - why not take advantage of that and go listen to some new music? Google your nearest venues and check out who's playing over the next few weeks.

7. Write someone you love a letter and post it to them. None of this e-greeting stuff for me please! Less and less people are sending real, pen-to-paper letters to their loved ones, which is a great shame. My friend Sarah and I send each other letters about general stuff and about what's happening in our lives; even though we only live 40 minutes apart it's still fun! Better yet, check your calendar for near birthdays and make someone's day by sending them a birthday card in the post.

8. Take your camera with you everywhere you go. Mobile phone cameras don't count, by the way! My Photography teachers were really onto something when they came up with this rule - there are so many of those moments where you wish you'd captured some missed inspiration or something amusing. Autumn and winter photos are the most visually compelling, so call your best friends up and stage your own outdoor photoshoot, or capture all the little things that mean something to you in your everyday environment.

What's inspiring you this month?

Buy my stuff please :)

2009-11-07T13:11:00.002Z

Apologies for the lack of TFT and Inspired posts lately - it is true that blogging is the first thing to suffer when the real world gets busy.

I wanted to let you know that I am listing some gorgeous clothes on Ebay over the next few weeks: these are nearly all my own items, which I only put online every 6 months or so. All are in great, wearable condition and only being sold because they either don't fit me or don't suit me.

Click here for sales!

I will be listing more over the next couple weeks, so if you don't see anything you like just yet, there'll be more up very shortly.

Thanks for reading! ♥

I Heart All Saints Knitwear..

2009-11-01T15:25:00.003Z

If there's one item I cannot have enough of, it's the beautiful All Saints cardigans. Beautifully gothic-styled, yet completely un-tacky, classic and absolutely gorgeous.

I Heart All Saints Knitwear by Superbeckyy featuring All Saints

Style: Grown-up goth queen meets estranged girly florals and glitter.

Miss Selfridge Christmas '09 Collection

2009-10-30T20:43:00.003Z

See the entire collection here!

Miss Selfridge have evidently stepped it up for the holidays, judging from their (literally) dazzling brand-new Christmas '09 collection. Expect glitter, studs, sparkle, sequins, leather, super-bodyhugging fits, overuse of the word 'gunmetal' and plenty of unashamedly glamourous pieces!

One could argue that the more sparkly pieces are ripped off from the worst fashions of the 1980s, reminiscent of too much hairspray and certainly way too much spandex. Though if you can't dress up in outrageously sparkly pieces at Christmas, when can you?

Personally I'm lusting after the glamrock-style studs, leather and metallics as well as the over-the-top, excessively sparkly dresses that are unlikely to be seen at any other time of the year (I'm in love..).

Any idea what you're wearing for those Christmas parties yet?

TFT #6

2009-10-29T21:54:00.002Z

'I Love London' Tote Bag - £6

Lately has consisted of going to university open days, reading university websites and fine-tuning every tiny detail of my UCAS application. Although this seems highly irrelevant to this week's TFT pick, it's not - London is the city that my top three choices are situated in and very close to. London has been my favourite city ever since the first time I went there - it's like a fairytale you can visit on the train - so it's only appropriate that I spend the next few years of my life living there. Plus the smiley cloud and clock tower design is irresistable.

I'm definitely getting one of these wonderfully appropriate totes next time I'm at Lazy Oaf.

10 Ways To Keep Your Hair Gorgeous, Soft & Full of Life.

2009-10-26T17:59:00.006Z

photo from here.

I have been asked numerous times about how I keep my hair alive and well despite all the stress I put it through: it's bleached, straightened and spiked pretty frequently, meaning I have to keep it in amazing condition for it to withstand this torture it's subjected to so often!

Considering the ominous winter season creeping up on us, this is one time you should definitely prioritise the health of your hair for it to withstand the impending snow, rain and wind. Whether you're growing it out or just prefer it to look fabulous, it is essential to create your own hair health routine and adhere to it meticulously.

1. Take your vitamins! Having the right vitamins in your diet is essential to keep you looking and feeling in top condition. Find a decent multivitamin that works for you and stick to it! My favourite is Centrum which is one of the widest available brands. Another great supplement which promotes hair growth is Biotin, though always consult your doctor before taking any new medications.

2. Eat healthily. Pretty obvious and follows on from the last, but what you put in your body makes a huge difference to health of hair and skin as well as how you feel. Foods such as fish, eggs, meat and oats, amongst others, are vital for hair growth as they contain the proteins which our hair and nails are composed of.

3. Sleep for at least 8 hours every night. A good night's sleep consists of between 8 and 10 hours, its health benefits often underestimated. If you skip a few hours of sleep every night, it will gradually begin to show. Find a good book and go to sleep early tonight, allowing you to look and feel full of energy for the coming day.

4. Leave an extra day or two between washes. Although they feel and smell rather strange, the natural oils our scalp produces are imperative to hair health and growth. Washing your hair every day or even every other day also washes away these oils that keep our hair healthy, so adjust your hair washing routine by a couple of days and use talc or dry shampoo to banish the greasy look between washes. I used to wash my hair every other day but now only do so twice a week, leaving my own hair feeling much healthier from it. If you get the opportunity, leaving hair 4 days or longer without washing will greatly improve its natural condition - the perfect excuse for a lazy weekend.

5. Find a deep conditioner that works for you. Hair inevitably dries out due to damage from sun, dyes and harsh winds. Finding a deep conditioner that suits your hair type plays a key role in having vivacious, lovely hair, one that gives your hair a thorough conditioning without feeling excessively waxy or greasy. My favourite is Aussie's '3 Minute Miracle' for Coloured Hair.

6. Lay off the heated styling tools. Although GHDs have become similar to a holy grail in recent years (and being promoted accordingly), what they don't tell you is that straightener overuse wrecks your hair! Split, dried and brittle ends are telltale signs of suffering from the overuse of heated appliances (this includes blow dryers, which are actually worse due to air+heat). Ideally give up the straighteners for good, or otherwise straighten much less frequently. I use mine once every 3-4 days rather than daily and whilst, not ideal, it's significantly reduced the amount of heat damage to my hair. If you're a GHD aficionado like myself, get a heat protection spray such as VO5 Miracle Mist. Although no product completely shields hair from heat, it's an absolute necessity if you can't do without the heated tools.

7. Protect yourself from the sun. You use high-factor suncream and SPF moisturiser to protect your skin, so why not protect your hair? Find a light comb-through anti-UV ray spray or simply wear your hair under a hat or bandana to protect both condition and colour. Hours of salty sea water and sunshine in the summer really do take a toll on your hair if you ignore it.

8. Schedule regular trims. Book an appointment with your hairdresser every 6-8 weeks to eliminate any split ends that may have appeared. The longer left, the worse they'll get. Regular trims keep your hair looking and feeling gorgeously healthy as the end damage is cut off, just make sure you keep it that way!

9. Avoid chemical damage as much as possible. This includes pool chlorine, bleach and any other chemical-rich hair dyes. If you must dye your hair, either use a natural dye or find a professional to do it for you. One messed-up home hair dye session means years worth of growth ruined simultaneously, so be careful what you put in there!

10. Style with care. Any tight buns, ponytails or barettes which pull on your hair are an absolute sin when it comes to healthy hair. Use a gentle, natural brush and a soft scrunchie rather than tight rubber bands when styling if you absolutely must wear your hair up. When using products, remember the golden rule of 'less is more'. More product means more buildup, so a light wax and spray are the very most that should be applied daily. Broken hairs are bad news, and rough styling will rapidly put unnecessary stress on your hair.

If you're growing your hair out, these tips should be regarded as even more important: unhealthy hair will simply break away when grown longer. Do your hair a favour and keep it beautiful!

TFT #5!

2009-10-23T16:57:00.003+01:00

Excuse the fact that this post is on Friday instead of a Thursday - my internet connection has been abysmal lately. Crossing my fingers and hope it works this time, as I found this beauty last night.

Accessorize Organza Vintage Pretty Flower Clip - £7

Lately Accessorize has been selling beautiful hairclips and fascinators - think diamantes, feathers, polkadots and divine shades of aqua and magenta..delightfully showgirlish!

This gorgeous, lifelike flower hair clip is perfect as a key piece with everyday wear - simply clip in for floral goodness which will brighten up a basic outfit. The flower does look unusually realistic, so beware of any demented bees it may attract.

What I Wore Today: 17/10/09

2009-10-17T21:00:00.004+01:00

Uni open days are so much fun. Additionally, I have the task of taking 100 photos this weekend for Photography homework and have so far taken 38..phew! Taking photos in public seems to attract the strangest & most concerned glances.

Jacket: H&M (new! forgot to take the tag off the 1st time I wore it the other day, oops!)
Scarf: Camden
Tee: You Me At Six gig
Belt: Harajuku Lovers @ Pac Sun
Shorts: Topshop
Tights: Oldoldold
Boots: Fryes

A question for my beautiful readers: how is autumn affecting the way you dress?
I'm feeling wonderfully inspired for my Photography project with all the amazing colours and textures around at the moment.

I took these photos today (ironically in one of the scariest, roughest towns in the South!) - they make me ridiculously delighted that autumn weather is here!

Are there any outfit posts in this blog where I don't wear these boots? I seemed to wear them all summer and they fit this season perfectly too.

You wouldn't have guessed that this stunning park harbours countless murderers, drunks and violent homeless people, did you?

Thursday Fashion Therapy #4!

2009-10-15T21:50:00.004+01:00

Thursday has rolled around again, along with drama, crazy giggling and the anticipation of wonderful things to come! Think of all the great events coming up over the next couple of months: Christmas, holidays, wintery weather, parties..there's such an enormous selection of events to look forward to in the near future! Due to the aforementioned drama and stress over the last few days, TFT is more than necessary.

Dorothy Perkins Silver Textured Bangle Set - £10

Noisy jewelry has become something of a trademark of mine lately - I'm nearly always wearing my DP biker bangle set (sans one jewel) and my Urban Outfitters wings necklace. Being your own walking percussion is a fantastic way to put a smile on your face and accessorize an otherwise plain outfit. Why not check out all the amusing rhythms you can jingle along to? These are wonderfully shiny with a great mix of textures, so mix them up to create a different look with your accessories every day.

What I Wore Today: 13/10/09

2009-10-13T18:13:00.002+01:00

Despite the sunshine outside, I didn't want to wait another day to start wearing my favourite coats again! Unfortunately one of the buttons came off soon after I got to school which I shall reattach shortly.

Coat: Kimchi & Blue
Skirt: Topshop circa 2003
Tights: Oldd (I got banned from wearing these at my last school! Apparently they were too exciting)
Boots: Fryes

Lately my outfit posts appear as if I'm not wearing makeup..leaving off eyeliner and eyeshadow makes a surprising difference! I recently had a minor eye infection so have decided to play it safe recently.

I am also having a minor wardrobe crisis - many of my clothes I just don't wear anymore! My style has changed a lot over the last few years and many trends at the moment just don't appeal to me, so shopping lately has been rather fruitless. Therefore I'm merely rotating a small collection of outfits which is completely depressing for someone who loves mixing up clothing as much as I do! Anything similar going on with anyone else?

Lockerz, anyone?

2009-10-13T10:01:00.003+01:00

I'm sure a few people have heard of it before or have joined already, but this site slightly mystifies me. Free handbags for collecting points from answering questions and playing games? Possibly too good to be true, but it's worth a try, right?

The lovely Nikki from oh, fabulous sent an invite my way, so I had to check it out in person.

It seems Lockerz is being advertised as being 'the next big thing', building up a solid foundation of members with the temptation of gorgeous free stuff from points attained through daily activity before releasing secret new content. And free stuff is awesome, so I'm not complaining.

The bag, please!

Let me know by commenting with your email address if you'd like an invite - I have lots and would love to share them if anyone's interested.

Thursday Fashion Therapy: Edition #3!

2009-10-08T18:49:00.003+01:00

This week: the succulently sweet B Sugarlips Scrub!

B Sweet Lips Sugar Scrub - £4.40
B Mint Julips Sugar Scrub - £4.40
Also comes in bubblegum!

Lip scrub is undoubtedly one of those products you think you'll never need, but when you find yourself using it every other day it's difficult to remember how you ever lived without it. Being lucky enough to live near one of the delightfully glamourous and glittery B stores, I tend to wander in there when bored of the neighboring discount superstores and sniff/sample as many of the iridescent, colourful products as I possibly can. Although there's a time and a place for high-glitter creme eyeshadow and decadent shimmery body butter, their coveted lip scrub is my definite, must-have B essential.

The scrub is very easy and quick to use: simply massage a small amount onto clean lips before rinsing off with water, leaving formerly beat-up lips pillowy soft as well as a lingering chocolatey aftertaste (or minty if you're using the mint version!). If there's one coveted accessory this winter, especially after having your skin horribly ravaged by icy winds, it's gorgeous lips: get your own, all for a surprisingly minimal price. Try some for yourself!

Inspired: October Edition

2009-10-04T17:34:00.002+01:00

image from here.

Excuse my sudden absence from the internet - the last few days have called for impromptu celebration (passed my driving test!!) meaning I've had to go out to dinner, visit various people and see Flood Of Red - amazing band..go MySpace them! - as festivities to commemorate the occasion. TFT posts will resume next Thursday with an especially delicious new item for you to feast your eyes upon.

I wanted to introduce another new segment to my blog - welcome to the October edition of Inspired, featuring month-appropriate suggestions to stimulate your creative juices, pulverise boredom or blocks and invite some fresh insiration into your daily life. This blog will still be very much fashion-focused but with some scintillating new extra features by my very own self. Sounds good? Read on!

1. Start planning your Halloween costume! The 31st is soon approaching, which calls for some fabulously creative costumes for the event, whether you'll be trick-or-treating or partying. Check out 9 Awesome Last Minute Halloween Costumes You Can Make From Junk for some cool ideas on making some speedy but effective new disguises. On the other hand, if Halloween celebrations are scarce in your area, get together with a friend and watch some of your most beloved horror movies along with a Pick&Mix bag of your favorite sweets.

2. Try a new vegetable. Along with the chillier weather comes the flu, colds and a whole menagerie of nasty germs. As you probably know, eating vegetables and fruit every day will not only make you feel great, they help to keep away all these scary illnesses that we inevitably pick up during the winter months. If you're normally vegetable-shy like me, try the surprisingly tasty Innocent Veg Pots (my favourite is the Butternut Pearl Barley Risotto). If you're a veteran when it comes to healthy eating, why not try some more unusual delicacies such as salsify or the funky-looking romanesco?

3. Apply to university. Deadlines are in January but now's the best time to start your application. A degree is more valuable now than ever in terms of the opportunity it gives you, and with subjects available from Oceanography to Fashion Studies to Computer Science, there's bound to be something that you're into. See UCAS for more info on applying - it brings such a huge life change, but almost always for the better.

4. Invest in some extra-warm knitwear. Chunky knit cardigans, beanies and mittens are essential items for a winter wardrobe - don't get caught out without them! Check out Topshop's new Winter accessories.

5. Plan to have your Christmas in another country. New York, Spain, Greece, Paris or London at Christmas time - undoubtedly one you'll remember if you choose to go away for the holidays. Spending Christmas at home is fun, but going somewhere new and exciting is a fantastic getaway adventure. Start planning now!

6. Compile your own Spotify playlist. Excellent for while you're working, surfing the internet or planning a beautiful outfit for the next day, online playlists can be obtained for free through Spotify. Mix up some electro-pop with a bit of metalcore and punk thrown in and you're good to go!

7. Indulge your immature side and jump in a huge pile of leaves. Possibly the best thing about autumnal weather, besides epic conker wars.

8. Check out some of the gorgeous brand-new festive culinary goodies around. Christmas biscuits, mince pies and stocking fillers already?! There are some fabulous festive goodies stacked on shelves across the globe over the next few months, so hunt around your nearest supermarket or department store for some of the most unique, hilarious or beautiful holiday memorabilia bits & pieces you can find. This is one of my favourite - cute, sweet-smelling and useful!

This edition is a bit short due to other projects I have going on at the moment, but I hope it inspires you to try something new! Plus I'd love to hear any feedback from readers, so drop a comment or message and I'll be sure to write back.

What Do YOU Wear To Parties?!

2009-09-28T18:47:00.006+01:00

In a few weeks I have the unusual privilege of attending a party of a friend of mine - yay! Unusual in that there are rarely ever parties around here due to the severe lack of people, so it's always a big deal when someone organises one. Nothing hugely glamourous or ostentacious of course, just showing a couple of fabulous people some birthday love and generally having a mad, ridiculous time.

So, lovely readers, what do YOU wear to parties? Do you go out and buy something brand new especially for the occasion, or do you put together a stunning ensemble from pieces you already own?

If I had the money, here is a quick idea of what I'd wear:

Party Set #1 by Superbeckyy featuring Alexander McQueen

Combining the usual culprits (skulls, hitch hem skirt, boots) with pretty feathers and sparkle!

Thursday Fashion Therapy Numero Deux!

2009-09-24T20:57:00.003+01:00

Hello all you industrious, hard-working people! Midweek has just rolled around and today I spied this fabulous little number on the Urban Outfitters website. It's true that you rarely hear 'Urban Outfitters' and 'cheap' in the same sentence, but this lovely thing is worth some appreciation, don't you agree?

Urban Outfitters Loop Print Applique Kisslock Purse - £9.99 [Reduced from £22.00]

A coin purse is a definite must-have in everyone's lives. Whether we need money for a Milky Way from the vending machine, a trip to the bathroom at the train station or simply issuing a small loan to a grovelling friend, fishing around in our pockets for spare change is hardly the elegant way to go about such matters, so why go on suffering without one of these beauties? I'm digging the white contrast applique against the delightfully retro floral background. Your hardest decision this week shall be: the pink or the blue?

What I Wore - 21/09/09.

2009-09-24T20:42:00.005+01:00

Attempt #2 of my latest 'What I Wore' post! Blogger has been failing on me and flu has been ravaging my immune system, so excuse the brief absense as it shouldn't be much longer.

I finally had my hairdresser trim and redye my hair, yay!

Cardigan: Miss Selfridge
Scarf: Topshop
Tank: H&M
Belt: Lowlife
Jeans: H&M
Boots: Fryes

Several people have already been quite literally gobsmacked after asking how much it costs to have my hair dyed as well as cut, but lovely-looking hair really is a priceless investment - it will always make you look and feel twenty times better! So what if it costs a small fortune every few months? When you find someone with awesome razor/peroxide talent, why bother switching to a mediocre stylist just to save a few extra pounds? Good hair is an investment, put it that way.

In addition to this, I happened to chance across a couple of must-have buys at Miss Selfridge last weekend, including the aforementioned cardigan.

I also got this beret hat:

Not only does it keep my head warm, it doesn't clash with my skin or hair - major glee points! This is clearly a big deal for me, as I am known for never wearing hats. Except lovely ones like this. It's a grey-pink colour, so it goes with almost anything. My entire stance on the realm of hats and berets has been completely transformed.

Thursday Fashion Therapy: Your New Mid-Week Pick-Me-Up!

2009-09-17T19:17:00.006+01:00

Face it: when the midweek mark rolls around we're already completely and utterly drained, ready for the mammoth lie-in of the week. But wait, there's still more work to get through - how on earth will we manage it?! Friday (as well as Thursday) for many people is a case of dragging themselves out of bed in a semi-conscious, disheveled state with nothing more lingering in the mind other than the weekend ahead. How on earth do we quell these mid-week blues? With a little self-indulgent retail therapy of course!

Personally I find that even the cheapest midweek purchase can cheer me up from any chaos or drama going on at school, as long as it's pretty and exciting as well as possibly being glittery, scented or fluffy. You don't need to rush out and blow your savings on an expensive designer coat or a cashmere jumper every time you feel stressed or down from work overload - anything cheap, lovely and appealing will suffice.

I wanted to make this a regular weekly addition to this blog; each week I post a new item either from a high street store or online costing £10 or less so you needn't feel guilty about treating yourself. This could be a brand new wardrobe addition, an exciting new accessory or an unusual cosmetic product - anything to entice the senses and make your midweek experience that much more enjoyable.

This week's dose of must-have fashion therapy:

Dorothy Perkins Grey Flower Print Cotton Scarf - £10

Scarves are the ultimate accessory for adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to even the simplest of outfits. Though summer seems disappearing away with florals, show your passion for a classic print with this beautiful cream and brown floral print scarf by Dorothy Perkins. Wear with gorgeously girly yet plain dresses in neutral tones, as well as a cardigan and your favourite boots. No one ever said floral prints had to disappear with the real flowers, so why should they?

Tarina Tarantino's 'My Pretty' Collection

2009-09-12T19:51:00.004+01:00

Everyone has that one brand of jewelry or accessories which they absolutely obsess over; the one designer who comes up with the most incredible eye candy season after season. For some it's Louis Vuitton handbags or Alexander McQueen scarves; for me it's Tarina Tarantino's jewellery. I remember staring at the sumptuously glistening Pink Head necklaces at the Sanrio store many years ago, a dazzling rainbow of candy colours locked away in a glass cabinet besides the cashier desk like how parents lock M&Ms and Skittles away from their hyperactive children. I'd be staring at them in the elaborate case and never wanting any other necklace more. They'd go with everything. I'd keep them forever. I wouldn't ever need another piece of jewellery. Eventually my auntie convinced me to go for it, to put down my last $200 dollars and just get the one necklace I wanted most. (Definitely a great philosophy if you adore something but have trouble parting with your money, as I haven't regretted it since.) It's my only piece of Tarina jewellery, but I still stare lustfully whenever a new collection appears, determined to get one or two things from them each time. This time around I'm sure to have much more trouble compromising between my bank balance and my lust for pretty things.

The My Pretty collection is typical of Tarina's usual style, incorporating glamourous vintage chic and a juicy, vibrant rainbow of colours and fairytale glamour whilst still appearing delightfully sparkly, grown-up and glamourous. Definitely to my taste then.

Here are some of my top favourite brand new pieces - how could one choose between them?:

'Over The Rainbow' Triple Row Cuff Bracelet
What would a Tarina Tarantino collection be without her trademark chunky lucite beads? I adore the vibrant emerald, blue and purple hues together as well as the tiny sparkly crystals - just beautiful! If I had this, I don't think I'd want to take it off. True jewellery love. ♥

Emerald City Stretch Bracelet
The gold antique effect beads echo a time long lost, whilst the small emerald lucite cubes are deliciously modern. It overjoys me when I see modern and vintage-look beads creatively matched so seamlessly like those in this bracelet. Too lovely! The colours (gold and emerald) remind me of mermaids, which is never a bad thing.

Emerald City Crystal Heart Key Necklace
One of the central themes of this collection is the Wizard of Oz and the Emerald City. I can imagine this looking fairytale perfect with ruby red shoes and a plaid dress. I'm intrigued by key necklaces, especially ones with such details as these beautiful shimmery crystals.

Lucite Skull Bead Bracelet
Skulls are traditionally characterised as morbid and have only become chic and more widely wearable in recent years. How much more fantastically stylish can skulls be than these with crystals for eyes and in an assortment of colours? I'm loving the emerald (pictured) and hot pink versions.

Filigree Heart Locket Necklace
I think a pattern is beginning to emerge - I'm mildly in love with big chunky hearts. From anyone else this necklace would look slightly over-the-top, but surprisingly faux pearls, crystals and antique effect filigree never looked so good together. This definitely has an anachronistic yet heavenly feel to it due to the comparitively toned-down shades and I know I'd have nothing to wear it with, but it's completely beautiful all the same.

'Bubble Pop' Multibead Charm Bracelet
Normally I can't stand charm bracelets; they're usually cheaply-made, get caught on everything and become somehow stuck in my hair. This one, however, is a complete exception - it resembles the contents of a beautiful underwater treasure chest with Swarovski glass pearls, starfish charms and those unmistakeable lucite beads we keep seeing so much of. It doesn't look too cluttered as many of the charms are very similar and stick to a delectable yet simple colour palette. If I had this I'd probably spend more time staring at it than would be considered healthy.

Share your favourites!

The Ultimate 2009 Back-To-School Wardrobe: Student Fashion Essentials You Won't Want To Go Back To School Without

2009-09-03T23:32:00.003+01:00

[Requested by the infinitely lovely Charlie; if you'd like to request anything let me know!]

photo from here.

The first day of school has always been a complete shock to the system. You fall asleep, excited and jittery for the brand new and exciting day ahead; the next day you wake up bleary-eyed, nauseous and wracked with nerves. You reluctantly button up your brand new too-big regulation check dress and slip on your extra-soft new jumper which leaves a trail of blue felt over everything it touches; both still reek of the cellophane they came in. You slip your toes into dazzlingly white new frilled socks and slip on your new brown hard leather sandals before picking up your new expandable backpack filled with new clean pink stationary ready for another day of another year of school.

Of course, that's how it used to be. As with myself and many of my friends, it's likely that you're in college, 6th form or university and are now trusted with the previously forbidden task of dressing yourself. (And if you're not yet - don't worry about it; hang in there & you should be able to very soon!) Some people like myself love to dress up for the occasion in layered skirts, smart jackets and beautiful shoes, whilst others opt for comfort and simply wear their favourite hoodie and jeans. Neither is better than the other of course; it's just another part of who we are (like sometimes I feel like dressing up for school and other times I just don't).

It has come to my attention that there are a huge number of people starting uni this year and that means one thing - a great excuse to buy new clothes. No, I'm not just being my clothing-obsessed self: it's of utmost importance to have a wardrobe for school full of items that are well-fitting, good value, versatile and that can be worn again and again. The problem with universities and dorm rooms are that it's eather difficult to take lots of bulky items with you, as well as both the lack of space and lack of money coming in. This means you will have to shop smartly to create a completely personal compact wardrobe full of pieces which can be worn over and over for just about any occasion that throws itself at you.

So this is how it works: below are ten different sections, each representing a different type of must-have essential clothing for school. Your task is to pick at least one item from each section (depending on how much you can afford to store/take with you) and...ta-dah! - your new instant back-to-school wardrobe awaits! So let's kick it off...

1. Section One: Hoodies.
Wear this for: Classes, keeping warm in a chilly home, throwing over a basic outfit to dash to the nearest convenience store. Buy one in your favourite colour, but keep it basic for versatility purposes.

American Apparel Unisex Flex Fleece Zip Hoodie - £36: The most expensive, but extremely comfortable and excellent quality with the distinctive white contrast zip. With 20 vibrant as well as neutral colours available, you're sure to fall in love with at least one.
Uniqlo Zip Hoodie - £14.99: A thicker, heavier cotton hoodie but still in a more flattering ladies fit; choose from 10 colours. Great for impromptu strolls & bike rides in the freezing cold weather.
Criminal Damage Unisex Zip Hoodie - £24.99: Similar material to the Uniqlo offering. If you're a fanatic of the white contrast zip and drawstrings, get a similar one here for just over £11 less.

2. Section Two: T-shirts.
Wear this for: Anything. Basic t-shirts are classic, simple and great for layering. Make sure you have at least 7-10 in an assortment of shades, prints and necklines. Basic t-shirts are the ultimate essential, so here are three classic styles from AA, purveyor of super-soft, super-stretchy, quality tees. Don't scrimp on quality with these - make sure they don't bobble, fade or seam twist in the first few washes or you'll be out to buy more before you know it.

American Apparel Baby Rib Short Sleeve V-Neck - £10
American Apparel Baby Rib Basic Short Sleeve T - £10
Baby Rib 1/2 Sleeve U-Neck T - £12

3. Section Three: Casual Jackets.
Wear this for: Parties, going out, classes, dinners - anywhere where you need to keep warm and casual yet still presentable. Make sure this is a fairly basic colour that can be mixed and matched with everything else. Interesting textures are a plus, eg. leather/PU, corduroy, tweed, etc. Make sure it fits well, flatters and can be done up comfortably - too-tight jackets make you look disproportionate as well as being very irritating.

ASOS PU Hooded Jacket [Black] - £45: Real leather is absolutely luscious to wear due to the divine texture, though this is the next best thing if you're either vegetarian or can't quite afford the real thing.
H&M Blazer - EU29.95: Although not available in UK H&Ms just yet, it will more than likely turn up on our high street eventually. A beautiful deep indigo dual blazer/jacket piece which would perfectly accomodate our big cosy scarves in the winter weather.
Diesel Fitted Jacket - £80: If you've got a slightly larger budget, Diesel delivers instant rock-chic cool with this classic fitted jacket.

4. Section Four: Blazers.
Wear this for: Going out, parties, looking presentable and smart occasions you forgot about until the last minute.

Topshop Vampire Print Jersey Blazer - £55: Jersey blazers have had a sudden surge of popularity recently, most likely because they're very wearable, mostly washable and fairly smart-looking without feeling too dressed up. A perfect casual blazer for a smaller frame with extra awesome points for the inside lining print.
ASOS Varsity Sweat Blazer - £40: You won't find a decent blazer for much cheaper than this. I am currently in love with preppy styles clashed with punk rock chic and am completely lusting after this particular blazer. Definitely cooler than the one you had to wear at school previously.
River Island Black 3/4 Sleeve Jacket - £49.99: Smart fitted boyfriend blazer with the wonderfully trendy 3/4 length sleeves. A perfect basic blazer if you don't like them tight, especially for taller folk.

5. Section Five: Coats.
Wear this for: Braving the impending below-zero winter weather, keeping wam & toasty in the coldest of classrooms, frosty mornings, tunnelling your way out of the place when you're snowed in. A fabulous coat is the one thing you must splurge on fantastically, otherwise you'll be kicking yourself come winter time.

Topshop Wool Check Toggle Bomber - £65: Very similar to those I fell in love with on the Delias website in previous years. The furry hood is the ultimate insurance against the cold weather; also you can't go wrong with a good plaid (I swear by it!)
Topshop Check Frock Coat - £95: If your bank balance allows for it and you happen to have fallen head over heels for classic 30s/40s chic, this is the coat you'll be practically living in this winter. Extra-long to exclude pesky winter drafts with a flattering double breasted fastening and a vintage-inspired tailored fit.
BDG Army Fatigue Jacket - £65: Military chic never fails to seduce me. If you're heading off to the hills of Edinburgh or Glamorgan this autumn (you brave thing!), chances are everyone else will be decked out in floor-length Puffas and camping gloves. This army-style coat will keep the frosty wind out whilst still looking completely on-trend as a casual jacket.

6. Section Six: Jeans
Wear this for: Just about everything - keeping in mind that many schools have strict 'no shorts/skirts' rules, you'll be practically living in them. Topshop is my undisputed favourite for high-quality jeans in a plethora of sizes and washes, so pick several in your favourite cuts and colours and wear them day after day.

Topshop Black Straight Martha Jeans - £40
Topshop Crushed Skinny Baxter Jeans - £40
Topshop Black Ella Skinny Flare Jeans - £40

7. Section Seven: Loungewear.
Wear this for: Studying at home, lazy days, sleeping. Do NOT! wear out to the shops or, god forbid, out to someone else's house - just because our favourite Hollywood celebrities do it doesn't mean we have to as well! Wear with a t-shirt and fluffy dressing gown for an extra-warm & super-cute outfit for lazing at home. Comfy PJ pants will be much more economical if you spend a little extra for decent quality, as cheap ones will only split and rapidly wear out.

David and Goliath 'Take A Chill Pill' Lounge Pants - £20
La Senza Roll Over Top Pant Grey - £16
David and Goliath 'I've Got The Scoop' Lounge Pants - £20

8. Section Eight: Book Bags.
Wear this for: Lugging around your weighty overpriced textbooks like a champion weightlifter on a mission. If you're going to be carrying around a big heavy bag for at least several hours a day, at least make sure you love it. Keep away from the plastic carrier bags and be eco-friendy with a delightfully cute tote or patterned backpack.

I Love Topshop Shopper Bag - £6: Show your unfaltering adoration for the holy grail of high street stores with this patriotic printed shopper tote.
Dickies Vertical Stripe Backpack - £17.99: The best choice for your back as the handy backpack distributes weight evenly between shoulders, saving money on costly chiropractic bills. Make sure you get one with an awesome print like this.
Rootote Carousel Tote Bag - £24.55: How cute is this gorgeous loli-inspired tote by Rootote? Their bags are made of weighty, hard-wearing canvas material and with so many genuinely wonderful designs you'll be spoilt for choice.

9. Section Nine: Dresses.
Wear this for: Parties, summer, dances, impromptu girly road trips and any days where dressing up is a must for your well-being.

Saints Of Soul Navy Stripe Dress - £40: Clearly I'm still obsessed with the hitch hems, but for good reasons. The perfect dress for the alternative girl who's sick of all the hot pink bodycon offerings and just wants something that'll gain a well-deserved 'wow' from her fellow moshers.
Modcloth Williamsburg Dress - ~£35: Modcloth for me is like what a sweet shop is for a hyperactive toddler; I want everything, and I want it now. The entire site is full of beautiful American vintage-style pieces that make you wish you lived in New England instead of this regular old England.
Miss Selfridge Check Zip Hitch Dress - £38: Yet again with the hitch hems and plaid - my two loves. Some solid neutral plaid with a fabulous zip-up front and some cross-shoulder strap action.

10. Section Ten: Shoes.
Wear this for: Walking, strolling, skipping, jumping, dancing and ambling wherever the fancy takes you. All these can be styled up with just about anything, so make sure your footwear can too.

Dr Martens 14-Eye Boots - £64.79: Everyone knows how much I love my darling purple DMs. They're pretty expensive at first & only appeal to a minority, but will last you for years and years making the investment well worth it. There are a ridiculous number of colours, designs and styles available so there's bound to be something you'll adore.
Blowfish Shock Knot Pump [Black] - £30: A fair price for basic faux-leather flats from the adored brand Blowfish. Plain flats are an absolute wardrobe staple and can be a complete lifesaver when absolutely nothing else goes with what you're wearing.
DC Chelsea Ladies [White/Carbon] - £33.99: Skate shoes aren't for everyone, but you'll be grateful for a pair when your feet ache from the night before, long pointless walks around the city or a late-night stroll to the only takeaway open at 2am. It happens. A great pair of skate shoes have always been a favourite of mine - I don't wear them in public that often, though they're perfect comfort shoes for the rest of the time.

Congratulations - you now have a brand new, completely versatile student wardrobe for a completely reasonable price! Adding up the cost of everything you purchase before school may seem daunting, but factor in the amount of use you'll get out of each piece and you'll see that you'd waste more money by NOT buying it! Money tends to be an issue for us student folk, though spend it wisely on quality key purchases and you'll be eternally thankful for it.

Some extra tips to bear in mind for the new term:

- Work with what you have. Maximise the wearability of your favourite outfit combinations by being creative with accessories. A dress can be worn as a skirt the one day and a top the next. Even the most basic of DIY skills will serve you well - spare material can be fashioned into anything from headbands to pillowcases.

- Don't give in to the allure of cheap, disposable clothing. Primark and Peacocks-brand garments may seem like a no-brainer when you're itching to spend money on new clothing, but in the long run you'll only be wasting your valuable cash. Many Primark items develop holes and split seams during the first few wears - ask yourself: is it really that much of a bargain?

- Combine wardrobes with a friend for twice the fashion possibilities. If you're sharing a room or dwelling with a like-minded style-savvy friend, why not borrow from each other for twice the choice? Only do this if you're sharing with someone you know and trust extremely well, as clothing often goes mysteriously 'missing' otherwise.

What are YOUR essential items in the wardrobe for the term ahead? Are you going for quality or quantity, trendy or classic? Are you completely transforming your style or sticking with what you know and love? I want to know!

[QUESTION] If You Were The Opposite Gender, How Would You Dress?

2009-08-26T18:01:00.006+01:00

Ok, we all know it's not possible to suddenly wake up as the opposite sex in some kind of twisted 'Boy/Girl Thing'-esque parody. Recently I've listened to the rantings of some of my lovely and fantastically fashionable male friends, ie. what should I wear, how hideous is this top, why are all the high street stores full of rubbish this season, etc. Rifling through the mens section at Topman is, whilst ignoring the odd looks from passers-by, quite interesting.

Wandering into the men's section is like a new awakening to a world of fashion I have little experience with, as normally I go shopping in order to clothe myself and not a guy. Things like adjusted waist sizes, chest sizes and collar sizes seem to mean nothing to me in the men's shops, which is honestly rather alienating. Also, considering the sad lack of male-targeted high street shops selling truly stylish clothes, I'm not surprised that half the guys forced into those places by mums and girlfriends feel a bit alienated themselves.

So, hypothetically speaking, if I was a male, this would be my capsule wardrobe:

[click here for larger images + prices and stores]
Description: Rock-inspired clothing with a hefty portion of All Saints goodness thrown in for good measure. Despite the price, it would work out as fairly good value overall, as I'd be wearing each piece over and over. All the pieces would work perfectly for layering as well as matching, so these pieces would blend in seamlessly from season to season. The cranberry-coloured t-shirt could be worn with or under any of the other pieces, as it is the sole vibrant colour amongst a collection of neutrals, which are neither overwhelming in pattern nor colour whilst still making a statement.

I should probably create my very own capsule wardrobe; unfortunately I enjoy experimenting with so many styles that it probably wouldn't work! Maybe in a few years?

Again, the question: If you were the opposite gender, how would you dress? Would you dress in a similar style to how you already do, or would you go for something completely new and different? Would you stick to gender-specific clothing, or would you characterize yourself as the cheeky crossdresser? I want to know!

What I Wore Today: 25/08/09

2009-08-25T23:36:00.004+01:00

POF: Plaidaholics not-so-anonymous; not wearing eyeliner. Today I went to Sea Life with the bf to see some cute and smelly animals & truly revolting feeding habits before going to the beach in the evening.
Shirt: Criminal Damage - I want so badly for this to work, though I'm not sure it does! Blue is one of my all-time favourite colours to wear & I very much like this despite this fitting very tightly even though it's a Large.
Vest [under]: H&M
Necklace: Urban Outfitters
Bag [not pictured]: Latest UO purchase.
Shorts: Primark. Savouring the remainder of freedom before I'll only be allowed to wear skirts and jeans constantly.
Tights: Also Primark & one of the better-made items they sell.
Boots: Fryes..pictured for once! I've been wearing them almost every day for months, I'm kind of in love with them.

What I Wore: 20/08/09

2009-08-20T15:41:00.002+01:00

This week is all about being busy, tidying, cleaning and getting ready for the impending autumn - exciting! However I've been rather disappointed with the selection of clothes in stores at the moment as I've found very little that I actually like, how strange. I was in London a few days ago and yet none of my favourite Oxford Street and Regent Street stores had a single new thing that I contemplated buying. Though I did get some good old Topshop skinny jeans. Hurray for 36" inseams!

Today I managed to dress myself to go out and get my exam results.

POF: Got 3 Cs and a D - thank god for Year 14.
Vest: Urban Outfitters
Tops: Forever 21/H&M
Belt: Off-brand
Shorts: Primark
Tights: Cheap (hence the holes)
Boots [not pictured]: Fryes

Bristolian Goodies.

2009-08-15T20:52:00.003+01:00

I had the pleasure of travelling to the charming city of Bristol yesterday and spent a good few hours enjoying the fantastic shops, delicious food and delightful townsfolk. Most of the shops there are some of the biggest high street stores (hello brand new 4-storey Primark!), as well as a few exciting boutiques and vintage shops scattered around the place, making it a wonderfully enchanting place to pass the time. I can easily spend an entire day there by myself without being bored.

I didn't spend a whole lot of money strangely enough, but here's what I bought:

1.
Dorothy Perkins biker bangles! I seldom buy bracelet sets, but since I included these beauties in my previous list of lustworthy items, I decided I had to have them. I couldn't exactly say no when I saw them in the store reduced to £7 either. They are actually five separate bracelets and do indeed make a fabulously jangly sound when I walk, especially when accompanied by my wings necklace.

2.
Urban Outfitters cross-body heart bag. Like most, I cannot resist a good bargain. Reduced from £28 to £9.99, I thought this was a rather excellent bargain. I plan to use it as my gig bag, as the previous bag broke when I was jumping/moshing/headbanging too hard. Ahem. It's similar to many versions currently at Topshop, except half the price.

I did happen to go past the Banksy exhibit a few times, though the line was unimaginably long so it would have been impossible to get in. I think it circled around the building several times before snaking between metal fences outside the entrance. Next time then?

8 Dorothy Perkins Must-Haves!

2009-08-09T11:50:00.007+01:00

I'm ridiculously thrilled about some of the new items in Dorothy Perkins' Autumn/Winter 09 collection. They seem have a terrible reputation around here (they've shut down their closest store now!), as previously they only had very plain, ill-fitting and generally hideous offerings. DP was referred to as 'the old lady shop' and I was genuinely stunned when my friend once unearthed some rather cute red skinny jeans from there in her size. Everything else was just, well, bland and ugly to put it lightly.

Now it seems that DP have finally got their act together with their website featuring some trendy yet rather lustworthy pieces, tempting me to spend even more of my ever-depleting bank balance, and I'd say it's definitely worth it! Here are some of my favourite new pieces:

1. White Foil Lip Print T-Shirt - £15 - Many of the styles lately have been going unashamedly 90s at the moment; my best friend used to have a white tank top with a blue foil print just like this one. And how cool were cutout shoulders?! This particular top is reminiscent of our childhood era without going over-the-top and still works perfectly with our current 2009 wardrobes. Wear with a loose-cut blazer and skinny jeans for a 21st century edge on this deliciously retro piece.

2. Grey Sequin Waistcoat - £30 - I'm currently trying to find the perfect waistcoat; although this is a little sparkly & delicate-looking for everyday, it looks like one of those things you can't help stroking every time you go to the store until you eventually buy it. Irresistable, no?

3. Navy Military Jacket - £40 - As it's likely you'll have to wear a jacket every day this winter, why not buy a gorgeous one? And what better way to spend that £40 weighing down your wallet? I adore military-styled jackets like this and would buy it if I didn't already have a very similar one...

4. Saints Of Soul Navy Stripe Dress - £40 - Anyone will know how extremely passionate I am about All Saints inspired pieces like this gem. There's a skirt in a similar style to this on the site and even the name suggests they may be rather heavily influenced by All Saints. I'd wear this with a short jacket and my reliable Frye boots and would more than likely wear it everywhere too.

5. Biker Bangle Set - £15 - A delightfully stunning bracelet set! This particularly one looks a great combination of punk and girly style bangles as well as being wonderfully jingly - one-person percussion band, anyone? This set seems to feature 6 different bracelets which would be excellent for fiddling with when bored at school.

6. Black Stud Pencil Skirt - £35 - No one seems to be able to get enough of studs lately; what better way to celebrate your new addiction than with a basic black punkish skirt with a delightful assortment of studs on the pockets? Basic yet detailled without being excessive.

7. Red Abstract Union Jacket Scarf - £12 - Sure, the state of our country's going downhill fast, but how timelessly classic does our flag look? Especially with butterflies thrown into the mix. An improvement on River Island's version of the scarf without the strange tassles or pricier tag.

8. Stone Suede Stud Ankle Boots - £50 - Wonderfully Vince Noir-esque footwear for the impending cold weather. Wear with opaque tights and a skirt, or grey/black skinny jeans for an indie rock-inspired look. However I fear these are real suede, so it may not be wise to wear them in the unavoidable downpours this Autumn. Wear them around the house if you like.

If you've just, like me, fallen in love with any of the previous items, it's best to buy them now before they sell out! Avoid disappointment and snap them up while they're still around.

Tall?

2009-08-02T12:59:00.004+01:00

As any girl over the 5'8 mark knows, being tall can be a dreadful nightmare when it comes to shopping for clothes; nothing seems to fit. How familiar do any of these quotes seem to you?

- "It's much too short..I don't want the whole world to see my stomach."
- "There's no way I'm wearing jeans with the crotch this low - I'm not a goddamn gangsta kid."
- "I refuse to buy my clothes from the plus size section."
- "How dare they call me 'abnormally-sized'!"
- "I think I'll buy a Mens Small, at least it covers my belly."
- "If I hear anyone recommend 'Long Tall Sally' to me one more time, I think I'm going to scream."

Despite what others may think, high street clothes (especially cheaper ones) are normally designed to fit petite people with small chests, short legs and larger rear ends, so it's no surprise that upon entering the dressing rooms we can become frustrated with the terribly generic fits of clothes from places such as Primark and Miss Selfridge which seem to be made with the shorter girl/woman in mind.

So what do we do about it? Although crop tops seem to be coming back into fashion, ankle-grazers aren't always going to be in the 'What's Hot' section of your favourite magazines. We don't need to source our entire wardrobes from patronisingly-titled plus size sections in certain stores and most importantly, being tall does certainly not mean we need to compromise our style! I am 5'11 myself, borderline 6', and I feel awful that some of my fellow tall friends think they are doomed to wear the most awfully drab pieces because their stomachs peep out of everything they try on.

As it is nearly time to start frantically stocking our wardrobes for back to school/college/AW09, here are 5 simple rules to adhere by when browsing the racks this coming season:

1. Stop buying your clothes from the mens & plus size sections!
Why? Because despite the fact that they're just the job to cover the lower half of your torso, they most likely fit you horribly everywhere else. I'm sure we all have mens t-shirts stashed away in our wardrobes for various reasons - gig souveniers/sleepwear/awesome designs - and even if they're bought in a size S or XS, they still squish your chest, drown your waistline and envelope your shoulders, arms and neckline. Plus-size clothes will most likely disguise everything (unless you're genuinely plus-sized) - how can we be sure there's a fabulous figure under there. In addition, both kinds of clothes will make your body look like a square, which is definitely not what you'd call a desirable look.
What do I do? - We've all done it before - there's no reason to be ashamed. If you have larger things for sleepwear, make sure they are just for sleeping in. If you're good with a sewing machine, make a fabulous patchwork blanket or pillowcase out of the awesome designs and save the leftovers for DIY scrap projects or textile recycling.

2. Stock up on well-fitting basics.
If your basic pieces don't fit you properly, how is the rest of your outfit going to look? Plain tees, jeans, vests and leggings will look ten times better if they fit your shape, honestly. I had several pairs of H&M jeans on rotation and didn't realise how badly they fitted until I tried on a pair with an extra-long inseam from Topshop. T-shirts are much more comfortable and flattering when you can lift your arms in the air and they don't expose your stomach to the world.

Some must-have tall basics:

Topshop Tall Pocket Button Jacket - £60
Winter is quickly approaching and you don't want to be stuck with a last-minute cheap Primark coat that's clearly much too small for you. Even though it's not the most colourful style, this black coat can be worn with everything and you won't have a frosty breeze blowing around your middle as usual.

Tall Ribbed Scoop Neck Tank - £6/2 for £9
Layering tanks that fit you properly are an absolute essential and black and white are the most versatile colours. Wear them under tiny low-cut tops to turn them into casual wear, or wear them on their own or with a shirt over the top in the summer.

Topshop Tall Grey Denim Mini Skirt - £25 [£15 on sale]
The problem with wearing short skirts when you're tall is that they usually tend to look a little risque; they fit shorter on you than intended and as you probably have long fabulous legs it'll make the skirt look even shorter. I really want this skirt myself - shame they don't have my size in the sale. The grey will go with almost anything, it'll be a decent length when worn and would look great in all seasons.

Topshop Tall Ultimate Skinny Jean - £40
I'm not sure how these skinnies qualify as 'ultimate', but they seem like the next best thing after the sadly discontinued Baxter cut (medium/low rise, long skinny leg). Wearing jeans in the correct leg length is so important that I can't stress it enough, especially if you have particularly long legs. Try on a standard pair from H&M or Primark and then try ones with a longer inseam - much more comfortable as well as being a lot more flattering. It's absolutely worth selling all your old pairs and buying jeans for your height - you won't regret it.

3. Don't feel that you have to buy all your clothes from the Tall collections.
Let's face it - although Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and New Look offer a small selection of extra-long Tall clothing, the vast majority of it tends to be annoyingly drab and, although great for basics, you definitely wouldn't want to have to buy all your clothes there. That would be a nightmare. Instead, try things on if possible - many t-shirts, skirts and tops should fit fine, just make sure by trying them on before buying. Make sure you know the length you need on a top or skirt before making a purchase online to avoid disappointment. You don't need to be exiled to the equivalent of the icy tundra in your favourite stores, just make sure that an item is going to look fabulous on you before deciding to get it.

4. You CAN wear whatever styles you want.
Magazines tell us that because we're a certain body shape, we're restricted to certain styles of clothing. They tell us ridiculous things such as tall girls should only wear high waisted jeans and never wear high heels, petite girls should wear fitted tunics and heeled boots, etc. Sure, it may look more flattering to some people, but some girls would rather die than never wear a pair of heels ever again. When you're tall, many different styles flatter you despite what the fashion columns say, so try on an assortment of different pieces and don't be afraid to wear what you truly love just because you heard it's 'wrong'.

5. Love your body!
Taller people are often the butt of many spiteful jokes; don't let them get to you.(how many times have I heard "how's the weather up there"?) People often make rude remarks and comments because they can't deal with their own feelings of inferiority. Never take things like that personally. You have an awesome body and dress yourself to celebrate that. There's no 'good' or 'bad' height to be. Walk confidently, smile, dress fabulously and you shall look amazing.

Link List

- Topshop Tall - best selection of stylish tall clothes I've found, as it features many of the odd Topshop-centred trends parallel to the main collections as well as the best jeans.

- New Look Tall - Only found out recently that New Look has a tall collection. Nothing terribly exciting but it's worth a look if you're interested. If you're going to a store, the tall stock tends to be all over the place and not in one particular spot.

- Dorothy Perkins Tall - I've seen a few skirts in the past here that I've liked. Nothing incredible but definitely worth a look. Good for basic items too.

- Next Tall - Convenient for smarter workwear, as well as for your especially tall mum or older sister.

- This made me laugh.

- UK Tall Shopping Directory. For everything else.

Good luck with your shopping! ♥

What I Wore Yesterday: 28/07/09

2009-07-29T21:12:00.002+01:00

I embarked upon writing an article the other day; it proved to be far too lengthy to complete all in one evening. It'll be up soon enough! I have many ideas still in progress and hope to unleash them all upon the world in blog-format very shortly.

POF: people should follow my example: stop saying "omg I can't BELIEVE it's July, look at the weather" and wear a damn hoodie. they're comfortable and warm.
Hoodie: Hollister. Evil, no? But I love it. It's the most comfortable thing I own, as well as being the one which gets dirty the fastest as the sleeves are miles too long for me.
T-shirt: Forever The Sickest Kids gig
Tights: somewhere
Shorts: Primark
Boots [not pictured]: Fryes

What I Wore: 22/07/09

2009-07-22T21:27:00.002+01:00

POF: Getting hair cut on a cold & windy day.
Jacket: Kookai
Tee: Bleeding Star
Skirt: All Saints
Tights: olddd
Boots [not pictured]: Fryes

My hair always feels alien for the first few days after it's cut. I decided long fringes are too difficult - even though they look rather beautiful - so I had mine short again while I grow the rest of my hair out. Anyone else agree that long fringes are hell to manage?

Today was actually very amusing even though I have my hair cut in the same small town where I go to school - I met a very cute person in Somerfield whilst shopping for Oreos (joy!) and my mum's lovely friend said I looked "very black today", haha.

I've been thinking about purchasing some more pairs of shoes to add variety to my ensembles - lately all I've been wearing are my Fryes and, divine as they are, I need some more super-versatile shoes that blend in seamlessly with my normal style. I have 30+ pairs of shoes, but alas they are mostly Converse, Vans and cheapie canvas shoes which I used to wear constantly but rarely do nowadays. Shoe shopping is always a pain for me, as I am somewhere between a UK 8-9, luckily just squeezing into the biggest size of most styles. However I feel it's urgent and shall seek out some beautiful brand new footwear to sit proudly alongside my darling Fryes and DMs.

The Idols, Icons & Inspiration Quiz

2009-07-19T19:01:00.007+01:00

photo from here.

Borrowed from the lovely Ava-May Hemme - check out her divinely fabulous blog!

1. Who’s your favourite designer?
There are so many amazingly inspirational designers out there. Favourites would have to be Vivienne Westwood, Betsey Johnson, Tarina Tarantino, Alexander McQueen, Kelly Ewing. Any designers who aren't afraid to think outside the box and completely blow away peoples' perception of what 'fashion' is.

2. If you had to move out of the country you are living in now, where would you chose to live?
The US, for sure! I have such an obsession with that place - for starters, it's massive! Not to mention the countless incredible people who were born and raised there.

3. Do any of your friends blog?
One of my friends has a political blog, though politics frankly bores me to tears, so I don't read it that much. It's what he loves doing & I think that's awesome, but politics is not my thing at all!

4. What is the scariest thing you have ever done?
Probably moving schools a few times, which is always deathly terrifying when you're young. Many people think that travelling to the US alone when I was really small must've been awful, but it really wasn't!

5. What hair products do you use?
More than is probably healthy! I'm loving the Aussie Colour shampoo and deep conditioner, I swear it's made my hair so much healthier and retained my colour for longer. I'm also a big addict of Bed Head products, simply because they smell so good, the packaging is obnoxiously bright and their stuff is great for short, funky hair!

6. Would you rather be in a submarine by yourself for six months or in a rocket ship in space with your best friend for a year?
Neither preferably, but I'd hate to be alone for even just a few days.

7. Would you rather be a model in Paris or a musician in Barcelona?
'Musician in Barcelona' brings to mind all kinds of creepy mariachi-esque imagery, so I'd have to make it a screamo band instead! I wouldn't mind being a model either.

8. Would you rather be an artist in San Francisco or a dancer in New York?
Artist in San Fran would be wonderful, I've heard so many great things about it.

9. Would you go back and change anything in your life?
I agree that everything happens for a reason - it's terrifying to think how the tiniest things can have such a huge impact on your life.

10. Do you have a job? If so, where? And do you like it?
I don't have a proper 'job' since I live practically in the middle of nowhere (and working at the pub as a dish washer does NOT sound very pleasant!) but I sell bits & pieces on Ebay which gives me a bit of extra much-needed cash.

11. Are your friends fashionable?
I wouldn't say any of them are in a Vogue type of sense, though they all dress to fit their fabulous personalities, which I adore.

12. Why did you decide to start this blog?
Writing is a huge passion of mine, and after almost 2 years of A-Levels I was fed up almost to tears of having my creativity suppressed under mountains of dry, dull essays. Fashion is another obsession of mine, though none of my friends are very much into it so I don't get to discuss it much away from the internet. I wanted to combine the two to start something that would hopefully be inspiring and interesting as well as fun!

13. When did you start this blog?
27th March 2009. I know, I can't believe it either.

14. Did you or do you make any of your clothes yourself?
I really want to! I have my own sewing machine and everything...I just don't know how to use it.

15. If you could be anyone for a day who would it be?
Probably one of my guy besties, because I think it would be such a freakish yet intriguing experience to be a member of the opposite sex for a day..like how they think differently, plus their families and homes are all super-cool!

16. What’s your favourite highstreet shop?
Selfridges! I wouldn't mind buying everything from there for the rest of my life. All Saints, Topshop and Dorothy Perkins all have wonderful things, as well as my new love Bershka. They NEED to have one here!

17. If you could live anywhere is the whole world, where would it be?
New York, though I haven't been there yet it seems like such an incredible fairytale city. London would be my second choice. Although I adore some of the amazing people who live near me, it's so draining living in such a desolate place with so few opportunities.

18. Whats the one thing you regret not doing most?
Nothing major I don't think, but there's certain times where you think, "Damn, I WISH I could've done/bought/said that!"

19. Favourite colour?
Pink, purple, blue, aqua, black, flax and silver!

20. What’s your perfect summer outfit?
A long tank top, pretty shorts (bermuda shorts are too underrated! adore that lazy American look, haha) and sexy boots. Sandals are cute but I prefer boots much more, and no - my feet are never too hot!

21. Who’s your favourite radio DJ?
None, I don't listen to the radio. I'd much rather control what I listen to.

22. Can you play any instruments?
Used to play piano, violin and recorder, plus I can play that White Stripes song on the guitar. Awesome.

23. What colour is your toothbrush?
Bluee and white.

24. Best and worst thing about blogging?
Best: Inspiring people, receiving lovely feedback, writing about subjects I find truly interesting.
Worst: Not being able to update as much as I like!

25. Where do you see your blog in 5 years time?
Still going, I hope! I'd love for it to still be around in 5 years. I'd like to have many more followers and connect with many more like-minded people.

26. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
I shall be..23! Probably just finishing a fabulous & eternally useful uni course and making lots of new friends whilst still getting to be with my old ones.

27. Who are your favorite bands/music artists?
Escape The Fate pre-Craig Mabbit - Ronnie Radke is an incredibly passionate vocalist, I wish he'd never gone to jail. I saw local band Amy Can Flyy a couple days ago too, their music is completely different to anything else that's out there at the moment and they deserve to be huge.

28. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Nope, only child here.

29. If you could only wear one color for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Black! Pseudo-goth style to the max.

30. Your favorite item in your wardrobe?
My new leather jacket! I can't wait for the cooler weather so I can wear it every day. The smell of leather is completely intoxicating!

31. Your least favorite item in your wardrobe?
I try not to keep pieces I hate, but I really wish I had the crazy sewing talents to resize all my big baggy band tees! They're amazing, but I can hardly wear them as they're huge and shapeless. You'd think some bands with mostly female fan bases would make skinny band tees, but no.

32. If you could meet up and talk fashion/go shopping with anyone, who would you pick and why?
Gala Darling, definitely. How she manages to find such amazing handbags and shoes is completely beyond me. She should start up a personal shopper service.

33. If your perfect day was patterned after a song, which song would it be?
Escape The Fate - Situations. The beginning of the video cracks me up and the song's incredible live.

34. Describe your capsule wardrobe:
Composed of many scarves, cardigans and dresses from All Saints, as well as a Vivienne Westwood blazer, a few Kelly Ewing and Marc Jacobs dresses and a Religion leather jacket. I'd have my fabulous Frye boots as well as some custom-made flats, heels and rocking horse shoes.

35. Where do you get inspiration from?
In general? Beautiful photos and art, as well as incredibly stylish people.

36. What do you want to do with your life?
To be successful and happy, which I suppose is what everyone desires. What I want to do exactly? I'm not entirely sure just yet, it's rather scary.

37. Who is most important to you?
My boyfriend and best friends. Much of the time they don't realise how important they are to me, but I don't know what I'd do without them.

38. If you could host a dinner party and could invite anyone, who would you invite?
My besties, Ronnie Radke, Nubby Twiglet, Kat Von D (to persuade her to do my future tattoo!), Paris Hilton, Nikki Sixx and Hayley Williams. Sounds like some incredibly twisted episode of 'Come Dine With Me'.

39. Do you have any style icons?
Audrey Kitching, Emilie Autumn, Hayley W, Davey Havok, Michael Jackson and anyone with immense style.

40. What is your favorite decade for vintage clothing?
70s-80s punk & metal inspired stuff. Leather, chains, studs..wonderful!

41. What’s on your birthday list this year?
Everything in the 'Item Lust' folder on my laptop, containing the most beautiful pieces from Topshop, Miu Miu, Religion, All Saints and a bunch of Japanese websites I've no idea how to order from.

42. Who is your favourite disney character?
I was never terribly into Disney as a kid, but Mickey Mouse was pretty cool.

43. What are your pet peeves?
Rude people, people who hate learner drivers!, when friends don't reply to an important text/message/voicemail, grumpy customers, scuffed shoes, rain, polo shirts, utterly hopeless boredom.

44. What is your favourite quote?
I rarely remember exact quotes - how I got through English Lit this year is beyond me - but I found a beautiful one the other day about how it's less painful for a flower to take the chance to blossom than it would be to remain shriveled up as a bud.

45. Which countries have you been to and which was your favourite?
The US (Florida & Ohio), Switzerland and Italy. Florida is always fun for me, as I stay with my extremely cool family avoiding all the lame tourist traps. Really, Disney World isn't that fun!

Oh, London ♥

2009-07-15T12:40:00.005+01:00

photo taken by me!

London is a city which never ceases to amaze me. Regarded as the undisputed epitome of culture, class and style in the UK, it's no wonder millions of people swarm there every day for events, sightseeing and shopping, shopping, shopping. The most inspiring aspect of the place is the culture - London is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, so it's not surprising that in one neighborhood you'll find people in floor-length burkhas inhaling the spicy aroma of exotic curries whilst in the one adjacent you'll encounter tall, beautiful tattooed girls running incredible high-end vintage boutiques. Mere moments after arrival it's easy to see how many London-based artists and designers manage to gain inspiration for their incredible work, as their senses are constantly being bombarded by the intriguing, terrifying and often absurd experiences that this hub of constant buzzing activity has to offer.

Similarly, the retail capabilities are limitless. When your shop has a place on the grey tourist-infested pavements of Oxford Street, you know you've made it. London is just as famous for its vast shopping centers and gigantic high street flagship locations as it is for its museums, art and culture. Every international fashion retailer's debut store in the UK has to be in central London for optimum traffic as well as the most effective marketing campaigns. No other city in the UK or Europe has nearly as many famous fashion stores from across the globe as London does, it's a truly phenomenal place to be.

After hunting down some cute vintage stores in Brick Lane and getting lost in the chilling zone of horrors known as Bethnal Green, I found solace in the ridiculously enchanting high-street paradise known as Oxford Street. I think I should probably set up camp in the back of Topshop and try and live there or something.

My beloved purchases:

1.
This lusciously soft leather jacket from Selfridges is most likely going to become my new child/most frequently worn item. I originally wanted a vintage one, but they were all much too masculine for my liking, so this beauty from Selfridges should make up for its frightfully expensive price tag by staying with me forever.

2.
I went hunting at the fairly new Bershka shop in Oxford street and marvelled at how cheap yet gorgeous some of their items actually are. This drape cardigan cost only £6.99 somehow and looks very similar to the current offerings at All Saints. Hmm.

3.
Another impulse Bershka purchase. I'm concerned by the 'Do Not Wash' label; however it was £2 and matches my hair, so why the heck not?

4.
An incredible scarf from japanese usefulness boutique Muji, featuring a map of New York. I was impressed by this as I'm hoping to go to NY in a couple of months, so I can memorise the street maps before heading off over there whilst wearing one myself. Plus it came in this adorable tube - how amazing is that? Accompanied by an amusing festival flyer from a vintage shop just off Carnaby Street.

What's your favourite aspect of London?
Any incredibly jaw-dropping purchases/occurances while you were there?
If you've never been, what would inspire you to want to go there the most?

What I Wore: 12/07/09

2009-07-15T12:15:00.003+01:00

Recently my free time has been consumed with sorting out/worrying about school for next year, and whether that's actually going to happen! It's terrifying not knowing what's going to happen in the near future. As well as an impromptu trip to London yesterday, the last week has been pretty hectic for me.

Here's what I wore on Sunday:

POF: Off to Gay Pride in town..before realising the whole area specially set up for it had already been dismantled! :( Got some free Krispy Kreme donut samples instead..
Cardigan: All Saints
Tops: Atmosphere/H&M
Shorts: Atmosphere
Tights: oldd
Necklace: Urban Outfitters
Boots [not pictured]: Fryes

I shall post the fruits of my London shoparound very shortly!

What I Wore: 05/07/09

2009-07-07T23:15:00.002+01:00

POF: Seeing my friend's band at the beach!, buying tacky plastic beach toys, getting sand over absolutely everything.
Tops: River Island, H&M
Necklace: Urban Outfitters
Belt: Harajuku Lovers
Shorts: Primark
Tights: School ones which I still wear.

Playsuit-O-Rama! Not Just Another Hideous Topshop Gimmick?

2009-07-06T15:41:00.007+01:00

Traditionally, us Brits aren't built for the summer. We sulk under our rainy skies all year wrapped up in our fabulously well-cut jeans, pretty scarves and beautiful jackets. Yet when the sun decides to take pity on us by offering a couple weeks of humid heat and a few rays of sunshine as compensation for the dour and depressing winter months, some mechanism in 98% of British brains causes all sense of style to be thrown out the window. We are not used to this sudden heat, hurriedly throwing on whatever we find in the depths of our drawers. Our mum's old Race For Life t-shirt? Why not! The oh-so-practical socks with sandals? Go for it! Why is it that even the slightest hint of warm weather over the summer months causes people to suffer fashion crises of the most dire proportions, kicking off some of the most hideous trends our side of the earth has ever glimpsed?

One of the most bafflingly odd yet intriguingly adorable trends this summer has got to be the almighty Playsuit. But wait, doesn't the name sound like something your mother made you wear in your toddler years? Visions of flannel button-up onesies come to mind - "is this what really accounts for fashion these days?!" you ask yourself. I agree - the name itself brings up the most horrible of images and completely puts you off even investigating these awful-sounding new garments. But it couldn't hurt to have a look, right?

Topshop has been selling these aforementioned playsuits for at least a couple of months now, as well as other high street retailers following suit by displaying similar styles.

Top playsuits currently being sold in stores and online:

1. 'RARE' Black Asymmetric Playsuit @ Topshop.com - £45 (£25 on sale)
My #1 favourite. Wonderfully simple with a gorgeous asymmetric cut, as well as looking easy to undo - did you know you have to take the entire garment off to use the bathroom? These are currently out of stock online, but are most likely still being sold in stores. If I had to get any playsuit, I'd go straight for this.

2. ASOS Broken Heart Playsuit - £35
On second thoughts, I adore this one too. Satisfies your inner emo kid whilst still being cute enough to get away with wearing without being called 'goth bitch' by the local chavs.

3. River Island Cross Over Playsuit - £44.99
Will go with just about anything in your wardrobe. A little more expensive than the offerings from Topshop and ASOS, though the 'Little Black Playsuit' looks to be this summer's new 'Little Black Dress'.

4. Topshop Fluoro Rose Playsuit - £40
Pretty, classic and summery - if black is a little too dark for you, this cute blue and white floral number could be the answer to your playsuit conundrum. H&M are currently selling a skirt in a very similar material, showing that blue and white florals aren't just for your grandmother's tea set anymore.

5. Topshop Red Rose Playsuit - £45
On the other hand, if you're more into the alternative side of fashion, black and red is the way to go. Accentuating the waist and chest, this is probably one of the more sexier choices if a simple lighter floral design just isn't your thing.

What do you think of these hand-picked pieces? Would you wear one yourself?

What I Wore Today - 04/07/09

2009-07-04T22:48:00.003+01:00

A fairly uneventful day, just glad to be outside!

POF: weeekend.
Shirt: H&M
Tee: David & Goliath
Shorts: Primark
Tights: Kept from old school uniform :D
Boots [not pictured]: My lovely Frye boots which I seem to wear almost every day.

I can't wait to get writing proper posts again! The last few days have been fairly busy, though next week I'm hoping I'll be feeling 100% myself so I can use my oodles of free time more positively.

Hope all you Americans reading had a wonderful 4th of July! ♥ It's just another day for us Brits, haha.

First Ever River Island Purchases?!

2009-07-03T23:31:00.006+01:00

Yesterday I found myself in town alone due to people cancelling plans, etc - a perfect opportunity for an all-day shopping trip! Shopping in the early morning is absolutely wonderful - less crowds, a cooler temperature (any other UK people melting in this heatwave?!) and the sales staff are much more attentive a half hour after opening than in the early afternoon. Truly wonderful!

This gave me a great opportunity to have a quick dash around the shops that I never usually go into. I'd heard wonderful things about River Island from friends in London but have never been able to find anything in their local stores but, well, tacky trash to put it nicely. Neon vests and sequinned hot pants, for example - how foul! I had a great chance to look at some of their newer things yesterday and they truly do have some pretty items! I almost bought more, but £51 in one go is enough for one day, don't you think?

Though one of the department stores in town have just opened a new All Saints section, and they are having a sale...why do they tempt me?!

On to the photos!:

Purchase #1: Grey Animal Print Top: Adore this! Loved the cut, tried it on on a whim and it looks excellent for wearing to gigs in the summer with dark tailored shorts. The heat has been so intense here in the South for the last few weeks that I really needed some pretty yet practical summer clothes other than t-shirts.

Purchase #2: Grey & Blue Striped Jersey Dress: Is it ridiculous how I own literally no dresses? Now I have one which I love - I saw a similar one on Modcloth, shame it sold out! I wore this today and it's wonderful. I like how it subtly accentuates the waistline without drawing too much attention to the hips and stomach.

Lesson for today - always try things on! I think when the stores are quieter you feel much more prepared for trying things on than when it's hot and crowded. I'm delighted with my new finds. :)

Charity shop finds - what do you think?

2009-07-01T12:40:00.003+01:00

I've been feeling slightly better the last few days, I hope I can continue to improve - being ill is NOT something I'd advise to anyone!

I went looking through the charity shops yesterday and found these sweet-looking jackets. I know I wouldn't be able to wear them until winter and that I'd be wearing something else completely different underneath them - what's your opinion? Keep and love them, or sell them?

Picture too large for layout - click here!

#1 - Laura Ashley black velvet blazer, £5. Someone cut the inside tag out but I can tell from the care instructions label that it's from Laura Ashley.

#2 - Karen Millen jacket, bought for just over £6. Crazy print, no? It reminded me of a pimp jacket when I tried it on. I decided that if I didn't get it, I'd regret it and so went ahead and got it.

What would they look best styled up with? The most ridiculous, crazy suggestions are welcome. I can't wait to wear the second one, haha.

What I Wore Today - 29/06/09

2009-06-29T13:36:00.005+01:00

Apologies for not having written much lately - I've been quite ill for the last week and still don't feel 100% myself, though I'm hoping it'll pass and that I can get back to writing regularly.

POF: Driving lesson & going to school for a couple hours to take books back
Shirt: Criminal Damage:
Tank: H&M
Necklace: Miss Selfridge
Skirt: Dorothy Perkins
Tights: Some department store
Boots [not pictured]: my Fryes.

What I Wore Today: 23/06/09

2009-06-23T22:44:00.003+01:00

POF: Super-fun day at awesome friend's house :)
Jacket: Urban Outfitters
Top: Primark
Tank: H&M, scavenged from wholesale lot
Necklace: Miss Selfridge
Jeans: Topshop
Socks: H&M Man
Shoes [not pictured]: Purple DMs.

So far I've been doing & planning an awful lot for what was supposed to be a fairly dull, uneventful holiday. Not complaining!

10 Awesome Finds From ModCloth.com

2009-06-16T17:57:00.004+01:00

Revising at school today got way too much for my head to cope with, so I found some gorgeous pieces on Modcloth for yourselves to lust over! These are some of my favourite pieces from this site which, if you haven't yet heard of it, sells some gorgeously quirky, interesting and vintage-inspired pieces and accessories which make me wish I was extremely wealthy. Though I may just buy a couple of things...

1.
Rocket Jacket
How gorgeous is this jacket, really?! I adore interesting blazers, and I love the nautical-inspired stripes. I can imagine wearing this with a pretty dress and flats, then being able to wear it with skinny jeans and boots. Oh the possibilities...

2.
Play The Odds Vest
More stripes! Fitted waistcoats (or vests, as they're known) can instantly transform a plain, dull outfit into a stunning ensemble. This particular one is vintage-inspired with the tiny matching buttons and pinstripes and can be worn with a dress equally well as with a fitted t-shirt. Smart and not too tacky, like so many waistcoats in the high street stores lately.

3.
Life Is But A Dream Skirt
Delightfully nautical-inspired - amazing for summer! I think I'm magnetically drawn to skirts with cute, girly bows as belts, but do you not agree that this is divine?

4.
Vanilla Skies Parasol
Doesn't the name alone just make you want to own this? Mmm, vanilla skies. Parasols are possibly the #1 essential item for summer, especially if you have pale, easily burnt skin like mine. I currently don't own one, and this is the prettiest one I've seen so far. And there's only 2 left. What to do?!

5.
Tiers For Fears Dress
Plain and simple, but that's definitely something that's lacking in my own wardrobe. Layered skirts delight me, as well as imagining how well this dress could go with just about everything I own.

6.
Calendar Girl Dress
Wonderfully simple and very classy-looking. I can imagine this being worn to somewhere expensive, but who says you can't wear beautiful dresses wherever you want?

7.
London Victoria Bag
The name of this bag evokes, well, interesting memories! Though I can't imagine the white stripes of the bow staying white for very long if it's taken down there, especially with the canvas body. Subtly sailor-inspired pieces like this are beautiful, and yes, I think I am obsessed with bows.

8.
Bo Derek Shorts
I'm not entirely sure who Derek is, but I can imagine so many of my most stylish friends lusting after these too. I'd wear them with tights as prescribed and would purchase them in a flash - shame they're sold out! Ugh.

9.
Coup de Coeur Watch Ring
A watch ring that doesn't look horrendously chavvy! How on earth do they do it? Definitely a cute piece that would get tons of strange yet amusing compliments. Plus all the best things are heart-shaped.

10.
It Must Be The Money Wallet
Haha, how great is this?! A definite must-have for the enigmatic eccentric who enjoys deceiving their friends, though it's really just a cute wallet from Modcloth with hundred dollar bills printed on it.

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

Lately I've been unintentionally shunning my blog due to studying-related obligations, though I have one more exam Thursday after which all shall return to normal! Important exams are something you usually only get one shot at, so it's best to do well and hope that all the neglecting of friends and usual enjoyments pays off in the long run. I've got LOTS planned that I hope you'll enjoy! :)

PS - Mary Queen Of Charity Shops is on BBC 2 tonight at 9PM GMT. Great show - does anyone else watch it? It fits in perfectly with my post about second hand pieces and I can't wait to see what the design team does with the place!

What I Wore Pour Mon Examen Aujourd'hui :)

2009-06-04T20:17:00.003+01:00

Today I had an awful French exam and long walk, so I thought I might as well wear my new favourite skirt to boost the mood a little.

Hair: New! Currently looks like a greaseball as I'm trying to keep the colour in by not washing it for a couple days.
Top: Urban Outfitters
Tee: Bleeding Star
Skirt: Dorothy Perkins
Tights: No idea..rubbish ones with an odd mark on :D not the usual top-quality ones from H&M which I normally wear
Shoes: TUK (Hot Topic) - wanted to wear my new boots, shame about the long walk to school & major heel blister!

Exactly 2 weeks until the end of exams! Can hardly wait. I have LOTS of great article & writing ideas planned which I can only dream about until after the last exam is over. Until then my posts will most likely be pretty short, but sit tight & I should have some more in-depth topic-orientated posts up soon!

What I Wore For My Birthday!

2009-06-02T15:49:00.003+01:00

Yesterday was an extremely fun day as it was my 18th birthday :)

What I wore yesterday:

Cardigan - All Saints
Tee - FSAS [Pac Sun]
Necklace - M&S
Jeans - Topshop
Boots - Frye

Meet my new favourite birthday present...

To replace my lovely but dead RTBU engineer boots [RIP] - these seem much stronger & the real leather smells amazing. I would've had them in white if they made them, but I adore the black too. They're extremely painful at the moment but I'm sure they'll improve. ++ I'm very excited to have a pair of boots I can wear with skirts! love them. ♥

Also my hair is now a dark raspberry/red colour - looks so different! Expect photos asap.

What I Wore Yesterday [& Mini Shopping Haul]

2009-05-28T17:42:00.003+01:00

Yesterday I went round good old Brizzle in search of amazing and wonderful things to buy. And yes, I did manage to squeeze in 2 hours of revision while I was there!

What I wore:

Before my hair went puffy and generally awful due to the rain.
POF: shoppin'!
Jacket: Kate Moss @ Topshop
Scarf: Camden (I wear it too much...I need new ones!)
Tee: Heartcore @ Hot Topic
Necklace: Miss Selfridge
Belt: Lowlife
Jeans: Topshop
Boots: [not pictured] Purple Doc Martens

My mini haul:

1. NO7 Makeup Base
I went to MAC at Debenhams to try out some of their foundations, since mine's been acting up, going a very odd texture on my slightly dry skin. The extremely lovely sales assistant told me to get a good makeup base, which I did! MAC's was a bit more than I was hoping to spend, so the Boots pick worked out much better.

2. Famous Tee
I seem to wear my Famous tees more than any others, so it made sense to buy another in Blue Banana's sale. Instead of £25 they were reduced to a much more sensible £10.

3. All Saints Cardigan
It looks great just hanging in my room.
I spent hours in the All Saints dressing room trying on various wraps, cardigans and shrugs in a variety of shades - this was the style which I fell in love with. How beautiful is the cut? The store where I tried so many on only had a size 6(!) so I had to cross to the other side of the city to discover a delightfully fitting size 12. All Saints stuff is slightly more expensive than it deserves to be, but some of their items are so damn beautiful that you can't say no to them.

All I need now is these two beauties to go with it:

All Saints 7 Sins t-shirt, £60

Urban Outfitters Wings Necklace, £24

Well it is my birthday in four days...but I've asked for this instead!

Love at first sight. ♥

Second Hand: Pre-Loved or Pre-Used?

2009-05-25T21:16:00.003+01:00

Traditionally, charity shops and thrift stores are known as the bane of the high street: full of the town's latest cast-offs, reeking of mothballs and filled to the brim with dry novels, polyester grandma blouses and last year's 'must have' toys. Due to their bad rep, it's no wonder many people would rather pick up the latest fashion pieces in a high-end store with tantalizing displays, glossy carrier bags and hand-wrapped goodies - who wants to spend their lunch break sifting through rack after rack of stained, outdated relics from the 1990s?

However due to the present 'credit crunch chic', many citizens are discarding their former fashion snobbery for fear of severely suffering at the hands of the latest economic crises. The rest of the world is beginning to take notice of this newfound approach to consumerism, leading to a completely different conception of fashion choices. Gok Wan is telling us to "Buy less, wear more" whilst stores such as Primark and H&M gain favour amongst even the most brand-conscious of the public. These stores are reporting record sales, loyal customers of stores such as Abercrombie and Jack Wills shunning the high-end labels in favour of more wallet-friendly goods. This newfound approach to shopping is promoting buyer creativity and 'smart' purchases, making bargain hunters realise the potential of what gems these second-hand stores can be.

I know that many people who read this blog already realise the fabulous treasure troves that charity shops, Ebay and vintage stores can be! They serve us well, providing us with unusual, exciting apparel options for halloween costumes, DIY projects and other people's weddings, to name a few, all whilst saving us literally hundreds in the long run.

The Second Hand Mini-Survey - anyone can fill this in! Leave a comment, post on your own blog, etc.

1. What kind of clothing would you consider buying/would never buy second hand?

I'm not terribly picky about quality, as you probably know! If I see an item I truly love, I don't mind whether it's been worn before, though I draw the line at anything that's heavily used, damaged or stained. Second hand stores are also great for buying anything that costs lots of money but that you know you'll hardly ever wear. I'm not going to my school's prom (sadface! it's ridiculously overpriced for some reason =[) but if I was, I'd probably buy a pretty prom dress second hand if I could. Much better value!

I'd feel strange about buying used underwear such as camis, tights and bras, though many people do.

2. Favourite/least favourite aspect of buying pre-used?

The best aspects in my opinion are the cut prices, the variety and the element of surprise - you never know what you're going to find in there.

Least favourites are the occasionally nasty smells as well as the surprise holes/stains you don't notice until after you've already bought it. This is especially bad when buying used clothing online.

3. Best finds from the charity shop / vintage store / Ebay?

My mum used to live in London and found some truly great items in charity shops, including a real Gucci scarf for £3 and some work jackets costing £6-8 each.

As for vintage, stores only seem to be prevalent in larger cities around here - such a shame! Buying vintage online is also irritating, as while there are some amazing wardrobe assets out there, the prices are often jacked up to extremes. Camden's Saturday Electric Ballroom market is always a joy to look around whenever I'm there - I managed to get a real leather trenchcoat in amazing condition for £30, complete with authentic goth/stoner smells.

Ebay can be a real mixed bag & it's always important to know exactly what you're buying - sounds obvious, but I can't tell you the number of situations where I've opened the packet and thought "oh, I didn't know it was like that!". I've found a couple of cute used Delias thermals from US sellers, as well as my brown/gold H&M plaid shirt and Topshop gold heart necklace that have become almost trademark items for me, both pre-owned.

4. Do you ever give to charity shops? Would you ever donate anything valuable to them?

I'm totally for giving to charity shops! Although I sell a lot of clothing, anything I don't manage to sell first time that's in good, wearable condition is bagged up (clean of course!) and dropped off at either the Cancer Care or Barnados charity shops. Those are my two favourite charities and it's great knowing that they'll be able to make money for their cause.

I have donated some fairly valuable items in the past, but currently I sell most of it to get money to put into my savings. I've heard of certain people who skip the whole selling process and simply give away all their designer cast-offs to their local charities. So generous!

5. Uses for clothes from the thrift stores & charity shops?

I admire some of the amazing works on Etsy that some people manage to conjure up from old, oversized t-shirts they picked up at a thrift store. Sometimes I see certain patterns or fabrics in the charity shops and think, "I wish I could cut that up and make it pretty!" Someday, when I learn to sew.

If I saw a really great item in a charity shop I wouldn't hesitate to wear it as it is (though that hasn't happened yet!).

Survey! What I'm Using Right Now.

2009-05-24T21:39:00.002+01:00

Hurray for the unofficial 'end of school'! Study leave is happenin' for the next few weeks, so I should have more time to update from now on.

The 'What I'm Using' Survey [from the divine Cupcakes and Cherries.]

HAIR

Shampoo - TIGI Catwalk Fashionista shampoo. It's supposed to be better for my coloured hair than my previous L'Oreal offering & I love the smell. Shame it dries out my scalp so much! I'm finishing off this bottle & then looking into other brands.

Conditioner - TIGI Catwalk Oatmeal & Honey Conditioner. I've used this for years and adore the smell, & it seems to condition hair well without making it too greasy.

Hair Mask - ION Protein Repair stuff from Sally's. It does make my hair quite soft, especially the ends, but VO5's Hot Oil treatment is my favourite as it makes my hair super-shiny.

Styling Products - Where do I begin?! I have so many it can't be doing me any good. The main ones I use are:
- Bed Head Hard Head hairspray
- VO5 Miracle Mist Heat Protect
- Bead Head 'Cocky' Thickening Paste
- American Crew hair wax

BODY

Body Wash - Switching between Lush's 'The Olive Branch' and the delectable 'Snow Fairy'.

Body Moisturizer - I've been using crazy amounts of E45 cream lately due to sunburn and other products messing up my sensitive skin. This stuff is SUCH a lifesaver! Body butters by 'The Body Shop' smell divine and are my immediate second choice.

Deodorant - Mitchum, baby. Doesn't mess up my skin and works fine. Shame about the packaging, I think they should make it look prettier as I feel weird about having it on my dressing table.

Fake Tan - Pale's where it's at.

FACE

Makeup Remover - Simple face wipes for the end of every day and Bobbi Brown's Eye Makeup Remover for eyeliner mistakes.

Cleanser - Boots Expert Sensitive Skin Foaming Face Wash.

Exfoliator - St Ives Apricot Scrub. I have the 'sensitive' formula as it's much more creamy & gentle than the regular kind.

Mask - Lush's 'A Crash Course In Skincare' - smells SO good, lasts ages & performs true miracles. All their masks are amazing! 'Cupcake' is my second favourite, though I'm not fond of the dubious brown marks it leaves all over the bathroom.

MAKEUP

Primer - ...I should probably use one, shouldn't I?!

Foundation - Bobbi Brown Oil-Free Compact Foundation [Ivory]. However recently my skin's dried out and this shows up every dry imperfection on my face and then becomes very greasy despite being oil-free. Could anyone recommend me some others to try?

Concealer - Bobbi Brown Concealer Stick [Porcelain]

Powder - Good ol' Bobbi Brown again, as well as Physician's Formula for redness.

Blush - Bobbi Brown's Rose Shimmer Block. What can I say? I love her stuff.

Bronzer - I don't use bronzer.

Highlighter - Nope.

Eyebase - I think I may need some.

Eyeshadow - Switching back and forth between MAC and Ulta products. I don't mind a bit of Urban Decay either.

Eyeliner - MAC Fluidline [Blacktrack]. I have major love for this stuff.

Curler - Some cheap kind from Ebay - they seem to work!

Mascara - Maybelline Full & Soft. It gives gorgeous volume & never clumps. Possibly the world's most perfect mascara?

Lipstick - Nope.

Gloss - I was thinking about using some, but lipgloss drives me crazy! It's sticky and downright irritating. I can't seem to find any that doesn't make my lips feel like they have sticky toddler syndrome all over.

Nail Varnish - MAC and GOSH, though I haven't worn any lately. Both brands have beautiful shades that last ages.

Double update!

2009-05-19T22:45:00.002+01:00

The last few days have been intense! Saturday I shopped and met up with family, Sunday I sat in a gorgeous vintage-style car (the Figaro) and yesterday I went to see The Blackout, Silverstein & Hollywood Undead! Fun was indeed had by all.

The fruits of my mini Saturday shopping spree:

Miss Selfridge scarf ♥ I love this! Purple, shimmery and ruffled - what more would anyone want? I wore it yesterday & it's super-stretchy, as well as looking wonderfully glamourous on. My new favourite thing.

My dead hair needs love. I tried this last week and it made my hair amazingly soft, as it's dry and brittle from excessive straightening. I had to have more of it. :D

Today's outfit:

POF: Turning up to school 3 hours late & still on an adrenaline high from last night.
Jacket: Urban Outfitters
T-shirt: From Silverstein's merch table last night (bought for boyfriend, but I'm sure he won't mind)
Bag: From The Blackout's merch table the aforementioned night
Necklace: Miss Selfridge
Jeans: H&M
Belt: Lowlife
Boots: Purple Docs [not pictured]

Excuse the lack of updates over the next few weeks - exams are relentlessly wearing me down. I haven't disappeared, promise! ♥

New skirt! Oh Joys. ♥

2009-05-13T19:20:00.004+01:00

Oh the joys of late-night online shopping...

I recently found this gorgeous skirt on the Dorothy Perkins website a couple days ago and clearly I had to have it! The style is very similar to that of the All Saints hitched hem skirts, which I adore but can't afford, and turns out about £40-60 cheaper. Normally Dorothy Perkins clothes are dull and/or hideous, but I was pleasantly surprised by some of the gorgeous pieces they have on their website. Birthday list, anyone?

I'm super-happy with it! Only £25 + P&P. Quite expensive for me, but I think it's worth it, as it's a versatile piece. The material is quite light & it's shorter than expected which worries me on windy days like today; however it's gorgeous & I think the style more than makes up for that! I bought a size 12 and was debating whether I should have bought a size 10 instead as it's slightly loose, though I thought it's better to be safe - I'm not a fan of muffin tops.

Oh, and a girl kindly informed me across the 'playground' (why does a secondary school have a playground again?!) that I should "wear some fucking trousers". Err, what?! I'm not sure why. I know I don't have the most amazing, supermodel-esque legs (hello chunky calves from walking everywhere!) but I love skirts and don't think anyone should be discouraged from wearing them, as long as they're not ridiculously obscene of course.

++ Thanks to the magically addictive Polyvore, I came up with a wishlist 10 of my favourite 'if-I-was-rich' skirts. They make me happy just looking at them & imagining I own them.

All Saints Hitch Mini Skirt [£60]

All Saints Hitch Skirt [£75]

Collette.fr Skirt [~£900]

Dorothy Perkins Pink Full Lace Skirt [£40]

Eruca.jp Grey Jersey High-Waisted Skirt [price unknown] - how cute are some of the things on this site?! Some of their items are amazing.

FanPlusFriend Classical Gothic Lolita Bustle Tiered Cotton Skirt [~£40]

Kelly Ewing Short Hitched Burgundy & Black Skirt [£75]

Sterlingandpearls.com Pink & Black Puffy Skirt [~£40]

Topshop USA skirt [~£30]

Wet Seal Buffalo Plaid Swing Skirt [~£8] - just to satisfy my plaid fetish.

What's on your wishlist?

What I Wore Today: 09/05/09

2009-05-10T22:35:00.003+01:00

Technically it would be 'what I wore yesterday', but yesterday was pure madness!

POF: Super-casual & chilled for a long, fun day
Jacket: Urban Outfitters (I still love the cut & feel of it. So worth the high price!)
T-shirt: GIAN '08 (my beloved Chiodos shirt! ♥)
Scarf: Camden
Belt: Some goth shop
Jeans: H&M

Visited my nan, went to town, said hi to some friends, bought a major haul at Boots, saw some of my family I rarely see & had some amazing authentic Italian food! Had a lush weekend, I'm very happy.

I bought:
- Got2B Freeze Spray - I've never seen this sold in stores before! The spiking glue is amazing, I have to try this too.
- VO5 Hot Oil treatments for hair, my hair is fried by Beyond The Zone's rubbish heat protection spray & needs some loving to restore its bouncy lusciousness.
- Boots Creme Bath
- New deoderant
- VO5 Miracle Mist, should've stuck to this all along!
- Mega 100-pack of Centrum multivitamins
- Chocolate buttons :D

All from Boots! They must love me by now, the amount of hair products & scented stuff I buy there.

On a slighty different subject, I'm on the hunt for gorgeous skirts! Though I have such a particular taste it's hard to find exactly the style I like. I adore casual lolita style skirts and aristocratic gothic ones, but without being too tacky, as well as skirts with lots of voluminous layers and interesting hemlines. They're such hard items to find!

"I'm Going To This Gig...What Do I Wear?!"

2009-05-04T12:54:00.003+01:00

[picture taken by me! 4th Aug 2007, Collision Course Festival @ Yeovil Ski Lodge]

Why I'm writing this article:
Let's face it - gigs are some of the toughest events you'll have to dress for. There are so many different factors you have to consider before choosing your dream outfit: the weather, size of the venue, how you're getting there, whether you're seated or standing, the kind of bands you're seeing, whether the guy/girl you like will be there...just how is one meant to know what to wear?! Despite everything that must be considered, I feel I've got the art of dressing for gigs and festivals down to a fine art, due to simultaneously attending loads of the things and making foolish mistakes, such as wearing too many layers or brand new shoes on the day (ouch!). It's crucial to expect the unexpected and therefore dress appropriately!

RULE 1: Be comfortable!
'Comfortable' in this sense does NOT mean your old tracksuit bottoms or your holiest t-shirt, so don't even go there! Comfort in this sense means being both physically and mentally comfortable with your look. If you did go wearing the aforementioned garments, how embarrasing would it be to wear them around your friends, or upon meeting your most beloved musician?! Of course you'd feel rubbish, and that would show in your body language and the way you act. It's much better to keep your outfit simple, casual and layered (depending on the weather/venue) and completely YOU, for example your favourite fitted t-shirt with jeans, plus a light jacket or shirt if necessary. People are going to be more interested in watching the bands than watching you, so don't feel you have to wear your most outrageously coloured tulle skirt, or your sexiest & tightest corset.

Something I feel must have its own paragraph in this section are your SHOES. I can't stress enough how important your choice of footwear is! If you know you're going to be walking, standing around, dancing or moshing, your best option would be the most comfortable trainers or boots you own. I promise people won't be looking at your feet! If you choose to wear flats or wedges, it's likely that someone will step on them in their big metalhead boots (ouch!) or they'll be carried away with the crowd, never to be seen again. Prioritise comfort slightly over style and focus on having fun, not on the blisters on your feet!

RULE 2: Be practical!
Adjusting your everyday look to a slightly more practical one for the night will pay off. Comfortable footwear, as mentioned above, is a must, as well as something to carry your belongings in. Be creative with this! Only take essentials: I always carry my phone, tickets, money, tissues and sweets (food is expensive!) in a zip-up shoulder bag that goes across the body. This way, I know my bag can't be grabbed or fall off when I'm in a crowd. When I was younger & went to gigs on my own, I used to keep my money in my shoe so it wouldn't be stolen. This isn't always advisable, but hey! I never lost my cash.

Adding to this, it's likely that your clothing is going to get dirty, sweaty or covered in who-knows-what. Ensure your clothing is washable and that your shoes can be easily cleaned of mud and sticky stuff (what is that sticky stuff on the floor anyway?!). It won't be such a tragedy if some fool spills beer on your old jeans than it would be on your favourite dress.

Layered clothing is another must - we've all been there, shivering outside a club or venue in the cold November rain, wearing nothing but a t-shirt and skinny jeans. Most larger venues will have a cloakroom service you can take advantage of, so always phone ahead to make sure - this way, you can bring a jacket, scarf and compact umbrella without having to carry it around. Don't lose the ticket stub they give you! If you're going to a sweaty club venue where there isn't somewhere to stash your bulky clothing and you KNOW there'll be a downpour, a long-sleeve tee and light jacket should suffice, as well as a compact umbrella in your bag. Arriving late or taking shelter in the nearest pub can also be decent options in bad weather, as a sniffly nose and sore throat are not the ideal concert souveniers.

RULE 3: Don't wear or carry anything valuable!

Probably the worst mistake to make! Avoid wearing expensive accessories or anything with sentimental value, as you're likely to regret it. There are two reasons for this: you could lose it, or more seriously, it could increase your chances of being mugged or assaulted. Many city venues are in high crime areas, so use common sense - take the bare minimum.

Examine all valuables on your person before heading off and ask yourself: "Do I really need this? How serious would it be if I lost it/had it stolen?" Of course, items like phones are important in case you're separated from your friends, or need to request the parental taxi ride home early. Would it be better to trade your new iPhone for a parents' old mobile, just for the night? Phone thieves are common at concerts and mobiles easily fall out of pockets: just look at the floor of the venue once everyone's left. Wear the minimum amount of jewellery, especially if it's valuable to you or could come off/get caught on something easily. This makes things like necklaces and expensive bracelets a definite no-no!

RULE 4: Be safe!

Adding to the aforementioned necessities such as leaving your favourite jewellery at home, it's essential to keep your belongings, and most importantly yourself, safe. I know this doesn't particularly relate to clothing, but it's crucially important! Watch your bag, take advantage of safe storage areas for your bits and pieces (lockers, cloakrooms, etc) and always be alert. Plan your journey - write down train & bus times if using public transport to avoid hanging around by yourself at the station. It's always a good idea to take a group of friends or a particularly large male acquaintance if you're worried about your safety. Walking around places such as Brixton or Portsmouth at night is always unnerving, so do everything to keep yourself feeling safe.

RULE 5: Go nuts with your favourite hair and makeup!
After probably sounding like your mother for the last four points, the hair and makeup department is where you can literally do whatever you want! Your face is probably all that will be visible to most people, so don't hesitate to wear your most outrageous glittery eyeshadow and hairspray your 'style into oblivion. Gigs are all about fun, so make sure you have fun constructing your look, and that you'll rock it with pride. Some groups of people even use themes (neon face paint, anyone?!), do their makeup like the lead singer or even have a makeup-savvy friend construct their look for them. Bear in mind this is all optional, so think outside the box and don't be afraid to let your creative side show.

Product Tips:
- Hairspray: If you're going for an elaborate 'do, use a hairspray so strong it'll survive a nuclear explosion - the most rock-solid stuff you can find! I use Bed Head Hard Head, but I've heard nothing but good things about Got2Be Glued Hairspray.
- Spikes & 'Hawks: Want to get the maximum outrageous factor out of your short hair? Got2Be Glued is another product from the Got2Be range which will give you rock solid hold that'll endure anything (I kid you not!)
- Tough Makeup: It's unlikely your makeup will stay pristinely perfect all night, but using a good waterproof mascara and heavy-holding eyeliner such as MAC's Fluidline Liner will minimise the risk of accidental smudging.
- Outrageous Makeup: For the brightest, sexiest colours around, check out Lime Crime Makeup, Lush's sister store B and makeup artists' fixation MAC.

Some ideal gig outfits I constructed on Polyvore for your viewing pleasure - which are you?

Gig Wear by Superbeckyy featuring DC Shoes hoodies

Outfit #1:
This girl yearns to be a music photographer when she's older, but right now she settles with taking pictures of her favourite bands from the floor every week. She never leaves the house without her Nikon D80 and posts her work online as soon as she gets home. Her style is a little indie and a little emo - even though she loves gigs, she's a little shy & hides from the rest of the world under her purple wooly hat.

Outfit #2:
Favouring the mosh pit over the dancefloor, this girl is an unashamed concert lover, obsessed with metal, addicted to the adrenaline rush from repeatedly seeing her favourite bands & following them around the country on tour. Her parents can't understand this behaviour, & wonder why she returns home every weekend covered in other peoples' sweat.

Outfit #3:
Throwing practicality out of the window, this girl's favourite hobbies include dancing, browsing the counter at MAC and spending more in a week on hairspray than she does on food. She's developed rock-hard calluses on her feet from wearing high heels each day, as she refuses to be seen dead in a scruffy pair of Chucks.

Outfit #4:
Gigs are a guilty pleasure for this girl. Instead of staying in to help her mother with the baking or conduct lengthy telephone calls to her friends, she sneaks out of the house to see her favourite bands live. She stays well away from the mosh pits in fear of messing up her hair & giving away her dirty secret, but she loves to dance and flirt shamelessly with the boys she meets.

Thanks for reading - hope this helps!

New Layout! ♥

2009-05-03T16:00:00.003+01:00

I've been inspired by the wonderful Kim and the delightful new page header she has kindly made for me! Isn't it so much more suiting than the old one? I'm ecstatic with it. Thank you so much! ♥

I've altered the layout to suit the new header, & will be tweaking the HTML codes to beautify the page during the next few weeks. I apologise if I screw up the coding, as I'm not too skilled with this HTML matter. I'm trying my hardest to get rid of various aspects of the default layout I'm not happy with (random barbie pink lines, for example..how odd!), so you'll know why if the page suddenly looks alien & unfamiliar to you!

In addition, I've had some wonderful mini-article ideas recently, which I can't wait to share with you. Life has been terribly busy lately (exams, studying, friends..exams!), so it's often difficult to find time to plan & write them! I should be able to start some serious brainstorming soon, so I'm super-excited & hope you enjoy them.

Love & Sequins from Gala Darling

2009-05-02T20:40:00.004+01:00

'Puddle Of Sequins' by Soda-Dreamer @ DeviantArt.com

Avid readers of the fabulous & candy-tressed Gala Darling's blog will know about her latest concoction, the wonderful Love & Sequins: Making Magic Happen.

For anyone who hasn't heard, Gala will be releasing frequent installments of podcasts on the subject of just about everything relevant to our lives - love, style, music, sex, dreams, fashion, travelling..anything! What makes her latest creation so unique is that Gala writes each 'cast herself, tells it in her own(awesomely accented) voice and draws on her own experience..wonderful stuff!

After listening to installment number one a couple of days ago, I can truly attest that the excitement is completely valid; these podcasts will brighten up your day, educate you and inspire you. Load one onto your MP3 player or laptop, and listen to it on the train, in your favourite chair or whilst drifting off to sleep. Plus you can gift them to friends as a thoughtful 'just because' virtual present. I admit I have not yet listened to the episode all the way through due to lack of quiet time (#1 has a duration of a whopping 51 minutes 13 seconds!) but I can't wait to - it's wonderful stuff.

I hope readers of my blog will check it out, as Gala speaks on topics we can all relate to & so it should be relevant to you too! She has put a ton of effort into this project, and it definitely shows. If you get to listen to it yourself, I truly hope you enjoy it.

What I Wore Today: 29/04/09

2009-04-29T19:48:00.002+01:00

The weather has been complete madness lately, so I've been wearing many 'thrown-on-at-the-last-minute' outfits due to heat/rain/cold. My theory is that the weather'll be the exact opposite of what you think it's going to be, but then it proves me wrong. D:

Today:

POF: Skoool. Excuse my dishevelled appearance, it was a long day.
Tops: Both Delias (I have a lighter blue one underneath which is super-cute..need to get better photos of that sometime :D)
Blazer: Urban Outfitters
Scarf: A Wear. Almost wore my furry scarf but it was too hot..then walking into town in the evening it was freezing >.<
Jeans: Topshop
Boots [not pictured]: Dr Martens
Jewellery: kitschtique @Etsy.com, Formulae XO, Tarina Tarantino, Miss Selfridge.

I'm planning to write another style mini-article when I have a free five minutes. I've got lots of ideas, & hope it'll be worth reading & help people out!

What I Wore Today: 23/04/09 (New Purchases! ♥)

2009-04-23T18:40:00.003+01:00

New clothing makes me ridiculously happy! Even if I feel kinda guilty about the cost, it's always a fun experiment to wear something new, especially if it's not a style you'd normally wear.

Dress/top thing: Forever 21 (new)
Belt: Forever 21 (new)
Hoodie: Forever 21 (old)
T-shirt: Charlotte Russe
Necklaces: FormulaeXO, Forever 21 (new)
Jeans: Topshop Tall
Shoes: Harajuku Lovers (out of shot..must take picture of them! They rock)
POF: I could be the new poster child for Forever 21...

I adore the new 'dress thing', named so because I'm not sure whether it's supposed to be a top or a dress. It's kinda long and I suppose it could pass as a very short dress, but it's not very opaque & therefore might not be so great when worn as such. Though it would look very cute over a cami top and some black tailored shorts in the super-hot weather. Plus it looked pinker on the website photo, but I'm still very pleased. Am hoping I shan't snag it anytime soon.

LOVEE this belt. I bought a buckled waist belt recently but manage to misplace it before even wearing it, so this is the first time I've worn one like this. I love the chunkiness & the rock&roll style of it. Though it is a bit tight (despite being marked as a size M/L!) & hurts my back slightly from the tightness - I recently had my back adjusted so I may not wear it for a while just yet...

I bought this as an extra item in my order as I thought it was super-cute. In the site photo it looked like the pendant was painted china, but it's in a plastic bubble which makes it unusual & so pretty! The size of the rose changes when you look at it from different angles, so I think it's definitely rather unique.

Overall I'm pleased with my new purchases! I can't wait to try wearing them with different styles.

My Forever 21 Order! + What I Wore Today.

2009-04-22T17:57:00.005+01:00

Yay, it's FINALLY here! After such a long wait, I was relieved and delighted to finally receive it.

My mum picked it up from the Post Office today because there was a customs charge. Such a huge box for what I ordered!

Ta-daah!

I'm wearing my purchases tomorrow so I'll be sure to take photos & give my verdict on the lot!

The only thing that irritated me was the cumulative cost of the whole order - it was ridiculously expensive for what I received.
Cost of merch: $43.40 / £29.78
Cost of shipping: $39.95 / £27.41
Customs charge: $18.44 / £12.65
Total cost of order: $101.79 / £69.84

Wow! I don't think I'll be purchasing anything from their site again; my current account balance has gone right down after this. Maybe I'll ask for something from there as a birthday present instead? I'm a little annoyed that even though the package was very light, the shipping cost almost $40 - a package of that weight shouldn't even cost $10 to send! The package must have been stamped by their own franking machine - very sneaky indeed - as the actual cost isn't shown on the box. I think they'd get many more UK and international customers if their shipping prices were honest and reasonable.

I better get my wear out of my purchases. At least they're cute, so I should wear them lots!

This is what I wore today:

POF: Wearin' my skully skirt for the first time in forever. Anyone got any great ideas on how to wear it?
Blazer: Urban Outfitters
Scarf: Camden
Tee: The Rocket Summer gig
Necklaces (hidden) Delias / Formulaexo.com
Skirt: H&M
Tights: I used to wear these to school when we had uniforms..so I forget where they're from.
Boots: Demonia.

I was also wearing a cute skull cameo brooch from the wonderful Kitschtique at Etsy.com. She makes delightfully cute things, so go check out her shop!

Unfortunately the temperature here has suddenly rocketed, so I doubt I'll get to wear tights and jackets for a while because they're super-warm. I'll miss you, black clothes! I'll definitely wear something thinner tomorrow.

Question: How has the sudden (but welcomed) hot weather affected the way you dress?

What I Wore: 16/04/09

2009-04-16T18:25:00.003+01:00

Did my driving theory test today..& I passed! Wore new top & scarf which I bought yesterday, both of which I'm super-happy with.

Had to lean back slightly as my boots are kinda big. (I'm not that chubby)

POF: Wearin' new stuff.
Top: Urban Outfitters..hardly ever buy anything full price from them since they're usually a bit of a rip off, but the cut of this top made me happy. It's super-long at the back and shorter at the front. It's hard to see how awesome it is from this photo, but I'll definitely wear it again soon & take a better picture.
T-shirt: Pac Sun
Scarf: A|Wear - £3 in the sale :D
Necklace: Delias
Belt: Some hippy store
Jeans: Primark
Boots: Demonia. Made it kind of hard to leave the test center "quietly", as the buckles jingle like Santa's sleigh.

I'm ridiculously happy at passing my theory test - only the hard part left to finish!

Style Survey.

2009-04-13T21:54:00.004+01:00

In the spirit of Bank Holiday Monday, I feel a fun & relaxing quiz is in order!

It would be excellent if anyone reading this would comment with their responses or post a new entry in your own blog to fill it in (don't be shy!), to see people's different approaches to and opinions of their own personal style.

I'll start with my answers:

1. Latest fashion purchase?
Black Primark shorts from Ebay. They haven't arrived yet, but they were wonderfully cheap. I was thinking of finding some gorgeous patterned tights in an L size to go with them - Topshop's tights are divine at the moment, shame they're all one size!

2. Item in your wardrobe you've owned the longest?
A Pikachu t-shirt my cousin bought years ago. Still fits! ♥ It's kinda thin & short to wear in public, but it's awesome for pyjamas.

3. Where is the furthest away from home you've ever bought an item of clothing? & What did you get?
In person? Anything I've bought in the US so far. If you want to be super-accurate, probably a t-shirt from New Smyrna Beach.

4. One particular brand that takes up the most space in your wardrobe?
Not sure on this one. Hmm, possibly Delias or H&M, I have so many pieces from both. Long sleeve thermals from Delias are the best thing ever invented. Hooray for waffle knit!

5. And your least favourite brand?
Apologies for being unoriginal, but probably Uggs, more specifically their footwear. If they were about 90% cheaper and looked vaguely cute, I might have considered wearing them as slippers. Though they're huge, hideous, overpriced things on the feet of people across the world - how did this happen?! And they're not even practical - real snow would wreck them. [/rant] I could go on forever!

6. Worst personal fashion 'faux-pas'?
Wearing boy clothes when I was 12/13ish - boy hoodies, boy shoes, boy JEANS even! There are photos out there somewhere. *shudder*

7. Favourite colour to wear?
Aqua, blue or black. Black is mainly from band tees (I NEED to learn to sew them into pretty fitted tops!) and blue just looks better on me than most colours.

8. What are your shopping strategies? How do you go about looking for new pieces for your wardrobe?
Personally I find this ridiculously difficult! I normally have specific stores in mind when going out and make sure I look at everything in there. I try to pinpoint particular items that go with my own personal aesthetic and try anything on before I buy it. Though this is difficult in crowded stores (Primark!), when it's simply a case of grabbing something and hurriedly attempting to pay for it to avoid the masses of people.
The most nightmarish situation is shopping in a small town, as I often feel that the day is wasted if I haven't bought something, and end up buying items I don't genuinely like just to feel I've done something useful.

9. If you were a fashion stereotype, what would you be, based on the majority of your wardrobe?
Emo or punk, definitely. I'm constantly told that I look like a smoker, though I'm not sure if that's my clothing or simply some kind of vibe I emit. I have a fetish for the traditional punk stuff, like vintage leather jackets, plaid and Dr Martens. One day I want an authentic crusty (not literally of course!) punk leather jacket, with patches and all.

10. 4 items you really want right now (clothing/look-wise)?
- A real Miu Miu bag
- The Frye boots I'm intent on owning
- A blue suede biker jacket from Topshop
- Long divine hair!

11. Any last words?
I should quit procrastinating and do some revision...

What I Wore Today: 11/04/09

2009-04-11T21:12:00.004+01:00

POF: Going out to eat w/ family. Posh dinners are boring, as I never like anything on the menu. Raw salmon is foul. D; So I might as well wear something I like if the day's gonna be boring!
Blazer: Primark
T-shirt: Bleeding Star
Necklaces: Formulaexo.com, Delias, Topshop
Belt: Lowlife
Jeans: H&M

Excuse my messy room, I literally dumped out my suitcase onto the floor when I got home last night. I travelled for 3 hours via public transport (in the rain!) to go to a gig with my b/f. It ended up being cancelled. So I wasn't too happy, & therefore felt much too drained to organise my stuff.

Though I did manage to fall in love with this perfume.

SO GOOD. I bought a 5ml bottle on Ebay which should arrive soon. I tried it a couple days ago, it's amazing. A completely sexy, sophisticated & expensive aroma which isn't overpowering, just like you'd expect from Vivienne Westwood. Plus the bottle will look pretty on my dresser.

It's ALWAYS good to wear expensive perfume, as it nearly always smells divine, & the smell won't make you gag after several hours.

Hope everyone gets to do something fun for Easter! ♥

10 Favourite Thrifty Beauty Buys! Save Money By Shopping Smart

2009-04-07T15:18:00.008+01:00

In times of desperation and economic crisis, money is all-important. Everyone worries about not having enough of it, some more than others, and it can buy us wonderful things like clothes, CDs and pretty jewellery. Saving money has become an extremely vital issue lately, and there's so many creative methods you can do to save a little extra yourself.

One HUGE way in which many people waste money is through buying stacks of makeup and cosmetics, much of which is unused. According to recent studies, the average woman spends over £750 on cosmetics every year - this includes hair products, makeup and body treatments. Sounds about right, hmm? Are you spending £20 on an item when you could have a similar (or even better) result for a fraction of the price? How many unopened or barely used bottles, tubs and pots of the stuff are filling up your drawers? Imagine how many pairs of shoes £750 could buy! (this always helps me to visualise large amounts of money!) Why do we purchase this unneccessary excess of sweet-scented, sticky, gooey goodness, and how does it end up there? We all do it, it happens. But do not feel guilty! I have compiled a list of hints, tips and my top favourite super-cheap and wonderful cosmetic items to help you lighten your makeup bag and not your wallet.

1.
Name: The almighty Vaseline!
Why it rocks: Truly the item of a hundred and one uses. (Talking of which, have you read this humorous review yet?
Vaseline beats any moisturiser or lip balm. Rub it all over your lips before falling asleep and wake up the next morning to luscious softness. Sore nose? No problem! Same goes for your nostrils, especially useful during the season of colds and runny noses. I could go on forever, seriously.
Buy it here: Practically any drugstore or supermarket, almost anywhere in the world. So convenient!
Price: Usually between 90p-£1 for a small tin like the one pictured, depending on where you buy it from.

2.
Name: VO5 Silky Smooth Miracle Mist
Why it rocks: Who else worships their hair straighteners but hates fried hair from the heat damage? Truthfully, the only way to 100% prevent fried ends is to boycott the heated appliances and give your poor hair a rest. However if you're a true devotee to the holy GHDs, you'll need a trusty heat defence spray that will loyally stick by your side and never let you down, no matter how hot things get. The Miracle Mist is a prime candidate for this - it is easy to manipulate, does what it promises and can be picked up at a bargain price. I have used many horrible products in the past that claim to defend the hair from heat, but ended up leaving me disappointed, my ends more fried than ever. However this spray will defend your poker straight locks like a valiant hero and keep them in beautiful condition. I use it every day and it hasn't let me down.
Buy it here: Larger Boots stores will stock it. Or buy online from Chemist Direct. Though there is slightly different packaging in different countries, so read the packaging to ensure you're buying the right product!
Price: £3.15 for a 150ml spritz bottle. Or save 6p and buy from the above link! Every little counts, right?

3.
Name: Ulta Eye Shadow
Why it rocks: High quality, excellent choice (99 colours! Think of the possibilities!) and there is always a great offer on them, such as 3 for $10, or the current 2 for $7 (buy one get one free..I'm there!). This makes them ridiculously cheap, as well as being great additions to your eye shadow collection. I love experimenting with the more unusual shades and use them as much as my more expensive Urban Decay and MAC shadow. Currently I have around 6 colours, but will shortly return for more.
Buy it here: Shipping is only available to the US - American sweethearts buy it here from Ulta's online store. UK and worldwide darlings, make the Ulta store it a must visit on your next transatlantic shopping spree.
Price: Currently $7 each; however the latest discount lets you pick up 2 for this price! Hooray!

4.
Name: Superdrug Extra Gentle Apple De-Tangling Spray
Why it rocks: It makes coarse, tangled hair and knotted hair extensions a thing of the distant past. It doesn't matter that it's for kids, it works just as well on adults without spending ridiculous amounts of money on expensive conditioning sprays. A wonderful extra bonus: it will make your hair smell like deliciously juicy apples. I used to use it on my old hair extensions, as they tangled ridiculously easy. This stuff made them smell of fruity goodness as well as leaving them soft and smooth.
Buy it here: Superdrug. Unfortunately it's not online, hence the tiny picture (only one I could find!)
Price: 99p! Pay with £1 and throw the change into a wishing fountain for good luck.

5.
Name: Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes
Why it rocks: Stubborn eyeliner and mascara smudges will never stain your pillowcases again. One of the worst things about wearing makeup is having to take the whole lot off at the end of the day. Eye-burning mascara cleanser and skin-drying foundation remover are not the most pleasant thing to slather onto your delicate skin every night, so do your face a favour and use these super-gentle cleansing wipes instead. They are wonderful for eradicating even the most stubborn black eyeliner and waterproof mascara. I don't think I could live without them. There are several variations, including age-resisting and exfoliating, but personally I think the original ones are the best.
Buy it here: Most supermarkets and drugstores, including Tesco and Waitrose. Though Boots seem to be rather cheap too.
Price: £2.93 from link above, anywhere around £3 from anywhere else. There are 25 wipes in a pack, so that's a mere 12p per day to remove every bit of makeup. Your skin will love you for it, I promise.

6.
Name: Maybelline Full 'N' Soft Mascara
Why it rocks: Why throw away money on expensive mascara when you can have beautiful, full, clump-free lashes for a fraction of the price? I know I sound like a mascara advert, but it's true! Since discovering this several months ago, I swear I haven't used anything else. I'm often skeptical about cheap makeup but this is the real thing. It'll make your lashes look natural, full and soft (does exactly what the name implies) without spidery clumps or flakes. I don't think I'll be using anything else for a long time either.
Buy it here: For some reason I can't find it in the usual high street stores - maybe it's only available in the largest branches? If you can't find it, don't bother buying any other Maybelline mascara, as the rest just don't match up to this. Get it cheapest on Yu Yu Beaute. Or Ebay it! Always check feedback and buy from a trusted seller.
Price: £3.25 from the above link, possibly cheaper from Ebay retailers.

7.
Name: Body Shop Cocoa Butter Lip Care Stick
Why it rocks: It's my favourite flavoured lip balm ever. It'll make your lips pillowy soft and smelling of delicious creamy chocolate - is there any better flavour?! It's not foul and cheap-smelling like many other chocolatey lip balms, this is the closest you'll get to real chocolate cosmetics. And who wouldn't want to kiss a girl whose lips taste of cocoa butter?
Buy it here: The Body Shop.
Price: £3.90. I know, not as cheap as many other lip balms, but definitely worth the price!

8.
Name: Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets
Why it rocks: No more oily skin! The first time you try these, they are truly like pocket-sized miracles. I got hooked on these when the chinese students at my school let me borrow some they'd brought back from Hong Kong, and I simply had to get my own. You can see all the excess oil it removes on the wipe - very cool in an odd sort of way! Try them for yourself and take them everywhere, you'll adore them. I can't believe they don't sell them in the UK - I always knew English people were crazy.
Buy them here: A reputable seller on Ebay. Buying in bulk works out cheapest, though buy a single pack if you've never tried them.
Price: Ebay bulk buying works out at approximately £1.5o each.

9.
Name: Johnson's Baby Powder
Why it rocks: Babies smell awesome! It has that gorgeous fresh baby smell to it - light, fresh and heavenly. Just like Vaseline, baby powder is a product of many uses. It is the best dry shampoo I've used - sprinkle a few touches onto your hands, rub it vigourously through your hair and say goodbye for greasy roots for the day. Of course, you should wash your hair frequently as usual, but it's a lifesaver when your hair is unusually greasy one morning, or you've forgotten to wash it the night before. Also great for its intended use, as your skin will be sweet-smelling and silky soft.
Buy it here: Boots has great 100g mini containers of it - perfect for handbags and travelling. Just remember to twist the top closed before throwing it into your suitcase!
Price: 97p for the small 100g; £1.69 for the mighty 500g.

10.
Name: A Crash Course In Skincare Fresh Face Mask
Why it rocks: Take advantage of Lush's most generous freebie offer and choose this delightfully fresh & natural mask as your reward for returning your black pots. I have tried several of their fresh face masks and this is my favourite by far. One pot gives you 6-8 masks of yummy avocado, lemon and yoghurt mixture to make your skin soft, glowing and touchable. It's perfect for sensitive skin, won't dry out your face or make a mess of the bathroom.
Buy it here: Lush
Price: £6.31, or free upon the return of 5 clean black pots.

There is so much more I'd like to add to this list, though I think 10 is a good number for now! I may post a sequel to this if anyone finds it useful.

Some more helpful economising tips:
- Buy your favourite products in bulk lots & larger sizes! Is there a particular shampoo, vitamin or other cosmetic product you use frequently and would benefit from if you bought a larger size? You can save several pounds by buying hair products such as Catwalk conditioners (my favourite!) in duos or mega bottles. I always buy a larger salon size to save money and packaging. Keep a look out for similar deals at your local hair salon, or from a reputable Ebay retailer such as Unwind Me, who have amazing deals on salon brands when bought in bulk.

- Sign up for a store card from your favourite cosmetic stores. If you're a frequent shopper at Boots, signing up for a points card is free and can earn you tons of wonderful freebies. It's the most generous points card in the UK, letting you build up a personal store of points to spend on any products instore which your heart desires. This is an excellent way to save money on your everyday necessities, or spoil yourself with perfumes and extravagant body lotions. I have a similar card from Ulta which works similarly, just a shame that it's so far away. We all deserve it, don't we?

- Don't be afraid to ask for free samples. If you're pondering spending your hard-earned cash on an expensive body scrub, at least make sure you truly like it first! There's nothing worse than blowing money on a product, coming home and finding out you hate it. Stores such as Lush and The Body Shop have lovely employees who will gladly bestow an array of free samples and yummy smells upon you. Everything is labelled and given in generous portions, so you can experiment with it properly and find out whether it's worth your cash.

- Sell new and lightly used products on Ebay. There's nothing worse than receiving stinky perfume or soaps from a 'loving relative' every Christmas: the ones who forget your name and buy you something awful that you could truly do without. "No, Auntie Vera..I REALLY don't want another Barbie fragrance!". Instead of finding its home in the depths of your dresser, maybe it could be passed on to someone else who would enjoy it. If you're an Ebay addict, it's a great opportunity to gain back some money on your shopping mistakes and let others benefit from your beauty faux-pas. However when selling used cosmetics on Ebay, think to yourself, "Would I want to receive a similar product in this condition?" Always be completely honest about the item, its condition, why it's used and how it's been used (to avoid germs!). Being 100% honest about anything you sell is vital!

So after this mammoth entry, here are some questions:

How much do you reckon you spend on cosmetics each year?
Favourite thrifty beauty buys?
What are your favourite cosmetic stores for great value products? Lush is mine! I could literally live there - the factory is only 30 minutes away, so it's not exactly impossible...
Best money saving techniques when it comes to cosmetics?

What an entry! Probably the biggest I've done so far: I figure it's a result of procrastination from holiday homework. I'd love to hear comments, tips - any feedback would be wonderful.

Summer! ♥

2009-04-05T11:07:00.005+01:00

The days are getting longer, the weather's getting warmer, the ice cream van is outside school almost every day now. This can only mean one thing...Summer!

Question: What do YOU wear for summer?

Personally, I've never really worn anything seasonal or suitable for warmer weather before. When I used to go to Florida to see my family every year, it was clear to other people which one of us didn't live there! Normally I'd just wear t-shirts and jeans, despite the heat. Plus my parents have weird issues about leg shaving, so I never show my legs for fear of terrifying young children.

Despite before, I really want to get some pretty summery clothes this year which I can actually wear! I don't want to be the sulky goth child sitting under an umbrella at the beach while everyone else is enjoying themselves. I love pretty skirts and bermuda shorts (though they've never caught on much in the UK..why?!) but usually layer them somehow instead of wearing them by themselves. Though in summer it's too hot to wear tights and long socks, and so it's necessary to start wearing cool, seasonal, pretty things!

There's some gorgeous new styles in the stores this season - a great excuse to restock your winter wardrobes with fun and fabulous items.

I ordered these from Forever 21:

I can imagine it layered with tights, skinny jeans, t-shirts or on its own. Plus the colours are gorgeous.

I need a high waisted belt, no question. This one is slightly punk-ish and plain without being too dull, I adore it.

Pretty. :D

Because of astronomical (& unfair!) international shipping costs, I wanted these as well:

Another pretty dress, I love the colours of this.

Vests rock. Double breasted things are awesome. Therefore this vest/waistcoat must be mine.

If these are still around by my birthday, I'm definitely asking for them. Though if I'd have had these too, after shipping would've been added, I'd have had to pay over $150! And that's even without possible tax. I know many US clothing companies are being kind to us foreigners by offering international shipping, but it should be based on weight and size of the order rather than price. They are putting off many potential customers by putting up their shipping rates to ridiculous prices just to post a couple of dresses or tops, which is completely unnecessary.
Though some places are still making excuses, refusing to post anything outside of their own states. We've gotta be grateful for the companies that make the efforts, I suppose.

Back on topic: what are some of your favourite trends in the stores for this summer?
Mine are:

- Layered/ruffled dip dyed clothing.

From M&S. My nan offered to buy this as part of her frequent marksandspencer.com shopping spree - I didn't know whether I wanted it at first, but I may have to take her up on that!
Primark also have some pretty dip dyed long tops in different styles and colours.

- Colourful boho. I must namedrop Primark again, as I feel it is yet again necessary. It's not the ugly brown, stringy, beaded, old lady boho look of several years ago, it's fresh and new in an array of rainbow colours with some gorgeous swirly prints & sexy details. Some of Primark's newest tops and dresses have some exquisite summery prints with silvery details, reminiscent of that old boho look except not as hideous.

- Plaid! Plaid works around the clock - wooly double breasted coats, hobo bags, jackets and dresses all look wonderful in the classic plaid design. Just don't go over the top.

So these are my questions:
What do YOU wear in the summer?
Favourite (or least favourite) summer trends this year?
Any amazing summer finds already?

No outfit pictures today, as I'm wearing simple jeans & a Paramore tour tee ready for cleaning out my bunny's hutch. I don't mind - he appreciates it!

What I Wore: 2/4/09

2009-04-04T10:13:00.003+01:00

Bit of a late post but I've been super-busy lately, what with my college interview & getting ready for the boyfriend's birthday. Very excited. :D

I'm off school for 2 weeks now, can't wait!

This is what I wore Friday:

Jacket: Primark
T-shirt: Pac-Sun
Necklaces: Formulaexo.com (they have such wonderful jewellery!) & Delias
Skirt: Urban Outfitters (yay for ultra-cheap goodies in the sales)
Boots: RTBU white engineer boots RIP. ='[ The entire sole came off the morning this was taken! I've learnt from my mistakes though, I wore them way too much. Might be getting some Veronica Frye boots instead for everyday wear, & buy some different white ones from Sweet Chili Lolita. But not wear them quite so vigorously.

What I Wore Today - 31/3 + 1/4/09

2009-04-01T18:48:00.003+01:00

A double post today, as my enthusiasm for wardrobe detox yesterday turned into an entire article! School has been very busy indeed, though tomorrow is my last day before Easter (yay!) with a college interview on Friday - exciting stuff!

Today!:

POF: Getting hair trimmed & hiking to skool for lessons.
Hair: My very fabulous hair stylist! I'm trying to grow it an extra 3-4", so the dead ends need trimming frequently.
Jacket: Kate Moss @ Topshop. £35 in the sale from £70+! It looks ugly on the hanger, but I adore wearing it, as it has a subtle leopard print all over & is cut differently from the other blazers I have.
T-shirt: Pac-Sun
Necklaces: Tarina Tarantino & Delias
Jeans: Topshop
Boots: Doc Marten (James & James). Though still painful after wearing them often for a month - anyone have any tips on breaking them in?

Yesterday:

POF: Comfortable & bright for hardcore English Lit revision on a (mostly) free day at skl.
Scarf: Smelly scarf man stall at Camden
Hoodie: Urban Outfitters US several years ago
T-shirt: Delias
Jeans: H&M
Boots (not pictured): RTBU. I try not to wear them inside, as they're kinda dirty & falling apart! Yesterday (when I wore them), a metal bar fell out from between the sole and the upper part..no idea where that came from. So strange!

I would love to have a tripod and a remote for my camera, but not sure whether they come for my humble Panasonic Lumix. Maybe when I'm rich & have money for a sexy Nikon D90?