The Idols, Icons & Inspiration Quiz

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!

Second Hand: Pre-Loved or Pre-Used?

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.

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.

Style Survey.

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...