You know those bloggers who clean their apartment before they take photographs? I’m not one of them. What you see is what you get I’m afraid. Okay, so it’s not too bad really but I know my flat desperately needs a thorough spring clean – I love a good clear out, it’s like therapy to me. Almost as good as a new haircut. It probably doesn’t look very different but I’m over the moon with my ‘do and my new salon discovery – Radio on Redchurch St. Best. Hairdressers. Ever.
In other news I’ve been all over colour blocking these past few weeks ….when the weather gets drab, I go bright. Rainbow bright. And yes, you have seen this blouse and brooch before but I do have my favourites – I just try and mix them differently to keep them interesting for myself.
Have I told you how obsessed I am with these shoes? Decent vegan shoes are hard to come by, in my opinion, and these mid heel Mary Jane’s from Marks ‘n Sparks are my absolute go to shoe right now. I only wish I’d bought them in red too when I had the chance. Ah, shopping regrets. They just keep culminating.
what i’m wearing …blouse, brooch, sweater and skirt/vintage …tights/topshop …shoes/marks&spencer
Overnight oats are a breakfast revelation. They’ve been on my morning menu ever since I discovered them a few years back. One serving: 3 heaped tbsp oats, cover with plant milk (i like unsweetened almond), place in fridge overnight and top with fruit, nuts, a dusting of cinnamon, drizzle of agave and a sprinkling of shredded coconut. Obsessed.
I’ve been very quiet of late on this little space of mine. I obviously needed a time out. Call it quiet time. Sometimes our minds need quieting – I know mine does – but in this age of constant sharing and over-sharing (ahem, reluctantly raises hand) we can forget to take time out of the chaos. Just to ‘be’, y’know?
In real life I’ve actually been pretty busy – with some exciting developments professionally speaking. We’re even allowing ourselves to take a much needed holiday this coming weekend ….off to France we go! Calvacade, woodland walks and baguettes. Bliss.
I can’t get enough of Toast clothing right now. They have another incredible sale in full swing at the moment (13th-17th May so you’d better get your skates on if you want to nab a bargain) and I couldn’t resist buying myself these super summery stripey culottes …now, if only we get the weather so I can actually wear the blighters! Obsessed.
Being away from my own blog doesn’t mean I haven’t been on others. I love getting inspiration from my favourite go-to websites (Calivintage, Avant Blargh, Oh So Lovely Vintage to name but a few) so I was ecstatic when A Beautiful Mess announced their incredible new photo app. Truth be told i’ve never bought an app in my life but as soon as I witnessed the greatness happening on instagram(obsessed) I knew I had to have a piece of the action. Unfortunately it may mean another impromptu hiatus from the blog whilst I ‘messify’ all my photos ….I feel an(other) obsession comin’ on, eek!
Sleep is one of my favourite pastimes – duvet and bed (oh memoryfoam, how I love thee!) equals happiness in my world. Is it possible to be both a morning person and love a good lie in? What I snooze in is just as important as what I snooze on, and this cute and colourful Zandra Rhodes flower print cover helps me sleep that little bit sounder. You could say i’m…..obsessed?
I had such a long, whiny, self indulgent, ‘poor me’ post planned. I’d even put off writing it last night because I wanted to give it my full undivided attention. Maximum whinage. And yet, as I’ve sat down to expose all about a certain little unpleasant experience from last week that left me questioning myself and everything I stand for (well, almost – us Irish love to exaggerate, it’s in the blood) the will to purge has suddenly left me. Just like that.
We’ve all been there. Had our ego’s dented and made to feel foolish for being who we are. But its how we deal with such things that makes us the better person, right? Rising above it and all that.
I’m reminded of something John Candy’s character said in one of my all time favourite comedies, Planes, Trains and Automobiles ….’I like me. My Wife likes me. My customers like me’, which, in short, made me realise I shouldn’t give a damn what others think – as long as I have a few people in my corner I’ll be alright. The Candyman always knew how to deliver those lines that almost broke your heart – he might’ve been better known for his comic ability but the guy could freakin’ act!
I digress.
So yeah. People who make you feel like crap. Don’t let ‘em. Simples.
Oh, and I’ve taken to wearing my scarf in the fashion of Mrs. Mop. I kinda dig it. You dig? On second thoughts, don’t answer, my delicate ego can only take so many beatings per year and I’m already sorted for a good six months.
what i’m wearing. …scarf/vintage …..boat print tee/orla kiely for uniqlo ….bird print jacket/henry holland for debenhams ….high waisted trousers/american apparel ….sandals/dorothy perkins ….bag/zara
Paring down? By the looks of this outfit, clearly not. What can I say, I’ve always been a sucker for colour and sometimes wearing a whole lotta colour is the way to do go. Well, for me it is anyway.
Another Charlton House expedition ….we have a real soft spot for this place and never tire of roaming the grounds. I must say, this little part of London is really growing on me and even though we always have half an eye on our move back to Cornwall, for now this really feels like home.
I mustn’t overlook the fact that today is Earth Day. Being vegan, environmental issues are pretty much always at the forefront of my mind. We are by no means perfect (a long way off in fact) but we try to improve upon what we already do everyday. Even if that is not using so much water when doing the dishes, foregoing a certain ingredient because of the air miles it has accrued or choosing vintage clothing over new, we try our best to keep our impact to a minimum.
what i’m wearing …..skirt & blouse/vintage …..red jumper/gap …..green mac/debenhams …..tights/topshop …..shoes/marks and spencer …..bag/nica …..sunglasses/betsey johnson
It’s important to us to feel like we’re doing our bit and if that makes us bores then so be it. I’ll just let my loud and proud ensemble make up for it. Happy Earth Day!
When you live in the UK you just have deal with the temperamental weather, rise above it and try to keep your spirits up without letting it impact your style decisions too much. That’s not to say it doesn’t – nothing irritates me more than when I plan an outfit in my head only to wake up to a dreary wet day that does nothing but dash your best laid outfit plans. Damn you British weather, damn you!
Obviously this vintage trench is a lifesaver in such situations but when it comes to headwear it’s getting to that stage in the season where I just want toss my winter hats and a. let my hair flow freely or b. wrap a pretty scarf around my noggin’. Unfortunately, it’s not quite au natural time just yet (thank you April showers!) so instead I opted for a scarf, tied in a somewhat seventies fashion.
Whilst I lean mostly towards 60′s fashion I must say I’ve become more and more drawn to the style of the 1970′s – or perhaps I’m just reverting to my teenage ways. My style icons back then were Jodie Foster in Freaky Friday, Anna Chlumsky in My Girl and pretty much every cast member in Dazed and Confused (and I’m including the male cast members too – soooo many great tees!).
This outfit here, however, is very loosely influenced by the well known style fest that is Jaws….that’s right, Jaws. Not only is it a favourite film of mine (by the way, did you know I am a horror fanatic?) but I’ve always loved the clothing featured throughout especially Ellen Brody’s ensembles.
Good screen shots of that movie are few and far between on the net – well, none that illustrate the kinds of gettup’s I’m referring to – so you’ll just have to go and re-watch it to see what I mean.
Whoever said the seventies was the decade taste forgot needs a good hiding. I for one love those gaudy prints, bizarro fabrics, crazy collars and uber wide flares – wasn’t this the era that cemented the socks and sandals combo as a serious fashion choice? If all that constitutes bad taste then bring it on by the bucketload and count me in for I plan to be a unashamed serial seventies offender for a very long time to come.
what i’m wearing…vintage mac/dannimac…scarf/vintage…bag/vintage…rust cord flares/anthropologie…denim shirt/zara…black top and boots/h&m…
I’m not sure these trousers could be any baggier – i’m almost in MC Hammer territory but I’ll be damned if I care. I was so chuffed when I came across these bad boys in a much needed charity shop haul last Saturday I couldn’t contain my excitement and had to wear them out in East London for a friends birthday shindig. There was me all excited about my street urchin get up when some guy at the bar tried to pay me a ‘compliment’ by telling me how much he loved my ’1930′s school marm attire’…..erm, thanks?! That’s what I get for not wearing a bodycon dress i guess.
Anywho, doesn’t put me off them in the slightest and even though they might make my bottom half look disproportionately bigger than my upper, these uber baggy trousers are seriously floating my boat right now so I shall keep on wearing ‘em until I get bored.
It’s been a while since we had a wander around this lovely park. It even has an animal area full of peacocks, deer (bambi ones!), horses, chickens, goats and other little lovelies I could admire all day long. It’s not a zoo type situation I hasten to add.
Why do weekends have to fly by so goddamn quickly? Seriously, I feel like life doesn’t stand still for one second – or at least enough for me to catch my breath. Luckily, we have a Cornwall trip planned for the upcoming Easter break and I am counting the days – it’s 12 in case you’re interested. I need to see the sea, be in the sea and generally be near the sea. What in the heck am I doing in the city, can you tell me that?
what i’m wearing….trousers/toast(secondhand)….striped top/billabong….cardi(underneath)/old navy….jacket/vintage….boots and beret/h&m….socks/tabio….belt/dunnes stores….bag/vintage
It’s not exactly t-shirt weather yet but I couldn’t resist wearing this new organic cotton one I recently acquired. Whilst I’m a firm believer in sustainable fashion, I’m also a firm believer in good design. If a design (even a simple t-shirt) can’t stand alone, relying on the ethical tagline to sell it then in my opinion it’s hugely flawed. Ultimately, the garment must have aesthetic appeal without having to explain itself – it’s doomed to fail otherwise.
I’m pleased to say this is the one instance where sustainability, quality and design come together in this basic but lovely tee. The fabric is seriously good with a fabulous weight meaning it drapes beautifully – I know I’m going to be wearing this a lot over the spring and summer months.
Basics form the basis of my wardrobe. Without them my mostly vintage closet just wouldn’t work – I like to balance out my love for all things retro with a touch of the contemporary and ethical clothing company Collective have a small but superb range that I hope to gradually add to my wardrobe (I’m particularly liking the box drape styles). Their ethical credentials are more than just a bonus. We should all be embracing a more sustainable approach to fashion and this company seem to have the right attitude with a great basics line that perfectly compliment their values.
These same ethics should also extend to where our clothing is actually made and the high waisted trousers I’m wearing here are a perfect example of a young fashion brand leading the way in locally made goods. Obviously their retro inspired range of clothing is bang on the money and as they only make a limited amount of each item the likelihood of bumping into someone else wearing the same thing is pretty slim. Never a bad thing in my book!
Finding trousers that fit, flatter, are comfortable and affordable is a tall order but these pants deliver on all fronts. Being a lady with curves and in possession of some, let’s say, substantial thighs, ahem, I’ve always struggled with leg width….and the rest. Lord knows how many times I’ve almost come to tears in the changing room after failing to get some trousers and jeans even past my knees – they will go up, they will!!
what i wore….organic tee/collection….high waisted trousers/tara starlet….black boots & blue cardi/h&m….faux fur coat/urban outfitters….scarf, brooch and bag/vintage….necklace/free gift at DAKS show
Thankfully there are some brands around that make trews with people like me in mind. You could say I’m completely bowled over by Tara Starlet and am coveting just about everything on their site – too bad I haven’t a penny to my name at the moment or else I’d be snaffling up everything on their sale page.
I spend a lot of time fantasizing about our life in Cornwall. There was very little I didn’t love about living in that glorious part of the world and even though London is special too I can’t help but think the lifestyle I now crave isn’t a city one. I own a surfboard goddmammit and I want to use the damn thing!
It’s true to say you can get lost in a city, especially London. I know I’ve had many moments when I don’t have a second to catch my breath nevermind focus on what it is I want out of life – because surely there’s more to it than climbing the career ladder?
Luckily my Husband feels the same way and we have a sort of loose plan to make sure we’re out of the big smoke and back down to Cornish lands as soon as we possibly can. That is, when we’ve done a little of what we came back here to achieve, made a bit of money (chance would be a fine thing) and purged all those city vices out of our system – we’re getting there, very slowly and not always surely but we’re definitely trying.
So when Seasalt sent me a delightfully nautical and oh so Cornish parcel a few weekends ago it got me thinking again about everything we’re missing by being here. It was like a little taste of home (I might be Irish but Cornwall is my spiritual home) and the perfect antedote to my current situation, which mostly involves high fashion, not much of which is attainable to me or even terribly appealing.
Because as much as I love fashion, and there are many designers and brands I admire and, yes, even obsess about (I’m looking at you Margaret Howell), the clothing I feel most comfortable in is well designed casual clobber. Give me jeans over a fancy schmancy dress any day of the week. Pea green jeans with just the right amount of stretch and high enough so that not even a peep of panty is on show? Even better.
Seriously though, what is with the low slung style that is so popular nowadays?! I’m sure those girls spend half the day hoicking their jeans up lest they end up round their ankles. Let it be known that knick knicks are a no no. These jeans, on the other hand, are just the right side of fashionable without being on the wrong side of trendy. Already they have become my ‘go-to’ trousers because they go with just about anything (blouses, sweaters, t-shirts) and are smart enough even for the office.
I couldn’t resist pairing them with a breton style t-shirt for this semi-impromptu shoot, just to make the whole thing uber Cornish….um, whilst standing in one of Charlton House‘s many grand rooms. The bag was sheer coincidence. I had used it to pack my costumes for the short film we are currently shooting, so thought I’d throw it in for good measure. And the scarf? Well, it’s just perfect, how could I not?!
This is exactly the kind of outfit I would wear when I lived in Penzance but is a super City look too. I think stripes and jeans are just a classic ensemble wherever you are. I am so delighted with these trousers, I can’t thank Seasalt enough for kindly sending me a pair – as they say in Liverpool, ‘i’m made up’.
what i’m wearing….pea green ‘cliff’ trousers c/o Seasalt….bag/scarf also Seasalt….breton top/h&m….red sweater/gap….brogues/m&co….headscarf/tabio….leopard print socks/primark
Well, that’s it folks, another season done and dusted, and to be perfectly frank I’m exhausted. Call me a light weight but I really can’t handle the pace and I’m rather looking forward to getting back to my usual routine….what a bore, eh?
Today was a strange mix of work, dashing to a show nearby (Nasir Mazhar….it was, erm, interesting), a little more work and then onto Somerset House for the final two shows of the day and indeed week.
With that in mind, I thought it only too appropriate and wise to don a pair of jeans – it really was one of those days. This whole week has been a great exercise in dressing with work in mind when you’re not actually working, if you get my drift. It’s a fine balance you see. I have to look professional, fashionable (but not too ‘trendy’), not overly or under done. Not as easy as it sounds let me tell you.
I think this might have been my favourite look of the last five days for no other reason than I felt good in it. It was a nice way to finish the week and enjoy the last of the shows including a tidy monochrome selection from Aminka Wilmont and some striking architectural offerings from Haizhen Wang. Like I mentioned previously, I will be doing a little round up after I get a chance to sort through my photos and make sense of everything.
So that’s it for another season here in London but it’s onto Milan Fashion Week tomorrow, which I’m certain will be just as thrilling – that fashion wheel just keeps on turning!
what i wore…jeans and polo neck/primark….waistcoat/vintage jaeger….coat and boots/h&m..
Penultimate day folks! And as much as I love London Fashion Week, I honestly can’t wait for things to return to normal. I had a stupidly early wake up call this morning because I wanted to get a few things sorted at work before heading over to Peter Pilotto at the Topshop Showspace in Tate Modern, which luckily for me is about a five minute walk, if not shorter. Smug mode.
I particularly loved the cropped puffas but wondered if they were filled with down – that’s always a bummer….there were a few striking dresses worn very well by the lovely Miss Cara Delevingne too. Then it was onto Louise Gray. Crazy? Of course. Wearable? Mostly. Oh so very London? I should say so. Well, as long as you live East and hang out with all the cool kids; the models wore plastic bags as hair accessories, what more can one say.
Then it was the turn of Fashion East (Claire Barrow, Ryan LO and Ashley Williams – google them), again in Tate Modern, and this was a little unexpected show stopper for me. I have to admit to not being very familiar with any of the designers. Ashley Williams was perhaps my favourite of the three and to be honest, it was the Elvis printed dresses that sealed the deal.
As far as my own style went, it was a workday (not that that means anything really) so I went for another pair of staple trousers that I quite honestly could not live without. As soon as I have a bit more (read ‘any’) disposable cash I am investing in another pair of these because they are simply amazing – high waisted, perfect leg length and very flattering. American Apparel is the tops.
Unusually for me I wasn’t wearing any vintage! It just happened by accident I guess. The blue boxy top is one of my bargain finds from Zara. I found it on a sale rail for three quid in Belfast and I wear it way too often. It’s great over shirts, polos and long sleeved tops, plus the length is super with high waisters – skirts and trousers alike.
So, tomorrow is the last day and right now I haven’t given my outfit a second thought. Sometimes it’s better that way. Over-thinking outfits can often spell disaster. Generally speaking I’m a go with the flow girl and usually just see how the mood takes me. One more day of fashion show fun before the circus moves on to Milan – God love those journalists that have to do all four, more power to ya!
what i wore….polo/uniqlo….top/zara….trousers/american apparel….coat/urban outfitters….socks/tabio….shoes/m&s
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