Friday 29 June 2012

OH SPEW, SOME NEW FOUND GRIEVANCES

Today I'll be sharing two disgusts of fashion. The first has been hanging round for a while like a bad smell. The second is a seemingly new trend. Here goes!

                 
                                                             
1) 'IRREGULAR CHOICE' Shoes                                                                

Irregular Choice shoes unfortunatly look like some kids have spewed on some wedges from 'George' at Asda, and then gone to playgroup and stuck all the shit from the craftbox on to them. I bet they are indeed an 'irregular' choice for consumers. Who is the brands target audience? It's as if the designers' brief was to create the most ugly, tormented shoes possible. 



And it's not just stilettos and wedges that the brand has managed to tarnish, but boots too. The bizarre hidden wedge-Leather strap- Cath Kidston combo and the Red 'Queen of hearts'/Japanese reference/dice/ribbon/18th century style boots (below) are also the work of this confused brand.






Unsurprisingly, the website only adds to the confusion... www.irregularchoice.com .Cartoons in the style of 'Moshi Monsters' and just stuff and floaters everywhere. A regular spew fest. For more helpful info, please refer to a review by 'The Fashion Police' - http://www.thefashionpolice.net/2008/11/vixens-vices-boots-with-robot-print.html 


2) 'Stiletto' Nails

This refers to the trend of shaping long nails to look like a stiletto heel, presumably, or a villains claws...



They just really creep me out. Is it a good idea to style your nails to look like a vampires? Maybe. But don't try to pretend like everything's ok whilst you have them on (it's almost always false nails used to acheive this look). It's not just the sheer impracticality of them (umm, how would you do anything?) but it's because they look so aggressive that puts me off. Little weapons right there.
  
Each to their own, but it's a no from me.


(Images property of www.irregularchoice.com and www.flynetpictures.com)

Sunday 24 June 2012

HANNAH STEVENS

Manchester based textile designer Hannah Stevens has created a selection of the BEST canvas tote bags featuring her illustrations and text. There's a reason why totes are so popular...they are perfect for shoving in your bag then using to carry shopping. But you wont want to fold these beauts up... The best thing about them is the custom name option; you can have any name or word printed, think of the possibilities! I want them all! They would make dreamy presents too...
Personalised Custom Name - Illustrated Grey and Pink Bunny Rabbit Tote Bag (£12)
Personalised Illustrated Orange and Teal Squirrel Canvas Tote Bag - Custom Name (£12)

Find these and more in her ETSY shop: www.etsy.com/shop/createdbyhannah

LOOK OF THE DAY: GOLD AND LAYERED

Gold and Layered- T-shirt: My Sister's (found on the floor in a club toilet!), Bag: 80's Vintage, Taupe Maxi Skirt: Topshop, Leggings: Topshop

I've been experimenting more with layering of late...combining oversized with tight, mixing shapes and lengths. It gives a playful experimental vibe that looks cooler than wearing pieces in the expected way. The trick is to make it all look thrown together, even if it took a while to choose. Wear confidently, don't fuss with your clothes, have a laid back attitiude. Attitude, after all, is a key element to how a look comes across.  

The wonderful Gold 80s bag is my go to thing when I need to add an instant trashy-glamorous touch.  

Years ago I got given a copy of the beautiful 'Amelia's Magazine'. In it was a feature about Olanic - a fashion designer, shot by photographer David Poole. The below image from it has stuck with me, and is always at the back of mind when I think of layering. The balance of print, shape and size works excellently.

Saturday 23 June 2012

WHAT I WORE

Three slightly back dated 'What I Wore's'. I have been visiting friends in Brighton and London over the past week, so, I've been living from a capsule wardrobe, hence the same cardi in each outfit. But really, it's the greatest...it's alpaca wool and only cost £5. Anyway, on my trip this was what I mainly covered up with...
Sunglasses: From an Indian street seller, Scarf: Borrowed, Cardigan: Charity Shop, Bag: India, Dress: Charity Shop,  Leggings: Topshop, Shoes: H&M
Cardigan: As before, Dress: Sale at Primark, Lace Crop Top: Charity Shop, Handbag: Vintage, Trainers: H&M
Hat: Found, Sunglasses: H&M, 'Crappy Florida' T-shirt: Borrowed, Cardigan: As Before, Handbag: As Before, Camera Bag: Borrowed, Jeans: Charity Shop, Shoes: As Before

Tuesday 19 June 2012

TRYING NOT BUYING


So here I am with Henry Holland. This is in Urban Outfitters changing rooms in Brighton. The dress of dreams (see last post) was £120 reduced to £70 and so, still too much. No harm in trying though, trying not buying. It's the best. P.S sample here is in a medium, as all the others had sold out, so it's bigger than it should be... still good though! The End. 

Friday 15 June 2012

LUSTING

My lust of the day is this dress by Henry Holland (styled here by Urban Outfitters). I've actually wanted it for about four months now. Lust of the year. It's so divine. 


Tuesday 12 June 2012

YES PLEASE, TUT

Lust of the day...this Tut print one piece by New York based designer, Mara Hoffman. Available from Asos (www.asos.co.uk) <3

Monday 11 June 2012

I AM A SOLDIER BOY

A quick smitten share of my new royal blue cotton waistcoat, covered in sequins (charity shop £1). I think it's actually part of the traditional Polish costume? And it's almost definitely meant for a child. Well, it's mine now.

HOME AGAIN

I've just got back from two months of travelling within India. It was an incredible experience, and I'm still adjusting to the UK. The one thing I really missed whilst away was British fashion, music and art. It made me appreciate how much amazing stuff the UK produces for such a tiny place. That's not to say there's not some amazing style in India, ofcourse; beautiful Hindu women wearing saris and bindis, with long coconut smelling hair and tons of embellishments...anklets, bangles, earrings, nose piercings. The men wearing a suit, shirt and tie on the beach in a 34 degree climate, incredible. 

On my return, I bought Vogue. I don't actually like Vogue, it's a bit of a snotty dictator, but I wanted to know what was going on in fashion quickly, without much effort and 'Elle' had David Beckham on the cover...bleughh. To my dismay the summer trends were uninspiring to put it lightly. In a nutshell...floral, nautical, brights (aka colour blocking), BORING, give it a rest already!? Ofcourse these are just the trends that Vogue chooses to focus on, but really.

But it's not all doom and gloom..Despite this dissapointment, there were a few trends that stood out, and that I'm now reasonably obsessed by:

1) SWAN PRINT
I'm going to ignore the fact that this is obviously a nod to the jubilee, and instead bask in it's prim and proper British-ness. Swans are hilarious too, I was watching a group of them the other day and they looked like they were having an assembley. 

Swan Print Wedges - Topshop

Swan Print Tea Dress - Topshop
 2) TRANSPARENT
The transparent trend was born in the 60's and has been visited again and again. This time it exists alongside classic shapes such as a stiletto or a tote bag. My favourite is the transparent trend circa. 1990's (do you remember blow up plastic rucksacks!?). H&M have some nice little sandals at the moment with small black wedge soles and clear transparent plastic uppers and straps, they're cheap and really cute. 

Chanel Platform Wedges (sold by Aldercy at Ebay: www.ebay.com)




Fluro Transparent Bag by JellyJelly at Asos Marketplace)

3) CHINA
The trend for distsy prints inspired by British china is really sweet and makes for some pretty dresses/shirts/blouses etc, I especially love the sky blue pastel toned prints.

Oasis China Placement Print Dress www.oasis-stores.com)
4) PYJAMA PRINT
This shouldn't work, but does. Pyjama print is all over Stella McCartney's S/S12 collection on mini dresses, jumpsuits and shirts. This trend is eccentrically English; the inspiration being old man jammys from the 70's/80's in deep Burgundy, Green and Navy paisley prints.


Details from Stella McCartney's S/S12 collection (www.stellamccartney.co.uk)

Sunday 10 June 2012

CURRENT OBSESSIONS 3

1) India
2) Getting a job at Beyond Retro
3) Swan Print
4) Birdengine
5) Growing my hair
6) My indian belly chain
7) Trashy 1970's Rockkkk
8) Wedges so big you can't walk in them
9) Summer
10) The ocean
11) Freckles
12) Cat eye sunglasses