Thursday, 11 April 2013

I wish I was special... but I'm a creep


Ahh Radiohead, you're right, I am a creep and I love creepers. So I had a little nose around Primark last week and found a couple of interesting things... These black creepers are a standard style and shape, with a few small studs across the heel. They're pretty comfy too, like flatforms they give a bit of height which is always nice!  

The two spike and chain necklaces are surprisingly heavy and drape nicely, I think I'll be wearing them under top-buttoned collars. One is silver coloured and the other is brassy, but they'll work with loads of different outfits. The one above them is shaped like mini feathers, it's going to look brilliant with a round-neck dress or jumper...

The other two necklaces are a Big Ben shaped one (from the mens section) and a sort of Aztec or Navajo style eagle, which was one solitary pound *yay*. It's a bit weird yeah, but the whole native look is coming back on trend with the warmer weather (stores are already picking up moccasins, fringed leather jackets and lots of tan).

The grey studded clutch bag was on sale and is just on the right side of oversize - big enough to fit my stuff in, but small enough to fit in the crook of my arm when I'm holding a drink. It's not structured though, so I'll have to be careful what I put in it - don't want to go out with a lumpy bag!

The last thing, which isn't from Primark is a small hard frame clip on purse from The Space Centre. A present from Al! It's for kids yes, but it's kitsch and cute and I'll enjoy clipping it to lanyards at festivals to hold my monies or tissues!

Tuesday, 9 April 2013

Ticking Over

Woo and Yay! Sunshine! Okay so it's still bitter as hell out there most days, but the sun is slowly making an appearance. I even went out without a jumper for a bit, see!

So we spent Easter up at Runswick Bay with my family, rock pools, fish and chips, the works. Didn't do many 'outfits' as I was mostly in joggers or beach clothes but this is from when we went to Whitby for the day.

Shirt dress with oversize pockets in ticking stripe - Primark

Skinny jeans - George at ASDA

Cream half-frame Clubmaster style sunglasses - Primark

Navy bow tie - ebay Hong Kong

Brown tweed and orange stripe high-tops - Adidas from Schuh

This shirt dress is a wardrobe staple of mine, it's casual and comfy and wears well with jeans or leggings and I usually wear a big leather belt around the middle so cinch the waist a bit as it's quite flat (however, left all my belts at home... doh). The trainers were an absolute steal from the Schuh January sale 2012 at the bargainacious price of £15 (free delivery too) they're really comfy despite the thin base and remind me of 70's caravan curtains. I love them!

I guess the inspiration is boats, ticking stripe always makes me think of the seaside.

 

Sunday, 31 March 2013

The Congreve Cube

Happy Easter everyone! This isn't an Easter outfit (mostly I've been wearing a Bunny onesie or joggers today) but it is quite a cute simple one. Tux style (monochrome and bow-ties) always reminds me of James Bond. My brother loved the movies when we were younger and the outfit is just so iconic, and easily altered...

Black bow tie: ebay Hong Kong

Birdcage shirt: ASOS

Black jeans: George at ASDA

Gold sparkle socks: Topshop

White brogues with a cuban heel: Primark

Silver cuff: Oasis

It's a pretty easy throw-on outfit, but since it's so cold out I've got a vest on underneath! Can't believe it's still snowing at the end of March...

Monday, 25 March 2013

Six Impossible Things

  

I have always loved the Alice in Wonderland stories, starting with the books as a little girl, the disney film and many versions since. So much so that little snippets of Wonderland work themselves into nearly every part of my life, especially my jewellery...

Necklaces from left to right:

Silver teacup - ebay
Silver spoon - ASOS
Pewter teapot - ASOS (men's section... weird!)
Locket and charms long chain - Present from my Nephew
Green fountain pen - ASOS
China tea pot - Present from my Sister: www.madamecherry.com 
Rocking horse necklace - Present from a friend

The teacup, spoon and teapots are obviously Mad Hatter's tea party related (the easiest and my favourite reference to the story), the locket has playing card charms on it, referencing The Queen of Hearts, the green fountain pen is the sword of the writer and the rocking horse necklace is a little nod to the Rocking Horsefly.

Misc items from left to right:

Bent key bracelet - ASOS
Jammy dodger ring - Advent present from Alex, bought at The Festive Gift Fair (NEC)
Charm bracelet - Present from my Nephew, counterpart to the locket
Miniature pocketwatch - ebay
China teacup ring - Present from my Sister: www.madamecherry.com 
Cameo necklace -George at ASDA
Silver key - Can't remember... just something I've always had... mysterious...
'a' watch - ASOS
Eat Me mini mirror - Re-ment miniatures on ebay
'Key to my Heart' book clutch bag - ASOS

I absolutely LOVE this clutch bag, it's got a red tassel and is shaped like a big book. It's going to be paired with a lot of book-related ephemera over the next few months, I'm a bit of a book nerd... our spare room is a library. The jammy dodger ring is fun to wear and always gets compliments and sometimes I wear the silver key on a chain around my neck too. I have a *lot* of key jewellery actually, they're sort of a symbol. I like to think of them opening doors to amazing places, a la Secret Garden, Narnia or Wonderland... or for keeping secrets and precious treasures. They're my talisman against the mundane, to me a key is always enticing.

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

Koi-oi-oi

It's still cold, it's still snowing here and there. It is now the end of March. Cool story bro, needs more SUN. I'm still in knitwear and vests under shirts, I still can't wear summer shoes... *cry*

Oh well, here's another "WTF weather will we see today?" outfit...

Koi print shirt - Primark. I love this shirt, it's sheer lightweight fabric, oversize and dipped hem at the back. The print reminds me of those reproduction painted Chinese plates people used to hang on walls - the soft washy blue on white with images of temples and bamboo.

Fabric flower brooch -  Dotty About Vintage (Whitby, North Yorkshire) These folded fabric brooches are adorable, we got a couple actually. This one is blue and white and has a Yorkshire Rose button in the middle. Lightbulb moment when I was getting dressed, it really matches the shirt! Bought for me by my lovely Mum. (Find them here on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dotty-about-Vintage/240141299413217)

Burgundy knit cardigan - Bargain-dy more like, a tenner from a random stall at The Clothes Show last year. Rad.

Jeans - ASOS. They're a bit too big now which sucks, but I guess they just look straight leg instead of skinny. Turn ups too as I'm a bit short.

Burgundy Vans Authentic Vi - So comfy, so cute, go with everything. These were a present from the Outlaws, brought back from their last American adventure. <3

Mini key necklace - ASOS

Umbrella necklace (with cloud and lightning charms) - ASOS, a little homage to the crappy weather!

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Pretty Fly

Birds. Bees. Well, just birds really... huddled together on windowsills for warmth. It's March and we're supposed to be into the swing of spring, but yesterday the snow blew in harder than ever and my street looked like a window into a snowglobe. Don't get me wrong, I freakin' love the snow but I'm done with dressing down for bitter days, so crank up the sun okay?

Thankfully this was only put together for indoor frolicks, because sheer fabric isn't the warmest...

Bird and floral print dress: Primark

Belt: Next


Leggings: JW

Brown brogues: Primark

Pocket-watch necklace: ASOS

Keeping it simple, paired with my mini brown satchel (to match the brogues) which has a short handbag-style strap because it was actually a child's one from ebay. It's on the jewellery post if you want a look. I changed out the leggings for skinny turn up jeans when I got cold, which I think would be nice for a day version of this outfit, but a pair of killer nude heels would take it to night too...

Tuesday, 5 March 2013

Game over, Moonpie.


Space-fad. Everyone is into it, I know. It's been around for a while now, but not nearly as long as it has been in both my dreams and in my wardrobe. When I was little I was obsessed with 3 things. Michael Jackson, Dinosaurs and Space (as you can imagine, MJ's Moonwalk was a double-whammy of awesome to me). Anyhow, I've collected a few space print items, some rocket hair clips... Star Wars tshirts... Chewbacca keyrings... that sort of thing. But since the galaxy-print explosion, I've been slowly adding to it. This is an incomplete outfit, which is why I'm not wearing it, but when I've decided the footwear and accessories it's going to be an awesome one.

T-shirt: Lush Tshirt Printing (www.lushtshirts.co.uk) Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock! They do all sorts of tshirt printing, from movies to bad taste slogans, and you can even create your own! I went with the grey so it would be easy to wear with lots of things, chose a mens/unisex baggy tshirt and rolled the sleeves. I may even scoop cut the neck at some point to make it loose off the shoulder. I like the fact that it hasn't got 'Big Bang Theory' plastered all over it, so only people who know the show will get it. 

Skirt: Dipped front and back hem with pleats, chiffon with an elastic waistband in galaxy print. This is from ROMWE (www.romwe.com) which is the most fabulously weird site. I've bought a couple of things from there before, but nothing quite so bold! I'm totally in love with their range of subliminated leggings and a crazy Bart Simpson printed denim shirt too.

Satchel: Vintage comic space print (tiny spaceships, very cute) from Cath Kidston. It was in the kids section, but if you have a netbook or tablet rather than a laptop - the satchels are a *perfect* size for them. NB. There is also a dinosaur print one... in case your childhood dreams were in line with mine...

Scarf: Thin and floaty inked silk, this was a gift given to me a few years ago and I pretty much only wear it with cardigans and jeans on a down day, but it really looks cosmic and goes with everything I think.

Anyhow, I'll do an outfit update in the future when I've decided the complete set-up, but for now it's looking pretty. Maybe a blue/purple dip-dye for my hair is in order...?