Tagged

Hey there!

Hope everyone's well! I am feeling much better having finally snapped out of the black mood laptop repair bills put me in and getting started on some dissertation reading. Wednesday's outfit;

I still love these H&M tights, they make everything look better. The shoes are vintage from etsy, the dress is Zara and the top (which I maybe should've ironed!) is from Topshop.

This was Tuesday's outfit, please excuse crap photography - I think this was one of those outfits that looks much better in person than in a photo anyway, do you guys get those too?

The leopard-print flats are from New Look, tightsplease tights, primark boob-tube/skirt, vintage lace nightdress (worn as skirt), "R" tee from H&M and long cardigan from Zara.

Monday's outfit;
Same ol' leopard flats, 100 dens, dress and cardigan from H&M and the yellow bow is part of a top I got from ebay.

Sea and I found these awesome Emilio Cavallini tights on mytights and thought them a good alternative for those of us who will never own the sacred Chanel tights (which are selling on ebay, if you have a couple of hundred pounds spare). Aren't they nice?
On an unrelated note; does anyone else hate how tights models wear tights with nothing on top? I mean, we need to see the product but I'm sure we don't need to see gusset! Just stick like a non-distracting black skirt on or something, please! They are wearing shoes though so I suppose not looking at toe-gusset is a plus.

We've been tagged! Both Slanelle and Ariella of Pearls in your Hair tagged us to answer the "six quirks" about ourselves...

1. I used to be a cheerleader. A pom-pom toting, weird-face-pulling, uniform-wearing cheerleader. In fact I was a captain of my squad.

2. I can not sit in a room with the door open, I don't know why but I can't do it.

3. My favourite food is sandwiches and I don't like to share food. I am essentially Joey from friends in female form.

4. I have never seen the wizard of oz. I am determined never to see it either; it is now a matter of principal because of the number of times I have heard "you've never seen it?"

5. I didn't own a pair of jeans until I was 10/11 and very rarely wear them now, a girly girl to the core.

6. I have a recurring nightmare in which one of my legs is shorter than the other, running away from the mocking that ensues due to this debillitating condition is futile as I can move only in a circular motion. I usually wake up close to tears and fumble under the covers to check that all my limbs are in proportion, as nature intended.

Now for the rules!

1) Link who tagged you.

2) Post the rules.

3) List 6 quirky unknown facts, or little known facts about you.

4) Tag 6 fellow bloggers.

I think I shall tag (and I assume this is on behalf of Sea too) Hanna and Rosanna of Little Miss Dress Up, Krissy of Purple Pigment, the girls at R.O.F.Y, Winnie from Diamond Canopy and anyone else who wants it!

Char x

Monday

Hey!

Just a quick outfit post, today I took my new bag out for the first time - since it wasn't raining for a change!

The dress is from Zara, bought on a trip to Glasgow, the shoes are vintage and required superglue on the soles to be worn today! The studded belt is from H&M and the bag is Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Char x

Freshers' so far...

Hey!
A few outfit posts, nothing too fancy as I have been working this week in the University health centre, absorbing all the germs and such, that place is a breeding ground for fresher's flu!

Tuesday;

Check out the artificial lighting - I was actually up early enough that it was still dark, sigh! I was wearing my new Primark top under an H&M tee, Primark skirt and H&M tights and shoes.

Wednesday (my birthday!);

A suprisingly bland outfit for a birthday girl but I was toning it down as I had felt overdressed the day before at work, Freshers' Week is basically a sea of skinny jeans, converse and other boring basics amid messy hair and hungover little faces! The flats are from Topshop, Primark tights, H&M dress with tee from dollydagger and belt from ebay.

Today;

I think this skirt is so unflattering! I don't wear it often, obviously, it's from boohoo...the peep-toes are from H&M (for future reference - peep toes are not good rainwear!), the tights are H&M, the white vest I think came from House of Fraser and the black tee is Primark. The bracelet is actually Topman, I must have large hands or something!

It's chilly enough for light jackets now and so I brought this old denim out of retirement, just for a change. Maybe inspired by bloggers like Camille and Rumi who rock the faded denim so well! I bought this jacket when I was 14, I saved a whole month's allowance to but it and the matching jeans (which I frequently wore together - hillbilly tuxedo!), isn't it odd that I still have it? The scarf is one of many beautiful presents which I received, I will get round to sharing the rest soon, from my lovely younger stepsister. One present I must share now though is my Marc by Marc Jacobs bag, the photo is not doing it any justice because I had to stick the flash on! Thanks Mum!

Char x

A sign of the times...

New York fashion week starts today and apparently in these tough financial times, even the designers are cutting back on their spending. Reported cost-cutting measures include; staging shows in venues outside of Bryant park and using volunteer models or no models at all, choosing instead to use mannequins in a static show. This feels to me a bit like karma or something, I work hard to be able to afford fashion and I dream of being able to afford the clothes I see on the runway. Now they have to budget carefully to get their designs seen, it only seems fair!

Fur

Hello!

Today it is exactly three week until I go back to uni and I'm starting to really look forward to it - especially since I got my subjects today and they all rock! I was scared I was going to get all the crap ones becuase they make us sort of rank them in order of preference but there's no guarentee that you won't get all your last choices! I seem to have been very lucky though, if these are permanent! I went shopping today for paper and pens, that's how much I look forward to getting back to uni...

I bought this H&M dress ages ago when I was much skinnier and now it doesn't fit so well but I still kinda like it! The cardigan is from Primark and these Dorothy Perkins flats are in every post right now cos all my other shoes are ruined!

Yesterday my Mum and I went through to Glasgow for the Scottish Homes and Interiors Exhibiton, obviously more her kind of thing than mine but we had good fun! I didn't get my Primark/Urban Outfitters fix though as she refused to park in the city centre...fair enough I suppose but I was still a bit gutted! We headed to Glasgow Fort instead though which was a good enough substitute!

Same stupid shoes, tights from tightsplease, Primark skirt and H&M tee. The little stripey top is from ebay, but unfortunatly due to changing room excitment when a size small dress fitted me it is now ripped! These were my purchases, this black dress which is organic cotton (I don't really care...sort of just stating the facts!) and looks a million times better on than on the hanger!
This gorgeous long cardigan, it's so soft and has the cutest button detail on the sleeves. You can't really see in the picture but it's a pretty dark grey colour, expect to see it in many an outfit post!

So, my beloved grandmother (she's awesome and getting to that point of senility where she sends Christmas crads for birthdays - true story!) has offered me her fur coat as a 21st birthday present. Or rather she offered it to my mother who immediatly said "no" and when my mum told me of this I said "I'll have it!". I like fur, I'm not going to lie and say that I don't because that's the PC thing to do. I personally don't strongly disagree with the ethics of fur, as long as it's not an endagered species. I don't see how it's possible that it's not ethically done these days, like say, the meat industry? Aren't there guidlines that are followed? This is pure opinion and I am fully prepared to be corrected (by research or evidence, not by "don't kill rabbits, they're cute!"). I think that perhaps to object strongly to fur would be rather hypocritical of me - I eat (and enjoy) meat, I use leather products (when I can resist their plastic counterparts!) and in my years of studying biology I've dissected many a (once) living thing. Perhaps there is also a distinction to be made between vintage fur (as in the case of my grandmother's coat) and new fur? I suppose that one may argue that previously fur had served a purpose in keeping out the cold (those pre-central-heating-days) and that if the damage has been done, there is no harm in getting further use from the garment? Or am I simply justifying what PETA call "skinning animals and wearing portions of their remains as ridiculous clothes"?

My mum tells a great anti-fur story. She has two brothers (my uncles) a few years older than her and when she was a kid they had this tiger rug, you know the ones with the heads still on? Fangs and all. Her mean brothers hid in a cupboard cloaked in tiger and jumped out to scare her. To this day she doesn't care for fur, or her siblings!

No doubt you're all familiar with PETA's famous "I'd rather go naked than wear fur" adverts? It's funny that Playboy model and "girlfriend" of The Hef, Holly Madison makes this statement, because personally, I'd rather go naked than wear Playboy merchandise! Other celebrities who are famously anti-fur include Stella McCartney who apparently was enraged when one of her bras was used in an advert for fur chain Hockelys. The full article, including a picture of the offending bra-and-mink-coat advertisment, is here. Stella McCartney is one of the designers PETA list as being entirely fur-free, a list which also includes Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein.

Other designers, such as Fendi, are not fur free in any way! Fendi's Fall collection features fur, as do the collections of many other designers. According to that bottomless pit of knowledge, style.com, when Karl Lagerfeld began designing for Fendi (in 1965!) their mission was to put fur at the forefront of fashion. Some pictures from this season;


Micheal Kors also used fur this season. I'm not usually a huge fan of his designs, I think perhaps they're just a little old for me, but the two below I love! Pencils skirts and nipped in waists with geek glasses - yum! I also like the way fur is used in his collection, in addition to the usual huge coats (which the models wore mafia style, shun the armholes!) there were subtle accents in scarves and collars.

I know that this particular blog post may seem very pro-fur (in actual fact I'm sort of sitting on the fence!) but even I think these things are gross, they have eyes and paws! I don't need my accessories looking back at me, thank you very much!

After writing all that (I mean there was actual research invloved!) I found out yesterday that my Gran wasn't talking of giving my Mum the coat but of leaving it to her after she dies. No fur for me in the near future then!

I'll leave you with the wise words of Carrie Bradshaw, "women are no strangers to faking, we've faked our hair colour, cup size - hell, we've even faked fur".

I'd love to hear your opinions on fur...

Char x

I have this little sister, Lola

Hey!
I had an exam on Thursday (it went pretty well, I think, especially considering that a flock of seagulls were squaking their diesease-filled lungs out right outside the exam hall!), so a pretty boring outfit. I always take really weird things into account when getting dressed for an exam...I never wear jeans becuase I usually leave early and once got the feeling I had flashed my ass to the entire third year Psychology, fourth year engineering and second year Biology who were in that hall, uncool. I also try and wear quiet shoes (unlike invigilators) and layers!

Shoes (quiet ones!) - Dorothy Perkins, tights - tightsplease, skirt - Oasis, tee - H&M. Note also the lack of accessories, nothing worse than a pile of bangles clanking together or hitting off the desk in an exam situation. I try not to be the person eveyrone hates (Coughy McBreathesloudly and Mr Fidget were present in this particular exam).

After the exam, retail therapy was required, to push out all that knowledge I know longer require, that is if I passed! I headed to H&M after a post on nitrolicious promising me new season gorgeous-ness, which was nowhere to be found, damn Edinburgh! I did however score some yummy grey over-the-knees and 100 denier tights (the holy grail of opaque-ness!). My back to school wardrobe is getting very full, especially my socks 'n' tights drawer.

After H&M disapointment (but not really because payday is 8 days away and a girl's gotta eat) I headed to Topshop in search of the perfect dress for my 21st (one month today!). Mission accomplished:

Since my camera is rubbish/I am a crap photographer, I'll also include the picture from their website, pretty no?

I had originally wanted the dress below, but I couldn't find it/didn't look properly and took the other one to try on instead. I think I actually made the right choice though, however accidentally it occured, becuase strapless dresses are usually less comfortable, cause muffin-topping of the underarm area (which I hate!) and leave you open to risk of exposure (don't mock, it actually happened to a friend of mine, and yes a friend and not me! On a packed dancefloor in front of all her colleagues). I think it'll also be easier to wear more casually after my birthday, which is essential becuase it was rather expensive! Also, does anyone else think that Lola (of Charlie and Lola a.k.a the best kids/not kids cartoon ever!) is really stylish? I mean check out this Miu Miu-esque number she's rocking in the opening credits...

And yes, I am turning 21, not 7. Speaking of which, my present (from myself, with love) should be:

Marc by Marc Jacobs at shopbop

Or

Vivienne Westwood bracelet

It probably is a bit odd to buy a birthday present for yourself, but it's a longstanding tradition of mine.

Char x

Vanity Fair

Hey there!

I had forgotten to mention that I saw the Vanity Fair Portraits collection last week at the Queen Street Gallery in Edinburgh. I'd definatly recommend checking it out if you get the chance, although it has finished it's stay in London and, after Edinburgh, it is only visiting Canberra and LA. For such a landmark collection I don't understand why it's visits are so limited! The collection is split into "The Jazz Age", which showcases the beginning of Vanity Fair in the 1920's and beyond and "Modern Vanity Fair", which I assume is pretty self-explanatory! The collection features memorable pictures such as a heavily pregnant Demi Moore and Princess Diana. In fact, it has been claimed that the Vanity Fair picture was, in part, responsible for Diana's reputation as "the peoples' princess" as it showed a more relaxed and approachable side to her. It's definatly a beautiful and striking photograph.

This picture of Julia Roberts was one of my favourites (as well as many of the beautiful 1920's ones which I am not able to find, sadly). I like her as an actress and this photo just looks like so much fun!
There's no denying that this picture of Hilary Swank is pretty incredible, her body's like a machine!
I was also struck by this picture of Jean Harlow. Does anyone else see a resemblance between her and Kirsten Dunst?

That was just a few of the images, I didn't want to spoil it by posting anymore! But you can find a lot of them via google images if you want to see more.

I went to New Look today for a friend's birthday present as I know she likes their stuff and I didn't have too much to spend. As usual, I ended up spending as much on myself as on her, for which I feel slightly guilty! There was some surprisingly good stuff in there, including many many pairs of delicious woolen tights in cream, grey and black. Still a bit early for this kind of thing perhaps but there's no harm in being organised. Besides the socks were only a pound! Ribbed for her pleasure. That's probably only funny if you've seen Wayne's World, please tell me you have! I got this pretty ring (it was only £5) but I'm mildly annoyed because, even though I bought the smallest size which was S/M and even though I actually have pretty average-sized fingers, it still falls off!
I also spotted this yummy scarf which very much reminds me of the Luella one available at Urban Outfitters. But it is obviously like a tenth of the price. Methinks it shall be mine on payday. Much as I love the Luella one (though the collection was a slight disapointment online, I've yet to see it in the flesh, with only 8 pieces) it is a bit out of my price range...

New Look top, Luella at Urban Outfitters below.

Has any one else noticed that New Look have started to label their accesories with seasons? Does anyone else find that incredibly pretentious and unnecessary from a high street retailer? Not even a high-end or particularly fashion forward retailer, think All Saints or even Topshop, but in fact a very middle of the road, ordinary shop? Could just be me, but I don't see the point.

I red-circled the offending label for your viewing pleasure. Got to love a bit of amatuer-ish Paint work.

This was today's outfit. The debut of my new H&M tee that wants to be American Apparel so badly that it hurts.

That's my flatmate's room in the background. Mine is way prettier, obvs.
Ancient, battered Topshop shoes, tights from tightsplease, socks from ebay (which I happened to ladder this morning. Great.). Primark skirt, watch a gift from my Dad and H&M top, of course.

Char x

A new favourite

Hey!

Whilst doing my usual rounds of other blogs, I remembered my deep-seated love for modcloth and decided to check it out again, a bad idea considering I'm trying my hardest not to spend any money! One thing that caught my eye was this awesome swan top, by Motel.

Of course, I've heard of Motel before and maybe even seen some of their stuff in shops but somehow it never really registered on my radar before now. I wasn't even aware that it was actually a British company. We can safely say that once I have money and am allowed to spend it, I'll be buying this bad boy. On a whim, I then checked out the Motel website. There I found a feast of lust-worthy items, behold!


According to the website, Motel was born from a trip thrifting up and down the West Coast of America, what an awesome story and totally a vibe which I think they've captured in their clothes. When I get paid, I am definatly going to purchase something...

Also, I'm going to add a list of online shops, any suggestions?

Char x x x

ps My washing machine has been broken for over a week, I'm running out of clothes! A new one arrives on Thursday, thankfully.