What's black and white and red all over?

Answer: The Marcin Kempski x Zwierciadlo Magazine December 2011 editorial. It is full of monochrome polka dots, stripes and dogtooth prints with various shades of red thrown in giving a burst of colour.

I love the fact that the outfits are so wearable, and you or I actually have a chance of pulling them off!

Here are a few shots.



I came across the shoot on Trendhunter, which is a collection of cutting edge fashion, technology, design and other genres. Since finding this website I have also been reminded of TheCoolHunter, which is a similar concept. The title speaks for itself - everything on there is just plain cool, from architecture to fashion to gadgets to places around the world. I urge you to check it out yourself, but I will also do a post as there are some right gems on there.

Oh dear this was supposed to be a quick post, but I got so engrossed on the two websites it is now nearly 2am...damn you cool stuff! So I'd better take my sleepy head to bed.

Thanks for reading,

x

Tis the season to be jolly

And I hope everyone has a FAB Christmas, wherever you are and whatever you do :) x

Keepin it real

So my last post consisted of some rather expensive and unobtainable clothes, shoes and accessories. That was my dream Christmas list, but sadly I don't think even Santa can afford much from it :(


So as promised, here is my real birthday and Christmas list which contains stuff I actually have a chance of getting and I would realistically wear. My birthday was at the begining of December but I haven't seen most of my family to receive my presents yet, so I'm hoping that I will be needing a second suitcase to take all my new goodies back to Birmingham!

Faux fur collar | H & M | £12.99
I brought this coat last month and tried it on with the collar open with this collar over it. I very nearly brought the collar there and then but decided I would wait a couple of weeks until I got paid. Unfortunately since then I have had a few things to pay for and I've got less money coming in, so I'm hoping Santa will do me a festive favour and put it in my stocking (I've been a good girl this year, honest!)

Sally sleeveless one shoulder skater dress | BooHoo | £15
I have a few skater dresses as I find them quite flattering and extremely versatile. The asymmetric style gives makes this one a little more interesting, but I can't decide which colour is my favourite - it also comes in mocha, berry and plum.

Sword and Shield necklace | Versace for H & M | £14.99
I don't think there's much chance of me getting this unless any of family were willing to queue up for hours for an allocated 15 minutes shopping time to purchase it for me!
BUT...I have had a sneak peak at part 2 of the collection. Loving the cute fruit print on this silk dress

Andre wedge lace up boots | Topshop | £68
I am fully in love with these boots. The wedge means you don't have to sacrifice comfort for style, and they can be dressed up or down so if I get them for Christmas (all my fingers and toes are crossed!), they will rarely be off my feet. That's what I call an investment!

Oatmeal fur trim beanie hat | Dorothy Perkins | £12
I had a similar hat from DP last year, but stupidly put it to the wash and now it is absolutley ruined! So I am hoping to replace it with this one, which is made slightly different by the cute fur bobble.

Body chain | Dorothy Perkins | £18 £5
This is one of the few birthday presents I have already received (thanks lil sis!). I've wanted a body chain for a while but have been waiting to find THE ONE for me. After wearing this for the first time last night, I think this was the right choice, and it was only a fiver - nice one!

Black spot mesh jumper | Dorothy Perkins | £26
This wooly pully is perfect for throwing on over a pair of leggings. Ultimate winter comfort!

Seduction Scream charcoal shoe boots | Shoe Embassy | £55
I discovered Shoe Embassy a few months ago at Greenwich Market. I was sorely tempted by almost all of their shoes, but as usual, could not afford them :(
I'm hoping they will be at Spitalfields Market tomorrow and if I see these bad boys there, I may have to treat myself as I'd say that's fate...wouldn't you?

I'm loving all the body jewellery that's about at the moment. There seems to be some decoration for every single part of the anatomy! Above (l-r) are a Cross cuff rings bracelet (£12.50), a full arm drape bracelet (£14.00) and a  hanging leg chain drape (£25.00), all by Freedom at Topshop.

Chain and feather side headband | Freedom at Topshop | £15
Channel your inner red indian with this gorgeous head piece! I've also been looking for some Indian head jewellery such as a tikka (worn here by Alicia Keys), but haven't found one that's quite right. Any suggestions welcome!



Trapped tusk ring | Freedom at Topshop | £7.50 £3.75
As you can probably tell, I could post the whole Freedom at Topshop collection on here, but these are just a few of my favourite pieces. And this ring is now reduced to £3.75...bargain!



Black and gold snake print leggings | Select | £8
I hadn't shopped in Select since I was about 15, but after a new one opened in Birmingham I though I'd better check it out (for research purposes of course!) I must say I was pleasently surprised and I advise you to check it out as well. I love these snake skin print leggings and at £8 I might have to get two pairs! Unfortunately the website has just crashed (probably the fault of my ancient laptop rather than Select) :( and I had so many more items to post from there. Ah well, I'll have to save them for next time :)

Pearl and spike | Christina M. Boutique | £11.79
I discovered Christina M. the other day and I'm absolutely loving these pearl and spike earrings. Have a look at the rest of the collection here.

I could go on and on but if I don't stop now I never will! I wanted to prove that you can still look good without having to spend a fortune, so I have kept all items as cheap as possible; slightly different from my last post eh!? I hope you've enjoyed reading my post and possibly taken some inspiration from it.


Thanks for reading x

All I want for Christmas is...

With my birthday and Christmas both being in December, I've had a good excuse to search for some new additions to my wish list. Here is a selection of what I hope Santa will bring me.

Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony Laser cut leather pinafore top | £520.00 
This cute yet funky top would look brill with anything from high waisted shorts to a floaty midi skirt.

Alexander McQueen Punk skull glossed leather box clutch | £845 
I'm loving box clutches at the moment and the McQueen skull detail adds that perfect edge.

Alexander McQueen Strapless velvet gown | £3,995 
I think this beautiful gown is the perfect combination of demure and sexy. Unfortunately, regardless of the fact that no one is likely to buy me a 4 grand dress, my 5ft1 frame would not quite carry it the way this model does :(

Alexander McQueen leapord print calf hair loafers | £515 
Shoes - good
Comfy loafers - good
Calf hair - hmmm, not 100% happy about animal products being used but as long as the animal has not been killed for the shoes I don't think it's any worse than leather. (Please correct me if I'm wrong.)
Leopard print - GOOOOOOD

EQUIPMENT Daddy colour-block shirt | £265
I think that this looks sophisticated and on trend without taking the trend too far as I mentioned in my last post.

Nina Ricci Taffeta dress with lace inserts | £2,315
Perfect sexy LBD

Alexander Wang Extreme angular-frame acetate sunglasses | £215 
Dame Edna chic!

Bottega Veneta Belted double-faced cashmere coat | £3,060 
Such an elegant style and the colour is beautiful. Nude accessories finish it off perfectly.

Christian Louboutin Artemis studded python shoulder bag | £1,345 
I love the detail on the shoulder of a lot of these Louboutin bags.

Jimmy Choo Textured leather biker boots | £695
Comfy, cool and convenient

Luv AJ Black and gold body chain | $250
Check out the rest of Luv AJ's amazing collection here.

Jimmy Choo Marlene feather and suede sandals | £1,295
Wow. Just wow.

Pucci One-shoulder maxi dress | £1,780
Asymmetric, monochrome AND animal print. This dress ticks a hella lotta boxes for me!

Lanvin Swarovski crystal mask necklace | £1,480
Amazing statement tribal mask necklace

As you have probably gathered from the price tags, the above list is most certainly wishful thinking but hey, a girl can dream can't she?

 Thanks for reading, let me know your thoughts x

The difference between fashion and style...

I love fashion, but I will never claim to be an expert on it. I will also never wear something simply because it is "in fashion". I think that fashion is there as a guideline and it constantly changes, while style is something personal which develops through time. Fashion obviously influences style but what's the point in wearing what everyone else is wearing? Call me old fashioned (no pun intended) but I don't see the fun or creativity in buying a whole outfit you have seen on a mannequin in Topshop.

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The whole Geek Chic thing doesn't quite do it for me either. I often like individual items that these "hipster" types wear but I find that quite often they try so hard to be quirky and different that they all end up looking the same, and, quite frankly ridiculous. Perhaps a more fitting name would be "Geek Sheep"...?

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Then there is the JLS look. Good looking (or so they believe), lads with their pumped up pecs and biceps bulging from low v-neck All Saints t-shirts, wearing baggy jeans and "distressed look" worker boots with the laces undone. Once again this look involves zero creativity, and to be honest it is quite worrying that most of these guys have better cleavages than me!

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Like I said, I don't have a problem with most of the individual pieces of these outfits (except those awful low cut and roll neck tops), I just wish that people would have a bit more creativity and individuality and actually think about the way they put an outfit together rather than copying a look they have seen somewhere else. Anyone can wear cuffed chinos, Toms and a denim shirt. I think this chavvy look seems to be replacing trackie bottoms and Reebok Classics - what do you think?

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However, I have no right to criticise others if I'm not going to be open to criticism myself. I will be posting my own fashion choices on here very soon. Unfortunately I don't have a decent camera to take pictures of myself, but I will be purchasing one as soon as my bank account will allow me. Til then, I will post links to clothes, jewellery, make up and more that I have, want or NEED!


Thanks for reading x

Insomniac

Being unemployed, I seem to have lost all sense of routine in my life and find myself still up at 8am wondering why I haven't been asleep all night. I don't help myself by staying up til the early hours watching repeats of Street Mate (Davina McCall was wearing a cropped tshirt, knee length denim skirt and Sketchers trainers, and a participant was wearing pedal pushers - remember them?!) and Distraction (I'd never seen it before - it is out of order! Contestants having to get body parts pierced and having pigeons sh*t on them to win a car which then gets trashed!). The fact that my boyfriend works nights doesn't help either as I seem to have converted to his sleeping pattern. So I decided that, rather than watching more early 2000s re-runs, I would do something semi-constructive and start a blog. I have read and enjoyed a few blogs recently so I thought I would have a stab at it myself. I'm not promising it will be good, but it gives me something to do and maybe, just maybe, you might enjoy it :)


x