repairs and man flu!

I have man flu………yes perhaps it is punishment for being so snappy of late or perhaps I have not been getting enough sleep (likely) busy, busy, busy. So my body has reduced me to laying around sniffing and generally feeling shit! Dam you immune system! Ah well since I’ve been wearing the closest thing I can find to pyjamas lately I have not got a picture of my daily outfit. Instead I thought I’d show you some pics of some repairs I have done this week on my workmates clothes.

A simple and satisfying project, I’m willing you…… don’t chuck your favourite item away because the hem has come loose or the zip has broken. REPAIR! Imagine you live in the 1940’s and make do and mend, or think of the money you will save! Its soooo satisfying, even if it’s just sewing back on a button it’s worth it. It’s better for the environment too, so happy points all round, join me, go on I dare you, get sewing, get inspired and get repairing!

These are after shots of the items both with new zips sewn in, the first one is a 1940's skirt, and the secon a pair of amazing 1960's trouser, what insane fabric!

Bad moods ahoy.

Dear oh dear….. Another morning spent sort through the amazing and the complete dross of the vintage world. However I got to do the window again in the little charity shop that i help sort the vintage. So here is a little pic….. It’s weird because it’s on a main street I can’t really go crazy and do a really cool and creative display. I just have to keep it errr pleasant. Pleasant meaning boring but hey ho. Plus I realised that I am considered a rare creature in this shop, the customers seem to stare because I must be either a criminal or slightly famous to be dressing in such an outlandish fashion (not my words), wow I must be in a bad mood!

My outfit of the day seems a little harlequin inspired, I can’t seem to get enough of this blouse. Although clothing lately just seems to get me a little angry, well this week I seem angry at everything...... so I suggest a wide berth until either some fashion inspiration comes my way or I stop being so grrrrrr.

Anyways some light relief is supplied by the coolest girl in pop Marina and the diamonds, enjoy.

Deffo too much....

For some unknown reason I woke up at five in the morning on Saturday morn. During this time I watched a programme on bbc iplayer about the rise of reggae in Britain, since then I’ve been hankering after anything this style hence the gorgeous ‘too much too young’ by the Specials!

So you could say I had A LOT of time to plan the days outfit, and for some reason this resulted in me wearing a pair of sequinned leggings which I’ve had since I was seventeen!

I mean what does appropriate day wear actually mean? It did mean some err shall we saying interesting comments from customers at work and some builders I walked past. But who gives a shit, as a friend of mine says never be afraid to go gaga (he means lady gaga) Normally I only crack them out at festivals but today felt right, followed by a kind of glam rock frilly collared blouse and a brothel creepers. I swear that sleep deprivation or hangovers make me dress better. Amen to that.

Old news and granny jumpers…..

On my walk around Brighton today (it was sunny and I needed some exercise) I walked past a charity shop having a closing down sale, everything one pound! Hence three new jumpers to add to my vast collection!

Love how this lilac one is home knitted and has an open knit which means I can layer over interesting prints/textures for full affect!

Couldn’t resist this royal blue number, the thinness of it means I can layer it under high waisted pieces, as most of jumpers are mega chunky.

How cute is this nighties copy of a sixties bed jacket, forever loving the Peter Pan collar and fondant colour.

Here is todays weird take on trying to get dressed, I’m wearing fishnets here, which I felt soooooo self-conscious in when I left the house due to my rather short playsuit (worn underneath jumper) however I feel like my jumper and boots cancelled out the potential of looking like a bit of a slut!

Ok, this song has been around a couple of months but I simply can’t get enough of this song…… Artic Monkeys I will always love you.  Totally old news but if you’re looking for some indie satisfaction then check out their current album. I know I am not cool. But I like what I like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQH8ZTgna3Q&ob=av2e

Welcome back

Yes, believe it or not... it is me (Alanna). No I haven't forgotten, or neglected my duties. I've been very busy moving into a new place. So while my flat is in the development stage, here's some music to keep you entertained.

Confusion, curls and electro beats

Oh just another week in life of a very stressed individual…………. However whatever troubles you face as shallow as it sounds a little bit of creativity always manage to drag me away from my own head for at least a few minutes. Sweet relief! However worried I have been, and lack of sleep AND an ear infection good things have happed. A lovely lady who I work with gave me two pairs of coloured Mary Quant tights, win! Alanna and I were reunited for a day when I went to visit her lovely new flat, and raided the charity shops there. I found this amazing vintage leather, fringed jacket. Which I am completely. in . love. with. I also found this amazing blouse which has the cuffs and collar worthy of Noel Feilding or some similar expressive type. I picked up this cute metal bow for fifty pence. I love charity shops!!!

Today I kind of went a bit darker with my look, I’m all curled hair (which I’m very pleased with) dark red lippy and grungy jodhpur boots. If you can’t face the world due to awkwardness then I say wear more make up to cover it up!

And to finish I’ve been feeling a bit of electro lately. Although I did go see Bombay Bicycle Club last night with a bunch of twelve year olds it seemed.  Everyone has heard of College due to their hit song ‘real hero’ from the film Drive where they collaborated with electric youth. But here is a link to their other tracks, fun beats and fun times to follow!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOf6HzYjLDQ&feature=relmfu

Schoolgirls and folk dancing!

I’ve been all over the place the last couple of days……. Tiredness, being busy, my diary is like my bible for remembering where and what I’m meant to be doing. Hence the massive variation between these two outfits one is almost a little bit ‘this is England’ with the long coat and brothel creepers. The other one is more like sixties schoolgirl, with floral sixties mini dress and cute school blazer.

I have had a bit of a shopping urge the last few days and the charity shop in which I deal with the vintage section has some fab pieces! I bought this almost Jodhpur style leggings, a eighties Dorothy Perkins striped denim shirt, I’ve wanted one for ages! Also this mental folky, Mexican style dress, I reckon it was meant as a costume, regardless I love it! I’m thinking paired with some black boots a hat and a leather jacket it’s going to make an amazing statement dress! And I will feel like I should be dancing some kind of traditional dance!

Eighties all over

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcm84fEKvXQ

I have the distinct feeling that I may have blogged about this song before when I first heard it a few months ago, anyway its lush, listen again by clicking the link above! Love, love, love Santigold, this is Disparate Youth!

I have a current obsession with my fake doc martin style shoes, they are not comfy at all though, I’m half suffering for fashion, but I am not actually sure if I can put together an outfit without them now!

Here are the last few day’s worth of outfits……..

We have eighties to the max, followed by long socks and clever layering, and lastly moody 1950’s school girl!

And....... i promise to better my pictures in the next couple of weeks, i will be investing in a camera!!!

Music and pants.

Anyone fancy listening to a lovely lovely new song? I hate to use the word ‘electro’ and ‘eighties’ in the same sentence but they do help to define what to expect here, click the link below, have a listen… even a dance! Enjoy! oh and by the way the name of the band is Bernholz and the song is called austerity boy, happy listening!

http://www.artrocker.tv/features/article/shock-of-the-new-bernholz

And for today’s grand outfit take a peek at this Doc Martin style shoes that my sis has loaned me, and I know it’s a massive street trend right now I can’t help but crave any pair of Doc’s I see in the boot shape. Bummer! Unfortunately this dress that I’m wearing here (pictured as a skirt) had a nasty habit of tucking itself up over my knickers, flashing my lovely back pants through my fishnets. Brilliant.

This week of style x

This week I have been lucky enough to find some exciting new things, at bargain prices from a charity shop in Hove! This week I also started a new project volunteering as a vintage expert for the Barnardo's charity shop on western road, Brighton! It’s full of affordable vintage, everyone check it out!

Check out this lush eighties take on the day...... loving the waistcoat detail here!

next was another polka dot eighties day (there seem to have been a lot of those lately)

Then with the lovely sunny weather i went all girly!

Then i hit the weekend with this AMAZING scarf print shirt (very S/S 12)

And how fucking cool is this leather batwing top.... leather batwing!!!?! which you cant even see because of my shit photo's!

Monday happened and i cracked out these vintage m&s culottes, LOVE!

don't they just make you want to go rave?

And today i cracked out this cutesy eighties midi skirt, but grunged it up with a nivana t-shirt, and a tribal print shirt with this lush cardie layered over the top.

What a happy clothes week? am i not a lucky girl?! x