Forget the rules, if you love it wear it.

Are you bored of wearing the same clothes, are you stuck in a rut? Do you feel conditioned by silly pretend rules invented by society into wearing certain things at certain times. We don’t. If you love it wear it, rock it and forget the rules. As a much loved work colleague of mine says….. “Style it out” and do so, fuck what anyone says. This blog is about your way, your terms, street trends, and our own personal ideas. Seeing fashion as a wearable work of art. It does not mean it’s outlandish, loud or on trend. It means you adore the item however quiet, or pedestrian. We salute the personal, the small and the story.

Dress for you Now.

Anyway, back in the room, this is the first hat I ever made out of pizza box cardboard and a curtain. (don’t worry that was my skint version of a prototype) Lots more to come made of real millenary materials!



And if you need some audio inspiration this is a very old song by a very amazing person doing it her way.

Follow our fb page and let us know what you think of our new image, and we would LOVE you to post what we are wearing and tell what you want to hear about.

LOVE from Its hidous i Love it x

tis the Season to be crafty?

To say it has been a while is an understatement. While it seems the majority of people around me have got their heads in the right place. My plans seem to change daily. I can't wake up with-out pressing the snooze button at least 5 times. I can’t get dressed with-out throwing everything I have out of my wardrobe in a rage, to the tune of "I have nothing to wear." I can't for the life of me remember what day it is; Sunday was Saturday and today was yesterday. I can't even hold a date down with my best friend (All work and no play, gets in the way and all that). But in my time of need, when all else fails me, what I can do is Craft! #1 It takes little to no money and #2 It takes little to no planning.

The last couple of weeks I've increased my productivity by about 90%. I went from changing the blankets around on my bed for fun, to completing three homemade Christmas presents and a Christmas wreath, made from magazine cut-outs.

So I got to thinking. I do this every year. It gets to December and I suddenly go all Martha Stewart, but by the New Year I've lost it. And I have indeed lost it. I'm capable of being creative all year round, but something is always missing from my arsenal. I just cannot stick to my guns and set out to accomplish all those half arsed projects in my cupboard. What has caused my lack of inspiration? Where’s the wind in my sails? The fire in my heart? The... oomphf?

I want to inspire and be inspired, so I thought I'd search for something to help. Some phrases, mottos or a simple 'mantra' if you will. Nothing complicated, or patronising, just a little reminder to give me that push.
Here's just a few I found.

1. "Everything is okay in the end, if it's not ok, then it's not the end."

It can’t just be me who tends to think it's the end of the world before I’ve even finished something. I worry about the silliest of things and panic. This mantra reminds us that what we care about most isn’t always straightforward and when you are at your worst, difficult situations make you want to give up. I know more than anyone that “Don’t give up, It’ll be ok”can be the last thing you want to hear, but this new phrase gives it a fresh spin and makes you less likely to want to punch someone.

2) "Never give up on something that you can't go a day without thinking about."

Every day I have a conversation, or read an article, or see something that makes me think, "I should write about that". It’s not always interesting, but if you show how enthusiastic you are about the subject, you can find something that interests others. A mutual agreement that you never knew you had. Even better, a point of view you may never have seen. Since me and my friend started a project last year called BexhillToBrighton, I’m always thinking about things we should write about. We may not always get round to doing it, but it doesn't mean it’s not important or that we’ve given up.

3) "Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein

Oh Einstein, this does bring me great joy. We British have a way of selling ourselves short. I claim I’m not very bright, or have no special skills, but I am creative. Intelligence is more than just mathematics and general knowledge. I'm not saying I'm the most imaginative, but I'm not the most unoriginal. If one person a day/a week/a month says to you "Oh, that's a good idea. I've never thought of doing that" you can’t be going wrong. If that little idea you had made someone think and got their own imagination going, it may have been the most creative and helpful idea they have heard in a while.

Plus, if Einstein says so, it must be true.

superglue in a squat.

I am still scratching the superglue of my fingers but it is such a wonder product, is it not? Amazing for any craft project, but here is one bit of advice from me to you…. Wear gloves or use tweezers when using this stuff………..

Ok picture the scene I am in my mates empty flat, as she has had to move all her stuff out a couple of days earlier but she didn’t need to hand over the keys for a couple more days. So due to my currently nomadic housing situation I figured I would just stay, anyway it was just me a mattress and some of my clothes……………. CREEPY! However something good came of the evening, these fucking amazing sunglasses with are made with poundland gemstones an old pair of sunnies and a whole lot of superglue! So get crafting people it is still possible in the most desperate of situations, i mean i was practically squating!

floating on the breeze of life!

Ok, I am officially homeless, well not the living on the streets more like the sofa surfing, in between places kind. And have been for a month, which yes does make you feel rather worthless like you’re un-deserving or something but he ho this explains my lack of posts in the whole blogging department, hence no internet! Anyways from now on I am not calling it homeless I am going to call it – “floating about on the breeze of life” sounds much better doesn’t it? Also what we are not going to focus on is me not getting yet another audition ( yes the life of the jobbing actress is beautiful) luckily I still have my day job and what is one more audition anyway?

However what we are going to focus on is Louise Grays new make up collection for topshop……….. it is a fucking make up revelation forget what you thought was a do and don’t in make up, this is rule breaking and it’s putting to fingers up to generic make up by splashing colour all over your face. She is part of the Bleach London revolution (all the pastel hair colours that are now considered cool) so get yourself down to Topshop and get inspired by the insanely cool colour combinations. A personal favourite is her use of two different eye colours and a drawn on, bright blue beauty spot. Boom!  

(the irony of me writing a make up feature when I don’t have a regular mirror of use apart from a compact one)

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogNavigationSearchResultCmd?pageSize=21&catalogId=33057&viewAllFlag=false&langId=-1&categoryId=672542&storeId=12556&parent_categoryId=208495&sort_field=Newness

soundling like a single person ........

Ok I’m sat in bed about to watch the Great British Bake Off, and I’ve just eaten some dark chocolate. Yes I know I sound l sound like a lonely singleton haha ( not that that that is a bad thing) anyway I’m off subject. What I was going to discuss was the lovely joy of baking and how homemade is generally better than shop bought. However I found an argument against this today in the form of the Veggie café The Mad Hatter café if you live in or around Brighton I suggest you try it it’s just off western road. Alos I am in the middle of moving house and living on friends sofas for a while so expect some rather erratic outfits and no home baking. Now you know!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01m2b1b/The_Great_British_Bake_Off_Series_3_Episode_1/

Insomnia.

Wow, I am sleep deprived, what a bitch, lying awake listening to the white noise ringing in your ears. Alas while I was lying awake however I was thinking about how dam excited I am for Agyness Deyn’s collection for Doc Martins, celebrity endorsements is not something that I normally buy into, but has anyone seen the arty farty video they have posted to drum up some excitement? Its complete nineties fash-spiration. Check it out.

Can you hear me???

Ok, I’m back can you hear me loud and clear???!

After what seems like forever, Alanna has persuaded me to start posting again, I have been mega busy…… helping build for playgroup festival, working, choreographing and believe it not being in a play! And Auditions and what not. After yet another knockback for a part I actually really wanted (who cares anyway) I though today was the day for a post.

Well this lovely weather we have been blessed is throwing up a few new issues, like how to look interesting with minimal layers and accessories………….

Today I seem to be rocking a kind of preppy look, including dr martins which were second hand to me a couple of months ago, exciting! I guess I’ve been swinging between the wildly cute and also hints on nineties naughtiness which is BIG street trend news in case you didn’t already know!!! Also I’m having to move in the next few weeks to ‘I’m not sure where yet’ which induced a clear out (yes friends reading this feel free to come and rummage through my cast offs) although I did come across the beautiful blouse which I had thought of as rather hard to wear, but today seemed right. Also I lovely friend of mine passed on to me this crotchet collar which his Polish grandma has made when she was fourteen! And we all know it’s all about the collars!

Listening too………… anything on vinyl thanks to my gorgeous record player, yes I’ve joined the elitist crew of the very pretentious and dads everywhere, it’s amazing I recommend them, so it’s been everything Bowie, the Kinks or Kate Bush lately!!!

Also there has been interesting developments….. such as I now own a cape! Also I have had my septum pierced!

here is hounds of love to cheer us all up!

Well over and out for now, promise for a more interesting one next time!!

geek alert with Microsoft SmartGlass

I love gaming. I love being a Geek. I love knowing things about boring stuff and being enthusiastic about it.
I could talk about Assassins Creed III's release towards the end of October, which I am way too excited about, but there's bigger Batarangs in my Batbelt! I'll try not place in too many gaming references.

Microsoft released information about their latest gadget at this years E3 Conference back in June. To fill you in, E3 is a huge annual computer and video game trades show. E3 stands for The Electronic Entertainment Expo, hence E3. Microsoft announced SmartGlass, I'ts a new smartphone and tablet app that you can download to iPhone, Android Handsets or a Windows Phone. It connects to your Xbox live account and works along side you while you watch films, TV and even when playing the latest Games Releases.

Nintendo Wii have brought out something similar. The Wii Tablet (Wii U) as a new type of remote control... almost like a huge TV sized Nintendo DS in your living room that reacts to and moves the game along. But the SmartGlass is different. 1) It's pretty much available for anyone with a phone/tablet and Xbox. 2) You don't need to buy any new hardware. And 3) I believe It may even be a free app.

You know the Mission Impossible films when people stand around about 4-5 virtual screens swiping and moving things from one screen to the other. It's pretty much going to be that. So in game when you want to bring up the menu to change settings, selecting a new weapon or item, viewing the map and selecting your next location or when you cant for the life of you remember what that actress' name is while watching a film or program, you just pick up your phone and its all there ready for you.

I just love this futuristic feel. It might be a bit much. But were better to use over the top tech than when your running around pretending to be a warlock, or a half man half machine, or even Batman.

Anyway, Im off to Geek-out somewhere else about the possibilities.

Much Love! 
Alanna x-x-x

Check out the video link below. Pretty much sums it up, watch out for the cheesiness.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/smartglass

Alanna's Rant (It's long and has no pictures)

I would definitely say I'm not well read and I definitely don't claim to be, but I've always liked the idea.
It takes me a really long time to find a book I love and continue to read beyond the first few pages.
So, what's annoying is when said book is found and the ending is ruined by circumstance of location.
 WHY DID I HAVE TO READ IT ON THE TRAIN!?

I'm purposely not disclosing my choice of book (no, it's not Fifty Shades of Grey) as it has been made into a film and people would tell me off for neither seeing the film and/or reading the book in the first place (also if you where thinking of reading it, it means I don't ruin the ending for you).

I decided to pick up this book and then after completion, watch the film. After finishing and being left with a thought provoking book, my own resolutions and my own ideas of what may happen to the characters after the paper back was closed, I bought the film and really enjoyed it... untill the second to last scene revealed to me a completely new revelation.

Let me explain. So, when reading the book, in the second to last chapter, the protagonist (male) asks a very important question (you can probably guess the question) to a Girl he just met and has become infatuated with, very quickly. In the next and last chapter we see that he is still with his long time girl friend, but essentially in the end the reader is left to decide whether or not he decides to stay with the girl friend or start a new with this other woman. This, I really liked. It made sense not to know the outcome as the protagonist through-out the book is riddled with doubt and forever changing his mind. BUT! And a big but. In the film... he asks his Girl friend the very important question!

...Hang on... What! How dare they change the ending!... wait a minute

*pauses film and finds the book*

I FUCKING  READ IT WRONG!

Never before had I felt so stupid. I had been cheated. The general public and the distracting noises they make. A man on his phone, the mother and her child screaming at each other, they all made me miss it! This isn't fair. The first book I have read for 2 years and they ruin it! Stupid trains.

Now, the characters live happily ever after! Which I am sure I would have loved if I had read it that way in the first place. There is a definite difference between my ending and the films... and it therefore ruined both experiences for me. I'm never reading on the train again.



..........I suppose It's my own fault.


I guess there Is a reason I'm not well read.

Well....

Alanna here! Shocker I know. In between March and now, I've pretty much been earning Dosh and paying bills. With a little Holiday getta'way in the middle. And the lack of broadband has sufficiently hindered me from blogging and completing very important tasks. Like browsing shops on-line for hours, forgetting about the one email I set out to check. RIGHT! Explanation over. On with a quick pic of probably the only addition to my wardrobe in a while.

Lets back track a bit. It was my 21st in June and as a treat for myself I bought this very cute 70's top with sheer cape skirt for... wait for it... £3! Bexhill does it again. I teamed it with black sheer tights and high waisted hotpants (I was feeling particularly brave that weekend!)  

More to come.

                  I promise this time!