Fashion Reference Treason.

God I'm glad that Siouxsie Sioux is not dead, because if she was she would be turning in her grave. Has anyone seen the Dear Siouxsie collection for Topshop? A selection of "punk" inspired clothing? It actually makes me shudder. Yeah we are all inspired by things, historical references, blah blah blah. However there is only so much watered down awfulness I can take. You could argue that all design or fashion is petered down from strong stylistic references. God knows I display inspirations visually all the time. However there is a massive difference between the individual wearing black eye liner and back combing their hair because  they just watched a Cure video, to massive super brand delivering a very poor adaptation of the look known as Punk. I feel sick, excuse while I go vomit up musical references.

 

http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/category/clothing-427/dear-siouxsie-2517850

Faux hipster ramblings.

What is it with 'hipster' term which keeps getting banded about?! Is hipster the new scenester? Does it just mean that you take an interest in art and creativity and you let that influence your entire life? Or are you a hipster if you just take a interest in style? Or perhaps it means you hang out in cute coffee shops and in 'alternative' clubs  How would I know? I mean I spend the majority of my time learning lines, writing, sewing and bothering people about giving me acting work. Well in between that and playing at working in a shop! Anyway today's look is a 1960's pirate princess kinda vibe as a work mate so kindly pointed out.  

Be Coated.

The positive thing about the change if season is re-discovering all the pieces you have neglected over the last months. There is something endlessly exciting to me about jackets and coats. They have the power to change an entire look and feel of an outfit. By adding more structure or a complete contrast of colour, or just a juxtaposing style to already predictable outfit. Not to be underestimated! This stunner of a jacket was a gift from a friend.... I know I have great friends! Really ups the ante of this late nineties vibe. I'm so in love with it. Sigh! So the morale of the story is, go crazy with your coats! Look out for cheapy charity shop treats, you may not wear them all the every day but with the winter approaching your going to need them ALL the time! And a change is as good as a rest. 

The boredom of the new season.

I'm afraid I have rather been whimping out of posting the last few days. Some times you just loose confidence in your choices. Anyway I decided to show you and buck up my ideas!  Today's assult consists of a nightie, with reproduction military jacket, scarf tied into a turban and black topshop platform boots. I keep getting that feeling of loving a look as I leave the house and by the time I've been wearing it an hour I want to hide away in shame!  I had only just got use to dressing for the heat and now it's chilled right down I'm totally lost again! 

Talking of the seasonal change I'm finding the aw13 trends about as exciting as a sack of potatoes. That's not even the worst of it, fashion magazines just succeed in angering me at the moment. They just seem to be producing features that are watered down, overdone ideas, I could weep with boredom. Saying that they are only showcasing the top designers work so in fact I will redirect my disgust at them. I'm going to go on the look out for a new season collection I actually like, I'll let you know when I do. So lets pave the way of individualism NOT force fed mass produced rubbish! 

I love it when I look comes together!

I bloody love it when a look comes together (Forgive me for using this word) organically! And that's what happened today I knew that I wanted to wear this dress, it was raining so I put my latest favourite hat on and this kimono goes with everything! And so this seventies does thirties oriental magic happened! So exciting when it develops like that!!! This outfit makes me so happy, in fact just prints I love and colours I adore make my day that little bit more bearable and if anything will get me through the hideousness of today's working day it will be nice clothes! 

New ideas for aw13!

Ok things have got a little dull, with the aw13 trends upon us of course there are some of the boring, crack out every year trends. So lets shake thing up a little and look for inspiration in other places. Here are some ideas and tips to get you started! 

Expect the unexpected! 

We are so spoon fed that we buy clothes from certain places as this is deemed appropriate! Dam that rule, there are cool pieces to be Be Found everywhere, you just have to open your eyes! Like cute schoolgirl socks in the pound shop, the menswear section in charity shops are fab for oversized shirts that you can wear as a dress belted or open as an alternative jacket, or make it Girly and tie and ribbon around the collar into a bow, circa Chanel! Army shops and men's work wear are cool for picking up bits too. Just open your eyes, it does not matter where it's from or what it's meant for its how you can rock it that counts!

Forget sizing! 

When I go into a shop I completely ignore sizing, it so opens your mind to alternative shapes and ways of wearing things. Oversized is always über cool but also shrunken can be mega cute too. Kids clothes can be approached as well as dresses or coats that are far too big. Even if you don't have the sewing skills a great belt can do wonders for Making a baggy top into a dress, and a dressing gown into a coat. So chuck size out of the window and focus on colour, pattern and good design! 

Explore randomly! 

Fashion magazines are not the only places to gain fashspiration apart from the high street, I adore looking at old knitting patterns cos the colours and combo's are mega cringe but so cute. Look at old books in charity shops, I recently got a book on twenties fashion illustration for 1.49! Family photo albums can be great for vintage inspiration, as well as a laugh. But seriously there are stylistic ideas to be drawn from most things. Whether its the colours in your salad or the hat of an old lady in Midsummer Murders, embrace these random bouts of inspiration! 

Scissors! 

People are always scared to attempt any sort of customising if they are not a skilled sewer but you don't need skills, just vision! It seriously does not matter if there are raw edges or fastening pinned with a brooch or a button sewn on with the wrong coloured thread. Those rules are for the boring ! Sure some clothes need to be be smart. But sometimes a change is needed and it's needed quickly, so crack out those scissors and get creating! 

Borrow, swap, find! 

Ok now don't judge me but I'm going to say something a little weird now. My favourite black felt hat I found next to a bin. Yep I know your thinking WTF? Are you a weird bag lady? The thing is people dump furniture or clothes next to bins all the time and as long as you know it's meant for the bin and you can take it home and wash it then everyone is winning! You got something for free, you have saved another item from going to landfill so recycling, as well as reviving an unwanted item. It's not gross it's Eco friendly. So open your stylistic senses up to your mums or grannies wardrobe too as well as your dads. Me and my sister share a lot of clothes, so she will borrow it for a few months and then bring it back. We know that's our agreement so that's cool! If you gain people's trust then it's a fab way to experience different pieces without having to buy them! 

So the morale of the story is open your eyes and trust your own taste! Even I every fashion mag says its wrong it probs won't be in a years time anyway. And ignore sensible friends opinions they will come round. So you keep going with your stylistic adventure and let me know how you get on! 

 

I'm back with GLITTER!

Apologies, I know it's been a while, it's been a odd couple of weeks what with a trip to the countryside, a mad sewing spree of a new collection, finishing a little film as well as turning a year older! It's been odd! Anyway I'm back, older but not wiser in a 60's inspired Pastel delight. Look I had a clothing crisis ok?! It was a battle ground of homemade dresses that I've worn ten thousand times already this summer and undynamic mini skirt and blouse combinations! However there is one good thing to come of today's look. The silver GLITTER shoes! GLITTER SHOES! I'm not even that Girly but you can't not tell me that glitter is not the best thing ever. To top it off they were a pound from a car boot sale and they are actually meant for ballroom dancers. Now if these shoes are not an argument for opening your mind to alternative  places to shop as well as using items for a different use then I don't know what is.

Aw13......

Had a sewing spree last night, trying to define some new pieces for a autum winter mini collection, so here is one of my prototypes (dresses for myself made under the excuse that they are a prototype) rocking it with school socks, platforms and a gorgeous 60's leather jacket. How I adore these muted colours! What will be your autum look?!