Sugarhighlovestoned

It's February, it's pissing it down, I work in Arctic conditions it seems. There is no sunlight, it's too windy to wear any kind of hat apart from a bloody beanie. I'm starting to resemble the Michelin Man due to the sheer amount of layers I'm piling on.

 HOWEVER I've been desperately employing the medium of imagination in order to get through these gloomy days. Endless pictures of American hippies in the early 70's are majorly helping as well as fashpiration coming from www.sugarhighlovestoned.com Check out there little fashion films as well as lookbooks, serious clothes porn. 

Also I've had this belly dancing outfit for years which normally only gets summer outings, however to cheer myself I decided to wear the skirt as a cape. The sequinned waistband makes a great collar and over this coat make me look like a completely mental 70s fortune teller. Which I think deffo sums up my current vibe. Oh and you can't see in this picture but I have a massive spot right between my eyebrows.... I've solved this problem by sticking a bindi over it. Now that is problem solving skills! Onwards! On a stylistic voyage! 

Perving on Stevie Nicks and her clothes Porn.

Oh the joys of the English wintertime! Goosebumps, to many layers, red faces and hands and skin blasted either by the cold or central heating. Joys. So after a decidedly dull day at work yesterday spent perving on pictures of Stevie Nicks.... dam you and your albility to wear a cape AND a top hat and not look like a prick. And Janis Joplin via Pinterest to keep myself from slipping ini the realms of despair. I decided in order to survive these desperate winter months to dress in a manner which plants me right back in California circa 1967! Well if it was chilly in California, details whatever?! That's the beautiful thing about putting on clothes every morning. Beyond keeping you warm they are a medium of which to express a feeling, project a vibe or evoke feeling of another time. Fantasy basically. And it worked, yeah I'm stood in Brighton in front of council flats, this is my reality, but in my mind I'm at some hippy festival in the late sixties. Deffo not going to spend the evening superimposing myself onto a picture of Woodstock. Not going I do that..... 

Change your look as often as your knickers.

Ok so I'm sitting in a dressing room at New Venture Theatre applying way to much make up, wearing a scimpy summer outfit. Nice. I would never ever, EVER show this much flesh in my real life, but a change is as good as a rest. That's the thing about style, it can change depending on boring stuff like the weather or a new piece. But everything in your entire life affects how you present yourself. Heartache and love, a new job, a new band a new discovery, whatever. The point is that that's great! Embrace it! Change your look as often as you change your knickers! Be affected. I realised that the last two weeks I have either dressed like a bloke kinda 30's does 80's or a bit of a 60's schoolgirl. My clothes are actually screaming I am so vulnerable and Girly. Or look how strong I am, go on I dare you, challenge me! And you know what? That's ok. It's gonna change again. 

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. 

BACK.

YES! its been bloody ages since I have put anything up on here, I know I'm a very very bad person. However I have been mildly panicking stylistically wondering blindly in the dark wearing terrible mixtures of sequins and capes, time travelling through the decades drawing inspiration from all source's and as normal wearing a lot of hats.

 

But now I have come out the other side, I am grasping my winter style by 

both hands and it seems to be developing into a gently eighties does forties vibe. So Good!

 

But before I share any of these latest developments here is a sneak preview of some of the work I have been doing lately. These pictures are for the branding for the production company I am involved in called Go Go Kimono, and these are the un edited photos, a blogger EXCLUSIVE! Art directed by Laura Kate O Rourke and photographed by Felicia Hawor. Model me! lol. let me know what you think and which one is your favourite.

 

Over and out, (promise not for as long this time).

 

 

 

Practical dress?!

I've realised I'm starting to dress to be practical! Shock horror, what a realisation haha! I'm joking, ofcourse practicality lays a part in everyone's daily routine of self expression-the art of getting dressed.  However with the current stunning summer weather we are enjoying, I have realised how all my clothes are pretty much based around keeping warm, that and being so in love with an item that I want to marry it! I have never been a fan of faff, even though I love the details of a piece, I'm not one for jewellery that gets in the way and sleeves that dangle in your dinner. So is this practical dressing for the Heat dumming down my look? Or is it just pushing me into something new and fresh due the constraints? What do you reckon? 

Get your chintz out.

 

I bloody love Britishness, today I went to visit Preston Manor but my favourite bit was the gorgeous walled gardens, felt right at home in my own little secret garden fantasy. Check out my gorgeous chintzy kimono which I made this week. I ended up rocking it in a kind of seventies does thirties thing, which I am very much in love with, I am currently adoring a modernised thirties vibe which my kimonos fit right in with. I love the glamour of it, the femininity, darkness and of course the whole late Art Deco vibe.

In other news look what a lovely friend gave me, this vintage pom pom making kit from the seventies I believe, amazing, look out for some interesting results haha!

Get Cape, Wear Cape, POSE.

 

Today Alanna and I worked on a shoot, these amazing capes are the mastermind of the gorgeous Laura who is modelling here, she styled, Alanna photographed and I assisted. It's so fun to collaborate and be part of someone else's vision. And boy does Laura have an incredible vision, a future style icon, check out her capes in the flesh at Snoopers Attic. P.S these are not even the proper shots, these were just me pissing about!

Stupid Rules.

Stupid rules have always really bloody angered me. For example, why are sequins or glitter only meant for evening wear? Logically something so reflective will be better appreciated in the light!!! Clearly there are many more slightly more serious rules that are so out dated, or just plan stupid, but when it come to you clothes don't be dictated too, whether its your apparent, age, gender, or social group that's trying to put constraints on your look, its up to you to ignore it and break free, you don't need permission!

Read More.

I fucking LOVE this picture, 1 the setting 2 the outfit and 3 it was taken at work by a workmate. This outfit was inspired by a girl I saw in the shop next door to my house late last night when I was buying milk. That's what I adore about street style, you can be inspired anytime, anywhere, it does not take money, talent or even any knowledge. See something, like it..... re do it your own way. This girl had on amazing stripy trousers and a very 90's grunge vibe. I went ten times more girlie and this in my own take on her vibe. Sometimes what the person is actually wearing is vile, but its about a feeling you get, maybe a specific item or just seeing something that you think is really fucking cool. Now get style spotting, style is whatever you want it to be.

Dont go naked boys.

 

Its not all about the ladies here...... yes occasionally we go a little bit feminist on your arses but we are trying to develop our own knowledge of menswear. So to kick start here are two Vintage style menswear tutorials by Dave Suits of Snoopers Attic.

 

The Tour

THE CHELSEA FLORAL SHOW is officially open!

CHELSEA FLORAL SHOW is the creation of our very own Chelsea Newton Mountney. Her collection is a gathering of bespoke 40s Pill Box Hats, reworked vintage cardigans, one off pieces and a whole selection of embellished sunglasses, coming in all different shapes and sizes. Anything you buy from this collection is unique. And that’s what we love here at Its Hideous!

You can find the little bundle of joy up in Snoopers Attic, Brighton. The attic its self is situated upstairs in Snoopers Paradise, home to antiques, furniture, vintage crockery, vintage clothes, hats, shoes, jewellery, retro guitars… you name it, they pretty much have it. It’s wonderful.

Along with THE CHELSEA FLORAL SHOW, is a wealth of beautiful collections by a range of very talented designers. So here is Chelsea with a little tour to tease you.

We also have a few photos of all the types of gorgeous finds up in the Attic.  So, Enjoy!

*Spoiler Alert!*

Exciting times! It's the opening of THE CHELSEA FLORAL SHOW. My little creations are now in Snoopers Attic upstairs in Snoopers Paradise, Kensington Gardens, Brighton. Need some springtime accessories or just some inspiration? Then this is the place to be. Packed full of amazing vintage clothes, crammed with gorgeous handmade designs and one off pieces, check it out!!!! If you can’t get down there then check out the collection (tour and pictures to come) or just to have laugh at Chelsea, if nothing else.