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 Yeah we are all inspired by things, historical references, blah blah blah.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. 

So underdressed, I'm not wearing a hat!

I went for drinks at a shitty pub last night, I would almost go as far to say that it was chavy. Anyway this is what I wore, now I realise this is not what most people would  consider a relaxed look. But the mood took me so hence this thirties vibe! The thing is that I would go to Asda dressed like this or to work, or just the pub, whatever! The point is fuck whatever is deemed appropriate or normal for those situations if you love it wear it. Anyway it's totally casual I'm not wearing a hat! 

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! 

 

How to walk down the street and feel proud of what you are wearing!

Just walked down London road which is a rougher street of Brighton to go food shopping with my granny trolley. A little like taking your life into your own hands when your wearing your latest creation made out of some seventies curtains! But here are some top tips for not giving a shit about what other people think of your clothes! 

If someone is staring, just assume they bloody love your attire and desperately wish the had chosen to wear something similar that day. If it really is a recognisable WTF look then they are probs wearing a track suit or just are to small minded to appreciate your amazing attire.

When someone shouts something they assume clever like "nice curtains" then they are a dick because some of the best fabrics have been furnishing fabrics from the last century and just because they have never been anywhere apart from their nans living room is not your fault. And if you happen to have a bit of flesh on show and some charming chap decides to shout nice legs or whatever then feel sorry for them. As they are either that sex starved to find that a turn on or just so unintelligent that they don't understand it's a actual LOOK.

For combatting everyday places like the corner shop or your walk to work it's best just to stick your headphones in and get on with it. Either that or call your mum and look that dam busy organising your incredibly busy trendy life that you must be mega important and influential to be dressed the way you are. And remember most people are too busy focusing on their little lives to notice. 

And always ALWAYS remember that if you love it then Fuck everyone else cos it must mean its the hottest thing if you have chosen to wear it that day. If you are making it a look then it's a look. Better than blending in with the rest of the humdrum public.

And if all else fails then lovely old ladies will either stare at you in shock! Bless them! Or smile at you and say they love your outfit as it reminds then of something they use to wear! 

Finally........ If you have evoked a reaction it means you have done something, created a wearable piece of art, or something new and exciting and I salute you! You visionary you! 

Creating art while stacking shelves.

You know what's annoying? Life!? Haha I'm not in a particularly bad mood. However having just spent the day working in my pay the rent job I realised how much crap we have inflicted on us every two seconds of our day. Like the lady who is on her lunch break who's pissed off because I don't know where she can find a brass turtle in the giant indoor market that I work in. Or the man who gives me a look that says I wish you had chucked yourself under a train last night, because you can't give me any more discount. Biggest hate to every condecending meanie who assumes that I work in a shop because I have no qualifications or ambition and clearly no drive to do anything in my life. How wrong could you all be. If only you knew?!

 Every time I buy a coffee I know your pain. You work here while you write you amazing new book. When I buy I pint  you can see the lyrics to the Barmans lastest track running in front of his eyes just gagging to get back to his guitar. 

Giving the current climate pretty much our entire generation are working In pay their rent and get by jobs while they follow their dream career. Hooray for us all, we are the next generation of incredible creatives. Future masterpieces, underground hits, the trend setters, brave journalists, visionary writers and awe inducing actors. We will provide the inspiration for the next load of angst ridden teenagers and the more mature generation alike. We are brave, so keep stacking those shelves and staying up all night to finish your latest project. I will be thinking of you while crying into my sandwich at lunch time. (Only joking I don't get lunch breaks, I'm too busy planning my next creative endeavour) x

Need some chilled inspiration? Check out this magazine online, Tavi Genison the curator of this started all this when she was thirteen! So no excuses for not doing what you want! X

This movement starts NOW.

Where is our subculture? What culturally defines our generation? What sets us apart? We have horribly mass produced clothing led by massive fashion houses with no concept of what real people can afford or want to wear. Where is our music? Bland chart successes that overtly manufacture to reach their maximum audience. What about political decisions made on behalf of us by the rich few who have  had to live off such limited means. Are we going to sit down quietly and swallow this mundanity which is offered to us? What are we waiting for? You need permission? I'm giving you permission, what do you want to do? Make a film? Form a fashion label? Write a play? Start your own business? Band? Movement? What is it, what moves you? Yeah we all need to pay our rent and feed ourselves but bigger than that we need to satisfy ourselves by creating. Creating something for us, a sound, look, image, brand, whatever?! The time is now and we have the freedom. We have the power of the Internet and more knowledge available than ever before. You are not alone, the current economic climate is dissatisfying more and more of us. We are all the result of beatniks, hippies, punks and ravers. A hundred different subcultures have gone before us and we can encapulate and exploit every one of them for inspirational means. I want to hear from you, are you a musician, designer, photographer, writer, actor, choreographer, singer, artist, visionary? Let's join together and coin this movement, lets support, write about, be inspired by and collaborate. Together we have the means to do this. What's your latest idea? Need a creative forum? To meet more artists like yourself?

Email our company at gogokimono@gmail.com

We don't just want you to 'like' what we are doing on Facebook, we want to hear about you and your projects! Act and create NOW.

We are family.

Have you seen this kimono??! People keep asking me if I'd made it, I wish I had its fifties I think, I've had it a few weeks and I'm so in love with it. I think tonight I'm going to make some tie die kimono's as a nod to current street trends. Since I'm visiting home I'm using the opportunity to focus on my sis's look, she has been doing the 90's grunge thing since she was about three, in my eyes she is the true originator of this look, fuck hipster shoreditch! She does it in such a gentle, casual way. There is no sense of trying or being affected and that in my eyes is truly what makes a person have natural style and be actually cool. 

Up with different!

Here I am with my gorgeous sis both rocking very different looks. Thats what is  so great about other people's style- it's never going to be the same as yours and that is just so inspiring! It's so great to look at other people, know its not your thing but still bloody love it, or see something that you want to emulate but because its you wearing it it will be your own spin on that look. So keep doing what your doing diversity is what makes the world exciting, up with the different down with the mundane! And be proud of whatever look your rocking as there is no one else in the world looking quite like you today. 

Want to be part of the style revoloution?

There is something happening in the world of fashion, people are beginning to get sick of creepy mass produced clothes........ companies churning out set sizes and pieces controlling what we wear. We are being brain washed by the high street into what apparently suits us at whatever, time they dictate.

However there is a underground movement happening, slowly people are beginning to want something more, its doesn't take money, having to be a certain size or even "style" all its takes is imagination.

In reaction to this three woman are starting a group, a group that captures the moment, wants to provide inspiration and keep striving forward in creative ways. Ways that make us satisfied and free thinking, not conned into thinking we need the latest look to look good.

Want be involved? Message us you looks, post them on fb and tag Its Hideous, I love it. What do you want us to write about, leave a comment after this post. And keep your eyes peeled for a new blog that's leading the revolution.

Its called-

Wear for art now. #itsnotalookitsalifestyle

Roll up, Roll up!

 

 

Today I am not only trading outside one of the most iconic Shopping destinations in Brighton.............. I'm inviting you to come along, get involved, have a chat, be style snapped and join in the style revolution!

Make do. Mend. CREATE.

 

I was watching a programme about pre war fashions AMAZING, of course during the 40's rationing meant that making extravagant new frocks with brand new fabric wasn't possible. Some of the piece's that people created were just bloody amazing, made of curtains and their husbands old trousers, that kind of thing.

 

 I love that mentality, its so creative and resourceful and in our modern times its cool to be able to recycle something too. As the majority of our society (including me and all my friends) have restricted funds this mentality applies more than ever, you only need basic sewing skills IF THAT to be able to transform something. Even some kitchen bleach and a pair of scissors and as much imagination as you can muster, you can actually do anything.

 

 This dress was a 1960's ball gown that belonged to a friend of my grandma's. It was mega tiny and didn't do up around my shoulders, I wanted a quick fix so I just tacked the upper part of the back inside itself to create a deep V back, and then I cut and hemmed the skirt length to knee height to create a more fifties silhouette. Now I know we don't all have a old ball gown lying around, I'm lucky to have inherited a special piece. But the mentality is the same, old tablecloth-new dress, crappy t shirt- new crop top, old caravan curtains-new jacket................. don't be restricted by your skill base or worrying about people knowing what its made off. Now doesn't that old floral bed sheet of yours suddenly look more exciting........................

Fashion Pirates

 

Who wants to join my Crew? Sailing on a ship of style across the fashion sea, searching, stealing and discovering inspirational treasure. Losing and gaining crew, refining our treasure and becoming famous across the fashion seas????? Haha forgive my literal fashion story telling, inspired by the hat I'm wearing here. But I'm serious-we are all fashion pirates, stealing ideas from each other, sharing our looks across the mediums. Our crews defined by what style we choose that day. Sometimes we will kill off looks if they seem dull and defunct. Lets rejoice in this and never stop searching for our style Treasure Island.

 

Fairport Convention.

 

The floral theme continues (when doesn't it) this time in a more folky 70's manor, this could have something to do with me listening to Fairport Convention this morning, anyway, the sun makes me want colour and more simple accessories. So lets all pretend we are in California in and it's 1972, well that's what I will be doing anyway. Where have Stevie Nicks and my imaginary fringed Kimono gone? 

Post Punk.

Dip dyed seem to be rapidly descending into being the 21st version of tie dye, but without the amazing psychedelic soundtrack. Anyway on this theme did anyone see Vivienne Westwood's models dip dyed nails....... uber fucking cute, I'm totally going to find away of re creating this at home!!

On the subject of good old Viv Westwood the lucky employees at Virgin are getting a uniform overhaul with these very 50's inspired air hostess uniforms designed by the Dame herself. Although I love this silhouette and any re design has got to be better than any of it's 90's incarnations, I am a little disappointed that its so fucking predictable, I mean come on Viv you were part of the Punk movement and now you are part of a re-design that makes women in this role look just how you would fucking expect them to. BORING.

Norman Parkinson

For some reason the last through days I have rocked dangerously between a prim 1940's look, inspired by Miss Marple and her glamorous ladies which I watched on Saturday (lol) and a 1960's air hostess kind of vibe. All looks have included hats. 


Anyway as I while away my week in a flurry of slightly odd vintage outfits, here is a documentary about one of the most influential fashion photographers of the last century, his career spanning over fifty years. As well as some very insightful interviews, this programme has A LOT of juicy vintage pictures from 30's fashion upwards. Amazing and a must see. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01s40mv/Arena_aka_Norman_Parkinson/
Here is a few of his images to get you in the mood!

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!

I've got spots.

I actually have spots, currently those really big red ones that hurt for ages but you cant do anything about. So while trying not to give a shit I thought I would laugh at them and put some spots on my face myself. These cute dots are a fun way to add a little variation to your make up routine, you can make them bigger for a bit more a mime act sort of look. Or you can add a few dots floating away from an eyeliner flick at the side as well, as I always say, life is too short to always look the same!