Vegetal

I was feeling uninspired and dumpy today, usually this feeling seems have a positive effect on my look for the day(considering I was make-up free)... There could possibly be a remotely, subconscious decision to extend more effort into dressing better or it might be down to the lack of forethought or otherwise in the end I felt as if I was channelling a relaxed, old school country vibe. I know that we're supposed to have moved on to Spring colours but seeing as the Fall shows are getting under-way it is apropos.

I also noticed a vague similarity to the D&G F/W 08-09 ad campaign. That 's where I think the similarity ends considering the look was quite severe due in part to my military style coat and my bottom half, all of which were black. I think it lent an element of surprise considering I kept my coat buttoned up most of the day, so the focus of my look was the scarf, but the browns throughout broke it up.

scarf - Rokit, knitwear - H&M, denim - Primark, coat - TopShop and shoes - Zara

A few pics of the Mario Testino shot ad campaign to refresh your memory

images

Charity begins at home...literally!

More than a year ago my uncle was clearing out his closet for our annual household charity contribution and I spotted this white shirt in the pile, so I had to take it and a few other things out. (sorry!)
I'm generally the person who goes the the donation piles for new additions to the closet, and with my family it is most likely vintage as they're hoarders; I have dove into the trash when a chain belt, circa 80s, was thrown in...

I appreciate the potential that clothes have in contributing to a distinctive look. In this case, the neckline - I'm not certain of the technical description (military or frog-line something), but I felt that there was was just something there and those three buttons were the cherry on top. I was going for a timeless look juxtaposing masculine with feminine accents.

[sorry in advance for the background distractions, i.e. curtains and coatigan, I was being adventurous with the camera without a tripod] and as I am technologically challenged I have failed to master the photo-editing software to tell the story through seamlessly with the photos.It'll have to be the boring blogger photo layout for now.

shirt- charitable donation, necklace -TopShop, belt - COS and vest and leggings - H&M

        

 

Interim

Hey there,

I know I haven't posted for a while but I've needed to take a break from blogging to put in some serious committed work for my last year at uni and also I had some overtime to do at work. However, the time away from the blog made me think about the direction I want to take it in and see how I could improve, hence the new layout among other things. It's a trial, so let me know your thoughts.

I can't wait to be back fully with you, just a few more weeks...

Always look on the bright side of life...Beyond Retro

I've got a surprise for you. At least I hope it will be a surprise for you.

Vintage. For everyone it means something different it, some will turn their noses up while others treasure it. When I got the email that Beyond Retro was launching their online store, I'm not lying I was sceptical, but they have proven me wrong by doing just that. Ladies and Gents "Beyond Retro" is live (has been for a few days now). The site is amazing, the irony isn't also lost that I usually build up my jaunts to their stores and leave with a compulsory buy - just because I can't bear to leave without not making a purchase, now I seem to be needing most, if not, everything I view on the site. So, if your also up to making some donations I wouldn't say no.

The first thing I did when I visited was to look for coats- why you ask?! For the past week I have seen at least 2  people wearing pink coats in a variety of shades and tones, candy floss, strawberry, flamingo pink, raspberry (or is that red? in my defence I would say that it [coat] looked pink). And all of them took me back to the 50s and 60s they were either princess cut or that Jackie O/ Grace Kelly, A-line one of them had an adorable fur collar. I'll admit that I don't think I'll invest in such a colour for myself but I love to see colour in [on] others, in the world. Do you?

Men and Gods

So, I've been snowed in for two days now. But I refuse to be trapped in my house any longer - seeing as I have my first * drum roll please*work  X-MAS party to attend this Sunday, and in my usual style I still don't have anything to wear which is why I've been scouring my mags and the net for inspiration. My inspiration, however, came from the unlikeliest place (uncle Karl).
 Karl Lagerfeld shot the latest Pirelli calendar and he did it with mythological excess (what else?) - who does beauty, excess and power like the Gods and Goddesses of  Roman and Greek mythology; many have tried and have yet to attain. As much as I admire uncle Karl's artistic drive and just about everything else about him, I feel that this was no lightening bolt... it just doesn't evoke that other-worldly sensation I expect from any work relating to the Gods and Goddesses. I want to be confronted by my own mortality and the limits within which I have to abide, and yet feel somehow liberated by being let into their world for a moment. I wasn't.
 It's possible that Karl was putting his own interpretation by using these models and beauties - whom we elevate to their own Olympus, and in doing so cast them into their very own mythological existence for their respective strengths. It's still something to look at and that was my inspiration, I want to be seen differently, it is after all the party season and, metaphorically speaking, I've had my hair tied up for too long.

WARNING - nudity!

Images: 1) Erin Wasson - AJAX, 2) Baptiste Giabiconi - APOLLO, 3) Daria Werbowy - ARTEMIS, 4) Iris Strubegger - ATHENA, 5) Elisa Sednaoui - FLORA and 6) Julianne Moore - HERA

    
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That special something

The grass is always greener... I always try to have a positive outlook but in these trying times it's sometimes hard to think of the bigger picture, which is why I keep a collection of Vogue and Elle UK...Don't ask me why I collect my mags, but I can't see why anyone would throw these inspirational books out...Don't get me wrong I love my classics but my self-help book isn't a 'how-to-do-it-yourself ' book but Vogue or Elle depending on who's on the cover for the month...

I take inspiration from the editorials, as most of us do for ideas about seasonal looks, but for some once they read that magazine for the month they never remember what they saw (or vaguely remember). I take inspiration from how I feel when I read them. When I read Vogue and Elle I imagine what it will be like when I'm the one with that £1,000+ coat/shoes or when I'm the one travelling to that exotic location. Sometimes it's not even the material things but the look on the model's face in a particular pose or the composition, it's indescribable these [flash in the pan] moments and no feeling or sensation of happiness is the same each time I read. How do these images make you feel? 

                                
These two photos were me messing about trying to be professional about my favourite models and covers...

Past covers of Vogue and Elle UK 

Out of focus

I took quite a lot of photos for this outfit post and I was sifting through them for the select few that actually make the cut, and looking at this one I love, love, love the way it looks like a horribly scanned image... It's refreshing! It also reinforces the need I have for a Lomography camera (because Analogue is the future - for me at least) - hopefully the full Diana+ package with additional flashes (*hint hint*).

Oversized cardigan - COS... The structure of the cardigan is cocoon- like so I prefer it belted, otherwise I keep it unbuttoned. I don't know exactly how to describe the ribbing/ ridges effect on the cardi but that is what drew me to it -I think it's cool. I'm wearing it as a coat, for now, seeing as all the options I had for Winter coats haven't met my expectations.