Pink & Silver Wishes

Yes, yes its that time of the month again (oh no no nooooo I'm not referring to that time of the month) where I find myself going through a very sudden and random fashion related phase (hence why I could never truly describe my 'style' I often dread being asked that question.As my brain goes into panic mode failing to think up a exact and descriptive answer. So I simply shrug and divert attention, works every time).
My fashion head is indeed a fickle one,and has been known to play tricks on me:fooling me to believe I looked fab-frigging-tastic in a pair of spray on neon studded bottoms(I say bottoms as they weren't exactly jeans nor exactly leggings either)though I made that dreaded fashion fuck up well over a year ago, it remains to haunt me.
Note to self,I don't have long Vogue legs.But rather ordinary, average pins, sigh.


Um so its time to confess my latest fashion fixation, now I know, I know gasp what on earth is she thinking? Pink and silver? Tasteless and very nineties Aqua too.
Yet Pink and silver I cannot get enough of! Where to place the blame for this fashion phase? Hmm let me think, there must be some reason to as why I feel compelled to jump into pink and silvers?
Pondering over the matter, I suppose my Klaxons Poster ( 23 years of age and still digging posters? Correct: I just adore certain album art)is responsible as it consists of various shades of silvers and pinks.After three years of being pinned upon my plain boring white walls ( I rent and therefor am not allowed to dabble with paint. Unless I wish to be made homeless, its becoming to cold for that right now).The futuristic funky Klaxons poster has some what influenced my fashion taste buds and shaped my recent fashion decisions for better or worse. But what to do? Fight against the pink and silver urge? For it shall not suck me in! Or simply embrace and invite?Introducing the clashing colour combo to my bff. The wardrobe.

I've never feared fashion experiments before, so why is it then I find pink and silver both appealing and inexcusable?
Like reaching for another biscuit, when you've already had two.Fully aware two if not the one biscuit was enough.All that biscuit consumption won't do me any favours, that's simple and clear common sense.But the temptation proves too much and I crack under pressure, same goes for this bizarre craving for pink and silver, side by side together at the same time...
In simple terms it must be accomplished!




1.Miso print tee from republic, £20
2.Miso sequin blazer from, same as above, £39.99
3.Bright pink skirt from, Matalan, £12
4.Silver buckle boots from, Office, £90


all boards by:prettyneons.

1.Silver print vest from,Missselfridge, £28
2.Embellished jacket Balmain, £4,110 (*ouch)
3.Hot pink bandage skirt from,Bardot,£27
4.Leather studded fan detail shoes from,Riverisland, £84.99(added to my wardrobe wants!)

I'm Just A Girl

"Take this pink ribbon off my eyes
I'm exposed
And it's no big surprise
Don't you think I know
Exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me
To hold your hand
'Cause I'm just a girl, little 'ol me
Don't let me out of your sight
I'm just a girl, all pretty and petite
So don't let me have any rights"

No Doubt 'Just a girl'


Today I had my wig (or rather long, long curly, wavy frizz ball hair) chopped off, there is no going back (well until my hair grows and gets all long again)for I can't return to the hairdressers and collect my dead hair off the floor and stick it back on my head. Or can I?
No no I can't that's crazy talk.
The whole experience was a horrid one, the atmosphere of them places makes me feel uneasy, I can't explain why I find hairdressers so very daunting. Perhaps its because I become very attached to my hair (in more ways then one).
It sounds so silly and stupid, I cannot stand sitting in front of a full length mirror (why do the mirrors have to be full length anyway? Hmmm probably just my local hair place i.e the 'Hair House'. Shit title eh?) being quizzed by some random ultra girly girl on 'what hair products I use because it really is like so wild'. Excuse me that's my hair your talking about!
God please let me gag on a falling hair ball, so I no longer have to tolerate such mindless chitchat.


The hairdresser I was so lucky to of had (blatant fib) was not too dissimilar to Edward Scissor hands, she was waving her scissors here there and everywhere, chip-and-a-chopping-away. When she turned her back to grab the hairdryer I pegged it...nah joking.
I slowly looked up at myself in the big old intimating full length mirror, shock horror and oh bugger me shes had a field day with my locks: I suddenly felt exposed naked, no longer very feminine. Thank Christ she never cut my tits off,that's all I can say.

I've always been slightly tomboyish with a touch of girly going on and my style obviously reflected that. As I got up to pay and walked out I caught my reflection in the door mirror...I need to tweak my style, I must add more girly touches more then ever before to compensate for the lack of long hair I now have. Though I don't want to completely lose my old 'long hair me' identity either, my long messy hair which made me feel oddly enough a bit 'rock & roll' for some unknown reason?
How do I keep the old me alive and kicking? I'm going to give the fashion squad a heart attack and just combine lace up biker style boots with edgy,elegant accessories, and turn the floral tea dress volume up louder alot louder!



Board by:prettyneons


1. All gems from, astleyclarke.com
2. Floral frock from, shopruche.com
3. Biker style boots from, Miss selfridge

The Close Enough Game

Hmmm now I'm not certain whether I've ever shared this with anyone before? As frankly its actually quite a odd and embarrassing little game I play from time to time, but oddballness (whoop, whoop I've just created and made up a completely silly word)is healthy and me all over.
Now some people smoke to pass the time, others might watch some TV,complete a crossword, take the dog for a walk?
I however don't smoke,having ordinary one, two, three, four channels ( TV lacking in variety)and there for have zero programs that are worth watching (with the exception of 'mock the week')crosswords get me all frustrated and I don't own a pet dog.
So I indulge in my favorite game which I made up years ago from complete utter, brain eating boredom. The title of this game is called (wait for it...) 'The close enough game'.

How to play:
Browse way out of your price range clothes to do this simply click on to style.com or rip pages out of Vogue etc, drool over all those gorgeous and well cut garments.
Now like a magpie desperate for glitter, browse and browse again for similar much cheaper versions of your beloved designer garments.

The rules:
Colours can vary the style must not: I'm strict with this part. Erm this is the only rule.

Sadly I own many scrapbooks dedicated to this pathetic yet equally enjoyable game, I've re-created one entry from my previous scrapbook and last game using fancy (*cough-lie-cough) graphics.

Spot the difference?






all boards by:prettyneons.

'The close enough game':Results...

1.Instead of Emporio Armani shoes...Dorothy Perkins gold detail shoes.

2.Instead of Les Chiffoniers gold sequined blazer...Dorothy Perkins sequin blazer.

3.Instead of Charles Anastase graffiti tee...Miss Selfridge graffiti tee.

Do feel free to play and post your results!

Beha is the best

Freja Beha Erichsen, the only model I really admire to be honest.For one whenever shes in any fashion campaign or on the catwalk you just know it.Because Beha's the beautiful contradiction of all the following; pretty, fragile, fierce and elegant.
You can't but help pay attention when shes on some glossy fashion page, her features are simply striking, meaning shes difficult to ignore.So quickly flicking the page over isn't an option: as a fashion illustrator/ artist (that sounds too grand, for I just scribble and flick some paint around)it would be my fashion dream come true to study and sketch Freja Beha,*dreams.

And now Beha is my hair style inspiration too...

Let me explain for ages now I've had long, wavy, curly frizz-messy locks (this is probably self inflicted as I never-ever can be asked to use any hair products what-so-ever. I detest the gunk like textures and horrible chemical smell, and have this phobia when it comes to hair spray)I'm bored and find myself frustrated when ever I have to bloody pick up the damn hair brush and untangle my wig.I'm ready for the chop.
There's no doubt I use my hair as some sort of security blanket, and the fringe is really brilliant for covering any spot break outs on my forehead.But its knots enough (see what I've done there, genius huh? I'm more then ready to do stand up) to convince me to keep hold of my long hair...its got to go...now, right now!

Wheres the scissors?


board by:prettyneons






photos from: vogue & gettyimages

Leather With Lots Of Love

Bags.My one true weakness.They make me go all funny at the knees, and the amount of time I will happily waste and throw away just admiring and drooling over bags on some fancy window display is I admit ridiculous. I have in the past dedicated a whole weekend seeking special vintage bags. There's this village in Sussex and once every month this woman (with a love of bags even far greater then mine)puts on display the most amazing array of vintage bags and unique bags shes collected from here there and everywhere. The most impressive ones I've seen (so far) has to be this vintage feather fringe clutch which belonged to a funky famous Sixties Rolling Stones groupie, whoa right? The stories it could tell if only it could speak...imagination runs wild.
The second impressive and mind blowing bag on display at her monthly exhibition/ market homage to bags is Anuschka bags, of which I've never heard of before until I discovered this tattoo print leather slouch bag...a little out of my price range but still very much whoa-wow worthy.

Hence this decision to pay homage to all bags Anuschka style, Anuschka still being this fashion novelty for me, as its a label recently discovered.
I'm now obsessed with these leather beauties:yep I'm a vegetarian who digs these leather bags.Calm down no need to jump the gun, its fine for this is leather with love...I'll revisit this later on.
Anuschka bags are a rare unique combination of art, fashion and functionality. The erm function bit being a bag ideal for belongings (just in case you don't know that's what a bag is for, he he excuse me pointing out the obvious).
All the bags are crafted from soft cow leather, and what makes these leather bags different from all other leather bags is the ethical part.Their all individually crafted and hand painted by actual craftsmen and artists these bags are empowering those who would otherwise struggle.

Returning to the shallow fashion part, the prints are colourful strong, attractive with dreamy imaginary scenes of rainbows, orchids and beautiful elegant butterflies floating around. Its a fabulous fantasy dream applied to a bag,perfect for any wannabe gypsy 'gal like moi! Anuschka bags are not simply bags for chucking everyday crap into, these bags are mobile pieces of art. To be adored by all and forever treasured.






Board by: prettyneons
All images: Anuschka
visit: www.anuschkaleather.com

Candice Wren Pretty Pashminas

Pashminas, pashminas often practical and versatile for those cold lazy days,layer it up with long knit tops and knit cardies, but sadly that is about the only fashion outing and opportunity so to speak pashminas receive. For after that pashminas are dismissed and discarded, left to collect cotton dust in the back of the wardrobe.
Because sadly pashminas have always just been practical. That's it, that's the short fate of the understated pashmina a timid fashion accessory,lacking behind other fashion accessories in regards to snazzy fashion points.
For their often too ordinary, drab and dull.To avoid further fashion neglect the pashmina needs to shred its original skin and prove to its harsh pashmina haters that the pashmina can be a much desired, popular wardrobe item.

Designer Candice Wren may just be about to kick off a pashmina revolution!Injecting pashminas with a dose of colour. Whilst on her holiday in Turkey Candice Wren couldn't help but notice how popular pashminas were, but also how they lacked surface design and decoration.It was that moment illustrator and print designer Candice conjured up a cracking idea, combine the two.
Candice bought up a few pashmina souvenirs returned home and began experimenting applying her adorable and fun prints to the plain pashminas,"It was a trial which just snowballed into a fashion brand of printed pashminas!" Candice's besspoke pashminas was born.
Using designs from her graduate work such as dolly costumes and perfume bottles. Expanding ideas and designs into her first ever pashmina collection which is evidently screaming out for an extension... Could a S/S Candice Wren fabulous fashion collection maybe on the cards? "I would love to do a collaboration Id particularly like to team up with a good seamstress/pattern cutter where beautifully developed clothes could be made using the printed fabric I would supply. I think a range of tea dresses would be perfect since all my designs are ultra girly.
There is a particular label on Portobello market where a girl makes all her own clothes under the name Millua. Her style is gypsy and girlish and she uses pretty light and floaty materials, mainly dresses which you could dress up or down with a pair of leggings. I would love to work with her."













photos: Candice Wren pashmina collection.




visit:candicewren.co.uk info@candicewren.co.uk

Lace Lush

Needle work and lace the domain of grans across the globe, wrong. For needle work and lace are receiving much love right now and I for one am lurvving the delicate Gothic lace spilling out of Dorothy Perkins AW collection. The lace leggings are very material girl.
Fashion is overwhelmed with eighties inspired garments right now, however Dorothy Perkins collection is full of eighties silhouettes but with an ultra sleek, modern twist which gives DP's pieces a tough 'gal edge.
Lets return to the lace, of which has been giving a complete make over, mixed with acid denims, leather and velvets topped with an injection of bold colour. I'm referring to the lace insert vibrant yellow dress of course!
The attention to detail means its quite possibly the best catwalk copy ever, way too expensive though I assume...wait whats this? Whoa how looks can be deceiving, deceiving indeed, I can actually grab this lovely lace frock and it won't get moi into trouble with the burden that is a tight (and tiny) bank account. Whoop whoop for that.

Hmmm whats this more lush lace? I spy lace and velvet boots...Ooh perfect for those crazy rock & roll nights (when I say "crazy rock & roll nights" I'm referring to some tiny gig in the pub down the road...what? Its still a bit rock & roll. Alright so it really isn't).
I swear the more I stop to admire THOSE lace boots the more they begin to whisper to me the following convincing words 'I'm lovely, come on chose me I'll go with any wardrobe item too...jeans, skirts, dresses' Stop stop! I can feel myself slowly swaying, should I sell my soul and bloody press buy already just for the sake of some lace and velvet boots? Is it do you think, too materialistic of me to give up my soul for a pair of shoes? A pair of very impressive, hot and gorgeous shoes that is.
The shoes do have much required benefits too. for one their keep my toes warm (all I own in terms of shoes is peep toe summer shoes and now summer is dead and gone, as painful that is to admit. With it only being early September and all!) and safe from frost bite, the heel of these boots are very generous.Meaning more height for elf like me and they have the whole turning head factor too. Which is a nice added bonus.
Right I feel I've justified whats going to be my first winter wardrobe purchase. DP here I come...well once I've saved up for a while by which time other fashion savvy sisters would have beat me to it.Damn.



Board by: prettyneons

1. lace leggings, £30
2. yellow lace dress, £50
3. lace detail boots, £42

all from Dorothy Perkins