Would you like a bag?

So I'm at a supermarket beginning with t and ending with o (they bake the best cookies, yum toffee and banana-yes please!)as I'm paying for my shopping (no exciting contents I'm afraid. Just the norm, crackers, soup, tights and toothpaste...odd combination huh?)the girl asks a simple non complicated question, " would you like a bag?"
Followed by a rather long pause from me,as I look down and observe my worn out distressed purple fringe bag, minus a few purple tassel strands and a damaged zip.I begin to feel sympathy towards my depressed looking bag, oh how once she appeared so new and snazzy. This is no longer the case, instead of snazzy she now (the bag) looks shattered. My fringe bag has been through a lot - literally through a lot:caught in train doors, bus doors and almost torn apart and shredded by this evil beast of a dog tied up outside the post office.Now the time has arrived and I must part with it *cry*.Only I've become attached too attached to this frigging fringe bag.
..."Would-you-like-a-bag or not?" The girl at the till still waiting for my answer.
"Yeah please,I'd like a bag, though not of the plastic shopping bag variety."
I must of really freaked her out as she threw me more then a life's worth of plastic carrier bags, before security jumped on me HA! Jokes.

Replacing a worn out handbag is similar to replacing a dead pet (stick with me here folks, this is heading somewhere...)a)you go through emotions of denial, 'no, no,no there is nothing wrong with my bag, its fine!'b)its difficult and c)you compare all potential new-bags-to-be, to the once glorious but now old and had it ex- bag.
After much grieving, I have finally began browsing for a new bag. Admittedly at first I searched only purple fringe bags, then I realised no other fringe bag will ever really replace my former trusty fringe bag.I forced myself out of my comfort zone and made a decision to browse only bags which have zero resemblance to her (the purple fringe bag).
Oddly my potential bag list (I'm obsessed with writing lists for anything and everything, bags are no exception)consist of quirky grey bags with no fringe in sight, or purple.
Could it possibly be I'm at long last moving on? Tell me does anyone else get this emotionally attached to a bag!?


board by: prettyneons
1. from, house of fraser
2. from,Asos
3. from, Evans
4. from, Topshop

PS...The thrift post that never materialised yesterday, I shall post soon as my camera is fixed.

Shes like a rainbow

Hello's fellow blogger 'gals and guys (though I do believe prettyneons has no male readers. However if you are a guy who's reading this, then sorry and do excuse my ignorance!).
Hope you all had a fabtastic weekend?My weekend was hectic I didn't get much snooze time, self inflicted mind you...I stayed awake sketching away until I had blisters on my fingers from clutching pencils and paint brushes. The heavy, aggressive rain was smashing against my window all weekend so I skipped sleep both Saturday and Sunday night. The result? One counter-productive Monday.
I'm rambling on, and have now forgot what I was going to type?
Aha yes, the light bulb has switched back on...
I wanted to thank you all for the walking in high heel tips: practice makes perfect I shall take that on board.
And also a giant thanks you's for the get well comments, I'm feeling so much better today, just a 'ickle exhausted...this is my own fault, I know.Once again though thank you (insert-kiss-kiss).

So shame on me. For about three months I've been promising to post extracts from a few of my scrap books, yet have failed to do so. Only because I bang on about fashion so much I forget all the other to-do's.Plus my scrap books are tucked away in difficult places and I've been too lazy to go and dig them out.
Enough txt (and excuses) about my scrap books here are a random selection of scribbles...



illustrations by:prettyneons.

I'm playing around with all my original sketches at the moment, importing them into photoshop see if I can work them into some fashion design prints for next year. Others are becoming large scale pieces of art, its all just trial and error for the time being.Fingers crossed something exciting will develop in due time.
I had planned on revealing my weekends thrift finds but my camera has just packed out and died on me, sorry folks! Will post the thrift finds tomorrow.*Promise*

Cheer -me -up- fashion

Hi blogging buddies, now do excuse this short and rather lame excuse for a post. I've not been feeling too bright today:even that may be a massive understatement. I feel like death, only death with a pulse (Hmmm contradiction? Just a bit).
In the bid to make myself feel better I binged out on both fruit and chocolate (dramatic contrast, I know)and washed it all down with some pain killer meds.
All the above failed to cheer me up, so then I turned my attention to online fashion,and spotted a pair of Iron fist bow shoes-all better now.
Though I really could do with some instructions on how to balance and walk in these things,any tips anyone? As high heels and I do not get on very well together, I won't even go into my past experiences involving dizzy high heels. It wasn't pretty.
Changing the subject. I also came across some really colourful print leggings too from shopbop, and a fabulous skirt from rarefashion
.

Anywhos that's about it from me today, just thought I'd share my snazzy fashion finds with you all.Have a fabtastic weekend, yeah?Me? Well I'm working through the weekend and going to have a whizzzzz around the charity shops...one is never too ill to thrift!Of course I shall share my thrift gems and take a snap of them for you to see.
Right-e-o I'm going to scribble in my scrap book, brush my teeth and then I'm hitting slumber land, up at five am tomorrow.

PeAce*
Prettyneons x

My big distraction

Why oh why is it I seem to get so easily distracted and lose track of time? Why don't I stop myself browsing fashion blogs, websites when I must crack on with work. I tell myself 'you've lots of important work to be completing save fashion/ blog catch up for another time, when you have time to waste and fully abuse'. Seems I'm incapable of talking myself out of it,click-boom what do you know I'm sat in front of the computer getting my daily fashion fix. Oh no I can't resist browsing the web just in case I might miss something which I may live to regret!Fashion, it is a full on addiction I suppose? The more I flick through fashion websites/ blogs etc the more intense my fashion addiction becomes: one fashion website becomes five,which then turns into five hundred websites that I've clicked in and out of. All this clicking and stalking fashion before late afternoon arrives. I've got it bad, real bad.

I damn links yes links. They make my work day very counter-productive,one minute I'm drooling over shoes on a-shu.co.uk. Then I click on some link which leads me to a fashion blog, whilst reading said fashion blog I scroll through their blog list and stumble upon another all time consuming enjoyable design blog.
I indulge in a newly discovered french design blog, and click (by accident may I add) on a nice and bright bold orange word. Sugar I've yet again allowed another link to suck me in further into the fashion vortex.
Links, you have to watch 'em you know they can totally take over your day oblivious to you until you stare up at the clock and the day has some how gone from am to pm. Oops I have less willpower then I first assumed. But whoa am I glad I clicked (by mistake)onto that bold orange word which spelled out (in attention seeking capitals) RUPHUS sorry did I just trick you into a link. Well I did warn you to be careful of those pesky little fashion links.No?

There is always a certain amount of suspense when entering into a unknown blog... oohh I wonder what it will be like?Will it be exciting?Will it be another blogger who's wardrobe I want to raid through?Am I going to get hooked and have to add to the already 'old loooong blog list?
I sit and wait for the link to get moving.
My heart skips a beat, what is this? This is insane- good insane the designs are over whelming like all good art and design should feel and be. Hmmm investigation work required, check profile, check links whoa whoa whoa, oh my gosh more there's more beautiful pieces by Ruphus.
All my investigating pays off as I learn Ruphus is a textile designer, who creates the most stunning and decorative accessories. A collage of prints, textures and techniques blended effortlessly together.The pieces are so very intriguing I couldn't stop clicking zoom, my head virtually stuck inside the computer screen wishing I could touch the accessories and pop one on my head.
Yes Ruphuscollection.blogspot.com has already been added to my dangerous/addictive/ distracting blog list. Which once again begs the question why-oh-why do I do this to myself, eh?





all photos from:Ruphuscollection.blogspot.com

Bonkers about brogues

I did it again today I bought yet another pair of brogues, yes because I really need another pair of bloody brogues.I own more pairs of brogues then all the grandads around the world combined.I've always received a lot of stick for wearing brogues thankfully I'm not concerned about what people say about my beloved brogues:brogues make my feet happy false dot-simple as.
I bought my first ever pair of brogues when I was thirteen,I stumbled upon them at a car boot sale. Yellow with black laces, when I shot up from a size three to five my heart broke, the hardest thing I ever had to do bin my yellow brogues. OK I had well and truly worn them out but still they were my bright yellow banana brogues...a tear rolls down my cheek simply revisiting this sad memory! Rest in peace yellow brogues.
Time to move on...

...So whilst waiting for my winter boots to arrive I desperately needed something other then peep toe shoes to keep my toes dry, warm and avoid slipping over on my bum (the result of walking around in wet pumps, which expand when soaked).
I didn't have much in my money deprived purse (which by the way has a depressing frown-yep objects can pull facial expressions)to be exact I had only £8.
I looked here there and everywhere for some 'just for now' shoes to no avail.
Then I browsed around SELECT it was a jumble of a mess in that store. Garments scattered across the floor,making Primarks presentation retail award worthy.At first I thought to myself nah, nope no way too much effort and hazard (having slipped over already today *ouch)cannot be bothered with the obstacle course, or crap background music for that matter (Cheryl Cole my ears are bleeding stop, stop it...She may be pretty but her tunes sure aint).By this point I was more then ready to make a rapido exit.

Wait what is this I spy on the messy floor?Hiding over at the back (isn't amazing how your vision sharpens when in a clothes shop?)only a pair of frigging brogues! Not any old pair of boring brogues, oh no for these pair of brogues are patent and reduced not once but twice making them £6 (they were £16 at one point: my piggy bank is laughing-no not at my grandad brogues) and in my size as well. This my friends was destiny of the brogue variety.
I couldn't help but notice the dirty looks of fashion disgust ('like what is she thinking? Say a fashion disaster pray for her, forgive her for these fashion sins' expressed across this fashion victims face)directed at my brogue purchase.
There, there my baby brogues don't you cry (brogues are very sensitive shoes) ignore them and their staring problems.
Lets go home I will introduce you to your big sister brogues bought many moons ago (erm last year).


photo:Some of my brogues...ignore her in the background.

next on my brogue wish list:Melissajoy silver brogues

Wild thing

For some unknown reason I seem to be fixated, obsessed and attracted to animal print just lately. I've no idea why? or indeed where this sudden crush on leopard print has sprung from? Maybe I've been influenced by this book which I'm currently reading,which is all about the Sixties-rock & roll bands, groupies and err lots of leopard print.
Seems I've really absorbed the Sixties style, taking style mental notes:
Note embellished waist coats, note chunky bracelets, note heavy eyeliner, note and highlight leopard print coats. Fluffy, long leopard print coats.

Whilst flicking through the visuals and skipping large chunks of txt (now I never ever scan read or skip paragraphs, this is how serious and distracting the problem is becoming)this leopard print coat with red stitch detail and bright red buttons, complete with dark purple collar literally jumps out from the page,along side Led Zep.
Never before have I wanted to be apart of the Sixties quite so much, well that is a blatant lie. As I've dedicated posts for my love of the Sixties before.The wanting just got far worse. I have this theory (here she goes again with her fashion theory's-one of many)that if some how I can track down and obtain a glamorous leopard print coat it will somehow transport moi back to the Sixties.Where I too can be a rock & roll groupie, stalking the likes of The Stones and Led Zep with the leopard print coat receiving their full attention. Before you know it the back stage pass is mine, and I'm off tagging along, sight seeing across the world with Led Zep as my sight seeing pals.


Of course there will be no going back in time and hanging out with Sixties rock stars for me, until I hunt down a fierce and fake leopard print fur coat! Damn it. Not any leopard print coat, as that's the easy part. There are hundreds and hundreds of leopard print coats out there.
I need to find a leopard print coat with all the following specific design details...fake fur( I don't invite the thought of wearing dead animal, so if it can be avoided I will do just that)red stitching, large bold red buttons double breasted and a dark purple collar...
Hours later with pm turning into am (I lost all sense of time browsing fashion webby's) and with the return of my pinkish/redish fashion strained eyeballs I eventually discovered the leopard print coat of all leopard print coats. That ticked all my Sixties coat check list box's,minus dark purple collar.
Faux fur leopard print coat with red buttons and black collar (a girl can't have it all I suppose?)from very
,and is destined for the crimbo wish list.
I stumbled upon an array of leopard print coats all in various styles (and not all of them were that snazzy),whilst straining my eyes clicking from one website to another Warehouse also has a leopard print,rock star worthy coat. Which like the one from very will be added to my childish crimbo wish list.



coat from: very

board by:prettyneons

1. From Warehouse, £80
2. From Peacocks, £40
3. From Very, £85

Victory!

EEK(can you start a sentence with ekk?Too late just did)I received the best phone call ever this morning which began with, "So would you like to join Newlook then?"
Huh what-who- me?
*Screams down phone with a loud sharp raw and excited, proper girly screech
"Oh my god yesssss!" Those four simple words are all I could think to say.
"Great hows Wednesday for you, can you begin then?"
Once again I could only scramble two basic words together...
"Umm sure!"
Followed by a delayed..."Thank you"

The battle against unemployment is over, victory damn it,VICTORY is mine!
It's been a very realistic tough slog of a graduate nightmare, only I couldn't shake myself out of this nightmare wake myself up,and shrug the situation off.For this nightmare wasn't really a nightmare as I was fully awake all the way through the ups and downs.Despite how much I adore fashion, there were many times when I thought to myself, 'what are you doing?Give up already.'To be frank, there were situations I experienced in which I began to seriously doubt myself convinced those years of studying at both college and university had been nothing but a costly waste of time.I had no other choice then to stick it out and hang on in there, as I'm no good at anything else. Fashion and art, that's it this is all I know, all I've ever known.
Heck I remain in utter shock I'm going to work for Newlook? Surreal. I've been obsessed with Newlook since I was in the womb (my obsession began early, pre-mature even)and can't believe this is my first step on the fashion career ladder.


Of course once more (I know, I know I've wrote an array of features on Newlook...but just one more time I promise) I have to declare my love for Newlook and pay homage to the highstreet fashion brand that I've grown up with via all my fickle fashion phases which include:styling myself as 'baby spice'(girl power),ripping off Gwen of Nodoubt and embracing Grunge, rocking myself up Courtney Love style.Now (just in case you were wondering) I'm a collective mix of everything and anything, today I'm in three different shades of green, gold and silvers...my inspiration? This pretty Xmas visual from the JohnLewis Xmas gift idea leaflet.
Where was I before I got side tracked?
Homage to Newlook.
I know thousands of fashion fans will be gushing over Giles (Deacon)today, and I sure am one of them too, however there are some impressive non-Gold by Giles Deacon stand out pieces to fall deep in lurrrve with as well.
Note: the movie star glamorous faux fur animal print winter warmer of a coat,quirky heart stud patent shoulder bag and stunning oriental platforms with delicate gold detail. Newlook's accessories are always so appealing to me, I must get my hands on a couple of those futuristic silver and bright blue chunky bracelets.
Newlook how I heart you, forever.


all images Newlook
board by:prettyneons

1.Faux fur animal print coat,£50.00
2.Stripe dress, £24.99
3.Suede shoes with gold detail,£40.00
4.Heart stud shoulder bag,£6.00
5.Silver and blue chunky bracelet,£6.00
6.Black sequin stud top Gold by Giles Deacon for Newlook, £45.00