Rain Rain Go Away

Whoops appears I've jinxed the weather? With all my umbrella talk the other day,guess it doesn't take those English rain clouds much convincing to piss down (err that's a heavy down pour of rain to any of those outside of England which I sometimes baffle with my lazy slang,soz guys)and spit out those rain drops-drip-drop-drip *often followed by a,"shit I've just been sprayed by a passing lorry." People this is exactly why the modest umbrella is my beloved fashion accessory, and one I really can't do with out,especially when my hair is prone to extreme frizz fits...think Robert Plant(in the glory days of Led Zep)meets they- tried -to -make- me- go -to- rehab Amy Winehouse and you should by now have some sort of visual forming,no?
I don't mind the rain,if it's simply spitting as truth be told I love parading around town with my pinwheel pagoda,if I could use all my vintage umbrellas at once I no doubt would.
Yeah sure people will talk,possibly some hardcore chav (I have nothing against chavs,but hardcore chavs i.e ones right from that comedy 'Shameless' are tragic.What other word do you use for some idiots who spend their afternoons in car parks downing 60p basic brand larger?)may just get up in my face and begin dishing out large portions of verbal abuse.I like to seek my revenge by asking,"how do you spell those censored words?" It gets them every time,and they crawl off back to the car park.And no the above chav drama wasn't a fictional event.I'm over it.





board by prettyneons




I've always be known as the nutty umbrella girl,I'm forever topping up my umbrella collection and each of them have a forename too,though I'm not crazy enough (yet) to give my umbrellas surnames. Now that would be taking things too far.I collect both vintage and highstreet umbrellas,the last umbrella I purchased was from Superdrugs cost just £3,and has a colourful cheery icecream print,whenever I put this umbrella up it puts a huge smile on my glum 'can't believe it's raining-again' face.The icecream print always has me craving cookie dough icecream for some unknown reason? My second most prized umbrella ell ella (it had to be done) is my vintage crayon red ruffled umbrella,which has this beautiful antique style handle:the details are incredible and it's just quite special to me,as silly as that may seem.I found my ruffled umbrella on this gorgeous webby dedicated to vintage umbrellas.I stumbled upon this website after watching The Notebook, I clocked this lovely bridal parasol so I slowed down the credits (too much spare time back then, obviously)and there was the website that transformed my life HA!Bellaumbrella,have a whole array of styles from pagoda's,pretty bridal parasols,decorative ruffled umbrellas to your classic print umbrella, and each time I browse this site they have added another lot of umbrella's.Inspired by today's dead weather and depressing puddles I selected some of my favourite vintage umbrellas
...never before has the rain been so much fun huh!?
So which one out of this fine bunch is your favourite umbrella?Mine? It has to be the chartreuse floral pagoda.

Style Crush,Cake & Barry Hyde

A month or so ago I invited you lot to invade my inbox with any questions you may have for me,any questions at all big,small,random,weird, and wonderful and how you didn't disappoint one little bit.
I've had a blast answering all of them too,so get a cupa tea,a fancy biscuit (or any snack of your choice) sit yourself down and I hope you enjoy reading? As much as I've enjoyed putting this 'ickle feature together (though it did feel a bit self obsessed at times ha!),if you can't spot your question in there do not fear this is part one,I will follow it up with part two very sooney.By the by do feel free to drop any questions in my comment box or email me,don't be shy I do love a good old chitchat.



board by prettyneons


What is your current wardrobe wish?

I have so many wardrobe lusts right now,however I cannot stop dreaming of all the above,RiverIsland has me dribbling so very badly at the moment honestly I can hardly contain myself I'm making a right mess over here, drooling into my keyboard.


Who's your style crush?


I declared my love for her this week, Kat Von D of LA Ink I think her I'm with the band, I'm fucking the band style is killer she has charisma too which is also I think an important style accessory you know?



Which fashion item can you not live without.


My icecream print umbrella,it's the UK and well the weather can change whenever it feels like it,I have a collection of quirky umbrella's. I've eyed up a vintage umbrella on ebay,I fear I've not 'won' it though.Sob.




Who's your style inspiration?


Jeez it changes from day to day,one day it could be Gwen (...I've always adored her cleaver cartoonesque style when she was in Nodoubt)the next it could be FB (Freja Beha)or any dude from the Stones!




What album are you listening to at the moment?


I'm tapping my toes to the Futureheads
first album,I've been a fan of them for years now,plus Barry Hyde is good looking indeed...not that you can hear their looks but he gets me drooling more than any RiverIsland frock.







Who would you most like to invite along to a picnic?
Oh wow such a great question! You've noticed my love for picnics huh?
Hmm well Derren Brown
would be interesting he gets the first invite for sure. Who else? Ana Matronic,Emile Hirsch (my favourite actor),Juliette Lewis,Robert Plant,and all of you...can you imagine how epic a bloggers gathering would be?




You've never done any outfit posts why not?


To be perfectly frank I've tried to avoid getting too caught up in the narcissistic side of blogging,and when I first began blogging it just never crossed my mind it did once leave me feeling baffled.What's the point of showing off your clothes everyday?But that was many moons ago when I was a teenager my foggy ignorance has cleared now, and finally I get it.



Would you ever consider doing a outfit post in the future?

Yep definitely, it's obvious to me now that outfit posts can be a brilliant tool to illustrate my style opinions and certain features from time to time.But I would never outfit post just for the sake of outfit posting,because who wants to see my mug on the screen everyday?Hell not me!



How long have you been blogging for?


About two/threeish years I believe?Not certain,check my blog archive?I began blogging after graduating from my fashion degree course at Brighton university,though I always wanted to begin blogging before then,but I had three jobs at uni and it left me with zero time for fashion indulgence.





Why did you decide to create a blog for?


It was a number of reasons,I've always kept a fashion art scrap book since I was young,I've always read alot about fashion/art/culture and it began to consume my head when I was trying my best to concentrate on my uni studies,designing clothes etc.So it was an effective method to help declutter my brain,so I could focus better and kick those pesky sleeping pills.Another reason was I wanted to connect with like minded people,and thirdly I was effed-off with struggling to find employment within the fickle bias fashion industry over saturated with has been rock star kids. Of which get it easy inside the fashion vortex compared to those of us who don't have a well established surname.Young famous folk do not have to work very hard to be granted their fashion stripes,this isn't me being bitter,'tis fact,sadly.Believe me I've seen it too many times with my own eyes.




You've been blogging for ages now,do you have Lot's of fashion freebies?


I wish.No I've never received fashion goodies for any features I've published on my blog,not even a sock.Sorry to disappoint you there.



Your very good at writing,did you study fashion journalism at all?


Firstly thank you so much,what a wonderful compliment.But nope self taught i.e it's all trial and error,my 'ickle blog is still so young and very much learning how to crawl.




Do you ever experience writers block? Because you seem to post so often.

So far (touch wood) no I've not yet experienced the dreaded writers block.I stalk fashion and when you stalk her, you will always have something to share me thinks?




Have you any fashion blogging tips you can give me?


I'm 100% no blog pro really I'm not,so probably the wrong gal to ask. But I guess just be yourself,have fun and never take fashion too seriously because at the end of the day it will chew you up and spit you out if you do.Oh and stick pretty pictures upon your walls,anything that provides your brain with food for thought.*Please note:I will not take responsibility if these 'tips' are shit and useless to you haha.


Why prettyneons?


I'm having a dim moment,do you mean why my blog is named prettyneons?Duh of course you do. It's one long story,but basically when I was at uni designing.One of my tutors was a witch and she always hassled me about using colours/patterns that were too bright.I was given a huge difficult design brief to design a roll of printed fabric for this competition,I went against her 'advice' and used a neon colour way.She advised me to scrap my design as 'it wouldn't win any prizes, loud neon prints are out honey and never coming back,you don't stand a chance',anyway in the end I done very well out of that one design.I'm sure there's a message in there somewhere, decode if you wish?




What makes a blog a good read for you?


Another cool question. I like genuine kind bloggers who have no hidden agenda's,and just a simple attraction to art/fashion/style/culture/subculture and so on.I like blogs with a good sense of humour too, musicfashionclutter blog makes me chuckle!









Is there anything you love more than fashion?


Yes,yes, yes baking I can't get enough of that stuff,and cracking eggs never gets old.Can I use this opportunity to brag? I make a mean batch of soft American style cookies.



What colour is your hair?


My hair has been many colours in the past,I gave up the bottle (of hair dye)two years ago as my hair had the texture of sand paper and threatened to fall out.I'm eager to change my hair colour once again.Right now my hair is brunette with blond tips...this is my natural hair colour.


I like your thrift fashion bargain finds,could you do a feature on this?


Good idea I hadn't thought of this myself,I'll see what I can conjure up.




Which trend do you dislike the most?



Easy,double denim! Long time readers will already be aware of my strange denim fear.



What's your favourite fashion trend right now?


I'm partial to antique style garments,and I've noticed this slowly taking over the catwalk too,so naturally I shall gravitate towards it.







What is your all time favourite film?


The Breakfast Club,my big sister (who's alot older then moi) introduced me to this eighties classic teen film when she was babysitting me.As odd as this sounds but I'm convinced it was like the first ever film I watched?I've seen it a billion times already,yet somehow it always feels new and fresh.The characters are all strong and inspiring,plus there are some bloody amusing one-liners.I highly recommend this film,go Bing/Google it!



You often give shout outs to your BBF who or what is this reference?


My BBF's are my blog best friends there are three blog girls I stay in touch with,write to and hope to hang out with one day outside this blogalaxy. Which is very nice as I never expected to strike up such close friendships.You know who you are.

Animal Bar

All aboard the ship
'Cause you're gonna need an ark
When the wet comes down
You'll be swimming like a shark
Mopping up the pain and
I'm a little older
Right as rain
At the animal bar

Red Hot Chili Peppers



I don't know what's to blame for my obsession with all things animal print?Is it because a)I have the Red Hot Chili Peppers 'Animal Bar' on repeat (I bloody love the lyrics to this song!)b)I recently visited the zoo or c)Somewhere deep down there's still my inner six year old self "who wants to be a vet when she grows up"
Either way animal prints are dominating my wardrobe right now,the rails are almost collapsing under the weight of owls,tigers,eagles,elephants (I have this great tattoo style elephant print tee,which I 'won' on ebay two years ago,it's the first and only prize I have ever won ever in my life.Could say I treasure it more like trophy then a tee),and zebra's.My wardrobe has more animal action going on than London Zoo.Raw!
My animal print addiction became so extreme in the end my big sister had to intervene,"I'm becoming concerned with your fetish for leopard print.And it is a fetish,I mean how much more leopard print do you really want?" I chose to ignore her fashion advice and continued, or continue to adopt zebra's ...zebra print not actual zebra's this would be foolish.I find the best leopard print gear in thrift stores and car boots,not too long ago I snagged this acid pink zebra print top which had some mighty impressive shoulder pads,(I ripped the padding out,shoulder pads may have made a brief return but they are not welcome in my wardrobe,besides I'm too short to pull off shoulder pads successfully they make me look like a square cube slash transformer,with dead arms).In the past three years or so I've also obtained snake print ankle boots aka my glamrock booties, zebra print chain shoulder bag ( '07bargain buy in TK Maxx),leopard print double breasted coat ( '09 belated Xmas gift to myself,belated because I couldn't afford the full price so sat and waited patiently for the January sale)and my most recent animal purchase is a funny cropped T-shirt, that has this print of a dapper cat dressed up in those amusing Kanya West acid coloured shades.Can't recall where I discovered this T-shirt?I believe it was some American online fashion website,their version of Primark...damn what is it called?Anyway I purchased the cat T-shirt way back in February,so it's about that time again where I tune into my animal instinct and contribute once again to my zoodrobe (...err get it?I know right,smart word play *coughs*).












Out of all the above I'm inclined to opt for the falcon tee,the print is fierce and my zoodrobe is lacking in the fierce falcon department.Secondly I pick the stag cropped top, for the same reason as before: I have no stag print tops,plus I want to be able to declare,"I own a frigging stag!" thirdly I bag the Marc Jacobs leopard print bag, right so I have more chance of bumping into Kings Of Leon down my local supermarket (hey Nathan fancy seeing you down here in the biscuit section. Could you pass me the HobNobs? Cheers hun)however I'm allowed to dream.



1.animal tank dress

2.falcon tee

3.top

4.Riverisland

5.stag crop tee

6.Peacock T-shirt

7.Marc Jacobs

P.S...Who else has a zoodrobe?

Von To Be Like You

Ouch* Mondays they sure are a stinger,the weekend is over,reality kicks back in and slaps you hard around the face,which for me is a shame as it means I'm no longer a fierce tattoo artist nor do I live in LA,and nor am I actually Kat Von D.
Let me explain,I spent a large portion of yesterday evening sat in front of the box catching up with episodes of LA Ink,I could hardly move from the sofa due to numb legs (remember that walk I told you I was embarking on at the weekend?Well I completed it at the end was this icecream van,dude never have I needed a rum & raisin icecream so very desperately)numb toes and numb arse,one word-hills.
LA Ink is such addictive viewing,so are all the other Ink programs,however LA Ink is far more moreish mainly because I have a shameless style crush on Von,I go through these phases where I'll stalk and observe her radical style,it's pathetic huh?
I even discuss her ever changing hair colour to whoever is willing or cares to listen,"The Von's gone blond!" I dropped this shocker bombshell on my friend,who replied silently with a baffled sort of what-do-I-care? shrug followed ten minutes later with,"Who is Kat Von whatever?"









all images from bing


board by prettyneons.


1.T-shirt,£17
2.Zebra print trousers,£25
3.Lace bomberjacket,£35
4.Bracelets,all items from Riverisland
5.Platform shoes,£55,from Office


Just in case anyone reading this is oblivious to Kat Von D because you have a life,she's this extremely talented tattoo artist on LA Ink,a reality style program about the day to day running of Kat's tattoo shop called highvoltage in LA.
Whatever you do don't tune into LA Ink if you hate the sight of needles,as obviously the show mainly consists of customers getting inked,which obviously involves needles and such.
However if your an art whore like myself,your lurrrve LA Ink,and if too you appreciate style when you see it,your become hooked on Von's and will tune in simply to admire her threads.
You laugh now but trust me the above will happen,Kat's wardrobe makes me want to die her collection of rock tee's,lace crop tops,animal print trousers,gold accessories and big old patent platforms are incredible.In your head conjure up and combine the following:eighties trash glam rock meets drag queen and bingo you have the Kat Von D ingredients.Erm almost, minus the array of tattoo's.I heart Kat Von D's confident trashtatic I'm with the fucking band,I'm fucking the band look.

P.S...Any other style stalkers out there?Come on now don't be shy,spill it already!

Broken Bows

Why hello for I have returned as promised I'm back online for good ,( or atleast until my broadband provider makes another epic fuck up of an error-excuse the censored language) so as you may already know from my last speedy post, when I moved instead of my broadband provider simply reconnecting my connection to my new address they disconnected me and canceled my account altogether. On the plus side I get two months free,however (...now I don't mean to blow my own trumpet here but heck)I write fantastic complaint letters and can argue/debate until the cows come home,so I penned a note to said broadband provider expressing my rage (using fancy words and all)at being cut off from the outside world for a month,and just gained three months free (I know my consumer rights)result. Man perhaps I should ditch fashion/art return to 'higher education' and have a shot at law? My folks always tried to convince me of that career route when I was a teen...anywhos I'm back I'm back I'M BACK JOY!

Now where on earth to begin this post?I have so so much to pen about and a fashion rant which I'm eager and desperate to write,however I don't wish to kick off my first post after a month with such well, anger.No no I want to send out good happy vibes.
So it was my birthday the end of march and I had some cash to burn,though because I'm often broke,skint and generally poor when I do have notes to spend I often panic and don't know what to do with the stuff,I've never been much of an impulse buyer, perhaps on a very rare occasion I'll grab a bottle of nail paint.
I browsed the shops around where I now live,to my delight there's a Newlook twelve minutes from my front door,both a good and a bad thing if you know what I mean?
I rummaged through the four long sale rails,at first thing's were looking bleak with no double digit sizes available only size eight's,which to be frank I couldn't even squeeze my boob into.What? I couldn't!I skipped the sale and headed towards the shoes (I don't require double digits in shoes)when my mum informed me like this,"oh wow look, look over here faulty stock from £2 upwards look!"
Yep I got that sharp thrift eye of mine from Mrs prettyneon it seems?
I went over to investigate what my dear mum was getting all excited about, and hat off to her she discovered a beaut of a summer dress,which I cannot take the credit for as it was my mum not me that found this gem on the rail...





all photos by prettyneons


OK so admittedly this garment is in need of some TLC,this only cost an amazing £1.99
as you can see the zip is broken,this dress is also a few sizes too big for me a size 18.I'm a size 12 hit and miss depending where it is I shop: for example I fail to fit in Topshop's size 12 which if you measure them are actually a size 10 (trust me I pattern cut).
This dress was too good to dismiss it has my favourite thing printed all over the fabric-bows!At the moment this dress is sitting on my DIY heap,on my desk as I'm dedicating this weekend to complete and finish all four DIY projects,hmm too ambitious?I purchased a bright red zip to insert,red for a pop of unexpected colour,I've also picked up a packet of red baby pompoms which I'm going to stitch and cover one collar with.Oh yeah my mum's eagle eye also spotted the chunky studded belt (above) in Oxfam-50p,she's pretty good huh?Hence why she's my favourite person,hands down.

Looks as if my weekend will mostly consist of the following,working on all DIY fashion projects,blogging,commenting,blogging,reading blogs,stalking fashion ('tis good to have the Internet back) and going for one big walk.I can walk for miles tomorrow I'm walking 10 miles and stopping along the way for a much deserved picnic and slice of cake,assuming the wasps don't beat me to it?On Sunday I'm having a BQ in my yarden (yard slash small garden-yarden)veg burgers and sausages for moi real meaty bangers for everyone else.In between sewing,walking and burning sausages on the barb I also intend on baking some white chocolate and raspberry cookies.Yes I'm 24 going on 60,but it's all good fun!
What are you lot getting up to this fine sunny weekend?Most importantly have you dug out those rock star sun shades yet?

peace X

Oblivion & Party Food

I know right, where the bloody heck have I been? Did I decide to jet off to the moon? No. Did I trip and fall down a rabbit hole? No. Have I become tired of the blog scene? Hell no, honestly how could you even think such a thing?! I’m as hooked on blogging as I am drawing; it’s now part of my life-permanent. An important must just like brushing my teeth, or making sure the biscuit tin remains topped up with partyrings and pretty pink wafers...mmm wafers...OK so I’m beginning to stray of track. Let’s return to the the burning question, above.

...Well it’s a long old dull story, yet one that must be explained. I relocated to another corner of England, my Internet provider promised me (god damn it), I would be back online within ten days. Ten days arrived and my broadband refused to play ball, I give the powers that be over at Virgin (...they suck by the way, worse than BT) a bell ask what’s going on, if anything is going on? Turns out they made an epic error and totally disconnected/cancelled my frigging account altogether. To say there was steam coming out of my ears would be a rather big understatement, I was real pissed off as my phone has also been switched off, completely dead. The result: Cut off from the outside world with zero communication, to make matters worse I’m new to this part of England and failed to find the local library up until now joy!
Only problem is I can only get access to these slow as a snail computers, (dude I swear down these computers are run by hamsters going round and round in a rusty wheel) for 30 minutes, when the library computers take 15 minutes to just log in, then up pops the annoying countdown timer. Sigh. On the plus side there is a cute guy sitting to the left of me, he has the whole dork thing going on which I adore (as you all know by now I am a huge, huge uncool dork myself, could this be a match made in dork heaven, affinity perhaps? Who knows? I’m not about to speak to him ekk I’m way too shy for that!) right, concentrate, con-cen-trate. So yep quick run down...I won’t be back online until the 23 April, so for the mean time I’m going to attempt posting party food sized posts (so to speak) featuring my favourite editorials, features etc from various fashion magazines (yup it’s all about the inner mag slag folks),in the mean 30 minutes I get on these library computers I’m going to catch up with emails, and hopefully fingers and toes crossed, I should be able to hit you all back with some comments too. When my Internet connection does eventually return, I cannot wait to sit down with a cup of tea and a fruit salad and just dedicate hours getting tucked into blogs and having a good old comment chatter.
For now I will leave you with the first of my favourite fashion magazine features, this one comes from the glossy pages of UK ELLE the April issue. I’ve selected this because a)I- spy Miu Miu top and THOSE shoes b )there’s illustrations by the one and only much adored Frank Stanley and c)it’s THAT girl Chloe Sevigny. It would be rude not to begin my mag slag posts with this issue of ELLE.





all images from ELLE

...rubbish I have more pics to upload but my time is running out on this ridiculous library computer,sorry folks...aahhh I'm going to be cut off any time...now!
Back again sooney

Peace X