Keeping it casual...day three

Casual, casual, casual you are a denim thorn in my side, and yes casual I can hear you mocking me, well guess what quite frankly the joke is on you.Because casual I've had enough of you causing me headaches, I've had enough of you consuming the first hour of my day, considering on a sane normal non-casual day I take thirty minutes hmmm and a bit give or take whether I smudge mascara on the tip of my nose.To sum you up casual, your a piss take.Providing me with conundrum after bloody conundrum.Who ever spread the urban myth that casual combined with denim is laid back effortless dressing? HA!Yeah right,and I have the long elegant limbs of an runway model (err I don't)yes Moss and Stone watch your backs you have some fierce competition of course this is talk of a deluded person, who envy anyone who can successfully keep it casual. Seems I really cannot keep it casual, at least not effortlessly like all other girls claim to do.I feel like a fake: a denim dressing down fraud.Casual has pushed me to the very brink of wardrobe suicide, and when considering I spent four hours seeking for those elusive perfect pair of jeans this isn't at all too over dramatic, tis fact.
Every pair confronted me with various dilemma's.Dreaded denim dilemma's.Sigh where to begin? Well jeans pair one drowned me sagging round the knees ( I have odd flat knees they refuse to poke outwards) jeans pair two concealed my favourite pair of shoes, jeans pair three created builders bum, jeans pair four were almost ideal until I failed to hitch the zip up, (Okay so if I ditch the Friday night curry who knows that zip might slide up, however I'd rather consume the curry than drop to a size 12. I'm a size 14 always have been and I've always been comfortable with this nice healthy number)still that's Topshop sizing for you!My last stop for denim was DPs where I found some special needs jeans i.e petite under five foot people. Joy, problem solved.Well almost what the heck do I wear with jeans, a dress would that be cheating?Ah yes it is as I now remember and regret ever saying "I'm ditching the frocks!" Oh you foolish, foolish thing you. What was you thinking?



After much stress, screaming, styling, huffing and wardrobe tantrums, I decide to not think about it and stick to my familiar method of throwing on layers fooling myself into believing I'm not sporting jeans.I finally depart from bedroom and from house, the first five hours I felt nothing but constricted I begin to mourn the movement and freedom of my beloved vintage tea pot and floral print frock.I feel transparent too, now everyone can see the tomboy of which I am, I can't disguise my boyishness with a dress, or lace chiffon skirt: I have to really focus on being feminine.Tomorrow I shall attempt to keep intact some frilly, flirty, girlie elements, perhaps the thrift items I snagged today will contribute towards tomorrows future style.I'm feeling really smug with myself (not for failing to do casual) but because I pulled out so many thrift treasures today from various local charity shops, though they aren't as impressive as where I used to live, so a heavy dose of creativity shall be required.My favourite thrift item has gots to be the fruit salad print scarf 50p I predict I will be wearing it to death- with everything.
Am I rambling?Sorry here's the pics already...






all the above thrift




above from Peacocks

Seven days of casual

Yes me doing casual. It wasn't easy I tell you! See I'm the sort girl who will wear a fancy OTT frock and nice patent shoes just for an mundane dentist appointment, dressing down is an alien concept to me. Its far more time consuming and inconvenient for me to do casual it requires much more concentration and problem solving than say a nice tea dress and tights.I envy those girls, you know the ones? Who are comfortable and content to just pull on a T-shirt, leggings and pumps ready to go.How exactly do they do that?
Casual completely baffles me,I end up stressed and lost in confusion when faced with basics, I freak out, panic and end up accessorising the hell out of the whole jeans T-shirt combo. Necklaces throw 'em on, bangles hell yes all the way up to my armpit, scarves why not wear two?Result I end up looking like I've rolled around the floor of Oxfam, or on a good day crashed a pantomime.
Where I live I see so many girls in drab plain grey leggings, dragging their feet around in worn out ugly- uggs and jumpers complete with tent sized hood, clutching on to a bag- of chips from the local greasy spoon, their hair scooped up in a ponytail.Is it any wonder I avoid casual like the plague? I've never seen a good example of casual, to be inspired or motivated to step into casual.So this experience is a whole new learning curb for me actually I recall learning to walk a hell of a lot easier.Evidently I still have a long way to go, I've not even began to dabble with plain leggings and T-shirts, and I have no bloody intention to join the locals and adopt their beloved ensemble of a Nike hoodie, beige uggs and a tray of chips as an accessory. However I'm willing to ditch the vintage delicate dresses and all things patent but only for this week, unless the imaginable occurs and I get attached to this dressing down business.So why the sudden harsh style challenge I hear you ask? It's a dare, and I'm not one to snub a dare nor do I very much enjoy losing.Dressing down I will not be defeated, I'm confident I can crack this one, I shall commit myself fully to casual and slip into those plain leggings and slouchy T-shirt, no matter how much it gives me nightmares and keeps me awake at night.Oh gawd only what? Another six days to go.Joy.
Below is my first attempt at casual, marks out of ten? Hmm I give myself a nice healthy six and a half.







P.S...thank's to all those kind fellow fashion blogger's who helped me solve my problem with the old commenting drama, it's working now.So expect me to be pestering you all soon HA, lucky you!

The C word

Cup size, cup size, cup size, do any of us girls really know our actual bra size?I'm talking exact measurements here, not a quick self-estimate in front of your mirror, or a clumsy DIY bra fitting in the bathroom.Tape measure spun everywhere, one end tucked under your armpit the other end somehow wrapped around your neck?A tug here, a tug there until the tape measure reads the digits YOU want it to read, never mind the truth, ignorance is bliss in regards to bra size.
The bra size debate has been a popular one for the last few months (thank gawwd the media is over the whole size zero topic. Yawn. There's skinny girls, there's curvy girls and there's all the ones inbetween;it really is that simple), with almost every magazine and newspaper accusing us of wearing the incorrect bra size.When I read such intrusive articles I automatically begin defending myself and my boobs,'Umm yeah right over half a percentage of women wearing the wrong bra size, plea-ssse anyway how do they know? Pervs!'




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I can only guess this sudden hot topic has been fuelled by the likes of Gaga and Perry encouraging the underwear as outerwear trend (Thanks for that.But I'm not and shall never be convinced,my underwear is staying very much underneath: the thought of flashing such flesh when out and about running errands such as popping to the post office with my puppies also popping out, well it alarms me-deeply...I'm not into the street crawler, call girl look, no thanks and no way!), I must admit the underwear/outerwear trend had me all concerned.As I had this nightmare, in which I hit the highstreet for a fix of fashion retail only to discover, the only options were underwear as outwear.Gasp.My underwear nightmare continues with a gang of shop assistants quizzing me over my bra size,'what are you huh?A or Z cup or both?What are you?!Your undies must fit correctly, don't forget it will be visible to everyone!Now what are you!'The crazy evil and pushy shop assistant begins hunting me down the highstreet, trying to capture me with a gigantic bra used as a net I shout,' ahhhh I don't know leave me, leave me the hell alone...noooo it's too late I trip and fall down a bra trap, I'm forced to parade around the street in only my bra and knickers. I escape my underwear nightmare by playing dead, only to awake in reality with some serious bra demons playing havoc with my conscious.What size am I?What if my nightmare comes true (Okay so this gypsy once informed me how you reverse all your dreams, no need to worry then?Right?), what if I wake up one morning to find them sitting on my feet?Good God, can that happen if you fail to wear the right bra size for a long period of time?Before paranoia persists anymore, it's time for me to make that date.Bra fitting date.
The word yikes comes to mind as I reach ever closer to my bra fitting location, I can almost feel my embarrassment bringing attention to itself like a big old drive-thru neon sign.How can I a 24yr old woman be so worried, and frightened of a frigging bra fitting?It's ridiculous.I'm ridiculous, however this fact doesn't prevent me from imagining worst case scenarios,like the following: I enter fitting room, greeted by a butch looking diner lady type with a beard,she repeatedly pings my bra straps taunting me with cruel words, for being twenty sizes out, 'Your a pathetic A cup, you silly little girl not an Z cup!Hahaha look, look she has no cleavage, you don't need a bra what you need is a child's vest!' ping, ping, ping.


Eekk, I arrive waiting at the fitting room, intimidated by numerous glossy posters
of perfect underwear models, with their all so perfect cleavage as I begin reminding myself how the models perky tits have no doubt been photoshoped a hundred times over, the dreaded bra fitter approaches me. Turns out she isn't at all frightening (err nor does she have a beard),the bra fitting takes one minute with her tape measure,'There you are then all done,would you like to see our selection of bras?' Phew and wow that was indeed speedy and not cringe worthy at all, though sadly I prove those pervy researchers right- I've been wearing the incorrect bra size. Sigh. How did this ever happen? You don't purchase pair of shoes before trying them on do you?





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As the kind and helpful no longer dreaded 'bra fitter' shows me a selection of bra's for the more (cough) curvy woman, I have adopted a whole new fear. Having to wear a thick, old unattractive,basic beige bra.I feel like special needs, why don't these places go past the standard B/C cup?Is that really asking too much, I'm not requesting for Jordan style bra's:my boobs aren't abnormal nor air bag like(no offense Jordan). I have no other option than to browse the Internet for 'plus size' bras, urrgh now this really does sound special needs.Who knew a D cup required the ugly term which is a big fat p-p-'plus'?No I don't feel like a freak at all, honest.
After much vomiting and being in fits of laughter over the hideous choice of plus size bra's (all about as delicate and pretty as a straight jacket),I discover Freyalingerie which provide an array of beautiful, cool and sexy non-pensioner bra's from sizes B to J cup, all available in the hottest trends (straight jacket not included)and all utterly desirable.So there really is no excuse to squish and suffocate those bouncing puppies into the wrong bra size just for the sake of wearing a pretty ditsy floral lace bra.Finally fashion and fit unite, no more 'Ouch' and no more bra demons.Underwear as outerwear hmm sounds quite appealing.Gaga and Perry I may just join you after all!






P.S...I know, I know I keep moaning about this, but can anyone help me out? I'm unable to drop comments on other blogs due to 'server error' WTF? This is hellish. As I'm reading posts and can't leave any banter.Techno wizards I need your knowledge pretty please?Many thanks x

Sunday Swooning...

...I am indeed overwhelmed by sheer ecstatic joy right now, the impact of these gorgeous, luxurious suede wedges from Office
oh the mono checks, oh the rich Jewell blue, oh, oh, oh the granny floral tapestry.
I've literally spent the last half hour dribbling over my keyboard,these eyes of mine fixated on the screen in a deep trance.An asteroid could have crashed and burned into earth, pigs may be flying I'm none the wiser...oblivious in fact.Heck Kelly Jones could be sat downstairs at the diner table right now alongside Leonardo Dicaprio and BRMC, nothing and I mean NOTHING, could distract me from simply swooning over these suede beaut's. I'm convinced by purchasing all three pairs (Okays just one pair, I agree buying three pairs is a wee bit excessive, I shall not even entertain such greedy thoughts. She lies)of these Office shoes, that it would inject much fulfilment banishing mundane from my days, and truly enhance my wardrobe, if not indeed whole entire life?To obtain those tapestry wedges would give me such eternal joy.I swear I would never ever need,or crave another pair of shoes ever again-ever.Now think how much more healthier my bank balance would be in the future, by buying THOSE shoes. Investment.It makes complete financial sense right?Plus,I'd be contributing towards the textile industry: keeping a traditional method such as tapestry alive for many years to come,preventing such a highly skilled technique from dying out thus keeping textile designers,and textile graduates in employment (unlike some ex- textile graduates.Points at self)one less signing on/ jobseekers/ dole book dished out,less paper waste thus saving many trees (or at least one tree anywhoo's)keeping the Green Peace gang very happy.
My £68 office shoe purchase is fully justified. I'd be saving the frigging environment, yeah just call me miss Eco warrior...tapestry floral wedges wearing Eco warrior.

Jump into the boxing ring

Yes jump into the boxing ring but for Christsakes mind those kitten tails!
Has the girl lost the plot? What is she talking about? Boxing rings, kitten tails. No I'm not mixing my drinks (for the night is still so young), I'm referring to Brooklyn based self taught fashion designer Maya Lake aka Boxingkitten playful African inspired pieces.I was having a micro (err very micro like five minutes blitz) spring clean of my desk, when this old orange post-it note fell into my lamp. Now if it had been any other colour post-it note I would have ignored it.But in my ever so slightly OCD manner,I prioritize blog features/ideas importance etc by colour coding each one,numbering them and err dating each one too.Don't laugh.I clearly need head help.
So my post-it note colour code system goes as follows...
pink:I spy a future trend occurring.Importance- average.
Yellow:possible feature idea in progress.Importance- so, so.
Green:I need to chase this person/designer/artist and beg for interview.Importance- high.
Orange:So exciting I've just experienced a bladder problem, must, must, must publish feature soon as.Importance-very important.
And so on.
So just how exactly this little orange post-it note from '09 ever escaped me and failed to feature on my blog, I'm baffled.
None of that matters now, I shall continue.Where was I before I began rambling and boring you all to tears about my post-it note system? Aw yes Boxingkitten.com






.... Designer Maya Lake (she's come along way since I accidentally tripped upon her early collection, with high profile 'celeb' customers such as Alicia 'Newyork!' Keys, Beyonce and her little sister so Google informs me anyways.Still impressive stuff huh?For a self taught designer and all),garments first caught my attention after noticing the array of more traditional textile techniques and methods (I'm a self confessed textile nerd: it's my first love and what I have a B.A in...for all it's worth?) which she applies to each piece, a combination of African wax block printing and batiking (swoon, also my beloved textile technique too)explaining why and how Maya's surface designs are so rich in vibrant, bold colour. The electric, busy yet elegant prints literally jump off the garment and into your lamp (much like that post-it note of mine!), the influences behind Boxingkitten collections are just as colourful.With inspirations often being both vintage and politics effortlessly constructed together in a mass appealing way.Each piece has a sentimental value paying homage to both a bygone fashion style,and dying design techniques, whilst hungry for the now and styling out the future for fashion.Maya Lakes designs definitely cannot be put into no box.




P.S...Girls/guys fellow fashion bloggers I'm having techno issues.I've been reading blogs (obviously) however I'm having trouble leaving comments.This pesky Error service message crops up. Can anyone help me out?Thank you's!x

Dorothy has me dazed

If your anything like me, your understand the need to constantly stalk fashion, I'll admit right here right now, that admittedly I dedicate far too much time to stumbling around various virtual fashion hang outs,yeah you know the ones.Anyway one link leads to another and I end up at an enchanting little place called dazeddorothy.
Immediately I'm reminding myself to avoid any transactions (...roll on payday),and regret ever discovering this place. Why the regret? Well to resist Corinne Robinson's (shes the girl behind the leather and suede goodies) handmade accessories is not too unlike resisting a big box of chocolates, in fact I'd go as far to say that Corrines creations are way, way more tempting than any chocolate.This compliment is not at all over generous,tis fact.
Glasgow based textile designer Corrine Robinson specially created limited edition handbags,belts and purses are remarkable for two reasons one they are beautifully bespoke with vintage buttons, ribbons and other pretty delicate trimmings sourced from all corners of the world.And two her pieces look handmade rather than homemade: which is sometimes the risk in regards to bespoke textile accessories,with most resembling a product sewn and knitted by those cute Shreddies nanas.There is nothing at all nana like about dazeddorothy.







Each purse, handbag, belt and clutch have an beautiful dramatic edge to them, the vintage sourced buttons and beads provide a very special whimsical, kitsch, eclectic and sentimental touch combined with Corrines stunning and dazzling splash of embellishment injecting a dose of gorgeous glamour to each piece.Corrine even has the magic power of injecting new life into all your discarded handbags which you fell out of love with many moons ago, by deconstructing, decorating and delivering you a brand new bespoke handbag of your dreams.With dazeddorothys 'Revamp,Restyle' interactive design service, in which you can play fashion designer for the day. By selecting design details such as colour,materials, size etc.
...hmm now where did I put that bland Primark handbag?





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Bespoke LBD oh yes please!

We all love a classic, sexy and sophisticated LBD don't we ladies? Often finding that dreamy little black dress can be challenging at best. Some LBD's are too safe, and others too neutral, too clone like too I've seen it all before.Yawn.
Now what with the party season fast approaching (is it too early to be feeling all festive?)my mind is racing with this thought 'what to wear?' on repeat. Okays so it shall most probably be an LBD for the works Xmas party. Only the LBD I have envisioned doesn't exist. Or at least it didn't until a stylish little birdy gave me a tip off.Today I'm feeling all generous, so as an early Christmas gift from moi to you,listen up I have some super exciting news for you, which could ...no wait will solve all your LBDD's (little black dress drama's).









BrandAlley and Fashion Enter have teamed up with fresh,new exciting up and coming fashion designers to launch their 'Little Black Dress' collection.Inspired by 'Breakfast at Tiffany's',budding future Westwood's and Deacon's have been hard at work dedicated to bring us a fierce collection of not one but ten LBD's all with an individual design twist.From Batmobile to Lace Noir,this collection of LBD's are from dull or neutral,and as if this wasn't exciting enough all you BrandAlley fans can also click and purchase a unique bespoke LBD.And with prices starting at just £60 it would be rude not to press 'buy'. Plus the odds of you and your fellow colleagues arriving at that Christmas party wearing the dreaded identical dress are pretty slim.Decision making time:which LBD will you be opting for?
Me? I'm speeding away with the Batmobile.Contemporary-check, sculptured-check,modern-check.To die for?Hell yes!This LBD frock would make Audrey Hepburn blush.

Wardrobe Lust & Lemsips

Whoop, whoop first flu of the September season.Nice.Bring on the swollen eyes, sore throat, sneezing, soup and feeling very sorry for ones self.Each person has their different methods make and mend themselves better,probably the most common method of them all to simply rest, relax, kick back drink ridiculous amounts of tea and dunk even more ridiculous amounts of chocolate biscuits...one, two, three shit where did all the other biscuits go?!
Wish I could say the above was how I recovered from common cold or flu.
I don't do rest,or sitting in bed it drives me insane I begin to panic freak out and develop this annoying little twitch when I miss out on my daily and constant fashion fix.I'm aware this sounds terribly LOOK AT ME I'M A GOD DAMN FASHION VICTIM.
It's tragic how much my life revolves around fashion, I literally cannot go one minute without my thoughts and ponders doing a sharp U-turn returning to fashion.Even my choice of TV consists of Ugly Betty and ANTM.How cringe worthy?How awful, how lame?
Flu or no flu, my mindset doesn't alter. Despite my eyes stinging like a bitch, head banging and generally falling apart, I'm determined to dig out all my fashionzines (magslag me? No Never!) log on to the computer and take a looksee at all things fashion. Heaven forbid I should miss out on any fashion gems.And I may of just stumbled upon the best and most effective cure for pesky common cold yet...Fearn Cottons pieces for VERY.
As far as celeb fashion collections go, I write them off as bollocks. Why?
Because I interned at a design studio where one celeb would drop by once in a blue Moon via LA, take a glance at our design developments, and slap their forename to the products, i.e the 'celeb' do sweet fa.Hence why many a celeb fashion collection doesn't really reflect their personal style.They are absent altogether from the design process.Unless clutching a paper cup of posh coffee counts as design contribution?Go figure. Behind the famous name handbags, or frocks lay ripped off design graduates,sewing away in a small dark basement studio.



So imagine how utterly shocked and pleasantly surprised I was when I click on Fearn Cottons collection, to find myself actually liking (if not lusting over) pretty much her whole entire range, tops, dresses, skirts,shoes the lot tick, tick, tick-tick.
The collection is genuine, original with a consistent vintage I'm-with-the-band sixties vibe flowing through each and every single design detail.It's evident that a lot more than drinking posh coffee went on behind the scenes of this stunning fashion collection. I'm converted and convinced that a dose of Cotton's collection for VERY, will banish my nasty cold...lemsips aahhh please, just give me a spoonful of them shoes (above).

Sunday Shame (on me)

...Shame, shame , shame on me indeed. What was I thinking? How did I turn into a magazine stalker ? Why did I do that for?
Why on earth did I just send an email/ shameless fashion fan letter to Mimi Spencer for?WHY?!
Heck I can't even place blame of being under the influence being t-total and all, perhaps it was the ginger beer or vanilla tea playing havoc with my common sense. I don't know, I just do not know? Maybe I'm no longer content with simply praising Mimi from behind the pages of You,and swooning over her savy fashion musings anymore.
For such a very long time I've contemplated with the silly idea of sending her an email, trying my very best to ignore Mimi's E-mail address printed at the end of the page.I pen drafts, just to talk myself out of it again and again and-again.
For years I've gone out of my way every Sunday to drag my feet down the road into town so I can buy the daily mail, same routine each and every Sunday afternoon.
Routine goes as follows: I bounce through the front door, slump down in the sofa rip open seal which contains the Sunday newspaper and shake out the fashion supplement. Scan through contents page,and skip straight to page 11 i.e Mimi Spencer's page.Picking out my favourite Mimi quotes and style observations, (I read these out loud. Don't ask me why,as I don't know either?It's simply one of those things, out of many random things I do. Like saying thank you to a cash machine-manners are always in Vogue)My fave Mimi quote this Sunday has got to be the opening introduction to designer Maria Grachvogel trousers








..."If you could boil your entire wardrobe down-like stock-into one key piece, you'd arrive eventually at a pair of excellent black trousers."


Lines like this (above) are all the reasons why I adore Mimi Spencer. Seriously can you imagine brewing the perfect fashion stock? Yum delicious. What would your stock consist of? Mine would be thick and opaque with forties vintage tea dresses, antique trinket jewellery with a pinch of kick back boyish grunge...and a hint of harem.
Yes harem.I finally lived on the edge, went for the kill, shut my eyes tight and jumped off the edge of my style comfort zone, the fall into harems was honestly quite a frightening one.These are the first pair of trousers I have ever owned ever, but whether I want to obtain more harem trousers or even harem-less trousers, hmmm I'm really not sure?I've discovered harems do succeed in providing the perfect lazy slouchy Sunday style (what with all their slouchyness and all),however I do enjoy the freedom and swaying of dresses, how versatile they can be,how many characters you can convey via one garment with just a quick switch of accessories.How fabulously fast and instant a dress is: no need to stress about selecting and pairing the correct style T-shirt, blouse,blazer,top or belt etc. You can grab a frock pull it over your bed head, and just frock-off out the front door literally ready in five.
Harems/trousers on the other hand require far more effort, more effort and energy I can be asked to dedicate on a lazy sunny (with a few grey rain clouds, hence the need for socks!) Sunday. Harems in my opinion are still very much to be debated.And so my trouser experiment continues, where this adventure will eventually lead me the fashion gods only know? Fingers crossed it shall not involve the role of denim,as I and denim go like fish and marmite. Umm nice.

P.S...Mimi do feel free to spam!

Boys don't like 'em harems

Remember those premature trend predictions? Rewind 2008, hints of the harem being hailed as the new skinny jean? I shrugged I smirked and I laughed behind my glossy mags at those trend experts (no offense I'm fascinated by the journey of fashion trends and everything but it did read as quite comical ...to begin with)of which I normally respect and admire: for they are the top secret fashion spies here to save our day and stock our beloved retail stores with nice pretty clothes,not to mention tip off fashion editors and fill our glossy magazines with even more glossy dreamy runway editorials.
But really harems?Come on!Hmm yeah were see there's two years to go yet but were see if the harem hits our highstreet and becomes swiftly adopted by the fashion elite before you can say Aladdin.

One year on '09,and oh my gawwd how do they do that? 'Em fashion insiders have physic abilities and magical powers,the harem has indeed been very much hailed and has just frigging invaded every runway across the globe.The evidence? Pictures splashed across all the BIG guns Elle, Vogue, Style all with their own versions of how to style the harem all completely hideous yet cunningly, all completely valid too. Now only the E's and V's of this world can do that.Convince us wardrobe conscious souls that the harem is 2009's key silhouette, back from the dead...be afraid be very afraid, they used THAT term 'key' as in won't be going anywhere any time soon, as in the same term used when skinny jeans made their come back appearance, as in ain't no micro trend.
Like I said be scared.
Yikes fast forward to now 2010.Many other trends have already been and gone, some remain strong such as yes, yes congrats you've guessed it-harems still hanging around in various colours and patterns with newly coined names attached to them...tribal, Gypsy,Jungle,Aladdin (Okay so one of the names have been made up by moi)is there no escaping this escalating 'Key silhouette' ridiculous trend?
Everything about the harem is to be feared,slouchy cut, clumsy cropped leg, high gathered waist alarm bells should seriously be ringing- very loudly!








...present day couldn't help but notice how my local Newlook branch have several (please don't make me say it) h-a-r-e-m pants hanging off the rails, along with Riverisland and Topper's.And I remain pondering whether to do it or not. Will it be fashion suicide, will it be one of those style cringe moments that despite all my power I could never succeed to erase?
I enter Newlook, gravitate towards the harem vortex so full of promise when judging by their window display, and posters of long-limbed models.Right, right I'm ready I quickly grab a pair going against all my common sense, mmm zebra print nice embracing the jungle vibe. Wait, wait maybe these are too jungle book? I reverse into the harem vortex and pick up navy ditsy print polka dot version.
I take my tag into the changing room, remove myself out from my comfort zone (vintage dress, waist coat, clogs), when I over hear a couples convo.
Girlfriend: "I love these, I saw Fearn Cotton wear these exact ones, whatch'a think, they're cute right I won't wear them with these shoes though...well ?"
Boyfriend:"Are you sure or what? They look daft they make all girls look ugly, you look like you've just shit yourself,nahh I don't like 'emm babes. What were those other trousers you chose, they're nice babe."
...the heavy harem debate continued, with the devastated GF sharply hitting back with some line about how she hates her BF's tight white skinny jeans and "indie rock" look, slagging off his guitar skills or lack of.It's a tricky little trend recking otherwise healthy relationships.Is this not reason enough to avoid the harem at all costs?
Yeah it was, up until I visited Topshop and spotted military style harems with gold button pocket detail in the final clearance sale (does this mean R.I.P for the stubborn harem trend?She prays)a few quid. Yes I did. Why I don't know? Curiosity perhaps?
My harem outfit slash tragedy shall be documented right here.

Z in my head

How does one know when she has a serious unhealthy impulse online buying (or clicking) problem, as in borderline addiction sort of problem.Answer-when despite having an almighty head spinning, head banging, brain bruising migraine she is remains determined to drag her virtual feet (and heavy head) around online fashion stores despite the bright monitor only contributing towards dizzy dead head.Ahh this is just a minor set back, nothing a little painkiller pill can't solve or dissolve rather (...I chucked two painkillers into my ginger and lime drink-sour? Very!)I down my drink and get myself all in a clicking-click-double click fashion frenzy. First stop Zara.Killer headache, errrm what killer headache?
Okays so the pain was still very much there, though once I began snooping Zara a/w lookbook it began to ease off. Isn't it amazing what a fashion dot com can do? Yep spoon full of Zara makes the medicine go down.
Gulp.






Works wonders, well for the head if not the bank account.Can't have it both ways,and although I'm always known as miss sensible in regards to spending wisely (sometimes) perhaps it's now time to begin making some rare exceptions? Live a little,live on the edge go punk rock wild,and flash the cash in Zara or on Zara.com ( you do realise the latter part is fantasy, in my sick head I have not one but two RED American Express cards, and Brandon Flowers on my arm)why do I fear Z com'in-it is not the most wise method of shop, that pesky basket is just so, well pesky. Plus when shopping online there is no visually impaired, rude sale hungry women elbowing you i.e there's no inspiration to get the hell out, exit and put that purse away!When online it's completely possible to over dose, as the virtual powerful and seducing basket can never buckle under the heavy weight of bulk bought clothes. And therefor your brain doesn't receive that all important, 'umm this basket is beginning to become rather heavy my arms hurt time to empty some contents and call it quits' signal. The signal which prevents a girl from abusing her card and avoid dangerous debt.
Nope I've not succeeded in convincing myself out of this one.
Heck, I've decided I'm filling up that Zara basket.Tonight while in my comfy sweats it's a date with my mouse,card and lack of willpower.Have you seen the kooky bunny T-shirt and shoes? Enough said no room for post dot com guilt. I will not allow an ounce of regret. See ya I'm off! Got my shopping list at the ready...








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Not Just Another Style Crush

I think it's safe to say we've all experienced a shallow style crush at some point in our lives, no? Like a one night stand they never last and never run too deep. It's simply fast and fickle burning lust, the novelty soon dries up and fades into oblivion.Leaving you with memory loss, 'err what? Already waaaay over it-next style crush please!'
Hence why I must clarify that Alison Mosshart is not just another style crush, I'm not out just to steal all the threads in her wardrobe or seek Mosshart fashion style images from google. All these things are invalid.Remember this is no stupid style crush (though I do admire Alison's fierce collection of gold boots and leopard print), I've been an obsessive Alison fan (some would say unhealthy. My mate txt me once late at night to tell me Alison Mosshart was in Vogue-I'd stopped buying Vogue as it was becoming boring for a short time. I chucked on some PJ's and hit the local 24-7 Tesco, raided the magazine shelf ripped through and discarded all the other glossy pages just to read the Vogue feature on Mosshart. Is this unhealthy behaviour? I don't know you tell me?), ever since I bumped into this ickle two piece band in some shit hole bar in Brighton: while taking shelter and avoiding a random and violent freak storm I've been obsessed like never before with the epic front woman.

I stood in the corner like a drowned rat sipping cola, gazing out the window annoyed with myself for not feeling in the mood to paint annoyed with myself for making certain bad decisions. When I hear these haunting vocals repeat- farewell my black balloon, before ripping into another more up tempo filled tune. I pushed my way forward through the crowd all high as a kite stoned out their heads,not much appealing to me being t-total!Finally I could see to match the face with the voice, to those heart breaking, frank and positive lyrics.This woman hidden behind long black hair,thrashing out her soul across the floor (there were no toilets at this venue yet alone a stage), I was so overwhelmed by the whole experience I gasped out loud while all the others which surrounded me just played it cool sucking in on a joint or two.The freak storm had gone as quickly as it arrived.I couldn't bring myself to exit, as the shy girl with long jet black hair, red skinny jeans and gold boots finished her set all I could do was stare. In awe I now realise.Before I caught my train home I had to get a name to put to the music to the unashamed woman who had stood up in front of strangers pouring her heart out over the guitar with such almighty guts.
Being the reserved, awkward individual I am I had to think about whether to interrupt these artists or not?This decision making took me 20 minutes and two pints of cola before I could gain the courage to investigate..."I could have wrote those words, you know the words in your song I mean, that sounds daft I know that sounds daft, er errm hmm what's your name-only I caught this gig by accident."
Bloody cool introduction I'm sure you'd agree? This is why I'm not in a band.
Not expecting any answer (I never speak loud enough), the woman stops doing what shes doing, "I'm Alison were the Kills, thanks!"
A fan was born, and now reborn all over again as at long last I have access to the new Dead Weather album I cannot stop singing 'Die by the drop', and in tribute to the almost mystical Mosshart I'm rocking leopard print mohair...though in all honesty, not rocking it quite like Alison would, another reason why I'm not in a band!