why grandma, what chunky knits you have!?

I a completely SOLD on the new Dolce and Gabanna A/W collection!!

Full of chunky knits and winter wonder lane prints, it has a hint of christmas, enough to get you excited, addicted and curious all at the same time....

See what i mean!!??

You are probably wondering -why is she dangling this big fat juicy carrot in front of me when i know i cant bite!?- well my friends and fellow bloggers, i have some ways of getting the look, now dont get too excited, these are not cheap knock off versions, they are simply high-street clothing but you know what!? If you wear and walk with enough confidence you can pull it off!

This chunky cardigan knit is from zara, about £39.99 but adorable, i suggest to get the look less girly and more dolce and gi-banna belt it rather than button it (even remove the buttons all together) wear with a clean cut shirt buttoned to the top (topshop have some great chiffon type shirts at the moment for as little as £30) with some stirrup leggings in either dark grey or navy -not black- with riding style boots or some of those open ankle boots (we all know the type, the ones with the zips on the sides) with some slightly worn out leg warmers pushed down.

These are my prediction of what the new uggs will be, lets be honest here, uggs are a dying breed. They are bad for your feet (when they slip over the edge of the foam bottom, yup you know, that damages the muscles in your foot)!! These are the new and improved version, and the great thing is that even though they are not on the market yet you can quite simply DIY it! just get some old boots -or pop down to the local charity shop and get some- and head over to a fabric shop (having measured you boots first) buy what ever fur/faux fur you like and grab that super glue!

Finally i have a more casual take on the look, this is great for work, day outtings or college. Team some tapered trousers (my fav are cigarette pants right now) teamed with a shirt (yes it is very much like the image!) but my twist would have to be a thin silk scarf under the collar, something else i think will begin to pick up shortly! tie it into a bow and have it hanging over the jumper, this one is also from zara, im totally addicted to this shop now!! and either brogues, loafers, or thick heeled sky scrapers! -dont forget quirkiness with some lace trimmed socks on show between the hem of the trouser and the shoe!!

Keep you eyes peeled here for some winter coats coming very soon!!

H. x

mu-sick!

This month is all about the weird, the wonderful and the oh so out there!

I'll start with weird: Mystery Jets

If the hair isn't selling it to you then check out their old song -half in love with elizabeth- or their new song - show me the light- which is out for single release on the 1st november!

Nearest London gig : 11th november (2010) at the roundhouse in Camden, needless to say i will be there!!

Now for the wonderful...

Dinosaur Pile Up!!

Now i dont want to hype these guys up to a silly standard, but i have two very powerful words Nirvana. Ok i know its only one word but its soo bloody powerful it deserves to be compared to two words, really it does!

My fav song would have to be Up summer hit single however by boyfriends would probable have to be My rock and roll.

They have been on the D.L. for some time now, but having been signed to rough trade and with gig upon gig upcoming, i would definitely rate them right now! besides they actually came to my little town of harlow and played there! therefore i automatically love them!

Next London gig: KCLSU 17th November (2010) then nothing in london for a while!! =(

Finally!! The oh so down right Out There!!!

This is a band i have only just got into, thank god i have good friends that can keep me up to date with these things!!

Everything Everything is the band im talking about!! now this isnt for everyone, they are very out there, in a kind of if the foals, MGMT, pink floyd, white lies and some wierdo from manchester had a love child, and this child hit his head at a young age and has never really been the same since...

I have only listened to this album, but i am completely SOLD on it!

Two best songs would have to be number uno my keys your boyfriend, purely because it sets the standard for the rest of the album! and secondly, and thirdly because i couldnt decide are Qwerty Finger and Suffragette Suffragette. the riffs speak volumes, the lyrics are pure genius (in suffragette suffragette it sounds like he sings "who's gona sit on your face when im gone" which amuses me endlessly) and it is so painstakingly different and it is nice for a change!

Let me know of any new bands i should comment on!!

H. x

These window's were not Microsoft's idea!

Lanvin parisian window display

Window, window, on the shop who's the fairest of the crop?!

This is a selection of some amazing window designs i have stubbled across, i believe that if fashion is an art form then windows are the gallery in which they are displayed! The image above is by far my favourite! it is so simple yet so beautiful! i love how it appears to be balloon like yet very very aesthetically pleasing!

Bergdort window display

The back drop of this window is entirely post-its!! to me it's saying that this woman works, and gets very board at work, so post-its are a vital role of her life!

I cannot remember where i found this image but it is just so visually pleasing!

This window is a Matthew Williamson design inspired by Gossip girl! who would have thought it huh?!

This is an Apple store window for a new i-pod hi-fi, this is not very fashion related but i think it is just soo ironic and distracting i just had to put it in!

Shop must-see's

1) Beyond Retro -

a safe option if you're new to london, there are two one located in central london, one just off oxford street (it says just off oxford street but it is a fair walk) or the easier, brick lane on Cheshire Street the closest tube station being bethnal green. The prices have been getting steeper and steeper however i find that if you go there when they have a sale on (generally beginning of summer or new year they drop quite a lot!

2) Traid -

this is a second hand store that donates all profits to charity, you can find anything from old vintage st. michael's jumpers to Armarni shirts for as little as £10!!! my favourite is the one on camden high street, and fortunately there is one located right on my local high street in woodgreen! there are 11 shops around london so if your a local just google it!!

3) Zara-

Now i realise that this is a high street store but i just CANNOT get enough of it! and now its available ONLINE!!! yes from the comfort of your own bed! however the one zara shop i would recommend would have to be the one in knightsbridge, needless to say they have everything there! but if your looking for friendly staff or people who can help you with your purchases this is NOT the zara to go to! in fact i dont think there is one in london i have yet found in london that offers the type of service i would expect! if you want service try blue water!

4)Charity Shops -

The best charity shops are most definitely in Marylebone, i am yet to check these out myself but i have been ensured by many others that if you want vintage designer for reasonable -yet still fairly steep- prices then you have hit the jack-pot!

5) Vintroville -

This is a shop i LOVE and cannot express how much everyone should check it out! it is the coolest new shop around! its located on hackney road right next to a well known recording studio, and yes they quite often have welcome surprises in the form of Florence Welch, The Kooks, Kelis and before they had the shop they had a market stall which Michael Corrs visited more than once! even if you dont spot any celebs you're sure to pick up a vintage bargin! http://vintroville.com/

it's been a while....

So I am now all moved into my LOVELY and very -very- darling new house in haringey. I've put my own stamp on my room via fairy lights -one set of which my dear dear friend Iga Honeyman bought me- and a mix of family, friends and beautiful photos and magazine cuttings.

This is a new phase of my life and i am so grateful for it. i have a new start and i'm gona put my mark on the fashion industry, i have several work placements lined up and just cannot wait to start them!!

also cannot wait to add to my apple collection of laptop and ipod touch a iphone 4! right now my life is super super crazy busy but i've grown to realise that this is how i like it! in between studying at the AMAZING and very well reputed London College of Fashion, and working at the newest topshop in knightsbridge -which i love love love- ok it might be to do with the MASSIVE discount but still the people are beyond!!- i'm constantly on the look out for new things to report on!

and last night whilst on my way out to see marina and the diamonds i spotted a booklet on the tube outside highbury and islington, Biba has returned!!! and the pricing isnt out of reach for ANYONE!!!

http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/on/demandware.store/Sites-hof-Site/default/MTemplCont-Show?cid=BIBA

this is House of Fraser and the link to where you can purchase the biba a/w collection.

My favourite piece must must must be the lily print dress in their luxe range! its beautiful! i know where my next pay cheque will be going!!

discounts!

i've come to realise that as a student i quite simply cannot continue to spend the money i do, therefore i figured other may well be in the same situation as me -knowing the uni i go to probably not many- so im here, again to give discounted designer buys a shout out! so hear is what ive found...

Marc Jacobs clutch was £425 now £170 ; the outnet.com

Halston cherry clutch -also avaliable in red- was £1,020 now £365

Jill Sander suede peep-toe pumps was £605 now £242

7 For All MankindWomens Grey Wash Skinny Fit was £145 now £59 from brand alley.co.uk

Muse-ical

As everyone does, i go through fashion fazes and music fazes, they influence each other more than they should. i like to listen to something people dont expect, i love it when i see a person walk onto the tube and i can hear the lady gaga bursting out of their ear phones when they are dressed head to toe in black. its good to do the unexpected.

Karen O^

i urge you! dont just think about what the new "it" bag is, or whats the next black, what are we going to be listening to? i'll tell you one thing, if it wasnt for all those girl fronted bands in the last few years would the festival folk laws that now outline what you can and cant wear at a music fest be so highly strung if they had never showed? probably not, music and fashion is more than people think.

Fashion Icons

Everyone has a fashion icon, wither its when your nan was young and a mod to agnes deyn, everyone has an image to aspire to, recently ive been surrounded by so many different styles i found that i had lost my own, a style that had previously set me apart from others (i live in a fairly small town) most of my clothing was second hand, and we have a wicked little charity shop which long story short sell beyond retro and rocket stuff for less than half the price! generally other people would have described my style as retro, anything from printed maxi dresses to old blazers with jeans, but suddenly i found myself thinking, what is my style at the moment?

Here is where the fashion icons come in, anyone can be your fashion icon and anyone who is having trouble sussing out their style can use an icon until they have slowly but surely altered it into their own life style.

Right now, my style icons are the olsen twins (MK for day Ashley for night), so baggy things that at the same time look sophisticated, or black blazers that look rather smart, one thing that i think people should never forget is that you dont have to constantly follow the same trend, i change my day to day wardrobe as it gives more confidence and generally people arent use to things that change they take more notice and generally i find more complements, even if had i worn the same style constantly i wouldnt have.

The 40% rule for ultimate sexiness!

Being sexy in summer can be quite difficult, in the winter there is the option of blacks and deep red, which alone give a hint of sexiness, however in the summer there are pastels, creams and nude colours, being girly is seen more than being sexy or sophisticated, so ive set myself the challenge of finding ways to turn subtle into sophisticated.

Generally if i want to follow the "sexy not slutty" handbook i go by the 40% rule, only show 40% of bare flesh, legs or arms, not both, back and from the knees down or cleavage mixed with from the elbows down and just above the knees hem line, i find this works a charm as you wont be bothered by the men "out on the pull" but the men who came out for fun with their mates, and its always a sign when they ditch what they are doing to come over and talk to you.

For day time i would suggest a maxi dress, as with revealing clothes it draws attention to you but the people looking wont be thinking "oh dear lord wheres the other half of her outfit" but "wow she looks good" i cant explain why people do but its a fact that wearing long dresses draws the eye in. i would wear a plain or tribal patterned maxi with either wedges, clogs, ankle boots (generally a thicker heel to balance out the length of the dress) or if i was wearing flats brightly coloured pumps or vibrant sandals with an anklet. As seen in Phillip Lim

"yes i am... no i dont want to"

Whilst i was on holiday in cornwall, visiting our families local beach (watergate bay-its amazing check it out if your at that end of england) i suddenly realised that is was in fact Justin Lee Collins sat just slightly behind us with his wife and two adorable children. Of course it was his distinguishing voice that i noticed first, and then it was the fact everyone around was either staring or trying to make conversation with him.

What i found most amusing was the couple beside us, they had two children of their own, they had spotted JLC and decided to unpack stupidly close to our spot, something i thought was a bit off, there's like a unspoken of beach book of codes that states when the beach is empty you try to space yourselves out (we were there long be the couple and JLC). what was even stranger was the blatant ignoring of their own children untill JLC's childrens came over to them to play.

This slightly angered me, why on earth are people sooo fascinated by those in the public eye?! several families went over to them over the three hours my family was there, and all i was thinking was, his poor wife. every person went over to talk to the "celebrity" ignoring his wife, she sat there looking slightly bored, all they wanted to do was go to the beach and have some family time (well i assume) as if he had wanted attention surely he would have gone to central london and worn a giant tee-shirt saying "oh yes i am JLC" with "go on take a photo" on the back. therefore i think celebrities should all wear tee-shirts saying "yes i am" with "no i dont" on the back.

p.s. the man seemed very nice and friendly, considering how many people interrupted his family time and he managed to remain polite and considerate the entire time, not to mention his children had the funnest and sweetest laughs in the world!!

H.

one to watch

i think the one thing to watch this summer is maxi dresses, when they were "in" before it was simply that lots of celebs were wearing them, the public wasnt sure on how to make them look casual enough to get away with going to tescos or the cinema, but whats this?! now there are many basic maxi dresses available, newlook have some good simple black and general basic colour cotton style dresses, my advise for anyone not so sure about the trend is to carry a thin waist belt with you at all times and if you find yourself feeling a bit uncomfortable in your maxi slip the belt on and pull lots of fabric over the top, turning the maxi into a mid-length dress, something a bit less fashion forward.

if you want to go a bit more out there with your maxi i'd try getting them from indie boutiques, i found this amazing pastel floral maxi in a local indie in chelmsford, also dont be scared to look in shops you wouldnt normally, i must say there is no way you can make a "chavvy" maxi dress, as long as it isnt bedazzled!!

team with flipflops, wedges or converse (generally if you have a plain colour maxi) and the great thing about a maxi, it is a blank canvas for your accessories!

Best to Access!

With spring upon us and summer around the corner season accessories are changing from knit, chunky, bold and bright to light, colourful, demure and statement!

accessory stables for summer;

1. Handbag, all girls must have a summer basic handbag, this will depict your style for summer, wether its a canvas tote or a worn leather satchel this will set the mood! i suggest Vera Bradley if you want a beautiful bag, made with love thats just on the left hand side of middle of the road! http://www.verabradley.com/product/Category/Totes/Reversible-Tote/154998/defaultColor/Paprika/pc/638/p/154998/sc/642/c/0.uts
2. Shoes, cute flats, neutral wedges, strappy sandals or peep-toes are it for summer! and remember to transform your shoes from day to night by using anklets -note, these can be attached to the shoes too usually is there is a strap or loop! i LOVELOVELOVE these sandals by steve madden but remember always make sure those piggies are clean and painted if your getting you feet out! http://www.asos.com/Steve-Madden/Steve-Madden-Sanzo-Beaded-Flat-Sandal/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1019556&cid=4468&sh=0&pge=1&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Brown
3. Necklaces, Bracelets and earrings, these MUST be even, too much on the top ie statement earrings AND necklace will look off balance, even things out, ie peacock feather earrings and chunky bangles i think THE best place to buy these from on the high-street is accessorize, its fair prices with good brand image, if your on a very low budgets do not dismiss primark, as not many people will think of mixing and matching use existing items in your possession and mix with new, its a cheap way to get retro!
4. Finally! something you may be yet to consider, and i may say that this is for the more daring or those who dont mind people admiring the heck out of your style! HEAD PIECES! this summers must have, last year they were slowly edging their way in with muted plates across the fringe/forehead area, now-BOOM- they are all over the high-street and not just in the shops, the fashion forward are wearing them too quite literally ON THE HIGH STREET! this is something that anyone can do, anything from a quirky little hair clip keeping your fringe to the side to a full on telephone on you face! play with it but make sure you follow the tip of matching to your hair and eye colours, it will make or break your outfit!

Lady GaGa Music video

Lady GaGa has inspired us all with her new music video, only she can pull off the all in one leopard print body suit with matching drivers cap! It doesn't take many fashion brain cells to say that she isn't just any old music artist, her videos have their hidden meanings which can be interpreted differently by every other person, one person in which was offended and stricken by her new video "Telephone" featuring Beyonce, saying it has explicit content which he wouldn't want his kids watching, saying that the two role models should have put more thought into who would be watching their video and the content involved. When i first heard this i could not help but laugh out loud, after years and years of music videos being discriminative towards women making them into sexual objects someone picks up on a music video where two females take a thelma and louise approach to music.

Music and the sexualisation of woman has in particular come to my attention when i was out recently for a friends 18th. This particular club was generally playing R&B remixes the tone suddenly switched when the song genera swapped from general dance tunes to typical sexualised songs, which as you can probably guess, was about men getting their leg over, but what shocked me most was the fact that the men in the club became more and more pervy and learchy, as if they were really listening to the lyrics and taking them to heart, thinking they can have whoever they want in this place.

Over new years eve a 17 year old girl was sexually attacked behind a club i know to be playing these kinds of songs, obviously you cannot blame music for the actions of young men, but i for one am SICK to death of having to listen to these songs when im out with my girlfriends and suddenly wondering why there is suddenly a bigger crowd of perverts trying it on.

H. x

Fur Faux Pas

I find myself wondering why the fashion world and particular people insist on selling and wearing REAL fur, and the argument i always get back from people is "well, do you eat meat? its exactly the same" well for those who actually are small minded enough to think like that no its not exactly the same. and for one i only eat free range meat, you don't get free range fur, organic fur or information on how the fur was caught and slaughtered. From what i know on meat -which is a fair amount as i use to be a vegetarian - it is generally done in a humane way if it has labels like "free range" on it.

I'm in no way belittling those who do own fur, its your choice to do so, personally i am against it but i would never have a full blown argument with someone who doesn't agree with me, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and make their own life choices but if you're considering buying fur the only advice i would give is to question the person/brand you buy from into how the animals are kept before so that you can have a clear mind when wearing it down the street.

Job Interviews

There really isnt a lot of good advice when it comes to job interviews, i personally find them quite easy, im fairly confident, assertive and find it easy to convey my thoughts, however my sister is the complete opposite, she gets very nervous and is normally quite shy and quiet. Therefore i have decided to compile a list of things to mention when being interviewed by a fashion company (generally just shop floor work):

• Research, even if this is just the night before the interview find out about the brand, this not only shows that you know about the brand but that you had the initiative to do preparation for the interview.
• Your accomplishments, anything from i can speak confidently in public as i use to read out loud in my old english class to i made a sale of £500 on a customer who was "just browsing" the trick is not to boast about yourself but to show how you can use experiences to gain skills which would be further useful in another scenario
• Dress to impress, if you have to wear a suit alter something to make yourself stand out, wearing a red flower in your blazer pocket, or a head band that stands out, by having something no one else does people will remember you, this works well in group interviews as an employer may not remember your name but they will remember "the girl with the red flower"
• The dreaded "why do you want to work for us" question. the short truthful answer "im broke and want some money" and to be honest i HATE this question, hello love id like you to take a moment, step back and take a look, im a teenager (or a twenty something) im applying for a minimum wage PART-TIME job, why on earth do you think i want this job???? Clearly you cant say this to a potential employer, i always stick to a shocked look, "who wouldnt want to work here, from what ive heard (insert a lie about someone you know who works in a DIFFERENT branch) says they love working for **** personally i would like to work for such an esteemed company" obviously these answers will always be different as each interview will be different, try to relate something about your personality to the brand, for example Topshop / i am studying fashion.
• Hand shake, unless they reach for you do not raise you hand, it is seen as rude and demanding
• Smile, a smile goes a long way, unless you have huge braces and yellow teeth.
• make-up, minimal, however if you want to portray a certian look for example black eyes red lips then make sure it is perfect and clean at the same time.
• Shoes, make sure its comfortable, the last thing you want is killer heels distracting you from answering important questions
• timing, get there early, i usually have half the size of my normal breakfast then grab something while im waiting so i can make sure im there on time!

H.

Capped Sleeves and other Fashion-Faux-Pas

Everyone has individual style and different attitudes towards fashion and clothing in general, if a picture is worth a thousand words an outfit is a priceless word count!

In my opinion there are a few no-nos for anyone who isnt build like a very tall twig, or a sense of self-respect:

• Cap sleeves
• Showing underwear
• Clothes that are too small
• Boot flare jeans with tight fitting tee-shirts (aka the white trash look, all u need is a trailer and a pink baseball cap with VonDutch on it)

The one thing that bothers me most is the cap sleeves issue, there seems to be this false rumour going around that they are flattering, this is a HUGE lie one which i believe was told from one girl to another when the question of "does this make my arms look fat" came up, clearly this other woman either was one of those friends who hates anyone who looks better than them, or was BLIND! which is still no excuse!

so to mothers everywhere SAY NO TO CAP!

H.

you may steal my togas but you may not steal my lime light

My sister is two years younger than me, and is constantly in my room, stealing my things, using my laptop, borrowing tights (tights are hard to come by in our house) or taking photos of herself in my room! for those of you with younger sisters or brothers i'm sure you can relate, but i still find myself wondering why.

i like vintage clothing, quite feminine, girly florals, little black dresses, oversized jumpers and cardigans, super high heels and retro brogues or loafers, she likes heavy metal, rock, "emo" (whatever that means nowadays) black tee-shirts and skinny fit jeans with tears in them, leather jackets and denim, she has her nape pierced (back of neck) and short black hair with a streak or bright blue on the side, yet she somehow has this addiction to using my things, if i cant find something i look in her room, and shock horror there it lies.

i've tried many things to deter her, for one my room is hugely cluttered with half of my 64 pair collection of shoes or three quarters of my general wardrobe sprawled across the floor, bed and my victorian style dresser. i've had locks put on (all of which have been broken mysteriously) i tried reverse psychology telling her she can borrow whatever she wants as long as she lets me know (in my mind taking away the appeal of "ohhh im wearing her band new top and she doesnt know") i've even tried the "whatever you can do i can do better" with humongous fail as when i was caught borrowing something of hers i was told off (i thought once u reach 19 and are at university you couldnt get told off?!) yet when she took something of mine i just got a "your little sister doesnt have as many clothes as you -who does?!- and she admires you, take it as a compliment" PFFTT when i get my clothes back stinking of booze, weird aftershave or sick i am not a happy fashionista! so right now i have no option but to just leave her to it.... or move out, a very tempting option.

For whatever reason they do it younger siblings have been programmed to irritate, aggravate, annoy, pester and generally make themselves as much of a nuisance to older siblings since the dawn of time, its probably why jesus is shown as an only child in the bible, to pi$$ off his younger siblings "you may steal my togas but you will not steal my lime light"

H.

My first post

Needless to say like most people i have started this blog because i have some spare time on my hands and because i think some of the things i have to say i wish i could share with other people. from topics covering fashion and the industry to politics (i don't know much about politics its just an emphasis so you get the idea that i'll be talking about an awful lot of different things)

i'll start with something easy to read i guess.

Fashion, like most things in our society is becoming more readily available, for people who wouldn't have even thought they would be able to buy into a trend it's happening, im devoting my first blog posting to Venté Privéé and Cocosa, bringing discounted designer clothing and accessories to people all over the world, and allow them to say "HAHA i have a designer hand bag too" to those snobs who thing their the bogs dollocks (spoonerism intended) because they have a mulberry bag! i salute you!

H.