Fabulous Friday: Party Favours

Happy Friday! How was your week? As we are now firmly in to December, I felt it was definitely time for a post about party wear!
There's some amazing pieces out there and lots of brands have offers on party stuff at the moment so it's a great opportunity to invest in that Christmas party piece. Here's a small selection of my favourite pieces which I think are festively fit for the season!

1. Lavish Alice Black Sequinned Cropped Centre Split Maxi Dress- £58 If you want to make an entrance then this is the perfect dress to do so. It's chic and classy and will definitely turn some heads!

2. Missguided Feather Trim Crop Top- was £24.99, now £19.99, and Mini Skirt was £24.99, now £19.99. I love this co-ord set! It's so cute but perfect for a party, and moving away from the standard LBD.

3. Dorothy Perkins Bronze Sequin Shift Dress- was £65, now £45.50. You can't have the festive season without some sparkle, and this dress is perfect. I love the winter berry colour and the fit is very classic.

4. Parisian at New Look Black Embellished Dress- £29.99. This super cute embellished LBD is a great staple to have in your wardrobe and would make a great go-to party dress. A brilliant price too!

5. Michelle Keegan for Lipsy Embroidered Playsuit- £55. I love this playsuit! It's super versatile as you could wear this in the summer too due to the colour mix of black and nude.

So which one would you pick? Have you already got your party outfit sorted? I have a couple coming up and still need to get sorted! Enjoy your parties and wrap up warm!

Fabulous Friday: Black Friday Fashion

Happy Black Friday!

Have you braved the madness in the shops? Or are you waiting in the queue to get access to a website? Either way everyone is out to grab the best deals in the preparation for Christmas.
This Friday's post has brought together a few fashionable items that I feel are worth investing in on this discount day! Of course this is a mere drop in the ocean of what's available out there but these are my favourite winter picks, which I feel are great wardrobe additions. Don't hang around!

1. Topshop Fairisle Yoke Jumper: £25 (was £36). I love love love this jumper! It's very festive and appropriate for the time of year, but it's traditional so will last you through many winters to come and still look on trend! A great price at £25 too.

2. Zara 70s Doll T-shirt: £15.99 (was £19.99). Super cute and a bit Moschino-esqu! Although the reduction isn't huge, this T-shirt is a great piece to update your basic t-shirts with.

3. Cooperative Teddy Coat in Navy: £77 (was £110) Available at Urban Outfitters. This coat is so now! Fluffy and soft but in a classic navy colour which makes it a little more versatile than the pastel colours we are seeing elsewhere. A reasonable price  for an investment coat too!

4. Zara Chain Detail Boots: £47.99 (was £59.99). These boots are so classic and at less than £50 you can't resist them! Classic black with subtle chain detail around the heel. These are too good to be left in the shop!!!

5. Urban Outfitters Faux Fur Pom Hat in Brown: £14 (was £28). I love the vintage feel to this UO hat. The faux fur looks real and the cute pom on top adds a bit of fun to a more formal looking hat than your average fluffy pom pom knitted hat.

So what do you think? Let me know what deals you manage to get! There's loads out there but don't go crazy!

The following are also offering amazing deals not to be missed!:

Asos: 20% off

Banana Republic: 30% off instore

Boden: 30% off

Cath Kidston: 15% off

House of Fraser: up to 40% off

Kurt Geiger: 20% off until midnight Sunday.

Miss Selfridge: up to 50% off

River Island: 20% off between 11am and 3pm today

Tobi: 50% off

Warehouse: 25% off

Whistles: 25% off

Wildfox: 20% off

Selfridges: 20% off

Good luck and Happy Shopping!

Fabulous Friday: Love the Fluff

Happy Friday everyone! How have you all been?
I've had a really busy week starting a new job. It has been quite challenging.
My Friday post this week is all about fluff and fur! I love wrapping up in a faux fur scarf or hat. And coats!!! This winter I have noticed so much more effort going in to fur designs- bags, keyrings, shoes. You can get practically anything with a touch of fluff to it!
I've picked a mix of real and faux fur. Real fur on sale today is still somewhat controversial, but the choice ultimately comes down to you. I have included designer Charlotte Simone who has real and faux fur alternatives to her designs. So here it is:

1. River Island Cream Faux Fur Oversized Coat- £100. RI are really on form with the faux fur this season. This coat looks super luxe and more expensive than £100. It's got a classic feel to it and won't go out of style after this winter season. A safe sure investment for your winter wardrobe!

2. Monki Furia Faux Fur Cross Body Bag- £25. Quirky camo pattern on faux fur. The colours are easy to pair with most outfits but are something different from basic black. A super affordable price too! Available at ASOS.

3. Charlotte Simone Popsicle Fur Scarf- £299. I love these scarves so much, and there is one definitely on my Christmas list. The great thing about Charlotte Simone designs is that the choice is yours- real fur or faux fur. More colours and designs available.

4. Dune faux fur keyrings- Jangles and Jaffa- both £15. The little balls of fluff look great on a handbag, or on the zip of a furry clutch for complete fur impact! A really affordable wardrobe update. Jangles is available in black and berry, Jaffa is available in Berry, Teal and Black.

5. Finally, a bit of fluffy fun! This New Look Pink Faux Fur Cat Clutch is so cute!!! It adds a bit of humour to a day or night time outfit but still looks stylish! Also comes in Black- £19.99.

So what do you think of my selection? There's so much great faux and fantasy fur out there at the moment, plus some amazing vintage fur pieces available at vintage fairs and online, you're spoilt for choice! What would you pick? Where can you recommend some great faux fur pieces?

Have a fab weekend!

Fabulous Friday: Jazzy Jackets

How have you all been this week? I think we've all noticed the drop in temperature lately! I love winter so I'm feeling happier now I can start to bring out my proper winter wardrobe. Boots, scarves, hats, gloves and big handbags! Like many I have still been rushing around everywhere so haven't really found it suitable to get my full-on, longer winter coats out. A warm jacket with hat and scarf has sufficed. So this week I'm picking out 5 of the best jackets around (in my opinion!) with some lovely scarves to accessorise with!

Jackets

1. Joules Moredale Quilted Jacket in Deep Pink- £89.95. The quilted jacket is a wardrobe basic these days, and many brands offer the same types of jacket. I love this Joules one because of the pink colour. It's girly without being sickly. If you're not a fan though it also comes in black, navy and green.

2. Whistles Cassie Boucle Knitted Jacket- £155. With wool and mohair mixed in to the composition of this jacket, this is perfect for dashing around the city as it will keep you warm but is easy to throw on and off. This would look great dressed up with a fur scarf or kept casual with a cotton wrap. It's very classic too so will last you through some seasons.

3. Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Tartan Print Jacket- £59.90. Tartan and checks are 'so in' this winter (if you haven't already noticed!) so this jacket is a practical and functional way of getting in on the trend. It gives a nod to Moschino tartan a few years ago, and due to its super light nature, this jacket is easy to put in your bag if you don't need it when you're out and about.


4. French Connection Felix Checkered Cape £185. Capes are huge right now so I couldn't not include one in this post. This FC cape is subtle but on trend and would look great with jeans and boots or dressed up with leather trousers and heels.

5. Topshop Ultimate Faux Leather Biker Jacket- £58. I have loved this every since I saw it a couple of months ago. It's the perfect jacket to layer up with a jumper and the faux fur collar will keep your neck warm!

Scarves

Zara Checked Scarf- £19.99. This is a wardrobe staple! It will look amazing swathed around your neck and shoulders and is so versatile.

Banana Republic Cashmere Scarf- £79.50. A timeless luxurious scarf that will definitely keep your neck warm year after year. Comes in 5 colours- Black, pale pink, ivory, heather grey and dark anthracite.

Jack Wills Welbury Snood- £24.50. Simple but stylish, this snood comes in 3 colours- grey, petrol and white. Perfect with a quilted jacket.

Zara Faux Fur Snood in Contrast Dot print- £29.99. A glam faux fur snood to add to a boyfriend coat or blazer gives a great laid back luxe look. At only £29.99, this Zara one is perfect.

So which jacket and scarf would you pick? What have you been wearing this week?

Have a warm weekend!

Fabulous Friday: Feeling Fit

Happy Friday and Happy Halloween to everyone!
Today's post is centred around work out gear! I've never been one for sport but never favoured being out of shape, and I love chocolate far too much to give it up! I never really found a sport that suited me, but when I went to uni I found that the gym suited me. I could go at my own pace, I wasn't feeling pressured by other team members and if something didn't go to plan then I would only let myself down and not a load of other people.
As I wasn't so fond of exercise though, I did struggle to find good work out gear that didn't cost me a fortune. I wanted good quality stuff but not your Nike and Adidas mega £££ stuff. Sure, sports direct was great for a while but so boring when everyone has the same things as you.
Last week I signed up to the new Kate Hudson range- Fabletics. You get 2 to 3 pieces for 1 price starting at £44 and you can get new stuff every month. If you don't want anything one month, you'll need to remember to 'skip' so that you don't pay anything that month. New customers get a set for £22 so I thought it was worth a try.

I chose the 'Volt' set which includes:
- Oula tank top
- Salar Capri bottoms
- Ayni Sports bra

When they arrived I was really pleased. The fabric is really good quality, thick and stretchy with the sweat wicking technology you expect as a standard these days. The patterns are really good too- they don't thin when you stretch the fabrics and are different without being too 'in your face'. The sizes fit really well too.

You can sign up to Fabletics here.

If you're not sure, I've picked out some other great sportswear pieces at reasonable prices:

1. H&M Sports Tights £19.99. I love the pattern of these, plus the waistband is super comfy and the pocket at the back is perfect for essentials!
2. Sweaty Betty Double time run tank £60. A bit more pricey than the rest but an unusual and high quality top that is worth the investment!
3. F&F Active Space Print Trim Vest £15. A basic top which is a necessity to any work out! Great to jazz up a plain gym outfit with the galaxy print trim.


Are you a gym bunny or a team sports player? What are your favourite items to work out in?

Fabulous Friday: Feeling Frozen

Firstly apologies that this Friday post is coming to you on a Saturday... I do have an excuse! Yesterday I went straight from work to my manager's leaving drinks and didn't get home until it was technically Saturday so didn't get to finish this off. Anyway.
This week I've chosen a frozen inspired theme. Frozen in every sense of the word- the weather and the film! Now as I'm sure you're aware, it's not actually that cold, which is really annoying me. I love the cold and being able to wrap up in a coat, a scarf, a hat and gloves, and this mild weather is not allowing me to do so. Hopefully writing about the cold will coax it to get colder! I love 'Frozen' the Disney film too, and the colours in the outfits of the characters, and the winter have been an inspiration for these picks.

1. Lipsy Embellished Jumper: £38. I love love love this jumper! The colour is so wintery and very Elsa from Frozen. The snowflake sparkle detailing adds something different to this otherwise casual jumper. Get it here.
2. Ted Baker Embellished Collar Cape in Pink: £269. This comes in small, medium and large, so really easy sizing wise. This reminded me a bit of Anna's cape in Frozen but I love the snowy pale pink and the sparkly neck which would look amazing making an entrance at your next party. Available at John Lewis here.
3. Massimo Dutti Apres Ski collection Trousers: This whole collection by MD is ski bunny chic, but these trousers look so comfy and flattering. They dark wolfy grey is a nice change from black. £79.95 from the website.
4. Ugg Australia Igloo Shearling Gloves: Get a good pair of gloves and they will last you for years. With the shearling trim these are definitely worth investing in and have a traditional Nordic feel to them. £133 at Luisa Via Roma.
5. Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Gilet: £39.90. A more sophisticated gilet than your average one, this is packable, squashable yet simple. It looks expensive with the quilt effect and comes in a range of colours but my favourite is this off white colour. Available in store or online.
6. Finally, some sparkle to go with any outfit, be it with the Lipsy jumper under the Uniqlo gilet or with a party dress, this necklace will had some of Frozen's Elsa's sparkle to any outfit. You can't afford to miss it at only £12.50 from BHS.

That's it for this week. What do you think? In the cold weather you need to be warm but you can easily look fabulous too. Accessories really add to any casual outfit so it's always important to remember your add ons. Happy Weekend!

Glossybox: Pop Art

For my birthday, my wonderful boyfriend got me a year subscription to Glossybox. As you all know from some of my previous posts, I love getting a monthly delivery of make up. It's so exciting waiting for what's going to be new.
October's box was a special edition pop art design, which I loved. The boxes are always useful to store stuff in but I like to have the more special ones out on display storing everyday things I need to use, so this one will be a great addition.

This month I received:
1. Nuxe Creme Fraiche De Beaute Mask (Full size product- 50ml) worth £19.50
2. Etre Belle Cosmetics Liplift Peel (Full size product- 15ml) worth £10.20
3. So Susan Cosmetics Flutter Mascara (Full size product- 4ml) worth £14.95
4. Ciate London Paint Pot (Full size- 13.5ml) worth £9.
5. Yves Rocher France Quelques Notes D'amour (5ml bottle) worth £5.50.
6. Rimmel London BB Cream Matte (8ml bottle) worth £2.

So in total this box was worth £61.15 and I got 4 full sized products which is pretty good!

I've been really excited to use the Nuxe face mask and Etre Belle lip peel as my skin has been suffering lately. I always have dry lips which is really annoying when it comes to wearing lipstick as it just dries them out more, so I'm hoping a few uses of the lip peel will help to solve this!
I'm always excited to get new mascara as it's a basic for me when it comes to make up. Even when I'm feeling a bit ill or I'm just in the house for the day I still always put some mascara on. I'd never heard of So Susan Cosmetics before so I had a look at their website. It looks pretty cool as, like with glossybox, you can earn loyalty points. I haven't cracked open the mascara yet as I have 1 or 2 to use beforehand.

I have loads of Ciate paint pots already but didn't have this colour- PP032 Unrestricted Glam. It's a black colour which is perfect for Halloween coming up but also for the party season. It looks great and as we know, black goes with anything.

When I opened to box and saw the mini perfume, I thought oh dear. Anyone who knows me will be aware that I have a huge amount of perfume... I tend to get bought perfume for any occasion where a gift needs to be given and although it's a lovely gift and I highly appreciate it, I have so many now that I don't think I need to buy perfume for the next 10 years. On smelling this little bottle of Yves Rocher, however, I decided to forget about the stash I have. This honestly smells so amazing. It's got just the right level of floral, without being a bit old lady esque and smells divine. It's meant to have rose, guaiac wood and patchouli. I will definitely be buying this in full size when I've cut down on my perfume hoard.

Finally the Rimmel BB cream- I have to confess I still haven't tried any BB cream, so when I got this mini sized one I thought this was the perfect opportunity. Watch this space!

So overall I can say I'm pretty impressed with this box! Are you a glossybox subscriber? Or do you use another company such as Birchbox? Who do you think is the best?

Fabulous Friday: Woodland Weekend

As I've been seeing so much amazing fashion around lately, I thought it was about time to make a weekly post to incorporate everything I'm seeing and loving in stores and online right now. Sharing your finds is the best way for everyone to stay up to date and by seeing what others have found, you see things you wouldn't have seen by yourself. So here's my first weekly fashion instalment, and this one has a toned down woodland theme! Foxes are one of my favourite animals (and my boyfriend's all time favourite animal!) so have always had a special place in  my life (and wardrobe!), and I just love that country wood feel. It has been all over the catwalk but as catwalk shows and magazine photoshoots really go to extremes with themes, it's sometimes hard to think, 'how would I wear that in my everyday life?' So here's some picks that are easy to work in to your wardrobe to get the look.

1. Wildfox fox knitted jumper £180. This is so easy to dress up or down. Casual with jeans and boots or dressed up with a faux fur scarf and boyfriend coat. Available from Selfridges here.
2. Shoe The Bear Walker Leather Faux Fur Boots now £98 (was £175!). Super comfy and snug with their furry lining. Perfect for country or city walking! Available at Asos.
3. Vanessa Camel Tailored Coat from Missguided. Missguided has been getting lots of attention from the girls at work, and as I've never ordered from them before, I thought I would have a look. This camel coat really caught my attention for its smart look and its great price (£34.99!) so this is definitely going in my basket!
4. Marsha Fox Jumper from Joules £69.95. A great fun jumper for the winter season which is mixed with camel hair, silk and cotton. Looks super cute with a shirt underneath!
5. Penton Faux Fur Scarf also from Joules in Bear colour. At only £24.95, this is such a style steal! I was in the store the other day and overheard a customer say how soft and good quality the fur scarves were but at such an affordable price compared to competitors! This scarf will look amazing over a coat, dress or jumper.

So that's it for this week! If you're not all about foxes or real looking fur, there are some great alternatives with character jumpers- dogs, flowers and ducks are all out there, and there's some gorgeous coloured fur around in blue, green and wine. So what do you all think? How would you wear this look?

Enjoy your weekend, be it in country or city!

Market-ing

Again, it's been a little while, but here I am again.
I've finally got some time off work- a whole week! I feel like Christmas and Birthdays have come all at once.
So I'm filling this week with all the things I've been wanting to do, that I used to do when I was at university and had all that spare time (students, you really do have a lot of free time..!). Plus all my friends are away (thanks guys! well jel.)

Yesterday, I visited a couple of old haunts which I realised I haven't been to for about 2 years.
One of these was Covent Garden.
'What!?' I hear you say? Yes, I live in London, I work next to Covent Garden. But when you work there everyday, you actually don't get to SEE it.
So that's what I did, I visited Covent Garden.
I had a fab time wandering around the flea and antique market at the Jubilee Market Hall. There were so many great stalls. I'm a massive fan of vintage jewellery so I was in my element with many of the stalls there, and there were some of the highest quality designer pieces I have seen in a while, from Chanel and Dior to Trifari. They were exquisite to look at and were safely banked in my mind memory for when I'm earning millions ;)

One stall I found had some great vintage designer treasures, including a Balenciaga logo bag (next on my wish list!), but it also had an array of French Sole ballet pumps all new and waiting for new owners.
Much to my disappointment there were none in my size, however, there was a pair of denim boots. They fitted me perfectly, were brand new and were a bargain £45. (RRP £200, check the website ladies!).
I couldn't have been happier with my new boots, and I will certainly be a returning customer, as the stallholder is a regular.

Boots: French Sole
Scarf: Silk from Camden Market

I then spent the afternoon at Camden Market. This place used to be a regular stop for me. Alot of my friends weren't really into Camden, so I'm quite used to roaming the market streets here by myself.
I have to say though, that when I got there, I was disappointed.
Where had all the good stuff gone?
Granted, it was 2 years since I had been here, and there had been a couple of fires in this time, and of course things change, but really?
I have never seen so many stalls with the same mass manufactured stuff. My heart sank as I went around the stables market, as this as my favourite part, just seeing printed t-shirt after printed t-shirt.

After I really thorough search I finally found a cute little stall that satisfied what I was after. It had great dresses and tees that were wardrobe staples, but in the end I decided on a scarf. A simple black scarf. I know it sounds boring but I find that what I tend to do is see basics in black, white and grey, and I shy away from them because I always think I have loads of things like this. It turns out I don't so I decided to get something I both needed and wanted. (Isn't that a first!).

All in all, I was happy with my day out marketing around, but couldn't shake my disappointment with Camden. I hope that it will rise again to be the individual place it used to be, and that this is just a phase...

What are your thoughts? Are markets not what they used to be?

The Cat Hat

So again, it's been a little while but I've now finished my course at the London College of Fashion, which means I'm now getting a little bit of time off!
As Winter is now over (so they say), I thought I would share with you a story about something that has given me entertainment throughout the cold season, as we go in to summer.
So, this hat I got- what could be so exciting about a hat right? Well it's a great hat, and I love wearing it, but it's more about the attention it brings, rather than keeping my ears warm!

Just after Christmas, I came back to London to work and as everyone I live with was still at home with their families, as most normal people would be on 27th December, my mum came back to London with me to stay with me for a couple of days.
I managed to get an afternoon off so we went to the V&A museum.
This is where I found the Cat Hat.
In the gift shop (the best bit of museums right?), there it was- an Alice Hannah knitted black hat with cat ears and 2 big blue jewelled cat eyes. I had to have it, as cats are my favourite animal, and I liked how it was a little different from the standard animal hats we are seeing on the high street today.
Done deal, in the bag, its mine.
Now, as I started to sport this hat, I realised that it had a certain power. It started with a few odd looks on the tube in the morning, which is understandable- the suits are always a little tired and I think those big blue jewels might startle anyone at 7am on a Monday. Then it moved on to the man in Pret, 'That's a cool hat- are they ski goggles?', well, good try man but no it's a cat.
Then people at college and at work- 'Where did you get that hat from? It's so cool!'. Needless to say I came across some odd looks when I said the V&A museum.
Next was the lady in Pret (yes, a different Pret), 'Your hat is so nice- what is it?'. It's a cat my friend. People tend to just see the blue jewels and not the cat ears. Then the lady at the Post Office counter, 'What is your hat? It is so pretty and different!'. So you get the jist- people see it and comment.

I was feeling quite satisfied with my cat hat and thinking it was definitely a good investment. Until the other day.

I had just finished work and was checking my phone when I guy came up to me: 'Wow! What's your hat about? It looks cool.' I proceeded to tell him, like most, that it was a cat.
After 5 minutes of chit chat, and a date proposal later, he finally left me alone.



Forgetting about that experience, I have come to the conclusion that this is possibly one of the best items I have ever bought.

Westwood Ho! Stockport Vintage Village Fair

Eros Handbag with
Linda Farrow Sunglasses

Yesterday I made a return to the Vintage Village in Stockport. I always love a visit to VV- be it just to browse or to sell. I haven't been there since November so I was excited to see the old market hall again. I was even more excited because the theme of this month's fair was dedicated to British designer Vivienne Westwood.

Customers and stallholders alike were dressed in tartan, and punk inspired pieces, and there were many lovely ladies showing off their Vivienne Westwood + Melissa Shoes (including me!).
I was attending this fair as a stallholder, with my vintage clothes and

accessories 'business', 'Eclectique Chic'. I'd decided to have a mid-season sale to move some stock on in order to make room for new beauties. This proved a successful tactic- who doesn't love a sale!?

I had loads on offer, Valentino, Escada, Balenciaga, Celine, Dior as well as Westwood, and some great unnamed vintage pieces as well as vintage high street names and boutique brands- fashion to suit everyone.

Vivienne Westwood Tie

My first sale of the day was a Vivienne Westwood red tie which my dad had given me to sell from his ever-growing tie collection. The man I sold it too was looking super trendy, wearing a black shirt with leopard print collar (of which he informed me was from Topman!). I was very pleased to have kicked off the day with a sale of a Westwood design!
A highlight of my day was selling a Dior beauty brooch- it was super cute with a bow and said 'Christian Dior'. A very nice guy bought it as a treat for his girlfriend- I hope she loves it.
The market also had a visit from a Steampunk group (I had to google that when I got home...) but they looked great. The image is Victoriana/ futuristic inventions. I got chatting with a very nice couple (who were dressed more towards the Victorian half of the definition) of which the lady had a full-on bustle part of her dress, and the gentleman had a spectacular embroidered coat.
Of course, I could not finish my day without a purchase! On top of my normal haul from Stuart Thornley Cake Design (best cakes ever!), I'd had my eye on these fringed boots from Mint Vintage all day and after some hints to my very kind boyfriend, they were coming home with me!

Leather Fringe Boots from Mint Vintage

Thanks to the organisers of Vintage Village for making each fair so different and enjoyable!

Vintage Village is on every second Sunday of the month in Stockport: www.thevintagevillage.co.uk
Mint Vintage on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MintVintageManchester

Peridot London

It's that time of year again where I have to start getting my head down and learning a years worth of work in 2 months. So naturally, instead of revising for exams, I had a day out with a good friend.
I got a message the other day from my friend, Jade, about the Peridot London S/S preview customer event, so she emailed and we got put on the list to attend.
We first saw Peridot at Vodafone London Fashion Weekend (February 2013), and have loved their designs ever since.
I didn't really know what to expect, so was going with an open mind.
We met at Baker Street station and headed towards the location. Once we got there, we buzzed up, and were greeted inside by two lovely girls. We took off our coats, had drinks and began to browse.
There were some fantastic colours, bright oranges and greens, as well as deep navy.
There were some great staple pieces- white shirts with a twist like a layered bottom or textured panel. I was loving the "Neville" shirt dress- navy with green detail pockets (S/S13 collection), but the length was just a bit too long for me (basically, I am too short).
Jade was taken by an amazing orange blazer. It was a longer line blazer, with super soft lining. A piece that really makes an outfit go 'pop'. (from the S/S13 collection)
There were also a few pieces left from the A/W12 collection, and these stole my heart (and money!). I saw the "Isaac" jacket and had to have it. It was so timeless but stylish. Short length, baggy arms, and a fur collar. 100% wool, with silk lining. What more could you ask for? Oh and of course in black.

My second piece was this "Salsa" silk shirt. It's just what I have been looking for. Straight cut, which usually doesn't fit me but this was great. It hangs really nicely and looks fab with a statement necklace. The sleeves are bracelet length so there is a real opportunity to wear with statement jewels.

Jade bought some fabulous "Lady" cat eye sunglasses. They had a vintage edge to them but are super on trend and will stay stylish for years.

Overall, our experience at Peridot today was lovely. The girls who helped and looked after us were so nice, and couldn't do enough to help. They offered really great advice with the clothes too.
This is a brand that really knows their image and is comfortable with its culture. Peridot has its collection available to buy online and at Dover Street and Notting Hill (for UK buyers), but I really hope they get their own store soon as I'm sure it would be wonderful.

'Like' Peridot London on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeridotLondon?fref=ts

View their collection: http://www.peridotlondon.co.uk/

Chorlton Pub- Open for Vintage!

Last week I visited home. Although it was even colder than London, it was nice to be back in the North and to see my parents.
We visited Chorlton, just near Manchester, to go to the Beech Road Vintage fair. It's a pretty small affair to be honest, but something different.
The stalls are inside, and outside The Beech Inn which is great because once you've had a look round, you can relax with an afternoon drink.

What I liked about this was the fact that it was in a traditional pub. With the way things are with British pubs at the moment, it is great to see a different approach on getting people in!
So although there were only a small amount of stalls, it was a great arrangement of stock.
I came across a new trader which I could have bought a fair few items from if they had fitted! (See: http://www.greenhouse-boutique.com/ to snap up some of their quirky indie style items.)

I ended up buying a couple of pieces from a trader I regularly buy from. One of a Kind vintage clothing always end up tempting me whichever fair I come across them at!
My first buy was an amazing vintage Swedish shirt. It's 100% wool and is approx. 1970s. The pattern is very Escher like. (I'll get a photo when there's some good light!).
My second buy from One of a Kind was an LK Bennett patent leather pouch. Although it's not vintage, I had to have it. I love these little pouches- I use them for everything, Ipod, make-up, hair clips etc. And I was very happy to bag that for £5!

So that's that! Although it seems a humble offering, sometimes the smallest purchases are the most useful.
I'll also definitely be going back next time I'm home, as I also picked up some local produce from the farmer's market that was on the same day- ever tried champagne mustard? Neither had I until then!

Vintage Fashion Fair London

So I finally decided to make a trip to Primrose Hill to visit the Vintage Fashion Fair.
I've only been once before and it was over a year ago. My memories were of a relatively small set up, but with exceptional quality vintage clothes, jewellery and accessories.
I'd been meaning to go for months but it always seemed to fall on a Sunday where I was busy.
Anyway, this month was my month to go!
It was a pretty grim day weather wise, but once I arrived, my mood was brightened.
I should mention that I had a free ticket for entry- a great incentive for a trip out. If you sign up to the mailing list, you could get a ticket for free entry to the fair in your inbox each month (although these are limited!).
The first stall I looked at was full of exquisite pieces from Celine, Fendi, Charles Jourdan and Dior. There was a stunning Dior off the shoulder dress in grey which was just the element of perfection for practical, yet on trend and timeless fashion. At £200 it was certainly an investment, but alas one I could not enter in to this month.

Anne Thomas Ceramic Pendant from Vintage Fashion Fair

I spoke to some lovely stallholders, who were enthusiastic and interested in what they sold. Sometimes you come across those who don't seem to have an interest in what they are selling, or seem to care, they just want money. I personally feel this is a mistake, especially with vintage fashion. Each piece has a story or detail behind it that needs to be passed on to it's new owner.
The fair didn't disappoint with regards to choice of high quality pieces and is certainly one of the best places to get something in excellent condition that stands out in terms of design.
Although I could have bought many things, the blurred line between 'willing' and 'able' (economics speak, yes?) became perfectly clear to me with rising bills this month, so I had a humble yet delightful buy from this fair.
Although not a vintage piece, it was certainly a new and unusual find for me. This necklace has a ribbon and metal chain, with the pendent of a fashionista being made out of ceramic. The stamp on the back says 'Anne Thomas, France' and with further research, I found this designer to have a great back-catalogue. The earliest this piece can be is 2005.
I snapped this little lovely up for the tiny sum of £6. Bargain if I ever saw one.
So if I were to give you any advice, it would be to definitely make a visit to Vintage Fashion Fair London, and to also keep your eyes open to things you haven't seen before. Visiting vintage fairs is one of my favourite things to do, mostly because I always find something different and unique. They say you learn something new everyday, and I am finding more and more that this is true.

Vintage Fashion Fair London dates can be found on their website: www.vintagefashionfairlondon.co.uk

Profile of Designer Anne Thomas: www.annethomas-accessoires.com/?page_id=265&lang=en

Trend: London Fashion Weekend

Yesterday I visited the Vodafone London Fashion Weekend with a friend. After having an epic journey back to London, with delayed trains and a mish-mash of tube lines, I finally made it. It was definitely worth the effort.
We had booked to 2:30pm catwalk show that showed an arrangement of trends curated by Hilary Alexander including designers such as Issa London, Jasper Conran, Hermione de Paula and Meadham Kirchhoff. Many of the looks included headbands from Her Curious Nature, of which I wanted to purchase everything from!
The show had 4 sets: Graphic Art, Urban Lifestyle, Eastern Promise and Dolls House. As there were 12 looks for each set, I'm just going to speak about my favourites.
Graphic Art:
2 great dresses from David Koma. The electric blue was the perfect balance of in-your-face and subtle. You knew it was there, but it wasn't too shocking. The folded layered skirts were cute but serious and the mesh detail on the second dress added a bit of a grunge feeling to the look.

David Koma Blue and White Dresses

Urban Lifestyle:
The first two outfits for this set were from a student at Bath Spa University (Stephanie Kitchen). They were both listed as 'Hi-Tech cycling outfit'. I favoured the first one, maybe because the model had a Barclays Hire Bike accompanying her down the catwalk but who knows. If I cycled, I would definitely do it in this outfit. It was kind of like a Parka coat, with reflective strips on without looking geeky! Who knows, in a few years time these may be everywhere!

Stephanie Kitchen Design

Jasper Conran Double Denim and
Hermione de Paula Ladybird set

Next, there was a fantastic ensemble from Jasper Conran, reminiscent of my childhood in the 90s. Double denim? Yes please. Matching mini skirt and jacket, this was my guilty pleasure of the show. The white applique detail gave it a western feel. Although I would probably never wear this out, it is probably something I would want anyway.

Green Levi's and Blue Trench

Possibly my favourite look of the day was the blue trench coat and green Levi's jeans with purple hat and black bow tie. I have a thing for hats and bow ties and this was just a dream come true, as it was different but classic.

Eastern Promise: The opening look to this set was insanely beautiful. If I had anywhere to wear this, I would have made sure to acquire it! A stunning Issa London gown and head-dress by Her Curious Nature. Both were detailed to the max, be it in print or in headwear content! The head-dress was full on flowers and gems, just exquisite.

Issa dress, Her Curious Nature Head-dress

My next favourite look of this set, my picture didn't turn out for, but I have to talk about it anyway. This was a matching top and trouser set from Hermione de Paula. The print was Ladybirds, but the colours were not what you expected. There were flashes of green, but mostly metallic beiges and dim golds. This is what stood out to me. (For a little look, the outfit is in the same picture as the Jasper Conran double denim above.)
Dolls House:
We all know pastel and ice cream shades are a staple for spring/summer arrangements, but this set included a few Mad Men inspired looks as well as modern twists.
A lovely pink rose strapless dress from Topshop was teamed with a shocking pink rose headband from Victoria Grant and some fuschia shoes from Irregular Choice. I just loved this look for it's great use of different shades of bright pinks whilst not being too 'out there'.

Pink Arrangement for Dolls House

The closing look consisted of a dress, blouse and knee-boots all from Meadham Kirchhoff. It was crazy but so cool. The shape of the dress reminded me of Mad Men- how you ask? The shape is clearly padded/structured in some way, and in the 50s, dresses were made with padding to give women an hourglass figure. Okay so this is over exaggerated but I'm still loving it.

Meadham Kirchhoff

Also, Vodafone customers got a free limited edition Nails Inc. nail polish in 'Vodafone Red.' This excited me greatly.

 So that's that! There were so many amazing and wearable looks but I'd be here all night if I went through each one. I hope you enjoy them, Sorry for the poor pictures- that's what I get for using my iPhone!

Valentino: Master of Couture

So we all know this exhibition has been around for a couple of months now, gracing Somerset House with it's high fashion, but I only got the chance to visit it last week.
Accompanied by my mum, I booked tickets to the Valentino exhibition.
I won't lie, I wasn't too bothered about going. Anyone who knows me knows my obsession with fashion, especially with designer and high end couture, but Valentino has never been a favourite designer of mine so I wasn't too fussed.
Anyway, after a lovely lunch at Strada next to Covent Garden, my mum and I wandered down to Somerset House. After winding our way through the LFW crowds, we found our way to the exhibition entrance.
I picked up a little guide, which was classically set out, and we went in. The first bit is of the correspondence between Valentino and various other fashion big names and members of celebrity society, including royalty. I particularly loved the Christmas card from Prince Charles, with a very over-posed photograph of him with Wills and Harry.
Reading the map of Valentino's life showed his dedication to fashion. I had no idea of the places he had worked and designed for.
One of the highlights of this exhibition for me was the various fashion illustrations that were on display- I found this particularly thrilling as I am currently teaching myself fashion illustration. The drawings from the late 60s and early 70s were my favourites.
The next part of the exhibition was the cleverly designed catwalk of which viewers walked down to see some of the iconic dresses and outfits of Valentino's designs throughout the years.
They were all insane- in every sense of the word! Some were insanely amazing and truly beautiful, whilst a small handful were insanely scary- really not to my taste!
A particular envy arose in me whilst looking at Jackie O's wedding dress.
Another interesting aspect was the display of some pieces that had been designed in the 50s and 60s, but not actually materialised until the 90s and 2000s. This made me question- how many more unknown fabulous designs are hidden away, maybe never to be seen? Of course not every idea and ensemble is a good one, but there will always be some amazing ideas which the world will never see.
Going back to wedding dresses, there was the display of the dress of Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. What a stunning piece. Pearl and ivory lace, with the work of 25 hand seamstresses over 4 months. A truly exquisite dress that is well worth viewing.
The final part of the exhibition was a small display of some of the infamous Valentino detailing to garments- the tulle rose for example. Each item had it's own video of someone making it- My mum liked this part in particular, as she is a keen sewer and knitter, although I think this level of expertise was a bit beyond her.
Of course, upon exit we had to go through the gift shop. I was very excited to see the tote bags on sale with some lovely prints- the big cat one being my favourite, but alas, I could not purchase said tote with the £350 price tag.
Overall, I was very impressed with the exhibition. It really opened my eyes to Valentino, and I appreciate him and his designs so much more now. My mum also thoroughly enjoyed it, and she is someone who isn't bothered about designers.
I would certainly visit it again before it goes, and if you are thinking of going, I would recommend you get to it!

Pure Threads, Pure Jealous.

I was so excited when I got the email about the launch of the Alberta Ferretti and Emma Watson collaboration.

I've been waiting months for this email, scouring every little clue in the teaser emails they sent out now and then, to see a glimpse of what might be waiting.

I was not disappointed. Although only 5 pieces of clothing, they have endless possibilities, but you'll also need an endless bank balance.

The collection consists of 2 dresses, a skirt, a blouse and a pair of shorts.

All are made from organic cotton, with part of the proceeds going to the People Tree Foundation (for which Emma did 3 clothing collections).

The colours are all neutral, so these pieces are a sure investment.

My personal favourites are the shorts and the black dress. There is some beautiful lace detailing, which adds to the simple, timeless style of these garments.

I really want to get my hands on these!

Get them fast, because as word gets around, I can see these being very popular.

Prices Start from £220.

www.albertaferretti.com

Emma Watson is also the new face of Lancome.