TATTOOS

Quite a few people asked me to do a post about my tattoos so, as requested, here it is. Firstly I'm really sorry for the awful quality of photographs but you would not believe some of the angles I was in trying to take these pictures, especially for my tattoo on the back of my arm, I'm pretty sure I briefly popped my shoulder out, I was twisting and turning so much. I didn't really know what people meant by "do a post on your tattoo's" so I just thought I'd go through them a little, I haven't actually got that many, maybe for my age or the fact there's not many other tattooed girls in what I do, but then it just seems so common to me where most of my friends are covered head to toe that I'm a total amateur in comparison.  

Top Right:  Traditional Envelope by Lee Knight at Cult Classics. My first colour tattoo, It's both a personal reference "To a Friend" and a cheeky ode to my favourite band Alexisonfire

Top Left: Horseshoe By Sam Ricketts when he was still tattooing at Jayne Doe. A horse shoe has always been my lucky charm, ever since I was little. I inherited a gold horseshoe bracelet from great aunt which I wore everyday, till I lost it, so I got a tattoo instead, can't loose those. Shortly after the tattoo I found the bracelet again, which I find to be pretty lucky eh? . 

Middle Left: Heart by Amy Savage at Jayne Doe,  " Sick Down To My Heart" A nod to my own misery and King Morrissey himself.

Middle Right: Scissors by Amy Savage at Jayne Doe, There is really no meaning other than the fact I wanted a pair of Victorian Scissors.  I mean I'm a fashion student but can not for the life of me make a thing!, I'm awful at sewing and can't even cut in a straight line but because my course is "Fashion", my nan, bless her, thinks I'm this part time seamstress so she's always handing me sewing bits and her "best material cutting scissors" which go to no better use than wrapping ebay parcels but I guess that's why I went for scissors, typical fashion imagery. 

Bottom: Scroll & Roses by Antony Flemming. This one feels like my pride and joy. I had wanted this done since I was 14 and "In Fear and Faith" is something I never like to discuss the meaning of but it's not to do with the band, or the circa survive song. The pain was a completely different story, I like to think I've got quite a high pain tolerance, all my other tattoos where completely fine but this one just killed me, Like the placement is a sore spot itself but I'm quite boney and I think it was just the continuous scratching for the colour that made my head go,  although I did last four hours till I caved in the first session so I didn't do too badly. It was definitely all worth it, it's so beautiful! I sometimes forget it's there, see it, and fall in love with it all over again.

So there you go,  There's always one that says "You're going to regret them when you're older" but I personally don’t understand the correlation between growing older and becoming a different person, I mean i grew up with people who are now 26 odd and they’re no different from when they were teenagers, hell, my mum’s 50 and she still goes to Take That concerts and does all the things she enjoyed when she was my age, so why would I not like my tattoo’s when I’m older?. I've found the only thing that ever makes them an issue is the narrow mindedness of others, but whatever,  stay boring.

MOONRISE KINGDOM

MOONRISE KINGDOM

This week Wes Anderson opened the Cannes Film Festival with his highly anticipated ode to young love, "Moonrise Kingdom". My Sunday inspiration just could not be about anything else! Hell, it might even be next Sundays too as by then I will have actually seen it and I can just gush over how incredible it is all over again because this is THE film I have been waiting a lifetime for.  Set to be one of his more "romantic" works , the film is about a pair of childhood sweethearts who runaway from their home town, exploring the sensation of being young and falling in love. I love Wes so Much and Bill Murray and Bruce and Tilda and every single thing about this film it could be my favourite film already and I haven't even seen it yet.

If you haven't seen any of it yet you can watch the trailer here and the soundtrack is set to be released even sooner on the 22nd May 

Only five days to go !

ASOS EYEWEAR F/W 2012 MOCK

Some photographs I took of my boyfriend as additional work for my portfolio, I've arranged them pretty poorly on here but in high quality and in inDesign they're not too shabby for what was half an hour of pissing about in my bedroom with no lights or any equipment.

All my eBay stuff is ending this morning too so click here if you wanna check that out.

I've had a few requests to do a post about my tattoo's, it wasn't something I was particularly thinking of doing as I find it quite uncomfortable talking about tattoo's,  it can come across pretty self indulgent and iI always feel like I have to try and justify them, like I'm having to convince my Nan they're acceptable or something !. Today my boyfriend has taken my (brand new) camera to Manchester with him for the weekend,  how good of a girlfriend am I trusting him ! but I will do a post on them when it's back home with me on monday.

LIBERTY COMES TO WESTFIELD STRATFORD CITY

I'm pretty excited to hear that on 31st May, the first ever 'satellite' Liberty store is coming to Westfield Stratford City!. Their facebook says the pop up shop is going to be influenced by the iconic Liberty Regent Street store and classic liberty print, So I'm hoping stock will include all their recent collaborations with Brands like Nike and Dr.Martens. To add to the British heritage theme two Queen’s guards, in full regalia will always be outside of the store! and there's going to be a Liberty retro photobooth for their "I love Liberty" Campaign, which all sounds pretty cute. 

I work in the Stratford Westfields centre and then when I'm not working, I have to pass through there to travel to Uni,  so I'm literally in the place 5 days a week. The novelty of Westfields as a new lavish shopping centre has completely worn off and I see the place as more of a hell hole, so I'm always a little bit enthusiastic towards any new stores or events that crop up. 

ASOS

So I was barely conscious receiving my ASOS delivery this morning as it arrived at an alarming quarter to 8! , I appreciate the great service ASOS but jesus christ I hadn't been to bed long. At least it was a kick up the bum to get me up and at it today as my uni deadline is creeping up and I have a ton of work still to do.

The glasses are all for a shoot I'm planning tomorrow as additional work needed for our final portfolio's, I say "planning" I haven't got a clue what I'm doing or a concept to even justify it but I'm aiming to try and shoot a Karen Walker-esque high end eye wear editorial, however, instead of sourcing high end eyewear I've just gone for a shop on ASOS,  putting a load of effort in to this as you can tell. 

I also added a few other purchases to my basket to qualify for free delivery, this is one of the shirts that I'm completely undecided on. I think it's one of those things that I would just like to own but never actually wear, so I'll probably send it back. But what do you think? it does look a bit too like pyjamas doesn't it? Oww I'm so unsure...

FINALLY

Crop Top : Topshop  High Waisted Shorts: American Apparel  Belt: Topshop Necklace  Sheer Shirt: H&M Rings: H&M Hair Band: H&M Gold Cuff: Topshop Sale Necklace: Topshop Sale

Just to let you know I've calmed down from my last post I think I was on a bit of a 90's high. But exciting news! I finally gave in and bought a new camera, I went for a canon 550D in the end and despite sending me deep into my overdraft I've been swooning over it all morning. My Nikon D40 was literally falling to pieces and it was getting so annoying having to rely on uni or friends every time I needed a camera. I particularly needed one for a shoot this friday and after arguing like hell over not being able to borrow one from uni I just stormed to Westfield's in my little huff of rage without really thinking about the expenses side of things and just bought it! but NEVERMIND with two years of my Fashion Promotion course still to go, having my own camera does make a lot of sense. Even taking todays outfit posts was a thousand times quicker and hassle free, seeing as I'm in the middle of a blogging project too it just feels like my life has just been a made hell of a lot easier.

Today the sun is sort of shining so I'm using it as a chance to wear my new American Apparel Shorts!, I literally live in my cord skirt so I went and bought the shorts equivalent for summer!, I am so happy with them and they're the most perfect fit. The high waist is also ideal as it means I'm not flashing anyone my tum when worn with crop tops.

I've also gone on a bit of a gold spree, annoyingly cutting all my hair off means the hair band is now useless but ahwell, I could save it for a giveaway or something, I've even ordered a cute little gold septum ring and tragus bar which I cannot wait to arrive!

THE 90'S !

My friend Amii is having a "Dress up, dance and party party party like it's 1994." party so this weeks inspiration is in celebration of all things 90's !. I don't understand why half of this generation is like 'I wish I grew up in the 60's, I want to go back to the 80's' blah blah blah! you're kidding right?. The 90's where the glory days and a pop culture teen dream!. I mean Clueless is my/almost every girls ultimate 90's film, although it did nothing but set up false expectations of high school and inspire a few poor mans versions of chers outfits but unquestionably that film has influenced every teen girl and a few guys childhood in some way. But clueless was merely a fraction of all the whimsical American teen crap that made the 90's great, there was Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Fresh Prince, Two of a Kind, and of course Saved by the Bell WHICH has been in the papers this week in talks of a reunion (IMAGINE !),  someone also told me the actor who played Zac had died the other night and I nearly cried on the spot, but thankfully that was just a horrible lie.

Back to the 90's and most influential of all, the fashion!. According to my tumblr dashboard atm "90's grunge" is back, although it's not really 90's grunge, it's more acid wash, creepers and pastel hair, 90's grunge was so "anti-fashion" that unless you stop washing your hair and dig out a dirty flannel shirt it's not going to be the same. As for the "chav" end of society you can buy all the Air-max trainers you like, nothing will match the 90's chav dolled in fake burberry and a Von Dutch cap.

It's quite sad really that everyone now just grows up on the Internet, the age kids start googling porn is probably the same age I was rubbing gel aliens in an egg together to try and make a baby whilst attending to my tamagotchi's every need!, now the closest thing is an app of a tamagotchi-ish pet, but what with instagram, twitter and other social networking priorities the thing's bound to die in a day in which you can delete the app and get on with your life,  where as there was no guilt and sadness as great as when your tamagotchi died! I bet kids don't even know the answer to who loves orange soda? anymore, it's a fucking tragedy!.

(As you can tell i've gone mentally insane this evening but I hope I've inspired you all to go and listen to sweet like chocolate and watch spice world ...)
I'm going to make a better photo collage too i promise, its been a long day at work!

COS SPRING SUMMER CAMPAIGN

 View the full campaign here 

I adore COS, I mentioned I was doing a visual merchandising uni project for the brand so I thought I'd do a quick post of their current spring summer campaign for inspiration. The shoe collection is impecable.

TOPSOP WISHLIST

1. Suede Biker Jacket   2. White Oversized Shirt   3. Knitted Crop Top (sale)

4. Leather Satchel   5. Silk Shorts   6. Snakeskin Sandals

(all items from topshop, click through for the item on their website)

I know I know, five minutes ago I was saying I hated Topshop during the summer but this isn't particularly a 'summery' look and I've avoided all their hideous prints and general summer crap.

The jacket has been the number one item on my wish list since I first laid eyes on it, it's ridiculously similar to the Acne jacket which I've been forever lusting over so to have something pretty much identical that doesn't cost a thousand pounds means i have to have it ! the downside is i dont even have £150 to my name but you never know, if I'm ever feeling depressed I tend to go on unruly spending spree's and purchase things I know I cant afford (eg the Ecote shoes from America) so THIS is the jacket i'll always have in the back of mind at the ready.

Also the bag! does anyone have this bag?, it looks like the perfect everyday/university bag but I always find topshop bags to be very deceiving, they look great on the website and then when I see them physically in store they're like half the size I imagined and pretty cheap looking, I know the website says the measurements but you can never tell until its front of you and I usually buy bags on a "will my macbook fit in this"policy only.

The shoes are shamefully similar to the ones I just bought but I reallllly want them, the snakeskin pattern is lovely and how hot would they look with a tan?, I have a holiday coming up so any excuse and there actually appears to be a little bit of sunshine this weekend so hopefully we've seen the back of the rain and cold I really want to get my shorts out soon...

I'm also currently selling a load of bits on ebay ! here ! so please check that out  i'll be adding more over the weekend too 

DOVER STREET MARKET SALE

Today I popped down to the Dover Street Market Sale at Victoria House, it was amazingggg inside, a bit like the American Apparel Sale but for posh people with Alexander Wang and Nina Ricci filling the rails, the main stock was eight years worth of Commes Des Garcon which was all discounted by a stagering 75%! Everything was so beautiful, even down the people, I've never seen such an impeccably dressed and attractive que outside in all my life!. Personally it was a bit of a failed trip as everyone was just stripping off everywhere as there where no dressing rooms, there was only large sizes left on any gems that I did find and I still couldn't really afford anything without breaking the bank.

But I did have my photo taken for a Hong Kong based Fashion magazine, the woman showed me a current copy and it looked great but the title and everything was all in Chinese so god knows what is was called!, She was just talking so fast I sort of just smiled and nodded to everything and before I knew it I was holding all these shopping bags as if I'd gone wild inside, ironically I think I must have been the poorest person in the whole que but it was fun to pretend for a split second.

For anyone interested the Sale is still continuing till Sunday (details here) They update stock throughout the day everyday so it's not first come first serve but I would say head down early for the best bits and to avoid the que ! . Did anyone else pop down ?

O U T F I T : 

Crochet Crop Jumper : Topshop Silk Maxi Dress (Worn Underneath) : Topshop Denim Jacket : Vintage Levi's/ East End thrift store Leather Jacket: H&M Kids Belt & Scarf: Vintage

The first picture is my outfit and the second is more what I actually wore in real life as despite the wince of sun I was still freezing. God knows why I had my photo taken as I actually look like supertramp. The dress also makes me look mildly obese in photographs, and my 16 layers of jackets and jumpers doesn't exactly help but whatever, the camera adds 10 pounds.

Laura Stone for Vogue Netherlands May Issue

She is honestly something else.

Top: H&M Trend Skirt: H&M Belt: Ebay

I finally managed to get my camera to work for a brief half hour this afternoon hooray !.  It's honestly a nightmare, it won't focus, the self timer doesn't work and it keeps making an awful grinding noise, but I've been lacking in posts during the week and I really want to get this blog off the ground so I waked it about until it decided to work. 

Anyway my top is another item from the H&M Trend collection, I think I have a slight hoarding problem in when I like one thing I have to have it all.  Unfortunately in real life this was worn with massive woolly jumper over the top as the weather is RUBBISH at the moment. 

Like I stated in my first post, starting a blog and gaining followers is all part of a University project/competition (although it's something I wanted to do anyway) so I'm really grateful for all the new followers and all the comments, feel free to leave me your thoughts on what I could do to improve on anything and I would give a massive kiss to anyone who promotes my blog on theirs or on twitter or just anything to spread the word...

SUNDAY INSPIRATION

BOTANICAL

(images included: Nick Knight Flora, Zara floral dress print, Natalia Grzybowski’s Hybrid Collection, Sam Hamer Flickr)

Todays inspiration came from Alexander McQueens recent short film "She Builds Domes In Air" by artist Catherine Sullivan. The video was shot in Temperate House in Kew Gardens, the largest surviving Victorian glasshouse in the world. The natural and man-made relationship of the botanical gardens was key in Catherine Sullivans vision for the film fitting the brief of “ a natural environment that was emphatically structured”.

I've also been lusting after this Zara dress for a while, but it's defiantly one of those dresses that you have to see on for yourself no matter how good it looks on someone else. Zara's fast fashion policy really does bug me though , I haven't seen it in a store near me in my size to try on and I feel there's no time to decide wether or not I like the dress enough to order it because before i know it, it's sold out everywhere and the only xs is going for twice the price on eBay. (Although it does currently say 'back soon' on the website? what's going on Zara? I've never seen this before, is this the end of  their infamous 'going, going, gone forever' policy?)

AS OF LATE

1.Under/Current and Garage Magazine 2.H&M Gold rings 3. H&M Floral Top

I can't believe I haven't blogged since last Sunday, I'm clearly rubbishhhh with keeping up to date on blogging, it's a lot harder than you would imagine. My camera is broken at the moment which doesn't help , and outfit posts without a self timer is pretty much impossible. I did schedule a post but that didn't even work , i don't understand why it didn't post, i set a date, time and made sure the time zone was correct, is there something i'm missing or does anyone else have trouble with scheduled posts?.

Anyway I haven't been up to much to much this week to even justify not being able to blog,  I got these gold rings and top from H&M which I am in love with, I fell in love with the jacket originally but I knew the t-shirt would be way more practical.

I've also had all my hair cut off! I'll post a picture when I'm feeling a little more into it maybe but I'm currently still in the crying every time I look in the mirror phase, The cut itself is lovely and it was done at a really great salon (Pimps&Hoes in Brick Lane) but it's just SO short I think it's going to take a while to get used to........