SATURDAY WISHLIST

T H E  B L A C K  B A G

I am in desperate need of a small day bag, just something neat and simple to use everyday as I've fallen into the habit of living out of my handbag, I take the same satchel everywhere, no matter where I'm going, from university or just popping to Tesco's this bag of crap has to come with me, even if all I need is my purse and keys the whole bag still has to come because I can't bare to empty bits out of it just incase I forget to put them back in or it's something I'll think I'll need another time. I'm also the sort of girl that could never leave the house without a bag, I don't know why but I've always said never trust a woman who doesn't carry a handbag. So to solve all this I just really want a nice practical sized bag to fit just the daily necessities, I'm pretty sure this will also do my posture the world of good as my shoulder's going to have a permanent dent in it soon if I don't stop lugging around so much pointless weight. I'm currently between this Topshop studded bag or the boohoo bag, I can't decide? I want something that doesn't look too much like an evening clutch, Celine and Commes des Garcon  both do a perfect simple small black bag that I've been using as reference but I unfortunately don't have the budget to match my taste so this is my selection of high street alternatives, I think I'll probably go for the one from Boohoo, I've never ordered anything from there but it's exactly what I'm after for £18, but then the topshop one does look so much nicer , help me!. 

1. Topshop Studded Clutch 2. Forever 21 Metal Trim Bag 3. Topshop Duffle Bag 4. Topshop Cross body Clutch  5. COS  Leather Bag 6. Boohoo Metal Trim Satchel
(Linked to Website)

NEW IN

Kiehls Dark Spot Remover £36 (linked)

I've been saying how bad my skin is recently and I know once the graze is healed the scar is going to be HUGE, it pretty much covers my entire chin which I can't even bare to think how hideous it's going to look. I've battled with acne scars (never on this scale mind you) before and I've tried every product out there, benzoyl peroxide, bio oil, silicon gel, clarins dark spot remover, absolutely everything and I haven't found anything that has worked sufficiently, it's so frustrating how much money I've spent trying as well, especially with products as expensive as Clarins! £40 a bottle and I honestly didn't see a glimmer of improvement. So someone recommended me Kiehls dark spot remover as it was originally made for asian women as they're skin is vulnerable to the worse scaring, so if it works for them then hopefully it's going to work for me, has anyone else tried this product before? I haven't found many reviews on it but from what i've read it's sounding promising, I can't wait for the graze to heal just so I can start using this and hopefully look normal again.

Also the one thing the sales are good for, Underwear ! I picked up these lovely bits in the Topshop sale, there aren't many people with smaller chests than me so there's usually a lot of the nicer bits left in small sizes.

I also bought this in the H&M sale !, I bought it another colour ages ago and loved it so I thought why not get it in another colour, it's so rare I find a bikini I like/I'm comfortable in so I might as well double up.

BLITZ

Top: COS  Dungarees: Blitz Vintage  Old Converse

I'm sorry it's such a boring outfit but my face is still horrendous so if I'm getting dressed and leaving the house it's only to pop to the shops for pepsi and sweets to cheer myself up. It's really irritating me how it looks like I need to pull my top down in the second photograph but this was the best of the bunch as all the others where out of focus for some reason, stupid camera. Also the fact I am wearing trainers must be overwhelming for my feet right now as I usually "don't do" flat shoes. The top is yet another little purchase from COS, I'm such a sucker for a Breton stripe tee and this just feels like silk and fits like a dream, evidently I'm still not shopping anywhere else haha. 

B L I T Z  V I N T A G E

I thought I'd also make this a little post about Blitz Vintage, a picture of me in these dungarees sort of did the rounds on Tumblr and I got a ton of ask's on where I got them from, I know ALL vintage shops sell dungarees now days but i've always found them to be huge in size and not just for dungarees but vintage clothes in general, Blitz is probably my favourite vintage store in London. Blitz is "the first vintage department store" just off Brick Lane (it was even in the last episode of Made in Chelsea). Anyway, I always get jealous of other peoples incredible finds from vintage stores but when it comes to me I never find a thing and it's mainly because I just do not have the patience to looks through all the hords of clothes, this is where Blitz is like heaven on earth, all their clothes are separated so if you want a floral shirt, they'll be on a rail of floral shirts, everything is completely organised and conveniently separated, so all the leathers shorts are separated from the leather skirts, even patterns are kept separate making it just so much easier and half as laborious to look through, I know most vintage shops are sort of like this but I think it's just the sheer size and use of space of the shop that makes Blitz far superior, it's all very victorian warehouse like and there's a cute little tea room inside that sell the best biscuits, It stocks guys and girls and the staff have always been super friendly every time I've been too.

MONDAY INSPIRATION : MENS FASHION WEEK

Still homebound I've spent all morning catching up on the live menswear shows on Nowfashion. With a fondness to dressing like a boy and mens fashion in general, fashion week is the ultimate inspiration for s/s13 shape, structure,  refined style and bending of sports wear with fine tailoring. Jil Sander, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Armani and Z Zegna have been the most impressive for me so far. I understand no one gives a crap about mens fashion week but I don't care, this is my monday inspiration and I wish to encourage dressing like a boy for the week (rest of your life).

HIDE ME

Top: Topshop 3D Cami Skirt: New Look Maxi Skirt Belt: Vintage Jacket: Old H&M (Similar Here) Bag: Zara  Shoes: Topshop Sandals

(All linked to item on website)

Finally got round to doing an outfit post ! I haven't taken this top off since I bought it, thankfully I've been out with different groups of friends but I've already worn this twice this week, with this outfit and then to my boyfriends gig with some high waisted black jeans. I hunted high and low for this in a small size and ended up going all the way to the Canary Wharf Topshop to buy it as the website was sold out for ages!, then when I was linking the top to Topshops website this evening, there it is, available in every bloody size, serves me right for being so impatient but I couldn't believe it. I've just thrown on old jacket as the weather has been on off on off all day, it's so annoying I go out in sandals and sunglasses and then next thing I know it's pouring down.

This week has been a heavy week of blogging as I'm pretty much captive in my own home right now, I have a huge acne cyst on my face, I've suffered with bad acne for years now but instead of spots I just one huge cyst that takes over my face and it just comes and go's when it feels like. It's currently the size of £2 coin and I've been locked in my room crying all week, hopefully it's a little more bearable for work this Sunday but I've tried everything on it !, it's more like a graze/broken skin so I've been lathering it in savlon every five minutes, if anyone knows of anything that speeds up the healing process PLEASE PLEASE let me know, I've tried everything and I'm dwelling in depression right now. And it would happen the weekend there's loads going on, feel free to leave any blog URLs that are worth checking out as it looks like it's just going to be me and my laptop all weekend, I've even shunned the boyfriend as I can't bare for him to see me like this. 

SALES

1.Topshop J W Anderson Tshirt £15 2. Topshop Red floral dress £20  3. Topshop heart bralet  4.Embellished top £18 5. Topshop Laptop Sleeve £8 6.Dorothy Perkins Leopard print waist belt £4 7.Topshop Sandals £20
(all linked to item on website)

Usually my wishlists are thing's I'm lusting over but seeing as I sent my COS jacket back this is more of a "what I got in the sales" post, all of this came to the same cost as the jacket so it was a good deal I'd say. But look guys!, everything is colourful! I don't know if I've hit my head on a rock but I've managed to avoid any type of black and white old drab I usually go for, maybe cheap prices make me a little more erratic than usual. Saying that I'm such an O.C.D freak with layout and art direction that the fact the colours of everything do not match on the image is killing me, I'm starting to panic that when shopping online I might actually start to consider what they'll look like as images next to each other, oh god is blogging taking over my life and all my clothes are going to be one matching colour, send help.

1. I only saw the Topshop sale at midday so I wasn't expecting to find any decent buys but it all went downhill after adding this to my basket as I just didn't seem to stop after that,  I  have wanted this top for ages after trying it on a while back and it's still available in S/M! 

2. I'm a little unsure if anything asymmetrical will suit me but the print is lovely and it will be nice to have something with a bit of a colour in it for summer. I'm not too sure if this is "lingerie" or meant as a dress  as it's that silky nightie material but we'll see, I often wear underwear for tops during the day so no one will think anything of it

3. OK I think this is one of those things that I love and everyone else thinks is ridiculously hideous but I think it will be super cute on holiday or somewhere, maybe with dungarees or an A-line skirt?, It does look like it belongs to a 6 year old but I think that's what I like about it, feel free to tell me it's hideous and needs to be returned right away.

4. I had to order this as I couldn't believe it was in the sale with small sizes still available, usually any decent top is marked down because there's only size 16's left, I mean maybe it's just a hideous top and I have terrible taste but whatever, I think this will be gorgeous on evenings when we finally get our summer! and I'm chuffed that I finally found something I like in my size.

5. Such a naughty little pointless buy but this is a bit more stylish than my current pound land laptop sleeve, it's served me well but it has enough food and tea stains on it that I'm due an upgrade so I thought I might as well treat myself if I'm already making an order

6. So this doesn't really match anything else on the wishlist but it's only £4 from Dorothy Perkins and I love it, I posted a photo in one of my earlier posts wearing a leopard print belt which was vintage, that's now falling to pieces so this will be a slightly better quality replacement

7. I left these on from my last wishlist as they have gone in the sale now for half price woo!

SURPRISE

Stylists : Kate Baron

I mentioned that I started this blog as part of a blogging competition within my Fashion Promotion course. Somehow I won and as a little congratulations for winning my tutor sent this lovely Stylist book by Harper's Bazaar bookings editor Kate Baron. We knew there was going to be a prize for the winner but I had no idea what it was, I'm so chuffed as in my last uni evaluation I stated I was tailoring my portfolio towards becoming a stylist, so I thought that was really sweet that it was a personal prize which he ordered and not just any old fashion book. I've had a little flick through this morning and it's going to be great to reference from, Any editorials or campaigns I love, I always find that I know who the photographer behind them but never the stylist, other than the few "celebrity" stylists, they rarely  get any of the attention that the photographers or designers get .

How cute is the little message inside as well!, I've got another little present on the way from a completely separate competition which I can't wait for either, what a wonderful little week. Other than my 100 designers book, a few fashion history books and now this, I don't really own as many fashion related books as I'd like, if anyone knows any good reads or inspirational photography catalogues that they often reference from please let me know. I remember there being hundreds of books I wanted in the Tate Modern shop but I was too poor at the time to buy any.

NEW IDEAS

Jacket : COS Jumper : COS (SALE)

My COS delivery finally arrived, I'm so upset with the jacket, it's everything I was looking for but it feels like it swamps me, damn my weedy frame. The XS would have been perfect ! but unfortunately it's sold out so I'm not 100% decided on whether this is going back just yet, but we'll see. The jumper on the other hand I am super chuffed with, I shouldn't have to be purchasing jumpers in June ! but I haven't taken it off since it came it's just such great quality. I think my new plan is to stop shopping everywhere and save my money just for COS haha it's sad that I'm not even kidding, I've always loved everything in there but I had never seen a single one of their shops, however, now it's as easy as a lunch break visit my bank balance is suffering majorly.

S U N D A Y   I N S P I R A T I O N  

When I started this blog I wanted to keep a "Sunday Inspiration" post going, where I was just making collages based around theme's of what I found inspiring that week, as lame as it sounds I think the idea just gives my blog a bit of substance and its a little something that's fun to put together BUT I clearly didn't take into the fact I work 10-7 every Sunday making it impossible to keep up with , my time management is awful in general and I'm not at the level where I start putting together posts in advance, that's far too laborious and it makes blogging feel like a bloody job with a deadline so I think from now on I'm going to change it to Monday's, for a start I never work Mondays and you know it makes more sense to have something inspiring to start the week with rather then ending on it ! So from now on I'm going to stop slacking and keep this on track, I've gained some wonderful new followers this week so hello and thank you this will start to look better again soon, promise.

I have also been thinking of starting to post instagram photographs for updates as I (somehow) have a over a thousand followers on there so I must be posting something right?! , but if I'm honest I hate the aesthetic of them , I could be a total snob and try and alter them in a way they don't look like typical Instagram photo's, but I'm not sure yet? what do you guys think of phone/instagram photographs on blogs? I think they're a great way of seeing what people are really like and up to in everyday life but it's already a bit done to death on blogs don't you think?

FIRST YEAR

Shirt: COS Jeans: Cheap Monday via Urban Outfitters Bracelet: DIY

I may have treated myself to a COS shirt for successfully passing my first year as a fashion Promotion Student !. Now that I'm home I'm starting to regret the price tag a little but everything in that shop is so beautiful I want it all!, their sale started today as well so trust me to still end up for going for something that wasn't marked down. Sorry my content is a bit all over the place at the moment, It's been a busy week with graduate fashion week and work but I've been quite bad recently with purchases so lots to post about!.

I made this bracelet using hex nuts and rope AGES ago with a d.i.y tutorial from 5 inch and ups blog   (link to tutorial). The rope I used was just what I had in my kitchen drawer on the day, it's such bad quality and is already fraying and falling apart and I've only worn it once, I still love the concept and definitely need to make a new, much improved version. In general I really need some new statement jewellery, I never wear necklaces but I'm starting to think that's because I don't actually have any and with my bank balance at the moment D.I.Y jobs like these are my only hope of gaining any. I've been looking around for some fun necklace ideas , I've already bought some bits to make a plastic transparent necklace (which will probably go tits up) but if anyone knows of any good jewellery tutorials? or a blog that's good for d.i.y in general? send them my way please, I really need to expand my readers list.

GRADUATE FASHION WEEK : UCA ROCHESTER

Just a few snaps from the UCA Rochester Show at Graduate Fashion Week, It was such an impressive show, there was some incredible talent and it was really exciting to go and watch, I particularly loved a collection by student Callum Burman, who has been selected for the GALA show,  I just wish I had entry for all the universities to compare. I was MAJORLY impressed with the selection of models which included James Quaintance and Chris Arundel, I nearly passed out when they casually strolled past while we were queuing to go in (like I said I'm terrible when I see someone remotely famous), we also saw Jamie and Francis, my two favourite boys from Made in Chelsea but unfortunately I couldn't get close enough to get a picture with them as girls where just throwing themselves at them, ah well Jamie's loss I would have made a banging Candy Kitten. Sorry the photos aren't the greatest of quality I had to be sat behind the guy with the biggest head in the room which he managed to get in every single one of my photos, so they're all awkwardly cropped.

SUNDAY INSPIRATION : GRADUATE FASHION WEEK

(Images from Royal College of Art graduate fashion show 2012)

Today is the start of Graduate Fashion Week, I did offer to help with Front of House for my universities show, however, I received a cute little email from my tutor this morning saying as I won the blog competition, here is your invite to the show! so instead of scurrying around I can kick back and enjoy.  This year is graduate fashion weeks 21st anniversary today, meaning 21 years since Christopher Bailey won the award and took his first step into becoming a british designing icon, It feels like I personally remember the event I've read about it so much, then I realise I wasn't even born then. Best of all Daphne Guinness and Mary Katrantzou are part of the judging panel, anyone that knows me will know Daphne Guinness is my idol, If I even catch a glimpse of her i'll probably start crawling on the floor behind her worshipping the ground she walks on, I'll probably even cry I'm such a fan girl when I see famous people. The event starts today and runs till the 13th at Earls Court, I'm really impressed to see one of the top designers to look out for is from Rochester ! so it should be a great show, is anyone else going to any of the shows? 

FILLING UP SPACES WITH BLACK

1.COS cardigan  2. Topshop Dress 3. COS Bra  4. Topshop Leather Vest  5. Zara Clutch  6. Zara Sunglasses  7. Topshop Sandals  8. Zara Necklace
(all linked through to item on website)

God there is so much I want at the moment, I am in love with this Topshop dress, I should really start looking at things that aren't black for summer but the straps and shape across the top look perfect for someone as flat chested as me, it's a shame I'm currently poor as hell. Although I have actually ordered this jacket from COS as I've been after a long, light summer jacket for forever. I can never win at ebay and I haven't seen anything about in the shops, I saw this on the COS website and it looks exactly like what I'm after but the only thing is it was listed as a cardigan, so I'm a bit worried that it's going to be really rigid // too heavy for summer, we'll have to wait and see but I know I'll probably end up sending it back, so if anyone knows of any nice long summer jackets let me know, I'm looking everywhere...... . The bra is also from COS, I'd never really thought to shop their for underwear but oh my god it's fantastic, all of it is so light and delicate and amazing quality, you know the ritual that you have to buy new underwear whenever you go on holiday, well I now know where I'll be heading. I really love the Zara sunglasses and necklace, I don't usually see many accessories in their stores or maybe I'm just not looking properly but their website have some really great bits. 

I'm also selling these shoes and a few other bits on my ebay here!, there's some nice topshop dresses and playsuits and it's all ending this afternoon

DELICATE LIKE YOU AND ME

Left: H&M Right: Topshop Embroidery Shirt

A small post on two new shirts I bought recently,  I am such a sucker for anything with a good collar. I was never keen on all those 'peter pan' collars, far too cute for my liking, I'm usually a tailored shirt or go home sort of girl but anything with a bit of swanky detail like this I adore!.  Like I needed anymore shirts in my wardrobe but they'll be cute for when Summer finally decides to show up. The H&M shirt is also incredibly similar to the collars from Louis Vuitton's SS12 collection,  usually I don't really like anything on the high street that is a blatant rip off from the catwalk but I didn't really buy it with "oh it looks like the louis vutton collar" in mind, I just thought it would be nice to have a shirt that isn't white for a change, It's a really nice light/muted acid yellow in real life. 

TACKY BITCH

Top : H&M 
I couldn't find the top to link on the website but again it's from the H&M trend collection that's in the larger stores. 

So this is the top I was going on about in yesterdays post ! Ah I am still in love with it so much. It is literally nothing like anything I'd usually buy or wear, in fact I don't even think I owned anything pink before this. The rest of my wardrobe is literally 95% white collard shirts and black skirts so it's nice to just take a break from dressing like an orthodox jew, have a bit of fun with clothes and spontaneously buy completely tacky and ridiculous clothes like this! I'll probably only wear it once and then flog it on ebay but still, it's one of those things that I'm just going to love knowing I have in my wardrobe. 

HAPPY JUBILEE YO

There couldn't really be any other sunday inspiration as the Diamond Jubilee is taking over Britain right now. Wether you like it or not there seems to be a Union Jack within a two meter radius at all times, so my mind hasn't had the chance to absorb anything that isn't red white or blue. Now I'm no royalist but you've got to be proud to be British so I'm super disappointed I haven't taken part in any sort of celebration, I must live on the most unpatriotic slab of concrete as I haven't heard of a single street party around! Everyone's uploading all these great pictures of cakes and crowns and tea partys and I've just sat home and worked all weekend, I know the weathers miserable but that's typical England, I should still be throwing up pimms right now. Speaking of throwing up, the other advantage of having a monarchy is that on royal occasions such as these, everyone seems to make awesome food, so my way of celebrating has just been over indulging on scones, watching the football and looking at all the fun not being had by me on instagram. Oh but I did buy the greatest top in the world, ever today so expect an outfit post showing it off from 120 different angles tomorrow.

Still there's two more days of Bank Holiday left and lots left to do..

I want to pop down to Harrods pop up exhibition in celebration of the Jubilee showcasing some of the world’s most beautiful ball gowns as that's running till the 15th June and the V&A exhibition for Britain Creates starts next week I think

(my blog is looking very un-minimal at the moment and I'm not sure how I feel about this)

H&M for Water

L to R :  1.Bikini  2.Sleeveless Shirt  3.Crop Top 4.Shorts 5. Mysterious Missing T-shirt

(All linked through to website )

Bit of a wish list as these are all the bits I had my eye on from the H&M for water Collection. It's all Hawaiian-esque Resort wear with twenty five percent of sales being donated to WaterAid. I tried a few bits on on Thursday when the collection came out and it all looked so lovely but prints just do not suit me :(, I thought I'd found my dream haiwaiian shirt with this sleeveless number but I don't know wether it was just the colour or print's in general on me but it looked horrendous on, no doubt I'm going to see girls everywhere looking great in it making me wish I bought it after all.  Unfortunately they didn't have the first bikini in my size but look how perfect it is, I definitely want to get this for my holiday but I hate ordering from the H&M website as everything always seems to take about 10 weeks to arrive so I'll have to hunt around a few different stores.

The ONE item I did really want was the t-shirt on the right, the picture is taken from the lookbook but I haven't seen it online or in store? Literally every other garmernt is on the website so was this just a bit of false hope or are they planning to extend the collection and bring out a few more pieces later on? but then why would this be the only single thing from the lookbook that isn't in store now ? thanks for taunting me H&M as this is one thing I really really wanted. 

(does anyone know if the top actually exists? someone let me know if they see it in store!)

A B S E N C E

I'm sorry for the absence recently this week has been such a whirlwind for me that Blogging just hasn't been a priority, Can't believe I even missed a Sunday Inspiration, I know I need to keep up if I want this to take off but seriously it's been one of those weeks. First of all it was my final deadline at University, so I had to rush to get all my work done for that (Including a presentation for the blog competition, which I won yey ! ). Then there has been hell with my mum as she found out she was being made redundant, so spirits haven't exactly been high, It's literally just my mum and I so we were looking at moving house, all my income would have to go towards helping my mum and things honestly looked bismal...UNTIL by some sort of miracle my mum got a new job straight away !, last time she was made redundant it lasted 15 months with about 10 failed interviews, so we had been preparing ourselves for that situation all over again but by some sort of holy miracle my mum got a new job straight away, she had an interview the day she was let go at work and got a call in the evening saying she'd got the job, so all in all she was only out of work for ONE SINGLE DAY. I honestly can't believe it , it's like my life has just been totally flipped round and then back around again in the space of a week, i've gone from crying all morning to drinking till I pass out in celebration all evening. So with life now being a little more back on track I can slip back into a blogging routine. I mean I can't believe I won the frickin blog competition I feel like I have to keep it going now...