I Want You To Know

Saturdays of Sophistication

2010-03-09T08:21:00.000-05:00

There comes a time when you realise that after two months of being away, familiar weekend drinking/sleeping patterns are emerging, and a kind of wake-up call happens. I feel like time is speeding up and have visions of being back in England with this New York lifestyle as but a mere memory, so I definitely don't want to regret not spending my time wisely. I was aware the Rodarte exhibition at the Cooper-Hewitt gallery had started last month but only just realised it was part of a quick, month-long series of installations and would finish on March 14th. There was to be no more procrastinating; it was time to drag myself out of bed and hotfoot it to the Upper East Side sharpish.

The Cooper Hewitt is located on Museum Mile, a stones throw away from Central Park

Rodarte is the show that I'm always curious to see when fashion week hits. Although they are comfortable in their signature style of material manipulation, each season the story develops and there's always a small detail or new texture that fills you with awe. The exhibition provides a brief look into their design process, highlighting key collections throughout their five year career, situated in an authentic setting reminiscent of their work.

The exhibition was small and these pictures cover two of the three main areas, but quality over quantity was the lesson of the day

Getting these snaps wasn't easy as taking photos is banned throughout the gallery (as you know, I thrive on covert photography) but I just had to capture what my quick sketches could not express, namely the surroundings. I jotted down as many notes as I could; the materials used in combination such as rope, yarn, leather and enough techniques to fill a textiles degree curriculum. It was amazing to see the pieces previously admired on computer screens in reality and to have a glimpse into the numerous ways of construction used by the untrained designers. Freedom and experimentation is the message I took from seeing the sisters' work and I continue to admire the way they find inspiration in the unexpected, such as the building and destruction of homes. If you're in New York at the moment then it's best to hurry as the exhibition finishes this Sunday (March 14th) but don't fret if you're not around, as this video offers a glimpse of the works.

The Design USA exhibition was the focus of the ground floor, showcasing the works of product, landscape and graphic designers and provided some abstract inspiration. Even though the above piece by the Rockwell Group is an idea board for musical set design, don't you think the colours would be perfect for a collection?

A short stroll through the Upper East Side took us back to the Subway; I wonder who lives in a house like this?

Now there's a billboard to get excited by; Liberty for Target is hosting a Bryant Park pop-up shop and I could see myself going crazy in there and buying a teapot purely for the print

The guy who sold us the tickets said we were ten rows from the front...of the mezzanine that is; still the view wasn't too bad

My friends and I were in a spontaneous sort of mood so we decided to queue up and get tickets for West Side Story on Broadway. I didn't really know the plot as I'd only seen bits of the movie and heard songs like America, so it was interesting to see it with no expectations and to purely be entertained by the fabulously talented cast. We've decided to try and see more musicals during our time here, to get the full cultural experience; I'm thinking Wicked should be next...

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All the fun of the Flea

2010-03-06T11:21:00.002-05:00

It's often said that the best time to head to any kind of market or car-boot sale is early in the morning. After all, you want to get to all the good stuff before all the eBay vultures (rich coming from me) and bargain hunters get their hands on it. I hadn't intended to arrive at the Brooklyn Flea around 3.45 (one hour and 15 minutes before closing time), but after a slightly lengthened lie-in and delayed hair appointment, I was still determined to pay it a visit (and to end the shopping ban imposed on myself for the past fortnight).

The Brooklyn Flea is situated at One Hanson Place for the time being, an amazing building that used to be a bank

Vintage reconstructed dresses, shown by one seller

Shoes were often too small for my gargantuan feet, but I may be considering trying out those belonging to the opposite sex...

There were too many vendors to explore in the time I was there (It's spread out over 3 floors, with food in the basement); will definitely be back earlier next time

The 'Flea' as it's affectionately known, is a step up from a car-boot sale, with a mixture of seasoned traders and crafty types selling their wares. Not only was I drawn to the clothing and jewellery, but also to the random antiques and collectibles and I could have easily ended up going home with numerous trinkets. I love the unexpected nature of these places.

Subway maps from the past fascinated me

Vintage bags galore

I miss my dress form back in London...

Hunt for a crazy knit in a box; more shoes that cannot fit....

Ello, ello, ello; I'll put more photos here

The Brooklyn Flea is only at this location until the end of the month, when it moves outside to Fort Greene and DUMBO (wherever that is). I'll let you know if I manage to locate it and how the outdoor market compares; I can almost envision lazy Spring weekends spent there until my visa expires. Have you got any similar places where you live?

My checked shirt I bought for $20, reminds me of my old school kilt, but I like the understated colour contrast. My Williamsburg transformation is complete...

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Bloggers Unite!

2010-03-01T12:41:00.001-05:00

Seriously delayed/elongated post alert! I've always associated conferences with men in suits and dreary locations, so when I saw an e-mail about the Independent Fashion Bloggers Conference during Fashion Week, I was more than excited to put any previous associations to rest. Even though it was scheduled for a Monday, a quick Google search confirmed it would be Presidents Day a.k.a my first NYC Bank Holiday, allowing me a much needed day off work.

The day was split into four parts; I missed the first due to a well-deserved lie-in but I made sure to arrive just in time for the first discussion on the Business of Blogging. I guess it'd be silly for me to say that I hadn't wondered how people seem to blog as a career, so I hoped to gain an insight into the numerous ways of blog monetisation and whether it was right for me.

You will notice that after each panel, I gradually get closer and closer to the front

The panel included Gala Darling, who has turned her blog into a lucrative business by selling content (but also working freelance) and some representatives (and also bloggers) for Bluefly and Attention. A main feature was how to deal with PRs, as I'm sure I'm not alone in receiving numerous e-mails of varying significance and suitability, yet not knowing the appropriate way to respond. if at all. Most blogs seem to start off in an ad-hoc manner (I know I did) so retaining some kind of professionalism when dealing with such companies is a must in order to present yourself in the best light. I guess I hadn't really thought about the PR relationships I was building, but considering that I do eventually want a career in fashion, I feel that they could be very useful to have. The whole monetisation issue is a tricky one and it was suggested that bloggers should create 'media kits' to show to potential advertisers, detailing the statistics and demographics (and even psychographics) of their sites. I don't feel as if I'm one of those super-organised bloggers who are that attractive to advertisers, but I'm happy to just wait and see whether anything relevant will ever come my way.

I managed to corner Wendy Brandes before she moderated the 'Blog Ethics' panel. Her dollar bill dress was particularly suited to the nature of the discussion and the Swear Rings added a cheeky touch. Even though I'm not a typically ring person, I could see them as a good place to start and would love to see a whole swear-y collection with necklaces and brooches. In between discussions, there were light refreshments and even nail artists (unfortunately I didn't manage to sort out my sorry looking talons) and many bloggers mooching around. I guess I was a little bit starstruck. Picture this; you start off reading blogs in England, featuring girls from random states within America on a daily basis. Then you move to New York and suddenly you're all in the same room. All I could think was 'I've seen you on my Google Reader and now you're moving?' A very surreal experience.

Calls to Action were also discussed telling people to comment, follow, subscribe or become a fan (coughs *hint*)

This woman was a legend. Jessica from What I Wore was also on the panel.

I guess the idea of this panel flowed from the precious discussion, about keeping your integrity whilst writing a blog. The main furore seems to be over disclosure; whether gifts that are received affect the coverage within a blog and how it might make the reader feel. Take this example, where bloggers are forced to provide almost immediate reports after a shopping event in order to receive gift cards of varying amounts (another round up is here). It reinstates that nothing ever really comes for free and you have to be careful that what the company expects from you, doesn't affect the content of what you actually end up writing. Magazines are another thing entirely and appear to play by different rules when it comes to advertisers deciding content, but this panel highlighted that honesty and credibility are important when it comes to the personal style genre. Difficulties can arise, as we not only write our blogs, but design the layout and feel, determine content and handle PRs and advertising, whereas a magazine would have separate departments to deal with this. It's definitely important that we demonstrate a healthy kind of balance between staying true to the essence of our blogs and choosing the appropriate opportunities when they come along.

The lovely Jennine of IFB; some amazing footwear was seen that day.

I loved how Susie and Phil immediately started to take photos of the audience

I also loved these boots owned by one of the Fashionista girls; I seem to love a lot of things...find more photos here

The final discussion of the day was 'The Future of Blogging' featuring heavyweights such as Susie Bubble, Tavi and Bryan Boy. Even though the topic was barely discussed, what I saw was a first hand account of how these bloggers have dealt with their supposed 'fame' and the sudden backlash against them. Susie touched on the point that highlighting a certain group goes against the democracy of blogging and to just to let them get on with it, without debating their existence in numerous articles. and fuelling the hype. There's thousands of blogs and enough space for them all, therefore impossible to generalise and lump everyone together and accuse them of various atrocities. Different things are expected from blogs and magazines so there is really no need for either one to feel threatened, and this 'new' form of media should just be accepted as a way of letting 'real' people show their stance on fashion.

There was the chance to have your photo superimposed over the background of your choice...I'd quite like to actually go to Versailles and I'm sure Alyssa would too.

A day filled with blogging speeches inevitably filled me with lots of blogging thoughts and I want to revisit the reason why I started this blog and what I want to create. I don't necessarily want to gain thousands of readers, numerous ads and a freebie wardrobe (actually that sounds rather tempting after seeing the words typed up on screen) but I do want to make this blog the best it can be and a true representation of myself on t'internet. How wonderful/scary would it be to look back after many years, to revisit the various discoveries I was making in my early twenties? There's been a lot of criticism of bloggers recently and I've seen a few being trashed on Twitter for not being 'worthy' enough for fashion week, which I don't think is the most productive thing to do. I think in life you need a certain amount of 'get-up-and-go' to get anywhere, so if that's what gets you into a fashion show, then so be it. There's no point in sitting around and waiting to get invited. Blogging is such a subjective thing and I'm sure that even the 'worst' blog has a handful of loyal readers and rather than focusing on the negative, I think we'd be better off thinking about the positives it can bring; a wider view of fashion, interesting insight into personal style and a whole community of like-minded people. Now we need to work on getting this event to come to London!

To coincide with this sort of epiphany, I have a new e-mail address (kristabel(at)iwantyoutoknow.co.uk, I think/hope it works) to replace the old one. My blogger profile name is still Kb, but if you want to send me an e-mail, and have no idea who to address it to, I hope it's now a little clearer. Thanks for all your comments on the last post and for being so patient; now March is here I hope the weather will get a little better and my motivation to explore the various areas of NYC will continue.

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A little more time...

2010-02-23T02:56:00.001-05:00

Jak and Jil...now I know

I hope everyone is well....things are a bit chaotic at the moment, meaning that blogging time is very limited. I've moved to Brooklyn whilst also working a crazy amount of hours, so please bear with me while I sort myself out and get used to my new surroundings. The past week gave me a lot to consider and I really want to write about the Independent Fashion Bloggers Conference plus some of the numerous debates that have been going on, but I want to do it properly, so there may be even more of a delay.

Thanks for all your comments/visits and I hope to see you again soon!

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Yohji Squared

2010-02-18T00:22:00.000-05:00

Valentine's Day presented me with a different kind of date this year, namely the Y-3 Fall show at the intriguing Park Avenue Armory location. Since Yohji Yamamoto's mainline label filed for bankruptcy not so long ago, I was expecting this division to show a collection to truly represent the brand. The invite arriving a few days before and cryptic tweets about lasers were already fuelling my excitement, so I made sure to arrive there in good time.

The Armory; grand from the outside, edgy and mysterious on the inside

There was a long wait in the standing area and I was worried that I wouldn't be let in even with a ticket (it has been known to happen) but luckily my doubts were unfounded. We were let in moments before the show and I secured a decent spot close to the end of the runway.

Much of the clothing featured outfits I want to wear right now during this everlasting Winter, including intense layers and draped volume, all with a sporty yet chic edge. I honed in on the more muted tones and tailored shapes but also enjoyed seeing the futuristic yet functional styles. The women's collection still managed to remain feminine, yet never veer towards the body-concious styles favoured by other designers, instead sticking to perhaps more practical maxi-lengths and ample shapes. I've chosen a few of my favourite looks...

All the very professional looking images taken from Getty Images for IMG. See more wonders here

I couldn't help but make a video featuring all the random things you don't usually see during a fashion show; each time I thought that everything had come to an end, something new and unexpected would catch my attention. Instead of the typical moment when the designer bows, Yohji had a bit of a (staged yet entertaining) punch-up with a model, before being floored himself by another, perhaps representing his company's struggle during the recession. Despite the troubles faced, the show managed to remain fun and exciting, with the random antics making the audience laugh on more than one occasion, during a usually sober affair. A quick visit to his website tells me that the company has a new backer so hopefully a new mainline collection is on the cards. Until then, I'm extremely happy (and perhaps a little bit in love) with Y-3.

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Bloggers and Blagging at Bryant Park

2010-02-14T21:21:00.075-05:00

You might have guessed from my tweets and various other blogs that New York Fashion Week is back with a vengeance, hosting it's last season at the Bryant Park venue. Due to work commitments (and perhaps a touch self-doubt), I perhaps didn't put as much effort as I could have into securing invites but I was excited to be a part of the general atmosphere and to meet some bloggers at a nearby cafe. I arrived at Les Pain Quotidien promptly at 1.30 and instantly recognised the lovely Deanne from Dream Sequins.

I didn't even realise this was being taken...lovely side view chatting with Princess Poochie

Could this grin get any cheesier? Deanne and I have a photo op.

Check out Rachel's blog for some great photography...I was so envious of her media pass

I also met Rachel, a photography-enthusiast and had a mini-interview with Aneta about the whole bloggers vs editors debate. I hope she can somehow edit out my bemused expressions and rapid eyebrow movements; I'll let you know when the films up.

Afterwards, I somehow made my way into the tents with Rachel and soaked up the general atmosphere inside. New York differs to London Fashion Week in the way that much of the people-watching is done on the inside, with multiple corporate booths and bars to entertain the fashionistas. I recognised a few bloggers and magazine people and even saw Rachel Zoe!

I wasn't sure if I could make it into a show, but I was pleasantly surprised to get a fourth row seat at Twinkle by Wenlan. I didn't know much about the brand before I went in, but was pleasantly surprised to see a focus on chunky knits layered over slim silhouettes and quirky prints. Everything shown was 'pretty' in a not so typical way, referencing the 'dark fairy tale' theme and I could definitely see myself in some of the cocktail dresses.

All images from WWD, as mine just weren't good enough...

Stay tuned for more of my random NYFW posts, including the amazingly random Y-3 show...

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Leggings, Lace and a bit of Comme (OOTW)

2010-02-14T01:25:00.022-05:00

After living here for six weeks, I've become quite accustomed to the New York climate, which includes sunny days, infrequent bouts of rain and freezing temperatures. Basically what I thought was cold back in England seems insignificant and it's hard to imagine that this city could ever be warmer (though I'm sure I'll think the opposite when July comes). Despite the consistently cold weather, I've still managed to get dressed in the morning, layering up with thermals and multiple pairs of tights, yet I'm longing for brighter outfits unmasked by outerwear. I want to wear layers by choice, not out of necessity and I want to feel a happy medium between hot and cold when walking around the city. Has the novelty of Winter dressing worn off for you?

Monday

Two-tone jumper - Comme des Garcons for H&M

Grey thermal top (worn underneath) - Heattech by Uniqlo

Dotty shorts - Topshop

Sheer spot tights layered over plain grey - Ebay and Calzedonia

Brogues - Office

Necklace - This Charming Girl

Bracelet - Freedom

Tuesday

(Wish I had a McQueen scarf to add to this, RIP)

Cardigan - H&M

Blue tank - Emma and Sam via LF Stores

Another grey thermal top (worn underneath) - Heattech by Uniqlo

Leggings - Forever 21

Boots - Doc Martens

Necklaces - Freedom & Marc Jacobs

Bracelet - Freedom

Wednesday

Twas a snow day so got to leave work early! However, it may be time to buy some wellies (aka rainboots) to give my Docs a break...

Velvet Leotard - Forever 21

(Can you tell I've had a bit of a spree?)

Skirt & belt- Vintage via Angels Sale

Necklace - This Charming Girl

Leggings - Conway

Boots - Doc Martens

Bracelet - Freedom

Thursday

Wore this to the Native Son presentation at Chelsea Piers...somehow navigated snow in my new boots

Cardigan - All Saints

Dress - Forever 21

Belt - Vintage via Angels Sale

Tights - Henry Holland layered over Topshop

Shoes - Jeffrey Campbell

(say hello)

Bag - Luella

Saturday

Wore this to the Dream Sequins organised meet-up in Bryant Park, some kind of post to follow shortly

Cardigan - All Saints

Dress (and vest worn underneath) - Topshop

Tights - New Look

Belt - Vintage via Angels Sale

Shoes - Jeffrey Campbell

Necklaces - Forever 21

Saw these shoes at Native Son, I want them as my own. See more pics on Facebook.

Happy Valentines Day to you all! Also Happy Birthday to my little sister who is now 9! Time goes way too quickly and my siblings will soon catch me up...I miss them lots.

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Soho shoe dilemmas

2010-02-10T18:52:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I tried to tell myself, that the shopping would be curbed and I would finally buy myself a tripod (all of those OOTW shots are currently taken by balancing a shoebox on a chair) to enhance my photo-taking. No such luck; I'd arranged to meet fellow blogger Ro in Soho to show her the sights as she's thinking of moving here in the not too distant future. It was nice to show off the city knowledge I've acumulated over the past few weeks, such as tipping random amounts and catching subways in the vague direction you want to go. Of course it is impossible to be in this district for long without spending money and after a nice brunch, we thought we'd pop into the crazy sale at LF stores (which I found out about on Where Did You Get That, a blog that is incidentally making me spend a lot of money due to some of her more easily found purchases). Who knew that two hours later, I would be exasperated over some indecisive shopping moments and many dollars the poorer.

That's right, it was 60% off the entire store!

My dream shoe would have been about 30 quid!

I didn't really have any purchases in mind when I went in, as I was in a relaxed, non-shopaholic kind of state but then I cast my mind back a few weeks to my first visit. I had been admiring the Jeffrey Campbell shoes pictured above and trying to track them down online to idolise but thought nothing more of them, until I saw one of the pair buried in a pile of random shoes. The size said 8, but this unfortunately isn't the UK, so my excitement was temporary and so I set myself the task to find a bigger size.

The lovely Ro quickly found some shoes, and tried to help me find my perfect pair in the chaos

This was also on the same day as the Angels Sale in London, does anyone know how it went?

Eventually, after sifting through the rubble, I had to give up. Size 10s were just not materialising and the smaller size left my feet with little breathing space. I tried to find another pair that I liked, but also had no luck sizewise, until I saw these beauties....

The Alexa wedge by Jeffrey Campbell has been on my wishlist ever since the original and far more expensive Acne version left it. Of course I already have the 99 zip wedge which is a similar shape, but they are not leather and are starting to get a bit scuffed. I was worried about them being ruined totally so this new pair is a great back-up that makes more of a statement and only cost $79! Basically this kind of wedge heel is perfect for me, as my feet never hurt and I can walk around in them night or day, so in my mind they are an investment piece and will hopefully last a long time. I seem to be a Jeffrey Campbell cheerleader at the moment, especially the lace-up/boot variety and could have easily bought the three pairs were they all in my size (though I may have been somewhat homeless). Although Spring seems a long way off, I can't help thinking that my next pair of shoes should be somewhat, prettier? I love to grunge up clothing with a heavy black boot, but I think I need to search for a softer kind of shoe, suitable for the pretty floral dresses I have yet to buy. What's your shoe dilemma?

The face you pull after spending much of your deposit money on shoes! If all goes well, I'm moving to Brooklyn in a few weeks! Also note the Spiderman style tights combo...

Speaking of shopping, does anyone want to buy this jumper? Not all of my vintage purchases go to plan...

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Flowers, tartan and tags galore (OOTW)

2010-02-08T00:43:00.000-05:00

It's hard to know what to wear to work sometimes, especially in a slightly corporate fashion environment, but luckily the dress code isn't too strict and I haven't had to really adjust my style. Even though I'm a lowly intern, I try to express my personality and creativity through what I wear so that hopefully, people can see more of what I'm made of. What do you wear to work?

Monday

(The F21 dress bought here in action)

Dress - Forever 21

Cardigan - H&M

Thermal top (worn underneath) - Heattech by Uniqlo

Belt - Vintage

Necklace - This Charming Girl

Chunky Bracelet - Freedom

(Mostly impractical when working but a lethal weapon if needs be)

Tights - Asos and Topshop

Tuesday

Cardigan, knitted tank and skirt - Topshop

Tartan long sleeve - Beacons closet (seen here)

Leggings - Conway

(A somewhat tacky shop with surprisingly decent basic leggings. It's like Primark's less organised distant cousin)

Boots - Steve Madden

Thursday

Cardigan - H&M

Dress - Forever 21

Tights - Calzedonia

Shoes - Office

Belt - Vintage

Necklace - This Charming Girl

Bracelet - Freedom

Friday

Cardigan - All Saints

(My sale bargain bought in the Bloomingdales concession, somehow the pricing can work out cheaper over here)

Asymmetric Top - Splendid

Panelled Leggings - Topshop

Boots - Steve Madden

Necklaces - Freedom and Marc Jacobs

Bracelet - Freedom

Some bonus photos for all you tights fanatics

I was very happy to recieve a tag and award this week. Firstly, the award comes from The Right Hypoteneuse:

So I tag some bloggers who fill me with sunshine:
Diamond Canopy
Flying Saucer
Fashion Daydreams
Save Our Shoes
We Scream Style
London Rose
Tan Shoes Pink Shoelaces
Fabfrocks
A Daisy Chain Dream

I also got tagged at Madness of Mundanity to reveal seven weird and wonderful facts about myself, so here we go...

1. I eat with my cutlery in the wrong hands, so the fork is in the right and the knife is on the left. Despite being told by my parents to change to the usual way, it just won't happen and never will.

2. I physically can't watch Deal or No Deal as I hate to see people lose after making the wrong decisions.

3. I can eat foods in certain forms, but not others. Take tomatoes, I will eat them sundried, in ketchup or in sauces but will pick them out of salads and sandwiches as I don't really like the texture of the fresh variety. I can eat tuna raw in sushi but never in tinned form.

4. I'm a fast walker and busy places like Oxford Street (or most parts of Manhattan) really annoy me. I think there needs to be a fast and slow lane.

5. When I was younger, before the fashion aspirations, I wanted to be a chef. Can you tell I'm obsessed with food?

6. I also used to love writing stories but never got round to finishing them, despite planning them thoroughly from beginning to end. There was a vampire based tale about a loner named Pandora who went to boarding school, which could have netted me Twilight-style millions if finished (I jest).

7. It's rather fitting, but I think of any number including a 7 as being lucky, purely because I was born on the 17th. There is no logic to this thinking, but I guess I just like the number 7!

Hopefully you're not too freaked out by me that you won't read this blog again; I tag you all!

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Treasured Weekends

2010-02-03T12:24:00.001-05:00

Working all week makes me look forward to my weekends so much more; they go quickly but seem to come around soon enough (in fact each day of the week marks a milestone, especially Wednesday). I'm still trying to wander around the various areas of New York; I guess you could say I'm slightly anxious to see everything as soon as possible but my much calmer friends are helping me to take my time. I haven't quite explained to them why I take so many pictures all the time, but I guess I do it partly for the blog and also whenever I see an interesting assortment of items, that just have to be documented. Here is how I spent last weekend, in photographic form.

We decided to head to the area Park Slope in Brooklyn, mainly to see some new boutiques but also to visit Target (need to know where it is before the Zac Posen collection comes)! I guess Uni living has made me abnormally excited about supermarket visits and they don't come across too often in Manhattan. Aunt Jemima pancake mix is the main thing I ask any American/Jamaican bound visitors to bring back from their travels, so it was very surreal to see shelves full of the stuff!

Enough about food! This second Beacon's Closet branch was too hard to resist and this trip was mildly more successful than the last. After my first visit, I'm now slightly better at going through the circular rails systematically and halting anyone who comes within my path, so I found the yellow jacket/cardigan/blouse hybrid worn here and another tartan top (I'm getting strangely drawn to this pattern all of a sudden) pretty easily. Everything came to just over $20 (so £12 if we use my dodgy conversion skills), though I'm kicking myself for not fitting into the bargainous $8 American Apparel dress.

More vintage loveliness. This shop was hilariously crowded, but then again I love a bit of chaos and couldn't stop snapping away. There was a lot of interesting stuff here, including some lovely boots, but nothing caught my eye at the time. It's moving to bigger premises soon so will have to come back.

This shop also intrigued me, though I didn't go inside. Till next time.

A lazy Sunday saw me heading to Forever 21 with a very specific dress in mind, seen on this blog. In fact as soon as I saw it, I became obsessed with finding it and charged around the shop like a crazy person before I saw it on this mannequin and was filled with hope. Enthused, I asked an assistant where it was and went on a bit of a wild goose chase trying to find it, before being told that it 'belonged to corporate and wasn't available for sale.' I wasn't particularly amused but was soon persuaded by some other options.

I'm 99% sure you'll probably be seeing these on a future 'Outfits of the Week' post

These leggings literally screamed Christopher Kane for Topshop (I may have let out some kind of noise when I saw them) and the dress is a cute floral addition to my NYC wardrobe. I only brought two dresses with me and one playsuit so am feeling the need to stock up in this area, as they're just so easy to wear. Despite getting sidetracked, I haven't given up on locating the yellow dress so watch this space.

Update: Found the dress online last night and promptly placed it in cart, among many other items, though I'm not sure if my order went through, confused much? I can tell I will develop a love/hate relationship with this store.

Not long till the weekend now, who's excited?

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Outfits of The Week?

2010-01-31T19:44:00.003-05:00

In order to make this blog a bit more 'regular' with some kind of weekly planned feature, I have decided to create 'Outfits of the week' or OOTW for short. Basically I will try and take an outfit photo every day, regardless of what state of tiredness I'm currently in and narrow it down to showcase my favourite looks of the week. Narcissistic much? Hopefully this will help to understand a bit more about my style and how I wear all the clothes I'm constantly buying (especially during these freezing temperatures). It'll also help me see how my style is evolving; isn't it weird when you look at older pictures of yourself and wonder 'What was I thinking?' Now I have this blog to understand why.

Tuesday

Cardigan, leggings, skirt - Topshop

Mesh tee - American Apparel

(with a really old vest worn underneath to prevent flashing)

Belt - Vintage via the Angels Sale

(Londoners please visit this for me)

Boots - Steve Madden

Jewellery - Mainly Freedom and Marc Jacobs

Thursday

Cardigan - Mbym via Joy

Lace top - New Look

Vest, Jeans - Topshop

Boots - Steve Madden

Jewellery - as before

Saturday (day)
My Mum finally sent my new glasses, my attempt at geek chic. I'm very short-sighted.

Denim shirt, knitted tank top - Topshop

Thermal long sleeve - Uniqlo

Striped Top - Zara

Necklace - Pema boutique in Brooklyn

Leggings - Charity shop

Socks - New Look

Boots - Steve Madden

Saturday (night)
Worn to the Coyote Ugly bar, haven't actually seen the film; better add it to the list.
Yellow Jacket - Beacons Closet
(yes I went back, will explain all in the next post)

Leotard - Asos

Belt - Vintage

Skirt - H&M

Tights - House of Holland

Boots - Jeffrey Campbell
Jewellery - That much loved Freedom and Marc Jacobs combo

Conclusion: I wear the same boots and jewellery all the time. Funny that, though it makes the cost per wear almost non-existent.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

P.S Finally finished tweaking the blog layout; I suggest this one as a good place to start if you're thinking of a change. It's all just trial and error basically.

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Man Friday

2010-01-29T07:26:00.002-05:00

There's something quite inspiring about menswear; even though it is said to lack the creativity of women's fashion, I love how it is often understated with clean lines ripe for mixing with other garments. Being stuck in a permanent wintery state, I have noted down all the elements of the Fall 2010 (see I'm getting Americanised already) mens shows that need to translate for the opposite sex. I promise I'll post more summery things when the random snowstorms stop.

You know I'm obsessed with finding the perfect coat, may not have had this problem if I were a bloke; l-r Junya Watanabe, Prada, Pringle, Maison Martin Margiela, Paul Smith, Burberry.

There has been a lack of knitwear on this blog recently (I hope you'll be pleased to see the Knit of The Week feature back in the sidebar) so I'm spoiling you all with the techniques I'd love to see more of. l-r; Pringle, Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Iceberg, Burberry, Y-3

This was all the random stuff I liked, print and shape-wise, I feel like I need a whole new kind of blazer. l-r etro, Maison Martin Margiela, Paul Smith, Alexander Mc Queen. All images from GQ.com

Y-3 AW10 preview in Paris, the theme is 'Tradition vs. Future'; can't wait to see more!

Speaking of Y-3, I've managed to secure a standing ticket for the show at New York Fashion Week! I'm so excited, and it should be interesting if the above Paris preview is anything to go by and I can't wait to see what the womenswear is like. I'm also going to try and go to the Independent Fashion Bloggers Evoloving Influence Conference on Feb 15th, as I'm 99% sure I have the day off, so let me know if any of you are planning to go.

I've now been in New York for a month and am looking forward to what February holds, even if the snow does gets crazier; Fashion Month is coming!

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Closet Adventures

2010-01-25T23:33:00.002-05:00

You might be able to tell from the title of this post that I finally managed to go to Beacons Closet, a store to buy and trade every kind of clothing, but not the utter mission it was to get there from my new hairdressers in a far flung area of Brooklyn. My geographical knowledge somehow convinced me that Williamsburg and Flatbush would be near each other (I guess this is like thinking Wimbledon and Romford are close, purely because they are both in London) and after a long walk down Bedford Avenue, I finally arrived all the wearier, yet eager to start shopping. This place is not your typical vintage store, à la Beyond Retro, as the way they select their clothes means there are endless possibilities on the rails. I saw an assortment of recent high-street, vintage and the odd high end piece, meaning the mix is always eclectic. Being a first time visitor, I was eager to get rid of some wardrobe duds, so I left them in the selling area to be assessed while I shopped (you get 55% of the value as a trade and 33% cash) hoping that I could make some cold hard cash from my two items.

Saturday is a pretty frenzied day for the seasoned Beacon's closet shopper. I saw many a pro going through rails systematically, with amazing looking items annoyingly kept in their arms as they browsed. I thought the store was quite crowded, what with all the circular rails and people trying to get past, but eventually I managed to get into the swing of things, seeing many items that had potential and all were pretty reasonably priced.

Some of the items I tried on but didn't have much luck with; I'm still searching for the perfect vintage dress and beaded cardigan

Here's the new hairdo that made me so delayed, American hairdressers have worked wonders with my hair giving it a look once achieved at the Aussie event. It was rather strange asking to have my 'bangs trimmed' instead of saying fringe...

I guess after such a long journey, I wasn't in the right frame of mind for this kind of shopping but I did manage to find this draped tartan waistcoat kind of thing with layering potential, previously from Urban Outfitters (with sale tags still attached). You see, I'd only managed to sell one of my items (I thought my chunky cable jumper would've been right up their street) and there wasn't much point in getting a few dollars cash, so I took the higher amount and my waistcoat worked out as being free. I'm sure I'll be back, as I really like the concept of this place, trading clothes for money/store credit (like a permanent, less hit and miss swishing party) and getting rid of all the eBay hassle but I wish the setting were a bit more user friendly. Perhaps I'll be back on a quieter day and I'll definitely bring a map to avoid any further geographical confusion!

Thanks for all the feedback about the new layout! It's still being worked on, so continued apologies as most pictures are still looking weird but I shall be fixing it in due course. Also, my internship has been quite busy recently, so my blogging and commenting is still a bit sporadic but I'm trying to work out some kind of schedule so I can keep things ticking over. Hope you are all well!

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Work in Progress

2010-01-20T22:38:00.002-05:00

See the background in more detail here, it's all of my favourite things that will change from time to time. Brownie points if you know what they all are!

Apologies but my blog may look a bit funny while I fiddle around with the layout. A new decade means a change is needed and I have decided to make the look of the blog reflect 'me' a bit more, so I'm trying to create the new look (with the help of a few template sites) I envisioned a few weeks ago. Hopefully I can sort it all out in the next few days and the blog will reach a new kind of normality.

Thanks for all your lovely comments and to my 128 followers! Very exciting!

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Things to love about America #1

2010-01-18T21:38:00.000-05:00

I haven't yet shelled out for the matching cheque book...

1. Creative banking

It amazes me that you can get a Hello Kitty debit card! In the UK you would have to pay for any kind of customisation, but here there's a whole book of options including Betty Boop and the 'I heart NY' logo. Sure it has a blurry picture of my face on, but the cuteness of the card makes up for it and it is far nicer to look at when I'm constantly bankrupting myself.

Images from fashionologie, collaged by yours truly

2. Target collaborations

As I totally missed out on the Rodarte collection, I'm giving myself plenty of time to figure out how to get to my nearest store to snap up the Zac Posen bits in April. I love the clashy print of the bow dress and am willing it to somehow suit me, but I have plenty of back-up options like the casual chambray number and trompe l'oeil bodysuit. In case II get lost trying to find a Target, there's always the Rag and Bone diffusion line to covet.

3. Crazy snack packs

I seem to have adopted a weird obsession with these. Trail mix doesn't sound particularly appealing but it's extremely more-ish, a mixture of sweet and spicy. I also love my Reeses pieces, similar to M&M's but with peanut butter inside and was delighted to find a supersized version that you can't get in the U.K. Both packs have severely reduced in size since this photo was taken.

The heart mirror and keychain were impulse buys, it's like a sweet shop

My ten dollar necklace to mix in with various others

4. Cheaper bits and bobs

I queued up for the Marc by Marc Jacobs store on Bleeker Street like a crazy person, and bought a random selection of items in the frenzy. I've wanted the retro USA bag ever since I wandered into the London store after my visa interview but thought I'd best save myself until I could go where it was cheaper, at least I think it was. I'm trying to think in dollars now to stop myself freaking out constantly at seemingly inflated prices but I can't help the odd conversion at times. The mystery* tax added at the till also doesn't help but I've realised that clothing/shoe purchases under $109 are tax free in Manhattan, giving me the excuse to buy more clothes and nothing else.

I love the neat little packets

I also think Uniqlo works out slightly cheaper, though I had to get my tights fix from there regardless of price; I've never seen so many colours! The Soho store is amazing with so much stock and a great buzz (there was a constant queue for the +J collection, so I didn't get a look in), in a futuristic kind of setting. I picked up another HeatTech top, bringing my total to 5 and I'm tempted to buy a parka for this sort of look when the chill starts again.

I didn't really have a picture to go with this point, so I decided to put up another photo I took of an external staircase. I'm getting quite obsessed and inspired by them...

5. Accent adoration

I never thought my South London tones were particularly interesting, but over here I get constant comments about my accent, bringing about random subway conversations and me moaning about the lack of the word 'queue' to anyone who'll listen. I guess in the U.K, we are so used to American accents because of tv and film, that we don't really bat an eyelid but here I guess there's a novelty element. It's quite easy to pick up the intonation at times but I'm confident that I won't be returning with a Peaches Geldof style transatlantic twang and will stay a Londoner at heart.

More photos added to the Facebook page, including my Topshop despair, glorious mussels and some more staircase action.

*I call it mystery tax because I fail to work out 8.75% of anything and am constantly surprised.

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Lazy days across the river

2010-01-15T15:06:00.001-05:00

My US geography has been somewhat lacking at times (I used to think New York was a city in New Jersey, this made some work colleagues laugh) but in the two-and-a-bit weeks I've been here, it's all making a lot more sense. For those of you that may still be confused like I was, Manhattan is basically an island where most of the tv shows and movies are set, with bridges leading towards the outer boroughs. I remember Brooklyn being described as a whole world away in the Sex and the City episode where Miranda moves there, but in reality it was a surprisingly short journey to see a different kind of vibe. I managed to negotiate the seemingly foreign subway route with a friend and before we knew it, we were wandering the quieter streets and seeing a more relaxed pace of life.

Swallowed by a scarf

Another fashion book I want to add to my collection

Is it strange that I'm fascinated by external staircases?

Being the spontaneous yet forgetful people we are, we didn't bring a map, yet somehow headed towards Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg where there were plenty of boutiques and quirky shops to amuse ourselves for a few hours. It's pretty residential here, yet there's everything you need scattered around and gorgeous views of the Manhattan skyline by the riverside.

This shop was like a more reasonably priced APC with a decent sale, stupidly lost the business card I took; will definitely try and go back

Bought this quirky tree necklace in another random boutique

I'm looking forward to another weekend filled with more exploring and of course some shopping; I guess my weeks are forming some kind of pattern now. The weather is also not too bad; in comparison to what I've experienced, the 6-8˚C degree weather we're expecting feels like a heatwave! It's nice to be in positive figures again... I'm loving any suggestions you may have as to where I should go (I'd especially like to know of decent restaurants or bars) so keep them coming! I shall be your virtual tour guide.

Have a great weekend!

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In Search of Soho

2010-01-12T22:24:00.003-05:00

New York is the perfect setting for any movie and we see so much of the city on screen, so it's understandable that we all arrive with our own pre-conceived ideas in mind. I myself felt like I'd been transported into some kind of reality show the minute I landed, after hearing so many American accents, seeing copies of Us Weekly at the newstands and a fleet of yellow taxis. I had an extremely vague idea of the areas of New York, mainly through watching programs like Gossip Girl and reading blogs but it is another thing to truly see and understand them for yourself. I'd been hearing good things about Soho, so made it my mission to visit the area on Saturday; however I may have got a little distracted along the way.

I am in no way any kind of NYC expert, but I get the idea that you can find little gems by altering your route on occasions. I decided to head Downtown via 8th Avenue and managed to resist temptation walking past the numerous shops, until I saw a massive Salvation Army Thrift Store. It was like the Super Size Me of charity shops, rails and rails of items varying in quality, but definitely worth sifting through. The main vintage items I'm after are chunky cardigans, embellished tops and floral dresses, so I kept that in mind while rifling through every rail. There were many things I saw that weren't quite for me (such as baggy jumpers) yet had potential for the right kind of person. The sequinned top would have been perfect were it not for a massive rip in the back.

I bought an oversized floral top to be worn with leggings and a denim shirt or just acid wash skinny jeans. For $2, it has already got me excited for Spring...

Another distraction was a bigger and far superior Forever 21 store by Union Square (no doubt to cater for the many students around). Although hectic, the clothes were far more spaced out and the staff were more abundant to help find items (bizarrely things placed on mannequins were nowhere to be seen near the actual displays). I managed to find a skater dress (something I've been after for ages and was considering breaking the Topshop ban for) for the equivalent of £12, plus a few tops, a skirt and a unicorn necklace. The whole point of my visit was to find some cheap, yet detailed leggings, but I guess this place has The Primark Effect, meaning you end up leaving with something completely different. Not that I'm complaining.

Really wanted to find these tights but they were nowhere to be seen in the store! Disappointed by the lack of a designated hosiery section...

I took many purchases to the fitting room; you have to be very alert as the shop assistants will constantly be checking whether your room is free. If I were slightly half-asleep, who knows what might have happened...

My new stripy skirt ($6), beaded vest ($18) and skater dress ($22)...

Gorgeous edgy top ($20) and cute unicorn necklace ($4). Forever 21 is definitely my new Primark

By the time we'd actually reached Soho (via the very bizarre Hollister store full of dancing girls and semi-naked men) it was getting late and time was limited due to evening plans. However I was amazed at how the relatively unassuming streets could hold boutiques such as Prada, Chanel and Marni. I only had time to go in a few shops, but I took a few pictures of the window display so that you can get a feel of things. I definitely want to come back during the day to see this area properly and window shop a little more.

Really want this shop to have a sale, $300 jumpers with quirky pockets have never been so appealing...

LF Stores sells lots of lovely Jeffrey Campbell shoes, I can feel a collection coming on...

Now that is how you sell a rug

I guess the predicament I'm in is wanting to invest is some better quality, more unique clothes full of quirky design elements but forever being tempted by the cheaper stores. Being a natural cheapskate, I will always love a bargain, so will try and look out for more sample sales and outlets so I can buy something really special. Thrift shopping is also something I want to put a bit more effort into, so I'll definitely be going back to the Salvation Army. Wish me luck.

Added more photos to the Facebook page!

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NYC Essentials

2010-01-07T21:54:00.000-05:00

A new internship means a chronic lack of posts (and increased nocturnal internet shopping) but all I can say is that it's definitely a learning curve. Of course the hours are long and the day can be filled with the tasks internships are made for, but it's best to think about the bigger picture (I was never going to get anywhere by sleeping in till 1pm every day). Exploring New York will be confined to the odd evening and weekends, so until then, I thought I'd share some of my random US purchases, the most exciting being my new camera.

The obligatory camera self portrait, shame you can see all my crap in the background. This also masquerades as an outfit picture; Topshop dress and cardigan, Uniqlo Heatech top (worn underneath) and Asos tights

I'm not much of a camera buff and a DSLR is not yet within reach, but I've been reading good things about the Canon Powershot range and thought it'd be the ideal stepping stone. Camera settings are confusing enough for me, but this beauty seems to just adjust to wherever I am, so I guess I'll muddle through until I can be bothered to dissect the manual. The price was also about £50 cheaper than in the UK, so I'm pleased and determined to look after this one, rather than repeatedly dropping it on the floor like my older model. Expect more outfit posts when I can find a more scenic corner of my room to take photos.

I wore this to work; Joy Mbym Cardigan, Uniqlo Heatech top, Topshop shorts, vintage belt and Calzedonia tights (two pairs, of course)

A transatlantic move hasn't stalled my obsession with receiving things in the post one bit; as soon as I'd memorised my U.S address, I was off ordering bits from various places. I'd seen these Corley boots in the Macy's Steve Madden concession and I was disappointed to see they'd sold out, until I found them online at a significantly cheaper price (thirty-something quid depending on the indecisive rate). They are slightly higher than my favoured ankle style, but I'm getting used to the variation and I'm looking forward to teaming them with my scaled-down leggings collection. The next pair on my boot hit-list? These Aldo bargains. I love sales!

Crazy shop, with obstacles at every corner

Despite not exploring many shops, I've somehow made it to Forever 21. The store is crazy, messy and the frantic pace reminds me of Topshop Oxford Circus but there are plenty of gems instore. I just can't always find them.

You can just about see me wearing this here

I did manage to buy the most impractical jumper in the world, a meshy slouchy style that will obviously have to be layered over something thermal. I found many of the clothes appealing but once I'd tried on, the fit wasn't as expected (especially with the crazy amount of cropped styles). I wasn't always impressed with the fabric quality but the prices are definitely low and I'm sure I'll definitely be going back for random trend items (and some new leggings).

You may know of Eyes Lips Face in the UK, but their orginal site is slightly cheaper and with the addition of a discount code, these bits cost me $14! I'd seen these eyelash applicators featured on Moonbeamstarlight and decided to splash out due to my temperamental skills (no one wants to see an eyelash on your cheek halfway through the night) as she makes it look so easy! The make-up brushes are to aid me in similar beauty blogger style endeavours and to help experiment a little.

The last item is my new phone, please don't laugh. When coming to the US for such a short period of time, there's no point in splashing out as contracts are pretty much pointless. and I'm wary of unlocking phones. I haven't really bonded with this T-Mobile phone and it takes me about half an hour to text, but it does everything it needs to. However, I think any phone this old should really have Snake as a consolation. The Blackberry will have to wait.

Hope you all had a great week, especially if you're in the UK as I understand the snow is pretty relentless. It's not snowing here yet, but it's still cold (what I thought was chilly in England back in December, now seems like ideal Spring weather) and I'm sure that the white stuff is inevitable. Perhaps I'd be better off investing in some wellies?

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A new city, A new decade

2010-01-02T00:06:00.002-05:00

New Years Eve can often be called an overrated night. Most of the time I've found that my plans have gone awry (last year saw me spending the countdown in the cloakroom queue) and yesterday could have also gone down the pan in a spectacular fashion. I'd had a spot of food poisoning and spent much of December 31st asleep, before realising that I was not going to let anything ruin my first (and perhaps only) New Years Eve in New York city. Eventually, I managed to drag myself out of bed and figure out an outfit to wear to an all American bar, to see in the next decade.

I hope for some better and more frequent outfit posts in 2010, getting a new camera and tripod soon! Sure beats balancing my battered Casio on a suitcase...

New Years Eve deserves a glitzier choice of attire, so I decided to finally wear these sequinned leggings sent to me by the lovely Ceri at Blue inc and my new Jeffrey Campbell boots. I also wore various shades of grey, in the form of a New Look lace skirt and basic Topshop vest plus a vintage bag borrowed from my Nan (she hasn't asked for it back yet). The layered necklaces were only £2 each in the Topshop sale and I'll certainly miss finding unidentified sale items when customers come to the till.

The first day of 2010 saw a visit to Central Park, walking through the parts often seen in movies and marvelling at the romanticism of it all. It was great to go somewhere new, as I am still slowly getting used to everything and had previously only been up the road and around the corner. My main shopping haunts so far have been K-Mart, Walgreens and the 99c store to get household bits, which is slightly annoying. After reading numerous blogs and researching so many interesting shops to visit, I want to tackle them all immediately (and probably empty my bank account) but I know I should pace myself as I'm sure I'll find time to fit everything in. I did however manage to make my first ever Forever 21 purchases (the store is crazy) and I've also got my eye on some boots in Steve Madden. A more comprehensive shopping post is inevitable; let me know if there's anywhere you think I should visit and I shall add it to the list.

Let's hope that this new decade is the one where I finally sort my life out! Of course 2009 was an exciting year, what with this blogging hobby getting a little more interesting, so here's a few of my favourite posts from the past year:

Fun and frolics in Paris

London Fashion Week for beginners

Bloggers mingle at the Joy Event

My birthday spent in London town
A legwear obsession begins...
(These posts explain why I'm in New York)

A new year means some developments on this blog, which I am trying to work on in my dwindling free time. A Happy New Year to you all and I hope that 2010 is everything you hope it to be!

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Good Mornin' USA

2009-12-29T10:19:00.001-05:00

If you watch American Dad, then you know how the rest goes; this is the view from my bedroom window

After what seems like an eternity due to much-needed extra security checks and a crazy line for immigration, I have finally reached New York!

Random fact: My immigration officer was called Perez, I refrained from making the obvious jokes.

I arrived on Sunday evening, slightly delirious after a journey spanning around 14 hours and many paranoid moments, yet I soon got stuck into things once I'd reached my accomodation. It's amazing that shops are open 24/7 even on Sundays, so I randomly bought some cotton wool, a massive burger and watched the bizarre Jersey Shore before trying to get some much needed sleep (before waking up at precisely 5am the next day). Today I feel a bit more settled; I've been busy sorting out bank accounts, phones and catching up with Uni mates that are here with me. Being the control freak I am, I like to know where I'm going, but the seemingly simple grid system for the streets are still confusing me. Hopefully today I can explore a bit more and get more of a feel for this city. The above (really smiley) photo was taken in Times Square, a rather busy place with a lot going on. The weather is certainly chilly, but I'm going to experiment with multiple layers of tights and thermals today to see how I get on.

I love this shoe box and will be finding a way to take it back on the plane

Jeffrey Campbell 99 Zip Wedge aka my new BFFs

Anyways, I've saved the best bit until last; meet my new shoes. I've been doing my American research for a very long time (there are bookmarks folders and everything) and once I saw these part Acne, part Emma Cook creations by Jeffrey Campbell on the Revolve clothing site back in November, I knew I had to own them. Luckily a kind friend took delivery of the parcel (which apparently took ages to arrive, but that's another story) and I was united with them yesterday. The size is practically spot on (I now have size US 10 feet, happy days) but I may pop an insole inside for the perfect fit. On first impressions, they feel really comfortable as they have a wedge heel that appears higher than it actually is and I'm having visions of myself walking for miles and miles in them and not feeling any pain. I'll let you know the reality.

Hoping to check out some real life shops today to see what's out there before my placement starts next week. I was probably a bit silly and packed a bit too much (not for two weeks as advised, but perhaps enough for two weeks on Mars) so I'm expecting some excess baggage on the way back. Let's not think about that now; I'm going to get to grips with language barriers (I can't find blu-tack), eat some interesting food and hopefully meet some cool people. I'm going to try and put random, non fashion-bloggy photos on my Facebook page, so make sure you join!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and has a great New Years Eve!

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Wrapping things up...

2009-12-25T13:56:00.001-05:00

There really should have been a picture of presents here, but I forgot and they're all open now. Luckily everyone liked their choices; I got some money as I'm boring like that...

Is it too late to say, Merry Christmas? This time of the year always catches me by surprise, moreso this year due to my impending move. I've been too busy sorting out clothes, currency and various other things to get excited about Christmas, heck I didn't even do a blog wishlist like last year. Trying to get your head around moving away during the craziest time of year is tricky, as everyone's focus is elsewhere. It's rather strange to watch people stressing out about buying the right gift voucher for their offspring while I'm worrying about not seeing family and friends for seven months and being pushed out of the comfort zone of South East London.

Too many shoes?

The streamlined collection includes lace, floral and polka dots. Not sure about whether to bring the Map of France tights, yay or nay?

Of course I had to write about the packing; I typically never travel light wherever I go but this journey must be an exception. I am basically trying to narrow down All The Things I Want To Take, into a more manageable amount, considering that I'll be buying new bits as soon as I touch American soil (I may have started already, but we'll discuss that next week). I guess I'm starting to regret buying so many tights in the past few months, since having to narrow down my vast collection to around 16 pairs is heartbreaking. Despite this, I'm looking forward to moving to NYC as all of the prices I see in dollars on blogs will finally become relevant and be able to put my dodgy American geography to the test. The last time I went, I was 15 and in the grunge/skater phase, so brought little back in the way of decent clothing as my style wasn't yet defined. It was also during a pretty sheltered school trip so I had no idea where I was going or the extent of what there is to see and do, so I'm looking forward to discovering new places and getting to know the city as well as London. I'm also trying out a Topshop ban while I am there, as I resent the higher prices (and lack of staff/uniform discount) so will try and supplement the Topshop loving for Urban Outfitters.

It finally feels real that I'm going...

I'm not really having a blogging break, but I may need a bit of time to sort myself out and get my bearings when I arrive. I'll be twittering bits of my airport journey as I'm flying solo, so hopefully all goes well and by the next time I post, I'll be in New York!

Merry Christmas to you all! Hope you had a great day and ate lots of yummy stuff!

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Cupcakes and Carnaby

2009-12-22T06:26:00.003-05:00

It may seem like every other post on here involves some kind of blogger event, organised by various PR companies with lashings of free hospitality and fun, but sometimes it's nice to take control and organise something yourself. After reading Hannah's post, I was inspired; it'd be great to host an event giving enough notice for far flung bloggers to attend, since we mainly seem to exist in a virtual world. We communicate with each other, understanding each other's fashion thoughts and opinions, yet rarely meet due to geographical constraints. This had to change; we set a date for our scaled down meet-up but unfortunately Hannah wasn't able to make it due to illness, so I was left to represent the organisation team.

Cookies and Cream in cupcake form

Myself Selina and Winnie; photo taken on Winnie's camera

The plan was to meet at the Primrose Bakery during a snowy Wednesday afternoon and I was slightly scared as I hadn't taken any phone numbers and was fearing a long wait in the cold. Luckily I saw the familiar (and friendly) faces of Winnie and Selina and ran in to greet them; due to the extent of our comments and Twitter messages, it was like meeting with old friends. Cupcake in hand, we sat and excitedly discussed life and blogging for over two hours! We mused about how long the trend would continue and how we felt about leaving a permanent mark on the internet for future generations to see. I still have things that I forgot to add but will have to save that for another time...

I wish I lived vaguely near this place, imagine having breakfast here everyday...

Some more photos of the Primrose Bakery, I loved the retro kitchen accessories and of course the array of delicious cupcakes. Very tempted to buy a recipe book to attempt my own creations...

I wanted to take an insane amount of pictures but feared strange looks and perhaps being thrown out by security

After much discussion, our first shop visit would be to Anthropologie and after an interesting walk through Soho, we eventually arrived. I'd heard that the store had the whole lifestyle/concept niche covered and I was fascinated by the attention to detail in the store. The cosy, crafty aesthetic shown in the clothing (lots of embroidery, patchwork and ruffles) is reflected in the surroundings and I was particularly fond of the knitting theme around the store (I think I might have made an excitable sound when I saw the display pictured above). The store was part museum, part adventure and the staircase reminded me of something out of Alice in Wonderland.

The clothes weren't necessarily always my thing, but I loved the literature

Remind me to knit a blanket like this...

The following shopping escapades were unfortunately not documented photographically, but they included some mutual tights admiration in Kingly Court, shoe envy at Irregular Choice and the Steve Madden pop-up shop and confusion (eventually turning to disgust) at the Bolongaro Trevor taxidermy display. Later we met up with Fiona in Carnaby Street to try out the numerous make-up testers in Liberty (a surprisingly fun way to spend an afternoon) and chatted further over a quick snack in Vapiano (you watch them cook your food, it's brilliant). I think one of the conversations may have gone something like this 'I'd love to get a new camera, perhaps a DSLR/DSL/DSi?'

Winnie, Fiona, myself and Selina. I think I look particularly dishevelled in this photo, but hey, that's what the British weather does to you

Five months ago, I hadn't really met any bloggers but now I've met a fair few and I feel like I've made some great new friends. I guess all of the internet discussions provide a starting point for real-life conversation and you rarely feel like you have nothing to say. I'm sure there'll be lots of exciting events happening and more meet ups and I'll be sad to miss out on them, but I'll look forward to reading about whatever happens next. My next aim is to find some New York bloggers to have similar cupcake adventures with, but failing that I'll probably have them by myself. Every day.

The competition winner is Rachel! Well done, some Alphabetights will be making their way to you soon!

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Swishy times

2009-12-18T16:24:00.002-05:00

If you're anything like me, you probably have a lot of clothes you seem to keep (perhaps for sentimental value), but never wear. I can pretty much remember the circumstances in which I acquired most items in my wardrobe, which perhaps makes me less likely to get rid, but eventually you just have to let go. The Tampax Pearl Swishing party held last week at Punk was the perfect oppurtunity to do just that; bring five items to swap and hopefully leave with another five belonging to various other people (outsmarting Mother Nature in the process). After all, surely one man's trash is another man's treasure?

The location of the swishing event, Punk has previously hosted celebs such as Agyness Deyn, Kate Moss and the Gossip. Just setting the scene for you

The room was filled with bloggers, cupcakes, and items such waiting to be 'swished'; everyone had a raffle ticket to exchange for the items of their choice

I'm not sure if I was trying to barter here, or bore some unsuspecting person about the origin of my items. Can you spot Reena and Hannah?

Carrie, Me, Kavita and Hannah do some extreme posing

Upstaged by the drag queen, what a bad day to run out of eyeliner; Nicola goes wild with Amy; We were given badges by the organisers for some shameless self promotion, Carrie débuts hers; Mother Nature with her monthly 'gift' certainly caused an outrage as she was later defaced by marker pens

After the swishing (and fits of jealousy) we were treated to a club night, where a random drag queen worked the room and chatted to everyone about their new purchases. A lot of girly anthems were played, a lot of dancing was done (in a big circle, where occasionally others would randomly sashay into the middle) and I ended up staying slightly longer than planned (partly due to the free bar). So what did I manage to 'swish'? Well, as I'd arrived late and didn't get a proper chance to take a look around before the madness started, I probably missed out on some amazing finds (I saw someone with two faux fur items and the lovely Kavita got a vintage lace blazer). My favourite item I managed to find was this polka dot dress and although it needs some serious alterations, I saw some potential.

Crappy photo I know, but there are such cute bows on the pockets. I would hem this to the hilt.

I guess that swishing can be lumped with the many Extreme Fashion Events, such as the Angels Sale or first day of Jimmy Choo for H&M; you have to adopt a certain mentality to get what you want. The exact same mentality used to get a seat on the tube; niceties just don't cut it here and there's no point in pausing for thought. Swishing is definitely a great idea and I'd love to try and attempt it again when I'm feeling a bit more alert, as depending on the others involved, you can walk away with some great stuff for free. I was also surprised that four of my items I'd brought with me went quite quickly (I was convinced that they'd be the lone dregs left on the rack) so I'm glad I was able to make someone happy with some of my old stuff. I guess this event has inspired me to have more frequent wardrobe clearouts; I now have a 'stuff-I-don't-wear-as-much-as-I-should-but-still-want-to-keep' drawer which is definitely an improvment to an overstuffed wardrobe. Hopefully in a few months I can bear to get rid of more items and control the chaos that is my clothing collection. How are your wardrobes doing?

Just a reminder that I'm moving away next week, so if anyone wants anything from the shop, you'd better place your orders soon!

I will also be drawing the competition winner this weekend! Thanks to everyone who entered; Twitter decided to delete a lot of the hashtags, but as long as you mentioned me, it should be fine. Also, 96 followers! Happy days! Can I make it 100 before 2010...

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Sock it to me

2009-12-15T08:28:00.003-05:00

So the time has come again, for me to embrace yet another trend into my stream of consciousness. A lot of people have been working this trend for aeons now, but I've only just become convinced that knee-high socks are the way forward. I shall hereby present the evidence...

You know where this is from, but I'll tell you anyways, Style Bubble. Still searching for this perfect shade of purple...

Lulu Letty, Luna Supernova, Weardrobe, Satorialist

Stolen from What is Reality Anyway? Loving the 90s stylin.

The first picture of Susie Bubble picture made me first rethink the trend and realise that knee-high socks do not a schoolgirl make. In fact these sultry hold-ups contrast nicely with the barely seen opaque tights and the proportion is very flattering, almost like a knee or thigh high boot illusion (but on the cheap). You all know I have a lot of tights, but instead of buying more I could try and make them look a little different with some crazy footwear over the top, making my previously unseen socks a new feature. This also reeks of practicality due to the plummeting temperatures and perhaps having shoes a little too big for me...

The Clothes Horse clashes neutrals

Not the biggest fan of the pattern, but I like the idea. Found here.

Meet my new brogues from New Look, since my Miss Selfridge ones mysteriously became faulty. I also got some blue glitter tight and teamed them with my Primark knee high socks. You can't go wrong with two pairs for £1.50...

So there you have it, my transition to knee-high socks is now complete and I can't wait to experiment with more colours and patterns (I shall of course be taking more in depth photos than the one above). It remains to be seen whether my thoughts about ankle socks will change, though I'm open to suggestions. You've probably all been wearing them for a while, but what do you think of them? Are there any other trends that took a while to convert you?

Don't forget the House of Holland tights competition, it ends on Thursday at midnight! Fancy pairing some knee-highs with those...

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Bloggers go wild, Aussie style

2009-12-13T11:55:00.003-05:00

Another seriously delayed post, but I just had to share pictures from the final Aussie haircare event. As you know, Aussie has been very generous to us in the past and recently treated us to a night out at the swanky club Mahiki in Mayfair, complete with endless cocktails, tasty dim sum and topless waiters. This was not an ordinary Thursday night.

We got given these handy cases full of Aussie products on arrival, Max Factor make-up and a handy contraption designed to hang your bag off a table. This is not my box pictured; mine is currently a home to all my jewellery!

When you get to my age, you can safely say that you've had friends for over ten years. Saya is one of those friends and I invited her to let her see the world of blogging. We used to have blogs in our early teens, but they were rather different (think girly squabbles) and eventually fizzled out, but I hope she takes it up again. I also invited Reena, who unfortunately had to leave early (alas no photographic evidence) but I'm sure she had a great time.

I attempt to make a cocktail, thus realising I could never work in a bar. Also realised that it looks like I have a giraffe on my head. This is not the case.

These treasure chests cost about 100 quid each! Moet Champers is luxuriously poured over fresh fruit and various other forms of alcohol and is brought to the table with a fanfare of sparklers to get everyone's attention.

Sammy, Hannah, Me, Saya, Yishyene, Rose; I could get used to this...

Tor from Fabrocks was also there, along with Jenny from The Style PA; one treasure chest per table meant we were really spoilt!

This lovely man brought us food

It was also great to meet Hannah from London Rose properly

No proper outfit posts, but here are my new lace tights from Topshop layered over some purple Primarni

I'd like to thank Aussie and the lovely ladies (and some males I believe) at 1000 heads for throwing a great party! The Uncover Aussie project has helped introduce me to a wider world of blogging; I vaguely knew about beauty bloggers but I never realised the impact they seem to be having at the moment. As you know, I rarely feature make-up on this blog as it's not something I wear a lot of (plus I'm slightly scared about things going wrong and looking like a drag queen) but I'm slowly discovering new products and trying new looks partly because of the friendly and honest way they talk about products. I've also enjoyed meeting some new fashion bloggers and I'm sure the meet-ups will continue, in fact, I should have two more blogger-filled posts this week.

For other far more superior quality pics, check out flickr

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