I Want You To Know | UK Fashion & Style Blog

Forward Planning

2012-01-26T11:30:00.000Z

It seems as if my mind is in a constant state of flux, wondering how to incorporate a select few SS12 trends into my already overflowing wardrobe, whilst also coveting the AW12 Pre-Fall collections from afar. I like to think of it as Trend Multitasking, the art of using and taking ideas from the 'wrong' seasons to incorporate into your life now and making do with the resources we have available at the moment. You might have the urge to wear a jumper with a grid like pattern as seen at J.W Anderson and Jonathan Saunders, but end up having to compromise with some other garment alluding to this until the High Street kicks into gear (or a canny sample sale arises). I was prepared for a lot of clothing envy at the AW12 Bread and Butter show in Berlin last week and being drawn to so much that wouldn't be in store for another 6 months and a potentially massive shift in what I might be wanting to wear. I knew what to expect from my visit last July and since then I've gradually incorporated a few of the brands and trends into my wardrobe. Despite the rainy weather, I was determined to come back and get a glimpse of what might influence me later in the year (or ten minutes later that evening).

Once again, I was drawn to the merchandising details almost as much as the clothes, with each brand taking the effort to make a layout that reflected their vision for the season. There were plenty of interactive elements such as a customised luggage tag available at the Fossil area, live knitting demos at the We Are Knitters stand and the chance to get paint-happy on a Mavi t-shirt. I picked up plenty of lookbooks in order to form some sort of physical inspiration board and have posted a heavily edited version of what I've seen, to keep some sort of element of surprise for when these all go into stores.

With regards to clothing and accessories, I was definitely drawn to some of the more exciting colour combinations, especially with the reworked Breton tops seen at Saint James and 90s clashing brights at Motel. I am now a full converted Happy Socks devotee, who have created the perfect mint polka dot pair of tights and a really exciting range for later in the year. I also discovered a bit more about the brand Friis and Company, loving everything from their flatform shoes, to their insect inspired jewellery.

As you can see, my preferred shoe styles of choice are pretty consistent with plenty more chunky heels, flatforms and mannish details to keep me amused. Brands of choice were Carin Wester, Cheap Monday, Dr Martens, Vagabond and surprisingly Bensimon. I'm not quite a trainer devotee yet (those Isabel Marant sneakers have passed me by, I'm sorry) but I'm definitely welcoming the sheer amount of colour choice when it comes to their footwear.

Some silly snaps taken in the photobooth with Susie, perfecting the art of the smize.

I know that AW12 trends might not have crossed your mind yet, but have you seen anything here that catches your eye that you might want to wear now? If you want to have a closer look, I've popped a few more pictures on my Facebook page, so comment on anything you like! I am prepared for a huge influx of brightly patterned socks and flatforms this year!

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Berlinzeit

2012-01-21T12:30:00.000Z

Hello from Berlin! I've decided to compile a more timely post than I'm used to full of a few photos I've taken in the last 48 hours. It's not long since I was last here (6 months to be exact) and it's nice to have a familiar feeling about a city away from home and roughly know where I'm going. I'm out here with Susie and we've had a chilled time so far, with moments including feeling confused by some surreal art by Mark Jenkins, admiring the brands at Bread and Butter and stalking Weekday. On this visit I'm hoping to get more of a sense of the city itself, staying in a typical bargain apartment in a bohemian neighbourhood and getting local recommendations. There's no rush to see everything as I can easily come back and I'm hoping that Berlin can become my default European destination if I ever have a few days spare.

I spotted this amazingly dressed girl in Gestalten; stupidly I didn't ask her name or where any of her clothes were from! She looked effortlessly cool and I loved the proportions of her outfit.

Coat - H&M

Jumper - COS

Tights, shorts, ring - Topshop

Dr Martens - c/o Spartoo shoes

Necklace - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Thanks Susie for the photos!

For someone who thinks about knitwear an awful lot, I don't think I have that many exciting jumpers and cardigans. I suppose that my degree has made me extremely fussy and critical and I'm forever searching for the perfectly knitted item. I remember seeing this jumper on numerous street style websites and I was intrigued when it went on sale, even searching throughout four London stores to see it in person. When I returned home unsuccessful after my mission, I'd found that the style had sold out online and took to checking the site every day for a convenient return. Roughly two weeks later my patience was rewarded and this bright flash of neon was in my bedroom, ready to be worn. The colour is certainly an immediate talking point and ticks off one of my resolutions plus the stitch is amazingly uniform. I hope I can wear it enough to justify the purchase instead of admiring it wistfully in my room. My newest pair of Dr Martens arrived perfectly broken in and haven't caused me any discomfort at all, which is a welcome change from my other pairs. I guess they can be classed as the final part of my burgundy collection!

I'm hopefully going to find some vintage by the kilo today (luckily I didn't pack too many kilos in my suitcase, in comparison to previous trips), so wish me luck!

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New Favourite Things

2012-01-15T21:00:00.000Z

One of my unwritten blogging resolutions this year was to post more often and I know I haven't done too well at that so far. In my defence, daylight hasn't been on my side for photo-taking and I haven't really been doing much apart from getting into the swing of things again at work and stalking sale items online. Hopefully that will change as I'm going to Berlin this week with Susie and trying to keep up my resolve to visit more places in 2012. I thought I'd share a bit of an update into a few new favourite things in my life and the extent of my obsession with a certain colour.

I'm slightly addicted to new stationery and so far I've failed at using any sort of yearly diary, since I'm really bad at keeping them updated once the novelty wears off. This year I hope to change this fact and keep all of the bits I'm doing in this Frankie Diary, which has plenty of space for me to write down what I'm doing each day with beautifully illustrated pages. Although I have somewhat over-zealous reminders on my computer thanks to Entourage, I'm enjoying having everything in handwritten form and I hope to be able to look back on all of the exciting things (holidays, please) that will have happened this year. As part of my Christmas present, my Mum came up trumps with this Christian Lacroix notebook which I'd spied in the V&A shop after seeing one of the Fashion In Motion shows. I haven't started using it yet as I almost don't want to ruin it with just any old note-taking but equally I don't want to leave it in the packaging forever. Hopefully I'll manage to find an appropriate use for it soon, perhaps as a designated exhibition companion?

Hairdryer c/o GHD

You might already know that doing my hair is probably one of my most frustrating pastimes and I really want to push myself to get better at styling it in 2012. I've been investing in better products, watching You Tube videos and crossing my fingers that the rain stays away whenever I'm pleased with the 'do' I've created. I was sent this GHD hairdryer as an early Christmas present and it's certainly made it easier to blowdry my hair due to how light it is. Now if it could only help with my patience....

It seems that there's a 'blog awards' type thing popping up on a regular basis now, which always seems to get Twitter in a frenzy. I know it's hard to recognise the sheer amount of blogs out there and maybe there needs to be a more considered editing process to showcase others that are under the radar. Maybe an award from bloggers to bloggers? Still, I'm pretty chuffed to be longlisted in the Marie-Claire awards (for best fashion blog and tweeter) and Company awards (in five categories, take your pick). Whatever the outcome, I'll be happy to have an excuse to get dressed up and have a mass blogger get-together afterwards in Vapiano like last time, so I'm hoping for a repeat of this when the results are announced. Vote for me or any alternative favourites here and here!

Spotted Shirt - Urban Outfitters

Jeans, Necklace - Topshop

Boots - Cheap Monday

Panther ring - Forever 21

Your eyes aren't deceiving you, yes I'm wearing jeans! I can't believe it's been around two years since I last bought a pair of jeans (I'm not counting corduroy for the purposes of this statement) and can probably put this down to not really needing anything new in the denim department. Years of working at Topshop have brought about a secret shelf full of jeans flared, baggy and skinny, which have mainly been confined to weekends and lazy days when there's no reason to leave the house. I naturally find dresses, skirts and shorts easier to style and I want to challenge myself to make more of my denim and play with different colours and leg lengths. I'm happy with my new jeans so far (despite the fact they seem to be getting bigger with each wear) and I think they've gently eased me into the coloured denim trend. Now to work out which colour to buy next, do you have any recommendations?

Topshop jeans, Whistles Blazer, Topshop skirt & socks, Urban Outfitters shorts, Asos jumper, Vagabond shoes

This is the extent my addiction to burgundy coloured clothing has reached. I have enough items to create a head to toe outfit, which I haven't managed to brave yet. Is there any particular colour you happen to be obsessed with? I'm hoping to make the transition to that pretty shade of mint spotted at the SS12 Jonathan Saunders show but ultimately I want to keep my options open and limit my burgundy purchases this year. Wish me luck!

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The Extra Day

2012-01-09T11:40:00.000Z

Don't you just love substitute Bank Holidays? I was rather lazy over Christmas, using it as a chance to catch up on sleep and graze on the chestnut stuffing, but luckily I did manage to do something productive on my last day off. I hadn't been to an exhibition in a while and I wanted to catch the Postmodernism and Power of Making exhibits before their inevitable end. Despite them both being on since September, I managed to leave it until the last minute as per and faced the crowds of people also looking to make the most of the extra day.

It's obviously a lot harder for me to take my typical amount of sneaky photos with my DSLR, so I did fail on that front. I stupidly forgot to bring a notebook and usually my camera is the next best thing when it comes to recording my perspective of everything, so all I can really recall is the mixture of art, fashion and music displayed to convey the amount of change during this period of time. I'd seen some of the works before in books whilst doing various Uni research, so it was great to see it on a larger scale and in a different context. Once we've worked out what kind of era we're in now, it'll be interesting to see an exhibition in a few decades time, which will probably include blogging, Twitter and age of the content curator. I can't help feeling excited about being fully engaged in what's happening now and it'll be interesting to reflect on the gradual conclusion.

Coat, Fur Collar - H&M

Cardigan - Stefanel

Flecked t-shirt - Topshop

Shorts - Urban Outfitters

Tights - Wolford

Boots - Vagabond c/o Zalando

Necklace - Me and Zena

Ring - Claire's Accessories (a lovely gift from the Bullring)

It was nice to be out of my pjs for once so I took the oppurtunity to wear some of my new bits and pieces (I may have bought a few Christmas presents for myself in December, ooops). This was the first time I'd worn my suede shorts in my beloved burgundy shade since buying them a few weeks before and my first step in committing to the items I end up buying. I seriously think I have a burgundy problem as I will instantly buy an item if it comes in this colour and as much as I love it, I fear it's becoming my new 'safe option.' It seems like ages ago now, but I braved the crowds in the Harrods sale to pick up these new Wolford tights with my Christmas money. Although it was still a lot to spend on tights (and I'm so gutted I've found them here for less) hopefully they will stay intact a lot longer than some of my other pairs. These are next on my list but again I shall be waiting for the sales again to buy them! I've been wearing my new boots from Zalando for a few weeks now and they do the same job as the similar pair I have but with much needed laces. I probably have a lace problem too and need to stop buying shoes purely because they lace up!

One of my undocumented resolutions is to try new restaurants and cafés. I always like to go by personal recommendations and I'm constantly reading Hollow Legs and wanting to try all of the bargainous places she finds in random parts of London. Jazmine had told me about My Old Dutch a while ago and I'd been craving pancakes ever since I'd found this place in Nottingham, so it was great to find somewhere a bit closer to home. This photo probably doesn't quite get across how huge the pancakes were but they'd definitely give most restaurant pizzas a run for their money. Luckily I'm not phased by food and polished mine off in its entirety! How did you spend your extra day?

I also really need to go to the Dazed & Confused exhibition before it finishes, please keep reminding me! Has anyone been yet?

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Some Style Resolutions

2012-01-05T11:36:00.032Z

There's nothing quite like a new year to bring on the need for a change. I myself am prone to making numerous snap decisions throughout the year such as 'I need to buy more skirts' before deciding that trousers are essential a few months later. There's just something about January that makes me want to jump on the resolutions bandwagon and attempt to make minor improvements in my life. Being immersed in the fashion industry and blogging world makes me reflect on my own style a great deal, which can be seen as a double-edged sword. On the one hand I'm reasonably happy with the way I express my personality through the clothes I wear, but I always feel I could push things more as I approach my 25th year. I've had a think about a few things I want to work on style-wise in 2012 (I have various other life resolutions which I'm slightly too scared to write down) and have attempted to jot them down here. It's probably not ideal that most of these resolutions involve spending money that I potentially might not have in a month's time, but hopefully I can learn to make wiser decisions with the cash I do have this year.

Utilise, anticipate (and budget for) sample sales

I've had a few years now of being more 'fashionably aware' in London and have seen a fair few sample sale seasons come and go. It seems that the months between March-June and September-December have the potential to yield multiple brand bargains but I never seem to know what's going on when or have any money to spend. This needs to change. I know the brands I love and wish to own pieces by them in this lifetime, so as soon as these seasons start I need to do a little bit more detective work. Whether it's by stalking prolific tweeters or just hoping for Google miracles, I'm hoping to know a bit more about what's on when and budget accordingly. This resourcefulness could also be adopted for scouting potential eBay bargains (was very jealous after seeing Carrie's tweet about scoring a Lover dress for £15) and hopefully yielding cheaper rewards.

1. Primark top and skirt (a dead ringer for Prada, I know)!

2. Warehouse blouse

3. Topshop skirt

4. Asos dress

Take a few more risks

I guess that the years will start flying by if 2011 is anything to go by and I want to be even braver with what I wear. I tend to stick to very specific prints, colours and fabrics and I know that could quite easily just be seen as my 'style' but I want to try and wear more of the things I have shown appreciation for on Pinterest and Tumblr. I guess since I've started working, I've become a bit more conscious of what other people are wearing and slightly more cautious about expressing myself in a appropriate way. I really admire the combinations seen on these bloggers and would love to channel some of their fearlessness in what I wear. The items above represent the new SS12 trends I'm looking to experiment with but I also need to stop buying more of what I already have (polka dots, I'm looking at you)!

I wish this was my wardrobe, behold the source

Commit to the items I buy

Of course after taking all of these style risks, I actually need to see them through. I guess I'm prone to buying items and saving them for non-existent special occasions. I know that I liked the item when I bought it but when it comes to wearing it, the timing is never right, meaning I have a fair few things I have only worn once or twice (like this bright yellow dress). I am going to try and make a conscious effort to wear some of my more infrequently worn items and cull any regretted purchases.

The Mulberry Harriet tote

Save for something significant

Since I started writing these resolutions, I've started to feel differently about this one. I know it's not essential to have a designer bag and I'm quite happy with my current satchel situation, but it doesn't stop me wanting to buy one. Take from that what you will. I'm hoping to be able to put a small amount of money away each month (perhaps the price of a few accidental online purchases) and buy something unexpected in the sales by the end of the year. I think that the thrill of waiting and saving up for something and not cheating with credit cards or overdrafts is something I need to get into the swing of again.

New make-up brushes to start the year afresh c/o Japonesque

Make more of hair and make-up

I'm slightly ashamed to say that make-up still baffles me at the age of 24, even though I consider myself to be a creative person. I probably experiment with the non-clothing part of my appearance the least simply because they are the things that I'm most afraid of getting wrong. After reading this post, I decided to invest in this book in the hope that I can understand what most of my adopted make-up collection actually does. These new brushes sent to me by Japonesque are a great start and I feel enlightened at the discovery of a foundation brush (I know I'm rather behind the times) and clean hands after application. Please say I'm not alone in my beauty confusion? Luckily nails are a different story...

Go back to New York

This may not be an obvious style resolution, but it's been around a year and a half since I finished my internship in the Big Apple and I'm intrigued to see how it might have changed and what new shops and markets might have appeared. I really enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere in the various districts and observing the differences in style. I'm determined to go back and do all of the things I somehow didn't manage to in six months (such as go up the statue of Liberty) and make a few well-considered purchases that are impossible to get in the UK. I know I should really attempt to travel to the other areas of America that I never got around to visiting, but there's just something about New York that makes me want to see it again in the near future.

Have you made any style-related resolutions for the new year? I must add that I have various other personal and professional aspirations for 2012 but making these seemed a lot more fun! Hopefully you'll see my progress in some of my future posts and it'll be interesting to reflect on this in a year's time.

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The Story of 2011

2011-12-31T16:55:00.001Z

Years are a funny thing. You would think that after 24 of them, I might have an inkling as to what might happen at the start of each new one but all I can remember was that 2011 filled me with fear. It was going to be the most stressful part of my four-year knitwear degree after three relatively tame years after which I would be flung into the big bad world as a graduate. In this economy? Madness! With hindsight I can now see that 2011 was filled with some pretty amazing moments, some expected and others completely out of the blue. As I'd hoped last year, I finally upgraded my camera and hoped to capture as much as possible, so here's the fruits of my labour and how the last year has panned out for me.

After a fun and fruitful festive season spent wandering around the V&A, it was time to knuckle down to some dissertation concentration back in Nottingham and complete around 7,000 words about the personal brands created by bloggers. Major distractions included a trip down to Leicester to visit Next HQ, admiring all of my post-Christmas shopping and a trip back down to London to get inspired whilst taking ridiculous amounts of photobooth pictures at the Vouchercodes party. I somehow managed to keep dressing up, buying books and take a brief trip down to London Fashion Week to admire all of the fantastic personal style and the exhibition. We don't really talk about that extremely random visit to Ohio anymore, but on the plus side I did pick up some Mac products at Stateside prices and gave a lecture on fashion blogging once I returned. In between knitting and debating my preference for spots and stripes, I managed to catch a blogging masterclass in my local Topshop featuring none other than Susie Bubble and Stevie. Despite feeling a new lease of blogging life, it was time to stop procrastinating and sort out where my graduate collection was going (after yet another quick visit down south to see the Yohji Yamamoto exhibition).

During the most difficult quarter of the year, it was hard to stay focused (especially with the temptation of SS11 lookbooks) and I had to spend much of Easter and The Royal Wedding covered in yarn and getting myself organised. Posts may have been thin on the ground but they were all somehow related to the work I was doing, such as when I interviewed Jazmine about her Vogue collection and perused styling ideas spotted on Tumblr. Somehow I still managed a little bit of shopping (and received some lovely sunglasses) but the main highlight of May was finishing all of my outfits in the nick of time and watching them go down the catwalk at our degree show. On real life moving models! There was no one more shocked than me when I found out that I would be seeing my collection again at Graduate Fashion Week (let's all relive that happy time) and I thought I'd show you how all of my ideas came about. I was briefly reunited with London for a few press events, before getting all of my work done and saying goodbye to Nottingham. Finally, five years of higher education was over and I had to figure out what to do next (meeting Colin McDowell in Liverpool along with the Fashion Fringe finalists might have helped me stay in the fashion mindset somewhat).

Finally, I was back in London for good and went to a rather civilised garden party in Covent Garden before escaping to Berlin for Bread and Butter and rummaging in the charity shops. I officially became a graduate, made another trip to the Jacques Townhouse and renewed my obsession with all things Japanese at Hyper Japan. After the depressing riots, I continued to find the good in London by visiting Broadway Market for the first time and getting back to nature in Kew Gardens. I also attempted to see more of the U.K by visiting Somerset with Carrie and Lucy, whilst figuring out the workings of my new camera. Nothing about the various knobs and dials really made sense to me but undeterred, I kept snapping away at some exciting events, spending time bonding with my new satchel and yet again processing everything at London Fashion Week. Personal highlights were the candy colours and seaside references at the Mulberry show, seeing the outcome of the Fashion Fringe judging and the unexpected performance at Meadham Kirchhoff. Could we fast-forward to SS12 already please?

The last three months of the year flew past in quick succession and I started contemplating Christmas earlier than usual at the Anthropologie preview. I had a busy week admiring some Lulu Guinness bags and attempting to find something worthwhile in the American Apparel warehouse sale whilst wondering what to wear in the unseasonably warm October weather. A surprise Cosmopolitan Blog Award nomination saw me get glammed up with my fellow blogging buds and enjoy a few days off in London eating everything from pancakes to ramen noodles. I got to know SS12 even better with a day trip to Paris to see the La Redoute collections (whilst discovering new places to visit) and multiple evenings spent admiring offerings from TBA, Urban Outfitters and Bertie. It was also a month for experiencing fashion first hand after watching the Peter Jensen Fashion In Motion show from the press pit and meeting Mary Katrantzou at the My Daily event. I also put my knitwear skills to good use and designed an Innocent smoothie hat (which my sister now looks after). You probably all know how December went but as a reminder, I met the lovely Dita Von Teese, shared my love of Pinterest, attempted some extremely late Christmas shopping and was featured in a Japanese magazine. Phew!

A few of my favourite 2011 outfits where I increased my love of burgundy/maroon/berry red (and shoes mainly thanks to Spartoo). I'm also making some style resolutions for next year which I will share with you soon!

So there you have it, another round up of another eventful year! If you're new to reading IWYTK it's a pretty comprehensive guide to all the positive things that have happened and all of the shoes I have worn. I must also thank all of the readers and followers of IWYTK who put up with my random ramblings and the insane amount of pictures I put in my posts! Since finishing my degree, I've enjoyed getting back into regular blogging and using the medium as a way of documenting everything creative within my life so hopefully I can just continue to do this and push myself to keep researching and finding inspiration everyday. I know a few things that could make 2012 even better but I don't want to jinx anything, so you'll just have to wait until the next annual round-up to see if my wishes have come true!

Happy New Year everyone! For once I'm staying in and eating Malteasers with the family!

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Featured In - Sweet Magazine

2011-12-26T19:53:00.000Z

1st outfit - Motel Shirt, vintage skirt & bag, American Apparel tights, Vagabond Boots

2nd outfit - Topshop leather jacket, Annie Greenabelle dress, vintage skirt & bag, M&S tights, Swedish Hasbeens

3rd outfit - F&F cardigan, Weekday t-shirt, Vintage Skirt, Calzedonia tights, Office Brogues, Leather Satchel Company Satchel

Now for something a little different this festive season (which was almost like a present in itself), I'm extremely pleased to report my first magazine feature! A few months ago I was contacted by a photographer representing the Japanese magazine Sweet, which I'd heard of through previous Japan Centre and Kinokuniya visits, and was asked to style up one item in three different ways. I chose my bargain €4 skirt bought whilst I was in Berlin since it's in my preferred shade of red and I know it's pretty versatile. The photos were taken during a flying Sunday visit to busy Brick Lane and it was tricky to remain focused (especially when a group of blokes tried to get into one of the shots) and even pretend to speak on the phone! I believe this page is from the December issue and unfortunately I haven't managed to get a copy yet as I missed the issue in store (the lovely Elizabeth Lau managed to tear out the page during her recent visit to Japan) so I'd be grateful if anyone could help with this or a translation!

I hope that everyone has had a fantastic Christmas so far! Luckily my last-minute presents went down well and I've received a bit of money to put towards some of the items from my list plus a few extras. As per usual most things have been ordered online and after the initial moment of excitement, it's now time for me to wait and try not to buy anything else in the meantime!

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Present Procrastination

2011-12-23T10:41:00.003Z

What a different five months makes! It was back in sunny July when I first discovered the shopping gem that is St Martin's Courtyard, located in the quirky yet convenient Covent Garden. It's an area I've mainly been window shopping in for years, but it seems that a lot of the previously underused spaces near to Long Acre have been developed into less typical retail spaces with manageable crowds of people (next on my list is definitely Seven Dials). I was recently invited along with Lucy, Daniela and Jai'me to see how the area could sort out my Christmas shopping predicament within a short space of time.

I always love discovering new places to eat in Central London, especially of the Indian variety. Sure, the usual trek to East London is always worth it but it's nice to find somewhere within the vicinity of work and the usual shopping haunts. We were treated to a festive feast with a difference at Dishoom and I got to try some mysterious dishes I hadn't come across before (Bhel I'm looking at you) as well as my favourite naans and spicy chutneys. The restaurant was a haven for multiple photo opportunities, with genuine family portraits adorning the walls and mimicking the faded elegant surroundings of the original Bombay cafés. I can't wait to come back to try more of the menu; I think the best thing to do is try a few random dishes previously unheard of for some pleasant surprises.

Coat, Versace t-shirt - H&M

Skirt - Topshop

Tote - A.P.C

Boots - Office

Tights - Calzedonia

An impromptu outfit snapped in the Covent Garden Academy of Flowers shop, which I was determined to somehow show despite the lack of daylight. By some twist of fortune, lots of the Versace for H&M stuff ended up going back online a few days after the launch and I managed to get the men's tee version of my palm print skirt. Not sure if I'll ever wear them in combination, but I'm happy to try something other than polka dots on my top half! The A.P.C tote bag was about the only thing I could afford in their Shoreditch store but hopefully I can stretch to this sweatshirt after Christmas.

I can't believe that I don't own a Christmas jumper! Methinks that Lowie could sort that problem out, was very tempted by the blue number pictured above...

The London Community Gospel choir's singing certainly got me feeling Christmassy, I couldn't help but sing along!

I'm very excited to finally be off for the Christmas break (as of 5pm today) and I hope to use my week(ish) off productively by organising my room, gorging on pigs in blankets and getting back into my scarf knitting. I will probably be popping back into Covent Garden when the weight of present-buying is fully off my mind and would definitely recommend visiting the area if you're new to London. Are you ready for Sunday? A day of wrapping awaits me tomorrow!

Merry Christmas everyone!

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Not another Christmas list...

2011-12-18T23:23:00.000Z

So once more, we've reached the chilly yet festive season and my evenings have been filled with a few parties, get-togethers and stressed moments stuck amongst crowds in various London shopping streets. It's only really just dawned on me that Christmas is in less than a week and there's still mostly unknown presents to be bought. It's also typical that I've seen a high proportion of items that are probably more suited to myself and have somehow ended up in my virtual shopping basket (PPQ for Office shoes I'm looking at you) and distracted me from the whole giving aspect. I'm not really the kind of blogger that creates a general gift guide purely because generalisations are rife and I'm rather selfish when it comes to IWYTK, only really wanting to share the bits I'd want for myself. This post will probably represent some of the items I'll buy with any festive funds this year and save up for in early 2012.

Yellow was a key colour on the SS12 catwalks and I want to get in there early and embrace the brighter part of the spectrum with this Topshop jumper.
A Tatty Devine name necklace has been on the cards for a while but this would be the perfect reminder for people to spell my name correctly!
These Asos collar tips are the perfect addition for my shirt collection, though as they're out of stock I need to find a suitable replacement.
I've also spotted these grey shorts from Topshop, which are my preferred full shape.
I'm gutted that I missed the Carine Roitfeld book signing a few months ago in Dover Street Market, but still want a delayed copy.
It's time for me to start investing in jeans again and where better to start than my favourite colour of the moment, berry red.
You can never have too many pairs of ankle boots and the unusual heel shape of this Cheap Monday pair has convinced me to add to my collection.
I love wearing the most random jewellery I can find and this Me and Zena pencil sharpener ring is perfect for provoking discussion.
Not sure if this Zara bag still comes in red but I want it anyway!
This bubble blower necklace has also been on the mental wishlist for some time and will probably make my ten-year-old sister envious.
I'd like to think that owning this Brics jacket will make me exude some sort of Danish cool.
This appears to be the perfect book for cluttered wall inspiration.

I am probably the type of shopper retailers love to hate as I try to buy everything at some sort of discount and only pay full price if the item is special enough (such as my red Zara dress I wore here). The amount of reductions at the moment are slightly overwhelming and it's important to make the right decisions when buying reduced and having a clear aim in mind, which is why I have a folder named 'go in the sale' in my Internet favourites. I don't think the student mentality will ever leave me and I'm looking forward to hopefully stumbling across some of these items in the clearance sales, so wish me luck!

This Fairisle A.P.C jumper would be perfect with a corduroy skirt and creepers.
I would also love to own some Kooples jeans in the perfect shade of green.
I'm still searching for a trench coat and this one might just be perfect.
The fantastic Queen Michelle managed to snag some Burberry shoes in the sale, am hoping I can somehow follow suit with 70% off (if it happens).
Sandro is a recent shopping find of mine and I'm in love with this strikingly patterned jumper.
Another French brand I covert from afar is The Kooples and their ads have taunted me enough - I need an oxblood coloured blazer.
Dahlia has so many pretty dresses on their website but this is my favourite with the much loved polka dot print I always end up buying.
You can't go wrong with a cotton full skirt and I love the minute geometric print on this Sunspel style.
I may have too many brogues but I've been pretty safe when it comes to colour - I really love some of the shades featured here

Which items are you hoping to receive for Christmas or pick up in the sales? I'll probably be double checking prices online come Boxing Day and I'm sure I'll end up with something interesting, even if it isn't the items featured above. Until then, I shall focus on buying the perfect presents for people and will hopefully be finished by Thursday!

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Little Bits

2011-12-12T11:27:00.001Z

Got my nails did at the QVC press day a while ago, need to find this Leighton Denny polish!

Now for a post with a little bit of everything, since I like to flit from one subject to the next on a daily basis. I've had a few photos floating around my laptop that may have got slightly lost in the festive chaos, though I didn't want to forget about them completely. It seems as if someone has pressed fast forward on the past few months and I'm in slight disbelief about Christmas coming up and the impending new year festivities. This week also marked my third year of blogging and I'm always amazed by the way things have developed with this form of expression and the increased attention from mainstream media. This is probably one of my most intense hobbies and the one I've persevered with for the longest (apart from knitting) and has become one of the most fruitful. In true oversharing style, here are a few things I've been wearing, using and reading.

Coat, Fur Collar - H&M

Jumper - Topshop

Dress - c/o Missguided

Tights - Calzedonia

Brogues - Office

Sometimes it takes a bit of time to find the item you want and this coat is one of those examples. I'd been searching for a 'boyfriend' style coat last year to no avail, but luckily H&M came up trumps this year with a style that suited me and cost less then £50. I guess coats are like buses, some years I can struggled to find a decent one and this year three have come along at once! The faux fur collar has been ubiquitous in the blogging and real world and I finally managed to get my hands on one through their temperamental internet site. I love the way it transforms the coat and although it's not as warm as my beloved circle scarf, it's the perfect update for any outerwear I have. The Missguided dress is yet another polka dotted addition to my wardrobe, I think I'm addicted!

T-shirt - A.P.C

Skirt - A Pair and A Spare Shop

Tights - Topshop

Loafers - Vagabond c/o Spartoo Shoes

You might be able to guess that this photo was taken during warmer times, well November. It really is a nightmare taking photos at the moment as I only have a 10 minute window of daylight before I have to catch my train for work, making outfit snaps a daily challenge. I managed to buy the tee I've been coveting for a while (with a cheeky discount to make the price less scary) as I'm a fan of the irreverent slogan and primary colours. I bought the sheer pleated skirt from Geneva's blogshop back in May and it's been on constant rotation ever since.

I'm not normally the luckiest of people, but I somehow managed to win a supersized Glossybox at a recent Motel event. It was one of those 'guess how many in the box' sort of competitions and normally I can be way out though this time I went for my lucky number (17) and managed to bag a crazy amount of products that have been featured in previous boxes. My favourite item is probably the HD Brows kit, not that you can really notice a difference with my overgrown fringe!

The timing was perfect when I went to a Specsavers event a few weeks ago and received a generous voucher in the goody bag, which I put towards some new glasses. It's probably not obvious that I'm extremely short-sighted and have been wearing glasses since the age of 6, with a prescription that always shocks those who think their own eyesight is bad. It's always expensive to get my lenses thinned to slightly more normal proportions, so luckily I didn't have to pay too much towards this Missoni pair and I'm pretty much accustomed to them now. I want to make an effort to wear my glasses more as I know bloggers like Jen and Vicki really embrace eye-catching styles and always look great so hopefully you'll be seeing more of these in 2012.

Remember that market stall I told you about, where I bought all of my arty mags for 75p? No? Thought as much. The bad news is that it's closed down and I've had to go back to buying my magazines full price, which was unfortunately the end of an 8-year era. I'm so used to using blogs as my primary source of magazine-like information, that I'd perhaps been neglecting finding inspiration amongst real life pages. I've always known of Lula magazine and bought my first copy in a while, but thanks to Lucy I've added Frankie magazine to my regular reading list as well. It doesn't matter that the seasons aren't quite right due to it being an Australian title, as most of the articles and snippets remind me of the things I like finding on blogs. The fact that an issue often contains stickers and fold out posters almost reminds me of my teenage magazine reading days, where you'd get a little something extra for your money. I've also bought the 2012 diary ready for a more organised future.

Now I'd better start my Christmas shopping...

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Pinterest Me

2011-12-09T11:23:00.021Z

It seems that there's a new social networking platform popping up every day and it certainly takes something special to make me become obsessed with anything other than the usual Facebook/Twitter/Tumblr triangle. Luckily the virtual pinboard that is Pinterest has come back into my life at a time when everything seems to be quite chaotic and hard to keep up with. I joined a while ago but was never quite sure how to use it and felt a bit overwhelmed having so many things to 'update' in my life. Recently, I've started using the site again to keep the things I like in a clearer layout, like a visual version of my numerous internet favourites. Images can be sorted into various boards and displayed for all to see and 'repin' when necessary.

My Pinterest account

I've found a few of the images I've been 'pinning' recently, with all of the original sources shown underneath. In the few weeks I've spent rediscovering the site, I've found it a useful way of collecting bits and bobs I find on the web and it led me to thinking about the theory behind my graduate collection (the idea of storing items from multiple sources in one place). Although you can't customise the layout, it actually makes the images stand out more as everything just looks so uniform. I've also found it intriguing to see what boards other people choose to create with topics covering not just with fashion, but food and art as well reflecting a greater sense of self. I feel that some things we end up creating on the interest are purely for other people but Pinterest can be something I create for myself, which has no limits or boundaries.

Butterflies by She Loves Mixtapes

Face Hunter, Stylesight, Stylesight

Fairisle designs by Hilary Grant

Charlotte Taylor shirt; Rag and Bone loafers

Have you succumbed to Pinterest yet? I must admit it can be hard to keep track and update everything I've joined online (hello Google+) but I really like the organised nature of the network. Sometimes Tumblr can seem slightly overwhelming with all the closely cropped pictures that have thousands of notes and I'm sure I can end up missing a lot of decent imagery amongst everything. I'm sure I'll keep using both sites to keep track of all of everything I find, but I can't wait until I really start filling my boards with images that relate to each other in some sort of way. I feel as if I want to get back to basics and start making real pinboards again!

I believe the site is still invite only, so add your e-mail address in the comments if you need me to help you out! Also send me links to your accounts if you have them!

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A Timeless Evening

2011-12-05T11:40:00.008Z

Now everyone knows I love a good pop-up, whether it be a shop, exhibition or in this case a speakeasy type bar. There's just something about transforming an unlikely space for a short period of time and the perfect example of this was the Cointreau Privé salon modelled on the glamorous apartment of Dita von Teese. Unfortunately not all of my photos turned out well, but think vintage posters, antique furniture and elegant chandeliers and you'd be halfway there. It was the perfect place to spend an evening amongst fellow bloggers Jen and Sabine (whilst also escaping the relentless British rain)!

The Cointreau Citrus Spice cocktail

Photo credit: Jeff Spicer/Cointreau

Me: Oooh I love your dress, is it vintage?

Dita: No, it's Dolce and Gabbana...

The most important (and much boasted about) part of the evening was a quick cocktail making session with Dita Von Teese herself, plus the obligatory photo. She looked and acted exactly as I would expect and I was mesmerised with her perfect skin and timeless style in a lacy Dolce and Gabbana dress. By contrast I was attempting to look somewhat classic in my much loved COS shorts and scalloped hem top c/o Boohoo, though the presence of Dita diminished any elegance I'd hoped to achieve. Despite being in total awe, she was lovely and chatted to us about her homes in Paris and LA and her love of making cocktails with fresh ingredients (something I never quite got round to during my student days).

If you're around London for the next couple of weeks, it's worth trying to secure an evening at 215 Picadilly to check the atmosphere out for yourself, the attention to detail is incredible!

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Photo Opportunities

2011-12-02T12:29:00.000Z

It seems the press days this season have got bloggers down to a T. Shoes arranged in a pool of water surrounded by flowers? Click. Anything with a collar? Click. Never has my memory card been so full of pretty items that would be perfectly at home in my wardrobe right now. It seems the economic climate (get me being aware of the news) has made brands create clothes and accessories that contain something extra special to make us part with our cash and add something we don't already have. This is my motto for buying anything new for SS12; it needs to be pretty spectacular and develop my style in some sort of way. Somehow I've managed to cut down my overwhelming amount of photos from a few recent press days to share my personal favourites and hint at the direction my style might take next year.

I've become a fairly recent TBA convert after wearing one of their dresses to the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards and I had to see what they had up their sleeve for SS12 at the HPR London press day. The collection is as whimsical as ever and detailed collars are still a main focus; It's not exactly anything unexpected but the girly shapes and controlled embellishment are still as welcome as ever. I also admired some of the slightly bonkers Vivetta pieces, which are apparently big in Japan due to the obvious references to food, weather and animals. Paul and Joe Sister offered a more subtle take with their understated elephant print seen in a few pieces and has confirmed my need for something equally as random in repeat.

Now I can't quite get my head around sandals at the moment, so it's understandable why some of my picks from The Dune Group are slightly more covered up. It seems that I love anything with laces, buckles or a chunky heel all year round and I can't see my tastes changing anytime soon. Extra points are awarded for the garden-inspired setting, making a dreary November day seem a lot more exciting.

One thing I love about press days, is exploring all of the various venues London has to offer. All sorts of places can be hired out and transformed, but luckily the Elms Lesters Painting Rooms retained their colourful charm for the Urban Outfitters press day (and also the awesome lookbook images). As per usual I was drawn to anything with a wedge/flatform type heel but also rather randomly a cut-out dress. They've always seemed rather scary in principle, but the yellow dress appealed me due to the non-gratuitous placement and much loved waisted silhouette.

Melissa Shoes SS12

If you want to continue thinking many months ahead and imagining SS12 as a comfortably mild few months minus rain and any other weather-related extremes, then check out all of the extra photos on my Facebook Page. Which is your favourite item for next season?

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Pretty in Print

2011-11-28T16:15:00.004Z

Sometimes I'm still amazed by some of the e-mails I receive as a blogger and not just those of the spammy kind (one asked whether I was dead or alive and wanted to collect a package worth $2.5 million). When My Daily contacted me asking to confirm my attendance to an event where I would meet Mary Katrantzou and hear her in conversation with editor Libby Banks, I couldn't RSVP fast enough. I've enjoyed witnessing the Katrantzou brand develop over the seasons and seeing how she continues to reinvent her signature multi-faceted prints. It's always interesting to see how designers who come from various other disciplines (Katrantzou studied architecture before turning to textiles) approach fashion and I'm sure that the precision needed (this illustration explains what I think I mean) has helped her to create such strong, engineered designs.

The event was hosted at Kettners in Soho and we were treated to the obligatory cocktails and canapes before we waited for the interview to start. In true social media fashion, there was a hashtag created especially for the event and our tweets would appear on screen literally as soon as they were posted and it was easy to gauge the reactions of the room. Some of my favourite anecdotes I took from the evening was the sheer amount of work that goes into making sure these prints work with certain silhouettes. Instead of shying away from making bigger sizes, more work actually goes into them with the print containing more information and detail than that of a size 6. We also got to give our input as to what we thought Katrantzou's website should contain (at the moment, it's a work in progress) and how best to make it a worthwhile platform for her work. It's great to see a designer embracing Twitter, and Facebook rather than having a team in place to handle it and maintain a distance from her supporters.

Jumper - Topshop

Skirt - Versace for H&M

Tights - Calzedonia

Boots - Office

I decided to embrace a bit of print myself and wore my brand spanking new Versace for H&M skirt. Now I don't often buy designer collaborations and I didn't think I'd end up liking anything from the collection but somehow after seeing Susie in the palm print skirt, the design started to appeal to me. I knew what to expect from her description, but I'm still amazed by the quality (100% silk for £40 ain't half bad) and the gold metal tips at the edge of the pleats add an additional touch not often seen on the high street where it's important to keep costs down. I wasn't able to queue up myself as I was in Paris when the collection came out, but luckily my Mum braved the madness at the new Westfield in Stratford, which I'm very much grateful for. After seeing all the pictures from the event, I was gutted I didn't get a photo with Mary as she was lovely and it could have been a picture to show the grandkids if her rise continues to that of mega-brand-like status.

London Fashion Week SS12 Exhibition (still have so many photos I haven't posted yet)!

Have you found yourself becoming more excited about prints at the moment? I've always loved vintage florals and polka dots but now I feel it's time for something slightly more vivid and photographic (this Zara shirt is a good example) as an update. I'm excited to see the rest of the Topshop collaboration and am hoping for some knitwear pieces, but in the meantime I am crossing everything I can so I can win this dress!

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Discovering Paris

2011-11-26T14:10:00.000Z

It's certainly true that everything seems a lot prettier in Paris. Even though it has all of the familiar components of a city, the streets just seem a lot grander, the street signs more elegant and I found that a photo oppurtunity would arise for even the most mundane of objects. The day wasn't just filled with visiting all the SS12 collections for La Redoute and luckily we managed to have a good wander around the streets nearby before and after. After looking at my photos, I managed to work out that we were in the 3rd arrondissment, home to numerous small art galleries and what seemed to be lots of accessory wholesalers. This probably isn't an area that I'd have enough time to visit on one of those weekender type trips, so I was glad to get a sense of a different area, far from all the typical landmarks and main shopping streets.

Upon arrival, we were whisked to lunch at the intriguingly named restaurant, Derrière. It's hidden away beyond an arch on a tiny side street and leads to an eclectic space, which instantly makes you feel right at home. Each room is very different with some looking more like a traditional place to eat and others looking more like a bedroom (complete with naughty wallpaper and Chanel make-up), so it was tricky to choose where to sit. The non-uniform nature of the place was naturally, right up my street and has given me much inspiration for how I want my future home to be, whenever it happens. There are a few more pictures here featuring a few more rooms I never managed to find, but wish I had to fuel my obsession with taking pictures of collections even further.

Coat - Vila

Cable Jumper - Asos
Denim Shirt - Forever 21

Wool Shorts - COS

Tights - Pretty Polly (goody bag) and Calzedonia

Boots - Vagabond
Jewellery - Marc by Marc Jacobs, Me and Zena, Topshop
Thanks Frances for the pics!

Meet the second of my new Winter coats, the duffel style I've always wanted. It's described by the Guardian as the Peter Pan of coat styles and it's probably true that I don't want to 'grow up' any time soon. The cable jumper is another addition to the knitwear collection and it comes with a furry collar that I haven't managed to brave yet for fear of looking slightly too twee (unsurprisingly, I have my limits) but maybe I'll brave it soon. The shorts are another accidental purchase as a result of blog reading and as soon as I saw them here, I knew I had to have them. They're slightly big on the waist, since Cos seems to adopt vague SML sizing in most cases but I love the fuller shape elsewhere and have worn them enough to get the cost per wear right down. My Vagabond boots are still going strong as I continue to wear them to death, as they've been given the title of being the most comfortable heels I own. I'm very much tempted to get a similar pair as a slight variation, as you can never have too many pairs of lace-up boots.

When it comes to concept stores in Paris, I was previously only aware of Colette and I was slightly disappointed when I realised we wouldn't have enough time for a visit. Luckily another similar type of store was in the area, and we got to spend some time in Merci admiring some of the French labels (hello again A.P.C) and homeware that wouldn't have seemed out of place in the aforementioned restaurant. I was far too indecisive to find a suitable souvenir but I'm slightly regretting not bringing home even a plate to remind me of the wonderful day I had. I think that it has to be one of my favourite cities for window shopping and the fact that I can't afford the clothes is not quite as depressing as it is in London. It still baffles me that you can get on a train for two hours and end up in Paris but now I know how easy it is, I'll definitely be doing it this way again.

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Muses in Motion

2011-11-23T11:13:00.002Z

It's that time of year again! I am always excited when the designers are announced for Fashion in Motion at the V&A, which I would describe as an exhibition in fashion show form. As much as I enjoy looking at a static display, clothing is intended to be styled and worn and sometimes taken out of context. I've always admired the quirky sort of character Peter Jensen designs for, so when I managed to bag a ticket for the 8pm showing, I was extremely excited. The shows feature collections from a mixture of different seasons, though somehow due to the strength of the brand identities involved, all the looks makes sense together. Each collection is based on a certain female muse and somehow Jensen manages to make the unconventional extremely wearable with flattering cuts and unusual detailing such as the print which reminded me of Paul Frank. I somehow legitimately ended up in the photographer's pit (no wrestling for space a la fashion week here) and managed to snap a few decent photos despite worrying about the fly stuck in my camera.

Consider the latest book added to the non-existent Christmas list. I am even more determined to visit the sample sale happening in a few weeks to bagsy one of Jensen's past pieces. I'm not particularly fussy (but am determined to find either the collared jumper or dress above). Who's with me?

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A Parisian Press Trip

2011-11-20T13:24:00.000Z

Another post, another press day you might be thinking? It is becoming a challenge to differentiate these posts from one another, though luckily each brand I've seen has had a different way of presenting things. The perfect example of this was a day in Paris planned by La Redoute. Now this was a day of firsts; it was my first time on the Eurostar (I thought I knew every nook and cranny of St Pancras, until now) and my first blog-related trip abroad. I am very much used to getting the train to Nottingham from this station and after waking up at a ridiculously early time to make the 8.02 service, I still thought I might end up somewhere 'up North.' Fortunately my passport was definitely needed and after roughly two hours I was in the heart of Paris ready to see the new collections in their natural habitat.

Can you believe these Vannessa Bruno shoes are for kids? They have all the fun...

It might have been daunting to learn that the press day would actually be split into five different small galleries but fortunately they were all nearby and the concept of contrasting art with fashion worked extremely well. It wasn't necessarily that the pieces related to the collections, but proved a welcome addition amongst all of the typical product shots and hand-outs. I feel like I know SS12 better than some of my own family at the moment what with watching all of the catwalks religiously and figuring out the main trends from all the press days. However there are always unexpected elements to be seen at every brand and I really liked some of the designer collaborations for next season, allowing us to channel the spirit of Vanessa Bruno and Anthony Vaccarello. The bright colours were again out in full force and I feel that next year is the time to embrace it wholeheartedly and take some risks.

Interiors aren't really my forte (if you saw my room, you'd understand) but I enjoyed looking at all the homeware collections almost as much as the clothes and being transported to a more sophisticated way of living. I love all of the details that make a room unique and the knitted rugs, comfy cushions and random accessories would be in my ideal home (ideally complete with a Parisian postcode).

It was great to spend a fleeting day in Paris, so a massive thanks to Ellie and Patricia at La Redoute for arranging a press day with a difference. I have plenty of photos left over for another post including my outfit, the carbolicious food and the concept store I discovered. Have you been to Paris recently? It was fun to discover a different area, though due to being rather disoriented I couldn't tell you where it was!

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Knitwear Time

2011-11-13T21:54:00.001Z

Sneak peek of the new scarf

As you can imagine, I'm extremely happy about all the knitwear around at the moment. It seems that people have finally caught on that the humble jumper is nothing to be ashamed of and is in fact the must have item that you need in your wardrobe. Although I'm extremely fussy when buying knitwear, I've managed to find a few styles this season that meet my high standards and will look at introducing them to you in the next few outfit posts. I've also finally started to knit a new scarf and I'm branching out of my hand-knitting comfort zone with a new lacy stitch, so expect a tutorial in the next few weeks. Have you bought any nice knitwear recently?

Jumper - H&M
Dress - Battersea Boot Fair
Tights - Calzedonia
Boots - Vagabond
Necklace - c/o Gogo Philip

Does the world have this H&M jumper? Well perhaps not, but I have seen quite a few people wearing it at work and in the blogging world (hello Amy) but it's also unassuming enough to look different on everyone who wears it. I've worn it a few times now and it's the perfect fluffy angora yarn for all of those jumper+skirt combinations I wrote about earlier. The dress I'm wearing underneath was bought at the Battersea Boot fair for a quid during the last few days of summer. I somehow always manage to find something there, even though all of the stalls are so overwhelming. I need to go back there soon and check out some of Jazmine's frequent charity shop haunts while I'm at it, as I'm always jealous of what she finds there. I was sent the necklace from Gogo Philip and wasn't too sure about the turquoise stone at first but later grew to love how it could transform my beloved black jumper. I really love statement jewellery and can see myself heading to their Topshop concession whenever I need an update.

Army Jacket - c/o Urban Outfitters

Cardigan - Stefanel

Top, tights - Topshop

Lace pencil skirt - Asos

Loafers - Vagabond c/o Spartoo

Leopard Necklace - Me and Zena

I recently was invited to choose some bits from Urban Outfitters in London, which was the typical kid in a candy store scenario. If you've ever been to the Oxford Circus store you'll know what amazing brands they have in stock and how difficult it can be to choose three items (I had no idea they stocked Jeffrey Campbells, reminding me of happier New York times). Last year I gave up on my search for the perfect army jacket (okay it may have been a half-hearted one) so was delighted to find this one in the perfect shade of moss green. The second photo shows the unusual cardigan which I badgered my Mum into buying me for a birthday present. It has buttons at both the front and back, which always confuses a few people when I wear it and is a nice slouchy shape. The shoes are a new find from Spartoo, as I felt my loafer collection was somewhat lacking. As you might have guessed, I succumbed to the Me and Zena Witching Hour sale offer and finally bought some jewellery I've had my eye on for a while. Did you buy anything? These flash sales that spread through social media are really not helping me to curb my shopaholic tendencies!

Dress - c/o Urban Outfitters

Cashmere Cardigan - M&S

Tights - House of Holland

Brogues - Office

Another day, another cardigan. Sometimes you just want your dress to do the talking and I never thought I'd see myself in a smock like shape, but the versatility and print of this style convinced me. It's another contender for the jumper+dress combination and can also work with a belt, so I can see being my default outfit for when I get stuck in the mornings. I bought the star print tights in the midst of our British summer and as per usual, they already have a hole in the toe. I know that House of Holland tights aren't the most durable but somehow I keep on buying them and I'm already eyeing up this crochet print pair.

Looking at all of the knitwear I own, I've realised that none of it is patterned! Luckily Innocent smoothies gave me a chance to rectify this situation, allowing me to create a hat design to celebrate their Big Knit campaign. Within two weeks one of their knitting army had interpreted my design (based on my graduate collection of course) and it's amazing to work out how they've arrived at the end result. I've spied the hats on the smoothie bottles in the last year or so but the campaign actually started in 2003 and aims to raise money to keep older people warm during the chilly winter months. I believe you can find the bottles with the mini hats in branches of Sainsbury's and Boots and as my little sister is a fan of them for her toys, I need to try and find some more pretty quickly!

To win the larger version of this hat, just e-mail me with the reason why you love knitwear by Friday 18th November and I shall pick the best answer!

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The 'Day Off' Diaries

2011-11-08T11:37:00.000Z

I had a few days off recently to try and recreate the lazy periods of time I used to spend between terms at University and unfortunately they went all too quickly. How I miss the 4-month summer break! Luckily there was a lot happening in central London, an immense amount of tasty food to be eaten and a few wonderful bloggers about to spend time with. I've missed having brunch ever since I left New York well over a year ago and may have finally found a place that can recreate it pretty faithfully. The Diner is the perfect All-American eatery situated close to Liberty and the busy Oxford Circus area, without being ridiculously rammed and full of slow moving tourists. They serve breakfast all day and can be pretty accommodating, even letting us reserve a table via Twitter!

A lot of SS12 press days have been popping up in my Google Reader and Bloglovin feeds recently, which doesn't really help the fact that we're now firmly in rainy AW11, whilst eagerly awaiting the trends for AW12. I think that many of the collections I've seen are somewhat transitional and can be re-appropriated for whatever season you like. Of course, it may be hard to pull off certain colours and fabrics in the Winter months but most of what I've seen, I seem to want in my wardrobe right now regardless of practicality. The Next SS12 press day saw lots of exciting colour combinations and floral patterns replicated in different ways and is probably one of the strongest collections I've seen from the brand. There were lots of slouchy jumpers with intriguing yarn and stitch combinations but my favourite item was the ditsy floral dress you can see above. It reminds me of the kind of item you envy a friend having since it cost 80p at a car boot sale but unlike second hand finds it comes in different sizes and an alternative colour combination. On the food front we were also spoilt, with macaroons, cupcakes and various savoury treats appearing from all angles. It almost made me wish I hadn't stuffed my face with pancakes earlier!

Polka Dot Skirt, T-shirt - Topshop
Cashmere Cardigan - M&S
Creepers - c/o Spartoo
Watch - c/o H Samuel
Ring - Urban Outfitters (from a goody bag)

Always a fan of interesting combinations, I decided to team the infamous Topshop polka dot skirt with an old t-shirt and newish bright red cardigan to keep up the colour blocking. It just so happened that Jen was working a very similar colour palette, sporting the most exciting River Island polka dot jeans and a red shirt.

Photos by Claire Pepper

The following day off was an interesting one as I had to get myself back into the AW11 mindset and start thinking about Christmas in particular. Very kindly invited a few of us to come and try on some of their festive partywear which left me in a bit of a conundrum. I'm not a typically festive dresser; I mostly eschew sequinned party dresses, preferring to 'dress up' a lot of the stuff I wear during the day with wedge heels and crazy amounts of jewellery. This left me with limited options due to my extremely fussy nature, but luckily I managed to steal this Fearne Cotton dress once Suzi had had her photos taken. I'm a major mesh fan (that sounds very wrong) and loved the draped detail at the back and how the black nature of the dress concealed any Patisserie Valerie cakes I might have scoffed beforehand. I always get nervous having public photoshoots and my awkwardness when posing reminds me why I'm not a model in any way but merely a girl who takes such photos to show off what I might be wearing that day. Somehow the photographer Claire Pepper managed to get a few shots of me that I actually liked and I'm blown away by her previous work for some great designers. I'm tempted to start taking tips from the bloggers in this post as it would certainly save a lot of time and make dud photos a lot less likely.

Photo by Sam Witney

Of course time always manages to speed up when I'm having fun and the penultimate lazy day saw the latest Aussie event to celebrate their Limited Edition bottles of shampoo and conditioner. We were transported to a rooftop bar on Shaftesbury Avenue for an evening of food and drink served by 'Aussie hunks' (who proved to be about as Australian as the M25, not that this mattered). I wore my red Zara dress from a while ago and attempted to copy the hairstyle the from the previous Very shoot which got me a few compliments. I know I need to be a bit more adventurous with my hair but it never seems like it's long enough to do that much with. Are extensions the answer? We'll see.

It seems like I might have to wait until Christmas for the next significant amount of days off, I can't wait!

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Ways to Get Dressed

2011-11-05T14:40:00.000Z

It never ceases to amaze me how much outfit inspiration can be found on the interwebs. It seems that on a daily basis, I'm bombarded with multiple images through all of the blogs I read and ideas for getting dressed on a typical morning. The way that individuals put their looks together always fascinates me, always expressing their personalities by the innate way their clothing, accessories and footwear is pieced together. I'm all about the idea of dressing for yourself, whether it be by creating a new character through an outfit each day or presenting a consistent statement of only wearing black (albeit made up of fantastically constructed layers) and it's important for me to reflect my current mindset through the clothes I'm wearing. The horrific rainy weather has prevented me from taking outfit photos in my preferred spot but here's a few hints towards the looks I've been attempting to channel recently.

Elle, Lady Moriarty, Hel Looks

It's almost coat time again! Even though the 'mild' weather would have us believe otherwise, I'm sure that a cold snap will be on the way soon forcing me into thermals and multiple pairs of tights. I feel that the right coat can complete an outfit if the proportions are correct and I'm trying to build up a collection of my own (I may or may not have bought two coats at 50% off in one of those lethal Asos Sunday sales). It seems I'm drawn to the more androgynous styles which contrast perfectly with a pretty dress or trouser/brogue combination and I love the addition of the creepers in the last Hel Looks picture. It seems that most of the coats I like on blogs are second hand and I either need to start trawling more charity shops or hope that a retailer will catch on and start manufacturing these styles sharpish.

Seaweed Tea (check this blog out as it's a new fave of mine), Trini G, Stylesightings

Whenever I get stuck in the mornings, I tend to fall back on the tried and tested jumper+skirt combination. Although I'm quite fussy these days when buying knitwear, I've managed to find a few styles that lend themselves perfectly to this look with the right yarn and amount of stitch detail, which will compliment a more patterned skirt. I've found the midi skirt combination somewhat trickier to master due to the bulkiness and length of some jumpers, but I'll not give up and may even resort to dusting off my machine and knitting some jumpers of my own. Have you bought any nice knitwear recently? It's almost time to make a new scarf!

We Are You Neak, Pangcakes, Styleslicker

It's time for layering! I know the bare legs shown in the pictures are slightly scary at this time of year, but these looks can easily be replicated and even enhanced by tights. I love how visually exciting each of these outfits are and Yin's dress in the middle reminds me of the Rachel Barrett dress I wore to fashion week and has therefore given me another idea for styling it. I think the key to layering is to just put logical combinations of different fabrics and textures together first, such as shirts or asymmetric tops over long dresses and perhaps tying it in some way or putting a cardigan over the top. Then once the perfect coat and scarf are on, you have layered perfection. This can take a lot more time to figure out but I'm always proud if I manage to achieve something unexpected just by trying a few things out. How layered can you go?

Stylesightings, Style Bubble

I have yet to try this but I really want to try and make a powerful statement by wearing mostly one colour from head to toe. It may not be like the green in the first look but I think the shades of grey in Susie Bubble's look is definitely achievable with the white patterned dress and black shoes to break things up slightly. I might just have to try and work out a combination with my beloved burgundy, as I'm pretty sure I've collected an array of shirts, tops and skirts in this particular colour.

Have you gained any new style inspiration from blogs recently? If your searching for any outfit inspiration, be sure to check out both of my Tumblrs 'Kristabel Loves' and 'F-yeahfashionknitwear' which I try and regularly update. Hopefully the early rainy mornings will subside soon so I can take some more pictures of my own!

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To Be Nominated

2011-10-28T21:28:00.001+01:00

Who is the person who said this about my blog? Can we be best mates please?! Even though I didn't win, this comment made my night!

It's very rare that I get to attend an awards ceremony. In fact, it's very rare that I get to attend any kind of ceremony (the last perhaps was my graduation back in July) complete with formal proceedings and a celebration at the end. Luckily as I have previously mentioned (or canvassed for votes depending how you look at things), I was nominated in the best established blog category in the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards and was able to attend Wednesday's event. It was held at Bond on Kingly Street and promised to be a glitzy event but what I was most excited about was to see all of the bloggers in attendance. It's very rare that everyone can travel from their various UK cities and meet up in one place, so it was an event to see familiar faces and meet some new ones as well as stalking the odd canapé.

Cocktail or Mocktail?

Dress - TBA

Tights - American Apparel

Boots - Office

'K' Necklace - Brooklyn Charm

Now anyone that knows me is aware that I am an eternal cheapskate. Everything I buy has some kind of discount attached or is reduced in some way, even if it's by 1p. Apprentice style I guess Asos has the right kind of idea by holding all of these 'flash sales' all of the time, getting people like me to buy things unnecessarily when I should otherwise be doing normal early-evening activities. I spied this TBA dress when it was reduced by 50% and thought that it'd be one of my few chances to own something by the brand I've been coveting for a long time. In the back of my mind I knew the awards were coming up and I thought it would be a good dress to wear on the evening so lo and behold, my outfit was sorted about 3 weeks before the event. I attempted to 'glam' myself up even further and halfheartedly followed a make up tutorial by Tanya, until I realised that I owned none of the brushes nor products involved and ended up making up the rest. You see this is why I'm not a beauty blogger! I went over my hair with the GHD's I was sent a while ago (I am fully converted and love the way they heat up quickly, handy when you have 10 minutes to sort your hair out) and luckily the rain held off and everything stayed intact. It's a shame that the pictures had to be taken in the only place with blogger-worthy light (the loos) and in the vicinity of patrons of a local restaurant, but I guess this is what happens when you get ready just as all the natural light starts to fade!

Awesome goodybag with treats such as a full-size bottle of Moroccan Oil (get in), an intriguing ring by Accessory Freaks and some Jelly Belly beans which were finished long before my sister could get her hands on them...

Carrie, Jazmine, Sarah, Me and Vicki, all posing and filming silly videos. Photo stolen from the Cosmopolitan Facebook page, because that's how I roll.

Were you following the hashtag on Wednesday night? It was definitely the most fun I've had at 6pm in the evening and although everything seem to finish early, it was great to have dinner with most of the bloggers in the fashion categories afterwards. See, no rivalries involved! Make sure you check out all of the winners and of course all of those shortlisted as there's a lot of great reading material to be found. Being in the 'fashion blogger' bubble, it's easy to forget that it's only a small corner of the blogosphere and there really is a blog about anything under the sun. It's an unparalleled way for individuals to express their views to a mass audience and it's really shaped the way I process fashion and various lifestyles. How has reading blogs (and even writing one yourself) enhanced your life?

Thanks again to everyone who nominated and voted for me! Cupcakes for everyone!

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This Week

2011-10-23T23:23:00.000+01:00

What a busy week I've had in London town! I seem to prefer making the most of my evenings, leaving the weekend free for maximum laziness and lounging around tweeting about various tv singing competitions. Luckily there's been a few things happening this week and on Tuesday evening I made my way through the crazy crowds at Bond Street to the Lulu Guinness press day. I'd been invited to a few events before, but had been unable to go due to the immense amount of final year work, so I was excited to finally see some beautiful bags up close.

See more photos here

The inspiration for SS12 was all the things we associate with holidays in accessories forms, resulting in camera inspired bags, packing lists on purses and various destinations illustrated on a handy tote. There was a great selection of colours and finishes for the trademark lips clutch but I particularly loved their take on the quilted bag. The red version almost made me forget about the one a certain French brand offers with its embroidered lips and golden logo clasp, plus it's far more affordable in comparison.

On Wednesday I met up with a few bloggers at the opening of the new Oasis Flagship store on London's Argyll Street. As expected, I was pleased with the knitting theme they'd expressed throughout the store layout (there was even Huddersfield graduate Claire Nixon knitting in the window) and the high tech iPads allowing you to view lookbooks and handy phrases. I also fell in love with the perfect little black dress; it's probably just as well it's not on the website yet, as it's £110!

Autumn's arrival means that a new pair of boots are in order and as my layout suggests I've been after some Chelsea boots for some time. I may have found the perfect pair at Duo; I'm not really blessed in the feet department, with an awkwardly sized pair that can be anything from a size 7 to a 9 (damn you Topshop). I was invited to try out their fitting service at their flagship Covent Garden store and my brand new pair should be arriving very soon. I'll let you know how I get on with them; I can already see them going with everything.

Jeremy Scott has also collaborated with Adidas and produced the cutest kids trainers!

I always look forward to the Adidas press days each season and challenging my preconceptions of what sportswear can be. As per, I headed to the Y-3 collection first to admire Yamamoto's pieces in person and to see how the themes of London street style and the Olympics had been combined. The little details that turn a basic tank into something more considered always manage to amaze me and although there was a lot of black, it particularly suited the utilitarian workwear theme. My rail photos probably don't express how the pieces can be worn and it's definitely a contrast when you see everything come to life on the runway. I really want to incorporate a few of the styling tips into my life using whatever asymmetric pieces and tartan I have in my wardrobe and pretend that it's real Yohji.

I also made it to the American Apparel flea market over in Brick Lane to see what all of the fuss was about. I could see plenty of people on the Facebook event getting excited about disco pants (shudder) and hoodies but all I had in mind was a nice sheer shirt. Unfortunately I didn't manage to find one and ended up reverting to tights buying and finding another piece of grey jersey to call my own. It's on for another two days and there's enough t-shirts and skinny cords to dress the whole of Shoreditch; I'm not sure if I'll be going back but there's plenty of stock left if you do. Has anyone else checked out the sale yet?

I'm please to announce that the winner of my competition is Chuck! Now all I need is to figure out how best to send everything out...

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Already Festive

2011-10-20T11:30:00.000+01:00

Best USB stick ever!

It seems funny that all of the various Christmas paraphernalia seems to come out earlier every year, but the Anthropologie Christmas Preview Party came at just the right time. With a welcome change in the weather and evenings getting darker earlier, I'm looking forward to all things festive and cosy. I love how Anthropologie presents a total experience in their store layout, transporting you to their idea of a perfect December 25th. The rails of clothes were organised into some thought provoking colour combinations, complete with intricate knitwear and practical duffle coats but I found all of the various home accessories equally as fascinating. I've seen a few things that are worthy of going on my wishlist **cough these boots cough** and feel inspired enough to buy various stationery bits and bobs to adorn my (non-existent) desk. What are your thoughts on Anthropologie? I have some serious saving to do!

Delicious cakes from Bea's of Bloomsbury, which I need to pay a visit very soon...

Are you even remotely excited for Christmas yet? I'd quite like for my house to look like this!

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Are We There Yet?

2011-10-16T13:15:00.004+01:00

Is it really Autumn yet? I've been trying to go out enthusiastically layered to the max with my circle scarf and leather jacket, whilst regretfully leaving my sunglasses at home. The British climate is so unpredictable that working out when the seasons are actually changing can be a task in itself, let alone attempting to dress for it. From home, to train, tube and office sees multiple changes in temperature, which needs to be served with one sole outfit and the most confusing task of a morning is knowing whether to wear tights or not. Please tell me I'm not alone in my bewilderment?

Dress - Topshop

Tights - American Apparel

Boots - Office

Belt - Charity Shop
Nails - Zoya c/o Boudoir Privé

Don't panic, I wore a cardigan with this dress! Hopefully if I manage to do some regular outfit posts you'll be able to see how I've managed to stick to my personal style rules and what I might have bought from the wishlist. I'm rarely a spontaneous shopper and only intended to buy this dress after stalking it online and envisioning possible outfit combinations (through the power of the internet I knew that Elisabeth owned the same dress in a different colourway). However, we all know the effect that Topshop can have and after wandering into the calm shopping environment of the Knightsbridge store, I managed to pick up several other items which I will later divulge. This dress isn't the most practical for the colder months of the year, but I intend to wear cropped jumpers and chunky cardigans over the top until Summer rears it's indecisive head again. I also featured the Office boots previously and although I love them, they aren't quite as comfortable as my Vagabond Grace boots. I'm still trying to figure out how to get the camera to focus on close-ups, but you can just about see the Zoya nail polish that was in the latest Boudoir Privé box. It's one of those monthly subscription boxes where you never quite know what you'll end up with, so I was lucky to receive the neutral sort of colour I like.

Top - A.P.C
Lace shirt - Humana
Corduroy Skirt - M&S
Tights - Calzedonia
Tuk Creepers - c/o Spartoo

I'm glad it's almost cool enough to wear this sweatshirt, a Net a Porter bargain I managed to find a few months ago. You know how much I love anything striped and when I stumbled across this £30 A.P.C bargain at precisely 2am, I wasn't going to let it go easily. Keeping with the reduced theme, I also finally found a corduroy skirt from Marks and Spencer for only £15. I've been trying to search for one since I saw Jen in this Jaeger cord skirt a while ago but at a more reasonable price point. Although I had to sacrifice my preferred shade of red/rust, this skirt is still really versatile in a dark indigo colour. In contrast to the previous boots, my new creepers were extremely comfortable on the first wear (hence their inclusion in my new layout) even if getting the right size confused me at first. I wasn't sure about whether to go for the more extreme platform but luckily the lower style is still well within my comfort zone without making me seem like one of the Spice Girls.

T-shirt - Weekday

Skirt - Topshop

Boots - Vagabond

Necklace - Marc by Marc Jacobs

I don't tend to wear things after seeing them on celebrities or even royalty (so any 'Steal her Style' e-mails are lost on me I'm afraid). In fact I'm more likely to wear something seen on another blogger, such is how my mind works. That is how I'm justifying this skirt purchase, known currently as 'The-Topshop-polka-dot-pencil-skirt-bought-by-Kate-Middleton-that-we-haven't-actually-seen-her-wear-yet.' I first saw the skirt on Elisabeth which got the cogs in my mind whirring for general polka dottedness, then saw the trouser version on various blogs. After careful consideration I ordered them but then chickened out and sent them back. I'm not quite ready for patterned trousers yet. On the aforementioned trip to Topshop I somehow picked the skirt up from the last chance rail, not really expecting to like it. I never really thought of myself as a pencil skirt person as they always seemed so unashamedly feminine, especially since Kate Middleton is now associated with this one. When I tried it on however I saw potential, the polka dots are eye catching without being too in-your-face and the skirt looks lovely dressed down with a cropped jumper or tucked in t-shirt. I'm hoping to figure out many more ways to may this skirt look new every time I wear it, justifying the unexpected purchase.

So now Summer is finally over, I guess it's time to say goodbye to all of the sandals, light dresses and swimwear and retire them for another year. I was sent a voucher to choose something from Simply Beach a while ago but unfortunately never got the chance to wear it. At least I know I'm not totally stuck if I ever get whisked away for a surprise beach holiday anytime soon (unlikely). There are some summery items, which I might try and sneakily wear in a more layered fashion but now I'm very much looking forward to digging out some of last years velvet items and knitting a new scarf. Are you convinced by the arrival of Autumn?

~~This is a last push for Cosmopolitan Blog Awards votes as voting ends at 9am tomorrow.~~ I know that there's a lot of competition so may the best blogger win!

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Details

2011-10-13T13:25:00.001+01:00

There's nothing like a major fashion event to get you to bond with your new 50mm Canon lens. I guess I was slightly foolish to disregard the manual entirely when trying to get to grips with my camera as I still had no idea about aperture, ISO or any of the other basics of photography. Luckily I'm one of those people who learns things by doing them over and over again and making plenty of mistakes. Even though some of these pictures are just pot luck, I am starting to understand a rough camera formula for certain situations (such as turning the wheely-thingy until it's under 100 for darkened rooms). These photos may seem like a bit of a budget version of Tommy Ton, but this lens allows you to take close ups from afar quite easily and catch any detail that might catch your eye.

Admiring the stunning appliqué by Fyodor Golan

Stella's stunning Christopher Kane skirt soon went viral across numerous street style sites

Hairclip envy at Unconditional

Various show attendees who inspired me with their outfit choices

Being the latecomer I am, I almost missed the Masha Ma show. Luckily it was running late as per and I was able to witness the exquisite construction and meticulous details from a rare front row seat

Fred Butler is changing the way I perceive jewellery, I love how her pieces are an extension of her character

I spy Louise Gray wearing the shoes from her latest collection

Which photo catches your eye?

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