Wonderlust

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:54:00 +0000

Alice, Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:55:00 +0000

Everything at the moment is 'Alice in Wonderland' themed. I haven't been to see it yet, and I've heard mixed reviews but I think the character previews look amazing.
Today, I came across a gorgeous vintage-inspired, kitsch and quirky jewellery shop. Sugar And Vice is a small company based in Canterbury which has been running for three years.

Here are some examples of their new 'Alice in Wonderland' range... Happy Shopping!

Hello Again

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:51:00 +0000

Helooo, I'm back after a few weeks of no-blogging. The Paris trip was amazing, but really took it out of me and I've only just re-charged my batteries!
Time to catch up!

Hobbit House in Wales

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:03:00 +0000

Look at this! This is a hobbit home made by a man and his father-in-law in my home country, Wales. I came across it a few months ago on A Cup of Jo, and I'm hoping to take my boyfriend to see it for real soon. It's a 'low impact' Woodland Home, where Simon Dale and his wife and two young children live. Pretty cool country huh?!

Bonjour, I'm off to Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:24:00 +0000

The only event I've had planned in my diary for the next few weeks is The Vintage Fair Gallery in Birmingham.
It reads as: "Here at The Vintage Fair we provide the ultimate vintage shopping experience. On top of all the wonderful stalls & shopping we've got music, decor & a vintage tea party. Stop on by and try it for yourself."
It holds between 30 - 45 stalls of Men's and Women's Vintage (1920s - 1980s), handmade & reworked clothing, jewellery, crafts, cupcakes and other goodies for all to enjoy.

But then, yesterday, I got a call from my boss who wants to send me to report at Disneyland, Paris on the weekend of the 6th - the same as the vintage fair. I'm a little bit gutted it fell on the same week, but who am I to say 'no' to a free trip to see Mr and Mrs Mouse? I'm flying out to Paris on Friday afternoon, interviewing singers and bands on Saturday and Sunday morning, then hopefully having a bit of 'me' time in the afternoon before coming back home.

I've already ordered a new 'Parisian' style dress and I'll be borrowing a camera so I will put some pics up as soon as I get back. But what I'm really hoping for is to have a little browse around some Paris boutiques, although I might have to save that for next time I go (as a holiday, not for work).

More to come on my Paris trip later.

Friendship Bracelets

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:49:00 +0000

Friendship bracelets are back... here are some I made earlier.

What Goes Around, Comes Around

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:56:00 +0000

Wearing underwear as outerwear, animal prints and fur coats, florals, cropped tops, printed leggins, coloured Ray-Bans and red lips. Things really do come back into fashion. In the name of Alabama Worley, you're so cool.

Early Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:11:00 +0000

At last, a quiet relaxing weekend. I finished work early on Friday due to all the snow, so I went home and baked these very early Easter cupcakes!
Saturday, the snow had nearly completely disappeared, apart from on the mountains which looked gorgeous behind the sea. So I spent the afternoon at a friends, sitting outside, watching the sea and drinking tea. Still haven't had my camera fixed so again, sorry about the phone pics...

Good Morning From Wales

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:37:00 +0000

Dora Long Legs

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:11:00 +0000

I kid you not, these make my legs look fan-bloody-tastic. Even though I prefer tougher and chunkier shoes rather than dainty pointiees, at 5"3-and-a-fag-end, I sometimes risk looking like I have bricks on my legs.
But these KG 'Dora' by Kurt Geiger especially in tan (also available in black) aren't too cutesy and severe, and make my legs go on, and on, and on... purrrrfect!

Messy Dressy Hair

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:56:00 +0000

As I'm probably the scattiest woman ever I have forgot to book a hair appointment again for the weekend. I'm very particular about my hair and don't mind travelling 100 miles and nearly 2-and-a-half hours to go to the hairdressers (the 'salons' anywhere within a closer radius are shambolic). I was supposed to have it done 2weeks ago and I was literally gutted when my skip-on-wheels car wouldn't start and I was stuck for hours in the company of my boyfriends mother.

I'd travelled the distance to his parents house after work on a Friday night and was looking forward to a pampering and shopping day on Saturday whilst he played football. So, off he went to football while my car refused to turn on, leaving me stranded for HOURS alone with her (only child = fussy parents - enough said)

Anyway, as the weeks have passed, my usual side-sweeping fringe has grown out and turned into a just-off-centred middle parting - and to be honest I'm really starting to like it. Messy dressy hair has been seen at Chloe and Giles and I'm trying to replicate it. I've got long, dark hair (at the moment - will probs go lighter for the summer) and I love the loose, tousled look. Only problem - I have naturally poker straight hair. So today I've drenched it in Toni&Guy Beach Spray Hair and used a diffuser for the 'Kate Moss' effect and happy with it but I know it'll be back to poker-straight by the end of the day. If anybody has any tips on how to create the messy look on straight hair, Id be very grateful...

Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:45:00 +0000

Today I get to say my three favourite words: I Was Right! I got whisked away for a very romantic weekend in the Brindleyplace canal area of B'ham. And, wow, what an amazing weekend I had. Saturday night I was treated to a (very late) dinner at the gorgeous Bank restaurant near, followed by a walk to the bridge overlooking the canal. But yin and yang, I broke my camera, which I've only had 2 months, so these pics are taken using my blackberry. A combination of that and too much wine, and hello blurry-ness...

The next day was Chinese New Year. We walked along the canal into the city in the morning, had a few hours shopping before heading to see the celebrations in the early afternoon. I'd been looking forward to the 2pm Dragon Dance on Poles and Kung Fu Demonstrations, but it was so packed we could hardly get near it. The atmosphere was amazing - there were stalls, children dancing, acrobatic performances, people on stilts. But we left after an hour to carry on shopping, and I bought myself an amazing pair of knee-high boots, perfect for a miserable day like today.

My Valentines Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:39:00 +0000

Woop Woop the Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:57:00 +0000

It's only bloody Friday, and I can't wait for the weekend to begin. I'm being whisked away somewhere Saturday night and all day Sunday but that's about as much as I know. It's been kept as a surprise by the boyfriend, but I'll put it out there now - I reckon it's Birmingham. I'll let you know on Monday if I'm right. He's playing football in Wales on Saturday, which will only finish late afternoon, then we're going back 'around his' (He's Shropshire, so not a million miles away). I love Birmingham - brilliant shops, brilliant atmosphere. I was only introduced to the place a year back and I was hooked, but apart from shops, we haven't had time to do much else. So maybe this is the weekend for more?!
I also got sent a massive bouquet of flowers to my office today - they are gorgeous. I'll put a photo of them up next week when I come back. Only issue now is that my car is chockablock of junk and I have to find somewhere to fit them in. I hope they survive the 45 mile trek home, in between a pile of folders and old newspapers and random pairs of shoes/clothes/bags etc all left from 'morning after the night before' drives home.
I know I should probably end this post on a nice, romantic high, but I feel really let down and disappointed by a certain person today. I have a male friend, who has a family, and throughout the year we've been helping each other, if either needs it, in our careers (he needs publicity, I need sources of info etc). And I always feel really disappointed in a friend when they, for some bizarre reason after such a long length of time, try to make it more than friendship and turn it to something it's not, and never would be. I've always got on with men, and I've always believed opposite sexes can be the best of friends, but when things like this happen it makes me think twice. The 'said person' tried to laugh it off (the first time) but the problem now is, will I ever feel comfortable around him? Did he ever appreciate and like me as a friend or was there always an ulterior motive? Either way, I'm sticking to female friendship from now on.

Do You Look Good Naked?

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:32:00 +0000

I'm stuck in work and my boyfriend is watching the final episodes of How To Look Good Naked in Birmingham, and just to rub it in, he's sent me this picture of Gok Wan.

He's had seats in the front row, but near the back of the stage, as his friend is a 'Gokette' (model) for the programme.

Jealous - yes. Gok is great. But the show is held in the Bullring shopping centre itself, so personally, with all those people gathered around watching the show, I'd want to take the opportunity to do my shopping in quiet-time....

Sad Day In The World of Fashion....

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:25:00 +0000

Lee McQueen influenced a whole generation of designers. His brilliant imagination knew no bounds as he conjured up collection after collection of extraordinary designs.

At one level he was the master of the fantastic, creating astounding fashion shows that mixed design, technology and performance and on another he was a modern-day genius whose gothic aesthetic was adopted by women the world over.

His death is the hugest loss to anyone who knew him and for very many who didn't.

~ Alexandra Shulman ~

When one becomes two

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:24:00 +0000

Seeing as it's so hard to know what to get the loved one for valentines, why not treat both of us?!

As lingerie is set to play a big part in our spring wardrobe, it’s time I give my underwear drawer a make-over. Especially as this season it looks like it's still set to be used as outerwear anyway.
For some reason, I always feel the need to justify why I should buy something and I've just realised blogging will be the purffffect way to do this, brilliant!

Silk and lace balcony bra, £40, and briefs, £25, by Figleaves Temptation.

Valentine Vintage

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:05:00 +0000

I bring you some good vintage news! I've been feeling sorry for myself and my bank balance the last few months with Christmas and the boyfriends birthday. And now valentines day and my sisters birthday has crept up on me too. But here's the good news! I have found an amazing new website, offering vintage items for women and men.

Lalita sells designer accessories ranging from the 1920s to the 1970s, including Prada, Hermes, Gucci and Jane Shilton. And the best bit? The price. Everything ranges between £15-£50, perfect for special gifts.

I particularly love this Balmain Scarf - so my sister's birthday prezzie is sorted for just £40.
Ha, who am i kidding?! As if I could give that sort of treasure away...

Lalita are also participating in the Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair on 21 February 2010, so get shopping!

Oh, Hello....

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:34:00 +0000

With New York Fashion Week and Copenhagen Fashion Week kicking off in just a few days time, I think it's safe to say all my spare pennies will be spent on a pile of glossies over the next few weeks.

Now, I'm not a fashion writer. I wish I was, but I'm just a regular news journalist, reporting on armed sieges and corrupt councillors stealing packets of cheese (believe me, that's the most exciting my job gets). But every week my desk is piled sky-high with fashion mags, which are never touched or stolen by colleagues as I work in an all-men office. Bonus!

As I'm so looking forward to seeing all the catwalk trends and neglecting the day-job reporting, here are some of my favourite spring/summer 2010 runway trends so far...

My New New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Bex) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:37:00 +0000

Welcome to Wonderlust!

January was a wind-down month after a busy year full of changes, so today is the day to start my 'New Year's resolution' of writing a blog centered around my life and the things I love, and sharing them with other people.
Today was also going to be the day I started running - so let's hope the blog is more successful than that idea....!