Corset Top - Underwear as Outerwear

I've had this corset for ages (in fact I've probably blogged about it before). I bought it with a matching skirt (which I wish I still had) for my school leaving do at 16. This just adds weight to my argument that you should never throw anything away. I was tempted to wear it with my army pants but I've been doing that 'land girl' look all week so I opted for my black Topshop jeans covered in gold studs. Pale and nude shades are my colours with dark hair, they are fast becoming my new black.

Lace

I bought this really cute black lace top from Giles Deacons range for New Look awhile back. In my quest to not wear black every day this piece had been relegated into the back of my wardrobe however after 36 days of not wearing black (I made that bit up) I decided today, a day when I was lacking inspiration was time to tun back to that old friend black. I know everyone always says this, but I couldn't believe how much thinner I looked dressed in all black. I teamed it with my navy coat breaking the 'rules' of fashion (never wear navy with black) and embracing the new trend (wear lots of navy and black) it's fashions new rule. I've never really followed the rules anyway so I don't find this revolutionary, I've always thought navy and black go well together it adds some pretty to gothic.

Manufacturing The Fell Out Of Bed Look

I thought my hair could survive another day without washing (day 3) but it was a bit tatty so I decided to go with out and make it as messy as possible. Seemed like a good idea at the time until I found myself tearing away at the knots in work this afternoon and my hair falling out. Back combing may look good but it is hazardous for the hair. I wore my McQ high waisted red denim skirt with the old fave stripy top. My work colleague said if she wore this outfit she'd look like a secretary but I like to think the 'just got out of bed' hair (or dragged through a hedge backwards) dispels any notions of a secretary. Killer heels would have worked really well with this too for a heroin chic still out from last night look but I just can't bear to walk to work in them and taking them with me to change into at the office just seems a bit try hard.

Alice In Wonderland Fashion

Best film ever. I'm looking but yet to find anything that really gives the Alice effect even though a lot of fashion retailers are using it as inspiration. I think the white queen is my favourite of all. So pale and lovely with that dark lipstick I'm almost tempted to bleach my hair white again. Except I think it never really recovered from the last time.

Pretty in Pink

Sonia Rykiel Jumper with little bow pockets and a matching diamonte bow in my hair. I also matched the shocking pink of my jumper with my MAC lipstick.

Japanese Artist Kid

Still trying to emulate the effortless cool of those Japanese kids you see in all the street style blog. A visit to the Tate this weekend mde me decide to dress as an art student (in Tokyo of course). I wore lightweight denim hareem jeans from Mango at ASOS, tweed blazer with fur collar warehouse sale about 6 years ago, Tommy Hilfiger newspaper print t-shirt freebie from work, Nike high tops from Office and my 40s hat from bricklane market. Oh and my new favourite Marc Jacobs neon shopper bag.

Karl Lagerfeld Wears Nico Paris 'Karl Who'

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G

On my up coming trip to Paris my plan is to splash all my dash on some Nico Paris tops in Colette.

All Black and Fluoro Marc Shopper

I looked quite dark today which suited my mood, I'm always exhausted by the time it gets to Friday. Skirt H&M, Jacket H&M, shopper Marc by Marc Jacobs.

An Education

I have wanted to see this film since I first saw the trailer in the cinema. I think this film is about me. Here's why...

"My choice is to do something hard and boring for the rest of my life or go to Paris and have fun"

"If you never do anything, you never become anyone"

"One of the boys I dated, and they were boys, suggested that we go to Paris and I said I'd always wanted to see Paris. As if I'd never been!"

"Nobody does anything worth doing without a degree" Jenny - "Nobody does anything worth doing with a degree!"

Over a post-co cigarette "All that poetry and all those songs about something that lasts no time at all"

She's even called Jenny

!

Outside My Window

I love the view from my window, especially as the sun sets behind the trees. Today I was inspired to take a few pictures because I was thinking how the natural colours of the sky would be so beautiful if we could recreate them on fabric. I created some print ideas from the images too which would look just beautiful on a silk dress.

ASOS Floral Dungarees

At first I thought these were a bit wrong but now I'm thinking I love them. But can I pull them off that is the question

A New Look For John Lewis?

John Lewis new ad campaign in Stylist this week is telling everyone that John Lewis no longer wants to be your upmarket department store frequented by your grandparents it wants to be a fashion department store on a par with Selfridges. I'm not sure they have quite convinced me yet but I do love this Fiorelli Waikiki bag that features in in the advert. It also has 20% off at the minute and is only £28! Convinced or not they got me to visit the site which is progress. The fashion pack are a fickle bunch, give us something we want to buy and get it in the press and we shall come, new store fits yadda yadda are in a way not really as necessary as the chiefs think.

Burberry Prorsum AW10 - Army and Oversized Collars

Just in case you didn't see this already check out the Burberry Prorsum AW10 show. I'm on the hunt for a flying jacket with an oversized collr Amelia Earhart style.

How To Have Fun With No Money

It's no secret that I love Marc Jacobs. I'm also a huge fan of his brand stratgey, so so clever. Think of all the teenage girls or poor fashionistas like me that wander into Marc Jacobs to fawn over the clothes they can't afford and lo and behold the lovely Marc offers is stuff we can. Only increasing our brand loyalty and spreading a little bit of Jacobs Joy into the world. We trotted off to London flagship store today on Mount Street, passing Lanvin, Balenciaga and Christian Louboutin on the way. After aforementioned fawning over the clothes and discreet balking at the price tags, although each and every piece was worthy of it's price, I found some trinkets which have cheered me up no end. The broken heart compact mirror at £3 and this neon Marc shopper - for gym days only £19. I shall never use a Tescos bag again! I think the biggest bonus was the 2 big Marc Jacobs bags I got which made me feel so speacial. I walked around town the rest of the day pretending they were full of expensive off the catwalk items and it just felt so good. Other people noticed too, I heard the sighs of envy from some teenage girls on the tube who obviously thought I'd been on a big spree. Well go get some for yourself, the carrier bag is free!

Sunday Best

My bf found it amusing all day that I was so dressed up on a Sunday but remember back when people used to wear their best clothes on Sunday? Personally I don't. But I wish I did. It all ties in with going to Church on a Sunday something which has never really been my thing but I went to my version of Church today, shopping Mecca Liberty so Sunday best was befitting. I love Libertys. I walk round in awe picking up all the beautiful trinkets and declaring I must have them before my attention is caught by another. Catching my eye today were the beautiful studded belts and bracelets by Felder Felder with oh so soft leather and extra heavy studs. The bracelet is a steal at £115 (yikes). The kind of thing you can pick up on the high street but just never has the same weight or handfeel as the expensive original version. I also fell a little bit in love with the metallic leather hair bows which came in at £25 and £35, altogether more affordable.

As for my outfit, the shift is an old one from Zara sale, the tweed Jacket is Anne Brooks from the charity shop completed with my accessories du jour multi strand pearl necklace and chiffon neck scarf. Talking of scarfs you should see the scarfs at Libertys, special, we saw one for £800 and it wasn't even silk! Must have been spun with gold.

Pretending To Be A Rock Star

I walked round pretentiously all day in sunglasses even though the weather was dull. I like pretending to be famous sometimes. My new leather jacket from whistles and high top trainers fitted my prentending to be a rock star look. I know it's silly but that's why it's fun.

ASOS Africa and Fairtrade Fortnight Fashion

ASOS has recently launched the Green Room where all products are fairtrade and ethically sourced. The catch is they are fabulously fashionable to boot. I'm a believer that you shouldn't have to choose to make a moral decision to buy fairtrade or organic instead you should see something you love and want to buy it like any other product and it happens to be fairtrade. Only a clever retailer can achieve this and I think ASOS is well on it's way. The ASOS Africa collection happens to tie in ever so nicely with the tribal trends seen on the SS10 catwalks most notably at Marc by Marc Jacobs (my fave collection of the season). Spot the difference. Also hitting key trend of paperbag waists on shorts and skirts for the summer there isn't a good reason not to buy. Except I'm still broke! Even the day after payday how sad : (

Mismatch

As I lay in bed ignoring the alarm I was hit by a sudden and rare flash of inspiration for what to wear today. A mismatch of my old H&M high waisted navy chino hareem pants (which I thought I wouldn't get to wear again but reminded me of Richard Nicolls chinos for Topshop), a cheap lace top I got in China and this lovely apricot coloured blouse which I got from H&M (again) about 5 years ago. I topped it off with the velvet headband from ASOS, I was right about it being a good cover up for scruffy hair as I didn't have time to wash it this morning. Must actually start to get up when alarm goes off not half an hour later. I did eyeliner dots in the corner and outer parts of my eye, don't really know why, just thought it would look cool. Responses varies from 'you have a black smudge in your eye' to 'love your make up today' so I'd gauge that a hit!

Giles Deacons Shiny Dinosaur Bag

How much would you love to own this handbag? Only me?! And of course the matching trousers such a beautiful shade of blue.

Velvet Headband

This headband is from ASOS and is a flat velvet strip with wiring in so you can create whatever look you want with it. A bow, mickey mouse ears, bunny ears or a turban shape. Not sure whjat I created but I like it! Might try it again tomorrow as a cover up for scruffy hair!