Monday 30 September 2013

Inspiration - "It's grim up north"


It' September and I've just started art school, which I am super excited about, not least because I looove "back-to-school fashion". You know, when you want to pack away the denim shorts and dig out the jumpers, and the white shirts, and the socks, and all the ankle boots you could ever wish for. I'm in love with these lookbook photos from two of Topshop's collections (Margot's World and This Is England). One is a sweet pastel dream of young elegance while the other is back to the roots, stompy English awkward-coolness. :)

Saturday 28 September 2013

Quiero Verte Más

^Francisca Valenzuela

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earrings from India
H&M trench with eyes drawn by me

I love little surreal details... things that make strangers in the street look again and sometimes comment. :)

Thursday 26 September 2013

Lippy kids on the corner

^ Elbow

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Asos dress
Topshop socks (I think)
Doc Martens
H&M hat
satchel from Affleck's

Apparently we've been having a week of summer in the middle of September. But it's much less sweltering than the heatwave earlier this summer so it's the perfect time to wear the over-the-knee socks that mysteriously disappeared last year and I just found behind my top drawer. :)

Tuesday 24 September 2013

17,500km

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dress designed by me, made by my mother
Converse
Urban Outfitters belt

This is a very international dress: map print fabric (with place names in what might be Italian) bought in Manchester and sewn in India, based on a dress from New York. Pretty much my summer in a dress. And I also used this fabric in my summer project for art school, since the theme was "175" and I worked out that I'd travelled almost exactly 17,500km in my last trip. A very appropriate dress to wear to my first day of art school, then. :)

Monday 23 September 2013

Interlude - These clothes were made for talking

After the first day of my freshers week, I realised that my simple outfit (disco pants and denim jacket, which is basically my go-to, all-purpose, appropriate-for-anything outfit) wasn't portraying what I think of as my "style personality" as well as, for example, this outfit would have. Yes, plain and easy clothes are sometimes part of my style, but in social situations with lots of strangers where I'm not very confident, I find that wearing something more exuberant can give me more confidence. Think of it this way: it'd be pretty hard to be a wallflower wearing a Gaga-esque costume. "Fake it 'til you make it" and all that. Plus, wearing unusual clothing is a great conversation starter so: hit me up freshers, if you see me around, feel free to start a conversation by telling me exactly what you think of my odd is-it-a-dress-is-it-a-top-is-it-a-sheet. :)

Ps. I also want to express secular thanks to fate or whatever that I'm continuing to live at home this year so don't have to attempt to squeeze all my clothes into a tiny uni room - or, even worse, decide what to take and what to leave behind until Christmas!

Sunday 22 September 2013

Cranberry


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Asos jeans
Gap cardigan
coat from California (actually pink not red as in the 1st photo)
H&M bag
Miss Selfridge boots

Seriously in love with pink, purple and all things sugar-sweet and lady-like right now. Also, I finally got round to getting my nose pierced and I love it. :)

Friday 20 September 2013

Here With Me

^The Killers

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Urban Outfitters sunglasses
H&M shirt
jeans from India
Primark sandals
bag from Malaysia

I don't know what it is about pink (and lilac) with black and white at the moment. I love it. Everyone loves it. The pinkness in the first photo is actually the result of using a pink cardigan as a flash diffuser in a pinch while running up Mrs Macquarie's Point to get a good angle while the sun was rapidly setting amid pastel flashes. Basically a very happy (and ingenious if I may say so myself) accident. :)

Wednesday 18 September 2013

Luna Park

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photos of me by my dad

Next jumpsuit
Asos jacket, sunglasses and belt
Sekonda watch
bag from Malaysia
earrings from Mumbai
necklace from Gozo
Converse

Luna Park, a 1930's style theme park on the north side of the harbour was one of the places I was most looking forward to seeing. Imagine my delight when I discovered it was literally around the corner from where we were staying! Also this outfit was randomly thrown on but I really like the way it goes together so I'll definitely be wearing some variation soon. :)

Monday 16 September 2013

Bondi at sunset

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vintage jacket from market in Sydney
American Apparel skirt

To be honest, in real life I don't love watching sunsets but I do love the amazing golden light. The sunset at Bondi beach was the most amazing one I've seen yet.. the PINK pastels! These were taken right after my surfing lesson (I took my wetsuit off and literally sprinted to get my camera and tripod before the sun disappeared). All in all, this was the perfect last day in Sydney before a 34 hour journey home. :)

Saturday 14 September 2013

Surfin A-U-S


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vintage jacket from a Sydney market
tshirt from Sydney (old)
American Apparel skirt
old swimsuit
Sekonda watch
mother's gold earrings from India

Messing around on the beach at beautiful Bondi, probably the most famous surfing beach in Australia, before having my first ever surfing lesson. I couldn't come to Australia and not surf now, could I? By the way, surfing is incredible - I think I've found my new sport!

Can you believe I got this real suede jacket at an antiques market for 15 Australian dollars (about £10)?! When I asked how much it was, the guy asked how much I wanted to pay for it... after a few seconds of "er....", he suggested $15 dollars and I paid before he could change his mind/come to his senses and scampered off! I don't know how long I've been looking for the perfect fringed jacket, preferably tan, preferably suede, etc etc, but being picky, I had never found one until out of the blue, this one turns up, on a CD stall, no less! :)

PS. Yes this was Australia, but it was cool enough at around midday to wear this jacket on the beach and not boil to death (it's "spring" there).

Thursday 12 September 2013

Taronga

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koala-e

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photos by my dad

Asos sunglasses
top made by my grandma from sari silk, embroidered by my aunt
mother's gold earrings from India
Sekonda watch
H&M jeans
bag made in Columbia, from a Sydney market
Converse

Staying in the city of Sydney, there aren't too many of Australia's fantastical creatures wandering around. I've been to Australia before and held a koala (! but this is now illegal, damn you Australian government) but it was maybe 10 years ago so, we went to Taronga Zoo for a marsupial fix. This time we got up close, not only to some very sleepy koalas, but also to some free-roaming wallabies and emus. The emu was a little too close for comfort - I swear it was following me around growling, as well as photobombing! :)