Nom

I don't think I could quite justify this purchase, even with student discount. It's from the Kate Moss collection at Topshop, and it is stunning. I am feasting my eyes people, as it is £250 and as a mere mortal I could never own it. It's quite reminiscent of the dress Kate herself wore to the opening of the Dior exhibition at the V&A (the one she ripped?).

I went to that exhibition and can honestly say nothing there was as nice as either of these! Honestly it was mostly costumes and obviously 1920s fashion, although used as inspiration now was not generally as glamorous as it was made out to be. Only the most wealthy of women would have a selection of outfits and as a result a lot of the things on show were quite plain. The shoes they had though were adorable! Tiny tiny women's shoes, size 3 were about the sample sizes and they looked like they would barely fit a child's foot! We can also be very grateful that they don't make shoes the same as they did back then - both shoes out of the pair were identical so there was no shaping for comfort. I'm quite glad I exist in an age where flats are very much welcome. Although I covet this level of glamour, I don't think I could quite bear it in practice!

Freja Beha Erichsen

Apart from the fact that her name rather hilariously rhymes, I adore this girl for being such a massive hottie. The August edition of Vogue UK did an piece on her and it intrigued me so much when they mentioned she had a tattoo of a revolver that I instantly had to look it up. A tattoo has never been something I wanted before, but looking at hers, a tiny little gun on my neck, just behind my ear would be adorable. Yep, I am a definite convert! Here is aforementioned tattoo (this is the only picture I could get of it):

Nomnomnom. She is also skinny and flat-chested with a heavy brow and a strong jaw, yet she looks so alluring and womanly. There is hope for us boy-types yet! I think it is the plumpness of her lips... perhaps I'll have to consider collagen?

Patience

Hello.

Any of those who know me at all (and will be the only ones actually reading this blog) will know that I only created it to try and show of my bare wicked dress making skillz. However. Dressmaking appears to be for people who don't have to spend all the spare time in their lives trying to complete coursework/revise etc. Summer is nearing and since it appears I don't have a job I will hopefully be able to dedicate my time to making beautiful garments from all the material I have recently purchased. Please stick with it and visit back in perhaps a month? Hopefully there will be some real life results by then. I can promise you that I have finished one dress and only need to add the zip, so at least stick around for that!

Cheerssssssssss

Bye.

Stumble Upon

Sorry about the sudden onset of a load of posts but it's now revision time so obviously I'm doing anything but. Thought I'd do a fun little post using the site Stumble Upon to randomise me up some more obscure blogs! I've taken the first three fashion blogs that I come across and I've featured them on here. It's a good game if you want to try it. For those of you that aren't familiar, Stumble Upon is a website randomiser that takes your specific interests and picks a website from the darkest corner of interwebdom and pops it up on your screen. You really could waste so many hours playing this game. I know I have!

First blog to feature is.... 'Ooh Shiny'

Not so sure I enjoy the overall look of the blog and the blatant advertising but there are some groovoid things that have been posted. Such as:

This funny little zip up box thing! Pokeballesque yes? And so cute!

And a 'WonKey' that you can fix wobbly tables with. Brilliant.

Blog number two: 'Hel Looks'

A street style blog from Finland. It's very noticeable how much more the men seem to be into fashion. It is not often you see a man dressed like this on the streets of Manchester:

The first picture looks like a Vince Noir-a-like and the second like Boy George when he got all fat. Maybe it actually is Boy George? This is by far the best thing I've come across so far, the pictures are amazing. But alas, we must move on to number three...

'Splendora'

Looks a bit more like an online store than a blog. It could do with being a bit more inviting because I almost didn't peruse further. I did see that they've featured an animal photographer which was quite cute. Again, very boring to look at because the blog is a series of links rather than just posting onto the main page. There must be something good about it because it appears to have over 5000 facebook fans, more than can be said for myself!

Just to redeem it's name, here is a lovely pic by photographer Tim Flach, who Splendora have featured.

I just know you will all be trying this yourself now! It has literally taken up about three hours of my life... so far. Hope this is sufficient entertainment until summer comes and I might actually have a finished making a dress to post up on here. And my blog may then be just interesting enough to read :) Toodles!

'Blue Suede Shoes' is too obvious.

Susie Bubble did indeed get there first but I just want to say I heart them. My dad had a brown pair of suede lace up boots and I was so very jealous. I am still jealous because these are designer and therefore it would be better for my soul not to look directly at the price tag. But yum still!

Lady Gaga(s)

These Japanese girls adorably take emulating their idol very seriously. But then, if Lady Gaga is your idol, I don't think you have a choice! The effort they must have gone to is pretty inspiring. It's a shame we have such reservations in the way we dress or we could churn out beauties like this more often.

There are loads more, click here to see them! And obviously none of these pics are mine yeah?

But she's so young!

She is so frickin' hot! Reminds me of someone... can't think who.

'C. Päffgen, deceased 18/7/88'

I have developed a morbid fascination with once Andy Warhol/Velvet Underground superstar Nico. After Songs They Never Play on the Radio by James Young, bandmate and companion after her 15 minutes were over, it seems she's described by some as a ghostly presence living on the peripheries of life with a voice so haunting it needs no accompaniment. Others say she's a haggard old has-been who stomped around in biker boots and sounded like a man. I am in awe of both these personas and how someone who seemed less than bothered by what was going on around her could have solidified legendary status. Wasn't she beautiful?

If a body catch a body comin' through the rye...

If it's cool to wear a t-shirt depicting your favourite band, what to do if you are less-than-cool? Wear your favourite book! Kafka Cotton has designed a range of t-shirts themed by literary classics. How can you lose with a company whose tagline is 'Great Books. On Your Chest'? My fave is the teesh inspired by Joseph Heller's Catch 22 (sorry about the big size label, I would photoshop it out if I cared enough. Or knew how to do that).

For a more literal reference to your much-loved titles, Out of Print clothing will provide t-shirts featuring covers from everyone's favourite books, such as these Catcher in the Rye and Tales of the Jazz Ages tees.

If you simply can't decide which is your favourite book, why not just get your favourite author?

Will Douglas Adams be the face of a new Rolling Stones-esque t-shirt fad? Probably not, but if you fancy it anyway, go to Literary Rags to wear your idols upon thy breast.
So, for a look that is effortlessly nerdy, grab your tee now! If anything it may make the wearer look instantly more intelligent.

Kiss Me Kwik

HOORAH! The world may not have to suffer my endless supply of vegetable-themed birthday cards anymore! I've found a new card company that fulfils all my awkward birthday message needs. Kiss Me Kwik cards are the new way to give regards. If you're a gayer.

Mia Wallace

I'm really craving a Pulp-Fiction style wig...can't just be me?

**EDIT** haha... this model's face properly makes me laugh though.

Long and Lovely

Kids, I am absolutely falling for the look of those really awkward length skirts and dresses, the ones that stop mid calf. Ever since I saw Agyness Deyn in a white Topshop number, it occurred to me that I would forever be in want as I was not quite tall enough to pull off such a length. There were some great looks at London fashion week that give me hope the awkward length is going to pop up in high streets all around Britain.

Roksanda Illincic

Antonio Berardi

Charles Anastase

House of Holland

Ashish

Topshop Unique

I am just fully in love with the geometric prints on the long Ashish dresses. Plus they are sparkly so double bonus points there. Just another thing to drool over that I simply can't afford.

Quest for Colour

Thinking about my colourless wardrobe reminded me of the time when I was taking pictures of my clothes to sell on eBay and when I uploaded them I realised they looked a bit off - I had the black and white setting on the entire time without even realising. THAT IS HOW BLAND MY LIFE IS. At least I have the defence of saying that I was getting rid of those particular clothes. Anyway, my mission to inject some colour into my wardrobe that I would actually have the guts to wear is succeeding! I present to you:

I thought this was a groovy bananas oversized cardi, parfait for days when it's not cold enough for a big bulky coat and where you wouldn't normally be able to get away with an overly patterned coat, this gives enough excitement to my outfit to justify everything else being plain Jane. Also, the clasps are tres cool and what made me buy it in the first place:

A twisty metallic pattern! Brilliant. I got this norwegian number from Ebay for about a tenner, bargainious! Now, I know it's not particularly colourful but I bought this camel coloured wool coat as a way of not looking so dark and heavy on these breezy spring days in my big black coat and grey scarf:

I think it will work for my colour deprivation scenario and the fact that I can tie it up fairly loosely means that if I deem my outfit underneath interesting enough for the world I can give them a cheeky peek! Also brilliant! This one also came from Ebay, so very sorry if anyone has the urge to rush out and buy an identical one.

I previously mentioned cutting some very dodgy sleeves off a glittery blouse I bought when vintage shopping in Manc back in September. Here is the finished product:

I don't really know what to think of it because I still remember it when it looked like a bad jazz/tap costume reject. I think it will probably do to wear on a night out just to add some colour to a black dress but unsure of whether it's too tacky to brave out in the day. Anywhooo I saved the best for last. My mum saw the skull jumper that I posted up before and wanted to surprise me with it until she also saw the price tag. So instead, and how very innovative of her, she bought me a different jumper with a unique skull detail. I've got to say my confidence boosted enormously this morning when I walked into the kitchen and my flatmate said 'oh Ellie, if I were a girl I would want to have your dress sense!'. Fancy that eh? So basically well done mum for picking out this number! I was going to put up the whole outfit but it's really too casual to be putting on a blog so I'll just show you the wicky war war deets on the jumper:

Vair groovoid indeed! This one was actually bought in a shop, Republic as it happens, and it's still on sale for £19.99. As it's actually a crop top it's a little bit awkward to wear with jeans but hopefully when my dresses are done it will go nicely with them. Hoorah! Spring is here and I can show off my partially non black-white-grey clothes! Hopefully I will have some 'personal style' photos up soon so that you might feel slightly inspired by my random choice of purchases...or not. But always fun to judge other people's styles. I am a bit photophobic so might take a while but one day they'll be there.

Here It Goes Again

Unless you have been avoiding pop culture for the last 4 years or so, you will probably have seen the Ok Go video for the song 'Here it goes again', featuring the foursome doing an innovative dance routine involving four treadmills. Naturally this idea would have sparked the minds of advertising execs everywhere but disappointingly the treadmill-dancing was stolen for an advert for Berocca (you on a good day?), some vitamin tablet for old fogies. I was hoping it would be Honda or something like that, as they never fail to disappoint on the crazy ad front. Anyway, Ok Go have only bloody done it again! Check out this shizz!

A paper aeroplane explosion! An Indiana Jones-esque rolling ball! Even a tv featuring the Here it Goes Again video being smashed with a hammer! And just imagine the frantic camerawork weaving in between all of this, my God I was feeling the fear the whole time that something would have been knocked. Funnily enough, this has in a way been ripped off from a past Honda Advert, which in my opinion is ever-so slightly better because it features Rapper's Delight.

There is an article explaining just how they did it here if you care enough. They recruited a group of engineers (featured at the end of the video) to build the whole circuit and it gives me great hope that my crapfest of a mechanical engineering degree will one day pay off and I can do something as brilliant as this.

Leon's Fabrics

Ok first off, I am no seamstress, so my attempt to make my own dresses will be as good as anyone elses. I bought some loverly dress patterns and I haven't made anything properly since GCSE Textiles at 16, so bear with me. In the meantime, if you are a fellow wannabe seamstress, read on!

In my quest to attempt to make my own dresses I have been having trouble finding any decent fabric. I am so so very excited to announce that I found an amazing little shop. It was in Chorlton, a bit further out from Manchester but so worth the bus journey. One day I'm gonna go back there with my camera because it is seriously a fabric fetishists dreamworld. There were floor to ceiling rolls of material, it was so difficult to choose just three different fabrics! I already had in mind the sort of thing I wanted for each dress so that made it a bit easier. The patterns I have are these:

And I think you'll agree that the fabrics are just lovely! This is the fabric for the dress on the right hand side. It's actually navy blue but you can't really tell that here:

 This will be the halterneck fabric:

And this is the floaty evening dress fabric. I have taken a pic of it hanging so you can get the full on floatiness of it:

Sooo self indulgent of me to be telling the world this (well... Steph and Jim. You are the only two that know of this web address thus far!) but I am beyond excited about finally getting round to this project! Plus, I'm hoping that people will note that even idiots can sew, it's really so easy and much cheaper and more fun than normal clothes buying. I hope more people do this kind of thing, the world would be so much more interesting if people wore the clothes that they actually wanted, rather than what the shops shove down our throats.

Anyway, I won't bore you with intermittent progress, I'll just give you a gander of the finished articles. Report back in about 6 weeks and I may have even started by then!

I am Onit(suka)!

Ha, sorry about that terrible terrible pun. Is it weird that I very much want the new Onitsuka Tiger Mexico '66 Deluxe trainers? I know that is a ridiculously long name but I want them no less. They are oh-so-colourful (unlike me as we have already established!) so even though they are trainers and ladies don't wear trainers, where some girls are a sucker for heels I am very much a sucker for flats.

They remind me of all those episodes of Cribs where various rappers would have wardrobes full of trainers that just looked so perfect, all colour coordinated and undirtied. I wouldn't mind the red pair, just because on the leather they look pink and I like a bit of pink me, although the boring bastard in me would definitely go for the white. Nomnomnom.

WIWTW

WIWTW: No, not what I'm wearing this week, but what I WANT this week. And I want, want, want this amayzing jumper. I saw it first on Susie Bubble's blog (she got it early, what a poohead) and it was officially released to the public yesterday. Now, I don't have £200 to spare on jumpers but unfortunately I had already fallen in love with it when I saw the price. How cruel life can be.

Just look at that amazing detail! This is no normal breton jumper my friends... it has a hidden skull on it! For those of you who can afford it, it is from Sibling London. They have loads of other vair groovoid things, how very annoying for me. Oh, and please don't buy it, I wouldn't want your bloody nose to ruin that gorgey jumper now would I?