a city beyond the sea

marchesa fw12

2012-02-18T12:16:00.000-08:00

beautiful dresses from marchesa fw12!

tba ss12

2012-02-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

TBA spring/summer 12 photographed by lyson marchessault.

aren't these the most perfect things you've ever seen?!

mutate

2012-02-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

the final photographs from my 'mutate' project where we had to emphasise a part of the body and use unconventional materials. my dress is also inspired by some drawings of jellyfish i did.

2012-01-29T09:07:00.000-08:00

A section of a painting a did a while ago. I don't usually like my own paintings that much but the colours in this are lovely.

2012-01-27T12:26:00.000-08:00

Elle Collections SS12, scanned by me!

white out

2012-01-22T05:51:00.000-08:00

over the christmas holidays i had to re-work a men's shirt to make any kind of garment i wanted.

i tried on a shirt in lots of different ways to get design ideas, and i also unpicked apart all of the shirt and pinned them together in different ways to get ideas. i ended up making a shirt-like dress, which i am very pleased about, although the photographs could have been better!

videotape

2012-01-19T15:37:00.000-08:00

(images 1,2,3,4)

I have no idea what to do when it comes to drawing. The first image is something I drew the other day, it's meant to be a self-portrait but actually looks nothing like me!

2012-01-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

(dress, asos. scarf, primark. shoes, dr martens. head scarf, liberty for tk maxx.)

i bought a few dresses in the asos sale but i won't be keeping them all. i especially liked this elliptical dress (here). it's very simple and wearable, which is what i like, and very comfortable too, haha! i bought another just like this, but it's wool with cap sleeves. this week is my last week off college and i have a lot of work to finish before i start, ooops!

p.s isn't my scarf long?!

black and gold

2012-01-02T06:15:00.000-08:00

(source 1,2,3,4)

2011

2012-01-01T18:24:00.000-08:00

happy new year everyone! here's my 2011 in a selection of photographs, in no particular order:

bands i've seen live, paris with my boyfriend, leeds festival, starting foundation, venice with college, france with family, becoming friends with my little cracker eloise (the last photograph), parties and nights out, christmas with family, meeting so many new people, getting to know people more.

this year, for me, was definitely the year of friends. i have met some of the most loveliest people due to being on foundation and i can tell that i will stay friends with a few of them for a very long time! i am so very grateful.

this was kieran and i last night. we ate dinner which he cooked, watched films, watched the fireworks and slept until this afternoon! i hope everyone had a nice evening and good luck for 2012!

lost in translation stills

2011-12-30T17:17:00.001-08:00

beautiful film!

christmas time is here

2011-12-28T12:32:00.000-08:00

(blouse, topshop. skirt, american apparel.)

i know it's no longer christmas time, but i thought i'd make a christmas outfit post anyway. i wore this to the 'jingle bopp ball' last week and also on christmas day.

i love this blouse, the collar is so pretty! i knew i had to have it as soon as i saw it in the shop, hahaha. i don't even care if i look like a christmas elf in it! i hope everyone had a good christmas and i hope everyone has fun on new years. i plan on going to the pub with my boyfriend and then staying home (he wants to cook me a meal, awk!).

p.s. take a listen to the song from the title, it's beautiful!

presents!

2011-12-27T09:46:00.000-08:00

i hope everyone had a wonderful christmas and received everything they wished for. here is what i got this year:

3 of my favourite films, american beauty, marie antoinette and lost in translation.

bon iver - bon iver, kate bush - hounds of love, a fine frenzy - bomb in a birdcage.

alexander mcqueen: savage beauty.

macbook pro from my parents.

..and this wondeful, unfinished bicycle from my boyfriend!

i have some outfit pictures to post from over the holidays, i'll pop them up as soon as i can.

marie antoinette stills

2011-12-27T05:28:00.000-08:00

i love this film! the cinematography, the setting, the costumes, i love everything about it and these are a few of my favourite stills from the film (that i got for christmas!).

2011-12-20T15:09:00.000-08:00

(top, new look. skirt, ark. shoes, primark.)

i look really moody in these photographs, ahahaha. i'm not ready for christmas at all! i still have my boyfriends and my brothers gift to buy! boys are so difficult to buy for though, especially the boys i know. i also broke up from college on friday which is nice but i'm starting to miss my friends already. i have a whole project to do over the holidays too! it sounds very interesting and exciting.

if i don't post before, have a lovely christmas and new year's!

cover me

2011-12-19T11:44:00.000-08:00

for the past two weeks i have been working on my first specialist project called cover me. we were looking at the concept of covering the body and creating a garment that had simple fastenings. no zips or buttons could have been used on the garments, it had to be tied or wrapped. i had two starting points. firstly i used a bed sheet to see what i could do with it in terms of wrapping and covering the body and secondly i made my own apron. using both techniques i came up with a few designs for my final garment.

i decided to do something very plain and simple (i had two of the three days of 'making' off due to illness and an open day!). if it were a more complicated design then it wouldn't have been so versatile and wearable. essentially it's a cape that can be worn in many different ways, a top, a skirt, it can be worn over one shoulder etc, etc.

these are some examples of my experiments with two aprons.

this is the finished garment, shown in a variety of ways.

and these are a few of the images i took on the photoshoot!

(all images were taken by me)

given to the wild

2011-12-02T13:36:00.000-08:00

(dress, topshop. jumper, new look. dr martens, ebay. headband, american apparel.)

i've decided that i don't like central saint martins and i'm going to look at lcf instead! and i really liked middlesex, the fashion tutor seems to have her head screwed on properly and the place just looks really amazing. if i get it sorted i should be going to westminter for an open day and i have a birmingham city and sheffield hallam open day coming up too! it's all getting very exciting now, also quite confusing keeping up with all the different universities, blah!

tomorrow is my mothers birthday and after i finish work in the morning i'm hoping to spend some time with her, doing nothing in particular. i bought her the new florence and the machine album which i know she'll love!

the sigh of relief

2011-11-23T07:53:00.000-08:00

(top, topshop. cardigan, topshop, shorts, topshop)

i don't think i've ever worn these shorts before! i bought them a few years ago and just left them a pile of unwanted clothes in the garage, but i found them recently and decided to reclaim them! i'm not really a shorts person, so it was a nice change to wear them.

tomorrow i'm off to central saint martins for an open day and i'm really excited! part of me hopes that i'll find something i wont like, so i don't have to be disappointed (if) when they decline my application ahaha. i'm also going to middlesex on saturday. i'll let you know how they both go!

la biennale di venezia

2011-11-20T09:02:00.000-08:00

so last week i was in venice with my art foundation course. the city is a lot more beautiful than i anticipated, and i didn't quite believe that there were no roads when i got told, so that was surprising! i don't think there's another city quite like venice, i'm glad i went.

the whole reason why we visited venice was because the biennale was taken place. the biennale is a big contemporary art exhibition that happens every two years. the art there wasn't my 'type' but i still really enjoyed it.

(all these images were taken by me!)

2011-11-10T13:58:00.000-08:00

(source 1,2,3,4)

i love workspaces and moodboards. i can't wait to get into my own little space at college where i can put up pictures of everything that inspires me.

i went to my first university open day yesterday, at leeds college of art. the building is very much like my old sixth form college, very modern and slightly dull. the course does sound really good though, i just don't like the environment which to me, is important. i'll also be looking around middlesex, central saint martins, sheffield hallam, birmingham city and uwe bristol, very exciting!

your lips they stay perfectly still

2011-11-06T12:24:00.000-08:00

(top, gift from france. cigarette trousers, topshop. ballet shoes, new look. coat, new look. watch, urban outfitters.)

i've been looking everywhere for a boyfriend/car style coat for so long. the ones i've found are either too expensive or don't fit me properly. this one fits perfectly, it isn't too long or boxy and it cost considerably less then those in topshop or zara!

i love these trousers too! they're so comfy and i feel like audrey hepburn whenever i wear them, haha!

2011-11-06T11:10:00.000-08:00

a few weeks ago i had to bring in an old book into college to make something out of it. i ended up taking out the pages, wetting them so i could scrunch and rip them up and sewing them together to make a dress. i'm really pleased with it and think it turned out really well! i also made a little pop up thing with the remains of the book.

i look inside myself and see my heart is black

2011-11-03T12:58:00.000-07:00

(roll neck jumper, asos. skirt, asos. belt, topshop.)

i haven't done one of these in a while. i have little free time anymore and whenever i do it's always too dark to take any pictures. i struggled getting these as light as i wanted because they were too dark, even though i took them at 3pm! crazy. foundation is really good, i've never felt out of my depth at all and i've been able to do most things so far. i get put into my specialist group in the next few weeks which is exciting, i am 99.99999% sure which one i'll end up in! i bet you can guess!

2011-11-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

this is what i looked like during my time in paris, i really do feel nostalgic looking at these pictures! the last picture is my boyfriend, kieran.
i hope you've enjoyed looking at how awkward i am!

2011-10-31T15:03:00.000-07:00

(images, 1,2,3,4)

really into pink hair at the minute, so cute!

2011-10-31T12:33:00.000-07:00

this is everything that i'm currently lusting over on asos. it's all about the snuggly and warm looking parka coats that you could get lost in, preppy heathers-esque hair accessories, rucksacks big enough to fit all of my college stuff in, slim black trousers, garments with cut-away detail, jil sander inspired colour block tops and round sunglasses.

2011-10-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

(images 1, 2, 3, 4)

it's always darkest before the dawn.

what we have here is a dreamer

2011-10-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

a few weeks ago i had to take a self-portrait for my college work, the image on the top left corner was my final image. i decided that in my pictures i wanted to come across as someone who was out of touch with reality. the other images are inspiration that i used, tim walker, john william waterhouse, tim gutt and laura sciacovelli.

london fashion week ss12 favourites

2011-10-27T07:38:00.000-07:00

paul smith

topshop unique

erdem

mary katrantzou

calke abbey

2011-10-21T11:36:00.000-07:00

photographs i took on a trip with my art foundation class in september!

(all images are mine!)

new york fashion week ss12 favourites

2011-10-14T14:09:00.000-07:00

band of outsiders

oscar de la renta

rodarte

winter shopping and hair dyeing.

2011-10-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

autumn/winter is my favourite time to buy new clothes. coats, jumpers and woolly tights, yes please!

the black and grey jumper and the blazer are from new look. the red jumper and thecream and black contrast top are from h&m. i've also recently purchased some coloured hair dye from ebay (apline green, pastel pink and turquoise) as i plan on doing something crazy with my hair. i think i'm going through some kind of life crisis but never mind, it'll fade! (wow i look high in that last pic)

louis in translation

2011-10-08T07:17:00.000-07:00

elle uk, november 2011. scanned by me!

what i've been up to..

2011-10-07T12:39:00.000-07:00

last month i spent 5 days in Paris. it was the first time i had ever been and i loved every second of it! i've started my art & design foundation course and i have lots of photos to post in the future.

all images are mine.

glitter face

2011-08-22T17:16:00.000-07:00

sources unknown.

2011-08-14T14:11:00.000-07:00

although me and my mother have different tastes, it's quite clear that i inherited her interest in interior design. maybe it was down to the suffering i went through when i was young, watching linda barker or laurence llewlyn-bowen on changing rooms,or because she always loved taking me along to her favourite furniture and 'at home' stores. now i don't watch much television but i do enjoy running off the the home sections (whenever there is one) of shops that i'm in. if only i had my own house.

sources: designfiles, lolitas, frenchbydesign, elsa.elle, olgabennett, parachutgirl.

there is thunder in our hearts

2011-08-05T08:07:00.000-07:00

bonjour! at the moment i'm in france for a weeks holiday with my family. i've not really been doing much these last few days as i intend to just relax and chill whist i'm away. i've been to a few nearby towns and bought a few things and today i wondered aimlessly around the town i'm stopping in with my camera and took a few pictures of pretty houses and buildings that caught my attention. now i'm sat by the pool, 'reading' french vogue and eating macarons!

(top, topshop. skirt, american apparel. sunglasses, bought in france. ring, bought in france. bag, fieldguided. sandals, dorothy perkins.)

move dust through the light to show your name

2011-07-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

(jacket, vintage. blouse, asos. skirt, topshop. shoes, dr martens)

i haven't been doing much lately apart from working, sleeping and seeing my boyfriend. as from august, however, this will all change as i'm going to france with my parents for a week, going to leeds festival for four to five days, going to paris for a week with my boyfriend and then going to venice for a few days with college. there are long gaps between each event but i can tell already that it's going to go by so quickly and i'm very excited, especially for paris. i've never been to paris before and i plan on seeing all the beautiful places and sights!

i actually prefer this outfit with shorts but i'm silly and don't feel comfortable wearing them ahah. i got the dr martens for really cheap on ebay, i'm so happy i have them!

i can still hear your voice

2011-07-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

(shirt, barbara hulanicki for george. skirt, american apparel.)

2011-06-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

the first four items are from the asos sale. the rest are from ebay except the shoes, from the topshop sale.

i've been going slightly bonkers on ebay recently, buying and selling! it's so much fun and i've become obsessed, which is really bad!

i've been wanting some watercolours for so long so i could just paint whenever i like. i find watercolours the easiest paints to use and when you're done, they're quick to tidy up (the main reason why i love them!).

you show up like a hurricane

2011-06-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

i went for a walk today and decided to show off my new dress from asos. as soon as whipped out my camera, it started raining! the weather recently has been such a contrast between the weather this time last year, it was so warm and sunny every day! i hope it warms up soon so i can get into the summer mood as recently i've been feeling bored.

(dress, asos. heels, topshop.)

final art show

2011-06-21T13:27:00.000-07:00

this evening was the private viewing of the final art show at my college. it was busy and extremely hot in the classrooms but it was really nice to see everyone's work up and on show. i'm really pleased with my work, it's not perfect and i'm not the best at what i do but i'm happy!

applied art exam unit

fashion unit and textiles unit

fine art unit

photography nostalgia and portraiture unit

nostalgia unit

portraiture unit

exam unit

me at the sewing machine!

i love this dress.

2011-06-21T13:14:00.000-07:00

(ribbed crop top, topshop. pinafore dress, topshop. ankle socks, primark. shoes, asos)

bedknobs and peonies

2011-06-16T15:05:00.000-07:00

my flickr

do you dream at all?

2011-06-08T15:11:00.000-07:00

i have no idea why i blog because i lead the most boring life in the world but never mind.

today i felt like i should have lived during the seventies with my floaty blouse and my denim skirt, hot.

(blouse, h&m. bandeau, american apparel. skirt and belt, topshop.)

2011-06-08T09:36:00.001-07:00

images from my flickr.

my heart speaks in tugs and puddle jumps

2011-06-05T13:05:00.000-07:00

(dress,topshop. socks, primark. heels, topshop.)

i decided to wear my hair tied up today. i have to have it up for work and by the time my shift ends my hair is a mess so today i just left it! i got this dress a few years ago in the topshop sale and every now and then i see images of girls wearing it (better than me obviously) on the internet, so i dug it out of my wardrobe and wore it today!

2011-06-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

as i said in the previous post, i went shopping and got treated to some nice things. one being this embroidered pinafore dress from topshop. i love it because it's so cute and unique, i feel like i need to treasure it forever i love it that much!

i also bought a few pairs of brogue shoes from primark (cheap? but they were also reduced!) and a cute wicker-style bag. i don't know why but when i saw it, i had to have it!

So wake, wake up

2011-06-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

(orange blouse/top, new look. chambray skirt, american apparel. wedges, primark. necklace, no idea!)

i haven't been posting much recently! i've been busy doing nothing really, plus i've broken one of my cameras and i've lost the charger for another so.. yeah! this is a boring, simple outfit that I wore out shopping with my mum. i love the top i'm wearing because the colour is really bright and the material is really floaty and just lovely. i got treated to some lovely things today (i have an overly soft mum haha!) that i'll take pictures of once i find my camera charger.

2011-05-28T05:05:00.000-07:00

everything was bought from asos except for the last item which was from topshop. i am totally in love with the shoes, they're so cute! i'm taking back the skirt because it makes my hips look huuuuuuge, which is a shame as it's gorgeous.

spring couture

2011-05-20T03:46:00.000-07:00

2011-05-17T04:44:00.000-07:00

this is where i spend most of my days.

i have awful thoughts and i cannot sleep.

2011-05-16T14:59:00.000-07:00

l'extérieur

2011-05-14T04:30:00.000-07:00

(click images for sources)

i need you so much closer

2011-05-13T11:28:00.000-07:00

(sunglasses,topshop. shirt, topshop. skirt, american apparel. clogs, office. bag, topshop.)

2011-05-12T10:27:00.000-07:00

my flickr

blue

2011-05-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

(dress, courtesy of motel. crochet waistcoat, tk maxx. wedges, primark.)

i've been busy with college recently (why do i always talk about college?). i've finished all my lessons and now i just have my exams left to do. art starts next week and lasts for 3 days, i'm excited! anyway, i decided to team the dress with a crochet waistcoat and cream wedges.

i think it's a simple look but the waistcoat adds that little bit of detail. i think the dress would also look great as part of a colour-block outfit, with brightly coloured jewellery and bag which i'll try next!

also, you can get 15% of at motelrocks.com using the discount code: 'beyondthesea', however this does not include sale items and accessories!

the royal wedding

2011-04-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

i really enjoyed the royal wedding this morning. being brought up catholic i wasn't at all surprised at the duration of the ceremony, too many times have i had to endure endless weddings. however, the ceremony was lovely and i may or may not have choked up when william told catherine she looked beautiful! so cute!

i was so happy that sarah burton designed kate's dress. it's such a timeless style and very elegant. the white and ivory gazar gown features a v-neck demure, long sleeves and a full skirt with a 2 meters 70cm train. the ivory satin bodice is reminiscent of victorian corsetry and is a hallmark of lee alexander mcqueen's designs. a great day for english fashion!

they are the perfect royal couple, aww!

fieldguided

2011-04-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

a couple of weeks ago i came across the fieldguided store and fell in love with their tote bags. so much so that i ordered one and it arrived in the post this morning! it's beautiful and the quality is amazing, i recommend them completely. plus the packaging is adorable!

fieldguided store

fieldguided blog

parisian

2011-04-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

my friend helena is doing fashion illustration and is looking at the 1950s, so she needed something to draw from. so, on thursday i spent half of the day dressed up as a parisian girl from the 1950s. i didn't want to take the dress off, it was so beautiful and kindly lent to us by our art tutor.

helena and i are planning a trip to paris in the summer, so we're going to pretend to be french, well.. austrian-french because we're both blonde and also because of marie antoinette. excited doesn't even begin to explain how i feel!

i wonder if i'm allowed to ever be free

2011-04-12T09:17:00.000-07:00

(silk shirt, topshop. denim skirt and belt, topshop. wedges, primark. satchel bag, primark.)

it was really windy today, as you can tell in the photographs! like the other day i had no real reason for wearing this outfit, i just liked it. i love my denim skirt because i can wear it with anything, plus it's both a summer and winter item! this week is my last at college before the easter holidays. i'm so excited as i'm in need of a well deserved rest! i don't have many plans.. i'm going out at the weekend but that's all for now. maybe i'll be lazy and do nothing everyday, aw yeah!

photography exam inspiration

2011-04-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

bird of the summer

2011-04-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

(dress, topshop. bag, topshop. socks, primark. wedges, primark.)

if you live in england, you're probably sick of everyone talking about how nice the weather is! if that's the case then i apologize because the weather was bloody lovely! i had work this morning and then decided to for a little walk to the village close to my house. for a couple of hours i sat in this field doing silly things like dizzy dinosaurs, hopefully no one was watching aha!

2011-04-08T11:20:00.000-07:00

everything from this haul was bought from primark and cost less than £20. i know people seem to have a problem with primark, it's cheap therefore the quality is not as good. yeah, i agree the quality is not always the best but if it's well looked after.. also i believe it's how you wear an item of clothing that's important, not where you bought it from! so here's what i got:

i should really be saving up my money for summer but a little retail therapy was desperately needed!

art exam inspiration

2011-04-06T15:37:00.000-07:00

colour

2011-04-05T10:50:00.000-07:00

i really like the spring trend of adding a pop of bright colour to your outfit. i don't exactly have an overly colourful wardrobe but i tried to recreate something anyway. the skirt isn't 'bright' but never mind!

i haven't been doing anything lately apart from working at the supermarket and doing college work. i have such an exciting life, i wish it was summer now.

(shawl cardigan, primark. floral vest top, tkmaxx. silky skirt, american apparel. lace-up clog shoes, office.)

here are a few outfits that might inspire for this trend:

(images via zara, nymag and refinery29.)

i've seen this skirt from the zara website and i just love it. every time i go find it in the shop they never had it. i think it works perfectly with this trend and it's so pretty. not a colour i would normally go for at all!

p.s. my bitchface is in full view today! sorry!

2011-04-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

i've had no energy recently which i'm blaming on work. i basically walk around a supermarket for four hours for three days a week and that must really tire me out! i've started all my exam prep for both art and photography which is both good and bad. i love starting new projects but the research part of the prep is extremely boring and dull. not long now 'till i leave college, how daunting!

(jumper and demin skirt, both topshop.)

webcam pictures are more fun.

2011-03-31T09:50:00.000-07:00

yeah, i have blonde hair now! i'm just about used to it, it was so strange looking in the mirror and not seeing red! it's also not the right colour yet as i want it a little darker but i have to wait a little first. i did it at the hairdressers and it took about 6 hours (my bum was literally dead).

(top, skirt and belt from topshop. original!)

2011-03-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

i had a day off from college yesterday so me and my mum went to lincoln. we bought a few things and went for some lunch in a lovely little cafe. i hardly ever go to lincoln because i spend most of my time (and money) in nottingham. it was nice for a change, it's different and a little more quaint than nottz, aha! i bought myself a demin skirt that i've had my eye on, and my mum bought me a floral top and necklace/bracelet from the sale. everything is from topshop.

professional practice: number one

2011-03-24T15:23:00.000-07:00

for my art exam i have to carry out research into the working practices of three professional artists or designers. as i am looking into doing a garment for my final piece i am looking into three local fashion designers (hopefully). the first person i 'interviewed' was a woman called caroline jackson who is the fashion tutor in Foundation at my college and also owns a fashion boutique called pink and lilly.

caroline took a textiles degree where she created a lot of knitted art work however most of them were more fashion pieces, so she decided to take a masters in fashion. after her education she became a freelance designer, working for small companies before making her own business selling to boutiques, she then came to own her own shop. the clothes she made were feminine yet edgy and she also made bright coloured, silky corsets which happened to be her best selling collection. now working full time at ncn college and running her shop she only makes one offs for her friends and family. she is mostly inspired by current trends and people's style but she also said that with a business your work has to be very customer lead and you have to know what sells. her favourite designer is marc jacobs because he doesn't care about what people think about him or his work and he doesn't take himself seriously. she also explained that with a business you have to meet deadlines, there is no other option! her shop:

pink and lilly opened in 2006 and quickly became nottingham's award winning clothing boutique. voted heart fm's fashion retailer of the year in 2009, pink and lilly have developed into a much loved boutique in nottingham and aim to bring the same unique shopping experience online. they offer and eclectic mix of stock from sweet prom dresses to great jeans and t-shirts along with a fantastic array of accessories to complete every outfit with a price range to suit ever wallet. clothes include lables such as dtn jeans, ringspun, eucalyptus, yuki, liquorish clothing, jarlo and charas. accessories by hannah makes things, stolen thunder, alexia scarves and irregular choice shoes!

fashion week favourites: part four

2011-03-23T17:36:00.000-07:00

my favourites from paris:

alexander mcqueen

last year sarah burton probably had the most difficult job in fashion and although this collection is showing the transition point between mcqueen's reigning legacy and burton's vision of the legacy, it seemed as though lee never went away. the show was held in the prison of marie antoinette, and the collection encapsulated both her story and lee's. i think this collection still has that wow factor that lee was so well known for with the broken china/organza dresses, leather harnesses, buckles and zip-detailing on skirts. i love the soft, elegant white tulle dresses (they make me wish i was getting married!), they're my favourites along with the broken china dresses!

miu miu.

warkglrfnmthdlfrthgfhr this collection makes me want to jump into a mass of miu miu coats, collars and dresses, hold them very close to myself and never let them go. possibly the most elegant miu miu collection yet, inspired by the 40s. i love the rustic colour palette, the fact that miuccia can give the girls bold shoulders but still have them looking feminine and i also love prints on the dresses. my favourites are the tan dress (second left), the black dress with yellow collar (third right) and the yellow coat-style dress (fifth left). Oh and the shoes are to die for!!
valentino.

Nudes nudes nudes nudes nudes! this collection is so pretty and delicate looking, they're also very simple monotone looks that are very now and youthful. i love the detailing in the lace and sequins and the peacock feather coat /print dress. i obviously also love the colours, mainly nudes and pinks with the odd dark blue and vampy reds. yum!

(all images from 'fashion week favourites' via vogue.fr)

2011-03-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

after being exposed to so much crochet i've decided to look into starting. i was a little skeptic at first, i thought it would be difficult because i can't knit at all (don't get me started!) but it doesn't look too confusing. so today i went to john lewis and bought myself a hook and some 'easy to use' yarn. i'm quite excited to get into it and make something! the hook cost 95p and the yarn £3.00.

i also decided to have a little wander into h&m whilst in town. i rarely shop in there but i do believe they sell a few really nice pieces every now and then. i came out £50 poorer which i didn't expect, here's what i bought:

i really like everything i bought, especially the blouse and the jacket. i hardly wear jackets like this and i thought this one was really cute. whether i have anything to wear with it, i don't know! it reminded me a lot of miu miu spring 2010, obviously because of the bird print and the colour. the blouse will be perfect for summer and festivals, it'll look cute with some demin shorts and brogues. the vest is a simple and versatile item that can pretty much go with anything!

dream outfit II

2011-03-22T04:50:00.001-07:00

move on by ghostinmylungs featuring summer totes

spots and triangles

2011-03-21T16:50:00.000-07:00

i've never thought to mix prints and patterns together in my outfits. my mum always used to tell me to never wear spots and stripes together, but why not? i had fun putting this outfit together, it was a beautiful day so i wanted to be slightly colourful. i didn't really mind that the colours didn't go exactly and i don't think it looked too bad!

(spotty dress worn as a top, topshop. knitted cardigan, topshop. zip-through skirt, sparkle&fade at urban outfitters. suede block heels, topshop. sunglasses, betsey johnson. belt, primark.)

as i said, today has been lovely, probably the warmest day of the year so far. it was nice to not have to worry about wearing a coat and other winter accessories as i love going out with a cardigan and a pair of sunglasses. today i started my art exam research. i'm quite exciting about it as i get to research into the working practices of some professional designers/artists and i literally get to write my own brief. i'll also be starting my photography exam on wednesday. it doesn't seem like two days since i first started college, now i'm in my final year doing my exams, wow.

Here is some inspiration for mixing patterns that I found useful!

(images via style.com, atlantic-pacific, jaimen lee.)

2011-03-19T13:47:00.000-07:00

(camel ottomen rib jacket, american apparel. spotty dress, topshop. bag, market)

this is my gormless self showing off my new bag. i bought it from the market in my town which was really bizarre seeing as everyone here isn't really known for their ultra-amazing fashion sense and that the only real high street shops are new look, dorothy perkins and monsoon. however karen bonson from topshop unique is originally from a town not far from me, there is hope! so yes, i was quite surprised to see these bags and they were at a great price too. there was also a vintage stall which made me very happy, i almost felt a little proud of my town. now if only they'd invest in some decent high street shops, that would be very lovely!

fashion week favourites: part three

2011-03-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

my favourites from milan:

aquilano.rimondi

the 60s were truly alive and well during the aquilano.rimondi show. i love the mondrian-inspired dresses. instead of the primary colours seen in the piet mondrian-like dresses from the sixties, they were made up of muted tones and lots of gold and bronze. the dresses were also made up of lavish fabrics and textures such as shaggy mohair, ostrich feathers and bands of beading. My favourite looks have to be the nude dress (top right), the golden yellow coat and the yellow dog-tooth-esque dress (bottom left).

prada.

anything that miuccia prada sends down the runway has a place in my heart. that woman is a goddess. it started off simple and innocent like with the princess coats drop-waisted dresses, black dresses with box pleats and schoolgirl checks. Prada seemed to be looking at textures and fabrics such as the fur coats and hats, python boots that clung like second skin and paillette dresses. my favourite looks were the paillette dresses, like what i said about christopher kane's sheered sequined dresses, they remind me of mermaids (i love mermaids, i admit) particularly the last two looks pictured. what i also love about this collection is that miuccia didn't send down a single pant, which reminded me of myself as a child - i would never wear trousers or jeans!

dream outfit I

2011-03-17T10:51:00.001-07:00

i like you by ghostinmylungs featuring a sheer dress

pirouette

2011-03-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

(box shirt (under jumper), topshop. cropped jumper, h&m. double shirred chiffon skirt, american apparel. leather satchel, vintage. sunglasses, vintage.)

happy mondays

2011-03-15T04:33:00.000-07:00

because mondays are sad and dull i want to share with you people that inspire me and make me happy so they can make you happy too! (it is tuesday now, i know, but we can easily forget about that!) the first person i'd like to talk about is a young photographer named laurence. what i love about her photographs is that she can take a simple idea and turn it into something wonderful and magical - like a children's fable or a dream. with their obvious clean and innocent beauty, her photographs seem to have this dark side which is hardly noticeable. whether this was done on purpose, i do not know, but it makes them more interesting then originally thought. laurence has taught me to swim deep into my pool of childhood memories and dreams and to not be scared to photograph them and show people. even if this was not her intent, i believe to have become a better photographer because of it. please visit her flickr account (link under the images) to really experience her work, maybe this blab i've just written will make sense!

(images via laurence's flickr)

fashion week favourites: part two

2011-03-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

my favourites from london:

house of holland.

guests to the show and after party received bingo board invitations and bingo marker pens, which makes sense after seeing his granny chic collection. i love the fact that even though henry holland appeals to a younger audience, his collection includes bingo balls, budgerigars, blanket-like patterns such as the tweed and the crocheting. My favourite looks have to be the orange jumper with pearl sleeves, the budgerigar shirt dress (yes please), the orange blazer with the pink skater skirt and the crochet skater dress.

christopher kane.

i'm not going to lie, at first i really didn't understand or like this collection at all but now i completely get it. Inspired by lollipops and pencil-cases from his youth, kane created something that was completely different and had not been done before. i'm still not a massive fan of the crocheted pieces but i like the geometric patterns featured in them. My favourites are the sheered sequined dresses near towards the end. They remind me of mermaid tails and the plastic edges around them remind me of sunset skies. The fluid inside the plastic is made of vegetable oil and glycerine and once warmed up on the bodies of the models, the liquid moves it's way up through the plastic.

mary katrantzo.

as soon as i saw this collection, i fell very much in love with it. oh prints, prints, prints and more prints! i love the structure of her trademark lampshade skirts and the layering of dresses over jumpers and of course, the different floral and bird prints featured in dresses, skirts, jackets and trousers. to me her looks are a cross between mosaic vases and russian dolls and my favourite has to be the look seen in the middle picture. i love the pink flowers on the skirt, especially, it's so pretty.

paul smith.

i am a paul smith fangirl, not only because we're both from nottingham, but because he manages to make sexy, yet elegant men's clothes for women. there was a preppy, laid back feel to the looks styled with glasses, ties, loafers and skinny belts. I love the rustic, city-worker grey colour palette with every now and then a little splash of vibrant oranges, pinks and yellows. my favourites are the camel cardigan, grey waistcoat and tie combination, and the cropped and rolled up trousers in various colours. if i'm ever unfortunate to end up with an office job, this is totally how i would dress.

mulberry.

for this collection, emma hill was inspired by 'traditional english pursuits' - fishing, hunting and shooting. also inspired by the film the fantastic mr fox, it was one of hill's favourite books as a child. with an earthy palette of moss green, camel, fox brown and red onion, the collection displayed floor-length, gathered dresses, high-waisted skirts and pleated dresses. also her references are evident with her quilted jackets, tweed coats and duffles.my favourite look has to be the nude bird print dress, so cute!

(all images via vogue.fr)

i met you at the blood bank

2011-03-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

(cable knit cardigan, ark. pussybow blouse, primark. chambray full woven skirt, american apparel.)

fashion week favourites: part one

2011-03-12T07:01:00.000-08:00

my favourites from new york:

rodarte.

the american plains were an obvious inspiration for the mulleavy sisters, seen in the floor-grazing silk gowns with wheat fields printed along the hem, ankle-length coats and leather and pony skin separates. other influences include the wizard of oz and days of heaven, however the sisters made the reference their own via their signature devotion to craft. doilies, homemade crocheting, folksy embroideries, quilting and macramé. crocheting and embellished embroidery are two of my very favourite things so i knew as soon as i saw this collection i would fall in love with it, i also adore nudes and beiges so the sandy colour palette is perfect to me!

this show certainly had a narrative. the long silk gowns that appeared throughout all grew darker as the show progressed, followed by hellish and demonic, sultry sequins and pointed, horned shoulders as two red dresses emerged. the last looks showed the stirring clouds and then an unpleasant and unnatural yellow.

jason wu.

jason told vogue that 'the inspiration for this collection began with robert polidori's book parcours museologique revisite, which documents the restoration process of versailles over a 25-year period. I love the contrast between the opulent decors with the raw materials seen in mid-construction'. at first his looks were mostly sportswear mixed with delicate elements such as lace, frilled collars and embroidery. this disappears quickly and out comes the clean and tidy dresses with lace embroidery, swarovski crystals, tulip dresses and dreamy feathers. as the show was near to the end, billowing column dresses took the catwalk with thigh-high slits and embellished lace. I really love the utterly feminine and elegant looks that wu created. as a sucker for anything nude, the middle set of pictures just make me feel beyond happy!

(all images via vogue.fr)

2011-03-11T11:18:00.000-08:00

(pins & needles poet blouse from urban outfitters, asos crochet collar, asos string waisted midi dress.)

this spring, to me, is all about soft tailoring, pastel colours and cute accessories. i love the midi dresses and maxi skirts trend, however being 5''1 makes wearing them a little difficult!

miu miu

2011-03-10T14:16:00.000-08:00

(image via vogue.fr)

i'm planning on writing a fashion week post once paris fashion week is over but i can not contain this excitement i have for the miu miu show any longer. apart from the use mink fur, i adore everything about it, the muddy colours, the collars, the shoulders, the swallow prints and the embellished sleeves. very forties and formal (but fun) and so perfect for autumn!

adolescence

2011-03-09T05:40:00.000-08:00

images taken by me, via my flickr.

these images are from a shoot i did last week with my good friend helena. i really like the results and i hope some of the film images i took come out just as good too.

chanel spring 2011

2011-03-09T04:35:00.000-08:00

Images via chanel.com

i've been staring at the first image in my vogue magazine for a while now. it's such a perfect shoot and perfect clothes too!

hello

2011-03-08T16:29:00.000-08:00

(grey ribbed crop top with long sleeves, topshop. bone chiffon double-layerd shirred skirt, american apparel)

this is me! my name is hannah and i'm eighteen, i'm studying applied art and photography at a levels and next year i'll be doing an art foundation degree. i enjoy fashion, listening to music, reading, taking pictures of my beautiful friends, nature, animals, pretending i'm in a sofia coppola movie, pretending i'm in a john hughes movie, researching and discovering new artists/designers, travelling, my car, givenchy haute couture, sleeping in my bed, space, pre-raphaelite art, beautiful people and cats.