BAD HAIR DAYS

                              

So, I'm growing out my boy hair. I'm aiming for a Uma Thurman Pulp Fiction bob, trying to resist the urge to chop it all back off. So I'm going to be rocking a large number of hats over the next few months. 

I have 6 so far, mostly Topshop & Vintage. Fedoras, trilbies & bowlers, but I had my eye on this bigger one in Urban Outfitters. Now, I have an unusually small head, a pea head if you will, so I always struggle with hats, this one is too big but I'll have to avoid windy days. 

So get ready for many posts on hats…

RELAXED DAY OFF

My father insisted he hates this outfit, the trousers especially offend him apparently. I, however, don't care as I'm just so damn comfy.

The problem with days off is when you wear something nice you're wasting it on an insignificant day. Sure there's a quote about that somewhere. Anyway, this outfit is simply about comfort, the pants are from Beyond Retro in Dalston, I had them tapered as they were a tad flarey (not the best) and they are the key of the outfit. The rest is just lumped together, mothers hand knitted cardigan, a Topman tee & my trusty Dr Martens. I AM SO COMFY!!!! (and look like a Grandma)

KIMONO

Kimonos are huge at the moment, Topshop are mass producing them for the masses. I've had a thing for kimonos & sequin trophy jackets for years, I have hundreds (or maybe about 22).

I 'acquired' this dressing gown from my Papa about 10 years ago but just couldn't pluck up the courage to wear it as a kimono outside in the real world. I'll have to wait until next summer now & see if I pluck up the courage then.

(I wore: Topshop Jamie jeans, Topshop shoes, French Connection camisole, vintage kimono)

CLUB TO CATWALK AT THE V&A

When, on one of my weekend jaunts to visit the sister in London recently, I let her drag me to the Club to Catwalk exhibition at the Victoria and Albert. 

Now, I'm not entirely clued up on my fashion, I can identify a D&G from an Amanda Wakeley and differentiate a Givenchy to a Celiné (all from my Harvey Nichols days) however, I don't fully 'get' the history behind todays fashion and why I wear what I wear.

A few years ago I used to regard fashion very differently, I worked at Topshop and lived in flowery dresses and ballet pumps with a blazer thrown over against the chill. Then the opportunity to cross over brands to Topman presented itself & I never looked at a flowery dress again. I was introduced to boxy tshirts, oversized shirts and men's coats and fell in love with the silhouettes. My love of androgyny was born. Taking this love further I started to play with leather, shapes and mixing dresses (never flowery) tshirts and Doc Martens, never questioning my influences.

Then. I went to the V&A. And discovered 80s club fashion.

Photos weren't allowed in the Club to Catwalk exhibition which saddens me, however, what I did witness would never relate through a picture; studs, leather, slashes, metallics were all in front of me. Items by Vivenne Westwood, Malcolm Mclaren, John Galliano, BOY London and Betty Jackson (and many others not so well known) were all present. Outfits worn by Adam Ant & other new romantic heroes were within touching distance, (no. I did not touch) & really brought the era to life.

I got stuck in a blacked out video booth during the visit, I was entranced by about 25 screens showing nights from famous 80s clubs, such as Taboo. Knowing I would not be cool enough to be deemed entry to these clubs all the more enticed me into a jealousy of the people partying on the screen. The party people were wearing such outlandish outfits and looked so relaxed, the video screens just screamed coolness that I wanted to dive into. I had to be physically dragged from this room by my sister. Damn being born in '85 & not old enough to have partied in that era.

Looking at my outfit I wore to visit the exhibition made me feel like a particle of the 80s club culture could live on inside me today. Finally, I realised that there was more to what I was wearing than I had thought, or hadn't thought, when I had just thrown it on that morning.

(I wore, vintage jeans, my tartan blazer, a mens tshirt & my trusty doc martens shoes)

Here are some other photos of fashion inside the V&A that I was allowed to take photos of (unedited).

TARTAN

With everyone going crazy for tartan for AW13 I thought I'd resurrect this little number. Now I've been living in it for the past few months. I've probably over exposed it now, but it's just so toasty.

I bought it from ASOS Marketplace & took a pair of scissors to the lining to remove the giant 90s shoulder pads & voila, one boxy blazer. Perfect.

OBSESSION pt. 2

I know it's shallow, but I am completely & wholly obsessed with my nails.

And they're completely real.

DUNGAREES

Dungarees used to be reserved for toddlers (I had a pretty snazzy pair of Osh Kosh ones as a child, clearly I was stylish from a young age). However, I recently found this pair in Ark, they were styled with the pale pink camisole in the store, I bought both. They're super comfy for a night out but I've also worn them with Dr Martens whilst trailing around East London, just swapped the camisole out for a chunky knit. (Dungarees available here: http://www.ark.co.uk/item/hearts-and-bows/dungarees/hearts-and-bows-black-and-white-huesca-floral-dungarees/RQ0 )
I styled them with some Topshop heels and a borrowed Kenzo clutch (jealous that it's not mine) & was all ready for a night out. Here are all the bags that enjoyed our night out too.

(Kenzo, Givenchy & Celine)