#7

I don't know about you, but having to walk/jog through the relentless showers England has experienced this week, dodging puddles and ending up with soaked feet anyway, has really made me start to wish we'd see a bit more of the idyllic spring weather I picture for so long every winter. However, as most of the country has already been declared in drought, I'm not going to be wishing the rain away just yet and instead am going to try and bring a little bit of sunshine to my blog by focusing on the truly controversial colour, yellow.


May I just remind you that this is a colour that Chris Martin sings about, so in my books that makes it a pretty good colour already. However, when it comes to incorporating the shade into our wardrobes, we all seem to try to avoid it, leaving it up to the models and runways to advocate. But what better way is there to brighten up your day than wearing yellow? Admittedly you might get a few suspicious stares if you're skipping through puddles and embracing the rainfall in a plastic-look yellow mac, with a plastic-look yellow hat and superbly yellow wellies on, but I'm convinced there are ways to make the colour a wardrobe staple, especially this year. Key yellow-featuring trends appearing at the moment include delicate laces and pretty pastels, and while these may not suit your mood on a rainy day, the bolder, heavier and wilder side of 2012 spring/summer trends just might!(and vice versa)

My top 3:

1)The blazer

Blazers seem to dangle in the wings of the fashion stage almost all year, every year. Whether they're with shoulder pads, rolled up sleeves, equestrian style, jet black or primary coloured, they're pretty much impossible to escape from, and I'm not complaining.

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=4989814&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208526&parent_categoryId=203984&pageSize=20&refinements=Colour{1}~[yellow]&noOfRefinements=1

Team with your every day jeans (rolled up if you like), a white t-shirt, neutral heeled-sandals or flats and a floral bag for a day to evening look.

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=4667560&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208527&parent_categoryId=203984&pageSize=20

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_089010696094_-1?breadcrumb=Home~Women~Handbags+%26amp%3B+purses

http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-HUEY-Heeled-Sandals-with-Ankle-Strap/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1864935&cid=4172&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=200&sort=-1&clr=Nude

2) The Jean

Colour pop jeans have been a trend for a few months now, though over winter the most popular colours were darker tones such as maroon and dark green. Although wearing bright yellow jeans may be a scary thought, when paired with less in-your-face colours they can work wonders, and if that still isn't enough to convince you, go for pastel yellows instead.

http://www.asos.com/ASOS-Petite/ASOS-PETITE-Skinny-Jeans-In-Lemon-Yellow-4/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2161736&cid=3630&Rf-200=6&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Lemonyellow

http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Yellow-Skinny-Jeans-with-Abrasion/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1927675&cid=3630&Rf-200=6&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Vibrantyellow

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/jeans/32in-coloured-skinny-jeans_239372486

http://www.asos.com/Denimocracy/Denimocracy-Tie-Dye-Skinny-Jeggings/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2108854&cid=2623&Rf-200=6&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Yellow

3) The Dress

Yellow is naturally a day time colour but with yellow dresses, the colour in itself can be the statement piece for an evening event making it perfect for either or.

http://www.missselfridge.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=33055&storeId=12554&productId=4924761&langId=-1&cmpId=gbase&viewAllFlag=false&sort_field=Relevance&beginIndex=1&pageSize=20&categoryId=213542&parent_categoryId=213497

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/dresses/te-amo-lemon-belted-skater-dress_250935886

http://www.asos.com/River-Island/River-Island-Bow-Neck-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2124484&SearchQuery=yellow%20dress&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=-1&sort=-1&clr=Yellow

In really bad weather conditions, try the jeans with a baggy jumper/top, a casual dress with a wintery cardigan and boots, or the blazer also with boots and a less flowery bag! If all else fails, grab a pair of yellow wellies! Who knows, they might just make you happy to see the rain!

#6

It seems like forever since I was sat here at my computer, attempting to write something mildly interesting for you and enjoyably time consuming for me. Still, I am back after my 'not-so-inspired' break and planning to do a post all about Made In Chelsea (yes that reality television show featuring young, pompous millionaires).

I'm ashamed to say I have sat through two episodes of the new series, (admittedly whilst fuming and sulking at how these people seem to own my dream wardrobe) before coming here to have a little natter about the 'Made In Chelsea' style.

It appears however, that I am not the only one whose taken an interest in the 'Chelsea' look. Various magazines such as Glamour and Grazia have featured some of the characters wardrobe choices and River Island seem to have fallen head over heels with the style as they bought out a 'Chelsea Girl' department. The collection features 61 supposedly 'Chelsea like' garments some of which couldn't be more right, others that couldn't be any more wrong if you took a blowtorch to them.

Star of the show Millie Mackintosh is seen here pulling off both leather shorts and trousers, a very grungy look which I adore, however there is no leather to be seen in RI's collection. And below, she wears a large hat and fur scarf yet there are no hats in the collection and only one item of fur present in a rather hideous coat.

Rosie Fortescue doesn't seem to stick to the floaty, flamboyant, hippy-esc style either, opting for leather and block colour over a white lace dress any day.

So is this Chelsea style made up entirely or just some form of stereotyping? Either way it seems to make us assume that a Chelsea woman is another species all together ("and on the 3rd day, God created the Chelsea woman"). You get the drift. Anyway, my point is that the only difference between your average working ladies style and the not so average and most probably not working style of the chelsea girl, is money. If we could afford it, of course we would dress like them. But while we do see the occasional bold print or cream lace on the show...

 ...this iconic Chelsea look that seems to have been created doesn't really exist. There are no boundaries to what the cast of made in Chelsea wear at least, and I applaud them for that.  That said, RI's collection is worth looking at and is none the less a home for gorgeous style. However, the girls style really comes down to good taste, class, diversity and unfortunately, money. But where the last one is not available to all of us, the first three are.

My River island Chelsea girl favourites:

http://www.riverisland.com/Online/women/chelsea-girl

#5

http://www.whatoliviadid.com/p/about-olivia.html - This is the blog of cosmopolitan's 'Best New Fashion Blog' 2011 winner, Olivia Purvis. From first glance, it's not hard to tell that this girl is a fairly successful blogger. She's got the artwork, the stylish format, the stunning clothes. But when you sit down and actually read what she writes, only then do you realise how talented she really is. I regularly check Olivia's blog (at the same rate I check Lauren Conrad's) and I thought that maybe, since I'm so infatuated with 'what Olivia did',  perhaps fellow bloggers and fashion lovers may also be interested in a quick interview with the girl herself. I am pleased to reveal that the light-hearted, bubbly and intelligent girl behind whatoliviadid.com seems to be exactly the same 'off-blog' as she appears 'on-blog' (excuse my made up phrases!). Enjoy...

The girl behind the blog

1) What made you first start your blog? 

I'd been reading loads of other fashion blogs, and after a few months felt totally inspired to start my own!

2) Was having a lot of attention for your blog a main priority for you when you first set it up?  

Oh my goodness no! I read loads of 'big blogs' and never dreamt mine would ever grow above my loyal 14 followers! I am still stunned by how many people say they read it!

 3) How has being a blogging success altered your life?

I wouldn't say it really has! It's given me several opportunities, which I'm hugely grateful for and I've met some amazing people but in terms of my daily lifestyle, minus more posing- it hasn't really!

4) You say you're on your gap year at the moment. What's the next step for you?       

I'm currently interning and just trying to get as much experience in the fashion industry as possible, I may defer university for a following year because I'm quite enjoying working and gaining work expo at the moment!

5) If you could only buy from 1 designer and 1 high street store again, which would you choose?     

I'd probably have to say Mulberry (those bags...) and Topshop!

6) Your hair seems to be perfectly groomed in every photo on your blog, how do you style it?     

Thank you! I just curl it with straighteners, back brush a little and add hairspray!

 7) Where would you like to be in life 10 years from now?      

Happy! If possible I'd also like to be working for a magazine, either styling or writing and with a lovely family.

 8) Have you always had the courage to buy and wear the clothes you love or was there a certain point in life where you found and became comfortable with your style?

I guess so! It's more a matter of my style evolving I think, and just becoming happier with what I chose to wear. I went through a phase of 'bright skinny jeans and high tops'- so I've never been a shy dresser, but more recently have developed a sense of style I feel more secure with.

9) Do you have any role models/icons and if so who and why?      

My mum! Literally the most caring, selfless, lovely, wonderful and best dressed woman I know.

10) What is one trend you are loving right now and one trend you have always loved?    

I'm currently loving pastels and prints, but I have pretty much always loved 60's style- block colours, boyish tailoring and contrasting ladylike shifts.

11) What's one trend you would never consider? 

I'll try (pretty much) everything once!

 12) What can readers expect from your blog in the upcoming weeks/months?        

I have lots of exciting things in the pipeline, including new outfit posts, interviews and a couple of cheeky recipes!

#4

Ethics in Fashion

-inspired by Alexa Chung

The phrase 'Ethical fashion' covers a lot of different things really. If you searched for the dictionary definition you'd get this:

 "eth·i·cal

Adjective:

Of or relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these. Morally correct."

However, this doesn't really explain what it means to be ethical when dealing with what we wear. Ethics, and it's place in fashion relates to which materials are used, how/who makes the clothes, the way they are treated and general morals. Most big name shops in the UK do not have their clothes made in England. They come from all over the world, commonly the far east.

When on my work experience in London last year, I worked with a company who are pretty much the 'middle men' of knitwear in the UK. They work with ASOS, Topshop and Next to name just a few. While there, I learnt that most of the clothes were made by factory workers in places like China or Turkey. Towards the end of my week there, my supervisor was due to fly out to these factories and make sure they compiled with morals and legislation, which basically means making sure the working conditions are appropriate and that the workers get a fare wage for the hard work they put in. 

sneak peek inside my wardrobe

Since then I've tried to be careful where I shop but it's hard to know which shops are worth investing in when it's no secret that there are businesses out there, such as Primark, who have an awful reputation regarding morals and fair trade. To work around the fact that there is little information out there on the subject, I try to stick to the shops that my work experience company worked with, as I know the process behind how they get their knitwear and have little reason to suspect it's anything other than ethical. Unfortunately my only other rule, is "don't trust cheap shops". Never mind the fact there is little satisfaction to be had when picking up a poor quality pair of jeans for a tenner, as a general rule, clothes are not cheap and if a shop is offering you visually the same as another but at a much lower price, does that not make you suspicious as to what they do differently in able to charge that price?

I won't pretend to be an expert on the subject, in fact I could be entirely wrong about Primark but if I don't know where the clothes I'm wearing have come from or who has made them (and in Primark's case why it is so cheap), I don't enjoy it as much as a piece that I know has been made by a happy worker in good conditions with a fare wage. That said, there isn't much else you can do regarding where your clothes come from and I still feel rather guilty for my ignorance on the matter!

Alexa Chung

Alexa Chung, a fashion icon to say the least, has spoken out about the subject in a recent issue of VOGUE that grabbed my attention:

"I was first made aware of the appalling conditions factory workers are often forced to work under while filming a documentary in 2008 for Channel 4.The idea was to recreate a sweatshop environment in a makeshift Covent Garden factory, in which we then invited high-street shoppers to work. Most grumbled about the dirty water, sweltering heat, poor pay and forced overtime. A good few quit almost instantly. Questionable ethics isn't the only disturbing factor in the production of the clothes I love. Ecologically sound brands try to limit the vast carbon footprint that production and distribution create, while fair-trade brands ensure that nobody in the creative chain is taken advantage of financially."

Now you're probably wondering why I'm telling you all this when it seems there isn't much you can do about it. Well yes, unless you're going to go on a world wide tour of all clothing production lines and give them a good talking to, there isn't. But there are things you can do regarding the other area of ethical fashion; the earth.

Admit it, we're all guilty of running into our favourite shop, immediately seeing what our brain tells us is a 'to-die-for' item and then staring lovingly at our new purchase in our wardrobe, where it stays...for the foreseeable future. Okay so maybe it wasn't a 'to-die-for' piece after all but hey at least I'm up to date with the trends, right? Actually, wrong. No one suits everything, and taking the time to try on and browse clothes will not only benefit your appearance but is also much more ethical. (hooray!)

Quick and easy guide to being ethical 

You've found the most beautiful item of clothing in, like, forever and are ready to get in line and hand over your cash for it but should you really be investing in it?

here's a check-list to help you decide:

1) Do you own anything that you can wear it with all ready? 

yes = buy

no = hold back

2) Can you, on the spot, imagine the item being styled/worn                

      in at least 3 different ways?

yes = what are you waiting for? buy it!

no = maybe not

3) Do you love it because YOU love it or because it is just      

     ' trendy'?

I LOVE IT = yes

um... = no

Asking yourself these questions before you buy will enable you to spend your money on timeless buys, things that will last and be given opportunities to escape the wardrobe more than just once. It also, means someone who that item really suits can have it instead, which means 1 less has to be made. Most materials ARE NOT sustainable and we're all to keen to forget this, especially when it comes to clothes. When you finally are done with an item, don't just chuck it away. A charity shop will be entirely grateful for anything you take to them and it won't do your conscience any harm either!

"Statistics suggest that on average, UK consumers send 30kg of clothing and textiles per capita to landfill each year and that 1.2 million tonnes of clothing went to landfill in 2005 in the UK alone. Moreover, textiles present particular problems in landfill as synthetic (man-made fibres) products will not decompose, while woollen garments do decompose and produce methane, which contributes to global warming.

As textile consultant Kate Fletcher points out ‘Fast isn’t free – someone somewhere is paying’ It’s also clear that the environment is suffering too. .."

http://www.ethicalfashionforum.com/the-issues/fast-fashion-cheap-fashion

If Fashion addict Alexa can do it, so can we! Today I reworked my cream shirt (see #3) into a comfy and casual 'rainy day' look. I loved the layering effect it created especially with the rolled up sleeves. I felt it bought something new yet so simple to the outfit, which clenches my thirst for new clothes a reasonable amount!

x

#3

After the sudden end to the rather summer like weather last week, I couldn't help but take advantage of the return of the slightly less warm but none the less, sunny climate. I decided with the help of two of my close friends (@katiebeere and @hannahsiddiqi) to raid my wardrobe in search of suitable spring garments and put katie's new SLR to use. Here are the results of three teenage girls 

 attempting to be serious whilst using a camera...

I bought these shorts from ASOS about a month ago in preparation for spring/summer 2012 and the recent weather was the perfect opportunity to take the tag off and showcase them. Light wash denim seems to be everywhere at the moment, probably down to the current pastel trend which seems to work well with both old and new members of my wardrobe. Paired with firstly, a year old miss Selfridge sheer shirt and secondly a brand new Topshop lace/flower combination crop top and denim shirt, we agreed these were definitely options for spring/summer 2012.

For a more 'boyish' (and slightly warmer!) look I teamed my Topshop top with skinny's and some canvas deck shoes I pulled out of my mums wardrobe just this morning.  The 'box' like shape of the top meant that a baggy bottom half probably would have looked a bit ridiculous so skinny jeans seemed to be a good option to go with.
I really love this outfit because it settles neatly in the middle of 'tomboy' and 'feminine'. But, if even that is too girly for you, a simple tee always looks good with skinny jeans and canvas shoes too.

meanwhile, my love for lace deepens with this beautiful Lipsy playsuit my friends kindly clubbed together for as a birthday present for moi...

I'm also undecided on whether lace on lace can work...

one of my favourite casual looks (although the bag sadly is not mine)...

Although pastels are in this season and I've been making the most of that as you can probably see from the pictures above, believe it or not there are other hot trends right now. One of which, is tribal print. The bolder, brighter and wilder the better and this top of Hannah's I just adore....

Hats off to Topshop for that one!
Apologies for all the head cropping, chipped nails, hair bands on wrists etc but it's harder than I thought to hide our amateur abilities! I'm hoping to get hold of more of the images from today soon and may have to post a couple of the not-so-great shots to share the embarrassment with you. However I had a lot of fun doing this shoot and showing you guys some of my favourite pieces, which is what really counts! *cheese*

#2

I love ASOS, they've been my go-to store for a while now (ever since my work experience where I worked with a supplier of theirs) and I was more than excited when I heard they were setting up an 'ASOS Marketplace', an area for labels and/or ordinary people to sell their clothes/designs and buy unique items from other members. 

It's a brilliant idea that has been up and running for a while now, so when I received the email alerting me that ASOS had chosen their top 40 new labels from their marketplace I had to have a look and search out my favourites.

• #1
• Condition: New - with tags
• Material: Wool
• Colour: Multi
• Brand: 3:AM
• link:  https://marketplace.asos.com/listing/jumpers/multicolored-boucle-sweater/279583

• #2
• Condition: New - with tags
• Colour: Multi
• Brand: PAISIE
• link:  https://marketplace.asos.com/listing/dresses/red--black-glasses-print-dress-with-front-cross-neck-detail/267905

• #3
• Condition: New - with tags
• Material: Polyester
• Colour: Multi
• Brand: 18 AND EAST
• link:  https://marketplace.asos.com/listing/dresses/plate-print-wrap-drape-dress/267613

• #4
• Condition: New - with tags
• Material: Cotton
• Colour: White
• Brand: Masonette
• link:  https://marketplace.asos.com/listing/jumpers/yachting-jumper/216860

• • #5
  • Condition: New - with tags
  • Material: Silk
  • Colour: Blue
  • link:  https://marketplace.asos.com/listing/tops/imani-top/170571