Inspiration For The Week

Halloween was fun, I'll post about my costumes once I've gathered all the photos. 

One last October post embracing the colder weather that I can't fight any longer.

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found here

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found here

found here

found here

Out-takes: Installment Two

After nearly having a nervous break down when someone asked to see my blog, I've realised I take myself far too seriously and need to stop caring what people think about me so much. This realisation prompted me to post some more embarassing out takes from outfit shoots. My iphoto is a gold mine for these beauties! This set is still from summer where I partook in many activities such as;

getting spooked by horses

doing the chicken dance

nearly falling in the stream

nearly flashing in the park

having a nap in Cambs

doing more hat tricks

and picking fights in Sweden.

I am ridiculous. I have come to accept this.

She Don't Want Your Revolution

Coat: Primark

Cardigan: hand me down

Dress: Peacocks

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

This is a bit of a different outfit post from me. I know you can't see my outfit amazingly but I loved this photographs too much to not post them. On Tuesday I was having an awful day so on the walk home, Molly suggested we all throw some leaves around to cheer myself up. It strangely worked! We then walked home speaking in French, which for three people who can't speak french was highly entertaining. Jacque Costeau!

When I saw this coat, I loved the vintage inspired look of it but it had large silver buttons so I bought it then changed the buttons to lovely grandpa style buttons. I can't resist a good grandpa button! I've become sewing queen recently despite leaving my power cable at home for my actual sewing machine. I need to set aside a day to truly hunt my room to make sure it's not here before I buy a new one.

So, the moral of the story is: If you're ever feeling down, go to the park and dance in the leaves. 

I Can Change

Top: h&m

Dress: Arc

Belt: ASOS

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Tote: Nation of Shopkeepers

Sorry that I dropped off the face of the Earth. I really didn't mean to, I had the best intentions of posting everyday this week and then it just kind of went mental and suddenly, there was no time left in the day. I'm heading down to London tonight for work experience tomorrow on a short film shoot. I'm assisting and I'm terrified as I honestly don't know what to expect.

I've also had my first shift at the Picture House. It was really great, although busier than expected and I got to watch Winter's Bone on my shift too. If anyone hasn't seen it, I definitely recommend it. It's really intense but well made and a gripping story.

I feel recently my style is definitely taking a nautical turn. I don't know what it is but I'm just attracted to my stripes every morning when I look into my wardrobe. I feel a bit in a rut but I think everyone feels this when the seasons start changing and all you want to do is bundle up in wooly jumpers.

Is anyone else feeling the strain of a busy schedule? I literally haven't had an empty evening in what feels like forever. Sorry it's short but I must pack for London and get to a seminar. 

Take Note: October's International Blogger of the Month

For October, I asked a girl who writes a blog I have been reading for a long to be my international blogger of the month. Her name is Laia from let me feel like a doll. Her style is so amazing, she's a true inspiration and I'm sure you'll all adore her too. She kindly did an interview with me so let me introduce, Laia.

How did you first get involved with blogging?
I think everything started with the Fotolog era that we like to call it in Spain, everybody used to have Fotolog and there were so people that were quite famous thanks to that and as a result to following some of them I started discovering great blogs. It wasn't until a year after that I got an account on Chictopia and started to consider creating my own blog.
Describe your personal style.
I find my style to be very romantic and feminine, just like I am, retro and Parisian too.

Where do you find inspiration from?
I take most of my inspiration from other blogs, fashion shows and editorials, also from my favorite decades or eras.
Do you feel where you live affects your style?
It definitely does! Barcelona is a very bohemian place and the biggest fact to corroborate that is that nearly nobody wears heels and people do even stare at those who do, I like to dress in a more sophisticated way sometimes but I don't normally do so because of that, most people in Barcelona dress very effortlessly and I always end up doing the same.

Do you have any style icons?
Brigitte Bardot is definitely the one, I am so obsessed about her at the moment and if only I had her body-type! She was gorgeous and I love the high waisted capri pants with ballerinas look so typical of her.
You seem to travel quite a lot, where's your favourite place to go? 
I can't chose only one! I love London so so much, I'll move there some day, New York is amazing and I am really dying to go again right now and Paris is beautiful, these are probably my top favourites.

Where haven't you been that you'd like to see?
Sweden, California, Normandie, Scotland, Denmark, the Basque Country,... the list is infinite but these are probably the places I'm dying the most to see.
What's your favourite book, band and movie?
Book: Lolita, band: Queen, movie: The Dreamers.

As a fashion design student, what do you want to do when you graduate?
I'd like to have my own clothing and lingerie brand but I haven't planned anything else yet haha
The things you make are so lovely and feminine, where did you get the inspiration from to start selling your items?
Some of my friends also make accessories and sell them, I first thought of making such romantic items because that's the kind of thing that I like wearing and I thought there's people out there who's love to wear them as well.

What's one fashion faux pas that you secretly love?
I don't know much about fashion mistakes, I think they are made by people who know nothing about dressing to feel better, at least that's what I've seen now that I've made some research. Apparently, socks with sandals look horrible, I've been loving this combination since I was 12. Also, white socks with black shoes are considered sacrilege, what about Michael Jackson???? That's what I loved the most about his image, and finally, people think boys in skinnies are unbearable, I wouldn't find any guy on Earth attractive if they wouldn't wear skinnies!! 
Any tips for aspiring personal style bloggers?
Listen to your heart and do what you feel, that's how you'll do your best. Having a thousand readers is not important, what's important is to stick to your own thoughts and ideas.

So head on over to Let Me Feel Like A Doll by clicking here.

Stop Your Messing Around

Jumper: Zara

Dress: Thrifted

Boots: ASOS

Necklace: ASOS

Photos: Molly

I'm absolutely in love with how these photographs turned out. I guess the light and the location and the outfit and everything must have been working for us yesterday. We took these in the park and Molly was laying on her back on the floor at one point, it was hilarious. It was worth it though obviously.

 It felt so good to be wearing my favourite winter jumper again, I've had it for two years and yet I still wear it to death every time it's cold. It's all bobbled, does anyone know how to fix that? I feel very winter-y in this outfit and it was very fitting for the freezing day that we endured. There's rumours of snow this week which is ridiculously early so fingers crossed that doesn't happen.

Despite that, I'm really looking forward to winter shoots. I've got pictures on my head of me wrapped up in the snow and everything being white but I know in reality it would be hell to shoot in those conditions and I probably wouldn't even want to get out of bed, let alone go outside to pose. You can kind of see all the fallen leaves in these photos. I love all the autumn colours, so inspiring!

I handed in my last deadline for a while yesterday and it's nice to feel free, even if it's only for a couple of days before I have to start thinking of the next deadline. I'm going to start work on my next screenplay hopefully this week which is something to look forward to. And to dread, writers block, here we come!

Take Note: October's UK Blogger of The Month.

Welcome to Take Note's October Edition. This month I'm featuring a wonderful UK lady, Phoebe from Phoebe Does. Her style is so lovely and eclectic, it's always an inspiration to have a look through her outfit posts. She was kind enough to answer some questions for me to share with you!

How did you first get involved with blogging?

I used to read lots of fashion blogs whilst I was at university, and since finishing and being un-employed for a while I had some time on my hands so thought I may as well give it a go, considering two of my favorite things are fashion and photography I thought it was the perfect way to combine the two and do something vaguely creative with my time.

How would you describe your personal style?

Feminine, eclectic, grungy, bohemian, retro and a bit random, slight contradictions I know, but what I wear varies quite a bit from day to day.

Do you find where you live affects your style?

Definitely! I’m living in my home-town of Brighton again and I LOVE it, its such a relaxed city. It’s vibrant and eclectic and completely individual. Brightoners are pretty hard to shock (we’ve seen it all) so I always feel like I can wear what ever I want. 

Where do you look for inspiration?

I am a bit of a history lover and quite often get inspired by my favorite eras, the Victorians, Edwardians, 1920’s flapper girls and of course the 70’s as I am always being told my hair looks vaguely 70’s-esque.

I find fabrics, textures and prints quite inspiring- If I have something with a beautiful print, I’ll base my whole look around it.

I also read loads of magazines and fashion blogs, which are great for drawing inspiration from. 

Who are your style icons?

Slightly clichéd to say Alexa Chung, but I’m going to anyway as she always looks amazing. Chloe Sevigny is another well dressed woman that I admire. I also adore old screen icons like Grace Kelly, just because she was always so well put together and radiant.

If you could be anywhere in the world where would you be?

Oh blimey, I wish I was in Japan! My best friend and I have been longing to go for so long, but alas money has prevented us so far. It just looks amazing and crazy and I hope that one day I get to see it.

What's your favourite book, band and film?

Favourite book is pretty hard, as I tend to read them once and not revisit them. Actually that’s a lie, I’ve read Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du-maurier twice, that’s a good book. I read tones of Steven King books and I love Phillipa Gregory’s historical fiction.

Favourite band is probably The Smiths, Morissey is a moody chap but I love him anyway.

Favourite film is really hard to pick too! ‘Some like it hot’ is brilliant. The Studio Ghibli film ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ is so cute and beautifully drawn, if you like Japanese anime I would highly recommend it. I also have many guilty pleasure films such as ‘Mamma Mia!’ (how can you not love that film) and the ‘Carry on’ films! People always laugh at me for this, I don’t know why I like them, I just do.

Has your style developed at all?

Yeah I think so, I’ve been wearing some styles for ages (floral tea-dresses being one) but I think I’m slightly less cluttered these days, and put a bit more thought into my outfits. I used to wear much more jewelry, whereas now I generally limit it to one or two really nice pieces.

What's one fashion faux pas that you secretly love?

Gosh there are MANY. Mixing brown and black (is that still a faux pas actually?) I have a penchance for retro American-style sweaters with prints of animals on the front too.

Do you have any tips for vintage/second hand shopping?

Personally I can’t get enough of rooting through mounds of clothes in second hand shops, but I know it can be a bit disheartening when you don’t find anything! I think perseverance is the key, you have to keep checking these shops regularly, and most of the time you’ll walk away empty handed but then for all the times you find nothing you’ll find one amazing item which will make up for it.

I am also a frequenter of Car-boot sales (I think you can probably find out where the ones nearest you are on-line), most of the time people selling at these don’t know they’re onto a good thing and you can pick up some really cheap bargains. 

Last but not least, Vintage shops may be more expensive than second-hand rooting, but someone has already done all the hunting which is nice. Beyond Retro (Brighton, London & Stockholm) is a great one, with tones of good stuff at a fairly reasonable price.

What's your favourite item in your wardrobe?

That’s quite tricky as it tends to change quite a bit. I love all my dresses, to the point that I now have a wardrobe stuffed to bursting with them as I can never bring myself to throw any away.

I have got a little vintage 1920’s velvet handbag/purse thing with a pearl and gem fastener which I don’t use enough but love to pieces.

Any tips for aspiring style bloggers?

Just go for it and don’t try to be something your not. Be honest with your style and in the way you write and I think people will appreciate you for it. Also don’t be fixated on getting loads of followers and making money from ads, just have fun with it. I’m pretty new to all this, but the fashion blogging community has been so lovely and really supportive

So, go and check out Phoebe's blog by clicking here! 

My international blogger for October will be up soon.

Get Set Go

Top: H&M

Skirt: American Apparel

Cardigan: ASOS

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Bag: ebay

My dressing has definitely become more turned towards comfort recently. I'm all about layers and ankle boots. This cardigan is seriously so comfortable to go to uni in. It acts as a blanket when a lecture theatre is too cold and everyone is always jealous that I've got my extra warmth. Life is getting so hectic, I feel like it's been forever since I've had a day of nothing.

Molly took these photographs for me because my usual photographer was ill but now Molly has lots of ideas for shoots so we may be seeing a lot more of her on here. We went to a gig last night for our friend's band, Elijah at Sea, who were wonderful as usual and then the headliners, Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, came on and it turned into a good old hoedown. So much fun!

I've not got much else to say as I'm currently consumed with thoughts of breakfast and my hand in that is in a few hours. Such thrilling things!

Thank you Molly for taking my photos!