Dirt on your New Shoes

Inspiration For The Week

2012-02-11T15:27:00.000-08:00

I didn't mean to disappear there for a week but things just kind of got on top of me and blogging was the last thing I could find time to do. I'm currently scheduling posts for the next week and will do the same at the end of those so that when I'm busy with filming my blog won't be filled with tumbleweed. It's gotten to the hugely stressful point of one week til filming so I'm dashing around like a crazy woman trying to get everything organised in time. Wish me luck!!

My favourites from the past few weeks.

found here

Underwater Bride

2012-02-03T03:59:00.000-08:00

Top: Zara

Jeans: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Vintage

Necklace: Gift

I never thought I would say this but I'm such a lipstick person these days. I feel kind of undone if I leave the house without lipstick because it just finishes off every look so well. I've got quite the collection as well since I got a little addicted to beauty blogs. This bright red isn't as heavily used as some others in my collection but I think it added something to this otherwise plain outfit.

I stole this outfit from a girl I saw in the summer on Oxford Street. Not like I took the clothes off her back but just borrowed the look for inspiration. I've been on the hunt for the perfect baggy striped tshirt every since. She was wearing low cut DMs which I'm also dying to buy but my good old boat shoes did the job this time.

House

2012-02-01T12:38:00.000-08:00

Top: H&M

Skirt: Charity shop

Cardigan: H&M

Shoes: Charity shop

This outfit was all covered up yesterday by layers as there was a snow threat in Leeds. The snow never arrived but I was appreciative of the extra warmth anyway. It's just a simple combination but sometimes the simple ones are the best.

I wore it for a day of shopping for a photoshoot, lectures and volunteering at the cinema. I watched 'Dreams of a Life' on my shift and it was a really moving, amazing film looking into the life of a complex woman who just disappeared off the radar. Joyce Vincent was dead for three years in her flat before they found her body. If you haven't heard the story, you need to get googling because it really is fascinating and a little terrifying to think a woman who had so many friends was gone for three years without anyone thinking to look for her.

Little Bear

2012-01-30T12:10:00.000-08:00

Jumper: Charity shop

Shorts: Vintage

Vest: ASOS

Shoes: Charity shop

Necklace: stolen thunder

I got really good at taking blog photos everyday for a while there but then I just kind of lost my groove. I'll get back into the swing of it starting tomorrow. This outfit is from last Wednesday when I had a day of lighting tests for the film and an evening of watching one of my favourite bands at my favourite venue, the Brudenell Social Club. I also purchased my first modern LP for my record collection at the gig.

My little record player has been happy making it's way through a solid collection of 7"s and a few borrowed albums for a friend but it's about time I delve into the world of collecting vinyl. It's just such a financial commitment that I didn't think of when I asked for a record player for my birthday. I want to buy the albums that I'll listen to over and over again so give me your recommendations!

Saw You First

2012-01-28T04:19:00.000-08:00

Dress: Gift via blogger secret santa

Cardigan: Topshop

Shoes: Charity shop

Necklace: gift

I know Christmas is the last thing anyone wants to hear about anymore but this dress was a gift from the very generous Beka via the Bloggers Secret Santa organised by Laura. It was such a fun little project, I sent my gift off to Taiwan and received one from Washington D.C. That's one of my favourite things about blogging, meeting people you wouldn't normally have a chance to!

Anyway, today I am finally getting my life back in order. I'm normally very organised and prepared but these past few weeks I've turned into a scatterbrain mess so I'm starting my set readings, tidying my room and then cooking dinner for a friend tonight. I hope everyone's weekends are a bit more exciting than mine!

Synthesize

2012-01-26T12:35:00.000-08:00

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Dress: Charity shop

Jumper: H&M Mens

Shoes: Charity shop

Necklace: Gift

Badge: Etsy

There's something extra satisfying about finding gems in charity shops. This dress was lurking in my sewing basket for a few months after I picked it up in the summer and when I went on my big sewing kick a few weeks ago, it finally found a new life as a short reincarnation of its previous self.

I love wearing red, I just think it works great with dark hair and can be really striking. I wore this for an evening of volunteering at the Picturehouse so I wanted to be cosy and comfortable. Those two words keep cropping up when I'm talking about my outfits lately but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

Although you can't see it very well in the photos, my badge is displaying a fine moustache to stand in for the fact that I can't grow one myself. Sigh, maybe one day...

Parentheses

2012-01-25T16:57:00.000-08:00

Dress: Topshop

Cardigan: Vintage

Shoes: Vintage

I've been so busy lately I haven't been able to find the time to post but I have a backlog of outfit photos that have already been taken so I'll try and work my way through them. This outfit is from nearly two weeks ago now. I got the dress back from my swap with Jasmine and it renewed my love for it, despite it's rather questionable length on me. It was just the right length of Jasmine and every now and again I wish I could shrink to make these type of dresses a little more decent on me.

Anyway, the reason I've been so busy is the start of the new semester of university this week and powering on with getting everything sorted out for filming (which starts in three weeks, ahhh!). I'm taking this weekend off to slow down and get everything back in order so I promise I'll take some time to catch up with everyone's blogs!

You Yes You

2012-01-21T16:11:00.000-08:00

Top: H&M

Skirt: Urban Outfitters

Boots: ASOS

Scarf: Ebay

Necklace: Gift

It's very rare that I wear my hair up on the blog and even in real life. Sometimes I don the Heidi braids but other than that, I just prefer my hair down. I've been trying to grow it for a couple of years but I'm getting really tempted to chop it off into a bob like Jordana from 'Submarine'. Someone please talk me out of it because I know I'd miss my hair as soon as it hit the hairdresser's floor.

Anyway, enough about my hair! I wore this outfit for a lazy day of food shopping but since I hate wearing my hair up so much I thought I'd add a pop of colour with a bandana.

I start back at lectures on Monday and I'm dreading trying to get back into a routine.

Anyone got any tips for sorting out a very messed up sleep pattern?

Everything is Dancing

2012-01-18T11:44:00.000-08:00

Top: ASOS

Skirt: Charity Shop

Cardigan: Topshop

Shoes: Charity Shop

I wore this outfit for my exam last week. The only downside of this combination was having to wait til the end of the exam to leave because leaving beforehand meant sliding over the front of the desk to an empty row. I didn't want my skirt to ride up and for me to flash the whole exam room. Girl problems, eh?

Anyway, I just liked the combination of the colours together and it was a nice and easy outfit for an already stressful day.

Since my exams have finished I've been at a bit of a loose end. It always seems doing stuff is so much more fun when you should be revising but now, everything I did to procrastinate no longer holds any appeals. There's a few DIYs I've been meaning to do for ages so I should be working on those. I also have loads of recipes for things I want to bake but it's just finding the motivation.

I'll be wishing for these days of too much time on my hands as soon as I start lectures again.

Films of Note: LIFF Edition

2012-01-17T04:58:00.001-08:00

Every year come November, the Leeds International Film Festival takes over my little city and brings with it a glimpse into a whole other world of cinema. There really is such a wide range of films in the programme every year from a Cuban zom-rom-com to a Hungarian seven hour meander through a dilapidated village to Steve McQueen's newest feature starring Michael Fassbender as a New York sex addict.

2011 saw the 25th anniversary of the film festival and although, unlike 2010, I didn't invest in a festival pass I still managed to see around twenty films over the two and a half weeks. I picked my top five films to share with you to keep an eye out for in the future including one cheeky piece of self promotion.
This has been sitting in my drafts for over a month now but finally, it's ready to share with you.

1. Take Shelter (2011)
Dir. by Jeff Nichols (USA)
I've seen this film again in the cinema since the festival and I think this is the most accessible film on my list. It's a stunning slow burner of a film that follows a father and husband as he spirals into delusional prophecies of an apocolyptic storm and becomes obsessed with building a storm shelter. It's pitch perfect with beautiful cinematography, an engulfing soundtrack and amazing acting from the entire cast including Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain. I cannot sing this film's praises enough, it unfolds with a building tension that leaves you hooked til the last frame.

2. The Fatherless (2011)
Dir. by Marie Kreutzer (Austria)
Most people know about my obsession with cults and communes so it was no surprise when my list for the festival included multiple films that touched on the subject. The Fatherless was my favourite film of the festival, an amazing achievement by a first time female director, and now a huge inspiration to me. It tells the story of an estranged family, who were raised in a commune, now reunited after their father's death in the same house they used to call home. There's an underlying tension throughout the film as family secrets are held back but the truth finds its way out in flashbacks from the glory days of the commune. It's dark and far from uplifting but it's fresh and moving. If you get the chance to see this, do!

3. Breathing (2011)
Dir. by Karl Markovics (Austria)
Breathing tells the story of a young offender about to be released back into the normal world after a childhood contained inside prison. He gets offered a job as a undertakers assistant to help smooth the transition between his two worlds and finds himself chasing after his mother who abandoned him when he was younger. The tenderness with which the film's story is told is beautiful and had everyone in the cinema in love with this film. The acting is spot on, it deals with such serious issues without falling into cliches and Karl Markovics is definitely someone I will wait eagerly to see what he does next with his writing/directing career.

4. The Last Tribe (2011)
Dir. by Simon Glass (UK)
The Last Tribe is a project very close to my own heart because I worked on the film and it was the first film that brought my name onto the big screen in a cinema. It's a documentary charting the journey of the Jewish community in Leeds. Although it's quite a niche story, it's heartwarming and funny with some great characters who really open up for the camera and share their fascinating stories. The Leeds Film Festival was it's premiere and I'm really proud to be able to say I was involved with the film.

5. 22nd of May (2010)
Dir. by Koen Mortier (Belgium)
22nd of May was one of those films I knew I would love from the moment I read about it in the catalogue. Chronicling the aftermath of a bomb attack in a shopping mall in a non-linear maze as the security guard chasing down victims and perpetrators alike to find their stories leading to a patchwork portrait of a handful of people's lives. The film is dark and gritty with tension building throughout as he rushes to try and prevent the attack that has already happened. An insightful look into an unstable mind and the chaos caused in an everyday situation gone horribly gone.

Tongue Tied

2012-01-16T05:33:00.000-08:00

Dress: H&M

Cardigan: Vintage

Shoes: Charity shop

There's nothing more comfortable than a big baggy cardigan. That's just a fact of life!

If it's in a wonderful vibrant colour then even better.

I really like the combination of red and blue and after seeing this post from Jasmine, I was inspired to bring back the colour combination in my own outfit post. The cardigan is almost more like a blazer but it kept me nice and warm in the bitter cold we're having here at the moment. Don't be fooled by the sunshine in these photos, it's baltic in Leeds!

We're expecting snow soon and I'm really dreading it because I always feel unprepared for the onslaught of snow. None of my boots have grip, I don't know where I put my gloves and my hair just plain doesn't like it. Oh well, no point delaying the inevitable I suppose. Bring on the snow!

Inspiration For The Week

2012-01-15T04:50:00.000-08:00

This week saw a few milestones. I took the last exam of my university career and handed in all my essays for semester one so I had a good few nights of celebrating on my hands. This also means though that I'm now onto my last semester as a student and my last semester in Leeds. It's a really bittersweet time because I'm really going to miss living in the city surrounded by amazing people but I'm looking forward to getting back to living in London and pursuing my career as a graduate. The future can just be kind of scary sometimes.

My favourites of the week

found here

Izlet

2012-01-12T18:42:00.000-08:00

Dress: Primark

Cardigan: so old I don't remember

Shoes: Charity shop

Necklace: Etsy

I just got this boat print dress back from my swap with Jasmine but it will only be here for a few wears before I send it back to her to keep. Last time I wore the dress in summer I wore bright and pastel colours so now in winter I wanted to tone down the dress a little so went for darker tones and a cosy thick cardigan. I find most of my wardrobe is multi-seasonal but every now and again, an item takes a bit extra to make it suitable.

I'm currently basking in the glow of freedom after finishing my exam and handing in all my essays. I have a week and a half before teaching starts again but I'm going to be working hard on my final film project as we start filming in around six weeks. That's terrifying! Why is time moving so fast? I can't believe two weeks of 2012 have gone past already! Anyone know any tricks for slowing down time? 'Cause they'd come in really handy right about now...

Arrows of Eros

2012-01-10T17:26:00.000-08:00

Jumper: Charity shop

Shorts: Vintage

Shoes: Vintage

Necklace: Gift

It's the night before my exam. I should really be sleeping but I'm so anxious I can't even think about falling asleep just yet. I'm terrified of exams! I know everyone says that but I really hate them and I just wish this was all over already. After those two hours are up, I'm free. But first I have to get through them without throwing away a term's worth of learning. By tomorrow evening, it'll all be over but wish me luck for the next 24 hours.

Anyway, I wore this outfit for a chilled day of seeing friends. I picked up this jumper in a charity shop near my office over Christmas along with a shirt that'll pop up on here soon. I'm considering making a pledge to only buy second hand and vintage for the rest of 2012 but I'm going to do a bit more consideration before I think about it.

Have any of you successfully cut fast fashion out of your lives?

Once and For All

2012-01-09T06:52:00.001-08:00

Dress: via swap with Nicole

Cardigan: H&M

Shoes: Charity shop

When Nicole and I decided to do a little clothing swap, I knew I had to pick this dress to be in my package. It's everything I could ever want from a dress, polka dot, cute collar, bow and my current favourite colour, navy! Luckily, Nicole very kindly included it with a few other goodies that I'll be sharing with you soon.

I played the schoolgirl vibe of this dress because who could resist? I also threw in some green tights because I know Nicole loves coloured tights as much as I do. That last photo is a little preview of my goofy side that comes out when I get in front of the camera. I might bring back my outtakes posts because I always love seeing other peoples.

Only two more days til my exam. EEK!!

Inspiration For The Week

2012-01-07T15:44:00.000-08:00

The first week of January has flown past. I've been working hard at essays and revision as well as starting my new running routine. I went for a jog five out of seven days this week and it's really rewarding to see progress with every run. I'm quite hooked really so I don't think this'll be a hard resolution to keep. I've also been spending my time planning a lot of DIYs to do once I've got some free time again so I'll be sure to share them on the blog.

My favourites of the week

found here

Never Fade

2012-01-06T16:25:00.000-08:00

Dress: Urban Outfitters

Blazer: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Charity shop

I've been wanting a blazer ever since I started having some serious outfit crushes on Kendi and although I have a vintage tweed one sitting in my wardrobe, it's not really the kind of everyday blazer that I wanted. While looking through the Urban Outfitters sale, always dangerous for my purse, I spotted this blazer as well as this dress and I couldn't bring myself to put them back. So they came home with me. I still have the label in the blazer but after wearing it all day at home, I don't think it'll be going back to the shop.

A pretty dressed up outfit for a day of revision but sometimes, I feel like being dressy regardless of what I'm doing that day. Only a few more days until this horrid revision nightmare is over. I despise exams and I'm hoping this will be the last one of my university career, if I can change one of my modules for next semester. I have a whole week off before teaching starts again so I plan to take advantage of free time and do wild things like read books for fun and go charity shopping again.

Dirty Windshield

2012-01-05T05:56:00.000-08:00

Jumper: Zara

Dress: Mum's

Boots: Vintage

Bag: Charity shop

Necklace: Gift

The wind has now reached a stage of ridiculous-ness here in Leeds that it's almost a health risk to go outside the house. To add to the hilarity of these photos, there was a man eating a sandwich in his van watching us the whole time (see last photo). I've grown quite attached to the easy combo of jumper, dress and long necklace. It's so cosy in these cold months without resorting to what I really want to wear, which is a big blanket!

I've taken to hibernating in a bid to finish my essay and also to hide from the horrid weather and impending cold that I have brewing. I went for another run last night in the rain though and it was actually quite refreshing. The wind, however, kind of held me back. At one point, I was running but not moving forward because the wind was pushing me back so furiously. Ah well, at least I'm keeping up with my new years resolutions.

Watercolours

2012-01-03T08:31:00.000-08:00

Body: ASOS

Skirt: Vintage

Cardigan: Topshop

Shoes: Charity Shop

Necklace: gift

Happy New Year!

So I know it's the third already but I haven't said it on here yet. My new years resolutions include to start running, to graduate with a film I'm proud of and to stop buying so many clothes. I think they're all pretty doable resolutions and I went for a jog yesterday morning so that's that one started off the right way.

What are your resolutions?

This outfit is schoolgirl through and through. There's something about check skirts that bring that out in me. The bow in my hair through it over the edge though. It's been really windy recently which has made taking photos extra tricky but I'm powering through as I want to get back into the swing of blogging properly. I'm in essay hell at the moment, half way through my last one and I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Oh wait, no, that's just a whole pile of revision for my exam. Sigh!

Vessels

2011-12-31T09:06:00.000-08:00

Jumper: Zara

Shirt: Charity Shop

Shorts: Vintage

Bag: Charity Shop

Shoes: Vintage

Necklace: gift

This is my last outfit of 2011!

That feels so final and crazy to say. This year has gone by so fast and I can't believe in six months I'll be graduating and moving away from Leeds. A lot has changed this year, I started it with an aching heart and ending it feeling completely content. I'm really happy with where I am right now, I'm surrounded by amazing friends, I live in one of the best cities and I'm studying something I'm truly passionate about. What more could you ask for?

I'm heading over to our local tonight for a new years eve party with bands, lots of drinking and the odd bit of musical chairs. Hope everyone has a great new years and see you all in 2012.

2011: Outfits in Review

2011-12-26T14:13:00.000-08:00

2011 was a big of a strange year for me in regards to blogging. I took a lot of breaks from blogging for various reasons from having no time to take outfit photos to confidence crisises to being far too bogged down in university work. I still love blogging though and I won't be stopping anytime soon. I decided to gather my top 12 outfits of the year to share with you guys and see if any of you have been reading my blog long enough to remember these looks.

Took a Backseat

As expected, there's a few floral outfits in this recap. Not as many as last year as my style has moved ina slightly different direction but this dress is still one of my favourites as it's so versatile and I wear it at least once a month.

Big Problem

I wasn't 100% sure when I put this outfit together but as the day wore on and people were complimenting me, I started to love it. Then my friend told this outfit had made it on to The Clothes Horse's tumblr which made me so chuffed!

Heights

Another floral one with the added bonus of my love, coloured tights. This green look transitioned from day to night for me and this dress sadly isn't in my wardrobe anymore so I miss it dearly.

He's The Only One Who Knows The Words

In the summer I was all over the place but I managed to catch a few days in Leeds with Mel to wear this pretty outfit. I just love the colour combination together and this was when I first started wearing Heidi braids regularly.

I Know that You're a Sucker For Anything Acoustic

Bright colours all thrown together in this outfit made for a lovely spring outfit and I remember feeling chirpy the whole time I was wearing it.

I Swore Not To Say I Love You In Song

Summer temperatures meant a dress and sandals was more than enough.

Matter of Time

Favourite colour combination of the whole year probably. The bright turquoise blouse, navy cardigan and grey tights with black accents. I would happily wear this everyday!

Silent Signs

Stripes became a big staple for me this year and this cute little dress was perfect for an exam followed by some posing in front of the street art of Leeds.

Towers

Library attire isn't my speciality but I couldn't resist leather shorts for this day of revision. I need to crack these out a lot more in 2012.

Walk It Off

A more subdued colour palette for the winter months but my new love of charity shop heels is present here with my slightly girl scout style dress.

You Can Fight The Fire That's Inside Your Head

Toulouse was such a wonderful trip and dressing like a 60's schoolgirl was one of my highlights of the year. I'm definitely going to bring the knee socks back for next year too.

Young Shields

My closing outfit was one that left me feeling like a big toddler, a comfy dress with coloured tights and stripes. What more could you want from an outfit?

What was your favourite outfit of 2011?

Youth Lagoon

2011-12-24T10:09:00.000-08:00

Shirt: Charity Shop

Shorts: Vintage

Cardigan: Zara

Shoes: Charity Shop

Bag: Charity Shop

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas day! I spent the day eating far too much, drinking far too many cocktails and falling asleep for a two hour nap after dinner. As it was just my mum and I this year it kind of felt like any other day but it was a nice day nonetheless. My main present, which is a record player, isn't coming until January but I was still spoilt with lots of gifts to open from under the tree.

Today, my family are coming round for dinner round two and probably a festive film or two.

I wore this outfit on Christmas eve to see some friends and catch up. Someone said my style reminded them of Jess from The New Girl which I took as a massive compliment.

Inspiration For The Week

2011-12-24T04:12:00.000-08:00

This week has been a flurry of early commutes and late nights which led me to being a bit of a zombie. I powered through though and now I'm successfully on the other side with a nice four day break awaiting me. If you can't tell from my choices this week, I've been loving the exposed collar look and have worn it in various reincarnations to the office. I'm spending my festive period at home with my mum and my good friend, Zizek, which really means I can't even take a break from writing essays. Oh well, at least I'll be surrounded by delicious food while I slave away.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

found here

One Step Checkout

2011-12-17T16:31:00.001-08:00

Jumper: Zara

Skirt: Vintage

Shoes: Vintage

It's kind of a blogging tradition for me to take a photo in front of my christmas tree every year. I wore this outfit to have some family portraits taken with my mum by Mel for her final year project and we snapped some outfit photos first. A cosy jumper with a plaid skirt spells christmas cheer to me but this year I will be wearing a white dress on Christmas day. Controversial, eh?

Things might be a bit quiet here over the next week as I have no photographer and no tripod but I'm sure I'll find some other stuff to blog about until I'm back in Leeds for New Years Eve. This year really has flown past and when I'm reunited with my external harddrive in January I will be putting together a little 'year in retrospect' post as I'm loving the others popping up on everyone's blogs. Link me if you've done a similar post!

King of The Hill

2011-12-17T16:29:00.000-08:00

Jumper: Zara

Dress: Urban Outfitters

Boots: ASOS

Necklace: Stolen Thunder

Today was my first day back at work and I'm completely exhausted. Working 8-4 means getting up at 6AM, getting to work in time for sunrise and leaving once it's dark. At least it's only for two weeks. Needless to say I'm going to keep this post short and sweet.

It was really windy when we took these photos but we persevered as I really liked my outfit. Looking at it now, I kind of resemble a tree but I'm fine with that!

Thieving Magpie

2011-12-17T16:26:00.000-08:00

Top: New Look

Skirt: Charity Shop

Cardigan: H&M

Shoes: Charity Shop

The lengths I go to for outfit photos can be a little ridiculous sometimes. With the upcoming snow, I think posing under an umbrella in the rain will seem like a walk in the park to me soon. It was miserable weather the last few days in Leeds but I'm home now to even more bad weather.

I've been busy since getting home on Wednesday as I've been in London the entire time, shopping, going to a gig and then my office christmas party on Friday. I finally had a moment to stop and put this post together today. I start back at work on Monday and I am dreading those 6AM starts but the bank balance at the end will be worth it. I'm hoping since it's christmas the workload will be lighter than usual and everyone should be in a jolly mood.

I wore this outfit for a day of running errands and watching films with a friend. The skirt used to be midi length but I hemmed it up to a more comfortable length and I can predict it'll be in heavy rotation in the near future.

Inspiration For The Week

2011-12-12T14:13:00.000-08:00

This week was another crazy one and somehow, suddenly term is over and it's time to head home for Christmas. I celebrated with a few too many drinks on Thursday night, a Christmas dinner on Friday and a weekend of recovering. I'm going home for only two and a half weeks but I'm going to squeeze in as much London goodness as I can alongside working my office job too. Yay for payday!

found here

Close Your Eyes

2011-12-10T05:01:00.001-08:00

Dress: Vintage

Cardigan: Charity Shop

Shoes: Charity Shop

I wore this outfit for a day of pre-production meetings and an evening of watching Hugo at the cinema. It's actually the first film I've seen in 3-D since I was a kid when 3-D had another mini rebirth. I just can't seem to buy into the experience to be honest. I mean, it's all very interesting for the first ten minutes but then it just kind of gave me a headache. The film itself was alright, probably not for people that aren't into film history, but worth a watch.

This dress was one of the first vintage pieces I ever bought and it took me two years to get round to wearing it. The hawaiian print is perfect for me but it is quite short which can be a nightmare when it's as windy as it has been.

I only have a few more days in Leeds before heading home for Christmas. I'm going to be spending most of it in the library trying to get another essay out of the way but I'm sure I'll fit in a few more visits to my favourite Leeds establishments before I go. I'm excited to get back to London though!

Walk It Off

2011-12-07T09:05:00.001-08:00

dress: vintage

cardigan: h&m

shoes: charity shop

It's confession time!

Normally when I take my blog photos, I step just outside my house where one of my housemate snaps my photos and then we run back indoors. Unfortunately, our house is next to the bin section for our street but I thought I'd gotten away with it in most photos. Yesterday was bin day though and since we snapped these at 11AM, the bins hadn't returned to their little enclosure. So now you know, I pose in front of the bins every day. I'm just classy like that!

This dress had been sitting in my sewing pile for months but I finally fished it out and took it up as the plaid is perfect for the winter months. I did feel a little bit girl scout when I was wearing it but that just fits in with my normal style.

I've taken to starting a collection of heels from charity shops. I'm normally massively uncoordinated and this doesn't bode well with heels but my modest collection is made up of low solid chunky heels so I get all the perks (the difference they make to my legs is amazing) without the worry of falling over everywhere. I still fall over regularly though. Some things just can't be helped...

Write To Your Brother

2011-12-06T05:01:00.001-08:00

Top: New Look

Shorts: ASOS

Cardigan: Charity shop

Boots: ASOS

Hat: ebay

Belt: Zara

Sometimes when you have to be into university by 10 on a Monday morning, all you want to do is be cosy and comfortable. This is what this outfit was for me. It was snow-raining when we took these and continued to be freezing for the rest of the day so I was glad I'd gone with my supercosy tights by the end of the day.

I ordered these shorts in the ASOS Sale despite promising to be better with money. I've been on the hunt for blue high waisted shorts for the longest time and although these have me constantly checking if my bum cheeks are out, I can sense they'll still be in heavy rotation.

We're having our own Christmas day on Friday with a roast dinner, mulled wine and mince pies. We're going to round it off with some of our favourite christmas films before people start heading home for the break. I'm only home for two weeks and I'll be in the office for most of them earning money to fund my film but I'm still looking forward to getting back to London for a little while.

What are your christmas plans?

Inspiration For The Week

2011-12-04T08:44:00.001-08:00

While I was having my little blogging break, life got quite crazy. I celebrated my best friend's 22nd birthday with two parties, had the first rehearsals for my film, spent a good five hours walking around Leeds reminiscing with a friend and started work on the mountains of uni stuff I have to get done. This weekend has been spent locked away in my room, struggling through all the reading for my first essay of the semester. I have three to complete in five weeks with an exam to revise for too. Christmas break is not going to be an easy one.

My favourite looks of the week.

found here

Keep It Quiet

2011-12-02T12:08:00.001-08:00

Shirt: Charity Shop

Shorts: Vintage

Belt: Zara

Boots: Vintage

Necklace: gift

Reasons I love blogging:

the way it pushes me to constantly wear different things
how much it has improved my remixing skills
the wonderful, supportive community of bloggers
the photographic diary that I have of the past year and a half
the place it has given me to talk about all the important things (and sometimes the unimportant) in my life
the inspiration other bloggers give me in my style
the look of confusion on peoples faces when I tell them I write a personal style blog

Sometimes you just need to take a step back and reevaluate why you do something. I have been blogging for a year and a half now and as much as it has gotten easier with practice, I hated thinking of blogging as a routine. It left me feeling anxious about getting photographs and being too analytical about my page views and stats. I needed a break to realise that I do really enjoy blogging and I'm not quite ready to give that up yet. It's difficult to put yourself out there on the internet almost daily but the rewards are so worth it. I just needed reminded of that. So I'm back! What did I miss?

Hiatus

2011-11-19T18:18:00.001-08:00

I'm taking a break for an indeterminate amount of time.

Beachy Head

2011-11-16T12:55:00.001-08:00

Dress: Vintage

Cardigan: H&M

Necklace: Etsy

Boots: UO

Bag: Vintage

This must be a bit of a welcome break from what has become my standard photo background, aka the street outside our house. We ventured over to Otley yesterday to scour the charity shops and managed to get quite the haul. I'm sure everything will be shared on here soon enough.

I have been thinking a lot about primary colours and how good they look together so I brought that into this outfit. I would have loved to have worn blue tights to complete the look but once winter comes, it's hard to drag me out of my super cosy tights.

I hate it to say it because it is only mid way through November but I've really started to feel Christmassy what with all the decorations in the shops and talking about potential presents. I'm hoping to get a record player as my vinyl collection is now getting a bit silly for someone who has no way of playing them! What's on your christmas wish list?

Inspiration For The Week

2011-11-13T14:49:00.001-08:00

We're about to enter the third and final week of Leeds International Film Festival. This spells a slowing down for me with not much longer of rushing around to watch films but also a nearing to the end of term. I've got Mel's birthday in a few weeks, our first rehearsals for the film and plenty more days of scratching my head at all the philosophy I've been studying but there's no denying it, term is nearly over again!

As this is my final year of university, the end of first semester is a little terrifying and it's been playing on my mind a lot recently. The thought of not being in Leeds anymore gives me such an anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach and I can't bear to ponder on it too long. So instead I'll continue to ignore the future and live very much in the present.

found here

Young Shields

2011-11-12T16:48:00.001-08:00

Dress: Dorothy Perkins

Top: New Look

Shoes: Primark

Hat: Charity Shop (Mel's)

This outfit got two reactions from everyone I saw. One was that I looked slightly Amish, hence the posing with the hat that I didn't actually wear out. The other was that I was dressed like a toddler. I kind of love the toddler idea because I do still dress like a child sometimes. I never really like myself or my clothes too seriously. Life's too short!

Does anyone else love the satisfying clunk you get when walking in heels? It makes me feel so much more put together. These brogues only have a low stacked heel but they still have that wonderful sound when I walk. I had to storm up to university as I was running late and the noise made the rush a little more bearable.

It dawned on me the other day that there's only four weeks left of this semester. How insane is that?! Where is all the time going?! Before you know it I'll be graduating and entering the real world. Extremely scary prospect!

Take Note: November's Blogger of the Month

2011-11-10T04:14:00.000-08:00

After a little hiatus, Take Note is back! For anyone new around here, it's a monthly feature where I interview one of my favourite style bloggers to share with you. For my big return, I asked Julia from La Belle Oiselle if she would like to be my blogger of November. She is one of the best dressed women in the blogosphere at the moment and there's so much inspiration to be found in the outfits she puts together.

So hello to Julia!


How did you first get involved with blogging?

I had always gone on The Sartorialist and Lookbook and such, but I
never really thought about actually blogging until I someone showed me
Hannah & Landon and I subsequently started reading other similar
blogs. Then I just sort of started taking pictures of my outfits and
posting them.

Describe your personal style.

Everything but the 70s (sorry, 70s!) with a hat on top. Or a top knot.
98% thrifted. And actually I take it back, there's some 70s in my
closet.

Who are your style icons?

Anne Hathaway in the Devil Wears Prada before she got the makeover. Is
this a joke? Maybe.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Definitely other bloggers. And shapes. I think shapes are the single
most important aspect of any outfit.

How does where you live affect your style?

Richmond (where I live) definitely has a unique style. It's an
artistic community, so I feel like I can wear whatever I want here,
whereas if I go to almost any other city in Virginia, I feel a little
suppressed (usually doesn't stop me from wearing what I want, but I'm
always prepared for stares).

What's your favourite book, movie and band?

For favorite book, I think it's a tie between Franny & Zooey and We
Saw Lincoln Shot: 100 Eye Witness Accounts (yes, I'm serious, and yes,
I'm really that nerdy). I think my favorite movie is West Side Story.
And some of my favorite musicians include: Laura Marling, Little Joy,
The Tallest Man On Earth, and Nina Kinert.

What would be your perfect Saturday?

Wake up bright and early, have a big diner breakfast, go thrifting and
vintage shopping, followed by a picnic and lounge fest on a sunny
hill. The day would end with a home-cooked meal, a glass of wine, lots
of blankets and pillows, and old episodes of 30 Rock. All of the
above with my better half and our beagle, Ivy Lou.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?


On a sunny hill in Switzerland. Or Morocco.

What's one fashion faux pas you secretly love?

I honestly don't think there are any fashion faux pas left because
almost everything has come back into style at one point or another.
But as far as "classic" faux pas go, I really like fanny packs. And
overall shorts.

If you could live in one movie, which would it be?

I'm going to stay true to my generation and say Harry Potter, of course.

Any tips for aspiring personal style bloggers?

This is funny because I very much think of myself as an aspiring style
blogger. I would just parrot what everyone always says because it's so
incredibly true- stay true to yourself; inauthenticity is always
apparent.

Check out Julia's blog, La Belle Oiselle, here!

Songs About Your Girlfriend

2011-11-09T13:40:00.000-08:00

Body: ASOS

Cardigan: Peacocks

Skirt: Swap with Jasmine

Boots: Urban Outfitters

Necklace: Etsy

I've held a package of Jasmine's clothing hostage since the beginning of summer. I admit it, I'm a clothing swap hog! I wore this skirt back when we first did the swap and I like how it lends itself to so many different colour combinations. I might even try and squeeze in one last outfit with it before I have to send it back along with the other stuff we swapped.

I wore this outfit for a hectic Monday where I had a million and one things to do including a meeting at uni, a few hours in the library reading up on philosophy, a casting and a visit to the local history library to look for some photos. I like how busy I've been lately but it does tend to catch up eventually and tonight is the night. I feel completely drained and like I just need to have an early night with no reading, no stress and no film screenings. I've been catching a screening most days for the film festival so tonight I decided to stay home and recuperate.

What do you do when you're feeling run down?

Inspiration For The Week

2011-11-05T19:11:00.000-07:00

This week saw the arrival of the Leeds International Film Festival aka my favourite time of year in Leeds. It's basically a few weeks of having an excuse to go to the cinema every day and getting to see films that aren't normally given enough space in the busy schedules of mainstream cinema. I'm quite lucky with the programming at the independent cinema that I volunteer at but there's nothing quite the same as having access to so many great films from all over the world. I will be doing a review post of my top five films once the festival is over but until then, I'll be keeping my twitter updated with my thoughts.

My favourites from the past couple of weeks.

found here

Films To Note

2011-11-03T16:16:00.000-07:00

Another installment of my film reviews and recommendations which disappeared for a while. I've decided to go for a slightly obscure theme this week with five films that are a bit outside of the norm. People assume because I'm a film student I only watch strange films and although I'm a sucker for the classics, I can be a reaffirmation of this stereotype sometimes too. They're not too obscure and still thoroughly enjoyable films so I hope you can take a step outside of the box and watch one of these.

1. Old Boy (2003)

A Chan-Wook Park Film
A South Korean export, this film is part of Park Chan-Wook's trilogy revolving around the theme of revenge. Following a man who was kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years on his journey to discover who kept him locked up and why. He travels through his own memory as well as the dark landscape of the city leaving a trail of violence in his wake. Known for the scene where the male lead eats a live squid, this psychological thriller is full of moments that leave you cringing away from the screen and yet always turning back for one more look.

2. XXY(2007)

A Lucia Puenzo Film

Coming from Argentina, this fascinating film follows teenager Alex who has both female and male genitals. Alex has taken medication to suppress his male hormones for his life but has decided to stop taking them when some family friends come to visit. The father is a surgeon and has come to discuss the possibility of a sex-change operation. A story of discovering sexuality and deciding who you are, it is a poignant film with some wonderfully tense moments.

3. Dogtooth (2009)

A Giorgos Lanthimos Film
A shining example of the new Greek film scene, Dogtooth is a surreal and chaotic watch, challenging the entire family dynamic. A father has decided to keep his family safe from society by keeping them inside their compound without outside contact, except for a woman who is brought in to deal with the son's sexual needs. The events unfold in a bizarre manner and while not a comfortable watch, Dogtooth captures a sense of control and a need to escape with such ease.

4. AntiChrist (2009)

A Lars Von Trier Film
Lars Von Trier is infamous in the industry for creating experimental and dark masterpieces. AntiChrist was allegedly made when he was suffering from severe depression and this definitely translated well into this troubling film. It opens with the death of a couple's child as it falls from a window and from there travels into the forest where they have gone to try and deal with their grief. It is a violent and explicit film so not for the weak stomached but the cinematography is stunning and a depiction of madness is never going to be a simple film.

5. Rubber (2010)

A Quentin Dupieux Film

This French film takes the concept of voyeurism and runs with it. A multi-layered narrative which involves a group of viewers watching the action through binoculars in the desert, follows the story of a rubber tyre that wreaks havoc as it kills people with it's mind. I know it sounds ridiculous and it is, but it's an interesting watch that plays with the idea of diegesis and with the idea of genre itself.

Mountain Water

2011-11-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

Shirt: New Look

Skirt: Urban Outfitters

Tights: ASOS

Boots: Urban Outfitters

Bag: Vintage

Truth be told, I felt a little like an autumn leaf in this outfit. I'm always conscious of having only one colour other than black in an outfit which explains my love for coloured tights, an easy injection of colour. This mustard yellow blouse wasn't an obvious fit with any of my tights but I actually grew quite fond of this combination. I'm gradually combatting my addiction to patterns and wearing more block colours recently.

The skirt was a sale bargain and since I am strong believer that you can never have too many black skirts (I currently have 4) it works perfectly with my wardrobe. I foresee this boots being worn to death this season, just like my last ankle boots from UO which now sit sad and holey in the corner of my room.

I saw Melancholia last night and it was stunning. The camerawork made me feel nauseous, which I assume was the point, but despite that it was a really good film. The Leeds Film Festival starts tomorrow and I'm so excited for nearly three solid weeks of watching films. A film I worked on is even in the festival!

Magic Hours

2011-11-01T08:05:00.000-07:00

Body: ASOS

Skirt: New Look

Cardigan: H&M

Belt: ASOS

Boots: Urban Outfitters

One of the downsides of online shopping is the problem that arises when something doesn't fit. That was the case with this skirt which I ordered a size up to be safe when my normal size would have been just fine. I meant to take it in store to swap but time got away from me and so now I'm stuck with this slightly too big skirt. I still love the colour and the shape though so I belted it up and put together this slightly 60's vibe outfit.

I wore it yesterday for a trip into town. I didn't really do anything to celebrate Halloween this year, normally I really enjoy dressing up but it kind of snuck up on me and I was drowned in 'fascinating' philosophy reading instead. I wanted to dress up as Annie Hall and I got to live vicariously through some of my favourite bloggers who did just that.

Must Be Seeing Starlight

2011-10-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

Dress: F21

Cardigan: Charity shop

Boots: Urban Outfitters

Isn't this outfit just everything autumn should be about? Cosy knitwear, coloured tights and boots. The floral is something I'm happy to wear all year round. There's been some really beautiful autumn days recently, not too cold but enough to wear a bobble hat. This is why the transitional seasons are so much better than anything else!

This past weekend I headed home to London for a few nights. I was there to see Bon Iver, which was the most stunning night of music of my life, but I spent some time with an actor friend who is getting involved with my film too. I'm currently in the casting stage of pre-production and I'm pretty sure I would love to work in casting after graduation. It's such a rush when you find the perfect person, which I think I finally did for our female lead. I'm nearing a concrete final draft for the script and it's all so overwhelmingly exciting. If any of you fancy reading the script and giving me some constructive criticism, I'm trying to get as many peoples opinions as possible.

Ordinary Man With Ordinary Desire

2011-10-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Top: ASOS

Skirt: Urban Outfitters

Cardigan: H&M

Shoes: Topshop

I don't know what's wrong with my sleeping pattern recently but ever since I've gotten poorly, I've been sleeping a ridiculous amount of hours. I overslept the morning of these photos when I had two important meetings at university. I managed to reschedule one and get ready in half an hour (including a shower!) for the second meeting. That's a personal best.

Luckily, I had picked this outfit out the night before. It ticks the box of one of my main two styles, school girl or granny. This one is clearly more school uniform-esque.

I don't know if I've written about it before but I've managed to get struck down with a horrid flu-type thing where my sinuses feel like they're about to fall out of my face amongst other such pleasant things. I'm slightly on the mend now, after infecting everyone around me and I couldn't be feeling in a better mood for the next few days.

What are your weekend plans?

Everyone Says I Love You

2011-10-20T16:48:00.000-07:00

Dress: Vintage

Jumper: H&M

Boots: Urban Outfitters

Necklace: Urban Outfitters

Ring: Vintage

My favourite styling in colder weather is grabbing a printed dress, throwing a jumper on over the top and slipping on some boots. There's something so cosy about the simplest of outfits when it gets to this time of year. I wore this outfit for my weekly volunteering shift at my local independent cinema. It's an old building so it can get pretty chilly inside.

I've had a lot of stress this week with various film projects I'm working on and I'm really looking forward to a calm weekend with lots of films and reading some books about feminism. It's an area I've really got interested in lately so if you have any recommendations for things to read, do share! I'm also heading home on Sunday to London to be in the city for the Bon Iver gig. I'm seeing him there and then a few weeks later up here in Leeds. Can you tell I'm a little bit in love with Justin Vernon?

I'm looking forward to being back in the city and getting a solid day of doing all my favourite things that I miss while I'm here.

Every Kingdom

2011-10-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

Dress: H&M

Shirt: Vintage

Boots: ASOS

Bag: Vintage

Necklace: Gift

Have you ever just felt the need for a change? An act of carthasis to set yourself back on the path towards being positive. Well, for me, it was my hair. I've been feeling a bit ambivalent towards being back in Leeds after having such an intense and fulfilling summer so I decided to make a change. And off went the hair.

I wore this outfit to a meal at Wagamama with my housemate followed by a night at the pub and a late night screening of Taxi Driver. It was a grey and rainy day but wagamama can make any situation seem a little brighter. I'm loving that it's boots weather now. I really like stomping around in my chunky boots through puddles and crunchy leaves. Autumn really is the best season!

Inspiration For The Week

2011-10-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

This week was mainly dominated by the demise of my laptop which lead to two trips to Sheffield but I also managed to squeeze in a night out, watching Drive and a new documentary called 'Just Do It' at the cinema, reading some heavy philosophy in the form of Heidegger for university and also working hard on the redraft of my screenplay. It's been a bit of a busy one which has resulted in me being awfully poorly this weekend. My sinuses are throbbing with pain right now and I've self-prescribed bed rest so hopefully I can get back to being productive tomorrow.

My favourites of the week.

found here

Cherish with Fondness

2011-10-15T17:49:00.000-07:00

Shirt: Charity shop

Cardigan: H&M

Skirt: H&M

Shoes: Miss Selfridges

To explain my absence from the blog world, I had a bit of a laptop meltdown. Quite literally. The fan in my laptop broke which could lead to the insides melting but when I took it in to be fixed, they found out it was a hard drive issue rather than the fan itself. The perils of being a mac user come when they break because macbook repairs aren't cheap AT ALL!

However, since it was over three years old it seemed uneconomical to spend a huge chunk of money getting it fixed so I decided to invest in a brand new Macbook Pro, which I am now writing this post on. He is called Ernest after the beautiful Ernest Greene of Washed Out fame and I'm a big fan of his chrome-y ways already.

Anyway, this is the last outfit post before I unveil my new haircut. Drumroll please!

Inspiration For The Week

2011-10-08T17:57:00.000-07:00

This week has been one of ups and downs. There's been a lot of drama which is never a good thing but I think it's finally settled down now. In more positive news, a screenplay I have written is being made into a short film for my final year project! Instead of a traditional dissertation, I get to work on a film project and my group decided to make my idea. Perks of being a film student, eh?

I've decided to bring back my film recommendation feature to celebrate this so prepare for more rambles about amazing films in the coming week. I'm also getting back into the swing of outfit photos so I should start posting more regularly. New term rut has finally ended.

My favourites from this week (and the past few weeks)

found here

Supernothing

2011-10-06T17:27:00.000-07:00

Dress: Vintage

Jacket: H&M

Belt: ASOS

Shoes: Topshop

Bag: Vintage

The best thing about living in Yorkshire is the proximity to such beautiful countryside. In what I hope might become a tradition, this past weekend we drove out to some of this wonderful countryside and stopped off for some photographs on the way. Our friend was with us and at first he was completely confused as to why Mel was taking my photographs in the middle of nowhere. Once he understood he loved getting involved and even helped me climb into the cornfield for some classic shots amongst the corn.

Driving around with some of my favourite music playing and scenery like this rushing past the window, I really can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

This vintage dress was a purchase way back last christmas and although it's always been too big for me I like to dig it out now and again because I'm a sucker for red. I took advantage of the mild weather to wear just a denim jacket and I'm glad I did because now we're back into the full swing of winter coat weather.

In other news, I had a haircut yesterday but it might be next week until I debut it here on the blog. I'm still in the hating it zone at the moment but once I'm used to the change I'm sure I'll love it. Strangely enough, its a similar style to what I had when I first started blogging all that time ago!

Draw Your Swords

2011-10-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

Dress: Vintage

Belt: ASOS

Sandals: Charity shop

Socks: Primark

Sunglasses: market in Toulouse.

When England gives you a second chance at summer with a mini heat-wave, it's only polite to embrace the sunshine, throw on a sundress and head down to the river to soak up some Vitamin D. We found this wonderful little retreat while driving to a nearby village and we couldn't resist stopping to sit by the water for a while. If we'd come more prepared, we may have even been tempted into a little paddle.

This heat has honestly thrown me through a loop though. I was not expecting to have to get my legs out in October and after finally embracing layers, jumpers and boots, it was strange to get back to summer dressing. It was nice while it lasted but luckily, autumn is back in full swing now.

I'm definitely a transitional season kind of person so prepare for a happy Chloe.

Ketchup and Mustard

2011-09-18T12:57:00.000-07:00

Top: H&M

Skirt: Swap with Jasmine

Boots: Vintage

Necklace: Etsy

I'm going to put together a post with my Berlin photographs but I have so much to share from that city that I want to wait til I have real time to dedicate to it. All you need to know for now is, I am love with Berlin.

I moved back to Leeds on Saturday and it's good to be back. I'm sharing my house with two of my best friends including my wonderful photographer, Mel, and Laura, who is soon starting her own blog. I'm still in the process of unpacking my room and it kind of looks like a bomb hit it at the moment. Luckily I have more storage space this year but I still own far too many clothes.

I got this skirt from the swap I did with Jasmine. Mustard is one of my favourite colours at the moment and is perfect for autumn. It felt good to be wearing boots again, it means autumn is really here. Shame it brings coat weather with it too.

Inspiration For The Week

2011-09-18T04:05:00.000-07:00

Berlin was amazing!

So amazing, in fact, it took me a week to recover. I was busy doing important, boring things like packing up my life to move back to university, weeping over the fact I was no longer in Berlin and spending some time with my home friends before leaving.

A massive thank you to both girls who put together guest posts while I was gone. They both did such a wonderful job.

This summer was an awful summer for blogging but now I'm back in Leeds with a fresh year and a fresh attitude towards the blog. Here's to change!

My favourite looks of the week.

found here

Guest Post: Sydney From The Rabbit-Hearted Girl

2011-09-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I'm Sydney, from The Rabbit-Hearted Girl, and I'm guest posting for Chloe today. She asked me to write something about travel, and I decided to relive some of my favorite vacations by writing about them for y'all (and posting some unrelated outfit shots).

When I was a senior in high school, my dad took me to London as a birthday &graduation gift. I'd wanted to go for years, and I absolutely loved it! I thought it was the coolest city and I loved going to see all of the typical tourist-y stuff, like the tower of London and Westminster Abbey. I even made him go to King's Cross Station so I could take a picture at Platform 9 3/4! We also went to Windsor Castle and Oxford and I really enjoyed seeing the smaller areas of the country. London is probably my favorite place I've ever been, and I'd love to live there someday!

A couple of years ago, my family went to Europe for Christmas because my older sister lived in Germany at the time. We stayed in Brussels for a night, and it ended up being my favorite night of the trip. The downtown area was so cool, and there happened to be a Christmas street fair happening the night we were there. The architecture in the square was beautiful. I don't know if it was just that I had so much fun that night, or maybe it was the Belgian waffle I ate, but I loved Brussels.

Just a couple of months ago, I went on a road trip to Southern California with my two best friends. California was a beautiful place, the weather was perfect and the beach was gorgeous. We also stopped at the Grand Canyon, and we drove through several states and places that I had never been before. But I think the best part was definitely the fun I had traveling with my friends. There's really nothing better than a road trip with people you love!

Well, that's all I have for y'all today! A huge thank you to Chloe for asking me to guest post, and I hope she's having a ton of fun in Berlin!!

Guest Post: Claire From Jazzpad

2011-09-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

So while Chloe is away in Berlin (lucky devil) I am here to fill a blank, as it were, while she's gone. I'm Claire and I write all of my nonsense on Jazzpad, if you wanted to know. With a theme of 'travel' to toy with, I thought it might be interesting to have a bit of a virtual window shop for the unmistakable holiday essentials list. Which, as well as being interesting, became increasingly frustrating for me without as much as a Travel Inn booked in the shape of a holiday for this year.So here is my run-down of possible options. What would be on your essentials list? xox

The Paper Stuff

Wherever you go, for however long, it can be crucial to keep all notes, tickets, thoughts and observations in one place. And then on your return, even more important to save all of them to treasure forever more.

From left - I Heart Travel Notebook - Oversized Scrapbook - Birdcages Passport Holder

The Box of Tricks

I'm quite notorious for taking a bag of every size on holiday for varying reasons. Day bag, night bag, flight bag, beach bag, travelling bag... The list of possibilities is endless!

From left - Judith Computer Bag - Chocolate Tapestry Holdall - Suede Slouch Satchel

The Footwear

No holiday shopping list can be quite complete without the obligatory footwear consideration. And in my book, there should be a walking shoe, a dancing shoe and a I'mnotgettingoffthislilountilnightfall shoe. I'll let you work out which is which.

From left - When In Tokyo - Dark Grey Keira Weave Flats - ASOS Heath Wedges

I think that's enough to get you musing as to what you'd take away given the choice. With bags packed, all you need to decide now is where to go...?

Caramel Apple

2011-09-04T16:08:00.000-07:00

Top: H&M

Shorts: Vintage

Cardigan: Topshop

Shoes: Miss Selfridges

Necklace: Stolen Thunder (prize)

Only one more day until I leave for Berlin! I should have some guest posts up while I'm gone to keep the old blog alive and when I'm back I'll, of course, be sharing everything about my trip.

This outfit is something I wore to an afternoon in Brick Lane perusing the shops with Molly. I'm channelling the autumn vibe in the colours of my outfit because I just can't wait for some autumn dressing. I'm definitely a transitional seasons girl, spring and autumn are my favourite seasons. Layering up and getting cosy in knitwear but without having the snow of winter means autumn is perfect for me. I've already made a few purchases for the colder months but I'm still on the hunt for the perfect coat and some new boots.

The stolen thunder 'i heart tea' necklace I'm wearing is a prize I won a while back in Cait's competition and I have to say a massive thank you to her and to stolen thunder because it's such a cute necklace and gets endless comments. I wore it to my last day of work (where I often get hassled to make tea) and everyone found it was the perfect excuse to ask for a drink!

Within

2011-08-31T10:20:00.000-07:00

Top: Swap via Jasmine

Jeans: UO

Sandals: Vintage

Necklace: Gift

Tote: Julia Pott

These photos came out a little bit bright but I wanted to share them with you anyway because I'm wearing a wonderful top that I have from the swap I did with Jasmine of Transient Withdrawal. It's wonderful meeting people through blogging and clothing swaps is just one of the perks. What I didn't realise, however, was how much shorter Jasmine is and so all the dresses ended up being too short to be dresses but I like a challenge. I love this top as it combines stripes and a nautical collar.

I also wanted to share with you my new hair colour. It's only a bit darker than it was before but I much prefer it this colour. I can't even remember what my natural hair colour is anymore but I know it's boring. I'm also getting my hair chopped when I get back from Berlin as I'm ready for a change for autumn.

That's not a knife, This is a knife.

2011-08-30T09:22:00.000-07:00

Top: Ark

Shorts: ASOS

Cardigan: H&M

Shoes: Miss Selfridge

Bag: Charity Shop

Necklace: UO

Whenever I try and think about the favourite part of my hometown, the cynical answer that always comes to mind is 'the train station'. However ridiculous this may sound, it's true. I'm always getting a train somewhere or other, be it London for shopping and seeing friends or further afield like Leeds. Travelling is just something I always manage to stumble into. I've spent the majority of my summer sitting on a train but I wouldn't change one single journey.

We took these photos on Sunday morning at the train station after spotting this old train off the tracks that went nicely with my outfit. These shorts are a new purchase that I've been hoarding for a while, waiting to be able to wear them on a day I have my camera. This colour will make up the majority of my autumn wardrobe, I just love it! However, these shorts wrinkle so badly, so quickly. Does anyone know any tricks for keeping linen crease free?

I also included my friend's outfit as many of you have liked her contributions in the past. I think she should start her own blog.

Golden

2011-08-29T04:55:00.000-07:00

Dress: H&M

Cardigan: H&M

Shoes: Primark

Necklace: gift

Leeds is nestled in West Yorkshire. Somehow while out driving we managed to stray into North Yorkshire and after Mel's little car nearly gave up from all the hills, we stopped to soak up the scenery. We spotted some sheep who were just dying to pose for us.

I liked the colours of this outfit but it was a little blah for my liking when I looked back at the photos. Does anyone else get that? The outfit looks great in your head and alright in the mirror but not at all in the photographs. It's irritating!

This is the last set of photos from my mini-visit to Leeds. Only a few weeks until I'm back though and this time I will be living with my wonderful photographer so blogging will be a lot easier.

Inspiration For The Week

2011-08-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

This week I finished my admin job and am free again. I'm so excited at the freedom to wear whatever I want again so expect an influx of new outfit posts. I've got just over a week before I go to Berlin and then it's not long after that that I'll be heading back up to Leeds to start my final year of university. I have lots of sewing, lots of ebay selling and lots of clearing out to do over the next few weeks. I want to squeeze in more time in London, more time with my home friends and those that are staying behind in London and also some much earned sleep.

My favourites of the week

found here

Take Note: August's Blogger of the Month

2011-08-25T14:49:00.000-07:00

Due to dreadful planning on my behalf and the fact I was without a laptop for the majority of July, I had to move July's blogger of the month til August. So without further ado, I introduce to you Steffy of Steffy's Pros and Cons. Her wonderful vintage stylings make her blog a great read and her shop is full to the brim with goodies. She agreed to answer some questions for me below.

How did you first get involved with blogging?

i had a livejournal back in those days, and then began steffys pros and cons as a personal type blog

Describe your personal style.

girly and feminine but vintage inspired

Who are your style icons?

twiggy, and i love the fashion blogs fancytreehouse and flashes of style

Where do you get your inspiration from?

other bloggers, the colors of the season, just everywhere

How does where you live affect your style?

it's really hot in florida, so that needs to be kept in mind :)

What's your favourite book, movie and band?

favorite book is in cold blood, movie is the notebook [ cheesy] and band... always the beatles.

What would be your perfect Saturday?

morning run followed by iced coffee and a baguette/ raspberry tart, shopping for my store, watching a netflix movie with matt, and SUSHI for dinner (MY FAVORITE!!)

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

new york city.

What's one fashion faux pas you secretly love?

i really love GIGANTIC headband bows... i know many other people think theyre too much

If you could live in one movie, which would it be?

i just saw midnight in paris. i would live in that one, because i want to meet all of the greatest writers and painters!... and go to france!

Any tips for aspiring personal style bloggers?

post your own content, make it original and special and most of all, make it you!

So go check out Steffy's blog here

Fever To Tell

2011-08-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Playsuit: Vintage

Tights: ASOS

Cardigan: H&M

Belt: Zara

Shoes: Primark

Tote: Julia Pott via etsy

The perks of living with your best friend who has a car are endless. It means trips to sainsburys to stock up on cheese (my main weakness in life), driving to small towns to raid the charity shops and reliving childhood in the form of visits to national trust properties. For the last day of our Leeds visit we drove out to Harewood House and enjoyed some good old Yorkshire scenery.

There was a bird enclosure, complete with a penguin tank and lots of beautiful greenery which we explored on the Himalayan walking route. We spent most of the day in hysterical laughter and took an embarrassing amount of photographs. Every else there probably thought we were insane but that happens more often than not when we're out together.

Consider this a massive recommendation to visit Harewood House if you ever get the chance! The next day was the ridiculous long drive back to London complete with singing so hard we lost our voices and discussions of fitting our heads inside our chests. Don't ask!

Careful Crossers

2011-08-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

Top: Primark

Skirt: Swap (via Jasmine)

Sandals: Charity shop

Sunglasses: market in Toulouse

Growing up in a small town meant entertainment wasn't always what other kids were used to. When I was a teenager and still in school, most of my friday nights and my summer days were spent at the lakes. Our school backed onto the lakes which had two bodies of water and lots of green fields, hills and woods. It was the perfect place to spend endless hours, killing time until we could get out of our claustrophobic town. In the summer we would go out on the lake in boats and play in the playground that we were much too big for. We shot a short film for school there and staged a death scene by pushing a girl down the hill while filming from a tree. I held hands there with my first real boyfriend and I got drunk there when we weren't old enough to go to the pub. It has so many ridiculous memories there that it's one of my favourite places, which are far and few between in my home town.

A few weeks ago, I took my friends from university there to take a boat out and soak up the nostalgia on a sunny day. It was the perfect excuse to wear this skirt (that I have due to a swap I'm doing with the wonderful Jasmine of Transient Withdrawal) along with those perfect charity shop sandals I mentioned. I was going to buy a pair from Clarks which were out of my price range so I held off and then I stumbled across these, identical and never been worn for the massive price of 99p!

Sometimes, I'm just lucky like that!

P.S. Yes, we are singing I'm on a boat in that last photo.

Down in The Yards

2011-08-20T04:41:00.000-07:00

Shirt: Charity shop

Shorts: Vintage

Belt: Zara

Shoes: New Look

Ok so in no way do I think it's normal to pose for photos in the bathroom but we took photos in every room of the house to give a mini tour of the new place and the bathroom ones had the best lighting of a bad bunch so voila!

When I bought this shirt the guy serving me asked if I was going to Barbados, I told him that I was not but that I was just indulging in my guilt pleasure for loving hawaiian shirts. He didn't seem convinced unfortunately. The week I spent in Leeds I had such good luck with charity shops, it was unreal. You know when you've had something on your list for ages and then suddenly all those things turned up wherever I went. Including the perfect sandals, a typewriter and a sleeveless shirt identical to one I was about to buy from asos for a fraction of their price.

That is why I love shopping in charity shops!

He's The Only One Who Knows The Words

2011-08-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

Dress: H&M

Cardigan: Topshop

Shoes: Primark

Necklace: Gift

We took these photos outside of our new house in Leeds. I went up there for a week to sort out boring things like internet, furniture and it turned out to fix a broken boiler. We didn't have hot water until the last day of our visit which was horrible but lead to some hilarious noises coming from the bathroom as we both tried to suffer through cold showers.

I don't know what it is about the place but I always have a feeling of such contentment whenever I'm in Leeds. I love London to pieces and I know I will end up here eventually but Leeds is my home too now.

This outfit was very feminine, perhaps a reaction to the fact I'm currently living in smart casual clothes for my job. There are a few colours I wanted to inject into my wardrobe and purple is always on that list so this dress filled the void for a little while.

I've been so busy this entire summer, it's nearly over and I still don't have a spare second. I need to start writing my screenplay for my graduation film and about a million and one other things too but I've had so many of my friends in London that it's been hard to say no to plans. I can always sleep when I'm back at uni.

I Wish That I Knew Now When I Was Younger

2011-07-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

Dress: Vintage

Cardigan: H&M

Tights: M&S

Shoes: Primark

This dress has been one of my wardrobe staples since I bought it last summer before my trip to Sweden. I have never owned a dress that I could remix quite so many ways and still love it every single time I get it out of the wardrobe.

I wore this outfit for a friends birthday and then again at the day after the wedding where we all got together for more food and drinks and even some entertainment from bagpipes. Going back to Ireland was exactly what I needed after a hectic summer it was nice to get back to family and take things slow. I miss it already and can't wait to get back there. It's such a beautiful place and if you ever get a chance, you should definitely visit!

Filming for a short film I've been producing starts tomorrow and I'm super nervous. I always turn into a big ball of anxiety whenever it gets to filming so it'll be a highly strung four days for me. Then I'm off to Leeds for a week with Mel to sort out our house a little more including getting an internet connection. I will be vanishing again for about a week but as soon as I get a chance to get online, I will be back.

Grapevine

2011-07-15T01:31:00.000-07:00

Dress: Urban Outfitters

Cardigan: H&M

Shoes: Primark

Necklace: Gift

I'm currently sat in an attic bedroom in Ireland about to get ready for my cousin's wedding. I feel like there's been so much stuff going on in my life recently that I've failed to keep my blog up to date with what I'm actually doing. I've got a busy few weeks of travelling up and down the country when I get back from this little trip but I'd rather be busy than bored.

This is the outfit I'll be wearing to the wedding later. It's a really casual, homely wedding with the ceremony in a local church then the reception in a marquee in their garden. Gardens in Ireland aren't exactly the same thing as gardens at home as my family live out in the countryside near Kilkenny. It's sure to be a lovely day, seeing lots of people I wish I got to see more often. My irish family are some of my favourite people but obviously visiting can't happen too often any more. We used to spend lots of summers here when we were younger, playing with the sheep, riding the mini-tractor or kayaking down the river in the village. It's strange being back here after a few years away but not much has changed.

P.S I know it looks like I blend in with the cream dress and I know I'm pale but this time it was just a bit bright when taking photos!

Five Years Time

2011-07-12T15:24:00.000-07:00

Top: Tesco

Cardigan: Topshop

Shorts: Vintage

Shoes: New Look

Bag: Vintage

Another lovely day was spent in London with Laura yesterday. We started the afternoon with a picnic in Regents Park before walking down the canal and up to Primrose Hill to take in the lovely view. After lounging around we walked back to Camden town and met up with our friend, Dom, who is living in London for her year in industry. We spent the evening watching Adventure Time and planning parties for Dom to come back to Leeds for.

It was a really warm day despite the sun being hidden behind clouds for most of it. I had hopes of getting a small tan this summer to take the ghostly look of my skin but unfortunately, it looks unlikely. I will forever be a milk bottle.

Inspiration For The Week

2011-07-11T01:27:00.000-07:00

This past week has been the last week before things get truly hectic so I spent it seeing friends, drinking lots of wine, sorting out work things, dashing around London and visiting the cinema. From now on, my summer gets a little bit crazy time-wise so it was nice to have an easy going week with some of my favourite people who I might not get to see for a while.

My favourite looks of the week.

found here

I Swore Not To Say I Loved You In Song

2011-07-08T14:53:00.000-07:00

Dress: Dorothy Perkins

Belt: Vintage

Shoes: Vintage

Hat: Charity Shop

Badge: Gift

"There are countless things in life I wish I could capture and hold on to. Capture on film, distill into a photograph or find the right words to cling onto someone else’s senses, wrapping around until the feeling is in their bones too.
The summer train rides home from the city. If only I could keep hold of that exact colour of light that fills the carriage as the sun sets outside. Half blinding and half intoxicating as everything appears beautiful in the glow. If I could pause, outside of it all, and memorise the caress of the breeze against necks, whipping up those soft hairs with that song playing in your ears. The satisfaction of being on your way. Even if your destination is nowhere special, the happiness spreading like warmth through your limbs makes you forget.
One day I'll be able to curl my fingers around those moments and grasp them tightly until, in the grips of winter, I can crawl under the covers, peel back my fingers and soak in those feelings again. To feel it all again."

An easy summer outfit to soak up the sunshine.

Rapture

2011-07-07T03:56:00.000-07:00

Top: H&M

Cardigan: H&M

Shorts: Vintage

Shoes: New Look

Dear Bank Balance,

I would like to offer my sincerest apologies for how much I have been abusing you recently. I know I promised this summer I was going to save my pennies for a holiday or to store away for when I graduate but it's never so easy in real life. There's always sales and vintage shorts that fufill the search that's been going on for months. I'm well aware there is no room left in my wardrobe and I have a massive pile of clothes to sell on ebay but I just can't seem to help myself. I need a new camera, only a point and shoot not a whole new DSLR, so I'm going to promise you and myself that if I don't buy any clothes for a month I will treat myself to a new camera. If that seems counter-productive then you clearly haven't been paying attention to my receipts either. It'll be a big remix month and a challenge for summer.

Love,

A chronic spender.

I wore this for my little brothers birthday meal as the weather decided to take a turn for the worse.

Antlers And Hooves

2011-07-05T05:23:00.000-07:00

Top: New Look

Skirt: Vintage

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Necklace: Gift

Brick Lane is one of my favourite places in London. There's an endless amount of vintage shops to pull the money out of my purse, lovely cafes for a break in between and there's always people wandering around to steal inspiration from. After a successful job interview yesterday, I headed there to spend some time with my friend Laura. We're moving in together up in Leeds, along with Mel, but luckily we live close enough at home that we get to spend time in summer together too.

It was another scorcher so crop top and skirt was the only option really. The only thing about London in the summer is getting on the tube is disgusting! I've got a whole month of travelling in rush hour to look forward to when I head back to my office job in August. Groan!

My summer is filling up so quickly, what with this new producer job, my office job and a trip to Ireland for a wedding. I'm hoping to also fit in a trip to Leeds to settle in to the new house, a road trip to Brighton to enjoy the beach and maybe even a little holiday in September. Good thing I enjoy planning so much. Hope everyone's summer is going swimmingly!

What I've Been Up To

2011-07-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

In the whole year that I've been blogging it has been one of the most regular things in my life but these past few weeks have been so hectic and crazy that it just made more sense to take a step back from the blog and take full advantage of everything that was happening.

Since I last posted properly I have moved out of my Leeds house, been to Long Division Festival, celebrated my 21st birthday, gone on tour with my best friends band, cheated the system in Nandos, travelled all over the UK, seen Arcade Fire in Hyde Park, survived a million travel disasters, moved into my new Leeds house and had plenty of other things on my plate too.
I'm going to be back to normal blogging tomorrow but I thought I'd put together a post with a few photos (rubbish quality as they're from my blackberry) to fill you all in on what I've been up to while I've been gone.

and a few instagram ones I stole from Tom

(Tour was tough)

Back to normal proceedings tomorrow!

Take Note: June's Blogger of the Month

2011-06-29T03:54:00.000-07:00

For June, I decided to feature Liz from Olive, My Love as my blogger of the month. Her style is really accessible while still being inspirational and chic. She posts about her adventures as well so her blog is always a good read. She kindly answered some questions for me below.

How did you first get involved with blogging?

I became interested in blogging through the Wardrobe Remix Flickr group in 2008. A lot of the girls who contributed also had blogs, so I began to follow a few. I was looking for a way to channel some of my creative leanings and a blog seemed like a good way to create some kind of scrapbook. I didn't want it to be a personal style blog initially, because I felt like, "Who do I think I am??" when it came to posting picture of myself. It also felt like a daunting task to keep it up. With some encouragement from friends (and the amazing IFB Conference in February) I started to write more substantial posts. It definitely feels more personal now, which I really enjoy.

Describe your personal style.

Refined 90's with a classic, clean 60's styling aesthetic.

Who are your style icons?

Currently: Marina Munoz Always: My mom

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Most of my inspiration comes from regular girls that I see on the street and my friends! I also obviously look to fellow bloggers, style sites and magazines now and then, but I think the best ideas come from real people that you know.

How does where you live affect your style?

Besides having to dress for the elements, I think being in Brooklyn and helped me simplify my wardrobe. It might also be because I'm older now, but I am more interested in owning a few key pieces and things I really love as opposed to having the most up to date trend right closet. Brooklynites march to the beat of their own drum - they don't always follow trends and tend to stick to tried and true classics and that is definitely something that I relate to.

What's your favourite book, movie and band?

Ooh this is hard because I don't really have favorites, but...

-The Great Gatsby has always been a favorite book of mine since high school, although I am reading a lot of J.D. Salinger right now and I'm kind of falling in love.

- I'm not the biggest movie buff, but I love "There Will Be Blood" and "Now and Then" is pretty much the most perfect girly summer movie of all time.

- I'm currently listening to a lot of Tennis, Fleet Foxes and Zombies and I'm always listening to Wilco, Justin Townes Earle, Jenny Lewis and a variety of 60's girl groups like the Shangri-Las.

What would be your perfect Saturday?

Renting a car and taking an adventure out of town with my guy. Probably something involving historical monuments!

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

Camping by a lake in the Shennendoah Valley.

What's one fashion faux pas you secretly love?

Black with navy. It's totally chic, demure and sexy when done right.

If you could live in one movie, which would it be?

I would like to live in a movie about my life where I have more money and a better apartment with a very large closet.

Any tips for aspiring personal style bloggers?

Be true to yourself and write as if you were talking to a friend. It's easier, comes more naturally and people will relate to you.

So check out Liz's blog, Olive, my love by clicking here.

Be Back Soon

2011-06-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

I know I said I was taking a week break to sort out moving home for summer but then my 21st birthday weekend happened and now I'm on tour with my best friends band doing some filming til the end of the week. I'll be back soon but I just wanted to let everyone know I hadn't just disappeared.

P.S If you want to check out what I'm up to on tour, check out Calais by clicking here.

Heat Rash

2011-06-12T01:03:00.000-07:00

Dress: Vintage

Cardigan: H&M

Belt: Zara

Shoes: UO

Bag: Vintage

Wore this for a day trip to Otley recently when the weather couldn't decide what it wanted. I wanted to go one last time before disappearing for summer but it seemed someone else had gotten there first and nabbed all the good stuff. It was followed by a night of watching 'The Craft' and 'Matilda' with friends which is the perfect way to spend an evening in my books.

I'm currently packing up my room to move home and I'm going to take a break from the blog for the week so I can deal with all the stuff I have to do. Plus I'm lacking a photographer since Mel is leaving Leeds today too. It's back to self-portraits once I'm home for summer.

I'm looking forward to going home for the home comforts, the free food, packed charity shops and freedom of riding my bike around but I'm going to miss Leeds and everyone in it. I can't even handle thinking about graduating next summer without a slightly nauseous feeling in my stomach. Growing up sucks!

Try To Change

2011-06-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

Top: H&M

Skirt: H&M

Cardigan: Topshop

Shoes: UO

I kind of disappeared for a while there. Since finishing university for the year, I've had no structure in my life at all and everything has gotten a little bit crazy. We've got the rough cut of the film finished, just waiting on credits and soundtrack now which is exciting. A lot of people have asked about being able to see it but I'm still considering whether I'll be making it available for viewing online. It kind of cuts down your options for what you can do with the film but we'll see.

This outfit was an easy option for a day of watching X-Men First Class, going for one last dinner out with Mel and then a party in the evening. People have been having parties left, right and center since finishing so it's been a tiring couple of weeks. Dressing for comfort has become my only option really.

I'll try and get back into the swing of posting regularly but I'm going to have to take next week off because I'm moving home from uni etc. Might try and get some guest posts, let me know if you'd be interested in helping a girl out!

This Is Our Lot

2011-06-04T04:15:00.000-07:00

Dress: F21

Cardigan: H&M

Shoes: UO

Had a little break from the blogging world to go outside and enjoy the sunshine this week. It's a lot of my friends last week in Leeds as well so I had lots of quality time scheduled in with them. I'm on a four nights out in a row schedule at the moment, tonight being the third and I'm just not sure how I'm gonna survive. All the days tend to blur into one in summertime and coming home in the morning when it's alright light outside is really disorientating.

The ease of summer dressing is something I'm totally renewing my love for though. Sundress and shoes, ready to go. Anything more complicated is just too much for a sunfrazzled brain to comprehend.

I went to a friend's birthday party the other night and the theme was crossing dressing so of course I obliged and went as my alter ego Claude. A moustache and a bow tie was added after the photo below but all of the other photos are pretty horrific. At the party I went to last night someone said 'You're looking nice in your girls clothes' so clearly Claude made an impression.

Never Meant A Word of It

2011-05-31T07:07:00.000-07:00

Top: Zara

Skirt: ASOS

Cardigan: H&M

Shoes: UO

Badge: SF Aquarium

Monochromatic dressing with a splash of colour is so much easier than any other way of dressing. If it wasn't coming into the warmer months I might have stuck to it. I felt quite french in this outfit and I've no clue why! I had a meeting about third year dissertation films and a night of watching As Told By Ginger at my friend Dom's house. It was a good one, one of those days that is perfect after the stresses of exams. I also ate far too many packets of Quavers.

I'm meant to be in post-production for the film I shot over Easter but things keep getting in the way so hopefully tomorrow we can start cracking on. I've also been offered an interview for a job as a producer for a short film in London over summer. The film has a budget and a professional crew which would be a great stepping stone for when I graduate as at the moment I'm only a pro at making films guerilla style with no budget at all. We shall see what happens!

Inspiration For The Week

2011-05-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

This week saw the end of my second year of university and a sudden increase in celebrations. I went out for various friend's birthdays and danced til the early hours. I got back into the routine of watching a film a day and I started to pack up my room to move home for the summer. It was a week of stress, relief, jubilation and excitement for things to come. Summer is here!

My favourites of the week.

found here

Take Note: May's UK Blogger of the Month

2011-05-28T04:31:00.000-07:00

Before we lose the rest of May, I want to share with you the UK Blogger of the Month. Hannah of Foxtail and Fern is such a stunning and stylish girl with a blog full to the brim of wonderful photographs. She agreed to do an interview for me below and I have a feeling you'll all be as fond of her style as I am.

How did you first get involved with blogging?

I first got involved after coming across a personal style blog written by a girl living in Singapore (I don't think it exists anymore). I'd never seen anything like it and after browsing her archives for about an hour I was transfixed. That was about 3/4 years ago, and now here we are!

Describe your personal style.

Simple and vintage-inspired.

Who are your style icons?

Other fashion bloggers for the most part, although I do also take inspiration from the likes of Alexa Chung, Chloe Sevigny, etc.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

A heck of a lot of it comes from the internet! But I also get inspired by people I see on the street, and by nature.

How does where you live affect your style?

I think I definitely dress more interestingly when I'm in Edinburgh, which is where I go to university. In Edinburgh you see a lot more diversity in the way that people dress in comparison to Coventry, which is the closest city to where I live when I'm home for the summer.

What's your favourite book, movie and band?

I don't really have a favourite book, but my favourite genre is sci-fi and fantasy. The same goes for movies and music, I don't really have any favourites, I just like lots of things!

What would be your perfect Saturday?

One where I'd wake up early and getting straight on the road to some obscure little English village where I'd spend the day browsing antique shops and visiting old country estates. Stopping on the way at a service station for breakfast would be fundamental! I love service stations because they remind me of going on holiday when I was younger.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

Well the weather's really miserable here at the moment, so anywhere with sunshine would be nice.

What's one fashion faux pas you secretly love?

Oh I don't know! To be honest, I probably love loads of things that are considered to be a faux pas without actually realising that they are faux pas!

If you could live in one movie, which would it be?

Harry Potter! Oh the disappointment when I turned 11 and didn't get my letter.

Any tips for aspiring personal style bloggers?

Be a better blogger than I am and update frequently! Also, try putting some thought into where you take your pictures; I think a nice location can really make outfit photos stand out.

Check out Hannah's blog, Foxtail and Fern here.