Becoming A Jackal

Dress: Thrifed 

Cardigan: Asos

Bag: Ebay

Shoes: Below 7

This dress is my pride and glory when it comes to thrifting and sewing. I found it at a car boot sale for the measly sum of £2. It was a maxi dress though which just looked awful so I hemmed it shorted with my new to me sewing machine and voila, one of my favourite items of clothing. I'm just a sucker for polka dots and little details like the peep in the neckline and the buttonss

This cardigan is also one of my favourite items of clothing so to be honest, this is just an outfit of all my favourite things. But that's not a bad thing at all. I wore this to my first day of lectures on Monday which actually meant one lecture and an afternoon spent in the union pub with all my friends. It was such a lovely afternoon just catching up and chatting.

It's been raining most of the week so I've been struggling with taking outfit photos but I'll get this sorted as soon as possible. Also, I'm writing my first assignment for the university newspaper. It's a book review of a book called 'Think of A Number'. It's a thriller and it's quite good so far but with these kind of books it's how well the story is sustained and is there enough twists etc. so we will see. How exciting to be published though?

The Fun Powder Plot

Dress: Primark

Blouse: H&M

Boots: Urban Outfitters

Bag: ebay

I just needed something simple for Sunday Dinner with my housemates and the boyfriend when I felt like I was on my deathbed. The black dress is easy to wear but then I struggled to find the right pairing for it, finally settling on this blouse that I haven't worn in forever for a bit of unexpected layering. I got into the autumn mood with my ankle boots and manned up against my ails to go out for a roast. 

It was ultimately windy when we took these so please excuse how windswept I look. This is the place I took photos in summer and I walked past the other day to see it had changed so I thought why not document it? I know it's awfully cliche to take photos in front of grafitti but hey, it looks cool! This one is a bit more gruesome than the last one but I look forward to walking past and seeing what's new everytime.

Coat: Vintage

Introductions are in order for my new blanket coat. It's literally a blanket someone made into a duffel coat. It's my new favourite item and have definitely produced some love/hate responses in my friends. It really helped me when I was in the pits of illness though to constantly be wearing a blanket. I'd say that's a win!

I'm overwhelmed with the amount of things I'm meant to be doing at the moment. Lectures started on Monday and luckily I get a day off tomorrow to process everything, sort out my schedule and watch some documentaries too. Bare with me while I adjust to my new hectic lifestyle.

Inspiration For The Week

My extremely poor immune system has struck me down again, this time with a flu-ey type thing so I've been battling it with Vitamin C, wearing my blanket coat and wallowing in self pity but I've still managed to put together a favourite looks post.

found here

found here

found here

found here

found here

found here

Pick Me Apart, Uncover My Heart, I'm Yours.

Shorts: Zara

Blouse: Shop in Sweden

Cardigan: H&M

Shoes: New Look

I'm honestly in love with these photographs. Willis is actually getting to be a nice little photographer, although I had to set the settings, his composition is much improved. God, I sound like his teacher or something. Really I'm just a grateful girlfriend. Soppy cheese moment over and on to the outfit.

I had been on the search for tweed to inject into my wardrobe and I'm so glad I found these shorts. I call them my grandpa shorts because to be honest my style swings between granny chic and grandpa chic these days. I felt very like Lizzie from Quite Quaint in this outfit so I reckon I must have been channelling her.

We took these in a little wooded area by my house and honestly, sometimes I feel like an idiot hunting out these backdrops and hiding everytime I see someone walking past so they don't think I'm a narcissist. Does anyone else have this problem?

Just a short post as I'm scheduling this one before running downstairs for ladies night with some friends. This involves Bridget Jones' Diary, stuffing our faces and chillin' out (literally) in my basement living room. Hope everyone has had wonderful weeks!

What's In These Stories?

Trousers: Zara

Top: H&M

Vest: Forever 21

Shoes: Miss Selfridges

Hat: New Look

Necklace: Etsy

Bag: ebay

I finally succumbed and bought into the menswear trend. I've been following it for a while and hunting for the perfect pegleg trousers and finally these fell into my hands. I'm in love with the tailored, high waist fit and navy is my colour for winter too! I kept it quite simple with their first wear, a little pirate or french esque depending on how you see it.

I love red and navy together and the pops of brown too. We had to take these photographs with flash on unfortunately because we left it too late after grabbing dinner to take them. These trousers will definitely be popping up a lot this season though so no need to worry about these pants photos. 

Refreshers week has been so hectic for me, catching up with friends, going out, settling into the house, recovering from hangovers and getting far too much sleep. Classes start next week and I'm looking forward to it but dreading the workload at the same time. It can be stressful doing a half practical half academic course because you have to juggle essays and films and now a photographic portfolio too.

I'm trying to balance my schedule with school and blogging so that this won't be neglected once classes start but really I won't know how it's gonna go until I get into the full swing of things. Any tips for balancing it all?

Let's See How Far We Can Amble

Dress: vintage

Cardigan: george

Bag: Ebay

Shoes: Below 7

First outfit post back in Leeds. I'm totally ready for warm dressing now! These past few days have been miserable weather and all I want to do is curl up in wooly tights and my new blanket coat with good friends and a glass of wine. Hopefully this week will feature more of these kind of things. Just wore this for a wander around Fresher's fair and a venture into town.

These photographs were taken inside the Corn Exchange in Leeds. It's full of lovely boutiques and a restaurant down those grand staircases. It was rainy and grey outside so we thought this might be a nicer locale for a backdrop. I've felt ultimately uninspired recently but then I had a light bulb moment and I think I'm set for outfits for a little while longer.

I've been watching documentaries a lot recently, thrown in with the usual mixture of programmes I watch. Anyone got any good recommendations? I feel like sometimes I lose myself too much in fiction so I'm trying to get back to my curious self.

Take Note: September's International Blogger of The Month

The international blogger of the month is always so tricky to pick because there's so many amazing blogs out there run by girls with great style but this month I picked one of my favourites to share with you.

Caitlyn from Bees With Feathers was kind enough to do a little interview for me so I could introduce you all to her wonderful feminine style. You might recognise her from my inspiration posts as she often crops up with some of my favourite looks.

How did you first get into blogging?

I used to lurk on all different blogs/fashion blogs and admire all the wonderful clothes and people that enhabited it. Brian is the one who told me that I could be one of them easily, and he (almost!) forced me into creating a blogspot. (:

How would you describe your personal style?

It really drastically changes by season I feel. In the spring and the summer I am the ultimate romantic dresser. I love light colors and lace, florals and all that good stuff. Come fall I like tough boots, deeper colors and more basics.

Do you have any style icons?

I really don't I mean there are many that I completely admire for their crazy and wonderful fashion (Zooey Deschanel, Natasha Khan), but I kind of just march to my own beat.

Your style is so feminine and delicate, where do you find inspiration from?

I really like to feel like I am in living in a different time era. I want to feel like a classy girl from back when, with floraly dresses and dainty accessories.

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

Anywhere in the world at this moment? Well I wish I was with Brian at this moment! But if I could be somewhere crazier I would have to pick Europe. I'd really love to visit Norway or Switzerland or any Mountainous region such as those. I love Fair Isle sweater prints and such and it always reminds me of those such places! They seem so homey!

As an art major, do you feel that art and fashion have a connection?

Oh absolutely. But it's really different for everyone. I have many people tell me that they can tell I'm artsy just by the way I dress. You really have to be a creative artistic person (even if not good at fine arts!) to be able to put together outfits that work!

Where are your favourite places to shop?

I love Urban Outfitters. I always feel sooo overwhelmed when I walk into there! But I have recently discovered Zara and I am loving that store a lot alot too!

You and Brian always sound so sweet in your blog, is he supportive of your blogging?

Absolutely. When I get lazy, or fed up with an outfit he never just lets me give up. He loves my fashion taste and says all my clothes are "cute little girl clothes". He is the one who told me to start blogging, and he is a huge help with it constantly!

Do you feel where you live affects your style?

Considering weather climates, then I suppose that would affect something, but otherwise I really don't believe so. I live in a rural (but becoming much more suburban!) area, and trust you me, I am the ONLY one I ever see wearing the kind of clothes that I do. I just have my own tastes and likes and that's why I love everyone in the blogging world, it gives me a chance to have friends who enjoy style too!

Has blogging helped your style develop and if so, how?

In a way it has both helped and not helped it. I feel like I need to be getting new things to throw into my wardrobe a lot more than before, and I sometimes feel uncontent even with my tons of clothing already. I hope this is just a season transitioning type thing! But it has also taught me to be a lot more inventive when it comes to putting an outfit together!

How did you come up with your blog's name?

Ah I was waiting for someone to ask this question at some time or another. I kind of went through a phase where I would like to pair things together that don't go together or things that just made you think. Brian told me I should use Bees with Feathers (I believe an old screen name of mine on aol?) for my blog so I did ha. I like to think of it as feathers= fashion, bees= regular old people. Bees don't have feathers, but they sure as heck could wear them if they wanted right?!

Do you have any tips for any aspiring personal style bloggers?

Don't try too hard. I know when you are starting you think you have to seem like the coolest person, or that you really know what you are doing so others think that too, but to be honest my favorite bloggers are the ones that seem so real, so acheievable. Ones that you can become friends with, you you won't get lost in the numbers.

You can reach Caitlyn's lovely blog by clicking here and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I do.

Outtakes Installment 1

I've recently seen a bunch of outtakes posts popping up all over the blogosphere and since I have plenty of them I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon so my blog doesn't lay barren while I'm settling back into life in Leeds. 

Sometimes I like to look crazy

and dance

and fail at dancing

and look angry at passerbys

and get ready for a fight

and get overwhelmed by the wind

and play games with my hat

and hold up trees like a strong man.

Hope that gave you a little laugh, there's a few more installments to come too!

Inspiration For The Week

I've moved into my house in Leeds properly, ready for fresher's week then the start of term but I still have a sort of sorting out to do in the actual house so I've scheduled some posts for the next couple of days and once I'm settled (and have my photographer back) I'll get back to posting outfits.

found here

found here

found here

found here

found here

found here

Just a few outfits I've liked recently, some are back to school looks, some are fashion week looks and some are just plain lovely. Enjoy!

Take Note: September's UK Blogger of the Month.

For September I picked a blogger who is recently getting a lot of hype in blogworld and for good reasons. Her style is really inspiring and lovely plus she's a really nice girl as well. 

Lizzie from Quite Quaint is a personal style blogger from Cambridge and I'm sure you're all going to love her.

How did you first get involved in blogging?

I had just graduated from university and had no job and a lot of spare time on my hands! One Sunday afternoon in June it was pouring with rain and I had nothing to do, I'd been reading a few fashion blogs that day and just thought it would be a good time to start my own. I didn't think for one minute that anyone would read it, it was more about giving myself something to do! 
 
Describe your personal style?

I think my style is quite relaxed, even when I go on a night out I prefer to dress down. I wear a lot of high street clothes but try to style them my own way so that it's not too obvious!

You've just graduated, what are your plans for the future?

Oh I hate that question! Mainly because I'm asked it so often and I don't know how to answer it! I have no idea what I want to do in the future and whether I want to get a job related to my degree. At the moment I don't feel like I want a proper 'grown up' job! I would love to go travelling again, so for now I'm just saving up for my next trip.
 
Where do you get your inspiration from?

So many things inspire me, my grandmother always had amazing style, she would dress for dinner every evening, I loved that tradition. I also found a whole new area of inspiration when I started reading blogs, it's great to find ways of styling an item that you never would have thought of.

 
I love how your style has a vintage and often lady like feel to it, has your style developed since you started blogging?

Haha, I have never thought of my style as lady like, so it's quite funny to hear it described that way. I wear a lot of brogues and loafers, I always thought of myself as quite boyish and scruffy! I suppose summer brings out my girly side, I do like wearing pretty dresses but always feel the need to rough them up a bit with boots or a hat. I've been blogging for such a short time that I don't think my style has had much chance to change.
 
Do you feel where you live affects your style?

I think it does to a certain extent. When I was living in London I was a lot more experimental with what I wore. Since moving back to Cambridge I think my style has become quite boring, I think it's down to the lack of good vintage and charity shops here. 
 

What's your favourite book, band and film?

I don't have a favourite book, which makes me sound pretty ignorant! I read The Lovely Bones years before the film came out and have always liked it.

I can't choose a favourite band! I've always liked the Kings of Leon, I tend to listen to a lot of old music though. 

Film is such a hard one because it's what I've just spent 3 years studying! I love anything by Wes Anderson, Darjeeling Limited is a firm favourite. I'll always love Garden State and Me, You and Everyone We Know because it's nuts.
 
If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be?

If you had asked me that a few months ago I would definitely have said I'd like to be back in Asia. Recently though, I've really missed just going round London markets with my boyfriend, especially Borough market, the food is amazing.
 

What are your favourite trends for autumn?

Oh I just did a post on all my favourite autumn items, there's so many! I love satchels, lace up ankle boots, leopard print, peter pan collars, and dark berry lips. I'd love a faux fur coat coat too and plenty of chunky knit cardigans and socks.
 
What are your favourite blogs to read?

There are so many I love, all for different reasons. I think LuLu Letty, and Liebe Marlene are always full of beautiful photos, as well as The Clothes Horse, who I recently had the pleasure of meeting up with. Another Day to Dress Up andFancy Treehouse are great for vintage style and I have to mention Wishwishwish. 

 
I'm so glad I've been able to feature some great UK personal style bloggers, do you read more UK blogs or international?

I think I admire a lot of American style blogs, but find it easier to relate to UK bloggers, plus when I see them wearing something gorgeous, there's always a chance I can go and buy it too! haha. I love the old favourites like LLYMLRS andGem Fatale because they're great to read, not just full of pretty pictures. 
 
Any tips for aspiring personal style bloggers?

I think good quality photos are often the making of a good style blog and of course, doing it because you enjoy it. When posts are rushed or just churned out it's quite obvious, it's all about quality not quantity!

Head over to Quite Quaint to check out more of Lizzie's style.

International Bloger of September will be up in a couple of days.