Why Do You Leave These Stories Unfinished

Dress: Vintage

Cardigan: handmedown

Boots: ASOS

Belt: Vintage

This is the first outfit from the video shoot we did on Saturday. We were at the vintage fair in the Corn Exchange and it was the perfect place for some filming, despite some embarassment as having my own personal papparazi. We took a lot of photographs outside, in a lot of which I was eating that delicious red velvet cupcake that I'm holding. Not a flattering look, I can tell you that!

This dress was a purchase when I was home at Christmas, it had to be hemmed and when I finally got around to it my sewing machine wouldn't work so I had to hand hem it. It looks awful when you look up close but I'll have to wait til I get home to finish it off properly. 

After this part of the shoot we went and got some lunch at our new favourite place, Distrikt. Goats cheese pizza will always win over any other option in my eyes.

Inspiration For The Week

This week was the first week back at lectures after the christmas break and getting back into the routine of waking up early has been hellish. Yesterday, I worked on a little film we're putting together for the blog. Mel wanted to practice how to use video on her camera and another friend wanted some practice editing so somehow I volunteered myself, despite being very awkward in front of the camera. We've got some more stuff to shoot before we start editing but you'll see the outfits from what we have done so far soon. Last night, I also worked my shift at the picture house for a film called 'The Room'. It was the most surreal experience of my life.

This weeks favourites:

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What Is Mine Is Yours

Dress: American Apparel

Top: H&M

Belt: ASOS

Boots: ASOS

Bag: Vintage

I had some spectators during this photo session which explains my dubious expression in the second picture. We slipped down this street on campus thinking it would be deserted, realised there was a man watching us from the window and then a bunch of workmen came out across the road, laughing and staring, while I tried to pose on like a trooper.

This outfit came out quite nautical with the rope belt and stripes and I really liked not wearing floral. This dress is really difficult to style because of the neckline but I got it really cheap at the infamous brick lane rummage sale so I try and pull it out every now and again. It's actually the first thing I wore on the blog, way back in the day. 

I gave up my shopping ban. I cracked yesterday after 25 days of no shopping when I stumbled onto ebay and couldn't resist some vintage bargains. I threw it away in style today by splurging in town. It's nice to have new clothes again and I'm going to try and just fill the gaps I have in my wardrobe from now on. I'm going out for dinner, cocktails and a gig tonight so I'll have to make use of my new purchases.

Against The Grain

Dress: Ark

Cardigan: H&M

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Hat: Vintage

Scarf: H&M

Bag: Vintage

It was just too cold to take off my scarf and hat this morning. I had to be in university at 9 for a lecture and I don't know why I though a very springtime outfit would be wise but apparently I did. Once I start shopping again I've decided no florals for a while. I have enough of them as it is and I'm craving basics, stripes and polka dots instead. 

My back hasn't improved, I've discovered a hard lump of muscle fibre in my back and I'm really leaning towards investing in a backpack to at least combat the issue of being wonky. I carry my camera around everyday for outfit photos and along with the rest of the stuff I lug around my shoulder always ends up taking a lot of strain.

Am I the only one who can't wait for spring? This outfit obviously shows that yearning. I'm tired of cold now, I want short sleeves and sunny days please.

Take Note: January's UK Blogger of The Month

For January, I interviewed a wonderful blogger from the UK called Sadie. Her blog, Sadie's Wardrobe, is full of wonderful 60's inspired feminine outfits and gems of inspiration. She's got such a great distinctive style and her hair makes me almost give up my dreams of long hair.

When did you first get involved with blogging?

I had been reading other people’s blogs for about a year before I took the plunge and created my own one! My first post was back in April 2009 – it’s weird to see how much my blog has changed since! 

Describe your personal style.

My outfits usually contain elements of 60s style – I can’t get enough of mini-dresses and pretty collars. I usually wear vintage clothes, or second-hand items thrifted at the carboot sale.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I often look to style icons of the 60s such as Francoise Hardy and Twiggy for inspiration, but the blogosphere always has plenty of outfit ideas! At the moment I especially love reading ‘She’s Got a Passion for Fashion’ and ‘Hello Mr Fox’ 

Who are your style icons?

It’s such a cliché but I really love Alexa Chung’s chic yet playful look. She always gets her outfits just right!

Do you think where you live affects your style?

Sometimes. When I’m at home, I live in a small town, so I find myself toning down my outfits slightly (people around here aren’t very fashion forward!). But when I’m at uni, I’m in the city, so I feel that I can wear what I want.

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

Socks and sandals! It’s not so much of a faux pas any more though – hooray!

What's your favourite book, film and band?

I don’t read as much as I should, but I really enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird when I read it at school. My favourite film is definitely Quadrophenia, and lately The Shangri-Las have been on repeat on my iTunes!

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

I honestly think it would be England! I’d love to move to Brighton one day. If I had to choose another country, it would probably be France, as I’m learning the language and like the laid-back lifestyle. I’d quite like to visit Finland one day though.

How has your style developed since you started blogging?

I’ve developed a greater appreciation for vintage clothing, especially items from the 60s! In general, I think I’ve become more confident to wear what I like.

 What's your favourite way to spend a Saturday?

On my ideal Saturday, I’d sleep until 11, have a big cup of tea and crumpets, get dressed and then hit the charity shops! Then in the evening, I’d watch a nice French film.

Any tips or advice to aspiring personal style bloggers out there?

Make sure you post lots of photos! It is also a good idea to comment on other people’s blogs to get your name out there – apart from that, remain true to yourself and blog about things you love!

So head on over and check out Sadies blog here.

Rolling In The Deep

Dress: ?

Jumper: Zara

Boots: Vintage

Necklace: Gift

This is my last school girl inspired outfit for a while I promise. We had a power cut this morning and a large chunk of the area was affected so I had to trek round to borrow my friend's shower and this outfit was the closest thing I could grab. Other than the power cut I had a good first day of semester two. I started one of my new modules and it seems like I'm really going to enjoy it plus I restarted the module that runs from last semester so now I've got straight what we've got to do for that too.

I went to Sheffield after uni for dinner at one of my favourite bars, Bungalows and Bears. It's just like Nation of Shopkeepers for any of you Leeds readers but it's just in a different city. My back messed up again during dinner though which made my journey home rather painful. I must go to the doctor and get it sorted out.

Inspiration For The Week

My delayed favourites of the week.

Not shopping for a month has been easier than I thought. There's been a few times I've been tempted but then I tell myself, think about your wardrobe and how little space you have left! I'm even considering extending it by another month just to see how far I can get. I did buy a dress off a friend because it didn't fit her but that doesn't count because it was also a part trade, I gave her a skirt and she gave me a dress.

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Out Takes Installment Four

This week of freedom has been a strange one. It included signing for a house, far too many hangovers and subsequent breakfasts in popinas, helping out on the set of an indie film, watching Black Swan, falling in love with this article, too few outfit photos, a crippled back and wishing lectures never had to restart.

Here we are on Sunday, lectures start tomorrow and I am dreading it. 

My inspiration for the week post has been a bit delayed because I haven't been keeping up with my google reader and don't have six looks to share so instead, here's some out takes to fill a gap.

A literal face palm

I scare myself sometimes

throwing snowballs at Mel

I believe Molly's instructions were 'Be a deer!'

Rocky moment?

caught by a gust of cold wind.

Take Note: January's International Blogger of the Month

For January's installment of Take Note, I interviewed a wonderful blogger from Amsterdam called Laura. Her blog The World Looks Red is full of wonderful outfits and dreamy photographs. Every time I read her blog, I find something new to be inspired by, the perfect mixture of colours and patterns.

How did you first get involved with blogging?

I was posting some outfits on fashion forums and platforms like Stylemob back in 2007. Then lots of people started asking me if I had a blog so I figured I'd start one! For me blogging is a fun way to document my life. I post about my outfits, but also about my personal life. It's really nice to look back on previous posts and see how you've changed. 

Describe your personal style.

I love feminine retro clothing. I have an enormous weakness for pretty dresses; floral prints, tulle, pastel colours, ruffles, classic '50's shapes... I like combining vintage finds with stuff from high-street shops like Zara, H&M, Mango and River Island. 

Who are you style icons?

I don't really have a particular person who inspires me, but right now I really love how Alexa Chung dresses (who doesn't, right?). I also love the styling on Gossip Girl, especially Blair Waldorf's outfits are always amazing.

Where do you get inspiration from?

From everywhere. It can be an old movie, a person I see on the street, something I see in a magazine or on another fashion blog. Polyvore.com is great if you have one of those days where you don't know what to wear. It  can offer fresh perspectives on the items you already own.

Do you think where you live affects your style?

I live in Amsterdam now but I don't think the way I dress really reflects that. The Dutch generally don't care as much about fashion. On the other hand, we do have a lot of good vintage markets here, so the city does affect my style. I've been living in Sweden as well and the streetstyle there is so inspiring. I think that has affected me more.

Has your style developed since blogging?

Absolutely. I used to go shopping and just buy everything I like, as long as it was cheap, and then I'd end up with lots of things I wouldn't wear that often. Now I think a lot more about who I am and what my style is. I think blogging has made me a lot more conscious of that. Now I focus more on buying pieces that I really love and I know I'm gonna wear more than once.

What's your favourite book, movie and band?

My favorite book is Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. I've read a lot of books but nothing has stayed with me like this one has. The story is so touching and it's amazingly well-written.

 My favorite movie is The Dark Crystal by Jim Henson. It's an adventure movie from 1981 made entirely with puppets. This movie was made with such creativity and stunning attention to detail. The whole production cost around 15 million dollars, and to me is so much more amazing to look at than something like Avatar that cost 500 million dollars. 

My favorite band is Sigur Rós. They just blow my mind.

What's your favourite way to spend a Saturday?

When the weather is nice I love to go for walks, like go into the nature, go shopping or maybe even go to a theme park. But right now in winter I love to stay in and have movie marathons.

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

Oh I don't really know much about fashion faux pas' or fashion rules. Sometimes I hear people whining about not liking black tights, though, what's up with that? I love black tights, I wear them all the time.

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

Ooh, somewhere I don't need a wintercoat. Maybe like Disneyland California. Can I bring my boyfriend?

Any tips or advice to aspiring personal style bloggers out there?

Look at blogs you love and think about what you like about them and don't like about them. It'll help you decide what you want your blog to be like. Other than that, just keep doing what you want to do, don't worry if you don't get many visitors right away. It's more important to stay yourself than to be a crowdpleaser.

Head on over to Laura's blog here.

Welcome Wagon

Blouse: Sweden

Cardigan: Topshop

Skirt: Zara

Shoes: New Look

I need to start getting out of bed early enough to iron my clothes. I look even more of a mess than normal in these photographs because this skirt is a disaster to keep wrinkle free. I left getting up til as late as possible this morning after a night out last night I was not excited to go for a second viewing on our house for next year. It was just as nice as I remember though so we're signing for it.

I decided to finally sort out my drawers this afternoon but after fixing the bottom one I went to stand up and suddenly my back was in intense pain and it didn't go away no matter how I moved. I've been lain in bed ever since trying to rest it so I can still go out tonight. Maybe it's a sign I should have a rest but since no one will be volunteering to miss out and sit at home with me, I'm going to man up and go out.

Any quick fix remedies for bad backs? I'm such an old woman, it's disgraceful!