Hiatus

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

Beachy Head

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

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.

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Young Shields

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

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

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

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.

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Films To Note

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

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

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.