Little Mouse

This is one of my favourite items of clothing; it's a customised drop sleeve tee, then printed with a mouse design, created by my best friend Tegen. She works predominately in print design and this one was on lino and printed in oil paint with a fabric binder, so it can be washed. I also wore my battered Dr Martens which I got off eBay pretty much brand new for £50 about 18 months ago and basically live in during the winter months, but they can also be worn in the awful June weather we seem to be having.

Floral

I went shopping today after work as Tom Odell's album Long Way Down was finally released today! I've been waiting months for this and I am super excited to listen to it, so much so I brought a hard copy which I never usually do. Normally I don't even buy music, I just listen to what I'm into at the moment (currently; Bastille, Canon Blue, She & Him (Zooey Deschanel's band)) on you tube. 

I also got some new make up; I'm not really a make-up person, but I'm a sucker for a good winged eye and nail polish! I use Collection 2000 Extreme 24h Felt Tip Liner as it usually lasts ages (but I lost the last one) and is only £2.99. I also got this cute ruled journal in Paperchase (£2.00) purely for the illustration on the cover, but I'm sure I'll find a use for it and another A6 art journal (Paperchase, £3.25) as I've nearly used up my other one.

I overslept spectacularly this morning and was very nearly late for placement (which is going really well, photos of my current project to come) and so for a speedy exit of the house this morning, I knew this outfit would work, as I wore it quite a lot last autumn, so minimal effort was required to look like I had made an effort. The shirt is from a charity shop and one of my favourites even though it has pink in it, and it the perfect tone for overcast summer days. The leggings are Sainsbury's (Two pairs £10) who do surprisingly good leggings and tights which last just as long as ones from Topshop but don't look cheap or stretch badly like Primark. My suede desert boots are another Topshop sale gem, I think I got them for about £7.50, and they have lasted so well for suede, though they do look nicer a little roughed up.

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Polka

I, quite naughtily, went to the Topshop sale and thankfully luck was on my side; as two tops and a leather purse I have been after for months were all on sale and I got the lot for £21!

I got this polka top for £6, and although I had originally wanted it in petite, in hindsight the slightly longer version is probably for the better. I have a thing for spots and monochrome, so this top ticked all the right boxes! I paired it here with my Velvet leggings and Laser-cut detail Topshop heels, for a more dressy look, though it could as easily be worn with a skater skirt or high waisted shorts and flats. 

The purse was more of an impulse buy as I had been after a larger clutch bag version for a while, however at £7.50, and in need of a more organised and sophisticated purse rather than yet another clutch bag I downsized my fur and leather dream.

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Bleu

The summer has definitely taken a turn for the worse, which is a shame after yesterday's sunshine, though the scorching temperatures did not make for pleasant cycling, and I am not sure I am designed to function in heat. So today I was glad not to be overheating, or crossing the street just to be in the shade and drinking a bottle of water every ten minutes.

Though while the sunshine was here yesterday I embraced it, wearing a tie-dye Topman tee I picked up for £7.50, tie-dye is not something I usually go for, however it was done in a subtle way with a washed out palette of blue, white and grey, so as not to be in your face and obnoxious. My second hand New Look shorts (FAR too short to be worn without tights) made an appearance as did my Nike trainers, though only as I had to cycle too and from work (I think I look like an idiot in them). Also as it was sunny I wore my vintage circle sunglasses.

Today I was working for Dorothy Perkins in Debenhams, which isn't my favourite shift, as there are more departments to remember and things are all in different places, so I have to ask questions every five minutes which consequently makes me look really bad at a job I am actually quite good at (well I'd hope so after working in retail for three years now). When I had my appraisal a few weeks ago my boss asked me to simplify my work attire and make it more appealing to our older target audience (Sadly I'm not a Topshop girl any more) So today I kept it simple with my royal blue collarless shirt (Dorothy Perkins, £32) and my staple black skinny jeans (Dorothy Perkins, £26) Which are cut very similarly to a Topshop Leigh, though out of a thicker denim, so they don't feel like they're going to wear out after three washes. Though to make the outfit more me, I added my brown leather Levi's belt, a gem of a hand-me-down, and velvet pumps (Topshop) which were quickly substituted for black converse when I consulted the weather. I added my grey crop sweater (Topshop) to keep warm (in June!? apparently so) and wore my blue and white Wrangler baseball jacked to keep the rain off.

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Autumn June.

I woke up to mist and a definite damp today, which is not the most desired weather for June, but it gave me the chance to wear my vintage hacking jacket. It's been sat in my wardrobe for nearly two years needing taking in, but unfortunately being an art student takes up a lot of your time. 

I paired it with my fail safe Topshop petite (so it actually fits me properly!) jersey dress (£26), Topshop spiked flats (I used to work in Topshop hence why I own quite a lot, and still get discount as I work for Arcadia) and my fisherman beanie. 

I also finally managed to get a copy of issue four of Hunger Magazine with Claire Boucher (aka. Grimes) on the cover. The most irritating thing about having a choice of covers is you choose one and then you have to have that cover! I used to be an avid Vogue reader, but I have found the articles to be all the same, and can get the same articles on their website. So to replace Vogue I have begun reading Hunger Magazine, created by Rankin (the founder of Dazed and Confused and publisher of Another Magazine) which is a bi-annual culture magazine with a mix of articles on photography, art and music, as well as fashion and reads more like a book than a magazine due to it's impressive size. 

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Grandmother's Skirt

This is my first attempt in a long time at taking a photograph of my outfit of the day, as not owning a tripod makes photographing myself awkward. Though I think that I have finally found a set-up within my room (which involves putting my camera on my shoe shelf) that allows me to take photographs of a decent enough quality to blog with.

This skirt is one I found when going though my Grandmother's old clothes, and while I am not sure of whether I suit a midi length (what with being five foot two) I really love the floral; though I may shorten it to knee length yet.

I am also wearing my favourite one pound charity shop shirt with mother of pearl buttons, a jersey top from Topshop (shortened, Sale, £10) and my leather Topshop ankle boots (Sale, £10).

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Fourth (possibly fifth) Attempt at Blogging.

I have made many attempts to begin blogging again after having this blog for nearly three years, and each one has failed miserably. So now that I have a large amount of spare time, what with having a four and a half month summer holiday, before I begin my BA in Fashion in September, I have decided I once and for all make blogging a habit.

I want to use this space to display my designs and outfits, not to become a "Fashion Blogger" but to showcase my creations in a more mature format than Tumblr (which I use more for gathering inspiration) and to record my journey through my degree and how I develop within my practice. 

There will be a significant amount of cross over with lookbook when showcasing my outfits and designs, as well as pieces on designers, models, blogs, and other inspirations; whether art, music, film or theater. 

I hope that you will enjoy reading. 

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