Friday 29 May 2009

Sunshine on...Woodlands

Ok, pretty cool reference to The Proclaimers there (yes I am up to the minute in my cultural references). But, it is Glasgow (I do miss Leith, but not the trams thank you very much) it is May, it is HOT AND SUNNY! I won't question it oh no. I am embracing the sunshine and counting down the days until bar work is over and hard hard work that is fun and better paid begins!!

Until then though I will slog it out in the busy outside bar I will soon be joining (4 and a half hours and counting) and enjoy the sunshine when work isn't beckoning: bring on Sunday!!

I came across these sunglasses from Gio-Goi in the Mens section that are fantastically crazy and, seeing as it is glorious sunshine, it inspired me to find other ones of an equally fantastically crazy nature without the £55 price tag!

For £15 you can get these wonderfully wacky and great for this seasons 'sports chic' from Topshop.

I absolutely love these sunglasses from Miss Selfridge. An underrated high street store which right now has a lot of amazing things. These kooky creations are £12!

Now I'm going to have to stop talking about sunglasses, put some on and get out into the sunshine!

Tuesday 19 May 2009

Graduate Fashion

The first issue of Brikolage is out in cafes and bars around Edinburgh: check it out!!!!

I intend to get it published online, hopefully for the next issue, so a link for that will be on my blog when that happens!!

For the next issue I will be previewing the Big Freak, but what I was most excited about was reviewing the Edinburgh Art College fashion show which I went to last Wednesday. After a short break in Florence which I have just got back from I am sitting down to write about a hugely important part of new Scottish fashion.

But, after having seen the show, what most inspires me is the ECA's fantastic Performance Costume department. The fashion show is very serious; the models are thin and look bored; the clothes can be interesting and original, but don't push any boundaries and over all is it fast and loud and I am desperate for a model to crack a smile!!

The costume on the other hand is in a standard of its own. Of a highly professional quality, the costumes are exciting and beautifully made down to the tiniest detail and the show itself is incredibly entertaining.

A friend suggested that this may just be the difference between fashion and costume, but I disagree entirely. Fashion is a form of costume and catwalk fashion often delves into the outrageous. And I prefer it that way. I want to be inspired and excited, not pounded with plain outfits on plain models. OK, yes, some of the designers managed to capture some interesting ideas, but there was no risk taking, no eccentricity.

For me, when the graduates of 2009 show me what they have achieved, that is what I want to see.



3rd year costumes for 'The Way of the World'


Design by Sarah Martin

Tuesday 5 May 2009

Gok's Fashion Faux Pas

First of all, just look at his stupid smug face.


Ok, that's as mean as I'm going to get. Because, although he can be incredibly irritating and repeats constantly (and just imagine him saying it) "The GREAT British high street" "fierce" "you go girl" and "you can look fabulous and you don't have to blow the bank", his ethos is quite good. He encourages a healthy body image and campaigns for affordable fashion which is always great.

I do think the high street can offer some great bargains, but they are not always of particularly good quality which is why he always has to add and alter his bought items. (I have also noticed he's no longer sticking to his under £200 an outfit like the last series). But, my best bargains are vintage or designer finds in charity shops and ebay etc. Something of great quality, yet with an amazing price.

The first episode we saw Brix Smith-Start's collection win. Great. More realistic and I love her. I'm guessing, however, that this was only to shut up anyone who thought the competition was fixed as I believe he won the second episode and I have just watched the third which, for no obvious reason, he also won. Now I am not a designer diva and sometimes, quite often, I think designer can look tacky and I prefer the quirky high street. But, in this episode there was no way Gok's line could meet Brix's. I mean; Vivienne Westwood suit?? It was bloody gorgeous!!

This Chambray two piece suit at £560 would have won the entire competition for me without a second thought. Brix teamed it with killer red Gucci heels and the model looked stunning.

Instead a mustard cardigan and gold jacket won. The only thing that saved this outfit was the stunning felt hat by MacCulloch and Wallis with a knitted flower by VV Rouleaux.

Ok, so maybe he's not totally useless.

Sunday 3 May 2009

Sun Sea and Swimsuits

I am not sure what happened and why the plan of blogging every day went to no blogs for weeks.

I am sure anyone who reads my blog has had enough apologising and wants to get down to some actual fashion blurbs!

So, new dilemma: I am going to Florence in a couple of weeks for a few nights and the hotel we are staying in has a pool (yay). I haven't been on holiday out of Britain in over a year which is a depressing thought and one thing which will begin to be remedied starting with this forthcoming Italy trip! I also have not bought a new swimsuit and used it abroad in even longer so a new one is definitely on my list.

Although I do wear bikinis they are really for sunbathing purposes as opposed to swimming. But, I tend to dislike swimsuits as they are often very unflattering for the flatter chested girl. At least, the ones I seem to find are. What I have had in my swimsuit dreams for a while now is a 50s inspired retro swimsuit. Flattering and currently quite trendy. Finding one though so far is a challenge.

Everything online has been so lovely and very tempting, but all incredibly expensive!! Here is a few that caught my eye.

From Retro Vixens a cute nautical 'Sailor Betty' one piece by Steady Clothing, costing £33.97.
This is my favourite style as I love the back detailing, and it is actually the cheapest one I found. The only problem is that it the sizes are general. "small" is between 8 and 10 and I am concerned that it could be on the baggy side and that I won't be able to get a refund if it is too big. I have emailed the website for further sizing details so we shall see what comes of that.

A friend recommended the website DollyDagger as one to try. Although it has a few gorgeous suits they are all bikinis, no one pieces, and is on the more expensive scale of things.
This 'Cupcake Bikini' by Skinny Dip Swimwear is the cheapest at £33 with their other bikinis going up to £45. And it is not very far off something I could get on the high street at a high street price. On the plus side this website stocks cute sun suits such as this on by Tara Starlet. Just a shame it costs £54!

Next on my list is Pin up couture a well known label for the 'alternative' retro girl.

This is one of my favourites; the 'Bettie Halter' in cherry print. On Pin Up Girl Clothing website it sells for $68 which is slightly cheaper than on the Retro Vixens website on which it costs £43. However, I could not seem to figure out shipping costs without actually buying it so the difference might be made up on that.

I also LOVED their three piece bikinis such as this one in a white cherry print costing $80. Expensive stuff but absolutely gorgeous!!!

Last on my website alone list is ModCloth for their sexy vintage inspired bikinis. Again, expensive. This bikini which also comes in a polka dot print is $89.99.

But, what I absolutely love is this nautical one piece below.
Just a shame it costs $124.99!!

So how about on the high street then? Any cheap alternatives? Topshop sadly seems to have very little indeed. In fact, I think the best shop is probably New Look with its Kelly Brook range. Sold as seperates instead of sets you can mix and match and with prices ranging from £5 to £15 they are not quite as authentically reproduced (i.e. low cut leg instead of more modern high cut) as some expensive swimsuits previously listed but they are incomparable in price! And when a girl is on a budget then a girl cannot complain!!