nothing but a jeans thing...

So summer is just around the corner and its the dreaded time of year where you start to flash the flesh. Summer holidays mean you are in swimming costumes and bikinis and prancing around in shorts and t-shirts. This just gives me more motivation to stick to the healthy eating and exercise and I up the amount of squats and lunges etc I incorporate into my workouts. I definately want to try and work off as much cellulite as possible before wearing my denim shorts.

Another piece of clothing that many are wary of, are white jeans. I think you go from a dark dreary winter wearing lots of black and denim jeans so white denim can be seen as a bit of a shock. But when I was out shopping the other day, I came across this gorgeous pair of tribal print white jeans. I am in love with them, they were I think £22(ish) in Zara.

They have just the right amount of stretch so they feel comfortable but also ping back into shape. I hate going through the day and your jeans end up feeling like they are about to fall down. I have silly long legs so they were a tiny bit too short, nothing a roll up won't sort. The pattern really draws away from the super white scary jean look that puts many off, so they are a pretty good in between jean.

Michael Kors watch and Top from a random boutique in America

Old shoes - Urban Outfitters

Scary Face

I do think they will last over autumn and spring too with boots and a jacket as i don't feel terrified that I will drop something down me and ruin the look... it usually happens just after I have left the house.

On the exercise front, I am feeling very proud of myself, I have achieved the superman at pole fitness and taught myself what some people call the full moon, but I'm not brilliant at remembering the names. Anyway i am pretty chuffed :)

Full Moon

Superman

Lets go to the beach, beach...

So I haven't posted in a while as I am currently on holiday in Houston, Texas. Im having a really amazing time and my days have been filled with good food and lots of sun. This all means that I haven't really worn anything other than a bikini, shorts and a t-shirt. Not very interesting blog material.

However this weekend we went to the beach. We visited a place called South Padre Island which is basically a massive sand bank in between Texas and Mexico. A lot of Americans visit here for Spring Break so it has got a really good atmosphere. Its also nice to to be in a slightly cooler, windier climate compared to  107 degrees F of pure humidity.

So anyway, here are a few shots of my new playsuit which I wore out to dinner. Its really lightweight and a silky material which means it kept me really cool. Its from Urban Outfitters and although it is cinched at the waist, I think it looks better with a belt. I wore really simple jewellery and some plain black gladiator sandals.

Im going to try and do a few more posts while I am here as I have a few shopping trips lined up, tonight I'm going to an outlet mall and next week I am heading to New York. But for now I am off out to enjoy the sunshine :)

DIY - Cushion cover...

For quite a while I have wanted to try out a sewing machine so when my next door neighbour said we could borrow hers to practice on, I decided to make something really easy to start with. Iv just moved to a lovely new house at uni so have made a cushion cover for my room. I absolutely love it.

Its not perfect but overall I am really proud of myself. I think the pattern is gorgeous, a bit vintage shabby chic. I might even use the left over material to make a bit of bunting or something, not sure yet.

Im not going to do a tutorial on how to make this as you will probably all know how to as I am a complete beginner. But anyway I am well on the way to buying my own sewing machine.

Paris Couture Fashion Week - Versace

I am a massive fan of couture fashion. It is a chance for designers to showcase there talent and go all out and be extravagant. The designer who stood out the most for me in Paris was definately Versace. Her dresses are absolutely gorgeous and I would kill to even touch one let alone wear one.

They are super elegant yet still somewhat sexy and just girly and gorgeous. I can't say enough how much I love these.

I am surprised at how much I like the Versace designs as previously I have ver much been a structured Dior obsessive. I think I may have been turned.

These shoes = TO DIE FOR

Love the elegant shape of this design

I think the images speak for themselves. Vercase Couture Collection A/W 12-13.

Images courtesy of - www.sofeminine.co.uk

Magpie!

So Im a bit of a magpie when it comes to prints. At the moment I'm pretty obsessed with tribal prints and really can't get enough of them. Recently i popped into Topshop just for a little browse not intending to buy anything. In my experience these are the most dangerous shopping trips and this one definately lived up to expectations. I picked up these shorts reduced for about £23 because there was a mark on the yellow thread detail at the front. However after a little bit of TLC you would never know.

Although it is June, it is still cold and rainy which means tights and boots. Today I teamed my shorts with a baggy black top also from Topshop, black tights, my green Doc Martens and a matching green leather satchel handmade in Mexico. I kept my jewellery quite simple with a few bracelets I always wear, a few vintage bangles and a vintage charm bracelet, as well as a long vintage necklace with a key pendant which you can't see in the pictures.

I love the colours and patterns on these shorts, it really brightens up the outfit. They also look amazing with a sheer white shirt and brown leather belt.

Shorts - Topshop - £23

Doc Martens - Bought for $40

Handmade leather satchel - Mexico 

Tribal patterns look really good layers. A recent editorial in the June 2012 edition of Harpers Bazaar hows this perfectly by layering swimsuits with tribal print jackets, boots and shawls. I haven't seen much work by the photographer Paola Kudacki before but the feel in these images is really soft and feminine which makes the prints stand out even more. It really gives the pieces the wow factor.

Pilotto

I am loving the new collection from Peter Pilotto. His bold prints and cutaway designs in the Autumn/Winter 2012 collection are a smooth transition from the Spring/Summer collection from earlier this year.

The Peter Pilotto brand is a collaboration between Peter Pilotto himself and Christopher De Vos. The pair met whilst studying at Antwerp's Royal Academy of Fine Arts. The brand came to the forefront of the fashion world when they won the Emerging Talent Award at the British Fashion Awards in 2009. They compliment each other perfectly with Pilotto focussing on the fabric and prints of the designs and De Vos working on the drape and silhouette. They have previously said that their designs come from the scientific side of nature, the view down the microscope.

I like the fact they have included trousers in the A/W collection as it becomes more versatile however the maxi skirt below is absolutely gorgeous!

I think it is safe to say that the designs have come in to their own since the initial collection in 2009. The designs now seem more streamlined, like they have found their own niche within the market. The brand seems classy and elegant but still with a bold and fun print.

Spring/Summer 2009 RTW Collection

Images from www.style.com

Its a shorts thing...

After a recent trip to Munich in Germany, I had some Euros left over and decided to buy a summer shorts outfit. I really love the style of Mollie King from the Saturdays, her trademark look is tailored shorts and usually a lightweight blazer. I think its really versatile as you could wear it in the daytime with gladiator sandals and a baggy t-shirt, for work with a smart shirt or on a night out with heels and a slouchy shirt.

Mollie King

 image from www.stylebistro.com

I love how Katherine Jenkins has mixed patterns and bold colours - It looks amazing with a tan.

Shorts - River Island - £20

Shirt - River Island - £30

This is what i wore on a recent night out. The shorts are a silky material with a really flattering cut. They are high waisted but have a slightly flared leg which means they don't cling to any lumps or bumps resulting in your legs looking longer. The shirt is a baggy fit with a draped back which I think is really unusual. Although I tucked it into the shorts, as it was too long when untucked, it would look great loose with tight jeans for a smart/casual ensemble. The belt is brown leather, bought for around £3 in Thailand and the shoes are nude platforms from New Look which i think cost around £20. On the night itself, I teamed it with lots of chunky gold bangles, a short gold chain necklace and a brown clutch bag.

all things vintage

Recently I went to a vintage fair in Southampton. I literally just popped along to see what it was all about really and managed to unintentionally spend over £30! A small mooch around in my lunch break turned into a 2 hour shop-a-thon.


Founded in 2005 by Judy Berger, The affordable Vintage fair travels around the country allowing dozens of traders in each town and city to set up shop and sell their vintage wears at an affordable price. Its a combination that really works.


I wasn't really sure what to expect but what ever expectations I had before, it exceeded them. The room was large and airy and was almost laid out like individual boutique shops. I started at the front and just worked my way round in a circle, through the jewellery, clothing, home wear and general bric-a-brac. 


Vintage sizes tend to come up a little snug so trying on is essential and an upstairs room had been turned into a dressing room with a mirror and chairs etc. I did not purchase any clothing on this occasion, I did however splurge on jewellery, a scarf, dove hooks to hang all of my new jewellery from and a gorgeous leather clutch bag. All in all a very successful first trip to a vintage fair and one which I am very keen to repeat next time 'Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair' comes to town.

Scarf - £3 

Jewellery/Keys - 50p-£3

Key on a Chain

Leather Clutch bag - £8

Dove Hooks - £2.50

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk