A Bit of a Mad Rush on Topshop

Ok. I saw this Ashish for Topshop jumper and immediately thought - 'Wow! Impractical as, but wow!'

So then I was thinking what I would wear it with. The fact that it would have to wait until it was warmer notwithstanding (unless they start making jackets with spike holes in the shoulders, which seems unlikely), I ended up trawling the Topshop site in a bid to create two different outfits using the same jumper and only Topshop products. Not hard, but fun :)

In the end, I have a sexy, lady-like look and grunge girlie look.

The jumper, worn tucked into the body con skirt, with its demure ruffle stripe and topped with the waist cinching studded belt to hide the 'join' would show off the waist nicely, the sky high grey platforms are just necessary to echo the spikes on the shoulder and the pencil-like fit of the skirt.

I think the studded gloves and fabric-strung pearls are just enough 'lady-like' to tie in but also whimsical enough to make the whole thing interesting. Lots of textures and shades of the same colour - grown up rock chick glamour!

As for the grungy girl look, obviously battered workmans boots are going to make an appearance somewhere (hopefully the feet) and the floral shorts are floaty enough to denote 'girlie' (along with the print) but still allow you to sit however you like and climb trees without flashing. Always a good thing in an outfit!

I have a weakness for veiled headpieces and the bow, combined with the heart-print tights, just add a cute-cool edge to the outfit. I'd wear the watch loose over the wrist with the sleeves of the jumper tucked up and over my elbows.

All I need now is some wild-child punk inspired hair and a crazy coloured lip and there are two awesome outfits!

Jumping the Gun to Vday Casual

For those not entirely obsessed by the pink and red season, I suggest a more off-beat and less obvious V-Day attire. For day anyways, why not go all out frock fabulous for nighttime?

I doubt my boy or I will have money by V-day for any sort of celebration, and I always feel it would hypocritical of me to go out and do something on the day in question as I am one of those miserable, 'Its all for Hallmark' people. Not to mention it comes after a succession of no less than six birthdays in the two weeks prior, including those of myself and my boy. So the urge to go out and party is replaced by then by the urge to sit in with a duvet and a DVD.

Still! This is what I would wear during the day, or to a more relaxed evening date.

 

Everything is from Miss Selfridge.

This top caught my eye for its classy cream and gold look and its vintage feel. I've been lusting after a pair of nude heels for, oh, about two weeks now and these defintely tick all the boxes.  

The matt, leather-look leggings streamline everything and keep it edgy instead of moving into frump territory by covering up with jeans or, worse, venturing into undressed mode with a mini. Shorts could be fun with it in summer, for a festival or garden party, but I'm feeling the black at the moment.

The bow is just the icing on top - no jewellery should be made to compete with the beading on the top. All in all, a highly desirable outfit, methinks.

Everything I Want in One Picture

So, one of the side-effects of being officially unemployed and having no more money to my name than that that buys me some pasta sauce on half price from Tesco for dinner, is the desire to be buying things.

It is unfair - at no other time than when I cannot buy stuff am I so pulled together and stylish, and yet unable to actually be pulled together and stylishdue to the inability to be buying the stuff. Grr.

Thus, I indulge my need with a quick scan of the sites...this look below is a random one, occurring quite by chance, in that I picked all my favourite things around at that precise moment and put them together and it kinda, actually worked. Now I want this outfit.

 

The shorts and necklace are Miss Selfridge, the boots, body and tights Topshop. I am seriously jonesing for something with braces right now, I'll even settle for just a pair of braces to attach to stuff I already own! Coloured, maybe some printed - they would be awesome!

For some reason I just love the whole streamlined, non-over-the-top sexiness of a body (even if they are seriously impractical...although the New Look ones have poppers!) and I am attempting to channel some Parisienne chic this season with greys and powder pinks and navies.

The tights and necklace add a splash of cute and quirky that I'm finding irresistable at the moment for some reason. Not my usual style, but hey, it is definately having a moment with me. 

As for the boots - what is not to love? Desperately trying to find someone who has money and loves me enough to by them for me for my birthday...unlikely, as everyone I know is broke too. Hmm, beg, borrow...steal?

Whilst wandering the markets of Southbank in Brisbane, I stumbled across an amazing leatherworking stall. There was a bag shaped like an owl which I WANTED, but in lieu of the necessary cash trade I made myself peruse the coin purses instead.

I found one shaped like a Chinese dragon and he has such a happy expression! A missing front tooth and some funky multicoloured paws and eyebrows, he is awesome.

Thus I am now the proud owner of Clarence, the coin purse I never knew I needed.

Stolen Girlfriends Club

I have a serious thing for jewellery, as a little bit on the on the side...no wait - its a full blown affair!

I have designs on collecting the stuff and make a note of a designer that catches my fancy so as to purchase whenever I am in high funds. Right now, I have just discovered Stolen Girlfriends Club and I am in love with the stuff.

I want that Double Bow Ring so badly. The shine, the curves, the aesthetic...I adore it. The Stolen and ROse pendant is gorgeous too, I could quite happily accept it for Christmas...

Alas, it is not to be. No monies at all this year, my bf and I are going to hit up the two-dollar store to get some naff  little playthings for Christmas morning. Then we are going to do the Boxing Day sales and hopefully can get some essentials for Oz at bargain prices! I need a new bikini after the last one got destroyed in the hot pools in Miranda. Ah, its a hard life.

But one day. One day I shall own that ring.

peteralexander

I have a confession to make.

Ever since I entered the beautiful, boudoir-like curtained changing rooms and all store of peteralexander in Queenstown, I have loved and adored this brand. I have also, possibly, gone on about it a little excessively to my poor boyfriend.

My obsession has centered around the wavy ship print shorts, the day dresses (all of them) and, last but not least, the playsuit collection.

The models are all fresh-faced beauties, styled up in a playful forties style that contrasts with the sheer cosy comfort levels of the pajamas on offer. I want to wear red lipstick when lounging about in my oh-so-cool short set.

Not that I plan to lounge in these beauties. I am not leaving the Southern Hemisphere without owning something from this shop. The playsuits above would work for everyday wear, and I fully plan to use them for that purpose!

Anyways, go to peteralexander and take a look at all the brilliantly comfy, yet seriously cool, printed pjs and accessories.

Just Jeans

Riiight. Today, it has rained. Not mere rain actually. I should specify. It has thundered, poured and blown a gale. I should also mention that I am currently living in a tent.

As such, I felt more like an outfit thats suitable for winter as opposed to the non-existent summer flooding the field I'm pitched in.

The above is from Just Jeans, a funky River Island type store I discovered on the high street. The sequinned vest would add some much needed warmth and look cool layered up with the guy's white shirt. The distressed and ripped up Levi's just appeal to me, the hat might keep some of the rain off...might being the operative word. The leather bag would hold all my stuff ( I have a lot of stuff I cart about with me) and act as a waterproof hold-all.

I'd wear with some bright wellies (or gumboots as they call them in NZ!) I have some at home that are plastered with scarlet strawberries. Obviously, I'd add a coat too, probably a waterproff trench with the collar turned up!