Holiday...

Lots to follow in a week...

oh god why...

I shouldn't be looking. I saw it on Gok Wan's show a few weeks ago and have been waiting for it to be in stores.....and today....I found it.

There are 2 obstacles to me possessing this dress
1. It's 70 quid
2. Oasis sizes really don't suit me it seems. I've tried on the purple version of this dress and my size was really tight but the next size up was too big so I would either have to get it taken in or perhaps wear a belt....


Oh I want it so much.

I don't how clothes can have such an effect on me :-S

Budgeting

Okay, I am really trying to save money before going back for my last year of uni. This means my purchases will be few and far between. However I still aim to make 1 decent purchase per month!

However this does all mean that my online clothing trawls have become something akin to torture. Ah well, I am a glutton for punishment it seems....

wish list - shoes

The top two are Topshop and the bottom two are both Office. I really like the above pair from Office, they have an odd vintage feel to them as well as being modern, shame there isn't a wedge heel as this would make them more 1950's...

I'm in Love...

Chanel autumn/winter 2008-9

I have caved.....

I bought this today. I got my first pay packet from my temp job on friday and although I am on a shopping ban (imposed by my boyfriend and kind of by me) I was in a crappy mood today and just thought I have to go and have a poke around the shops. I hadn't been near any in weeks and weeks! H&M have this lovely 50's style floral skirt with a elastic waist, it had 2 different tops to go with, it really was rather pretty but I couldn't afford to buy both parts so I let it be. Maybe in a few weeks....

Anyway back to my skirt. This photo really does not do it justice. It's a really stiff fabric, fitting high waist and poofs out in a skater skirt style. I've been looking for a good navy skirt for ages. I think I may have finally found it. I'm planning on wearing it with an 1940's cream blouse I got from a vintage fair a while back. I need to try the combo together, if it's not right I may have to forsake the skirt but I'm hoping it will be a great match. The skirt seems really long in the Topshop image but it's quite short on me. I'll feel confident in tights with it but a little scared if I go bare legged!

I have to say there is a little guilt that I bought brand new but I find vintage skirts quite tricky to find so the high street has to come to my rescue....

The dark side....

I would say that at least 90% of my purchases these days are vintage/second hand. I like that I am in effect, recycling by wearing second hand clothes and that I am also breaking free of the habit of buying cheap unethically produced clothes only to wear them once then set them aside. For that reason I avoid Primark as I know at first glance something might look lovely but after one wash and a few wears its lost its condition and appeal.

So well done me. Ha. I wish I could congratulate myself but really I mostly buy vintage because I love 1940's/50's fashion and love owning something unique. The fact that I am being more ethical/green is a happy by product...it's a start though.

But...and this is perhaps a large but, I still trawl sites like Topshop, Warehouse and Oasis as sometimes these shops will produce some vintage inspired gems and just generally lust worthy items. It's not often I do buy clothes from the high street but if I do I will make sure it's a quality item that I know I can get a lot of wears out of. Avoid cheap materials and badly cut clothes as a little tip...

So onto what has brought out the above musings...the newest offerings from Warehouse
This is the 'Twist Knot Dress' from Warehouse, priced at £45. See now in a lot of ways this isn't quite me but something about its simplicity is really alluring. I can imagine wearing it with my loafers and ankles socks for a relaxed day look.....

I also really like the strapless party dresses Oasis are offering at the moment. This burnt orange one has caught my eye.....



This is £65..... Oh not to be broke!

The dress I wore on a sunny beach day....

Such satisfying colours. I have tried in vain to avoid checks after an avalanche of plaid shirts has covered the UK. I started to feel a faint rage welling up in me as I traipsed the Brighton streets in my usual haste and repeatedly found myself staring in to the back of yet another of those bloody shirts.

Anyway, I deviate. I will still allow myself my fill of checks and when in such autumnal hues I could hardly resist. A peter pan collar, almost 3/4 length sleeves and in breezy cotton. Perfect. I only wish the waist were a litte larger as it is quite snug however I am working on trimming my waist so hopefully it will be a perfect fit soon.

Although the dress looks like a perfect example of 1950's daywear, I can't help thinking it's actually of a later age. The condition is just too pristine and the colours very bright. It could in fact be 1970's/80's but I just cannot be sure. I'm usually very good at ageing vintage clothes but this dress confuses me a little. Either way its a beauty.

Hello, this is an outlet away from Death Stares where I can indulge my materialistic urges. I try to get the better of them but I just cannot....

In this photo: Bow, custom made from Lou Lou Loves You