Neon Vibes

This is the first time this year I haven't had to rush a sesh because it has been too cold! I've been dying to pull out this neon number for weeks - picked it up from River Island the one and only. There's something dead edge about black and pink and a flash of sparkle and sure I'll enjoy it for years to come whether it is in fashion or not. Not that I'd know about what's in at the moment, embarrassingly it not a priority anymore...boooo. Hopefully it will still be useful to know where I'm buying my clobber these days:

Today I'm wearing:

pink leotard - River Island

Shoes - Topshop

Jeans - Leigh style from Topshop

sunglasses - Primark

fringe Kimono - H&M

DIY Veil Beanie

Ever I since I saw Bryan Boy wear the veil beanie on ANTM I have been obsessed! It's a mega celeb/blogger favourite and being a mental band wagon jumper albeit rather tardy - here's how I updated my bobble hat. 

All you need to do is cut about 50-70cm of veiling (depending on how big your head is...) and sew into place. This is literally the simplest 10 second bit of customizing I've ever done and it's completely updated my hat. I got the veil netting from eBay - here's the link.

P.S. Those are not my real eyes. 

February Feeling

The past few weeks have been freezing but super sunny which has got me excited about the coming Spring. Colours are creeping their way back into my black attire and to keep me warm I've tried to channel colours through my accessories - for example my red Irregular choice shoes or through bright nail colours. I'm also really feeling a fringe finish on practically everything at the moment. Fringe bags, shirts, skirts, jackets and my latest fringed item are these pleather shorts from Boohoo.com - they're amazing! They make my otherwise flat packed buttocks look peachy...

Gold sunglasses - H&M || Floral Sunglasses - Primark || Nail Polishes - H&M || Fringe Shorts - Boohoo || Red Heels - Irregular Choice || Nail Tattoos - Urban Outfitters || DKNY Pure Perfume

Insta-Blog

A little summary of life lately through Instrgram :: My birthday cake! :: DIY feather leather jeacket :: sister blog post :: Berlin photobooth :: Being Chinese :: Rings :: Leather Effect nails inc. :: rapid dry for nails :: my new birthday jacket!!

Stage Fright

Today I did my first ever fashion haul. It was so scary talking to the camera and can't physically bring myself to watch it fully! Hopefully they'll get better when I get used to talking to myself out loud alone....
Hope you enjoy :)

DIY Stud Wedge High Tops

Last year I wouldn't be caught dead sporting a pair of trainers trotting down the street. However the genius that is Isabel Marant has incorporated a hidden heel into a pair of high tops! I've been wanting them for some time now but the challenge of saving £440 was beyond me and then emerged the high street equivalents! And despite being truly clever, functional and fashionable - I fear this trend might be a one hit wonder in my wardrobe so the high street has as always completely satisfied me. Here's a few you can find about:

I chose to invest in the ones from River Island for £40 as they were super comfy and fitted well. And of course I couldn't resist my usual urge to stud them up and here's how I did it:

 This was super fun to do and I feel ace walking around in these babies but please know that while images suggest otherwise, this is a 2 person job (somebody needs to hold the shoes down and someone strong needs to do the drilling....) and don't do them on your dining room table unless you want tiny holes through the wood!

Instagram in Janurary

I've been using Instagram since October last year and it  is a great way to look back at a summary of what you've been up, what you've been wearing, and what you've been eating!

Mine is pretty self explanatory. Highlight of the month: my acquisition of some great accessories!

Today I'm wearing Cheap Monday

I Love fashion and today I'm showing you a fashion-first for me: the jumpsuit. I've never felt 100% with my proportions and jumpsuits just seemed like a honking red flag - a no go zone at all measures. Then I found this one by Cheap Monday - its a strapless drapey type with huge pockets and I think its fabulous. I love this brand but find it's far to pricey compared to prices in its homeland of Sweden so I've resisted. Then floating in the racks of the sale shed at Urban Outfitters, I find this beauty feeding my hungry eyes and for just £10 I snapped it up. It's a size XL so some of the £70 I saved went to the dressmakers to take it in :)

Silver wrap Cardigan - Mango

Gold Necklace - Primark

Pair of gold Cuffs - ASOS

Fringe studded Bag - Mischa Barton

Pointed Wedge Shoes - Office

Here's the video...

ASOS Future Stylist Competition

You might know I'm no stranger to the odd online competition and my desires to become a reputable fashion stylist are only growing. So this week I entered into the ASOS Future Stylist 2012 online competition. You had to send through a photo styled with predominantly ASOS merchandise for a chance to win 40% off ASOS for 4 years and you also get to style a swanky celebrity shoot with them! 

It was pretty last minute but here's what I came up with:

Leopard print pony texture paneled leather jacket

Silk oriental-print shirt with waterfall draping

Kimono-esque orange shirt

Large orange envelope clutch

Giant gold square ring

Gold cuffs

Giant ivory and gold horn necklace

All of the above are from ASOS! I don't have to tell you it's a pretty amazing company in terms of the fashion they produce and the kind of service they offer... so here's hoping for the big one!

Hope you like it

....shoes are from Office, and they went into the January sales for £40!

Make Me, Break Me

Accessories Make or Break an Outfit

It's amazing how accessories can throw an outfit in a completely different aesthetic direction and  help you express the person you are today. Last Summer the colour blocking craze breezed directly over my head and I adopted on a more ethereal trend: floaty dresses, soft shades and this was aided by great accessories like scarves and delicate chains. This season it's more of a princess of darkness turned rock star type look and your winter wardrobe can be updated with studs, black feathers, and mixing in this season's silhouettes and shapes. These accessories are going to help last year's winter slouchy jumpers much more edgy, here are some images that show how it has transformed an old Primark sweater.

Below are a few of my most recent accessories: 

• far right: customized ear muffs with studs from Portobello Market, £12
• below Pascale Monvoisin necklace with silver dripping chains, £55
• below Topshop peter pan collar chain mail necklace, £15
• Fingernail ring, eBay £2.99
• Scrabble ring, eBay £2.95
• Camera necklace, Freedom at Topshop
• Gold ear horn, eBay £2
• Black feathered ear cuff,  Carabella Roase at eBay £12.99

click on the images to enlarge them :)

Studded pleather, faux fur ear muffs, customised from Portobello Market £12

Ear Horn, eBay £2

Ear cuff with gold chains and black feathers, Carablla Rose at Ebay £12.99

Pascale Monvoisin necklace, £55

Peter Pan collar in chain mail £15

Today I'm wearing: a Forever21 dress

This week I picked up a stunning green, pleated front mossy green dress from Forever21 for just under £30. Its so pretty and floaty - I'm happy I can get tons of wear out of it by grunging it up a leather jacket and accessrories; but also I can make it an evening thing by mixing up the hair and accessories again!

Here's the video:

For the grungy look: the necklace is from Topshop, £35 this season.

The white leather jacket was £35 from a Brick Lane pop-up vintage market.

The shoes were from eBay, like all my favourite shoes!

Today I'm wearing my new Studded Shorts...

I had so much fun customizing these shorts this morning, I've been wearing them all day. 

The shirt is from Urban Outfitters, and the itchiest jumper ever is from Primark.

Here's the video of my outfit, its my first time - they'll get better, promise....

DIY Studded Leather Shorts

This morning I used some leftover studs bought from eBay to customize some leatherette shorts from H&M. It's been popular for some time now to customize clothes from slicing up old denim to dip dying second hand shorts. There are also loads of brands re-working clothes and selling them for a premium nowadays and actually it's super easy to do this at home for a fraction of the price.

Firstly, I started off with this leatherette mini shorts from H&M, £14.99 this season. Pleather is fine for shorts as they won't make you all sweaty and uncomfortable like leather pants or jackets!

My studs were from eBay - 50 spikes for £5.99.

And the tools were a sneaky dig in several of S's tool boxes. 

I marked out with a sharp kitchen knife small points where I wanted the spikes to be, then began forcing through the screws from behind the fabric.

 Once they were in place and I was happy with the arrangement I tightened them securely with a screwdriver.

 And it was that easy!

Inspired by a recent trip to Topshop where they stock a cool brand called The Ragged Priest. They have some really edgy pieces and I ended up buying a backless red velvet dress with studded leather straps. To come in an outfit post soon!

Images from http://www.theraggedpriest.com/