Fashion Babylon Shoot

Last Sunday was my first shoot where instead of styling the models, I had the chance to assist the fashion photographer, Michael Bailey of Fashion Babylon. I adore my camera and although I use it for all the blog posts, it still feels like I never use it enough so it was really special to bring it along to a photo shoot this time. Fashion Babylon is fashion hub for designers, stylists and photographers with a recently expanding modelling agency branch. They are continually scouting for the freshest modelling talent to nurture and mature into a  fun hobby or even a dazzling career. And on that day we were there to help the debut girls build their portfolios.

The shoot took place at Hampton Court House which is a 16th Century mansion turned private school. I thought I was lost when I arrived - the grounds were stunning and a rare mix of last week's school homework on the wall laced throughout a certain stance of history making it feel enchanting. I walked around from the court yard to the theatre, from the dining hall to the classroom - I wish I'd taken more photographs but it was pretty much non-stop the whole day!

Here's a few from the day:

Harriet the MUA's kit

A very enviable stylist's kit

Some of the accessories used for the shoot. The stylist Angela Gates is very talented!

Prepping the models in hair and make-up 

Designer Rose Willis, also had some shots for her collection available at ASOS marketplace.

  

 Michael Bailey at work

Under Wraps

A few weeks ago I bought some really comfy ballerina pumps from Office. They look just like my blocks I had years ago with the silky ribbons to tie around your ankles and the soft leather around my toes. I found myself thinking a lot about when I used to dance as a child through half my teenage years and this has reflected in the dance trend pieces in my wardrobe. 

The silk cashmere wrap cardigan reminds me most of some old dance outfits and is from Billie&Gruff .

Corset; Bra; Skinny trousers are all from H&M 

And my special shoes are from New Look

Necklace is from Accessorize 

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...

SPRING WEDGES SS12

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!

Review: Model's Own Nail Art Pen

Last month I reviewed Topshop's nail art pens - they weren't brilliant but they are fun and have been fully used throughout December. Topshop's makeup is yet to be praised for its quality and therefore I thought I'd look out for other nail art pens on the market. 

This pen was picked up for £6 at Urban Outfitters and the price is similar elsewhere online. I also used China Glaze for the base and top coat, £7.75 and Rimmel's LYCRA PRO in lilac, £4.59.

What was attractive about the Model's Own brand of nail art pens is that you get more polish for your money and the pen has a dual application function: a fine brush as well as a needle-thin pen (shown below).

The pros: the dual application function allows for more varied designs on your nails and you get more polish for your money compared to the Topshop ones.

The cons: it only comes in black; the needle tip gets blocked quickly and simply only works 50% of the time;   the needle also scratches the coloured coat a lot; and finally, the applicator is short so you have less control over it - unlike the pen applicator of the Topshop ones.

In terms of results, there isn't much difference between them!

For reference:

For the Topshop nails, I also used nails inc, £11 and Seche Vite top coat, £6.25

Review: Nail Art Pens from Topshop

Having a 25% discount at Topshop is becoming dangerous for my bank balance but I couldn't resist these cool Nail Art Pens £6.50 each. They are pretty easy to use:

I started with a single layer base colour because I wnted it to dry as quickly as possible.

Once the base colour was dry, it was 10 minutes of doodling fun!

The Topshop Nail Art pens are fun and easy to use, but it does require a top coat clear layer to fix the design as they rub off quite easily... 

I also have a feeling the pens won't last too long either which makes me wonder if its worth the money.

The pens come in pink, blue and black and will definitely make an outfit edgier and add an element of cool - so if you get a chunky 25% discount comme moi then go for it! Otherwise I'd look elsewhere for the same thing. There's a ton of things on eBay which are very similar and available for less than half the price.

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/