House of Fraser Blogger Style Challenge

I love a good outfit compilation, so when I was over on Katie's blog and saw that House of Fraser blog were doing a blogger style challenge, I couldn't resist entering it myself. All you have to do is head to www.houseoffraser.co.uk to check out their A/W new arrivals, pick your favourite items and create a look. Blog it, mention where you'd wear it, comment here with a link to your post - and you're done! Simple. I hope you all enjoy it - I spent 2 hours surfing new arrivals and putting together three different looks. This one though, was my ultimate choice. 

French Connection T-Wild Fire Dress // Madden Girl Casual Boot // Vivienne Westwood Chancery Patent Bag // Glamourous PU Studded Biker Jacket // Day Birger Et Mikkelsen Tassle Necklace // Tiffany & Co Nature Garden Sunglasses;

A good deal of monochrome has been showcased on the runways for A/W '12, just take a look at the Chanel and Moschino collections, so I decided to take inspiration from this and mix it up. A/W collections admittedly often have quite dull colours and we all need a bit of a boost through the long, cold, overcast months. So pick one piece that will really kick off your look and adorn with season must haves such as a biker jacket embellished with studs, ankle boots, tassels and animal print texture - the sunnies are to keep that bright autumn sun out, who says you can't wear sunglasses in autumn and winter? 

With this I love how you can look chic and edgy at the same time. In an ideal world this would be worn strutting the sidewalks of New York in November buying Christmas presents for family and friends and of course cheeky presents for myself!

Welcome to Mallzee!

Yesterday I got quite an exciting email introducing me and inviting me to new website Mallzee! They've been looking for bloggers to feature them and to guest blog for them once up and running and of course, once asked, I said yes!

Mall-who?

In a perfect world I'm almost sure all us fashionistas would love to be paid to shop, and although I suspect it is to be a small amount, this is what Malzee intend to offer! If someone buys something via your mall you earn a little bit of money.

What sells it more for me, personally, is the social aspect offered. Each of us creates our own little Mall containing our favourite brands and stores (I love creating collections and my Fashiolista profile and fashion based Pinterest albums show that). Mallzee will learn your personal style and match up product suggestions for you which could be oh so dangerous for our bank balances but oh so healthy for our wardrobes! We can invite friends to visit our mall via Facebook chat, although I'm almost certain only a measly 4 of my Facebook friends would join and even then wouldn't be on Facebook chat at the time - so I hope there is a way to make new friends via the site or find bloggers you follow.

You can discuss products with friends and suggest items they may like and vice versa. If you're stuck on what to buy or just want to get opinions and a discussion going, you can ask polls. 

Discounts are in it for us too, who doesn't love a ruddy good discount code?

Over 200 brands are signed up, which sounds very promising, including many well known like Office, Miss Selfridge, New Look, Urban Outfitters, Feel Unique and St. Tropez.

So if you fancy it, sign up for a pre-launch invite to gain first access when they go live later this year here and be entered into a draw to win £100 worth of shopping vouchers and some other cheeky little goodies! Apparently, invites are limited so get those pinkies out.

When they go live I'll check it out fully and bring you a review. 

Olympic Vogue

It was quite sad watching the Olympics go Sunday night, I never thought I would get into it as much as I have. I do think that they should have incorporated the Paralympics into the whole saga rather than separate them and bung them on Channel 4 and More4 at a later date, after the closing ceremony.

Nevertheless, hands up who got excited when 'Fashion' by David Bowie echoed round the stadium as eight billboards were towed in, bearing photos of some of the most well known British Models donning some of the best British Couture? I know I did.

British Vogue were responsible for this glittering masterpiece as they handpicked British designers to adorn the likes of Lily Cole, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Georgia May Jagger, Lily Donaldson, Stella Tennant, Jourdan Dunn, Karen Elson and David Gandy. And the theme? GOLD! Of course. 

Source: InStyle

The billboards featured photos from the September Issue of Vogue, taken by Nick Knight (check them all out here). The monochrome was a fantastic touch to later give way to the glittering gowns and of course Gandy. 

Source: Reuters

Each of the white sections of the union flag were fittingly used as runways to showcase Erdem, Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Vivienne Westwood, Jonathan Saunders and Stephen Jones, Christopher Kane and Paul Smith.

The marching 'footsoldiers' timing left a lot to be desired as they escorted in the billboards, but in the end they all came together to create a fitting memoir to Alexander McQueen as a classic skull. 

While some may debate the showcase of fashion at the ceremony as a ploy to advertise or an invalidation of claims of a healthy body image - fashion is as much a part of Britain as music and Russell Brand!

What were your best bits?

I am not a hasbeen. I am a will be.

Source: Swedish Hasbeens;

There's nothing more I love than a blast from the past, so the decadent feel of Swedish Hasbeens leaves me falling at their feet. You are certainly paying for quality here, it seems they will last forever and for something as beautiful as these - that's exactly what I want. They're made of completely natural material meaning they're kind to both the earth and your pocket when it comes to replacing elements and completely individual due to the nature of the materials so each pair have their own character. What's more, they're still made the old fashioned way; handmade in small traditional shoe factories carrying the intended 70's style and expression further into the 21st century.

When I used to think clogs, I thought of the white surgical ones my dentist wears or what my primary school teachers wore; now, I think Swedish Hasbeens.

A forever shoe providing you look after them like a baby - that, I would. 

'A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache.'

Wearing: Shirt from Primark, Biker Jacket from New Look,  

Wet Look Leggings and Sunglasses from Tesco 

and Converse (full of sand);

Sucky 'I need a wee pose'- my own.

This biker jacket has me completely infatuated. It seems New Look have bunked up the price on it, I swooped it up when it was originally £34.99 plus a 20% off promotion meaning I got it for £27.99. I want to wear it all summer even though I know this will be virtually impossible in the heat. I try and keep it on as long as I can at the moment because it's my wardrobe staple and favourite item, but I get so hot and risk getting in a pickle like Ross in Friends. I wish this shirt was a little longer, I love the detail on the collar but I feel it could do with a bit more length- this is a replacement since the first I got had a jolly great rip in the seam. The leggings are amazing, I've been tempted by a pair of wet look/disco pants to satisfy my inner diva and have read reviews online of some being too short or too high waisted. Found these beauties in Tesco for a bargain price and they fit a dream; they're the perfect length and THEY DON'T SAG AT THE KNEES. A victory. 

Had a lovely day at the beach yesterday, popped back to Southwold to ride a killer 400bhp powerboat on a high speed half hour blast. One word - Wow. 

Today has only really been spent editing some photos, I've realised I have far too many on my mac and they are in dire need of a sort out. What a mare that will be. 

Now off to get some cross stitch lessons from my mum- I may document my progress for you all to see. Fingers crossed, ho ho.  

A week in Southwold

I've not been away since 2010, not even for a weekend, and my last family holiday was in 2007; so to have 9 days away at the end of June/ beginning of July was heavenly. I'm a sucker for exploring new places and my worst idea of a holiday is one where you lay around all day every day, so this was perfect.

Colourful cottages of Southwold

We stayed in Reydon which is not even two minutes from Southwold by car and a 10/15 minute walk. I've always loved independent and individual shops, while I do love a good chain store you get something much more personal and special from independent retailers. Whether it be a bakers, butchers or cafe/restaurant you often get outstanding service and homemade quality foods that have been made with love and not thrown off a production line. 

The Olympic Torch relay

I managed to catch the torch even though we were late down there (I missed the freebies- boo!). That aside it was lovely to see everyone line the streets, and you know what I noticed? Not a single loud mouthed chav; I didn't see one for the whole holiday- what a bonus.

  Vintage excursion bus Southwold and the surrounding areas really are a treasure as you can see from this adorable bus. The pier and the beach huts make it what it is too but I unfortunately didn't get any photos of them as every time I went to, it rained! Typical.    Handmade leather diamante dog collars

If I had a female dog, that white collar would be hers. I saw so many beautifully handmade pieces that I could have bought but I wouldn't have had anywhere to put them! Some things were incredibly expensive and I saw many fab brands like Mulberry, People Tree, Barbour and Acne. Talk about lust.

Aldeburgh beach and boats  Me, my mum and dad stopped at Aldeburgh for a couple of hours; a wander along the beach, a browse around the quaint shops a, yummy coffee and mint chocolate chip ice cream tub and being hailed at by a builder later we carried on to Leiston.    Classic 'admit one' cinema tickets from 'The Last Projectionist' documentary

We went along to Leiston film theatre which is a striking independent one screen cinema-come-theatre. They had a special one off screening of a documentary called The Last Projectionist with an introduction and Q&A with the Director Tom Lawes. It was aptly shown in the regions oldest purpose built independent cinema and documents the rise and fall of the independent cinemas and the making way from 35mm film to digital during critical periods of history from the early 1900's to just last year. It takes a really unique perspective and I recommend it to anyone interested in film out there. The director-come-producer-come-coffee maker is a genuinely lovely and inspirational guy who bought the Birmingham electric cinema and restored it back to what it is today. One thing he said in the Q&A after that really struck me is how independent is making a return- we see it in vintage clothing and accessories more than ever over the past year, but now the multiplex cinemas are offering an 'independent' experience like introducing gallery viewing, a bar and 'luxury' seats. I even noticed it in a Tesco store yesterday at the meat counter where they had written their special offers all over the glass of the cabinet just like the traditional meat markets and butchers do. Off topic but something to think about.

Olympic flags                                           Dotty Blue cafe     I'll be going back again for sure- there's just so much I still need to see, do and take photos of. Undoubtedly, this is one of my favourite places and beats the like of hugely tourist-y locations like Great Yarmouth. 

So Many Eager Young Bunnies That I'd Like To Pursue

Wearing: Rabbit playsuit inc. belt from Primark

Apologies for lack of blogging, I've just got back from a week away at the quaint Suffolk seaside town of Southwold. I've not had a family holiday in 5 years and my last time away was in 2010 so it was great to visit somewhere new and have a break. 

You'll hear and see more about my time away in a further post, but at the moment I'm having a slight stress with two poorly rabbits. I was supposed to be picking them up yesterday from holiday boarding but both had developed upset stomachs- one more serious than the other. I visited them yesterday but they aren't coming home just yet as Caroline is very kindly treating them for me- it was heartbreaking to see them so quiet, lethargic and nervous; I'm not sure if they even clocked who I was. I've had good news today that the meds seem to be having a good effect and they're more lively and eating, we're just taking each day as it comes so I'm not sure when I'll have them home.

Anywho, here's an outfit from my week- a gorgeous bunny playsuit & belt from Primark. It's also got a cute peter pan collar with a gold chain connecting each tip which you can't see because of my mane.