For Your Eyes Only

It's been a few weeks since I first posted about my love of those Alexander Wang Cat Eye sunglasses, and I've since acquired a similar pair off eBay which I might just wed, I love them so. I just stumbled across the above pair however, at Spanish Moss Vintage and couldn't resist posting a picture. At $39, they won't cost you your life savings and they've even got the dipped tips. Nom nom nom.

Little Bunny Fou Fou

It's no secret that I've been obsessing a tad over bunny ears recently. Specifically, the bunny ears from Louis Vuitton's Fall/Winter 2009 collection. I blame Easter. So, when the opportunity arose to make my very own in the form of a friend's Playboy party (I'd say it sounds trashier than it was but I'd be lying), I jumped on it. It was like the universe was begging me to take a pair of pliers to a couple of coathangers. The night admittedly involved some rather awkward ducking under door frames and refrained nodding but who the hell cares? I was a bunny!

Look What the Cat Dragged In.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this might be a contender for sweetest dress in the whole world ever. It's a cat! And it's on her dress!

Image courtesy of the aptly named website All The Pretty Birds.

It's Not Fair

Apologies in advance for what's about to be a pretty uninspired blog post. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, it's 0.5 degrees off 40. That's bushfire hot. Exploding cat hot. Laptop overheating hot. And I've got a laptop on my lap. It should console me that if I overheat/melt/die at least I'll go with the thing I love most (sorry Bobby) but it doesn't. Don't be surprised if the next "What I Wore" post is of a dress in a puddle. Written from an internet cafe. So, because some things don't need explaining - even though, being me, I often explain them anyway, by way of an epic blog post/incomprehensible story - and in the interest of *not* melting, I'll try to keep it short - Lily Allen is Lily Allen; I'm going to take a massive leap of faith here and presume that you know who she is and, possibly more than once, you've caught a glimpse of one of her live shows. No? Let me sum it up for you: Flashing lights, rude words (oh my!), booty shaking, intelligently wry lyrics and a generous amount of leopard print. For even more details, you can keep an eye on Bobby's blog, as he was reviewing. Indeed, we saw her the night before last at the Hordern Pavillion and, though I can't say I was - or had the time to get - overly excited, it was actually really quite fun. And I kind of fell in love with the above stockings. Which is ridiculous, considering the heat, but the more I look at them, the more I decide I can't live without them. If anyone knows where I can get my hands on a pair/wants to make them for me, I'd be eternally grateful. I promise I won't even think about wearing them 'till Autumn.

Good Stuff

Check out the good stuff I've been doing when not doing things here (which is, let's be honest, most of the time). Yes, whilst this blog might feel a little abandoned at the moment, I've been typin' to the point of callouses on behalf of 2threads and This Way In.

I wrote my first (!) album review. And it was of none other than the lovely local quintet Bridezilla's long awaited debut. AND, the folk at Modular quoted me in Bridezilla's press release.

Want to give harnesses and corsets a go this Spring but don't want to end up looking like Jessica Simpson gone, well, *even* more wrong? The outerwear as underwear trend is one that's incredibly flexible (which you wouldn't think, given that they're made outta whale bone, wires and leather), just check out my guide on how to wear these adaptable accessories.

When you pour three trends into the one accessory what should result is a fashionable, on trend item that'll be as good as glued to your pretty thighs for the next three months. Unfortunately, this was not the case for Lady GaGa.

Oh, and I got interviewed by Jenna Black (from 2threads) about the merits of interning.

Also, check out my photos from last week's preview of the Britpop Photo Exhibition at the Abercrombie: An amazing collection of photos of British live acts from photographers Daniel Boud, Graham Denholm and Mark Metcalfe. Want a sample? Oh, okay:

Addicted

Mmm... Clothes by the kilo. My favourite kind of clothes. I found Garage, on Ahornstraße, to be the best for Berliner vintage. The clothes were relatively inexpensive (if you stuck to the by-the-kilo bit) and if you spent enough time in there, you could be sure to find a few bits and bobs to delight and satisfy your craving. Because everyone has clothes cravings, right? Or is it just me? Like, don't tell my therapist or anything but when I don't go charity shopping for more than two or three days I start to go a bit mad. Okay, not a bit mad, kind of totally crazy, agitated, bored. Go on Tuesdays when it's happy hour (for two hours from 11am) when you only pay €10 per kilo.


I contentedly bounced around the city the next day, dressed up in a well loved fraction of my finds.

Shirt and leggings, both paid by the kilo from Garage.
Patent shoes: From Mauerpark Flohmarkt, a bustling market in Prenzlauer Berg.
Sunnies and bag, both from Eastbourne Charity shops. The sunnies only set me back 50p. Good thing too, considering how many times I have dropped them in the past month.

Whistle Past The Graveyard

Pere Lachaise is a beautiful, morbid and particularly Gothic cemetery in Paris. It's home to Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison and Edith Piaf, to mention a few. It's nicknamed the 'City of the Dead' due to it's sheer vastness. There are even streets and districts. It was stunning.


However, that said, don't feel like you have to venture all the way to Paris to take it in Pere Lachaises beauty. Whilst on their website, finding a link for this post, I saw that you can go on a VIRTUAL TOUR. Like Star Trek except less spaceships and more zombies (to any film producers listening: Yes, I would be willing to write and direct such a film).

This was the breathtaking crematorium. Each tiny square you can see on the wall to the left under the arches, is someone's ashes. That wall continued behind the crematorium and up the right side, almost every square filled.

Scarf: Bought for €1 from Free'P'Star in Paris. Unfortunately, I lost it somewhere in between packing my bags and arriving back in England. I was pretty devastated. To lift my spirits, Bobby got us tickets to see Kimya Dawson in Brighton on Tuesday which definitely has me feeling at least 76% better.
Dress, belt and broach (worn as a necklace): From various charity stores in Eastbourne, England.
Holy stockings over plain black stockings: D.I.Y.

I found these two friends for a couple of euros in Paris, just around the corner from Free'P'Star in a little Asian shop. The one of the left has been named Toowit and the guy on the right, Toowoo. They're sitting atop a comic book written by the multi-talented Jeffrey Lewis, another Paris acquisition (the comic, not Lewis) from when we went to see Lewis and his band play at La Maronquinerie. Bobby's review of the show is much better than mine could ever be so I'll point you over here. But basically, the first support was almost too weird to mention, the second (Casiotone For The Painfully Alone) very Bright Eyes and very enjoyable, and the main, Jeffrey Lewis, brilliant.

In My Room

Thanks to Style Symmetry, I just came across this competition run by Fashion For Nerds, where you can win one of their awesome vintage style felt hats. The premise is that entrants build an outfit inspired by the below pictured interior. It's a good reminder that style inspiration can come in all forms, not least interior design.


Here is my entry, shot in the very '50s kitchen of our English home. It's certainly one of my favourite parts of the house. If my outfit is not in your favour however, I plead innocence. The radio clearly told me to do it.

More Bargains Of The Century

Androgyny? Yes please. Fashion doesn't get much more drool-worthy than the perfect oversized men's jumper, or a vintage pair of harem pants with a men's button up. Menstyle is the ultimate style. Good thing too, as we're currently selling seven pieces of pure unisex heaven on the eBay machine. So, get ready to start your bidding ladies and gentlemen and just click on the photos to be taken to the appropriate auctions. As last time, all items start at the irresistable price of 99 pence. And, for that measly amount (which you could very likely find, if you're anything like me, lying abandoned under your couch cushions) you can't really go wrong, can you? Especially when you're looking at seven pieces that will rocket you into menstyle utopia.

We're selling THREE shirts of similar style in the one 99p listing. Not 99p each, 99p for all three.

A pair of never-been-worn Converse All Star in a UK size 8.

A very indie and very cool H&M jumper. Also, I'm not entirely sure why I felt the need to show you that a jumper is unisex. But it is. And, you know, some people lack imagination. Like me.

Last but not least, for all of you kids currently curled into the foetal position in the corner of the basement because you missed out on that incredible yellow and grey striped jumper, never fear. Haul yourself up. You can live again. We've relisted it.

Shine

C&H Fabrics treated me (at the cost of a quid) to some patent goodness last week. Out of it, I have fashioned a Minnie Mouse-style bow which I very excitedly wore yesterday for a wander into town and through the stunning, and very English, Gildridge Park.

Beret: Christmas gift from my Mother
Houndstooth jacket: £2 at a Traid sale, a little charity/vintage store in Brighton
Bow: D.I.Y.
Neck tie: Waist tie from another dress
Dress: £1 from an Eastbourne charity store
Shoes: Also £1 from an Eastbourne charity store

P.S. If you're wondering what that strange hunchback that you can see in my shadow is (I know I was), it's my bag. My lovely awesome bag.

Who's Got The Crack?

So it's been over 24 hours since I came back from my half a week in London and I'm pretty sure I'm having big city withdrawals because I'm super tired and cranky as all hell. And seriously craving tea. Smoked tea. With soy milk. Which is what people coming off the crack and/or big city want, right? On second thoughts this might have something to do with not having smoked a whole cigarette since being in England. I might just be going smoke-mad. Either way, Lapsang Souchong me up please.

To make the breaking of my London cherry as painless as possible, we stuck mainly to the usual touristy things. We saw the London Eye from below, played where's Micky Mouse (like Where's Wally but real and just generally much better), visited modern art gallery, the Tate Modern, accidentally shat on God's face (according to the no photograph religious bouncer/priest man/pope) by taking photos inside Saint Paul's Cathedral, hung out in Soho, wandered along Portobello Road, marvelled at the snow they sell in Harrods, did lots of rather average vintage shopping, ran around Hyde Park a couple of times, had a beer in the National Gallery and I think I spent more time on public transport in the last few days than I had in the weeks and weeks preceding. All that sweat, smoke, pollution and undergrounding is disgusting and awesome at the same time. Not unlike seeing a lamb being born, which I was privilaged/cursed with seeing last week.

Bobby eating an apple at the Tate Modern.

Saint Paul's Cathedral.

Vintage shopping at The East End Thrift Store.

Pastels on Portabello Road.

Harrods.

Snow in Harrods.

Sunglasses: £2 from Primark

Top: £4 from an Eastbourne charity shop.
Purple tights: Left overs from one of my Vintage and Retro Fashion sales.

The conclusion of all this is I need more Mickey Mouse, pastel and smoke in my life, pronto.

London Calling

I just got in after a train ride back to Eastbourne from London. I only have one word to describe the city: Manic. The kind of awesome maniacy that occurs in Manic Street Preachers or The Bangles singing Manic Monday. Not "O.M.G. I'm totally manic. Look! I have two different coloured socks on! Manic!". Well, maybe a little bit. But mostly no.

More to come as soon as I get my arse back into gear. In the meantime, here's some eye candy from the streets and pubs of London.

A child's toy box from 1897.

I totally want a cane.

London ladies amongst the pastels of Portabello Road.

Click on the picture for more detail, the dress was amazing.

It's incredible how ancient the pubs are in Europe. This one made me feel as though I was in an old crime film with muted colours and wonderful fashions.

The Duke of Westminster is rumoured to have emblazoned the Chanel logo on London's lampposts as a letter of love to Coco Chanel. Mr. Bobby, I would like owls on all the lamposts in Eastbourne please.