Outfits²

Hey y'all. I just wanna say thanks for the comments on my last couple of posts - and in general, actually! I love reading all of them. I've been known to read my comments at 5am when I can't get back to sleep. And 11pm when I can't get TO sleep! I really appreciate all of your opinions and thoughts so thanks! ♥ (god I really do overuse that html heart! But on this occasion I really mean it!)

So anyway, today's look was a bit of a cosy boredom fest. I bought the chunky scarf in h&m mens section a week ago and I have worn it to death already! I'm sitting in my pyjamas and wearing it now!




(Jeans - my new Jamie's from Topshop, Granny boots - second hand, shirt - secondhand)

I recreated my Tuesday LFW look because I didn't take any decent pics of it at the time. Well I hastily took this one in the train toilet, but to be honest I think you deserve better than that.




(My political tee - DIY, mesh body - Urban Outfitters, Necklace - Dusky Ledoux, Pleather jacket - Topshop, crazy wedges - eBay)

I hope you're all having a nice Friday night. I'm being a geek like most nights. But I will be venturing out tomorrow night to celebrate my boyfriend quitting his job at HMV to concentrate on song-writing professionally (writing songs to sell to other artists)! I'm super proud of him for quitting, and am SO looking forward to having him around the house more. It will mean having to end my slovenly ways of staying in my PJ's eating crumpets & reading blogs until 1pm on the days I'm not at uni. But I guess it's worth it...

x

Creature comforts

I'm feeling more 'woohoo!' than 'boohoo' to see that Boohoo have featured a picture of me (and my Dusky Ledoux necklace!) in their street style trend report from LFW! It's actually a really good street style report, organised into specific SS/10 trends with lots of wearable outfit inspiration (from other stylish chicks, I'm not just blowing my own horn here!)



While I'm here, Iet me chuck some pictures and words at you about one of my favourite LFW collections, Topshop Unique. In general, I haven't been as bowled over by collections this season as much as last, but maybe I'm just more of a Spring/Summer person. I was looking through every collection on Style.com today and it felt so weird not to have a Luella collection to gaze at. I really got quite upset about it which is a bit silly. I just loved Luella so much! Anyway, I'll put my violin to one side and entertain you with a few of my favourite Unique looks!






Thank god for Topshop Unique. They really went a long way to filling the fun and quirky void left by Lu. I'd sum this collection up as... Walking in a woodland wonderland! There was scout camp chic with patch-adorned khaki uniforms, as well as nods (well, headbutts, actually) to woodland creatures in the form of Emma Cook headgear and hoofs, as well as plenty of fur and shearling (highlight: shearling bumbag!). I really like the extra long cardigan with squirrels on. It seems peculiar now to imagine wearing a cardigan so long, but I'm sure it'll seem perfectly natural come Autumn! The chunky knit super-high socks are another trend I'm right behind. So cosy looking! The whole collection just makes me feel warm inside.

For god's sake Topshop. Is it not enough that I work for you AND spend my wages in you? Must you dominate my fashion week favourite-list too? You're taking over my life! What next?! I will have to draw the line at fattening up my boyfriend and renaming him Phil.

What have been your fashion week faves and fails so far?

xo

PS - Also glad to see the monobrow is heading for a moment. I'm already ahead of the trend on that one thanks to a mixture of work and fashion week chaos leading to grooming neglect! Probably wrong to feel proud about that.

Dear Bliggers...

So I'm not sure if this is common knowledge to those who aren't Twitter addicts like me (Yes, I hate myself for it!) but there has been a total furore about the presence of bloggers at London Fashion Week this season.

It started with this article about bloggers "invading our press rooms, and eating all the food". Disney Roller Girl said on her twitter "Lots of chat about the influx of bloggers at #LFW Some irked press are calling them 'bliggers' (bloggers + liggers geddit)". Urban Dictionary tells me that a 'ligger' is, "An individual who attends parties, openings, social gatherings and events with the sole intention of obtaining free food and drink - an arch blagger." More blogger horror stories in The Times today ("One insisted they were a staff member of Harper’s Bazaar magazine — until the real ticket-holder showed up") There's also been loads of chatter about bloggers in the front row eating biscuits and playing with their iPhones... Not doing any actual work. If I got invited to shows, I'd bloody get my head down and get a great scoop for you lot! I'd never take it for granted!

Anyway, all this kerfuffle has led to my favourite hobby getting a bad name. I don't want to be tarred with the same brush as these apparent freebie-grasping posers! So my word of advice to the bad eggs spoiling it for the rest of us... Less cavorting, more reporting! Feel free to join my campaign and get your toilet bleach and paintbrushes out!



The fault isn't really these blogger's themselves (besides being stupid enough to act like entitled buffoons at events many people have worked for years to earn their seat at) but the PR's. After all, they're the ones who have deemed these people worthy to enter the shows. I'm pretty sure there will be much stricter vetting next season.

The whole thing has led to a lot of soul-searching for myself as well as other bloggers. Marian Kihogo wrote a great post which led to a big comment-discussion of the whole situation. It's frustrating to feel ashamed to be a blogger at events like LFW, because other prats are spoiling it. I'm super tired and aware I'm repeating myself so I'm gonna go to bed.

Anyway my t-shirt has provided a slight outlet to my stresses about the whole thing. I think you should all make one, or a little badge for your blog to set ourselves apart! :)

I'd really love to know your thoughts on the whole thing?

xx

New necklace!

I had intended to post more LFW reflections, but am in a state of utter lethargy after a ramshackle dinner of noodles & crumpets (we haven't been food shopping in ages!) So I leave you with a picture of Roxy looking super pleased about my gore-geous new necklace made by the lovely Sophie aka. Dusky Ledoux. It's one of only 50, and was quite the talking point at London Fashion Week!




I was going to wear my necklace to work earlier but realised it would probably make children cry. Cruel? Cool? I'm not too sure. All I know is that I love it. And it definitely adds a new dimension to an otherwise bland outfit!

Dusky has set up a shop that will be selling a new limited edition item each month, so if I were you, I'd bookmark it and check back for more goodies!

Hope you've had a lovely weekend!

♥

My first fashion week!

When I arrived at Somerset House, I got a call from Michelle (Cheapskate Chic) saying she couldn't make it, so I had to face the day alone! To begin with, I had a wander round the designer exhibitions and I was severely taken by the Tata Naka exhibition. It was a kind of western-meets-tarzan affair with lots of fringing and leopard print but the highlight was the shoes, which literally blew me away. This collection was probably the most covetable thing I saw all day. Here's a few pictures I took, but I'm waiting on some hi-res pics from the Press team.


(Not sure if you can see, but below left is a leopard print jumpsuit with cut outs on the body! Mental!)




I had a look in the PPQ exhibition but it was a bit empty because most of the items were being used in the show later on. I was kind of disappointed with what I saw, because PPQ usually have a cheeky streak, but I didn't see any of that. I hoped the catwalk show would prove me wrong, but after watching the live stream of it, I remain disappointed.

The collection felt a lot more grown up than their previous ones (I yearn for the days of the clock prints and peterpan collars!) which I'm sure will appeal to some. But what I like in a collection is a GSOH (Ooh, acronyms, that reminds me to talk about Henry's show!) and some personality. I just didn't see enough of it this time round. But somewhere I saw it in droves was...

At the Louise Gray presentation! The ladies on the door were kind enough to let me in despite not being on the list, on the condition that I 'didn't spend too long' in there! Haha, it's okay ladies, I know my place! (After all, we're having our blogger statuses - or lack thereof - drilled into our heads every five minutes it seems!) The atmosphere in the room was great, with a real sense of fun. Designs were hung on stands where you could poke your head through and 'model' the items, a la 50's seasides! Models styled to perfection struck quirky poses and circulated the room. Louise Gray was there herself, looking amazing in her own designs & a Richard Nicoll for Topshop bra.

Design wise, the theme of this collection was textures. I saw patchwork, quilting, appliqued squiggles of material on trousers, holes punched in shorts... The all-round DIY-fest that I just love about Gray's designs. Oh, and the giant pink fur bodysuit! Ha! The collection was great fun, not as instantly covetable as last season, but I think that's because it was harder to get a true feel for the collection without it on models. Since getting home, I've seen the lookbook on Style.com, and it is just fabulous. The girly girl in me does wish there were more sandals and less sneakers, though!







I really must get ready for work now, but I will be back later to discuss the Unique, PPQ & Henry Holland Shows, my first catwalk show experience at Belle Sauvage, and my necklace from Dusky Ledoux which got a lot of attention!

Have you got any fashion week faves thus far?

xxx

Binge Britain

Just a quickie post as I'm super tired and still hungover from going out for my friend's birthday last night! Thought I'd share a couple of the pics that just emerged on Facebook, as I didn't take a sensible outfit pic beforehand! See my Twitter for a totally cringe x-rated outtake! Haha!

I figured it might be nice to prove that I do have a social life and don't spend every night posing in a stilted manner on my landing... Just most nights!


This Green drink was the downfall of me. For once, I don't mean literally. Most nights out at clubs end up with me trying to 'drop it down low' (as they say on da streetz) and not being able to get back up again! Ha! Yep, it's a pretty sexy affair.



(The outfit was a total h&m bargain fest! Oversized tee £12, bow belt £2.99, leggings £7.99, the shoes are Topshop)

You might notice I'm rocking a shorter hairdo! My hairdresser went a bit crazy with the clippers. At £7, I can't really complain! TIP: If you have short hair, get it cut at a Barbers! It's dirt cheap, and if you're like me and hate all the hairwashing, awkward head massaging and manhandling at hair salons, it's a quick and easy alternative!

Hope you're all having a nice week. Thanks for all of your fab entries to the style compare competition! Keep 'em coming!

Love xxx

PS: OMG LFW 2MRO!!! IRL!!! lol.

PPS: As usual my 'quickie' post has become a lengthy one! Soz!

Style-Compare-tition!

Bonjour!

How are we all?

I'm pretty happy as I had a really productive morning at Uni and got lots of research done for my dissertation preparation... I have decided to do mine on 'How the internet has changed fashion promotion', ie. a chance to rabbit about blogs etc for 10,000 words!

In other news, my blog is one of the few selected blogs to take part in a competition for the website www.StyleCompare.co.uk. If you haven't heard of this site, it is epic (and I don't use that term lightly!) It's basically fashion's answer to 'compare-the-market' (the car insurance comparing thingy!). You type in whatever you're after (in my case, usually playsuits!) and it chucks a ton of them at you from all kinds of brands including Urban Outfitters & Asos. Definitely the quickest way to shop!

Anywho, they've offered you guys the chance to win £250 to spend on the site, by styling up one of their items. Unfortunately, the chosen item is a very tricky one. It's this military dress a la Luella SS10. But apparently your chances of winning are VERY high, as only a few blogs are involved in the comp, so if you want £250 to spend, take the time to give it a go! Even if it's just putting a cute pair of shoes with it.

To enter, either comment below or email me at: contact@gemfatale.co.uk with the links to the chosen items you'd style the dress with (up to a value of £250), and I will send them over to the StyleCompare clan. Please send your entries by 28th Feb. If one of you win, I also win £250 to spend too so give it a go, for both our sakes! I've got my eye on some bits from the Louise Gray ASOS collection!! :)

In other news, I wore my new skater dress today, which I found in the sale at Topshop for £8 with my staff discount! It's nice to have a dress with long sleeves, as my arms are not my best feature!





(necklace - random gift shop in Eastbourne, brogues - Guerrisol, a huge Parisian secondhand store)

I'm planning to get my eiffel re-inked in the near future. Because it's situated in a place that's always moving when you walk, it didn't heal well and lost lots of the blackness. :(

Hope you're having a lovely start to the week, and the weather isn't making you fellow UK-ers feel as gloomy as it is me!

Lav lav lav (in the words of Gaga!)

♥