When did Clarks get good?

When I was growing up Clarks were the dependable shoe store where you didn't really want to go for your school shoes.

Wind forward to 2009 and Clarks have shaken up their ladies footwear range, and better yet they have free delivery, and better yet, they have weekly deals (last week you could have walked away with a free bag with any purchase).

My favourites are these Kencot Album boots which have a sensible but pointed heel.
They're available in black suede (my faves and on order!), leopard print and black leather, which just about covers all the bases. I love the vintage style of them and the fact that the elastic will stop them from being massive around the ankle (I hate that - looks messy and makes my feet look massive).
Corinne x

DISCLAIMER: First paragraph isn't strictly true - when I was little I really wanted a pair of Clarks shoes that had a key on the sole (which I never got because my stupid feet were always too big for them!). 

Here's the advert for them. Is it me or is her mother Adam Ant?)

Gifts-a-go-go

So thanks to my lovely friend Amanda, I have ALL my Christmas presents sorted this year already. Today she introduced me to http://www.edinburghart.com/, the online store of Edinburgh's super-cute Red Door Gallery.

I actually chanced upon the gallery myself when I was in Edinburgh earlier in the year, and was drawn in by the adorable Donna Wilson crafted animals in the window. I'm absolutely in love with Donna's Cyril Squirrel-Fox (below) and am considering buying her Odd Bod Bunch knitting book so I can make my own (so far I've only ever succeeded in knitting a scarf, so I have a way to go...)

Back to the shop - the Red Door Gallery stocks adorable art, stationery, jewellery and home furnishings by a range of up and coming designers, which you can now browse in the comfort of your own home thanks to their online store. I've picked out a couple of my favourite things and pretty much sorted my Christmas shopping.

I Like Your Bow Notebook by Nineteenseventythree

Hobby Horse Wooden Brooch by Allira Tee

Flat Pets Puppy by Garudio Studiage (it's a fold-away pet fact fans!)

Sleepy Little Fox Necklace by Frozen Peas

I want a sleepy fox! (Please santa...)

Mia x

Germ Factory visits American Archive

I've managed to catch another ridiculous cold (I am a GERM FACTORY) but one good thing has come out of it because I found an awesome vintage store on eBay today. They're called American Archive and they stock a variety of men's and women's vintage fashion. Check out their store to find out more. I'm dying to get my grubby little paws on this "vtg 60s MOD geometric LEOPARD puff slv TENT Mini Dress" , this vtg BOHO pink EMBROIDERED Mexican Mini dress or this "vtg 80s Avant Garde TIE DYE slouch TRENCH coat Jacket" but unfortunately neither are to be because I have no pounds to spare.

Why is it America always has the best vintage stores?
Corinne x

Vintage cute off...

Lots of super cute vintage images that Mia sent me a while ago. For no other reason than they're awesome. Maybe you can get some fashion inspiration outta these?! hollaaaaa...

 

"So I started hanging out with Rayanne Graff..."

I was reading Nice and Shiny today and Kylie had written an entry about My So Called Life. It reminded me of my obsession with this programme when I was younger and I immediately went on a search to find the DVD box set I bought of it a year or so ago. Before that I had 15 video tapes with the episodes on that I'd taped every day back in 1994! I remember standing next to my tape recorder as the adverts rolled getting reading to stab my fingers into the keys so I didn't miss a second of the show. I was also really sad when it ended. WHY!

I wanted to be Angela, I bought the same backpack as her and it was like my little secret that I had the bag. I knew that basically no one else in my year at school watched the show so they didn't know that that was the reason I had it. In fact I remember one boy scoffing at the name 'Jansport' because he thought it was a budget backpack. I hated school but that bag made it more bearable. I actually had it up until about 3 months ago. The zip broke and I continued to use it but the frequency with which my stuff would fall out all over the road was increasing by the day... so I had to purchase a new one (which is brown and middle-aged looking). Sad face.

Angela (played by a young Claire Danes) has amazing auburn hair, it's unbelievably vibrant and makes her skin look pale and gorgeous. The first episode shows her sat at the kitchen table with her parents while they stare at her bemused. It's the sort of colour that most girls try to achieve at some point in school using those wash in wash out home colour kits... but better.

Angela is best friends with Rayanne Graff, who continues to be one of my style inspirations to this day! Her look is a bit of everything. She's OTT and usually looks like she's picked up the first things she's found lying around on the floor... but she puts it together in just the right way. She wears crazy clips and has unbelievably long hair that she wears half up and half down with a curl over her forehead.

Most of the series Angela is either dating or trying to date Jordan Catalano (played by JARED LETO - aka HOTTIE!). He's the sort of boy that every teenage girl dreams of dating (he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer but who cares when he has a face that pretty!). The other boy in the picture is Brian (Brain) who's a massive geek and is secretly in love with Angela (bless him). He has excellent geek wear, mostly ironed jeans and shirts with big curly frizzy hair.

The show is teaming with 90s style inspiration - checked shirts, tie dye, crushed velvet dresses, frilly crop tops, leggings and rebel hair. And there's that amazing feeling of being a teenager and like your life hasn't started yet... but it's going to soon, and when it does it'll be fabulous.

DIY: Lace leggings

I haven't had much to post this week but that's all about the change now that I've got my new sewing machine working - hoorah! After many hours spent feeling like a massive doofus and receiving multiple CAPITALIZED emails from the eBay seller I picked it up from, I've finally figured out I was threading the bobbin incorrectly. Now that that's fixed my machine is working like a dream. Hurrah! Now I just need to work on my ability to follow a pattern and sew in a straight line. Bummer.



This weekend I managed to make myself a pair of leggings with some stretch lace fabric that I bought from eBay on the cheap. Now, they're by no means well done, the seams are uneven and their probably a wee bit too short for me, but they've not fallen apart YET. I'd say that's a relative success! I intend to make another pair in a different kind of fabric and see if I can improve on this pair too. I also want to make a nice top out of lace like the ones that they have in Topshop at the moment... that seems like a bit more advanced at the moment though... but who knows!

Corinne x

luella cage belt

Currently trying to figure out how I can make myself this little Luella cage belt beauty...



Be in touch when I figure it out!

Corinne x

Designer Discounts

This weekend I found myself at a loose end, did a bit of a random Google search and planned myself a fun fashion outing. I discovered dws london - the Designer Warehouse Sale. I hadn't heard of the sale before, but the promise of Vivienne Westwood pieces and massive discounts was enough to spark my interest. The sale takes place over 3 days every couple of months, in a warehouse not far from Finsbury Park.

Before I was allowed anywhere near the beautiful clothes, I had to hand over all my wordly belongings (a leather jacket and the world's smallest handbag. I've never really understood this - I'd love to see someone try to squeeze a full length D&G wool coat into my 80s quilted handbag...) Once inside I found 5 rooms filled with rails of designer clothes and smartly dressed women sifting through blouses in a very business-like fashion. To be honest I felt a bit young to be there - most of the more affordable clothes were decidedly middle aged - tailored suits, cashmere sweaters and tweed coats. It was all a bit disappointing. But then nestled away upstairs I found the glittering room of dreams. Full of immaculate Westwood and D&G coats and dresses. The reductions were massive, but still nowehere near affordable for me - all £200 sweaters and £800 dresses.

But I managed not to come away empty handed. I spotted this lovely faux-fur scarf by Cecilia Prado. It's really kooky with long red fringing, gorgeously hand-crafted and was a giant bargain at £15 (reduced from over £100).

I plan to wear it all winter with my Dahlia mini trench. Can't wait.

Mia x

Daisy and Eve at Evans

I went to Primark today to see if there was anything that I was missing out on by not making the trek down to Marble Arch on a weekly basis, which by the crushing atmosphere in the store suggests everybody else makes. It turned out that I was missing out on... well, nothing actually. I was quite surprised since I used to find at least two or three things in their every time I visited the store, but this time I couldn't get over how cheap every thing looked. There was also too many people throwing clothes around and pushing and shoving me. I stopped shopping in Primark over a year ago and I think I've got a little bit too used to spending out on items that'll last rather than clothes that I can wear for one season before they drop to pieces.

Instead of hopping back on the tube like I should have done I stopped by Evans and browsed their amazing Daisy and Eve jewellery. I couldn't decide what to purchase, everything was so beautiful. In the end I snapped up an amazing fabric necklace with beads sew to it. It cost £25 but doesn't seem to be on the website at the moment.













Corinne x

I love leopard print

I found this AMAZING picture of a woman wearing a leopard print coat on Street Peeper and now I'm hooked on finding my own version...


I went into to Topshop today and tried on their amazing Boutique Leopard print coat (they had three left and they were all size 16 except one size 12).

They've also completely sold out online and I can't even find it on the Topshop website anymore. Sad face.

Anyway, I tried it on and fell in love with it - all except the £90 price tag that is - you'll find me on eBay seeking out a cheaper alternative for the next few weeks!

I'll let you know how I get on...

eyelets eyelets eyelets!

I shot down to Topshop Oxford Street this morning to check out the Christopher Kane for Topshop Collection. I really liked the eyelet dresses and jeans... and jackets... and t-shirts, and well, pretty much everything had eyelets on in in some form or other!

I looked on the Topshop website and I waited with baited breath for the store to open online on Thursday night (for some reason I thought it might open at midnight... but instead I just sat there for half an hour pressing F5 before creeping off to bed shame faced!).

I ended up going into the store around 9.15 this morning and there was quite a big crowd of people being a bit grabby and furiously trying things on. I took 3 dresses to the changing room the mirror and eyelet babydoll dress,  the eyelet lace dress and the long mesh eyelet dress. Initially I wanted to purchase the Nude Skater dress which looks a wee bit Ossie Clark, but that sold out within minutes of the store opening and it wasn't included in the online shop.

Unfortunately I wasn't really taken with any of them. Am I the only one who isn't getting caught up in the Christopher Kane for Topshop fever? Mostly I was just wondering when I'd wear them.  I also thought the quality of the range would be higher, some of the zips looked a bit weak and feeble and the fabric wasn't as fancy as I was expecting.

Instead I've purchase myself some eyelet pliers so I can do a bit of a ode to Christopher Kane.. on a shoe string! DIY to follow! Oooh, also my sewing machine arrived but I'm having TEETHING problems... in that I can't get it to work. Fail! Will be in touch when I finally figure it out...

Corinne x

How to make a ruff!

Unbelievable news everyone! I have done ANOTHER craft! Inspired by the lovely Christina from a sense sublime,  I decided to whip up my very own ruff necklace. I've basically copied exactly what Christina did here. It involved cutting an old t-shirt (I chose a cute grey polka dot one found in a charity shop) into small squares, then threading them tightly onto a piece of cotton. To finish I added the left over black ribbon from my DIY shoes (see previous post) to the ends. Here's the finished article:

I'm REALLY pleased with it, and love that it can be worn really tight or long and loose. I'm also trying to work out if I can get away with it as a headband. Any other suggestions for uses on a postcard please.

Here's a pic of me testing it out...

I've teamed it with a cute H&M lightening bolt sweater from last season - it's started getting cold in London so I'm rediscovering all my winter woolies!

Not sure why I'm looking so serious. I guess it must be my Edwardian values coming out...

Mia x

Sew Far Sew Good...

Never one to miss out on a passing fad, the impending arrival of Corinne's new sewing machine has spurred me on to dust off my own machine and give crafting a whirl.

Ladies and gentlemen meet Starski, a vintage Frister Star sewing machine with lots of exciting looking knobs and buttons and no instruction manual.

Like all new relationships, we're still getting used to each other. But last night, for the first time, I managed to do a little bit of DIY. It wasn't entirely straightforward. There was the fact that the bobbin kept falling out, the thread was too tight and I almost snapped the needle. My personal low was reaching round to try and loosen the cotton reel at the back of the machine and finding the biggest spider, EVER, had wrapped all 8 of its creepy legs around the spindle. Eek!

But in the end I managed to sew a cute white broderie anglaise trim onto this old Primark lace mini dress:

I've had the dress for ages and it had shrunk slightly in the wash (good old Primarni) making it ever so slightly pornographic. But no more! Thanks to my new trim I am both chic and decent! Yay me! Next, maybe I'll whip up a teatowel...

Mia x

Sell! Buy! Sell! Buy!

Mia and I were discussing how many old clothes we have that we don't wear on the weekend, and what we could do to sell them on to people who would actually wear and enjoy them. But it seems to be near impossible! Anyone got any ideas?

Everytime I buy a new item of clothing I look at it and think about how much I could get for it if I sold it on (sad I know). Shopping for t-shirts has become comparable to buying a new car - the value dips from first wear to last and you have to keep it in pristine condition to be able to sell it on and make anything. 

Despite the deluge of internet auction sites I'm sure it used to be easier to sell clothes. The only websites I've found to sell expect wads of cash to list things and you end up spending more than you make. This month I sold £46 worth of things and then had to give eBay £45.00 in seller fees that had built up from previous weeks.

Mia and I went to a carboot sale on Sunday and found sellers with bags of old clothes selling items for £1 a piece, which, let's face it - is basically nothing. Everyone wants to feel like they've got a bargain - and I'm no exception (I haggled a lady down to £3 from £5 for a brand new dress from Zara).

The value of second hand clothes is unpredictable. Grab that coveted item by Christopher Kane or Kate Moss, wait long enough and you can stand to make a small fortune because it becomes rarer and rarer... but buy the wrong thing and you'll be stuck with it forever!

We've changed. We expect so much more from our clothes because we're going to have to wear them for longer. We don't just buy things for a rainy day anymore, we usually have a specific outfit in mind. No one (except Paris Hilton) has money to fritter away. Instead we save for items that won't break the bank. This might be why second hand clothing has become near damn impossible to sell *unless you're willing to part with each item for a quid.

Competition is fierce girrrl fraangg! Vintage clothes are much more accessible these days, I remember when I was younger I used to hunt out vintage clothes on eBay and I could never find anything. It was near impossible to secure decent vintage at cheap prices because it seemed so rare. These days pop 'vintage dress' into eBay and you'll get 17,000 listings to jumble your way through. There's thousands of 60s/70s dresses readily available to purchase across the internet and at every vintage store... but find a classic design (preferably one that's not made from polyester) and you'll be quids in.

Sites like Etsy are full of sellers that re-make old vintage clothes into accessories, bags and new items of clothing. Maybe up-cycling old clothes into new things is the way to go?  But what about all the pretty pretty vintage dresses that might get destroyed along the way?

So, what can we do? Any tips?

Corinne x

Same Old Brand New Shoe

Guess what? I did a DIY! Yep, little old butter-fingers me. Remember the Melissa crystal brogues I was banging on about a few weeks ago? Well having dug out a pair of old patent high street brogues and purchased myself some stick on crystals from ebay, I've created my own personal interpretation.

In my excitement to get cracking with the project I forgot to take a 'before' pic, so you'll just have to imagine, if you will, a pair of slightly anaemic looking white patent brogues from Debenhams, with boring white laces. I swapped the laces for lengths of black ribbon and added black crystals to create these...

TA DA! I am rather pleased.

Mia x

We love winning stuff

Mia and I have received a lovely award from the lovely Ali at Hello Birdy. Thanks very much for stopping by and being so kind Ali! As part of this award we both need to put together 10 interesting facts about ourselves and pass the award on to 10 other blogs that we love. So here goes:

Corinne...

1) I work for Radio 1 (the views expressed here are not the views of the BBC!)
2) Kelly Rowland once taught me to 'lift my hip' in photos to make me look taller and thinner (apparently this is something celebs do on the red carpet)
3) I am indecisive. I've been blonde, brunette and redhead and I can't decide which I like best so I switch at least twice a year.
4) The city I would most like to live in is New York, even if it's only for a year. I'd also like a dog that I can take for walks in central park.
5) When I was little I had a fight with my sister where she threw a hairbrush at my head and it got stuck. My mum had to cut it out.
6) I learnt to drive when I was in school but I'm terrified of it now (probably part of the reason I moved to London because no one drives here!)
7) I have a secret crush on Zac Efron even though he's half my age and tangerine coloured.
8) I went to see Take That earlier in the year and cried at the end of their concert because it reminded me of being a youngster!
9) I am secretly a bit scared of Lily Allen
10) I am a geek - I enjoy faffing with html and building websites

Here are five of my favourite blogs that I'd like to pass the award on to:

A Sense Sublime
Nice and Shiny
Flying Saucer
Chic.decay
Hq Galerie Boutique

...Oooh this is SO EXCITING! Especially because I LOVE Ali's blog. I'm not sure my life is as exciting as Corinne's though. Here goes...

Mia...

1) I am in a pop band called 2 Hot 2 Sweat. We play electro pop and wear jumpsuits.  

2) I'm a bit obsessed with cute animals, but when they come close I get scared they're going to bite me and run away.

3) I once cleaned a dead pigeon out of Chris Evans' flat.

4) I bought my first sewing machine in January and I still haven't used it.

5) I lost a year of my life to The OC.

6) see Corinne's no. 6 - I am a danger on the roads and also have never learned to ride a bike (the shame!).

7) My favourite drinks are vodka cherryade and Tesco own brand rose wine (it's £2.99)

8) I don't own any designer clothes, not even vintage ones. I'm secretly proud of this.

9) I really want to be friends with Lauren Laverne and Jarvis Cocker.
10) I'm really messy, my friend Ellie once thought I'd been burgled when she saw the state of my bedroom.

And my Lovely Blog Awards go to:

Couture Allure Vintage Fashion
Style Rookie
Zany Style
Homerun Ballerina
Leproust

...all run by lovely ladies and chock full of gorgeous pics. Well done everyone!

Mia x

Sew excited

For a while now I've been looking for a new sewing machine and I've finally found one! I am so excited about it arriving that I've already started formulating DIY projects in my head. I currently own a brand new sewing machine that cost around £30.. but it's pitiful, it refuses to sew through more than one layer of fabric and freaks out if I try to make anything no matter how basic. I'm looking forward to getting rid of it and replacing it with a much older (but more reliable) Riccar sewing machine. Yipeee! I've had problems finding anything about Riccars but I'm told that they're very reliable and I'm pretty sure it's the same make as the ones that they had in my home economics classes in school. I figured, if they can survive the misuse and mischief of a comprehensive school then they can survive anything.

I've ordered a collection of ribbons and fabrics from eBay and I should be all set to produce a multitude of slightly ridiculous things to show you all! I'm also hoping to get better at sewing so I can make Christmas presents this year instead of spending tonnes of money. I just need to get the right idea and I'll be away. I'm not usually the kind of girl who makes presents for people (mostly because they'd be more horrified than pleased if they recieved one of my crazily sewed up mash up gifts). But this year... who knows. Ahhh, I love the time before the sewing machine arrives and you're all optimistic and ready for a challenge... two hours in and I'll probably be crying bloody murder! Good times!

Corinne x

Plastic Fantastic

Continuing on Corinne's statement jewellery theme, today I've added a new necklace to my lustlist. Forget diamonds, precious metals and swarovski crystals, for me a girl just can't go wrong with a good old fashioned chunk of plastic. For that reason I'm a huge fan of Punky Pins - whose online store stocks every piece of jewellery a girl could want - provided you like your pieces kitsch, shiny and oversized.

I already own a few of Punky Pins' ace necklaces, but today received news of the best one yet. Here it is in all its glory, the Flying Ulrika Unicorn Necklace.

HOW cute? At £14 I'm sure you'll agree it's an absolute steal. Once I've managed to save for my leather jacket I'll be sure to bag one of these, and then maybe a few more for my lucky gal pals' Christmas prezzies! Mia x

Feathers in plexiglas?

I've had a cold for a few days and so I've been doing very little - following my mum's advice to drink lots of hot drinks and wrap up warm. This has given me tons of time to watch films, eat Jaffa cakes and read magazines. Basically I've been bored out of my mind. I'm the worst sick person ever, I can't stand being tucked away in my house forced to get cabin fever and watch the world go by without me via facebook and twitter. Sad face.

Fortunately I had my friends Grazia and Look to keep me company. The first of these two mags pointed me in the direction of Lily Gardner's designer jewellery. and in particular this gorgeous feather cuff bracelet, which is hand made to your wrist size (who knew people's wrists were that different) and features a beautifully encased pheasant feather behind plexiglas. It reminds me of the story of Snow White when she falls asleep and the dwarfs put her in a glass coffin. That makes it sound a bit more gruesome than it actually is but you know what I mean...

Corinne x

cheaper = better... right?

I noticed these leopard wedge boots on the Office website today and they reminded me of the Ashish shoes that sold out in Topshop a few weeks ago. If you missed out then grab the above pair on the Office website for £85 (that's cheaper than the Topshop ones too!). They're available in leopard, black and dark purple suede. I think they're a bit less high but all the better for walking in I say...

Here are the Ashish shoes:


Corinne x

PS: Office do International delivery should you require it too!

My New Scottish Coat

Shortly before I made the decision to ban myself from spending any money, I visited Edinburgh with work. It's one of my absolute favourite cities, and has some of the cutest boutique shops ever. It's rare I visit a city without checking out the vintage stores so I managed to find an hour in my busy schedule to visit Grassmarket, full of cute boutiques, vintage treasures and stag dos.

People always seem to rave about Armstrong's - Edinburgh's Aladdin's Cave of vintage and repro clothing - but I've never found anything in there I truly love. I get the impression it's great for men's vintage, kilts and fancy dress, but the girls' section always seems a little lacking.

Good news, then, that I've discovered a new favourite Edinburgh based vintage emporium. It's name is Godiva. It stocks a mixture of new fashions from eco-friendly local fashionistas and vintage pieces, and is well stocked with 60s and 70s dresses and vintage bags and shoes. They also offer a Made to Measure service, allowing us girls the option to pick our perfect dress and have it whipped up in next to no time!

But for me it was a vintage 1960s plaid coat I just couldn't leave without. It's a gorgeous tent shape with a huge collar and 3/4 length sleeves. OK so it's a little on the large side, but I'm going to be so smug when it's snowing and I'm wearing my cute coat over 3 jumpers and a chunky scarf. Roll. On. Winter.

Mia x

Captain Sensible

People I have a plan. I tend to think of myself as a thrifty shopper with a bit of an eye for a bargain. I'm always snapping up charity shop shoes, ebay shift dresses and spend WAY too much of my life in the Urban Outfitters sale. But no more. This week I've had a revelation, and it's been brought to me by a small but perfectly formed Topshop leather jacket.

This month I will not be logging onto Paypal. I will be saving every penny I have for what grown-ups like to call an investment piece.

I've been after a cream leather jacket for a while, and of course have been scouring vintage stores but find it near impossible to get my hands on a nice vintage leather. I guess once you have one you hold onto it for dear life! But my prayers may have been answered by Topshop's 80's-tastic Cropped Studded Leather Jacket.

The £160 price tag means it's going to be a tight month for me, and I'm going to have to get ruthless selling more vintage bits and bobs from the back of my wardobe in our etsy shop. Wish me luck.

Mia x

the big swish

I'm quite interested to hear that the swapping website Bigwardrobe.com is hosting a roadshow of live clothes swapping events around the UK called The BIG Swish. While I've used Bigwardrobe.com before I've never had a huge amount of success swapping items on there. It'll be interesting to see if I have more luck at an event that calls on women from across the UK.

Kicking off on the eve of National Clothes Swapping Week (18th-22nd September) in Leeds, the roadshow will visit: Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle and York. Tickets are £5 and available to buy now for a select number of locations.

The aim of the event is to show people that they don't have to spend a penny to be 100% on-trend. Which is a pretty exciting prospect right now. I'm still always a bit skeptical about swishing events mainly because the ones I've been to have been very small and usually showcase a wide selection of over-worn and damaged items of clothing that no one wants... let's face it, if you have something that doesn't fit you sell it on Bigwardrobe.com, you don't swap it.

I'm also slightly concerned by the size of the event - bigger isn't always better. It might be similar to the Angels Vintage Sale which put the fear of God into me... so many people fighting to get the best items (Mia and I left with a wide selection of terrible things).

I'd love for my opinion to be swayed the other way so I'm still mulling over my attendance of the London event! Anyone else been to any swishing events? Feedback greatly appreciated...

If you're interested in swishing check out http://www.swishing.org/ which has tips and listings of events near you.

peeps.org - fall collection

OMG. Just checked my inbox and I had an email from peeps.org voicing news of their new fall collection. I'm SO excited about this range and thought I'd post about it so you can get excited too! Check out these glorious pictures for your fix of tassles, grommets, knots and ropes...