Browsing Tag

Irregular Choice

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Floppy hats and bell bottoms

April 14, 2014

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I’ve always thought the 70’s got too much of a bad rep. Yeah, sometimes the home decors were a bit too brown and some clothes a bit over the top and in a bad way. I still don’t think we should throw away a whole decade because of a few faux pas. I mean, why do we think we are so stylish? I always wonder what our descendants will say about the see-through legging trend… I sincerely think it’s a lot worse than many of the 70’s styles. When I look at the Cholas by Irregular Choice (worn below), all I can think of is 70’s. Look at them and at the amazing shoe adverts below. Aren’t they amazing?

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PicMonkey Collage

PicMonkey Collage

PicMonkey Collage

PicMonkey Collage

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To what I believe was my workmates amusement and giggles, I wore this 70’s style ensemble to the office, complete with the I-can-barely-walk shoes. I still like the outfit though… Mind you that I had to keep the hat in place with my hand as the wind never stopped. I realized that is why I rarely wear it!

Details: Hat – H&M (also worn here), Shirt – Stradivarius, Furry vest – Primark (also worn here), Green Jumper – Zara, Cords – Vintage White Tab Levi’s, inherited from my great aunt, Bangles – Poundland (classy, I know), Bag – traditional “choukaras” bag from Morocco worn as a clutch, Shoes – “Cholas”, by Irregular Choice

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There’s a funny story about this bag. When I went to Morocco I decided I wanted to try and find a bag just like the one I’d been playing with at my grandparent’s when I was a kid. It was a bag someone had brought back from Morocco for my Mum back in the 60’s but somehow I have no idea what happened to it. It didn’t take too long. One day as I was walking down the souk I found it and of course, I had to get it.

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Yup, they’re real white tab Levi’s.

How about you? Do you like 70’s style?

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It’s crazy clown time

April 7, 2014

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A couple of weekends ago I went to Nottingham and saw that the circus was in town. Obviously it had to be the backdrop for an impromptu photoshoot, as I know that many of my blogger friends love the circus theme as much as I do. It was called American Circus but according to the mixed licence plates I saw, it was anything but American, only the decoration! anyway, I had to have a little wander and see the trailers and trucks. Nothing like some decorated trucks to cheer oneself up, especially if Clint Eastwood and Pam Anderson are on them.

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Outfit details: Leopard Coat – Stradivarius (old), Dress – H&M (via Ebay), Boots – Irregular Choice, Cat BagElla Goodwin Illustration on Etsy, Hello Kitty Bag – Present from the lovely Suzanne, Turtleneck – Orla Kiely x Uniqlo, Cat Necklace– C/o Accessorize My Outfit, Sunglasses – H&M (from a trip to New York)

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As the sun decided to leave, we left as well. Those were a fun few moments!

I’m joining all the lovely ladies over at Visible Monday, it’s only right.

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Things I’m Doing

November 8, 2013

I haven’t been feeling fantastic this week so I thought I’d do something different and easier to write that I thought could be fun. I hope you enjoy it. I’m adding an old outfit that I found in my hard drive. I can only take decent outfit photos on weekends now, it’s too dark when I get home from work!

(Idea stolen from Xandra at Fashionably Light)

Making: Handmade wrapping paper this Christmas.

Cooking: Nothing. I don’t cook much these days.

Drinking: Rooibos tea out of a stripy XL mug.

Reading: The Juliette Society by Sasha Grey.

Wanting: to sleep better.

Looking: For more shoes.

Playing: Air guitar.

Wasting: Time watching Netflix.

Sewing: I can only hope.

Wishing: for my Christmas holiday to come quick.

Enjoying: La Luz – Brainwash.

Waiting: for my pink Fuji Instax Mini 8 to arrive.

Liking: Capes. Lots of them.

Loving: My husband. More and more each day. <3

Hoping: To go to London soon.

Marveling: At the kindness of people.

Needing: A massage and my husband’s cooking.

Smelling: Nice.

Wearing: My pjs.

Following: Girl with the Flower.

Noticing: the days getting shorter and colder. Bring on Spring!

Knowing: That I am happy.

Thinking: About not buying clothes next year.

Bookmarking: Fantastic shoe lacing methods. It’s the details!

Opening: My mouth in a big yawn!

Giggling: At cat memes. I’m so predictable.

Feeling: Very tired but happy.

(outfit details: Coat – New Look (swap with Lili), Breton Shirt – Zara Lefties, Apple Belt – some closing down sale in Lisbon, Cardigan – H&M, Tulle Skirt – Ebay, Pink Beret – Betsey Johnson, Tights – Primark, Shoes – Irregular Choice, via Ebay.)

Have a lovely weekend!

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Night at the Bowling Alley

October 11, 2013

Last week my friend David was visiting as he always does every 3 months (he works for the same company in Lisbon and has to come in regularly for meetings) and I thought we should do something different. As I’ve only been bowling once before, it could be a fun experience. I was right and we both had a great time at Tenpin in Grantham.

We went in, bought a few games, got our special bowling shoes and after a few Big Lebowski jokes – talking like Jesus, the John Turturro character and pretending to polish our bowling balls – we got to play. As we are no pros, we played it with the barriers up so that makes it easier – at least the chances of actually hitting something are higher.

Strike! (I wish)

Picking a bowling ball for me is really easy – being petite (the nice way of saying I’m a hobbit) means I can’t lift the heavier ones, not to mention throwing them down the bowling alley.

We were very well treated by the staff, who were extremely nice and courteous. We even got the manager to explain the rules of scoring, about which we were very confused!

Outfit details: Braided Headband – H&M, Angora Cropped Cardigan – H&M (via Ebay), Dress – Target (from one of my Florida expeditions), Shoes – Irregular Choice, Bowling Ball – Tenpin’s own.

After 3 games of bowling we decided we still wanted to have more fun and played Dance Dance Revolution. For those who have no idea what it is, I’ll explain: You have a screen and a panel on the floor with “sensitive” tiles (they feel you stomping on them , the poor things). You have to listen to the music and follow the cues given on the screen of which tiles you should be stepping on. We danced to Billy Ocean and Duran Duran as they seemed to be the most mellow songs on there. Being totally unfit and inexperienced, we figured it would be the safest choice. Nonetheless we had a laugh playing it and I can tell you it was a proper workout. I’m not surprised that some of my friends use their home versions to do some cardio exercising. I can tell you it’s a lot more fun than the gym! Maybe I should get myself one too…

Do you go bowling often? How about Dance Dance Revolution, have you tried it yourself?

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My Style Evolution

September 20, 2013

I’ve been thinking about why I dress the way I do. I tend to over analyse things so it comes as no surprise.

When I was a kid I mostly wore what my parents/ grandparents bought me. When I got to around age 10 I started enjoying picking my own clothes. Then something happened: my parents made me go to a private school, which wouldn’t be too much of a problem if it wasn’t for the fact that I had to wear a uniform. For those who don’t know, only private schools have uniforms in Portugal unlike say, the UK.

Look at it: isn’t it the most hideous thing ever? I should add that 20 years ago when I left the school we didn’t have the ill-fitting blazers. Gives me the chills to think that I had to wear this horrendous outfit for 7 years of my life…

Wearing a uniform in school was a traumatizing experience. On weekends I’d have to try and make do with the clothes available and it was difficult- I didn’t like what the preppy/posh girls in my school wore and the concept of high street back then was unheard of. I wanted something else (by this time, at around 14 years old I was listening to Post Punk and the such) but nothing that was available to be bought really fitted the bill. Really frustrating and the reason why there are so little photos of when I was a teenager – I tore up all those photos because I didn’t recognize myself in them. It wasn’t who I was or saw myself as inside. Around 15 I sometimes jazzed the uniform up with heavy metal tees and Dr Martens boots. It wasn’t popular with the teachers but sort of kept my sanity. (or maybe not…)

I have to say that things got a little bit better around 16/17 years when I discovered I liked old clothes from my grandmother’s closet and actually moved to a very artistic high school (no uniform, yay!). Although I wasn’t comfortable with the more feminine styles I enjoyed rummaging my grandmother’s closet and soon discovered there were more old clothes at the flea market. I remember I bought a Pierre Cardin jacket that I never wore, at the time was a bit too bold and I couldn’t work it into the more boyish looks I was wearing back then. I wish I still had it today though, I’d totally rock it!

In the late nighties, early noughties I went to uni and found that my dad also had a closet full of his 70’s garb. I wore his bell bottoms thin and still own some of his bike riding leather jackets. How he fitted into those things it’s something I’ll never understand! A few years later I discovered I was ready to start wearing garments that were a bit more feminine and started experimenting with skirts and dresses a bit more. I think that up until then you’d never catch me in a skirt unless it was my school uniform.

Here are some of my looks from 2007. That was the first time I ever bleached my hair. I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the haircut but it was still fun. It’s true when they say blondes have more fun. That blue dress was a St Michael vintage number and I think I don’t have it in Lisbon anymore as it was a bit too big. I kind of regret it now, it’s so cute and it doesn’t look that big on the photo, come to think of it. I still have the Zara gold dress and the vintage yellow shirt though. I think that I’ve had more or less the same style since this time, although I think I am a bit more adventurous these days. Having moved to England made me feel freer as in my home city people tend to be a little bit too conservative (and very rude about it). Plus there is a lot more access here to great stuff either vintage or second hand!

I believe that this is probably the main reason why these days I enjoy having fun with clothes so much. And this is me now, with confidence in spades!

Details: Turban– present from my friend Maud, Bedazzled T-shirt – Zara (on sale, on my trip to Belgium), Mustard Bolero – H&M (thrifted in Stamford), Red Shorts – H&M (via Ebay), Shoes – Blythe by Irregular Choice (via Ebay), Tights – Primark

What now? I feel like I will be experimenting for a while longer and getting inspired by other lovely ladies. But sometimes I do feel a bit tired. It might not seem like it but styling yourself everyday can be hard work. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll settle down with the likes of Peter Hahn or some other grown up and proper brand. For now, I’m enjoying this ride, for as log as I feel like it.