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River Island

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Pastels – How to Wear Spring

February 3, 2014

I’ve complained before that I tend to wear too much dark or bright colours. When I was challenged to try the Fondant Pastels S/S14 trend by Most Wanted, the lifestyle magazine from the UK’s #1 voucher site, VoucherCodes.co.uk, I said yes, please.

I was given a budget of £80, to spend on the high street and get as many discounts as possible, using vouchers or shopping the sales. I then had to combine the acquired items with my already existing wardrobe and come up with a few looks, wearing the pastel trend my way. I managed quite a few key items as not only I found pieces that were already on sale but I also applied an extra 20% discount voucher at ASOS.

The first look I did was totally girly girl and perfect for the weekend. I had this adorable mint coloured mini cape in my closet for years. I bought it in Lisbon years ago but never got around to wearing it. Now I have other stuff to wear it with, as I never really wanted to pair ir with dark clothes.

Moz, always close to my heart.

Chunky Beret HatASOS (£5.00), Mint Mini Cape – H&M, Long Sleeve Pink Top – Primark, Morrissey Necklace – Spitalfields Market in London, Cambray SkirtAmerican Apparel via ASOS (£35), Tights – H&M, Pink Polkadot Shoes – Irregular Choice (via Ebay)

I thought I’d make another look with the skirt as it is a very versatile item – I suspect I’ll be living in it over the warmer months! This time I thought I’d add a splash of neon, which is an option if pastels are too bland for you.

Perfect outfit to go out touristing, so comfy!

Head Band – Gingham fabric from local fabric store, Cambray Skirt – American Apparel via ASOS (£35), Ribbed Crop Top – H&M (via Ebay), Long sleeve Top – Primark, Camera – Fuji Instax, Camera Bag – Ebay, Shoes – Springfield, Neon $ BeltRiver Island, via ASOS (£3.00)

This is the naughty secretary/ librarian look. The look of the kind of girl that looks very innocent in her saccharine coloured outfits and black rimmed glasses but it’s only just deceiving (I digress and no, I’m not talking about me).  The chain for the glasses will be a practical and welcome addition to my working apparel and more so if I really was a librarian.

A pair of coral flats tie the whole outfit together.

Just a little detail of the beautiful deer ring my friend Ohlalali gave me last year. It’s from Irregular Choice and I think about her when I wear it.

“Which documents should I be filing next?”

Oui/Non Glasses Chain ASOS (£2.50), Tights – Ebay, Pink Bow Playsuit ASOS (£18.00), Shirt – Thrifted in Florida (cost me a dollar or so), Coral FlatsTimeless via ASOS (£10.00)

The last look is an evening look. I don’t really do the shorter than short skirts and the towering high heels when I go out (I want to be able to walk back home haha) but I do the glitz.

 “It’s too cold outside, I want to stay here, wrapped up in my coat”

White Furry Coat – Ebay, Pink LurexDressMiss Selfridges (£22.00), Tights – H&M, Shoes – Springfield.

As you can see, you can spice up your wardrobe with the latest trends as there are loads of bargains to be found. Don’t forget to check vouchercodes.co.uk for extra discounts, as there are always new discounts and promotions being added.

PS: Post made in collaboration with vouchercodes.co.uk

PS 2: photos by Filipa. Thanks to Rebeca for helping out!

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It all happened at the office party

December 27, 2013

This year I attended not one but two office parties, to contrast with previous years, that I attended none.

Like I mentioned before, I was sent to the office party in Lisbon, under the theme Dinner with the Addams Family. I had to dress up, of course and given my already existing wardrobe, I picked Wednesday Addams.

The event was held at a very beautiful old palace, with lots of trompe l’oeil on the walls as well as hand painted tiling, that was built in the 16th century. What a lovely place!

We also had a photobooth and the zombie girls made an appearance!

So did Freddy Kruger, who won best costume of the night.

We rock ‘n’ rolled all night and partied every day.

The second party I attended was last weekend, back in England. This time the theme was Fire and Ice. It was a pleasant evening, especially because some of my friends from the Lisbon office were also there. I went home early though and that was a good idea as it seems that after a certain time a few people drank too much and caused a disturbance.

I even had a spot of dancing! How unusual, these days.

I found this beautiful dress at the River Island website when I was researching some unexpensive dresses for an article at work. I was smitten and attending this party was the perfect excuse to actually buy it. It was reduced from £110 to £60 and it was money well spent, as it feels so luxurious and vintage. I feel like I’m in the Great Gatsby!

Great movement!

I think I finally managed the smokey eye makeup, thanks to youtube. (headband – Dorothy Perkins, earrings – Internacionale)

I hope you are having a great festive season. Thanks for looking!

 

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A little bit of soul

April 22, 2013

Maelcum Soul is an obscure character that I found out about in John Waters’ book Shock Value (I’ve written about it here). She was one of the original Dreamlanders (the group of people that participated in the making of John Waters’ films) and a great influence on him. ‘The descriptions on his book made me want to look her up as she sounded like a true original.

Maelcum Soul was her real name, and I was in total awe of her, until she dropped dead of old age in her twenty-seventh year, in 1968. Maelcum was the most astonishing bohemian I’ve ever known, and she influenced my twisted vision of how women should look more than any film, book, or painting. She was Baltimore’s top artist’s model and hostess/barmaid in the best bar in town – Martick’s. Maelcum’s everyday life was a self-promoted confrontation with the world. She’d walk down the street, and a riot would break out. She had maroon hair, wore chalk-white face powder, ten pairs of fake eyelashes, and more eye makeup than any girl has ever worn anywhere in the United States. Her trademarks were the eight-point star she drew on her cheek and the gobs of glue she used to fasten her spit curls to her face. Her clothes were the most theatrical imaginable, and she looked like this every day, every hour. She was a woman female impersonator. Only twice did I see her without her “look” and that was deep in the private bowels of her home. I was shocked to see how normal she looked underneath this incredible disguise.

– Waters, John, Shock Value 

Wouldn’t you want to see what she looked like after all this?  This was a lady that did vintage before vintage was mainstream and dared to go out to the pharmacist in green face make up. Crazy? Maybe a little, who knows? One thing is certain, this was creativity, this was art.

I researched it online and couldn’t find many photos but the few I did (and the ones on the short video on the bottom of this post) give an  idea of her style and beauty. She was taken from this world at a young age and in a tragic way. I thought I’d put a little outfit together inspired by her – it’s my little tip of the (floppy) hat to another creative soul.

“Follow No-one, Look Amazing”

Outfit details: Dress – H&M (via Ebay), Floppy hat – H&M (I brought it from Portugal, not very practical when you’re flying!), Flower belt – H&M (from the sale items I got last Thursday), Bracelets – River Island (got them the first time I went to Nottingham after I moved to England), Shoes – Irregular Choice (via Ebay)

I’m linking this up to Patti’s Visible Monday as there is nothing that makes anyone more visible than their creativity and personality (a big floppy hat also helps).

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Growl, says the leopard.

April 19, 2013

I dread the day I have a job that makes me tone down on my style. Today’s theme is leopard. I love leopard print and I have it in all forms – tights, shoes, jackets, dresses, knickers, you name it. If you have been following this blog for a while, you may have noticed it (except for the knickers). So here’s 2 outfits that have 2 things in common: the use of leopard print and the fact that the photos were snapped on my lunch break, by Frankie.

Details : Shoes – Jeffrey Campbell, Clutch – Vintage Fenwick, Dress– H&M, Angora Jumper – French Connection, all via Ebay. Coat – Bershka, Socks – retail.

And for some silly jumping photos:

Details: Shoes – River Island, Skirt – H&M, both via Ebay. Jumper – ASOS, Bag – Target, Hat – Dorothy Perkins, Shirt – George, Leopard Cape – C/o Mod Dolly.

How about you? Do you have to dress differently for work?