Selly Oak for the weekend

I have no idea why I haven't been to visit my friend in Birmingham sooner as this weekend was brilliant!! Full of smiles, laughter, drunkenness, meal deals, attempting to bribe the cab driver, shocking faces as Black swan overwhelmed, forever 21 and some suspicious research in Hobbs (that poor shop assistant had no idea). All in all was perfect spending the weekend catching up with my amazing friend...

...Thankyou Sarahjane xx

So drink your coffee and catch your bus....

Mid-packing for my weekend trip to Birmingham, I decided to do a new look for lookbook. Whilst listening to a bit of Eskimo Joe, this was what I came up with. Unfortunately my weekend essentials wouldn't quite fit into my nan's old case so an alternative option is needed.

I shall be back to post about the trip.....

N.W.3

It's always a good sign of the start of a new project when the "research' aspect means an excuse to browse the shops, particularly when it means visiting new places. The new 'Niche Brands' project resulted in taking a trip to Oxford and carefully analysing the shop interior of the Hobbs store. N.W.3, my designated brand is the sub-brand of Hobbs, aimed at the younger, stylish lady. The look is very much British heritage style with layering and slim-fit tailoring;

Wandering around the streets of Oxford, there was a definate vibe that the town centres on the University, and prides itself of being the oldest college, with the perfect mix of ancient and modern. It was the cute and cluttered market stalls which I favoured though.

Camden Town

    "I wore my favouite leather camel jacket
You held my hand so tightly in my pocket
We jumped the train tracks and smoked cigarettes in Camden Town
    We ran the streets
We walked through outdoor markets
You lost your bus pass
I gave you my locket
We split a can of Shandy in the swamp in Camden Town
    I think you gave me my first French kiss
As I recall I didn't really like it
You made me a crown out of a daisy chain and pledged your love to me again and again
And again in Camden Town
    You got a fake tattoo of skull and cross bones
We bought a 10 quid bag of magic mushrooms
We at our fish and chips under the bridge in Camden Town
    We stole a key chain from a German tourist
I showed my scars
You showed me all your card tricks
We carved our names in a graffiti wall in Camden Town
    I think you gave me my first French kiss
As I recall I really think I liked it
You gave me a ring from a bubblegum machine and promised one day you would marry me
Marry me in Camden Town
    My brother told on me when I got back home
My mother said it's not where nice girls should go
And I got banned until all kingdom come from Camden Town
From Camden Town"


.....Song lyrics by Michelle Featherstone which describes perfectly the atmosphere of Camden.
With not having been to Camden for a couple of months, I was desperately seeking a craving! The perfect opportunity arose when my friend from Manchester (currently undergoing a graphic design placement in london) suggested we meet up for the day in Camden....I forgot just how much I love the place. If i had money to spare, there would have been no doubt that I returned to Rochester with a bag, or few bag loads of beautiful items, however I was only allowed to admire them in the shops as a certain New York trip is robbing my expenses (not that I'm complaining.) Anyway I have memorised a few, very important, items such as silver and turquoise stone ring, some black-chain wellington boots, ready for festival season, and a few vintage necklaces which I had my eye on. I will be sure to go back as soon as possible when that money tree in front of my window has fully blossomed.

Ultimate procrastination

Considering there is absolutely nothing to do in Rochester and the fact that I can't afford to go to London every day of the weekend, I thought I would do a new look for lookbook. I decided on this quite recent blouse from Topshop which, to be honest, I struggled with finding something to pair with. These old shorts came in handy though. The Trilby is my sale item from Urban Outfitters in Liverpool which I'm in love with and I think it may be glued to my head now. Please excuse the unexciting room though, this is what I have to put up with everyday and for £90 a week!!

Let me know what you think as I'm not completely sure about this pairing?

I will be back tomorrow to post about my trip to Camden :)

Tutankhamun

His tomb and his treasures....

I was luckily treated to the spectacular, Tutankhamun, exhibition in Manchester which was more incredible than I thought it would be. Usually museums are over-crowded, stuffy, and the objects set out in a way where you have no clue where and how to start exploring what the exhibition has to offer. Today this was far from....

With a pocket audio guide, which ironically makes you feel like you have come to the museum by yourself, was unexpectedly interesting. Visitors can come face to face with the 'wonderful things' described by Howard Carter, the discoverer, and understand his sense of wonder and amazement in a way that books, films or conventional museum displays alone can never do. Throughout my time there, I was intrigued, amazed, never bored and felt comfortable whilst wandering around the open spaces, coming across amazing artefacts and replicas.

Tutankhamun's gold mask is one of the best-known images on the planet, deeply embedded in the collective consciousness of billions of people. The exhibition explores his mysterious death, his legendary treasures and the famous curse of the pharaohs. Definitely an exhibition worth popping in to see!!

Here are a few of my favourite pieces;

And of course to end the day, a trip to tampopo, who finally have surrendered to the 2 for 1 vouchers.

Liverpool

Hey people!! Time for some new looks i think so it was off to Liverpool for a spot of shopping. I am actually a huge fan of Liverpool, particularly the shops. Home to some regular favourites, Urban outfitters and American Apparel and some others which I hadn't heard of before, it made a change to The Trafford Centre and Manchester. I found a few nice pieces in Zara but in one way or the other, just wasn't meant to be so I went onto Urban outfitters where I found these beauties; 

Also both sale items which I was very happy with :)

I struggled to decide which colour trilby to go for, the choice being this brown or a green colour however the brown seemed to suit my hair colouring better and also matched my current winter coat, somehow making me look like a little girl from a prep school with matching coat and hat, nevertheless I think I may just be in love with the hat.

Lots of thoughts

So...anyone excited at the thought of the new Transformers and Pirates of the Caribbean films coming out this year? Because I certainly am, especially when it means Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox getting involved  with a bit of American sci-fi action, and although not featuring Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom, Im sure Mr Depp won't fail to impress without them. I think this post can officially prove just how 'uncool' I am. I just can't hide my excitement unfortunately.

Just another thought;

With my quickly looming, 21st birthday I have been trying to come up with some ideas on what I want to do for it. Vegas is sadly out the question BUT as being a number one fan of the show, Cirque Du Soleil, a dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment, I am keeping a very close eye on their tour dates. These are the shows which I have seen so far, my favourite being 'Quidam' as It was very memorable. It was my birthday, the first time I had ever seen Cirque du soleil, and I even remember buying a diablo in the gift shop, after the show, as I recall saying to dad that I wanted to join the circus!! (sadly I never got that far)

Please, please whatever you do go and see Cirque du soleil sometime in your life, even if you are scared of clowns as these performers aren't even remotely close to resembling a circus clown!

Ben Sherman always on the mind

Ok so I have been slightly cooped up indoors for a few days now as I have been powering out some slightly overdue uni work. Also a good time to catch up on the addictive methods of blogging and posing for the world of lookbook. A few trend reports and magazine reports later, and I am now free to breath fresh air again and possibly a bit more sale shopping.

Anyway onto the look;

It is definitely true when I say that Ben Sherman is always on the mind, for me anyway as it is one of my favourite brands and it was a sad day when I discovered that they no longer sell womenswear in the Trafford Centre store. This was more to my brother's satisfaction as he used the opportunity to grab some bargains for himself and use my personal styling skills of course!!...to his advantage.

Ben Sherman trilby hat, Topshop heart shorts, River Island top and Zara cardigan. Let me know what you think of the look?

Nine

Today I found time to watch the sexy, sophisticated and stylish musical, Nine which somehow has etch-a-sketched its way into my mind. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis as the famous, Italian, film director Guido Contini who engages in complicated relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent and his mother. Also starring Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman and the never ageing Sophia Loren.

With a tasteful soundtrack and cleverly choreographed, its no wonder that Arthur Kopit's book was produced for the big screen. I especially enjoyed the display of beautiful costumes by Colleen Atwood, however most of the time, the cast are wearing nothing more than lacy corsets. This musical is definitely one to watch.

Here's how I spent the end of 2010

It is New Year's Day and now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual. This year however my resolution will be to not bother making new year resolutions as they are something which go into one year and out the other and I find that it's just a checkmark to find a flaw in oneself or just a form of torture such as giving up chocolate. Why give up something that you love? I am just going to keep smiling, have fun and be the same old me but a little bit older.

Goodbye 2010, you looked after me.

Here are my last moments of 2010, great company, great memories!

A perculiar memory at that...... remind me again why I found these hooks not just funny but hilarious?