You were sorta punk rock, I grew up on hip hop

So stressed with uni work at the moment- just one more intense week until my main module is due in - ew!

I helped out my housemate Rosie with her fashion/textile portfolio work the other day. Rosie’s live project in industry was to design a wellie print. As the genius she is, as no one came up with this idea in her class, was to put together a lookbook. The theme for the lookbook was a music festival- so as the kind, amazing friend I am- of course, I raided my wardrobe and stood in the cold for her. The main idea was to Photoshop the prints onto the wellies after.

Pure dedication to my friend as 1. It was freeeeezing, 2. The field (known as “the racecourse”) had about 6 football matches on at the same time- embarrassing and 3. You can find some odd things in that grass, which I happily rolled around in!

Here are some cheeky snaps from the shoot.

I’m in love with this chiffon shirt from Topshop which has a cute cut out on the back- but you can’t see sadly in the photos…

Shorts- vintage, belt- vintage, headband- Topshop, Tights- Marks & Spencer, Wellies- Hunter, Leotard- American Apparel

This festival theme has really made me want to go to one this summer- then again I am going to Thailand (*cough* brag much)- suppose you can’t do it all!

Charlotte x

check out Rosie’s work: www.rosieashley.com

Christmas goodbyes

Wow, how fast did Christmas go? I literally feel like it lasted for a few hours, suppose its only 361 days until next Christmas- yes I’m sad!

So anyway after the wonderful celebrations, alcohol guzzling and “Man v Food” consumption I’m ready to do some (dare I say) Uni work! But before I start posting some of my work up (well decide to do some to then actually have something to blog about) I thought I would do an outfit post… Boxing day I hit the sales with my brother (tradition me and him have going every year) and spend all our Christmas cash- Yes I had all my vouchers and money for less than 24 hours and it was all spent on the trip, what can I say a girl likes to spend! I’m a quick thinker when it comes to shopping, especially when there's sales. I literally spend 10 minutes in a shop and walk out with 5 different item- there is no faffing about when Miss Eastwood purchases- some may say problem, I say hobby.

Anyway I bought some beautiful shoes from Topshop in the sale reduced from £68-35- absolutely wonderful bargain! I decided to wear them when we had family over to show them off, I didn’t actually have this hat on but thought I would show it off because I think it’s cute and my mum bought me it in the sales.

Skirt- ASOS, Jacket- Oasis, Denim Shirt- Gone Retro, Hat- Marks and Spencer, Racoon fur collar- eBay

How cute are the shoes? I always think a bar across gives you that little extra support to help your feet last that little bit more on the dance floor.

Bow- hand made onto a pin, Necklace- H&M

Good Luck hitting the sales girls, beware of the pushers and ridiculous queues!

Charlotte x

My secret love

I went to an all girls high school where it was only cool to wear Miss Sixty Jeans and Juicy tracksuits at the age of thirteen. Well I never wore Miss Sixty jeans because I was such a skinny mini and couldn’t fit into them. I also didn’t wear a pink Juicy Couture tracksuit that said “Juicy” across the bum because my mum thought they were tacky, which at the time I was a little miffed about this because I wanted to fit in-BUT oh my gosh Thank you mum for teaching me this- THEY ARE HIDEIOUS! (I understand we all have different opinions on this- but to me they scream tacky).
So anyway my point to this short story is that me and my mum have had this unhealthy obsession for going to Marks and Sparks for coffee and cake with a cheeky shop around the clothes- We have been doing this since forever. So instead of following the Miss Sixty and Juicy Couture craze when I was younger- we would explore else where and find better things. One place being Marks and Spencer. Which to a lot of teenagers is seen as “un-cool” but I have always had a love for this place. I seem to find the odd wonderful thing there, from the tights, underwear, the odd pair of summer sandals and heels, obviously the food and home wear- but my favourite being the Limited Collection section.
I don’t care what people say or how some people my age turn their noses up at the brand- I LOVE IT. I always get compliments when I wear something from there and people are shocked I found the clothes at M&S when they say; “OOO nice dress, where's it from?”- seriously go have a look in there, stop been such a Topshop Junkie- its all about VARIATION!!!!

Photos before I went out to meet my girls for drinks in Harrogate, wearing my new Marks and Spencer coat- Limited Collection. I adore it, it’s warm yet thin and its very well made, so worth the £85

Also when purchasing the coat and faffing about at Marks and Sparks with my mum, she was wearing some gorgeous patterned tights- yes my mum is probably one of the most well dressed mummys I know (not being biased). She was telling me about how she's really into them and I should get into them myself, so she picked out this pair of stocking like tights… bit racy I know- who cares, Love them!

Dress: Motel rocks, Ankle boots: Topshop, Necklace: Urban Outfitters

Enjoy,

Charlotte xx

Sequin Shorts and Shiny All Sorts

I always enjoy returning home from university to packages addressed to me. Especially when I have had a stressful day in the machine room to find an ASOS package makes my mood just that little bit better…well to be fair I usually beam with happiness when receiving online clothes purchases- which seems to be an unhealthy habit of mine.

 Not only do I have an unhealthy online shopping addiction- I adore purchasing jewellery. From statement necklaces, to vintage dress rings, to strange animal/bug like jewellery! Yes bug jewels- I own a pair of Green fly earrings- some may think weird- I think genius!
So last weeks delivery consisted of a pair of multi-coloured sequined high waist hot pants from RARE. At first I thought they looked like a bedazzled nappy- but as soon as I slipped them on I thought wow these make me feel fab! I would never wear them without black tights as I cringe at the sight of bum check creases on show as this is very tacky! So keep it clean girls!

I paired the outfit up with my clogs- well I like to think they are better than clogs as they make me feel about 6ft tall!
THE JEWELLERY! I added my cheap Primark £2 bangles with my leopard and zebra print bracelet which I have had since I was 14! My H&M owl ring and  a skull ring from the local vintage shop in Northampton- Most Marvellous Place to Shop. Finally I added one of my most favourite pieces of jewellery which is a statement necklace from the John Lewis Vintage jewellery section. My parents bought me this when they came to visit as  a treat- yes I ended up picking the most expensive piece with fossils in- but who could blame me? To me its beautiful- but really heavy may I add!


I wore the shorts with a plain black body from H&M, black chiffon Valentino top and black tights with massive ladders up each leg at the back from Marks and Sparks (yes the ladders are supposed to be there).

As you can tell by the last image I was a very happy chap with my ASOS purchase… So maybe when your feeling down just try a bit of online retail therapy- the anticipation of it arriving is always a mood lifter!
Charlotte x
(Photos taken by the wonderful and talented Miss Rosie Ashley- follow her on http://rosie-thejourneyofme.blogspot.com/)