cindy lou who... is that you?
Really... does anyone have an explanation for this bun monstrosity that is taking place on top of this girls head? It's almost too good to be true in its gravity defying complexity. It's one part messy bun and one part Dr Seuess insanity... really, how is it staying up there?! It is practically bigger than her entire head!
The only explanation is that this poor girl has dressed up as Cindy Lou from 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas'. However, despite my appreciation for all things involving holiday cheer... this is one step taken seriously too far.
Remove that monstrosity from your head poor girl, and we will all sleep better tonight.
dear girl in cheesecake factory...
I hope you find my blog (sorry I didn't write down the address... I am sure you will have probably forgotten it by now). Just incase though...
This is the t-shirt I was wearing.
It is from Alternative Apparel - which is officially my new favourite brand for t-shirts. They are so soft and drape really well. The burnout range is my favourite... it's so soft and you will never want to take it off. Also, I totally think they have all the benefits of super expensive t-shirt brands (like the much lusted after Alexander Wang ones) without the $100 a pop price tag.
Buy with caution though - they are seriously addictive.
Some mid-western style...
Men's fashion can be a tricky situation.
I ran into this guy in the parking lot of the mall... not your average mid-western buffalo check shirt combination. UGG boots, diesel jeans... it might all be interpreted as a little bit metro - but I've got to say I'm liking it. I love that red buffalo check shirt and I think it is working.
And then there was this little matching boy with him - identical buffalo check jackets...
So what do you guys think? Do you agree that the buffalo check is working? and do you think having a little mini-matching-me is okay? I think it is... especially during the holiday season (when a lot of normal no-no's don't apply... I was totally craving some plastic christmas tree earrings last week, sadly though, I couldn't find any).
Let's help blair...
Blair has declared that she is seriously lacking a fashion sense and wants help making these outfits more chic.
Blair, here are my recommendations for you...
Outfit #1. First of all Blair, ankle straps on shoes are a general no-no. They aren't flattering. It makes your leg look short, ok? Only wear them with trousers. Also, pointy toed shoes look pretty formal - like office formal... a rounded toe would work better with that outfit. The skirt is a decent shape on you (I feel like you could probably do better... but it's not bad). Also, you picked some nice colours - that sea green is working. But, it is pulling a little bit at the buttons and the white shirt sticking out the bottom looks pretty messy. I am going to assume the white shirt fits you well (meaning it doesn't pull at the buttons and gape when you move) so tuck it in and unbutton the cardigan. On closer inspection... I am unsure about the white shirt... I hope it doesn't have any obnoxious details... like a frill around the neck or some sort of light pattern on it? If it does... I don't like it at all. It needs to be a classic white shirt. (The key is to dress appropriately for the occasion... are you going to work? church? a kids birthday? I am confused... and that is really the first question you need to address when getting dressed). Also, get rid of that headband. It's cute, and I like it. But, you need to wear it with a sassy little black/red party dress - it doesn't work with that outfit. Put on some stud earings and a little charm necklace that hangs on a short chain.
Outfit #2.
That necklace looks like a dog collar and totally makes you look like you have no neck/chin. Take it off. I'm not sure about that cardigan... peasant bell shaped sleeves: generally pretty drab (especially when in knitwear and white... and worn with black suiting trousers). But I think there is some hope. Unbutton it and put a brighter colour tank top underneath with a nice scoop neck. I think that would help... but generally that cardigan isn't great - that shape scoop neck isn't entirely flattering - it's kind of awkward. Actually, the more I look at it the worse I think it is. On a positive note, the trousers are a nice shape on you - and I like the little leopard print pointy shoe poking out. That is pretty funky and looks cool. But the white cardigan just doesn't live up to the chicness of your bottom half. I think the central problem is that you need to get pieces that work for the right occasion... the top looks casual - maybe it would work over a little dress at the park in the summer - but it doesn't look very professional. Also, you really should pay attention to the fabric composition. Just from the photo it sort of looks like a cotton blend... something with a little silk will hang smoother and be generally more flattering. That is getting complicated though. For now, most importantly get rid of the necklace and open up that cardigan and put a little top underneath.
Outfit #3.
Lets start with the positives: you can pull off orange and the jeans are a nice shape on you. But, again... you look confused. You look casual from the ankles up and the pointy heels just really do not work. Let's be honest though - chunky knit sweaters should never have short sleeves... and to top it off it's pumpkin orange with a big fat roll neck. Oh Blair... why on earth did you buy that? Maybe on Thanksgiving or on Halloween (which is really the only time black and that shade of orange are acceptable)... but as a general rule - no. Ok, so the simplist solution is to take off that orange sweater. The jeans look good on you and I think just a simple black sweater with a scoop neck would be really nice and look totally chic and very put together. The head band is a little childish... I mean it's okaaay.... but personally I think you would look better without it. If you must keep the orange monstrosity wear it with darker straight jeans and maybe a long sleeve t-shirt that isn't black (like taupe maybe) and some more casual shoes, but that isn't really professional. Just a side note... tops that end at your widest point (straight across your hips) should generally be avoided - especially when in a bright colour like orange.
Outfit #4.
My favourite.
The blue is a great colour on you and the shape is very flattering. Simple and flattering... I think that is a rule to stick to. I would definitely swap the big earings for a long necklace - either a funky chunky one (maybe out of wooden beads) or a long chain with a pendant. Patterned tights are really in style at the minute - so also well done. Are those boots made out of a sort of stretchy fabric? If so, that is seriously ageing and should be avoided. I like that you've paired the dress with boots... but I am not entirely sure those are the best boots. Also, I think it might be nice to put on a dark grey cardigan that falls to about where your fingers are. That would add a bit of depth and interest to your sillhouette.
Blair, this is the challenge. Re-create the outfits according to the recommendations (as best as you can) and re-take the photos... I would be interested to see/hear what you think.
Anyone else have any ideas or suggestions for Blair?
Click here for her original post.
summertime...
Sadly, I haven't had any time to get new photos this week... I am locked into an essay nightmare that wont end until Monday. In the meantime though, here are some oldies that I snapped back in the summer. Hopefully it will remind you of warmer days and sunshine that were filled with less stress and more time outdoors with bare legs and tanned skin, rather than inside staring at essays... oh, well they remind me of that at least.
This guy is pretty rad, right? I am really feeling the whole retro hairstyle look at the moment. And I happen to know someone that wishes they could have tattoos like that (in their dreams at least).
Gladiator sandals. You don't normally see them on boys. I wonder if next summer they will have fizzled out, or be on everybody's feet - including the boys in our life. Personally, I would like to be the only person in my relationship wearing them...
Is it just me or does everybody seem to have tatoos on the outside facing bits of their arms/hands/fingers? Cheryl Cole, Joe off XFactor, Rihanna, Lindsay...
I initially thought Amy Winehouse. With the bare feet and beehive backcombed hairdo. But all the plasticy pink accessories are so not Amy. But it does remind me of another equally classy socialite...
Who likes to adorn herself in plastic pink paraphernalia.
I realize nothing truly horrible is happening... yet. Don't you just think the slightest gust of wind, or for that matter movement, would send that skirt northbound and we would all be able to see her knickers? Well, lucky for her she was well composed when I was around... but I'm sure a few people got a peek at her panties that day.
I like everything she's wearing. I'm just not sure if I like it all together. The boots are pretty fierce, as is the dress, jacket and bag, and her hair is looking pretty impeccable. But all that ethnic-y boho pattern and fringe and detail is just a bit much for my poor eyes. And what is with that bright green tie hanging down her back? Please tell me she is not wearing some sort of tie-tied jumper contraption. Yah, officially its all a bit too much.
Drinking wine and looking fine...
Red leather jackets. Is it a short-man complex that you try to over compensate with a wannabe macho, 'let me sell you something out of my boot', jacket? Red leather is almost always tacky and cheap. This is no exception. (He was wearing it with a red velvet shirt, by the way.)
Whoa now. If your going to wear a cutsie racer back pink top with frills down the back at least bother to wear the right sort of bra. And no, I'm not oblivious to the trend of showing off your bra in a sort of edgy bad girl way, I totally get that. Click here to see how it's done.
But this isn't working for her, she just looks tac-tastic.
Edwardian style in a velvet blazer.
Oh, this look really bugs me.
First of all, clearly this is not very warm - why would you want to have a quarter of your leg out when it's freezing outside? I am sure we have all been known to sacrifice warmth for style, so I could almost let her off the hook for that... almost.
Except that this is really ugly, so there really is no justification for it. Not only does it look stupid it's also unflattering because it cuts her leg into multiple segments making her look stumpy. It's not hot.
Bill Cosby sweaters anyone?
Don't, under any circumstance, wear nude tights with open toed shoes. Okay? Just don't do it.
Bad posture. Not hot no matter what you wear.
Floral jammy bottoms...
Oh, it's just painful. It really is.
I totally get comfort dressing. I also get that by Friday some of us are suffering a little bit and are ready for the weekend. But come on people, that does not make it okay to wear your wrinkled jammy bottoms out - with heels! Have a little self-respect for crying out loud, this is a serious problem.
The coat is adorable. It really is, the more I look at it the more I am loving it. The little black ankle boots are very cool too. So why, why, would you ruin something that was almost so good by leaving on your floral pajama bottoms (she better have left those on, because if she actually decided to put them on we are going to have a whole other issue to tackle).
Don't be so lazy people.
I get that it is just Starbucks, but it's still outside. Your local coffee shop isn't your kitchen, okay? Put on some jeans next time.
Or, if you want to be a lazy butt then stick on some sweats - but not with heels. That's just stupid.
People watching at Paddington
I am not a fan of pink suits. Although, it's nice to see some colour in the otherwise black parade of clothes at the minute. Regardless of my cravings for colour though I still think this is ugly. Pepto bismol anyone? Plus skirts that length are generally pretty unflattering.
The invisible mac.
These boots are giving me the willies. They look they they should be worn by an evil villain. The toe is too pointy and the heel is too spiky.
I like these shoes.
Everyone has an eco friendly extra bag these days, I would be lost and trying to lug around way too many spare things that don't fit in my normal bag if I didn't have mine.
Bare legs, long boots, short skirt. Not hot.
You don't see long coats that often, especially not camel ones. Maybe it's because they show creases so badly?
Turquoise outerwear and big earphones.
Green ballet flats and ripped up tights.
This lady is totally rocking that trench.
But, it always looks funny when people wear ridiculously high heels and try to cart around massive pieces of luggage.
Very cool little fold down bike, and plaid shirts with puffy vests.
Too tight tights.
If your tights start to stretch across your thighs so that they become sheer and a different colour than the rest of your leg... you know they are too tight.
Okay ladies? Let this be a lesson: beware of too tight tights.
And don't even get me started on that skirt.
Not necessary.
I'm not entirely sure why this situation is happening, for a lot of reasons.
Leopard print trilby. Multi-coloured hair. For her own sake I really hope those are extensions or attached to her hat. Polka dot scarf.
Less offensive is the combination of the aforementioned with a figure hugging red dress. Which, by the way, can I just say I have a real problem with dresses that have built in belts. See how it has little red loops at the waist with a built in (probably plastic) black belt. I just hate that, it always looks tacky. I may be the only person which has a problem with that though...
stripes...
asian girls always seem to be so stylish in their own individual and quirky kind of way. they really can wear the most random and bizarre things, and strangely get away with it. i know i am massively generalizing here... but nevertheless, i do think it's true. so when i stumbled across this website (http://www.yesstyle.com/en/home.html) - full of cute japanese girls in insanely reasonably priced clothes - i was kind of a sucker. i've really been craving some new striped tops recently. i think it has got something to do with a subconscious inkling, that's been harboring away within me for the past month, after i saw these photos on the sartorialist in october.
http:www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com
http://www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com
Basically, stripes are just wonderful - and I've had a serious craving for them lately.
So, when I saw these two tops - both which are under a tenner, I really couldn't resist.
I have no idea what they are going to be like. They are being shipped from Japan and only come in one size. Are they going to be tiny? Oh, I really hope not.
Anyway, keep your fingers crossed for me. Hopefully they will be fabulous... and, if nothing else they really just look so comfy.
p.s. i may slightly resemble a christmas candy cane in the second one - and i'm actually very excited about that.
i can't help it, i want fur.
I know PETA are against it, but is wanting fur really so bad?
I just do. I can't deny it anymore.
The Oxford uniform.
Puffy gilet, short denim skirt, leggings, ugg boots....
This is the most typical outfit on anyone aged 15-22 in this town. Everybody wears it, all the time.
I am so over it.