Dress-up: Re-inventing my wardrobe

This is the kind of post that only comes about after having spent a fair few days at home just pottering about. It’s involved some fairly awkward posing and a realisation that I think I may have to start ironing my clothes (one outfit was disqualified from this post simply because it was so crinkly).

If you’ve been reading this blog, you know that we’re avid fans of Pinterest. I’ve been collecting inspiring outfit ideas for ages now, and one day opened this page full of ideas as well as my wardrobe and started to think how I could recreate what I see on screen in real life with things I ALREADY HAVE. No purchasing needed but a frugal exercise in money saving.

We all (I assume) have moments when we stand in front of a bulging wardrobe and think: I have nothing to wear. However it’s amazing what you can rustle up when you have something to be inspired by. Here’s a couple examples (enter cringey face for posing:/)

I bought these trousers couple years ago and just haven’t been able to make them work. However, I love them paired with this loose top (50p from a charity shop – love a bargain) and CONVERSE. I would have never thought about pairing them with trainers (they’re silky flimsy material). Anyway, a winner combo in my books and beyond comfortable.

I found this trench from my parents house and love it, but would only wear it with workwear or for smarter occasions. Having seen it dressed down I needed to give it ago. This is where it’s useful to be married to an ex-hipster (stuck in the early 2000’s). One of his old band t-shirts paired with black skinny jeans (ps. the most useful thing to own) and the trench is ready for casual outing.

So if you find yourself at home with nothing to do I highly recommend raiding through your wardrobe and discovering what you already own. And when there’s a need for new – this quote is a good one to remember.

– Hanna x

Dress Up: Small Earth Vintage

Be warned: If you have a weakness for pretty vintage things look away NOW.

I remember when I was little and I thought all I need to be happy was some pink glitter jelly sandals (turns out they’re back in?),  or a Barbie, or blonde hair, or a Baby G watch, or some Doc Martins, or TV Hits Magazine, or a boyfriend… Today, all I need to be happy is one of these little numbers from Small Earth Vintage Clothing. 

 

 

 

Small Earth Vintage Clothing,  you could get me in an awful lot of trouble… but the kind of trouble I like!

Happy browsing, shopping, coveting.

x Celeste

 

Dress Up: Blitz Party

 It looks as though I’ll be heading to the Blitz Party on Saturday in Shorditch which I’ve heard is absolutely amazing. Check out the pictures and video! So FUN! Here is hoping that I don’t get forced to dance because pretty much my dancing ability is limited to the ‘Chicken Dance’ … I do do a mean ‘Chicken Dance’. Memories of ‘The Cat’s Meow’ clearly still haunt me!

Boys are fine, they’re set, all they need is a bow tie, hat and suspenders … sorted! Unless they go for a uniform.. which is never a let down!  For the ladies it is not so simple, hence mad pinterest, google and tutorial searches have ensued.

 For some seriously sweet hair tutorials from Sunnie Brook. Now if only I could get my face to look like hers too! Serious hottie!

Make up Bake up has heaps of ideas for vintage makeup and dressing.

Now all I have to do is figure out what dress! In dream land I would get this little Bettie Page number but I am broke as back mountain so looking for lovely things I already have!

 I will have to choose one of these beauties! They will more than do.

Now I am ready to be blitzed … wait, that sounds weird.

x Celeste

Dress up: Autumn boots…

For the last few mornings there has been a distinct crisp Autumn breeze in the air. There’s something bittersweet about the fresh mornings and changing season. I find that kissing goodbye to long summer days and welcoming Autumn in is so much easier when your feet are nice and warm… In honour of that I’ve rounded up some of my favourite wellington boots to brighten up those rainy Autumn days.

Hunter boots. One day I will dig deep and get myself a pair of these old time classics. You just can’t beat a classic.

Tretorn. This tennis brand does great shoes. I’ve had a pair of their trainers for years and like the look of their simple wellies too.

Hai (shark in Finnish) rubber boots were around decades ago in Finland and in the recent years they were brought back with great success. I love my pair that I’ve had for 7 years now (and they’re still going strong!)

Here’s for keeping our feet dry this Autumn!

 

-Hanna

Dress Up: Tie Dye

One of my old boyfriends told me how disgusting he thought tie dye was and that I definitely wouldn’t fancy me if I wore it. I think that, while making me entirely livid, subconsciously I must have listened to him cause I haven’t really touched it since …

Until now baby!

Just in time for the end of the summer and during this mini heat wave I have become totally smitten with light fabric and tie dye. I am going mad for it … Look out world, if you see an entirely tie dye clad vision in front of you it’s me!

A quick little ‘Tie Dye’ search on asos brought out these beauties.

And for the mans! (the one on the right looks like he needs a hamburger maybe?)

This little number I can’t seem to stop wearing is available in the Urban Outfitters sale HERE for £10. (at least it was when I posted!)

– Celeste xx

Dress Up: eBay all the way

The other day my friend Simon, Sarah’s Simon, had a very cool vintage western embroidered shirt. I decided that one needed to be in my life and it turns out it was found on eBay. So, after searching ‘vintage embroidered western shirt’, I accidentally won this little denim number. By accidentally I mean frivolously bidding convinced that I will be beaten. Oops. But then £4 isn’t all that much to feel guilty about. So today’s dress up suggestion, get yourselves involved in some eBay bidding, you won’t regret it. Wait, that’s a lie, it is entirely possible that you will regret it. Happy bidding!

Side note: When you are the highest bidder it says that you ‘won’ which makes it feel like it is free. I trick myself. It’s always a good feeling to win something!

p.s. Check out the cute embroidery on the collar. Swoon! 

– Celeste xx

Dress Up: Red Hat No Knickers

So I go through stages where I am completely obsessed, talking like a pirate, ‘The Killing’, eating kiev’s, sparkling water, ‘The Bachelorette’, Chai tea, snickers, old lady blouses and baking.

Lasting from a few days/weeks to a lifetime obsession, i.e. Kiev aka love of my life!

My latest obsession is proving dangerously expensive.

A few weeks ago we mentioned ‘Red Hat No Knickers’ in our Friday Finds. A vintage online store full of ‘one of a kinds’ and reasonably priced… except if you buy an unreasonable amount of things!!!

And now for some show and tell!

I love the little gems I got.. and I am pretty sure I’ve eaten kiev in each of these items.

You just can’t beat kiev. Don’t judge me.

‘Howdy Mam!’ A snazzy vintage cowboy shirt.. I love it. 

Hawaiian shirt dress.

Vintage silk cut-out blouse with gold buttons. So lovely!

Vintage Summer Dress. The colour is so jolly!

A vintage, doilie, granny blouse. I am a sucker for anything that resembles a doilie!

And I am not even sure how you spell doilie! If you look carefully you can see a little pimple on my chin, so don’t look carefully.

– Celeste x

THIS WEEKEND: A Few Finds

Happy Friday friends,

This weekend we thought we share with you the pearls from our perusals, for you to browse over the weekend:

Be still my heart, the new M.Ward album is out! http://www.mwardmusic.com

As is volume three of the delicious kinfolk magazine, celebrating food, friends, simplicity… Ahhh.. http://www.kinfolkmag.com

I couldn’t quite find the right veil on my wedding day, but a little too late I found it here (amid a million older wedding related delights): http://www.bhldn.com/shop%5Fthe%2Dbride%5Fveils%2Dheadpieces/mantilla%2Dveil

Wise and witty prescriptions from the good doctor: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seuss-isms-Dr-Seuss-Dr/dp/0001720341

Have a brilliant weekend!

Hanna, Celeste & Sarah

Dress up: Back to school… Or NOT!

Since leaving school I’ve never been one to pull off a good backpack/rucksack. They just never seemed to go with anything I was wearing and made me feel sporty (which I’m not) or childish (so silly).

This all changed when I got this great Fjällräven backpack. I had been eyeing one out for years and, finally, this summer I grabbed one from the sales. It’s such a good size, not too small but equally not too big, making it a perfect day bag! Somehow it doesn’t make me feel like I’m trying to be something I’m not and looks good even when wearing a dress and little pumps. AND it’s so practical (something I’m not used to with my accessories!)

I never knew this prior to purchase, but these Fjällräven bags come with a loyal following – I’ve had many nice little chats with strangers who share this love for these funny square bags.

With my new found backpack love, my eyes have been opened to a whole new world of cool rucksacks. Here’s a few of my faves from Ally Capellino.

A good backpack is a great excuse to have lots of fun day trips this Spring! 🙂

–Hanna

Dress Up: On Finding the Perfect Leather Jacket…

I’ve never been a leather jacket kinda gal until one fine evening a few years back, when I won one on a university raffle. Yes, you heard right, a raffle! Until then my biggest raffle win had been a tin of soup (why would anyone even do that?? It’s a big fall from “YOU WON!” to “It’s a can of soup!”). Anyway, this particular evening I won a leather jacket (originally from the high street shop Mango) that instantly made me a wannabe biker girl. I’ve found that the joy of a leather jacket is that, as time goes by, the leather just keeps getting softer and the jacket just keeps looking better. The creases and wear just add to the appeal. I guess that’s why it’s an investment (in my case a £1 well spent). If you choose to get a timeless leather jacket, you have a go-to piece of clothing for a long, long time (unless you have a tendency to loose things).

A top tip for those thinking of getting a leather jacket. Buy a snug fitting one. My jacket is probably a size smaller than I would have gone for, had I bought it myself, but it’s turned out to be a perfect fit (well.. zipping it up is a big no no though :)). I like to wear it over a roll neck cardigan or a hoodie -depending on the occasion. It’s a perfect jacket when going out to the pub or on a date. Can’t go wrong really.

If you have a Perfect Leather Jacket or have tips on where to get one – share the love! I think everyone needs to embrace their inner biker girl and get one – even if you wear your PLJ with flowery dresses like me!!

– Hanna