Harajuku Lovers Fragrance

I first saw this range of perfume by Gwen Stefani earlier this year whilst in New York and yes I have to say I fell in Love with the Harajuku bottles before I had even smelt the perfume! However, all five are equally cute and equally sweet both in design and smell. My friend Claire has now bought me my own little bottle of G for Christmas, I was defiantly torn between G and Baby but ended up with a miniature Gwen as she looked most like me! A huge thumbs up for smelling of coconuts and holidays all year round!

I ♥ my coat!

Stolen from my mum who found it in a charity shop for a mere £10 this coat now is being worn again by me! And I absolutely love it!!! Hopefully I can find someone to alter it soon as its set to be cold again and I will need its thickness!

Get your Faux Fur on!

Fur Hat Asos, Fur Scarf Topshop, Earr Muffs Accessorize, Waistcoat Miss Selfridges, Fur Coat Topshop, Fur Gloves Asos, PomPom Slippers Dorothy Perkins.

Where the Wild Things Are!

Having grown up with the book in pride of place in every children's library, I was so excited when I found out it was being made into a film. If you haven't seen it yet go see it! Heres the trailer...Loving the music by Arcde Fire!



The film really does inspire you to act crazy and run around the woods shouting and throwing mud...well maybe?
Anyway it inspired Stylist Karen Langley and Photographer Daniel Jackson to put together this photo-shoot for Dazed and Confused magazine.
New Years resolution - to own a Where the Wild Things Are Max's outfit! May we convince everyone that this is the new fashion forward thing to wear...

Dover Street Market vs Anthropologie

As a Fashion Student we are often recommended places to visit. Quite often we can't go hence the word Student being involved and our lack of money (yes a return ticket to London is £46!) However this week we drove up to London (£7 return) to visit these little fashion wonders of the world. Here's my review and comparison on both stores.

Dover Street Market

Our first visit was to Dover Street Market. I don't know what I was expecting (maybe an indoor market of fashion extravagance?) I did however go in with an open mind ready to expect anything, well it is the fashion world after all! However I left with a very closed mind and a distainful look upon my face!

If you previously read my Not a Brand Girl post you will probably have some kind of idea what your expecting, however the difference between the expensive designer stores is that they are expensivly put together and displayed! We can usually tell that this is going to be expensive by the thickness of the carpet, the expensive lighting and the snooty assistants.

In relation to this Dover Street Market had only transferred a few of these 'assets'...the expensive clothing and the snooty assistants.
Whoever thought it was a good idea to mix concrete with badly laid out sheds and industrial railings, then throw in some vintage chairs and tables whilst adding some roadkill in boxes, honestly! I think elements of Dover Street Market would have worked if it wasn't so jumbled together (not in a good way) it also wasn't improved by the unhelpful staff that followed you around looking at you like you were a piece of dirt of their shoes and honestly one floor did smell of cat piss... my favourite part of the store was the tacky velvet changing room where I could hide and then leaving. All I can conclude is that Dover Street Market made me very angry and want to run away!

Anthropologie

Step into Anthropologie. This store could not be more different in comparison to Dover Street Market! Only recently opened this year it appears as though it has always been and always will be here, how else would they have a living wall that stretches over three floors? Its the type of shop that made me want to buy a fish dish when I don't even cook fish! So take note Dover Street Market if you want your customers to get stupidly excited over fish dishes and expensive bubble bath you should build a huge plant wall, install a giant fish/whale, mix old and new in an exciting way and be friendly! I want to go back to explore and maybe buy the fish dish for someone who actually likes to cook fish!

Show Studio

On Thursday I took a trip up to London to experience Nick Knights Show Studio exhibition! Now if your seeing the words exhibition do not be fooled into thinking a dreary white washed room with framed photographs, this is the most interactive exhibition I have ever experienced! If you want to draw on a naked Naomi then this is the place to be!

What I reluctantly love is that the exhibition is also available online so without even being there you can experience and be a part of, however I say reluctantly for a reason...
The reason being, that I happened to video myself in a casting room and instead of answering the questions normally I had to make a fool of myself. Starting out with mishearing the word height for hide...good start there. If you want to see me embarrass myself watch the video here, yes it was instantly uploaded to the website for the whole world to see, thankyou Nick!

Anyway despite this I really enjoyed the live studio where you could watch Nick Knight in action photographing famous names through one way glass! On Thursday I saw Roksanda Ilincic who looked stunning! You can also watch the studio live online here! I just watched Lady Gaga so some proper posing.

I also loved the musical photo that made music when you moved the mouse across the screen, see the video below.

Blog Job - Chica Chic Handbags

I've recently joined the Brighton Collective Blogging team writing about:

• Design
  
• Fashion
• Jewellery
• Bags
• Style
• Art
• Crafts

in the Brighton and surrounding area. Here's my first article for the team:

Chica Chic Handbags - The bag with a conscience

Photography by Andy Deighton (andy@number88.co.uk. Modelled by Katie Roberts

This bag is not only a fashion statement but is also a survival guide for the busy young women of today. Released only this year, this bag is made with a difference.

Based on the Sussex coast, the husband and wife team have recently embarked on a bag that doesn’t only bring out the practical factor but also awareness in young women.

With its clever cord design, the Chica Chic handbag turns your everyday essential bag into a small version to carry you through the night! However, this bag also has a few more secrets.

The concept for the Chica Chic handbag began with an ingenious idea by Keith Murphy (the director) whilst reading an article about the rise in STI’s with young people. He wanted to produce something that would encourage safe sex whilst being practical. Teaming up with wife Cathy (who has experience within the fashion trade) they began to design the Chica Chic bag that would hold the everyday essentials, including secret pockets for the ever important condoms.

Partnering up with Fusion Condoms the aim of the bag is to promote safe sex. As well as providing condoms (which can be reordered and sent discreetly) the bag also has seven inner pockets for deodorant, toothbrush and paste, panty towel and tampons.

It may sound like a first aid kit but this bag is oozing style towards the streetwise young woman. Designed in a patchwork patent style this bag embraces the current quilted trend. It is also available in four colours, Winter mix – Purple/Green/Red, Spring mix – Pink/white/lime green, Summer mix – multi coloured patch and my favourite Chic mix – black patent.

As well as being fashionable and practical the Chica Chic Handbag is also ethically made using faux leather which is biodegradable in 10 years time.

Thinking this bag is too good to be true? Well in this financial climate you won’t be breaking the bank statement to get one! Priced at only £45 this bag seriously has it all! Be safe carry a condom, carry a Chica Chic Handbag!

Available at http://www.chicachick.com

The Brighton Collective

www.thebrightoncollective.co.uk

www.thebrightoncollective.co.uk/blog

Hello December!

I still get stupidly giddy when it comes to Christmas! First viewing of the Christmas Coca Cola advert with the trucks gets me super excited!
So now that its the 1st of December I can eat my number 1 door chocolate out of my Advent Calender (High School Musical provided by my loving grandmother who thinks its grown up!) and I can put up my Christmas tree.
This year I bought a wooden one from Paperchase for £6, what a bargain and it looks so cute! Yay to Christmas nearly being here! Only 24 doors left!

Back and Forth

Having handed in two projects at the same time meant that I've had just under two weeks off. So what have I been up to and where have I been? I've been to Bournemouth, Brighton and London!

Here are some of my finds and my favourite places.

Bournemouth

La Belle

Brighton

Snoopers Paradise

London

Camden Markets Rokit Vintage shop (Above picture of old patchwork quilts found in Camden for a mere £25!)