Tuesday 31 May 2011

Good Read....(Of the Hardback kind).

I've been a little quiet again this weekend, mainly due to a very busy weekend of celebrating my boyfriends birthday, with lots of visitors and my house being a little bit bruised as a result of having a house party so I've been trying to nurse it back to health (as well as nursing my hangover!). I think my boyfriend was pleased with his gifts, if he wasn't I whole-heartily planned to keep a few of his gifts for myself, including this amazing photography book about Joy Division.

It is very minimalist but has some stunning images of the band and front man Ian Curtis from photographer Kevin Cummins and for anyone who likes Joy Division it's an definite must- My boyfriend doesn't know it but secretly it's my book now!

xoxox

Thursday 26 May 2011

Wish List

Hurry Up Pay Day!
1.Chelsea Girl dungaree Dress (£30.00).  2. Pink loafer Brogues (£44.99) 3.Striped cropped Top (£19.99).  4.Orange Midi Skirt (£29.99)  5.Silver mixed metal bag (£34.99).  6. Turquoise stone ring (£12.99).  7.Crochet wrap headband (£5.99). 

Just a few things I am wanting to spend my pennies on this pay day...How gorgeous is that ring??  To be fair, I have a load of fabric and a sewing machine so I reckon I could make myself a wired headband...infact as I have a whole week of work next week I set myself that task! I will let you know how that goes....(I reckon badly hehe)

xoxox

Hello Remix.

Listening to this waiting for my hair dye to work.

xxx

Sunday 22 May 2011

Weekend Purchases.

I haven't really posted this weekend as I have had my ma and pa staying so I have been busy entertaining them and doing things with them London tourist style. Even though I've been here almost 6 months my mum still every time she comes makes the same comments about how "big, busy, massive, strange, exciting" London is...(mums eh??). It is nice I guess to see the way she see's London through her eyes, when you're here day to day I guess I do kind of take it for granted how I'm living it up in the countries big smoke.

Anyway, I thought I'd show them the delights of Portobello Market as I haven't been there in years and it was a nice day so I thought it'd be a good idea to take a stroll round Notting Hill and point out some of the pastel houses and hint about them 'treating' me to one (I wish!!). I was pleased as well as I managed to pick up a few things....

Ceramic Phrenology Head (£4.00). 
I am not sure why I  like this, but I am really drawn to these kind of ornament/medical things, weird I know. It's very macabre.

Bowler Hat (£10.00).
My mum treated me to this as I have been after one for ages. I did see a hard, velvet one for £450 in a vintage designer clothing store but she told me to do one when I asked for that (ha!). This one has a really nice satin Burgundy lining but my camera battery died before I could get a picture.

I also took full advantage of the fact my Pa had his car with him so I got him to drive me to my favourite place (and his most hated place) in the whole world....IKEA!!! I don't know what it is about that store but I love it. I picked up a few bits and pieces for my humble abode including this coat-rack-shelf thing for my hall, which I built myself may I add.

My ceramic head has pride of place. Shockingly I didn't buy any clothes this weekend...I must be ill! 
xoxox


Hello Remix.

Rounding off the weekend with this.

xoxox

Thursday 19 May 2011

Good Read of the Week...

My first 'good read of the week' is....
I like the fact that this blog is done by two sisters (can't beat sister love!) and also isn't just about fashion but also about events and food (which I must admit after fashion is one my favourite things!). It really is a fab all -round blog.

xxxx

Wednesday 18 May 2011

(Embracing) Dungarees.

 Excuse the awful 'pun' ^^^^^ but I do really fancy getting myself some dungarees. I think they're so versatile and perfect for mix and matching and also very transitional from summer to winter. I'm not sure how I feel about going the whole way and getting full length dungarees as I think for me personally it wouldn't be very flattering (when you're 5ft nothing all in ones tend to not flatter- I find that in anyways), I'd feel like I was a triple threat in denim....although some of these coloured ones are perhaps not so in you face. Here's my pick of the selection asos have to offer.
1. Sonia Rykiel £245.00. 2. Mango £47.99 3.See By Chloe £310.00 4. Cheap Monday £112.00

To be honest, they're all a bit out of my price range (very out of it in fact) so I am going to have a scout around for a vintage one perhaps.

xxoxox



Boys and Birthdays.

My boyfriend's birthday is very fast approaching and as much as I love him I don't half struggle to get him presents....However, I feel this year I may have just done a good job and (hopefully) got him something he would like. On the subject of buying for boys I have put together a little pick of presents for boys. I would put a selection of what I've bought my boyfriend Jack, but knowing my luck he'd end up reading this and it would spoil his surprise!
1. 'The Teds' book by Chris Steele- Perkins and Richard Smith.
A book full of some amazing photo's and hairstyles to be jealous of, documenting the 'Ted's' in their hay-day.
2.Fred Perry Pin Dot Oxford shirt.
A timeless classic that will make any boy very dapper.
3.Suede Brogues from Asos.
See above number 2...
4. Amsterdamn Bike
Being the hopeless romantic I am I'd quite like to get me and my boyfriend a tandem bike for 2 but I know he (and many other boys) would laugh so an Amsterdamn bike for him (and one for me!) would be the next best thing.
5. Moleskin Notebook.
For all his thoughts and love notes about his beloved...hehe.

xoxox



Monday 16 May 2011

Nail Treats

My friend Jordan went to another press day and picked me up some treats including these nail art things which I'm very excited about as I've been wanting to try these out for a while. I'm going to wait a wee bit till I do it though so my stubby little finger nails can grow a bit....as I'm very bad with looking after my nails! I will share the results with you soon (-depending on how long it takes my nails to grow!)
xoxox
ps...if you've tried these before tips on the best way to use them please!!

Hello Remix.

Spending my day off cleaning (bore) and listening to this

SO GOOD!
xoxoxox

Sunday 15 May 2011

Want...

Clarks Originals has teamed up with American Retro to create these gorgeous Desert boots with a vintage lace print on them (£99.00). They're so cute, I want them to team up with summer dresses- please!
                                                                          xoxoxox

Saturday 14 May 2011

(Belated...) Friday Inspiration Post



Chloe Sevigny.....This girl is just so effortlessly cool and a major style inspiration.
xoxox
ps...sorry for the delay, I was a little too 'worst for wear' (aka hungover) to post yesterday!

Thursday 12 May 2011

Recent Purchases- River Island.

1.Dark Beige Embossed Belt £16.99 2. Pansy face Leather Strap Watch £19.99.

Accessories are the one thing I tend not to purposefully go out and spend money on (except Rings which I have hundred's of and if I could I would wear hundred's of at a time!). Usually I tend to 'acquire' bags, belts and so on- the majority of the time from my mums loft which is like a shrine to leather bags. But my good friend Jordan had got given a £100.00 voucher for River Island for attending a press day and he kindly offered to take me there to help him spend it.(God I love having a best friend who works in fashion!). Anyway, River Island isn't a shop that I tend to go in but I was really pleasantly surprised!  In the past I had been put off as their stuff tended to be em-blazed with diamanté River Island logos on literally everything (especially the back pocket's of jeans). But their spring/summer collection is really sweet, very floaty and gypset-like but they also have a great range of key colour blocking pieces and I love their 'Chelsea Girl' collection (a nod to the former name of River Island).
For now I picked up these two pieces, The belt I have been wearing pretty much every day since I got it, It goes with everything and is really nice for pinching in floaty summer dresses for a more fitted feel, the embossed print on it is really sweet as well, adding a bit more interest rather than a boring old plain belt (and also the floral print puts my boyfriend off wearing and borrowing it which as a plus because he is constantly stealing my trusty Topshop plaited belt!). The watch is just really cute as well and I have been looking for a watch for ages so I was really pleased when I spotted this one! I am lusting after quite a few River Island pieces so you can expect a wish list very soon!
katie xoxox

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Wish List

1.Polka dot  jersey playsuit £30.00. 2. 'Kosy' Black studded slippers £55.00. 3. Semi Precious stone ring £12.50. 4. Black satchel Bag £28.00. 5. Sleeveless tie front shirt £24.00. 6. Floral high waisted denim shorts £34.00. 7. Floral Bow collar top £24.00 8. Black sporty maxi skirt £30.00

Oh How I do miss working in Topshop and having my (dangerous) staff card that got me 25% off. It's bad how quickly I can get to Oxford circus topshop (about 20 minutes on a bus from my house), I feel the pull to go in all too much. Pay day needs to hurry up so I can buy myself some treats.
xoxox

Wednesday Song Post.

Spending my day off listening to....

Monday 9 May 2011

Trunks and Cases

Still dreaming of a holiday reminded me of some dressing I did at work a few months ago.....
The theme was a 'European Tour', I got some vintage trunks and cases and placed some old-style holiday stamps on them to age and give the feeling of fun travel memories. I also got some lovely real second hand postcards from a market (Spitafields market in Shoreditch sells lots of these).

Monday Morning Wish List.


I am wishing for this book from Mulberry celebrating their 40th anniversary. It's a behind-the-scenes peak into their world filled with some beautiful images from their past two years. At £55.00 it's a little pricey for me at the moment (damn those bills that need paying) so for now I will have to make do watching the flip-book version on their website (whilst clutching and polishing my beautiful Bayswater I got for my birthday....). Watch it here http://www.mulberry.com/?gclid=CNvmh-PV2qgCFQRP4QodNg1HAQ
xoxox

Sunday 8 May 2011

Thinking about a Jolly Holiday


After spending the day/night in the sun in Bexhill (sea side town on the south coast) I have got the holiday bug even more. I will do the most of my summer. Infact I'd even go 'glamping' (sorry, only way is essex reference- for those not in the know 'glamping= glam camping'), I would like a stay in this caravan designed by Simon Costin. Thanks.

Friday 6 May 2011

Friday Inspiration Post.




I always love Set Designer Shona Heath's work and this 'Starsigns' piece she did for British Vogue last year is a favourite.

Shop full of Horrors


So I braved Primark yesterday. That may seem like a weird way to put it, but if you're not familiar with Oxford street Primark you won't know how it is hell on earth. I had heard some right horror stories about the mess and the manic crazy people who shop there and it had put me right off going- in fact to the point where I'd managed to avoid going in there the last 5 months I have lived here. But alas I am a bit poor at the moment yet had a need to shop so I took a deep breath and went in. It was horrific, considering I went at like 6pm on an evening I have never seen anything like it, it paid off though as I picked myself a right treat of a bargain.This (what I think is) very cool and fun summer dress with flamingo's. I know probably me and about 50,000 other people in the country will have it but I don't care for £9.00 (!) I couldn't really say no. I'm debating maybe change the buttons on it but it depends if I can really be bothered, and even if I don't the little gem buttons on it aren't too horrid. I'm going to wear it with my new brogues from asos, some white lace-frill socks from urban outfitters and hopefully a TAN on my legs, as right now they're so white they're see-through.
xxxx

Wednesday 4 May 2011

Old award news.


Image from 'Edith' 2010- Northern Film School.
(Production design by moi.)

This is old news but my graduation film 'Edith' was long-listed this year for a BAFTA short film award......Amazing. I am so proud that my final year university film would even noticed by bafta let alone considered for a nomination so I was more that chuffed.

Tuesday 3 May 2011

You&Me in a photobooth...

So I was obsessed with the 'La Photocabine' site (http://laphotocabine.fr/) so when I found the Iphone App it made me even happier!
I really want to go to Berlin and do the tradition of getting my photo done in one of the retro photobooths but this site and app is the next best thing. It has become one of the first things that my friends and I do when we get in drunk from a night out...(lame I know!)

Ignore my silly posey face on the last one, I was trying to get a decent picture of my hair...you can kind of see it, kind of can't.
x

Some work...

With all the wedding fever going on (did you notice) my work joined it and we did a commercial for a ' Best of British' Event. The idea was to create a typical street party, so we overtook a corner of Battersea park and I went wild with bunting, balloons, sausage rolls and all things red, white and blue....Here's a few images of the finished 'set'.



It made me feel very patriotic!
x


I am a BAD BAD BLOGGER.


So no excuses, I have been very lazy with this blog, I didn't realise it has been almost 6 months since I have posted! That is so slack and terrible.
In my (kind of) defence, over the last 6 months I have been very very busy....I made the big move to LONDON TOWN. Finally, I got a (paid) full time job working as a studio set dresser and stylist for a television channel, which was amazing, I feel so lucky to get a paid job pretty much straight out of university as most people I know who graduate usually have to intern for free before they get a paid job so I feel VERY privileged.
Did I mention I LOVE living in London? Yeah it's expensive and the streets aren't exactly paved with gold, but even though I have been here 5 months I still have so much to explore and am definitely not bored yet.
I have a few favourite spots, Greenwich market on a Saturday for food from pretty much everywhere in the world....I'm talking Curried Goat to Roast beef and Yorkshire puds- so good! I also love Spitafields Market on a Thursday, it's a fab antiques market with lots and lots of things to want and look at.
At the moment I am living in New Cross, which is south east London and I really like it round here, although it's not quite cool 'east London' (Dalston, Hoxton..blah blah) I really think it's a good little secret place. It's zone 2, on the overground (which gets me to Shoreditch high street in 10 minutes and central London in like 20) but because it's not as popular the house prices as so much cheaper, I have got myself a whole flat to myself- for the price of what a room in a house in Shoreditch would cost pretty much) and I am really enjoying playing 'house'. New cross is really sweet as well, lots of Victorian terrace houses on tree-lined streets, parks and some really cool
little pubs and little cafes. Goldsmiths college is here too so there's quite a nice young vibe too.

Anyway, that's just a wee update, a lot has happened in 6 months, too much to bore you with but no excuses I will be a lot more disciplined with my blogging from now on! Brownies honour.

So a quick update for now on things I am liking at the moment to keep you going:

Music:
I now belong to the world of the iPhone, and I am addicted to it, as soon as I got it I downloaded the spotify app, which is great for new albums. Currently I am listening to on repeat:
**Sleigh Bells- Tell 'Em
I saw Sleigh Bells a few months ago for free in Kentish town, I really enjoyed it, I think my boyfriend enjoyed it more to be fair, he couldn't get enough of lead singer Alexis Krauss.
**Telepathe- Chrome's on it (gold panda remix)
This original version of this song used to get played a lot when I worked at Topshop and I didn't know who it was, nor was I that keen but I really enjoy this remix of it.
**Jack Penate- Pull my heart away (Jamie XX remix).
Again the original version of this song I'm really not that fussed about but I love the Jamie XX version and pretty much everything Jamie XX is doing at the moment.

Life.
Ok, so I know everyone's going on about it but my god, I still can't get enough of the Royal
Wedding!! Even though it was almost a week ago I am still obsessed with the pictures and everything...The dress! Wow. Kate, or should I now say- Catherine, duchess of Cambridge did look really stunning, the dress was perfect, not too in your face, it was subtle but really gorgeous and despite it being one of, if not 'the' most important wedding of the decade the secret whispers
and exchanges between the Royal couple kind of really bought it back to home that they are just a couple, in love like any other. I think what brought the whole thing down to earth so much more was when they appeared in the 'just married' car (that actually belongs to
Prince Charles, and it an eco-friendly car!) just made it so good and British- I loved it.


I have also took the step that I was humming and 'arring' over for months...I have ombre'd (or dip-dyed) my hair. I did consider going to Bleach in Dalston (http://bleachlondon.co.uk/) to get it done but they charge £80.00 and in the past I have had some success with dyeing my hair myself so I thought sod it I will give it ago myself, I got some blond highlighter (a mere £6.00!) and just applied it to the ends of my hair, I did it twice, the second time I concentrated on the ends of my hair so it gave it a graduating look and I am really pleased with the results! Although saying that I haven't got a decent picture yet....I will try soon. For Now, in case you have missed the 'dip-dye' trend (though how you could have I don't know as it's everywhere) here's a taste...
I haven't been that interesting and gone for Pink, just blond, but maybe as it get a bit more into summer maybe I will dare to go pink!

And Finally...
Yes, I know it is the most trash TV you can get, but I am really, really loving The Only way is Essex (ohhh the shame...). I just love it, and I love Joey Essex, he is 'reem' as they come haha (I think it's the tight jeans and the quiff that do it for me). I am planning a night out to sugarhut for sure.
Anyway, I think that's enough updating for now...As promised I will be a more behaved blogger from now on!

xx