Topshop Make Up

The range will be arriving instore on May 5th. Rumour has been circulating at work that it's produced in the same factory that manufactures Chanel make up...

Leather

I've been leaping about like a scalded for the past two weeks working every hour under the sun at Topshop as they've been desperately short-staffed during the onslaught of the sales as well as juggling a five day contract for Yelp getting paid twelve pounds an hour to write reviews on local businesses (how could I say no?) with all my university studies, Etsy and eating, sleeping and showering. Thankfully I am now free and next week will be returning to a gentle two shifts a week routine and will be able to finally start getting my life back in order. I removed and washed up eight plates, five bowls, twelve mugs, three glasses, a cafetiere and two handfuls of cutlery from my room this morning. 'Grim' does not even begin to cover it.

So whilst spending eighteen hours a week repeatedly picking up clothes from under the sale rails and hanging them back up again - soul-destroying work - I undoubtedly amassed a disturbingly large selection of 'bargains' for myself and accidentally spent over one hundred and twenty pounds in a single transaction. However, I consider all the purchases to be 'wardrobe staples' and hopefully they will foundate some truly outstanding outfits in the near future. So far, not one item has left the wardrobe...

I considered taking pictures of all the bits but I just don't think any of them will look particularly spectacular on the hanger so I'll attempt some outfit posts in the near future. Eek! So anyway, I invested in another pair of the same high-waisted jeans I already have and love but this time in a smaller, 'skinnier' size and for twenty quid cheaper than my original fifty-pound purchase just before they sold out online. I also got some lovely light-weight navy blue and slightly silky textured Oxford slacks with a high waist, tapered legs and turn-ups. A total spring staple and a steal at eighteen pounds. This was accompanied by a simple beige cardigan with hooks and eyes all the way down the front instead of buttons, twelve pounds, and the leather brogues in the first picture which were reduced from thirty-two pounds to fifteen.

And then I somehow managed to accumulate a chic black dress with a sheer spotted panel across the shoulders and upper chest for twenty pounds down from forty-five. I think I convinced myself that it looks very Chanel and epitomises the sophistication I believe I should radiate as a twenty-one year old. I also brought home the black leather sandals in the bottom picture. I really have no qualms about buying these at all as they're beautifully made and I love the robust gold metal buckles and the fact that they're not gladiators! I've been wearing them around the room ever since I bought them and love them to bits although I can't say the same about the brogues which gave me blisters within the first hour of wearing them.

So, the two unexplained bags. Well, I popped into Barnardo's today inbetween lectures with two friends and just happened to find these two beauts for a paltry two pound fifty each. I had the intention of putting both on Etsy as soon as I got in but just happened to realise how perfect the black one would be if worn with the chic dress aforementioned and the brown one, although not really my 'thing' entirely, will be absolutely ideal for Benicassim. Did I mention I'm going to Benicassim?

So yeah, this spending must stop, at least until Sunday when my staff uniform allowance kicks in, three items at sixty percent off, which is likely to result in me actually being sent to the debtors' prison.

I'm going to London this weekend to stay with Jian Wei. I'm so excited as it feels like ages since Easter already and I'm going to be able to stay until Tuesday morning which will be just wonderful. Also I happen to be travelling first class on the way out due to the bizarre situation arising where the first class ticket price was actually cheaper than the standard one, so should be a novel experience. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact I'll be catching the train at six o'clock in the morning...

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

When you live about one hundred and eighty miles apart with the only possible chance of being closer literally years in the future you find yourself clinging to the smaller milestones... happy two years and eight months to us!

Winston Churchill: Conservationist?

Fun and Games

Pigeons and Peacocks

I was really excited to discover this morning that one of my photographs has been featured on the London College of Fashion's Arts website, Pigeons and Peacocks and I am listed as a contibuting photographer! What makes me even happier is that picture is actually one of my favourites, although I'd probably say that about seventy percent of my pictures ha. It features my boyfriend streaked with sunshine and the lighting is just so soft and lovely. Take a look here.

Lost Things

This little film is just a pure joy to watch. It's called 'Lost Things' and is directed by Angela Kohler and Ithyle Griffiths. Quite simply, it's stop-motion animazing. (Ho, ho, ho...)

In other news I've just painted my nails the perfect shade of spearmint green and am preparing for an early night before my 9.30am pick up tomorrow morning. I'm going to Norwich for the day with Jian Wei and his cousin and although the principal purpose for the trip is for aforementioned cousin to visit the University of East Anglia as a potential student, I just cannot wait to get stuck into the massive charity shops that line the road leading from the bus station. They're beasts, the sort that sell sofas and wardrobes and have whole walls stacked with shoes and handbags. I'm actually salivating at the thought of all the potential etsy stock / wardrobe fodder just waiting to be rescued. (I'm also planning on hitting Cambridge on the Wednesday for precisely the same reason so will have to be particularly selective to ensure my bank balance will stretch as far as I'm planning it to.)

Tomorrow will also witness an obligatory visit to my favourite restaurant in the WORLD, 'The Waffle House'. It's truly just incredible and I'm planning on having mushrooms sauteed in soy sauce with a Lancashire mature chedder sauce on a savoury waffle accompanied by the most delirium-inducing coffee milkshake.

Watch this space to see what my trawl brings up!

♥

I love this daisy print jumpsuit from Topshop. Just look at the little turn-ups and the halter-neck bow!

A-dor-able.

Help The Dulcie

Help the Aged are clearly on a mission to aid my Summer wardrobe with these two £2.50 beauties, both highwaisted 90s essentials.

Skyscapes and Cityscapes

(Photos by me)

Foot Candy

I think I may just be jumping on the Swedish Hasbeens bandwagon...