Sh*t Shirt

Posted on August 4, 2014 by spentland

Shirts….. for me there is nothing better than an oversized shirt and a skinny jean, that is my ultimate comfort zone. As a matter of fact my outfit today is my Mom’s denim shirt circa 1980’s, Jamie white jeans from Topshop, with my own knee slits added and black sandals. A new fashion in the shirt has come flying onto the scene and needless to say I am a fan.

The sh*t shirt has re-appeared. Whether it be the humble Hawaiian shirt a firm favourite of mine since last Summer, (when I stole my Dads) or the 80’s-90’s random graphic shirt. I personally combine it with a skinny jean or for a festival look combine with a bandeau and denim shorts. Or if like me you prefer something a little different to a pair of denim shorts, try a cami dress and leave the shirt open. I leave for Ibiza in 6 days (not that I am counting at all) and these are already in my outfit schedule for the week.

Be careful when purchasing these shirts though, the best ones are the ones you find, so look around in random places. Not so random, but the best place to purchase has to be ASOS Marketplace, the price’s can range from that’s too cheap not to, to well I will wear it loads. Highly recommend for any amazing vintage finds and bargains. Or if like me your Dad is partial to a Hawaiian shirt have a rifle through his closet.

Don’t be afraid to go all out!

ASOS Marketplace

Vintage – Dad’s Closet

ASOS Marketplace

Dressing for my age…… At 24

Posted on July 24, 2014 by spentland

So as my 25th Birthday creeps up closer and closer, my friends and I started talking about when we should dress for our age, replacing the crop T-Shirts with chiffon blouses?

But the concept itself is a curious one, as I have gotten older I have found myself wearing what I want more so than ever before and I hope this mantra only grows as I age. Dressing for your age runs along the same lines as dressing for your size, it’s not so much the clothes on your back but the look on your face. It’s simple the more comfortable you are, well you know how it goes, the better you look!

It always fascinates me how certain staple items of clothing can run through generations and only ever look classically chic, take the white shirt, always worth the investment as you can hold onto it for as long as possible, take Carolina Herrera, who manages to make the white shirt look like a new invention and not to mention look stunning whilst doing this at the age of 75.

I think there is also a way to combine items to make them a completely different look, my outfit choice for today is slim fit boyfriend jeans with rips, a white T-Shirt, black sliders (new Summer favourite) and a black blazer with a leather trim. Now if I were to take the blazer off and maybe the Michael Kors cat eye glasses, I would be all set for a trip to the cinema. But with these elements I feel set and ready to work, I also feel that oh so bit more mature.

I am definitely not ready to ditch my sometimes Brixton style, but will be tempted to more and more throw in an element to take me from my long lost teen years to my ever changing (and exciting) twenty-something years.

Today’s Style

Maxed Out

Posted on July 1, 2014 by spentland

When it comes to Summer there are a things that come to mind… the ever disturbing rate of shrinking in the length of shorts, cold beers, festivals, the mind set ‘desperately seeking tan’, however my mind turns to maxi’s in all forms. I have a love hate relationship with the maxi style, I love that I feel comfortable in them, I hate how I depend on them. Unfortunately for me Gisele Bundchen stole my legs and won’t give them back, so I am not one to have my legs on show and especially not during the day.

There is risk you take when wearing maxi dresses or skirts, the possibility of looking frumpy is always one, or the possibility of looking ‘boring’. So, this summer when you reach for your staple maxi try mixing it up.

Colour is always important, a black maxi dress or maxi skirt is always a firm favourite but why not try to step out of your comfort zone and go for a lilac or bright cobalt blue.

Try different shapes; there is one thing that a maxi dress can do and that is help shape different types of figures if you’re an hour glass shape then try and go for slimmer maxi dresses or ones that have a cinched waist to accent it perfectly. If you’re not comfortable with just the slim style of maxi, team it with a kimono to give you a cover up as well as help you make a statement. If you’re feeling a little braver try a graphic maxi skirt with a crop tee or cami!

Always remember accessories don’t go a miss, but don’t over do it! Try a chunky necklace and bright lip for a fun day time look, or combine with a light blazer and clutch bag for an evening dinner.

Summer’s not just about short shorts so if you’re anything like me and the maxi dress or skirt is always in your wardrobe, this season, have a little fun with it!

Inner Child

Posted on June 13, 2014 by spentland

We all know fashion likes to make re-appearances, yet it still amazes me the come backs that so many styles can do.

I’m lucky enough to have a Mother who holds onto to her fashions dating back to the 70’s, our loft is a wash of 80’s jumpers, jeans and clothing from around the world. I am doubly as lucky as my Father tends to hold on to a valuable few pieces of clothing dating back to I don’t even know how far. I still have a green Lacoste polo shirt, which I adopted as a teenager later to find out that the Grandpap (on my American mothers side hence referring to him as Grandpap, a Pittsburgh saying) that I never had the pleasure of meeting, had given to my Father years before I was born, needless to say this polo shirt will always stay with me, along with a thick woven woolen jumper which was also given to my Father by my Grandpap. There is a wardrobe that over the past year or two I have been raiding for new inspiration, anything from one of my Dad’s Hawaiian shirts, which he claims ‘every Dad has right to have one’ or a pair of Mom jeans which funnily enough my parents can’t work out whether they are Mom jeans or Dad jeans, we’ve gone with Dad as they Wranglers which are my Dad’s choice in denim attire.

The problem, with this however is that I unfortunately struggle to throw things away at the best of times, so when clearing out my wardrobes before moving out of home again to the bright lights of South-London, I could only think to myself ‘well if jelly shoes have come back, maybe this could too’. Sometimes I think I should have kept hold of my purple glittery jelly shoes, could argue they wouldn’t fit me now but then again, the rest of me hasn’t grown so I doubt my pixie feet have either.

I often have to employ the help of a second opinion to deter me from clinging onto a baby pink ra-ra skirt circa 2004, please don’t judge, you know we all had them and of course loved them.

If there is one thing the fashion come backs often can teach us is to remember to have fun with fashion, rather than think where can I wear this? What can I wear this with? We should be thinking I’m going to wear this and what shall I wear this with? Embrace your inner child I say.

I mean what’s more fun than a jelly shoe?

Beloved Black Jeans

Posted on June 9, 2014 by spentland

It’s a Friday morning and to my surprise the sun is out and gleaming, as I look out the 6th floor window of my office I’m happy to see the sweet candy blue sky and wispy clouds, could this be the start of our Summer?

If so there is one thing that springs to my mind, one thing that I love dearly and by no stretch of the word could do without and that is (however dull and safe) a pair of black jeans. If our Summer is upon us, I must begin to say my goodbyes for another season.

I must admit that no matter how much I love the Summer months, filled with beer gardens, festivals and friends I hate saying goodbye to my black jeans, they’re always there like a good friend.

I think fashion is for experimentation, expression, controversy, anything you want as a matter of fact, but sometimes an old faithful can be the simplest form of style.

If you’re anything like me there is a shudder down your spine as you see the first denim thongs (a phrase myself and my friends have coined) walking around the streets of London town at the first break of sunshine. For me a fashion enthusiast who isn’t a size 6, let’s say, this is often where I feel tested both mentally and physically, of course I don’t wish to take part in the hot pant parade championed by the fresh faced 18 year old’s of our great nation, I would however like to be able to enjoy Summer in a shift dress and ankle boot without the immense anxiety at the thought of ‘getting my legs out’.

Needless to say, I will and do return back to my blessed black jeans throughout the Summer months, I just will have to face the music as the temperature rises and force myself to break out, or should I say purchase, the summer dresses….. Or we could start off with maxi skirts and see how we go from there.

Fit or Fashion?

Posted on May 19, 2014 by spentland

As I begin to write my first blog in a while, there is a thought that crosses my mind constantly, especially as the golden days of Friday and Saturday draw closer.

If anyone reading this is like me, you will forever have on your mind ‘What to wear?’ and unfortunately this age old question comes down to two areas ‘Do I go for fit?’ or ‘Do I go for fashion?’ It pains me that this is sometimes the choice, however for me 99% of the time, the answer tends to be the latter.

As women we are often forced to confirm into types of behaviour and appearances to allow us to find our place in society. If a woman wears a tailored suit to the office she can be branded a feminist or manly, if she wears a skirt and blouse she is at the mercy of the men around her. A recent campaign caught my attention Ban Bossy, it delved into the mental affect calling a young girl ‘bossy’ can have. Whilst little boys playing in the school yard leading friends in a game would be called a born leader and girl doing the same would be branded Little Miss Bossy.

So as a single twenty-something, when beginning my Friday night drinks in South London I have to ask myself whether I am going to dress to capture the eye of a potential suitor or whether I will dress to capture my own imagination. Of course we all have the one friend ‘If you’ve got it flaunt it!’ Not usually my style. But every now and then I think I wonder if it would make a difference. Does wearing my oversized vintage tartan and velvet blazer with black jeans over a bandeau dress and court shoe really impact what a guy would see? Probably.

Every once in a while I gain the courage to don a ‘revealing’ dress and it is only down to the constant and often dominating encouragement from my best friends that I will go through with this kind of attire. However it seems my choice of fashion over the generic outlined format of ‘fit’ is simply my choice.

#banbossy

A million miles away

Posted on June 13, 2012 by spentland

So it’ s been a long time since my last post and I’ve done a lot in that time. New Zealand was beautiful beyond words, a stunning country with so much to offer. From the skydiving, bungy jumping (obviously Nevis, go big or go home!) to white and black water rafting it was an incredible month, not to mention all the great people I met. The Maori people have an incredible history, I learned about them on a trip and my personal highlight was hearing about their tattoo traditions and how their tattoos paint a story of their lives, on their body. I went to an exhibit in the Te Papa Tongarewa museum in Wellington and was able to learn about the short but great life Vogue New Zealand had for 10 years, a few decades ago. The sample gowns were incredible and it was interesting to see what New Zealand brought to the fashion table all those years ago. I have now been in Thailand for a month and what a culture shock. The country is brilliant and you are never short of a good night out or beautiful beach or interesting character!

By making the decision not to bring out my beloved iPhone 4gs I made the decision to be relatively separated from what i know and love back home, (bar sharing my friend’s phone on the odd occasion). It made me realise that even though I am the ultimate phone addict I can go without for what will be four and a half months. I have struggled with is the separation from family and friends, needless to say it’s natural. However one other thing i struggled with is the separation from BBC Radio 1 and Annie Mac’s Friday night show, or Vogue news and updates daily in my Hotmail and general news. You become so consumed with what you are doing you forget about what is going on elsewhere. Traveling is incredible, exciting and you learn so much, along with university I sincerely recommend partaking. It tests you in ways you can’t imagine from bursting a blood vessel in your eye and looking like a zombie for 3 weeks, courtesy of a bungee jump, to breaking a toe courtesy of a drunken night in Koh Phangan, you learn to focus on what’s important and loosing something like a top is so insignificant compared to being able to contact home.

The next stop is the crazy place that is Lao, then onto Vietnam and Cambodia, to be filled with museums and war memorials, which I am so excited for. Then home. Four and a half months soon to be over and I am curious to see what that feeling will be like.

Fashion forward

Posted on March 28, 2012 by spentland

I finally managed to get hold of my very own Vogue Australia…… the first thing that struck me was the incredibly clean front cover with the title ‘Free Spirit’ and featuring the mesmerizing Julia Frauche, which relates to the overall impression of the Vogue Australia April 2012 issue. The letter from editor Kirstie Clements, describes what she loves about the current issue and that is two things the first being personal style, that it is now created and not just something you follow and imitate because a celebrity or familiar face is wearing it. The second being the confidence women can and should embody, with Stella McCartney and Kate Winslet leading the way.

A stand out element of the magazine for me was the brilliant article on one of my idols, Stella McCartney; the article was an interview with the 40 year fashion designer, activist and mother and delved into the mind of a fashion genius. Well written and accompanied by a stunning portrait of the woman herself, looking sleek and interesting by the great David Bailey, it was a perfect read for me in my hostel in Noosa, East Coast of Australia.

Stella McCartney as I have written in the past is fashion forward, not only in her designs but in her outlook on fashion, how she creates clothing for women and not just for her models but for the average woman in order to help her feel as confident as she should feel.

My next stop will be the country of New Zealand and will be filled with adrenaline pumping activities including sky diving and bungee jumping. However through all the mayhem I will of course be scoping out the New Zealand fashion and can’t wait for it all to begin.

The Land of Oz

Posted on March 12, 2012 by spentland

So, I haven’t done a post in a while because I’ve only been traveling the world. Started off in Sydney, which is an incredible city, needless to say it’s pretty pricey, but beautiful and a city lover’s dream. Moved onto Byron Bay which was a laidback haven, people were nice, tanned and rarely wore shoes. Watching the sunset on the beach on my last night there was a highlight and it all sunk in that I was finally doing something I had thought about for as long as I can remember. Now we are in Surfers Paradise which is a fresh and vibrant place, hoping the sun makes more of an appearance so that I can get this tan on the up so that my Englishness doesn’t seem so obvious around all these golden brown Ozzie’s and fellow travelers. One of my goals of this four and a half month trip with 3 of my best friends, is to collect a Vogue magazine in each country I visit. I want to get a deeper understanding of what all these different countries have to offer the fashion world and hopefully broaden my horizons. So far no luck in the Land of Oz but I will be searching every newsagent I wander past in the hope of finding Australian Vogue.

To be continued…..

Bondi Beach

A clash of loves

Posted on February 24, 2012 by spentland

As Fashion week is in full swing in Milan and London fashion week has now come to a close, I have two reflections on my mind. Looking back over LFW and some of my personal highlights, including the British influence throughout many of the shows and the eye catching and mouth watering colour combinations. Emelia Wickstead created an English infused, lady like collection; the collaboration of scarlet and blush pink was neither garish nor over-the-top,

Penelope Cruz for PETA

instead it slipped in perfectly with lady of Britain theme. Continuing this British influence Corrie Nelson’s A/W collection with the beautifully crafted designs and beautiful over flow of tartan patterns onto the models faces, bought some drama to the catwalk and the gorgeous use of collars and bows in Bora Aksu (collars being a personal love of mine) with the stunning flower patterns, as a stark contrast to Nelson, were simply beautiful. Both Zoe Jordan and PPQ stood out for me for the great use of texture, the designs were all rich with detail and luxury, with the embellished tights of PPQ and the fantastic Spanish hats of Jordan, the collections did not disappoint. The beautiful prints, colours and fabrics applied within the Moschino Cheap and Chic show, were an absolute highlight to LFW, the colours were pieced together in such a fun and elegant way that you could feel as if you were watching some of your grown up dress-up fantasies come to life. One show to be commended for its signature architectural design is that of Holly Fulton, in three words the designs were intricate, rich and stunning, and one would expect nothing less. Of course, I wouldn’t feel right commenting on LFW without the mention of Vivienne Westwood Red Label. A show with such a great range, with influences ranging from British punk to tribal, androgyny to draping dresses, it was difficult to find fault. Since the last Red Label show Westwood has raised £1.15 million for Cool Earth, giving the show a deeper meaning and influence, that reaches further out from the beautiful fashion.

However my second reflection upon LFW sprung to my mind when going through the Mulberry A/W 12/13 Ready-to-wear collection and that was fur. All my life I have been an animal lover and along with being a bit of a self-confessed feminist, I am a firm fighter for animal rights and this is the dilemma. I love fashion and culture and every element, the expression the unique ability to portray your mood, feelings and attitude through the clothes and accessories you adorn, however in the 21st Century we are still resorting to using fur as a statement of luxury and wealth. Faux-fur has come a long way from the costumes you would find in the drama cupboard at school; it can make the same statement, create the same image and portray the same glamour without the slaughter (to many this may seem a strong word, but for me it is quite apt) of beautiful innocent animals. On safari at seven years old I was lucky enough to see in the flesh a majestic elephant with incredible ivory tusks as big as me at the time; I hope that this elephant stayed how I remembered it and was not the victim of poachers, after its tusks to be made into someone’s grand piano keys. I plea that the ‘I would rather go naked than wear fur’ campaign created by PETA, continues to flourish and that more designers follow the path of Stella McCartney in going against the grain to create fashion without suffering.