The Look Book!

The Look Book! 

Soooo... I am on a quest for the perfect wardrobe.

I want to feel good in my clothes. I want to be able to pick out an outfit and know it works without spending ages on it every morning.

 In the summer me and my mum went through our wardrobes and sorted out the colours which suit us best (on the advice of Trinny and Susannah). You basically hold all your clothes up to your face and it becomes obvious which are best for you. I was sceptical but some colours will make the circles under my eyes darker, other will brighten my eyes or give me rosy cheeks. It might sound like Bridget Jones' mum but trust me!! 

When I decided on the colours that suited me best (dark, rich colours - olive, sapphires, plums) I went on a paint website and copied a selection of 'my colours' and printed them off. You could even go and get paint swatches from a DIY shop. 

THEN 

I went to http://www.channel4.com/4beauty/style-me/bodyshapefinder

I took to the body shape test!! It's a really good test - and you end up with a body shape and rules to follow for the clothes that suit you best!

After I had my rules and my colours I made outfits with my wardrobe and cut out the things I knew really didn't flatter me. Now I know rules are made for breaking but there were some things I knew I don't feel good in and feeling good is my one and only aim!

Finally the best bit! Me and mum had a little fashion shoot with the outfits that looked best. This was not just fun but it meant that I could see the rules in action. The clothes I looked best in made me feel my best and I could see my posture improve - my confidence was literally visible!

To make it easy to remember my rules and continue my new, improved, habits I made a look book. It contains the photos of my outfits, the colours I suit and a list of my rules. Once I had them I also started scribbling ideas of how I could interpret the rules and things that inspired me.

There is a wealth of inspiring blogs out there to get you inspired.
Here are two of my favourites!
For tips on wardrobes and look books have a good look round Gala Darling:
http://galadarling.com/article/preparing-for-2008
Elsie Larson - my blogging hero!
http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/my_weblog/home_decor/page/2/

I hope my look book will help me to develop my own personal style by showing me the things I love the best!

Happy Wardrobes! 

That Swing Thing!

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Swing Dancing! 

Born from the jazz age, swing is a Lindy hopping, Charlston bopping good time for 

absolutely everyone.

I've been dancing for about a year and a half and these photos are from Leeds University Swing Soc's Christmas Swing Thing. I had a play on photoshop to give them a vintage feel. 

It was a super night! 

XXX

Fun Stuff

Just some fun shots of my room in Bristol and some yummy make up and jewelry shots. 

I really like shots of everyday objects that take up the whole frame - it makes for such awesome colours and great inspiration for new looks. 

Welcome to Leeds

Decorating my student room is literally the FIRST thing I do when I move in. I hate the blank walls and boxes of stuff lying around. Since the quality of the walls and paint job isn't great I decided more is more! As a student you tend to only stay for a year in a house and decorating isn't an option. So posters, throws and (in Leeds) lots and lots of blankets for the best make it feel like home. I don't tend to put up too many photos as they can make me feel sad if I see them when I'm home sick, so instead I obsessively maintain photo albums. But that is for another post and another day.

A home made quilt, and art prints. 

Gustav Klimt's The Kiss is what waking up in the morning should be. 

Van Gogh's Almond Blossom is fabulous and the scale perfect for that wall.

I was so so soooo pleased when I moved in to find this gorgeous wardrobe! Do you think they'll notice if I take it with me at the end of the year? 

I bought the Mucha poster because of my visit to Prague last year. 

His women are real women with boobs and bums and bellies and they're ridiculously beautiful.

And if you look closely you'll spot my tiny astronomical clock from Prague too. 

A £6 lamp, a money box (surprisingly affective way of saying money) 

and box that is literally filled with everything I love. I think the box deserves its own post.

I am obsessed with book shelves! I want a huge one in every room. I love buying books for my course at uni - I see it as stocking up for my future house. 

My gorgeous bookends were made for me by beautiful Jess for my 18th birthday 

and the gorgeous girls of number 11. 

The wool is alpaca and the softest I've ever felt. Jamie bought it for me from the local farm he cycles to. 

The only way I remember to wear necklaces is to have them on display. I made these board by pinning drawing pins along the top to hang things on and pinning free wallpaper samples on as a background. 

With a continuing theme of practicality and kissing. 

The fan I bought to take to swing dances (again await a post! It will be very worth it - for now hit youtube) I like to show off my rainbow headphones too so they rest on a pin when not being used. 

The post cards are from degree shows and the picture is Frederick Leighton's Flaming June.

A silk sari covers my ugly plastic tool chest.

You can catch a glimpse of my 99p film camera from a charity shop in Headingly. Not the most advanced but I love it still! 

And finally... I have to display my infinity dress because the net would take up half the wardrobe. But I think it works as decoration for the wall as well as for me! I'll put photos up as soon as I get a chance to wear it somewhere. This is the blog I got my tutorial from - its a really good set of instructions. 

http://sewlikemymom.com/little-red-infinity-dress-tutorial/

I am truly blessed to have an adopted grandma in the form of Iris Lapiniere. We met when she lived next to my godmother and we found out that she is a dog sitter. I can't imagine life without this wonder woman! She has the most amazing stories to tell is my inspiration.

Every time I see her, she gives me some sort of amazing gorgeous piece of vintage as casually as though she's lending you a pen. The two trunks above are my most treasured gifts. The larger square one was from the school she worked at - she found it when she got her job there. The flatter one (that belonged to the mysterious J.M.WOOD was used by her friend to travel her from India!!! I can't believe I am entrusted with such beauties.  

The note I just found... it found its way to Leeds from Bristol. My mother doesn't choose to leave notes saying   - "I have taken the dogs a walk and will be back soon" 

Why say that when you can be far more amusing? 

xxxx