Affordable Luxuries

As a student, with no money, it is hard to find new and stylish clothes that are cheap and won't fall apart within 1 week. Like most girls, I love shopping so when I came to University it was hard for me to cut down on my spending habits, something which I still haven't really mastered.

However, although I only have a few pence to my name, I will still be attending the UK's biggest Vintage fair which is coming to Lincoln on Saturday 17th March in the New Life Conference Church. Although it may not be cheap, there are bound to be bargains there and things that are bang on trend this season. And hopefully we will be seeing some of these great bags, clothes and jewellery at this year's Vintage Fair.

However it is not only the Vintage Fair which has students, low on money, running around. Primark is another big YES for students, male or female. Although Primark is sometimes tacky (sorry) they do provide cheap clothes which can be great when your are running out!

But on the rare occasion they do sell clothes which could be disguised as a designers original for hundreds of pounds less.

This shows the comparison between a Prada dress and the Primark version of skirt and blouse which is a staggering £1450 less than the Prada version, and they basically look the same. I know which I would buy!

And on the rare occasion they do sell clothes which look half decent. These are some of my favourite out of the Summer 2012 Collection, and at Primark's low prices, I may have to treat myself.

And finally if Primark fails then you could take a visit to some of the boutiques up The Strait which offer great clothes, that are good in quality and are quite low in prices.

Just some of my favourites are,

Ruby Red Boutique, www.rubyredboutique.co.uk/pages/blog.htm
They offer designer inspired clothes, shoes and handbags for great prices.

Mono-Boutique,
http://mono-boutique.com/
They sell great dresses, clothes, handbags, belts and jewellery which are quite cheap and worth the little extra you pay.
















And finally, Birdy's Boutique,
http://www.birdys-boutique.co.uk/catalogbirdy/index.php
Again, they sell celebrity style clothing at great prices, but there is more of a variety of clothing there. They sell, leggings, jeans and t-shirts, along with their own logo t-shirt.








Take a look, I'm sure you'll love them!

Size doesn't Matter

After watching one of my favourite TV shows, The Biggest Loser, last night I was so shocked to see how much weight the contestants had lost within 3 months without the Biggest Loser trainers. However, although they looked incredible it got me thinking of celebrities who are not by any means skinny, and how their trend suits their weight.

One person who's 60's style is their trademark image is Adele. Almost constantly in the news she supports her 60's fashion with her bouncy hairstyle, black eye liner and red lipstick. She is an inspiration for women, particularly young girls who are over the weight deemed acceptable by model size zero standards.

Her fashion is always constant in terms of her perfect standards. She always looks flawless, and tops off her almost plain dresses with over the top jewellery, that sets off any outfit.

















  Another person who isn't afraid to act on their own style, no matter what their weight, is Beth Ditto. She has a very diverse style and isn't afraid to be herself. I love this domino cat-suit, although I do think it is more dress up than going-out, but I think she looks fabulous no matter what.

This outfit is very different from the one shown previously. She is dressed almost like a 20's flapper girl. She looks amazing. I love the on trend tassel's, and the sparkle which she has going on. One of my favourite of Beth's outfits! 

And finally, Nigella Lawson, although she is the oldest at 52 out of the the three, she certainly doesn't look it. Her perfect hourglass figure is beautiful and I love the way she dresses to suit her body shape and she always looks fabulous.

She is certainly one of the most beautiful women on the plant. Her 50's style dress suits her shape and the colour is the best for her skin tone. Love it!













So well done to all The Biggest Loser finalists, you all looked incredible. However, these three women, all of different shapes and sizes prove that you don't have to be model skinny to look incredible. It's all about the confidence!

A new Rae of sunshine

Even though the weather forecast did say that we were to be having glorious sunshine throughout the week it has become apparent that maybe the only sunshine we would be seeing at the moment is that of Sunday's.






However one new fashion designer, Suzanne Rae, who introduced her new Sping/Summer collection at New York Fashion week, seems to be dismissing this cold weather with her brilliant sun-inspired clothes.

















I love her use of pastel colours which are teamed with this light cotton feel which just screams Summer at its audience. 

This is one of my favourite pieces. I could just imagine myself walking on a hot beach in Hawaii or somewhere wearing this little number. And the colour just makes it.

This tribal print dress is perfect for those warm Summer nights. And the stapless slight sweetheart neckline is lovely for the season.

I love how she teamed certain outfits with sunglasses on the New York runway. Her concept of the Spring Summer trend is great- although it is quite, simple. I don't necessarily mean this in a bad way however. I like the simplicity of the outfits and the bold patterns and colours that she choses for her materials.

Her new collection is a joy to see on the runway. Her use of different materials and how she creates them into a the perfect Summer outfit is a delight. It would be great to see a new Autumn/Winter collection nearer the time.



Here's hoping she sends a 'Rae' of sunshine to the UK sometime soon.

Fashion Insomnia

Yesterday, I posted 'My Shrine to Marilyn' but when I finished my blog, I started to think about my bedroom and what it means to me. My room isn't just a shrine to Marilyn Monroe, it is a shrine to fashion itself. Packed full of posters of NYC, London, Paris and Milan I have filled my bedroom full of pictures of what I love.

Using ripped up magazine pages from Glamour, Company, Elle and Cosmopolitan magazine, I have to say that I am quite proud of its appearance, and I hope that it mirrors my personality and the things I have a passion for.






I (hopefully) have been able to transform my bedroom from the prison breeze block walls to an extravagant room decorated to the nines.

Although some may view it as over-the-top I say that it is my way of expressing myself. I feel proud to introduce my room and I am also very proud of how it may seem to keen eyes of fashion.  

As cheesy as it may sound, my room gives me inspiration for when I need to do work as I can just look at my walls and gather an idea of what I want to do.

Here are a few pictures that I love;

Maybe it will help you all out there to decorate your rooms with your passions. Just from ripping pages out of my favourite magazines I have managed to transform my bedroom from dull and boring to full of life.

And finally I couldn't resist a picture with Sushi and Bamboo in.

Hope you all like!

My Shrine to Marilyn

It is one of my friends birthday in a couple of weeks and while we were thinking about a theme we could dress up as, one came to mind, 'What you wanted to be when you were three?' This left just one person on my mind, Marilyn Monroe. As possibly one of the most beautiful people to ever grace this world she has a special place in manys' heart, even if they weren't born in her life time. My University bedroom is dedicated to Marilyn. Fitted with 4 huge posters of her she has a special place in my heart as she changed the way the typical woman is viewed. 

A model turned actress, Norma Jean Baker, AKA Marilyn Monroe was famed for her roles as a dizzy blond and became the quintessential American sex symbol in the 50's and 60's and is still considered one today.
















Her beautiful figure allowed for the most revealing of outfits, that were her prerogative. These outfits also suited her role as a ditsy blond, even if that was just for show.

Her classic figure has today allowed for many woman, of all ages to feel beautiful and not stick to the size zero trend that models follow.

She brought the world to its feet with her tight gowns that embraced her classic hourglass figure of a perfect woman that hadn't been celebrated until her reign.

                                                                                      Classic portraits show her most famous roles that grabbed audience attention and made her career for her. She is and will always be a very influential person in many women's lives.

So why did a three year old want to be Marilyn Monroe? To be honest, I don't remember what I wanted to be when I was three, probably a Princess of some sort. But I know who I want to be now, and who I have wanted to be like throughout my teens.

Like Marilyn, I have been blessed to have her classic hourglass curves, that don't follow the stereotype of how fashion is normal seen worn by models with no curves and no figure.

I hope that girls, like me, will follow the same example in fashion and the way they see and treat there body by one of the worlds greatest idols.

So, Thank You Marilyn.

My Secret Admiration

Ever since early 2009 I have had a bit of an obsession with the fabulous Katy Perry. This I can say with pride is because many people, around this time, started to compare me to this beautiful pop star, which I would blush off with secret pride and confusion.
I didn't just fall for her music however (even though I do believe this is wonderful too.) I fell for her unusual fashion taste.


Everything from, her take on the boy-girl ensemble, showing half
a suit, and half a dress.

 This carousel inspired frock, worn on her 'California Dreams' tour.

This Viktor and Rolf cheese-like gown.

Again, another costume used in her 'California Dreams' tour.  

Her half US half UK flag dress.

Possibly, one of my favourite of Katy Perry's outfits, the flowery top teamed with a pink body con skirt- beautiful!

And finally to Basil Soda's Marylin Monroe inspired gown which suits Katy's little black bob perfectly.

Her constantly changing fashion tastes are continuing to push the boundaries of what is acceptable in the eye of both fashion and the public.

But one this is for sure, she will continue to come up with new and unusual fashion that will be admired publicly and critically.

It's clear to see why Katy has so many followers in both the world of fashion and the world of music.

We love you Katy! <3