Reality in Motion

Hello!

I'm home, back for a rest from the big smoke for a while. I've generally just been chilling, enjoying my free time. Of course I've spent the majority of this week watching Glastonbury and wishing I was there again (despite the rain).

The line up this year seemed incredible, Years and Years were insane as were The Last Shadow Puppets. Tame Impala, Foals and MO. I must admit that I even enjoyed watching Adele's set. (her bespoke Chloe dress was stunning). Even watching from my living room I felt the festival vibe which got me excited for Latitude which is only a few weeks away! Whoop!

This post however is non-festival related and is in fact totally inspired by a very talented friends of my Dad's. My Dad is an entertainer, singer, musician and all over jazz hands enthusiast. A few weeks ago I saw him going to a gig in the most amazing checkered jacket. He revealed it was made for him by a friends who was a professional tailor and now makes jackets for vintage fairs. When I was introduced at him during a performance for the Queens birthday I told him how beautiful I thought his jackets were and he instantly offered to make me one. Custom made and totally unique each jacket is completely individual. I love the velvet detailing on mine. The collar is black velvet but so too is the lining of the pockets (which makes me want to keep my hands in them). The shoulder pads give it a very 80's feel. It looks great with, dresses, skirts, trousers... yep pretty much anything!  I'm in love with it! 

I wore my jacket for the first time with my crepe silver culottes (Boohoo) and short sleeved stripy polo neck (Primark), My super shiny brogues and Navy bag (urban outfitters) also made an appearance. All jewelry is from eBay or vintage fairs. 

My Cullottes are a super shinny addition to my wardrobe. From Boohoo they are so comfy to wear day to day but i'll also dress them up when going on a night out. 

On a more somber note this weekend I went on a research trip with National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT). I am lucky enough to be a part of their company this year and will be performing Brass at the Hakney Empire in August. Brass is based around the story of the Leeds PALS who fought so bravely at the battle of the Somme 1916. Our trip took us to the exact spot the Leeds Pals went over the top at the exact time. These days it is a beautiful cemetery surrounded by farmers fields, (like so many others found along what would have been the British front line.) I don't believe we will ever be able to truly imagine the horror these men went through and a chance to pay our respects was a moment all of us will treasure. Four trumpeters from the company performed the Last Post. Readings were spoken and the song "You'll always have a friend" from Brass was sung in memory of the PALS. I know my great uncle fought and died at the Somme and the trip for all of us felt very emotional. The BBC accompanied us on our trip, filming footage for their commemoration news report. It was such a special trip and I'm so grateful for the opportunity.

A few photo's from our visit. The top left is the memorial to the Pals and the right is where we sung. The bottom picture shows the a part of the barn the Leeds Pals were actually billeted to before being posted to the front line.

It makes you realize how much we take for granted but also how quickly the world has changed in 100 years but also how far it still has to go.

Tickets for Brass are on sale now!

Thanks for reading... I'm off to make a cuppa...

Enjoy the rest of the week 

Every other freckle

Hello,

I'm writing this post from the Theatre Café, on London Shaftesbury Avenue. The café is bustling with all sorts of folk so its the perfect place for a spot of people watching. I've spent the day walking the city solo and having a typically tourist day before I return home to Hull for the Summer.
My uni room is completely cleared out and I'm left living for a few days in the empty shell of a space. It feels very weird and I'm defiantly missing my fairy lights.

But back to today, I had a morning walk down Portobello Road a favourite place of mine. The antiques and quaint collectables always intrigue me and despite the impending rain, some sun beams managed to make their way through making the street look even more enchanting.
I then travelled to central and stumbled across Pop Boutique. I've only ever been in their sister store in Liverpool and the London Branch was a lot smaller but packed with so much beautiful stuff I Managed to get a pair of crazily patterned shorts perfect for festival season, especially as I got to Lattitude in few weeks! They also had the most lovely gypsy style cotton tops in there! Oh and a heads up they do 10% student discount!! yey! It's just a short walk from Covent Garden so I highly recommended a popping in if your nearby.

This week also saw me cave in and buy a Kanken bag. (Moneysaving has not gone well this week). They're so handy and everyone seems to have fallen in love with these little squared backpacks. I know I'll use it loads at uni.



I paired my Kanken with my Topshop mom jeans, urban outfitters turtle neck and a local vintage shops kimono. My shoes are also Topshop. The scarf is from my local Scope for £1 and is defiantly the bargain of the week a well as my new necklace, 50p off Ebay.

Anyway I've got to leave you now, my final treat to myself for finishing the year are tickets to see Phantom of the Opera (yes I'm a loner who goes to the theatre alone).

Have a great week... Festival looks to come.

P.s some of these photos are shamefully taken after I wrote this post. Don't hate! I know my continuity is awful!

Can't we be seventeen

Hello!

It feels a while since i've posted and so much has happened.
I've officially finished my first year at London College of Music and can't believe how fast it has gone. I've made the best friends and I'm so lucky to be living in my dream city having all these wonderful experiences. My friends and I have even managed to find a really nice house for next year, which made me feel all grown up but a little scared because I still don't feel old enough to be making these big decisions.

Now that uni is over for a while I've been making the most of my free time and by that I mean searching through charity shops to find some new pieces for my summer wardrobe. Top of the list would have to be a fabulous green tartan jacket (below) I found in Hammersmith in the local Oxfam and at just £8 I thought it was worth letting my inner 'Heather' let rip. (for any of you musical theatre lovers you may see the connection to this in the title of this bog post).
The shirt is from East End Thrift store and the pinafore is Primark (hands down the best thing ever purchased from there). My bag is Urban Outfitters.

I've also recently discovered the amazing shop that is beyond retro. I'd heard so much about it but never actually veered that far off Brick Lane before and now I seriously regret not venturing to it earlier. Its A.Mazing!!!! it has so much stuff and I fell in love with their own collection. From here I managed to buy a play- suit, dress shirt and denim jacket for just under £35! The denim jacket had to be the best buy. I'd wanted for ages and since my sister spotted and started wearing my mums old original 90's one I knew I was missing out. at £15 the Beyond Retro sale rail served me well!

Recently  I also got to visit Brixton, something that has been on my to do list since the beginning of the year. I met up with some friends who also study in London and we found a pop up village aptly named "Pop". we ate taco's and had a catch up in this great space. Made up mainly of shipping containers it housed loads of independent retailers and food stalls. As well as what looked like a cinema. Visiting Brixton also meant I got to visit the David Bowie Memorial and pay respect to one of the most iconic figures of British music Culture. Even now, months after his death fans are still leaving tributes and flowers. It was a shame I had to leave the vibrancy of Brixton early due to work but I will defiantly go again and I'd love to go on a night out around there.

 I'm now home in Hull for a week or so. It's lovely to see the family, they've been having a clear out while I've been away and found loads of records for me to have a look through. My dog seems to be especially pleased that I'm home. Below are some random pictures from the end of term celebrations. The last photo is my sister playing at one of her gigs, she's pretty good so if your into chilled guitarists or singer songwriters then check her out on sound cloud or Facebook at Frankie Flowers Music.

Hope everyone had a lovely bank holiday.

We share the same skies

Hello... 

Just a quick post.
Pictures for this post were taken ages ago and in true me fashion I've only just sorted them out and had a nosey through them.

They are all taken in various spots in Hyde Park or Kensington Palace gardens, two of my favourite spots in London. My flatmates Toni (borrowers life) and I went on a spontaneous explore around the park and ended up walking for five hours! Not only exploring Hyde Park and Kensington but walking all the way to the south bank and having tea there (or as you southerner's say "dinner"). WARNING walking from Hyde Park to the South Bank is a lot further than it looks, even if you can see the London Eye in the distance its like a mirage. Poor Toni had to walk all that way with her tripod. We did get to use it and we got some great pictures from our trek.

It was such a beautifully sunny day so of course the trademark florals were out. My floppy hat also got to make an appearance (Yey!) I got it from Camden market last year and love the colour, it also protected my stupidly pale skin from the sun! I'm also so glad I wore my backpack. This was a present from my brother for Christmas (he has an unusually good taste) and is from H&M. I use it so much its practically attached to me. I've also started wearing a watch again. The one in the pictures is just a cheap one from eBay but its super cute. My shoes are from Primark and I wear them way to much but there just my go to shoes at the moment as they seem to be wearable with anything.

We had some pictures at the bandstand which was in the centre of the park.

As well as the flower Gardens of Kensington Palace. We got to see the Princess Diana Memorial and even saw Prince Edward land in a helicopter. (something royalist Toni was excited about, I on the other hand was slightly clueless).

Feet aching we finally made our way back to the flat after five hours of walking. catching the tube at Waterloo. Can I just say it was 9 o'clock and still warm! It does seem that this was the entire of our summer and in true British style it lasted the whole of three days! but hey it was fun while it lasted (haha).

Hope you like the pictures. More to come from my London travels soon. Including a vintage clothes haul. 

Changing of the Seasons (summer style with the help of some great bloggers)

Hello there and a big welcome to this beautiful summer weather! Here's hoping it stays for a while.


This is my first summer in the city and already London is looking and feeling so vibrant and now that I've finished uni for this semester I'm starting to tick visits off my London bucket list. This week I've been on a five hour trek around the city. Lets just say we didn't expect to walk for that long but we just love seeing the city in the sun and of course checking out the streetstyle.

The hot weather also brings a change in the wardrobe, my much loved turtle necks and grandad jumpers are going to have to go into hibernation for a while, nonetheless the debate of to wear tights or not to wear tights will always continue and usually end with me regretting whatever decision I have made (haha).
Personally I much prefer winter fashion (throw on a good coat and everything's okay) I love layers and feel this has to die down slightly when the sun comes out so to help me with some summer clothes ideas I decided to reach out to some fellow bloggers and asked them for their summer style essentials, as well as their favourite summer looks and summer trends.

 So here goes summer style with the help of a few fellow bloggers...

Phoebe of London's Pheobe . (Vintage blogger with a love of the 60's and a great taste in music) 

“Colours- summer excuse to whip out orange, 60’s shift dresses are perfect for summer, can get your legs out and still be able to wear vintage clobber. I have to put the turtle necks aside in summer which is upsetting and sometimes I give in and simply sweat through the pain of wearing a turtle neck”

I feel Phoebe's pain, I love a good turtle neck, but will soon have to swap them for a t.shirt. Shift dresses are perfect for the summer, with their 60's vibes I'll probably attempt to find one with the craziest prints possible. Beyond Retro seem to have a lot in at the moment so I'll be making a visit to Shoreditch sometime soon to check them out. 

Follow Pheobe's blog at: londonspheobe.wordpress.com

Daisy Kenny AKA FlossyDasiy (A girl with 70's cool)

“The boohoo thing always comes back in summer especially 70’s

the whole Woodstock thing will be coming back so lots of crochet”

Crochet seems to be a new thing this season and you can certainly see it around from Primark to Topshop to the catwalk. I'm also super happy that long seventies flowing dresses are making a comeback. Match with a floppy hat and you're good to go. 

Follow Daisy's instagram: FlossyDaisy

Sarah Hayes (Awesome fashion, travel and DJ blogger and a lover of a good charity find) 

“I think Culottes are definitely going to be huge this season! As well as off the shoulder tops and dresses! I think simplicity and clean cuts will be in too this season just from walking around shops like Zara!”

I am such a fan of culottes, they are such a flattering shape and and are great for the English weather; cool for the heat but are still wearable in the typical English rain.  At the moment I'm obsessed with my New Look floral Culotte jumpsuit and my great £12 black and white floral pair from Bohhoo (pictures below). 

Follow Sarah's blog at: pinksars.com

Antonia Lewis (A Film student. Her fab lifestyle blog features fun, fashion and food) 

 “I'm liking papaerbag waists at the moment. They're really flattering on the waist giving it more definition. They are a great way of creating the smart casual look. Hats are also great!”

I agree with Antonia and love paper bag waists for  hiding all the summer ice creams I've consumed.
Follow Antonia's blog for more than just fashion, she also has some amazing recipe and smoothie ideas. She's also my flatmate and shares my love of hats as you can tell.

Follow Antonia's blog at: borrowerslife.blogspot.co.uk

Susie (A great blogger of modern, vintage living)

“Cotton dresses with stripes or florals, also 70's kaftans for the breezy hippy vibe. oh and headscarfs - great for adding personality and colour to an outfit and keep your hair off your neck”

Again the 70's style really seems to be perfect for this hot summer weather, especially if your pale like and and want to look summery without risking the embarrassing red sunburn. head-scarfs are also great particularly if again like me your hair is really long. I always find it annoying in the heat and just end up throwing it into a boring ponytail so headscarfs seem a great alternative. I'll be needing some new sunglasses to wear with them.

Follow Susie's blog at: oldfashionedsusie.com

So there you have it a short compiled list of Summer vintage essentials with some high street thrown in as well. You can't beat mixing the old and new together! 

Sidetracking slightly has anyone seen Florence Welch's Met Gala Ball custom Gucci dress. It's the most stunning dress I've ever seen and it just had to have mention!

Talking of mixing the old with the new I've been reading Vogue's 100 year edition and its full of classic looks from years past as well as some beautiful photographs and stories, however its this quote which stood out to me the most in the entire edition. It was featured in 1970 edition of Vogue. (Yes I know it's cheesy but I am a Musical Theatre student after all) 

“You are one of a kind, unique in fashion...forget the rules - you make them, you break them.”

Thanks so much to the bloggers who gave their input and helped me with this post. I truly love all your blogs.

Please go and check them out!

On that note I'll let you get away to enjoy the rest of the sun.
Thanks for reading!
Have a lovely week!