Cosmic & Teddy Bears

25 Jan

Hello there.

The beginning of 2012 has been a bit hectic! Lots going on and not much blogging going on, sorry!

Last weekend Sunny and I headed down to London to spend a weekend with Chloe. We went to Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market, which I’ve never been to before and had a good look round lots of vintage shops and Rough Trade records. I was a bit disappointed with the Beyond Retro in London- the one in Brighton is much better.

I did get tempted by a bowler hat at the market, which was £35. Does anyone know where I can get one for cheaper?

After I turned my attention away from the hat, I did end up going through a mountain of scarves. I know a bargain when I see one, and I think my trawl was worth it, but of course you guys can have your say too!

The girls told me I should get this scarf because the black and white print would go with a lot of things in my wardrobe.

Black and White

Black and white butterfly?

I love a bit of stargazing, and when I saw this print I knew I had to buy this.

Cosmic scarf

Sorry if it's not very clear!

I’m not even sure what everything is. There are lots of graphs and measuring devices on there. Perhaps Professor Brian Cox would know?

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Protractor?

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Um, compass?

It’s a shame that I haven’t perfected my scarf putting-on technique. I really want to be able to show off everything on this scarf.

Lastly, a scarf which divided opinion! It was another one of those “I must have this” moments. I just couldn’t resist…

TEDDY BEARS!

TEDDY BEARS!

I love the colour and these guys are just so cute! I mean c’mon!

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Can you resist a face like this?

Have you got any tips on how to wear these scarves?

Bhavna

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Good to be (in) Green

19 Jan

So after an illness, bad back, Christmas, New Year and a birthday I’m back!

It’s been hard to motivate myself to blog again but it’s funny how you find inspiration from the most unlikely of places. If you know me then you’ll have probably guessed from the title of the post who might have inspired me… I am of course talking about Professor Green. But this isn’t a Pro Green style post- so don’t click X just yet!

Professor Green....with a green microphone.

It’s no secret that ‘Just Be Good To Green‘ is one of my fave songs to be released in the Noughties. I listen to it everyday without fail. Pro Green and Wardrobe style icon Lily Allen- course I’m all over it.

But it’s the colour green that inspired me for this post. Now green is a colour that doesn’t feature much in my wardrobe but this season it’s a colour that is everywhere. And you know what, I’m really feeling it!

Primark SS12: A green shirt dress £17

The different variations of the colour are so eye-catching but I love the emerald green colour in particular. I’m often told I need to generate more colour in my outfits come Spring/Summer as I’m such a ‘dark’ person. I think green is a good colour to mix and match with the darker navy’s and blacks that I already have. It’s also a great colour to work with if you want to get in on the colour blocking trend. Although I personally wouldn’t go head to toe in green with the fear of looking like Kermit the frog. Ribbit.

Jessica Alba rocking a bit of green

I also think green is a great colour to incorporate into a working wardrobe to liven it up. I hate picking out work wear, cos I don’t want to look dull or too ‘executive’ but I love this outfit Emma Stone is wearing!

I bought these black trousers from the Miss Selfridge sale the other day for £12, now tempted to buy a green blazer to go with them!

Black belted peg leg trousers @ Miss Selfridge was £38.00 NOW £12.00

I’ve spotted so many lovely items on the high street this SS12 in the colour green from blazers to bags. No green in my wardrobe? That might just change…

Mini stripe bodycon skirt @ Topshop £25.00

Split neck maxi dress @ Topshop £50.00

Green collar skater dress @ Miss Selfridge £42.00

Green wedge court shoes @ Dorothy Perkins £40.00

Leopard collar 60s coat @ ASOS was £90.00 NOW £45.00

Ewa tailored skater dress @ Missguided.co.uk £14.99

Green quilted cross body bag @ Dorothy Perkins £20.00

Love Label drape blazer @ Very.co.uk £35.00

Tapered turn up trousers @ Matalan £14.00

MOTO Leigh supersoft skinny jeans @ Topshop £38.00

 Will you be going green this SS12? 

Professor Green image courtesy of BBC.co.uk  , all others courtesy of LOOK.co.uk

Sunny

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I’ll Be Wearing Your Tattoo (Tights)

9 Jan

Hello there!

I hope you’ve all had a wonderful new year and that 2012 has started well. We’ve been enjoying our Christmas break, perhaps a little too much as it’s nearly mid January and we’ve gone sans blog for a while.

So, to ease back into things, I thought I’d start the year with something I saw in the shops whilst inspecting the last of the sales. 

I’m pretty boring when it comes to my tights. Mine are all black and grey and the only adventurous pair I’ve ever owned, which were my Henry Holland Suspender tights, ripped five seconds after I said “I practiced putting these on at home to make sure I could do it without ripping them.” Major fail and cue having to go round Newquay with a massive ladder.

But when I saw these my eyes lit up. Not only because they are super cool, but because I love tattoos, and they reminded me of the tattooed can can dancer from Moulin Rouge!

Tattoo Heart Tights, Topshop, £10

Tattoo Heart Tights, Topshop, £10

 Now these tights don’t really match my skin tone, but I still think they would look brilliant. I imagine pairing these with a black skater dress would be really nice, or perhaps some ripped denim shorts and a rock & roll t-shirt.. either way I want these so badly! It saves me the pain of having my entire legs tattooed like this..

There’s a pair quite similar but ever so slightly cheaper, for anyone who didn’t want to look completely inked up.

Tattoo Print Tights, £8.50, Topshop

Tattoo Print Tights, £8.50, Topshop

 So that was just a bit of January lusting for you. I’ll share a few of things I’ve treated myself to over the holiday period later. Unfortunately I don’t have any bargains to show off. Everything bar a necklace was bought at full price. Still, I’m happy!

Yay or Nay to these tights? Or is there something you’re craving that you think I should check out?

Bhavna

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Motel really Rocks

28 Dec

If like me your wardrobe is bursting with too many items of clothing than you’ll ever know what to do with, choosing something to wear can sometimes be a nightmare… And it definitely doesn’t get any easier over the festive period.

Planning the perfect outfit for those all important Christmas and New Year parties can leave you feeling worn out before they’ve even started.

You know that everyone from your boss to your second cousin once removed will be scoping you out, and if that isn’t enough, you can guarantee the pictures will be brandished all over every social network site going, even if you don’t have an account! (And yes this does happen to me, thanks Wardrobe ladies)

So, do you wear something you already have and risk that office know it all or so called friend mentioning they’ve seen you in it before? Or do you splash out on something new and risk never wearing it again?

Or… do you get your hands on something so lovely that not only will your work mates and friends be impressed, but you’ll look so great, you won’t ever want to part with it! That’s what happened to me recently, when The Motel Gabby Sequin Dress saved the day.

Just like Cinderella, (well not quite) I was getting ready to go to the ball (actually my office party) when I realised I had absolutely nothing to wear (nothing nice enough that is)

As I was starting to give up hope and thought that I might not go, just like my fairy godmothers, the lovely ladies at Motel Rocks swept in, sprinkled their magical  dust and saved the day, sending over this sparkly beauty  just hours before I had to get ready for the ball… I mean party.

I tried it on and it was a perfect fit! So I teamed it with black tights (it is December after all), purple lips and chunky black suede shoes, before I jumped in my carriage (taxi) and was whisked away.

The Motel Rocks Sequin Gabby Dress can be yours for just £29 in the sale, down from £58.

I got so many compliments about my dress that it made my night! One lady even said I looked like a movie star, but she was 65! Anyway I love this Motel Rocks dress so much, that I’m definitely wearing it again on New Years eve.

And if you want to see in your 2012 in style too, Motel Rocks have hundreds of gorgeous and unique dresses on their website…. And at the minute, there’s a massive sale, so grab yourself a bargain. To visit their site click here or follow any of the links in the post. There’s still time to get that perfect party frock!!!

Have you visited Motel Rocks? What’s you’re favourite item?  

Steph

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Introducing Zalando.co.uk!

17 Dec

Recently I saw an advert for Zalando, an online retailer that is just launching in the UK. The ad focused on their huge footwear collection and free delivery service, so I knew I had to check it out.

When I visited their website I was surprised to see that not only do Zalando stock thousands of women’s shoes and boots, they also stock clothes and beauty products, as well as clothing and footwear for men and kids.

With hundreds of well known brands from Adidas to Vero Moda and French Connection to Motel, navigating the Zalando website can be pretty time consuming…there’s almost too much choice!

The website is already a huge success in its native Germany, and I imagine it won’t be too long until it begins to get more popular over here through word of mouth and its ad campaign.

Here are some of my picks from their extensive collection…

The bloggers boots of choice, Jeffrey Campbell Litas are available on Zalando!

Jeffrey Campbell Litas at Zalando

Jeffrey Campbell Litas at Zalando

I love Motel dresses, and this Motel Celeste polka dot shirt dress would be a style classic.

Motel Celeste shirt dress at Zalando

Motel Celeste shirt dress at Zalando

There is also an extensive beauty selection including make-up from the likes of Jemma Kidd and Jelly Pong Pong.

Zalando's extensive beauty range

Jemma Kidd Make Up School collection is sold at Zalando

As you can see there are a lot of diverse brands and products to choose from. Zalando also differs from other e-commerce sites because you get free delivery no matter how much your order costs. Paying postage often puts me off ordering things online, because it’s pretty annoying if it doesn’t fit and you end up losing £3 or £4!

Zalando kindly gave me some credit to spend online, and in the end I decided to be well behaved and opted for something I do actually need…some trainers. They might not be the most exciting purchase ever but these Nike running trainers will be perfect for the gym and a lot more stylish than my old pair!

My new Nike Steady VIII running shoes from Zalando

My new Nike Steady VIII running shoes from Zalando

Have you checked out Zalando yet? Do you like shopping online?

Chloe

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This Is England 88: The Fashion

14 Dec

I’ve never really thought of myself as fashionable. You see, rather than being fashion forward i’ve always felt quite the opposite. I prefer digging up old trends than I do following new ones.

Fashion for me has always been about getting into character- being someone for a day. Think of it like Mr Benn. One day I can be that 70′s child, then the next I can be dressed like a Victorian street urchin, regardless if it’s in trend or not. Fashion should be fun and about being able to express yourself without being so serious.

Anyway my point is, that inspiration can come from anywhere and not neccessarily the catwalks.

For me, I’ve made it no secret that music/TV/films have a big influence on my wardrobe. As I ADORE Sherlock Holmes (the character) I couldn’t resist buying myself some brown checked trousers and of course some new lace up boots. That might seem weird but then again I am a bit weird haha. 

And as I mentioned last year and this year, i’m still loving the whole mod/skinhead style. So I am extra chuffed at the characters from This Is England coming back on our screens with ‘This Is England 88′. How FAB was the first episode? 10pm can’t come soon enough. As last years TIE86 post was so popular (thanks guys!) I thought I’d do a little something else for ya’s.

The series is now set in 1988- the year that I was born in actually! It’s amazing seeing how much fashion can change in two years especially after ‘This Is England 86′. From watching the first episode you can see that their is a lot more rock influence in the characters styles- especially Kelly (pictured above, first left). Lots of black and leathers. I also noticed a lot of denim which I think was definitely an 80′s thing. In particular faded denim and stonewash- as seen on Lol. I see she’s still rocking that long black coat. Forget her style, the actress who plays Lol- Vicky McClure is amazing.

I love how Gadget’s still got the whole sportswear thing going on but slightly smarter. The old mod fashion is still there though as you can see with the character Trev and Harvey’s new girlfriend whose name escapes me. I do love me a Harrington jacket. That Fred Perry one is gorgeous but I followed in the footsteps of Milky and FINALLY got myself a Baracuta one! PRAISE THE LORD.

Yes, after lusting after one for years I finally went and bought one. After a few more raging ebay bids, I decided to just buy one from the actual website than driving myself to a breakdown. Calling it an early Christmas slash birthday treat, I decided to risk it and go for the Large. The lovely Craig from Baracuta passed over a 20% discount code that was knocking about which helped me feel less guilty. I was going to show you an outfit post of me wearing it but it will have to wait. Lets just say I haven’t been looking so fresh lately. But here it is!

I love my Baracuta jacket. Despite being a Large it fits me fine- it’s deffo fate. I want to see more boys wearing them too- so come on lads! Baracuta currently have money off a lot of the G9 Harrington including the colour Milky is wearing. Asos also have a selection of Harrington jackets available including a few Ben Sherman ones.

I’ve noticed a lot of clothes worn on last nights episode of This Is England 88 are from Baracuta- especially Woody’s shirt and Cardigan. Can I just say I pure heart Woody. I want him and Lol to get back together!

The cardigan that Sean is wearing in the pic below is currently half price on the Baracuta website- £40.00!

If you like the whole mod/skinhead style then ‘Atom Retro’ is a great website which stocks a lot of retro clothing including all the brands above.

I’ll leave you with a quote someone once said to me which still makes me laugh: “You’re the only indian girl I know that wants to dress up like a  mod and skinhead.”

Well I told you I was a bit weird haha ;)

Catch the second episode of This Is England 88 tonight and tomorrow night on Channel 4 (10pm). What have you made of it so far?

Images taken from Channel 4 & Tumblr. Baracuta jacket images taken by myself

Sunny

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Review: Clothes Show Live

5 Dec

Clothes Show Live is still on at Birmingham NEC, and I went along yesterday with my mom for a bit of retail therapy!

I’m a big fan of the event and the show at the fashion theatre itself was amazing. The show was hosted by George Lamb and Britain’s Next Top Model judge Grace Woodward, with a performance from X Factor alumni The Risk.

Maria Fowler and Arg from TOWIE made brief appearances along with Darren and Lynsey from Hollyoaks at the start of the show.  Meanwhile with this year’s BNTM winner Jade and Dirty Sexy Things star BB strutting their stuff on the runway, and Kimberly Wyatt performing with her new band Her Majesty and the Wolves, it was a star studded show!

The show’s Department Store theme brought the store’s mannequins to life after closing time with an explosion of dancers and models taking over the catwalk to a lively and energetic soundtrack. Visiting different levels of the store allowed them to explore different fashion themes, from women’s and menswear to street style and my favourite – weddings.

Of course the other thing people visit the Clothes Show for is shopping, and I have to admit I was a little disappointed with this year’s fashion offerings. I did enjoy checking out the likes of Love, Dahlia and Tatty Devine, but a lot of the other stalls were very similar, offering styles that weren’t really for me. If you’re a fan of brands like Juicy Couture and Superdry, you won’t be disappointed – girls were queuing to get in for a bargain!

The one zone that really beat the others in terms of savings is the beauty zone. This is where we got a bit carried away, getting won over by the amazing beauty deals they have. At Models Own it was three items for £10, with a free goodie bag containing an incredible 12 full-size products! I bought a WAH nail art pen, nail varnish and black eyeliner and got these goodies for free – I’m not sure the orange eyeliner will be getting any use though…

Models Own Wah Nails pen, nail varnish, three eyeliners, two double eyeshadows, two lipbalms, mascara, two lipglosses, two loose poweder eyeshadows, nail buffer and case - all for £10!

At Jelly Pong Pong I got all these goodies for £5…

Jelly Pong Pong Wide Awake palette, mascara and lash extensions set, Brazilian Sun bronzer, lip frosting and cheek stain

And at Lee Stafford I picked up their goodie bag – between 12pm and 3pm you get 10 hair products for £10! Now I just need to find somewhere to store them all.

My Lee Stafford hair goodies

My Lee Stafford hair goodies

All in all, it was a fun day and a good opportunity to get some Christmas shopping done – or just treat yourself like I did. If you have chance to get down to the show tomorrow or Wednesday I’d recommend it – I think on the last day they reduce prices a lot so don’t miss out!

Have you been or planning on going to the Clothes Show this year? What did you think?

Chloe

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It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.. In Birmingham

1 Dec

Everyone’s Christmas Countdown has probably already started. The shops are buzzing with people looking for the perfect gifts and whilst I’m trying to avoid the crowds, something tells me that with December here I won’t be able to!

Having said that, I love visiting Birmingham for a good ol’ Christmas shop. The lights are twinkling, the shop windows are stunning and the German Market is mulled wine-tastic!

I visited the market a while ago for a look around the craft stalls.

German Market Birmingham

Carousel Birmingham

Had a fun time on the carousel!

Snowglobes Birmingham

There are some brilliant things to be found in the German Market. If you’ve been before then you’ll know what to expect from the food and craft stalls. I always end up buying doughnuts and pretzels when I’m there!

The shop fronts are looking just as pretty as the lights too. Harvey Nichols in the Birmingham have created a stunning Winter Wonderland in their windows.

Harvey Nichols Mailbox Window 2011

Harvey Nichols Birmingham 2011 windows

 There’s also a Festive Pop Up Bazaar, courtesy of the organisers behind the Sutton Vintage Fair. Open until 23 December, there will be two floors full of vintage goodies. It’s situated in New Street, next to Cafe Rouge, so it’s really accessible.

Festive pop up Bazaar Birmingham

 With lots going on, braving the chill to enjoy the festive atmosphere is made a little easier!

Are you enjoying the Christmas buzz around your town?

Bhavna

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WIOW: Red and Gold

26 Nov

When the shorter days and darker evenings started creeping in, I was thoroughly miserable. But throwing myself into sorting out my autumn/winter wardrobe has definitely helped me cope. Though I still don’t like how dark it is when I have to leave work, I love how beautiful the leaves are looking.

Me and one of my best friends (I hope that’s grammatically correct, tell me if it isn’t) took an early morning walk through a local park to take some seasonal pictures. The park in question was Walsall Arboretum which I love, there are so many things to snap! It gave me a chance to wear a few pieces that I’ve invested in for the upcoming months.

Coat and Jumper from New Look, Bag from Next

My fraying Primark coat has been replaced with a big snug coat from New Look. It’s the first coat I’ve ever owned with a hood, having rebelled against them and my mum for several years. The hood is completely lined with faux fur and it’s wonderful and warm.

I also bought a jumper from New Look in a beautiful autumnal shade. Colours like this really put in the mood for this weather. Together, the coat and the jumper were about £55 and that was after a 20% discount, which I don’t think is too bad. Everyone needs a good winter coat! New Look have got some great ones at the moment, if anyone is looking. I definitely need more jumpers in my life at the moment and I’ll be going back there to find more.

Finally, my absolute staple for this time of year are my red Doc Martens. They’re the best shoes in the world for rain, snow, ice and mud. Everytime I wear them to work I always get people saying they really love them.

I do have a few full length shots but I either look weirdly miserable in them or I’m pretending to be a zombie.. I think my friend and I will just laugh about those to ourselves.

Big thank you to my friend Sabina for taking these pictures for me. I think I may use her budding interest in photography to my advantage whenever I fancy taking pictures or acting like one of the undead. I think she takes wonderful photos, which you can see on her Flickr page. Wish I had a few pics of her too, she is very sartorially savvy herself!

What are your key colours for Autumn?

Bhavna

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Fashiny- The New Home to All Your Cravings

24 Nov

So a couple of weeks ago I went along to a little preview of a new site called Fashiny.

I’m sure every one of us browses online stores, even if we’re just “window shopping” from the comfort of our own homes. We see things we like and then find it hard to find them again, or like so many things that it’s hard to pick from them all!

Well Fashiny is a new site where you can collect all your cravings in one place. With a “crave it” button that you add to your internet browser, every time you see a dress or a pair of shoes, you just click it to add it to your collections.

The site doesn’t support every store online just yet as it’s still in it’s early stages, but there’s still plenty to crave from the likes of Topshop, River Island and Mango, to name a few.

You can make various collections on Fashiny. For example, you can make a list of all the shoes you crave and then a separate list for your dresses, as I have done.

My cravings so far

All collections are public, so you can see what other users are craving too. I’ve had a look at what some fellow bloggers have got in their collections and have even “recraved” things that they’ve picked.

I’m really enjoying using Fashiny so far for a number of reasons. I love the interaction between users. You can find inspiration from other people’s collections, especially if you know that they’ve got an eye for good design. And whenever you crave something, it tells you if anyone else is craving it or if you’re the first one to pick it out. It can help you find another user with similar tastes to see if there’s something in their collection that you love and just haven’t found in the shops or online yet.

It’s also a great way of understanding your own style. Though my collection is relatively small so far, I can already see that I have a certain penchant for black and a certain cut of dress, as well as shoes which are out of my budget..

And if I were looking to buy a dress, I could look at all my cravings and see which one jumped out at me the most, or which one seemed more unique. It’s great for helping you make the right decision in what to pick. And I also find that if I find something online, I’ll tend to “lose it” and have to search for it typing various keywords, so it’s handy to have everything in one place.

Lastly, if someone wanted to know what to buy you for Christmas or a birthday, then they could just look at your list and pick something out that you’ve been craving. Yes so err, I’ll be having those £100 spiked wedges this crimbo..

River Island Spiked Heel Wedges, £100, Asos

Hopefully you can see that there’s a “buy now” button in the top left corner. It will immediately take you back to the original page from which you craved the item and in an instant those bad boys can be in your shopping cart. Huzzah!

As more and more people use Fashiny, the site will become even more interactive. If you’d like to try it out for yourself, you can visit the website here to log on. I use Facebook to sign in, which is quick and easy.

What are your thoughts on Fashiny? Is it something you’d use? And if you’ve already tried it out, what do you think?

Bhavna

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