Custom Vintage Dublin

The festive season is over (sob). The sweet treats and indulgences are a fond distant memory, and its back to the grind of work. However, that means only one thing is on the way...SUMMMMER! You can't help but feel lifted, vitamin D from the sun fills you with great healthy energy. July and August may seem a long way off but I imagine many were forward thinking with their New Years resolutions. To quote a few:
1) Detox
2) Get fit and work out - future beach bod
3) Ditch the chocolates
Sound familiar? I can see those resolutions of mine glaring across the room from me (next to that half eaten box of Christmas chocolates.) Well what better way to stick to those resolutions than a goal. New summer clothes act as great inspiration and give you something to work towards. This could include a beautiful new bikini or a sexy summer dress. Whatever the item, they are likely to help you stick to those dreaded health kick plans.

Last summers most worn item: denim shorts. I can think of numerous high street stores where denim shorts were flying off the shelves last year. Why not shake it up a little bit, and buy the same beloved trend, with a bit of a twist, and have them as your summer inspiration.
Custom Vintage Dublin customises vintage Levi shorts. You can't beat a good trusty pair of Levi either so this brand is great. Founder and designer Ali Delaney only launched Custom Vintage Dublin in June 2012 and already has thousands of girls after her shorts. Each and every pair of shorts are handmade and unique so worth the investment!
You can email them and request your own design if you have something personal in mind, or if you just fancy a pair, then they have a selection of ready made shorts on their website.
Other items include: denim jackets, camo jackets, studded bras and hair feathers. Got my eye on so many of these things. So spend those Christmas pennies wisely. These shorts are great summer motivation, plus the bright and colourful designs will help us all feel less like the rainy weather outside.

Here is just a tiny collection of some of their designs and items:

Custom Vintage Dublin, Dipdyed, Studded and Floral Shorts, £50

Custom Vintage Dublin, Custom Shorts, £56

Custom Vintage Dublin, Levi Jacket 40 Euros 

Custom Vintage Dublin Website
Custom Vintage Dublin Facebook - all images sourced from here.
Custom Vintage Dublin Twitter

Shakuhachi

I am not deliberately meaning to just write about fashion brands at the minute. My exams mean a lot of internet browsing and in turn online shopping. Spreading the love.

Shakuhachi is an Australian brand based in Sydney and has some great stuff in at the minute, and a wonderful sale. 50% off a lot of their summer wear which is perrfect for these horrid rainy days we're having. Makes me want to bronze my skin, put on a dress and go outside into the sunshine. Holiday/Sydney please!

Free worldwide shipping: even better. LOVE

 

Shakuhachi, D-Ring Deluxe Racer Back Cami Dress, AUD $110.00

Shakuhachi, Scarf Print Tee Dress, AUD $115.01

Shakuhachi, Brocade Leather Tee Shirt, AUD $175.00

All images sourced from Shakuhachi website
Shakuhachi Facebook
Shakuhachi Twitter

Lacuna Apparel

Had my eye on this new brand for quite a while and still really love it. Sometimes simple can be effective if matched with the right pieces of clothing and Lacuna Apparel has tapped into this look with a strong brand identity. Making a plain t-shirt stand out is not easy, but their patch pocket idea was sold to me instantly. This has evolved over a few months to include their brand logo as the print on sweaters and t's and also a rib cut cage back on some t-shirts. I love them all, and realised today that during August they were doing a limited edition of patches. Hope that happens again!

Lacuna Apparel, Cage Back Patch T,  Burgundy £35

Lacuna Apparel, Logo Sweatshirt, Black, £40.00 

Lacuna Apparel, Patch Tank, Black, £25

Lacuna Apparel Website  - all images sourced from here
Lacuna Apparel Facebook
Lacuna Apparel Blog

Ones to Watch

By watch I mean literally go and see. Had the delight of seeing Jessie Ware, Ben Howard and The Black Keys perform this term and none of them have failed to impress.
Three very different venues and three different artists/bands.
Jessie Ware played in the top room  of Sound Control and it was the perfect venue to really enjoy and listen to her music. Chatting and joking away with the crowd, Jessie played most of her 'Devotion' album to absolute perfection not missing a note. She has such a beautiful voice and if you like her album then I would thoroughly recommend seeing her live. She will not disappoint.

Jessie Ware, Sound Control, November 2012

Ben Howard, also in November, played at the Manchester Apollo. A large crowd and a sell out gig, he had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. Taking his songs up to crescendos with the whole room cheering and clapping along, he could stop the music and the crowd would fall silent with him within seconds. With only three other people on stage and a large amount of acoustic music to perform, this gig was far from mellow and one of best I've been to in quite a while. A seriously talented man and I urge you all to go and see him live.

Ben Howard, Manchester O2 Apollo, November 2012 

Finally was The Black Keys playing at the Manchester Evening News Arena (M.E.N). Energetic and with some really simple but great visuals, good old Patrick and Dan played the classics along side the equally popular new songs. With two of the worlds biggest disco balls making an appearance for their encore the gig was huge, upbeat and an absolute crowd pleaser. Get them on their tour!

The Black Keys, M.E.N, December 2012 

Rat and Boa

There goes another two months of missed blogging. New Years resolution to become more consistent perhaps. 

Semester 1 has finished and instead of moving myself away from the bright lights of my computer screen (good for my health and eyes) I have instead spent hours scrolling through blogs and I'm just so content. Reignited my love for pinterest and building up quite a nice collection of clothes and styles I want to recreate. 
Newest obsession (and I mean obsession) Rat and Boa Clothing. I cant stop looking through their website, tumblr, blog, facebook; you name it, I've stalked it. Now following them on twitter, instagram, facebook - it's actually going a little to far. So clearly I thought a good way to place me in a better, less creepy light, would be to blog about them...I can only hope they take this as a compliment.

Creating and selling individual pieces, their clothing and jewellery appealed to me immediately because it looks wearable yet has an edge that makes it so much more interesting then a generic high street piece. Fashion should be about wearing something you love and enjoying trying out new style, not just wearing clothes for the sake of it. I think Rat and Boa provide a good opportunity to be more experimental and individual.  

Narrowed these down to my three favourites I think:

Rat and Boa Clothing, Colourful Feather Print 2 Piece, £60 for both, £28 Shorts, £32 Shirt 

Rat and Boa Clothing, Patterned Denim Dungarees - £30

Rat and Boa Clothing 

All three of the above are on my wishlist, especially the first one which I cannot stop looking at!
They state their inspiration comes from: 'the Oslen twins, Keith Richards, Native Americans,  Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, magazines, blogs, models, photographers alike and any other person that sees fashion as a form of expression and freedom'

Well it is definitely working for you!

Rat and Boa tumblr

Rat and Boa website

All images sourced from: Rat and Boa facebook

I Eat My Words

The wounding of my pride that this blog post has caused is something I'm sure will come back to haunt me later in life.
When studying A/W12 collections a few months back I firmly decided; military style = yes, equestrian style = NO. For those of you who know me better, this will not be a surprise, since my somewhat irrational dislike for horses and anything that can be associated with them, is getting worse by the day. However, as titled, I have to eat my words because October 2012, I cannot get enough of some aspects of the equestrian style. Top number one on my shopping list, the item that has caused me to write this post and rant and rave to anyone that will listen; the riding pant. 

Oh gawd they're so nice. American Apparels version in particular (village green). I have high hopes for them being as simply fantastic as their disco pant, but if anything, that little bit comfier. As winter draws in, I am all for hitting the shops to improve SAD moods. If that means spending obscene amounts of money, I'm sure I will find some vaguely relevant reason to justify my actions. For the riding pant, I already have two. Forward thinking:
1. Jeans are like a sponge when it comes to water. Manchester being the rains favourite place to fall, you don't want to have soaking wet jeans all days. That will only cause you to get a chill and develop cold and flu like symptoms. This in turn will hinder my ability to concentrate on my uni work and thus cause me to fail. (use this approach when introducing new clothes to my dad.)
2. As stated in my post below, the trouser is a winter staple. The riding pant look fairly tight yet stretchy. Leggings or tights underneath would work like a charm I reckon. 

Need I say more, must factor a shopping trip into my day tomorrow! Comes in a variety of colours so one for every mood. £64 is rather steep but my house mate claims everytime you wear something it reduces by half....investment. 
I fear for the day I say I've bought some 'simply delightful knee high boots to wear with them'...equestrian will get to us all, even those most opposed. Strong fashion trend. 

American Apparel, Riding Pant, Village Green,  £64

Five Reasons to 'Heart' the Change in Weather

Some people may say I'm crazy. I'd rather say I am positive. No matter how hard we wish or try, September signals the end of summer. So instead of hating, start embracing. Having a huff won't make the sun come out, so hit the shops and dress for the occasion. 

1) The Boot.

Put those sandals and flip flops away and your little tootsies back inside some big cosy socks and get your ankle boot on. Love love love. Plus military and equestrian are all the rage this seasons. These trends would be going nowhere without their boots. 

Office, Neptune Stud Black Boot, £70.00 

2) The Knit Wear - especially jumpers.

Oh lord, I have to be restrained. My sister recently banned me from buying my dream jumper. I haven't forgiven her but my bank balance has. The chunkier the knit the  better. Add a slight splash of colour and go for burgundy/maroon. Lush! 

Zara, Ribbed Front Cardigan, £45.99

3) The Coat

Staple for the winter. Unavoidable so don't resist and leave it until January to think maybe you should buy a new coat. Go now and reap the benefit, no doubt you'll be needing it from October. Reiss have some beauty's in at the minute but if in doubt, French Connection always have a cracking range of coats. 

French Connection, Lucky Wishes Double Breasted Coat, £230.00

4) The Scarf

Biased as I live and breathe scarves but we don't want our chests getting a chill and keep those soar throats cosy with a big hug of woollen love. Pulled up over your ears on those bitterly cold days. 

Topshop, Two Tone Zigzag Snood, £16.00 

5) The Trouser

Skinny trousers may still look hot but if you buy a pair with a slight bit of leeway then you can always pop a pair of leggings on underneath on those chilly days and people will be none the wiser. One of my house mates is considering wearing her wetsuit all winter under clothes to keep warm. Maybe a bit extreme...plus hassle when you need the loo. We've all been there with a play suit. 

All Saints, Roseport Ashby, £75.00