The Big Apple

This time tomorrow.... I'll be there....excited much?! :)

Ciao for now!

The LBD

I while ago I mentioned the Vivienne Westwood shoe exhibition I went to in Barnsley at the Civic Center last year, which was excellent...well tomorrow The LBD exhibition opens. It looks just as interesting, and I will definitely be going to check it out before I go back to uni. 

The exhibition looks at the different styles and interpretations of the famous, iconic item of every woman's wardrobe over the decades. Contributions to the collection have been made by local designers and collectors and also museums, there will be everything from the well known Audrey Hepburn dress to the more recent Cheryl Cole...fascinating!

Admission is free which is always a plus, although last time I went, I bought some photos of the best shoes for my bedroom wall, so hopefully I'll be able to get some LBD one's to go with my collection :)

Definitely worth a visit if it's anything like the Viv West one (I shall confirm it's worth going once I've been)

Barnsley itself is not a bad place, lots of little boutiques and markets where you can buy fabrics and bits, make a day of it!

So it opens tomorrow and will probably be open until at least the end of July like last year.

My idea of Heaven!!!

Check check check checkin it out!!! wooo  

(yes I did just quote Little Chris....oh dear)

Feel Neglected?

Erghhhh....it's feels like forever since I've done a post....sorry bout that folks

I've been so busy trying to get everything sorted for my New York trip, deadlines to complete before I go, not to mention the packing, plus I've managed to fit quite a few shopping sprees in recently....it's been very hectic!

I still haven't packed everything, the usual problems...everything needs ironing, trying to plan outfits for the week and generally remembering all the important documents and information....arghh why does it have to be so stressful...don't get me wrong once I'm on that plane the excitement begins, but I can never seem to relax until I'm properly on my way, there's always a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I've forgotten something important...

I still can't actually believe I'm going to New York...wow I hope it's as good as everyone says....I'm planning late nights, early mornings and A LOT of sightseeing :)

So anyway, a NY post to come in a weeks time....lots of photos 

Here's a few items I bought in Topshop's FLASH SALE! I just happened to be going in to return a pair of shorts, and luckily all the new neat sale items had just been brought out....(now that is lucky) so I filled my boots....or should I say basket :)

£38 £20

£28 £7

£45 £25

That's all for now....have to get to bed ready for my final 'proper' day of uni for Year 2! I've actually survived another year...halfway there woohoo! Cannot wait for a break, not that I can fully relax as I've still got loads of work to do ready for after Easter deadlines, but still....lie-ins and late nights are all I need :)

The British Rihanna?

Jessie J

Laser cutting loveliness

So excited about summer and nice weather (hopefully) I decided I needed some tshirts and nice summery tops to show off my tan....when I get one :)

Popped into Matalan a few days ago and came across this gorgeous soft suede top, with flowery laser cutting detail. I'd not taken much notice to decorative details like laser cutting before, but after learning how to use the machinery at uni to achieve the effect for our non-woven project, it's actually a really interesting and technical process that creates a beautiful delicate result.

£14.00

The fabrics really soft and light, perfect for summer evenings with a pair of denim shorts and sandals. B.E.A.UTIFUL.

I saw this American flag tshirt and instantly wanted it, just as an everyday basic tee that I could throw on with jeans. It's an over sized boxy style with turned up sleeves, I like the laid back look it has for when I'm just walking the dogs or chilling out at home. It's very lightweight, perfect for hotter weather. (as you can see I'm praying for a good summer this year, although I'll probably be working most of it!)

£12.00

 Anyone that knows me, knows I have a lot of shoes already....however I have been looking at these for a long time and the whole reason I went to Matalan was to spend a Christmas voucher that was still burning a hole in my pocket, so this was what I actually went for...

£20.00

..I love them. I already have some high lace up grey boots, but these are so much nicer for S/S. The lighter colour and ankle style make the boots perfect for wearing with shorts and a tshirt or dress them up with a floaty dress and casual jacket. The lace panels are so cute and go well with all the crochet pieces that are around this year. Sweeeet.

I can't wait to not have to bother with jackets and scarfs and everyone looking fresh and glowing....I always seem to be cold so summer is definitely the season for me.....get the sun loungers ready, BBQ smoking and drinks chillin.....ROLL ON THE SUMMER SUN :)

(Matalan also does 10% student discount)

'Taken' to the 'Unknown'

Film Review Tiiiime :)

As you have probably noticed recently, Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger or January Jones on every other programme promoting their new film 'Unknown'....well don't diss, because it's soo totally worth it. Promise.

I'll be honest, I've never really taken much notice of Liam Neeson before, the first film I actually remember seeing him in and knowing who it was....was 'The A Team'....how bad is that! He's been in so many amazing films, I'm ashamed that I've never noticed this guy!

• Kingdom of Heaven
• Love Actually
• The Haunting
• Star Wars
• Clash of the Titans
• The Chronicles of Narnia
• Batman Begins
• Taken

How do I not know anything about him??? 

Anyway, as I was saying, after seeing many interviews with this guy, he's really pretty cool, and definitely convinced me I wanted to see 'Unknown', while waiting for it to be released in cinemas, I was told by a friend that it was kinda like his film 'Taken' (as in just as good as, and has the same action, thriller vibe going on) which is another one worth viewing, and just my luck it was on TV that weekend...

Well I can safely say if your into action, edge of the seat stuff, then both these movies are for you. Non stop entertainment, brilliant story lines, interesting, they keep you guessing. I cannot fault anything.

Taken (2008) is about a former spy going on a mission to save his daughter after shes kidnapped and forced into the slave trade. I remember when the film came out, and I just presumed it wouldn't be my kinda thing, how wrong I was. 

Unknown (2011) is about a guy who wakes up from a coma to discover someone has stolen his identity and no one believes him not even his wife, resulting in a mission to discover the truth, and find out whats actually going on. 

Some people won't enjoy these films as much as me, I guess it depends what kind of genre your into. Don't go see it if you want comedy or romance. Instead go for the high speed action! For example my mum was adamant she was going to hate it, and not 'get it'...well she came out raving about it, absolutely loved it! Liam Neeson is now her newest man crush, well I think everyone in the room came out with a new man crush even my dad :) (I think he wants to be him, the cinema trip was his birthday treat which he very much enjoyed)

I honestly can't think of anything I didn't like about either of these films, nothing that made me think 'why?' or 'how?' I'm unaware of any unanswered questions, so all in all, a pretty damn good selection there.

I highly recommend everyone going to see 'Unknown', you'll never guess the ending, and what an outcome it was (I won't spoil it for those who might not have had the pleasure yet)

I'd also like to add, I loved Diane Kruger's character Gina, strong, independent women is what we like, girls that can kick ass :)

Overall Taken and Unknown together 10/10

 Now it must be good, I rarely give full marks :)

GO SEE GO SEE GO SEE!!!

P.S. You like what I did with the title...clever huh :)

Lets go play Baseball!

I did indeed spend some pennies the other night, mostly on my dad and uncles birthday presents I must admit, in fact I spent exactly £18 on myself....but I saw some gorgeous things, really had to drag myself away (crying) I do have to be realistic, I have New York spending money to save up!

Outfit had an awesome sale on there jewelry, buy one get one free on Diva and half price on Freedom

Necklace £8.50 £3.00 Bracelet £6.00 £2.00
Buy one get one free
Outfit

I'm not sure if I like the black fabric part of the necklace, I think it's a bit harsh for the rest of it, so I'm thinking of cutting it off and putting the fan charm with one of the others instead. Love the little bracelet! 

Baseball jacket £29.99 £15.00
New Look

I've been looking at getting one of these for a while, there pretty on trend at the minute, but I wouldn't pay a lot as I doubt the baseball jacket faze will last very long as its quite a specific fashion direction. Topshop had a gorgeous one, similar to this one but a little bit shorter at around £40...

I was actually surprised New Look had 4 different styles, in a range of colours all half price, probably getting rid of them to make way for the sexy summer gear (eee roll on summer!) But I think it's the perfect jacket for those days when it's too warm for the winter layer but too windy for no jacket at all....spot on!

Now for what I want but have yet to get...

Suede Wedge £70
Topshop

American Flag Shorts £32
Topshop

Organic Cotton Bow Tee £7.99
H&M

I adore those shoes! (I really have to have them, I would get 10% off with student discount) I know that style of shoe is soooo comfy too, honestly I guarantee anyone that has trouble with high heels, wedges are the best, you can dance the night away! I promise :)

I know the shorts were around last year, and everywhere sold out, people literally went mad over them. I need some new denim shorts, my others are too big for me now, and denim does literally last forever if you look after it. Investment buy perhaps??

That top is so cute and come in a range of colours, grey, white, coral, blue, black and powder and IT'S ORGANIC COTTON! Love it, will be definitely buying that as an everyday piece, look great with jeans, nice and simple.

Me? An Eco Warrior...

As you may or may not have noticed I haven't purchased anything for a while...I've been so busy slaving away (I exaggerate slightly but that is what it felt like at the time!) at my computer that *deep breath*..... I totally forgot about shopping!!! Now if you know me well then you know that doesn't happen often, but if I'm completely honest I haven't wanted or needed anything in a while, which I think is quite an achievement for me, who usually buys any random thing just because I'm bored or feeling down or because it's just such a good bargain.

So anyway I think the last thing I bought was a travel cushion and a pair of shoes of a job interview just before I went to Paris, which is about a month ago I think, so their you go, a whole month without shopping. Well Done me :)

However, guess where I'm going tonight.....technically I'm going shopping for my dads birthday presents, but you never know, I could possible stumble across something for myself, I'll let you know.

It seems strange that I've just spent the last month researching and writing about why we should all turn to Eco fashion, slow fashion is good, fast fashion is bad etc.Yet here I am ready to start my bad habits all over again.

In fact our project at uni has made me think a lot about consumer habits and how it's effecting our environment, and believe me, I'm ashamed to say it's not like me to think about the environment this way, I'm one of those people that doesn't think it's my responsibility and that everyone else will do something about it. I know it's bad, but now I've researched into it and understand exactly whats going on, I am going to change my ways and try and take more care in what I buy.

It's not necessarily all about 'stop shopping at Primark', 'wear your clothes until they have holes in them...and even then sew them back up' I'm thinking more along the lines of, recycling clothes, giving them to charity shops or selling them on EBay, rather than just throwing them away, which I never do anyway. I have annual sort out of my bedroom and everything goes to charity (unless it's completely useless, then I bin it) It's the throwing away of clothes that could of been recycled, that's having a big effect on the environment, the landfill sites are overflowing with fabrics decomposing, some of which are releasing harmful gases into the air.

I think even if everyone could try to give their clothes a second life rather than discarding them as rubbish, then a difference will be made. 

Fashions changing all the time, and I very much doubt that the consumer habits of following every trend, buying cheap fast fashion and having wardrobes that collapse at the amount of clothes (this happened to me the other week) is going to change anytime soon. There's pressure from magazines, TV, high street stores to go out and buy their clothes and look like certain celebrities or copy catwalk styles, this is a massive industry to tackle and expect change. 

But we can all do our bit to help.

Strongly suggest 'Green is the new Black' by Tamsin Blanchard (I got mine for 99p off Amazon)

If your interested in finding out about how you can improve your shopping habits and help the environment, trust me it's a seriously good book, full of tips on how to make your own clothes and where the best vintage markets are etc.

Well I never thought I'd be turned into an Eco warrior! ;)