Resorted to stealing

"Borrowing is not much better than borrowing; just as lending with interest is not much better than stealing." Doris Lessing 

 

Topshop White Shirt

Topshop Neon tweed skirt-similar here

 

I have resorted to stealing.  Well not stealing as such, I am not slinking my way into Victoria Square at night like a ninja to steal clothes.  The clothes of my friends and family are a different story though.  Take the last 3 days and my outfits.  Apart from this neon green skirt, I haven't worn anything that was my own this week at all.  I was up home visiting my granny who has broken both her arms.  Having left my sunglasses at my mums house when I was up visiting my family the last night I was up, I popped to my mums to grab them.  It was then, the idea presented itself to me.  My mum and little sister are away currently in Italy for 3 weeks therefore leaving their wardrobes wide open for me to steal.  Think of a pig rolling in (shit) mud.  That was me in the middle of 2 wardrobes with stuff I hadn't worn before.

Topshop Purple Skater dress-similar here

 

So this has helped calmed my nerves.  Feels like new clothes but it isn't.  This is usually the time of year when I spend loads on clothes.  I don't know why, if it is because I always have a bit of cash after summer or if it is because I love the Fall collections more than any other season but this is the time of year I spent my most on clothes.  It was this time last year when I spent so much that I was like....hold on a second, this is bad.

River Island Midi dress-similar here

So stealing is now the new in thing to do.  Even my friends wardrobes aren't safe.  My bff Zoe let me borrow a skirt to head out one night and she forgot to take it the next day so I sneakily wore it to work.

Zara tropical skirt-similar here

 

 

Speaking of skirts,  what skirt length should you wear to work????

 

I am wearing my neon tweed skirt today and as I was walking to work this morning, I felt my whole arse was on show.  Have I gotten taller??? No.  Have I washed the skirt at too high a temperature??? No.  But all of a sudden it seems so short! I haven't bent to pick anything up all day as I know I will show my ass off.  Recently, every single time I wear a skirt this seems to happen.  Am I a slut and I haven't noticed until now? All my skirts seem so short!!! Is it my old age??? I feel like my boss has been watching my skirt line all day.

 

Due to the fact that I don't have a uniform per say, it is so hard to know what I can wear.  What length of skirts are a big nono??? Anything above the knee??? Even if it is slightly above the knee? I have no idea.

Short shorts

“No man needs a vacation so much as the man who has just had one.” Elbert Hubbard

Zara checked blazer

Hollister white long sleeved top

Zara Cargo pants

 

 

Imagine if you lived in a country where your stable wardrobe piece was shorts.  Instead of scarves, blankets, double, even triple layers of clothes just to stop your teeth chattering in May! I have put together a couple of colleges of my  holiday fashion.  I think you can guess the order of days by how white I am.

 

 

I was so excited to wear pieces from my wardrobe that I hadn't been able to wear this year yet. So my suitcase really consisted of things that I don't usually wear at home.  Florida isn't really a drinking holiday or a overly dressed holiday unless you hitting Miami or something.  We of course stayed within Orlando so mainly focused on the theme parks.  Some days I even felt dressed up wearing what I was wearing!

 

 

I had no real fashion faux pas apart from the first day (that's the whitest of white photo of me, with the coloured pattern top from topshop and beige shorts from Hollister). I tried not to wear a bra as much as possible a) to reduce tan lines as much as possible and b) bras make you feel so restricted and sweaty in such a muggy climate c) Connor has trouble with them.  So underneath the top I wore a black bandeau top; could I understand why it kept slipping down?!?! I simply put it down to my small breasticles so I spent the first day walking round the Magic Kingdom pulling up the bandeau every 5 steps. Then we went on Splash Mountain which you have to go on with your arms up (during freefall I did put my arms down as I am a wuss).  Of course, minute I put my arms up, my bandeau top came down. Trying not to scare any children, I quickly pulled it up but twisted it upside down to the way I had been wearing it.  This happened to be the correct way to wear it as it had an elastic bit I hadn't realised. Facepalm.

 

Black shorts, the one thing I didn't have so I made like a thief ninja and borrowed some from my little sister.  Never worn, tags still on them from Topshop, these black shorts caused quite a stir. Basically my arse hung out of them. You could see most of my peachy globes.  Probably the reason behind why my little sister hasn't worn them.  Got a few beeps and looks at Universal. I'm always causing a stir wherever I got! HA

My holiday style is pretty basic.  Hollister shorts, H&M tops with a couple of dresses from Victoria secret and Primark thrown in.  When I am on holidays I just like to relax.  No dressing up, no effort, just go with the flow.  The heat just drains me as well so I can't be bothered doing anything.  Everything was baggy as Florida has such a humid heat.  I brought with me a denim shirt and my leather skirt, both are tight & once you are there in that heat, there was no way I could of even got a tight leather skirt on over my arse.

Such a great holiday & now I am home and can't even show off my tan.  Trousers and long sleeved tops. *sigh*

She's My Angel

"She's beautiful- just like, like an angel!" Bashful, Snow White

Green Day Dress Primark - similar here 

Asos Gold Studded belt - similar here 

Black Brogues Primark - similar here 

Black Benetton Boyfriend Blazer 

 So after creating a food baby with my housemates last night in the form of a Thai Chicken Curry, we decided to roll out the door to the first Miss Northern Ireland heat. The heat is always held in Cafe Vaudeville, a gorgeous bar and restaurant in Belfast city centre (they do the most amazing strawberry and apple martini!) and is always the best heat to go to. Honestly, you simply go to have a nosey at the new contestants, judge them on their dress, make up etc and try and guess who will win. For the girls who enter the Miss Belfast/Miss Cafe Vaudeville heat, I honestly think it is the hardest heat to get through to the final on as there is the highest number of applicants and it has the biggest crowd so it is very nerve wrecking.

Cafe Vaudeville's gorgeous ceiling

So off we went, 2 of my gorgeous housemates Ciara & Jayne, Connor and I. It was like we were Charlie's angels but instead Connor's angels. Now why would my boyfriend like to attend a Miss Northern Ireland heat you may ask? Cause he is a even bigger gossip than girl I know. All night he keep talking about what dresses he liked and who had the best hair, at one point I had to ask him who he was talking too as I had been talking to someone else & he just shrugged his shoulders & continued on. Men are most definitely from Mars.

I have been wanting to try a certain look for a while now. I saw a blogger on Instagram wear a similar outfit to Milan Fashionweek last year and I thought I would be brave and try it.

Now when I think of white, I think of warm summer days so the fact I decided to wear white trousers let alone a full white outfit was quite out there for me. It sorta almost has an angelic look to it which is totally not me! I had thought to wait to try it at Belfast Fashionweek at the end of March but I had no idea what else to wear and I was on a time limit of 30minutes to get ready so all white it was. And my bravery paid off!!!!

 Photo of Moi last night taken by the dashing Brendan Gallagher

At the heat I won Best Dressed! It was sponsored by the fabulous The Outlet, Banbridge (I love going to The Outlet, it has fab bargains and I always get my Calvin Klein underwear from it!!) The gorgeous and sneaky Eve Brannon, The Outlet's stylist presented me with a gorgeous Hot Diamonds Bracelet from Chapelle Jewellery (just another one of the amazing shops at The Outlet) after lying to me and telling me she wanted a photo with me as she was doing an article on winter whites. I was in shock, I never win anything! It just shows you that everybody has great items in their wardrobe and if you don't think you do then start from the basics like a great pair of skinnies or a white shirt & you can mix them up whenever you want to.

My Gorgeous prize from The Outlet

Once the shock of winning wore off and once I had stopped chatting to friends I haven't seen in ages about my blog, the night was nearly over! Congrats to the new Miss Belfast Stacey Webb and Miss Cafe Vaudeville Emma Ward! Well deserving winners, the girls looked gorgeous. I tried to chase them at the end of the night like a stalker to ask them where their dresses were from but they were too busy getting photos done. But I recongised Stacey's dress from stalking Asos and it's a gorgeous Lipsy one! Check it out here!   The super hot babe Finola Guinnane, Miss Northern Ireland 2011 who is a good friend of mine looked out of this world as normal. She let it slip to me that her lovely dress was also Asos, Finola suits a bit of sparkles cause she's a diamond herself ;)

 Top Seven

What an exciting night! And on a school night for that matter! Thanks again to The Outlet for my gorgeous prize!! Just shows me that I am on the right path as I attended this heat last year and I couldn't have been further from best dressed if I tried. Last year I wore a navy long body con dress which went to below my knees, pearls and my hair up in a bun. I looked twice my age so it makes me even prouder of how much this challenge has caused me to change in a short period of time. And the prize was a gift so it was completely within the rules!!!!

 Left to Right: Finola Guinnane (Miss Northern Ireland 2009), Miss Cafe Vaudeville Emma Ward, Miss Belfast Stacey Webb and the current Miss Northern Ireland Tiffany Brien

Check out The Outlet for amazing offers all year round

Just incase you get the bug and want to enter Miss Northern Ireland, click here for the link!

Lady and his Tramp

"Anyone can be passionate but it takes real lovers to be silly" Rose Franken

Dear spaghetti kiss (of Lady and the tramp movie, it's a metaphor post people, do try to keep up)

You highlight the way a Valentines dinner should be like. The little sigh expelled at the end when they do kiss properly truly is sweet and innocent. It represents everything that love should be. So cheers to you spaghetti kiss. Thank god you exist.  But how did you worm your little sigh into my life?  Lets begin as everything should start according to me as I am a control freak.  Let's begin at the start and go step by step chronological order.

You began as most relationships do, in very special places. Ba ba ba ba baaaaaaaaaa I'm loving it, and you. You played Lady to a T, the shy guy hiding behind his floppy hair, just like when her coy smile peeked from behind the fence in the movie while I was loud, chatty and apparently according to you, had great breastage that night.  Just like Tramp, stuffing my face with mcnuggets. We parted ways, no spaghetti kiss just yet.

Oh we tried, just friends, that was it cause I was picking up my pieces.  Ok honestly, we didn't try that hard, we meant well but please its very hard, you are very distracting.  So my tummy rumbled for you.  Cue the soundtrack and the serenade. The will they, won't they?!? Connected by that string, that piece of spaghetti. Yummy.

 

It was a lovely bella notte when it happened.  My breath smelt like alcohol, yours, well I don't quite remember as I was quite giggly ie. tipsy. Finally the spaghetti kiss! It has everything, romance, humour, impromptu musical performance, meatballs, everything I have ever wanted. I hope you know how sincere I am spaghetti kiss! You make me feel warm and fuzzy and my tummy completely full.

Ps. Happy Valentines day everyone!!! Please ignore my soppy metaphorical post that has nothing to do with fashion at all.  Here's some fashion info though. I am wearing a red dress that has been in my wardrobe for the last 3 years, yes I really said 3 years and I have never worn it!!! This again clearly highlights why I need to do this challenge!!!

New Eyes

"The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." Marcel Proust

Jumper orginally from Primark -similar here

Asos Berry midi dress

You know that feeling when you are so busy that you look at the date and you are like how the heck did I get here???  I did that this morning.  13th of February,  how did it get to this date?  How did it all of a sudden become 2013? In my mind I am still lazing on the sofa on a Saturday afternoon in my pyjamas during summer 2012. I feel like I am constantly playing catch up.  Catch up with my blog, catch up wit my friends (in the sense of hey! I haven't seen you in ages, we need a catch up!) to catch up with my life.  The massive pile of dirty laundry in my utility room is calling my name.

I am loving doing the blog though. As I said when I started this I wanted to do a fashion/style blog for a while now.  I actually started one, posted up one post then my mind went completely blank.  Didn't know what else to write and I didn't have the confidence to post another one, I just assumed that no one rarely cared what I thought.  I still think this but I'm basically sticking my middle finger up to my nerves & going with the flow.  The no buying clothes for a year is basically a challenge for me but it was also a wee sneaky PR stunt to get your attention (I did PR at Uni so please excuse that naughty tactic).  I wanted people to read the blog and be like hey what is this crazy girl doing, then fall in love with it & empathise with it and hopefully come back to read it again and again.  Well that and my spending on clothes was getting a absolute joke.

I am re falling in love with my wardrobe and fashion in general.  I am dressing better than I ever have as I am taking the time to have a good look at what is in my wardrobe.  I am putting items together that haven't seen the light of days for ages and I am loving what I am doing and how I am feeling.  I am not promoting to anyone that you shouldn't buy clothes for a year, I mean you must be crazy to do that!! But I want to promote a smarter shopping world.  I was buying clothes for the sake of it.  I bought this gorgeous sequin top from Asos in September of last year (here it is if you want a nosey Asos sequin top), I loved it and snapped it up the minute that I saw it.  Now I still haven't worn it, please someone invite me to something where I can wear it!!!! All girls have said, OMG I have nothing to wear before a night out.  That translated is basically OMG, I have nothing new to wear.  But you don't need something new.  You just need new eyes.

My above photo,  if you are an avid follower of my blog, you might recognise that I wore this jumper last week?  It's ok, I won't judge if you don't pay that much attention to the photos and are like what is she talking about. However, it looks a completely different jumper with a dress than it does with a shirt and skinnies doesn't it? I hear your yes's through the computer screen. Thus, my point is proven and my work here is done.

Sucking in to the Max

"I tried for modelling work but it was a bit slow and that's when I took a part-time job at McDonalds. It gave me income while I was waiting for my big break and at the very least I could eat." Sharon Stone

 

Topshop Strip Monochrome dress-similar here 

So what do you get when you put 5 female models & 2 male models together? Why the West Coast Cooler Belfast Fashion Week Trends shoot for Spring/Summer 2013 of course! So last night, I hightailed it across town from work to Paddy McGurgan Make up Pro Store on Royal Avenue to get my hair & make up done.  I actually took inspiration from one of the key trends for this season in what I wore yesterday! Black & white striped monochrome dress! Totally on trend even though it's a good 4 years old! I think at one point last night Eve Brannon, the gorgeous stylist for the shoot had a still freak out cause she saw this dress bunched up & rolled up like a ball lying on the floor and thought it was one of the dress from the shoot!

I don't want to give too much away as you will have to wait to see the fabulous photos!  So to give you a backstage peak into being a so called "model".  If you think modelling is fun and glamorous (Ok, maybe it is at some points) but honestly it is a lot of sitting around.  It is unavoidable especially on these types of shoots as there are so many looks and other models to shoot as well.

First things first, straight in to the make up chair.  I had the gorgeous and sexilicous Gemma Garrett (Former Miss Great Britain and all around hotty) do my make up last night.  Gemma is currently taking part in Paddy's very exclusive and sort after Make up Academy that he runs for 8 weeks, twice a year. As she is away in Thailand over Belfast Fashionweek (B**ch), she got roped into painting my face. 

So for our make up, Paddy wanted a pale, doll like complication.  There was no contouring (basically creating angles on our face), the foundation was a shade paler than our own skin tone and a illuminating base was applied to our cheekbones to give a shine when the light hit it at certain angles.  Our eyes, cheeks and lips were a coral colour, a very in colour for this season. A gloss was placed over our eyes to really make the colour pop.  This kind of made my eyes sticky but it actually helped as I was tired from working all day too so they stuck open. 

Out of the make up chair and into the hair chair. Andrew Mulvenna and his highly experienced team were in charged of hair.  I have worked with Andrew a couple of times on different project and each time my hair is completely different.  I don't know where he gets all his ideas from!  Check his website out, his salon in Belfast was voted one of the top 10 salons in the UK by Cosmo readers. Andrew Mulvenna Hair   Our hair was to be shiny, sleek and poker straight.  Now a style I would go for myself as I like my hair big and bouncy when I can be arsed to put effort in but it looked fab flicking through the images.

So hair done, upstairs to Kharas studio to where all the styling and photos will be done. All the Cmpr team have all hands on deck and the lovely Eve is styling. 8 different trends, nearly 16 different outfit changes for 5 females models. That's a lot of clothes, I don't envy Eve trying to pick different looks for each of theses trends. Clothes off, sexy nude underwear on and as usual I'm being told off for having my triple gel bra on! Being called too busty doesn't happen too often for me.  Of course, Connor is on this shoot as well as one of the male models.  How are you meant to look sexy in front of your boyfriend wearing nude underwear and a pop on over your head????? (A pop on is basically a see through shower cap for your face, it protects the clothes from getting make up on them)  It's simply not possible. Sexiness is left at the door to be picked up on the way out again so it is firmly back in place for when we are back home again.

4 hours later, 1 make up change, 1 new hair do, 16 outfit changes, numerous poses, 23 conversations about what food to get when we were done (you see models do eat, Jayne & I got a chippy sooo good) and we were finished. At one point, I had to get my nipples rubbed as they were standing to attention & could be seen very clearly through the dress. You see!! Modelling isn't that glamorous!! Do you think that the Victoria Secret models have their own personal nipple rubbers in case that happens to them?

The Emperor is Naked!

“I love new clothes. If everyone could just wear new clothes everyday, I reckon depression wouldn’t exist anymore.” Sophie Kinsella, Confessions of a Shopaholic

 

Asos Skater Dress 

Asos Spikey belt 

Flicking through my photos I have realised that I have never worn the same thing twice.  Is it an achievement? Nope, I have now turned into one of those bloggers that I hate, it seems like I have an endless wardrobe & I'm too good to wear the same thing twice.  Ok, I maybe do have an endless wardrobe hence why I'm doing this challenge but I promise as the year goes on, you will be sick of me wearing the same thing.  I will be sick of me wearing the same thing.

I have itchy feet. This is not good.  I don't actually have itchy feet, I have metaphorical itchy feet like I need to buy something.  I have an urge deep inside me to shop.  Does anyone else get that? It's my own fault as the last few nights due to sickness I have went to bed early with my Ipad & just sat & had a nosey on Asos. Don't worry! I haven't bought anything but god, it is hard not too!!!  As I have got to know my wardrobe better, I can tell you want I need, not what I want but what I need.

Number 1: Black Flat Below the knee Boots

This is one thing I am missing & it's a pretty basic.  I had been looking for a pair of these boots before Christmas but could not find any nice ones or ones that didn't look ridiculous on my stupid skinny milinky legs.  Now I have on Asos, typical. Could be a potential hall pass?? I am that close to the edge people!!!

 Asos Black leather Boots

Number 2: Black Hidden heel trainers

Omg, I love these type of trainers! I have red & nude and now I want black.  I was telling my mum at the weekend how much I wanted a black pair & she told me she had a pair I could borrow. Well did my heart do a giant leap! Of she went to get them, came back down from her room. & my heart sunk.  Please mum, I have standards for borrowing.  I shouldn't but I do.  They weren't even close to being what I was looking for, they were just a black boot with laces & a heel.  Disappointed is an understatement. (Ok maybe these are a need, but I def could use them!)

 Black office hidden heel trainers

Number 3: Grey tights

Something I would never think of wearing.  But I have seen so many bloggers wearing them with brown/ tan boots & they look fab! I tried to potentially bend the rules to buy these but again I was refused but my rule governors. Stupid rule makers, ruining all my fun.

Grey H&M tights

I'm going to stop while I'm ahead.  I have a saved box on Asos the length of my arm, photos saved on my phone of bits & pieces I would have bought and I am dropping so many hints to Connor but I know for a fact it is going straight over his head. Today is a bad day.

Contents Page

"When I free my body from its clothes, from all their buttons, belts, and laces, it seems to me that my soul takes a deeper, freer breath." ~August Strindberg

Ever wanted a reality check & to appreciate what you have? This challenge is definitely it!!!

I have just finished going through all my wardrobe & counting/categorising what I have. At the start, I guesstimated 300 pieces of clothing. Of course, it is double that. 715 pieces of clothing & shoes in my wardrobe.

Here's a quick break down:
Dresses: 60 including
33 going out dresses (19 of these are black, 6 of these are red)
9 maxi dresses
16 formal & cocktail dresses

Trousers: 51 pairs including
24 blue denim jeans

Jackets & coats: 48 including
1 fur coat with my granny's name stitched on the inside
12 Zara blazers

Skirts & shorts: 41

Tops: 143 including
53 t-shirts (23 of them have comical sayings on them)
32 long sleeve tops
58 string tops

Shirts: 17 (6 of these are blue)

Jumpers: 24

Bras: 26 (who needs 26 bras?!? Underwear is a weakness of mine)

And one dragon onesies.

So sitting here, surrounded by my clothes. What do I do now? Roll around in them & make clothes angels? Do a massive car boot sale & sell them as half of them I haven't worn in 6 months? Nope, I'm going to wear everything at least once this year & if I put it on & don't like it, it's going in a box for charity. Or I could do a joey from friends & just wear all my clothes at once!

So what have I learnt from my first week of not shopping for the whole of 2013? The blogging community is a very supportive place!! (Unlike your boyfriend who sends you photos of the new shoes he bought), you have a lot more than you think and last but not least, Ryan Gosling will still want to go on a date with you even if he meets you wearing 2012 fashion.

Hello, my name is Laurina & I'm a recovering shopaholic...

Challenge Accepted

"What do nudists wear on casual Fridays?" Author Unknown

A year, 365 days, 525949 minutes, 3.15569e7 seconds. I'm not sure what the E means but it sounds long. Like eeeeeeppp, what have I got myself in for?

Fashion Fasting, coined by the legendary Jennifer Anne Curran when she lived with me. Simply, it is defined as the fasting from the purchase of fashion. And I have challenged myself to do this for a year.

Yes, that's right audience, no buying clothes for a year. I can hear the gasps of protests, girls fainting in shock and the main sponsors of my wardrobe, Asos.com crying as their potential profit for 2013 is halved. Why? Why put myself through such a torture you may ask? A month fine, 6 months at a push but a year? I'm getting crazy in my old age.

But am I? At the moment, my wardrobe spans 5 rooms of my apartment, at a last count, I had 17 little black dresses, my boyfriend regularly says to me, "haven't seen that on you before, Is that new? " My answer is always no. At a guesstimation, I have over 300 items of clothing (the correct number will be learnt within the next week) in my wardrobe of which I probably wear 10 items on a continuously loop.

Honestly, I have wanted to write a fashion style blog for a while but general awkwardness & finding my niche has stopped me. This idea for me is a challenge and gives me a purpose & framework on what to write about. Also, looking forward to saving a bit of money!!! I'm not going to lie, it's going to be hard especially with the industries I work in. Judgements on appearance, fashion and looking your best are an everyday occurrence. How can I look my best in a dress people have seen me in 5 times? The anxiety is starting to kick in already.

It is precisely this statement however that I want to tackle while of course, picking up & giving out some style tips along the way. I know I'm going to make some mistakes. There will be days where you may read this & think what was she thinking!! But it's all a learning curve & completely in the name of fashion.

Let the torture begin...