Double Denim

"Double Denim: A way to dress that mixes trash and class: Denim on the top and bottom." Urban Dictionary

Denim Shirt H&M

True Religion Bootcut Jeans

Asos Grey Jumper

 

 

Back to work today but at least it is wednesday! And thus it is back to basic day.  It is only since starting this challenge that I realise how much I have come to rely on my denim shirts.  Granted I do have a few, all different styles and colours though!! But you can create so many different looks with a simple denim shirt so I wanted to include it in my basic checklist.  Dress it up, dress it down, wear it with skater skirt, pencil skirt, jeans or with shorts as I plan to do when it is nicer weather. It works and it is so easy to wear. This is me today, back to work & wearing bootcut jeans! Ooooohhhh I know! Can't remember the last time I wore bootcut but I thought this morning it was that I would channel my inner cowgirl. Yeh ah!


Here is just an selection of outfit ideas to wear with a denim shirt. Have I missed any other way to wear it???

 

Make room for your life

 

Here it is!!

 

 

This is my video with Ikea of when they came to "Make room for my life" aka organising my wardrobe for me! I love the way they have decorated and organised my room with the secondary storage.  I really noticed it this morning when I was trying to decide what to wear to Belfast Fashionweek tonight again.  Everything has its own place so it was all easily found! I would definately recommend it for all budding fashionistas!

 

Check out their website for ideas or even just pop down to Ikea Belfast!

 

IKEA Website

 

 

A special thanks must be said to Jane Williams from JPR for reading the blog and helping a girl out in the quest of actually knowing what she has in her wardrobe! Snaps for Jane.

Dead Space

 

"Storage is important, you need storage for like, to store things." Anthea Turner

 

The House Rules in my hall. Break them and you have to leave.

 

 

I learnt this phase last night. Apparently, according to the gods that are Ikea, I have a lot of dead space in my bedroom! *gasp* horror* Really? Me? Surely not!! I would say I am a organised person, detailed to do lists are a great friend of me. So of course, my bedroom is pretty tidy too. Well maybe not tidy (you have seen it in the background of my photos. Not a massive fan of making my bed) but everything has a place even if that place is the floor.

So when Ikea said they would come and "make room for my life" i.e Ikea think I've too much clothes and want to help tidy my wardrobe so I know where everything is, I was intrigued. I come across things in my wardrobe that I haven't worn in ages and don't even remember I have so the idea of everything having a place easily excited me. My house is like an Ikea showroom, felt kinda embarrassed that everything from my front door mat, picture frames, fake flowers and all kitchen utilitises are from Ikea.  You could even call me an Ikea stalker, I was there the day it first opened (they gave me free chips) and my relationship with them began.  It was the lovely Jane who organises all Ikea Belfast's PR who read my blog and contacted me.  Thank you lovely Jane.  So again, mad dash after work home.  (I seem to be mad dashing everywhere at the minute) to welcome Ikea with open arms into The Princess Palace. I hoovered mum, don't worry!

 

So here are the before photos of my wardrobe.  My wardrobe is mainly all built in, as my flat is only for hobbits due to the slanted ceilings. My 6ft 2in boyfriend does not appreciate having to walk around my room with his head bent at a 45 degree angle so he doesn't bang his head.  My advice is to wear a helmet. He bangs his head all the time off stuff, it's quite amusing.  So I wondered what Ikea could really help me with? I love all their furniture, especially their Pax wardrobes and I am currently saving for a armchair for my bedroom.  My intrigued levels rose when they came in with bags and bags of boxes.

It is called secondary storage.  Everything has a place, every box has a name.  There's my knicker box, knitted scarf box, cotton scarf box, shoe boxes, bracelet box.  The boxes sooth my OCD for everything to have a place.  My words to Connor after Ikea were, "Can I go play?"  Now it took me a while, perfectionist here but my wardrobe is now sorted.  Everything is spread out, I know where everything is; no more half folding stuff and trying to push close the drawer because there is actually space for my clothes to lay nicely in my drawers!  Here are some photos as a sneak peek of what Ikea did.  (They did video the transformation, my skills are with writing not speaking it would seem.)

So lovely and tidy. *sigh* Can't wait to go home and finish playing with the boxes.  They brought me some to organise all my beauty/make up with. So excited.  Thank you Ikea, let's be friends forever.

Sick & not in the cool way

“Being sick feels like you're wearing someone else's glasses”  Megan Boyle

Stills Mint Jumper

Topshop Navy Leigh Jeans

River Island brown boots

 

 

I am sick.  Not in the cool way that kids now a days say that they are hip & down with it.  I am generally sick.  There is a box of tissues beside me as I type this & a pile of used tissues in the bin already. ( And also beside my bed at home which I promise I will put in the bin before I collapse into bed.)  I am never sick.  I would say my immune system is one of the only things going for me but on this occasion it has failed.  My tissues are making me smile though as they have glitter on them.  You don't have to admit it to me but everyone does it but you know when you blow you nose & then you look at it?? Well I did that and I thought I was blowing out glitter but no, its just my fancy tissues.

 

 

I don't know how the big bloggers do it?? I mean they must get sick. But do they still upload 50 photos a day? I had to drag myself out of bed today and didn't think at all what I was putting on.  I literally grabbed the cosiest thing I owe that was clean and took a photo. (No make up as you can clearly see)  It also doesn't help that my eyes are very puffy today as well as my housemates and I went to see Safe Haven.  A good old romantic movie on a Tuesday night is a must when you feel this crap.  I even broke out my teddy bear that I used to sleep with every night when I was a kid because I needed that extra loving.  It is times like these that you really miss your mum to take care of you.  I have lived in my own place in Belfast since I was 18.  I think I only waited to the next day after my final A-level and then it was ok, mum I am away to stay in the flat in Belfast for a night out and I just never came back.

 

 

 

Here is a lovely sneak peek of the Ikea press shoots from yesterday! Casual lounging in a Pax wardrobe in Ikea wearing a gorgeous formal dress. (Def should have put tan on, I will just blame it on the sickness.)

Catching Flies

"I am shocked to have gone as far as I have gone"  Steven Patrick Morrissey

I was up at 7.37 today. That might be normal for some people but this is coming from a girl who at the start of the year was getting out of bed at 9.15 and starting work at 9.30 with a 12 minute walk to complete as well. Early rises to me are always associated with going on holiday but sadly this is not the case.

I wouldn't get out of bed for just anyone. It would have to be a pretty special person to get me to open my eyes & that special person was Miss Jenny Curran. For nearly two years, I listened to the tap tap tapping of Jenny's computer keys as she wrote her articles for The Sunday World in the bedroom beside me. ( I heard other noises too especially every sunday at 10am but I won't go into that) so it is an odd sensation to be a subject of Miss Curran's stories. It's an odd sensation as I have said before that anyone wants to listen/read about my blog.

I have lovely journalists like Miss Curran who's ears have pricked at my blog and my challenge contacting me. I also have my own monthly column in a local magazine, Local Woman, I am working with one of my favourite company's Ikea and their "make room for your life" campaign, I am running a clothes swapping event at Belfast Fashionweek and in May I am attending a bloggers conference to discuss my blog. (More on each of these things later!) And to top this all off, I still haven't bought any clothes for the last two months!!

My first column in Local Woman!

I am astounded, shocked, perplexed, amazed, stunned, astonished and overwhelmed. (That's all the adjectives that I can think off at this time in the morning.). Who knew.

I really am actually finding the no clothes shopping pretty easy if I am honest. I haven't worn the same thing twice and I have re fallen back in love with my wardrobe. It's made me appreciate fashion again and taking the time to put some thought and effort into the way I present myself. Granted my hair is still greasy and my nails are always dirty and I still wear mis-matched socks but at least my outfits look well! My dad says that I probably will be the cause of the triple dip recession due to my lack of spending in the shops though.

But I can't wait to see where else this blog brings me! So keep tuning in! It is only February like, I still have 10 months to go so it might all go downhill soon!!!

Furry Friends

"Animal are my friends, I don't eat my friends" George Bernard Shaw

 Asos owl jumper-alternative here

Topshop Striped pencil skirt - similar here  

Warehouse Black waist belt - similar here

No! When I say furry friends, I am not talking about my legs!! I am of course talking about the animal jumper motifs that seem to be everywhere at the minute! Kicked started by Burberry this time last year at London Fashion week for Fall 2012 (seen below for the gorgeous models wearing a twit too owl jumper)

If you follow the big blogs, you will have seen that all of the girls have the Kenzo tiger jumper. Here is one of my favourite bloggers, Chiara Ferragni wearing hers.

Of course, before Christmas I was lusting after one of these so that I could be one of the cool crowd but with a hefty price tag of £165, I re thought about it. But I still wanted a jumper with a furry friend on it. My wantings were answered by one of my Santa's aka my step mum. Got my own little owl! Kate bosworth, eat your heart out.

This photo was taken on the last day of my romantic holiday away with my other half over New Year's Eve to Paris. This orange juice cost 9 euros!! It was delicious though.  I put this photo in as my hair looks lovely and washed and with no roots.  Basically to remind myself that it needs done badly. Also, I got slagged for not making my bed for my photos so Mr Mark Ginley, the bed is made especially for you.

Here are some of my favourite animal jumpers!

Topshop Tiger Jumper £45 

 Sugarhil Kissing Squirrel Jumer £39.57

New Look dog Jumper £20

 

Dorothy Perkins Bunny Jumper £28 

What goes around, comes around.

"So soon that a fashion is universal, it is out of date" Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach

 White Shirt

True Religion jeans 

Topshop studded pumps 

Sandwich Scarf

The secret to fashion is that nothing really ever goes out of fashion. Everything is always coming back into trend, maybe years, decades or even a century in time. This was the highly intellectual conversation that my friend Zoe and I were having on Sunday night after we had been to the pictures to see Tween rom-com Beautiful Creatures. (a movie not to drag your boyfriend to ladies, that would just be cruel.) Here are a few of my favourite recurring trends that I want to recreate over the next few weeks. It can be a game, guess what trend I am wearing today!

Trend number one

Monochrome: striped, checked, different sleeves, different trousers legs. You name it, if it is black and white, it is bang on trend. As seen previously in my blog, I have achieve the monochrome look without buying anything new this season. I'm down with the kids.

Trend number two

Shift: no this is not slang for kissing someone (to shift someone is to kiss them right?? Or did I just make this up??) Shift clothing is a box shaped like attire for example shift dresses. I don't really have that many shift style clothing items as it doesn't really suit my shape as I am so small and it drowns me. But I do have a few shift shirts that I like to tuck into pencil skirts or skinnies. Totally rocking the swinging sixties. Especially if it is a bright colour, far out dude. Check out this shift dress from Asos

Trend number three

The nineties: think spice girls, think all saints, think b*witched and their double denim. C'est la vie! The nineties are back although it seems only yesterday that they were actually here. Back in the day I was rocking my Adidas poppers (aw remember these, the tracksuit bottoms with the buttons the whole way up them) but this trend is truly rocking the doc martins and dungarees look! I'm not sure if this one I am going to be able to achieve or even pull off it without fully looking like I am my 12 year old tomboy self again.

Trend number four

Flares: omg, can it be true?!? Bloggers from all over the world have been working the flare wide leg trousers for the past couple of seasons but flare jeans are finally coming back into fashion! Spotted on the catwalk at New York Fashion Week, I will be dusting off my denim flares that have been huffing with me at the back of my wardrobe for the past couple of years. No more skinnies which are a nightmare to get off. Sexy undressing in these is impossible. It has gotten to the point where I try not to wear skinnies if Connor is coming over to my house to stay if you know what I mean ;)

Rebecca Minkoff at New York Fashion week

Yeah so, trend spotting for 2013 by wearing fashion from previous years. This can't qualify as vintage can it?!?

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.

Suit up!

"I couldn't afford a trip to Europe after college so I went backpacking through Ikea to find myself." Dave Grohl

 

Abercrombie & Fitch Shirt 

Asos Grey Jumper 

Navy high waisted Leggings Zara 

I suited up this morning, well as much as I can without feeling like I'm fifty year old bank clerk.  Who am I trying to impress you ask? Can't tell you just yet but I have a meeting today.  Do people even wear suits to work any more?  It seems that now the work place attire has gone very smart/casual.  I have two suits that I bought from Next when I considered doing a work placement during University, these of course have never seen the light of day.

Zara Trench Coat

Balenciaga Handbag

Oh yes, I mean business. Dressed to impress but sadly when I try to be professional, it usually ends badly.  For example, when I went for my placement interview with Diageo, I wore a suit and kitten heels (I think I still have them) but I fell head first going up the stairs and I pushed the interviewer down with me.  I got the placement though but I turned it down! So yes, cross your fingers for me.

PS. Happy Pancake Tuesday everyone!!! If you are about Belfast today, call up to the Wellington Park Hotel today (beside the bot and Eg). My bff Jenny Curran is selling pancakes with all proceeds going to Action Cancer! I will be there the minute I finish work at 5pm!!! She closes at 6pm so make sure you are there before then!

 

Standard Friday Night

"The camera photographs what is there" Jack Nicholson

H&M black knit jumper

Tan Leather Skirt - similar here

Topshop necklace

So what did everyone do on their Friday evening? Normal day in my life, I had a half naked photoshoot with my boyfriend after work. Standard...not! Think more Calvin Klein-esqe rather than full blown porno! So why were we posing & making cringe worth yet fab images for? To help out out Northern Ireland's dream team of course!

First up, Mr Paddy McGurgan, the European Make up artist Champion 2012 has opened a Make Up Pro store on Belfast's Royal Avenue. He's trained with Mac, Stila and worked with stars from Mischa Barton, Yasmin Le Bon and me of course! HA! The new store close to the Belfast Telegraph offices provides professional make up applied by professional make up artists who have all been trained by Paddy. Trust me, I've had my make up done by Paddy and many of his angels & every single time I have loved it. From being bodied painted, commercial make-up, fashion make-up, wedding style make up, you name it, Paddy & his Angels are geniuses with a make up brush.

Here are a couple of examples, just to show you the high standard we are talking about:

Not only can you make appointments to be pampered but Paddy is selling make up and skincare brands that haven't been available in Northern Ireland before. Make-up studio, T. Le Clerc, Balance Me and embryolisse are to name a few. My star buy is this little beauty. Does everyone remember this photo of Kim K appearing on her twitter feed?

She looks like she is William Wallace about to go to war! But, actually, she is wearing a yellow primer & Paddy sells the actual one she uses!! It combats redness, brightens the skin and creates an even skintone for your make up to go on. I'm not joking, he used the powder under my eyes & my dark circles were gone! I think all the money I might save this year from not shopping will be spent in this shop!!

Here is the little beauty! It is by T.le Clerc & available in a powder or liquid form depending on your skin type and what you want to use it for.

To take these images all you have to do is climb the stairs to the studio above Paddy's shop & into the lair of the legendary photographer Khara Pringle. If you are a model in Northern Ireland & you get to shot with Khara, you know you have made it. Quirky & striking herself, you can instantly tell when an image has been shot by Khara. They are all stunning & striking! She can make any one look good. Khara makes you feel instantly relaxed & it always turn into a laugh. Honestly, I was nervous about this shot. Of course, I love being in front of the camera but posing all lovey dovey with you boyfriend can be harder than it looks! I felt awkward & angsty & as usual Connor was as cool as a cucumber! But the minute we were in front the camera, Khara made it easy & relaxed. We got some amazing shoots! Can't wait to see them in the Daily Mirror highligthening Khara & Paddy's amazing teamwork! Until then, here are some of my favourite shots Khara has done with me & other models in Northern Ireland.

Last but def not least is the gorgeous Rebecca McKinney, Personal stylist for Victoria Square. Victoria square is main shopping centre in Belfast. It has over 50 shops ranging from House of Fraser, Topshop, h&m, Guess, Hollister, Ted Baker and Cruise to name but a few. Imagine getting to shop, style photo shoots and dress clients in her gorgeous Personal styling booth for a job! She's a lucky girl but she knows her stuff!! Rebecca kept Connor's & my clothes to a casual, chic minimal. Nothing to distracting but the clothes really helped enhance the natural, everyday feel they wanted to get from these images. In one of the photos, I got to wear this outfit from Guess

Now if I was buying clothes this year, I would make a beeline for these nude skinnies! They were an amazing fit and so comfy for a skinny! But sigh, I'm not! Rebecca thinks I'm crazy for this challenge, understandable so. Especially when for £30, I could have a Personal Styling Package with Rebecca in her gorgeous booth & get discounts across Victoria Square to boot!

Well that's the dream team. It is always a joy to work with any of these professionals but together, it was a lot of fun. Don't laugh but here's a wee sneak peak of the images. Standard Friday night.....

For more information on Paddy visit www.paddymcgurganartist.com or call 028 9043 4007

For more information on Khara visit www.kharapringlephotographic.com or call 07979218456 or 028 9182 6000

For info on Rebecca & The Personal Stylist suite, please call 028 9032 2277 / 07850208442 or email ps@victoriasquare.com

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...