Delboy & Rodney

"If it is on sale and it's in my size then God wants me to have it." Laurina Kennedy

River Island Boho Shirt-similar here

Alex and Ani Bracelets

Elephant Juice heart necklace

 

 



So Saturday morning, my mum texts me at the ungoldy hour of 8.10am.  Why would we be up this early on a saturday morning? Fashion Souk of course! Fashion souk is a local event in Belfast were people can sell their previously loved luxury labels to locally designed & handmade jewellery and accessories.  It was my first experience of The Fashion Souk and I couldn't wait.  At this stage of my challenge I have a fair idea of everything I definitely want to wear in my wardrobe and this I look at and think....why did I ever buy this? You know it yourself, after a while there are pieces in your wardrobe that just don't work for who you want to be or the style that you want to dress like.  The Fashion Souk is a fab option for helping to recycle these pieces. And as every good daughter does, they rope their mums into helping them.

 



Not something you want to see on a early morning, your face on a poster

 

 

Located at Spires Mall in the heart of Belfast city centre, vendors are able to rent 2 rails or a table and a rail.  We had a table and a rail but to say we were novices would be an understatement.  People had signs, mirrors, table clothes, pictures.  I was straight into my handbag to rip a piece of paper out of my notebook to write that everything at our stall was five pounds.  To say we were surrounded by professionals isn't an exaggeration.  We stuck out like a sore thumb, spot the first timers!

I was amazed at the arrays of treasures at the Fashion Souk.  Poor mum kept getting abandoned as I snuck off to have a nosey at all the amazing pieces.  She was fine, she was chief seller! The Fashion Souk is a great idea for anyone.  I spoke to most vendors to see if they were first timers like me or was it a normal thing for them. Most people sold there every time it was on because it is such a good local event.  It was busy right through from 10am to 4pm. But there were other vendors who were there for the first time like me.  A friend of mine, Dani was selling previously loved clothes as she is moving to Vancouver soon so it is a great idea to earn a bit of extra cash.

I loved the fact this challenge has open my eyes to fantastic local brands.  Take Elephant juice by Linzi Rooney.  Linzi makes handmade bespoke jewellery from silver cutlery.  All I can do with a spoon is barely get it in my mouth with out spilling my food everywhere! Gorgeous stuff! Linzi very kindly get me a gorgeous heart necklace made out of a table spoon.  Wore it with pride at The Fashion Souk.

 

 

 

How amazing is this Scooby Doo chair?!?! I wanted it so much but trying to save for Florida.  This is on my birthday wish list if anyone is reading this and needs ideas!!  Back to the chief seller, and we made a profit! We decided that with our profit, we would treat ourselves to a girly dinner, mummy and daugther style. 

 

H&M white basic thsirt

Topshop Black Skater Skirt

Zara blue silk Blazer-similar here

Zara Black Court shoes

 

 

I loved taking part in The Fashion Souk, it is a great idea to earn money selling your previously loved clothes but also a great idea if you are starting out as a fashion or accessories designer.  I would recommend to be more organised than we were.  You want to be eye catching if you want to sell as much as possible.  Bring signs, table clothes, sweeties. Then you can either re-invest your profits or go out and have a few cocktails like I did! Definitely would do it again!

 

 

The next Fashion Souk is on Saturday the 1st of June. For more information, check them out on facebook or email them, links are below.

 

The Fashion Souk Facebook

@FashionSouk

info@thefashionsouk.com

 

 

 

 

Ice White Baby

"Most nights I end up wearing a wife beater white tshirt and boxers." Jessica Alba

Dunnes White tshirt-similar here

Zara green cargo pant

Long Stills Caridgan

 

 

Today is Wednesday, 2 days to Friday and next week is May! Jesus, where is the time going?? But yes, hump day aka back to basics day on my blog.  The basic today is the thing all girls and prob boys should have in their wardrobe, a nice quality white tshirt.  This one I picked up a few years ago in Dunnes and I loved it so much I went back and bought it in black! Always keep an eye out if they bring it out again in other colours but they never have.

 

There really isn't any expectation for why you should have a white tshirt in your wardrobe or the benefits of it.  I think everyone knows, it is just so simple to wear and you can pair it with virtual anything.  No point giving a big spile on why you need it, if you don't have one, get one.  Find one that fits you nicely and then buy two of them! (I know myself and know that one day I will spill something on it & be like aw no! I wish I had bought two!)

 

Some shops that have great basics are H&M, Topshop, Asos, All Saints, Primark, just depends your money range, sizing and style that you are looking for. 

 

 

Check out the gorgeous photos I just got through! These photos are help to promote The Fashion Souk on the 4th of May at Spires Mall, Belfast! I will be there selling my previously loved clothes  in among some gorgeous designed jewellery, clothes and accessoires on the 4th of May.  You could too! If you are interested in taking a stall, email the lovely ladies of The Fashion Souk for more info! Info@thefashionsouk.com

 

 



 

 

 

Arabian nights

"I love the way your foul little mind works!" Jafar, Aladdin

H&M denim shirt

H&M skinny belt

Navy Benetton full Midi Skirt-similar here

 

 

 

On Wednesday night, I popped into Queens university to try and re live my younger days of Uni life. Granted I was only grabbing some soup before my photoshoot as I hadn't eaten all day but still, it was a nice wee flash back to the good old days of not working 9-5 & being able to sleep all day every day.

So after I let go of my desperate clinging to the past, I headed across the street to the studio were I would spend the next 3 hours shooting for The Fashion Souk. A boutique style fair set in the heart of Belfast City Centre at different times through out the year, The Fashion Souk allows thrifty & creative fashionistas to sell their own clothing, jewellery or accessory designs or you can even sell high fashion second hand clothing. Fans include Cathy Martin, Blush (gorgeous shop on Lisburn road that showed at BFW) and me! Think Portobello Market but in Northern Ireland!

On the 4th of May I have happily agreed to be the host/face of The Fashion Souk at Spires Mall, Belfast! At this stage in the challenge, I kinda have a fair idea what I will definitely wear again or can restyle compared to stuff I am like, I have no idea why I still have this. I mean if I haven't worn it yet in day to day life then there must be a problem with it! So I will be selling some of my previously loved clothes at The Fashion Souk. Means that I get a real feel for the fair & I can practice my haggling skills which are pretty crap! (My mum is coming to help me & she will probably be better at it than me! We then to plan & take our makings from the day to go get blocked in Belfast Fair City!! Brilliant!)

At the doors of the studio, I meet the lovely Linzi, one of the founders of The Fashion Souk (Alyson, her partner is away in France at the minute. Not jealous at all) who was wearing this Fab floppy hat. I wish I had a head for hats. I just kinda look like that German guy who cuts up all the corpses on TV. Though turbans could be one of the first things I buy in 2014!

Anyway! Stuffing soup into my face while getting my make up done must be the most annoying thing for a make up artist to have to deal with! Sorry, Trazanne! But she did an amazing job! Photographer, make up artist, what can't this girl do!! And her husband Glen Norwood was taking the photos. Now I've never shoot with a married couple before, I find it strange to even do some jobs with Connor sometimes but these two work great together! Two for the price of one! The bickering or domestic creative differences as we shall call it, just added to the atmosphere! It was great fun & I can't wait to see the shoots! Check out the images above & below as a little sneak peek! All the fab clothes were supplied by Jacob Street who are selling vintage wear on Saturday the 4th of may as well. Definitely will be making moon eyes at my mum to buy me stuff to keep for my birthday in July! (Ok, that's cheating but its been a tough month people!!!)

If you would like more info on The Fashion Souk, check out their Facebook page or their twitter!

Facebook: The Fashion Souk
Twitter: @FashionSouk

Blazing Blazer

"Maybe some women aren't meant to be tamed, maybe they need to run free until they find some one just as wild to run with them." Anna Wintour

Stills Purple Fine knit top

Zara Basic beige trousers

Zara Horseriding Blazer

Pia Rossini Picardi scarf

 

 

I love blazers. I probably have one in every single colour in my wardrobe so for me they are definitely a stable basic.  They instantly make an outfit chic, I wear them to work, out at night, day to day casual wear.  You name it, I am probably wearing a blazer too.  Zara do the best blazers in my opinion, it is the first thing I am drawn to when I walk into their shop.  The quality and shaping of them mean they last for years.  The one I am wearing was bought 3 years ago on a shopping trip to Barcelona with my mum and I still love it. 

So when I do this basic posts every Wednesday, I am of course talking about my shape and style.  I am petite but in my head I like to think I have good size boobs and a good size bum for my boyish shape.  But last night, I was lying in bed researching about different shapes and sizes for women.  I mean whats the point of writing a blog post on great basics for a wardrobe when they don't apply to you.  I always try to think of pieces that suit all shapes and sizes but then again that's my opinion.  I think that any shape or sized woman could pull of a blazer of any colour but it is about what you feel comfortable wearing.  So I came across this flowchart & I wanted to share it with you cause I found it quite an interesting read. (Click it & it will make it bigger)

http://www.triactol.com/blog/

 

 

 

Tonight I am away to do a photo shoot with the lovely ladies from The Fashion Souk which I will be helping to promote for their next event which is on the 4th of May.  So tune in tomorrow for all the details and behind the scenes photos. I am away to make my mad dash across town after work! I drive a white polo, please wave if you see me.