clean slate

All images via my style pinterest board

Have you ever wanted to hit the pause button in life, throw away every remnant of a past life and make room for new beginnings? I do, and spring (the season of new beginnings) often instigates this overwhelming desire.

At the moment, this is feeling seems to have accumulated around my wardrobe. I stare into its depths every evening before bed in an attempt to plan my outfit for the following day and sigh with frustration. 

(I should probably premise this by admitting that my wardrobe is packed, full of clothes. But right now - I hate every damn thing)

Most of the clothing I own is either poorly fitting, bobbled, creased or coming away at the hem. I hate the dreary colour palette and the way nothing works together. I'm currently stuck in limbo, wearing a small number of outfits on repeat because they are the only combinations I can sartorially tolerate.

What I would love to do is throw it all out and start again. 

I want classic pieces that fit like a dream. Minimalist staples to be funked up with statement jewellery and graphic eyeliner. I want to replace every black piece of clothing I own with clean white with pops of neon. 

Sooooo, in conclusion - if someone would like to lend me a few grand so I can fulfil my fashion destiny for spring/summer '13, that would be ace. Cheers.

Anyone else get this feeling in spring? Going to have a huge wardrobe cleanse soon and save up for an epic shopping trip I think....

stack rings

all images via pinterest

Let me start this post off with a confession - I am not a ring person. I feel like they get in the way and  struggle to function with them obstructing my fingers. I'm not even really a bracelet person. Whenever I work at a computer (which is pretty much all the time considering I'm a copy writer by day and blog writer by night) I can't even have my watch on, it just irritates me. I'm much more of a necklace person (as you can see here), give me layered chains around my neck over cluttered fingers any day.

 Lately however, I have become rather obsessed with stack rings. Thin, plain ones with the odd Aztec-like flourish would be ideal. Even though I'm pretty sure at work I would take them all off and end up with a big pile of jewellery on my desk - wouldn't they look awesome the rest of the time? In fact, looking at my style board on Pinterest, it appears I do have quite the obsession with rings and bracelets. 

Perhaps it's about time I went out of my comfort zone and embraced cluttered fingers.

Are you a ring person or do they get in your way too?

lust have: the print shirt

 Zara Print Shirt 

This season I appear to be having somewhat of a Zara obsession. My love for the brand started young when a rather trendy friend of mine told me about a couple of cool Spanish stores called Mango and Zara. We travelled to London for the first time on our own to visit the stores, and the rest as they say is history.

Right now I need this over-sized leopard print shirt. Buttoned up over skinny black trousers for work, or loose over a plain tee and leggings for the weekend, this shirt is a serious multitasker. I'm already planning a trip to Reading to buy this shirt (because for some reason Guildford does NOT have a Zara yet?!) and I'm sure I'll end up with more a few more bits for spring.....

What are you currently lusting over?

an ode to a charity shop jumper...

 From the moment I saw you, I knew it was meant to be. With your wide gauge knit, vintage print and flattering colour pallet, there was no way I was going to leave the charity shop without you. You sweetened the deal with a £5.00 price tag, (you must have known then I was a cheap date), and fell into my wardrobe and life. Ever since, as soon as the weather turns, you become my one and only. Thank you for being cosy enough to keep me warm, and thank you for looking cool with my skinny jeans. I look forward to our continued friendship as Britain's weather gets more and more rubbish.

Yours, with love-

Kat xx

le pin

Lately I have become ever so slightly *ahem* addicted to Pinterest.... 

(and yes, I know, I was a little late to the party)

I can't help myself- I'm pinning and re-pinning all over the shop, it's the loveliest distraction from the hum-drum of the everyday. Finding it really helpful to figure out what looks I want to try out, but also, I just love looking at pretty things! I've always had a love for aesthetics and imagery and Pinterest feeds my obsession for all things beautiful.

Here is a selection of my recent 'Style' pins, follow me here to see the rest :) anyone else on here I should be following?

illustrated love

Recently stumbled upon this fantastic Swedish illustrator, Hannah Muller. Giving fashion a new perspective, check out more of her work here.

Have you made any discoveries lately?

light as a feather.....

Hands up who loved the film 'The Craft' when they were younger? And if you guys were anything like me I bet you tried the levitation game, 'light as a feather, stiff as a board'? Well the team over at Fieldguided did, and have taken inspiration from the game to create a beautiful silk scarf collection called 'light as a feather'. Using black and white photos from the 1800's as prints, the scarves become a feast for the eyes as they drape around you. I came across the brand via Daydream Lily, one of my favourite blogs to get inspired :)

What do you think? I have such a soft spot for scarves, any other fab brands I should know about?

lust - have: toast 'suzu' dress

Do you ever have those moments when you walk into a shop, see an item of clothing and just think 'I need to have this in my life'? When I shop, I either buy something I need.... or something I need.

Thats how I felt a couple of weekends ago when I walked into Toast and saw this, the Suzu dress. After a quick glance at the price tag, I shrugged it off as a 'never-gonna-happen' purchase. But I couldn't get the dress out of my head for the rest of the afternoon. I just needed a justifiable reason to buy it, other than- it's sooooooo pretty.

Then like a lightning bolt to the head, it came to me.... summer wedding. In July I'm off to Poland for my boyfriend's brother's wedding and need a dress to impress, (I'll be meeting a lot of extended family for the first time). I'm yet to try the beauty on, but if it looks as good on me as it does in my head- I'll blow the budget and buy it. Life's too short for fashion regrets.

When was your last 'have to have it' moment?

lust - have: the tweed biker

I need one of these in my life this spring- the perfect, throw-over-anything tweed biker. I see myself wearing it with pastel coloured floaty dresses, bare ankles and stacked bracelets....

What is your seasonal lust - have?

How I Met Your Style

Behind the scenes of every great fashion brand or blog lies a person. This person is usually creative and  stylish with a life lined with parties, beautiful clothes and empty coffee cups. How I Met Your Style is a website that takes a closer look at these people, capturing snippets of their lives through innovative photography. 

The website was created by Carmen and Ken Wu, two photographers with a penchant for cultural aesthetics and impeccable style. Together they have created a perfect launch pad for inspiration and a great place to get lost in on a rainy afternoon.

Here are a few of my favourite images from the site....

Where do you go for inspiration?

Maria Nilsdotter

Take the dark, twisted beauty of nature and mix it with precious metal and gemstone- what do you get? Pieces of wearable art cleverly disguised as jewellery.

Designed by Maria Nilsdotter, these pieces have such a great aesthetic and embody everything I love about statement jewellery. With a hint of irony and stacks of 'tude, this collection is like a stifled smirk in the highly polished world of fashwon.

Best worn against oversized, neutral layers, tousled hair and a 'fuck you' attitude, here are some of my favourite bits...

What do you think?

Fashion Writing Competition

People blog about fashion for many different reasons, some do it out of boredom, others out of passion. For a lot of people however, it is also a way of getting their name out there into the big bad world of fashion writing. Another fun way of doing this is by stretching those writing muscles and entering the odd competition....

Recently Freemans got in touch with me to see if I would spread the word about their latest fashion writing competition, naturally I wanted to keep quiet and enter it myself (mwahaha), but as this is competition is for students, I couldn't! But I know quite a few of my readers are students so thought I'd let you all know about it....

The prizes: The winner of this competition will be published on Freemans fashion blog AND win a shiny new Toshiba laptop! There are also 2 Sony digital cameras and a Samsung camcorder up for grabs for the runners up!

Here's Freeman's guide on how to enter: 

1) Find the perfect party dress for this year’s holiday season using the Freemans.com catalogue as inspiration - think office Christmas parties and New Year’s Eve – and piece together an outfit surrounding your dress of choice. 

2) Tell us why you chose this outfit in a blog style article of around 250-400 words.

3) Email us (studentfashion@freemans.com) your entry with your full name, age and place of study by 30th November 2011.

Let me know if any of you enter! And good luck :)

Me & My Arrow

Those of you who follow my blog have probably noticed my slight obsession with jewellery.... and how much I relish discovering hidden gems (ahem, excuse the pun). 

My latest find is Digby & Iona, a brand launched in 2006 by designer Aaron Ruffs who has a penchant for hidden treasure. The latest collection is called 'Me & My Arrow' and takes inspiration from prehistoric times and ancient tools. Each piece is created with a simple aesthetic, which naturally appeases my minimalist style. I love how fine the pieces are and the dedication to detail, especially the teeny tiny feathers attached to each arrow.

To find out more and to see the full collection, click here. 

But for now, here are a few of my favourite pieces....

Anyone else loving this collection?

Work Wishlist

One of the problems with working in the fashion industry is the CONSTANT temptation. All day long at Question Air I am packing beautiful clothing and sending them off to lucky customers. With every fold of tissue paper my heart breaks a little more *sob*

To make matters worse, over the last couple of weeks I've had the chance to work in one of the boutiques and have tried on, and consequently fallen in love with, several pieces.

With this in mind, here is my current wishlist from work....

Gestuz Short Hero Tunic Dress £150

This is the piece I am most likely to purchase, the fabric hangs so beautifully and I just can not get over the pretty print. 

Goldsign Tender Misfit Jeans £295

A brand I've heard described as 'the cashmere of denim' Goldsign make the softest, stretchiest denim I have ever felt. They fit like a dream and will last forever. A true denim investment.

Oakwood Classic Cape £199

I've always wanted a cape in my life, and I love the heritage element of this one.

Paul and Joe Debra Blouse £270

This is begging to be worn with cropped chinos, heels and an oversized envelope clutch *sigh*

Sam Edelman Renzo Shoes £215

Another pair of ankle boots have stolen my heart- obsessed with the studding detail.

Young, Fabulous & Broke Print Maxi Dress £159

I love a bit of tie dye, and YFB certainly knows how to do it. I want to wear this in Autumn with a chunky knit and block heeled ankle boots.

Do any of you have this kind of work related issue? 

PS Question Air are currently having a 3 day flash sale with some serious bargains! Take a look here if you're interested :)

Backstage

Icons, used to high rise glamour and Vogue style airbrushing, have been captured on the humble polaroid by photographer Anna Bauer. Pausing for breath between shows, designers and models alike are caught in moments of serenity in Anna's beautiful new book 'Backstage'. Here are some personal favourites....

The book will be released in October 2011 - anyone else already have it on their wish list?

You do the Math....

For someone that used to struggle with fractions and algebra, I've become incredibly fond of Math. Of course I'm talking about Math Collective- the fashion brand. Basing their collections on deconstructed silk, leather and suede, Math unite modernity and luxury with style.

Simple, clean lines paired with slouchy layers- this collection makes me weak at the knees. And you know what makes it even better? The brand is based in London. Makes me proud to live near one of the greatest fashion capitals in the world. Anyway, enough gushing, here are some of my favourite pieces.....

What do you think?

Any great fashion brands you've discovered lately??

Outfit : Midi Dress + Turban

When you make those steps towards your wardrobe before facing the world, do you look at your clothes first or your accessories?

When I get dressed I usually pick out the clothes first and then accessorise, I think that's the norm with most of us, right? But every now and then I get an urge to wear a certain accessory and end up creating an outfit based on that. It's almost more fun that way- more of a challenge.

In this case my accessory of choice was a grey turban headband from Rock 'n' Rose. I paired it with a grey midi-dress, a black cardi, tan ankle boots and a Najavo-inspired necklace for dinner with friends.

Turban: Rock 'n' Rose
Dress: Primark
Cardigan: New Look
Necklace: Gift
Boots: Primark

Which do you put more emphasis on, the clothes themselves or the accessories?

Crystalised

I came across 'Still With You' a while ago when someone had a giveaway featuring their gorgeous leather earrings, and ever since then I've been popping onto their etsy site from time to time to see what pretty new pieces they add to their shop. In my latest visit I came across their range of stunning crystal necklaces and have fallen in love. I used to collect crystals when I was younger, (yes I was a bit of a hippy), so these strike a chord with me on both a personal and stylish level! 

Ahh, love.

What are your thoughts on crystal necklaces? Any one else collect crystals?

(P.S you can follow Still with you on Twitter here and like their facebook page here)