Satire's Wearing: Polka Dots Dungarees for Warehouse Trend Studio Event

So last week I was cordially invited to attend Warehouse's one off "Trend Studio" event in Liverpool (slight delay in writing this due to soul destroying uni essays, grr). Basically the event was all about promoting Warehouse's latest and dare I say it glorious array of SS13 items (ladies, if you're looking for that perf At The Races dress or wedding ensemble then Warehouse has certainly got your stylish backs...), talking about the latest summer trends, an exclusive catwalk show, guzzling free champagne like it was going out of fashion and blah blah blah. Don't despair though my avid readers, I reveal more about the details in my next blog post. Presently I thought I'd just share with you with I decided to wear to the soiree. I decided that it was time for my brand new polka dungarees to make their picture debut into blog. POLKIES. GET READY FO YO CLOSE UP. 

Blazer, Polka Dot Dunagrees and Boots : River Island
Shirt and Bag: Zara
Glasses: Armarni

Recently I've been deaaaaad impressed with River Island. Not only is their Rihanna for River Island collection absolutely lustworthy (still don't own anything from the collection yet btw. If only I was a rich, alluring and talented Barbados songstress) but the calibre of their SS13 is really hitting my style spot at the minute. They have all sorts of different trends at the minute and these quirky dungarees are certainly no exception! I love how easily you can dress em up with a formal blazer like my businesss-like demur expression suggests I am doing but you can also dress em down with a simple tee and throw over denim jacket a la Alexa style. And what else about me says desperate psychotic business savvy chic? THE BAG. Recently bought this to fill the void of not being able to afford the Prada bowler bag, which I am assuming this dupe bag was inspired by. I was supposed to buy it before Christmas but decided to postpone it for Scrooge frugal reasons. Big mistake guys. It took me 3 months to track this baby down again. I felt like a mother who had lost her child in a large supermarket. But s'all good now because we are united once again. And baby has indeed got back.

Watch: Marc Jacob. Soz for it being upside down, I didn't notice till it was evening
 and then the opportunity for taking crap vanity pictures had become lost hopelessly in the shrouded darkness.

ALSO BIG MAJOR NEWS IN MY DEPRESSINGLY SAD WORLD IS I FINALLY GOT MYSELF A MARC JACOBS WATCH. AYYY YEAHHH, GO ME, FOUR FOR YOU GEMMA SATIRE, YOU GO GEMMA SATIRE! I was originally going to buy the Michael Korrs one but I don't know. Something about pesky Marc stood out to me. Love the quintessential gold and all that, it shall go with every outfit I wear. And Marc shall now be forever enchained and shackled to my bony wrist. Got a lot of time for Marc, you see. That is until of course my entrepreneurial/famous big shot husband buys me a Chanel watch worth thousands of pounds. You know who you are baby.

Be sure to come back to read about the Warehouse Trend Event in more detail and come have a good nosy parker look at the images of the pretty dresses, the catwalk, the stylish venue and the shenanigans I got up to with lovely bloggers such as one of my blogging besties The Style Rawr's Jade! She is a cute little northern prinny isn't she?

GS x

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4996845/?claim=b3sv6hbaty2">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Satire's Wearing: Dressed Up Bomber

Hello! Yes I am still alive! Although I have been a really busy girl lately and having about 309573 mid life crisis's on a daily basis. HOW FAST IS THIS YEAR GOING?! 

Seriously cannot believe it is March already. By Jove, it is too early to be seeing crystal clear skies and cheerful daffodils on the horizon (however in regards to less rain and more heat, I'm not complaining yall!) Sadly my final essays for the year are starting to creep back up on myself again so I have been preparing and doing a lot of reading for them, hence the inevitable blogging hole. Soz about that. Also I booked my graduation tickets for the other week in July and it's finally dawned on my sorry self that I actually am an adult now. Ew. HOW/WHEN DID I ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN?! I've been reading a lot of blogs recently on the subject of finishing university. And suffice to say that I agree with the common herd in saying that yes, I am absolutely pet-tri-fied. All my hard work thus far in my life has boiled down to this. I am sick to death of writing essays/assignments yet I know as soon as September comes I will miss university so much. I'll miss reading pointless books about fictional haunted houses, I'll miss the student loans (for obvious materialistic look-at-my-new-handbag-guys reasons) and using "I'm a student" mantra to justify getting absolutely rat arsed in the middle of the week while everybody else are respectable citizens with bills to pay. And above all I'll just miss my student-y little routine. Making fun of the university staff (in a banter-like and harmless way of course!), sitting in the library stressing over assignments like I'm about to be put on death row and having deep meaningful chats about celebrity husbands with all my course friends.  And while all my friends are applying to be teachers, office clerks, postgraduate courses or whatever the pressure to be successful is weighing upon me like a lead balloon. But still, I have a few options lined up post graduation but I won't divulge them to you yet. Just in case they change. So, stay tooned guys. 

Now what with the heavy personal shit clarified, let us all venture back into our favourite route of escapism from reality; clothes! I have bought quite a hefty amount of stuff recently, I'm not going to lie. SS13 is becoming a very pervasive disease indeed. And the "post-graduation-savings-fund" isn't going tremendously well so far. But hey, let's stick that worrying thought back into the realms of the unconscious and let us concentrate on an extra special bomber jacket I bought from H&M recently. Ever since Versace for H&M made its debut I have been wanting a little bomber of my own for ageeees. Especially since Marina Diamondis and Lana Del Rey are both avid fans of the garment (huns). And in the very last winter clear out sales I managed to come across this little navy jacket number in my local H&M store. And what elated my joy even more was down to the fact that it was navy too. And because navy is one of my fave colours, it was obviously destiny that me and this jacket were going to walk off into the sunset together. 

So here is how I styled it up. Obviously you can wear the jacket either daytime or night time but I felt the navy added quite a regal quality to it so I thought I'd try and style it for a night time/glam occasion. 

Bomber Jacket: H&M
Top: ASOS
Shorts: Pop Boutique
Glasses: Ray Bans

Yeah...the pictures turned out looking slightly more whorey and ghetto than I originally pre planned buy hey, you can't deny the jacket doesn't have attitude. And I know the word "attitude" is probably something teen magazines such as Mizz and Shout preached that you had when you wore double denim back in 2001 but honestly despite the cheese, there is no other word to describe the jacket. It makes me feel like I could walk down the street buy a pint of milk with Christina Aguliera's "Can't Hold Us Down" blasting in the background. Awhh yeahh.

Earrings: Topshop

Rings: Ebay and New Look 

Socks: Topshop
Court Shoes: New Look 

I thought to keep the whole look quite minimal and opted for black and just the occasional splash of tacky-fab jewellery to modernise the look. If Rita Ora had a dark bob and no money and had a lot of time on her hands then this may be something she might wear? Haha. Might be aspiring a little but too high in my analogies there my friends. And instead of just a conventional tough boot shoe (because I still haven't found the "right" pair from Topshop at this moment in time) I thought I'd style the outfit up with socks and a court shoe. Now again this is a Marmite style move. Fans of preppiness adore the sock/shoe collab (myself included) whilst others may scorn it to a high degree. I think it is a refreshing take on shoe style and solves that dilemma of whether you should sacrifice your modesty and go bare legged or cover up with as much nylon as you can. I'd say always go bare legged if you can but what with the unpredictable British weather and the fact that standing waiting for a train bare legged in the winter for twenty minutes could leave you with potential frostbite, it's always good to have a sock drawer shit full of tights. Tights that probably have about 3 gigantic holes in them despite the fact you've probably only worn them once in your life. Oh the torture and drama of it all.

But ultimately even though it's Spring now, there is still a little bit of chill in the air so until we get the clear signal from Mother Nature that it's okay for us to whip out the cotton floral dresses and denim shorts, this outfit might serve as a nice little seasonal transitional piece. You can show the legs but have a jacket just in case. And this idea is supported by what Cheryl Frasier says in Miss Congeniality about her perfect date "I'd have to say April 25th. It's not too hot and it's not too cold. All you need is a light jacket." Now, even though the audience in the film didn't appreciate this line, I certainly do. Cheryl, you may be slightly gimpy but what wonderful words of wisdom. No wonder you won Miss United States with that kinda attitude.

GS x 

Satire's Wearing: Geek Disco

I was thinking yesterday before I went out with a friend that I hadn't done an outfit post in like FOREVERRRRR. Indeed essay work and reading are slowly beginning to stalk my life again like a carnivorous predator (life is so hard don't you know, boo friggity hoo). And I know it deeply pains all of you not to see what crazy concoctions I currently have in my wardrobe so I thought I'd put yall out of your reading/judgemental misery. Oh you lucky devils you.

But alas what with the cold weather still dominating our airwaves I can't be as stylishly adventurous as I would like to be without my skin turning a frightening shade of blue. So yes, sassy shorts or skirts with seductive bare legs I feel are going have to wait till that one week in June where everyone pretends we have weather akin to Cuba or some Caribbean island and the flip flops, crops tops and Instagram picture of BBQ's come out like there's no friggin tomorrow. But to give you a brief update, I got a REAL pair of disco pants a couple of weeks ago and I haven't had a chance to give them a blog post yet so a big massive £70 finally-I-have-you-in-my-possession shout out to them. But obviously I can't wear them like Bad Sandy from Grease whilst doing just a mere bit of simpleton shopping so I decided to go against the grain and channel them in the geekish and probably most unsexiest way possible. GO TEAM GO. And yes I'm wearing glasses. My natural eyesight recently has been just as good as Stephen Hawkings, who I am assuming (and this may be taking a "wild" guess) has terrible eyesight and that's why he needs glasses. AMIRITE?

Blazer and shoes: Topshop
Disco pants: American Apparel
Bag: H&M
Scarf: Johnstons of Elgin

Necklace: Forever 21 

Glasses: Armarni at Specsavers 

If that doesn't get you hot under the hipster collar then by Jove, I don't know what will. I haven't wore this creamy camel coloured blazer in ageeeeees and even though I think it looks rather swave, don't be fooled by it. I was absolutely freeeeeeeeeeeeeeezing wear it and next year I will need to write a sticky note on it in my wardrobe saying in shouty capitals STRICTLY FOR SPRING TIME ONLY GEMMA. I also really like my necklace (otherwise I wouldn't have bought it duhhh) and Forever 21 is probably one my FAVE places to get jewellery from. The jewellery is actually nice, it's set at a reasonable price and doesn't break or corrode within the first five minutes of it seeing sunlight. So it's all good in the hood.

And even though this irrelevant, for ages now I have been lusting after leather dungarees. They are all I ever want, I can't stop thinking about them, they are like the clothing equivalent to a boy you fancy never calling you back after a great date/night out. Unfortunately though, like the spinster I am I have been unsuccessful in stalking or tracking them down. No where in my city sells them and every time I find them online they are usually sold out before I even exhale. So my fiendish friends the epic Quest narrative for the leather dungies still continues and if anyone knows anywhere where I can find a pair I'd be more gracious to you if you could  give me a tip off via my comments. BUT BUT BUT to fill the temporary void of my shit life, I ended up buyiung a super sexy pair of POLKA FREAKING DOT dungarees from River Island. For like... £40. And there is only one adjective to describe their grandeur; they are a beast.

Dunagrees: River Island (cheeky snap in the Changing Rooms like a freak.)

SORRY. I couldn't resist showing them off. They make me smile like a Cheshire cat. Now I understand they are going to be a Marmite garment. Dungie fans throughout the world (I hope) will unite joyously and appreciate them. Other's may scorn them till the last thread burns to the ground. But I am of the former. They are my new babies. So "stay tuned" as it where to see how I style them up in say, a few outfit posts down the line...

GS x

London Fashion Week Felder Felder AW13

Major sigh alert. As much as I wish I was writing this blog post hot off the press of the cobbled streets of Somerset House, this is sadly not the case. Due to circumstances outside of my control (work and third year uni work, sob sob x34) I highly doubt I'll be attending Fashion Week this season (fingers and toes fully crossed for September when my degree will be cemented and a long distant memory...). But just because I am not actually there in la flesh does not mean I cannot be there spiritually or virtually!

Being the little northern fashion show reject that I am, I watched most of today's opening shows online. Obviously it is not as a good as experiencing the real thing live; the excitement, the street style, the gossip, the atmosphere, the buzz in the room and the incessant blinking of ones eyes from all the flash photography. But still, the plus sides of being at home also include; no sore feet, endless supply of tea, warmth and shelter from the elements, no menial waiting around and not getting rejected by the bouncers. But yeah...deep down who am I really kidding...who the hell really wants to be at home? Nobody. It's all about the pretentious and contrived fashion experience at the end of the day. The free vitamin water, the quintessential blogging lanyard and the obligatory "excuse-me-can-you-take-my-picture-outside-Somerset-House?" Nothing beats it.

Anyway back to zee fashion. Out of all the shows I watched today, my daily favourite was the amazingly chic Felder Felder show. Fast becoming one of my favourite designers I'd say! With a celeb packed FROW featuring Kate Nash and Mollie King, we all anticipated grand scale things. Oxblood hues, navy bodycons, shaggy textures and peach PVC all combined on the catwalk during their show and I have to say... all those colours really appeal to me. Like totes my fave colours. Ever. So yes, I really wouldn't mind a splash of Felder Felder colour into my miserable palette of style at the moment (Even though admittedly these are Fall looks and Summer hasn't even began yet...oh well...).

Here are some of my favourite looks from the catwalk show itself then. Be prepared. You might suddenly decide that your entire wardrobe is adequate, you may want to set fire to it and desire to replace it with everything you see before you. I myself am sharing similar violent tendencies...

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE EVERYTHING. Love being the operative word here as the word "love" usually signifies red and boy oh boy, this shade of red the German twins have used in their collection is nothing short of kissable. Not too tacky, not too bright, not too dark. That red leather jacket is definitely on my imaginary and unattainable wish list. And those lovely burgundy jumpers?! GAHHH. I need them in my life. Right now. Deliver them to me now peasants. And the models are also wearing red lipstick too which made me happy. Red lipstick on anybody pretty always makes me happy. Yay for red lipstick.

Also I was feeling the pointy shoes in different colours that the models we wearing, the elegant bowler hats the PVC, the array of LBD's (perfect for those Christmas and seasonal parties no doubt, classic tailoring), the glamorously pristine suits (IF ONLY I had a high paced magazine Carrie Bradshaw-esque journalist lifestyle to wear such suits, then I could justify spending pure £££'s on one) and cropped waistcoats.

AND NOT FORGETTING HERE a  particular stunning silver side-split maxi that was thrown in the catwalk for good measure. This stunning little number is automatically something else that I also need hanging in my wardrobe very soon. And I mean soon. It was probably the pinnacle of the collection. Gold is soooo last season. We all know its silver's time to shine. Silver Felder Felder dress, I love you. Marry me. Please.

These clothes are so right up my street regarding my personal style. I would probably wear them all if designers suddenly decided that monopoly money was the currency of the moment. But when divulging further in Felder Felder I feel I related really well to their "Ideal Client" statement. That:

“A charismatic woman who is at ease with herself and the world. Age doesn’t matter. A Felder Felder woman is young at heart and she is a little wild too.”

 Now I'm not saying I'm going to live my little civilian life by this mantra but you know...I think regarding my own style/personality it is relatable. So yes. If Felder Felder need more ideal clients then by all mean, sign my wild little heart up.

GS x

BAFTA's 2013 Best Dressed

Even though the beginning of the annual calendar usually exacerbates feelings of depression and post seasonal bitterness within is all, these early months do endow us with one luxury: many, many, many award ceremonies. BAFTA’s, Grammys, BRITs, Oscars etc. And what with our bank accounts morbidly empty right now and perhaps having nothing glorious to live for until the BBQ fun fulfilled summer holidays, our fickle spirits can easily be lifted up by just the mere glance of a red carpet dress. The world all of a sudden becomes a more glamorous, optimistic and star studded place. Well…for two hours or so at least. And then the award show inevitably ends and we crash back into the depths of reality and we look upon our collection of non-designer handbags and clutches in disgust. GET OUT MY LIFE PRIMARK BAG, I DON'T NEED YOU.

 

But yeah, enough about the tainted misery of our souls. It is time for us materialists to suspend our disbeliefs and do what we do best: concentrate, lust and drool all over the latest array of celebrity gowns. As shallow materialists generally do. And for this particular blog post I am going to all BAFTA award bitch-crazy on your arses. Of course on one hand the awards are all about recognising those influential people within the art/film industries but on the other, we all know it was a jolly good excuse for everyone to get their best gear on and proclaim to the world “I AM FABULOUS BECAUSE I AM DRESSED FABULOUS BY A HAIR AND MAKE UP TEAM AND THEREFORE IT DOESN’T MATTER IF I WIN AN AWARD OR NOT BECAUSE I AM STANDING IN A COUTURE GOWN SO YALL BOW DOWN TO ME NOW.” Such a sweet and dare I say it, accurate proclamation. I for one think the latter excuse is a brilliant attitude to have in all approaches to life.

So here then are my BAFA best dressed besties:

Anne Hathaway wears Burberry.

Because of Les Miserables, Anne Hathaway is pervasive. She is simply dominating every magazine, website and fashion house right now. And so she should. Her amazing performance in Les Mis has secured her with many awards and the supporting actress award in the BAFTA's itself. And even though she had to cut her hair shockingly short for her role, this was a career risk that has paid off. Her hair looks absolutely stunning, she is my dark haired Mia Farrow dream. And her hair completely sets off this Burberry gown, somehow giving her the illusion of looking taller. Black, maxi and classy. Old school Anne is my kind of Anne.

 



Eddie Reymane wears Burberry

 I said to myself I'd only include one man in my BAFTA list (because let's face it, as much as I'd love to look at pictures of sexy hunky men allllll dayyyy, they pretty much dress similar and this is a fashion blog guyz, we need some variation!) so who better than model man of the moment Eddie? He is a great actor, has a great face, he is a Burberry model and he is doing his job effortlessly by promoting his fashion house with this suit. What more could we wish for?

Helen Mirren wears Nicholas Oakwell

BLOODY LOVE THIS WOMAN. Such an elegant gown for such an elegant lady! It's classic and regal but still insinuates a certain level of playfulness that shows Helen still has a young side her. But let's not kid ourselves here. Her look is all about that pink crop. When I saw it on her I was practically smiling like a banshee from ear to ear. It is sooooo friggin amazing, cute, endearing, funky, retro omg, cannot articualte any more words. On an website interview when asked why she dyed it pink it was because she was watching America's Next Top Model: The British Invasion in which Sophie Sumner sported the locks look which she thought was "pretty and cute." Helen Mirren copying your hair, oh you'd just die happily on the spot wouldn't you? Warra babe.

Jennifer Lawerence wears Dior

  J Law looked simply stunning in a strapless bejewelled Dior gown, which she accessorised with diamond-drop earrings and a slicked-back do. Can't get over her collarbones. I want.  No other bird I know can pull off a boob tube just as good as this gal. Jealous. Want to kill her but I can't because I think she is pretty, she is quite the comic and I enjoy her films too much. So if someone else wants to do it and then skin her so I can wear her for my next red carpet event, I'd be most grateful to you.

Marion Collitard wears Dior

 No surprises there that Marion would wear Dior, being the fashion house's latest model and all that jazz. Now as you know I'm not usually partial to bright and cheerful colours but this yellow Dior design might provoke me to change my mind and my dark wicked ways. It sets off her hair colour so nicely and the red lipstick is a nice little make-up cherry on the cake. I can defintely smell SS 13 on the horizion now so thank you Marion for giving me some gorgeously delicious style hope.



Jessica Chastain wears Roland Mouret

 Three words. Oh. Em. Gee. Red head actress, Jessica Chastain who has gone from strength to strength in recent months picked an architectural style gown by Roland Mouret for the night, teamed with sapphire and diamond jewellery by Harry Winston. Hands up who thinks cobalt is Jess's colour? Literally the dress is from out of this mortal world. WHERE CAN I GET ONE LIKE THIS? Not that I'd have any where dynamic to wear it. I LOVE the whole futurastic vibe to it! Also I am partial to ginger hair on women and I j'adore this kind of royal imperial blue. So this is a colour palette made in heaven for me. Love you loads Jess, mwah.  

Natalie Dormer wears Nicholas Oakwell couture

Ever since The Tudors ended, Natalie Dormer has forever been off my radar. But I'm glad to see she is back in full acting flow and I had no idea that Anne Boleyn actress had such an eye for style! And again like Mirren, she opts for a Nicholas Oakwell dress too. I really need to investigate this Nicholas fella much more, he is obviously a designing messiah that I am missing out on over here. The vintage feel to this outfit appeals to me so much and I love it when celebrities wear something that usually resonates an older vibe but they end up modernising it a lot more. And the colour of this I find quite alluring. Almost reminds me of snake skin but it isn't. And the pleats are divine!

Paloma Faith wears Nicholas Oakwell couture

 NICHOLAS, three dresses! I bet your sales are off the rails right now. His gowns literally are the star of this show and deserve a BAFTA themselves for red carpet prescence. Paloma's gown is absolutely breathtaking and the embellishment is so intricate and glam. You could put a dog in this and he'd probably feel A list too. The dress is a lovely classic length and the slit at the front adds to a subtle sex appeal. In the words of Rihanna...Shine bright like a diamond Paloma.

 Now all these outfits made me feel temporarily happy like the world perhaps was not such a cruel place. YET what really stole the show for me was not a dress at all. But a suit. A suit that made me JUMPSUIT for joy. I admire women in award ceremonies who don't play by the style rules and expectations, experiment and do something different. So imagine my elation when I saw our old acquaintance Sarah Jessica Parker coming out to present an award in this sharp little number...



Sarah Jessica Parker wears Ellie Saab

It's not just Carrie Bradshaw who has style. Will you all agree with me in saying she looks sharper than a metallic tooth pick? Sharper than a Great White Shark's front tooth? Because let's face it. She does. I FRIGGING LOVE THIS JUMPSUIT. I want one!  It so minimal but at the same time has everything you could ever ask for. A perfect blank palette to apply/add accessories, shoes or a over the top hair style. Not going to lie SJP is getting on in regards to her age now and of course her wearing a really sultry gown may make her look like mutton dressed as lamb. Instead then of having to resort to a safe "middle aged" woman's gown (as most actresses tend to do in order to play the safe game") she has decided to opt for something new, something which still illustrates her indivdual falir for style. And SJP, we salute you for your non comformity! Any woman who is man enough to wear trousers in my book deserves 589525 gold stars.

With one award show over, comes various more. If you follow magazines on Twitter or buy them on a weekly basis then be prepare to be bombarded with outfit snaps and best dressed lists. There's nothing that says inferiority complex and self  loathing more than beautiful and glamorous photographs of assumedly the world's "most beautiful woman." So yeah,  don't know about you but I'm probably going to cut my head out of some pictures and tape them to celebrities bodies. Then I really will be living the dream. My life is obviously so fufilling and superfical. All hail Gemma Jessica Parker.

GS x

Me and my new optical friends.

P.S ALSO, this is like not relevant at all but it is a fashion blog so if anyone cares (although you probably don't but I need an outlet in order to justifying spending money/dinero/dollar) I got new glasses recently. They are Armarni and I absolutely adore them. Buy one get one free from good al reliable Specsavers they were a steal. I'll try and incorporate them into outfit photos soon so please everyone, contain yourselves if you can. I know it might be hard, the glasses are obviously too hot 2 handle. However I couldn't take them to the BAFTA's though. That is just one red carpet taboo I'm not prepared to break quite yet. Soz.

Satire's Wearing: June Carter Meets Victorian Child

So for this particular outfit post I have decided to centre around the newest and most coveted baby that has entered my life and thus graced my wardrobe. My brand spanking new love-of-my-high-street-life faux leather bag. H&M, you have certainly surpassed your selves again on the accessories front. Bravo you European warriors you.

Bag: H&M, £35. LOVE LOVE LOVE 

Zee bag is tres chic non? Unfortunately as you can probably gather from my humble virtual abode, I do not live in a glorious world were thousand pound Celine bags grow on Edenic trees therefore this little faux leather fancy is tantamount to the next best thing. As soon as I saw it, I thought by Jove, this can't be H&M can it? It TOTES (aha see what I did there...) looks like its from the wondrous realms of Zara or somewhere like that. But from H&M it was and I was instantly infatuated with it. This bag I think is just well, to use the cliche "sooooo me" (even though a bag can't really define you as a person, but hey, for the sake of this blog post, let us be shallow and pretend that you can). For one thing it's black (gotta love morbidly cheerful black, plus it's such a versatile colour!), it's quite a sensible size (not too small...not too long...like a gothic Goldilocks it was justttttt right) and its PVC shiny leather! Obviously it's not real but I do love a bit of tacky extravagance incorporated into my wardrobe. The bag knows its fake and it thrives flirtatiously in it's fakery. But erm...can be a bag even be satirical? Let us hope so otherwise my weird analogy is ruined. Plus the look of it is quite reminiscent of Celine/YSL/Givenchy bags. I do love me a crap-but-good high street copy.

Anyway after purchasing the bag and swinging it on my arm in slow motion like a saddo for a pleasurable 3 hours, I thought that it deserved to have a wee blog post of it's own. Just to celebrate it's amazingly amazingness and the evident colossal force it is now having on my life. And also to subtly hint and confirm to you all that yes, I probably do need to acquire a hobby/get out more.

Recently I went on a bit of mad dash ASOS haul and bought a few simplistic and minimal pieces (nothing too extravagant) because no matter how many "basic" pieces we buy, we always manage to lose them and have to keep buy new every 3 months (I think I've probably bought more pairs of black tights/socks and plain black t-shirts than a Scottish widow). So for this outfit post I decided to contrast up my basic midi black skirt with a more lively polka dot blouse which I absolutely LURVE because it makes me feel like a child/librarian/polka dot fiend. And my hair was not behaving itself at all so I thought I'd try out some of my new hair ribbons that I purchased-about-a-million-years-ago-but-only-just-found-them-at-the-back-of-drawer. Hair ribbons. The only way I can ever regress back to my youth. HOW BLOODY ENDEARING OF ME.

Shirt and midi skirt: ASOS
Bag: H&M
Boots: River Island

Leather Jacket: Miss Selfridge 

I'd like to pretend that there is a June Carter-esque (emphasis on the esque, people) element to this outfit. I blame wearing the ribbon. And having recently watched Reese Witherspoon in Walk The Line in bed with my beloved onsie on. But we all know we have distorted and incoherent images of ourselves and where I may see myself as June Carter (hahahaha let me dream guys) you might see an adult version of Matilda, an uptight Victorian or just some weird girl who dresses weird and always likes to write in SHOUTY CAPITALS. I'll let you all decide/condemn me. But suffice to say I really like this little ensemble. A nice little outfit to wear inbetween Winter and Spring. Lil' temporal outfit. Plus it's monochrome, so what is there not to like? Bland and clinical colours 4eva. And did I also mention somewhere in this post that I love my new bag? Because I do yall. A-L-O-T.

I'm so glad then that bags can change your life and inspire you. Even if it is just some cheap high street one that will be replaced as just as easily as it's been lusted after. Once you get what you want, you realise you may not want it anymore. But I'm sure the bag has got a few more weeks/months left of carnal desire to inspire within me.

GS x

Radley SS13 Press Day

 Weeks ago (understatement but hey, busy gal n all that jazz) I was lucky enough to attend the absolutelty bag-a-licous Radley Press Day SS13 in London. And you know...what with winter weighing heavily on our hearts, I was muchos excited to see what the luxurious handbag brand had to offer for the forthcoming seasons and to see if there were any must have items we all should be coveting on our arms. And by Jove, there was arm candy a plenty in this Radley press day. I WANT EVERYTHING AND I WANT IT NOW. Walking into the event, an impressively artistic studio in Convent Garden (how quaint!), I fell instantly at ease (and in lust) and was able to combine my two pinnacle loves: handbags and many glasses of delicious champagne (they also had a nail bar where you could get scottie dog strips on your nails so you could look glam and be a handbag princess but alas my busy/hectic soul did not have time to get pampered. Sadface). Walking around the studio, I felt that the displays complimented the backdrop of the studio and incorporated a real inventive vibe to the whole presentation. And that ultimately the premise of the whole Radley press day: celebrating colourful artistry.

 

Radley are renowned for their quintessential British heritage designs and of course their press day wouldn’t be complete without including some classic designs. Bags were made for travelling on the go and their latest array of brown satchel bags and tote bags are nothing short of fulfilling that stylish practical criteria. Bags like these never ever go out of style and would add an element of expensive luxe and preppy-ness to even the most humdrum and simple outfits. I also LURVED the inclusion of London geography within the display signifying that perhaps when it comes to Radley’s designs, there certainly is no place like home (cries hysterically like a banshee into corner because I do not live in London).

Despite however Radley being renowned for classic styles, the brand this season decided to branch their creative avenues and opt for splashes of bold colour too. A particular dominant shade in the press day was red and what with Valentine’s Day just around the corner it was say to safe that we fell head over heels with them. I really liked the fact that Radley were embracing a completely new and bold aesthetic this season and nothing says you’ve made it or that you are a lady of daring character than having a lustworthy red bowler bag hanging from your arm. Very Berkin-esque we think. And without the 3495802756204 year waiting list.

 BUT the random infusion of colour did not end there. Radley were determined this season to challenge the assumptions of them being a safe or heritage brand by having a easel of different colours included in their handbag designs ensures that they are going to hit SS13 with an overdue colourful bang. Even though the brand in previous years may have had a stigmitisation of being associated with “older” women, these new handbags will undeniably ensure that they reach and compel a more youthful audience. And with blossoming blues, tantalising shades of orange and glamorously underrated shades of green, what 20-something woman could resist a splash of colour into her handbag life?

And the playfulness did not end there! Bold, classic and simplistic designs may have been dominant in the press day but that did not exclude the magnificence of prints all together. In January 2013 we will see the sweet Scottie dog print that was exclusively created for Radley by Rory Crichton release a range of new products. Rory’s hand drawn sketched design will feature on a range of classic totes, small leather goods, umbrellas, holdalls and luggage entitled the ‘Thames Collection’ and will be sure to make the the Scottie dog emblem more endearing than ever before. If you could resist the charm and charisma of the Scottie then you clearly have no soul…You animal hating shrew, you.

 I was also excited about seeing the Laura Bailey collection for Radley. The Laura Bailey collection for SS13 uses classic shapes made from a lightweight canvas and leather to bring this stylish and elegant range. We can imagine these bags being used for any occassion whether that be on the daily commute to work, having a drink with friends, having a picnic or just for general daytime chic. Big small, narrow or wide, Radley reaffirm their philosphy; having versatile bags that permeate and style up every sphere and realm of daily life.

 Overall I was suprisingly blew away by the handbag calibre of the SS13 press day. Like totes. Like fo sho'.  Not only did Radley have the archtypal British handbag styles that we have grown to love and trust over the years but they also took a risk and infused an interesting smorgasbord of quirky and lively colours. I love the fact that Radley have taken this contemporary twist to their designs and I'm certain that more and more younger women will be wanting to have a piece of their luxurious leather or faux leather on their arms in the nearby future. Younger crazy materialistic women such as myself. And with prices starting from as little as £100, there’s really no excuse not to invest in a bag life. So ladies, will you be picking up your bag for life these next few months or not? Suffice to say that these Radley satchels and Selby’s will be far more sustaining and practical than the one’s you get from Tesco or Sainsburys…. Radley, will you be my bag fo lyfe?

GS x