CLUB FOOT

It's difficult for me to shock friends and family with what I wear. They've seen it all: from the punk with a face full of piercings, and the PVC-clad black-and-white haired goth, to the Gaga-obsessed crazy shoe wearer, to the give-anything-a-go-girl I am today. Nobody has batted an eyelid when I've had pink hair or worn 6-inch-platforms. It's just what they're used to.

Good to know, then, that I am still able to cause some surprise. Never have I worn anything like an ugg boot before (which I learned last year is just the generic name for this type of boot) and I vowed that I would never succumb: until last week, when seemingly for no reason I woke up to find my left foot like a balloon (okay.. I say for no reason, but I may have fallen out of my JCs mega-flatforms at some point in the week prior). Luckily my mum kindly donated her Emu boots for the duration of my injury, and they've barely been off my feet since. Everywhere I've been there have been cries of you, in uggs?! and I've never seen you in uggs before!! It's great to keep everyone on their toes. Maybe it'll be Crocs next time..

I guess I could have shoehorned my foot into a somewhat more glamorous pair for photos but in reality these are all I've worn for almost a week. Whatever, I think I've styled it out in tonal hues and my approximation of the pinafore-plus-blouse look that is ubiquitous right now.

The moral of the story? If you're going to wear ridiculous shoes, just make sure your mum is there to save the day with a sensible pair.

I'm wearing:

Oasis blouse

Minkpink dress

Charity shop coat

(I think after this winter this coat will be going to 

leopard heaven.. I may get this instead)

Mum's Emu Australia boots

Elephant backpack present from ma & pa

LONDON NOT FASHION WEEK

Look where I am, ma!

To me, there is such an oversaturation of London Fashion Week coverage now: not only can you get your favourite fashion editor's thoughts immediately over Twitter, but bloggers are going backstage, getting sneak peeks, sitting front row.. so this time it was nice to get off the treadmill and have some chill time in London. I went to the pub both nights, saw friends from home who now live in the Big Smoke, met new friends, and just had a lovely holiday in Camden staying at the very hospitable Sheree's.

This post wouldn't be very interesting for you, dear reader, if that were all I did. I went to the Ashish show thanks to Sophie, who took pity on me and donated her ticket, plus the Tahir Sultan show which was in fact the very last show of Fashion Week this season. Mr. Sultan himself was a fabulous finishing act, strutting down the runway, totes shoulder robing his jacket. Chuckling way too much to get a photo.. soz.

The first couple of looks at Ashish were a little disappointing (read: no sequins, weird puckered fabric) but the collection quickly settled into the 90s-inspired liquid sequins we've come to love and respect. Ashish's party girl has had to grow up and get a job this season - and a construction job at that. Not sure the patchwork denim trapeze maxi dress is really suitable building site attire but I loved it nonetheless, and also the spaghetti strap sequin jumpsuit was beautiful (they say two's a coincidence.. let's just wait for number three). The hair was so backcombed that I worried for the models' next show; how they got that out I don't know, but at least it's a totally achievable at-home look. You just need a fine-tooth comb and an entire can of hairspray.

I gotta admit to being a bit of a fangirl.. it was also super cool to see models of the moment Leomie and Chloe Norgaard on the runway!

Other highlights for me included Sophia Webster's metallic purple unicorn bag, the Maoam machine that was broken and just carried on spitting Pinballs everywhere, discovering ethical company Veja and their collaboration with print designer Greg Anser (that rainbow image is a carbon map of the Amazon.. love a print with a story), seeing old faces and meeting new ones, and just generally having a good time in Sunny Old London.

Sheree's amaze shaggy jacket is Nasty Gal
I wore:
Topshop jacketWildfox teeForever 21 maxi skirtMiista bootseBay blow-up backpack





Wildfox jumperCharity shop shirtTopshop skirtJeffrey Campbell Pointe flatformsCharity shop coatForever 21 bagWildfox sunglasses


Image from Helena, who is also the pretty lady in paisley above
You can see a video of me in this outfit pretending to be a totally important fashion designer made by DijonVu.

UNIQUE, C'EST CHIC

Right now I am in London for the final two days of Fashion Week - storming in fresh just as everyone else is on their last legs - but I couldn't resist sharing these images from yesterday's Topshop Unique show. I'm not into trends anymore but Unique manage to create a sugary pink 90s look that is super cool without screaming fashion victim. I am so utterly in love with this pink sequin midi skirt; I say this a lot but it is what my dreams are made of and I really, really hope it gets produced for retail. Imagine it with a Wildfox tee! Or the cream fluffy knit above! Or, you know, just as it was styled on the runway with an oversized leather bomber.

And can we discuss the sequinned jumpsuit Jourdan wore to close the show? Like liquid metal gliding along the runway.

Too cool.

VIVI IN MANCHESTER

This year, I aim to explore as many sights, sounds, tastes and smells of Manchester as possible. I want to walk around with fresh eyes, like a tourist in my own city; and on Tuesday night I did just that with a little help from Peroni's Vivi in Stile app.

Being a Blackberry user (for my sins) I downloaded the app on Chris's Android phone. As soon as you open the app a dialogue to change the date will pop up: I didn't read it properly and just clicked "continue". Turns out you're supposed to put your birthdate in here as the app is just for users 18+.. you do get a second chance but I was somewhat panicked that my haste had locked me out of the app for good!

Chris and I had been wanting to try out Don Giovanni's for the longest time and when it popped up on the Esplorare part of the app this seemed like the perfect excuse. It's a modern restaurant smack bang in the middle of the city on Oxford Road. This isn't somewhere I'd normally go out as nothing else around there is my cup of tea (put it this way, the main bar is a Wetherspoons) but I do feel I'd go back, as the food was delicious. Perhaps not at the weekend though, when the area may be a little more, erm.. shall we say spirited?

Although the app showcases some of the best Italian design in the city, I was pleased to see a couple of my own favourite bars featured on there too. After dinner we walked up to Matt & Phred's, a Northern Quarter jazz bar, for a few cocktails and to watch that night's act, Michael Cretu. It was a quiet night at M&P's so the band were really enjoying improvising, with Cretu playing some bad-ass double bass (and also looking a bit like Javier Bardem to my two-cocktails-in eyes) and the drummer going totally bananas on his solos - cue sideways looks from the other band members to rein him in.

Whilst the app didn't reveal anything I didn't already know about Manchester, I think it will prove its worth as a real tourist visiting other cities - I'm in London next week and as although I've been a few times I still don't know all of its nooks and crannies like I do Manchester. This makes me panic about where to eat and drink, and I end up at a Starbucks or, worse, McDonalds (I don't even eat meat!). The app enables you to find somewhere a little quirkier and off the beaten track, recommended by contributors who really know the local area, giving you a taste of the city you're visiting rather than resorting to chains.

The app can be downloaded for free on both Apple and Android and will help you find Italian Stile in seven cities around the UK. 

I wore:

Minkpink jacket

Marks & Spencer dress

Topshop heart bag (similar)

Jeffrey Campbell Wanted shoes

I Love Crafty necklace

Peroni covered the cost of our evening though we still used the app to guide us around Manchester and my views are honest.

A LOAD OF JUNK

Ever wonder what happens to the masses of cool curtain fabric that goes through charity shops, unsold? Nobody may want to line their windows with it but with Junk Shop's motto being it ain't refuse if you re-use you can be assured that they will find a new use for it. Junk's fabric is sourced at recycling mills, via charity shops, and vintage fairs, and is crafted into well-made unique pieces. I went in-store last week to try on some pieces and chat about their previous incarnations..

The dress I'm wearing below was once a pair of curtains, the thick jacquard fabric creating structure giving the skirt loads of volume. No longer preventing a nosey neighbour from being spotted, it the collared top underneath was once a window net. It makes a cute layering piece and would also be great to tuck into a high-waist skirt.





A high-waist skirt not unlike this one, which also used to be curtains, and the vest top is part of the Junk Shop designer collective. The store houses ethical, sustainable clothing and accessories from other Manchester designers alongside their three own brands - Junk Boutique, Jumble and Label of Love.





Store-wise, it's everything every creative visual merchandiser dreams of: cute and quirky displays, with everything made from recycled items and reclaimed materials. Pass through the wardrobe doors into the fitting room, and you'll find a vintage coat rack to hang your stuff on plus a vintage chair should you need a sit down.

This place is basically the whole package. The ideal place to jump off the consumer bandwagon; a visual treat, with unique pieces - plus the opportunity to join in the sustainable fun with their styling, dressmaking, and customisation courses. There are some reviews on Yelp which say it's over-priced: the prices are definitely cheaper than Topshop. Considering the pieces are hand-made, ethical, or unique, I personally think this is a real bargain.

You'll find Junk Shop on Dale Street (across from Koffee Pot, the best breakfast in town. Make a morning of it), open Monday to Saturday 10-6, 12-5 on Sundays.