BEE HAPPY

My dad's birthday on Tuesday took us to Stoneyford Gardens in the heart of Cheshire, home to many a flora, fauna, beast and minibeast, including more bees than I've seen for a long time. This itself made me so happy as the fuzzy little critters are reportedly in decline, so it was wonderful to see so many happily buzzing around the flowers. It's dreadful to think that a few generations down the line may only see bees in photographs!

I'm so glad my dad chose there rather than any more rock 'n roll birthday activities (though at sixty-one, what do you expect? .. Ahem). It's the most beautiful garden, a labour of love by the family who live on the premises, simultaneously in the middle of nowhere yet close to my home town. It's the first time I've truly appreciated landscaping but I also loved the vivid colours of the flowers, the feeling of peace you got from wandering around the gardens, plus the huge amount of bees and butterflies picking up pollen, making the whole place self-perpetuating.

We sat for a while just looking out onto the garden. I'd like to say I was contemplating life or whatevs but I wasn't thinking anything, just feeling content. And excitement for the potential of a cream tea in the gardens' lovely tearooms!

NB: I didn't notice that my parents were wearing the-same-but-opposite top half. Gonna rip them for that now. Haha, happy birthday, dad!

I'm wearing:

French Connection fringed top

Cameo Rose leopard blazer

Zara camoflage trousers

Office shoes

Minkpink bag

Forever 21 necklace

Nostalgic Feather bracelet

THE INTERNSHIP

After what seemed like a million and one exams (but in actuality was only three) my university year has finally finished. Time to lay back and relax, right? Well.. not quite. As well as getting a few more hours at work I've also started a marketing and ecommerce internship with vintage babes Ette, working on their blog and other social media outlets, plus blogger outreach and hopefully organising a few lil' events in the future.

I had a look around for some internships and placements to apply for, but nothing was quite right, and I really dislike just being treated as a minion so working with a huge company was never going to suit me. So, I approached Lucie and Grace myself and was like "I believe in what you do. I want to work with you!" Luckily, they were keen on getting on with their fashion design and production and happy to let me crack on with the marketing stuff. I say work.. but really I just sit around looking at blogs, updating Tumblr, drinking tea, fussing cats and being force-fed brownies. But we've already got an exciting collaboration up our bell-sleeves, so in between gulps of tea I do get a bit of stuff done. Expect to hear much more about this web store - they're expanding from vintage and bought-in goods to much more handmade and customised, plus they're looking into stocking some badass brands.

Basically it's a dream internship. Not at all like the new Wilson/Vaughn movie.. doesn't that look hilarious? Ha ha ha ha ha uhh, not.

I'm wearing:

French Connection top

DIYed Oasis jeans

Topshop Arson boots

(I WANT THE WHITE SO BAD)

Thriftette Lola fringed kimono

PENRITH

This weekend was spent with my boyfriend lazing around in the sleepy Lake District town of Penrith.

I say sleepy - but despite all the shops shutting at 4pm on a Saturday it was one of those mythical Mary Portas-approved high streets, with unique independent stores next to buzzing bars and sweet eateries. My favourite shops were Victoria's, with fair trade clothing and accessories (where our Buddha head is from) and J. J. Graham, a deli stocking all sorts of tasty treats, from freshly ground local coffee to international beers. Interestingly although this place seemed old fashioned they also have a transactional website, mixing old and new retail styles seamlessly.

Of course, as in any small town, there was more than a few charity shops. I insisted on visiting each and every one, maintaining that "you never know what you might miss"!


The reason we were in Penrith was to attend the wedding reception of one of Chris's university friends. A fantastic excuse to dress-up, of course, with the reception held in Roundthorn Country House - which had a beautiful view right the way across the Lake District.

I don't believe in buying a new outfit for an occasion, so I wore a French Connection dress Chris got for me this past Christmas, with Aldo heels and a DIY headchain. Chris does enjoy a new outfit and was rather pleased with his pink and burgundy T. M. Lewin get-up!

I'm wearing:  Oasis leopard dress  DIY'd vintage waistcoat  Minkpink Scorpio Rising dress  Forever 21 jacket  French Connection wrap dress  Zara bag  Aldo Rise x J.W.Anderson shoes  Office boots

EASY DRESSING

French Connection top Zara trousers Love Label boots Urban Outfitters sunglasses H&M necklace Dixi & BCBG rings Forever 21, Kenneth Jay Lane & vintage bracelets Jeans and a t-shirt, version 2.0. This has got to be my favourite top of all time - it's so baggy and mis-shapen, but the fringes move beautifully and it can be worn day or night. I deliberated about buying these trousers - would every blogger and their dog have them come September? - but in the end I am so happy I got them. They're my version of disco pants; the material sucks me in, acts like a Wonderbra on my (pretty much non-existent) bum and will undoubtedly become my go-to pair this winter.

I'm still without internet in my new flat, and in fact will be without it until the 21st of August. Currently I'm sat in Starbucks waiting for them to realise how much bandwidth I'm sapping uploading all these images. I'm in desperate need of new ways to procrastinate so please fire any suggestions my way! DIY tutorials, cool magazines, and new dance routines all welcome. FYI I don't have a TV, and reading feels far too productive. HELP.


Graceful as a newborn horse.

(Apologies for the new animated gif obsession. Clearly my lack of internet has regressed me back to a time when I had to ask my parents to use the computer)

A Fashionable Mancunian 2012

Accessorize hat, ASOS tippet, French Connection Dress, Office boots, Zara bag, Versace for H&M scarf

A completely Christmas gifted outfit from Chris and my parents, bar the hat, which was my only foray into the ferocious sales

2012 is set to be an exciting year for Manchester fashion: confirmed so far are the Indulgent Trade Show, Spring Fashion Show, and Manchester Fashion Week - the latter I know as little as the next person, I'm afraid, but their mysterious marketing seems to have many champing at the bit for more information.

These events, plus many more (including something I may have up my sleeve for Oasis, but you didn't hear that from me) promise for substantial posts with all original content here at Fashion Dotty. Many thanks for your support in 2011 - it's been a whirlwind of a year for me - and I hope to continue informing and entertaining you throughout 2012!


Oh, and the aggressive 5ft alligator stolen from Stockport? Just another to add to my collection..

A Very Merry Boxing Day

Good times hanging out with my family and friends over the past few days, plus of course opening a handful of Christmas presents and drinking a pint or two. Or ten.

Today was a harsh snap back to reality working Boxing Day in House of Fraser, plus there have been some odd goings-on where I live in Manchester. After the comforts of my parents' house it's all rather jarring but normality will indubitably ensue presently. These three pictures - which were the start of an oufit diary whilst at home that clearly ran out of steam after day two - should suffice until I get a better grip on reality and can share some of the wonderful goodies that Santa Claus brought. Here I'm wearing a H&M men's shirt, Topshop palazzos, and Miista boots, and a French Connection jumpsuit with a H&M kimono and Acne shoes.

I hope you all had a happy Christmas, and enjoyed spending quality time with your loved ones!

Into the Lights

Grazia are so amazingly on-point with their editorials, I just want to live in them.

I loved this gorgeous page from their Christmas issue so much I decided to hold a mini-shoot in my bedroom using our Christmas tree lights. Sadly no Mulberry Tillie boots for me, so I substituted my KG for Kurt Geiger Mary Janes my boyfriend gifted me with last Christmas, plus a French Connection dress & Oasis tights.











No idea why these turned out like this (I really ought to learn how to use my camera), but I like them best of all: