IN MOTION

Just a quick post tonight - it's been a difficult day, and under the instruction of many to "make sure I look after myself" I've just emerged from a long wine-fuelled bubble bath, consequently I'm ready to sleep - but I couldn't resist posting these photos hastily taken by my university friend Zabrina (hastily as we were about to get run over.. she's pretty good, Chris might be out of a job) detailing those DIY fringed boots in motion. They make a satisfying swish, swish noise while I walk, and have a movement to match that is hard to catch on camera. For mere mortals, anyway.. who knows how street-style supremo Tommy Ton does it.


EXPECTATION...
REALITY...   Yeah I did just use a Tumblr meme.
I'm wearing..  Topshop coat  Oasis dress (now £10 in the sale, £8.50 with student discount!)  Accessorize beanie  Customised Ugg boots  Forever 21 bag (just seen)

DIY FRINGE BOOTIES

You may remember at Fashion Week I had the pleasure of knocking around with the very lovely Annie Bean, and during that time I crowned her the Queen Blagger Blogger. I'm rubbish at getting anything for free, so when Anna took me up to the Handpicked Media suite at One Aldwych Hotel, I was a little embarrassed and loitered in the foyer for a while. Eventually Anna's confidence rubbed off on me and I ended up leaving the suite with armfulls of stuff, including a pair of Ugg boots.

Not the sort of Ugg boots you'd expect, though. Very nice, black leather, wedged Ugg boots. Whenever I looked at them though I couldn't help seeing them as a blank canvas. My more-is-more aesthetic was longing for, well, more than simply comfort, warmth and quality.

Finally, inspiration hit. Leather fringing. I can't believe it wasn't more obvious, as this is something I am wild about. Armed with fabric scissors, a glue gun, and some lengths of pleather from a ripped pair of trousers (ouch.. that's a painful memory) I attacked the boots this evening, and considering how simple it was to do, I'm pleased with the outcome! I don't expect the fringes to last forever, but that's possibly the beauty of it - once they're tired, or I'm tired, they will simply be removed and replaced by my newest fad.

SILVER SUNDAY

  I'm wearing: H&M jumper Forever 21 skirt Office shoes Urban Outfitters necklace H&M shoulder bag Various bracelets & rings
You know, before I started reading fashion blogs there is no way I would have worn silver, let alone mixed it with other metals. I was a gold lady through and through, opting for luxurious-looking jewellery, ensuring all my hardware matched up. Now, from absorbing streetstyle blogs and outfit posts, I realise mixing metals is practised by the most chic of fashionistas and adds an edge to the plainest of outfits.

Today was spent in top-to-toe silver: first up welcoming Chris's parents with a brew on their first visit to our new flat, then knocking around Castlefield with the man himself, going to the Artisan Market (to buy a wooden Buddha windchime - I'm obsessed) and for a few drinks in the area's beer gardens. The ideal way to see out the last rays of summer.


These shoes + this graffiti in Castlefield = a reminder to be happy.

CROCODILE SHOES

A few weeks ago I sparked a passionate, opinionated debate on Twitter. I'd like to say it was about politics, or the environment, or something that actually matters, but it wasn't. It was about shoes.

I couldn't decide between Office's Nighthawk or Billy the Kid. I mean, how could I? They're both so different. Twitter decreed it should be Nighthawk, so naturally I went into store and... decided on a completely different pair.

Hello, Break of Dawn. I don't know how I coped without you but now with you my life is complete. You add a Western edge to skirts and dresses and are the perfect accompaniment to jeans. My only qualm is that every time I see you Jimmy Nail's Crocodile Shoes pops into my head. But that is something I will learn to live with, my love. I will never need a new pair of shoes as long as you live.

Oh. You come in pewter, too? Heeeey baby. How you doin'...?

ELECTRIC WITCHES

Back in late January (that's an entire fashion season ago, WOW) I got the chance to visit the wonderful Miista team in East London. I was ridiculously excited that their spring/summer stock samples were littering the office, about to drop in-stores, whereas Laura and the team were already busy masterminding their autumn/winter collection.

 

How you get from a seemingly chaotic, yet incredibly well thought out moodboard to a collection of designer shoes is beyond me, but maybe that's why the Miista team design the shoes and I just drool over them. 

I'm pleased to present to you the ELECTRIC WITCHES lookbook. The shoes (and styling!) are somewhere between my 11-year-old self's separate obsessions with the 1970s and Clueless, and my velvet-clad traditional gothic phase, aged 15. Basically everything my dreams were, and still are made of. 

My top choice from Electric Witches is the silver May - that big, bouncy rubber soul looks so comfy, and there is something totally irreverent about the Chelsea-style boot perched on top - followed closely by Luela and Ida. If my choices don't boil your cauldron then check out the rest of the lookbook: every season there is unfailingly a Miista to bewitch us all.

A Sneaky Confession

That's it... I admit it. This has been niggling away at me for some months now, and I've tried to resist it, but I really must confess.

I WANT SOME SNEAKER WEDGES.

Sure, I liked the Isabel Marant versions. Their chunky weirdness and awkward colour combinations had to be appreciated; but on other people, not me. And a select few people at that - Natalie of Canned Fashion being my favourite, as she doesn't take them seriously. As we ventured further into spring I found that they were being communicated to me via multiple mediums and I just couldn't get away: they're all over magazines, blogs, even people in the street. I really didn't expect them to filter down so quickly, especially not to the mass market. And then one day (yeah, today) I just snapped: I think I may need a pair. This ASOS pair would do the trick just nicely.

Will I resist? Only time will tell...

Gossip And A Dressing Gown

This vintage dressing gown was donated to me by my now-departed Auntie Jean, and has been hanging around in my wardrobe waiting for an occasion (and for me to gather the courage) to be worn outside the house. I've been easing myself into it lately, wearing it little and often, finding that it works a treat with my Aldo Rise shoes and lemon jeans; in the summer I'll be wearing it with cut-off denim in a relaxed pretending-I'm-at-a-festival fashion.

Yesterday I had a makeover at Illamasqua (thanks to Fashion Catalyst) and the make-up artist went a little crazy on me, as you can see here, then I went a little crazy and bought the deep teal lipstick she had applied.  I was told that the eye perceives it as a sexy colour, especially when paired with white eyeliner, as it is the exact negative of the usual red-lip-black-lined-eye combo. I'm more into its quirky qualities than its sexiness but if it comes with the territory then I suppose I'll just have to cope. Please excuse my hair which is in the extremely irritating growing out stages of a bob, flicking out in all the directions I expressly don't want it to flick in. And yes, it's all one colour now!

I have a few tidbits of gossip for you. Firstly I have recently started writing for the newsicmoos Fashion pages; there are only a few pieces up so far - including one about awesome up-and-coming shoe designer Cleo B - but we have some exciting bits in the pipeline, so stick with us for cool music and fashion crossovers.

I was photographed ages ago so I assumed it would never go live, but last week I had a picture and a tiny write-up about me in the London Evening Standard. 

Sarah Harradine is an international fashion marketing student from Manchester. Sarah is wearing a customized denim shirt from New Look, an ASOS skirt, Topshop Boutique coat, a Versace for H&M neck scarf, Zara bag and Kurt Geiger shoes.

“I’m very trend-led, so I tend to look at an editorial or a catwalk and then find a way to emulate it through high street purchases. My favourite designers are Miuccia Prada and Christopher Kane, but it’s the people on the high street that are the most interesting.”

So there you go!

Finally, and most excitingly, details dropped about London store LN-CC's latest giveaway a few days ago...

LN-CC are offering flights to London (who cares that you're in Essex? Travel in style), a three-night stay in a hotel, and fifteen thousand pounds to spend in store. Can you imagine what you could do in LN-CC with that much money? I can, and it involves a whole load of Haider Ackermann's shiny tailoring. Enter here by providing your email address and that of two friends you feel may be interested in the retailer. Feel free to use my email as one of those interested parties, but I will be expecting an Ackermann-shaped thank-you gift if you win..

Stay tuned this week as Fashion Dotty takes another road trip to Cheshire to visit The éditeur's pre-races fashion show, and Mr Dotty will be making a very special guest appearance, playing reporter for the night at Emporio Armani's Elliott Landy exhibition!

Take Me To Funky Town

Those of you who have seen me in the past few days may have noticed me whistling the Lipps Inc classic and strutting along a little more wiggle than normal. I haven't suddenly become a massive Shrek fan (in fact I've never seen the film.. how bad is that?!). It is because I was whisked away to a Funky Town - or rather, Bottega's glamorous Seventies-themed summer fashion show.




The crowd were not only glossy-haired, well-heeled (literally - see McQueen, Louboutin, & Marant above!) and gorgeous, but were also very generous. The event was in support of Claire House Children's Hospice and at first count raffle tickets and donations added up to £700 but this was before the real shopping began. With 10% of each purchase made from the Bottega and friends collections available, it was the perfect excuse to shop - and yes, I may have made a purchase. But I had to do it. For charity, darling..!

The Grade II listed building Bolesworth Castle was the evening's venue, which just so happened to be shoe designer Cleo B's family home (read more about Cleo B at Newsic Moos very soon). Bottega have recently started stocking Cleo's collection and the evening proved to be a fantastic showcase for the pieces - in fact the first two looks were dedicated to Cleo's Rockbox and Jam Master Jay espadrilles and Sucker MCs casette heels.

 







All models wearing Des Petits Hauts Gold Katarina midi skirts and Sucker MCs shoes.

The Jam Master Jay is a classic with a twist - a raffia sole and heel, plus cool metallic and suede straps. Me likey.

'I'm in Miami Girl' was surely just gratuituous, giving us a chance to gawp at the babe-licious models. So full of attitude and sass, and each one different to the next - perfect casting! I think I'll leave this look to that sexy lot, though I'm sure I could find an inventive way to style the printed We Are Handsome swimsuit.

 





To me 'Le Freak C'Est Chic' was the most wearable and on-trend look of them all. Bottega stocks a fantastic edit of the Olsen's Elizabeth and James label, and each model was attired in at least one piece from the brand. My mum's favourite (did I mention my mum came along? She loved it) was the floral pyjama pants, and I was rather partial to the floral midi-maxi dress - it had a great movement and fluidity.

 





The 1970s references were coming thick and fast as we reached look 5, 'Saturday Night Fever'. A tight-fitting, one-shouldered top tucked into high-waisted flares. A floaty kaftan top, a tassled obi belt. On paper these may sound costume-like but the modern accessories (namely Cleo B) and neon accents kept the looks modern.

 




I really wish I could dress like 'Last Night A DJ Saved My Life' every day, though trailing hemlines in wet Manchester may not be the most practical. This look mixed vintage and modern pieces, though you would be hard-pressed to spot the difference. Can you see the Blank cross body necklace in the first look? Genius idea!

Awesome looks, beautiful venue and an atmosphere abuzz with lively chatter - the perfect platform for Bottega's wares and Cleo B's goodies.

 


The name tags were a lovely touch!
I like to think I dressed appropriately to the theme - this French Connection velvet jumpsuit doesn't photograph so well but it fits like it was made for me. I adore it. Accessorised with Terry De Havilland wedges and hair styled by the rain (thanks for that) I felt like a 1970s diva. And how on-trend is my mum?! Sporty tailoring, coral, and a scarf-print blouse. I reckon she's secretly been looking at the Philip Lim 3.1 spring/summer show on style.com without telling me...

 




You'll find Bottega in Tarporley village centre. I recommend you take a day trip; eat at Bottega's Birdcage café, then visit all of Tarporley's other treasures - numerous castles, top tea rooms, and more striking scenery than you can shake an SLR at.