RUBBER DUCK IT

Call me quackers, but I can't think of a better way to spend Good Friday than watching a load of rubber ducks race along the River Irwell. Spinningfields took to hosting the event like a duck to water, and it was so busy I couldn't see the race well, but I took that like water off a duck's back.

Hohoho, I do like to begin a blog post with a handful of puns, maybe I should write headlines for The Sun or something. But anyway, today was Manchester's annual duck race and I went along for a punt and a pint. I think the ducks had a pretty heavy night as some were disqualified for turning upside down, and one poor guy had to be rescued by a canoeist. They really ducked that up, huh? (Sorry. Last one)





The sun did actually come out for a little while today but my gosh was it cold. I'm sorry to go on about the weather but it is not only getting me down in the dumps, it has totally messed up my style mojo. I know what I want to wear though I have to make it work with my leopard coat - which in previous years I've only worn on the very coldest of winter days, but I've literally worn it for five months straight this time. I'm sick of the sight of it but there is no way I am buying a new winter coat this late in the game! I'd be much happier if it was even warm enough to wear a faux fur jacket, at least they show a bit of your outfit and I could change things up a little. But despite the sun I was still freezing in my thick coat.

I tried to cheer myself up by giving my wardrobe a spring audit, which did give me some new ideas and also reminded me of this dress which I picked up for a whole £2 at the Clothes Show. I liked its daisy embroidery and kinderwhore vibe, though I think it could really benefit from a sawn-off raw hem to add to its riot grrl disposition. That, and bare legs, pastel ankle socks, flatforms, and no jacket... that'll be spring, then.

I'm wearing:

Vintage dress

H&M coat (similar)

Topshop boots (similar)

Wildfox sunglasses

Forever 21 bag

A not-at-all awkward photo of me with a giant duck and a weirdo lurking in the background. Standard.

ROOT FOR THE UNDERDOG

For many people I know, owning their very own independent retail business is a dream occupation. Right now in university I am creating my own brand from scratch and it is by far the best project I've ever done. In reality, though, it's hard work going out on your own: you have to convince investors about your business plan, find a premises, set up online, decide on a brand, work hard on your brand, get staff who believe in what you do.. and that's just scratching the surface. Bad stuff can happen too, from the tangible - someone stealing a dress from your shop, say - or the intangible: things you have put many hours of brainpower and many units of cash can be stolen, too, like your brand.

Well, that's exactly what's happening to pals of mine Black White Denim. I've written about the indie retailer many times, and never have I been compensated - I do it because they're a lovely team who I consider to be my friends. They work hard and are excellent at what they do. It's just not fair that multiple retailer The Scottish Knitwear Group - which also runs stores for Pringle and Ben Sherman - is not only planning to use the same name for a Johannesburg-based outlet, but material sent out to potential partners also uses key phrases used in the Black White Denim mission statement - that black and white are the foundation colours and building blocks of a woman's wardrobe.

Black White Denim have written to the Scottish Knitwear Group to request they change the name, only to be told they would carry on with their plans. Black White Denim are now pursuing the matter through the courts, plus raising awareness through the press and blogs, just to show the Scottish Knitwear group they have bitten off more than they could chew. If you're a blogger, a journalist, a prolific Tweeter, another form of social influencer or maybe just someone passionate about independent retail, maybe consider dropping the indies a Tweet (@BlackWhiteDenim) to find out how you can help spread the word, or add a comment here. I'm so sick of the underdog getting trampled on in fashion and it's great to think that maybe we can help out this time.

I guess the Scottish Knitwear Group just think BWD are a little shop who aren't going to fight back. Well, the indies have already coined this a David and Goliath battle.. and I think we all know how that one ends.

I'm wearing:

Waiste beanie

Wildfox tee

Boyfriend's Gap jeans

Topshop jacket & boots

Forever 21 bag

DANCE WITH ME TONIGHT

Do you know what a good daughter I am? Last night I sacrificed a Friday night which could have been spent drinking with my mates (or, more likely, sat on the internet) so I could take my mum to see Olly Murs at the Manchester Arena. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it, and that someone was me - it was only fitting as I got her the tickets for Christmas. No ulterior motive there at all. Nope, totally un-selfish.

Oh, who am I kidding? I love Olly as much as the next red-blooded female. I love that he seems to be the nicest guy in pop music and you could happily go to the pub for a pint with him, and that he's genuinely talented and full of boundless energy.

I haven't actually been to a pop gig since 1998 when I last saw Boyzone, and I'd totally forgotten how much effort is put into the performance. Olly played for two hours, there was a full live band, fantastic light shows and fireworks, a walkway lowered down into the crowd, a ten-minute mod cover session, plenty of snake-hipped action; and naturally it was top pop hit after top pop hit.

Although I do love seeing small bands in dingy venues complete with a flat pint, I won't discount pop gigs anymore. It was well worth it for the awesome performance, plus hearing my mum scream when Olly ripped his shirt open at the very end. Not sure my left ear forgives me for that particular moment, mind..!

LIFT ME UP

Uh oh, double trouble. Had a bit of fun whilst taking these photos because this is the lift in my apartment building and obviously it has to be used. Managed to dodge quite a few people but ended up going to the ground floor with a lady then went straight back up without it being obvious what we were up to: "oh! I've forgotten that.. thing. We must to go back up for it". Not sure how believable that was but I guess the neighbours would find out eventually that they are living next to a *whispers* fashion blogger.

Anyway, I thought the light would be just right to show you my pink hair. Or rather, lack thereof. This is the second time I've used the new L'Oreal Feria Pastel toners and the second time I've been disappointed. Fair enough, last time my hair was a dark-to-mid blonde and it was unsurprising the colour didn't take well, since this product is made for bleached hair. This time I applied it all over my head, left it on for an hour, then found just the very ends had turned a peachy colour. I'd perhaps recommend this as a conditioner for those with pink hair already to keep colour fresh but I don't see how it could possibly turn the soft candy pink it shows on the box.

I don't have much luck with L'Oreal hair colour products (that, or they're crap) but it's so hard to not use them as they seem to own everything. Anyone who has ever seen my Tumblr knows I dream of having a flowing, pastel mane, so if anyone has any suggestions on how to achieve it then please let me know. Next try will be hair chalk!

I'm wearing:

Wildfox tee

H&M sample dungarees

(similar, or check out pink suede..!)

Jeffrey Campbell Suebee shoes

Topshop socks

SUGAR HIGH

Imagine if every day (let's not push it - maybe five days a week) you got to get up in the morning, got on a party bus full of excited people (no need for caffeine, these guys are high on life and sugary breakfast cereal), to a place where you saw all of your friends, learned cool stuff, got to run around and act completely daft for an hour and a quarter of the day; then you're done and home in time to lay on the sofa to watch CBBC.

Sounds good right? I'm going to call it "scool".. like, it's cool. S'cool. I believe there is a similar concept that already exists but mine is going to be miles better and everyone will be totally psyched to go in every day.

The kind folks at Zalando let me choose a piece from their site and this Wildfox baggy beach jumper was the one. The s'cool I'd attend would be Sugar High, and this would be our uniform. Nutella for break, pizza for lunch, and absolutely no boys allowed.

I'm impressed with the Zalando site - there's a huge selection of lines to choose from and they carry some of my favourite shoe and clothing brands: Wildfox, Minkpink, Miista and Jeffrey Campbell. I'd be pretty pleased if my wardrobe was filled with those four. Delivery was fast and by a courier company, which is an unexpected perk for free delivery.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I gotta go do my scool homework: petting my cat and drinking a brew. Those teachers are real slave drivers.

I'm wearing:

Wildfox jumper c/o Zalando

ASOS skirt

Charity shop coat

Topshop socks & heart bag

Office shoes

PLATINUM EVIL

White hair, don't care. Actually I do care, a lot, about everything, but that doesn't rhyme. And my hair isn't actually white, either; not yet. Not through lack of trying. A couple of toners and purple shampoos on from my yellow hair and this is the result: kind of creamy-ish with platinum ends. In daylight it's paler and less brassy than it is under my camera's flash, but I haven't seen much of the outside world recently thanks to the awful weather.

FYI, to get from my virgin roots/caramel lengths to this I used L'Oreal Feria Extreme Platinum Power - which is sticky and hard to spread throughout your hair: use two boxes for any hair longer than mine, or alternatively just use a high volume bleach - plus Colour Restore Iced Platinum and Pro:Voke Touch of Silver shampoo.

Still not exactly sure what to do with my eyebrows, mind. Willing some root to show through so I look a bit more normal..

LOOK AROUND YOU

You can sit and wait for inspiration to find you, or you can go out hunting for it. Surround yourself with candy to please the eye. Take photos of it, draw it, write a pretty little ditty about it. Eat pizza, chips, and ice cream, if you want to; but make sure you really enjoy them. Look around you - look at the details, the big picture, whatever - just look at how beautiful everything is. The brightest blues and the punchiest pinks. The sun's warmth on your back and the way the wind stings your face. The dizzying highs and the crashing lows.

It's all part of life, and it's amazing.






Just pictures of stuff I like looking at.. I firmly believe that everything in life should be aesthetically pleasing.

NEED YOUR DEVOTION

Today is International Women's Day, so it's quite fitting that this post is about a strong, independent, unique woman I love: Jessie Ware. I went to see her play last night at The Ritz (which I hadn't been to since its makeover. Looks beautiful, still smells awful) and had an awesome time. Despite the gig being totally sold out and the entire crowd squealing with joy whenever the first notes of favourite tracks started up, Jessie was still totally humble and down-to-earth.

On record her sound is pared-back, but live the tracks develop a new groove, with Jessie's voice full of soul. Some songs even took on a grungy distorted guitar sound, and if you're wondering about the samples which feature in Jessie's music - the lady herself was in complete control of a mini sample board.

She's so normal, yet so amazing.. I just want her to be my best friend!




Jessie looked amazing in a shimmery sequinned cape, which the light bounced off to make it look holographic. The crowd were also super stylish; arguably the best dressed crowd I'd ever seen at a gig. No outfit pictures from me as I hastily changed from my work clothes into a jumpsuit that had been crumpled into my bag.. plus I was feeling slightly self-conscious about my new yellow hair - some toner later and it is a much more acceptable colour thankfully. Beer and pizza from new joint Papa John's took my mind off my lackluster look!