FASHION'S REALLY BIG NIGHT OUT

From what I remember Vogue Fashion's Night Out was pretty spectacular; from the incredible views and numerous bottles of champagne at the Valentino suite at the Radisson Blu (fun fact: the hotel used to be the Free Trade Hall, playing host to legendary music acts like Bob Dylan and Louis Armstrong) to being drunkenly lairy at Kate Phelan, to befriending Felix from the Maccabees and bullying him into charging my phone. Probably the most drunk I've been since I was a teenager.. no regrets though. It's not often in life you get chance to rub shoulders with (and ultimately be rude to) people you respect and admire.

So many photos for you to feast your eyes on, with many more that didn't make the cut due to being way blurry/shameful. This blog is going on hiatus for a little while, so enjoy and I will see you soon.

I'm wearing:

Minkpink blazer & bag

Urban Outfitters t-shirt

Ette bell bottoms

MAC Cyber lipstick

Photos featuring Maria, Lucy, Sheree, Penny, & Zabrina, plus some fashionable FNO-goers who caught my eye

SO VERY FIERCE

Oh, man - so I started my third and final year of my degree two weeks ago and already am I thoroughly immersed in corporate strategy models and branding textbooks, plus I have a cold.. hence the unexpected blogging hiatus. Even my mum has been concerned with my lack of blogging, so here you go, mum. This one is for you!

A few weeks ago (okay.. in August, eek) I visited the headquarters of fashion brand Very. It's situated in an the awe-inspiring space of an old aircraft hanger just outside of Liverpool. I was invited down along with Chyaz, Sarah & Amy for a fashion photography workshop, where we learned about the ins and outs of Very's photography studio - that should be studios, really, as there's a separate building for the model shots with three studios, plus the still life studio a little down the road. The studio we worked in was abuzz with stylists, models, and photographers, and we got the chance to try our hand at each of the job roles that day.

Beginning with creating "bibles" for the looks (that's styling up the pieces on the models then photographing them so you don't forget for after hair & make-up) to final edits, we went through the whole process as if we were photographing for the catalogue. The fabulous Chyaz (dying over that girl's beautiful hair) took my photos, and I must admit I'm rather pleased with them.. want one blown up for Christmas, mum? The other girls were beaut, too; you can tell we've had practise in front of the camera from blogging!

There's a behind-the-scenes video, and it's worth checking out the Very Definitions ad if you haven't seen it yet - it's produced by the same guys who make the Daft Punk videos, plus I love the song which is Fineshrine by Purity Ring.

I'm wearing:
Very Love Label & Definitions
Eyelash knitted jumperGrey maxi dressBlouson sequin dress

RECORD STORE DAY

It's not like Manchester really needs a reason to drink on a sunny Saturday afternoon, but Record Store Day was the perfect excuse to get out of the house and hit town. I picked up the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album from the absolutely packed Piccadilly Records, plus Grimes's Visions - a total bargain at £7. In my teenage years I was addicted to buying CDs, beginning with singles I liked the covers of in Asda, to spending hours flicking through obscure albums in indie record shops. I stopped buying CDs as their price increased and my disposable income decreased but really £7 is just the cost of a cocktail in the Northern Quarter, with much more longevity to the enjoyment from the music. It's a habit I'll return to; one a month maybe, carefully considered, not because of their pretty covers.

The rest of my afternoon was spent in a sunny spot outside Common Bar, listening to live bands and DJs through the walls, hanging with my boyfriend, our buddy Alun and blogging pals Pastime Bliss. My jellies made their debut appearance and I was the ideal temperature in fewer layers than usual: finally the weather is getting almost bearable. This jacket, skirt and jellies are set to be my summer uniform so you are sure to see much more of those.

I caught a couple of minutes of Bernard + Edith and really loved their sound.. I'm so rubbish at describing music but to me they sounded like if Grimes was made of sunshine and rainbows. Which of course is good! I'm hoping to catch these guys around the city sometime soon. There was also a fluffy dog in boots there.. you can imagine just how exciting that was.

I'm wearing:

Waiste Starry Nirvana jacket

Wildfox tee & sunglasses

Chelsea Girl maxi skirt (in black)

Topshop socks

Juju jellies

Minkpink bag

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.