BLING RING

Rarely do I list my rings in my outfit photos; there is usually so much of it an entire post is required. Well, here is that post! Most of it is rather old I'm afraid but some pieces you can still pick up in the store described, or at least very similar pieces, and hopefully I'll give you some new ideas of where to shop for new ring bling. The stories of my finger adornment, listed left to right as seen in the photos:

BCBG Max Azria two-finger ring, snapped up in the Harvey Nichols sale. I've never been able to find this or anything similar online so I suggest hitting up the next in-store HN sale and rummaging through the jewellery. I do it every time now in the hope I'll find another gem!

Dixi little finger knuckle ring (both little fingers), in gold & twisted silver. I'm amazed I've not lost these as they are so tiny, and I've had them around a year now! I must be honest, I had a faulty Dixi product and never had any response from them about a replacement, which is a real shame as I think their jewellery is lovely - the faux opal & large green stone ring are also from there.

The Topshop eye ring was another sale bargain. This is so quirky and I love it so much, plus my index finger is abnormally fat and rings don't normally fit on there, so it's an added bonus that this one does! There's not much on the sale section of their site right now, but if you go in store there's always a reduced Freedom stand or two.

Both of the wishbone rings are from the Bohemian Collective, my absolute favourite jewellery store on the web. I think the thicker one is meant to be a regular ring, but I bought it in a smaller size so it would sit as a midi ring on my middle finger. The rings on the site are listed in ring size though (rather than S/M/L) so you know exactly which size to buy.

We had a big transfer of sale jewellery at work from the flagship store where apparently sale jewellery doesn't sell all that well. It was all really unusual, with hand chains, chunky rings and feathers, and I snaffled a load of it for really cheap (plus 15% student discount). So don't forget to check out your local Oasis's sale jewellery section - you may find a real gem, like my thumb ring!

Finally, the big chevron ring on my middle finger is from Primark. It was years and years ago now but it's stuck with me, and despite turning my finger a mouldy shade of green every time I wear it I still love it.

Hopefully this has given you a few ideas of where to find cool jewellery, but if you're still stuck check out Galibardy, Little Teacup, Delilah Dust, Wonsuponatime.. plus the sale sections of high street retailers, local hippy shops, charity shops and car boot sales. Happy jewel hunting!

ON SHOES AND ISSUES

Oh, what to say, what to say. I suppose I could talk about my outfit, or my feelings, or what I did today. But I really have nothing to say about any of that. I could use this space to get on my soapbox about something I feel passionate about, or inform you about some current affair or other; again, nothing immediately springs to mind, though I often find myself agitated upon hearing the news, wishing I could do more.

I wish I could use this space as more of a platform to air my views and opinions, or to stick up for what is right, though for some reason it never sits right with pictures of my outfits. "Here's a picture of my shoes.. and did you know that in South Africa more than 30% of girls have been raped by the time they are 18?" I don't think you'd stick around very long.

Did you also know that I am pescetarian? When people ask why, I say it's just because I don't like meat. But it is so much more than that; I just don't want to bore or offend anyone. Maybe it's about time I stuck my neck out and stuck up for the stuff I believe in. As Cher Horowitz said, "don't you want to use your popularity for a good cause?"

Such is the life of a confused semi-realist in a consumerist culture. Now, about my shoes...

I'm wearing:

Accessorize fedora

Topshop denim bralet

Prophecy kimono

Charity shop skirt
(similar on Ulrikke's Etsy)

Love Label Dicker-ish boots

Nostalgic Feather bracelet

Bohemian Collective agate necklace

Peepultree yin yang pendant

FREE PEOPLE TOUR OF MANCHESTER

Yeah, so Manchester does have great high street shops, and like every city, a chain coffee shop on most corners. But what if you like to get away from the hustle and bustle? Fancy a more bohemian, free spirited city experience?

I've lived here for two full years now and I love Manchester so much. We've had our ups and downs - like any relationship I suppose - but now I can honestly say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I've found my own watering holes, eateries, and secret places to find individual little pieces of jewellery and clothing; and now I'm going to share it with you for Free People, who have recently launched in the UK. Not so secret any more, but it's hard to keep great things secret for long..

I love the Northern Quarter. If I sound like a cliché, I don't care, because it really is the best part of Manchester. As a visitor or tourist in Manchester I'd always recommend shunning the busy main street (you can shop on the high street anywhere, surely) and heading for the mish-mash of independent shops, bars, and cafes just up the road from Piccadilly Gardens, plus the area needs all the support it can get since recently there were three separate fires in the area destroying buildings, businesses - and, consequently, people's livelihoods.

You can get lost in the vast vintage stores of the NQ - though some of them require more patience than others, you can still get the Free People hippy vibe if you have the time to pick out the paisley, crochet, and velvet pieces amongst the plethora of polyester. You can also pick up your favourite fashion bibles and hip indie CDs, and have delicious coffees in chintzy, shabby-chic cafés, tucked in back streets, only known to those willing to get off the beaten path.

A final tip of mine, whichever city you are in: don't forget to look all around. You see some awesome things way above eyeline, whether it's colourful shoes hanging out on a wire, beautiful lampshades, or heartbreaking building damage caused by fire. It'd be a shame to miss out because you're shoegazing.











Disclaimer: All photos and drawings my own for Free People; and it was raining on the day we took these photos, but contrary to popular belief it doesn't always rain in Manchester. Just most of the time.

GRUMPY IN THE GARDEN

Did someone get out on the wrong side of the bed this morning? No, but someone did forget to take their laptop charger to work and had to go home to get it. Problems of a forgetful girl.. I guess I'll just blame it on being (bottle) blonde.

Although I look pretty grumpy here I promise I'm not! I'm a little glum that the weather doesn't seem to know what to do with itself right now - give me super hot again, I never complained - but still cheerful tends to be my default mood. That or overly excited. Bit like a Labrador puppy in that respect.

I'm wearing:

Vintage trilby

T-shirt c/o WTFUK

Chelsea Girl crochet skirt

Office shoes
Vintage/market/ChloBo/Kenneth Jay Lane jewellery

DISTANT TRAVELLER

Just takin' a quick teabreak in the Ette garden. I so love how I wear whatever I want to go work there, and I'm constantly surrounded by quirky, bohemian fashion - whether it's being worn by Lucie and Grace, store stock, or an image I'm updating the Tumblr with. My brain is definitely a style sponge, soaking up whatever it's immersed in, and I find myself reaching for slouchier fits, vintage prints, and cowboy boots right now. And still with the black and white stripes.. they perfectly go/don't go with everything.

I'm finding the "I don't know what to wear" moments are coming less and less at the moment; it makes it easier that whether I want to sit in the studio in a ballgown or a bikini, Ette wouldn't bat an eyelid. I don't even know where my style is right now but I like it.

I'm wearing:

Hacked up Oasis t-shirt

Minkpink Distant Traveller trousers

Topshop moccasins via charity shop

eBay sunglasses

Vintage necklace

Vintage, eBay, Kenneth Jay Lane & Chlobo bracelets

BCBG, Dixi, Topshop & Bohemian Collective rings

BLONDIE IN THE FOREST

Getting (semi) lost in the vastness of Delamere Forest is one of my favourite things to do, but on Saturday night I descended into the trees to watch the almighty Blondie play ForestLive.

The atmosphere was so chilled with people lay around on rugs and sat on deckchairs, eating picnics and drinking cider (I decided the most sensible idea would be to drive, an idea I regretted pretty quickly).. the crowd were older but I loved looking around an imagining what they had been up to thirty years previous as new Blondie fans: the man in the bucket hat, dancing in the Hacienda; the mum embarrassing her son with her whoops and cheers, illicitly bleaching her hair as a teenager to be more like her idol. When I'm fifty I doubt my past will be half as interesting as most of the boring old farts you meet nowadays.

The band were super cool and I was stunned to see how amazing Debbie Harry still is. She might not be pogoing around the stage but her voice remains, and they played all of the old favourites plus some tracks from recent albums, most of which I enjoyed as much as the hits. Overall the gigs in the forest are something I'd wholeheartedly recommend and hope to do again next year!

It was also so good to be outside at night and be able to wear not very much.. it's finally, FINALLY summer. Hooray. So glad I picked up this Minkpink top from the ASOS sale, and I just needed a crochet cardigan to keep the chill off when the sun went down. See totally awkward outfit pictures in front of loads of people.. haha.

I'm wearing:

Wildfox sunglasses

Minkpink Magic Dragon top & bag

ASOS crochet cardigan

Miss Selfridge candy stripe shorts

Topshop Arson boots

WILD HORSES

One day in June, four girls jumped in a car for a road trip to the beach, where British summertime performed exactly as we'd hoped with a stormy sky: setting the scene perfectly for the Wild Horses lookbook.

OK, so we might have been sopping by the end of the day, but the Thriftette lookbook turned out perfectly. Lucie and Grace had a set vision in mind - atmospheric, moody - and model Harriet was ideal in her role as beach gypsy. My main responsibilities as assistant were getting coffee from McDonalds, holding the umbrella over our model and saying "shall we get her in the car now? Her legs have gone blue", and honestly at one point I was ready to pack it in and huff off to sit in the warm. Then I realised what an absolute trooper Harriet was and I had no right at all to complain!

If it were Vogue there'd surely be some sort of heated tent or caravan with an endless supply of hot chocolate and fleecy blankets, and maybe we'd be in Barbados or something, with a Photoshopped stormy sky. One day, one day..

You can view the entire lookbook here and the accompanying video here. Enjoy.