MEADHAM KIRCHHOFF

Meadham Kirchhoff and Grayson Perry go hand-in-hand, don't you think? The bright colours, child-like connotations and the disregard for conformation. Fitting, then, my Meadham Kirchhoff x Topshop scores had their first wear to the Grayson Perry exhibition at the Manchester Gallery - an exhibition of the tapestries made while creating the TV programme about Britain's classes. No photos allowed sadly, but needless to say they are spectacular so well worth a visit.

The speed at which the pricier Meadham Kirchhoff pieces flew out prove something I've been thinking for a while now - that the British high street is so dull and homogeneous, shoppers are really looking for something unusual. The two pieces I picked were among the more wearable of the bunch, and whilst I still love them (mainly because of the MK label attached) I was really disappointed with the quality. The dress is totally see-through and static, and the tights came in a matte white box. I at least feel there should have been some snazzy MK packaging - shiny candy floss or slime would have been my ideas!

Right now I definitely have bigger fish to fry than how I look, but I feel like my hair, face, and body look so crappy right now (funnily enough, I'm really into my style. Swings and roundabouts and all that). Upon complaining about how bad I look in these photos, though, Chris reminded me of my dislike of blogs whose photos are almost editorial, without a glimmer of any imperfection in their lives. So I've decided to keep blogging through this and know that things will improve. Because, as Chris said, I "just look like someone who has had a rough couple of weeks". And he'd be quite right.

I'm wearing:

ASOS monster fluff cardigan

Meadham Kirchoff x Topshop slip dress & pentagram tights

Charity shop turtleneck

Topshop boots

Daisy Thomas bag

MODERN VAMPIRE

Here comes the feeling you thought you'd forgotten.. the feeling that your space buns are wonky and there's not a damned thing you can do about it. In my defence they were a lot straighter when I left the house: it was my over-zealous dancing (ahem, pogoing) to Vampire Weekend that knocked them askew. These really are bouncing soles, I tell ya.

I'm wearing:

Minkpink jacket & bag

Lazy Oaf Metal Head tee

Topshop leather skirt

Dr Martens Britain boots

SEA LIFE

Seapunk at the Sea Life Centre wasn't entirely intentional, I just wanted to wear my new birthday threads. Kinda feel like a slime green fluffy jumper and knee-high double soled Docs complete any outfit now though. Also, blue hair has now paled to the perfect icy colour (this is more accurate) though it was much brighter, I swear - evidence here.

The Sea Life Centre at Trafford is just a little one but well worth a visit. They work hard to protect the oceans and don't keep any species too large for captivity, so it's a thumbs up ethically, too.

I'm wearing:

Topshop fluffy jumper

Oasis skirt

Pamela Mann tights

Dr Martens Britain boots

eBay chain

Minkpink bag

SLIME GREEN HALLOWEEN

When Halloween comes around, it's normally pumpkin orange I'm drawn to, but this season I'm right the way across the colour wheel.. with slimey snotty green!

It all started when I saw a customer at work wearing lime green-to-black ombréd Nike Air Max. Like, I'd barely even looked at a pair of Air Max, let alone liked them. But that's where my obsessions come from: absolutely nowhere, just a glimpse of inspiration. Most of these obsessions don't even make it as far as my wardrobe!

So.. since I completed a first draft of a uni assignment today I treated myself to some procrastination this evening in the form of a vibes collage. A very slime green collage, with my current fashspiration, Slimer the ectoplasm dude. Unsurprisingly snot is not the most popular colour for most retailer and I've not managed to find the ombré Nikes but I did find a few bits, though I'd really love a slime-coloured fluffy jumper. I trawled eBay last night thinking it'd be something I'd have to get vintage but nothing, but good old Topshop has come up trumps with pretty much the perfect one. Score.

Above:
Topshop fluffy knit
Bad Vibes Olive Juice leggings
Below:
Casio watch
Nike Air Max
UNIF tank




ALSO who remembers when people got gunged on TV??? Why was that even bad? I wanna be gunged!!

EVIL WE ARE

Sooner than you can say "summer is over" I am in my winter guise; that is, the gothy, grungy, witchy version of myself. My Evil Twin, if you like, or rather just how I looked from the ages of fourteen to nineteen. Because that's what was cool then. Watching bands and drinking pints, pretending to be able to play guitar at jam night but realistically struggling to move from D major to D minor.

That has all stuck with me, with added appreciation for layers and proportions, and my witchy winter self adores scouring the web for Evil Twin bits and pieces. That's why I was so glad to find Spoiled Brat; their selection of ET satisfies my rockiest A/W feelings, plus they stock my other bests Minkpink, Wildfox, Waiste and UNIF. A one-stop shop for all of your grungiest winter needs. Plus, I am a complete spoiled brat, stamping my cowboy-boot-clad foot whenever I need to get my way, so could this store be any more perfect for me?

Evil we are, and spoiled we will always be. I can't wait to wear this tank with woolen plaids when the temperature drops.. but for now I am resolutely sticking to bare legs 'til I can bear it no more.

Evil Twin tank c/o Spoiled Brat

Vintage denim jacket
Levi's flannel stolen from boyf

Oasis pleather skirt (similar)

Topshop socks & Arson boots

Minkpink bag

WHEN IN ROME

When in Rome, do as the Romans, the old saying goes. Well, in August most Italians leave Rome as it becomes inundated with tourists from all over the globe, as I found myself alone (due to a series of unfortunate events) in the ancient Italian city.

The first meal I ate was a McDonalds in Termini station - shameful, really, in the land of perfect pizzas and gorgeous gelato (and I don't even like McDonalds!!). But I needed somewhere familiar to get my bearings as I didn't even know exactly where my hotel was, so totally unprepared for this trip was I. I was to find almost the entirety of Rome is covered by WiFi.. but only if you have an Italian SIM card. Doh. So I resorted to Plan B in finding my hotel; wandering aimlessly in the wrong direction before finding a map, which eventually pointed me in the correct direction of my hotel.

Much of the trip continued in this same vein: eating some ice cream/pizza, wandering around, looking at things, stumbling upon the Coliseum/Pantheon/Trevi fountain/park full of a thousand cats, marvelling, eating more ice cream/pizza. I also went to some Couchsurfing meetings which is genuinely the greatest decision I could have made. These were full of people in the same boat as I, wanting company to drink, chat, and explore Rome with; I even made friends with some native Romans who were happy to show me around their city, and at night time too, when it's most glorious. Chris arrived for the last three days of my trip and I was overjoyed to show him around as I had been shown around, as if I'd been there all of my life.

My greatest Roman tip is to explore after the sun has gone down, as all of the tourist things are much quieter and lit beautifully. Most bars offer a take-away service and although none of my Roman friends could clarify whether drinking on the streets was legal or not, we walked around with bottles of beer and none of the police batted an eyelid. An evening must also be spent with a picnic (or takeaway pizza) and a bottle of wine on the Spanish steps, as Chris and I did on his first night. Rainy it may have been but we were blissful underneath a poncho and an umbrella.

Dunking your feet in fountains, eating €15 ice creams and pizza for brunch; Rome is all about the simple pleasures. I love it and feel it is my city and I want to live there.

I'm wearing: majority is Minkpink, with some Evil Twin, a vintage dress, & all shoes are Topshop