DAZED AND CONFUSED

Movies inspire my style more than anything, and since I often sit with a favourite film playing while I work or browse the internet they influence me subliminally. This is definitely the case with Clueless, Mean Girls, ad Heathers, one of which is constantly playing when I'm in the house on my own, and I do believe this shows in my style!

Last Saturday I watched Dazed & Confused and since then I've had the 70s on my brain. Filmed in 1993, it's set in 1976 and features slogan tees with pastel denim, cute hairstyles, distressed dungarees, a faded, sun-drenched quality about everything, Parker Posey being a complete bitch.. and it all came to a head in this outfit which incorporated the flares and the high-school pride, plus the totally retro zig-zag blouse, as seen on Posey in her final drunken scene. This is a charity shop special lacking any form of store label but it is exactly the same as something I would've worn circa 1997: the Seventies was my era even then and I loved the white flares and burnout zigzag tops my mum got me from random cheap shops in town. Maybe even the market. But I wouldn't have told my friends that.

I can't believe I don't currently own a pair of pale denim flares but it's not through lack of trying; I picked these MiH jeans up for mega cheap intending to bleach them to acid wash. I've bleached them three times now and they seem to be almost resistant to it! Really happy with this faded lilac now though.. I'll just be on the lookout for some 70s-style high waist flares in vintage stores.

And the film.. well, if you haven't seen it already then I'm sure you can pick it up for cheap from pretty much anywhere. If, like me, you're into American high school films where nothing really happens apart from beer bongs, bong bongs and teenage romances then it's a classic.

I'm wearing:

Wildfox jumper c/o Zalando

Charity shop blouse

MiH Marrakesh jeans

Jeffrey Campbell x Wildfox Lonestar shoes

Vintage bag

OF BEASTS AND SUPERBEASTS

Ever since the exterior of the Manchester Art Gallery was overtaken with organic decoration in February, I'd been curious to see what the Raqib Shaw exhibition inside was all about. It wasn't until the outside had sprung into bloom that I finally made the trip and boy, am I ever glad I did.

The pieces of art were breathtakingly beautiful, painted with enamels, glitter and rhinestones, which sounds garish but the shiny brightness was just a ruse for the gruesome subject matters. Look closely and you will see all sorts of grimness, from airborne monsters attacking royal beasts, to monkey warriors being castrated, to intestines spilling out across the canvas. The last thing you see in the exhibition is a sculpture of a lobster/shrimp/thing attacking a naked half-man, half-bird. No amount of glitter could disguise its goriness and it was so overwhelming both my boyfriend and our friend had to have a little sit down to recollect themselves after seeing it up close (I was OK though, just fascinated. I'm clearly made of stronger stuff).

Those of a somewhat nervous disposition could just focus on the colour, glitter, and unusual painting technique of blending different colours of enamel to create a marble effect. My photos do not represent the grandeur of these pieces; I'd say they had to be seen to be really appreciated. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up from me, fine holiday fun. Though perhaps not one for the kiddies.

Oh, and I also wore an outfit. But how do I discuss clothes after seeing such a mind-bending exhibition?! Can't stop thinking about the psychedelic colours and unsettling images..!

I wore:

Miss Selfridge dress c/o the other Easter Bunny

Vintage/DIY waistcoat

Dad's trilby

Forever 21 bag

Topshop tights

Office shoes

PINK TO MAKE THE BOYS THINK

What a coincidence that the first outfit on mine I've liked for ages was worn on the first day it was really, really nice weather. Sun really does make everything better and it was great to cast off the confines of my leopard coat, although I did start to get chilly towards the evening, I coped with it easily enough. First iced coffee of the year, too!

This was also the first day I'd worn my Pointes since I broke my toe in them. Nervous at first, I took it slowly, but actually found that they're a lot easier to walk in without socks or tights in as your feet grip on more. Another win for spring.

Oh yeah! And I dyed my hair pink. In true ongoing saga of my hair style it was meant to be pastel (thanks for providing the Crazy Colour, Sara!) but it went neon. Pretty OK with that though. At least it worked this time, right?

I'm wearing:

Topshop jacket

Evil Twin tank c/o the Easter Bunny :)

Vintage/DIY waistcoat

Forever 21 skirt & bag

Jeffrey Campbell Pointe shoes

Wildfox Twiggy sunglasses c/o Self Service

By the ways, the new WAISTE collection is online now! I basically want everything but am 99.9% certain I will be getting Starry Nirvana come loan day.

A POWER GIRL IN A NINETIES WORLD

There were only three of us in my primary school friend group, so although it was difficult to play Spice Girls we managed to find a way: learning the lyrics of the first album off by heart and copying the dance moves taped from videos. A particular favourite was Say You'll Be There - still probably my favourite Spicey song - five strong women wearing badass clothes kicking ass.. in the middle of the desert. As you do.

All this took place whilst simultaneously arguing over who was which Spice. The girl closest to my heart was always Baby but I was doomed to be Sporty throughout my Spice impersonation career. To be fair, at the time I had very straight brown hair and lived in trackies and trainers (and arguably had the best singing voice, har har); I just didn't possess the confidence to wear Baby's short, shiny outfits. I hated even wearing fitted t-shirts, while all around me the other girls wore short skirts and played with make-up, thinking that they had to dress to attract boys.

It's only upon reflection now do I realise how different the Spice Girls really were to anyone else around at the time. They dressed for themselves, and for each other, not men - the original man repellers, if you like. I used to like the idea of "girl power" but I didn't really get it; now I do I'm behind it even more than I was then!

I guess now I'm making up for lost time, living out my inner Baby Spice dream: I'm totally obsessed with white platforms and anything rainbow, shiny, holographic or fluffy. If in doubt, think WWBSD: What Would Baby Spice Do.

Wildfox knit

Delilah Dust yin yang necklace

Stephanie Hamer "Dotty" necklace

Jeffrey Campbell Suebee shoes

Thriftette socks

Whilst I'm not sure I'd actually go out with hair like this now - it cuts a little close to the "desperately clinging onto youth" bone - one of the main reasons I love blogging is because I get to do dumb stuff, record it, and people seem to LIKE IT. I do hope you're laughing along with me and not at me.

PS. whilst creating this collage I discovered three things..

1. Comic Sans MS does have its uses in ironic 1990s graphics. NOWHERE ELSE.
2. Baby's white Buffalo shoes are available to buy on Schuh. OMG.
3. This collection of Spice Girls memorabilia is astounding.

LET'S GET WAISTED

Good times on an Easter Bank Holiday Monday involving my favourite Manchester vintage store Thriftette and blogger buddy Sara, launching denim brand Waiste into the Northern Quarter boutique. I've gotta admit, I did get properly Waisted, both in my custom Waiste dungarees - hearts, stars, and a cloudy bleach pattern - and on the plentiful booze supplied by the Thrifty girls.

It was so good to get together with like-minded ladies: those into the 90s, tie-dye and Leonardo DiCaprio.. though personally I'm mainly into pre-Beach LDC you have to allow for different tastes, right? If everyone was obsessed with Joseph Gordon-Levitt life would be pretty boring. And I'd get pretty jealous.

Polished off with a pint in Dry Bar, it was the perfect way to end the Easter weekend, with cupcakes, rainbows and denim.. what I wish every day was about.

I'm wearing:
Lazy Oaf shirt

Waiste dungarees

Jeffrey Campbell Suebee shoes

Pamela Mann tights

Shop WAISTE here!

Ran out of letters to spell "WAISTE".. had to get creative.