heavenly knits

These two pieces are the most recent additions to my wardrobe- the Lafayette knit dress and Smith sweater by Friend of Mine. When I saw this incredible knit, slightly metallic spun yarn that creates an amazing texture, I knew I had to have some. And what's better than one sweet knit? Two! I know it's a little OTT wearing them together but they're so perfect for each other I couldn't resist.

[wearing: Friend of Mine Lafayette knit dress & Smith sweater, heels from iOffer, choker from ebay, DIY perspex cuff]

leather love

I was traipsing around my wardrobe, still thinking about bomber jackets from my last post, and came across this leather one I've had for years. It was a big chunky bomber with a hideous belt and all around frumpy shape when I found it at my favourite op shop in Preston, it wasn't until not long ago that I found this pic on a street style blog of a girl in leather jacket with a curved cutout back and decided to try and replicate it with my manly bomber. I took the sleeves in, chopped the belt off and cut a semi-circle into the back and I think it's a pretty good makeover to be honest. It's still a hard piece to wear everyday so I've tried to put together something with a little of the badass attitude it deserves.. A very short skirt and my new 'Wangs'.

Now I know people are extremely opinionated when it comes to fakes, and I thought long and hard about how I'd feel wearing these phony heels, but when it came down to it I came up with these excuses; I currently am not in the position to afford real Wangs, these are extremely well-made/genuine leather blah blah blah, and I love the style (the Joan) so much that that is what mattered most. It's not like I'm going to go around telling people they're real, because that is totes not cool (totes wang?!) and I would feel like a genuine idiot. So thank you iOffer and the dodgy factory in China that produced these beauties! They will be sexing up lots of outfits for a long time to come :)

[Wearing: thrifted/DIY leather bomber & skirt, Sportsgirl tee, heels from iOffer, DIY copper jewellery]

what to wear with: bomber jackets

T by Alexander Wang bomber jacket / Linda Farrow x The Row aviators / Topshop cashmere tank / 3.1 Phillip Lim trousers / Elizabeth and James sand pumps

Topshop floral bomber jacket / 3.1 Phillip Lim 31 hour bag / River Island dress / Asos Harlot sandals 

A.L.C. wool and leather bomber jacket / Stella McCartney sunglasses / Topshop foiled jeans / Topshop tee / Asos hightops 

Topshop pastel silk bomber jacket / Clare Vivier fold over clutch / T by Alexander wang tee / VPL curvate skirt / Jeffrey Campbell hanger bootie

Bomber jackets are perfect for 'sporting' up an outfit but I find that if you don't get your proportions right with your botton half then the whole look can get out of whack badly! I think you need to keep it short and sweet or slim and long, carrying through the sporty theme in small doses- think aviators and hightops. I have a great basic navy blue vintage bomber by Pierre Cardin found by someone (not me) in an op-shop. It's technically not mine (it was being held ransom in the depths of my brother's wardrobe before I rescued it!), but I have claimed the beauty and promise to do it justice. I think I'll go the Alexander Wang route and team it with bright pants and pointy heels. Experimental outfit post soon!

what to wear with: tan leather

- Acne romantic tan leather skirt / similar here -

Jil Sander circle clutch / Asos gold cuffs / Surface to Air louna art deco V2 / Equipment signature silk shirt in lime punch

- Balmain skinny tan leather pants / similar here -

Asos metal collar necklace / Marc by marc Jacobs bars & bells bag / Alexander Wang emina sandals / Altuzarra outboard chunky knit

- Acne rise boot in tan / similar here -

Karen Walker patsy sunglasses / Motel jordan jeans / Asos triangle grab bag / 3.1 Phillip Lim detachable panel blazer

- See by Chloe tan leather shorts / similar here -

Elizabeth and James wooster sunglasses / L.A.M.B iowa platform wedge sandals / Alice + Olivia halter bodysuit / Sass & Bide strong foundations jacket

- Acne Ryah tan leather jacket / similar here -

Topshop floral print shorts / Asos brass collar / Jeffrey Campbell clift boot / Current/Elliott the perfect shirt

So I'm starting a new weekly style post that documents what to wear with tricky items. This week it's tan leather. Not something that I'm particularly fond of, seeing as most things made in tan also come I black as well, and I'm all for black leather! But there is a time and a place for tan (well away from the 70s) that, when done right, will produce some seriously worthy results.

electric feel

Electric blue is the new black. It short-circuited runways during the AW12 shows and it has been filtering down into our humble fashion corner to sit nicely between neon yellow and fuchsia. My advice? If you're going to do it, do it full head-to-toe for maximum impact. It will shock any (emotional) blues away.