Her name was Lola

 

 

jacket: Oasis / top: Wallis / jeans: Next / heels: Asos / jewellery: Accessorize and Warehouse / bag: Cambridge Satchel Company

For some reason when I woke up this morning I decided to dress as if I was heading to Copacabana beach and not to Asda. I'd like to say I lingered by the pineapples and coconuts for longer than necessary to compensate but I got distracted by chocolate fingers being on offer (£1!). I'll try better next time I promise.

P.S. You can send feedback on the photos to my mum who decide that 'wonky' was artistic... David Bailey is so last year darling!

P.P.S. 10 points if you spot the photo that isn't co-operating with my organisation. I'll start a league table if this becomes a frequent event.

Trend 101: Tartan

I really wanted to share with you the amazing retro Marks and Spencer television advert that I've just seen whilst catching up on  'Robert Peston Goes Shopping' but, alas, I am unable to unearth the spectacle on Youtube. In short it contained a lot of dancing and tartans (obviously this only skims the surface of its genius). To make up for the distinctly lacking video I thought I'd share my favourite tartan pieces currently on the great British High Street. Be warned though, this post will undoubtedly make you spend money...

1. This delightful dress comes courtesy of  Marks and Spencers- the source of my current tartan infatuation. Its nice to see tartan used in a way that isn't cliche to its punk heritage. The beady-eyed among you will hopefully have noticed that a lot of the pieces I have chosen fall into this category. I think that the key thing to remember with tartan this season is that its less about punk and more about wearability. If people look at you and think you're missing a mohawk then you're doing it wrong.

2. This bag from Topshop is in the same tartan as a pair of trousers I own. I'm not sure where I stand on tartan on tartan. Is it like double denim where only the brave (and supermodels) can escape unscathed? I fear tartan on tartan may sadly be questionable. A cute satchel nonetheless.

3. Not sure whether you want to commit to tartan? Look no further than Warehouse and their faded tartan shirt. Its a tartan shirt without the whole 'ooo look at me, I'm wearing a tartan shirt' debacle. If like me you spend your life avoiding making decisions then this is the shirt for you (winks at camera). Plus it has really cool zips on it. 

 4. Tartan = punk = Dr Martens. Enough said really.

5. An easy way to buy into any pattern related trend is the humble scarf. I think that scarves are particularly useful (aside from neck warmth) if you have a job where a uniform or a more conservative look is required. Just think, whilst commuting to work in your scrubs you can still show the world that you know what's happenin' in the world of fashion- jealous Mr. Bus Driver? Oh yeah, it's from  Accessorize.

6. If there's one shop thats going to come up trumps season after season it's Zara. This coat is surely evidence enough of that. It just looks so cosy! Paired with some brogues and some artfully tousled hair, it'll be hard not to mistake you for the heroine of a romantic comedy. Think Rachel McAdams in About Time (highly recommended film) or Anne Hathaway in One Day (highly unrecommended film). 

7. Next up (see what I did there?) is this lovely sheer tartan shirt in pastel colours. This shirt has my Nanna's seal of approval. If that doesn't sell it to you then quite frankly I'm not sure what will.

8. I love my tartan trousers from Oasis that I found in the sale for a bargain of £15, however as is du jour with sale things they are no longer available. Instead, I have found these virtually identical ones from River Island just incase the mood to dress the same as me ever carries you... Halloween outfit maybe?

Sugared pig

collar: Hey Pretty Things, jumper: Warehouse, Jeans: Marks and Spencers

Word on the grapevine is that this outfit is too saccharine for even the Sugar Plum Fairy. She's a fussy old thing.

Sow Cool

Shirt: Warehouse, Jeans: Next, Boots: Clarks

I think that every girl has that one outfit that makes them feel a combination of effortlessly cool and ever so slightly bad ass. Well as as bad ass as someone who is contemplating buying Harry Potter themed jewellery from Etsy ever can be... I want a muggle born ring!

This utility shirt is truly perfect in every way, from the flowing fabric to the slightly wonky collar that just seems to work (my money is on voodoo magic). The negative? The only other colour that this shirt comes in is nude, nude being a highly unfortunate colour on me. Seriously, it makes me look like the walking dead and not in a sexy Twilight kind of way.

Consequently, I am currently clinging to the home that Warehouse will release this shirt in a new colour for this season as I'm pretty sure that this tactic is how all the high street stores operate nowadays. Thus I am torn between my desire for the high street to ave more originality and my desire for this shirt in every colour with the exception of nude. 

And maybe brown because that would just be weird.

Boarhemian

jumper: Warehouse, lace dress: vintage aka 'borrowed' from my mum, boots: Clarks, necklace: Next

This is visual proof that I've been reading too many blogs. A dress as a skirt?! Madness! Or is it..?

Natalie and Dylana Suarez I blame you. 

You and your effortless coolness that makes me think: 'hey lets see how many layers I can possibly wear,- kind of like joey in friends but with more of a hippy, bohemian-y vibe'... After this photo was taken a coat, a snood and gloves were all added leaving me walking like a robot all day and not remotely as cool as the Suarez sisters. Serious gene envy.

This little piggy went to fashion

Dress: Oasis, Shirt: Warehouse, Brogues: Marks and Spencers Limited Collection

What I'm about to tell you is probably, in blogging etiquette, way past its tell by date but I'm going to go ahead and divulge anyway. I'm such a faux pas.

I finally got a placement! I am employable! Exclamation!

For the past few months I've been working at a fashion importers as a Merchandiser Assistant. I have a desk and everything! Since September my life has literally felt like I'm in Devil Wears Prada minus the demonic boss- sorry Meryl- and I am so happy I could squeal (a most unladylike pig affliction).

I pinky promise that in future I will try and keep you in the placement loop, hopefully with work wear outfits such as the above: Elle Woods Geek Chic.

Split roast

Top: Wallis, Skirt: Warehouse, Necklace: Accessorize

I think that this outfit could go one of two ways really:

1) Add a pair of oversized sunglasses and voilà I transform in to your generic Hollywood starlet circa the boho years minus the eating disorder.

2) Pass me a tambourine and the resemblance to Esmeralda is uncanny. (Photoshop me in front of the Notre Dame and it's even better)

Despite rhythm being a foreign concept to me I think I know which look I'd prefer. Now where did I put my tambourine..?

Hogging 9 till 5

purple necklace: Accessorize,turquoise necklace: Warehouse, the rest:Oasis 

I wouldn't want you to think that I just swan around all day and have my clothes handed to me in a golden trough as that's in no way what I do and, more than likely, no way what you do. In order to fund my ever expanding wardrobe I have a job as a sales assistant at Oasis. As part of the job I have to wear Oasis clothing which means that I'm always getting gorgeous pieces to add to my wardrobe- a definite perk (or should that be pork..?) to the job! Take this tropical print jacket- it was love at first sight! The only problem is that when i'm meant to be working I cant help but imagine myself on a beach in Hawaii sipping cocktails in the sun!I'm such a daydreamer!

Hogging

necklace: Accessorize, top: Warehouse, jeans: Marks & Spencer's Limited Collection, boots: Zara

Hi, I'm Hogfreckles- just your average freckly pig with a major fetish for fashion. Seriously, why pigs would rather cover themselves in mud than fabric is beyond me! Mud wraps being the exception naturally. 

Anyhow, I thought it was about time that I start documenting my sartorial escapades in a more fitting format (my farm fashion shows just never seemed to take off for some reason...), namely blogging. I suppose you could call me a Hogger. Oink!