Races

Over Easter, I was taken to a racing fixture in the Shropshire countryside, it was my first time going to see horses race. It wasn't anything like some of the larger meets- Ascot etc... so people weren't dressed up, but I did see a few people who stood out. Thought this girl's leggings were very funky and quite interesting when put together with a quite hippy looking gilet
Typical attire that I saw everywhere- leggings with funky wellies!

Love her dark chocolate cowboy boots.
This guy looked like he was ready to go on a night out, but the cap brought it all back to a day time look.The pattern of this jacket looked very 'Chanel-like' and quite smart.
I liked the textured look and mint colour of this jacket along with the plain coral tunic underneath.

It's been a long time....

I'm sorry for the lack of recent blogging- unfortunately it was not due to the fashion weeks, as much as I would have liked it to have been.... I have just been away to New York and also quite busy as my boss is off this week and I've been preparing for Paris!

Although I made a list of very interesting shops that I would have liked to have visited in NY, I only managed a handful of these, probably due to the fact that I stuck all the addresses in my map that was in my guide book and one of my friends forgot my guide book in a yellow cab. To be honest, I didn't buy as much as I was expecting to as I went out with 2 suitcases- one empty and the other 1/2 full with all of my clothes, toiletries etc. I came back with 2 half full suitcases!! I was expecting to come back with 2 full to bursting cases but never mind.... at least I saved some money!

Pics and a more detailed list of things that we did will come soon!

1 month to go...

Until I get to New York!

I've been doing some research and here are a few places that sound interesting... anyone else have any ideas or opinions on the following places?

Intermix

I love this Roberto Rodirguez skirt, DVF top and Crispin Basilio dress...























Scoop

Having just given away my really old white shirt to charity (it's so old, its turned a bit grey now!) I'm on the lookout for another one- you can never have too many white shirts! This one below from Philip Lim looks perfect!

Big Drop

I love this cute jacket from Mike and Chris! Also, this silk top from Ingwa Melero that looks like she's wearing her bra on the outside!
I've been looking for a large ring and this one from Omnatura fits the bill perfectly! This dress from Philip Lim is just so cute!

Here are a few other shops:

Kirna Zabete

Club Monaco
Loehmann's
Filene's Basement
Costume National
Century 21

Henri Bendel is where the world's most stylish shoppers go to find the new and the next in fashion, accessories, cosmetics and gifts. Bendel's sought-after signature brown & white striped shopping bags swing from the arms of trend-setting women around the world. Visitors happily lose themselves in an intimate shopping experience as they explore this luxe bazaar showcased inside three turn-of-the-century landmark townhouses that look out onto one of Fifth Avenue's most exclusive blocks through priceless Lalique art glass windows

Emerge NYC houses and promote concepts by more than 60 emerging designers, each with his or her own bay, the trade term for display cases or mini boutiques.

Topshop Charity Sale Blog

My friend and I were featured on the Topshop Blog with our stall the other day!!!
Topshop Charity Blog shows us at our stall...

Also, Topshop just called me today to say that my friend and I were the top sellers overall the events that they held and that we had won one of the prizes of an all inclusive holiday to Paris!!!! It includes 1st Class flights, 2 nights accommodation and £500 spending money!!!!

I'm so excited about it... I have to plan everything: the best places to eat, visit and more importantly SHOP!!!

Designer outlet shopping- who can resist a bargain!

Seeing as there are so many designers who make their products locally within Tuscany, there are a lot of designer outlet malls. I was able to find my way to one called 'The Mall' which is around a 1/2 an hour drive from Florence but seeing as I don't drive (and we didn't rent a car when we were there) I took a train to 'Incisa' which is the closest train station and then carried on by taxi to Leccio for a further 10 mins. I wasn't planning on getting much- but in the end- as you can see above... I was bogged down with bags!!

The place is literally in the middle of NOWHERE! There are just fields that surround this cluster of buildings and you feel a sense of calm before the storm of shopping starts! There are a wide variety of brands being sold and Armani and Gucci both have the biggest stores- selling everything from a tie (30E at Gucci and 40E at Armani) to dresses that still cost over 2/3rds of my monthly salary! However, on top of the minimum 30% reduction on items that are classed as 'new season' (which are in reality from last year's season) there are additional discounts on items from the previous season and I managed to bag a pair of Salvatore Ferragamo sandals for a mere 60E when originally they were 330E!














I also managed to get 2 Gucci wallets- one for my lovely boyfriend (who's birthday it was while we were in Florence) and one for my Dad. I also got a short black Yoji Yamamoto jacket which I think will be so practical and its simple and cute! My star buy though- was a BAG!!
Remember my post about needing a good bag seeing as all the straps on mine seem to break... well... I got a gorgeous bag, which I have coveted ever since it came out and something I wasn't expecting to find at all!
An Alexander McQueen Novak Bag!! I've been so protective of it- I haven't even used it yet... its just stayed on my desk staring at me looking great and smelling of top quality leather! It was only until I got back to my hotel room and showed my boyfriend my buys- when I saw that the bag and sandals match! So I have a matching 'accessories outfit'- not I have to get the appropriate clothes to match! hehehehe.....

Vintage across the river

When I was walking on the south side of the river or the 'Oltrarno' side of Florence, I went to visit a church called- 'Santo Spirito' which was unfortunately closed, but I stumbled upon a great antiques market that was being held in the Piazza di Santo Spirito. You can see the plain facade of the church in the background of the picture. According to the guide book- the market is held every 2nd Sunday of the month.

There were a lots of stalls there which did sell antiques but some that sold vintage clothing which was quite interesting. There was even one stall selling vintage white blouses and shirts for 3 Euro!!! I bought some pretty quartz and semi precious beads which I am planning on making into a necklace and some funky rainbow cubes into a bracelet.

While walking around the area, I also found a few vintage shops which were a delight! A treasure trove of interesting items- one even had back copies of 'Glamour magazine' which were selling for 1 Euro! One of them was called Pitti Vintage a quaint shop which has many designer vintage items. Unfortunately, I didn't, manage to find anything for myself.

Another vintage shop was called 'Ceri vintage' which was hidden away down a small road called 'via de serrgli' again in the 'Oltrarno' part of Florence. I saw a goregous pair of vintage Gucci sandals for 40 Euros but unfortunately they were around 3 sizes too small for my feet!

Salvatore Ferragamo... Shoe maker of Florence!

One of the must have museums to see for fashionistas in Florence is the Salvatore Ferragamo shoe museum which is housed in the basement of the 'Palazzo Ferragamo' which is the building seen below that looks like a castle!

You step inside and in front of you is the entrance to the store and on the left is a staircase going down to the museum in the basement. Entrance is 5 Euro which I thought was alright if not a little much to pay for a small museum.

The theme was colour and the shoes were grouped by their colours and there was even a colour wheel showing one style of shoe and the different colour variations it comes in. The pic isn't very clear as it was in the dark!

Seen below are the wooden 'lasts' (wooden forms) from the outlines and measurements taken from the customer many famous people such as Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo, Drew Barrymore etc have their lasts displayed at the museum:

Some images below of shoes that were displayed in cabinets around the museum:

My Personal favourite: RED sparkly shoes!

Back from hols

Back to dreary, cold, miserable London!!

I had a glorious week off work... visited most of the sights in Florence and what's even better- managed to net some serious bargains!! Firstly- we stayed at the Hotel Giada which was very central and close to the market place- which sold a lot of leather goods as well as items like scarves, jewellery and souvenirs. If you like leather, then you were in heaven as practically 80% of the market place was selling all sorts of goods in leather! Seeing as I have so many broken bags- I was thinking of getting a lovely leather one!!!

Day 1 was just looking around- taking in our surroundings and getting our bearings... when we passed... this:
OMG, the Pucci palace! I had a quick scour of my guide book to see if we were able to visit and on one page, it said that it was closed to the public and on another it said that you had to book visits in advance. When I got closer to the door- I couldn't see anything like a phone number or opening hours to let you know how to book an appointment so unfortunately I wasn't able to go and have a peek...

Pucci is celebrating 60 years of being in style by hosting a big party at the palace this weekend. Such a shame that I was there last weekend and not this weekend!!! According to WWD, 'Kylie Minogue, Elizabeth Hurley, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and Gilles and Luziah Hennessy are among the guests expected to attend a dinner at Palazzo Pucci'

Holiday

Going to Florence for a week!! I heard that there are lots of designer outlet stores- so I've carefully written down the addresses and instructions on how to get there... changed a lot of £ into Euros and now I'm ready to go shopping go sightseeing!!! hehehehe.... I've given in my project- hopefully I get a good grade... but its not like my future depends on it!!

Will take lots n lots of piccies... so, watch this space sometime next week- when I get back for more fashion and trend blahs from me!
The weather looks hot hot hot!!! So I'm Packing lots of floaty dresses, flip-flops, shorts n t-shirts. Not too many mind you, I'm planning on buying a lot there! Firstly my Dad goes- don't take too many clothes, then when he had a look at my suitcase he was scolding me for taking too little!!! Parents... you can't win with them!!!


Grrrrrr... I'm so annoyed that I'm going away this weekend as there are a few interesting sample sales on...

Patrick Cox Sample sale...

Fashion Public Sale: