Jumper time...

Sorry all- this is an old post that somehow never got posted!!! So excuse the jumper trending- although, the weather in the UK going the way it is, it looks like I'm not going to be packing up my jumper anytime soon!!!

I have been into knitting for quite a while now, and after getting a few free lessons in knitting with colour and the fair-isle technique (thanks John Lewis!) I made this for the bf last year:

There are a few similar jumpers out there...

Jonathan Saunders

Topshop

Lazy Oaf

This year, I decided to be selfish and knit myself a jumper... seeing as there are a lot of animal jumpers out there this year, I decided to knit an animal, but couldn't find a pattern for a jumper I wanted, so I took a pattern for a regular jumper and found an image online that I wanted on the jumper and created my own, using this very cool free site http://www.microrevolt.org/knitPro/ to create a PDF file. Here is my finished jumper:

Here are some other animal jumpers around:

Joseph Tiger jumper

ASOS Cat jumper

Haute Hippie Horse Jumper

Also, just saw that Topshop have launched this jumper... how freakily close to mine is it?

I wonder what next year's jumper trend will bring?

Ahoy sailor

Wanted to wear this to go watch the Oxford-Cambridge boat race on Sunday. Thought it was quite nautical with the dark blue playsuit and golden buttons! However, despite the glimmers of sunshine outside, it was quite cold and I wore something else!

Playsuit: Otto Sample sale
Necklace: A small jewellery shop in Neal St. Brand is 'Candy'
Belt: Accessorize
Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

What I actually wore on Sunday!

Top: Chilli Pepper
Leggings: Tabio
Boots: ASOS.com

Gossip Gal

Feeling Gossip girl today... thought I'd channel some 'Blair from gossip girl' into the outfit. If you don't know anything about her, here are some pics of Blair from the show:

























I'm wearing:

Ribbon in hair from Net-a-porter
Multi strand necklace: made by me
Dress (inside): American Apparel
Dress (outside) with the ruffles: Marc by Marc Jacobs
Socks: Ralph Lauren
Shoes: Guess

You're in the army now...

Long black cardigan: Gap
Army dress: designed and made by my cousin (Greta Lee fashions)
Tights: Black opaque tights by M&S
Ankle boots: Hugo Boss (worn without detatchable fringing)

While we're on the subject of dressing up as the forces, I saw these cute shoes online, I have to have!!! I wonder how much shipping costs....

Work outfit

Leather Jacket: Oli.co.uk
Cowl neck tank top: Asos.co.uk
Dress/ Tunic: Bought in Singapore
Necklace: Accessorize
Leggings: Tabio
Yellow socks: Vivienne Westwood
Boots: KG

Wore this to work the other day.

First outfit post

The bf inspired me to post pics of my outfits as he believes that they are quite innovative and inspiring... now, i'm not sure of that, but seeing as I have lacked in blogging recently, I thought I'd post up images of my day to day outfits, where I wore them, where each item of clothing/ accessory comes from etc.

I'm not saying I have great taste in clothing- these are just what make me happy.
Coat: Oasis (was cream coloured, but dyed it purple using Dylon dye)
Top: Kimono style top from Spitalfields Market
Skirt (only just seen): Topshop denim range
Tights: M&S Black opaque
Boots: ASOS

H. Naoto

Black is always in fashion in winter time, but this year, texture is key! I decided to show H.Naoto as 'gothic' and s&m influences have come through as some key trends this season!


The brand h.Naoto was launched in 1999 as a punk and rock brand. As of 2001, there has been increasing collaboration between h.Naoto and musicians. In 2002, the brand was subdivided into punk, gothic-lolita and other themes. The same year a h.Naoto men’s shop, named ‘h’, was opened in Ura-Harajuku and ‘h.X’ magazine was started.

In 2003 h.Naoto opens a womenswear shop, named ‘H’, in Ura-Harajuku. The following year h.Naoto expands to Osaka by opening a store in Shinsaibashi (H&h.) The same year h.Naoto’s sexy category shop ‘8club’ opens up in Harajuku.

2005 saw the start of hEAVEN in Ura-Harajuku as h.Naoto develops toward music-inspired fashion with influences of anime and subcultures.

selected lines
h.NAOTO
hEAVEN (ladies)
H (ladies)
h.ANARCHY (punk)
h.NAOTO Blood (goth-loli)
S CLUB (ladies)
SiXh (mens)
RHB (mens)
h. (mens)
Hn+nois (accessories)
h.NAOTO ROOMS (interior)
HANGRY & ANGRY (accessories)
8club

Originally an extreme punk, rock and gothic brand, it has been expanding by adopting new cultural inspirations. Hirooka’s creations are extremely popular with musicians and artists the world over. Amy Lee of Evanescence wore an h.NAOTO dress at the 2004 Grammy Awards, and Japanese visual kei band Ayabie costumes are designed by Hirooka

Above is actually a skirt although it looks like a waistcoat!!!

Dress Camp

Another Japanese brand that has caught my eye is Dress Camp. Although it doesn't sell through its website, there are a couple of Japanese sites that do.

Founded in 2002 by Toshikazu Iwaya, is a flamboyant and glamorous label specializing in OTT apparel for both men and women. They have been the darlings of Japan Fashion Week for the last few years and have built a strong reputation for flair and sexiness.

Here are a few items that I love!

I just adore the sleeves of the tops above! The jersey and geometric pattern contrasting against the obvious frilliness and girlyness of the sleeves make both these tops a must buy if there was a shop in London!

And finally...



















Despite these earrings looking like two furry red noses (see Red nose charity for all those not in the UK) I didn't realise how large they were until I saw the model wearing them and they just look like fun! Especially in the picture on the right- the model wearing a simple yet smart outfit but wearing the earrings gives it a fun vibe and almost looks like she is wearing a scarf!

As Know As

Seeing as I love Japan and Japanese fashion, I thought I'd post about a few Japanese brands. Started in 1989 with just 2 people, 'As Know As' now runs stores all over Japan as well as in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Taiwan. 'As Know As' is further divided into sub brands:

De Base


Pinky:

Nanashi





Olaca:
Personally- I do like different items from each sub-brand but not knowing how to read Japanese, I can't quite see how they differ from each other as they are all quite quirky and have details about them that I love!