History is a mystery

I love learning about the past. History is a subject which really inspires me, though I hated taking history gcse because I’m terribly slow when it comes to writing essays (the time is just not enough - an extra 15 minutes was all I needed). Nevertheless, I still love learning about history because it is the foundation of the present day and I find it incredibly interesting.

For some of that time when I was meant to be ‘revising’, I actually started reading this book that I have on my shelf - “Fashion - The Century of the Designer“. I’d often glanced through it, but I’ve never actually sat down and read it. The history of fashion is something that I do not know much about, which is terribly sad because it is rather exciting. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to finish reading it because after reading up to the 1960s I thought it was best to start doing some revision otherwise I would actually fail (and I didn’t want that)

Fashion as we know it, is a fairly new concept. But all throughout history people have dressed in beautiful clothes. As I was browsing amazon uk for a link to the above book, I came across this book “Four Hundred Years of Fashion“. I can’t formulate an opinion as to whether it is good or not because I have not bought it, but it does look most interesting. I think I will indeed have to buy it to read.

Fashions past are the inspiration of many many collections. And there is no stopping people bringing past concepts into their own styling. I’ve always thought that incorporating different ideas is the way to go - no boundaries, no limits.

A smile on this grey day

After a week of being in an off mood with the world, I am finally feeling positively delighted.

I have been searching for Nylon since I first purchased the November 2006 issue last year. It appeared that the local WHSmith’s had stopped stocking it since that time.

Today however, after being released from school at 10am (study leave started today, we weren’t just allowed to go) and having a mind-numbingly boring time in the park, I went in to buy some sort of magazine and to my joy, there it was. On the bottom shelf, with just 2 issues left. Needless to say I hurriedly bought it.

I know I’ve only read two issues (three if you count the back issues on the site), but having tried several magazines over the past few months, it is one of the very few that I can actually read. A lot of fashion magazines in the UK are
a) pretentious,
b) dull to read,
c) aimed at a different market to myself or
d) just so haute that it doesn’t relate to daily life.

All those living Stateside definitely have it lucky you have something readable over there. I now know I can still buy the magazine for inspiration, but I just wish there was a UK equivalent!

Air stewardess chic?

This reminds me of air stewardess clothing. You know the kind with that really awful looking print, that rarely looks good. Well, that opinion has now gone out of the window! I actually quite like the top and the general styling of the outfit. It’s simple, which is definately what you want in hot summer months.

Photo from Foto Decadent

Dazed? Probably. Confused? All the time

In a bid to get some material for my art exam prep (I didn’t like anything on the paper, but needless to say, I have opted for ‘Streetwear’) and for the blog, I decided to venture out into the world of magazines yesterday. I will admit, I haven’t had time to buy any magazines since I bought the November issue of Nylon in December (Funny timings I know. I actually went back to WHSmith later to see if they had the issues following that, but it seems that they have stopped shipping it in- damn shame as it wasn’t a bad magazine) and the December issue of Vogue. Anyway, instead of going for the usual thing, I decided to take a look at that lonely bottom shelf in Smiths, the choice was between Pop (which cost £5!), I.D. (which cost £3.80 I think) and Dazed & Confused (which cost £3.60), needless to say I opted for the latter (although I will purchase the others at some point, just to see whether they appeal to me).

So after flicking through, it seems quite good. My friend said “it seems like one of those pretencious magazines because it featured all music/fashion that no-one had heard of, but I really like the cover” - I suppose that’s true in the sense that it is stuff that we’ve never heard of, but I see it as, if you don’t hear about them from somewhere, how are you ever going to discover new things? Anyway, once I get the scanner scanning a less pixalated image, I may scan in some of the editorial images, because well, I feel like sharing.

Also, as I have recently been getting into photography (found a great little photography blog which has inspired/taught me a fair bit. It’s also made me wish I had the money to buy a dslr, but alas, being a teen means I do not have such funds) one article that stuck out to me was this one about a fashion photographers exhibition being held somewhere or other (sorry, I can’t remember off the top of my head and the magazine is in the other room). Photography interests me and fashion interests me, so combining the two is something I’d like to give a go one day.

Photo from Dazed Digital.

Teach yourself

Yesterday, I decided to have a read of one of the fashion design books I have. The ones that supposedly teach you how to draw in a design-y way. I seem to have aquired quite a few over the years from various family members. And whilst, I don’t ever put things they suggest into practice, it’s always good to learn how you are supposed to do it.

Since reading it though, I have had an overwhelming urge to design something and then ask my father to help me make it (he is WAY better than me on a sewing machine, from the many years of practice he has). It also makes me think I ought to start carrying a sketch book around (although if you start drawing on the bus, people start looking at it - they’re all nosy) to ‘capture ideas in a moment of inspiration’.

It’s looking good for 90

I finally located a copy of Vogue. It’s shocking how hard it was to find the December birthday issue around my area, evidently there are not many readers (doesn’t surprise me that much really). I had a skim through (which actually took a while) and it looked promising. Not that I actually read much of it, I find it a tad, quite frankly crap on occasion. But I find teen fashion magazines a bit slow and written in that ‘I’m-not a teenager-but-here-is-my-attempt-at-writing-for-you’ kind of way (that was badly described, but you get the jist). Having said that, they don’t talk about furnishings and interior and the styling is occasionally more wearable.

I don’t know what I am rambling on about. Anyhoo, I did get Vogue and from what I have flicked through, it’s good. They actually made an effort to celebrate the 90 years it’s been running.

Mrs Beckham writing?!!

It makes me laugh that Victoria Beckham has written a book… on style.
There is a rather amusing article on the Telegraph website.

Ghost writer or has she actually written it?

Regardless, who wants to look orange with a ‘career’ (although I did like the spice girls when they were around- I was 4) down the pan and a quite frankly rather crap dress sense.

Something about a cardie

I visited my grandma and auntie earlier and discovered my auntie had purchased Grazia magazine. This was unusual as my auntie normally buys Now, so I asked her about it and she said “I wanted to see what it was all about”

Anyhoo, that was a long pointless story, but I had a flick through it and I came across this page:
I have been wearing massive “granny” cardigans (my case literally a granny cardigan) for a while now, so psshhh to them. And I know that it is probably considered a “grunge” look, which is supposedly “in” right now, but seriously why is grunge in, it’s what you wear to rebel against fashion.

Not only that, but all the cardigans that these celebrities were wearing cost well over £200. What a waste of money.

Craft weekend- Step 3

Get crafting!

This is the first creation I have made this weekend. An embellished jumper.

I was inspired by the vintage jumpers I’d seen in the Topshop vintage section and by this jumper I saw in November’s Vogue.

The jumpers in Topshop were about £20-£30 and this one in Vogue is £895. I am not willing to pay either of those prices (especially the latter) so yes, I created my own from a jumper I purchased yesterday for £2.75

I spent a couple of hours sewing the pearls (beads from old pearl necklaces) onto the neckline. Of course it’s not a good as the ones in shops, nor is it particually fancy or difficult, but it’s a nice subtle touch I think.

I’m not sure whether I’ll sell it or keep it. I am veering towards keeping it at the moment though. I am also not sure whether I should add more pearls elsewhere on the jumper or whether I should leave it as it is. Any suggestions?

Photos:

I’m not too young…

Due to the fact that I am sick of all ‘teenage’ fashion magazines, I decided to buy Vogue. I’ve always felt weird buying ‘grown-up’ magazines because I think that someone will say “why are you buying that, you’re too young” or something similar.

So anyway, after purchasing old editions of Elle and Glamour during the summer (to cut up for my textiles) and not receiving any weird looks, I figured what the heck, no-one should judge me.

And you know, the world did not stop and stare, it was actually all okay.