After much thought and deliberation, I have decided that I shall no longer be updating here.

This is mostly due to my dwindling interest in what this blog is essentially meant to be about. Well, I do still like fashion, but I just have no interest in blogging about fashion adventures etc. I’m going to hopefully turn the coral stars blog into a craft type blog, which may well feature some fashion related posts, but fashion dummy will be no more.

Well actually that depends - if anyone wants to take the reins of the blog, I’m more than willing to let you, just email me and it’s all yours.

I’ve have enjoyed blogging for the past year on here. Hopefully my ramblings haven’t been to irritating! Anyhoo, farewell dear readers..

CLICK FOR MY NEW BLOG!

There are so many great blogs on fashion and style in the blogosphere. Some may become more successful than others, but each and every blog has something to say and they’re all just as good to read. I’m starting to believe that fashion lies with the consumer and that bloggers, readers and normal people are fast becoming the creators. I suppose that’s what personal style is all about. For these reasons, I thought I’d introduce a new section on this blog - Behind the Blog. It basically involves a me conducting a small interview, with different bloggers, about their blog, views on fashion and their personal style.

To kick off, our first Behind the Blog blogger is Susie of Style Bubble. Chances are if you’re a blogger yourself or an avid reader of fashion blogs, you will have come across Style Bubble at least once. Susie has definitely inspired many people (though I’m sure she’ll deny any such notion) and in her own quirky way, encouraged many to think outside the box in terms of fashion and style.

The basics
Name - Susanna Lau A.K.A Susie Bubble
Age - 23
Blog - http://www.stylebubble.typepad.com
Location - London, UK

On blogging
When did you start blogging and why?
I started blogging in March 2006, probably inspired by the blogs that I was reading and also because I was heavily contributing on a fashion forum called The Fashion Spot and I thought ‘Well, if I have so much to say here… why not do it on a blog?’

What do you enjoy most about blogging?
Sharing new finds, my own thoughts and ideas on fashion with readers. Just generally having the chance to bounce off the stuff going on my head (the stuff being mostly fashion-related….such is the level of my obsession!).

What has been the strangest thing to happen since you began blogging?
Getting stopped in the streets when I happen to be wearing something I’ve photographed for the blog and getting recognised as ‘Oh my god, you’re Susie Bubble!’. Bizarre…well and truly.

What do you hope your readers gain from your blog?
I don’t want the blog to be informative. It’s a platform for me sharing ideas and readers can absorb them but not necessarily have to follow them. A lot of people have commented and said I have shown them another side of fashion and whilst I don’t have such high aspirations (Diane Pernet….SHE shows another side of fashion….), I’m glad that some readers have taken to the blog in that way.

How has blogging changed your life?
On a personal level, I think it’s made me come to terms with fashion and what it means to me. On a professional level, I have been lucky enough to meet some incredible people and made a few friends along the way too!

Do you have any words of wisdom to share with fellow bloggers?
Blog about what you know and love….

On fashion and style
What is it that you love about fashion?
The ability of it to change and mould a person but also because of a person’s ability to take control of fashion and use it to various advantages in the way they present themselves to the world.

What do you define as ’style’?
Something that can’t be pinned down to a literary description but you know it when you see it.

How would you describe your personal style?
Eclectic, experimental and somewhat haphazard. Though everything is considered, it’s pieces of different jigsaw puzzles put together as best that I can.

What inspires you when putting together an outfit?
It’s different things at different times. It might be an editorial I saw, the weather, a girl I saw on the streets, a shop display, a movie I’ve recently seen or just a general mood.

What is capturing your interest at the moment?
Shiny textures that aren’t overly glitzy. I’m very into a contrast of shiny and matt textures so I’m looking at mixing satins with rough crepes or jeans with a high sheen with chunky knits.

Do you have any style icons and if so, why?
I’m afraid I don’t have one and never really had one. There are people’s style that I admire but by icon, it indicates that I might look up to them and emulate them which I just don’t do. Rather, I have people that I admire - Anna Piaggi, Lou Doillon, Daphne Guinness, M.I.A., Leith Clark.

Where do you like to shop and is there anywhere you recommend?
I shop just about everywhere there is shop ranging from dirty charity shops and car boot sales to indie boutiques to department stores. At the moment, I’m really into the vintage section at The Pineal Eye. They pick out catwalk/directional vintage pieces making it all look very contemporary and the selection is small so you don’t need to rummage too hard.

What do you think the future of fashion is?
If I knew that I think I’d stop writing the blog. I like not knowing what is just around the corner. I have no idea what is happening tomorrow in fashion let along the far away future and that’s what I love about fashion - the twists, turns and surprises.

Any final comments?
Thank you for wanting to ask me these questions…not that I can impart any sagely information…

I’m breaking my hiatus from blogging briefly just to mention that whilst looking at coming films, I discovered that there is a documentary type film about Karl Lagerfeld. Okay, so I’m sure most who come and read this will know very well who Karl Lagerfeld is and the influence he has had on the fashion world. Nonetheless, I do find this film concept slightly weird.

With unprecedented access to Lagerfeld’s private and professional worlds, director Rodolphe Marconi has captured the daily life of the flamboyant star to give incredible insight into the man behind the image.

From designing in private to presenting his collection in the glare of the catwalk, from a photo shoot with Nicole Kidman to relaxing with friends in his countryside residence, no aspect of Lagerfeld’s life is left hidden – as ‘the man behind the sunglasses’ is revealed.

I think I may have to see this, just because I find it such an insanely odd concept for a film.

This is just to let you all know that I am taking a temporary break from blogging on here. Life is throwing far to many balls in my direction at the moment.

I don’t quite know how long I’m going to be away, but if anyone wishes to take over the steering wheel for the blog for a bit, please just let me know and you’re welcome to fill me spot. TTFN my dear readers. Remember to keep the fashion alive!

 A long overdue post. In fact I wrote it last week but I never got round to taking photos and then posting it. I haven’t bothered with the photos, but you can see what I was thinking last week. Obviously, what I wrote in the end has not taken much effect.

I feel rather pleased today. Why? Because for the first time in AGES, I went shopping AND actually managed to buy some new clothes! I thought I’d lost all of my style sense for a while, but it seems that it is far tougher than I believed.

The most success I had was when we ventured down to the Big Yellow Vintage Shop - which I think most either love, hate or aren’t too fussed by (personally I love it). I hadn’t been there in a while, so I dragged my friend down (kicking and screaming… well, not quite, she didn’t mind). The people in there seem quite nice - the lady complimented me on a skirt I picked out (£6) and the man was telling me about the bags (it apparently takes very little for me to think people are pleasant) which was helpful seeing as I was looking for a bag (£8 - yes, I probably could’ve gone to a charity shop and bought one for £2.50, but that is beside the point).

All in all, a successful trip for me. And it’ll be beneficial for readers here because it’s given me some renewed fashion inspiration which may equal better posts.

Hello readers; I’m new to the world of Fashion Blogging, but I will occasionally be dropping in to broadcast a few of my ‘words of wisdom’, eg. telling you what I have recently been wearing or desperately seeking on the high street. Usually to no avail.

Whenever there is a hint of summer in the air, I am instantly inclined to dress up in bright primaries and navy and white stripes. I must admit, I don’t go for a full on sailor suit, but any little hints of anchors or reminders of the sea please me a lot. My current favourite bag is one I purchased about two years ago, and, in fact, when I had been drinking rum. This clearly had a positive effect on my shopping skills and its piratey associations lead me to want this nautical bag. The great thing about it is that you are not confined to wear only blue. I teamed it with a yellow cardigan, navy top and white shorts, which wasn’t too ‘hello sailor’ for comfort, but felt quite summery.

I no longer approve of the whole ‘drinking for the sake of it is fun’ business, but since that single intoxicated trip I have not been able to find anything quite as exciting. Recently, however, I did get a pair of earrings from Topshop, one anchor shaped and the other a blue heart, which fitted in pleasingly with the theme; and a pair of blue and white striped pumps, which are amazingly comfortable. Nautical is quite an easy look to wear, it doesn’t require any specific items, only the odd accessory, and it’s great on warm summer evenings (haha).

So my style icon for today…

AHOY!

From my non-posting this week, you can probably tell that I am either a) feeling uninspired or b) a bit busy. Actually, I’m feeling a bit of both, but we shalln’t dwell on that.

I find that with clothes, you have to feel inspired because otherwise it just doesn’t work. At least that’s the case with me. I think that is why I’ve been having so much trouble with buying items lately - I just have no clue what I want to wear, no direction, no ideas. I’m going to blame the fact that I’m a teenager and no matter how much everyone else seems to think they have “found themselves”, it’s just not the case at 16. Of course, this sort of enlightenment helps when it comes to style. Some may think fashion to be frivolous, but in my opinion, it has the power to express you in so many ways.

My enthusiasm has unfortunately been going a bit downhill of late, but I find that one of the few ways to keep it up is to look at how other people are wearing it. Street style blogs, such as The Sartorialist or The Style Scout (there are of course many many others as well), flickr group Waredrobe Remix (which I really ought to get round and contribute to) and even posts on other blogs demonstrating personal style, are all brilliant places to find things like this. I think that fashion is what normal people make of it.

And that is what I love so much about it - there may be trends which probably will have passed by the time you have one sock on, but the ability to put your own spin on things means that anything is possible.

I apologise for not updating over this weekend. I’ve been avoiding the computer until I finished Harry Potter. I visited London on Saturday, which was quite nice. I’d forgotten just how busy it is (I was about 12 last time I went). Unfortunately, I didn’t take many photographs because the weather was horrid and I feared getting my camera out & being robbed. Maybe next time.

I was speaking to my friend on the phone yesterday and we got onto the subject of clothing & how awful shops are nowadays. We eventually got round to Primark - the shop many love (I personally hate it and have never purchased anything from there) and how, in order to produce clothing for such low prices, their ethics must be compromised somewhere. My friend mentioned she had seen an article in the newspaper (this independent article I think) on how little they paid workers and other such things.

Ethical Consumer, in its January/February edition published next week, criticised the company for not having a code of conduct, selling leather goods and “environmentally-damaging” PVC products and for operating in an oppressive regime - China.

“If people shop in Primark because the prices are low then they must be aware that they are low for a reason,” said Ruth Rosselson, a spokeswoman for Ethical Consumer. “And they must start asking questions: ‘Where is this made? How do I know that this was made under good conditions?’ Then the companies will realise that people care.”

The magazine suggests shoppers buy from charity shops, try vintage clothing and seek out organic cotton. Conventionally farmed cotton is treated with 10 per cent of the world’s pesticides, which the Pesticide Action Network estimates causes 20,000 deaths in the Third World every year.

It must be said, I love a bargain as much as the next person, but honestly, I’d much rather fork out for something that has been produced ethically than spend far less on something that is not. It is one of the few fashion “avoid if you can” things I have (fur being in a similar category). I mean of course, this is difficult because I’m certain pretty much every high street retailer has the downfall of being unethical in some respect.

However, since we are the consumers, the power to change minds rests with us. It’s just a matter of whether we use it to alert retailers to the fact that we don’t agree with what they do to make our clothes. I mean not only does everything look similar in shops, they’re probably produced in the same way was well - cheap materials which won’t last, appalling conditions and sweatshop labour. Everyone knows it, but how much longer must we turn a blind eye?

• Looked at Foto Decadent
• Randomly browsed different blogs
• Done a diy project (sewing, knitting etc)
• Bought & read a magazine
• Had a haircut
• Purchased an item of clothing/accessory/pair of shoes
• Posted something of vague use on here

The list probably goes on. I have however, helped redo the bathrooms in my house and made some caramel squares (which were very tasty). Such is life.

Finally, after absolutely AGES, I went into Birmingham to have a (semi) shopping session. I don’t think it could be classed as even a semi-shop since I bought nothing and was impressed by nothing.

Really, what has happened to shops? They all sell the same absolute rubbish. It’s so dull. Maybe it’s just me, but the introduction of the high street made everything so similar. So plain and un-inspirational. Not only that, but for what it actually is, prices are far too steep.

It actually disheartens me slightly. Which is not good considering I’m already lacking inspiration at the moment. Maybe I ought to go for a bit of a hunt in some charity & vintage shops (thrifting is the term) to get my spirits up rather than rambling at the few that read the blog.