Wednesday 29 June 2011

Out with the old, in with the new

I am currently on a Ebay tip as I need to make some money to buy into the new season trends and also add some classic staples to my wardrobe that will last much longer than one season.

Being the fashion victim that I am, in the past I have felt the need to invest too heavily in trends. Why have one floral print dress when you can have 7?
But now the time has come for me to sell these items and make room for some fresh, new pieces in my wardrobe.

Business can be slow. There isn't the greatest demand for second-hand clothing despite the good condition that the items are in and it can hardly be classed as vintage when it's only a year old.
But I am undeterred and will keep listing my items. I'm finding that almost half of what I am listing is selling so it's just a case of being patient.

Most of the clothes are still on trend so if you fancy a bargain log onto Ebay and have a look. My user name is Gud_as_new19c. It isn't easy buying new clothes when you're currently unemployed so I need all the help I can get cash wise

Thursday 16 June 2011

Festival Fashionista

The likes of Alexa Chung, Jameela Jamil, Kate Moss, Florence Welch and Pixie Lott have set the standard for festival chic. They all have their own styles and rock unique yet practical festival looks.
You can create your very own festival look by using these fashion icons as inspiration by maintaining your own personal style on a limited budget.


This year I will singing (or shouting) along to my favourite acts, fashion spotting and dodging plastic bottles at Wireless in Hyde Park on 4th July.
As the weather has been far from summery recently the festival outfits I've worn during previous sunny years may need some altering. So, here is my outfit plan for this years' festival fun:


Clothes: The playsuit seems to be a popular festival choice this year which looks very cute and on trend but there's just one problem; smelly, portable loos.
Playsuits can be problematic even in the most glamorous club toilets when a loo break can turn into a half an hour event with your mate impatiently waiting for you by the handryer. This is bad enough but add cramped, foul-smelling portable loos into the mix and you're asking for trouble. Might be best to save the playsuits for nights out or BBQs where you can use a normal toilet.


For this reason and other practicalities the best item of clothing to wear at a festival has to be a dress. I wore one at V last year and have never looked back. Rather than the usual brights, whites and florals, this time I am looking for the perfect navy and white Breton striped dress. And it looks like I've found it on the missguided website. http://www.missguided.co.uk/p4774/Layle-Bodycon-Stripe-Dress-In-White-And-Navy/product_info.html
At only £14.99 its a bargain and is exactly what I'm looking for. Lets just hope my size comes into stock in time!
Another alternative is a gorgeously girly lemon striped dress from topshop. http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=2446405&langId=-1&categoryId=&searchTerm=stripe dress&pageSize=20
At £29 it is more expensive but so worth it!
I plan to wear my stripy dress with my trusty Topshop denim gillet and a pair of knee high socks to keep my legs warm.


Footwear: Gladiator sandals are the perfect summer wear but not for festivals. After witnessing friends' feet turning black with dirt after a day festivalling I will always make sure my feet are covered up in wellies or worker/biker/DM boots. This year I'm likely to wear Hunters as I do every year as apart from a bit of heat discomfort when the sun is out, they are the best footwear to trudge through the dirt, rubbish and empty bottles. Plus if someone treads on your toes it won't hurt. Bonus!
Fluro orange Hunter wellies will look funky and oh so now but will you still be rocking them in the snow come winter? The more practical, long-lasting choice is a black or green pair of Hunters that go with everything. I also prefer the shorter ones as they are easier to walk in and less restrictive. See http://www.hunter-boot.com/ for a wide selection


Cover-ups: As rain is very likely this summer I am going to invest in a rain poncho. My favourites are the Hunter ponchos at a reasonable price of £20. They are classic and you will get plenty of wear out of them if the bad weather continues. There are also more fun ponchos around in bright colours and prints. One of my favourites is a bright floral poncho from filthy fox. http://www.filthyfox.co.uk/floral-rain-poncho.html
Your friends shouldn't have any problems spotting you in a crowd in this!


Accessories and make-up:


I will be carrying my festival essentials in a large fringed bag from H&M which I've had for a few months now. I am currently on the lookout for feathered jewellery to complete my look.
As for make-up, at festivals pretty much anything goes; bright colours, diamantes, body art...
It's the best time to be experimental and have fun.