Halloween Costumes. It's never too late.....

I've never been sure why Halloween costumes for grown women always seem to be entirely about wearing as few clothes as possible, or swathing yourself in cheap synthetics.

I've always put together my own costumes, from stuff I already own or can easily purchase, this year The Coveted is doing a great series of posts with different Halloween costumes put together entirely from things you can find in your wardrobe.


Last year I did scary nurse, I already own a white nursing dress from my days as a nursing assistant, so a cardboard hat, some fake blood and some scary make up produced this.

It took a bit of effort. But didn't require me to wander round in a skirt so short that it left nothing to the imagination.

If you haven't sorted your costume by now it's probably getting a bit late to be too elaborate, but hey, it's easy to turn your LBD into a costume with a bit of imagination and some accessories purchased from your local supermarket or accessories shop.







One little black dress, a few accessories and enough eyeliner makes a cat, devil or a witch. Not imaginative. But certainly quick and easy for last minute panics!

Remember, it's all in the make up! Whiskers for Cats, killer red lippy for the devil and plenty of eyeliner for witches.

Of course, if you're really last minute and can't get to the shops cat ears can be made from a hair band and a couple of triangles of black card, alternatively The Coveted shows you how to make a pair out of shoulder pads. Devil Horns need red card and a bit more black card makes a witches hat. It's never too late....

What are you wearing? Casual checks.

Polo Neck - Primark
Belt - River Island
Checked Trousers - Oasis
Boots - Primark

OK. So it's not exactly cutting edge, but I love this outfit. I think it's sophisticated and classic but the check trousers keep it the right side of fashionable. I've never really been into extreme fashion, preferring to mix classic style with a fashion edge, which is, I think why I can still recycle clothing from my own wardrobe that's several years old! The trousers were bought in the Oasis sale a good 4 or 5 years ago now, the classic boot cut style means I can keep them tucked away and they're great now checks are back in, but not so extreme I can't drag them out occasionally when they're not.

Polo Neck - £17 Wallis (It's in the sale! Quick!)
Belt - $29.50 American Eagle Outfitters
Checked Trousers - £8.40 Debenhams (Again in the sale, bargain!)
Boots - £65 Faith

Links à la Mode - 30th October 2008

This week I'm loving the Coveted Halloween in my Closet costume advice and Dramatis Personae givingWig Advice, very timely for Halloween!

• 39thandbroadway - Career advice for those working their booties off in fashion!
• A Few Goody GumDrops - Tells us Black Sinner Lipstick and Shine are not just for Halloween!
• Capitola Girl Jewelry Blog - Get personal with these fab photo finds from indie jewelry artists.
• dapper kid - Short essay on the history of modeling and fashion shows…
• dramatis personae - No Need to Wig Out
• Fashion Architect - This is what a fashion architect’s room looks like
• fashion in my eyes - Field of dreams,Natalia Vodianova and her family in Vogue…
• Fashion Pulse Daily - LA Fashion Week: we review the west coast style vibes from several designers, including Crispin & Basilio, Whitley Kros, and Lauren Conrad.
• Independent Fashion Bloggers - Stand out from the crowd by refining your unique voice
• Iole in fashion - Exaggereted, huge, cumbersome, xxl, warm, heavy, bulky: they’re the coats to choose this winter.
• Mademoiselle Robot - An interview with the fabulous Broken Hearts, perfect Halloween inspiration!
• O.M.O. Writes - As the temps drop, our affinity for fur increases! Check out the luxe looks on the street and runways…
• Retro Chick - Halloween celebrations with Style
• ShopDiary - reviews Lancôme’s Ôscillation Vibrating Powermascara. Amazing!
• Shopping and Info - Lots of celebrities are wearing Minnetonkas now.
• Technology Starlet - Will Technology Let You Buy Without Trying It On?
• THE COVETED - Need a costume? Check your closet… there might be a 60’s housewife in there…

Halloween with Style

Halloween is just 3 days away....

I've always loved Halloween, but in the UK, despite it's Celtic origins, it's long been the poor relation to Guy Fawkes Night where we all gather round a big bonfire and burn effigies of a bloke who was a bit part player in a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament 400 years ago. It's often viewed as for kids, and until very recently this was reflected in the kinds of Halloween products available in the stores.

If you don't have a huge Halloween party to go to then here's a couple of ideas for more stylish, sophisticated and grown up ways to spend Halloween Night.

The Halloween Dinner Party

If you've got a few friends coming over cook up some hearty autumnal fare.

Decorate your table with candles and carved pumpkins. Here I used a mould to make plaster skulls to put the candles on, and used one of those scene setters designed for the walls over a paper table cloth. But a few candle sticks would be just as effective!

Food wise pumpkin soup is a traditional way to start. Try serving it in a hollowed out pumpkin. There's a great recipe from Valentine Warner here.

Main course is easy. Go for great autumnal foods like sweet potato mash with pan fried sausages and apples, or this great US recipe for autumn stuffed pork roast if you want to make a bit more effort.

Grapes in Jelly and Lychees are traditional Halloween puddings, representing icky things like eyeballs. For a more sophisticated option focus on the autumnal and go for apple strudel.

Spiced cider is a great warming drink for autumn, a forerunner to mulled wine at christmas and just as yummy.

The Cosy Night In

If it's just you and your significant other for Halloween that doesn't mean you have to stay in and be boring. You can stay in and be fun instead! If you can't be bothered with Trick or Treaters, then turn off your front room lights, retire to another room, turn the lights down, light some candles and snuggle up with a scary movie. A few scary cocktails make the night more fun. Check out In The Spirit for some ideas. I particularly like the sound of the Black Shadow, anything with Champagne in it sounds good to me!

A game of Atmosfear will keep you entertained, and if you're feeling really adventurous you could even try a few spells!

Back to the 70s

There's been a real 1970s vibe around in the shops and catwalks this season.

Gucci in particular went for the luxe boho hippy look and Just Cavalli showed glam tunics and floppy hats.

On the High Street Warehouse are featuring glamorous 70s styles while River Island are focusing on a more preppy 70s look with plaids and wide leg jeans.

I absolutely adore this look, though the more diaphanous styles do absolutely nothing for me, making me look more fat girl trying to hide her stomach than glamorous Studio 54.

So here's my dream 70s looks for Day and Night. Who cares if I can afford it or not.

For daywear wide leg high waisted jeans are de riguer. These are D&G, but hey, they're in the sale! Add a peasant top and snug fur gilet to keep cosy. Accessorise with tan platforms, beads and bangles for that luxe hippy look.

For night a bit more disco glam is called for

I adore this jacket from Retro Chick for it's glam 70s vibe, but flattering fitted style. Go vintage with a gorgeous disco dress from Candy Says. Glam platform heels, rattly bangles and glossy lips finish the party look.

Neon Nights....

At the weekend I attended a friends 30th birthday party, and she'd themed it Neon, requiring me to find an outfit that glowed in the dark, without making me look too scary, as I am vain. Unfortunately I forgot my camera, so photos of my full ensemble are reliant on friends providing me with their photos, so hopefully some time shortly I will be able to show you the results of my first foray into T Shirt customisation where I turned a mens V neck white T Shirt into a fitted off the shoulder number. What I can show you now are my tights! All I could find in the shops were hideous plain bright pink neon colours, guaranteed to blind me and make my legs look like I'd suffered third degree burns. Either that or I found Halloween tights with cobwebs and witches on them. Then, with 4 days to go, Susie Bubble saved my life by introducing me to Love Colour, Love Tights.


I fell absolutely in love with a pair of Florescent green tights with a swirly print, but being the practical kind, and recognising that neon green was unlikely to become an integral part of my day to day wardrobe I went with these stripes, which were £5 cheaper. They're little thin stripes, kind of random, which I think is cooler than the normal stripy tights you find in the shops.

What are you wearing? That time of the month....

Glasses - (should have gone to) Specsavers

Polo Neck Jumper - Next
Skirt - H&M
Jacket - TopShop
Shoes - George

I'm a contact lens wearer, I have those ones that you sleep in for a month and then change, so on 2 or 3 days each month I revert to my specs to give my poor eyes a bit of rest.

It always makes me feel part librarian, part beatnik wearing my glasses and I think it affects the clothes I chose as well. I wear a lot more black and it changes my make up too, as there's no point layering on the eyeliner and then sticking on glasses, so I move the focus to my lips.

I love this jacket, I must have had it 7 years now and it was £5 in the TopShop sale, it's got a bit of a 70s bomber jacket vibe to it and is a gorgeous burgundy colour.

Glasses - $94.99 Guess
Polo Neck Jumper - £15 Dorothy Perkins
Skirt - £45 Oasis
Jacket - £30 New Look
Shoes - £12 Debenhams

Links à la Mode - 23rd October 2008

Some thrift shopping tips from Dirty Laundry this week. I am also loving the FLABuLESS arm shapewear, though it makes me think of the Face Bra from Ally McBeal a little!

I shall certainly be keeping an eye on The Coveteds Halloween ideas as well.

• 39thandbroadway - Review of “designer” Lauren Conrad’s underwhelming collection
• A Celebration of Curves - Women wearing wide widths can have shoes (glorious shoes) with both style and comfort.
• A Few Goody GumDrops - A Few Goody Gumdrops Introduces you to FLABuLESS…Your arms will look Fabulous!
• Add Bubbles To Taste - How to shop– politely.
• Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy - Checks out the cutest new scents in existence
• Debutante Clothing :: The Deblog - Rosamond Bernier brings her vintage haute couture to Yoox.com
• Dirty Laundry - Thrift shopping tips + tricks: How to keep your hands clean doing such a dirty job.
• Dogmom’s Dish - Clinton Kelly Is Freakin’ Fabulous
• fashion in my eyes - One day in Tokyo with Devon Aoki
• Fashion Pulse Daily - Fashion Pulse: Take a walk on the wild side with leopard print for spring!
• Flights of Fab Fashion Fancy - Color inspiration for Fall from Richard Chai
• In Life and In Fashion - Shop From Your Own Closet: How to Refresh Your Wardrobe when Your Wallet is Light
• Independent Fashion Bloggers - A Matter Of Integrity
• Little Miss Dress Up - Their Way, Your Way: Recreate your favorite fashion blogger’s style and win a bag from ARANAZ Manila!
• Logical Harmony - Winter Style Dos & Don’ts From Michael Kors
• Mademoiselle Robot - Wardrobe must haves for fashion savvy girls.
• PONY RYDER - exclusive interview with fashion model irina miccoli a.k.a. irina lyshova.
• Retro Chick - Retro Chick Style Icon: Anya from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• ShopDiary - 20% off deal on Gerard Darel bags.
• SwanDiamondRose - Beautifully Worn fashion photo show in NYC.
• Tainted & Sweet… - Lily Cole in French Playboy!!
• Technology Starlet - Brides.com coming to a cell phone near you
• THE COVETED - Halloween in My Closet: Part 1

Day to Date

I work from home now, so no one wants to drink with me anymore, but I remember the days when the only thing that got me through the week was that "quick drink" straight from work on a Friday, that led to dirty kebabs and late night stumbles home. But I also remember feeling an utter idiot stood in a bar on a Friday night in pinstripe trousers and a polo neck jumper whilst all around me spangles spangled, glitter glittered and sequins did what ever it is that sequins do.

So how do you work that day to night look effortlessly without spending all day looking like a Glitter Ball or all night looking like someones Mum?

Accessories and make up are my answer, take in a small Make Up Bag and pretend you're in a Boots advert hanging around the mirrors in the girls loos at 5pm. My essentials?

• Black Eyeliner - Instantly eveningifies (yes what of it? It's my blog and I can make up words if I like) your make up.
• Liquid Concealer - Something like Touche Eclat or a cheaper version, use it to freshen up the areas where your make up has worn off
• Cream Blusher - Powder can cake on unprepared skin, but a bit of cream blusher freshens up your look, making your face look brighter and more made up without caking.

Now, to turn Daywear into Eveningwear.

For more impromptu nights out simply taking off your tights or jacket and putting up your hair can make all the difference.

If you've had a chance to plan ahead though it's easy to switch, without having to leave half your work clothes in your desk drawer!

Simple plain black trousers and a black tank top are great for work with a black suit jacket and silk scarf. Replace the scarf with a a glamorous multi strand necklace and some silver bangles and you're good to go party.

Style that slays..

Recently I've been re watching one of my favourite ever TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

During the 90s and early 00s I was utterly obsessed, and a bit of distance has found me re watching it with a keen eye for that 90s style.

Little accessories like a stretchy zig zag hairband, terrible, slightly ankle swinger, trousers worn with clumpy shoes and too much lipstick have bought my late teens back in a flood.

This time around, though, my style icon is not Buffy, but Anya, introduced in series 3 as a vengeance demon (OK, so maybe this particular look isn't top of my style list)



She had a rocky start. I can give no good defence for this outfit, personally I can recall no period in which badly fitting patchwork trousers were de rigeur.


But by the time she'd become a regular character Anya's style had settled into a fantastic retro style, with clean simple lines and classic styles. Anya's style always has something to make any Retro Chicks heart go pitter pat.

From her perfectly coiffed screen siren hair


To her wardrobe full of twinsets, 40s style tea dresses and classic pencil skirts.


And even her nightwear screams old school retro glamour.


I even love her straight talking acerbic wit and no nonsense attitude.

I give you Anya Christina Emmanuella Jenkins, born Aud (formerly Anyanka, the "patron saint of scorned women") and now, Retro Chick style icon.


Thanks to Ever the Wordsmith for Screen Grabs

What are you wearing? Retro Dresses.

The fine weather really is hanging on by the skin of it's teeth, every day threatening to give way to gloomy greyness. Pretty much like the entire summer then! I'm really thinking I ought to get some more interesting tights than my trusty black opaques, but I'm never sure I've got the legs for anything too crazy! This dress was a Retro Chick piece, that unfortunately has already sold.

Dress - Retro Chick
Vintage Belt - Charity Shop
Lace Trim Vest - Primark
Platform Sandals - Ebay
Bangles - River Island

Get the Look:

Jersey Dress - £65 J by Jasper Conran
Buckle Belt - £20 Oasis
Lace Cami - $12.50 Old Navy
Platform Sandals - £18 ASOS (On sale!)
Bangles - £12 Miss Selfridge

Links à la Mode - 16th October 2008

This week I am loving Dirty Laundrys shredded jeans and Little Black Book has a great post on recycled fashion, plus Mademoiselle Robot does Halloween in style, something I'm planning to look into in a few weeks as Halloween creeps closer!

• A Few Goody GumDrops - How To Wear A “Love Quotes” Scarf!
• Add Bubbles To Taste. - Interview with Society Of The Spectacle’s designer, Julianne Hoang.
• Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy - Dishes on Hot Coats for Cold Winters
• Clutch 22 - Avelle is the new Bag Borrow or Steal…So perfect for personal style bloggers who want to incorporate luxury bags, jewelry and sunglasses in their outfit photos without the high cost. Yay for variety!
• Dirty Laundry - An exploration of the explosive effect that the Maison Martin Margiela shredded jeans had on the fashion world and the blogosphere.
• dramatis personae - Such Great Heights…
• fashion in my eyes - Equus, something nice for the girls with Chad White, hihihi
• Fashion Pulse Daily - Fashion Pulse writes about its favorite music played during fashion shows this spring/summer 2009 season.
• Fashion Therapist - Designer Denim for the Vertically Challenged…FINALLY!
• Flights of Fab Fashion Fancy - reminds us to get our mammogram!
• greystrawberrys - Style Inspiration; Fashion Scarves
• Independent Fashion Bloggers - How to do good blog interviews
• Little Black Book - Issue: Recycled Fashion and Global Warming What you can do to make a difference
• Logical Harmony - Sarah Jessica Parker, Katie Holmes, Victoria Beckham, and Heidi Klum : Crazy For Boyfriend Cut Jeans
• Mademoiselle Robot - Stylish Halloween costumes ideas, so you’ll never have to wear Sexy Bees costumes again.
• Or False Glitter - Gran Fan: Taking fashion advice from the elderly
• Retro Chick - Step by Step to Smoky Eyes
• SwanDiamondRose - Maybe I should buy NEW SHOES! And buy less shoes.
• Tainted & Sweet… - Everyone can use a little..Poison Ivy
• THE COVETED - Age of Innocence, be unapologetically girly…
• The Life and Times of a Problem Child - It’s about how in tough times, creativity goes a long way with how we dress up and how we consume fashion.
• Your Style Star - Illustrated sketches of Spring trends

Red Hot....

One of the hot colours on the catwalk for Autumn Winter 2008 was tomato red. Ralph Lauren, Balmain, Alexander McQueen and Oscar De La Renta among others showed coats, slinky evening dresses, suits and evening dresses all in a bright and unforgiving red

Red mostly suits brunettes, the traditional peaches and cream complexion can find that it grabs all it's red tones and looks more strawberries and cream, and red heads will probably view it as a complete no no.

Red accessories are the easy way round this. Keep it to bags and shoes, away from your face, and pretty much anyone can wear it.

Here's my top ways to wear tomato red for Work, Rest & Play.

WORK




For work keep to classic shapes for a professional look and you can't go wrong. This simple retro styled red top is only £5.99 from Retro Chick. Little fashion details like the ruffle on the skirt (£40, Star by Julien Macdonald) and subtle platform on the shoes (£95 Carvela) mean you can keep your fashion credentials and still do business.

REST


For off duty down time you want something comfortable, but stylish. This vintage 80s striped dress (£35 Candy Says) is comfy and on trend, wear it with ever comfy black leggings and a biker jacket (£300 Oli) for Autumn, but this will easily see you right through to the summer.

PLAY


Black is tomato reds natural partner, but ring the changes for a glamorous evening event with this gorgeous silver grey bow detail dress (£180 Karen Millen). This is an ideal way for blonde's to work the tomato red trend that they might otherwise find tricky. A pair of red 80s pumps (£35 ASOS) and a red handbag (£4.99 Retro Chick), teamed with this gorgeous Tarina Tarantino necklace (£163 Tarina Tarantino) mean you can work the look, without looking like an actual tomato.

Step by Step - Smoky Eyes

This Autumns Gothic Glamour calls for some dramatic eye make up to set it off. I love smokey eyes, whether low key black eyeliner for day, or all out black eyeshadow for night it always makes me feel dark and glamorous. So here's how to do it, step by step.

* Start with a clean and simple smooth foundation base all over your face. I always leave blusher, highlighter and lips till after I have finished my eyes. To make sure the balance is right.



Lightly define your eyebrows with a pencil or powder on small brush, not too heavy or you'll look all Cruella De Ville rather than mysterious sex kitten. I like to brush a bit of clear mascara through them too.

Next take a pale, bone coloured eyeshadow and brush across your entire eyelid from lash line to brow to create a smooth base.


You can use whatever combination of colours you like to create the look. In this instance I am using a pale and dark grey, though I often use the purple shade as well. Using a full on black eyeshadow for your deeper colour will give a more dramatic look.




First use your lighter colour, in my case the light grey, and sweep it across your eyelid and into the socket line using a wide flat brush.


Next take your darker colour, and a smaller round brush. Take a small amount of colour on the brush, then tap or blow to get rid of any excess. If you don't it will end up all over your face!

Blend the deeper colour into your socket line, and along the top lashes, then finally, when the colour is nearly all gone, sweep it under your lower lashes. To get a good definition in my socket line I find it helpful to open my eyes slightly to get the brush right into the crease. Then blend, blend, blend. You don't want a harsh line, and it's easier to add than takeaway, so use small amounts of shadow and blend it with the brush over and over till it gives the smoky effect you want.


Next take a very sharp black eyeliner and draw a line close to your upper eyelashes. I use light feathery strokes, almost playing connect the dots to get a smooth line right into the inner corner of the eye. Then take a smudger, or a cotton bud, or your finger, whatever you have, and lightly smudge the line for a smokey finish.



Take the same eyeliner and line your lower lashes in the same way, smudging as before.

Then line your inner lids, top and bottom, I have a couple of ways of doing this. I line the lower lid and then shut my eyes hard, which helps transfer colour to the upper lid. Or I put the pencil GENTLY on my lower lid, the shut my eyes and GENTLY run the pencil between my lids. Be careful not to poke your eye out. Bloodshot is not a good look.



For a longer lasting finish to your eyeliner take some black eyeshadow and a small flat eyeshadow brush. Load the brush with powder and gently pat over the liner on your inner lids.

This tip was given to me by a MAC consultant and it really works whether you're using fancy MAC make up or Collection 2000!




To finish the look you'll need mascara, and lots of it! Curl your lashes and apply 2 coats of mascara at least, don't bother to comb between coats, personally I like the clumpy look! I use a two layer mascara, with a white lash building layer and a black mascara layer.


Et Voila!!

What are you wearing? Autumn Florals...

Once again dragging out the shelf life of my summer wardrobe whilst making the most of the limited Autumn sunshine. Black opaque tights and a cosy long line cardigan give a floral dress a more autumnal feel whilst my favourite over sized sunnies protect my peepers from the low sun.

Floral Dress - Next Directory (5 years ago, recycle people!)
Vintage Belt - Charity Shop
Cardigan - Primark
Jelly Shoes - George @ Asda
Sunglasses - H&M

Get the look:

Floral Dress - £50 Topshop
Belt - £20 Oasis
Cardigan - £32 Miss Selfridge
Jelly Shoes - $5.99 Steve Madden
Sunglasses - $20 Giant Vintage

Links à la Mode - 9th October 2008

You can tell we're well and truly into Autumn now. A couple of great posts on boots this weeks links round up from Independent Fashion Bloggers. My personal favourites this week are Dirty Laundry's post on revamping T Shirts and False Glitters Gothic laddered tights look. As ever I love fashion that costs nothing!

• Agent Lover - Satanic Schoolgirl Style: A guide for those who want to cross over to the dark side of knee highs.
• couturee yourself: - Just cant get enough Givenchy
• Dirty Laundry - How to revamp tired, old, boxy t-shirts into stylish, wearable tops.
• Fab Fashion Blog - Wearing slouch boots-here are some fabulous looks!
• fashion in my eyes - Natalia Vodianova in Numéro phothographed by Karl Lagerfeld
• Fashion Pulse Daily - Fashion Pulse reviews the latest Dolce & Gabbana collection recently shown in Milano.
• Little Black Book - DIY:bracelet, its just so easy!
• Logical Harmony - Fall Fashion From Rachel Bilson
• Mademoiselle Robot - An interview with The Cherry Blossom Girl celebrating the launch of her first collection, By Alix.
• Or False Glitter - Holy Hosiery: Wearing tights Rodarte style
• PONY RYDER - exclusive interview with fashion model kathleen burbridge.
• reLYME - A post featuring my boot picks for fall, and hopefully, a forum to features yours, too!
• Retro Chick - Can Earplugs be cool?
• SwanDiamondRose - Does this look like my Louche? Small businesses, copyright, & crafting.
• Tainted & Sweet…: - Fly Girls of the week we all want to be like…
• THE COVETED - Easy DIY trends.. the whole hearted half skirt

Swishing - The Frock Exchange

Last night I spent a thoroughly enjoyable hour in front of the TV in the company of Twiggy, Lauren Laverne and Grazia's Paula Reed on Twiggys Frock Exchange.

100 women were invited to the event and given the chance to walk away with a whole new wardrobe for free.

Clothes swapping parties, or swishing parties, aren't exactly a new concept, but when an institution like the BBC catches on you can only hope they'll take off. The BBC website has a downloadable .pdf guide to throwing your own swap shop that you can find here.

I'm pretty certain that most women have a wardrobe full of clothes that are too big, too small, don't suit them, or just never get worn because they're not really their style. Hanging onto them just takes up space and ups the "I have too many clothes" guilt factor. I really try and sell off or swap as much of mine as possible, but even I've got items lurking that I convince myself will fit again one day.

If throwing your own swapping party is a bit much like hard work then there are a number of public events in the UK. Check out swishing.org for details.

There are of course other ways to turn your guilt filled goodies into fantastic new looks.

The first and most obvious is to sell them. Take your photo, write your description, pay a small fee and wait for someone else to fall in love with your unwanted bits.

Online portals for the sale of vintage and second hand clothing include Ebay, Etsy, Clothes Agency and Pre Loved.

The obvious advantage of this method is that you receive cold hard cash for your items which can be spent on anything. The disadvantage, apart from the fees, is that cold hard cash can be spent on anything. Which includes the gas bill, way less fun than a new frock.

There are also a wide range of online swapping arenas popping up left right and centre. What's Mine is Yours was the first such site, but a host of others are around now too to get like minded stylish girls together to swap their vintage and pre owned goodies.

Check out Big Wardrobe and Fashion Space.

Finally, if you can, whip out your sewing machine and edit your existing items into something new and exciting. It doesn't always need to take masses of skill. Sometimes just tacking a new trim onto a dress or adding a corsage can make all the difference!

In the UK, textiles are the fastest growing waste stream, and for every 8 brand new items sold on the High Street we only re use 1. People who only buy free range chicken, organic vegetables and recycle all their rubbish will happily buy new clothes without even considering their environmental impact or the possibility of recycling old ones.

So next time you need a new party dress, a new pair of jeans or some basic black trousers, check out thrift shops, Ebay and, of course, Retro Chick before you buy new, you might even save yourself some money!

Tired and irritable.

Today's post is brought to you by those evil twins tiredness and irritability.

Despite my own personal decision, thus far, to forgo the temptation to see what a mini me would look like in favour of quiet nights (and noisy ones, with booze), and spending all my money on myself, it seems that I can't force my neighbours to feel the same way.

So, at 4:30am this morning, I was awake, listening to the piercing shrieks of someone else's offspring echoing through the paper thin walls of my Victorian terrace. What kind of idiot builds a house where you can't hear someone shout to you from the kitchen when you're in the front room, but every noise from next door is clear as a bell?

The dawning realisation (as I sit here RIGHT NOW listening to more crying) that this is unlikely to be a one off event has given me 3 options.

1) Spend an awful lot more money on alcohol, though I suspect this might lead me to be listening to crying babies with a hangover, which sounds even less fun.

2) Move, which I can't really be bothered with right now. I'd have to pack and I've only just finished UNPACKING from when we moved in 2 years ago.

3) Buy myself some emergency earplugs. Currently this is my most realistic option.

Sooo, can earplugs be cool?

When I was at University I worked for an aviation company that had an earplug dispenser from which I used to steal handfuls of yellow and pink foamy lozenges that looked a little bit like rhubarb and custard sweets. I thought they were pretty cool. But does it get any better?

Well, according to the Ear Plug Shop, it does.

They have a section called "Fashion" Ear plugs, which isn't something I ever dreamed existed. Maybe if I'd been a hellish thumping base nightclub kind of a girl, rather than a get drunk and talk people to death kind of a girl I would have visited this world before, But I haven't.

Personally I'm not entirely convinced by the tassley look. I suspect that my bloated and puffy morning face with these sticking out of my ears might run a high risk of being mistaken for a scatter cushion.



These cute marbled ones are a little more to my tastes, though green and blue looks a bit mouldy and no ones husband deserves to turn over in the middle of the night and think their wife has stuffed blue cheese in her ears.

Pink and purple look less likely to result in my husband calling the psychiatric services in the middle of the night.

To be honest the thought of ear plugs freaks me out a bit, as I do worry that my house could burn down around me whilst I dozed in a state of blissful ignorance wondering if I should get up and turn down the heating.

But Retro Chick is, today, a very grumpy girl (OK, I'm pretty grumpy most days, but today I'm tired as well) all other suggestions greatly appreciated!

What are you wearing? 40s Style Shirt Dresses

I love this dress. I bought it at a Supermarket over the summer for the grand total of £7.50 and I've worn it to death. It's got a great 40s style feel to it with shaped shoulders and breast pockets in a cute little floral print. The suns still shining but there's certainly a nip in the air, so I've extended it's wear with a black belt and tights and dolly shoes.

Dress - Tesco
Vintage Belt - Charity Shop
Shoes - Faith (a long time ago!)

Get the look:

Dress - £40 TopShop
Belt - £25 Warehouse
Shoes - £10 New Look

Links à la Mode - 2nd October 2008

Some great links this week from Independent Fashion Bloggers.

I'm loving the pencil skirts, but they've never been my shape unfortunately, cursed with wiggly hips I look all out of proportion. I also love the DIY headband idea, I might have to try it out.

• a sense sublime - Make Do and Mend: Brilliant boot fair fashion finds!
• Add Bubbles To Taste. - Nikki gives Beautiful People Purple Eaters their fix.
• Clutch 22 - DIY: Bow Headbands (in seconds)
• Debutante Clothing - Vintage Vogues Go To Auction
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The Boyfriend Blazer

In the 80s it was boxy, casual and worn with the sleeves pushed up to your elbows by boys and girls alike. Now it seems it's the latest 80s trend to appear back on the High Street, It's easy to wear, comfortable and practical unlike ra ra Skirts and leggings.

The look now is more varied, big and boxy, skinny and shrunken, double or single breasted, the choice is yours, but the blazer is definitely back.

TopShop, as ever, has the look nailed. And, as ever, is all out of stock, which of course means hundreds of other people are wearing them even if you get your hands on them.


I've found some great alternatives for a damn site less. Here are my top picks from the High Street and Cyber Space to get the look.

Wear it big and boxy with skinny jeans. Vintage Jacket £9.99 Retro Chick



Tight and shrunken with baggy jeans. This blazer picks up on an A/W key trend, tartan and costs just £35



Or go sleek and elegant, Kate Moss stylee and go for the full on Tuxedo look. This Tuxedo Jacket is £75 from Oasis. Wear it slim line but loose with the sleeves rolled up and a statement clutch for the latest look.