aestheticcontradiction

Shopping style boards

It has been a while since I last had time for a shopping post. I always save images of products I find interesting but at busy times I have to focus on orders. While I’m disappointed I didn’t get to post about some of my finds, however, I think this is a great time for a clothes post as everyone has updated their ranges for spring.

I have complied 3 boards of my favorite spring styles.

A. Tough girl

1. Bordelle belt strap garters £130+VAT www.bordelle.co.uk I love these but would never be able to afford that much on garters so am considering making a similar pair.

2. sleeveless stripe shirt £30 Topshop

3. leg harness £16.50 Topshop

4. Infragante leather bodice £120+VAT Bordelle

5. mesh panel leggings £22 Miss selfridge

6. skull jouy vest £35 All saints

7. Studded Lita boot, Jefferey Campbell

8. stud detail bralette £20 Topshop

9. leather biker jacket £165 by boutique at topshop. This isn’t the most amazing leather jacket but I’m struggling to find a nice one that will fit me for a reasonable price and at least this one would be easily customisable.

B. Mystical girl

1. bodycon dress £42 miss selfridge (I may have actually bought the last one of these as I had to go to a pretty obscure branch to find it).

2. lattice bra top £18 miss selfridge

3. vero moda lace biker jacket www.usc.co.uk

4. cross front longline cami £22 topshop

5. heelless platform by Jeffery Campbell, I’ve wanted a pair of these for so long!

6. silver cross stretch armcuff £9.37 miss selfridge

7. multi chain vest necklace £50 topshop

8. obsidian tomb ring $260 blood milk

9. sheer split maxi skirt £37 miss selfridge

10. reformed coquette tie die dress £30 urban outfitters

11. rune divination cuff $275 blood milk. I love rune jewellery and have had my rune rings from past times (which has now closed down) for about 10 years!

C. Pastel girl

1. Dior eyeshadow £39.24

2. printed sleeveless shirt with metal tipped collar £32 miss selfridge

3. pastel harness £18 asos

4. Mashmallow bust harness praline (yes that is actually what its called) about £104 www. misencage.com

5. lilac glitter belt £12 topshop

6. fleur cropped jumper £20 Topshop

7. illamasqua nail varnish £13.50

8. turquoise glitter plugs $13.98 hot topic

9. lilac leggings £18 topshop

10. side strap top £18 miss selfridge

11. pastel tie die tights £10 topshop

12. Spikey shoes, Jeffery Campbell

I have bought a few of these things and hope to have a bit more spare cash soon. Having to spend all my money on my business gets depressing some times but with a new casual range coming out soon I have high hopes for the future.

aestheticcontradiction

The list

I always enjoyed making Chistmas lists when I was younger and continue to as an adult. I’ve always been quite specific about what I wanted and my parents didn’t always find it easy getting the exact item I meant so, where possible, I used to include images from magazines/catalogues. Being able to find pretty much anything online makes this so much easier and even saves time on the cutting out.

1. Damask blackberry case, £27 zazzle.co.uk

2/3. faux fur hats, ebay

4. Black chiffon split maxi skirt £37 miss selfridge

5. White sleeveless blouse £35 oasis

6. Stag ring £5 ebay

7. corset belt £35 topshop

8. chain and quartz earrings £40 all saints

9. annmarie skirt by jones and jones at topshop £46

10. grey nail polish

11. 20 hole black patent dr. martens £110

12. winter cocktail truffles £22 hotel chocolate

13. jacquard print skirt £20 miss selfridge

14. shannon collar coat £140 monsoon

15. lindt irish cream truffles £6

16. snowflake and deer leggings £14 ebay

17. pu panel knicker £22 miss selfridge

18. Matt grey dr.martens £80

19. full circle bow tie blouse £85

20. phase eight cotton lace blouse £45

21. Biba satin and sheer stripe blouse £51

I have tried to keep the list as realistic as possible and not ask for extortionately priced designer goods even though I would have liked to. Hopefully I have been good this year and will get some of these, despite having already spent the majority of my xmas money on a not so profitable clothes show live.

aestheticcontradiction

TOPSHOP surprise!

Topshop hasn’t always been at the top of my list of shopping destinations but this season I could probably replenish my whole wardrobe from there. I decided to compile a board of my favourites.

1.Mesh spot wrap bodycon dress £45 (dress up topshop)

2. Stripe lace panel dress £45 (dress up topshop)

3. Petite spot mesh jumper £38

4. Skeleton sweater £28

5. Cage strap halter bodycon dress £40

6. Bird print oversized tee £28

7. Velvet studded leggings £25

8. Ombre skull vest £18

9. Multi spiked ring £8.50

10. Claw ball ring £12.50

11. cage spike studded bangle £18.50

12. Square pyramid ring £10

13. Tape Tia underwire bra and mini set £25

14. Quilted satin bralet £25

15. Jersey PU bodycon skirt £35

16. Vicky dress £65 (Jones and Jones)

17. Four strap buckle belt £50

18. Zip front jersey skirt £25

19. Bow tie spotty sweetheart dress £60 (dress up topshop)

20. Zip front bustier £32

21. Mesh panel embellished leggings £28

22. Studded cage lattice belt £18

23. Satin high waisted knicker £18

24. Velvet harness body £38

25. Black shaped panel corset £35

26. Faux fur ankle socks £7

27. Snow scape ankle sock £3.50

28. Bustle back studded leather dress £150 (Dress up topshop)

 

aestheticcontradiction

Trend: Brogues

In the past I’ve always considered brogues or similar styles of footwear something very style-specific that is not easy for a female to wear but I’ve seen so many creative takes on them around this season I’m seriously considering getting some. With androgynous styles ranging from classic to eccentric, girly flats, a whole range of different heels and chunky platforms there is bound to be something for everyone. I have included some of my personal favourites in this collage.

1. Asos Mr dogtooth brogue £32.00 www.asos.com

2. Next black patent trim wedge shoe boots. £55.00 www.next.co.uk

3. TK Maxx £32.00

4. Pilot high heel lace up brogue shoe £35.00 www.pilotfashion.com

5. Platform wedge brogues by Japanese brand R&E Rosessence http://rosessence.jp/ I’d really love to buy these but can’t actually find them on the site so if anyone has seen them or similar ones around please let me know!

6. Melissa Joy and Alexander white brogues £60.00 www.zalando.co.uk

7. Bank grey heeled brogues £30.00 www.bankfashion.co.uk

8. Melessa x J Markey Crystal ‘Joy’ Brogues. These are a bit older so not sure if they are available to purchase any more

9. Dorothy perkins Black mega platform town shoes £49.00 also available in burgundy www.dorothyperkins.com

10. Melissa Joy and Alexander Herchcovitch lii black glitter brogue £59.50

11. Alexandre Herchcovitch X Melissa Patent Troupe Wedge Brogue on sale at asos.com for £58.00

12. Pewter brogues on sale at miss selfridge for £12.00

13. Glitter girly flat brgues veganshoeaddict.com

14. Melissa Kissing lace up ankle boots £75.00 (also available in black) www.zalando.co.uk

aestheticcontradiction

Bird’s yard and Alt fashion shoot preview

On Sunday we shot the editorial for the “Eustratia” feature in Alt fashion magazine. The weather turned out to be more rainy than initially anticipated, (not really a surprise in this part of the country) so we ended up in a bit of a predicament regarding the most appropriate shoot location. Toria was promoting an event at Bird’s yard later in the day and the owner was nice enough to let us shoot in the courtyard at the back of the shop as it had a covered section to minimise the rain-damage. With its old Chesterfield sofa, fake grass carpet and multiple degenerated urban backdrops it proved to be the perfect location! So far I am really pleased with what I’ve seen of the images, the magazine has to be published before we release any of them but here are some behind the scenes shots taken with my camera to give you an idea of the styling.

Lovely models and non-acknowledging photographer Left to right: Beth, Victoria, Amber, myself and Toria

I especially love the chainmail components pf these outfits which are made by Richard Ayres.

Portfolio links: http://www.modelmayhem.com/1025602, http://www.modelmayhem.com/170631, http://www.modelmayhem.com/726821, http://www.modelmayhem.com/1592461

I would also like to say a huge thanks to Beth for getting up and being part of the shoot at such short notice!

After the shoot we headed back to Toria’s to pack up and then back to Bird’s yard for the party. I first heard about the shop at a charity fashion show that was also organised by Toria a few weeks ago in Chester. We paired their vintage clothes with my latex accessories for the show.

image 1,3and 5 by Fluke photography 2 and 4 by fireball photography

I also had a stall…

stall

…and Amber wore a pink dress that would have made any fairy tale princess green with envy.

Amber, her pink dress and I

Anyway, non of this had suggested anything more than that Bird’s yard was a vintage shop in Leeds. When we got there I realised that it was actually an amazing concept store/indoor market hybrid with all kinds of treasure dotted around several different shops. They also feature independent designers who can choose between renting a shelf or a booth to display a selection of their products. This sounds like a really interesting opportunity to me, particularly as each designer spends one day a month working in the shop. I would hate to have a job as a shop-assistant but having a “meet the designer” day at a shop where my products are stocked and getting a change to interact with and get feedback from customers actually appeals on so many levels. More news about this when I have time to sort it out properly.

The rest of the party involved free food and drink, discovering new designers and silliness.

If you’d like to know more about Bird’s yard, check out their site! http://www.birdsyard.co.uk/

Amber and pretty things

custom upholstry

Independent designer booths

stair art

slut and slag

what I wore