Inspiration – Low Fashion February 9, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Blogs, Fashion, Inspiration.Tags: catwalks, Fashion, high fashion, low fashion
1 comment so far
You guys have probably noticed that Cie’s blogging all too often inspires me to write something, or do something, or talk about doing something. She is just one of those bloggers, and one of those girls, who often manages to say exactly what I am thinking, and so I read her blog and pop on over to mine to have my own say.
Her latest post is about why fashion bloggers are so successful – because we are about the fashion you can wear, the looks people can actually pull off, and not about pure catwalk art. We aren’t high fashion, but just style and necessity and real life lumpy bumpy imperfect people.
So this got me thinking that maybe high fashion is out of date. Maybe this concept of people dressing up in peculiar visionary costumes and outfits is taken far too seriously in a world where in actuality they cannot dictate what we wear. In fact, maybe what should have always been an inspiration has really become a bible. The law of the catwalks, the choices they make, can influence hundreds of fashion conscious men and women to buy the most peculiar things, to wear to oddest outfits (and to look darn uncomfortable doing so). With the click of a finger, fashion fans are at high fashion’s every beck and call.
So maybe low fashion needs a revolution. We need a magazine that shows us, normal and freaky and strange and making fashion mistakes in with the bargain. One that shows that girls can sometimes leave the house wearing two different shoes, or that navy can actually look quite cool with black. The low fashion that sees us have to find yet another way to wear that old t-shirt because we can’t afford a replacement, or spending all our money on beautiful shoes and having to wear them with a bin bag. The fashion that is graceful just as often as it is silly, funky just as often as it is smart – our fashion. Low fashion.
You know what though? If a low fashion magazine came on our shelves, about normal people and their normal inspirational stories? I would be far more inclined to pick that off the shelf than I would be to choose Vogue.
(Image from here)
Getting Crafty – Dress Making February 7, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Crafting, Fashion, Thrifting.Tags: Crafting, Fashion, pleated, sewing
1 comment so far
Whilst there are certain patterns that I love, I don’t really ever make clothes from patterns. The main reason for this is that fabric is very expensive now, and I find it easier and more affordable to buy ready-made items from shops and stalls. What I do like to do, however, is take any opportunity I can find to convert an item of clothing that is old, unloved and out of date into something modern and spectacular. This is cheap, generally, as well as saving things from ending up on a rubbish dump.
Today I decided I was going to turn a horribly shaped 80’s dress into something that suited my body shape a lot more. To begin, off came the baggy loose top, and I hemmed it up. The skirt, which is gorgeous and pleated, was then converted into a dress by carefully stitching on a ribbon, and then adding a flat panel into the back. As I thought, the pleats mean the top section expands and thus bunches, so next week I will probably replace it with a white bust.
Anyway, what do you think?
Hand made Pleated Dress
What I Wore | Vintage Gingham Dress February 6, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in What I Wore.Tags: daily outfits, Fashion, gingham, vintage, What I wore
3 comments
This Outfit post thing is addictive, isn’t it? It makes me pay attention to what I wear – whilst normally I would be in horrid trousers and a hoody for the weekend I have decided to actually wear something nice. I was due to sell this dress as I couldn’t see myself really wearing it – and it is too big for me around the torso – but today has changed my mind. I covered up the oversized body with this fitted H & M blazer, and will hopefully tailor it to fit me asap 
Gingham Dress
The Odd Pattern!
Whoever decided that the best thing to do with Gingham fabric was to plaster it all over with happy smiley cartoon vegetables is possibly insane. It is fun, granted, but not exactly normal!
Whilst I am on, as I can do these as quick posts before I head out with the girls tonight, can I request a favour? A friend, Laura, is thinking of setting up a business, and she needs some help with a little questionnaire market research. If you have a couple of minutes to spare and you all be lovely lovely people and go on and fill it out?
Click here to do so!
Semi-Daily eBay | Yves St. Laurent Vintage Heels February 5, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Fashion, Semi-Daily eBay, Vintage.Tags: daily ebay, Fashion, Heels, Semi-Daily eBay, Shoes, vintage, vintage fashion, YSL
2 comments
Oh, how I love these. And in my size too. But £55 is out of my budget for vintage shoes, even if they are designer. Everything about them makes my heart sing, from the deliciously deep platform and coal-black shade through to the thick ankle strap and sheer sexy wonderfulness… If someone could buy me these as a present I would be very very very very happy. Hint dropped enough, do you think?
Vintage Yves St. Laurent Platform Heels
What I Wore | Florals and Yellow February 5, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in What I Wore.Tags: daily outfits, Fashion, outfits, vintage, What I wore, What I wore today
4 comments
Today I wanted to wear my yellow Mary Quant tights, as I love them very much but rarely have a chance to wear them. They are just thick enough to cover up the fact that I haven’t shaved my legs for rather too long. Well, it is sinter, there doesn’t seem much point and I cna sue all the warmth I can get! My hair is nearly getting to the length where i can start doing stuff with it, so I might have to get someone to give me a tutorial at some point – it has been short for so long that I have no idea at all about how to style it!
Dress: Vintage, eBay
Belt: Yellow ribbon
Tights: Vintage, Mary Quant
Heels: New Look
Feeling Fashionable? February 4, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Fashion, Inspiration, Life, Chatter & Politics.Tags: blind, charity, Fashion, Gok Wan, how to look good naked
1 comment so far
I was watching Gok Wan’s How to Look Good Naked this week, and found myself in tears. Whilst not an uncommon reaction to a show that shows women just how good they can feel about themselves, this one was especially heart breaking because the downright fabulous woman on it was completely blind. All her life she had been worrying about how she looked, whether she could remember what looked good together, and feeling that she was hugely fat and unattractive. Through a series of techniques and conversations Gok set out to chain these views and show her what she really looked like, even if she couldn’t see.
He used simple methods – such as letting her feel a cast of her body in comparison to other women, pointing out her beautiful points, teaching her what shapes worked for her body and developing a system whereby she could work out if an article of clothing suited her. By the end she was transformed into someone who glowed with confidence, whilst I sobbed in a corner!
Anyway, it got me to thinking about the systems for dealing with image and self-confidence if you are blind. I know there are makeover charities and similar designed to help women who have been ravaged by cancer, but I am not sure there is anything for people who cannot see what they look like. I cannot imagine how difficult it would be to work out daily outfits and be incredibly conscious of others looking out you, without being able to use vision to help. There may be tools that can identify colours, but that it only one step – people would need to know how fabrics combine, what different clothing shapes feel like, and how patterns can work together. Trying to look fashionable must be a terrifying prospect.
Do you guys think that a charity targeting this area, a fashion consultancy for the blind, would be a good idea?
What I Wore | A Jumpsuit To Work February 4, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in What I Wore.Tags: daily outfit, Fashion, jumpsuit, What I wore, work fashion
5 comments
I have been thinking more and more about posting some of my more interesting outfits on here, and people on Twitter have been saying that they would love to see how I pull them off. For now I won’t be posting every day (although I may after my birthday when hopefully I will have a good camera), but will be sharing some of my more interesting and adventurous clothing choices!
So, without further ado…
Tights: ASOS
Heels: Schuh
Playsuit: Local store, PL19
Jacket: Warehouse
Necklace: Gift
It is unusual for me not to be wearing anything vintage, but I wanted to see if I could make this little cream playsuit work for a work environment. I think the thick grey tights and formal jacket meant I achieved it whilst still looking quite funky!
Underwear as Outerwear February 3, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Fashion, Vintage.Tags: Fashion, slips, trends, underwear as outerwear, vintage fashion
4 comments
Everyone has been going on and on about underwear as outerwear in this seasons fashion recommendations. Much of the talk has been pretty incredulous – do people really do that?! The general consensus seems to be that on rare occasion this could work (with a corset for example), but that generally this lends itself to promiscuous tasteless looks and a certain lack of dignity. I have to say that I disagree. I don’t think we should go all Superman, with knickers over our tights, but a little clever layering and underwear usage can make for a great and intelligent outfit.
Inspired by Caroline, Queen of Slips, I have had a bit of a hunt for slips that are as pretty as dresses, lounge-wear that would be wonderful as outerwear, and even the occasional leather corset. Let me know what you think!
Click on the image to get taken through to the item page!
First, the slips:
Red Slip Trimmed With White Lace
This one is beautiful and incredibly feminine, and I could see if being worn with quite a wintery jumper in white.
Red Slip With Flared Skirt
Leopard Print Full Slip
I surprisingly love this tiered leopard print full slip. You would need to wear another slip underneath it (of course!), but I think this could make a surprisingly tasteful outfit. It would look great under clothes too!
Next, the nightgowns!
Peach and Lace Full Length Nightgown
Ladylike Elegant Vintage Nightgown
If you have ever fancied being a princess this nightgown is for you. Whether for twirling around the house or actually wearing to a ladylike event, I reckon it will be gorgeous!
Next, bit and pieces, such as Corsets and so on!
Brocade Waist Corset/Cincher
Fabulous Tropical Vintage Lounge Set
I can’t believe that this skirt used to be worn inside only. This beautiful retro print would work so well as a pencil skirt, and I think it deserves to see the light of day!
Unusual Steampunk Leather Corset
For the brave amongst you, this leather corset will work with Victorian-inspired steampunk outfits and full-skirted dresses – it doesn’t have to be as risky as it first appears!
Semi-Daily eBay | Christian Louboutin Studded Heels February 2, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Fashion, Semi-Daily eBay.Tags: daily ebay, eBay, Fashion, Heels, Semi-Daily eBay, Shoes, studs
1 comment so far
Ooh, I am having a week of Louboutin lust! Whilst most other very expensive shoe designers pass me by (at least the very well known ones, like Jimmy Choo), Louboutin always produces shoe that whilst over-priced still seem to sum up what shoes (or more specifically, heels) should mean. Sexy, powerful, dramatic, I want all of them! These are another pair I have been lusting after, and if I had a spare couple of hundred squids I would be buying them right this second!
Studded Louboutin Heels
