Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts
I wanted to love these boots, I did. I willed myself for about a week before, first wearing them with my pyjamas, then with leggings (I looked like I was about to go ride a horse) till I finally paired them with some suit trousers I bought from NA-KD. Alas, no luck. Yesterday I carefully boxed them up to take to the post office and send them on their merry way.
Bye,
I'm also wearing:
NA-KD Wide Leg Suit Pants // £40.95
NA-KD Wide Leg Suit Pants // £40.95
Zara Knit Halter Neck Top // £17.99 (LOVE this top)
I'm very much a Dr Martens girl, you know? Stomping around on the rainy streets of London in a long coat and platform shoes. They are my forever boots and trying to make room in my heart for anything else just feels like a betrayal. It's DMs Or I'm in trainers.
Also, can I just share this tip with you real quick? Firstly when I read this I was like ??? I'm sorry what? But hear me out. I've been a proud owner of a pair of platform Dr Martens for almost a year and every time I wear them, every damn time, they wreck my feet. I'm talking blood blisters, sore heels and me rushing to buy those special blasters from the nearest Boots to tape my feet back together. Scrolling through my TikTok FYP the other night I saw someone share a new pair of DMs they'd got and the comments section was filled with recommendations of how to break them in. Someone suggested hitting the heel with a hammer. Another said 'good luck with blisters for the next three years'. But someone else mentioned: 'I've been putting pantyliners in the back of my Boots, and it works'.
While on FaceTime with my friend before I met her for dinner I laughed 'humour me, humour me please, I'm going to put a pad in each of my Dr Martens to stop them rubbing against my heel'. Giggling, I thought: 'no way, no way'. My friend replied 'what on earth?!' But it works, it really works.
Had to share that, wish someone had told me sooner honestly.
Hope everyone is safe and well,
Bye,
Lauren xo
Outfit:
Jeans (Levi's 501)
AF1
and my socks are from Uniqlo
The other day I made this post about a dilemma I was having over a new leather jacket I'd just bought. With it being something I'd never really worn before, I was unsure if I would be able to get it to work with my usual layering of hoodies under everything. I was even so unsure that I wore the jacket out on a walk with the tags still in it. Like, all the tags. (No one could see though).
Now I've had the chance to ascend into my true nineties-sitcom-styling-form I can bring you this outfit that I threw together before heading to Tesco. It's pretty humid in London right now so I actually wouldn't recommend a look like this in the current climate, but you know, when the outfit is good the outfit is good. For a summer feel I'd probably recommend some denim shorts in the same wash to avoid overheating.
The hairclip truly pulls everything together (I'm wearing it right now) and I'm so glad these have come back into fashion. I grabbed mine from Superdrug but I can't remember how much they were, maybe £3? Anyway, I feel like Julia Roberts in Notting Hill. I've also started to adjust to having my hair curly all the time. Now it's shorter it's so much easier to maintain and my new side bangs look really cute when my hair is up. Sometimes I question why I straightened my hair for so many years when it has WAYYY more volume curly?
"Yes - happiness isn't happiness without a violin-playing goat".
OKAY WOW I'M REALLY PROUD OF THIS OUTFIT
Bye,
Lauren x
I just finished watching the 'Christian Dior, Designer of Dreams' at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs hour-long documentary on YouTube and now I don't know what to do with myself. I waited for the credits to roll until the music section came up so I could jot down all the songs and listen to them later on while imaging I was part of the talented team who put the exhibition together (I'm listening to L by Tycho right now).
I liked the video so much I just went back to YouTube to give it a thumbs up.
When the exhibition was on at the V&A I was lucky enough to snag tickets for me and my mum (I literally bought them three months in advance) to go see this mammoth display of Dior garments. If you watch the documentary on YouTube it explains it much better, but the rooms that held the dresses were split into different themes that reflected the original ideas Dior had for womenswear. Each creative director of the house since has interpreted Dior's initial interest and passions in their own way and you can really see his influence even in more modern creations. Looking at some of Raf Simons' pieces in real life was a really beautiful moment!!
The combination of watching the YouTube documentary and having memories of the exhibition at the V&A really hit home the transformative power of fashion. Many of the garments created by Dior are tied to such important moments in history and it's so incredible to have access to an archive as extensive as what was on display, even if it's just to look at! In short, I recommend the documentary 100% and would also urge you to see the exhibition which I think go extended? But is long over now? And everything is closed anyway?
Final BIT:
Now that we're all in lockdown and art galleries have been closed, I really regret that I didn't see more exhibitions when I had the chance. The last one I went to was the Bridget Riley exhibition at the Hayward Gallery in London last December. I love Bridget Riley and that was a great show too. The Hayward Gallery is right by the Thames and afterwards, I had a burrito sat under Waterloo Bridge and my hands nearly fell off.
Final FINAL BIT:
When I graduated my parents got me the book that accompanied the exhibition and it's LOVELY.
Goodbye
Lauren x
A leather jacket I ordered arrived in the post today and I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's currently on the end of my bed half in the plastic it came in and half on the tissue paper that was used to wrap it. I think the dilemma is more because once I put the jacket on I realised I didn't look like Bella Hadid as opposed to the issue coming from the jacket itself, which has committed no fault. I bought it in a size 10 under the guise that it would be slightly bigger than me so I could wear hoodies and jumpers underneath it in winter. This isn't the case and the shape is slightly more fitted than I was hoping for. My flatmate Jules has assured me that this is because I've never worn a leather jacket before, so I took a nap in the afternoon and tried it on again afterwards. The feeling remains.
Outerwear, for me, has always been a struggle. I have a long wool coat that fits too tightly under the armpits, an XL puffer jacket that looks like someone has jumped on it and a slightly oversized suede piece from Carharrt that I'm either in love or completely loathe, day dependent. I can never hit the fit perfectly. I blame this on my own laziness, which predates Coronavirus, and meant that I told myself that I never had time to go instore to try anything on. Number one: why would I ever do that when I can shop online? That's it, that's the line of excuses and now my own stupidity has led me to become the proud owner of three (I'm not including the leather jacket yet as she has one sleeve on the returns pile) ill-fitting pieces of outerwear.
A rule of thumb to use when measuring the effectiveness and functionality of outerwear is its ability to withstand layering, and by that I mean, can you wear multiple items underneath said jacket in the winter and the piece still hold up? This is pretty much the only thing I look for when buying a coat. I'm talking a turtle neck, a t-shirt, a hoodie, a scarf, gloves and finally, the jacket on top to complete that day's fashion pièce de résistance. This leather jacket I have purchased is not really like that and has the feel and shape of a shirt, but I will take you through some positive points: the leather is very soft, it hangs nicely and has a popper close down the front which I like. I will even dare to say that this jacket COULD be worn without a top underneath, but I will never do that.
Before I carefully refolded the leather jacket to put back into its original packaging (does anyone else do this to make it look like they never opened the parcel when it gets back to the depot? No? Just me, okay) I FaceTimed with my friend in LA to get her verdict. I jumped into a pair of black jeans that just about fit me and tried to work the jacket with a cropped turtle neck. This was not the look. Next, I grabbed a black satin dress from my wardrobe and tried it with a pair of strappy mules I have. I was so pleased with this outfit that I became immediately sad that I was single/would never feel bold enough to wear this outside/had absolutely nowhere to go.
I'm keeping the jacket based on this one epic outfit.
Other bits:
I've finally bought a workout mat after doing stretches and press-ups against a wooden floor. My knee is in excruciating pain and I do not recommend this.
I made my own mango ice cream and I cannot/will not shut up about it.
Happy Friday, I'm going to have some wine now
Lauren x
Here, dear reader, you are witnessing the miraculous and steady transformation of my wardrobe whose new chapter begins with the purchase of these mules. I will acknowledge that I already had all the garments pictured in my arsenal but I feel that the addition of heels truly improves the whole vibe.
Mules
Accessories
Bag
Sunglasses
Outfit #1
Puff-Sleeve Top (This hurt to put on and take off)
Jeans (Levi's 501s)
Outfit #2
Racerback Vest Top
Suit Trousers
Outfit #3
Dress (Fits loose at the back so I usually pin it to give it a bit of shape)
Lauren's Top Tip: I get all my trousers and jeans adjusted on the waist so the fit is *chefs kiss*. Just head to your local dry cleaners (not now obviously) and they usually have a tailors service too. It costs me £20 to get the waist taken in and I recommend it 100%.
Still watching The Walking Dead, I think it's getting better.
C u l8r
Lauren x
Last night when I was getting ready for bed I noticed that my room smelt of the bolognese I had laboriously cooked for dinner several hours earlier. I was slightly surprised by this, but as my bedroom shares a wall with the kitchen (it’s a small flat) it’s not totally shocking for my culinary delights to seep through the brick and plaster. However, this wasn’t the smell of ridiculously good bolognese (like the kind you get at Terroni of Clerkenwell, if you know, you know) - this was the smell of me following a BBC Food recipe for too long in an attempt to work some sustenance into my weekly lockdown diet.
After opening my window, I began to clear my bed of books, phone cables, chargers, bags, keys and any bits of clothing I had discarded throughout the day that now required folding. When I was down to the last item, I held in my hands a beloved wardrobe staple (a piece in my collection that I actually want to wear) from AYM, formerly Boom Boom The Label. Once back on its hanger and tucked away for the night, I thought about all the other independent stores I love, and that deserve enthusiastic attention at this time, so I’m going to share them, right now, with you. Drum roll, please.
AYM
This brand is how my sexier, more extrovert side would dress if she had parties to go to, places to be and was heading out on a stream of dates that all took place at different rooftop bars where the drinks come in quirky glasses. Alas, I don’t have any of these experiences under my belt, but I do own a fair few pieces from AYM to wear during my regular shmegular life. (FYI: the fit is amazing).
SEOL + GOLD
My ears are overly sensitive (just like the rest of me) and I’ve therefore always, always struggled to find earrings that don’t cause crusty, gammy ooziness to seep from my piercings. You’ll be pleased to know the search is over and has been for some time. Thank you Seol + Gold.
GOODHOOD
According to one of my closest friends, this store is ‘the best thing about Shoreditch’. It’s edgy, somewhat intimidatingly so and stocked to the brim with things you don’t need but also kind of do. I’ve lost track of the times younger me applied for a job at Goodhood, and how often I’ve considered buying a HAY toothbrush in ‘soft rose’ for £4 when I’ve been browsing their shelves. An essential, but not really, but also yes.
LILY & ROO
My St Christopher is the most precious piece of jewellery I own, I am never without it, but after a while, I realised he needed a friend. After searching 'minimal gold jewellery' and 'simple gold jewellery' for what felt like days, I found Lily & Roo and now my St Christopher is lonely no more.
What are some of your favourite independent brands?
HOPE EVERYONE IS WELL,
Bye, buh bye, adiós,
Lauren x
After opening my window, I began to clear my bed of books, phone cables, chargers, bags, keys and any bits of clothing I had discarded throughout the day that now required folding. When I was down to the last item, I held in my hands a beloved wardrobe staple (a piece in my collection that I actually want to wear) from AYM, formerly Boom Boom The Label. Once back on its hanger and tucked away for the night, I thought about all the other independent stores I love, and that deserve enthusiastic attention at this time, so I’m going to share them, right now, with you. Drum roll, please.
|
| Bourne T-shirt £39 // Bourne Long-Sleeve Top £49 |
AYM
This brand is how my sexier, more extrovert side would dress if she had parties to go to, places to be and was heading out on a stream of dates that all took place at different rooftop bars where the drinks come in quirky glasses. Alas, I don’t have any of these experiences under my belt, but I do own a fair few pieces from AYM to wear during my regular shmegular life. (FYI: the fit is amazing).
 |
| Lightning Studs £12 // 13mm Hoop Pair £30 |
SEOL + GOLD
My ears are overly sensitive (just like the rest of me) and I’ve therefore always, always struggled to find earrings that don’t cause crusty, gammy ooziness to seep from my piercings. You’ll be pleased to know the search is over and has been for some time. Thank you Seol + Gold.
 |
| Image is from here |
GOODHOOD
According to one of my closest friends, this store is ‘the best thing about Shoreditch’. It’s edgy, somewhat intimidatingly so and stocked to the brim with things you don’t need but also kind of do. I’ve lost track of the times younger me applied for a job at Goodhood, and how often I’ve considered buying a HAY toothbrush in ‘soft rose’ for £4 when I’ve been browsing their shelves. An essential, but not really, but also yes.
 |
| Cross Necklace £160 |
LILY & ROO
My St Christopher is the most precious piece of jewellery I own, I am never without it, but after a while, I realised he needed a friend. After searching 'minimal gold jewellery' and 'simple gold jewellery' for what felt like days, I found Lily & Roo and now my St Christopher is lonely no more.
What are some of your favourite independent brands?
HOPE EVERYONE IS WELL,
Bye, buh bye, adiós,
Lauren x
(Gwyneth Paltrow's style in Sliding Doors? Yes)
Hailey Bieber's stylist @MaeveReilly doing the most
I aim to get out of the house once a day for general sanity, breathing space and to make the most of the fact we still can. I have a fear of jogging (don’t ask) so I use my slice of government allotted recreation time to stretch my legs on the deserted streets of central London. Today I ventured out alone, two metres from the world, in what felt like the actual start of British Summertime, dressed in cream jeans, white Air Force 1s, a cream ribbed turtle neck and a cream cardigan - a lot of cream going on. It was 22°C outside and as I got to walking, I got to thinking, this outfit, though good, is not good enough - and I hate all my clothes.
(This thought occurs to me at least once a day as I trawl through Instagram, mind-numbingly scroll Pinterest and persistently Google 'white side ruched top' 'satin skirt' 'mules' and 'white ribbed tank top' only to stare at the checkout page for hours before getting up and making a cup of tea. I don't help myself).
The more I continued with my afternoon the more I started to realise how much I disliked my wardrobe back at the flat. Construction-wise it's exactly how I want it to be, the coat hangers all match and I have that IKEA storage system that hangs from the rail. Excellent. The clothes that occupy my closet, however, are a different story, a whole 500 page novel on the struggle between dressing like a tomboy and wanting to look fabulously chic, a conflict that has stalked me since I was 18.
I’m not saying all the items I own are bad, they really aren’t, but they could be so much better. One half of my wardrobe is a collection of oversized black and white men’s t-shirts from Uniqlo, (which I love, that’s not a slam) baggy jeans and big comfy sweatshirts. The who I want to be half of things contains open back tops, suit trousers, and an excessive amount of knitwear from & Other Stories. You get the picture. You get the clash.
I suppose what I was asking myself on my walk, as I dodged the sunlight desperately looking for shade without stopping, is can the two me’s coexist someway? Can they find a way to blend happily? Support one another and grow harmoniously?
Turning onto the home stretch, I reached a conclusion: the answer is no. When this lockdown has been lifted I’ll have worn enough sweatpants, oversized t-shirts and jogging bottoms to last me a lifetime. My wardrobe is safe, it's easy, it's comfortable. I always tell myself that I could get dressed in the dark if I wanted to. But I don't want to, what use is that skill? And how many times have I ever needed to ever get dressed in the dark anyway? My clothes don't make me feel special, they don't make me feel anything, and with a stack of Vogue's piling up over the years, it's about time that I love what I wear just as much as I love fashion. When I emerge from this I don't want to keep thinking, 'oh I'll wear that outfit someday' or 'one day I'll dress like that'. The time is NOW.
**The pictures above aren't me sadly but they are a reflection of what my wardrobe is about to look like. I feel good. I feel great.
Some of my fave Instagram accounts worth following for fashion inspo:
@jacquiealexander
@jessalizzi
@the_drobe (always post such good fits!)
@cerecampbell
@sofiamcoelho
I'm still watching the Walking Dead and I hate it X infinity
This song: Without You - Spooky Black
Stay safe out there,
Lauren x
I've been the proud owner of a pair of Adidas Originals X Alexander Wang Bball Soccer trainers for about six weeks now. I've broken them in, braved through the blisters (took them off in Boots on Carnaby Street so I could apply a layer of six plasters) worn them in the sand (big mistake) hoovered the suede and kept them in as nice condition as I can, whilst also wearing them as much as humanly possible.
Falling from £200 to £140 in the sale at PamPam and after canvasing basically everyone I know about whether they were too expensive, I bought the shoes. I remember walking along Brick Lane like it was the happiest day of my life, I was so pleased when the shop assistant asked me if I wanted to try them on, and when I left I carried the shoe box like it was a stack of important books I'd just checked out the library. (see photo above)
I opted for a size seven and as much as it pains me to say, they're a tiny bit on the tight side. I've got quite wide feet, but then the shoes themselves are fairly narrow. They've definitely loosened as I've worn them more though. As for the overall shape, they have a nice look on foot and a strong silhouette which means whatever else I wear tends to be quite muted. Due to the weather been so hot over here, I've worn them with black runner shorts and an oversized tee. When its been cooler in the evenings I've just worn a pair of black jeans instead.
Sorry, I have no fit pictures yet, hopefully, when I'm away I can get some good ones!
Song of the day: Tried Up - Ama Lou
(Why have I only just seen DDD?? link)
Lauren x
^ image source
Playsuit // £9.99
Swimsuit // £19.99
Top // £6.99
I've just bought some summer clothes. It took me nearly two hours to make the decision between a handful of items that were essentially the same but in the end, I checked out with a playsuit, swimming costume and a new stripey t-shirt. I honestly can't remember the last time I wore a swimming costume and it was a bit of an impulsive buy. I've really had enough of wearing bikinis so this felt like a good alternative. I'll just wait in anticipation for the parcel to come before I decide if I've made a huge mistake.
Dresses and skirts have never really been my thing either - unless I'm going to something or somewhere I usually wouldn't. I did buy a new bodycon-esk dress from Topshop not too long ago, but, that's beside the point. What if I suddenly want to do a handstand or cartwheel? I can't if i'm wearing a dress or a skirt. Black Jersey Playsuit. Click. Add to bag. Done. The stripey top came up as a 'selected favourites' option alongside the playsuit. I wasn't sold initially but after realising it would go with practically everything I own I ordered it too.
All in all, I consider that a successful shopping experience. I got slightly sidetracked looking at throw pillows and coats but managed to checkout with a few items that I think will be nice additions to my virtually nonexistent summer wardrobe.
Other good summer items:
Gold jewellery SeolGold
Jason Markk shoe cleaning kit Amazon // £17
Stussy socks GoodHood // £19
Champion lilac pullover Urban Outfitters // £65
Champion shorts Topshop // £35 (I came so close to buying these legit)
Other stuff:
> This Lazy Oaf Cafe thing at Sans Pere that never happened but should've because it looked like it would be amazing
> Wet's new album Still Run is SO GOOD (Love Is Not Enough is literally so good, and so is Out of Tune and Softens - I mean the whole album is great)
> I'm going through a patch where I haven't seen any new trainers that I like? Maybe it's because it's summer but all I want to do is buy new white AF1s??
> @veryadvanced for outfit inspiration at the moment
> The Debrief Podcast (now called Don't Panic) I love podcasts and this one is so so good. I'm listening to How To Do Things That Scare You right at this very moment
Song of the day: Out of Tune - Wet
Lauren x
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