Skeleton Key

I used to wear this blouse at uni a lot, but haven't worn it for a while. In fact, I have 4 or 5 short-puff-sleeved blouses like this that I've not been wearing much. I wonder why this aversion has developed. Anyway, I still love the print, which is why I bought the blouse in the first place, so maybe I should put more effort into wearing it! The antique key brooch I got a couple of weeks ago, and I just love it. The detail on it is amazing, with a rather impressive depiction of the Sacré-Cœur basillica, and what looks like a mans/gargoyles head. Now I have one pretty key, I want about 10 more so I can wear them all at once on my lapel and look like a crazy key lady. Unfortunately, my plan is stalled by the fact that I can't find many keys quite as lovely/stylised as this one.

Shoes (Dune), bag (Vivienne Westwood), cardigan (Tophop), skirt (Topshop), shirt (Topshop), scarf (Accessorize)

Loving the Loafers

Penny loafers seem to be the latest 'indie/vintage-girl' fad going, and they're so cute, I'm happy to jump on the bandwagon. I got a pair of black patent ones in the Topshop sale a couple of weeks ago, and I've been wearing them a surprising amount since. They look great with cuffed skinny trousers, but today I tried them out with a skirt. I really should plan ahead and remember to iron said skirt because it always creases like a bitch. So, apologies if I look a little messy.

Shoes (Topshop), cardigan (Primark), black vest (Primark), mustard vest (Ted Baker), vintage skirt, vintage belt.

Green

I've been getting a lot of positive comments about my hair, which both pleases and perplexes me. I think of my hair as a big pile of mess. It's naturally very curly, and is really difficult to look nice and sleek when worn down, even after straightening. I guess one positive of curly hair is that its very thick, so I am able to pile it all on my head and get lots of volume going on, which you guys seem to love! Anyway...today's outfit was based around a new ring of mine. It's pretty obvious that aside from black, green is my favourite colour. This ring is from the 1920/30's and feaures a beautiful chrysoprase stone, with surrounding marcasite accents. I'm absolutely in love with it, the green is pretty mesmerizing in real life. Many thanks to Gina on Ruby Lane for giving me a wonderful ring (and service). I also have a cute new bag with an ornate silver frame. It's such a good size, really fills out, but the bag itself isn't ridiculously large (unlike the Lulu Guinness couture handbag it reminds me of).

Make-up shot; Painting your face shouldn't be this much fun, but it is.

Shoes (Pied a Terre), vintage bag, blazer (Topshop), vintage skirt, vest (Warehouse)

I tried to get a good shot of my earrings, but they kept swinging about damn them! This is the best I could do

Unfashionably Late

I realise the whole leggings thing has been going on for a few years now. In fact, I think the leggings bubble may be about to burst, as they are so ubiquitous, but I've only just recently warmed to them. I'm not a fan of them poking out from under shorts, nor skirts, and I'm rather apprehensive with wearing them as trousers. But recently, I've been looking at girls wearing them as trousers and thinking, yeah, I'm no bigger than her, I could actually do that. As long as my bum is covered. They did it in the 80's, why not now?! Part of my apprehension was down to body insecurities, and part of it was down to not wanting to feel naked/stupid. So, in my quest to actually leave the house wearing leggings as trousers, I wore a long cardigan to cover my bum, a long vest to cover the unsightly elastic waistband, and 2 pairs of leggings, so as not to feel like I was just wearing a pair of footless tights. I didn't go very far in this outfit, and I did feel slightly weird at first, but then I felt ok and came to realise that no-one was pointing/staring at me. All in all, this is a rather comfy, casual outfit for me, so on those days when I don't feel like dressing up, maybe I will tentatively reach for leggings again. 

Shoes (New Look), jacket (Topshop), cardigan (Topshop), vest (Balencaiga), leggings (Topshop)

Coral Roses

A couple of weeks ago my darling boyfriend bought me a beautiful brooch for our anniversary, and I've been eager to incorporate it into an outfit ever since. It was a little difficult for me to style, as I'm such a matchy matchy person, and I don't own anything coral coloured to match the brooch. Anyway, I did my best, and stuck to gold/copper tones. I think my make-up is worth a mention too, as I find putting on make-up almost as exciting as putting on clothes. I like to tie everything in, therefore my make-up really is determined by what I'm wearing clothes-wise....So, for my nails I created a sort of coppery colour by painting gold varnish over red. My lipstick is an amazing shade which I love but hardly ever wear, called coral in gold by Rimmel. The photo down below demonstrates nicely the subtle gold glimmer running through it. It's actually quite a tacky 80's shade of coral, the sort you'd definitely wear to Club Tropicana, but I just love it against my pale skin. Oh and my eyeliner is a great liquid copper liner from the Body Shop. I love metallic make-up and just wish they made one in silver!

Boots (Office), capelet (Topshop), skirt (Topshop), vest (Ted Baker)

More Camphor

So, following on from the previous post, here is my new camphor necklace! It's pretty sweet, reminds me of a little book, or as my mum said, a picture frame. The outfit is quite conservative, nothing too special. I will just mention the wedges, as they were a complete bargain. I'm not that into wedges, but these are cute and nice for summer. I got them around this time last year in the sale, for £30 down from about £130. I couldn't believe the discount, especially since it was just before summer, I would have thought they'd go on sale after summer, not before. Oh well, I'm not complaining. 

Shoes (Pied a Terre), skirt with belt (eBay), top (?)

Camphor

^ Earring and pendant set - $750

A couple of weeks ago I came across camphor jewellery, something I had never seen before. I am now completely enamoured with it! Camphor refers to the type of glass used in the jewellery. Thats about all I know with regards to camphor glass jewellery, but from what I have seen so far, there is usually a frosted pattern in the glass, or it is completely frosted. It seems to have been very popular around the 1910's and 20's, as most pieces are I've found are from that time. The easiest examples of camphor to find are the pendants, which are usually encased with beautiful filigree work, and centred with a rhinestone or diamond. The pendants nearly always have a beautiful chain as well, making them extra exciting! Anyway, enough talking, here are some pretty examples...  

Pendant - price unknown

Pendant - price unknown

Earrings - £165

Pendant - $138

Pendant - $75

Pendant - $895

Pendant - $159

Bracelet - $115

Camphor rings are few and far between, but just as lovely as the pendants - $265

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G ring - price unknown

Pendant - $295 

Here is the necklace I chose as my first piece of camphor jewellery. I wanted a rectangular pendant, and chose this red one as it is more unusual to find camphor pieces with colour to them.

 I'll do an outfit post incorporating my new necklace later on today. 

Images from directiques.com, shopzacharyssmile.com, vintagecostumejewellery.com, sparklz.com; redemtion and LorriMichelle Jewelry at eBay; A Twinkle in Time, Decotini, Amedee Jewelry and Maiden Memories at Ruby Lane