Pop lights

This idea is so cute and there are endless possibilities for variations on a theme. See more pictures and find out how to make them here.

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Recent purchases

I've bought quite a lot of shoes this month. Call all the extravagance early Christmas presents for me though, as I really don't have any excuses!

The ones above are by Sella, and I've wanted a pair of these for ages. I walked up to Camden after work on Friday so I could try some on for real, then get them cheaper on the net.

These are an Ebay purchase and I can't wait for them to arrive! The heel weirded me out at first and I wasn't gonna bid, but it was one of those situations when you can't stop thinking about them, so I knew I'd regret it if I didn't get them. The best thing about Ebay is you can always re-sell anything that doesn't quite work out.

I have a few pairs of Demonia shoes now, and this is one of two pairs I've bought this month. I wanted some 'shoe-boots' for some time and I finally settled on these. Whether I'll be able to walk in them or not remains to be seen.

These have already arrived and I wore them to work yesterday - luckily, they're completely wearable. These are the other Demonias - although this time I got them second-hand from Ebay. It's hard buying shoes online as you can't always tell what they'll look like (hence my occasional trips to Camden for trying-on sessions!) so I'm not always prepared to pay full price for something that's not gonna look awesome. I can assure you, these do look great. If you want a pair, you can either keep your eyes peeled on Ebay like me, or buy them new from Drac In A Box.

Cardigan of Joy

Cardigan of Joy is what I'll call this, as the blog is written in a language I cannot read.

So I'm afraid I can't tell you how much it costs, or where you may purchase such a delight - but I can say that it's by the label Baby, the Stars Shine Bright. And I want one!

Matthew Williamson for H&M

He's not my favourite designer and he's actually a bit scary looking, but Matthew Williamson designing for H&M is something I can get on board with.

I worked for H&M for what seemed like a hundred years...and I can see the collaboration working very well for a Spring/Summer collection. Don't get me wrong here - I don't think it's a collection I'd actually buy anything from (I imagine it'd be a little on the colourful side for me), I just get a good feeling when I think about it.

More corsage delights!

There's a How To available on how to make these beautiful brooches by Elizabeth Holcombe.

For those who're feeling artistically challenged, you can also buy them in her Etsy shop.

Cassette purse

This cassette purse is awesome and +500 craft points for keeping the original face of the tape and for using a kisslock clasp!

Having said that, I once saw a painted/zip closure version of this that looked pretty cool too...but I just love the way old tapes look. +500 more points for sourcing a Barbie cassette.

Hearts & Kisses

These brooches are too cute! Available on Etsy and Folsky right now, by Lupin.

Save this date!

Angels Costumiers are having a sale! For those that don't know, we're talking about the costume suppliers for Little Dorrit, Marie Antoinette, The Other Boleyn Girl, Wuthering Heights, The Tudors, Elizabeth, Atonement...need I go on?

"We are making room for the massive amount of costumes we recently added to our collection from BBC Resources Costumes and we will be offering you a unique opportunity to buy genuine retro clothing and accessories from the 1920's, 30's 40's, 50's, 60's 70's, 80's and 1990's contemporary clothing and period military uniforms.

You will be able to rummage amongst boxes of authentic items and a colossal pile of damaged jewellery, ideal for beading, repairing and salvaging! All items are ex-Angels and ex-BBC Resources Costumes hire stock and have been used in numerous Film and TV productions.

A huge selection of original period publications, ideal for fashion reference; bound copies of theatre and film magazines and many more publications besides."

I'll see you there!

Oh so pretty!

Buy these and more at Nest Pretty Things.

Check out the blog here.

Irregular Choice

Irregular Choice have opened their new store in Carnaby Street! I still haven't been, but by the sound of things it's pretty awesome! They've been one of my favourite brands for some time and this is their first dedicated store in the UK, so I'm very much looking forward to taking a look.

My only sadness is that the Autumn 08 collection isn't quite as spectacular/eclectic as past designs - although who knows what summer may bring? Plus - I think my tastes are growing gradually more special...I'm pretty sure most people will think the collections remain fairly outlandish!

Lookbook pictures and top 2 shoes from the Autumn 08 range - bottom two from previous collections, designs from which you can still buy. You can find them all on their website and it's worth checking out their online store too. Irregular Choice are also currently stocked by most Schuh stores.

p.s. It's not just for the ladies - they do mens and children's too!

Lovely but expensive things

This is the sort of blouse that would look just awful on me, but I wish I could wear! I love the light peachy pink/black combos around at the moment.

It's by Dutch fashion designer Malene Birger and featured in The Independent's 'Ten Best Blouses" piece. You can buy it here for a rather steep £120...so it's just as well it wouldn't suit me, I suppose.

Whilst browsing, I also spotted these:

Which I could neither afford, nor walk in. But again, it's just as well seeing as they cost a mighty £413 (Terry de Havilland). Considering Jon and I went on holiday last year for under £100, I think I'll be saving my pennies.

My advice? Don't visit mywardrobe.com - too many nice things and horrible levels of temptation!

Suum cuigue

"To each his own".

"An embroidered version of a Russian prison tattoo from a woman with (according to the redoubtable Russian Prison Tattoos): "two convictions for hooliganism... According to the wearer, all her hooliganism consisted of was being in an 'emotional state' and pouring a saucepan containing cabbage soup on her neighbor's head. She claimed her neighbor had been abusing her, calling her a whore and a slut simply out of envy."In any case, it makes a good tea towel."

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Skull ring pt. 1701D

I bought a new skull ring! These aren't my pictures as I only bought it off Ebay this weekend, but I am tres excited!

Skull jewellery is my absolute favourite and so I've been making the most of it's current fashionable-ness, buying pieces up everywhere I can - and I cannot wait for this one to arrive.

Whilst I'm at it, the seller, Loobyboo, has a lot of other cool bits and pieces for sale too. Hurry hurry!

The richest men in the cemetery

One sunny September afternoon, Jon and I went to visit Highgate Cemetery. We'd gone to see a cursed artifact in the British Museum on the Thursday and made our own Jack the Ripper tour on the Friday, so Highgate seemed to fit well into our macabre trips about the capital.

It really was very sunny though, so it wasn't that spooky - which I'm glad about, as I have a rather over-active imagination. I was also glad I took my camera because the West Cemetary is truly spectacular.

This is the famous Circle of Lebanon, past the Egyptian avenue. I won't say too much about anything, because it really is worth a trip if you can make it and I wouldn't want to spoil the tour for anyone! Admission to the Western Cemetary is via guided tour only - I'm a history geek anyway, but even Jon (who stamped his feet around the non cursed parts of the British Museum) really did enjoy himself.

There are many famous people and families buried in the West Cemetary and a map of these can be found here. The tour takes you round as many of these as the overgrown landscape will allow, but not all can be reached from the main paths. Sadly we didn't get to see the Rossetti/Siddal/Brown graves, but the tour was so engaging the disappointment quickly wore off.

Tomb of Radclyffe Hall (author) and Mabel Batten.

The Columbarium is a small tomb in the Circle, full of little niches in the wall holding cremation urns. 'Columbarium' comes from the Latin for dove cote.

The West Cemetary is very rarely used nowadays; with a few notable exceptions, Alexander Litvinenko being the most famous.

It is in the East Cemetary on the other side of Swain's lane that most of the modern graves can be found - somewhat less pectacular, but still with many famous names. Karl Marx is the one everyone comes to see, and in that corner of the Cemetary you can find lots of other revolutionaries and radicals. all buried close to their most famous of forefathers. I didn't take a picture of that though - I was running out of space on the camera, there are lots of pictures online...and to be honest, it's kind of mental-looking.

This was a really unusual one, especially seen next to to the angel grave it lies beside. It belongs to Patrick Caulfield, an artist. He studied with R. B. Kitaj.

Finally, I took a picture of the grave of Douglas Adams. It was really sweet that someone had left a towel there, for use on Adams' interstellar journies in a life after this. I don't understand the significance of the very small rocks though? Perhaps someone could enlighten me.

Well that's the best/my favourites of the pictures I have anyways. I can't recommend going on the tour of the Western Cemetary enough, but check the website for details of the tours. The Eastern side is open throughout most of the year and most of the time - admission tickets are only £3, which includes permission to take photographs.

Sunday Lolita

I heart this picture.

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This is good, no?

"It looks like Amazon started a trend last week when they announced their "Frustration Free Packaging" initiative, which boils down to the elimination of clamshell-style packaging for a lot of their top-sellers, and the introduction of more eco-friendly materials, like good old-fashioned (recycled) cardboard. According to The New York Times, a number of other companies, including Best Buy, Sony, and Microsoft are joining the club in eschewing heavy duty materials in favor of less aggressive ones. Anything that reduces our level of annoyance with the retail experience while pitching in to help out our increasingly threatened Mother Earth is something we'll gladly get behind. And we're pretty sure our dentist will agree."

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We dance around the ring and suppose, but the secret sits in the middle and knows

It was very hard to work out which rings to put up here...the skulls are my favourite, but there's so many fabulous pieces!

Mainly steampunk and flower designs, Catherine's Etsy shop is well worth a look.

Classroom Ted

Elle Italia, November 08

Model: Kemp Muhl. Photographer: Ruven Afanador

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Edge of sanity

No, not the band (although I couldn't resist giving them a mention).

This is the Selvedge Dress, made by Jodie of the Ric Rac blog. It's not the first selvedge creation she's come up with, but it's the biggest and most impressive so far! I'm very much in love with it, but there's way too much sewing involved for me to ever attempt it.

Selvedges are the bits you get at the end of fabric, where the maker puts all their stamps, colour blocks etc. I've never seen then used in such an amazing way before.

The other great this about this dress is its adorable styling! The button bodice is too cute and the 1/2 length sleeves, belted waist (matching, of course), full skirt...need I go on?



I'm pretty sure she'll be hanging on to this one for keeps, but if you like her work then perhaps you should visit her Etsy shop.

Everyone must see this video

and read the rest of the blog while you're at it!

There's only wind and smoke in the world

Even the name of these cigarettes is fabulous: "Fantasia Lights". By Nat Sherman.

Their "Black & Gold" line is also pretty spiffing - although I'm not sure they entirely live up to their promise of being "The world's most elegant cigarette" - it's not what they're smoking, but the person doing it that really counts. For evidence of this see: Le Smoking.

Zip me up!

These are too cool. I've seen lots of similar stuff around recently; can't remember where I'm afraid - but these are definitely the best so far.

Behold, and admire

It's here! The USS Enterprise NCC-1701. Note: no A, B, C or D.

The cutest cupakes

Find out how to make them here.

Candy Violet

"Candy Violet was established in 2005 to bring high quality, professional and beautiful Lolita clothing to people of all shapes and sizes any where in the world. "

"It's hard to not feel like a princess, walking down the streets in soft pink pearls and fluffy laces."

"A mixture of old world fancy and modern pop sensibilities, Candy Violet lives in a dream but is still astute and aware, even amongst the sweetness there is a bite of reality. "

Kandykreeps

I've never liked Blythe dolls but this is a pretty good photo. But still a little creepy.

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Rome

Salue!

It may not be quite the Rome our favourite Pontifex Maximus walked through - but it's probably an altogether more impressive one. Google Earth has now (almost) added an ancient layer, based on the Plastico di Roma Antica from Museum of Roman Civilization (in Rome).

Well I know I'm excited.

A star is born

(Well, more of a snowflake, really).

Behold!

Yes, Teri Hatcher is lending her name to this monstrosity and even claims to have designed it. I hope so, because it's exactly what I'd imagine she would come up with. Along with some other celebrity designed 'stars', it's being auctioned off for charity at Clothes Off Our Back, with a little help from Swarovski. Some of them aren't so insane looking either - there's even a Dita Von Teese creation for all you "I'm So Alternative And Open-Minded, I'm Into Burlesque!" sorts.

Beijing Fashion Week

Mark Cheung show, Beijing Fashion Week. Photographs by Dan Chung.

Lulu

Lace tights, looking good - these are amongst the best I have seen. Plus I love the shoes. Not sure about the hat + cape though. A little V for Vendetta?

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Hello nurse

Martin Bergstrom.

I heart surgical masks!



A girl once asked me if I knew Louis. She meant Louis Vuitton. I don't think she knew him either.

Naomi wore it best that year. LV, SS08.



Photography by Boaz.



My boyfriend likes Sonic Youth. I like the art by Richard Prince.

Nights in white satin...

It might not be satin. She doesn't say.

Bedtime

The big picture.

By Justin Cooper, but there's more to see here.

Whips a pistol

British Vogue.

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