OOTD ; Typical Freaks, Dogs and Flowers

Sweatshirt: Typical Freaks | Headband: Asos | Lipstick: Mac Matte Royale

 I got this sweatshirt from a brand called 'Typical Freaks', from their depop account (ilovedepop) where they basically sell loads of one off 'sample sale' garments, I was lucky enough to get a super soft plush sweatshirt from my sisters from this brand as well for christmas and whilst not cheap, their depop sample sale stuff is a hella lot cheaper than there final collections! Theres a plastic printed raincoat/dress I'd LOVE to own but unfortunately until I fulfil my 2016 dream of being rich and successful I will just have to dream ^.^ I first found out about this brand when I was walking around Hyper Japan with Louise, my very talented trend forecaster friend / boss, she pointed them out to me and said I should try and get work with them! Although I didn't pluck up the courage to ask about an internship, I did rifle through their rack and fall in love with their bold colourful hand printed garments that pretty much sum up my own personal design work. I love finding a brand that have modern concepts. are heavily stylised with print and colour and feel a little outrageous, in 2016 I definitely want to try and find more brands like them ^.^ 

(I'm really starting to regret my shaved head when I look at photos like the above ^^^^ WHYDOESMYFRINGELOOKSOWEIRD)

London ; Hyper Japan and OOTD

Skirt+Cardigan: House of Holland | Top: Lazy Oaf | Shoes+Socks: Topshop | Bunny Bag: Hyper Japan 

Yesterday I got the chance to go to 'HyperJapan' in London at the o2, which is basically a massive convention of all things Japanese + all things I love ^.^ I managed to secure myself a press pass and spent the day taking photos of everything cute, kawaii + colourful including all the girls amazing style, which ranged from lolita to cosplay to everything bright, awesome and inbetween! I've never been to anything like this before but I'm a HUGE fan of anything Harajuku/Japanese and so this was amazing to be able to see everything that encompasses these districts of amazing fashion and culture. I fell in love with the alpacas (Alpacasso I think they were called !) and I saw them everywhere, I think I may have to go online and order myself a small one soon, I'm a sucker for cute faces, ofwhich obviously there were many! The Jewellery/Clothes + Art were all amazing and I picked myself up the little purple bunny bag you see above ^^^ I liked being able to take away a bit of Japan with me! It was an awesome day with awesome company ^.^

London ; OOTD, Southbank + Alexander Mcqueen

Dress: Asos | Midi Skirt: Topshop | Fluffy Bag: Topshop | Socks + Sandals: Primark | Flowers: H&M 

Yesterday I met up with one of my favourite friends to hang out in London + see Mcqueens 'Savage Beauty' exhibition. 

I moved back home last week so it was nice to get away to my favourite city and feel immersed in a city culture that inspires and excites me. Leaving university has felt sad to me, mostly for what it represents: freedom and friends, it was nice to feel like neither of those have been taken away its just learning that by moving home I'm not moving backwards but forwards and I still have all the people and memories and freedom of the past 5 years but temporarily I'm having to figure out where to go to from here.

In London we wandered around the southbank area, eating amazing food truck food, drinking local brewed cider (where I learn't that asking for a fruity cider like Koppaberg is not the said thing...), enjoying the sunshine and talking ALOT ^.^

Angie had booked us tickets for the Mcqueen exhibition at 4.30pm so we wandered over there super early, raided the giftshop and got our phones ready to take sneaky photos (which apart from one blurred attempt neither of us managed to get any!). It was AMAZING to see Mcqueens collections, going from his MA graduate collection in 1992 through to his final collection in 2010. Seeing how far he came as a designer, the beauty and structure of his clothes and the knowledge of his craftsmanship was insane. He was a true genius. If you haven't been you need to get down and see it before it finishes, if you appreciate any form of art then you'll love this!

We finished the day by getting some photos of my outfit outside the infamous white houses, I loved my outfit for the day except when I went into the exhibition and just felt so boring compared to the exquisite work of Mcqueen... however I'll let that slide because y'know nothing I can afford is ever going to compare ^.^

OOTD ; London, Fashion + Friends

Dress: Topshop (LOVE)
Leather Jacket: House of Holland
Socks + Sandals: Primark
Scrunchie: New Look
Sunglasses: Monki
Harness Belt: Paige Ryan

On Friday I went on an adventure down to London for the weekend to exhibit my Graduate work at Free Range, this consisted of a portfolio, an illustrated book, business cards (and later), cava, sample sales, hotels, photos, trains, peroni cocktails, more photos, markets, cider, street food, old friends, new friends, best friends and new memories.

I had the best weekend, the idea behind exhibiting your work down in London is to try and make as many connections as possible and get a job! I haven't come away with a job but perhaps my business cards are sat in peoples pockets who are interested in me or if not if they enjoyed my work and I made an impression and that is amazing in itself. Its crazy that I have now officially left university, I'm scared and excited at all the prospects but being down in London made me focus on what matters: being creative. If  I can be creative I'll be happy, I want to surround myself with people and with art and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts and I'm hopeful this summer can bring me more memories, (I hope!!!) a new job and (again HOPEHOPEHOPE) somewhere to live ! ^.^

The jacket (above ^^^^) I managed to get for £20 from a house of holland sample sale, its real leather, its beautiful, its literally me in a jacket and it makes me so happy I LOVE it. I bought a few other pieces from the sample sale, it was opposite our exhibition which was pretty much mean't to be because house of holland is one of my favourite brand and I came away with super expensive pieces for £5 here and £10 there! I LOVE sample sales ^.^

London OOTD; Fur and Flowers

Dress: New Look
Flower Garland: Primark
Bindi: Etsy
Eye Makeup: Sephora/Mac/Sleek
Lipstick: Macs Velvet Teddy

 It has been a little while since I've managed to get round to uploading another blog post, mostly due to the fact that Uni is going past at a crazy speed right now. Since forcing myself to break out of my happy routine of an early start being '10am' I am now having to wake up and run out of the door at 8.30 to try and get as much out of studio time as possible. This means I have no time to take photos in the morning when I look half decent and in the evening my time is split between netflix/my sketchbook/food/the library.

Yesterday I got the chance to go into London with the beautiful Abby (www.abagailemily.com) and we spent our time shopping, drinking cocktails, and eating krispy kremes. It was so nice to leave alot of problems that have been playing on my mind recently back in Coventry and just go and have fun for a day. As much as making this collection for my Final Major is scary and stressful and at times seemingly impossible I feel I've very VERY slowly got to the stage where I'm enjoying creating my drawings into fabric and its exciting watching everything start to come together. The thing that worries me the most at the moment is the big question 'Who are you going to be after uni?'.

I guess my biggest hope is that the answer to that question ends up to be 'Happy' ^.^

'When the weight of all the world is pushing down'

Black and Red Shirt: Religion @ Topshop
Fur Coat: Missguided
Orange Scarf: Topshop
Bindis: Ebay
Floral Veil: Asos
Backpack: Paperchase

I spent two days in London this week with Chase to go see The book of Mormon (which was amazing!), stay in one of the white houses with black doors and explore the streets like tourists ^.^

Life has been feeling intense over the past month and everytime I feel like things are getting happier something else happens. A break was nice to take some time away from the people and places that I can find myself so absorbed in and get inspired for the future and focus on that. 

I bought Chase tickets to see 'The Book of Mormon' for Christmas and it was SO GOOD, I've never been to the theatre before but I fell in love with it ^.^ We stayed overnight and spent the rest of the time exploring everything London has to offer. We stumbled through an Arcade, wandered into Chinatown, took photos outside of Parliament and found Pikachu in Tokyo.

 It was a perfect day with a perfect person :)

London ; OOTD

Leggings: Lazy Oaf
Feather Jacket: Oxfam
Fur Scarf: H&M
Flower Headband Veil : ASOS
Boots: Dr Martens
Garfield Bag: Lazy Oaf

Today me and Angie went and explored some exhibitions in London to inspire us for our FMP's , we took our cameras and sketchbooks and had an awesome day ending with some cheeky shopping purchases from Zara and Topshop and a Burger King (we can regret tomorrow !) 

I love London. I know everyone says they love London but I seriously L O V E it there, I feel an affinity to the streets and buildings, the people and the art, the music and the fashion. I enjoy feeling like I don't stick out like a sore thumb (although I did have my fair share of colourful comments thrown my way throughout the day) and I just feel creative and happy. 

I hope one day I can work there and be inspired every day by just walking down the streets.

I know this is an idealistic point of view and  everyone upon hearing my declaration of love is quick to dampen my dreams and say if I lived there everyday I'd get fed up of the people/the commute/no money etc etc. But I don't care and am happy to live in my dreamland filled with an amazing job, amazing people and an amazing city! 

One day I hope I get to wake up and see London every morning ^.^