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 ^.^

OOTD ; Jelly Shoes, Tutu's & Pink Hair

Jelly Shoes + Socks : Primark
Tutu Skirt : Lola Rose
Top : Topshop
Cardigan : New Look
Bugs Bunny Bag : H&M
Coat + Flowers : Zara
Phone Case (Designed by Me ^.^) : Claires

 I wasn't planning to come back home this weekend but after having my final catwalk show for my grad collection on Thursday night and staying up all night and going into work on Friday, by Saturday I was worn out and needed to go back relax and feel at home. I find it strange that no matter what I'm doing or what I'm achieving a small piece of me always wants to go back where theres countryside at every turn, it helps me to feel better and to want more from life, living in a city in student housing can sometimes feel suffocating, although with only 5 weeks left I know when its time to move out I'm going to be missing my freedom and shops on my doorstep.

Today I sat in the park, reading and looking a little out of place for the bumbling town of Oakham (although I feel I look a little eccentric most places I go !).

 I got these Jelly Sandals for my Catwalk Collection but after buying a size 6 I later found out my 6 models were all 7/8 (and one was even a 9 !). I was pretty happy to keep these and try out wearing them, I've been opposed to jelly shoes since they re-emerged and I have no idea why, there so me: glitter and plastic! I like wearing them with socks and skirts and I like these more than the flat jelly shoes as I feel like the 23 year old me is wearing the grown up version of the ones I wore when I was 5 at the seaside ^.^

Fashion Fashion Fashion

All Work My Own.

I'm sat in my room with one week till my final major hand in (6 days to be more precise. I am a constant calender/clock watcher right now) and I have no motivation to sit on Illustrator or Illustrate with the abundance of promarkers strewn across my bed. I have an interview on Wednesday for an accessories company based back home and a list as long as my long long arms of garments to be made next week and its just too much. I'm at the stage where I've cared about everything so much for so long that I dont love it anymore I just want to be rid of it and then maybe in a month (if) when it goes down those catwalks I can fall back in love with my HOURS and HOURS of hard work and be proud of what I've achieved.
I'd quite like to just sit and watch Pretty Little Liars all day every day and not worry about invisible zips, flatlockers and portfolios.

OOTD ; Bugs Bunny, Garfield and Raspberry Rebel

Bugs Bunny Bag (H&M Sale Now!)
Garfield Socks: Lazy Oaf
Sandals: Primark
Trousers: Topshop
Grey Top: Primark
Kimono: Primark
Hairdye: Raspberyy Rebel Schwarzkopff Semi Permanent :)

I love this bugs bunny bag I picked up last week in H&M, I spied his friendly face from across the store as soon as I walked in and was so happy when I realised it was in the sale for £10, I couldnt resist! It's perfect for packing up (what feels like my life) for uni in the morning and will be a perfect size for weekends travelling back home and across to see friends! 

University this week has been a progressive productive week and I'm trying to stay positive! The sunshine definetely helps and so do the friendly faces at Uni, I feel we're a final year fashion team that pull eachother through the days that some times feel so difficult!

 I dyed my hair on Sunday in what is known as 'Rasberry Rebel' I like starting off a new term at Uni with fresh ends that I know by the time hand in rolls around will be faded worn out washed out and in need of some reviving! I normally dye my ends pink and purples but wanted to go for a reddier tone this time. At the moment its crazy bright and I need to dye my orange back into the roots so I'm not sure how much I love it right now, but am hoping with another wash the fluro-glow will tone down a little and I wont feel the need for sunglasses everytime I look in the mirror! When it gets properly into summer I want my hair to be like a sunset/sunrise, going from orange to a reddy pink to yellow tips. I can't imagine having normal coloured hair! ^.^ 

Brighton ; OOTD, Sunshine and Ice Creams

 Skirt: Dorothy Perkins, Top: Ilustrated People, Bag: Vintage, Flowers: Primark

(Sad face for not winning any nemos from 'The Claw!') 

Shoes & Socks: Primark

'The World is My Home'

 On Monday night me and Chase decided to go up to Brighton and stay overnight and enjoy some time along the seaside. It was so nice to be able to get away for a little bit in time and enjoy the sunshine, shops and company Brighton offered us. I've never been to Brighton before or even that far south and the journey of 3 hours definitely felt epic (especially on the way back). When I was younger we always went to Hunstanton as our seaside and Scarborough/Whitby as the seaside but with better views and a feeling of better culture so going somewhere different and seeing pebbles instead of sand and sparkling seas inside of the grey hues that Hunstanton always had to offer was awesome ^.^ We explored an area of Brighton called the lanes and there were so many cute cafes, comic book stores and vintage clothes/homeware shops to walk in and out of. I loved being somewhere different and actually going somewhere and doing something rather than always dreaming away time thinking of days away. When I finish Uni in June (so close..!) I definitely want to plan a few trips across the country and over into Europe to take some time and enjoy being young and free. Once I manage to get a job (and unless its teaching/I win the lottery) I doubt I'll ever be so fortunate as to be able to take a month off here and a month off there so putting the time of nerves and deliberation over my future into something fun and freeing seems like a nice idea ^.^

OOTD ; Paisley Dungarees and Flower Crowns

Dungarees: Motel
Fur Coat: Vintage
Floral Crown: Zara

 Today was the last day of uni before easter, which means tomorrow I get to go back home and enjoy a few days of freedom and happiness and I'm so excited to fill my time with new memories ^.^
This past week has been difficult at Uni, its been full of frustration and tears and the feeling of neverending patterns, toiles and calico; I managed to finish this week on a positive note. After toiling shorts, fifties style pants and bralets about a thousand times I was left with something that has begun to resemble what I want to feature in my final collection, which after 6 weeks trying this is a major achievement it feels.
After finishing for the day it was nice this afternoon/evening to enjoy the sunshine and light nights outside with awesome company and (a not so awesome- sorry coventry..) city views ^.^

FOTD ; Illamasqua, Kiko and Blink 182

Mac Mineralize Skin Finish: Soft and Gentle
Illamasqua Blusher: Sophie
Kiko Eyeshadow Stick:37
Kiko Lipstick: 613
Illamasqua Skin Base: 6
Mac Eyeshadow: Texture
Tshirt: Blink 182 Leeds Fest
Skirt: Vintage (My Mums!)
Floral Garland: Primark

I have fallen in love with this Illamasqua blusher in 'Sophie' ; The other night I was in the Bullring waiting for my lovely friend to go and have dinner and I found myself drawn to the Illamasqua concession stand. I've wanted to try something from this particular makeup brand for a L O N G time, the colours are awesome and appeal to my inner colour kid ^.^ I went for this particular shade as I really want a warm coral/pink with flecks of gold to double up as an eye shadow over summer and this blusher looks awesome both with and without foundation, which will be perfect for those summer days when I love having my freckles out underneath the sunshine!

Also in London this weekend I got the chance to go to Kiko, a makeup store me and my sister discovered on our travels to Barcelona last year. I was so excited to look at all their eye makeup as last summer I constantly wore a peachy orange shadow I purchased from there (which I have since unfortunately dropped on numerous occasions and shattered...I'm so clumsy). With not too much money and the Illamasqua purchase already ruining my saving plans I settled on this eyeshadow stick. I've been after an eyeshadow similar to Sonic which was in the Urban Decay Vice Palette since Christmas; however since this has sold out and they don't sell it by itself I have been searching everywhere for something similar. Although this quite a bit darker I love the red undertones and think they make my eyes look super blue! If anyone knows where I can find Sonic/Sonic dupe please let me know ^.^

I go home for my tiny easter holidays on Friday morning and I'm so excited to have a few days back home and relax and eat chocolate and hopefully enjoy some springtime sun before the last bit of uni ! ^.^