BERLIN

Saturday, 30 May 2015

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BERLIN

So, I haven't been around here recently. There was a break up, many, many months of drinking and dancing and being single with my most wondrous friends. Life feels like it should again.

All that was topped off with a trip to BERLIN with two of the lads. So, lets talk Berlin - that place is just magic. We took a long weekend, hopped a plane and booked into (my very first) Air BnB apartment in the trendiest of trendy districts - Kreuzberg.

Along with Canada, Berlin was a place I had never been but always thought that I could live. I was entirely correct, moving to Berlin would be no hard decision. I could easily slip into the arty culture and easy, laid back way of life. Nobody seems to take life or themselves too seriously - happy faces and beer consumption all around. The one difficulty would be the lack of cider...

A big part of the culture in Berlin is drinking / partying and we did our best to really explore that side of things. One of my biggest loves of this culture was the fact that people just wandered around with bottles of beer, drinking is something Berlin enjoys rather than binges on. We had various bars make us Espresso Martinis, we drank tequila, we drank bottles of beer on the metro and attended a rave in a disused swimming pool.

OK, can we talk about the clothes? Jeeessss Berlin knows how to do vintage and second hand. The moment we entered 'Humana' (a gigantic vintage store in the centre) we dispersed and didn't unite again until we had armfuls of clothes to try on and prance around in - safe to say we all left the store worrying about only bringing hand luggage... always a rookie mistake.

The one slightly mental choice we made was to partake in all of the super sad / super emotional parts of Berlin and its history on a killer hangover. Still, it was an important part of Berlin to take in - if it was on a hangover, then so be it.

Food was consumed, art was seen, history was remembered, beers were drunk, laughs were had, life happened.
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The Key Three - Vintage, Design & Cake

Friday, 6 June 2014

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The Key Three - Vintage, Design & Cake

Going back to Manchester for the weekend always means three things - shopping, gossiping, food... I managed to fit the key three into a Sunday, the day of rest.

I wanted to visit the new 'Nadinoo' store that has recently opened in the Manchester Craft & Design Centre, so I donned my beautiful, lace vintage coat and did exactly that! I managed to photograph (loads...) and film a little in store, which is something you will hopefully see very soon.

Going to a craft centre with home made cakes and not eating one is ridiculous, and I am no fool... we got the biggest slice, an iced coffee and placed ourselves at the most opportune angle to people watch.. After the sugar rush had subsided slightly, we went straight from design into vintage, where we stayed and found ALL the stuff.

Anyway, until next time Manchester... until I hop the train back, where have you found to be the BEST places to shop vintage / second hand? Tell all!
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Top & Jeans - Topshop, Cardigan, brooch & Coat - Vintage, Boots - Dune
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Look at Manchester showing off..
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Charity shop / second hand / vintage shopping in Manchester is the best. If you are nosy enough to want to know what I bought... I filmed a full video, handy eh? Have a look here - YouTube

Vintage Finds

Sunday, 25 May 2014

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Vintage Finds, May!

London trumps Manchester in some ways but when it comes to shopping, the Northern counterpart wins every time. Manchester is ultimately brilliant for vintage / second hand shopping, as you will see!

Blackpool

Friday, 23 May 2014

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Cardigan & Coat - Vintage, Skirt - Oasis, Boots - Office
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Blackpool

Blackpool may no be the nicest seaside destination but after visiting every year since pre-birth, it has a special place in my world.

Aren't Bank Holidays the best? I finished work on the Thursday and zipped straight to Euston for the train to escort me back to Manchester. Waking up in my own bed, especially when accompanied by coffee and bagels is a rather ace wake up - even more when the prospect of Blackpool is thrown into the mix. I gathered my road trip necessities and we set off for a day of salty air and even saltier chips.

This may be a slightly saucy outfit choice for a day at the beach but... something about it just felt right. I discovered these shoes under my bed and decided they needed an airing despite the destination, these silver beauties caused mayhem in the charity shops of Blackpool - the older ladies were swooning...

We shopped, ate fish & chips (obviously), wandered along the sea front and scared seagulls by running at them to take pictures of my outfit.

All round great day - the seas air is actually magic.

I filmed our little day at the beach also, which you can see on my YouTube Channel!
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A true beach necessity
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Disliking Pink.

Friday, 10 May 2013

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Dress - Vintage, Coat - Topshop
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Disliking Pink.

For some reason whenever I see people wearing pink or talk about wearing pink I always find myself insisting that I don't like it and never (ever) wear it. Over the last few months I am beginning to realise that I am lying to myself.... pink is never a colour I am instantly drawn to but I do seem to end up with variety of clothes in this bright, raspberry colour. So to admit the obvious, I am a bit of a girl sometimes and like (a small selection of) pink.

I think the fact that I am vampire pale with dark hair - pink makes me feel like an English rose, like I am declaring and embracing my paleness. Anyway.... hope you all had a great week! I have been on a few adventures (some outdoorsy and some drunken) which I am sure you will hear about over the next week, so keep your eyes peeled if you fancy an update!
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Coolest, always.
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Hi Marie ;)

Bargain Hunter.

Sunday, 7 April 2013

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Bargain Hunter.

I mentioned in my last post that I succumbed to the charms of the charity shops and beauty establishments, so here we are. I found these pink thirties style heel for £3.99, a pink blouse for £2.49 and an awfully brilliant t-shirt for £1.99. The leather clutch is courtesy of a hunt through my grandmas wardrobe ;)
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Harphurhey doesn't boast of many shops but what it isn't short of is bargain shops...
Pore strips and Candle - Poundshop, Sally Hansen 'Dry Kwik' - B&M, NSPA Moisturisers - ASDA (2 for £8), Large cotton wool pads and varnish remover - Wilkinsons, Revlon 'Nearly Naked', MUA blushers and Tresemme Liquid Gold - Superdrug.

The day my skirt fell off.

Saturday, 24 November 2012

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The day my skirt fell off.

Yes you read it right, my skirt fell off.... in public. This skirt has been waiting patiently in my wardrobe since I bought it in the Topshop sale last year, I gave it a little nip and tuck (far too long... what?) to make it wearable and how does it repay me? by reducing me, ultimately to a flasher. Thank god for thick tights (cheers Company) As you may be able  to tell from these photos, I turn into the most awkward woman when I'm having my photo taken despite my best efforts.

My style of late (in the words of my boyfriend) seems to be '1940's housewife' and I think I'm ok with that. I spent the rest of the day grasping my skirt to avoid another reveal, listening to a group of creatives talk about 'Creative Colloboration' and of course, drinking cider.

In other shocking news, today is the first time watching 'Deep Impact'. Shame on me. Although in my defence when it comes to world ending disaster movies I am more of an 'Armageddon', 'Independence Day' kind of girl.
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Most awkward woman.
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Cardi and Skirt - Topshop, Blouse and Shoes - Vintage, Tights - FREE with Company
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How many layers?

Strolling along the promenade.

Tuesday, 3 July 2012

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Strolling along the promenade.

A big bonus of living in London is being situated 40 minutes away from the salty, thrifty paradise that we call Brighton. I could spend all day (and most of my money) roaming the lanes picking up vintage trickets, which I did most happily whilst flashing at people approximately -3908348734736434638 times. I definitely did not anticipate the rigor of the wind in my tent like dress... I just began to accept that lots of strangers were going to see a snap shot of my bottom and embraced it by prancing around.

I have been after this TBA dress for quite a while so when I spotted it on Ebay for a ridiculously cheap price, I put down a bid and kept my fingers crossed. I am such a nervous Ebayer and I am pretty sure to win an item I would bid more than I actually own... JUST NEED TO WIN. It is more of a winter dress but I just had to give it a day out before it went away for a few months! The tent like shape hides a whole manner of sins - so I immediately began stuffing my face with coffee cupcakes and pizza. Obviously.

Off to Switzerland tomorrow armed with factor 50, Game of Thrones and a sketchbook. Wahey, see you in a week.
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Coat - Vintage, Hat - H&M, Dress - TBA via Ebay, Shoes - Vintage, Brooch - Vintage
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