Back With A Bang.

Hello!

It's good to be back - I've missed my blog these past few weeks but the time off was necessary. A mix of heavy work commitments and a week away with the O.H. meant that I made a conscious decision to take a blogging break and spend some time being selfish and just focusing on myself.

But even though I was taking time 'off' it didn't have any effect on my interest in finding new ways to update my clothes and accessories from a DIY perspective.

Introducing my latest project: studded Converse.

In my last post (many moons ago!) I referenced a pair of personalised, studded Converse that retailed at a chunk over £200. That, to me, is silly money for some studs being added to a pair of £45 shoes - not to mention completely financially unjustifiable!

The 'real deal' in action

I kept these at the back of my mind for some time, working out the best way to go about it. I already own two pairs of Converse but the idea of stabbing holes that may ruin them and render them unwearable was a little too much like a risk for me so I had to think of an alternative.

Just under two weeks ago I was readying myself for a lazy week away worshipping the sun in Egypt. I'd booked it about a month or so ago for a last minute break. I rarely take time off so had a lot of holiday time to use up and it's safe to say I did that. A jam packed week of snorkeling, a trip to Cairo, desert star-gazing and of course the obligatory lounging round the pool and I feel rested and reset.

While away I did the stereotypical British thing of combing the market places for some good deals. On my last night we decided to stroll to our local markets and about 3 stalls in I saw them. Black, high top Converse (faux of course, dahling!) A flash of haggling later and I had my project kicks...for £8.00!


So here's what I did to them:

Using a silver pen to mark the canvas I made a rough pattern of where I wanted my studs. I decided on matte black spikes as opposed to a carbon Converse copy (they've used silver pyramid studs.)


Then using my oh-so-technical apparatus of sharp nail scissors I set about stabbing holes in the sides of my shoes.

Next I pushed the screw back of the studs through and attached the front of the stud. Et voila - studded kicks for a fraction of the price. As I said, the shoes cost me all of £8 and the studs were approx £10 on eBay (for 100) so for under £20 I have a pair of shoes that will spend the next few weeks, at least, fused to my tootsies.

Here's the finished product. I know they're not perfect but for a DIY job done in an hour I'm more than happy with them.

And here's where I've been:

I wouldn't say I'm 'pleased' to be back but I've missed 2DyeFor!

Wardrobe Additions.

Now that the season has officially changed (I'm sure it's dropped at least 5 degrees since I left my apartment this morning!) it's the time of year when I have to think about the logistics of swapping my S/S wardrobe with my A/W wardrobe that I keep stored at my Mum's house. Yes, I have too many clothes. No, I don't have enough space in my home to keep them so yes, I take advantage of my Mum.

The logistics become a little more complicated when you consider I haven't a car of my own and the door to door trip is about an hour long. That and the fact I have about 3 suitcases full of knitted goodness that, as the temperature continues to slump, I am finding I increasingly need. So I've decided to do a mental tot up of the things I actually need and cull those I don't.

But once again, just as I do every year, I've found myself in a frenzy of lust after this seasons new designs that have left me seriously considering trading in my winter-sun holiday for a couple of them.

Then again I'm in desperate need for some vitamin E so maybe I won't cancel those plane tickets just yet...

But if I did here's what I'd be lining up.

I know we're talking fantasies here but after this years catwalks were over I did notice a few glaring holes in my AW things so here's a more realistic few bits I need to purchase in the next few weeks.

 Topshop Knitted Shimmer Shoulder Sweat available here.

Oasis Sequin Animal Sleeve Sweater available at ASOS here.

ASOS Supersoft High Waist Ultra Skinny in Washed Grey #11 available here.

H&M Knitted Hat available here.

As you can tell the main colour I'll be sporting this season is grey. I've been a fan of the shade for many moons now so the fact the high street has latched onto it this year has me a little overjoyed.

Continuing the grey theme how about these for some amazing party season shoes from Nelly.com? Available here. I definitely need to make these a buying priority. By far the coolest heel I've seen in some time.

And just before you worry I'll be a total wash out colour wise this season look at this beauty to add a pop of colour to any outfit throughout the colder months. Available here.

Whichever way you look at it I better get saving. Post-holiday of course!

Updates and Resets.

The beauty of having a housemate who works as a buyer in women's shoes is something that I, admittedly, sometimes undervalue. Well, not anymore!

In recent posts you'll remember I've been in search of a new sartorial identity and I think I'm onto something but the void between the 'old' and 'new' wardrobe can sometimes be made bigger by lack of funds to instantly update the whole thing.

This is where my housemate comes into her own. Last night she asked if I'd like to join her for a gig but as I already had plans I declined and ended up heading home earlier than her. On my way home she messaged me again and said to look in the yellow bag on the sofa as she'd got 'things' for me. Things? Things? 'Things' doesn't cover what gems awaited me. Three brand new pairs of slipper pumps from Matalan that I'd gushed over a few months back at their press day in London.

Of course I am wearing a pair today so here's a closer look.

What I love about them is the colour matched studs - I've still not seen this anywhere but Matalan and she got me the same pair in the cobalt that I had seen at the press day and adored so much. Both are actually available online now. Black here and Cobalt here.

Here's the cobalt version for you to feast your eyes on.

What I think I love the most about these is that the studs are on the outer edge and top of the foot only. Any girl who bought Topshop's iconic version last season will know the raw pain of dragging a stud across your inner ankle and the torturous, slow process of it healing. No need to worry about that here though - hurrah!

In other news I'm bored of my dip-dyed hair after a week so am dying it back tomorrow evening. I know, crazy Friday night plans, right?

So here's a last look at it before I reset it to its former glory. (This is it yesterday french plaited down one side.)

Glitz And Glamour From Galibardy.

When yet another of my much-loved embellished necklaces fell apart recently I made a decision - to stop buying cheaply made jewellery and start buying those 'investment pieces' I've heard so much about over the years.

For some time now I've been coming to the realisation I will have to start swapping cheap and cheerful for items with a little more substance.

While still clutching the last fronds of my destroyed necklace it made sense to start there. After all, if you know me at all you'll know that I'm a firm believer in my accessories. They're usually the most outlandish part of any of my outfits so it seemed a natural place to begin. And I knew exactly which site I was going to visit first to indulge my new found need for quality products.

Galibary is a site I can get lost in for hours. If I had just won the lottery you'd definitely not hear from me on here for days. Possibly weeks.

I first saw this necklace some months ago but after a recent magazine promotion of 20% off it seemed as though it was meant to be. A flurry of clicks later and I had this beauty on pre-order. (It's continued to sell out time and time again all year so far - currently you need to email the designer to get on the waiting list. Don't let this deter you - I only had to wait a week or so.)

A corker, isn't it?

It's so incredible it only needs worn with jeans and a t-shirt and I feel like a superstar. In fact I have it on today with one of my favourite chiffon shirts and chinos. 

At £45.00 it might not be everyone's cup of tea but the site has a veritable feast of offers for all budgets including these stunners:

French Lace necklace - £14.00

Red Elektra necklace - £28.00

I think we all deserve a bit of glitz every now and then so I don't feel in the least bit guilty about it.

Take a look yourself, I challenge you to come away with an empty basket!

Dye 2DyeFor.

A couple of posts ago you'll remember me wittering on about how much I adore Jessica Alba. I came to the distressing conclusion that I'll never actually be her some time ago so decided to use her as sartorial inspiration instead. It was all going very well until last week I saw some pap shots of her which left me with a totally new thing to lust over...her hair.

I have, for a while, looked at the ombre (dip-dye) trend with jealous admiration; never having the guts to change my own hair so drastically but over the weekend, after spending time with a friend and her newly 'blonded' tips I caught the fever and couldn't think of anything other than getting to my local Boots to get a home-dye kit. After some research it seemed the most easy to use for first timers like myself was L'Oreal Preference - Wild Ombres which has kits according to original hair colour. Being a very dark brown haired gal I was keen not to use a dye designed for lighter hair that would leave me looking as if I'd attacked myself with a bottle of spray bleach.

Next on my 'to do' list before taking the plunge was to look up celebrities and bloggers who'd inflicted the same style upon their own poor hairs. And it wasn't difficult. A single search of Google and I was inundated with images of women with bleached tips. While the idea of subjecting my hair to such damage scared me the results I was seeing on other people's heads were doing little to dissuade me from going for it too.

Alexa Chung, Drew Barrymore and Billie Piper

Bloggers who've home dyed too

So Monday night, glass of wine in hand and housemate looking at me as if I'd had some sort of brain malfunction (this is generally a sign I'm doing something right) I trundled into my bathroom, L'Oreal in my clutches, and set to work. Here's what happened next:

Oh, just look at the optimism!

Here's when I realised what I was actually doing...

First attempt at styling it

Blonde tips

First style before applying toner - I told you, I'm a newby at this!

That was how it looked on Monday night and the tone alarmed me a little. I'd been looking for a duskier blonde, not a strawberry blonde! After consulting some friends whilst trying to keep a cold sweat at bay someone used the word 'toner'. I was in a blur so I can't remember who but what I can remember is getting up 30 minutes early yesterday to get to Boots and buy the relevant products to try and salvage the image in my head.

So last night off I went again, back into the bathroom and here's how it's looking today.

After finally getting the guts to tell my mum (yes, I'm aware I sound 16, not 26 but she loves my hair so I felt bad) it's safe to say she had a mild meltdown. And then by chance, while still on the phone to me and simultaneously flicking through the television channels she happened upon a girl entering the Jeremy Kyle stage with the same hair...Eurgh.
My mum is someone whose opinion really matters to me so the fact she really dislikes it has made me think twice about what on earth I thought I was doing.

After the JK relevation

Now I want to dye it back. What do you think I should do? I need mass opinions and fast!

An Unlikely Icon.

I don't know about you but when 9PM rolled round last night I felt a little lost. Last week, every night, I spent a very happy 60 minutes watching Channel 4's incredible show Hotel GB. For those of you who missed it (shame on you) it was a pop up hotel in London staffed by some of the best known TV personalities regularly seen on Channel 4.

Mary Portas and Gordon Ramsey were co-Managers, Gok Wan ran the bar, Kirstie Allsop was Concierge and a veritable smörgåsbord of other celebs covered everything from the spa to cleaning the rooms.

Never again will I be able to picture Gordon Ramsey without the image of him on all fours asking poor Katie Piper about a 'back, sack and crack wax' popping up in my mind. *shudder*
If I wasn't already sure she is one of the best women to grace this earth the way she brushed Gordon's madness aside in such a ladylike manner would certainly have convinced me of her brilliance.

One thing I have gladly taken from the show though is a new style icon. Mary Portas. I know, I'm as surprised as you. I'm usually quite feminine in the way I dress - I like high heels, chiffon and lashings of mascara - but I couldn't help thinking, evening after evening how great she looked. And after being caught tweeting about it I was asked to feature a post about her screen style on my blog - it took me less than 0.86 seconds to agree to it!

Happily after some research I have found a few of the things she wore that I loved so much. Here's a closer look.

Mary about to give Paddy a black eye with hers!

The Spectacle ring in action.

Alternatives

Both rings are Swarovski but unfortunately the former has sold out (looks like I'm not the only one who got a new style crush last week) but there are similar styles here, here and here that are equally divine. Luckily the second is still in stock, although I'd imagine not for long. You can buy it here.

Mary tweeting about her boots.

Other things I loved were her patterned tights and great low heeled boots - fashionable yet comfortable enough to wear every day. Surely the holy grail of shoes.

The tights she wore were Mary Portas for Charnos (shop the collection here) and the boots were Mary and Clarks and are available here and here. I love these boots - I have a lot of meetings all over for my job so a heel I can run around in is essential. These might have to be my next investment.

All in all I'm thrilled I've found a new stylish woman to keep a beady eye on. Although I'm not sure that I shouldn't have known better - her partner's Melanie Rickey (of Grazia fame) for goodness sake, it's surely in her nature to be this cool, no?