An Outfit Without a Smile

I wanted to post an outfit today, I had been planning it last night and was excited to get started as I felt confident with my appearance in my last outfit post. This is all started to go wrong this morning when I went to put on some Topshop shorts (very odd fitting- massive on the waist but tight on the bum) and was unhappy with my appearance in them, I felt like my legs were comically bulging out each side like a cartoon elephant in tight knickers. This is quite obviously not how I really looked but it put me in a bad mood from the word go. Still I persisted and changed later on, persuading my official photographer (my Mum) to take my photos in the garden for my blog. 

  

Needless to say I wasn't happy with any of the photos- I blamed my Mum not taking the photos quickly enough, my Mum being too short and making me look like a giant, I blamed myself for being too fat and too ugly. In fact these set of photos are no different from the other outfit photos I've posted, the only difference is how I felt when I was taking them. I felt like I looked awful so therefore I looked awful, the only real issue with how I look is that I look miserable. I was trying desperately to appear aloof, smiley and laid back and I couldn't look less like those things if I tried. I think I am not the most natural blogger really, yes I love fashion but I have always despised having my photo taken- pulling silly faces instead of trying to look nice so I wouldn't have to feel sad about my appearance was my go to tactic for most of my teenage years (and the next year or so till I'm 20 I suppose). Unfortunately this creates a vicious circle because if you feel angry and irritated with yourself the chances are you won't look your best. Sometimes I feel it is more important to put a blog post up or upload photos if you aren't confident because it shows that everyone has days (or years in my case) were they feel bad about how they look, however this doesn't actually mean anyone else would be able to tell. 

I wore this skirt all the time last year for college, the elasticated waist and midi length means that it is super flattering and comfortable even if you've demolished a monster sized meal. I do sometimes feel a bit nun like in midi skirts but I love the way they look on tall person, so being a tall person I hope it gives that elegant look I'm aspiring to have. I bought the jumper from Depop and have loved wearing it, much to the disgust of those around me who for some reason don't love the garish print. For me the print brings up visions of  80s Versace, for my sister I think it brings up a migraine and disgust in my taste. I have shoved my hair into a ponytail for this outfit because I am desperately trying to grow out my short pixie cut, unfortunately my natural hair is extremely coarse and kinky (not curly, not wavy, not straight) and I have to use heat on it when it is down- I've resorted to putting it up in any effort to keep it healthy but also slightly more bearable looking. Needless to say I will be beyond happy when my hair grows out of the awkward mullet stage and into an actual bob.  

 

*No Mothers were harmed in the making of this blog post 

Jumper- Topshop (bought on Depop)

Skirt- Primark 

Autumn WishList

cfg by bleughh featuring christmas candles

 Now I spend a worryingly large amount of my time sitting on the laptop looking at online shopping sites, splashing my cash on electric blankets (really) I have developed a reasonably long wish list for this autumn. Some of these items I will inevitably end up buying but most I will just stroke through my screen, sobbing silently into my empty bank account in the hope the magical Christmas fairy will purchase them for me. Being off ill from college and work is amazing, fabulous and a luxury if you aren't actually ill and can spend your time doing the things you love. However, being off ill when you are too ill to work or study is shit, you're bored, you're poor and you never see anyone because you are actually too ill to enjoy yourself. Saying this, I seem to be doing a pretty good job at buying things at least, because why save when you can spend your money you have saved for when you EVENTUALLY go to University and actually do "life".

1. A Shearling Jacket

I have wanted a shearling jacket ever since I was a little girl and my Dad bought me the most expensive shearling boots ever, which were way too hot to ever wear but looked so nice and would have looked even better with a matching coat. My Mum absolutely despises these coats, she says they are tacky, look like binbags and are way too 70s. However, the same women once bought me a cropped diamanté hoodie with a butterfly on it for my twelfth birthday- so I think I'll make my own clothing choices. I know eventually I will cave and buy the pink Missguided coat and it will be beautiful- until I spill a cup of tea down it or inevitably leave it near my new puppy who just loves putting her dirty little paws (the cutest paws ever) all over my things.

2.  A Leather Backpack

Topshop do the nicest backpacks I may have ever set eyes on, these leather and suede ones make my heart melt into my wallet and make me want to be cool and chic and wear one. Unfortunately I think these are meant to stay firmly on the "wish" side of this list. I have bought at least three backpacks since they became "cool" again and I just cannot pull it off. No matter what I find myself having to stop mid walk to get my gum or phone out, getting a bruised bum from a badly placed lunchbox or looking way, way too much like my thirteen year old self who refused to be at all feminine. I think I will leave this trend to people who can bear the discomfort to wear what my StepFather would call a "shoulder bag".

3. ANYTHING from The Great Frog London  

Ever since I've seen my favourite youtubers wearing this jewellery I have been pining over most of it, not to mention they do amazing Keith Richards like skull rings that I just know would last forever. As previously mentioned I am unemployed, meaning I do not have £200 to throw around at jewellery, no matter how spontaneous or rebellious I'm feeling. This brand is just my style of jewellery as it isn't too pretty or cutesy but also isn't boring or dull. I have ridiculously short chubby fingers which sit on a massive hand span meaning thin delicate jewellery looks utterly awful and embarrassing, while larger pieces look great. I know one day I will have to add something from here to my collection but until then I will settle for stalking those who can afford it and being wildly jealous of them- because yes, I really do have that much spare time.

4. Charlotte Tilbury- Matte Revolution Lipstick

Everything about Charlotte Tilbury's makeup makes me weep- the packaging, the colours, the price range, EVERYTHING. I personally despise any lipsticks with the slightest bit of shine of glimmer, they make me look like Mick Jagger in the 80s, hence why I am in love with the new Matte Revolution Lipsticks. They come in some amazing vampy colours like "Glastonberry" and I know they would be the sort of product that I would keep forever just for the packaging. However, they do come in at £23.00, seeing as I currently cannot even justify buying a MAC lipstick which is around £8.00 cheaper, I really can't pay this much for the lipsticks. But if any of my lovely, beautiful, generous relatives would like to buy me one for Christmas I wouldn't object ( no hinting obviously). I would recommend Revlon for some good vampy shades at a cheaper price, or the Bourjous Rogue Edition Velvet for a really good, non- drying lip shades.

5. Yankee Candles

Yes, it might only be September but we all know that it is now Christmas. Despite being a person lacking in most kinds of spirit, I am full of Christmas spirit. I love everything about Christmas, the TV, the days ending at 3pm, online shopping and decorating. But there is nothing I love more in this whole world then a candle. I kid you not, I can sniff the candles in shops till I get a headache from the fumes, I just love the way they create an atmosphere more than electric lights. I am also a total freak who is extremely fussy about lights being too bright and hurting my "poor" delicate eyeballs. This year my friends got me a mix of Yankee candles for my birthday- much to my delight. However, I always need candles, I need cinnamon scents to live. I'm sorry but if you don't like candles- you don't like me.

So there we go, a list full of consumerism. Hopefully this can be helpful for any autumn birthdays- or just if you fancy treating yourself for the new school year.

Style Icon: Effy Stonem

blog 2 by bleughh featuring VILA

Hi guys, this is a start of a new series on my blog focusing upon so called "style icons", or people that I personally am influenced by when putting my own outfits together. A lot of these will be tv characters, I buy a lot more into street style and the outfits of "ordinary" people over celebrity style, especially considering a lot of celebrities have stylists which often results in them looking a little too polished for my taste. 

My first focus is on the character Effy Stonem from the UK tv show "skins", I fell in love with her styling when I first watched the show when I was fourteen or fifteen.Her style is very laid back, with lots of band tees, leather jackets and Dr Martens which fits in perfectly with the grunge trends seen over the past couple of years. Probably my favorite part about Effy is how effortless her style always looks, whether she is going out at night or rolling out of bed, she always looks laid back and perfectly carefree.  Obviously Kaya Scodelario's figure is amazing and although I think this a big part of how "heroine chic" she manages to look, I think anybody could pull off her style. Also a lot of her clothes are affordable or good value for money, both leather jackets and Docs are timeless pieces, that last forever and will never go out of style. This over all makes her style easy to pull off and perfect for students and young people who want a laid back but on trend wardrobe.

Probably the most important elements to compile an Effy style wardrobe are:

• Boots or converse- perfect for every day and a lot more comfortable then swanning around in heels. This is one of my favourite elements of Effy's style as being over 5'7 I hate wearing heels.
• Denim- Effy Stonem is all about denim: of course it’s never new, or dark, it is always that kind of grunge denim. That means, she often wears boyfriend jeans, ripped of shorts or over sized denim jackets.
• Tartan/plaid- This is perfectly on trend in the winter season and can act as a great tool for layering up under coats in the winter or as a thin layer in the summer.
• Layered accessorizes- Effy often sports layers and layers of chains and cross necklaces at college or going out, sort of like a less tacky version of Ke$ha. This is easy to achieve as so many highstreet stores stock great costume jewelry to create this look (look here, or here, or here).