Holly Fulton @ Asos

http://www.asos.com/Women/A-To-Z-Of-Brands/Holly-Fulton/Cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=8718&affId=1256

Just found some of her collection on sale here, if anyone is interested!

Fake Christmas Day!

So yesterday evening was the last time I would get to see my boyfriend before we both went home for Christmas. So me and Ben made an epic christmas dinner which took us 2 hours to prepare and cook.(I know thats nothing compared to a real christmas dinner with a turkey). Ben's housemate also joined us for the festivities.

We had a chicken, roast potatoes, parsnips, sprouts (yuck!), peas, carrots, sweetcorn, yorkshire puddings, stuffing (yummmm) and pigs in blankets!

It all tasted fantastic, I just wished we had made an effort with decorations and crackers and things.

Next we sat down with some alcohol and watched the Muppets Christmas Carol which has to be my fave christmas film ever made!
While we relaxed and let our food digest we played with party poppers, streamers and finally opened our prezzies!

Ben got Matt: UnHinged - some terrible old B movie thing, basically they have a tradition for any gift giving occaision, of buying bad DVDs for each other from Cash Converters or Pound Land. You know the sort, unknown actors, bad special effects, terrible storyline which is always a rip off of a blockbuster film.

Matt got Ben: a Mr T keyring, Ben loves Mr T. *rolls eyes*

Ben got me: The River Island bag I have wanted for ages, he found it on ebay and bought it me, because it was no longer in the shops. It is brand new! and The Wizard of Oz calendar!!!! I am one happy girl :D

do you like what you can see of my dress? Its one of my favourites, from Topshop it looks just like a 1920s dress, I adore it! I really like the silky pattern round the neckline.


I got Ben: A book about Customised trainers and a Stylophone.

We sat and learnt christmas songs on that stylophone all evening, playing with all the different pitches and things, a great toy!

Then we went out to our local pub for another drink and to meet a few friends.
A great day was had by all, I'm going to miss Ben over the holidays!! My mum phoned me earlier and said it was snowing back home, I really hope it settles, I love snow.

I will be updating this now after christmas probably, I hope every single one of you has a very Merry Chirstmas and a Happy New Year! :) xxx

Vent

I don't normally use this blog as a vent for anger or anything, just my general interests and a bit of a journal to show what I've been up to.

However...

On the 11th January I have an assessment for my final year of uni, for this assessment I have to have 2 final prints done, a dummy book, and a presentation.

I have not yet taken any photographs for my final prints or book, this is mainly my own fault for not being organised but also a bit of logistics. Why did I have to choose a subject which would mean me travelling? (i have no car and limited cash) and also one which meant I would be photographing outside! It is December, in Britain. Stupid of me I know. When I have taken photographs I will have a very short time (possibly a week) to get them printed and sent back to me for hand in.

I am so looking forward to christmas but I am going to have A TONNE of work to do.

As well as all this I have my dissertation due in February and it is my 21st Birthday on the 24th January SMACK BANG in between.

ARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I'm writing this now because I cannot sleep :(


Fin.

Gingerbread Men

NADOLIG LLAWEN! (welsh for merry Christmas)


Ive got out the christmas CD, I have written my christmas cards and Im really in the festive spirit. I can't wait to go home and spend the holidays with my family. I really hope we get some good snow like last year!

Me and Ben made Gingerbread men, such fun!

We got flour everywhere haha :D


cooking in the oven


Decorating


I appologise for the rude ones, they were the creations of my highly immature boyfriend,they tasted good though!


and until I get home, this is my christmas tree:

Holly Fulton

I recently discovered up and coming fashion designer Holly Fulton. I was immediatley drawn to her use of vivid block colours.

'I have a huge love of art deco and Bauhaus styles, cubist fashion and the geometry within all these genres and the re-interpretation of these into contemporary materials gives me huge inspiration' Holly Fulton

Fulton's designs represent Art Deco well, the garments are modern and the adornment of crystals and studs add a luxurious feel which is synomynous with the 1920s and 30s. Geometric shapes and patterns on sleek but structured silhouettes resemble Deco architecture such as the Chrysler building .

The accessories also compliment the look well, overlarge beads and bibs are very tribal in style and the exoctic was a great influnece in the beginning of the last century. The perspex and metals of the jewellery play off on the sheen of the PVC, silk and patent leather.

Some of her new pieces will be worn by Sarah Jessica Parker in the new Sex and the City movie.


These are my pick of faves spanning from all 3 of her collections.


I must admitt though, I'm not a fan of the fake eyebrows! :P


http://www.hollyfulton.com/

My Favourite Lipsticks

Lipstick is one of those things that can be hard to pull off, you need to have a bit of confidence when wearing it the first time so that when all your friends say 'what have you got on your lips?!' it doesnt put you off.

Here are my 3 fave lipsticks and why I like them so much! They won't make you feel self concious or outragious and before you know it your friends will be wearing lippy too.

1) In my opinion every woman needs a pillar box red lippie in her makeup bag.

I love 17 (by Boots) Lasting Fix Lipstick in 'Showcase'



Here is how it looks on, because the website pictures don't do the colours justice.



It is a vibrant colour red with a hint of pink and it goes well with most outfits, it lasts for ages even when out drinking cocktails ;)

And don't be out off by the price, It is cheap but that doesnt mean its not good quality and the money I save can go towards clothes or christmas presents!

Why not get a red nail polish to match for a perfect festive look?
such as No7 (by Boots)

Or Barry M




Next is the same brand 17 Lasting Fix but in 'Pink Power'



A bright Barbie pink for when I feel girly.







Last is a striking Deep Burgundy for when I want a Clara Bow pout.

Rimmel London's Moisture Renew Lipstick in 'Burgundy Delight'



This lipstick is a great colour but because its so vivid, however it is not supposed to be long lasting so you will need a layer of Lipcote and maybe the odd reapply. But thats fun isnt it? :P

at £5.99 its another fairly cheap one, but this time its in a nice metallic case.

again the picture in no way shows how the colour will look on, so heres a picture:



Of course its worth looking at your local store and testing different colours. I am on the look out for a nice coral, 17 does have one, but I think it is too shimmery.


Another good thing about these lipsticks is that none of them bleed, I do use a lipliner when I want to make my lips fuller or to create a cupids bow shape, but I generally don't feel I need to use one.

and this is the best way to seal all these lipsticks


hope this has been useful happy applying! :)

Vintage Inspired Christmas

I have a huge weakness when it comes to books. Anything about food, crafts, vintage or beautifully illustrated/photographed and I will be straight on amazon adding it to my wish list.

If you're stuck for christmas ideas either for yourself or a friend here are some ideas.

1) Retro Fiesta: Gringo's guide to Mexican Party planning. by Geraldine Duncann


here is the synopsis:
'Viva Mexico! We invite you to explore Mexican cooking the retro way. Peppered with mid-twentieth century American visions of Mexican culture, Retro Fiesta includes classic favourites like enchiladas, tamales, and margaritas, as well as mini courses in pinata making and traditional Mexican party games. Discover the rich Hispanic heritage that introduced post-war America to favourites like chips and salsa and have had gringos saying "gracias" ever since. Filled with vibrant vintage images and great Spanish sayings, it's easy to bring to life the traditions of Mexico in your own home. Grab a sombrero, key up the mariachi music, and get ready to dance a ranchera - it's fiesta time!'

Available from Amazon

2)Sew! by Cath Kidston



I love Kidston's quaint English style so last year I recieved Kidston's Make! and it was great, it had lots of lovely sewing projects such as a teacosy and table cloth. It also came complete with stencils and your own bag to decorate yourself. Sew! comes with all new projects to sew and this time the free gift is a length of unique kidston fabric and handles to create a bag from scratch. I really hope I get this one!

Or equally if you prefer the sound of Make! get that instead :)



Available from most Bookshops, http://www.cathkidston.co.uk and amazon

3) Tattoo Mystique by Angelique Houtkamp


This is for all you Rockabillys out there. If you love vintage tattoo culture, this is the book for you. Angelique Houtkamp is a unique tattoo artist. Her mix of fantasy creatures and flappers along with traditional sailor tattoos create stunning designs and are perfect in book form. Again this is the second book released, her first being Tattoo Darling. This book would appeal to anyone interested in the art of the tattoo and fans of vintage inspired illustrations like.


The books are available to buy from http://www.salonserpent.com/Home.html and Amazon


4)Vinatge Hairstyling by Lauren Rennells



This book is exactly what it says in the title. A step by step guide to creating wonderful vintage inspired hairstyles. Using modern appliances and accessories this easy to follow guide will make recreating hairstyles from the 1930s to the 1960s easy and fun. Each page has clear and well photographed pictures to learn from and admire. Useful for beginners and pro's alike!
You have a choice between the first and second edition.

This picture is taken from the First Edition book.

Vintage Hairstyling is available to buy from the website

http://www.vintagehairstyling.com/buynow.html

and http://www.vintagehairstyling.com/retail.html

5) Leading Men/Ladies and Couples by TCM


Each of these 'guide' books provides a profile of 50 most loved leading men/ladies or couples (depending on which book you buy) with Portraits, film stills, movie posters, basic stats and a biography and filmography. These books are great for those being introduced to classic film and fun for those who already have a great knowledge. I own Leading Ladies and I am always re-reading it.I will be purchasing the others as well!

Leading Ladies has the likes of: Carole Lombard, Audrey Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Sophia Loren, Lauren Bacall, Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe and Barbara Stanwyck to name a few!

Leading Men: Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, Humphrey Bogart and Steave McQueen.

leading Couples: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Bogart and Bacall, Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh.

Available from Amazon


Hope this was helpful, interesting and fun!

Paris Part Quatre!

Day 3 - EVENING

Alexa's 21st birthday deserved a celebration of epic proportions, so we headed to the supermarche for bottles of wine.
Getting ready to go out in the dorm we drank our wine and started a game of 'I have never' it didnt take long for us to get quite merry.

We had a reservation at the Italian restaurant nextdoor, so a group of 30 of us headed over. I think we were quite noisy :S!! I had a four seasons pizza and it was so good! We could see them cooking in a proper stone oven. We ate and drank some more and enjoyed each others company. When dessert came Alexa was surprised by a sparkler in her creme brulee!

here is a picture of me, katy and the 2 laurens.
i love the tea dress im wearing, its not vintage but there were some great reproductions a year or 2 ago.

continuing the party we went down the road to a karaoke bar we had spotted the first day. Unfortunately the language barrier or (i think we got ripped off as tourists) got in the way of our fun. We noticed the alcohol menu was really expensive so we asked for tap waters, we were given 3 bottles of sparkling water and then they tried to charge us 6 euros for each one! So we went to leave and most of us managed to get out but one of our friends got stuck inside and the bar owners threatened her with calling the police! She reluctantly payed the money and everyone chipped in when she came outside.


here is a picture of some of the girls with the expensive bottles of water and some local boys who jumped in the photo.

The french boys pointed us in the direction of a good club. In the end we only had 1 more drink and walked back to the hostel because we were already majorly drunk and had to get the Eurostar the next day. It sounds anti-climatic but it was an awesome night.

Day 4 - Homeward bound!

The trip went so quick and I had such a great time! We had a few hours in the morning to do one last bit of shopping/whatever before we headed back to Gare du Nord for the Eurostar. Because of our night out we decided to just make our way to the station and chill out in a cafe and wait for the others. On the way we found a cute little camera store with a window FULL of lenses. It was amazing. The shop was more like a cupboard so we didnt go in.
(not a great photo i know, sometimes its hard to believe I'm doing a photography course)
The beautiful building that is Gare du Nord, i love the impressive roof. One last panini and then we boarded the Eurostar home, the mood was a lot more subdued this time round, everyone was tired and sad to be going back home to the reality of dissertations, deadlines and general work. (oh and the welsh weather!)


We arrived back in Newport 7.30 British time, it was pouring with rain. Welcome home!
haha


hope youve enjoyed these posts and i wasnt just rambling!

Paris part Trois!

Day 3

After the Eiffel tower we headed out to Republique on the Metro. We were trying to find a different photography exhibition, this turned out to be adventure!

By this point in the day we had begun to get hungry and since we had yet to sink our teeth into a marvelous french cake we went on the hunt for a patisserie.
We found a lovely little shop and all chose a cake. I had a chocolate religious, which is essentially a big profiterole topped with a little one, they are supposed to look like nuns (hence the name) they are also very much the same as eclairs.
Here is a pink one off google images.

Me and vinnie with our cakes, and I <3 Paris t-shirts.

I look a bit of a mess, I had on a lot of layers because I'm always cold!


We then went for a drink in a german cafe/restaurant. They were putting up their christmas decorations. We sat outside and had our drinks, the place reminded me of a ski lodge it was beautiful! (I think it was on Place d'Republique if I havent just made that up!)


After being suitably filled up and having our thirst quenched, next up was the exhibition. It was located on Rue Charlot. It didnt take long to find but it was a very long road and we were at the opposite end!
Luckily there was plenty of really cool shops and galleries along the way.
We didnt walk far before we found Mon Amour. This little gem of a vintage shop was full of glizy jumpers. It had a huge collection of accessories such as bows and belts as well as some awesome platform shoes and an adorable fur collared coat! It wasn't outragously expensive but I didnt have many Euros left. This place will be my first stop next time I go to Paris.

A little bit further down on the opposite side of the street there was a rockabilly shop called Mademoiselle Vegas, think tattoo culture and rock and roll inspired gifts and that pretty much sums up this boutique! It had it's very own pink scooter in the window too.



We carried on walking and stumbled across an antiques shop which had a carousel horse in the window. It looked as if it had come straight out of the Mary Poppins scene where they jump into the chalk picture on the pavement, I love it!
'supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!'



There were a few small galleries on the way, including one that was showing some photography work inspired by Coco Chanel. I stupidly forgot to take pictures or write any of it down.I will ask the girls if any of them made a note of the photographer.

Eventually we got to the exhibition we were planning to see Prix Pictet 2009. It is another annual event, this years theme was earth and had photographer such as Andreas Gursky and Naoya Hatakeyama showing work. unfortunatly we hadnt realsied it was 9 euros to get in, so we had a peek through the window and then walked back haha!

we had a busy night as it was my friend Alexa's 21st birthday, so I will post another blog soon! A taster: eating out, getting drunk and an incident with the french police (almost)

Au revoir!

Paris part Deux!

So day 2 of my trip to Paris.

We got up early and walked to the Eiffel Tower, there wasnt much of a queue when we got there, especially not for the stairs so we went straight in.


There are 700 stairs from the ground to the 2nd floor and we climbed them all, when you reach that stage you have to get a lift to the summit, so after a few group photographs and some nice shots of the view we got in line for the lifts.
Here is a picture from the second floor looking up at far we still had to go in the lifts! it looked like it was swaying and makes you a bit dizzy and im not even afraid of heights!


This guy cant be afraid of heights either, he was painting!

It had started to get busier by this point so we had to wait for 10 minutes or so.
At the top theres is an enclosed viewing stage with images to help you pick out the landmarks. one of my friends asked 'but wheres the Eiffel Tower?!' it was funny, I think she was joking (I hope she was joking!)
You then climb a small staircase to the outside. It was incredibly windy up there! Again we took a few pictures and put a euro in the telescope to check out the view a little closer. here are some of the photographs

The art du Triomphe there.

We made our way down in the lift and then the stairs, it felt a bit scarier going down for some reason, I felt like I might fall forward down the stairs! We crossed the road and a bridge over the Seine and walked along the riverside, I dont think we really had any idea where we were going (i certainly didnt). We stumbled across this:


It is a replica of the Liberty flame, I definitley recognised it but it still intrigued me so I looked it up when I got home. I found out that the Liberty Flame sits above the entrance to the tunnel in which Princess Diana died during a car crash in 1997. The structure itself had no metion of this so me and my friends were quite surprised. anyway I think its beautiful.

There will have to be another wait for the next half of my Paris excursion because
Im going away for the weekend to Bristol (its only about 30mins away) but still it means no blogging for a few days and I'll probably have even more to write about when I get back.

au revoir! x