Ramblin' Rose

Well this is what I wore today! We went for a long walk and stopped by these pretty roses for a couple of photos. There were loads more lovely locations for taking shots but it was really humid and I was getting grumpy. Anyway, I thought roses made a fitting backdrop for my first outfit photos considering my name. What you can't tell is that this is actually in a cemetery , I'll probably go back and get some photos in front of the tombstones one day. I like old graveyards.

These photos aren't the best, I have a pretty basic camera but I will try and get better. I did, however do quite a job of hiding the bruises on my legs- I don't know what I do but my legs are always black and blue! The dress I am wearing is Urban Outfitters and the shoes and bag are Topshop.

I'll leave you with the inimitable MC5 playing Ramblin' Rose!

Buckets Of Rain

It has been raining here nearly every day for the past two weeks and it looks set to continue till the end of the month at least. It has hindered my plans to go out and get my first outfit shots, but I will try if we get a decent window of good weather at all. I've mostly been watching lots of Mad Men, playing with the cats and getting excited about my Sweden trip next month! We're going to Way Out West festival in Gothenburg and I can not wait! I've been thinking about what to take with me and provided the weather is better there than it is here I'll be packing shorts, blouses and simple easy dresses. This outfit from Liebemarlene is perfect.

Shorts And Sunshowers from Liebemarlene Vintage

I also love this look from Copenhagen Street Style, it looks so comfy for sightseeing.

Bouquet De Fleurs from Copenhagen Street Style

Even the cats are depressed with this weather, roll on August!

Film Style: Margot Tenenbaum

The Royal Tenenbaums was released in 2001, but it looks like it could have been made 20 years before that. The entire film has a timeless quality to it, and always reminds me of looking at old, faded photos. All the characters have signature looks that emphasise their perpetual state of childhood, not least Margot.

She looks like she's playing dress up in her grandmother's clothes with the fur coat and Birkin just thrown on over the tennis dress, but it's also more grown-up than dress-up. There's none of the endless strings of pearls I would put on when I raided my mum's wardrobe! And lets not forget those loafers - way too sensible for a kid.

What makes Margot's style so iconic is the simplicity, and while I'd love to be able to have my own 'uniform' to wear everyday, I'm just far too indecisive. One day I want to be Bardot, the next Eloise and the next The Jesus & Mary Chain!!

It's definitely a look I can channel sometimes though, and I am trying to work more 'classic' pieces into my wardrobe so I do always have a go-to outfit on those days where nothing works. Here's how I'd do Margot Tenenbaum:
(I swapped the fur coat for the even more woman-child duffel coat!)

Dress- A.P.C Madras
Duffel Coat- Topshop
Loafers- ASOS
Bag- Topshop

Dedicated Follower Of Fashion

I am in love with these legs!

The 1960s is hands down my favourite style decade, and this is obviously why I am enjoying Miu Miu's latest campaign so much. To be honest the collection didn't really stand out to me when I saw the catwalk pictures, but i love how it has been styled for these images. 60s revival has been done to death but this collection manages it without being "retro". In fact I think the reason it is so successful is because it captures that original youthful spirit and energy of the time.

images from brains-and-beauty

It looks like this collection is going to be all over the fashion world just like SS10 was. Lily Allen is wearing the lilac dress on the cover of Elle UK this month and Freja Beha Erichsen is on Vogue wearing the mustard one!

I've Been Looking Round The Town For Somebody Just Like Me

I adore this photo of my Great Granny, Nana, and two of her sisters. It was probably taken in the late 1910s or early 20s. Nana was a wonderful lady, and although she died when I was only 5ish I have some great memories of her. She was very creative and used to sew me lots of lovely toys, my favourite being a little scotty dog named "Scotty" that is still cherished to this day. She also had an amazing collection of tea towels which my parents now have in their house. She used to buy a tea towel in every place she visited and it's nice when I'm at my parents' and only need to open the kitchen drawer to be reminded of her. Her youngest sister, Bessie, is still alive and soon to turn 100!

I like to think I this is where I get my sense of style!

People Take Pictures Of Each Other

Some photographs from the past couple of months...

Ferry Pier

Crabbit


A Rose By Any Other Name


Spring Blossom


Oh, To Be A Cat


The Hidden Garden


The Silvery Tay

Tears On My Telephone

I love this song.

Film Style: The Virgin Suicides

Film and costume are inextricably linked. Not only does clothing help bring the characters to life and depict the setting, but it also in plays a major role in the colour schemes and overall look and feel of a film. After seeing and falling in love with a film, I've a tendency to become a bit obsessed, either in trying to evoke the spirit/atmosphere, or just trying to be whichever character I'm crushing on. More often than not it's a combination of both.

I'm going to try and write regularly about my favourite films and their style, and I'm starting with a few films from around the year 2000. I was 15 then and just starting to watch films that didn't always have to involve talking animals. I guess it's also meant to be around the age when one starts to develop their own personal style, but my look was pretty much Scruffy Tomboy from ages 0-18, bar a few ill advised 'Christmas Dance' outfits.

Lets kick things off with, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful films ever made:

The Virgin Suicides (1999)

The ethereal and nostalgic atmosphere is perfectly offset with the romantic 1970s styles which include innocent white lace, delicate florals and plenty of muted & pastel colours. One stand-out fashion moment in the film is the girls' flowing white prom dresses, their awkward fit (Mrs Lisbon adds inches to the busts and hemlines creating "four identical sacks") representing their shaky transition from childhood to adulthood.

Throughout the film Cecilia Lisbon appears in a 1920s wedding dress of which she has shorn the hem. The book goes into more detail about this dress, and how she demanded it to be taken to her while she was in the hospital recovering from her suicide attempt.

It is while in the hospital Cecilia delivers the deadpan one liner which beautifully encapsulates the entire film, and adolescence in general...

I recently re-read the book in about 2 days and then re-watched the film twice in quick succession! I just basically immersed myself in The Virgin Suicides and have been trying to channel the look, which just happens to be perfect for this odd muggy, sunny/stormy weather we've been having. Little white dresses, pastel skirts and denim shorts are just so easy to throw on, and I can't stop wearing my lace-top ankle socks. I'm still searching for the perfect pair of tan platform sandals, but once I find them, the look will be complete!

Oh and it was originally Thurston Moore who introduced Sofia Coppola to the novel! What a dude!

Next time: Margot Tenenbaum!

Pastels Badge

I am a pastels fan. Both the band and the delicious palette of ice cream shades float my boat. I have always been partial to a bit of pink and peach, but I've also lately found myself drawn to lilacs, baby blues and mints.

Ruby is a Kiwi fashion boutique selling three of its own in-house designed labels, Ruby, Madame Hawke and It Is What It Is. I first discovered Ruby's southern hemisphere AW10 "Sweetheart" collection on the wonderful Maximillia last year, and have been drooling over it ever since. Now the new collections are up and both Ruby and Madame Hawke feature plenty of pretty pastels to die for.

Pastel perfection from Ruby... images via facebook


... and Madame Hawke. images via facebook

I'd love to spend my summer dressed in that lot, drifting through hazy fields and faded funfair backdrops accessorised with a boater hat and a stick of fluffy pink candy floss. Yummy!