I would say I'm sorry if I thought that it would change your mind.

Forest green t-shirt (tied at the back): £2.50, Primark men's. Truffle corduroy circle skirt: £15, American Apparel via ebay. Denim £63, NW3 by Hobbs. Brown buckle shoes: £3.50, vintage via charity shop. Brown leather bag: £8, vintage. Watch necklace: gift. Black Rotary watch: gift.

I've never particularly been an "adventurous" dresser, choosing instead to focus upon a basic wardrobe of plain colours that can be worn in seemingly endless combinations. The idea of dressing up for London Fashion Week doesn't especially appeal, the dreaded street style photographers are very welcome to jump on the bejewelled  and beautiful, but I'd rather focus on the collections than stand stiffly in front of another's lens. These two pieces have become a new favourite pairing; it may not be worthy of the Sartorialist's time, but I love the muted berry hues twinned with the oversized tee, twisted into a knot at the back. I wore this to a twenty-first birthday meal, then on to town for my friends' gig, and it managed to survive everything from burning sambuca to 1am trips to a supermarket perhaps better than studded knee-caps would - not that I've ever tried!

I simply cannot believe that summer's finally drawing to an end. I'll be heading North for the third and final instalment of my Liverpool-based exploits early next week, and I simply cannot wait. Being a student is difficult: I know I'm not the only one, but in my personal experience the past two years have been pretty testing in regards to both my academic endeavours and learning to live simultaneously at polar ends of the country. Despite the times when I've felt insecure and down - and boy, there have been a few! - I relish my time in Merseyside, and I am determined to cram in as much as possible, when I'm not hidden beneath a pile of oxford world classics.

xxx

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When you touch my hand and talk sweet talk I got a knockin' in my knees and a wobble in my walk.

Floral print Lizzy dress (worn as top): c/o Motel Rocks. Denim shorts: Fat Face. Denim Jacket: £63, NW3 by Hobbs. Coral belt: c/o Clothing at Tesco. Heart-shaped sunglasses: £2 h+m kids. Skull bracelet: £11, Made via ebay. Black ballet pumps: 50p, Russell and Bromley via ebay.

I wore this outfit the other day, when pushing my hair behind my ears and getting stuck into InDesign, putting together pages for the University of Liverpool's magazine, Ellipsis - such a glamorous lifestyle! To escape the confines of my room, I went for a little walk across the fields near where I live, with my good friends John, Paul, George and Ringo. Maybe I've spent too long away from reality - I'm wearing double denim! I never thought I'd see the day, but I'm surprisingly a fan of this look - opinions? This top was a gift from Motel Rocks as I'm a member of their Street Team (you get 20% off with the code "itscohen"!), and I adore its not-too-girly floral print. It comes up a little big, so I'd recommend sizing down.

This past week has involved a considerable amount of rest and recuperation (not counting a rather eventful last night out in Essex pre-third and final year, but that's perhaps a story for another time). Last night I had a few friends over for Domino's, chick flicks, and pink wine - nothing beats a sleepover! Apart from fudge cake, and I may possibly have made plans to get some with friends early next week...

xxx

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In the corner of an english field.

 

As I pluck the last strand of straw out of my hair, now seems the perfect time to start reminiscing about the past weekend. I know that music festivals aren't everyone's cup of tea; the idea of spending multiple days stranded in a lumpy field, your phone battery slowly giving up the ghost and surrounded by people arguing as to whether someone is in the tent without checking at 4am isn't particularly appealing, but the faithful british institution finds itself beckoning punters back year after year, with over 250 individual festivals taking place annually. The Glastonbury institution may have taken a well-deserved rest while London 2012 used its portaloos, but I headed back to Brownstock festival for the third year in a row, to see what exactly was going down in Brown town...

 

Arriving a little later than my friends due to the event coinciding with the last day of my internship, I found my tent pegged in place (thanks Amy!), guitar being passed round, and generally an environment as far removed from the Tottenham Court Road office I'd left three hours previously as possible. As twilight encroached, we headed into the arena for dodgems and fairground rides, followed by a trip to the silent disco (well documented by my camera, but never will these be published online, for the greater good!). The two main days of the festival were spent between the Piano DJ tent - sets by Devon Mayson, Calico Ghost Town and the opportunity to sing Wonderwall incredibly out of tune - the Noise Kitten Treehouse for friends' DJ sets, the Good Shed for Grand Master Flash, Zane Lowe and Nero, and the Main Stage for Labrinth, the Futureheads, the Milk, et al. The music, without doubt, is the basis of a festival, but it's the DJ playing Jay-Z and Kanye that persuades you to stay at the silent disco, heading to the aptly named Stumble Inn for dubstep when everything else has closed, or, if all else fails, huddling round a piano for a singsong in your pyjamas when you decide you're not ready for bed quite yet that makes it slightly different to sitting in your back garden with the subwoofer pumping out album tracks.

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oh! darling, please believe me

Black Pippa dress: c/o Darling. Grey oversized jacket: £31.50, Topshop. Watch: gift, Rotary. Cameo necklace: £1.50, charity shop. Brown frame bag: £3, vintage. Black two-tone flats: 50p, Russell and Bromley via ebay.

Happy August Bank Holiday!

I hope you've all had a relaxing day off? Today, my mum, brother and I headed off to Maldon to sample scones (big surprise), avoid the Essex Lion, and prove the theory that it will always rain on this day of the year. I picked up a couple of charity shop bargains, before battling through the elements towards Promenade Park for afternoon tea. It wasn't a high-adrenaline, activity-filled day, but it was exactly what I needed on my day off. With only one more week of my PR internship left, I'm looking forward to a little slice of summer fun, in the guise of Brownstock Festival and London Fashion Week. Daily life in East Anglia has been most welcome, but the allure of the North West is tangible, and I can't wait to move into a new flat with one of my closest friends. However much I love being home for the holidays, you just can't beat a little bit of change!

xxx

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Went for a walk down the old King's Road to see if anybody was there.

Floral top: £2.75, Topshop, via charity shop. Denim circle skirt: £28.50, American Apparel, via ASOS. Polka dot pop socks: £1, Primark. Two-tone ballet flats: 50p, Russell and Bromley, via ebay. Bag: gift, Marks and Spencer. Polka dot sunglasses: £1, Primark. Skull bracelet: £11, Made, via ebay.

Yesterday was, in short, hot. Walking westwards along the King's Road (in an outfit that probably cost less than the average person's left shoe), Danielle and I were rather grateful for our sunglasses and the occasional breeze. Neither of us had ever visited the Royal Borough before, despite obsessively watching Made In Chelsea, so it was about time we braved the Circle line and saw what all the fuss was about.

In all honesty, the King's Road itself is just a high street. Admittedly, it is a very nice high street, as the average shop is Jigsaw or Comptoir des Cotonniers, but if you wander off the tourist-infused street, you'll have the opportunity to gaze wistfully at wonderful architecture, and maybe even doff your cap to A. A. Milne at his former place of residence (yep, I'm a blue plaque geek). On a more palatable level, there's plenty of scope for rumbling stomaches. We were hoping to try out The Bluebird Restaurant until the sight of our already rather empty purses decided that it wouldn't be the most sensible option. Instead, we tried out The Chelsea Teapot. If you like a good scone - who doesn't? - then this is the place for you! For just over a fiver each, we managed to indulge in some sweet homemade treats; Danielle tried her first ever (!) red velvet and it got a very enthusiastic thumbs up.

Apart from the World's End Vivienne Westwood shop and the Saatchi Gallery, are there any other places you'd recommend in SW3? I'm such a Sloane Square Stranger!

xxx

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I know we're all in this business kind of thing

Beige blouse: £2.95, vintage, via charity shop. Navy wrap-over pencil skirt: £1.50, vintage Next, via charity shop. Navy cross-over shoes: £3.95, vintage. Belt: Fat Face. Bag: mum's. Lipstick: Chanel Gabrielle.

Long time no see! Life's been a little hectic due to travelling for far too many hours, and immersing myself into another internship. This whole 9.30-6.00 business can be rather tiring! I admire those full-time workers who still find time to blog in their spare time. Thankfully I still manage to see my friends, including bloggers who know me well - hello Jade! - and I serendipitously work in the same building as Charlie, which means trips to our ninth floor cafe! Yesterday I managed to get some rays on my lunch hour by sitting in Gordon Square Gardens with an icy drink and a copy of Wish Magazine - a pretty perfect break, if I do say so myself.

Outside of the office, I've been up to Liverpool for a quick weekend to find somewhere to live next year, which is a long, boring, and incredibly stressful affair, but I believe we've got a nice pad now. We even managed to get back in time to juuust catch the Closing Ceremony which was only rounded up by the amazing bloody Who! Admittedly it was rather lacking in David Bowie and the Rolling Stones, but, as the Kinks got a look in, I'm a happy girl. And for those who fancy something new, I'm leaving you with a girl we've been listening to non-stop in the office: D E N A




xxx

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with love, from southend-on-sea

Mint green blazer: c/o Glamorous. Black strappy top: tesco (I think...). Floral chiffon skirt: £15, American Apparel, via ebay. Black Chelsea boots: £60, Topshop. Belt: 20p, charity shop. Cloud bag charm: gift, Luella.

If you ask the average Essex resident for their opinion of Southend you're likely to get quite a varied response. The high street is rather generic, littered with chain stores and night clubs, while the seafront is home to (possibly!) more fish and chip shops than grains of sand. Yet it boasts the world's longest pier, and, most importantly, it is where Rossi ice cream was born - both black cherry and banana are my favourites, it's impossible to have just one. I don't visit very often, but when I do you can guarantee a trip to Oldham's will be on the cards, finished off with a meander down the promenade to the Peterboat in Old Leigh to watch the sun set over the docked sailing boats.

In typical British fashion, the weather was rather changeable, so I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to air my first ever non-uniform blazer. I have always associated this item of clothing with stuffy classrooms and the one time I didn't put the lid back on my fountain pen, and the entire right-hand side of my pale yellow blouse was dyed a rather lovely shade of blue... However, the mint green did take the scholarly edge off things slightly, and sitting by the shore, with the sea breeze blowing my hair whilst sipping on a fruit cider took me as far away from assemblies and Friday afternoon German grammar "treats" as I think it's possible to be!

xxx

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I could bore you with the truth about an uneventful youth

Paisley print dress: £5, H+M. Denim Jacket: £63, NW3 by Hobbs. Chelsea boots: £60, Topshop. Tote bag: free, Mary Katrantzou for Topshop. Necklaces (from top): Topshop, Vintage, Elsie Belle. Plus MYSTERY UMBRELLA.

These photos represent a series of cliché poses:

1. "I'm a fashion blogger, darling"

2. "Look at my expensive It Bag" (which I got for free)

3. Coy "oh, there's a camera? I didn't realise!"

4. TOURIST

The above may also be read as "reasons I should not be allowed a camera".

I wore this to walk to the next village to buy milk. I do love the countryside, but it's a drag if you want to actually do anything, as the last bus runs at 6pm. This normally results in nights out becoming very similar to escaping Azkaban in difficulty levels, ending either in getting the first bus home at 7am, or crashing on some poor, unsuspecting person's floor - London and Manchester's night buses are an extreme luxury to my country bumpkin self. The dress was bought as a result of this difficulty, as I decided the cider-covered, slept-in clothes post-spontaneous Friday night weren't entirely appropriate to wear to one of my closest friend's birthday meal. Cue a trip to H+M's heavily discounted sale rail, and grabbing this for a fiver. You're only young once...

xxx

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Cold as ice-cream, but still as sweet

Debbie Harry t-shirt: £7, H+M kids. Yellow midi-dress (worn as skirt): £13, Primark. Heeled chelsea boots: £60, Topshop. Bag: ma's. Belt: 20p, charity shop. Watch: gift, Rotary. Sunglasses: £1, Primark.

Ignoring my facial expression (which I coincidentally find hilarious), this outfit consists of jumping on a trend roughly a year later than everyone else. The morning's bleary eyes decided it was time to try out a midi, however, it being "too yellow" resulted in bringing out the classic cohen technique: add a band tee. My collection's not the biggest, but there are two Arctic Monkeys, two Smiths, one Black Lips, and this, which I purchased from the children's section of H+M a summer or two ago. For now there is just one midi-dress in my wardrobe, and I'm not wholly convinced that I'll add to it, as I'm pretty sure I look even shorter than I actually am (5'4", FYI). Although it does do a rather good job of covering my ice-cream baby, and that's all I really look for in a dress.


Today is the last day of my current internship, cue going to M&S before work for chocolate chip cookies and milk chocolate digestives to dunk in our tea. Although I'm sad to be leaving, I am not sorry to avoid commuting past the Olympic Park during the first week of the Games. I'm going to try and find a pub tonight that's showing the Opening Ceremony as I wasn't lucky enough to get tickets (or rich enough to be able to afford them). Did any of you manage to get tickets for events?


xxx

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How now, brown cow?

 

Playsuit: £9, Beyond Retro. Blouse: £2, charity shop. Belt: 20p, charity shop. Bag: £8, vintage. Shoes: £27, Topshop. Sunglasses: £1, Primark. Bracelets: £1, Topshop. Necklace: Toujours Toi, via Dina.

Photos taken by Danielle.

Since my weekdays are currently consumed by the 9-5 (plus commute...), I'm determined to ensure my weekends are are strictly fun. No moping around the house listening to the Smiths, but catching up with friends that I don't get to see when I'm in Liverpool. It is steadily becoming tradition to attend Brownstock festival with my friends from sixth form, as its timing winds up the end of summer perfectly. Jess invited me along for lunch on Sunday afternoon, and, with festival virgin Danielle alongside, we only got a little bit lost.

 

Sitting on the back of a tractor being driven by a toddler was an interesting experience, but it just goes to show how much of a family affair the day was: from Jess tweeting away, to Adam cooking the roast and freezing smoothie lollies. I sat in the sunshine listening to Jakob Deist, Itchy Feet, and Stealing Signs, while Danielle played with Rags, who we've unofficially dubbed the Brownstock dog. I wasn't asked to blog about the day, but I had such a good time and took so many photos it would be a shame not to share them. And, a cheeky exclusive for you, here's the newest additions to the line-up... 

xxx

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Elder Street, E1.

Silky Collar Tee: £18, American Apparel. Chambray dress: £13, H+M.  Maroon cardigan: old school uniform, Ladybird, Woolworths! Belt: 20p, vintage. Leather bag: Marks and Spencer. Two-tone ballet flats: 50p, Russell and Bromley via ebay. Necklace: handmade.

I feel like I should've posted this on Friday 13th (look at the number on the door!), but I've never been one to stick to dates, so Thursday 19th will have to do.

 The further I explore the area I'm interning in, the more I realise just how close everything is. I had no idea that I could walk to the Geffrye Museum on my lunch break, a place where a large amount of my childhood was spent, as we always went in when visiting my uncle in Hoxton. I won tickets to the Aubin Cinema in Shoreditch last Saturday, so went with my mum and brother. It was an odd experience for her, seeing all the places her own mum and dad had lived nigh in poverty now saturated with hipsters and merchant bankers on their day off. The factory her father worked in is now home to open plan creative studios, an art gallery and Pizza East, very different to its original purpose. East London has changed so much since I was a child, so I can hardly imagine how the original tenants of St Leonard's, the first flats in London to have working electricity, would react to the skyscrapers and modernised Spitalfields Market. In a fortnight the Olympics will be in full swing, and  Stratford will be the focus of the world's attention, no doubt heralding another change in the progression of this district. I only hope that the legacy of this prestigious event will be longer-lasting and more beneficial than a glimmering ghost-town photo backdrop.

xxx

ps, I have a few items for sale on ebay, if you'd care to have a look!

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