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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Cohen's Diary

It's always odd to receive an email with instructions not to tweet about its contents, but Barri-Jayne was quite strict about this. This was Jazmine's twentieth, and it was a surprise.

 Sitting in suspense in a Clapham bar with Olivia, Dina, Lucy, Kristabel, and Reena, we discussed various methods of greeting Ms. Rocks. A mexican wave was considered, but instead a chorus of "happy birthday!"s was sung, as a rather shocked Jazmine made her way to our table. The Little Black Dress dress code was perfect for someone who adores Audrey Hepburn as much as the birthday girl (although, who doesn't?), and the evening was spent in some of the best company I could ever have wished for.

To think, it was just over two years ago I first found out about Jazmine's blog through Jill's post on Street Style London (I haven't even told Jazz this!), and now I'm lucky enough to consider her a friend. Blogging may be a funny old world, but I sure am glad I'm part of it.

xxx

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"Just so long as you're happy love, you'll be alright"

Smiths t-shirt: £10, Brighton. Kimbolton Skirt: £39, Jack Wills. Black Chelsea Boots: £60, Topshop. Wells Denim Jacket: £63, NW3 by Hobbs. Brown frame bag: £3, vintage. Rabbit necklace: Topshop (years old). Watch: gift, Rotary. Lipstick: Shade 3, MUA at Superdrug.

Watching last night's "The Secret History of Our Streets" on the BBC was quite an odd moment. Serendipitously seeing black and white images of historical interest whilst you are editing photos of the very same place may definitely be placed in the surreal category. Although I guess back then they lacked the Mawi shop and the "humour" of whoever lives in these apartments now.

I'm currently feeling a little worse for wear, with an aching stomach and head, but a hot chocolate, massive "2 Broke Girls" session and getting a decent amount of sleep is the only prescription I'm interested in. I hope you've all got fab plans for the weekend, whether it's busy or chill. I'm just hoping these very persistant April showers (seriously, it's July) don't rain on my parade.

xxx

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She falls into frame with a professional pout

1. Lily and Dina, cooler than thou.
2. Flying rats
3. Mona 
4. Playlounge
5. The Great Frog. One day I will own one of their eye rings. I will.
6. Topshop Adder Boots 
7. Lily and I
8. Carnaby Street

Analogue.

adjective.
Of technologies, media, etc.: making use of analogue computers or devices; analogue signals or data.
Often contrasted with digital.

Those who've read my blog for a while will be aware that I use film as much as I possibly can. I normally have a disposable camera or two in my bag, which I go through like there's no tomorrow. More recently I've been using two slightly more permanent cameras: a fisheye and an action sampler (yet to get my first film developed!), both from Lomography - I always state which camera I've used in each blog post in its tags. To receive an invite to lomo's "LoBlography" event from the lovely Heidi not only played on my intrinsic love of puns, but my perseverance with analogue photography. While I would love to own a DSLR, I'm well aware that even the cheapest would be well out of my price range, and, in all honesty, isn't everything about film photography bloody great?


At the store just behind Carnaby Street I found Jazzy and Dina who've both had the misfortune of my presence before, as well as finally getting to know Lily (happy belated birthday!) and meeting Mona whose wonderful blog I only recently discovered. After taking part in many a #bbloggers chat on a Sunday evening, I'm well-versed in the basics of blogging, yet the talks by Kat from Gizmodo, Sian from Domestic Sluttery, and Adam from Rock My Wedding (I'm in a few of their photos!) weren't simply dry, repeated phrases of yore (as much as anything internet-related can be), but rather informative and, dare I say it, funny. But it wouldn't be lomo without a little bit of camera action. We were each given an LC-A+ loaded with Colour Negative 800 film and an hour to prance around Soho. And boy, did I prance. I'll upload the rest of my photos to the blog's facebook page as soon as I'm home, so you can form your own decisions as to which ones turned out well, and which ones are just photos of a fence. I love how sharp a lot of the photos have come out, and multiple exposures are always a winner. I love my good ol' point and shoot, but regardless of how many hours you spend on photoshop, you can't truly replicate analogue photos.

Long live film.

xxx

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I promise that I will do my best

Mustard blouse: £3, charity shop. Leather skirt: £13.50, Topshop. Buckle shoes: Topshop. Canvas shoulder bag: vintage, via Jazzpad. 'Found at Sea' Necklace: Toujours Toi, via She Loves Mixtapes. Bracelet: £11, Made, via ebay.

I'm looking rather mardy in the first photo, but that's what happens when you've been staring at a computer screen all day. You'd believe that to be a blogger's ideal job, but it doesn't half tire my eyes out! I was determined to find somewhere to to take outfit photos when I ventured outside for lunch, and this door was today's victim. There are plenty of wonderful places in London, but there's nowhere secluded enough for me to feel comfortable prancing backwards and forwards in front of the self-timer.

But I think any passer-by would've appreciated that this necklace needed to be photographed. I entered Dina's giveaway without even considering I'd have a chance, but, lo and behold, there's now a ship sailing around my neck! I do love anything nautical-inspired (I've worn my sailor coat far too many times), and I've admired Family Affairs from afar via blogs for many moons, so this is a very welcome addition to my collection. This blouse is perhaps not so special, but it's my latest charity shop score from one that's recently opened nearby. I love the slight Brownies vibe, leading to this post's confession: the revelation that I've always been involved with Guiding, and I passed my leadership qualification before heading to Liverpool. And it has a salute. I wish I had the time to volunteer more, those that can do it alongside a full-time job are heroes! I can barely keep this blog going, but I do tweet and update my facebook page more often! Hope your Summers are all incredibly relaxing, and minus the square-eyes.

And, just for the record, I regretted the tights as soon as I walked out the door.

xxx

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We're flying first class up in the sky

Silk blouse: £1.50, Per Una via charity shop. Paisley Shorts: c/o Glamorous. Adder heeled boots: £36, Topshop. Leather bag: £4, charity shop. Cloud charm: gift, Luella. Lipstick: Gabrielle, Chanel.

When I started this humble journal of sartorial mistakes, there were many things I wouldn't wear. I've tackled jeans, and the up-do, now it's time for paisley. Glamorous contacted me asking if I'd like to try out a couple of their products, and, despite the Royal Mail's best attempts at ensuring I wouldn't receive anything, these shorts came through my letterbox a couple of weeks ago. They're a little tight, so although they may have been 100% appropriate for my first Essex night out since coming home for the summer, I would recommend going up a size, just to be sure. Check out the new loves of my life in kick-ass leather form that I picked up in the January sales but have only just got around to wearing due to living a few hundred miles away. They'll have to be surgically removed from my feet at some point in the near future.

The weekend (read: the sleep) was very much appreciated, and I had a wonderful weekend with a few people that I miss incredible amounts when I'm at university. It's so difficult finding the time to see everyone during the week, as commuting tires me out more than I imagined it would. I'm slowly getting used to it, however, and am looking forward to seeing  a big group on Wednesday, as well as catching up with some blogger pals at the weekend. Sometimes I think it's a shame that I haven't tried the new flavours of Red Bull introduced for the Jubilee (cranberry, lime and blueberry, so patriotic ⚐) as they'd surely pep me up Queen Liz style. Then sometimes I'm really rather glad I haven't.

xxx

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She was a princess, queen of the highway.

Jumper: £9, Fred Perry via Oxfam. Vest: Fat Face. Floral Print Trousers: £13, H+M. Chelsea Boots: £60, Topshop. Bag: gift, Marks and Spencer. Necklace: £1, Topshop. Rings: vintage, gift, Rock 'n' Rose.

Lunch hour equates to adventure time in my eyes. I went to Brick Lane yesterday and died a little inside at the prices (I swear it was cheap a couple of years ago? Now it's £45 for a fur hat??). I also received frowns/winks as my skirt couldn't cope with the wind. But less chat about my abysmal wardrobe choices, more about the pictures, which portray a slightly more picturesque image of my embarrassing life.


The "R" is a piece of graffiti by the artist Eine. In all honesty, if I hadn't researched his work for GCSE Art, I probably would consider this to be just another piece of wall-art, but seeing this brightly coloured piece of typography whilst meandering along, almost half an hour early, ignited a certain nostalgia for rooms that constantly smell of aerosol and the musicians who had lessons scheduled at the same time playing Wonderwall again, and again, and again... It's enough to make you hate Oasis, before you even know who the Gallaghers are.

If you're more into the Doors, then there's a restaurant that plays Morrison Hotel on repeat. The Breakfast Club may be only five minutes away from where I work, but my friend and I were still unable to finish a pitcher of smoothie in that time. And we really did try. I went once for cake and coffee with my dad on the way back from an Aresenal match (woo! football!! sartalics>), but this time I opted for actual food. And, boy, was it good. I decided upon the apple and cinnamon french toast (considering I dislike both cinnamon and eggs this was, perhaps, a risky option), whereas my friend went for a salmon and cream cheese beigel. I did get slightly confused when they placed a plateful of what was definitely bacon in front of me, but once they'd realised their mistake they were really apologetic, and brought me the correct meal (and an "I'm sorry!" chocolate bar). It is pricey, but you do get massive portions, and the toilets boast the world's smallest disco, which may only be experienced, not explained.


One week down, plenty more to go! I already feel like I know Liverpool Street station like the back of my hand (check it out in the background of the second photo!), and love being the only commuter wearing things outside of the muted greyscale palette.


xxx


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