Wardrobe raid

Lately I feel like I haven’t been giving my blog all the love it deserves – I miss blogging when I don’t do it, but sometimes I’m lacking some serious inspiration and prefer to wait for a light bulb moment (and that can take a while). But I did feel like I got some of my groove back when the lovely Lily from The Mardi Gras Cactus featured me and my wardrobe on her amazing website. I enjoyed the interview and I especially enjoyed having my wardrobe depicted and showing off a few of my current favourite looks and pieces. I loved the spontaneity of it all, the fact that the pictures aren’t necessarily as artistic as the ones you see on most blogs (which I’m a fan of, naturally) or like what I myself aspire to on my blog, but feel happy and natural (a little bit of flash never hurt anyone). Here are a few candid snapshots of my bits and bobs, some of them haven’t been featured on the blog yet so these pics can serve as a sneaky preview…

Green jacket, NW3.

This NW3 jacket probably deserves to be amongst the top 10 bargains of the year list – it was over 100 pounds in store and I managed to bag it for a modest 10 pounds in a Hobbs sample sale.

I couldn’t live without my monthly dose of fashion news and inspiration…

Pocket tee, Primark. Skirt, ASOS. Earrings, Gogo Philip. Bracelet, H&M.

I still haven’t worn this ASOS dogtooth print skirt out of the house, let’s just say I’m waiting for the right moment…

I suppose it’s not all glitz and glamour – I’m a messy girl at heart…

From left to right: Perspex pumps, from Urban Outfitters. Leopard print and red pumps, Zara. Turquoise pumps, Accessorize. Just seen: River Island brogues, Primark loafers with bow detail and New Look nude flats.

I’m short but that doesn’t stop me from being a pumps fan…

Dress, ASOS (as seen here). Earrings, Gogo Philip. Bracelet, H&M.

Ever since this (very) straight guy who has as much knowledge of fashion as I do of quantum physics said that I looked very pretty in this dress, I love it 10 times as much as before.

Clutch, Holly Fulton for ASOS.

My Holly Fulton for ASOS clutch! I had to stop myself from keeping my finger on the exclamation mark button because that’s how excited it makes me. I love Holly Fulton to bits and unfortunately my wallet isn’t exactly compatible with the price tags on her clothes – so this designer/high-street (well, online store) collaboration was my salvation.

Clockwise from top: White stud earrings, Primark. Vintage bracelet. Vintage earrings. Retro-style earrings, Gogo Philip. ‘Icon’ bracelet, ASOS.

Whether it’s cute, kitsch, or extravagant, jewellery is as important to me as clothes – it either completes, emphasizes or changes a look. And I really understand how certain pieces can have sentimental value, more so in a way than clothes.

NW3 bag worn with H&M skirt and Topshop blouse. Ring, gift.

Love love love this NW3 bag – another happy ending with this baby, since, like my jacket, in store it was over 100 and I got it for a very reasonable 15 pounds at the afore mentioned sample sale.

Dorothy Perkins top worn with River Island skirt, ASOS earrings and H&M bracelet. Ring and necklace, gift.

Leopard print at its boldest. I spotted this top in Dorothy Perkins last autumn and for some reason I really liked its OTT vibe. It’s perfect for when I don’t want to make too much of an effort but at the same time am happy to wear something that is unapologetically glamorous.

Necklace, Topman.

Ladies, I totally recommend you all regularly check out the men’s jewellery in Topman (or anywhere else for that matter). I wouldn’t be too sure what to think if I saw a guy wearing this (he would need a hell of a lot of confidence/swagger/cheekiness to pull it off), but it ain’t half as hard for us females.

All pictures by Lily Tian Niu for The Mardi Gras Cactus.

The finishing touch? Nail polish – it makes me happy. When choosing a colour I sometimes do bear in mind what I’m wearing – other times I celebrate a total clash.

Excuse the picture overload, but I was happy with the results and liked the variety of it all. To read the interview and check out Lily’s digital hybrid that is “a platform for sense and style, fabulously cruel social commentary, runway fashion, classic feminist literature in novel form, Tarantino films, the elaborate torturing of [non-]fictional Sims characters…” click here. A big thank you to Lily – I might just have to take inspiration from her approach and make this kind of raiding a semi-regular thing.