RECENT PURCHASE: MOTEL

What are you guys up to this weekend? I'm heading out with a pal tonight to drink and dance and cause mayhem in a notoriously-sweaty club and I realised the other day that I had NOTHING to wear! The gorge Evil Twin galaxy print dress that I bought recently is still my favourite dress of the moment (maybe of all time) but as it's velvet it's really more suited to autumn, and everything else in my wardrobe is either too smart or too casual! HONESTLY!

What I decided I needed was something short, tight and sleeveless. Doesn't sound like me, right? I know, I have no idea where the compulsion came from - I've DEFINITELY been watching too much Geordie Shore! Anyway, I figured I'd have a look at Motel's latest offerings as I seemed to remember from a while back that that sorta thing was right up their street. I opted for this wee number...

I was drawn initially to the high neck and then the cool print. It definitely straddles the trashy/classy divide but I figured with some opaque tights, chunky Jeffrey Campbells and spiked necklace it would just nudge it back over into 'respectable for a 25-year-old...' Oddly enough I wouldn't usually say my ARMPITS were one of my best features, and this dress does make something of an example of them, but I fell for the lure of how good it looks on this size 8 model (dangerous) and tried to convince myself that maybe it would flatter me too...

It arrived yesterday so I've had a chance to try it on and, aye, its nice. I'm not IN LOVE with it - mainly cos I think I'm just not particularly comfortable getting my pasty arms oot, and it is CRIMINALLY short, but the neckline is interesting and I like the print so it'll do fir the dancin.

Also, as I am no size 8, I did worry about my wobbly bits but thankfully the fabric is thick enough to do some serious SOOKING IN, but stretchy enough to accommodate a considerable bosom and bum. Ideal. Plus, I think this is kind of AGAINST Gok Wan's rules of fashion or something, but I do find that a busy print on a bodycon dress can often help disguise lumps and bumps rather than accentuate them. Don't shoot me Gok, I'm still all for a waist-cinching belt!

Anyway, what a rambly, ridiculous post. HERE'S MAH NEW DRESS. Hope y'all have an ace weekend.

JEFFREY CAMPBELL SUMMER LOOKBOOK 2012

I have to be honest, I expected more from the Jeffrey Campbell summer 2012 look book "Hot Child in the City." The name conjures up a kind of 70s, glamorous New York vibe, a little bit Studio 54, a little bit sweaty grunge and definitely very sexy... Instead these shots are lacklustre at best, and although the shoes in the collection look fabulous (we knew they would) I don't think they're being shown to the best of their potential by half-assed styling and lack of coherent inspiration...

See what I mean? There's too many random things going on - snakeskin, neon, tie dye - combined with downright BAD (and cheap?) styling and no actual vibe or theme to speak of. In some of the shots you can't even see the shoes when, OBVIOUSLY, they should be the main feature?!

Perhaps it's unfair to judge this lookbook too harshly since Jeffrey Campbell are, after all, a shoe brand, but in that case why waste time and effort on something so mediocre when they could have let the shoes speak for themselves as they often do. They're established enough to know better. It's a shame.

What do you think, do you guys agree or disagree?

BLACK MILK X JEFFREY CAMPBELL

What happens when notorious galaxy-print legging-manufacturers Black Milk team up with the hipster shoe-porn creatives over at Jeffrey Campbell for a limited edition collection of footwear?

THE WORLD EXPLODES IN A BURNING BALL OF COOLNESS!


No, obviously, that's ridiculous. But actually, the result is some PRETTY AWESOME shoesies...

Loving how well those last pair tie in with my last post :) Ahh sweet symmetry.

These limited edition wedges are only on pre-order at the moment but will no-doubt fly off the shelves when they go on general release in the next month or so. Whaddya reckon, you likey?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN/YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURHOOD GOTH

What a shock, I'm completely unprepared for Halloween this year! Seriously, it's SO unlike me, I've literally found myself with 2 days to come up with an awesome costume for a night out in town. DRAMZ! I still love both the dead Cleopatra, and last year's Bowie idea, but I'm just NOT confident in my own make-up artistry to pull them off or do them proper justice - especially Bowie. I defo don't wanna half ass Bowie. That's like some sort of crime.

Anyway, with a wardrobe already full-to-bursting of sheer black, cobweb knits, leather, platforms, PVC and fishnets, I expect I'll probably just pull together some kind of Gothic/witch attempt for Sat night. Cop out? Possibly. Still, work with what you got I guess.

In my dreams though, my uber-cool, thrown together Goth/witch outfit might look something like this...

Love this fishnet body suit from Tarantula Sisters - an Etsy fav of mine. I'd style it almost the same as they have, only with some high-waisted leather shorts instead. Loving the 90s black triangle bra too.

Looks a bit bare though, so I'd chuck on some intense body chains for extra Goth.

Chains available from Snefter on Etsy.

Instead of the classic witchy shoe, I'd go for the iconic Jeffrey Campbell Litas in black leather. They say, "I'm evil, but I'm sexy with it," right?

And OBVIOUSLY no self respecting Goth/witch would be seen dead (mwuhaaahahaaa) without her awesomely spooky Illamasqua green lip gloss. Duh.

Finally, yeah you could wear a witches hat but why would you want to when you could wear this amazing, creepy, vintage black wedding veil?

SHUDDER! Finish the look off with a spooky black cauldron for a bag (or PVC coffin backpack - we all had one!), a black cat, broomstick or a bunch of fake black roses...

SAWWTED!

 

I'M IN LOVE...

..with a shoe.

Behold, the Jeffrey Campbell Smudge Fab in black paisley:

I know everyone harps ON AND ON AND ON about the bloody Litas but they don't particularly do it for me and in my opinion are the perfect example of The-Emperor's-New-Clothes syndrome...

These are WAY more up my street. J'adore :)