10 I Want

Being the enthusiastic gal that I am, I have always had a thing for strongly expressing my love for TV shows/films/singers/generally everything. Whether it be emblazoning Taylor Swift lyrics up my arm, or wearing a t-shirt with a Blair Waldorf quote sprawled across it, it doesn't matter; I get mocked either way. 

However, it seems the fashion world has finally caught up with me and has decided to start producing items with great big stinking photos of Daniel Radcliffe's face on the front, and I love it. I do believe we all have Tumblr to thank for this; I'm pretty sure it was their photoshopping geniuses that first put some of our most beloved characters on to clothing, before Black Milk took over and did it the proper way. You know, with actual fabric and all that. 

So far, I have only really found two brands that are producing good quality, striking pieces; Glitters For Dinner and of course, the infamous Black Milk (links below). Both have Harry Potter and Star Wars ranges, whilst Black Milk also has a Lord Of The Rings collection, and I am coveting a lot of their pieces. Who wouldn't want to walk around proudly adorned in their Gryffindor stripes? And, let's face it, if you're trying to tell me you don't want Orlando Bloom on your body then you're only lying to yourself. 

I found the other four jumpers on a glorious Tumblr called SweaterJunkie. They have an Etsy shop (link below) but unfortunately only stock a small range of jumpers, none of which feature the likes of my best pals Serena van der Woodsen, or Mary-Kate and Ashley. I'm holding out hope that they soon begin to produce more of the designs that feature on their Tumblr page, because there is nothing I need in my life more right now than a jumper with Taylor Swift's face in the armpit crease.

What do you think of these collections; super cute or just kinda lame? Would you wear your Hagrid on your sleeve?

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Jumper - Glitters For Dinner, £30 // 2. Harry Potter "Let The Magic Begin" Jumper - Glitters For Dinner, £30 // 3. Gryffindor Leggings - Black Milk Clothing, £50 // 4. Marauders Map Leggings - Black Milk Clothing, £50 // 5. Tatooine Swimsuit - Black Milk Clothing, £60 // 6. Legolas Swimsuit - Black Milk Clothing, £60 // 7. Aria, Pretty Little Liars Jumper - 8. Serena, Gossip Girl Jumper - 9. Taylor Swift Jumper - 10. Mary-Kate and Ashley Jumper - Sweater Junkie, not available for purchase.

KJ xo

DIY: Upcycling Old Skirts

Upcycling old clothes is one of my favourite things to do. Whether it be bleaching denim, attaching studs or simply adjusting something I bought in the charity shop so it fits; there is something extremely satisfying about taking a mundane item of clothing and making it fabulous.

A few weeks ago I had a real craving to go digging around in my local charity shops. However, as I mentioned in this post, it is nigh on impossible to find anything wearable in the charity shops of Bristol. This mid-length skirt caught my eye because the pattern is pretty groovy, and the shape of it means it can easily be adapted in to a little skater skirt (and we all know how much I love those!)

As I began to work on reinventing it, I decided that I would photograph the process so I could do a tutorial on it - if you'd like to see more tutorials on upcycling clothes then comment down below!

The original skirt had an elasticated waist and is a circle shape so it falls nicely. This is the kind of style you want to look out for if you want to make a skater skirt. 

InstaDiary: Week 6

Annual wardrobe organization | 8oz beefburger with hand-cut chunky fries | Joe bought me a cabbage for our anniversary | A glass of rosé wine in a very British pub | Jamie's Tuscan Salad a la Sarah | Birthday card for my brother | Showing off my sewing skills | Marinated chicken breast with patatas bravas | My new dress is adorable.

KJ xo

My First Pay-Cheque: Haul

After a couple of weeks of saving I decided it was time to finally splash some cash and treat myself to lots of new pretty things; in the words of Georgina Sparks, "I've been so good for so long, it's time for me to be bad."

So, with my wages safely deposited in the bank and my debit card in hand I made a beeline for Topshop, Zara and Urban Outfitters. I have to say, I was left largely disappointed with what was on offer in some of my most trusted stores. No one wants to pay £48 for a plain knit jumper, or £52 for a skimpy playsuit. Topshop, Urban Outfitters; shape up or ship out! As for Zara, everything in their collection was gorgeous but I'm simply not brave enough to invest in floral print trousers or a chiffon blazer.

However I have apparently taken a liking to plaid, unwittingly purchasing two items in the pattern before getting home, taking them out the bag and being asked "What are you, a farmer?". 

I also made an obligatory pit-stop at Primark to see if I could snap up any bargains and ended up buying more there than anywhere else. I love this bag; I know deep down that it won't last the Winter but how could I resist such a gorgeous cobalt blue? I won't try and defend purchasing such a basic t-shirt, or another set of cosy socks... or the Christmassy penguin-print pants that I thought best not to photograph. 

Last but not least I scoured Boots for two items on my beauty hit list; Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter and Barry M Gelly nail varnish. Thankfully I found them both or else there would of been hell to pay after my less than satisfying shopping trip.

I headed home feeling a little deflated, sort of like I'd waited all day for a delicious roast dinner only to be left disappointed by soggy veg and dry meat. With only ten items purchased and less than a week's wages spent I vowed to go on another filthy great shopping spree before Christmas. 

Until then, here are some pictures of what I bought:

Denim Dreams

Skater skirts are my go-to item; whether it be red velvet or adapted from one of my mum's old maternity dresses, with braces attached or with swans on; I'll wear it. They're versatile, appropriate for every season and occasion, and can be styled in a thousand different ways. However, despite my apparent fetish for them I have never been the owner of the most infamous of them all; the denim skater skirt. I have coveted one for years, but I could never quite bring myself to part with nigh on £28 for something so... simple.

A few days ago, my grandma brought round a bag of old clothes for me to dig through. As well as discovering some rather cute vintage jumpers and blouses, I pulled out an ankle length denim skirt. It was as if all my prayers had been answered; I immediately grabbed my scissors and sewing machine, and embarked upon a merciless denim massacre. An hour later the skirt was 10" smaller, 15" shorter and with fresh elastic in the waistband. 

Feeling ecstatic about my latest creation, I decided to wear it out that evening and couldn't resist taking a few snaps of how I'd chosen to style it. However, with this being my first outfit post I was rather nervous about taking and posting these photographs and thus used my artistic licence to ensure I captured a sense of the outfit without having to inflict my face upon you all. 

Do any of you also have a love affair with skater skirts? Or any item of clothing? If so, how do you choose to style them?

InstaDiary: Week 5

Closest thing I can find to my name on a Coke bottle | Pub quiz (we came 3rd... out of 6.) | Yummiest chicken and bacon salad | New Vans | Hot chocolate in my favourite Harry Potter mug | Interview outfit... | ... I got the job! | Gromit hunting | My first wage packet!

InstaDiary: Week 4

Waffles with ice cream at the Cider Press | Giving my dungarees and outing | Cuddling my new baby | Cute birthday present wrapping | Cookie dough | Massive excitement at my new felt tips | Reminiscing on the first photos I took two years ago with my SLR | Fun times on my sewing machine | Lady Gaga "Born This Way" face paint.