It's the most, wonderful time of the year

I know, I know, we've just finished celebrating Halloween and Christmas has become the latest meme but I'm actually really excited to be celebrating Christmas this year! Aside from being able to use this holiday season to plan new content (both here and for science websites) as well as long-term employment, I've made so a lot of new friends this year. It's usually at this time of year that it's important to plan your events (including on whether to host or not!), organise Christmas card lists and the season's hottest accessories. I've been crushing on this metallic green dress from Asos and Christmas themed phone case from Skinny Dip, but what I'm most excited about is creating handmade cards for my friends, family and peers. I've also been toying with the idea of what my dream party invitation would look like, if you know, I weren't still living at home in a tiny house in the suburbs. I mean, a girl can dream, can't she? In lieu of a party invitation, I did create a mini Christmas-themed moodboard (expect more seasonal inspiration soon!) For party invites inspiration and cards without the snail mail, Paperless Posta have plenty of card designs for all occasions- including the silly season.

hair-raising

I've taken fashion blogging to new highs in terms of beehive hair, but also lows with what might be the worst (i.e. unoriginal) title for a blog post- ever. That said the content is absolutely fine and in fact I greatly admire the work of Julien d’Ys, who you might recognise as the hair stylist for Rei Kawakubo's colourful collections. In particular, the flamboyant fluorescent yellow locks that graced the stage at the Comme des Garçons Homme Plus presentation. These sculptural hairstyles were just one component of a collection which redefined gender at Paris Fashion Week. I remember seeing the hairstyles for the very first time in a youtube video, featuring the best of mens' fashion week and watching cool and disaffected male models exit the rear of a building. While not hugely practical or something that I can imitate on this blog, I thought the looks were worth sharing as inspiration to other bloggers or simply those who are dissatisfied with their current hairstyle and craving something different.

*Images via Dazed Digital, Photography Ilker Akyol

a bespectacled, studious youth

I've known I would need glasses for about a decade now- both my mother and father have two pairs of glasses each so it's always been something I've secretly looked forward to. I thought that this would happen during a later stage of life, specifically in my late thirties or early forties if I really looked after my health. The long hours I've spent scanning through specimens on a microscope is beginning to take it's toll though- and I frequently complain about sensitivity to light as well as eye strain. It's time to face facts: shopping for glasses isn't all doom and gloom although the sudden prospect of wearing glasses did slightly upset me. It seemed serendipitous that at approximately the same time, Eyeglass Discounter contacted me it seemed too good to be true! Although my eye tests came back as a negative on the glasses I did enjoy perusing their online catalog as well as finding photos of badass babes rocking their designer eyewear. For my North American and European readers it's also important to invest in a good pair of sunglasses for the upcoming Summer! They offer further discounts on their cheap range of both glasses and sunglasses, so I would highly recommend in buying a spare pair if you're thinking about traveling during the break as well. They also have some really cool hipster style glasses, along with many of the classic clubmaster and wayfarer styles to choose from.

*All glasses via Eyeglass Discounter
1- Arabelle Sicardi. 2 & 11- Tavi Gevinson. 3, 6, 9, 12- via Eyeglass Discounter. 4 & 5- How to Find the Vintage Eyeglasses of Your Dreams via Rookie Mag. 7, 8 & 10- Advanced Style.

Glitter Bomb

I've recently started watching videos from runway shows as a break from my usual routine of sifting through the literature and continuously editing what I have so far. It seemed fitting that I watch the Romance Was Born Mushroom Magic collection given how much I enjoyed their last presentation Bush Magic. In an instant I was reminded of all the lovely dresses and pieces I wish they had made available en masse but also the detail of each look. What really grabbed my attention though was the lovely use of glitter as an unorthodox lipstain. It made me think of all the zines and comics advocating the use of stickers as zit concealers but in a way that was far more extravagant.

Photos shot by Zachary Handley for StyleMeRomy.com
Hair by Alan White for ghd.
Make Up by Val Garland for MAC Cosmetics
Clothes from the Romance Was Born Spring 2013 collection.

technicolor

Lately I've felt inspired by the illustrations of Mary Blair, a Disney animator as well as the costumes and set design of the Wizard of Oz. While pastel colours have been the uniting theme I've been particularly drawn to the colour green in idealised landscapes and magical kingdoms. Naturally the Pip and Pop installation for designer Romance Was Born's Mushroom Magic collection fits neatly into this category. Even something as simple as a vintage lampshade on a floral wallpaper fits in with this very kitsch aesthetic. I also had to include a photo of one of my favourite bloggers and creatives, Marlena from self-constructed freak who made the pin in her outfit which says 'Earth Sucks'. As if we needed further proof she is actually a queen from outer space sent save us all! Although I've been really happy that it's Winter and I get to wear lots of fluffy faux fur coats I guess subconsciously my mind has been drawn to Spring vibes. It's hard to romanticise fall and winter without snow to look forward but cold weather and precious few hours of sunlight. 

1- Marlena from self-constructed freak, 2 & 3- The Wizard of Oz (1939), 4- Prada Fall 2015 backstage, 5- Pip & Pop for Romance Was Born Mushroom Magic collection, 6- Peter Pan by Disney illustrator Mary Blair, 7- unknown and 8- Shrimps Fall 2015.