Valley of the Dolls

Wearing: J.W. Anderson X Topshop sweater, Asos faux fur scarf, Karen Walker sunglasses, DIY skirt and J.W. Anderson pearl heels.

Today's look was in part inspired by the picket fence at my boyfriend's holiday home and the vivid photography of Alex Prager. It's also a continuation of this moodboard I made at the end of last year. Tbh I just really wanted to wear pastel tones, a killer pair of shades and most of all double J.W. Anderson.

HOW AMAZING ARE MY SHOES GUYS?? (I know I say that every time I buy a new pair but cmon)

The heels are made from real mother of pearl and they're the perfect combination of leather and brushed suede. Anyway, Alex Prager creates stunning visual films and photographs featuring vivid blue skies and women with porcelain skin. 

1, 6- Alex Prager. 2 & 3- Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1963). 4- Desiree by Alex Prager, 2008. 5- Bye Bye Birdie (1963). 7- Grease (1978). 8- Cindy Sherman's untitled film stills. 9- Despair by Alex Prager, 2010.

Fusion

Wearing: Vintage dress and coat, J.W. Anderson X Topshop sweater and fake Dior sneakers.

First of all, apologies for the weird purplish tinge to these photos, I've come out looking like some sort of alien which is cool! But also probably alarming to some hardcore Sci-fi fans who may try and hunt me down. Secondly, I am wearing something fake other than the faux fur coats I have so buried myself in this past winter. I have never worn a fake anything on this blog before, but I've come to the slow realization that I am not in the same stratosphere as my beloved Susie Bubble. I have not been touted as 'the next big thing' by Teen Vogue or the New Yorker. I am incredibly humbled by the readership I have cultivated over the last five years but pleasing other and being a faithful consumer has gotten me nowhere. Still, I respect everyone who takes the time to read my blog so I will definitely let you guys know when I am wearing something fake and when I have my hands on the genuine article.

White Widow

Wearing: Meadham Kirchhoff X Topshop dress, Meadham Kirchhoff X Nicholas Kirkwood shoes, POMS earrings and thrifted wedding veil.

I miss the presence of Meadham Kirchhoff collections at London Fashion Week so so much. I feel like they left the fashion industry so suddenly we were never really given a chance to protest or express our indignation and now the only thing left to do is mourn. I know it sounds childish to miss artists whose work I never experienced first hand, or met in person but I still feel a real sense of loss both for the fashion community but also teenage girls. For the latter their work was the most informative and influential, it brought together pastels and Riot Grrl movement in perfect synergy. For many it introduced the idea that personal style as well as music could express political ideologies and the self-proclaimed feminists set Instagram on fire when they announced an open casting for what was to be their last collection. I don't think we'll see anything quite like them in the future, and anything that does look similar in aesthetic will certainly miss the same stage presence brought to each of their shows.

Melancholy

Wearing: Maison Michel rain hat, J.W. Anderson X Topshop sweater, Target skirt, thrifted heels and Deadly Ponies bag.

It's very unusual for me to wear an all black outfit on the blog, but I've tried to make it as interesting as possible in terms of texture and shape! I'm a happy little turd now that I finally have this Maison Michel rain hat, which I have coveted and searched the Internet for, for YEARS. I also recently acquired my dream bag from new Zealand brand Deadly Ponies which features these little fox tail charms, which are in fact made from sheep wool. I'm not a huge bag lady, unlike many other fashion bloggers who have mastered utilizing their accessories in cool and interesting ways but this piece just resonates with me. Both the bag and hat were first produced years ago and remind me of when fashion blogging was touted as the thing which would topple even the most influential fashion editors. Of course that hasn't happened and some fashion bloggers have been criticized as being too heavily commercial but it's the idealistic nature and design of each piece which I really admire.

Real witches don't wear black

Wearing: Meadham Kirchhoff X Topshop dress, deadstock tights, POMS earrings, Topshop zebra print jacket and Atilin saddle shoes.

One of my favourite things to do is take a well-known troupe and deconstruct it and then rebuild it in my own image. Witchy chic is one of those things normally associated with lots of black, dried rose petals and wooden trinket boxes but instead I decided to make it more cute and kitsch. While I admit this look definitely needs like a cute pentagram necklace or something I am happy with how it turned out. I've been so busy wearing my Asos faux fur coat that I totally forgot about this zebra piece for a little while. It's not exactly versatile but it is super fun to wear with other patterns such as this dress. The weather is finally cold enough that I can wear these cute tights again and I no longer feel that it's necessary to wear a petticoat with this dress. I think it demonstrates that slowly I am growing in confidence not just in terms of my outfits but also my body type.