Ralph's Big Checked Shirt

Ralph Lauren, Checks, Oversized Shirt, Natural, Red n' Green, Relaxed

Shirt: Ralph Lauren, hand-me-down

Boots: Topshop, £46

Earrings: River Island, sale (a while back)

Ring: H&M, Part of a pack

Hair Colour: La Riche Directions, Turquoise 

(colour varies on everyone's hair)  

In an ideal world, these photos would have been taken in a small wood cabin in the forest, complete with little other furniture than an antique wooden chair in one corner and a slept-in bed with its crisp white sheets.There would be large windows with the light of the golden hour streaming though, bathing everything in a warm glow. But, alas, this is not an ideal world, so behold my garden. 

Grace x

Modern Decadence

Tartan Velvet, Pearls, Gold Accents, Champagne Truffles, White Cotton

T-Shirt: £4, Primark (men's)

Pealrs: £2 Primark

Shorts: £32, Topshop (now on sale)

Hoop Earrings: Part of a £2 pack, Primark 

Boots: £42, Topshop

 Grace x

The Power of The Christmas Jumper

American Retro, Fluffy Kittens, Christmas Cheer, Bright Wool, Electric Red.

Mom Jeans: Black Wash, Topshop

Christmas Jumper: East End Thrift Shop

Necklace: Second Hand, Gift

Earrings: New Look

Lipstick: Velveteen Ribbon, Topshop

I will remember this year as the year I learnt the power of the Christmas jumper. You honestly have more fun just by wearing one, and, if you've got your hands on a particularly good number, it's a great conversation starter. I bagged this American retro knit for £15 at the East End Thrift Shop a couple of weeks back and am dreading when I have to pack it away- I'm really going to miss these kittens! 

So, no matter if you decide to sport a Fair Isle number, an American vintage pullover or a novelty elf/reindeer/Santa/snowman onsie, like many fashion articles have stated in these past couple of months, you will wear a Christmas jumper and you will enjoy it.

Meanwhile, have a very merry- and necessarily cheesy- Christmas!

Grace x

'Automatic, I Imagine, I Believe'

'Automatic, I imagine, I believe'- Thirty Seconds to Mars, The Fantasy

Over the last couple of weeks I've been studying self portraits, and below is my final outcome. It was inspired by the bottom two images, from a collection on Rookie Magazine called 'Creature Fear'. The photos were taken by Eleanor Hardwick, the collage work by Ben Giles. I love the styling in these shots, by Nao Koyabu, especially all of the playful vintage pieces she has put together. The modelling was done by Arvida Byström.

Final outcome and response to 'creature fear'.

Grace x

Big Green Jumper

Oversized, cable knit, forest green, winter, bronze metal, paisley

*excuse the bad photo quality in some of these shots*

Big Green Jumper: £4.50, charity shop (H&M)

Jeans: £10, Topshop, sale

Shoes: £65/60, Office ('Leader of the Pack')

Necklace: £2.50, Topshop, sale

Hoop earrings: Part of a set from Primark

Stud earrings: Part if a set from H&M

Ring: Part if a set from H&M

I've had this oversized bargain charity shop jumper for ages now-easily over a year- and have only just managed to make it work. It still had the tags on when I claimed it as mine for £25.50 off the original price, probably because its original owner was just as bewildered by it's awkwardly shaped sleeves and split sides as I originally was. I'm glad I finally decided to give it a go because it's quickly becoming a favourite. They say you can never have too many shoes, but for me it's chunky knits I just can't stop buying.

Grace x

Recent Fashion Inspiration

1990's, Grunge, Hazy, Messy hair, Tartan, Velvet, Small Plaits, Daydream

Some images that have inspired me recently...

Melody Prochet in the Topshop Magazine, S/S 2013, 'French Dressing'

Topshop 'The Damned' make-up collection, A/W 2013

Topshop '90's Antwerp' lookbook, A/W 2013

'10 Things I Hate About You' Movie, 1999

Kat from '10 Things I Hate About You'

Kate Moss in 'The Face', 1990

Kate Moss in 'The Face', 1990

Rookie, Online Magazine

Rookie, Online Magazine

Grace x

Soft Autumn

Soft Autumn vibe, ox blood red, subtlety, rough elegance, calm winds. 

In these photos I contrasted the glamorous Gothic necklace and floaty chiffon midi dress with the ox blood Dr Martens and oversize thrift shop tartan coat.

Coat: £15, East End Thrift Shop

Dress: £20, Topshop, sale

Jumper: £5, H&M sale

Boots: £100, Dr Marten

Necklace: £2.50, Topshop, sale

For my eyes I chose warm toned slightly shimmer shades, highlighted my inner corners with a cream shimmer shadow and then subtly lined my eyes with a matt black eye-shadow. My brows are filled in with a medium brown sleek shadow. Lastly, I stained my lips with a highly pigmented old deep red H&M lipgloss.

To get the subtle waves in my hair I put it into two plaits whilst it dried.

Grace x