BLACK SCORE X PETA

Since becoming a vegetarian in August, I have started to really think about the choices I make not just when I am eating, but also in regards to the rest of my life as well. I have suddenly become really aware of actually how much stuff is not suitable for vegetarians; from makeup and skincare products to clothes and household cleaning. It just doesn't make sense to me! I was always aware that things were tested on animals but I think it's really easy to brush that knowledge under the sheepskin carpet and carry on using those products anyway. My usual reason for buying a product is because it's cheap/on offer rather than for any moral or ethical reasons, but now that I'm veggie I've decided to make a conscious effort to only buy things that are not animal tested and don't contain any animal products (and I will tell you now, it's bloody difficult!).

CHRISTMAS = VELVET

Christmas is just around the corner (help) which for most people means buying presents, ordering a food delivery and putting up the Christmas tree. Not for me though, I have currently managed to avoid all of these things and instead have been spending my days searching online for some fashion inspiration based around one of my favourite materials - velvet. I am a lover of anything soft and warm and therefore velvet is a fabric that my wardrobe is full of. Around this time of year the shops seem to be stocked high with it (dream come true) and with jewel tones everywhere on the high street these pieces are perfect for festive parties, Christmas shopping, or just for watching Love Actually after Christmas dinner with your slightly-pissed, paper-crown-wearing family. So I have gathered some of my favourite looks that I came across in my search for velvet to provide some inspiration to you all.

10 THINGS THAT TV AND FILM TAUGHT ME ABOUT FASHION

I would say that my first love of fashion came from Project Runway. I LOVED that show with a passion and always thought that I could be the one up there making a ballgown out of $30 of fabric and some sequins. Unfortunately I realised early on that I am not the sewing type; I once made a lined satin swing dress at school and after weeks of perfecting it and making sure everything looked great, I managed to overlock a seam and cut my dress in half... (it ended up as a horribly baggy top). Nevertheless this didn't put me off pursuing a degree in fashion promotion (no sewing there thank you) and I think watching a multitude of films and tv shows related to fashion during my childhood only spurred me on and made me realise that this is the line of work I want to be in. So here are 10 things that tv and film taught me about the fashion industry.

TOP 5 OVERSIZED WINTER SCARVES UNDER £20

Recently (in England anyway) it just hasn't felt that much like winter. I feel like it was only a couple of weeks ago that we were enjoying a heatwave and the only things distinguishing November from August are the ever-lengthening nights. We have, however, had the occasional freeeeeezing days. I usually either get up for work at about 7am or leave work at 9:30pm and at these times it is dark and often quite nippy. This is where the oversized scarf comes in. 

I have never been much of a fan of scarves; I don't like having anything around my neck and, having very long hair, find them kind of unnecessary in terms of keeping me warm. But when I spotted a girl wearing this black and white beauty from Zara (see below) I actually sprinted after her to find out where it was from. I then spent a good 2 weeks trying to find it in an actual store but it seemed to be sold out everywhere. I finally picked it up in Madrid of all places and I haven't taken it off since (literally... It goes with EVERYTHING). So, feeling like I might need to purchase another oversized scarf so that my Zara one can have a rest, I have compiled a list of a few of my favourites on the high street at the moment for under £20.

The Zara Dream Scarf - Credit: turnitinsideout

FUR FUR FUR, I JUST CAN'T SAY NO

I'd like to start off by saying it's definitely all about the faux. I have recently converted to vegetarianism and although I have never actually bought any real fur in the past, I must confess that I do own a pair of chinchilla lined gloves and a mink hat; both of which were passed down from my great great grandmother so I feel like it would be a waste of a life to leave them unloved in the attic somewhere. New fur however, definitely not.

ALEXANDER WANG X H&M. IT'S HERE.

It's here! Alexander Wang has finally landed on the high street with his new collection for H&M and boy, wasn't it worth the wait. The 61 piece collection was launched in stores and online last Thursday 6th November and, understandably, already most of the collaboration is sold out. So I am going to go through a few of my favourite items from the collection, as well as a few of the more interesting ones, to help me decide which pieces will help me part with my cash (when they come back in stock...)

NOT SO CLUELESS ANY MORE

Cher Horowitz - the envy of every 90's girl. Who wouldn't want a personalised computer to tell you what you should (and more importantly, shouldn't) wear? The idea of a virtual closet is one that has been around since the 1995 Clueless film was produced, however it has always been just that little bit too far off from reality... Until now.

THE WORLD CUP JUST GOT INTERESTING

So it's nearly over. 4 more days and the world can go back to normal. We can walk the streets in the evening without having to step into the road at every street corner because of the overflow of people crammed into the pub to watch the game. (I feel like I know the outcome of every match just by hearing the cheers and boos on my way home from work). However, one aspect of the World Cup has actually caught my attention. The fashion.

UK company ctrl+c designed a range of 80's and 90's inspired football jerseys

WIMBLEDON THEN AND NOW

I must admit, I have very little interest in sport (the World Cup is really getting boring now that my sweepstake teams are out), but Wimbledon is one sports competition that I always end up watching each year. It reminds me of summer days when I was little, going out to the tennis courts up my road and playing doubles with my brother and our friends (this usually ended in an argument and someone crying). So, in the spirit of looking back in time, I decided to have a little browse on the internet to find some of Wimbledon ladies' best (and worst) outfits from the past and compare them to todays.

FESTIVAL ESSENTIALS UNDER £15

With Glastonbury nearly underway and summer upon us, it is officially festival season. Although I am not going to a festival this year which involves camping overnight, I know a lot of people who are and who, despite the lack of showers and excess of mud, still want to look good. Unless you are lucky enough to live in a location which is usually drenched in sunlight rather than UK rain, you need to be prepared for all weather occasions which is why I have compiled a list of my summer fashion festival essentials on a budget.

THE LCF BA SHOW

London College of Fashion showcased the 26 collections of their best BA fashion students on the 19th June, and photographs of the clothes from the show makes it clear that these up and coming designers are ones to watch.

ALL-WHITE-EVERYTHING

Just a quick post for you today, and more of just a fashion inspiration page for the all-white trend. I think wearing all-white gives off such a classy vibe when it is done well, and for the (hopefully) hot summer weeks coming up ahead, layering white pieces will look effortless and keep you super-cool at the same time (in both senses of the word). So here is a collection of images that I will be using as inspiration for my upcoming all-white-everything outfits.

TOP 5 CO-ORDS UNDER £30

I have always been obsessed with co-ordinated outfits. I am a very matchy-matchy person (which is why monochrome tends to be my failsafe option), so when the co-ordinates trend started to appear on the high street it was as if all my dreams had come true.

PRETTY PSYCHEDELIC

I have to admit, my failsafe outfit choices are usually monochrome. I think there is something very classic and sophisticated about an all black and white outfit and I love that you don't have to think at all about colours clashing or patterns not working together. However, I have to get my colour fix from somewhere, and this is where accessories come in. I am a huge printed scarves person and I can't think of anything more chic than a white skirt, black top and an oversized scarf as a foolproof outfit, but recently there has been another printed accessory catching my eye... The clutch bag.

Lauren Lambert for Juicebox magazine.
Left - Kaleidoscope Clutch by Nicola Brighton, photo credit Rowan Southern.
Right - Holographic Clutch by Nicola Brighton, own photo.

ADIDAS ORIGINALS X THE FARM COMPANY

The world cup is just around the corner (in 13 days apparently - I googled it) and it seems like Brazil is everywhere; especially in the fashion world. For a lover of tropical prints this is the best news I could possibly hear and will hopefully make the constant drone of football slightly more bearable over the next month, especially now that Adidas have launched a new Originals collection with Brazilian brand The Farm Company.

5 PATTERNED BACKPACKS UNDER £20

I am one of (probably... hopefully) many girls who has to carry everything in her bag. I mean everything. All of my possessions. And the kitchen sink. And my cat. This isn't because I particularly need any of these things on a regular basis (although last time a friend was stuck without a spoon to eat her yogurt with at lunch who was there to save the day? That's right, Annie was. You're welcome) but more because it is just nice to know that I am prepared for every occasion. The one downside of this, however, is that it ends up with me lopsidedly dragging a huge handbag around wherever I go which leads to shoulder ache, back ache and face ache. Not good. So I have recently been having a look for a more practical solution and the one I have decided upon is the backpack.

Iga W on lookbook.nu

THINK FASHION... THINK EBAY

"Think Fashion, Think eBay" - possibly not the first thing that comes to mind but eBay is doing it's best to become the new cool online. Usually associated with old stuff, fake stuff and broken stuff, eBay has launched a new campaign (and a new website) featuring some familiar faces to show that it can be upmarket and that there are a lot of worthy items listed, especially in the fashion categories. 

THE COAT OF THE SEASON

Spring is upon us meaning that a whole new shopping trip is needed. Living in the unpredictable British climate it is important to have a variety of clothes for every occasion, meaning that a spring coat is definitely an essential. Pastel brights have been a huge trend with the designers this season and the high street has taken note of this, especially Zara. Zara has always been one of my favourite brands and I LOVE their coats. So much. So when I saw their newest selection I couldn't help but spot one which I knew was going to be a hit; the yellow 'coat with pockets' (or as I am going to call it - THE COAT OF THE SEASON)

Zara Yellow Coat - £99.99

I WOKE UP LIKE THIS

So sometimes, I roll out of bed, look in the mirror and think "yeah this could work" (usually after pressing snooze 12 times and realising I don't have the time to make anything else happen). So knowing what I can add to my sleepwear to make it (relatively) outside-acceptable is important, and I thought I would share this knowledge with the rest of the internet (aren't you lucky).

HOW TO SURVIVE A SAMPLE SALE

I love sample sales. I get a little tingle of excitement when I receive an email from companies that I love but can't usually afford (i.e. I'm too much of a cheapskate to spend more than £20 on anything) telling me they're having a sample sale, and recently my inbox contained one of these emails from one of my favourite brands; AQ/AQ. So, after trying desperately to find a time I wasn't working/at uni/eating, I headed over to The Old Truman Brewery just off Brick Lane to see what this sale had to offer me. The Old Truman is the most common place in London to hold sample sales (there's pretty much always something going on) and I have been to at least 5 sales there. So, having some sort of experience in the sample sale area, I have decided to put together this list of things you need to know if you're going to be braving a sale.

The queue outside the sale - AQ/AQ on Instagram

PRADASPHERE

Prada has always been considered as one of the most iconic and luxurious Italian brands in history. Everyone lusts over a Prada-something, whether you're a millions miles away from being able to afford it and do everything you can to find a good copy ("Hey look this is just like that Prada bag! For £8! In Primark! I can draw the logo on and nobody will notice right?") or you can afford it but have so many already that you're wondering whether it's necessary ("Ok, I have 53 pairs of sunglasses but only 7 of them are Prada so there's definitely room for another couple in my collection. There's no space in my wardrobe? Whatever, I'll build an extension.")
Now, however, everyone and anyone has the chance to see and touch some real life Prada, all made possible by the new Pradasphere exhibition at Harrods.

"I don't want to look. But it's Prada. So I'm going to look."
Made in Chelsea's Stephanie Pratt will do anything for Prada it would seem...

THINGS THAT MAKE ME ANGRY - HIGH STREET "VINTAGE"

So today I am going to have a bit of a rant. This is because I am fed up with high street shops like Topshop and Urban Outfitters selling clothes that they claim to be "vintage" for extortionate prices. When I was young(er) and naïve, I would go to these shops and spend hours sifting through the "Vintage" section (which consisted of faded, old Nike t-shirts tie-dyed and cut in to crop tops) trying to find something 'cool' and 'unique' for under £45. I then discovered that there were places called charity shops where you could get all of this junk for a fiver and this changed everything.

Mens Urban Renewal at Urban Outfiters. £25 for a tie-dye t-shirt?!

LEADING LADIES

I can't help but notice that here has been a lot in the press about Marks and Spencer recently. As well as just being named the UK's Most Ethical Retailer 2014 (beating H&M and Zara), they recently launched their Leading Ladies campaign in March which caused a storm in the press. 

TOP 5 ROUND SUNGLASSES UNDER £10

When the sun comes out in England you know about it. Tops come off, pale legs come out and everyone on your street seems to be having a BBQ. With the last couple of days being sunny(ish... or at least over 13 degrees) I have been provided with the perfect excuse to go sunglasses shopping. Having the head that I do, I find that a lot of sunglasses don't suit me and I spend hours trying on aviators and cat eye shapes to find that the only ones that look remotely ok are huge and give off Bug's Life vibes (not really the style I'm going for). But one style seems to come out on top every time and those beauties are round sunglasses.

SAVING THE PLANET ONE OUTFIT AT A TIME

It's Earth Week! For all of you not-yet-converted-eco-warriors who don't know, National Earth Day is on the 22nd April every year. The week around this date (that's this week if you weren't following) is dedicated to saving the planet and raising awareness on a worldwide scale. Whether it's using your empty milk cartons to create garden sculptures, saving water by not washing as much or using candles in the evening to save electricity we can all do our bit to help save the planet. Sound a bit over the top? Don't get me wrong, I love the planet (and I admit to being very strict on recycling EVERYTHING), but there are more fun ways to do your bit which don't have to involve colour-coded recycling bins and saving bowls of washing up water to water your plants with (yes I know people who do that).

ALEXANDER WANG X H&M

Despite being a fashion promotion student, I usually steer clear of designer x high street collaborations. This is mainly because 1. the ‘designer’ clothes don’t seem to differ much from what the rest of the shop sells (Rihanna’s winter 13 collection for River Island consisted of tartan and florals… River Island’s winter 13 collections consisted of tartan and florals...) and 2. it’s always horribly overpriced. However when I heard that H&M have announced a collaboration later this year with none other than Alexander Wang, I couldn’t help but let out a squeal of excitement.

THE MOM JEAN

I have to admit, I am pretty much 100% a skinny jeans gal. Despite seeing loads of women looking incredibly chic in straight legged, boyfriend and even (shock horror) bootcut jeans, they just don't seem to work for me and I always resort back to my black Zara skinnies. However recently there has been a new trend on the block that has caught my legs' attention; the Mom Jean.

MOTO Ripped White Mom Jeans - £40 Topshop

HERE COMES THE BUN

First it was ridiculously fancy moustaches (thanks for that Movember), then unkept bushy beards (thanks Mumford and Sons), but now there is a male grooming trend that I actually like; the Man Bun.

TOP TROPICAL TRAINERS UNDER £26

With summer just around the corner (well, it was sunny yesterday) and the student loan using up space in my bank account, it's time to decide what I'm going to invest in for the new season. I have always been a fan of tropical prints but I feel like I've exhausted the bomber jackets and pyjama pants of previous years. So instead for 2014, I am going to focus on tropical print trainers.

Converse Japan

KEEPING HER FEET ON THE GROUND: THE ROYAL DUCHESS

I don't know what it is about the Royal family but I LOVE them. Despite still not quite understanding what the Queen does (I'm hoping the Olympic parachute jump is a reflection of her duties) or even knowing who half of the royal relatives actually are (Lady Louise and Viscount Severn? Nope me neither) I think they're great, and one of the newest members, Kate Middleton, is my favourite.

KATE MOSS: STYLE-QUEEN OR HAS-BEEN?

No matter your opinion on Kate Moss (and come on now, everybody has one), she has long been a British fashion icon for both her modelling and her designing. After her last Topshop stint in 2007, she is now partnering up with the high-street giant once again, bringing out a new collection at the end of this month.