Wee Snapshot

Hello my dears,

It's mid-week yeeehhhhyyyy!!!

Today is one of these days that every little thing seems to go just right!! Looove when it happens <3
Woke up feeling really happy and well, had great outfit inspiration and left home with no rain and a fresh breeze of the air. As soon as I got to uni it started raining!! Had some great meeting at university about placements opportunities and while wondering around Oxford Circus and Regent Street  for some style inspiration and to observe the latest street trends, got some managers of some shops really interested on my style!! In conclusion it was a great day, met new people and had loads of fun!

Here for you I am uploading a wee snapshot of my outfit, which was mainly focused on the jewellery, the vintage ones that I bought last week that is. So, do you like how I have used the brooch?
It took the attention of everyone, and I think it will be my lucky charm from now on, as it might have helped me finding a job in the fashion industry!! Soon will post about it ;)

Have a nice evening everyone ;o)

Ciao Ciao

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Grey Goes Well With Tea

Hello everyone,

Monday, Monday, Monday.... I don't curse it as much anymore, as having no classes it means that I can organize it exactly how I want, which is usually blogging, studying and reading. When I woke up this morning and looked out of the window... and saw a grey, grey day. I did not despair, a day like this goes perfectly with tea and some cosy time at home!! Which is what I would be doing for the rest of it, if it wasn't for the fact that this noon will have to go to the library and do some needed research.
Anyway.... since is not that cold I can leave the coat at home and opt for this warm and cosy cashmere cardigan found on eBay!!!

Wearing: Camper ankle boots, Ralph Lauren jeans, vintage belt, Harley Davidson vintage shirt, vintage velvet scarf and The Cashmere Centre cardigan.

Have a cosy Monday everybody :o)
Ciao Ciao

Bello, Bello Portobello

Good evening to you all,

Today I took advantage of the not so bad weather and my almost perfect location in London to walk to Portobello. The famous Saturday Portobello Market!
It was a good and a bad idea at the same time. Good so I left my tinny room and got some fresh air! Bad because I have created some new wish list and cravings ^__^!!

There was a bit of everything, from vegs to high end vintage Chanel necklaces (one of my new cravings) and silver bricks&bracks. I didn't get much, today was just one of these days that, no matter what amazing things and good bargains you find, you are still not fully convinced.

Well... here are the few naps I manage to get before being invaded over and over by crowd of tourists and locals alike!!

 

 These are the two items I managed to brag today, a simple jeans shirt that I actually bought at a charity shop on my way to the market and a vintage deep shades of red velvet scarf that I immediately had to wear!! (and which btw is one of the fabrics of this season) I found it at one of the stalls at the edge of the vintage/clothing area and almost on the vegs part.

Hope you had a lovely day too!

Ciao Ciao :o)

New in..... On the High End!

Good morning fellows!

Lately I have been exploring my area and discovered some nice little places. Being on the West side of London, means nice wee shops, cafe shops, as well as many mini markets with healthy and organic food.

On the other hand many things if not all of them are overpriced! The very positive part of it though, is the goodie-goodies that you can find on charity shops around here. What I mean for goodies? Well, the nice branded item for a decent price and in very good condition.

I did notice that Charity shops across the country have raised their prices due to the new clientele. It used to be students and people on the low budget as well as the bargain hunters, now, thanks to the economic meltdown we start to  see people that wouldn't have come around before 2008, that can still afford to pay a bit more than let's say, me for example! So now prices are higher and charity shops start to have a more TopShop window style as well as spending  more in decoration and completely defeating the purpose of its existence. :-(

Today though, I don't want to talk about my frustrations of charity shops losing their way but the few bargains that I and you can still find if looking carefully! 

In the last two weeks or so I have found quite a few items of good quality brands for a reasonable price!

1) The first item is the MaxMara Blazer, I found that cutie in Edinburgh more or less 3 weeks ago on the Cancer Resarch UK in Tollcross. It was for £19.95. I love it! It’s warm practical and has a feminine cut that accentuate the curves! The colour is just perfect for the fall too ;-)

2) Gucci belt! I found this real bargain at Armstrong & Son Vintage shop in Edinburgh, the one on Grassmarket. It was for only £4!! Not sure if they didn't realize what brand it was or if it's the usual price for belts. the fact is.... did my research and it's a genuine Gucci item :-D.

3) Black See by Chloé jeans, found it at Traid a recycling focused shop at two steps from me on Westbourn Grove. Paid £12.99 and it is in great condition. 

4) The last entry is the Ralph Lauren skinny jeans. They were a bit more expensive; £16. I got them at the Trinity Hospice Shop on Queensway. Very good condition and it looks like it has been barely used.

 I know that for being charity shop, both jeans are over the usual price, mainly the one that I'm used to from Edinburgh for an average of £4 to £5!! On the other hand, they come from good quality designer Maisons.

Aaand.... they are in good condition! I know that I am repeating myself on this point but a funny event that happened two weeks ago really made me appreciate it. I was in the Belgravia area and was just browsing shops. went to a few ones and trying one jeans after the other, I noticed that many of them were ripped on the inner thigh area. In one particular shop there was a nice J Brand jeans, tried them on and noticed this damage. Went to talk to the lady that works there and asked her if she realized, she said yes and said that being a high end brand they are very expensive when bought new!! I mean.... who would be so silly to buy damage item for £10 only because the are "Branded" is just ridicules.  She was just looking at me in a way... like...<<Daahhh, they are branded and therefore I will sell them even if ripped>> 

 

 

Anyway....  What have your experience been on charity shops? Have you found any brand bargains? Any ripped or damage clothes being sold only for its name??!!

Have a nice week :o)
Ciao Ciao

back to London and hello vintage!

I'm back in the capital for my final year at uni, not sure yet if I should be happy or sad but let's put this decision aside for the moment.
One of the biggest difficulties of having a environmentally and sweatshop free fashion life style is accessories. Most of shops don't even bother writing where they are made and the ones who do usually have India, Bangladesh, China and so on on the tag, which is the direct translation of sweatshop.

I mean, jewellery is a big statement and complement outfits, from making a simple shirt, skinnies and heels the most boring and casual outfit to a very classy and sophisticated one. where to find them though?
Charity shops tend to have the bijoux that are just out of trend, old or miss that little detail to make them special, in other words sometimes they can be just plain dull. Vintage on the other hand, is more intriguing but being all about old stuff it is difficult to find something that can fall into the latest must haves.
I am not saying that I am a maniac of the last trends and that I change my wardrobe every season (I wish I could!!) I'm just saying that sometimes is nice to update a bit, mainly now that I am completely in love with the super sparkly fake diamond necklaces by Anthropologie, I mean they are just gorgeous! 

Anyway.... today I went to the York Hall in Bethanel Green at the kilo vintage fair. Must say that I was very disappointed but at the same time I could have expected it. most of the clothes were just, sorry for the word, garbage; huge stains, holes, cut, ripped, you name it! I love vintage but there is such a thing as good vintage and bad vintage, today I saw a lot of the second kind.
Said that, I went with some expectation but not to much regarding the clothes but really wanted to have a look at the jewellery which was mainly by Vitoria Vintage jewellery. I bit expensive but check what I manage to grab being squeezed between savages shoppers!

On the far right is the brooch, the main part of the purchase, I intend to use it as a necklace with the help of the other necklace on the far left ( mainly reason why I bought that one!!). naturally I took inspiration as said before by the Anthropologie ones, the ring right in front of it with the big blue stone is another addition to the super big fake diamond collection! believe it or not the bracelet is gold plated, real bargain that one! as the other are just some cuties that I could not resist!! The silver tiny ring on the gold bracelet was only 40p, how awesome is that?!!

So what do you think? and most important, if you like me, have left behind the orthodox shopping life, how do you go about choosing your bling-blings??!!

Have a nice Sunday everybody :o)
Ciao Ciao