Summer Feeling

Who doesn't love Liberty? If one cannot love with their purse, one can certainly love with their eyes... The Liberty florist is one of my favourite spots in London, as you can tell from my longing expression. Gurl be serenadin' flowaz soon...

Photos c/o stunner Stella ♥

~

Lace crop top, vintage

Pastel blue button-down skirt, vintage

Silk scarf, Orla Kiely, thrifted

Handbag, vintage

P.S. Do this!

Toujours Toi - a Giveaway

Sailing with a Crescent Moon...

Yes, it's been a while, but this blog is finally seeing another giveaway... I wanted to do one for ages - plenty of e-mails pepper my inbox offering things but they're never me. Real gold and diamonds? No thaaaanks, I have an aversion to anything tacky and sparkly. Like that Kurt Weill song from "Street Scene" - "I've looked in the windows at diamonds, they're beautiful but they're cold." Apart from Playboy bunny earrings, o-b-v-i-o-u-s-l-y (just me who was the only girl in Year 8 without a pair? Weep).

But I digress - I had the biggest smile on my face upon receiving a lovely message from Nina of Toujours Toi offering to send just the kind of thing I envisaged you all would like.  You may know her better from her amazing clothes label Family Affairs, but honestly - the jewellery is just as pretty. I chose the ship necklace, but as a surprise there were also these moon earrings included in the package, so yes - that means two winners! 

All you have to do is be a follower of this blog and leave a comment saying whether you'd prefer the necklace or the earrings, and your e-mail address so I could contact you if you win! For extra entries you could 'like' Family Affairs on Facebook  - I usually find the 'likes' part a bit cheeky but I truly think the page deserves more recognition - or tweet/blog about the giveaway, letting me know you've done so in a separate comment. The giveaway is open to absolutely anyone and winners will be announced on the 15th of June - best of luck!

~

Mint pastel dress, Warehouse

Cream blouse, vintage

Let It Reign

A phrase I have recently become more aware of is 'buying British'. Until about two years ago, I haven't really given it much thought, but after a several people pointed it out to me and having looked at everything I own, it turned out I was hugely partial to British brands... Since then, I have always tried to buy British whenever I could - usually at sample sales, Bicester Village outlets or charity shops (hello Gloverall classic) - far more student purse friendly! Let It Reign, a new online lifestyle boutique devoted to sourcing and selling up-and-coming British design talent, was an instant love of mine when I spotted the beautiful Zatchels (I'm still torn between the pastel blue and the brown - one day!), as well as the stunning leather collars and notebooks by Natural History - how do you like the bee and monkey versions (yep, stationery nerd and proud)? They sent me this necklace by A Alicia to play with - in one of my favourite colours, I think it also looks good as a headpiece! The best part? Made in Britain, of course.

~

 Azure blue plait necklace, c/o Let It Reign

Cream silk blouse, vintage

Floral dress, vintage

Pinstripe wool blazer, thrifted

Socks, Pringle

Tan leather brogues, vintage

Flowers on Cake, a Pink Magazine

'Wish: Feel or express a strong desire or hope for something that is not easily attainable; want something that cannot or probably will not happen.' After Sunday's launch of Lucy and Carrie's new magazine of the same name, this definition definitely does not seem apt. We all sometimes 'wish' and fantasise about these things - who hasn't sat there with a friend and said: 'we should so form a band', or 'we should so start selling this invisibility cloak (too late, sorry)' or 'we should so open our own restaurant'? These ladies certainly did, but with one exception: they made it happen. Sorry Oxford dictionary, you stand corrected. The result of what must have been exhausting long nights and countless red eyes from staring at computer screens (not to mention days of planning/executing several photoshoots and contacting contributors), which I was lucky enough to write for and have a flick through at the launch, is spellbinding. Looking at the magazine, one would never think it was made for a degree final major project - it genuinely is as good, if not better than, a professional publication, and you can own yours by going here - it's out internationally on the 21st of May.

But what of the party itself? Well, as you can tell from the photos, it was executed with the most perfectly dressed hostesses/guests, decorations, handmade nibbles and goody bags... It was a genuine pleasure to be in a room full of my favourite blog people and brands (Aubin & Wills, Orla Kiely, Me & Zena, Tatty Devine, Penhaglion's and Lazy Oaf to name a few!), illustrators and designers. Thank you to the Wish ladies and to Miguel for taking the last photo. Wish you were all there!

Now I've really no excuse but to act on mine and my friend's hopes of opening a tissue museum (notreallybutitwouldbetotallycool).

Send me to Sleep

It feels like this.

Hello new skirt!

Vintage yeah Karl Lagerfeld yeah £4 yeah!

~

Cream lace crop top, vintage

Lace crochet cardigan, vintage

Navy polka dot pencil skirt, vintage Karl Lagerfeld

Nude brogues, vintage

Sailing into Sunlight

Ever wish you could reach your hand into a picture and extract from it whatever it shows? This is what I feel like doing with the boats on this T-shirt, and sail away into a perfect summer, devoid of any concerns or worries or broken dreams. 

~

Boat print T-shirt, River Island

Blue cropped cardigan, Cath Kidston

High waisted shorts, vintage

Key necklace, gift

Agent Orange

~

Orange blazer/coat, thrifted

Mushroom silk blouse, thrifted

Black velvet skirt, vintage

Patterned tights, vintage

Ring, c/o Rock n' Rose

Burgundy beret, vintage