High Street Buys of the Week...

This month I was on a high street mission to transform my wardrobe from a summer catastrophe (let's face it, 2012 was not the year for the sun!) and bring it forward ready for AW12! With style blogs and monthly glossies (hello September issue!) adorning their pages with snug knit jumpers and chunky knee high boots, I set off in search of studs, graphic tees and some much needed animal print to totally transform my style for the upcoming season...

But then the sun decided to make an appearance and made my monthly fashion purchases a complete waste of money (well almost...!) So whilst these beauties may be hanging in my closet unworn, I still can't wait for the opportunity to wear them. Bring on those Autumn months!

From left to right:

Warehouse Studded Leggings:
Warehouse are totally rocking anything studded or embellished for AW12 and an early drop of product is yet to disappoint! I just had to have these black leggings with a grungey twist. A graphic tee will channel the glam rock trend that's taking over the high street right now. www.warehouse.co.uk

H&M Grey Animal Print Jeans:
I dug these out from the summer sale at H&M as they make for a fab take on the usual skinny jean for the upcoming season. I'll be teaming them with killer metallic heels and an over sized white boyfriend shirt - let the printed jeans do the talking!
www.hm.com

Warehouse Embellished Blouse:
See what I mean about this brand and embellishment? A gorgeous blouse with billowing fabric in crisp white makes for an edgy yet feminine top. Grab your black skinny denim and your good to go!
 www.warehouse.co.uk

Forever21 Marilyn Monroe Graphic Tee:
 Forever21 is my guilty high street pleasure! On trend, quirky pieces at reasonable and affordable prices! I couldn't resist this over sized Marilyn top with a silk front. A monochrome palette enables you to team this with almost anything...
 www.forever21.com


Forever21 Cross Jumper:
My first jumper of the season officially purchased! Crosses and semi-religious emblems are everywhere right now and are quickly becoming a cult trend in the fashion world. I'll be wearing  mine with a maxi skirt and biker boots for that ultimate grunge-chic style.
www.forever21.com

Vintage Sex Pistols Crop Tee:
 I attended Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair this month (first Saturday of every month at Spitalfields Market!) and had to have this top in my life. Whether its the album cover for 'God Save the Queen' that makes such a controversial statement or the rebel against all things patriotic right now, I officially heart this top.
www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

H&M Rolling Stones Tee:
Another sale purchase from H&M; who doesn't love a good rummage for a bargain, anyway?! www.hm.com

Twinne Skull Print Tee:
Another t-shirt added to the collection comes from upcoming t shirt brand Twinne where real art is printed onto quality cotton tees. I love this skull image by talented artist Sebastiano Guerriero. www.twinne.com

What are your high street purchase this month?

Happy Shopping

xoxo



Come and Explore as the Pixies Play Dress-Up....

Regular readers of my blog will know how much I adore a vintage find! Today's vintage find, however, is not about just one item that has been pulled from the world of yesteryear, but a capsule collection of one-off treasures from the lovely ladies via Pixies Play Dress-Up!

Just like every one of you trend-savvy individuals, these Pixies believe that when it comes to fashion it's about creating a look that is tailor-made to suit your individual style. So whether your longing to rock out in a 50's style swing dress, make a statement in 80's influenced silhouettes or brave it in 90's psychedelic patterns, these Pixies have it all. Sourcing pretty pieces from the boroughs of London through to the boutiques in Paris and the avenues in New York, the Pixies invite you to play dress up with them!

50's Florals
Summer may have decided to stay with us (although don't hold your breath just yet!) so what better way to get into the summer spirit than by purchasing one of these lovely vintage numbers? Team with your Hunter wellies for ultimate festival styling, with cute converse during an afternoon picnic with friends or just team with a knitted cardi for those cooler days! Florals are the perfect seasonal vintage buy...

Adorable vintage dress teamed with a lightweight
knit for those cooler moments this summer...

Get retro glam with a fitted denim pencil skirt and
cool converse...

Who likes short shorts? We do and so does
our vintage floral blouse!

80's Silhouette
Killer curves deserve to be shown off so why not channel the ultimate vintage era of the 1980's? Think cinched in waists, exaggerated shoulders and plunging necklines that just ooze sexiness!

Create killer curves with a cinched in waist...

Exaggerate those shoulders for ultimate 80's style!

90's Nostalgia
Over sized printed shirts paved the way in the style stakes during the 90's! The Pixies have been busy thrifting away and have found these two beauties on their vintage travels! The animal print blouse is my number one pick!

Vintage animal print blouse teamed over
leather skinny pants...

Gorgeous psychedelic pattern embellished with jewel
 coloured sequins...

Have you been tempted yet to play dress up with the Pixies? Which items are on your wish list?

Happy Vintage Shopping

xoxo

Feeling curious? Facebook Pixies Play Dress-Up here

Want to get in on the thrifting action with Pixies Play Dress-Up? Check them out at The Vintage Barboot

*All images courtesy of Pixies Play Dress-Up 

Maydaze Clothing Curiosity Show 24th May 2012...

What do you get if you mix the eclectics of Brick Lane, with an uber cool venue; throw in a DJ spinning the latest tracks from the underground music scene and then showcase some incredible independent fashion? You get the Maydaze Clothing Curiosity Show of course!

Showcasing fashion from the very best in local talent, expect to be adding more than one item to your wardrobe wish list on Thursday evening! And with the summer weather seemingly getting off to a rather hot start this week, why not have a sneak preview of what's to be expected from some of the brands strutting their stuff on the catwalk on the evening itself?

Here's what I'm adding to my summer essentials from Dolly Dare, Artisan S, Twinne, Harnett and Pope, Aimee Du plus London Loves LA.

Did that sneak-preview of what to expect at the fashion show wet your style taste buds? If so, then make sure you come down to Cafe 1001 just off Brick Lane East London (nearest tube station is Liverpool Street). As well as fashion, expect pumping music, an awesome atmosphere courtesy of Cafe 1001 and a few beers along the way too!

See you there!

xoxo

*All of the above images belong to each individual brand as credited via the website on each image.

Brick Lane Fashion Show: Curiosity Shop

If you live in London then you will know that Brick Lane is one of the go-to places for the alternative fashion-savvy. With a range of independent boutiques stocking vintage and retro clothing through to cool underground bars to hang out in after a day of shopping, not to mention the infamous Brick Lane and Spitalfield market, the area is abuzz with the hottest in upcoming fashion and culture within London.

Cafe 1001, Brick Lane

So when Cafe 1001 decided to host a fashion show featuring independent designers and businesses local to the East End, it was obvious that the idea would be an amazing success. The neighbouring designer's where quick to get in on the opportunity to showcase their individual collections and thus the Curiosity Shop Fashion Show was created. Expect to be dazzled by sensational dresses from Dolly Dare, artistic tees from Twinne and feminine seasonal pieces by Bill and Mar to name but a few.

www.billandmar.com

www.twinne.com

www.dollydare.com

Interested? You should be! Taking place at Café 1001, Dray Walk on Thursday 24^th May 2012 this is your chance to add some quirky and unusual pieces to your wardrobe for the upcoming season that simply just aren't available from the high street. Support your local and independent businesses and come down to the free event! Music will be on from 7pm and the show is due to start at 8pm.

Hope to see you there

xoxo

*If you are a blogger based in the London area and would like to get involved, please contact me via my blog email Tattylittleboots@live.co.uk  with a link to your blog for more exclusive information.

Restyle and Upcycle with Yasmin Bochi

Do you love a bit of thrifting? Well look no further than online store Etsy for Yasmin Bochi, a designer and art re-styler innovating products of yesteryear and bringing them right back into the 21st century with clever art manipulation techniques. With a bit of a penchant for vintage bags and suitcases myself, the beautiful 'Around the world in 80 stamps' suitcase immediately caught my eye.

This beautiful brown and cream faux leather vintage suitcase is decorated with real vintage postage stamps from around the world (Congo, Pakistan, Austria, Nigeria, Tanzania and Sweden to name a few!) and incorporates old postcards dating back to the early 1900s and 1950s on either side. It's the perfect hold-all for over night trips whilst looking decadently chic with a nostalgic twist.

I'm also coveting the 'Tattoo flower vintage purse' an accessory perfect for a day-time lunch date! The snakeskin base hand painted in shades of green and aqua accentuate the detailing of the rich floral colours. I really like the wood panel detailing on the purse too which make for an unusual design aspect to a unique creation from Yasmin Bochi.

If a picture says a thousand words then this 'Photo booth vanity case' is speaking monologues to me! Complete with historic images of fashion beauties Yasmin has transformed a mid-century case into a must have piece for the upcoming season. The 1920's shape of the bag is very SS12 whilst the obvious time-honoured effect is any vintage magpie's dream. "These images are not decoupaged. They are the result of an image transfer technique which I mastered through a lot of experimenting and patience." says Yasmin. "This is a truly unique piece you will treasure forever!"

Speaking of treasures, how cool is this 'Alice in Wonderland necklace?' The bib-style necklace has been handmade by Yasmin and features a hand-drawn image of the fairytale character surrounded by tiny applique clocks - magical! Grab this piece fast; time is ticking away!

Mixing the past with the present has worked wonders for the brilliant Yasmin Bochi collection on Etsy. You can purchase or shop more from the range online at http://www.etsy.com/shop/yasminbochi where you will find more restyled bags, upcycled fashion and handmade jewellery. "It's fun and quirky with a touch of elegance," says Yasmin and I couldn't agree more.


All images taken from www.etsy.com/shop/yasminbochi

See this article online at www.theupcoming.co.uk

Mad Elizabeth's Mad Vintage Pieces....

Ah vintage clothing and the North - two of my favourite things...Mad Elizabeth Vintage sits within a quirky little shop inside the amazing Corn Exchange in Leeds City Centre. A treasure trove of vintage finds from decadent dresses, jazz-era jumpers and quirky trinkets, the Yorkshire-based store boasts quality vintage at affordable prices. And with an online boutique on ASOS, Mad Elizabeth clearly isn't too mad when it comes to knowing her fashion and what us vintage magpies love...

Is it just me or has the weather come over extra cold all of a sudden? Keep the chills at bay with this lovely vintage jumper with decadent embroided detailing. I love the kitsch feel of the powder blue....

With nautical being a huge trend on the high street right now, why not sail back to the nautical of yesteryear with this oversized stripe jumper? The gold rope inspired embroidery adds an interesting twist to this vintage find...

 Aran knit jumpers are a massive vintage trend, heavily influenced by the likes of Alexa Chung and Pixie Geldoff who often sport the classic jumper with denim cut offs and brogues...

Channel your inner femininity early before the upcoming trend floods the high street. Sweet, innocent and candy in colour - c'est chic...

Happy Vintage Shopping

xoxo

All images belong to Mad Elizabeth Vintage

Shop Online at www.marketplace.asos.com/seller/mad-elizabeth

Visit the store:

Upper Level
LEEDS CORN EXCHANGE
Call Lane
Leeds
LS1 7BR

Vintage Sisters....

My sister hates vintage clothing. She can't stand it. Even the thought of her being anywhere near some old dear's cast-offs makes her break out into a cold sweat, causing her fake tan to run onto her pristine conditioned Topshop mini dress; the tears from her eyes destroying her false lashes...

As you can probably tell, my sister and I are completely worlds apart when it comes to fashion and style; but that's why I was so proud of her at Christmas when she braved the 'smell of death' and ventured in to a culture beyond her own as she went inside a vintage shop!

Getting her fashionable vintage eye from her big sis (obviously!) she managed to pick me two amazing jumpers - one in mohair (ooh get her!) and the other with an unusual decadent pattern. So, as an ode to my sister, here are her first ever vintage finds - and I am working on there being plenty more to come! To my sister, with love....x

The mohair vintage cardigan...

I love the interesting flecks of colour in blue and pink...

Such a cosy cardigan for these chilly months...

Cute little buttons in perfect condition...

The vintage jumper...

Black and white never goes out of style...

The chunkier the better...

Happy Vintage Shopping

xoxo