Save a life with a dress ~Oxfam~

Oxfam has been rocking vintage since 1948!

VINTAGE clothes are just about everywhere at the moment and everyone wants a piece; how about delving into a charity shop for some raw inspiration and real one-off's? All for a good cause of course.

A charity shop is usually the last place most girls would shop, but there are some hidden treats with real potential for standing out in some of them...

Oxfam have a specially designated section on their website dedicated to vintage pieces, shopping online, D.I.Y creating the trend tips, tips on customising your items, Oxfam Boutiques across the nation and a useful guide on which trend belongs to which decade if you feel lost!

Clothes on the site date as far back as the 50's so there is a very good chance in claiming your very own UNIQUE dress/coat/top and giving it a second chance in the 21st century.

It's good to see that Oxfam are keeping up with the online

shopping

craze too; most of us are opting to shop online these days instead of facing the hustle and bustle of shops. Oxfam has launched the UK’s first online vintage charity shop which means you can browse and buy your very own piece of vintage clothing from the comfort of your own home.

Think of the bigger picture...

There is SO MUCH to Oxfam than just a charity shop.

It isn't just a place where you offload your unwanted, (sometimes) out of season clothes, gifts or handbags that you're bored of. Hidden in those stashes of clothes, there is bound to be something extraordinary waiting for another owner. Most importantly, with your donations, Oxfam helps fight poverty in less developed countries and gives poorer people the chance to support their families for life.

It's all a positive domino effect from YOUR passion for collecting vintage clothes, which in turns contributes to changing someones life.

For every £1 you give to Oxfam

81p is spent directly on emergency & campaigning work

11p is spent on support and governance

8p is invested to generate future income

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Make a difference at...

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/

TRASHION!

LOOK WHAT I FOUND! PURE TRASHION...

I was browsing through the net, because Wednesday evenings are really dull, and came across this impressive, off-the-wall, fresh new magazine. It celebrates individuality, uniqueness, creativity, style and flair....all in one jam-packed publication. The more I delve deeper and deeper into vintage/quirky fashion trends, the more I appreciate one-off styles and trends, as opposed to the mass trends, clothes and accessories filling the high street shops.

Keep an eye on this magazine if you want the real, unique fashionable edge!

See for yourself…

http://trashionmag.com/

Fancy fascinators...

ROYAL fever has officially swept the fashion world. Every woman (even some men!) want to look and feel like an elegant princess after watching the much anticipated wedding of Prince William & Kate Middleton. One prominent accessory may just help dreamy,wannabe princesses feel exactly like one. Big, bold, colourful fascinators! Ok, so it's not quite like a tiara but I think this posh headgear will still make you look and feel graceful. From Lady Gaga-esque bows to petite, floral fascinators, I think this elaborate trend does the trick in elevating and emphasising whatever fabulous dress you may be wearing.

I'm just wondering if anyone will have the guts to don a fascinator on a night-out? Traditionally suited to be worn at a wedding, the fascinator has a modern edge to it which would just scream, "Look at me!" in a club.

Can Royalty be pulled off by a commoner?

The red one above is from ASOS: Statement Sinamay Bow and Ribbon Fascinator £30.00

The petite pink floral one: ASOS Corsage Fascinator £10.00

These headpieces are elegant hair accessories adorned with feathers, beads, netting, rhinestones, flowers and brooches.

Fascinators come as combs, clips, headbands or small hats and are often worn to the side of one's head. I was amazed by the unique array of fancy fascinators and hats from watching the Royal Wedding.

The black fascinator: ASOS Statement Sinamay Bow And Ribbon Fascinator

£30.00

Although fascinators are such a funky, offbeat hair accessory, it would be a shame to only wear it once for a special occasion like a wedding. I think these hair accessories would look great for a themed night out, like a hen-night?

Anyone getting married soon?

http://www.asos.com

Here comes the bride....

A FAIRYTALE came true today *yeah I know it's cheesy but so true!* A sea of red, blue and white took over London and most of the nation for the wedding of the year... Kate Middleton marrying Prince William...& if you were glued to your TV screens, you will agree that it was such an exquisite, dreamy fairytale.

Onto more pressing matters though, THE DRESS! It was one of the best kept secrets surrounding the wedding; there was plenty of speculation with who would be designing it & what it would look like. Apparently the bride had two more wedding gowns locked away just in case the original one was leaked to the press. Luckily it wasn't and today, the wait was finally over to catch a glimpse of the fairytale gown.

In case you have been sleeping (!!!) the wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. She is the creative director of the late Alexander McQueen label, taking over after the designer committed suicide last year. The late great British designer was known for marrying modern, edgy designs with beautiful, traditional craftmanship; it was highly evident today that his legacy still lives on through his label.

So what kind of love and effort went into the noble, regal, grand gown?

The lace on the bride's dress details rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock, and was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace. The incredible bridal train measured 2m 70cm and it took roughly 3 minutes to walk up the aisle, ensuring the dress was perfectly poised at every step of the way.

To keep the gown in absolute spotless perfect condition, the workers and tailors washed their hands every 30 minutes (according to reliable news sources) to keep the lace and threads pristine, and the needles were renewed every three hours, to keep them sharp and clean. The mental image I get from that description of scurrying tailors is one from a Disney movie.

The delicate veil was held in place by a Cartier "halo" tiara, lent to Miss Middleton by the Queen, her new Grandmother.

Most have said that the dress resembles that of the late Princess, Grace Kelly. T

A simple but elegant look which is absolutely flawless and never fails to amaze when looking to make a statement.

Most have compared Middleton's dress to that of Grace Kelly's gown. The American actress and Princess of Monaco had a high collar top, long lace sleeves and a full skirt. It has since become an iconic wedding dress in the history of extravagant weddings. Middleton had a slightly modernised take on the dress; however it still glowed with elegance giving it a vintage edge. There are probably millions of girls across the globe imagining themselves as a princess right now, not only looking like one but carrying yourself like one too.

Continue reading the main story

The veil was held in place by a Cartier "halo" tiara, lent to Miss Middleton by t

Weird & wonderful kitsch

MINI pieces of kitsch jewellery are hitting the high-streets for the summer! Good news for the shop tills though as I am developing a tiny obsession with all off these tiny pieces of kitsch jewellery.

I know I've blogged about my fascination with 'finger food' rings before but I can see this funky fad needs bigger exposure; the designs are just so downright bizarre and it seems limitless of what ordinary items can be adapted to a necklace/bracelet or a pair of earrings. So yesterday I was trawling the net and came across a newly established online boutique website which specialises in kitsch, unique and unusual jewellery. Pieces are sold at affordable prices too which is always a bonus if you're addicted to the tiny craze!

Check out: www.belle-vous.co.uk for tiny pieces of happiness...

The online boutique store searches the globe for quirky pieces...& from what I've seen on the website so far, they are doing a pretty good job of sourcing items which are spot on trend at the moment. The trend reminds me of Alice in Wonderland where cakes, drinks and Alice herself shrunk to pocket-size. In today's world of fashion and off-the-wall trends, specs, bows, the Eiffel Tower, sand timers, tea-cups and camera's have all been down-sized to fit snuggly onto our fingers, wrists and necks. I love the items on Belle-Vous, so wacky and quirky; guaranteed to make heads turn and for people to say: "Ooh that looks a bit weird!" I would definitely take that as a compliment though!

Purr-fect specs!

BIG statement cat-eye sunglasses are one of the biggest summer

trends at the moment and quite frankly I heart them!

As the classic vintage craze is sweeping the nation, it's hard not to resist a pair of specs which, quite simply boast femininity, funk and just look absolutely fabulous in the rays of the sunshine! The classic shape is so simple and bold, yet effective for creating that chic vintage look, perfect for setting off any outfit...rock chic, sophisticated office chic or shabby hippy festival goer.

Dramatic cat-eye sunglasses were popular in the 50's and 60's; they are reminiscent of such films like Breakfast at Tiffany's when style icon Audrey Hepburn introduced her classic style and elegant vogue. Still imprinted into the fashion world today, the cat-eye lives on and will for many more years to come!

The simple, classic and glamourous look is still being recycled and recreated today amongst women of all ages and backgrounds. Take a trip to any high-street shop and it's obvious to see that era's such as the 50's, 60's and 70's are very much alive today in the hustle and bustle of 2011. The cat-eye also looks back at a time when theatres and American rock n roll nights out were the places to be, not like today where "Take me out," is the highlight of a Saturday...!

What's beautiful about these elegant sunglasses is how they emphasise the almond shape of the eye and how they suit just about any face shape. Available in so many prints and patterns, it's difficult to choose one perfect pair to adapt as your very own. I've come to the conclusion that floral sunglasses would be perfect for a festival, brightly coloured or animal printed pairs would be ideal for the beach and a classic black pair would look elegant against smart work attire.

A while back my Nan hosted a vintage-themed party... I was in absolute awe of the essential fashion accessory sunglasses my Nan brought out of her dressing table. A beautiful pair of dark green cat-eye sunglasses with a few diamontes scattered around the frames (as modelled by myself!) I found it fascinating to think that my Nan wore these specs when she was about my age...and 40 years on, they're still in mint condition and still at the peak of this fashion trend.

Now that's REAL timeless vintage!

(But if your Nan doesn't own a pair of fabulous sunglasses then check out ASOS! My personal favourite are the polka-dot specs...oh ASOS what are you doing to me?!)

http://fashionfinder.asos.com/

Hot hippy sitting in a stuffy office

THE SUNSHINE brings out the inner-confidence in all of us, whether you're wearing odd mis-matched bright block colours or you're contrasting big, bold abstract shapes with dainty floral prints. It doesn't matter, there are no boundaries when it comes to creating a totally original outfit whilst absorbing the rays of the sun!

Flowers, stripes, spots and flares are all the rage at the moment and it doesn't look like this trend will be fading away anytime soon. Wherever you turn, the vintage 70's trend is growing bigger in all colours, shapes and sizes in every corner of every high street shop ( & most online shopping sites.) Designs have been modernised whilst still maintaining it's vintage edge and hippy-chic aura.

With summer festival's just around the corner, it's time to unleash the inner-hippy chic and be the free spirit you truly are. I know just the site to help you achieve that dreamy, summer look you have already envisaged in your mind…ASOS!

As jealous as I was, it was hard to ignore the fact that Coachella, California's vibrant 3-day music and

art's festival, was oozing pure funk and trendy attire under the sun. Taking inspiration from the hottest outfits during the event, it's easy to re-create the look that many of the celeb's pulled off with a few simple purchases from ASOS.

I would have absolutely loved to be at Coachella sporting a light and funky floral playsuit, with a daisy-chain garland around my head and some cat-eye retro sunglasses..but I was at work instead…in the West Midlands. Whilst I was sitting at my desk in a stuffy office, I picked out and created my own dream-festival outfit, racing against time before my break finished. Combining fruit prints with tassels and cat-eye sunglasses, it's a random dolly-mixture of some of the hottest fashion fads which will see us floating about summer 2011!

ASOS PETITE Exclusive Apple Print Playsuit

£35.00

ASOS Red Cat Eye Sunglasses

£12.00

ASOS FRAN Suede Tassel Sandal

£40.00

Lipsy Floral Garland Style Hair Band

as seen on Pixie Lott

£12.00

ASOS Mixed Cord And Beaded Wristband With Charm Details

£8.00

Finger food!!!

YUMMY!

I'm so fascinated by these rings they make my mouth water & not to mention looks pretty dam funky...

Trends and unusual accessories come and go,

but I think this craze will stick around for a while purely because of it's concept and visual craziness. Hands down, this is the most bizarre

accessory craze I have seen in a long time and I want one, or a few, of my own.

The fragile and delicate designs are

very Alice in Wonderland-esque with miniature teapots, sushi, cakes, waffles, ice-creams, sweet-jars and tea

-cups adorning fingers. Some of the designs are quite amazing, like the teapot pouring tea into a mug...would you ever have pictured that as a piece of jewellery?!

Not all accessories last a lifetime so if you do purchase a similar style of ring, then don't shed any tears IF it happens to fall apart..(if the teapot drops off!) as I don't think these rings will be of practical everyday usage. Looks very off-beat and quirky though so maybe wear when you're looking to drop a few jaws in pure & utter amazement?

I found these unique creations on: www.etsy.com & good news, they take international orders....

Japan's beauty...

Despite the horrific earthquake and tsunami to hit Japan, this nation is determined to rise above it's recent devastation. Anyone with access to news coverage were and still are watching and reading about it's atrocious aftermath. I've been hooked on following the story unfold from tweets to survivor's Facebook comments, just goes to show how powerful & instant social media is.

Until now, many of us may not have really taken in the true spirt of Japan. It's positivity and strength is truly inspiring and puts our daily little moans and groans into perspective. I discovered this quirky website recently www.tokyofashion.com. It showcases the very finest and funkiest trendsetters in Tokyo. Pics snapped before the earthquake show a very bold, colourful and INDIVIDUAL sense of style from each random person going about their daily business. For some reason...I don't think they actively read up on fashion trends and follow. This is true style to me, when you can create your own look with no danger at all of walking past someone with the same dress *cringe.*

Blue hair and mis-matched tights below look like they've been inspired from Lady Gaga, or maybe it's Lady Gaga who has been inspired by the average Japanese passer by? I love checking out the website's tweets and pics everyday and checking out which quirky, vibrant trend is hitting the streets...definitely one of the highlight's of my average, boring day.

http://www.redcross.org.uk/Donate-Now/Make-a-single-donation/Japan-Tsunami-Appeal