Where I’ve Been…Thailand

It’s been a few months since I last blogged but I’m back!

I’ve spent the last few months spreading myself between two jobs – one at BBC and another with Miss Patina but as of next week I will be a full-time Brand Manager with Miss Patina. There are lots of exciting things happening in the business so I’ve decided to start writing again to share all the behind the scenes fun!

In June, I spent three and a half weeks in Thailand with two of my best friends. We started out in Bangkok, traveling north to Chiang Mai for a week then south to Koh Phi Phi for a week and Koh Tao for another week before heading back to Bangkok for some last minute shopping. If you are going to Thailand, I would warn you that it’s quite touristy especially on the islands. It’s hard to get off the beaten track and have a different experience to the norm. Thai locals seem to be sick of tourists and we found many people in the service industry to be quite rude. Chiang Mai was my favourite place and we heard wonderful things about a town nearby called Pai which seems to be recommended through word of mouth amongst backpackers. We didn’t have time to go there but that would be my travel tip for something a bit different!

I am very excited to tell you that Thailand and in particular, Bangkok is a great place for shopping! The Khao San Road which is a strip of hostels and tacky bars, street stalls and tourists actually has many shopping gems!

Firstly silver there is really cheap and there are many stores on and near the Khao San Road, for example I bought two lovely silver rings for approx £5. You have to do a bit of haggling of course. There are also a few stores selling wholesale leather and bone jewellery – all that cool stuff that is synonymous with backpacking style. I got some great leather bracelets and wooden earrings and got a great deal. These jewellery stores sell wholesale so it was interesting to see how little they can be bought for in Thailand but how expensive they would be in a store in the UK.

Next vintage….which is possible to find on the Khao San Road! You have to be savvy however – there is one lady who sells really cool shirts on the street for £2 each. She won’t bargain however as these really are rock bottom prices compared to the prices you’d pay in London vintage shops. I bought 10 of them so you can expect to see them popping up on the blog! She only has one rail on the street and she doesn’t start selling until around 11pm. Here is one of my favourite shirts…

You can also buy vintage Levi shorts for about £8 which are perfect for these shirts. This combo is a real East London look. Also wearing lots and lots of bracelets on your wrists is a mark of the backpacker and you can pick them up really cheap. The more you buy, you can negotiate a better discount. Here’s an example of a leather bracelet and some colourful ones…

As you go down the Khao San Road there are little turns off to the left and right and if you go down the alley opposite Susie Walking Street (great name!) right to the very end – there is a couple who have a stall to the left and right. The left is all vintage and to the right is really nice and comfy “hippy” attire – think yoga pants and layered tops. This lady is reluctant to bargain as well – they know how popular vintage is in the Western World so they expect a good price for their pieces. I got the below contrast collar dress for approx £8. Can’t complain!

There’s not only shopping on the Khao San Road – Bangkok has one of the world’s biggest indoor markets called Chatuchak Market. This is only on at weekends so I didn’t manage to visit it. However, there is a big indoor market daily at Siam Square – most of these stalls sell variations of the same thing – very girly, cute clothes with pastel colours. Lots of blouses and shirts with coloured shorts and pleated print skirts. If you go to Camden Market, the style is quite similar. I was again on the hunt for vintage and got a cool studded black leather shoulder bag for £14 and a cute lime green summer dress for £3. I will feature them in a post soon.

My advice to you for shopping in Thailand is not to shop on the islands – there were nice stores on Koh Phi Phi but prices of dresses were about £40. While many people advise to get out of Bangkok as fast as you can, I would definitely say to give yourself a day or two for shopping!

If you have any questions or comments about Thailand, please feel free to leave them below!

Kob Koon Ka! (Thank you in Thai)

Sarah x

Melody Makers and Style Shakers

I’ve been meaning to do a post for a while that looks at the styles of some of my favourite singers but it’s been hard to choose who to focus on.

The three I’ve decided to feature are all very different and in a way, appeal to different parts of my personality. We base our listening choices on our moods and this has been very true when it comes to these singers.

The Past

Imelda May – Vintage Crooner

I love Imelda for many reasons:

1) Awakening my ears and soul to rockabilly

2) Her Irish charm – she comes across so humble and down-to-earth and COOL. Check her out at the 2010 Grammy’s…(love the accent!)

 

Style: Pin-up girl, figure-hugging pencil dresses in stripes, metallics, leopard print and polka dot. Her hair is always worn in the signature quiff with a blonde streak. Oh and let’s not forget the hoop earrings….

The Present

Ellie Goulding – Sweet Songstress

Ellie has such a hauntingly beautiful voice and her lyrics are very real. Her style is simple and she hasn’t had to create an off-the-wall image to sell her music. I absolutely loved her first album and am looking forward to her future offerings.

I absolutely love the lyrics in ‘The Writer’, it’s a very true description of when you like someone and you’re not sure how they feel.

One of the reasons why I really respect Ellie is last year I went to see her at Union Chapel and her PA broke down. Absolute disaster? Not for Ellie, she stayed calm, asked the audience if they could still hear her without the mic and continued on with her set until the power came back.

Love this one too…

 

Style: Ellie’s quite athletic which means her dress is usually quite casual. Another reason why she’s so darn cool is as a big fan of running, she invites fans to join her on her morning runs when she’s on tour around the world. She’s very naturally pretty and her style is casual, classic with a bit of a rock n’ roll edge. To sum it up it’s very normal, most of her outfits could come from your wardrobe. Which means sometimes she does get it wrong but her fans adore her, so no-one really minds!

 

The Future

Janelle Monáe – Fierce and Fantastic

Janelle Monáe is just one of the coolest women on the music scene. Signed by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and produced in part by Big Boi of Outkast, Janelle’s album ‘The ArchAndroid’ is unlike anything you’ve heard before. It’s based in an alternate universe, Metropolis,  where a population of androids are fighting for their freedom. It’s almost like a film soundtrack and will really awaken your imagination.

The Tightrope…

At Body and Soul festival in Ireland…

 

Style: Janelle has championed the female tuxedo and it is hard to find a picture of her where she is not in a two-piece. Her androgynous style is distinct and not easily replicated.

 

I hope you enjoyed my choices. Let me know who are your favourite female singers and who you think has great style.

My dress and bag above are vintage. The dress will be available in the coming months on Miss Patina.  Accessories are borrowed and the shoes are Dorothy Perkins.

Sarah xx

Versace for H&M

Last night, Donatella Versace launched her eagerly anticipated collection for H&M in New York. Not one to do anything low-key, it was a glamourous celeb-filled affair with performances from Nicki Minaj and the toughest man to pin down in showbiz – Prince.

Love that Nicki Minaj has suddenly become fashion royalty having sat FROW next to Anna Wintour at NYFW and is now bffs with Donatella – I mean, are they actually holding hands in this picture?!

(Sources: http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG8877820/Versace-for-HandM-launches-in-New-York-with-a-little-help-from-Prince.html and http://www.popsugar.com.au/Versace-HM-Launch-Pictures-Blake-Lively-Jessica-Alba-Emma-Roberts-Chloe-Moretz-Abbie-Cornish-20336046)

The collection is everything you’d expect from the fashion house – colourful prints, opulent detail and figure hugging cuts. Versace certainly hasn’t toned down for the high street which can sometimes be the case with a designer collaboration. Instead, you literally can get the full Versace feel for a lot less. The pieces start at £19.99 for costume jewellery and run up to £199.99 for a man’s studded leather jacket.

At first glance, you might think the collection is too flamboyant for an everyday wardrobe but here are some tips on how to wear some of my favourite pieces from the collection:

The above leggings (£29.99) and trousers (£39.99) are very ‘Carrie’ (from SATC) – you can imagine her wearing them with skyscraper heels and a crop top. Let’s not get carried away though…I would recommend pairing these leggings with an over-sized, long-sleeved silk feel shirt – white for the leggings – black or white for the trousers.

If you are nervous about wearing something so tight-fitting just make sure the shirt is long enough to cover your bum and the top of your thighs. Pairing a loose oversized shape on top with a tight-fitting piece on bottom is figure-flattering.

If you’re feeling brave – pair the above ensemble with this gilet (£39.99)…

I love the buckle belt in the middle and also again the length here is elongating and flattering. I can see multiple ways of wearing this – perhaps with leather trousers for a rock chick look or wear with a poloneck and trousers.

Next on to the dresses and here is my selection:

This above dress at £79.99 is an absolute bargain. It is 100% wearable and a staple wardrobe piece that you will have for years to come. This dress is understated sexy but will create an amazing feminine silhouette. Versace have also created shoes for their H&M range and this dress would go perfect with these for £69.99:

The above leather dress at £179.99 is one of the key pieces from the collection. It’s a very beautiful cut that is classic and simple while there is still plenty of detail.

The above £79.99 silk dress is sure to be a sell-out with it’s body-con bustier detail and nipped in waist. I would recommend this dress if you have a more boyish body shape.

Here comes the colour…

This red dress at £79.99 is absolutely stunning! The print panels down the side are slimming and this would be a great dress for a special birthday or occassion.

The above £79.99 chinese print dress is a key item of the collection. This print features strongly and this is a daring piece to be worn with confidence.

If I could buy one item…this would be it. At £99.99, I think this dress is so unique and beautiful. I picture this on Kate Bosworth with very delicate accessories and her hair in a scraped back bun. I love how she always looks understated even when wearing extravagant pieces.

If all the above is still too flamboyant for you, there are also accessories to choose from that can add Versace magic to a more classic look.

These scarves are £24.99 and would look great worn over a blazer for work or play.

There is also some gorgeous costume jewellery such as this leather bracelet for £29.99.

Or there are chain handle bags like this one for £69.99. I am a sucker for studs so I chose this one from the lot…You can view the full collection here. Versace for H&M becomes available on the 17th November at 300 retailers and online.

My outfit today: Lace top: Primark, Faux Fur Gilet: H&M, Leather look trousers: Miss Selfridge, Boots: New Look, Chain: H&M

Let me know what you think of my selection and whether or not you are excited about the collection.

Sarah x

Parisian Way of Life

I have just returned from a short stay in Paris and am feeling super inspired by the French lifestyle. The elegance and sophistication of the street style there is very different. While London is renowned for it’s laid back, bit scruffy, ‘last minute’ look (as I like to call it), Paris achieves an understated chic that displays luxury and quality.

I didn’t see two women wearing the same handbags or coats while I was there. However, in London and Ireland, we tend to be clones of one another. We all shop in the same places and buy the same things. Parisian women are all about quality – everything looks expensive, which I am sure it can’t all be as I am speaking about women in their early twenties. It has really opened my eyes to the importance of carefully choosing great bags, jackets and shoes especially for winter time. I do get the feeling that Parisian women are more inhibited and this is reflected in their colour palettes but I think we could all definitely learn a thing or two from them.

I went to a club called The Social Club which was pretty cool but I was taken aback by what the girls wore there. No body con dresses which we see way too much of here in the UK – mostly flat shoes, skinny jeans and casual smart tops. I guess some might say that’s boring but again, I do think there is something to be said for understated style. Most of us can’t walk properly in the heels that are sold on the high street so I do think it’s worthwhile to look to our European counterparts and learn that less can be more.

Of course it helps that the backdrop of the city itself is so ornate and elegant. I wish I had lots of money to shop there and show you what I bought but *sigh* I had little funds to get me further than a chocolate viennois and a crepe noisette. Also please note, there ain’t no such thing as a ‘mocha’ in France. Where did this come from?!

Here is a little selection of scenery from Paris you might enjoy…

My outfit in the above photo: Jacket – H&M, Faux fur collar – Urban Outfitters, Top – Topshop, Skirt – Miss Patina, Tights – Topshop, Bag – H&M, Shoes – Vintage.

Where have you been in the world that influenced you style wise or where you noticed the fashion being much different to where you live?

Sarah xx

Every so often, someone special comes along…

(Blue top: Topshop, necklace: Topshop, skirt: H&M, boots: H&M, bag: River Island, bracelet: Topshop)

This week there is a big buzz on everyone’s lips about Miss Lana Del Rey for a number of reasons.

Lots of people witnessed her haunting performance on Jools Holland last week (October 11th) and it touched something within them. It’s like Lana belongs in an era gone by – a modern-day Nancy Sinatra perhaps – she has an unnerving but intriguing presence. Her unwavering gaze into the camera and her pouting lips spouting beautiful lyrics was something very special. Appearing on the show with just a piano accompaniment and some melancholic violins, her mature voice resounded with an understanding of the pains of love which would seem to stretch beyond her youth. However, we all believed it and there has been an increased amount of discussion around her ever since.

This is not an entirely positive discussion however as many people are lashing out at the recent discovery that Lana Del Rey has not just miraculously appeared on the music scene from obscurity. It has been found that Lana used to perform under the name Lizzy Grant and is in fact backed by a major music label. Purists feel deceived by a held belief that she was just an unknown musician with a YouTube channel discovered by music lovers and bloggers online.

Lucy Jones of The Telegraph led a review of Lana Del Rey with the headline ‘Real or Fake? Lana del Rey, the internet sensation that will break your heart.’ It goes on to discuss the speculation around Miss Del Rey’s authenticity. But so what if she is backed by a major label? So what if it is all a bit of a PR stunt to let people think she is just a YouTube sensation? The fact is she now has a major platform to share this moving music with the world. Her voice and her presence are genuine as proved by her live performance on Jools Holland. Let the controversy lie I say and let the music speak for itself.

On a fashion related note – her look is incredible, I’m sure you will agree. She has the elfish beauty of Natalie Portman and the blonde bombshell sexuality of Bridgette Bardot.

Lana’s video for ‘Video Games’ is an homage to director David Lynch’s film, Mulholland Drive and is a pastiche of home videos again contributing to this haunting intrigue that can be associated with Lana. If you would like to find out more about her, you can read an interview by Rosie Swash at The Observer here. I will leave you with the video.

Enjoy,

Sarah xx

Why Vintage Rocks!

Very much getting in the vintage buzz at the moment and appreciating the detail and quality of older pieces. Take this beautiful 1970’s 2-in-1 dress for example…

How many pleated midi skirts did we see all summer on the streets? Here is the original real deal. It’s funny how trends keep coming back again and again. Vintage doesn’t mean old-fashioned. In fact, it can mean quite the opposite. Right now this burnt orange colour is also very popular and that’s nothing new either. If you’re clever about it, vintage can be offer a unique take on a current trend and set you apart from everyone else.

I must admit though I have very little patience when it comes to big vintage stores that require a lot of time to root through rails and rails of clothes. Also the musty smell puts me off! I prefer stores who select their vintage pieces carefully.

I also get tired of the typical vintage East London combo of ripped Levi shorts, oversized faded t-shirts and bomber jackets complete with thick rimmed glasses, of course! If you are really interested in vintage, there are much more special items to be found.

Some sites I’d like to recommend are Gary Pepper, Bitter Root and also the vintage section on Etsy.

I would love to hear from you if there are other good online sites where you buy vintage.

This dress has been sourced by Holly from Miss Patina. It will be for sale on their website soon. The blazer is from their Autumn Winter 2011 collection and is up there now. The hat and bag are vintage too.

Have a great weekend!

Sarah xx

Chanel Inspired Tweed + Stella McCartney

More Summer outfits – tah dah! (And some really poor camera angling on my behalf – hello doorknob!).

This denim crop shirt is A-Wear, the skirt is Miss Patina which comes with this cute key and buckle belt. The bag is from Camden Market, the socks are Topshop and the slip-ons are Miss Selfridge. The skirt is so unusual and inspired by classic Chanel tweed however uses white mixed with bright pastel colours. It is high-waist and very comfortable to wear.

Gotta have some shades – these are also Chanel inspired sunglasses from Polaroid (yes they make sunglasses). These are called ‘Seduction’ and are part of their classic range. They have a vintage inspired ‘heritage’ range also that do quirky shades inspired by previous decades.

***

Stella McCartney debúted her Spring Summer 2012 collection at Paris Fashion Week yesterday. The venue was Opera National de Paris and in attendance were newlyweds Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevall as well as fashion royalty Rachel Zoe, Mario Testino,  Anna Dello Russo and Alexa Chung.

(Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk) 

Profits have soared this year for McCartney and many A-Listers have been spotted wearing her mesh polka dot dresses including Kate Winslet, Liv Tyler and Jane Fonda.

(Source: http://stingystyle.blogspot.com/2011/08/get-stellas-dots.html)

The look for Spring Summer 2012 is comfortable, flowing and sports inspired. Materials are a combination of mesh and lace. The patterns are paisley or simply nude or white, very Stella. It’s an unusual combination of what looks like pajamas, tennis dresses and over sized suits…

Stella has collaborated with Adidas for a special sports range in honor of the London Olympics 2012 and you can see this influence in the SS12 collection. However, what I liked most from this collection were the dresses. Feast your eyes!

(Source: http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/galleries/)

This is my favourite one:

As you can see this wave design features in a lot of pieces in the collection.

So what can us high street folk take from Stella McCartney Spring Summer 2012?

• Matching pattern trouser suits are going to be a big look
• Body con is staying around but Stella has put a classier twist on it with a looser fit as opposed to a bandage style
• Paisley pattern is making a big comeback
• Colour blocking in neutral shades will be popular as opposed to colour blocking bold colours

Spotlight on the FROW: Dasha Zhukova – love this!

Until next time.

Sarah xx

Yellow Rose

Here are some photos I had taken last week in Miss Patina clothing.

I really love the colour of this shirt – dusty pink is very complementary for blondes.

The bag is vintage and I love these shoes from Russell Bromley. These tights are from Dorothy Perkins and although coloured tights can sometimes be too much, I think in this case they make the outfit a little more interesting.

The bow on the shirt is actually detachable so it can look a bit different each time you wear it.

I really love this look – blouses and high-waist skirts – it’s so feminine and gives a nice silhouette.

These shots were taken outside somebody’s house in East Acton – lucky they didn’t come out and tell us off!

***

Being a big Kirsten Dunst fan, I am looking forward to seeing this Lars Von Trier movie which opens tomorrow. I’m going to do a post soon on my favourite actresses and Kirsten will most definitely be included!

Making Music

I had three gigs last week – pheeeeew! Wednesday night the Big Girls Blues Band were in Dover St., Friday night in Jazz After Dark in Soho and on Saturday we were in the Old Explorer in Oxford Circus.

Here is the outfit I preferred from the three nights…

I love this shirt. I’ve been looking for a sophisticated black shirt for a while and this one is really smart but still sexy because it is sheer. The collars, sleeves and panel down the front are leather look. It’s from New Look.

The necklace is from Topshop and the bag is vintage.

The burgundy shorts are from Awear and came with the belt and the shoes are New Look.

As much as I loved these tights in a previous post – they ripped during the gig 😦 so I had to pull of a Taylor Momsen ‘holes in tights are normal’ look. Big fail. If anyone knows where you can get good quality sheer tights, do leave a comment please 🙂

***

On the subject of music…I just want to share some songs with you that I’m repeating on my iPod. I tend to download a lot of music by female singers so going with that theme, here are a few good choices…

Janelle Monáe – ‘Locked Inside’ from The ArchAndroid.  This album is really good and sounds like nothing else I’ve heard in recent years. The album is based around Janelle’s alter-ego, Cindi Mayweather who is an android living in the world, Metropolis. The songs are like a soundtrack to Cindi’s life in Metropolis and is almost theatrical in places as songs are based around the struggles of the androids. Sounds strange but it makes the album really interesting.

Joni Mitchell – ‘Urge for Going’ from Joni Mitchell Hits. This song is so peaceful and relaxing but also a little sad… who makes music like this these days?

Live performance video

Jessie J – ‘Big White Room’ from Who You Are. Jessie’s voice is so amazing and clear. This song is very powerful and you really have to be in the right frame of mind to listen to it, it’s quite emotional.

Feist – ‘My Moon My Man’ from The Reminder. Did you know it is Feist who wrote ‘Limit to Your Love’ released by James Blake this year? Easy listening…

If you’ve been listening to any good music lately – do post a comment and let me know.

That’s all!

Sarah xx

Model Behaviour

So today instead I bring you what our lovely Miss Patina models wore at the photoshoot…

Name: Christine Kearney

T-shirt: Bershka

Waistcoat: Primark

Shorts: River Island

Brogues: Primark

Bag: River Island

Bracelet: Pandora

Name: Natasha

Coat: Topshop

Shirt: Vintage

Jeans: Topshop

Boots: Topshop

Bag: Vintage

Bracelets: Handmade friendship bracelets

I totally love Natasha’s hair – would love to dip-dye mine but it’s too short.

Oh and I think Natasha might erm love Topshop!! 🙂

Such lovely girls (well Christine is my cousin so I might be a little biased!) and they did a really good job!

***

Just saw this Chanel ad for the first time today although it came out in March.

It’s really beautiful and I’m also a recent big fan of Joss Stone so like that she’s singing in the ad.

G’night all xxx