I fell a little bit in love.

I very rarely shop anywhere other than vintage shops and when I can afford it- Topshop. I am back in Nottingham now, back to the world of student living, where shops believe it is appropriate to offer us 20% off. How dare they do such a thing- obviously I am not really complaining, but it makes me buy more than I can actually afford. I am one of those terrible people who will buy something that I believe I really need and love, and then three weeks later I will hate it. It will sit in my wardrobe starring at me. So this year I told myself, buy staple items that you will not go off.

So I bought a bright red skirt.

River Island has always come across slightly tacky to me, they over-embellish many of their clothes. So when I saw the 20% off sign, I didn’t believe that I would be drawn in- oh what brilliant will power I have. I came out with a skirt that I have fallen a little bit in love with; it fits beautifully with my blouses and has a vintage feel to it. I wore it tonight with black brogues, black tights, a baggy grey t-shirt and an emerald green necklace I recently purchased from Topshop.

One day I will learn to actually take photos of myself in my clothing- but for now, you can see the beauty of my new items attached to my overly busy walls.

A sudden change in style

My previous post talks about my search for the perfect midi. Trawling through rails of clothes at my favourite charity shop looking for last minute buys to take back to Nottingham led me to my midi. It cost me £2.00. It came below the ankle, which I discovered was not a good length for my short height. Cutting and hemming the skirt just below the knee, the ruche black and white stripes and random flashes red sits nicely around my waist.

For me, everything has to be high waisted, in fact I don’t think I own anything that isn’t. A/W 2011 collections have completely drawn me towards midi pencil skirts, brogues and oversized jumpers; needless to say I know where my next lot of money will be going.

Oh Comely; the magazine that never fails captures my curiosity

The odd yet witty articles, the genius layout and the optimum fact that there is something to read on every page; to me this is something that all magazines should have. Oh Comely most definitely has this; yet the one thing that strikes me the most when I’m turning from page to page is the photography.

I have always been a sucker when it comes to beautiful photography. I am completely terrible at taking photographs myself; but looking at other people’s photography always catches my attention.

An array of photographs entitled ‘Stacy in plaits’ shown in issue six are completely brilliant. They capture a girl who portrays a sense of innocence in each photograph. She wears a different blouse, and has a different style of plait in her hair; who knew that something so simple could be translated into such beautiful photographs.

From picking up Oh Comely for the first time in a magazine shop in Manhattan, I become curious even at the sight of the front cover.

Stand, observe and then breath.

It seems that my childhood memories are completely slipping away; I have been to St. Ives many times, yet I just don't remember it. As i walked around with my parents last week, they pointed out where we used to stay, the walks we used to go on, and the restaurants we used to visit with my Grandparents. Granted, the last time I went I was about seven, but you always remember little snippets of your childhood. The views are breathtaking and certainly not boring, I have never seen a sea so blue, and even on a cold day you don't mind sitting on a beach staring out to sea.

Would I have rather been abroad sunning myself? This year, I really don't think so. Being able to get away and forget about reality for a while was amazing. (There were also some overly gorgeous surfer men).

The Iconic Beauty.

On a monthly basis, the media manages to catch her with a cigarette in hand, dishevelled hair and little make up in the hope that the majority of people will judge her for ‘losing her touch'. Yet to me, I can still see the complete and utter beauty of Kate Moss. She is the element of utter cool, her carefree lifestyle and utter compassion for what she does always translates into her iconic photographs.

Mario Testino has never failed her, especially with his most recent photos of her in Vogue. It seems that this month is all about sophistication; each photo creates the illusion of a different type of silhouette, each of which she pulls off magnificently. With red lipstick in tow, and her hair pulled back off her face, it is easy to see why so many people have fallen for her.

These are yet another range of photographs to add to my overly crowded walls.

If only I was a little bit taller.

I am completely and utterly in love with the midi skirt. The way it looks so elegant on, disguises your thighs and hugs you beautifully at the waist and the optimum fact that it seems to go with everything.

I told myself that I could definitely get away with the midi skirt. I rarely go out the house without wearing something high waisted in order to make my short legs appear slighter longer, so a high waisted midi skirt must work on my body.

I was wrong; being the fantastic height of 5.2 does have its major disadvantages. I tried on a sophisticated navy high waisted pleated skirt which fell just below the knee, and to my total annoyance it just drowned me.

I am however not going to give up; my friend Bethany always tells me that I should use my short height to my advantage by simply buying a pair of heels. According to Vogue I am going to have to be very careful with what pair I buy. I love running; therefore my calves are rather muscularly, therefore I need to avoid ankle straps and bold colours.

Personally I see the midi skirt as a total revolution- the photos accompanying this month’s Vogue article ‘The subtle allure of the midi’ by Lachlan Bailey are breathtaking. The model is beautiful, with Lachlan managing to catch her at the most fantastic angles. (If only I was as tall as her)

By the time summer is over, I will have bought a midi and I will most definitely have photographic evidence to show you.

Who knew?

Middle parting, wavy hair, red/ orange lipstick, vintage or high street blouse, high waisted bottoms (always), thin pair of tights, a pair of brogues, a charity shop bag over my shoulder and with my charity shop black cardigan in tow (The best £4.00 I have ever spent) and I’m out the door.

I would be completely kidding myself if I said I was individual. When I was look back at old photographs of my Mum, I become rather angry at the fact that she didn’t save me any of her old clothes. She looked completely stunning, and I found myself incredibly jealous of her outfits and well, her.

Then it dawned on me; this must be wear I get my style from. As I turned from photo to photo, I noticed that half the clothes she was wearing are currently sat in my wardrobe- just in a different colour or pattern.

I have always envied the way the likes of Alexa Chung, Fearne Cotton and Kate Moss dress, yet now I can see who I really envy. My Mum dresses and looks as beautiful now as she did back then. I guess I’ll be the one to remember to save my clothes for the next generation.