I have never been much of a DIY-er. For years I have envied my little sis who can quickly and easily knock out another cute design on her sewing machine, or simply turn up a pair of trousers (something she and I need ALL the time due to our short statures!). But alas, while others learned to use a sewing machine in school, I decided to chat at the back of the classroom or bunk off class (let’s hope the parentals don’t read this!).

Last Christmas I gave said little sis a pair of knitting needles and a few balls of wool. She apparently wanted to turn her hand to knitting. Now, I’m not sure if the knitting needles were ever actually used. The wool, I believe, is now being used for pom poms for the top of tea cosies! The boyf has helpfully pointed out on occasion that I probably have more in common with an octogenarian than a twenty-something, so knitting seems to be the perfect place to start for my DIY initiation. So earlier this week, I took myself off to John Lewis and purchased a pair of knitting needles and a ball of wool. I had read that the thicker the wool and the needles the easier to make a project – scarf – that would not take forever to take shape. So I took this advice and am now 4 lines of stiches into my winter scarf. At this rate I might just be finished by next Christmas!!! (If you want to keep up with progress I am planning a post over on my blog later this week!)

In the meantime, I also decided to make use of the many many glossy magazines I have lying around the flat – which the boyf complains about ALL of the time – and try to make some DIY Christmas Tree Decorations. Taking inspiration from these posts; (photos below, clockwise from top left) here, here, here and here:

So I decided to make some really REALLY simple decorations: using an old cardboard box, I cut out tree and star shapes (using cookie cutters). I then traced around these on the magazine pages and cutting them a little bigger, glued them on to the cardboard. My “theme” for my tree this year is pink and silver (you’ll see!!) so I am hoping to get my hands on some glitter pens and add a little touch of sparkle to the decorations before the time for putting my tree up comes around.

Finally, I also did what I have been meaning to do every Christmas for the last few years: I turned pages from old magazines into paper chains. I wasn’t sure that the paper would be thick enough for them, so I stuck two pages together and then cut them into strips (Xcm x Xcm). I have only made a very short one, as an example, for now and have kept the strips to make much longer chains come December.

A further idea, that I haven’t tried out but that a friend did for me a few years ago: make Christmas shaped cookies and before you put them in the oven, skew the top of each to make a hole. Once they are baked and cooled, you can decorate them and add a piece of ribbon and hang them on your tree. My friend even found edible glitter – now that is really festive.

Will you be trying out any of these “green” DIY Christmas decoration ideas? If you want to see what my apartment looks like once it has been decorated, be sure to check out my blog at the beginning of December when I’ll post photos of the tree and paper chains and more.

Someone or something that gives you ideas for doing something. Inspiration. That is (a part of) the dictionary definition of inspiration.

It's 8am. I have my notebook - that I carry around with me just in case "inspiration" should strike - in front of me. Open to a fresh, clean, blank page. Nothing. I write the word in the middle of the page: INSPIRATION. And then wait for it to strike as I sip my coffee.

Nothing.

So I wait some more.

Still nothing.

For anyone who knows me, they will know that it is not often that I am stuck for words. So I think about that phrase that every writer - and non-writer - has heard a million times: write what you know.

So. What do I know?

I am constantly inspired by images, words, information, the internet, bloggers, magazines, newspapers. The one thing that many of these have in common is women. Women are a constant inspiration to me.

Women who are struggling against oppressive governments (in Iran, for example), women who are struggling against traditional beliefs (arranged marriages, maybe), women who are struggling to find equality in the workplace (even today), women who are struggling to juggle the the pressures of motherhood and a job.

Today I am going to tell you about how women like these have inspired me to reach out to other women in the blogging community and to create a collaborative that I hope you might become a part of.

Next Friday - 29 October - is Wear It Pink day in the UK. The culmination of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I have decided to create a Bloggers' Challenge: to "Wear It Pink" and to help raise awareness of and funds for the vital research into treatment and a cure for breast cancer. We will all post photo of ourselves in our pink outfits - what else would we do? We're fashion bloggers!

Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK. As a result, it is likely that most - if not all - the people reading this will know someone who has been affected by the disease. I have. The research undertaken by the breast cancer charities in the UK is vital and the money raised goes a long way to facilitating this research.

I hope that as many bloggers as possible will get involved, so if you would like to become a part of this next Friday, or would like to make a donation, leave a comment here and I'll get in touch.

Let's all, look pretty in pink!!

This month's theme of "new beginnings" and all of the posts from those lucky young things who are about to embark on their new university or college lives (jealous, moi?!), got me to thinking about the sameness of my life: I get up, I go to work, I go home, I cook, I clean and then do it all again the next day and the next day.

Before you go feeling sorry for me or think I am having - what Carrie refers to as - a "been there, done them" existential crisis, do not be alarmed. I am not.

London Fashion Week came to an end yesterday (and the Fashion Crowd have now jetted off to Milan). But whilst watching the live stream of some of the shows last weekend, it made me wonder about the extent to which what we see on the catwalks each season is actually new.

Much like my life at the moment, fashion - it would seem - is cyclical.

Each season there is a "new black" or new trend gracing the catwalks at Fashion Week, but how many of these "new" trends are actually recycled from previous seasons or collections? What makes a new trend new?

Last weekend, Topshop's Unique collection for Spring/Summer 2011 - which I loved, by the way - looked as if it had been pulled straight from the pages of a '70s fashion mag:

 Source

Derek Lam's collection at New York Fashion Week re-introduced the double denim trend from last season - a trend, it seem, that will only disappear for the colder months before re-emerging again:

Source

Indeed, this season, I am rocking my maxi skirt to the max! But this is no new trend either, oh no. I remember as a teenager (14? 15?) having a black tube maxi skirt. If only I had held on to it....

But fashion blogging is something that isnew and fresh: reading different bloggers takes on the shows at Fashion Week and seeing all of the photographs, I feel blessed to be a part of this community.

Fashion blogging - as someone said (I'm sorry, I can't remember who at the moment) - has democratized fashion: it has given a voice to people who would never normally have had one and a foot in the door for so many more.

In fact - for me - the street style shots from London Fashion Week have, perhaps, been the most inspiring of the photos I have seen. These are real people, working trends and looks as they interpret them. That is exciting.

This post is perhaps not what I, or anyone else, was expecting. Apologies for that. But I hope you have followed the general gist of it.

Now, over to you: what has been your favourite thing about Fashion Week?

Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Cinderella

Whilst most of us grow out of fairytales by the time we arrive at high school, most of us don’t grow out of the fantasy they create of princesses and fairy godmothers. Most of us continue to indulge in fantasies of beautiful dresses, tiaras and glass slippers, no matter what our age. While many of us rarely have the occasion to dress up like a princess – save for very special occasions, like our wedding day – we can still dream. Each season the Haute Couture shows in Paris provide a catwalk of dresses worthy of any modern-day fairytale princess:

Sources: photo #1 Chanel, photo #2 Dior and photo #3 Valentino.

The Haute Couture shows aren’t just about the dresses, they are often staged in the most magnificent and fairytale-esque of settings. Below Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel utilises the spectacular setting of Le Grand Palais just off the Champs-Elysees in Paris; paying homage to the classic Chanel jacket, the Chanel No 5 perfume bottle and then going all out with a lion as the centrepiece:

Sources: photo #1, photo #2 and photo #3.

If my fairy godmother is reading this, I would just like you to know that I would be delighted with any of the dresses above but most pleased with the one below:

Source: sorry I can’t find where I got this – if you know or it is your photo, please let me know and I will credit it.

However, I would hope that my fairy godmother wouldn’t just provide me with a beautiful dress straight from the catwalks of the Haute Couture shows but that she would also provide me with a pair of shoes fit for Cinderella herself. Because a girl just can’t have enough shoes, can she?

So how about these rather fabulous examples of footwear from the catwalks:

Sources: photo #1 Valentino, photo #2 Dior and photo #3 Dior.

As they say in fairytales:

THE END.

What are your favourite things about summer?

Source: flickr

I have only had one experience of a festival and I am ashamed to say that I lasted a total of 24 hours. Lame. I know. But I think my lack of staying power was solely down to a lack of adequate preparation.

To start, our tent was wholly inadequate. A two-man tent for two people is just not enough. Not in the wet Brecon Beacons in the heart of rainy Wales. If we’d maybe been going to Benicassim in Spain, then a tiny tent for crashing in would have been fine. For any festival in the UK I would strongly recommend getting a tent intended for at least one extra than will be using it, if not two. If we were to go again, I would definitely get one of those four-man tents with separate sleeping area and eating area, thereby giving a lot of extra room for sitting when the rain comes. And somewhere to get dressed!

Next up. Wellington boots are a must. I did take a pair of these last time, in case you were wondering! I would, however, recommend taking a few pairs of knee high socks to team with the boots as they tend to rub a little around the top if wearing them without trousers tucked in.

Baby wipes. I quickly realised that these were absolutely essential to keeping any sort of hygiene regime and that one pack simply was not enough. Bring many many packs!

Do not over pack. So easily done but seriously, how often do you actually think you’ll be changing in a cramped and dirty tent? Certainly not more than once a day. If I was to go again I would take one pair of denim shorts, one t-shirt for each day, one pair of underwear for each day, one pair of leggings and one hoodie. Done.

A camping stove and kettle are a good idea. If you also remember tea or coffee and milk. I’d also recommend taking some snacks as it can get expensive eating from the stalls all of the time and sometimes you just need something small to tide you over.

A rucksack or satchel will carry your life with you. I’d say get a waterproof one as you don’t want the contents soaked.

On the note of carrying your life around, don’t take anything valuable to a festival. Ipod? Who needs more music? Jewellery? That’s what Primark is for!! Credit cards? Where do you think you’ll be using them? If it’s worth anything, leave it at home. Even consider taking your old mobile instead of your fancy new (and expensive) iPhone!

I asked some fellow fashion bloggers what their three festival essentials would be.

Leia, from HiFashion, says: Wellies, dry shampoo, and an umbrella!

While Harriet, from Where Is Harriet? says: I'd say a snuggly cardigan for cold nights, a cute head scarf for hiding your unwashed hair, and liquid eyeliner to add a bit of glam!

As for me? My three essentials would be: Baby wipes, some fabulous cheap costume jewellery and bright bright eye make up!

If any of you are off to any of the festivals this summer, be sure to have a fabulous time!

This month's theme here at British Style Bloggers - in case you missed it - is "Keep Calm and Carry On" for the exam season.

For over 10 years I had to face sitting exams every summer; from trivial end of year exams - that felt like the most important thing in the whole world at the time - to GSCEs, A-levels and university finals. I've done them all. And - not wanting to boast, you understand - I've passed them all. But I can say that I am glad that part of my life is over and that if I never have to sit in an exam hall again, it will be too soon.

I'll admit, I am not very good at revising. I'm rubbish in fact. I remember that I always used to make a revision timetable every year and every year within half a day I had already failed to do anything on it so would give up. Give up on the timetable and on the revision usually. Nonetheless I knew it had to be done and somehow it always did get done.

Here are some of my tips to "Keep Calm and Carry On" during exam season:

♥ Take time for a cuppa. Regular breaks are a MUST. Make sure you stock up on your favourite cookies or biccies or whatever will make you feel better.

♥ Eat regularly. Just as you need breakfast, lunch and dinner to perform well at school/college/university, so you do too when revising.

♥ Take a trip to Paperchase for some lovely new coloured pens. I always find that new stationary helps to motivate me.

♥ Make sure you treat yourself. I am a stickler for taking an evening (or two) off during study periods to help me unwind. I find this helps me to be more motivated and less stale when I go back to it.

♥ Have something to look forward to after you have finished all of your exams. Organise a party with friends to celebrate? Book a flight somewhere hot? Buy a train ticket to see loved ones who you might have neglected during the exams? Whatever it is, having something to look forward to makes the revision seem less awful.

♥ Finally, get some sleep. It might seem like a good idea the night before to stay up all night to cram in every last bit of revision but then you'll be in no fit state to sit the exam.

Now that all remains to be said is, good luck!

As the fabulous French designer, Yves Saint Laurent said, "Fashions fade, style is eternal".

When preparing for this post I "googled" a definition for a style icon. Some said that it was someone whose style was timeless (maybe, eternal?). On the other hand a style icon might be more personal. It might be someone who inspires you and how you dress yourself.

Coincidentally (for anyone who might be interested!) I am currently running a series of Style Icons on my blog, if you would like to check them out, please do here. This series is made up of icons who might not be personal to me but they are all women whose style I rate. Here, though, I am going to tell you about my personal style icon(s):

If I had been in one of those US high school flicks, I would've been one of the geeks. Not so much because I studied hard or achieved good results but because of my appalling dress sense and awful frizzy hair! Even during my first few years at university things didn't get much better. I discovered hair straightners in my first year but still spent two and a half years wearing a "uniform" of jeans and t-shirts. That was until I became acquainted with Carrie Bradshaw!

Yes, my style icon is a fictional character. Since my first sighting of Carrie Bradshaw five years ago I have been utterly in awe. I love Carrie's kooky and quirky style. As Coco Chanel said, "In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different". For me, Carrie is irreplaceable. But it is not just this that I love about Carrie's style. Carrie's style is modern and feminine without being a bimbo. I love her use of vintage and modern and her layering. I love her love of shoes. I love the fact that Carrie makes it okay for women to shop and spend (all of) their disposable income on clothes and shoes and bags:

Whilst researching this piece I decided to catch up on the Campaign for Body Confidence which was launched last week in Westminster by Liberal Democrat MPs Jo Swinson and Lynne Featherstone. As I was reading the various coverage about how brilliant the campaign is I came across one post which said that Jo Swinson hadn't been practicing what she preached because she uses make-up - the comment was also a dig about the fact that she'd claimed for said make-up on her Parliamentary expenses but that is beside the point. The author of such comments clearly misses the point: just because someone wears make-up does not mean automatically that they lack body confidence.

It is unfortunate that many girls feel pressured to wear a lot of make-up whilst still at school. But once older, make-up can be used to express yourself. I do not think that my use of make-up means that I lack body confidence.

The body image campaign here at British Style Bloggers has focussed on "feeling good". Continuing this theme, I want to tell you about one of my micro-pleasures in life.

A trip to MAC.

I still remember the first time I stood before the eye shadow display in MAC. I felt like my five year old self, standing in front of the penny sweet counter. It is still the feeling I get when I find myself there.

I am five again, standing before the penny sweet counter, with my 20 pence piece grasped tightly in my hand, trying to decide between fizzy cola bottles, flying saucers, shrimps, cherry red lips and many more. Even at five I found it hard to make a decision.

And I am 25 again, standing before the MAC eye shadow display, with my credit card grasped tightly in my hand, trying to decide between All That Glitters, Purple Haze, Love Lace, Beautiful Iris and many more. They are such delightful names that I want them all. They hold such possibility. Here is one I will wear for a date, another that I will wear on my first day at work, another for a summer holiday.

What is your micro-pleasure that makes you "feel good"?

Famous for his “bumster” jeans that became a uniform for boys across the country and the iconic skull motif, it was with great sadness that the fashion world learned last week of the death of Lee Alexander McQueen.

I know that a lot of fashion bloggers felt unable to make a real tribute to the designer and I know that I felt inadequate to do so, so instead I posted a series of photographs from his Spring Summer 2010 collection show at Paris Fashion Week last autumn. (You can see my post here)

But it’s Body Image Season here at BSB and that’s what this post is going to be about (in part!).

In 1998 McQueen caused controversy when he sent double amputee and Para Olympian, Aimee Mullins, down his runway. However, it was not intended to be controversial, merely to illustrate that everyone is beautiful. I came across the following quote when researching this piece and thought it encapsulated – v nicely – the idea behind the Body Image Season:

“It started after a speaking engagement at a conference one day, when a man said to me: ‘You’re really beautiful. You don’t look disabled.’ I wasn’t offended, but it made me think that he obviously didn’t really think of me as disabled, or he wouldn’t have said that to me. I obviously looked like his idea of ‘one of us’, rather than ‘them’.

“It struck me that people found me very sexy, but if you sat them down and said to them, ‘There’s someone over there who’s missing both legs from the shin down’, most people would never find that sensual. Yet when people saw me as a whole package, without realising, they felt all those things that aren’t supposed to happen. Modelling seemed a sneaky way to make a point about that.”

From the Guardian

Lee McQueen recognised the beauty in a woman who might not have been accepted as conventionally beautiful by the rest of society but his desire to see beauty where others might not is something that we need to embrace. It is something that the fashion industry needs to embrace. A beautiful woman with prosthetic legs walking down a runway at Fashion Week should not cause an outcry, in fact, in an ideal world, her legs, or lack thereof shouldn’t even make the headlines. Just as the size of a model shouldn’t make the headlines.

We – society and the fashion industry – need to embrace women (and men) from all backgrounds and of all shapes and sizes and no matter whether they only have one leg or two or none.

I just had to include these photos to show you just how beautiful the legs that McQueen designed for Aimee Mullins were.

From the Daily Mail