Snow

Again there has been a serious delay in posting... And again I have no photos... apologies. Though I could have a hunt and I'll see what I come up with.
As anyone in the UK is aware, we have a serious snow problem on our hands. This could easily result in a constant wearing of tracksuits and tights, merely to keep in what little warmth we have. In my case and a few of my friends we are trying to go for a different approach. It's believed that skirts are warmer than trousers. And in skirts nothing, for me, is warmer than a beloved 1970s vintage wool circle skirt. So on trend, and so pretty. For the complete look it is always paired with a favourite cashmere jumper.
One of my friends hunts constantly for fur coats, which she then turns inside out. Together with a fur hat, she looks reminiscent of a bond girl. I usually get fortune teller or peasant, due to my constant use of scarves to keep my head warm.

Tonight is my first Christmas ball up here. It's a hall-one, so nothing too fancy. Many of the other balls are invite only, or require you queuing from 6.30 in the morning. No joke. Anyway, the boys have to wear suits. As usual that is meant to be enough for a girl to gauge what to wear. Not so. One friend speaks of knee length and below, another knee length and above. The guys used the phrase 'Slutty, Butty, Slitty, Titty.' Apparently a sister came up with it. Derogatory yes, but something I may just need to follow...

Will keep you posted!
BK

ps- Many thanks to Roz at http://clothescamerasandcoffee.blogspot.com for her lovely comment! So glad you are making a speedy recovery:)

It's been a while...

Well, not that much of a while. But I might as well state it as such. Just telling a friend that only in St Andrews would you get people demanding a Marks and Spencers, or generally spending a fortune in Jack Wills/Joules.
The charity shops are awesome. Bought a MaxMara coat for £25. Bargain methinks. It's wool and angora. So warm, which is amazing in the freezing weather that seems to inhabit Scotland.
Another St Andrews blogger- everythinglooksrosie.wordpress.com- wrote a piece recently on the sheer absurbancy (is that even a word?) of St Andrews fashion. The red trousers are common- and it's not just the students, my tutor sports a fine pair too... It's not a rare sight to see the Barbours, Hunters and tweed out on display. The girls with dyed blonde hair, body-con skirts or leggings and gilets.

I am currently partaking in a fashion challenge set by a friend. I recently bought a rather hideous yellow and white houndstooth wool coat for £3. By cutting off the sleeves, I've slightly improved it. Secondly. I also have a strong connection with a pair of Topshop shorts. So the challenge is to wear the coat every time I go out and I'm not allowed to wear the shorts for a week. It's going to be hard, especially as I have a party tomorrow. And the coat is particularly hideous.
Wish me luck!!
BK

Legs...

Decided to blog today as am sitting in bed feeling sorry for myself. So in Scotland it is generally agreed that it's cold. Which makes it even weirder that the Americans walk round with orange bare legs. Madness. The cold and need for sturdy shoes allows for a degree of interesting hosiery.
I always thought it was considered wrong to wear white tights. Or at least it should be left to the leggy model-esque girls of minute proportions. But I saw a girl the other day with white tights and a dark purple outfit and it just seemed to work. Who cares if she was slightly on the chunky side? She looked awesome and so cute as she had a purple Alice band over very long straight black hair.
I can never do cute- so I admire anyone who can.
Today I was walking behind a girl with black tights and thin, brown, calf-length socks on top. Weird? Yes. But it also seemed slightly on-trend and quirky in a good way. She had nice ankles so it worked. God forbid the day that I bust out mid-calf socks. It won't be a pretty sight. By saying it seemed on trend I struggle to say that in the 'Bubble' that is this university I've found it impossible to keep up with the going ons of the fashion industry. I get my Glamour and Vogue. I read my blogs, but I'm never in the mood to digest them fully.
It seems I'm in an anti-fashion mode right now and it kills me. It really does.

BK

First impressions...

I always thought people were joking when they said that St Andrews was like a bubble. I've been seemingly unable to keep up with national/international news and the people here are all in a complete league of their own. Not only do we have the 'Kate Kennedy Club' a slightly elitist club for gentlemen only, but men frequently walk round in their tweed jackets, chinos and loafers. The current favourite coloured trouser being a bright salmon pink- especially popular with the yacht club.
My particular favourite outfit to date was of a bunch of guys outside the Science buildings. Of the six there one guy a bleached blonde- waxed side parting, white skinny jeans and a Breton top and another with brushed out brown hair, aviators, simple blue striped button down and beige cords. Though obvious extremes they both seemed to convey a certain Britishness to their style.
It's a great place for people watching. Particularly art history- a girl in front of me today was wearing a Burberry trench coat, complete with Uggs, Chanel glasses and Ralph Lauren bag. So many people have prejudices towards these kind of people, but I have to say they hold a fascination for me.
With a high percentage of foreign students the Americans insist on still wearing micro-denim shorts with no tights whilst natives to the British Isles pile on the cashmere and sheepskin.
I dwell between short shorts, tights, my usual clumpy brown boots and a cardigan of some description.
So life is good. Sadly no photos until I find someone who is willing to let me steal their camera...

BK

SCOTLAND

So basically going on a brief break for a couple of weeks to settle in for uni and meet new people. Many thanks to StyleBouquet for the incredibly lovely message!

BK

Scotland

So it's been a while. Every Wednesday I thought oh it's been a while. And indeed it has.

And in that while quite a bit has happened. I got into my first choice university to study History of Art. The university being St Andrews, up in Scotland. Going a week tomorrow, and I've never been to Scotland before. So that's what the photo is for. A nice little view of me in me kilt.

Another change is I had a hair-cut. Apparently my hair was too long and living in a small town without a hair dresser was too much for the mother to cope with. So I had FOUR inches cut off. I don't have a photo but I look about 12. And then I got a very concussed Cherry to dye it for me yesterday. So I have a ginger fringe that looks like a severely receding hairline when it is tied back. Yay...

Also recently there has been a slight obsession with shoes. I've never been a shoe person. but a recent purchase of some gorgeous, yet slightly hideous shoe boots from Topshop has converted me. And maybe also the £3 I spent on some new Bruno Magli shoes from a local charity shop. They are slightly small, but sooo pretty. I also got Cherry a pair of Marie Antoinette style suede shoes (Pancaldi, I think.) So beautiful, in dark pink suede, and Dolly was given some 1950s vintage black patent men's brogues. For £13, I did rather well I think.

Some random drawings. The first I just like, the second came about due to a slight obsession with period dramas. Mainly Pride and Prejudice...

So who else is loving the current New Look trend? I'm so psyched about calf-length circle skirts, though I doubt they will be on the high street. Can you really see H&M stocking them? Or Primark with wool camel coats?

I'll stay in my beloved cashmere version and camelhair jumper (which looks suspiciously like Stella McCartney's.)

BK

Saatchi

The joys of living in the middle of a field also means that the Broadband likes to cut out, as does the electricity or the water. So I have been coping with these problems the past week. And now the computer has decided that it doesn't want to upload anything.

Last weekend I went up to London with the family to go to the Saatchi. I might have already talked about this, but anyway so, yeah, I have a picture up there until the end of July which is on Saturday. I also saw the Mario Testino/ Kate Moss exhibit (Mario Testino- Kate Who?) She is so cool and the pictures just showed her versatility and the reason for her fame.

Also picked up some more kilts to add to my obsession. They now total nine I think. I just love them. I also got two gorgeous (Diesel and Miss Sixty) dresses from ze olde charity shoppe. Brand new and £6 each. Bargain? I think so. Today I bought a cute green mock-croc clutch bag and a boned bra top thing that will look awesome with some high waisted trousers (both charity shopped). Can't wait to style it up. Plus got a Austen-styley cropped jacket. I feel like I should be talking about the weather and marriage to some eligible bachelor who has £15,000 a year. I might dye it though as it would look better as purple methinks.

People watching today was so much fun. Dolly has this theory that a guy is too pumped up when he can no longer rest his arms comfortably at his side. And so it was hilarious when this man was walking down the high street today. Arms held up and chest so puffed out, with a t-shirt so tight you could see his six-pack through it. It was a nice sight. But funny as he must have been 5'4" so he looked like a little strutting cube.

So yeah, basically that is all I have done. Also many thanks to the lovely comments. They are highly appreciated. (Woh that sounds pretentious)

BK

week...

Been away for a week due to power cuts, music festivals and a computer virus. But all is good. now. Went to Latitude music festival this weekend for the third time. It was amazing, as always, bar it got some really bad press. I don't really want to go into it...

Anyway, we saw the amazing Tom Jones, Vampire Weekend, Florence and the Machine (it was so hot my friend fainted...) and Nigel Kennedy who was unbelievably spectacular. And the orchestra were amazing. In general was amazing. What I loved was that people always try to go for directional outfits. This year it was crop tops. Sadly everyone wore them. I didn't. I hate the sun, so I was fully covered up (with some very short shorts... didn't realise how short when I bought them,) with tights, scarves and a parasol.

Also saw the La-de-dahs who are a 40s style trio who sing a mixture of modern and retro songs. Their version of Dog Days Are Over and Bad Romance were honestly better than the originals. And I got their autographs. It was so cool! In such a sad fan way. Anyway, check out their version of Song For The Dead. It's on iTunes soon...

Mumford and Sons were also awesome as was to be expected. But Tom Jones was probably the highlight, his voice is still as strong as it was all those years ago.

I have drawings, but haven't got them on the pc yet.

Some more fashion drawings though...

Raquelle's Leavers' Ball dress...

BK

Busy little bee.

Thanks for the lovely comments from Roz at clothescamerasandcoffee, Abi-Anne at stylebouquet and Cindy at Glamour Bbey.

So the last few days have been soo busy. I was working at the July Cup at the Newmarket Racecourse. It was so hot and the polyester shirts we had to wear definitely did not help. I've made some drawings of some of the outfits. The best dressed lady wore a beautiful Roland Mouret dress. It was white and so structured and she looked amazing so well done her.

Yesterday was also busy and sooooo hot. Luckily the pool is heated and so was close to freezing. It was nice. I also had my choir concert. Last one ever as I shall be going to uni in September. 10 years. It's gone relatively quickly I guess. I did Send in the Clowns. And made people cry. Is that a good thing?

So I have some more drawings. I have some rough sketches of Newmarket that I will put up later. Also Latitude Festival this weekend! More chances to get some drawing done.

Also another big thing for this summer. I entered a competition for Young Brits at Art last year and as a Top Ten runner up, my work is being exhibited in the Saatchi Gallery! So exciting. Am also trying to organise a small exhibition at my house to raise money for uni. Any ideas?

Silk playsuit. shimmery beiges and browns. I like it.

Velvet. incredibly structured. Black embroidery up the side. Kinda based on a dress I got from a charity shop. So structured, love it.

Wow, I just found Glee on Spotify. Aren't I cool? Definite Puck fan...

BK

Hair

Trying to find a job (again) Failed. (again) So life is great. Plus I spent the whole of yesterday in a car reading, without air conditioning. And as it wasn't moving it was stifling. So, woop.

Whilst in town today I saw this girl with the most amazing hair ever. She was probably about 5'2" and it reached below her bum. It was kinda bright chesnut and really waving and shiny. And she had masses of it. For me it was the ultimate hair. I told her this. I felt like such a nice person...

Also, am loving Lady Gaga's acoustic version of Paparazzi. It's so hard to play, but I just love her and her craziness.

I guess this is going to be quite a short post. I might write again later...

Rough sketch of my Leavers' Ball dress.

Hester's leaving dress. It's still in the Karen Millen shops.

BK

Universities

Went to Cambridge University today for Dolly. She wants to Land Management, because she can get seriously wealthy as an outcome from it!

Anyway it was soooooo hot. As in unbearably so. I stole my dad's vintage Panama- it's now officially mine, yay! The charity shops were surprisingly naff. Though the books were great. I bought a copy of Medea and a complete collection of Oscar Wilde for Dolly's birthday. Also the latest Philippa Gregory. I have a slight obsession with historical romances. This one- The White Queen- is about Elizabeth Woodville and shows her in a completely different way to Sharon Penman's Sunne in Splendour (which is so good, it's ridiculous.)

The vintage shop had little stock, but what it had was really good. It's so nice to go to a vintage shop and find the only cotton dresses to cost £50. There was a really cute pinafore dress, but it made me look pregnant. Which is never good... But there was this super-pretty 50s skirt. Sadly my waist is not 23" or I would have snapped it up. I might consider toning up merely to wear some of those beautiful skirts.

I just love maxi dresses and shorts at the moment. Extremes, but short skirts look funny on my chunky legs and (thank God) I have the height to pull off full length dresses.

More drawings as I haven't the energy to write more (which I would probably reverse in about two minutes...)

A slight Classics enthusiast I just couldn't resist drawing yet another Grecian style dress. I love that sort of twisted rope neckline. And the nude colour is so pretty.

Major draping. Inner corset. This is sultry nights (one of the themes for Gok's Fashion Fix this week.) Not Grecian. And the Temperley gown used. I would kill for clothes like that.

Hmmm, can't think of anything more to say. Oh, any suggestions for summer shoes? My trainers are ruined and I can't wear leather boots as I have to wear socks with them. What shall a girl do?! Plus earlier in Office I asked for a size 8, they bought about a size 6 pair as 'they had no size 8's left.' What was I going to do with a size 6 pair??!!

BK

Hats.

Why hello there?

Ok, so anyone who knows me knows also of my slight obsession with hats. Yesterday it was a fez (which involved a humorous incident when I thought the tassel was a spider on my book. I don't think I've ever screamed so much in my life.) I also have a beautiful purple cloche hat and several others. I just think they are beautiful. And so glamorous. Anyway today I was walking round the local town flinging my CV at anyone in an attempt to find any work at all, short of prostitution or involving dancing. As I got more and more bored with the general lack of vacancies and rude women in Laura Ashley I went to the charity shops. The ones in this town used to be really good. That was before Peacocks invaded. Now its all meh and scabby, plus why would you pay £7 for a dress from Primark? It's £6 new. Why, why why?

Also 'Mary, Queen of Shops' (oh the hilarity of that pun. I hope she also gets her head cut off...) has ruined them. Apparently its fine to charge exorbitant prices for something when it is rarely worth it. I would give so much more to charity if it didn't cost me £14 for a dress. Cheap skate I know, but I have no money...

In one of the usual haunts today I found a Zandra Rhodes skirt and top. It's been there a while. £20. I should probs have bought and ebayed it, but really couldn't be bothered. Anyway, condemned to the Retro/Fancy Dress pile (always the best bit) was this really cute hat. It was £3 so it's now come home. Showed it to the mother who is very strict on what I bring home. Turns out its rabbit fur with a snake-skin trim. I love even more.

Now please don't have a go at me for my love of natural fibres (which includes fur and skin.) I only buy it vintage, so it's okay right? And is so much better quality than the cheap fakes you find and is (occasionally) cheaper than the good fakes.

Anyway, it's beautiful. Yay!

Here are some random drawings. Apologies for the felt tip seeping through. Seep, seep, seep. Such a good word. Speaking of good words, anyone watch Miranda? Television gold.

The one on the back of this one will be shown at a later date. But I really want a ruff, like proper Elizabethan. So regal. I'd waltz down the high-street, decapitating fellow shoppers.

Mainly because I want a bodice with shells on and an ultra thin calf-length skirt. So I like velly velly much.

Also from an earlier post I said I'm reading the English Patient. The film is silly and doesn't stick to the book and so Caravaggio is scary. And I like me some Caravaggio- especially his Bacchus (which is not a euphemism...) But Ralph Fiennes is freakishly awesome as always and Colin Firth. Well, we just love him. Also in the Importance of Being Ernest. Him and Rupert Everett. LOVE!

Right, I'm off to sort out my wardrobe. I need more space!

BK

Pride and Prejudice.

The new obsession in my head. Never used to like Mr Firth. But as Darcy, y'know I think I am in love. Along with the several other actors and general males to which I profess my love. Oh the joys of being 18- hormones everywhere. But I think it may be the costume and the smouldering and the wet shirt. It's amazing. And in Bridget Jones. God, that film makes me laugh. Sadly his dark saturnine good looks are wilting now. He has not achieved the medal of Improvement with Age. Unlike Dominic Cooper. Loved him in History Boys.
Bar he reminded me of my cousin.

Which was strange.

But woop to him.

Look at that two posts in as many days. I dislike this intense sunshine so a dark computer room seems to be the only worthwhile thing atm. That and reading. Had a week of holiday and already nearly three books down. The English Patient is awesome. Very still. Totally get why Ralph Fiennes played the eponymous role. I love him, and his brother. Right there I go again.

BK

I'm Back.

Ok. So basically after about five months barely being on the computer bar checking up on Facebook I am back. I have about two months of doing nothing bar reading and drawing and socialising until I'm off to uni. That is providing the exams have actually gone to plan.

I've also decided. I shall stick drawings up until I actually get round to dressing up. I have a couple lying round, it helps.

Friday was the Leavers' Ball at my school. Signifying the end of a seven year era for most of us. And as one guy put it- We all scrubbed up rather magnificently. Couldn't have put it better myself. The dresses were spectacular as were many of the guys' braces. Hester's dress was amazing. I did tell her that. A lot. It was Karen Millen, green, short and looked amazing on her.

I went in my mother's vintage 50s dress. I couldn't breath most of the evening as the boning was so tight, but the full length skirt is just so fun to spin round in. Plus, with seamless tights and a beehive, Lucille said I looked like a can-can dancer. It was soo much fun though, a great end.

Soo...

Some drawings for y'all.

Now I need to get back to the TV to carry on screaming at the pitifully bad team that is England. I am definately going to stick with rugby. Have you seen Mike Philips?

BK

Apoligies once again.

Wow, two posts in two months. That's really not a good new year's resolution to have. I feel I'm justified, especially as no-one actually reads this... I guess not owning my own camera has its downfalls. However I do have more drawings to put up, and hopefully with the sewing machine I'm getting for my birthday they can become a reality. I will get round to it soon, am so busy with unis and stuff atm, plus all the snow! I got snowed in for four days, twice already this year. And just before exams, scary stuff.

Will blog soon as have an essay to finish and Glee to watch.

Over and out,
BK

Month

In fact over a month. Have been ridiculously busy. Plus haven't been on the old PC due to a lovely thing called snow, and bad Internet. Plus have exams all next week, yay. But it's my birthday before so I can have a slight break from the hardcore revision.

New Years was so much fun. Cherry had a bunch of friends round and we had to dress up as a culture. There were a lot of French people. What was funny was that though the outfits were all different they were so similar. Breton tops, black bottoms, pumps, beret, beauty spot, red lipstick. We also had Russians, Greeks, Pirates, Japanese and I went American. Which was fun. 1930s to be exact. Bias-cut dress, fake fur coat, black heels, red lipstick and big hair. Sadly the accent didn't last long, but celebrations lasted til 6.30am.

Due to the snow round here it's been freezing, well just below to be pedantic. So its been wool, wool and more wool. Evensong involved floor length kilts and cashmere coats. Christmas Eve was a red wool jumper dress and Christmas Day was tweed plus fours and cashmere jumper. An effective way to keep warm.

Got to go finish off my three essays before Tuesday, so

Over and Out,
BK