making it up as I go along...

So we're in Vietnam now and having stumbled upon (read thoroughly researched and desperately made time to get there) an amazing place called Hoi An, it has been a struggle to leave! Not only are there gorgeous beaches within cycling distance, cute little cafes and restaurants and lovely people, this is also the home of made-to-measure tailoring over here. If you are going to Vietnam in the future make sure you give this place a visit... you will return with a wardrobe full of new clothes but a considerably lighter purse - albeit a stunningly handmade leather one! First trip (this will happen to you too beware) I managed to get a silk maxi dress, another one in jersey, two shirts, a maxi skirt and some palazzo trousers made up to exactly how I had drawn and explained them... This then became addictive as I went back after struggling with my conscience for a while and adding a camel cape (my favourite and something I can't wait to wear back in the UK) and another silk maxi dress to my now growing wardrobe. It's all been packaged up and sent back to England now so I won't get to see them for a while but will post photos once I get back home...

back to my roots...

Travelling for any length of time, although great for all its various experiences and life-changing moments, is NOT great for the hair (especially as mine is a definite shade of bright-not-very-natural-blonde usually!) With this in mind, and no other option, naturally my thoughts have turned to what to do with this mess of mine when I return... New city, new look methinks. So imagine my joy when I discovered this gorgeous colour combination and realised that I could very easily get that sorted - as you can imagine my roots are almost at that stage now...

Which admittedly doesn't look nearly as great as hers but I'm sure when I get back home, with a little retouching and help from a professional and not myself with a pair of borrowed (thanks Mum!) hairdressing scissors, I can make this happen. So excited to be able to do something with my hair again...

intriguing india

Seeing as I am travelling around to different countries for the next 3 months, I thought I'd give an insight into the varied and fascinating styles of dress that each place I go to has made their own (as much for my own nosy benefit as anyone else's!)

So after spending 5 weeks in India and travelling from the North to the South trying to fit in as much as we possibly can I have come to the conclusion that here is a country that is vibrant, confusing, wonderful and so colourful.

From a clothing point of view, this is a place that has the most amazingly creative styles in the most unexpected situations - men can be found wearing smart shirts and tailored trousers in the sweltering heat whilst the womens' saris are a riot of colour on every street corner.

The sari - that most expertly and confusing draped/wrapped of fabrics - is de rigeur for most women and in every situation. Worn in a vast cacophony of colours and patterns, with the underlying petticoat and choli (a kind of cropped blouse in silk or cotton) the sari is a beautiful example of seemingly extravagant dressing in all kinds of situations - from praying at the temple to waiting for a bus, to selling a basket of fish on the side of the road, the women always carry a sense of elegance when resplendent in shocking pinks, bright yellows, turquoise blues and any other colour you could dream of, overlaid with finely woven gold strands. When you are surrounded by such a fun and exciting way to dress it's hard not to be inspired to dress that little bit outlandish in the most ordinary of situations and make your everyday life a little bit more special...

The salwar kameez is the other popular option for Indian women - although many do dress in a more Western-influenced style now, it not being uncommon for most young women to wear jeans and a tshirt - and also with mern. This is a less complicated looking pairing of loose, wide-legged trousers (very similar to pajama trousers, a la this SS10!) and a long tunic open from the waistline down. This affords a more practical, yet still impressively stylish look.

off on travels...

So it's gonna be pretty difficult to keep up on regular posting while I'm away for 3 months on my travelling honeymoon but as I will be in India, Vietnam and other exotic places I am sure I will see some inspiring stuff, and as and when I can, I will post some lovely things up for you... Colourful and vibrant saris are the first stop so I will keep you updated (and of course if anyone has any tips on where to go, or where to buy great clothes or jewellery, I am always in the market so be sure to comment with your experiences!)

Much love

glastonblurry

So, as an unofficial honeymoon (we are going travelling for 3 months very soon) we went to Glastonbury - with a group of about 30 of our friends so not exactly the most romantic of places but we had an amazing time!

Glastonbury is a great - and surprisingly cheap - place to pick up vintage; lots of sellers with beautiful clothes in a creative environment is sure to yield some great picks. I picked up a straw boater (£3) and a stunningly gradiated, pastel coloured summer dress (£5) which I cut a few inches off as it was originally was calf-length - I KNOW it's the new thing and I will probably regret cutting it short very soon but it really is the most unflattering length on me; well, we can't all wear everything regardless of whether it suits us or not just because it's THE thing to do now can we?!

wedding belles

Apologies for my lack of entries of late, I have been away for quite a while due to the fact that I was getting married! Short summary - perfect day, perfect man (of course) and my most perfect dress. Any of you out there in the same boat as I was a while ago and searching for THE dress need to pop along to the lovely ladies at the Vintage Wedding Dress Company in London. A vast array of gorgeous frocks - vintage and newly vintage inspired - await you in their stunning studio, while their calming influence will melt away any dress stresses you've been having immediately. From 1940s peachy lace to Edwardian high collars, their vintage collection is all-encompassing and if you can't find anything there then their Decades range of made to measure gowns is sure to fit the bill. Anyway, here is mine - a 1970s stunner of a dress with added silk sash and lace butterfly sleeves...

Visit their website here for some wedding joy of your very own.

vice or nice?

For serious style credentials not generally seen on your average girl on the street, something that will spark that ever coveted 'OH where did you get that?!' from all and sundry visit Bitching and Junkfood's stunning online world. A collective of upcoming and extremely talented designers, as well as BaJ's own in-house labels 'Remade' and 'Two Weeks', this site is full to the very brim with unique and outstanding pieces. My favourites include the Neurotica vine print maxi dress, prettypretty floral cut out cardigan and the Rachel Freire High-Vis Suspender Trio (which I would absolutely kill to own!) although not so sure about the human hair drop earrings...?! Whatever you fancy, there'll be something for you so check it out.

They also have new and vintage clothing in their East London studios and available as stylists (as if you couldn't tell by their gorgeous shots on the site)