Friday 30 November 2012

Apocalyptic Ragamuffin

It's been ages since I dropped a blog in the sphere, so here it goes ;)
For the past month I've been having a massive clear-out, I've sold a couple of huge job lots on eBay, taken umpteen bags to the local charity shops & another umpteen to the recycling bank. 
Even though at least seven massive bags (too heavy for one person to lift, unless you happen to be He-Man or Pippi Longstockings) containing hundreds of items of clothing have left the house, I look around and hardly notice the difference.
It's a bit disheartening at times but at least it's all moving in the right direction, albeit at a snails pace.
All this hoarding I've been doing over the past  ten years has made me "materially obese" and I've got some serious slimming down to do and just like weight-loss it is a painstaking and slow moving process that takes a whole lot of effort but it is my intention to Feng-frigging-shui the whole lot.
This year has been a year of great change for me, maybe not ostensibly but in a way of revelations and personal realizations. 
I have become much more in-tune with myself, slain some debilitating demons and finally feel as if I'm travelling down the right path.
Where to?!
It's not so much an actual destination as it is a general goal, the name of the game is to free myself from the albatross that's been hanging round my neck for all these years and once I've done that, once I am freed from the chains of possessions, things that I own that in reality own me, I'm going to go where the wind takes me.
As I watch 'Why Poverty' on the BBC iPlayer, I know in my heart that the wind is destined to blow me in the direction of those who struggle to survive. I want to help, really help, not just by sending a token sum a month to some charity and hope that the money is spent where it is most needed and doesn't simply melt away in the administration & bureaucracy of it all. I want to be there, get my hands dirty, help people face-to-face. That is the path I see myself travelling down. 
Being livid about the injustices of the world, frothing at the mouth over the wrongs done by the sociopaths that lord over us and raving on about the strip-mining, dismantling and all-out destruction of the planet by cold fish companies isn't doing it for me anymore...anger on its own is not enough!
Anger without action feels utterly impotent.
So I've chosen a path of action, positive action.

Right that was the serious bit, now for something with a slightly lighter in mood :)
  I was clearing out my hard drive the other day and came across folder upon folder of old daily outfit pics that have been taken over the past five years.
I thought it would be fun to do a little roundup of some of them, a crazy cluster of outfits that I felt feel into the same style category.
A strong style inspiration for me has always been sci-fi movies and comicbooks. 
As you can probably gauge from the vast picture medley below I'm really drawn to the  warrior princess, comicbook heroine, sci-fi apocalyptic ragamuffin aesthetic.
Here are a few of my favourite style inspirations...
Aeryn Sun (Farscape), Lara Croft (Tomb Raider), Pris (Bladerunner), Barbarella, Modesty Blaise, Chiana (Farscape), Xena: Warrior Princess, Catwoman (Batman), Tank Girl, Aunty Entity (Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome)

...and here follows a rather extensive medley of past outfit pics in the apocalyptic ragamuffin vein, hope you enjoy ;)
I don't take daily outfit pics that often now, I got a bit fed up with it to be truthful especially with having to take pics for the shop etc, maybe one day my gusto for it will return, who knows?
I still go bonkers in the boudoir & play dress-up on occasion, so don't fret I haven't been abducted by the sweatpants and fleece brigade just yet ;)
Although I am perhaps just a bit too keen on wearing my trusty old "swamp jumper"...
it's bloody cold around here, that's my excuse and I'm sticking too it! 
Hope everyone is doing grand out there?!
Have a fabulous weekend whatever you get up to.
Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx



Monday 12 November 2012

Glitz & Glam

'Tis time for another fabulous store update, clicking on the pics will take you to a magical place where you will be blown away by all the awesome stuff on offer ;)
'Night Fever' Vintage 80s Sequin & Lurex Yarn Embroidered Batwing Jumper:
'Rapture' Vintage 80s Oilslick Disc Sequin Diva Top:
 'Diamond Days' Vintage 80s Harlequin Diamond Sequin Knitted Jumper:
'Paradise Circus' Vintage 80s Super Colourful Sequin Diamond Waistcoat Top by Frank Usher:
'Kiss Kiss' Indian Bollywood style Ornately Beaded Trophy Top:
‘Truth or Dare’ Vintage 80s Deco Swirl Beaded Flapper style Top:
 ‘Good Vibrations’ Vintage 60s Trippy Ombre Floral & Glitzy Gold Brocade Top:
'Champagne Supernova' Vintage 80s Silver Liquid Lamé Abstract Print Peplum Blouse:
Loads of glitz and glam for the upcoming party season.
Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx


Saturday 3 November 2012

Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This

I was going through some photo folders today and came across an old outfit fave...
It made me think of this amazing woman...
There is definitely more than a nod to Annie's androgynous style in these outfit pics...
I remember the very first time I watched the Eurythmics 'Sweet Dreams' video clip back in the 80s cause it was also the very first time my mum said to me that she thought I looked like Annie Lennox's twin, at the time I wasn't impressed cause I wanted to look like Madonna.
Now when she says it to me, I think "Yeah right, I wish!"
My affection for Madonna faded fast after my tweens but Annie still remains a firm favourite of mine, if I could choose any person to do a duette with it would be her...
she ROCKS!
I wonder if this outfit would get a 'thumbs up' or a 'thumbs down' from Annie?
Vintage needle-cord & faux-fur trim coat by Spinney, vintage floral panel & cord riding style pants by Ghost, vintage  psychedelic print sharp collar shirt, vintage whipcord belt by Gucci, funky tie by Strange London, hellraiser heels by Demonia, leather driving gloves (a pressie from my fabulous sister in Denmark) & vintage mega clutch bag by Dolcis 
Off to bedski now, it's really flipping late...
I will start adding some exciting new items to the shop when I get up ;) 
Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx


Friday 2 November 2012

The Saints Go Marching Out...

I nipped out earlier to get some squidgy skull sweeties and was quite taken aback by the sheer speed of  which Christmas is now replacing Halloween in the aisles. 
I thought that maybe they'd have a wee sale on all the Halloween stuff for a week or so; this is what they usually do for Easter and Christmas but I was wrong. 
Gone were the plastic spiders, coffin shaped trick or treat buckets and skull goblets & in their place a metallic rainbow of tinsel, blingy baubles and Santa ornaments that look as if they were painted by someone with a bad case of the DTs.
I'm still very much in a Halloween kind of mood, it is All Saints' Eve over in Sweden today (which also happens to be my beloved mother's birthday) and All Saint's Day on Saturday, so I'm sticking with the darkly delicious gothness for a bit longer, Christmas kitsch can wait!
Vintage 70s Kati by Laura Phillips lace dress, 90s velvet platform boots, scarlet harlot wiggy-woo & Dear Darkness  headdress.
I bagged the above frock about a year ago from a vintage dealer friend. 
It would be perfect for a gothic bride, it's stunning!
I have a few vintage Kati by Laura Phillips frocks and the other day I happened upon the green twin of the one below on eBay...
I really can't justify (nor afford) spending almost £100 on a dress right now, so I'll just have to make do with my red one for now.
I do actually have a pair of Kati dress twins already, 
so I guess I shouldn't bemoan things too much...
I scored both of these on eBay last year :)
I've banned myself from buying anything on eBay for a bit cause I'm trying to save the pennies for our rescue diver course in spring.
It's only hard cause I still torment myself browsing by for frocks on eBay every now and again.
Whilst on the subject of browsing fabulous stuff on the net, I'm gearing up for another store update this weekend...
any sequin sluts out there will wet their panties in delight, just saying!
I'll keep you's posted :)
Have a fabulous Friday!
Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx



Thursday 1 November 2012

Blonde is Back

I'm completely bushed  cause I spent the entire day taking pics for yet another store update. 
Loads of glitz and glamour heading for the shop this weekend, yay!
As a one woman show I am my very own real life mannequin & photographer rolled into one,  it may sound all jammy and glammy working for yourself but it can be pretty rough at times it has to be said.
 This is pretty much how my day went:
 Outfit on...snap...snap...snap...outfit off...outfit on...snap...snap...snap...outfit off...outfit on...yawn...snap...snap...snap...outfit off...fall arse over tit into the clothes rail...fix clothes rail with gaffar tape ...make coffee rocket-fuel, still only clad in pants (too much information?! och, this is my little life peeps)...consume rocket-fuel .. buzz upstairs...outfit on...snap...snap...snap....outfit off...outfit on....and so on and on and on and on and on and on until either the camera battery dies or I start spinning out and have to get out of the house immediately!
I try to go for a wander around the park everyday, in the summer when the grass was dry I would just kick back and watch the clouds drift by, now I bring a handful of nuts for the squirrels and kick leaves about...it's nice to connect with nature everyday even if it's only a park in the big shitty.
It's howling  & pishing down outside now, it's very late and I really need to go to bed.
I'll leave you's with an outfit that I snapped just for fun...
90s fuzztastic top, 70s knicker hot-pants, ribbed tights, 90s kick-yo-ass platform boots, Blonde is Back wiggy-woo, Tibetan prayer bangle & Frocktasia necklace.
Tomorrow (well, today but after sleeps) will be a day in front of the compy, editing & writing descriptions...
I can feel my eyeballs itching already.
Nite, nite peeps :)
Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx


Wednesday 31 October 2012

Can I have some more...Tights Please!

Last week I got an e-mail from a lovely lass called Bernadette who works for a company called Tights Please, an on-line specialist retailer of, you guessed it, tights.
In the e-mail I was asked if I'd like to participate in a review feature; they would supply me with a couple of samples and all I had to do was to style them.
After drooling over the veritable feast of hosiery on the site, I decided that I'd be a mug not to jump on Bernadette's offer.
Not only do I get to try out some spanky new tights but I also get to go mad in the the boudoir, styling up a storm, in other words a pretty perfect way to spend an afternoon!
I was sent two fabulous pairs of tights by Red or Dead...
The tights are called Pammy & Peggy
Glorious Gussets indeed, they are silky smooth, gorgeously patterned & super comfy to wear.  
I couldn't wait to get styling!
First I amassed a towering pile of clobber that I thought they would look good with and then I got down to business...
Pammy tights teamed with a 90s micro mini dress,  Dear Darkness headdress & Demonia heels.
Pammy tights teamed with vintage 50s sequin top, sequin beret, arm-warmers, hot-pants, Demonia heels & tulle skirt by Max & Co.  
Left: Pammy tights teamed with 90s mesh lace mini dress, hot-pants & Frocktasia necklace
Right: 90 leather shorts by Sisley + same as above.
Pammy tights teamed with 90s deadstock Harris tweed shorts by Jigsaw + same as above.
Peggy tights teamed with 90s Betsey Johnson polka dot dress, Demonia heels & Dear Darkness headdress.
Peggy tights teamed with vintage 50s revamped lace dress + same as above.
Left: Peggy tights teamed with a 90s PVC & zip detail micro mini dress
Right: 90s floral lace dress & hot-pants + same as above.
Left: Peggy tights teamed with a 90s Versace copycat safety pin dress by Bernshaw & 90s mega platform boots.
Rights: 80s mini dress with ribbon embroidery + same as before.
Peggy tights teamed with 90s deadstock Harris tweed shorts by Jigsaw, Demonia heels, Dearest Darkness headdress & eagle/rose print skinny Tee.
Peggy tights teamed with 90s leather shorts by Sisley and a magnificent 70s sequin disco diva jumper + same as above.
I could have gone on and on with styling these but unfortunately my afternoon came to an end.
They definitely look the bees-knees when paired together with hot-pants, cut-offs, shorts, micro dresses or mini skirts and a pair of towering heels, for best effect.
They have more YOWZA than you can shake a stick at, so perfect for the upcoming party season.
If you want a pair of Pammy or Peggy tights yourself, then why not pop over to the Tights Please website, they offer free UK delivery & they've also got some ace Henry Holland tights up for grabs in their sale section a the moment, not to mention a totally awesome array of leggings.
I'd like to thank  Tights Please & especially Bernadette for giving me the opportunity to do this product review/styling feature, it's been fun!
I hope you guys have enjoyed it too :)
Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx