Festival Outfits

It is not long now until I go to my first ever festival. I am insanely excited and have been spending a fair amount of time considering what I will be wearing. I am guessing that most people don't take 5 pairs of shoes when they go to a festival so just for this once I have narrowed it down to 2 pairs plus wellies just in case.

I have decided not to take my heavy DSLR camera, I will take my old camera instead but I have no idea how these pictures will turn out. So I decided to photo my outifts in advance, this also makes it so much easier for me to work out what to take and pack. I am guessing this is a bit obsessive, but I like to plan well in advance and be prepared as there won't be any mirrors there so I won't be able to check what my outfits look like. Maybe people don't really make that much effort with what they wear when they go to a festival, but I always think if in doubt, go for it.

So here are my outfits, I just need to cut down another pair of jeans into shorts in case the weather is unbelievably hot (fingers crossed).

Top - Next (about 8 years ago)

Skirt - made from charity shop dress

Hair garland - Ebay

Shoes - Spartoo

necklace - present from my sister

This was the skirt that was originally a dress but too tight around the bust. I have finally got around to cutting the top off and sewing in an elastic waistband. It is a bit rough and ready but should be fine as long as the waistband is covered. I am thinking of adding some fairy wings to this outfit for the fancy dress on saturday.

Sunglasses and feather earring - Urban Outfitters

Top - New Look

Elephant necklace - Etsy

Shorts - Old jeans from Next cut down

I think I will need to do a bit of cheese grating with these cutoffs before I go. Any other good ideas on how to fray them?

Blouse - H! by Henry Holland at Debenhams

Shorts - as above

Feather Headress - Little Wings on Etsy

I will just add tights to shorts for when it gets cold in the evening. I am thinking my hair might get a bit frizzy if I don't get to wash it so can put it in a bun with this feather headress. We will be taking our own shower and tent so I am hoping for a hot shower every day though!.

Dress - People Tree

Cropped Leggings - New Look

I think this dress might be a bit too dressy but hoping that the cropped leggings help to dress it down a bit and make it more practical.

T shirt - customised

necklace - a present from my Mum

Bag - Desigual

Tube top - charity shop

worn with cutoff jeans (as above)

This t shirt is another one of my DIY projects that I have finally got around to doing. I just cutoff the sleeves and kind of gave it a racer back.

As for the music, there are so many amazing bands, artists and DJ's that I want to see. I am just waiting for the full line up and timings to be announced so that I can work out how much I can fit in.

Are you going to any festivals this summer? what will you be wearing?

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

People Tree Prints For Autumn Winter 2011

If you read this blog regularly, you will probably know that I love prints! Bold prints, bright prints and unusual prints. I also love People Tree. As I wrote in a previous blog post If you want bold, bright and beautiful prints, shop Fairtrade, I think ethical fashion labels definitely do some amazing prints and with prints and patterns being so on trend at the moment, perhaps this is a way that ethical fashion can really shine (apart from the obvious ethical credentials).

I was really excited to see that People Tree Autumn Winter collection has some amazing prints which I absolutely love. I especially love the blouse. I know it is a bit early to start thinking about autumn yet, but when it does arrive perhaps I will be treat myself (if of course there is a gap in my wardrobe that needs filling).

There are also plenty of great bargains in the People Tree sale. If you love floral prints, there are even some of the vintage prints from the People Tree Laura Ashley collaboration.

With warmest wishes

PS. This post contains affiliate links but I am only posting it because I genuinly love the collection and also People Tree.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend.

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

A Seventies Birthday Party

I can't believe that it is a week since I last posted. I don't know where the time has gone, perhaps some of it taken up making my latest creation (below).

For Mr Style Eyes 40th birthday, we held a seventies themed party. As our campervan, Roberta was 'born' in the seventies like Mr Style Eyes (actually only one year between them), I decided to construct a cake that was an almost exact replica. It thought it turned out pretty good. I did cheat a bit though, I used 6 ready made madeira cakes stuck together with butter icing and bought the coloured icing ready made too, so I just had to roll it out. In these situations I always think it is best to take as many short cuts as possible especially as I also had a boeuf bourgigone and trifle to make for 20+ people.

I put lots of consideration into my seventies themed outfit and planned to wear a printed chiffon maxi dress by Malene Birger and a cream lace waistcoat, with a flower garland (sort of like a hippy). On the day I had to abandon that idea as the bottom of the maxi dress had a big rip in it, I must have stood on it last time I wore it and there was no time for repairs. Instead I opted for a one shoulder maxi dress which I refashioned/ upcycled a while ago by cutting off one strap and adding a scarf. I think the look ended up a bit more Grecian than seventies disco diva but I guess I whilst I was born in the seventies, I was old enough to remember much of it, so I have an excuse. I had to wear the flower garland even though it didn't go as I love it so much.

Here I am borrowing a lighter from Big Bird to light the birthday cake candles. I know, I was a bit shocked to find out that Big Bird smokes and drinks beer too. And that is Andy Pandy in the background, someone I do remember from the seventies, just!

Other stuff that I have been busy with lately is a post on the French Connection Autumn Winter Lookbook for The Fashion Buzz, an article on how to market your fashion company online for The Source (the online publication of the Ethical Fashion Forum), you have to be a member to read it but I have published a pdf on my business blog and I have also updated another of my websites with the latest shift dresses, please check it out if you are looking for a shift dress for work parties or anything else.

Hope you are having a good week!

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

Maxi Skirt Mix Up

Lace top - ASOS

cardigan -  a birthday present from my Mum

necklace - a present from my mum

shoes - Spartoo

This was one of those random outfits that just kind of happens. I have decided to participate in Bloggers Do It Better and this weeks challenge was an outfit with a maxi skirt. I really like the proportions of wearing a maxi skirt with a long vest top and a cropped cardigan or jacket. As I only have 2 long vest tops one in black (which I couldn't find) and this floral lace one, it had to be this one. I am not 100% sure whether these patterns really work together but it felt right at the time so I went with it. 

You can't really see it because of the pattern but the lace top is see through so it definitely needed a cardigan, which I buttoned up in order to look respectable when picking the children up from school.

You can check out the other maxi skirt outfits made for the challenge here.

How do you wear a maxi skirt?

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

Camden Markets and Vintage Fashion Fair

Following on from my last post about my weekend in London.... On Sunday (Mr Style Eyes and myself) returned to Camden for a Full English followed by yet more browsing the markets. This time we went to the stables and not only were there some amazing stalls and vintage boutiques but also some lovely bronze statues.

Dress - Vintage (I have just shortened it)

Waistcoat - Dorothy Perkins

Shoes - no name

Badges - which you can see better in bottom picture - Camden market

I stopped for a quick and very refreshing lemonade before moving on to the Vintage Fashion Fair London at Primrose Hill.

The fair was crammed full with rails of vintage clothing most of it surprisingly affordable. 

It was great to meet Sharon of MyStyle and of course check out her stall

This was the cute little cafe downstairs

I got this beautiful floral dress from a vintage shop in the stables market, Camden, for just £15, I couldn't believe my luck, I having been looking for a really bright floral dress for ages.

I also got this beautiful 1960's lace dress from the Vintage Fashion Fair for £25. I think it is going to need some alterations as it is slightly too long in the waist but if I don't get the chance before I may take it back to the September fair for some alterations by Splendid Stitches, specialising in alterations of vintage clothing.

I also got some button badges which I wanted to wear on my black waistcoat, i just felt like it needed something...

So that is it, weekend over, back to my lovely girls and back to reality.

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

My Weekend in London

On the weekend, myself and Mr Style Eyes had a short break in London. This was quite  big deal for me as I haven't been to London (when I am not working) for a long time and also we virtually never  have a weekend without the children. We stayed in a lovely hotel in Swiss Cottage, which was perfect for what we wanted. On Saturday afternoon we walked to Camden and spent a little time browsing the markets, we also stopped off for a beer or two in a pub and Brazilian bar Cocobamboo . Camden is amazing, the perfect spot for people watching and I love the hustle and bustle. Some of the clothes in the market were a little disappointing, quite a lot of badly made rubbish but there were a few stalls with some interesting stuff by independent designers, plus lots of vintage and some great accessories which kept me pretty busy.

Dress by Numph (from Zalando)

Shoes - No Name

Belt - Next

Necklace - Stall in Victoria Station

Bag - Monsoon

Sunglasses - Urban Outfitters

Mr Style Eyes invested in a new cowboy hat. Ideal for camping van trips. Here he is enjoying a well earnt beer after hours of trapsing around the market with me.

In the evening we stopped off for some food in Nandos before cocktails in the same Brazilian Bar as earlier. It was great to have the opportunity to get a little dressed up and I took the opportunity to wear the Karen Millen dress that I bought back in April when I went to Bicester Village. It was the first time I have worn it and despite Mr Style Eyes protests that I looked like a Red Indian I decided that I would wear my feather headband that I have bought from Little Wings on Etsy ready for a festival I will be going to.

Dress - Karen Millen (Bicester Village)

Headband - Little Wing (Etsy)

Shoes - Dkode

Leather Jacket - Gestuz

Bag - Dorothy Perkins

Bangle - bought on hols in Mexico

On Sunday, we went back to Camden to look around the market again and then on to the Vintage Fashion Fair London at Primrose Hill, more on this in my next post.

Hope you have had a lovely weekend and are enjoying the lovely weather.

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

A New Dress From Zalando

Last week I was sent a voucher by Zalando and invited to pick out my choice from the massive selection of  a massive selection of clothes  from their the website to review. I did of course pick a dress as with summer finally here, I take the opportunity to wear dresses most of the time. After much deliberation, I decided to try something a little different from my usual choice of floral dresses and went for this simple style by Numph in one of my favourite colours - khaki. What I really need to finish off this look is some bright neon orange accessories but for now I am making do with this tan brown belt and these suede wedge shoes. The dress is incredibly lightweight and comfortable to wear, just what I need for summer. I think the simple style is also quite versatile so could work for lots of different daytime looks.

I was however also really tempted by some of the other dresses that I spotted as I am particulary lusting after dark florals at the moment, which will be good for the rest of the summer and on into the autumn and winter. Here are just a few that I spotted.

Motel Myla Dress

Desigual Valentine Dress

Anna Field Knee Length Dress

Esprit Knee Length Dress

Ruby Rocks Dress

Zalando is a great place to find some slightly more unusual labels plus some great designer pieces. Have you checked it out yet? what do you think?

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

Shades of Grey

Vintage Scarf - Oxfam Online

Top - New Look

Skirt - Originally Jackpot then cut down

Leggings - People Tree

Shoes - Spartoo

Ring - New Look

Bracelet - From a holiday in Mexico

Celtic Necklace - a pressy from my sister

 I have been looking for the opportunity to wear this scarf for a few months now, but it never fitted quite right with anything. Today with the weather being so warm and muggy, I opted for comfort in the form of leggings denim skirt and a long vest top but the outfit just needed something else. I love the way that this scarf added to the shades of grey in the top and also added more texture to the outfit. The vintage scarf is by Josef Otten, another of my little treats from Oxfam online.

I have a really fun and busy weekend planned so am now rushing around trying to get everything sorted out ready. I will share outfits etc in my posts next week. Are you doing anything fun? Hope you have a lovely weekend?

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

Do You Struggle To Find Stylish Eco Friendly Shoes?

Whilst my wardrobe is becoming increasingly green as I often opt for second hand and vintage clothes over new and have managed to find a few ethical fashion labels with clothes that I love, shoes has always been a difficult area for me when it comes to converting to a completely green wardrobe. The reason being is that I just don't want to buy second hand shoes and there hasn't (in the past) been as much choice out there for eco shoes. I am not prepared to compromise on style as I feel really strongly that the shoes you choose to wear can make or break an outfit.

One place that I have been quite sucessful in finding eco friendly shoes that I really love is Spartoo. They have a great selection of eco friendly and ethical sandals, shoes and boots plus plenty of information on how the shoes are sustainable and what they are made from. What I also love about the eco brands that I have from Spartoo is that they are all amazingly comfortable aswell as looking good.

These Dream in Green sandals make a fun alternative to gladiators  for the summer. They are made completely from natural materials.

Greenfit makes beautiful shoes with a fifties influence, natural models and a wooden sole. Who says you can't get feminine stylish eco friendly shoes?

Think hand make make completely natural and ontrend shoes

I couldn't not mention Melissa, made from recyclable plastic with some fabulous designer collaborations including Vivienne Westwood. Keep your eyes peeled for the next collaboration reported to be Jason Wu.

I have a pair of Pikolinos shoes and can definitely vouch for the fact that they are super comfy and beautifully made. They are made using vegetable tanned leather which is a more eco friendly option than conventional leather. 

What do you think? would you buy eco friendly shoes?

With warmest wishes

Ceri X