OUTFITS// Aquamarine + Quilted

So I decided to brave the street directly outside my house for my outfit photo today, felt a little weird and embarrassing but life is hard for a fashion blogger.

I think my new lens really makes the photos better

LIFE// New Years Resolutions

It's a whole new year and as such people everywhere are laying out aspirations for it. They might go unfulfilled and that's absolutely fine but it's still nice to think of some. Anyway if you didn't what would you have to be depressed about next New Year. Here's mine:

1. Commit more to blogging

I spent a lot of time in the past month putting together an editorial calendar for 2013 to help me with a posting schedule and I actually a had a whole bunch of holiday posts lined up and infinite time to make them happen since I'm off work and college at the moment and I still didn't manage to make it happen. This is something I wanna change starting yesterday. Infact I'll hopefully be posting an outfit post later.

2. Continue to establish a Personal Style

This is something everyone might want to think about, as we get older we form solid opinions on what we like and don't like and that's all a part of growing up. This year I want to embrace that and develop my own style, it's all well and good to follow trends but you've gotta make it work for you not the other way around. You all know what I'm talking about, you've all seen em, that slightly, ermm let's say chubby guy trying to cram his ass into the tightest jeans he can (been there) for what he thinks is fashionable and yeah it ain't pretty.

3. Not expect too much out of myself

Now, this might seem a little backward but it isn't, my biggest problem is that I'm not 100% perfect 100% of the time and as soon as I slip I feel like there isn't any point in trying (hence the dusty treadmill I haven't used since a lazy day back in september) but who the F is! Don't let it get to you!

Disclaimer: (if this post comes across weird it's probably because I wrote it 6 in the morning after a sleepless night) but if it comes across totes inspirational then that's just because I'm talented

STYLE// Stampd' LA

Stampd' LA is already one of my favourite brands and I found it 5 minutes ago...

Granted I might be a little swayed by the amazing photography they use but still the clothes are great too, a combination of minimalism, street style and a big americana west coast vibe, it works really well.

I just found the brand by accident whilst having a rare visit to Tumblr, I found this blog and loved it, it was really similar to my own tumblr except it was about a million times better. 

I did a little research (googling) and by the look of it Chris Stamp is the creative force behind Stampd' LA, I couldn't really find much out about the brand because their about page was purely this:

which has me intrigued.

STYLE// A Blue Christmas

Christmas Outfits are usually littered with clichés of red and green or ugly christmas jumpers and that is all part of the charm I suppose and what is a christmas outfit without them. This year however I wanna try something a little different so I think I'm gonna abandon any ideas of red in my outfit and go with blue.

MISC// What to ask for this Christmas

It's that time of year again and that means you've probably already been asked, "What do you want for Christmas?', personally I hate this question. I always feel rude asking for actual things, I'd rather a person take notice of things I like or if it's a relative money is nice. 

But if someone really does insist on getting you an actual present without being creative, here are some things you could ask for. I've tried to include a range of price points depending on how generous the gifter is:

1. Canon EOS 500D - from £299 (used)

This is the Camera I use and honestly I cant fault it, I've had it a while now and it's still great. It shoots full HD as well which is a nice bonus, I was told it's used to shoot Sherlock Holmes but I've never looked into if that's true or not.

2. Canon EF 50mm - f/1.4 USM Lens - £279 (Brand New)

Perhaps you already own the camera, then this is an absolutely phenomenal little thing to add on.This is on my christmas list, they can be a little pricy but for me it's a must, they photos they produce are amazing and I need it for my blog.

3 . Pierre Hard Electric Blue Backpack - £720

Okay so maybe this a little too much to ask for but lets dare to dream... and technically it is on sale.

4. Kaare Anorak from Norse Projects in Grey - £210

Everyone needs an anorak and these ones are really great.

5. Vallelunga Chronograph by Autodromo - £320ish

These watches are really nicely minimal without having any fads, perfectly timeless.

6. H&M Bright Blue Beanie - £2.99

See some of these are cheap...

7. Navy Wool Biker Jacket - £190

This is a little pricey but it is sooo nice that I think I'll be getting myself one this christmas.

STYLE// Winter Wishlist

I really don't know what draws me to the first item, but I just am so it's a bit of an indulgence really, I'll probably never wear it. The other items are pretty much within my usual aesthetic, I've been after a decent pair of leather boots for a while, my bargain suede H&M one's are barely holding together at this point although for the price they've lasted surprisingly well. I'm often drawn to blues and blacks at this time of the year and am really loving the Matte & Sheen trend for Winter 2012 which is why I like the two Jumpers. The black jeans have been a long time coming, I have a pair already but they fit awfully, have faded slightly, are just overall bad quality, I wouldn't recommend them, they are stretch skinny ones from Topman, the ones I want that are pictured above are Cheap Monday, so should hopefully fare better.

LIFE// What Felt Like 5 Minutes in New York

View from the top of the Rockefeller Centre

I personally felt that the view from the top of the Rockefeller Centre is better for taking photos because the fence is glass so it's less of an obstruction.

Me and my friends in Grand Central Station. Lets play spot the moody friend.  

This was taken just after we landed, we went straight to grand central station, I'm not sure why. You can see my airport outfit here (but not really) I forgot to take any outfit photos on the trip. I'm wearing a Black Topman Shirt, a Black Zara Jumper, Black Skinny Jeans, a Black Suede and shearling lined jacket and Black Nike Air Max 1s. 

The Clothes I bought

It was really an accident that I came across the MMM Collection at H&M, I only went there to waste time whilst some of my friends shopped for make-up and there it was, surprisingly well stocked and devoid of shoppers, I tried on the Jacket that was in my Top 3 picks post but they didn't have my size and most of money was spent at this point anyway, unfortunately they didn't have the Satin Top but I managed to snag the Confetti Shirt. The three jumpers are from American Apparel which is much cheaper in America for obvious reasons, I had needed a new fisherman's pullover after I accidentally tumble-dried my grey one and the red/orange (I may be color blind) one reminds me of a jumper I had admired from Acne and the jacket is from Levi's and reminds me of some of the jackets from T by Alexander Wang.

I just yesterday returned from a long anticipated trip to New York, I had originally meant to have gone roughly a month ago but was delayed along with thousands of others by Hurricane Sandy. Strangely despite the fact that the hurricane landed such a short time ago it's effects were nearly entirely unnoticeable, other than one part of the subway being out of use. 

Without sounding ungrateful I was a little too busy with all the touristy parts of going to New York to get much shopping done which is why you might think that six items Isn't much for five days in what many consider the shopping capital of the world, but if you've been before you might understand why. I didn't even get much chance to take photos, it was THAT busy, the trip was 5 days long but was over before I knew it

DIY// Denim Dip-Dye Shirt

You'll need:
- Shirt
- Bucket
- Bleach (preferably thin but thick will work too)
- Coat Hanger

Nº1

Dilute bleach with water 1 part thick bleach to 4 parts water and add more bleach if it isn't working. It's best to start low and build up incase your shirt is delicate although I ended up using pure thin bleach in a second attempt because the thick bleach had no effect.

Nº2

Go get something to eat (probably best to wash your hands first if you don't use gloves like me). Some people say theirs only took 20 minutes to bleach to white but I ended up having to leave mine over night in pure bleach so this bit is a bit of a guessing game.

Nº3

Rinse by hand and then wash thoroughly on its own in the machine and then dry.

Tips:

- If you haven't got a wide bucket it might be easier to put an elastic band just above where you want to bleach to to help you get it all in quickly. Don't bleach past the band or you'll get a tie-dye effect.

STYLE// Top 3 picks from H&M and Maison Martin Margiella

White Leather Jacket / £179.99

Black Woven Satin Top / £29.99

Off White Confetti Print T-Shirt / £25

These three items from the latest H&M Collaboration are my favourites. On the whole the collection for me is a little underwhelming, some of the pieces are however quite reasonably priced when you think back to the Versace Collaboration. 

Some of the more expensive pieces are a little tacky though, such is the case with many low budget minimalist collections, but these 3 pieces are great and quite wearable.

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STYLE// Wishlist

Roll Neck T-Shirt / Cos / £39

Roll Neck T-Shirt / Cos / £35

Cheap Monday Double T-Shirt / Asos / £25

Reclaimed Vintage Dip-Bleach Shirt / Asos / £48