6 Things...

I can't help obsessing over this week:

1) Rodarte for Target, how I love thee!

2) Artificial flowers

3) Miso Pretty Orchid Spray

4)Purple Glitter Eyeshadow

5) Unusual Music Boxes

6) Knee-high tights, fishnet, lace - you name it, I need it!

Chinese Proverbs

Today has been a day of tying up loose ends and letting the good times roll! I just handed my last assignment in for this semester and I'm now awaiting Easter Break (3 weeks off! Yes!). It's not been an easy day, I've been really ill and living off peppermint tea and Lemsip Max and to top it all off I got half-way home and realised I'd left all my rings in the toilets and had to go back and get them!

My Igoogle account always makes me smile, It has a proverb section and today's was so relevant! "Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still." I think it's something to work by - if you have projects that you keep meaning to work on, no matter how little you get done it's a step in the right direction. Besides, good things do take time! You can probably sense I'm feeling especially inspired at the minute, and you'd be sensing right. I've got lots of shoots booked for the holidays and I'm collaborating with some really talented people, I'm also working on a project which I'm keeping under wraps for now but really excited about. Oh yeah, and, and... next year I'm taking Japanese as part of my course! How freakin' cool is that?!

This is what happens with not blogging for a week. Major build up!

P.S. This is my new favourite thing - Jasper!

Sticking with the Oriental theme which has genuinely occurred purely by chance, I'm selling these super-kitsch neclaces on Ebay at the minute, check them out!

Anyway, that's waaaaay longer than I anticipated,

Summer Boudoir

One of my favourite summer trends this year has to be wearing underwear as outerwear. This isn't a new concept to me - I thought the idea of wearing Basques as everyday tops was brilliant long before the likes of Bottega Veneta and D&G got their mitts on it. Although admittedly I'm also a fan of wearing pajama tops outdoors, too, which to my knowledge is a look that almost definitely has not been sported on the catwalk...yet. I guess what I'm saying is that originality never goes out of style and you might not always get it 'right' but anyone can simply pick a look and buy the clothes that go with it. Besides, I'm not gonna pretend for a minute that dressing up isn't my single favourite thing in the world EVER to do!

Oh, hi there gorgeous Christian Dior corset-and-slip combo!

Marc Jacobs featuring on-trend pastels.

Ah, so that's what she's yacking on about! Yes, fellow fashion-lovers, you too can indulge in your 'new' spring wardrobe without spending a penny by sporting your finest lingerie under sheer blouses and high-waisted skirts. If you haven't achieved your bikini figure yet *cough* thanks, Cadbury's Flake and Benefit *cough* this look can still work for you. See below: Sonia Rykiel for H&M body, in all its waist-cinching glory.

It seems that U.S. brand Target have hit a Bullseye (See what I did there?) with their 2009 Rodarte for Target range which I happen to be irrevocably in love with. The range includes lacy knee-highs, camisoles and a whole lot of tulle, and all from $9.99, Oh why, oh why don't we have Target in the U.K?!

You seriously have no idea how long I have yearned for that little mustard number...

To wrap things up, my take on the whole matter is that it'd be a wise idea to head out to your nearest thrift shop and invest in either a pretty silk cami or a colourful half-slip - that's an under-skirt to us Brits, and do your own thing with it. I'd be tempted to add some burlesque-style Marabou slippers to the mix for a more fun style which would be perfect for a summer picnic or BBQ.

Benefit for Flake, yes, really

Never thought I'd be writing about those two things at the same time, but there you go. Benefit Cosmetics have teamed up with Cadbury's Flake for a very generous Easter promotion which is bound to ruin many-a-diet of chocolate-loving fashionistas all over the U.K. this summer. Inside a million promotional Flake wrappers there are winning codes to be found, which can be entered online to claim either a lipstick or lip-gloss, with six stunning shades to choose from! I'm a big fan of Benefit but not such a fan of Flake's so this obviously poses a dilemma... I'll just have to find someone to feed chocolate to!

I Heart Nail Art

Having just spent hours soaking in the bath with candles, strawberry Body Shop goods and cucumber slices over my eyes (How attractive, indeed) I'm feeling totally pampered and personally, I don't think there's a much better way to make yourself feel a million dollars than doing your nails. That might just be because I have an undying obsession with Nail Art of the 3-D variety, it might just be because I love hearing people go Oooh! and stare in amazement at the awesomeness that is all things glittery, or it might just be because I have a fetish for pretty and intricate things a.k.a Nail Art. OK, You get the picture. Moving on...

You can pick up 3-D stickers on Ebay for next to nothing, either in pre-cut clay pieces or 'Fimo' canes which can easily be cut with a sharp knife.

Now all you need is some nail glue and inspiration (which I have generously provided for you below - 'Too kind', I hear you say!) and you're away.

At this point I'm pretty sure you're looking at the pictures and thinking 'no chance'. By no means am I saying you'll be able to recreate the above creations (and If you can, can I please have your number?). Nail Art is considered precisely that - art - by many people, and rightly so. It's a big thing in places like Japan and the girls who create these pieces can spend hours individually painting and assembling each set of nails. I'm just saying give it a go - it might be your next big thing!

Doll Parts

Copyright Darkolee Photography, 2010

This is my favorite pic from a shoot I did last month. It was inspired by Twiggy Ramirez and about a million and one other things. The photographer, Lee, is amazing to work with and one of the most naturally gifted photographers I have met. We played 'Portrait of an American Family' on his Iphone while we shot which was really cool and a great soundtrack for the day!

The joys of spring

Spring time is finally here, and today I am loving life! OK, maybe a little too enthusiastic, but the sun is shining and after months of snow I have every reason to have a smile on my face.

Now comes the challenge of creating the perfect spring wardrobe, and while the muted shades of the Spring catwalk might not be for me, the vintage tailoring and pastel hues most certainly are. My inspiration comes in the form of lilac, see Michael Kors R-T-W for metallic eyes and Proenza Schouler working those gorgeous violet tints - a look which I will definitely be rocking in weeks to come!

Speaking of lilac...

How irresistible are these babies?! Sorry, but I couldn't help myself.

Back on track after that rude interruption from my good friend Vivienne Westwood and her wonderful shoes. So, I was reading something or other the other day about buns, and I'm not one to wear my hair up but the idea of a bun rather tempts me. I'm talking pretty-messy-straggly-hair-and-slap-a-bow-on-top-for-good-look type buns (Note to self: must stop over-hyphenating everything).

Hair and makeup fixed and there's no getting around the fact that play-suits are going to take up much of my S/S wardrobe. My bag is pretty much overdosing on charms at the min. so I figure a few more can't hurt, right? My thoughts exactly. Throw in a few scarves and Racoon tails (Think Louis Vouitton S/S 10) and some snazzy headpieces and I'm pretty much done.

Now I need to get myself off to the market and start piecing together some Audrey-Inspired headpieces...bring on the jewels.